One hundred and four Cameroonians are amongst the 2019 cohort of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme. They are among 3,050 African entrepreneurs, drawn from all 54 African countries, selected to join the 5th cycle of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme run by the leading African philanthropy.
The list of selected fellows was made public in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday March 22, 2019. According to TEF officials, over 216,000 applications were received, an increase from last years 151,000, and nearly 90,000 were submitted by female entrepreneurs, an increase of 45 per cent.
The selected Entrepreneurs will each receive a non-refundable seed capital of US$ 5,000 (circa FCFA 2.9 million), access to mentors, and a 12-week business training programme, directly focused on the needs of African entrepreneurs. And on July 26 27, 2019, they will gather at the TEF Entrepreneurship Forum to take place for the first time in Abuja, Nigeria.
Tony O. Elumelu, TEF Founder, said each year, they face an almost impossible task to select 1,000 entrepreneurs from the hundreds of thousands who apply. Our entrepreneurs are hungry to effect change. We know we are only scratching the surface, we see the depth of entrepreneurial talent, that all of us must harness to transform our economies and livelihoods. We must rally together to empower them and accelerate the change we want on the continent, he underscored.
Going by Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, CEO of TEF, the programme has successfully empowered 7,520 entrepreneurs in its first five years. Marking the fifth anniversary of the 10-year programme, this years selection includes 2,050 entrepreneurs, supported by the Foundations partners in addition to the Foundations annual commitment of 1,000.
The flagship programme of TEF has so far benefited 101 Cameroonian entrepreneurs. Cameroon had 19 in 2015, 23 in 2016, 21 in 2017 and 38 in 2018, in addition to 104 his year.
Last year, the Foundation launched TEFConnect - the digital networking platform for African entrepreneurs and open to all - to further democratise the access to opportunities for the thousands of entrepreneurs that cannot directly benefit from the Entrepreneurship Programme.
AMINDEH Blaise ATABONG
MALMO, Sweden and ROCKVILLE, Maryland, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Trialbee, a world leading technology provider in patient matching and engagement, and Linical Accelovance Group, a market-leading, midsized, global contract research organization (CRO), announce they will join forces to drive the next generation of digitally powered patient-centric clinical trials. Biopharma sponsors will now have access to a single point of contact delivering end-to-end next generation clinical trials, expediting clinical trial enrollment, retention and speed-to-market solutions.
By interlinking digital capability and global clinical trial execution into one end-to-end support chain, this partnership has what it takes to positively disrupt clinical research and accelerate patient access to new treatments and improved outcomes.
Patient-centricity is valuable to the entire clinical trial lifecycle. Patient and clinical data refine the feasibility process and help sharpen trial design. A digital recruitment strategy can then be deployed to reach the targeted patient population and enhance trial enrollment timelines. Furthermore, customized engagement solutions mitigate patient attrition, resulting in reduced site burden while maintaining data integrity, quality and project timelines.
"Trialbee drives clinical trial success by combining in depth knowledge of clinical trial design and our digital outreach expertise to identify, connect, engage and offer patients access to relevant trials. By addressing patient-specific needs in a relevant manner, we bridge the gap between willing patients and available clinical trials, manage expectations, and connect well-informed and already engaged patients with investigational sites. In partnership with Linical Accelovance Group, a clinical research operations leader providing flexible and pragmatic drug development services, we can jointly deliver a world class recruitment and engagement model across the entire trial lifecycle, resulting in on-time delivery of quality data," said Lars-Olof Eriksson, CEO of Trialbee.
Vita Lanoce, CEO of Linical Accelovance Group, commented, "We are pleased to be at the forefront of developing new approaches to accelerate enrollment timelines by engaging patients and investigational sites to successfully deliver clinical research trials. As a global CRO, we have expertise designing and conducting clinical trials across many therapeutic areas and strong relationships with investigative sites. By layering our strengths with Trialbee's technology, we can deliver a more powerful, integrated solution that assures a clear understanding of the patient journey, enhancing patient recruitment and retention, and, as a result, benefiting sponsors, sites, and the patients themselves."
In the clinical research community, delivering a clinical trial successfully requires strict focus on well-known barriers. The same challenges still prevail; 11-30% of sites fail to recruit a single patient and as many as 50% of trials are delayed due to recruitment issues. The costs incurred because of delays are momentous, amounting to as much as $8 million per day, along with detrimental setbacks in access to cures. Even once a patient is enrolled, retention and protocol adherence are of the utmost importance for success. The reality is that 30% of enrolled patients will drop out over the course of a clinical study. The industry is yearning for innovative solutions to effectively recruit and retain patients in clinical trials.
About Trialbee:
Trialbee empowers patients worldwide with clinical trials as a care option through best-in-class digital patient matching and engagement solutions. Since its inception, Trialbee has continuously innovated patient-centric solutions for global clinical trials. Trialbee operates its technology globally from two locations in Sweden and the USA. Trialbee - Dedicated to patients; driven by science; and powered by data. For more information, contact solutions@trialbee.com.
About Linical Accelovance Group:
Linical Accelovance Group is a market-leading, midsized, global contract research organization with a significant footprint across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. With operations in more than 20 countries, Linical Accelovance Group is a full-service CRO uniquely capable of conducting large-scale, multinational studies, while delivering personalized, hands-on service. The organization's areas of expertise include oncology, hematology, vaccines, CNS, and general medicine trials across Phases I-IV. Providing drug development services to pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, investigative sites and academic institutions, Linical Accelovance Group supports client needs by leveraging operational knowledge and patient recruitment strategies that result in successful clinical trials.
Media Contacts:
Ann-Sofie Andersson
Marketing Director, Trialbee
+46-72-702-2466
ann-sofie.andersson@trialbee.com
Alison Cundari
Marketing & Corporate Communications, Linical Accelovance Group
1-803-753-4160
acundari@linical.accelovance.com
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659436/ACCELOVANCE_Logo.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/840720/Trialbee_Logo.jpg
Platform designed to enable remote monitoring would offer mothers and clinicians a monitoring tool that non-invasively gathers helpful data and insights
PRINCETON, New Jersey and TEL AVIV, Israel, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuvo Group today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received the PregSense remote monitoring application for the company's first De Novo classification. If granted clearance, the remote platform would be marketed under the name Invu by Nuvo.
Invu is an investigational device under FDA review designed for remote pregnancy monitoring. The patented technology is designed to non-invasively measure and display fetal heart rate (FHR) and maternal heart rate (MHR), creating a digital dashboard. It is indicated for women who are in their 32nd week of gestation (or later), with a singleton pregnancy for both in-clinic and at home use.
The submission is based on clinical and scientific validation stemming from pivotal and usability trials. A pivotal study compared the investigational platform to cardiotocographs (CTG) - the most widely-used fetal monitoring system. Results from the multi-center study of 149 women showed that Nuvo's platform was able to accurately extract both fetal and maternal heart rates consistent with CTG, while offering the real-time convenience of a remote monitoring solution.
As Nuvo's first De Novo submission, this regulatory milestone paves the way for the company's vision of advancing maternal-fetal connected health by creating a connected pregnancy.
"We are pleased to have submitted our De Novo application for FDA review and look forward to working with the FDA to complete the review process," said Oren Oz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nuvo Group. "Our goal is to enable a connected pregnancy, where mothers' visits are seamlessly connected across the home, workplace, doctor's office and hospitals."
About Nuvo Group
Nuvo Group is committed to transforming pregnancy care for a new generation. Proprietary software solutions combined with innovative product design utilize big data analytics to optimize pregnancy healthcare on a global scale. Nuvo Group leadership is comprised of dedicated data engineers, medical professionals, software designers, and proud parents who share a collective vision to create new solutions for both patients and doctors, creating an immediate impact on maternal care worldwide. Nuvo's initial product offering for healthcare providers has completed clinical investigation to support FDA De Novo clearance but is not yet available for sale in the United States.
For more information, visit: www.nuvocares.com
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/841023/Nuvo_Logo.jpg
Leading Medical Professional Liability, a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance, has made a significant step in their digital transformation, choosing to migrate their existing on-premises deployment of the Duck Creek Suite, in production since 2015, to Duck Creek OnDemand. The carrier cited continuous currency and reduced IT workloads as key factors in this decision. With this across-the-board transition to Duck Creek OnDemand, Coverys will be able to enjoy the many advantages of SaaS core systems, including scalability, easy integrations with third-party solutions, and security - a critical consideration for MPL carriers due to the sensitive nature of their insureds' data. This move sends a strong message that carriers increasingly accept SaaS as the future of P&C insurance, and reflects the strength of the long-standing relationship between the two firms.
Donald Light, Director in Celent's North America Property/Casualty Practice, commented, "As the transition of core systems to the cloud accelerates, Celent is seeing more examples of insurers with fairly recent on-premises deployments transitioning to the cloud. Insurers' motivations include higher levels of security, availability of advanced analytic tools, and a DevOps-friendly environment."
"Duck Creek's offerings are strategically aligned with our digital transformation efforts, and moving our core applications to the cloud is the logical next step to modernizing our operations," said Eric Crockett, VP of IT at Coverys. "Duck Creek OnDemand will give us the capabilities we need to quickly move from concept, development, and implementation to go-live production.
"Insurers are experiencing the true value of a SaaS-based software model," said Karen Furtado, Partner at Strategy Meets Action. "The opportunity to have a vendor expert manage the continual upgrade of mission critical software products - as well as their environments - in an extendable cloud offering provides insurers the capacity to focus on the activities that provide direct value in delivering services to their customers. Duck Creek's OnDemand solution provides insurers with a compelling alternative to the traditional on-premises software model."
With inherent openness, configurability, and common functionality across Duck Creek applications, the Duck Creek Platformspeeds and simplifies processes, fosters transparency across functions, and brings more and better information to bear on every decision more quickly. By migrating their full Duck Creek Suite to Duck Creek OnDemand, Coverys is ensuring that it will always have access to the newest and best capabilities of the Platform while freeing up its IT resources to focus on business innovation rather than data center maintenance.
"We are thrilled that Coverys has seen the true value of SaaS and entrusted Duck Creek to give them the reliability, security, and support they need to innovate faster and more efficiently," said Andy Dey, Chief Product and technology Officer of Duck Creek Technologies. "With the Duck Creek Suite OnDemand, Coverys will be able to capitalize on optimal benefits for managing its business, reducing risk and costs, and responding quickly to changes in the marketplace."
About Coverys
Coverys is a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance for medical practitioners and health systems. Coverys provides a full range of healthcare liability insurance options, advanced risk analytics, and best-in-class risk mitigation and education resources to help clients anticipate, identify, and manage risk to reduce errors and improve outcomes. Learn more at www.coverys.com.
About Duck Creek Technologies
Duck Creek Technologies paves a genuine path to the future for P&C insurance companies. Decades of insurance experience underpin advanced technologies specifically designed to accommodate change - allowing carriers to navigate uncertainty and capture market opportunities faster than their competitors. Duck Creek solutions are available standalone or as a full suite. All are available via Duck Creek OnDemand, the provider's SaaS solution for the P&C insurance industry. For more information, visit www.duckcreek.com.
Media Contact:
Paul Rechichi
Racepoint Global
617-624-3295
prechichi@racepointglobal.com
Attachment
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Far Resources Ltd (CSE:FAT) (FSE:F0R) (OTC:FRRSF) is pleased to provide an update regarding its high-grade Winston Gold-Silver Project, located in Sierra County, New Mexico, USA, and the previously-announced spin-out of these assets.
The Winston Project comprises the Little Granite Mine and the Ivanhoe-Emporia Mine, both of which are past-producing silver-gold mines. Management believes that these assets are highly valuable and worthy of a systematic exploration programme, but are not currently valued within the existing corporate structure.
In late 2017, Far announced that it was contemplating a Plan of Arrangement to spin the Winston assets out into a new public company as a form of dividend to its shareholders. Due to changing priorities and a focus on advancing its Zoro and Hidden Lake lithium projects, as well as changes in gold and exploration fundamentals, the company put plans for the spin out on hold.
Far is pleased to announce that it is again advancing plans to spin out the Winston Project into a newly-formed, precious metals-focused exploration company ("SpinCo"), with the initial goal of advancing the gold and silver assets in New Mexico through a focused programme of exploration and drilling. The company believes that SpinCo has the potential to be developed into an independent and viable company based on the merits of the Winston Project.
The company would spin out its interests in the Winston Project with the intent of listing on a public exchange in due course. Completion of such plan and any listing of the resulting entity will be subject to regulatory approval, and the approval of shareholders of Far.
Updates on this process, including share ratio to Far shareholders and timing of the record date shall be provided in due course.
"We believe very strongly in the value of the Winston Property," said Far President and CEO, Toby Mayo. "The exceptionally high grades recovered during due diligence-over 1.4 kg/t silver and 25 g/t gold-combined with the favourable location of the project, captured our investors'; interest. We believe that the time is now right to demonstrate the potential of this opportunity and to unlock the true value of Winston for our shareholders."
About the Winston Project
Little Granite Mine
The Little Granite Mine is a past-producing, high-grade silver-gold mine located in the Chloride Mining District in Sierra County, western New Mexico (Fig. 1 and 2). The area saw major mining activity in the late-19th and early 20th Centuries, with historic records of over 400 mines and prospects in the district.
Epithermal vein systems in the northern part of the district exist along dominantly north trends with lesser northeast and northwest trends. The longest continuous vein system in the district, the Great Master Lode, occurs in this area, winding along north and northeast trends for more than 11 km. Vein adularia at the Minnehaha Mine, on the Great Master Lode, yielded a K-Ar age of 26.2 +/- 1.2my, nearly identical to dates for stage two mineralisation in the southern half of the district.
Fig. 1. Winston Project location Fig. 2. Winston regional geology
Gold-silver mineralisation at Little Granite is contained in two major low-sulphidation epithermal quartz veins (the Little Granite vein and the West, or Jap vein). These veins outcrop in Tertiary age volcanics and run semi-parallel to one another, striking roughly north, and dipping 70 degrees to 80 degrees east.
Previous production occurred from workings where the two veins merge. It is understood that the bulk of ore mined was oxidised and free milling containing, silver chlorides and free gold near surface, with the deposits transitioning to sulphide-hosted mineralisation at depth.
Historic diamond drilling during the 1980s tested the vein over a strike length of approximately 400 feet (120 metres) mostly to a depth of 250 feet, though one deeper hole was drilled to 450 feet (Table 1).
The vein system has been traced for over 600 feet (185 m) along strike by surface drilling and underground development. At the surface, widths are typically 1 to 2 feet, but reportedly widen to between 6 and 12 feet at a depth of 250 feet. The deepest drill intersection to date (Hole LG-7) is approx 400 feet deep.
Hole
Azimuth
Inclination
From
(m) Interval
(m) True width
(m) Gold
(g/t) Silver
(g/t) LG-1 252 -78 47.9 4.6 2.9 20.4 5.1 LG-2 0 -90 65.8 4.9 3.1 43.1 27.8 LG-3 274 -80 60.0 4.3 2.7 80.4 130.9 LG-4 0 -90 67.4 5.5 3.5 0.7 15.1 LG-5 0 -90 42.4 2.7 1.8 33.8 22.3 LG-6 283 -81 57.9 5.2 3.6
Four samples of unknown
individual lengths 9.5 272.5
3.4 178.3
0.7 72.0
1.7 6.9 LG-7 270 -79 134.6 4.4 2.8
Three samples of unknown
individual lengths 19.7 5.1
6.2 <1.7
18.7 <1.7
Table 1: Historic drilling results from 1984 diamond drilling programme. Note: this work was not carried out under supervision of a Qualified Person. The assaying, sampling and QA/QC protocols are unknown, and therefore cannot be relied upon. These results are presented as historical information only.
The vein zone remains open both along strike and at depth. Historic mine records reported local bonanza-grade ore in some of the ore shoots underground.
In late 2013, Far conducted a due diligence site visit to the Winston Project, where they visited the Little Granite Mine area. Three composite samples were collected from quartz dump material near the mouth of the decline, which were reportedly excavated in the early 1980s. This check sampling confirmed the occurrence of local very high-grade silver and gold.
Two of these samples, representing the main style of quartz present in the mine, returned values of 179 g/t Ag and 2.9 g/t Au, and 170 g/t Ag and 6.7 g/t Au respectively. These samples show classic boiling textures and are considered to be the material from the upper part of a well-developed epithermal system. The third composite sample found on one of the dumps, containing fine grained grey "cherty" quartz material, returned values of 1,439 g/t Ag and 25.2 g/t Au. The results from the third sample supports the historic reports confirming the presence of "bonanza-grade" shoots within the mine';s main vein system.
Two additional samples of the exposed quartz vein were taken from the walls of a collapsed stope immediately north of the main shaft, returning values of 226 g/t Ag and 2.2 g/t Au, and 24 g/t Ag and 0.3 g/t Au. However, both of these samples may have experienced surface leaching effects.
All of the samples were collected by Lindsay Bottomer, P.Geo., former director of Far, who transported and delivered them to Acme Analytical Laboratories in Vancouver, where fire assay methods were used to analyse them.
Ivanhoe/Emporia Lodes
The Ivanhoe/Emporia lodes produced gold and silver from workings accessed by a 384 feet deep decline extending into the historical mine. Far believes that there is potential for outlining significant, large tonnage, lower grade mineralisation from the stockwork veins that surround previously mined high-grade veins.
Qualified Person
The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. James Moors P.Geo., a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.
About Far
Far Resources Ltd. is a Canadian battery and technology metals exploration and development company with projects in Canada and the USA. More information on Far is available at www.farresources.com.
Information Contact
L. Frank Anderson, Director
Far Resources Ltd.
+1 (604) 253-3444
The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the future draw-downs under the Facility, the anticipated use of proceeds from the Facility, the planned exploration for the Hidden Lake project and the Zoro lithium property, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company are forward looking statements and reflect management';s current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management';s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained lithium demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Company';s mineral properties in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Company projects, and the Company';s ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.
Readers are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees of future results or performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected as a result of various factors, including, the ability of the Company to close any future Tranches under the Facility, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realisation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financing, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorisations, including acceptance by the CSE, as applicable, required for future exploration activities or the acquisition of additional mineral properties, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company';s latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada.
All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
SOURCE: Far Resources Ltd
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540117/Far-Resources-Provides-Corporate-Update-for-the-Spin-Out-of-Its-High-Grade-Winston-Gold-Silver-Project-New-Mexico
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / The Board of Directors of Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. ("Viridium" or the "Company") (TSXV: VIR) (OTC Pink: VIRFF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Kamini Hitkari to the position of Chief Financial Officer, commencing on March 26, 2019.
Ms. Hitkari joins Viridium from Aurora Cannabis where she was the Vice President of Strategic Finance. Previously, Ms. Hitkari was with HSBC Bank Canada for over ten years at its head office in Vancouver, where she was most recently a Director of Finance for one of HSBC's lines of business. She began her career with KPMG (Victoria) earning a CPA, CA designation, and subsequently moved to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Vancouver). She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria.
"We're excited to welcome Kamini to Viridium as our new CFO," said Viridium CEO, Jay Garnett. "Kamini brings extensive financial, operational, and strategic experience. This, combined with her knowledge of the cannabis industry and experience in scaling high-growth companies, will be a huge asset to Viridium as we enter our next phase of growth and further our mission. We thank Ms. Wong for her service and contributions over the year as CFO and assisting the Company in finding her replacement. We are delighted that Ms. Wong will continue the role as the Company's Corporate Secretary."
Ms. Hitkari will succeed Ms. Winnie Wong, who has served as Viridium's Chief Financial Officer since 2018 and will remain as the Corporate Secretary of the Company and a strategic advisor to the Company during the transition period.
In addition, the Company issued stock options to its officer that will be exercisable to acquire 250,000 common shares at $0.65 per share until March 26, 2022 and granted 181,250 RSUs to its directors and a former director, of which 50,000 vested immediately into common shares and the remaining 131,250 RSUs will vest 12 months after the directors resign.
About Viridium
Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. is the parent company of Experion Biotechologies Inc., a Health Canada licensed cultivation and processor of cannabis, based in Mission, BC and EFX labs, a medical products production and clinical research company based out of Calgary, AB.
More information about Viridium can be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
For further information:
Viridium Pacific Group Ltd.
Jarrett Malnarich
Tel: (604) 837-8688
info@viridiumpacific.com
www.viridiumpacific.com
Disclosure
This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.
Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, forecast, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities; recent market volatility; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; the risks identified in the Filing Statement, and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to the Filing Statement dated September 25, 2017 and/or the most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
SOURCE: Viridium Pacific Group Ltd.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540111/Viridium-Pacific-Group-Names-New-CFO
Advanced Program Addresses Enormous Market Demand for Expert Machine Learning and AI Professionals
Imperial College London, a globally ranked top 10 university, today announced an online MSc in Machine Learning on Coursera, the world's leading online learning platform. This is one of the world's first online master's degrees in machine learning and will help students pursue the most advanced engineering roles in artificial intelligence (AI), data science, machine learning, bioinformatics, and more.
AI is projected to create 2.3 million jobs by 2020, while the machine learning market is expected to grow to $8.8B globally by 2022. To meet the significant demand for experts in the field, the MSc in Machine Learning from Imperial College London will prepare the next generation of machine learning experts to drive innovation in the field and its application across industries.
"Machine learning and AI will transform every industry, but we need the right engineering talent to shape this future," said Andrew Ng, Co-founder of Coursera. "I'm excited to see Imperial and Coursera address this acute skills gap with an advanced, technical degree in machine learning. With this increased access to machine learning expertise, learners all over the world can help shape the future of machine learning and AI technology."
The MSc in Machine Learning is a rigorous degree with a deep focus on the foundations of machine learning. Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as computer science, mathematics, statistics, economics, or physics. The program is highly interactive and offers frequent opportunities to engage with faculty at Imperial College London, a world-leading center in machine learning, data science, and AI.
"This advanced degree will train learners in the computational, mathematical, and statistical foundations of machine learning with a curriculum concentrated on areas such as supervised and unsupervised learning, applied programming, and statistical modeling. Students will have the opportunity to work with industry-standard tools like PySpark and PyTorch to develop and apply their machine learning and data science skills," said Professor Emma McCoy, Vice-Dean (Education), Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College London.
The curriculum also covers the ethics and limitations of machine learning to equip students with the skills to ethically and morally apply these techniques to their future work.
"Degrees continue to be the most valuable credential in today's job market, and this new program provides learners with the most advanced machine learning skills that businesses all over the world are seeking," said Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera. "We're thrilled to partner with Imperial College London, a world-renowned university with a reputation for excellence in mathematics, engineering and computer science, to offer an advanced degree program at the cutting edge of machine learning."
Degrees offered on Coursera provide a flexible, high-quality, and engaging learning experience. The MSc in Machine Learning is stackable and modular, allowing learners to start their degree learning with an open course that can count toward the degree upon acceptance to the full program.
"Machine learning, data science, and AI are rapidly growing sectors. Through this new open online masters in machine learning we are helping to train, at scale, the future workforce of highly skilled workers and researchers," said Gideon Shimshon, Director of the Digital Learning Hub at Imperial College London. "We are providing a flexible learning experience that enables people from all over the world to access content that otherwise would be available to only the few who can come to our campus."
The online MSc in Machine Learning will officially launch in the fall of 2020. To learn more please visit coursera.org/degrees/msc-machine-learning-imperial.
About Coursera
Coursera was founded by Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng with a vision of providing life-transforming learning experiences to anyone, anywhere. It is now the world's largest online learning platform for higher education. 190 of the world's top universities and industry educators partner with Coursera to offer courses, Specializations, and degrees that empower over 40 million learners around the world to achieve their career goals. Over 1,800 companies trust the company's enterprise platform Coursera for Business to transform their talent. Coursera is backed by leading venture capital firms such as Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, New Enterprise Associates, GSV Capital, and Learn Capital.
About Imperial College London
Imperial College London is one of the world's leading universities. The College's 17,000 students and 8,000 staff are expanding the frontiers of knowledge in science, medicine, engineering and business, and translating their discoveries into benefits for our society. Imperial is the UK's most international university, according to Times Higher Education, with academic ties to more than 150 countries. Reuters named the College as the UK's most innovative university because of its exceptional entrepreneurial culture and ties to industry. For more information, visit www.imperial.ac.uk.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005318/en/
Contacts:
Coursera
Arunav Sinha
arunav@coursera.org
SpendEdge, a global procurement market intelligence firm, has announced the release of their Global Rail Freight Services Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005568/en/
Global Rail Freight Services Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report. (Graphic: Business Wire)
The overall cargo volume of the traditional coal and crude oil is experiencing a gradual decline over the years because of the consumer's inclination towards renewable energy sources. The rail freight services market used to register a considerable demand from the coal and crude oil cargo, whose steady decline, is resulting in a decelerating category spend momentum. However, rail freight services are still considered as the most economical mode of cargo transport, which will continue contributing to the category demand in the coming years. Request your free sample copy of this rail freight services market intelligence report here!
According to the experts, the recently signed tripartite trade agreement, USMCA will foster cross-border trade between the US, Mexico, and Canada. This will serve as a significant driving force behind accelerating rail freight services procurement in the region. Europe will witness steady growth in the category spend momentum because of the intra-European freight movement, innovations by service providers to increase efficiency, and the rise in the volume of rail freight between China and Europe.
This rail freight services procurement research report offers a scrupulous analysis of the supply market forecasts, sustainability and negotiation strategies of top suppliers and buyers. Also, it also provides information on the total cost of ownership outlook and strategies to cut down on costs. Ask for a customized version of this rail freight services market intelligence report here for free.
"Suppliers must have intermodal travel partnerships to handle door-to-door intermodal delivery requirements. They should also exhibit their expertise in handling other associated requirements such as warehousing, customs clearance, packaging, and breakbulk support," says SpendEdge procurement expert Anil Seth.
This rail freight services procurement research report has identified the following factors to influence the category growth:
The market in APAC is likely to grow significantly during the forecast period
Rise in crude oil and labor costs is a major concern for service providers
Buy the complete rail freight services market intelligence report here to explore its complete scope of coverage.
SpendEdge is now offering limited-time discounts on report purchases. Buy two reports and get the third one for free
SpendEdge's procurement market intelligence reports for the logistics, warehousing and transportation category offer information on critical cost drivers and category pricing strategies to help the buyers achieve significant cost-savings. The report provides information on supplier performance benchmarking criteria to help buyers reduce spend and establish better SLAs. Additionally, SpendEdge's reports offer category management insights and procurement best practices for the category.
Report scope snapshot: Rail freight services
Category ecosystem
Market favorability index for suppliers
Competitiveness index for suppliers
Threat of new entrants
Interested to know more about the scope of our market intelligence reports? Download a FREE sample
Category management enablers
Procurement organization
Category enablers
Want customized information from our rail freight services procurement research report? Get in touch
Category definition
Category hierarchy
Category scope
Category map
To view this the complete table of contents for the market intelligence report, Download a FREE sample
Do you purchase multiple reports in a year? Our subscription platform, SpendEdge Insights, provides ready-to-use procurement research reports for multiple categories. Now access latest supplier news, innovation landscape, markets insights, supply market forecasts, and much more at the click of a button. Start your 7-day FREE trial now.
Related Reports:
Global Perishable Goods Transportation Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Global Distribution Services Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report
About SpendEdge:
SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more, https://www.spendedge.com/request-free-proposal
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005568/en/
Contacts:
SpendEdge
Anirban Choudhury
Marketing Manager
US: +1 630 984 7340
UK: +44 148 459 9299
https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us
Luxury Portfolio International honors Palm Beach real estate firm during annual conference in Las Vegas
PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Illustrated Properties, a member of The Keyes Family of Companies, has received one of the luxury real estate industry's most coveted awards. Illustrated was named Top Global Luxury Brokerage of 2018 by Luxury Portfolio International, the luxury marketing division of preeminent global network Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.
The organization's Top Global Luxury Brokerage award recognizes the brokerage firm that most effectively utilizes the tools and strategies provided by Luxury Portfolio to produce impressive results. Illustrated generated nearly $1 billion in transaction volume in 2018.
"We could not be prouder of the leadership, staff and amazing Sales Associates at Illustrated," said Mike Pappas, president and CEO of Illustrated. "Our firm has certainly embraced the competitive advantage that is realized when partnering with LeadingRE and Luxury Portfolio."
Illustrated received the honor during the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Conference Week at the Wynn Las Vegas in February 2019. The annual event attracts top real estate professionals from over 30 countries.
"We are proud to recognize the best and brightest in luxury real estate with awards that showcase their continued impact in the industry," said Luxury Portfolio president Stephanie Anton. "These awards showcase the recipient's excellence in marketing luxury properties and catering to the global high-net-worth. Each brokerage honored has demonstrated strategic implementation of the resources available through Luxury Portfolio International and we are honored to continue to cultivate relationships with the best in the business"
In July 2016, Keyes and Illustrated Properties announced the completion of a merger between the two companies, which continue to operate under their existing brands. Overall, Keyes and Illustrated generate more than $6 billion in annual revenue from their real estate service lines.
Keyes and Illustrated control more than 20 percent of the $1 million-plus market in northern Palm Beach County.
About Illustrated Properties: The story of Illustrated Properties began in the 1930s, when F.F. "Bud" Adams, Sr. started selling land in Hobe Sound and on Jupiter Island. His son, Bud Jr., took the family business to Palm Beach in 1975 and founded Illustrated Properties. He also became the exclusive broker for Lost Tree Village and John's Island. Under the leadership of Bud Jr.'s son, F.F. "Chappy" Adams III in the 1980s, Illustrated grew significantly while implementing new and innovative real estate technologies. The company endured a great loss with the passing of Chappy Adams in January 2013 but continued to grow as the #1 real estate brand in Palm Beach County while maintaining the culture of a family-owned business. Today, Illustrated Properties has more than 500 agents in 21 offices throughout Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Volusia and Collier counties. Illustrated is a Christie's International Real Estate affiliate and a member of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World network.
Luxury Portfolio International (luxuryportfolio.com) is the luxury marketing division of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, the largest global network of premier locally branded companies dominated by many of the world's most powerful independent luxury brokerages. Luxury Portfolio International attracts a global audience of visitors from over 200 countries/territories every month and marketed over 57,000 luxury homes to over three million high-net-worth visitors last year.
SOURCE: Illustrated Properties
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540081/Illustrated-Properties-Earns-Prestigious-Recognition-as-Top-Global-Luxury-Brokerage-of-2018
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2019) - Pool Safe Inc. (TSXV: POOL) ("Pool Safe" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Revenue Share Partnership with one of Las Vegas's premier global resort and casino operators.
Under the terms of the agreement, Pool Safe will provide and deploy 34 PoolSafes in all the cabanas of the Las Vegas-based property. The installation of the PoolSafes has been completed, and the Company expects operations to commence before the end of the month. As with all Pool Safe revenue share agreements, the Company will fund the production, delivery and integration of the PoolSafes at the property. In return, the PoolSafes will be deployed in VIP seating locations, with the Company receiving 60% of the daily rental revenues.
Based upon historical revenue increases generated from similar high-end locations, Pool Safe expects to install many more PoolSafe units to other properties owned by the resort operator over the course of the year.
"This particular property will be a wonderful Las Vegas proving ground for our PoolSafes," said David Berger, CEO of Pool Safe. He continued, "The Las Vegas strip and their many magnificent hotels and resorts will benefit greatly from the added level of luxury and security the PoolSafe units provide."
Pool Safe Inc.
Pool Safe Inc. designs, develops and distributes a product known as the "PoolSafe", which functions as a multi-purpose personal poolside attendant. The PoolSafe is designed to provide safety, convenience and peace of mind for hotels, resorts, waterparks and cruise ship guests. Functions include: lockable safe, solar-powered charger for USB compatible electronic devices including phones and tablets in addition to a server call-button, a beverage cooler and holders. Conveniently located alongside pool or beach lounge chairs, PoolSafe is a unique way of providing vacationers with a comforting sense of security for their belongings, while they enjoy their vacation. For more information please visit www.poolsafeinc.com.
Pool Safe Inc. is a fully reporting publicly traded company which is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol POOL.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Corporation's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Corporation is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.
Pool Safe Inc.
Steven Glaser
Chief Operating Officer
E: sglaser@poolsafeinc.com
T: 416-630-2444
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43652
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2019) - TROUBADOUR RESOURCES INC. (TSXV: TR) (OTC PINK: TROUF) (the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the progress of its due diligence of the Privateer Gold Property (formerly the Surespan Gold Property) located on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., near the town of Zeballos.
In addition to the established high-grade gold veins, the Company believes the Privateer Gold Property has significant exploration and discovery potential. Preliminary highlights of the data review show significant potential for the expansion of known vein occurrences in the areas around past producing mines on the property.
The newly discovered 88 Vein, which contained an intercept of 1,386.50 g/t gold (Company news release dated March 5, 2019) over 0.30 metres from 85.30 metres downhole, has been proven over a strike length of 130 metres. This vein remains open along strike to the northeast, southwest, at depth and is interpreted as the likely extension of the vein system at the past producing Privateer Mine. There is an intervening on-strike distance of 275 metres between the No. 2 vein in the Privateer Mine workings and the 88 Vein, that provides a clear and obvious high priority drill target.
The Privateer Mine's No. 2 vein was historically exploited over a 150 metres. Combined with the 88 Vein as the interpreted extension, the No. 2 Vein exhibits a potential minimum strike length of 550 metres. This is just one example demonstrating the continuity over considerable distances of the veins at the Privateer Gold Property and the unrealized discovery potential. See related map here.
Further instances of exploration potential are evident around the past producing Prident Mine and White Star Mine. In the area around the Prident Mine, drilling completed in 2018 intersected 7.12 metres of 5.81 grams per tonne gold including 0.37 metres of 67.50 g/t gold; 0.40 metres of 23.10 g/t gold and 0.39 metres of 18.40 g/t gold from 51 metres downhole in hole Z18-25. This hole was a 50 metre step out to the northeast from the known extent of the mineralization in the past producing Prident Mine and remains open along strike and at depth. In the area surrounding the White Star Mine, drill hole Z18-02 intersected 0.55 metres of 24.20 g/t gold from 61.50 metres downhole. This hole was an 80 metre step out to the southwest of the past producing White Star Mine and remains open along strike and at depth (Company news release dated March 5, 2019). See related map here.
*Drill intercept lengths disclosed herein are expressed along drill core axis and do not represent true thickness of mineralization. There has been insufficient work to determine true thickness and further work is needed to determine the relationship between core intercept length and true thickness.
"We are very encouraged by our initial review of data and have only scratched the surface of the potential of this gold camp. This is the only time in the history of the Zeballos Gold Camp that such a large land package has been assembled, of which over 99% of the historic gold production has been mined from within the Privateer Gold Property's boundaries. The high-grade gold veins in this camp tend to be continuous and traceable for hundreds of metres in strike length and depth and we believe that Troubadour is singularly positioned to realize the full potential of this gold camp," states Gary Schellenberg, CEO, Director and Chairman.
The Company believes that the consolidation of ownership of this historic gold camp is pivotal to the success of its development. Previous operators have tried and ultimately failed to effectively develop and exploit resources in the camp due to the fractional ownership that has been present since the 1930's when the Zeballos gold camp was discovered. Historic total production of the Zeballos Camp to 1982 amounted to 333,783 tonnes of milled ore which produced 304,309 ounces of gold(1) and the Privateer Gold Property encompasses the ground that accounted for 99% of this production. The Privateer Mine was the most prolific producer in the camp and accounts for 170,440 ounces of gold production from 146,798 milled tonnes(1). The Privateer and Prident Mines also host a historic estimate of 122,470 measured tonnes grading 9.26 g/t Au and 324,772 indicated tonnes grading 15.09 g/t Au (36,461 ounces Au measured and 157,565 ounces Au indicated).
The historical estimate is disclosed in Canadian Mines Handbook 1987-88 and was prepared by New Privateer Mine Limited. Although this historical estimate is believed to be relevant and indicates exploration potential at this site, details of how the estimate was made: the key assumptions, parameters, and methods used to prepare the historical estimate are unknown and have not been reviewed, and the original assay results have not been verified by the Qualified Person. As the historical estimate was prepared in 1988 it does not use existing mineral resource categories under CIM. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.
In addition to the ongoing comprehensive review of all available data, the Company is currently mobilizing personnel to perform a site visit of the Privateer Gold Property and the core storage facility. Re-sampling and analysis of select core intervals will be undertaken to confirm analysis results as well as sample some previously untested core intervals.
About Troubadour Resources Inc.
The Company has signed a letter of intent (LOI) (Company news release March 5, 2019) to acquire a 100% interest in the Privateer Gold Project, located 3km north of the town of Zeballos on Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The Company is also engaged in the preliminary exploration of its 100% owned Amarillo Project located approximately 30 kilometres west of the town of Peachland and 71 kilometres northeast of the town of Princeton, in southwestern British Columbia.
The Privateer Gold Project consists of six (6) mineral tenures and 84 crown grants encompassing the historic Zeballos gold camp, which is home to significant past producing mines. Under the terms of the LOI, the Company has an exclusive 90-day due diligence period allowing it to complete a comprehensive review of all available data and evaluate the exploration potential of the Property before entering into a definitive purchase agreement with the vendor.
The Amarillo Project consists of seven (7) mineral tenures totalling 4,178 hectares and is situated within the heart of a major mining district. The multi-element geochemical signature of the Amarillo Project is consistent with a large multi-phase mineralizing system and is acutely similar to some of the neighbouring mining operations; such as the Brenda Cu-Mo-Ag-Au porphyry mine located 10 kilometres to the north that produced 278,000 tonnes of copper, 66,000 tonnes of molybdenum, 125 tonnes of silver and 2 tonnes of gold over a twenty-year mine life (source: Brenda Mines website).
Patrick McLaughlin, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.
(1)Zeballos Camp Historic Production Source: Hanson and Sinclair, Geological Fieldwork 1982 Summary, Province of British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.
For further information please contact:
Troubadour Resources Inc.
625 Howe Street, Suite 488
Vancouver, BC V6C 2T6
Geoff Schellenberg, President
Office: (604) 681-0221
geoff@troubadourresources.com
Forward Looking Information
Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Company will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements.
NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43666
The Bebot chatbot provides personal AI assistance to passengers on board the Izu Craile train and at 8 additional stations.
TOKYO, JAPAN / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Bespoke Inc. ("Bespoke") and East Japan Railway Company ("JR East") are excited to announce the latest expansion of Bebot, the world's first chatbot for hotels, airports, stations and cities. The AI chatbot will now be available onboard JR East's Izu Craile Resort Train, as well as eight new railway stations along the Izu Peninsula, a popular tourist destination.
Bebot already offers guidance to travelers at Narita International Airport, Tokyo Station and many well-known hotels in Japan, such as Hotel New Otani. The launch onboard Izu Craile and eight more stations now provides English speaking users with the confidence to venture out of the city to more remote parts of Japan.
Bebot offers multiple advantages to railway companies. Firstly, automation to fulfill simple traveler requests can lead to cutting costs on behalf of the railway company. Secondly, Bebot can assist in directing traveler traffic to specific areas by seamlessly sending recommendations in chat. Thirdly, Bebot can collect passenger insights to find business opportunities and collect feedback to improve railway facilities and services.
Bebot encompasses Japanese hospitality into an AI chatbot, complementing the luxurious services of the Izu Craile train. Users can access Bebot on board the trains where QR codes will be placed in seat pockets. Users can also access Bebot from posters at the eight partnered stations in the Izu area. All travelers need to do is scan a QR code to access Bebot, available on any device without any additional downloads.
In addition to providing information about events, amenities, and menu options onboard the resort train, Bebot will provide travelers with vital details about each respective station. Travelers will also be assisted with basic tourist information, such as details about main attractions close to each station. Riders will be able to relax and enjoy their trips more, knowing that convenient help is at their phones at all times.
Bespoke has been developing Bebot's AI technology through human chat support to ensure that the chatbot is always learning and improving. Since its launch in 2017, Bebot has been helping users receive customized directions, tips, and essential information all through its simple chat interface.
ABOUT BESPOKE INC.
Based in Tokyo, Japan, Bespoke Inc. is leading the development of multilingual solutions through its Artificial Intelligence technology. With focuses on accessibility and local resources for users from over 100 countries, one of the company's most popular products is its Bebot AI travel concierge. Bespoke Inc. creates client-tailored AI solutions for a wide range of customers, including Holiday Inn, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, and Narita International Airport.
For media queries, please contact:
Tomo Nagano
press@be-spoke.io
Related Video
https://youtu.be/Fb-FELh1U8Q
Additional Links
About Bespoke Inc.
Bebot x Izu Craile Resort Train
SOURCE: Bespoke Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540059/Bebot-Comes-to-JRs-Izu-Craile-Making-the-Worlds-1st-AI-Supported-Resort-Train
TSXV approval of option of 4 claims adjoining Bootleg Lake Gold project
Right of First Refusal granted to Searchlight on claims covering over 300,000 hectares of the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt
VMS base metal and gold exploration targets on optioned and RoFR claim
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Searchlight Resources Inc. ("Searchlight" or the "Company") (TSX-V: SRCH) is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") has accepted the option agreement (the "Option") with Diamond Projects Inc. ("Diamond") a private Saskatchewan company, to earn a 100% interest in four claims (the "Property" or the "Claims") located near Creighton, Saskatchewan, Canada, five kilometres southwest of the city of Flin Flon, Manitoba.
In addition to the option agreement, Diamond has granted Searchlight a Right of First Refusal ("RoFR") for Diamond mineral claims on NTS Map Sheet 63L and the portion of NTS Map Sheet 63K located in Saskatchewan. See Map 2 below.
"Searchlight now has access through staking, options and the RoFR to one of the most significant claim positions in the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt. With the announcement of the closure of the 777 mine by Hudbay Minerals, Searchlight has an excellent opportunity to explore and find the next mine to feed the mill complex in Flin Flon," stated Stephen Wallace, President and CEO of Searchlight. Mr. Wallace further stated, "this puts the Company in a strong position to seek financing and long-term backers to take advantage of this claim position."
Searchlight has optioned 4 mineral claims totaling 654 hectares that adjoin the Company's existing Bootleg Lake claims, building the Company's core land position. (See Map 1 below) The newly optioned claims cover historical gold and volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") base metal showings, including the Curved Lake VMS and Phantom Ledge Lake Gold targets. See October 4, 2018 press release at https://searchlightresources.com/news/2018/searchlight-resources-options-4-claims-in-saskatchewan-from-diamond-projects/ for details.
Terms of the Option Agreement
To earn 100% interest in the Claims, subject to a 1% NSR, Searchlight must maintain the claims in good standing and complete 12 years of assessment expenditures on the claims. The assessment expenditure requirements are outlined in the Saskatchewan regulation document "The Mineral Tenure Registry Regulations" The total yearly exploration expenditures for the four claims are summarized in table 1 below.
Once the 100% interest is earned, Diamond Projects will retain a 1% NSR.
Further if any Claims optioned by Searchlight from Diamond Projects are sold or optioned by Searchlight to a third party, Diamond Projects is to receive 25% of all cash and share payments.
The agreement allows Searchlight to modify the size of optioned claims by adding or removing claim units during the life of the Option.
Any claims or claim units returned to Diamond Project will have a least one year remaining before Good Standing Date.
Year Exploration Work Commitments Year 1 N/A Year 2 19,597.11 Year 3 19,597.11 Year 4 19,597.11 Year 5 19,597.11 Year 6 19,597.11 Year 7 19,597.11 Year 8 19,597.11 Year 9 19,597.11 Year 10 19,597.11 Year 11 32,677.76 Year 12 32,677.76
Table 1: Summary of Yearly Exploration Expenditures
Map1: Location of Claims optioned from Diamond Projects
Right of First Refusal
In addition to the option agreement, Diamond has granted Searchlight a RoFR for Diamond mineral claims on NTS Map Sheet 63L and the portion of NTS Map Sheet 63K located in Saskatchewan. The right extends to all 100% owned Diamond claims in this area apart from two claim areas being explored and advanced by Diamond. See Map 2 below.
The RoFR provides that any additional claims optioned by Searchlight will be under the same terms as the first option presented above.
Diamond Projects Inc
Diamond Projects Inc. is wholly controlled by Mr. Shaun Spelliscy who also controls Gem Oil Inc. a 20.1% shareholder of Searchlight. As such Gem Oil is an insider of Searchlight.
Diamond Projects and GEM Oil are exploration companies active in staking, evaluating and holding mineral claims in Saskatchewan. At present these companies hold over 1.3 million hectares of mineral claims throughout the province, one of the largest single claim holders.
Map 2: Location of Right of First Refusal Claims (in green) relative to Searchlight Resources claims and Flin Flon
Qualified Person
Stephen Wallace, P.Geo., is Searchlight's Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.
About Searchlight Resources Inc.
Searchlight Resources Inc.is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V: SRCH). The corporate strategy of the company is:
to explore and develop opportunities in safe, low risk jurisdictions. The Company holds claims in Saskatchewan and Ontario, Canada and Nevada, USA. These are three of the top seven jurisdictions in the world for mining investment, as ranked by the Fraser Institute.
to target known highly productive geological belts, including the Flin Flon - Snow Lake Greenstone Belt, the Abitibi Greenstone Belt and the Walker Lane Structural Belt.
to acquire high quality projects, close to infrastructure, focusing on road access.
to work closely with stakeholders, including First Nations, Metis, local and provincial governments and local contractors to advance mineral exploration and development in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
Searchlight holds a portfolio of gold, cobalt, copper, vanadium and specialty metal projects from grassroots stage to advanced exploration and NI43-101 resource development.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
"Stephen Wallace"
SEARCHLIGHT RESOURCES INC.
Stephen Wallace, President, CEO and Director
Contact: Searchlight Resources Inc.
Investor Relations
(604) 331-9326
info@canyoncc.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.
NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
SOURCE: Searchlight Resources Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540150/Searchlight-Resources-Closes-Option-Agreement-to-Acquire-Claims-in-Saskatchewan-and-Outlines-Right-of-First-Refusal
GURUGRAM, India, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --
There has been a spurt in the online sale of baby food which has led to omni-channel shift of the popular offline retailers such as Coles and Woolsworth to their own online ordering platform.
A growth of 5.2% in the number of infants of age 0-36 months over the review period 2013-18 is expected to give a boost to the sales of baby food in Australia .
. Participation rate of women in the workforce has increased over the past few years and reached to 60.5% in the year 2018 which is expected to increase the demand for baby food in Australia .
The accelerated growth of Australia baby food is expected to be driven by the rising demand from Chinese and other Asian countries. However this growth is expected to cool down and the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 5% during the five year forecast period 2018-2023E. The revenue generated from the domestic sales of baby food in Australia is expected to reach AUD 1,540 million by the end of the year 2023E with significant decline in diagou trend which has caused the rapid growth in the last few years. The market share for organic baby food is expected to increase and command a respectable share thereby causing the slow growth in demand for conventional and inorganic baby food. This growth is due to the emergence of many domestic players like Bellamy's Organic, Bubs Australia Ltd. and many others which are targeting health conscious new age parents with willingness to pay the premium for healthier version of baby food. Additionally, existing companies have come up with organic variants of their existing products. Milk Formula is expected to remain the largest segment as it is in demand for all age group and is the widely used among many baby food categories.
Internet retailing will increase the demand of baby food: Online shopping will emerge out as one of the most preferred channel for buying baby food in Australia as conventional store are observed to have started their own online platform. Some of the major online players gaining popularity among the Australians are Catch.com, Chemistwarehouse.com, epharmacy.com, and Amazon. The professionally active consumers prefer online channels for purchasing baby food as it saves their time, effort and money. Gradually, with digitization and globalization, the online channels of distribution are expected to cater a large set of consumers in Australia.
Contribution of Females towards Total Labor Force: There has been an increase in the women labor force participation rate over the review period 2013-18, and it has reached to as high as 60.5% in the year 2018. It gets difficult for the working women to breastfeed their children and hence, making them dependent on milk formula for the nutrition of their babies and therefore positively impacting the sales of baby food.
Analysts at Ken Research in their latest publication "Australia Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 - By Type (Dried Baby Food, Prepared Baby Food, Milk Formula and Other Baby Food), By Organic Baby Food), By Region and By Distribution Channels" observed that the baby food market in Australia has registered very fast growth due to high demand from the Chinese market (Diagou trend). It is expected to slow down in the near future leading to normal growth in the range of 5-6% per annum.
Key Segments Covered
By Food Category
Dried Baby Food
Prepared Baby Food
Milk Formula
Other Baby Food
Nature of Food
Inorganic Baby Food
Organic Baby Food
By Age
0-6 months
6-12 months
12+ months
By Region
New south Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory
By Channels of Distribution
Supermarkets
Health and Beauty Specialist Retailers
Internet Retailing
Discounters
Other Foods Non Grocery Specialists
Convenience Stores
Forecourt Retailers
Time Period Captured in the Report:
Historical Period: 2013-2018
2013-2018 Forecast Period: 2019-2023
Companies Covered:
Nestle SA
Danone Group
Kraft Heinz Co.
Aspen Pharmacare (Pty) Ltd.
Bellamy's Australia Ltd.
A2 Milk Co.
Bubs Australia Ltd.
Key Topics Covered in the Report
Executive Summary
Research Methodology
Stakeholders in Australia Baby Food Market
Baby Food Market Australia Baby Food Market Overview and Genesis
Value Chain Analysis in Australia Baby Food Market
Baby Food Market Australia Baby Food Market Size, 2013-2018
Australia Baby Food Market Segmentation, 2013-2018
Trends and Developments in Australia Baby Food Market
Baby Food Market Issues and Challenges in Australia Baby Food Market
Baby Food Market Decision Making Criteria for Consumers
Government Regulations for Doing Business
SWOT Analysis of Australia Baby Food Market
Competitive Landscape in Australia Baby Food Market
Baby Food Market Australia Baby Food Market Future Projections, 2018-2023E
Analyst Recommendations in Australia Baby Food Market
For more information on the research report, refer to below link:
https://www.kenresearch.com/consumer-products-and-retail/baby-care/australia-baby-food-market/188411-95.html
Related Reports
UAE Baby Food Market Outlook To 2022 - By Category (Dried Baby Food, Prepared Baby Food, Milk Formula And Other Baby Food), By Inorganic And Organic Baby Food, By Region (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah And Umm Al Quwain)
The report titled provides a comprehensive analysis of the baby food market in the UAE. The report also covers the overall market size in terms of revenue and sales volume, SWOT Analysis, decision making process, competitive landscape and growth drivers and trends and government role and regulations. The report concludes with market projection for future market described above and analyst recommendations highlighting the major opportunities and cautions for the UAE Baby food market. The baby food market of UAE is still in its growth stage. The market displayed a strong competitive scenario where international players that hold majority of the stake are constantly trying to increase their existing market share. The UAE Baby Food market has majorly been an import dominated market. The market is receptive to newness and innovations for instance, camel milk based baby food products and halal baby food products have gained a lot of popularity in the country. Despite the fact that government is encouraging breast feeding among new mothers and economic impact due to oil price shock of mid 2014 that continued till 2015, the baby food market has shown consistent growth.
Egypt Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 - By Food Category (Milk Formula - (Standard Formula, Follow-on Formula, Growing-up Formula and Special Baby Milk Formula, Dried baby food and Prepared Baby Food) and by Distribution Channel (Health and Beauty Stores, Supermarkets, Independent Small Grocers, Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores and Online Sales)
The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Baby food market in Egypt. The report also covers the overall trade scenario, SWOT Analysis, decision making process, competitive landscape and growth drivers and trends and government role and regulations. The report concludes with market projection and analyst recommendations highlighting the major opportunities and cautions. Egypt baby food market is still in its growth stage with retail revenue increasing at a positive double digit CAGR during the period 2012-2018. Due to a majority of international players, it has been an import oriented market. There has been a vast demand for innovative products such as camel milk based baby food. Due to high level of malnutrition among infants, increasing number of parents has preferred baby food to fulfill their child's nutritional requirements. Also, there has been a shift to organic baby food products as they minimize child's exposure to harmful chemicals and elements. Albeit government is encouraging breast feeding among new mothers; the baby food market has shown consistent growth over the years due to lack of paid maternity leaves to women in the working sector.
Contact Us:
Ankur Gupta
Ken Research Private Limited, Head Marketing
Ankur@kenresearch.com
+91-9015378249
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661352/Ken_Research_Logo.jpg
For the first time, Leafly, the world's cannabis information resource, is bringing together international participants and exhibitors at a conference for medical professionals in Europe. At the end of September, doctors, pharmacists and researchers are expected to meet in Berlin to discuss the use of cannabinoids in the medical practice.
On September 21-22, 2019, the Leafly's European Medical Cannabis Conference will take place at the Umweltforum Berlin. More than 350 participants and experts from all over the world are expected to attend to talk about the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids at Leafly's first medical conference. The event will feature international speakers, focus seminars, a research laboratory with workshops and a trade exhibition. The goal of the conference is to introduce doctors to the therapeutic potential of cannabis. All medical practitioners with previous knowledge will have the opportunity to expand and deepen their knowledge.
The conference presidents are two recognized physicians in their field: Dr. Joachim Nadstawek, head of the Pain Clinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at the University Hospital Bonn, and Dr. Knud Gastmeier, specialist in anesthesiology at the Practice for Anesthesiology in Potsdam. The scientific chair and application lab leader will be the internationally renowned researcher Dr. Catherine Jacobson from the United States.
Conference Highlights
"2 days 4 topics" is the motto of the Leafly Medical Cannabis Conference 2019. Day one will focus on the fields of pain and neurology. Day two is dedicated to pediatrics and palliative medicine. The scientific program with lectures and discussion forums will be themed to respective days and subject areas.
The program in the main hall will be supported by accompanying focus seminars on both days, offering an in-depth exchange with speakers. The trade exhibition will feature booths with information from leading manufacturers.
The Leafly Medical Cannabis Conference will have its own application laboratory. From cannabis under the microscope, to extraction on site, and vaporization workshops, medical practitioners and experts can immerse themselves in the subject matter. Workshops are limited to 25 spots per lab. These can be booked beginning May 1, 2019.
The complete program will be available shortly.
Now through April 30, 2019, interested medical professionals can secure their tickets at the early bird price. For more information, visit https://www.leafly.de/conference/en/.
ABOUT LEAFLY
As the world's largest cannabis information resource, Leafly's mission is to help patients and consumers make informed choices about cannabis and to empower cannabis businesses to attract and retain loyal customers through advertising and technology services. Learn more in English at Leafly.com and Leafly.ca, in German at Leafly.de, or download the five-star rated Leafly mobile app through Apple's App Store or Google Play.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005633/en/
Contacts:
Linn Baumgardt
conference@leafly.de
+49 179-424 92 48
Global border and maritime security market to grow two-fold to $35.23 billion by 2028, finds Frost & Sullivan
SANTA CLARA, California, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Global instability due to terrorism and civil disruptions is leading to increased pressures among border and maritime security agencies to keep their borders safe from human, drugs, and weapons trafficking while streamlining operations to process genuine travelers. According to Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, Global Border and Maritime Security Market, a high impetus on cross-border data sharing and integrated security systems is driving the need for technological solutions that act as force multipliers. Frost & Sullivan forecasts the market to grow two-fold from $19.22 billion in 2018 to reach $35.23 billion in 2028 at 6% CAGR.
"The adoption and integration of next-generation systems and technologies powered by artificial intelligence and real-time big data analytics will enable faster and more accurate threat detection, tracking, and decision making," said Aravind Srimoolanathan, Senior Research Analyst, Security at Frost & Sullivan. "Robust network infrastructure and cybersecurity capabilities will be required with increasing inter-agency collaboration and cross-border data sharing."
For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/3b7
From a technology standpoint, Srimoolanathan predicts that multimodal biometrics for seamless security processing of travelers, tracking and identification through video analytics, and the concept of smart border management will gain prominence. Security industry consolidation and merger and acquisition activities with start-ups, which provide innovative solutions for the border security market, are also highly likely.
Key trends creating growth opportunities in the market include:
Airports poised to implement advanced technologies such as video analytics, eGates, ePassports and electronic visas for streamlining passenger check-in procedures through digital identity of people. This will help increase footfall and reduce processing time with foolproof identification and tracking.
poised to implement advanced technologies such as video analytics, eGates, ePassports and electronic visas for streamlining passenger check-in procedures through digital identity of people. This will help increase footfall and reduce processing time with foolproof identification and tracking. Increased investment in the efficiency of ports . Cybersecurity is now critical to port operations, and ensuring that operational networks are not compromised is a top priority.
. Cybersecurity is now critical to port operations, and ensuring that operational networks are not compromised is a top priority. Building an integrated, comprehensive automated border management system at land borders through the development and testing of advanced solutions such as laser fences and adoption of innovative screening and detection equipment.
through the development and testing of advanced solutions such as laser fences and adoption of innovative screening and detection equipment. Digitization of coastal security through connected assets for enhanced data-sharing capabilities to thwart intrusion scenarios.
"While border control groups may look to enhance connectivity in both domestic and international data-sharing capabilities, concerns over data privacy and risk may negatively impact the market," noted Srimoolanathan. "Furthermore, less developed and small countries may not have the budget to procure and operate advanced border and maritime systems and equipment to address their border security requirements and will seek flexible business models instead."
Global Border and Maritime Security Market Analysis, Forecast to 2028 analyzes the key aspects of border and maritime security and identifies areas of opportunities in the land border, coastal, and port and airport security segments. It also assesses the technology adoption likely to add value in terms of helping a nation realize its security objectives.
Global Border and Maritime Security Market Analysis, Forecast to 2028 is the latest addition to Frost & Sullivan's Security research and analysis available through the Frost & Sullivan Leadership Council, which helps organizations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future.
About Frost & Sullivan
For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.
Global Border and Maritime Security Market Analysis, Forecast to 2028
ME44_23
Contact:
Jacqui Holmes
Corporate Communications Consultant
E: jacqui.holmes@frost.com
Twitter: @FrostADS
LinkedIn: Frost & Sullivan's Aerospace, Defence and Security Forum
http://ww2.frost.com
ORMOND BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Rooshine, Inc. (OTC PINK: RSAU) announces that it has signed a Letter of Intent with an Australian international distributor. They have committed to monthly container loads of our smoked range of Rooshine products. The company expects to finalize the agreement within the next 10 days.
Larry R. Curran, CEO of Rooshine Inc., stated, "We have been very aggressive in pursuing this particular distribution company. They carry large brand name products and have a stellar reputation. And now we're part of their enormous reach all over the globe. I expect that in the coming months their monthly orders will easily double. As you can see, we've not been resting. I urge investors to keep an eye on this space for we are making great progress in other parts of the world as well. 2019 is our year. Also, due to market opportunities, we continue our due diligence on several potential CBD oil providers, as we are seeking the highest quality of product, reliability of the supply chain and process.'
About Rooshine, Inc - The Company was formed under the laws of the State of Nevada in April 1998. The Company's business is currently focused on the importation, distribution, and sale of alcoholic spirits. The Company entered into a Brand Licensing Agreement with The International Spirit Vault Ltd (ISV) (f/k/a Cloudburst Distribution Pty Ltd.), to be the exclusive distributor of ISV's Rooshine brand of spirits in North America. Rooshine's proprietary process allow spirits to taste like a smooth 20-year aged spirit after only a week. Our smoking process allows a permanent infusion of the smoky flavors that last the entire bottle.
Statement as to Forward-Looking Statements - Forward-Looking Statements certain statements in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified using words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "future," "may," "will," "would," "should," "plan," "projected, " "intend," and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company's future operating results are dependent upon many factors, including but not limited to the Company's ability to: (i) obtain sufficient capital or a strategic business arrangement to fund its expansion plans; (ii) build the management and human resources and infrastructure necessary to support the growth of its business; (iii) competitive factors and developments beyond the Company's control; and (iv) other risk factors. We assume no obligation to update the information contained in this news release.
Contact:
Larry Curran, CEO, Rooshine, Inc.
386-673-7246
Larry@ChooseRain.com
www.drinkrooshine.com
Twitter: @rooshine
SOURCE: Rooshine, Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540096/Rooshine-Inc-RSAU-Signs-International-LOI-Valued-at-6-Million-Dollars-Per-Annum
BEIJING, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Beijing, China Students, who participated in the eighth session of CHEN XIANG WU DAO study tour of China, arrived in Chicago, USA on 24 March. After spending two days in Chicago, the students will travel to the South American countries such as Brazil, Peru, Chile and Argentina. The whole journey will be ended on 8th, April. With the students arrived the USA, the eighth session of CHEN XIANG WU DAO study tour successfully started.
The study tour is jointly sponsored by HuaxiaFu Hsi Academy and HuaxiaFu Hsi International Culture Institute, and up to now, a total of eight sessions have been held. The seventh session was held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
According to Mr. Zheng Kuifei, the person in charge on behalf of the sponsor, the study tour aims to help students attain enlightenment by learning from the nature based on exploring the ancient civilization and the realistic ancient natural scenery. He added that they aim to select the regular students from HuaxiaFu Hsi Academy, and foster these regular students to be the mentors of future civilization within ten years.
Mr. Zheng Kuifei informed that the study tour has already helped students explore lots of places since its establishment in 2018, including Kunlun Mountains (China), Pyramids (Egypt), Mayan Pyramids (Mexico), Holy land of Jerusalem (Israel), Grand Canyon Colorado (USA), Niagara Falls (USA), Antelope Canyon (American Indian site), and Cuba Caribbean. The eighth study tour will bring an opportunity to the participating students to explore ancient civilization sites such as Museum of Brazilian Indian, Amazon Tropical Forest, Corcovado, Iguazu Falls Group, NAZCA Lines, etc.
Contact: ewtsp@163.com
SOURCE: HuaxiaFu Hsi International Cultural Institute
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540158/Eighth-Session-of-CHEN-XIANG-WU-DAO-Study-Tour-in-South-America-Successfully-Started
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, engineers from the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) concluded a week-long field study in four Yemeni provinces: Al-Jawf, Hadhramaut, Marib and Hajjah. The aim of the SDRPY fact-finding mission was to assess the development needs of Yemeni communities to inform future programming. The engineers worked closely with Yemeni officials on the ground to jointly establish development priorities.
In Hajjah Governorate, SDRPY engineers assessed the capacity of local roads and coast guard facilities in Midi. The Yemeni government has been an important ally in establishing maritime security and combating the smuggling of both licit and illicit goods, including arms. The needs assessments were not limited to the mainland, but extended to the adjoining Red Sea islands of Fasht and Buklan, where education, electricity and water needs were examined. On Fasht, a plan to rehabilitate and re-equip the health center with modern medical devices was outlined with local authorities.
In Al-Jawf Governorate, SDRPY and a body of local officials, under Deputy Governor Sinan Al-Iraqi, established priorities in the agriculture, education, electricity and health sectors. The needs assessment was holistic in nature: while examining agricultural potential and suitable types of seed and fertilizer, the team also examined the potential for digging new and restoring old wells, improving water distribution networks and providing public lighting along main roads in the capital Al-Hazm and the Al-Rayyan Highway. A preliminary study of the requirements for rehabilitating provincial health centers was also conducted.
In Marib Governorate, SDRPY engineers met with Governor Sultan al-Arada and toured Kara Hospital to inspect its transformation from a local to a regional hospital. Since the conflict began, Marib's population has increased from a mere 40,000 to 1.5 million people. This influx of primarily refugees and IDPs has doubled the hospital's caseload several times over.
"The health sector is absolutely vital to our province, and even more so now," said Gov. Al-Arada. "Marib's residents welcome plans for new projects to improve healthcare, as we do for all sectors fundamental to a dignified standard of living."
In Hadhramaut Governorate, SDRPY engineers, resident expert teams and local authorities in the Wadi Hadhramaut valley, including a deputy governor of the province, held extensive discussions on electricity, health, roads, water, agriculture and education at Seiyun University and a local technical institute.
"All of the projects are carried out in consultation with local authorities," said Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber, SDRPY Supervisor and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen. "The joint nature of this needs assessment is good evidence of that."
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/841433/Saudi_Development_Reconstruction_Pothole.jpg
Recipient of the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Award - Peter Russo seeks to prepare his students for post-secondary education by helping them navigate the educational landscape
BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / In an attempt to help educate high school students on potential career opportunities, Louisiana educator Peter Russo hosts a Q&A with Harvard student Amanda Gorman. As a sociology major, activist, poet, and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Amanda has a sophisticated understanding of how to excel in a professional capacity. She was also the first person to be named national youth poet laureate in April 2017 and is the Founder of a non-profit organization One Pen One Page.
By discussing relevant social issues, students were encouraged to contribute to a lively discussion and ask a wide range of questions from personal opinions to life as a Harvard student.
In this discussion, Amanda encourages students to pursue their passions and implies that every individual has a unique perspective to offer the world.
Peter Russo claims that the casual interaction between his students and Amanda Gorman was a means to fuel motivation and provide an opportunity to ask questions. Many students fear the transition between high school and post-secondary education; however, taking the time to establish clear lines of communication may eliminate some of those initial fears.
About Peter Russo
Istrouma High School Teacher, Peter Russo is the proud recipient of the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Award presented by the East Baton Rouge Parish. As a private school educator, some of his most notable achievements include the Voices of a People's History program a collaboration with Cornell University to create community building experiences. Peter takes pride in his ability to challenge his students, while motivating them to connect with real-world issues
For more information on Peter Russo please visit https://peterrusso.org/
Email: info@peterrusso.org
SOURCE: Istrouma High School Teacher
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540163/High-School-Teacher-Peter-Russo-Hosts-a-Talk-with-Amanda-Gorman
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2019) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE:TCAN) (FSE: TH8) ("TransCanna" or "the Company") provides the following update further to its press release dated March 25, 2019. The Company retained the services of GreenGrowth CPA , an independent third-party chartered professional accounting firm (the "Firm") 's located in Los Angeles, CA specializing in legalized cannabis. Green Growth was engaged by the Company to determine the enterprise value of the proposed business to be conducted by the Company on the property, which constitutes and fully integrated cannabis operation with divisions for transportation & distribution, extraction, manufacturing and packaging, nursery and a growing. The Firm concluded with a valuation range of US$50 million - $75 million, as at January 31, 2019 using two different valuation methods to reach their conclusion. The operations were valued on a going concern basis.
The two different valuation methods used by the firm included the discounted cash flow method and revenue multiples.
In utilizing the discounted cash flow method, the Firm considered a number of scenarios with sensitive selective key drivers of value including market share, number of products to be launched and timing for approval of city and state licenses. Under the discounted cash flow method, a discount rate of 31.86% was applied based on the capital asset pricing mode and reviewed against published studies of required rates of return for early stage companies.
In utilizing the revenue multiples method, the Firm observed multiples of broadly similar listed businesses, and the revenue multiples implied by the Firm's valuation were in the range of 3.1X to 36.9X. The Firm reviewed listed companies operating in both the United States in Canada to support the multiples implied.
A significant component of the valuation is based on the assumption of the Company being able to reach high growth rates and capture market share in a timely manner. A failure of the Company to do so would have a material negative impact on the indicative value range. The Firm reviewed varying scenarios to capture uncertainties relating to same as well as varying scenarios of the Company successfully launching differing numbers of products as the facility to reach the ranges provided The valuation also dependent on the Company obtaining all appropriate city and state licenses to operate the facility in a timely manner. The valuation report cautions that the Company must be reaching expected revenue targets in order to reach the valuation ranges.
The assumptions utilized in the valuation have not been tested by the Firm, and they have not audited or reviewed the complication of the cash flow forecasts based on assumptions, nor have they conducted detailed analysis of the industry. Sources of information for the business valuation include financial models provided by the Company, management presentations, other company business and financials, the Company's website, publicly available information on comparable companies published by Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters Financial Markets and available on SEDAR, other publicly available information and press releases. The business valuation also compared 26 publicly traded companies in the industry.
The valuation does not constitute an appraisal of the value of the property and equipment on the forming the facility. A separate real estate appraisal performed by Valbridge Property Advisors was reviewed by the Firm which appraised the property at US$16.3 million including equipment.
The Firm was paid a flat fee by the Company to complete the valuation which was not dependent on any specified outcome.
A US$250,000 non-refundable deposit to secure the property, and the Company will pay an US$8 million down payment from the proceeds of the Company's over-subscribed brokered private placement once closed (see news releases dated February 20, 2019 and March 14, 2019). The seller of the building has agreed to a carry back note of US$6.750 million at 7% p.a. interest only for up to thirteen months, with an initial maturity date of October 15, 2019, subject to a six-month extension. See March 20th press release for additional terms.
For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com.
About TransCanna Holdings Inc.
TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a Canadian based company providing branding, transportation and distribution services, through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries, to a range of industries including the cannabis marketplace.
For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com or email the Company at info@transcanna.com.
Media Contact
TransCanna@talkshopmedia.com
604-738-2220
On behalf of the Board of Directors
James Pakulis
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (604) 609-6199
The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: the expected purchase of the facility, the terms of the facility acquisition, the payment of finders fees in relation thereto, the ability of the Company to secure financing and the acquisition of appropriate licenses for the facility. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43673
Regulatory News:
Danone has just opened Nutricia Cuijk, its latest facility for the production of high quality specialized infant formula, in the south-east of the Netherlands. Veolia (Paris:VIE) has supported Danone with the design and construction of the plant, leveraging the latest technological innovations and the company's operational expertise to achieve the best possible environmental footprint for the site. Veolia will be responsible under a 10 year outsourcing services contract for the generation of utilities onsite to specific performance guarantees
Nutricia Cuijk is among the biggest production sites for Danone in Europe. Products coming out of the plant will be exported to more than 90 countries.
Veolia will be providing the Danone's Nutricia Cuijk site over the next 10 years with guaranteed levels of availability and reliability of its utilities, notably air and steam, as well as ingredient and process water. Energy consumption will be monitored and guaranteed through Veolia's proprietary efficiency hypervision center Hubgrade. This state-of-the-art plant has been designed and built with the latest technologies to maximize re-using and recovering water and heat, thus maximizing the site's efficiency with regards to its CO2 footprint.
This project is a clear illustration of Danone's 'One Planet. One Health' vision and the company's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. In commenting on Veolia's role in the project, David Boulanger, Senior Vice President Operations, Danone Specialized Nutrition said: "The planning, design and construction of the new Nutricia Cuijk plant was inspired by our 'One Planet. One Health' vision which reflects Danone's strong belief that the health of people and that of the planet are interconnected. While producing specialized infant milk formula, we're doing our utmost to preserve a healthy and clean environment for future generations. On behalf of Danone, we'd like to thank Veolia for their strategic support, helping us design and build a production facility that optimizes the resources we use."
Laurent Auguste, Senior Executive Vice-President of Veolia for Development, Innovation and Markets, commented: "The Design Build and Operation for the utilities of Nutricia Cuijk's facility is one main achievements of our Alliance with Danone", In addition to Veolia's contribution to Danone's sustainability agenda, the contract has been built to guarantee and incentivize Veolia for commitment on performance improvements. This is where Veolia is at his best and delivers the main value to its customers".
Since the beginning of the Alliance between Danone and Veolia in 2016, the companies have been leveraging their respective strengths and expertise to co-design and implement transformational initiatives and projects that can enable Danone to create economic, social and environmental change and value across their processes and operations. The work of the Veolia and Danone teams has been aimed at supporting Danone in its environmental commitments, notably in the fields of water and energy efficiency, sustainable packaging, global waste management and renewable energies such as biomass and methanization.
Veolia groupis the global leader in optimized resource management. With over 171,000 employees worldwide, the Group designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions which contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them.
In 2018, the Veolia group supplied 95 million people with drinking water and 63 million people with wastewater service, produced nearly 56 million megawatt hours of energy and converted 49 million metric tons of waste into new materials and energy. Veolia Environnement (listed on Paris Euronext: VIE) recorded consolidated revenue of 25.91 billion in 2018 (USD 30.6 billion). www.veolia.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005812/en/
Contacts:
Veolia Group Media Relations
Laurent Obadia Sandrine Guendoul
Stephane Galfre
Tel.+ 33 1 85 57 42 15
stephane.galfre@veolia.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX.V: SKE, OTCQX: SKREF) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that metallurgical optimizations as well as a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"), for the Eskay Creek Project ("Eskay Creek") have been initiated. The Company also welcomes Stacy Freudigmann, P.Eng., to the Skeena team as Project Manager for the aforementioned studies. Eskay Creek is endowed with excellent infrastructure including road access, proximity to recently commissioned 195MW run-of-river hydroelectric facilities, tailings storage capacity and historical underground development situated less than 100 metres from existing mineral resources.
Phase I Metallurgical Optimizations
Demonstrated metallurgy from the past producing Eskay Creek mine involved a 350 TPD flotation plant with average gold and silver recoveries of 80% and 92% respectively. Gravity separation of gold accounted for 10-30% of preliminary separation. Sulphide concentrates were subsequently transported via truck to either the Port of Stewart for further smelting in Japan or trucked to Kitwanga for loading onto rail cars and transported to a smelter in Quebec.
Notwithstanding the proven historical process associated with flotation, the Company will be investigating the amenability of the Eskay Creek blended mineralization to leaching.
The Blue Coast Research Group ("Blue Coast"), located in Parksville British Columbia, is currently undertaking the metallurgical investigations and subsequent optimizations. Blue Coast provides metallurgical laboratory test work services, specializing in precious and base metals, metallurgical flowsheet development, evaluation of processes and technologies including grinding, froth flotation, gravity concentration, leaching, heap leaching, to full continuous pilot plant testing.
The Phase I metallurgical testing is proceeding on schedule with results anticipated in Q2 2019.
Preliminary Economic Assessment
Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. ("Ausenco") has been engaged to perform a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Eskay Creek. The PEA will contemplate an open pit mining scenario with a small up-front contribution of underground resources. Dependent on the results of the metallurgical optimizations, subsequent trade-off analyses will contemplate either the leaching or flotation processes. The Eskay Creek PEA is scheduled for completion in Q3 2019.
Ausenco is a global diversified engineering, construction and project management company providing consulting, project delivery and asset management solutions to the resources, energy and infrastructure sectors. Ausenco's experience in gold projects ranges from conceptual, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for new project developments to project execution with EPCM and EPC delivery. Ausenco is currently engaged on a number of global projects with similar characteristics and opportunities to Eskay Creek.
New Project Manager Strengthens Operational Team
Stacy Freudigmann P.Eng., is a metallurgist with over 20 years' experience, specializing in areas of mining management, metallurgy and process engineering, project management and development. He possesses extensive experience in evaluating, directing and coordinating engineering for mineral development projects and managing process operations and production. Stacy brings with him the proven capability to oversee large engineering studies for clients, including Prefeasibility and Feasibility studies, as well as the proven ability to solve complex metallurgical and process issues. His founding of Canenco Consulting Corp. ("Canenco") in 2010 has seen him assist multiple mining and engineering companies around the world such as Nystar N.V., Sabina Gold & Silver Corp., Lion One Metals Ltd., SRK Consulting Inc., Dalradian Resources Inc. and more. Other operational, technical and management experience includes Pebble Limited Partnership working with Northern Dynasty and Anglo American, Hunter Dickinson Inc., Taseko Mines Ltd and Placer Dome.
About Skeena
Skeena Resources Limited is a junior Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing prospective precious and base metal properties in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company's primary activities are the exploration and further development of the past-producing Eskay Creek and Snip mines, both optioned from Barrick. In addition, the Company has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the GJ copper-gold porphyry project.
Qualified Persons
Exploration activities at the Eskay Creek Project are administered on site by the Company's Exploration Managers, Colin Russell, P.Geo. and Adrian Newton, P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities on its exploration projects.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited,
Walter Coles Jr.
President & CEO
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE: Skeena Resources Limited
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540169/Skeena-Initiates-Metallurgical-Optimizations-and-Preliminary-Economic-Assessment-for-Eskay-Creek
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2019) - Margaux Resources Ltd. (TSXV: MRL) (OTCQB: MARFF) ("Margaux" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has executed the definitive agreement with Wildsky Resources Inc. ("Wildsky") for an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Cassiar Gold Project (the "Property") in northern British Columbia by way of an all-share agreement.
The Cassiar Gold Project is a road-accessible, advanced-stage orogenic gold system, with a historical Inferred Resource of 1.04 million ounces gold (32.4 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.0 g/t gold using a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t gold). The resource is supported by a technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Taurus Project, Liard Mining District, B.C. for Cusac Gold Mines Ltd.," dated May 15, 2009, and prepared by Wardrop Engineering Inc.A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves; and Margaux is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The Taurus resource does not incorporate the results of drilling completed within the resource area in 2009 or 2012. As Margaux works to complete its evaluation of the Property it anticipates identifying and completing a drill program in 2019, completing further QA/QC work and engaging an independent reserves evaluator to complete an updated 43-101 report.
Tyler Rice, President and CEO for Margaux, stated, "The Sheep Creek and Cassiar projects are two of the three regions identified in recently published GeoScience BC report as having good upside potential for orogenic gold mineralization in BC. The third area identified in that same report is Barkerville, which has recently become an active gold producing site. Margaux looks forward to applying our learning and geological insights from our recent work at Sheep Creek to the Cassiar project."
On the Cassiar Property, gold mineralization occurs along a 15 km corridor of veining[1]. Within this structural corridor, gold occurs both as discrete high-grade veins and as near-surface low-grade style mineralization. Past-production from the property (primarily 1979-1997) is approximately 920,000 tonnes at an average grade of 11.9 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, or a total of 350,000 ounces of hard rock gold[2]. During this period, portions of the Property were held by different operators, and production was from different mine operations (predominantly underground) utilizing different mill facilities.
The Property has subsequently been amalgamated and now covers 60,000 hectares. It is bisected by Highway 37, has significant existing infrastructure, including a 270 tonne per day flotation and gravity mill (on care and maintenance since 2005) plus numerous ancillary buildings, a tailings storage facility, and a 30 man camp with grid power.
In addition to the Taurus gold resource described above, a 2010 resource estimate for high-grade veins in the Table Mountain area, includes 21,470 tonnes at an average grade of 18.02 g/t gold (Indicated) and 65,750 tonnes at an average grade of 24.30 g/t gold (Inferred), using a cut-off grade of 3 g/t gold. Contained ounces of gold within the Table Mountain resource are 13,650 ounces (Indicated) and 56,360 ounces (Inferred). Most of the Table Mountain resource is accessible by a modern underground ramp development which is linked by road to the mill facility.The resource is supported by a technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Table Mountain Property, Liard Mining District, B.C. for Hawthorne Gold Corp." authored by C. Pearson, P. Geo. and F. Bakker, P. Geo. and dated May 18, 2010. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves; and Margaux is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.
Numerous other veins are known on the Property, which have been tested by only limited drilling. In addition, Margaux believes there to be good potential to discover new veins and new areas of low-grade gold mineralization.
"We are presently reviewing the vast amount of historical data from the Cassiar project and are encouraged by our findings. I am confident that we will have quality targets selected for drill testing in 2019, to advance this exciting project," stated Linda Caron, VP Exploration for Margaux Resources.
Terms of Definitive Agreement
The Cassiar property, including all existing infrastructure, is held by Cassiar Gold Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wildsky Resources. Under the terms of the Definitive Agreement, Margaux has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Cassiar Gold Project by acquisition of all of the common shares (the "Cassiar Shares") in the capital of the Cassiar Gold Corp. ("Cassiar").
In order to exercise the option, Margaux must issue 58,200,000 common shares in the capital of Margaux, issued at a deemed price of $0.08 per share, for aggregate consideration of $4,656,000. Margaux must also undertake exploration on Cassiar's property and must satisfy certain other conditions as follows:
(a) 5,820,000 shares being issued to Wildsky on receipt of final TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") approval of the Definitive Agreement, as fully paid and non-assessable securities;
(b) 11,640,000 shares on the date that is the earlier of (a) six (6) months from the date of the Definitive Agreement, and (b) the receipt of final Exchange approval of the Definitive Agreement;
(c) 17,460,000 Margaux Shares on the date that is the earlier of (a) twelve (12) months from the date of the Definitive Agreement, and (b) the receipt of final Exchange approval of the Definitive Agreement;
(d) 23,280,000 Margaux Shares on the date that is the earlier of (a) eighteen (18) months from the date of the Definitive Agreement, and (b) the receipt of final Exchange approval of the Definitive Agreement.
(e) Margaux will expend at least $400,000 on the planning, development and execution of the Cassiar 2019 work program, based on a mutually approved budget;
(f) Six (6) Months after execution of the Definitive Agreement, Wildsky will have the right to appoint one (1) member to the board of directors of Margaux;
(g) Twelve (12) Months after execution of the Definitive Agreement, Wildsky will have the right to appoint an additional person (for a total of two (2) board members) to the board of directors of Margaux;
(h) Twelve (12) Months after execution of the Definitive Agreement, Wildsky will have the right to appoint one person to the senior management team of Margaux, on terms and conditions to be agreed upon by Margaux and Wildsky, acting reasonably; and
(i) Wildsky being granted a 30% net profit interest (the "NPI") on all minerals processed from Cassiar's TM-TSF#1 tailings pond (the "Tailings Pond") located on the Cassiar property, after capital payout of up to $500,000.
If, at any time prior to the exercise of the Option or the termination of the Definitive Agreement, Margaux or its agent(s) remove material from the Tailings Pond for purposes other than bona fide exploration and testing purposes, and such material is processed for its minerals and/or metals, then the time periods set out above in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of shall be accelerated ("Acceleration") to seven (7) days from the date of first removal of such material.
All Shares issued to Wildsky in accordance with Definitive Agreement shall be subject to a statutory hold period (the "Statutory Hold Period") of 4 months and a contractual hold period of a further eight (8) months (for a total of 12 months from the date of issuance). If Acceleration occurs, then all Shares issued to Wildsky, including any Shares issued prior to Acceleration, shall only be subject to the Statutory Hold Period. For greater certainty, if any Shares have been issued to Wildsky more than 4 months prior to the occurrence of Acceleration, then those Payment Shares shall immediately become "free-trading".
For greater certainty, Margaux will not acquire any interest whatsoever in the Cassiar Shares until such time as it has satisfied all the requirements of exercise of the Option as set out in the Definitive Agreement. If Margaux fails to fully comply with all such conditions of exercise within the stipulated time periods, the Option shall immediately terminate and Margaux shall forfeit all interest in any and all Shares issued to Wildsky and/or any of the Cassiar Gold shares.
The Transaction is subject to the following conditions:
Approval of the Transaction by the TSX Venture Exchange; and
Approval of the Transaction by shareholders of the Wildsky.
Qualified Person
Linda Caron, M.Sc., P.Eng., Margaux's Vice President of Exploration, is Margaux's Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this press release.
About Margaux Resources Ltd.
Margaux Resources Ltd. (TSXV: MRL) (OTCQB: MARFF) is a mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on gold exploration in British Columbia, and is directed by a group of highly successful Canadian business executives.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward looking statements including those describing Margaux's future plans and the expectations of management that a stated result or condition will occur. Any statement addressing future events or conditions necessarily involves inherent risk and uncertainty. Actual results can differ materially from those anticipated by management at the time of writing due to many factors, the majority of which are beyond the control of Margaux and its management. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining, directly or indirectly, to the following: Margaux's ability to enter into the Definitive Agreement on the timeframes indicated, or at all, sourcing of the required for the exploration expenditures and the timing and ability to obtain TSX Venture Exchange and requisite shareholder approval for the transaction, Margaux's exploration plans and work commitments, the potential of mineral resources and potential for recovery thereof, the timing of reporting exploration results, as well as other market conditions and economic factors, business and operations strategies. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. These statements speak only as of the date of this release or as of the date specified in the documents accompanying this release, as the case may be. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Margaux Resources Ltd.
Tyler Rice
President, CEO and a Director
(403) 537-5590
Tyler@margauxresources.com
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
[1], [2] Kirkham et al., 2008. Update of Technical Report on the Table Mountain Property, Liard Mining District, British Columbia, for Hawthorne Gold Corp., June 1, 2008.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43676
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2019) - Wildsky Resources Inc. (TSXV: WSK) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Margaux Resources Ltd. (TSXV: MRL) ("Margaux"). Pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement, Margaux may acquire all of the common shares (the "Cassiar Shares") in the capital of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Cassiar Gold Corp. ("Cassiar") from the Company.
In order to exercise the option (the "Option"), Margaux must issue 58,200,000 common shares (the "Payment Shares") in the capital of Margaux, issued at a deemed price of $0.08 per Payment Share for aggregate consideration of $4,656,000, undertake exploration on Cassiar's property and satisfy certain other conditions as follows:
(a) 5,820,000 Payment Shares being issued to Wildsky on receipt of final TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") approval for the Option Agreement, as fully paid and non-assessable securities;
(b) 11,640,000 Margaux Shares on the date that is the earlier of (a) six (6) months from the date of the Option Agreement, and (b) the receipt of final Exchange approval of the Option Agreement;
(c) 17,460,000 Margaux Shares on the date that is the earlier of (a) twelve (12) months from the date of the Option Agreement, and (b) the receipt of final Exchange approval of the Option Agreement;
(d) 23,280,000 Margaux Shares on the date that is the earlier of (a) eighteen (18) months from the date of the Option Agreement, and (b) the receipt of final Exchange approval of the Option Agreement.
(e) Margaux will expend at least $400,000 on the planning, development and execution of the Cassiar 2019 work program, based on a mutually approved budget;
(f) Six (6) Months after execution of the Option Agreement, Wildsky will have the right to appoint one (1) member to the board of directors of Margaux;
(g) Twelve (12) Months after execution of the Option Agreement, Wildsky will have the right to appoint an additional person (for a total of two (2) board members) to the board of directors of Margaux;
(h) Twelve (12) Months after execution of the Option Agreement, Wildsky will have the right to appoint one person to the senior management team of Margaux, on terms and conditions to be agreed upon by Margaux and Wildsky, acting reasonably; and
(i) Wildsky being granted a 30% net profit interest (the "NPI") on all minerals processed from Cassiar's TM-TSF#1 tailings pond (the "Tailings Pond") located on the Cassiar property, after capital payout of up to $500,000.
If, at any time prior to the exercise of the Option or the termination of the Option Agreement, Margaux or its agent(s) remove material from the Tailings Pond for purposes other than bona fide exploration and testing purposes, and such material is processed for its minerals and/or metals, then the time periods set out above in paragraph's (b), (c) and (d) shall be accelerated (the "Acceleration") to seven (7) days from the date of first removal of such material.
All Payment Shares issued to Wildsky in accordance with the Option Agreement shall be subject to a statutory hold period (the "Statutory Hold Period") of 4 months and a contractual hold period of a further eight (8) months (for a total of 12 months from the date of issuance). If Acceleration occurs, then all Payment Shares issued to Wildsky, including any Payment Shares issued prior to Acceleration, shall only be subject to the Statutory Hold Period. For greater certainty, if any Payment Shares have been issued to Wildsky more than 4 months prior to the occurrence of Acceleration, then those Payment Shares shall immediately become "free-trading".
For greater certainty, Margaux will not acquire any interest whatsoever in the Cassiar Shares until such time as it has satisfied all the requirements of exercise of the Option as set out in the Option Agreement. If Margaux fails to fully comply with all such conditions of exercise within the stipulated time periods, the Option shall immediately terminate and Margaux shall forfeit all interest in any and all Payment Shares issued to Wildsky.
The Transaction is subject to the following conditions:
Approval of the Transaction by the TSX Venture Exchange; and
Approval of the shareholders of the Company.
About Wildsky Resources Inc.
Wildsky Resources Inc. is a Canadian based exploration and development company with office located in Vancouver, B.C. The Company's goal is to create value for shareholders through continuously exploring and developing its current properties in BC and at the same time looking for new properties to acquire through its international connections.
For more information on Wildsky Resources, please contact the Company at (778) 889-4966, or visit the Company's website at www.wildskyresources.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"signed by Wenhong Jin"
Wenhong Jin
President and CEO
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information
Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in Wildsky Resources' periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "appear", "should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.
Although Wildsky Resources has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Wildsky Resources disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43675
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Podiatrist and business owner, Schlomo Schmuel announced today a new investment in the pursuit of academic excellence with the launch of Dr. Schlomo Schmuel's Scholarship program. Providing three scholarships, the program is designed to award students who showcase initiative and academic excellence at the post-secondary level.
Schlomo Schmuel's Scholarship program is open to students who have been accepted in or are currently enrolled in a college or university program. Applications are currently being accepted online until May 20. One winner will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship and two awardees with be selected for $750 scholarships.
An entrepreneur specializing in Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Schmuel has built nine Los Angeles-based clinics, serving patients throughout Southern California with foot and ankle conditions. Dr. Schmuel attended the College of Podiatric Medicine at Kent State University and performed his Residency in Podiatric Surgery at the University of Southern California Medical Center.
"The goal of the Schlomo Schmuel Scholarship program is to encourage the pursuit of academic excellence at all levels," said Dr. Schmuel. "By shining a light on students who show both promise and initiative, we can promote a deeper and wider respect for the importance of learning and those who dedicate themselves to its pursuit."
Program applicants will be judged on a variety of criteria, including academic accomplishments, non-academic accomplishments, awards, recommendations, personal statements, volunteer efforts, as well as independent diligence, including research of available public information. Applicants must show a GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.0 scale and evidence of enrollment in or acceptance of enrollment in a degree program at a four-year accredited college or university within the United States for the 2019-2020 academic year.
About Dr. Schlomo Schmuel
Schlomo Schmuel, DPM is a successful entrepreneur who built a thriving business specializing in Podiatric Medicine. As the owner of Sunset Foot Clinic, he has specialized in podiatric care for nearly 25 years. As a matter of fact, he has been serving patients on Sunset Boulevard adjacent to The Happy Foot/Sad Foot sign on the border between Silver Lake and Echo Park for a large portion of his professional career.
Visit https://schlomoschmuelscholarship.com to apply. Applications must be received via the online application portal before May 20, 2019.
Application or scholarship questions should be directed to: info@schlomoschmuelscholarship.com
SOURCE: Dr. Schlomo Schmuel & Sunset Foot Clinic
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540173/Schlomo-Schmuel-Launches-Scholarship-Program-to-Support-Post-Secondary-Academic-Achievement
Regulatory News:
As announced in the press release of March 21, 2019, Cellnovo Group SA (Paris:CLNV) ("Cellnovo" or the "Company" CLNV: EN Paris), a medical technology company marketing the first connected diabetes management platform composed of an insulin micro-pump communicating via Bluetooth with a locked-down Android smartphone, is facing a delay in the large-scale commercial deployment of its new solution and thus needs to find additional financing.
Within such context affecting its short- and medium-term financing, its operating English subsidiary, Cellnovo Limited, employing 92 staff and located in Bridgend, Wales, has obtained, today, the appointment by a competent English court of two representatives of RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP as "administrators". In the interest of Cellnovo Limited's creditors and partners, they intend to continue contacts initiated with strategic partners and investors in order to protect the value of the assets.
The initiation of a collective proceeding regarding its UK subsidiary has led the Company to request simultaneously the opening of a conciliation proceeding in France by the President of the Paris Commercial Court.
Such conciliation proceeding will provide the Company with a secured legal framework in order to support the actions undertaken with respect to its creditors, its partners and any third party having sufficient resources to support financially the Group or enter into a strategic partnership with it, and to protect its interests within the framework of the collective proceeding initiated in the UK with respect to its English subsidiary, Cellnovo Limited.
The Company will communicate as soon as possible on the development of the above proceedings.
About Cellnovo (Euronext: CLNV)
Cellnovo Group is a global innovative medical technology company supporting the needs and desires of people with type 1 diabetes. Cellnovo has developed and markets a novel diabetes management system, which is a connected platform that aims to make life easier for people with type 1 diabetes. Cellnovo's insulin delivery system comprises a discreet, wearable micro-pump that communicates via Bluetooth Low Energy with a locked-down Android smartphone. This unique system allows optimal management of insulin dosing and delivery while ensuring freedom of movement and peace of mind. Thanks to the transmission of data in real time, the patient's status can be seamlessly monitored by family members and healthcare professionals. Cellnovo is currently participating in several major Artificial Pancreas projects with TypeZero, PEPPER and Diabeloop, to develop fully automated, closed-loop insulin delivery systems.
For more information go to www.cellnovo.com
Cellnovo is listed on Euronext, Compartment C
ISIN: FR0012633360 Ticker: CLNV)
Cellnovo Disclaimer
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For review of risks and uncertainties which could cause Cellnovo's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Presentation of the Main Risks and Uncertainties ("Description des principaux risques et incertitudes") set forth in Exhibit 1 of the 2017 Annual Financial Report ("Rapport Financier Annuel") and Risks and Uncertainities ( Risques et incertitudes ) section #2.8 of the 2018 Half-yearly Financial Report ("Rapport Financier Semerstriel") of the Company published on the website of Cellnovo Group (www.cellnovo.com), respectively, on April 30, 2018 and November 26, 2018.
This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Cellnovo Group in any country.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005934/en/
Contacts:
Cellnovo
Chief Executive Officer
Sophie Baratte
investors@cellnovo.com
NewCap
Investor Relations
Dusan Oresansky
+ 33 1 44 71 94 92
cellnovo@newcap.eu
NewCap
Media Relations in France
Nicolas Merigeau
+ 33 1 44 71 94 98
cellnovo@newcap.eu
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Auryn Resources Inc. (TSX: AUG, NYSE American: AUG) ("Auryn" or the "Company) announces the appointment of Stacy Rowa as Chief Financial Officer and the resignation of Peter Rees as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, effective April 1, 2019. Mr. Rees is resigning to pursue a new opportunity.
Ms. Rowa is a Canadian CPA, CA who has worked with Canadian and US publicly listed resource companies for the past 10 years. Ms. Rowa has been with the Company since 2016 serving as Corporate Controller. Prior to joining Auryn, Ms. Rowa held finance roles with Elgin Mining Inc., before it was acquired by Mandalay Resources Inc. in 2014, and Aura Minerals Inc. She began her career with KPMG LLP's mining practice after obtaining her Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of British Columbia.
A Message from Ivan Bebek, Executive Chairman & Director:
"On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Peter for his valuable contributions to our management team and our companies over the past nine years. Peter has worked with Auryn since its inception and played a key role in establishing Auryn as a premier mineral exploration company. We wish him very well on his future endeavor and welcome Stacy to our team in the role of CFO."
On Behalf of the Board,
Ivan Bebek
Executive Chairman and Director
For further information on Auryn Resources, please contact Natasha Frakes, Manager of Corporate Communications at (778) 729-0600 or natasha.frakes@aurynresources.com.
About Auryn
Auryn Resources is a technically-driven, well-financed junior exploration company focused on finding and advancing globally significant precious and base metal deposits. The company has a portfolio approach to asset acquisition and has seven projects, including two flagships: the Committee Bay high-grade gold project in Nunavut and the Sombrero copper-gold project in southern Peru. Auryn's technical and management teams have an impressive track record of successfully monetizing assets for all stakeholders and local communities in which it operates. Auryn conducts itself to the highest standards of corporate governance and sustainability.
The Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE: Auryn Resources Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540161/Auryn-Announces-Appointment-of-New-CFO
Naresh Goyal continues to be the biggest individual stakeholder in the airline, holding over 25 percent of the company even after the bank transaction closes.
Monday was the end of an era in Indian aviation, with Jet Airways promoter Naresh Goyal, hanging his boots at the airline, as its chairman, after two decades of being at the helm of the airline. He did not want to leave but was asked to do so by the bankers to the airline, who took the helms of the airline he instituted in the 1990s, thus putting curtains at one of the longest innings in Indian aviation. If JRD Tata was the king of Indian aviation, having instituted and run Air India, then Naresh Goyal was the prince.
Goyal came from a humble background. He started to work for his uncle, who represented various airlines in India, since 1967. In 1974, he launched Jet Air, his own marketing organization for representing various airlines in India.
Then, circa 1990s, the government decided to open up the airline industry to private players, offering more choice to India which only had Air India for international flights and Indian Airlines for domestic flights till then. Jet Airways started operations as an air taxi operator in May 1993, operating between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. JRD Tata was there on the first flight for Jet Airways.
In 1995, Jet Airways became a scheduled airline, who could sell tickets for a flight scheduled in the future, after the abolition of the Air Corporations Act. In 2004, Jet Airways got its boost when airlines in India were allowed to fly abroad, opening up India to a new way of flying.
Their first flight was between Chennai and Colombo, but soon, the airline was able to lease an Airbus A340-300E, to launch flights between Mumbai to London. From then to now, Jet Airways grew to have a fleet of 119 aircraft, including 10 Boeing 777 aircraft and 8 Airbus 330 aircraft powering flights across Europe, and even North America. Most of these aircraft are now grounded but hoping to get back on air soon.
The focus of Naresh Goyal was always on building a service-centric business, with customer first as its basis. He had the obsessive eye to make a perfect product, but it may or may not have been what the customer wanted.
For instance, when Jet Airways purchased their Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in 2007, Goyal installed first class suites on the plane. Those first class suites, and the aircraft as well, mostly did the bidding for other airlines such as Thai Airways and Etihad, till Jet Airways was able to deploy them on their own routes a couple of years ago, flying them to Amsterdam and Toronto amongst other destinations.
But, under Goyal, Jet Airways also had their fair share of confused identity. With the onslaught of low-cost flying, which launched with Air Deccan, Goyal found important to participate in M&A activity to buy market share.
In spite of being advised against it, he went ahead with buying Air Sahara to rebrand it as JetLite. He also launched JetKonnect, a third low-cost brand, with the only difference from full-service flights being the meal. And then, in 2014, seeing all these ideas flop, Jet Airways went back to be a full-service carrier.
Goyal was a good negotiator, a peoples person, and also a relationship builder. His contacts across the industry made sure that when the airline fell on hard times in 2013, he was able to get Etihad Airways to join hands with Jet Airways for a 24 percent stake in the airline. He also spotted the opportunity that was created with Delta vacating their India flights, and his own airline quitting on flying to the USA, to team up with KLM/Air France to make a commercial agreement to fill these gaps for his own airline, as well as the Delta/KLM/Air France joint venture.
However, Goyal was not willing to let go when the time was right. When trouble started brewing in the second half of 2018, Goyal thought he could turn it around. He did succeed with lingering on with the airline for a couple of months, given the employees who were not paid then were willing to continue to work in exchange for IOUs of future salary payments.
The Jet Airways employees continued to give their sweat and blood, hoping their chairman was going to be able to figure a way out sooner than later. The lessors, the banks, the airports, everyone joined along too. Like mentioned earlier, there was a small public facing problem in 2018 which could have been fixed as long as the airline was sold then.
Goyal, however, wanted to be around to be watching over his baby, even when the baby needed to fly away. Subsequently, the law came into the picture, and the lessors had had enough. So everyone, including the Bank, started to pull the plug on the airline. Even through these dark days, Goyal wanted to be around and his exit from the Board was a pre-condition for Etihad Airways to invest in the airline. Eventually, talks collapsed, and Etihad Airways offered its shares back for a repurchase, wanting to leave the airline.
So, what does the future hold for Goyal and Jet Airways? It isnt over yet. Goyal continues to be the biggest individual stakeholder in the airline, holding over 25 percent of the company even after the bank transaction closes. As per the banks, if he climbs back to 26 percent stake, he could get the power to block special resolutions as well, meaning any new investor would have to necessarily team up with him, not against him. And not just that, the door for him is not closed yet. He could still put a bid to buy the banks stake in April, organising a set of investors behind him, and take charge yet again.
In the meanwhile, as a customer, it just means that the airline should come back to its original state over the months, in terms of operations. But does that mean they will fly empty planes? Under the management of Jet Airways overseen by a Board committee, that might just be the case.
There is a fine line between making profits and filling up planes with cheap seats in the airline business, and in the case of Indian aviation, their low cost competitor can just launch another deep discount sale to chip away any business that Jet Airways may hope to receive in the current environment.
Does this mean Jet Airways will live to fight another day? We will find out in the coming weeks leading up to 31 May, when the new owner of the airline will be decided. In the meanwhile, the crown prince will have a moment to reflect, and figure out what his next move could be.
(The writer is a business travel and aviation journalist based in Mumbai, and the founder of the Indian frequent-traveller website Live From A Lounge, www.livefromalounge.com. He tweets at @LiveFromALounge.)
IDBI Bank on Tuesday said its all-India Officers' Association will observe a one-day nationwide hunger strike on 30 March, over various demands
New Delhi: IDBI Bank on Tuesday said its all-India Officers' Association will observe a one-day nationwide hunger strike on 30 March, over various demands.
"The Bank is in receipt of notice of one-day nationwide hunger strike on 30 March, 2019 from All India IDBI Officers' Association (AIIDBIOA) addressed to MD & CEO, IDBI Bank in support of their various demands," IDBI Bank said in a stock exchange filing.
The Officers' Association has been protesting over RBI categorising IDBI Bank as a private sector lender with effect from 21 January, 2019, pursuant to LIC acquiring 51 percent controlling stake in the bank.
For December quarter of this fiscal, IDBI Bank reported widening of loss to Rs 4,185.48 crore as bad loans surged.
The bank's gross non-performing assets (NPAs) shot up to 29.67 percent of gross advances as at 31 December, 2018, against 24.72 percent in the year-ago period.
This year the company celebrates 40 years of JCB India and its success over those four decades is due to continual investment, he added.
New Delhi: Earthmoving and construction equipment company JCB on Tuesday said it will invest Rs 650 crore to set up a new manufacturing facility in Vadodara in Gujarat.
The new factory, the company's sixth in the country, would manufacture parts for global production lines in order to cater to increased demand. It is expected to start production next year.
The announcement follows the start of the work on a new 50 million pound (around Rs 450 crore) factory to build cabs for JCB machines in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, UK which will be completed later this year.
"With major investment in manufacturing capacity in the UK and India, we are very well placed to grow our business in the future," JCB chairman Lord Bamford said in a statement.
This year the company celebrates 40 years of JCB India and its success over those four decades is due to continual investment, he added.
"It's fitting that we mark the 40th anniversary with an investment in a factory which will give us enormous manufacturing capacity," Bamford said.
JCB India already has five factories in Delhi, Pune and Jaipur. On completion, the Vadodara plant would be capable of processing 85,000 tonne of steel annually.
"This new factory will be manufacturing engineered components and sub-assemblies for JCB's many factories around the globe. It will add to the capacity at our existing plants in India.
"Vadodara presents us with the advantage of being located close to the Surat port and also to our key suppliers," JCB India MD and CEO Vipin Sondhi said.
India has been JCB's single largest market since 2007. JCB India currently employs over 5,000 people and has a network of more than 60 dealers and 700 outlets spread throughout the country.
Jet Airways board on Monday approved an immediate fund infusion of up to Rs 1,500 crore by SBI-led lenders
Mumbai: Industry analysts welcomed the management changes at Jet Airways and the new debt-recast plan under which banks have taken over the control of the crippled airline and forcing founder-chairman Naresh Goyal and his wife out of board, saying the changes, though very belated, are "good and positive" for the airline.
Bringing an end to months of uncertainty over the future of the carrier, the Jet Airways board on Monday approved an immediate fund infusion of up to Rs 1,500 crore by SBI-led lenders and conversion of debt into equity at Re 1 a share from a cumulative 51 percent stake-holding. With this, the banks will be owning 51 percent equity of the once-premier airline, and will appoint a new board.
As part of the changes, founder Goyal along with his wife Anita, have been forced out of the board and pare their 51 percent holding to just 25 percent. That apart Goyal was also asked to step down from the chairman's position.
"Goyal's exit had been a bone of contention for some time now. But it was inevitable. May be it happened a bit late, but good that it has happened finally," said Dhiraj Mathur, a partner at PwC. The amount of fresh funds being infused is also good, he said, adding the new owners (the banks) have also put a time line of two months to get a strategic investor. But he was quick to add that he was not sure of a strategic investor getting on board in two months.
According to the airline, as part of the resolution plan, the lenders will also begin the process of sale/issue of shares to new investors which is expected to be completed in the June quarter.
Rajesh Narain Gupta, managing partner at law firm SNG & Partners, said as the changes happened as the equity partners (Etihad and Jet promoters) failed to arrive at a resolution, leaving banks with no other option but to pick up majority stake and find a new promoter for the airline. However, Gupta was quick to add that it remains to be seen how successful the banks will be in managing an airline, given their core competence.
"We see this as positive for the airline as urgency of funds and new investors wanting removal of old promoters are addressed. This should lead to some extent of revival of operations," said Sameer Kalra, founder of equity research firm Target Investing. There would be potential investors who would show interest in the airline given Jet's premium routes and slots, Karla added. However, an industry observer, who wished not to be named, alleged that the resolution plan is a big setback for retail investors, governance and minority shareholders.
"For Re 1, the lenders have got as much as 11.4 crore shares or 51 percent of Jet almost for free. As there is no reduction in debt or its liabilities. If a Jet stock is worth Rs 250 today, there should have been a debt reduction of at least Rs 2,750 crore by conversion of these 11.4 crore shares," he argued. Alleging that the banks got 11.4 crore shares (51 percent of the pad up equity of the airline) for nearly free with an additional fund infusion of only Rs 1,500 crore, he said, "this amount is grossly inadequate."
Narayan Hariharan, who worked over three terms as a senior vice-president in Goyal's office, said a lot will have to be done to make the changes really workable. "I believe that the employees, including the pilots, engineers, cabin crew and front-end staff are taken into confidence by the new management so that they assist in the turnaround plan," he said, adding personally he feels very sorry for the man who was intrinsically entrenched in every part of the product and services of the airline. "But Goyal's managerial experiments destroyed all organisational framework at Jet Airways which was once the top international carrier from the country," he alleged.
Jet Airways stock opened on a bullish note Tuesday and jumped 8.80 percent to Rs 276.90 on the BSE and at the NSE, shares advanced 8.93 percent to Rs 276.80.
New Delhi: Shares of Jet Airways continued to rise for the second day Tuesday, zooming nearly 9 percent on the bourses following the exit of Founder and Chairman Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal from the board of the ailing airline.
The stock opened on a bullish note Tuesday and jumped 8.80 percent to Rs 276.90 on the BSE and at the NSE, shares advanced 8.93 percent to Rs 276.80.
Shares of Jet Airways had zoomed 15.5 percent on Monday.
Naresh Goyal and his wife will resign from the board of the airline, according to a regulatory filing on Monday.
The decision was taken at the airline's board meeting held in Mumbai on Monday.
In the filing to the stock exchanges, Jet Airways Monday said Naresh Goyal, Anita Goyal and one nominee of Etihad Airways PJSC would step down from the board.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is a strategic partner with 24 percent stake in Jet Airways.
Naresh Goyal would also cease to be the chairman, the filing had said.
Further, an immediate funding of up to Rs 1,500 crore would be provided to the cash-strapped airline by "way of issue of appropriate debt instrument", the filing added.
Jet Airways, which has been operating for more than 25 years, is grappling with financial crunch and is also looking to raise fresh funds.
The airline has suspended operations on at least 14 international routes till the end of April and over 80 planes are on the ground. As many as 54 aircraft have been grounded due to non-payment of lease rentals.
Indian tax authorities are hoping for a windfall with the auction on Tuesday of rare oil paintings that were once part of fugitive billionaire jeweller Nirav Modis collection and have been seized by the government
Mumbai: Indian tax authorities are hoping for a windfall with the auction on Tuesday of rare oil paintings that were once part of fugitive billionaire jeweller Nirav Modis collection and have been seized by the government.
Auctioneers say the sale is the first of its kind in a country where tax authorities have usually auctioned property, gold and luxury items, but not art.
After a court order allowing the auction to take place, tax authorities, who are pursuing Modi over the countrys largest bank fraud, appointed professional auction house Saffronart.
The sale in Mumbai of some 68 works is expected to fetch anywhere between Rs 30 crore and Rs 50 crore ($4.4 million-$7.3 million).
Until a few years ago, the tax authorities really didnt know the value of art, said Farah Siddiqui, an art adviser who is advising clients eyeing Modis collection.
The 48-year-old Modi, whose diamonds have sparkled on Hollywood stars, is one of the prime accused in a $2 billion loan fraud at state-run Punjab National Bank. Modi denies the charges and believes they are politically motivated.
The auction comes just weeks before a national election and as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces pressure to bring back Nirav Modi (no relation), who fled the country last year and has been residing in the United Kingdom.
He was arrested last week by British authorities and remanded in custody after he appeared before a London court. India asked Britain last August to extradite Modi.
The auction includes works by Raja Ravi Varma, a 19th-century painter considered among Indias finest, and V.S. Gaitonde, a modern artist known for his abstract and often monochromatic paintings.
We believe that the collections intrinsic value will garner a positive response from collectors, said Saffronart Chief Executive Dinesh Vazirani.
India Law Alliance, a law firm representing the company controlled by Modi that owns the artwork, said it was challenging the court order that allowed the auction. The case will be heard by the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, a lawyer at the firm told Reuters.
Vijay Aggarwal, a lawyer for Modi, declined to comment.
Vijay Mallya questioned why public sector banks pitched in to save Jet Airways but let his company, Kingfisher Airlines, fail ruthlessly
After news was out about public sector banks bailout plan to rescue cash-ridden Jet Airlines on Monday, businessman Vijay Mallya urged Indian banks to take his money and save cash-strapped Jet Airways. In a series of tweets, he asked banks to take his 'liquid assets' he had placed before the Karnataka High Court to pay off Jet Airway's debt to PSU banks and all other creditors.
"I repeat once again that I have placed liquid assets before the Karnataka High Court to pay off the PSU banks and all other creditors. Why do the banks not take my money? It will help them to save Jet Airways if nothing else", the liquor baron tweeted.
Mallya, who is currently facing trial in a UK Court, went on to highlight the double standards of the NDA government, and questioned why public sector banks pitched in to save Jet Airways but let his company, Kingfisher Airlines, fail ruthlessly.
Happy to see that PSU Banks have bailed out Jet Airways saving jobs, connectivity and enterprise. Only wish the same was done for Kingfisher. Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 25, 2019
"I invested over Rs 4,000 crores into Kingfisher Airlines to save the company and its employees. Not recognised and instead slammed in every possible way. The same PSU banks let India's finest airline with the best employees and connectivity fail ruthlessly. Double standards under NDA," read another tweet on the microblogging site.
Mallya also claimed that the media 'decimated' him for writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while a BJP spokesman eloquently read out letters he wrote to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he alleged that PSU banks under the UPA government wrongly supported Kingfisher Airlines.
Jet Airways has been suffering bruising competition from low-cost airlines, fluctuating crude prices and a weak rupee. The airline has over one billion dollars in debt and has to repay money to banks, lessors of planes and suppliers besides clearing pending salaries to its pilots.
Last week, State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Rajnish Kumar had said that the resolution plan is almost ready and it will not involve a bailout for any individual. At the same time, talks with Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad Airways to secure a rescue deal are still on, he said adding there is also a possibility of bringing in another investor.
Jet Airways is a good aviation property and it is in every body's interest that it continues to fly, Kumar had said on 20 March.
The chairman of the airline, Naresh Goyal, stepped down on Monday (25 March), following which lenders agreed to pump in Rs 1,500 crore to bail out the financially troubled airline.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court had, last week, ordered attachment of Mallya's properties in Bengaluru under section 83 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with a FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act) violation case, and fixed the next date of hearing as 10 July.
--With inputs from Asian News International
Minimum income guarantee promise will most likely shift attention from the more serious unemployment problem.
Indias reform-myopic and opportunistic politicians have an easy solution to end poverty and unemployment simply throw taxpayers money at poor households and expect this to work wonders to pull them out of distress. Congress president Rahul Gandhis minimum income guarantee offer of Rs 72,000 per annum for the poorest of 20 percent families (about 5 crore poor families) is not very different from the Rs 6,000 per annum that Narendra Modi government has already promised to 12.5 crore farming households; only the quantum and name of the schemes are different.
Gandhis scheme aims to ensure every family in the bottom 20 percent gets Rs 72,000 per annum. The fundamental idea behind both schemes is that the state uses taxpayers money to feed its poor. Hence, criticising one and praising the other will be a futile exercise. The larger point is that a culture of freebies, across party lines, is gaining momentum.
Will assured minimum income help Indias poor alleviate poverty? There is no evidence, in any comparable economies, for any government or political party succeeding in poverty alleviation through distribution of freebies. Beyond a temporary relief, this isnt gong to alleviate poverty, neither will it help provide skill development, empirical evidences show.
Particularly for the Indian economy, this wont be a constructive exercise as the fiscal burden is set to go up while there wont be major contribution in terms of output that will come only through job creation and getting real economic activities back on track. Instead, such schemes will hand over begging bowls to the poor and make them wait for it every year, whereas little focus will be given on skill development.
Worse, appeasement of the poor through freebies coming at a time when the country is in the grip of a serious unemployment problem. Minimum income guarantee promise will most likely shift attention from the more serious unemployment problem.
Even in January, job creation fell by 6.91 percent to 11.23 lakh as compared to 12.06 lakh during the same period last year, according to payroll data of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) released on Monday, PTI reported.
During September 2017 to January 2019, about 2.08 crore new subscribers joined the ESIC scheme, the data showed. The unemployment level,according to an official report by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), which is yet to be accepted by the government, touched a 46-year high in 2018.
A sharp surge in demand for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) jobs is a big evidence that more people are getting out of organised factory jobs. Government data showed that in 2018-19, the demand for work under MNREGA increased by almost 10 percent compared with the previous year and also registered the highest number of person-days of work under the scheme since 2010-11, an Indian Express report said.
Till now, there is no road map either from the ruling party or the Opposition on how to deal with the unemployment problem, except more and more announcements on state-sponsored farm loan waivers and minimum income promises. Millions of educated fresh job seekers are finding it difficult to get quality jobs, forcing many of them to compete even for the last grade jobs.
Farm loan waivers already punched a big hole in the finances of government and banks thus weakening the economy. Minimum income guarantee schemes will be the next. A back of the envelop calculation shows that the total burden of Gandhis minimum income promise will be Rs 3.6 lakh crore. Thats 1.7 percent of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We are talking about an economy that has breached the fiscal deficit target for three consecutive years and is struggling to mop up revenues to keep its balance sheet healthy.
Any minimum guarantee programme such as the one announced by Gandhi will have enormous implications on the fiscal front. Gandhis comment re-emphasises that Indian politicians give far greater weightage to freebies and will go to any extent to win votes by totally undermining good economics. The idea seems to be throwing free money to all. The strategy Gandhi is now relying on is the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) old trick of pushing social welfare schemes to win votes.
When politicians vie to become socialist champions, there is no end to competition. By making the minimum income promise, Gandhi has attempted to outdo Modis scheme to win votes. Naturally, Modi will have to beat the Gandhi freebie scheme with a bigger one.
In effect, multiple versions of vote-seeking socialist schemes are to be expected once politicians get a taste of success using this tool. On the implementation front, Gandhis scheme will face huge challenges as deciding the 20 percent bracket will be a tough job since there is no reliable and updated income data available. How will the 20 percent deserving poor be counted and the legitimacy of their claim decided is a big question at every level of the implementation.
MNREGA, a product of the UPA, has worked well to an extent to provide relief to the rural India.But, that will not be the case with the minimum income promise. Just like Modi governments Rs 6,000 free income assurance to farmers, Gandhis minimum income promise is not going to help the poor in any significant manner.
India already has nearly 950 centrally-sponsored schemes. These schemes target the economically weak in each area and assist them through state funding. It is nearly impossible and unwise to go back from this targeted approach and fix minimum income to all because then the purpose of addressing specific problems is lost.
The first is about empowering needy with targeted assistance and the second about destroying the incentive to work and excel, not looking at specific segments of economically distressed. Most of this money, inevitably, will go to fulfil unproductive consumption needs, as is the case with Kisan Credit Card loans. On the other hand, chances of the benefit going to the undeserving is also high as fudging income documents arent difficult at the local level. This scheme will, thus, open up new avenues of corruption and can even boomerang on Gandhis party.
(Data support by Kishor Kadam)
Ever since the apex court decided in favor of mediation to resolve India's one of the oldest and most-aggressively fought cases, there has been an open debate about the viability of this option in resolving the issue.
The Supreme Court on 8 March ordered the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute to be decided by a court-monitored mediation team. As directed by the apex court, the mediation was to be completed within eight months and the first report to be submitted within four weeks. Former Supreme Court judge FM Kalifulla, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate and mediator Sriram Panchu constituted the three-team mediation panel.
Ever since the apex court decided in favour of mediation to resolve one of India's oldest and most-aggressively fought cases, there has been an open debate about the viability of this option.
On Monday, Nirmohi Akhara, one of the original parties in the case moved the Supreme Court with a plea that sought that the place of mediation (Faizabad) should be changed to a more neutral location and also asked to bring in two retired Supreme Court judges on the panel.
While acknowledging the apex court decision to refer the case for mediation so that an amicable solution is possible and this can ensure that a long-standing issue which has been a source of contention between two communities can be resolved in the next breath Nirmohi Akhara also stressed that amicable resolution would be possible only if there is a direct dialogue between UP Sunni Central Wakf Board and Panch Ramanandi Nirmohi Akhara Ayodhya who claim title to the properties, while keeping the faith and aspirations of all devotes.
In its application, Akhara clearly said that while it favours dialogue it does not want any proposal to be given in writing. The Akhara also, while highlighting the fact that it has in past (especially in 2010 when the Allahabad High Court pronounced its judgment in the case), expressed willingness for mediation and following the apex court decision to refer the case for mediation participated in the deliberations of the mediation panel.
However, in the application, it stated that while it participated in the mediation proceedings that took on 13 March it felt that the proceedings left a lot to be desired, a clear reflection of the dissatisfaction over the mediation proceedings. Now, it is important to understand that when the beginning of mediation process is resulting in such dissatisfaction, it is hardly possible that panel can magically (within the eight-week deadline set up by the court) succeed in forging any consensus that can lead to any possible resolution.
Also, what can prove to be Achilles' heel in this entire process can be gauged from a careful reading of the section that empowers the court to refer a case for mediation. Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 embodies the legislative mandate to the court to refer sub judice disputes to various ADR mechanisms enunciated therein where it finds it appropriate to do so, in order to enable the parties to finally resolve their pending cases through well-established dispute resolution methods other than litigation.
Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure states: "Where it appears to the Court that there exist elements of a settlement which may be acceptable to the parties, the Court shall formulate the terms of settlement and give them to the parties for their observations and after receiving the observations of the parties, the Court may reformulate the terms of a possible settlement and refer the same for a) arbitration;b) conciliation;c) judicial settlement including settlement through Lok Adalat; or d) mediation.
Here acceptable to the parties broadly means willingness of the parties to actually look for an amicable settlement of the dispute. But it is important to understand that this willingness is not only required for facilitating the court to decide whether the case should or should not be referred for mediation, rather this willingness for consensus has to exist and should guide the entire mediation process.
Anyone who is aware of the manner in which Indias biggest alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that is Lok Adalats works will understand that mediation or any of the ADR is good for statistics, better in theory and best for optics, but less effective when it comes to settling the long-fought cases marked by sheer mistrust and acrimony.
Every year National Lok Adalats are organised across the country and it makes news for statistics. In a country where the judicial system is under immense burden of pendency, resolving over million cases in a day calls for a celebration and also highlights the importance of ADR that includes mediation. But a close analysis of the cases resolved shows that majority of them include cases related to bounced cheques, bank recovery cases, motor accident claims and traffic challans, none of which requires rigorous interpretation of law and jurisprudence.
Also, in Lok Adalats it has been often observed that parties often intimidated by the aura of the court agree to a solution, but as soon as they come out of the court, the conflict resumes. And here is a case that concerns a title dispute, has a direct bearing on fundamental rights, and has been a very important case socially, culturally and politically. It has a significant sentimental value for two demographically most dominant communities of the sub-continent. So, to expect much from mediation will be naive.
The mediation will have parties who are bound to govern more by subjective criterion than objective law. It was reflected in Allahabad High Court verdict of 2010, where leave aside the arguments made by parties, the judgment was criticised for its panchayati tone. In this context, an important question is whether this mediation which is seen by many parties as legally sanctioned panchayat can ensure a resolution that will honour the law apart from sentiments and in reasonable measure. Also, another important question is: As the mediation process has already started facing the cracks, will it survive its eight-week gestation?
A Singapore Airlines flight from Mumbai to Singapore with 263 passengers on board received a bomb threat, prompting Singapore Air Force to send two F-16s to escort the aircraft
Singapore: A Singapore Airlines flight from Mumbai to Singapore with 263 passengers on board Tuesday received a bomb threat, prompting Singapore Air Force to send two F-16s to escort the aircraft.
The flight landed safely at Singapore's Changi International Airport on Tuesday around 8 am (local time), the airline added. "Singapore Airlines confirms there was a bomb threat concerning SQ423 operating from Mumbai to Singapore. The aircraft arrived in Singapore on 26 March, 2019, at about 0800hrs (local time). There were 263 passengers on board. We are assisting the authorities with their investigations and regret that we are unable to provide further details," a statement issued by the airline said.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force said two F16C/Ds escorted the SIA aeroplane. The RSAF said in a Facebook post that two F-16C/Ds were scrambled to intercept the SIA flight. "Our fighters escorted the airliner till it landed safely at Changi Airport," it said.
All passengers, except for a woman and a child, disembarked safely and had to undergo screening. The woman and the child were held back for questioning by the police, who are investigating the incident.
Preliminary checks showed that the airline received a call after the plane left Mumbai's airport on Monday at about 11.35pm local time. The caller claimed that there was a bomb on the plane.
The plane, a Boeing 777-300ER, had departed Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 11.36 pm local time on Monday, according to website FlightAware. It arrived in Singapore 31 minutes behind schedule, the site added. "There was no impact to other SIA operations," an SIA spokesperson said.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has gone back to his squadron in Srinagar though he is on a four-week sick leave
New Delhi: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan last month and returned to India two days later, has gone back to his squadron in Srinagar though he is on a four-week sick leave, official sources said Tuesday.
They said Varthaman preferred to stay with his squadron in Srinagar than going to his family home in Chennai while on leave.
The IAF pilot went on leave around 12 days ago after security agencies completed a nearly two-week debriefing after his return from Pakistan. "Varthaman could have gone to his family home in Chennai to spend time with his parents. But he chose to go to Srinagar where his squadron is based," the sources said.
After his four-week sick leave period, a medical board will review his fitness to help the IAF top brass decide whether he can return to fighter cockpit as desired by him. He was captured by the Pakistani Army on 27 February 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 was released on the night of 1 March by Pakistan.
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.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on 26 February.
Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations the next day. 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.
NRIs can only register online to vote in Indian election. They will have to be physically present at their respective polling booths to cast their vote, the Election Commission has clarified
Lok Sabha Election 2019 Fact-checker:
Claim: NRIs can vote online in upcoming general elections
Fact: FALSE. NRIs can only register online to vote in Indian elections. They will have to be physically present at their respective polling booths to cast their vote, the Election Commission has clarified
***
It is the election season, and apart from stingy political exchanges, numerous fake reports are also flying thick and fast on various social media networks. From morphed images to contrived data, overflow of such information is being monitored as social media giants try various means to control fake news. However, there is still a need to exercise caution before sharing any unverified or single-source update.
For instance, recently there were reports of a message being shared on social media (Facebook and WhatsApp) regarding voting rights of the Non-Resident Indians (NRI). The report claimed that NRIs can now vote online by visiting the official website of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
However, various fact-checking websites and the Election Commission itself, have now clarified that these claims are false and that no category of voters has been provided with a provision of online voting.
It has come to our notice that the following FAKE NEWS is circulating on some WhatsApp groups.
It is clarified that you can only apply for voter registration online through https://t.co/oC8AwgyIdK portal pic.twitter.com/OTxjb1zFbA Sheyphali Sharan (@SpokespersonECI) February 21, 2019
The fake message carried a link to the election commission website which allowed for the ECI logo to show up as an embed, camouflaging its falseness. However, the link only led to the voter registration page on the website, which is mandatory for all voters including overseas voters.
If overseas voters wish to participate in the electoral process, they need to fill up Form 6A to register as voters and will have to physically appear at their designated polling stations in India to cast their votes. To cast vote, an Overseas voter may use his or her passport as the document for identification.
The ECI is running a disclaimer on their website warning people to not fall prey to message.
It's official spokesperson Sheyphali Sharan also shared a copy of the FIR the election body had lodged with the Delhi Police for spread of misinformation. "As follow up action, written to DCP New Delhi District to lodge FIR and investigate the matter of fake news, relating to voting by NRIs using ECI logo, currently in circulation on WhatsApp," she wrote on Twitter.
As follow up action, written to DCP New Delhi District to lodge FIR & investigate the matter of fake news, relating to voting by NRIs using ECI logo, currently in circulation on WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/2JpvRcAbzQ Sheyphali Sharan (@SpokespersonECI) February 22, 2019
In February, an expert committee of the Election Commission had said no to e-voting for NRIs but approved proxy voting. Meanwhile, a bill to extend proxy voting rights to NRIs was passed in Lok Sabha in August 2018 but it is pending in Rajya Sabha and is set to lapse on the dissolution of the current Lok Sabha.
A simple change in the language might lead us to better understand the severity of the problems people bogged down with mental illnesses suffer from and ensure that they are treated with equal dignity and respect, despite it.
"Mental", "mad", "psycho" and "mentally-ill". These are some terms which become an easy come back when we want to put down someone we despise. Or, we commonly use them to refer to someone whose mannerisms or thoughts we dislike, in turn tossing around clinical terms and/or pejorative phrases used against people with mental illness with casual disregard. However, when public personalities, who bear considerable social responsibility, use these words to mud-sling each other, it becomes problematic on a larger scale.
Take for instance the case of politicians regularly using phrases like "pagal (hogaye hain)" to shoot down the antics of their opponents. Recently, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee while campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha election said that her party's principal Opposition, BJP, was like a "psychiatric patient" after the saffron party asked West Bengal to be declared a "super-sensitive" state in the wake of polls. She said that the party does not know what they are doing, referring to its alleged desperation to make a mark in the state and win seats.
While, Mamata and her followers, and even the BJP, might just see it as a statement made in the heat of political crossfire, it is deeply problematic that these terms are finding acceptance in everyday political lingo and general conversation while the fight against stigmatisation of mental illness continues.
Comments demeaning or indirectly outcasting people suffering from mental illnesses should not become the norm nor should they be normalised in any form, including political sloganeering. In fact, according to a report by The Times of India, the Indian Psychiatry Society has asked politicians not to use the word mental to describe their opponents in the run-up to the general election. The society said it has observed that many politicians and people with political affiliations use terms such as "mental instability", "mad", "manasik (roop/taur se) asvasth", and "mental hospital mein bhejna hai" while taking a jibe at their opponents. They also refer to some mental hospitals saying that their political rivals need to be admitted to them, and use the names of those hospitals in their speeches, the council said in its letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The words used by politicians and persons with social responsibility are discriminatory, inhuman and degrade the rights of people suffering from mental disorders, the council stated. Urging the ECI to caution politicians and persons who use such words, the Society also asked the EC to bring it under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Recognising the need to honour the looming mental health crisis
India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Rights to Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) and has also passed the Mental Health Care Act 2017 keeping up with the obligations of implementing UNCRPD. But despite this, politicians and their affiliates are often insensitive in their usage of words related to mental illness, and end up further promoting the stigma already surrounding such patients and their acquired behaviour. But what is the big deal about using these terms in jest, especially when one does not direct them at a person with a mental illness as an insult?
A lot of psychiatrists argue that using a clinical term to describe a certain behavior people who fuss about hygiene are OCD, for example makes it seem as if everyone with the symptoms suffers with disorder, or vice versa, everyone who has the disease acts the same way. This makes it difficult for people to understand and recognise mental health conditions.
Like for instance, not every time someone feels defeated, sad, or distressed are they experiencing 'depression.' And it is essential to differentiate the two so that not only are we more empathetic towards people suffering from the clinical disorder, but to also create awareness so that someone actually suffering from the disease finds it easier to accept it and seek help.
Similarly, just anyone who is annoying to the other can't be termed as 'mad' or 'pagal'. It is an oversimplification of symtomps which are much more serious and clinical than what they seem to be to people who aren't made aware of them. Also, both these terms have pejorative overtones and public figures hurling them casually further normalises their usage in society.
Jack Cahalane, chief of adult services at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC was quoted as saying in an article: "Mental health issues are not well understood. They are not seen as real disorders. They are not seen as biologically based. They are seen as something they are brought on by people themselves as weakness in character." And this is the reason why people shy away from seeking professional treatment or even community help for their disorders.
How language play a role in affecting lives
An Ohio State University research report suggested that the people who participated in the study showed less tolerance toward people who were referred to as "the mentally ill" when compared to those referred to as "people with mental illness." The findings of the research show that language choice should not be viewed just as an issue of "political correctness," said Darcy Haag Granello, one of the co-authors of the study. "This isn't just about saying the right thing for appearances," she said. "The language we use has real effects on our levels of tolerance for people with mental illness."
An article by the Science Daily quoted Todd Gibbs, a graduate student at the university as he said that, "Person-first language is a way to honour the personhood of an individual by separating their identity from any disability or diagnosis he or she might have. When you say 'people with a mental illness,' you are emphasizing that they aren't defined solely by their disability. But when you talk about 'the mentally ill' the disability is the entire definition of the person."
A simple change in the language might lead us to better understand the severity of the problems people bogged down with mental illnesses suffer from and ensure that they are treated with equal dignity and respect, despite it.
India and its mental health challenge
Among the many challenges India faces, the most underappreciated is the ongoing mental health crisis, which can be best described as a ticking time bomb sparsely focused at, despite the provisions of the Mental Health Care Act being put to the table. According to reports, an estimated 56 million Indians suffer from depression, and another 38 million from anxiety disorders.
The intensity of mental disorders is particularly worrying in adolescents as almost half of all mental illnesses start by the age of 14, which grow in proportion as they go undetected and untreated. As a consequence, suicide is the second leading cause of death among this age group.
A report published in Counterview states that there are only about 43 mental hospitals in the country, and most of them are in disarray. Whereas, six states, mainly in the northern and eastern regions with a combined population of 56 million people, do not have a single mental hospital. And most government-run mental hospitals lack essential infrastructure and treatment facilities. Also, not surprisingly, sustaining treatment in private clinics and hospitals is a long, drawn-out affair, which is expensive for most suburban families. And thus, mental care is always pushed to the back, when compared to the urgency of spending the savings for medical needs on other physiological ailments and needs. Not recognising mental illness at par with visible defects and diseases is another factor which adds up to the neglect.
According to the report, mental health conditions account for 16 percent of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged between 10 to 19 years and globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. The consequence of not addressing mental health conditions extends to adulthood, impairing both overall physical and mental health of the grown-up and therefore, limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults. This, in turn, impacts the overall productivity of the nation as well.
We are losing a big chunk of productive years to mental illness
A World Economic Forum-Harvard School of Public Health study estimated that the cumulative global impact of mental disorders in terms of lost economic output will amount to $16.3 trillion between 2011 and 2030. In India, mental illness is estimated to cost $1.03 trillion (22 percent of the economic output) during 2012-2030. Estimates also suggest that by 2025, 38.1 years of healthy life will be lost to mental illness in India (a 23 percent increase).
Another study published in Lancet reveals that one-third of the global burden of mental illness defined as healthy years lost to an illness falls on China and India, where millions go untreated because of stigma and lack of resources. While in China, less than 6 percent people with anxiety and depression, substance use disorders, dementia and epilepsy seek treatment; in India, only about one in 10 people are thought to receive specialist help.
Also read Reporting on mental health: Eschewing sensationalism in favour of sensitive, critical method is vital
Unkempt infrastructure, dwindling number of specialists: Spotlight on mental care
A survey conducted by the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in collaboration with WHO across 11 centres in the country, involving 3,000 people from each city, found that 95 percent of those with mental health-related problems remain deprived of treatment due to stigma, shame and fear of getting shunned from society. Whereas, according to a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare report, India faces a treatment gap of 50-70 percent for mental health care while highlighting the dismal number of mental healthcare professionals in India.
About 3,800 psychiatrists and just 898 clinical psychologists are available in the country and a large number of them are situated in urban areas. WHO reports that there are only three psychiatrists per million people in India, while in other Commonwealth countries, the ratio is 5.6 psychiatrists for the same. By this estimate, India is short of 66,200 psychiatrists, the analysis states, but not shocks.
As, mental health care accounts for a mere 0.16 percent of the total Union Health Budget, which is less than that of Bangladesh which spends 0.44 percent. A developed nations expenditure on the same amounts to an average of 4 percent, the report says. Thus, staring at a glaring gap in the number of mental health patients and the availability of specialised doctors, proper health care professionals, hospitals, clinics and local medics to treat them.
On the other hand, the taboo around the problem experienced by such a large number of people is such that people either suffer in silence or adopt enforced social isolation to deal with it. In villages, they are reportedly locked up in homes, tied to trees and even being flogged to exorcise "evil spirits" which others assume they might be infested with. Therefore, it is also essential to involve the social, health and education sectors in a comprehensive, integrated and evidence-based programmes for strengthening the overall healthcare framework at the grassroots level.
Mental healthcare initiatives are presently focused on a narrow biomedical approach that tends to ignore socio-cultural contexts. Community mental health services, thereby, can offer to pitch in here, filling-in the need for the right mix of clinical, psychological and social services to people helping them cope with situations and bridging the self-created distance between them and the society at large.
From years of outright neglect to coming of age by acknowledging a policy to cater to the same, India has come a long way in its fight and simultaneous support to mental health. However, more awareness, and filling the vacancies for specialists created as a consequence of the raised awareness, is the need of the hour which has to be addressed for those looking up to seek love and light and those willing to speak diligently to help the cause of many among us.
The Nirmohi Akhara, an original plaintiff in the decades-old Ayodhya case, has asked for two retired Supreme Court judges to be included on the mediation panel in addition to the three nominated members.
A litigant in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case, the Nirmohi Akhara has moved Supreme Court expressing unhappiness over the court-mandated mediation process, according to reports.
The organisation, an original plaintiff in the decades-old Ayodhya case, has asked for two retired Supreme Court judges to be included on the mediation panel in addition to the three nominated members, reported News18.
Two weeks on, Nirmohi Akhara has moved the #SupremeCourt, seeking changes in the court order on #mediation in the #Ayodhya case. It wants two retired judges more to be included in the #mediation panel besides shifting the place of #mediation to #Delhi from Faizabad. Utkarsh Anand (@utkarsh_aanand) March 25, 2019
On 8 March, the Supreme Court had referred the land dispute case for court-appointed and monitored mediation.
The Akhara, reported Times of India, said the issue could be resolved through a dialogue between it and the Sunni Central Wakf Board. The dialogue, it however demanded, should be monitored by former apex court judge FM Ibrahim Kalifulla who currently heads the panel and two other additional retired Supreme Court judges. Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu are in the committee too.
It has also requested the Supreme Court to move the mediation process out of Faizabad to Delhi. A five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, had said that the mediation proceedings will be held in the Uttar Pradesh city and that the state government will provide the mediators with all facilities.
The Supreme Court-appointed mediation committee for resolution of the land dispute had held its first sitting on 13 March and heard all parties who attended the proceedings, of which the Nirmohi Akhara was one.
"The appellant (Nirmohi Akhara) participated in the proceedings before the mediation panel held at Faizabad on 13 March. However, with utmost respect to this Honourable Court as well as the panel of mediators appointed by this court, the proceedings have left a lot to be desired," the Akhara was quoted as having said, by The Hindu.
The panel had directed that there should not be any reporting of the mediation proceedings in the print or other media, pointing out the views expressed by the top court. The next round of negotiations is scheduled to be held between 27 and 29 March in Faizabad.
Established in 237 BC during the reign of Ashoka, the 5,000-year-old Sharda Peeth (which translates to 'the seat of Sharda') is an abandoned temple and ancient centre of learning dedicated to the Hindu goddess of learning, Sharda
The Pakistan government on Monday approved a proposal to establish a corridor that will allow Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Sharda Peeth, an ancient Hindu temple and a cultural site in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), PTI reported.
The Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after the Kartarpur corridor in the Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations.
Reportedly, India had already sent a proposal to Pakistan to open the temple corridor, sources in Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Express Tribune. "After Kartarpur, a piece of big news is in the offing for Hindus. Some of the government officials will visit the area and will later submit a report to the prime minister," they were quoted as saying in the report.
"Pakistan has decided to open the Sharda temple. Work on the project will start from the current year after which Hindus in Pakistan will also be able to visit the site," Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member Ramesh Kumar told PTI.
"I am going to visit the place in a couple of days. I will also send a report to Prime Minister Imran Khan," he said.
Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that the opening of the temple in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) can help India and Pakistan navigate the current impasse.
Not too long ago, I had written to the prime minister imploring the Government of India to reopen Sharda Peeth, a temple across LoC for Kashmiri Pandits. An initiative like this at a time when India-Pakistan tensions are at an all-time high could help navigate the current impasse, Mehbooba tweeted.
The temple and its significance
Established in 237 BC during the reign of Ashoka, the 5,000-year-old Sharda Peeth (which translates to 'the seat of Sharda') is an abandoned temple and ancient centre of learning dedicated to the Hindu goddess of learning, Sharda (another name of Saraswati).
Between the 6th and 12th centuries CE, Sharada Peeth was one of the foremost temple universities of the Indian subcontinent. It was considered one of the most important seats of learning in South Asia, like Nalanda and Takshashila, where religion, philosophy, contemporary literature and astronomy were taught. The temple is next to the famed Sharda University, an ancient place of learning of Buddhism and Hinduism which has hosted scholars such as Adi Shankaracharya.
In fact, the idol at the Shringeri Sharadamba temple in south India was once said to have been made of sandalwood, which was taken by Shankaracharya from the Sharda Peeth.
It is also one of the three famous holy sites for Kashmiri Pandits, the other two being the Martand Sun Temple and the Amarnath temple in Anantnag. The Kashmiri Pandit organisations, therefore, have been demanding the opening of the corridor for many years now. It is also one among the 18 'Maha Shakti Peethas' highly revered temples throughout South Asia that commemorate the location of the fallen body parts of female Hindu deity Sati.
It is about 10 kilometres from the Line of Control and situated at 1,981 metres above the sea level in the valley of Mount Harmukh, which is believed by Kashmiri Pandits to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
However, according to the Express Tribune report, the landmark is in ruins due to lack of maintenance and is in urgent need of restoration after being severely damaged by the earthquake which occurred in 2005 in Pakistan. The temple, situated in Sharda village in the Neelam valley at the confluence of three streams, lies in ruins but has not been desecrated, The Times of India's report said.
According to a Dawn report, in the year 1030 CE, Muslim historian Al-Biruni visited Kashmir and narrated that he saw a wooden idol of Sharda Devi in the temple. He compared the temple to the Multan Sun Temple, Vishnu Chakraswamin temple at Thanesar and Somnath temple.
History and fate of the temple
Many believe, and as mentioned in Dawn's report, the temple is very likely to date back to the eighth century CE, in the age of the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir. From what remains of the ruins of the temple, it is reported to have been built of locally quarried red sandstone.
The temple had periodically fallen into disrepair by the 14th Century as it was attacked for the first time by Muslim invaders. After the attack, India started losing its contact with Krishanganga and Sharda Peeth. Later, in the 19th Century, Dogra king of Kashmir, Maharaja Gulab Singh, restored the temple.
Thereafter, following the brief 1947-1948 Kashmir war in the region between India and Pakistan, the site came under the control of Pashtun tribesmen who invaded the region. Control was then passed to the newly formed government of PoK.
Ravi Shankar Prasad was shown black flags by alleged supporters of another party leader, leading to a clash with party workers who had gathered at the Patna airport to welcome him
Patna: On his first visit to the city after being declared as the BJP candidate from Patna Sahib, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was on Tuesday shown black flags by alleged supporters of another party leader, leading to a clash with party workers who had gathered at the airport to welcome the Lok Sabha poll debutant.
Prasad, a resident of the Bihar capital whose late father was a state minister and leader of the Jansangh, was shown black flags by the alleged supporters of R K Sinha, a Rajya Sabha member, who was hopeful of a ticket for the seat which is currently held by dissident MP Shatrughan Sinha.
The Union minister drove away while telling the posse of media persons who stood waiting at the airport, "I thank my party for considering me for this great responsibility. I will be giving my best shot. The BJPs commitment to nationalism and good governance will help Narendra Modi return to power."
As supporters of Prasad and Sinha shoved each other and exchanged blows, they were quelled by security personnel deployed at the airport, though it was not known if any of them were detained.
Sinha is the founder of a prominent private security provider in the country and belongs to Kayastha community, to which Prasad and Shatrughan Sinha also belong.
An office-bearer of the Akhil Bharatiya Kayastha Mahasabha had recently come out with a statement saying that the community which has remained steadfast with the BJP post-Mandal would not vote for Prasad and that only RK Sinha was acceptable to it as a candidate.
Shatrughan Sinha, who is completing his second consecutive Lok Sabha term, is expected to be fielded as a candidate of the opposition "Mahagathbandhan" comprising RJD, Congress and other smaller parties.
Robert Vadra on Monday claimed before a Delhi court that ED has been leaking details of his interrogation to the media to 'embarrass' and 'humiliate' him on account of a 'political vendetta', a charge strongly denied by the probe agency.
New Delhi: Robert Vadra on Monday claimed before a Delhi court that ED has been leaking details of his interrogation to the media to "embarrass" and "humiliate" him on account of a "political vendetta", a charge strongly denied by the probe agency.
Special Judge Arvind Kumar, who extended Vadra's interim protection against arrest till 27 March in a money laundering case, was told by the counsel for the brother-in law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi that every question and answer of the interrogation has been leaked to the media with some ulterior motive.
This showed that the Enforcement Directorate's probe was meant to "embarrass" and "humiliate" Vadra on account of a "political vendetta" and the agency was guided by the "lust for custody", said senior advocates AM Singhvi and KTS Tulsi appearing for Vadra.
ED's counsel DP Singh countered the submission vehemently saying, "They talked about agency's 'lust for custody'. It is their 'lust for money' which has led to our 'lust for custody'".
At the outset of the hearing on the anticipatory bail plea of Vadra, Tulsi claimed that even the raid conducted on the businessman's house to obtain documents was "illegal" and moreover, Vadra has not misused the liberty granted to him.
The ED case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square, worth 1.9 million pounds. The property is allegedly owned by Vadra.
The court also extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Manoj Arora, Vadra's close aide and an accused in the case, till the next date of hearing 27 March.
ED opposed Vadra's bail plea saying he has been given sufficient opportunity to come out with some proof against the allegations levelled against him by the agency but so far, he has failed to do so. It further said that the offence was about the money coming as kickbacks, as direct payments to bank accounts.
It alleged that the case involved payment of Rs 300 crore in a defence deal and $10 million received in a petroleum deal. ED's counsel submitted that he requires more time to conclude his arguments and to present certain details before the court.
The court had on 19 March extended his interim protection from arrest till 25 March after the ED had alleged that he was not cooperating and sought his custodial interrogation. ED had told the court that there was reasonable apprehension that Vadra being a highly influential person would tamper with the evidence and hamper the investigation.
In his anticipatory bail plea, Vadra has alleged that he was being subjected to "unwarranted, unjustified and malicious criminal prosecution which on the face of it is completely politically motivated and is being carried out for reasons other than those prescribed under law".
The ED had also alleged that Arora, an employee of Vadra's Skylight Hospitality LLP, was a key person in the case and he was aware of the latter's overseas undeclared assets and was instrumental in arranging funds.
It told the court earlier that it lodged the money laundering case against Arora after his role came up during the probe of another case by the Income Tax Department under the newly enacted Black Money Act and tax law against absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
It alleged that the London-based property was bought by Bhandari for GBP 1.9 million and sold in 2010 for the same amount despite incurring additional expenses of approximately GBP 65,900 on its renovation.
"This gives credence to the fact that Bhandari was not the actual owner of the property but it was beneficially owned by Vadra who was incurring expenditure on the renovation of this property," the ED had told the court.
ED said it has received information about various new properties in London which allegedly belong to Vadra, including two houses of five and four million pounds each and six other flats.
Rajeev Kumar, who took over as the state CID chief after completing his tenure as the city police commissioner, would hold additional charge of the two departments until further orders, a home department official said Saturday.
Reviewing the Central Bureau of Investigation report on former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam, the Supreme Court on Tuesday called the charges "very serious", according to several media reports.
The apex court also gave Kumar ten days to file a reply to the CBI report, ANI reported.
A bench of Supreme Court, headed by CJI, said, "We will later determine the charges and counter charges after hearing from both the sides." The Court, while pursuing CBI report, said, CBI status report against Rajeev Kumar reveals something very very serious. https://t.co/fA9yB9Z2Fp ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2019
The top court asked the CBI to file appropriate application to seek action against the ex-top police officer, CNN-News18 reported.
On 2 March, the West Bengal government had given additional charge of the state directorate of economic offences and the special task force (STF) of Kolkata Police to Kumar.
Kumar, who took over as the state CID chief after completing his tenure as the city police commissioner, would hold additional charge of the two departments until further orders, a home department official said Saturday.
The order was issued by the state home department late evening on 1 March. Kumar, a 1989-batch IPS officer, had been embroiled in a controversy for being at loggerheads with the CBI over its investigations into the Saradha chit fund and Rose Valley scams.
A team of CBI officers was stopped from entering the residence of Kumar, the then Kolkata Police Commissioner, on 3 February when they had gone to question him in connection with chit fund scam cases.
The move had prompted chief minister Mamata Banerjee to initiate a sit-in-protest in the heart of the city to protest against "the attack on constitutional norms".
On 5 February, the apex Court had directed Kumar to appear before the central investigative agency in connection with the matter. It had also said that no coercive step should be taken against Kumar.
Acting on the apex court's order, the CBI had questioned Kumar for five days in Shillong.
On 19 February, Kumar had been appointed the additional director general of police and inspector general of police in the CID.
With inputs from PTI
Uttar Pradesh is the cow belt and the streets of Kanpur provide ample evidence of it.
Editor's Note: Although the Supreme Court suspended the government order banning sale and purchase of cattle for slaughter in July 2017, cattle traders across India are living in fear. There is no blanket ban today but the job, it seems, has been outsourced to vigilantes, who enjoy protection due to ideological affinity with the BJP. Consequently, farmers fail to sell animals that are no longer useful to them and their scarce resources get drained in protecting crops as the population of stray cattle grows. The ban on slaughter of animals in abattoirs has resulted in job losses in leather and footwear industries. The poor are deprived of a cheap source of protein and the country is losing on revenue from exports. The cumulative result is a manufactured crisis, which is an example of an ideology running riot because its detached from reality. This three-part series examines how BJPs policies have ironically resulted in animal cruelty on a large scale. This is the second part of the series.
Rajkumari Gupta rushes out of her house as photographs are taken of a dozen cows, bulls and calves ingesting a mash of vegetable peel and shredded plastic bags at a waste dump at Tiranga Gali in Kanpur citys Shastri Nagar. She complains about the stench, the aggression of the animals and the indifference of the municipal authorities, and hopes this report will bring relief. The small crowd that soon collects complains about the numbers that swell as the dump gets replenished through the day and the threat the animals pose to passers-by. A bull reportedly gored three scooter-borne boys the previous day.
Uttar Pradesh is the cow belt and the streets of Kanpur provide ample evidence of it. In the villages, one finds small groups of hungry cattle lazing under the shade of trees or nibbling at the edges of fenced crops. At night, they feast on the standing crops. Stray cattle were always a presence, but their numbers have increased since gau rakshaks or cow vigilantes enforced an unofficial ban on trading in cattle after a change of government at the Centre. In September 2015, Mohammed Akhlaq was killed in Uttar Pradesh village adjoining Delhi allegedly for possession of beef.
In December 2018, police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh of Bulandshahr was killed when he tried to control a violent mob that had been inflamed by the sight of a cow carcass. IndiaSpend, a data journalism service, listed 99 incidents of cow-related violence against Muslims and Dalits across 19 states between 2012 and 2018. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 19 incidents and nine deaths.
The slaughter of cattle cow and its progeny is banned in Uttar Pradesh. Cattle used to be transported to West Bengal, where beef is legal, or smuggled to Bangladesh. The director of a large Mumbai-based buffalo meat export house with abattoirs in Aligarh and Unnao, said (requesting anonymity) that the Border Security Force has cracked down hard on cattle smuggling. In the current environment, it would be a reckless trader who would transport cattle from Uttar Pradesh to states where their slaughter is allowed. Apart from the threat of death, there is the constant fear of extortion by police in connivance with cow vigilantes.
Even traders bringing buffaloes to meat export houses are not spared (Uttar Pradesh allows the slaughter of buffaloes, but Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath ordered the closure of abattoirs that did not meet pollution control norms soon after taking office in March 2017. None of them did and all of them are municipal-owned. Buffaloes are now slaughtered only in the abattoirs of export houses in the state).
There was hardly a buffalo trader who said he was not harassed by Bajrang Dal activists and the police at the buffalo-meat exporter Allanasons lairage at Aligarh in April 2017. Abdul Qayyum said he paid the police at Raya railway crossing near Mathura Rs 50,000 after being intercepted by men claiming to be Bajrang Dal activists on 27 March, 2017. He said he had valid papers for the buffaloes he bought in Bharatpur in Rajasthan for supply to the Aligarh abattoir. Mohammed Shoaib said he paid a similar amount to the police at the same crossing for release of 11 buffaloes. Keep the permit in your pocket, the police reportedly said, as they shook him down.
At the Mathura cattle market, Ammu Chauthary said in August 2017 that he had to routinely bribe the police upwards of Rs 1,000 per trip. He sold female buffalo calves to grazers in Etah, who after rearing them for two years, sold them to dairy farmers for a profit. Earlier, we didnt have to pay, he said.
Uttar Pradesh farmers are facing the blowback. Sarita Devi, an agricultural worker of Tadwara Village of Sarvan Kheda block in Kanpur Dehat district said stray cattle ruined the wheat crop she raised on two of four bighas (one acre is 2.25 bighas) of land. Nothing is left, she said. Devi cannot afford to fence the farm, and her husband cannot keep watch as he works as a loader of cement bags at a hardware store.
Vinod Kumar of Simaur village in Kanpur Nagar districts Ghatampur tehsil said he kept watch on his field from 6 in the morning till 10 at night. He claimed to be doing the drill for three years. Yet, he could not save the wheat crop planted in a field next to a road. Kumar shares 3.5 bighas across five patches with two brothers. He doubles up as an agricultural worker to supplement his meagre income from farming. The crop is weak because it was eaten. He spent Rs 3,600 to fence two plots with a single line of barbed wire, strung on wooden poles (iron ones are stolen), but could not keep the starving cattle away. Thirty to thirty-two come at a time, he said.
About two months ago, the gram panchayat of Saintha Village in Akbarpur tehsil of Kanpur Dehat district decided to lock up about 80 stray cattle in the premises of an unused baraat ghar. It was a collective decision because we were so tired of them, said Munesh Kumar Mishra, who owns an acre of land. The village folk decided to contribute in kind for their upkeep, but no sooner did the police hear about the plan than they rushed to the village and dissuaded them citing the law against prevention of cruelty to animals. At a gaushala about 10 kilometres away, they found police beating back a group of villagers who were forcing their cattle into it. Now, its each farmer for himself, Mishra said.
When asked whether he had lost his crop to stray cattle, Pawan Pratap Singh of Jaswapur village retorted, Name a candidate (sic) here who has not lost 1 to 2 bighas of crop to them. This is a big problem since the past three years, he added.
Farmers stay awake well into the night, but they cannot fight sleep after a while, said Jagroop Singh, also of Jaswapur. He spent Rs 7,000 infencing a 10-bigha plot, but the single line of barbed wire running around the farm was no match for determined animals. He lost three bighas of urad (black gram) to stray cattle last year. This year three bighas of urad and two bighas of maize were eaten up. There is no gaushala in the vicinity and if we take the animals in a vehicle to a gaushala we will be arrested and jailed.
The number of stray cattle has grown since cutting (slaughter) has stopped, seedha lik do (write it as it is), said Bindu Shukla, of Bauti Pratappur village in Kanpur Nagar district. The gaushalas are opposing (slaughter) but why are they not taking them?Shukla has two cows, one of exotic breed and another desi. He spends a little over Rs 100 on each for their daily upkeep. He claims never to have sold a cow even when dry and old. Shuklas mustard crop in Jaswapur village was damaged by stray cattle. He expects a truncated harvest. He has fenced one plot with barbed write. The other is open. He cannot afford the cost, despite having a side business as labour contractor to brick kilns.
The gaushala at Bauti, on the outskirts of Kanpur city has 535 cows, 68 of them lactating, Ganesh Prasad Pandey, the supervisor said. The stables were clean and the animals were well looked after. Animals intercepted by the police from traders were placed there. It is run by a private trust. It was established in 1888 and has 1,800 acres, much of it encroached. People think we are getting a lot of money from the government because Yogi is going around saying that he is giving a lot of money for the care of stray cattle. We havent got any money, an employee said complaining about delayed salaries, because donations have dwindled.
The gaushala makes ark (distilled cow urine), manure from dung, vermicompost, poojan dhoop and medicines from herbs and ark, Vishnu Dutt Chandel, the supervising Ayurvedic doctor said. The products are being sold as far Hyderabad and Erode (Tamil Nadu), but they are unlikely to bring in much revenue. Santosh Kumar Sharma, the Municipal Commissioner of Kanpur City Corporation estimated the number of stay cattle in the city at 3,000. He said half of them had been kept in four gau samraksha kendras (cow protection centres). Two gaushalas were being enlisted and a third was being set up to take care of up to 2,000 animals.
SN Singh, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Kanpur Dehat, said 17 temporary cattle enclosures had been set up in five blocks with funds from MNREGA, the rural employment scheme. Between them they had 1,327 cattle. They were of one acre area on gram panchayat land. Of the Rs 1 crore given by the state government from a special cess on mandis (agricultural produce marketing yards), Rs 20 lakh had been allocated for cattle feed, Singh said. He estimated the number of stay cattle in the district at about 10,000: double the number in 2012.
The asthayi gauvansh ashray sthal or temporary cattle shelter-places did not have pucca structures because of the high cost, Vijay Vishwas Pant, Kanpur district magistrate said. According to the 2012 livestock census, Uttar Pradesh had 1.09 million stray cattle. The number in rural areas at 4.95 lakh was lower than that in urban areas at 5.13 lakh. Kanpur Nagar district had by far the largest number in the state: 4.26 lakh or 42 percent of the states total. Kanpur Dehat had just 5,558. Absent culling, the numbers would have swelled. For a state with stretched finances and 29 percent of people below the poverty line (in 2012), the care a large number of uneconomic cattle is a misplaced priority and a costly ideological indulgence.
Ashavari Majumdar's Surpanakha draws on different versions of the Hindu epic and is divided into three parts, which explore the character's relationships with Ravana, Rama and Sita
'Adoring sister, vindictive widow, rebel, spurned lover, beautiful princess, tragic victim.'
When one thinks of Ravanas sister Surpanakha from the Ramayana, these are not the phrases that come to mind. She is usually described as an ugly, pot-bellied monster who tried to seduce Rama in the forest, forcing his brother Lakshmana to cut off her nose. As per Valmikis Ramayana, Surpanakha then goes back to Ravana in Lanka, who, enraged, decides to avenge his sister.
But there are more than 300 versions of the Ramayana across India and South Asia which are in conflict with this narrative, says Kathak performer Ashavari Majumdar, whose unique piece Surpanakha A Kathak Performance looks at the eponymous character through a feminist lens, using dance, theatre and stand-up.
Majumdar, who performed at Harkat Studios in Mumbai on 24 March, said it was the late Veenapani Chawla, one of theatres foremost exponents, who directed her towards an essay by the late poet AK Ramanujam titled Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation. It inspired her to explore Surpanakha as more than Ravanas demon sister. The essay was her point of entry to understand the complexity of the characters and the shades of grey within the Hindu epic.
As a kid, I found the Ramayana boring. I only knew of Valmikis version and I thought the characters were very dull and goody-goody, says Majumdar. Chawla, who was curating a Ramayana theatre festival to explore the many voices in epic, had asked Majumdar to create a performance based on it. She pointed me to the whole scholarship on the diversity of the epic. I had no idea that there were more than 300 Ramayanas in India and all over Asia. While scouring through literature on the subject, Majumdar came across Kathleen M Erndls essay The Mutilation of Surpanakha. It is a feminist critique, which sees Surpanakha as challenging patriarchy because she lived alone outside the city. Unlike Sita, she has no male protection. To me, it felt like it was a question of female sexuality, Majumdar says.
Majumdars performance, which premiered in 2012, draws on diverse versions of the Ramayana like the Malay Hikayat Seri Rama, Vimalasuris Jain Ramayana and the Adhyatma Ramayana, to script new perspectives on Surpanakha, through her relationships with Ravana, Sita and Rama.
It is also the most popular epic, as even the Mahabharata has not travelled the way the Ramayana has. There is some sort of silence on the fact that there are many versions of the text. Many traditions have made it their own. Buddhists have their own version. There is a Persion Ramayana too. In the Kashmiri version, Sita is a Chandi figure who rescues Ram and is killed by Ravana. There are conflicting narratives as well. In some versions, there is no Surpanakha. There are Ramayanas where she plays a larger role and reappears towards the end as a key figure. For me, it was about looking at relationships and drawing a parallel to contemporary issues, shares Majumdar, who has trained in the classical dance form under Pandit Vijay Shankar and Pandit Birju Maharaj.
Surpanakha is divided into three sections. In the first part, Majumdar explores the sibling relationship between Surpanakha and Ravana. In the Malay version, Ravana kills her husband. I wanted to look at it because generally, in literature or performance, the brother-sister dynamic is not explored. Their relationship is interesting as it is Surpanakha who goes to Ravana and incites him against Rama. She plays a key role in the war, explains Majumdar.
In the second section, the Kathak performer looks at Sita and Surpanakha as two sides of the same coin. She questions the notions of chastity and beauty. You can look at Sita as someone who follows the rules of patriarchy but was eventually rejected. There is also the issue of the ugly woman and the beautiful woman where in some narratives, Surpanakha was extremely beautiful, while Sita was ugly in comparison.
In her third and final part, Majumdar draws from the Adhyatma Ramayana to understand the relationship between Surpanakha and Rama. In this version of the epic, Ravana is a devotee of Ram. If Ravana is a devotee, then so can Surpanakha. If she is a devotee, then the lens through which she views Rama also changes. The attraction becomes spiritual, she says.
Majumdars piece departs from a traditional Kathak dance performance in several ways. It is interspersed with scripted monologues and audience interaction to bring in elements of stand-up. The Kathak form already shares a lot of similarities with stand-up. Unlike in Bharatanatyam or Odissi, one traditionally interacts with the audience, though it is very casual. As I already came from such a background, I used that in my piece, with monologues.
Blurring the lines between dance and theatre, she also uses live video projection during some parts of the performance. In my earlier versions, I used a clip of Ravana to indicate his character. I also used textures and abstract design to add another layer, she says. The use of video also came with an intention to make Kathak more accessible to wider audiences. That was something my team and I used very consciously, because people are so visual now. People dont understand mudras but they will understand a certain visual language. There was a very specific audience for dance who knew what each gesture meant, but we want to expand that, she explains.
You want as many people and as diverse a group to watch it. All of us feel traditional forms such as Kathak are under threat and it is important for the wider community not just the dance community to understand why it is important to have Kathak, and send your son/daughter to a dance class or Hindustani classical music class. However, for this particular performance in Mumbai, Majumdar said she will avoid the use of video, since it is in a smaller performance space.
The music and songs used in the show are also unique, as they are written in English instead of the traditional Braj/Sanskrit. The costume design includes an off-shoulder top and a lehenga, showing Majumdars innovative exploration of the dance form. It is during the Sita-Surpanakha section where I have divided the stage into two parts left and right. Sita is on one side and Surpanakha is on the other. So, one side of my costume is full sleeved, denoting Sita, while the off-shoulder side indicates Surpanakha. Despite the apparent departure from a traditional Kathak performance, Majumdar rejects the tag of it being a contemporary piece.
I dont agree with the contemporary label because the technique I use to express it, is Kathak. The attitude towards it is contemporary. There are techniques like Ballet, Odissi etc. Similarly, in my piece, the technique is Kathak, but my attitude is actually of an artist who is still exploring. It is not set in stone. I think it is a dynamic piece which is influenced by those watching it and thats what makes it relevant. My attitude is different from someone who would be doing exactly as their gurus have taught them and who dont feel the need to do anything different of their own accord, she says, adding that a body like the Sangeet Natak Akademi could programme the piece in its contemporary dance festivals. However, Majumdar also says there are several senior dancers who feel a performance like Surpanakha is Kathak in the classical sense.
In a bid to take Kathak to a more diverse audience, Majumdar is slowly transitioning from the proscenium stage to performing in alternative and more intimate spaces like Harkat in Versova, Cuckoo Club in Bandra and Si Bambai in Kala Ghoda. Im looking at how I can take Surpanakha to different audiences from what Im used to. Im also looking at how to take something like Kathak and the Ramayana to younger audiences, or audiences who wouldnt normally go to an auditorium to watch a dance performance, she says.
Surpanakha was staged at Harkat Studios, Mumbai on 24 March
By Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya On a gloomy afternoon in May 2018, conservation biologist Bibhab Talukdar was visiting Pobitora National Park in Assam. As he rode an elephant into the grasslands at the core of the park he was met with an alarming sight: a luxuriant growth of a low, bushy herb with small green leaves and creamy white flowers. Locally known as congress grass, this plant, Parthenium hysterophorus, is native to the Americas and an alien species in India. Talukdar, the chair of the International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Asian Rhino Specialist Group and CEO of the NGO Aaranyak, said he was worried because Parthenium is a highly invasive plant with a history of damaging local ecosystems in more than 20 countries around the world. Australia is the prime example, with vast swathes of native rangelands and summer crops under pressure from the weed. If its spread in Pobitora isnt checked in time, Talukdar said he believes Parthenium could spell trouble for the parks 102 greater one-horned rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) by smothering the native species they feed on.
Parthenium can be seen growing vigorously in the grassland areas inside Pobitora National Park. Conservationists are worried the invasive weed will crowd out native fodder plants. Photo courtesy of Bibhab Talukdar.
Its not clear how and when exactly Parthenium arrived in India. The popular theory is that the seeds arrived in the 1950s, piggybacking on consignments of grains imported as part of a US government food-assistance programme. The weed was first reported growing on trash heaps in 1956 in Pune, in the state of Maharashtra. Although Parthenium was first spotted in Assam in the 1980s, it had not previously been reported in the core areas of Pobitora. Nine years ago, when Talukdar visited the park as part of a team of researchers that studied the status and distribution of invasive plants in the rhino habitat, such Parthenium growths werent observed. Its arrival in the park seems to be recent, he said. Silent stranglers Parthenium is just the latest addition to half a dozen invasive plants colonising rhino ranges across Assam, which harbours more than two-thirds of the worlds one-horned rhino population in four protected areas. According to a 2011 article in the journal Pachyderm, the already established invasive plants in Assams rhino ranges are Mimosa invisa, Mikania micrantha (the mile-a-minute vine), Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed) and Ipomoea carnea (pink morning glory). All were identified in Indias Fifth National Report on Biological Diversity in 2014 as invasive plant species responsible for harming local ecosystems.
A Chromolaena infested area in Manas National Park. Chromolaena is replacing native vegetation in the park. Photo by Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya.
Youve got to add Parthenium, Eicchronia carssipes [water hyacinth] and Lantana camara to the list, said Iswar Chandra Barua, a professor of agronomy at Assam Agricultural University in Assams Jorhat district. Barua, who has been studying the dynamics of phytoinvasion in Assam for over a decade now, said that all four of Assams rhino reserves the national parks of Kaziranga, Orang, Pobitora and Manas are currently reeling under attack from these invasive plants. Each presents a unique danger, Barua said. Siam weed and water hyacinth are driver species, capable of decimating native plants without any assistance from accompanying environmental change; Parthenium and Mimosa possess tremendously high competitive ability, known as allelopathy, which inhibits the growth of indigenous plants in areas colonised by these weeds; Ipomoea stems form thick mats that block natural water flows, making it the most troublesome aquatic weed after water hyacinth, which is notorious for clogging water bodies; Lantana exudes poison from its roots, killing off native flora; Mikania produces around 40,000 seeds every year and colonises forest areas at a very rapid pace by choking and smothering grasses and tree saplings. Hundreds of indigenous plants, including the rhinos favourite fodder species, are under direct pressure from these invasives, Barua said.
An Indian muntjac, also called barking deer, is seen grazing in an area inside Orang National Park where Chromolaena has started to infest. Photo by Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya.
Different parks, different problems In Kaziranga National Park, home to 2,413 rhinos per the 2018 census, Mimosa can be seen overrunning natural grasslands in several ranges. However, the situation has improved since the early 2000s, when the problem was more acute. Barua credits the natural floods that have hit the park in recent years. During the annual flood, the entire park remains inundated for days and sometimes weeks. This works somewhat as a natural check on the growth of Mimosa, he said. However, a potential threat lurking on the parks doorstep is Ludwigia peruviana(Peruvian water primrose). A 2017 study led by Barua found that this semi-aquatic weed has damaged already around 200 square km of marshland plant communities in Karbi Anglong district, where part of Kaziranga is located. He said Ludwigia will likely infest Kaziranga marshlands if no measures are taken to check its spread. Kaziranga National Park is located pretty close to Ludwigia-infested areas. As such it could just be a matter of time for the weed to sneak into the parks marshlands. If we dont step up vigil now, it could be all over inside Kaziranga in a couple years.
Mimosa plants in Orang National Park. The plant is believed to be responsible for a decline in the parks wet alluvial grassland. Photo by Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya.
In Orang National Park, home to 101 rhinos, Mimosa appears to be the most severe current threat to the ecosystem. From 1987 to 2008, Orang saw its wet alluvial grassland shrink by 12.8 percent, and dry savanna grassland and degraded grassland increase by 9.25 percent and 6.51 percent respectively, mainly due to the impact of Mimosa, according to a 2011 study on land cover change in the park. Manas National Park is also experiencing a phytoinvasion, with Chromolaena and Mikania infesting large patches of forest. With a density of 9.4 to 15.1 plants per square meter, according to a 2004 survey, Chromolaena is overrunning areas of already-degraded vegetation along the southern border of the park, while Mikania is colonising riverine grassland patches and forest edges. In Pobitora National Park, the biggest threat is Ipomoea, primarily a coloniser of grasslands. The spread of Ipomoea inside the park has sparked competition among indigenous grass species and the weed for space and nutrients. In addition, as Talukdar observed, Parthenium is an emerging challenge. Over the last year, the weed has been seen spreading alarmingly along the parks grassland areas.
Mikania plants in Orang National Park. Mikania has also been identified as a threat in Nepals Chitwan National Park, home to the worlds second largest population of greater one-horned rhinos. Photo by Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya.
Effects on rhinos Rhinos are already suffering as Assams ecosystems are hit by these invasive plants. First, they choke and smother native plants on which rhinos feed, leading to shrinkage of fodder in protected areas, Talukdar said. Second, when species such as Mimosa, which is thorny, take over grasslands, it becomes difficult for rhinos to graze, which pushes the animals to stray out of the safety of the park and thus makes them vulnerable to poaching. Recognising these threats, the New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019, signed by five Asian rhino range nations on 28 February, has mandated research on invasive species threatening rhino reserves along with other habitat parameters. A 2015 report by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) holds invasive plants responsible for the increase in rhino straying incidents in Pobitora. The report says the rapid growth of invasive plants including Ipomoea, and the accompanying depletion of native fodder species in the park, has led to an increase in crop-raiding incidents by rhinos in villages on the parks fringes. Because the invasive weeds are choking out grasslands, rhinos are increasingly straying out to forage on crops in neighbouring farmlands, said Mukul Tamuly, the forest range officer at Pobitora. Moreover, some invasive plants contain toxic compounds that can harm rhinos and other herbivores that ingest them. Lantana camara, for example, contains pentacyclic triterpenoids, a hepatotoxic compound known as lantadene. If rhinos feed on lantana leaves, it could inflict significant liver injuries on them, Tamuly said.
A greater one-horned rhinoceros in West Bengal states Jaldapara National Park. Invasive species including Mikania are also found in that states rhino reserves. Photo by Udayan Dasgupta.
Fighting invasive weeds Plants that become successful invaders are fast-growing and highly adaptable to new environments. When they are transported to ecosystems where their natural predators are not present, such species can rapidly overrun indigenous plants. Take, for instance, the case of Parthenium, said D.J. Rajkhowa, a senior agronomist and joint director of the India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Nagaland Center. In alien environments such as that of India it is free from its natural enemies like the Mexican beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata, that feeds only on Parthenium leaves. It gives the weed a competitive edge and more resources to grow, reproduce, spread and eventually out-compete indigenous plant species. Due to their higher phenotypic plasticity the ability to develop differently in different environments invasive plants can adapt to environmental fluctuations. This helps them spread and establish in new areas. Rajkhowa cites the example of Mikania, which is now seen growing in a range of habitats from terrestrial to littoral. Moreover, many invasive plants are cryptic in nature and have the ability to go undetected for years, or their damaging impacts are not immediately clear, making it difficult to control these species.
Degraded forest patches such as this one in Orang National Park, are particularly prone to phytoinvasion. Photo by Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya.
Given these challenges, there are three methods to control invasive plants: mechanical removal; spraying chemicals; and using biological control agents. The mechanical removal method, which involves hand weeding, is the simplest way, but is labor-intensive, expensive and has to be repeated consistently. It is widely used in Assams rhino reserves, but has yielded little results. We keep uprooting Mimosa plants at regular intervals, but they sprout up again at a very rapid speed, said Chakrapani Rai, the forest range officer at Orang National Park. Weve also applied controlled burning. Even thats turned out to be futile. The weeds spread seems to be unstoppable. Spraying chemicals is considered nonviable in protected areas as it could have disastrous effects on wildlife and the ecosystem. The biological control method, a far more complicated process that entails releasing organisms that feed on the targeted species, is touted as a less dangerous and potentially effective method. Indias Project Directorate of Biological Control (PDBC), a government agency based in the city of Bengaluru, is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the hazard-free introduction, handling and release of biological control agents. Attempts to use biological controls against Parthenium have achieved mixed results in India: the biocontrol agent for the plant, the Mexican beetle, has shown successful results in Bengaluru, but has failed in Delhi. Rajkhowa said the best way to deal with the problem is to develop a plan that combines all available methods. In developing an integrated weed management plan, biological control should be the key component. Till suitable biocontrol agents are found, the emphasis should be on mechanical removing. So far biological control agents havent been used in Assam. But Rajkhowa said he thinks its a strategy that should be considered. Given the states moderate climatic conditions, it might just work.
Orang National Park located in northern Assam is home to 101 rhinos. Photo by Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya.
But the biocontrol method has its own risks: an organism introduced as a biocontrol agent to contain a particular invader may decimate other species as well, turning into an invader itself. The most infamous example of biocontrol going wrong is Australias cane toad catastrophe. Cane toads were introduced in 1935 to control cane beetles in Queenslands sugarcane crops. But in the span of a few decades they spread all over Australia, causing severe damage to local ecosystems. Assam Agricultural Universitys Barua said he favours exploring other alternatives. While he, too, endorses the idea of an integrated weed management plan, he said such efforts should prioritise exploring ways to use invasive plants as raw materials for local industries. There has been some success on this front. Water hyacinth has been used to make an array of products such as mats and bags; the craft now employs about 3,500 local artisans in northeastern India. Silkworm rearers in Karbi Anglong have started using Mikania as a host plant for Eri silk, for want of the primary host plant, castor (Ricinuscommunis). Research shows there is also potential to commercially exploit Mikania to this end, which could in turn help control the weed. Bodo tribal weavers near Manas National Park are experimenting with using Chromolaena as a natural dye, while lantana is being used as a raw material for furniture an initiative that has seen some successin controlling the weed. If such initiatives find commercial footing, Barua said, theyll not only contribute toward effective weed management but also boost local livelihoods. *** This article was originally published on Mongabay.com. Mongabay-India is an environmental science and conservation news service. This article has been republished under the Creative Commons licence.
The AIUDF's announcement to contest from 3 seats in Assam gives BJP a chance to polarise indigenous Assamese voters in favour of the BJP-AGP alliance
In a move which is likely to polarise indigenous Assamese and immigrant Muslims in opposite directions, Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front on Monday announced that it is going to field candidates in only three of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam.
The move by the AIUDF is likely to be played by the BJP as an outcome of a secret pact between the AIUDF and the Congress as it allows the latter to pull immigrant Muslim voters in a number of constituencies to its fold. Consequently, it gives the BJP an opportunity to polarise the indigenous Assamese voters in favour of the BJP-AGP alliance.
The tacit understanding between the AIUDF and Congress (even though the Congress has denied it) is going to have a massive polarising impact not only in Assam but also in other states of North East India, which very recently experienced an anti-immigration movement after the BJP introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in the Parliament.
The bill, which aimed at granting citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Jain and Christian illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, was widely protested in the region.
The Congress and the AIUDF had sided with the protesters against the bill, terming it communal legislation. But the BJP had alleged that the Congress and the AIUDF were misleading the people on the issue in a bid to fulfil anti-indigenous design.
The AIUDFs decision benefitting the Congress is likely to be used by the saffron party as a fuel to fire indigenous sentiments against the grand old party.
In a press conference held at the partys office in Guwahati, AIUDF spokesperson Aminul Islam said on Monday, "We hoped for a grand alliance against the BJP among the parties which opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. But it did not happen. Hence, in order to defeat the BJP and thus protect the indigenous culture and language, we have decided to field candidates only in the constituencies which elected our party candidates in the last Lok Sabha polls. We appeal the voters in the constituencies where we will field no candidate this time around to vote according to their conscience."
The announcement directly benefits the Congress, as a huge section of immigrant Muslims who earlier voted for the AIUDF, would possibly switch to Congress in the constituencies where the party does not field any candidates.
The AIUDF, which has its prime constituency among immigrant Muslims, had fielded candidates in eight constituencies in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. It won three seats namely Dhubri, Barpeta and Karimganj constituencies. The party was contemplating fielding a similar number of candidates in the upcoming polls too but decided against it.
A lack of seat-sharing agreement between the Congress and the AIUDF had till now made the path to victory for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls appear smooth, just like in the 2016 Assembly polls in Assam. The BJP had contested the Assam Assembly polls in alliance with AGP and thanks to its comfortable seat-sharing agreement with the AGP, the BJP-AGP alliance had won the Assembly polls with a landslide.
However, this victory was also made possible because of the division of immigrant Muslim votes between the Congress and the AIUDF during the 2016 Assembly polls. The unexpected announcement from AIUDF now poses a new challenge for the BJP-AGP alliance in many constituencies.
The Congress, which had contested in 122 constituencies during the Assam Assembly polls had bagged 52,38,655 votes, whereas, the AIUDF which had fielded candidates in 74 constituencies had received 22,07, 945 votes. Their combined votes amounted to 74,46,600.
In the same election the BJP-AGP alliance had polled 63,69,667 votes together, which is 10,76,933 votes lesser than what the Congress and the AIUDF polled together.
If the votes of the Congress and AIUDF get combined in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, which is likely to happen in a number of constituencies now, it may emerge as a serious threat to BJPs dream for North East India.
Significantly, the indigenous Assamese and the immigrant population in Assam are two contesting identities.
In order to appear Assamese-friendly, the Congress has all along avoided any alliance with the AIUDF, a party that represents the aspirations of the immigrant Muslims.
Only last year, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Tarun Gogoi had denied any possibility of forming an alliance with the AIUDF and said, "We are opposing the BJP for being a communal party, but the AIUDF is also a communal party. In the last Assembly elections, the AIUDF played the B team for the BJP."
Gogoi, who held the Assam chief ministers post for three consecutive terms defied repeated suggestion from the party high command to ally with the AIUDF. Rather when enquired by media about the possibility of an alliance with the AIUDF, once, Gogoi had defiantly said, Who is Badaruddin?
Who is Badaruddin became an iconic statement in the states politics representing the Congress chief ministers Assamese chauvinism in the years to come. The Congress party twice came to power after AIUDF was born in the year 2005 posing serious threat to it.
It was widely believed that Congress would not ally with the AIUDF this time too. And it hasn't formally. But the Congress seems set to avail the benefits of an alliance with the AIUDF in many constituencies after the pro-immigrant party's announcement to limit the number of candidates to three.
And, the saffron party is likely going to cite the new equation set by the AIUDF as a secret pact between AIDUF and Congress, in a bid to increase polarisation of indigenous Assamese votes in its favour.
In fact, it appears to have already started as only two days ago, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said to the media, In Assam, the Congress is in an unholy alliance with the AIUDF to face the BJP. We are confident that people of Assam will reject this unholy alliance.
Akhilesh Yadav's comment comes a day after Rajasthan governor and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's return to power is important for the nation.
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stating that the three campaigners for it are governor, government agencies and media.
Yadav's comment comes a day after Rajasthan governor and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's return to power is important for the nation.
Yadav also said the BJP, in the last five years, has driven unemployment and insulted farmers, while its political strategies are social media, hate and money, with the Opposition being its key agenda.
Last week, the SP leader had alleged that the BJP is the "most casteist party" in the country and should not give out lessons on socialism.
War of words between different political parties is intensifying with the Lok Sabha election dates inching closer.
SP, BSP and RLD are contesting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance in Uttar Pradesh in which the SP will contest on 37 seats, BSP on 38 and RLD on three. The alliance will not contest two seats, Rae Bareli and Amethi.
Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held from April 11 and will go on till 19 May in seven phases. The polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held in all seven phases, and counting of votes will take place on 23 May.
There are 80 Lok Sabha seats at stake in Uttar Pradesh.
Senior Congress leader Tarun Gogoi Monday said the party will seek support from all organisations and social groups who are opposed to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Guwahati: Senior Congress leader Tarun Gogoi Monday said the party will seek support from all organisations and social groups who are opposed to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
The former Assam chief minister said Meghalaya-based National People's Party was contesting most of the seats in Assam and North East and alleged that it is aimed at helping the BJP.
"We will seek support from all those opposing the Citizenship Bill. We will welcome the support from All Assam Students Union, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and others for the interest of Assam and its people," Gogoi said at a press conference here. The Congress wants that all anti-BJP and anti-Bill forces unite to defeat the present regime at the Centre, he said.
"Because of the Congress party, the Central government could not introduce the bill in Rajya Sabha. We stood by the people of Assam. We will never introduce this bill once we come to government," Gogoi said.
He said BJP president Amit Shah in a rally in Assam had announced to bring the Citizenship Bill again if it is voted to power after the elections.
Questioning Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma-led NPP's role, Gogoi said: "Conrad's stand is not clear. He was against the bill, but he is still in NEDA despite the BJP saying that the bill will be brought again. That means, Conrad has made a U-turn."
Contesting in almost all the 25 seats in North East even though there is "no base" for NPP will eventually help the BJP by dividing the anti-bill votes, the Congress leader said.
"He (Sangma) could have said that I will support BJP if there is no bill. But he is silent now. It shows that NPP and BJP have a secret unholy alliance," Gogoi said.
On Asom Gana Parishad's (AGP) return to NDA after a hiatus of two months over the bill, the three-time former chief minister claimed that the popularity of the regional party is "decreasing", while all such regional forces across the country are becoming stronger.
"The AGP is an anti-Assam, power hungry and corrupt. The AGP-BJP alliance means that none of them are confident of winning alone in the state," he added.
Gogoi claimed that the Congress will win at least 10 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam. In 2014, the BJP won seven out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, the Congress and the AIUDF had three MPs each and one member was an Independent. The two BJP allies, BPF and the AGP, had no representation in the Lower House of Parliament.
An 18-minute-long clip was subsequently shown in which an alleged BJP worker is heard trying to exchange crores of old currency notes at a commission of 40% in Ahmedabad after demonetisation
Launching yet another attack on the Narendra Modi-led central government, the Opposition on Tuesday revealed a "video proof" to show how "demonetisation had benefited only the BJP". Addressing a press conference at the Constitutional Club in New Delhi, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said note ban was initiated with an ulterior motive to rob the poor.
Delhi: Opposition releases purported video from https://t.co/1Eai2kfdKv alleging a BJP worker offered to convert demonetised currency into new notes at a commission of 40%, in Ahmedabad post demonetization. pic.twitter.com/CyLHrapnbY ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2019
An 18-minute-long clip was shown in which an alleged BJP worker is heard trying to exchange crores of old currency notes at a commission of 40 percent in Ahmedabad after the 31 December, 2016 deadline. Firstpost could not independently verify the veracity of the video or the Congress' claim. The man visible in the grainy clip is identified as 'BJP' in the subtitles. The amount of money exchanged is Rs five crore according to the conversation between the men in the video and a commentary that runs through the footage. However, Sibal did not provide any other proof to support his claims.
Sibal accused the government of misusing government machinery, including police and banks to work in favour of the BJP. After sharing the video, Sibal hit out at the BJP for 'looting' people's money.
He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for adding chowkidar as a prefix to his name. After watching this video clip, the country has to decide who is chor (thief) and who is chowkidar (guard)? Who is a patriot and who is an anti-national? the Congress leader said.
"There is no bigger treason than stealing from the country's treasury and routing it towards the party," Sibal added. He also hinted at how exchanges of money could not have happened without the involvement of the ruling party, banks and the police.
Our industries have suffered heavy losses. Our country has to backtrack on the economic path, and crores of Indian youth had to lose jobs due to demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes on November 8, 2016, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
Meanwhile, finance minister Arun Jaitley hit back, calling the video fake.
The Fakery Caravan of the UPA continues to move. After a fake BSY Diary, a fake sting. When there are no real issues, rely on fakery. Chowkidar Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) March 26, 2019
ANI reported that the purported tape cited by Sibal was hosted by a website tnn.world. A reverse lookup of the domain using online tools like Go Daddy and Whois, which reveal owners of websites, showed that the website was registered in the United Kingdom.
Other leaders of the opposition parties present at the press conference included Sharad Yadav from Loktantrik Janata Dal, Hemant Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Manoj Jha from Rashtriya Janata Dal, Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge from the Congress.
With inputs from agencies
An internal contest over seat-sharing in the Congress-led grand alliance in Jharkhand can throw a cordon of doubt over the oppositions ability and intention to rewrite the land rights acts that it has formed as part of the political narrative to challenge the BJP in the state
In 2016, Hemant Sorens Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Babulal Marandis Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) joined the peoples movements, which were launched against state-proposed amendments in key land rights acts such as the Chhota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act, 1908, and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act, 1949. The reason behind their protests was that these acts allowed the government to easily transfer land for industrial use.
Considering the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 had already been amended by the Centre, exempting the state government from conducting social impact assessment, taking consent of the affected people and ensuring food security, for certain infrastructure projects (listed under Section 10), the proposed amendments to CNT and SPT Acts by the BJP-led state government in Jharkhand had created speculation among its critics.
However, while the Jharkhand government sees social impact assessment and consent of affected people as an impediment to development, a section of the population in the poverty-stricken state with a history of land grabbing and illegal mining is resisting the attempts to dilute the portion of the acts which make seeking consent mandatory from gram sabhas.
These people's movements led by tribals, who comprise no less than 32 percent of the states population, are an important part of the opposition parties' political narrative, including the grand alliance, who are presenting themselves to the voters of Jharkhand as an alternative to the anti-land-rights policies of the BJP-led state government.
The grand alliance announced its seat-sharing formula on Sunday. Out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the Congress is contesting on seven Ranchi, Lohardaga, Khunti, West Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad and Chatra. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha will be fielding candidates from Dumka, Rajmahal, Giridih, Jamshedpur while Jharkhand Vikas Morcha will contest from Godda and Koderma. The RJD, also a member of the alliance, on the other hand, has been offered one seat Palamu against its demand for two seats (the second seat being Chatra). This has created discontent within the grand alliance with the RJD skipping the seat-sharing press conference on Sunday.
Could the grand old party have been a little more accommodating towards RJD? Palamu and Chatra border Bihar, and the population in the two constituencies comprises Bhumihars and Yadavs which is why the RJD wanted to contest on both seats. However, its bleak presence in the state Assembly has made it harder for the alliance to accommodate this request.
While the RJD is determined that the alliance accepts its demand for two seats (and field its candidates in both candidates with or without the alliance), Soren, says that the grand alliance will not field a candidate in Palamu even if the RJD is out of the alliance. "The RJD has been in alliance with us in the past and we wont field a JMM candidate on the RJD seat on Palamu, said Soren.
Meanwhile, the seat-sharing may have created another problem for the alliance, especially for former Jharkhand chief minister and JVM leader Babulal Marandi, with RJDs state unit chief Annapurna Devi joining the BJP. Speculations are rife that the former RJD leader might be the BJP candidate from Chatra or Koderma.
If Devi contests from Koderma, this election may become a battle for survival for Marandi, especially since Jharkhand Speaker Dinesh Oraon recently found the merger of 6 JVM MLAs into the BJP to be legal while rejecting the JVM's petition demanding their disqualification under the 10th schedule. Besides, the Koderma district falls under the North Chotanagpur division, the largest administrative division, which has more than 20 Vidhan Sabha constituencies.
For Soren, the bigger concern, however, is how the differences among the Opposition parties, including those in the grand alliance, may impact the people's movements in Jharkhand. He says that the bifurcation within the grand alliance is a disservice to the non-political people's movements that evolved around constitutional rights.
Soren says that he wanted the Left parties to be part of the alliance as well. The plan was to offer the Hazaribagh seat which is now with the Congress to the Left.
"I wanted the Left parties to be on board with the alliance and to form consensus among themselves but the demand for more seats in a state where there are only 14 Lok Sabha constituencies is difficult to meet," he shared.
The Left has multiple pockets of influence in Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Chatra and Koderma, given the coal mines and workers' movements. However, electorally, the Left is most relevant in Nirsa from where Arup Chatterjee of the Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC) is the sitting MLA.
The CPI (ML-Liberation) was not an alliance partner of the Left Front during the 2014 Lok Sabha election. The CPI's state unit secretary Bhubaneswar Mehta had won the Hazaribagh seat, defeating former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha. This is what had reportedly led JMMs Soren to reach out to D Raja to form an alliance back in 2004. Today, Left parties of varying relevance in Jharkhands politics couldnt come together in time to contest from even one seat. Which is why they have no representation in the recently announced seat share.
"People from different districts are raising the same issues and each party is promising to address them from their own platform and in their own way. A stronger, combined alternate narrative can benefit the state," said Soren.
In Jharkhand, where the unemployment rate is 3.1 percent as against the national rate of 2.7 percent (NITI Ayog data), a movement of rebellion like the pathalgadi took place last year. Munni Hansda from the Kathikund block of the Dumka district in Jharkhand led the agitation against the thermal power plant proposed to ensure there wasnt any violation of the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, 1949. Whereas, Albert Minj has been leading various rights movements in the Mahuadhar block of Jharkhands Latehar district against the proposed amendments to Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act, 1908.
During the 2018 pathalgadi protests, Adivasi villages put up giant plaques declaring their gram sabha as the only sovereign authority. These two activists had told Firstpost that the responsibility of embracing grassroots movements within parliamentary democracy cannot lie only with the Left parties and a broader alternative must be envisioned.
In the context of peoples movements, internal contest over seat-sharing can throw a cordon of doubt over the oppositions ability and intention to rewrite the social contract.
Today, lack of unanimity, bifurcation of interests and clash of egos over seat-sharing is weakening the grand alliance.
"Those who are non-political and working for the interests of the people of the state can be disheartened by internal political calculations. It weakens the movement and becomes harder for them to view it from a political lens," Soren told Firstpost.
The former Madras and Calcutta High Court Judge, Justice CS Karnan, was released from a Kolkata prison on 20 December, 2017, after having served a six-month prison term.
Justice CS Karnan, former Madras High Court Judge will contest the ensuing Lok Sabha election scheduled to be held from 11 April, from Chennai.
Justice Karnan, who launched his own party, Anti Corruption Dynamic Party in May 2018, filed nomination from the Central Chennai constituency on Monday.
In an interview with Bar and Bench, Justice Karnan said his "focus will be to expose corruption in the government and the judiciary".
A booth agent for the AIADMK in the past, including the 2002 Assembly polls, Justice Karnan later became a Congress sympathiser, The News Minute reported.
He is the first sitting judge in the history of India to be found guilty of Contempt of Court. The former Madras and Calcutta High Court Judge was released from a Kolkata prison on 20 December, 2017, after having served a six-month prison term.
A website launched recently, justicekarnan.com, has published letters purportedly written by the judge to the authorities, claiming that attempts had been made on his life during his stay in prison.
With a fortnight to go for the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarhs Maoist-hotbed Bastar, security forces have intensified their operations against the ultra-Left insurgents, killing four of them, including two women, on Tuesday
With a fortnight to go for the first phase of polling on 11 April in Chhattisgarhs Maoist-hotbed Bastar region, the security forces both central and the state have intensified their operations against the ultra-Left insurgents.
A joint search operation by security forces against armed Maoist cadre in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on early morning Monday didnt face the same fate as had happened over a week ago. Instead, the joint team in a fierce encounter killed four Maoists, including two women.
One of the Maoists killed during the operation has been identified as a section deputy commander in the Battalion-1 of the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), which is headed by Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, who is also the head of the central military commission of CPI (Maoist).
According to Chhattisgarh Police, acting on a tip-off, a joint team comprising troops of CRPFs 201 CoBRA battalion, District Reserve Guards (DRG) and state police conducted a search operation in the forest of Karkanguda in Chintalnar-Jagargunda area in the wee hours of Tuesday. The encounter location village Bodakode lies on volatile Sukma-Bijapur border.
"We got an intelligence input from ground related to the movement of Maoists in Chintalnar area on Monday. Acting on it, a joint team conducted a search operation in the early morning today. Four armed Maoists have been neutralised. The search operation is continuing, said Vivekananda, Inspector General (Bastar range) of Chhattisgarh Police.
A source at CRPF said that the Maoists were caught unaware and resorted to heavy indiscriminate firing upon the troops. The gunfight lasted for 45 minutes. The commandos overpowered the ultras and four of them were neutralised.
According to local sources, stains of blood have been found on the spot which indicates that more number of Maoists got injured during the encounter.
The security forces are seeing this encounter as a big blow to Maoists, who at present are observing Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) month in Bastar. Its during this period that the Maoists, in order to show their supremacy, target police, paramilitary forces and government establishments.
"We conducted a joint operation at 6 am today. Four bodies of Maoists in uniform have been recovered along with rifles including INSAS from the encounter site. Further details can be available once the search team gets back to base camp," a CRPF official told Firstpost.
One may recall that on 18 March, the Maoists ambushed a search operation party near Aranpur village in Dantewada district in which one CRPF jawan was killed five were severely injured. It was the first attack on security forces by the Maoists, after the formation of the new Congress government in Chhattisgarh.
Prior to the 18 March incident, the Maoist cadre had put posters and banners in the affected area of Bastar region asking villagers to celebrate International Womens Day on 8 March and also boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha election to mark their strong presence. In between, there had been instances of Jan Militia cadre of the Maoists attacking contractors and workers, and putting their vehicles on fire. In one case, a villager was killed by the Maoists for allegedly being a 'police informer'.
With the new government coming to power in December 2018, there had been a lull for two months on the Maoist front. But after that, they started making their presence felt.
Sukma has been in news due to anti-Naxal operations, encounters and transfer of Sukma districts superintendent of police Jitendra Shukla allegedly due to political reasons. His sudden transfer on 7 March led to a massive political row between the ruling Congress party and opposition BJP. Shukla was considered a 'tough cop' in dealing with the Naxal menace and had brought relief to the locals.
"The transfer of the SP was done at the behest of local MLA and state excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, as he had refused to remove an inspector that the minister asked for. Its a clear case of political interference in bureaucracy. The SPs departure has also created disturbances as he was strongly dealing with the Maoist problem," a Sukma-based journalist alleged.
According to Chhattisgarh Police and CRPF, the Maoists are expected to step up their activities as the polling date gets closer.
Ahead of the Assembly election in Chhattisgarh, the Maoists had blown up a bus carrying security force personnel in Bijapur district in April 2018. The incident had occurred a few days before the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Jangla in Bijapur on 13 April as part of the BJP election campaign.
Prior to it, in March 2018, the Maoists blew up a mine protection vehicle (MPV) in Sukma that killed nine CRPF jawans.
Even before former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singhs Vikas Yatra, the Maoists had triggered a blast as a mark of protest.
"Were keeping a close watch on the grouping and movements of Maoists across the state and on the borders of Chhattisgarh with other Naxal-hit states. Attempts will be made to create disturbances ahead of polling, as Maoists have issued threats to villagers to boycott polls. A Maoist banner and posters we have recovered mentions about intensifying the fight against the prime minister and the BJP-led government at the Centre, a source from an anti-Naxal Operation unit told Firstpost.
Due to security reasons, Chhattisgarh, which has 11 Lok Sabha seats, will undergo polling in three phases on 11, 18 and 23 April.
Jaya joined politics in 1994 as a member of the TDP, but left following differences with Chandrababu Naidu and joined the Samajwadi Party.
Actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada joined the BJP on Tuesday, two weeks before the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Media reports said that the BJP is mulling to field her from Uttar Pradesh's Rampur parliamentary constituency, from where she was elected twice, in 2004 and 2009, on a Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket.
Delhi: Veteran actor and former MP Jaya Prada joins Bharatiya Janata Party. pic.twitter.com/vmZD3H1PSL ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2019
However, this time around the contest from Rampur may not be a cakewalk for Jaya Prada, as she will be pitted against Samajwadi Party heavyweight Azam Khan in the constituency
NDTV quoted Jaya as saying "I am a part of national party and I'm in a party, where the leader leads on issues of national security".
"Whether it is films or politics, I have always worked with everything I have," she said.
Apart from the Samajwadi Party, the veteran actor had also been a member of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RJD).
Jaya joined politics in 1994 as a member of the TDP, but left following differences with Chandrababu Naidu and joined the Samajwadi Party.
Both Jaya and former Samajwadi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, with whom she has been closely associated, were expelled from the party ahead of the 2014 national elections, Scroll reported. Subsequently, she joined the RLD and contested the 2014 elections on a RLD ticket from the Bijnor seat, but lost the polls.
With inputs from PTI
Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh is one such constituency where the contest will be closely watched.
In India, every Lok Sabha election has its own share of hotly contested high-profile seats. While some nondescript constituencies hit the popular imagination because a stalwart or a big leader choose to contest from there, several others remain important for their cultural and political significance.
Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh is one such constituency where the contest will be closely watched.
Being a Lok Sabha constituency that has been represented by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for five times, Lucknow automatically qualifies to be a high-profile seat. Currently, it is being represented by Union home minister Rajnath Singh who first contested from Lucknow in 2014 and won with more than 2.7 lakh votes.
A closer look at the candidates fielded by prominent political parties (in last Lok Sabha elections) in constituencies like Lucknow, Amethi, Rae Bareli shows that how they play safe with high-profile seats which rarely poses a tough challenge to the stalwarts.
Given the fact that Lucknow is a prominent seat being the capital city of Indias most populous state, it is expected that the Congress will file a candidate who is strong enough to put up a fight against a senior leader like Singh. Ironically, the choice of candidate by the Congress in the last elections and the name of the probable candidate this time, inspire little confidence or hints at a tight fight.
In 2014 Congress fielded Rita Bahuguna Joshi from Lucknow. For Congress Bahuguna was its best bet as she comes from a prominent political family. She is the daughter of Congress veteran Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. She was a sitting MLA from Congress, representing Lucknow Cantonment and had earlier been the president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee from 2007 to 2012. However, when juxtaposed against Singh the contest clearly looked unequal.
Singh was then BJP national president and was Member of Parliament from Ghaziabad. He had also served as the chief minister of the state and had been Union minister in the Vajpayee government. The contest was one-sided and this became evident once the results were declared. Singh secured 55 percent of the total vote share and defeated Joshi by 2,72,749 votes.
In October 2016, few months before the Assembly election was to be held in the state, Joshi joined BJP and was given a ticket in the 2017 elections, which she won and now is a cabinet minister in the Uttar Pradesh government.
This time the probable candidate of the Congress party is Jitin Prasada who has won the Lok Sabha polls twice in 2004 and 2009 from Shahjahanpur and Dhaurahra respectively. However, he failed to retain Dhaurahra in 2014. The interesting part of Prasadas candidature is that till a few days ago speculations were rife that he will be joining the BJP. The reason for discord with his party was that while Congress wanted him to field from Dhaurahra, Prasada had expressed unwillingness for the same. According to some reports only after he met Congress president Rahul Gandhi who told him to contest from Lucknow and in case of defeat he will be sent to Rajya Sabha, Prasada dropped his idea of joining BJP.
Prasada who was Minister of State for Human Resource Development in the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh comes from a prominent political family of Uttar Pradesh. His father Jitendra Prasad was vice-president of Congress party and Member of Parliament from Shahjahanpur Lok Sabha seat for four times. Apart from this Jitin is also projected as a prominent Brahmin face in Uttar Pradesh. In case of Jitin while it would be wrong to mark his candidature as irrelevant or already lost', the fact remains that he is a not a tough match for the opponent-incumbent and it is not a confident bet for the Congress either and probably this is the reason it has assured a Rajya Sabha seat to Jitin in case of a defeat.
Political parties understand that the fight is toughest in the constituencies where topmost leaders of any party are in the poll fray. In this scenario either they choose to field a candidate who can fight decisively and actually pose a challenge to the incumbent, irrespective of winning or losing or they put forward a candidate who accepts to fight a lost battle in return of some rewards to be given in future.
This trend is not limited to a specific seat as political wisdom, in general, ensures that parties dont field candidates whose loss can be equated to lack of confidence in the party itself.
Vajpayee who contested from Lucknow five times hardly had to face a political heavyweight of his stature as an opponent. Most famous of those who were pitted against him were senior advocate Ram Jethmalani as an independent candidate, Karan Singh of Congress, filmmaker Muzaffar Ali on Samajwadi Party ticket and actor Raj Babbar from Congress in 2004, 1999, 1998, 1996 respectively. But all of them were defeated with huge margins.
Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency which is represented by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi since 2004 has witnessed the same trend. Be it BJP, Samajwadi Party, or Bahujan Samaj Party, none of its candidates had a match to Sonia in their political stature. Ashok Kr Singh (BJP), RS Kushwaha (BSP) or Ajay Agarwal (BJP) who contested against Sonia and came a distant second in 2004, 2009 and 2014 elections respectively are hardly any match for the political figure like Sonia.
Rahul Gandhi who made his political debut in 2004 and contested the Lok Sabha election from Amethi had Chandra Prakash Mishra from BSP, Ram Vilas Vedanti from BJP as main opponents. All these candidates might have good ground connect but none of them had the political weight that could have posed a serious challenge to the legacy that ensured Rahuls victory. As expected Rahul won the election by around 3 lakh votes.
Again in 2009, the list of candidates fielded by different parties in Amethi made it clear that Gandhi scion will have an easy win. He won the election with even greater margin by securing 71.78 percent of total votes polled. In 2014 young and energetic Smriti Irani was fielded against Rahul who gave a tough fight to him but could not secure a seat for her party. But the fact that she took on Rahul decisively was appreciated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made her Union cabinet minister with a portfolio of Human Resource Development that was held earlier by likes of BJP stalwarts Murli Manohar Joshi.
In the days to come two major political players in Uttar Pradesh that is SP and BSP who have come together to take on the ruling BJP will announce their candidate for Lucknow and other high profile constituencies like Varanasi, which is represented by Prime Minister Modi. It will be interesting to see if their choice of candidate hints at a willingness for a tough fight or will they be fielded just because of compulsion to field one.
Since Rahul is projected as the next probable prime minister, Congress expects that people, the majority of them eke out a living from farming, will vote for him en masse.
Even though the All India Congress Committee (AICC) is still holding the cards close to its chest on party president Rahul Gandhis second seat in Wayanad, Kerala leaders are confident that he will come and it is only matter of time before the official announcement is made. Rahul is seeking reelection from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
The uncertainty over his contesting from Wayanad has not dampened the upbeat mood of the Congress and the party's allies in the United Democratic Front (UDF) across the state. Congress leaders and workers are all set to welcome the party president to Wayanad, traditionally a Congress bastion. As soon as when former chief minister and AICC general secretary Oommen Chandy revealed the move of the AICC a couple of days back, Kozhikode District Congress Committee (DCC) president T Siddique who was allotted the seat and started campaign, has voluntarily announced that he is opting out from the contest in favour of the party president. Now he is heading the campaign for his leader.
Congress workers have started writing on walls seeking votes for Rahul and putting up posters across the constituency.
Wayanad, constituted in 2009, is perched on the Western Ghats in the north of the state and spreads over the three revenue district of Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram. The constituency comprises seven Assembly segments of Kalpetta, Mananthavady and Sulthan Batheri in Wayanad district, Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district and Nilambur, Eranad and Vandoor in Malappuram district. It is the part of the spices belt of the state.
In the first election held after the formation of the constituency in 2009, a senior Congress leader MI Shanawaz won the seat by a whopping margin of over 1.5 lakh votes than his nearest rival M Rahmathulla of CPI. Shanavaz retained the seat in 2014, but with a much lesser margin of over 20,000 votes, owing to the lacklustre performance of the MP coupled with the unprecedented farm crisis and anti-incumbency factors against the second Manmohan Singh government.
The major chunk of the population in the constituency is the Christina settlers whose forefathers migrated here from central parts of the state nearly a century ago in search of land for farming. They are the solid vote bank of Congress. Equally, or more strong is the native Muslim population. Baring a minuscule section, members of the entire community is associated with Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) the second largest, constituent of the UDF. It is, therefore, the AICC leadership has contacted the IUML supremo Syed Muhammedali Thangal and conveyed its intention to field Rahul in the Wayanad constituency.
"I got a phone call from Delhi in this regard and I offered them all support of my party, he told media persons.
PK Kunhalikutty, IUML general secretary and the party candidate in the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency, said that he (Rahul) has to come only to file the nomination and we will take care of the rest.
"Rahul Gandhi is the future prime minister and we, IUML, think that it is our duty to ensure his victory in Wayanad with a margin of 2-2.5 lakh votes. No doubt, it is very much within our reach, not an exaggeration, Kunnhalikutty, five-time state minister and member in the outgoing Lok Sabha, said.
Since Rahul is projected as the next probable prime minister, Congress expects that people, the majority of them eke out a living from farming, will vote for him en masse.
Political pundits argue that his move seeking almost BJP-free safe South Indian seat will adversely affect the morale of the party workers, particularly in the North. It sends a wrong message that even the prime ministerial candidate of the Opposition is not safe in the North. Their assessment has further strengthened the ongoing chorus of the BJP that by looking for a second constituency, Rahul himself has admitted his defeat to Smriti Irani.
Irani is taking him again in Amethi, a pocket borough of the Nehru-Gandhi family for decades. In the 2014 election, she could bring down his winning margin to 1.07 lakh from 3.70 lakh votes in the previous term. She has already kicked off her campaign in Amethi and claims that this time she would wrest the seat.
"Amethi drove him away. Calls requesting him to contest from other seats are being staged as people have rejected him, Irani tweeted soon after the news came out that he is looking for a seat. But the fact is that seeking a second seat is not a new thing in Indian politics. Last time Narendra Modi contested in two seats. Even Smriti Irani fought the battle of ballot in Amethi and Chandni Chowk in Delhi. She fell at both places.
Annoyed by the attack of the BJP, the AICC is now trying to propagate that Rahul has been invited by various Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) including Kerala and Tamil Nadu committees, to contest from their respective constituencies. However, it is far from the truth as far as Kerala is concerned. A few senior leaders confided that it was former defence minister and Congress Working Committee member AK Antony who conveyed it to the Kerala leaders. It was only then they came to know about the move. So they have confidently announced that Rahul is contesting from Wayanad.
Now since the AICC announcement had been delaying, Kerala leaders have taken a leaf from AICC and say that KPCC has invited Rahul to contest from Wayanad too.
But the leaders are unanimous in their view that Rahul is safer in Amethi than last time.
"See, this time BSP-SP combine is not fielding candidate in the constituency. That itself is a big thing. Last time SP had a candidate. So he will win the seat, said a senior Congress leader.
Congress leaders say that Rahuls move to contest in Wayanad is not a move to contest in a safe seat. But it is a well-designed strategy planned mainly by AICC general secretary in charge of organisation KC Venugopal, a close confidant of Rahul. Tutored by the master strategist late K Karunakaran, former chief minister and veteran Congress leader and once a king maker in Congress, Venugopal was the architect of the JD(S)-Congress Karnataka government. He was also instrumental in installing Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan chief minister, say party sources.
The core idea is that to campaign strongly in the South where BJP is out of power except in Goa. In the North, East, and West, there are strong anti-BJP regional parties. They will put up a strong fight against BJP there.
Since victory is sure in Wayanad, he doesnt need to spend much time in Amethi. He can peacefully campaign across the country.
Congress expects that his candidature in Wayanad is to create a 'Rahul Wave' across the state, that will enable the party to sweep all the 20 seats in Kerala. Since the Wayanad constituency is sharing boundaries with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, ripples of the 'Rahul Wave' will reach these states too, and even beyond it.
The party hopes that with the effect of 'Rahul Wave', Congress and its allies can win nearly 80 percent of the total 132 seats in the South. (Kerala 20, Tamil Nadu 39, Karnataka 28, Goa 2, Andhra 25, Telangana 17 and Union Territory of Pondicherry 1)
Congress argues that conditions are conducive in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Since the JD(S)-Congress government are only a few months old, the public mood is not against JD(S) and Congress. This apart, BJP has no strong leadership in Karnataka. The recent kickback scam has further eclipsed the image of the party in the state.
The party says that in Tamil Nadu, people are fed up with the AIADMK government. Adding insult to injury to it, kin of some of the AIADMK leaders are involved in the sex scam in which several college girls were sexually assaulted for months. Congress is in alliance with DMK.
From the North and other regions, the party envisages that with allies, it can win between 60 and 100 seats mainly from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and even Gujarat.
If this strategy works out, Congress believes that it can form the government with the backing of BSP-SP, Trinamool Congress and other likeminded regional and small parties.
Congress expects problems from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Once the party gets a chance to form the government, winners form these two states can be tamed, Congress hopes.
Once the official announcement of Rahuls candidature come, we will design our work on the lines of this strategy. We are confident that it will be rewarding, says a senior Congress leader.
Amid much speculation over the BJP's candidate for the Bangalore South Lok Sabha seat, the saffron party declared 28-year-old lawyer Tejasvi Surya for the constituency late on Monday night.
Amid much speculation over the BJP's candidate for the Bangalore South Lok Sabha seat, the saffron party declared 28-year-old lawyer Tejasvi Surya for the constituency late on Monday night. The 'rising BJP star' will be fighting from the seat that late party leader Ananth Kumar also Surya's mentor had held since 1999, until his death last year.
Surya took to Twitter to express exuberant gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah for choosing him from the seat. Earlier, reports had said that Modi might also contest from Bangalore South along with his Varanasi seat in Uttar Pradesh, but the party dismissed the speculation as rumours.
Surya, a practicing lawyer at the Karnataka High Court, said, "OMG OMG! I can't believe this. PM of world's largest democracy & President of largest political party have reposed faith in a 28 yr old guy to represent them in a constituency as prestigious as B'lore South. This can happen only in my BJP. Only in #NewIndia of @narendramodi." Reportedly, the decision to field Surya from the BJP's bastion was taken during the BJP's central election committee (CEC) meeting on Monday.
The BJP leader also pledged to "work ceaselessly for our motherland till my last breath". Lauding Shah for his "determination, conviction, and ideology", Surya said, "My hands are trembling as I type this. Last year, I had opportunity to talk to our Hon'ble President @AmitShah Ji. The one hour conversation with him left me so motivated that I couldn't sleep for a week."
Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa had publicly recommended the name of Ananth Kumar's wife, Tejaswini as a candidate for the seat, and reportedly, she had also started campaigning.
On Monday night, Tejaswini tweeted urging BJP workers to work in unity. "My urge all the BJP karyakartas, friends and well wishers who are anxious and upest & still visting our house in large numbers. Time to show we are a 'party with a difference'.We are all committed to tread the path of ideology. And work for #NaMoAgain2019."
Surya is the nephew of BJP's Ravi Subramanya and is believed to have an association with the party's ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), NDTV reported.
I can't thank enough RSS and its selfless leaders for showering their choicest blessings on me. You have excused my mistakes, tolerated my mischief, supported me in every possible way. I can't believe that men like @MUKUNDAckpura & @blsanthosh exist in real. I want to be like you Chowkidar Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 25, 2019
"The poll debutant has gained a reputation as a fiery orator. Critics have accused him of delivering polarising speeches," the report said. "I have a hundred ideas brimming in my mind for our city and country. People of Bengaluru, let's take our great city to newer heights. I need your support & blessings. Its a long road ahead, let us all walk together. Let's make Bengaluru AWESOME!," Surya also wrote.
With inputs from agencies
Shatrughan Sinha is a two-term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib Singh but has been dropped by the saffron party which has chosen to field Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat
Patna: Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who has been associated with BJP for about three decades, will join Congress in New Delhi on 28 March, a senior party leader said on Tuesday.
"Shatrughan Sinha will join Congress in New Delhi on 28 March at 11.30 am ... He will be our candidate from Patna Sahib", chairman for the state Congress election campaign committee Akhilesh Prasad Singh told newsmen.
Sinha is a two-term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib Singh but has been dropped by the saffron party which has chosen to field Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat. Sinha has been openly critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
Speculation had been rife for some time that he would join the Congress, which is an ally of the 'Mahagathbandhan' which also consists of the RJD and other local parties. Asked whether Sinha would be induced in the party in the presence of AICC president Rahul Gandhi, as was being speculated in the media, Singh said "top leaders will be present on the occasion".
Sources in the 'Mahagathbandhan' had recently claimed that there was a tug of war between the Congress and RJD over Sinha's candidature as Lalu Prasad's party, with which the 'Bihari Babu' shares cordial relations, was said to be keen on fielding him on its own symbol.
Congress has been contesting from Patna Sahib whenever it has fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the RJD and Singhs statement indicate that decks have been cleared for Sinhas candidature by the Congress leadership.
Singh, however, dodged queries about Kirti Azad, another BJP MP who had recently joined the Congress saying, "he will be contesting elections. From where, it will be decided by the party".
Azad is serving his second consecutive term in the Lok Sabha from Darbhanga and the Congress wants to field him from the seat as the constituency has a large population of Maithil Brahmins its traditional supporters.
RJD has been insisting that it has won the Darbhanga seat many times and would like to contest it again with its senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui as its candidate.
Randeep Surjewala explained that minimum income guarantee was not a 'top-up scheme' and will be implemented to the poor across urban and rural areas
A day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi promising a mega minimum income guarantee scheme of Rs 72,000 annually to families earning less than Rs 12,000 per month, if the UPA comes to power, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi-led BJP government for opposing the project.
Addressing media persons in Delhi, Surjewala said "hypocrite Modi can forgive Rs 3,50,000 crore" defaulted by some businessmen but has trouble handing over Rs 72,000 to India's poor.
"In his very first speech in Parliament, after becoming the prime minister, Modi had opposed MNREGA, a scheme that eradicated poverty. But he can spend Rs 5,000 crore for his publicity and advertisements," said Surjewala.
Hours after Rahul had made the announcement, Union minister Arun Jaitley called it a "bluff" and said the Congress has a history of cheating the poor and misleading the country in the name of removing poverty.
Launching another scathing attack on the prime minister, Surjewala called Modi "anti-poor" and alleged that the latter's "GST destroyed small businesses in the country" even as he went on to add how National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data has revealed a loss of four crore jobs in the past four years.
He went on to explain that the project was not a "top-up scheme" and will be implemented for the poor across urban and rural areas. "This scheme is women-centric and the money will be deposited in the account of homemakers."
The grand old party has dubbed the scheme as NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) meaning 'justice'. Congress general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had on Monday said the party did its calculations and consulted best economists, as she sent out a tweet as #NyayforIndia.
"Subsequent Congress governments have reduced India's poverty from 70 percent during independence to 22 percent. We will work towards removing the remaining 22 percent poverty," said Surjewala.
The government's failure to recognise forest farmers from four villages in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district Bhawanipur, Bichiya, Tediya, Dhakiya has forced them to live without dignity for decades
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
***
Mihirpurva: Katarniaghat in Uttar Pradeshs Bahraich district, which straddles the India-Nepal border, attracts thousands of tourists and nature lovers from all over the country as well as across the world. This wildlife reserve is famous for its tigers, lions, elephants, rhinoceros, and a variety of birds. Katarniaghat is also home to Ganges Dolphins and the highly endangered Indian vultures. Precisely for this reason, Katarniaghat was given the slogan Durlabh, Sulabh Hai! (Rare, but accessible!). However, the 7,000-strong population living in its vicinity, called vantangiyas or vangramvasis, shows a stark contrast, surviving in pitiable and pathetic conditions.
Exploitation broke the communitys back
Bahraich is included in Niti Aayogs list of 100 most backward districts. It has 14 development blocks of which Mihirpurva is at the bottom. Predominantly, Mihirpuva is covered with dense forests in which five villages Bhawanipur, Bichiya, Tediya, Dhakiya, and Gokulpur aka Kailashnagar are referred to as vangrams.
During the British Raj in the 18th Century, a permanent solution law was enacted to streamline and increase revenue collection. The result was that zamindars acquired most of the lands, leaving a large number of farmers landless. To sustain themselves, these farmers became farm labourers.
In 1865, the British decided to develop forestland and introduced a forest management system because the government needed a huge quantity of wood to lay railway tracks. It also needed cheap as well as begaar (unpaid) labour. Hence, the government announced a resettlement plan under which many farmers were given uninhabited lands, where they built homes and began farming. The government charged them 37 paise per bigha as revenue.
The British officers exploited the resettled farmers by compelling them to work without pay for various services, like facilitating hunting expeditions, providing livestock free of cost, and paving roads.
Compared to other communities residing in jungles across the country, the resettled farmers were not given social and lawful recognition. They were not even considered citizens of India.
The five villages these vantangiyas inhabited were not considered part of any village panchayat or district panchayat in Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1995. Their names were not included in the Families Register Part 2, which was very essential for establishing their official identity.
All this deprived them of the benefits of several welfare schemes. In the absence of proof of residence, income, or, caste, they could not even open bank accounts, let alone seek bank loans for self-employment opportunities. They could not apply for passports or seek government jobs. No below the poverty line survey or Census was conducted in the vangrams either, and though they were allotted lands, no vantangiya were considered landowner. They were exploited by unscrupulous forest officials who paid them below minimum wages and worked them overtime to keep up the pace of reforestation.
Slaving for survival even after Independence
Even after Independence, there was no improvement in the vantangiyas' plight, as they continued to slog for 10-12 hours planting trees without remuneration from the forest department. Moved by their plight, the NGO Dehat launched an outreach programme in 2003, as part of which it created awareness among vantangiyas about their social and legal rights. The result was that after a three-year sustained struggle, they attained freedom from unpaid labour. However, the rights enjoyed by other citizens of the country still remain a distant dream for them.
The forest department gave land to our ancestors and charged them revenue. But later, the revenue policy was declared illegal and we were evicted from these lands. Meanwhile, in 2006, another Act was enforced; it stipulated that those aged above 75 would be given land rights. Though many filled claim forms, only 14 were accepted. Against these 14 accepted claims, 15 land deeds were executed in Dhakiya, eight in Tediya, and 19 in Bhawanipur, says Gita Prasad, a resident of Dhakiya village, which is among the five vantangiya villages or vangrams of Mihirpurva block.
Highlighting the persisting problems, Gita adds, There are no roads, not even kharanja (brick) tracks. The benefits of government schemes still dont reach us. During elections, politicians come to seek our votes, but afterwards, they turn their backs on us."
We were hoping that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would come to Bhawanipur and grant us revenue status. But he visited only Bahraich on 29 December, 2018. We had to arrange our own transport all the way there only to be told that revenue status had been bestowed on Gokulpur village alone, despite the other four vangrams Tedhiya, Dhakiya, Bhawanipur, and Bichiya belonging to Katarniaghat forest range," she says.
When villagers got the disappointing news, they went into a rage. "Resentment is growing day by day, she adds.
One of the recipients of Presidents Award for Beti Padhao Beti Bachao scheme is Tediya vangramvasi Bhanmati. "When politicians come seeking our votes, they address the women as maaee (mother), behni (sister), dadi (grandmother), and bua (aunt). But when it comes to government welfare schemes, we are considered vangramvasi, she says.
"Now we know our rights. We will snatch it from the government if it is not given to us, and we will not resist in becoming terrorists if our rights are denied to us," she adds.
Dark nights, missing facilities
Airing more grievances, Bhawanipur vangramvasi Sohan Lal Yadav says, When someone falls critically ill in our village, we carry the patient on a charpoy and walk several kilometres to reach the nearest health centre, because there is no electricity here. The kerosene lamps that we use cant stand against the breeze. At night, we have to keep our children huddled together to protect them from snakes and scorpions."
"If we are not residents of India then the government should get us all killed," said Yadav.
On 14 April, 2010, though Rigzin Samphel, the then district magistrate of Bahraich, gave the vangramvasis permission to farm on forestland, there was no marked improvement in their lives as their villages were not included in revenue records. Hence, the benefits did not reach them.
In 2011, 20 per cent of the vangramvasi population was given land deeds. Was there any change in their lives because of it?
"None whatsoever," scoffs Yadav.
"One cant get bank loans against patta (title deed), nor can anybody access health services in the absence of khatauni (record of rights). Its us who protect the forests. If we move out of here, forests and wildlife will vanish in no time. The government keeps claiming that no section of the society will remain deprived of benefits, but thats far from reality, he adds.
For land allotment in any vangram, the only condition is that the person should be above 75 years of age. However, a 78-year-old Dhakiya vangramvasi claims that he has neither been given any land nor any pension by the government. "In my village, there are 250 families, but only eight have been given land. Where is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas? We have been pushed into a do-or-die situation! he says.
The somewhat more shocking revelation came from Bhawanipur vangramvasi Putti Lal. There are 2,500 families in my village but not a single toilet. Moreover, there are nearly 350 children and no school; they are forced to study in makeshift tents, says Lal.
All talk, no action?
When this reporter approached Bansidhar Baudh, social welfare minister in the former Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh, to find out why vangrams were not brought within the revenue departments ambit, he claims, When I was a minister, I took the vangramvasi issue to then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, following which a proposal was sent to the social welfare department. It said all those aged above 18 would be given Rs 10 lakh to move out of the forests. The scheme worked for a while, but after the Samajwadi Party was voted out of power, the matter hit a roadblock."
According to Dr Jitendra Chaturvedi, who has been fighting for the rights of vangramvasis for more than 15 years, the vangramvasis have been living deprived lives for almost 154 years. He says, "Thirteen years have passed since the passing of laws to protect the forests, and yet, those living there havent got even a fraction of the benefits. Because they havent been given their rights, they cant even build pucca homes or toilets; neither is there any drainage system nor brick roads.
Dr Chaturvedi says that since vangramvasis havent been assimilated into the Indian mainstream, they are forced to live a life without dignity. "The only way to bring them into the mainstream is to include their villages in revenue department records, he adds.
Gokulpur is the only vangram to have been included in the revenue records, while people of the other four vangrams have been left out in the cold. And they don't when the authorities will consider their situation.
District magistrate Shambhu Nath assures that the process to include the other vangrams in revenue records is on. However, considering the bouquet of empty promises in the past, only time will tell if this will actually happen.
The author is a Bahraich-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters
Addressing a meeting of his party workers in Jaipur, Rahul lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his prime to transfer Rs 15 lakh to every bank account. 'We thought it was a good idea... Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts. But the promise was not fulfilled by Modi. We started our work six months ago to make such a thing reality,' he said.
Jaipur: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said his party consulted "big economists" including former RBI governor Rahuram Rajan before it came up with the idea of minimum guaranteed income to the poorest 20 percent households in the country.
Addressing a meeting of his party workers in Jaipur, Rahul lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his prime to transfer Rs 15 lakh to every bank account. "We thought it was a good idea... Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts. But the promise was not fulfilled by Modi. We started our work six months ago to make such a thing reality," he said.
He went on to say that his party consulted "all big economists, without telling anyone, without giving any speeches".
"We were engaged in this work for six months. Take the list of all big economists of the world, we consulted them... Raghuram Rajan... one by one," he said.
"First, we came to know was that there should be a minimum income line. We calculated and the result was that the minimum income line should be 12,000 per month," he said, adding that the party will fulfil the promise.
On Monday, Rahul had announced in New Delhi that Rs 72,000 per year will be given as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, if his party is voted to power in Lok Sabha election, and asserted it will be the final assault on poverty.
Rahul had said 20 percent or five crore families belonging to the poorest category with monthly income less than Rs 12,000 would come under the scheme
tech2 News Staff
Apple iPhones and iPads have started receiving the iOS 12.2 update and it brings in new features including the recently announced Apple News Plus subscription service. Apart from that we also see new Animojis, AirPlay 2 features, along with bug fixes and improvements.
Apple News Plus service costs $9.99 (around Rs 700) and consolidates popular newspaper and magazine subscriptions, which could appeal more to casual readers suffering from subscription fatigue. Users can get a subscription for publications such as The New Yorker, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, The Wired, Los Angeles Times and more.
A new feature introduced on the iOS 12.2 update is the ability to play videos from your iOS device to Apple TV using Siri. For using this feature, your Apple TV also needs to be updated to version 12.2. Apart from that Apple has also brought AirPlay 2 support for the AirPods 2, which were silently announced last week along with the new iPad mini and iPad Air.
As per The Verge, the iPad Pro (Review) is getting support for the Logitech Crayon, which was previously limited to the sixth-generation iPad. In terms of new Animojis, Apple is adding a giraffe, shark, boar, and an owl. To check if you have gotten the update open up Settings, then tap General. Navigate to Software Update,.
Apple has announced its new gaming service called Apple Arcade, which gives users access to more than 100 new and exclusive iOS games to play across multiple devices such as the iPad, iPhone, Macs, and Apple TV. Apple hasn't revealed an exact launch date just yet but did mention that the service will be launched in Fall 2019 and that it will be available in more than 150 countries.
Reuters
Netflix is testing a Rs 250 monthly subscription for mobile devices in India, the video streaming giant said, aiming to boost its presence in a price-sensitive market where data consumption on smartphones is surging.
California-based Netflix currently offers three monthly plans in India, ranging from Rs 500 to 800, but those are still expensive compared with similar offerings from rivals.
Amazons Prime service, which offers video streaming, music and faster shipping of purchases, is priced at Rs 999 a year while local rival Hotstar has a free service as well paid plans starting at 365 rupees a year.
Netflixs test plan at Rs 250 a month gives users access to standard definition video on smartphones and tablets, a company spokesman said.
We will be testing different options in select countries where members can, for example, watch Netflix on their mobile device for a lower price and subscribe in shorter increments of time, he added.
Netflixs Indian roster includes blockbuster originals such as Sacred Games, global superhits such as Narcos as well as Indian cinema. However, its premium pricing is seen by critics as a stumbling block to bulking up its Indian user base.
Chief Executive Reed Hastings told Reuters late last year that Netflix had no plans for cheaper prices in India, where it aims to win its next 100 million subscribers.
The company emphasised on Tuesday that the new plan is a test and the company might not roll out these specific plans beyond the tests.
Netflixs strategy to launch the test for mobile devices in India comes against the backdrop of rising demand for smartphones in the worlds second-biggest mobile phone market with more than 1.1 billion wireless connections.
Aspirational buyers looking for bigger screens and better user experience are likely to spend more on their second or third smartphones, pushing up the average selling price by 18 percent from last year to $190, said Tarun Pathak of technology researcher Counterpoint.
tech2 News Staff
On 1 April, the Indian Space Research Organisation will carry the Indian EMISAT and 29 other satellites and place them in orbit in a special mission.
This will be the first time ISRO attempts to place satellites in three different orbits in a single satellite launch mission the PSLV-C45/EMISAT mission.
What is EMISAT?
The highlight of the launch on 1 April is EMISAT a powerful electronic intelligence/surveillance satellite developed jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organisation). For satellite standards, EMISAT is a rather small one weighing in at under 500 kg.
ISRO will likely place EMISAT in a highly elliptical orbit, also called a signature SIGINT orbit, after its launch on the PSLV-QL, a new variant in the PSLV family. This gives satellites the maximum amount of time to record high-resolution signals from a specific area.
How does EMISAT work?
EMISAT is modelled after a famous Israeli spy satellite called SARAL (Satellite with ARgos and ALtika). Both these satellites have the SSB-2 bus protocol the core component for their sharp electronic surveillance capabilities across the length and width of a large country like India.
EMISAT also has a special altimeter (a radar altitude measuring device) called 'AltiKa' that works in the Ka-band microwave region of the spectrum. The electronic surveillance payload of EMISAT was developed under DRDO's project 'KAUTILYA'.
The main capability of EMISAT is in signal intelligence intercepting signals broadcasted by communication systems, radars, and other electronic systems on the ground from hundred of kilometres away in space. The Ka-band frequency that EMISAT is sensitive to allows the 436-kg EMISAT India's newest spy in the sky to scan through ice, rain, coastal zones, land masses, forests and wave heights relatively easily.
As of this month, the EMISAT project has been eight years in the making.
On 1 April, the PSLV-C45 mission will carry it into low-Earth orbit and place it in an orbit at 749 km. Following this, 28 other satellites will also be released at different altitudes.
Other payloads on the PSLV-C45 mission
Flock 4a Doves: Twenty Earth-imaging CubeSats made by Planet Labs, called the 'Flock 4a' fleet. Planet has placed 219 Flock doves in orbit since 2013 almost half of them launched in 2017.
Lemur-2: Four CubeSats (3U) by Spire Global, a space-to-cloud analytics company that uses nanosatellites to track aviation, maritime, and weather patterns. The Lemur-2s were built to study and monitor air, marine traffic using remote sensing techniques.
BlueWalker-1: A 6U CubeSat built by AST & Science and Nanoavionics
Two of our precious #nanosatellites have been safely packed and will be heading to India, for integration to #PSLVc45.
The launch is scheduled in March - stay tuned for updates!#satellite #cubesat #newspace pic.twitter.com/Xx8ROjnIuz NanoAvionics (@NanoAvionics) February 15, 2019
M6P: A 6U CubeSat by Nanoavionics to test a new (M6P) platform to host Internet of Things (IoT) payloads with space companies SpaceWorks Orbital and Lacuna Space. The 'green' chemical propulsion system on M6P was part of the LituanicaSAT-2 satellite that was launched on the PSLV C38 mission.
Astrocast-2: A 3U CubeSat built by Astrocast, a network of small satellites providing low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity "to people changing the world", as per their website.
AIStechsat-3 (Danu Pathfinder): A 2U cubesat made by AIStechspace to help with maritime and aeronautical tracking. The CubeSat is a prototype for a larger constellation to deliver Internet of Things (IoT) services for tracking & monitoring in the aviation sector.
Special fourth stage experiment
The fourth stage (PS4) of the PSLV-C43 in this EMISAT mission will act as an orbital platform for research organisations and academic institutes to perform microgravity experiments in. The upcoming mission's PS4 will host three payload experiments:
Automatic Identification System (AIS) from ISRO Automatic Packet Repeating System (APRS) from AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), India Advanced Retarding Potential Analyzer for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS) from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST)
ISRO discussed at the start of 2019 their interest in opening up future mission fourth stages to universities and startups to send their microgravity experiments to space for a maximum period of 6 months. The PSLV's PS4 would shelter it from space debris as well as power the experiments for that duration.
One of the two non-ISRO entities making the most of the opportunity is Exseed Space, which, after becoming the first Indian private company to go to space in the PSLV-C44 mission, will soon also become the second to go to space.
India's 1st private company to go to space is also the 2nd to go to space! This time we're flying on @isro #PSLVC45 on April 1. With a very special payload - await details Do send us your wishes - they take us higher! pic.twitter.com/4kCv2Ieveb Exseed Space (@ExseedSpace) March 25, 2019
When and where to watch the EMISAT launch live
The PSLV-C45 mission will launch on 1 April aboard a modified version of the PSLV rocket.
The overall flight sequence will take roughly 180 minutes, starting with the launch at 9.30 am ISRO on Monday, 1 April.
A live stream of the launch and separation will be available on DD National's YouTube page or ISRO's website starting 9 am Monday.
Death Miscount Etched Into History
President Clinton and veterans from across the nation will gather in somber remembrance this afternoon at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, where it is carved into stone that 54,246 Americans died in the war that began 50 years ago today.
For decades, the number has been enshrined in almanacs, histories, memories and monuments, cited as proof of the war's cost. But nearly one-third of those deaths--17,730--occurred elsewhere, often half a world away from Korea, in places ranging from the United States to Germany. The actual number of Americans killed in the Korean War theater of operations is 36,516, the Pentagon acknowledged this month.
"If you were walking down the street in Washington, D.C., and were hit by a car, you'd be considered a casualty of the Korean War," said Burt Hagelin, a Korean War veteran who helped uncover the mystery.
The error was blamed on an anonymous government clerk who in the 1950s mistakenly added all noncombat deaths worldwide to the total, and the correction was credited to revised reporting procedures, according to news accounts reporting the Pentagon's clarification. That is not the real story, according to veterans and others who have pushed for years to correct the number.
"Fifty years later, they're trying to drop it all on one clerk," said Richard Kolb, publisher of VFW Magazine, a Veterans of Foreign Wars publication that several times has urged the number be corrected. "They had the facts all along. Now they're acting like it's a new revelation."
Some Pentagon officials have for years considered the 54,000 figure inflated, and they believed before the memorial was dedicated in 1995 that engraving that number in black granite would be misleading, according to interviews. But at the insistence of the veterans committee that oversaw the memorial's construction, the figure was used.
Press Trust of India
During the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference held at Texas, US last week, NASA confirmed that Chandrayaan 2 and Israeli lander Beresheet, which is due to touch down April 11, will each carry a NASA-owned laser retroreflector arrays.
Indias lunar mission Chandrayaan 2, scheduled to launch next month, will carry NASAs laser instruments that allow scientists to make precise measurements of the distance to the Moon, according to the US space agency officials.
During the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference held at Texas, US last week, NASA confirmed that Chandrayaan 2 and Israeli lander Beresheet, due to touch down April 11, will each carry NASA-owned laser retroreflector arrays.
"Were trying to populate the entire surface with as many laser reflector arrays as we can possibly get there," Lori Glaze, acting director of the Planetary Science Division of NASAs Science Mission Directorate, was reported as saying by Space.com.
Retroreflectors are sophisticated mirrors, that reflect laser light signals sent from the Earth. The signals can help pinpoint precisely where the lander is, which scientists can use to precisely calculate the Moons distance from Earth.
While five such instruments already exist on the lunar surface, they have some flaws, according to Simone DellAgnello, a physicist at the National Institute for Nuclear Physics National Laboratory at Italy.
The existing reflectors are big ones, said DellAgnello adding that individual reflectors instead of arrays, would waste fewer laser pulses and allow more-precise measurements of the moons surface.
Those analyses could become so detailed that scientists could see the daily rise and fall of any lander surface the device is resting on as that surface expands and contracts with the Moons dramatic temperature changes.
British lawmakers seized a measure of control over the stalled Brexit process from Prime Minister Theresa May's floundering government on Monday, setting up a series of votes that could dramatically alter the course of the UK's departure from the European Union.
London: British lawmakers seized a measure of control over the stalled Brexit process from Prime Minister Theresa May's floundering government on Monday, setting up a series of votes that could dramatically alter the course of the UK's departure from the European Union. The move came after May conceded that Parliament would defeat her twice-rejected divorce deal with the EU again if she put it to a third vote.
With Brexit delayed and the new departure date up in the air, the House of Commons voted to give itself temporary control of the parliamentary timetable starting on Wednesday so lawmakers can vote on alternatives to May's withdrawal deal. The government usually controls the scheduling of votes in Parliament.
Lawmakers who backed Monday's motion, which passed 329-302, hope the planned "indicative votes" will narrow the options down to one that can secure majority support. Possible options include a "soft Brexit" that maintains close economic ties with the EU or scrapping Britain's departure altogether.
Three government ministers quit their posts so they could back the motion. Richard Harrington, who resigned as a junior business minister, accused the government of "playing roulette with the lives and livelihoods of the vast majority of people in this country" by failing to resolve Britain's Brexit impasse.
The government said it was disappointed by the vote, claiming it "upends the balance between our democratic institutions and sets a dangerous, unpredictable precedent for the future." But it also conceded that the new votes might be a way to break the months-long Brexit gridlock. May said she would "engage constructively" with the results of the process, though she said she was skeptical that it would produce a decisive result.
The move raises the chances that Britain will tack toward a softer Brexit, and is likely to be welcomed by the EU. Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit coordinator, tweeted that it was an "opportunity to build a cross-party cooperation leading to an enhanced political declaration & a closer future relationship!" Earlier in the day, May acknowledged, "with great regret," that her deal still lacked "sufficient support" to be approved as of Monday.
She said she hoped to hold a third vote on the agreement later this week and was working to build support for the deal, which sets out the terms of withdrawing from the EU and the outline of future relations with the bloc.
May warned opponents that continuing to reject the deal could lead to a "slow Brexit" that postpones the country's departure indefinitely.
With the 29 March Brexit day set almost two years ago days away and the withdrawal agreement lacking Parliament's approval, European leaders agreed to a postponement last week to avoid a chaotic cliff-edge departure that would be disruptive for the world's biggest trading bloc and deeply damaging for Britain.
However, the EU granted a shorter delay than May sought. It said if Parliament approves the proposed divorce deal, the UK would leave the EU on 22 May. If not, the government has until 12 April to tell the 27 remaining EU countries what it plans to do leave without a deal, cancel Brexit or chart a path to a new option.
In agreeing to the postponement, European leaders hoped Britain's deadlocked politicians would find a solution to the crisis. But the EU isn't counting on it. The European Commission said Monday it had completed planning for a no-deal Brexit, calling that outcome "increasingly likely.
In a recent development, police in Pakistan have arrested seven people who allegedly facilitated abduction and forced conversion of the sisters from Ghotki.
Ghotki, Sindh: Abduction of two minor Hindu girls in Ghotki district of Pakistans Sindh province on the eve of Holi festival has brought forth yet again the issue of forced conversions of minority Hindu community, particularly young girls, in the Muslim majority neighbouring nation.
On 20 March, two Hindu minor sisters Reena, 15, and Raveena, 13 were abducted by six armed men who barged into their house and held the family hostage at gunpoint, before leaving with the two sisters, according to the First Information Report filed in the case by the girls brother, Shaman Lal.
A video that went viral on social media showed the teenage girls father, Hari Lal, beat his chest in protest sitting on the ground while he claimed that the two sisters were abducted, married off to Muslim boys and forcefully converted to Islam.
In a phone conversation, the brother alleged that his sisters were abducted and converted at gunpoint by an influential Muslim family that has the backing of clerics from Bharchundi Shareef Dargah in Daharki taluk of Ghotki, an institution infamous for backing forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan. Seeking accountability from the government, Shaman said, We demand the government take notice of this incident and ensure their [girls] reunion with us. Prime Minister Imran Khan must intervene and do the needful.
Lal familys advocate Dileep Manghlani told this correspondent: Five gunmen armed with weapons forced entry into my clients home in Ghotki and abducted his two daughters at gunpoint on 20 March, 2019 in the evening at 7.30 pm.
Its a case of kidnapping, terrorism and forced conversion. The girls are too young and illiterate. How can they understand the teachings of Islam? And even if they have embraced Islam out of their will, they [influencers/cleric] should have invited girls parents to the ceremony held to mark their conversion, the advocate said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry told media persons on Sunday that the prime minister had taken notice of the incident and ordered authorities to take immediate steps for recovery of the girls.
In a recent development, police in Pakistan have arrested seven people who allegedly facilitated abduction and forced conversion of the sisters from Ghotki.
Deputy commissioner of Ghotki, Saleemullah Odho, said, Police have arrested a relative of Nikah Khawn (the cleric who conducts marriage) and the attendees of Nikah (marriage) ceremony. They are under interrogation, while police parties are raiding suspected places to arrest the main accused.
Aamir Ghauri, founder-director of South Asia Future Forum, a group that brings together South Asian thinkers to deliberate on regions affairs, said, This is not the first incident of this nature. Similar incidents have happened in the past. They may happen in the future too.
On the same day, another Hindu girl named Shania was allegedly abducted in Mirpurkhas district.
Research carried out by local agencies reveals almost 300 Hindu girls are converted each year and forced to marry Muslim men, who in 95 percent cases are already married.
Mukesh Meghwar, a social and political human rights activist states that seven Hindu girls have been kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam in the last five weeks. We condemn it. The government needs to take note of it. As many as seven Hindu girls have been kidnapped and forcibly converted during the last five weeks.
According to provincial law, underage girls/boys cannot be converted without the presence of their parents.
A document released in 2014 by the Movement for Solidarity and Peace (MSP) in Pakistan, under the National Commission for Justice and Peace, stated 1,791 forced conversions into Islam took place between 2000 and 2012. Of those converted, 624 were originally Christian by faith and 300 were Hindu. (Forced Marriages & Forced Conversions in the Christian Community of Pakistan, April 2014).
In an Islamic republic of 200 million majority Muslim population (as per the 2018 Census), Hindus constitute 1.6 percent of the population estimated to be around 3.6 million (36 Lakhs) in number in 2018.
What has shaken the minority community here are recent incidents of forced conversions of their young girls. Pakistans Sindh province, home to a majority of Hindu community, has been infamous for forced conversion of young Hindu girls. Hindu community here have been battling poverty, discrimination and hatred (by Majority Muslims) for a long time.
In interior Sindh, a Hindu-dominated region of Pakistan, kidnapping and forced conversion of Hindu girls to Islam takes place regularly. Hindu girls are a soft target for influential Muslims. They are kidnapped on a routine basis, says Amarnath Motumal, an activist and a council member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
He adds, Hindu families are too scared. The kidnappings and conversations are done by influential people of the region. The victims prefer to remain silent to save their lives.
Further shedding light on the incident, Bherulal Balani, a former member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, said most of these Hindu girls belong to low castes, which stops their families from raising their voice against influential kidnappers out of fear.
Even the police prefer to bury these cases, he said. Officials from Sindh province said the phenomenon of forced conversion has increased in Sindh during the last couple of years.
We are very worried. We cannot afford sending our young children either to India or to other countries to avoid forced conversion, says Sanao Menghwar, 46, a resident of Nawab Shah region in Sindh.
Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, says he plans to introduce a five-point resolution to end the kidnapping and forced conversion of Hindu girls, in the next session of Pakistans Lower House. The bill against forced conversions which was unanimously passed by Sindh Assembly in 2016 and then reverted due to the pressure of extremist elements must be resurrected and passed in the Assembly on a priority basis. The bill must be passed in the National Assembly on an urgent basis and implemented throughout the country in letter and spirit, he said.
He further demands that these incidents be condemned unanimously by all members of the Parliament.
I am not sure if the government (Provincial Sindh government as well as the Federal) will be able to stop forced conversion. But, we must appreciate Prime Minister Imran Khan for taking notice of the incident, Vankwani told this correspondent.
He mentioned that the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights and the Sindh Assembly has unanimously approved a draft bill to amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act by raising the minimum age of marriage for girls to 18 years from present 16 in the country.
Hindus as a minority in Pakistan have had considerably fewer privileges, rights and protections. In Pakistan, anti-Hindu sentiments are common, as followers of any other faith but Islam are often regarded as Kaffirs (Unbelievers) and blamed for causing all the problems in Pakistan.
The author is a Pakistan-based freelance writer and a member of 101reporters.com.
Trump on Sunday claimed victory after a summary of the report, submitted to the Congress, found no conspiracy 'despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign'.
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday asserted that the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report would not bother him at all and the decision to make the report public lies with the Justice Department. The report by Mueller, a former FBI director, is a nearly two-year investigation into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential elections.
Trump on Sunday claimed victory after a summary of the report, submitted to the Congress, found no conspiracy "despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign". Opposition Democratic party, which has been alleging that Russian interference helped Trump win his presidency, are demanding that the report be made public. "It wouldn't bother me at all," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he wanted the complete report to be released. He said it is up to Attorney General William Barr to decide whether to release the full report.
Trump says he is glad that Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling is over and wishes it could have gone quicker. "We can never let this happen to another president again," he said. Earlier, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders also said the President would have no problem with the release of the Mueller report. "I don't think the president has any problem with it. He's more than happy for any of this stuff to come out because he knows exactly what did and what didn't happen and now frankly the rest of America knows," Sanders said on NBC's Today show.
Though Mueller found no evidence of Trump or his campaign conspiring with a Russian effort to influence the election in his favour, he stopped short of exonerating the president of obstruction of justice. Attorney General Barr, however, concluded that there was insufficient evidence to bring obstruction of justice charges against Trump. Sanders said the Americans know "there was no collusion, they know there was no obstruction and it's a complete and total exoneration of the president."
By David Alire Garcia MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A trove of Aztec sacrifices including a richly adorned jaguar dressed as a warrior and recently discovered in downtown Mexico City could lead archaeologists to the most tantalizing find yet: an Aztec emperor's tomb. Discovered off the steps of the Aztec's holiest temple during the reign of the empire's most powerful ruler, the sacrificial offerings also include a young boy, dressed to resemble the Aztec war god and solar deity, and a set of flint knives elaborately decorated with mother of pearl and precious stones. The offerings were deposited by Aztec priests over five centuries ago in a circular, ritual platform once located in front of the temple where the earliest historical accounts describe the final resting place of Aztec kings.
By David Alire Garcia
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A trove of Aztec sacrifices including a richly adorned jaguar dressed as a warrior and recently discovered in downtown Mexico City could lead archaeologists to the most tantalizing find yet: an Aztec emperor's tomb.
Discovered off the steps of the Aztec's holiest temple during the reign of the empire's most powerful ruler, the sacrificial offerings also include a young boy, dressed to resemble the Aztec war god and solar deity, and a set of flint knives elaborately decorated with mother of pearl and precious stones.
The offerings were deposited by Aztec priests over five centuries ago in a circular, ritual platform once located in front of the temple where the earliest historical accounts describe the final resting place of Aztec kings.
None of these details have been reported before and such a discovery would mark a first since no Aztec royal burial has yet been found despite decades of digging.
"We have enormous expectations right now," lead archeologist Leonardo Lopez Lujan told Reuters. "As we go deeper we think we'll continue finding very rich objects."
The jaguar offering, found in a large rectangular stone box in what would have been the center of the circular platform, has stirred particular excitement.
Only about one-tenth of the box's contents has been excavated, but already a wide array of artifacts has been found near the top, including a spear thrower and a carved wooden disk placed on the feline's back that was the emblem of the Aztec patron deity Huitzilopochtli, the war and sun god.
A layer of aquatic offerings placed on top of the west-facing jaguar have also been identified, including a large amount of shells, bright red starfish and coral that likely represented the watery underworld the Aztecs believed the sun traveled through at night before emerging in the east to begin a new day.
A roseate spoonbill, a pink bird from the flamingo family, has also been found in the offering. It was associated with warriors and rulers, and thought to represent their spirits in their descent into the underworld.
"There's an enormous amount of coral that's blocking what we can see below," said archeologist Miguel Baez, part of the team excavating the offerings at the base of the temple, known today as the Templo Mayor, located just off Mexico City's bustling Zocalo plaza.
The Templo Mayor would have been as high as a 15-story pyramid before it was razed along with the rest of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan after the 1521 Spanish conquest of Mexico.
Expanded by each Aztec king, the shrine was believed to be at the center of the universe and was crowned with two smaller temples, one on the north side dedicated to the rain god Tlaloc and one on the south to Huitzilopochtil.
The latest offerings all align with the southern temple.
WARRIOR SOCIETY
Several decades after the conquest, chroniclers detailed the burial rites of three Aztec kings, all brothers who ruled from 1469 to 1502.
According to these accounts, the rulers' cremated remains were deposited with luxurious offerings and the hearts of sacrificed slaves in or near the circular platform.
In 2006, a massive monolith of the Aztec earth goddess was discovered nearby with an inscription corresponding to the year 1502, which is when the empire's greatest ruler and the last of the brothers, Ahuitzotl, died.
Elizabeth Boone, an ancient Mexico specialist at Tulane University, notes that Ahuitzotl's death would have been marked with lavish memorizing and that the jaguar may represent the king as a fearless warrior.
"You could have Ahuitzotl in that box," she said.
A smaller stone box next to the jaguar offering containing a top layer of copal bars, used by Aztec priests for incense, has also been identified, though it too has only been partially excavated as both were only opened earlier this year.
Next to it another stone box has been found containing 21 flint knives decorated to resemble warriors, including the same war god disk but made of mother of pearl, as well as a miniature wooden spear thrower and shield.
Finally, an adjacent circular offering holds an approximately 9-year-old sacrificed boy found with a wooden war god disk, a jade bead necklace and wings made from hawk bones and attached to his shoulders.
Like the jaguar, the boy likely had his heart torn out as part of a ritual sacrifice, though further tests will need to be conducted to confirm the theory.
The offerings also speak to the geographic reach of the Aztecs, a warrior society like ancient Sparta that conquered neighboring kingdoms to acquire tribute.
The starfish came from the Pacific Ocean, for example, while the jade was brought from Central America near present-day Honduras.
"The offerings provide a window not only into the (Aztecs) sacred world, but also their economic lives," said Frances Berdan, an Aztec scholar at California State University, San Bernardino.
Meticulous sifting through the latest offerings is expected to continue for at least several more months, though practical hardships weigh on the archaeologists.
Mexico's new government has cut the project's budget by 20 percent this year, according to several archeologists who work on the excavation, and nearly all members of the 25-person team have not been paid since December.
(Reporting by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Sandra Maler)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Israel launched strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza on Monday hours after a rocket from the Palestinian enclave hit a house near Tel Aviv and wounded seven people, leading to fears of a severe escalation
Israel launched strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza on Monday hours after a rocket from the Palestinian enclave hit a house near Tel Aviv and wounded seven people, leading to fears of a severe escalation.
The retaliatory strikes were begun around the same time as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump in Washington, with explosions rocking areas of the Gaza Strip and balls of fire rising into the sky.
In comments from the White House, Netanyahu said "Israel is responding forcefully to this wanton aggression," while Trump spoke of Israel's "right to defend itself." Netanyahu said he would return home after meeting Trump, cancelling an address to pro-Israel lobby AIPAC's annual conference on Tuesday.
The flare-up comes at a highly sensitive time for Israel, which holds elections on 9 April.
A security source in Gaza said there had been a range of strikes in various locations across the enclave. One destroyed a building in Gaza City that Israel alleged was a secret headquarters for Hamas security and intelligence. Residents of Gaza said the building was known to house the Hamas-linked Multasim insurance company. Hamas's interior security office in Gaza City was also hit. So far there have been no reports of any casualties in Gaza.
"If there is any violation of the red lines by the occupation, our people will not surrender and the resistance is able to deter it," Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said.
Earlier Monday, a rocket from Gaza hit a house in Israel in a rare long-distance strike. Israel's army said the rocket was fired by Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, from the Rafah area. A Hamas official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, denied the group was behind the rocket, evoking the possibility it was caused by "bad weather".
The official said the same message had been passed to Egypt, which has acted as mediator between Israel and Hamas. But Israel warned of a firm response and announced it was sending two additional brigades to reinforce the Gaza area and carrying out a limited call up of reservists. Israeli roads near the Gaza Strip were closed and farming activities in the area were halted.
Israel also closed its people and goods crossings with the blockaded Gaza Strip and reduced the zone in the Mediterranean it allows for Palestinian fishermen off the enclave, a statement said. The Israeli house hit was located in the community of Mishmeret, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Tel Aviv, police said. The rocket would have had to travel some 120 kilometres (75 miles) from Rafah to reach the area. Rocket fire from Gaza at that distance is rare.
The hospital treating the wounded said seven Israelis were injured lightly by burns and shrapnel, including three children. One of the wounded was a six-month-old child and six of them were members of the same British-Israeli family. The house was destroyed in the wake of the rocket and subsequent fire, with burnt wood, a children's toy and other debris piled at the site.
Police spokesman Ami Ben David said air raid sirens wailed at around 5:15 am and the home's residents made their way to a safe room, possibly saving their lives. The rocket crashed through the roof and then exploded when it hit the floor, he said. The flare-up comes after mounting tensions in recent weeks.
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008, and Netanyahu is believed to want to avoid another one with unpredictable results ahead of the elections. But he faces a tough challenge from a centrist political alliance led by former military chief Benny Gantz and came under pressure to react firmly.
Gantz asked on Twitter, referring to corruption allegations against Netanyahu, whether the prime minister would "finally focus on the security of the citizens of Israel instead of dealing only with his legal concerns." In a speech to AIPAC on Monday, Gantz commended Netanyahu's decision to return to Israel and said he would do the same later in the day.
Monday's rocket followed another rare one on 14 March in which two rockets were fired from Gaza towards Tel Aviv.
No damage or injuries were caused, but Israel responded to that and further rocket fire by hitting what it said were around 100 Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip. Four Palestinians were reported wounded in those strikes.
Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad denied they were behind the 14 March rocket fire towards Tel Aviv, raising the possibility they were launched by fringe groups.
Israel's military said they were launched by Hamas, but later Israeli media reported the army's preliminary assessment was that they had been fired by mistake during maintenance work.
The reports were a sign Israel was seeking to calm tensions. The military refused to comment on them at the time.
Saturday also marks the first anniversary of Palestinian protests and clashes along the Gaza Strip's border with Israel. An informal truce between Hamas and Israel had led to relative calm along the border, but recent weeks have seen another uptick in violence. Netanyahu's visit to the United States included Trump's formal recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which it seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Lebanon on Monday said a US decision to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights violates international law and undermines the prospects for peace. US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognising Israeli sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, a border area seized from Syria in 1967.
Beirut: Lebanon on Monday said a US decision to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights violates international law and undermines the prospects for peace. US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognising Israeli sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, a border area seized from Syria in 1967.
In a statement carried by the NNA state news agency, the Lebanese foreign ministry said the move "violates all the rules of international law" and "undermines any effort to reach a just peace". "The Golan Heights are Syrian Arab land, no decision can change this, and no country can revisit history by transferring ownership of land from one country to another," it said. The ministry said attempts by Israel to expand its territory by way of "force and aggression" would only isolate the Jewish state.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the recognition "historic" and said the Golan Heights, which are still claimed by Syria, would remain permanently under Israeli control. The Syrian government said Washington's recognition of Israeli claims over the Golan was a blatant attack on its sovereignty. Russia warned of a "new wave" of tensions in the Middle East after the US Golan move.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to discuss the Golan on Wednesday during a meeting on renewing the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force deployed between Israel and Syria in the Golan, known as UNDOF.
It was outgoing president Barack Obama who first imposed sanctions on Russia and kicked out nearly 35 diplomats as a result of allegations that Russians had hacked the US election in favour of Donald Trump
This scandal has been at least four years in the making. It was, after all, the outgoing president Barack Obama who first imposed sanctions on Russia and kicked out nearly 35 diplomats as a result of allegations that Russians had hacked the US election in favour of Donald Trump. Since then that particular story has been on a rock-and-roll ride, from the time an investigation was authorised by the attorney-general in May 2017, headed by former FBI chief Robert Mueller, to the presenting of the final report awaited gleefully by the media.
Not that it hasn't been a bit of a let down. As Attorney-General William Barr observed, "the investigation had employed 19 lawyers who were assisted by a team of approximately 40 FBI agents/professionals issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, obtained more than 230 orders for communication records, issued almost 50 orders authorising use of pen registers, made 13 requests to foreign governments for evidence, and interviewed approximately 500 witnesses". Thereafter, all that has been released to the public is a mere couple of paragraphs, which is essentially the summary provided to Congress. But this is US democracy in action some good , some not-so-good, and definitely corroding under the present onslaught.
The showcasing of a working democracy was the setting up of the investigation and its mandate. First, a Special Counsel was assigned, rather than an Independent Counsel as in the past, with far greater independence of action. Second, the order stated that the Special Counsel was to investigate any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of Trump; and (ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation;. The third aspect simply referred to "any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. 600.4a".
That's the interesting addition and is likely to be the focus of future speculation and Congressional focus. The particular Federal Regulation states, "The jurisdiction of a Special Counsel shall also include the authority to investigate and prosecute federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, the Special Counsel's investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses
That is actually the crux of the whole, and the shameful trail of incidents that followed the beginning of the scandal. This began with the dismissal of then FBI director James Comey who was leading investigations into the allegations of Russian interference, the requested resignation of then attorney-general Jeff Sessions perhaps due to his refusal to intervene in the investigation, the imprisonment on the request of the president, the imprisonment of 'fixer' Michael Cohen for various less-than-savoury reasons including hush payments to women; the arrest of Republican "operative" Paul Manafort, described as a 'hardened criminal' with links to possible Russian intelligence operatives, and within all this and more, the president's attempts to either get some of these individuals off with a pardon, or vilify them when they did make statements to the Counsel. And finally at the end of it all, the president's triumphant declaration that he has been vindicated.
This is US democracy at its worst.
That particular statement of the president is definitely far from the truth. The attorney-general who will probably receive the homage of precis writers everywhere in summarising the findings of such a massive investigation uses very careful language indeed. The summary of 'Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election' states, "[T]he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities."
In simple words, the evidence was not enough. Further, it did establish clearly that Russian officials had actively undermined the Hillary Clinton campaign, and multiple efforts by them to 'assist' the one on Trump. Finally, and this is the most damning of all, on the charge of obstruction, it states that "while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him". Period.
None of this is likely to fuzzy up the Trump campaign in the 2020 election. Instead, it will probably be used as political gold to shore up his image as a wronged leader, who had been the target of a witch-hunt. Its worth noting that his position on the Mexican wall and the government shutdown that followed hasn't adversely affected his ratings. Meanwhile, his most recent reactions seem to indicate that he is likely to go after those who targeted him, especially the media. Independent Anchors and analysts need to watch their backs.
A lot of this seems familiar. South Asia is no stranger to crass politics and corruption, with even an effort to hide such looting considered unnecessary. In the land of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, it's no longer a surprise. But when this happens within what is still regarded as the most powerful country in the world, it's time to worry.
The Mueller investigation is unfortunately an indication that the checks and balances that once operated on a US president could be loosening. A future president desirous of shifting the public gaze from uncomfortable questions could far more easily take the option of starting another war in some remote outpost of the world or end another one precipitately in a cry of "bring the troops home". For India, a future US administration's commitments to Afghanistan, its commitments on Pakistan and its consistence on China are vitally important. None of that is going to be certain anymore, hostage as they are to the more than unusually fragile popularity ratings of candidates on both sides of the spectrum. Expect a rock-and-roll ride on this too.
Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif is lodged in the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore since December 2018, serving a seven-year imprisonment in the Al Azizia Steel Mills graft case.
Islamabad: In a relief to ailing Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to the jailed former prime minister for six weeks for seeking medical treatment within the country.
Sharif, 69, is lodged in the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore since December 2018, serving a seven-year imprisonment in the Al Azizia Steel Mills graft case.
He filed appeal earlier in March against a judgment by the Islamabad High Court, which on 25 February rejected his bail on medical grounds in the same case.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, in a short order, granted bail to Sharif for six weeks for his treatment.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo has suffered four angina attacks in recent weeks, according to his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
The Sharif family is complaining that the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan was not providing adequate treatment to the three-time former premier who has serious health complications.
The apex court, in its order, directed Sharif to submit two bail bonds amounting to Rs 1 crore. However, the bench made it clear that Sharif cannot go out of the country during the six-week period.
He will be allowed to get treatment from a doctor of his own choice. After completion of the time period, he has to surrender himself, the judgment said.
Sharif can apply for bail in the high court if need be, the judgment added.
During the hearing, Sharif's counsel Khawaja Haris asked the court to grant the former premier bail for eight weeks. "As far as the treatment is concerned, my client's life is at risk. He will surrender himself to the court after the treatment is complete," he told the court.
But the additional prosecutor told the judges that "Nawaz Sharif has no life-threatening disease." Reacting to the court ruling, Imran Khan said his government respects court decisions, Geo News reported.
The premier, who was informed about the top court's decision on Sharif's petition while chairing a meeting of the Cabinet, said, "We had already directed that Nawaz be provided all medical facilities."
"The courts and institutions in the country are independent," he said and added that he was praying for Sharif's health.
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 Avenfield corruption 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 graft case but acquitted him in the Flagship corruption case.
The Al-Azizia Steel Mill case is related to setting up steel mills in Saudi Arabia allegedly with corruption money.
Frustrated by Congress's refusal to provide the budget he sought to build a border wall, Donald Trump declared a national emergency last month in order to bypass lawmakers to unlock $8 billion in funding.
Washington: Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan said Monday he had authorized $1 billion to build part of the wall sought by President Donald Trump along the US-Mexico border.
The Department of Homeland Security asked the Pentagon to build 57 miles (92 kilometers) of 18-foot (5.5-meter) fencing, build and improve roads, and install lighting to support Trump's emergency declaration as concerns the border.
Shanahan "authorized the commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning and executing up to $1 billion in support to the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol," a Pentagon statement read.
The acting defense secretary defended the move by citing a federal law that he said "gives the Department of Defense the authority to construct roads and fences and to install lighting to block drug-smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States in support of counter-narcotic activities of federal law enforcement agencies."
The statement was released just hours before Shanahan was due to testify in Congress to present and defend the Pentagon's draft budget.
Frustrated by Congress's refusal to provide the budget he sought to build a border wall, Trump declared a national emergency last month in order to bypass lawmakers to unlock $8 billion in funding.
The move drew condemnation from both the president's rival Democrats and fellow Republicans, who warned it was an abuse of presidential powers and created a dangerous precedent.
Although universal basic income hinges on the basic premise of eliminating poverty, the overwhelming intricacies of employing a direct cash payment to an entire population has led to it being limited to some of the most prosperous countries and cities.
Universal basic income, until Rahul Gandhi's promise of it on Monday, is a concept which has so far had little traction in our part of the world. Even though the rate of unemployment is high and poverty levels higher, the sheer number of people in India have made the promise of monetary support to one and all a distant dream.
Although the scheme hinges on the basic premise of eliminating poverty, the overwhelming intricacies of employing a direct cash payment to an entire population has led to it being limited to some of the most prosperous countries and cities. Even there, it operates on an experimental basis. No country till now has adopted a full basic income.
The world over, thinkers and doers are united in the assumption that the system of ensuring a basic income is a solution to do away with inequality. The Basic Income Earth Network, a charitable portal that traces the intricacies of the concept, defines it as "a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement."
While it does delineate the underlying clauses in declaring a monetary scheme as a universal basic scheme, the definition is in no way binding. For one, even schemes like the one promised by Rahul, tackles households and not individuals are considered part of the universal basic income (UBI) ambit. More importantly, unique socioeconomic conditions of a country call for amendments to the nature of cash payment.
Whatever the nature of the UBI system to which a government subscribes, at its core, it attempts to do away with the inherent exploitation in a labour contract. With a cash support in his or her bank, a person is more likely to seek out jobs he or she wants to do, making it easier for employers and employees to have a more equal relationship.
Resurgence of an idea
Not unsurprisingly, the resurgence of UBI as a possible method to ensure subsistence has come from the very site which holds traditional modes of worker-owner relationships hostage Silicon Valley. From Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to countless start-up wizards, Forbes notes that the concept finds favour among young geniuses because it belies their fear in the future of a world where robots will soon take over the job market.
The fruits of labour, in an artificial intelligence-run utopia, would be divided among those who stand to lose the most from this shift in labour dynamics. However, the report sheds light on the fact that if indeed jobs are taken up by machines, then what would those receiving minimum income have left to aspire to? Not much, and that would mean a stagnant, unemployed, assisted labour force.
Ruthless, America's capitalism may be, but it has often tried to arrive at a strong and targeted safety net for those it has thrown out of its ambit. Here, it has proven difficult to strike a balance between assistance and incentive. A report on Wired highlights how difficult it would be to actually bring about a concept like the UBI in a country like America, with its predilection for protecting wealth so firmly ingrained in its economy that there exists laws that reduces taxes for the rich. This, even though a basic cash payment has seen rousing support from both the conservative and liberal side of the political spectrum.
One of the lingering doubts left by the UBI is its long term effects. The World Social Science Report 2016, co-published by UNESCO, notes the near universal success of the concept in trials.
In the United States and Canada in the 1970s there were a number of randomised trials, most notably in Seattle and Denver, in which randomly selected low-income individuals received a UBI.
In India, notes the report, eight villages were selected in 2011 and all its residents were given a minimum income. "In all of these experiments, receiving a UBI significantly improved the lives of people while having at most a modest effect on labour force participation," it noted. While this spells good fortune for the US and Canada, whether a country like India with a chunk of its population involved in non-contractual agricultural labour can reflect the success of the scheme is suspect.
In Ontario, Canada, people living in two cities and a town have been a part of an ongoing trial since June, 2017. Barcelona and Scotland are also in the middle of their own own basic income experiments, launched in October 2017. In all these countries, the number of people involved in such trials has not exceeded 2,000.
Finland's experiment
Finland is among few countries that have launched a trial of the UBI with a view to rolling out the scheme soon. CNBC reports that at the beginning of 2017, as many as 2,000 unemployed people were corralled to receive 560 each month for two years. Researchers will assess how the free money affects recipients incentive to work, and the Finnish government hopes it might reduce bureaucracy in the existing welfare system.
But in a separate report, Wired notes how Finland has been quick to clarify that it has no plans of rolling out an UBI scheme any time soon. "There are no plans to continue or expand the experiment after 2018," the site quoted Miska Simanainen, a researcher at Kela, the Finnish government agency behind the trial as having said.
The results from the trial, which will determine the future of the UBI rollout, will be available by the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020, Simanainen had added.
An expensive scheme
Another Wired report also reflects on how schemes like these are at the mercy of the political inclination of governments. Days after the experiment was started by Kela, Finland's conservative government had begun tweaking the proposal, most importantly eliminating the part of the plan that paid people who had jobs, and only providing UBI for those receiving unemployment benefits instead.
Finland's skepticism is, to a large extent, due to the absolutely irrefutable fact that a UBI system (even in the form of a trial) is expensive. For some countries, reports Financial Times, it might prove devastatingly so.
The paper quotes a study on UBI proposals by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and reflects on the fact that even in the organisation's relatively advanced member countries, "big tax rises and reductions in other benefits would be needed, even for a modest basic income" for its entire population.
The report calculates that in France, UBI would require an increase in income taxes of 5.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and a reduction of other benefits of 5.3 percent of GDP. In Finland, it would require income tax increases of over 10.2 percent of GDP, and benefit reductions of 6.7 percent of GDP.
That the realities of India are vastly different from that of France and Finland. Where smaller, richer countries have shied away, if India does indeed bring about an UBI scheme, it will, as have been said before, undoubtedly the biggest in the world.
Metin Topuz was formally charged in January. He is accused of contact with police officers and a former prosecutor suspected of links to the Gulen movement
Istanbul: A Turkish court on Tuesday starts the trial of a US consulate staffer accused of spying and attempting to overthrow the government in one of several cases fuelling tensions between the United States and its NATO ally.
Metin Topuz, a Turkish citizen and liaison with the US Drug Enforcement Administration, was arrested in 2017 and has been accused of ties to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who Ankara says ordered a failed 2016 coup.
The trial begins as relations between the United States and Turkey have worsened with disagreements over Syria's war, Turkey's purchase of Russian missiles and the US refusal to extradite Gulen.
The first hearing of Topuz's trial in Caglayan court in Istanbul is expected to last three days. He faces life in jail if found guilty of spying and plotting to overthrow the government.
The US embassy has called the accusations "wholly without merit".
US officials say freeing "unjustly detained" Turkish nationals on their staff is a priority, as is the case of NASA scientist Serkan Golge, a dual US-Turkish national jailed on terror charges.
Another Istanbul local consulate staffer, Mete Canturk, is under house arrest and facing similar charges to Topuz.
A judge in January convicted Hamza Ulucay, a former local employee of the US consulate in Adana, southern Turkey, of helping outlawed Kurdish militants. He was released for time already served.
Diplomatic crisis
Topuz was formally charged in January. He is accused of contact with police officers and a former prosecutor suspected of links to the Gulen movement, according to Anadolu state news agency.
His initial arrest in 2017 triggered a diplomatic crisis with both Turkey and the US suspending visa services, until they stepped back.
"This has been a big deal in the Turkish-US relations, but Americans have reversed course from an earlier decision to impose visa bans and have decided to pursue a quiet diplomacy," said Asli Aydintasbas, a fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Since the failed 2016 coup against Erdogan, tens of thousands of people have been detained over suspected links to Gulen and more than 100,000 people have been sacked or suspended from public sector jobs. Gulen denies the coup accusations.
Ankara has been criticised by its Western allies and human rights activists over the crackdown they say has undermined democracy. But Turkish officials say the raids are needed to clear Gulen's influence from state institutions.
US relations with Turkey plummeted to a low last year over detained US pastor Andrew Brunson, triggering tit-for-tat sanctions that hit the local lira currency.
Brunson was released in October 2018 and relations improved.
But Erdogan's decision to buy S-400 missile systems from Russia has provoked warnings from Washington that the deal may impact its sale of US-made F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and trigger more sanctions.
Turkey's push to buy the systems has raised questions among NATO allies over alliance equipment as well as concerns over the relationship between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ties were already been strained over US support of Kurdish forces in Syria, which Ankara brands as a terrorist group tied to PKK Kurdish militants fighting an insurgency against the Turkish state.
Trump's decision to proclaim that the Golan Heights captured from Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967 belongs to Israel hands a significant diplomatic victory to Netanyahu before 9 April elections.
Ankara: Turkey on Monday denounced US President Donald Trump's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights as an "election gift" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump's decision to proclaim that the Golan Heights captured from Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967 belongs to Israel hands a significant diplomatic victory to Netanyahu before 9 April elections.
The Israeli premier is facing an unexpectedly tough challenge from centrist Benny Gantz. "Trump's signing is virtually an election gift to Netanyahu who is in difficulty ahead of elections," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a speech in the southern province of Antalya. "Whatever you do for (Netanyahu) who even divides his own people, who bombs in Gaza today as you can see for this tyrant, there will be no advantages. America's efforts are in vain," Cavusoglu said in televised remarks. Israel launched strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza on Monday hours after a rocket from the Palestinian enclave hit a house near Tel Aviv and wounded seven people.
It is not the first time Turkey has lambasted Trump over his policy towards Israel. In 2017, Ankara repeatedly criticised the US president over his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. About 20,000 Israeli settlers live in the Golan, which overlooks Syrian territory. The annexing of the area has never been recognised by the international community. Cavusoglu said Turkey would "do whatever is necessary until the end" and work with the global community against "one-sided decisions" which disregard international law.
Turkey-Israel relations are strained, especially after a recent war of words between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who regards himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, and Netanyahu.
At a special event Apple unveiled its much-expected video streaming service dubbed as Apple TV+. According to the company, Apples original video subscription service, will feature a brand-new slate of programming from the worlds most celebrated creative artists, including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, Jason Momoa, M. Night Shyamalan, Jon M. Chu and more.
Its worth mentioning that, pricing for the Apple TV+ streaming subscription service will be announced when it launches later this fall.
Apple TV app Pay only for the service you subscribe!
Also, the company debuted the all-new Apple TV app and Apple TV channels coming in May 2019. The all-new Apple TV app can be used across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, smart TVs and streaming devices.
In Apple TV, users have the option to pay only for the service they subscribed like HBO, SHOWTIME and Starz on both offline and online. Starting from May, customers can subscribe to Apple TV channels a la carte and watch them in the Apple TV app, with no additional apps, accounts or passwords required.
Apple TV channels include popular services such as HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX, Tastemade, Noggin and new services like MTV Hits, with more to be added over time around the world.
The app will offer suggestions for shows and movies from over 150 streaming apps, including Amazon Prime and Hulu. The Apple TV app is coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple TV customers in over 100 countries with a free software update this May, and to Mac this fall.
Apple News+ Subscribers to access to over 300 publications within Apple News
Along with Apple TV and TV+, the tech giant also unveiled Apple News+ a new subscription service that brings together over 300 popular magazines, leading newspapers and digital publishers.
Available in just US and Canada at present, Apple News+ subscribers can access current and past issues and individual articles from various magazines. In addition, Apple News+ includes The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Toronto Star, Canadas largest daily newspaper.
Inside the app, In the Today and News+ tabs, subscribers will be presented with individual article and issue recommendations based on both editorial curation and personalized suggestions that maintain user privacy.
For US and Canada, Apple News+ is available for $9.99 (Rs. 690 approx.) and $12.99 (Rs.900 approx.) a month respectively. Customers can sign up for a free one-month trial, and the plan automatically renews after the trial ends.
To sign up for Apple News+, customers must update to iOS 12.2 or macOS 10.14.4. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share one Apple News+ subscription. Apple News+ will be available in the UK and Australia later this year.
After rumors, Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy A70 smartphone. It has a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Infinity-U Super AMOLED display with 20: 9 aspect ratio, is powered by an Octa-Core SoC which should be Snapdragon 675. It has up to 8GB of RAM, runs Android Pie with Samsung One UI, features a 32-megapixel rear camera with f/1.7 aperture, secondary 5-megapixel camera for portrait shots and an 8-megapixel 123 ultra wide-angle lens.
The phone has a 3D Glasstic body with gradient finish and packs a 4500mAh battery with support for 25W super fast charging.
Samsung Galaxy A70 specifications
6.7-inch (2400 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 20: 9 Infinity-U Super AMOLED display
2GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 675 Mobile Platform with Adreno 612 GPU
6GB / 8GB RAM with 128GB Storage, expandable up to 512GB via micro SD card
Android 9.0 (Pie) with Samsung One UI
Dual SIM
32MP rear camera with LED flash with f/1.7 aperture, 5MP depth sensor with f/2.2 aperture, 8MP 123 ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture
32MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture
In-display Fingerprint sensor
3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
Dimensions: 164.276.77.9mm; Weight: 183g
Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C
4500mAh (typical) / 4400mAh (minimum) battery with 25W super fast charging
The Samsung Galaxy A70 comes in Blue, Black, Coral and White colors, is priced starting at 29,990 rubles (US$ 466 / Rs. 32,100 approx.) and will go on sale in Russia first from April 8.
Source
Photo: The Canadian Press
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is keeping up the pressure on the Trump administration, warning that Canada's support for the updated North American trade pact may hinge on the U.S. lifting tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
Freeland, who met Monday in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, says many Canadians have serious questions about ratifying the new NAFTA as long as those tariffs are still in place.
Freeland says she told President Donald Trump's trade czar that Canadians want the U.S. tariffs and Canada's retaliatory measures removed before the countries move forward with the approval of the agreement, also known as the USMCA.
In addition to being ratified in Mexico and Canada, the deal must make its way through Congress as part of a process that experts predict will take until late summer to run its course.
Freeland was in the U.S. capital to meet with Lighthizer as well as other lawmakers, including Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer, the new chair of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on trade.
She calls the tariffs which the U.S. justifies on national security grounds illegal and absurd, saying they make even less sense now that the new NAFTA agreement has been signed by all three countries.
"I also made the point to Ambassador Lighthizer that the existence of these tariffs, for many Canadians, raises some serious questions about NAFTA ratification," Freeland said following Monday's meeting.
"I have heard from a lot of Canadians that they would be really troubled by Canada moving forward with ratification while the tariffs are still in place. I think to Canadians it just doesn't make sense."
Photo: The Canadian Press
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is walking back a statement by its CEO, who said last week he never cited the protection of 9,000 Canadian jobs as a reason the construction giant should be granted a remediation agreement.
Neil Bruce told The Canadian Press last Wednesday that if SNC-Lavalin is convicted of criminal charges and barred from bidding on federal contracts its workers would end up working for the Montreal-based companys foreign rivals.
The charges stem from allegations the engineering firm paid millions of dollars in bribes to win government business in Libya between 2001 and 2011.
In a statement posted to its website Monday afternoon, SNC-Lavalin now says an agreement to avoid criminal prosecution would be the best way to protect the nearly 9,000 jobs held by its employees in Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly held up potential job losses as the main reason he and other top officials spoke with former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould about her decision not to intervene after federal prosecutors declined to negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement with SNC-Lavalin.
Wilson-Raybould, who resigned from cabinet last month, has suggested political considerations rather than jobs were behind the alleged pressuring by the Prime Minister's Office to hammer out an agreement with the company.
Madison Erhardt
Land has been secured for a new water treatment plant in West Kelowna.
The city has purchased 24 acres on Bartley Road, which will become the new site of the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant.
The plant will serve 12,000 people presently on the Lakeview water system, and a further 6,000 people in the West Kelowna, Pritchard and Sunnyside water systems once interconnections to the new plant are completed.
The city previously applied to obtain rights to use Crown land at the end of Rosewood Drive, about 1.5 kilometres away, but hasn't been able to obtain the required Crown land grant.
''The new location means there may be an increase in the cost of the construction and possibly an increase in operating costs,'' said Mayor Gord Milsom.
''There is a very good probability that the people of West Kelowna could be paying more for their drinking water.''
That, however, can be weighed against years of boil-water advisories and yearly complaints of brown water coming out of taps during spring runoff.
With the location of the plant now determined, the city can complete its design, with construction to follow as quickly as possible.
West Kelowna is in the process of requesting a timeline extension to the $41-million grant the city received for the project, as the delay in securing the location has impacted its ability to meet the March 2020 deadline.
''It will take a couple years for the new plant to be constructed. In the meantime, we will do our best to improve the water quality, but we are moving forward and we are going to have the best water in British Columbia soon," Milsom predicted.
How to create a great customer experience in an era of slowing growth is one of the top-of-mind concerns for senior marketing executives today.
Customer experience is the customer's assessment of the total quality of interactions, ease of interactions, and ultimate decision to purchase, abandon, or repurchase the organization's offered goods and services throughout the entire buying cycle. A great customer experience leads to highly visible recommendations, brand preference, repurchase activity, and purchasing associated products. A bad customer experience has the exact reverse effects, recommendations to friends and family to look elsewhere, brand indifference, and customers actively seeking to engage competitors.
The greatest challenge of customer experience (CX) has always been to move from the "hugging," feel-good phase of customer service into the data-driven, initiative-based business model of delivering delight and experiences to customers that produce a great CX and great revenue for the business. Too many senior business leaders believe that customer experience is just about mitigating or "going through the motions" to listen to and minimally address customer complaints to garner a few "likes" or positive survey comments. Great CX delivers both optimal experience to customers and the growth, revenue, and loyalty to the business.
Rules-based customer segmentation identifies loyalty, growth & churn categories. One of the greatest challenges and points of institutional friction is how to collectively identify and agree on the "best" customers for the business to focus on. To help this conversation, look at all your customers by the number of years they have been a customer and the total number of different products, services, and brands they have purchased from your company. Next, create a scatter plot with this data for both active customers and lost customers. The upper right quadrant in the chart is the key focus area because this is where the customers with the most years and the most brands reside. The active customers in this quadrant are your key resource to interview, as are the lost customers in the upper right quadrant. These customers are your key, stable, and most valuable customers. Determine the what, why, and needs for this vital segment to guide your CX initiatives. Listen to these customers closely.
Growth "streams" create growth "lakes." Business growth initiatives too often believe that finding new customers is the best way to grow, instead of helping your long-term customers to use more of your existing products and services. Instead of a "blue ocean" of new initiatives with new customers, seek to find "blue streams" of products and services that you slowly introduce to your current customers. Blue streams then grow into "blue lakes" of opportunity that create value for both your existing customers and your organization. A key point of value is that retaining a new customer is difficult and requires extraordinary effort to do so correctly. Retaining an existing customer with an additional product is far easier because that customer is already convinced of your company's value and expertise. Retaining and expanding your existing customer base is the best way to grow both revenue and customer satisfaction that deepens an existing customer relationship.
Better enable your sales force with data-driven insights, prioritized opportunity, and proactive customer response. Account-based marketing (ABM) is an innovative field of marketing technology that creates simultaneous value for customers and salespeople. ABM technology helps both marketing and sales determine a customer's interests, intentions, and product interests and where they are in the buying stage, from ready to purchase to information gathering. ABM then can recommend the best marketing material, from technical specifications to a webinar to a white paper, to answer the customer's expressed interests. This level of personalization creates victories for both the customer and the sales team. The customer received material personalized to their interests, and the sales team can prioritize their opportunities to focus on those who are prepared to purchase and allow the ABM technology to nurture the remainder of the prospects. ABM scales so you can address the entire customer base with personalized information, offers, and purchasing assistance that meet every customer's individual needs.
Use the data available today to deliver proactive solutions to customer problems. The best advice for CMOs is to productively use the data they have today, instead of wishing for data that is not present. Marketing and sales always want more data, more surveys, and better forecasts - which do not necessarily lead to better customer outcomes. The CX data architecture must engage customers proactively to deliver information, solutions, business outcome metrics, short surveys, and product recommendations that deliver information to customers where they want it, when they want it, and in a manner that helps them operate their lifestyle or business more successfully. Businesses must use their customer insight data to create better interactions for customers that lead to better business outcomes. Using data to enable a better customer interaction creates a low effort, high value, and deeply personalized experience - the hallmark of a great CX interaction.
Great CX produces customer and business value throughout the entire buying cycle. Businesses love to sell to customers as much as customers love to buy. Customer experience values a customer's loyalty above the sale, so great CX must enable, build, and engage each customer's relationship throughout the buying cycle, not just at the initial purchase. Following the purchase, businesses need to recommend supporting documentation, draw people into social media engagement about their experience, attend quickly to customer problems, proactively find and fix product defects, and look for customer indicators to determine if the customer seeks to repurchase or depart. Supporting the customer throughout the buying cycle is true CX, because the relationships formed by a customer to a business when not in the immediate purchase process are some of the strongest bonds to a brand.
In Conclusion
Great CX views its role as creating proactive customer insight, driving new product recommendations to customers, detecting potential customer churn before it happens, and enabling personalized activities toward customers within the communication modalities they prefer. This type of CX meets customer needs they may not have even voiced, delivers a lower-effort experience with higher personalization, interacts with customers according to their preferences, and uses ongoing data analysis with proactive offers from deep customer insights to anticipate customer needs with relevant products and services. This is the type of CX that CMOs need to drive revenue, growth, and loyalty to grow and sustain their customer base.
Chad Storlie is an adjunct Professor of Marketing at the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management and a mid-level marketing executive. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets), an Iraq combat veteran, and a widely published author. Contact him at chad.storlie@combattocorporate.com or 402-960-1350.
Celebrate Tax Day with Free Frozen Yogurt!
Better-For-You QSR Brand, Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt, Offers Fun Freebie on April 15
March 26, 2019 // Franchising.com // MORRISTOWN, NJ - Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt, the quick-service brand known for serving real fruit smoothies with over 30 locations nationwide, is excited to invite guests to celebrate the end of the 2019 tax season. Whether they are expecting a check in the mail or owe a few dollars to Uncle Sam, on Monday, April 15, in honor of Tax Day, all guests are invited to visit their local Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt for a sweet treat - a FREE small frozen yogurt!*
To redeem, guests must simply mention the offer at time of purchase and enjoy their first taste of springtime cheerfulness with delicious nonfat yogurt, served in a cup. A healthy, creamy snack for guests to treat themselves to, Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt hopes this gift will relieve tax season stress and headaches from its loyal guests, and mark the first visit of many throughout the spring and summer months!
Were always looking for an excuse to celebrate at Bananas, said Andrea Carella, Director of Brand Marketing, Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt, We know how stressful tax season can be, and couldnt think of a better way to give back to our guests than with free frozen yogurt for everyone anxiously awaiting their returns.
Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt also offers real fruit smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, nonfat frozen yogurt sundaes and an assortment of natural grab-and-go snacks. Its customizable menu model offers guests the option of choosing a delicious smoothie from a list of classic flavor combos, which can be made dairy-free upon request, or creating their own by combining fresh ingredients and adding a nutrient rich boost.
*Offer available only on Monday, April 15, 2019 at participating Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt locations, while supplies last.
*Offer valid on one small plain frozen yogurt only.
*Limit one per customer.
*Cannot be combined with any other offer.
*Void where prohibited.
For more information, please visit www.greenleafsbananas.com, or follow along on Instagram @greenleafsbananas.
About Villa Restaurant GroupSM (previously known as Villa Enterprises)
Villa Restaurant GroupSM is a global multi-brand restaurant operator and franchisor. Founded in 1964 by Michele (Michael) Scotto, a Naples, Italy native, Villa Restaurant Group, began as a small pizzeria next to the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. Today, Villa Restaurant Group is an international organization that recently celebrated its 52nd anniversary with nearly 350 restaurants in malls, airports, casinos and other high-traffic locations.
Villa Restaurant Groups quick-service restaurant brands, including Villa Italian Kitchen, Green Leafs Beyond Great Salads, Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt, South Philly Cheesesteaks & Fries, Far East Asian Fire, and other emerging brands, can be found throughout the United States and internationally. Villa also operates full service restaurants in New Jersey under the 40North Restaurant Group brand including The Black Horse Tavern & Pub, The Office Tavern Grill, The OFFICE Beer Bar & Grill, Steelworks Buffet & Grill, Piattino: A Neighborhood Bistro and George + Marthas. For more information, please visit www.villarestaurantgroup.com.
SOURCE Villa Restaurant Group
###
Comments:
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
Disqus
Valvoline Announces Opening of Acquired Franchised Quick-Lube Center in Wichita, Kansas
New location marks company's seventh service center in Kansas and expands network of more than 1,300 company-owned and franchised quick lube locations
LEXINGTON, Ky. - March 26, 2019 // PRNewswire // - Valvoline Inc. - a leading worldwide supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services - announced today its franchisee, Westco Lube, Inc., has acquired a quick-lube location that is now operating as a Valvoline Instant Oil ChangeSM (VIOC) service center in Wichita, Kansas.
A core element of Valvoline's strategy is to accelerate the growth of its industry-leading quick-lube model, which is all about delivering a quick, easy and trusted experience for every customer, every day.
Westco Lubes, Inc., operates all seven of the VIOC quick-lube locations in Kansas. The newest service center is at 5826 W Central Avenue in Wichita. No appointments are necessary.
Valvoline Instant Oil Change service centers let customers stay in their cars and watch VIOC's certified technicians perform their service. Technicians complete a professional ASE-accredited training program that is ranked #2 globally by the Association for Talent Development's 2017 BEST Award. In addition to full-service oil changes done in about 15 minutes, VIOC performs a wide range of preventive maintenance services, including transmission, radiator and air-conditioning services; safety parts replacement, including wiper blades and light bulbs; and tire rotation. Most locations also offer fuel system and battery services. VIOC services most vehicle makes and models, including luxury, diesel, and hybrid. Learn more at www.vioc.com.
About Valvoline
Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a leading worldwide marketer and supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, with sales in more than 140 countries. Established in 1866, the company's heritage spans over 150 years, during which it has developed powerful brand recognition across multiple product and service channels. Valvoline ranks as the No. 3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume. It operates and franchises more than 1,300 quick-lube locations, including the No. 2 quick-lube chain by number of stores in the United States under the Valvoline Instant Oil ChangeSM brand and the No. 3 quick-lube chain by number of stores in Canada under the Great Canadian Oil Change brand. It also markets Valvoline lubricants and automotive chemicals, including the new Valvoline Modern Engine Full Synthetic Motor Oil, which is specifically engineered to protect against carbon build-up in Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), turbo and other engines manufactured since 2012; Valvoline High Mileage with MaxLife technology motor oil for engines over 75,000 miles; Valvoline Synthetic motor oil; and Zerex antifreeze. To learn more, visit www.valvoline.com.
Trademark, Valvoline or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries
SM Service mark, Valvoline or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries
Trademark owned by third party
Media Contact:
Heather Watson
+1 (859) 357-7082
hwatson@valvoline.com
SOURCE Valvoline Inc.
###
Comments:
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
Disqus
The future has always been the force that drives the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. How do we build smart, universally trusted machines? How do we manufacture drugs that provide faster, more affordable relief to patients? How do we live up to the responsibility of making everyone feel safe? We answer these questions as researchers and entrepreneurs, and see ourselves as responsibility-minded pacesetters for the economy and for society, says Fraunhofer president Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, describing the organizations mission. A ceremony to be held on March 26, 2019, at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs will commemorate the Fraunhofer-Gesellschafts 70-year success story. With the motto Research for Europe setting the tone, it will also look ahead to the global innovation stakes at the crossroads of business and science. Distinguished policymakers from Munich, Berlin and Brussels will be on hand, as will select entrepreneurs and scientists, including Bavarias Minister President Dr. Markus Soder and Minister of State Hubert Aiwanger, Germanys Federal Minister of Education and Research Anja Karliczek, Paul de Krom M.A., CEO of TNO, the Netherlands organization for applied scientific research, Infineon AG CEO Dr. Reinhard Ploss, and Prof. Heinz Jorg Fuhrmann, Chairman of the Executive Board at Salzgitter AG and Chairman of the Senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
This occasion will also set the stage for a joint statement of intent by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, LMU and TUM. The three organizations aim to establish an Institute for Cognitive Systems in Bavaria to find solutions to pressing questions about artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and cyber security. They will pool their expertise in these cutting-edge fields to build the bridge needed to cross the divide between basic and applied research. Joining forces with other players, this Munich-based alliance aims to develop the outlines of a concept to be implemented as a key component of the German governments AI strategy. Research and development efforts will focus on AI in combination with resilient cognitive systems and specific AI solutions for autonomous systems.
Challenges and future issues
Anja Karliczek, Germanys Federal Minister of Education and Research, says, As a pioneer of applied research, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is an excellent catalyst for the German and European economy. I hope the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will carry on exploring new avenues to ensure research outcomes and new technologies reach industry and society quickly and efficiently. I look forward to many more results of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschafts research and development efforts; results that will benefit humankind and secure Germanys position as a hub of business. On its 70th birthday, I wish Fraunhofer brilliant new ideas, an intrepid spirit of scientific inquiry and a feel for the next breakthrough innovation.
Minister President Dr. Markus Soder says, Bavaria and Fraunhofer are the dream-team for cutting-edge research and innovation. Founded in Bavaria, Fraunhofer set out from Munich to create a research network unlike any other worldwide. This is no random happenstance; it is the result of a resolute effort to rise to ever-new challenges. Bavaria and Fraunhofer go hand in hand. Twenty new research facilities have been built in Bavaria alone in the last five years. The number of Fraunhofer employees in Bavaria has increased nearly 60 percent this decade. Collectively, they have succeeded in creating outstanding innovation centers in all parts of Bavaria, from IT security research in Garching and biotechnology in Straubing to research into the Internet of Things at the Fraunhofer IIS in Franconia. We are proud of Fraunhofer and will continue to ensure that research remains our priority in the future.
Bavarian Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger says, On its 70th anniversary, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is Europe's largest organization for applied research and has evolved to become our economys innovation engine. It plays a key role in Bavarias success as a hub of business and science. With 10 independent institutes and departments as well as 20 other facilities, it has a footprint in all Bavarian districts. More than 4700 Fraunhofer employees work in Bavaria today. Fraunhofer is an important partner for companies engaging in research and development, and for medium-sized enterprises especially. This is how Fraunhofer is doing its part to secure the future viability of business in Germany and Europe.
Prof. Reimund Neugebauer adds: Excellence in research is essential, but it is no less important to identify emerging issues early on and set the course for the future with fresh ideas. This enables us to respond that much faster to market demands. Our employees are the key to our success. Like our eponymous founder, they strike the right balance between research and entrepreneurship, take responsibility for the future, develop solutions for tomorrow's challenges, and keep asking: What's next?
Prof. Heinz Jorg Fuhrmann, Chairman of the Executive Board at Salzgitter AG and Chairman of the Senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, says, It is very important for us to walk the sustainability talk. Energy and resources, health and the environment, manufacturing and services these important topics are among the Fraunhofer-Gesellschafts key fields of research, alongside mobility, communication and security. For example, we are now working with Fraunhofer on the SALCOS project to significantly reduce the steel industrys CO2 emissions with new processes. I wish us every success with this ambitious project and on its 70th birthday, I wish the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft continued innovation to benefit all of society.
Dr. Reinhard Ploss, CEO Infineon Technologies AG, says, Innovative power is a key success factor for industry. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, like no other organization, stands for application-oriented research and the successful transfer of new insights and technologies to the market. Research organizations and companies in Germany and Europe must further accelerate the transfer of knowledge to achieve enduring success against competition from other regions of the world in the innovation stakes. The decisive factor will be to combine different fields of knowledge and focus on key technologies for applications of great economic and social import, such as energy, mobility, industrial manufacturing and cyber security.
Paul de Krom M.A., CEO of TNO, the Netherlands organization for applied scientific research, adds, The ambition of defending what we have is not good enough. Our ambition, our mission, must reach far beyond that. Our goal has to be to be the best. Europe must remain the best at evolving its businesses and growing and applying its knowledge. This is the only way we will be able to take a leading position amid international competition and hold it over the long term.
Presentation of the Fraunhofer Medal
The organizations highest distinction, the Fraunhofer Medal, will be presented to Gunther H. Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, at the subsequent Bavarian State Reception. This award acknowledges his meritorious achievements on behalf of the pursuit of innovation in Germany and Europe. According to Commissioner Oettinger, With digitalization fast-tracking the advance of technologies, business and societys ability to innovate is becoming the key to sustaining our societys prosperity. This is why the European Union is going to significantly step up its efforts to research and innovate in Horizon Europe, its next research framework programme. But if European research is to lead to European innovation, it is imperative for organizations such as Fraunhofer to help close the frequently occurring gap between basic research and its commercial exploitation. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschafts concept is a successful model, particularly because its distributed structure strengthens regional clusters. I wish Fraunhofer continued success with its projects, and I do so also from a European perspective.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft a model for success and a success story
On March 26, 1949, State Secretary Hugo Geiger invited 210 scientists, entrepreneurs and members of society to the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. He aimed to help revive the economies of Bavaria and Germany by setting up the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. While children played amid the rubble, and the Wirtschaftswunder Germanys postwar economic miracle was yet a distant prospect, the Munich offices staff of just three people took up the challenge of advancing applied research in Germany. Electing Hermann von Siemens president in the mid-1950s and founding the first of its institutes, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft gradually evolved to become a mainstay of research in Germany. In the mid-1960s, Fraunhofer was officially designated the German science communitys umbrella organization for applied research. In the mid-1970s, the Fraunhofer model of performance-based funding sparked the dynamic success that shows no signs of slowing. Germanys reunification presented unexpected opportunities to expand. Moving swiftly and resolutely, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was quicker than other research organizations to seize the day, setting up more than 20 new institutes and facilities in the states that had newly joined the Federal Republic.
Strategic initiatives for Germanys and Europes economies and societies
a third. Building on these assets and its clear focus on new technologies and markets, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has become the German economys innovation engine. Its inventions range from airbags, white LEDs and dandelion rubber to mp3 technology. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft charted a roadmap for its research activities with the Agenda 2022. One of its key goals is to develop end-to-end solutions to provide the systems Germany needs as a hub of business. The organization launched a set of Key Strategic Initiatives (KSIs) centered on seven priority research topics to make that happen. Fraunhofer pools the expertise of its 72 institutes in these KSIs with the aim of developing comprehensive system solutions for tomorrows strategic challenges. All of these topics are of great relevance to the economies and societies of Germany and Europe. The current topics are cognitive systems, artificial intelligence and data sovereignty, battery cell production, programmable materials, quantum technology, translational medicine, public safety and biological transformation.
Photo: The Canadian Press
Kelowna city council gave quick approval to the rezoning of seven potential cannabis retail stores on Monday.
The seven retailers must still go through an April 9 public hearing before applying for both city and provincial licensing.
It's unclear how long provincial licensing process will take.
To date, only 14 private, and 10 provincial cannabis operations have been licensed in all of B.C. Only one provincial outlet is currently open.
Of the seven Kelowna outlets up for discussion Monday, one is on Bernard Avenue downtown, two in strip malls along Harvey Avenue, another in a strip mall on Springfield Road, a fifth in a commercial building on Glenmore Road, a sixth in a small strip mall on Gordon Drive near Cook Road, and the seventh on Rutland Road South near Highway 33.
It took less than 15 minutes for council to approve all seven.
These are the first of 15 applications expected to come before council in coming weeks.
All 15 passed the first hurdle of the city's screening process.
Photo: Contributed
A month after concerns were raised over horses being neglected at a North Okanagan property, the BC SPCA has stepped in and removed the animals.
SPCA senior officer Eileen Drever confirms 50 animals were seized Monday from the Irish Creek Road property, north of Vernon.
Officers are still in the process of removing the animals.
The property has been involved in controversy over the care of their horses in the past.
Animal abuse at the location dates back to 2009, when Carla Christman was arrested and more than 70 animals were seized.
We are begging and pleading for the police and the SPCA to step in and do something before its too late, said animal activist Amy Soranno.
BC SPCA constables seized 28 thin and emaciated horses with untreated injuries on Christmans property in December 2009. Investigators also discovered dozens of dogs and four cats inside an unventilated area that was so thick with the stench of ammonia and feces that officers gagged upon entry.
"When our officers arrived on the scene, the horses were in a state of great distress, suffering from unacceptably thin body condition, internal parasites, multiple wounds, untreated lameness and overgrown hooves," said cruelty investigator Marcie Moriarty.
Forty-two horses, four dogs and four hogs were removed from the property on Monday.
All the animals met the definition of being in distress, pursuant to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, said Drever.
The animals have been moved to an undisclosed location and are being examined by veterinarians.
"SPCA constables met with the owner of the animals earlier this month and issued a number of orders for changes that were required to relieve the distress of the animals, said Drever.
We have monitored the situation and requested daily documentation that the orders were being met. Unfortunately, we were not satisfied that the owner had made the necessary changes and sought a warrant to remove the animals.
Castanet obtained drone footage from the farm when animal activists voiced concerns back in February.
"The issues of concern related to inadequate food, water and shelter," said Drever.
The home on the property was destroyed by a fire on March 15, but no animals were hurt in the blaze.
Correction: BC SPCA stated 46 horse were seized, but corrected this number to 42.
Alanna Kelly
Photo: Contributed
This is a sequel to my last column about how judges arrive at the truth.
I had shared judicial commentary from a case decided by our Court of Appeal in 1952 and promised to share additional wisdom from much more recent authorities.
Its not so easy to arrive at the truth in the face of quick-witted, experienced and confident witnesses, and of those shrewd persons adept in the half-lie and of long and successful experience in combining skilful exaggeration with partial suppression of the truth (quoting from the 1952 case).
And even more difficult when a witness is honestly mistaken about something he or she sincerely believes to be true.
Noting a lack of divine insight into the hearts and minds of witnesses, the half-century old solution was to assess the testimonys fit with whats most likely to be true given the circumstances.
In her decision, released Feb. 19, 2019, (Schellenberg v. Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, 2019 BCSC 196, Madam Justice Fleming goes further to list other factors.
Her list starts with: The capacity and opportunity of the witness to observe the events at issue.
Next: His or her ability to remember those events.
A third: The ability of the witness to resist being influenced by his or her interest in recalling those events.
Fourth: Whether the witnesss evidence harmonizes with or is contradicted by other evidence, particularly independent or undisputed evidence.
Fifth: Whether his or her evidence seems unreasonable, improbable or unlikely, bearing in mind the probabilities affecting the case.
And finally: The witnesss demeanour, meaning the way he or she presents while testifying.
Madam Justice Fleming specifically noted the danger of relying wholly on that final factor:
Regarding the last factor, Chorny and other authorities have discussed the dangers of relying wholly upon demeanour to determine credibility, recognizing the risk of preferring the testimony of the better actor, and conversely, misinterpreting an honest witnesss poor presentation as deceptive.
In another recent decision, (McCully v. Moss, 2019 BCSC 81, this one decided by Madam Justice Devlin, a couple of additional factors were noted.
One: Whether the witness changes their testimony in direct and cross-examination. And another: Whether a witness has a motive to lie.
You might reasonably be coming to the conclusion that judges are cynical. To the contrary, Madam Justice Devlin noted an important starting point: The starting point in a credibility assessment is to presume truthfulness, but this presumption may be displaced.
Judges have a lot to consider when arriving at the truth.
Might we learn from them? I suggest that the conscious consideration of each of these factors would help each of us evaluate the truth of messages we are presented with in our day to day lives.
States and districts are starting to flag schools where subgroups of students are underperforming under the Every Student Succeeds Act. But advocates are concerned that they might miss some schools that need serious help because of the way their ESSA plans are designed.
So is that happening? It appears to be. But, so far, its in a very small subset of states, an analysis by the Alliance for Excellent Education, a research and advocacy organization that works to ensure students graduate from high school prepared for college and the workforce.
According to the Alliance, Arkansas and Connecticut might be missing some schools where subgroups of studentsEnglish-language learners, students in special education, racial minorities, and disadvantaged studentsare performing as poorly as the students in the worst schools in the state. And its unclear if Michigan, Virginia, and Wisconsin are in the same boat.
Heres why: ESSA requires states to flag schools for comprehensive support and intervention (the bottom 5 percent of schools in the state, plus where fewer than two-thirds of students graduate) and additional targeted support and intervention (those where at least one subgroup of vulnerable students is struggling as much as the bottom 5 percent). States also must flag another category of schools where subgroups arent performing well for targeted support and intervention, but they have much more leeway on how to define what that means.
Some states decided to pick their additional targeted support schools, from among their targeted support schools. Thats kosher under ESSA. The problem: In at least a couple states, the definition of targeted support means fewer schools will be flagged because the states definition of targeted support is narrower than the definition of additional targeted support.
Thats problematic, because students in those schools will miss out on extra help from the state and district, write Lindsay Dworkin is director of policy development and state government relations and Anne Hyslop is assistant director of policy development and government relations in a blog post.
A central value underlying ESSA is that every student should have the opportunity to succeed, they write . A key way the law advances that goal is requiring improvement efforts in schools when even one subgroup of students is struggling, even if the overall student population does not.
Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Photo: The Canadian Press
An Alberta judge has ruled that a war crimes sentence for former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr has expired.
The eight-year sentence imposed in 2010 would have ended last October had Khadr remained in custody.
But the clock stopped ticking when a judge freed him on bail in 2015 pending Khadr's appeal of his military conviction.
Khadr served more than seven years in custody and on bail.
Read more
For Playstation gamers that prefer to buy digital game codes at retail, Sony has other plans. Starting April 1st, digital game cards that contain full game downloads will be removed from retail stores. This will make the PlayStation Store the only official way to buy digital games for the PlayStation 4. However, buying Playstation Store gift cards will also be another viable option for those reluctant to share their credit card information with Sony. For gamers that have preordered digital codes from retail stores, their preorders will be transformed into physical copies. Like most gaming companies, Sony seems to be progressing towards an all-digital future that doesnt require retail stores.
While this new practice doesnt completely leave gamers out in the cold, its still another anti-consumer practice. Since the 2011 hack of the PlayStation Store, many players have remained hesitant to share their credit card information and have relied on digital game codes for their purchases. Everything from indie games to the biggest releases of the year was usually available as digital codes. Nintendo and Microsoft have yet to follow Sonys bold move but the likelihood that they have considered this is high. Itll be interesting to see the reaction (if any) to this new change but dont surprised if the PlayStation 5 abandons retail stores even more.
Photo: City of Kelowna
Owners of one of Kelowna's iconic landmarks are ramping up agricultural efforts.
David Geen, who owns 151 acres of agricultural land on Layer Cake Mountain and is one of Canada's largest cherry producers, is more than doubling the land dedicated to cherry production.
And, he needs workers to help tend to the acreage.
City planner Alex Kondor told council Monday approximately 35 acres of the property was converted to cherries two years ago, and efforts are underway to plant another 55 acres.
To meet the demands, Geen has applied to house 60 temporary farm workers on the site.
His proposal is for 12 ATCO trailers to be placed on the northeast corner of the property.
"The area is not suitable for farming, and is not highly visible from the surrounding properties as it is a low point on the property," Kondor told council.
The trailers would be placed on non-permanent foundations in two pods of six. They would include communal washrooms and kitchens.
Following provincial changes to the Agricultural Land Commission Act, the application must now go before the ALC for final provincial approval.
"Any residential use that exceeds the new principle residence regulations now requires a new non-adhering residential use application through the ALC," said planner Laura Bentley.
"This includes temporary farmworker housing."
It could take up to two months for the ALC to give its approval.
The proposal, endorsed unanimously by council, got high praise from Mayor Basran.
He thanked Geen for selecting an area away from view for the worker housing.
"My fear was in some of these photos, perhaps, there might be the ability to have new worker housing in photos of the views and the aesthetics," said Basran.
"I think Layer Cake Mountain becomes even more representative of our community with full agricultural use of the property. I think it makes it more iconic and Okanagan."
Photo: The Canadian Press Vanessa Rodel and her seven-year-old daughter Keana talk to media after arriving at Lester B. Pearson Airport in Toronto on Monday, March 25, 2019.
A woman who escaped violence and human trafficking, and helped shelter former CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden when he fled to Hong Kong, has arrived in Canada with her daughter after being granted refugee status.
Vanessa Rodel and her seven-year-old daughter Keana arrived in Toronto on Monday before travelling to Montreal, where they will settle in an apartment provided to them by a non-profit group that filed her 2016 asylum application.
Rodel said as soon as the plane lifted off, she felt as though she could relax and begin to think of her new life in Canada.
"I feel so great and I feel like I'm free," she said after arriving at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.
Her lawyer, Robert Tibbo, said Rodel's arrival in Canada is the "first victory" in a saga that began in 2013. Rodel was part of a group that became known as Snowden's "Guardian Angels." They helped the fugitive at Tibbo's request in 2013, when the whistleblower fled the United States to Hong Kong after leaking classified information about the U.S. National Security Administration.
Five other people in the "Angels" group represented by Tibbo three adults and two children remain in Hong Kong. They fled Sri Lanka years ago, and their applications for asylum in Hong Kong have been rejected.
Rodel said her thoughts are with those who remain in Hong Kong who also helped Snowden.
"I'm happy, but I'm also sad because they are still left behind," she said. "They are still stuck for many years in Hong Kong. They have so many troubles in their lives. ... I'm hoping they also can come to Canada and (have) a better life."
Tibbo urged the federal government to intercede and bring the remaining refugees to Canada.
"We are, though, very concerned that the other families have been left behind and we would like to see Mr. Trudeau and his government take necessary steps to decide the cases now," he said.
Snowden's leaks revealed to the world the global reach of the vast surveillance network of the U.S. and its allies. Snowden, who is still represented by Tibbo, is now in Moscow and is wanted in the United States on charges related to the leaks. The seven "Angels" gained notoriety in 2016 when their existence was revealed in Oliver Stone's film "Snowden," and Tibbo said they have since faced political persecution in Hong Kong.
Tibbo, originally from Montreal, and three Montreal-based lawyers set up a group to raise money for his clients who helped shelter the political fugitive. They filed asylum applications on their behalf, and collected about $350,000 for their expenses in Hong Kong and in Canada, should they all arrive in the city as privately sponsored refugees.
Bidzina Ivanishvili became number one oppressor of businesses in Georgia - ICC Georgia chairman Fady Asly - GeorgianJournal
I see Russians patrolling the border and keeping me away from my aunts Little Luka dreams of becoming a General of the Army to defend Georgia - GeorgianJournal
Lenovo Z6 Pro with 5G support to launch on the 27th of March with HyperVideo feature News oi-Vivek Lenovo Z6 Pro will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC
Lenovo is all set to launch a new flagship smartphone, the Lenovo Z6 Pro on the 27th of March. Edward Chang, President, Lenovo phone has officially confirmed the launch of the Lenovo Z6 Pro and the features associated with the smartphone.
According to Edward Chang, the Lenovo Z6 Pro will be the first smartphone brand from the company to support 5G network with HyperVision Camera. Here is everything we know about the Lenovo Z6 Pro, the successor to the Lenovo Z5 Pro.
Lenovo Z6 Pro features and specifications
According to reports, the smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC with at least 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. The smartphone is most likely to come with an FHD+ resolution display, protected by 2.5D curved tempered glass.
Unlike most of the modern smartphones, the Lenovo Z6 Pro has a single camera, which is expected to be a 48 MP sensor, offering features like true high-resolution image capture and 4K video recording. As of now, there is no information on the selfie camera features or specifications.
Along with the 5G version of the Lenovo Z6 Pro, the company is most likely to launch a 4G version of the Z6 Pro, which will cost slightly less than the 5G version. Like most of the 5G smartphones, the Lenovo Z6 Pro will not be available for sale (until June), and the 4G model will go on sale immediately. The Lenovo Z6 Pro will be competing against the Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 5G, OnePlus's 5G smartphone, and other mid-tier smartphones with true 5G network support.
As of now, there is no information on the price of the smartphone. Considering the price of the previous Lenovo smartphones, the 4G version is expected to cost around $400, whereas the 5G version will cost more than $500. Stay tuned to GizBot to know more about the Lenovo Z6 Pro.
Source
Best Mobiles in India
Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications
Oppo Reno to be launched in four color options News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu
Oppo Reno is the upcoming smartphones series from the company. We have already started coming across several reports regarding this series that is to be announced on April 10. And, the prime source to reveal these details is the company's VP, Shen Yiren.
Recently, we came across a confirmation from the VP that the smartphone will arrive with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC. As five variants of the same were revealed by the trademark filing, it is expected that one of them will feature this mid-range processor known for its performance.
Oppo Reno colors leak
Now, the executive has shared an image via Weibo (via GizmoChina) spilling the beans about the various color options of this smartphone. Going by the same, the possible color options of Oppo Reno include Nebula Purple, Midnight Black, Pink and Sea Green. These are seen in close-up and show the bottom of the rear panel.
On observing the image closely, it is seen that the Purple and Black variants have sheen whole the Pink and Green variants look subdued featuring a matte finish. These two smartphones appear to have a glass coating, but this is speculation. There happens to be an Oppo logo with a new font style. And, the back panel shows off curved edges making us believe that it will be comfortable when held.
Oppo Reno: What to expect?
From the recently leaked trademark listing, it is speculated that the smartphone might be launched in five variants - Reno Plus, Reno Pro, Reno Zoom, Reno Lite and Reno Youth. One of these variants is said to feature the Snapdragon 710 while the flagship Reno Pro is likely to get the power from the flagship Snapdragon 855 SoC.
Oppo Reno live image
Besides this, the executive shared the live image of the smartphone showing a fully bezel-less display. It appears to have one of the thinnest bottom bezels among the smartphones that exist now in the market.
Best Mobiles in India
Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications
Poco F1 receives Widevine L1 certification with MIUI 10 9.2.25 (beta) update News oi-Vivek Poco F1 is the most affordable smartphone with the Snapdragon 845 SoC
Xiaomi India has finally rolled out a new software update for the Xiaomi Poco F1, which includes Widevine L1 support. Widevine L1 is a prerequisite certification required to stream HD content on various streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Videos and Nextflix.
The MIUI 10 9.2.25 (beta) update is now available for the best testers, which includes Widevine L1 certification and 4K video recording @60fps. As soon as you install the update, you will be able to watch HD content on Amazon Prime Videos. Even with the Widevine L1 certification, the Poco F1 cannot play HD content on Netflix due to an issue with the vendor side.
The stable update will roll out in the coming days, which enables HD streaming (720p and 1080p) on the Amazon Prime Videos.
Xiaomi Poco F1 specifications
The Xiaomi Poco F1 is the most affordable smartphone available in India with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC with at least 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot.
The Poco F1 has a 6.18-inch IPS display with FHD+ resolution, with an Apple iPhone XS style notch to house face unlock sensors. The phone has a polycarbonate back panel and a special variant with carbon fiber like finish. There is a rear-facing fingerprint sensor with IR camera-assisted Face Unlock.
The smartphone has a dual camera set up at the back with a 12 MP Sony IMX 363 sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a 5 MP depth sensor, capable of recording 4K video @60fps. The device also has a 20 MP selfie camera on the front with 1080p video recording capability.
The smartphone has a 4000 mAh Li-ion battery with support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ via USB type C port with a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack. The Poco F1 runs on Android 9 Pie and will receive Android 10 Q update in the future.
Source
Best Mobiles in India
Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications
Samsung Galaxy A70 goes official; 32MP selfie camera, 4,600mAh battery and more News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The processor is currently unknown, however, it will come with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage.
Samsung has now extended its refreshed Galaxy A smartphone lineup with the launch of Galaxy A70 smartphone. The latest smartphone comes following the launch of Galaxy A10, Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50 for the masses. Recently, the Galaxy A70 had been spotted online on TENNA which hinted at an imminent launch. Now, the smartphone has been officially announced by Samsung. However, the South Korean tech giant has not revealed as to when the Galaxy A70 will be available for purchase.
Coming to the specifications, the Samsung Galaxy A70 flaunts a huge Infinity-V 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display panel. The display comes with a Full HD+ display panel which offers a wide aspect ratio of 20:9. The display comes with a waterdrop notch on top of it for the selfie camera. The display will incorporate an in-display fingerprint scanner for security.
The smartphone follows the latest trend of triple-lens rear camera setup. There is no word on the primary lens packed in the rear camera setup. However, there will be an 8MP ultra-wide sensor paired with a 5MP depth sensor accompanying the primary lens. The smartphone at the front will be a 32MP (f/1.7 aperture) sensor for selfies and video calling.
While the processor is unspecified at the moment, it will be combined with two RAM options including 6GB and 8GB RAM to take care of all the multitasking. The smartphone will offer a storage space of 128GB. It will ship with Android 9 Pie-based One UI interface. Powering the Galaxy A70 is a capacious 4,500mAH battery unit which comes with fast charging support for 25W. As mentioned earlier, Samsung is yet to announce the first sale of the smartphone and it is still unknown when the Galaxy A70 will be up for grabs. We will keep you updated with the information on the same, so stay tuned for all the latest information.
via
Best Mobiles in India
Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications
Photo: Contributed
Apple trotted out few details on its long-awaiting streaming service on Monday, but it didn't skimp on high-wattage celebrity.
Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Jennifer Aniston were part of a parade of A-listers who took the stage at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California, where the main attractions are usually the company's latest high-tech gadgets.
This time, though, it was the likes of Big Bird and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa, who took the spotlight at Apple's latest live-streamed product launch.
"I'm joining forces with Apple," declared Winfrey. "They're in a billion pockets, y'all."
Apple chief executive Tim Cook gave what he called "a sneak peek" of the tech giant's plans to transform television viewing and jump some analysts say belatedly into the streaming business Netflix has pioneered.
The service, dubbed Apple TV Plus, will debut in the fall in more than 100 countries and feature ad-free original series and films. Cook and Apple declined to say how much the nascent streaming service will cost. It was unveiled as an extension of Apple's redesigned TV app, which will bundle third-party services like HBO, CBS and Showtime, along with a user's cable subscription and some streaming services like Hulu. Netflix has said it won't partake.
Much of both Hollywood and Silicon Valley had eagerly awaited details on Apple's much-ballyhooed foray into original programming, something the company had been quietly prepping for the last few years and laying aside at least $1 billion to do so. But it's not the only company readying a rival to Netflix, which spent $12 billion on content last year. The Walt Disney Co. and AT&T's WarnerMedia are both set to unveil their own platforms later this year.
Standing out from the pack will be a challenge for each. Disney's streaming service, named Disney-Plus, even bears a plus-symbol just like Apple's service.
"It's not just another streaming service," said Zack Van Amburg, who along with Jamie Erlicht was hired away from Sony TV to head Apple's video programming.
Cook didn't map out how extensive Apple's streaming library will be; it has about two dozen series and a handful of movies in the pipeline. But he promised big ambitions. "We partnered with the most thoughtful, accomplished and award-winning group of creative visionaries who have ever come together in one place, to create a new service unlike anything that's been done before," he said.
Coalition Strikes Daesh Network in Iraq
U.S. Central Command
Release No: 19-016 March 25, 2019
March 25, 2019
Release # 20190325-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve continues conducting airstrikes against Daesh targets in Iraq in support of Iraqi Security Force activities as part of ongoing operations to eliminate their insurgence network.
"The Coalition remains steadfast in its assistance to the Iraqi Security Forces as they interdict the Daesh network," said U.K. Major General Ghika, Deputy Commander Strategy and Information, CJTF-OIR. "The Iraqis and the Coalition will ensure the terrorists learn that nowhere in Iraq is safe for them."
The airstrikes support broader counter-resurgence operations throughout Iraq. These operations focus on Daesh's capacity to reemerge, which includes the targeting its financial, explosive-manufacturing, communication, recruiting, planning, training and smuggling activities.
"The Coalition is committed to Iraq, and we will continue to partner closely the security forces," Ghika said. "This includes our Build Partner Capability mission to enhance the professional and technical expertise of Iraq's security forces through training and equipping."
"As Daesh has been systematically defeated, many of its fighters have fled out of Syria into Iraq. They are now seeking to re-establish themselves to conduct a deadly resurgence. Make no mistake, the fight against Daesh and violent extremism is far from over," Ghika concluded.
The Coalition operates in Iraq at the request of the Government of Iraq. United international efforts against Daesh resulted in the liberation of Daesh-occupied territory, and the ongoing fight will ensure their enduring defeat and the erosion of their extremist ideology.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Coalition, partner forces liberate last territory held by Daesh
U.S. Central Command
Release No: 19-015 March 25, 2019
March 23, 2019
Release # 20190323-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The Coalition congratulates the Syrian Democratic Forces on the liberation of the remaining civilians under Daesh control and the elimination of Daesh's self-proclaimed territorial caliphate in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, Syria, March 23, 2019.
Since the beginning of operations in 2014, the Coalition and partner forces have liberated nearly 110,000 square kilometers (42,471 square miles) from Daesh; as a result, 7.7 million people no longer live under Daesh oppression.
"The end of the so called physical caliphate is a historic military accomplishment that brought together the largest Coalition in history, but the fight against Daesh and violent extremism is far from over," said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Paul LaCamera, Combined Joint Task ForceOperation Inherent Resolve commanding general.
The SDF ground operation to defeat Daesh in the MERV began in September 2018. Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces supported the ground offensive through cross border air and artillery strikes. The Coalition and its partner forces have, among other areas, liberated Hajin, Dashisha, land around Deir ez-Zor and Baghuz Faqwani.
"It is important for us to remember all those who died during the fight against Daesh. During this four-year campaign, thousands of Syrian Democratic Forces and Iraqi Security Forces did not return to their families. I pray for your losses, and for a speedy recovery of your wounded," said LaCamera. "We also cannot forget our Coalition members who saw their last full measure of devotion in the pursuit of defeating Daesh. These Coalition and partner force fighters put their nation's needs before their own and defended the world against the threat of Daesh. They represented the best of their country. We must never forget their courage, dedication, and sacrifice."
LaCamera continued, "The 74 nation and five international organization Coalition will need to maintain a vigilant offensive against this now widely dispersed and disaggregated organization."
"Make no mistake, Daesh is preserving their force" LaCamera added. "They have made calculated decisions to preserve what is left of their dwindling personnel and capabilities by taking their chances in camps for internally displaced persons and going to ground in remote areas. They are waiting for the right time to reemerge."
More than 60,000 Daesh terrorist and civilian have surrendered or fled from Baghuz Faqwani over the past month.
"Many civilians evacuated from Baghuz Faqwani are family members of Daesh terrorists and they willingly subscribed to Daesh's radical ideology. These family members will not easily abandon their ideology. Their reintegration into society will require a collective effort from the coalition and international community to help eliminate conditions that would allow Daesh to reemerge," said LaCamera.
"Now is not the time to rest and the assistance from the members of the Coalition is critical in consolidating our military gains. We recognize that military action alone will not ensure success and will continue to advocate continued support towards the enduring defeat of Daesh. International support to Iraq and northeast Syria is critical to the success of the enduring defeat of Daesh. More importantly, we must redouble our efforts at defeating their ideology," LaCamera concluded.
The Coalition will continue work with our SDF partners and assist them in building their capabilities to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh; we will also focus on defeating their ideology.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Yemenis kill 20 Saudi forces in Jizan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, March 25, IRNA -- Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman announced that the Yemeni army and the popular committees attacks on two Saudis' positions in Jizan, southern Saudi Arabia killed 20 Saudi forces.
According to Yemeni media 'Saba', Brigadier General Yahya Saree said scores of aggressors were also injured and 5 armored cars were damaged.
He added that after monitoring enemy's movements, the Yemeni Special Forces conducted an operation against Saudis' positions.
Saree went on to say that enemy's positions were also targeted by a Zelzal missile.
Meanwhile earlier, Center for Human Rights Development of Yemen in a report announced that the four-year war in Yemen has so far killed or injured 40,972 Yemenis.
The Yemeni body announced that the Arab-coalition attacks have killed 16,005 people among whom were 3,547 kids and 2,271 women.
This is while, 24,967 others including 3,568 children and 2,560 women were also injured.
According to the report, many of the infrastructures of Yemen were also damaged.
The human rights body went on to say that 15 airports, 16 ports, 216 roads, 284 power plants, 1,623 water networks and 869 governmental organizations were also destroyed.
About 5,914 cluster and phosphorus bombs were also used by Saudis against Yemenis.
The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2451 to support the Stockholm Agreement on deployment of a team in order to facilitate monitoring and implementing the Agreement and establishing truce in important Yemeni ports.
The resolution mainly focuses on sending essential commodities to the Yemeni people, supporting the Stockholm Agreement, assigning the Secretary-General of the United Nations to implement it and observing the ceasefire.
The fourth round of Yemen peace talks kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden on December 6 with the attendance of UN and the government representatives. It agreed to establish truce in Yemeni ports of al-Hudaydah, al-Salif and Ayn Issa.
Saudi Arabia and its regional allies attacked Yemen in March 2015 to bring back to power the deposed president of Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
Since then, the invaders have committed horrible war crimes against Yemeni civilians.
9376**1424
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
25 Mar. 2019
(As delivered)
Prime Minister Bakhtadze,
Mamuka,
It is a great pleasure to be back in Tbilisi.
And to visit Georgia during the NATO-Georgia exercise.
This is the second time that Georgia hosts this important event.
Demonstrating the ability of the Georgian armed forces to operate side-by-side with the Allies and other partners.
This exercise is hosted by the NATO-Georgia Joint Training Centre. Which has been working to strengthen your country's defences since it was inaugurated back in 2015.
I visited many times and it's always good to be back.
This time, I'm going to be visiting the NATO GEO exercise.
Georgia is a unique partner for NATO.
Last summer in Brussels all NATO leaders reconfirmed the Bucharest decision from 2008 that Georgia will become a member of NATO.
You are the largest non-NATO contributor to our Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.
You contribute to the NATO Response Force.
And the NATO-Georgia exercise this week demonstrates that we are stepping up our cooperation.
Georgia has made a lot of progress in important reforms.
Including strengthening Parliament's role in overseeing the security sector.
And the reform of Georgia's judiciary. I was glad to hear that these efforts will continue.
Your efforts to modernise the armed forces and to build more effective defence institutions have also been very impressive.
I also welcome your commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence.
And I congratulate Georgia for spending 20% of GDP on equipment and modernisation.
This strengthens your military.
And your contribution to regional security.
I welcome your efforts in all these areas.
And I encourage you to continue making full use of all the opportunities for coming closer to the Alliance.
And to prepare for membership.
NATO fully supports Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
We call on Russia to end its recognition of the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to withdraw its forces.
We also share your concerns about Russia's military build-up in the Black Sea region.
That is why we are strengthening the cooperation between Georgian and NATO naval forces.
Why we are providing training for Georgian Coast Guard boarding teams.
And why NATO's Maritime Command is cooperating with Georgia's Joint Maritime Operations Centre.
And during our meeting today we discussed how we can increase our cooperation, not least between our maritime forces.
Prime Minister, let me thank you for your hospitality.
We will continue working together to prepare Georgia for NATO membership.
Georgia is a reliable contributor to our shared security.
And I look forward to continue working with you as Georgia moves closer to NATO.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Secretary General visits NATO-Georgia exercise
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
24 Mar. 2019 - 25 Mar. 2019
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Georgia on Monday (25 March 2019) to observe NATO and Georgian forces training together. The NATO-Georgia exercise brings together around 350 participants from 24 NATO and partner countries and international organisations. The exercise is being held at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre, which has been helping to strengthen Georgia's defences since it was inaugurated in 2015.
Mr. Stoltenberg said the exercise shows how NATO and Georgia are stepping up their cooperation. Georgia is one of NATO's closest partners, working with the Alliance on security in the Black Sea region. Georgia is also the largest non-NATO contributor to the Alliance's training mission in Afghanistan and it contributes to the NATO Response Force.
Last summer in Brussels, NATO leaders reconfirmed the 2008 Bucharest Summit decision that Georgia will become a member of NATO. The Secretary General praised Georgia's progress in making important reforms and encouraged it to continue these efforts.
During his visit Mr. Stoltenberg had talks with the President of Georgia, Ms. Salome Zourabichvili, the Prime Minister, Mr. Mamuka Bakhtadze, and other high level officials.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Expeditionary Medical Facility Training at PacBlitz19
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS190325-12
Release Date: 3/25/2019 2:26:00 PM
From Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (NNS) -- The Naval Expeditionary Medical Training Institute (NEMTI) on Camp Pendleton, California, hosted Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) training as part of Pacific Blitz 2019 (PacBlitz19).
One of the key objectives in establishing the EMF as part of PacBlitz19 is to integrate various capabilities across several expeditionary stakeholders to include I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), 3rd Fleet (C3F) and Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC).
Various units including NECC Pacific, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Naval Medical Center Balboa, Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303 (CBMU-303), along with doctors, nurses, hospital corpsmen, Seabees and numerous support staff established the EMF to provide theater hospitalization to the I MEF and C3F Commanders.
Military doctrine supports an integrated health services support system to triage, treat, evacuate, and return Soldiers and Sailors to duty in the most time efficient manner. These services are known as Roles.
Role 1 care provides immediate first aid at the front line. Role 2 care consists of surgical resuscitation provided by highly mobile forward surgical teams that directly support combatant units in the field or at sea. In Role 3, which is what the EMF delivers, care is provided through combat support hospitals or hospital ships. These are large facilities that take time to become fully operational, but offer much more advanced medical, surgical, and trauma care, similar to a civilian trauma center. Role 4 care is the first echelon at which definitive surgical management is provided outside the combat zone. Role 5 care is the final stage of evacuation to one of the major military centers in the United States where definitive stabilization, reconstruction, or amputation of the injured extremity is performed.
The EMF is an expeditionary hospital, designed for austere environments. It has full resuscitation and emergency stabilizing surgery, along with selected specialty care. It provides significant medical support capabilities and capacities to any joint force commander.
"The EMF is designed to be assembled and operational in 10 days," said Capt. Teresa Allen, EMF Alpha commanding officer. "It is meant to be a self-sustaining medical facility." Allen explained how the EMF came together at the beginning of PacBlitz19. "All the personnel involved are from the West Coast and we essentially had to have everyone come together to build the EMF as part of this integrated exercise," said Allen. "I'm so pleased with how this team collectively came together so seamlessly."
Seabees assigned to CBMU-303 and Sailors assigned to EMF-Alpha built the EMF from the ground up. They began by putting together the framing of the tents and finished by installing medical supplies and equipment. One of the main components of the CBMU-303 mission is to provide camp construction, base operating support and facilities maintenance for expeditionary medical facilities such as EMF-Alpha, to include the containment and distribution of power, water, and fuel.
The field hospital supporting PacBlitz19 is a modified EMF, with two ambulances, three operating room tables, 10 intensive care beds, and 40 ward beds along with a host of ancillary services to include pharmacy, laboratory services, radiology, dental, patient administration, information management and technology, and command and control capabilities. It has a range of surgical specialties and general dentistry, along with medical specialties and clinical support services to provide a host of similar functions you would find at a large hospital in any city.
"It was little slow going with some bad weather earlier on in the week, but everyone was motivated and was ready to take part and learn," said Chief Builder Eric Laposi, assigned to CBMU-303. "This was great training collectively and all parties involved took a lot away from this."
The primary mission of the EMF is to provide standardized, modular, flexible theater hospitalization in expeditionary environments. PacBlitz19 provides realistic, relevant training that replicates a distributed maritime environment, allowing for integration across the Marine Expeditionary Force and the Fleet.
"An EMF has never been included previously in a military exercise. PacBlitz19 provides us the unique opportunity to assess the effectiveness of our EMF training and identify areas of improvement," said Capt. Sharon House, officer in charge for Naval Expeditionary Medical Training Institute. "Additionally, it has given us the opportunity to integrate with forces and look at means to sustain training integration. Overall, it's been a great collaborative experience."
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Pacific Partnership 2019 Concludes Mission Stop in Philippines
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS190325-04
Release Date: 3/25/2019 12:06:00 PM
From Pacific Partnership 2019 Public Affairs
TACLOBAN, Philippines (NNS) -- Senior mission leadership, host nation and partner nation personnel attended the closing ceremony of the second Pacific Partnership 2019 (PP19) mission stop in Tacloban, Philippines, March 22.
"Each Pacific Partnership line of effort engineering, medical, host nation outreach, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief has been instrumental in working alongside their Philippine counterparts for a greater good," said Capt. Randy Van Rossum, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 1, the mission commander for Pacific Partnership 2019. "They've worked collaboratively to enhance host nation capability, build regional relationships and exercise a collective ability to respond to disaster emergencies."
During the two-week mission stop in the Philippines, U.S., partner nation military members and non-governmental organization volunteers conducted more than 40 subject matter expert exchanges, worked more than 1,500 hours on two evacuation center construction projects, hosted 15 U.S. Pacific Fleet and host nation band performances, engaged with more than 7,000 Tacloban students and residents, and included more than 300 personnel in the final collaborative disaster relief exercise.
"Alone we can do so little," said Jerry Yaokasin, vice mayor of the city of Tacloban. "But we've proven here that together, all of us, we can do so much. Not only for a safer Indo-Pacific region, but for a better world. Thank you for making a difference."
Pacific Partnership began in response to one of the world's most catastrophic natural disasters, the December 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of South and Southeast Asia. The mission has evolved over the years from emphasis on direct care to an operation focused on enhancing partnerships through host nation subject matter expert and civil-military exchanges.
Working at the invitation of each host nation, Pacific Partnership is joined by partner nations that include Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom to strengthen disaster response preparedness around the Indo-Pacific region.
The Philippines is one of several host nations for Pacific Partnership 2019. The Pacific Partnership mission teams will also make stops in the Federated States of Micronesia, Malaysia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Experts in the fields of engineering, medicine and disaster response will partner with each host nation to conduct civic-action projects, community health exchanges, medical symposiums, and disaster response training activities.
Pacific Partnership's mission is to work collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase stability and security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships across the Indo-Pacific region. Pacific Partnership, now in its 14th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific region.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Gaza hit by Israel after Hamas denies rocket attack on Tel Aviv
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 10:04PM
The Israeli army has bombed several areas across the Gaza Strip, with Palestinian resistance groups responding by firing rockets from the besieged territory.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least seven Palestinians were injured in the latest attacks.
Earlier, Israel's air force targeted the office of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza.
Israel also deployed additional troops near the Gaza Strip. In response, Palestinian resistance fighters fired 10 rockets into Israel from Gaza.
Later Hamas said it had reached an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel.
Hamas sources say Palestinian factions will be bound to it if Israel doesn't strike.
The new Israeli aggression against the coastal enclave came after Tel Aviv authorities said earlier on Monday that a long-range rocket launched from the Gaza Strip had struck an area near Tel Aviv in central Israel, wounding seven people.
The early morning attack on Mishmeret, an agricultural town north of Tel Aviv, came a day after Israeli warplanes bombed the besieged enclave ahead of the anniversary of Gaza fence protests at the weekend.
It forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short his trip to Washington immediately after meeting US President Donald Trump later on Monday, his office said.
A Hamas official, who asked not to be named, told AFP on Monday, "No one from the resistance movements, including Hamas, has an interest in firing rockets from the Gaza Strip towards the enemy."
He added that the same message had been conveyed to Egypt, which intervened to broker a ceasefire and prevent Israel from launching another war on Gaza after tensions escalated last year.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Saudi war has failed despite US support: Yemen's Houthi
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 06:20PM
The Saudi regime has failed in its deadly campaign against Yemen to achieve its objectives despite enjoying support provided by Washington and other allies. That is part of a speech by the leader of Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement on the fourth anniversary of the Yemeni nation's resistance against Riyadh's aggression.
Delivering a televised speech broadcast live on Monday evening, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said Saudi Arabia's "unprecedented oppression" aimed to divide the Yemeni people and control them in order to serve the aggressors' interests.
The campaign is also aimed at occupying Yemen and looting it oil resources, he said.
The Ansarullah leader said it was a religious and national duty to keep confronting Saudi Arabia's agressive behavior.
He also condemned the stance of traitors and those irresponsible people who act in support of Riyadh.
Referring to Yemen's former President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Houthi said no one has the right to sell his country and to waste the blood of his people.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he said, are facing economic challenges due to the campaign against Yemen. Houthi did not elaborate on the matter.
Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the devastating campaign on March 26, 2015, with the aim of bringing a former government to power and crushing the Houthi Ansarullah movement. Riyadh has failed to fulfill its objectives.
According to a new report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, the Saudi-led war has so far claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis.
The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN has already said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in more than 100 years.
A number of Western countries, the US and Britain in particular, are also accused of being complicit in the ongoing aggression as they supply the Riyadh regime with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance.
Yemenis have been carrying out retaliatory attacks on the Saudi forces deployed in the country as well as targets inside Saudi Arabia.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Photo: Contributed Martin Sellner, leader of the right-wing populist Identitarian movement of Austria is seen giving an interview in Berlin, Germany.
Austria's leader called Tuesday for authorities to "ruthlessly" investigate possible ties between an Austrian nationalist group and the alleged Christchurch mosque gunman, after it emerged that a prominent far-right activist in the Alpine nation had received a donation in the suspected shooter's name.
Martin Sellner, head of the Identitarian Movement of Austria, said on social media that police searched his apartment Monday and seized electronic devices after he received a "disproportionately high donation" from a person named Tarrant the same surname as the suspected Christchurch shooter.
Christoph Poelzl, spokesman for Austria's Interior Ministry, confirmed Tuesday that the country's BVT domestic intelligence agency searched Sellner's apartment in Vienna at the request of prosecutors in the city of Graz.
"Any connection between the Christchurch attacker and members of the Identitarians in Austria needs to be comprehensively and ruthlessly investigated," Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted, adding that he had spoken to Justice Minister Josef Moser about the issue.
"It is important that the independent justice system can use all necessary means and resources to conduct its investigation together with the security services and expose these networks," he said. "There needs to be total clarity about all extremist activities."
Hansjoerg Bacher, a spokesman for Graz prosecutors, said prosecutors had stumbled across the donation as part of an existing probe against Sellner into possible financial offences.
"The purpose of the investigation is to examine links between Mr. Sellner and the Christchurch attacker," Bacher told The Associated Press.
He declined to confirm when the donation took place, but said it was much higher than other contributions made to Sellner or his Identitarian Movement.
"Most donations were in the area of two-to-three figures, whereas this donation was in the low four-figure area," Bacher told The AP. "This made it stand out, and the events in New Zealand put a face to this donation."
He said the investigation against Sellner is based on Austrian anti-terror laws.
"We need to determine whether there is a connection and if so, whether it's criminally significant," said Bacher.
Sellner denied having anything to do with the March 15 massacre, in which 50 Muslims were killed in the southern New Zealand city.
Iran urges Yemen ceasefire, end to economic blockade
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 04:58PM
Iran's Foreign Ministry says the Islamic Republic supports an overarching ceasefire in Yemen while calling for an end to the "tyrannical" economic and human blockade imposed on the people of Yemen.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry made the remarks in a statement released on Monday on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the beginning of Saudi Arabia's war of aggression against Yemen.
"In line with its policy to seek a political solution to the crisis in Yemen and within the framework of a four-point plan, which was proposed by [Iran's] foreign minister at the beginning of the campaign against Yemen, the Islamic Republic of Iran declares its support for all forms of overarching and comprehensive ceasefire and removal of the tyrannical economic and human blockade of the people of Yemen," the statement read.
In April 2015, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif submitted a four-point peace plan for Yemen to the United Nations in an attempt to end the bloodshed in the Arab country.
"It is imperative for the international community to get more effectively involved in ending the senseless aerial attacks and establishing a ceasefire," Zarif said in the letter, adding that Tehran is ready to cooperate with the UN "to facilitate and encourage an immediate end to these senseless bombardments and initiation of a genuine dialogue to find a political solution to this tragic crisis."
In November 2018, Zarif once again assessed the viability of putting an end to the ongoing Saudi-led war only through the Islamic Republic's four-point plan.
"Today, after untold human suffering & war crimes by the Saudi coalition & its U.S. accomplices, & efforts to whitewash their crimes with absurd allegations against Iran, our four-point plan still remains the only viable option," the top Iranian diplomat said in a post on his official Twitter account.
Elsewhere in its statement, Iran's Foreign Ministry urged all political groups in Yemen to reach a political agreement, which would meet the demands of the country's people while asking the international community to support any effort made to alleviate the suffering of Yemeni people, especially women and children.
As confirmed by international officials and organizations, more than 24 million Yemeni people are in need of help while over 15 million others are suffering from malnutrition and millions of children are facing the risk of famine and hunger, it added.
The Iranian ministry once again threw its weight behind the Stockholm agreement and urged countries engaged in the Yemeni crisis to make necessary preparations for the full implementation of the deal.
It also expressed hope that the complete implementation of the agreement would be the first step toward a final settlement of the crisis in Yemen.
Back in December, representatives from the Houthi Ansarullah movement and the Riyadh-sponsored government of ex-president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, reached the truce deal during UN-mediated peace talks in Sweden.
Under the deal, they agreed to the withdrawal of their troops and the deployment of UN monitors to the port city, a lifeline for millions of Yemenis.
Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the war in March 2015 with the goal of bringing a former regime that had been submissive to Riyadh back to power.
A number of Western countries the US and Britain in particular supply that coalition with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Gaza hit by Israel after Hamas denies rocket attack on Tel Aviv
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 04:07PM
Only a few hours after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas denied it had launched a rocket attack toward Tel Aviv, the Israeli military says it has begun striking the besieged Palestinian territory.
The Israeli military said on Monday it had started hitting Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian security officials and Hamas media outlets said a naval position of the resistance movement was targeted by at least two strikes west of Gaza City.
In northern Gaza, another target was a large training camp run by Hamas.
The new Israeli aggression against the coastal enclave came after Tel Aviv authorities said earlier on Monday that a long-range rocket launched from the Gaza Strip had struck an area near Tel Aviv in central Israel, wounding seven people.
The early morning attack on Mishmeret, an agricultural town north of Tel Aviv, came a day after Israeli warplanes bombed the besieged enclave ahead of the anniversary of Gaza fence protests at the weekend.
It forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short his trip to Washington immediately after meeting US President Donald Trump later on Monday, his office said.
A Hamas official, who asked not to be named, told AFP on Monday, "No one from the resistance movements, including Hamas, has an interest in firing rockets from the Gaza Strip towards the enemy."
He added that the same message had been conveyed to Egypt, which intervened to broker a ceasefire and prevent Israel from launching another war on Gaza after tensions escalated last year.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Trump has no problem with release of full Mueller report: White House
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 03:07PM
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has said President Donald Trump would have no problem with the release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's full report into the alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
"I don't think the president has any problem with it," Sanders said on NBC's Today show. "He's more than happy for any of this stuff to come out because he knows exactly what did and what didn't happen and now frankly the rest of America knows."
Trump has claimed "complete and total exoneration" after the Justice Department announced Mueller's 22-month investigation found no evidence of collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia in the 2016 election.
Attorney General William Barr, a Trump appointee, said in a four-page summary of the report released on Sunday that Mueller's team had concluded that no one in Trump's campaign "conspired or coordinated with the Russian government."
However, Mueller's findings left unresolved the issue of whether Trump obstructed justice by undermining the investigations.
Many of the president's opponents had accused him of obstructing the Russia probe when he fired former FBI Director James Comey in 2017.
Echoing Trump, Sanders said the American public knows "there was no collusion, they know there was no obstruction and it's a complete and total exoneration of the president."
Democrats have rejected the determination made by the Justice Department on the evidence presented by Muller following his extensive investigations.
They said they wanted to see Mueller's report for themselves as they launch congressional investigations of their own into the 2016 election and Trump's business and financial dealings.
Democrats accused Barr of putting his own finding on Mueller's report, saying that the special counsel did not exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Hamas denies involvement in rocket attack on Tel Aviv
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 02:25PM
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has rejected Israel's claim that it launched a rocket which hit a house north of Tel Aviv and wounded seven settlers.
"No one from the resistance movements, including Hamas, has an interest in firing rockets from the Gaza Strip towards the enemy," a Hamas official, who asked not to be named, told AFP on Monday.
He added that the same message had been conveyed to Egypt, which intervened to broker a ceasefire and prevent Israel from launching another war on Gaza after tensions escalated last year.
His remarks evoked the possibility that the rocket strike may have been caused by "bad weather."
Earlier on Monday, Israeli authorities said a long-range rocket launched from the Gaza Strip had struck Mishmeret, a settlement north of Tel Aviv, wounding seven settlers.
Israel's military said the rocket was fired by Hamas from the Rafah area in the south of Gaza.
The incident had forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short his trip to Washington as he pledged to "respond with force" to the rocket attack.
The Israeli military said it was sending two additional brigades and carrying out a limited call-up of reservists, raising fears of a severe military escalation.
The attack came a day after Israeli warplanes bombed the besieged enclave ahead of the anniversary of Gaza fence protests at the weekend.
Gaza has been under Israeli siege since June 2007, which has caused a decline in living standards. Israel has launched three major wars against the enclave since 2008, killing thousands of Gazans each time and shattering the impoverished territory's already poor infrastructure.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Yemen sees jump in suspected cholera cases in 2019: UN
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 01:09PM
The deadly campaign led by the regime in Riyadh against Yemen has in effect exacerbated a health crisis in the impoverished country. The United Nations has announced a rise in suspected cases of cholera since January.
The UN office for humanitarian affairs (OCHA) said on Monday that 108,889 cases were reported between January 1 and March 17, including 190 related deaths.
The OCHA said children under five years of age account for nearly a third of the reported cases.
According to the report, the increase was concentrated in six provinces, including Hudaydah and Sana'a.
Airstrikes conducted by warplanes of the Saudi regime and some of its allies in the coalition against Yemen have brought about considerable damage to Yemen's infrastructure.
The OCHA said the recent spike in suspected cholera cases could be blamed on early rains and a lack of maintenance of sewage systems.
"The situation is exacerbated by poor maintenance of sewage disposal systems in many of the affected districts, the use of contaminated water for irrigation, and population movements."
Cholera infection first became epidemic in Yemen in October 2016 and spread until December the same year, when it dwindled.
The second outbreak began in the country in April 2017, the worst cholera outbreak in Yemen's modern history. More than 2,500 people died of the infection within an eight-month period that year.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection that is spread through contaminated food or water. It can be effectively treated with the immediate replacement of lost fluids and salts, but without treatment it can be fatal.
Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the devastating campaign in March 2015, with the aim of bringing a former government to power and crushing the Houthi Ansarullah movement. Riyadh has failed to fulfill its objectives.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Yemenis kill 20 Saudi troops as Rioyadh's deadly war enters 5th year
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 08:13AM
Yemeni fighters say they have killed at least 20 Saudi Arabian soldiers in a retaliatory attack as the Riyadh regime's deadly war against the impoverished southern neighbor enters its fifth year.
Spokesman for Yemeni armed forces Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced late Sunday that the attack by the Yemeni army and Popular Committees targeted two military bases in the southern Saudi town of Jizan.
The attack, carried out after extensive intelligence gathering, injured a greater number of Saudi soldiers and destroyed at least five armored vehicles, Saree said.
The general noted that the Saudi military had yet to collect the dead bodies of its troops despite enjoying close air support.
In the capital Sana'a, thousands of Yemeni people gathered outside the United Nations office earlier in the day to demand an end to Saudi Arabia's military aggression, which has killed a large number of civilians and destroyed the country's infrastructure.
Riyadh, under the order of its de-facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, began indiscriminately pounding targets across Yemen on March 24, 2015.
The ambitious prince, who was the kingdom's defense minister back then, infamously predicted that the campaign would only take a few months to fulfill its two main targets: Destroying the Houthi Ansarullah movement and reinstating fugitive former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi a staunch ally.
Four years on, however, the Saudis and their allies in the war --- including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain-- and their many thousands of foreign mercenaries have become bogged down.
Houthis and their allies, on the other hand, remain steadfast in their resolve to fight off the enemy with a powerful arsenal of missiles that have struck as far as the Saudi capital.
The situation inside Yemen, however, remains grim as millions of people remain in the throes of acute starvation and deadly diseases such as cholera and diphtheria.
A Saudi-led blockade and its constant destruction of Yemen's infrastructure has shrunk Yemen's economy by 50 percent since the onset of the conflict.
The war has also forced more than two-thirds of small- and medium-size businesses to lay off half of their employees and driven up the price of food by 112 percent.
According to a report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, the Saudi war has claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis.
A new report by Save the Children says the ongoing Saudi aggression has killed at least 2,500 Yemeni children since March 2015. That means the Saudi military is killing Yemeni children at a horrifying rate of over 30 children per month.
In one operation alone, Saudi warplanes used US-supplied bombs to target a school bus in the northern Yemeni town of Sa'ada, killing 40 children onboard.
Amnesty condemns 'horrific crimes'
Amnesty International said in a statement on Monday that the international community needs to take swift action to stop the "bloodshed" in Yemen.
"After four years of bloodshed in the Arab world's poorest country, Yemenis can no longer bear the catastrophic humanitarian impact of the war," said Samah Hadid, Amnesty International's Middle East campaigns director.
"The international community must step up efforts to ensure that civilians are protected, obstacles to humanitarian assistance and arbitrary restrictions on import of essential goods are lifted, and impunity for war crimes and other violations is ended," Hadid added.
She called on the US, the UK and other Western countries that have been supplying Riyadh with advanced weapons despite international outrage to halt their military dealings with the kingdom.
"Western states must immediately halt the arms trade to warring parties. They must put human rights and the lives of millions of Yemeni civilians and their own legal obligations above lucrative arms sales," said Hadid.
US President Donald Trump scored a $110 billion weapons deal with Saudi Arabia during his visit to Riyadh in 2017.
The UK has licensed over 4.7 billion worth of arms exports, including missiles and fighter jets, to Riyadh since the deadly conflict began in 2015. Prime Minister Theresa May has so far faced down calls for a ban on the weapons sales despite the growing humanitarian disaster.
France has also been a major supplier of weapons to Saudi Arabia. French Defense Minister Florence Parly said last year that her country had exported 11 billion euros ($12.6 billion) in arms to Saudi Arabia between 2008 to 2017, a figure which was crucial for French jobs.
Germany, Spain, Australia, Greece and many other countries are also involved in arms trade with Riyadh.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Long-range rocket hits near Tel Aviv after Israel attacks Gaza
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 05:59AM
Israeli authorities say a long-range rocket launched from the Gaza Strip has struck an area near Tel Aviv in central Israel, wounding seven people in the first such incident since a 2014 war on the Palestinian enclave.
The early morning attack on Mishmeret, an agricultural town north of Tel Aviv, came a day after Israeli warplanes bombed the besieged enclave ahead of the anniversary of Gaza fence protests at the weekend.
It forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short his trip to Washington immediately after meeting US President Donald Trump later on Monday, his office said.
The Palestinian Information Center reported that two missiles struck the heart of the Israeli-occupied territories early on Monday. The attack reportedly destroyed a building, leaving seven settlers injured.
Sirens sounded in central Israel for the first time in two years and residents reported an explosion, highlighting the failure of Israel's much-hyped Iron Dome missile system to intercept the rocket.
The multi-billion-dollar system was dealt another blow during the latest military flare-up in November, when Hamas fired more than 460 rockets at the occupied lands in less than 24 hours in response to Israeli aggression.
Israel's capital and outlying towns had last come under such an attack during the 2014 war on Gaza. A week and a half ago, two rockets were fired at Tel Aviv from the Gaza Strip but the Israeli military said they had been launched accidentally.
Fears of serious escalation
Netanyahu, who is seeking a fifth term in next month's ballot, has been in Washington for the annual AIPAC conference.
"In light of the security events I decided to cut short my visit to the US," Netanyahu said as he pledged to "respond with force" to the rocket attack.
His office said Netanyahu has been updated on the rocket fire, and that he has called for a consultation with chiefs of the Israeli military, Shin Bet and other senior security officials via telephone.
The Israeli military later accused Hamas of firing the rocket and announced it was sending reinforcements to the Gaza area.
The rocket, it said, had been fired from the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip. "The launch was carried out by Hamas from one of its positions in the Rafah area," Israeli military spokesman Ronen Manelis said.
Warning against aggression
The rocket would have had to travel some 120 kilometers from Rafah to land in the Israeli capital.
The Israeli military said it was sending two additional brigades and carrying out a limited call-up of reservists, raising fears of a severe military escalation just ahead of April 9 elections.
Hamas ally in Gaza, the Islamic Jihad said "we warn the Zionist enemy from committing an aggression against the Gaza Strip."
"Their leaders should be aware that we will respond with force against their aggression," it said in a statement, without commenting on who may have been responsible for the rocket.
On Sunday, Israeli tanks shelled Gaza after "incendiary balloons" were launched across the fence throughout the evening, the military said. The day before, Israeli warplanes struck southern Gaza Strip.
Tensions have been running high in Gaza since March 30, when the "Great March of Return" protests started, demanding the right to return for those driven out of their homeland by Israeli aggression.
The clashes in Gaza reached their peak on May 14, the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day or the Day of Catastrophe, which coincided this year with Washington's relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied Jerusalem al-Quds.
More than 260 Palestinians have so far been killed and at least 26,000 others wounded in the Gaza clashes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Gaza has been under Israeli siege since June 2007, which has caused a decline in living standards. Israel has launched three major wars against the enclave since 2008, killing thousands of Gazans each time and shattering the impoverished territory's already poor infrastructure.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Mueller issues equivocal report, concludes Russia probe
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2019 02:05AM
Special counsel Robert Mueller's findings have failed to implicate US President Donald Trump in collusion with Russia during the 2016 presidential campaigning.
The so-called Russia probe came to an end following the release of a summary of findings by Trumpappointed Attorney General William Barr on Sunday.
"The Special Counsel's investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia" regarding the 2016 election, according to the letter.
The special counsel had 19 lawyers, the assistance of about 40 FBI agents and issued over 2,800 subpoenas to investigate alleged Russia intervention in the 2016 presidential election and the Trump team's collusion with the Kremlin.
The report was vague in handling allegations of obstruction of justice by the president, neither exonerating him nor holding him accountable. As a result, Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that the "evidence developedis not sufficient to establish that the president committed an obstruction of justice offense."
Therefore, Trump appeared before the reporter ahead of boarding Air Force One in Florida, boasting that he has been given "a complete and total exoneration."
White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley also appeared before reporters in Washington to announce that Trump is "in a really good mood."
"He's just very happy with how it all turned out," Gidley said of the president, who has been calling the investigation a "witch hunt" from the get-go.
The president's friends in Congress rushed to his support after the report failed to draw any practical conclusions after 22 months.
"Attorney General Barr's statement today should end the debate," said North Carolina Republican Representative Mark Meadows on Capitol Hill. "There was no collusion. There was no obstruction. It's over."
Democrats, who had been waiting for the investigation to conclude, were quick to announce that they will continue with their own probe, conducted as they hold the majority of the seats in the US House of Representatives.
According to top Democrats, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the report "raises as many questions as it answers," adding that Mueller "determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment."
They concluded that Mueller "did not draw a conclusion one way or another as to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction."
Democrats had stalled impeachment proceedings, hoping that the probe would endanger Trump's tenure.
"Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don't think we should go down that path, because it divides the country," said Pelosi earlier this month.
That means Democrats will have to wait until the 2020 presidential election to take on Trump.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Thirteen Civilians, Mostly Children, Believed Killed In Afghan Air Strike, UN Report Finds
By RFE/RL March 25, 2019
Thirteen civilians were killed, mostly children, in an air strike by "international forces" near the northern Afghan city of Kunduz last week, according to preliminary findings of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
"The mission expresses serious concern that initial fact-finding indicates that 10 of those killed were children, part of the same extended famil...displaced by fighting elsewhere in the country," UNAMA said in a statement on March 25.
It said that three more civilians were apparently wounded in the incident, which occurred in the Telawka neighborhood close to Kunduz city on the night of March 22-23, during "operations conducted by pro-government forces against Taliban in the area."
"Work is ongoing to verify all civilian casualties that occurred during military operations that were conducted around the time of the air strike," the statement said.
A spokeswoman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan said on March 24 that U.S. forces had carried out an air strike in the area, but she said the mission had not confirmed it had caused civilian casualties.
Sergeant Debra Richardson said the mission aims to prevent civilian casualties but noted that Taliban militants intentionally hide among civilians.
The war in Afghanistan killed more civilians in 2018 than at any time since records have been kept, UNAMA said in a February report, blaming the increase on unprecedented suicide bombings by militant groups and air strikes carried out by U.S.-led forces.
It said that the conflict killed 3,804 civilians and wounded another 7,189 in 2018, an 11 percent increase from the previous year.
The civilian death toll is the highest number since UNAMA began tallying figures in 2009.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/thirteen-civilians- mostly-children-believed-killed-in-afghan-air-strike- un-report-finds/29840653.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
Stoltenberg: Georgia Will Join NATO, And Russia Can Do Nothing About It
By RFE/RL's Georgian Service March 25, 2019
TBILISI -- During a visit to Georgia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has again said that the South Caucasus country will eventually join the Western military alliance, despite the Kremlin's fierce opposition.
Stoltenberg was in Tbilisi on March 25 to hold meetings with Georgian officials and attend joint NATO-Georgia military exercises.
Speaking alongside Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, he said that the 29 NATO member states had "clearly stated that Georgia will become a member of NATO."
"We will continue working together to prepare for Georgia's NATO membership," Stoltenberg said, adding that no country has the right to influence NATO's open-door policy.
"We are not accepting that Russia or any other power can decide what members can do," he said.
Bakhtadze said that "NATO membership is the choice of the Georgian people."
At a 2008 summit in Bucharest, NATO agreed that Georgia will eventually become a member, but no firm date has been set, although the membership perspective for the country has been reconfirmed at every summit ever since.
The country of some 3.7 million people fought a brief war with Russia in August 2008, and Moscow's continued military presence on the country's territory adds to tensions in the region.
After the war, Russia left thousands of troops in Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and recognized both as independent countries.
In Tbilisi, Stoltenberg held talks with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, during which he hailed Georgia's commitment to reforms.
The NATO chief also reiterated the allies' support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Held at the Krtsanisi National Training Center near Tbilisi, the 12-day joint military exercises involve around 350 personnel from 24 NATO member states and partner countries.
The drills, dubbed NATO-Georgia Exercise 2019, will last until March 29.
With reporting by Interpressnews and AFP
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/stoltenberg-georgia -will-join-nato-and-russia-can-do- nothing-about-it/29840885.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
Photo: Angus Reid Institute
B.C.'s John Horgan finds himself among Canada's most popular premiers, according to a new poll.
The poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute has Horgan sitting in the third most popular position behind Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Saskatchewan's, Scott Moe.
British Columbia Premier John Horgan received the approval of more than half of B.C., earning the backing of 52 per cent of B.C. residents. Thats an increase of 9 percentage points since December, when four-in-ten or 43 per cent approved of his performance. The current number ties Horgans highest mark as premier, which was set in March 2018.
Most premiers have seen their standing among their own constituencies improve or at least hold since December. The two exceptions are Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil.
Ontario Premier Doug Fords approval drops four points this quarter to 38 per cent.
Albertas Rachel Notley, currently seeking a second term as Alberta premier, faces long odds ahead of the April 16 election day. Recent polls, including one released by the Angus Reid Institute, have consistently pointed to a substantial lead for the opposition United Conservative Party. However, Notleys personal appeal appears to continue to climb. Notleys approval has increased for the fifth consecutive time and is now up to four-in-ten or 40 per cent.
Jordan's King Cancels Romania Visit Over Jerusalem Embassy Plan
By RFE/RL's Romanian Service March 25, 2019
Jordan's King Abdullah II has canceled a visit to Romania in protest at Prime Minister Vorica Dancila's announcement that Romania was planning to move its embassy to Jerusalem.
Jordan's royal palace said that the decision to cancel the visit scheduled for March 25 came "in solidarity with Jerusalem."
Dancila made the announcement in a speech in Washington at the annual conference of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the main pro-Israel lobby group in the United States, but later backtracked on her statement after drawing a strong rebuke from Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.
"I as prime minster of Romania, and the government that I run, will move our embassy to Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel," she told AIPAC on March 24.
However, according to the Romanian Constitution, foreign-policy decisions need the ultimate approval of the president, and Iohannis reacted immediately, saying in a statement that Dancila "demonstrates once again her complete ignorance on foreign-policy issues."
Following Iohannis's rebuff, Dancila backpedaled from her previous statement in an interview with a Romanian TV station.
"I said that we must complete all constitutional steps first. I haven't said I will relocate the embassy. I said we must observe the constitution," the Romanian prime minister said.
"My opinion is that we must take this step. It is a personal opinion," Dancila added.
During his trip, Abdullah was expected to meet with President Klaus Iohannis and parliamentary leaders and sign a number of cooperation deals.
The United States moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem last year, sparking international criticism as well as Palestinian and Arab anger.
Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state.
Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and declared the entire city as its capital, a move not recognized by the international community.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Dancila's comments at the AIPAC conference, while the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) called the move a "blatant violation of Palestinian rights, international law, and UN resolutions."
With reporting by AP and AFP
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/jordan-s-king- cancels-romania-visit-over-jerusalem -embassy-plan/29840985.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
Serbian Accusation Lingers Of Link Between NATO Bombing, Health Woes
By Sonja Gocanin, Alan Crosby March 25, 2019
Serbian lawmaker Darko Laketic, head of the Commission for Researching Health Impacts of the NATO Bombing, looks at the data and draws a clear line between the Western security alliance's 78-day bombing campaign and a rise in cancer-related disease in children born in the subsequent two decades.
The problem is, others don't see the correlation -- or have yet to be shown it.
Laketic said last week that a study commissioned by his group in tandem with the Batut Institute of Public Health of Serbia shows "unambiguously" that children born after 1999 were exposed to something left amid the rubble from the punishing air strikes aimed at forcing Belgrade to withdraw its troops from Kosovo.
Specifically, Laketic noted increases in neuroectodermal tumors in the nervous systems of children from birth to 4 years old, malignant blood disorders in children between 5 and 9 years of age, brain tumors in 10-to-14-year-olds, and solid tumors in those aged 15 to 18.
"Some poison impacted these children, and with so many poisons released into the environment during the 1999 bombing, it's easy to guess what it is," he said in a thinly veiled reference to incendiary devices made with depleted uranium, a controversial substance NATO has admitted to using while denying it carries extended health risks.
RFE/RL's Balkan Service asked Laketic for access to the study, but he said it would be made public "as soon as the study is completed."
The bombing of rump Yugoslavia, code-named Operation Allied Force by NATO, began on March 24, 1999, and was aimed at ending violence between ethnic Albanians and mostly ethnic Serbian forces during a two-year counterinsurgency war.
The alliance says its pilots carried out more than 38,000 combat missions, with some 3,000 cruise missiles falling on targets across Kosovo and what is now Serbia, including heavy bombardment of the capital, Belgrade. More than 1,200 Yugoslav security troops and around 500 civilians were killed in the operation.
Some of the bombs contained depleted uranium, a leftover product from the enrichment process of uranium 235. It is used in warheads because of its extreme hardness, which allows it to penetrate armored targets and fortified buildings.
Though its radioactivity is far below that of its original form, depleted uranium is still considered toxic and listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a "radiation health hazard when inside the body."
The Batut Institute said it did not possess the data Laketic was referring to, though it had analyzed some data on "persons suffering from malignant tumors in Serbia" and submitted the results to Laketic.
Laketic also claimed that the institute's preliminary report had been sent to every member of parliament. But several legislators contacted by RFE/RL said they hadn't received or seen any preliminary report or refused to comment.
"I was hoping to get some information, but so far nothing, and it's been a good nine months. We have absolutely no word about the report," said Sanda Raskovic Ivic, a deputy with the opposition People's Party.
NATO: 'No Lasting Damage'
For its part, NATO has repeatedly claimed that depleted uranium found in the ammunition used in the 1999 bombardments cannot be linked to adverse health effects.
In the years after the bombing, it set up an ad hoc committee to study the issue before concluding that "to date, none of the nations or international organizations has reported finding any indication that would suggest a current threat to human health caused by radioactivity at any of the sites tested."
"I have answered questions on this depleted-uranium issue many times including in Serbia and.... [W]e had independent assessments and they concluded that there were no lasting health damages because of the depleted uranium," NATO's current secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, told a conference in Belgrade in October.
Serbian officials are also closely following the trial of eight Italian military officials who oversaw a bombing range in Sardinia. The Italians were charged with failing to ensure health and safety standards after a rash of birth defects and cancer cases cropped up around the Quirra military base.
Prosecutors allege a tie between illness and the toxicity of the elements detonated at the base, which has reportedly been used by the alliance to test bombs and missiles containing depleted uranium and other toxins.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbian-accusation -lingers-of-link-between-nato-bombing -health-woes/29841402.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
Serbia, Kosovo Mark Anniversary Of NATO Bombings, But View It Very Differently
By RFE/RL March 25, 2019
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic blasted NATO's 1999 bombing campaign of his country, claiming it was "a crime" that led to the deaths of 2,500 civilians and billions of dollars in damage.
However, neighboring Kosovo, which was the beneficiary of the attack, on March 24 said it will "forever be grateful" to the Western military alliance and the United States for intervening to help stop the bloodshed in the region.
Serbia and Kosovo were both marking the 20th anniversary of NATO's 78-day air campaign in what was then the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The onslaught began on March 24, 1999, and helped end Belgrade's crackdown against ethnic Albanians in its then-province Kosovo.
Belgrade was a major target of the Western alliance's warplanes during the attack, and Serbian leaders eventually acceded to Western demands and retreated from Kosovo.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Although more than 110 countries recognize Kosovo, Belgrade does not.
"The death of 2,500 civilians, of 79 children, the devastation of the country, damage running into tens of billions of dollars, it will always be a crime for us," Vucic told a ceremony in the city of Nis, about 250 kilometers south of Belgrade.
"We were alone in the face of the biggest military power in the world. Their goal was clear: to beat us and humiliate us, and then give part of our territory to someone else," he said.
Rights groups put a lower figure on the death toll but still say that several hundred people died in the bombing campaign.
Long a nationalist, Vucic has attempted to remake himself as a pro-European reformer while seeking to maintain good relations with traditional ally Russia as well.
He has stated a goal to join the EU, but he told the crowd at Nis that "the Serbian people have made the dignified decision that they do not want Serbia to join NATO."
In Kosovo, President Hashim Thaci -- who at the time served as a political leader of ethnic Albanian rebels -- said it was a "great and glorious" day when the NATO bombings commenced 20 years ago.
Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, a former rebel commander, said the day "marked a turnaround. Our people looked to the sky during the intervention, saying, 'There is a god.'"
"We will forever be grateful to NATO and the United States," Haradinaj added.
In Belgrade, ambassadors from eight Western countries -- Canada, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Britain, and the United States -- paid their respects to civilian victims at a monument in the capital.
"We remember March 24 as the day diplomacy failed, and we express our sincere regret for the loss of civilian lives during the events of 1999," they said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, Vucic continued to face a differing set of political pressures in his home country.
On March 23, thousands of Serbs took to the streets of Belgrade and other cities in protest against what they say is Vucic's autocratic rule, the 16th week in a row of anti-government demonstrations.
Most of the protesters are demanding Vucic's resignation, freedom of the press, and fair elections.
But the demonstrators are a diverse group, with many pressing individual demands, and include leaders from the Alliance for Serbia, a loose grouping of about 30 parties and movements.
Protest organizers have resisted attempts by some far-right opposition politicians to take control of the demonstrations.
With reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondents in Belgrade and Pristina, AP, AFP, and dpa
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia- kosovo-mark-anniversary-nato-bombing- raids/29840205.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
Kosovo Deputy Minister Dismissed Over 'Genocide' Comment About NATO
By RFE/RL's Balkan Service March 25, 2019
Kosovar Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has fired the country's deputy justice minister, an ethnic Serb, after she called NATO's 1999 bombing campaign of then-Yugoslavia a "planned genocide."
Haradinaj dismissed Vesna Mikic on March 25, saying in a statement that there is "no place" in his government and other institutions in Kosovo for individuals to "denigrate our common euro-Atlantic values."
The Western military alliance committed "a deliberately planned genocide against a sovereign country that fought Albanian terrorism inside its own borders," Mikic wrote in a Facebook post on March 24, which marked the 20th anniversary of NATO's 78-day air campaign.
Haradinaj called the comments "unacceptable," saying they amount to "hate speech."
Rights groups say that several hundred people died in NATO's bombing campaign that helped end Belgrade's crackdown against ethnic Albanians in its then-province Kosovo.
Belgrade was a major target of the military alliance's warplanes, and Serbian leaders eventually acceded to Western demands and retreated from Kosovo.
Predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, a move that Belgrade has not recognized.
Kosovo's ethnic Serb minority accounts for about 5 percent of the country's population of 1.8 million.
With reporting by Reuters
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-deputy- minister-dismissed-over-genocide-comment- about-nato/29841051.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
U.S. Attorney General's Outline On Mueller Probe Leaves As Many Questions As Answers
By Alan Crosby March 25, 2019
"Does not exonerate."
"Complete and total exoneration."
Within minutes of the March 24 release of U.S. Attorney General William Barr's outline of the report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, one thing quickly became clear: The investigation into whether President Donald Trump's campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia during the 2016 election has yet to settle the issue.
Trump's team is already celebrating, claiming the president has already been vindicated. According to Barr, Mueller's report says his investigation "did not establish that members of the Trump [campaign] conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities."
"The Special Counsel did not find any collusion and did not find any obstruction. AG Barr and Deputy AG Rosenstein further determined there was no obstruction," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on Twitter. "The findings of the DOJ are a total and complete exoneration of the President of the United States."
Not so fast, say Trump's opponents.
Neither Mueller nor Barr actually said that. On the question of whether Trump obstructed justice during the investigation, it's not so cut-and-dried.
"The Special Counsel stated that 'while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him,'" Barr, Trump's pick for attorney general who was confirmed to the post just last month, wrote in his four-page outline of the "principal findings" of the 22-month-long investigation.
Mueller laid out the facts but did not "draw a conclusion" on whether obstruction occurred, according to Barr, who went on to say that he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein "concluded that the evidence developed during [Mueller's] investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction of justice offense."
Barr, the U.S. chief prosecutor, also noted that Mueller's team has no plans to issue any new indictments.
Democrats were quick to counter the White House's take on Barr's outline, warning him not to bury the evidence and bringing up the possibility of issuing a subpoena to Mueller to testify on the complete findings of his report.
Over the course of his probe, Mueller issued some 2,800 subpoenas and indicted more than three dozen people and entities on various charges. But none of the charges has directly addressed the question of whether there was coordination between Trump's associates and Russian officials.
Furthermore, Mueller, who spent nearly two years investigating allegations that Russia meddled in the 2016 election to help Trump defeat his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, did not say whether a crime was committed, instead leaving that determination to the attorney general.
"The attorney general's offer to provide a summary of the report's conclusions is insufficient. Congress requires the full report and the underlying documents so that the committees can proceed with their independent work, including oversight and legislating to address any issues the Mueller report may raise," said Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker.
As Barr and the Department of Justice consider how much of the Mueller report to release publicly, legal analysts say battles will continue over what can be released, as well as whether the special counsel found potential offenses committed by Trump that could be related to whether lawmakers pursue the president's impeachment.
The outline states that Mueller didn't find that the Trump campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in efforts to influence the election "despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist" the campaign. The summary did not name those individuals, and Democrats have demanded more information behind the conclusion that no conspiracy was established.
Robert Reich, a professor at the University of California in Berkeley and a former secretary of labor during the Clinton administration, said the case for obstruction of justice against Trump is "strong."
"Barr's summary not only glosses over findings and leaves holes in Mueller's report, but it also buries a critical detail. Barr has decided not to bring obstruction of justice charges against Trump to impede the investigation. This despite the fact that Trump himself admitted he fired FBI Director James Comey to stop the Russia investigation," he said.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-attorney-general-s -outline-on-mueller-probe-leaves-as-many -questions-as-answers/29840133.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
The Key Findings Of The Mueller Investigation
By Frud Bezhan March 25, 2019
In a sprawling investigation spanning nearly two years, Special Counsel Robert Mueller examined two burning questions: Did President Donald Trump or any of his associates conspire with Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and did Trump commit obstruction of justice during the investigation?
A four-page summary of Mueller's highly anticipated report -- sent in a letter by Attorney General William Barr to congressional leaders and the media -- provides at least some of the answers.
Collusion Not Established
The summary said the Mueller investigation did not find that Trump or any American associated with his campaign conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election, which would be a federal crime.
"[T]he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities," Barr quoted Mueller as writing in his report.
The summary said one of the two main ways Russia tried to influence the election was through the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a St. Petersburg-based "troll factory" allegedly controlled by Kremlin-connected businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Barr said the IRA attempted to "conduct disinformation and social-media operations in the United States designed to sow social discord, eventually with the aim of interfering with the election."
But Mueller did not find that any "U.S. person or Trump campaign official or associate conspired or knowingly coordinated with the IRA in its efforts," according to Barr's summary.
The summary said the other chief way the Russian government tried to influence the election was by hacking material from Democratic organizations that WikiLeaks released at critical junctures in the weeks before the election. They included thousands of stolen e-mails from the private account of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta, in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Although Mueller brought criminal charges against Russian military officers, the special counsel "did not find that the Trump campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in these efforts, despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign," Barr said in the summary.
Barr said that Mueller "thoroughly" investigated the question of whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia's election interference, issuing more than 2,800 subpoenas, obtaining nearly 500 search warrants, and interviewing 500 witnesses.
Did He Or Didn't He?
On the issue of whether Trump obstructed justice, the outcome of Mueller's investigation was less clear-cut.
According to Barr's summary, Mueller's report states that while it "does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."
Barr said that Mueller -- for reasons the attorney general did not explain in detail -- decided not to "draw a conclusion" as to whether Trump, in his view, committed the crime of obstruction of justice.
Instead, Barr said, Mueller's report examines Trump's actions and "sets out evidence on both sides of the question."
Mueller's report "leaves unresolved what the Special Counsel views as 'difficult issues' of law and fact concerning whether the President's actions and intent could be viewed as obstruction," Barr added.
But Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that the evidence was "not sufficient to establish that the president committed an obstruction of justice offense," the summary said.
Barr, nominated to his job by Trump last year, said their decision was based on the evidence uncovered by Mueller and was made "without regard to" the constitutional question of whether a sitting president can be indicted.
In a possible nod to Trump's public attacks on investigators and witnesses, Barr said Mueller had cataloged the president's actions, "most of which have been the subject of public report."
Zeke Miller, a White House reporter for the AP, said in a tweet that the wording of the letter suggested that "at least one action of the president that was investigated as potential obstruction of justice...has yet to be revealed in public reporting."
Many of Trump's opponents accused him of obstructing the Russia probe when he fired FBI Director James Comey in May 2017. Mueller was subsequently appointed to conduct the investigation into Russia's role in the campaign.
Trump's shifting explanations for why he fired Comey had fueled suspicions that it was aimed at halting the FBI investigation, which began in July 2016.
Some legal experts have said that in itself may have constituted a federal crime -- obstruction of justice -- an allegation that figured prominently in the impeachment-related proceedings of Presidents Richard Nixon in 1974 and Bill Clinton in 1998.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/the-key-findings-of-the- mueller-investigation-/29840116.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
Pompeo Cautions Russia Over Reports Of Military Mission In Venezuela
By RFE/RL March 25, 2019
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Moscow's dispatch of military personnel to Venezuela is increasing tensions there and warned that Washington will not "stand idly by."
U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said Pompeo called Lavrov on March 25 and said "the United States and regional countries will not stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions in Venezuela."
Pompeo's call came after a Venezuelan official said Russian aircraft arrived in Caracas over the weekend as part of ongoing military cooperation. Reports that two Russian Air Force planes arrived could not be independently confirmed. Russia supports Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
"The continued insertion of Russian military personnel to support the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela risks prolonging the suffering of the Venezuelan people, who overwhelmingly support interim President Juan Guaido," he said.
The United States and dozens of other countries support Venezuelan opposition leader Guaido, who says Maduro's reelection last year was rigged.
Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lavrov had complained of "attempts by Washington to organize a coup d'etat in Venezuela" during the telephone conversation with Pompeo.
The statement said such moves "constitute violations of the UN charter and undisguised interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state."
With reporting by AP, dpa, and AFP
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pompeo-cautions- russia-over-reports-of-military-mission -in-venezuela/29841369.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
Russia Lands Two Air Force Planes In Venezuela, Official Says
March 25, 2019
A Venezuelan official has told the Associated Press that two Russian Air Force planes arrived in Caracas over the weekend as part of military cooperation between the two countries.
The official on March 24 appeared to confirm media reports that said Russian military jets carrying defense officials and nearly 100 troops had landed in the South American country on March 23.
A journalist with AFP reported seeing one of the planes on the tarmac at Maiquetia Airport, with a Russian flag on its fuselage and being protected by Venezuelan National Guardsmen.
The Venezuelan official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Russian military officials have come to discuss equipment maintenance, training, and strategy.
In December, Russia's Defense Ministry sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers to Venezuela in an unusual display of Russian military force in South America -- a move that angered the United States and many other regional countries.
The Russian ministry at the time said the two Tu-160 bombers had arrived at an airport outside of Caracas on December 10. The statement did not say if they were carrying weapons.
The bombers' arrival came just days after President Nicolas Maduro visited Moscow, seeking Kremlin support for his country, whose economy is in shambles and which is deeply in debt to Russia.
Moscow supports Maduro in his tense battle for control of the Venezuelan government with opposition figure and self-declared interim President Juan Guaido, who is backed by Washington and many European countries.
Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AGOP
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-lands -two-air-force-planes-in-venezuela- official-says/29840315.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
Israel Begins Striking Hamas Targets in Gaza - IDF
Sputnik News
18:48 25.03.2019(updated 19:40 25.03.2019)
Earlier in the day, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Avichay Adraee said that Israel sent two military brigades and a command centre to the border with Gaza.
The Israeli army announced on Monday that it began striking Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip after a Palestinian rocket, fired from Gaza, had injured seven people earlier in the day.
Following the early-morning incident, the IFD said that it was bolstering its military presence at the border with Gaza and was carrying out partial mobilization of reservists.
Commenting on the airstrike, US President Donald Trump said that Israel had an absolute right to self-defence.
"The United States recognizes Israel's absolute right to defend itself," Trump said ahead of his bilateral talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Any possible future peace agreement [on the Middle East] must be count for Israel's absolute right to defend itself from Syria, Iran and other regional threats," Trump said at the White House.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Guaido Calls for "Operation Freedom" to Topple Venezuelan President Maduro
Sputnik News
18:38 25.03.2019
The call follows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blaming the country's opposition leader Juan Guaido for being directly involved in a US plot to assassinate him.
Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido has urged citizens to take part in what he described as "Operation Freedom", which Guaido claimed would lead to the shift of power in the Latin American country. He did not elaborate on when the operation may kick off.
"The time is ripe for Operation Freedom so as to put maximum pressure [on Venezuelan authorities] for the final cessation of usurpation, the formation of transitional government and free and fair elections. Absolutely everyone will have a role at this stage of our struggle", Guaido wrote in an Instagram post.
READ MORE: US and Opposition Want to Unleash an 'Oil War' to Invade Venezuela Maduro
He also referred to special committees which "are being set up throughout the country" and which "will be charged with promoting [] actions to stop usurpation in every district, sector, trade union, educational institution and government body".
Guaido made the remarks a few days after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro argued that "American imperialism" wants to kill him and that Caracas "just exposed the plan that the devil's puppet [Guaido] personally directed" to assassinate Maduro.
"We have evidence; they could not and cannot [succeed] because we are protected by God", Maduro said, adding that the Prosecutor's Office had made serious progress in the case, with "new terrorists" expected to be arrested "in the coming days".
Earlier, Venezuelan security forces arrested Guaido's "chief of staff" Robert Marrero, accusing him of organising a terror cell and conspiring to hire professional killers from across Central America to murder high-ranking Venezuelan officials and carry out acts of terrorism.
The developments come as Venezuela remains embroiled in a severe political crisis which escalated after Guaido proclaimed himself the country's interim president, contesting the re-election of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last year.
Guaido immediately received support from the United States, which also denounced Maduro's re-election, along with a number of other countries. China, Cuba, Russia and a number of other states have endorsed Maduro as Venezuela's only legitimate president.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Photo: The Canadian Press Empire actor Jussie Smollett, center, arrives at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago.
Attorneys for "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett say charges alleging he lied to police about an attack have been dropped.
Smollett attorneys Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes said in a Tuesday morning statement that Smollett's record "has been wiped clean." Smollett was indicted on 16 felony counts related to making a false report that he was attacked by two men who shouted racial and homophobic slurs.
A spokeswoman for Cook County prosecutors didn't immediately respond to messages requesting comment.
Police and prosecutors have said the black and gay actor falsely reported to authorities that he was attacked Jan. 29 in downtown Chicago because he was unhappy with his pay on the Fox show and to promote his career.
US Deploys F-15 Aircraft in Poland for Flying Exercise - Pentagon
Sputnik News
17:36 25.03.2019(updated 17:38 25.03.2019)
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States military deployed a group of F-15 tactical fighters in Poland for a flying exercise, the Pentagon said on Monday.
"US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, aircrew and support personnel from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, deployed to Powdiz Air Base, Poland, to participate in exercise Rapid Panther, March 25," the Pentagon said in a statement.
The exercise is aimed at demonstrating the 48th Fighter Wing's ability to forward deploy rapidly with few aircraft and execute relevant training with the Polish military, it added.
The Pentagon also noted the exercise underscores the US commitment to security in the region and is not related to any current world events.
The move comes after in May, the Polish Defence Ministry published a document stating that Poland was ready to pay $1.5-2 billion for deployment of a permanent US military base to host a permanent US armoured division in the country. Meanwhile, US officials haven't yet confirmed their preparedness to deploy the state's troops and military equipment to the base that anticipates construction. However, some US troops were sent to Poland early this year.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
US Navy Gets Access to Oman Ports Amid Iran Tensions - Reports
Sputnik News
14:40 25.03.2019(updated 14:41 25.03.2019)
Tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated last May, when President Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal and promised to slap the country with crippling sanctions over its alleged "destabilising" role in the Middle East.
The southeastern Arabian nation of Oman has penned an agreement with Washington allowing US warships and aircraft to enjoy access to two of its Arabian Sea ports, the state-run Oman News Agency has reported.
The agreement, signed in Muscat on Sunday, provided US Navy ships, including carrier groups, with access to the ports of Duqm and Salalah, with the former situated just 500 km from the Strait of Hormuz waterway, through which over 30 percent of the world's seaborne crude oil passes on route to customers around the globe.
The US Embassy in Oman praised the agreement, saying it "reaffirms the commitment of both countries to promoting mutual security goals," with an unnamed US official adding that the Duqm port in particular was "very attractive," given its "geostrategic location," as well as its ability to host massive US carrier groups.
The official mentioned US worries over Iran, telling Reuters that while the US "used to operate on the assumption that we could just steam into the Gulf, the quality and quantity of Iranian weapons raises concerns." According to the official, the Oman agreement significantly expanded the US's "military options" in the event of a crisis.
In addition to the effort to box in Iran, Rueters says the deal will help Washington in its global competition for influence with Beijing, with China previously hoping to invest billions of dollars into the Omani ports for commercial development.
The United States already has a large number of major military bases in around the Persian Gulf, including in Qatar, which hosts the largest US military facility in the Middle East
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if the US or its allies attempted to follow through on their promises to ban the export of Iranian oil.
The Trump administration slapped Iranian crude exports with oil related sanctions in November, as part of a broader package of restrictions announced last May following Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. However, the US has also granted 'temporary waivers' on Iranian exports to major customers including China, India, Italy, and Turkey, with these waivers set to expire in May.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Royal Netherlands Air Force to Receive Four MQ-9 Reaper Drones - Reports
Sputnik News
13:48 25.03.2019(updated 13:49 25.03.2019)
The Royal Netherlands Air Force is to receive four MQ-9 Reaper drones under a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, approved by the US Department of Defence on 21 March, Dutch aviation magazine Scramble has reported.
It is reported that the Netherlands has been planning to purchase drones since 2003, but for various reasons, the implementation of these plans has been postponed several times.
According to the Dutch aviation magazine, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. was awarded a $123-million contract for four MQ-9 Reaper Block 5 UAVs for the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force).
The US State Department approved the delivery of UAVs back in 2015. In addition to four MQ-9 Reaper UAVs, the request also included the delivery of mobile ground control stations, multispectral target designation systems, satellite communication system terminals, and other equipment. At that time, the order value was about $340 million.
The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Russian Military Officials Arrive in Venezuela for Defence Talks - Source
Sputnik News
11:50 25.03.2019(updated 19:22 25.03.2019)
CARACAS (Sputnik) - A group of Russian military personnel have arrived in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to take part in consultations with country's officials on defence industry cooperation, a diplomatic source in Caracas told Sputnik.
"[The Russian military personnel] has arrived to take part in bilateral consultations," the source said when asked about the possible arrival of two aircraft with the Russian military.
The source noted that there was "nothing mysterious" about that because the visit was directly related to contracts that had been signed by the two countries years ago.
"Russia [and Venezuela] have a number of contracts, which are being implemented, including contracts on military and technical cooperation," the source added.
The planes arrived in the Venezuelan capital on Saturday. Media earlier reported that an estimated 99 Russian military staff arrived in Caracas on board two planes, which also delivered 35 tonnes of cargo.
Meanwhile, Venezuela has been suffering from a severe political crisis for around two months, after the leader of the country's opposition, Juan Guaido, illegally proclaimed himself interim president, contesting the re-election of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last year.
The self-proclaimed interim president immediately received support on the part of the United States, which has also denounced Maduro's re-election, along with a number of other countries. Both Caracas and Moscow have been expressing concerns that Washington may resort to military means to oust Maduro from power.
China, Cuba, Russia and a number of other countries have endorsed Maduro as Venezuela's only legitimate president.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Israel Sends Troops to Gaza Border - Reports
Sputnik News
11:24 25.03.2019(updated 12:25 25.03.2019)
The development comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his trip to the US on Monday after at least seven people were injured when a rocket fired from Gaza struck a residential building in central Israel.
Israel has deployed two infantry brigades and armoured units to the Gaza border, the country's media reported on Monday.
The reported deployment comes after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) accused Hamas of carrying out a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip earlier this day.
"Hamas has launched a rocket from the Gaza Strip toward central Israel. It's a rocket made by Hamas", IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee said.
In a separate development on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he would cut his visit to the United States and return to Israel to take charge of a response to the attack from Gaza.
"In the light of the events related to the security, I have decided to shorten my visit to the United States. In a few hours I will meet with [US President Donald] Trump and immediately return to Israel to control our actions on the spot", Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu is due to meet Trump at the White House for the expected signing of an order recognising Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
His statement came after at least seven people, including children, were injured in the early hours of Monday morning by a Palestinian shell that hit a crowded residential neighbourhood in Israel.
Israel has activated its missile defence systems several times this month due to the registered rocket launches from the Gaza Strip on Israeli territory.
In the first week of March Israeli fighter jets conducted airstrike on several targets in Gaza after air attack sirens went off in the southern region of Israel bordering the Gaza Strip.
On Thursday, Trump tweeted that 52 years on, "it is time for the United States to fully recognise Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and regional stability".
Israel took control of the Golan Heights in 1967 after the Six-Day War between Israel and the neighbouring states of Egypt, Jordan and Syria.
1981 saw an Israeli law which extended the country's jurisdiction over the territory, a move that has never been recognised internationally and that further worsened Israeli-Syrian ties.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
We haven't won fight against Daesh yet
Writing in the Sunday Times, the Foreign Secretary reflects on the fall of Daesh, and why the fight to tackle its poisonous ideology continues.
Published 25 March 2019
The words of the leader of Isis were the purest hubris. In the summer of 2014, he claimed that he would "conquer Rome and own the world". At that time, Isis controlled an area of Syria and Iraq roughly the size of the UK. Its terrorists were imposing a rule of obscurantist barbarism on about 7m people.
Yet today (Saturday 23 March 2019), the last fragment of territory is prised from its grasp. We should welcome the blow struck against one of the most depraved terrorist movements in history, guilty of imposing unspeakable suffering on countless people in the Middle East.
We should keep at the centre of our minds the bereaved families of the Britons who were murdered by terrorists inspired by Isis. And we should remember the sexual slavery inflicted on women and girls in the territories it occupied. Isis recruits were given a pamphlet called Questions and Answers on Taking Captives and Slaves. One passage read: "It is permissible to buy, sell or give as a gift female captives or slaves, for they are merely property."
Nadia Murad, the brave Nobel laureate, was among thousands of women from the Yazidi minority treated in this abominable way. In her book, she wrote: "When Daesh [Isis] took over Sinjar and began kidnapping Yazidis, they called their human spoils sabaya, referring to the young women they would buy and sell as sex slaves. This was part of their plan for us."
The hard lesson for those who opposed military action [political content removed] is that, without the use of force, this sickening behaviour would have continued unchecked. They should reflect that whatever mistakes may have been made in the past, it would be profoundly wrong to rule out military action in all circumstances.
Another myth is that the battle against Isis has been waged largely by Britain, America and other western countries. In fact, we are part of a global coalition of no fewer than 75 countries, including many in the Middle East, adding to the moral as well as practical force of our actions. The Iraqi security forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces have borne the brunt of the ground fighting: they deserve our thanks for their courage and sacrifice.
But we should not mistake the loss of territory by Isis for final defeat. As they are driven underground, they are adopting insurgency tactics and forming covert networks in Syria and Iraq. Isis remains a threat, so military action will continue to be necessary.
The survival of their murderous ideology does not depend on control of territory. They can still use the internet to raise funds and spread the propaganda that encouraged young people in Britain such as Shamima Begum with such terrible consequences.
I believe we can draw three lessons. First, that the internet is part of the battlefield just as much as the sands of Syria or Iraq. Since 2016, Britain has led the international campaign to counter the ability of Isis propaganda to incite, inspire and recruit. The Foreign Office hosts the global coalition's strategic communications cell, putting UK expertise at the heart of the effort to expose the reality behind Isis lies.
Second, the successes against Isis would not have been possible without a broad coalition under US leadership, even though America is much further away from the conflict zone than European countries. If we want the US to continue to play its part in maintaining peace around the world, European nations must be prepared to carry our share of the global burden.
Finally, even if Isis has lost physical territory today, other extremist ideologies will be back tomorrow. Isis was a successor to al-Qaeda and the movement will spawn its own successors. History shows that groups such as Isis can survive and remain dangerous even without territory.
So we must continue to be vigilant. That means pressing on with military action while countering online propaganda and using every diplomatic and humanitarian lever to address the conditions that allowed the rise of Isis in the first place. It also means defending our democratic liberal values with much more confidence.
And our confidence is justified, because while the struggle against Isis is not over, the recapture of its territory means a major battle has been won.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Update: air strikes against Daesh
The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Syria.
25 March 2019
Summary
- Tuesday 12 March Typhoons supported the Syrian Democratic Forces attacking Daesh in Baghuz Fawqani, striking dispersed terrorist positions, and destroying a large truck-bomb.
- Sunday 17 March Typhoons destroyed a building in Baghuz Fawqani, from which Daesh were engaging the Syrian Democratic Forces at close range.
- Monday 18 March a Reaper killed two terrorists in a trench at Baghuz Fawqani, while Typhoons struck four other Daesh positions.
Detail
Royal Air Force aircraft, alongside other coalition partners, have continued to provide close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces as they attacked the last remaining Daesh stronghold in eastern Syria, at Baghuz Fawqani. Typhoon, Reaper and Sentinel aircraft have flown daily reconnaissance missions, with the Typhoons and Reapers ready to engage targets if requested by the SDF. On Tuesday 12 March, the SDF came into contact with Daesh in dispersed positions, and two Typhoon FGR4s conducted a series of three attacks, using a total of four Paveway IV guided bombs, which successfully silenced the terrorists' fire. In addition, a large number of vehicles had been abandoned in the area of the fighting, and one large truck in their midst was identified as booby-trapped with an improvised explosive device. The Typhoons were able to pick out and safely destroy this truck-bomb with a single Brimstone 2 missile.
Typhoons conducted a further attack on Sunday 17 March when the SDF came under fire at close range from a building held by Daesh in Baghuz Fawqani. The proximity of the SDF to the target required particular careful targeting by the Typhoons' pilots, but a single Paveway IV demolished the terrorist position with great accuracy.
The crew of a Reaper observed two terrorists, who were attempting to conceal their weapons under heavy cloaks, taking up position in a trench at Baghuz Fawqani on Monday 18 March, and successfully engaged them with a Hellfire missile. Typhoons were also patrolling the area, and they conducted an attack which struck four dispersed Daesh positions simultaneously with Paveway IVs.
UK contribution to the fight against Daesh
Map of UK forces committed to Operation Shader
Campaign against Daesh
Map of Daesh losses and gains in Iraq and Syria since September 2014
Previous update
The Royal Air Force has struck two key targets, as the UK supports the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who are working to clear Daesh from their last small pocket of territory.
British aircraft have delivered air attacks to assist the SDF with operations on the ground, while conducting daily reconnaissance missions around Baghuz, eastern Syria. Coalition aircraft also remain available to assist the Iraqi security forces as necessary, to prevent Daesh from re-establishing a presence in the country.
On Thursday 21 February, two Typhoons were tasked with an attack on a cave in northern Iraq where a group of terrorists had been spotted, some ten miles east of Tal Afar. Coalition surveillance aircraft carefully checked the surrounding countryside for any civilians who might be placed at risk, before the Typhoons used two Paveway IVs to collapse the entrance to the cave.
A Reaper provided close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces as they fought Daesh around Baghuz Fawqani on Saturday 2 March. The Reaper's crew observed a rocket-propelled grenade being fired from a building, and shortly afterwards a small group of armed terrorists emerged. They were tracked by the Reaper, whilst careful checks were made that no SDF or otherwise unidentified individuals were too close to them, then successfully engaged with a single Hellfire missile.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
UN urges 'maximum restraint' as Israel-Hamas tensions rise over rocket attack
25 March 2019 - The UN Secretary-General said he was "gravely concerned" by the firing of a rocket from Gaza deep into Israel on Monday which reportedly injured seven people, including three children, north of the capital Tel Aviv.
Briefing correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York in the middle of the day, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, said that the rocket attack was "a serious and unacceptable violation."
He also noted the reports of Israeli fire directed towards Gaza in response, saying that the UN chief was "monitoring events" closely. According to news reports, Israeli forces said they had carried out strikes against what were described as Hamas targets, and Gaza's health ministry reported that seven had been injured during the retaliatory air strikes.
The extremist group Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2006, but so far, no group has claimed responsibility for launching the rocket on Monday morning, according to latest media reports, which penetrated further into Israel than any attack since the end of the most recent conflict between Israel and Gaza, in 2014.
Mr. Dujarric, told reporters that the Secretary-General was due to meet his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, on Tuesday "who is also scheduled to brief the Security Council in person and where he will discuss the latest developments", adding that the Council meeting was "a pre-scheduled briefing."
"We continue to work with Egypt and all concerned parties to try to de-escalate the situation and again, encourage restraint" said Mr. Dujarric. "Further escalation is likely to make an already bad situation worse, in particular for civilians in and close to Gaza," he added.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Colombian Air Force supports US Navy Growlers for premier air-to-air combat
By Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Public Affairs / Published March 25, 2019
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- The Colombian Air Force is supporting the U.S. Navy during the U.S. Air Force-led air-to-air combat exercise Red Flag 19-2 March 11-22.
The Colombian Air Force brought their Multi-Mission Transport Tanker Jupiter 767 to refuel the U.S. Navy's EA-18G Growlers for the duration of the exercise. The Colombian MMTT Jupiter 767 is the only aircraft capable to conduct air-to-air refueling missions for the Growler during Red Flag 19-2 due to different air-to-air refueling systems available for the exercise.
The U.S. Air Force's refueling aircraft participating in Red Flag 19-2 are boom-operated air-to-air refueling systems and the Growlers utilize a drogue air-to-air refueling system, which the Colombian MMTT Jupiter 767 provides.
"We're an expeditionary Growler squadron so that means we're land-based, so most of my pilots' experience is based off tanking off of other F-18s (Super Hornet) or Air Force assets. In certain theaters of operation that may not always be the case," said Navy Cmdr. Chris Nesset, Electronic Attack Squadron 134 commander. "So the ability to operate with a partner country in a training environment and go slow using a different tanking platform to get that experience prior to any real world operations is fantastic."
Red Flag is America's premier integration air-to-air combat training exercise that focuses on readiness, partnership and integration for expeditionary operations.
"After last year's (Red Flag 18-3) exercise our leadership decided to stay close by inviting the Colombians back as soon as we could," said U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Mathes, 414 Combat Training Squadron commander. "The most feasible way to do that was with the tanker visit based on the other forces being engaged in ongoing operations."
Red Flag 19-2 has a diversity of participants from around the globe to include Colombia, Belgium, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and U.S. joint forces. The Colombian MMTT Jupiter 767 is conducting day and night refueling missions exclusively with the U.S. Navy Growlers.
Colombian Air Force Col. Kerly Sanchez, Colombian Air Force Red Flag delegation commander, expressed excitement in participating in Red Flag by saying that it's important for the Colombian Air Force to maintain consistent training with NATO partners to increase interoperability and continue to be a good partner to their allies. Colombia is the first and only Latin American country that is a NATO Global Partner.
"NATO is one of many partnerships that we support," Mathes said. "While not directly involved, the fact that we've already built training expectations and interoperability here allows us to stand up coalitions when called because we can't really predict when and where we will fight next."
This is the Colombian Air Force's third time participating in a Red Flag exercise. They previously participated in 2012 and 2018 with their Kfir fighter jets and MMTT Jupiter 767. This is the first Red Flag exercise the MMTT Jupiter 767 is participating to solely refuel U.S. aircraft.
"We're ready to support these type of exercises, and any other time we can support our partner nations in this capacity," Sanchez said.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
UN Says Airstrike Kills 13 Afghan Civilians, Mostly Children
By Ayaz Gul March 25, 2019
The United Nations confirmed Monday that ten children were among at least 13 civilians killed by a recent American military airstrike in northern Afghanistan.
The deadly attack occurred early Saturday near the capital city of volatile Kunduz province where Afghan and U.S. forces were conducting a joint operation against Taliban insurgents.
The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) lamented the deaths while releasing preliminary findings of its investigation into the incident. It said work is ongoing to verify other reports of civilian casualties that occurred around the time of the airstrike.
"The Mission expresses serious concern that initial fact-finding indicates that 10 of those killed were children, part of the same extended family whom were displaced by fighting elsewhere in the country," said UNAMA.
Officials and residents around the conflict zone said that insurgents had strongly resisted the joint Afghan-U.S. military raid in the Taliban-held Telawka neighborhood. The ensuing clashes killed two American soldiers and several local commando forces, prompting the U.S. military to launch the airstrike in support of forces on the ground.
U.S. officials confirmed the killing of two service members and carrying out an airstrike in the area, accusing the Taliban of using civilian areas as hideouts.
UNAMA urged parties involved in the airstrike to conduct their own enquiries into the incident and take immediate steps to safeguard civilians from harm. "Parties are urged to publish results of their findings, as well as provide appropriate compensation to victims."
Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the 18-year-old war in Afghanistan. The armed conflict last year killed more than 3,800 civilians, including 927 children, the highest number of civilian deaths recorded in the past ten years, according to UNAMA.
The mission documented a sharp increase in civilian casualties in 2018 from aerial and search operations conducted by Afghan and U.S. militaries, blaming pro-government forces for an unprecedented 24 percent overall increase in civilian casualties.
Battlefield hostilities in Afghanistan have sharply increased with the advent of spring. The Taliban has inflicted heavy casualties on government forces in several provinces over the past few days.
The deadliest of the attacks occurred early Saturday in Sangin district of the southern Helmand province, killing at least 65 Afghan forces, including 48 military personnel.
The intensification in the war comes as Taliban and U.S. officials are due to reconvene soon to build on the progress they have achieved in recent negotiations to try to find a political resolution of the war.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Photo: The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is staying mum about whether he rejected former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould's 2017 recommendation for chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Sources tell The Canadian Press that Trudeau turned down Wilson-Raybould's recommendation that Glenn Joyal be elevated from chief justice of Manitobas Court of Queens Bench to chief justice of the Supreme Court over Joyal's views on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Joyal said Monday he withdrew his candidacy due to his wife's health.
Trudeau would not answer direct questions this morning about what transpired two years ago, nor would he say whether his office was involved in the leak of what is usually a highly confidential appointments process.
Trudeau says it is the prime minister's choice of who to nominate for the Supreme Court, as well as for chief justice, and that Canadians can and should continue to have faith in their judicial system.
The House of Commons ethics committee will meet this afternoon in Ottawa to debate an opposition request to probe further into Wilson-Raybould's allegations of political interference in the criminal prosecution of Quebec engineering and construction firm SNC-Lavalin.
China, Philippines Living By Tacit Deals at Sea Despite Sovereignty Dispute
By Ralph Jennings March 25, 2019
China and the Philippines have learned to live with each other over the past three years at sea despite an unresolved sovereignty dispute, marginalizing a new international legal complaint aimed at Beijing.
Former Philippine foreign secretary Albert del Rosario and the government's ex-ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed the complaint as civilians March 13 with the International Criminal Court prosecutor. The petitioners told a news conference Friday they want Chinese President Xi Jinping and other people in his government held accountable for what they call crimes at sea.
The case is seen also as a swipe at Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose government withdrew from the court in mid-March and has made friends with China since 2016 without resolving the sovereignty dispute.
Duterte cited China's stronger military and willingness to give Manila development aid as reasons to improve relations. China, in turn, wants to be seen around Asia as a good neighbor. Now the two governments consult periodically and avoid acts that inflame the other side.
"There's no need for active cooperation," said Eduardo Araral, associate public policy professor at the National University of Singapore. "As long as they don't bring in those big tourist ships and dump garbage in the ocean or do overfishing in Philippine waters, I think the Philippines would just be happy to let things be as they are."
Legal complaint
The Philippines withdrew from the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court March 17. The country began its withdrawal process last year after the prosecutor started a war crimes probe into Duterte's deadly strikes against Filipino drug dealers. The prosecutor could technically build a case from the March 13 complaint, as well.
"That (Xi Jinping) is powerful does not deter anyone from filing a case against him," Carpio-Morales told the news conference as broadcast by Philippines news network ABS-CBN. "Let's all be optimistic. Are you reminded of the case of David and Goliath?"
But the complaint is unlikely to sway Sino-Philippine relations, political experts say.
Tacit agreements
The two countries have informally agreed to avoid provoking each other, said Alexander Huang, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan.
"I think that's a kind of an untold, tacit understanding," Huang said. "I think it's the leaderships' decision."
China lets Philippine fishing boats use waters around Scarborough Shoal, a fisheries-rich islet where Beijing took control in 2012, analysts have said. China also let the Philippines build on Thitu Island in a different part of the disputed sea last year, though it sent scores of boats to check out the construction in December and January. China in 2016 pledged $24 billion in aid and investment for the Philippines.
Duterte's government avoids criticizing China in international bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The two countries in November signed a memorandum of understanding to explore together for fossil fuels under the seabed.
Beijing claims about 90 percent of the sea including tracts in the Philippine exclusive economic zone off their west coasts. China has angered Manila as well as three other Southeast Asian governments over the past decade by building up small isles for military use.
Anti-China sentiment
The 17-page complaint to the international court's prosecutor says Xi should be accountable for "crimes against humanity over China's activities in the South China Sea" as the acts have "deprived Filipino fishermen of food and livelihood," state-run Philippine News Agency reported.
A tense standoff in 2012 over Scarborough Shoal sparked four years of tense relations under Duterte's predecessor, whose government won a world arbitration court case against China -- but one that effected no change in Chinese use of the sea. China cites historical documents as support for its claims.
Suspicion of China still reflects sentiment among some Filipinos, who prefer Washington to Beijing as a political ally. The legal complaint was filed two months before mid-term congressional elections in the Philippines.
A presidential office spokesman in Manila said Saturday the complaint may be "futile," domestic news website Philstar.com reported. China will ignore the complaint because it does not represent an official stance, Philippine News Agency said.
"It's a political play going on here," said Jay Batongbacal, international maritime affairs professor at University of the Philippines. "I think it's less about the actual case than about going against the government and China."
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Palestinians Report Cease-Fire in Gaza After Day of Violence
By VOA News March 25, 2019
Palestinian officials say Israel and Hamas have agreed to an Egyptian-mediated cease-fire, after a day of fighting in which Palestinians fired a rocket into Israel and Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza.
Hamas TV also reported on the cease-fire development, but Israeli officials have not yet commented on the claim.
Israeli airstrikes Monday evening hit dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip, including the office of Hamas' leader.
Ahead of the airstrikes, Hamas' leadership went into hiding and there is no indication leader Ismail Haniya was in his office at the time of the attack.
There were no immediate reports of casualties from the airstrikes, which came as retaliation to a Hamas rocket attack that hit a house in central Israel, injuring seven people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting Washington at the time of the Hamas attack. He said during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, "Israel will not tolerate this. I will not tolerate this."
He said Israel "will do whatever we must do to defend our people and defend our state."
The rocket attack was the second launched toward central Israel in recent weeks, and prompted Netanyahu to cut short his trip to Washington.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday he was "gravely concerned by the latest developments" in the Gaza Strip. He called the Hamas rocket attack "a serious and unacceptable violation" and urged all sides "to exercise maximum restraint."
The violence has raised fears of the possibility of a larger conflict just two weeks before elections in Israel.
Margaret Besheer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Limited US Forces to Remain in Syria for Undetermined Timeline - State Dept
Sputnik News
02:31 26.03.2019
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The remaining 400 US troops will stay in Syria to carry out clearing operations for an unidentified period of time, Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey said in a press briefing on Monday.
"Our forces will stay on in very limited numbers in northeast and At Tanf to continue our clearing operations and stability operations against ISIS[Daesh] for a period of time not to be determined at this point", Jeffrey told reporters.
Last week, US President Donald Trump confirmed that a total of 400 US troops will remain in Syria.
White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters on Friday that the territorial caliphate of the Daesh terror group has been completely eliminated in Syria.
On Tuesday, the US-backed Arab-Kurdish detachments of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said they had taken control of Baghuz, last Daesh stronghold in Syria.
Trump announced in December that he had decided to pull out troops from Syria promising to bring about 2,000 US servicemen back home. However, no exact deadline for the return of troops has been revealed by US officials yet.
United States and its allies have been conducting operations against the Islamic State in Syria and neighboring Iraq since 2014. The US-led coalition's actions in Syria have never been authorized by either Damascus or the UN Security Council.
*Daesh (also known as Islamic State, IS, ISIS, ISIL) a terrorist group banned Russia and man other countries.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Okinawa Urge Tokyo to Engage in Dialogue Over US Air Base Relocation - Reports
Sputnik News
16:02 25.03.2019(updated 16:11 25.03.2019)
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The vice governor of the Japanese Okinawa prefecture, Kiichiro Jahana, urged Tokyo on Monday to engage in a dialogue on the issue of the relocation of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma as local residents clearly demonstrate little consent for the project, NHK broadcaster reported.
The project of the relocation of the air base, which is currently situated in Okinawa's densely populated city of Ginowan, to the Henoko district, was first put forward over two decades ago. The implementation of the project has been continuing despite opposition both on the part of local authorities and residents.
Jahana said that to engage in a dialogue on the relocation of the base would be in line with the country's democratic values, the NHK broadcaster reported.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Defense Ministry launched on Monday the next phase of the land reclamation work for the relocation of the military base, the broadcaster added.
In February, more than 70 percent of Okinawa residents who voted in a non-legally binding referendum on the issue disapproved of the relocation of the facility, once again demonstrating their opposition to the project due to safety and environmental concerns.
Moreover, Okinawa residents have expressed their desire to remove the Futenma air base entirely.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Damascus: Liberating Golan Syria's right
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, March 25, IRNA -- Syrian Foreign Ministry said that in a flagrant aggression on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, the US President has recognized the annexation of the occupied Syrian Golan to the Zionist occupation entity.
The act comes as an embodiment of the organic coalition between the US and Israel in the severe hostility to the Arab nation which makes the US as the main enemy of the Arabs though the unlimited support and protection offered by the US successive administrations to the Israeli usurper entity, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted an official source in the Syrian foreign ministry as saying .
According to a statement released by Syrian foreign ministry, Damascus believes that even whole world will not be able to change this historical fact that Golan belongs to Syria.
The US decision indicates US hostility against Arab world, the statement said, adding that Washington proved that it is the most important enemy of the Arab world.
The Syrian ministry described the US president's choice as indication of vivid aggression and close alliance between Washington and the Zionist regime of Israel.
Trump tweeted on Thursday that after 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Earlier, Spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Bahram Qasemi said that the impetuous personal decisions of US President Donald Trump is pushing the sensitive region of the Middle East toward consecutive crises.
He condemned occupying of lands in any form and added, 'The interventionist decision of the US president never changes the fact that the Golan Heights belong to Syria, rather it clearly shows the failure of compromising policies while proving the correctness of the path of resistance against the expansionist and aggressive conduct of the US and the Zionist regime.'
Meanwhile earlier, Iran Parliament speaker Ali Larijani condemned President Trump's act to recognize adding Golan Heights to Israel's occupied territories and described it as violation of international regulations.
Larijani described Trump's choice as against humanitarian principles, international laws and resolutions.
He deplored Trump's incompatibility with public opinion and world countries as a danger for peace and stability in the Middle East.
He also urged the international community and the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) to prevent another disaster from taking place in the region by taking serious measures.
9376**2050
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Erdogan on S-400 Deal: 'No Backward Steps' on the Issue Despite US Protests
Sputnik News
09:53 25.03.2019
Earlier this month, the Turkish President pointed out that the S-400 missile systems that Ankara is buying are not connected to the security of NATO, the United States or the F-35 purchase agreement in any way.
Ankara will remain committed to the deal on buying Russian S-400 missile systems despite Washington's opposition, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the Turkish news network TGRT.
"There will be no backward steps on the S-400 issue. As for the Patriot [missile systems], if the US offers us acceptable conditions, we are open for them too," Erdogan stressed.
His remarks came a few weeks after he rejected the Pentagon's ultimatum on Ankara's purchase of the S-400s.
"The S-400s we're buying are not connected to the security of NATO, the United States or the F-35 in any way," Erdogan said, adding that "the reasons for our purchase of these systems are obvious".
He voiced hope that the problems in relations between Turkey and the US over Ankara's purchase of the Russian air defence system could "be resolved in the same way as it has on other issues".
Also this month, Erdogan confirmed that the signatures had already been made on the Russia-Turkey deal for the S-400 supplies and that the first delivery will be made in July.
"This is over", he said, adding that his government will not cancel the deal, despite protests from Washington.
The statement followed comments by US Department of Defence spokesperson Charlie Summers that "there would be grave consequences" in terms of the US-Turkish military relationship, as well as the Patriot interceptors and the F-35 fighter jets if Ankara went ahead with the purchase of the S-400s.
"They will not get the F-35s if they take the S-400," Summers warned.
Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, for his part, said that Ankara was expecting the delivery of the F-35s in November despite Washington's criticism of Turkey's decision to buy the S-400s.
Russia and Turkey inked a $2.5 billion contract for the sale of four S-400 batteries in late 2017, with Ankara set to become the fourth country to possess the system after Russia itself, Belarus and China.
Sputnik
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Inmates End Own Lives to Protest Rebel Kurdish Leader's Treatment in Turkey
By Rikar Hussein, Ezel Sahinkaya March 25, 2019
At least four Kurdish activists have died in prisons across Turkey since last week, in what lawyers and officials have called suicides over the poor prison conditions of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan.
The series of alleged suicides by Kurdish prisoners started on March 17 when Kurdish officials confirmed that Zulkuf Gezen took his own life, followed by the deaths of Ayten Becet and Zehra Saglam by similar attempts last weekend. Officials of pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) also confirmed on Monday the death of the fourth Kurdish activist, 24-year-old inmate Medya Cinar.
"Today, those who refused to listen to us caused the death of the fourth prisoner," HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli said during a public gathering Monday in Adana.
"For 139 days, we have been calling on the Ministry of Justice and the government to end this lawlessness," Temelli said to a crowd of supporters, referring to a widespread hunger strike campaign by Kurdish prisoners since November.
"We say that their demands must be fulfilled without deaths," he added.
The four deaths have prompted demonstrations from thousands of Kurds in Turkey, northern Syria and some parts of Europe.
The four activists had been in prison for years over alleged ties to PKK a U.S., EU and Turkey-designated terrorist organization. Before ending their lives this month, they joined in the hunger strike that initially began in November 2018 to pressure Turkish authorities into giving more access to Ocalan.
The rebel leader has been imprisoned on an island in the Marmara Sea since 1999. He has been prevented from meeting with his lawyers since 2011, and has rarely been allowed to see his family.
The hunger strikes over his jail conditions were first initiated by HDP lawmaker Leyla Guven last November. Since then, an estimated 300 Kurdish lawmakers and activists across Turkey have joined.
Turkish officials have refused to yield to the strikers' requests, calling their activities an attempt by the HDP to stir up trouble in the country and spread pro-PKK propaganda.
"I do not call them deputies [representatives]. They are the PKK's deputies," Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said last week, referring to Kurdish HDP lawmakers in the Turkish parliament.
Burial, clashes
Speaking to a crowd of the ruling Justice and Development Party supporters in Nevsehir city, Soylu condemned HDP officials for attempting to organize a solidarity meeting at the burial site of Gezen.
"The other day, a terrorist died in prison. They wanted to meet and join the burial of the terrorist in Diyarbakir. I called the police chief and told him, 'Do not allow anyone to be near the airport. Do not allow anyone to be within one kilometer of the cemetery.' That is impossible for us to tolerate," Soylu told the crowd as reported by local Turkish media outlets.
The burial ceremony, which took place last Monday and was attended by dozens of people, ended in violent clashes when police fired a water cannon to disperse the supporters. According to pro-Kurdish ANF News, several HDP lawmakers were barred from entering Diyarbakir cemetery where Gezen was buried.
PKK 'wing'
Government officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have repeatedly accused the HDP of being the political wing of the PKK.
The militant PKK group has been demanding Kurdish autonomy in Turkey since 1978.
Violent clashes between Turkey and the PKK have continued for more than 30 years in predominately Kurdish southeast, resulting in the deaths of nearly 40,000 people.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
Brexit Treachery Accusations Rage as Lawmakers Worry About Safety
By Jamie Dettmer March 25, 2019
British voters were promised that leaving the European Union after half-a-century of membership would be simple. And according to one leading Brexiter, Liam Fox, negotiating a deal with Britain's erstwhile partners would be the "easiest in human history."
It hasn't turned out that way.
Simplicity has given way to complexity and rancorous division, shaking constitutional foundations. Amid the political chaos there are burgeoning concerns about the safety of Britain's lawmakers.
Last week, as British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to seek a postponement of Britain's exit from the European Union, members of Parliament were advised to take taxis home over fears they risked being assaulted by members of the public.
"Personally, I have never felt this level of tension during my time in the House and I am aware that other colleagues feel the same," the deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle wrote to lawmakers, advising them to take extra security precautions.
"Many colleagues have already been subject to widely publicized abuse and intimidation," he wrote. He added security measures had been adopted at the homes and constituencies of most MPs.
Increased pressure to step down
This week Brexit could claim the scalp of Britain's Theresa May, who's clinging to office amid demands from some of her own Conservative lawmakers to quit. They want a caretaker prime minister to be installed to test different exit strategies. May's Brexit withdrawal agreement has been rejected twice by parliament and there appears little prospect it will pass, if she brings it before the House of Commons for a third try.
Even the skittish plot to oust her fell apart Sunday, the victim of splits in the Cabinet over who should replace her.
Parliament will try this week to seize control of the Brexit process from a government so divided that it has become powerless.
That would turn Britain's modern-day constitutional practice on its head and may not resolve anything it isn't clear there's a majority in the House of Commons for any alternative from staying in the EU, to holding a second referendum, to effecting a so-called "soft Brexit," which would see Britain closely tied to the bloc economically but outside its political institutions.
Accusations of betrayal, treachery
But unnerving British politicians the most is the rising tide of Brexit-related accusations of betrayal and treachery, which is deepening distrust in parliament and risks encouraging violence, they fear.
Lawmakers have found themselves outside Parliament surrounded and jostled by protesters. On social media they are regularly denounced in menacing messages often threatening physical harm.
At the back of lawmakers' minds is the murder four years ago of Labour MP Jo Cox, who was shot and stabbed to death by a 52-year-old assailant outside a library in her normally placid northern England constituency.
Her killer had a history of psychiatric problems.
Those favoring an exit argue parliament is frustrating the people's will and they accuse lawmakers of treason. Brexit-backing tabloid newspapers dub those trying to block leaving the EU "enemies of the people" and even the traditionally more sober columnists of the broadsheet newspapers aren't restraining themselves in taking sides.
The leading Brexiter Nigel Farage has described May's delay Britain was scheduled to leave on March 29 "an outright betrayal." He has warned darkly of a widening gap between "the people" and politicians.
Calls for new referendum
But pro-EU campaigners point to Saturday's rally in London calling for a second referendum that attracted a million marchers as an indication public opinion has shifted away from Brexit and people have changed their minds.
They accuse Brexit-favoring lawmakers of intransigence and also of a betrayal of the interests of the people by not abandoning Brexit.
Others fear long-term harm to Britain's political institutions.
Writing in Britain's Daily Telegraph, Charles Moore, a former editor of the storied Conservative newspaper and a staunch Brexiter, said political parties promised Britons the 2016 Brexit referendum would be honored and "if parliament now breaks that trust, it undermines the purpose of its existence."
He added, "It invites us to replace its members and perhaps the institution itself."
That, say some critics, misunderstands Britain's unwritten Constitution and where sovereignty lies not with the people, but with Parliament. Britain's longest-serving lawmaker Ken Clarke, a Conservative, was critical of holding a Brexit plebiscite in the first place, fearing it would strip from MPs what was rightfully their decision to make.
The tension between parliament and people isn't new. In the 18th century, philosopher and lawmaker Edmund Burke told the voters of Bristol that an MP was not a delegate, but a representative.
"Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion," he said. That principle has long been seen as key for a parliamentary democracy.
If voters are unhappy with their MP, they can always vote them out at a subsequent election. Which is what the Bristol voters did to Edmund Burke.
NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE -- Choom Holdings Inc. (Choom) (CSE: CHOO) (OTCQB: CHOOF) ("Choom"), an emerging adult and medical use cannabis company that has secured one of the largest national retail networks in Canada, is pleased to announce, following its strategy to become a multi-state operator, that it intends to expand into Florida. Choom, through its wholly owned US subsidiary, Choom Holdings USA Inc., has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to purchase a 95% equity interest in a Florida-based vertically-integrated cannabis applicant (the FL Company).
The FL Company is progressing on its Master License application to operate up to 25 retail locations with potential for more as the number of registered patients increase, as well as, a micro-processing and cultivation facility for medical purposes. Upon completing the transaction, Choom will use its medical brand, Clarity Medical Centres, to create a network of branded Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers. Floridas medical marijuana program has over 190,000 qualified patients, up from approximately 168,000 at the start of 2019, making it the largest medical marijuana market in the United States. Florida has recently allowed the use of smokable medical marijuana products, potentially opening the program to a considerably larger audience.
We are very excited to be expanding into Florida and to bring Chooms medical brand into that market. Floridas medical marijuana program is a very attractive opportunity for us seeing that it allows for vertically-integrated operations and it has been a market weve had our sights on for a while now. states Chris Bogart, President & CEO of Choom. This investment aligns with our strategy of becoming a multi-state operator in the US and helps us to bolster our growth targets. Florida is home to over 21 million residents and has shown impressive year over year growth on the number of registered patients with a large portion of the market being relatively uncaptured.
The terms of the LOI are not material.
Say hello to ChoomTM
Choom is an emerging adult use cannabis company whose mission is to establish one of the largest retail networks in Canada and the United States. The Choom brand is inspired by Hawaii's Choom Ganga group of buddies in Honolulu during the 1970's who loved to smoke weedor as the locals called it, Choom. Evoking the spirit of the original Choom Gang, our brand caters to the Canadian adult use market with the ethos of cultivating good times. Choom is focused on delivering an elevated customer experience through our curated retail environments, offering a diversity of brands for Canadians across a national retail network.
Chris Bogart
President & CEO
Contact: Choom Holdings Inc.
Chris Bogart
President & CEO
T: 604.683.2509
F: 604.683.2506
E: chris@choom.ca
Alex Porporo
Investor Relations
T: 604.683.2509 Ext. 231
F: 604.683.2506
E: alex@choom.ca
Cautionary Statement:
NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Forward-looking Information:
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information relates to management's future outlook and anticipated events or results, and includes statements or information regarding the future plans or prospects of the Company. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements about: expanding into Florida; purchasing a 95% equity interest in the FL Company; the FL Companys potential to operate up to 25 retail locations as well as a micro-processing and cultivation facility; creating a network of branded Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers; and opening Floridas medical marijuana program to a larger audience.
With respect to the forward-looking information contained in this news release, Choom has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: closing the transaction contemplated by the LOI; receipt of necessary regulatory approvals; the development of medical marijuana regulations in Florida; continued demand for Chooms products; and continued economic and market stability. While Choom considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, market and social uncertainties and contingencies.
Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Identified risk factors include: the transaction contemplated by the LOI may not be completed on a timely basis, or at all; FL Companys Master License application may not be approved on a timely basis, or at all; changes in state or US federal laws and policies governing medical or adult use cannabis sectors; the results of diligence investigations; developments in the cannabis sector; delays resulting from or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; reliance on key personnel; and economic or market conditions may worsen. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Choom is disclosed in Choom's most recent Annual Information Form and other continuous disclosure filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Choom disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.
NAMPULA, Mozambique, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), operating as Ambassador Aviation in Mozambique, is responding to a humanitarian crisis caused by Cyclone Idai, which struck Mozambique on March 14. The aviation non-profit organization has been conducting assessment flights and working with Mozambiques National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) and other non-government organizations (NGOs) in coordinating rescue and relief efforts.
Flight surveys reveal significant damage to the EN6 roadway, a major highway between Beira and Chimoio, with entire sections washed out by flood water, and other roadways under water and bridges damaged or gone. Additional flight surveys going south into the Buzi River basin show the area has deep and widespread flooding with entire buildings under water and people stranded on rooftops surrounded by water.
MAF pilot and disaster response team member Rick Emenaker reported on what he saw on the survey flight.
It was a heartbreaking flight today as we flew over many miles of flooded land in the Buzi River basin. We saw many people stranded on rooftops surrounded by kilometers of water. It was difficult to comprehend and think about that probably many have perished. A number of villages were completely buried in the floodwaters. The magnitude of this disaster is hard to comprehend, and we are glad we can be here to help, said Emenaker.
Information from the aerial surveys is shared with INGC and other NGOs to coordinate relief efforts. Mercy Air, a helicopter operation, is coordinating with MAF and distributing boxes of high-energy biscuits in areas completely cut off by flooding. The food is being provided by the World Food Program (WFP).
Recent flights have provided tents, hygiene kits, family kits, and other items from Chimoio to Beira for use at Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps. MAF flew 111 family kits, (that include shelter items), and additional food in the Cessna 208.
Additionally, working in cooperation with Mercy Air to conduct food delivery flights using the helicopter, 17 food drops were performed for various locations north of the impassable N6 road, as well as another drop of 40 boxes of high-energy biscuits to the village of Grudja. The helicopter also flew a sling load of seven tents and buckets to the camp at Buzi and returned with a patient, a pregnant woman needing an emergency C-section.
MAFs Cessna Grand Caravan (C208) will continue to be used for survey flights as INGC and WFP ask for additional information. The fixed-wing aircraft may also be utilized as an air bridge to bring in bulk supplies and fuel for distribution, as well as relief worker rotations.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e3912026-77d0-4b1d-9665-f100c7e38466
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6949d461-201a-4abf-ab8a-a6706e012b93
Photo: The Canadian Press Nova Scotia Finance Minister Karen Casey
Nova Scotia's Liberal government is expecting millions in added federal dollars will help it achieve a balanced budget while it commits money to rebuild aging hospitals and deal with rising pressures in health care.
The province is projecting a thin $33.6 million surplus in Tuesday's fiscal plan for 2019-20, on a budget of $11 billion. It's the province's fourth consecutive surplus budget, and there are no increases in taxes or fees.
Spending increases are sprinkled in small increments including more funding targeted at homecare, the introduction of tax credits to assist new firms, and new public awareness programs that will begin as the sales of edible marijuana products starts up.
However, the Liberals' biggest spending increase is in the health care sector.
The government confirmed $157 million in capital grants for "the largest health care redevelopment projects in Nova Scotia history," at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Centre in Halifax and the Cape Breton Regional Health Centre in Sydney.
In addition, the budget for the Nova Scotia Health Authority the province's merged health agency is up $57.2 million.
Finance Minister Karen Casey devoted close to a quarter of her speech to the province's health care system, which has come under continuing criticism for hospital crowding, doctor shortages and high numbers of pressure injuries among nursing home residents.
"When we looked at what the needs were and what the province could afford we were certainly identifying health as a priority," she told reporters just before speaking in the legislature.
Casey pointed out the province's health spending has grown by almost one fifth in five years to $4.6 billion, consuming a steadily rising percentage of the government's revenues.
However, the province's bottom line is assisted by federal contributions that are expected to go up by $178-million, with health transfer and equalization payments making up about one-third of all its revenues.
The transfers, equalization and money for mental health services from Ottawa's federal Liberal government are all rising, after negotiations earlier this year.
The province is also planning $16.8-million for home care, and another $10-million for collaborative care centres to help battle the persistent shortage of family doctors.
It is committing $14.2 million for housing for people with disabilities, with $6.6 million to help pay for care and support of people with complex needs.
A human rights case highlighted the housing shortages in a ruling earlier this year that concluded three people with disabilities had their rights violated by being confined for years in a psychiatric ward rather than in a small care home.
The province is bringing in some new measures aimed at encouraging investment in businesses.
The budget calls for $3 million to pay for a new venture capital tax credit aimed at encouraging equity investments in Nova Scotia companies.
In addition, it is setting up tax credits that are effective on April 1 that will give a tax break to start up firms that have existed for less than 10 years.
The net debt is estimated to be $15.3-billion, about $15,858 per person, but has fallen slightly as a percentage of gross domestic product.
Education funding is up by about $33 million.
That includes $10.2 of already announced money to continue rolling out a pre-primary program for four years at schools around the province.
"By September 2020, we anticipate that every four-year-old in Nova Scotia will have access to a free, pre-primary, early learning opportunity," said Casey.
TORONTO, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kuuhubb Inc. ("Kuuhubb" or the "Company") (TSX-V: KUU), a mobile game development, and publishing company, targeting a female audience with bespoke mobile experiences, announces that, further to the settlement agreement which was announced by the Company on February 27, 2019, the Company issued on March 11, 2019 a total of 246,134 common shares at a price per share of $0.375 to Messrs. Maurice Colson and Geoffrey Farr to settle an outstanding debt of $92,300 in aggregate in director fees and other salary owed by the Company to Messrs. Colson and Farr. The common shares issued are subject to a four-month statutory hold period, which expires in July 12, 2019.
The Company also announces that Mr. Arnold Kondrat resigned from the board of directors of the Company, effective as of March 25, 2019.
About Kuuhubb
Kuuhubb is a company active in the digital space that focuses mainly on lifestyle and mobile game applications for the female audience. Its strategy is to create sustainable shareholder value through acquisitions of proven, yet underappreciated, assets with robust long-term growth potential. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Kuuhubb has a global presence with a strong focus on developing U.S. brand collaborations and Asian partnerships.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information, please contact:
Kuuhubb Inc.
Jouni Keranen CEO
jouni@kuuhubb.com
Office: +358 40 590 0919
Bill Mitoulas
Investor Relations
bill@kuuhubb.com
Office: +1 (416) 479-9547
CHICAGO, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the recent Aviespecialistas de Mexico (AVEM) International Congress 2019, Amlan International presented trial results from a commercial layer producers implementation of an Amlan feed additive program that increased production and resulted in a return on investment of 4 to 1. Amlan, a global leader in the development of natural, innovative products that improve intestinal health and productivity in livestock, participated as an exhibitor and technical guest speaker at AVEM, held March 1214 in Queretaro, Mexico.
The Amlan product portfolio featured at AVEM included performance feed additives, Varium for poultry feed efficiency and Calibrin-Z for biotoxin control. Amlan Internationals Poultry Advisor for Mexico, Dr. Abelardo Perez H., MVZ, participated in the events technical seminar by presenting Increased Layer Production Performance in the Field: Results using Varium and Calibrin-Z. His talk highlighted a trial where Varium was used during the pullet-rearing age followed by the inclusion of Calibrin-Z until the end of layer production. The program resulted in increased production performance and improved return on investment.
Producers have seen positive results in challenge reduction and improved feed efficiency in the poultry industry, both in clinical and on-farm trials, proving the efficacy and safety of our natural feed additive programs, stated Justino Hernandez, Country Manager for Amlan in Mexico. The trial presented by Dr. Perez demonstrated that Varium and Calibrin-Z used consecutively provided significant overall health benefits for layer producers, leading to stronger economic performance.
AVEM is known in the Mexican veterinary community as one of the most important poultry congresses in the country, and it attracts over 800 veterinarian and nutritionist attendees. The three-day event explored many topics related to poultry health and production and new products on the market, including the latest solutions for antibiotic-free production.
For more detailed product information, visit amlan.com . Contact us to today to set up a trial of our efficiency support programs.
About Amlan International
Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE: ODC), a Delaware corporation doing business as Amlan International, has grown its product offering across the intestinal health and AGP-alternative market, driven largely by the research conducted at its laboratory campus in Vernon Hills, Illinois. In 2017, the company added the Richard M. Jaffee Laboratory for Applied Microbiology to the campus. In 2013, the companys global reach expanded with the establishment of its China subsidiary in Shenzhen.
Amlan International sells animal health products outside of the United States. Product-associated claims may differ based on government requirements and product availability may vary by country.
Reagan B. Culbertson
Media Contact
press@amlan.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c10869e4-1063-45cf-a9bc-6c8f4462c445
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1ceeda9-7662-45e6-b274-6ae87d2a16b3
Ford Island, Honolulu, Hawaii, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In its recently-released Notice to Airman (NOTAM), the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (PHAM) announced a $1,000,000 Challenge Grant from the Ray Foundation to develop a new educational resource for Hawaii youth. The Ray Foundation will match other donations up to $1,000,000 to create a Learning Lab designed to use the excitement of aviation to inspire the passion of young people for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Learning Lab will reside in a renovated historic building near the Museums main facilities on Ford Island.
Steep Climb To The Objective
This challenge grant is a great opportunity for PHAM to expand its contribution to the community, said Elissa Lines, Executive Director of the museum. We are off to a great start thanks to generous donations at our annual Gala dinner in December. The grant is contingent upon matching donations from other non-profit organizations, businesses, and individual donors. Matching the full amount will make $2,000,000 available for the project and allow the Learning Lab to open as scheduled in late 2020.
Lt. Gen. Dan Fig Leaf, USAF retired, is leading the fundraising effort as a member of the PHAM Board of Directors. This is an investment in the future of Hawaii and the United States. It wont be easy but I am confident that those who have supported us in the past, and others who are just learning of the museums contributions to the community, will get us to our goal.
Learning Lab
The new Learning Lab at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum provides an opportunity to introduce a new generation of Hawaiis youth to the history and technology of flight, introducing them through that experience to a variety of STEM industries. Their experiences will be rooted in relevant, authentic activities powered by state-of-the-art technology to teach timeless fundamentals applicable to a wide range of careers. Students will use lessons learned to help construct their own future.
Our vision is to advance education and leadership opportunities for students in Hawaii by creating a Learning Lab. Working with our Navy partners, an existing WWII pilot training building, adjacent to the historic Ford Island Control Tower, will be renovated and converted into a modern-day center for young people. Our plan includes installation of the innovative and highly-successful Aviation Learning Center model developed by the Seattle Museum of Flight. This learning environment uses flight simulators, and other technology tools, to engage students in their own learning, said Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Executive Director Elissa Lines.
James C. Ray witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor as a young steel worker, enlisted in the Army Air Force, and served as a B-17 pilot in the European theater earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses and multiple Air Medals. The Ray Foundation sustains his vision of inspiring and educating Americas youth through aviation.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is located on Historic Ford Island, where bombs fell during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Walk on the Pearl Harbor battlefield where the attack began, enter the bullet-scarred hangars, see the control tower and aircraft of the battle, Including a Japanese Zero and the B-17 Swamp Ghost. Hear the stories of WWII heroes and their response to the attack that changed our nation and the world. Tour Included, flight simulators and cafe available.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to steward Americas first aviation battlefield of World War II sharing the artifacts, personal stories, the impact and response to the December 7, 1941 attack and the pacific region battles that followed, honoring those who have defended our freedom so they might educate and inspire future generations. Contact: 808-441-1000; Marketing@PearlHarborAviationMuseum.org
Attachment
English Lithuanian
AB Zemaitijos pienas received the opinion of the Audit Committee on the conclusion of the transaction between associated parties, the basis for the submission of the opinion was Article 372 of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania.
The subject of the assessment and opinion of the Audit Committee was the request of AB Silutes Rambynas, received on 19/03/2019, to acquire ownership of real estate (industrial, administrative, auxiliary and other premises and yard structures) located in Klaipedos str. 3, Silute town.
The Audit Committee of the Company, after examining the request of ABF Silutes Rambynas, concluded that the provisions of the Purchase-Sale Agreement correspond to the market conditions and therefore it does not object to such transaction.
At the request of the shareholder submitted by written or electronic means of communication, the company may forward a copy of this opinion to the shareholder against signature, by registered mail or by electronic means, if the security of the transmitted information is ensured and the identity of the shareholder can be established.
The received opinion is also available to the shareholder at the companys registered office at Sedos 35, Telsiai, during business hours of the company. The opinion of the Audit Committee may be provided if the request is received within 7 days of the date of receipt of this opinion.
Gintaras Keliauskas
Lawyer
+ 370 444 22208
LONDON, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Widen announced today that it won Best Digital Asset Management Platform (DAM) at the Marketing Technology Awards 2019 hosted by ClickZ and Search Engine Watch. The award reflects the consensus of customers and expert judges whose scores placed Widen at the top of the DAM pack.
The Best DAM Award follows years of steadfast growth and innovation at Widen. On average, the company has welcomed 90 new customers annually since 2013 while maintaining a retention rate of 95 percent. Its DAM platform now serves 500,000+ people at over 600 influential brands. With European Headquarters in London, UK and Global Headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin USA Widen is redefining the DAM category worldwide.
Its not every day that a 70-year-old company from Wisconsin, USA reinvents itself into a global content technology provider and goes onto win awards for it, said Widen CEO Matthew Gonnering. Im so proud of our team members for their commitment, ingenuity, and big hearts. Theyve kept a sense of community and humanity at the centre of everything we do.
Located outside the predictable technology hubs, Widen has nonetheless become a beacon for the worlds most talented tech professionals. Four years running, Widen has been named one of the best places to work and has been certified as a Worldblu Freedom-Centered Workplace. With an employee retention rate of 93 percent, Widen is able to focus on the long-term, demanding innovations that make for an award-winning platform.
The Marketing Technology Awards is the world's largest program dedicated exclusively to the roughly 7,000 platforms that serve marketing professionals. 50 percent of a companys score is based customer rankings of eight traits: fit for purpose, ease of use, customer service, value for money, onboarding, integration, innovation, and overall satisfaction. The other 50 percent comes from 12 expert judges who are among the worlds leading minds in marketing technology.
For more information about the Marketing Technology Award 2019, visit https://www.celebratemartech.com/
To discover what makes Widen the Best DAM platform, visit www.widen.com .
About Widen
Widen builds high-performing software that empowers organisations to create compelling, meaningful, and measurable digital experiences. Focused on service and fueled by a global community of users, Widen has the highest customer loyalty in the digital asset management (DAM) industry. Its platform spans across brand management, content lifecycle management, and creative management, serving 500,000+ people at over 600 influential brands around the world. Customers include Dyson, YMCA, Energizer, Pepsi, Zeiss, Carnival Cruise Line, Yankee Candle and many more.
With more than 70 years of service experience, Widen is the company that does what it says, striving to be the best part of its customers day, every day. To learn more about Widen, visit www.widen.com .
Contact:
Charleston, WV, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Addiction Policy Forum, a leading national nonprofit, is releasing the West Virginia Innovations to Address Addiction: Ten Innovative Solutions that are Transforming Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, spotlighting innovative programs that address addiction and provide support for families and communities.
West Virginians know all too well the devastation addiction has on families and communities, says Jessica Hulsey Nickel, founder and CEO of Addiction Policy Forum. We are honored to recognize programs such as the Boone County Drug Court and Lilys Place as part of our Innovation Now initiative.
On March 26, 2019, in the Pavilion at the Charleston Marriott Town Center in Charleston, West Virginia from 12:00-2:00 pm Addiction Policy Forum and keynote speaker Mayor Steve Williams will honor 10 programs saving lives in West Virginia.
Programs include: Boone County Drug Court, Handle With Care, Jackson County Anti-Drug Coalition, Jefferson Day Report Center, Lilys Place, Project Hope for Women and Children, Providers Response Organization for Addiction Care and Treatment (PROACT), Quick Response Team, Recovery Point and Dr. James Berry, DO of West Virginia University.
West Virginia has been hit hard by addiction, but there is hope, says Mark OBrien, Executive Vice President of Programs and Education at Addiction Policy Forum. Our West Virginia Innovation Now report highlights 10 programs helping communities and saving lives.
# # #
About Addiction Policy Forum
Addiction Policy Forum is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating addiction as a major health problem. Our national headquarters are located in Washington, DC with resources and services in every state.
More information on our mission and projects is available at http://addictionpolicy.org.
Sellbyville, Delaware, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Flexible AC transmission systems market across Africa, Asia Pacific and Middle East has observed a substantial growth in conjunction to the increasing demand for efficient transmission & distribution technologies. Growing demand for retrofitting of prevailing electrical coupled with rising fund allocation across the electricity sector will enhance the industry outlook. Regulators across Saudi Arabia, in 2018 have proposed to capitalize amount worth USD 130 billion in their Water & Energy projects.
Global flexible AC transmission systems market is expected to surpass USD 2.5 billion by 2025, as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, Inc. Power transmission industry over the years, has witnessed substantial growth on account of growing demand for effective T&D control systems. Rising demand for revamping of traditional electrical network in line with soaring fund flow towards efficient grid enhancement will drive the FACTS market. Safe operation, network reliability and economical costs are some of the key factors projected to stimulate the industry landscape.
Improved system stability, lesser installation time and increase in transmission capacity are few essential parameters augmenting the installation of series FACTS market. Moreover, favorable consumer inclination toward the installation of these products to safeguard the system peripherals coupled with enhanced operational life of the electric network will further boost the industry dynamics.
Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/3182
Ability to curb unbalanced loads, voltage fluctuations, resonance across varying active or reactive loads along with power oscillations have incorporated a positive scenario for SVC units. Increasing integration of energy efficient, reliable, secure and advanced fire-resistant electric equipment have further upscaled the flexible AC transmission systems market share.
Browse key industry insights spread across 650 pages with 1296 market data tables & 25 figures & charts from the report, Flexible AC Transmission Systems Market Size By Configuration (Series, Shunt, Combined), By Product (SVC, TCSC, STATCOM, UPFC), By Voltage (132 kV to 220 kV, > 220 kV to 660 kV, > 660 kV), By Application (Steady State {Congestion Management, ATC Improvement, Reactive Power & Voltage Control, Loading Margin Improvement, Power Flow Balancing & Control}, Dynamic {Transient Stability Enhancement, Oscillation Damping, Dynamic Voltage Control, SSR Elimination, Power System Interconnection), By End Use (Utilities, Renewables [Wind (Onshore, Offshore), Solar], Smart Grid, Railways, Metal & Mining Industries, Oil & Gas), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Analysis (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, UK, Ireland, Norway, France, Spain, Sweden, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina), Application Development Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019 2025 in detail along with the table of contents:
https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/flexible-ac-transmission-systems-market
Increase of thermal loading, power flow control, decrease in short circuit level, loop flows control, post-contingency voltage control are the few indispensable parameters favoring the growth of FACTS units across steady state deployments. Moreover, improved voltage stability, greater reliability, reduced losses in power systems and fast acting switching response will nurture the overall FACTS market.
Ongoing enhancement of transmission infrastructure across commercial & residential installations have strengthened the 132kV to 220kV FACTS market. Versatile product configurations along with aesthetic proximities are the key factors enhancing the product penetration. In addition, institution of sustainable energy infrastructure has obligated utilities and installers to focus on revamping the existing electrical network.
Process and manufacturing industries in the recent years, are crucial across emerging regions for investments and revenue realization. Developed countries have also observed substantial dependency on processed & manufactured units which in turn have shifted installer & utility inclination toward the adoption of effective grid infrastructure across their platforms. Increasing global mining activities & metal extraction have further led to an upsurge in demand for power networks to ensure continual operations & process reliability which in turn will amplify the FACTS market share.
Prominent flexible AC transmission systems market players include BHEL, GE, ABB, Siemens, Mitsubishi Electric, NR Electric, Rongxin, Infineon, Hyosung, American Superconductor and Ingeteam.
Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/3182
Browse Related Reports:
String Inverter Market By Power Class (Single Phase, Three Phase {Low Power (99 kW), High Power (>99 kW)}), By Nominal Output Power (500 W, 500-1500W, > 1500 W), By Nominal Output Voltage (230 V, 230-400 V, > 400 V), By Connectivity (Stand-alone, On-grid), By Application (Residential, Commercial {College/University, Office, Government/Military}, Industrial {Chemical, Paper, Food Processing}, Utility) By Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2018 - 2024
https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/string-inverter-market
Power Distribution Component Market By Products (Switchgear, Switchboard, Distribution Panel, Motor Control Panels, Others), By Configuration (Fixed Mounting, Plug-in, Withdrawable), By Voltage Rating (< 11 kV, 11 to 33 kV, > 33 to 66 kV, > 66 to 132 kV), By Insulation (Air, Gas, Oil, Vacuum, Others), By Installation (Indoor, Outdoor), By Current (AC, DC), By Application (Residential, Commercial {Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, Communication & Data Centers, Commercial Stores, Others}, Industrial {Manufacturing, Mining & Metal, Process, Transportation, Oil & Gas, Others}, Utility) Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Development Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019 2025
https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/power-distribution-component-market
About Global Market Insights
Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Troilus Gold Corp. (TSX: TLG; OTCQB: CHXMF) (Troilus or the Company) reports initial results from the 2019 exploration program at its Troilus Gold Project, in Quebec, Canada, including the discovery of a new gold-mineralized zone in the southeast portion of the J Zone.
New Gold Discovery in J Zone Footwall
The discovery hole, TLG-J419-092, intersected gold-rich mineralization 300 metres from surface, in the immediate structural footwall to the J Zone (J4) mineralized zone. Drilling ended in gold-bearing mineralization (See Figure 1 and 2). Intercept highlights in the new gold zone, include:
1.11 g/t AuEq over 19 metres, including 1.79 g/t AuEq over 6 metres
Other intercept highlights:
2.57 g/t AuEq over 8 metres and 1.43 g/t AuEq over 22 metres in hole TLG-J419-091 less than 200 metres from surface, below J4 open pit.
3 g/t AuEq over 8 metres and 2.09 g/t AuEq over 9 metres in hole TLG-J4-092 below J4 open pit.
Justin Reid, Chief Executive Officer for Troilus Gold Corp., commented, This is a great start to the 2019 drill program. We are very encouraged by the results from the first few holes, particularly discovery hole TLG-J419-092, which extended gold-rich mineralization outside of the known mineral resource envelope at depth and to the east. We are currently following-up on this exciting hole with additional drilling, and look forward to further developments as the program advances. Results to date continue to validate our new geological interpretation of the Troilus deposit, and are helping us generate new targets across the entire property.
A key part of the 2019 drill program is to expand and improve the grade at the J Zone, specifically below the former secondary open pit northeast of the primary Z87 open pit. Using new structural interpretations validated with the 36,000 metre drill program in 2018, the Company decided to extend drilling beyond the planned depth in one hole, TLG-J419-092, located directly northeast of the Z87 trend. Almost immediately beyond the expected mineralization at J4, a new zone characterized by a far less deformed texture than typical J Zone mineralization with clear brecciation and disseminated sulphides within the recognizable Troilus Diorite was identified in the stratigraphic footwall (See Figure 1 and 2).
Hole TLG-J419-092 ended in gold bearing mineralization and remains open. Drilling is underway now to further test the potential extent of this new zone discovery.
Troilus plans to drill over 40,000 metres as part of its 2019 Exploration Program, targeting zones Z87 South, the J Zone, Z87, and J4 North (See Figure 3).
Figure 1: Plan view of Troilus Property Showing Drill Hole Locations and Geological Interpretation of Mineral Zones
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6912b652-592d-41ec-8007-fc49c8921245
Figure 2: Section J4-N14150 Facing North
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/77228fa4-2735-433c-a098-0a9e5fc10a57
Table 1: Summary of Drill Hole Intercepts Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au Grade (g/t) Cu Grade (%) AuEq Grade (g/t) TLG-J419-091 178 226 48 0.573 0.039 0.63 incl. 178 184 6 0.953 0.033 1.01 190 198 8 2.350 0.141 2.57 204 226 22 1.286 0.090 1.43 356 360 4 0.638 0.009 0.65 TLG-J419-092 12 22 10 0.449 0.085 0.58 207 209 2 18.900 0.033 18.95 269 275 6 0.447 0.125 0.64 291 305 14 0.506 0.038 0.57 317 325 8 2.930 0.047 3 incl. 317 319 2 9.610 0.098 9.77 383 390 7 0.816 0.128 1.02 397 406 9 1.956 0.083 2.09 incl. 401 405 4 3.381 0.102 3.54 422 441 19 0.950 0.103 1.11 incl. 422 425 3 0.675 0.105 0.84 incl. 427 433 6 1.061 0.102 1.22 incl. 435 441 6 1.531 0.161 1.79 incl. 439 440 1 5.220 0.644 6.24 TLG-J419-093 111 112 1 3.110 0.076 3.23 182 188 6 0.587 0.075 0.71 208 214 6 0.693 0.084 0.83 286 290 4 0.835 0.027 0.88 308 310 2 1.630 0.173 1.9 326 340 14 0.606 0.061 0.7 350 362 12 0.500 0.083 0.63 370 398 28 0.669 0.141 0.89 incl. 388 394 6 1.310 0.243 1.69 403 410 7 0.877 0.259 1.29 incl. 404 406 2 1.300 0.371 1.89 419 421 2 0.758 0.192 1.06 433 437 4 1.282 0.255 1.69 incl. 434 436 2 1.755 0.337 2.29 477 481 4 0.590 0.053 0.67 incl. 480 481 1 1.260 0.082 1.39 *Note drill intervals reported in this news release are down-hole core lengths as true thicknesses cannot be determined with available information
Figure 3: Troilus Property and Exploration Targets
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/26a8acda-6dab-4434-86d3-6a03baff1a68
Troilus Mineral Zones Overview
J Zone (J4 & J5)
J4 and J5, two secondary historic open pits located 1.2 kilometres directly northeast of Z87 are characterized by the same mineralization and geology as Z87; both remaining open at depth and along strike. These areas have undergone a significant amount of deformation, and appear to potentially represent a structurally hosted mineralization related to tight isoclinal folding, suggests folding could represent excellent traps for gold. This is likely true at drill core scale, and as broadly as regional scale.
Near-surface mineralization at the J Zone defined during the 2018 exploration program signifies promising open pittable resource opportunities. The objective of the 2019 drill campaign, will be to expand open pit estimated mineral resources below the 2018 conceptual grade shell (whittle shell) with the intent of recognizing material that could contribute to an early production scenario.
Z87 South
Z87 South and Z87 North Open Pit are located on the surface flanks of the Z87 open pit. The objective of drilling in these areas is to create new, near surface open pit opportunities directly adjacent to the Z87 pit, and to better understand the structural relationship between Z87 and the J Zone. The offset between these two areas moving grid west has previously been interpreted as solely related to faulting. More recent work carried out by the Company suggests that a large, regional fold system could be accountable, at least in part, for the en echelon pattern moving northeast and grid west. The nature of these structures could relate directly to high grade gold distribution, ultimately changing the approach to property exploration completely.
Z87
The broad geology and style of mineralization at Z87 creates a large deposit area, nearly 1 kilometre along strike and 30-50 metres wide, which remains open both along strike and down dip. The 2019 drill program in this area is designed to expand and infill certain areas of Troilus existing underground estimated mineral resource. The program will also serve to increase the overall understanding on geological orientation of mineralized material and use this to vector property scale exploration.
From 1996 to 2010, Z87 produced the majority of the over 2 million ounces of gold and 70,000 tonnes of copper produced at the Troilus Project. The Z87 pit was ultimately 350 metres deep and had a strike of approximately 900 metres. The Z87 zone is the focus of the current underground estimated mineral resource, representing over 1.02 million ounces of indicated and 600,000 ounces of inferred material (See mineral resource in Table 1).
Table 2: Troilus Mineral Resource Estimate, Effective November 19, 2018 Classification Tonnage
(Mt) Au
(g/t) Cu
(%) AuEq
(g/t) Contained
Gold
(Moz) Contained
Copper
(Mlb) Contained
AuEq
(Moz) Total Open Pit and Underground Indicated 121.7 0.87 0.086 1.00 3.40 231.8 3.92 Inferred 36.1 0.88 0.083 1.01 1.02 66.2 1.17 Total Open Pit Indicated 97.5 0.76 0.078 0.88 2.37 167.0 2.7 Inferred 21.7 0.60 0.062 0.69 0.42 29.7 0.5 Total Open Pit Z87 Indicated 56.6 0.83 0.096 0.98 1.51 119.4 1.8 Inferred 12.1 0.58 0.066 0.68 0.23 17.5 0.3 Total Open Pit J Zone (J4,J5) Indicated 40.8 0.66 0.053 0.74 0.86 47.6 1.0 Inferred 9.6 0.61 0.058 0.70 0.19 12.2 0.2 Total Underground Indicated 24.2 1.32 0.121 1.50 1.02 64.8 1.2 Inferred 14.4 1.31 0.115 1.49 0.61 36.5 0.7 Notes: CIM definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.
Open pit Mineral Resources were estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t AuEq and were constrained by a Whittle pit shell. Underground Mineral Resources were estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.9 g/t AuEq.
Mineral Resources were estimated using long-term metal prices of US$1,400 per ounce gold and US$3.25 per pound copper; and an exchange rate of US$1.00 = C$1.25.
AuEq = Au Grade + 1.546 * Cu grade
A recovery of 83% was used for gold and 92% for copper.
Figures have been rounded to the appropriate level of precision for the reporting of Mineral Resources.
Due to rounding, some columns or rows may not compute exactly as shown.
Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues
J4 North
J4 North represents an area of mineralization running 1.8 kilometres from the end of the J Zone to the former boundary of the Troilus gold property (see Figure 4). The excellent results obtained from surface exploration in 2018, including outcrop samples returning over 100 g/t Au and 4 g/t Au, led to the acquisition of over 11,000 hectares to the immediate northeast. This trend could represent the extension of the J Zone or potential new gold deposits to the northeast.
Figure 4: Troilus Property Geology, Claim Contour and Mineral Zones
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3524fc7b-11e9-4cd5-a048-834688adf86c
Southwest Zone
The Southwest Zone is located along the margin of the Troilus Diorite and surrounding volcanics, 3.5 kilometres Southwest of Z87 (See Figure 4). Historically this area exhibited significant mineralization from drilling including intercepts as high as 36m @ 1.23g/t Au, and 18m @ 1.06g/t Au. Historic drilling in this area is limited, leaving the opportunity to explore and potentially outline new mineralization at surface.
The Southwest Zone exemplifies near term, blue sky opportunity at Troilus, and will be the initial focus of a significant, property wide exploration program. The Troilus Diorite remains underexplored and highly prospective. Surface mapping on recently uncovered bedrock show geology (lithology) resembling the identical sequencing to Z87, over 3.5 kilometres to the northeast.
About Troilus Gold Corp.
Troilus is a Toronto-based, Quebec-focused, advanced stage exploration and early-development company focused on the mineral expansion and potential mine re-start of the former gold and copper Troilus mine. The 16,000-hectare Troilus property is located near Chibougamau, within the Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada. From 1997 to 2010, Inmet Mining Corporation operated the Troilus project as an open-pit mine, producing more than 2,000,000 ounces of gold and nearly 70,000 tonnes of copper.
Quality Control
During the J4 Zone drill program, one metre assay samples are taken from NQ core and sawed in half. One-half is sent for assaying at ALS Laboratory, a certified commercial laboratory, and the other half is retained for results, cross checks, and future reference. A strict QA/QC program is applied to all samples; which include insertion of one certified mineralized standard and one blank sample in each batch of 25 samples. The gold analyses were by fire-assay on 50 grams of pulp with an atomic absorption finish. Repeats were carried out by fire-assay with a gravimetric finish on each sample containing 3.5 g/t Au or more. For the main mineralized zone, two metre assay samples are taken from NQ core and sawed in half. The gold analyses were by metallic sieve. A fine crushing 70% <2mm is performed. The sample is divided so that 1.2 to 1.5 kg is used for analysis. The sample of 1.2 to 1.5 Kg is then 95% pulverized <106 mesh. 50 g is recovered for ME-ICP61 analysis of 33 elements four acid ICP-AES. The remainder of the sample is sent to the screen to divide the fraction larger and smaller than 106 mesh. The portion smaller than 106 mesh is analyzed in 50 g by FireAssay. The portion larger than 106 mesh is fully analyzed. The values are then combined by weighted calculation. For both type results are transmitted to Troilus Gold by a certificate certified by the laboratory.
Qualified Person
The technical and scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Bertrand Brassard, M.Sc., P.Geo., Senior Project Geologist, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Brassard is an employee of Troilus and is not independent of the Company under National Instrument 43-101.
For more information:
Spyros Karellas
Director, Global Communications
+1 (647) 276-0050 x1309
Cautionary statements
Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of Mineral Resources will be converted to Mineral Reserves. Inferred Mineral Resources have a lower level of confidence that that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. Quantity and grades are estimates and are rounded to reflect the fact that the Mineral Resource Estimate is an approximation. For more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters and risks associated with the mineral resource estimates discussed herein, see the Companys technical report entitled Technical Report on the Troilus Gold Copper Mine Mineral Resource Estimate, Quebec, Canada dated November 20, 2017 (the Technical Report) available under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com.
This press release contains forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forwardlooking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding, the impact of the planned drill program and results on the Company, , the projected economics of the project, and the Companys understanding of the project; statements with respect to the development potential and timetable of the project; the estimation of mineral resources; realization of mineral resource estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future exploration; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; government regulation of mining operations; and environmental risks and the receipt of any required regulatory approvals. Generally, forwardlooking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology 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. Forwardlooking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Troilus to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forwardlooking information, including but not limited to: there being no assurance that the exploration program will result in expanded mineral resources; risks and uncertainties inherent to mineral resource estimates; receipt of necessary approvals; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; environmental and other risks of the mining industry, including without limitation, risks and uncertainties discussed in the Technical Report and other continuous disclosure documents of the Company available under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. Although Troilus has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forwardlooking information. Pitchblack and Troilus do not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
English Norwegian
Data Respons has signed contracts of SEK 40 million with a customer within Telecom & Media.
The contracts include specialist R&D services, software development, advanced testing and system integration supporting all phases of the development cycle. The deliveries will be carried out during 2019.
- These contracts confirm a strong structural demand among our customers and contribute to a record high order intake so far in 2019. Over the last years, we have enjoyed great success in the Swedish market and significantly increased revenues through strong organic development, says Kenneth Ragnvaldsen, CEO of Data Respons.
The main drivers are increased R&D spend among our customers and that companies are getting more technology-driven in their product development strategies. Products are becoming more intelligent, service and software-oriented, and are expected to be securely connected 24/7. Our skilled engineering teams deliver highly specialised R&D services in long term and business critical product development projects, Ragnvaldsen concludes.
For further information:
Kenneth Ragnvaldsen, CEO, Data Respons ASA, tel. +47 913 90 918.
Rune Wahl, CFO, Data Respons ASA, tel. + 47 950 36 046
About Data Respons
Data Respons is a full-service, independent technology company and a leading player in the IoT, Industrial digitalisation and the embedded solutions market. We provide R&D services and smarter solutions to OEM companies, system integrators and vertical product suppliers in a range of market segments such as Transport & Automotive, Industrial Automation, Telecom & Media, Space, Defence & Security, Medtech, Energy & Maritime, and Finance & Public Sector.
Data Respons ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (Ticker: DAT), and is part of the information technology index. The company has offices in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Taiwan. www.datarespons.com
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- African Gold Group Inc. (TSX-V: AGG) (AGG or the Company) announces that Stephan Theron has resigned as Chairman and Director of the Company, effective immediately.
African Gold Group would like to thank Mr. Theron for his contributions to the Company and wish him well with his future endeavours.
About African Gold Group Inc.
African Gold Group is a Canadian listed exploration and development company on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX V:AGG) with its focus on developing a gold platform in West Africa. Its two principal assets are the Kobada Project in Mali and the gold project located in Madougou, Burkina Faso.
For further information, contact:
Andrew Cheatle
Vice President
+1 (416) 309-2133
andrew.cheatle@fmresources.ca
Cautionary Notes Re Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain Forward-Looking Statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including statements regarding changes to AGGs board of directors and future plans and objectives of African Gold Group. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from African Gold Groups expectations have been disclosed under the heading Risk Factors and elsewhere in African Gold Groups documents filed from time-to-time with the TSX Venture Exchange and other regulatory authorities. African Gold Group disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements whether resulting from new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.
Democratic presidential contender Sen. Kamala Harris said last weekend that, if elected, she wants to give every teacher a $13,500 raise by the end of her first term , according to the campaign. For context: That would be about a 23 percent increase in base pay for the average teacher. In Harris view, it would help make up for the fact that public school teachers make 11 percent less than similar professionals with college degrees. (Thats according to a report by the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank.)
We must acknowledge this simple truth: We are a country that claims to care about education, but not so much about the education of other peoples children, Harris wrote in the Washington Post Tuesday . At the most fundamental level, our children are being raised by two groups of people: families and teachers. Yet, we fail to pay teachers their value.
So how would Harris actually accomplish this? Heres her plan.
The U.S. Department of Education would work with state education agencies to set a base salary goal for beginning teachers in each state. States would increase every teachers salary until they met that goal.
The federal government would pay up front 10 percent of the cost of reaching that salary goal.
After that initial up-front payment, the feds would match $3 for every $1 the state contributes. That means this plan would depend in part on states willingness to participate.
There would be extra resources to help boost pay in the highest-need schools, which serve a disproportionate share of children of color, the Harris campaign says. There are no specifics yet on how the plan would define highest-need.
And there would be additional funding"billions, according to the campaignto help support and train teachers, through things like teacher and principal residencies, mentoring and induction programs for new teachers, and programs to help encourage teacher diversity.
Half of this teacher-training funding would go to minority-serving institutions, such as historically black colleges and universities. Studies have shown that students of color can benefit from having teachers of color. (More on this in Education Week here. )
Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, praised the proposal.
Sen. Harris plan is a bold, smart, strategic and decisive proposal that will help make teaching a respected profession by paying teachers a living wage, while incentivizing diversity and high-quality teacher preparation, she said. It will help fund our future by delivering urgently needed help to communities wracked by decades of austerity and underinvestment.
Whats the cost of this plan? The Harris campaign is estimating a price tag of $315 billion over ten years. It would be paid for by making changes to the estate tax, and closing tax loopholes, the Harris campaign says.
There are still unanswered questions. For instance, Harris proposal also doesnt specify how, or whether, teachers in different subjects or with varying levels of experience might be impacted differently.
Could this actually pass? Its hard to imagine the proposal as written getting very far in the current political landscape, given that Republicans control the Senate. It wasnt easy for the Obama administration to get just $10 billion to save teachers jobs at the height of the Great Recession, and that was when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress.
But a less-sweeping version of the proposalor some other push on teacher paycould garner bipartisan support, as the issue has in some states.
Photo: Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., in front of the U.S. Capitol. (Jose Luis Magana for the Associated Press)
Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Photo: Contributed
Kelowna-Lake Country Conservative hopeful Tracy Gray fuelled controversy when she recently declined an invitation to take part in a forum debate with rival candidate Renee Wasylyk.
Wasylyk invited Gray to the forum this Friday after a similar event proposed by the Electoral District Association was cancelled.
Gray declined the invitation, stating that she received legal advice saying her participation may contravene the Canada Elections Act.
She didn't elaborate until now.
Gray says a political financing handbook published by Elections Canada "clearly states on Page 22 that corporations cannot make contributions in nomination contests."
"Ms. Wasylyk stated in her invitation on March 19 that JDS Mining has generously offered to sponsor this event," Gray said in a statement. "Abandoning the event's sponsor at this point only raises more questions."
She says she will not attend forums or debates not approved by the local electoral district association.
Conservative party members will gather April 6 at the Ramada Hotel to select a candidate for the Oct. 21 federal election.
MIAMI, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CDC Deposits Corp. (CDC) announced today that it has become the first cash management provider to become a signatory to the UN-Supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
CDC offers the only social impact solution for cash management, which is a new area of focus for the PRI, says William R. Burdette, CDC President. CDC supports nonprofits around the country through a network of community bank and depositor relationships activated through CDCs Impact Deposit Program. Becoming a signatory of the PRI reinforces our commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG), said Mr. Burdette.
CDCs commitment to responsible investment strategies makes them a welcome addition to the PRI, said the PRI CEO Fiona Reynolds. As our first cash management provider signatory, we think this sends a good message to markets that cash deposits can be used by individuals, foundations, and other stakeholders to achieve real world impact on ESG issues.
Since 2003, CDC has worked with partner banks to protect and manage large cash deposits through a single account on behalf of its clients. CDC was one of the first network managers in the U.S. to offer institutions the ability to distribute funds into money market accounts at multiple banks across the U.S with no more than $250,000 in any one bank so that all funds in the program remain FDIC insured.
Uniquely, CDCs Impact Deposit Program also helps to accelerate beneficial social outcomes. CDC generates positive social impact for local communities and causes through proactive program development between more than 500 banks and charitable organizations to help drive community investment and philanthropic activities. Additionally, CDC donates a portion of its earnings from deposits directly to nonprofits to fund socially impactful programs. To date, CDCs Impact Deposit Program has generated donations of over $7.5 million to nonprofit organizations in communities served by the CDC banking network.
About CDC Deposits Corp.
CDC Deposits Corp. is a purpose-driven company that proactively builds mutually beneficial relationships between community banks, nonprofits, and partners to accelerate positive economic and social outcomes. Since 2003, the company has operated a cash deposit management network in the U.S., through which it has managed billions of dollars on behalf of high net worth individuals, family offices, foundations, corporations, and institutions. To learn more, visit www.cdcdeposits.com .
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CUV Ventures Corp. (TSX-V: CUV) (the Company) is pleased to announce that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with EasyPagos Ecuador, on March 25th 2019. The MOU, signed by CUV CEO, Steve Marshall and, Silvia Subia, CEO of Easy Pagos, outlines a mutual desire to study the technical requirements for RevoluPAY e-Wallet family remittances and, cash advances for visiting tourists, to be collected at over 1000 agencies controlled by EasyPagos www.easypagos.com in Ecuador. The parties have agreed to work on a Definitive Agreement (DA) concerning bilateral commissions, the technical linking of payments settlement systems and, the mechanism for the instant delivery of worldwide remittances and, tourism focused cash-advances, in Ecuador. The parties anticipate arriving at a mutually agreeable arrangement very soon. The Company would also like to thank Advisor, Emilio Morales, for his assistance in forging this potentially valuable relationship with EasyPagos.
EasyPagos Presentation
About EasyPagos
EasyPagos (Easy Payments in English), headquartered in Guayaquil, was founded in the year 2000 and, currently provides logistical payment deliveries for 27 of the worlds largest remittance companies. EasyPagos manages over 1000 physical delivery bureaus across the length and, breadth of Ecuador, servicing: major cities, smaller towns and, villages.
Remittance and Tourism Data for Ecuador
The central bank of Ecuador estimates that the country receives over $3 Billion USD annually through international remittances. Furthermore, Ecuador remains a popular South American tourism hotspot, with approximately 1.8 million visitors annually. The Companys RevoluVIP platform (page 17) will offer specific offers to Ecuador on the VIP country website therefore, the proposed agreement with EasyPagos will allow visiting tourists easy access to local currency through their RevoluPAY app.
About RevoluPAY
The Companys flagship technology is RevoluPAY, the Apple and Android multinational payment app. Built entirely in-house, RevoluPAY features proprietary, sector specific, technology of which, the resulting source code is the property of the Company. RevoluPAYs built-in features include: Leisure payments, travel payments, retail and hospitality payments, remittance payments, real estate payments, pay-as-you-go phone top-ups, Utility Bill payments, etc. RevoluPAY is powered by blockchain protocols, and, is squarely aimed at the worldwide multi-billion dollar leisure sector and, + $595 billion family remittance market. RevoluPAY is operated by the European wholly owned subsidiary RevoluPAY S.L located in Barcelona. RevoluPAY S.L operates under European E-money - Directive 2009/110/EC through a licensed electronic money institution or EDE Banking Licensed entity.
RevoluPAY Presentation
About CUV Ventures Corp.:
CUV Ventures Corp. is a multi-asset, multidivisional publicly traded Canadian company deploying advanced technologies in the; Online Travel, Vacation Resort, Mobile Apps, Money Remittance, Mobile phone top-ups, Invoice factoring, Blockchain Systems, and Fintech app sectors.
Our flagship technology is RevoluPAY, the Apple and Android multinational leisure payments and remittance app, powered by blockchain protocols, and aimed at the worldwide + $595 billion family remittance market. Click here to read more.
For further information on CUV Ventures Corp. (TSX-V: CUV) visit the Companys website at www.cuvventures.com. The Company has approximately 134,523,337 shares issued and outstanding.
CUV VENTURES CORP.
Steve Marshall
______________________
STEVE MARSHALL
CEO
For further information contact:
Don Mosher
CUV Ventures Corp.
Telephone: (604) 685-6465
Toll Free: 800-567-8181
Facsimile: 604-687-3119
Email: info@cuvventures.com
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.
Portland, OR, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global Polyethylene Films Market garnered $73.50 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $90.91 billion by 2022, registering a CAGR of 3.6% from 2017 to 2023.
The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. It includes a study of the market size and share, market dynamics, market classification, and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the prominent players operating in this market. The information in the report is a result of an extensive primary and secondary research.
Request Report Sample at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2972
The report discusses the drivers, restraints, and opportunities of the passive optical component market in detail. The elastic nature of polyethylene films which enable production of films with good toughness suitable for food packaging as well as non-food applications, innovations in food & beverages packaging, concerns over the rise of use of bioplastic materials, and increase in demand for hygienic and flexible food packaging materials drive the polyethylene films market growth. Nonetheless, fluctuations in the cost of raw materials cost and stringent regulations imposed for the use of plastic restrict the market growth. On the other hand, rise in demand for polyethylene films as a substitute for glass and metal offer new opportunities for the growth of the market.
The report presents a broad analysis of the market segmentation. It bifurcates the market into technology, material, type, application, and region. Based on technology, the market is divided into blown film extrusion, cast film extrusion, and others. The blown film extrusion segment captured the highest market share in 2017 and would dominate the market. It would also grow at the fastest CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period, 2017 - 2023. The material segment is divided into HDPE, LDPE, and LLDPE. The LLDPE segment gained the highest market share of 42% in 2017 and would dominate the market during the forecast period. The report divides the type segment into stretch films and shrink films. Based on application, the market is divided into beverage packaging, food packaging, agriculture films, construction films, household items, and others. Geographically, the market analysis covers North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Asia-Pacific would attain the highest market share as well as grow at the fastest CAGR during the study period.
Purchase Inquiry at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2972
The report also includes the competitive profiling of the leading players in global polyethylene films market to help players, investors, and new entrants make informed business decisions. They include AEP Industries, Amcor Ltd., Berry Plastics Corporation, Dupont Teijin Films, Exopac Holdings Corporation, Jindal Poly Films, Sealed Air Corporation, Hilex Poly Co LLC, Innovia Films Ltd., and Ampac Holdings.
About Us:
Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business -consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.
We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.
English Finnish
Suomen Hoivatilat Oyj
Stock exchange release 26 March 2019 02:30 pm EET
First projects to start in Sweden
Hoivatilat AB has gotten off to a strong start in Sweden. The company has now won three contracts for preschool projects in Eskilstuna, Ronneby and Norrtalje. Their total investment value is approximately EUR 11 million. The final lease contracts will be signed during this spring. All three of the day care centres will be completed in 2020. "We are looking forward to continue our expansion through long-term investments in community service properties in Sweden", says Maria Frid, CEO of Hoivatilat AB.
"I'm really glad that our operations in Sweden have taken off quickly and that we have been so positively received there. This means we can also recruit more staff in Sweden this year", says Hoivatilat's CEO Jussi Karjula.
Hoivatilat has had a very good year so far on the Finnish market as well. The company has already won contracts for a total of about EUR 30 million in Finland this year. Over half of these are for leased facilities for municipal tenants: a school project in Mikkeli and day care centres in Oulu, Rovaniemi and Vaasa.
For further information, please contact:
Jussi Karjula, CEO, Suomen Hoivatilat Oyj, tel. +358 40 773 4054, jussi.karjula@hoivatilat.fi
Maria Frid, CEO, Hoivatilat AB, tel. +46 70 462 44 55, maria.frid@hoivatilat.se
SUOMEN HOIVATILAT OYJ
Suomen Hoivatilat in brief:
Suomen Hoivatilat specialises in producing, developing, owning and leasing out daycare centre and nursing home premises, service communities and schools. Hoivatilat was established in 2008 and cooperates with around 60 Finnish municipalities. It has started approximately 180 real estate projects throughout Finland.
Haldor Topsoe A/S held the annual general meeting of the company on March 26, 2019, at the companys address at Haldor Topses Alle 1, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
The agenda of the annual general meeting was as follows:
1. Election of the Chairman
2. Report by the Board of Directors on the companys activities during the past financial year
The Board of Directors report was adopted.
3. Submission for adoption of the annual report
The annual report for 2018 was adopted.
4. Resolution on application of profits in accordance with the approved annual report
The proposal for application of profits for 2018 was adopted.
5. Election of members to the Board of Directors
All members of the Board of Directors were reelected.
6. Election of auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab was reelected as auditors.
7. Any other business
DALLAS, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lexipol, the leading provider of state-specific policies and training for public safety agencies, is pleased to announce two new customers in Virginia: Chesapeake Fire Department and Richmond Fire and Emergency Services. The agencies, located in two of the largest cities in the state, protect communities of nearly half a million residents.
Chesapeake Fire Department was founded in 1963 and operates 15 stations. The 423 fire service members on staff cover 353 square miles and nearly 38,000 calls per year. Richmond Fire and Emergency Services, founded in 1858, operates 20 stations spanning 62.5 square miles. More than 430 fire service members are on staff and respond to approximately 37,000 calls per year.
Developed by industry professionals and public safety attorneys, the Lexipol Virginia Fire Policy and Training Solution includes more than 165 policies and 25 procedures for high-risk operations that are continuously updated to meet changes in laws and best practices. The subscription-based service also includes training bulletins, policy acknowledgment tracking and a mobile app where firefighters can access policies and procedures.
We are pleased to welcome both departments, said Lexipol Chief Revenue Officer Chuck Corbin. By partnering with Lexipol, these agencies demonstrate their commitment to departmental and operational excellence as well as enhancing the safety of the communities they serve. This sentiment was echoed by Chesapeake Fire Department Chief Edmund Elliott. By providing us with policies that address federal laws and regulations, as well as those of the Commonwealth, Lexipol gives us confidence were delivering the best service possible to our customers, Chief Elliott said. Following best practice guidelines is critical for the safety of our firefighters.
Along with policies and procedures, the two departments will have access to training resources that help personnel learn and apply policies. The Daily Training Bulletins bring our policies to life, said Captain Travis Preau of Richmond Fire and Emergency Services. The scenario-based questions are an easy way to reinforce policy and procedure understanding and bring more consistency to our operations across stations and shifts.
Lexipol currently offers public safety policies and training to more than 3,500 agencies in 35 states.
To learn more, visit www.lexipol.com/fire .
About Lexipol
Lexipol is Americas leading source of state-specific policy and training solutions that reduce risk, lower litigation costs and improve personnel safety in law enforcement agencies, fire departments and corrections facilities. Delivered via an online platform and mobile app, Lexipols content is continuously updated to address legislative changes and evolving best practices. Using accountability tools and integrated training, Lexipol provides a cost-effective way for agencies to enhance policy compliance and understanding, allowing leaders to focus more resources on serving their communities. With principal offices in Dallas, Texas, and Irvine, California, Lexipol offers policy management solutions to more than 3,500 agencies in 35 states. For additional information, visit www.lexipol.com .
About Chesapeake Fire Department
The Chesapeake Fire Department (CFD) has 15 fire stations located throughout the Citys 353 square miles. CFD is a progressive organization and its mission is to save lives and protect property by providing responsive and caring services. The Department consists of engine companies, ladder companies, medic units, technical rescue, hazardous materials, foam and marine firefighting specialty teams. CFDs fire prevention efforts include fire code enforcement, inspections, plan reviews, and public education programs.
About Richmond Fire and Emergency Services
The City of Richmond (VA) Department of Fire and Emergency Services has been serving the capital City since 1858. Today, between sworn and civilian staff we are 433 strong. We are divided into four Battalions with six companies assigned to each. Administration; Safety and Response Operations; Office of Emergency Management; and Support Services (to include Fire Prevention, Investigations, Training, Budget, and Logistics) make up our four internal divisions located at Fire Headquarters. Our firefighters operate out of 20 Fire Stations located within our 62.5 square miles. The Department provides fire and life safety response to approximately 220,000 residents and over 400,000 workers and visitors each day. We are equipped with 19 engine companies, 5 truck companies, 2 Foam Tankers, 2 Brush units, HazMat Response vehicles, Technical and Water Rescue vehicles, and other support apparatus. The department responds to over 37,000 calls for service each year and has an operating budget of nearly $49 million.
Media Contacts:
Shannon Pieper
Lexipol
Director, Marketing Communications
949-276-9938
spieper@lexipol.com
Edmund Elliott
Chesapeake Fire Department
Fire Chief
eelliott@cityofchesapeake.net
757-641-2521
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the GoFly Prize, the $2+ million USD international competition to create a personal flying device, announced its five Phase II winners based on their prototype submissions.
GoFly is comprised of more than 3,500 innovators from 101 countries across the globe. Competitors are creating a personal flyer that is smaller, lighter and quieter than anything that has ever existed before. From this community, 31 Phase II Teams across 16 countries submitted entries and were reviewed by a panel of experts across 2 rounds of judging.
The five Phase II winners, in alphabetical order, are:
Aeroxo LV, ERA Aviabike, Latvia and Russia
ERA Aviabike, Latvia and Russia DragonAir Aviation, Airboard 2.0, United States
Airboard 2.0, United States Silverwing, S1, Netherlands
S1, Netherlands Texas A&M Harmony, Aria, United States
Aria, United States Trek Aerospace, Inc, FlyKart2, United States
Phase II teams were required to submit visual and written documentation detailing their personal flyer prototypes. Its the first time physical prototypes have been introduced into the challenge, bringing GoFly one step closer to the Final Fly-Off next year.
After much anticipation, we are excited to announce our Phase II winners and unveil their prototypes. The level of ingenuity and dedication from each of these competitors is truly impressive, said GoFly CEO Gwen Lighter. Each device is unique, revolutionizing the way we envision personal flight.
GoFly has been able to reach such a highly qualified group of competitors not only through the strength of its vision, but also through the support of its global network of sponsors. Major partners include Grand Sponsor Boeing, Corporate Sponsor Pratt & Whitney, as well as over twenty international aviation and innovation organizations. All Teams that progress towards the Final Fly-Off and all new Teams that join the GoFly competition now will benefit from the continued support of these sponsors, as well as additional in-kind sponsor resources and a dedicated Mentors and Masters program.
Were inspired and excited to see the strong progress that GoFly competitors have made on their bold, creative designs, said Boeing Chief Technology Officer Greg Hyslop. Their work confirms a principle thats at the core of both Boeing and GoFly: aerospace innovation changes the world.
The GoFly competition sets itself apart in how it works to inspire the current and future generations of innovators aligning closely with our companys mission, said Geoff Hunt, Senior Vice President of Engineering of Pratt & Whitney. Phase II has produced tremendous results, demonstrating what it means to be a leader in the industry. It is work like this that inspired Pratt & Whitney to create the Disruptor Award, and we look forward to meeting the contenders for that prize during the Final Fly-Off.
Following the Phase II announcement, GoFly and its Teams will be preparing for the Final Fly-Off, at which point innovators will put their personal flyers to the test, competing at a final event showcase and vying for the remaining $1.6 million USD in prizes.
For more information about the GoFly Prize, or to form a new Team to enter the competition and the Final Fly-Off, please visit http://www.goflyprize.com .
About The GoFly Prize
The GoFly Prize is a $2+ million USD, two-year international incentive competition to create a personal flying device that can be safely used by anyone, anywhere. With Boeing as its Grand Sponsor and Pratt & Whitney as its Corporate Sponsor, The GoFly Prize will provide teams with expertise, mentorship, prizes and global exposure as they compete to create the worlds first safe, ultra-compact, urban-compatible personal flying device. The multi-phase competition encourages competitors from around the world to participate in making the dream of human flight a reality. For more information or to form a new team to compete, visit http://www.goflyprize.com .
About Boeing
Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, defense, space and security systems, and service provider of aftermarket support. As Americas biggest manufacturing exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing products and tailored services include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training.
Salt Lake City, Utah, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Inception Mining Inc. Announces Completion of Technical Report for Clavo Rico Deposit
Salt Lake City, Utah March 26, 2019 Inception Mining Inc. (OTCQB: IMII) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has completed a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report (the Technical Report) that includes an estimate on its Clavo Rico Project (Project) located in El Corpus, Departamento Choluteca, Honduras. The Technical Report has an effective date of 15 March 2019 and can be found on the Companys website at http://inceptionmining.com/clavorico/43-101-report/ .
Highlights of the Report include:
Economic mineralization at Clavo Rico is contained in three distinct zones, including an oxide zone, a supergene enrichment zone, and a sulfide zone.
Data on 96 recent and historic drill holes totaling 6264 meters of drill core yielding 2552 assays together with 827 channel samples collected from historic adits.
Data on an oxide zone. The oxide zone has been producing since 2015.
Data on a sulfide zone that was calculated using two different modeling techniques to reflect geologic uncertainties:
Data of the supergene enrichment zone
The conceptual geologic model, supported by field mapping, production records and both recent and historic drill programs suggests that significant potential exists to increase the known mineral resource with additional drilling.
Trent DAmbrosio, Company Chief Executive Officer, remarked, This Technical Report was two years in the making and we are gratified at the results. We feel that our Clavo Rico project, and the Company as a whole, is a world-class mining operation. The team performed exceptionally well during this time which is a key component to our future ambitions. Their diligent efforts, along with the report, both substantiate our long-held belief about our value and potential to compete on the world stage. We are excited about the direction we are headed and look forward bringing our shareholders further news as it becomes available.
Qualified Person
The Technical Report was prepared by J. Brian Mahoney, P.Geo., of Precision GeoSolutions, who is considered a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101. The Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.inceptionmining.com .
About Inception Mining, Inc.
Inception Mining Inc., a Nevada corporation, is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold projects in Central and North America. Inceptions core asset is the Clavo Rico gold project in Honduras, which features a heap leach facility and on-site ADR plant.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results and the timing thereof, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the potential for the identification of multiple deposits in the Project area, the potential for a low capex and/or opex heap leach mine operation, the potential for a production decision to be made, the potential commencement of any development of a mine following a production decision, the potential for any mining or production, the potential for additional resources to be located between certain of the existing deposits, business and financing plans and business trends, are forward-looking statements. Information concerning mineral resource estimates are deemed to be forward-looking statements in that it reflects a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered, and the results of mining it, if a mineral deposit were developed and mined. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, significant increases in the cost of labor, materials, equipment and supplies required to develop and operate any mine, the Company's inability to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest filings with the SEC. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sec.gov and readers are urged to review these materials with respect to the Company's mineral properties.
Cautionary Note Regarding References to Resources and Reserves
National Instrument 43 101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource estimates contained in or incorporated by reference in this press release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") Standards on Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council on November 14, 2004 (the "CIM Standards") as they may be amended from time to time by the CIM. While the Company is not listed on any Canadian exchange or subject to NI 43-101, and the Technical Report will not be filed with any Canadian authorities, it elected to have the 43-101 report completed for informational, voluntary purposes. United States shareholders are cautioned that the requirements and terminology of NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards differ significantly from the requirements and terminology of the SEC set forth in the SEC's Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Industry Guide 7") and Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Accordingly, the Company's disclosures regarding mineralization may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by companies subject to SEC Industry Guide 7 or Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Without limiting the foregoing, while the terms "mineral resources", "inferred mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "measured mineral resources" are recognized and required by NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards, they are not recognized by the SEC and are not permitted to be used in documents filed with the SEC by companies subject to SEC Industry Guide 7. These definitions also differ from the requirements of the disclosure and technical report requirements of Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, which the Company will fully comply with according to the SECs required timeline of the fiscal year following January 1, 2021. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and US investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource will ever be converted into reserves. Further, inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the inferred resources will ever be upgraded to a higher resource category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility study, except in rare cases. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant "reserves" as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit amounts. The term "contained ounces" is not permitted under the rules of SEC Industry Guide 7. In addition, the NI 43-101 and CIM Standards definition of a "reserve" differs from the definition in SEC Industry Guide 7. In SEC Industry Guide 7, a mineral reserve is defined as a part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time the mineral reserve determination is made, and a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis of designated reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to the potential mineralization and geological merits of the Company properties. There can be no assurance statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from anticipated in such statements.
Inception Mining Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events except as required by applicable securities legislation.
Contact:
SOURCE: Inception Mining Inc.
(OTC QB: IMII)
5330 South 900 East, Suite 280
Salt Lake City, Utah 84117
Trent DAmbrosio CEO
(801) 312-8113 Ext. 101
info@inceptionmining.com
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD; MSE:ERDN) (" Erdene " or the "Company") is pleased to announce its intention to repurchase a 1% net smelter return royalty (NSR) from Sandstorm Gold Limited (Sandstorm) on its Khundii Gold Project in southwest Mongolia by April 14, 2019 for C$1.2 million.
Considering the results of our recent Preliminary Economic Assessment and the exploration potential of the Khundii Gold Project license area, the fair value of the 1% NSR is well in excess of the repurchase price. Buying back the NSR will create significant value for our shareholders, said Peter Akerley, Erdenes President and CEO. We would like to acknowledge Sandstorms support during the formative stages of the Khundii Gold Project and look forward to continuing to work with them as we move toward production.
As announced on April 21, 2016, Erdene completed a transaction granting Sandstorm a 2% NSR royalty on a select area that included the Khundii Gold Project as part of a C$2.5 million financing transaction. This transaction provided Erdene with a three-year option to buy back 50% of the 2% NSR Royalty for C$1.2 million. Erdene will fund the repurchase from cash on hand.
Review of Khundii Gold Project Development
Erdenes deposits are located in the Edren Terrane, within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, host to some of the worlds largest gold and copper-gold deposits. The Company has been the leader in exploration in southwest Mongolia over the past decade and is responsible for the discovery of the Khundii Gold District comprised of multiple high-grade gold and gold/base metal prospects, two of which are being considered for development: the 100%-owned Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects. Together, these deposits comprise the Khundii Gold Project (the Project).
The Company delivered the Projects maiden mineral resource estimate in Q3 2018 with a Measured and Indicated (M&I) resource of 751,000 ounces (oz) gold at an average grade of 2.3 g/t gold and an Inferred resource of 291,000 oz gold at an average grade of 1.8 g/t gold (cut-off grade of 0.7 g/t gold). This was followed by a National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) Preliminary Economic Assessment in December 2018 which returned an after-tax Net Present Value at a 5% discount rate (NPV5%) and a US$1,200/oz gold price of US$99 million and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 56%. The initial development has a life of mine head grade of 3.42 g/t gold with an average annual gold production of 51,200 oz over an eight-year mine life. Based on the potential for additional discovery and expansion on the current license areas the planned development is considered as a foundation for growth.
About Erdene
Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has interests in four exploration licenses and a mining license in Southwest Mongolia, where exploration success has led to the discovery and definition of the Khundii Gold District. Erdene Resource Development Corp. is listed on the Toronto and Mongolia stock exchanges. Further information is available at www.erdene.com . Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Erdene cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE
Seattle, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Cambia Grove, a health care-focused innovation center, opens its second TRAILS Competition to startups vying for the opportunity to hear valuable product and market feedback from three childrens hospitals along the west coast; Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital and Seattle Childrens Hospital.
The TRAILS Competition was designed to provide promising startups access to real world testing and application within the health care system to gain knowledge of how the system works. Through this experience, startups can iterate on their solution to make it a lean, high value product. This springs competition seeks to find startups interested in improving the experiences of children and their families during times of urgent medical needs.
Cambia Groves goal is to make it easier to innovate in health care, said Maura Little, Executive Director of the Cambia Grove. "Often, startups lack access to real-world feedback of their products. We are thrilled to partner with Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital and Seattle Childrens Hospital to help startups develop products that will truly move the industry towards a more person-focused and sustainable health care system.
The applications are due on April 14, 2019 by 11:59PM PDT. There will be three rounds of judging by representatives from the 5 Points of Health CareTM (patients, providers, payers, purchasers and policymakers), investors and other professionals in the health startup community. Five finalists will be selected to pitch in front of a judging panel on May 22, 2019 in Seattle. All semifinalists will receive feedback including a candid evaluation of the products ability to address participating hospitals problem statements.
Innovators often work in a vacuum, building products without getting candid feedback from the individuals who will be using and purchasing their product. Were grateful the Cambia Grove has created the framework for startups to develop and scale actionable solutions in an ecosystem that allows them access to key stakeholders within healthcare delivery organizations, said Omkar Kulkarni, Chief Innovation Officer, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
This TRAILS Competition is unique because it offers entrepreneurs access to stakeholders in very different markets: Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland. The participating hospitals, and the markets we serve, all represent and serve different patient populations. The winning startup will find tremendous value from the feedback they receive.
Last years winner LiteSprite, a mental health video game developer, surpassed startups from 6 states and 5 countries to earn a 12-month real-world data application to identify the economic opportunity of their product, Sinasprite, with the UW Primary Care Innovation Lab. Recently, Litesprite won the first U.S. Surgeon General Award presented to a video game.
For more information on the TRAILS Competition, deadlines and details on submission requirements, please visit the TRAILS Competition application page.
About Cambia Grove
Cambia Grove is a health care-focused center where innovators and entrepreneurs can convene and catalyze new solutions. We offer a shared space for the emerging health care economic cluster where a host of stakeholders set aside competition in favor of true collaboration toward the shared goals of better health and a more sustainable system. To learn more, visit us at CambiaGrove.com or on Twitter.
About Cambia Health Solutions
Cambia Health Solutions, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is dedicated to transforming health care. We put people at the heart of everything we do as we work to make the health care system more economically-sustainable and efficient for people and their families. Our company reaches nearly 70 million Americans nationwide, including more than two million people in the Pacific Northwest who are enrolled in our regional health plans. To learn more about us, visit CambiaHealth.com or Twitter.com/cambia.
5 Points of Health Care is a trademark of Cambia Health Solutions. 2019 Cambia Health Solutions. All Rights Reserved.
Attachment
Photo: Contributed
Vancouver Police are looking for witnesses to a serious assault near the Burrard Street Skytrain Station.
Const. Jason Doucette said at 7:30 p.m. on March 20, two men, known to each other, got into an altercation on Melville Street at Burrard Street.
One of the men allegedly attacked the other with a weapon before fleeing. The victim, a 47-year-old man from Vancouver, jumped into a taxi and got himself to hospital for emergency treatment.
This is a busy area with people coming and going from the Skytrain and local businesses, said Doucette. We understand a couple of people may have tried to assist, and wed like to hear from them.
Anyone who may have witnessed this assault, or has information about the incident, is asked to call detectives in the VPDs Major Crime Section at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
English French
Athens / Paris, 26 March 2019 - 17h35
Coface launches credit-insurance offer in Greece
Local companies set to benefit from Coface's expertise in risk prevention and payment protection.
In line with its strategic ambition to grow in promising new markets, Coface is launching its credit insurance offer in Greece, after having been granted a license from the Greek regulatory authority to operate as credit insurer. Coface is now able to strengthen its support to Greek businesses, by providing them with its recognised expertise in monitoring the credit-worthiness of millions of companies all over the world, and by protecting their commercial transactions.
Greece has undertaken reforms which pave the way for a promising credit insurance market. The consolidation of public accounts and reinforced fiscal credibility has enabled the country to make its return to international markets and to partially lift controls on capital. Greek companies have become more competitive, have reduced their debt and are now more export-oriented. This has fostered development of new sectors and allowed the productive fabric to evolve.
Commenting on the opening, Xavier Durand, CEO of Coface, said:
"Our Greek license extends Coface's historically strong presence in the Mediterranean and Africa region, which represented 27% of the Group's revenues in 2018. Greece is a promising market for Coface, where business confidence is improving, and growth is expected to be buoyant in 2019. Our direct credit insurance offer in Greece will reinforce Coface's support to local businesses, which up to now were served through our international network."
CONTACTS
MEDIA RELATIONS
Monica COULL
T. +33 (0)1 49 02 25 01
monica.coull@coface.com
Maria KRELLENSTEIN
T. +33 (0)1 49 02 16 29
maria.krellenstein@coface.com
ANALYSTS / INVESTORS
Thomas JACQUET
T. +33 (0)1 49 02 12 58
thomas.jacquet@coface.com
Benoit CHASTEL
T. +33 (0)1 49 02 22 28
benoit.chastel@coface.com
FINANCIAL CALENDAR 2019 (subject to change)
Q1-2019 results: 24 April 2019 (after market close)
Annual General Shareholders' Meeting 2018: 16 May 2019
H1-2019 results: 25 July 2019 (after market close)
9M-2019 results: 23 October 2019 (after market close)
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
This press release, as well as COFACE SA's integral regulatory information, can be found on the Group's website:
http://www.coface.com/Investors
For regulated information on Alternative Performance Measures (APM)
please refer to our Interim Financial Report for S1-2017 and our 2017 Registration Document.
Coface: for trade - Building business together
70 years of experience and the most finely meshed network have made Coface a reference in credit insurance, risk management and the global economy. With the ambition to become the most agile global trade credit insurance partner in the industry, Coface's experts work to the beat of the world economy, supporting 50,000 clients in building successful, growing and dynamic businesses. The Group's services and solutions protect and help companies take credit decisions to improve their ability to sell on both their domestic and export markets. In 2018, Coface employed ~4,100 people and registered turnover of 1.4 billion.
www.coface.com
COFACE SA. is listed on Euronext Paris - Compartment A
ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA
DISCLAIMER - Certain declarations featured in this press release may contain forecasts that notably relate to future events, trends, projects or targets. By nature, these forecasts include identified or unidentified risks and uncertainties, and may be affected by many factors likely to give rise to a significant discrepancy between the real results and those stated in these declarations. Please refer to chapter 5 "Main risk factors and their management within the Group" of the Coface Group's 2017 Registration Document filed with AMF on 5 April 2018 under the number No. D.18-0267 in order to obtain a description of certain major factors, risks and uncertainties likely to influence the Coface Group's businesses. The Coface Group disclaims any intention or obligation to publish an update of these forecasts, or provide new information on future events or any other circumstance.
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volaris Group (Volaris) today welcomes Delta Logic AG (Delta Logic) to its expanding portfolio of companies in the Justice vertical. Based in Sursee, Swizterland, Delta Logic provides a comprehensive case management solution, called Tribuna, to courthouses and prosecutors throughout Switzerland.
The Tribuna solution helps to move approximately 40,000 people through the Swiss justice system on an annual basis. Its core functionality provides full case management for everything from offense to verdicts, along with accounting and reporting functionality. The solution is used by more than 3,000 users daily.
Joining Volaris provides Delta Logic with opportunity to share best-practices and collaborate with like-minded companies in the Justice space. This can only help to improve our product offering and delivery to our customers, said Sandro Bollardini, Managing Director, Delta Logic. Volaris is a great home for us. We share common values about customer-centricity and Volaris really understands what it takes to run an effective vertical market software business.
Delta Logic maintains its brand, independence, and leadership under Bollardini. The company joins Volaris company, equivant, in the Justice vertical.
About Volaris Group
Volaris acquires, strengthens and grows vertical market technology companies. As an Operating Group of Constellation Software Inc., Volaris is all about strengthening businesses within the markets they compete and enabling them to grow whether that growth comes through organic measures such as new initiatives and product development, day-to-day business, or through complementary acquisitions. Learn more at www.volarisgroup.com .
LONDON, March 26, 2019 Stolt-Nielsen Limited (Oslo Brs: SNI) will hold a presentation and conference call to discuss the Companys unaudited results for the first quarter of 2019 on Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 14:00 CEST (08:00 EDT, 13:00 BST) in the auditorium at Swedbank, Filipstad Brygge 1, 0115 Oslo, Norway.
The presentation and call will be hosted by:
- Mr. Niels G. Stolt-Nielsen - Chief Executive Officer, Stolt-Nielsen Limited
- Mr. Jens F. Gruner-Hegge - Chief Financial Officer, Stolt-Nielsen Limited
Those who wish to participate may dial in local numbers +44 (0) 8445718892 in the UK, +47 2396 0264 in Norway, and +1 6315107495 in the US or the international number +44 (0) 2071 928000 and quote the conference code: 2391959. Phone lines will open 10 minutes before the call. A live audio webcast of the presentation may be accessed via the Stolt-Nielsen website at: https://www.stolt-nielsen.com/en/investors/reports-presentations/
For additional information please contact:
Jens F. Gruner-Hegge
Chief Financial Officer
UK +44 (0) 20 7611 8985
j.gruner-hegge@stolt.com
Ellie Davison
Head of Corporate Communications
UK +44 (0) 20 7611 8926
e.davison@stolt.com
About Stolt-Nielsen Limited
Stolt-Nielsen Limited (SNL or the "Company") is a leading global provider of integrated transportation solutions for bulk liquid chemicals, edible oils, acids, and other specialty liquids through its three largest business divisions, Stolt Tankers, Stolthaven Terminals and Stolt Tank Containers. Stolt Sea Farm produces and markets high quality turbot, sole, sturgeon, and caviar. Stolt-Nielsen Gas invests in LPG and LNG shipping and distribution. Stolt-Nielsen Limited is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
Attachment
MONTREAL, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- I-MED Pharma, Inc., a Canadian company specializing in dry eye diagnosis and management, announced today the signing of an exclusive agreement with DryCom - Dry Eye Solutions for distribution of its I-PEN Tear Osmolarity System in Brazil.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/293fa361-658c-4d57-9766-cc16edfa5498
The I-PEN is the worlds first, point-of-care, electronic diagnostic testing device to detect and indirectly measure the tear film osmolarity levels associated with marginal, mild, moderate and severe dry eye disease. The I-PEN Osmolarity System, used in conjunction with the I-PEN Osmolarity Single-Use-Sensors (SUS), provides a quick and simple method for determining tear osmolarity from the tear soaked palpebral conjunctiva.
Daniel Hofmann, President of I-MED Pharma, stated, DryCom is a promising partner for us, with a unique vision for expanding access of our cutting-edge products to both eye care professionals and dry eye patients in the Brazilian market. We are excited by the opportunity present in this country and will be working closely with DryCom to launch the I-PEN Osmolarity System in the upcoming months.
Gustavo Couri, CEO of DryCom, commented, DryCom is excited to announce the imminent launch of the I-PEN in Brazil. The I-PEN osmolarity device will now allow medical professionals in the industry to diagnose their patients with the most modern and cost-effective tool for dry eye.
About I-MED Pharma
I-MED Pharma is a privately held Canadian company, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, servicing Canadian ophthalmologists, optometrists and the global eye care community. Established thirty years ago, I-MED Pharma Inc. creates and distributes innovative medical, surgical and veterinary eye care products. It continually researches, develops and sources the most effective and advanced solutions to eye disorders like cataracts, corneal degenerations, glaucoma, dry eye and meibomian gland disease.
I-MED Pharma is proud to have been at the forefront of managing Dry Eye Syndrome as a serious disease and invests heavily in researching and developing effective dry eye products. I-MED Pharmas ocular surface disease product range includes dry eye drops , ocular hygiene , nutrition, therapeutic accessories and ocular occlusion devices.
For more information, please email media@imedpharma.com or visit www.imedpharma.com .
About DryCom
DryCom was founded exclusively to identify and offer to ophthalmic professionals the most current, innovative solutions for patients with Dry Eye Disease. DryCom is a company dedicated to bringing cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments to dry eye patients.
For more information, please email gsc@drycom-drycom.com or visit drycom-drycom.com .
Additional photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99bfd5b7-7cc3-4bfe-ae00-a64257d52eeb
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79c081e7-8af5-4dda-838d-deea48aa9d88
Increase in demand from cosmetics Industry is likely to fuel the growth of Liquid Paraffin market
Market Size USD 2.09 billion in 2018, Market Growth - CAGR of 1.2%, Market Trends Increase in investments in Cosmetics Industry
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Liquid Paraffin market is projected to grow at a rate of 1.2% by 2026, to reach USD 2.30 billion in 2026 from USD 2.09 billion in 2018, according to a new report by Reports and Data. Short-term growth till 2022 is projected to grow at a healthy pace of 0.7%.
Request for a sample of this research report at: https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/1217
Turmoil in the physical commodity market price index along with surplus inventory stock for liquid paraffin is anticipated to decline the growth of this market during the period 2023-2026. Moving forward to 2019 and the following years, vulnerability in raw material prices remains a concern for this industry along with unpredictable trade policies adopted by major consumers and manufacturers country. Cosmetics, food & beverages, detergents and lubricant industry will continue to be a significant demand driver for the growth of the liquid paraffin market. Qatar continues to be a dominant player in the supply of liquid paraffin however the mentioned region would likely face stiff price competition from Chinese and Indian manufacturers where prices would likely see a dip of 16% owing to oversupply. Capacity utilization rates have aggressively gone up by 11% during the period 2017-2018, as prices of liquid paraffin stabilized in this region post June 2017.
LAB continues to be the largest application segment in this market valuing USD 1.5 Billion in 2018 and reaching up to USD 1.74 Billion as demand for LAB has seen an overall increase of 6% during the past three years. Installed capacity has seen an increase of 26% combing Africa, LATM, Asia and Middle East. Sales of detergents both industrial and domestic are witnessing a rapid north rise therefore tangentially increasing the demand rate for liquid paraffin.
To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/liquid-paraffin-market
Further key findings from the report suggest
C14-C17 acquired the second largest market share growing at the rate of 1.1% reaching 483.1 million during the forecasted period. This demand mainly rose from the PVC, metal cutting, paints and sealants, plasticizers and flame retardants for rubber and polymers. C12-C14 emerged as the largest segment owing to its wide use in the detergent and fertilizers industry. This segment is also forecasted to have the highest growth rate moving ahead in the future.
North Americas current GTL plants are limited and short lived and are estimated to continue to do so during the forecasted period. There are very few production facilities that manufacture liquid paraffin in a wide scale in this region. Therefore majority of the liquid paraffin consumption comes through import. The market in this region is estimated to be USD 399.84 million in 2018. U.S. accounts for 51.14% in the entire consumption while countries such as Canada, Mexico, Dominic Republic and Panama account for the remaining share.
Europe liquid paraffin prices were stable during the period 2016-2017. Previously in 2015-2016 prices for liquid paraffin decreased but heading into June 2018 the prices in this region have shown a significant rise. Chinese imported material is still available and many consumers are buying up quantities and building inventories now amid the relatively low prices and quiet demand in order to ease the buying pressure when demand hits its peak at the end of August or in September. Predictions indicate there would be no price increase during this peak demand period as is normal.
Manufacturers profiled in this market are Sasol Ltd, Shell, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Farabi Petrochemical Company, Savita Oil Technologies Ltd., JXTG Nippon Oil and Energy Corporation, CEPSA, Sonneborn, MORESCO Corporation, KDOC, Atlas Setayesh Mehr, Gandhar Oils Refinery India, FPCC and UNICORN
Make an Inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/make-enquiry-form/1217
Segments covered in the report:
This report forecasts volume and revenue growth at a global, regional & country level, and provides an analysis on the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2026. For the purpose of this study, Reports and Data have segmented the Liquid Paraffin market on the Grade Type, Product Type, Application and Region:
By Grade Type Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018-2026)
C10-C13
C11-C14
C12-C14
C14-C17
C17-C20
By Product Type Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018-2026)
Light
Heavy
By Application Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018-2026)
LAB
Chlorinated Paraffin
Others
Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018-2026)
North America U.S.
Europe Germany UK
Asia Pacific China India
Latin America Brazil
MEA
Browse more materials and chemicals related reports at: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report/category/materials-and-chemicals
About Reports and Data
Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries and help clients make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Power, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware about the latest trends existent in the market. Reports and Data has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise.
Contact Us:
John Watson
Head of Business Development
Reports And Data | Web: www.reportsanddata.com
Direct Line: +1-800-819-3052
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE -- On4 Communications (OTCPINK: ONCI) is pleased to announce the following corporate update from CEO Steve Berman:
BUSINESS
Shareholders, I am happy to report that we had another record quarter with sales up significantly YOY and qtr over qtr. We also achieved major milestones which we will discuss in this letter to shareholders. Not only did sales go up, but our costs went down making us more profit per unit sold.
We tried successfully a Facebook and Instagram campaign which netted us real profits immediately. This is something we will be continuing in the next few months.
We negotiated Delaware debt down and paid it off, leaving us available to move the company to Colorado which is also in the works. In addition, after the quarter ended we reduced the OS by 1.4 billion shares which is something we wanted to do for a long time.
We signed 2 private label deals and are negotiating for 3 more which are testing as I write this letter to you.
GIFTCARDEXCHANGE.SHOP
As we have discussed GIFTCARDEXCHANGE.SHOP is moving very quickly. We have met with the web designers and have the beginnings of a platform. I received a proposal for a complete build out from one of the design teams and will be receiving another proposal next week from the other team we met with. The biggest issue is not buildout but back end compliance. We have to verify the validity of the card with the retailer and make sure its still valid before we can list on the site. I am expecting we will make a decision by end of April and start work ASAP. As I have stated I have also met with 2 large NY department stores as well as 2 health and beauty stores about buying gift cards at a big discount to populate the site. I will also be populating the site with $3,500 worth of gift cards that I have that I have never used; these include gift cards to Sephora, Dicks Sporting Goods, Ruby Tuesday, Target, Fridays, and a host of others. If any of you want to sell your cards that you are not using please e-mail me at On4company@gmail.com
DENTAL
We have not discussed this in a while but it is still on the table. I have reached out to 3 large urgent care companies about renting space in their centers and becoming their dental provider. I have met with 2 of them who love the idea and I will be meeting with the 3rd urgent care provider next week. After that meeting our board will decide what is needed to move this concept forward. I have also spoken to 2 large senior care providers and will be setting up meetings with them to discuss mobile dentistry for seniors. Mobile dentistry for seniors is a huge opportunity and is a niche that does not have many players in it. The plan, as I have stated, would be to treat seniors and only take what their insurance or government subsidy is, with no cost to the patient. Most seniors need dental care and its extremely difficult for them to get out and go to the dental clinic.
PHARREL PROTECTION
We have completed the test with the roofing company and it went great. We are in the process of negotiating terms for the deal. It will be a total of 800 trucks with a roll out of 200 every month for 4 months. Term sheets are out and we are waiting for final comments this week or next. We added a lot of new features for this deal which will be a benefit in deals to come. Through Pharrel we are in contact with large machinery companies including Cat and Deere as well as large Mining Companies like Rio Tinto, BHP and Vale for our Bfound mobile product and I believe we will be testing very shortly. The heavy truck business is a huge opportunity and we are moving forward every day. This is an untapped market and we are the first to be there. Pharrel is reaching out to many clients on our behalf and I believe this will generate lots of revenue for the company in the future and get us into markets we could never get into on our own. As soon as contracts are signed I will release the names of all companies involved.
2ND PRIVATE LABEL
I spoke with the owner of the 2nd private label group last Thursday who told me the ads are done. I will see them this week and they are looking to launch the first week of April. I know this has taken a long time but I assure you that this is a blockbuster deal. It is the biggest deal we have done to date and involves many facets. As soon as they start the ads, I will announce the name.
We are dealing with one of the largest dealer groups on the east coast with over 60 dealerships. The deal is 20 units in each dealership to start at $200 net to us or $240,000 per month. This will roll out over a month. At present, we have shipped 30 dealerships with the rest to be done in the next two to three weeks. They dont want to release until the ads hit the market. In addition, we are in talks with 3 other companies regarding private label opportunities: 2 in Europe and one here in the USA. Additionally, we will be starting a test with the company I went to see in Charlotte last week which could turn out amazing. Again, one of the biggest dealer groups in the USA. I will announce all names as soon as signed contracts are done.
REG A
As most of you know we have filed with the SEC for a REG A which will give us all the cash we will ever need to expand all our businesses. We can use all, part or nothing, whichever we choose. We will not need to finance anything through aged debt or other means. I will keep all shareholders involved on how this works out. In regards to debt, most of the large debt has been removed and the rest is over a year old and has to be fulfilled. This has been on the books for the past year. The REG A will allow us complete control over or dollars and we will use as necessary.
SIFTHOUSE
As we speak, we are in negotiations to lease 5000 plus sq feet expandable to 20,000 sq feet if needed. This business is about to explode. CVS just announced it will sell CBD oils for health and beauty needs. As big companies get more involved, the interest will grow and the demand will exceed supply. Canada is the world leader in this business and will continue to grow as the word desires more product. Land continues to be at a premium and we will take advantage of every opportunity to expand as we see fit.
HEXAGON
We still getting messages in reference to RS
"ALL CAPS DEEMED NECESSARY HERE: LET ME SAY THIS AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN and AGAIN: THERE WILL BE NO REVERSE SPLIT."
"LET ME SAY THIS AGAIN AS WELL: THERE ARE NO PLANS TO DO ANOTHER 3A1O"
So if you dont understand it, again: There are no plans on the table to do a reverse split.
The company is in a great position to capitalize on new markets. Distracted driving is an epidemic in the world and is only getting bigger. Cannabis is one of the fastest growing businesses led by total legalization in Canada with 10 other countries to follow.
We have Private label deals in place and we are creating new revenue streams. We are positioned for the future and will ride the wave. We are now branching out from our original model for the company which was to sell in Dealerships. Our goal, if I have learned anything, is to be diversified into many different businesses because as technology changes and AI changes the world we will be diversified into 6 different businesses; all different and self-contained.
About On4 Communications
On4 is a holdings company with an aggressive focus of acquiring proven and profitable businesses. Our first project is focusing on businesses operating in the $1.7 trillion U.S. healthcare industry. Our newest targeted businesses are operating in the trillion-dollar mobile App space. Our first acquisition in the mobile App space is FMS Marketing, a global creator and distributor of mobile Apps for Android and iPhones. We are also targeting businesses to acquire and joint venture within the medical marijuana and emerging MJ ancillary products space.
Forward-Looking Statement
This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements, as described in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at www.sec.gov , to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact:
On4 Communications, Inc.
On4Company@gmail.com
(323) 487-0389
LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global urology devices market size is projected to exceed around USD 57.4 billion by 2026, and this market is anticipated to grow with 6.9% CAGR during the forecast time period. The rapid increase in the geriatric population is expected to drive the growth of the global urology devices market.
Free Download Sample Report Pages for Better understanding@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-sample/1227
Urinary tract system disorders are extremely widespread and mainly stated and detected urological disorder across the globe. It has an impact on millions of people causing severe influence on physical, as well as emotional health. Most of the women as compared to men are affected by this disorder, and its occurrence rises with the age. Weak pelvic floor muscles, obesity, pregnancy, urinary tract infection, and neurological disorders are some of the conditions that cause urinary tract system disorders. Around 200 million people across the globe are affected by some kind of urinary incontinence or bladder problems. The huge patient pool suffering from the urinary disorder and other symptoms are expected to drive the global urology devices in the coming years. The high growth rate is due to the surge in adoption of urology devices, ease of availability of urology devices, an increase in demand for minimally invasive products across the globe. Lack of water consumption gradually leads to the occurrence of kidney stone among people of different age. The incidence of urological diseases such as kidney stone leads to painful urination due to the infection in the urinary tract. Additionally, the occurrence of bladder cancer has led to an increase in demand for minimally invasive treatment processes. Also, the occurrence of obesity, chronic diseases, and extreme smoking leads to the growing prevalence of stress incontinence. Also, the growing prevalence of stress incontinence is anticipated to fuel the demand for urology devices in the upcoming years.
Also, the increase in demand for minimally invasive devices for urology disorder treatment, favorable medical policies, and rapid increase in the geriatric population are some of the major factors boosting the demand of urology devices globally. Asia Pacific is expected to grow significantly at high CAGR due to the huge number of urinary disorder patient population in countries, such as India and China, the huge geriatric population in Japan, and increase in adoption of technologically advanced products in Japan and other developing countries. These factors are expected to boost the growth of the global urology devices market.
View Detail Information with Complete TOC@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/urology-devices-market
The global urology devices market is segmented into product, end-user, and region. On the basis of product, the global urology devices market is segmented into dialysis, laser & lithotripsy, robotic systems, endoscopes, endovision system & peripheral instruments, urodynamic systems, stents, urology catheters, urology guidewires, urodynamic systems, drainage bags, others. On the basis of end-user, the global urology devices market is segmented into dialysis centers, hospitals, and others. On the basis of the region, the global urology devices market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.
Browse All official Market Research Reports Press Releases@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/press-releases
Explore Our Market Blog@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/blogs
North America region is expected to dominate the global urology devices market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific region. The market in North America is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period due to the presence of well-established health care facilities, favorable reimbursement policies, and early adoption of technologically advanced products for the management of urinary disorders. The Europe region is the second most attractive market for urology devices and expected to grow significantly in the upcoming years. The demand for urology devices in Europe region is expected to increase at a significant pace due to the high incidence of urinary disorders in Europe, continuous product launch of urology devices, an increase in healthcare spending in the region.
The prominent players operating in the global urology devices market are Boston Scientific Corporation, C. R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson and Company.), Intuitive Surgical, KARL STORZ SE &Co. KG, Richard Wolf GmbH, Fresenius Medical Care, Cook Medical, Olympus Corporation, Siemens Healthineers (Siemens AG), Stryker, Braun Melsungen AG, Baxter International Inc., Medtronic, and Dornier MedTech, etc. These players exhibit significant geographical outreach, with the presence in multiple urology devices segments. Manufacturers are adopting acquisition & collaboration and new product development strategies to tap the unmet needs of a large percentage of urinary disorder patient base. Also, the key players have commenced strategic initiatives that include partnerships, product launch, acquisitions, and mergers. The R&D investments coupled with advanced robotic technologies used in UTS disorders are expected to offer innovative devices for treatments. This factor is anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities for industry players in the global market.
INQUIRY BEFORE BUYING@
https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/inquiry-before-buying/1227
The report is readily available and can be dispatched immediately after payment confirmation.
Buy this premium research report
https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/buy-now/0/1227
Would like to place an order or any question, please feel free to contact at sales@acumenresearchandconsulting.com | +1 407 915 4157
For Latest Update Follow Us:
https://twitter.com/AcumenRC
https://www.facebook.com/acumenresearchandconsulting
https://www.linkedin.com/company/acumen-research-and-consulting/
Browse More Press Releases: http://www.amecoresearch.com/
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goodman & Company, Investment Counsel Inc., the manager of CMP 2017 Resource Limited Partnership (the Partnership), announces that the Partnership will make its second cash distribution to holders of Partnership units of $85 per Partnership unit on March 27, 2019. The net asset value of the Partnership as of March 25, 2019 was $245.11 per Partnership unit.
The Partnership will make further cash distributions from time to time as proceeds are received from the sale of assets of the Partnership. For more information please refer to the news release dated February 8, 2019 which is posted under the Partnerships profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
About CMP
CMP is a pioneer in flow-through investing, with a history dating back to when flow-through shares were first introduced by the federal government. Since its creation in 1984, CMP has successfully raised and invested over $3.0 billion in companies active in exploration and development efforts across Canada. When combined with the flow-through limited partnerships of Canada Dominion, the two form the largest flow-through investing platform in Canada, raising a combined total of more than $4.3 billion in assets throughout their history.
About Goodman & Company, Investment Counsel Inc.
Goodman & Company, Investment Counsel Inc. is a subsidiary of Dundee Corporation (TSX:DC.A) and is a registered portfolio manager and exempt market dealer across Canada, and a registered investment fund manager in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
For more information, contact our Customer Relations Centre at 1.866.694.5672 or visit www.goodmanandcompany.com.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stamper Oil & Gas Corp. (TSX-V: STMP) (FSE: TMP2) (OTCQB: STMGF) (Stamper or the Company) is pleased to announce appointment John P. Ryan as President & CEO and Sam Eskandari as a member of the Board of Directors. John Ryan will continue the role of Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis.
The Company also announces the resignation of Alexander Polevoy, as Director of Stamper and David C. Greenway has decided to step down as Director and President & CEO to pursue other opportunities, all effective immediately. The Company would like to thank the outgoing Directors and Officers for their services to the Board.
John Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Stamper Oil & Gas, said, "I, along with all my fellow board members and management of the Company, wish to thank David and Alex for their contributions and dedication to the Company wish them all the best in his future endeavors."
John P. Ryan B.S., Mining Engineering, J.D., Juris Doctor, Director and President & CEO, CFO
Mr. John P. Ryan J.D. has over 21 years of experience with development-stage companies as a qualified mining engineer. Mr. Ryan has extensive international mining experience particularly in the Coeur dAlene District including work at the Consolidated Silver Mine and the Galena Mine. Mr. Ryan is the founder and co-founder of several resource companies including Royal Silver Mines Inc., Silver Bull Resources, Western Goldfields Inc., and U.S. Silver Corporation. In 2004 he co-founded High Plains Uranium, which successfully acquired uranium assets in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and in Live Oak County and Bee County, Texas and is now part of Uranium One Corporation. Mr. Ryan has been a senior executive and director of several public companies in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
Mr. Ryan holds a B.S., Mining Engineering from the University of Idaho and J.D., Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School.
Sam Eskandari, BSc., Director
Mr. Eskandari brings significant experience in management, corporate development, and finance in the technology, biotechnology, and resource sectors. Mr. Eskandaris previous experience includes Veritas Pharma Inc., where as a consultant he was instrumental in the companys corporate development, public and investor relations, marketing, and financing activities. Mr. Eskandari is a graduate of Simon Fraser University (SFU) with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, where his research efforts led to a major publication in the area of Riboswitches
The Company is currently evaluating other oil and gas projects in Latin America and Africa.
About Stamper Oil and Gas
Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. (TSX.V: STMP) is an oil and gas company, engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of conventional oil and natural gas properties. The Company plans to identify and build out a portfolio of high-impact oil and gas prospects. Stamper is committed to creating sustainable shareholder value by evaluating and developing prospects into commercially viable assets.
For further information on Stamper Oil and Gas please visit www.stamperoilandgas.com
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John P. Ryan
President & CEO, Director
For further information, please contact:
Stamper Investor Relations
Phone: (604) 442-2425
Email: info@stamperoilandgas.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Stamper Oil & Gas Corp. believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Stamper Oil & Gas Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Stamper Oil & Gas Corp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
Las Vegas, Nevada, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Natural Health Farm Holdings, Inc (OTCQB: NHEL) (the Company or NHF Holdings), a nutraceuticals biotechnology company was notified by OTC Markets (OTC) of recent trading and promotional activity concerning NHEL common stock. The Company has been informed that the higher-than-average trading volume in the Company's stock may be the result of unauthorized promotional activity. The Company has also been informed that the promotion consists of telephone calls operated by anonymous entities which encourage investors to purchase NHEL shares. OTC has named two possible operators of the promotional activity are entities conducting business under the names Traders Group Online and Equity Traders.
The Company had no knowledge of the subject promotional campaign until notified by OTC and shares OTCs opinion that such activities are of concern and need to be addressed immediately, and in that regard, the Company is working diligently to do so. After receiving the OTC notice, the Company conducted an inquiry of the Companys management, directors and control persons in an effort to determine whether these Company insiders are or have been involved in the stock promotion in any way or have sold or purchased the Companys securities within a 90-day period leading up to, during, and after the promotional activity. No insiders have been found to be selling any of the NHEL shares over the last 90 days.
NHEL hereby states that the Company, its officers, directors and, to the Company's knowledge, its controlling shareholders (i.e., shareholders owning 10% or more of the Company's securities) have not, directly or indirectly, authorized or been involved in any way (including payment to a third-party) with the creation or distribution of the any promotional materials; and that the neither the Company, its officers, directors, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any controlling shareholders, have sold or purchased any shares in the open market within the past 90 days..
The Company has no agreements with any entity to make promotional telephone calls to our shareholders. Other than LiveCall IR, who assist the Company with drafting press releases, the Company does not have, and has never had any service providers who provide IR services, public relations services, paid promotion, marketing or other related services. LiveCall IR was retained in January 2019 for a three-month period to write press releases for the Company. LiveCall IR is paid a monthly fee in cash and has never been issued or owned any of the Companys securities.
The Company has issued approximately $823,000 in convertible securities, of which none have matured, and none have been converted at a discount to the market. On May 30, 2018, the Board granted stock options under its 2018 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan to two directors, an officer and an employee, and three independent consultants to purchase up to 450,000 shares of common stock with a five-year term. The stock options vested immediately upon the issuance date. The exercise price of the stock options to purchase common stock was at $1.50 per share, and the quoted market price of the Company stock on the grant date was $1.70. The options to purchase common stock expire on May 30, 2023. The fair value of options granted was $526,295, calculated using Black-Scholes option. As of the date hereof, no options have been exercised. No other securities have been issued by the Company at a discount to the current market price at the time of issuance.
The Company is committed to compliance with the OTCMarkets Group Policy on Stock Promotion and the OTCQB Standards. The Company does not condone any statements regarding the urgency to invest in the Companys shares or any other similar statements. The Company urges any interested investors to rely solely on information contained in its press releases together with the information set forth in its filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.
About Natural Health Farm Holdings Inc.
Natural Health Farm Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: NHEL) is a Nevada-based fully integrated nutraceuticals biotechnology company offering clinically researched naturopathic products and related services through healthcare practitioners and direct-to-consumers. Since 2017, the Company has developed and commercialized a proprietary web-based Naturopathic Learning Management System that enables consumers and distributors to be educated on health-related aspects of various diseases.
For further information, please visit www.nhf-holdings.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933, are subject to Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbors created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and other results and further events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements.
Contact information
ir@nhf-holdings.com
www.nhf-holdings.com
Source: NATURAL HEALTH FARM HOLDINGS INC
Chelsea Powrie
Federal Liberals are pounding the pavement ahead of the October election, with Public Services Minister Carla Qualtrough in Penticton Tuesday pushing the positives of their 2019 budget, while trying to shake the shadow of ongoing scandals in Ottawa.
She spoke at Sprott Shaw College, highlighting a funding program for mid-career training that is part of the recently released budget.
"This transformational new program will provide working Canadians with a non-taxable training credit of $250 per year up to $5,000 over their career," Qualtrough said.
Its part of what the government calls their investing in the middle class approach.
"Right this year, employees are starting to accumulate that. If you're working and contributing to EI, you'll start accumulating the $250 this year," she explained. "So next year, if you wanted to take a week off and use $250 toward training, that will be captured next year. And it just kind of rolls out over the next four years until you hit the four weeks."
She said it will encourage Canadians to keep improving their job skills and even expanding their employment options long past their time in school. The 2019 budget also includes an interest-free six-month grace period after a student loan borrower leaves school.
But Qualtrough has found the federal SNC Lavalin scandal and questions about Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus conduct hard to shake.
"I have the luxury of sitting next to him in the House of Commons, I speak with him every day, he's a good man, he's a man of integrity, and he kind of admitted that he wished he would have done things differently, and we're moving on," Qualtrough said. "But certainly it's a distraction, and I wish we had more questions about skills than SNC for sure."
Qualtrough briefly toured the school campus, speaking to a few students and staff members, before departing.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Battery Metals Ltd. (formerly RedZone Resources Ltd) (TSX-V: GBML) (the Company or Global Battery Metals Ltd.)
Global Battery Metals Ltd. has engaged Pretium Communications Group to provide media and investor relations services to the company. Pretium has been retained on a 5-month contract basis to advise the Company with respect to its public communication materials, to manage the social media accounts of the Company and provide content, to assist in market awareness efforts, to assist management in developing a strategy to enhance and expand the Company's exposure, and to support corporate development initiatives.
Pretium's principal, Sherman Dahl, has a proven record of being able to increase investor awareness and liquidity. Mr. Dahl was previously a vice-president and investment adviser with National Bank Financial, a leading Canadian investment dealer. In addition to managing a $150-million retail book and achieving Chairman's Council level, Mr. Dahl participated in numerous capital raises totaling over $100-million directly for various issuers with total issuer financings of $1-billion on behalf of retail and institutional clients over a 20-year career.
Pretium shall receive a remuneration of $2,500 per month.
About Global Battery Metals Ltd.
Global Battery Metals is a mineral exploration company with a focus on metals that make up and support the rapid evolution to battery power. Global Battery Metals common shares listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (GBML). Global Battery Metals currently has three projects: 1) Fortner-Boyd Lithium project in Arizona, 2) North-West Leinster Lithium property in Ireland, and 3) a 55% stake in Peru based Lara copper property, which has over 10,000 metres of drilling. More information about the Company is available on its issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or www.gbml.ca
For further information, please contact:
Michael Murphy, President & Chief Executive Officer
E: MM@gbml.ca
P: 1 604 649 2350
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy and/or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Specific information outlined in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, sure of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to the potential for gold and/or lithium at any of the Companys properties, the prospective nature of any claims comprising the Companys property interests, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals, uncertainty of sample results, timing and results of future exploration, and the availability of financing. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of development, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
BILLERICA, Mass., March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lutronic Vision (Lutronic or the Company), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lutronic Corporation, today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Professor Robyn Guymer to serve as the principal investigator for Lutronics planned pilot clinical study. The study will evaluate the Companys R:GEN laser for the treatment of the earlier stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Dr. Guymer is a distinguished retinal disease specialist with extensive clinical experience in AMD, so we are honored that she will be leading our planned clinical study where the R:GEN laser will be evaluated as a potential treatment for patients who are diagnosed with the earlier stages of AMD, said Jhung Vojir, PhD, President and COO of Lutronic Vision. This is a significant milestone for Lutronic, particularly following our strategic shift toward earlier stages of AMD intervention. Our R:GEN technology presents a significant opportunity to treat AMD prior to advanced forms of the disease since there are no effective treatment options and therefore earlier intervention represents the potential to address a very large unmet need. We intend to use the results of this trial along with the data from a pivotal clinical study to support a potential approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The pilot clinical study is sponsored by Lutronic and is anticipated to begin in the second half of 2019. Lutronic plans to conduct this study at Dr. Guymers clinical research facility in Melbourne, Australia.
Professor Robyn Guymer is a world-renowned AMD expert and key opinion leader with extensive experience in AMD clinical research and patient management. A clinician scientist, she leads a team of 20 researchers who primarily investigate AMD at the Centre for Eye Research Australia. Dr. Guymer has served as principal investigator for many industry sponsored trials and has contributed to the approval of leading therapeutics for retinal disease including the neovascular (wet) form of late AMD.
I am looking forward to collaborating with Lutronic on the clinical evaluation of the R:GEN laser in subjects with the earlier stages of AMD, said Dr. Guymer. The vast majority of patients who have AMD have the earlier forms of the disease and various risk factors appear to result in advanced disease over time, which presents either as wet AMD or geographic atrophy (GA), both of which cause permanent decline of central vision. Wet AMD is a result of neovascularization which results in blood and fluid leaking into the retina, leading to a rapid and severe loss of vision if treatment is not commenced. GA on the other hand, results in death of photoreceptors and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells, leading to slow, progressive and irreversible severe loss of vision. The course of AMD could be improved with earlier intervention, yet there are no effective treatments. Based on this significant unmet need, I am enthusiastic about the potential of Lutronics R:GEN laser and I am looking forward to working with the Company to evaluate its use in patients with the earlier forms of AMD.
R:GEN is a laser that targets RPE cells. Among their many other functions, RPE cells recycle protein and lipids, however in AMD, the ability of the RPE cells to clear debris is impaired, causing the accumulation of cellular waste material. This waste material forms abnormal deposits, called drusen, which further impair RPE cell function, eventually resulting in vision loss. R:GEN transfers energy to the established retinal treatment area to potentially improve the function of adjacent RPE cells. R:GEN uses proprietary Real Time Feedback Technology (RTF) to optimize laser energy for maximum therapeutic benefit while minimizing thermal damage.
ABOUT AMD
AMD is an age-related ocular condition which affects people 50 years and older. AMD is the third leading cause of blindness worldwide and the primary leading cause of vision loss in the Western world. It is estimated that close to 288 million people will be affected by AMD by 2040. In the United States, approximately 11 million individuals have some form of AMD, where due to a rise in the aging population, it is estimated that the prevalence will double by 2050. AMD is classified as either early, intermediate or late. There are two forms of late AMD; dry (non-exudative) or wet (exudative) disease. Unfortunately, most of AMD is not treated as there are currently no effective treatments, except for wet AMD.
ABOUT LUTRONIC VISION
Lutronic Vision is bringing to market the worlds first laser for Selective Retina Therapy with Real Time Feedback (RTF) Technology. Our system, named R:GEN, is a fully integrated laser platform that safely and precisely targets the Retinal Pigmented Epithelium to re-generate and re-store its function. Whereas older retinal photocoagulator lasers destroyed retinal tissue in an effort to preserve vision, R:GEN aims to revitalize retinal tissue by stimulating repair. Through this pioneering mechanism, we aim to introduce a new concept in ophthalmic lasers that will ultimately lead to better vision and improved quality of life for patients around the world.
ABOUT LUTRONIC CORPORATION
Lutronic Corporation, a leading innovator of Aesthetic, Vision, and Surgical lasers and related technology, was established in 1997 to bring intuitive, robust, versatile devices which are affordable and efficacious to the worldwide medical community. Committed to improving medicine, Lutronic Corporation partners with key opinion leaders to advance science and ensure efficacy of its systems.
With a focus on physician needs and patient outcomes, Lutronic Corporation dedicates time and funding toward the development of devices that offer features and improvements not found in todays market. Devoting more than 15% of revenue to R&D, Lutronic holds more than 137 current and pending patents. With more than 430 employees worldwide, Lutronic has offices in the US, Korea, China, Japan, and Europe, distributors world-wide, focused R&D centers in both the US and Korea, and is ever expanding.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lutronic Global
1-888-588-7644
office@lutronic.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, reminds investors in Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("Mobile TeleSystems" or the "Company")(NYSE:MBT) of the May 20, 2019 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
If you invested in Mobile TeleSystems stock or options between March 19, 2014 and March 7, 2019 and would like to discuss your legal rights, click here: www.faruqilaw.com/MBT. There is no cost or obligation to you.
You can also contact us by calling Richard Gonnello toll free at 877-247-4292 or at 212-983-9330 or by sending an e-mail to rgonnello@faruqilaw.com.
CONTACT:
FARUQI & FARUQI, LLP
685 Third Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attn: Richard Gonnello, Esq.
rgonnello@faruqilaw.com
Telephone: (877) 247-4292 or (212) 983-9330
The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of all those who purchased Mobile TeleSystems securities between March 19, 2014 and March 7, 2019 (the "Class Period"). The case, Salim v. Mobile TeleSystems PJSC et al., No. 19-cv-01589 was filed on March 19, 2019.
The lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by failing to disclose that: (1) Mobile TeleSystems and its subsidiary were involved in a scheme to pay $420 million in bribes in Uzbekistan; (2) consequently, Mobile TeleSystems knew or should have known it would be forced to pay substantial fines to the U.S. government after disclosing in 2014 that the U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission were investigating its Uzbekistan operations; (3) Mobile TeleSystems level of cooperation with the U.S. government and remediation was lacking; and (4) due to the aforementioned misconduct, Mobile TeleSystems would be forced to pay approximately $850 million in criminal penalties to the U.S. government.
On November 20, 2018, the Company disclosed that it had reserved approximately $840 million USD (RUB 55.8 bln) as the potential liability concerning investigations by the SEC and the DOJ into its former operations in Uzbekistan.
On this news, Mobile TeleSystems's share price fell from $8.09 per share on November 19, 2018 to a closing price of $7.45 on November 20, 2018: a $0.64 or a 7.91% drop.
On March 7, 2019, the DOJ reported that the Company and its subsidiary entered into an agreement to pay $850 million in penalties to the United States to resolve charges arising from its role in a scheme to pay $420 million in bribes in Uzbekistan.
On this news, Mobile TeleSystems's share price fell from $7.78 per share on March 6, 2019 to a closing price of $7.54 on March 7, 2019: a $0.24 or a 3.08% drop.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Mobile TeleSystems's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
PASCAGOULA, Miss., March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $1.48 billion, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract from the U.S. Navy for the detail design and construction of the amphibious transport dock LPD 30. The ship will be the 14th in the San Antonio class and the first Flight II LPD.
Ingalls looks forward to continuing our strong legacy of providing the men and women of our naval forces with the capable and survivable warships they need and deserve, said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. The LPD Flight II builds upon the significant investment that has been made in this platform to improve the capability and flexibility of our deployed Navy-Marine Corps team. LPD 30 will leverage a hot production line and further benefit from the investments we continue to make in our shipbuilders and facilities. We are honored to be a part of the team that will provide this next-generation platform today.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/file?fid=5c9a85ca2cfac22774673031 .
LPD 30 is the evolution of the dock landing platform that strengthens the Navy and Marine Corps needs in future warfare. Utilizing the LPD 17 class proven hull, this LPD derivative is highly adaptable and, like the first 13 ships in the class, will be used to accomplish a full range of military operationsfrom major combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The ships versatilityfrom its well deck, flight deck and hospital facilities to its self-defense and survivability featuresprovides a viable platform for Americas global defense needs.
Ingalls has delivered 11 San Antonio-class ships to the Navy and has two more under construction. Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) will launch in 2020 and deliver in 2021; the keel for Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) will be laid later this year. Start of fabrication on LPD 30 is scheduled for 2020.
The San Antonio class is a major part of the Navys 21st century amphibious assault force. The 684-foot-long, 105-foot-wide ships are used to embark and land Marines, their equipment and supplies ashore via air cushion or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey. The ships support a Marine Air Ground Task Force across the spectrum of operations, conducting amphibious and expeditionary missions of sea control and power projection to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions throughout the first half of the 21st century.
Huntington Ingalls Industries is Americas largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HIIs Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HIIs Technical Solutions division provides a wide range of professional services through its Fleet Support, Mission Driven Innovative Solutions, Nuclear & Environmental, and Oil & Gas groups. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs more than 40,000 people operating both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: www.huntingtoningalls.com
HII on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HuntingtonIngallsIndustries
HII on Twitter: twitter.com/hiindustries
Contact:
Bill Glenn
william.glenn@hii-co.com
228-327-1671
NOT FOR RELEASE IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Sun Mining Inc., (TSX: ESM) (Euro Sun or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing by issuing 10,000,000 units of the Company (each a Unit and collectively, the Units) at a price of C$0.30 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$3,000,000.00 (the Offering). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one half of a common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a Warrant).
Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.50 for a period of 24 months from issuance. If at any time after four months and one day from the closing of the Offering, the common shares of the Company trade at C$0.75 per common share or higher (on a volume weighted adjusted basis) for a period of 20 consecutive days, the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the date that is 30 days after the Company issues a news release announcing that it has elected to exercise this acceleration right.
The gross proceeds of the Offering will be used for general corporate purposes and for the advancement of its Rovina Valley Project. The securities underlying the Units will be subject to a four month hold period that expires on July 27, 2019. Closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of regulatory approval, including final Toronto Stock Exchange approval. The Company paid cash finder fees up to 7% to certain finders.
This press release is not an offering of securities for sale in the United States. The Units, Warrants and common shares of the Company have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirements of that Act.
Euro Sun also announces that Mr. Justin Reid has resigned as a director of the Company to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Reid has been a director of the Company since August 4, 2016 and the Company would like to thank Mr. Reid for his valuable contributions.
About Euro Sun Mining Inc.
Euro Sun is a Toronto Stock Exchange listed mining company focused on the exploration and development of its 100%-owned Rovina Valley gold and copper project located in west-central Romania, which hosts the second largest gold deposit in Europe.
Further information:
For further information about Euro Sun Mining, or the contents of this press release, please contact Investor Relations at info@eurosunmining.com or +1 416.309.4299.
Caution regarding forward-looking information:
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Offering and use of proceeds of the Offering and the appointment of a new director. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks inherent in the mining industry and risks described in the public disclosure of the Company which is available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.eurosunmining.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.
I say leave ICBC alone.
Before I moved to B.C. back in 2005, I lived in Edmonton. I was paying $3,000 a year for personal liability and personal damage through AMA. If I lived in Calgary, it would have been $1,100 a year, Fort McMurray It would have been just over $5,000 a year.
These were the lowest rates I could find after contacting all the companies in Alberta for quotes on, at that time, a six-year-old truck and a 25-year clean driving record.
When I arrived here in West Kelowna and changed my insurance, I was shocked to get the same coverage with a few extras for $485 a year. Its now 14 years later, and Im paying just under $700 a year.
When I read articles about this why is the comparison only with Calgary and not the whole province of Alberta or Edmonton vs. Calgary rates?
I have to laugh and shake my head when I read about or hear my friends complain about insurance and how they want it privatized. I hope that if it does become privatized, the rates are reasonable and are based on driving records and not statistics, but I doubt it.
Chris Allan, West Kelowna
Toronto, March 26, 2019 - IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") today announced results from the ongoing exploration drilling program on the Cote Gold Joint Venture Project, located 125 km southwest of Timmins and 175 km north of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The Cote Gold Project is a 70:30 joint venture between IAMGold Corp. and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd (SMM Gold Cote Inc.).
The Company is reporting assay results from fourteen diamond drill holes (including the deepening of a historical drill hole) totaling 7,452 metres completed as part of its 2017 - 2018 exploration drilling program, which has led to the discovery of intrusive-hosted mineralization referred to as the Gosselin Zone. In addition, the Company is reporting assay results from a drill core re-logging and sampling program of historical drill holes located along a potential south-west extension of this discovery, referred to as the Young-Shannon Zone. The assay results are provided in Tables 1 and 2 below and include the following highlights (a drill hole plan map is attached to this news release):
Gosselin Zone:
Drill hole CL15-39EXT: 350.0 metres grading 0.81 g/t Au
includes: 15.0 metres grading 2.32 g/t Au
includes: 91.0 metres grading 1.13 g/t Au
includes: 104.0 metres grading 1.12 g/t Au
Drill hole GOS17-05: 345.0 metres grading 0.68 g/t Au
includes: 132.3 metres grading 1.13 g/t Au
Drill hole GOS18-07: 130.0 metres grading 0.63 g/t Au
and 139.7 metres grading 1.36 g/t Au
includes: 79.0 metres grading 2.11 g/t Au
Drill hole GOS18-09: 261.2 metres grading 0.65 g/t Au
includes: 163.0 metres grading 0.95 g/t Au
and 92.0 metres grading 1.42 g/t Au
Young-Shannon Zone:
Drill hole YS87-8: 32.5 metres grading 7.53 g/t Au
Drill hole YS90-181: 128.5 metres grading 1.12 g/t Au
The drilling results confirm the discovery of a new zone of mineralization referred to as the "Gosselin Zone", located approximately 1.5 km northeast of the Cote Gold Deposit. The Cote Deposit (on a 100% basis) hosts estimated Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves totaling 7.3 million ounces of contained gold and Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources (inclusive of Reserves) totaling 10.0 million ounces of contained gold, and Inferred Mineral Resources totaling 2.4 million ounces of contained gold (see news releases dated November 1, 2018 and February 19, 2019). The Gosselin discovery represents the most significant drill intercepts of continuous gold mineralization so far encountered outside of the Cote Deposit on the joint venture project mineral holdings.
Craig MacDougall, Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD, stated: "The Gosselin Zone is a new grass-roots discovery, the result of our ongoing commitment to sustained exploration and an excellent group effort by the Cote Exploration team. With the completion of a positive feasibility study for the Cote Gold deposit in 2018, demonstrating a solid development opportunity with a long mine life and low production costs, this exploration success continues to add to our track record of resource expansion and further enhances the long term value of this exciting development project."
2017 - 2018 Exploration Program
The 2017 - 2018 exploration drilling program was designed to test the continuity of the new Gosselin zone in a number of directions from the discovery hole (GOS17-05) and to determine if the gold mineralization intersected at depth extendsi to surface. The program included one drill hole executed as a deepening of a pre-existing shallow drill hole from 2015 (CL15-39 EXT). All drill holes from the 2017 - 2018 campaign were collared from land on the north shore of Three Ducks Lake.
The drilling program has confirmed the presence of a wide corridor of gold mineralization with approximate dimensions of 750 metres (strike), 200 metres (width) and 400 metres (depth). Thirteen of the fourteen completed drill holes intersected significant core intervals with elevated gold values (see Table 1 below).
Host lithologies are similar to those which host the Cote Gold Deposit and include: tonalite, diorite, diorite breccia and hydrothermal breccia, all of which are cross-cut by post-mineralization mafic dikes. The intrusive rocks display alteration assemblages dominated by moderate to intense sericite and silica-albite alteration, again similar to that observed at the Cote Deposit.
Sulphide mineralization (pyrite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite) occurs throughout the altered rocks as disseminations, patches, fracture-fillings, veinlets and within the matrix of the hydrothermal breccia. The sulphide assemblage is locally accompanied by molybdenite and rare visible gold. Sulphides are generally more-concentrated in the matrix of the hydrothermal breccia, where chalcopyrite has been observed in abundances from 2 to 3%.
After the initial discovery of the Gosselin Zone, a re-logging and core sampling program of historical drill holes which originally targeted the near-by Young-Shannon high grade vein system to the southwest of the Gosselin Zone was initiated to seek a possible connection to the intrusion hosted mineralization intersected at Gosselin. Historical exploration work carried out on the Young-Shannon property since the late 1920's and intermittently until the early 2000's, included extensive diamond drilling (225 drill holes and > 33,300 metres of drilling) and underground exploration comprising a shallow inclined shaft with levels at 30 and 57 metres depth, along with a limited amount (200 metres) of lateral development. The historical work outlined gold values over narrow widths in structurally-controlled quartz-veins within the more mafic phases of granodiorite, and it was concluded by previous owners to be an Archean lode-gold style of mineralization hosted in discontinuous veins.
Recovery and re-examination of core from 33 historical drill holes, totaling 5,453 metres, revealed the presence of wide intervals of unsampled core displaying strong sericite and silica-albite alteration in tonalite and hydrothermal breccia, associated with disseminated sulphide mineralization. The alteration and mineralization was interpreted as favorable for intrusion-hosted gold mineralization similar to Gosselin and the Cote Deposit.
Assay results returned wide intervals of gold mineralization throughout the host rocks, often extending from top to bottom of the shorter drill holes, including drill holes collared proximal to the Gosselin discovery. Of the 33 drill holes re-sampled, a total of 15 returned gold mineralization over core intervals greater than 15 metres in length. The assay results are presented in Table 2 below and assay highlights are provided on the attached map.
Next Steps
The 2019 Phase I exploration diamond drilling program has commenced and entails the completion of 15 planned diamond drill holes (4,500 metres) mainly on Three Ducks Lake. The program is designed to test for the extension of the new Gosselin zone to surface beneath Three Ducks Lake, and to delineate the ultimate size potential of this discovery. The program will also test for continuity between the new Gosselin Zone and the recently discovered intrusion-hosted gold mineralization associated with the Young-Shannon Zone.
As results merit, a second phase of drilling is anticipated to complete an infill drilling program (50 to 75 metres drill hole spacing) to support the completion of an initial NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate in 2020.
Technical Information and Quality Control Notes
The drilling results contained in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
The "Qualified Person" responsible for the supervision of the preparation, verification and review of the technical information in this release is Al Smith, P. Geo, District Manager - Exploration for IAMGOLD in the Ontario Cote District. He is considered a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 with respect to the technical information being reported on. The "Qualified Person" responsible for the planning, supervision and execution of the diamond drilling program is Brad McKinley, P. Geo, Senior Geologist for IAMGOLD in the Ontario Cote District. The technical information has been included herein with the consent and prior review of the above noted Qualified Persons.
The information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Craig MacDougall, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD. Mr. MacDougall is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
The sampling of, and assay data from, the drill core is monitored through the implementation of a quality assurance - quality control (QA-QC) program designed to follow industry best practice. Drill core (NQ size) samples are selected by the IAMGOLD geologists and sawn in half with a diamond saw at the project site. Half of the core is retained at the site for reference purposes. Sample intervals may vary from half a metre to one and a half metres in length depending on the geological observations. Samples were stored in sealed plastic bags and packed into fiber backs onto a pallet where they were shrink wrapped for transport. A formal chain-of-custody procedure was adopted for security of samples until their delivery at the laboratory.
Activation Laboratories Limited (located in Timmins, Ontario) and AGAT Laboratories (Thunder Bay and Mississauga, Ontario) were the both utilized for assay analyses. Actlabs completed crushing, pulverizing, and fire assay in Timmins Ontario. AGAT Laboratories completed crushing and pulverizing in their Thunder Bay facility and shipped the pulps to their Mississauga facility for fire assay.
Analyses completed at both facilities were similar and are summarized below. Activation Laboratories completed the following: Samples are coarse crushed to 90% passing 2.0 mm screen (10 mesh screen), riffle split (250 gram) and (mild steel) to 95% passing 105m. Cleaner sand is included. Samples were analyzed using a standard 30 gram fire assay (30 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that returned assay values over 3.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut is taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. For samples showing visible gold (VG) or samples which have returned values greater than 5.0 g/t, these were re-analyzed by pulp metallic analysis. IAMGOLD inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control.
AGAT Labs used a very similar procedure comprising the following: Samples are coarse crushed to 75% passing 2.0 mm screen (10 mesh screen), riffle split (250 gram) and (mild steel) to 85% passing 75m. Cleaner sand included. Samples were analyzed using a standard 30 gram fire assay (30 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 3.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut is taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. For samples showing visible gold (VG) or samples which have returned values greater than 5.0 g/t, these were re-analyzed by pulp metallic analysis. IAMGOLD inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control.
Forward Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and statements regarding the estimation of mineral resources, exploration results, potential mineralization, potential mineral resources and mineral reserves) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "to earn", "to have', "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, changes in world gold markets and other risks disclosed in IAMGOLD's most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
About IAMGOLD
IAMGOLD (www.iamgold.com) is a mid-tier mining company with four operating gold mines on three continents. A solid base of strategic assets in North and South America and West Africa is complemented by development and exploration projects and continued assessment of accretive acquisition opportunities. IAMGOLD is in a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise.
For further information please contact:
Indi Gopinathan, Investor Relation Lead, IAMGold Corp.
Tel: (416) 360-4743 Mobile: (416) 388-6883
Martin Dumont, Senior Analyst Investor Relations, IAMGold Corp.
Tel: (416) 933-5783 Mobile: (647) 967-9942
Toll-free: 1-888-464-9999 info@iamgold.com
Please note:
This entire news release may be accessed via fax, e-mail, IAMGOLD's website at www.iamgold.com and through Newsfile's website at www.newsfilecorp.com. All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov.
Si vous desirez obtenir la version francaise de ce communique, veuillez consulter le http://www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx
Table 1 Gosselin Project Drilling Results - 2017-2018 Drilling program Hole No. UTM NAD83 Zone17 AZ DIP EOH From To Core
Interval (1) Au
(2) Easting Northing Elevation () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) CL15-39EXT 430999 5268192 386 160 -45 648.0 298.0 648.0 350.0 0.81 Including (3) 298.0 313.0 15.0 2.32 Including (3) 301.1 302.0 0.9 22.0 Including (3) 399.0 490.0 91.0 1.1 Including (3) 438.7 440.0 1.3 12.8 Including (3) 462.3 462.8 0.6 15.2 Including (3) 544.0 648.0 104.0 1.1 GOS17-03 431772 5268022 383 200 -50 500.0 390.2 401.0 10.8 1.27 GOS17-04 431627 5268073 382 200 -48 900.0 292.5 389.5 97.0 0.41 GOS17-05 431533 5268149 382 209 -53 722.0 377.0 722.0 345.0 0.68 Including (3) 452.5 584.8 132.3 1.13 Including (3) 647.5 648.0 0.5 11.23 GOS18-06 431393 5268102 390 225 -60 634.0 399.5 487.4 87.9 0.72 GOS18-07 431348 5268065 383 221 -43 607.0 272.5 402.5 130.0 0.63 467.3 607.0 139.7 1.36 Including (3) 550.5 551.9 1.4 52.87 Including (3) 487.0 566.0 79.0 2.11 GOS18-08 431023 5268183 387 95 -48 300.0 no significant values GOS18-09 430924 5267874 383 141 -55 450.0 8.0 139.0 131.0 0.32 157.8 419.0 261.2 0.65 Including (3) 256.0 419.0 163.0 0.95 Including (3) 305.0 397.0 92.0 1.42 GOS18-10 430844 5267811 382 172 -60 525.0 18.4 36.0 17.6 0.48 98.0 137.0 39.0 0.32 269.5 525.0 255.5 0.73 Including (3) 393.3 525.0 131.7 1.13 Including (3) 509.0 510.3 1.3 59.90 GOS18-11 430595 5267834 382 189 -49 492.0 315.0 444.4 129.4 0.81 Including (3) 360.0 444.4 84.4 1.16 Including (3) 364.0 365.0 1.0 10.40 Including (3) 392.5 393.3 0.8 47.00 GOS18-12 430244 5267643 387 144 -50 408.0 122.2 138.0 15.8 0.48 GOS18-13 430491 5267418 386 31 -54 312.0 7.0 32.6 25.6 0.44 257.2 311.0 53.9 0.35 GOS18-14 430873 5267516 381 309 -49 453.0 107.0 343.5 236.5 0.83 Including (3) 207.5 208.2 0.8 15.70 Including (3) 251.0 252.0 1.0 21.90 Including (3) 333.8 334.7 0.9 32.50 GOS18-15A 431322 5268017 386 184 -49 501.0 214.0 274.5 60.5 0.75 320.6 342.3 21.7 1.87 349.0 401.0 52.0 0.31 414.0 499.0 85.0 0.36
Notes:
Insufficient drilling has been completed to accurately determine the Gosselin Zone orientation. Estimated true widths are approximately 60 to 95% of the Core Interval. Drill hole intercepts are calculated with alower cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t Au Assay intervals are reported uncut, but higher grade sub intervals are shown.
Table 2 Young-Shannon Drill Core Re-sampling Assay Results - 2018 Hole No. UTM NAD83 Zone17 AZ DIP EOH From To Core
Interval (1) Au
(2) Easting Northing Elevation () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) YS87-8 430460 5267280 388 330 -45 183.2 43.0 74.5 31.5 0.40 117.5 150.0 32.5 7.53 Including 124.0 126.0 2.0 79.1 Including 130.0 132.0 2.0 15.4 YS88-47c 430477 5267250 390 325 -65 284.8 1.9 30.0 28.1 0.43 YS89-82B 430953 5267600 382 335 -65 169.5 25.0 41.0 16.1 0.40 81.8 110.5 28.7 0.79 YS89-89 430596 5267360 399 330 -45 138.6 24.0 59.2 35.2 2.12 59.2 91.4 32.2 0.34 Including 35.0 37.0 2.0 23.4 YS89-108B 430893 5267550 382 330 -60 170.5 5.0 20.2 15.2 1.47 Including 5.0 5.8 0.8 14.5 35.0 71.8 36.7 0.41 YS89-110 430910 5267530 383 330 -60 195.0 21.6 44.3 22.7 0.77 47.4 134.6 87.2 0.87 Including 63.0 64.5 1.5 12.6 141.0 162.4 21.4 1.12 YS89-116 430930 5267490 382 330 -60 272.3 146.2 180.7 34.5 0.32 187.5 226.0 38.5 1.31 Including 207.5 209.0 1.5 11.3 YS89-163 430646 5267280 400 330 -45 205.8 118.4 140.3 21.9 2.65 Including 130.0 132.0 2.0 11.6 YS90-172B 430973 5267620 382 330 -65 155.5 132.3 150.8 18.5 0.55 YS90-179 431060 5267710 382 330 -45 109.7 46.9 72.9 26.0 0.39 YS90-180 431083 5267680 382 330 -45 143.3 109.7 143.3 33.6 0.32 YS90-181 431015 5267610 382 330 -65 198.5 66.0 194.5 128.5 1.12 Including 125.0 125.5 0.5 40.2 YS90-182B 431189 5267790 382 330 -65 121.9 12.8 118.6 105.8 0.86 YS90-183 431215 5267800 382 330 -45 99.1 12.6 34.7 22.1 0.36 40.3 65.0 24.7 0.43 NV02-03 431340 5267590 382 330 -45 198.1 147.8 163.1 15.2 0.44 173.7 198.1 24.4 0.77
Notes:
True widths are not established yet. Geological modelling of the Au-bearing Young-Shannon breccia + tonalite is required before true widths can properly be established. Significant Au composites from 2018 Re-log exceeding 15m of core length. Assays are reported un-cut only.
Figure 1: Gosselin - Young Shannon drill hole plan map and highlighted 2017-18 assay results.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6077/43677_enhanced.JPG
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43677
The structural challenges that entrepreneurs of color face are well-documented, and disparities in business ownership are stark: While minorities make up 38 percent of the U.S. population, only 19 percent of businesses are minority-owned. Minority-owned firms earn less than half the revenue of non-minority-owned firms, and few are on a trajectory to become Fortune 500 companies. Yet most programs focused on supporting entrepreneurs of color target small-business creation, which leads to a self-perpetuating cycle that limits wealth building and may be exacerbating wealth inequities.As cities' leaders have increasingly recognized the role that minority-owned businesses play in building local economies and creating wealth in disinvested neighborhoods, new efforts have been launched to help support entrepreneurs of color, especially those in high-growth sectors.In Chicago, for example, the Blackstone Challenge was launched in 2017 as a three-year, $3 million effort to advance entrepreneurship in underserved communities. Led by World Business Chicago and supported by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, the Blackstone Challenge funds organizations that recruit and support entrepreneurs of color as well as women, veteran, and immigrant entrepreneurs.JPMorgan Chase's Entrepreneurs of Color Fund provides financing for Community Development Financial Institutions and other nonprofit lending partners to provide alternative sources of capital to grow minority-owned businesses. Piloted in Detroit with the Detroit Development Fund and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund has been expanded to Chicago, San Francisco, the South Bronx and greater Washington, D.C. Between 2015 and 2018, more than 200 minority-owned business received $9.5 million in capital through the Fund.Yet more needs to be done. We highlight five interventions that city leaders should prioritize to support entrepreneurs of color and help them grow the scale of their businesses:In our study of six major metro areas , we found that incubators and accelerators focused on supporting entrepreneurs of color do not have sufficient capacity. For example, in Atlanta, 11 incubators and accelerators serve only 34 percent of the city's entrepreneurs of color. Entrepreneurs of color typically lack the robust social and professional networks needed for high-growth businesses.Contracts with large organizations and government agencies are critical for entrepreneurs in high-growth sectors. Yet we continually hear that finding qualified minority-owned businesses that have the capacity to take on large contracts is a challenge in most cities. More assistance from entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs) should be targeted to building the capacity of minority-owned firms in industries or sectors that are in high-demand by these large organizations or government agencies.Increasing access to industry-specific ESOs (such as those focused on food manufacturing or high tech) for entrepreneurs of color is critical, since these kinds of ESOs provide access to tailored, powerful networks and targeted capital. Entrepreneurs of color are not participating in this type of ESO at the same rates as their white male counterparts. This is particularly true for high-tech incubators and accelerators Collaboration is needed among existing organizations to address the three primary structural challenges faced by all entrepreneurs but which are particularly difficult for entrepreneurs of color: access to management education, capital (money), and contracts and new customers (markets) -- the three Ms. Most programs focus on supporting only one of the Ms and operate independently from other programs. One notable exception is the new Ascend 2020 program , now operating in 10 U.S. cities and growing.Because of capital-access challenges, entrepreneurs of color are more likely to enter industries with low capital requirements and high failure rates rather than high-growth sectors. More startup and growth capital needs to be available to entrepreneurs of color, and they need support accessing a broad range of sources -- not just more venture capital but also equity infusions from corporations and impact investors.The economic imperative for supporting entrepreneurs of color is clear. Only by removing barriers to growth for minority-owned businesses can city leaders maximize the impact of efforts to catalyze job and economic development.
Nowhere To Hide
A Return On Investment
For decades, hospitals have strained to accommodate patients in psychiatric crisis in emergency rooms. The horror stories of failure abound:Patients heavily sedated or shackled to gurneys for days while awaiting placement in a specialized psychiatric hospital, their symptoms exacerbated by the noise and chaos of emergency medicine. Long wait times in crowded ERs for people who show up with serious medical emergencies. High costs for taxpayers, insurers and families as patients languish longer than necessary in the most expensive place to get care.If you are living with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, that is a really tough way to begin that road to recovery, said Dr. Jack Rozel, president of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry.In pockets across the country, hospitals are trying something new to address the unique needs of psychiatric patients: opening emergency units specifically designed to help stabilize and treat patients and connect them to longer-term resources and care. These psychiatric ERs aim to address the growing number of patients with mental health conditions who end up hospitalized because traditional emergency rooms dont have the time or expertise to treat the crisis.The rate of ER visits involving psychoses, bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety jumped more than 50 percent from 2006 to 2013, according to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Roughly 1 in 8 emergency department visits now stem from mental illness or substance use disorders, the data show.The psychiatric ERs, staffed with nurses, social workers and psychiatrists, work to treat and release patients in under 24 hours, much as traditional emergency rooms handle physical ailments. Those who are well enough to go home get discharged, while those who need more treatment are admitted to the hospital or transferred to an inpatient facility.There are now roughly 100 such units across the country, said Dr. Scott Zeller, vice president of acute psychiatry at Vituity, a physician-led organization that provides staffing and consulting services to medical centers nationwide.Zeller pioneered the approach while working as chief of psychiatric emergency services at John George Psychiatric Hospital in Alameda County, Calif. Over time, he transformed the center from a traditional ward where restraints were common into one that treated patients in a more supportive, living-room like setting. The results in terms of both patient outcomes and cost-savings made Zeller a believer.He is helping design 10 new units, including in California, Florida, Illinois and Tennessee. Each is distinct, accepting patients in somewhat different circumstances and offering a slightly different range of services.Patients who arrive at an emergency room for psychiatric or substance use disorders are more than twice as likely to be admitted than other patients, federal data show. And yet about 80 percent of the time, Zeller said, patients mental health crises can be resolved without a costly inpatient hospital stay. A patient may be having a psychotic episode because he fell off his medications, for example, or having drug-induced hallucinations.We need to treat people at the emergency level of care, he said. The vast majority of psychiatric emergencies can be resolved in less than 24 hours.Wearing a hospital gown, Rachel Diamond lay back in her recliner in a spacious room in a relatively new ward at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro, a hospital near the Port of Los Angeles. Nearby, a few patients slept on identical recliners, draped in soft blankets. Others communed at a kitchen table over microwaved meals. A nurse walked through the locked unit with a rolling cart, dispensing medications.Except for a nursing station in the middle of the room, the unit didnt look much like a health care facility. The room was divided into mens and womens sides, with separate TVs. A few smaller rooms where patients could meet with a psychiatrist or social worker lined the units edge.Anya Price, interim clinical supervisor and a nurse, said the unit was designed to feel more like a home than a hospital. Were operating from an understanding that theyre coming here to get better, Price said.The open design of the unit, known as the Outpatient Behavioral Health Center, allows patients to move freely. Staff said it also helps reduce problems because they can quickly spot a patient who may be getting agitated. Dr. Herbert Harman, a psychiatrist and medical director for the facility, said violence and the need for restraints are rare.The unit is in a building a short walk from the medical center emergency room. It opened in 2017 and accepts patients from emergency rooms across Los Angeles County once they are deemed stable medically. So far this year, its staff has treated about 400 patients, Price said.One recent morning, the patients included a man in his 40s found on the railroad tracks after an alcohol binge, and a woman with a history of schizophrenia who said she was seeing spirits. Some were there on involuntary holds because authorities had decided they were at risk of hurting themselves or others because of their illness.Diamond, 30, said she has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and has landed in multiple ERs over the past decade when her symptoms spiked out of control. During those stays, she said, she often felt isolated and in the dark about her treatment. Doctors typically numbed her with medications and consigned her to a guarded room. No one really talked to me, said Diamond, who lives in Torrance, Calif. It was like I was a caged animal.She had been living in a car and fighting with her boyfriend in late February when she decided she wanted to end her life. She tried jumping out of a moving car, and when that didnt work, she grabbed a bottle of pills. She gets help for her mental health issues, but sometimes, she said, the stress becomes too much. This time, she was taken to a hospital emergency room in Torrance before being transferred to the San Pedro unit.During her time in the behavioral health center about 26 hours she slept, received medications and met with nurses, a social worker and a psychiatrist. She said it was calmer than a regular ER, and the staff had time to talk, listen and help her through the worst of the crisis.I genuinely feel better enough to leave, she said. I havent been able to say that in a while.Zeller argues that the use of emergency psychiatric clinics is both humane and cost-effective. Research on the Alameda County model found such units can dramatically reduce how long patients spend in medical emergency rooms, and that about three-quarters of patients treated in the units can be discharged to the community rather than to inpatient care. That, Zeller said, can lessen the overwhelming demand for inpatient psychiatric beds and preserve available spots for those who truly require them. The model saves money for hospitals in part because the patients spend less time in emergency care.The return on investment is exponential, he said.In Montana, the Billings Clinic opened a psychiatric stabilization unit last April across the street from the traditional ER. Dr. Eric Arzubi, psychiatry department chair, said nearly 10 percent of the visits in the Billings Clinic emergency room involve people in psychiatric crisis. Since the new unit opened, wait times for psychiatric patients have dropped from about 10 hours to four hours, and fewer patients are being admitted to the inpatient unit. Arzubi said his staff isnt trying to cure people of their mental illness but rather stabilize them and get them the care they need.Just like in the emergency room, you dont get comprehensive care, Arzubi said. But you can stop the bleeding, you stabilize the patient and get them to the right level of care.In some cases, that means a transfer to an inpatient facility.Staff at the San Pedro unit decided soon after Chantelle Unique arrived that she would be one of those patients. Unique, who is 23, has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. She had been dancing on the roof and speaking gibberish when her mother called 911.Unique said she has had a hard time in regular emergency rooms. There are a million people, she said. For most of a morning at the San Pedro facility, she sat calmly watching TV, talking to nurses and eating spaghetti. But at one point, she started pacing and yelling at other patients. Nurses and security guards quickly surrounded her and persuaded her to return to her recliner and take additional medication.Finding an inpatient bed for a patient like Unique with more progressed mental illness is not always easy, said clinical social worker Mark Tawfik. But hes committed to finding a way. We have to make sure we find them adequate resources, he said. Otherwise, they will come right back.For Price, the clinical supervisor, even when a patient requires a transfer for more intensive care, theres satisfaction in knowing that person is headed in the right direction. If Unique hadnt been brought in, Price said, she would have been out in the community, lost to her delusions, putting herself at risk of accident or arrest.In the unit, staff made sure she was safe, Price said, in addition to providing a warm bed, some food and some compassion.
Nearly two dozen states are failing to protect children from lead in drinking water at school, according to a recent study.The presence of lead in water is a major health threat for children. According to the study, low levels of lead can cause a decreased IQ level and a decrease in growth, while high levels can result in anemia, kidney disease and even death. The report, by advocacy groups Environment America Research & Policy Center and U.S. PIRG Education Fund, gave 22 states an 'F' grade for how well they protect young students from lead.The report looked at 31 states and Washington, D.C., meaning that more than two-thirds of the states earned a failing grade. The nation's capital received the highest grade: a B+.The states' scores were based on the following criteria: if schools are required to proactively remove lead from water delivery systems, what level of lead triggers mandatory remedial action, if testing is required (and how often), how much information is being shared with the public, and if state laws apply to both schools and early childhood programs.The authors note that only 10 percent of preschools and schools are considered to be their own Public Water Systems and, therefore, have to follow federal drinking water rules. The other 90 percent of schools do not have to follow national standards and, as illustrated in the report, many states do little policy-wise to prevent lead contamination in their schools' water.Some state laws require lead testing but no remediation if lead is detected, while other states that do require action only require a response if lead levels exceed 15 parts per billion (which is also the federal standard). Yet, the authors note that any level of lead contamination isn't safe for children.Among the states that flunked the report card are Alabama, Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Texas.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has issued an emergency removal order of all boys remaining at the Glen Mills Schools, the oldest existing U.S. reform school.In a Monday letter to the school's board of managers, the state agency -- which licenses and oversees the Delaware County campus -- said conditions "constitute gross incompetence, negligence, misconduct in operating a facility, including mistreatment and abuse of clients, likely to constitute immediate and serious danger to the life or health of the children in care.""As the investigation into allegations raised in recent reporting continues, we must do what is necessary to ensure that no more children are at risk of physical and emotional harm," said Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller.Miller said the emergency removal order is "one step" of an ongoing process at Glen Mills, which holds 14 licenses with the state. "DHS is committed to seeing this investigation through to ensure that any individual responsible for endangering the welfare of children and coercing silence can be held responsible," she said.The Inquirer reported in February that serious violence was both an everyday occurrence and an open secret at the Glen Mills Schools, which draws students from across the country. Staff routinely punched, choked, and kicked the boys in their care, even breaking their bones, then kept them quiet with threats. Executive director Randy Ireson and other top leaders failed to properly vet or train the school's counselors, then insulated themselves from abuse complaints.
A Facebook group aimed at recalling Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) has amassed almost 30,000 members.The private group had at least 28,525 members as of Monday. It's unclear how many of them are registered voters in Colorado.Tom Good, the registered agent for a fundraising arm involved in the recall effort, told the Greeley Tribune that the Facebook group has no party affiliation.[Theres] currently no involvement whatsoever by the [Colorado] GOP, he told the Colorado newspaper. I plan to keep it that way, if I can. No party affiliation here; just good, hard-working Coloradans who want to save their state from this overreaching agenda.The page has gone by previous names including Recall Hickenlooper 2017, referring to then-Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), who is now a 2020 presidential candidate. It was also once called Keeping Colorado Officials Accountable.
(TNS) - As a cloud of toxic darkness hovered above, spokeswoman Alice Richardson was asked if the Intercontinental Terminals Co. would apologize to all of the residents of Deer Park for the petrochemical fire that raged for almost four days, releasing a seemingly endless plume of noxious smoke that would stretch hundreds of miles in the sky.Of course ITC would apologize to all of them, Richardson said Tuesday as tears welled up in her eyes and her voice cracked. The company is very sorry, she insisted. This isnt an event we wanted or planned, she said. Many of my employees work in the city of Deer Park. Theyre out there fighting this fire the best they can.The fire was finally extinguished less than 24 hours later on Wednesday. But, early Thursday morning, an emergency shelter-in-place warning was issued not because of the smoke, but from dangerously high levels of the invisible, cancer-causing crude oil compound benzene that were detected just outside of Houston in Deer Park. As the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality would later note, Because the fires are no longer burning, vapor from remaining exposed chemicals can escape. The remaining product is being removed, and vapor suppression activities are continuing.Essentially, a day after Deer Park residents thought they could finally take in some relatively fresh air, an emergency started all over again without a strong enough warning that this was an ominous possibility.Emergency planning and response protocols are a critical part of the Houston energy sector, and the key goal is always to avoid multiday environmental and human health disasters. But they do still happen and will continue to occur in the future. Crisis and communications experts warn it is essential for companies to do everything they can to avoid disasters while still planning for the worst. Richardson of ITC did not respond to an interview request.So much is essential from the golden hour after a disaster strikes for the ongoing communication with the wide range of stakeholders, including employees, neighboring residents, investors, governmental officials, the media and more. And countless hours of planning only go as far as theyre effectively put into practice.The biggest thing of course is to identify all the weaknesses and prevent a disaster from happening, said Terry Hemeyer, executive counsel at Pierpont Communications and an adjunct management professor at Rice University. Most companies have plans. The good companies rehearse and have tabletop exercises with emergency response officials.Incidents that occur can include small pipeline leaks, large explosions like the Arkema chemical plant disaster in Crosby after Hurricane Harvey that led to the indictments of the CEO and others, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon tragedy that left 11 people dead and spewed oil for three months from BPs well in the Gulf of Mexico.Other fires just in recent days have ranged from Exxon Mobils sprawling complex in nearby Baytown to Houston-based Phillips 66s Carson refinery in California.Hemeyer was a group vice president at Pennzoil for years, including when a refinery explosion in 1995 in Pennsylvania killed three people and injured others. He helped lead the communications response from Houston. We were on top of it quickly, he said, in part because every worker should know whom to call when theres an issue.The key is to gain control of it and fix the problems, he said, including putting out the fires, taking care of the employees and the injured, coordinating with local officials, contractors and vendors, and controlling the messaging and communications with the public.Honesty is always critical, even if that means temporarily delaying the release of some information. You dont talk before you have the facts. We dont want to say something if its not true, Hemeyer added.At Pennzoil, they could pull the vital response teams together within 20 minutes to start working the problems, he said, including logistics teams buying or locating any necessary parts to fix equipment or put out fires. Today, spray foams are quickly deployed to try to put out fires and suppress chemical leaks.Companies should be prepared to respond at all hours but sometimes theyre caught off guard. That shouldnt occur.Thats usually because it happens at 2 a.m., Hemeyer said. I often say crises dont happen from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.The planning process should be very inclusive, said Julie Fix, an assistant professor of communication at the University of Houston who heads the Fix & Associates public relations firm.You want every Chicken Little in your organization in the planning room saying, The sky is falling, she said, so every possibility is considered.The messaging to everyone whos impacted is critical. Employees and their families will need to receive much different information, Fix said, than investors and securities analysts who are more concerned about the impacts on the company and the stock performance.The secret isnt magical, she said. Its recognizing the vulnerabilities and how to deliver communications to all the necessary parties.While communication used to focus on phone calls and the media, now companies also need to utilize email, websites and social media to get the messages out. Twitter and Facebook, for instance, are just as important as almost as anything else, Fix said.A lot of energy companies follow the lead of the federal government, adopting a unified incident command system, called ICS, for a standardized approach, which first originated decades ago from wildfires in California and Arizona. The system can be used for everything from active shooter scenarios to hazardous materials accidents that require major evacuations.The ICS strategy requires a clear chain of command set up well in advance of any disaster with an incident commander in charge and then public information and liaisons officers to lead the communications. There are typically four teams with everyone knowing their responsibilities an operations response team, planning team, logistics team and an administration team to oversee financial and legal matters.Oftentimes, the federal, state or local responders will lead the situation with the companies providing support and information.Energy companies mostly declined comment for this story or only spoke on background. Chevron, for instance, declined an interview request but pointed out its emergency preparedness strategies worldwide that include planning efforts with a vast array of nations.Chevron uses a tiered approach that goes down to site-specific responses for every facility, and up to a corporate team responsible for providing guidance and expertise in emergency response, crisis management and business continuity. Chevron has expert contractors in all sorts of areas like wildlife management, oil spill and air-dispersion modeling, toxicology, fire fighting, and shipping and salvage.And Chevron participates in multiple international oil spill cooperatives with other energy firms.Companies have to work together for planning and best practices. After all, fairly or not, every incident is essentially a black mark on the entire industry.jordan.blum@chron.comtwitter.com/jdblum232019 the Houston ChronicleVisit the Houston Chronicle at www.chron.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Colorado Governors Office of Information Technology will soon name its first blockchain expert.The state is set to announce early next month the hiring of a Blockchain Architect, according to a tweet by David McCurdy, the states chief technology officer.Officially known as a Blockchain and Distributed Ledger (BDL) Solution Architect, the new role will lead efforts as a subject matter expert on leveraging technology, innovation and thought leadership to provide scalable solutions to complex and diverse business problems that benefit in leveraging blockchain technologies, according to the job posting McCurdy was not immediately available to discuss the new position withon Monday. And his office also did not release the name of the new blockchain architect.We plan to issue a press release in April to officially announce the appointment of this position, said Brandi Simmons, a spokesperson for OIT.All indications suggest Colorado is embracing blockchain and its abilities to safeguard state data. In 2018 the state Legislature passed SB18-086 , titled "Cyber Coding Cryptology For State Records," which encouraged the use of blockchain technology for developing protected data systems.The Legislature also recently introduced HB 19-1247 , which would direct the Colorado commissioner of agriculture to form an advisory group to study how blockchain technology could be used by the agriculture community.
(TNS) For the third time in a year, state of Oregon employees are unable to send emails to many people they would otherwise correspond with for work.The problem originated when an employees email account was compromised, according to a memorandum sent by the states Chief Information Officer Terrence Woods on Thursday.That allowed an outside party to launch an email spam campaign from the state employees account, which in turn caused several email providers to blacklist all email addresses containing the extensions @oregon.gov and @state.or.us.Providers that blacklisted state emails include Outlook, MSN and Hotmail.We experienced the same email reputation issue just last month, Woods wrote.Similarly, the states @oregon.gov email extension was blacklisted by email providers in June, after a state employee clicked on a phishing email and a malicious party was able to send out more than eight million spam emails from the account.The February and March email breaches impacted the Department of State Lands, which manages its own email system, and the March incident also involved the Department of Energy, which uses centralized state technology services, Department of Administrative Services spokeswoman Liz Craig wrote in an email Monday morning. Craig was unable to say by the end of the business day which agency was involved in the June email incident.Each time the state email system is compromised, the government must work to rebuild the reputation of its email accounts with providers so they will once again accept state emails.We believe the issue is resolved, but I am waiting on the official all clear from our IT staff (likely today or tomorrow), Craig wrote. In the meantime, employees will have to use other modes of communication (phone) with people who use these email domains and who cannot provide an alternate email address.Employees whose emails did not reach their intended contacts will know, because they will receive a bounce-back notification.Although many state agencies use centralized information technology services from the Department of Administrative Services, some also run their own technology operations. Woods wrote that the states centralized technology office highly recommends that agencies that manage their own email systems require two-factor authentication, limit the use of (Outlook Web Access), or simply not use (Outlook Web Access).In addition, the (centralized technology office) is working with agency email administrators with email-hardening guidelines and real-time phishing scam information, Woods wrote.Craig wrote in an email that the centralized technology office has published an information security awareness video series that every agency is required to use to educate state employees on email security. Employees at most state agencies are required to go through annual information security trainings, and the state sends out updated security awareness materials to them on a quarterly basis.
The days of cybersecurity as an insiders game have passed in Pennsylvania. This is, in part, thanks to the work of Erik Avakian, the states chief information security officer, who has worked in the last nine years to both demystify the concept of cybersecurity, and gain a better understanding of the workings and vulnerabilities of various agencies so he can help make them less susceptible to security disruptions.Speaking recently withAvakian described some of the key philosophies that have guided his work as CISO. Hes a firm believer, for example, that strong cybersecurity practices shouldnt stand in the way of business objectives, but rather empower them to be successful.One effort that illustrates this commitment is Avakians work on an identity and access management solution for the state that simplifies citizen interactions with the state online. The end game for the project is what so many in government strive for: an Amazon-like experience. Thirty applications are expected to go live in 2019. But central to the effort is security: a collection of usernames and passwords for different agencies is less secure, not to mention a poor user experience.Avakian views the Keystone Login SSO (single sign-on) initiative as a key component of any modernization effort happening at the agency level, offering tools and staff resources to smooth the transition. It is definitely something the agencies need help with, he said. But we didnt do it in a silo; we are all moving together.One of the longest-serving state CISOs in the country, Avakian has pushed in recent years for robust and results-oriented cybertraining for the 80,000-strong Pennsylvania workforce. Phishing programs aim to course-correct with specific guidance for those who click on bad links, while cloud-based tools help round out the effort to fortify the first line of defense the workforce against incoming threats. And cyberthreats are only getting more sophisticated, Avakian said. When we look at cyber, its such a complicated topic that requires a team sport methodology. That is a recipe for success, and Im really passionate about that.
There is perhaps no term as ubiquitous in city hall tech and innovation work these days as human-centered design. It is being cited in projects ranging from single sign-on initiatives to 311 mobile apps. While the concept has been around much longer in the private sector deployed by gigantic companies like Amazon and Apple government is just now catching up, crafting websites, processes and forms designed for human users rather than institutions.Civilla, a Detroit-based company that describes itself as a design studio dedicated to changework, is out ahead, helping to push government in the right direction. Housed in a refurbished office where Chevy once built the first Corvette, Civilla has used human-centered design on an impactful project within state government, yielding significant results that are changing lives. Project Re:form started in 2015 as a redesign of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services application form, which at 45 pages, 18,000-some words and 1,000 questions was then the largest application for public benefits in the nation.Within Project Re:form, Civilla conducted hours of interviews in applicants homes as well as with the public servants who processed the novella-length forms. By early 2018, the team had a new svelte version of 3,904 words, 18 pages and 213 questions that also kept all vital content. That form has now been implemented, and around this time last year, stakeholders reported it was coming in 94 percent completed versus a previous average of 72 percent, leading to faster processing. The form, in other words, now works for real people, both the applicants and state workers behind desks.Since Civilla launched Project Re:Form, the influence of their work has noticeably trickled into statehouses and city halls across the country. In partnership with Code for America, the company is also working to do for Michigans online benefits application what it did for the paper version. While the Civilla team is varied and deep, at its heart are CEO Michael Brennan a veteran of the United Way in Michigan and Lena and Adam Selzer, design experts out of Stanford Universitys Hasso Plattner Institute of Design.
Pierre Gasly is looking forward to proving himself in Bahrain after a poor weekend in Australia. The Frenchman will be disappointed with his Red Bull debut but will hope that the next race will be better. Last year Gasly finished 4th in Bahrain in a Toro Rosso so it is clear that he is quick at the circuit.
Gasly is clearly a quick driver and it seems a bit odd that he did so poorly in Australia. He will do better in Bahrain, a circuit where he has had success in the past.
Bahrain is one of my favourite races," Gasly said to planetf1.com. "I had my best result in Formula 1 there last year with a fourth place, so for me, Bahrain is very exciting, there is a lot of positive energy.
I can not wait to come back here, this time with Red Bull, especially after a complicated weekend in Melbourne.
We could see that our car was competitive and I like the Bahrain circuit, so I can not wait to get back in the car and get to work.
If Gasly struggles to perform in Bahrain then there will be some real pressure on him and perhaps Red Bull will look to someone else to take his seat.
Mick Schumacher's first formula one test will take place next week in Bahrain.
We had already reported that the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher was first in line for the Alfa Romeo seat in the post-Bahrain GP test.
Schumacher, 20, will already be in Bahrain for his first Formula 2 race.
"Bild (newspaper) knows that Alfa Romeo will be Mick's first formula one car," the German publication and other authoritative sources reported.
Alfa Romeo is a Ferrari 'B' team, and Schumacher is the leading member of Ferrari's driver development academy.
Schumacher told Italy's La Repubblica last week: "It has never been a problem for me to be compared to my father.
"In fact, it is an honour to be compared to the best driver in the history of formula one. I just have to try to learn and improve."
As for his new Ferrari role, the reigning European F3 champion added: "They made me feel immediately at home, but Ferrari has always been part of my life after all."
(GMM)
Researchers at MIT and in China are proposing a new class of dense intercalation-conversion hybrid cathodes by combining intercalation-type Mo 6 S 8 with conversion-type sulfur (HMSC) to realize a LiS full cell.
In a paper in Nature Energy, the researchers report that the mechanically hard Mo 6 S 8 with fast Li-ion transport ability, high electronic conductivity, active capacity contribution and high affinity for lithium polysulfides is an ideal backbone to immobilize the sulfur species and unlock their high gravimetric capacity.
A pouch cell assembled based on the hybrid cathode and a 2 excess Li metal anode is able to simultaneously deliver a gravimetric energy density of 366 Wh kg1 and a volumetric energy density of 581 Wh l1.
Design strategy for jointly high gravimetricvolumetric energy density. The relationship between cathode porosity and predicted cathode-specific volumetric energy density e v (a) and gravimetric energy density e g (b) of the hybrid Mo 6 S 8 /S 8 cathode with all carbon included (HMSC) and C/S 8 cathode with different C/S 8 and Mo 6 S 8 /S 8 ratios. Xue et al.
Anion-redox lithiumsulfur (LiS) is one of the most promising conversion battery chemistries with high theoretical cathode energy density of 2,600 Wh kg-1 based on the weight of Li 2 S, S 8 + 16e + 16Li+ = 8Li 2 S, several times higher than conventional lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathodes based on transition metal cationredox intercalation reactions. Unfortunately, the actual full-cell energy densities are a far cry from the theoretical values resulting from the excessive use of inactive components, such as electrolyte and conductive carbon. The electronic insulating nature of the S 8 and Li 2 S phases (as compared to, say, Li x CoO 2 , with its high Co3+ Co4+ polaron mobility) means that for the anion-redox reaction SS+()e to proceed (where 0,2 is the average sulfur valence reflecting a mix of ionic and covalent bonding, often in the physical form of S n 2, where =2/n), the S 8 must physically dissolve into liquid electrolytes as Sn2 (electrolyte), transform into S m 2 (electrolyte) and eventually redeposit somewhere else as solid phases. to reach high full-cell E g and E v [gravimetric and volumetric energy density], which is much more meaningful for pushing LiS batteries into commercial development, LiS batteries must work under rigorous conditions including high active material loading, lean electrolyte and low cathode porosity. Until now, however, few reports have been devoted to improving the joint E g E v energy densities by decreasing the inactive components in sulfur cathodes. our strategy is to design an intercalation-conversion hybrid cathode material by introducing electrochemically active Chevrel-phase Mo 6 S 8 with fast lithium intercalation reactions and high tap density to hybridize with S 8 . Xue et al.
Intercalation type cathodes, which use compounds such as lithium cobalt oxide, provide a high volumetric energy density. These cathodes can maintain their structure and dimensions while incorporating lithium atoms into their crystalline structure.
Conversion type cathodes use sulfur that gets transformed structurally and is even temporarily dissolved in the electrolyte.
Theoretically, these Li-S batteries have very good gravimetric energy density, but the volumetric density is low,partly because they tend to require a lot of extra materials, including an excess of electrolyte and carbon, used to provide conductivity, says MIT Professor Ju Li, co-corresponding author of the paper.
In the new hybrid system, the researchers combine the two approaches into a new cathode that incorporates both a type of molybdenum sulfide called Chevrel-phase, and pure sulfur, which together appear to provide the best aspects of both. They used particles of the two materials and compressed them to make the solid cathode.
Among other advantages, the electrical conductivity of the combined material is relatively high, thus reducing the need for carbon and lowering the overall volume, Li says. Typical sulfur cathodes are made up of 20 to 30 percent carbon, he says, but the new version needs only 10 percent carbon.
The net effect of using the new material is substantial. Todays commercial lithium-ion batteries can have energy densities of about 250 watt-hours per kilogram and 700 watt-hours per liter, whereas lithium-sulfur batteries top out at about 400 watt-hours per kilogram but only 400 watt-hours per liter. The new version, in its initial version that has not yet gone through an optimization process, can already reach more than 360 watt-hours per kilogram and 581 watt-hours per literit can beat both lithium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries in terms of the combination of these energy densities.
With further work, Li says, we think we can get to 400 watt-hours per kilogram and 700 watt-hours per liter, with that latter figure equaling that of lithium-ion.
Already, the team has gone a step further than many laboratory experiments aimed at developing a large-scale battery prototype: Instead of testing small coin cells with capacities of only several milliamp-hours, they have produced a three-layer pouch cell (a standard subunit in batteries for products such as electric vehicles) with a capacity of more than 1,000 milliamp-hours. This is comparable to some commercial batteries, indicating that the new device does match its predicted characteristics.
So far, the new cell cant live up to the longevity of lithium-ion batteries in terms of the number of charge-discharge cycles it can go through before losing too much power to be useful. But that limitation is not the cathodes problem; it has to do with the overall cell design, and were working on that, Li says.
Even in its present early form, he says, this may be useful for some niche applications, such as a drone with long range, where both weight and volume matter more than longevity.
The work was supported by the Samsung Advanced institute of Technology, the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China, the National Science Foundation of China, and MITs Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The team also included professor Jing Kong and others at MIT, as well as researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, the Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory in Guangdong, China, the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology America in Burlington, Massachusetts, and Tongji University in Shanghai.
Resources
Hong Kong: HK-Aus sign trade pacts
Hong Kong and Australia today signed a Free Trade Agreement and an Investment Agreement.
The pacts were signed by Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau and Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism & Investment Simon Birmingham in Sydney.
The deals cover trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property, government procurement, competition and other related areas, providing Hong Kong traders and investors with legal certainty and more favourable access to the Australian market while creating more business opportunities and enhancing trade and investment flows between the two places.
Mr Yau hailed the free trade agreement as a high-quality deal that reflects the aspiration of both economies, particularly those in the investment, trading and professional services.
The document actually includes ways and means to improve the market access into our mutual markets. It provides opportunity for professional services to exchange talent and also create new opportunities for others."
He added the commitment made by both places to each other far exceeds their World Trade Organization commitments.
Under both agreements, Hong Kong-originating goods can enter Australia tariff-free and via simplified procedures.
In some 140 services sectors, Hong Kong service providers can enjoy market access and treatment no less favourable than Australia's local service providers under like circumstances. Australia has also committed to liberalising full range of its arbitration, conciliation and mediation services and certain rail transport services.
The free trade agreement with Australia is the fourth such pact the current-term Government has signed with its trading partners since taking office in July 2017.
Together with the investment agreement, it will take effect after Hong Kong and Australia have completed their respective internal procedures.
This story has been published on: 2019-03-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
File this one under depressing: Young voters absentee ballots in Parkland, Fla., were much more likely to go uncounted for arriving late or to be thrown out for other reasons, than ballots cast by other youth voters in the state, according to data first reported by the Washington Posts Tim Craig.
About 1 in 7 mail-in ballots, or 15 percent, submitted by Parkland residents aged 18 to 21 were thrown out or arrived late, according to the analysis by Daniel Smith, the chairman of the political science department at the University of Florida. For Broward County, which includes Parkland, that figure was 10 percent. Thats much higher than the rate for all Florida voters aged 18 to 21, which is about 5.4 percent of mail-in ballots. (The statewide average of rejected or uncounted mail-in ballots for all ages was 1.2 percent, the Post reported.)
Analyses show that youth voting rates in the 2018 midterm elections boomed in many states , even surpassing general voter turnout in many of them, and the surge of youth activism in the wake of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland was cited as one likely factor. In fact, the students Road to Change bus tour, which hit dozens of cities last summer, was just as focused on encouraging students to vote as it was on drawing attention to how gun violence affects young people.
The Broward County Supervisor of Elections wouldnt comment on the analysis, the newspaper reported. But it did say that its data showed that the rejection rate in Broward County within the 18-to-21 age rangeat 2.8 percentwas far lower than Smiths estimate.
So what accounts for this discrepancy? Broward County officials blame a poky U.S. Postal Service system for delayed ballots. But the story also surmises that Floridas voting laws, which require election officials to match the signature on each voters absentee ballot with the one on their voter-registration forms, might have been a problem for young people whose personal stylesincluding their signaturesare still evolving.
The ACLU and Smith had previously argued that Floridas laws disproportionately hinder young voters and specific ethnic groups, based on their analysis of 2016 data.
Florida, and Broward County in particular, have also faced a number of recent lawsuits over voting in the wake of the midterms. This is partly a Florida phenomenon, where elections are routinely so close that they often move to automatic recounts and legal challenges. But the data also underscore that U.S. voting systems just arent all that user-friendly in general, especially for young people.
Our systems are not yet quite voter-centered enough, especially when we think about young people as an important stakeholder, said Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, the executive director of the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning, or CIRCLE, a Tufts University group that studies and analyzes youth civic participation. If we dont do it right for the first-time voters, we cant deem the electoral system to be serving its main purpose.
I hope they can get to the bottom of this, she said about the Florida situation.
WASHINGTON Rep. Rosa DeLauro used her new clout as an Appropriations subcommittee chairman to tussle with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Tuesday over a report by an education advocacy group accusing her agency of not providing effective oversight of federal charter school funding.
DeVos was the sole witness at a hearing before DeLauros subcommittee to answer questions about the Trump administrations latest budget request for the U.S. Department of Education, which would boost federal charter school funding by $60 million while cutting $7 billion, or 10 percent, of its budget this year from other programs.
DeLauro grilled DeVos about the findings of a report by the non-profit advocacy group Network for Public Education that said the U.S. government has wasted up to $1 billion on charter schools that never opened, or operated for a short while and then closed because of mismanagement.
DeVos initially tried to deflect the question.
It sounds like you are saying, This is not our job, DeLauro said. Can you explain how you think not stopping known waste fraud and abuse in the Charter School Program is not the departments job?
Charter schools are publicly financed but privately operated, and are a part of the school choice movement supported by the Trump administration. Before joining the administration, DeVos was the chairman of the pro-school-choice advocacy group American Federation for Children, and a force behind the spread of charter schools in her home state of Michigan.
DeLauro continued to ask DeVos what the Education Department was doing to recover the lost federal money.
DeVos said her department is very aware of the issues raised by the report and that the practices at the charter schools long predate this administration.
We are very keen to ensure that the concerns raised are addressed, DeVos said. but you are always going to have schools that dont make it.
DeVos also said that shes looking to Congress to authorize more flexibility for charter schools.
That was not what DeLauro wanted to hear.
Madame Secretary, it would appear to me that based on this report and other reports that charter schools have enormous flexibility, and there seems to be no one who is overseeing how that flexibility translates into the use of federal dollars, DeLauro said. Thats irresponsible in terms of your job with regard to oversight.
The report, titled Asleep at the Wheel said, Of the schools awarded grants directly from the department between 2009 and 2016, nearly one in four either never opened or (soon) shut its doors.
The report detailed the failures of dozens of charter schools, including one in Connecticut.
It said that in 2013, Path Academy opened in Windham and that its charter management organization, called Our Piece of the Pie, received a $585,800 grant to open the school.
Within a few years the school was opening up unauthorized satellite campuses as well as falsifying enrollment and attendance data resulting in a $1.57 million overpayment to the school, the report said. Before the state Education Department pulled its charter, the school surrendered its charter.
The school surrendered its charter last July, about two months after the state board of education voted to begin the revocation process.
DeVos was also questioned by Democrats on the panel about proposed Education Department cuts and plans to eliminate programs like the Special Olympics.
They also pressed DeVos on her proposed rule changes on campus sexual misconduct and her decision to rescind Obama-era discipline guidance to schools aimed at protecting minority students.
DeVos said her department had to make difficult decisions, but was bound by a directive to cut the federal deficit.
I do not understand how you can support this budget and be the secretary of education, DeLauro said. This budget under-funds education at every turn.
HARTFORD Later this week the Public Health Committee may or may not debate legislation that would allow a terminally ill patient with six months to live to take their own life.
Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, said he doesnt know yet if he has the votes. If he finds that he does have the votes, the bill will be on the agenda Friday.
Steinberg said at the moment he doesnt have a vote count and was unable to say if a majority of the 25 committee members would support it.
Steinberg made those remarks Monday before the New Jersey Assembly and Senate sent an aid-in-dying bill to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who plans to sign it. Supporters are hoping passage in New Jersey will give the bill some momentum in Connecticut.
Meanwhile, opponents have been working hard to create doubt about the legislation, which has never made it out of the Public Health Committee.
Opponents like Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, said the doubt some lawmakers have is for good reason.
Wolfgang pointed to new testimony submitted by the Division of Criminal Justice, which expresses concerns about falsifying a death certificate.
The division headed by Chief State Attorney Kevin Kane said his agency takes no position on the concept, but worries the bill could have unintended and very unwelcome consequences.
The legislation as currently written says, The person signing the qualified patients death certificate shall list the underlying terminal illness as the cause of death.
The division worries that it becomes problematic and would prevent them from moving forward with a murder prosecution where the cause of death is not accurately reported on the death certificate.
Steinberg said opponents are using the pejorative of suicide as an excuse and in doing so are stigmatizing terminally ill patients who may choose it to end their lives. He said other states have found an acceptable way around these concerns. For example, he said there could be a primary and a secondary cause of death listed in the death certificate.
But Wolfgang said that beyond the new testimony, the advocacy of Cathy Ludlum of Second Thoughts Connecticut is also having an impact.
A lot of people may support the underlying concept, but they oppose this particular bill, Wolfgang said.
Ludlum said that death from some of these drugs is not as immediate or peaceful as supporters would have someone believe.
She pointed to a 2018 report from Oregon, which tracked the death with dignity drugs, the number of individuals who requested the drugs, the number who took the drugs, and how long it took them to die.
The range for the time of death was between one minute to 104 hours, depending on the medication.
The death in many of these cases was not immediate, Ludlum said Monday.
She said the data from Oregon shows it could take an hour or two, but it can also take days, and in at least one case it didnt work for a patient.
In 2018, 249 prescriptions were written under the Death With Dignity Act in Oregon. Of those, 158 of those residents ingested the medication and 157 died. One patient ingested the medication but regained consciousness before dying from the underlying illness and is not counted as a DWDA death, according to the report from the Oregon Health Authority.
An additional 48 did not take the medication and subsequently died of other causes, according to the report. The ingestion status is unknown for 43 patients prescribed DWDA medications in 2018. Of those, 14 patients died but follow-up information is not yet available. For the remaining 29 patients, both death and ingestion status are pending.
In Oregon since the law was passed in 1997, prescriptions have been written for a total of 2,217 people and 1,459 have died from ingesting the medications.
Tim Appleton, campaign manager for Compassion & Choices in Connecticut, said hes grateful the Connecticut Public Health Committee agreed to take up the legislation this year.
He declined to speculate on what would happen Friday.
We respect the legislative process, Appleton said.
He said it was clear from the testimony on the bill that this will help prevent suffering for terminally ill patients and give them one more option at the end of their lives.
There has been no national campaign involved yet in getting the bill passed this year in Connecticut, but for the first time the Connecticut State Medical Society has taken a neutral stance on the legislation.
While legislators and juvenile justice advocates have been sparring over proposed legislation aimed at reining in juveniles accused of car thefts, Fairfield Police Chief Chris Lyddy has been watching videos.
We have one case where a high-end vehicle was stolen out of Fairfield, Lyddy said. We have video from the next day with a juvenile hanging out of the sunroof in the same car firing a gun in Bridgeport.
Whats clear, according to a recent report given to juvenile justice advocates last week, is that smaller and medium-sized towns are seeing increases in the number of car thefts while larger cities have experienced a steady decline in recent years.
Whats not clear, according to Kenneth Barone, project manager for Central Connecticut State Universitys Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy, who drafted the report, is who is actually stealing the cars.
His report indicates that only about 14 percent of car theft cases result in an arrest each year. Barone claims the small percentage of arrests is making it impossible to determine if juveniles are driving the increases in car thefts.
But officials in towns like Fairfield, which saw the largest increase in motor vehicle thefts in 2017 in more than a decade, are pretty clear about who they are dealing with routinely.
Were seeing almost exclusively juveniles, Lyddy said. We stopped a car weekend before last and caught four, three were juveniles and one 18-year-old. Were seeing juveniles from cities in Connecticut. They come in, hit a neighborhood, try the doors and take the unlocked cars with the key fobs inside. We havent seen any sophisticated technical means of stealing cars. We have video after video.
The kids have no qualms about telling arresting officers that they will be back at it the next day, Lyddy said. There are no consequences, he said. The juveniles we are catching are the same juveniles over and over again.
In 2017, Greenwich, Fairfield, Trumbull and Shelton experienced the worst year for car thefts in more than a decade.
Car thefts are down overall in Connecticut from 8,823 in 2008 to 7,310 in 2017, according to the latest data available from the Central Connecticut State Universitys Institute of Municipal and Regional Planning.
But since the car thefts hit a low of 6,100 in 2014, the numbers have steadily climbed statewide and nationally, Barone said.
Barone concluded that car thefts in the states major cities dropped by double-digit percentages from 2008 to 2017. The lone exception was Waterbury, where there was a 91 percent increase in car thefts during that period.
At the same time, suburban communities with populations less than 25,000 people have seen a 20 percent increase during that span. Central Connecticut towns like Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and Newington also had the most car thefts in a decade in 2017.
Barone presented his findings Friday to the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee, which requested the data as legislators and law enforcement examine ways to address the rising rate of car thefts.
Of the 93 municipalities Barone examined in his report, 27 experienced the highest number of car thefts in 2017 than the previous 10 years. Another 10 municipalities saw the highest number of car thefts in more than a decade in 2016.
Four of the states largest cities, New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford and New Britain, along with 14 other municipalities, saw the largest number of car thefts in 2008 with the incidents declining in the past decade.
Chief States Attorney Kevin Kane told the Judiciary Committee that hes not attributing the increase to the legislatures decision to raise the age of adult prosecutions to 18 in 2012. But the states top prosecutor said action needs to be taken to address these crimes, which have in some cases led to deaths as the suspects attempted to evade police.
It should be clear that we are not stating that the raise-the-age legislation is responsible for the recent increase in juvenile auto thefts, but acknowledging that the problem does exist and must be addressed, Kane said. There is currently no effective means available for law enforcement and the juvenile justice system to respond immediately to the threat these small number of serious repeat juvenile offenders are posing to themselves and others.
Even child advocates are split on how to handle the cases, according to testimony provided to the Judiciary Committee.
The states Child Advocate Sarah Healy Eagan supports a bill sponsored by Sen. Len Fasano, R-North Haven, that would suspend delinquency proceedings for juveniles charged with car theft in favor of treatment.
If the juvenile successfully completed services under the watch of a probation officer, the case would be dismissed. If the juvenile racks up three car theft offenses, the teen would face more serious consequences, including being sent to a detention center, according to the proposed bill.
Connecticut legislators through the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee have asked for fewer juvenile incarcerations, said Abby Anderson, executive director of the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance, which successfully campaigned to raise the age for adult prosecutions.
But at the same time, Anderson pointed out Monday in her testimony to the Judicial Committee that lawmakers have provided less funding for services for at-risk youth which she said is now driving calls for legislation to incarcerate more teens accused of stealing cars.
Passing regressive legislation to put more youth in detention as a result of our states failure to fund and implement appropriate alternative interventions is ineffectively holding young people accountable for their behavior while refusing to acknowledge our own responsibility in how we got to where we are today, Anderson said.
Lyddy acknowledges there are no easy answers.
Its a tough situation, he said. I believe in juvenile justice reform. But at the same time, there has to be consequences. Stealing cars, using cars in crimes and using handguns, there has to be consequences.
GREENWICH The American Red Cross is there for people when they are in need. Now, the organization is hoping Greenwich residents will be there for them.
The Red and White Ball, a benefit gala set for April 27 at the Net Jets Hangar at Westchester County Airport, is the main source of funding for the American Red Cross in the Metro New York North region. Its headquarters is in Cos Cob, and one of Greenwichs own will receive a high honor at the ball.
Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard, a longtime town resident, will receive the American Red Cross Humanitarian Award for his support of the organization and his work benefiting others. His newest project is a documentary about the devastating and deadly California wildfires late last year.
Howard is adding star power to the ball, which the main goal is to get critical public support for the emergency response work of the Red Cross.
This is our only fundraiser for the region we serve, said Mary Young, CEO of the chapter. This is a very big deal for us. It allows us to continue the work we do day in and day out. Its our signature event.
The ball has been held locally for 34 years.
Its really remarkable how much support weve gotten locally, Young said. In addition to financial support, Greenwich residents have a long tradition of volunteering and donating at blood drives.
In addition to Greenwich, the Metro New York North region covers Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan, Putnam and Orange counties in New York. A lot of work goes on at the Cos Cob location to make sure people are deployed through the vast area to help after hurricanes, floods and fires.
The Red Cross has long wanted to honor Howard, but Young said the filmmaker has been to humble to accept. For years, Howard has supported the work of the emergency response organization.
The award is fitting this year as Howard focuses on the emergency created by last years vast wildfires, particularly on the California community of Paradise. He has been personally chronicling the story since last year as part of his next documentary project.
Young said that was in addition to other ways Howard has supported the American Red Cross mission. I dont think that many people would give of their time like that, she said.
Also, the American Red Cross will give its Excellence in Service award to Victor Prato, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army who was wounded in Afghanistan and received a Purple Heart for his service.
Despite his injuries, which have left him as a quadriplegic, Prato is still active in the military and is dedicated to walking again, Young said. He can take some steps and is able to drive. And Prato is furthering his education with a goal of becoming an investment banker.
We always look to have a hero come and be a part of this event, Young said. When you hear Victors story, you will see how amazing he is. His fellow soldiers would come to visit him when he was at Walter Reed to cheer him up and he would end up cheering them up. He is a remarkable man.
Television journalist, host and legal analyst Ashleigh Banfield will serve as emcee for the ball.
The Red and White Ball will begin with cocktails at 6 p.m. at the hangar. That will be followed by dinner, the awards program and dancing.
Ball attendees can also take part in a silent and a live auction. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://rdcrss.org/2FyL6Np.
kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
It's more important than ever that organizations harness the power of creativity. This isn't solely about artistry. Creativity spans every profession and job from a data scientist to a marketer to the CEO. According to LinkedIn, organizations need people who can innovate, problem-solve and develop new solutions -- all of which makes creativity the number one skill in the world.
Visionary innovation and invention require the right tools to create content that inspires creativity.
Ironically, creativity is more dependent than ever on the right tools, data and systems. Adventures in creativity also depend upon a relaxed mindset that cannot occur within a toolless environment. Most creatives, designers and producers are familiar with Adobes Creative Cloud. Its the undisputed standard when it comes to helping companies design, deliver and manage great customer experiences.
As content continually becomes a marriage between data and the creative presentation of it -- the company is making an aggressive play toward owning more of the marketing space.
Adobe is also creating an atmosphere that allows greater scope and freedom to attain satisfying work. Old Navy illustrates this brand opportunity quite well in a recent blog post. Our creative team lives in Adobe Creative Cloud and doesnt want to switch around between tools because continual shifts require too many clicks and a diversion of pure thought and attention. Course deviations take-up too much time, wrote Jason Wynne, manager of Global Digital Assets at Old Navy.
By bringing Adobe Asset Link into the picture, each team member can seamlessly manage the content workflow between Creative Cloud and Adobe Experience Manager from the tools theyre familiar with. The efficiencies in Adobe Asset Link can save our creative team a lot of time.
Countless decisions must ultimately come down to time. As an entrepreneur, there are two important concepts to recognize within this decision paradigm shift.
Related: 9 Ways to Rewire Your Brain for Creativity
Make sure you find the right solution(s) that can easily transfer data freely.
Microsoft, SAP and Adobe all have a data sharing agreement called the Open Data Initiative which allows you to share data across with platforms with no barriers. Which, funny enough, until late last year was a major problem in creating content. Even the average small business has multiple platforms for creative CRM and analytics.
We wanted to create a single source of truth. Our goal was to create a one-stop shop where you can find any asset you need, says Ben Snyder, IT Product Owner at Under Armour. In an article about creating faster content, Snyder says Automatic tagging through Adobe Experience Manager Assets saves a lot of time for creative teams as they upload files. It surfaces many assets that might have gotten lost previously.
Salesforce has started to invest in content management as well. They have built a legacy on CRM and it will be interesting to see how they navigate their shift away from CRM. Much like a Blackberry, CRM has had its era.
Related: 5 Science-Backed Ways to Boost Your Creativity
Actionable intelligence
Actionable intelligence and effective automation in real time are becoming the standard. Less relevant is remembering to call someone.
What you need to able to do is manage the end-to-end content lifecycle from creation and collaboration to delivery and optimization. This content supports a personalized and connected customer experience across any screen, wherever people are -- from the web and mobile sites to online communities and physical signage.
Salesforce has partnered with Sitecore and is working toward getting away from manual management where they are now. With Sitecore, Salesforce is continuing to be is closer to Adobes model of what makes content tick. Without data, content is merely pretty. Without content, data are mere numbers.
Related: Balancing Creativity and SEO in Content Writing
Figure out how to capitalize on the industry shift.
Anytime there is a major shift in how brands create content, how they advertise, how they target, how they reach consumers -- it creates opportunities. You wont be able to create a full enterprise solution overnight that has taken these large tech companies decades of fine-tuning.
However, just like when SEO emerged 25 years ago, there will be an opportunity to optimize the experiences that get created. As we move away from advertising and jump head first into more personalized content -- this shift will require ways to make that system better.
The real opportunity wont be swimming upstream against the competition like Adobe or Salesforce but in finding ways to make solutions work better for your company.
Similarly, creating valuable equivalent solutions on a smaller-scale for startups will provide favorable circumstances. The biggest thing to keep in mind right now is studying how content has shifted and where its going.
If you can predict contents next maneuver and step up your game ahead of the action you will be garnering a large piece of the content pie. Any activity ahead of the actions of large companies and youll be staking a claim ahead of your competition.
Related:
Advertising is Changing -- Know How to Lean into the Change
AnyMind Group Closes Series B Funding Round
Google Fined $1.7 Billion Over a 3rd Breach of EU Antitrust Rules in 3 Years
Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
A bill to legalize marijuana use for adults and create what would have been among the nation's largest markets for the booming cannabis industry has stalled in the New Jersey state Senate, a stinging defeat for Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat who was working with Democrat majorities in both houses of the state Legislature.
Propents of legalization avoided outright defeat by withdrawing the bill when it became apparent it did not have the 21 votes needed to pass the state Senate. Despite the vigorous backing of the leaders of both houses of the Legislature and the governor, the bill never gained support either from Republican legislators representing suburban and rural areas of the state or from several prominent, and notably older, African American legislators representing urban districts.
A lot of this is generational, the Rev. Charles Franklin Boyer, the pastor of the Bethel AME church in Woodbury, told NJ.com. Many of us who are part of Gen X or millennials have been the victims of the tough-on-crime (drug) laws. We have felt the brunt of mass incarceration, and youll be hard pressed to find someone from my generation whos against legalization."
Among the most steadfast opponents has been state Senator Ron Rice, a Democrat from Newark with many years service in the legislature who was a career Newark policie officer. In my heart, and from my experience, I know the detriment its going to cause long term in urban communities in particular, Rice told the New York Times. We know the health problems that are going to be created and no one wants to accept that fact.
The bill would have created an expedited program for expunging, or at least sealing, the criminal records of anyone convicted of the sale of up to five pounds of marijuana. The five-pound ceiling is much higher than in other states, but is a technicality. State law categorizes illegal sales of two ounces up to five pounds as the same offense, so it was impractical to distinguish the amount sold from the offense for which the person was convicted. The expanise expungment provision drew the support of social justice advocates.
No state has leaned into social justice through marijuana legalization as wholeheartedly as New Jersey, Amol Sinha, the executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, told the New York Times.
According to various reports, the bill might be brought back for a vote as soon as next month or not until after New Jersey's legislative elections in November (New Jersey is one of a handful of states that holds statewide races in odd-numbered years). Other reports said the Legislature might cease efforts to pass a bill and instead submit the matter to voters for a referendum. Opinion polls show a large marjority of New Jersey voters favor legalizing marijuana.
Related:
Legalization Stalls In New Jersey Legislature
The Man of 'High Josh' - Manohar Parrikar Succumbs to Illness
Howard Schultz Calls This Business Book Author His 'Mentor'
Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Felix Fefe Fornett feels he is the right man for Ward 2 in the City of Pascagoula.
After the sudden death of former Ward 2 councilman George Wolverton, the city held a special election for those interested in completing Wolvertons unexpired term.
A runoff between Fornett, who received 114 votes and challenger Melanie Martin, who received 78 votes will ensue on April 9.
Because of his familiarity as a homegrown product and being asked to serve by members of the community, Fornett said he decided it was time he stepped up to assist his city however he could.
I just want to help save my city -- I want it to come back to where it can be as prosperous and attractive as any other city on the gulf coast, Fornett said. Pascagoula has the resources and I just want to try to make it better.
According to Fornett, his 30-plus years of business experience in Jackson County and across the Mississippi Gulf Coast shows his dedication and commitment to Pascagoula.
I worked in Moss Point and Pascagoula and have been here the last 20 years, Fornett said. I grew up in Pascagoula, attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, worked at Ingalls Shipyard and then went to Bishop State in Mobile where I learned to become a barber. I became licensed and I have been a business owner for quite sometime. I am a dedicated worker who wants to see the best for my city.
Fornett described himself simply as a Mississippi guy who spends money across the gulf coast. People close to Fornett describe him as being someone who is perfect to represent the city, according to Madilyn Garry.
I have known Felix over 20 years and hes a great man, Garry said. He has always been about his family, church and raising his kids. He cares about his city and what better person to advocate for Pascagoula than Fefe? He works in his barber shop from sun up to sun down and I have never heard anything bad about him. People respect him and hes an all-around good person who will represent the city in a very mannerable way.
When talking to those whose votes he is seeking, Fornett says the people want someone in office who will make great decisions, not just good ones and says he has ideas to make Ward 2 the best it can be.
I know my decision-making and what I see and what I am living everyday, I know I can definitely make Ward 2 a more attractive place to live," he said. We all have to live together and I dont want to see my property value dip anymore. Our city can be attractive when we do things and business the right way.
Votes will be cast at Iglesia Bautista Fuente De Vida Church located at 3819 Arlington Street in Pascagoula on April 9 from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Haiti - FLASH : What Jovenel Moise discussed with Donald Trump
Returning from his mini USA/Caribbean summit in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, with US President Donald Trump, President Jovenel Moise said that, in addition to the issues of regional topics and of interests, he had discussed several issues specific for Haiti with the US President, in particular :
The territory and the maritime borders of Haiti (110,000 km2) which has no surveillance and reinforcement of coastguards in Haiti to fight against smuggling and drug trafficking...
Moise spoke about the recovery of the army in Haiti and in particular the US embargo imposed on Haiti on the purchase of weapons of war. Trump kicked in touch by avoiding talking about the army in Haiti "He took note to see how strengthen equipment and training elite units of the national police..."
Moise said he had discussed at length investments, saying he had made it clear to the US President that Haiti was looking for foreign direct investment to help develop major projects in the sector of energy and agriculture, but that Haiti no longer wanted to be a humanitarian destination.
According to the Head of State, Trump would have been very interested in the energy sector and promised to support the 24/24 power project in Haiti. Regarding investments in agriculture, after having exposed to the US President agricultural potential in Haiti, Trump would have expressed interest in establishing partnerships with US companies via the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) the US Development Finance Agency. A "priority status" will be granted to Haiti and in the next 3 months a high-level delegation from OPIC will visit Haiti to explore investment opportunities https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27259-haiti-flash-at-the-usa-caribbean-mini-summit-trump-promises-with-implicit-conditions.html .
In terms of tourism, the Head of State claims to have asked his American counterpart to remove Haiti from the list of countries at risk and avoid, list where Haiti has been since February 14th https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26948-haiti-flash-usa-raises-to-maximum-travel-advisory-levels-for-haiti.html . Moise said that the US President had promised to remove Haiti from alert level 4, however Moise can not say when this measure will take effect...
It only remains to wait to see... knowing what the promises of the American President are worth, its unpredictable side and its frequent changes of ideas...
See also :
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27267-haiti-flash-trump-strategy-could-weaken-the-cohesion-of-the-caribbean-region.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27259-haiti-flash-at-the-usa-caribbean-mini-summit-trump-promises-with-implicit-conditions.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26948-haiti-flash-usa-raises-to-maximum-travel-advisory-levels-for-haiti.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23314-haiti-politic-official-reaction-of-the-haitian-senate-on-the-words-of-trump.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23263-haiti-flash-trump-chancellor-rodrigue-convenes-the-american-diplomat-diallo.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23259-haiti-flash-haitian-government-s-reaction-to-president-trump-s-remarks.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19950-haiti-politics-remarks-of-jovenel-moise-on-president-donald-trump.html
TB/ HaitiLibre
Haiti - Environment : Soon start of the reforestation project through schools
As part of the promotion of environmental citizenship education, the Ministries of the Environment and National Education, inform that the process of seedling planting under the reforestation project through schools will start in April 2019.
Remember that this initiative aims to raise Haitian students' awareness of the need to protect the environment and to ensure their commitment and effective involvement in the country's reforestation activities and also serve as leverage to to mobilize social groups for the defense of the environment.
The two Ministries propose to work on a structuring approach to environmental education in schools taking into account all aspects of the curriculum [ in the new secondary program, reforestation will be considered as a compulsory subject https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24627-haiti-environment-towards-compulsory-reforestation-in-schools.html , teacher training and the availability of educational tools support for the medium and long-term implementation of such an initiative.
The two ministries are working together to facilitate the planting of seedlings produced in Plant Propagation Centers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25224-haiti-environment-inauguration-of-the-3rd-plant-propagation-center.html , mobilizing all partners for effective involvement of schoolchildren, teachers and school officials of the Republic in reforestation activities. To this end, teams from the Ministry of Environment and National Education, will be touring from 25 to 29 March 2019, in the 10 departments.
See also :
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24627-haiti-environment-towards-compulsory-reforestation-in-schools.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23424-haiti-education-the-minister-cadet-provides-an-update-on-the-major-issues-of-his-ministry.html
HL/ HaitiLibre
Haiti - Politic : Saga of the interpellation of the PM, the wire of the events
According to the Citizen Observatory for the Institutionalization of Democracy (OCID) the week of March 18 to 22, 2019 was marked by the organization of the only interpellation session of the Prime Minister in the Chamber of Deputies and 2 other sessions scheduled without success : one in the Senate on March 18 and the other in the Chamber of Deputies on March 21 for lack of a quorum (only 58 deputies present).
Recall that the Senate office invited Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant to appear in the Senate to be interpellated, first on March 20 and then on Monday, March 18, 2019. The Chamber of Deputies had interpellated the Prime Minister, and his government also on Monday, March 18th, at 10:00 am
Monday, March 18 in the Senate around 8:00 am, Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant was already in the meeting room waiting for the arrival of the Senators. At around 10:40am, the first roll call took place. In the absence of a quorum (14 senators), the meeting could not start. Unfortunately, after 7 hours of unsuccessful attempts to reunite 16 senators (quorum), Senate Speaker Carl Murat Cantave announced the continuation of the session on Wednesday, March 20, a decision that was preceded by Prime Minister's special request. Minister Jean-Henry Ceant to call on a Justice of the Peace to make constat his presence in the Senate sitting room, in the presence of 7 Senators.
While the Senate was struggling to find the necessary quorum to hold its interpellation session, the Chamber of Deputies was already ready for its meeting since about 9am. Thus, around 11am, the roll call showed the presence of 104 deputies in the session room. Following the presentation of the motion of interpellation by the Deputy Patrick Norzeus, followed by some interventions of the Deputies interpellaters, the President of the House put to the vote the motion of interpellation. This vote ended with the dismissal of Prime Minister Ceant and his government; despite his absence from the meeting as well as the members of his government, by 93 votes for the dimissal, 6 votes against and 3 abstentions https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27219-haiti-flash-haiti-has-no-more-government.html
Wednesday in the Senate was to be held the continuation of the meeting of the Prime Minister despite the vote of censure of the Chamber of Deputies. This session could not take place. First, a dozen senators had sent since Tuesday, March 19, a correspondence to the president of the Senate office, Carl Murat Cantave, to express their disagreement with the decision to organize the interpellation session https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27247-haiti-flash-interpellation-majority-divergence-in-the-senate-the-pm-seized-justice.html recalling that Jean-Henry Ceant was already demissed by the Chamber of Deputies before faced this situation, the Senate of the Republic had to suspend the interpellation session, which turned into a conference of presidents with about 18 Senators.
That same Wednesday, Jean-Henry Ceant decided to attack the decision of the deputies in court https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27247-haiti-flash-interpellation-majority-divergence-in-the-senate-the-pm-seized-justice.html so that he can be reinstated in his rights before resigning on Thursday, March 22, a few hours after the appointment of Acting Prime Minister Jean Michel Lapin https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27249-haiti-flash-ceant-handed-his-resignation-after-the-installation-of-lapin.html
Finally, the interpellation session scheduled for Wednesday, March 20 was transformed into a conference of presidents with about eighteen (18) Senators.
See also :
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27249-haiti-flash-ceant-handed-his-resignation-after-the-installation-of-lapin.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27247-haiti-flash-interpellation-majority-divergence-in-the-senate-the-pm-seized-justice.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27219-haiti-flash-haiti-has-no-more-government.html
HL/ HaitiLibre
Haiti - Economy : World Bank support mission to the National Fund for Education
As part of a support mission of the World Bank (WB), four months after the installation of Joseph Frantz Nicolas as the Director General of the National Fund of Education (FNE), https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26238-haiti-education-7-years-after-its-launch-the-national-education-fund-has-a-dg.html both institutions performed for 5 days a series of workshops focused on Rapid Results Initiatives (RRIs).
These working sessions targeting the staff of the young institution were led by Benjamina Randrianarivelo, a representative of the World Bank. Collaborative Leadership for Development and Results-Based Management approach were the backdrop for these sessions.
Drawing on the groups of priorities identified by Joseph Frantz Nicolas during his presentation, at the opening of the workshops, practical work was carried out throughout the duration of the training around the implementation of a set of management tools that can facilitate a better start of FNE operations.
For Randrianarivelo, "It's not just about training. The goal is to work on tools that will be used the next day [...] The objective is to allow the team in place recently, to appropriate a set of instruments, which have already shown their effectiveness in many other countries around the world, in order to carry out the different activities of the institution."
For his part, Nicolas believes that this mission of support from the World Bank to the FNE fits perfectly with the notion of "Culture of Results" that he intends to institutionalize as a management philosophy of this state body.
See also :
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26238-haiti-education-7-years-after-its-launch-the-national-education-fund-has-a-dg.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25587-haiti-diaspora-7-years-later-the-brh-finally-reveals-the-details-of-taxes-collected-on-transfers.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21412-haiti-politics-after-5-years-of-blocking-the-senate-votes-the-law-on-the-fne.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6379-haiti-education-the-fne-becomes-progressively-legal.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3034-haiti-education-launch-of-the-national-fund-for-education-fne-by-martelly-update-1h03pm.html
HL/ HaitiLibre
HL / HaitiLibre
Published on 2019/03/25 | Source
Actor Namgoong Min thanked viewers for the viewing percentage of the KBS 2TV drama "Doctor Prisoner".
Advertisement
He posted a picture of his "Doctor Prisoner" script with a short 'thanks' on the 22nd. He said, "I know I am not all that, but thank you for all your love".
The script in the picture is full of pen marks. Namgoong Min's passion for the drama can be felt in it.
The third and fourth episodes of "Doctor Prisoner" rated 12.2% and 14.1% on the 21st.
Press release
Havre High CloseUp students will be having a Pizza Hut fundraiser Thursday.
In June, after school is out, 13 juniors will participate in an educational experience in Washington, D.C., where they participate in citizenship-building workshops, tour the nations Capitol and meet with the members of Montanas congressional delegation. Students will also spend two days in New York City, where they will experience the cultural sites of the Big Apple.
Students have fund raised for two years and say they are excited to spend seven days learning about the foundations of our country.
Thursday, if people paying for a dine-in or carry-out order at Pizza Hut say they are donating to CloseUp, Pizza Hut will donate 20 percent of the purchase price to the fundraiser.
Blaine County Museum Director Jude Sheppard tours the museum on her final day of work Wednesday in Chinook. Sheppard retired at the beginning of the month, but has been training her replacement, Samantha French, on how to run the museum.
After 30 years as the director of the Blaine County Museum, Jude Sheppard has retired and turned the museum over to new director Samantha French.
Sheppard said that she wanted to retire because she was been the Blaine County Museum director for such a long period of time. She added that she is glad to see some new blood in the position.
"It was time," she said.
Sheppard praised French.
"She is bright beyond words. I think she's a perfect fit for the job," Sheppard said. "I think she has the enthusiasm and love of history she is going to need. Just seeing that makes me feel better about saying 'Here it is. It's yours now, you take care of it.'"
French said she grew up in Havre and after graduating from Havre High School attended Carroll College, earning a degree in history.
She said she then took a year off, interning at the Butte Archives, digitizing photos for online use.
She added that after working at the Butte Archives she has grown an appreciation and respect for Butte's history.
After serving as an intern, she went to the United Kingdom, studying in a year-long master's program in art history, where she was trained in setting up exhibits.
"I'm excited to put that to good use here," she said.
French said she got into history at an early age. She said she always liked literature but in high school, her love for history was really sparked by former Havre High history teacher, John Ita.
"He was an excellent, excellent history teacher," French said.
She said that Ita took her class to the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama her senior year.
While in Washington, D.C., she went to the Library of Congress, she said, where she remembers a massive circular bookshelf for Thomas Jefferson's personal library.
"I thought to myself, 'Wouldn't that be amazing to be the person who takes care of Thomas Jefferson's library."
Her employment at the museum has brought her experiences and interests with historical preservation full circle to preserve local heritage.
French said she has big shoes to fill, but will do her best to live up to the task.
She added that she is really excited about the job, because Sheppard made it a good position to inherit.
Everything is very complete in the museum, she said, adding it's something to be proud of.
"I'm pretty honored to be chosen to be the caretaker of all of her work," French said.
Sheppard said the museum director does everything at the facility. The job involves dealing with finances and the book store, creating new exhibits, writing grant applications, acting as a guardian of the collection and taking care of the archive, she said.
She said she has tried to bring in a few volunteers to help her take on the workload, but did not have much success.
"It gives you a good idea why Jude may be exhausted," French said, "because she has done everything herself."
She said a variety of options are available for students and people over the summer months, which might make it harder to find volunteers, but she wants to continue looking.
"If I can find some students, not only in Chinook but in the wider area, that are interested in history and want to get some hands-on experience, I think this would be a really good place for them to get that," French said.
She added that she is excited about the position because it is an important part of Montanan and American history.
"Museums like this are overlooked, but I think they are really valuable," she said.
She added that not many people who come out of college are able to go right into the job field they studied for, she said. The job will give her great experiences that would be unavailable to her in bigger cities, she said.
Sheppard said that she is very happy with French's work and expects great things from her and the museum in the future.
"I just have a great deal of confidence in her that she is going to be a great director," she said.
Sheppard said she doesn't have a favorite part of the museum she has directed for three decades.
"I love it all, truly," Sheppard said.
She said Blaine County Museum is one of the best county museums, in her opinion, with a good collection of exhibits which are appropriately separated
Sheppard said she is also very proud of the connection she had with the community and the school children in the area. She said she enjoyed taking kids on tours through the museum and sparking their interest in history, adding that she has taken more than 1,000 children on tours while she worked at the museum.
Havre Daily News/Ryan Berry New Blaine County Museum Director Samantha French peers around a doorway at the museum while following her predecessor, Jude Sheppard, around the building Wednesday in Chinook. French will be the first new director in decades.
Sheppard said many community members come to the museum researching genealogy. People come in looking for relatives or where their family originally homesteaded, she said, adding that the museum has a number of resources. People are thrilled when they find out where their grandparents lived, she said.
They have fun stories to share, she said, adding that that is one drawback to retiring.
"People. I think I'll miss meeting new people and kids," she said. "... Those are things I think I will truly miss."
She said she has already begun to travel, taking a trip to Hawaii at the end of February. She said, along with her plans to travel, something she wasn't able to do when she was the director, she will get to see her grandchildren more often.
"I'm ready for retirement," Sheppard said. "I worked enough in my life, and it's time to run my own show and do what I want to do."
News Release
March 26, 2019
Contact information
Minnesota looking to expand on successful local strategy for fighting opioid crisis
Opioids remain a major public health challenge in Minnesota and nationwide, but Little Falls and several Greater Minnesota communities are showing that real progress is possible.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Opioid Prevention Pilot Project involves eight communities across the state. Based on six months of data, these communities are expected to cut patient pill use by nearly 765,000 pills per year. In addition, 147 patients are receiving care for opioid use disorder, and Greater Minnesota now has 21 new providers of medication-assisted treatment, which uses medicines that help prevent withdrawal symptoms.
The pioneer of the approach and leader of the initiative is CHI St. Gabriels Family Medical Center in Little Falls. The clinic estimates it has reduced patient pill use by 724,000 pills per year, tapered about 670 patients off of controlled substance prescriptions, and currently provides about 90 patients medication-assisted treatment.
The impact our legislative pilot program has had on these eight communities is substantial, said Dr. Kurt DeVine, CHI St. Gabriels. Prescription opioids dispensed have markedly decreased. This will impact and lessen the number of patients exposed to opioids and hopefully reduce the chronic dependence and subsequent opioid use disorder. Additionally, these communities have significantly increased access to medication-assisted treatment.
Gov. Tim Walzs proposed budget includes funds to offer grants to up to 20 additional communities. The proposal also includes support for fatality review teams in local communities, culturally competent services incorporating traditional American Indian healing, resources to connect patients to treatment through increased screening, access to life-saving naloxone, expanded treatment access for those in correctional facilities, and funding for medication-assisted treatment.
The early success and proven track record of these pilot projects is encouraging, said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. By scaling up the effort, we hope to bring the positive impact to many more communities across the state.
The pilot projects focus on reducing the numbers of prescribed opioids in their communities by working locally to help patients rebuild lives and overcome opioid use disorder.
One life changed is that of Monica Rudolph, one of the first patients in the Little Falls program. This program helped rebuild my life by allowing me to live normally while taking Suboxone [a drug that blocks the effects of opioids], she said. This unique team of providers contributed greatly to my success, and I am so pleased that now I have joined them in their effort to help other Minnesotans.
Each community-led project includes controlled substance care teams that can consist of pharmacists, physicians, social workers, nurse care coordinators, mental health professionals and others. The teams implement evidence-based strategies developed by CHI St. Gabriels over the past three years to reduce inappropriate use of opioids through care coordination, addressing unmet social service needs, prescriber education and assistance, proper opioid disposal, and engaging partners outside the health care system.
The collaboration of these pilot sites with their communities has helped facilitate a comprehensive network of stigma-free patient care, Dr. Heather Bell of CHI St. Gabriels said. Combining this legislative pilot program with our weekly Project ECHO telehealth program would enable us to affect dozens more communities if funding is available.
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) offers providers training on best practices in addressing opioid use disorder in the family practice setting. The CHI St. Gabriels Health ECHO telehealth program is one of three such programs funded by an opioid crisis grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
In 2017, Minnesota has had more people die from drug overdoses than from car crashes. According to MDHs data, in 2017, Minnesota recorded 422 opioid-involved deaths and 733 drug-overdose deaths. The opioid death rate in Minnesota has increased dramatically, seven times, since 2000 from 1.1 deaths per 100,000 residents to 7.8 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2017. Minnesota had 358 traffic fatalities in 2017, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
The Minnesota Legislature approved about $1 million in funding to establish the eight pilot projects in 2017. The initiative was modeled on the successful program initiated by CHI St. Gabriels Health that grappled with opioid abuse and addiction problem in Little Falls and the surrounding rural towns of Morrison County. The pilot projects included the following providers:
Alexandria Clinic, A Service of Douglas County Hospital
Carris Health Redwood Falls Clinic
Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital
Fairview Mesaba Clinics Hibbing
FirstLight Health System - Mora
Lake Region Healthcare- Fergus Falls
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Riverwood Healthcare Center - Aitkin/McGregor
-MDH-
Scott Smith
MDH Communications
651-201-5806
scott.smith@state.mn.us
By Jim Stallard
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common blood cancers in adults. The disease is difficult to treat with chemotherapy and usually proves fatal. However, researchers have identified a potential chink in the armor: AML cells have a greatly reduced ability to export iron compared with normal blood cells, leaving them at risk for iron induced death.
Now, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the Sloan Kettering Institute have found a way to exploit this vulnerability. In a study published March 25 in Nature Nanotechnology, the team showed that an U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved anemia drug can boost iron levels in AML cells to toxic levels. The inability of AML cells to clear the excess load of iron, results in a selective killing of the cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.
Its very exciting that we have a drug that appears to be effective against a disease that has been hard to treat, said co-senior author Dr. Jan Grimm, a molecular imaging specialist and expert in nanoparticle technology. We think this approach can benefit patients with AML and possibly other leukemias and tumors as well.
Understanding the vulnerabilities of cancer cells, in this case their inability to export iron, results in an Achilles heel that can be targeted by delivering excess loads of iron, said co-senior author Dr. Monica Guzman, an associate professor of pharmacology in medicine and a member of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Micro-Delivery
The drug, called ferumoxytol, consists of iron nanoparticles microscopic particles with diameters less than one-thousandth the diameter of a human hair. Ferumoxytol was approved by the FDA in 2009 to treat people with anemia, whose iron levels are too low because of chronic kidney disease. In 2018, the application was broadened to include adult iron deficiency anemia.
Normal cells can export excess iron using a protein called ferroportin. In contrast, AML cells that have low ferroportin levels are unable to get rid of an iron surplus. Delivering excess iron through the particles tips the balance, causing the cancer cells to die.
The Nature Nanotechnology study found that treatment with ferumoxytol proved effective in mice. The drug reduced the number of AML cells and enabled the animals to live nearly 75 percent longer. The researchers studied cells from other leukemia types and saw the same kind of cell death from iron overload. This suggests ferumoxytol could be effective across a wide range of leukemias, the investigators said.
A Surprising Effect
The strong antileukemia effects of ferumoxytol came as a bit of a surprise. In 2014, Dr. Grimms lab publishedresearch showing that ferumoxytol can deliver drugs or imaging materials to tumor cells. Researchers regarded the nanoparticles mainly as vessels to carry cargo or imaging agents that did not have significant additional biological effects. They did not suspect that the nanoparticles alone could kill cancer cells.
We are exploring ways to make them work even better, Dr. Grimm said. We have just scratched the surface of their potential.
Edwin Pratt, the studys co-first authoralong with Dr. Vicenta Trujillo-Alonso, a postdoctoral associate in medicine at Weill Cornell Medicinea member of the Grimm lab and a doctoral student in the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, says ferumoxytol circumvents the leukemia cells normal control system to cause the iron excess load. Whats impressive is that it destroys not just the leukemia cells, but also the leukemia stem cells that give rise to them, he said. A lot of other cancer drugs have trouble getting to the stem cells, so the cancer is not fully eliminated.
The researchers say their next step is to demonstrate the effectiveness of ferumoxytol in combination with existing frontline therapies for AML and other leukemias. Since ferumoxytol has been used in patients for a decade, there may be much less need, for safety testing.
A version of this story originally appeared on Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centers OnCancer Blog
Weill Cornell Medicine
The burnt-out shells of the two cars in Clarehall
A Vietnamese man remained in garda custody last night after two shocking arson attacks in north Dublin yesterday afternoon.
Footage emerged on social media of two cars on fire outside a house in Temple View Green, Clarehall.
Gardai said the incident happened at 12.55pm and that the suspect (40) was in possession of a meat cleaver.
The man under arrest was being questioned at Coolock Garda Station.
The target of the arson attack is understood to be a female Chinese national, aged 54.
Smoke
No one was injured in the incident, which is being investigated as "criminal damage by fire".
The arrested man is also suspected of setting fire to the outside of an apartment complex in the Newtown Court area of Coolock before the attack in Clarehall.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen coming from the vehicles.
A terrified woman was seen fleeing the house just before Dublin Fire Brigade arrived at the scene.
One line of investigation is that the incident may be linked to a personal dispute.
The suspect in custody is said to live just yards from the scene of the arson attack and resides at Temple View Row in the northside estate.
Neighbours yesterday expressed shock that such an incident happened in what they said was normally a "very quiet estate".
Gardai said they were following a definite line of inquiry and believe the incidents could be related to an ongoing row involving the restaurant trade.
Last night it was unclear whether a confrontation between two men - who appeared to be armed with a machete and meat cleaver - was linked to the arson attack.
Footage of this was also circulated on social media.
The incident happened close to the scene of the arson attack when the duo were involved in a "face-off" - but no one appeared to have been assaulted in the incident.
Gardai said they had not yet recovered any weapons as part of their investigation into the incident.
Thefts at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin (pictured) and St Vincent's Hospital have been linked to the thug
A 37-year-old career criminal who is suspected of being the male in a 'Bonnie and Clyde' crime spree partnership has been arrested by gardai investigating his involvement in almost 50 burglaries, theft and fraud offences this year.
Among the crimes linked to the notorious thug are heartless thefts from Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, as well as Tallaght and St Vincent's hospitals, where it is suspected that staff were targeted by the reckless thug and his female accomplice.
The suspect - nicknamed 'Clyde' by a senior source - was still being questioned last night at Longford Garda Station but officers have not yet picked up his partner in crime, a woman in her 30s who has been nicknamed 'Bonnie'.
Outlaws
Notorious outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow travelled the US with their gang during the Great Depression, robbing stores and banks.
Their antics were depicted in the hit 1967 film Bonnie And Clyde, which starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.
The 37-year-old in custody, who has been based in the capital recently but is originally from Co Longford, was arrested last Thursday by gardai in the midlands town - just two-and-a-half hours after he was suspected of stealing a handbag at a health centre in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, at 2.30pm.
When Longford gardai arrested the suspect he had already used a bank card stolen in the Mullingar crime on a number of occasions.
However, the officers in Longford were unaware of the Mullingar theft when they originally detained him at 5pm on Thursday. They wanted him for questioning about a separate crime that had happened in their district last Wednesday.
CCTV footage linked the serial criminal, who has well over 150 previous convictions, to a robbery at St Mel's Cathedral in which the victim's wallet - containing debit cards, a driving licence and other documents - was stolen.
The Herald has learned that while in custody in relation to this offence, the suspect has been questioned by gardai from a number of other districts in relation to multiple other crimes.
These include a robbery at a Spar shop in Roscommon town on Thursday, March 14, in which officers suspect the 'Bonnie and Clyde' partnership worked together.
A senior source said the arrested man is a "highly volatile" heroin addict, who has been known to "hide blades in his mouth to give him the opportunity to self-harm in the event of being arrested".
"He has spat blood at gardai in the past and claimed that he has HIV. This is an individual who has targeted elderly nuns and priests, as well as patients and staff in nursing homes and regular hospitals," the senior source added.
"He is facing significant jail time after his arrest last Thursday and is suspected of being involved in 50 crimes since the start of January."
His female accomplice, who is from Longford, has not yet been arrested but she is wanted for questioning in relation to some, but not all, of the crimes her close pal is suspected of.
'Bonnie' has convictions for a number of minor theft offences and was the victim of a brutal assault.
Sources say that she may not get to meet 'Clyde' for many years if gardai are able to gather enough evidence to send him to jail for his spree.
"Apart from being the chief suspect for thefts in three Dublin hospitals, this individual is suspected of robberies at nursing homes in counties Kildare, Offaly and Westmeath," a senior source said.
"He has also hit churches in Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Galway and Roscommon, in which the victims have often been elderly priests whose ATM cards have been stolen and then used."
Gardai at the scene of the knife attack at the seafront in Dun Laoghaire
A 15-year-old boy who cut a woman's throat after meeting her through a social media app spoke in a "calm and controlled" voice during the attack, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
The youth had brought the victim (25) to the seafront in Dun Laoghaire to take a selfie when he put her in a chokehold and began knifing her, cutting into her windpipe.
The boy (now 16) has pleaded guilty to attempting to murder the woman, Stephanie Ng, at Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire, on December 23, 2017.
Mr Justice Michael White adjourned sentencing after hearing a psychiatric report on the accused would be needed.
Psychopath
Det Gda Daniel Treacy said that when the boy and victim made contact through the Whisper app, he held himself out as being 19-years-old.
The accused asked the victim to participate in a threesome and she declined, making it clear to the accused that she was not interested in any form of sexual relationship with him.
He set out that he could not commit to girls, telling her "it's like being a psychopath, you don't feel it so it's pretty crazy feeling it for the first time".
He told her he had not developed feelings for anyone and had not had a crush on anyone, the court heard. They arranged to meet in Dun Laoghaire on December 23.
He indicated to her that "he would bring her to a secret spot" and she jokingly said it sounded like "he was going to murder her", the court heard.
He replied that he "did not think he could murder her".
They met at the entrance to Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre that afternoon and their movements were tracked on CCTV.
He first brought her to a derelict house at York Road, asking her to come in and she declined. He was not able to gain entry anyway as it was boarded up.
He suggested they go to another derelict house and she again said no. The pair made their way to the seafront promenade, where she declined to go with him into the disused baths.
At his suggestion, they went to the lower path near the water's edge to take a selfie.
Ms Ng was facing out to sea when she was grabbed from behind by the accused, who put her in a neck lock and started choking her with his right hand, while brandishing a knife in his left, Det Gda Treacy said.
The victim raised her hand to protect herself and to try to catch a hold of the knife.
She suffered "significant lacerations" and the accused told her to stop screaming. He did this in a "calm and controlled voice".
The victim urinated as a result of the attack and the shock she was in, and passed out because of the stranglehold.
When she came around, Ms Ng was lying on the ground near the water's edge. Her hand was bleeding and there was blood around her head.
Det Gda Treacy said Ms Ng did not know if she realised then that her throat was cut or when she got to the footpath, where she collapsed.
People out walking noticed her and came to her assistance.
They saw she was very pale, her lips had gone blue and she was unable to speak.
One of those who helped her thought she was going to die.
Emergency services arrived and she was taken to St Vincent's Hospital.
She had a large 10cm-deep slash wound across her lower neck, from one side to the other, which cut through the trachea 75pc and damaged her voice box.
She also had stab injuries on her upper right arm and the base of her right thumb. In the thumb wound, the blood flow had been compromised and tendons were severed.
She had suffered significant blood loss and had aspirated blood into her lungs. Ms Ng was put into a medically induced coma so she could be treated.
Identified
The next day, she showed gardai her app messages and her attacker was identified.
The accused was arrested at his home on Christmas Day.
When gardai arrived, he was in his bedroom and said: "Is this about the stabbing of that girl? I haven't got the knife, I threw it in the ocean."
Gardai seized a book of drawings that included an entry on November 17, 2017, which "appears to show someone being cut up with a knife".
There was an entry with a reference to "serial killer might also be self-deprecator, self-praiser."
Gardai found the boy had deleted the Whisper app around midnight on December 24-25.
He had also carried out web searches about the stabbing.
The blood on his Leinster rugby backpack was a match for Ms Ng's.
Det Gda Treacy said there had been a "huge amount of pooling of congealed blood" at the scene, which suggested Ms Ng had been there "a while".
The victim was an Irish national living in South Dublin and working at two jobs at the time, said Paul Burns, prosecuting.
Patrick Gageby, defending, said the accused's school attendance in 2017 had been sporadic, "possibly due to mental health issues".
The boy, wearing a navy jumper, white open-necked shirt and blue jeans, was in court with his parents, who sat alongside him in the dock. His mother hugged and kissed him before and after the hearing.
He was remanded in custody.
Stranded Irish Islamic State bride Lisa Smith has a daughter aged two called Ruqayya, which means "rise" or "chant", it has emerged.
The Herald has also established further details about the 37-year-old Dundalk woman's situation in Syria.
Aid workers in the Middle East have been directed to help secure her release from a camp where she lives in a tent with other war widows.
Ms Smith is trapped in north-eastern Syria where around 1,000 foreign fighters are being detained.
She is in a wing reserved for foreigners, and it is believed a significant number of other European women are also in the camp.
It was thought she had a son, but it is now known her child is a girl.
A source in the region who has met Ms Smith said she is aware her case has created publicity in Ireland but does not know the nature of the debate.
The women in the camp, many of whom want to return to their native countries, are unaware of how they are being discussed in the west.
"They're cut off from the world in there. There's no access to news," the source said.
"Lisa wants to go back home. It's now all about her little girl."
The Department of Foreign Affairs has decided not to send officials to the region as is normal when Irish citizens find themselves in trouble abroad.
It has been decided at a high level that Syria is too volatile for diplomats.
However, efforts are being made behind the scenes to get help from aid workers there.
Discussions are continuing between Irish officials and a number of Middle Eastern governments.
Diplomats have been trying to confirm that Ms Smith wants to return to Ireland.
The Government has not had direct contact with her, but is now increasing efforts to repatriate her on the grounds of an interview with her aired on CNN in recent days.
The former Army officer told correspondent Jomana Karadsheh Scott that she "wants to go home" and is "living in a prison".
Ms Smith, who once worked on the government jet, left Ireland in 2015 and married an IS sympathiser who was killed in recent months.
It is unclear how she would be treated by the State if she returns home.
Trouble
However, her child will be automatically entitled to a passport and state support.
Travelling to Syria is not an offence, but the Department of Justice will have to establish what activities Ms Smith may have been involved with while abroad.
Tanaiste Simon Coveney said yesterday the Government owed "a duty of care" to any Irish citizen in trouble.
However, he warned that securing the return of the former Air Corps recruit was "very complex" with her in a camp in an effective war zone controlled by Kurdish forces.
"We want to look after Irish people and bring them home if they want to come home," he added.
"There's heightened concern because there's a two-year-old girl involved."
Pitches at Na Fianna GAA club will not have to close
The proposed southside leg of the MetroLink line is to be scrapped when the preferred route is announced by transport chiefs today.
The line will not go all the way to Sandyford as had initially been mooted.
That route had sparked opposition from residents and fears of years of disruption to the Luas Green Line.
The Herald has learned key details of the new plans to be unveiled by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
They include the Metro running from Swords to Charlemont Street to meet the existing Luas service.
Trains will not continue down the Green Line to Sandyford as had been proposed.
Drilling is to continue as far as Ranelagh to allow expansion in future years.
Green Line Luas services are to be upgraded over the next decade to the point where there should be a 55-metre tram every two minutes to deal with increasing demand.
A period of public consultation is to be opened up until mid-May before the preferred route proposals move to the planning stage.
Officials have identified 2038 as a possible date for expansion farther south from Charlemont.
"By that stage it's hoped further development would be less disruptive to commuters," a source said.
The NTA will not reveal any costs at this stage as the project is going to go back to public consultation.
An international expert, Prof Bent Flyvbjerg, from Denmark, is to be brought in to oversee the costings.
Complaints
He deals in the management of mega-projects and has worked on the Olympic Games.
The original proposed route sparked controversy on both sides of the city when it was announced last year.
There were complaints from Ranelagh residents about the closure of a road from Dunville Avenue to Beechwood Road during construction.
The original plan would have seen the MetroLink go underground as far as Charlemont.
It would then have continued overground along an upgraded Luas Green Line.
That led to claims it could create a "Berlin Wall" dividing the community during construction.
Another plan for an underground route through Ranelagh could have seen the Luas line close for up to four years.
This was ruled out by Transport Minister Shane Ross as "completely and utterly un- acceptable".
On the northside, there was an outcry from members of Na Fianna GAA club when the original plan would have seen them lose playing pitches for up to six years during construction.
Its pitches will not be affected in the new plan, nor will a planned 3m facility for the Ballymun Kickhams club near Dublin Airport.
Local TD Noel Rock said plans for the facility are not in jeopardy as the site is large enough to accommodate both the new pitches and the Metro- Link tunnel boring machines' entry location.
Mr Rock said the proposed MetroLink plans can be considered a "definite victory" for both the Ballymun Kickhams and Na Fianna GAA clubs.
A Tallaght man suspected of active involvement in a 2017 Clondalkin feud murder was being questioned by detectives last night.
Gardai announced the arrest of the 22-year-old in the town early yesterday morning.
He is being detained at the local garda station in connection with the murder of John Gibson (28) at Fortunestown Lane at 9.20pm on September 18, 2017.
The Herald can reveal that the suspect was not previously known for involvement in organised crime and has no previous convictions.
"He is a suspect in this murder case but has never before run into trouble with the law apart from a minor drugs issue a number of years ago," a source said.
The murder of the father-of-two was the fourth of the entrenched Clondalkin drugs feud.
Gardai have been investigating if Gibson was targeted after swearing revenge for the murder of his pal Darragh Nugent (36).
Nugent was shot dead on Wheatfield Avenue, Neilstown, almost exactly a week before Mr Gibson was slain.
There have been no further fatal attacks since Gibson was shot dead in Tallaght, but the Clondalkin feud is still active according to gardai.
Both Gibson and Nugent were closely linked to jailed Clondalkin hitman James 'Nellie' Walsh who is serving a lengthy jail term for firearms offences. Gardai believe that their murders were carried out by a west Dublin crime group who were intent on "wiping out" Walsh's gang.
The gang suspected of murdering the duo are linked to the deadly Kinahan cartel and are considered west Dublin's biggest drug suppliers, but started conflicting with Walsh around seven years ago.
Barbaric
It ignited when Walsh's rivals murdered an innocent man, and in a revenge attack, their leader was shot dead five days later.
Jason 'Jay' Carroll (39) was shot once in the face and twice in the arm at his home at Cherrywood Drive, Clondalkin, on August 29, 2013.
It later emerged that gangsters close to Carroll had raised more than 100,000 to have Walsh shot dead.
At Gibson's funeral in Lucan in September 2017, his family called for an end to the "barbaric murders" in Dublin's gangland wars.
The family of murdered man William Maughan have described the four years since he went missing as "torture" as they appealed for information.
Gardai believe Mr Maughan and his pregnant girlfriend Anna Varslavane, from Lithuania, were murdered, but their bodies have never been found.
The couple, who had been living in Gormanston, Co Meath, had been set to move back to Tallaght on the day they dis- appeared in April 2015.
They were due to meet his mother, Helen, to get a lift.
However, when she arrived at the meeting point there was no sign of them and the couple could not be contacted.
A number of searches have taken place since then to find their bodies.
A major search was conducted in Louth in April 2017, following a previous search in the county two years before.
A Crimecall appeal was launched last night, with Mrs Maughan saying her family has been "torn apart" over the past four years.
The heartbroken mother said nobody could know the pain they were suffering until they were actually put through something like this.
Agony
Ms Maughan added that nobody should have to go through such agony.
"This will be four years in April now since this happened to William and Anna; four years of torture. Our family is torn apart," she said.
"Nobody knows what this pain is until they're in this situation themselves.
"It's a nightmare that no family deserves to be going through.
"If there's anyone with information out there, I plead to please have it in your heart to just pick up the phone."
Mr Maughan's father, Joseph, has said he has been left "brok-en" by the ordeal.
"This has dragged me through hell. I'm just a broken man," he said.
"They were classed as missing persons for so long and the day the detectives came to my house and updated to a murder from a missing persons, it kicks in that he's gone."
The missing man's sister, Sabrina, said that every night she goes to bed wondering: "Will tomorrow be a better day? Is our William and Anna going to be found tomorrow?"
Both parents appealed for anyone with information to come forward in an effort to locate the couple, so they can hold funerals for them.
Mr Maughan's father appealed to those who know anything to "do the right thing" and get in touch.
"Put the Maughan family at some kind of peace so we can lay our son with Anna," he said.
"Please, come forward and do the right thing."
A violent crime gang with links to jailed criminal Cornelius Price is suspected of murdering the couple and disposing of their bodies.
'So much we want the public to know': Meritus COVID cases surge again
Parkland, Fla., is experiencing a fresh wave of grief after the recent suicides of two students who survived the mass school shooting there last year.
A swell of coverage of those deathsand of an apparent suicide of the father of a child who died in the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Conn .are driving questions about suicide contagion, trauma, survivors guilt, and student mental health to the forefront. And those questions are relevant to educators around the country, even if their students havent survived a collective trauma that dominated headlines.
Prevention experts say its wrong to assume a single cause for any specific suicide, even those in Parkland. But, recognizing that students there have an obvious need for support, a coalition of schools, community groups, and faith organizations has organized to connect students to counseling and resources as the town grapples with more losses.
Even far outside of the affected communities, widespread news reports and social media posts about suicides can produce a contagion effect , some prevention researchers say. Thats particularly true if the coverage sensationalizes the death, provides too many concrete details, or frames suicide as an inevitable response to mental health issues or difficulties in life, said Christine Moutier, the chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Education Week spoke about the events in Parkland with Moutier and with Michael Anestis, associate psychology professor at the University of Southern Mississippi and co-chair of the American Association of Suicidologys firearms and suicide committee. Their responses have been edited for length and clarity.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or text TALK to 741741.
Moutier emphasized the important role that educators play in supporting students. Teachers should be mindful about changes in student behavior, and they should offer resources to students who share mental health concerns or thoughts of suicide, she said.
What would you say teachers need to know and think about right now as teen suicides are in the news?
Moutier: First of all, I would thank educators for doing the job that they do because it is so multi-faceted and they are being looked to for so many layers of youth development these days. And I would just try to make them aware, if theyre not already, that at any moment in any of their classrooms, theres a certain percentage of students who are actively struggling but not necessarily showing it overtly. The stats on that from the Youth Risk Behavior Study [a federal survey of student risk-taking behaviors] most recently is about one in five students in the past 12 months has had serious thoughts of suicide.
Discussions about suicide and student mental health can be intimidating for teachers and parents. Do you have any recommendations?
Moutier: The most basic thing that any kind of adult can do is to model it, to say, Ive struggled before. Ive faced challenges in my life because we all do. Its a matter of time before we do, or its a just a question of what the details of that challenge will be. ...
Avoid filling the silence with too much of your own talking. A student can feel valued and validated by active listening. Its hard for us adults to do. And its probably [hard] for teachers, too, who are used to giving more of a didactic kind of experience in the classroom.
And avoid quick-fix statements. And thats hard. Because you want to be hopeful... but avoid saying, Thats no big deal. Youve got this. The minimizing of the struggle that theyre in is what theyre already afraid of when they take the risk of telling the adults whats going on. So avoid minimizing, avoid quick-fix solutions, avoid platitudes, avoid any kind of judgmental language around the struggle itself.
If a young person is sharing about symptoms of depression, or burnout, or sleep problems, or scary ways they are thinking or feeling, be extra compassionate. Thank the students for sharing about that, let them know that theres help available and that those experiences theyre having are not a forever state.
The adolescent brain is in a state of transition where that primitive part of the brainthe fear response, the stress response, energy ,and impulsivityare fully developed by age 14, but the cortical areas of the brain, that higher cortex of thinkingexecutive functioning, planning, and ambitionthat doesnt finish developing until early to mid-20s. So kids are not thinking in terms of the long haul. Teachers can help students not only feel supported in the moment, but also to ... bridge through to this longer-term perspective of their life.
For a teacher in a school far from Florida, whose students havent experienced a big, collective trauma like a school shooting, it might be difficult to see how these headlines might affect them. But is there reason to be concerned that these stories could affect them, too?
Moutier: Just because your local community hasnt experienced the trauma doesnt mean that individuals within the community arent going through their own family and individual health circumstances. You have young people who are already carrying their own risk load, perhaps quite invisibly and undetected to those around them. And thats part of our job is to dial up the sensitivity on our radar so that we see the change when it happens.
And they might relate to one of these Parkland survivors for reasons that adults cant even understand. The link is real to them.
Moutier: Thats a great point. The relatability of the circumstances may be quite invisible. And that is a real factor for many young people.
For youth, the potential for contagion is even greater because theyre in that formative developmental stage where theyre... looking for those ways of better defining themselves. And if they have had a traumatic background or some type of sensitivity in their past, then those stories may in fact feel much more close to them.
Anestis said its important for families to safely store firearms and other objects that may pose a danger to a child in crisis. And its important for schools to communicate with families about potential risks.
What are the unique concerns for students whove experienced a high-profile trauma like a school shooting?
Anestis: Any time you have a traumatic eventloss to suicide or gun violence or any other form of traumatic losstheres always a risk around the time that it happens. Theres always a risk that pops up around times like anniversaries.
The attention and the nature of what this past year has been for Parkland students, I think, has been relatively unique. The plus of it is that its really changed the gun conversation, which I think is great, and I consider them absolute heroes for what theyve been doing. The down side is probably that theyve been in the limelight. There hasnt been a lot of time for them to be away from it. For some folks [activism around issues like gun violence and school safety] has been a great sort of healing avenue for them. Its been an outlet for them to be able to do some good with it. But for some other folks, it has probably been difficult in that its hard to just have a normal day because its always about that day.
What are some things schools that experience losses like this can do to help students?
Anestis: You dont want to create hysteria and create the impression that suicide is truly contagious. It doesnt come out of nowhere. People who are at risk for suicide or died by suicide, they dont catch it like a virus. Right? So the word contagion can be tricky that way.
At the same time, you dont want to underestimate what people are going through. One of the things that ...[researchers] have found in the research on folks who survived [lost someone to suicide] is that the people who are most impacted by it arent always the ones youd expect. And so yes, youd expect people really close to these particular folks who died to be really hurting right now, and that closeness matters. But also there are folks that consider themselves loss survivors that didnt know the person very well and probably couldnt even explain to you why it has impacted them that much.
One of the things that a community needs to do is to make sure that everybody knows they can have access [to counseling and support], and that what theyre feeling is valid and something that they can get help with. They need to make sure that theres a range of options. Not everybody wants to use the same hotline or identifies with the same group. Some people want to speak broadly to a suicide prevention specialist. Someone might want to speak to someone specific to their communitybe it military or sexual minority or something like that. And so the idea is to reach out and take people seriously. Offer a variety of resources, and do your best to make sure those resources are grounded in some reason to believe theyre effective.
Ive heard survivors of the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. say that they scrutinized their own trauma. They tried to rank it, and some felt like their emotions werent justified because they werent as close to the violence.
Anestis: Thats not how it works though. People respond to different things differently and they also bring their own lives to that moment. Their lives didnt start at that moment, right? They were their own people with their own lens through which they saw their world. And so how theyre impacted by that [event] is going to differ. So its not a right or wrong.
People feel what they feel, and what they feel is valid. And so if somebody was right there and theyre not feeling traumatized, they dont need to feel bad about that... And on the flip side of that, if someone was really far from it and its really impacting them, they also dont need to feel guilt about that. We have very little control over what we feel. We have more control over what we do about it. But what we feel can be made worse if other people or we ourselves try to talk ourselves into feeling badly about it.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has assembled resources to help parents, educators, and the public understand and discuss suicide:
Children, Teens and Suicide Loss provides resources for helping young survivors.
provides resources for helping young survivors. The More Than Sad curriculum teaches students about mental health issues.
curriculum teaches students about mental health issues. The After a Suicide Toolkit helps schools respond to the aftermath of a suicide death.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or text TALK to 741741. You can find a list of additional resources at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources .
Photo: Getty Images
Follow @evieblad on Twitter or subscribe to Rules for Engagement to get blog posts delivered directly to your inbox.
Air Chief BS Dhanoa was a young director, Targeting Cell at Air Headquarters when he accompanied his then chief AY Tipnis and presented to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), a plan to conduct air strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) immediately after the December 13, 2001 Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attack on Indian Parliament.
Then wing commander Dhanoa made a detailed presentation to the PMO that involved the use of the Tiger and Battle Axe squadron of Mirage 2000 fighters on terror camps. The plan never fructified with the US ensuring that then Pakistani dictator General Pervez Musharraf made a public commitment on January 12, 2002 against jihad, radicalisation, and also agreed to ban both JeM and its comrade-in-jihad, Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT).
After the 26/11 Mumbai massacre, then Air Chief Fali Major went to the PMO, again with a similar air strike plan but to no avail.
Watch: Supporting Pak line: BJPs jibe at Congs Sam Pitroda over Balakot comment
But Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a go-ahead to Air Chief BS Dhanoa on February 17, after the Pulwama attack, to take out the biggest training camp of JeM at Balakot in the Khyber-Paktunkwa area of Pakistan. The air attack was initiated with a decoy strike on JeM headquarters at Bhawalpur, forcing the Pakistan Air Force fighters on combat air patrol over Northern Areas and PoK to move south to intercept the Bhawalpur strike. Using this window of opportunity, IAF Mirages successfully took-out the Balakot camp in the wee hours of February 26 from a stand-off distance and then returned safely to their bases.
The Balakot strike and the riposte to the PAF counter on February 27 show that the IAF has come of age and can no longer be seen as just a force supporting a land offensive. Time and again, the IAF leadership has come out in the open saying that it is a strategic force but till Balakot, perhaps neither the sister forces nor the political leadership were too sure.
As evident from the November 19, 1962 letter of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to then US President John F Kennedy, the Indian leadership was unsure about its air capabilities. Nehru asked for US B-47 bombers and supersonic fighters to take on the Chinese army positions after Bomdila had fallen and Chushul was being threatened by the PLA. The IAF was largely utilised in support of ground offensive in the 1965 and 1971 wars. The use of IAF fighters in the Dras-Kargil-Batalik sectors in the 1999 conflict was a topic of huge debate with then Air Chief Tipnis waiting for a Cabinet sanction, much to the chagrin of the then Army chief, before inducting warplanes into the theatre. In retrospect, the decision to seek Cabinet approval was good as there is a potential of vertical escalation in the battle theatre, the moment an air element is inducted.
The IAFs success in destroying the Pakistani logistics base in Muntho Dalo in Batalik sector was one of the key turning points of 1999 war. It also proved that the IAF could individually deliver for the country in the worst-case scenario without being an adjunct arm of the Army in the name of joint-man-ship. But such were the differences on each services role in conflict, that the then western air commander publicly clashed with his western army counterpart at Chandigarh post Kargil war.
With the Balakot air strike, the IAF has moved to another level of capabilities with the force not afraid to get blooded in battle. While all three services need to synergise their roles in the worst-case scenario, Wing Commander Abhinandan, by downing a superior F-16 fighter with an upgraded MiG-21, showed that the IAF takes the battle to its enemy.
shishir.gupta@hindustantimes.com
Muslims are witnessing two contradictory trends in Indian democracy. Between 2001 and 2011, the share of Muslim population in India increased from 13.4% to 14.2%. This rise in share, however, has not led to a rise in share of Muslim members of Parliament (MPs) in Lok Sabha. In fact, the 2014 Lok Sabha had the lowest share of Muslim MPs in India. One of the biggest reasons for this was that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which got a majority in the 2014 elections, gave less than 2% of its tickets to Muslim candidates, and none of them were elected.
Should this be a matter of concern? The answer to this question depends on whether political representation for a community is necessary for voicing its concerns in the legislature. One useful way to measure this is to look at the questions MPs ask about Muslims in India.
Using natural language processing algorithms, we were able to extract and analyse more than 1,800 questions about Muslims raised in the Question Hour in the last 20 years.
Muslim MPs have had a greater relative share in questions asked about Muslims in Lok Sabha. This means that the share of questions asked by them is much larger than their share of seats in the House. They also seem to ask different kinds of questions compared to non-Muslim MPs. And there are certain issues, such as concerns regarding Muslim women, which are ignored by both Muslim and non-Muslim MPs.
Our analysis picked up 1,875 unique instances of questions raised about Muslims between 1999 and 2017. Muslim and non-Muslim MPs had a share of 22% and 78% in these questions. When seen with the fact that Muslim MPs did not make up more than 6% of Lok Sabha at any period, it shows that Muslim MPs have a larger relative share in questions concerning Muslims in the House.
Among issues concerning Muslims, questions about Haj had the biggest share, while violence against Muslims and welfare of Muslim prisoners had the smallest share in these questions. The most skewed Muslim versus non-Muslim division can be seen in questions on Islamic terrorism, where non-Muslim MPs asked 97% of such questions. Non-Muslim MPs also had a larger share in questions about Haj.
Does the fact that Muslim MPs have a bigger share in questions about Muslim issues mean that they only raise issues of their own community in the Lok Sabha? Data suggests otherwise. Only 2% of all questions raised by Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha are about Muslim issues. This figure was 0.3% for non-Muslim MPs.
To be sure, there is a difference between asking questions on an issue concerning Muslims and doing justice to the concerns of the community on that issue. The best example of this is education. Our analysis shows that 44% of the questions asked by MPs in the Lok Sabha regarding Muslim education were focused on madrasas. This, when seen with the fact that barely 4% of Muslim students are enrolled in Madrasas (National Council for Applied Economic Research, 2005), suggests that interventions by MPs might not be highlighting the relevant issues for the community.
On the other hand, there are issues that, despite having a widespread currency among Muslims, are not given adequate attention by MPs. For example, a 2017 Gallup survey found that more than 85% of Indian Muslims support equal access for both genders in education, and think that women should be able to hold a job outside of the house. However, questions related to the condition of Muslim women, in terms of education, employment and overall development, make up only 1.5% of all questions asked about Indian Muslims. Similarly, a survey conducted by the Bureau of Research on Industry and Economic Fundamentals (BRIEF) found about 13% respondents cite issues of security for Indian Muslims. However, this topic barely makes up 3% of all questions pertaining to Muslims in India.
So who speaks for Muslims in the Lok Sabha? The answer is tricky. Data tells us that both Muslim and non-Muslim MPs express a range of issues for Indias largest religious minority group. However, the decreasing representation of Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha remains a challenge as it leads to a lower expression of the concerns about Muslims. While both Muslim and non-Muslim MPs raise these concerns, the questions differ in both the frequency and quality of questions being brought up. However, Muslim or not, MPs do not necessarily address all the issues faced by Indian Muslims, notably among women.
Analysis of Lok Sabha questions is just one part of assessing whether MPs are taking care of concerns of the Muslim population in the country. Even this exercise tells us that representation is just a necessary and not a sufficient condition to ensure that relevant Muslim issues find a voice in Parliament. A fall in share of Muslim MPs can lead to a reduction in raising issues concerning the community in Lok Sabha, while the need is to diversify their ambit towards issues which are being given adequate attention currently.
Saloni Bhogale is a research fellow with the Trivedi Centre for Political Data, Ashoka University
The views expressed are personal
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was shooting for his ambitious period drama Kesari when the sets caught fire last year. In a behind-the-scenes video for the film, Akshay has spoken about how the fire occurred and what happened thereafter. Kesari opened to mixed reviews and has been raking in moolah at the ticket windows. The film has collected Rs 87 crore in five days.
Talking about the fire that engulfed the Kesari sets in Wai, Akshay says in the video, We had already almost finished all the shooting and were about to shoot an important portion for our battle. We were all set, there were about seven cameras, but then suddenly, there was fire. Within seconds, the entire set was engulfed in fire, even before anyone could react. We didnt realise there was something that just took off and the entire set literally melted away.
We knew we were just 10-12 days away from finishing the shoot. But the set burned down and it was so sad.We knew this is going to be so difficult to finish.We were there for four months, you get attached to a place when you stay there.I think all of us were crying when we saw the set burn down, added director Anurag Singh.
Next day, Akshay sir comes and takes me to the side and tells me what is done is done, let us plan ahead. I was like wow! He was not thinking about the loss So I talked to Karan (Johar, producer) sir because this was he guy who invested so much money, Anurag says Karan asked him not to worry and told him that it was Gods will.
Also read: Kesari box office day 4: Akshay Kumar posts ninth hit in a row, film to soon enter Rs 100 cr club
I would say full marks to the director on how he created an alternative plans and how the different teams including production, design, VFX, went about recreating the set through set extensions and visual effects, that too in Mumbai, Akshay signed off.
Watch the second part of making of Kesari:
Directed by Anurag Sinha, Kesari is based on the battle of Saragarhi fought in September 1897 between the British Indian armys Sikh Regiment and Afghan tribesmen. The British Indian contingent comprising 21 Sikh soldiers was attacked by around 10,000 Afghans and decided to fight to death - a battle considered by some as one of historys greatest last-stands.
Follow @htshowbiz for more
Airbus SE secured a $35 billion jet deal from China during a state visit by President Xi Jinping to the French capital, dealing a fresh blow to Boeing Co. as it grapples with the grounding of its best-selling jet.
The mammoth order consists of 290 A320-series narrow-body planes and 10 A350 wide-bodies, Toulouse-based Airbus said after the transaction was announced in Paris on Monday. The deals value is almost double that touted by French President Emmanuel Macron in January 2018 during a trip to Beijing.
The Airbus coup comes while Boeings own 737 Max narrow-body -- the chief global rival to the A320 -- has been idled following two fatal crashes in five months. The U.S. planemaker is also struggling with the fallout from a China-U.S. trade war thats seen sales to the Asian nation dry up, just as Airbus bolsters its position with an offer to expand production facilities in Tianjin.
China has become the worlds most important aviation market as its fast-growing middle class spurs demand for travel. The country has traditionally sought to keep a balance between the two western planemakers as it seeks to jumpstart manufacturing on its own soil, but Chicago-based Boeings order prospects have been complicated by the trade clash.
I would see this as part of broader trade discussions, said Rob Stallard at Vertical Research Partners. For the Chinese to put tariffs on Boeing aircraft would be nuclear, but you can send messages in other ways. This tells the Americans that you have got to play nice if you want us to reciprocate.
Macron originally put the value of a likely order at $18 billion. A firm order failed to materialize last year despite a second French state visit in June and a delegation of top Airbus executives in September.
The deal announced in Paris will include both Neo -- for new engine option -- and so-called classic or CEO versions of the A319, A320 and A321, though the majority will be A320neos and A321neos, according to officials. China typically orders planes in large batches and allocates them to airlines later.
The latest A320neo model has a list price of $110.6 million and the A350-900 sells for $317.4 million before discounts.
Airbuss incoming chief executive officer, Guillaume Faury, said at the press conference that construction of the A320s will take place both in Tianjin and Europe, adding that the deal is a sign of the confidence from China. Macron called the transaction an excellent signal.
China will need 7,400 new passenger and freighter aircraft in the next two decades, representing almost 20 percent of total global demand, according to Airbus estimates.
The purchase provides a boost for Faury who takes over from Tom Enders in April. Airbus sales have had one of the slowest starts in the past decade, with the planemaker registering 103 cancellations and just four new orders in the first two months.
Separately, China is looking at excluding Boeings troubled 737 Max jet from a list of American exports it would buy as part of a trade deal with the U.S., people familiar with the matter have said.
Airbus shares fell 0.5 percent in Paris on Monday, while Boeing climbed 2.3 percent in New York.
Most techniques to prevent frost and ice formation on surfaces rely heavily on heating or liquid chemicals that need to be repeatedly reapplied because they easily wash away. Even advanced anti-icing materials have problems functioning under conditions of high humidity and subzero conditions, when frost and ice formation go into overdrive.
Now, researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Engineering describe for the first time several unique properties of materials known as phase-switching liquids, or PSLs, that hold promise as next-generation anti-icing materials. PSLs can delay ice and frost formation up to 300 times longer than state-of-the-art coatings being developed in laboratories.
"Ice and frost pose hazards to people and can damage machines and reduce functionality of some technologies, especially those related to energy and transportation, so we have been interested in finding possible ways to overcome their harmful effects, and phase-switching liquids are very promising candidates," said Sushant Anand, assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering and corresponding author of the paper.
PSLs are a subset of phase change materials that have melting points higher than the freezing point of water, which is 0 degrees Celsius, meaning that they would be solids at a range of temperatures close to that at which water freezes. Examples of such materials include cyclohexane, cyclooctane, dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, and more.
"At sub-zero temperatures, all PSLs turn solid. So, on a winter day, you could coat a surface where you don't want icing with a PSL material and it would remain there much longer than most deicing liquids, which demand frequent reapplication," said Rukmava Chatterjee, a doctoral student in the UIC College of Engineering and the first author of the paper.
While researchers have known about phase change materials for a long time, their unique anti-icing and anti-frosting properties have not been investigated before, Chatterjee explained. Decades ago, Daniel Beysens, research director of the physics and mechanics of heterogeneous media laboratory at Universite de recherche Paris Sciences et Lettres and a co-author on the paper, had observed that when materials like cyclohexane were cooled just below their melting points, water droplets condensing on the surface would move around erratically.
"We had looked into this erratic motion before, and we had shown that it originated from the melting of the cyclohexane induced by the heat released into these materials during water droplet condensation," Anand said.
In their current research, Anand and Chatterjee cooled a range of PSLs to -15 degrees Celsius, rendering them all solid. Under high humidity conditions, they noticed that the solidified PSLs melted directly underneath and in the immediate vicinity of water droplets condensing on the PSLs.
"We were expecting that the erratic droplet motion would stop upon cooling the surface to -15C. But to our surprise, we found that the droplets kept on showing the same hopping motion even at very low temperatures," Anand said. "It turns out that PSLs are extremely adept at trapping this released heat.
"This quality, combined with the fact that condensed water droplets become extremely mobile on these cooled PSLs means that the formation of frost is significantly delayed. Yes, at a certain point, ice does eventually form and that is inevitable, but some of the PSLs we tested are water soluble, and this contributes to their anti-freezing properties and can help delay ice formation much longer than even the advanced anti-icing coatings."
Anand and Chatterjee saw the same frost delaying effect with the PSLs even when they were applied as extremely thin layers to objects.
"In our first set of experiments, the PSL coating we used was about 3 millimeters thick. But we also tested them as very thin coatings, like a film, and still saw the same freezing delay effect," Anand said. "This means that we can potentially use PSLs to coat objects like car windshields or turbine blades without compromising the object's functionality."
In further experiments, the researchers found that PSLs have a wide range of optical transparencies, can self-repair after being scratched and can purge liquid-borne contaminants.
"The unique properties of PSLs, which we describe for the first time in this paper, make them excellent candidates for next-generation materials to prevent frost and ice development on surfaces," Anand said.
Because PSLs are solids at low temperatures, he anticipates that they wouldn't need to be applied as often as liquid anti-icing agents because they would have better staying power.
"But, of course, we need to conduct additional experiments to determine their limits and figure out if there are ways we can further maximize their ice/frost-repelling abilities," he said.
Trouble in the air
Jet Airways founders Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal stepped down from the board on Monday. The founders step-down was a key demand by the banks. Banks might take the management into their hands and the fund infusion decided by the banks, which is 1,500 crore, may be able to revive two-thirds of the Jet Airways fleet within a month. The concern right now is to stabilise key international and domestic routes hence, they should be reviving their fleet in a months time, said Ashish K Nainan, research analyst at Care Ratings, an industry research firm. Cash-strapped Jet Airways has grounded 78 aircraft and cancelled flights. This month, SpiceJet grounded 12 aircraft after a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, operated by Ethiopian Airlines, crashed near Addis Ababa killing 157 people.
Impact on your pocket
Jet had a fleet of 119 aircraft and currently operates 41 aircraft. It is a huge dent in the capacity, said Ajay Prakash, chief executive of Nomad Travels.
The increase in airfare is due to Boeing 737 groundings and financial crisis at Jet Airways. But the former has a much more limited impact, said Nainan. Considering that the trouble in the aviation industry comes ahead of the peak summer travel season, you are likely to see a dent in your pocket if you are planning to travel anytime soon. Low-cost airlines do not get any special incentives for running at low fares. By continuing to run at low fares in the current scenario, some of the airlines will also bleed financially, said Sanjay Narula, vice president of Travel Agents Association of India. AIRFARES UP 30-50% The rise is more acute between major cities and more impact is seen in last-minute fares [less than seven days], said Balu Ramachandran, head of air and distribution of Cleartrip.com, a travel portal.
For instance, Pune to Bangalore last-minute fares are up by 44%, Pune to Mumbai up by 24%, Delhi to Mumbai up by 14% and Mumbai to Bangalore up by 30%, he added.
Subsequent to the fare increase the industry has been witnessing since the last month, we have seen a further 10-20% average increase in fares when compared to fares last week, Ramachandran added.
Comparing the average fares in March this year as compared to last year, there has been an increase of 30-50%, said Narula.
Recently I asked a senior health official from Tamil Nadu how the state had achieved such an outstanding performance in public health delivery. Was it a combination of enlightened culture, and high literacy levels? Her response was immediate: All that, yes, but the key factor has been votes. Indeed, successive governments in Tamil Nadu, and in Kerala, have consistently promised big, and delivered, on public health. Sadly, these states are exceptions. In the recent state elections, one major party in Kerala had an election manifesto with 43 specific health points; another in Uttar Pradesh had no health manifesto. No surprise that India continues to be in the bottom quartile of the worlds nations in maternal and child health and nutrition.
It is election time again, and appropriate to consider health manifestos. I sense that this time around, health will be much more of a voter issue nationally. Here are five election promises that can be accomplished within the term of the next government. All data is from government sources and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Increase health spending: The government health spending was 1.4% of national income in 2017-18, much lower than the US (8.2%), China (3%), and even Nepal (2.3%). Consequently, the poor meet 65% of their health expenditure from their own pocket. In 2002 and 2017, the National Health Policy (NHP) spoke about raising health expenditure to 2% and 2.5% of national income (even the promises have been modest!). NHP 2017 asked states to spend 8% of their budget on health. Only Delhi and Puducherry meet this target. Its high time the Centre and states reached for their wallets.
Merge health and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) departments: Earlier, I proposed merging the governments ICDS and health departments. Three key government frontline workers accredited social health activists, anganwadi workers and auxiliary nurse midwives report to these two departments. With different lines of command, there is neither enough coordination, nor smart data sharing. An integrated department will ensure a continuum of care from conception till the child turns six. It also ensures reduction in redundancy, which is a key challenge in the field.
Better equip public health facilities: India has a tiered primary health facility structure. Sub-Centres (SC) serving approximately five villages, rolling up into Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Community Health Centres (CHC). They are the vanguard of local health delivery across India. Nationally, there is a 19% shortfall in SCs, 22% in PHCs and 30% in CHCs. A large percentage (89% SCs, 87% PHCs, 84% CHCs) are not functioning as per Indian public health standards. There is an acute staff shortage, with less than 10% of CHCs having all four required specialists. It is essential to ensure that primary health facilities have adequate equipment and staff.
Establish a dedicated public health cadre:
India has one allopathic government doctor per 11,100 people. The WHO prescribes one per 1,000. A national public health cadre has been periodically mooted from as early as 60 years ago (Mudaliar committee, 1959). Tamil Nadu has a dedicated cadre, a key reason why the state has one of the best governed health systems in India. Establishing a public health cadre increases efficiency, defines job roles and responsibilities and promotes accountability and communication throughout the health system.
Community ownership: Village communities should take stock of government schemes, address grievances and propose solutions. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) and the National Food Security Act (2013) have provided for such social audits. There are a few good examples of social audits of public health programmes (Meghalaya stands out). But these should be mandatory everywhere. Village audit groups should comprise only women, under the supervision of the gram panchayats.
Rural India needs contributions from citizens who have benefited from State largesse. Odisha and Tamil Nadu have already initiated this process. Annual student fees in government medical colleges cover less than 5% of costs, the rest being subsidised. There is also a shortage of managers. The IIMs and IITs provide highly subsidised education. Let all these students be required to spend a year in rural service, before they are awarded their degrees. No free lunches!
On the cusp of a general election, its time for political parties to stand and deliver on public health. The voters will be watching.
Ashok Alexander is founder-director of the Antara Foundation
The views expressed are personal
All emergency services at the All India institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre have been shut after a major fire broke out at the operation theatre complex in the hospital on Sunday.
The Trauma Centre is one of only two such standalone centres in the capital and receives around 200 emergency cases each day, most of them critical.
While AIIMS did not issue an official statement on when the centre is expected to open for services again, hospital officials said that the damage was extensive.
As the entire operation theatre complex that house five operation theatres was affected in the fire, it might take long before the facility is restored, said a hospital staff, requesting anonymity, as the person isnt authorised to speak to media.
From Monday, the hospital stopped admitting new emergency cases and some of the the in-patients that require surgery are being transferred to the main AIIMS complex.
With no official statement, patients were left confused as to what to do next. All new cases landing up at the hospital emergency are being referred to other hospitals.
The closed white main gates greeted ambulances that brought patients to the hospital on Monday.
Almost all patients who come here need some surgical intervention, so we have to tell all the patients to go to the neighbouring Safdarjung hospital, said a hospital official, on condition of anonymity. As central air conditioning ducts, oxygen and other supply lines have reportedly been affected in the fire, the hospital may not be able to receive new accident and emergency cases for some weeks, he said.
Manish Kumar had brought his grandfather to the trauma centre from Meerut on Friday after he took a fall. He needs a hip replacement surgery. But, the doctors told us that the operation theatres are not working because of the fire on Sunday. They said that the surgery would happen in a couple of days, said Kumar.
Shanti Devi is also waiting for the brain surgery of her son. Both her sons, Dileep and Kamal, were hit by a truck while returning from work on Tuesday near Mithapur. The family travelled almost 20 km to bring them to the AIIMS trauma centres. We know that this is the best hospital for accidents. In fact, my elder son has already recovered and has been sent home with dressings and medicines. But my younger son had a head injury and is not conscious, doctors say he will need surgery, she said.
The family was sitting in the waiting area outside the hospitals emergency when they saw smoke coming out of the building on Sunday. There was a lot of commotion, people were running here and there. The patients were shifted immediately. My son was in the floor just above the fire, thankfully he had been discharged. Many patients are now sleeping on gurneys in the corridor, said Shanti Devi.
There was no loss to life as all the patients were moved to safety.
Patients from four floors (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th) that house private wards have been moved to other departments. According to the hospital staff around 25 patients were moved to safety, mainly accommodated in the emergency department.
No patient was transferred to main AIIMS as the situation didnt arise. By 11pm the smoke had subsided, so we moved patients back. Only three people had to be moved to the main AIIMS for inhaling carbon monoxide, of which two have been discharged. The third is also stable, the staff said.
Fire officials had blamed a shortcircuit for the fire.
Vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Jagadesh Kumar Monday alleged that students broke into his residence and confined his wife to the house for several hours.
This evening, a few hundred students forcibly broke into my JNU residence and confined my wife inside home for several hours while I was away at a meeting. Is it the way to protest? Terrorising a lonely lady at home?, Kumar tweeted Monday evening.
The JNU students union (JNUSU) has been protesting against what it termed the exclusionary online entrance exam system from the coming academic year. The students union had also objected to the varsity decision to de-link MPhil and PhD programmes and the scrapping of the BA second-year lateral entry, among other decisions
The JNU students?union denied the V-Cs allegations and said the students were protesting peacefully and never entered the residence.
JNUSU general secretary Aejaz Rather said, JNU students have been observing a hunger strike for the past one week, but the V-C never met us. We wanted to meet him and that was why we went to his residence and protested peacefully outside. He is levelling false allegations against us.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police told ANI, There was a call for a march till the JNU V-Cs house today (Monday). Students reached his house and tried to enter, but they were stopped by the security guards. So far, most of the students have returned to their hostels. A few are still outside the V-Cs residence. The situation is under control.
On March 13, 2019, the Central University of Kerala issued a circular which asked departments to create a list of topics for PhD research in the university. This was being done to discourage research in irrelevant areas and bringing research in accordance to national priorities. The Opposition used it to attack the government central universities come under the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry for trying to curb academic freedom. The university administration, while trying to defuse the controversy, later said that national priority was meant to capture the countrys economic, social and technological advancement.
Even if it is taken at face value, and there are good reasons not to do so (more on this later), there are deep problems with such thinking in a university.
Who gets to decide whether a research topic is irrelevant? Should a PhD on business cycles in the US be allowed in Indian university departments? How relevant can research on aesthetics of ancient Tamil or medieval Bhakti poetry in Hindi be from a national priority viewpoint? Will a university department risk being singled out for commissioning a PhD examining the collateral damage from demonetisation?
Choice of research topics should ideally be driven by motivation towards the subject, its potential rewards and resource endowments at the specific centre for research to support the project. Each of these frontiers is continuously expanding as advances in information sharing bring the world, including that of academics, closer to each other.
To be sure, this is not the first controversy vis-a-vis higher education under this government. That the HRD ministry shares the worldview of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a well known fact. The latter has always held that Indias higher education sector has suffered from a prolonged institutional capture from left liberal intelligentsia, which has prevented India from realising its potential. While the RSS and the present government are entitled to hold such a view, their actions so far can only be compared to throwing the baby with the bath water. In the name of promoting national interest in higher education institutions, professional credentials have often been given a go by. Propaganda has been peddled as research from premier institutions and platforms such as Indian Council of Historical Research and Indian Science Congress. It is entirely possible that such behaviour has created perverse incentives for administrators to appear more Christian than the Pope by deciding PhD topics for students in larger national interest. Let there be no doubt about this. Such acts will only worsen the crisis in Indias higher education.
The Delhi government has revised the guidelines for enrolment in its five Schools of Excellence, making it mandatory for candidates to submit a proof of residence in Delhi. The clause was not mentioned in the previous years guidelines.
A senior directorate of education (DoE) official said the clause was already in place but it has been mentioned in the admission guidelines for the first time.
The government recently decided to make residence proof of Delhi as one of the eligibility condition for admission in state-run schools. Its important that the children of Delhi avail world-class education the government schools are providing when the neighbouring states are doing nothing to improve the situation of their schools, the official said.
The DoE on Monday issued guidelines for admission to class IX in Schools of Excellence for the 2019-20 session.
It mentioned that the candidate should submit a self attested copy of residence proof of Delhi. As per the guidelines, some documents admissible as residence proof include ration card issued in the name of parents having the name of the child, domicile certificate of child or parents, voter ID card of any of the parents, electricity or water bill, Aadhaar card of parents/child (optional) and passport in the name of any of the parents/child, among others.
Five schools of excellence the only completely English medium state-run schools were started by the Delhi government in 2018. While the admission criteria in these schools in nursery to class 5 are based on the neighbourhood criterion, there are entrance exams for classes 9 and 11.
The DoE had last month added the same clause to the admission guidelines for entry level classesnursery, Kindergarten and class 1 in its Sarvodaya Vidyalayas.
Hindustan Times had, in February, reported that Delhi education minister Manish Sisioda supported the DoEs recommendation of making residence in Delhi a condition for seeking admission into Delhi government schools.
The DoE official said that there were instances when more residents of neighbouring states were found enrolled in some Delhi government schools.
The Delhi High Court recently had allowed three students from Ghaziabad to take admission in a Delhi government school, citing the fact that its nowhere mentioned in any government document that people with residence proof of Delhi only will be eligible. So, the DoE had decided to mention it in the guidelines, said the official.
Ashok Aggrawal, a lawyer in the high court who appeared in the Ghaziabad students case, termed it unconstitutional. According to a Supreme Court judgment, Delhi is the capital of India and no Indian is an outsider here. We will again move to the court if students will be denied admission on the same ground, he said.
Four suspected Maoists were killed on Tuesday morning in a gun battle with security forces in Sukma district of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, police said, weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha election.
Police claimed to have recovered one automatic rifle and two country-made pistols from the Karkunguda jungles after the encounter.
The encounter took place at around 6am in the forest under Chintalnaar police station in South Sukma. A team of CoBRA commandos along the district police were on search operation since last evening when the met Maoists in the jungles of Karkunguda, inspector general of police (Bastar) Vivekanand Sinha said.
The encounter between the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police personnel and Maoists took place for about 45 minutes and the bodies of four rebels were recovered after that.
We have also recovered one Insas rifle and two .303 rifles after the combing of the area, Sinha said.
Anti-Maoist operations have been intensified in the forests of Bastar division ahead of the Lok Sabha election 2019.
Sukma is under Bastar constituency and will vote on April 11. Chhattisgarh will vote in three phases on April 11, April 18 and April 23.
The results will be declared on May 23.
Gau raksha or cow protection has an important place in the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) campaign rhetoric. While campaigning for the 2014 elections, Narendra Modi, then the BJPs prime ministerial candidate; accused those supporting the Congress party of promoting a pink revolution of cattle slaughter and meat exports.
An overwhelming majority of Hindus have an emotional attachment to cows and consider them holy (which makes the consumption of beef a sacrilege). But there are material issues, such as theft and smuggling of cattle, as well because there has traditionally been a direct correlation between an individuals wealth and the number of cattle he or she owns. An HT analysis shows that the BJPs attempts to leverage the issue of gau-raksha might be aimed at exploiting the emotional fault lines to a bigger degree rather than the material ones.
One, there does not seem to be a strong correlation between districts with high cattle population and the BJPs vote share. Also, higher share of cattle owners come from rural areas, while the BJP is generally known to have an advantage in urban areas. Ninety-four percent of cattle-owning population lives in rural areas in India, according to the fourth round of the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS).
However, opinion polls do indicate that beef consumption is one of the rare issues where BJP supporters (irrespective of whether they own cattle or not) differ with those of other parties. Indeed, anecdotal evidence suggests that most cattle owners were fairly accustomed to the pastoral economic cycle of selling non-productive cattle to slaughter houses.
The fourth round of the NFHS asked respondents if their household owns cows, bulls, or buffaloes. The survey was conducted among six lakh households in 2015-16 and provides district-level data on the ownership of these animals. HT has calculated the percentage of persons in a district and state who live in a household owning any of the three animals.
The median share of individuals in a state living in a cattle-owning household is 30.7%. Rajasthan (56.8%), Uttar Pradesh (52.4%), Madhya Pradesh (52.4%), and Gujarat (35.9%) are four big states whose share of such persons is higher than this median value and where the BJP contests without any major alliance.
If cow-protection unites Hindus irrespective of their other issues, one would expect the BJPs vote share to be higher in districts of these states where cattle-owning population is larger than elsewhere. However, this does not seem to be the case.
For this analysis, district-level vote shares for the 2014 Lok Sabha election were calculated by aggregating the votes of all assembly constituencies in a district. Assembly constituency-level votes for the 2014 Lok Sabha election are available from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
This suggests that cattle owners do not have a higher likelihood of voting for the BJP. However, there is evidence to suggest that the gau raksha campaign might have a bigger resonance among non-cattle owners. For example, BJP supporters were significantly more averse to beef eating than others in a 2016 survey of Indians aged 15-34 year old Indians, conducted by Lokniti (see chart 2).
To be sure, multiple factors influence voting decision and therefore the relation between cattle owners and BJPs voters might be weaker or stronger than what is shown in our analysis. However, the arguments made above also point towards the hazards of undermining the importance of emotional and non-material factors in political decisions.
Nearly 30,000 world maps showing Arunachal Pradesh as a part of India and Taiwan as a separate country were destroyed by customs authorities in a northeastern Chinese city last week.
Reports said it was the largest such exercise in recent years and was carried out to protect Chinas territorial integrity. The maps were in English and manufactured by a company in a Chinese province called, Anhui.
Arunachal Pradesh is claimed by Beijing as a part of China and depicted on its official maps as a part of south Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
Beijing also considers Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, as a breakaway province to be eventually unified.
Watch: Explained: Three possible reasons why China blocked UN move on Masood Azhar
Acting on a tip off, customs officials of Qingdao city in Shandong province raided an office and seized more than 800 boxes containing 28,908 world maps.
A total of 803 boxes of the 28,908 wrong maps were seized and destroyed, the largest amount to be disposed of in recent years, the provinces Natural Resources ministry said at a press conference, quoted by the news website Dazhongwang Qingdao reported.
Also read: After China objects to PM Modis Arunachal visit, MEA says state integral part
The documents were taken to a secret location and shredded. The maps were produced by a company in East Chinas Anhui Province and were on the way to being exported to an unspecified foreign country, the nationalistic tabloid, Global Times reported.
The problematic maps failed to show the correct territory of China and omitted south Tibet and the island of Taiwan, the Qingdao government found after an examination of the maps, the report added.
Relevant authorities have carried out checks on the domestic map market more than 100 times and have discovered and destroyed over 10,000 incorrect maps, preventing the sale in domestic and overseas markets.
Maps reflected national sovereignty and were a political statement, Ma Wei, from the Natural Resources ministrys geographical information centre, was quoted as saying.
What China did in the map market was absolutely legitimate and necessary, because sovereignty and territorial integrity are the most important things to a country. Both Taiwan and south Tibet are parts of Chinas territory which is sacred and inviolable based on the international law, Liu Wenzong from the department of International Law of China Foreign Affairs University told the Global Times.
If the wrong maps were circulated inside the country and abroad, it would have caused great harm to Chinas territorial integrity in the long run, noted Liu.
Beijing opposes visit of Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh and is very sensitive to the depiction of Arunachal Pradesh as a part of India. .
In April, 2017, China renamed six places in Arunachal Pradesh in an apparent retaliation against the Dalai Lamas visit to Indias easternmost state, with experts saying the move is aimed at reaffirming Beijings territorial sovereignty on the region.
Changing the names was a legitimate action done in line with Chinese law, the foreign ministry had then said, adding it supported Beijings territorial claim.
The ministry said: To issue these names, it is actually carried out in accordance with our regulations about the names of localities and it is a legitimate action by the Chinese government, adding: These names reflect from another side that Chinas territorial claim over South Tibet is supported by clear evidence in terms of history, culture and administration.
Last February, China had criticised Prime Minister, Narendra Modis visit to the Indian state. Chinas position on the China-India boundary question is consistent and clear-cut. The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and is firmly opposed to the Indian leaders visit to the East Section of the China-India boundary, Hua Chunying, foreign ministry spokesperson said.
Beijing has increased pressure in recent months on international firms and airlines to refer to Taiwan as a part of China on websites as part of its effort to assert its authority over Taiwan.
Last July, Indias national carrier Air India changed the name of Taiwan to Chinese Taipei on its website after China raised concerns about Taiwan being described as a separate region by various airlines worldwide. Air India was among 40 international airlines to do so.
Also, last year, the US clothing company GAP had to apologise for selling T-shirts with a map of China which didnt show Taiwan. The international hotel chain Marriott had its Chinese website briefly blocked for listing the Tibet Autonomous Region, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as separate countries in a questionnaire for customers in 2018.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday alleged that YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy offered to pay 1,500 crore to the Congress high command if he were made the chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh after the death of his father YS Rajasekhar Reddy (also known as YSR) in 2009.
Hindustan Times could not independently verify his claim.
YSR, the former Andhra Pradesh CM and the Congress biggest leader in the state died after his chopper crashed due to inclement weather.
(Jaganmohan) Reddy told me he was ready to offer 1,500 crore to the (Congress) high command if he were made the chief minister of the then combined Andhra Pradesh, he said. Repeated attempts to reach out to Reddy and YSRC general secretary V Vijay Sai Reddy for their reactions to Abdullahs allegations proved futile. All India Congress Committee spokesman Sravan Dasoju said it was a fact that Jagan had made all attempts to become the chief minister, including initiating a signature campaign by Congress legislators at the time.
But the claim by Farooq Abdullah that Jagan had offered money to the high command to make him CM has no authenticity. Sonia had taken the best decision on YSRs successor in the prevailing circumstances then, he said. Congress veteran K Rosaiah had succeeded YSR.
Abdullah, the National Conference leader, made the sensational claim at an election rally that he addressed to seek support for Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Kadapa.
Several top leaders from the opposition alliance, including Abdullah will campaign for Naidu in the coming weeks, according to a senior TDP leader.
Abdullah, who arrived in Vijayawada on Monday, will participate in Naidus election rallies in Allagadda, Nandyal and Kurnool in Rayalaseema region, considered to be the bastion of YSR Congress party. Naidu is at the forefront of the Mahagathbandhan or the grand alliance that aims to unseat the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government at the centre. While the Congress is part of the alliance that has come together to oppose the BJP, it will contest the upcoming polls in the state independently.
The elections for the state assembly (175 seats) and Lok Sabha (25 seats) will be held simultaneously on April 11.
On March 31, Naidu plans to put up a massive show of strength at Visakhapatnam. It will be attended by Mamata, Kejriwal, Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Pawar and Deve Gowda who will extend solidarity with Naidu and also strengthen the grand alliances cause, Rao added.
Another senior leader familiar with the development said former Union ministers from the BJP Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie might also attend the Visakhapatnam rally.
Political analyst and author Sriram Karri said Naidus attempt to get a national status by involving top opposition leaders may turn out to be a futile exercise, as there is no unanimity among them on the prime ministerial candidate.
For one, starting this year, individuals will no longer have to pay penalties for going without health insurance. They also have new options for buying coverage outside the exchange, such as short-term plans that can be used for longer periods of time than in the past. Short-term plans are generally cheaper than exchange plans but may not offer as much coverage.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he believes Pakistans relations with India will continue to be tense till the general elections in the neighbouring country, and Islamabad is prepared to counter any aggression because the danger is not over.
Khan made the remarks during a wide-ranging interaction with the media in Islamabad on Monday. Tensions between the two countries had spiked following a suicide attack by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 40 paramilitary troops last month.
India retaliated for the Pulwama attack by conducting an air strike on a JeM base at Balakot in Pakistan, and this was followed by an aerial engagement along the Line of Control that resulted in the shooting down of an Indian jet fighter. The situation eased after Pakistan freed Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the pilot of the downed jet.
According to a report in Dawn newspaper, Khan responded to a question about ties with India by saying: The danger is not over. The situation will remain tense till forthcoming general elections in India. We are already prepared to avert any aggression from India.
Khan said his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi was trying to cash in on the anti-Pakistan narrative during his election campaign, the report added.
He added there was no hope for improving relations with India at least until the elections. Pakistan needs to be fully alert as threat by India is possible until their elections. The nation must not let down their guard, he was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.
Khan also said that though Modi had sent a message on Pakistan Day, which was observed on March 23, he was pushing ahead with war hysteria.
There was no immediate response to Khans remarks from Indian officials.
A 53-year-old landlord, his two sons, and three tenants of the residential building he owned, died of asphyxia one after the other on Tuesday when they were exposed to poisonous fumes from a septic tank on the premises in the town of Nemeli in Kancheepuram district, 81 km from Chennai.
According to the police in Nemeli, the chain of deaths started at around 1pm when the landlord, identified as Krishnamurthy, who ran a grocery shop besides renting out portions of his house, peeped into the septic tank to check for blockage.
Krishnamurthy had called for a suction machine in the morning to clean up overflowing drainage and wanted to check the tank for any sign of blockage, the police said.
As soon as he peeped in, he swooned on inhaling the poisonous gas and fell inside, a police officer said.
His wife Latha cried for help and her two sons, Kannan, 27, and Karthik, 26, who rushed to the help of their father, were also overcome by the fumes and fell inside the tank one after the other, the officer said.
On hearing Lathas screams, three tenants of the building Lakshmikanth, 22, Suradha Bhai, 28, and Paramasivam, 31 tried to enter the tank to rescue the father and sons, and perished too. It was only then that Latha called the Fire and Rescue Service.
When the rescue team arrived, local residents had gathered at the building in large numbers. Fireman Kumaresan, his face covered with a cloth, tried to get into the septic tank, but the poisonous fumes were too strong.
Incidentally, Tamil Nadu has reported the highest number of deaths of manual scavengers engaged in cleaning septic tanks over the past five years. The death count in the state stood at 144, according to a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha given in February this year by Union minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athavale. It was more than double the death toll of manual scavengers in Uttar Pradesh, according to the minister.
Amid confusion over Congress president Rahul Gandhis probable second seat in south India, NDA ally Bharatiya Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) on Tuesday said it is ready to give the Wayanad constituency in north Kerala to the BJP if Gandhi contests from there. The BDJS is a political outfit of the backward Ezhavas.
Out of the 20 seats in Kerala, the BJP is contesting on 14, BDJS is contesting on five seats and Kerala Congress leader PC Thomas is contesting from one seat.
The BJP has alerted us about Wayanad. If Rahul Gandhi is fighting from there we are ready to give up the seat for the BJP, said BDJS president Thushar Vellapally, who is seeking his maiden mandate from Thrissur.
The BJP has made it clear that if Gandhi decides to contest from Wayanad, the party will field a strong candidate against him. Though many names are doing the rounds, a party functionary said a senior leader will be fielded from Wayanad. Party state president PS Sreedharan Pillai is among the probable candidates. We wont give him an easy walkover. We will field a strong candidate, said the leader who did not want to be identified.
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues over Rahul Gandhis possible candidature from Wayanad. A senior Congress district functionary said the AICC has advised party workers to wait for a few days. The DCC has approached the party leadership saying that the uncertainty was affecting the morale of the grassroots workers even as rivals surged ahead in campaigning.
A top contender for the seat T Siddique had announced his withdrawal to make way for Gandhi. There is no delay. It is a great honour for the state if he contests from here. We are sure the party president will take a favorable decision soon, said Siddique. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former CM Oommen Chandy also said they expected a favorable decision by Wednesday.
Malappuram DCC has passed a resolution requesting the Congress leadership to take a speedy decision on this. In many places in the constituency, enthusiastic workers have put up boards and hoardings to welcome the Congress president.
A woman lodged complaint of assault against the state agriculture minister Randhir Singh at Karmatand police station in Jamtara district, around 180-km south from capital Ranchi, on Tuesday.
Pinky Kumari, Zila Parishad member from Sarath in Deoghar district, alleged that the BJP minister abused, slapped repeatedly and broke her eyeglasses amid hundreds of villagers during a religious function at Kalajharia village.
The minister, however, denied the allegation terming it political conspiracy against him. BJP workers also lodged a counter complaint at the same police station.
Jamtara sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Arvind Upadhyay said, The complaints were lodged by both the parties against each other. We will investigate the matter and then lodge an FIR.
Kumari said she was at the religious event on villagers invitation and when she was about to pick Kalash (metal pot) to participate in the religious procession, ministers workers came and asked her to leave the place.
They said the function was being organized by the minister. I told them that wont leave the place until villagers ask me to go. Then, they called up the minister. The minister came and started abusing me. He slapped me repeatedly and broke my eyeglasses. Then he left the place following the protest from the villagers, she alleged.
Kumaris younger brother Rahul Kumar, who was along with her during the incident, said, My sister had been preparing to contest upcoming assembly polls. She was on field visit to the village two days back where the villagers invited her for their annual religious function held on Tuesday. But, it did not go well with the BJP workers.
This is a political stunt to defame me. Actually, the lady slapped me and held my collar, Singh said. Singh, BJP legislator from Sarath, said, Like every year, I participated in the religious event. When I was walking in the procession along with others, I found few committee members arguing with each other. I went to stop them. She suddenly came and started alleging me that I was creating an uproar. She held my collar. When I requested to leave her, she slapped me.
The BJP has fielded Tejasvi Surya, a 28-year-old lawyer, for the Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency in a surprise pick against senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad.
Senior BJP leaders had finalised the name of Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, wife of the late HN Ananth Kumar. Ananth Kumar, the former Union minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had won the seat for six consecutive terms.
A senior BJP leader, who was part of the candidate selection process, said that the party was looking at the long-term future after some leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) questioned the logic of banking on sympathy in the crucial Lok Sabha election 2019.
In a series of tweets, an elated Surya said the decision to pick a novice like him could only be taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party as he thanked several people, including Ananth Kumar, Tejaswini, and the RSS among others for believing in him.
OMG OMG!!! I cant believe this. PM of worlds largest democracy & President of largest political party have reposed faith in a 28 yr old guy to represent them in a constituency as prestigious as Blore South. This can happen only in my BJP. Only in #NewIndia of @narendramodi (sic), he tweeted.
Surya, the general secretary of the BJPs youth wing, is the nephew of BJP MLA Ravi Subramanya and joined the party four years ago.
Ananthkumar Ji & @Tej_AnanthKumar maam have groomed me from my high school days. I had pestered Tejaswini maam to send me on Jan Chetna Yatra along with AK Ji. She somehow convinced Sir to take me along. I saw my first Bharat Darshan. You both have made me the man I am today (sic), Surya posted.
I know that you all have bestowed me with this opportunity with lot of hope in my potential to serve our cause and country. What I have done till now to deserve this is less. What you expect of me is immense. This burden is heavy, but I am confident that I will carry it ably, Surya wrote.
Tejaswini had to take to Twitter to urge supporters of Ananth Kumar, who were not happy with the decision, to put the interests of the party before their appreciation for the former Union minister.
My urge all the BJP karyakartas, friends and well-wishers who are anxious and upest & still visting our house in large numbers Time to show we are a party with a difference. We are all committed to tread the path of ideology. And work for #NamoAgain2019 (sic), she said.
Bengaluru South will vote on April 18, the second round of the seven-phased Lok Sabha election 2019. The results will be declared on May 23.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised more than 250 rallies across the country on Tuesday, stepping up its attack on the Opposition on the issue of nationalism as well as Congress president Rahul Gandhis promise to provide 72,000 per annum to the 20% poorest families in India.
Tuesday was the second day of the BJPs Vijay Sankalp Sabha, which the party had launched on Sunday to mobilise support for the April-May parliamentary elections.
Addressing a poll rally in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad, BJP president Amit Shah said Narendra Modi was the only prime minister who had responded strongly to terror activities emanating from Pakistan, likening the Centres response to the US action against terrorism.
We launched an attack on Pakistan without any delay after the Pulwama attack, while the Opposition leaders were insisting on negotiation, Shah said.
The BJP chief alleged the Opposition insulted the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops who died in the Pulwama attack by asking questions on the number of casualties in the Balakot air strike.
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Karnataka that the Congress is still relying on the Garibi Hatao [remove-poverty] slogan coined by former PM Indira Gandhi as it could not eliminate poverty during its rule.
They are coming up with the Garibi Hatao slogan again. Is that because they could not drive away poverty all these years? she said at a press meet in Udupi referring to the basic minimum income (NYAY) scheme for poor families, a poll promise announced by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday.
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj (Ghaziabad), Uma Bharati (Sonepat), Piyush Goyal (Vijaywada) Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath (Varanasi) were among those who addressed these meetings.
Popular Telugu film actor-producer and former Rajya Sabha member Manchu Mohan Babu returned to active politics after a gap of nearly 18 years to join the YSR Congress party.
Mohan Babu, along with his son Manchu Vishnu, met YSRC president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at the latters residence in Hyderabad and was formally inducted into the party. Jagan welcomed Babu by offering him the party shawl.
Incidentally, Mohan Babu is also related to Jagan. His son Vishnu, a popular hero in Telugu films, is married to Jagans first cousin Veronica.
There had been many offers for me from various parties, including the Telugu Desam Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the YSR Congress party in the last five years. But I preferred to join the YSRC, not because I expected some posts or positions. I sincerely felt Jagan will do a lot of good for the people. I am confident he will become the next chief minister, Mohan Babu said.
Recalling the services of Jagans father and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy for the state, Mohan Babu said he wished Jagan would carry forward his fathers legacy. I will campaign for the YSRC in the ongoing elections, he said.
The 69-year-old Padma Shri award recipient was an ardent fan of TDP founder and former chief minister late NT Rama Rao and had been associated with the party since its inception in 1962. He was instrumental in bringing actress Jaya Prada into politics. In 1995, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha and was closely associated with present TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
However, within a couple of years, due to differences with Naidu, Mohan Babu withdrew from politics in 2001 after the completion of his Rajya Sabha term. Since then, he has kept his distance from active politics.
Recently, the veteran actor raised a banner of revolt against the Naidu government for not implementing fee reimbursement scheme for his Sri Vidya Niketan Group of Institutions near Tirupati. He alleged that Naidu was harassing the students of his institution by not reimbursing their tuition fees. He tried to hold a massive rally with college students in Tirupati, but was denied permission by the police. This, he says, prompted him to join the YSR Congress party.
A firm owned by diamantaire Nirav Modi moved the Bombay high court (HC) on Monday, challenging the decision of a special court to allow the auction of the artworks belonging to the jeweller, who has been arrested in London. The three-day auction is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
Last week, the special court for offences registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), allowed the Income Tax (I-T) department to auction the artworks, primarily 68 modern Indian art paintings, to recover I-T arrears of over Rs 95 crore from Camelot Enterprises, a purpoted shell company formed by Nirav and controlled by another Punjab National Bank fraud accused, Hemant Bhatt.
A law firm, India Law Alliance, which has filed the appeal, stated the I-T departments demand to auction the paintings is unlawful. A lawyer associated with the firm said that they have contended that most of the paintings do not belong to the firm, and therefore the revenue department cannot auction them to recover old tax dues.
The lawyer also said that the appeal was mentioned by them for urgent hearing before a division bench of Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice Sarang Kotwal on Monday, and the bench has now posted the matter for hearing on Wednesday.
The paintings were provisionally attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which is probing the money laundering angle to the massive Rs13,500 crore PNB fraud. The I-T department has seized about 170 paintings.
Nirav was arrested on March 19 in London by the Scotland Yard on behalf of the Indian authorities, and is being held at a London prison currently.
Police on Monday recovered the body of a pregnant woman from the Bhakra canal in Lehragaga. The woman had gone missing from outside her house in Punjabs Ferozepur on March 14..
The family of woman, identified as Ravneet Kaur, 29, a resident of Bagge Ki Pippal village, 8 km from Ferozepur, suspect the hand of her NRI husband in the murder.
Gurcharan Singh, Arifke police station in-charge, said: On the complaint of Ravneets father Harvinder Singh, we have booked her husband Jaspreet Singh, a resident of Chandigarh who is settled in Australia.
The family told police that Ravneet got married to Singh in 2013. The couple has a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter and was expecting their second child.
Harvinder told police that Jaspreet had developed illicit relations with a girl called Kiran in Australia. Despite Ravneets repeated pleas, Jaspreet was not ready to end his affair. To get rid of his wife, Jaspreet plotted her murder with his paramours help, said Gurcharan Singh.
While Jaspreet stayed back in Australia, Kiran came to India to execute their plan. On March 14, Kiran along with her associates kidnapped Ravneet , who was on a call, from outside her house, said police sources. Later, the kidnappers strangulated Ravneet and threw her body into the canal, alleged the victims father.
Jaspreet had recently got a permanent resident card of Canada and was supposed to move there from Australia shortly, he added.
The body will be handed over to the family after autopsy tomorrow, said police.
Police sources said Kiran and her associates have also been named in the FIR. However, there was no official confirmation.
We have cracked the case and will divulge details at a press conference tomorrow, said Ferozepur SSP Sandeep Goel.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The Supreme Court on Monday said there were very, very serious allegations against former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the Central Bureau of Investigations status report on the Saradha chit fund scam.
A three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said that facts having serious bearings are disclosed in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) status report and that the agency should file an application against Kumar in the next 10 days. The Central Bureau of Investigation filed the status report based on last months interrogation of Kumar, who is accused of tampering with evidence pertaining to the Saradha chit fund case.
The court also refused to drop contempt proceedings against the West Bengal home secretary and the director general of police for wilful and deliberate violation of apex court orders.
The CBI had last month filed a contempt petition against Rajeev Kumar, the state director general of police (DGP) and the home secretary, saying the three officials were not cooperating in the Saradha case investigation. In an affidavit filed in the top court on February 18, the probe agency alleged even after the CBI was entrusted with the investigation on 9.5.2014, Rajeev Kumar was not parting with the investigation material containing the evidence collected by the SIT [special investigation team] headed by him clearly in connivance with the main accused persons. ...It is submitted that in spite of the continuous insistence and follow-up by the CBI, Rajeev Kumar furnished only CDRs of the prime accused only on 28.6.2018.
The CDRs of the accused when analysed by the CBI were found to be tampered [with], doctored and material evidence had been destroyed, the affidavit read. Kumar, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service officer, is known for his proximity to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
He headed the SIT formed by the state government to probe the Saradha scam in April 2013. On February 3, Banerjee launched a 48-hour dharna in Kolkata in protest against the entry of a CBI team to Kumars residence to question him in connection with the case. Subsequently, Kumar had to face questioning in Shillong for five days between February 9 and 13 under directions by the top court. The Saradha Group, which operated in states such as West Bengal, Assam and Odisha, had collected~200-300 billion from about 1.8 million depositors mostly poor and lower middle-class people before it collapsed in 2013.
The kitchen handles tradition well. Thai curries are rich and fragrant, though Id suggest silky tofu, rather than chicken (which can arrive overcooked), as the protein option. Wide pieces of lemongrass beef are slightly spicy, and squiggles of Sriracha sauce on the plate allow you to turn up the heat. Vietnamese spring rolls are worthy, and Phnom Penh prawns arrive with pineapple chunks and a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. (I suspect these are shrimp, not prawns, going by the size, but there are five of them on a $10 plate.)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has been careful not to run down a minimum income plan promised by Rahul Gandhis Congress, which had been his partys ally in the 2017 state elections. Akhilesh Yadav, who is active on social media when it comes to taking potshots at the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hasnt spoken out against the scheme that Rahul Gandhi has variously described as a surgical strike and final assault on poverty.
Akhilesh Yadav didnt go on the offensive against the scheme either when he was asked at a Press conference to announce the expansion of the alliance that started out with a tie-up between the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. But he didnt pass up the opportunity to take a swipe either.
Earlier too, some people had promised to deposit Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts of all the citizens, Yadav shot back when a reporter asked him about Gandhis poll promise.
WATCH | Surgical strike on poverty: Rahul Gandhi counters BJP on minimum income promise
It was a double-barreled attack, treating Gandhis minimum income promise on par with PM Narendra Modis 2014 promise to transfer Rs 15 lakh to the bank account of the poor once his government brings back black money lying abroad.
Akhilesh Yadav rubbed it in, insisting that only the Samajwadi Party has been fulfilling promises.
Look at our laptop scheme. Laptops were promised and were given too Samajwadi Party will bring Samajwadi Package as a poll promise, he said.
The SP boss went on to compare the toilets and houses built by the government during Congress and BJP regimes.
Look at the toilets constructed by the Congress and BJP governments. Congress gave one pit toilets while BJP gave two pit toilets. And both have no water supply. How do people use those toilets? he asked.
The BJP has been sharply critical of the Congresss minimum income promise to be implemented in phases across the country if it comes to power. The Congress estimates the poorest 20% translates into 250 million people or 50 million households. It will cost Rs 3.6 lakh crore, around 2% of Indias GDP.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told a rally in Varanasi that the Congresss promise to give up to Rs 72,000 annually to the poor was an eyewash and a mockery of the poor.
Upset over the change of his constituency, Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Bihar, Giriraj Singh, has claimed the state leadership did not take him into confidence before allotting him the Begusarai seat, instead of re-nominating him from Nawada.
Bihar BJP leaders kept me in dark. They gave me pain; now they have to give me medicine, Singh said on Tuesday, expressing displeasure over the BJPs move. I am waiting for them to explain me the rationale behind the decision.
The Nawada seat, which Singh had won with a margin of more than 1.4 lakh votes in 2014, has been given to the Lok Janshakti Party, as per the seat-sharing agreement reached between the BJP and its allies Janata Dal (United) and the LJP.
Since 1996, I had a desire to contest from Begusarai. Getting to contest from there is an honour. But my self-respect has taken a beating with the way I have been treated. I have to choose between honour and self respect, Singh said.
Polling for the Begusarai seat will take place in the fourth phase, on April 29.
The Union minister, who is known for making controversial remarks, said he came to know about the change of his constituency from the LJP leadership.
A BJP leader, who asked not to be named, however, said Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai and the partys Bihar in-charge Bhupendra Yadav had discussed the matter with Singh. Singh claims a handful of people decided ticket distribution without proper consultation. He wants to prove a point, and secure a position of prominence in the decision making process in Bihar, the BJP leader said.
Another BJP leader involved in the partys Bihar affairs denied that nobody spoke to Singh. He was told before the announcement, the leader said, on condition of anonymity.
Singh denied that he developed cold feet fearing a tough contest in Begusarai, following announcement that the Communist Party of India would field student activist Kanhaiya Kumar from this constituency. I do not want to comment on him [Kumar]. But people know I fear none, Singh said. In a tweet in Hindi, Kanhaiya said, The visa minister from the Pakistan Tour And Travels department who forcibly sends people to Pakistan is hurt on having to go from Nawada to Begusarai.
Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday alleged that YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy had offered to pay Rs 1,500 crore to the Congress high command if he was made the chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh after the death of his father YS Rajasekhar Reddy in 2009.
Abdullah, the National Conference leader, made this sensational claim at an election rally that he addressed to seek support for Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Kadapa in the state.
He said after YSRs death, Jagan had come to him and requested his help (in convincing the Congress high command). Reddy told me he was ready to offer Rs 1,500 crore to the high command if he was made the chief minister of the then combined Andhra Pradesh, he said.
He wondered from how Jagan had made so much money. Did he have any treasure hidden somewhere? Definitely, it must have been looted from others. If such people are elected as the chief minister, they would only concentrate on swindling money. Beware of such leaders, Abdulla cautioned.
Repeated attempts to reach out to YSRC general secretary and Rajya Sabha member V Vijay Sai Reddy, who has been with the party since its inception, for his reaction on Abdullahs allegations proved futile.
On situation emerging after Pulwama terror attack, Abdullah said India should maintain good relations with the neighbouring countries including Pakistan, rather than adopting a confrontationist approach.
He invoked former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to say, You can change your friends but, you cannot choose your neighbours. Abdullah said the Modi government should make efforts to find peace with the neighbours.
If we maintain good relations with our neighbours, both will grow. Otherwise, both will suffer, he said.
He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of whipping up emotions of the people before every election. In the last election, they raised the issue of Ram Mandir. Now, they are not talking about it, he said.
Abdullah regretted that India at present had not been the same it was during the Gandhi regime. People are living with fear psychosis, he said.
Stating that India was a country with unity in diversity, the National Conference MP invited the people of AP to Kashmir as tourists after elections. Kashmir was mine and is mine and will forever remain integral part of India, he declared.
After multiple rounds of discussions, the Congress on Monday named Karnatakas rural development minister Krishna Byregowda as the candidate for the Bengaluru North Lok Sabha constituency.
The Congress had been left in the lurch after alliance partner Janata Dal (Secular) gave back the Congress the seat as it was unable to find a candidate.
The office of former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is the chief of the coordination committee of the coalition, confirmed the development and said that Byregowda had been picked as the candidate after consultations with the local MLAs. Byregowdas own assembly constituency, Byatarayanpura, comes under the Bengaluru North Lok Sabha constituency.
It was decided to field Krishna Byregowda as the candidate for the Bengaluru North Lok Sabha constituency during discussions held at the residence of Siddaramaiah, the statement released by Siddaramaiahs office said.
Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, too, approved this decision when it was conveyed to him over the phone, it said.
The decision was arrived at after Siddaramaiah called for a meeting with the seven MLAs from the Lok Sabha constituency at his residence in the capital city. The coalition won seven the Congress five and the JD(S) two of the eight assembly segments that fall within the Lok Sabha constituency in the 2018 state elections.
Byregowda is a four-time MLA, who also unsuccessfully contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from the Bengaluru South constituency, where he lost to the later former union minister HN Ananth Kumar.
A person who was privy to the discussions said that while many names had been speculated upon since morning, there was really only one person in the fray after Deve Gowda refused to contest the seat, picking the Tumakuru seat instead. Before taking that decision, Deve Gowda had visited Byregowdas residence last week when he had asked the state minister to consider alternative candidates.
Byregowda will go up against former union minister DV Sadananda Gowda of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa effected a split in its alliance partner the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party with two of the MGPs three legislators -- Manohar Ajgaonkar and Deepak Prabhu Pauskar -- writing to Speaker Michael Lobo that they have agreed to merge with the BJP.
The letter was received by the Speakers office at 1:45 am on Wednesday. The Speaker accepted the request and has asked the Secretary Legislature to do the needful. The Legislature Secretary issued an order merging the MGP Legislature Party with the BJP.
The total strength of the legislators of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Legislative Party is three members and we constitute of 2/3rd of the members. We, Manohar Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pauskar have agreed to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In view of sub-clause (2) of clause 4 of the tenth schedule (anti-defection law), and in view of the fact that we constitute 2/3rd members of the legislative party, such merger shall be deemed to have taken place, the letter to the speaker reads.
The duo submitted the letter to Speaker Michael Lobo along with chief minister Pramod Sawant and state party president Vinay Tendulkar.
Speaking of their decision to merge with the BJP, Pauskar blamed the partys central committee for keeping them out of loop even on crucial matters.
Both me and Babu (Manohar Ajgaonkar) were never called to a meeting of the central committee. We were never a part of the decision-making process in the MGP. I will be going to Raj Bhavan tomorrow (Wednesday). Whatever ministry I am given by the Chief Minister I will be happy with it. MGP party has split. The decision to drop will be taken, and after that, there will be a swearing-in, said Pauskar who now expects to be sworn in as a minister.
Deepak Prabhu Pauskar is likely to be sworn in at 12 noon on Wednesday.
The move has isolated MGP leader and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar who may now be dropped from the Goa cabinet and will no longer be a member of the ruling alliance.
The move will also bring the BJPs numbers in the house to 14, the same as that of the Congress. Along with the support of the Goa Foward Party and the Independents, the BJP led coalition government enjoys the support of 20 MLAs, including the Speaker. The current strength of the Goa Assembly is 36.
The BJP is believed to have engineered the split after the MGP leadership -- especially MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar, the brother of PWD Minister and preeminent MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar -- continued to press forward his campaign to for the Shiroda by poll despite being requested by the ruling BJP to withdraw his candidature against the BJP.
Speaking earlier on Monday, State BJP president Vinay Tendulkar recalled how BJP union minister Nitin Gadkari himself spoke to Deepak Dhavalikar over phone and requested him to withdraw his campaign for the Shiroda seat.
He agreed to do it but we noticed that Deepak has resumed his campaign for the Shiroda seat. We have informed the High Command of the development, Tendulkar told a press conference on Monday.
Earlier the MGP expelled its General Secretary and former MLA Lavoo Mamledar from the party after he wrote to the Speaker, without the consent of the Dhavalikar brothers, that only communications sent via him from the MGP were to be considered authentic.
In November last year, the MGP had also filed a petition in the Bombay High Court at Goa challenging the decision of the Speaker to accept the resignations of the two Congress legislators who defected to the BJP. The petition was dismissed by the High Court which also imposed exemplary costs.
About 20 people, four of them women, wait at the Daltonganj circuit house to meet Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren. It is around 10 pm and the visitors, all belonging to the Paharia tribe, have a long list of complaints to share with the former chief minister.
They say they have not received the rural job scheme payout for several months and that the doorstep delivery of grains has not happened as promised. These deliveries were promised by the government - it worked in some areas, but complaints about irregular distribution are rampant, they say.
We could live a good life, an elderly woman tells Soren in an anxious voice. I want a better future for the next generation.
The government has failed them, Soren said later, as he settled down after campaigning in the arid Palamu region where his party has never had a toehold. Ranchi and Delhi, both are clueless about the hardship these people face.
A few hours ago, his rally passed through the Patan block in Daltonganj, and speakers tried to warm up the crowd with the promise of change that Soren could bring. But not everyone was interested.
[Prime Minister Narendra] Modi has at least taken strong decisions, said Rajesh Prakash, who owns a salon at a local market. His rivals have no track record of governance. Rahul [Gandhi, Congress president] can never be a match for Modi.
The political landscape of Jharkhand is laid out between these competing narratives. The mineral-rich state has 14 seats, out of which 12 went to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014. It also won the state assembly elections the same year. Will it be able to replicate the performance yet again? Opinions are divided.
Voices of discontent
Next to Prakashs shop in Patan is a tea stall where customers, mostly Yadavs and Kurmis (both OBC castes), find fault with Modis decision to give 10% reservation to economically weak upper castes in jobs and education. Do Brahmins and Thakurs need reservation? argued Sanjay Yadav, 25, who is preparing for banking examinations. Two others in the crowd admit that poor people exist among upper castes, but insist that Modi could have done without upper caste reservation.
There is no anger as such but the disquiet is palpable. The National Family Health Survey 2015-16 pegs the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of Jharkhand at 28%, OBC at 46% and Scheduled Caste (SC) at 14%. In terms of religion, as per the 2011 Census, Muslims and Christians account for 20% of Jharkhands population.
The BJP will have to play its reservation card very safely, political analyst Vidya Bhushan Mishra argued. The BJP could do so well in 2014 because it created a rainbow social alliance.
Now, there is perceived anger among the tribes over the Raghubar Das governments move to tweak the tenancy act that puts curbs on the sale and purchase of tribal lands.
Land is a sensitive issue in Jharkhand and in scheduled areas, there is a feeling that local government has worked against their interest, said Sudhir Pal, Jharkhand coordinator of the Association for Democratic Reforms.
It appeared to a large section of people here that the government wanted to dilute provisions to make provisions for the outsiders to buy land, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) [JVM(P)] chief Babulal Marandi said.
United Opposition
Marandi is Jharkhands first chief minister who founded the JVM (P) in 2006 after snapping ties with the BJP. His party is part of the opposition alliance that also includes the JMM, the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). As part of the deal, the Congress is contesting seven seats, the JMM four, the JVM (P) two and the RJD one.
Marandi claims a double anti-incumbency is working against the BJP in Jharkhand.
Chief minister Raghubar Das is unpopular among the masses and BJP workers, he said. Then you have unfulfilled promises of the Narendra Modi government.
Soren adds, We got defeated in 2014 because split in the Opposition vote. The BJP cannot take on a united Opposition.
Mathematically, a united Opposition can pose a strong challenge to the BJP. For example, in Giridih, the BJPs Ravindra Kumar Pandey defeated the JMMs Jagranath Mahto with a margin of 40,313 votes, while the JVM (P)s Saba Ahmed polled 57,380 votes.
In Godda, Nishikant Dubey of the BJP defeated Congresss Furkan Ansari by 60,682 votes while the JVM (P)s Pradeep Yadav polled 193,506 votes. In both cases, the votes polled by the JVM (P) were higher than the BJPs winning margin. Khunti, Kodarma, Singhbhum -- all held by the BJP also witnessed close contests.
The Congress is upbeat. We improved our vote share by 12% in the recent municipal elections, said RPN Singh, Congress general secretary incharge of Jharkhand. Our strength has improved, but we want to create an alliance of all opposition parties to avoid a split in the votes.
The JMM and the Congress had an alliance in 2014. The Congress won none of the nine seats it fought, while the JMM emerged victorious in two of the four.
What could work for BJP
The BJP is pinning its hopes on three factors. First, with a strong anti-conversion law, it hopes to drive a wedge between the tribes who converted to Christianity and the other tribespeople. The non-converted tribals are happy with such a bold move for the first time in the state, a close aide of the chief minister said on condition of anonymity.
The tribal loyalty has largely remained with the JMM in Santhal Parganas and with the Congress in Kolhan region. If we are able to wean away even a section of the tribal votes, we will repeat the 2014 performance, the aide said. The CM, he said, has visited the Santhal region, a bastion of the JMM, at least 65 times in the last four years.
Second, the Raghubar Das government announced a policy in 2016 to settle the long-pending issue of identifying a local. The issue was complex and those who migrated to the state were treated as outsiders. The state government identified six parameters on which a person can be treated as a local, and it benefitted non-tribals settled in urban pockets of the state. This helped us consolidate our support among these people, who were persecuted as outsider ever since the creation of the state in 2000, the aide said.
Third, the BJP feels it has brought development to the centre stage of political discourse, and that has helped the party race ahead of rivals in the state. Das has rolled out several welfare programmes. If that clicks, the BJP can hope to be closer to its 2014 tally, said Vidya Bhushan Mishra.
The BJP counts on what it describes as a positive response to welfare programmes, such as the recent decision to give ~5000 per acre to 2.2 million farmers. At least 5.7 million families have been enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme in Jharkhand, and mobile ambulance facility has clicked in rural areas.
Modi is the X-factor, said former chief minister Arjun Munda of the BJP. Peoples faith in him remain intact and his pro-poor schemes will make a difference.
Since the creation of the state in 2000, no chief minister has completed a full five-year term, but Das might be the first. He is also Jharkhands first non-tribal chief minister, and has helped the party consolidate its position among the non-tribals.
The Opposition lacks a face to mobilise support for the national elections. The BJP may find it difficult to repeat its 2014 performance, but it appears ahead of rivals at present, Pal said. The BJP also feels it is much stronger than what it was in 2014, with the partys organisation getting strengthened at every polling station.
The BJPs campaign in Jharkhand has turned aggressive after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, with ruling party leaders claiming that the nationalism narrative will add value to its campaign. Nationalism is not a divisive agenda, and has better potential to unite voters. It will improve our chances across the state, a BJP general secretary in Delhi said on condition of anonymity.
The Opposition does not agree. People will vote for real issues; which is hunger, unemployment and land rights, Soren said.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Tuesday expanded the Opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh by announcing a tie-up with two more parties, the Janwadi Party (Socialist) and the Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (Nishad) Party, for the national elections that begin from April 11.
The SP earlier joined hands with Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in the state, which has the most number of Lok Sabha seats (80).
I congratulate the two parties for joining the alliance, SP chief and former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav said at press conference along with Nishad Party founder Sanjay Nishad and Sanjay Singh Chauhan, the chief of Janwadi Party (Socialist). These two leaders [Sanjay Nishad and Chauhan] helped us whenever we needed them, Yadav said.
In the last years Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypoll, Sanjay Nishads son, Praveen Kumar Nishad, contested on an SP ticket and wrested the seat from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after 30 years. This time, I will leave it to Akhilesh Yadav to decide the role that my party will play, Sanjay Nishad said. Chauhan said that the BJP was conspiring to take away the rights of backward classes. All backwards are with Akhileshs alliance, he said.
The BJP maintained that the alliance wont hurt its prospects. All can join hands but it wont matter. Modis tsunami will sweep them away, BJP spokesperson Navin Srivastava said.
Abdul Malik, the Imam of a mosque in Banat town of Shamli district, was among the people who had participated in the funeral procession of CRPF jawan Pradeep Kumar, who had lost his life in a terror attack in Pulwama (J&K) on February 14.
Anger against Pakistan was at its peak when the body of the soldier arrived at his house in Banat. Almost all the residents of the town, cutting across religious and caste lines, participated in Pradeeps funeral procession and paid rich tribute to him.
More than a month since the terror attack claimed the lives of 41 soldiers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), anger against terrorism and Pakistan is still palpable in the air.
However, with the election season setting in, Shamli is fast heading towards communal polarisation.
Shamli falls under the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency where the SP-BSP-RLD alliance has fielded sitting MP Tabassum Hasan. BJP has nominated Pradeep Chaudhary, a two-time MLA, from Kairana.
Banat town has a population of about 30,000 where Muslims and Jats are almost equal in number.
While both the communities vouch for communal harmony, Muslims are against the BJP while Jats, though critical of the saffron party, are averse to supporting the Muslim candidate put up by the alliance.
Slain CRPF jawans kin call for amity
Family members of slain CRPF jawan Pradeep Kumar insisted on maintaining communal harmony in the region.
Pradeep`s father Jagdish Kumar said, We have lived together in harmony for decades and members of all sections of the society came to salute the supreme sacrifice of my son.
Pradeeps brother Amit Kumar, who also served the army for over 20 years, said: We dont support discrimination on the basis of religion. All people have equal rights in a democratic country.
Hailing the BJP government, Amit claimed almost all the houses of the village got pucca roofs under government schemes.
He also appreciated the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh for taking care of the families of soldiers.
The CM has promised job to Pradeeps elder son as soon as he clears his class 12 examination. We support airstrikes in Pakistan, Amit said.
Notably, Pradeeps mother had earlier questioned the outcome of the airstrike.
Our family is with the decision of the government, Amit said when asked about her mothers statement.
BJP should go
According to Muslim residents of the area, social harmony in the region was first disturbed during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots and an attempt was again being made to create a division on the pretext of nationalism.
They said it was necessary to remove the BJP government from the Centre to revive communal harmony in the country. While discussing elections after offering namaz, a group of Muslims alleged that the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were spreading hatred in the society for political gains.
How can you say we are not patriotic? We are equally pained at the death of Pradeep in Pulwama attack and saluted his sacrifice for the country, said Munawwar Jama, the septuagenarian muazzim of a mosque in the town.
It is our country but they are not ready to accommodate us because we are Muslims. I have not seen an election in my life in which hatred has been so deeply-rooted, he said.
Muslim residents of Banat expressing their views on election. (Sushil Kumar / HT Photo )
Abdul Malik and Shadab Khan claimed that Muslims had made up their mind to vote for the alliance candidate as she was in a position to defeat the BJP.
They said the Muslims would try to stop Modi from forming the government at the Centre as they believed it was essential to restore communal harmony and keep the social fabric of the country intact.
They said the BJP was making Pulwama attack and air strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) an election issue to polarise Hindu voters in the name of patriotism and nationalism which was a clear attempt to use the armed forces for electoral gains.
Ji-ul-Islam, a farmer, said the government had no satisfactory reply on issues like black money, farmers problems and employment and was trying to befool the people by raising emotional issues.
Where is their promise of Sabka saath, sabka vikas, asked Dilnawaz, another resident of the town.
Cant vote for a Muslim
Despite being annoyed with the BJP, Jats are reluctant of voting for a Muslim candidate. Jat farmer Rishipal and his friends raised the issues of decreasing jobs, farmers distress, construction of Ram Temple and abolition of Article 370 and accused the BJP of diverting peoples attention by raising the emotional issue of nationalism.
Patriotism doesnt mean one cant ask questions. J&K is under the Presidents rule and the Centre should tell the people how the terrorists managed to attack the CRPF convoy with huge quantity of explosives, he asked.
Jat farmer Rishipal and others discussing election scenario in the town. (Sushil Kumar / HT Photo )
Rishipals friends Ashok Kumar and Anuj Kumar asked how could Pakistan release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman within 60 hours of his captivity if 300 terrorists, as claimed by BJP leaders, were killed in airstrikes.
They said these were genuine questions and the government should allay the doubts of the people. However, they said they might still support the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections as they could not vote for a Muslim candidate. Vinod Kumar, a grocery shop owner, said: Election depends on the mood of farmers(Jats) and Muslims. Here, nationalism is being seen through communal angle.
Soon after former Union minister Sukh Ram returned to the Congress with his grandson Ashray Sharma on Monday, hoping to get the partys Lok Sabha ticket from Mandi, his son, Anil Sharma, the power minister in the Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP government offered to step down on moral grounds. Though the CM did not accept his resignation, he later said that the minister would have to quit if he campaigns for his son.
I apprised Thakur of the Congress offer to allot the Mandi ticket to Ashray. I was not taken into confidence before they decided to join the Congress. I contested the assembly election in 2017 on a BJP ticket and will remain with the party, Anil said after meeting Thakur. It was a courtesy call. The BJP is free to act. Whatever action it takes is acceptable to me, Anil said.
Initially, Thakur underplayed Sukh Rams move to join the Congress, saying: Anil Sharma ji is my cabinet colleague. Sukh Ram ji and Ashray were never members of the BJP. They are independent to take their decisions. Ram Swaroop Sharma is the BJP candidate and we will work for his victory.
Thakur later added that if Anil campaigned for his son in Mandi, he will have to resign.
State Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur said Sukh Rams return to the Congress would go a big way in strengthening the party and bolster its prospects in Mandi parliamentary segment. Its a welcome decision, he said.
Sukh Rams rival and former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, considered to be a frontrunner for the seat, did not speak to media. His son Vikramaditya Singh also evinced interest to contest from Mandi, a constituency his mother Pratibha Singh represented till she was defeated by BJPs Ram Swaroop Sharma in 2014. Our family has stood by the party at every crucial juncture. Virbhadra Singh is not only the tallest leader in the party but the tallest leader in the state. He wields influence across Himachal, he said.
Janata Dal (Secular) president and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda filed his nomination from Tumkur as the ruling alliance candidate in Karnataka, but might have to face a rebel candidate from alliance partner Congress.
Defying the pre-poll alliance between coalition partners, under which Tumkur was allotted to JD (S), sitting Congress MP SP Muddahanumegowda filed his papers. Im not filing the nomination for fun, I am an MP from Tumkur and Im contesting, he said. Muddahanumegowda said he still has faith about getting a ticket from his party.
Gowda who submitted his papers at the Deputy Commissioners office in Tumkur in the presence of deputy CM G Parameshwara of Congress called on workers of both parties to fight the communal BJP together, and asked them to forget their past rift. We have united now and formed the coalition government in Karnataka. Lets face this election also together, he said.
The JD (S), which will contest eight out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats, based on a pre-poll alliance, conceded Bangalore North seat to the Congress.
A senior Congress leader who is a minister in the coalition government and did not wish to be named attributed this to a dearth of candidates in the JD (S).
For instance, Congress leader Pramod Madhwaraj is the JD (S) candidate in the Udupi-Chickamagaluru constituency.
At best we would have expected that the JD (S) would be given six seats based on its strength, he said. We didnt think one of our seats would be given up, the minister said.
JD (S) state president AH Vishwanath termed his partys decision to give up the Bengaluru North seat as compensation to the Congress. Congress has to put its house in order in Tumkur. We didnt ask them to give it up. It was the Congress that asked us to give up Mysore and offered us Tumkur instead, he said.
If Muddahanumegowda contests from Tumkur as a rebel candidate, it will add to the Congress-JD(S) coalition worries as the alliance is facing backlash at several places, including Mandya and Hassan, where party workers are unhappy with the seat arrangements.
On Sunday, Kumaraswamy had slammed Muddahanumegowda for unnecessarily creating disturbance in the coalition. He also said that few leaders of coalition partner Congress are creating hurdles for candidates of JD(S), including his own son.
KN Rajanna, another Congress leader and former MLA, has also filed his nomination from Tumkur as an Independent.
(With inputs from PTI)
On an intellectual level he was right. But watching the comics wrestle with the news, it was hard to escape what Noah had to say earlier: This one was, for the most part, about Trump winning so very hard. And in the face of a huge PR victory like that, how much can a well-conceived joke or two accomplish?
Congress president Rahul Gandhi met senior leaders from partys Delhi unit again on Monday to ask their opinion on a possible alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, as confusion continued within the party leadership over the partnership.
Gandhi had met Delhi Congress leaders earlier this month too when the majority of the leaders, including Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit, had expressed strong disapproval for a seat sharing arrangement with the AAP for the seven Lok Sabha segments in the national capital.
On Monday too, senior leaders Dikshit, JP Agarwal, Yoganand Shastri, and three working presidents Haroon Yusuf, Devender Yadav and Rajesh Lilothia opposed an alliance with the AAP.
While former Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Ajay Maken and AICC in-charge of Delhi PC Chacko stuck to their stand of favouring a tie-up, former state Congress presidents Arvinder Singh Lovely and Subhash Chopra changed their stand in favour of the alliance with the AAP.
Another former Delhi Congress president Tajdar Babar, who did not attend the last meeting, also spoke in favour of the alliance but considering her age and poor health, her opinion was not counted, party leaders said.
Chacko also handed over signed letters by 12 district presidents and party representatives in the three municipal corporations supporting the alliance.
We have conveyed our stand to Rahul ji. He will take a decision soon. Yes, the stand on the alliance was still divided but we have been able to get more people in favour of a tie-up, Chacko said.
Party leaders said differences were visible in the meeting with the section in favour of the alliance saying that the Congress will lose all seven seats in Delhi if they the party did not partner with the AAP.
Differences are bound to happen but we have conveyed our opinion to Rahulji and we will abide by his final decision, said Devender Yadav, one of the DPCC working presidents.
While the Congress remained indecisive, AAP leaders said that they were focussing on campaign meetings as the polling date is nearing.
Congress is busy conducing meetings its leaders and AAP is busy with public meetings. The countrys future is at stake but the Congress is confused. It looks like they are not serious about Delhi. AAP is serious and, therefore, it is demanding full statehood for Delhi. Our seven candidates have done a lot of ground work, said AAPs Delhi in-charge Gopal Rai.
Senior Congress leaders said they are hoping that Gandhi will make a final announcement on the alliance by Wednesday.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday termed the Congress minimum income scheme a poll gimmick and accused it of obstructing the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya along with the SP and BSP.
Earlier too the Congress party had given the slogan of garibi hatao. The announcement of a minimum (annual) wage of 72,000 (too) is nothing but a gimmick, said Adityanath, addressing a Vijay Sankalp Rally here.
On Ram temple, Yogi said, The Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP are the biggest hurdles in construction of the Ram temple. An army of advocates was brought to the fore by the Congress (to obstruct the construction). Kapil Sibal moved an application in the Supreme Court to see that the hearing in the case does not take place before 2019 elections, he added.
There is a family which starts remembering Lord Ram when elections draw closer but sit in temples in the posture of offering namaz, the chief minister said, apparently referring to an incident involving a Gandhi family member.
These people visit places to show disrespect to great men. They offer garlands worn by them to the statue of Lal Bahadur Shastri, he added, without taking names.
While the Congress serves biryani to terrorists, the BJP feeds them bombs, he added.
Adityanath also compared the achievements of previous governments with those of the Modi government and his own in two years, claiming the BJP government did much better.
He also attacked the previous governments on the issue of corruption and asserted that due to Prime Minister Modi, an All India Institute of Medical Sciences was being built in Gorakhpur and a fertiliser plant, closed for 26 years, was revived here.
He reminded people that though they would be voting for the Lok Sabha candidates, they would be choosing a prime minister and appealed to them to pick Modi again.
Former Union telecom minister Sukh Ram on Monday returned to the Congress fold along with his grandson Aashray Sharma.
The 91-year-old leader, who wields a considerable clout in the Mandi Lok Sabha segment from where he was elected MP thrice, met Congress president Rahul Gandhi along with partys Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajni Patil before the formal joining at the AICC headquarters.
Pandit Sukh Ram and his grandson Ashray have joined the Congress. We believe he will strengthen the party not only in Himachal but across north India, said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala while addressing a press conference In New Delhi.
When I met Rahul ji, he told me that we have family relations. I have spent (my) political life in Congress and today I have come back home, said Sukh Ram who had left the Congress in 2017 and joined the BJP. Sukh Rams latest move comes two days after BJP renominated its sitting MP Ram Swaroop Sharma from Mandi.
Aashray, whose father Anil Sharma is a cabinet minister in the Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP government in HP, is seeking a ticket from Mandi. On asked whether Aashray will get a ticket, Patil said his name will be considered and final decision will be taken on March 29.
Also Read | Congress likely to declare Himachal Pradesh candidates next week
Sukh Rams latest move has put his son Anil in a fix. I have apprised the chief minister of the latest development. Im ready to resign from my post and even offered to quit but the CM turned it down, the HP power minister told HT.
Sukh Ram and Anil had quit the Congress on the eve of the assembly elections in 2017, citing humiliation by some party leaders. Anil later won the Mandi Sadar assembly seat on the BJP ticket and became a state minister. Sukh Ram, who was accused in the infamous telecom scam when he was a minister in the PV Narasimha Rao government, had a prolonged rivalry with former CM Virbhadra Singh. He floated Himachal Vikas Party and helped PK Dhumal become the CM in the late nineties. Sukhrams ties with the BJP later soured and he rejoined the Congress only to quit in 2017.
Mandi is also the home district of CM Jai Ram Thakur. Currently, sitting MPs in all four parliamentary constituencies in HP are from the BJP. The state will go to polls on May 19.
With inputs from agencies
Congress in-charge of Delhi PC Chacko has said that a decision on alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party for the Lok Sabha election will be taken on Tuesday. Congress president Rahul Gandhi will take a final decision, news agency quoted Chacko as saying.
Chacko, according to ANI, said the Congress and AAP will come together in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls.
Party president to take final decision today. Weve had no word with AAP, as we had to take preliminary decision on our partys political stand whether we wanted an alliance or not. Both parties may have problems, that apart weve to defeat Modi and BJP. So, well come together, ANI quoted Chacko as saying.
The Congresss Delhi unit has been divided over alliance with the AAP, the party whose rise in 2013 saw the grand-old-party losing power in the national capital. On Monday, Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit held another round of meeting of the party leaders.
Four former Delhi Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Subhash Chopra, Tajdar Babar and Arvinder Singh Lovely are said to be in favour of alliance with the AAP. Dikshit, and three working presidents of Delhi Congress Devender Yadav, Rajesh Lilothia and Haroon Yusuf are against the idea of aligning with the AAP.
However, 12 district Congress presidents and majority of party councillors in the three municipal corporations have favoured alliance with the AAP. Chacko has handed over a signed letter to this effect to Gandhi.
While the Congress has remained indecisive, the AAP is focussing on campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress is busy conducing meetings with its leaders and the AAP is busy with public meetings. The countrys future is at stake but the Congress is confused. It looks like they are not serious about Delhi, said AAPs Delhi in-charge Gopal Rai.
The AAP has been seeking an alliance with the Congress in Delhi saying that a division of votes will help the Bharatiya Janata Party in all seven constituencies in the city. The BJP had won all Lok Sabh seats in Delhi in 2014 parliamentary polls.
The Congress on Tuesday sought to clear confusion over the minimum income guarantee scheme that party president Rahul Gandhi has promised to implement if voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the minimum income guarantee scheme will directly benefit 20 per cent beneficiary families.
There was some confusion yesterday. This is not a top-up scheme. All 20 per cent families will get 72,000 a year. I repeat, this is not a top-up scheme, Surjewala told a specially convened press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
Gandhi on Monday announced that the Congress, if voted to power in the upcoming national elections, will implement the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) across the country. He said that the government led by the Congress party will determine an income of 12,000 as the line for demarcation of poverty for a family.
Also Read | Final assault on poverty: Rahul Gandhi on 12K income poll promise
All the identified beneficiary families will get direct transfer of money into their accounts with a capping of 72,000 a year.
A day later, Surjewala clarified that the minimum guarantee scheme is women centric. He said, The Congress party will get this amount credited to the bank accounts of the women of beneficiary families.
This scheme will be implemented without any discrimination between the urban and rural areas. It will be implemented across the country uniformly, Surjewala said.
Also Read | Bluff announcement: Arun Jaitley on Congresss 12K income poll promise
The announcement by Gandhi drew sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Union minister Arun Jaitley called it a bluff announcement in his blog. Jaitley argued that the Narendra Modi governments welfare benefits to people averaged 1,06,800 annually as against 72,000 promise made by Gandhi.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi will not contest from the Kanpur Lok Sabha seat, the BJP confirmed on Tuesday after a letter from the party veteran emerged informing people of the city that he had been asked by the party not to contest from here or elsewhere.
In the letter, Joshi, who was insistent on contesting the seat for a second time, said the partys organisational secretary Ram Lal had conveyed to him that he would not be contesting from Kanpur or elsewhere.
BJPs city president Surendra Maithani said the letter was genuine and that it had been released by Joshis office. I have confirmed from him (Joshi) and his office. Indeed, he has written the letter, Maithani said. Joshi was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.
It is a decision of the party leadership and we are all committed workers; our leadership has been a blessing for us, Maithani said. On being asked if Joshi was upset, he said, I do not know. They are big people and the situation is a bit weird. The party has decided and we are bound by it.
Indications of Joshi sulking became apparent on Sunday night when he cancelled his Kanpur visit scheduled for Monday to attend the politically significant Ganga Mela on Tuesday. The mela is held on the banks of the Ganga after the week-long Holi revelry.
The BJP will soon announce its candidate for Kanpur seat, which it has held for four times since 1991.
The decision on the partys candidate was on hold as Joshi had put his foot down to contest from Kanpur. Party leaders say internal surveys showed that his popularity in the city was at its lowest.
He was not available in his constituency and he visited it eight to 10 times in the last five years; there was a disconnect on his part, said a party leader, adding that the party wanted to replace him with a younger leader, preferably a Brahmin.
For the Kanpur seat, the BJP is reportedly considering the names of UP deputy CM Dinesh Sharma, national spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP city president Surendra Maithani and UP industries minister Satish Mahana. But the local leadership last week apprised the central leadership that it wont be prudent to parachute an outsider in Kanpur again.
National Conference (NC) patriarch Farooq Abdullah on Monday filed his nomination papers for the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
Accompanied by his son and NC vice president Omar Abdullah, Farooq reached the office of returning officer and deputy commissioner Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary in Shaheedgunj area here to file his papers.
Talking to media persons at his residence after filing the papers, Farooq said he longed for creating a new India.
I am not seeing myself (as a potential Prime Minister face), but it would have been Gods grade if I would have become the PM. I would have shown you a new India. I would have made it secular and given due respect to everyone and their respective religions. I would have been ready to die for them, he said while referring to the Prime Minister of New Zealand who stood up...reached everywhere, following the recent mosque attack in Chirstchurch.
Nobody should go hungry, without clothes or unemployment. I would have made a nation which would have been everyones friend, including Pakistan China, Russia and America, he added.
The 81-year-old leader is one of the oldest and influential mainstream politicians in the state, who will be fighting the Lok Sabha elections from Srinagar constituency, comprising Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts.
He was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 and 2009. In 2002, he became a member of the Rajya Sabha and repeated the term in February 2009.
He has been the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir thrice in 1982, 1986 and 1996. Abdullah lost the Lok Sabha seat to PDPs Tariq Hameed Karra in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but won it again in April 2017 after the seat fell vacant following Karras resigination from the PDP and the Lok Sabha.
The NC president accused the Centre of vote-bank politics over Balakot airstike.
Is the government sitting in Delhi taking up issues of unemployment or poverty? They are talking about attack on Pakistan and trying to garner vote on the same, he said.
Abdullah said the fight was against the communal forces.
We want to bring the secular forces together... People are being divided on religions linesWe want to keep those parties out who divide us between Muslims and Hindus, Abdullah said.
The constituency will go to polls along with Udhampur in Jammu on April 18. While Congress wont contest from Srinagar as part of their alliance with NC in return for Jammu and Udhampur constituencies, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fielded Aga Mohsin from the constituency.
Later in the day, NC held an election rally at Kunzer in north Kashmirs Gulmarg constituency where many senior leaders, including Omar Abdullah, Lok Sabha candidate for north Kashmirs Baramulla constituency M Akbar Lone, party general secretary Ali M Sagar and bureaucrat turned politician Farooq Shah, were present.
Omar took on PDP for aligning with Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and blamed PDP president Mehbooba Mufti for NIA case against separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
He sought votes for Akbar Lone and launched an attack against PDP for first campaigning against BJP and then aligning with it in 2014.
He also blamed the party for damaging Article 370, bringing food security law in the state, implementing GST and bringing RSS into the state.
The FIR by NIA under which Mirwaiz (Umar Farooq) is being called to Delhi was filed in 2017 when Mehbooba was the chief minister. You (PDP) are now saying things against NIA but who brought them here, Omar said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, the two biggest names in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will address around 125 and 150 rallies between the last week of March and mid-May when campaigning for the summers parliamentary elections end.
The campaign schedules of the two leaders are being finalised, two BJP leaders said on condition of anonymity. The BJP launched its campaign for the national election with the Vijay Sankalp Sabha at around 200 locations on Sunday, although the Prime Minister was not part of this. More such meetings will happen at around 250 locations on March 26.
Modi will launch his campaign with a rally in Meerut on March 28, one of the two leaders said. He will address another rally in Jammu the same day. He will be in Odisha on March 29 and April 1. He will also hold two rallies each in Assam and West Bengal on March 30 and April 3. Modi has a public meeting at Itanagar on March 31, and will hold a video interaction on the same day with those who extended support to his Main Bhi Chowkidar (I, too, am a watchman) campaign.
We are drawing the plan in such a way that it takes Modi to each of the states in every round of election, the second leader said. Polling for the parliamentary elections will take place in seven phases between April 11 and May 19.
Modi is BJPs most popular campaigner, and the party won the 2014 parliamentary election following a campaign centred on him. Between September 2013, when the BJP declared Modi its prime ministerial candidate, and the end of the campaign for the 2014 election in May that year, he addressed at least 425 rallies across the country.
In a pre-election blitz, Modi has addressed around 100 rallies in 90 days.
The party has divided the entire country into different clusters, with each of them comprising three-four parliamentary seats, the two leaders said. PM Modi will address a rally in each of these clusters.
Uttar Pradesh may have 20-odd clusters, and Modi will address at least that many public meetings in the countrys most populous state. Bihar and West Bengal will see Modi addressing at least 10 rallies during the campaign. These three states will vote in each of the seven phases, which means the Prime Minister will make multiple visits to them.
The focus of our campaign this time is on Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal for obvious reasons, the second leader added. Uttar Pradesh sends the most representatives to Parliament (80); West Bengal, the third most (42); and Bihar, the fourth (40). Maharashtra sends the second highest number of representatives to Parliament (48).
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar account for 162 Lok Sabha seats and the BJP-led NDA won 106 of them in the previous election. While the BJP faces a strong challenge in Uttar Pradesh following the formation of an alliance between the Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal, it is up against an alliance of five parties in Bihar, which is led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
We won 104 out of 120 seats in these two states (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) in the previous election. The Modi campaign is to ensure that we repeat a similar performance in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the first leader said.
The BJP could win just two seats in West Bengal and only one in Odisha in 2014. It has high hopes of making big inroads in these two states this time.
At 91, former Union telecom minister Sukh Ram created a flutter in Himachal Pradesh politics when he walked back to the Congress with his grandson, Ashray Sharma in tow, two days after the BJP denied the 32-year-old the ticket from Mandi Lok Sabha constituency.
The BJP tried downplaying their joining the Congress, while Sukh Rams son Anil Sharma, who is the power minister in Jai Ram Thakurs cabinet, offered to step down on moral grounds.
Though the latest move by Sukh Ram or Pandit ji, as he is popularly known, is unlikely to affect the political scenario in Mandi, it has catapulted him into yet another controversy.
Man of the moment
Born in a poor family on July 27, 1927, Sukh Ram graduated from Delhi Law College. After a few months of practice at the Mandi district courts, he joined the towns civic body as a clerk. In the early 60s, a district magistrate found irregularities in the municipal committees functioning that led to Sukh Rams exit.
A by-election to the Mandi assembly seat was due in 1963 and Sukh Ram contested, projecting himself as the champion of the poor. In 1967, he was re-elected on a Congress ticket. He represented Mandi in the assembly till 1984 when he shifted focus to the Lok Sabha.
During his tenure in Himachal politics, he was state taxation and excise minister and was charged with illegal recruitments and land encroachment besides unauthorised tree felling. Amid the anti-Congress wave, Sukh Ram lost from Mandi only to win it back in 1991.
Scam, ouster and comeback
In 1995, when he was the Union telecom minister, Sukh Ram was charged with taking bribes to favour a few companies in the award of contracts. A CBI raid on his official residence led to the recovery of Rs 2.45 crore of unaccounted cash and another Rs 1.16 crore from his house in Mandi. He, however, blamed his rival and former chief minister Virbhadra Singh for the episode.
He was away in London and was arrested on his return. The scam led to his ouster from the Congress and he was sentenced to five-year jail in 2011 but was granted bail on health grounds.
Sukh Ram staged a comeback in state politics with the launch of the Himachal Vikas Congress in 1997. It won five seats in the 1998 assembly elections. In a post-poll alliance, he helped the BJP form a government led by Prem Kumar Dhumal. In lieu, the BJP sent his son, Anil Sharma, to the Rajya Sabha.
In BJP and back to Congress
In the 2003 assembly elections, Sukh Rams HVC managed to get only one seat, his own in Mandi. Before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, he merged the HVC with the Congress, making peace with Virbhadra Singh. While Sukh Ram retired from active politics, Anil Sharma won the Mandi seat in 2007 and 2012 and was a minister in the Virbhadra government. Anil won the seat for the first time in the 1993 assembly election when his father was a member of Parliament.
Just before the 2017 assembly election, Sukh Ram and his son joined the BJP after being snubbed by Virbhadra during Congress president Rahul Gandhis rally in Mandi. Anil won from Mandi on a BJP ticket and became a minister in the Jai Ram Thakur government.
Political analysts say Sukh Rams joining the Congress at this stage is unlikely to impact the poll scenario. Given his stature, Sukh Ram may have some influence in Mandi town but not beyond, says Pryabhishek Sharma, a political observer. Electors in Himachal vote on issues of national interest than local, he says, adding, Sukh Rams time in politics is over.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the promise of minimum income guarantee is his partys surgical strike on poverty that will ensure there is no poor in the country after 2019. Gandhi said the Congresss promise of minimum income guarantee is an explosion.
It will set off a bombThis is the Congresss surgical strike on poverty. They (the BJP) tried to eliminate the poor. We will eliminate poverty, said Gandhi at a public rally in Rajasthans Ganganagar.
Watch: Surgical strike on poverty: Rahul Gandhi counters BJP on minimum income promise
Gandhi hit out at the Narendra Modi government in his speech alleging that the current regime has brought back people who were uplifted from the below poverty line by the Congress-led UPA rule. The fact that 25 crore people are living in poverty in the 21st century India is a shame, Gandhi said.
The Congress president said nowhere such a scheme has ever been implemented. There should not be a single poor person in the country, he said addressing the Congresss Jan Sankalp Rally at Suratgarh in Ganganagar district.
Read more| Volte-face: BJPs dig at Congress after it says income promise not a top-up
On Monday, Gandhi promised that his party would, if it comes to power, guarantee an income of at least 12,000 a month for 20 per cent of Indias poorest families by giving them 6,000 a month. He said the minimum income guarantee scheme, named NYAY (standing for Nyuntam Aay Yojana) meaning justice, would cover 5 crore families or 25 crore people, who constitute the poorest 20 per cent of Indian households.
The scheme, if implemented, is expected to cost 3.6 lakh crore, around 2 per cent of Indias GDP. Gandhi has insisted that it is fiscally prudent.
At his Rajasthan rally, Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tried to create two Indias in the last five years giving all the benefits of the government to select few rich people while insisting that if voted to power, the Congress will eradicate poverty completely.
If Narendra Modi can give money to the rich, the Congress will give money to the poor, said Gandhi, who also took a swipe at the prime ministers chowkidar campaign. The Congress president said PM Modi is a chowkidar but serves rich people like Anil Ambani instead of the poor.
The BJP has rejected the minimum income guarantee promise of Gandhi with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley calling it a bluff announcement in his blog. Jaitley also said that the total promised by the Congress ( 72,000 a year) is just around two-thirds of what the NDA gives the poor.
The fluidity and gracefulness Williamson brought to the first movement served its innate lyricism, thanks to his elegant turns of phrase and delicate tonal shadings. It was easy to savor the sense of stillness and repose Williamson conjured in the second movement, the CSO strings providing the most tender playing of the night. Though the finale seemed hasty, there was no denying the clarity of Williamsons articulation, even at such a clip.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the Congress had consulted leading economists, including Raghuram Rajan to check the feasibility of the minimum income scheme that was announced on March 25.
While addressing a meeting of the booth workers in Jaipur, he said that the Congress wanted to tranfer money directly to the peoples accounts and in line with that they had discussed the plan with many economists.
He said that the Congress party wanted to make PM Modis promise of Rs 15 lakh in every account come true.
We began work six months ago. We thought of the PMs plan to transfer money directly into the bank accounts. But he lied about the Rs 15 lakh to be put in the accounts. We decided to make it come true, he said.
He said that the party worked quietly for six months to fulfil this plan.
We spoke to big economists. Economists like Raghuram Rajan and others... We spoke to all of them. We told them we liked the idea and wanted to implement it. They told us well need to make a minimum income line. After much deliberations and calculations, we arrived at the number of Rs 12,000 per month, Gandhi said.
Earlier, while speaking at a Jan Sampark Rally at Bundi in Rajasthan, Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not understand the MNREGA scheme and that is why he shut it down.
Gandhi said that the PM had given a speech in the Lok Sabha and had ridiculed the Congress and the MNREGA scheme as the worst scheme and had claimed that no one had benefitted from it.
Our PM did not understand MNREGA. He did not understand what it was or what its aim was. The common people understood it, but the PM didnt understand it, Gandhi said.
Saying that there was a deep thought behind launching MNREGA, Gandhi said, It wasnt a scheme to dig potholes as the PM had claimed. It gave jobs to crores of people. In villages, people made different things. They made roads, built lakes, and when all these people worked, they got money, when they got money, factories were set up. Those people who worked and got money under MNREGA began buying things, factories were set up to manufacture those things, factories generated jobs, this kick-started the economy. But the PM didnt understand this.
Carrying his attack on the PM further, Gandhi said that after shutting down MNREGA, the PM brought about demonetisation.
Under demonetisation he took whatever money was in your homes, whatever money was in the villages and kept all of that in the banks. You were left with no money, he said addressing the people gathered for the rally.
He removed the entire cash from the system. When people didnt have money, they stopped buying goods, factories shut down, unemployment rose. He still hasnt understood this, Gandhi said.
He claimed that this was the reason there was the highest unemployment in the last 45 years in PM Modis tenure.
Ask any youth what he does. He says nothing. Thats because the entire system has been destroyed but the PM doesnt understand this. All he does is give speeches every day, Gandhi said.
Referring to the NYAY (Nyunatam Aay Yojana) that the Congress is proposing to launch if it is voted into power in the upcoming elections, he said the money given to the poor will help kick-start the economy once again.
Twenty per cent of the poorest of the poor will Rs 72,000 per year. This is not a gift, its justice. As soon as the people get the money, they will start buying things, factories will start running, the unemployed youth will start getting jobs and the economy will kick-start again, Gandhi said.
On Monday, Gandhi had promised that if his party came to power, it would guarantee a minimum income of Rs 12,000 a month. The scheme, if implemented, is expected to cost Rs 3.6 lakh crore, around 2 per cent of Indias GDP. Gandhi has insisted that it is fiscally prudent.
Earlier, speaking at another Jan Sampark Rally in Ganganagar, Gandhi had said that the PM was trying to create two Indias; one India of the rich and another India of the poor.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday backed party president Rahul Gandhis poll promise of minimum income guarantee as a scheme, which, when implemented, will empower women. She tweeted that this aspect of the proposed scheme makes her happy.
So happy that under the NYAY scheme, women will be the ones who receive the annual amount of Rs. 72,000 directly into their accounts. Empower a woman, empower a family, Priyanka Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
NYAY (the Nyuntam Aay Yojana) or the minimum income guarantee scheme was announced on Monday by Rahul Gandhi as a poll promise. He said if the Congress is voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the party will roll out the scheme for poorest 20 per cent families of the country.
Also Read | Final assault on poverty: Rahul Gandhi on Rs 12K income poll promise
Priyanka Gandhi had tweeted her support to the minimum income guarantee scheme on Monday with a hashtag #NyayForIndia literally meaning justice for India.
The proposed scheme aims to benefit around 5 crore families or 25 crore individuals. Offering further details about the Congresss poll promise, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala earlier in the day said that this will be a women centric scheme.
Money will be directly credited into the bank accounts of women of the beneficiary families, Surjewala told a press conference.
Meanwhile, addressing a public rally in Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi said the minimum income guarantee scheme will be the Congresss surgical strike on poverty. He said if voted to power, the Congress will ensure that there is not a single poor person in the country.
Also Read | Surgical strike on poverty, says Rahul Gandhi on minimum income poll promise
He proposed to define a poverty line for the proposed scheme at Rs 12,000 per month. Gandhi promised that the Congress, when voted to power, will pay Rs 6,000 to each of the 20 per cent poorest households in the country to ensure that they are uplifted above the new poverty line.
The BJP has called it a hollow promise with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley dismissing it as a bluff announcement made by Rahul Gandhi. Jaitley also said that Gandhis minimum income guarantee plan aims at extending only two-third of the monetary support to the people compared to what is already being given under various schemes of the Narendra Modi government.
Also Read | Volte-face: BJPs dig at Congress after it says income promise not a top-up
After spending 52 years in the country, Pakistani national Asif Abbas Karadia finally became an Indian citizen. The long legal battle of the 52-year-old, who works as a manager at a restaurant in Mahim, for formal Indian citizenship came to an end when the Bombay high court was informed on Monday that the central government has decided to grant him citizenship.
Advocate Deepak Thakare, who represented the central government, informed the bench of justice AS Oka and justice MS Sanklecha that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted Asif citizenship and a certificate will be issued in ten days.
Asifs father, Abbas, was born in Gujarat in 1945. Abbas married a Pakistani national, who joined his company in India after marriage, but continued to hold a Pakistani passport. In 1967, she went to her mothers place at Karachi for delivery and gave birth to Asif. A few months later, she returned to India with the infant. She then gave up her Pakistani citizenship, passport and acquired Indian ones.
According to Asifs lawyer Sujay Kantawala, this sequence of events gave rise to a controversy surrounding his citizenship. Although he was born to a Pakistani national at Karachi, Asif never felt it necessary to acquire formal Indian citizenship and obtain a passport. All along he resided in India on the strength of long-term visas, extended from time to time. He got a ration card, voters identity card, a PAN, Aadhaar cards and continued to pay taxes, just like other salaried individuals. The occasion for him to apply for an Indian passport came only in 2012 when he decided to go for Hajj Pilgrimage. His first application for an Indian passport was rejected by the Ministry of External Affairs in 2012 on the ground that he was not an Indian citizen. Thereafter, he applied for Indian citizenship at least seven times and eventually approached high court in 2016 after the authorities stopped even renewing his long term visa.
Kantawalla pointed out that every one, except Asif, is an Indian citizen in his family. His parents, his wife and even his children are Indian nationals by birth, but not Asif.
In this backdrop, the lawyer had urged the court to direct the MHA to decide his representation and plead for citizenship. Accepting the request on December 20, another bench of high court had directed the MHA to take into consideration the factual matrix involved in Asifs case and take a suitable decision on his pleas for citizenship. Accordingly, the MHA finally accepted Asifs plea and granted him citizenship.
A family that eats together, stays together, and now, according to a recent study, consistently eating breakfast as a family can also promote positive body image for children and adolescents.
The study suggests that parents hoping to raise teenagers with positive body image might just find helpful tools in the kitchen every morning.
We know that developing healthy behaviours in adolescence such as eating breakfast every day and eating family meals can have long-term effects into adulthood. Children and adolescents are under a lot of pressure from social media and pop culture when it comes to physical appearance. Having a healthy relationship with food from eating breakfast and spending meal time with family might have a significant impact on well-being, said Virginia Ramseyer, one of the lead researchers.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 12,000 students in more than 300 schools in all 50 states and Washington D.C. They looked at data related to eating behaviours, including frequency of eating breakfast and eating meals with a parent.
The researchers found that eating breakfast during the week more frequently was associated with positive body image. Just over half of the sample reported eating breakfast five days a week; however, nearly 17 per cent reported never eating breakfast. More than 30 per cent reported eating breakfast fewer than five times a week. The researchers also found that boys were more likely to eat breakfast than girls.
Additionally, the researchers found that children were much more likely to have a positive body image if they regularly ate breakfast with a parent.
We know that the health behaviours of a parent can have long-term effects on a child. Results of this study suggest that positive interactions with food-- such as eating breakfast and having family meals together-- could be associated with body image, Ramseyer asserted.
Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter
China on Tuesday strongly criticised a US State Department report that denounced Beijing for systematically obstructing Americans including Washingtons envoy from travelling to Tibet.
The Chinese government systematically impeded travel to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan areas outside the TAR for US diplomats and officials, journalists and tourists in 2018, said the report to Congress released on March 25.
Even visits by US diplomats were highly restricted, it said.
Chinese government-designated minders followed US diplomats and officials at all times, prevented them from meeting or speaking with local contacts, interrogated them and restricted their movement in these areas, it said.
The State Department said that China last year rejected five of the nine US requests to visit Tibet, including one by Ambassador Terry Branstad.
The AFP news agency reported that the State Department documented access problems to the Himalayan region in a report to Congress mandated by the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, passed with bipartisan support in December.
The law, which notes that no US region is prohibited, requires the US by the end of this year to deny visas to Chinese officials in charge of implementing the policy.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Geng Shuang, criticised the report in strong words, calling it interference in Chinas internal affairs.
This act severely violates the basic norms governing international relations, interferes in Chinas internal affairs send a seriously wrong message to Tibetan independent and separatist forces. It is highly detrimental to our cooperation and exchanges, Geng said.
We oppose that, Geng added.
This so-called report is full bias and totally ignoring the facts. We (will) never accept that. I want to stress that Tibetan affairs are purely Chinas internal affairs and allow no interference from foreign countries.
Geng said China has the right to manage visits to Tibet because of geographical and climatic conditions.
Chinas Tibet is open to people of all countries. Yet considering special geographical and climate conditions, the Chinese government exercises certain protection and management measures over the entry by foreigners. This is totally necessaryOur position will never change, he said.
We welcome foreigners to visit Tibet. But the condition is that they have to abide by Chinese laws and regulations and go through relevant procedures. We urge the US to stop such wrongdoing and try to remove the negative effects. We urge the US side to stop using Tibet related issues to interfere in our internal affairs, lest it should harm bilateral relations and our cooperation, he said.
US president Donald Trump and allies have gone on the offensive vowing to hold accountable those behind the special counsel investigation that found no evidence the Trump campaign colluded with Russian meddling, and, standing their ground, Democrats have demanded to see the full report.
President Trump set the tone telling reporters at a White House event Monday that the role of those behind the evil things, the treasonous things, as he described the probe, will be looked at, an indication that another probe was in the making, to investigate the reasons for the Russia investigation.
Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Republican-led Senate judiciary committee, has said he intends to call for a special counsel, like Robert Mueller, to investigate how the Russian meddling investigation was launched, by the justice department and the FBI in 2016, on then President Barack Obamas watch.
Adding to the push back, the Trump 2020 re-election campaign circulated a memo to TV networks urging them to drop pundits who had made outlandish, false claims about collusion, mostly Democrats and former intelligence officials. Among them was Adam Schiff, chairman of the Democratic-led House intelligence committee, who was among the most aggressive of them. The White House has demanded his resignation.
The president and his allies have misleadingly claimed total exoneration by Special Counsel Mueller, when, in fact, the probe only said, in a report that remains confidential, no evidence was found of any collusion by Trump campaign with Russians. It left unresolved the question of obstruction of justice, saying that while the report, does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.
Attorney General William Barr settled the unresolved issue in favor of the president, concluding, in a four-page summary of Muellers report, that the evidence developed during the Special Counsels investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.
Democrats and Trumps critics dont agree with the AG, a Trump appointee, they have pointed out, and have demanded the full report with underlying documents and Congressional Democrats wrote to the department of justice Monday to release the report by April 2.
Your four-page summary of the Special Counsels review is not sufficient for Congress, as a coequal branch of government, to perform this critical work, they wrote in a joint letter.
Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday night suffered another setback in the House of Commons when MPs upheld a motion 329 to 302 seeking to determine the way ahead on Brexit, as three more of her ministers resigned in protest.
The development will see MPs voting on Wednesday on a range of Brexit alternatives to identify the scenario that has the most support. This whittles down further Mays control over the Brexit process, which has come under increasing fire from inside and outside her party.
Business minister Richard Harrington, foreign office minister Alistair Burt and health Steve Brine resigned to join Brexit rebels, with Harrington accusing the government of playing roulette with the lives and livelihoods of Britons.
However, the indicative votes on Wednesday are unlikely to resolve the impasse, as May insisted that their outcome is not binding and would not commit her government to adopting outcomes that has the most support.
The setback prompted renewed claims by some of Mays aides and others that she may be in office in Downing Street, but not in power.
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the government must take the process seriouslyThe government has failed and this House must, and I believe will, succeed. He also called for a confirmatory referendum on Mays withdrawal agreement that has failed to pass twice.
Mays party MPs and others piled on the pressure after the setback in the house. Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer tweeted: Another humiliating defeat for a prime minister who has lost complete control of her party, her cabinet and of the Brexit process.
Labours Hilary Benn, who chairs the Exiting the European Union Committee, told BBC: If the government isnt going to do its job then Parliament is going to have to take responsibility, and that is what we are doing on Wednesday.
Indian-origin Conservative former Brexit Minister Suella Braverman called it a a Parliamentary massacre, adding: MPs where we know there is a majority against Brexit, who dont want to respect the referendum, who dont want to honour referendum pledges, are seeking to overturn that and its unacceptable.
A Pakistani court ordered the state on Tuesday to take custody of two minor Hindu girls allegedly forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men even as external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj called for the teenagers to be reunited with their family.
The Islamabad high court, which was hearing a petition filed by the two sisters from Ghotki in Sindh province and the Muslim men who had allegedly married them, said the state should ensure the safety of the girls till their case is decided.
The girls were later sent to a shelter home in Islamabad, and the high court directed a senior woman police officer should be appointed to ensure their safety.
The high court also accepted a plea by the men who allegedly married them to be granted protective bail. The men said they had been named in an FIR and their arrests should be stopped.
The petition said the girls had left their home on March 20 and sought legal help after announcing two days later that they had willingly converted.
However, rights activists and relatives of the girls said they were abducted and forcibly converted to Islam. Swaraj and Pakistans information minister Fawad Chaudhry sparred on Twitter over the weekend after the external affairs minister sought a report on the matter from the Indian envoy in Islamabad.
Justice demands that both these girls should be restored to their family immediately, Swaraj tweeted on Tuesday. Referring to the forced conversion of the teenagers, she said the age of the girls is not disputed one named Raveena is only 13 and the other named Reena is 15 years old.
Even the Prime Minister (of) Naya Pakistan will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage, Swaraj tweeted, referring to Prime Minister Imran Khans stated policy of building a naya or new Pakistan.
People familiar with developments said Swaraj had taken on the Pakistan government on the issue largely because of Khan taking pot shots at the treatment of minorities in India over the past few months.
In recent speeches and public remarks, Khan has raked up what he described as the oppression of Muslims and Kashmiris in India as well as attacks on minorities. Indias foreign ministry has rejected Khans remarks and said Pakistan should be the last countryto lecture us on the topic of plurality and inclusive society.
On Sunday, Pakistani police arrested seven people from Punjab province allegedly involved in arranging the marriage of the Hindu girls. A case of kidnapping was also registered in Sindh province.
During the hearing in Islamabad high court, when Chief Justice Athar Minallah enquired about the age of the girls, their lawyer said one of them was 20 years old. This is an extremely sensitive issue. Pakistans international standing is tied to it Ensuring the rights of minorities is our responsibility, Minallah was quoted as saying by the local media.
Senator Krishna Kumari made a request to the interior ministry on Tuesday to meet the girls as a representative of the Hindu community. Kumari said it was also important to meet the girls parents to establish the facts.
Shaman Das, the girls brother, also approached the Lahore high courts Bahawalpur bench seeking the immediate recovery of his sisters. He said in his petition his sisters are minors. The petition will be heard on Wednesday.
In a relief to Nawaz Sharif, Pakistans Supreme Court Tuesday granted bail to the jailed former prime minister for six weeks in a corruption case on medical grounds. Sharif, 69, is in jail since December last year, serving a seven-year imprisonment in the Al Azizia Steel Mills graft case.
He filed appeal earlier this month against a judgment by the Islamabad High Court which on February 25 rejected his bail on medical grounds in the same case.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa in a short order granted bail to Sharif for six weeks for his treatment.
But the court ruled he cannot go out of the country during this period. 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 Avenfield corruption 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 graft case but acquitted him in the Flagship corruption case. The Al-Azizia Steel Mill case is related to setting up steel mills in Saudi Arabia allegedly with corruption money.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday demanded that the two Pakistani Hindu girls, who were allegedly abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men should be reunited with their families. Both the girls are minor.
Forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan: The age of the girls is not disputed. Raveena is only 13 and Reena is 15 years old. Even the Prime Minister on Naya Pakistan will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage, Swaraj tweeted taking a dig at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans catchphrase to assert new thinking in his government
Khan has referred to Naya Pakistan in his public speeches after coming to power in last years parliamentary elections. Khan has also ordered probe into the incident.
Swaraj said, Justice demands that both these girls should be restored to their family immediately.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, Islamabad High Court ordered the government to ensure protection to the minor girls and take over their custody. The two underage girls are sisters from Ghotki in Sindh. They were allegedly forcibly converted from Hinduism and married to Muslim men on the eve of Holi.
Also Read | 7 held for abduction of Hindu girls in Pakistan
The incident came to public knowledge after the father and brother of the minor girls posted videos on social media giving details of the case. Civil society activists in Pakistan staged protests including one outside the Karachi Press Club on Sunday.
Amid complaint by the family members of the girls and protest by activists, another video was released on social media showing the two sisters stating that they converted to Islam out of their own free will.
On Monday, police detained at least seven people, news agency ANI reported, in connection of the case. One of those held was the nikah khwan (marriage officiator), the agency said.
The next legal stage of businessman Vijay Mallyas extradition is set to begin after the Home Office submitted its response to his application for permission to appeal against the Home Secretarys February 4 order clearing his extradition to India.
Facing charges of financial irregularities worth over 9,000 crore, Mallya again took to Twitter on Tuesday to reiterate his main contention that his inability to return bank loans was a result of genuine business failure, offering to repay them.
Mallyas extradition case has progressed through the Westminster Magistrates Court, which ordered his extradition in December 2018. An appeals court judge will now decide whether grounds cited in his application merit progressing the case to a full hearing.
All the papers have been received and are now awaiting allocation to a single judge who will decide, on the basis of those papers, if permission is given to go to a full hearing, a spokesman for the judiciary said on Tuesday.
Mallya filed his notice of appeal on February 14 and the Home Office responded to it within 20 days. Legal experts say the case is usually allowed to go for a full hearing if new grounds or evidence not previously considered in lower courts are cited.
In a series of tweets, Mallya used the current financial problems of Jet Airways to plug his case, demanding that his assets placed before the Karnataka high court be used to pay off banks and other creditors, adding: It will help them to save Jet Airways if nothing else.
Noting that banks were reportedly bailing out Jet Airways, Mallya said: I invested 4000 crores into Kingfisher Airlines to save the Company and its employees. Not recognised and instead slammed in every possible way.
The same PSU Banks let Indias finest airline with the best employees and connectivity fail ruthlessly. Double standards under NDA, he added.
Wishing banks had similarly bailed out his Kingfisher Airlines, he said: BJP spokesman eloquently read out my letters to PM Manmohan Singh and alleged that PSU Banks under the UPA Government had wrongly supported Kingfisher Airlines.
Media decimated me for writing to the PM. I wonder what has changed now under the NDA Government.
Mallya has previously taken to twitter to seek to change the narrative that he stole money from India and fled, reiterating that he had offered to return the loans, wondering why the government was not taking up the offer.
A n Alpine lodge shipped plank by plank from Switzerland to the banks of the Thames has gone on the market for 2.85 million three years after it was put up for sale for almost 13 million.
The developer of the 137-year-old chalet near Hampton Court said the Brexit climate had made it impossible to find a buyer for the property, which comes with a heated indoor sand beach, a bathroom with gold parquet flooring and a 500,000 kitchen.
It is now being marketed again as an empty shell, without the surrounding plots of land, 225 metres (738ft) of river frontage, associated boats and contents of the property such as four cannons used at the Battle of Waterloo.
These can still be bought separately, bringing the total bill to 11 million.
Imported in 1882, the five-storey chalet was intended as a feature for the grounds of a country house called Riverholm which no longer exists.
It was later used as a boathouse and fell into dereliction before architect Myck Djurberg bought it in 2010 and spent more than 3 million on restoration work.
The chalet is now in the hands of receivers; Mr Djurberg is still responsible for maintaining it.
Features include a beach themed party level with under-floor heating, wine racks, a cinema room and a spa area.
Guest bedrooms have Japanese style pod beds that include a body massage system, and the master suite is accessed by a glass staircase.
Its bathroom has two free-standing copper baths and basins made of marble and 24-carat gold.
Mr Djurberg told the Standard: The building has historically been used as an entertaining house. King Edward VII himself was here at one time to gamble.
Lots of famous people have visited Charlie Chaplin and the likes. So I decided to bring it back to an entertaining home.
"Its for someone who doesnt need a house. He or she enjoys the high-life and wants to entertain. I have interested buyers. In the meantime with Savills weve agreed to sell this in stages and break it into pieces in order to sell it faster because the very high-end market is not there because of Brexit.
In 2017, a High Court judge ordered Mr Djurberg to pay back 1.8 million to two couples after he sold them unlawful houseboats. The sites did not have permission for residential properties.
Mr Djurberg said he was appealing against the decision, adding that the damage to my name and professional profile has in a way also contributed seriously with the sale of my property.
President Trumps proposed budget would cut Education Department funding by about $7 billion, or 10 percent, in fiscal 2020. But for special education, the budget proposal represents business close to usual.
The proposal would keep funding flat for the major federal sources of special education money. That includes the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B funding ($12.3 billion for students ages 3-21, about the same as the previous fiscal year); $391 millon for children ages 3-5 with disabilities (a $10 million proposed increase over the previous fiscal year) and $470 million for infants and families, the same amount as the previous fiscal year.
The budget would eliminate $17.6 million in federal funding for the Special Olympics; the Trump administration attempted to cut that funding in the previous fiscal year as well, but Congress gave the program a small boost instead.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will be visiting Capitol Hill twice this week in support of this proposal and others that are part of the federal education budget.On March 26, shell testify before the House appropriations subcommittee that oversees education; on Thursday, shell address the Senate panel that deals with K-12 funding.
Its important to note that, while presidential budgets offer a roadmap of an administrations priorities, it is Congress that holds the power of the federal purse. But there are still a few things that may come up during DeVos testimony and questioning from lawmakers:
Full funding: This budget doesnt come close to funding IDEA at the level that Congress is authorized to spend. When the IDEA was passed in 1975, Congress gave itself permission to send to states up to 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure to meet the goals of the law. In contrast, the federal contribution to special education in this budget proposal is around 13 percent. The amount of federal money proposed per pupil ages 3-21$1,758has actually gone down a bit, by $12, compared to the previous fiscal year. Thats because the number of special education students has gone up. Will lawmakers ask DeVos about this (and will any of them commit to pushing for a full-funding bill themselves?)
Equity in IDEA rule: This topic isnt directly related to the budget proposal, but it does involve money. A federal district judge ruled that the Education Department cannot delay a rule intended to prompt states to pay closer attention to minority overrepresentation in special education. The rule is complicated, but the upshot is that more school districts may find themselves having to spend a portion of their federal funds on remedying what the law calls significant disproportionality. The judge made her ruling March 7, and the Education Department hasnt offered a public hint yet of whether it will continue to defend its delay. Congressmembers might attempt to get some clarification on the Departments plans.
Scholarship program and students with disabilities: The administration is supporting a $5 billion scholarship program that would provide federal tax credits to individuals and companies that donate to scholarship-granting groups. If passed, these scholarships could help pay for a variety of educational activities, including helping special education students attend private schools. Students with disabilities who enroll in private school lose some of the individual protections that come with the IDEA , however. Democratic lawmakers have frequently pressed DeVos on this issue, and it might come up again.
File Photo: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos sits in with a class at Greater Johnstown Elementary School in Johnstown, Pa. in 2018.John Rucosky/The Tribune-Democrat via AP
Now Open
26 March 2019
Embassy Suites by Hilton, a global brand of upscale, all-suite hotel from Hilton (NYSE: HLT), announced today the opening of a new hotel near Indianapolis. Embassy Suites by Hilton prides itself on offering guests an approachable and stress-free experience at each of its properties.
The stylish Embassy Suites by Hilton Plainfield Indianapolis Airport is conveniently located in close proximity to Indianapolis International Airport and just a 25-minute drive from downtown Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse and the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Business and leisure travelers can take advantage of the hotel's convenient airport shuttle to Indianapolis International Airport.
Owned and managed by Sun Development & Management Corporation, this upscale all-suite hotel features 174 two-room and studio suites with all the comforts of home. Each suite is equipped with free Wi-Fi, a large HDTV, mini-fridge and microwave, and the two-room suites' amenities include a living area, sofa bed, two HDTVs and private bedroom.
Guests staying at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Plainfield Indianapolis Airport can start their days with free made-to-order breakfast in the morning and unwind at night with complimentary drinks and appetizers daily at the Evening Reception. They can also enjoy appetizers, hearty fare and local beer at Local Kitchen & Tap, the property's on-site restaurant.
Additional amenities include 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a 24-hour convenience market, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour fitness center and an indoor pool. The property's tranquil outdoor setting includes a pond, boardwalk and several outdoor patios for guests to relax.
Pipeline
26 March 2019
Range Developments has entered into an agreement with the Government of Grenada to develop the La Sagesse area in St David's. This is an unspoilt area of remarkable natural beauty with two beautiful beaches. The first of the luxury hotels will be the Six Senses La Sagesse, set on a promontory boasting two beaches and a lake, one of which has been described by The Sunday Times as 'one of the top ten beaches in the Caribbean'.
La Sagesse will be an incomparable master-planned development on one of the best locations in the Caribbean, just 15 minutes' drive from Grenada's airport. It will feature two luxury 5-star hotels, oceanfront villas, spas, retail and water-sports' facilities.
Range Developments specializes in developing luxury resorts in the Eastern Caribbean, and will be working with award winning Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. As in other of Range's developments, investors will be able to participate in the project, and if applicable, apply for citizenship in Grenada. The project is scheduled to open in 2022, and will create more than 500 jobs during construction and many more during operations.
Appointment
26 March 2019
Hotel Chicago West Loop has announced the appointment of a new, dynamic leader. At only 31-years-old, Virginia-native Jean-Luc Laramie is (quite possibly) the youngest hotel general manager in Chicago. In his role at the independent, 3-year-old dual-purpose property known for its eccentric art initiative, Laramie oversees operations while looking to expand the hotel's relationship with Millennial travelers.
Although he's a first-time hotel General Manager, Laramie's passion for hospitality runs deep. He admits he always knew he wanted to work in the industry, starting his career in restaurants before entering the hotel world in 2009. Laramie began his hotel career with a manager-in-training program in Amman, Jordan. When he returned to the States, Laramie enrolled at Kendall College in Chicago and studied Hotel Management while working as a bellman at night. After graduation, he rose through the ranks, beginning at the front desk, then moving on to concierge, night audit, manager on duty, supervisor, front desk manager, and operations manager. Laramie's strength is interacting with guests, making them feel welcome, and finding solutions that work for both them and the property.
Martyn Barnes has signed his third IHG-branded hotel, bringing Holiday Inn & Suites to Dandenong, the so-called 'capital' of Melbourne's south-east.
Martyn Barnes has signed his third IHG-branded hotel, bringing Holiday Inn & Suites to Dandenong, the so-called 'capital' of Melbourne's south-east.
Headlining a mixed-use development that includes two levels of office space, the 160-room, design-led Holiday Inn & Suites Dandenong will rise to 11 levels when it opens in 2021, affording great views of the city. It will offer guests an all-day dining and bar experience, a gym, conference and meeting facilities, and retail shopping via separate access. It will also feature a long stay suite component targeting the corporate traveller who is looking to stay for extended periods.
The hotel will boast the ideal location, a short stroll from Dandenong train station and the business district, which will enjoy a boost from the State Government's $290-million 'Revitalising Central Dandenong' (RCD), creating demand for a world-class hotel to cater to growing business travel.
Dandenong is already considered by many to be Melbourne's second city and the gateway to Gippsland. It's a key employment cluster in Victoria, with its industrial precinct in Dandenong South one of Australia's most significant, employing almost 30,000 people and accounting for around 77% of employment in the area. It is already home to Amazon's first Australian distribution centre, the Australian Tax Office (ATO), Salvation Army regional headquarters, Dandenong Hospital, Chisholm 5 Institute of TAFE and a number of industrial, manufacturing and government offices.
Abhijay Sandilya, IHG's Senior Director of Development Australasia, said: "As the world's largest hotel brand, Holiday Inn will attract guests from around Australia and the world to Dandenong. We are thrilled to take our great partnership with Martyn Barnes to the next level with our third hotel signing together in Victoria, continuing the momentum we have started over the past year with Holiday Inn Coburg and voco Yarra Valley."
Martyn Barnes, Managing Director at Barnes Capital, said: "As the heart of Melbourne's south-east region, some might say Dandenong has it all, but I would say it doesn't have a great hotel yet. Holiday Inn Melbourne Dandenong will be an important component of the government's Revitalising Central Dandenong project, and we're so proud to support it. I expect it to be the new home-away-from-home for the thriving business, industrial and public-sector community."
Barnes announced in May 2018 that he would bring Holiday Inn to Melbourne's growing hipster suburb of Coburg, and then in August confirmed that he would bring IHG's new upscale brand, voco, to the Yarra Valley in 2021.
IHG has put a focus on regional Australian growth, with several Holiday Inn signings across the country, including in Wagga Wagga, Geelong, Ringwood, and Melbourne Werribee, as well as opening Holiday Inn Sydney St Marys in 2018.
IHG currently has 47 hotels operating under four brands in Australasia, including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, voco and Holiday Inn Express, with another 29 in the pipeline, including Hotel Indigo and EVEN Hotels.
*Numbers correct as at end 31 December 2018
Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe
2021 Hotel News Resource
Joint Venture Addresses Critical Culinary Skilled Labor Shortage
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and Omni Hotels & Resorts, announce the unique, practical and educational partnership designed to address the critical chef shortage facing professional kitchens and restaurants across the country.
Through the new partnership, Escoffier offers its 100 percent online apprenticeship-model culinary programs and externships for Omni Hotel & Resorts' employees to take advantage of while they continue to work within the organization. Working directly with an Escoffier chef instructor, employees participating in the online program can apply their work experience at Omni toward their externship requirement.
The partnership also includes an Escoffier $2,000 per student tuition discount, along with additional financial aid options for employees who qualify. Students can graduate with either a Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations or Diploma in Professional Pastry Arts, from an institution accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET).
"We've looked at the chef shortage crisis from all sides and are encouraged to be in the distinct position to offer our world-class culinary curriculum and programs for employees at all of Omni Hotels & Resorts properties," said Tracy Lorenz, Escoffier's president and CEO. "Our industry-recognized online programs aren't bound by geography and give employees the freedom and flexibility to take classes that fit within their schedules and apply externship requirements that develop and deepen culinary skills and knowledge. We see this apprenticeship model as a positive way to address the shortage of culinary professionals and enhance retention and advancement opportunities in the workforce."
In addition to campus-based degree and diploma programs, Escoffier is the only accredited institution to offer fully online professional diploma programs, including externships, in the United States. Escoffier is also offering two full scholarships, (value $16,000 each), for more details on employee nomination criteria, visit escoffier.edu/omni.
"This partnership allows us to immediately invest in our talented employees and give them new and exciting pathways for advancement," said Devin Burns, vice president of food and beverage at Omni Hotels & Resorts. "The online program and tuition incentives make earning an Escoffier education an achievable goal for our full-time culinary professionals and gives them practical ways to develop skills and put them into practice."
Omni Hotels & Resorts employees who enroll in the online educational program(s) will learn from a balanced culinary and business curriculum, understand applied principles of sustainability as well as the importance of work ethics and ability to contribute in a team environment. The Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations curriculum includes:
Culinary Foundations
Culinary Arts and Patisserie
Purchasing and Cost Control
World Cuisine
Menu Design and Management
Culinary Career Planning and Preparation
The Farm to Table Kitchen
The Diploma in Professional Pastry Arts curriculum includes:
Pastry and Baking Concepts and Foundations
Culinary Careers from Entry Level to Management
Management by Menu
Patisserie
Artisan Baking
Confiserie and Frozen Desserts
Contemporary Pastry Arts
For more information about the partnership, testimonials or details on apprenticeship reimagined, visit Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe
2021 Hotel News Resource
Award-Winning Luxury Hotel to Bring Innovative Wine-On-Demand Technology Plum to their Suites, Restaurant, and Bar
Plum, the first wine by the glass technology revolutionizing the hospitality industry, is proud to welcome the historic Hermitage Hotel to its rapidly growing list of new clients. By introducing Plum, the award-winning property will be the first location in Nashville to offer guests the perfect pour in the comfort of their hotel suite, while dining at the Capitol Grille or relaxing at the world-famous Oak Bar.
Our guests value a sophisticated experience that is designed with their personalized needs in mind, said Christopher Salyer, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hermitage Hotel. Anyone passionate about wine will love the unprecedented technology of Plum, and it provides convenience, choice and that extra attention to detail that has made us a top hotel and keeps guests coming back for more. Beyond just the unique appeal to guests, Plum opens up revenue generating opportunities while reducing delays and demands on staff.
The stunning Hermitage Hotel has long been known as the top hotel in Tennessee and one of the best hotels in America. With its Beaux-Arts style and old-world blend of classical Italian and French Renaissance architecture, it is ranked among the 500 best hotels in the world, according to Travel + Leisure. Among its multitude of awards, it is listed as one USA Todays top 10 historic hotels in the U.S. and is consistently named among the Top Hotels in the nation's top travel publications. The Hermitage Hotel is also the only Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond hotel in Tennessee and five contiguous states. In 2018, it was awarded the number one hotel in Nashville according to Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice.
For hospitality operators, the benefits of Plum are numerous. Plum precisely pressurizes each bottle with argon gas protecting the unique flavor and aroma of each wine. Management can select bottles of wine and set the pricing, effortlessly pair wine with food and enjoy the freedom to change their wine seasonally - even customizing the wine selection to match the preferences of their VIP guests. Plum's 7-inch touchscreen and integrated speaker serve as a virtual tasting room, displaying rich video and imagery along with tasting notes.
Were very excited to be partnering with the Hermitage Hotel in the music capital of the world, said Founder and CEO of Plum, David Koretz. Plum isnt just another new technology or amenity, its a way to elevate the in-room dining experience and yield greater profits as well as satisfaction.
Along with the Hermitage Hotel, Plum has partnerships with leading independent hotels and chains, like the Four Seasons, St. Regis, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Sheraton, Westin, Auberge, Gemstone Collection, Woodside and Rosewood flags.
To learn more, visit hotels.plum.wine.
About Plum
Plum reimagines every aspect of the wine-by-the-glass experience. The world's first appliance that can serve a glass of wine just as the winemaker intended, Plum allows hoteliers to satisfy the moments that inspire guests to enjoy a glass of wine in the hotel's room product. The company has partnerships with leading independent hotels and chains, like the Four Seasons, St. Regis, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Sheraton, Westin, Auberge, Gemstone Collection, Woodside and Rosewood flags. Plum delivers an unforgettable experience - and profits - in extraordinary style, one glass at a time. To learn more visit www.plum.wine.
About The Hermitage Hotel
Opened in 1910, The Hermitage Hotel has been woven into the history and memories of Nashville and her residents for over 100 years. In keeping with a deep respect for Nashville and the state of Tennessee, The Hermitage Hotel is committed to preserving the regions heritage by putting into practice the traditions that make hospitality synonymous with The South. This commitment extends to protecting the states historic and scenic landscapes through a relationship with The Land Trust for Tennessee. This relationship began in 2008 when a program was created in which guests may donate $3.00 for every night they stay in the hotel. To date, guests have donated close to $750,000. The relationship was expanded in 2010 when the Trust graciously allowed the Capitol Grille to create a substantial period garden using sustainable practices on the property at Glen Leven. Glen Leven is a historic 66-acre farm located just 5 miles from The Hermitage Hotel and owned by the Land Trust for Tennessee. The Hermitage Hotel is the only Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond hotel in Tennessee and five contiguous states. For more information, visit https://www.thehermitagehotel.com.
Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe
2021 Hotel News Resource
PARIS -- "[T]he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities." That's the bottom line of special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to a summary released over the weekend by U.S. Attorney General William Barr .
What exactly are these alleged Russian interference activities? Barr mentioned only two in his summary.
The first consisted of a bunch of internet trolls in Russia allegedly creating advertisements and graphics for consumption on social media, characterized by Barr as "designed to sow social discord, eventually with the aim of interfering with the election." The second involves Russian hackers allegedly hacking into Democratic National Committee computers and disseminating internal communications that laid bare the backstabbing within the Democratic Party, including how DNC members conspired against Hillary Clinton's rival in the Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders.
Mueller had previously charged a bunch of Russians for these alleged activities, from online trolls to military intelligence officers. But let's face it: It's unlikely that any of these accused Russians will ever set foot inside an American courtroom. Therefore, any evidence upon which allegations of Russian election interference are based will never be tested. This is critical, particularly in the cyber world, since leaked CIA documents have revealed that intelligence agencies can spoof the origin of an attack to make it look like it came from a different country than the one that actually perpetrated it.
So, at the end of the Mueller investigation, we have some unprovable online hacking as the basis for allegations of electoral interference (attributed to the Russian government anyway), coupled with the inability to link President Donald Trump to its coordination.
When the alleged interference could feasibly have originated in any nation-state with an intelligence agency, perhaps the investigation never should have been launched in the first place. Unless, of course, one believes that a handful of Russian trolls who were churning out laughable ads for Facebook and Instagram actually managed to convince anyone of anything they didn't already believe --let alone that they managed to swing an election in a country of nearly 330 million people.
What if America has been dragged through this entire drama, bombarded with "Russia, Russia, Russia" for the past few years, only to learn that any collusion lay elsewhere -- but that it fell outside of Mueller's principal (and relatively narrow) "Russian collusion" investigative mission?
There's an interesting line in Barr's summary: "During the course of his investigation, the Special Counsel also referred several matters to other offices for further action."
Mueller's original mandate, according to Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, was to investigate "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump," but also "any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation."
It's likely that matters falling outside the sphere of direct contact between the Trump campaign and members of the Russian government were farmed out by Mueller to the offices of other prosecutors, and that these cases could involve coordination with representatives of foreign governments other than Russia.
Heavily redacted documents from some of Mueller's court filings suggest that there are other cases involving foreign entities to which we aren't yet privy. Documentation regarding the foreign lobbying efforts of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and information about meetings that took place at Trump Tower involving Trump campaign members and representatives of foreign nations could fit within this category. There's also evidence of a meeting at Trump Tower in December 2016 between Flynn and the leader of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has hardly made a secret of his interest in shaping the Middle East in favor of allies Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to the detriment of Iran.
Consider some of Trump's decisions and policies since taking office: hostility toward Iran, recognition of Israel's claim on the Golan Heights, moving the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and brushing off the bone-sawing of a member of the U.S. media inside a Saudi consulate in Turkey while the CIA pins responsibility on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Does this look like Russian collusion to you? Or does it seem as if the real foreign influence could lie elsewhere?
After two years and some 2,800 subpoenas, all we've gotten from gatekeeper Barr about the Mueller report is a declaration akin to telling us the earth isn't flat: Trump didn't work with Russian President Vladimir Putin to win the 2016 election.
However, there's a good chance Mueller stumbled onto more interesting, non-Russian influence that has yet to be fully revealed.
( Rachel Marsden is a columnist, political strategist and former Fox News host based in Paris. She is the host of the syndicated talk show "UNREDACTED with Rachel Marsden" Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Eastern: http://www.unredactedshow.com. Her website can be found at www.rachelmarsden.com.)
(c) 2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Just hours after announcing his retirement from the UFC, Conor McGregor is being hit with some pretty heavy allegations. According to a report from the New York Times, McGregor is being investigated by Irish police for an alleged sexual assault that took place back in December. In the report, it states that a woman had accused Conor of the crime and that he was arrested for it in January. The UFC fighter was questioned about the alleged incident and then let go pending a more thorough investigation. McGregor was never charged with any crimes despite the arrest, although this is fairly standard in Ireland. No allegations have been proven at this time.
According to the alleged victim, the incident occurred at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin where McGregor is sometimes a guest. Initially, Mcgregor's name was left out of all initial reports, as Irish law states that those charged with rape cannot be named in the media. However, since McGregor hasn't been charged, his name finally got out.
McGregor has yet to comment on the allegations. Be sure to stay tuned for any updates on this situation as we will be sure to provide them.
In the meantime, check out our list of some of McGregor's best fights.
On the same day that Conor McGregorannounced his retirement from mixed martial arts, The New York Times published a report detailing how the 30-year old superstar is being investigated in Ireland for an alleged sexual assault.
According to the report, a woman in Ireland accused McGregor of sexual assault back in December, which led to an arrest in January. He was questioned by authorities at that time, but later released.
McGregor has not been charged with any sort of crime, and his camp has labeled the report as nothing more than a "rumor."
https://twitter.com/_/status/1110610539196096512
According to ESPN's Ariel Helwani, a spokesperson for McGregor, Karen Kessler, relayed the following response:
"This story has been circulating for some time and it is unclear why it is being reported now. The assumption that the Conor retirement announcement today is related to this rumor is absolutely false. Should Conor fight in the future it must be in an environment where fighters are respected for their value, their skill, their hard work and their dedication to the sport"
Check out some of McGregor's most memorable UFC fights here.
https://twitter.com/_/status/1110624568392208391
Local media in Ireland have been covering the situation for months, though they haven't specifically named McGregor as the suspect due to laws that prevent media outlets from naming rape suspects unless they have been convicted.
The accuser, a woman in her 20s, claims she had been hanging with friends in South Dublin before she allegedly ended up at the Beacon Hotel with McGregor on December 10.
There was no way for Dr. Dre to know that a simple joke on Instagram would turn into so much criticism. Just days ago, the iconic rapper shared a photo of himself with his daughter, Truly Young, holding her acceptance letter from the University of Southern California (USC) with the caption, "My daughter got accepted into USC all on her own. No jail time!!!" Although the words were jabs at the recent arrests of fellow Hollywood heavyweights Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, fans put him through it after reminding him that he isn't that far removed from a scandal himself.
In 2013, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine created the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology, and the Business of Innovation and donated $70 million to the prestigious university. Also, a social media update Truly posted last year surfaced where she wrote that her father was "pushing" her to attend USC. After the backlash, Dre deleted his post.
TMZ caught up with comedian D. L. Hughley to get his thoughts on the controversy surrounding Dre. "That's what a parent is...pushing your children to do things that you believe are better for them," Hughley said. "USC is one of the finest schools in the land and it's nothing like the college cheating scandal."
"He didn't pay anybody to take his daughter's test," Hughley continued. "He gave $70 million. If you give $70 million to a school, your kids kids should be able to go there. Anybody named Dr. Pepper should be able to go there," he joked. "My daughter got into USC. I told her to work hard, to study hard...she got into Smith and USC. Who knew all I had to do was lie and bribe people? He should be proud."
After years of teasing the eventual arrival of his biggest project to date, Donald Trump is finally able to build his southern border wall. The topic was one of the main points that led to his election as the President of the United States, promising to make America "great" and "safe" again. The POTUS famously said the following words during his campaign:
"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
David McNew/Getty Images
Although, according to Trump, some Mexicans are good people, he has made it his personal mission to keep America as an exclusive territory, limiting immigration laws and building a literal wall to prevent those "rapists" from coming in. As reported by CNN, the Pentagon has just announced that they've authorized the $1 billion price tag for Trump's southern border wall, approving the immediate construction of it. The billion dollars will be used to fund 57 miles of fencing, road improvements, and other measures on the southern border.
Last month, a national emergency was declared in order to collect as much money as possible to fund the border wall. It appears as though Trump's plan worked out because, now, the wall is finally coming.
The $1 billion is reportedly a starting point as the Pentagon will make a further $1.5 billion available at a future time. Are you for or against the wall?
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Not everyone is boycotting Gucci after the brand released a blackface turtleneck mask. Future, who famously bragged about how he "f*cked your b*tch in some Gucci flip flops," revealed that he isn't following the footsteps of 50 Cent, T.I., and Soulja Boy in boycotting the brand. The rapper explained to Streetz 94.5 that he has spent too much hard-earned money on their clothing to stop wearing it altogether.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BthBndcARv4
"Man, I bought Gucci before it got canceled so I'm still gon' wear it because that's my money," he said. "If you wanna give my money back then we can talk, because I'm a businessman. So, you can buy my clothes back if you want me to not wear it, but you can't tell me --because I don't feel like they did it out of ill intentions, but it ain't for me to judge, you know what I'm saying?"
He added, "Y'all haven't had no conversation with the designer. Y'all don't know nothing about the background of the designer."
Gucci's creative director addressed the controversy in an internal memo following the backlash. Alessandro Michele explained that the turtleneck mask's design was meant to pay homage to Australian fashion designer Leigh Bowery.
While Future says he won't be boycotting Gucci, his Super Slimey partner-in-crime, Young Thug, was recently seen sporting the controversial piece. Suffice to say, it's going to take much more than a controversial mask for either one of them to rid their closet of their Gucci clothes.
In a surprising twist, Jussie Smollett's criminal charges have officially been dropped. According to TMZ, the Empire actor and his legal representatives will be addressing the media within the next hour.
The entertainer and his lawyers arrived in court this morning for a hearing regarding his sixteen criminal charges of lying to the police about an allegedly staged attack. With this new development, it would appear as though Jussie may not have been untruthful or, at least, that's what it looks like.
Chicago Police Department via Getty Images
In a statement, Smollett's lawyers said, "Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him. Jussie was attacked by 2 people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public, causing an inappropriate rush to judgment."
They continued, "Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions. This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result."
The FBI reportedly did not conclude who wrote the threatening letter that was received at the Empire office. Also, there was a lack of evidence regarding the check that was provided to the Osundairo brothers.
Jussie will reportedly need to surrender his $10K bond and the case will be finished.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Kanye West and song publisher EMI are still sorting out the details surrounding their cases against each other. Earlier in the year, Kanye sued the company for ownership of his catalog claiming that his contract should have ended in 2010, citing an unfair deal. EMI countersued saying Kanye was trying to get out of his contract unrightfully.
The Blast now reports that Kanye is trying to settle the case in private, asking for a 60-day extension to deal with the matters without media attention. Both parties do not want to proceed with the lawsuit because they wish to explore the potential for a resolution of this action, and believe a stay would benefit the parties and the Court by enabling the parties to engage in meaningful discussions in an attempt to resolve this action without having to incur the burden and expense of litigation and motion practice.
Rachel Murray/Getty Images
When Kanye first sued EMI he detailed how he should be released from the deal because he's under a personal services contract lasting more than seven years, which amounts to servitude. The move is something that may have worked in the West Coast, but EMI is running under New York's law and they don't pay with a "7-year rule."
Us is already another commercial and critical success for Jordan Peele. Theatres across North America were packed during the film's opening weekend including the Americana in Glendale, CA. Kid Cudi rented out the theatre and sent an open invite to his fans in the area to check out Jordan Peele's latest flick with him.
Even if you're not into horror flicks, watching Us with Kid Cudi is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Cudi sent out an invite an hour before showtime to fans who wanted to peep the film. The rapper told fans to pull up and bring a physical copy of one of his albums or some merch in order to obtain a single adult ticket.
https://twitter.com/_/status/1110036866189783040
The rapper was quickly met with a mob of fans who were clearly geeking out and asking for pictures and hugs. Cudi later shared footage of himself in the theatre with the fans.
https://twitter.com/_/status/1110103275192213504
https://twitter.com/_/status/1110061495100923905
"We about to watch this movie," he said before the crowd erupted into a cheer. "Yeah, Jordan. Yes, let's get it, baby. Let's go."
https://twitter.com/_/status/1110096975532195840
Clearly, Kid Cudi is a massive fan of the film. After watching the film on opening night, Kid Cudi took to Twitter to praise Peele and the film's cast.
"Go see Us. Im tellin u," he wrote. "Well done! The great one does it again @ JordanPeele!! MUST see multiple times in theaters # UsMovie total mind fuck arghhhhh Please go see this movie! Congrats to the whole cast!"
https://twitter.com/_/status/1108966857313181696
The celebration of Meek Mill continues as the rapper gets yet another honor, this time in Atlanta. The rapper has taken on a personal task of lending his voice and resources to the fight for criminal justice and prison reform, and these efforts have gained him recognition across the country. His hometown of Philadelphia recently honored him with his own "Meek Mill Weekend," Houston gave him his own day, and just last weekend Connecticut gave the rapper his own day and key to the city.
The ATL's City Council President Felicia A. Moore and Councilman Cleta Winslow followed suit and publicly declared today, March 25, 2019, Meek Mill Day. He was also bestowed Atlanta's highest honor, the Phoenix Award which is "issued to individuals who have made significant contributions to the local community, and are celebrating a major milestone.
Meek has steadily been vocal when it comes to social justice issues and created REFORM Alliance with Jay Z, businessman Michael Rubin, Van Jones, Robert Kraft, and many others. The focus of the organization is to combat against outdated laws and policies throughout the justice system in order to create a more balanced institution that benefits all.
"The mission of the REFORM Alliance is to dramatically reduce the number of people who are unjustly under the control of the criminal justice system starting with probation and parole," the REFORM website states. "To win, we will leverage our considerable resources to change laws, policies, hearts and minds."
R. Kelly is currently fighting for his innocence which appears to be an upward battle. Over the weekend, his girlfriend and alleged sex slave, Azriel Clary, was set to meet with her family for the first time in years but those plans fell through. Many believed Kelly intervened and canceled the meeting with his lawyer is denying those rumors.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Steve Greenberg, Kelly's lawyer, told TMZ that Clary's plan to finally meet with her parents weren't canceled because of R. Kelly. Greenberg said that the plans failed after she insisted on switching the location for the meeting at the last minute. She reportedly wanted to meet with her family at the Trump Tower Chicago in a conference room on the hotel side of the building. Greenberg said Clary suggested the location switch to the Trump Tower in order to have some sort of control over the massive amount of media she believed her parents would bring along with them for the meeting. She said she wanted control over who would be able to access the building.
The previous meeting point was at a hotel a block away from the Trump Tower. Greenberg said she made the switch a day ahead of when the initial meeting was supposed to go down. Greenberg shut down claims that Kelly was responsible for the botched plans.
Greenberg said that the family canceled the meeting once she said she wanted to change locations. Kelly was not going to be at the meeting.
The lawyer for Clary's family, Michael Avenatti, who was arrested today on extortion charges today, shared a statement about the canceled meeting.
"On Friday, R Kellys camp tried to abruptly change the terms of the meeting at which time my clients and I decided not to participate because the terms were not acceptable. We are now attempting to reschedule the meeting on agreeable terms so my clients can see their daughter."
About eight years ago we started to place a pretty significant emphasis on early childhood education and the recognition that learning begins at birth, she said, adding the focus today is more on prevention than intervention. Now the whole community is getting on board with and recognizing that it is too late if you start in middle school and high school.
We haven't heard much about Tone Loc since he collapsed onstage during a concert in Des Moines, Iowa back in 2013, but the legendary "Wild Thing" rapper reportedly had a recent run-in with the law. According to reports, Tone Loc, real name Anthony Terrell Smith, got into an argument at Midland International Air & Space airport in Texas with a white couple.
Witnesses say that Smith became irritable after he spotted a teenager wearing a hat decorated with the Confederate flag. The teen was reportedly with two adults, a male and a female, and Smith asked them, "How are you going to wear that hat in front of a black man?" The parents snapped back to Smith, telling him that the child was a minor and it was none of his business what the teen wore. Smith responded by apologizing for how he delivered his initial statement, but he reiterated that he didn't think the hat was appropriate attire.
Even with apologies given, the argument went on and continued as they all made their way outside of the airport. The situation escalated and the three adults were yelling at each other. "You ain't nobody!" the woman repeatedly screamed at Smith. In a video of the incident, Smith is seen outside pointing in the face of the father saying, "You need to watch your son!" as the father replies, "He can wear whatever he wants!"
There was some pushing a shoving of Smith before he told someone to "get up off me." As Smith and the man continued to argue with the woman in the background yelling, "This is America, freedom of speech! Freedom of religion!" two police offers exited the airport, walked directly up to Smith, and immediately handcuffed him. "Oh, but you're gonna let him go?" Smith asked.
The rapper was later released as neither party wanted to press charges.
Internet service can sometimes be spotty here on Earth. Just imagine checking email from the moon or searching Google from Mars.
A Houston satellite and artificial intelligence company wants to make that possible through an interplanetary internet that someday could connect Earth to mining companies on the moon and human colonies on Mars and other planets. It ultimately would require a network of satellites stretching for hundreds of millions of miles and technology compensating for the movement of planets to prevent the interruption of data streaming at the speed of light.
But youve got to start somewhere.
I fundamentally believe that we will be an interplanetary species," Ben Lamm, chief executive of the parent company of Hypergiant Galactic Systems, the Houston firm aiming to build out the worlds-wide-web. We need to start building the core infrastructure for the interplanetary internet now."
On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston startup announces hotel for the final frontier
Hypergiant Galactic, a subsidiary of Hypergiant Industries of Austin, is launching its effort as NASA talks about returning to the moon and sending humans to Mars. Hypergiant Galactic expects to begin building the outer-space internet next year by launching a series of small satellites that would be positioned at different points in space to create a network to relay signals from Earth until reaching the end destination, such as the moon, another planet or a space ship. (Kirk to Enterprise?)
30 million pages
Phase one, which includes connecting Earth to the moon and Mars over the next decade, would cost tens of millions of dollars, according to Hypergiant. Once the project moves beyond Mars, costs vault into the hundreds of millions.
The satellites also would store a 30-million page archive of human knowledge that will act as a scaled-down version of the internet so, for example, colonists on Mars could access it quickly, without having to wait long periods for pages to load as signals move from Mars to Earth and back. The archive would be updated frequently, and ultimately built out into a more robust subset of the internet.
The archive also aims to preserve and protect the legacy of the human race by placing it in off-world storage should cataclysm strike the planet. The archive, assembled by the nonprofit Arch Mission Foundation and stored on long-lasting metal disks as a backup to the version that can be updated from Earth, includes everything from Wikipedia to the Harry Potter series to the worlds many languages and mathematical equations.
MISSION MOON: How 50 years of space exploration defined Houston
We need to have all of our important knowledge, and also all of our important DNA for every species, backed up in multiple locations, said Nova Spivack, co-founder of the Arch Mission Foundation, which is partnering with Hypergiant Galactic on the project.
Hypergiant Industries is an artificial intelligence company that launched in February 2018, backed by a group of investors. The company and its subsidiaries, which together employ about 130 people, develop and implement artificial intelligence for Fortune 500 companies, using technologies such as computer vision, in which computers gain understanding from digital images, and machine perception, which mimics how humans use senses to interpret the world around them.
The company also funds emerging technologies.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Hypergiant deal boosts AI in Space City
In February, Hypergiant announced its acquisition of Satellite & Extraterrestrial Operations & Procedures, a Houston company that deploys satellites. The deal allowed the company to form its Hypergiant Galactic Systems division, which has a broader focus on data collection and artificial intelligence than just the interplanetary internet.
Serious about space
The work of Hypergiant Galactic Systems and Arch Mission Foundation will rely on a protocol designed to address challenges of an interplanetary internet. It was developed by academics, NASA scientists and Vint Cerf, a father of the earthbound internet and vice president at Google.
They started working on the problem of delay/disruption tolerant networking, known as DTN, in 1998, creating the Bundle Protocol as a solution. It is able to handle delays created by vast and varying distances caused by orbital dynamics, and to route internet traffic through the ever-changing relationships among the sun, planets and moons.
Cerf said the interplanetary internet began forming during the throes of this massive growth and visibility of the internet on Earth. So the team started examining communications for space exploration.
On HoustonChronicle.com: These balloon rides will be (nearly) out of this world
We could see that if we were serious about deep space exploration, manned or robotic, then over time wed have an increasing number of spacecraft in need of communication, said Cerf, who is also a visiting scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Wed need to have something richer than a point-to-point radio link.
He said this new internet technology is already used on the International Space Station for astronauts to send messages to Earth and to support laboratory experiments. And NASA plans for future spacecraft to be outfitted with the Bundle Protocol and other complementary technologies.
Hypergiant Galactic Systems would use lasers to transmit data, providing higher bandwidth and allowing larger file transfers than conventional radio-frequency communication systems. Artificial intelligence software would help guide satellites to send the signals autonomously, finding the most efficient route without human oversight.
Still about speed
And while the interplanetary internet could access the Earths internet, lasers carrying the data can only go as fast as the speed of light. This could cause extensive delays, an hour or more in some cases, just to pull up a single website. Thats why subsets of the internet would be stored on the satellites positioned near people surfing the web from space to speed up access.
SPACE JUNK: Sign up for our newsletter for Mission Moon updates and space news
Hypergiant Galactic Systems expects its initial customers to be governments and science missions. But as space mining, manufacturing and colonization get underway, the company expects many more users who will desire faster speeds from the interplanetary internet.
After all, what Martian transplant could resist posting pictures to Instagram (or the future equivalent Astrogram? Universebook?) to brag about their luxury colony living?
andrea.leinfelder@chron.com
twitter.com/andrearumbaugh
Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, retaliatory measures by trading partners and uncertainty about U.S. trade policy could hit manufacturers in Houston and Texas harder than in other parts of the country, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
The Dallas Fed, in two reports released Monday, noted that local manufacturers, as well as the state and local economies, are deeply tied to global markets. Texas accounts for 19 percent of U.S. exports the biggest share among states and manufactured goods represent about 80 percent of Texas exports. That means the state is disproportionately affected by tariffs and the yet-to-be ratified revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement, now called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Tariffs may benefit some industries, said Jesus Canas, a senior business economist at the Dallas Federal Reserve, but in the case of Texas, its not benefiting us at all.
Texas manufacturing has continued to show moderate signs of growth in recent months, including a solid February in which manufacturers added 17,100 jobs from a year earlier, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. But other measures show a darkened outlook.
Texas exports dropped 7.5 percent in December 2018, the largest month-to-month drop since February 2011, according to export data from the Dallas Fed. It was the same month that oil prices reached a year low, to $42.53 a barrel. But Canas also attributed the decline to the impact of trade polices and increasing manufacturing competition by countries such as Japan and Korea.
More jobs: Houston sees strong job creation in February even as signs point to slower growth
Tariffs on Texas
In his analysis, Canas wrote that the future of Texas manufacturing exports hinges on trade policy. Tariffs on steel and aluminum that were imposed last March "directly disrupt" Texas manufacturing since many import specialty steel from foreign suppliers, particularly companies that make pipe and equipment for the energy industry, economists say. Shifting trade and tariff regulations threaten to increase costs for many of Texas leading export sectors, such as petroleum and chemicals.
Since economic data is delayed, Canas believes economists may not be seeing the full effect of the tariffs yet. But businesses are feeling it, some say.
Paul Nathanson, the executive director at the Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users, an industry group opposed to the steel tariffs, said the general feeling among companies was the robust business of 2018 is starting to wane as steel tariffs and tight labor markets squeeze the firms. Business costs are rising; better than one in four manufacturers told the Dallas Fed that they are paying more for labor, materials and other needs in March.
Were starting to see some signs of slowing, Nathanson said. Theres a shortage of skilled workers. The last thing manufacturers want to do is lay people off.
Texas companies are trying to get around the tariffs. More requests for waivers from steel tariffs have come from Texas than any other state, accounting for about one in every five requests. The Houston area accounted for 90 percent of the states requests.
Pass through
While manufacturing output growth continued at about the same pace as last month, the growth rate of new manufacturing orders turned negative for the first time since December 2016, according to a monthly survey of manufacturing business executives by the Dallas Fed. If that trend continues, companies may consider cutting staff or increasing prices, Canas said.
Perceptions of business conditions were less optimistic in the Dallas Fed survey in March than in February, but remained positive overall.
The bottom line is that inefficiencies and cost increases will become higher prices for us, (the consumers), Canas said. Companies find a way.
erin.douglas@chron.com
Twitter.com/erinmdouglas23
The Deer Park petrochemical blaze prompted school closures, shelter-in-place orders, spikes in benzene levels and ship channel closures. It also cast a shadow over a petrochemical sector that has struggled to counter negative stereotypes that present the industry as dirty and dangerous.
Petrochemical professionals, in interviews at two industry conferences in San Antonio last week, said that major incidents like fire at Intercontinental Terminals Co. undermines much of the work that companies have done to reshape the image of their industry by emphasizing its culture of safety and environmental responsibility, as well as its role as an economic engine that attracts billions of dollars in investment, generates tens of thousands of jobs and provides the materials that make modern life possible.
But one disaster, industry professionals acknowledged, can bruise the entire industrys reputation, potentially sparking public blowback, new regulations or increased scrutiny at a time when the industry is in the middle of boom. The Deer Park fire started March 17, damaging 11 storage tanks in a blaze that burned for days. Although there were no injuries, elevated benzene readings around the plant Thursday forced shelter-in-place orders and school closures, while toxic runoff from the site closed a seven mile seven-mile stretch of the Houston Ship Channel for three days before it was partially reopened Monday afternoon.
I think any time there is an incident of this magnitude, its a blemish for the industry, said Rachel Meidl, an energy and environment fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute.
Dark cloud over industry
Beyond the Deer Park fire, the issue of image has become growing concern not only for petrochemical companies but also for the broader energy industry as a new generation of workers want to work for companies perceived as having strong corporate responsibility and environmental records. Only 9 percent of college graduates surveyed said they want to work for energy companies, according to he global consulting firm Accenture Strategy.
Refining and petrochemical industry executives from Chevron, Motiva Enterprises, Valero Corp., Exxon Mobil and Chevron Phillips Chemical spoke at the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers conference in San Antonio last week about the need to reshape the narrative about their industries and counter the demonization of fossil fuels and the chemicals made from them, including plastics.
We know what we do is good. Were just miserable at communicating it to anyone else, said Joe Gorder, CEO of Valero Energy Corp. And were communicating it now better than we have.
ECONOMIC TOLL: Houston Ship Channel closure could cost energy industry $1 billon
But disasters such as the Deer Park fire or the Arkema plant explosion in Crosby after Hurricane Harvey or the Deepwater Horizon tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico make it all the more difficult to improve the energy industrys image. Even in Houston, where petrochemical companies are major employers and residents tend to be more sympathetic, major disruptive accidents still stoke worry, fear and negative attitudes about the industry, analysts said.
This is a well-educated community (familiar with the oil and gas industry) but it doesnt mean they arent going to have concerns,said Pedro Caruso, global downstream lead at the consulting, research and strategy firm Accenture. The industry still has room for improvement in how to build trust with a society that has lost trust in them to an extent.
Research suggests that overall public trust in the petrochemical industry and the government agencies that regulate them already is low, said Meidl of Rice University.
Meidl has spent her career working as a hazardous materials safety management administrator for the federal government and working on policy for chemical industrys trade group, the American Chemistry Council. Regardless of whether individual companies have compiled strong safety and environmental records, well-publicized accidents, spills and other problems damage these companies are painted with the same broad brush Meidl said.
It does raise the scrutiny for everybody and its difficult for the industry to regain public trust, she said. But I think there is so much to be said for transparency and being honest about what you know, what you dont know, all of that enables companies to achieve social legitimacy and public trust.
Improving safety record
Talk to anyone in the petrochemical industry and theyll tell you safety is their license to operate. Workers start their shifts every day with safety meetings; every site has an active emergency response plan; and larger facilities have emergency personnel including professional fire and medical response personnel on site at all times.
In 2017, the incidence rate for non-fatal injuries in the petrochemical sector was less than one per 100 workers, about four times lower than the overall manufacturing industry, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Overall, the American Chemistry Council said chemical companies have reduced the number of safety incidents that result in product spills, fires, explosions or injuries by 60 percent since 1995.
At the end of the day these companies measure their success by going 24 hours with no accidents, Michael Kehs, managing director of the energy and industrial practice at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a global public relations consulting firm. The important thing to remember is that in this industry, safety standards, requirements from the government and regulatory agencies - they are all stringent and extraordinarily protective given the vast majority of these volatile compounds that are handled safely every day.
In the wake of the ITC disaster, Kehs suggested that other petrochemical companies in the area should double down on engaging with public officials, first responders, community members and even critics to and to share their best practices theyve implemented and any learnings (from the ITC fire).
PLANNING AHEAD: Deer Park fire underscores why good companies plan for disasters
The ITC fire in Deer Park will undoubtedly spur other companies too look inward at their own safety processes, petrochemical industry professionals said, especially once the results of a federal investigation into the fires causes are released, analysts and petrochemical professionals said. Both the American Chemistry Council and the state trade group Texas Chemistry Council said they would review the findings of federal investigators to see if there are broader lessons for the rest of the industry.
Emissions still widespread
Environmentalists, however, say the public still has reason for skepticism. Major incidents may be rare, but according to a 2016 Houston Chronicle investigation, a chemical accident, spill or unauthorized release happened about every six weeks in the Houston area. While emissions of the carcinogenic chemical benzene associated with the Deer Park fire raised alarms in recent days, just 10 Texas chemical plants, storage terminals and other energy facilities poured 47,200 pounds of benzene beyond what their permits allowed in 2017, according to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality data.
POLLUTION:Houston ranks second in Texas for most unauthorized pollution
In 2017, unauthorized emissions from industrial facilities, including and gas and chemical operations, grew by 27 percent to 63 million pounds of illegal air pollution, according to state data analyzed by the advocacy group Environment Texas. But despite the increased emissions, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality only fined companies 2 cents per every pound of air pollution emissions, Environment Texas found.
That creates a culture where companies will avoid taking measures to prevent pollution and major accidents because its just cheaper to pay the fines if there are any fines at all, Metzger said. The truth is that most of these accidents are preventable or controllable if the companies made the investments in better equipment and training. Unfortunately the state, environmental agencies and the EPA arent creating regulatory regimes that forces that force companies to put health and safety ahead of profit.
This story has been updated to correct the name of Intercontinental Terminals Co.
marissa.luck@chron.com
twitter.com/marissaluck7
A dayslong chemical fire in Deer Park did more than endanger the health of residents and pollute the environment. It potentially cost the regions oil and gas and petrochemical sectors $1 billion in lost revenues and added expenses as it shut down one of the nations busiest waterways and cut off Houston companies from markets and suppliers, according to estimates.
For three days, nearly half of the 52-mile Houston Ship Channel was cut off from the Gulf Coast and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, the result of contaminated runoff from the Intercontinental Terminals Co., where fire ripped through the storage facility, damaging 11 tanks holding chemicals such as naphtha and xylene, both used in gasoline, and toluene, a solvent used in nail polish remover, glues and paint thinners. Some vessels were permitted Monday morning to move through the roughly seven-mile stretch that had been closed in the Houston Ship Channel since Friday. The channel was opened to daylight traffic at 2:21 p.m.
Maria Burns, director of the University of Houstons logistics and transportation program, estimated that closing the channel for a few days typically amounts to $500 million in the direct costs of delayed shipments and lost materials for thousands of companies. Indirect costs, such as rerouting shipments to other ports, add another $500 million.
The Houston Ship Channel is extremely efficient. Its the miracle of transportation, Burns said. When everything works perfectly, no one notices. But when theres a major accident, it ripples all over.
ITCs petrochemical storage facility caught fire on March 17 and burned for days. A black plume of smoke filled the air, shutting down schools and triggering orders for residents to remain in their homes. A breached containment wall would later release foam used to put out the fires and other contaminants into the Houston Ship Channel.
Cleanup progress
ITC officials said Monday that cleanup crews had removed about 1.3 million gallons, or nearly 31,000 barrels, of an oily mixture from the Houston Ship Channel and drained the remaining chemicals from five damaged ITC tanks. The were working to empty another three damaged tanks.
Related: Cleanup continues at ITC site
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality published preliminary test results of water samples taken last week, showing toxins exceeded safe concentrations around the ITC facility. The Galveston Bay Foundation is conducting its own water tests, detecting benzene, a chemical that can cause cancer, downstream nearly Lynchburg on Saturday.
Ships and barges use this waterway to carry products to and from refineries, petrochemical plants and other facilities that crowd the ship channel. On a typical day last year, activity included 42 tanker movements of liquid products, 19 freighter movements of dry goods and 391 vessel movements towing barges, according to data on the U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service Area that spans Houston, Galveston, Texas City and about 10 miles of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Movements include vessels entering the port, moving from one dock to another, or exiting the port.
Being unable to receive feedstock or ship products to markets led at least two companies to slow their production, according to reports. The news service Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported that the chemical maker LyondellBasell and the refinery of Royal Dutch Shell were forced to reduce output. The companies declined to comment on the status of their operations.
Facilities at the Port of Houston produce about 60 percent of the countrys aviation fuel and nearly 30 percent of its gasoline. Companies typically have storage terminals to hold their products in the event of weather, including fog and hurricanes, or other incidents that shut down navigation. Hurricane Harvey, for instance, closed the ship channel for five days in 2017.
Storage can give companies a cushion of a few days before they have to slow production, although they might elect to reduce their production sooner if they fear the shutdown could linger, said Jim Kruse, director of the Center for Ports and Waterways at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
Nobody wants to shut down because the cost of shutting down and starting back up again is horrible, Kruse said.
Other costs associated with a channel closure come from penalties for missing delivery dates to customers and from ships sitting idle. It costs tens of thousands of dollars a day to operate a ship.
To sit there and do nothing is rather expensive, Kruse said.
Standing by
As of Monday morning, 63 ships were doing just that: 31 waited for the closed portion of the ship channel to reopen so they could move into or past the affected area, 31 waited to leave the ship channel and one waited to move locations within the ship channel.
The first priority as the ship channel returns to normal will be to move ships from Houston docks and make room for new vessels.
The only limiting factors will be how much traffic the waterway can accommodate and how many ships the Houston Pilots can move. The pilot group, tasked with guiding vessels in and out of port, handles 56 to 57 vessels on an average day.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Deer Park fire underscores why good companies plan for disasters
In a matter of days, they should be able to clear it all out and get back to normal, Kruse said.
Several economists didnt expect a long-term effect on Houstons overall economy, though they agreed that some companies will feel a pinch.
Bill Gilmer, director for the Institute for Regional Forecasting at the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, said the main costs would come from delays.
Typically its something we recover from. Theres plenty of practice, right? Gilmer said. Every time a hurricane approaches, we close the businesses. We close the ship channel. Its an expensive process. Im sure theres a big number that goes with it. But the economic impact, I would guess, would be relatively minor.
Zach Despart contributed to this report.
andrea.leinfelder@chron.com
jordan.blum@chron.com
With Millennials now making up the majority of employees at Schlumberger, the company's CEO said the oilfield service giant is taking a new approach to management.
Speaking at the Scotia Howard Weil Annual Energy Conference in New Orleans, Paal Kibsgaard said Millennials now make up 55 percent of the company's global workforce.
Employing more than 100,000 people in 85 nations around the world, the figures mean that more than half of the company's employees are under 40 years old.
The demographic shift, Kibsgaard said, comes as the company is placing a greater emphasis on digital technology and modernizing its workflows and processes in the oilfield.
"For our people, our modernization program opens a broad range of new career opportunities spanning functions, technologies and geographies," Kibsgaard said. "We are also evolving our management approach to become more collaborative and team-based. This will directly appeal to our growing number of Millennial employees."
Outlook: Schlumberger expects North American oilfield investments down in 2019
Coupled with advances in oilfield technology, the demographic and management changes are expected to bring financial benefits to Schlumberger's customers and stockholders, Kibsgaard said.
"These transformational changes have already enabled us to lower the capital intensity of our business, removing a complete layer of our organizational structure, reduce our cost base and improving our operational agility," Kibsgaard said.
Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox
Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Paris, Schlumberger set up its U.S. headquarters in Houston. The company finished 2018 with a $2.2 billion profit on $32.8 billion of revenue.
I always go to Blacksmith (1018 Westheimer) for a flat white. Its my place, mostly because of the baristas. Theyve become like family.
For lunch, Ill go to Les Noodle (1717 Montrose) and grab a bowl of pho. My order is the pho with lean and fatty brisket, which is a good texture contrast. I love that they take care of the little fresh salad you get with it bean sprouts, cilantro, Thai basil and jalapeno. Add it all in.
I go to Kata Robata (3600 Kirby) all the time. I just ask Hori (chef/owner Manabu Horiuchi) to pick out eight pieces of sushi for me. After so many years of eating with him, he knows. I love the anago he does with sea salt and yuzu.
Honestly, I go to Hugos (1600 Westheimer) a lot. They have fantastic bar service. Its really a great place to dine. I mostly stick to the left-hand side of the menu for the pulpo and beef cheeks. I always get one of their soups. They do a mariscos verde that is so aromatic. I love the raw ceviches and tiraditos.
Im at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market (2752 Buffalo Speedway) every single Saturday. While picking up all the things I need for the restaurant, its fun to grab a few little dumplings from Dumpling Haus.
Kristine (Nguyen) over at Nancys Hustle (2704 Polk) has been doing a fantastic job with cocktails. Ive been sitting in front of her for years, dating back to when she was at Bad News Bar. She makes a really fantastic Manhattan. Her drinks are very grounded in the classic.
As told to Greg Morago.
In the beginning, there was karaoke.
So goes one of Houstons more improbable barbecue-origin myths. Brothers Terry and Robin Wong owned Glitter Karaoke, a Midtown hangout where they started doing barbecue pop-up feasts with their friend Quy Hoang.
The trio grew up together in the diverse southwest Houston suburb of Alief, and their freewheeling, Asian-inflected barbecue ideas won a subculty following among food-and-beverage-industry types who ate, drank and sang at Glitter.
They called themselves the Blood Brothers. I first ran into them a few years back at the Houston Barbecue Festival, where they were doling out electrifying hunks of their smoked Thai green curry boudin. With its dusky vegetal overtones and a haunting sour tang that was very Thai in spirit, the soft, rice-laced sausage was unforgettable.
Now you can order it as a Friday special at Blood Bros. BBQ, their 15-week-old brick-and-mortar location in the same Bellaire Boulevard strip center that houses Bernies Burger Bus. Its a boon for this underserved neighborhood as well as for barbecue fans in general and the Bros. following in particular.
Here Hoang who can lay claim to the title of the citys first Vietnamese pitmaster has room to stretch his protein repertoire, and the trios rollicking ideas for sides and specials (brisket fried rice, anyone?) have a broader, steady stage.
Blood Bros. BBQ Two stars 5425 Bellaire; 713-664-7776 Hours: 11 a.m. until sold out Wednesdays-Sundays Credit cards: All major Prices: Sandwiches $8-$10; meats by the pound, $16-$24; sides $3 Must-orders: Hot links; pork ribs; smoked Gouda mac and cheese; 1836 beans; jalapeno cole slaw; pastrami tri-tip poboy special; smoked turkey banh mi special; Thai green curry boudin special; brisket fried rice; cucumber salad Reservations: First come, first served Noise level: moderate Parking: Ample in the strip-center lot Website: bloodbrosbbq.com STAR RATINGS Four stars: superlative; can hold its own on a national stage. Three stars: excellent; one of the best restaurants in the city. Two stars: very good; one of the best restaurants of its kind. One star: a good restaurant that we recommend. No stars: restaurant cannot be recommended. See More Collapse
On HoustonChronicle.com: Alison Cook finds destination-worthy dining in The Woodlands
In a long room accented with scarlet-orange walls and a street-art mural homage to Alief, diners who start queueing before the doors open at 11 a.m. line up along the cordoned-off right-hand side, passing a chalkboard sign that sets out some rules. No saving spots in line. If your friends are late, they wait. No holding tables.
I like seeing the barbecue-line etiquette laid out like that.
I also like the way this line moves along smartly, and the way theyll assemble a just-right tray for a party of three or four without having to be told precise by-the-pound weights, lest you end up paying for too much.
Youll have to ask if you want slices of white bread. And you should definitely ask for some of the Bros. new mustard sauce, with its tart tang. I vastly preferred it to the sauce found on the tables in big quart bottles, which employs liquid smoke to my mind, an unforced error.
But perhaps an understandable one. The hot-and-fast cooking style here is light on smoke, which means the unusual seasonings stand out more. I like it best in the neatly trimmed pork ribs, tender while retaining a pleasant al dente quality, with an elusive shimmer of what I guessed as five-spice powder on the finish. These may not be the brawly, barky, slightly uncouth ribs of my wildest carnivorous dreams, but they have charms of their own.
And oh, the sausage. Make that sausages: because the Blood Bros. really work out on this somewhat neglected front, in a city where brisket and ribs get much of the love. I crave the hot links with their serious pop of red pepper and mustards seeds, their snappy casings and not-quite-coarse, not-quite-fine grind. Every time I eat these links, I think of that great Calvin Trillin line, wherein he quoted his young daughter as saying, My tongue is smiling.
My tongue smiles a lot here. Partly thats because the Blood Bros. are not afraid to bring the heat, in everything from a mayonnaise-free jalapeno cabbage slaw to a jalapeno-and-cheese sausage that is, to my amusement and gratification, their version of a mild link. It makes a swell sandwich on a shiny yellow bun with a bit of that mustard sauce ribboned on.
Also in their repertoire as occasional specials are a no-kidding mac-and-cheese sausage and a Reuben link of beef, sauerkraut and Swiss. I am betting its good, based solely on my admiration for the Wednesday special of a meltingly tender tri-tip pastrami po-boy, the savory and faintly sweet meat sharpened with an exhilarating coarse-chopped sauerkraut. Its in a good baguette, too, which ties the realms of Chinatown Vietnamese bakeries and Cajun Louisiana together in a nice big Houston bow.
But what about the brisket? you are asking by now. Its good and well-sourced (Black Hill Meats and 44 Farms are respected regional producers), but its just not my style. I prefer a more forward smoky tone, and I like my fat rendered so that it loses its opacity and turns into an unctuous glisten. Here, the interior fat strip has stayed pretty much intact the two times Ive ordered brisket. I liked it, but I didnt love it.
Not the way I loved the fried rice studded with brisket debris and crunchy threads of bean sprout; or the blissfully sticky smoked Gouda mac and cheese; or the fresh, jumpy quality of a sliced cucumber salad dressed in tart-and-hot red chile vinegar.
I tucked some of those cucumber slices into a smoked turkey banh mi that needed a little extra oomph to highlight its fine basic elements: tender slices of bird that had not been overbrined; long spears of cucumber and jalapeno; sprigs of cilantro; and smears of garlic aioli and a lovely housemade pate.
The catch? This excellent Houston invention needs about double the pate and aioli for their full effects to kick in because of the basic austerity of the thick turkey slices. The sandwich is almost there. I wish theyd charge more for it and put it over the top. (Ill bet Sundays special, the pork belly banh mi, comes with more built-in slide and squish.)
On HoustonChronicle.com: Ronnie Killen is opening a restaurant inside the Loop
In the realm of sides, the 1836 pinto beans caused controversy among two different sets of my guinea pigs. Some felt the strong note of beer (its Buff Brews 1836 Copper Ale, named for Texas independence year) was too much; others felt the tinge of sweetness made the pintos verge too much toward a baked-bean vibe. Personally, I loved their swagger and individuality.
Speaking of beer: There will be a full beer, wine and cocktail license coming, perhaps in a matter of weeks. (But as Houstonians know too well, the TABC is not to be rushed.) That will put Blood Bros. on a level with Pinkertons, the first Houston barbecue spot to go the whole route, cocktails and all.
That will make the small counter and the capacious front covered patio even more fun to sit at. There is something just right about sitting at one of the handsome wooden picnic tables custom-made for out front, listening to vintage Elvis or Stones in the spring breeze and swapping barbecue stories.
Houstonians have more and more of those these days. And the Blood Bros. saga is still being written. These Chinese- and Vietnamese-American guys are passionate restaurantgoers and networkers and idea-swappers who have made first Alief, and then the entire vast sprawl of our city, their inspiration. I get the feeling their best is yet to come.
Alison Cook is the Chronicle's James Beard Award-winning restaurant critic. Follow her on Twitter, and keep up with Houston's latest dining and drinking news and reviews by subscribing to our free Flavor newsletter.
The unidentified 29-year-old man was experiencing a mental health crisis and not wearing a shirt when he was caught by Chicago Police in a restricted area near Terminal One, said Officer Carrie Costanzo. The temperature at the airport was in the 40s.
Complications once again forced a Boeing 737 Max 8 plane to make an emergency landing Tuesday this time, with no passengers on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes after two deadly crashes of the model in recent months.
FAQ: What does the Boeing 737 MAX grounding in the US mean for your next trip?
A Southwest 737 Max 8 plane was being relocated from Orlando to Victorville, Calif. (San Bernardino County) Tuesday when it had to loop back and make an emergency landing.
"Southwest 8701 operating as a ferry flight with no passengers onboard returned to Orlando International Airport just before 3pm EDT after pilots reported a performance issue with one of the engines shortly after takeoff. The crew followed protocol and safely landed back at the airport," said Chris Mainz, a spokesperson for the airline, in a statement.
The plane was scheduled to land in California at 5 p.m., where it was supposed to stored short-term at Southern California Logistics Airport. Instead, Mainz says it will be moved into a maintenance facility in Orlando "for a review."
TRAVEL PLANS: Booked on a Boeing 737 MAX jet? Here's what you can do
On March 10, 157 people were killed on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which crashed shortly after takeoff. In October, an Indonesian Lion Air flight also using the Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed into the Java Sea in October and killed 189 people. Investigators are studying similarities between the two crashes.
More than 40 countries around the world have grounded the planes until a fix is found.
Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at alix.martichoux@sfgate.com.
Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. The Border Patrol is taking the unusual step of shutting down its interior checkpoints across New Mexico and a swath of West Texas as officials scramble to respond to a surge in families requesting asylum along the Southwest border.
A spokesman for the Border Patrol said the temporary measure was intended to help provide appropriate care for migrants apprehended at the border. The closing of checkpoints not at the border, but up to 100 miles inland reflects the strain on border operations as the number of migrants entering the country, which in February reached an 11-year high, continues to climb.
Authorities closed checkpoints across the Border Patrols El Paso, Texas, sector, which includes 121,000 square miles in New Mexico and 4,500 square miles in Texas, in order to free more agents to work directly on the border.
To process and ensure appropriate care for those in custody, resources including personnel have been diverted from other border security priorities, Customs and Border Protection officials said in a statement on the closings, first reported by Texas Monthly. This is intended as a temporary measure. Checkpoints are integral to USBPs border security mission.
At some of the checkpoints on major highways, orange cones could be seen blocking off access to the roads, along which motorists normally are funneled to checkpoints for queries about citizenship status and visual inspection of vehicles.
Agents at the Border Patrol checkpoints arrest relatively few migrants in the country illegally, and most of those who are seeking asylum quickly surrender to authorities at the border. The agents at the checkpoints deal largely with seizures of marijuana and other drugs from motorists.
The checkpoints have emerged as a source of contention with human rights groups, which have contended that Border Patrol agents routinely ignore their legal authority during the traffic stops to search people without warrants. By law, agents must have probable cause to search the interior of a vehicle, though an alert from a drug-sniffing dog legitimately alerts to the presence of drugs, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The Border Patrol operates about 170 checkpoints throughout the country. Checkpoints outside the El Paso sector are thought to be operating normally.
The influx of asylum-seekers is placing stress on immigration officials, volunteer shelters and religious charities along much of the Southwest border, as they struggle to assist the migrants.
Border Patrol agents in El Paso said last week that they had apprehended more than 400 immigrants in the country illegally during a five-minute period. Most of them were unaccompanied youths or people traveling in family units, the agency said.
We do not have a way to care for the numbers who are coming, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said during a visit to South Texas this month. We dont have the facilities; we dont have the legal processes; we dont have the laws that enable us to quickly process their claims to protect them.
Immigrants recently released by federal authorities in South Texas overflowed a respite center run by Catholic Charities this month, bathing their babies in sinks and waiting in long lines for food, bus tickets and medical attention. The immigrants, most fleeing poverty and gang violence in Central America, described the conditions they faced in custody as cold and crowded.
It was freezing, Cecilio, a 31-year-old from Guatemala, said while sitting behind the respite center with his 7-year-old son. The Border Patrols processing centers, like the one in McAllen, Texas, where immigrants are housed temporarily after being apprehended, are known in the immigrant community as las hieleras, or iceboxes, because they are often kept so cold.
Authorities in most cases are supposed to hold immigrants for no longer than 72 hours, yet five immigrants last week interviewed by The New York Times said they were held longer than that. One of them, Cecilio, who asked to be referred to by only his first name, said he and his son were in custody for eight days.
President Donald Trump has pointed to the influx of migrants as evidence of a crisis justifying his call for building a wall on the border.
But elected officials in parts of the borderlands, including Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, say that the recent mass releases of migrants without plans for housing them amounts to a fabricated crisis aimed at mustering support for the administrations plans.
In any case, more migrant families are continuing to make their way toward the United States. A new caravan of about 1,200 migrants began moving toward the border over the weekend from southern Mexico.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times
WASHINGTON - During a briefing at the Justice Department about three weeks ago, special counsel Robert Mueller made a revelation that those supervising his work were not expecting, a person familiar with the matter said: He would not offer a conclusion on whether he believed President Donald Trump sought to obstruct justice.
The decision - which a Justice Department official on Monday said the special counsel's office came to "entirely" on its own - left a gap ripe for political exploitation.
After accepting Mueller's report, Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who were among those briefed March 5, made the call Mueller would not, determining that the evidence was insufficient to allege that Trump had obstructed justice. The decisive maneuver, outlined in a letter Barr sent to lawmakers this week, sparked allegations that the two Trump appointees had rushed to a judgment no one asked them to make, and it is likely to be a key battleground in the intensifying political fight over the conclusion of Mueller's work.
A day after Barr revealed the principal conclusions of Mueller's work - namely, that the special counsel did not establish any coordination between Trump and Russia on election interference, and found a mixed bag on the question of obstruction - Democrats attacked the attorney general and issued an April 2 deadline for him to turn over a copy of the report, while Republicans called for Trump to be given an apology.
Some current and former law enforcement officials, meanwhile, said privately that they were puzzled as to why Mueller concluded his work without a firm recommendation on obstruction. Trump, who had repeatedly derided the investigation as a "witch hunt," said Monday when asked whether Mueller had acted honorably: "Yes, he did."
Barr continued to scrub grand-jury material from Mueller's report so it might one day be turned over to lawmakers eager to read the special counsel's findings. A person familiar with the matter said there were no plans to turn over the document to the White House, which had not seen it as of Monday night. The person, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal White House and Justice Department matters.
White House officials are not automatically planning to ask for the report, according to two people familiar with the discussion, though it is possible that they would one day want to do so - mindful that the section on obstruction might include privileged discussions, such as Trump's communications with former White House counsel Donald McGahn. White House advisers believe it is possible that Barr will decide he needs to share a copy with the White House to seek input on privileged discussions.
On Monday, Trump told reporters that "it wouldn't bother me at all" if the Mueller report was released, but he said that decision would be up to the attorney general. He also suggested that those behind the investigation should be investigated for their own conduct.
"They've done so many evil things," the president said, without specifying whom he believed should be investigated. "It was a false narrative, it was a terrible thing. We can never let this happen to another president again. I can tell you that. I say it very strongly. Very few people I know could have handled it. We can never ever let this happen to another president again."
It was not immediately clear when Barr might be able to turn over the report - or some portions of it - to lawmakers and the public. After the Justice Department closed its investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state, it took about two months for substantive documents from that case to be released. But lawmakers began discussing plans Monday to have Barr testify on Capitol Hill.
The House Appropriations Committee has tentatively set a hearing for April 9 on the Justice Department budget, though other committees may seek to request his appearance before then.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who spoke to Barr on Monday, said the attorney general told him he would be "glad" to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss the special counsel's findings, but not before he could determine what should be redacted from the report. Graham, who leads the committee, said he urged Barr to release as much of the report as he can, "sooner rather than later."
Barr, Graham said, indicated that he would have to speak with Mueller first "because Mueller is the guy that does the grand jury stuff, because they're the ones that did the grand jury investigation."
"I hope it'd be much before months, and not longer than a few weeks," Graham said.
The best window into Mueller's probe that lawmakers and the public have so far is the four-page letter Barr released Sunday; it summarized the confidential report concluding Mueller's nearly two-year investigation.
On coordination, Barr indicated that Mueller wrote in his report, "The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities."
But on obstruction, Barr offered mixed sentiments. He wrote that Mueller "did not draw a conclusion - one way or the other - as to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction." Mueller's report itself said pointedly, "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him," according to Barr's account.
The attorney general, though, went further, writing that he and Rosenstein "concluded that the evidence developed during the Special Counsel's investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense."
"Our determination was made without regard to, and is not based on, the constitutional considerations that surround the indictment and criminal prosecution of a sitting president," Barr wrote.
In an interview with Fox News Radio, Trump's former personal lawyer John Dowd said it was "unprofessional" for Mueller not to have made a clear determination that Trump should not be prosecuted for obstruction of justice.
"Your job is to decide," he said, adding: "There was no evidence of obstruction here."
Democrats took a different tack. Before he became attorney general, Barr submitted to the Justice Department an 18-page memo highly critical of what he surmised was Mueller's theory for how the president obstructed justice. Barr has noted that he did so without inside knowledge of the probe, and he has asserted that the document was "narrow in scope."
But his critics have suggested his dim view of that aspect of Mueller's work might have helped land him the job as attorney general.
Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., said Monday that he thought it was "completely inappropriate" for Barr to have concluded that Trump did not obstruct justice, and that the attorney general was trying to "shape the narrative" unfairly.
"He doesn't make a conclusion, but he goes out of his way to say the president is not exonerated in this regard, and Mr. Barr in 48 hours turns that around and say, 'Oh no, I've looked at it. He's exonerated. He hasn't committed that offense,' " Cicilline said on CNN.
Since his appointment in May 2017 as special counsel, Mueller has wrestled with the question of whether Trump attempted to obstruct justice once the FBI began investigating those close to him. Current and former White House officials who were questioned by Mueller's investigators were repeatedly asked about how the president spoke about the inquiry behind closed doors, and whether he sought to replace senior Justice Department officials to stymie the investigation, according to people familiar with the interviews.
A person familiar with the matter said the obstruction case was always "the most difficult element" for Mueller's team because demonstrating a person's intent is one of the toughest assignments for federal prosecutors, and the person under scrutiny was the president of the United States. His actions, the person said, have far different legal meaning and repercussions because of his office and the constitutional protections and powers that come with it.
Barr wrote that Mueller "ultimately determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment" on the question of obstruction, and that his report "identifies no actions that, in our judgment, constitute obstructive conduct, had a nexus to a pending or contemplated proceeding, and were done with corrupt intent, each of which, under the Department's principles of federal prosecution guiding charging decisions, would need to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to establish an obstruction of justice offense."
Barr noted that many of the president's actions "took place in public view," and he wrote that the special counsel "recognized that 'the evidence does not establish that the President was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference.' " That factor, Barr wrote, "bears upon the President's intent with respect to obstruction."
The letter does not make clear whether Mueller asked Barr and Rosenstein to make a final determination on the question of obstruction, or whether he intended to leave that to another body, such as Congress.
Mueller concluded his work without interviewing Trump - who answered written questioning - or issuing a subpoena to compel his testimony. A person familiar with the matter said the special counsel's team discussed the subject extensively, with the office's top lawyers, including Michael Dreeben, James Quarles, Aaron Zebley and Mueller most engaged in the discussions.
Those talks focused on whether it was legally feasible, and what the potential costs of a subpoena might be to the overall investigation, the person said.
The special counsel team went back and forth with Trump's representatives, through multiple iterations of the president's legal team. They were hopeful, the person said, that Trump would meet voluntarily, but they were mindful that they could not explicitly threaten a subpoena unless they were prepared to issue one.
Over the course of his investigation, Mueller charged 34 people, including several Trump associates, and the vestiges of his work live on. Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia took over some ongoing cases, including the matter of a mystery foreign company which resisted a subpoena from Mueller's office and took its battle all the way to the Supreme Court.
Notably, the court said Monday it would not review a lower-court order requiring that corporation to comply with Mueller subpoena.
- - -
The Washington Post's Rachael Bade, Mike DeBonis, Seung Min Kim, Rosalind S. Helderman and Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report.
Smolletts attorney, Patricia Brown Holmes, said she was not privy to the evidence that led prosecutors to bring charges, but she accused police Superintendent Eddie Johnson of trying the case in the press. When asked if authorities should investigate who actually attacked Smollett, Holmes noted that two brothers both of whom knew Smollett had already admitted their involvement. They alleged that Smollett paid them to stage the attack.
Though 2017 was marked with the rumblings of the #MeToo movement and troubling accusations of sexual misconduct in Hollywood and beyond, nothing could prepare Anita Hill for 2018.
The attorney and Brandeis University professor, widely known for her 1991 congressional testimony against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, said Monday that last year she was taken aback by the reaction to Christine Blasey Fords testimony critical of-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. In congressional testimony, Ford alleged last September he had sexually assaulted her when the two were in high school.
I say that because we were really thinking we were making progress, said Hill, but Kavanaugh, like Thomas, was confirmed to the court.
I had no idea that we would be jolted back to the past that we felt we had grown beyond (that), she told a sold-out lecture at Rice Universitys Baker Institute.
Hill, who will appear Tuesday at University of Houston Law Center, called the Kavanaugh hearing a setback. But like her own experience, she said, there is still work to be done.
Progress is never linear, she said.
Hill walked into Rice with a standing ovation and applause from the 400 attendees. The crux of her lecture, organized by Rice's Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality and the Baker Institute, was that women and girls have the right to go to school and work free of abuse.
She discussed sexual harassment and abusive behavior that takes place in school and the workplace, stressing that it is an issue that impairs the safety of individuals, hurts the integrity of entire organizations, and perpetuates a power imbalance that allows such behavior to endure.
Hill remembered in 1991 when she offered testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, alleging that Thomas, once her supervisor at the U.S. Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexually harassed her by making unwanted advances and sexual comments.
I think there was a disagreement. I think I was right, said Hill, to which the crowd laughed and applauded.
But at the time, Hill received backlash for her testimony. Women polled at the time, she said, largely believed Clarence Thomas deserved to be in the Supreme Court, and many people couldnt comprehend the connection between the sexual harassment and behavior she was experiencing with the devaluing and feeling of inequality she felt.
Thats where we were in 1991. It was not seen as a civil rights issue I think weve moved from that, she said.
Hills nationally televised testimony inspired widespread discussion about sexual harassment, the lack of women in government and the lack of diversity in courtrooms.
We didnt have social media to share our stories, but ... what we did was share our stories for the first time with our families. and change minds of people we loved the most, said Hill, who credited women in the '70s, '80s and '90s, including Michelle Vinson, who came forward about sexual abuse from her employer, for making strides for survivors of sexual abuse in the workplace.
Without them, without those efforts, I dont believe we could have much of the advocacy going on in colleges nor we would have ... the #MeToo movement, Hill said.
Hill, who won this years Courage Award by PEN America, emphasized that theres more to be done.
Hill highlighted the importance of engaging the justice system, both public and private institutions, and more men as allies in the struggle to end sexual violence. She said that it must be recognized that a persons skin color, class, pay grade or sexual and gender identity can have an influence on whether they are believed.
We must identify what the problem is, and the problem is not that people are reporting harassment. The problem is that its happening, she said, emphasizing that egregious behavior should be eliminated before it escalates.
Some people who we fire will never return to their position of power, and thats OK, she added.
brittany.britto@chron.com
twitter.com/brittanybritto
The Crosby ISD board of trustees officially has called an end to the financial emergency that had the east Harris County district on the brink of insolvency and resulted in the loss of more than 150 jobs, including 34 teachers.
Trustees voted unanimously Monday evening to rescind the districts declaration of financial exigency, repealing a status that granted Crosby ISD officials some legal exemptions that allowed them to take drastic budget-related actions since October.
Superintendent Scott Davis, who uncovered the districts financial issues when he became the districts leader in July 2018, called the vote a watershed moment in the districts recovery.
It signals the end of our contemplation of reduction of force. Yet, what it says is the way were having to live now financially is good, its sustainable and its going to become probably the new normal, Davis said Tuesday.
Shortly after Davis and Chief Financial Officer Lesa Jones came to the 6,000-student district northeast of Houston in summer 2018, they discovered issues with the districts budget. It soon became clear the district was on the brink of financial ruin: its rainy day unreserved fund balance sat at negative $200,000; the district for several years had been spending millions more than it was bringing in; the previous administration had dipped into a construction fund to pay teachers; and there were questionable expenditures made in the districts $86.5 million bond program passed by voters in 2013.
In the following months, Davis administration also would have to use construction funds to pay teachers after officials learned the previous administration had moved the end of the fiscal year without keeping enough money on hand to pay its bills during the switch. Leaders learned the 2018-2019 was over-stated by $5.3 million, according to Jones, and over-spending on 2013 bond projects nearly sank the district. Rather than allocating the customary 80 percent of its general fund budget to salaries, Crosby ISD was slated to spend nearly 89 percent paying staff.
To stanch the districts financial bleeding, Davis ordered every department in October to slash their budgets by 60 percent. Crosby ISDs board approved the layoff of 34 teachers and other contract employees at a October 15 meeting, after 57 contract-based employees had left the district voluntarily since the summer. Davis eliminated the positions of 72 other employees within a week, bringing the total number of jobs cut to more than 150.
Now, that the district has ended its official financial emergency, Davis said his priorities are shifting to providing the best education possible to students and creating a sustainable 2019-2020 budget. The upcoming budget will be similar to the districts current spending situation, with few frills and a lot of scrutiny. The goal, Davis said, is to provide quality while also rebuilding the districts unreserved fund balance.
I have a very strong sense of hope, Davis said. Sometimes youre just trying to seek the bottom so you can push off. I feel like we did that a long time ago. Now, we can get back to the business of running a school district and not running 9-1-1 operations on finances.
shelby.webb@chron.com
twitter.com/shelbywebb
Scott Dalton / Bloomberg
Harris County has sued Intercontinental Terminals Co. for failing to prevent a massive chemical fire that burned for more than 60 hours last week and spewed an unknown volume of hazardous chemicals into the air and nearby waterways.
The county is seeking a temporary injunction and restraining order against the company, alleging that it violated the Texas Clean Air Act and the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act, among other rules.
Houston police homicide detectives hope the public can help identify a cross-eyed man accused of gunning down two people outside a bar early March 9.
The gunfire erupted around 2:20 a.m. that Saturday outside the Mi Tavenera bar in the 1400 block of Collingsworth, police said. Jose Lopez, 53, and another man were sitting in a truck in the parking lot when the suspect opened fire.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and found Lopez dead with several gunshot wounds while the other man was found lying next to the truck with a gunshot wound to his head. He was rushed to LBJ General Hospital nearby but later died, Houston police said.
Both victims were not immediately identified by police, although the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences identified Lopez.
HOMICIDE ARREST: Veteran HPD officer held in wife's slaying
An eyewitness helped Houston Police Department homicide detectives develop a sketch of the suspect. He was wearing a Sherwin Williams T-shirt at the time of the shooting.
He's described as a Hispanic male in his late 30s to early 40s, according to police. He is cross-eyed and stands about 6 feet tall.
Another person was with the suspect during the shooting, although police said he was only described as having "milky" eyes.
Anyone with information is urged to call HPD's homicide detectives at 713-308-3600 or Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message
Looking south from the corner of FM 1683 and Kingsland Boulevard just south of Interstate 10 in Katy the rumble of the approaching trucks comes before the rigs round the corner into view.
This Tuesday morning they come in waves of Kenworths, Volvos, Peterbuilts and Macks, some hauling goods, others heading empty to the concrete plant or the rail yard.
The trucks are part of Katys booming economy, but also one of its biggest growing problems.
There have been some horrific accidents, Katy Mayor Chuck Brawner said.
The reminders of the crashes are easy to spot on FM 1683. Two wooden crosses sit tilted in the tall grass next to the entrance to a truck yard.
All over Katy and many other Houston-area spots evidence of the large trucks is easy to see: eroded shoulders, cracked concrete, potholes capable of swallowing a Prius are all signs of loads too heavy for the roads they travel.
Getting a handle on the big haulers, however, means convincing state leaders to let Katy cite commercial vehicles, something that mostly is the domain of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
That could change soon in a handful of places. Lawmakers in Austin have filed eight bills related to commercial vehicle inspections granting specific police or sheriffs departments the authority to enforce trucking rules. Requests have come from cities along the Mexican border and the bustling Permian Basin.
HEAVY LOAD: Houston home to worst truck congestion in the country
Lawmakers are lined up to approve the requests, but remain skittish. Granting cities commercial truck oversight could, some fear, make some municipalities speed traps for trucks. So, they are taking the enforcement requests on a case-by-case basis.
Each of the bills would grant only specific cities such as Katy approval to equip and train commercial vehicle officers.
State Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, chairman of the state House Transportation Committee, said a diminution in the presence of Texas Department of Public Safety troopers has left many places where business is booming contending with busted streets and more trucks. Canales did not elaborate on the cause for fewer available officers, but previously has criticized past efforts by DPS to lay off troopers or offer incentives for early retirement to make up for sending an additional 250 troopers to the border, as ordered by state officials. Those decisions left fewer officers in other parts of the state.
That has given rise to the number of accidents, Canales said.
Heavy toll
Brawner said economic growth has come with a growing number of trucks in Katy-area roads. The city sits at the epicenter of Houston metros expansion, where so much of that traffic comes to and from Interstate 10. Three concrete plants operate inside city limits, along with a railroad yard that shifts aggregate materials to trucks. A lumber yard churns with activity, trucks going in and out.
Crashes involving heavy trucks in Katy increased to 69 in 2017, up from just 14 in 2010, according to Texas Department of Transportation data. Meanwhile, crashes in the region increased from 6,241 in 2014 to 7,555 in 2017.
A single DPS trooper oversees commercial vehicle enforcement outside Harris County. Pressed by officials, the trooper recently cracked down on trucking to demonstrate the need for more enforcement.
We asked for them to do a check on (U.S.) 90, in between Brookshire and Katy, Brawner said. They went out there for a short period of time, one trooper, and made eight stops of heavy trucks, issued two weight citations, four weight warnings and another 21 warnings to these trucks operating on our roads in an unsafe manner.
ALVIN FREEWAY: Long-sought route could start with Spur 5 extension
Statewide, the Department of Public Safety oversees commercial motor vehicle enforcement, but allows counties and municipalities under certain conditions to have officers trained in trucking regulations who can cite drivers for noncompliance.
In the most urbanized parts of Houston, there are specific divisions aimed at trucking violations. Harris County Sheriffs Office has a 10-member enforcement unit.
Police in suburban communities circling Houston have far smaller teams, opting to have one or two officers handle all commercial vehicle inspections.
Smaller departments, meanwhile, are reliant on state troopers, something that is causing concerns in some communities. Practically every county around Harris County has faced some effects of increased truck traffic. Though much of it has been confined to state roads, some counties also have reported rising truck use of county-built roads.
Reporting rare
Trucking industry officials are supportive of more enforcement, provided the police follow the rules, too, and properly report their revenue.
What we want is transparency, said Dana Moore, director of policy and government relations for the Texas Trucking Association.
U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Texas via the Department of Public Safety roughly $60 million in the past two fiscal years as part of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program. The grant is aimed at funding commercial vehicle enforcement, including training local police and deputies eligible to weigh trucks or properly enforcement regulations.
In Texas, 65 municipalities and five counties participate in the program, with applicants trained by DPS through the MSCAP program. Dozens of other counties have deputies trained to verify truck weights.
Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
OUT OF CONTROL: Houstons roads, drivers are nation's most deadly
Those agencies with commercial vehicle officers are expected to remit any revenues to the state comptroller, once they collect 110 percent of the annual cost of their program from the previous year. Local police are supposed to split any fine written for 5,000 pounds more than the maximum allowable weight of the vehicle with the state.
Since 1996, only 10 agencies have remitted payments to the comptroller for commercial vehicle fines, according to a preliminary list compiled by the trucking association. None of the 18 Houston-area agencies have ever reported excess fine revenue to the state.
Lawmakers tightened reporting requirements in the program during the 2017 legislative session, but rules established by the comptroller for reporting all revenue are just now beginning to kick in, Moore said.
We all want safer roads and everyone to follow the rules, because the violators hurt the honest trucking companies that are doing it the right way, Moore said. With the enforcement, we believe an agency that wants to get in, that they have an actual need for it. Reporting to the comptrollers office how much money they are bringing in. Doing that lets us know that agency is there for safety and not revenue.
Brawner said Katy is not in it for the money. The citys tax base, compared with other places, is rather lucrative.
Katy is very blessed with the income it has coming in, Brawner said. This is not a revenue source for us. It is a personal safety issue for our citizens.
The city expects to invest about $30,000 in equipment, mostly portable scales. Training should take a few months, Brawner said.
The officer will focus on local streets, Brawner said, leaving the freeway to state troopers and Harris County officers.
He added he does not expect any of the businesses to balk at the extra attention, or for truckers to take their business elsewhere.
Our job is not to bankrupt them. Our job is not to make it so them cannot make a living, Brawner said of the drivers. You just want them to come into compliance.
dug.begley@chron.com
twitter.com/DugBegley
Selvey said Watson, who appeared in bond court Tuesday via video from the Will County jail, had been lingering in the hotel much of the day on Sunday. Selvey said Watson, who was not a guest of the hotel, attacked Burgrino as he returned to his fifth-floor hotel room about 10 p.m. Burgrino, who was at the hotel with his girlfriend, was found in the hotel hallway stabbed numerous times in the chest and neck.
It would have been a perfect ending for Women's History Month the first all-female spacewalk in NASA's 60-year history.
Astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch were set to bridge the gender gap on Friday to replace batteries on the International Space Station.
Except only one space suit fit the women's smaller frames, forcing NASA to abruptly cancel the plans.
"We do our best to anticipate the spacesuit sizes that each astronaut will need, based on the spacesuit size they wore in training on the ground, and in some cases ... astronauts train in multiple sizes," said Brandi Dean, a spokeswoman for NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
"However, individuals' sizing needs may change when they are on orbit, in response to the changes living in microgravity can bring about in a body," she said.
News of the historic event's cancellation elicited shock, disappointment and, in some cases, anger from the scientific community Tuesday on Twitter. Especially from women.
"I'm suuper [sic] disappointed about the all-woman spacewalk not happening as scheduled this Friday but I'm also super supportive of astronauts having the authority to say 'I would be safer using a different piece of equipment.'" Emily Lakdawalla, senior editor at The Planetary Society, tweeted Monday. "An all-woman spacewalk WILL eventually happen."
The spacewalk was scheduled Friday morning for McClain and Koch to install powerful lithium-ion batterires on the orbiting laboratory's solar arrays.
But NASA announced Monday that McClain, who did a spacewalk last week with American Nick Hague, realized she was more comfortable in a medium-sized hard upper torso the spacesuit's shirt as opposed to the large-sized one she originally planned to use.
As of now, only one medium-sized torso on the space station is usable, Dean said, because the second one is a spare and would need additional configuration before being used for a spacewalk.
"I wrote a whole book about how NASA just couldn't envision women in space in 1960 and ... here we are," tweeted author Stephanie Nolen, who wrote "Promised the Moon" about a group of women who were secretly training to be astronauts in the early years of the space program but who, ultimately, were never allowed to fly.
In order to keep the schedule for replacing the space station's batteries Friday, NASA bumped McClain from the spacewalk, allowing Koch to wear the medium torso and complete the walk with Hague instead. McClain will then wear it for an April 8 spacewalk that she will conduct with Canadian crewmate David Saint-Jacques.
"To stay on schedule with @Space_Station upgrades, it's safer & faster to change spacewalker assignments than reconfigure spacesuits," NASA tweeted in response Tuesday.
The all-female spacewalk would have drawn accolades for an agency that has been slow to make historic strides with women and minorities.
For example, the first female Mission Control chief flight director was only just picked last year and the U.S. was 20 years behind the Soviet Union in putting a woman into space.
The U.S. also was behind in allowing women to conduct spacewalks. The first woman to do so was the Soviet Union's Svetlana Savitskaya in 1984. Only 13 women have conducted spacewalk since; Koch will be the 14th. Crewmembers aboard the space station have conducted 214 spacewalks since 1998, when construction of the orbiting laboratory first began.
Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
Vice President Mike Pence directed NASA on Tuesday to put humans on the moon again within the next five years, using "any means necessary."
"To accomplish this we must redouble our efforts," Pence said in his opening remarks at the National Space Council meeting at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. "President Trump knows this will require a great investment of time, talent and resources, but the cost of inaction is greater."
And when Americans return to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972, Pence said, they will land at the moon's South Pole.
SPACE JUNK: Sign up for Mission Moon updates and out-of-this-world space news.
Pence is chairman of the council, a group that had been defunct since 1993 until Trump revived it soon after taking office. Reviving the council is just one of many ways President Donald Trump has pushed for a return to the moon as a stepping stone for a mission to Mars since taking office in 2017.
Prior to Pence's speech Tuesday, the administration's plans were to build a mini-space station orbiting the moon, known as the Lunar Orbital Platform Gateway, and build and send commercial lunar probes to the surface before humans left boot prints on the celestial body again.
Based on that, humans would have returned to the surface by 2028. But Pence said Tuesday that is "not good enough."
"We have the technology to return to the moon, and we have the renewed American leadership in human space exploration," Pence said. "What we need now is the urgency."
LISTEN: The latest from the Cigarettes & Rocket Fuel podcast
The announcement comes, however, just a few weeks after Trump released his budget request for the coming fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, which handed down a $500 million budget cut for the space agency.
Pence in his remarks did not mention these cuts -- which still must be approved by Congress -- or explain how they fit into the president's plan to speed up a lunar landing.
Also problematic to this plan is the Space Launch System rocket, which is supposed to send the agency's Orion spacecraft around the moon. Initially scheduled for launch in 2017, the SLS rocket has continued to face burgeoning costs and schedule delays.
MISSION MOON at HoustonChronicle.com: How 50 years of space exploration defined Houston
Pence on Tuesday seemed willing to use other alternatives -- including commercial companies -- to get humans back to the moon, calling for a "major course correction."
"I call on NASA to adopt new policies and embrace a new mindset," Pence said. "If our current contractors can't meet this objective, then we'll find ones that will."
The SLS rocket -- a brainchild of President Barack Obama's administration that is being build by Boeing -- most recently was delayed to 2021. Earlier this month, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told Congress the agency was investigating launching Orion around the moon on the back of a commercial vehicle so that it could meet the launch deadline.
NO SLS? NASA might send uncrewed Orion mission around moon on commercial rocket
He appeared to change his tune Tuesday, saying he's confident SLS can meet the June 2020 launch date.
"If we want to achieve 2024, we need SLS and need to accelerate it," Bridenstine said, adding that NASA needs to build the rocket's planned upgrade as well. Funding for that upgrade, which would increase the rocket's performance, would be postponed under Trump's budget proposal.
NASA has two missions scheduled for the Orion-SLS team. The first Orion spacecraft mission, Exploration Mission-1, is meant to go up without a crew in 2020. The second, Exploration Mission-2, will launch humans around the moon and is supposed to fly no later than 2023.
"Given that [Marshall Spaceflight Center] and @BoeingSpace can only meet the 2020 EM-1 deadline by skipping a lot of required tests and Pence's human landing goal of [2024/2025] by utterly changing their current plans, the private sector now has an unparalleled opportunity to show what they can do," Keith Cowing, editor of NASA Watch, a website devoted to space news, tweeted Tuesday.
Despite its numerous problems, NASA for years has defended the Space Launch System rocket, saying it was a necessary backbone of their human exploration portfolio.
"We must focus on the mission over the means," Pence said. "We must consider every available option to meet the goal."
Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
If we took all the U.S. dollars, British pounds, Turkish dinars and every other currency out there and added them up, how much would it come to? Is anyone keeping track? And how hard would it be to figure out?
By Kathryn Whitbourne & Francisco Guzman
As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content.
When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to.
After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS!
OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK
The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those.
Foxx recused herself from the case last month after revealing she had contact with Smolletts representatives early on in the investigation. She declined to provide details at the time. Communications later released to the Tribune, however, showed Foxx had asked Superintendent Johnson to turn over the investigation to the FBI after she was approached by a politically connected lawyer about the case.
Hotel profit plummeted in the Middle East & North Africa in January, as oversupply and struggling oil prices took a toll, sending GOPPAR to a 13.9-percent year-on-year decrease, according to the latest data tracking full-service hotels from HotStats.
Hotel profit plummeted in the Middle East & North Africa in January, as oversupply and struggling oil prices took a toll, sending GOPPAR to a 13.9-percent year-on-year decrease, according to the latest data tracking full-service hotels from HotStats.
The decrease is part of a continued story for the region, which saw GOPPAR decline 6 percent YOY in 2018; it marked the fifth consecutive month of YOY decline in this measure at hotels in the region.
The drop in profit was led by a 7.5-percent YOY decrease in RevPAR and a 2.9-percent drop in non-rooms revenues, which fell to $81.27, equivalent to 41.0 percent of total revenue.
Although hotels in the region were able to maintain room occupancy levels in the month, at 69.5 percent, achieved average room rate fell further in January, dropping by 7.5 percent YOY to $116.96.
Falling ancillary revenues included declines in Food & Beverage (down 5.5 percent) and Leisure (down 6.5 percent). One silver lining was a 0.3-percent uplift in Conference & Banqueting revenue, on a per-available-room basis.
As a result of the revenue movement across all departments, TRevPAR fell by 5.7 percent to $198.23. Whilst this was 1.1-percent above the TRevPAR recorded at hotels in the region in the rolling 12 months to January 2019, at $195.99, it was almost $25 below this measure in January 2016, at $222.82, illustrating the widening gulf between historic and current performance levels.
Declining total revenue was exacerbated by rising costs, including a 1.7-percentage-point increase in payroll levels as a percentage of total revenue to 27.3 percent, as well as a 1.8-percentage-point increase in overheads as a percentage of total revenue to 25.2 percent.
Profit margin was recorded at 38.5 percent in the month.
Profit & Loss Key Performance Indicators Middle East & Africa (in USD)
January 2019 v. January 2018
RevPAR: -7.5% to $116.96
TRevPAR: -5.7% to $198.23
Payroll: +1.7 pts. to 27.3%
GOPPAR: -13.9% to $76.28
We are now almost five years down the road from when the oil crisis began in the Middle East and there has been little respite from the resultant decline in performance for hotel owners and operators in the region, said Michael Grove, Director of Hotel Intelligence and Customer Solutions, EMEA, at HotStats. With the oil market likely to be the dominant economic driver once again in 2019, the sharp decline in price towards the end of 2018 will undoubtedly be a cause for concern for regional hoteliers.
For hotels in Dubai, the YOY decrease in profit per room in January represented the seventh consecutive month in which GOPPAR has dropped in the UAEs most populous city.
The 13.9-percent decline in profit came despite the city hosting the 21st edition of the Intersec, Security, Safety & Fire Protection conference, which attracted close to 35,000 delegates with 1,202 exhibitors from 54 countries.
Hotels suffered significant declines in top-line revenue, which included a 2.2-percentage-point drop in room occupancy to 85.2 percent, as well as a 9.4-percent decrease in achieved average room rate, which fell to $248.48. It resulted in an 11.6-percent drop in RevPAR.
Non-rooms revenue fell to $132.20, equivalent to 38.5 percent of total revenue, and contributed to an 8.2-percent decline in TRevPAR.
The plummeting revenue levels were further exacerbated by rising costs, which included a 1.0-percentage-point increase in payroll levels as a percentage of total revenue to 23.3 percent.
In line with the regional market, profit conversion at hotels in Dubai is under pressure. Having been recorded at 48.6 percent of total revenue in January 2016, it fell back to 44.5 percent in the month.
The oversaturation of the Dubai hotel market is no more clearly illustrated than in months like this, when an additional 35,000 people in the city fail to spur an increase in top- and bottom-line performance, said Grove. Against a backdrop of challenging economic conditions, profit decline is likely to continue at hotels in Dubai for some months to come.
Profit & Loss Key Performance Indicators Dubai (in USD)
January 2019 v January 2018
RevPAR: -11.6% to $211.45
TRevPAR: -8.2% to $343.65
Payroll: +1.0 pts. to 23.3%
GOPPAR: -13.9% to $152.96
One bright spot in the region was Alexandria, where profit per room soared by 40.3 percent YOY in January to $38.23. The city continued to benefit from the recovery in the wider Egypt economy.
Growth in profit was fuelled by increases across all revenue centres, which contributed to the 27.3 percent increase in TRevPAR to $96.63.
This was the 31st consecutive month of profit growth for hotels in Alexandria and as a result of the robust increase this month, profit conversion in January was recorded at 39.6 percent of total revenue.
Profit & Loss Key Performance Indicators Alexandria (in USD)
January 2019 v. January 2018
RevPAR: +26.4% to $59.04
TRevPAR: +27.3% to $96.63
Payroll: +0.1 pts. to 22.8%
GOPPAR: +40.3% to $38.23
HotStats provides two reporting tools to hoteliers:
Our unique profit and loss benchmarking service which enables monthly comparison of hotels performance against their competitors. It is distinguished by the fact that it provides in excess of 100 performance metric comparisons covering 70 areas of hotel revenue, cost, profit and statistics providing far deeper insight into the hotel operation than any other tool.
Our latest innovation in daily revenue intelligence, MORSE. Amongst its reporting are daily and highly granular market segmentation metrics as well as distribution channel and source of booking analysis. It takes daily market intelligence to a whole new level.
For more information contact:
Enquiries
+44 (0) 20 7892 2241
enquiries@hotstats.com
Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest all industry news and trends. Subscribe
2021 Hospitality Trends
50+ Music Companies File Copyright Suits Against ISPs Charter, Bright House
More than 50 major music companies have joined to file separate lawsuits against ISP providers Charter and Bright House for not doing enough to stop copyright infringement. Each suit could result in more than $1 billion in damages.
Universal, Sony and WMG are joined by dozens of major music publishers in both lawsuits. They are part of an ongoing slate of lawsuits against Cox and other ISPs designed to get crack down on large scale and long term infringement.
The Charter lawsuit, filed Friday in Colorado, accuses the cable company and its ISP brand Spectrum of failing to "take reasonable measures to curb customers from using its Internet services to infringe on others copyrights, including Plaintiffs copyrights even after Charter became aware of particular customers engaging in specific, repeated acts of infringement."
The Bright House complaint was even more strongly worded.
In reality, Bright House operated its service as an attractive tool and safe haven for infringement, the complaint reads. During an 827-day period, Bright House subscriber with IP address 75.114.183.231 was identified in 340 infringement notices, sent on at least 232 separate days rather than terminating repeat infringers and losing subscription revenues Bright House simply looked the other way.
Share on:
Article 13 Copyright Directive Is Approved Ending Safe Harbor For YouTube
The European Union gave its final approval to the Article 11 and 13 Copyright Directive designed to update copyright law in Europe for the online age. Members of the European Parliament voted 348 in favor and 274 against.
Google, YouTube and others in tech say that the rule, which requires a much more stringent policing of infringing content, will limit user generated content stifle creativity. Most major music and media companies strongly disagree and support the legislation.
After the vote, Frances Moore, CEO on major label trade group, the IFPI, commented:
We thank lawmakers for their efforts in navigating a complex environment to pass a Directive with noteworthy implications for the content community. This world-first legislation confirms that User-Upload Content platforms perform an act of communication to the public and must either seek authorisation from rightsholders or ensure no unauthorized content is available on their platforms. The Directive also includes a stay down provision requiring platforms to keep unlicensed content down another global first. We now look forward to the implementation stage, where we will work with the EUs Member States to ensure the Directive is transposed into national law in a manner fully consistent with its aim and key principles of European and international law.
Share on:
Reunion Tour! Bands, Breakups and Contracts
The vast majority of successful bands usually end up going through some kind of personnel change, sometimes to the point of having no original members at all. So what are the legal ramifications of these switcheroos and breakups? Prof. David Philp explains.
_______________________________
Guest post by William Paterson University Professor David Philp from Music Biz 101
We all have our favorite band of all time. Whether its the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, *N-Sync or Fifth Harmony, they almost all break up or go through personnel changes (except for U2, if you click on the article, which you should do). What are the consequences of breakups?
THIS ARTICLE that you just clicked on (big thanks to my brother, Eric, who was a fan of the original Velvet Underground lineup) goes through a list of famous bands that created famous songs & albums, all of which have gone through lineup changes or breakups.
Most interesting are the bands that have no original members but tour with the famous name. Ever heard of Blood, Sweat & Tears or the Little River Band?
Historically, its hard for bands to keep their original lineups intact, even if the band by name stayed together. Here are some examples:
Rolling Stones Original guitarist Brian Jones died; Mick Taylor, a replacement guitarist, was eventually replaced by Ronnie Wood.
The Who Original drummer Keith Moon died; Kenny Jones became his replacement. For the bands 1989 Tommy anniversary tour through today, there has been no sign of Kenny Jones. Meanwhile, as The Who prepare for their summer 2019 tour, they do so also without original bassist John Entwistle, who also died.
Van Halen David Lee Roth was kicked out (or left, depending upon whose story you believe); Sammy Hagar joined. Sammy Hagar was kicked out (or left, depending upon whose story you believe). Gary Charone took Sammys place. Sammy and David toured together. Then David was back in Van Halen. Meanwhile, bassist Michael Anthony was kicked out and formed a band with Sammy.
Did you keep track of that one?
Readers of this have probably been through this on their own. I have. My high school band lost members. We stuck together through college. Then we gained and lost members. Im still awaiting that reunion tour. (Note: The pic above is from my very, very first band, The Last Exit. The goofball on the far left was the nephew of David Johansen, a semi-famous artist from the 70s punk band the New York Dolls, which, yes, broke up. David has best been known as Buster Poindexter, who had a huge hit in the 80s, Hot, Hot, Hot. He no longer performs as Buster Poindexter, so does that mean he broke up with himself?)
There are lots of bottom lines here. The most important: Bands need to sign agreements amongst each other in the earlier days, before success spoils them silly and they grow quickly to hate each other.
Imagine this Youre in a band and have a few hits. You sang on the hits. Youre forced out of the band. The band breaks up afterward. Years pass and you want to go out to tour and use the band name. After all, those hits are associated with your voice and, quite frankly, nobody else is using the name. How about it?
Nope! Not unless whomever owns the band name (and that obviously aint you) grants you permission, which would never happen unless there was some money involved.
There have been lawsuits amongst members of Pink Floyd, Guns N Roses, and others over who can use a band name. If bands determine within the contract who owns the name and how one loses control of the name (usually by a member leaving voluntarily or getting kicked out of the band), then the lawyers dont need to be the winners. Its all spelled out.
This is taken from the article that I keep bugging you to read:
Chuck Negron, a founding member of Three Dog Night who sang several of its biggest hits, including Joy to the World, said that bandmates had him sign a contract which stipulated that any member fired from the group would have no further right to use the name while he was a heroin addict.
Negron was later fired for missing shows. His attempt to bill himself as Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night led to a legal battle that the two parties resolved by agreeing that he could use the formerly designation, provided that in all print advertisements, the words Three Dog Night were no larger than half the size of the words Chuck Negron.
The lesson here: Dont do heroin.
While were on this subject of contracts, Id like to urge songwriters reading this to make sure they are keeping track of song splits the percentage of ownership songwriters have of a song. If I write the verse and the chorus, both chords and lyrics, and I bring you in for the bridge, we need to figure out after were done how much you contributed.
There are lots of factors involved in what the percentage of the bridge writer would be: from length of the bridge to the over all importance of the bridge to the song, to whether or not the person who wrote the bridge was really famous. Maybe a good split would be 75/25 in favor of the main songwriter.
If the bridge writer was famous, that might end up as 50/50. Either way, figure that out before the song is released. The best time is right after the song is done, maybe even before its fully recorded.
In Nashville, the culture is based upon whomever was in the room with an instrument. If there were three of us in the room participating, its just assumed by all three that were splitting the song in thirds even if all I did was come up with the lyrics to one verse.
Its important to do this before memories fade. I know of a situation someone is in right now in which the chief writer cant remember the contribution of another writer, who claims he should get 25% of the song. The main writer doesnt think the other writer, ultimately, contributed anything. But they were in a band together and the band broke up and there are some, not hard, but not great feelings.
How will this turn out? The other writer will get something, but not 25%. And the main writer will have to suck it up because they didnt deal with it sooner.
One final question: Have you read the article yet? Not this one. Youre already here, so that means youve read these words. But what about the main article? Give some love to Rob Tannenbaum of the NY Times. He worked hard on it. His mother is very proud of him. You should be proud too.
Professor David Philp is Assistant Professor Music & Entertainment Industries and Popular Music Studies at William Paterson University. He is the co-host of the only FREE advice college radio-based music & entertainment industry talk show in America, Music Biz 101 & More, which airs live most Wednesday nights and is available as a podcast HERE every night (days too). Your favorite professor is also co-author (with Dr. Steve Marcone) of Managing Your Band 6th Edition. Reach him at PhilpD@wpunj.edu or find him on LinkedIn HERE.
Share on:
The mall has been closed since Wednesday. Target and Regal Cinemas remain open.
Berkshire Mall Claims Power Outage Cause For Temporary Closure
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. The Berkshire Mall says it looks to reopen later this week after losing electricity.
In a post on Facebook, the mall wrote that the closure for the last few days was caused by a power outage. The mall is aiming to re-open Wednesday but has said it is closed until further notice.
"In order to ensure our employees and customers safety, we need to resolve these issues before we can reopen. This is the reason we have not opened the mall. We are not closed forever! We are not being shut down by the sheriff! We have not been seized by the government! We are pushing to reopen by Wednesday if that changes we will update," wrote the mall.
That is consistent with what Board of Selectmen Chairman and Baker Hill Road District appointee John Goerlach has been told. Goerlach said on Monday that the power had been cut to the mall and the generator it is using does not have enough power to pump water to the toilets. The issue has led to multiple days of closure, starting Wednesday afternoon.
"The electricity is the big part of it," Goerlach said.
The lack of bathroom access created a hazard at the mall, leading to the shutdown. The mall has been closed to the public, though a wrestling event was held on the weekend that town officials said was not supposed to have happened there given the situation.
The mall officials had been silent on the closure until Monday evening. The mall closed last Wednesday and has been closed since. Target and Regal Cinemas remain open and Goerlach said efforts are being made to ensure at least Target can operate in the future regardless of what happens with the shopping center..
"They are working on ways to keep Target open," Goerlach said.
Goerlach said Target owns its building but does not have its own water system, which means it would not have fire protection should the rest of the mall go out of business. Goerlach said Target's ownership has been involved in solving any issue that could prevent it from operating independently in the future.
But the writing has been on the wall for years now. Kohan Retail Investment Group has not paid taxes in some two years, according to Town Manager Kelli Robbins. Berkshire Mall Realty Holdings owes the town around $700,000 --though Lanesborough's tax collector has not responded to an email request asking for a precise figure.
Meanwhile, the Baker Hill Road District recently got approval for the sheriff's Office to seize assets to pay $298,146.92 worth of back taxes awarded to the district in a lawsuit. That order was issued on March 13.
Baker Hill Road District attorney Mark Siegars has repeatedly declined to discuss the case over the last two weeks. However, the thought is that if Kohan Retail cannot afford to pay the bill in cash, it could lose control of the mall and property would be sold to pay off the bill. The Board of Selectmen said they do not know if it will come to a payment in lieu of taxes or not. The hope among town officials is that another person will purchase the property and make use of it.
"This guy has not been good to us. It was a poor decision by the bank's part," Goerlach said.
At the same time, Kohan continues to buy malls throughout the country. Earlier this month, he spent $4.65 million on a mall in Maine.
The mall is the town's largest taxpayer, being charged more than $300,000 per year. Selectman Henry "Hank" Sayers said he is concerned that the mall may not last very long, taking that revenue out of town coffers.
"I am really concerned about the taxes ... We have to be very careful on how we spend," Sayers said.
Robbins said Sayers' concerns could be a little premature as the budget process hasn't begun.
UAE fishermen told to remove gargoor 'dead cages' from sea
March 25,2019 | Source: The National
Fishermen in the United Arab Emirates have been told to remove traditional fishing cages that have been blamed for killing endangered species ahead of a upcoming ban.
Gargoors are traditional metal traps that have been blamed for targeting exploited species such as hammour.
They are to be prohibited in Abu Dhabi from May 1 and the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi on Saturday urged the community to dispose of the cages at ports in Mina Zayed, Sila, Taweelah and Delma.
The ban was introduced by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment after a study pinpointed a significant decline in Abu Dhabi of the population of two of the countrys most threatened species - hammour and farsh. It is believed that more than 85 per cent of the UAE's hammour populations have been wiped out.
Aside from over-fishing, abandoned gargoors also pose a huge threat to marine life. The cages are often weighted down with a simple brick, but strong currents can push them along the seabed and they become lost. The fact they are made of metal and do not disintegrate easily compounds the problem.
Ahmed Al Hashmi is acting executive director, terrestrial and marine biodiversity sector, at Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.
During our last survey with research vessels, we noticed that in every trip we could have taken up old gargoors or inactive gargoors in most of the locations," he said.
The problem is that they accumulate a lot of fish inside - some are endangered fish and found rarely in these waters. It is like a dead cage. Everything enters."
Gargoors used on boats registered for research and scientific study are excluded from the ban.
The issues of abandoned fishing nets - or ghost gear - is a global problem. The UN Environment Programme has reported that between 600,000 and 800,000 metric tonnes of 'ghost gear' enters the worlds oceans each year.
Environmental authorities, meanwhile, have begun the fightback to restore the UAE's depleted fish stocks.
A sweeping 12-year plan that aims to reverse the rapid decline in fish species, enhance local fish-farming and rebuild denuded habitats was unveiled at the World Ocean Summit in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.
New legislation, tougher enforcement and tighter scrutiny of the commercial, spearfishing and recreational fishing communities all come under the scope of the initiative.
Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
Canadian fisherwoman breaks social stereotypes
by Binsal Abdul Kader
March 22,2019 | Source: Gulf News
A 29-year-old Canadian woman is reluctant to transition from her blue-collar fishing life embraced at the age of 12 into a white-collar existence, despite achieving high academic qualifications.
Tiare Boyes from Victoria is now a postgraduate in Marine Resource Management.
But instead of pursuing that inside laboratories and an academic environment, she chose to continue going out to the Pacific Ocean on a fishing boat to engage in marine management in a different way.
I am proud of doing sustainable fishing and serving fish to families in Canada and abroad, she told Gulf News an interview in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the recent World Ocean Summit earlier this month. Moreover I earned money to pursue my bachelors and Masters degree from fishing. She travelled from Canada to Abu Dhabi at her expense to attend the summit, expecting to meet interesting and inspiring people in ocean conservation.
When I flew to Abu Dhabi, I arrived after dark. I woke up to beautiful sunshine and my first view of the Arabian Gulf. I have felt very welcome in Abu Dhabi and have been happy to learn of some of the ocean initiatives going on here, she said.
Many things attach her to fishing, she added: The ocean is the most beautiful place in the world. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to work on the ocean and support sustainable fishing of wild halibut [a popular flat fish].
Reminiscing of the first day her father took her on a fishing trip when she was 12, she said: I was seasick, the sea was rough that day. Still my father and uncle taught me how to clean the fish on the boat.
Initially she felt embarrassment because of perceived social prejudices.
I think there is social stigma attached to fishing. Internationally, fishermen and fisherwomen are considered working class.
As she attended a working class school in Victoria, she did not personally face that social stigma. However, in school she was told that girls did not go fishing.
She heard that women are generally not involved in fishing.
When you think of fisherfolk, old strong men come to your mind, not women. As a child, I was more susceptible to what people think.
When she started going to the sea however, she came across many fishing aunts and sisters, who had defied that social stereotype.
Over 17 years into regular fishing trips that last seven to nine days in the Pacific Ocean, she has built a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Now I have created my own identity. I am proud of being able to harvest nutritious seafood for all. Today, I think we [fishermen and women] can change the social stigma attached to this job.
Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2019. All rights reserved.
Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
Cyclone Idai survivors urgently need safe shelter, water and sanitation, says Red Cross
March 25,2019 | Source: UN News
People affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai in southern Africa, urgently need clean water, safe sanitation facilities and shelter, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Monday, warning that some areas of Mozambique still remain inaccessible because of the unprecedented flooding.
In an interview with Daniel Johnson from UN News, IFRC Secretary General Elhadj As Sy, described the huge scale of need he witnessed on a visit to the country last Friday.
United Nations
Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
Cyclone Idai: Mozambique struggles with floodwaters
by Enock Muchinjo
March 25,2019 | Source: Al Jazeera
Joao Domingo returned to his home in the devastated town of Beira on Sunday after collecting the few remaining maize cobs from the family's small communal farmland in Nhamatanda, located 101km away.
He recounted the days his family had spent stuck in the house without food, as floodwaters engulfed the surrounding area.
"We did not have food when we were trapped inside our small house - myself, my wife and four children - we starved," said Domingo. "After makeshift roads were erected, I had to catch the bus today to Nhamatanda, but a plastic bag full of maize is all I could salvage.
"My children were crying when we were trapped inside the house for three days. My 14-year-old-son kept asking if we would emerge alive, and if he would ever go to school again".
Cyclone Idai's massive flooding has ravaged Mozambique and killed 446 people nationwide, according to official statistics.
The people of Beira are still coming to terms with the deadly effects of the storm, which destroyed the area around the coastal town, leaving most houses ruined or damaged.
Rescue efforts have meanwhile intensified, reinforced by a 65-member Chinese rescue team, which arrived in Beira on Monday at the request of the Mozambican government, as the number of those affected by Cyclone Idai rose to 794,000.
In Beira, most of those displaced have found shelter on higher ground in several buildings in the city, occupying some 2,867 classrooms throughout this metropolitan area of 500,000 people.
2019 Al Jazeera Media Network
Theme(s): Others.
Just listen, Im going to close on this. We just had one of the largest ceremonies for the Police Department in the history of the city, 297 men and women. The most diverse class, representing all parts of this city. People from all walks of life and background and faith, who said they want to serve the city and serve the values of the city and help serve others in time of need. They are there to uphold the law and their best training to do that. And I draw to you in that contrast, people of all walks of life as I said, graduates of our public schools, kids who grew up with parents who were police officers veterans of the armed forces who have a life of service. They were there to not only to uphold that law, but the values that imbue and inform those laws.
Checkout
No resources available in your cart
Plundering of marine resources worries Kenya's President
by EVELINE DE KLERK
March 25,2019 | Source: New Era
The President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, says African countries must take stricter measures to fight the exploitation of their natural resources so that they can benefit people on a larger scale.
Kenyatta made the remarks during the visit to the Seaflower pelagic processing factory, the biggest fish-freezing factory in Sub-Saharan Africa that is yet to be officially opened, during his one-day visit to Walvis Bay on Saturday. He pointed out that many African countries including Kenya do not really benefit from their natural resources, especially marine resources. The onshore processing plant was constructed at the old Etale canning factory which Fishcor bought for N$160 million. Their partner, Africa Selection Fishing Namibia, injected a further N$370 million for the completion of the factory.
Although he was impressed with the factory, a concerned Kenyatta said that unregulated and illegal fishing is one of the challenges that Africa faces that threatens the continents marine resources.
It is disappointing to see that foreign nations are benefiting more from the abundant fish in the territorial waters of many African countries. Hence we should work together and learn from the examples of countries like Namibia, which has implemented progressive measures to develop its fisheries sector, Kenyatta noted.
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernhardt Esau, who received Kenyatta at the factory, said Namibia is working hard not to export jobs by making sure that Namibian fish leaves the country with value added.
We want to address food security and also create business opportunities for our locals, as the industry must create much needed jobs, he said. Esau added that Namibia is keen on collaborating with Kenya to address illegal, unregulated fishing as well as marine pollution. He added that illegal fishing in Namibia puts the countrys responsibly managed fish stocks and its economic benefits at risk.
According to Esau, Namibia will collaborate with neighbouring countries to further assist in the control and barring entry to vessels that are conducting illegal and unregulated fishing in ports.
New Era Newspaper Namibia A Product of NEPC
Theme(s): Fisheries Resources.
Hendricks was taking a break between Uber fares when he said he saw Custodio quarreling with a group of people on Milwaukee Avenue, just north of Central Park Avenue. But what he thought was friendly banter turned serious when he saw Custodio pull a handgun and fire several shots.
They also tossed the birthday cake to the floor, Hofeld said. It had sat uncut inside a box on a dining table, but by the end of the raid it had been thrown off the table, landing upside-down on the floor. One of the officers then stuck a number "4" candle in the middle of the smashed cake.
When the shooting stopped and the gunman's car drove away, Hill said she got out and went to the van while calling police. The couple's older daughter, the only one in the van who wasnt shot, had been in the back seat with her 1-year-old brother and had taken him out of his car seat. Hill took him from her arms and saw hed been hit.
Eighteen to 24 months to get a dent in it is too long, said state Sen. Patricia Van Pelt, a Chicago Democrat who chairs the Senate Public Health Committee, which held Mondays hearing in conjunction with the Criminal Law Committee. I really want to see the state police request whatever it is you need to get this done.
On Sunday, 24 March, Somali authorities arrested two soldiers and officially charged them for torturing and threatening journalists Abdullahi Dahir Abdi and Said Warsame Sabriye of Dhanbaal. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Somali affiliate, The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), have today welcomed the arrests and demanded an independent and transparent trial.
According to the investigation, the soldiers Ali Adan Abdi Gaab and Sakariye Hassan Ibaar of Somali National Army (SNA) tied the hands and the feet of the two journalists behind their back and forced them to lie down on their chests on 18 February 2019 in Mogadishus Hodan district. The journalists were also subjected to other forms of torture. Both soldiers are being held at Mogadishus central prison, awaiting trial.
IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: The arrest of two soldiers for torturing journalists is a good step in the fight against impunity, but more needs to be done. We demand a transparent trial, free from political interference, to guarantee justice for our colleagues. Governments need to protect journalists and tackle impunity globally and a UN Convention on the safety and protection of journalists would provide better safeguards for media workers.
Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General, said: This case sets a positive precedence for the fight for the safety of journalists, protection of media freedom and the fight against impunity. It sends a clear message to those who abuse journalists that wearing official uniform does not place anyone above the law.
NUSOJ will monitor closely the trial", added Osman.
The voter will then hand the ballot in a privacy sleeve to an election judge, who will initial it and place it in the scanner. The scanner accepts the paper ballot and creates an image of the ballot. Because its the same machine, the paper ballot and touch screen ballots are automatically consolidated, according to information provided by the clerks office.
To access our in-house intelligence please request a trial here.
Read this article and more for a 30 day period.
Are you already an IFLR subscriber? Login here
Imperial Valley News Center
President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel After Bilateral Meeting
Washington, DC - President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel After Bilateral Meeting:
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, thank you very much. Its an honor to have Prime Minister Netanyahu in the Oval Office. Weve had numerous great meetings, and we talk usually about trade and military and lots of things.
But today, I think were talking about more than anything else, were celebrating the Golan Heights. Its something that Ive been hearing about for many years, from many people. Ive been studying for years.
And this should have been done, I would say, numerous Presidents ago. But for some reason, they didnt do it, and Im very honored to have done it.
So I just want to say, Bibi, its an honor to have you at the Oval Office. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Thank you. May I say that Ive been here many, many, many times. Ive been around.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: You have.
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: And Ive met many friends of Israel in this office. But as I said in the other room, just now, in a day of history, we have never had a greater friend than President Trump.
And I think there is a unique bond between our countries, between our administrations, between the two of us. There has been no greater bond than that. It serves the interests of Israel in ways that I cannot begin to describe because not everything that the President and I talk about can be shared with the public.
And I think that, in many ways, the President knows and the United States knows that America has no better friend than Israel. We are willing to fight for our common values. Were willing to fight. You have an ally that is willing to take up arms in defense of liberty, in defense of our land, our people, and our common values.
We admire America, and were grateful to you. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much.
Q Mr. President, so did this turn out to not be a witch hunt after all? Do you think Robert Mueller did a fair investigation?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Its lasted a long time. Were glad its over. Its 100 percent the way it should have been. I wish it could have gone a lot sooner, a lot quicker. There are a lot of people out there that have done some very, very evil things, very bad things. I would say treasonous things against our country.
And hopefully people that have done such harm to our country weve gone through a period of really bad things happening those people will certainly be looked at. I have been looking at them for a long time. And Im saying, Why havent they been looked at? They lied to Congress. Many of them you know who they are theyve done so many evil things.
I will tell you, I love this country. I love this country as much as I can love anything: my family, my country, my God. But what they did, it was a false narrative. It was it was a terrible thing.
We can never let this happen to another President again. I can tell you that. I say it very strongly. Very few people I know could have handled it. We can never, ever let this happen to another President again.
Thank you all very much. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
Q Do you want the report to be completely released?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Up the Attorney General, but it wouldnt bother me at all. Up to the Attorney General. Wouldnt bother me at all.
Q Any news on pardons? Are you thinking about pardoning anyone, sir?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: No, I havent. I havent thought about it.
Imperial Valley News Center
Head of Organization Backed by Chinese Energy Conglomerate Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for International Bribery
Washington, DC - Chi Ping Patrick Ho, aka Patrick C.P. Ho and He Zhiping, was sentenced today to serve 36 months in prison for his role in a multi-year, multimillion-dollar scheme to bribe top officials of Chad and Uganda in exchange for business advantages for CEFC China Energy Company Limited (CEFC China) Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York announced. Ho was convicted of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), money laundering, and conspiracy to commit the same, in December 2018, after a one-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska, who imposed todays sentence.
In addition to his prison term, Ho, 69, a citizen of the Peoples Republic of China who resided in Hong Kong prior to his arrest in November 2017 and has been detained since his arrest, was fined $400,000. Following his prison sentence, Ho will be removed from the United States.
Patrick Ho bribed officials at the highest levels of government in Chad and Uganda in pursuit of lucrative oil deals and other business opportunities, all while using a U.S.-based NGO to conceal his criminal scheme, said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. This kind of corruption undermines world markets and tilts the playing field against law-abiding companies and individuals. The Department will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals and corporations that engage in foreign bribery.
Patrick Ho schemed to bribe the leaders of Chad and Uganda in order to secure unfair business advantages for the Chinese energy company he served, said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Berman. His actions were brazen, including offering the president of Chad $2 million in cash, hidden in gift boxes. Foreign corruption undermines the fairness of international markets, erodes the publics faith in its leaders, and is deeply unfair to the people and businesses that play by the rules. Todays sentence recognizes the severe harm caused by Hos actions.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Ho orchestrated and executed two bribery schemes to pay top officials of Chad and Uganda in exchange for business advantages for CEFC China, a Shanghai-based multibillion-dollar conglomerate that operates internationally in multiple sectors, including oil, gas, and banking. During the course of the schemes, Ho served as the secretary-general of a non-governmental organization based in Hong Kong and Arlington, Virginia, and registered as a charitable entity in the United States, the China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC NGO), which held Special Consultative Status with the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council. CEFC NGO was funded by CEFC China.
In the first scheme (the Chad Scheme), Ho, on behalf of CEFC China, offered a $2 million cash bribe, hidden within gift boxes, to Idriss Deby, the president of Chad, in an effort to obtain valuable oil rights from the Chadian government. In the second scheme (the Uganda Scheme), Ho caused a $500,000 bribe to be paid, via wires transmitted through New York, New York, to an account designated by Sam Kutesa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda, who had recently completed his term as the president of the UN General Assembly. Ho also schemed to pay a $500,000 cash bribe to Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda, and offered to provide both Kutesa and Museveni with additional corrupt benefits by partnering with them and their families in future joint ventures in Uganda.
The Chad Scheme
The Chad Scheme began in or about September 2014 when Ho flew into New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly. At that time, CEFC China a multibillion-dollar energy company based in Shanghai, China was working to expand its operations to Chad, and wanted to meet with President Deby as quickly as possible. Through a connection, Ho was introduced to Cheikh Gadio, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal, who had a personal relationship with President Deby. Ho and Gadio met at CEFC Chinas suite at Trump World Tower in midtown Manhattan, where Ho enlisted Gadio to assist CEFC China in obtaining access to President Deby
Gadio connected Ho and CEFC China to President Deby. In an initial meeting in Chad in November 2014, President Deby described to Ho and CEFC China executives certain lucrative oil rights that were available for CEFC China to acquire. Following that meeting, Gadio advised Ho and CEFC China to send a technical team to Chad to investigate the oil rights and make an offer to President Deby grounded in factual data. Instead, Ho insisted on a prompt second meeting with President Deby. The second meeting took place a few weeks later, in December 2014. Ho led a CEFC China delegation, which flew to Chad on a corporate jet with $2 million cash concealed within several gift boxes. At the conclusion of a business meeting with President Deby, Ho and the CEFC China executives presented him with the gift boxes.
To the surprise of Ho and the CEFC China executives, President Deby rejected the $2 million bribe offer, but later agreed to accept the money as a charitable donation to the country. Ho subsequently drafted a letter to President Deby falsely claiming that the cash had really been intended as a donation to the people of Chad all along.
Ho and CEFC China did not obtain the unfair advantage that they had sought through the bribe offer, and by mid-2015, Ho had turned his attention to a different so-called gateway to Africa: Uganda.
The Uganda Scheme
The Uganda Scheme began around the same time as the Chad Scheme, when Ho was in New York for the annual UN General Assembly. Ho met with Sam Kutesa, who had recently begun his term as the 69th president of the UN General Assembly (PGA). Ho, purporting to act on behalf of CEFC NGO, met with Kutesa and began to cultivate a relationship with him. During the year when Kutesa served as PGA, Ho and Kutesa discussed a strategic partnership between Uganda and CEFC China for various business ventures, to be formed once Kutesa returned to Uganda.
In or about February 2016 after Kutesa had returned to Uganda and resumed his role as Foreign Minister, and Yoweri Museveni (Kutesas relative) had been reelected as the president of Uganda Kutesa solicited a payment from Ho, purportedly for a charitable foundation that Kutesa wished to launch. Ho agreed to provide the requested payment, but simultaneously requested, on behalf of CEFC China, an invitation to Musevenis inauguration, business meetings with Museveni and other high-level Ugandan officials, and a list of specific business projects in Uganda in which CEFC China could participate.
In May 2016, Ho and CEFC China executives traveled to Uganda. Prior to departing, Ho caused CEFC NGO to wire $500,000 to the account provided by Kutesa in the name of the so-called foundation, which wire was transmitted through New York, New York. Ho also advised his boss, Ye Jianming, the then-chairman of CEFC China, to provide $500,000 in cash to Museveni, ostensibly as a campaign donation, even though Museveni had already been reelected. Ho intended these payments to influence Kutesa and Museveni to use their official power to steer business advantages to CEFC China.
Ho and CEFC China executives attended President Musevenis inauguration and obtained business meetings in Uganda with Museveni and top Ugandan officials, including with the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources. After the trip, Ho requested that Kutesa and Museveni assist CEFC China in acquiring a Ugandan bank, as an initial step before pursuing additional ventures in Uganda. Ho also offered to partner with Kutesa and Museveni and/or their family businesses, making clear that both officials would share in CEFC Chinas future profits. In exchange for the bribes offered and paid by Ho, Kutesa thereafter steered a bank acquisition opportunity to CEFC China.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Justice, Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs provided assistance.
Trial Attorney Paul A. Hayden of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section, FCPA Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel C. Richenthal, Douglas S. Zolkind, and Catherine E. Ghosh of the U.S. Attorneys Office for Southern District of New Yorks Public Corruption Unit are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Departments FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Imperial Valley News Center
Alleged Dark Web Child Pornography Facilitator Extradited to the United States
Washington, DC - Irish authorities extradited a dual national citizen of the United States and Ireland to the United States to face federal charges that he allegedly advertised and distributed child pornography on the dark web.
The extradition and federal charges were announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland and Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBIs Criminal Investigative Division.
Eric Eoin Marques, 33, arrived in the United States on March 23, and had his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland. An amended criminal complaint was filed on Aug. 8, 2013, and unsealed today at Marques initial appearance. Marques is charged with conspiracy to advertise child pornography, conspiracy to distribute child pornography, aiding and abetting the advertising of child pornography, and aiding and abetting the distribution of child pornography. At the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sullivan ordered that Marques be detained pending trial or a detention hearing scheduled for March 27, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.
Child exploitation sites on the dark web present a grave danger to children and unprecedented challenges to the worlds law enforcement agencies, said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. The complaint unsealed today demonstrates the Departments commitment to pursuing those accused of serious child pornography offenses wherever they may hide on the web and in the world, and to seeking justice for the countless children that are victimized by those who facilitate this horrendous conduct.
Criminals cannot hide on the dark web or in foreign countries, said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. We will find them and bring them to justice. We are grateful to Irish authorities for their assistance to bring Eric Marques to the United States to face these charges.
Todays extradition of Eric Marques demonstrates that no matter where you are in the world, the FBI and its international law enforcement partners will be diligent in their efforts to hold you accountable for your criminal activity, said FBI Assistant Director Johnson. The FBI will never stop working to ensure justice is served for the vulnerable child victims who are unable stand up for themselves.
According to the amended criminal complaint, between July 24, 2008 and July 29, 2013, Marques conspired to advertise and distribute child pornography, and aided and abetted the advertising and distribution of child pornography, by allegedly operating a free, anonymous web hosting service (AHS) located on the dark web, an area of the internet that is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable. The AHS allegedly hosted websites that allowed users to view and share images documenting the sexual abuse of children, including the abuse of prepubescent minors, violent sexual abuse, and bestiality.
According to the amended criminal complaint, as of July 12, 2013, one site hosted on the AHS reported that there were almost 1.4 million files that were uploaded and accessible by individuals who visit the hidden service. During 2012 and 2013, FBI special agents and employees using computers in Maryland downloaded more than one million files from that website. As part of the investigation, those files were reviewed and nearly all of the files depict children who are engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults or other children, posed nude and/or in such a manner as to expose their genitals, in various states of undress, or depict child erotica. A substantial majority of the images downloaded by the FBI depict prepubescent minor children who are fully or partially nude or engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The complaint alleges that during the time of the conspiracy, the IP address associated with the AHS was assigned to a computer server associated with and exclusively used by Marques.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Section and Legal Attache London, Irish law enforcement authorities, An Garda Siochana and EUROPOL. The Department of Justices Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in bringing Marques to the United States and procuring foreign evidence during the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Keith A. Becker and Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso of the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristi N. OMalley and Thomas M. Sullivan of the District of Maryland.
Imperial Valley News Center
Abused kids use text-based services to seek help, study shows
West Lafayette, Indiana - She says she will burn the house down with me in it. He threatened to pull a gun on me. He told me he could kill me in an instant if he wanted to.
These are just a few of the texts sent by minors to counselors at crisis hotlines in the last several years. Abused children often look for discreet ways to seek help, hoping not to make matters worse by aggravating their perpetrator. Recently, text-based crisis communication services have started to provide an outlet for those kids.
Minors arent just using these services to report suicidal thoughts and depression theyre using them to report abuse, according to a new study in the journal JMIR mHealth and uHealth.
There was a general theory in the field that when kids text in about depression or suicide, theyll mention abuse. But we found that in many cases, abuse was the first thing they mentioned, said Laura Schwab-Reese, an assistant professor of health and kinesiology at Purdue University. Kids are actively seeking support regarding abuse and neglect through these services, which isnt what we expected.
Every year, Child Protective Services receives more than 3.6 million reports of child abuse, involving more than 6 million children in the U.S. The effects of this abuse and neglect can be long-lasting and varied, from mental to financial. It can even be fatal about 1,750 children died from abuse and neglect in the U.S. in 2016, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When children text or call hotlines to discuss their concerns, crisis counselors are required to report suspected abuse to the state if the misconduct meets certain criteria. Schwab-Reese read all the text conversations (which were made anonymous) from one crisis service that resulted in reports from October 2015 to July 2017. Rather than starting with a hypothesis and looking for answers to confirm or deny it, she dug into the data with an open mind.
We were just trying to figure out what kids are talking about when they text in. We had no idea what we were going to find, Schwab-Reese said.
This is likely one of the first studies of its kind, as it can be difficult to obtain good information on content of reports while maintaining victims privacy. Phone calls arent recorded, and text-based services are still new to the landscape, Schwab-Reese said.
Physical abuse was the most common form of abuse mentioned in the initial disclosure, followed by psychological abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. More than half of texters discussed abuse or other significant family issues in the first message, according to the study. Many also reported psychosocial issues beyond the maltreatment, with nearly a quarter discussing suicidal thoughts.
Schwab-Reese was surprised to find that many texters described their abuse in blunt terms. Nearly half of texters used a variant of the word abuse, or other graphic terms such as rape, molest or assault, in their first disclosure of abuse.
Its rare for adults to come right out and say, Im a victim of abuse. They say things like, Things arent great at home right now, or My partner and I have been fighting a lot, Schwab-Reese said. We thought kids might use vague terms to describe their abuse as well, but we found that a lot of them use very blunt language to describe whats going on.
The findings also show that for most children who are abused, its not a fleeting experience nearly 93 percent of texters reported recurrent abuse. Many were prompted to reach out by a recent crisis or escalation of harm.
Implementing text or chat-based communication methods could be essential for social and health services hoping to reach young people. A 2011 report from Pew Research Center found that one-third of adults prefer talking on the phone to texting (a number which is likely higher among young people, and eight years later). Crisis Text Line, a SMS-based support service for people in crisis, has exchanged more than 96 million messages since its launch in 2013.
In addition to adapting to the changing communication landscape, crisis services should work to provide or continue providing care for people on both sides of the phone, Schwab-Reese said.
Counselors can experience vicarious trauma. The conversations they have with abused children are graphic and heart-breaking, she said. Some organizations, such as Crisis Text Line, are providing terrific training and resources to counselors. But every organization providing these services needs resources to help counselors after theyve engaged in these conversations, and to be really explicit in training how to respond to disclosures. Its an entirely different task to respond to Things arent great at home, than a 9-year-old saying her dad has been sexually abusing her and is threatening her so shell keep it a secret.
This research was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The work aligns with Purdue's Giant Leaps celebration, acknowledging the universitys global advancements made in health, longevity and quality of life as part of Purdues 150th anniversary. This is one of the four themes of the yearlong celebrations Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues.
Imperial Valley News Center
Public Designation, Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption, of Former Guatemalan Official Blanca Aida Stalling Davila
Washington, DC - The Secretary of State is publicly designating former Guatemalan Supreme Court Magistrate Blanca Aida Stalling Davila due to her involvement in significant corruption. This designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2018 (Section 7031(c)), as carried forward by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019, as amended. Section 7031(c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that officials of foreign governments have been involved in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States.
The law also requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate such officials and their immediate family members. In addition to the designation of Blanca Stalling, the Secretary is also publicly designating her adult sons Julio Alejandro Molina Stalling and Otto Fernando Molina Stalling.
The United States is committed to combating corruption, increasing respect for fundamental freedoms, and promoting good governance globally.
Imperial Valley News Center
Preserving Midway
San Diego, California - Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) participated in a community relations (COMREL) event on the USS Midway Museum last week.
Sailors volunteered their time to preserve the museum by renovating parts of the ship.
The purpose of this COMREL is to get more engaged with the community, said Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Luis Castro. Our commanding officer encourages us to get out there and be more involved and show how much we care about our new home [San Diego]. This COMREL is a little different as were working to preserve some of our history as Sailors and I think this is a great opportunity to get out to the public.
The USS Midway Museum is a former U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that was operational from 1945 until 1992 and now serves as a museum in downtown San Diego.
Our crew is about 280 paid staff and 800 volunteers, said Daniel Buscemi, a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief and the senior ship repair and maintenance supervisor of the USS Midway Museum. Eight hundred volunteers that make this thing work. I say its a dead carrier but its really a live carrier; its just that its mission has changed. You walk through the hangar bay and your still ducking aircraft and there are people everywhere. If you dont look outside it still has the feel of a functioning carrier.
Bonhomme Richard Sailors like Airman Recruit Leopoldo Lopez Hernandez, from Houston, Texas, spent time cleaning up some of the more neglected parts of the ship in an effort to keep the museum up to standards.
Its a piece of our history and we have to preserve it, said Lopez Hernandez. The same way we preserve our ship to keep us ready, we should try and preserve this one and keep this ship ready for the people who come here to see our history.
The volunteers, from Bonhomme Richard for example, come over and give their time to help us preserve this ship and its mission, said Buscemi. The volunteers make this place work, without them we could not be successful. The volunteers create the Midway magic that people love about this place. You guys are what help us keep this place clean and functioning and we couldnt function without people like you.
Bonhomme Richard is in its homeport of San Diego.
Apply now to CDFA Internship Program
Sacramento, California - Agriculture is a major industry for the Golden State. With 80,500 farms and ranches, California agriculture is a $44.7 billion dollar industry that generates at least $100 billion in related economic activity. The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) mission is, "to serve the citizens of California by promoting and protecting a safe, healthy food supply, and enhancing local and global agricultural trade, through efficient management, innovation, and sound science, with a commitment to environmental stewardship."
In 1919, the California Legislature created a single department responsible for protecting and promoting agriculture. CDFA is now organized into six divisions and operates at more than 100 locations throughout the state. These divisions provide valuable services to producers, merchants, and the public. Many of them are conducted in partnership with local county offices of the agricultural commissioners and sealers.
CDFA strives to support innovation and agricultural diversity. One way to support these efforts is through working with future generations of agriculturalists. The CDFA Internship Program is designed for college students of all majors and backgrounds who have an interest in agriculture, California government, and public service. Internships are for students looking to gain a better understanding of California agriculture, as well as the role CDFA has among the state's agricultural systems. Internships are available in a variety of divisions within CDFA.
Internships are available to students year round and generally last 10-16 weeks. Students should be available for at least 8 10 hours per week, up to 30 hours per week, depending on the internship offered.
Prerequisites may include:
Enrolled in an accredited U.S. College
Good academic standing
At least 18 years of age
What Interns Are Saying
I just wanted to send a quick email to once again say thank you for the internship opportunity over the summer of 2015. I had no idea how much information I had learned from my internship would be invaluable in the classroom. The first-hand experiences and skills I gained during my internship have played such an important role in the classroom! I wanted to express my gratitude to you as I would not be where I am without this amazing opportunity. Please tell everyone I said hello and I hope everyone is doing well!
Nicole Nelsen
Master of Public Health-Veterinary Public Health Candidate
The Ohio State University
AREAS OF INTEREST
Administrative Services
Administrative Services is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling activities related to fiscal management, personnel, labor relations, budgets, general business services, contract management, and health and safety.
Animal Health and Food Safety Services
Animal Health and Food Safety Services protects the safety and security of meat, poultry, dairy products, and other foods of animal origin; public and animal health through the prevention, detection, and eradication of livestock and poultry diseases and dairy contamination incidents; and cattle owners against loss of animals by theft, straying, or misappropriation through ongoing inspections and investigative services.
For information about Animal Health and Food Safety Services contact:
Samuel Mercado
(916) 900-5021
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Executive Office
The Executive Office provides oversight of the Department. Its mission is to serve the citizens of California by promoting and protecting a safe, healthy food supply, and enhancing local and global agricultural trade, through efficient management, innovation, and sound science, with a commitment to environmental stewardship.
For information about the Executive Office contact:
Josh Eddy
(916) 654-0462
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fairs and Expositions
Fairs and Expositions provides fiscal and policy oversight of the network of California fairs and ensures the best use of available funding and provides other consultative services.
For information about Fairs and Expositions contact:
John Quiroz
(916) 900-5025
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Inspection Services
Inspection Services provides professional services that support and contribute to a safe, abundant, quality food supply; environmentally sound agriculture practices; and an equitable marketplace for California agriculture.
For information about Inspection Services contact:
Cecilia Baumann
(916) 900-5197
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Marketing Services
Marketing Services assists in the promotion and administrative oversight of agriculture marketing programs in order to promote California agriculture products.
For information about Marketing contact:
Jeff Cesca
(916) 900-5011
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Measurement Standards
Measurement Standards is responsible for the enforcement of California weights and measures laws and regulations. The Division's activities are designed to ensure the accuracy of commercial weighing and measuring devices; verify the quantity of both bulk and packaged commodities; and enforce the quality, advertising, and labeling standards for products.
For information about Measurement Standards contact:
Rebecca Bland
(916) 229-3042
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pierces Disease Control Program
Pierces Disease Control Program is responsible for minimizing the impact of the Pierces Disease/Glassy-wing sharpshooter pest-disease complex and its vectors in California.
For information about the Pierces Disease Control Program contact:
Roger Spencer
(916) 900-5252
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services
Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services protects California's food supply from the devastating impact of exotic pests; environment and natural resources from direct pest impacts and increased pesticide use; public from pests that pose human health threats; and position in the global economy.
For information about Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services contact:
David Pegos
(916) 654-0317
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Prosecutors office statement, Part II: Later in the day, Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman in the Cook County States Attorneys office, emailed The Spin to say that some 5,700 cases had been referred for alternative prosecution in the last two years. An alternative disposition does not mean that there were any problems or infirmities with the case or the evidence, Simontons statement says. We stand behind the Chicago Police Department's investigation and our decision to approve charges in this case. We did not exonerate Mr. Smollett. The charges were dropped in return for Mr. Smollett's agreement to do community service and forfeit his $10,000 bond to the City of Chicago. Without the completion of these terms, the charges would not have been dropped. This outcome was met under the same criteria that would occur for and is available to any defendant with similar circumstances.
Defendant Who Exploited Opioid Addictions of Young Women Convicted of Crimes Related to Drug Trafficking and Prostitution
Manchester, New Hampshire - After a three-day trial, a federal jury in Concord, New Hampshire, found Steven Tucker, 33, of Manchester, New Hampshire, guilty on March 22 of using interstate facilities to promote a prostitution business enterprise and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The verdict was announced by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justices Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray for the District of New Hampshire, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations, Boston.
Evidence presented at trial established that, between October 2013 and June 2014, the defendant operated drug and prostitution businesses in the Manchester area. He sold heroin to numerous individuals, including young women and a minor. Witnesses described how the defendant used their addictions to cause them to prostitute for his profit. The defendant would often front heroin to the women and then arrange prostitution dates for them. The women were required to give the defendant half of the proceeds and then purchase heroin from him with the remainder.
On other occasions, the defendant withheld heroin from the women, causing them to suffer painful withdrawal symptoms, and then instructed them to prostitute to earn money to purchase heroin from him. The defendants scheme guaranteed that he had a steady source of drug customers and money. Some of the women were required to help the defendant sell his heroin and received heroin in exchange. The defendant used violence and threats to maintain control of the women. The investigation began in 2014, when the mother of one of the women called the Manchester Police Department after the defendant beat her daughter.
Motivated by greed, the defendant preyed on young, vulnerable women, selling them heroin, exploiting their addictions, and prostituting them for his own profit, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. The Civil Rights Division and its Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit will continue its vigorous efforts to work with our federal and state partners to hold human traffickers accountable, vindicate the rights of their victims, and eradicate this despicable and inhumane exploitation from our country.
This case demonstrates the power of opioids to support criminal activity, said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray. This defendant took advantage of young women, using heroin and violence to induce them to commit acts of prostitution for his personal profit. His conduct was even more disturbing because he victimized a minor. We will continue to work closely with the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force and all of our law enforcement partners to identify, arrest and prosecute those who engage in this type of unlawful and exploitive activity.
Were grateful that the jury has brought back this verdict. said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations, Boston. This case, where the offender cruelly exploited his victims through drug addiction and violence to induce them to prostitute, was disturbing on several levels. The strong partnership among our HSI Special Agents, the Manchester Police Department, victim advocates, and the members of the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force was critical in investigating this case. We hope this verdict can serve as some small measure of healing for the victims of this dangerous threat to the community.
This prosecution is the result of the joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations and the Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Hampshire, and the Civil Rights Divisions Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit (HTPU). The Hillsborough County Attorneys Office provided victim assistance in the case.
The New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force is a multidisciplinary effort comprised of law enforcement as well as social, medical, and legal services for victims of human trafficking. The Task Force is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) and Bureau of Justice Programs (BJA).
The core team members of the Task Force are the Manchester Police Department, Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorneys Office for the District of New Hampshire.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold Huftalen for the District of New Hampshire and Trial Attorney Vasantha Rao for the Civil Rights Divisions HTPU, with assistance from HTPU Trial Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky.
Britain's influence on Vincent van Gogh is being explored for the first time in a major exhibition at the Tate Britain in London.
Van Gogh and Britain looks at how he was inspired by British art, literature and culture and how he in turn inspired several prominent British artists.
Van Gogh lived in London between 1873 to '76 while he worked as a young art dealer. and while he did not begin painting until four years after leaving London, those years are regarded as crucial to his development as an artist.
Take a look at some of Van Gogh's most famous works in the gallery, below:
20 best Van Gogh paintings Show all 20 1 /20 20 best Van Gogh paintings 20 best Van Gogh paintings Sunflowers 1886, oil on canvas. The mysterious, so-called 'Lausanne' Sunflowers the first Arles Sunflowers painting with turquoise background. It was created in the summer of 1886 at Van Gogh's studio at Arles, north of Marseille in Provence. It has not been show to the public since 1948. Public domain 20 best Van Gogh paintings The Starry Night 1889, oil on canvas. This painting depicts the view from the window of Van Gogh's asylum room of Saint-Remy-de-Provence. It is one of the most recognised paintings in the history of Western culture. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Irises 1889, oil on canvas. The most recognised of several iris paintings made by Van Gogh at the Saint Paul-de-Mausole asylum, in the last year before his death in 1890. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Self-Portrait 1889, oil on canvas. Van Gogh painted over 43 self-portraits, paintings and drawings over a period of 10 years. He wrote to his sister: 'I am looking for a deeper likeness than that obtained by a photographer' and to his brother: 'People say, and I am willing to believe it, that it is hard to know yourself. But it is not easy to paint yourself either. The portraits painted by Rembrandt are more like a revelation.' 20 best Van Gogh paintings At Eternitys Gate Oil on canvas, 1890. This painting was completed in early May, when Van Gogh was suffering a severe relapse of poor health two months before his death. It is based on a pencil drawing, 'Worn Out', from a series of studies he made of a war veteran in 1882. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Cafe Terrace at Night Oil on canvas, 1888. This work was the first in a trilogy of paintings that featured starlit skies, completed over two years. Van Gogh was enthusiastic about the painting and wrote to his sister: 'Here you have a night picture without any black in it, done with nothing but beautiful blue and violet and green, and in these surroundings the lighted square acquires a pale sulphur and greenish citron-yellow colour. It amuses me enormously to paint the night right on the spot... I find satisfaction in painting things immediately.' 20 best Van Gogh paintings The Night Cafe 1888, oil on canvas. The five customers in the scene have described as 'three drunks and derelicts in a large public room... huddled down in sleep or stupor.' Van Gogh told his brother that the cafe owner, Ginoux, had taken so much money it was time to take his revenge by painting the place. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Bedroom in Arles Oil on canvas, 1888. Three authentic versions of this painting were made, easily discernible from the different paintings on the right wall. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Van Gogh's Chair Oil on canvas, 1888. This painting is currently at the National Gallery in London. It was completed after Van Gogh moved from the Hotel Carrel to the Cafe de la Gare at Arles, south France. 20 best Van Gogh paintings The Potato Eaters 1885, oil on canvas. Van Gogh chose this deliberately tricky composition to prove himself as a figure painter, wanting to show the way 'they have tilled the earth themselves with these hands they are putting in the dish... that they have thus honestly earned their food'. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Road with Cypress and Star 1890, oil on canvas. Also known as Country Road, this was the last painting Van Gogh made in Saint Remy, It is part of the large Van Gogh collection at the Kroller-Muller Museum at Otterlo in the Netherlands. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Starry Night Over the Rhone 1888, oil on canvas. Another of Van Gogh's paintings of Arles at nighttime painted at a spot on the bank of the Rhone a few minutes walk from the Yellow House, which he was renting at the time. 20 best Van Gogh paintings The Pink Peach Tree 1888, oil on canvas. In a short space of time during his first weeks at Arles, Van Gogh painted some fifteen orchards, hoping they would sell well because his subject, the glorious blossoms of the flowering trees, had the power to 'cheer everyone up'. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Self Portrait with a Grey Felt Hat 1887, oil on canvas. This self portrait is slightly unusual because Van Gogh's face is angled to face straight towards the observer. Most of them depicted the face as it appeared in the mirror he used, so the right side seen in the image was actually the left side of his face. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Almond Blossoms 1888 - 1890, oil on canvas. Van Gogh loved flowering trees, which to him symbolised hope and new life. This painting was created to celebrate the birth of his nephew and namesake, the son of his brother Theo and sister-in-law Jo. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Woman Sewing This was part of Van Gogh's preparation for The Potato Eaters, where he attempted to paint a figure against the light. He struggled, telling his brother Theo: 'It's a difficult effect', yet he succeeded in a strong contrast with the almost-black head of the woman and the use of white for the window, which focuses the gaze mainly on the woman's hands. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat Oil on canvas, 1890. This painting, one of several versions by Van Gogh, has exchanged hands several times and was bought by Stephen Wynn in 1997 for $47.5 million. Seven years later, it was sold to American investor Steven A Cohen for more than $100 million. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Two Cypresses Oil on canvas, 1889. In the cypress trees of Saint Remy, Van Gogh found beauty "as regards lines and proportions, like an Egyptian obelisk". He was enraptured but also challenged: 'It's the dark patch in a sun-drenched landscape, but it's one of the most interesting dark notes, the most difficult to hit off exactly that I can imagine'. 20 best Van Gogh paintings The Red Vineyard 1888, oil on canvas. Art historians believe this is the only Van Gogh painting he managed to sell during his lifetime, and has been listed among his major works. It was sold in Brussels for 400 francs (about 3,000) to Anna Boch, an impressionist painter and art collector from Belgium, who was the sister of Van Gogh's friend Eugene Boch. 20 best Van Gogh paintings Wheatfield with Crows 1890, oil on canvas.Commonly regarded as Van Gogh's final painting (with some doubt from art historians due to lack of historical records). Around 10 July Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo and wife Jo Bonger to say he had painted another three large canvases since visiting them in Paris the week before. Two of them, he said, expressed sadness and what he called 'extreme loneliness', but he also believed them to show the healthy and fortifying nature of the countryside.
The Tate exhibition is the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings shown in the UK for nearly a decade. It includes some of his most famous works, including "Self-Portrait" and "Starry Night on the Rhone".
The exhibition reveals the artist's enthusiasm for writers including Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Christina Rossetti, as well as British artists like John Everett Millais and John Constable.
Arguably Van Gogh's most famous work, "Sunflowers", is on loan to the Tate from the National Gallery. Another, "Prisoners Exercising", was inspired by one of Van Gogh's favourite prints of Newgate Jail, that he collected while teaching himself to draw and paint.
"He couldn't afford paintings," Carol Jacobi, the exhibition's lead curator, told ITV News, "but he could afford prints and he collected 2,000 prints of British pictures, and they were very important to him."
Dir: Tim Burton; Starring: Eva Green, Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Alan Arkin, Deobia Oparei. Cert PG, 112 mins
Tim Burtons live action version of Dumbo is a few hues darker than the 1941 Disney animated classic from which it springs. Its a measure of the directors idiosyncratic abilities that the film has such a personal stamp. As with Burtons other fables, notably Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood, Dumbo is about a group of sensitive outsiders with special gifts who do not fit comfortably with social norms.
Theres plenty of humour and pathos along the way: slapstick, with a mischievous monkey (little hairball) hiding in a drawer or on the top of circus ringmasters head, and cutesy interludes featuring scene-stealing white mice. The circus troupe includes a bodybuilder (Rongo the Strongo who not only lifts dumbbells but helps with the administration), a plump mermaid and a snake charmer (Roshan Seth) who has a python draped around his neck. Burtons characteristically whimsical charm, seen in Pee Wees Big Adventure and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is found here.
Much of the story hinges on Dumbos desperation to be reunited with his mother. The film has its soaring, emotional moments when Dumbo takes wing, all of which are amplified by another of composer Danny Elfmans majestic scores. The focus, though, is as much on the humans as on the eponymous elephant.
Burton has packed the cast with familiar faces from his own repertory company of character actors. Its refreshing to see Danny DeVito back on screen playing the seedy circus owner, the actor having the same diminutive and cantankerous presence as ever. Eva Green, who appears to have taken over Helena Bonham Carters role as Burtons muse, plays a trapeze artist, while Michael Keaton is a swanky but evil showman with a fiendish grin. Having all worked with the director before, they know just how to pitch their performances so that theyre flamboyant without falling into outright camp.
The 30 best Disney films Show all 30 1 /30 The 30 best Disney films The 30 best Disney films 30. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) Although the film may feel relatively slight compared to the other titans of animation on this list, there is something so wonderfully zen about this Pooh, filtering the wise words of AA Milne through the slow, thoughtful tones of Sterling Holloway. The 30 best Disney films 29. Bambi (1942) Bambi isnt exactly the most action-packed Disney film around, and its hard to imagine many people are getting a kick out of the singalong version to April Showers. But is there any bigger shock to the system for a child at the movies than the sudden, ruthless slaughtering of Bambis mother? Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 28. Pocahontas (1995) Of the Disney Renaissance offerings, Pocahontas stumbles in its messy handling of history, since turning any interaction between white colonisers and indigenous people into a fluffy romance arguably whitewashes the brutal reality of what happened. But there are plenty of positives to be found, since Pocahontas was such a huge influence in Disneys later portrayals of strong, independently minded women. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 27. The Aristocats (1971) The film may be relatively light on story (its basically Lady and the Tramp, but theres an added kidnap element), but who cares, when the film features the hottest party of the entire Disney franchise? Its true what they say: Everybody wants to be a cat. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 26. Robin Hood (1973) In a way, Robin Hood is the ultimate Disney film of the 1970s. Its a folksy, low-key entry into the canon thats all about keeping the peace and spreading good vibes. Just ignore the fact that it recycled several pieces of animation from the likes of Snow White and The Jungle Book. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 25. Zootopia (2016) It may not have spawned the same level of craze as Frozen did, but Zootopia doesnt deserve to become another forgotten Disney film. Although its as funny as youd hope from a film about animals with jobs, it also offers parents an easy entry point to talk to their kids about racism and xenophobia. And thats something that shouldnt be taken for granted. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 24. Dumbo (1941) Dumbo demonstrates the two gifts of early Disney films. Theres the capacity for moments that are pure and heartwrenching, as seen in Baby Mine (a scene thats almost impossible to watch without welling up). Then theres the ability to descend into the totally bizarre, as characterised by the downright scary Pink Elephants on Parade sequence. The 30 best Disney films 23. Tangled (2010) Tangled finds fun, humour, and adventure in its reimagining of the Rapunzel tale, but whats crucial to its success is how it anchors the entire film around a single, showstopping sequence: I See the Light, where Rapunzel watches hundreds of paper lanterns float up into the skies. Its, quite simply, a beautiful piece of filmmaking. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 22. Princess and the Frog (2009) Disneys brief return to traditional animation reminded us what had been lost in the switch to 3D animation. Theres a wonderful sense of artistry to how The Princess and the Frog renders New Orleans during the Jazz Age, especially in the Art Deco stylised number Almost There. And a Disney princess working hard to make her dreams come true? Thats something to celebrate. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 21. Cinderella (1950) Although Cinderella is a central member of the Disney princesses, her film hasnt aged quite as well as the rest of the early Disney films. Theres an odd amount of time spent on Lucifer the cat, and relatively little time spent at Cinderellas magical soiree. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 20. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) Cruella de Vil may have committed attempted puppy murder, but theres still something irresistibly delightful about her Patsy from Ab Fab combination of luxury goods and frightening taste. Only Cruella could answer a simple How are you? with the line: "Miserable darling, as usual, perfectly wretched. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 19. Lady and the Tramp (1955) One of several films on this list containing problematic material, Lady and the Tramp certainly isnt a faultless film. However, given that the central courtship is between two dogs, the film boasts a surprisingly elegant love story. Not only is there the famous Bella Notte scene and its accidental spaghetti kiss, but the crooning Pekingese, voiced by Peggy Lee, is simply sublime. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 18. Moana (2016) Disney took the straightforward path to making a hit musical for today: they hired Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Hamilton composer and lyricist is a maestro when it comes to cranking out the hits. Opetaia Foa'i helped create the soundtracks South Pacific touches, while Dwayne Johnson even wheeled out some light rapping for his performance as the demigod Maui. Moana tells a culturally specific story with spirit, heart, and humour more of this in the future please, Disney. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 17. The Emperor's New Groove (2000) The Emperors New Groove never quite got the appreciation it deserved when it was first released, largely because, like Lilo & Stitch, its been tossed aside as another forgettable post-Disney Renaissance entry. Not so fast: though it may not have the epic scale of Mulan or Beauty and the Beast, The Emperors New Groove is a funny, endlessly quotable (Pull the lever, Kronk!) Disney film that most importantly finally let Eartha Kitt voice a Disney villain. Disney The 30 best Disney films 16. Frozen (2013) It may be every modern parents least favourite Disney film, but Frozen is actually pretty great if youve not been forced to watch it five times a day, seven days a week. On top of a moving central story about self-acceptance and sisterly love, Idina Menzels rendition of Let it Go is a showstopper tune that demands to belted at least once at every karaoke night. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 15. Peter Pan (1953) A flight of fancy that celebrates the power of imagination, JM Barries Peter Pan was always an obvious fit for Disney. The film presents an uplifting and limitless world to younger audiences, while letting the adults pretend miserable things like taxes and divorce dont exist for a precious hour and a bit. Plus, Tinker Bell seems like a vicious gossip and the ideal person to go for a drink with, even if she doesnt quite speak our language. The 30 best Disney films 14. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) Its the film that started it all. Although Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has since been overshadowed by its successors to some degree, it still has its fair share of magical moments. Theres the small army of birds and rodents that come to Snow Whites aid during Whistle While You Work, and the Evil Queen, gone full Joan Crawford, delivering her oft misquoted line: Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 13. Hercules (1997) A round of applause for John Musker, who had the idea of telling the Greek myth of Hercules through a chorus of gospel singers. They are, without a doubt, the true heroes of this film, thanks to the insanely catchy Zero to Hero. That said, Megaras definitely a close runner-up for the title, since her Im a damsel. Im in distress. I can handle this routine made her the go-to Disney princess for the cool kids. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 12. Mulan (1998) Let them deny it all they want, but youll be hard-pressed to find a Nineties kid who hasnt secretly put Ill Make a Man Out of You on their workout playlist. The whole film, in fact, is a power anthem, while Mulans one-woman feminist revolution makes her one of those rare multitasking princesses who can do a lot more than just win over a handsome prince. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 11. The Jungle Book (1967) As the very last film to be produced by Walt Disney himself, The Jungle Book marked the end of an era for the studio. The film captures the kind of easy charm that made Disneys work such a huge part of so many childhoods in the first place. As Baloo eases into The Bear Necessities, it feels very much like someones come to gently pat you on the shoulder and tell you everythings going to be alright. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 10. Aladdin (1992) Aladdin may have plenty of tricks up its sleeve, but it deserves its place in the upper echelons of Disney films purely on the strength of Robin Williamss performance as Genie. The comedy actor recorded over 18 hours of additional improvised material for the film, and the finished product is one of the greatest existing tributes to his manic energy as a performer, alongside his vast gallery of impressions. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 9. Alice in Wonderland (1951) Another magnificent adaptation of complex source material, Disneys take on Alice in Wonderland doesnt get lost in Lewis Carolls maze of wordplay, but cooks up its own delightful nonsense. Alice gets read to filth by a patch of garden flowers, Ed Wynns Mad Hatter oozes moneyed eccentricity, and there is a general psychedelic vibe to the whole affair. Alice in Wonderland was initially a flop, but theres no denying its status as a cult classic now. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 8. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) The Hunchback of Notre Dame is easily the most adult Disney film ever made. Theres religious hypocrisy, lust, genocide, prejudice, violent misogyny, infanticide, and corruption take your pick! Although Disney certainly used a little creative license in adapting the 19th-century Victor Hugo novel (there are no singing gargoyles in the original, sadly), its surprising how fluently its central themes have been translated without threatening the films PG rating. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 7. Lilo & Stitch (2002) Although it was technically released in the dip that followed the Disney Renaissance, Lilo & Stitch is a highly underrated entry that deserves to sit among the classics. Few Disney films speak to real experiences like it does. Look past the alien intruders and Stitchs more unusual characteristics, and youll find a reminder that family is defined only as those who love and support us, no matter where we find them. Its a simple but pure message, elevated by a cast of characters who act and speak like those we recognise in our own lives. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 6. Pinocchio (1940) This is the Disney film that comes closest to a David Lynch fever dream. Putting When You Wish Upon a Star the song that best captures Walt Disneys dream aside for a moment, lets remember just how much of a surrealist nightmare the Pleasure Island sequence really is. Be virtuous or youll be turned into a literal donkey, was quite the threat for an America only recently freed from the grip of Prohibition. Its a weird and wonderful entry from Disneys early years. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 5. The Little Mermaid (1989) Were free to question Ariels decision to trade her voice so she can chase after a cute guy she met only once, but she will always remain the most loveable dinglehopper-collecting weirdo around. Ariels unquenchable curiosity is what makes this aquatic tale so charming, second only to the fact its villain was inspired by the legendary Divine. Plus, Under the Sea is such a party tune. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 4. Sleeping Beauty (1959) Sleeping Beauty is Disneys most beautiful film, thanks to the fact artists John Hench and Eyvind Earle drew heavily from Medieval tapestries, Renaissance art, and even Japanese prints. It gives the feeling of actually flipping through a storybook, as Aurora wanders a forest that looks as if its made entirely of stained glass. And, truly, has there ever been a Disney villain as deviously elegant as Maleficient? Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 3. Fantasia (1940) One of Disneys boldest and most avant garde films, Fantasia is simply masterful in its concept. A musical education for many young viewers, the film pairs classical pieces with short animated stories, each wildly different and inventive in its own right. Although Mickeys appearance in The Sorcerers Apprentice has had a life of its own outside of the original film, anyone who grew up with Fantasia is probably more likely to remember the nightmares Chernabog gave them the Night on Bald Mountain sequence is unlike anything else in the Disney canon. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 2. Beauty and the Beast (1991) If you need a sign of exactly how impressive a piece of filmmaking Beauty and the Beast is, reflect on the fact that a love story between a woman and a buffalo-bear-man is the first animated film ever to have been nominated for an Academy Award. And this is nearly two decades before The Shape of Water brought interspecies romance to the ceremony. This is truly a tale as old as time, with a lush Alan Menken score (with lyrics by Howard Ashman) and a smart, relatable heroine in Belle. Rex Features The 30 best Disney films 1. The Lion King (1994) Produced at the height of Disneys Renaissance in the 1990s, The Lion King is an epic testament to what animation can achieve as a medium. Can it match the power of its source material, William Shakespeares Hamlet? Well, when Rafiki lifts an infant Simba up to the skies, as an entire kingdom of savannah creatures bows in servitude, all soundtracked to Circle of Life, you cant help but feel momentarily convinced. A film of stunning vistas, heart-wrenching tragedy, and memorable musical moments, theres no doubt that The Lion King deserves its place as one of the greatest animated films of all time.
The film starts in Florida in 1919. The Medici Brothers circus is struggling. We can tell as much from the food stains on the vest of the ringmaster, Max Medici (DeVito), and the faded paintwork on the circus wagons. Its not just the war that has harmed business but the Spanish flu epidemic. The scent of death is never far away.
Burton includes a magnificent early sequence in which a belching steam train pulls into town and soldiers returning home appear on the platform. One of the last to disembark is Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell), formerly the circus cowboy. His kids Milly (played by Thandie Newtons daughter Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) rush towards him through the steam but cant hide their shock at what the war has done to him.
In a bid to revive his circus, Max has bought a pregnant elephant, Mrs Jumbo. The elephants here do not speak, with the filmmakers avoiding anthropomorphising the animals. There are close ups of their tear-filled eyes as mother and child are separated, but they dont burst into song. Nor does a stork deliver the baby (although one is spotted nearby when Dumbo is born). Sophisticated CGI gives the impression we are watching real elephants. We can see every wrinkle on their trunks and skin.
Burtons inspiration for the circus is as much Tod Brownings horror classic Freaks as the Disney original. Like Browning, he identifies with the circus misfits. Their way of life is dying and the public treats them with ambivalence, marvelling at their stunts but also taunting and ridiculing them.
Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up
Lonely and motherless themselves, Holts kids strike up an immediate rapport with Dumbo. When Dumbo sneezes after sucking a feather up his trunk, Milly and Joe are first to notice he jumps prodigious distances into the air using his enormous floppy ears to propel himself upward.
Ehren Krugers screenplay portrays a world in which everyone is exploiting everyone else. Max sees the flying elephant as his best chance of saving the circus. Just as Max takes advantage of Dumbo, city slicker showman V A Vandevere (Keaton) takes advantage of Max. He, in turn, is in thrall to the cynical old Wall Street banker, J Griffin Remington (Alan Arkin).
Narratively, the new Dumbo is a little flimsy. It has only two main locations. From the Florida backwaters, the story quickly switches to the big city, where Vandevere runs Dreamland, a gigantic amusement park with a circus at its centre. Plot points are skimmed over. Some characters disappear abruptly from the storyline while others arent developed. The richness here is less in the plotting than in the extraordinary visuals. Dreamland is an homage both to Art Deco and to the Hollywood of the 1920s and 1930s. Production design is exhaustively detailed. Burton includes wildly elaborate tracking shots through vast crowds of onlookers and circus jugglers, clowns and acrobats, Busby Berkeley-like chorus scenes and a finale involving fire and captive animals that could come from an old King Kong-style horror movie.
Always at the centre of the commotion is the lovable, floppy-eared pachyderm himself. Dumbo serves a double function. He is the forlorn little creature reviled as a freak who learns how to harness his own special talent. He is also there to help the human characters overcome their traumas. In caring for him, Holt connects with his own children and deals with his wartime grief. His daughter Milly finds a focus for her scientific experiments. The trapeze artist Colette overcomes her own cynicism. Its catharsis all round. The themes are much the same as in the original animated film but Burton comes at them in such a quirky and subversive way that the film never feels bland or earthbound.
Jussie Smollett is making an "emergency court appearance" in Chicago, according to local media reports.
The Empire actor, who has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of lying to authorities about being the victim of a racist, homophobic attack, is appearing at the at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse this Tuesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
A spokesperson told the publication that Smollett and his attorneys will speak to the press following the hearing.
It wasn't immediately clear what the purpose of the emergency court session was.
Smollet entered a not guilty plea earlier this month after being charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct.
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
His next court date was originally scheduled for 17 April, before today's emergency hearing.
Prosecutors have alleged that Smollett staged his own attack because he was dissatisfied with his salary and trying to further his career through publicity.
Smollett has maintained his innocence and his legal team has referred to the charges against him as "prosecutorial overkill".
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
The last time the Empire actor publicly spoke to the press dates back to February, when he told Robin Roberts on Good Morning America that he was angry at those doubting his account of the alleged attack.
All charges against an American actor accused of staging a hate attack against himself have been dropped unexpectedly.
Jussie Smollett, a star in US TV drama Empire, had been suspected of lying to police about being the victim of a racist, homophobic attack.
Smolletts legal team said his record has now been wiped clean.
The actor had been indicted on 16 felony counts of making a false report after telling authorities he was assaulted.
He told police in his initial report in January that two masked men shouted racial and anti-gay slurs, poured bleach on him, beat him and looped a rope around his neck.
Smollett also claimed they shouted, This is Maga country a reference to President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again campaign slogan.
The prosecutors office offered no detailed explanation as to why the charges were dropped.
Its statement said: After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr Smolletts volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the city of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case. We stand by the Chicago Police Departments investigation and our decision to approve charges in this case.
Smollett had made a $10,000 (7,500) bond payment to the city to get out of jail after his arrest.
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
Police and prosecutors had alleged that Smollett orchestrated his own attack because he was unhappy with his pay on Empire and was seeking to promote his career.
They had also alleged that Smollett hired two men to attack him and that he paid them $3,500.
Authorities had also claimed that before the attack, Smollett sent a letter threatening him to the Chicago studio where Empire is shot. The FBI, which is investigating that letter, has declined to comment on the investigation.
Smollett has insisted that he is innocent and his legal team have previously referred to the charges against him as prosecutorial overkill.
Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up
The actor and his attorneys spoke to the press following an emergency hearing on Tuesday. This was his first public address since a February interview on Good Morning America, in which he expressed his anger towards those who doubted his account.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
He said the last few weeks had been incredibly difficult and some of the worst in his life, and thanked his family, his friends, and all those who have supported him.
The actor said he has been truthful and consistent since day one, adding that he is looking forward to going back to work and moving on.
His legal team said they believed that dropping the charges is the correct result, and clarified that there was no deal nor deferred prosecution.
Additional reporting by agencies
To scientists surprise, the biggest glacier in Greenland has grown while all those around it are melting.
Since 2016, the ice of the Jakobshavn glacier has been thickening slightly at its edge, contrary to the apparently relentless retreat of all polar ice, Nasa experts have discovered.
But they say their findings are not good news for climate change, because Greenland overall is still losing large amounts of ice, which outweighs the small amount gathered by the Jakobshavn glacier.
In an article in Nature Geoscience, researchers from Nasas Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) project said the slight growth was down to relatively cool ocean waters at the glaciers base, reversing a 20-year trend of thinning and retreating ice.
But the Jakobshavn drains only about 7 per cent of the ice sheet, so even if it were growing robustly, ice loss elsewhere would outweigh its slight expansion, the scientists warned.
"Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change Show all 38 1 /38 "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 Reuters "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Magdeburg, Germany on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest outside Holyrood in Edinburgh on March 15 Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Cape Town, South Africa on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in New York on March 15 AFP/Getty Images "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Madrid on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Quezon City, Philippines on March 15 Getty Images "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Vienna on March 15 AFP/Getty Images "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Dublin on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Canterbury, Kent on march 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest outside Holyrood in Edinburgh on March 15 Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Erfurt, Germany on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Zagreb, Croatia on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Lisbon on March 15 Reuters "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Edinburgh on March 15 Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Florence, Italy on March 15 Sign reads: there is no future without a planet, let's not sell it for money EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Vienna on March 15 Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Brighton on March 15 Reuters "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest outside Holyrood in Edinburgh Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Cambridge on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change Students protest in Bangalore, India on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Cape Town, South Africa on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change Students protest in Bangalore, India on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change A student protests in Lucerne, Switzerland on 15 March EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 AFP/Getty Images "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Milan, Italy on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 AFP/Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Lund, Sweden on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change A poster with Greta Thunberg, who began the current children's movement at the protest in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Cape Town, South Africa on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Canterbury, Kent on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Canterbury, Kent on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest outside Holyrood in Edinburgh Getty
The thinking was once glaciers start retreating, nothings stopping them, said Josh Willis, lead scientist of the project. Weve found that thats not true.
The researchers believe a recent influx of unusually cold water from the north Atlantic pushing into the Arctic has caused the glacier to grow slightly.
And other glaciers among Greenlands 200 or more may also be expanding, suggesting changes may be harder to predict than previously thought, said Willis.
A natural cycle in the Atlantic Ocean switches back and forth between warm and cold about once every 20 years, taking cooler waters far up the western coast of Greenland. But the phase will switch again at some point and warmer waters will return.
The Jakobshavn alternates between expanding and retreating (Getty) (GETTY)
All this is an indicator of how sensitive glaciers are to ocean temperatures, says the studys lead author, Ala Khazendar, a glaciologist with the project.
The team suspects it may mean that the overall melting trend may be happening more slowly than previously thought, National Geographic reported.
However, the Jakobshavn glacier is still contributing to global sea rise, Dr Khazendar said. That doesnt stop.
This cooling is going to pass. When it does, the glacier is going to retreat even faster than before Josh Willis
Between 2000 and 2010, Jakobshavn contributed the largest solid ice discharge in all of Greenlands ice sheet, equivalent to nearly 1mm of global sea rise.
The glacier had had periods of alternating fast retreat and growth in the 20th century, Dr Khazendar said.
But on average the air and sea are warming, so retreats will always be bigger than advances, Dr Willis added.
Over 90 per cent of the heat thats trapped from greenhouse gases are warming the oceans. So we know in the long run, this cooling is going to pass. When it does, the glacier is going to retreat even faster than it was before.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
Antarctic glaciers are also being eroded by warm currents, with 10 per cent of the continents coastal glaciers in retreat.
Research has shown that from 1979 to 2012, Greenlands rainfall increased, triggering sudden melting.
A panda is worth a thousand wasps. Put a cute picture of one of those black-and-white bears on your front cover or advertising campaign, and watch the cash flow in. A swarm of flies is unlikely to produce the same effect.
Why is this? Presumably because by and large people dont really care about bugs. The plight of the worlds whales and elephants has long been a cause celebre, while the insects at the heart of the planets ecosystems have been overlooked.
One exception is the bee, an insect thats easy to love. They make our honey, and their pollination provides a 690m boost to our economy.
April Fools' Day is almost here which, along with the onslaught of April showers, can only mean one thing: the most mischievous among us are already planning the tricks we will play on unsuspecting friends and family.
A tradition thats celebrated around the world, April Fools' Day is an opportunity for people to inject some lighthearted fun into an otherwise ordinary day.
But when did the day of trickery begin, who celebrates it and what are some of the best ways to get involved this year?
Heres everything you need to know.
What is April Fool's Day?
April Fools' Day, or All Fools' Day as its sometimes known, takes place on 1 April every year.
The custom sees people play tricks or jokes on others and if that person falls for the prank, they are called an April Fool.
However, if you want to take part you need to be quick as tradition in the UK states you can only play tricks on people up until midday.
When did April Fools' Day begin?
Although April Fools' Day has been celebrated for centuries, its exact origin remains a mystery.
According to Andrea Livesey, a historian from the University of Bristol, not everyone agrees where the tradition came from.
Some have argued that a story told by early English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century where a fox plays a prank on a rooster is the first reference to pranks taking place on the first of April, Livesey told BBC Newsround.
However, the poet doesn't directly refer to 1 April. Instead, Chaucer says 32 days syn March began, which people have taken to mean 32 days since March began which would be April 1st.
Livesey went on to explain that some believe the tradition started because of events in the calendar, particularly one called the Renewal Festival which dates back to Roman times.
A celebration that occurred at the start of a new year or season, the event often turned things on their head or topsy turvy, with servants controlling their masters or children controlling their parents.
How is April Fools' Day celebrated around the world?
April Fools' Day, or Dia Da Mentira "Day of Lies" as its known in Brazil, is celebrated by people around the world but different countries all have their own traditions.
In Belgium, Italy and France, the day is also called April Fish Day Poisson dAvril in French, or pesce d'aprile in Italian and sees children taping paper fish onto people's backs.
Meanwhile, Prima Aprilis, uwazaj, bo sie pomylisz! is a phrase you might hear spoken on April 1 in Poland. This translates to: April Fools' Day, be careful you can be wrong!
In Scotland, a foolish person is called a "gowk", so it makes sense that the day is traditionally known as" Hunt the Gowk Day".
Here, April Fools' Day is celebrated for the first two days of April. The first day is spent pranking and hoaxing people, while the second known as Tailie Day is when people place tails on each other's backs.
In the UK, pranks and jokes are performed until about noon and can include everything from placing a whoopee cushion onto someones chair to replacing Oreo biscuits' sweet fillings with toothpaste.
Some countries also have similar traditions that take place at other times of the year.
On 28 December, people in Spain celebrate The Day of the Holy Innocents a day when everyone, including the media, is allowed to play practical jokes.
What were some of last years best April Fools' Day pranks?
Last year, a number of media outlets and big brands played pranks on the public.
Google marked April Fools' Day by incorporating Where's Wally? into its maps, enabling users to search for the character and his signature red-and-white stripes in real locations around the world.
Coca-Cola and Heinz also played tricks on their customers. While the former said it was going to launch three new flavours of is sugar-free Zero drink including avocado, sourdough and charcoal, Heinz unveiled a new product called Chocolate Mayonnaise.
Google's contribution to this year's April Fool's Day involved Where's Wally (Google Maps ) (Google Maps)
Scandinavian homeware retailer Clas Ohlson also brought another product launch announcement - bottles of fresh Swedish air.
Featuring a classically Swedish design and bottled in the area surrounding Insjon, Clas Ohlsons founding town, the product apparently allowed British customers to breathe like a Swede and was advertised for 1.04.
Has genuine news been mistaken for a prank on April Fools' Day before?
Yes. April Fools' Day often means that people are slightly suspicious of what they read in the media in an effort to avoid being tricked by a prank story.
However, there have been a number of stories which, despite seeming far-fetched, were in fact genuine.
On 1 April 1946, the most destructive tsunami in Hawaii's modern history occurred on the island's shorelines. The disaster, which killed 159 people, became known as the April Fools' Day Tsunami because many people thought it to be an April Fool's Day prank.
Facebook has removed thousands more accounts from Iran and Russian due to suspicious activity on the social network, including pro-Brexit posts.
The company announced that a total of 2,643 pages, groups and accounts had been found to engaging in "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" on Facebook and Instagram.
A number of accounts originating from Macedonia and Kosovo were also removed, after Pages purporting to represent political communities in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States were discovered.
Among the suspicious posts cited by Facebook in its report were some calling for UK politicians in favour of remaining in the European Union to resign.
A link to an article from a site claiming to be a news website was included in the post.
A post calling for pro-EU politicians to resign (Facebook)
Of the 2,632 pages, groups and accounts removes, 513 were tied to Iran, while 1,907 were linked to Russia, Facebook said.
"We didnt find any links between these sets of activities, but they used similar tactics by creating networks of accounts to mislead others about who they were and what they were doing," Nathaniel Gleicher, head of Facebook's cyber security policy, wrote in the report.
"We are constantly working to detect and stop this type of activity because we dont want our services to be used to manipulate people."
Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Show all 15 1 /15 Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Facebook is born On 4 Feb, 2004, 19-year-old Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg launched a website called 'TheFacebook' from his dorm. Within 24 hours the college social network had more than 1,000 users Wikimedia Commons Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Winklevoss twins sue Zuckerberg Within one week of launching, fellow Harvard students Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narendra accused Zuckerberg of stealing their idea. It would be four years later when the resulting lawsuit was finally settled Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Open for business The social network finally opened it platform to everyone on 26 September, 2006. The move proved the catalyst in supercharging the site's already explosive growth PA Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Billion-dollar bid Yahoo offered $1 billion to buy Facebook in September 2006 but Zuckerberg turned it down. 'I dont know what I could do with the money,' Zuckerberg reportedly said. 'Id just start another social networking site' Reuters Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network In the money In September 2009, almost five years since the site launched, Facebook turned a profit for the first time Getty Images/iStockphoto Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Taking the lead Facebook overtook MySpace in 2010 to become the worlds most popular social network Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Taking on the tech giants In 2011, Google launched its own social network that it hoped would knock Facebook from its perch. Despite its initial success, Google+ ultimately failed and will be shut down completely in 2019 Getty Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Facebook goes public On 18 May, 2012, Facebook went public. The initial public offering raised $16 billion the third largest in US history Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Gobbling up the competition Facebook acquired Instagram in April 2012 for $1 billion, consolidating its position as the world's leading social network Reuters Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network One billion users On 4 October, 2012, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook had hit 1 billion users. 'If youre reading this: thank you for giving me and my little team the honour of serving you,' he wrote in a blog post Getty Images Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Expanding its empire In February 2014 Facebook acquired the messaging app WhatsApp for $19.3 billion REUTERS/Dado Ruvic Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Two billion users In June 2017, Facebook passed the 2 billion user milestone REUTERS/Dado Ruvic Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Privacy scandal On 17 March 2018, news broke that UK firm Cambridge Analytica had harvested data from around 87 million Facebook users for the purpose of political profiling in the build up to the 2016 US presidential elections Shutterstock Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Record profits Despite the scandals and subsequent #DeleteFacebook campaign, Facebook posted record profits just before its 15th anniversary, the equivalent of $7.37 from each of its 2.32 billions users iStock/Independent Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Unhappy users A study found that people are happier when they dont use Facebook, adding to mounting evidence surrounding the impact social media has on mental health Rex Features
Facebook's efforts to stem these types of coordinated misinformation campaigns are ongoing, Mr Gleicher added, with collaborations with law enforcement agencies already underway.
"While we are making progress rooting out this abuse, as weve said before, its an ongoing challenge because the people responsible are determined and well-funded," he wrote.
Facebook has previously faced criticism for its role in allowing its users' data to be used for the purpose of political profiling during the UK's 2016 EU referendum.
It was also forced to remove hundreds of accounts tied to Iran earlier this year.
Nasa has cancelled the first ever all-female spacewalk, saying it doesnt have enough spacesuits ready in the right size.
Two of the astronauts currently on the International Space Station Christina Koch and Anne McClain had been set to head out of the floating lab to instal powerful new batteries on the outside to charge up from its solar arrays.
But now the space agency says a problem with spacesuits will mean Ms McClain is unable to take part in the spacewalk, and she will be replaced by a man, fellow Nasa astronaut Nick Hague.
The problem arose because during a recent spacewalk it became clear Ms McClain was finding that a medium-size hard upper torso the spacesuits shirt fit her best. But there can only be one medium-sized shirt available for the spacewalk on Friday, Nasa said, and that is being worn by Koch.
That led mission managers to rearrange the assignments and bring in a man instead, undoing the vast excitement that had been built up for the first ever spacewalk conducted only by women.
NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Show all 21 1 /21 NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Robert McCalls mid-1970s prediction of NASAs space shuttle building a modular space station is close to what finally happened, except that the real shuttles only flew one at a time. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Ed White photographed by Gemini 4 Commander Jim McDivitt. During the first of 66 orbits, they made an unsuccessful attempt to rendezvous with the spent upper stage of their Titan launch vehicle. On McDivitts advice, White waited one more orbit to recover from the effort of the failed rendezvous, and then exited the Gemini for his historic spacewalk on June 3, 1965. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Apollo 9 CM pilot Dave Scott emerges from the hatch, testing some of the spacesuit systems that will be used for lunar operations. The photo was taken from the hatch of the docked LM by Rusty Schweickart in March 1969. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Mothership Balls Three overflies an X-15 in 1961. Three operational X-15s were constructed and flown for 199 test flights between them, as they pushed at the envelopes of speed and altitude, and reached the very edges of space. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives The Mercury Control Center (MCC) at Cape Canaveral supervised seven human spaceflights between May 1961 and March 1965, into the beginning of the Gemini era. Meanwhile the more advanced control complex in Houston was taking shape ahead of Apollo. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Technicians working at the base of Alan Shepards Mercury-Redstone 3 launch vehicle are swathed in vapour from vented excess oxidiser gas on May 5, 1961. Subsequent rockets could not be so closely approached when fueling. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives The Rendezvous Docking Simulator at Langley prepared Gemini astronauts for the strange physics of orbital flight. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Ahead of Gemini 10, Commander John Young explains to the media how copilot Michael Collins will inspect the Agena Target Docking Vehicle during his spacewalk, 1966. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Navy divers prepare to retrieve the Gemini 6A crew on December 16, 1965. Green dye was released by spacecraft on splashdown, making it easier to spot from the air. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives The U.S. geological Surveys map of the area around Tycho Crater, famous as the site of a mysterious alien monolith in the 1968 science fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey. In real life, this chaotic and rugged terrain would have been too difficult for an Apollo mission to access. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot Michael Collins inspects NASAs Lunar Receiving Laboratory at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where rock samples collected by Apollo were analysed. Nitrogen gas protected the rocks from accidental corrosion in Earths oxygen-rich atmosphere. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives NASA scientists are confident that Buzz Aldrins boot prints from Apollo 11 are still as sharp and distinct today as when they were first stamped down in 1969, because the Moon has no air or rain to erode them. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives NASAs Anechoic Chambers are among the quietest places anywhere on earth. Walls absorb almost all stray echoes, whether sound or radio. This 1972 model of a shuttle, being tested for radio characteristics, has thruster pods on the wingtips. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Lightning strikes the launchpad of Space Shuttle Challenger on August 30, 1983 prior to STS-8, the first pre-dawn launch of the space shuttle program. Launchpads are surrounded by tall lightning towers and other conductive systems.These create a giant Faraday Cage, diverting the electric charge of strike well away from the spacecraft. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives The ISS has been continuously occupied since November 2000. Its habitable volume is equivalent to a Boeing 747s. An international crew of six people live and work while traveling at five miles (8 km) per second, orbiting Earth once every 90 minutes. This is the single most complex and ambitious engineering effort in history, even when compared to Apollo. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives The Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) is a hybrid of parachute and balloon technology. A new generation of flexible heat shield materials could enable a huge shield to be deployed from a small storage canister just before a spaceraft hits the atmosphere of its target planet. In July 2012 a HIAD survived a trip through Earths atmosphere at 7,600 mph. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives In April 2016, ocean scientists at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, analysing data from Landsat 8, found mysterious lines crisscrossing the vegetation in the shallow waters of the North Caspian Sea.The cause turned out to be ice gouging at the seafloor in winter, before melting in the spring, and leaving just these clues. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Curiosity made this self-portrait on August 5, 2015, by maneuvering the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera on the end of a seven-foot-long robotic arm. Multiple overlapping frames were acquired, then digitally stitched together by image analysts at JPL. The arm moved into a new position for each frame but the camera always pointed toward a specific vanishing point to minimize parallax distortions. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Jupiter's moon Io is dwarfed by the planet it orbits, as seen by the Cassini spacecraft en route to Saturn. Cassinis 13-year tour of the ringed planet changed the course of planetary exploration. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives A technician prepares to unlatch a small door built into the guide vanes of the Transonic Wind Tunnel at Langley Research Center in 2010. The vanes prevent turbulent eddies from interfering with the tests. Courtesy of NASA NASA at 60: Amazing photos of space exploration released from archives Courtesy of NASA
Nasa spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz said Ms McClain had actually trained in both sizes of spacesuit, and that it had initially looked as if she could wear a bigger one.
We have another medium-size spacesuit segment on the station; Anne trained in M and L and thought she could use a large but decided after Fridays spacewalk a medium fits better, she wrote. In this case, its easier [and faster!] to change spacewalkers than reconfigure the spacesuit.
Ms Schierholz had also noted when the all-female spacewalk was announced that assignments may be adjusted if the flight operations team deems it necessary, and that it had happened by coincident rather than through any planning.
Ms McClain is now tentatively scheduled to do her next spacewalk on 8 April, Nasa said. But she will do that work alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques, dashing hopes of another all-female spacewalk any time soon.
There are actually enough medium-sized hard upper torso pieces on the space station, but they will not be ready for the walk on Friday.
The International Space Station (ISS) has a set of different pieces of spacesuit: not only the shirt that has proved to be a problem, but kit to cover an astronauts entire body and serve as a spacesuit while they are floating outside of the space station. But worries have repeatedly been raised about the future of that gear, and whether there is enough to allow the astronauts to effectively do their job.
In 2017, a Nasa report drew attention to the fact it was running out of functioning spacesuits and that the situation could become a problem in the future. While it has been working on new suits, making them is very expensive and they are not expected to be available any time soon.
Of the 11 remaining complete and functional spacesuits, four are kept on the ISS and the remaining seven are on Earth in various stages of refurbishment and maintenance, the audit noted.
Along with Madigan and Gonzales, two other candidates surfaced in the race Joe Barboza, a union construction laborer from the West Lawn neighborhood, and Grasiela Rodriguez, a dispatcher for a ready-mix truck company who also lives in West Lawn. Neither Barboza nor Rodriguez filed financial reports with the state to indicate they raised or spent money, the kind of activity associated with active campaigns, the Tribune has reported.
A woman who endured eight miscarriages has revealed she fell pregnant just weeks before her husband booked in for a vasectomy.
After 10 years, the couple welcomed their child, Ellis, on 2 January 2017.
Despite losing every baby at six weeks for almost a decade, Rachael Bosworth, 38, never gave up hope that she would finally have a child.
But Bosworths husband Ian, 47, couldnt face watching his wife go through another trauma and decided to have a vasectomy.
One month after he went to his GP to organise the procedure, Bosworth found out she was pregnant again.
Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks Show all 11 1 /11 Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 14 January 2019 In an unusual style choice for the Duchess, who traditionally favours neutral hues, this ensemble offers a vibrant twist on the colour-blocking trend with a red Sentaler coat, matching heels and a bright purple Aritzia dress. It was a playful choice for the royal couple's visit to Birkenhead Town Hall. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 30 January 2019 The Duchess wore head-to-toe blush for her visit to the National Theatre, where she is now a patron. The ensemble is by US designer Brandon Maxwell but the suede shoes are Aquazurra. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 1 February 2019 Oscar de la Renta can do no wrong when it comes to flirty patterned dresses. This theatrical bird and rose-covered number was an apt choice for the Duchess; visit to Bristol Old Vic. AFP/Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 7 February 2019 This Givenchy skirt offers some pizzazz thanks to its knee-high slit and its flattering waistline. Markle paired the look Aquazzura mules and a white collared shirt. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 12 February 2019 Who said you couldn't wear all-white everything? Markle paired her turtleneck Calvin Klein dress with an Amanda Wakeley coat for a gala performance at the Natural History Museum. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 23 February 2019 The Duchess was a lady in red for her visit to Casablanca, Morocco in this bespoke Valentino midi-dress, which she paired with nude court heels and a matching clutch. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 24 February 2019 Markle arrived at a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Morocco in this full-coverage caped gown by Dior, which came in an opulent shade of champagne. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 25 February 2019 This billowing Carolina Herrera dress was the perfect choice for the Duchess' outing to brace the balmy climes of Rabat, Morocco, where she'd been visiting King Mohammed VI of Morocco with Prince Harry. This hypnotic sea blue gown was a custom-made number, obviously. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 8 March 2019 Proving that maternity hemlines needn't be restricted to one's ankles, Markle stepped out in this 1960s-inspired shift dress by high street label, Reiss. Paired with a black blazer and a pair of matching Manolo Blahnik pumps, it was a classic but delightfully retro look. AFP/Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 11 March 2019 The Duchess has a penchant for rich emerald green hues, and this ensemble exemplifies just how suited the shade is to her complexion. The outfit was designed by Erdem, which was a symbolic choice given she wore the Canadian designer's pieces to a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House in London. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 11 March 2019 For the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, the Duchess wore a cream chain-print dress by Victoria Beckham, which made its runway debut just a few weeks ago at London Fashion Week. The look was topped off with a matching pillbox hat, emerald green stilettos and a satin clutch. Getty Images
A scan at six weeks and one day revealed that she was still pregnant and in January 2017, their son, Ellis, was born weighing 5lb 15oz.
Now, the new mother is speaking out with the hopes of help other people who have experienced recurrent miscarriages.
You should keep on pushing. You need to keep knocking on doors, Bosworth said.
Recommended Shay Mitchell discusses hardship of miscarriage
Thats what happened to me and now I have Ellis.
According to Tommys the largest charity funding research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth one in 100 women experience recurrent miscarriage, which is defined as three or more miscarriages in a row.
The organisation explains that the cause is unknown in around half of cases and that research into the topic is the only way we can save lives.
One in four women suffer a miscarriage at some time in their lives, and a small proportion of couples suffer multiple losses, Tommys states.
Only one in 100 women suffer three miscarriages in a row and most couples who experience a loss go on to have a successful pregnancy in the future.
Its important to know that the vast majority of miscarriages arent caused by anything that you or your partner have, or havent done.
In Bosworths case, scans at St Marys Hospital in London revealed she had a misshapen womb and surgeons operated to remove a thin layer of cells around the uterus called a septum removal operation.
However, she still went on to suffer a number of miscarriages and soon began to feel depressed, revealing that every time she find out she was pregnant she would just wait for the blood to come through my underwear.
The Miscarriage Association a charity that offers support and information to anyone affected by the loss of a baby explains that many women can experience a mixture of hope and fear when they discover they are pregnant following a miscarriage.
You may feel mixed emotions; ranging from cautiously optimistic one day, to overwhelmingly anxious the next, the Miscarriage Association states.
You may feel on high alert, trying to detect any possible symptoms of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Being pregnant again can also sometimes be comforting, easing feelings of loss. But you might also feel guilty or worried about forgetting your last pregnancy.
Know that your feelings, whatever they are, are normal and understandable given what you have been through.
When Bosworth fell pregnant again she admits she kept her expectations low but when she got to hear her baby's heart beat for the first time, that all changed.
To finally be in a position of hearing a heartbeat was just something else, Bosworth said.
I just couldnt believe it. It was our little miracle.
For more information and support about miscarriages you can contact the Miscarriage Association on 01924 200799 or email info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk.
In just a few weeks, the royal family will welcome the latest addition to their family.
In October, Kensington Palace announced the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were expecting their first child, due in spring 2019.
However, with little detail shared about Meghan Markles pregnancy in the lead up to her due date, all eyes are now focussing on the Lindo Wing.
The Lindo Wing at St Marys Hospital, London, is home to a private maternity ward which has long served as the location for several royal births.
Most recently, the Duchess of Cambridge welcomed her third child, Prince Louis, at the wing in April 2018, after giving birth to Princess Charlotte and Prince George there in 2015 and 2013, respectively.
The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren Show all 25 1 /25 The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-1166050307.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-1166050310.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-1177177288.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-1170977013.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-1170964159.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-1166866922.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-1148521578.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-1148514717.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren urn-publicid-ap.org-4a451217af36491c827986f93182692d.jpg AP The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren ROYAL-Baby-13191419.jpg PA The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren charlotte2.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren charlotte1.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-994637952.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-970693800.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren louis2.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren louis3.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-950344514.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-898514172.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-843622114.jpg AFP via Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-675360942.jpg The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-596877820.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-523284562.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-514133580.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-479559622.jpg Getty Images The best photographs of the Queen's great-grandchildren gettyimages-479559096.jpg AFP/Getty Images
Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and the Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton, have also chosen the wing for their births given its world-renowned maternity services.
In the lead up to Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys babys birth, heres everything you need to know about the Lindo Wing.
What is the Lindo Wing?
The Lindo Wing is a private facility offering surgical, medical and, obstetric care located in Paddington, London.
The Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London (Getty Images)
The unit specialises in a range of complex and robotic surgeries including trauma, weight loss, vascular, gynaecology, urology, ear, nose and throat, and general surgery.
However, its widely become recognised for its maternity services following the births of members of the royal family.
The maternity unit provides care and advice from a consultant of a parent/parents choice and a team of midwives.
If Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are based at Kensington Palace in the days leading up to the royal birth, it will take them an average of seven minutes in the car to drive from the royal residence to the wing.
The couple currently live at Frogmore Cottage on the grounds of Windsor Estate which is an estimated 50 minute car journey.
What does the Lindo Wing offer?
The wing offers several private, modern rooms with en suite facilities.
All rooms come with satellite television, a radio, bedside phone and fridge. Free WiFi is also available as is a choice of daily newspapers, every morning.
A statement on the wing's website reads: "You will be able to spend your precious first hours or days in one of our modern private, en suite rooms, and all meals will be made to order on site by our team of talented chefs. You can even order a celebratory high tea with optional champagne to welcome your new arrival.
"We also provide a secure, supervised nursery, so you can enjoy some rest whilst remaining confident that your baby is being well cared for."
The Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London (Getty Images)
Karen Yossman, who gave birth at the Lindo Wing in 2017, said of the wing: The most vital thing the Lindo offers is discretion, with each new mother ensconced in her own en-suite room equipped with high-speed internet, radio, safe, fridge and television.
"I didnt see or hear another patient during the entirety of my stay.
How much does it cost to give birth there?
When it comes to consultant-led antenatal care, a standard room for a normal delivery package for the first 24 hours of a mother and baby's stay starts at 5,900.
The cost of an additional night per room is priced at 1,175. Meanwhile, prices for a suite (as is used by the royal family) are discussed on application depending on individual requirements.
All packages on offer by the wing include routine midwife appointments, blood tests, accommodation and breakfast for the mother and partner each night of their postnatal stay, and postnatal physiotherapy.
Recommended The moment royal couples introduced their newborns to the world
To secure a booking, the wing requires a deposit of 7,075 for a "normal" delivery (non-instrumental) and 9,785 for a caesarean section.
There is also a 10 per cent discount on the standard delivery package available for mothers who have previously given birth at the wing.
Which royal family members have been born there?
Two generations of royal family have been born at the Lindo Wing, dating back to Princess Anne who gave birth to both of her children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, there in 1977 and 1981, respectively.
Previously, Queen Elizabeth IIs children were born at Buckingham Palace.
In 1982, Princess Diana chose to give birth to Prince William at the wing, making him the first heir-apparent to be born in the hospital.
The Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London (Getty Images)
She later gave birth to Prince Harry at the wing in 1984.
Years later, the Duchess of Cambridge, chose the facility for the birth place of all three of her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Pippa Middleton, meanwhile, chose the wing for the birth of her first child, Arthur Michael William Matthews in October 2018.
When do the press start camping outside the wing?
The media have been known to set up cameras in the area opposite the hospital weeks in advance of a royal birth.
For Prince Louis birth on 23 April 2018, photographers, journalists, and camera crews were set up as early as 9 April.
The Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London (Getty Images)
However, Shutterstock Royal Photographer Tim Rooke previously told Town & Country that contrary to Prince Georges birth - when people were able to camp outside the wing for weeks before his arrival - the media must wait until the expectant mother goes into hospital before taking their official positions.
"Because it is a working hospital, nobody is allowed into those positions until were told that the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted," Rooke revealed.
A woman who suffered a stroke after attempting a yoga position returned to the mat just a month later - despite continuing to suffer from memory loss and pain.
Rebecca Leigh, 40, from Gambrills, Maryland, suffered the injury while filming a yoga handstand pose tutorial for her more than 26,000 social media followers in October 2017.
According to Leigh, just hours after shed finished the tutorial, she began to feel weak and her vision began to blur - but she just assumed the symptoms were caused by herniated discs in her neck.
But it was two days later, when she noticed that her pupils were different sizes, that she rushed to the emergency room.
My right eye drooped and my pupils were different sizes, she said. It was terrifying. It was then that I knew something was very, very wrong.
Goat yoga in Amsterdam Show all 10 1 /10 Goat yoga in Amsterdam Goat yoga in Amsterdam Brenda and Mark strike a pose Mark Smith Goat yoga in Amsterdam First meeting with the goats Mark Smith Goat yoga in Amsterdam Choosing your goatmate Mark Smith Goat yoga in Amsterdam Getting to know your goat Mark Smith Goat yoga in Amsterdam Warrior pose with goats Mark Smith Goat yoga in Amsterdam Yoga and food - why not? Mark Smith Goat yoga in Amsterdam Goat yoga is not as dour as normal yoga Mark Smith Goat yoga in Amsterdam Goats provide handy extra weight to make asanas more challenging Mark Smith Goat yoga in Amsterdam In shavasana, with goats Mark Smith Goat yoga in Amsterdam The goats here drive as well as do yoga Mark Smith
At the emergency room, an MRI scan revealed that Leigh had suffered a stroke, a diagnosis that required Leigh to spend the next five days in the neurological intensive care unit so doctors could run tests.
It was a CTA scan that finally revealed Leigh had torn her right carotid artery, one of four arteries that supplies blood to the brain, while doing an advanced type of handstand called a hollowback handstand, which "requires you to extend your neck, drop your hips back and arch your lower spine all while in a headstand," Leigh explained.
Doctors found the tear resulted in a blood clot in her brain that caused the stroke - and the trauma of the tear in the wall of the artery also caused a small aneurysm.
Following the injury, Leigh experienced terrible headaches that made light unendurable.
The stroke caused massive head pain, unlike any headache I had ever experienced before, she recalled. I couldnt shower without help, wash my hair, feed myself, or take my pile of scary and unfamiliar life-saving medications.
Leigh also experienced a constant wooshing sound in her right ear - the sound of the blood trying to get through my artery up into my brain.
After a month of excruciating pain, Leigh was eventually able to achieve small milestones such as sitting up i bed to watch TV or talking short three-minute walks outside.
Leigh still suffers from the effects of the stroke (Rebecca Leigh / SWNS)
Shortly after, she went back to her yoga mat, because she know if I didnt get back to my practice relatively soon after my stroke, I never would.
Six months later, however, she was still dealing with the effects of the stroke and aneurysm.
I am still dealing with some sort of headache, face or neck pain on a daily basis, she said. My face physically hurts and gets worse just by talking for a few minutes or having a busy day.
The stroke was caused by a headstand position (Rebecca Leigh / SWNS)
Leigh has since gone back to practising yoga (Rebecca Leigh / SWNS)
I forget things quickly. I have to ask people to remind me of things theyve already told me, something I never had to do prior to my injury.
Leigh was in the hospital for five days (Rebecca Leigh / SWNS)
Now more than a year since her incident, she refuses to let the accident hold her back - but wants to inform others who practice yoga to be careful.
About a year after my stroke I was about 75 per cent back to where I was before my stroke, she said. The fact that I can touch my toes is enough to make me smile.
I wanted to share my story so that something like this doesnt happen to any other yogis. If I had read of just one incidence of something similar, I would have known that a stroke was a very real possibility when I was experiencing my symptoms.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
A carotid tear typically results from a neck injury such as a car accident. According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, symptoms include headaches, eye pain, neck pain, a droopy eyelid and small pupil, weakness, numbness, and other issues.
Software engineers, entrepreneurs and product managers huddle in small groups, brainstorming ideas and scrawling thoughts onto Post-it Notes on a wall. The project leader exhorts them to think of products around these themes.
It's not a startup but a grassroots band of volunteers from London's tech industry developing websites to prevent Brexit, Britain's departure from the European Union that has fallen into complete disarray.
They hope to put public pressure on politicians to give people a second vote. While the group is small, their engagement in politics underscores the concerns among businesses and entrepreneurs who stand to suffer from tariffs and border checks.
I've never been a political person before, really, said German-born venture capitalist Andreas Cser. A longtime London resident, he joined the group, Tech For UK, after he found Brexit made Britain less welcoming for foreigners and exposed the incompetence and brazen political hypocrisy of its political leaders.
Cser, whose firm, Automat Ventures, invests in companies that use artificial intelligence, helped connect Tech For UK to computer scientists. What I know about is how companies develop tech products, and how they scale them up, he said.
How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit Show all 10 1 /10 How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Independent How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Telegraph How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Mirror How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Metro How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The I How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Guardian How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Financial Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Mail How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Express
Since its launch last year, Tech For U.K. has rolled out a dozen mobile-friendly websites. They help users automatically send anti-Brexit messages by postcard or voicemail to their politicians or spotlight the EU's benefits to Britain. Volunteers donate their time and the group also gets limited funding from anti-Brexit campaign group Best For Britain, which vets the digital tools before they go live. The latest, launched on the weekend, lets Facebook and Instagram users add an augmented reality Stop Brexit button to photos and videos.
Britain was due to depart the EU on Friday but the process has been delayed after Parliament rejected the Brexit deal Prime Minister Theresa May negotiated with the EU. The House of Commons took control late Monday of the stalled process and plans to vote this week on alternatives to May's deal.
One of the group's goals is to rally support for a second referendum on Brexit. There's no majority for that in Parliament, but a big march in London on Saturday to demand one suggests momentum is growing. A retired academic's online petition went viral last week, receiving over 5.6 million signatures in favor of revoking Brexit altogether.
With many outcomes to Brexit still open, Tech for U.K.'s aim is to persuade those on the fence about the benefits of EU membership and give people who are opposed to leaving a way to express their views.
At the end of the day, it's for those who might change their mind, said Kiyana Katebi, founder of an IT consultancy.
Katebi helped develop the group's first site, MyEU.uk , which shows people EU-funded projects in their neighborhood based on their post code. The site had around 100,000 visitors in the first two days after its September launch.
Another site, Finalsay.app , let British residents leave a voice message for their parliamentary representative with their final say against Brexit. Hey MP! lets people automatically send postcards to their lawmaker asking for another vote.
It Costs EU reveals the portion of income tax going to the bloc while EU Worth It shows the amount of EU funding British districts receive, to counter claims Brits pay too much to the EU.
Can I Move To Barcelona simply explains how Brits can still move to the Spanish city, or dozens of other EU destinations, under the bloc's freedom of movement rules a benefit that likely ends across the British border if Brexit happens.
The group, while small, says they've have had an impact on sentiment but didn't provide any numbers on site traffic or messages sent.
The point is to ask people the question: Do they really want this? and then show them how Brexit will affect them, said Mike Butcher, Tech For U.K.'s co-founder.
About 200-300 people have joined the group, Butcher said. They work on the projects on evenings and weekends and collaborate remotely.
The group is using technology to counter what they see as misinformation surrounding Britain's EU membership that may have contributed to the 2016 referendum vote result to leave.
Since the referendum, Brexit opponents have raised concerns about the influence of Russian meddling and the role of social-media advertising using data harvested from Facebook.
One of the reasons that we lost in 2016 was that (the pro-Brexit camp's) digital game was far superior to the people fighting to stay in. We're playing catch-up, said Eloise Todd, CEO of Best For Britain.
On the other side of the argument, pro-Brexit groups flourish online, with names such as Get Britain Out, Stand Up 4 Brexit and Leavers of Britain using social media to promote their views.
More than 1,100 U.K.-based tech executives signed Tech For U.K.'s open letter last year to May, warning that Brexit risks making it harder to hire tech talent and crimping funding from Europe. But for many volunteers, Brexit's impact on the country transcends those concerns.
At one of the group's recent weekly evening meetups, in a tech company's basement meeting room in Central London, the crowd of about 20 split into three groups.
They ran through ideas and themes. Would Brexit make it harder for European musicians to play at Britain's Glastonbury music festival? Could they build a site to get people in Ireland to write letters to relatives in Britain? Would microbreweries still be able to get imported hops?
We just need to think about various members of the public, what might tick their buttons, startup founder James Tabor told his group. This is about getting into the minds of the general public.
AP
Flu vaccine could be airlifted into the UK after Brexit if routes via ferries or the Channel Tunnel are disrupted, the boss of a leading drugs company has said.
We prepare in different ways and have prepared many different routes into the UK, Hugo Fry, the UK managing director for French pharmaceutical company Sanofi told the BBCs Wake up to Money radio programme on Tuesday.
If we have to in the end, we will airlift it in.
He added: We are eating the cost of that but patients and citizens are our primary concern, so were quite happy to take that cost and make that planning.
Flu vaccine cannot be stored in the same way that some other medicines can, Mr Fry warned.
Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Show all 15 1 /15 Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Nigel Farage has spent his political career campaigning for the UK to leave the EU. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Boris Johnson's support for Brexit took many by surprise before the EU referendum. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises The UK and EU are yet to agree on a withdrawal deal. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises This was taken from a 2012 speech delivered by Mr Davis. He does not currently support a second Brexit referendum. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Boris Johnson now supports a hard Brexit and resigned from the cabinet in 2018 over Theresa May's strategy. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises The US recently issued trade negotiation objectives for future talks with the UK. The country made clear that it expects access to the UK's agriculture industry, reviving the debate about chlorinated chicken. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Nigel Farage does not support the current campaign for a second Brexit referendum. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Despite this quote, in February 2019 Boris Johnson said a no deal Brexit "may yet be the best option for the UK". Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises The UK and EU are yet to begin negotiating a deal regarding their future relationship. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Theresa May announced that the UK would be leaving the Single Market in her Lancaster House speech in January 2017. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Theresa May triggered Article 50 on 29 March 2017. Her withdrawal deal is yet to be passed. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises A classic from the 2015 general election campaign. David Cameron resigned on 24 June 2016, following the EU referendum result. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises David Davis resigned from his post as Brexit secretary in July 2018 after disagreeing with Theresa May's negotiation strategy. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Michael Gove was one of the most influential Leave voices during the EU referendum campaign. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Jacob Rees-Mogg, a prominent backbencher, does not support a second Brexit referendum. He has called the use of this quote "fundamentally dishonest" as it was taken from a 2011 speech discussing the option of referendum before David Cameron entered negotiations with the EU. Such a vote was never held. Twitter/Led By Donkeys
You cant stockpile it because its made at a particular time of the year and its only available to import in the month at the end of August/beginning of September, he explained.
Sanofi brings most of its drug supplies into the UK via the Channel Tunnel, a route that faced long delays in 2005 due to a lorry drivers strike.
Mr Fry added: Were doing everything possible to make sure that everyone will get their medicines and vaccines so that they can be reassured and they dont have to worry about it.
Sanofi is the latest pharmaceutical giant to lay out the problems it is likely to face after a disorderly Brexit.
In January, German chemical drugs firms said Theresa Mays government must avoid a hard Brexit in order to safeguard the supply of medicines to the UK.
VCI, the industry body for German drug manufacturers, warned that transitional arrangements were needed to avoid the worst consequences for drug supplies.
The UK was one of the largest buyers of German medicines last year but trade in pharmaceuticals between the two nations collapsed 10 per cent to 16bn (13.5bn) from 17.7bn in 2017, according to VCI.
A disorderly Brexit would create such a complex situation that it is impossible for companies to prepare for all eventualities, said Utz Tillmann, managing director of VCI.
Ride-hailing service Uber has acquired Middle East competitor Careem for $3.1bn, giving the San Francisco-based firm the commanding edge in a region with a large young, tech-savvy population.
Uber said the $3.1bn purchase consists of $1.7bn in convertible notes and $1.4bn in cash, when it made the announcement on Tuesday.
It marks the largest technology transaction in the Middle East outside of Israel and propels the Dubai-based firm to legendary status among the region's budding tech startup scene.
Under the deal, Careem will keep its brand and app unchanged, at least for now. It will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Uber and be led by its original founders.
The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020 and is subject to regulatory approval in several countries.
Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber Show all 10 1 /10 Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber Demonstrators hold a huge banner reading 'Madrid's taxi demands that the law has to be enforced' as drivers protest outside IFEMA Convention and Congress Center, against the regulation of ride-hailing and car-sharing services such as Uber and Cabify EPA Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber The taxi strike continues in the capital in a row after regional authorities rejected the sector's proposals to regulate VTC companies (VTC means 'transport vehicle with chauffeur), a day after a taxi driver was seriously injured when he allegedly threw himself in front of a VTC car in a picket set on a highway. FITUR is the most important fair running in Madrid EPA Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber EPA Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber EPA Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber Spanish National riot policemen stand guard EPA Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber EPA Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber EPA Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber Taxi drivers stand near garbage burning during a demonstration AFP/Getty Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber AFP/Getty Taxi drivers strike in Spain against ride-hailing companies like Uber Taxi drivers stand next to a burning barricade during a strike Reuters
Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement: This is an important moment for Uber as we continue to expand the strength of our platform around the world.
In a memo to Uber's staff, Mr Khosrowshahi said that keeping the Careem app for now allows Uber to try out new ideas across both brands. Over time, the firms will integrate part of their networks, he said.
Uber's stiffest competition in the Middle East was Careem, which launched in 2012 three years before Uber entered the local market.
Careem, founded by two former management consultants at McKinsey & Co, quickly became popular, particularly in countries like Egypt and Pakistan, in part because it gave riders the option to pay by cash rather than just credit card.
Despite Uber's regional launch in 2015 and services like Uber Eats that delivers food, Careem had the lead operating in more than 100 cities across 15 countries.
Careem's CEO Mudassir Sheikha described the deal as a milestone for the company and for budding entrepreneurs in the region. As part of the deal, he will lead Careem's business under Uber and report to a board made up of three representatives from Uber and two from Careem.
This has put our region on the map and has shown it's a great place to build some of the best technology in the world, Mr Sheikha said in a statement to Careem customers.
Saudi Technology Ventures, one of Careem's investors, said the local ride-hailing firm succeeded by using its deep local knowledge and expertise to cater to the needs of the Middle East's young, techy-savvy population.
Other Careem investors include Kingdom Holding, chaired by Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, German car manufacturer Daimler AG, Japanese tech firm Rakuten and Mideast venture capital firm Wamda.
AP
A Tyrannosaurus rex has been identified as the largest ever unearthed in a discovery that reveals the sheer scale of the planets most iconic prehistoric predator.
Weighing in at 8,870kg while it was alive, the creature was bigger than any other carnivorous dinosaur known to science.
The specimen was nicknamed Scotty after the celebratory bottle of scotch scientists drank following its discovery nearly two decades ago.
This is the rex of rexes, said Dr Scott Persons, a palaeontologist at the University of Alberta who led the study investigating Scottys dimensions.
There is considerable size variability among Tyrannosaurus. Some individuals were lankier than others and some were more robust. Scotty exemplifies the robust.
Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary
Dr Persons and his colleagues arrived at their conclusions after conducting careful measurements of its bones, which took years to remove from the hard sandstone they were encased in.
Not only is this dinosaur larger and heavier than any other T rex that has been discovered, it is thought to have lived into its early 30s, making it the oldest as well.
By Tyrannosaurus standards, it had an unusually long life. And it was a violent one, said Dr Persons.
Riddled across the skeleton are pathologies spots where scarred bone records large injuries.
The relatively complete skeleton bears various wounds including broken ribs, an infected jaw, and what may have been a bite from another T rex on its tail.
Scottys measurements suggest that dinosaurs continued to bulk out as they grew into old age, meaning maximum sizes estimated from existing specimens may be inaccurate.
It takes the record spot from Sue, a Tyrannosaurus specimen held at the Field Museum in Chicago which for years was assumed to be the largest.
However, while this dinosaur holds the top spot for the biggest for now, Dr Persons thinks this is unlikely to be the final word on T rex size.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
I think there will always be bigger discoveries to be made, he said.
But as of right now, this particular Tyrannosaurus is the largest terrestrial predator known to science.
The skeleton will go on display at Canadas Royal Saskatchewan Museum in May.
The results of the study were published in The Anatomical Record.
It is often said that the Brexit choice is between a deal and no deal.
However, the current situation is that the deal, as agreed between the EU and the UK last November, is at best only a half a deal a legally binding withdrawal agreement, plus only a political declaration about the future UK-EU trade and security treaty, that has no great legal force. A couple of other clarificatory documents have been tacked on more recently.
This is the package that the House of Commons has rejected twice, by overwhelming majorities, and which the prime minister will not bring back unless she has more assured support. We have also seen MPs reject a no-deal Brexit a position now (probably) accepted by the prime minister.
Jack Shepherd, the British man convicted of killing a woman on a speedboat during their first date, has agreed to be extradited back to the UK from Georgia.
The 31-year-old was sentenced to six years in jail in his absence for the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown, 24, on a champagne-fuelled first date when his speedboat overturned in the River Thames.
However he has been granted permission to appeal the conviction and wishes to return to the UK, a court in Tbilisi heard on Tuesday.
Shepherd's defence lawyer told the court he wanted to be kept in cell by himself with round-the-clock audio and video surveillance and for media to be given access to his cell.
However the judge said this was not a decision for him to make.
In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd Jack Shepherd, who went on the run in March 2018 after killing a woman in a speedboat crash on the River Thames, attends court hearing in Tbilisi, Georgia, 29 January, 2019. Reuters/Irakli Gedenidze In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd Charlotte Brown, 24, who died in a speedboat crash on the River Thames in December 2015. PA In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd Undated photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of the speedboat owned by Jack Shepherd who was found guilty of killing his date, Charlotte Brown, in an accident on the River Thames in December 2015. Metropolitan Police In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd The family of Charlotte Brown - father Graham Brown, sister Katie and mother Roz Wickens - who died following a speedboat crash, pictured on 22 January, 2019. Yui Mok/PA In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd Tariel Kakabadze, the lawyer of Jack Shepherd, attends a court session, in Tbilisi, Georgia, 25 January, 2019. Shakh Aivazov/AP In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd Jack Shepherd speaks to media on 23 January, 2019, at the police station in Tbilisi, Georgia, where he handed himself in to police. Still taken from video provided by Rustavi 2. Rustavi 2 via AP In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd Jack Shepherd is escorted to a court hearing in Tbilisi, Georgia, 25 January 2019 EPA In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd Father of Charlotte Brown, Graham, gives a statement to the media outside Portcullis House following a meeting with Home Secretary Sajid Javid on 22 January, 2019. Jack Taylor/Getty Images In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd Metropolitan Police image of Jack Shepherd. Metropolitan Police In pictures: Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd File photo of Jack Shepherd dated 18 October, 2017. Steve Parsons/PA
His lawyer Tariel Kakabadze said he is not fighting extradition.
Shepherd, from Paddington, in London, went into hiding in Georgia while facing trial over the death of Ms Brown, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, who died after plunging into the icy river in December 2015.
Charlotte Brown died after being thrown into the cold Thames when the boat capsized (PA)
The web designer, originally from Exeter, in Devon, handed himself in to police in January after almost 10 months on the run.
No date has been set yet for Shepherds appeal hearing.
Ms Browns family have fought a battle for justice since her death more than three years ago.
A post-mortem examination found that Ms Brown died from cold water immersion.
The Home Office is being challenged in court after three young refugees were forced to wait months to be reunited with their families in the UK.
The unaccompanied minors had completed dangerous journeys to northern France and then endured illegal and distressing delays, lawyers are arguing.
The legal deadline to process applications to join family is two months, but they were made to wait between four and six months.
Their case is now being brought by the Migrants Law Project and Doughty Street Chambers, who argue the delays were the result of systemic failures on behalf of the Home Office particularly its poor communication with the local authorities where their families live.
It comes after The Independent highlighted the case of a child refugee who languished in France for more than two years before he was able to join his aunt in the UK. The Home Office was accused of playing games with the lives of unaccompanied minors.
The three refugees in the latest case, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are an Afghan boy, 16, who had to wait more than four months to be reunited with his older brother, an Eritrean girl, 17, who waited more than five months to join her brother, and another Eritrean girl, 16, who had to wait more than six months to join her older brother.
In each case, take charge requests were made by the French authorities to the UK under the family reunification provisions of the EU law Dublin III. The Home Office then seriously exceeded the two-month deadline for determining responsibility for the childrens asylum claims, the lawyers said.
In written submissions to the court, a solicitor said that as a result of the Home Offices breaches of Dublin III and flawed processes, the minors lost the opportunity for a swifter reunification, and the uncertainty and delays caused distress.
Darby Lin ODonnell, legal fellow at Safe Passage, a charity that has been working on the case, said the Home Office had built delay in at every stage of the transfer process. This can lead unaccompanied minors to turn to illegal routes instead, she said.
We can see that the delays in these cases are not exceptional, Ms ODonnell said. They are the norm, and the secretary of state is very frequently exceeding the timescale.
When my colleagues in France tell a child theyll have an answer in two months, and then in two months they go back to the child and say, We dont have a response, we havent heard anything from the Home Office, just hang tight, it makes it really difficult to continue that trusting relationship that weve worked so hard to build.
Recommended Child refugee granted right to join UK aunt after two years in France
It increases their risk of absconding, jumping on the back of a lorry, approaching smugglers, traffickers. Especially in France, those risks are completely real.
The Home Office has claimed the delays were lawful, stating that they were necessary in order to introduce some flexibility so that the UK was not deemed responsible for the children simply because two months have elapsed.
The department said other reasons for the delays included the demands created for the rapid increase in referrals from other Dublin III states, the resources available to the Home Offices European Intake Unit (EIU) at the time [and] the fact that the EIU was having to develop new processes for working with local authorities and the ongoing efforts made to improve the system.
It comes eight months after the Court of Appeal ruled that the government materially misled the High Court about its treatment of child refugees in Calais, with around 500 children not given adequate reasons for being refused to join their families in the UK.
Three months later, the Court of Appeal found that the government broke the law in its treatment of child refugees who were rejected under the Dubs scheme, ruling that they were given patently inadequate reasons for the rejection of their applications.
Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the 2019 American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference in Washington on March 25, 2019. (Jose Luis Magana / AP)
More than half of deportations from the UK are called off, The Independent can reveal raising concerns that thousands of people are being unfairly targeted for forcible removal.
Figures obtained through freedom of information law show that of the 24,674 removal directions issued last year, 15,200 were cancelled. Of these, more than two-thirds were called off within a week of the scheduled removal and 45 per cent within just one day.
Lawyers and campaigners said the cancelled removals were a waste of public money and a "damaging" symptom of the Home Offices detain first, ask questions later approach.
The most common reason for cancellation was because legal representations had been submitted (34 per cent), with other reasons given including administrative, disruptive behaviour and medical.
It comes after the High Court ordered the Home Office to stop using a controversial no warning tactic, which means a person can be told that at any point during the subsequent three months they may be given between three and seven days' notice that they will be removed.
The decision meant the Home Office had to immediately cancel 69 removals scheduled for the coming days. During the hearing, the court heard that hundreds, if not thousands, of people were probably subject to the policy in any one year.
Opelo Kgari, who has been issued removal directions twice but had them cancelled both times within hours of the flight time, said the experience was traumatising and that a large amount of resources were wasted in the process.
The 28-year-old, who came to the UK from Botswana when she was 13, told The Independent how she and her mother were chaperoned by a dozen officers in two separate vans to the airport last March before their removal was cancelled following intervention from their MP.
A month later they were again placed in removal vans and driven towards the airport, before intervention from their solicitor mean the process was again cancelled. They have since been granted leave to remain in the UK.
Ms Kgari said: The whole process must cost a lot of money. Having the escorts come in from wherever in the country to the detention centre, getting their vans, taking you to the airport and then the removal being cancelled. It just goes to show how extremely disorganised they are.
Opelo Kgari, 28, has been issued removal directions twice and had them cancelled both times within hours of the flight time an experience she said was traumatising
The anxiety levels were really high as it was. Then the Home Office says last minute that it wont happen this time. But its still really difficult. You think okay, Ive missed that bullet, but its probably going to happen again. The stress just mounts.
In my case, the first time we were almost removed, our solicitor was pretty useless, so I had to get in touch with all my friends and it was an MP that ended up halting the removal not everyone has that chance.
Celia Clarke, director of Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID), said the figures were shocking and accused the Home Office of serving removal directions for its own convenience.
She said: The uncertainty caused by this callous practice is highly damaging for the people concerned, whether they are parents who face permanent separation from their children, survivors of torture or trafficking, or people who have grown up in the UK and face deportation to a country they have no connection to.
Recommended Woman who arrived in UK as a child reveals reality of UK deportation
We have repeatedly raised concerns about the dearth of legal advice in detention and the devastating impact of the 2013 legal aid cuts which removed all non-asylum immigration work from the scope of legal aid.
The high number of removals being prevented by last-minute submissions is a symptom of a system that is broken in which individuals are not able to access the legal advice they need at an early opportunity and are forced to make late submissions in desperation.
Clearly this system does not serve anyones interests and urgently needs reform.
The Independent has reported on numerous cases in the past year whereby people have been threatened with removal, but following intervention by their solicitor or their MP as well as media coverage their departure has been cancelled.
The trend has been branded a symptom of Theresa Mays hostile environment, which came about during when the coalition government was in power and has since been blamed for the Windrush fiasco and a swathe of other immigration scandals.
Immigration lawyer Colin Yeo said the high number of cancellations and declining number of removals suggested a detain first, ask questions later approach, which he described as a waste of public money as well as being very distressing to those affected.
Mr Yeo added: It also suggests something is wrong with Home Office information on who is removable and who is not.
A Home Office spokesperson said: We only return those with no legal right to remain in the UK, including foreign national offenders and failed asylum seekers.
We carefully consider all representations made in relation to a case and, should further submissions be made, have a duty to grant these appropriate consideration.
Women in the UK are considerably more likely than men to be working in jobs endangered by the advance of technology, the national statistics office has announced.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 1.5 million people in England are at high risk of losing their jobs to automation with women holding more than 70 per cent of those roles believed to be at high risk.
The three occupations with the highest probability of automation were found to be waiters and waitresses, shelf-stackers and basic retail roles - all of which are low-skilled or routine.
However, well-educated women were also found to be more at risk than men.
Even among degree-educated workers, three in four men are in jobs at low risk of automation, while only six in 10 women are, said the Resolution Foundation, a think tank which aims to improve the living standards of low and middle-income families.
The ONS analysed the jobs of 20 million people in 2017 and found 7.4 per cent of these were at high risk of being replaced.
Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Show all 15 1 /15 Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Residents follow moves made by humanoid robot 'Pepper' during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Funabashi Hiroshi from A Fun, repairs broken'AIBO's, pet dog robots, at his office in Kasama. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A caretaker wearing a 'HAL for care support' robot suit pushes a wheelchair at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Residents follow moves made by humanoid robot 'Pepper' during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Yoichi Suzuki spends time with 'AIBO', a pet dog robot, which his father used for his rehabilitation at his house in Takahag.i Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A resident approaches humanoid robot 'Pepper' to pat its head during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A caretaker, wearing walking rehabilitation equipment 'Tree', helps a resident with his walking training at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Yoichi Suzuki shows 'AIBO', a pet dog robot, to his bed-ridden mother at his house. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A broken'AIBO', a pet dog robot, waits for repair in A Fun's office in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A resident touches 'AIBO', a pet dog robot, at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A resident touches robot seal 'PARO' at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Yoichi Suzuki and his wife take care of his bed-ridden mother as 'AIBO', a pet dog robot walks around at his house in Takahagi. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A caretaker wearing a motion assist equipment 'Muscle Suit' carries a resident from a bed to a wheelchair at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care 'AIBO', a pet dog robot, which Yoichi Suzuki's father used for his rehabilitation, is seen at Suzuki's house in Takahagi. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A resident claps to call 'AIBO', a pet dog robot at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters
It defines automation as tasks currently performed by workers being replaced with technology. This could mean computer programmes, algorithms, or robots.
Young people also faced a bigger challenge with more than 15 per cent of 20-year-olds at high risk of losing their jobs to automation. However, the threat waned as their careers progressed.
Workers naturally obtain further skills and become more knowledgeable in their field as they progress further in their careers, the ONS said.
Recommended Why we need to protect our income from robot automation
The three occupations at the lowest risk of automation were said to be medics and teachers or lecturers in senior roles.
"It is not so much that robots are taking over, but that routine and repetitive tasks can be carried out more quickly and efficiently by an algorithm written by a human, or a machine designed for one specific function," the ONS said.
They say there are fewer jobs at risk of automation now than was thought in 2011 the figure has dropped from 8.1 per cent to 7.4 per cent but the proportion of jobs at low and medium risk of automation has increased.
Reasons for the decrease are unclear, but it is possible that automation of some jobs has already happened, such as supermarket self-checkouts, the ONS said.
Sharon Graham, executive officer for the Unite union, said: We must not and will not sit back and wait for new technology to be imposed, especially when it is putting workers' livelihoods at risk.
New technology is going to generate a lot of wealth. We will fight to make sure this wealth is used to do things that help workers and their families, such as reducing working time without loss of pay.
Automation needs to deliver for ordinary people, not just make bigger profits for corporations. We need a radical response to the new realities of the labour market.
A shorter working week without loss of pay could help workers stay in work when new technology reduces the number of tasks that need to be carried out by people, she said.
The areas of England with the lowest risk of jobs being automated in 2017 were said to include Camden in London, Three Rivers in Hertfordshire, and Oxford, while the highest risk was in Tamworth in Staffordshire, Rutland, and South Holland in Lincolnshire.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: The workers most at risk from automation are the same workers already badly hit by austerity.
Workers and trade unions should take charge of the changing economy, not be its casualties. The next Labour government will be on the side of workers and our planet, ushering in a green industrial revolution.
Parliamentary speaker John Bercow sparked fury among MPs when he suggested a former Conservative deputy chief whip had not [been] very good at the role.
He was responding to a question from Tory Brexiteer David Davies, who suggested Oliver Letwin had installed himself as a jobbing prime minister after his amendment to a government motion passed.
It took power to control business in the Commons away from the government, allowing MPs to put forward motions relating to Brexit on Wednesday.
Its passage, by a margin of 329 votes to 302, paves the way for what is set to be a series of indicative votes on various options, possibly including a soft Brexit and second referendum.
After Mr Letwin's motion had succeeded, Mr Davies said: I dont wish to pay tribute to the honourable member for west Dorset, but since he now seems to have installed himself as a kind of jobbing prime minister, could you tell me how it is how we hold him to account in this house?"
Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Show all 15 1 /15 Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Nigel Farage has spent his political career campaigning for the UK to leave the EU. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Boris Johnson's support for Brexit took many by surprise before the EU referendum. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises The UK and EU are yet to agree on a withdrawal deal. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises This was taken from a 2012 speech delivered by Mr Davis. He does not currently support a second Brexit referendum. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Boris Johnson now supports a hard Brexit and resigned from the cabinet in 2018 over Theresa May's strategy. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises The US recently issued trade negotiation objectives for future talks with the UK. The country made clear that it expects access to the UK's agriculture industry, reviving the debate about chlorinated chicken. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Nigel Farage does not support the current campaign for a second Brexit referendum. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Despite this quote, in February 2019 Boris Johnson said a no deal Brexit "may yet be the best option for the UK". Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises The UK and EU are yet to begin negotiating a deal regarding their future relationship. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Theresa May announced that the UK would be leaving the Single Market in her Lancaster House speech in January 2017. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Theresa May triggered Article 50 on 29 March 2017. Her withdrawal deal is yet to be passed. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises A classic from the 2015 general election campaign. David Cameron resigned on 24 June 2016, following the EU referendum result. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises David Davis resigned from his post as Brexit secretary in July 2018 after disagreeing with Theresa May's negotiation strategy. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Michael Gove was one of the most influential Leave voices during the EU referendum campaign. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Jacob Rees-Mogg, a prominent backbencher, does not support a second Brexit referendum. He has called the use of this quote "fundamentally dishonest" as it was taken from a 2011 speech discussing the option of referendum before David Cameron entered negotiations with the EU. Such a vote was never held. Twitter/Led By Donkeys
Mr Bercow defended Mr Letwin as unfailingly courteous in his dealings with others, but was heckled by Chelsea and Westminsters MP Greg Hands.
Responding, Mr Bercow said: [Mr Hands] was once a whip, he wasnt a very good whip, it would be better if he keep quiet.
As MPs shouted and jeered, Mr Bercow smiled and insisted his comments were not outrageous at all.
He then suggested members could shout as much as they like as it wouldnt make any difference".
Patrick McLoughlin, the former Conservative former chief whip, said Mr Bercow recently sent a letter to MPs saying they should treat each other with respect.
Was Mr Bercow following that in what he said about Mr Hands, he asked?
Mr Bercow said that if he caused offence he was happy to apologise, but he did not think Mr Hands would mind.
Close Countdown to Brexit: How many days left until Britain leaves the EU?
MPs are gearing up for a series of votes on different Brexit scenarios after dramatically wresting control of the EU exit process from the government.
Different Brexit factions must put forward their preferred options by the end of the day for indicative votes on Wednesday, including bids for a Norway-style deal and a second referendum.
The move could pave the way for a softer Brexit, prompting infighting among Eurosceptic hardliners over whether to back Theresa Mays deal instead.
On Tuesday, the prime ministers Brexit strategy was left in disarray and her leadership under threat after three of her ministers resigned and MPs dramatically voted to take control of the process.
Her authority was left in tatters after 30 members of her party defied her instructions and voted for the move. Three government resigned in order to vote against the prime minister.
How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit Show all 10 1 /10 How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Independent How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Telegraph How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Mirror How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Metro How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The I How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Guardian How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Financial Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Mail How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Express
It comes as the government rejected a petition with more than 5.78 million signatures calling for Brexit to be halted by revoking article 50.
In an official response posted on the parliamentary petitions website, the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) said: This government will not revoke Article 50.
We will honour the result of the 2016 referendum and work with parliament to deliver a deal that ensures we leave the European Union.
The petition will still be debated by MPs in the Commonss secondary chamber Westminster Hall on 1 April.
A government minister will be required to respond to the petition, but there will be no vote on the action it demands.
Follow our coverage of how the day unfolded
Theresa Mays Brexit plans were left in ruins after MPs voted to take control from the government and determine Britains path out of the European Union.
In another dramatic day in the House of Commons, where three ministers resigned and 30 Tory MPs voted against the prime minister, Ms May was dealt another humiliating defeat.
With speculation rising of an impending general election and questions swirling around about Ms Mays future as prime minister, the papers had plenty to consider as they gave their verdicts on the latest Brexit developments.
The Independents Daily Edition leads with the headline MPs take back control.
Three ministers quit as Commons wins power to lead Brexit..May finally admits defeat on her deal for now, the front page says.
How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit Show all 10 1 /10 How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Independent How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Telegraph How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Mirror How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Metro How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The I How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Guardian How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Financial Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Mail How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Express
The Times warns that the country is "sliding towards further stalemate" as Ms May struggles to keep hold of power.
Its front page says the PM was "humiliated" as MPs backed a plan to hold votes on alternatives to her deal, while its leader says she remains PM "in name only".
"Yet parliament's attempt to take control could yet plunge the country into even deeper crisis," it cautions.
"The reality is that unless parliament votes to accept Ms May's deal this week, parliament and the government are likely to face a stalemate," it adds.
The Daily Mail warns that MPs seizing control of the Brexit agenda will only see the divorce deal get softer - and describes the possibility of a general election as an "equally unappealing alternative".
"For the Brexiteers, the ship is finally sailing," it adds. "If they don't get on board, they risk losing the deal, the Government and their country. It could not be more imperative that they come to their senses."
The Daily Telegraph's front page argues Ms May is now "powerless", describing the events in the House of Commons as "a plot to seize agenda on deciding path for Brexit".
In its leader, the paper criticises Ms May for delaying Brexit and calls it a "monumental failure of the political process".
House of Commons approves the amended Brexit Next Steps motion by 327 votes to 300
Meanwhile, The Sun's front page suggests Ms May has hinted at quitting in exchange for MPs passing her deal.
Inside, the paper stresses that her deal "cannot be abandoned", calling it "the only exit door".
"All MPs face a simple choice: Honour the referendum, or unleash chaos. Stop pretending. Pick one," it urges.
The Metro takes a more light-hearted approach to the latest developments, running with the headline: "Stuck in the muddle with EU".
And the Daily Express takes a stronger stance, saying the Prime Minister has been warned that Remainer MPs have "stolen what's left of Brexit".
A beleaguered Theresa May will face Conservative MPs demanding she quit just hours before the Commons stages historic votes to snatch control of the Brexit process.
The twin threats will rear up on Wednesday, after MPs openly joked Ms Mays shattered authority meant Oliver Letwin the senior Tory behind the move to hold indicative votes is the new prime minister.
At a meeting of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, the prime minister will come under huge pressure to set out a timetable for her departure from Downing Street, as a last-gasp bid to rescue her deal.
A visit to No 10 by Graham Brady, the 1922s chair and backbenchers steward, sparked fresh speculation that he was delivering a message that her time was up.
A senior Democratic Unionist Party MP suggested his party now preferred a long Brexit delay to approving her deal, making it even less likely a third meaningful vote can be won or will even be held this week.
Meanwhile, up to 20 junior ministers are thought to be ready to resign if the prime minister refuses to grant free votes on all the Brexit options on Wednesday evening.
More clues emerged as to how the indicative votes process will unfold. The votes are the first step to potential legislation to force the government to adopt parliaments solution to the deepening crisis.
Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Show all 24 1 /24 Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent Put It To The People march: Best of The Independents pictures Angela Christofilou/The Independent
MPs will propose options expected to include a no-deal Brexit, a customs union, single market membership plus a customs union, a simple free trade agreement and revoking Article 50 before the speaker whittles them down.
Supporters of a Final Say referendum have tabled a motion insisting no withdrawal deal, or framework for a future relationship, can be ratified until they have been approved by the people of the United Kingdom in a confirmatory public ballot.
Votes will be cast on ballot slips, rather than in the traditional way, and MPs can back any number of options, with the results to be declared late on Wednesday.
The idea is to come up with solid ideas, ahead of a second round of voting to produce a winner on Monday the group stages before the playoffs, as one MP put it.
The process was unveiled as:
* The government announced that the blockbuster revoke Article 50 petition, which has gathered a staggering 5.7 million signatures, will be debated next Monday.
* Brexiteer Tories protested that Fridays agreement with the EU to delay Brexit until at least 12 April had been unlawful ahead of a debate on Wednesday on changing domestic law to accommodate it.
* Andrea Leadsom, the Commons leader, warned MPs two-week Easter break from Westminster is likely to be scrapped as the public expected them to be working flat out.
Ms Mays departure is being demanded by a growing number of Tories as their price for backing her, so that a new leader can then run crucial trade negotiations with the EU.
The prime minister is still facing another clash with parliament after ministers repeated the threat to ignore any Brexit plan B that emerges, if it crosses her red lines.
Sir Oliver said: We have to use this process tomorrow, and on Monday, to try to work towards a consensus that can carry a majority. That wont be an easy task. But we owe it to the country to try.
In the chamber, an SNP MP called Sir Oliver the real prime minister prompting Ms Leadsom to reply: My right honourable friend the new prime minister for West Dorset [Letwin] has not yet indicated his manifesto.
Theresa May has struggled in Brexit negotiations because she lacks the basic human skills to be a political leader, an EU figure involved in exit negotiations has said.
In a remarkable assessment that illustrates EU frustration at the prime minister, Philippe Lamberts, a Belgian MEP who sits on the EU legislatures Brexit steering group, said she had left European leaders upset time and time again with her robotic approach.
If theres one lesson we have learned from Theresa Mays attitude is her inability to factor in what others think, her inability to form bonds of trust within her Cabinet, he told reporters in Strasbourg.
Again weve seen it between her Cabinet and the House of Commons but also within the European Council.
Citing Xavier Bettel, the Luxembourg prime ministers reception to the prime minsters address on Friday, he added: When you listen to Xavier Bettel Mr Nice Guy by definition Xavier Bettel is someone who always tries to look at the good side of things.
How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit Show all 10 1 /10 How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Independent How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Telegraph How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Mirror How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Metro How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The I How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Guardian How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Financial Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Mail How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Express
When he exited the Council, you feel like if even Xavier Bettel is upset by Theresa May she must be totally devoid of the basic human skills you need to be a political leader. And that is scary. That is scary.
Throughout Brexit talks the prime minister gone into meetings with EU leaders at summits and left with things worse rather than better most notoriously in Salzburg, where leaders hardened their stances after hearing from the prime minister.
She repeated the trick at the European Council in Brussels and December, and was again said to leave leaders unconvinced at a meeting in the EU capital last week.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
Diplomats in the room at summits have throughout negotiations have said the prime ministers addresses to leaders often resemble her reading out a statement, and that she often appears evasive response to questions.
The prime ministers approach has not escaped attention in Westminster, where she was nicknamed the Maybot after her performance during the 2017 general election campaign.
A Rhode Island man jailed for 260 years in prison for producing child pornography involving prepubescent children fainted in court when the judge read out his sentence.
Thomas Goodman, 45, was told his crimes showed depravity beyond comprehension by Judge John McConnell at the US District Court in Providence.
The paedophile pleaded guilty to eight counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography last October.
Prosecutors said Goodman had begun sexually abusing two young girls when they were six-years-old, and had also filmed himself inappropriately touching a three-week-old baby.
He collapsed onto the table in front of him as the judge handed him eight 30 year sentences and one 20 year sentence, according to the Providence Journal.
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
Coming to a few minutes later, Goodman reportedly said: I have no excuse for this before he was led away to prison.
He was arrested by detectives from the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force in May 2018 after his employer had confiscated his phone.
While conducting a search of the phone, Electric Boat Security discovered a vast quantity of child pornography, said the US Attorneys Office for the District of Rhode Island in a statement.
The phone was turned over to a North Kingstown Police Department detective who confirmed that the phone contained child pornography.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
The 45-year-old was subsequently found to possess approximately 7,800 images and 370 videos of child pornography.
The ICAC task force determined that at least 62 of the videos and 135 of the images of child pornography had been created by Goodman over a ten-year period.
In interviews with law enforcement officials, he also admitted to having had sexual contact with at least three prepubescent females.
The owners of a five-month-old dog are demanding a criminal investigation after their pet died during a flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles.
The purebred Central Asian Shepherd puppy, named Bear, was discovered dead in the cargo hold of a KLM plane when it touched down at LAX airport.
The Avetisian family, from the California city of Pasadena, had been given the dog by friends in Greece. They were ready to collect it when the plane arrived in the US via the Netherlands.
We were waiting for months to get that puppy and give him some love, my kids were waiting, Andranik Avetisian told ABC affiliate KABC. It is very difficult. It is very hard for me.
Mr Avetisian has said they have been unable to collect the dogs body or even see it since the plane arrived on 19 March.
World's safest airlines 2019 Show all 19 1 /19 World's safest airlines 2019 World's safest airlines 2019 Eva Air Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Austrian Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 KLM Getty World's safest airlines 2019 Qatar Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Lufthansa Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Hawaiian Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Alaska Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 SAS Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Finnair Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Emirates Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Cathay Pacific Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 British Airways Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Singapore Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 All Nippon Airways Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Air New Zealand Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Swiss Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 American Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 United Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Virgin Atlantic and Australia Getty Images
The familys lawyer Evan Oshan told KABC they were now considering legal action. We want a criminal investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Bear, Mr Oshan said.
You dont take someones property, someones family member, somebodys pet and just keep it without any kind of explanation, the lawyer added.
In a statement, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said: We take matters of animal welfare very seriously. KLMs Cargo Department is in contact with the owner of the dog, and for reasons of customer confidentiality, we cannot release further details around the current investigation.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
KLM previously said it had to wait for the results of the necropsy to determine the cause of death.
The airline said its policy was to keep larger animals in a ventilated part of the hold while small cats and dogs are allowed to accompany passengers in the cabin.
In March last year, a French bulldog died on a United Airlines flight from Houston to New York City, after a flight attendant reportedly repeatedly told the dogs owner it would have to be stored in an overhead bin.
The notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman is seeking a retrial claiming the first was unfair because jurors were influenced by media articles that detailed how he drugged and raped teenage girls and murdered people.
The 61-year-old Guzman, 61, was last month convicted on all counts during a trial in which he was charged with criminal conspiracy and drug trafficking.
During the course of more than three months of testimony, the court heard grisly details about life inside the Sinaloa cartel which he ran with a murderous grip.
In all, jurors heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses.
Now, the convicted drug lord is seeking a retrial, claiming that the jury had been influenced by reading media reports about his life and alleged crimes. His lawyers claimed jury misconduct had deprived him of his constitutional right to a fair trial, Reuters reported.
Inside Mexicos top drug lord El Chapos hideout Show all 4 1 /4 Inside Mexicos top drug lord El Chapos hideout Inside Mexicos top drug lord El Chapos hideout Inside El Chapo's hideout Pictures reveal how the Mexican drug lord had been living since his escape Getty Inside Mexicos top drug lord El Chapos hideout Inside El Chapo's hideout The inside of a house searched by marine special forces where Guzman was hiding Getty Inside Mexicos top drug lord El Chapos hideout Inside El Chapo's hideout Inside a house searched by marine special forces during the military operation to recapture Guzman Getty Inside Mexicos top drug lord El Chapos hideout El Chapo's attempted escape A marine stands guard next to a manhole of the sewer system through which drug kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman tried to escape Getty
We look forward to vindicating his rights in a new trial, lawyer Eduardo Balarezo said in a statement.
During the trial, prosecutors said Guzman trafficked tons of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine into the United States over two decades, amassing power in Mexico through murders and wars with rival cartels. He faces life in prison at a scheduled June 25 sentencing.
Special agent in charge of Homeland Security gives statement following El Chapo guilty jury verdict
Judge Brian Cogan had told jurors not to read media coverage of the case. Many ignored him.
Among the media coverage cited was a New York Times article based on public court filings that said Guzman drugged and raped girls as young as 13 years old, and published just two days before deliberations began
An article published last month by Vice included an interview with a juror who admitted ignoring the judges order. The article said jurors knew from Twitter that Mr Cogan would ask if they had seen the Times article, and several lied when he asked
Guzmans lawyers said this exposed jurors to a flood of prejudicial information not admitted at trial.
John Marzulli, a spokesman for US Attorney Richard Donoghue, whose office prosecuted Guzman, declined to comment
It's true that the so-called "big lie" is an expression made famous by the Nazis, who were not socialists in any meaningful sense, despite the canard of having "National Socialist" in their party's title. But the Nazi-era accusation gained currency in the Third Reich because it was deployed by Hitler and his followers to depict Jews as traitors to the German nation. The Nazi dictator used the term to blame Jews for propagating the idea that German Gen. Erich Ludendorff, a notorious anti-Semite who had been Paul von Hindenburg's chief deputy, was to blame for Germany's defeat in World War I.
A Lithuanian man who duped Google and Facebook into transferring over $100m into accounts he controlled has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
Evaldas Rimasauskas, 50, sent fraudulent invoices to the California-based tech companies between 2013 and 2015, according to the US Justice Department.
He was involved in running a company that controlled several accounts at banks in Latvia and Cyprus, according to a 2016 indictment filed in the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York.
Mr Rimasauskas and his unnamed associates were posing as Quanta Computer, a hardware company based in Taiwan that has done business with Facebook and Google, Reuters reported.
Mr Rimasauskas pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court in Manhattan, where Judge George B Daniels set a 24 July sentencing date.
Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Show all 15 1 /15 Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Facebook is born On 4 Feb, 2004, 19-year-old Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg launched a website called 'TheFacebook' from his dorm. Within 24 hours the college social network had more than 1,000 users Wikimedia Commons Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Winklevoss twins sue Zuckerberg Within one week of launching, fellow Harvard students Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narendra accused Zuckerberg of stealing their idea. It would be four years later when the resulting lawsuit was finally settled Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Open for business The social network finally opened it platform to everyone on 26 September, 2006. The move proved the catalyst in supercharging the site's already explosive growth PA Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Billion-dollar bid Yahoo offered $1 billion to buy Facebook in September 2006 but Zuckerberg turned it down. 'I dont know what I could do with the money,' Zuckerberg reportedly said. 'Id just start another social networking site' Reuters Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network In the money In September 2009, almost five years since the site launched, Facebook turned a profit for the first time Getty Images/iStockphoto Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Taking the lead Facebook overtook MySpace in 2010 to become the worlds most popular social network Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Taking on the tech giants In 2011, Google launched its own social network that it hoped would knock Facebook from its perch. Despite its initial success, Google+ ultimately failed and will be shut down completely in 2019 Getty Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Facebook goes public On 18 May, 2012, Facebook went public. The initial public offering raised $16 billion the third largest in US history Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Gobbling up the competition Facebook acquired Instagram in April 2012 for $1 billion, consolidating its position as the world's leading social network Reuters Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network One billion users On 4 October, 2012, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook had hit 1 billion users. 'If youre reading this: thank you for giving me and my little team the honour of serving you,' he wrote in a blog post Getty Images Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Expanding its empire In February 2014 Facebook acquired the messaging app WhatsApp for $19.3 billion REUTERS/Dado Ruvic Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Two billion users In June 2017, Facebook passed the 2 billion user milestone REUTERS/Dado Ruvic Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Privacy scandal On 17 March 2018, news broke that UK firm Cambridge Analytica had harvested data from around 87 million Facebook users for the purpose of political profiling in the build up to the 2016 US presidential elections Shutterstock Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Record profits Despite the scandals and subsequent #DeleteFacebook campaign, Facebook posted record profits just before its 15th anniversary, the equivalent of $7.37 from each of its 2.32 billions users iStock/Independent Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Unhappy users A study found that people are happier when they dont use Facebook, adding to mounting evidence surrounding the impact social media has on mental health Rex Features
The charge could carry as many as 30 years in prison and a fine of as much as $1m or twice the crime's proceeds.
The plea deal Mr Rimasauskas reached with prosecutors said he faces almost certain deportation once he finishes his prison time.
In a statement on Wednesday, Geoffrey S Berman, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said: As Evaldas Rimasauskas admitted today, he devised a blatant scheme to fleece US companies out of $100m, and then siphoned those funds to bank accounts around the globe.
Some of the money transfers involved banks in New York City, the indictment stated.
Rimasauskas thought he could hide behind a computer screen halfway across the world while he conducted his fraudulent scheme, but as he has learned, the arms of American justice are long, and he now faces significant time in a US prison, Mr Berman added.
Mr Rimasauskas was extradited from Lithuania to the United States in 2017. He has agreed to forfeit around $50m, court documents show.
After his guilty plea last week, he could face up to 30 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
In a court appearance, Mr Rimasauskas said that he had knowingly participated in fraud and that his role was to set up the bank accounts to facilitate the scheme, Bloomberg reported.
I was asked to open bank accounts, he reportedly said. After that I did not do anything with these accounts.
After money was wired from the tech companies to the bank accounts in Cyprus and Latvia, the Justice Department said in its statement, Mr Rimasauskas caused the stolen funds to be quickly wired into different bank accounts in various locations throughout the world, including Latvia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Hong Kong.
The statement added that he also helped to supply banks with forged documents to explain the large transfers of money.
Mr Rimasauskas was originally charged with five criminal counts that included identity theft and money laundering.
But after last weeks guilty plea for wire fraud, the remaining four charges should be dismissed at sentencing, said his lawyer, Paul D Petrus Jr.
Mr. Rimasauskas was far from a major actor in this matter, Mr Petrus said, adding that he did not know of any other people who have been charged in connection with the scheme.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
In emailed statements Sunday, Facebook said the company had recovered the bulk of the funds shortly after the incident and has been cooperating with law enforcement in its investigation.
Google said it had detected this fraud and promptly alerted the authorities. We recouped the funds and were pleased this matter is resolved.
According to the FBI, crimes that involve deceiving companies via email have grown more common and much more sophisticated in recent years, resulting in billions of dollars in losses.
New York Times
A driver crashed a stolen car through the front window of a fitness centre after his gym membership was cancelled, according to US police.
Security camera footage captured the moment an employee dived for safety as a Honda Accord ploughed into the reception desk.
The suspect fled the scene at Crunch Fitness in La Mirada, California, in another car but was arrested following a police chase.
Sergio Reyes, 32, from Whittier, was later charged with attempted murder.
It appears that Reyes was a disgruntled former member of the fitness club, said the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.
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
Employees at Crunch Fitness told ABC7 News the suspect had been a member of the gym for about three weeks before his membership was cancelled because of inappropriate behaviour.
Recommended How to get the most out of your gym membership
Following an argument with staff he vowed to return.
In the early hours of 19 March witnesses heard the revving of an engine before the car smashed through the front window.
A check of the compact vehicle that had crashed through the fitness club was a confirmed stolen vehicle reported out of Whittier just a few days prior, said the County Sheriffs Department.
With that additional information, the suspect was also charged with driving a vehicle without owners consent. The getaway vehicle, a 2019 four-door Toyota Corolla, was registered to the arrested suspect.
Reyes has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and will return to court next month.
A New York county has banned unvaccinated children from all public spaces as the state battles its largest measles outbreak in decades.
Officials in Rockland County declared a countywide state of emergency Tuesday, announcing that the ban will begin at midnight and remain in place for 30 days or until unvaccinated minors receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Officials said minors who are unvaccinated will not be permitted in public places, such as churches, schools and shopping centres, though outdoors spaces such as playgrounds are not included in the ban.
We must not allow this outbreak to continue, County Executive Ed Day said during a news conference. We will not sit idly by while children in our community are at risk.
The announcement comes as measles outbreaks have hit areas in California, Illinois, Texas and Washington, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In New York City, more than 180 cases have been confirmed.
The famous faces of the anti-vaccine movement Show all 7 1 /7 The famous faces of the anti-vaccine movement The famous faces of the anti-vaccine movement Charlie Sheen Sheen fought a legal battle against ex-wife Denise Richards to try and block her from vaccinating their children. Richards of course won and Sheen was reportedly so bitter that he paid the paediatrician bill entirely in nickels Getty The famous faces of the anti-vaccine movement Gwyneth Paltrow Paltrow's "health and wellness" company Goop hosted a notorious anti-vaccine speaker at their 2018 Goop Summit Getty The famous faces of the anti-vaccine movement Rob Schneider Schneider demanded the freedom to decline vaccination Getty The famous faces of the anti-vaccine movement Jenny McCarthy McCarthy has claimed that "people are dying from vaccinations", believes that her son caught autism from a vaccine and has pushed her opinions on the topic publicly for many years AFP/Getty The famous faces of the anti-vaccine movement Bill Maher Maher has long spoken against vaccines sating on Larry King live that "a flu shot is the worst thing you can do." His stance appears to stem from a distrust of government AFP/Getty The famous faces of the anti-vaccine movement Alicia Silverstone In Silverstone's book The Kind Mama, she wrote that "there is increasing anecdotal evidence from doctors who have gotten distressed phone calls from parents claiming their child was never the same after receiving a vaccine." Getty The famous faces of the anti-vaccine movement Andrew Wakefield Godfather of the anti-vax movement, disgraced doctor Andrew Wakefield famously published a report in the medical journal Lancet claiming a link between the MMR vaccine and autism in 1998. The Lancet retracted the report in 2010 and Wakefield was struck off the medical register PA
In Rockland County, about 40 miles from Manhattan, there have been more than 150 confirmed cases, according to county health officials.
More than 82 per cent of the measles patients had not received a single dose of the MMR vaccine, health officials said. The data shows that the largest number of cases 46 per cent were seen in children ages four to 18, and 39 per cent of them were in children younger than three.
Mr Day, with Rockland County, said authorities will not be searching for children who are not vaccinated but are expecting parents and legal guardians to step up and get children vaccinated. However, he said, parents and guardians who are found to be in violation will be held accountable and their cases will be referred to the district attorneys office. Such a violation will be considered a misdemeanour, punishable by a $500 fine or up to six months in jail.
Mr Day said children unable to be vaccinated for documented medical reasons are exempt.
Rockland will lead the way in service and safety to the people here, he told reporters.
Amid concerns about the growing measles outbreak, Rockland County tried something similar last year. As The Washington Posts Reis Thebault reported, public health officials there barred unvaccinated children from attending schools with vaccination rates lower than 95 per cent.
Months later, the parents of more than 40 banned children at Green Meadow Waldorf School sued the Rockland County health department, asking a federal judge to allow the students to return to class. This week, U.S. District Court Judge Vincent Briccetti denied their request, ruling it wasnt in public interest to allow the children to go back to school.
Measles is highly contagious virus and can have some serious consequences pneumonia, brain damage, hearing loss and even death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, most children contracted the illness an estimated 3 million to 4 million patients each year in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
Of those, 48,000 were hospitalised, 400 to 500 died and 1,000 others suffered a severe complication known as encephalitis, a condition in which the brain swells because of an infection.
In 2000 almost four decades after parents began vaccinating their children measles was declared eliminated in the United States.
CDC data shows that from 2000 to 2018, there were an average of 140 measles cases per year in the United States. And there were three reported fatalities during that time one in 2002, one in 2003 and one in 2015.
Washington Post
The Quinn Dam in South Dakota appears to be severely damaged, as local officials warned of potential flooding in the region.
The Rapid City Pennington County Emergency Management agency released a statement on Tuesday afternoon reading, Quinn Dam appears to be falling.
Large amounts of water may be uncontrollably released soon, the statement read. Anyone downstream should seek higher ground.
Alexa White, deputy director for Penning County Emergency Management, confirmed the agency was expecting a total failure of the dam in an interview with The Independent on Tuesday afternoon.
Our folks on the scene Pennington County Highway observed what appears to be a hole three feet by four feet that was continuing to grow. As they were on scene it was changing in size, she said, adding, We do expect a complete failure at some point today.
We just dont know how long that will be and how it will develop, she continued.
The water being held back currently amounts to nearly 840 acres, according to officials. That's approximately the same size as Central Park in Manhattan, New York.
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
Other local agencies posted flash flood warnings on Tuesday afternoon.
The counties that may be potentially impacted by the dams failure include East Central Pennington County, Northwestern Jackson County and Southwestern Haakon County, including other locations across Quinn and Cottonwood, as well as Cottonwood Creek.
Recommended Brazil dam collapse was disaster waiting to happen say experts
A map of the impacted region indicated no major communities were included in the warning zones for potential flash flooding.
Those warnings encouraged residents to act quickly to protect your life.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
Residents in the area posted photos to Twitter showing early images of the scene as the damn was expected to fail imminently.
Photos showed crews in the area just off the roadway working around the apparent hole in the dam as flood warnings remained in effect.
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 has made an emergency landing in Florida after suffering what officials described as an engine-related problem.
The plane, the same model of which has been grounded around the world following two crashes that appeared to indicate problems with a new anti-stall system, was not carrying passengers when it was forced to make the emergency landing at Orlando International Airport.
Rather, two pilots were flying the plane to Victorville, California, where it was to have been stored. Instead, they were obliged to return to Orlando at around 3pm on Tuesday, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 8701, a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, declared an emergency after the aircraft experienced a reported engine problem while departing from Orlando International Airport in Florida about 2.50pm today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement.
The aircraft returned and landed safely in Orlando. No passengers were aboard the aircraft, which was being ferried to Victorville, Calif., for storage. The FAA is investigating.
Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures Show all 9 1 /9 Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures This picture taken on March 11, 2019, shows debris of the crashed airplane of Ethiopia Airlines, near Bishoftu, a town some 60 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. - An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 crashed on March 10 morning en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi with 149 passengers and eight crew believed to be on board, Ethiopian Airlines said. (Photo by Michael TEWELDE / AFP)MICHAEL TEWELDE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures Family members mourn the victims at the crash site of the Ethiopian Airlines operated Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, at Hama Quntushele village in the Oromia region, on March 13, 2019. - A Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines Boeing crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on March 10, 2019, killing all eight crew and 149 passengers on board, including tourists, business travellers, and "at least a dozen" UN staff. Families of the victims were taken to the remote site on March 13, 2019, where the plane smashed into a field with 157 passengers and crew from 35 countries, leaving a deep black crater and tiny scraps of debris. (Photo by TONY KARUMBA / AFP)TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures A page of a Boeing flight crew operations manual is seen at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 12, 2019. REUTERS/Baz Ratner REUTERS Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures epa07434278 Rescue workers search the site for pieces of the wreckage of an Ethiopia Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft near Bishoftu, Ethiopia, 13 March 2019. Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302 carrying 149 passengers and 8 crew was en route to Nairobi, Kenya, when it crashed on 10 March 2019 by yet undetermined reason. All passengers and crew aboard died in the crash. The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft has come under scrutiny after similar deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia within a few months. Several countries have banned the plane type from their airspace and many airlines have grounded their 737 Max 8 planes for safety concerns after the Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed minutes after take-off on 10 March. EPA/STRINGER EPA Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures A grounded Boeing 737 MAX 8 passenger plane of the Norwegian low-cost airline Norwegian is parked at the tarmac at Vantaa airport in Vantaa near Helsinki, Finland on March 13, 2019. - A number of countries have banned Boeing's 737 MAX 8 medium-haul workhorse jet from their airspace in response to the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 people on board. (Photo by Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUTHEIKKI SAUKKOMAA/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures Rescue workers search the site for pieces of the wreckage of an Ethiopia Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft near Bishoftu, Ethiopia, 13 March 2019. Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302 carrying 149 passengers and 8 crew was en route to Nairobi, Kenya, when it crashed on 10 March 2019 by yet undetermined reason. All passengers and crew aboard died in the crash. The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft has come under scrutiny after similar deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia within a few months. Several countries have banned the plane type from their airspace and many airlines have grounded their 737 Max 8 planes for safety concerns after the Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed minutes after take-off on 10 March. EPA/STRINGER EPA Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures A heap of debris from the wreckage of an Ethiopia Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft are piled at the crash site near Bishoftu, Ethiopia, 13 March 2019. Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302 carrying 149 passengers and 8 crew was en route to Nairobi, Kenya, when it crashed on 10 March 2019 by yet undetermined reason. All passengers and crew aboard died in the crash. The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft has come under scrutiny after similar deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia within a few months. Several countries have banned the plane type from their airspace and many airlines have grounded their 737 Max 8 planes for safety concerns after the Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed minutes after take-off on 10 March. EPA/STR EPA Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures A crew working with an investigative team to clear the site after the Sunday crash of the Ethiopian Airlines operated Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, carry debris at Hama Quntushele village in the Oromia region, on March 13, 2019. - A Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines Boeing crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on March 10, killing all eight crew and 149 passengers on board, including tourists, business travellers, and "at least a dozen" UN staff. Families of the victims were taken to the remote site on March 13, 2019, where the plane smashed into a field with 157 passengers and crew from 35 countries, leaving a deep black crater and tiny scraps of debris. (Photo by TONY KARUMBA / AFP)TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Boeing 737 MAX grounding: Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 in pictures FILE PHOTO: An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8, on a flight from Miami to New York City, comes in for landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York, U.S., March 12, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo REUTERS
A Boeing spokesman said it the company was aware of the incident and supporting our customers.
Southwest Airlines said its pilots reported a performance issue with one of the engines shortly after takeoff. The crew followed protocol and safely landed back at the airport, it said.
How to tell if you're on a Boeing 737 Max
The FAA joined regulators around the world earlier this month in grounding the planes, produced in Seattle, following two crashes Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and last Octobers crash of a Lion Air flight.
The Ethiopian Airlines crash earlier this month resulted in the deaths of all 157 passengers on board. In Indonesia, 189 people lost their lives.
Investigators said the two downing had clear similarities. They are currently investigating the recently-introduced manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system (MCAS), which is designed to stop planes form stalling on take off.
The Pentagon has authorised army engineers to begin construction of additional fencing on the US-Mexico border, diverting an initial $1bn after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to bypass Congress on the matter.
The army would begin planning and building 57 miles of 18-foot-high fencing in Yuma, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas, according to a statement by acting defence secretary Patrick Shanahan.
Mr Trump declared the emergency on 15 February after Congress refused his request for $5.7bn (4.4bn). The emergency allows him to divert up to $3.6bn (2.75bn) from other military construction projects.
The Pentagon said the money would support the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. The funding would also go towards installing lighting and constructing roads.
Mr Shanahan said the engineers focus would be on blocking drug-smuggling corridors.
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
In a letter to Mr Shanahan, Democrat senators complained that the Pentagon had not brought the funding request to the appropriate congressional committees, according to CNN.
We strongly object to both the substance of the funding transfer, and to the department implementing the transfer without seeking the approval of the congressional defence committees and in violation of provisions in the defence appropriation itself, the letter read.
Building the wall was one of Mr Trumps most prominent campaign promises, though he claimed the money would come from Mexico, not American taxpayers.
It comes as a vote was scheduled for Tuesday in the House of Representatives which will likely uphold Mr Trumps declaration of emergency, in spite of the objections of the majority of congressmen and women.
With the unanimous support of Democrats and some Republicans, a resolutions was passed by Congress which struck down the emergency but was vetoed by the president.
To override a presidential veto, the House would require a super-majority of two thirds, something it is expected to fall well short of in a vote on Tuesday.
The president will be fine in the House, said minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, adding: The veto will not be overridden.
Democrats are hoping to use the border emergency battle in upcoming campaigns, both to symbolise Trumps harsh immigration stance and claim he is hurting congressional districts around the country.
Last week the Pentagon sent congressional leaders a list of hundreds of military construction projects that might be cut to pay for barrier work.
Though the list was tentative, Democrats were asserting that Republican politicians were endangering local bases to pay for the wall.
Additional reporting by agencies
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to mock the investigations he and his close ally Donald Trump have faced in recent months during a joke shared with the US president.
Mr Trump was joined by Mr Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, where he signed a proclamation recognising Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a reversal of longstanding US policy.
Although the Mueller probe has come to an end, the prime minister faces prosecution back home after his countrys attorney general said he plans to indict Mr Netanyahu over claims he received illegal gifts.
Ridiculing the investigations, Mr Netanyahu said: Mr President, I have to tell you that I brought you a case of the finest wine from Golan. I understand youre not a great wine drinker, but could I give it to your staff?
After Mr Trump nodded, the Israeli leader joked: I hope they dont open an investigation on us.
Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Show all 7 1 /7 Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights An Israeli soldier stands next to signs pointing out distances to different cities on Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Druze people take part in a rally in Majdal Shams near the ceasefire line between Israel and Syria Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Israeli Druzes sit together watching the Syrian side of the Israel-Syria border on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A European member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on October 19, 1973 shows Israeli Defence Minister General Moshe Dayan (R) looking towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, four days after the beginning of the Yom Kippur War AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on September 5, 2014 shows members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Members of the United Nations peacekeepers standing on a watch tower during a visit by the Israeli Defence Minister in 2018 AFP/Getty
The international community has long recognised the 700 square miles of territory of the Golan Heights as occupied by Israel.
Praising Mr Trump for shifting Washingtons position, Mr Netanyahu told the American leader: Youve always been there, including today, and I thank you Israel has never had a better friend than the US president.
The US president handed the pen over to the prime minister after the signing ceremony.
This was a long time in the making [it] should have taken place many decades ago, he said.
A Republican congressman has been condemned after he quote from Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf to accuse Democrats of lying about Robert Muellers Trump-Russia probe.
Speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives, Mo Brooks claimed Democrats and the media were guilty of pushing a big lie over the conclusions of the special counsel.
For more than two years, socialist Democrats and their fake news media allies CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, Washington Post and countless others - have perpetrated the biggest political lie, con, scam and fraud in American history, said Mr Brooks, from Alabama, saying accusations the president colluded with Moscow were nothing but a big lie.
Reading from a translation of Mein Kampf, he said: In that vein, I quote from another socialist who mastered 'big lie' propaganda to maximum, and deadly, effect. Quote, 'In the big lie, there is always a certain force of credibility because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus, in the primitive simplicity of their minds, they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie.
He added: Who is this big lie master socialist Adolf Hitler.
Mueller investigation: The key figures Show all 12 1 /12 Mueller investigation: The key figures Mueller investigation: The key figures Robert Mueller is the special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, and potential obstruction of justice by the president. Mr Mueller has a pristine reputation in Washington, where he was previously in charge of the FBI. Throughout his investigation, he and his team have been notoriously tight lipped about what they know and where their investigation has led. REUTERS Mueller investigation: The key figures Former FBI director James Comey was the catalyst that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. Mr Comey was fired by the president after Mr Trump reportedly asked him to drop his own Russia investigation. Mr Trump has long maintained that the investigation is a "witch hunt". AFP/Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein had authority over the special counsel investigation for much of the two years it has been active. Mr Rosenstein found himself with that responsibility after then-attorney general Jeff Sessions recused himself from that oversight. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney general Jeff Sessions's decision to recuse himself from oversight of the special counsel investigation may have cost him his job in the end. Mr Sessions resigned last year, after weathering a contentious relationship with Donald Trump who vocally criticised his attorney general for taking a step back. Mr Sessions recused himself from the oversight citing longstanding Justice Department rules to not be involved in investigations overseeing campaigns that officials were apart of. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney General William Barr is currently responsible for oversight of the special counsel investigation. Mr Barr's office will be the first to receive the Mueller report when it is finished. His office will then determine what portion or version of that report should be delivered to Congress, and also made public. EPA Mueller investigation: The key figures Michal Cohn is the president's former personal lawyer, who has been helping the special counsel investigation as a part of a plea deal over financial crimes, and campaign finance crimes, he has pleaded guilty to. Among those crimes, Cohen admitted to facilitating $130,000 in hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. Cohen has said he did so at the direction of Mr Trump. Cohen has also admitted that he maintained contacts with Russian officials about a potential Trump real estate project in Moscow for months longer than Mr Trump and others admitted. The talks continued well into 2016 during the campaign, he has said. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Stormy Daniels has alleged that she had an affair with Donald Trump in 2006, soon after Melania Trump gave birth to Baron Trump. The accusation is of particular importance as a result of the $130,000 hush money payment she received to keep quiet about the affair during the 2016 campaign. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Paul Manafort was Donald Trump's former campaign chairman. Manafort was charged alongside Rick Gates for a slew of financial crimes, and was convicted on several counts in a Virginia court. He then pleaded guilty to separate charges filed in a Washington court. Manafort has been sentenced to just 7.5 years in prison for his crimes in spite of recommendations from the special counsel's office for a much harsher sentence. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures George Papadopoulos was one of the first individuals associated with the Trump campaign to be charged by the Mueller probe. He ultimately received a 14 day prison sentence for lying to investigators about contacts he had with Russian officials. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Roger Stone is a well known political fixer and operative, who has made a name for himself for some dirty tactics. He has been charged by the Mueller probe earlier this year, and he has been said to have had prior knowledge that WikiLeaks planned on publishing stolen emails from the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016. Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Rick Gates was charged alongside former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for a range of crimes. Gates, who worked alongside Manafort for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party. The two were charged with conspiracy and financial crimes. Gates pleaded guilty. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was one of the first casualties of the Russia scandal, and was forced out of his position in the White House weeks after Donald Trump took office. Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to "willfully" making fraudulent statements about contacts he had with Russian officials including former Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Flynn then lied to Vice President Mike Pence about that contact. REUTERS
The Washington Post pointed out the expression coined by Hitler was used to claim Jews used their unqualified capacity for falsehood to blame a top German military commander for the countrys losses in World War I. He said that a lie could be so large, it defied disbelief.
The newspaper wrote: It was unclear if Brooks grasped that by levelling charges of the big lie, he had inverted his own analogy, making Democrats the equivalent of interwar German and Austrian Jews.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
The comments by Mr Brooks, a five-time congressman from Alabamas fifth congressional district, were quickly condemned.
Its unconscionable for a member of Congress to demonise an opposing party by claiming it's comparable to Nazism, said the Anti-Defamation League, a US-based Jewish group that fights anti-Semitism.
The vicious Nazi regime was responsible for the murder of 6 million Jews and millions more. This is dangerous and Mo Brooks must apologise.
The Post said Mr Brooks, who in 2017 failed to secure the Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions when he joined Mr Trumps cabinet, has yet to respond to the criticism of his comments.
Ilhan Omar has hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he rebuked her comments about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.
The freshman Democrat responded to a line from the prime ministers speech at an event held by the lobbying group in which he appeared to rebuke her statement that stirred controversy and forced an anti-Semitism resolution in the US House of Representatives.
This from a man facing indictments for bribery and other crimes in three separate public corruption affairs, the congresswoman wrote in a tweet, referring to Netanyahu. Next! she added.
Her tweet arrived after Netanyahu delivered remarks at the groups annual policy conference via live satellite that condemned her past comments without mentioning the Democrat by name.
Take it from this Benjamin, he began, Its not about the Benjamins.
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
Ms Omar criticised AIPAC in a series of tweets last month, writing, Its all about the Benjamins baby.
Asked on Twitter who she thought was paying members of Congress to support Israel, the lawmaker responded, AIPAC!
That sparked House Speaker Nancy Pelosis first public rebuke of a freshman lawmaker who had helped flip the House from Republican control and is part of a record number of women in Congress.
Congresswoman Omars use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israels supporters is deeply offensive, Ms Pelosi said in a statement issued by her office and signed by other Democratic leaders after a bipartisan backlash against the Minnesota Democrat. We condemn these remarks, and we call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologise for these hurtful comments.
Republicans have called on Democrats to strip Ms Omar of her seat on the House Foreign Relations Committee, but Chairman Eliot Engel stopped just short of that. He said in a statement that he expects his committee members to discuss policies on merits. And though he did not name Ms Omar, he left little doubt that his statement was a response to her tweets.
Its shocking to hear a Member of Congress invoke the anti-Semitic trope of Jewish money, Mr Engel said.
Donald Trump also said the freshman congresswoman should be ashamed of herself for the tweets.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
I think it was a terrible statement, and I dont think her apology was adequate, he said. Asked what she should have said, Mr Trump replied: She knows what to say.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
"As a result, we have serious concerns that the Department has allowed political interference and pet projects to come ahead of many near-term, critical readiness issues facing our military," said the letter to acting secretary of defense Patrick Shanahan and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen. "The $1 billion reprogramming that the Department is implementing without congressional approval constitutes a dollar-for-dollar theft from other readiness needs of our Armed Forces."
As many as 84 per cent of Americans want Robert Muellers report into Russian election interference and the actions of Donald Trump made public, according to a new poll.
As Democrats, and some Republicans, urged the depart of justice for the entirety of the special counsels investigation to be released, a poll found the vast majority of Americans agreed with them.
The Quinnipiac poll released on Tuesday, suggested up to 84 per cent of people want the report made available. Even among Republicans, the percentage who support making public the details of the two-year investigation, was as high as 75 per cent.
The poll also found 55 per cent of people believed Mr Mueller had conducted a fair investigation, while 26 per cent felt it was not fair.
Over the weekend, attorney general William Barr sent to Congress a summary of Mr Muellers investigation into Moscows alleged interference and accusations it had been assisted by members of the Trump campaign.
Mueller investigation: The key figures Show all 12 1 /12 Mueller investigation: The key figures Mueller investigation: The key figures Robert Mueller is the special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, and potential obstruction of justice by the president. Mr Mueller has a pristine reputation in Washington, where he was previously in charge of the FBI. Throughout his investigation, he and his team have been notoriously tight lipped about what they know and where their investigation has led. REUTERS Mueller investigation: The key figures Former FBI director James Comey was the catalyst that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. Mr Comey was fired by the president after Mr Trump reportedly asked him to drop his own Russia investigation. Mr Trump has long maintained that the investigation is a "witch hunt". AFP/Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein had authority over the special counsel investigation for much of the two years it has been active. Mr Rosenstein found himself with that responsibility after then-attorney general Jeff Sessions recused himself from that oversight. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney general Jeff Sessions's decision to recuse himself from oversight of the special counsel investigation may have cost him his job in the end. Mr Sessions resigned last year, after weathering a contentious relationship with Donald Trump who vocally criticised his attorney general for taking a step back. Mr Sessions recused himself from the oversight citing longstanding Justice Department rules to not be involved in investigations overseeing campaigns that officials were apart of. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney General William Barr is currently responsible for oversight of the special counsel investigation. Mr Barr's office will be the first to receive the Mueller report when it is finished. His office will then determine what portion or version of that report should be delivered to Congress, and also made public. EPA Mueller investigation: The key figures Michal Cohn is the president's former personal lawyer, who has been helping the special counsel investigation as a part of a plea deal over financial crimes, and campaign finance crimes, he has pleaded guilty to. Among those crimes, Cohen admitted to facilitating $130,000 in hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. Cohen has said he did so at the direction of Mr Trump. Cohen has also admitted that he maintained contacts with Russian officials about a potential Trump real estate project in Moscow for months longer than Mr Trump and others admitted. The talks continued well into 2016 during the campaign, he has said. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Stormy Daniels has alleged that she had an affair with Donald Trump in 2006, soon after Melania Trump gave birth to Baron Trump. The accusation is of particular importance as a result of the $130,000 hush money payment she received to keep quiet about the affair during the 2016 campaign. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Paul Manafort was Donald Trump's former campaign chairman. Manafort was charged alongside Rick Gates for a slew of financial crimes, and was convicted on several counts in a Virginia court. He then pleaded guilty to separate charges filed in a Washington court. Manafort has been sentenced to just 7.5 years in prison for his crimes in spite of recommendations from the special counsel's office for a much harsher sentence. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures George Papadopoulos was one of the first individuals associated with the Trump campaign to be charged by the Mueller probe. He ultimately received a 14 day prison sentence for lying to investigators about contacts he had with Russian officials. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Roger Stone is a well known political fixer and operative, who has made a name for himself for some dirty tactics. He has been charged by the Mueller probe earlier this year, and he has been said to have had prior knowledge that WikiLeaks planned on publishing stolen emails from the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016. Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Rick Gates was charged alongside former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for a range of crimes. Gates, who worked alongside Manafort for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party. The two were charged with conspiracy and financial crimes. Gates pleaded guilty. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was one of the first casualties of the Russia scandal, and was forced out of his position in the White House weeks after Donald Trump took office. Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to "willfully" making fraudulent statements about contacts he had with Russian officials including former Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Flynn then lied to Vice President Mike Pence about that contact. REUTERS
In his report, Mr Mueller said he found no evidence of a direct link between what he said were Moscows efforts and the Trump campaign.
On the issue of whether the president had obstructed efforts to investigate possible collusion, he set out the case for and against in regard to several incidents.
Yet he determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgement. In turn, Mr Barr and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, decided the presidents actions did not constitute a crime.
Stephen Colbert compares Mueller report on Trump to the 'Lost' finale
Democrats have been calling for Mr Barr to make public the entire report.
Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed scepticism about Mr Barrs summary of the findings, saying it was designed to frame the message before the information was available.
Congressman Jamie Raskin said: I havent seen the Mueller report. Ive seen the Barr report. And Im not going to base anything on the Barr report.
The president is saying hes been completely and totally exonerated by the report. The one sentence weve seen from the report says this is not an exoneration of the president.
Many Democrats claim Mr Barr is conflicted because of his views - expressed in a memo to the administration before becoming attorney general that the president cannot be charged with obstruction since he oversees the Justice Department.
You cant move forward on a four-page memo, said congresswoman Karen Bass told the Associated Press. Its hard for me to accept that as an objective opinion.
Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, told The Hill: We want to know more, say voters who have read the bullet points and believe the Mueller investigation was fair, but would like to read it in full. But was it a witch hunt? That remains the stuff of dinner table discussion.
Democrats in the US House of Representatives have unveiled major legislation to rescue the Affordable Care Act as Donald Trumps White House administration seeks to eliminate the bill in its entirety.
The move follows new filings in a case pending before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals titled Texas v the United States, in which a trial court judge previously sided with the administration in voiding the law during a December ruling.
The White House has now taken their calls to crush the legislation commonly referred to as Obamacare a step further, saying every piece of the bill should be removed from law, from protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, to subsidies for a range of Americans seeking insurance.
The Democrat bill being unveiled on Tuesday would make more middle-class people eligible for subsidised health insurance, while increasing aid for those with lower incomes who already qualify. And it would fix a longstanding affordability problem for some consumers, known as the family glitch.
It also would block Mr Trumps administration from loosening Obamacare rules through waivers that allow states to undermine protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions or to scale back so-called essential benefits like coverage for mental health and addiction treatment.
Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
The bill will get a vote in the House, but as a package it has no chance of passing the Republican-controlled Senate. However, some elements have bipartisan support and may make it into law.
Mr Trump was elected into office promising to repeal and replace his predecessors health law but was unable to do so, even with a Congress fully under Republican control.
Recommended US states sue Trump administration over Obamacare
The president remains committed to overturning Obamacare, but with the House in Democratic hands his last hope seems to be a court challenge to the law by Texas and other Republican-led states, now before a federal appeals panel.
The White Houses efforts to completely revoke the health care bill could prove risky in the upcoming 2020 elections. Scrapping the law was a longtime campaign vow that helped sail Mr Trump to victory in 2016, although Obamacare has only grown more popular in the years since. Millions of people continue to benefit from the bill's taxpayer-subsidized private insurance plans, but enrolment is slowly declining and experts fear stagnation.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
His administration said in its most recent appellate court filing in the case that the entire law should be struck down as unconstitutional, a bolder position than it previously held. Its rare for the Justice Department to decline to defend a federal law.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
The FBI is reportedly set to brief Senate and House leaders on the counterintelligence findings of Robert Muellers Russia investigation.
The agency is ready to share the special counsels conclusions on whether Donald Trump or his associates were compromised or influenced by the Kremlin in a private meeting with the so-called Gang of Eight, according to NBC News.
The Gang of Eight comprises the Democrat and Republican leaders of the Senate and House, as well as the chairs and ranking members of the respective intelligence committees.
Attorney general William Barr told congress on Sunday that Mr Muellers probe had not established collusion or conspiracy between Mr Trumps election campaign and the Russian government, which sought to influence the 2016 presidential vote.
But Mr Barr did not touch upon the special counsels counterintelligence findings, and Republicans subsequently blocked an attempt by Democrats to force the release of the full report.
Mueller investigation: The key figures Show all 12 1 /12 Mueller investigation: The key figures Mueller investigation: The key figures Robert Mueller is the special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, and potential obstruction of justice by the president. Mr Mueller has a pristine reputation in Washington, where he was previously in charge of the FBI. Throughout his investigation, he and his team have been notoriously tight lipped about what they know and where their investigation has led. REUTERS Mueller investigation: The key figures Former FBI director James Comey was the catalyst that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. Mr Comey was fired by the president after Mr Trump reportedly asked him to drop his own Russia investigation. Mr Trump has long maintained that the investigation is a "witch hunt". AFP/Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein had authority over the special counsel investigation for much of the two years it has been active. Mr Rosenstein found himself with that responsibility after then-attorney general Jeff Sessions recused himself from that oversight. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney general Jeff Sessions's decision to recuse himself from oversight of the special counsel investigation may have cost him his job in the end. Mr Sessions resigned last year, after weathering a contentious relationship with Donald Trump who vocally criticised his attorney general for taking a step back. Mr Sessions recused himself from the oversight citing longstanding Justice Department rules to not be involved in investigations overseeing campaigns that officials were apart of. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney General William Barr is currently responsible for oversight of the special counsel investigation. Mr Barr's office will be the first to receive the Mueller report when it is finished. His office will then determine what portion or version of that report should be delivered to Congress, and also made public. EPA Mueller investigation: The key figures Michal Cohn is the president's former personal lawyer, who has been helping the special counsel investigation as a part of a plea deal over financial crimes, and campaign finance crimes, he has pleaded guilty to. Among those crimes, Cohen admitted to facilitating $130,000 in hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. Cohen has said he did so at the direction of Mr Trump. Cohen has also admitted that he maintained contacts with Russian officials about a potential Trump real estate project in Moscow for months longer than Mr Trump and others admitted. The talks continued well into 2016 during the campaign, he has said. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Stormy Daniels has alleged that she had an affair with Donald Trump in 2006, soon after Melania Trump gave birth to Baron Trump. The accusation is of particular importance as a result of the $130,000 hush money payment she received to keep quiet about the affair during the 2016 campaign. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Paul Manafort was Donald Trump's former campaign chairman. Manafort was charged alongside Rick Gates for a slew of financial crimes, and was convicted on several counts in a Virginia court. He then pleaded guilty to separate charges filed in a Washington court. Manafort has been sentenced to just 7.5 years in prison for his crimes in spite of recommendations from the special counsel's office for a much harsher sentence. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures George Papadopoulos was one of the first individuals associated with the Trump campaign to be charged by the Mueller probe. He ultimately received a 14 day prison sentence for lying to investigators about contacts he had with Russian officials. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Roger Stone is a well known political fixer and operative, who has made a name for himself for some dirty tactics. He has been charged by the Mueller probe earlier this year, and he has been said to have had prior knowledge that WikiLeaks planned on publishing stolen emails from the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016. Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Rick Gates was charged alongside former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for a range of crimes. Gates, who worked alongside Manafort for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party. The two were charged with conspiracy and financial crimes. Gates pleaded guilty. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was one of the first casualties of the Russia scandal, and was forced out of his position in the White House weeks after Donald Trump took office. Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to "willfully" making fraudulent statements about contacts he had with Russian officials including former Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Flynn then lied to Vice President Mike Pence about that contact. REUTERS
The FBI originally launched the investigation into Russian election interference and links between Trump associates and Moscow in 2016. Mr Mueller took over the inquiry the next year after the president fired FBI director James Comey, prompting calls for an independent probe.
Two senior US officials said the intelligence agency was prepared to brief the Gang of Eight on the special counsels findings, according to NBC News.
No briefing has been scheduled, but one of the officials who were not named said it could happen within the next 30 to 60 days.
Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat speaker of the House of Representatives, has indicated she would reject a classified briefing on Mr Muellers findings, warning it could shield the reports conclusions from public scrutiny.
But the Republican-majority Senate Intelligence Committee is reported to want a private briefing.
Congressional Democrats on Monday wrote to Mr Barr demanding Mr Muellers report is published in complete and unredacted form, along with all underlying evidence, by 2 April.
It is vital for national security purposes that Congress be able to evaluate the full body of facts and evidence collected and evaluated by the Special Counsel, including all information gathered of a counterintelligence nature, they said.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
The letter added that congress must be permitted to make an independent assessment of the evidence regarding obstruction of justice.
Mr Mueller did not draw a conclusion about whether Mr Trump had obstructed justice, instead setting out evidence on both sides of the question, according to the attorney general.
The special counsels report stated that although his report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.
Democrats vowed to continue their efforts to get the Mueller report released after Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell blocked an attempt to pass a measure aimed at making it public.
The Justice Department has not said whether it will release Robert Muellers full report into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and related matters.
Attorney General William Barr has provided a summary of the findings and informed Congress that Mueller had concluded the Trump campaign had not colluded with Russia, but said the probe left unresolved the question of whether Donald Trump engaged in obstruction of justice.
Senates Democratic leader Chuck Schumer attempted to a pass a non-binding resolution on the release of the Muellers full findings, arguing that there is no good reason not to make the report public.
But Mr McConnell blocked the measure, explaining that the Justice Department was still trying to work out what could and could not be released.
Criminals who worked for Trump Show all 5 1 /5 Criminals who worked for Trump Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Cohen Former lawyer for Donald Trump was sentenced to three years in prison on counts involving evading income tax, false disclosure of the hush money paid to Stormy Daniels and another hush money charge Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Paul Manafort Former campaign manager for Trump Manafort was found guilty in February 2018 of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account. The crimes occurred prior to his appointment in Trump's campaign Getty Criminals who worked for Trump George Papadopoulos Former Trump campaign adviser Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in October 2017. He had lied about making contact with a professor who claimed that the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Flynn Former White House National Security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in December 2017. He had lied about conversations that he had with the Russian ambassador to the US during Trump's Presidential campaign. He was not given prison time due to his "significant assistance" to the Mueller investigation Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Rick Gates Deputy chairman of Trump's presidential campaign Gates pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in February 2018 AFP/Getty
The majority leader said: Its not unreasonable to give the special counsel and the Justice Department just a little time to complete their review in a professional and responsible manner.
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted in favour of making the report public, but the resolution has now been blocked in the Senate.
The measure does not set a deadline for the release of the report, and merely expresses a desire that it should be made publicly available.
On Monday, six House Democratic committee chairmen wrote to Mr Barr stating that his summary is not sufficient and asked to have Mr Muellers full report by 2 April.
Following a series of evening strategy meetings late in the day, Democrats vowed to continue their multiple investigations into Mr Trump and his associates.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, the California Democrat, said Mr Muellers conclusions would not affect his own committees counterintelligence probes.
There may be other corrupt meetings between the Trump campaign and the Russians, there may be other profound financial conflicts of interest that are not mentioned in the Mueller report, and there may be unanswered questions even within what he did examine, Mr Schiff said.
Trump on Mueller Decision: People Have Done Evil, Treasonous Things
The FBI is reportedly ready to brief Senate and House leaders further on the counterintelligence findings of Muellers investigation.
The agency is ready to share the special counsels conclusions on whether Trump associates were compromised or influenced by the Kremlin in a private meeting, according to NBC News.
The president vented his anger at the conclusion of the Mueller probe and vowed investigations into unnamed political enemies who did very, very evil and treasonous things.
Mr Trumps former chief adviser Steve Bannon said the president would come off the chains and is now going to go full animal after the end of the probe.
Additional reporting by agencies
Donald Trumps former chief adviser has warned the US president is going to go full animal after he was partially exonerated by Robert Muellers investigation.
Steve Bannon, who left the White House in 2017, predicted Mr Trump would come off the chains and use the special counsels findings to bludgeon his opponents and ignore congressional oversight requests for documents.
William Barr, the attorney general, sent a four-page letter to Congress outlining Mr Muellers conclusions following the sprawling 22-month probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia or Mr Trump obstructed justice.
Mr Mueller cleared Mr Trump of conspiracy with Russia, but he did not draw a conclusion on an obstruction charge. Mr Barr, though, concluded the evidence in the report which has not been made public was not enough to bring a prosecution.
When I saw no new indictments I thought, Oh my God! They didnt indict anybody regarding the Flynn investigation, they didnt indict Don Jr, Mr Bannon told Yahoo News before Mr Barr submitted his letter on Sunday.
Criminals who worked for Trump Show all 5 1 /5 Criminals who worked for Trump Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Cohen Former lawyer for Donald Trump was sentenced to three years in prison on counts involving evading income tax, false disclosure of the hush money paid to Stormy Daniels and another hush money charge Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Paul Manafort Former campaign manager for Trump Manafort was found guilty in February 2018 of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account. The crimes occurred prior to his appointment in Trump's campaign Getty Criminals who worked for Trump George Papadopoulos Former Trump campaign adviser Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in October 2017. He had lied about making contact with a professor who claimed that the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Flynn Former White House National Security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in December 2017. He had lied about conversations that he had with the Russian ambassador to the US during Trump's Presidential campaign. He was not given prison time due to his "significant assistance" to the Mueller investigation Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Rick Gates Deputy chairman of Trump's presidential campaign Gates pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in February 2018 AFP/Getty
Maybe [Mueller] could have details about obstruction of justice that are not indictable, but are meaningful.
Mr Trump on Tuesday morning appeared to live up to his former advisers prediction, tweeting angrily about the medias coverage of the probe.
The Mainstream Media is under fire and being scorned all over the World as being corrupt and FAKE, he wrote. For two years they pushed the Russian Collusion Delusion when they always knew there was No Collusion. They truly are the Enemy of the People and the Real Opposition Party!
He also shared a tweet by Tom Fitton, president of conservative activist group Judicial Watch, who claimed the probe was deep state abuse and called for a separate investigation into Hillary Clintons private email use.
Donald Trumps team is sending letters to TV producers demanding they reconsider booking guests they perceive lied about Robert Muellers investigation.
The memo was sent on Monday to a number of networks, including MSNBC, CNN and NBC, by Mr Trumps 2020 campaign communications chief Tim Murtaugh, under the headline, Credibility of Certain Guests, according to a copy obtained by Axios.
The document highlighted the conclusion reached by special counsel Mr Mueller that Mr Trump did not conspire with Russia to meddle in the 2016 election, and the decision by attorney general William Barr there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the president for obstruction of justice.
The only way to interpret these conclusions is as a total and complete vindication of President Trump, Mr Murtaugh argued.
The issuance of these definitive findings comes after two years of Democrat leaders and others lying to the American people by vigorously and repeatedly claiming there was evidence of collusion. They made many of these false claims, without evidence, on your airwaves.
Criminals who worked for Trump Show all 5 1 /5 Criminals who worked for Trump Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Cohen Former lawyer for Donald Trump was sentenced to three years in prison on counts involving evading income tax, false disclosure of the hush money paid to Stormy Daniels and another hush money charge Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Paul Manafort Former campaign manager for Trump Manafort was found guilty in February 2018 of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account. The crimes occurred prior to his appointment in Trump's campaign Getty Criminals who worked for Trump George Papadopoulos Former Trump campaign adviser Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in October 2017. He had lied about making contact with a professor who claimed that the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Flynn Former White House National Security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in December 2017. He had lied about conversations that he had with the Russian ambassador to the US during Trump's Presidential campaign. He was not given prison time due to his "significant assistance" to the Mueller investigation Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Rick Gates Deputy chairman of Trump's presidential campaign Gates pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in February 2018 AFP/Getty
In fact, members of Congress and the public remain in the dark as to whether Mr Muellers findings were definitive. The full report has yet to be made public, and only a handful of quotes were used to support Mr Barrs conclusions in his four-page letter.
On obstruction, Mr Mueller conspicuously refused to rule either way, and was quoted by Mr Barr as saying in his report that although he does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it does not exonerate him.
In the memo, Mr Murtaugh singled out six guests who he claimed made outlandish, false claims about the probe over the last 18 months: Congressional democrats Richard Blumenthal, Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler and Eric Swalwell; Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez; and former CIA director John Brennan.
The memo claims those who made outrageous and unsupported claims about the president is not limited to the six highlighted critics, and asks networks to reconsider booking them in future.
At this point, there must be introspection from the media who facilitated the reckless statements and a serious evaluation of how such guests are considered and handled in the future.
But Mr Swalwell hit back, tweeting: The only person who has been caught lying about Russia is Donald Trump. If he thinks Ive made a false statement, he can sue me. And Ill beat him in court.
The memo was sent the same day Mr Trump, addressing the Mueller report, accused a lot of people of doing some very, very evil things and treasonous things, and promised ominously they would certainly be looked at.
Trump on Mueller Decision: People Have Done Evil, Treasonous Things
Appearing on Fox News, Mr Trumps son Donald Trump Jr echoed his father, calling for investigations into people he believed were responsible for what he called the greatest farce in our democracy.
Sarah Sanders, Mr Trump's White House press secretary, later tweeted out a mock chart inviting supporters to vote for which of the "Trump haters" prominent in US media were "most embarrassingly wrong".
Despite Republican triumphalism over Mr Barrs letter, many in the party appear keen to keep the full report away from Congress and the public.
Though Mr Trump said it wouldnt bother me at all if the document was released, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell on Monday blocked a Democratic resolution to do so. Mr McConnell said the Justice Department should not be rushed.
Donald Trump reportedly "doesn't want another single dollar" of additional relief funds going to Puerto Rico, which is still struggling amid the fallout from Hurricane Maria in 2017.
In a meeting with advisers in the Oval Office last month, the US president asked for ways to limit government financial support from going to the Caribbean island, according to The Washington post, who cited senior administration sources.
Mr Trump allegedly wanted more money going to the mainland, and that he only wanted to allocate funds that would fortify Puerto Rico's electric grid.
According to the newspaper, the billionaire has also privately signalled he will not approve any additional help to the island beyond food stamp money, which was drastically cut after Congress failed to vote for its reauthorisation earlier this month.
A senior administration official told the newspaper: "He doesn't want another single dollar going to the island."
Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Show all 20 1 /20 Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew chief Kenney shelters under the blade of an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit preparing to take off during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, Puerto Rico, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico An HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit takes off behind Crew Chief Alexander Blake and his fellow soldiers during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Morovis, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew member Bynum stands in tropical rain as a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit prepares to take off during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot Chris Greenway receives a hug from a woman thanking him for water as he works with the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Verde de Comerio, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A man carries a case of water away from an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after soldiers working with 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit dropped off relief supplies during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Jayuya, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew chief Alexander Blake from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit loads water into a helicopter during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents wait for soldiers in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade to deliver food and water during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo Reuters Bringing aid to Puerto Rico An HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit lands in a field to avoid lightning during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Manati, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents hold their hands aloft to signal that they need water as UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade fly past during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, near Ciales, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Tropical rain splashes on a runway as HH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit wait for weather to clear during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Pilot Eldwin Bocanegra Torres speaks with residents isolated by landslides in the mountains after unloading water and food from a helicopter during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, near Utuado, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents stand in front of wind-damaged trees as they wait for soldiers in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade to deliver food and water during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico The contents of a home are seen from the air during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Utuado, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Thomas looks out of the window of an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit, loaded with relief supplies, during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A message written on the rooftop is seen from the air during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Humacao, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit lands in a field during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in San Sebastian, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Sergeant First Class Eladio Tirado, who is from Puerto Rico, looks for a landing spot for a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Ciales, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Boys carry water away from an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after soldiers working with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit dropped off relief supplies during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Jayuya, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Sergeant First Class Eladio Tirado from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, who is from Puerto Rico, speaks with residents as he helps during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents peek through a fence at helicopters from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit that had parked in a locked field during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Lares, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson
It comes amid a battle over a long-delayed disaster aid bill that has become a top political priority for some of Mr Trump's Republican allies as it heads to the Senate floor this week.
At stake is $13.5bn (10.2bn) emergency relief legislation to help southern farmers, rebuild hurricane-damaged military bases, repair water systems, and assist victims of last year's California wildfires, among other purposes.
The measure has wide backing from both Democrats and Republicans and is perhaps most ardently backed by Trump loyalists such as senators David Perdue and Thom Tillis, who face potentially difficult re-election fights next year.
The White House, however, is unhappy with the bill and remains opposed to efforts by Democrats to make hurricane relief to Puerto Rico more generous.
Senate Republicans are supporting food aid to the devastated island and are working with top Democrats like Patrick Leahy of Vermont to try to speed passage of the measure by adding additional help for Puerto Rico.
The House passed a companion $14.2bn (10.7bn) version of the legislation in January, but it got tangled up in the politics of the partial government shutdown and Mr Trump's demands for a wall along the US-Mexico border.
The measure is especially sought by lawmakers from southern states like Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, which were hit by hurricanes Michael and Florence last year.
There is also money to respond to floods in South Carolina, Nebraska, Iowa and other Midwestern states, an earthquake in Alaska, California wildfires, as well as Puerto Rico.
Steny Hoyer responds after Republican congressman shouts 'go back to Puerto Rico'
In an official position paper in January, the White House said the House bill was far too generous, objecting to almost $6bn (4.6bn) worth of the measure. But it stopped short of an outright veto threat, and aides say Mr Trump has since told Mr Perdue he would sign the Senate version of the bill, which mirrors the House plan in most respects.
For many lawmakers, passage is already overdue. Puerto Rico has already cut nutrition benefits by roughly 25 per cent amid the funding crunch and Georgia lawmakers warn that their farmers need help in the run-up to planting season.
"We are past the time when this should have gotten done. I have spoken with the president many times about this. His commitment to our farmers is unwavering," Mr Perdue said last month.
Mr Trump's commitment to aid to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico is in question, however.
Last fall, Mr Trump tweeted falsely that the government of Puerto Rico was using disaster aid funding to pay off its debt, and earlier this year Mr Trump reportedly contemplated trying to shift some of Puerto Rico's disaster aid to address disaster in the mainland US.
While Mr Trump supports $600m (454m) to maintain food stamp benefits in Puerto Rico, Capitol Hill aides say the White House is opposing more generous terms for delivery of disaster aid dollars and funding to rebuild antiquated water systems and make them more resilient to future storms.
Allies of Puerto Rico say Mr Trump treats the US territory worse than states that have endured far less devastating hurricane disasters.
"These folks are living under the American flag," said Democratic congressman Jose Serrano. "They should not be treated any differently than any other American citizen."
The Puerto Rican vote is an increasingly potent vote in Florida, an essential state to Mr Trump's re-election bid. Florida senator Rick Scott, a Trump ally, is a strong supporter of aid to the island.
"Puerto Rico's success is America's success and Puerto Rico's recovery is America's recovery," Mr Scott said in his maiden Senate speech earlier this year.
Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
The measure represents leftover business from last year, but efforts to add it to a catchall spending bill fizzled last month. Advancing the measure on its own promises to be a delicate task and a test of divided government. It reconnects the main players in last month's successful negotiations on a catchall spending bill and border security measure.
That success has lawmakers and staff aides cautiously confident that talks between Senate appropriations committee Chairman Richard Shelby and top panel Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont will bear fruit and that the measure could pass the chamber by the end of the week.
If the legislative planets aligned just right, supporters hope, the Democratic-controlled House could simply pass the Senate bill and immediately ship it to Mr Trump, forgoing any need for time-consuming House-Senate conference talks.
Generally, the more disaster areas that are addressed in an emergency aid bill, the easier it is to pass. That seems to be true in this case, and the legislation could be helped as well because so many Trump-friendly areas were affected.
Tyndall Air Force Base on Florida's Panhandle took a direct hit from Hurricane Michael last October and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina took a big hit from Hurricane Florence. Communities in wildfire-ravaged northern California are eager for rebuilding help and thousands of homes in Alaska were damaged in last year's earthquake.
Additional reporting by AP
Donald Trump's trade policies are adversely impacting Americans to the tune of more than a billion dollars a month, according to a new study.
The presidents tariffs and other hard-line policies put forth by his administration have reduced US income by nearly $1.4bn (1bn) each month, according to the joint study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York along with Columbia University and Princeton University.
The three research groups behind the study looked at available data dating back to November of last year, noting substantial increases in the cost of imported goods facing the newly-imposed tariffs.
Economists have long argued that there are real income losses from import protection, the researchers said in a statement accompanying the studys release. Using the evidence to date from the 2018 trade war, we find empirical support for these arguments.
Losses mounted steadily over the year, as each wave of tariffs affected additional countries and products, and increased substantially after the imposition of the wave 6 tariffs on $200bn (151.5bn) of Chinese exports.
Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Show all 15 1 /15 Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Pork There will be tariffs on pork in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Cheese There will be tariffs in place on some cheeses including 22.10/100kg of cheddar, 19.10/100kg of processed cheese and 18.60/100kg on some blue cheeses Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Milk There will be no tariffs in place on milk Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Car Parts There will be no tariffs on car parts imported from Europe PA Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Cars However finished cars will face tariffs of 10.6% Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Alcoholic drinks There will be no tariffs on alcoholic drinks - except on some rums due to ingredients used in their distilling process Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Beef There will be tariffs on beef in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Fish There will be no tariffs on many types of fish including cod, haddock, salmon and sea bass Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Fruit and vegetables There will be no tariffs on almost all fruit and vegetables Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Chocolate There will be no tariffs on chocolate or other cocoa products Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Poultry There will be tariffs on poultry in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Ceramics There will be some tariffs in place on ceramis Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Steel There will be no tariffs on steel Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Coal There will be no tariffs on coal Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Lamb/Mutton There will be tariffs on the meat of sheep in order to protect British farmers Getty
During the period of January through November of last year, researchers said total US income losses soared to approximately $6.9bn (5.2bn).
Thats a conservative estimate according to economic experts, as CNBC noted in its report on the study published Tuesday.
Recommended Trump asks China to drop all agricultural tariffs
Earlier this month, the president said tariffs could stay in place even after finalising a trade deal with China in order to make sure Beijing lives by the deal.
He said negotiations were coming along nicely and that White House officials were discussing holding the tariffs in place for a substantial period of time, noting China had previously had problems living by certain deals.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
While his tit-for-tat tariff exchange with China has alarmed economists, the president did receive a win by using the tactic during negotiations to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has been updated to the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
Flight simulations recreating the problems with the Lion Air plane that crashed last year have revealed pilots had less than 40 seconds to override an automated system to avert disaster, according to airline sources.
The pilots tested a crisis situation similar to what investigators suspect went wrong in Lion Air flight 610, which killed all 189 people on board after it crashed into the Java Sea.
In the tests, a single sensor failed, triggering software designed to help prevent a stall.
Once that happened, the pilots had just moments to disengage the system and avoid an unrecoverable nosedive of the Boeing 737 Max, according to two people involved in the testing in recent days.
Although the investigations are continuing, the automated system, known as MCAS, is a focus of authorities trying to determine what went wrong in the Lion Air disaster in October and the Ethiopian Airlines crash of the same Boeing model this month.
Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Show all 13 1 /13 Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Indonesia President Joko Widodo inspects the items recovered from Lion Air flight JT 610 Getty Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta A member of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency inspects debris AP Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Rescue teams have been joined by fisherman and volunteers in the search for survivors Getty Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Lion Air CEO, Edward Sirait (centre) speaks during a press conference at Lion Air Branch office at Soekarno Hatta Airport EPA Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta No bodies have yet been discovered among the wreckage of the Lion Air flight EPA Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Indonesian search and rescue personnel prepare for a recovery mission Getty Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Rescuers searching the site of the plane crash lift a body bag onto a nearby vessel EPA Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta A relative of passengers arrive at Lion Air's crisis center at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia AP Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta In this photo released by Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency rescuers inspect debris believed to be from a Lion Air passenger jet AP Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta A relative of passengers prays as she and others wait for news on a Lion Air plane that crashed off Java Island AP Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta A rescue team member points to the location where Indonesia's Lion Air flight JT 610 had crashed into the sea, at Tanjung Priok seaport in Jakarta Getty Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Officials evacuate a body bag containing the remains of one of the victims of the crash EPA Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Indonesian relatives of the plane crash victims cry as they wait for the news at the airport in Sukarno Hatta Airport EPA
The software, as originally designed and explained, left little room for error.
Those involved in the testing had not fully understood just how powerful the system was until they flew the plane on a 737 Max simulator, according to the two people.
In a tacit acknowledgement of the systems problems, Boeing is expected to propose a software update that would give pilots more control over the system.
This would make it less likely to trigger erroneously, according to three people familiar with the private meetings and who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
There are common procedures in place to counteract MCAS, as currently designed.
If the system starts pushing the planes nose down, pilots can reverse the movement via a switch at their thumb, a typical reaction in that situation. To fully neutralise the system, pilots would need to flip two more switches.
That would shut off the electricity to a motor that allows the system to push the plane towards the ground. Then the pilots would need to crank a wheel to correct whatever problems had emerged.
In the Lion Air crash, pilots used the thumb switch more than two dozen times to try to override the system.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
The system kept engaging nonetheless, most likely because of bad readings from a sensor, until the plane crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board.
The software changes require approval by the Federal Aviation Administration.
New York Times
The European parliaments top Brexit official has said a real Brexit revolt is under way in the United Kingdom.
Guy Verhofstadt highlighted an online petition signed by more than five million people to revoke Britains decision to leave the EU, as well as a protest which saw more than a million take to the streets in London over the weekend to demand a public vote on Theresa Mays deal.
I think that we see for the moment [is] a real Brexit revolt by the people in Britain, the Belgian MEP said on Tuesday.
He added he was very pleased by the Commons vote on Monday in which MPs took more control over the Brexit process, and set up a series of further votes this week which could dramatically alter the course of the UKs departure.
It is possible now to work in Britain towards a cross-party alliance, Mr Verhofstadt said, adding: I hope it will lead to a proposal that can be backed by a majority [in Westminster].
How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit Show all 10 1 /10 How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Independent How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Telegraph How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Mirror How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Metro How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The I How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Guardian How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Financial Times How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Mail How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit The Daily Express
Philippe Lamberts, a member of the European parliaments Brexit steering group, said Ms May had been unable to establish bonds of trust with other European leaders and within the British parliament.
It is for the British government to make up its mind what the alternative strategy is knowing full well that the strategy of running down the clock and scaring people into voting for the withdrawal agreement has failed, he said.
Theresa May might be tempted to play [a] scorched-earth policy and say, Well, whatever the parliament does ... I wont do it.
After resigning from his ministerial position on Monday, Steve Brine suggested that both revoking Article 50 and a second referendum are on the table.
Mr Brine, a former health minister, also hinted he believed the vote against Ms May on Monday paving the way for indicative Brexit votes could persuade Brexiteer Conservatives fearing a softer exit from the bloc to back the prime ministers Brexit deal.
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4s Today programme, he warned: Anything from here, as far as they are concerned, gets softer in terms of Brexit.
Jacob Rees-Mogg hints he will vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal
Mr Brine continued: If the House of Commons just simply cannot come up with anything to move us out of this then everything is on the table.
You have to accept that a second referendum or revoking Article 50 are on the table because they will probably be some options.
But Jacob Rees-Mogg, a leading Brexiteer and chair of the influential European Research Group, boosted Ms Mays hopes of ramming her deal through parliament after he signalled he may now support it.
Speaking on his ConservativeHome podcast, Mr Rees-Mogg said: The prime minister will not deliver a no-deal Brexit.
Asked if that meant the options were now Ms Mays deal or potentially no Brexit, he said: That I think, becomes the choice eventually.
Whether we are there yet is another matter, but I have always thought that no-deal is better than Ms Mays deal, but Ms Mays deal is better than not leaving at all.
Additional reporting by agencies
The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 8701, a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, declared an emergency after the aircraft experienced a reported engine problem while departing from Orlando International Airport in Florida about 2:50 p.m. today, the statement said. The aircraft returned and landed safely in Orlando. No passengers were aboard the aircraft, which was being ferried to Victorville, Calif., for storage. The FAA is investigating.
A British doctor is feared dead after he failed to return from a hike on holiday in the French Alps.
Robert Bailey, 63, was last seen leaving for a walk in Les Houches, near Chamonix, on Thursday.
The mountain rescue team at the ski resort have published a missing person's notice, which was shared on Twitter by the British Embassy.
Gendarmerie Haute-Savoie said Dr Bailey was diabetic and had heart problems. He set off to hike near Col de la Forclaz, a mountain pass near Mont Blanc, wearing a blue jacket, dark trousers, and green bag.
Dr Bailey is a GP and senior partner at Minster Medical Practice in Peterborough.
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
A recorded message told callers to the practice on Tuesday: "We are extremely saddened to advise that last Thursday Dr Bailey, who was on holiday in Chamonix, was involved in an accident.
"At present we have no further information."
The message goes on to tell patients that the practice will be offering only emergency appointments for the rest of the week.
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We are in contact with the French authorities concerning a missing British man, and are assisting his family."
On Monday a British man died in a snowboarding accident at a ski resort in Andorra.
The 59-year-old suffered cardiac arrest after losing control at high speed and crashing into a tree in Grandvalira.
A man wielding a chainsaw sparked chaos by storming into a Russian cafe and threatening customers.
Footage posted online shows staff tackling the man, who was reportedly drunk, as he lurched around with the power tool in the far eastern port city of Nakhodka.
Screams and the sound of the chainsaw roaring can be heard in the video as at least four people grapple with the him and others flee.
Cafe employees and customers were able to wrestle the saw off the man and switch it off, according to local media reports. No one was hurt.
Police in the Primorsky region launched an investigation after the clip was widely shared on social media, according to Interfax news agency. The video was posted online this week, but it is not clear when it was filmed.
World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty
The Ministry of Internal Affairs said the incident had not been reported to the police but officers were looking to speak to witnesses.
Nakhodka, 90 miles east of China on the Sea of Japan, is a key route for Siberian coal exports. More than five per cent of the city's 160,000 residents are port workers.
Town halls have been evacuated in seven cities across Germany after bomb threats were sent overnight, police have said.
A threat against the city of Augsburg has been received, the town hall has been cleared, we are investigating, tweeted police in the southern city.
Similar incidents were reported at city halls in Neunkirchen, Kaiserslautern, Chemnitz, Goettingen, Heilbronn and Rendsburg.
Forces said sniffer dogs were searching for explosives and local traffic in the cities was disrupted.
Some of the emails sent overnight threatened bomb attacks, and others made other threats, the police said.
Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city Show all 8 1 /8 Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city AP Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city AP Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city AP Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city AP Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city AP Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city AP Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city AP Inside Germanys abandoned forbidden city AP
In Augsburg the bomb threats meant some 500 people were evacuated from the town hall and buildings around the main square, local paper Augsburger Allgemeine reports.
The town hall in Gottingen, Lower Saxony, was also evacuated and the immediate area shut down after police said an anonymous bomb threat had been received by email, according to the Gottinger Tageblatt.
Shortly after 10 clock, the police gave the all clear there. Nothing dangerous had been found, a police spokeswoman told reporters.
The paper said special forces were on site and residents were urged to avoid the area, while traffic had been widely diverted.
The town hall in Kaiserslautern also received a threatening email, police said. Officers were reportedly on site with explosives detection dogs.
In Chemnitz 200 employees were ordered to leave the city hall after the threat was received. The weekly market was closed and traders had to dismantle their stands.
Following a bomb threat against the city hall in Heilbronn police have now given the all-clear, according to German news outlet Stern. No explosive devices were found.
In recent weeks, numerous bomb threats have been made across Germany including at courts and railway stations, publishers and tax offices and also against politicians and lawyers all prompting evacuations.
Explosive devices have not been found in any of the recent cases.
Investigators in Berlin are now examining more than 100 cases of threats suspected to be linked to right-wing extremists, according to Die Welt.
An airport police officer shot his colleague before turning the gun on himself after a heated argument inside the domestic flights terminal at Kayseri, Turkey, local media reported.
It was said that at least four shots were fired inside the airport in central Turkey on Tuesday afternoon, provoking panic among the public.
Hurriyet reported that after the two officers argued, one drew his pistol and fired three shots at the other before using the weapon to shoot himself.
After the incident, which is said to have occurred 4.20pm local time, a large number of police and ambulances reportedly rushed to the airport, which was also subjected to enhanced security measures.
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
Video footage from Kayseri showed a small crowd of people, some with luggage, forming outside the terminal building.
It is understood that both officers were taken to hospital. They have yet to be officially named.
The cause of the argument is not yet known.
In 2016, suspected Isis militants armed with automatic weapons and explosive belts carried out an attack at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, killing 45 people.
Algerias powerful army chief of staff turned against the countrys ailing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Tuesday in a dramatic development, calling for the invocation of a constitutional clause declaring his office vacant.
Army chief of staff Ahmed Gaid Salah, also the countrys deputy defence minister, is the most senior official to turn against Mr Bouteflika amid weeks of mass protests calling for him to resign rather than seek a fifth term.
Some of the protesters and activists participating in the weeks-long uprising against the regime, however, saw in the declaration a stage-managed attempt to push Mr Bouteflika from power without sacrificing the positions and privileges of the generals, security officials, and business leaders who make up the elite.
This is the perfect coup, said one Algiers activist and journalist. The army is saying to the protesters, Take Bouteflika and go home.
Several major opposition political parties, who have been swept up by the protests rather than leading them, quickly rejected General Salahs intervention.
The bold move was quickly followed by a reported convening of the constitutional court, which has the authority to remove Mr Bouteflika. The sequence suggested behind-the-scenes manoeuvres by powerful, shadowy figures within the elite to attempt to defuse a budding crisis by pushing Mr Bouteflika out and handing power to the head of the upper chamber of parliament, Abdelkader Bensalah.
Mr Bouteflika, who is 82, has been president since 1999, but has been wheelchair-bound and has not delivered a public speech since suffering a stroke in 2013.
Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Show all 14 1 /14 Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Protests against President Bouteflika in Algiers on March 15 Reuters Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Protesters march in Algiers to demand the resignation of President Bouteflika on March 15 Reuters Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Protesters carrying the national flag protest against President Boueflika on the Republique Plaza on March 17 AP Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians march during a protest in Algiers on March 15 AP Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Students protest in Algiers on March 19 Reuters Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Protesters hang national flags atop a building in Algiers on March 15 Reuters Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerian doctors protest against President Bouteflika on March 19 in Algiers EPA Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians demand the resignation of President Bouteflika in a protest on March 15 in Algiers AFP/Getty Algerians protest against President Bouteflika A woman holds a placard with the photo of President Bouteflika during a protest on March 15 in Algiers AP Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians demand the resignation of President Bouteflika in a protest on March 15 in Algiers AFP/Getty Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerian doctors march against President Bouteflika on March 19 in Algiers EPA Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians take part in a demonstration against President Bouteflika on March 19 in Algiers AFP/Getty Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerian doctors protest against President Bouteflika on March 19 in Algiers AFP/Getty Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Employees of the Algerian Ministry of Vocational Education and Training protest against President Bouteflika in Algiers on March 18 EPA
We must find a way out of this crisis immediately, within the constitutional framework that is the only guarantee to preserve a stable political situation, said General Salah in an address broadcast on state television. The 79-year-old general wore camouflage military fatigues as he spoke.
The solution that must be adopted to end the crisis and answer the legitimate demands of the Algerian people, is the solution that guarantees the sovereignty of the constitution and the continuity of the state. This solution achieves consensus and must be accepted by all.
Algerias powerful armed forces have long played a lynchpin role in politics. Following impending 1991 election victories by Islamists, they rolled back democracy and ignited a vicious civil war that continues to haunt the country.
Many observers likened General Salahs speech, held before a military audience, to the 2011 announcement by Egyptian generals that ousted longtime president Hosni Mubarak but ensured the power of the military and its cronies.
What is worrying is Salah announcing it himself, said the journalist and activist, with his legendary authoritarian tone.
Article 102 of the countrys constitution allows Algerias constitutional court to declare the presidential post vacant if the officeholder is unable to carry out his duties, and ask the parliament to declare him unfit. It also allows for the extension of parliamentary terms of office in exceptional circumstances.
General Salahs call for Mr Bouteflikas departure was all the more surprising as he was largely seen as a loyalist to the president. The senior officer, a veteran of the 1954-1962 war of independence from France, was elevated by Mr Bouteflika to the post of army chief of staff in 2004, and deputy defence minister in 2013.
Mr Bouteflika for years deftly balanced the dozen or so power centres within Algerias networks of rival cliques that span commerce, the armed forces, and the intelligence networks. But the waves of protests against his fifth term by Algerians fed up with the regimes perceived corruption and mismanagement of the oil and gas-rich country of 42 million, have pushed the country to the brink.
The Algerian armys move was predictable as the Bouteflika clan had no plan B, said Tarek Cherkaoui, North Africa specialist at TRT World Research Centre, a think tank associated with Turkeys public broadcaster. The massive and unprecedented demonstrations created a potentially dangerous vacuum. Moving forward, the devil will be in the details of how the transition will be managed.
Algerians across the country protest against the regime
When Egypts generals announced Mr Mubaraks departure, the protesters gathered in Cairos Tahrir Square cheered, chanting the army and the people are one hand.
Two years on, the military under now president Abdel Fatah el-Sisi staged a coup, toppling Egypts only legitimately elected government and ushering in the most repressive era in the countrys history.
Few in Algeria cheered General Salahs announcement.
Two Islamist parties quickly rejected the formula, pushing instead for the roadmap approved by a group of opposition parties earlier this month.
It is a solution that does not conform with the demands of the Algerian people, Islamist Justice and Development Front leader Abdallah Djaballah was quoted as saying in local media.
The predominantly Berber, left-leaning Rally for Culture and Democracy party called Gen Salahs statement tantamount to a coup attempt.
On social media, there were no calls to abandon plans for huge anti-government protests later this week.
I think Fridays protests will call him off as well, said the journalist and activist. People are not backing down.They want them all gone. Its going to get messier.
Syrias foreign minister has called Donald Trump a pirate for recognising the occupied Golan Heights as Israeli territory, amid a widespread backlash over the move.
Mr Trump signed a proclamation on Monday officially granting US recognition of Israels sovereignty over the contested land, during a White House visit by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed it in 1981 in a move not recognised internationally.
The US decision will affect nothing, except the isolation of the US, said the countrys foreign minister, Walid Muallem, according to Syrian state news.
The news agency said thousands of Syrians have gathered in the streets of different cities on Tuesday to protest against the decision.
Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Show all 7 1 /7 Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights An Israeli soldier stands next to signs pointing out distances to different cities on Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Druze people take part in a rally in Majdal Shams near the ceasefire line between Israel and Syria Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Israeli Druzes sit together watching the Syrian side of the Israel-Syria border on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A European member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on October 19, 1973 shows Israeli Defence Minister General Moshe Dayan (R) looking towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, four days after the beginning of the Yom Kippur War AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on September 5, 2014 shows members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Members of the United Nations peacekeepers standing on a watch tower during a visit by the Israeli Defence Minister in 2018 AFP/Getty
The move has drawn widespread criticism from across the Arab world, including from countries politically opposed to the Syrian government.
Saudi Arabia described the Golan Heights as occupied Syrian Arab land in accordance with the relevant international resolutions in a statement on Tuesday, adding that attempts to impose fait accompli do not change the facts.
It will have significant negative effects on the peace process in the Middle East and the security and stability of the region, the statement said of the decision.
Kuwait and Bahrain said they regretted the decision while Qatar called on Israel to end its occupation of the Golan Heights and comply with international resolutions.
The Lebanese foreign ministry also said in a statement that Mr Trumps decision undermines any effort to reach a just peace. Iran said the decision was against international law.
Recommended US formally recognises Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights
Russia also joined the chorus of condemnation on Tuesday, saying the move would have negative implications from the point of view of the Middle East settlement process.
Most importantly, this is probably yet another step by Washington made in clear violation of international law. We deeply regret that, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the privately owned Interfax news agency.
In signing the proclamation, Mr Trump said: This was a long time in the making.
Today, aggressive acts by Iran and terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, in southern Syria continue to make the Golan Heights a potential launching ground for attacks on Israel, the president said in the document.
It noted the unique circumstances presented by the Golan, language that appeared to be aimed at countering criticism that the recognition would be used by other countries to justify control of disputed territory, such as Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea region.
Israeli soldiers stand guard at the Quneitra crossing in the Golan Heights (EPA)
Criticism has also come from US allies such as Canada and Turkey, who have expressed opposition to the move.
In accordance with international law, Canada does not recognise permanent Israeli control over the Golan Heights. Canadas long-standing position remains unchanged, the Canadian foreign ministry said. Annexation of territory by force is prohibited under international law.
Turkeys foreign minister said that the US had ignored international law and that the decision would further increase tensions in the region.
And, at the United Nations, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said UN chief Antonio Guterres adheres to security council resolutions that Israels annexation of the Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect.
Amnesty International called the decision irresponsible, reckless and yet another example of the Trump administration violating international law and consensus by condoning Israels illegal annexation.
Additional reporting by agencies
At least 19 people have been killed and about 100 more injured in flash floods in southern Iran.
Dramatic footage showed crumpled cars piled up deep in mud and water and people clinging to lamp posts after floods swept through the city of Shiraz, where most of the deaths occurred on Monday.
Pirhossein Kolivand, head of Irans emergency medical services, said four children were among those who died, Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency reports.
High water is said to have damaged thousands of houses in the city and other towns, and 26 out of 31 regions are on high alert for imminent flooding because of torrential rain forecast for the coming days.
The spread of flooding to the south comes after days of floods in the north which affected more than 56,000 people living in 270 villages and small towns in the regions of Golestan and Mazandaran on the Caspian Sea.
Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran Show all 10 1 /10 Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran Cars are piled after being swept up in flash flooding in Shiraz in south-central Iran AFP/Getty Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran Vehicles are swept to the roadside in flash flooding in Shiraz in south-central Iran Reuters Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran Military vehicles rescue people after flash flooding in the north Iranian of Agh Ghaleh AP Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran The northern Iranian village of Agh Ghaleh - shown here on March 23 - has been flooded over the past week AFP/Getty Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran The northern Iranian city of Agh Ghaleh - shown here on March 23 - has been flooded over the past week AFP/Getty Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran Clean-up efforts after flash flooding in Shiraz in south-central Iran Reuters Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran Residents of the northern Iranian village of Agh Ghaleh - shown here on March 23 - walk in a flooded street. The town has been flooded over the past week AFP/Getty Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran Cars are piled after being swept up in flash flooding in Shiraz in south-central Iran AFP/Getty Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran Cars are piled after being swept up in flash flooding in Shiraz in south-central Iran AP Flash flooding kills at least 19 in Iran The northern Iranian city of Agh Ghaleh - shown here on March 23 - has been flooded over the past week AFP/Getty
Five people were killed in floods in the north, according to the state-run Press TV channel.
Irans judiciary said the governments handling of the disaster was being investigated after it was criticised for reacting to slowly to the floods.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
Any shortcomings regarding the handling of te floods, failure to provide relief and aid to the survivors will be investigated, judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi was quoted as saying by Mizan news agency.
Fars governor Enayatollah Rahimi told state TV the flooding was under control and rescue and aid workers had been deployed to the flood-hit areas.
Irans energy minister Reza Ardakanian blamed climate change as the cause of the floods.
Climate change is forcing itself on our country, Tasnim quoted him as saying. These floods in Iran are the result of climate change worldwide.
Additional reporting by Reuters
The United Nations has called for urgent restraint in Gaza and Israel, warning an escalation of violence between warring factions could have catastrophic consequences.
The caution by Nickolay Mladenov, the UNs envoy for the Middle East, came after more than 24 hours of cross-border fire, sparked by a rocket attack from Gaza on a family home in central Israel which injured at least six people including a baby. No fatalities were reported by either side.
Israel said overnight it had destroyed multiple positions controlled by Hamas, the militant group that runs the Strip, including the offices of Hamass political leader Ismail Haniyeh. At least 80 rockets, meanwhile, were fired from Gaza into Israel.
Mr Mladenov told the Security Council that a fragile calm had returned to the region on Tuesday afternoon following intense efforts by Egypt, which helped broker the fragile truce, and the UN.
However, the situation remained extremely tense.
I am concerned that we may once again be facing another very dangerous escalation of violence in Gaza with potentially catastrophic consequences, he said.
Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Show all 10 1 /10 Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Fire and smoke rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City AFP/Getty Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Smoke rises above buildings in Rafah in the Gaza Strip following Israeli airstrikes AFP/Getty Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Palestinians are reflected in a mirror as they stand by the rubble of the office of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City Reuters Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip A Palestinian stands by the rubble of the office of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City Reuters Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Palestinian boys watch as others inspect a mosque that was damaged in a nearby Israeli air strike in Gaza City Reuters Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Palestinians inspect their home after it was damaged in a nearby Israeli air strike in Gaza City Reuters Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City AP Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Palestinian men point to an insurance sign amid the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City AFP/Getty Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Gaza City in the late afternoon on March 25 shortly before Israel launched airstrikes in the city AFP/Getty Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Fire and smoke rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City AP
The UN has been working intensely with Egypt and all concerned to ensure that the situation does not spiral out of control.
The last two days have shown how precariously close we are to the brink of war once again, he added.
There was confusion over whether a long-term ceasefire had actually been reached.
Hamas had first announced the Cairo-brokered truce late on Monday, but a furious exchange of fire continued throughout the night.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cut short a four-day trip to the US due to the escalation, warned on Tuesday he was ready to order further action against Gaza.
His acting foreign minister, Israeli Katz, meanwhile, told Reshet Bet radio there was no ceasefire in place.
Security officials in the south of the country including police told The Independent additional forces had been deployed in readiness for a longer military operation. Reservists had also been called up.
Paramedics said they were on high alert.
Recommended Weary Israelis lose patience over Gaza attacks
The flareup comes just two weeks ahead of an Israeli general election.
Mr Netanyhau hopes to beat a centrist alliance spearheaded by Benny Gantz, the countrys former army chief, and secure a fourth consecutive term in office, making him Israels longest serving premier.
He had been set to sweep the polls after celebrating a surprise decision this week by president Donald Trump to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War.
Mr Trump signed the controversial declaration on Monday, despite the fact the UN and the European Union believe Israels de facto annexation of the Syrian territory to be illegal.
But the boost to Mr Netanyahus popularity was shortlived as he faced mounting calls for a longer military operation in the besieged Strip after the rocket fire.
In the southern Israeli border town of Sderot, which was pounded by rockets during the flare up, Israeli residents announced protests on Tuesday night as they demanded the government take action.
The southern regions have in the past been large support bases for Mr Netanyahus right-wing Likud party.
Although not all protesters demanded a war with Gaza, many civilians living near to the tiny enclave told The Independent they felt abandoned by Israel, which did not have a plan.
Israel does not have a policy vis-a-vis Gaza. We are totally reactionary instead of being proactive. For years [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar has called the shots like he is my prime minister, said Adele Raemer, who lives in Nirim, just a couple of miles from the fences, and keeps in touch with Gazans living on the other side of the border.
She had spent the last few nights sleeping in her bomb shelter from the rocket fire and night disturbances: protests in Gaza during which some Palestinians have lobbed explosives towards Israel.
Ms Raemer argued the solution was not a military but a political one.
A rehabilitated Gaza is a safer western Negev. When Gazans can build schools, hospitals and take care of their sewage system, they wont use marches, explosives and rockets. People need to have a horizon of hope, she said.
Local reaction after seven Israelis injured in Gaza rocket strike
Her comments echoed protesters in Sderot.
We demand the government of Israel recognise that we are Israeli citizens and we have human rights for security and safety like the rest of the country, said Sharon Shelly, 45, who was preparing to attend the evening rallies.
The government has no strategy and keeps us living us from one war to another. We want a permanent solution, we dont know if that is fighting Hamas and replacing them, or making an agreement.
Either way the government has absolutely failed us. Many people are fed up with Netanyahu and dont believe him, she added.
A rehabilitated Gaza is a safer western Negev. When Gazans can build schools, hospitals, and take care of their sewage system, they wont use marches, explosives and rockets Adele Raemer, in Nirim, Israel
Meanwhile, in Gaza, civilians said they would not be able to survive another war and feared that any escalation would be tied to the upcoming Israeli elections as all sides jostled for power.
Its a disastrous time, because of the economic crisis and humanitarian catastrophe. People literally cannot feed their families at the moment. How can we survive a war? asked Hamdosh Aldayhem, 38, from north Gaza.
Mohamed Baba, 26, also from the north, said they had had sleepless night as the airstrikes rocked their neighbourhoods.
We do not want our blood to be the fuel for the coming Israeli election campaigns, he added.
A Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen that is supported by the UK government has killed more than 8,000 civilians, according to new research.
In the four years since the bombing campaign began, a total of 8,338 civilians have been killed by airstrikes, including 801 women and 1,283 children.
The figures were compiled by the Yemen Data Project, which analysed 19,511 air raids, and comes amid increased scrutiny over the UKs role in the devastating conflict.
Riyadh intervened in Yemens civil war in 2015 to reinstate the internationally recognised government of Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was ousted by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The coalition, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has admitted to causing civilian casualties in the past, but attributes the deaths to unintentional mistakes, and says it is committed to upholding international law.
Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Show all 17 1 /17 Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' 11-year-old Marwa uses the red sap of dragon's blood trees to make nail varnish and make up. This specimen of the endemic Socotran tree is more than 1,000 years old. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Dragon's blood trees' grow via dichotomous branching, wherein each of the branches divides into two sections. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Detwah lagoon, next to the village of Qalansiyah, used to be a popular spot for camping trips. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Socotras estimated 60,000 inhabitants mainly rely on the islands fish stocks, date-yielding palm trees and goats for food. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Fish, squid and lobster populations are declining thanks to overfishing and the effects of climate change. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Most of Socotra's unique plant life is believed to be derived from subtropical forests dating back 20 million years. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Dragon's blood trees are adapted to survive in arid climates but need cool and misty mountainsides. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' In the 1990s, UN biologists documented nearly 700 species on Socotra that are found nowhere else on Earth. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' The Socotra Archipelago has been gradually drying out over hundreds of years, threatening the delicate ecosystem's survival. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Dozens of rusted Soviet tanks line Socotra's shores, unused relics left over from the Cold War. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' The mountains on the island's eastern side are covered in fine white coral sand, blown there during monsoon seasons. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' The island's granite and limestone cliffs are covered in a permanent mist. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' A red snapper for dinner, a gift from a fisherman. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Socotra's Hajhir mountain range rises above the main town of Hadibo. Its jagged peaks can be seen from almost every corner of the island. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' In the last 200 years, entire dragon's blood forests have been felled to make way for the growing population. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Two huge typhoons in 2015 killed hundreds of mature dragon's blood trees. Locals worry newly planted trees will not grow quickly enough. Bethan McKernan Yemen's Socotra Island, the 'Jewel of Arabia' Fishing dhows return to the village of Qalansiyah at sunset. Bethan McKernan
Together with the US, the UK has played a major role in supporting the coalitions military campaign against the Houthis who have also been accused of war crimes by the United Nations.
The UK has licensed 4.7bn worth of arms to Saudi Arabia since the bombing campaign began, including aircraft, helicopters, drones, bombs and missiles.
A recent report by the US-based University Network for Human Rights (UNHR) and Yemeni monitoring group Mwatana found that British and American bombs have killed and maimed nearly 1,000 civilians, including over 120 children in Yemen.
British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has consistently defended the sales, and argued in an op-ed on Tuesday that stopping sales to Saudi Arabia would lessen the UKs influence.
We could halt our military exports and sever the ties that British governments of all parties have carefully preserved for decades, as critics are urging. But in doing so we would also surrender our influence and make ourselves irrelevant to the course of events in Yemen, Mr Hunt wrote in Politico.
Our policy would be simply to leave the parties to fight it out, while denouncing them impotently from the sidelines, he added.
However, critics have accused the UK of prioritising profit ahead of humanitarian concerns.
Mr Hunt was writing a day after five UK opposition parties called on the government to drop all arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
In a letter to Mr Hunt published in The Independent, Labour, the Green Party, SNP, the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru wrote that: It is disappointing that despite all the evidence to the contrary on a conflict that has lasted four years that the government has determined not to use all the means at its disposal to pressure an ally to abide by basic human rights laws.
This terrible war would not be possible without the political and military support of arms-dealing governments like the UK. As the war enters its fifth year it has only become more urgent that they do the right thing, and finally end the arms sales, said Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade.
No matter how bad the situation has become, Jeremy Hunt and his colleagues have put arms company profits ahead of the rights and lives of Yemeni people.
In addition to the casualties caused by bombing, the widespread fighting has caused what the United Nations describes as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.
An estimated 24 million people close to 80 per cent of the population need assistance and protection in Yemen, and famine threatens hundreds of thousands of lives.
Western backers of the Saudi-led campaign have come under increasing pressure to end arms sales to the country in recent weeks amid a growing scandal over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Saudi Arabias powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been the driving force behind his countrys intervention in Yemen has faced international condemnation after it was revealed that members of his security detail were among the suspects in the killing.
Yemenis line up for free bread amid a severe shortage of food in Sanaa (EPA)
But airstrikes are not the only danger for Yemens beleaguered population. Save the Children has reported an alarming spike in suspected cholera cases in the country.
It said 40,000 new cases were reported in just the last two weeks, an increase of 150 per cent compared to the same period last month. More than a third were children under the age of fifteen.
The country suffered its worst outbreak in history in 2017, when more than a million people were affected.
A massive outbreak will be yet another killer for children left starved and weakened by four years of war. The tragedy is cholera can be easily prevented with access to clean water and basic hygiene. But thats where we are right now. Yemens sewage system, which was already lacking before the conflict, is now almost non-existent, said Tamer Kirolos, Save the Childrens Yemen country director.
All parties to this conflict, and those supporting them, must take the only responsible action which is to urgently reach a peaceful resolution. Yemens children cannot be made to wait while war and deadly disease rage around them.
In a moment of pure pathos, Mr Tochigi reaches for a framed photograph of his beloved wagyu heifer, called Saori. She is salmon-pink with mottled spidery veins of fat and dressed as a chuck-eye steak.
I nurtured her for four years and when she was butchered I cried, says the tearful 86-year-old, clutching the frame tighter.
By way of compensation, his cattle are reared to become Matsusaka wagyu, Japans most expensive beef. In 2002 one single cow fetched a beefy 50 million yen (350,000) at market.
Wagyu connoisseurs outside Japan might purr with familiarity at the mention of kobe beef, but the Japanese keep Matsusaka wagyu and its marbled melt-in-the-mouth qualities all to themselves. I first encountered it during a four-day food tour of Mie prefecture on eastern Honshu island although it wasnt exactly love at first bite.
Mie prefectures culinary excellence is somewhat hidden in plain sight. Geographically it lies on a rural coastal plain between Osaka, Tokyo, and Kyoto, yet is bypassed by travellers roaming at lightspeed on Shinkansen trains between these gilded cities.
Before even reaching Matsusaka city Id delighted in local produce that is the essence of Japanese culinary DNA. In Shima I visited a fourth-generation producer of bonito flakes, the ingredient that adds umami oomph to daishi stock. I shucked Pacific Ocean oysters near Toba, letting their briny loveliness ooze down my throat. And among crumpled hills I learned the precise science of green tea preparation at Shinryaku Sabo tearooms. The first sip was a zesty, citrusy punch to my caffeine-adoring solar plexus.
Green tea preparation is an art all its own (Mark Stratton)
I saw my first Japanese black tajima cow (one of several indigenous breeds that can be reared to become wagyu) at Tochigis farm during a morning excursion from Matsusaka City. These millionaire heifers hardly slosh around muddy fields they are the most pampered of bovines. Black-furred and compact, Tochigis latest prodigy is ensconced in her own bijou cowshed, which I view from a distance due to quarantine rules. If Ferrari made tractors, Tochigi could afford one but his home is humble and he talks of making people happy with the deliciousness of his wagyu, rather than raking in a fistful of yen.
Tochigi rears his heifers for four years before market. Unlike kobe wagyu (produced from bullocks), Matsusaka wagyu is exclusively virgin females. Females have more fat than males; thats why they taste better than kobe, says Tochigi. The endgame is to produce fatty marbling so soft it melts upon the touch of a human finger.
This process involves intensively nurturing the cows via rather whimsical means. Tochigi feeds his heifers with corn and soya beans; hand massages them with schochu spirit to promote better blood circulation; quenches their thirst with bottled beer (a beer munchies approach to fostering appetite); and weeps when they exit stage left to one of the several venerable wagyu restaurants in Matsusaka city that draw savants from all over Japan.
Cows are given beer to drink to give them the munchies (JNTO)
He recommends I first try it in the classical form of sukiyaki, which I do via a cookery class in Matsusaka with private chef, Yoshiko Highashimura. She takes me to the local butchers to buy thin cuts of rump and sirloin costing 2,500 yen (17) per 100g. The more off-white the fatty marbling, the better the taste, says the butcher.
Sukiyaki takes a minute to prepare. Add meat to a medium-heat skillet, simmer in its own fat and liberally sprinkle sugar and a dash of soy. While the Japanese participants around me hum an epiphany, I find it too sweet (told you it wasnt love at first bite). When its my turn to cook, I add less sugar and allow the wagyus silky natural tenderness to speak for itself. Its so soft I can pull it apart with chopsticks.
Matsusaka wagyu has distinctive marbling (Mark Stratton)
Ha! English sukiyaki, observes Highashimura, politely tasting my effort as we exchange bows.
Several other ways exist for visitors to experience this hallowed meat. For lunch theres Restaurant Sushiman, run by fourth-generation owner Suichuro Kondo, where traditional seafood sushi is prepared at the counter alongside a jack-in-the-box surprise of wagyu sushi. Dabbed with wasabi, this first bite-sized morsel sets off a velvety firework of juices in my mouth. Its so buttery soft I order another despite each piece costing 900 yen (6.30).
So many Japanese visitors came looking for wagyu that we put it on the menu as sushi 40 years ago, says Kondo.
Matsusaka wagyu is incredibly tender (JNTO)
You wont, however, better Restaurant Gyugin, established in 1902. In one of Matsusakas original wagyu establishments, guests dine in private rooms cross-legged on tatami mats behind paper shoji sliding-screens, served by waitresses dressed in kimono.
Another fourth-generation owner, Mr Kobayashi, gets his meat from Tochigi. I have travelled across Japan and never eaten better beef, he says. I press him on how much he outlays for Matsusaka wagyu: Around 5 million yen per cow and we sometimes buy four cows per month, he admits. Which by my rudimentary maths is an eye-watering annual outlay of up to 1.69m.
The butcher picks out the softest cuts (Mark Stratton)
Mind you, Kobayashi claws it back with a three-slice beef course costing 121. Is it worth it? Well, the first medium-rare slither, grilled yakiniku-style on a charcoal burner at my table, is dressed with grains of salt that harmonise with the soft creaminess of texture and subtle charring. The second is divinely fruity, accompanied by yuzu and ponsu dipping sauces. The third slice is naked and I consume it in several salivating bites, rolling my eyes skywards at the tender, melting savouriness of Matsusaka wagyu wonderment.
Priceless.
Travel essentials
Getting there
Japan Airlines flies from London Heathrow to Nagoya via Tokyo for 535 return.
Visiting there
A cookery class at Utsukushiya costs 5,000 yen pp (34pp).
A transcript of that interview was released Tuesday by the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee as part of an ongoing effort to sow doubt about the origins of the FBI's investigation into possible coordination between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign. Mueller ended his investigation last week without finding a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign to affect the 2016 presidential election, according to a Justice Department summary of his findings released Sunday.
After a planeload of passengers on a British Airways flight to Dusseldorf ended up in Edinburgh by mistake, neither BA nor the airline to which it sub-contracted the flying, WDL Aviation, has said much apart from sorry.
So what could possibly have gone wrong with British Airways flight 3271? The Independent has been investigating.
Why wasnt British Airways operating the flight?
BA does not have enough aircraft to operate its advertised schedule, and it therefore wet-leases planes from other airlines which means hiring the aircraft, pilots and cabin crew. Its absolutely standard practice in aviation; I have flown on Titan Airways when I booked easyJet, and Air Arabia instead of Ryanair.
For this flight, BA contracted WDL Aviation, a small German airline that does a fair amount of flying for British Airways London City base. British Airways assures me that passengers will have known they were not booking on real BA.
The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 Show all 10 1 /10 The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 Donegal airport in Ireland grabbed the top spot for the second year running in PrivateFly's 2019 poll of the most scenic landings in the world. Owen Clarke The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 The Outer Hebrides' Barra airport in Scotland claimed second place. Ewen Weatherspoon The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 Nice, France, took third place. The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 Orlando Melbourne in the US came fourth. The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 St Maarten in the Caribbean ranked fifth thanks to a dramatic approach. The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 Saba in the Caribbean swings into sixth position. The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 Queenstown, New Zealand, is seventh most scenic. The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 Canada's Toronto Billy Bishop was voted eighth most beautiful. The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 The UK gets a second spot in the top 10 with London City airport, which claims ninth place. The 10 most beautiful airport landings in the world for 2019 Aosta in Italy bags 10th place with its mountain views.
So no one stepping aboard BA3271 should have been surprised that instead of a shiny Embraer jet, they were on a 33-year-old British Aerospace 146 plane instead.
How did the plane end up flying to the wrong country?
British Airways will have specified to its sub-contractor, WDL, the pattern of flying for the day. Looking back over the past week, that plane has flown almost exclusively between London City and Germany mostly Dusseldorf but also Frankfurt.
Thats a logical assignment because, while some passengers may be mildly miffed to find themselves on a non-BA plane, at least the crew was German-speaking.
But BA, as the customer, can deploy the plane wherever it wishes, and on Sunday 24 March, the day before, it flew Dusseldorf-London City-Edinburgh-London City-Dusseldorf.
It is reasonable to conclude that someone picked up or emailed the wrong days flying programme, and the mistake wasnt noticed.
Surely someone should have picked up the mistake?
Recommended How to claim money back if your journey is delayed or cancelled
Had it been a real British Airways plane there is little chance that it would have happened. But because WDL does not work on the same IT system as BA, the opportunity for the error to be spotted on the ramp as the plane was being turned around was lost.
Ground staff boarding the flight would have checked people through the departure gate and onto the flight, happily assuming it was Dusseldorf-bound.
The dispatcher will have handed the captain a manifest listing Dusseldorf as the destination. But all of us who deal with routine paperwork know that you can sometimes easily overlook details apparently including where to point the plane.
On that subject: WDL will have filed a flight plan for Edinburgh with air-traffic controllers, who do not have time to check: Are you really sure thats where you want to go?
As Eurocontrol has pointed out: We get 30k flight plans a day. If someone files for EGPH [Edinburgh] and then flies there, no eyebrows are elevated.
So the plane took off with everything apparently in order.
Should the passengers have spotted the problem?
Yes. I dont know what the pre-flight announcement said possibly they may have simply given the flight number and in my experience people pay little attention. Whats more concerning is that passengers in window seats with a modicum of geographical training on a clear day should have spotted:
a) that they had not flown over a substantial body of water, ie the North Sea, shortly after take-off (the flight to Edinburgh went along the spine of Britain).
b) the sun was at a very different angle to the plane behind and slightly to the right, rather than ahead and slightly to the right and therefore they were flying further away from their intended destination.
But there are some unusual flight plans due to congestion, military operations etc, which can cause considerable detours from the most direct track.
Presumably when the Forth Bridge appeared in view, people will have realised that they were not going to land at the handsome city on the Rhine, but by then the plane was on the final approach and would not have had enough fuel to fly an extra 526 miles to Dusseldorf.
Has anyone offered to help BA avoid the same problem again?
Yes. Ryanair is helpfully sending a copy of Geography for Dummies to British Airways.
Will passengers get any compensation?
Yes. Everyone on the original flight, as well as those on the remaining London City-Dusseldorf-London City flights (at least three more of them, delayed by up to five hours because of the problem) is entitled to 250 (215) in compensation.
There should be no problem getting WDL, as the operating carrier, to pay up. The cash is payable unless the cause was extraordinary circumstances that could not be avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. I think it is reasonable to expect the airline to check which direction to point the plane in.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
If people have specific financial losses attributable to the foul-up, from extra car-parking charges to lost wages, they can cite the Montreal Convention and seek additional compensation.
Does this sort of thing happen often?
No, because of the multiple opportunities for such an error to be spotted. However, it is not unknown. I have ended up at Heathrow rather than Gatwick on a flight to Dubai, because the Emirates duty office neglected to tell the captain to land at Gatwick rather than Heathrow. But at least it was in the same country.
A more frequent occurrence is landing at the wrong airport typically when a second airport is close to the intended destination. Delta Airlines pilots landed at a US Air Force base in Rapid City, South Dakota rather than the main airport in 2016. In 2013, an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania touched down in nearby Arusha airport.
The most extreme case was in 1995, when Northwest Airlines touched down at Brussels rather than Frankfurt.
Why does BA sell flights when it doesnt have enough planes or crew?
An airlines fleet and the pilots and cabin crew to staff the flights are long-term resources, and opportunistically an airline may wish to fly extra services as British Airways did through the summer of 2018 when it bought Monarchs slots and had to use them or lose them. Another reason: technical issues such as the grounding of many Boeing 787 aircraft because of problems with their Rolls-Royce engines. BA is chartering an elderly Air Belgium plane to cover some long-haul services.
There may be much more wet-leasing this summer because of the problems with Boeing 737 Max planes, which will potentially see Norwegian and Ryanair chartering in spare capacity to cover gaps in the fleet because of the grounding of the Max.
Q My niece is getting married in Croatia in September 2020. Jet2 has just released its flights for next summer. I have been quoted a hideous 426 return from Leeds to Split in September 2020. Will they get cheaper or should I book now?
Ian McG
A I dont blame Jet2 for posting absurdly high prices on this route, just in case anyone out is daft enough to pay them, but I urge you to defer your purchase for at least a year. With the exception of inbound flights on the first few days of September, which are filled with returning families, the month is always a buyers market for tickets between the UK and southern Europe.
It was the vote that finally told us who is really in charge of Brexit and on Monday night parliament took back control from the prime minister. The majority of 27 in favour of Oliver Letwins amendment to stage a series of indicative votes was larger than expected and shows the strength of feeling among MPs. They have run out of patience with Theresa Mays months-long strategy of intransigence and running down the clock.
On the face of it, granting MPs an opportunity to come up with a Brexit plan B from a menu of options points to a softer Brexit blocking a no deal and shifting away from Mays twice-defeated withdrawal agreement.
Supporters of a second referendum, or Britain remaining in the customs union, may be celebrating. And yet, the Letwin vote may, paradoxically, make it more likely that Mays deal squeaks through in the end.
Why? First of all, just because MPs have voted to take control of Commons business, and will take part in a series of pink slip ballots on Wednesday, doesnt mean they are unanimous about the next steps.
There is still huge disparity between and within parties about whether there should be a Norway plus, a customs union, a hybrid of Mays deal or a second referendum.
Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Show all 15 1 /15 Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Nigel Farage has spent his political career campaigning for the UK to leave the EU. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Boris Johnson's support for Brexit took many by surprise before the EU referendum. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises The UK and EU are yet to agree on a withdrawal deal. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises This was taken from a 2012 speech delivered by Mr Davis. He does not currently support a second Brexit referendum. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Boris Johnson now supports a hard Brexit and resigned from the cabinet in 2018 over Theresa May's strategy. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises The US recently issued trade negotiation objectives for future talks with the UK. The country made clear that it expects access to the UK's agriculture industry, reviving the debate about chlorinated chicken. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Nigel Farage does not support the current campaign for a second Brexit referendum. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Despite this quote, in February 2019 Boris Johnson said a no deal Brexit "may yet be the best option for the UK". Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises The UK and EU are yet to begin negotiating a deal regarding their future relationship. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Theresa May announced that the UK would be leaving the Single Market in her Lancaster House speech in January 2017. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Theresa May triggered Article 50 on 29 March 2017. Her withdrawal deal is yet to be passed. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises A classic from the 2015 general election campaign. David Cameron resigned on 24 June 2016, following the EU referendum result. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises David Davis resigned from his post as Brexit secretary in July 2018 after disagreeing with Theresa May's negotiation strategy. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Michael Gove was one of the most influential Leave voices during the EU referendum campaign. Twitter/Led By Donkeys Brexit billboards: Campaigners remind MPs of past promises Jacob Rees-Mogg, a prominent backbencher, does not support a second Brexit referendum. He has called the use of this quote "fundamentally dishonest" as it was taken from a 2011 speech discussing the option of referendum before David Cameron entered negotiations with the EU. Such a vote was never held. Twitter/Led By Donkeys
The prime minister has been saying for weeks that we know what parliament does not want neither her deal nor a no deal but it has not proactively said what it does want. Of course, this was pure sophistry from May because she never gave them the opportunity to come up with a plan B. Yet, just as so many votes in parliament over the past few months have been tight and often contradictory, there is every sign that Wednesdays indicative process will not shed any more light. The votes could end up with all options defeated.
Second, as the PM and her allies are keenly aware, Brexiteers in the European Research Group, led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, are on the verge of capitulating and backing her deal for fear that the only alternative is a softer Brexit. While May had pitted her deal against a no deal, the ERG were happy to take the latter totally undermining her strategy.
Now that the prospect of no deal is all but closed off (although there is still a slim chance it could happen), and parliament is gearing up for the indicative votes process, Brexiteers face a clear choice: back the existing deal or risk a soft Brexit.
This was why the government was in the bizarre position of being opposed to the Letwin amendment on the constitutional grounds that it undermined the governments authority and yet were, in the event, happy to use the defeat as an opportunity to increase the stakes with the ERG and force them, after all these weeks, into voting for Mays deal.
Getting it over the line will not take much Rees-Mogg reiterated his stance on Monday night by saying he would vote for Mays deal if the DUP did. It is now down to the DUP, who are not vehemently opposed to a soft Brexit, to decide which way to go. If Brexiteers are fearful that a soft Brexit or even a second referendum is on the cards then the PM may finally get her deal when it is put forward for a meaningful vote for a third time. Her strategy of running down the clock will have paid off.
But at what cost? Even if Mays deal is eventually approved, and Brexit finally happens on 22 May under the new two-speed timetable agreed with the EU last week, her authority has been completely undermined by her handling of the entire process.
Even in success, if she ever gets to that point, she will have driven herself out of office through her intransigence, high-handedness and, in what was probably the turning point for many last week, her controversial remarks pitting the people against parliament.
At her meeting with Brexiteers in Chequers at the weekend, it was suggested to her that she might set out a timetable for departure in order to win over more Eurosceptic votes but she refused. If her deal is approved this week or next, she will have to acknowledge that her handling of Brexit has alienated MPs at home while reducing the UKs standing in Brussels, and announce her resignation.
Namibia's current and Kenya's former ministers for environment engaged in a lively discussion about the polarising issue of trophy hunting at a debate held in at The Arts Club in London on Monday 25 March.
Professor Judi Wakhungu, Kenyas former Cabinet Secretary of Environment, Water, and Natural Resources, said that her countrys position on hunting is diametrically opposed to that of her co-panelist Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism in Namibia since 2015.
Professor Wakhungu said In Kenya we believe a live animal is worth more over its lifetime than a one off killing. Elephant hunting was made illegal in 1973, followed by a ban on all animal hunting in 1977. Since then our elephant population has been growing steadily, and our rhino breeding programme has been successful.
Namibia permits the controlled and authorised hunting of wildlife. Minister Shifeta countered Professor Wakhungu's point, saying that conservation hunting makes a valuable contribution to both eco-tourism and employment levels.
In Namibia conservation hunting is highly regulated and employs people in their thousands, said Minister Shifeta. It contributes more than half a billion Namibian dollars a year.
He added: As long as there are tough penalties in place against illegal wildlife killing and people behave according to protocols, hunting can play an important role in the long term protection of wildlife.
In Namibia around 20% of conservancy revenues come from hunting. The money generated is used to increase anti-poaching policing and relocate animals, as well as being funneled back into the local community to build waterholes and infrastructure.
The debate called Killing for Conservation - was chaired by Dr Max Graham, Founder and CEO of the international conservation charity Space for Giants, and held at The Arts Club, Mayfair. The panelists were joined by Professor Phyllis Lee, a renowned animal behaviourist who worked on the longest-running elephant research project in Kenya.
As Botswana considers lifting its ban on elephant hunting, Professor Lee said that what urgent action and sustained investment is needed to protect wildlife for future generations. She cited the example of critically endangered Rwandas mountain gorillas whose prospects for survival have improved thanks to years of conservation measures.
Professor Lee said [The issue of] hunting is being framed as a debate of bad guys in the West telling Africa what to do. But African voices do not want to see their environment trashed and their wildlife eaten.
Kenya and Namibia are home to some of the worlds largest remaining populations of free roaming elephants and black rhinos, as such the decisions they makes about wildlife carry global significance.
As the next meeting of CITES, the global treaty that regulates wildlife trade, approaches on 23 May, Professor Lee concluded that the role of trophy hunting is an planetary issue, and not just one for African nations to decide upon.
For two years, critics of Donald Trump have awaited the outcome of Robert Muellers inquiry with high anticipation.
Now, as its conclusions are made public, those who expected the president to be damned are left disappointed. Trump, meanwhile, can claim victory.
Inevitably things arent quite as simple as all that. For one thing, the special prosecutors report as summarised by the Attorney General, William Barr is equivocal about whether Trump acted to obstruct justice. It does not exonerate him, but nor does it conclude that he committed a crime.
And while Mueller did not establish that either Trump or his campaign team conspired with Russia during the presidential election campaign, Democrats are likely to push for more details about whether he was unwittingly compromised.
Ultimately, for as long as the full Mueller report remains unpublished, questions are likely to swirl such is the polarised nature of US politics in the Trumpian age.
Mueller investigation: The key figures Show all 12 1 /12 Mueller investigation: The key figures Mueller investigation: The key figures Robert Mueller is the special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, and potential obstruction of justice by the president. Mr Mueller has a pristine reputation in Washington, where he was previously in charge of the FBI. Throughout his investigation, he and his team have been notoriously tight lipped about what they know and where their investigation has led. REUTERS Mueller investigation: The key figures Former FBI director James Comey was the catalyst that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. Mr Comey was fired by the president after Mr Trump reportedly asked him to drop his own Russia investigation. Mr Trump has long maintained that the investigation is a "witch hunt". AFP/Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein had authority over the special counsel investigation for much of the two years it has been active. Mr Rosenstein found himself with that responsibility after then-attorney general Jeff Sessions recused himself from that oversight. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney general Jeff Sessions's decision to recuse himself from oversight of the special counsel investigation may have cost him his job in the end. Mr Sessions resigned last year, after weathering a contentious relationship with Donald Trump who vocally criticised his attorney general for taking a step back. Mr Sessions recused himself from the oversight citing longstanding Justice Department rules to not be involved in investigations overseeing campaigns that officials were apart of. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney General William Barr is currently responsible for oversight of the special counsel investigation. Mr Barr's office will be the first to receive the Mueller report when it is finished. His office will then determine what portion or version of that report should be delivered to Congress, and also made public. EPA Mueller investigation: The key figures Michal Cohn is the president's former personal lawyer, who has been helping the special counsel investigation as a part of a plea deal over financial crimes, and campaign finance crimes, he has pleaded guilty to. Among those crimes, Cohen admitted to facilitating $130,000 in hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. Cohen has said he did so at the direction of Mr Trump. Cohen has also admitted that he maintained contacts with Russian officials about a potential Trump real estate project in Moscow for months longer than Mr Trump and others admitted. The talks continued well into 2016 during the campaign, he has said. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Stormy Daniels has alleged that she had an affair with Donald Trump in 2006, soon after Melania Trump gave birth to Baron Trump. The accusation is of particular importance as a result of the $130,000 hush money payment she received to keep quiet about the affair during the 2016 campaign. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Paul Manafort was Donald Trump's former campaign chairman. Manafort was charged alongside Rick Gates for a slew of financial crimes, and was convicted on several counts in a Virginia court. He then pleaded guilty to separate charges filed in a Washington court. Manafort has been sentenced to just 7.5 years in prison for his crimes in spite of recommendations from the special counsel's office for a much harsher sentence. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures George Papadopoulos was one of the first individuals associated with the Trump campaign to be charged by the Mueller probe. He ultimately received a 14 day prison sentence for lying to investigators about contacts he had with Russian officials. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Roger Stone is a well known political fixer and operative, who has made a name for himself for some dirty tactics. He has been charged by the Mueller probe earlier this year, and he has been said to have had prior knowledge that WikiLeaks planned on publishing stolen emails from the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016. Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Rick Gates was charged alongside former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for a range of crimes. Gates, who worked alongside Manafort for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party. The two were charged with conspiracy and financial crimes. Gates pleaded guilty. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was one of the first casualties of the Russia scandal, and was forced out of his position in the White House weeks after Donald Trump took office. Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to "willfully" making fraudulent statements about contacts he had with Russian officials including former Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Flynn then lied to Vice President Mike Pence about that contact. REUTERS
Nevertheless, the outcome is patently good news for the primary resident of the White House, for whom a second term in office must have become eminently more likely this weekend.
Of course, he overdid things a bit with his analysis of the report, tweeting: No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT! But as presidential tweets go, that is closer to the mark than his opponents would like.
And in a way, this has always been the potential danger for those who placed so much faith in Robert Muellers ability to find a smoking gun that could link Trump to the Kremlin. In the event that no such gun existed (or could not be found), Trumps insistence that the whole exercise was no more than a witch hunt would suddenly appear well-founded.
Ambiguities and caveats aside, the president has won the day. He will now spend the next eighteen months telling the world that the only conspiracy in town was the one to which he was subjected by assorted establishment critics and which failed.
The Mueller report will, therefore, not be the means to bring down the president, but a long-lasting distraction from his actual awfulness.
After all, Trumps presidency deserves to be harshly judged irrespective of whether he colluded with a foreign state during his election campaign.
Recommended Trump campaign not found to have colluded with Russia
He has coarsened the language of political debate; he has rallied nasty, nationalist sentiment by his attacks on immigrants; he is a msogynist and a conspiracy theorist (even putting Mueller to one side); he has given voice to the kind of regressive conservatism that promotes base instinct over progressive ideals.
In foreign affairs, he has railed against the supranational organisations which have helped to maintain world peace; he has proclaimed diplomatic victories but achieved little of real substance. In the Middle East, he has provoked debates but offered no lasting solutions. He is the man who came up with the art of the deal yet what deals have actually been secured?
Perhaps worst of all, Trump has effectively become the global champion of climate change denial. David Attenborough, the greatest environmentalist of the age hit the nail on the head when he said:
What do you say to him in the face of what is visibly happening the climate of the United States of America its perfectly clear. There are none so blind as those who will not see.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
With climate change surely the most urgent challenge facing the world, we have in the Washington hot seat a president who refuses to accept the science behind not just the theory but the reality. Having withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement, Trump sees more votes in promoting American coal than in leading the charge away from the burning of fossil fuels.
But when the next election comes round, will any of this matter? On the campaign trail Trump will be the man who the establishment tried to bring down with its lies, its fake news, its failed inquiry. Why believe anything else they say about him?
Mueller was meant to get Trump out of White House. In fact, he has probably kept him in it until 2024.
Is there any other country on Earth with which America would dare collude on such a scale? Forget the special relationship with the crackpots in Britain, or the New World coming to the rescue of the Old World in the Second World War. Theres only one special relationship that matters right now and we all know what that is. Having given its blessing to all Jerusalem as Israeli property and having now handed Golan to Israel as a possession for to annex means to take possession, does it not? Donald Trump has undermined the entire foundation of land for peace enshrined in Security Council Resolution 242. And Israel is happy. A gift for Benjamin Netanyahus re-election, we are told.
True, the Middle East peace process died years ago if it ever existed, or was meant to work but Trumps ostentatious signature on Israels annexation of Golan on Monday tore up the documents, the paragraphs, the very basis for the two-state Israeli-Palestinian settlement which might have ended the longest military occupation of our generation. And the United States has now given its open, public and wholehearted support to Israels side in the worlds last colonial war. And if Golan is now part of Israel because of the threat of Iran, then southern Lebanon can become part of Israel. Isnt Hezbollah also an Iranian threat? And how quickly will we see the West Bank annexed by Israel with the approval of the United States?
Notice two things about the above paragraphs. Firstly, the number of times I have been forced to use quotation marks around verbs and nouns and adjectives which would normally never need them. And secondly, how one word Syria simply did not occur. Syrias loss of Golan in 1967 is so long ago and has become so normalised that in a perverse way, its real ownership had ceased to exist; Trumps recognition of Israels own annexation unrecognised anywhere else in the world merely accepted what wed all secretly gone along with. That the theft of Syrias land was now perfectly legal. Or legal. It was highly instructive that when the BBC website chose to cover the story about Trumps Golan mischief, it ran a story headlined What it all means but which did not mention Syria until the fifth paragraph.
Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Show all 7 1 /7 Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights An Israeli soldier stands next to signs pointing out distances to different cities on Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Druze people take part in a rally in Majdal Shams near the ceasefire line between Israel and Syria Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Israeli Druzes sit together watching the Syrian side of the Israel-Syria border on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A European member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on October 19, 1973 shows Israeli Defence Minister General Moshe Dayan (R) looking towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, four days after the beginning of the Yom Kippur War AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on September 5, 2014 shows members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Members of the United Nations peacekeepers standing on a watch tower during a visit by the Israeli Defence Minister in 2018 AFP/Getty
The media, in its grovelling, cowardly, craven obeisance to Israel and its absolute fear of being cast into the accusatory hell of antisemitism has a lot to answer for. When Colin Powell told the US State Department to instruct its embassies to call the West Bank disputed rather than occupied, the American press and television almost at once switched nomenclature. And so when the State Department suddenly referred to Golan a few weeks ago as Israeli-controlled rather than Israeli-occupied, we all knew what was coming. Thank heavens, as I always say, for those brave Israeli journalists and preciously few activists and politicians who speak out against these insanities.
This verbal transition, however, is neither subtle nor surprising given Americas utter surrender to all things Israeli but it is very sinister for the people of the Middle East. I was very struck by something Netanyahu said in response to Trumps signature on that outrageous Golan document: he said that the Jewish peoples roots in the Golan go back thousands of years. True. But I recalled at once that in 1982, within weeks of Israels invasion of Lebanon, Israeli troops and civil affairs officers travelled around the Shia Muslim and Christian villages of the south of Lebanon, handing out questionnaires to the Arabs. I saw them do this. The documents were long and complicated. Were there any Jewish archaeological remains on their lands, the Lebanese were asked? Had any of their older buildings any signs of Jewish habitation in previous decades or centuries? Did any hills or villages have Hebrew names? They were especially interested in the area within the triangle of Tyre, Sidon and Qana.
Of course, there were many Jewish remains. Even in the hill villages of the Druze Chouf mountains, I have found the indent of the mezuzah on stone door frames, proving that their ancient owners followed the instructions of the Book of Deuteronomy. The Israelis noted these marks; indeed, some of the inhabitants pointed them out to the initially friendly Israeli soldiers. But of course, it set a precedent. What if after the next Lebanon war Israel decides that rather than occupy southern Lebanon, it will annex the region because the Jewish peoples roots in the region go back thousands of years.
Yes, I know that Israel would have to defeat Hezbollah to do this an unlikely event since Hezbollah would more likely be heading across the Lebanese border into Israel. But in the 18 years in which it occupied almost all of southern Lebanon, the media never referred to it as Israeli-occupied. It was always called Israeli-controlled and the vast Israeli occupation zone was never called by this name. Instead, it was always referred to as Israels security zone. We journos had already laid the semantic groundwork for the annexation which hasnt happened yet.
But this is not a story about Lebanon any more than it is about Trump himself. Indeed, watching the tomfoolery in the mother of parliaments, I find it ever more embarrassing to write about the insanity of the Trump White House. No, this is about the very act of international annexation and the wests willingness to go along with land theft unless, of course, Putin and Russia are involved. And it is about the fact let us not haggle like skinflints over definitions that the United States, in its foreign policy in the Middle East, is in hock to Israel. As many 20 years ago, I gathered together dozens of US and Israeli government policy statements on the region, jumbled them up and asked a colleague to arrange them back in their original order. Readers might try the same test: it was and is an impossible task.
Im tired of the utterly false arguments about antisemitism in the United States. The country contains many anti-Jewish, anti-Arab, anti-black racists without de-semanticising the word antisemitism by using it against all of Israels critics. It doesnt need new Arab-origin legislators, with their dodgy, unpleasantly revealing remarks and their sloppy grasp of history, to understand that Americans will not and dare not complain about the dual loyalties of their countrymen and countrywomen.
Just look at the US congress when Netanyahu addresses it. The representatives of the United States stand up and applaud and sit down and again stand up and applaud and sit down 29 times in 2011 and 39 times in 2015. I always watch this act of US legislative grovelling with a smile, for it reminds me of the ovations which Saddam Hussein would always receive from his beloved people and which Bashar al-Assad always received and still receives from his loyal subjects. I can well see why Middle East leaders spot parallels between the Arab world and America.
And I could well understand why congress stands to attention so many times on cue when Trumps vice president, Mike Pence, says, as he did on Monday, that we stand with Israel because her cause is our cause, her values are our values, and her fight is our fight.
Really? Does the United States, which fought a colonial war against the British, really stand with Israels colonial cause its colonial expansion and land thievery in the West Bank? Do Americans really stand with Israel in its constant, brutal bombardments of Palestinians and of Lebanon and tolerate and approve those war crimes which all but the Americans acknowledge to be Israels responsibility. And if they do, why did Americans bother to go to war with Saddam? Why do we bomb Syria?
Theres no point in tracing the putrid history of annexation. Of the US annexation of Hawaii because it needed a naval port in the Pacific (as the Japanese noted) and its annexation of most of New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. Im not even mentioning Putin and Crimea. Nor do we surely need to drag ourselves through the annexations perpetrated by the little corporal with the moustache Jacinda Ardern-like, I shall not mention his name who annexed the Sudetenland and all of Austria, the latter event accompanied by a Times editorial comparing it favourably with the 300-year-old union of Scotland and England.
No, Im not comparing annexations. The Israelis are not Nazis and the Americans are not Russians and the Russians are not Israelis. But there are parallels which countries themselves draw when they choose to annex or sanctify annexations of other peoples land. All of which can be based and in most cases were based on both ethnic roots and military necessity.
Today, we must learn again that old phrase facts on the ground. Israel annexed Jerusalem and Golan in 1980 and 1981 all the world (and a lot of Israelis) condemned this at the time but now Trump has snapped the land for peace equation in half. Washington has given its imprimatur to illegal land acquisition, to territorial theft. And why not when congress is in thrall to Israel?
Yet why get worked up about this? By recognising Israels annexation of Golan, Trump merely recognised that Israel has annexed America.
It could be 20 years before Dublins MetroLink rail line needs upgrading, transport chiefs have said.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) said the metro will terminate at Charlemont, north of Ranelagh, where it meets the Luas Green line.
It had originally been due to run from Swords to Sandyford.
With 20 minutes travel time from city center to Dublin Airport and 25 minutes from City Centre to Swords @MetroLink_ie will have 15 new Metro Stations interconnecting all transport services. pic.twitter.com/jarO642nIf Transport for Ireland (@TFIupdates) March 26, 2019
An NTA statement said: It is projected that the number of people seeking to travel on the Green line in future years will exceed the carrying capacity of the Luas system, requiring an upgrade.
However, that upgrade is not expected to be needed for some time perhaps 20 years or so.
The route will stop at Charlemont to avoid disruption to the Green line.
3,000 car spaces at Estuary Park & Ride all part of @MetroLink_ie planned to commence passenger service in 2027 #TFTupdates pic.twitter.com/Huqm3ci4CL Transport for Ireland (@TFIupdates) March 26, 2019
The NTA added: The plan we are publishing today is to develop the section from Swords to Charlemont with an interchange from Metro to Luas at Charlemont for passengers.
The required tunnel-boring works to allow the future connection to the existing Luas line will be completed as part of this current phase.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he would be open to running the MetroLink to UCD and Sandyford.
Traveller children are hiding their accent and ethnic identity in school to avoid being bullied, a committee has heard.
Organisations representing the community told TDs that traveller children still face considerable disadvantages in education compared to their settled peers.
Traveller parents have reported to charities about concerns that schools are not actively supporting the inclusion of their children, and that because lessons about traveller culture are not taught in schools, hurtful stereotypes are perpetuated among young people.
The Joint Committee on Education and Skills met on Tuesday to discuss the topic of Traveller Education.
Representatives from the Irish Traveller Movement, Yellow Flag Programme, Pavee Point and the National Traveller Womens Forum called for racism training to be a core element to teacher training, as they say institutional racism is compounding the issue.
The organisations say that an unconscious bias among teachers is reflected in low expectations for traveller children.
A culture of low expectations mean that travellers have missed out on achieving their goals in life, Pavee Points assistant director Martin Collins said.
Direct and targeted resources are needed to promote traveller inclusion in mainstream education one size doesnt fit all.
Another important action would be to promote affirmative action opportunities for travellers who want to become teachers, this is essential in promoting positive role models.
Direct engagement of traveller organisations as equal and key partners in developing policy is also essential.
We cant deal with traveller education in isolation from poor living standards, high unemployment, low health status and racism, whats required is a multifaceted approach.
The committee also heard about the stark inequality faced by female travellers in education, which leads to future unemployment, poverty and social exclusion.
Less than 1% of traveller women are in third level education, while just 167 traveller people have ever held a third level education qualification.
The committee also heard how schools are expected to cope with fall out from poor accommodation and mental health problems among traveller children.
Its difficult for schools to do this on their own, said Clive Byrne from the National Association of Principals and Deputies.
So we call for the restoration of supports that had been cut in the past for schools to be made available.
The economic reality of travellers trying to send their children to school is that some have no access to broadband, or some of the technology that is regularly used in schools at the moment.
We have to put in support for parents, that they see the value of education for their children.
Austerity measures imposed during the recession saw substantial reduction in funding for traveller education, which was noted throughout the committee.
Feargal Brougham, vice president of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, said there can be no overstatement of the effect it has had on traveller children.
He added: It will take at least a generation to undo the damage done by the cuts.
The committee also heard it is widely acknowledged traveller education enrolment declines as they move through the system, decline most commonly begins in fifth class, leading to literacy problems in later life.
AN IRISH drug firm has received $1m (885,000) in funding from the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
Dublin-based Inflazome was set up by academics Professor Luke O'Neill, from Trinity College, and Professor Matt Cooper, from the University of Queensland, in 2016.
The grant will be used to support the development of a brain imaging probe for diagnosing patients, as well as the development of drugs to treat neurodegenerative diseases, including the two most common, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
In Ireland, around 55,000 people suffer from dementia, the most widespread form of which is Alzheimer's.
There are approximately 12,000 people living with Parkinson's here.
According to the company, scientific data indicates that the NLRP3 inflammasome is overactive in a broad range of serious medical conditions driven by harmful inflammation.
These diseases include neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular diseases.
Prof Cooper, who is also chief executive of Inflazome, said yesterday: "The Michael J Fox Foundation is a fantastic organisation with a passionate commitment to new science, science translation and candidate therapies for Parkinson's.
"We are fully aligned in our shared goal to help patients with Parkinson's and other debilitating neurodegenerative diseases, for which there are inadequate therapies and no cures."
The news of the funding from the foundation comes after the company completed a 40m Series B funding round last November.
Best known for his role in the 'Back to the Future' film series, Michael J Fox (57) was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991.
In 2000, the actor established the foundation bearing his name.
To date, the foundation has ploughed more than $800m (707m) into funding research.
"We don't know if we can get to net-zero carbon emissions in 10 years, but we should certainly try," Gillibrand said at a pro-Green New Deal news conference in front of the Capitol. "Why not let this be a measure of how great we are as a nation?"
JACOB Rees-Mogg has now said that he is prepared to back the Withdrawal Agreement.
Theresa May will face Tory MPs on Wednesday as she battles to save her premiership and her Brexit deal.
The British Prime Minister will address the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee as MPs consider alternatives to her Brexit strategy after seizing control of the Commons timetable.
Influential backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg has now said that he is prepared to back the deal.
"I apologise for changing my mind," he wrote in a UK newspaper. "I am now willing to support it if the Democratic Unionist Party does, and by doing so will be accused of infirmity of purpose by some and treachery by others."
Mr Rees-Mogg said he change allegiances "because the numbers in Parliament make it clear that all the other potential outcomes are worse and an awkward reality needs to be faced".
Expand Close A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May making a statement in the House of Commons in London. Photo: MARK DUFFY/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May making a statement in the House of Commons in London. Photo: MARK DUFFY/AFP/Getty Images
"A long delay would make remaining in the EU the most likely outcome," he said.
The MP concluded: "Theresa Mays deal is a more faltering step than I want, or feel, could be taken but at least it is a step forward."
The prospect of MPs voting in support of a soft Brexit or second referendum appears to be winning some Tory Eurosceptics round to reluctantly backing her deal, but there has been widespread speculation that others might demand Mrs May sets out the timetable for her departure as the price for their support.
Mrs May's fragile authority suffered another blow as three ministers last night quit to back a Parliament amendment enabling MPs to take control of House of Commons business to stage a series of "indicative votes" on alternatives to her deal.
Mr Rees-Mogg earlier said: "the choice seems to be Mrs May's deal or no Brexit".
The chairman of the European Research Group of Tory Eurosceptic MPs, said the choice seems to be Mrs Mays deal or no Brexit.
His comments will give hope to Mrs May that she can still get the Withdrawal Agreement through the House of Commons before April 12.
MPs voted last night to take back control and will tomorrow vote on a series of options ranging from no deal to a second referendum or even revoking Article 50.
Mr Rees-Mogg said it was now clear Mrs May would not deliver a no-deal Brexit and as a result Eurosceptic MPs would eventually face the choice between the PMs agreement or staying in the EU.
He told the ConservativeHome podcast: "Whether we are there yet is another matter but I have always thought that no deal is better than Mrs May's deal but Mrs May's deal is better than not leaving at all.
"There is a sort of hierarchy of choice and if the choice is the one you suggest then inevitably leaving the European Union, even leaving it inadequately and having work to do afterwards, is better than not leaving at all."
Mr Rees-Mogg went even further in a tweet when he said: "The choice seems to be Mrs Mays deal or no Brexit."
The three ministers who quit were among 30 Conservative MPs to defy the whips and support the cross-party amendment which was passed by 329 to 302 - a majority of 27 - in another humiliating reverse for Mrs May.
The defeat heaps further pressure on Mrs May's position and could increase the chances of an early general election if MPs back plans for a softer Brexit which would be unacceptable to the Prime Minister or Tory Eurosceptics.
At Tuesday's regular Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister is expected to be confronted with calls for free votes on the rival options.
"Many around the Cabinet table will argue for a free vote so Parliament can truly show what it would support," a Cabinet source said.
Alistair Burt, who quit his British Foreign Office role in order to vote for the Commons amendment, said: "Parliament should seek urgently to resolve the situation by considering alternatives freely, without the instruction of party whips, and Government should adopt any feasible outcome as its own in order to progress matters.
"I did not believe the Government was prepared to do that, so had to vote to ensure this happens."
Steve Brine, who quit as a health minister, suggested the revolt in favour of the indicative votes amendment could actually boost the chances of Mrs May's deal finally getting through by persuading Tory Eurosceptics such as Mr Rees-Mogg it was the best form of Brexit on offer.
"Those on my side who don't like the deal, maybe they will realise that the House of Commons is prepared to act," he told the BBC.
"And, anything from here, as far as they are concerned, gets softer in terms of Brexit."
He added: "You have to accept that a second referendum or revoking Article 50 are on the table because they will probably be some options."
The 2017 Tory manifesto ruled out membership of the single market and customs union and Mrs May told MPs on Monday that "no one would want to support an option that contradicted the manifesto on which they stood for election to this House".
But Mr Brine said: "You also have to remember that the manifesto of 2017 did not win a majority in the House of Commons."
The vote came after the Prime Minister acknowledged that she still did not have sufficient support to bring back her deal to the Commons for a third "meaningful vote".
She said she would continue her efforts to build support for the deal - defeated by 230 votes in January and 149 votes in March - and stage a vote before the end of the week.
The European Council last week set a deadline of Friday for her to secure parliamentary approval for her Withdrawal Agreement if the UK is to leave the EU with a deal on May 22.
If she cannot get it through the Commons, then the UK has until April 12 to propose a different approach or crash out of the EU without a deal.
Her admission came shortly after a phone call with DUP leader Arlene Foster, who made clear the Northern Irish party was not giving up its opposition.
With additional reporting from Press Association
A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May making a statement in the House of Commons in London. Photo: MARK DUFFY/AFP/Getty Images
Theresa May will face Tory MPs on Wednesday as she battles to save her premiership and her Brexit deal.
The British Prime Minister will address the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee as MPs consider alternatives to her Brexit strategy after seizing control of the Commons timetable.
The prospect of MPs voting in support of a soft Brexit or second referendum appears to be winning some Tory Eurosceptics round to reluctantly backing her deal, but there has been widespread speculation that others might demand Mrs May sets out the timetable for her departure as the price for their support.
Mrs May's fragile authority suffered another blow as three ministers last night quit to back a Parliament amendment enabling MPs to take control of House of Commons business to stage a series of "indicative votes" on alternatives to her deal.
But Eurosceptics signalled they could now swing reluctantly behind Mrs May's deal, with influential backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg saying "the choice seems to be Mrs May's deal or no Brexit".
The chairman of the European Research Group of Tory Eurosceptic MPs, said the choice seems to be Mrs Mays deal or no Brexit.
Expand Close Jacob Rees-Mogg tabled the amendments to the bill. Picture: PA / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Jacob Rees-Mogg tabled the amendments to the bill. Picture: PA
His comments will give hope to Mrs May that she can still get the Withdrawal Agreement through the House of Commons before April 12.
MPs voted last night to take back control and will tomorrow vote on a series of options ranging from no deal to a second referendum or even revoking Article 50.
Mr Rees-Mogg said it was now clear Mrs May would not deliver a no-deal Brexit and as a result Eurosceptic MPs would eventually face the choice between the PMs agreement or staying in the EU.
He told the ConservativeHome podcast: "Whether we are there yet is another matter but I have always thought that no deal is better than Mrs May's deal but Mrs May's deal is better than not leaving at all.
"There is a sort of hierarchy of choice and if the choice is the one you suggest then inevitably leaving the European Union, even leaving it inadequately and having work to do afterwards, is better than not leaving at all."
Mr Rees-Mogg went even further in a tweet when he said: "The choice seems to be Mrs Mays deal or no Brexit."
The three ministers who quit were among 30 Conservative MPs to defy the whips and support the cross-party amendment which was passed by 329 to 302 - a majority of 27 - in another humiliating reverse for Mrs May.
The defeat heaps further pressure on Mrs May's position and could increase the chances of an early general election if MPs back plans for a softer Brexit which would be unacceptable to the Prime Minister or Tory Eurosceptics.
At Tuesday's regular Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister is expected to be confronted with calls for free votes on the rival options.
"Many around the Cabinet table will argue for a free vote so Parliament can truly show what it would support," a Cabinet source said.
Alistair Burt, who quit his British Foreign Office role in order to vote for the Commons amendment, said: "Parliament should seek urgently to resolve the situation by considering alternatives freely, without the instruction of party whips, and Government should adopt any feasible outcome as its own in order to progress matters.
"I did not believe the Government was prepared to do that, so had to vote to ensure this happens."
Steve Brine, who quit as a health minister, suggested the revolt in favour of the indicative votes amendment could actually boost the chances of Mrs May's deal finally getting through by persuading Tory Eurosceptics such as Mr Rees-Mogg it was the best form of Brexit on offer.
"Those on my side who don't like the deal, maybe they will realise that the House of Commons is prepared to act," he told the BBC.
"And, anything from here, as far as they are concerned, gets softer in terms of Brexit."
He added: "You have to accept that a second referendum or revoking Article 50 are on the table because they will probably be some options."
The 2017 Tory manifesto ruled out membership of the single market and customs union and Mrs May told MPs on Monday that "no one would want to support an option that contradicted the manifesto on which they stood for election to this House".
But Mr Brine said: "You also have to remember that the manifesto of 2017 did not win a majority in the House of Commons."
The vote came after the Prime Minister acknowledged that she still did not have sufficient support to bring back her deal to the Commons for a third "meaningful vote".
She said she would continue her efforts to build support for the deal - defeated by 230 votes in January and 149 votes in March - and stage a vote before the end of the week.
The European Council last week set a deadline of Friday for her to secure parliamentary approval for her Withdrawal Agreement if the UK is to leave the EU with a deal on May 22.
If she cannot get it through the Commons, then the UK has until April 12 to propose a different approach or crash out of the EU without a deal.
Her admission came shortly after a phone call with DUP leader Arlene Foster, who made clear the Northern Irish party was not giving up its opposition.
With additional reporting from Press Association
A no-deal Brexit will now hit the economy here harder than expected, a leading think-tank warns today.
Jobs and wages will suffer if Britain crashes out of the European Union, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) says.
But in a further dramatic setback for British Prime Minister Theresa May, MPs seized control of Brexit.
In an unprecedented move, the House of Commons voted to hold a series of votes on alternatives to Mrs May withdrawal agreement.
Mrs May earlier postponed holding a third vote on her Withdrawal Agreement after DUP leader Arlene Foster rejected a personal plea for support.
The stark warning comes as it emerged checks on some goods crossing the Border are inevitable unless the UK agrees to allow Northern Ireland to operate within EU rules after a no-deal Brexit.
European officials are working on a system whereby trusted companies can self-declare exports to the North from April 12 onwards, the Irish Independent has learned.
But senior sources in Brussels say it will be impossible to maintain a completely open Border in the longer term unless an unprecedented deal, similar to the backstop, is done.
The ESRI says, if Britain leaves without a deal, economic output here next year will be 2.4pc lower than had UK remained as an EU member.
The respected think-tank says the costs will mount over time so that in 10 years time the economy could take a 5pc hit.
That prognosis compares with a forecast of -3.8pc over 10 years made in November 2016.
The estimate reflects the deeper wounds a disorderly no-deal Brexit would inflict on the UK economy, which will cause more damage for trading partners like Ireland.
Overall our impacts are more negative than in the previous study, said Dr Adele Bergin, a senior research officer at ESRI.
European officials are working on a system whereby "trusted companies" can self-declare exports to the North from April 12. Although senior sources in Brussels have warned it will be impossible to continue this indefinitely unless a deal, similar to the backstop, is agreed.
"Every effort to keep controls away from the Border will be made.
"We are looking at having checks at point of manufacture, or processing in the case of food, and using 'trusted trader schemes' to reduce disruption to trade and the flow of goods," an EU official said.
While no-deal plans published by the EU yesterday said it would "immediately apply its rules and tariffs at its borders", a well-placed source said that even in a worst case scenario "no real EU action will happen on the Irish Border for several months".
EU chiefs expect countries to initially turn a blind-eye to the trade irregularities on the island of Ireland.
But a source said: "The Irish border risks quickly becoming 'a smugglers' paradise' which would prompt calls for controls from many sides."
British Prime Minister Theresa May has said the UK will uphold its commitments under the Good Friday Agreement by allowing goods and animals to cross the Border without checks. However she warned yesterday that a form of direct rule may have to be reintroduced over the North.
"If there is no Stormont government, if powers are needed and ministerial direction is needed which is not available to civil servants currently, it would require some direct application of powers here from Westminster," she said.
A move towards direct rule is likely to be staunchly opposed by nationalist parties in Northern Ireland.
A spokesman for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar again insisted last night that the Government is not preparing for a hard border.
He admitted that if Mrs May can't get her Brexit deal through the House of Commons then achieving the objective of an open border "becomes more difficult".
"We are in ongoing discussions with the European Commission to ensure the manner in which any new regime would be applied does not give rise to the need for a hard border," his spokesman said.
The DUP has latched onto the Taoiseach's repeated insistence there are no plans for a hard border. Their Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said it was evidence the Withdrawal Agreement is "based on a foundation of sand" as there will be "no checks along the Irish Border, therefore no threat to peace in Northern Ireland".
He asked Mrs May: "When are you going to stop using Northern Ireland as an excuse, and do you realise that the importance of this agreement to delivering Brexit, and also to the union of the United Kingdom, is such that we will not be used in a scare tactic to push this through?"
In response, she told the House of Commons: "What I have genuinely being trying to achieve through everything that I have been doing is ensuring we respect the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland and we respect Northern Ireland's position within the United Kingdom.
"It is the case that these remarks about the Border have been made by, I think I'm right in saying, the Taoiseach and others previously, and then have been contradicted in turn by the European Commission."
Fianna Fail's Lisa Chambers also called on Mr Varadkar to be "more transparent with the public about the Government's plans" if a disorderly Brexit does occur.
"It is clear that discussions are being had but when questioned on this issue the Government continue to trot out vague and ambiguous statements that shed no light on this matter.
Meanwhile Central Bank governor Philip Lane will today seek to reassure TDs on Brexit preparations and the impact of the UK leaving the EU is expected to have on the economy. He will tell the Oireachtas Finance Committee that the Central Bank has worked to ensure the financial system is prepared for all Brexit scenarios.
Mr Lane is to say: "While a no-deal Brexit would constitute a severe economic and financial blow, our work to improve resilience over the last decade means that the shock should not be amplified by fragility in the financial system."
Theresa May as she makes a statement on Brexit to the House of Commons, Photo credit: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA Wire
Theresa May's Brexit strategy is in disarray after MPs dramatically voted to wrest control of the process from the hands of ministers.
Three pro-EU ministers quit the Government to back a Commons amendment enabling MPs to take control of Commons business to stage a series of "indicative votes" on alternatives to the Prime Minister's deal.
They were among 30 Conservative MPs to defy the whips and support the cross-party amendment which was passed by 392 to 302 - a majority of 27 - in another humiliating reverse for Mrs May.
Business minister Richard Harrington, who resigned along with Middle East minister Alistair Burt and health minister Steve Brine, said the Government was "playing roulette" with peoples' lives and livelihoods in its handling of Brexit.
The result means MPs can potentially dictate business of the Commons - normally controlled by the Government - for days to come, potentially paving the way for a "softer" deal that keeps Britain closer to the EU.
Ministers will consider their response at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street on Tuesday.
The Government warned the Monday night vote had set a "dangerous, unpredictable precedent" and said it was essential that any options put forward by MPs were actually "deliverable".
"This amendment instead upends the balance between our democratic institutions and sets a dangerous, unpredictable precedent for the future," a spokesman for the Department for Exiting the EU said.
"While it is now up to Parliament to set out next steps in respect of this amendment, the Government will continue to call for realism - any options considered must be deliverable in negotiations with the EU."
Earlier in a statement to MPs, the Prime Minister warned she would not feel bound by the results of any indicative votes - which could include a softer, Norway-style deal, a second referendum or revoking the Article 50 withdrawal process altogether.
Expand Close Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (Aaron Chown/PA) / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (Aaron Chown/PA)
"No Government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is," she said.
"So I cannot commit the Government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this House. But I do commit to engaging constructively with this process."
However one of the leading Tory rebels, former minister Nick Boles, warned that MPs could pass legislation forcing the Government to act if Mrs May tried to ignore their wishes.
"We will be relying on the Government to reflect Parliament's wishes," he told the BBC.
"If, ultimately, the Government refuses to listen to what Parliament has voted for then we will look to bring forward a Bill, pass an Act of Parliament that will require the Government to reflect Parliament's wishes in its new negotiating mandate."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also warned the Government must "take this process seriously".
"The Government's approach has been an abject failure and this House must now find a solution," he said.
"I know there are many members of this House who have been working for alternative solutions, and we must debate those to find a consensus."
The successful amendment was tabled by Tory former minister Sir Oliver Letwin with cross-party backing, including from ex-attorney general Dominic Grieve and Labour's Hilary Benn.
It means MPs will take control of the Commons order paper from 2pm on Wednesday, with Sir Oliver suggesting voting could carry on over several days to establish if there was a proposal the House could coalesce around.
He said the amendment provided for the Commons "to begin the process of working its way towards identifying a way forward that can command a majority in this House".
He said he believed the first vote should enable MPs to disclose "where the votes lie" on a "plain vanilla basis" - with all votes cast on a paper slip at the end of the debate.
The House, he said, should then seek to establish a method of voting that would enable it to "zero in" on compromise which could command a majority over the course of the coming days.
The vote came after the Prime Minister acknowledged that she still did not have sufficient support to bring back her deal to the Commons for a third "meaningful vote".
She said she would continue her efforts to build support for the deal - defeated by 230 votes in January and 149 votes in March - and stage a vote before the end of the week.
The European Council last week set a deadline of Friday for her to secure parliamentary approval for her Withdrawal Agreement if the UK is to leave the EU with a deal on May 22.
If she cannot get it through the Commons, then the UK has until April 12 to propose a different approach or crash out of the EU without a deal.
Her admission came shortly after a phone call with DUP leader Arlene Foster, who made clear the Northern Irish party was not giving up its opposition.
A sign from Border Communities Against Brexit is seen on the borderline between County Cavan in Ireland and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland near Woodford, Ireland, November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Britain is still on course to crash out of the EU on Friday according to the Border Communities Against Brexit (BCAB).
This morning as the group revealed a digital count down of the remaining days and hours, its spokesperson appealed to the British government to pull back from a hard Brexit.
Declan Fearon said that from their point of view, all roads in our estimation lead to a very hard Brexit and a crash out and at the moment the law states that is going to be next Friday night at 11 oclock.
He said he listened to prominent Brexiteers over the weekend, and, their line is that unless the law changes then they are out on Friday night and (then) we are absolutely in the very worst scenario we could have ever envisaged. From day one we have said this is a possibility and now it looks like it is going to happen.
The solar powered digital countdown to Brexit is on a large sign at the side of the M1 motorway a few hundred metres from the border and beside the Jonesborough exit.
Mr Fearon said the fear of the community is that the same fate awaits local roads in a hard Brexit that they suffered in the past.
He said in the past only 17 of these roads were official approved border crossings, all the rest were known as unapproved border crossings.
"That meant here all of those roads were closed and it came to the point when they were reopened by local people that they were eventually cratered and blown up by the British Army and that was to stop the movement of goods and people freely across the Irish border. What is going to be different if we get to a crash out deal, we think it could go back there.
Closed roads would divide these communities, split up these parishes, (and) go back to the doomsday scenario for the people who live here.
He said the clock is absolutely ticking and even at this late stage we are imploring people within the British government, within the Conservative govt to pull back from this, this does not have to be happen.
He said there has to be a way the agreement can be approved without it being seen as a border down the Irish sea.
Speaking at the event Conor Murphy, Sinn Fein representative for Newry/Armagh, said, he thinks the Good Friday Agreement has been damaged by Brexit.
This is an international agreement which has underpinned our peace process and has transformed lives of people across the island and the British government, in terms of its own Brexit interests, was prepared to jettison all of that.
He said people need to know what the implications are of the discussions between Dublin and Brussels over the possibility of a No Deal exit.
He said Brussels and Dublin understand the damage Brexit could do to industries across the country including the border region.
I think what they need to ensure is that whatever the British Government or the British people decide to do, that we do not become collateral damage, he added.
SINN Feins Mary Lou McDonald has said even in the erection of a hard border after Brexit is not an excuse for people to take up arms.
With a no-deal scenario looming, Ms McDonald was asked about recent letter bombs sent to a number of transport hubs in London. Gardai and UK authorities have linked the packages to the dissident republicans.
The Sinn Fein leader said there are no circumstances, no excuses, no scenario in which anybody would have a justifiable cause to take up arms.
She said people on this island of Ireland have embraced new reality of relative stability.
At the same time, Ms McDonald argued that the Irish government needs to start preparing for a united Ireland.
She said the ultimate backstop is the removal of the border altogether.
It comes as Fianna Fail ramped up their criticisms of the Governments preparations for a disorderly Brexit.
Brexit spokesperson Lisa Chambers today accused Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of hiding vital information from the public.
She said the latest economic predictions from the ESRI make sober reading for every citizen in this country but the Government still cant say what financial package will be in place to help farmers and businesses.
On border checks, she said: We know conversations are happening. I dont know why they are not being honest.
Meanwhile Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has called on his counterparts in the British Labour Party to back Theresa Mays deal in the event that a second referendum is off the table.
While arguing that a peoples vote is the best way forward, he said in the absence of one he would exhort the British Labour Party to support the only deal on the table.
The shattering impact of a hard Brexit is now only two weeks away, she said.
British MPs have dramatically seized control of the Brexit agenda from Theresa May - potentially paving the way for a "softer" deal that keeps the UK closer to Brussels.
The Commons voted by 329 to 302 - a majority of 27 - for a cross-party amendment to enable MPs to stage a series of "indicative votes" tomorrow on alternatives to the prime minister's deal.
MPs will vote tomorrow on options such as staying in a customs union or single market, holding a second referendum or even revoking Article 50. The Prime Minister will be powerless to stop the votes going ahead, and if she tries to resist the outcome, Parliament could overrule her again by tabling its own Brexit Bill.
The result is another humiliation for Mrs May, who earlier warned MPs not to "overturn the balance of our democratic institutions" which means the Government normally controls business of the House.
She made clear she would not feel bound by the result of any indicative votes - which could include a "softer" Norway-style deal, or a second referendum. No government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is," she said.
"So I cannot commit the Government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this House. But I do commit to engaging constructively with this process."
Mrs May yesterday said that a "slow Brexit" was the only alternative to her deal as she ignored calls from her cabinet to consider other plans.
She cancelled plans to hold a third "meaningful vote" on her Brexit deal today after admitting she did not have enough support to get it through parliament.
She infuriated Eurosceptic ministers by suggesting that a no-deal Brexit was no longer a viable outcome.
Mrs May promised MPs would be given time to debate alternatives to her Brexit deal later this week after Remain-supporting MPs called for the so-called "indicative votes" in the House of Commons to find what sort of plan might command a majority.
But she told the Remainers that she reserved the right to ignore parliament's recommendation because she could not sign a "blank cheque" over the future of Brexit.
Britain will leave the EU on May 22 if Mrs May's deal is passed by parliament before the end of this week.
But if the deal is not approved, the UK will leave without a deal on April 12 unless she asks the EU for a longer extension.
Her hopes of winning parliament's backing for her Brexit deal - already defeated twice by huge margins - appeared to be fading last night after the DUP, whose votes are seen as pivotal, said it still could not back it.
During an emergency cabinet meeting yesterday, Eurosceptic ministers rounded on the prime minister's dismissal of a no-deal Brexit as a third of the ministers present told her a no-deal exit was better than no Brexit at all.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has denied claims the Government plans to quadruple carbon tax rates to tackle climate change.
Mr Varadkar said a carbon tax will not resolve the climate change challenge on its own.
But we wont solve climate change without carbon tax, the Taoiseach said in reply to Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald.
There is absolutely no prospect of a carbon tax increase of that scale or anything remotely approaching it, Mr Varadkar said of reports that the plan is for a four-fold increase.
If there is an increase in the carbon tax, it is my strong view that the carbon tax should be ring-fenced, and the money given back to people in the form of increases in the fuel allowance and in increased tax credits and in the form of a dividend model, the Taoiseach added.
Mary Lou McDonald said the way to fight climate change was not to penalise ordinary families and working people by increasing their fuel and/or utility bills.
The Sinn Fein leader said her party would not support any carbon tax increase that does not protect low and middle-income earners and did not ensure that polluters paid their share.
We already have high energy charges in this State and the current carbon tax has not lowered emissions, Ms McDonald said.
Meanwhile, Varadkar has been accused of telling the French president that Ireland can cope with the fallout from a threatened UK Brexit crashout without a deal.
Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, told the Dail it was high time the Taoiseach told the Irish people in full about the implications of a no-deal Brexit happening in 17 days time on April 12.
Mr Martin also said the Taoiseach must reveal in full the nature of ongoing contacts between the Government and the EUs policy-guiding Commission about how to manage the Irish border in the event of a no-deal outcome. It was clear no-deal Brexit would mean Irish border controls the only question was about where and how such controls would be done.
Its time to be upfront and tell the people, Mr Martin said.
The Fianna Fail leader pointed to the report about Brexit economic damage by the think-tank, the ESRI. This found in the event of a no-deal Brexit up to 80,000 Irish jobs would be lost.
He asked the Taoiseach whether he had replied to questions from French president, Emmanuel Macron, at the weekend EU leaders summit about the implications for Ireland of a no-deal Brexit. Mr Martin noted the Taoiseach had not denied reports that he told President Macron: We can cope.
But the Taoiseach hit back and asked whether Fianna Fail would be prepared to tolerate Irish border checks as part of the price of staving a no-deal Brexit. He defended the Governments record on preparing for Brexit including a no deal outcome.
He acknowledged that the ESRI reports findings were not good news. But he argued that even in that scenario there would be more jobs, increased growth, and income increases though all these indices would be lower than in a non-Brexit situation.
Mr Varadkar said extensive legislation for a no-deal scenario had been passed and signed into law by the President. He said a low-cost Brexit loans to business will be launched tomorrow by Agriculture Minister, Michael Creed, and Jobs Minister, Heather Humphreys.
The Taoiseach said there were ongoing contacts with the EU Commission but the details of handling a no-deal Brexit depended on the stance which the London government would take.
There have been no papers, no documents exchanged, Mr Varadkar said about Brussels-Dublin talks. He again said Ireland and the EU will insist the UK must uphold its obligations under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Zurich Insurance Ireland has raised concerns with Dublin City Council over plans by Irish Life Assurance to more than double office space at three office buildings in Dublin 4.
Zurich Insurance Ireland is a long-term tenant at one of the three blocks at Ballsbridge Park and consultants for the Irish arm of the insurance giant have told the city council that the quantum of development proposed is out of keeping with the scale of the nearest cottages located a short distance away at Ballsbridge Avenue.
In seeking a 10-year planning permission, joint applicants, Irish Life Assurance and Intrust Properties are seeking to increase the amount of floor space in the office blocks from 19,696 sq m to 42,602 sq m.
In a submission to the council for Zurich Insurance Ireland, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds (CSR) said "there is a large volume of office space currently permitted and under development within Ballsbridge - this development is not being complemented with the development of residential units".
The consultants argue that the new planning application "would significantly increase the scale and floorspace of development immediately adjoining a sensitive residential area and would result in an unacceptable transition in scale from the proposed commercial development to the immediately adjoining single storey residential" development.
However consultants for the applicants, Thornton O'Connor Town Planning, state that "the densification of the site combats the sprawl of commercial development into surrounding less-central and less-sustainable locations".
They also argue that the densification will assist in the development of an economic hub at Ballsbridge which is an accessible location for business growth.
ABP is extending its range of online beef products for Chinese consumers on the JD.com platform following what it described as 'extremely' positive demand.
The Chinese market opened to Irish beef in June 2018 and demand has been strong. According to Bord Bia by the end of 2018 more than 1000 tonnes of Irish beef will have been landed in China.
The conditions of access for Irish beef limit what can be exported to boneless cuts and those cuts must come from one of six approved meat plants.
Bord Bia has said that the rate of growth in beef consumption in China and the limits of its own domestic production capacity make the prospects for significant gains in the values and volumes of beef being shipped to China in 2019 strong.
ABP's announcement was made during a visit of its Chinese Distribution partner Hopewise to its Clones facility. Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys was also in attendance. Hopewise was the first company to import Irish beef to China.
JD.Com is one of the largest business-to-consumer online retailers in China by transaction volume and revenue, with 301.8 million active users. ABP beef is supplied to JD.Com through the Hopewise distribution network in China.
The process of purchasing beef products online is one of the fastest growing trends in the Chinese market.
Commenting at the announcement, Mark Goodman, Managing Director of ABPs International Division said feedback and demand from Chinese consumers about our products on JD.com has been extremely positive.
"The time is now right for us to extend our range further to include another 7 products.
"These have been developed following six months of close and successful collaboration between our New Product Development team here in Ireland, our colleagues in China and our distribution partners Hopewise. We look forward to the continued expansion of our products with Hopewise and the JD.Com platform.
Mr Sun Yong Li, Chairman of BJ Hopewise said, Irish beef is proving popular with our customers and with the Chinese consumer. They value the fact that the product is fully traceable, hormone free and is produced in green fields.
"Demand has been increasing since we launched ABP product on JD.Com in July, I think it is important for Ireland to push for more plant approvals to ensure increased supply as demand grows. The most important thing for JD.com is product availability.
In February 2018, ABP became the first European beef company to agree contract arrangements with Chinese customers.
In July, the company signed an export agreement with Hopewise where ABP ships beef cuts to Hopewise processing facilities in Shanghai and Beijing.
The product is then processed into consumer packs, with consumers able to purchase for direct home delivery via the JD.com platform on their phones.
The seven additional product cuts are:
"He was speaking to staying in touch with your constituents. . . making sure you're doing the regular communications as well as [recognizing] that there's often-time nuances to policy making and that it takes time," said Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., who worked in the Obama administration. "He told stories about passing the ACA, and how that took a lot of conviction and 'Don't ask, don't tell,' and how that took a lot of time."
OVER 40 claims are expected to be lodged to the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) by farmers left out of pocket following the closure of Castleblayney Mart in Co Monaghan.
It is understood that farmers were owed in the region of 200,000 when the mart and auctioneering company owned by Edward Paul Nugent Ltd was liquidated on April 9 last year.
IFA Monaghan chair Frank Brady said a meeting held in Castleblayney last week heard that one farmer who had a deposit worth 8,000 down on land with the mart, lodged a compensation claim with the PSRA. This was initially rejected but following an appeals process with the Property Services Appeal Board (PSAB) they were successful.
Mr Brady said this now "sets a precedent" for more farmers to take compensation cases.
Licence
Solicitor Paul McCormack of McCormack and Co said that claims can be made to the PSRA on the grounds that the PSRA were "negligent" allowing Castleblayney mart to trade until April 2018 even though it lost its licence in 2017.
"Those owed money can contact me to make a claim under Section 78 of the Property Services Regulatory Act 2011," he said.
"There's no guarantee everyone will get their money and all the claims will probably be rejected at first, but they can then be appealed."
Mr McCormack said that claims can be made up to one year after the mart went in to liquidation so time is ticking for farmers owed money.
He said he is now dealing with claims from over 40 farmers owed in the region of 150,000. He added that anybody who is owed money from the mart closure should contact his firm on 042 9740008.
Paradyn and BT Irelands 1.2M cloud connectivity deal, pictured (L-R) are Cillian McCarthy, CEO, Paradyn and Peter Evans, director of wholesale, BT Ireland.
Paradyn has secured a 1.2m cloud connectivity deal with BT Ireland, enabling the firm to provide a more resilient service with increased bandwidth up to 10Gbps.
The agreement is also expected to enable its customers, which include Ryanair, Carbery Group and several county councils, to meet strict regulatory requirements.
CEO Cillian McCarthy, CEO, Paradyn, said that organisations operating in today's digital economy "require guaranteed uptime and absolute assurance that their workloads are safe and to meet those needs".
"Many of our customers require the highest levels of security, as well as backup and data recovery solutions. The additional hosting infrastructure will enable us to continue to provide these services with even greater peace of mind for our customers," he said.
Paradyn provides its customers with a primary and secondary internet connection to ensure zero downtime and rapid internet speeds.
The enhanced cloud connectivity provided through BT Ireland's Citywest facility gives it access to more than 37 communications carriers globally, supporting the scale and operation needs of its clients.
Paradyn manages more than 30,000 public and private sector users who use around 75,000 devices between them.
AIB is poised to sign off on a controversial 1bn sale of bad loans including mortgages to US fund Cerberus, Independent.ie understands.
The sale, dubbed Project Beech, is AIBs biggest to date and is mainly of mortgages and business loans in deep arrears. The US fund will pay around 30 cents in the euro for loans with a face value of 3bn
Sources confirmed the sale remains live and has progressed to its final stages, despites doubts in the market about the impact of Brexit and around proposed legislation that may restrict loans sales in future, Independent.ie has confirmed.
Cerberus has seen off competition from rivals Lone Star and a joint bid from Goldman Sachs and CarVal.
In a separate deal in May last year a consortium led by Cerberus bought AIBs earlier Project Redwood loan portfolio made up of bad loans including buy-to-let mortgages with a face value of 1.1bn.
AIB has driven ahead with the Project Beech sale despite push back from some bidders around the uncertainty on how Brexit will play out. The bank is on course to complete the deal this month, but may be delayed slightly. The Irish bank is selling off bad loans under pressure from regulators at European level to reduce its stock of so called non performing exposures to the Euro-area average, which is now under 3.5pc compared to around 11pc at AIB.
The US Treasury Department is again reducing penalties for taxpayers who didn't pay enough of their tax bill throughout the year.
Taxpayers who paid at least 80pc of their estimated tax liability for 2018 through pay cheque withholding or quarterly estimated payments won't face Internal Revenue Service penalties this year, a senior Treasury official told reporters. Taxpayers typically pay fines if they don't cover at least 90pc of their tax liability during the year.
Its the second time Treasury has reduced the penalty threshold for the first filing season following the passage of the 2017 Republican tax overhaul.
In January, Treasury announced it would remove penalties for taxpayers who'd paid at least 85pc of their payments during 2018. Changes to tax brackets, withholding tables and the child tax credit associated with the new law left some taxpayers asking for too little to be withheld, leaving them with surprise tax bills when they file their returns.
The change follows requests from National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson of the IRS and two Democrats, Representative Judy Chu of California and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who pushed for legislation after hearing that confused taxpayers were getting hit with steep penalties for under-withholding.
Many taxpayers this year are "shocked to discover they owe hundreds or thousands of dollars to the IRS through no fault of their own, and could even face penalties," Chu said in a statement.
"As tax filing season is in full swing, Treasury's action will relieve the financial anxiety facing worried taxpayers across the country."
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that he was aware of bipartisan interest on the issue, and agreed that "further relief should be provided".
Taxpayers can also avoid underpayment penalties if they owe less than $1,000 or they paid 100pc of the amount they owed in the prior year.
The Treasury official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he expects the change will eliminate fines for 25pc to 30pc of taxpayers who would have owed if the threshold had been left at 90pc.
(Bloomberg)
EUROPEAN planemaker Airbus is close to signing a deal worth billions of dollars with China following a delay of more than a year in the negotiations, industry sources said on Monday.
The deal is part of a package of trade deals coinciding with a visit to Europe by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Airbus declined to comment.
Boeing shares pared gains briefly on the news and were up about 1.2pc at one stage yesterday.
The deal will provide a boost for the European company's incoming chief, Guillaume Faury, who takes over from Tom Enders in April. Airbus sales have had one of the slowest starts in the past decade, with it registering 103 cancellations and just four new orders in the first two months.
China has become a key hunting ground for Airbus and its rival Boeing, thanks to surging travel demand, but the outlook has been complicated by Beijing's desire to grow its own industrial champions and the US-China trade war.
French President Emmanuel Macron unexpectedly failed to clinch the Airbus order during a trip to China in early 2018 and the French government and Airbus have been working since to salvage it.
Reuters and Bloomberg
US President Donald Trump's blunt-force use of tariffs in pursuing his 'America First' trade agenda has angered many, from company executives to allied governments and members of both parties of Congress.
But there's one effort which has drawn broad support from those who oppose him on almost everything else - his push to force Beijing to change what are widely viewed as China's market-distorting trade and subsidy practices.
As US-China talks to end a trade war reach their endgame, politicians, executives and foreign diplomats are urging Mr Trump and his team to hold out for meaningful structural reforms in China to address entrenched problems in the relationship that hurt US and other foreign companies and workers.
Mr Trump's trade war "has let the genie out of the bottle" by lifting expectations that the trade war will force China to reform policies that businesses and foreign governments regard as unfair, said Steven Gardon, vice-president of indirect taxes and customs at Lear. Mr Gardon's firm is an automotive seating and electrical supplier with plants in 39 countries, including the United States and China.
"Now that all these issues have been raised, there's a lot more domestic political support to address these issues, and I don't think you can pull back from that," Mr Gardon said at a Georgetown Law School forum this month.
Mr Gardon's comments reflect a broad shift in US and international business sentiment towards China's economic and trade policies, one that is aligned with Trump's goals, if not his tactics.
Mr Trump's trade team say they are in the final stages of negotiating what would be the biggest economic policy agreement with China in decades. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin head to Beijing this week to try to accelerate talks with Chinese vice-premier Liu He, who is set to travel to Washington for more negotiations in early April.
Eight months into the trade war that has disrupted the flow of billions of dollars of goods between the world's two largest economies, it is unclear if a deal acceptable to both sides can be done.
China's President Xi Jinping is seen as reluctant to make economic reforms under US pressure, and Mr Trump has said he may keep tariffs on Chinese goods for "a substantial period" even if a deal is struck. He may find it easier to live with the tariffs Mr Trump has imposed on trade than to change China's model for economic development.
As part of a deal, Beijing has offered to make big-ticket purchases from the United States to help reduce a record trade gap. Trump's team has said those purchases would be worth more than a trillion dollars over about six years.
While big Chinese purchases might be tempting, they would do nothing to address what US firms competing in China or against Chinese firms say are structural problems with a system stacked against them.
John Cleese has said he was snubbed by Netflix over plans for a comedy special (Conor McCabe/PA)
John Cleese offered to work with Netflix on a comedy special but was snubbed by the streaming giant, according to the Monty Python star.
The comedian, 79, said he approached executives in December with the offer of a collaborative programme.
However, he suggested they must have hated the idea because they did not return his agents calls or emails.
In December I visited Netflix to pitch the idea of a 'Special'
They must have hated the idea because they never got back to me, or returned any of my agent's phone calls or emails !
Recently someone showed me one of the 'Specials' they did commission.
It was very original... John Cleese (@JohnCleese) March 26, 2019
He also described a later meeting with a head of comedy in which the executive behaved like a teenage Mexican bandit on the run.
He wrote on Twitter: In December I visited Netflix to pitch the idea of a Special. They must have hated the idea because they never got back to me, or returned any of my agents phone calls or emails !
In another post he added: At another, the Head of Comedy behaved throughout like a teenage Mexican bandit on the run, throwing looks over his shoulder every few seconds, and wearing an expression of extreme terror throughout.
Still, I take heart from the fact that every UK and US studio passed on 'Life of Brian', 10 out of 11 Hollywood studios turned down 'Fish called Wanda', and the man who commissioned 'Fawlty Towers' told me, after the first episode, that I had to 'get it out of the hotel more' John Cleese (@JohnCleese) March 26, 2019
Cleese said another of his programmes was turned down by ITV, with the broadcaster suggesting it was not tonally right.
The star said his work had been too intelligent for the channel.
Video of the Day
The veteran comic added that he thought there was hope for his recent work given the number of times Monty Pythons Life Of Brian was turned down in the 1960s.
He added that even the man who commissioned Cleeses successful 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers thought his work could be improved on.
He said: Still, I take heart from the fact that every UK and US studio passed on Life of Brian, 10 out of 11 Hollywood studios turned down Fish called Wanda, and the man who commissioned Fawlty Towers told me, after the first episode, that I had to get it out of the hotel more.
Representatives of Netflix have been contacted for comment.
On to a winner: Conor Clarkson, centre, toasts his Gold Cup glory with trainer Tom Taaffe and jockey Barry Geraghty. Photo: Barry Batchelor
A creditor is objecting to a personal insolvency arrangement (PIA) which would see a businessman and former racehorse owner write off more than 70m in debts, the High Court has heard.
Property developer Conor Clarkson, of Cainfort, Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, Dublin, is seeking to have his PIA approved by the court.
But financial fund Promontoria (Arrow) Ltd, which says it is owed 64m by the former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, is objecting to his PIA, saying it is prejudiced by the arrangement.
Mr Clarkson hit the headlines back in 2005 when his star horse Kicking King won the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The gelding amassed winnings of more than 900,000 during a successful National Hunt career.
Speaking from his home last night, Mr Clarkson said that he did not wish to comment on the ongoing High Court case.
If the PIA is approved, it will allow him to return to solvency.
At a meeting earlier this year the PIA was approved by the majority of Mr Clarkson's creditors, which are mainly financial institutions.
The debts are due to investments that Mr Clarkson made in property prior to the banking crisis and property crash of 2009-10.
Included in the proposed PIA is a lump sum payment of 100,000, which has been available to the businessman's creditors.
The money has been provided by a relative of Mr Clarkson.
He will also retain his family home under the PIA.
Mitchell O'Brien, Mr Clarkson's personal insolvency practitioner (PIP), says his debtors will do better through the PIA than if he is made a bankrupt.
The lump sum would not be available if he was adjudicated a bankrupt, Mr O'Brien explained.
Mr Clarkson has over the last number of years worked with his creditors and has implemented a sale strategy in relation to properties he had an interest in.
The case was mentioned before Mr Justice Denis McDonald yesterday.
Promontoria sought an extension of time so it can file its objection to Mr Clarkson's PIA being approved by the court.
In a sworn statement, Promontoria said its objection was filed outside the permitted 14-day period because the person handling the case on its behalf mistakenly believed the fund had until March 1 last to file the objection.
Eoin Martin BL, for Promontoria, said that the money owed by Mr Clarkson represented some 94pc of his total debts. The fund is his largest creditor and it was always their intention to file an objection.
Promontoria had voted against the PIA at the meeting of Mr Clarkson's creditors.
Keith Farry BL, for Mr Clarkson's PIP, said his side was not objecting to the extension, but the explanation as to why the objection was not filed in time was not satisfactory.
The judge, noting the PIP's attitude towards the application, said he was prepared to grant the extension. But he added there was no automatic entitlement to it.
He added he was not satisfied with the "broad brush" reason advanced by the fund in the sworn statement as to why the objection was not filed on time.
The matter will be mentioned before the court later this year.
Education Minister Joe McHugh has initiated 19 High Court actions against the building firm Western Building Systems (WBS), which was at the centre of a controversy over school safety last year.
One case before Mr Justice Robert Haughton yesterday involved alleged defects in a 5m "rapid build" school which had to be closed for a part of a term last year to allow temporary remedial works costing 1m to be carried out.
The Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School in west Dublin was one of the schools closed last autumn following safety inspections carried out on behalf of the Department of Education.
Last December, the department brought proceedings in the Commercial Court, a division of the High Court, over alleged defects in Ardgillan Community College in Balbriggan, north Dublin, against WBS of Coalisland, Co Tyrone which designed and built it.
Yesterday, similar proceedings against WBS in relation to Tyrellstown were also entered into the fast track commercial list by Mr Justice Haughton
The department says the 525 Tyrrelstown pupils had to be moved to alternative accommodation from the mid-term break in October until after the Christmas holidays while temporary remedial works were carried out.
Remedial works have already cost 950,000 and are likely to exceed 1m, it says. The final cost of permanent works is not yet known, it says.
Tyrrellstown was designed and built under a 2011 Rapid Build School Delivery contract for just over 5m.
Eamonn Murtagh, principal officer in the department, said the building did not comply with fire certificate and/or building regulations and/or with the department's build requirements.
He said a consulting engineers' report found issues with the strength and fixity of the walls panels in the building. This gave rise to a risk of a collapse/"fall out" of the outer masonry wall panel and the "fall in" of timber infill panels into the classrooms.
In its action, the department seeks damages for breach of contract, negligence and/or misrepresentation by WBS arising from the design and/or construction of the school.
Mr Justice Haughton, after admitting the case to the Commercial Court on consent between the parties, adjourned the matter to July.
The High Court list currently shows that the minister has initiated 19 cases against the company since last September.
WBS has consistently maintained that each of 42 schools assessed by the department last autumn was "previously certified for completion as being free from defects and suitable for use by the Department and its employed professionals".
Eleven motorists who dodged payment of hundreds of tolls on the M50 have been hit with fines totalling more than 126,000.
The penalties, ranging from 2,500 to 15,000, were handed down by Judge Anthony Halpin at Dublin District Court yesterday.
In all the prosecutions which resulted in the fines being imposed yesterday, none of the defendants appeared in court.
Each case featured five sample counts of toll-dodging and photographic evidence of how many times the defendants' vehicles had been detected using the motorway without paying the charge.
The court heard the evidence showed the passage of the vehicles, mostly private cars, on the barrier-free motorway on dates in May, August and September 2018, as well as proof of vehicle ownership at the time.
The M50 is operated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the registered owner of a vehicle is responsible for paying a toll even if they were not driving.
Judge Halpin expressed concern at the financial and environmental cost of thousands of letters being sent to these motorists by representatives of TII as a result of the non-payment of the tolls.
On top of the fines, which totalled 126,500, each owner was ordered to pay costs.
Claire Burke, of Balbutcher Lane, Ballymun, Dublin, was fined 9,000. Judge Halpin heard she was the registered owner of a car which had a history of 230 journeys and no payments. Some 500 letters were sent to her, said TII witness Sarah Kavanagh.
Marina Stan, of Aulden Grange, Santry, Dublin, had not paid for 215 journeys by her car on the M50, the court heard. For her five sample charges arising from journeys in September, Judge Halpin fined her 12,500.
Danielle Riccardo Muntean, of Castlesize Drive, Sallins, Co Kildare, was the owner of a car that made 284 trips on the M50 and had paid five times and was fined 12,500. Some 1,800 letters were sent out about those unpaid tolls.
David Tyrell, of Fairlawn Road, Finglas, was also fined 12,500.
The court heard his vehicle had a history of 728 passages with no payment.
Some 2,000 letters had also been sent to him with no replies.
Commercial vehicle owner Philip Johnson, of St Marks, Robin Hood Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, had been the owner of a truck which had done 592 trips on the motorway, the court heard.
No payments were received for those journeys and he was fined 15,000.
Victor Ekanem, of Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Navan, Co Meath, was the owner of a car which had a history of 489 passages with no payments. He was fined 15,000.
A former nurse and personal assistant to Anthony O'Reilly has received a boost to her bid to sue the one-time billionaire from a US court.
The court in Pittsburgh ruled it did not recognise the Bahamas bankruptcy of Mr O'Reilly (82), a former chief executive and major shareholder at Independent News & Media, owners of the Irish Independent.
Had the bankruptcy been recognised, it would have blocked the lawsuit by Mr O'Reilly's former personal assistant Sabina Vidunas.
Now she could seek to restart those proceedings, unless a further application from Mr O'Reilly's bankruptcy trustee is successful.
Ms Vidunas worked for Mr O'Reilly between 1995 and 2011. She sued him in 2013 for breach of contract, alleging he reneged on a promise to give her tens of millions of dollars worth of shares in HJ Heinz and Providence Resources.
Mr O'Reilly filed for bankruptcy in the Bahamas in 2015.
A statement of affairs produced the following year showed that he had debts of 170m, but just 4.6m in unencumbered assets.
A US court put a stay on Ms Vidunas's legal action last November as a result of the bankruptcy. On the same day, Mr O'Reilly's bankruptcy trustee Alastair Beveridge filed a petition with the court in Pittsburgh seeking to have the bankruptcy recognised as a "foreign proceeding" under the US bankruptcy code.
Such recognition would have offered a number of mandatory and discretionary protections against lawsuits. However, Ms Vidunas objected on a number of grounds, including that Mr O'Reilly's centre of main interest was not the Bahamas.
In a written ruling in the Pittsburgh court, Judge Jeffery Deller concluded that Mr O'Reilly's centre of main interests was in France.
He has been living there with his wife, Greek shipping heiress Chryss Goulandris, since his home in the Bahamas was liquidated.
The judge said for this reason the Bahamas bankruptcy could not be regarded as a foreign "main proceeding", a designation which would have automatically barred legal actions to collect any US assets Mr O'Reilly may have.
The ruling is not the end of the issue, however, and Mr Beveridge will be able to file an amended motion seeking recognition of the bankruptcy as a foreign "non main proceeding".
This designation would not automatically bar lawsuits against Mr O'Reilly in the US, but it would allow a court to block a case if it was deemed necessary for the bankruptcy process, or to protect assets or the interests of creditors.
A judge has said he will take a hard line against professional street beggars who flew to Northern Ireland every six weeks.
Barney McElholm made the pledge at Derry Magistrates Court yesterday when he jailed a 30-year-old mother of seven from Bucharest for two months after she admitted stealing a bottle of vodka from Tesco at Strand Road in Derry last Saturday.
The district judge said he did not believe Florica Crina Ispas was a genuine indigent street beggar as she had claimed following her arrest.
Instead, he said he believed the defendant was "a member of a professional gang of street beggars who could afford to fly into and out of Northern Ireland every six weeks, on a shift basis, to beg".
A police officer told Mr McElholm the defendant was stopped by supermarket staff as she attempted to leave without paying for the bottle of vodka.
He said the defendant had previous convictions for street begging in Belfast last December, January and last month.
Applying for bail, defence solicitor George Copeland said the defendant had no passport but had a visa visiting card which entitled her to travel from Romania to any EU country.
"She instructs that she flew in from Bucharest to Dublin six weeks ago and that she has been living on the streets of Dublin, Belfast and Derry since then.
"She was arrested as she walked through the check-out area while she was speaking on her mobile phone to her children in Romania and she forgot to pay for the vodka", he said.
Mr McElholm said the defendant had similar convictions dating back to last December, yet said she only arrived here six weeks ago.
"I don't believe a single word of what she has said and I'm going to take a tough line in such cases in future. This woman in my view is part of a professional group of people who come here to beg and who then fly out again. They can afford to fly in and fly out again", the judge said.
Mr McElholm said he recently had a meeting with local agencies to discuss the issue of street begging.
"These people are not genuine indigent street beggars. They fly in and out on six weekly shifts," he added.
"These people are doing a great disservice to people who are genuinely homeless.
"They are a professional group coming here to street beg and to take advantage of the generous and good nature of the local people", he said before jailing the defendant for two months.
The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection says the High Court should quash a District Judge's decision to strike out charges linked to redundancies at Clerys department store in Dublin.
It arises out of District Judge John Brennan's decision in March 2018 to strike out charges against businesswoman, Deirdre Foley, co-defendant Mark Redmond, of Belfry Dale, Saggart, Co Dublin, and the previous owners of Clerys, OCS Operations.
Ms Foley, Mr Redmond, and the company's legal teams had made an application to the District Judge to have the charges struck out on the grounds they could not get a fair trial without being provided with certain material from inspectors appointed by the Labour Court to look into the redundancies at the store.
Judge Brennan's decision was based on the grounds including that the prosecution had failed to comply with an order for disclosure of documentation.
The defendants had been charged with offences contrary to provisions of the 1977-2014 Protection of Employment Act arising out of the closure of Clerys in June 2015. A total of 460 people lost their jobs, 134 of whom were employees of OCS Operations.
Judge Brennan also ruled that any further adjournment would encroach on the defendants' rights to fair procedure and an expeditious trial.
In the High Court action, the Minister seeks to have Judge Brennan's decision quashed.
The Minister seeks various declarations including that the District Judge failed to strike a balance between the public interest in the prosecution of the offences and any risk of an unfair trial.
The Minister further seeks declarations that the striking out order was wholly disproportionate and unjust having regard to the all the circumstances of the case. It is argued the Minister fully discharged the duty to make disclosure to the respondents.
The action is opposed by the three defendants.
The case briefly opened before Mr Justice Charles Meenan on Tuesday but was adjourned to Wednesday to give the judge an opportunity to read the large volume of papers in the case.
The Judge agreed with counsel for the parties this would reduce the time it would take to hear the action which is expected to take between three to five days to hear.
Killer Tom Martens is to pay 160,000 ($180,000) to settle a wrongful death action taken in the US by the estate of murdered Irish businessman Jason Corbett (39).
An outline settlement has been submitted to a North Carolina court and the proceeds will now go to Mr Corbett's two children, who are being raised by his sister and brother-in-law, Tracey and Dave Lynch, in Limerick.
Molly Martens was dismissed as a party to the current proceedings, but she will not now benefit from a 530,000 ($600,000) life insurance policy on her husband.
A further 17,500 ($20,000) will be paid to the children's trust fund by an insurance firm acting for Tom Martens (68) and his wife, Sharon.
The settlement followed a lengthy mediation process and was without admission of liability.
Tracey and Dave Lynch fought a determined campaign over the past four years to see justice delivered for Mr Corbett.
The settlement of the wrongful death action is seen as a landmark victory for the brave Irish couple.
Mr Lynch said he was relieved at the outcome.
"Upon the advice of my attorney, I have agreed to accept the recommendations in the best interest of Jason's children," he said.
"I welcome the independent trustee who has the appropriate skills to invest the funds in the children's best interest. It is a burden lifted, I can now focus on my family. Our next step is to go over and finally be able to sort Jason's belongings so we can hopefully retrieve some items of sentimental value to his family and children."
Mr Corbett's sister said it was the end of a very painful time.
"We are relieved as a family to close this difficult chapter and try move forward with our lives and focus on our children," she said.
"Dave has always taken his fiduciary duties seriously and acted in the best interest of the kids - I am very proud of him. What we want now is to continue to focus on ensuring those responsible for Jason's murder remain in prison."
Tom Martens, a retired FBI agent, and his daughter Molly (35) were convicted of the second-degree murder of Mr Corbett in August 2015.
Both are now serving 20-25 years in North Carolina prisons.
Members of former billionaire Sean Quinn's family want permission to vary a bank freeze so they can pay lawyers for their ongoing action against Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC), the Commercial Court has heard.
The case is currently being heard in the High Court and may last months. In that action, the Quinns dispute any liability for share pledges and guarantees related to loans of some 2.34bn.
The loans were advanced by IBRC's predecessor, Anglo Irish Bank, to various Quinn companies.
A separate case by IBRC against various Quinn family members and other parties, alleging a conspiracy to strip some 455m assets from Quinn International Property Group companies, is due to be heard after the loans liability action.
In 2012, the Commercial Court imposed freezing orders on the Quinn bank accounts.
Since then, they have had to apply to the court to vary those orders for living expenses and legal fees to be paid out.
Yesterday Ross Alyward BL, for the Quinns, said he wished to apply to the court next week to vary the freezing order to enable his clients to provide security over a property and to draw down a loan of 250,000 (291,498) to facilitate their continued involvement in the main loan liability proceedings.
Barry O'Donnell SC, for IBRC, opposed the application.
Mr Justice Robert Haughton adjourned the matter for a week.
Two Dublin men were stopped by gardai in a car which was found to contain 150kg of explosives, the Special Criminal Court has heard.
John Brock (46), with an address at Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24 and John Roche (55), of Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8, are both charged with possession of 57kg of homemade explosives, consisting of ammonium nitrate fuel mix, and thirty-eight 2.5kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives at Naas Road, Dublin 12, on April 13th, 2016.
Arraigned on the charges before the non-jury court today, Mr Brock and Mr Roche remained seated and pleaded not guilty to the counts.
Opening the prosecution case this morning, Anne-Marie Lawlor SC said the three-judge court will hear evidence regarding the two mens movements on the Naas Road on April 13.
Ms Lawlor said members of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) will give evidence of observing the accused men at various locations on the day.
There will be evidence that Mr Roche was observed driving a black Skoda Fabia car and Mr Brock was a passenger in this car, which was seen in or around the location of Behans Quarry on Windmillhill in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, she said.
The barrister further stated that the court will hear about "observations" of the two men in or around the N7, where the car was seen.
Ms Lawlor said the evidence will be that the Skoda car was stopped by gardai at 7.24pm that day and both men were arrested. The vehicle was searched and found to contain 18 detonators, 57kg of an explosive substance and thirty-eight 2.5kg rolls of Kemegel, she indicated, adding that the court will also hear ballistic evidence.
The lawyer outlined that the men were detained and questioned over a period of time. The court will also be able to draw inferences from the mens failure to answer questions in two of these interviews, stated Ms Lawlor.
Finally, Ms Lawlor said the court will be able to conclude at the end of the trial that the accused men are each guilty of the offence charged.
Detective Superintendent Willie Johnson, the officer in charge of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU), gave evidence that if the members of his unit were identified it would be detrimental for future operations and could jeopardise them.
My application to the court is to request that NSU members be protected from public view to ensure the preservation of the anonymity of the individuals themselves, said the witness.
Following this, the three-judge court ruled that the public should be excluded from the court when members of the NSU give evidence in the trial and that its members should only be identified by their previously assigned initials.
The trial resumes tomorrow in front of Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan. It is expected to last one week.
An artist's impression of how an entrance to the MetroLink might look on O'Connell Street
The demolition of an apartment complex and a Dublin City Council leisure centre and swimming pool will go ahead under MetroLink plans announced this afternoon.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said it has spent significant time and resources into investigating alternatives to demolishing the 70 apartments at the College Gate complex, however they have reluctantly concluded that the original proposal is the best option.
They will help tenants to find alternative accommodation and pay their new rent for up to one year.
In the case of owner-occupiers, they will pay "appropriate compensation" and help them find new accommodation.
The Markievicz leisure centre will also be demolished with plans to build a replacement centre elsewhere.
The two authorities said their new planned MetroLink route will now see a reduction in the number of homes that will have to be acquired - falling from 105 to 85.
Expand Close The original proposed route for Metrolink / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp The original proposed route for Metrolink
They said an apartment building at the proposed station in Glasnevin, which is home to some 40 people, will now no longer need to be demolished.
As reported yesterday in the Irish Independent, the new route will now stop at Charlemont.
The original plan was to run a 26km railway line linking Swords in the north of Co Dublin to Sandyford in the south, with stations including one at Dublin Airport. The expectation was that passengers would be able to travel the entire route in 50 minutes.
MetroLink is due to be completed by 2027.
However transport officials were forced to re-examine the planned route following a fierce backlash from local residents, both north and south of the River Liffey.
On the northside, the original plans saw Na Fianna GAA Club losing its pitches in Glasnevin for six years during the construction phase and to accommodate a MetroLink station. However the station is now going to be built underneath a training pitch used by Home Farm FC.
The NTA and TII said the pitch will be unavailable to Home Farm FC during the estimated three-year construction period, but it will be "fully restored afterwards".
On the southside, the MetroLink was to run from Swords to Charlemont Street to meeting the existing Luas and to continue down the Green Line to Sandyford.
However this would have involved closing the Luas line for up to four years - something Transport Minister Shane Ross said would be "unacceptable".
The NTA and TII said today that, acknowledging the concerns about the closure of the Green Line this will now not go ahead. However the required tunnel boring works to allow for the future connection of the existing Luas line will be carried out during this phase.
It also said it has made a number of changes to the original plans in the city centre that will reduce disruption.
This includes building a station under the old Carlton cinema on OConnell Street.
The station at St Stephens Green will be moved slightly south and west so that Hume Street can remain open during construction.
They said St Stephens Green park will be "impacted to a small extent as a result".
Announcing the new route, Anne Graham, CEO of the NTA, said; "MetroLink will be a significant economic driver for the region with about 4,000 jobs to be created during construction."
HEALTH chiefs are treating as a tragic accident the death of a young mother in a maternity hospital who was found unresponsive on the floor with her newborn baby.
An investigation is now underway at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) into the tragedy on Monday.
The infant was found seriously injured beside her mother.
However, the child is now in a serious but stable condition.
The woman, who is in her early 30s, had given birth last weekend and it is believed she was breastfeeding when the freak accident occurred.
One theory being considered is that the young woman was suddenly taken ill and may have fallen out of bed as she attempted to seek help or reach a toilet.
She was in a single room at CUMH which was opened just over a decade ago.
The Cork facility ranks as Ireland's most modern maternity hospital.
When discovered, the infant was partially trapped underneath the young mother on the floor.
The woman had been checked by CUMH staff just a short time earlier.
It is understood the woman showed no indications of illness or feeling unwell at the time.
When she was later found on the floor, emergency resuscitation was commenced but, tragically, the woman could not be revived.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A full post mortem examination is now scheduled to be conducted at Cork University Hospital (CUH) to clarify the precise cause of death involved.
A file will be submitted to Cork Coroner Philip Comyn.
The South South-West Hospital Group of the Health Service Executive (HSE) have described the incident as a tragic occurrence.
Counselling and support services are now in place for the woman's family.
The scene of the crash at Carrigeenlea, Tramore, Co. Waterford today. PIC Colin O'Riordan
The scene of the crash at Carrigeenlea, Tramore, Co. Waterford . PIC Colin O'Riordan
The scene of the crash at Carrigeenlea, Tramore, Co. Waterford today. PIC Colin O'Riordan
The scene of the crash at Carrigeenlea, Tramore, Co. Waterford today. PIC Colin O Riordan
A car is removed from the scene of the crash in which Katie Murphy died. Photo: Colin O'Riordan
Pictured: The scene of the crash; Katie (inset left) and with her best friend Claire (inset right)
A friend of the 16-year-old schoolgirl killed in a tragic car crash has said her pals were about to call for her and were yards away when the tragedy occurred.
Claire Lombard (17) said her best friend Katie Murphy was the sort of girl who could make anyone smile no matter how sad they were.
Katie, from the Castlewoods estate in Ballynamona, Co Waterford, was a rear-seat passenger in the car with three friends when it crashed into a wall as it turned into the Carrigeenlea Estate in Tramore at 8.20pm on Wednesday evening.
She was rushed to University Hospital in Waterford but died from the injuries she sustained.
A 17-year-old boy, the son of a well-known and respected family involved in the motor trade in Tramore, was driving the car and a male pal was in the passenger seat.
Katie and another female friend were travelling in the back of the car.
Expand Close Katie Murphy / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Katie Murphy
The male passenger was later transferred to Cork University Hospital from Waterford where it is suspected he has swelling on the brain and a punctured lung. The female passenger is being treated for suspected bone fractures including her legs and pelvis.
Claire, a pupil at St Angela's school in Waterford, described the sequence of events.
Expand Close Katie Murphy from Ballinamona Co Waterford who died in a road accident in Tramore on 5.10.16 / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Katie Murphy from Ballinamona Co Waterford who died in a road accident in Tramore on 5.10.16
"Katie texted me to say they were on their way and that they'd see me in a few minutes. Then a bit later I was closing my bedroom window and I saw people running down the road, and my brother Conor ran out as well," she said.
"I went out to see what was happening, and as I got to the corner I could see the car. (The driver) wasn't that badly injured and he was able to get out and he walked towards me in a daze.
Read More: 'I don't know how we can cope without her' - Father pays tribute to 'beautiful' Katie (16) killed in crash
"We went down to the car to help. (The driver and passenger) were in the front of the car, and Katie and (her friend) were in the back," she said.
Expand Close Katie Murphy and pal Claire Lombard / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Katie Murphy and pal Claire Lombard
Claire's brother Conor supported the male passenger's head in the vehicle until emergency services arrived, and local residents did all they could.
"Katie was always smiling and laughing. She made everyone happy no matter how sad they were," said Claire through tears.
Claire told a poignant story of how Katie had borrowed a biro from her in school on Wednesday so she could write a reminder on her hand as to what classroom she was supposed to start in yesterday morning. "That message, Lab B, was still visible on her hand after the crash," said Claire.
Katie's father Hilary has posted a message on Facebook. "Our beautiful daughter was taken from us last night. We loved her so very much," it read.
Expand Close The scene of the crash at Carrigeenlea, Tramore, Co. Waterford today. PIC Colin O'Riordan / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp The scene of the crash at Carrigeenlea, Tramore, Co. Waterford today. PIC Colin O'Riordan
Lisa Smith holding her daughter while speaking to CNN Photo: CNN
Ms Smith gives an interview to ITV in Syria this week. Picture: Independent.ie
Diplomatic help: Lisa Smith served in the Defence Forces
Lisa Smith pictured during her passing out parade with the Irish Army
Efforts are underway to find a way out for Syria for Isil bride Lisa Smith through Turkey or another neighbouring country.
The International Red Cross has been asked to spearhead the operation to bring her home.
Government officials have made direct contact with the charity, which has a significant presence in the Middle East.
Ms Smith (37) is living in a detention camp in northeastern Syria where conditions are understood to be extremely concerned.
Expand Close Diplomatic help: Lisa Smith served in the Defence Forces / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Diplomatic help: Lisa Smith served in the Defence Forces
Officials have told Independent.ie that there are significant concerns for the welfare of her two-year-old daughter.
Ms Smith is aware that her situation has gained media attention at home but Irish diplomats have failed in their attempts to make direct contact with her.
In recent days she told a CNN reporter that she wants to return to Ireland.
The government will allow her home after a security assessment is completed.
A source told Independent.ie: Once things start to move, they will move quickly.
It is understood that Red Cross officials have been consulted in recent days with a view to establishing the potential to secure a safe passage for Ms Smith out of the Syria camp.
Sources have said utilising the capabilities and connections of the Red Cross is currently among the main options at the Governments disposal.
The permutations were discussed at a senior level meeting today and will be reviewed again later this week.
Sources have also said that the potential diplomatic issues involved in using the Army Ranger Wing for such a recovery would make it a highly unlikely option for the return of Lisa Smith.
The Gardas counter terrorism and intelligence units have been made aware of the developments, with officers attached to the CTI (Counter Terrorism International) expected to carry out a deradicilsation process of Ms Smith on her return.
Read More
Earlier today Tanaiste Simon Coveney described her situation as an unusual case.
But the Taoiseach and I have made it very clear she is an Irish citizen and she is the responsibility of Ireland, he said.
We have a responsibility towards her and, in particular, her daughter. We will try to follow through on that responsibility and find a way to bring her home.
Part of the problem here is that this is a war zone or at least a former war zone.
It is not that easy to actually get into these places.
She also does not have the capability to communicate easily from where she is.
BUSINESS owners in Co Mayo have rallied together to help a woman with stage four cancer marry her long-term partner next week.
Louise Swift (40), from Co Mayo, was first diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and had a radical hysterectomy. One year later, she says she had a recurrence which led to 28 sessions of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and brachytherapy.
"I lost most of my thirties to cancer and had a list of things I was going to do this decade and now everything has come to a halt again," Ms Swift told Independent.ie.
Shortly after Christmas, Ms Swift received news that the cancer was back and it had spread to her lymph nodes.
After getting the diagnosis, Ms Swift and her partner Mick decided to get married in the first week of April, with just their two children and their mothers present.
However, she has been finding the hunt for her dream dress difficult, and her friend Emily shared her plight on RTE's 2fm.
Ms Swift explained that she had reconstructive surgery and said she hasn't been feeling great after the chemotherapy.
"Now that Ive got this diagnosis, its not so much our last chance to do it because were not giving up any hope, its just we want to do it," she told presenter Eoghan McDermott.
"Im not built like every other woman out there, Im plus sized and big chested, its hard to get something that fits nice and flattering as well.
"At the same time Im not feeling too well after having the chemo, and going dress shopping has been quite stressful for me."
After hearing her story, the radio show became inundated with texts, calls and emails from local businesses in Castlebar, near where Ms Swift lives, wanting to help the bride to be for her special day.
Caroline, the manager of fashion retailer Carraig Donn in Westport, told Ms Swift to come in store to "kit her out" for her big day, and offered to help her find the perfect dress.
Caroline spoke to their neighbours at Petals, a beauty salon in Castlebar, who offered to do her makeup on the big day.
Carraig Flowers also called the show to say they would provide Ms Swift with flowers and said they would call into her to discuss.
"We'd be delighted to help," florist Shane said.
Mother and daughter: Lisa Smith with her two-year old daughter Ruqayya in Syria
Lisa Smith during her days as a member of the Defence Forces
Converted: Co Louth woman Lisa Smith, who is being held in Syria on suspicion of being a member of Isil
ASSESSMENTS will be done to ensure Isil bride Lisa Smith doesnt become a threat to life and limb here in Ireland when she returns home, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
The Taoiseach today confirmed details of the efforts to get the Louth woman and her two-year-old child out of Syria, as first reported by Independent.ie.
Ms Smiths case was discussed by ministers at Cabinet today. Much emphasis was put on the welfare of her daughter, Ruqayya, who is also living in a camp with extremely poor conditions.
In the Dail, Mr Varadkar said efforts are being stepped up to ensure the pair are treated humanly.
Expand Close Mother and daughter: Lisa Smith with her two-year old daughter Ruqayya in Syria / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Mother and daughter: Lisa Smith with her two-year old daughter Ruqayya in Syria
No direct contact has been made between Irish officials and Ms Smith to date.
But the Taoiseach said: As is the case with all Irish citizens they will be permitted to re-enter the State should they try to do so.
He ruled out using the Government Jet to fly her home from the Middle East, saying it is not capable of flying that far.
Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin said Ms Smith had obviously made very poor choices.
But he added: Theres a two year girl, an Irish citizen, who deserves a future.
Aid workers in the Middle East have been directed to help secure her release from a camp where she lives in a tent with other war widows.
Expand Close Converted: Co Louth woman Lisa Smith, who is being held in Syria on suspicion of being a member of Isil / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Converted: Co Louth woman Lisa Smith, who is being held in Syria on suspicion of being a member of Isil
A source in the region who has met Ms Smith said she is aware her case has created publicity in Ireland but does not know the nature of the debate.
They are cut off from the world in there. There is no access to news, the source said. Lisa wants to go back home. Its now all about her little girl.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has decided not to send officials into the region as is normal practice when Irish citizens find themselves in trouble abroad as Syria is deemed too volatile for diplomats.
However, efforts are being made behind the scenes to get help from aid workers.
It is understood Red Cross officials have been consulted with a view to establishing the potential to secure a safe passage for Ms Smith.
Sources have said utilising the capabilities and connections of the Red Cross is currently among the main options at the Governments disposal.
The permutations were discussed at a senior-level meeting yesterday and will be reviewed again later this week. There are also ongoing discussions between Irish officials and a number of Middle Eastern governments. To date, diplomats have been trying to confirm that Ms Smith wants to return to Ireland.
The Government has not had direct contact with her but are now upping their efforts to repatriate her on foot of a brief interview aired on CNN in recent days. The ex-army officer told correspondent Jomana Karadsheh Scott she now wants to go home and is living in a prison.
Ms Smith, who once worked on the Government Jet, left Ireland in 2015 and married an Isil sympathiser who was killed in recent months.
A 37-year-old-old man suspected of involvement in a 'Bonnie and Clyde' crime spree has been arrested by gardai investigating almost 50 burglaries, theft and fraud offences.
The man and his female accomplice are suspected in a string of robberies in counties Longford, Roscommon, Kildare, Offaly and Westmeath, as well as thefts from three hospitals in Dublin.
It's believed staff were targeted by the pair at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, St Vincent's Hospital and Tallaght Hospital.
The man was being questioned last night at Longford garda station but officers have not yet arrested the woman, believed to be a mother of five.
The man, who was living in Dublin but is originally from Co Longford, was arrested last Thursday in the midlands town just two and a half hours after he was suspected of stealing a handbag at a health centre in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, at 2.30pm that day.
When Longford gardai arrested the suspect he had already allegedly used an ATM card stolen in the Mullingar crime on several occasions.
However the officers in Longford were looking to question him about a separate theft of a wallet in St Mel's Cathedral that had happened in their district last Wednesday. CCTV footage had linked the man to this incident, it is understood.
While he has been in custody for the Longford theft, he has also been questioned by gardai from a number of other districts in relation to other offences.
These include a robbery at a Spar shop in Roscommon town on Thursday, March 14, in which officers suspect the 'Bonnie and Clyde' partnership worked together.
A senior source said the arrested man is a "highly volatile" heroin addict who has been known to "hide blades in his mouth to give him the opportunity to self-harm in the event of being arrested".
"He has spat blood at gardai in the past and claimed that he has HIV - this is an individual who has targeted elderly nuns and priests, as well as patients and staff in nursing homes as well as regular hospitals," the senior source pointed out.
"He is facing significant jail time after his arrest last Thursday and is suspected of being involved in 50 crimes all across Leinster since the start of January," the source added.
His female accomplice, also from Longford, is a suspect in some of the crimes the man has been involved with. However, she hasn't been involved in all his offences and she has not been arrested yet.
"Apart from being the chief suspect for thefts in three Dublin hospitals, this individual is suspected of robberies at nursing homes in counties Kildare, Offaly and Westmeath," a senior source explained.
"He has also been targeting churches and has hit churches in Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Galway and Roscommon in which the victims have often been elderly priests whose ATM cards have been robbed and then used," the source added.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has condemned any potential return of violence on the island of Ireland.
Ms McDonald said a new reality had emerged on the island that there was no appetite for violence of any kind.
There is no circumstances, no excuse, no scenario in which anybody from any disposition anywhere across this island would have a justifiable cause to take up arms, she said.
There is no appetite for a return to armed actions anywhere across this island, in any community in the north of Ireland and, in fact, people have embraced a new reality right across our country which is one of relative stability and advancement and progress.
Ms McDonald made the comments at Leinster House on Tuesday amid ongoing Brexit chaos and after a parcel bomb was found last week at an Irish postal depot, which appeared to be identical to suspect packages found in the UK earlier this month.
Army bomb disposal experts were called to a postal sorting office in Limerick on Friday morning after the suspicious package was discovered.
The Irish Defence Forces later confirmed a viable improvised explosive device had been found contained in a plastic envelope.
Ms McDonald accused Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of being overly relaxed when it came to no-deal planning.
We heard An Taoiseach in the course of the weekend almost philosophically say that whereas Brexit might define Britain for a generation, that it doesnt have to define us, she said.
I think its a very worrying statement. I think it belies an overly relaxed attitude by An Taoiseach.
The Dublin Central TD described the DUPs approach to Brexit as absolutely reckless and dangerous, adding it was entirely at odds with what was best for everybody in Northern Ireland.
You cant have part of the island inside the European Union and the other part outside of the European Union, and imagine that there wont be huge consequences for trade and our economy but also, critically, for the enjoyment of rights by our citizens and for the smooth operation of the Good Friday Agreement, she said.
Ms McDonald continued: They are very much out of step with public opinion in the north. I think theyre very well aware of that and yet they are quite content to play very, very dangerous games with their friends in the Tory party.
Other members of the opposition also voiced their concern over the lack of information being provided by the Government about what will happen to the border in a no-deal scenario.
Fianna Fail Brexit spokeswoman Lisa Chambers said the Government needed to explain what discussions were happening at EU level.
Its about time now our Government was honest with people because clearly conversations are happening in the background, she said.
Were getting little snippets. Were piecing together little snippets from EU officials from various ministers but that information should be forthcoming.
Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin said it was a very worrying time for Ireland as the Brexit shambles continued apace.
Its incumbent on our government to prepare unfortunately for a hard Brexit, he said.
Very inadequate preparation has been explained to us to date.
Mr Howlin called on his British counterparts to back Theresa Mays deal.
If the choice is a no-deal or the deal thats on the table, I would exhort the British Labour Party to support the only negotiated deal thats there, he said.
But he added the ideal outcome would be if Article 50 was revoked entirely or Britain had a second referendum.
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has suggested it could be "make sense" to extend the MetroLink line to UCD and on to Sandyford in future years.
His remarks came as he was challenged in the Dail on the current plan for the Metro Line to stop at Charlemont in the south city and the abandonment of the proposal to continue it along the existing Luas Green Line to Sandyford.
Under the new plan unveiled by the National Transport Authority today, the Metro tunnel will be extended to a location just south of Ranelagh to allow for future expansion, but this may not happen for another two decades.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the new proposals seem to be to put off expansion and use the tunnel through Ranelagh as a "shunting yard while we wait 20 years before upgrading it."
He said he doesn't believe this is the right approach to take.
Mr Ryan said he wants the government to be open to looking at different options including continuing the Metro route through UCD to Sandyford or another option to go south-west to Terenure/Rathfarnham.
Expand Close An artist's impression of how an entrance to the MetroLink might look on O'Connell Street / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp An artist's impression of how an entrance to the MetroLink might look on O'Connell Street
He said: "We need radical, ambitious plans for public transport to stop the 2bn cost of gridlock, to tackle emissions, to improve our quality of lives.
"Doing nothing or abandoning public transport projects should not be the answer."
He asked Mr Varadkar: "Are you open to look at all the options that are still before us?"
Mr Varadkar said meeting Ireland's obligations to reduce carbon emissions won't happen without the Metro but that's only part of the solution.
He said residents of Ranelagh "will very much welcome" the changes to the Metro route - a reference to the unrest in the southside suburb of the potential impact of the construction on the southside neighbourhood.
Mr Varadkar said the Luas Green Line will still be "significantly upgraded".
He said it wasn't a "viable option" to go with a plan for the Metro that could have disrupted the Luas for up to four years.
Mr Varadkar said: "I do think we need to be open to suggestions as to where the tunnel should go from there."
He said that the NTA believe that the Terenure/Rathfarnham suggestion doesn't have the population density to justify it.
He said: "UCD/Sandyford might make sense" and added: "I think we should be open to considering that."
Mr Varadkar also said: "But I wouldnt like that to hold up the project because nobody is arguing against it in the Airport and in Swords, in Glasnevin, in Santry that entire area has been waiting far too long."
A hospital patient's death following his arrest for alleged abusive behaviour is being investigated by the Garda Ombudsman.
Father-of-three Daniel McCormack (40) died suddenly on Saturday night after he had been released from custody.
He had earlier gone to the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar with chest pains.
However, gardai were called to the hospital amid claims that Mr McCormack was abusive towards staff, and he was arrested for public order offences.
He returned to his home in Raheen, Mullingar, after being released but fell ill.
An ambulance was called and he was brought back to the hospital where he had sought treatment earlier that evening.
He was pronounced dead soon after.
A separate inquiry into the circumstances is being conducted by the Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG).
The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) was notified of the incident on Saturday night by a local Garda superintendent.
GSOC said last night the case had been upgraded to an investigation under Section 98 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005.
The upgrading does not imply any wrongdoing, but means that all circumstances surrounding Mr McCormack's death will be investigated.
CCTV footage from the hospital will be examined, and the results of a post-mortem will help determine the course of the investigation.
Mr McCormack's family have claimed he did not receive treatment at the hospital prior to his arrest. A spokeswoman for the IEHG would not comment on whether the deceased was treated or assessed before his arrest.
"Regional Hospital Mullingar cannot comment on individual patient cases," she said.
"The hospital is conducting a review of an incident which occurred this weekend. We have no further comment at this time."
A relative of the deceased, who asked not be named, described Mr McCormack as a "quiet" and "hard-working man" who was dedicated to his family. "Danny had a pain in his chest for two days and gradually it was getting worse so he went to hospital," the family member told the Irish Independent. "He was there for a while in obvious pain and asked could he be seen, he was in an awful lot of pain."
The family member said they understand a staff member at the hospital contacted gardai, but they don't know why this happened.
"He didn't receive any treatment and the guards took him away," the relative added. "We don't know whether he was taken to the station or not."
The family member claimed gardai brought Mr McCormack back to his family home.
"He fell in the hallway and dropped dead in the house," he added.
"He was never without his wife and kids. We want answers from the hospital and the gardai. Why wasn't he treated when he was having chest pains?"
A Garda spokesman said the matter was referred to GSOC under section 102 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005.
"As this is now a Garda Siochana Ombudsman investigation, we will be making no further comment," the spokesman added.
A death notice posted by the family asked mourners to make donations to the Irish Heart Foundation.
"He will be deeply missed by his heartbroken wife Hazel, his adored children, Daniel, Caragh and Grace, his mother Mary, brothers Peter, Noel, David and Robert, sister Geraldine and grandmother Christina."
His funeral will take place at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Thursday at 10am followed by burial in Ballyglass Cemetery.
Victim: Tara Wright, from Donaghcloney, Co Down, was found outside Belfast City Hospital
The parents of a teenager whose body was found outside a Belfast hospital have said she was a "vibrant soul with a zest for life".
The PSNI believe Tara Wright (17), from Donaghcloney, Co Down, was involved in a road crash 25 minutes before her body was found outside Belfast City Hospital at around 3am on Sunday.
Last night, her parents issued a statement to the media in which they said they were "devastated" at the death of their "beautiful daughter".
"Tara was a kind, funny, charismatic, bright young girl with her whole life ahead of her and we can't believe that we now have to say goodbye to her.
"Tara will be missed immeasurably not only by us, but her entire family, especially her brothers and sister Charles, Alistair and Anna, who will never forget the love they had for her and the love she had for them," they said.
The PSNI had initially linked Tara's unexplained death to a single-vehicle car crash involving a silver Mercedes in Castlereagh. Yesterday, a senior officer said they believed the 17-year-old had been injured in the crash.
The vehicle was found on its roof near the roundabout at Ballygowan Road close to the Manse Road junction.
Around 25 minutes later, Tara was found in the grounds of Belfast City Hospital by Ambulance Service personnel who frantically attempted to resuscitate her.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initial reports suggested the teenager had been found lying next to a grey MG car.
However, CCTV footage subsequently examined by police has since established that Tara was inside the vehicle when ambulance staff arrived on the scene.
Inspector Nigel Henry said yesterday officers are following a line of enquiry that Tara had been taken to the hospital in the MG.
He revealed that four men aged 20, 21, 28 and 30 - who had been arrested on Sunday but since been released on bail - are assisting officers on establishing the circumstances leading up to Tara's death.
Offering his sympathies to Tara's family, the senior officer appealed for anyone who witnessed either vehicle to come forward.
"Our investigation is at an early stage, however, we do believe that Tara was injured during the one-vehicle road traffic collision on the Ballygowan Road," he said.
"We are appealing to anyone who witnessed either the silver Mercedes or grey MG to contact us to assist us with our enquiries."
A man found injured after the crash who was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast was last night in a critical condition, according to a hospital spokesman.
Louise O'Loughlin (38) is a pioneer when it comes to helping women who are living with serious illness. And while the medical profession has achieved wonders in managing the different forms of cancer, she's dealing with the emotional and aesthetic aspects of illness.
Louise's journey began in Rush, Co Dublin. Like many young girls, she loved horses. But unlike most, she had her own, which she named Sir Hopkins after the Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. The pair competed at show-jumping events all over the country. While in secondary school, she was a member of the Loreto Balbriggan equestrian team. Back then, Louise was absolutely certain her future lay in this horsey world.
But unfortunately, in sixth year, she hurt her back. "I had three falls in a row," she recalls. "Then, one day, while helping Mam with the shopping, I dislocated a disc in my back, and was told I'd have to give up jumping."
It was a devastating blow for this determined young woman, but she didn't sit at home bemoaning her fate. Instead, she went to Spain to learn the language, and then ended up in a riding stables in the Canaries. But due to her back injury, it didn't work out.
All along, Louise's mother Colette had been urging Louise to train in beauty therapy because she felt Louise had a natural ability when it came to health and healing.
"Growing up, we were comfortable, but there was no excess cash around," explains Louise. "Nonetheless, my mother always took good care of her skin. And because there was a gap of eight years between me and my nearest sibling, I'd accompany her to the salon when she had her facials. At home, I would mimic what I'd seen at the salon and Mam thought I had magic hands. So she wanted me to do massage or beauty therapy."
Although Louise only signed up with the Bronwyn Conroy Beauty School to humour her mother, by the second day of training, she was smitten. "I absolutely loved learning all about the skin and how it reveals what is going on elsewhere inside the body," says Louise. A year later, armed with the prestigious Cidesco international qualification, she began her working life in earnest. Less than two years later, she was asked by a US company making beauty products to become a professional trainer in Ireland. "That was my step up into education," says Louise.
When she was 26, she opened her own salon in Rush. She also did a diploma in teacher training so she could run advanced courses for therapists who already had a qualification.
As far as her personal life was concerned, in 2005 Louise fell in love with local builder Neil Kelly. In 2012, their daughter, Maggie, was born. That joyous occasion was soon overshadowed by the fact that early in 2013, Louise's mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
"I was close to Mam," explains Louise. "She had hearing problems and needed someone with her at all her appointments, so I closed the salon and worked from home."
Once Colette's treatment had come to an end, about 30 members of their extended family spent Christmas with her in Fuerteventura in the Canaries. But sadly, some time after they returned from holiday, Colette learned that her cancer had spread.
"She was given two or three years at the most," says Louise. "And, at worst, six months. It was so sad. Everyone just loved her. She was incredibly kind and thoughtful. She was always writing little notes to people because she cared so much for them. But she was also very proud and glamorous."
Louise says that wasn't their only experience of terminal illness. Colette's sister Bernadette had lost her 10-year battle with a brain tumour four years previously. "So Mam was very aware of what was ahead for her and was determined to do things her way," Louise said.
And although Colette did undergo treatment, it wasn't successful. "She was very, very sick with no real quality of life," explains Louise. "So she chose to stop further intervention. The cancer had spread to her bowels and she couldn't even eat; all she wanted was to go back to her own bed on the first floor of her home on the beach." And that's where she was when she left this world, surrounded by the love and care of her four children. It was just six weeks after she'd been given the second diagnosis.
One of Louise's greatest regrets was that she hadn't been able to do much for her ailing mother when it came to beauty treatments. "I wasn't trained to deal with someone who had cancer," says Louise. "And I couldn't find anyone near us who was. Mam was too nauseous to travel far. I could give her head and neck massages, and she loved those. Reiki was fine, too."
In 2018, Louise ended up doing an intensive course in oncology aesthetics in Italy, with a training institute that had originally been founded in Canada. She is now about to run her own courses in Ireland, based on what she learned there.
"Basically, the course adapts beauty treatments to the client's specific medical and aesthetic needs," explains Louise.
She says there is no question of them doing anything like lymph drainage. "Only a physiotherapist who is qualified to do so, should do that," she says emphatically. But they can do body massage. "We are always mindful of what areas of the body to avoid, so as not to cause any further damage, or to increase the risks of infection or injury," she explains, adding, "Chemotherapy often causes loss of hair and eyebrows, so we can teach our clients how to replace them using make-up. And if there are skin problems due to treatment, we can use gentle, hydrating, non-invasive products to soothe and calm the skin.
"The feedback we get from clients is that finally they can relax and enjoy being pampered, because the person doing the treatment understands their specific needs, and won't cause any additional damage.
"It also gives them a great lift to feel they've been cosseted, and that some of their aesthetic beauty needs have been resolved. Then there is the psychological side of things. You don't need some therapist who knows nothing about cancer going, 'Oh, isn't that awful, I feel so sorry for you'. We're trained to say very little; we are there to listen, to let the client talk and to be supportive."
And in doing so, Louise and her new recruits will hopefully give back to women - who are severely challenged - their self-esteem and more hope for the future.
For more information, contact Louise O'Loughlin at Iguazu Beauty Therapy, Dublin, email louise@oti-oncologytraining.com
Anna and Elsa from 'Frozen' in the daily parade of Disney stars along the resort's Main Street
We nearly didn't make it.
This trip came up so quickly that we had to get a passport - his first - for our baby boy Daniel in a hernia-inducing hurry, dashing to get forms signed by the couldn't-be-more-helpful garda in Blackrock, then a last minute appointment at the passport office in town.
Then, we almost missed our flight. We slept through the alarm calls and were only awoken by the taxi driver repeatedly ringing the doorbell at 4am.
We made it to the departure gate with seconds to spare for our 6am flight. Daniel's big sister Emilia wasn't able to sleep the night before (hence a frazzled mummy and daddy snoozing through the alarm) because she was that excited at going to visit Mickey Mouse and his girlfriend Minnie at their magical castle in France.
Who could blame her? Her excitement rose to near fever pitch on the train from Charles de Gaulle when the driver told us the next stop was Disneyland.
When we disembarked and made the short walk to the Disneyland Hotel, I thought Emilia was going to faint on the spot with pure joy at the sight of Donald Duck and Goofy in the lobby greeting guests. When Mickey and his mot Minnie arrived too, at this five-star Victorian-inspired establishment, little Emilia jumped into my arms and screamed: "This is the best day ever. This is the best holiday ever."
Expand Close Anna and Elsa from 'Frozen' in the daily parade of Disney stars along the resort's Main Street / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Anna and Elsa from 'Frozen' in the daily parade of Disney stars along the resort's Main Street
Her father's concerns about commercialised theme parks, global consumerism and political unrest in nearby Paris aside, this was, indeed, the start of the best holiday ever for our very young children.
For the next three days, they could not contain themselves. It was indeed pure joy to see them so thrilled. The adrenalin rush was only increased for Emilia because from the window of her hotel bedroom she could see Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant, Disneyland Paris's ornate interpretation of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
To put this in context: it would be like a connoisseur of art suddenly finding themselves living opposite the Louvre. So every night when she went to bed, Emilia would do so with the words: "Goodnight Sleeping Beauty!"
But back to the check-in. They not only checked us into our suite, they had tickets ready for us for lots of the rides at Europe's biggest theme park.
And because the hotel is actually a 50ft, if that, stroll from the entrance to Disneyland, the excitement levels with our daughter were now higher than a Buzz Lightyear rocket, we didn't even go up to our room.
We went straight into the theme park. We walked up Main Street, bought some ice cream and some lemonade. Emilia's eye was caught by a woman dressed as a princess doing face-painting. Five minutes later our four-year-old daughter had been transformed into a unicorn.
Licking her ice-cream, the unicorn walked straight up into Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Emilia looked like she was experiencing something akin to a fairytale or a dream come true.
What made it even more magical for our young child was that she was wearing her Sleeping Beauty dress as she explored the castle (a Sleeping Beauty dress which she wore on the plane and had all the Air France cabin staff in thrall at 30,000ft as she told them she was going to sleep in Sleeping Beauty's Castle.) On the castle's second-floor there is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty tale, in stained-glass windows and tapestries.
Downstairs, Emilia randomly met Princess Elsa from Frozen walking through the castle. Emilia was entranced. Just then, Anna from Frozen appeared, by chance. It was like visiting a hip disco in New York with Andy Warhol in the 1970s, but for kids. You never knew what legend or icon or superstar you'd bump into.
Baroque music was heard from the balcony of Sleeping Beauty's Castle as we made our way in search of further wonderment. It wasn't long before we found it. On Dumbo's Carousel. What's not to love about Dumbo? And then 30 minutes later - courtesy of one of the de rigueur long queues at Disneyland - we were all riding together in one of the Mad Hatter's Teacups.
I accessed my inner child in this surreal Shangri-La 20 miles east of Paris. Little Daniel had accessed his inner adult as he looked sternly at the passing Maleficent, the evil fairy witch herself.
We made it back through Sleeping Beauty's Castle just in time to catch the parade down Main Street at 6pm. It was a performance par excellence (that we went to every evening without fail) as all the Disney characters did their well-choreographed stuff in a spectacular show followed by an even more spectacular fireworks display that lit up Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
That night, we all slept like kings and queens in our beds - because we were utterly knackered. The sleep had been further helped by the fact that we had a leisurely dip in the hotel's rather fancy pool, followed by a fine dinner in the hotel's California Grill.
I don't think my wife and I ever earned a glass of wine as much in our lives - after a day being run ragged around Disneyland by Emilia, bravely assisted by Daniel in his buggy or in my arms pointing at every attraction that he wanted to go on.
As Beckett, who lived up the road in Paris, once said: "I can't go on... I'll go on." And to think we would do it all again tomorrow.
You can't have a day begin more bizarrely than to see Captain Hook and Peter Pan walk around the tables at breakfast in the hotel. Unsurprisingly, Emilia and Daniel practically jumped out of their seats with shock and awe.
And, then, once more we were off into the massive theme park again. We went on the Peter Pan ride (twice). There is something truly wonderful about holding your baby son in your arm as you fly through the sky to Neverland, where pirates and mermaids gaze up at you. This is followed by a boat trip on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride where scary pirates point at you.
It is difficult - unless you are of a particularly dour or downcast disposition - not to enter into the spirit of Disneyland. Walt Disney called Disneyland Park in California "the happiest place on Earth". Its opposite number on a 5,000-acre site in rural Marne-la-Vallee has the same aura of cartoon-ish utopia, of flying elephants, swirling teacups, to say nothing of singing mice, dancing ducks, pirates, princesses galore and the usual (big-eared) suspects.
After a while I found Disneyland good for my soul. I was forced to be a kid again for three days and nights, lost in my own (and Walt Disney's) imagination. There was something special about the innocent state that comes automatically with spinning around in a giant tea cup or flying through the night with Peter Pan with your two children who are laughing their little faces off. I hope they keep these precious memories.
In fact, for me, that is what the true magic of Disneyland is about: having fun, of course, but building memories. I believe Emilia will remember forever flying with Peter Pan when she is older (and the doll she got in the gift shop will be long forgotten).
One of my fondest memories as a child is holding my mother's hand as we cycled through the night sky high in the air on ET's bikes at Disneyland in California. Certainly our three days in the Magic Kingdom outside Paris created many memories that will stay with us hopefully all our lives.
Walking down Main Street of this pretend turn-of-the-century American town with its pretend turn-of-century shops selling Disney merchandise, there is a sense of the unreal. Personally, especially after a pre-dinner drink in Cafe Fantasia in the hotel, I felt like Jim Carrey's character in The Truman Show.
Yet in the end I loved it almost as much as my two young kids. This is despite the struggle to not go financially broke with Emilia permanently dragging us into gift shops selling kids Disney merch on every corner, or the fact that food in the theme park is a tad expensive. We made lovely picnics and brought it into Disneyland Park on our second and third days.
On our final day, I arranged for Emilia to meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie. When I made the introductions and the two most famous rodents in the world nodded (they don't speak) Emilia burst into tears and jumped into my arms. Daniel, for his part, acted like he had known the two mice all his life and kept pointing at Mickey's ears.
On the way back to the hotel for dinner Emilia said Mickey and Minnie were "as big as lions, daddy". Having pancakes with ice cream and a milkshake in the California Grill soon eased Emilia's sense of being overwhelmed by giant mice.
Even more so when her second favourite princess, Elsa made an appearance.
We'll be back - once my overdraft facility isn't frozen....
Take Two: Top attractions
Amaze-ing Alice
Not to be missed, Alices Curious Labyrinth, is a fantastic hedge maze in two sections Alices adventures before meeting the mean Queen of Hearts, and then Alices encounters with the Queen. My daughter was left smiling like the Cheshire Cat...
Marvel Superheroes
Daniel, my baby son (indeed my hero) would positively marvel at the new Disney attraction that everyone is talking about: Marvel Superheroes with Captain Marvel himself, plus Spider-Man, Thor, Captain America et al. Bring it on.
Getting there
* Prices for a three day/ two night package including Air France flights and Magic Shuttle Transfer to Disney's Hotel Santa Fe start from 1,568.20 based on two adults and two children sharing a standard room at Disney's Santa Fe Hotel.
That includes two night's accommodation, three-day park hopper tickets with unlimited access to Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.
* Price based on a May 12, 2019, departure date, subject to availability.
* For more information about a family break to Disneyland Paris, call 01 605 83 83 or visit: disneylandparis.ie or contact your local travel agent.
* Air France currently operates flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle from two departure points in Ireland: four daily flights from Dublin and once daily from Cork.
* Return economy fares from Dublin to Paris start from 99.89, including taxes and charges. To book or for additional information, visit airfrance.ie or call the reservations line on +353 16590442.
This feature originally appeared in The Sunday Independent.
This time it was supposed to be different. With 5G, Ireland was to make sure that the network was designed with everyone in mind.
Now it looks like that was just a pipe dream.
The communications regulator, which governs the licensing conditions that mobile operators go by, has clearly signalled that a rural coverage requirement for 5G mobile data will not be introduced.
Many in the telecoms industry will argue that such a prospect was economically unrealistic to begin with.
"Very high levels of coverage on a geographic basis would not be achieved by the market itself as this would require networks to have two to four times as many cell sites as exist today," ComReg argues.
"This could take many years to achieve and the overall cost to stakeholders would likely be substantial."
This seems a long way from a promise from the Government two years ago that 5G licences would come with a geographic coverage requirement. The pledge, from then communications minister Denis Naughten, was in answer to years of frustration at poor mobile coverage outside Irish cities.
That, in turn, was caused by licence stipulations that only require 70pc population coverage for 4G data signals - roughly equal to the combined population of the five Irish city areas. For voice, it has been 90pc population coverage. Again, this means that vast tracts of the country can remain without an effective signal under the licence terms.
This may not have been such a problem if the Government was not currently reconsidering its commitment to roll out rural broadband. While successive administrations insisted in the last seven years that the State would subsidise broadband in 'unprofitable' areas, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has laid the ground for a postponement.
With no broadband and no 5G, rural Ireland will be stuck indeed.
Lisa Smith was 19 when she joined the Defence Forces. She initially served as a private in the 27th Infantry Battalion before transferring to the Air Corps where she primarily served as a flight attendant on the government jet.
In November 2011, at the age of 29, she retired from the Defence Forces. It may be that she was on the government jet for one or two trips that I made but I do not recall meeting her following my appointment as minister for a justice, equality and defence in March 2011.
I have no reason to believe that when a member of the Defence Forces, Lisa Smith did anything other than properly fulfil her duties. I also have no reason to believe anything other than as she entered her 30s she was a mature woman with some awareness of current events and that, like many in the Defence Forces, she had acquired some knowledge of well-publicised conflicts in various parts of the world.
By mid-2014 it was not necessary to be a member of the Defence Forces to know something about Isil. The atrocities it had perpetrated and continued to perpetrate were the stuff of constant global reportage.
As a ruthless fanatical Sunni Muslim terrorist sect, this throwback to medieval barbarism boasted of its atrocities and, to attract recruits, advertised its sickening cruelty in readily accessible incendiary online colour footage.
The maniacal footage was accompanied by strident commentary which gloried in brutality and barbaric murder accompanied by soundtracks of rousing Arabic chanting. And there was a lot of it streamed online.
Isil's flagrant human rights abuses and crimes against humanity by the end of 2014 included bloody beheadings, multiple crucifixions, human immolation, mass shootings, barbaric torture and rape.
All who did not believe in its extreme version of Islam were labelled as infidels to be erased from the Earth or temporarily enslaved before being eliminated should they fail to convert and adhere to its fundamentalist beliefs. Isil barbarism included the enthusiastic stoning of alleged adulterers, public hangings of homosexuals and forcing children to observe and participate in beheadings.
This murderous misogynistic group also treated women it captured as sex objects to either be sold or marry and service its warriors and support them in their task of establishing a fanatical Isil Caliphate. Both then, as now, it valued death over life in its promotion of a suicidal martyrdom culture.
Among Isil's well-publicised atrocities reported by mainstream media in Ireland and elsewhere and publicised by Isil online was the beheading by 'Jihadi John' of American journalist James Wright Foley in August 2014.
In September 2014, similarly reported and publicised were the beheadings of 'Time' magazine journalist Steven Joel Sotloff, British humanitarian aid worker David Haines and French mountaineering guide Herve Gourdel. These were followed in early October 2014 with the beheading of British humanitarian aid worker Alan Henning. During 2013- 2014, thousands were killed by Isil and many Isil atrocities first became publicly known through its boastful and celebratory recruiting videos.
I detail here just four beheadings because it is impossible that they were unknown to Lisa Smith or any other adult man or woman living in Ireland intent in late 2014 or early 2015 on travelling to Syria to live within the Islamic State and among Isil terrorists. It is also impossible that it was unknown that since early 2014 Isil was engaged in the genocide of Yazidis, with women and girls forced into sexual slavery as thousands of men were slaughtered. Nor could she have missed the murder in Belgium in May 2014 of four people in a shooting at a Jewish Museum perpetrated by an Isil returnee from Syria.
Lisa Smith when she voluntarily travelled to Syria was not a naive impressionable young teenager lacking worldly experience. She was a 33-year-old retired member of the Defence Forces. It may be that during their time in government former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former justice minister Dermot Ahern variously regarded her as "an engaging and kind person" and "a lovely girl" as referenced in last week's 'Sunday Independent' but that is beside the point.
As a 33-year-old adult, she made the decision to become part of the tyrannical Isil endeavour and reportedly to marry an Isil Jihadi sympathiser and fighter fully knowing what she was becoming part of.
While she resided in Syria, Isil atrocities multiplied in both Syria and Iraq and were perpetrated in Europe.
In November 2015, 130 were murdered in Paris; March 2016, 32 in Brussels; June 2016, 45 in Ataturk Airport; July 2015, 86 in Nice; May 2017, 22 in Manchester. These numbers do not include the many people injured, some destined to never fully recover.
Lisa Smith has now emerged from the besieged town of Baghouz, Isil's last Syrian bastion, which is about to be overrun, seeking sanctuary in Ireland. Some of the benign sympathetic uncritical coverage of her plight has been extraordinary.
Had a former retired 30-something member of the Defence Forces taken up with the Provisional IRA during the Troubles as they perpetrated a series of barbaric atrocities there would have been a dramatically different perspective. Some of the sympathy as presented is packaged in good old-fashioned Irish male misogyny, which assumes because she is a woman or "a girl" she did not fully understand her actions or those of Isil.
Should Lisa Smith return to Ireland she has serious questions to answer and possibly criminal charges to face.
There will also be major credibility issues surrounding any explanation she offers for her conduct. The State also has serious issues to address as to whether she poses a threat to the safety and well-being of others in Ireland or elsewhere.
There is a need for serious security issues to be addressed which should not be lost in dewy-eyed, perceived media-friendly, politically opportunistic populist sound bites.
Issues surrounding Lisa Smith should also be a wake-up call to the Government to prioritise enacting the long-promised Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill to give full effect to the EU's 2017 directive on combating terrorism. While presently engaging in terrorist activity is a criminal offence, there is no specific offence of travelling abroad for the purpose of terrorism as required by the directive.
There is currently a risk that should Lisa Smith return home to Dundalk she will be feted as a celebrity or hero by some in the media and by some sympathetic TDs.
The only one deserving of attention and sympathy is her two-year-old daughter who knows nothing of the background to her conception and birth. Hopefully, when she grows up she will not be in any way damaged by her first experiences of life within Islamic State and remember nothing of it.
Alan Shatter is former justice minister
'How has it comes to this?"
That was the question asked by Fiona Bruce on BBC's 'Question Time' last week when the show broadcast a Brexit special from Belfast.
It's been 40 years since 'Question Time' first started, a period which has seen Robin Day, Peter Sissons and David Dimbleby take the helm before Bruce took over as moderator.
Yet it's quite possible this rhetorical question about the current crisis in which we find ourselves remains the single most honest and heartfelt contribution ever made by any of the illustrious presenters.
How has it come to this?
The simple, and horrifying, answer to that complex question is that nobody really knows.
We can put some of the chaos we have witnessed down to hubris. Much of it - but not all - can be explained by a certain stubborn embrace of the echoes of days long past when the British empire could boast the sun never set on its territories.
But things have become much more complex and, frankly, weird than a mere desire for a return to the glory days that were never particularly glorious in the first place.
There were certainly arguments in favour of Brexit, which were motivated by a perfectly reasonable desire for self-determination and the equally understandable craving for control over your own destiny, rather than subsuming your country's sovereignty within a vast, continental super-state.
But when Bruce articulated what everyone else has been thinking - on all sides of the aisle on this debate, by the way - by simply asking 'how has it come to this?', it reminded us we have now entered the political equivalent of fantasy land.
Indeed, it now seems the last shreds of common sense and even self-preservation have all been thrown overboard in favour of a rush, as Leo Varadkar put it, to the rolling cliff edge - with the various main players all competing to be the first lemming to take an Olympic-standard dive over the precipice of no return.
For those of you who have simply become Brexited-out over the last few months and who now look at every new development with a mixture of scorn and weariness, things really aren't as bad you think.
They're actually worse.
To say the political classes in the UK have lost their marbles is to do a disservice to the average marble and to put the current levels of genuinely unprecedented mayhem and confusion into perspective, we now even have Uri Geller offering a solution.
The man who ruined a million spoons, and convinced a generation of kids in the 1980s they were all psychic, has informed Theresa May that: "I feel physically and very strongly that most British people do not want Brexit.
"I love you very much but I will not allow you to lead Britain into Brexit. As much as I admire you, I will stop you telepathically from doing this - and believe me, I am capable of executing it."
Now, as we all know, Geller is a man who has never seen a bandwagon he didn't want to join.
But in what is probably the most depressing response to the most ridiculous intervention in an already ridiculous scenario, many people suffering from Brexit battle fatigue simply shrugged their shoulders.
In fact, such is the air of despondency that some observers have wryly admitted Geller performing his own version of a Vulcan mind-meld on the soon-to-be ex-prime minister of the UK can't be much worse than any of the other, slightly less mad, suggestions that have been put forward.
This is what happens when politicians don't know what they're doing and that's the situation in which we find ourselves.
What we're witnessing isn't some evil conspiracy, or a malevolent grand plan by old Etonians; it's just that nobody knows what is happening, least of all it seems the so-called experts and those politicians busy sharpening their knives behind May's back. Although it should be remembered that some of her enemies, particularly Boris Johnson and his cabal, seem determined to administer the coup de grace to her face, such is the open warfare between the various Conservative blocs.
Away from the blood-on-the-carpets civil war which has robbed the Tories of any moral or political authority for the next generation at least, Irish eyes will have been further widened by last week's edition of 'Question Time' following the contribution by the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson, whose half-hearted commitment to maintaining a Border-less Ireland was both sinister and a reminder of where his party is coming from.
According to Donaldson, a hard Border would indeed be unfortunate. But an electronic border in the middle of the Irish Sea would be a calamity.
This, he claims, would be a sign that the "mainland" doesn't see Northern Ireland as an intrinsic and important part of the UK and that would be unacceptable.
It seems almost futile to point out to the likes of Donaldson that the DUP are quite happy to have different rules from other parts of the UK when it suits them - they remain the only part of the UK where abortions aren't available, for example.
Frankly, it's hard to escape the impression that despite the usual weasel words we have come to expect from politicians of all stripes, some of the more trenchant Unionists would actually be secretly happy to see a return of the hard Border.
Maybe it reminds them of better days, when they held sway over the six counties.
The 'B' word we're now looking at is no longer just 'Brexit', but 'border'.
As has been pointed out consistently, the EU simply cannot have an open, non-member trade route into their territories. While we fret about the backstop, they worry about a back door into their markets.
Some will say the EU is throwing us under the bus and it's hard to disagree with that assertion.
Others will say they have no choice and the future of the 27 member nations can't be dictated by an Anglo-Irish disagreement of the sort which has always baffled Europeans anyway.
Either way, we lose.
May, who now looks like a punch-drunk boxer, faces the possibility of losing another vote this week, which would signal a full and catastrophic exit.
Even the much vaunted World Trade Organisation rules, seen by many British observers as the least bad of all the bad options, would result in a resumption of check points and guards along the Border.
Forget Uri Geller. They might as well as bring in Derren Brown and David Blaine while they're at it.
But at this stage, even Houdini couldn't figure out an escape plan.
Yes, this may seem a strange time to quote the ill-fated Soviet leader Leon Trotsky, of all people.
But the phrase attributed to him, "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you", does seem to be a fit right now. Few, if any, of us - north or south - want to return to the dreary and lethal days of Irish Border checks.
But, as the continual brinkmanship is ramped up, if the Brexit cards fall a certain way, we're going back to the Border.
Even in such a grim eventuality, we should recall a central fact: the EU did away with the Irish Border - not the IRA, nor the irredentist nationalistic rhetoric from people like Eamon de Valera. The 1992 EU single market removed those ugly bothans and containers, hosting tedious hours of customs form-filling.
In fact, Brussels quietly drove home the changes with generous peace grants, given with minimal asking since the summer of 1994. Return to the Border would be a double tragedy - turning back the clock.
Sources in Brussels yesterday told this writer that Ireland-EU talks on the Irish Border if no-deal happens must be stepped up. "Discussions on this between Ireland and the Commission will intensify," the source said.
Experienced Brussels diplomats see the EU's admission yesterday that a no-deal, crash-out Brexit was "increasingly likely" on April 12, as again "upping the ante" in the Brexit war of nerves.
"There remains a belief that the UK will pull back from the brink because they know the extensive harm a no-deal exit would bring themselves," one senior official said.
But the Brussels diplomat conceded that the need for Irish Border controls would "become very real" in the case of a no-deal Brexit. Efforts continue to find a way to prevent the return of checkpoints dotted between Dundalk and Derry.
There can be checks at point of manufacture, or processing in the case of food, and using 'trusted trader schemes' to reduce trade disruption.
Even in a worst-case scenario, no real EU action will happen on the Irish Border for several months. But there is a strong EU view that UK temporary tariff arrangements are illegal under World Trade Organisation rules and promote smuggling.
The Irish Government was badly jolted on January 23 last when the EU Commission chief spokesman, pushed to give the EU position on a no-deal scenario, conceded that it would mean "a hard Border".
Margaritis Schinas said: "If you'd like...to push me and speculate on what might happen in a no-deal scenario in Ireland, I think it's pretty obvious - you will have a hard Border." But he also stressed that the EU would be trying at all times to honour the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and later sought to soften his message.
The official response in Dublin was a swift rejection. We are not interested in a Border - but that of itself will not stop it.
Special counsel Robert Mueller's decision that he could not conclude whether US President Donald Trump's attacks on the Russia investigation amounted to obstruction of justice illustrates the difficulty in proving such a charge - and left Democrats with a narrow, but fraught, path to press a case against Trump.
In the end, Trump's mercurial behaviour and relentless attacks on the FBI and the special counsel probably extended the length of the probe - but the fact that many of his eruptions were in public view also may have made it more difficult to show that he had ill intent, a key element in proving obstruction, legal experts said.
In his still-confidential report, Mueller stopped short of drawing a conclusion about whether the president obstructed justice, writing that "while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him," according to a summary by Attorney General William Barr, released on Sunday.
Barr went further, saying he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that the evidence gathered by the special counsel "is not sufficient to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offence".
That has left the question of Trump's actions - which included the firing of FBI director James Comey, the public attacks on then-attorney general Jeff Sessions, the regular cries of "witch hunt" and the taunting of witnesses - as one that will now be wrestled with in the political arena.
The obstruction question, as a legal matter, came down to whether the special counsel had evidence that Trump acted with "corrupt intent" as he demeaned and demonised the investigation.
"Proving intent is genuinely difficult, because it requires you to get inside someone's mind - and divining intent is art, not science," said Chuck Rosenberg, a former US attorney in Virginia and former counsel to Mueller.
Rosenberg said he was not surprised by the special counsel's difficulties in drawing a conclusion on obstruction, noting that it is a complicated calculus to prove someone intended to block investigators and hide a crime.
"It was something we routinely debated, as prosecutors and agents," he said.
In his report, Mueller addressed obstruction in an unusual way: he laid out evidence on both sides of the question but left "unresolved what the special counsel views as 'difficult issues' of law and fact," Barr wrote in his summary. And Mueller pointedly did not clear the president.
One major factor in the Justice Department's analysis: since Mueller concluded that the Trump campaign did not conspire with Russia as it interfered in the 2016 campaign, prosecutors could not argue that he acted corruptly to hide an underlying crime, legal experts said.
Prosecutors can seek a charge of obstruction when someone seeks to thwart a known criminal investigation, even if there wasn't an underlying crime, some legal experts said, but they said it can often be difficult to then prove that case to a jury.
Compounding the challenge for Mueller was Trump's refusal to sit for an interview in which prosecutors could have probed his motivations. Instead, his legal team only provided written answers from the president to Mueller's questions about the campaign - not Trump's activities in the White House.
And some of Trump's actions - such as his firing of Comey - represented the exercise of powers afforded to the president by the Constitution, as his lawyers often argued.
To find criminal obstruction, a prosecutor must have evidence that a person's actions would have the "natural and probable effect" of disrupting an investigation, said Mary McCord, former acting head of the Justice Department's National Security Division, who oversaw the early stages of the investigation.
Barr wrote in his Sunday memo to lawmakers that Trump's actions - many undertaken not furtively, but in full public view - didn't reach that standard.
David Kris, who ran the national security division of the Justice Department in the Obama administration, said it was "notable" that Barr and Rosenstein came to a conclusion about the president's actions within 48 hours of receiving Mueller's final report, which was submitted late Friday.
"Attorney General Barr, in the space of a weekend, is able to make the judgment that Mueller precisely avoided making and described as being 'difficult'," said Kris, who now runs the consulting firm Culper Partners.
"On the merits, then, Barr and Rosenstein together have reached the question that Mueller specifically avoided reaching, and they reached it very rapidly," he said. ( Washington Post)
It beggars belief Theresa May did not seek cross-party consensus before going to the EU to negotiate a deal once she took over from Dave. On the other hand, I can see why it didnt happen May could have been seen as weak by asking for help when she probably wanted to be the next Iron Lady.
Imagine Jeremy Corbyn putting his name to a proposal that could be potentially rejected and committing political suicide in the process. He wouldnt have the stick to beat the Tories with and the DUP wouldnt have anyone to blame for the backstop.
Yes, its time for a cross-party (aka common-sense) approach but, alas, its far too late in the process. The sharks are circling and smell blood in the water, and it would appear they would gladly let the UK crash out of the EU without a deal to try to further their political careers at the expense of the ordinary citizen.
Kevin Dowling
Killiney, Co Dublin
Dark forces threaten dream of liberal Europe from within
The chief feature of Remainer discourse is the actual condition of the EU is hardly ever mentioned. Despite all the embarrassingly hackneyed investigations of the post-imperial English psyche by writers that litter the media, you will struggle to find any reference to the dark forces shaping European politics.
France is convulsed by rioting yellow vests every weekend in Paris, as elements in the Alternative fur Deutschland are in the Reichstag for the first time since 1945, while Italy is governed by a coalition that includes heirs to fascism. Hungry and Poland are in the tightening grip of illiberal democracy, and the Czech Republic is ruled by a populist billionaire with close links to Russia.
Austria is run by a coalition that includes a party whose first leader was an SS officer. Sweden is struggling to keep the ultra-nationalist Sweden Democrats out of government. The far right has doubled its support in the recent elections in Estonia.
Memories of Francos tyranny seem to have faded as the far right is winning seats in the provincial elections in Spain.
Ireland could see our 100 years of neutrality on the line if we are to supply our quota for the European Army.
It is very likely, according to John Grays recent essay on the European problems, that after the European elections the idea of a united liberal Europe will linger on but will be a fading apparition of a vanished future.
Hugh Duffy
Cleggan, Co Galway
Waless overwhelming victory reveals the joy of six
Looking back on Irelands poor performances in the Six Nations, I suspect for Ireland to play so poorly, illness must have had a role. However, we were well beaten by England, who out-thought us. The loss to Wales was in a different category.
One of the first things the manager said after the match was that Waless Josh Navidi played very well. His position is at No 6 and he features in open play. Im wondering whether there is a correlation between a win and a good performance by the No 6?
Should a team adjust its game if the oppositions No 6 is having a field day?
Patrick Dillon
Address with editor
Would Dun Laoghaire like to show us all how to behave?
Liam Collins (Irish Independent, March 23) poses the question: What harm can 82 refugees do a village the size of Rooskey?
As a native of Roscommon and having friends in Longford, Leitrim and indeed Donegal, one thing these people know all about is migration.
They have been migrating for over 200 years. These are the four poorest counties in Ireland but their people are generous, welcoming and love fair play.
Collins pulled the lazy racist card to partially explain the arson attacks in Rooskey and Moville. He barely mentions the lack of dialogue or dearth of facilities.
Perhaps in a follow-up he might consider the suitability of Dun Laoghaire, which has numerous empty buildings and facilities we in forgotten Ireland can only dream of, as a re-settlement area for, say, 8,000 migrants.
Surely the refined and genteel residents of Dun Laoghaire would give us a lesson in practical hospitality.
Sean Fallon
Portarlington, Co Laois
Murphys views on housing are depressing and sickening
Housing Minister Eoghan Murphys pious fatalism (Homelessness will never be fixed completely, says housing minister, Irish Independent, March 23) is both depressing and sickening. Depressing that a holder of such views occupies high office, sickening as astute observers well know this type of guff is usually nothing but an excuse for keeping things the way they are.
Jim OSullivan
Rathedmond, Co Sligo
Carly Moffitt and her partner Jennifer Cleary from Dublin celebrate after the announcing the reults of same- sex marriage referendum at Dublin Castle. Pic: Mark Condren
Ireland has been named among the top five worldwide honeymoon destinations for LGBT couples.
A global study put us in fifth position, three years after becoming the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote.
The new study on the world's best honeymoon hotspots for LGBT newlyweds considered a series of factors including safety and the inclusivity of the destination.
The Latin America Travel Company named Canada - where LGBT couples have been able to marry since 2005 - as the ultimate destination for newlyweds.
Ireland was the second highest ranking European destination after Switzerland.
Ireland scored full marks in the categories of honeymoon popularity, marriage equality and forward thinking.
Meanwhile, the nation scored four out of five when it came to the romantic setting category and three out of five in the "love is in the air" category.
The study's authors said LGBT couples had to take in a number of factors when planning their getaway.
"While it shouldn't have to be the case, it remains an issue that LGBT equality and rights are not always respected in every country around the world, which can dramatically rule out certain destinations as a honeymoon choice for many couples," they said.
The company said that they had compiled the first LGBT Honeymoon Ranking to create "an exhaustive, inclusive list of all the best places for LGBT couples to honeymoon".
Video of the Day
The authors added: "Firstly, we restricted our list to those countries where homosexuality is not criminalised.
"We then analysed factors including marriage equality, LGBT travel recognition, honeymoon popularity and romantic setting, to assess the best honeymoon destination for LGBT couples."
New Zealand came in second place in the study behind Canada, with Australia in third.
Last December, the Australian parliament passed legislation allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally wed.
It came just three weeks after Australians voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage, by a 62pc to 38pc margin, in a referendum.
The legislation added Australia to the ranks of the 27 countries around the world that have officially legalised same-sex marriage.
However, a report last year found that homosexual acts were still criminalised in 72 countries.
Some countries, including Tanzania, still impose tough jail terms.
Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria, Australia, has almost doubled its population of critically endangered plains-wanderer birds overnight.
In what is believed to be a world first, nine captive-bred chicks of the species hatched in just over 24 hours, after zookeepers helped the eggs to survive.
The chicks, which were born on March 19 and 20, hatched in a special brooder and were then transported into a tub, where they were kept warm with heat lamps and a feather duster, to simulate a parents feathers.
The chicks arrival marks only the second time the rare native bird has been bred in Victoria.
Yvette Pauligk, the zoos threatened species keeper, said: We give the birds every opportunity to incubate and hatch their own eggs, and one pair was successful in doing this.
However, the other male was not displaying such encouraging behaviour. So, we moved the eggs to an artificial incubator.
The unique genetics of every single one of these birds is so precious. Breeding nine healthy chicks in such a short time is a huge achievement and one we are all very excited about.
The hatchlings bring the zoos captive population to 20, while the number of mature plains-wanderers left in the wild is estimated to be less than 1,000.
Mourning: The coffin of Syed Areeb Ahmed, one of the victims of the mosque attack, is carried high at his funeral in Karachi, Pakistan. Photo: REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
A Muslim group is to sue social media platforms which allowed footage of the Christchurch massacre to be streamed, it said yesterday.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), one of the main groups representing Muslims in France, accused Facebook and YouTube of inciting violence.
Expand Close Probe: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the royal commission yesterday. Photo: MARTY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Probe: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the royal commission yesterday. Photo: MARTY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images
It added the companies had disseminated material that encouraged terrorism, and harmed the dignity of human beings. There was no immediate comment from either company.
The shooting at two mosques in New Zealand on March 15, which killed 50 worshippers, was streamed live by the white supremacist gunman on Facebook for 17 minutes, then copied and shared on social media sites across the internet.
Facebook said it raced to remove copies. But a few hours after the attack, footage could be found on Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet Inc's YouTube, as well as Facebook-owned Instagram and Whatsapp.
Abdallah Zekri, president of the CFCM's Islamophobia monitoring unit, said it had launched a formal legal complaint against Facebook and YouTube in France.
The move came as New Zealand announced that it will hold a top-level inquiry into the atrocity, examining what roles guns, social media and spy agencies played preceding the attacks. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she had ordered a Royal Commission of Inquiry, the country's highest form of investigation.
"While New Zealanders and Muslim communities around the world are both grieving and showing compassion for one another, they are also quite rightly asking questions on how this attack was able to happen here," Ms Ardern said.
She added that royal commissions are usually reserved for matters of the gravest public importance and that was clearly appropriate in this case. The exact terms of the inquiry will be finalised over the next two weeks.
"The inquiry will look at what could have or should have been done to prevent the attack," Ms Ardern said.
"It will inquire into the individual and his activities before the terrorist attack, including, of course, a look at agencies."
Those agencies will include the domestic spy agency, the Security Intelligence Service, and its international counterpart, the Government Communications Security Bureau.
Other agencies to be looked at include police, customs and immigration.
A royal commission is run independently from the government and chaired by a senior judge.
Some people have criticised the intelligence agencies for focusing too much on threats from Muslim extremists and left-wing radicals while not looking deeply enough into threats from nationalist groups and white supremacists.
"There will be a focus on whether our intelligence community was concentrating its resources appropriately and whether there were any reports that could, or should, have alerted them to this attack," Ms Ardern said.
The New Zealand leader also joined the criticism of social media, saying it was unacceptable that the harrowing video of the attack continued to be available on some platforms.
She said she wanted assurances from social media leaders that something similar would never happen again.
On Thursday, her government said it was rushing through laws to ban "military-style" semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines like those used by the gunman.
Australian Brenton Tarrant (28) has been charged with murder and is next due in court on April 5.
Residents inspect the damage of the destroyed multi-storey building of a Hamas-affiliated insurance company, in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP)
Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has returned home from Washington, heading straight into military consultations after a night of heavy fire as Israeli aircraft bombed Gaza targets and the strips militants fired rockets into Israel.
Schools in southern Israel were cancelled following the violence that threatened to escalate into a major conflict just two weeks before the Israeli elections.
The fighting subsided by the morning, though the situation remained tense.
The military massed forces on the Gaza border and imposed restrictions on civilian public gatherings after dozens of rockets were fired toward communities in the area, including one that struck a house in the town of Sderot.
Hamas needs to know that we will not hesitate to go in and take all necessary steps, regardless of anything, any date, other than Israel's security needsBenjamin Netanyahu
Overnight, the Israeli air force pounded militant sites of Gazas Hamas rulers and the smaller Islamic Jihad group.
The targets included a multi-storey building in Gaza City that Israel said had served as a Hamas military intelligence headquarters and the office of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Gazas health ministry said seven Palestinians were wounded in the airstrikes.
Mr Netanyahu, back from Washington, headed directly to military headquarters in Tel Aviv for consultations on the next steps.
He faces the difficult task of delivering a tough blow to Hamas while avoiding protracted fighting that could work against him on election day.
Expand Close An explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes is seen in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP) / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp An explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes is seen in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP)
Mr Netanyahu has come under heavy criticism from both allies and opponents for what they say has been an ineffective policy of containing Gaza militants, with calls demanding he deliver a devastating blow to Hamas.
He has conducted indirect ceasefire talks through Egyptian mediators in recent months, and even allowed the delivery of millions of dollars of Qatari aid to Hamas to ease harsh conditions in Gaza.
After a meeting with President Donald Trump and before leaving Washington, Mr Netanyahu indicated the election would not deter him from acting.
We have responded very, very forcefully.
Hamas needs to know that we will not hesitate to go in and take all necessary steps, regardless of anything, any date, other than Israels security needs, he said.
The cross-border fighting was triggered by a surprise rocket fired early Monday from Gaza that slammed into a house in central Israel and wounded seven people.
The Israeli military said it was a self-manufactured rocket with a range of 75 miles, making it one of the deepest strikes ever carried out by Hamas.
Expand Close Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Susan Walsh/AP) / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Susan Walsh/AP)
The military mobilised two armour and infantry brigades and drafted some reserve forces before striking back at militant sites in Gaza.
Gazas Hamas rulers announced later in the day that Egyptian mediators had brokered a cease-fire but the firing continued overnight before calm appeared to return early Tuesday.
The rocket attack prompted Mr Netanyahu to cut short a visit to Washington and return home, setting the stage for perhaps the most serious conflict since a war in 2014.
But with no fatalities reported on either side yet, and the quiet holding for the moment, it still seemed possible to step back from the brink once again.
Two weeks ago, rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israels densely populated commercial capital of Tel Aviv, and the Israeli military struck back.
Gazas Hamas leaders said the rocket was fired accidentally and the fighting quickly subsided.
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars in the last decade.
Although neither side appears to have an interest in another war, fighting could easily spin out of control.
The 2014 conflict lasted 50 days and ended with over 2,000 Palestinian deaths, including hundreds of civilians, and 73 killed on the Israeli side.
Expand Close A house is damaged after it was hit by a rocket in Sderot, southern Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP) / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp A house is damaged after it was hit by a rocket in Sderot, southern Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP)
In Gaza, Hamas is facing perhaps its toughest domestic test since seizing control of the coastal territory from the rival Palestinian Authority 12 years ago.
An Israel-Egyptian blockade, imposed to weaken Hamas, combined with sanctions by the Palestinian Authority and mismanagement by the Hamas government, have all fuelled an economic crisis that has left Gaza with an unemployment rate above 50%.
Hamas has been leading weekly protests along the Israeli border for the past year in hopes of easing the blockade, but the demonstrations, in which some 190 people have been killed by Israeli fire, have done little to improve conditions.
Last week, hundreds of Gazans protested against the dire conditions, a rare expression of public discontent against the authoritarian government.
Hamas responded with a violent crackdown, beating and arresting dozens of demonstrators and drawing rare public criticism.
By limiting its fire to border communities after Mondays long-range launch, Hamas seems to be trying to keep the conflagration on low intensity. For Israelis living along the border who have suffered from years of rocket attacks that is little comfort.
The Israeli government cant, under no circumstances, settle, said Haim Jellin, a Labour party candidate for parliament and a former head of the bordering Eshkol regional council.
Firing at Israeli communities that border with Gaza is the same as firing toward Tel Aviv, and its impossible we will show restraint at the continuous firing.
The jury in the trial of Hillsborough disaster match commander David Duckenfield yesterday retired to consider its verdicts.
The six men and six women were sent out at 10.51am after 10 weeks of the trial at Preston Crown Court in England.
Judge Peter Openshaw told them: "You are under no pressure of time whatsoever. You can and should take just as long as you want or need."
Duckenfield (74) denies gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans who died in the disaster at the FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989.
There is no prosecution over the 96th victim, Tony Bland, because he died more than a year and a day later.
Retired chief superintendent Duckenfield is on trial alongside former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, who denies failing to discharge his duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
It is alleged Mackrell (69)failed to take care as safety officer particularly in ensuring enough turnstiles were open to prevent a build-up of fans.
Duckenfield gave an order to open exit gates after crowds built up. More than 2,000 fans entered, many making their way to the central pens of the terrace, where the fatal crush happened.
The judge has previously told the jury to be "dispassionate".
He said: "The death of 96 spectators, many very young, is a profound human tragedy attended by much sadness and anger which for many is as raw today as it was 30 years ago.
"There have been times during the trial of heightened emotion and distress.
"But, as you go about your duty you must try to put aside your emotions and sympathies and to decide the case after an objective and dispassionate review of the evidence."
The Israeli military said it had begun carrying out strikes on Hamas militant targets in the Gaza Strip yesterday, hours after a rocket struck a house in Israel.
Witnesses reported hearing explosions across the Palestinian territory just before the military's announcement.
Yesterday morning, seven people were hurt when a rocket launched from Gaza hit a house belonging to a British-Israeli family north of Tel Aviv.
The escalating tensions also prompted prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short a visit to Washington.
The Israeli leader, who had arrived less than 24 hours earlier, headed back immediately after a meeting with Donald Trump yesterday morning.
"This was a criminal attack on the state of Israel, and we will respond with force," said Mr Netanyahu.
He added that he had been briefed by the heads of Israeli security and he would return to conduct Israel's response.
The military said it was reinforcing troops in the area with two additional brigades, one infantry and one armoured, and calling up reservists for specialist units.
It said it held Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, directly responsible for firing the rocket.
Images from the scene of the rocket strike showed the house was badly damaged, its roof caved in.
Mika Lifshitz, a military spokeswoman, said it was hit by a self-manufactured rocket with a range of 120km. She said the Iron Dome anti-missile system protects the area, but could not comment on whether it was deployed.
Mr Netanyahu is in the middle of a battle for re-election with Israelis going to the polls in less than 15 days.
He has been criticized in the past by members of his own government coalition for being too "soft" on Hamas.
In November, he agreed to a mediated cease-fire with the group after a spate of rocket attacks from Gaza toward communities in southern Israel.
Political opponents have also criticized his decision to allow Qatar to deliver $15m (13.3m) a month into Gaza to pay salaries of Hamas civil servants.
In Gaza, tensions have been rising as residents of the strip, under Israeli blockade for more than a decade, have been protesting against both their extreme poverty and Hamas's heavy-handed tactics cracking down on unrest.
This Saturday marks one year of weekly protests by Gazans at the border fence with Israel. Dubbed the Great March of Return, the protests were intended to win international recognition of the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their former homes in Israeli territory.
Hamas used it as a tool to ramp up pressure on Israel amid stalled ceasefire talks that would have allowed more investment in Gaza.
In recent days it has sent flaming balloons into Israel, according to the army. Hamas had agreed to stop such actions under an interim deal that allowed the Qatari money in, which expires in weeks.
Domestic pressure has been building against Hamas, and analysts say the strain increases the need for the militants to deflect attention back toward Israel.
A recent UN report found that 189 Gazans were killed by Israeli forces during 2018.
It said the majority of those killed "did not pose an immediate threat of death or serious injury to others when they were shot".
( Washington Post)
Afghan men uncover the dead bodies of young children laying in the back of a truck, after being killed in an air strike. Photo: BASHIR KHAN SAFI/AFP/Getty Images
Ten children, part of the same extended family, were killed by a US air strike in Afghanistan, along with three adult civilians, the United Nations has said.
The air strike early on Saturday was part of a battle between the Taliban and combined Afghan and US forces that lasted about 30 hours in Kunduz, a northern province where the Taliban insurgency is strong.
The children and their family had been displaced by fighting elsewhere in the country, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said, releasing its preliminary findings about the incident. It said in a statement that it was verifying that all 13 civilian casualties occurred around the time of the air strike.
Three other civilians were wounded. The incident happened in the Telawka neighbourhood, near Kunduz city.
Sergeant Debra Richardson, spokeswoman for the Nato-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, confirmed that US forces carried out an air strike, but she said yesterday that the mission still had not confirmed that it had caused civilian casualties.
She said the mission aimed to prevent civilian casualties, while the Taliban intentionally hides among civilians.
A record number of Afghan civilians were killed last year as aerial attacks and suicide bombings increased, the UN said in a February report. Child casualties from air strikes have increased every year since 2014.
At first glance, the Mueller affair looks like a pretty odd "exoneration". Yes, a summary of the report into Russian involvement in the 2016 election says Donald Trump didn't collude with Vladimir Putin - but the investigation did lead to 34 indictments and seven convictions, and special counsel Robert Mueller draws no conclusion on attempted obstruction of justice. On top of which, the president faces other probes related to business, charitable and personal conduct. "The best day of Trump's presidency," said the BBC. Kennedy had the Cuban missile crisis; Reagan had Reykjavik. Trump's best day is being told that he's not a Russian puppet.
But politics isn't about detail, it's about grand narratives - and Mueller has almost mortally humiliated the president's critics.
"It will be a reckoning for President Trump, to be sure," wrote the 'New York Times', but also for, "Congress, for Democrats, for Republicans, for the news media and, yes, for the system as a whole".
Blink and you'd miss it: the 'Times' was saying sorry.
Trump's enemies made three huge mistakes. First, they overshot. They focused on the biggest, most outlandish claim against the president when a mixture of the smaller ones would've been enough to damn him in the eyes of the average voter.
Think of that moment in the OJ trial when the prosecution asked Simpson to try on the glove he allegedly wore to kill his ex-wife.
"If it doesn't fit," said the defence, "you must acquit" - and it didn't.
Never mind that the rest of the evidence appeared compelling, by placing so much emphasis on the glove - or this ridiculous Russia connection - the prosecution walked into its own trap.
Second, too many liberals thought they could make Trump go away by impeachment rather than by beating him at the ballot box. This is turning into a psychological trait of our age.
I note that Cambridge University has backed down from hosting the conservative thinker Jordan Peterson following student opposition.
The vice-chancellor has since said that the Divinity Faculty rescinded the offer of a visiting fellowship after it came across a photo of Mr Peterson with his arm around a man in an offensive T-shirt. In a sense, what liberals hoped Mueller would do was no-platform the president. Don't engage with him, don't tolerate him, just find a photo of him in flagrante with a KGB agent and - boom - we can impeach the old man out of office. "America is our safe space; haters not wanted."
Third, and this is the biggest mistake of all, the American left has obsessed too much about the past, neglecting to build a winning strategy for the future.
This is understandable. To Democrats, the victory of Trump over Hillary Clinton was so unlikely and so devastating that they assumed he must have somehow stolen the election.
Otherwise they'd have to confront the uncomfortable possibility that Ms Clinton was less appealing to working-class Americans than the most radical Republican since Barry Goldwater.
Conspiracy theories abounded: Russia was an easy explanation.
In fact, the Mueller report concludes that Moscow did try to influence the 2016 election, which itself should put Republicans on the back foot. What is it about Trump that, by inference, made him more attractive to the Kremlin as a presidential candidate than Clinton?
But while any foreign interference is obviously important, Trump has been in the White House now for two years and has a record - some good, some bad - that demands adult scrutiny.
At what point are Democrats going to start dealing with Trump as a concrete reality rather than Trump as the existential psychodrama of 2016?
The same error has been made in the UK. Millions of words have been written about why Britain voted for Brexit. Class war, culture war, or how about those crazy Russians? It's an interesting subject: it would make a great PhD. But while Britons have been arguing over why they voted Leave three years after the fact, there has been precious little talk about the more relevant question of "how" - and that's the reason for this present mess.
Politicians are to blame; so is the media. I went on television shortly after the Withdrawal Agreement was published and got all of about 90 seconds to debate its contents. Most of the rest of the conversation was taken up with personality politics, democracy and treachery, which, as the choice of "no deal" or "no Brexit" comes screeching towards us, suddenly seem relatively unimportant.
It's as if Britain and America have gone into shock. Something big has happened and we can't get over it.
We just stagger about asking if we can replay the past and do it differently. Can we impeach Trump? Can we have a second referendum?
No. Both were democratic choices that we have to learn to live with. Criticise them on the merits, but don't retreat into conspiracy theories. Russian spy fiction is fun, no doubt, but not an acceptable distraction from the facts of our present crisis.
No crime: President Donald Trump embraces Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a meeting in the White House in Washington yesterday. Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria
US President Donald Trump vowed yesterday that people who pushed "evil" claims he colluded with Russia would be investigated, after special counsel Robert Mueller found there had been no conspiracy with the Kremlin.
Mr Trump said that those making the allegations over his 2016 election conduct had been "treasonous", adding that they "will certainly be looked at".
The White House went on the attack after claiming "complete exoneration" from Mr Mueller, despite the fact the special counsel himself did not clear Mr Trump over obstruction of justice.
Sarah Sanders and Rudy Giuliani, the president's press secretary and lawyer, demanded that Democrats and the "liberal media" who talked up collusion apologise.
Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator, demanded a new special counsel to investigate FBI and Justice Department officials who began the probe.
The main findings from the 22-month probe came in a four-page memo from William Barr, the attorney general, and amounted to a major political victory for the president.
The Democrats are demanding the full report be made public and its underlying documents be handed to Congress.
They are also vowing to continue investigations they started after taking back control of the House of Representatives in January, something which will be harder to justify now.
Speaking alongside Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, yesterday, Mr Trump lashed out at those who pushed the collusion claims and expressed relief the probe was over.
"I love this country as much as I can love anything - my family, my country, my god. But what they did, it was a false narrative, it was a terrible thing," Mr Trump said.
"There are a lot of people out there that have done some very, very evil things, very bad things, I would say treasonous things against our country... [and] those people will certainly be looked at".
Mr Trump also said "yes" when asked if he believed Mr Mueller had acted honourably - a marked contrast to his criticism of the investigation as a "witch hunt".
Mr Mueller concluded the Kremlin did intervene to tip the election for Mr Trump, but that neither Mr Trump nor his campaign aides conspired with the Kremlin during the campaign.
It was Mr Barr and Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, who decided Mr Trump had not obstructed justice - a decision Democrats have questioned, given both were appointed by the president and reached the judgment within 48 hours of the report being submitted.
Mr Barr's four-page summary of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation left Mr Trump "gleeful", according to aides.
"There was no collusion with Russia, the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Mr Trump said.
The extent of his victory could be tempered, though, if Democrats succeed in their push for Mr Mueller's complete report to be released and the documents reveal questionable behaviour by the president.
Democrats have made it clear that they are prepared to summon Mr Barr to testify under oath.
For nearly two years, the probe had been a source of great anxiety and stress in the halls of the West Wing.
Aides described Mr Mueller's findings as a best-case scenario that would buttress the president's mood, solidify Republican support and allow Mr Trump to present a better message for re-election.
"What they do is they clear the deck for there to be an evaluation based upon his record as president," said former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a Republican and Trump ally.
Aides say Mr Trump plans to highlight the cost of the probe and call for the firing of members of the media and former government officials who he claims made false accusations about him.
"It's a shame that our country had to go through this," he added. "To be honest, it's a shame that your president has had to go through this."
One former White House official said the Democrats have "just handed the Trump campaign the greatest election issue in modern political history, on a silver platter".
Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University, said: "Trump actually kind of has inoculation now against other charges against him because he was able to prove his innocence here.
"It allows Donald Trump to build his narrative about how the news media and the Democrats created this whole Russia collusion hoax, in Trump's mind."
Pope Francis has crossed the Tiber River for a visit to Romes city hall.
He praised the ancient city for its ability to integrate diverse peoples over centuries of its existence.
During his visit to the Romes City Hall on Tuesday, Francis said that Rome, over its nearly 2,800 years of history, has been able to welcome and integrate different populations and people from all over the world without humiliating or crushing their respective peculiar characteristics and identity.
Expand Close Pope Francis is welcomed by Romes mayor Virginia Raggi (Ettore Ferrari/AP) / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Pope Francis is welcomed by Romes mayor Virginia Raggi (Ettore Ferrari/AP)
He also warned against letting the Eternal City become degraded now.
Rome is struggling with problems of rubbish removal, potholed streets and other issues of decay that have worsened on the watch of mayor Virginia Raggi.
She welcomed him to the Capitoline Hill, where city hall is located.
Phumtam Wechayachai, Secretary General of Pheu Thai party, talks during a news conference after the general election in Bangkok, Thailand, March 26, 2019
International observers have issued a critical report on Thailand's first election since a 2014 military coup, calling it "deeply flawed".
The Asian Network for Free Elections criticised the "tabulation and consolidation of ballots", which led to some preliminary results that were "wildly inaccurate".
It said the inaccuracies damaged the "perceived integrity of the general election".
Thailand's Election Commission has defended the count, saying full preliminary results will be released on Friday.
The observers' comments came as a military-backed party and the party whose government was ousted in the coup both claimed they should form the next government.
Preliminary results show the anti-military party won the most seats, while the military party appears to have received the most votes in Sunday's poll.
Chit Su Win, wife of Reuters journalist Kyaw Soe Oo, carries her daughter on arrival at the Supreme Court in Naypyitaw, Burma (Aung Shine Oo/PA)
Lawyers for two Reuters journalists sentenced to seven years in prison for their reporting on Burmas brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims have appealed against their conviction to the countrys Supreme Court.
Reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo remained in Insein Prison while their lawyers attended the courts first hearing on their final appeal on Tuesday in the capital, Naypyitaw.
The prisoners wives also came to the court hearing, bringing their young children.
Expand Close Pan Ei Mon, wife of Reuters journalist Wa Lone, carries her baby (Aung Shine Oo/PA) / Facebook
Twitter
Email
Whatsapp Pan Ei Mon, wife of Reuters journalist Wa Lone, carries her baby (Aung Shine Oo/PA)
The reporters conviction for violating the countrys Official Secrets Act has been condemned by rights groups, Western governments and global press associations.
It also has highlighted freedom of expression problems in Burma, even after it transitioned from military rule to an elected government under Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Large numbers of Rohingya refugees have fled the country to Bangladesh amid the military crackdown.
Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota has gained the biggest release ever in Taiwan market and is now set to release in China and USA in the coming week.
Post the humongous success of URI - The Surgical Strike, RSVP's recently released Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota is raking in critical acclaims from across quarters.
"It has been an overwhelming journey throughout the film, the love and response are humbling. More than anything else it's touching to know the audience found themselves in the world of Surya. Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota director Vasan Bala shares
After the global recognition at TIFF, now the film is thrown open to the global markets with the international releases in Taiwan, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, South Africa, and Japan amongst others.
The love and response are enriching more than anything else and it is a bestowing experience to get such appreciation."
Post the Indian Release, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota has released Internationally in countries like Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, South Africa, Japan to name a few.
RSVP's Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota has been winning hearts in the homeland after acclaiming global appreciation at the TIFF.
RSVP's Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota's global recognition and appreciation has already made its impact across the world, however, it is the Indian audience that has applauded the film the most, even before the release of the film.
Produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the banner of RSVP, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota is written and directed by Vasan Bala and has taken over the theatres with its quirkiness.
Today at noon, artist Jaime Black, creator of The REDress Project, will perform along the Riverwalk at the museum in...
By Acee Agoyo
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Democrats in Congress attempt to expand the tribal jurisdiction provisions of the Violence Against Women Act , Native women are changing the narrative surrounding efforts to secure safety for their sisters.
The 2013 version of VAWA recognized the "inherent" authority of tribes to arrest, prosecute and sentence non-Indians who abuse their partners. The law represented the first significant rollback of a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision, known as Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe , that stripped tribes of their sovereignty.
But the Native women who secured the landmark provisions in VAWA are finding their hard work under attack, six years after they came to Capitol Hill to put a personal face to the struggles seen across Indian Country. Republicans are once again questioning whether tribes should be able to punish non-Indians despite data showing they are responsible for committing most of the offenses.
"We must continue to fight for basic protections," Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico), who is one of the first two Native women in Congress , said in a video message at the Safety for Our Sisters symposium last Thursday.
As part of that effort, advocates are chipping away at depictions of tribal government that are rooted in stereotypes, ignorance and, in some cases, outright racism. Sarah Deer , a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation whose groundbreaking work won her a prestigious "genius grant" , said Native women must continue to share the truth about their suffering at the hands of outsiders.
"The history is brutal, the history is uncomfortable," Deer said at the symposium, which was hosted by the National Museum of the American Indian just down the hill from the U.S. Capitol where the GOP attack on VAWA took place this month.
"But," she added, "we're still here. Native women will always be here."
As part of her research, Deer discovered a Muscogee Nation law that highlighted the importance of a woman's standing in matrilineal Creek society. It was enacted in 1824 -- just as the United States was about to force the tribe out of its homelands -- and it declared a simple truth.
Anyone who violated a woman would be punished in accordance to the woman's wishes, the tribe declared. In other words, "what she say, it be law."
"Now, I know that didn't come from the state code," said Deer. "I know it didn't come from federal codes. That had to come from our traditions -- that a woman would be honored in a way to understand that they believed her, that they honored her and that they abided by her wishes."
Native women rallied at the U.S. Supreme Court on December 7, 2015, as the justices heard arguments in a tribal jurisdiction case. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Such crimes against women were considered so serious in Cherokee matrilineal society that a third offense could be punished by death, according to Nagle's research. The language tribal leaders chose in enacting the law -- it extends to "any person or persons" regardless of race or nationhood -- shows how they felt about their own sovereignty, she said.
"Tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians isn't unconstitutional," Nagle said, responding directly to the Republican doubts about VAWA.
"It's just pre-constitutional," she said to applause.
The existence of the Creek and Cherokee laws strikes directly at the Supreme Court's decision in Oliphant. Writing for the majority, the late chief justice William Rehnquist simply declared -- without a whole lot of evidence -- that most tribes didn't function as governments.
"Until the middle of this century, few Indian tribes maintained any semblance of a formal court system," Rehnquist wrote in the 1978 ruling. To back up that statement, he cited a federal report that had been written in 1834, after the genocidal removal of the two tribes was complete.
Though the opinion brought up a 1830 treaty with the Choctaw Nation that Rehnquist said reflected the tribe's "sophisticated" government, the court essentially boiled the case down to one issue. Tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians -- in this situation, a non-Indian man who assaulted a tribal police officer in an allegedly intoxicated rage -- is simply "inconsistent" with their status as "conquered and dependent" nations within the U.S., the 6-2 decision stated.
Despite the seemingly thin basis of the ruling, Oliphant remains precedent. And while the 2013 version of VAWA overturns a small portion of it, the Supreme Court has yet to confront its role in perpetuating violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women, advocates said at the symposium.
"We have not had our Brown v. Board of Education that overturns our Plessy v. Ferguson ," Nagle said, referring to the manner in which the Supreme Court eventually addressed the racist system of segregation.
So "how do we change the laws?" she asked. "You have to change the narrative."
That narrative is becoming increasingly important as the U.S. House of Representatives takes up VAWA. H.R.1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act , recognizes tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians who engage in dating violence, sex trafficking and who commit crimes against tribal law enforcement. Title IX of the bill also includes provisions to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women
"It's really a story about taking back sovereignty over our bodies, over the land," said Jaime Black, a Metis artist who launched The REDress Project in Canada almost 10 years ago to draw attention to the issue.
By hanging empty red dresses at various locations, Black said Native communities are getting a chance to share the truths about loved ones who have gone missing or have been murdered. She brought her project to the U.S. for the first time to the NMAI on the National Mall, where she staged a performance before the symposium.
"It's really a call to action," Black said. "We're in a war. We've been at war since settlers came to Turtle Island ."
For Cherrah Giles, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the struggle comes close to home. As a girl, she suffered abuse at the hands of a close relative and, later, as a young wife and mother.
"I'm one of the few that got out of my situation," said Giles, who now uses her position as chair of the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center to advocate for others in need. "I'm one of the few that is still here."
"You've heard some of stories today about the missing and murdered," she continued. "I don't want that to be my next statistic."
With H.R.1585 moving toward a vote on the House floor, Giles called on Native women and advocates to share their stories with Congress. By doing so, she said they are "turning all that pain, turning all that hurt and shame" into something positive.
The House Committee on Rules anticipates meeting next week to prepare the bill for that final vote. As part of the process, amendments to the bill , including ones that could potentially undo the tribal jurisdiction provisions, are due by Thursday.
H.R.1585 boasts more than 100 co-sponsors , including Rep. Haaland, who is a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna . But only one -- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) -- is Republican.
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
By Acee Agoyo
Tribal leaders are welcoming an investigation into the "institutional and systemic breakdown" within the Indian Health Service , one that allowed a pediatrician to abuse young patients on two reservations for years without being held accountable.
The Presidential Task Force on Protecting Native American Children in the Indian Health Service System is being co-chaired by R. Trent Shores, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation who is the only Native American serving as a U.S. Attorney in the Trump administration. It will attempt to determine how the IHS failed to keep young citizens of the Blackfeet Nation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe safe from Stanley Patrick Weber, described by federal prosecutors as a "pedophile" who feels no remorse for the hurt he caused.
Trent Shores, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma , has a history of working to protect Indian children in Oklahoma and I have confidence in his ability to make safety recommendations as part of this new designated task force, Chief Bill John Baker of the Cherokee Nation said in an endorsement of the new initiative.
It is heartbreaking and unconscionable that an IHS pediatrician was allowed to prey upon Indian children," added Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. "We commend and support the administration and the Department of Justice for initiating this important review of IHS practices so that all proper measures are taken to ensure the protection and safety of all children.
Indianz.Com on YouTube: Indian Health Service at United South and Eastern Tribes Impact Week
The announcement of the task force comes six months after a federal jury found Weber, who is non-Indian, guilty of attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child, abusive sexual contact of a minor and aggravated sexual abuse of a child. The crimes occurred at an IHS facility in Montana, where boys from the Blackfeet Nation were victimized between 1992 and 1995.
"This conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at IHS," Deputy Director Chris Buchanan, who is a citizen of the Seminole Nation , told leaders of the United South and Eastern Tribes as they met earlier this month in Washington, D.C.
Weber apparently does not feel the same way about his conduct. After being sentenced to 18 years in prison , he took his case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
His opening brief due at the end of April and the government's response due a month later, according to the schedule
While that appeal is underway, government prosecutors are moving forward with the second case, this one accusing Weber of abusing boys at an IHS facility on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The incidents there took place between 1998 and 2011, according to the superseding indictment , after he had been reassigned from the hospital in neighboring Montana.
The trial is scheduled to start September 6 in federal court in Rapid City, according to the order from the chief judge
A 'pedophile': Stanley Patrick Weber, a former Indian Health Service pediatrician, has been convicted of abusing Indian children on the Blackfeet Nation in Montana and is facing a trial for abusing children on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Photo: U.S. Attorney's Office
Weber has been the subject of numerous reports in Native Sun News Today , dating back to March 2017, when the charges in South Dakota were first announced. But the IHS didn't publicly discuss the case until a Dear Tribal Leader letter was sent out on October 26, 2018.
The case has since drawn wider attention after being featured in the mainstream media. Last month, The Wall Street Journal and FRONTLINE PBS debuted Predator on the Reservation , a documentary that explored how Weber was able to stay employed at the IHS despite long-standing questions about his dealings with young male patients.
This conduct is utterly unacceptable and it will not be tolerated at IHS, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , who oversees the IHS, told the National Congress of American Indians following the release of the documentary last month.
At NCAI's winter session in D.C. on February 13, Azar said the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services has opened an investigation into the case. Separately, the IHS is developing policies and plans to address incidents of abuse and suspicions of abuse, Buchanan said at USET's meeting on March 6.
According to the White House, the new task force will not interfere with the criminal proceedings or the internal reviews at HHS and IHS.
We have the opportunity to do good work for a righteous cause," U.S. Attorney Trent Shores said on Wednesday. "Protecting Native American children who enter the Indian Health Service system is a common sense mission. Its also one which this task force will approach with a great sense of purpose and urgency."
This conduct is utterly unacceptable and it will not be tolerated at IHS, Health & Human Services Secretary Alex Azar says of recent conviction of @IHSgov pediatrician for abusing boys on the Blackfeet Nation. Trial pending for abuse at Pine Ridge. #ECWS19 @SecAzar pic.twitter.com/AFPB5Ibaxk indianz.com (@indianz) February 13, 2019
The task force has seven members, with Shores and Joseph Grogan, the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, serving as co-chairs. The other five members are:
Bo Leach, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services
Stephanie Knapp, MSW, LCSW, Child/Adolescent Forensic Interviewer, Federal Bureau of Investigations Office for Victims Assistance, Child Victim Services Unit
Shannon Bears Cozzoni, Tribal Liaison and Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma
Caitlin A. Hall, MD, FAAP, Clinical Director/Pediatrician, Dzilth-na-o-dith-hle Health Center, Indian Health Service
Farnoosh Faezi-Marian, Program Examiner, Office of Management and Budget
Of the seven members, none presently work in the Great Plains or Rocky Mountain regions, where the abuse incidents at the IHS occurred. The agency's sole representative is Caitlin A. Hall, who works at the Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Health Center , a facility on the New Mexico portion of the Navajo Nation
Besides Shores, two task force members are based in Oklahoma. One is Bo Leach, a citizen of Choctaw Nation who works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Oklahoma City, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Shannon Bears Cozzoni works with Shores as a tribal liaison and assistant federal prosecutor. She formerly served as a prosecutor for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Shores, who also chairs the Native American Issues Subcommittee at the Department of Justice , has experience in dealing with child abuse in Indian Country. In an appearance before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in October 2017, he described how one young victim adopted the mannerisms of a horse because of the trauma she endured in her own home.
"After months of intense work with our prosecution team and counselors, that same little girl a nd two of her friends who had also been raped by her father bravely testified in front of a jury and in front of her father," Shores told the committee . "He was found guilty and is now spending life in a federal penitentiary."
"Members of the committee, there are many more cases like these domestic violence, sexual assaults, child abuse that require resources to be successfully investigated and prosecuted, and to help give a voice to victims," he added.
The White House did not say exactly how long the task force would perform its work but one critic of the IHS welcomed the development. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) praised the Trump administration for "recognizing the need to correct the horrors that happened at Pine Ridge and elsewhere due to systemic failures" at the agency.
"I look forward to continuing to work with the administration on this and other ways to improve the IHS," said Rounds , who has repeatedly introduced legislation to address "poor leadership and mismanagement" at the agency. Tribes in the Great Plains, a region that is home to some of the worst-performing facilities in the system, have supported his efforts.
Thanks @realDonaldTrump for recognizing the need to correct the horrors that happened at Pine Ridge and elsewhere due to systemic failures of @IHSgov. I look forward to continuing to work with the administration on this and other ways to improve the IHS. https://t.co/XMQBiLIfvb Senator Mike Rounds (@SenatorRounds) March 26, 2019
'Stanley Weber is a pedophile'
Stanley Weber is a pedophile. For over two decades, he used his position as a pediatrician with the Indian Health Service to gain access to vulnerable prepubescent males, and subsequently committed terrible acts of sexual abuse upon his victims under the guise of providing them with medical treatment. While living and working on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Weber lured young juvenile males to his home by providing them with alcohol, pizza, soda, ice cream, video games, money, clothing, and overnight trips both on and off the reservation. Once isolated with these children, Weber seized his opportunity to act upon his deviant sexual desires by engaging in forced or coerced sexual activity with them. Weber leveraged his position within IHS and the communities where he worked and lived to gain the trust of many of his coworkers and supervisors, allowing him to survive multiple allegations and investigations into his suspicious behavior. Although the crimes at issue in this case occurred more than 20 years ago, Weber has never had to face the consequences of his actions. In fact, when questions were raised about his behavior, he simply moved to a new community where he continued his pattern of criminality. Meanwhile, his victims grew up, saddled with confusion, shame, and fear that they could not reveal what happened to them as children, lest they face further embarrassment and ridicule from members of their community. The impact of Webers crimes ultimately manifested in his victims in the form of legal problems, drug and alcohol abuse, the inability to maintain stead Even after his conviction, Weber continues to be unapologetic for his actions and shows no remorse for his victims or the harm he inflicted upon them. In fact, it is doubtful that he views his actions as criminal at all. His decades of predatory sexual abuse of children are among the most heinous and serious crimes cognizable by federal criminal law. At nearly 70 years of age, and with no sign of remorse, there is no reason to believe that Weber either recognizes the severity of his crimes or any realistic hope that he can ever be rehabilitated. Accordingly, justice demands that Weber face a severe sentence despite the age of his misconduct in this case.
From the sentencing memorandum in Stanley Patrick Weber's case in Montana:
'Predator on the Reservation'
Former IHS pediatrician Stanley Patrick Weber also awaits trial in South Dakota for allegedly abusing boys on Pine Ridge Reservation. He was subject of @frontlinepbs + @WSJ expose "Predator on the Reservation" https://t.co/DzNxaCNIbf indianz.com (@indianz) February 13, 2019
FRONTLINE PBS: Predator on the Reservation
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
The Navajo Nation's transition beyond coal 'starts now'
Report: Reclamation work at the mine and the power plant will take years to complete and will require hundreds of skilled employees
Indian Country Today
The Navajo Nations interest in taking over a coal mine and a generating station has come to an end. That will mean a dramatic change in energy policy, jobs, as well as the loss of millions of dollars in lease payments to the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe.
The Salt River Project announced in 2017 that it would close the 2,250-megawatt Navajo Generating Station by the end of this year. Navajo leaders asked the Navajo Transitional Energy Company to explore acquiring the power plant and a Kayenta coal mine as a way to save the revenue and hundreds of jobs. But there were two major structural barriers. The power plants owners wanted a cap on the liability for cleanup, a cost that could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and it was getting more expensive for any coal-based plant to sell the electricity to utility companies.
After a series of town halls, the Navajo Nation Council Naabikiyati Committee last week narrowly rejected a measure to take the next step. Legislation would have supported the Navajo Transitional Energy Company taking over the Navajo Generating Station and Peabody Kayenta Mine. After the councils 9 to 11 vote, Navajo Transitional Energy issued a release stating they were ceasing their efforts to acquire the power plant and mine.
For close to 100 years, the Navajo Nation has been a strong traditional energy producer. In that time, government revenue from energy production has supported the nation in becoming the strongest and most robust tribal government in the United States, propelling our people in endeavors our forbearers would have never imagined, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Seth Damon said in a news release.
The Navajo Nation Council signaled that it is time for change. In order to develop a healthy and diverse economy that does not overly rely on any particular industry, the 24th Navajo Nation Council will advance new and innovative development initiatives that place our peoples ability to live in our traditional homelands first," the speaker said. "Expanding tourism, alternative energy development, carbon credits, and manufacturing are all ideas that this council is pursuing to ensure that a healthy government can continue to provide for its people.
The Navajo Generating Station near Page, Arizona. Photo by Wolfgang Moroder
The Navajo Generating Station employed more than 500 people, most of the workers Native American. The Kayenta coal mine added another 400 plus jobs. And, as recently as 2014, the Kayenta Mine, which is owned by Peabody Energy, logged a $60.8 million payroll. A study by Arizona State University estimated that 4,649 will be lost, including 857 direct mining and power station high-paying Navajo jobs. The annual losses to the overall Navajo economy will be $932 million. The Navajo Nation also earned some $25 million a year in leases and royalties from the energy operations.
So whats next?
Erny Zah, a spokesman for the Navajo Transitional Energy Company, told the Associated Press that news will be tough on the families that have relied on the industry. "A decade-long process would have definitely helped explore some newer opportunities that would have created economic stability for northeastern Arizona," Zah said. "And, now, we are going to do our best to see what we can do to help."
However Lori Goodman of the environmental group, Dine Care , said: Its been known for a long time that coal isnt the future, but this final certainty is crucial. For anyone whos been hesitant about moving strongly for renewable energy development, for building our economy in ways that will benefit our communities and our Mother Earth and Father Sky, now there is no reason or excuse to hold back. This moment is why our new council and president were elected. The legacy they will leave for the transition from coal starts now.
That transition to a new kind of a regional economy will start as soon as next month when Salt River Projects will begin awarding contracts for the plants decommissioning and for cleanup projects.
Often overlooked ... is the likelihood that reclamation work at the mine and the power plant will take years to complete and will require hundreds of skilled employees, many of whom work now at NGS or Kayenta Mine, said a report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis . A successful transition following closure of the power plant and the mine complex will require that the responsible parties be held accountable for their cleanup obligations. Public pressure may be required for proper reclamation of Kayenta Mine, which is owned by Peabody Energy, part of an industry that is not especially well known for its reclamation track record.
Most of the clean up at the plant and at the mine could be finished during the next five years, but full remediation and reclamation will take years to complete and will require an array of skilled work. The Institute study says that phase will take at least 35 years and possibly beyond.
The cleanup phase includes reclamation of the land used for mining as well as the cleanup of ash and other toxic waste at the plant site.
The Institute says Salt River Project and Peabody are obligated to pay for remediation and reclamation and to do so at prevailing wage and salary levels. Their responsibilities, by contract, include post-closure activities.
The Institute said documents filed with federal agencies show the number of employees working to cleanup the Kayenta Mine would be about 175.
This will not be the only major coal transition in the West. The same economics -- lower cost natural gas, increasing wind and solar energy -- are hitting other mining operations and power plants.
In the Powder River Basin of Montana, for instance, the Colstrip coal mine-and-power plant complex that is the economic heart of the area also has a limited future because of the same difficulties facing Navajo Generating Station, the Institute reports. That region is also discussing a post coal future. And the Montana Legislature, like the Navajo Nation just did, is seeking alternatives to delay that inevitable future.
Mark Trahant is the editor of Indian Country Today . He is a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes . Follow him on Twitter @TrahantReports
This story originally appeared on Indian Country Today on March 25, 2019.
Join the Conversation
For everyone who enters the film industry without a godfather or a rock-solid connection, their first project is crucial. It decides their journey ahead. For Fatima Sana Shaikh, this journey of films began with Aamir Khan's Dangal. The film turned out to be blockbuster and her journey began!
However, in a recent interview, Fatima Sana Shaikh says getting a perfect launch pad was not a cakewalk as people told her she did not have the "looks" of a heroine like Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif.
Fatima, who started her journey in the movies as a child actor with Kamal Haasan's 1997 film "Chachi 420", says the rejections shifted her focus from waiting for a conventional lead role to searching for a good character.
"I have been a child actor. I quit but making a comeback after that was difficult. I was not getting any work. People used to tell me I don't look like Deepika Padukone or Katrina Kaif. They said, since I didn't have the looks of a heroine, I should do whatever I'm offered.There have been many incidents where I was told that I was not good enough," Fatima told PTI in an interview.
The actor says her desire to perform in front of the camera was so strong that she did not pay heed to what people thought of her.
"I only had acting on my mind. The reason why I used to go for every audition was because I would get to perform in front of the camera, even if the set-up was small. The success of Aamir Khan-starrer "Dangal", however, made things easier for Fatima as it gave her the option to choose.
"Before 'Dangal', I never had the chance to choose my projects. I even did 'Dangal' because that was my only option at that time. Every actor goes through this. That's how things function. But I am happy that post the film and especially after 'Thugs of Hindostan', I have the space to choose," she says.
Fatima's last film Thugs Of Hindostan with Aamir Khan was a big dud but she looks all geared up to keep her head high and look forward to more projects.
BCCL
Large sums of money, both accounted and unaccounted for, cache of liquor and freebies, are being spent by candidates in the hope that they will elections by buying votes. Read more
Here's more top news of the day:
1) Vijay Mallya Slams Bailout Plan For Jet Airways, Asks Why Wasn't Kingfisher Airlines Helped
Reuters
Embattled liquor baron, Vijay Mallya, has lashed out at public sector banks for double standards under the current NDA regime for their intervention to bail out Jet Airways while the same lenders made his Kingfisher airlines fail ruthlessly. Read more
2) 55% English-Speaking Indians Fear Posting Political Views Online Fearing Trouble With Govt
Getty Images
Numerous people have been arrested in the past for posting comments critical of the ruling government. News reports of arrests for insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi have popped up with an alarming regularity. Read more
3) Pakistan Born Man Who Lived In India For 50 Years To Get His Wish For Citizenship Fulfilled
A Pakistani national living in India for over 50 years is set to be granted Indian citizenship. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs told the Bombay High Court on Monday that he will be granted Indian citizenship within 10 days. Read more
4) 57 Per Cent Of Indian Professionals Want To Switch Careers Because A Good Worklife Balance Is What They Want
reuters/representational image
About 33% of Indians are career sleepwalking they feel like they are on a treadmill going nowhere while 57% are keen to pivot to build a more rewarding career, according to the findings of a survey by LinkedIn. Read more
5) 2.7 Lakh Voters Want Jobs As It Remains Their Top Priority In Upcoming Elections
bccl/representational image
The survey, conducted between October and December 2018 across 534 LS constituencies, also asked voters to rate the govts performance, which was deemed below average a score less than 3 on a scale of 5 on all 31 listed priorities. Read more
30 years ago, Sudha Satyan - a playschool teacher - asked a 3-year-old boy to introduce himself. The little boy was all fired up and introduced himself as 'Captain' Rohan Bhasin.
Today, after all these years, Satyan actually bumped into the same boy, who is now an Air India Pilot! Satyan used to run the play school in Mumbai and her husband was an engineer with AI.
#WarmsTheCocklesOfMyHeart....
During Playschool admission, the teacher asked my son his name.
Nonchalantly he answered, "Capt Rohan Bhasin".
And he was just 3.
And today, the same teacher was enroute to Chicago.
And he was indeed the Captain. #StudentTeacherReunion pic.twitter.com/nGAqZSKUnF Nivedita Bhasin (@nivedita_bhasin) 24 March 2019
In a heartwarming post, Pilot Rohan's mother shared a lovely collage of him and his teacher.
His mother Nivedita Bhasin, also an Air India pilot, wrote, 'During playschool admission, the teacher asked my son his name. Nonchalantly he answered, "Capt Rohan Bhasin". And he was just 3. And today, the same teacher was enroute to Chicago. And he was indeed the Captain.'
The teacher, Sudha Satyan, recognized the boy by his name during the flight announcement. After settling down in the flight bound for Chicago, she insisted the air hostess let her meet Rohan.
Upon seeing him, she had tears in her eyes!
The tweet is now viral and is surely 'warming the cockles' of everyone's heart!
#1
What a lovely reunion! Janaki Kulkarni (@janaki_kulkarni) 24 March 2019
#2
Just imagine that moment when she hears Capt Rohan Bhasin Your son must have been thrilled. Indeed #WarmsTheCocklesOfMyHeart . Louvina Andrade (@LouvinaA) 25 March 2019
#3
Being a teacher I can understand what madam Sudha must be feeling. I have goosebumps seeing this wonderful Reunion. Indu Jha (@indu_00) 26 March 2019
#4
So amazing Tarun Gulati (@gulati_tarun6) 25 March 2019
According to TOI, Captain Rohan's passion for flying runs in his family, his grandfather Captain Jai Dev Bhasin was among the first seven pilots back in 1954 to become commanders. Both his parents fly the Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Actor Vidyut Jammwal in a still from his upcoming film "Junglee." Jammwal told India-West that the film educates people about animals and how to conduct ourselves. (photo provided)
Pankaj Jain, an Indian American associate professor in the department of philosophy and religion at the University of North Texas, will appear alongside actor Morgan Freeman in the National Geographic series, The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, April 9. (news.unt.edu photo)
We now offer lithium prices and coverage free for reference. Click here to read all about it. Join our growing community of participants who want to learn more about electrification and how this market is developing.
Switch the Market flag
Open the menu and switch the
Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice.
for targeted data from your country of choice.
President Donald Trump's sexism is so vulgar and unapologetic that it's easy to think about it as something separate from the kind of hurdles that are placed in front of female candidates, hurdles that white men like Buttigieg or Beto O'Rourke don't have to worry about. But they're parts of a complex whole. O'Rourke's entire campaign is essentially built on likability, without anyone bothering to ask whether he's competent. Buttigieg's desire to leapfrog three or four of the traditional rungs on the ladder is seen as worth noting but hardly disqualifying. If a woman in his position sowed that kind of ambition, she'd be considered some kind of lunatic.
On the first day of the event, brokers had the opportunity to network with their peers as well as provide feedback to senior members of the Steadfast team an activity which managing director Robert Kelly said had been hugely beneficial for all involved.
We spend eight hours with them, we deconstruct the whole company, we go through issues and we invite them to ask questions, Kelly told Insurance Business.
We are a focal point where people can ask questions and continually put stuff through to us and it was incredibly powerful, he added.
Discussing the common concerns raised by brokers, Kelly said the Royal Commission continued to be a major source of uncertainty for many attendees.
The Hayne Royal Commission was on everybodys lips, but I think we deconstructed that completely, he said. We went through all of the possibilities and probabilities and drew up a fairly robust set of opinions about how we should treat ourselves post commission and I think they were pretty pleased about that.
Kelly also said the convention served as a valuable opportunity to interact with brokers and show them that the network is there to serve them.
We are always market-facing because we do town halls all around Australia so Im very available for people to talk to theres nobody here who would be frightened to come and talk to me or ask me a question, he said.
The day that anybody thinks Im up here and theyre down there is the day weve failed in this organisation, absolutely and completely and unequivocally, he added.
Following the networking opportunities on Sunday, brokers were able to attend a range of presentations and speeches while also gaining insight from exhibitors and delegates.
On Monday, speakers included AFL legend and former Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, ACORD CEO Bill Pieroni, and Macquarie Banks national head of insurance broking, Eughan Trehy.
Today, speakers include Olympic gold medalist Sally Pearson, ANZIIF CEO Prue Willsford and Steadfasts own broker technical manager, Michael White among others.
Delegates from a range of industry stakeholders are also in attendance, including AIG, Chubb, DUAL, Lloyds, Allied World, Brooklyn, and NTI.
The ability to craft innovative solutions for complex risks is a hallmark of the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines insurance industry. Surplus lines professionals are experts in unique and hard-to-place risks, and they react quickly to market changes to accommodate non-standard needs of insureds. According to A.M. Bests 2018 Special Report, U.S. Surplus Lines - Segment Review, the surplus lines industry reached a historic $44.9 billion in direct written premium in 2017, representing a 5.8% increase over the prior year. The 15 states with stamping offices reported $31.4 billion in surplus premium collection in those states during 2018, an 11.3% increase over 2017. Together, these are good indicators of the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines insurance industrys strength and stability heading into 2019.
The Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) was formed in 2017 through the merger of the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA) and the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO) to represent members from the entirety of the industry and protect and promote the valuable role they play in the insurance market. WSIA helps members build business relationships by providing networking and business meetings, education, talent recruitment and development initiatives, regulatory and legislative advocacy, and promotion of the value of wholesale distribution, all designed to promote and support this healthy and growing market.
WSIA monitors and advocates for state and federal regulation and legislation that impacts members and the industry. Revisions to the federal definition of private flood insurance in the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act, preserving the private markets ability to solve unique and complex flood risks for consumers, is currently a priority for the association, as is implementation of the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers (NARAB). The association also continues to support uniform implementation of the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act (NRRA), establishing the insureds home state as the one and only jurisdiction to regulate and tax surplus lines transactions.
WSIAs Annual Marketplace and Underwriting Summit are premier networking forums, where industry partners collaborate, and WSIAs education programs, held throughout the year, also provide technical training and professional development to keep members at the forefront of best practices in the as the industry evolves. As a result, WSIA members are innovators whose knowledge of and access to specialty markets result in customized solutions for retail agents and their clients. As the market grows, the association also continues to emphasize talent development initiatives to encourage university students to consider careers in this sector of the industry through college outreach and the WSIA internship program.
Those of us in the industry know that there has never been a cost for seeking a wholesale quote, and we can now demonstrate there is also no additional expense for the insured in using a wholesale specialist to develop the best solution. A 2016 Conning, Inc. cost-effectiveness study found that wholesale brokers offer technical expertise, innovative solutions to complex risk, and access to strong and stable insurers with no added cost to the transaction. Leveraging a wholesale partner to find the best and most cost-effective solution is the best way to serve the insured.
WSIA members include tens of thousands of individual brokers, insurance company professionals, underwriters and other insurance specialists and professionals worldwide. We are pleased to support these outstanding professionals and the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines industry as it continues to prosper.
Joel Cavaness
President
WSIA
Methodology
IBAs Producers on Wholesale Brokers & MGAs survey asked retail producers to rate the performance and service of their wholesale broker and MGA partners on a scale of 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent) in eight areas:
Underwriting responsiveness/turnaround time
Technical expertise and product knowledge
Range of products
Compensation (commission, bonuses, profit-share, etc.)
Claims support
Marketing support
Technology/automation
Communication
In addition, producers were asked to provide feedback on how their partners could improve the producer/wholesale relationship. The wholesale brokers and MGAs that earned an average score of 8 or greater in at least one category were awarded a five-star designation, signifying their exceptional service in any one or more of the key categories.
In total, 27 wholesale partners earned a five-star this year. Of those five-star companies, 13 were also designated as all-star wholesalers, having earned a five-star in all eight categories. Which wholesale brokers and MGAs did producers say perform above the rest? Read on to discover what producers have to say about the good and bad about the service they receive.
The National Transportation Safety Board says a United Express regional jet didnt slide off a runway in Maine it missed the runway altogether.
A preliminary report indicates the 50-seat Embraer 145 approached to the right of the runway on an aborted first landing attempt and then again when it touched down March 4 at Presque Isle International Airport.
The document indicates it landed between the runway and taxiway.
Photos suggest the jet plowed through the deep snow alongside the runway before coming to an abrupt stop. Some of the landing gear was ripped off and ended up stuck in an engine cowling.
The NTSB report said one crew member and two passengers being hurt. The Commuter-operated flight from Newark, New Jersey, had 28 passengers and three crew members.
Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Maine
New Jerseys planned legislative vote on legalizing recreational marijuana was canceled as Senate President Steve Sweeney said it didnt have enough support to pass.
The bid to end the states prohibition was supported by Governor Phil Murphy, fellow Democrats who lead the legislature and public-opinion polls. But that couldnt overcome opposition from Republicans and some Democrats who took issue with sanctioning a drug that is outlawed by the U.S. government.
This fight is not over, Sweeney said in a statement. We need to learn from this experience and continue to move forward.
Murphy, though, had warned that today may have been the last chance for lawmakers to send him a bill in 2019. The legislature is about to begin time-consuming budget negotiations for the fiscal year that starts July 1, and then 80 of 120 lawmakers facing Assembly elections in November will focus on their campaigns. New Jersey would have been the 11th state to allow recreational sales and use and first in the Manhattan region.
Some supporters who had considered making marijuana a public-ballot question, as has happened in at least a half-dozen states, said they were leery of that approach because Election Day turnout in November is expected to be low.
Most Republicans and some Democrats had argued that legalization would drive up crime in urban areas, lead users to try harder substances and erode preventive-education programs directed at schoolchildren. Others said New Jersey needed broader opportunities for those convicted of low-level marijuana offenses to clear their criminal records.
Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
Topics Cannabis New Jersey
French activist fund CIAM will ask reinsurance company SCORs CEO Denis Kessler to surrender the chairmanship of the companys board after he thwarted a takeover attempt earlier this year.
CIAM, which has just under one percent of SCOR, will ask the reinsurers shareholders to oust Kessler from the board at the next general meeting on April 26. But the fund does want Kessler to remain as CEO, it said in a statement on Monday.
Earlier this year, Kessler, who has run the company since 2002, successfully opposed an 8.5 billion euro ($9.62 billion) takeover attempt by SCORs largest shareholder Covea, which had offered a 20 percent premium over SCORs share price.
Unlisted French insurance company Covea holds just over eight percent of SCOR and had wanted full control.
SCORs shares have lost more than 10 percent since late January, when Covea dropped its plan amid an acrimonious fight in which SCOR sued Coveas top management as well as Coveas investment bankers for breach of trust.
CIAM has questioned the way Kessler handled Coveas move. The hostile reaction towards its major shareholder did not seem appropriate, CIAM said.
The fund criticized Kessler for being ubiquitous and omnipresent in the companys governance and for making it hard for the board to oversee him by constantly reshuffling board seats. CIAM also criticized Kesslers lack of a succession plan.
The dysfunctional governance of SCOR is obvious and triggers serious issues in the companys management that increase risks for shareholders, the fund said in a document sent to SCOR shareholders.
CIAM will also ask shareholders to oppose Kesslers pay package and will oppose the renewal of board member Augustin de Romanet, who they consider too close to Kessler and holds too many mandates in other companies. De Romanet is chairman and CEO of airport operator Aeroports de Paris.
The fund said Kesslers compensation is high compared with industry standards and even more so when taking into account SCORs share price performance.
SCORs board, in response, backed Kessler, asking shareholders to support both Kessler and de Romanet. The board refuted CIAMs allegations saying they were seriously unfounded, erroneous and deceptive.
SCOR said Kesslers departure from the board would automatically mean he would have to leave the CEO job.
After being appointed at the helm of SCOR in November 2002, Kessler managed to turned around the company, but over the past couple of years its shares have underperformed competitors.
CIAM recommended appointing British board member Kory Sorenson or her Swiss colleague Bruno Pfister as chair of the board.
($1 = 0.8839 euros) (Reporting by Inti Landauro; editing by Luke Baker/Geert De Clercq/Jane Merriman)
Related:
Topics France
Norsk Hydro, one of the worlds largest aluminum producers, said on Monday one of its major divisions was back up to 60 percent of capacity after a cyber attack earlier in March.
The cyber attack forced the company to shut several metal extrusion and rolled products plants, which transform aluminum ingots into components for carmakers, builders and other industries.
Extruded Solutions is expecting to reach an overall production rate of 60 percent by Monday, Hydro said.
The business division was running at 50 percent capacity on Friday.
Norsk Hydro said its building systems business, which is part of Extruded Solutions, had been the most affected by the attack, but the company was expecting to slowly ramp up its production and shipments during the week.
Following the attack, the companys aluminum smelters in Norway continued to run on a partly manual basis to avoid being affected.
The company said it had identified the cause of the problem, but was still unable to estimate the overall time needed for a full recovery, as well as the financial impact of the attack.
(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, editing by Gwladys Fouche and Jane Merriman)
Related:
Topics Cyber
So whats the real story here? If prosecutors advanced a solid case this far, why not forge ahead and declare that theres a price to pay for wasting police resources in a city with so much gun violence? From Tuesdays Tribune: A young mother was shot and killed, her husband was critically wounded and their 1-year-old baby took a bullet to the knee in the West Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side. How did Jussie Smolletts partial redeployment of Chicagos detective force contribute to solving the host of such crimes that occur here relentlessly?
African Bank Holdings Ltd. is joining the rush into digital banking to fail-proof the business and provide an exit for shareholders that resurrected the South African lender from its collapsed former parent.
The firms unusual owners, which includes the South African central bank and six of the nations largest lenders, stepped in to save it with an equity injection when African Bank Investments Ltd. went into administration five years ago. Now, as the business gets back on its feet, the banks competitors will want a way out, whether that be an initial public offering or a takeover, said Chief Executive Officer Basani Maluleke.
Were re-positioning the bank, so we can have that conversation with our shareholders when the time is right, she said in an interview in Bloombergs Johannesburg offices. Starting our new product offering is our immediate focus as we build the bank.
African Bank is staging its comeback in a much tougher economy and a crowded field as its bigger competitors and owners, including Standard Bank Group Ltd. and Absa Group Ltd., compete more aggressively to boost revenues. At least three new players are entering the industry, hoping to draw away customers with low-cost digital offerings.
Very Pregnant
African Banks peers came to the rescue to protect the nations financial system when too many of the lenders customers defaulted on their unsecured loans and it was unable to raise more cash on capital markets. Now, the bank is diversifying its revenue base away from unsecured credit, and trying to raise deposits to strengthen its funding base, Maluleke said.
Theres no question that unsecured lending will remain a significant contributor to our revenues over the medium term, the CEO said.
African Bank is launching a transactional-banking offering to clients and will add more products, such as additional insurance policies. The lender is partnering with Direct Transact Pty Ltd., a Pretoria-based provider of electronic-banking and payment processing services, and Portuguese financial technology firm, ebankIT.
Were very pregnant with our digital-transaction banking product, Maluleke said. Its being tested by employees and made available to some of our customers already.
Service Hubs
After tightening its credit risk appetite, African Bank is digging deeper into client data to find other ways of growing the business, Chief Financial Officer Gustav Raubenheimer said in the same interview. For example, its extracting information from two different credit bureaus rather than just relying on one.
African Bank will also keep prices low and turn its 392 branches into service hubs where clients can seek advice, Maluleke said.
The company is aiming to grow non-interest revenue to more than 500 million rand by 2021, from 27 million rand at the end of September, and more than double its customer base to 2.5 million by then.
While changing our unique shareholder structure is important, it is not on the front burner, Maluleke said. Our aim is to first create an asset that investors will be keen to buy into.
Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
A former University of Minnesota employee who admitted to stealing iPads from Target is also accused of the using school funds to purchase 78 computers over 14 months and sell them for personal profit, according to authorities.
Hennepin County District Court documents show Michael James McDaniel, 34, is charged in with four counts of felony theft by swindle involving computers worth $134,544, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.
McDaniel is accused of making the acquisitions from September 2017 to October 2018 while employed as an analyst and administrative adviser in the universitys Center for Magnetic Resonance Research. He was fired in November.
McDaniel made his initial court appearance earlier this month and was subsequently released without bond. Hes scheduled back in court April 8.
McDaniel pawned the computers or sold them via Craigslist, university police said in a charging document. He made over $125,000 in cash bank deposits in that time.
The universitys inquiry came in October after a finance employee noticed an inconsistency in computer purchases involving McDaniel. He is accused of buying computers for his department through university bookstores but was not registering them as university property.
McDaniel reportedly expressed to human resources that three unidentified men had attacked him outside his office in September 2017 and forced him to make the purchases.
I am truly sorry for somehow being in the wrong place at the wrong time and I want to do whatever I can to remedy this if possible, he wrote in a letter.
He gave the same account to police, who found no evidence the story was factual.
With assistance from Apple and Craigslist, police found two people who had purchased one of the universitys computers. The buyers identified McDaniel as the seller, and bank records show he deposited the $800 in cash the same day.
Around the same time, McDaniel had been stealing iPads from Target stores.
He was charged with theft by swindle in December 2017 and agreed to join a diversion program a month later after admitting he bought iPads and returned empty boxes to six different stores in October 2017.
When police interrogated him about the computer thefts last September, he said the same unidentified men had forced him to prove himself by first stealing iPads.
Hired in November 2007, McDaniel worked for several departments as an accountant and financial analyst. He transferred to his newest role in April 2015.
His annual pay was $126,824, according to records.
Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Fraud Abuse Molestation Education Universities Minnesota
Nebraska grain farmer Ryan Ueberrhein was barely breaking even after the U.S.-China trade war pushed prices for his soybean crop to a decade low. Then the nearby Elkhorn River burst its banks as flooding swept across the U.S. farm belt.
Uberrheins farm was left covered in debris after the roiling water receded. He has mounting debts. And he is worried that President Donald Trump may not be able to strike a trade deal with China that would end tariffs on U.S. soybean exports and allow him to sell whatever grain is left intact at a better price.
Frustration is building across farm country at what feels like a never-ending season of bad news.
The trade war keeps damaging us, said Ueberrhein, 34, of Valley, Nebraska, who voted for Trump. What the president is doing, we stand by him, but we cant keep getting hit just because a deal cant be made quickly.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are set to arrive in China this week for another round of trade talks with their Chinese counterparts. The two sides have yet to agree on many core issues.
Farmers who spoke to Reuters remained supportive of Trump.
Soybean exports to China hit a four-year low in February because of the trade war. China is the biggest buyer of U.S. soybeans, which are the largest single U.S. agricultural export. A near halt in exports has hit a rural economy already struggling after years of oversupply cut farm incomes by 50 percent in the past five years.
Debt in the agrarian economy has hit levels last seen during the U.S. farm collapse of the 1980s.
The Nebraska Rural Response Hotline, which provides support to farmers and ranchers, has received a record number of calls about financial distress, said John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union. Calls about suicide and depression were up, too, he said.
The latest piece of bad news came on March 11, when the Trump administration released its 2020 budget and proposed a 15 percent cut for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, calling its subsidies to farmers overly generous.
It did not matter to farmers, who helped vote Trump into office, that the budget will not pass muster with Democrats who control the House of Representatives, Hansen said. Some farmers took the proposed cut to subsidies for crop insurance as an insult.
How many times do you have to kick us when were down? he said.
That insurance is crucial to Richard Oswald, who farms near Phelps City, Missouri. The flood has already swallowed his childhood home, many of his fields and more than 20,000 bushels of corn. His four grain bins have burst, after water-logged corn expanded and split open.
If our government and leaders cant step up and start to lead, were done for, he said.
For years, Oswald paid extra for flood insurance. He hoped that government talk of investing in improving U.S. infrastructure would come through and bolster the levees and dams throughout the Midwest.
But this year, as the trade war dragged on, he dropped the policy to reduce expenses. So he will get no insurance money for the lost corn, Oswald said.
A few days ago, one of his lenders called. Oswald didnt have to pay the loan right away, the lender said, but he would have to repay it sooner or later.
Help needs to come from Congress, but Congress is so divided, I dont know whats going to happen, Oswald said.
Disaster Declaration
Trump approved a disaster declaration for Nebraska on Thursday, making federal funding available in nine counties that bore the brunt of the recent floods. On Saturday, he approved one for flood-affected counties in Iowa.
Greg Ibach, a USDA undersecretary, is touring the damage in Nebraska, and Bill Northey, another undersecretary, will head to Iowa, agency officials told Reuters.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said the farm belt states would need more aid, suggesting a separate relief bill to offer compensation to farmers for livestock killed in the floods and grains in storage that will have to be destroyed.
The United States government has always been the insurance of last resort, Grassley said in a phone interview on Friday.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts put agricultural flood damage for the state at nearly $1 billion. Iowa officials are projecting losses of at least $1.6 billion, with at least $214 million in damage to the agriculture sector. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said her state would need assistance beyond what is granted through disaster declarations.
Farmers, meanwhile, are staring at waterlogged fields and expecting more floods. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said last week that the flooding would worsen in coming weeks as snow on the ground melts and water flows downstream.
Iowa farmer Dave Newby said the standing water in his fields was already threatening his planned start to corn in mid-to-late April. Newby, like many farmers, had been looking to boost his corn plantings this year because such a large volume of soybeans had been left unsold because of the trade war.
The same was the case in nearby Nebraska. Parts of flooded farmland remained under water and farmers had yet to assess the damage the piled-up sand, silt and debris caused to soil. Almost all said planting will likely be delayed, which could lead to lower yields.
Normal planting would take place around May 1, but I doubt we will make it, said Kendal Sock, a cattle and corn farmer in Genoa. I wish theyd get this trade deal done, like now.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and P.J. Huffstutter; Additional reporting by Mark Weinraub and Tom Polansek in Chicago and Jarrett Renshaw in New York; Editing by Caroline Stauffer, David Gaffen, Simon Webb and Leslie Adler)
Topics USA Flood Agribusiness China Iowa Nebraska
It sounds like it should have been impossible to miss, but it took more than a year for an industrial equipment company to discover $12,000 worth of doggie day spa charges on an employees expense reports.
Level upon level of corporate management also failed to detect that the same employee was running a scheme to sell more than $200,000 in company equipment on eBay.
Only a fraction of expense reports are closely examined, so it is no wonder that companies experience more than $7 billion in annual losses from fraud, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
By using robots, instead of relying on random spot checks, companies are catching fraud more than twice as fast and fraud losses are halved, said Andi McNeal, director of research for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
That is what happened when the industrial equipment company put in place an artificial-intelligence program from Oversight Systems, which was able to quickly ferret out the culprit.
It started out as a small infraction that led to an investigation that led to other things, said Terrence McCrossan, chief executive of Atlanta-based Oversight Systems, which audits about $2 trillion worth of employee spending each year and works with employers like the U.S. Department of Defense, McDonalds and General Electric.
The expense reporting universe is being overhauled to use artificial intelligence to get a 100 percent overview of employee submissions. In addition to monitoring fraud, companies are streamlining the way employees file expenses.
Soon, employees around the world will stop fussing with paper receipts and crying over hotel bills, then waiting weeks to get reimbursed while their paperwork travels through the corporate labyrinth. Managers will no longer be stuck in the middle of the process, policing spending, and companies will stop losing so much money to waste and fraud.
TEST CASES
Some changes have already occurred, ranging from corporate card charges that automatically attach to electronic expense reports to seamless experiences for business travelers who stay at approved hotels.
One of SAP Concurs newest offerings is Concur Detect by AppZen, which does a 100 percent audit of incoming expense reports.
AppZen analyzes expenses by looking for risk. Only about 10 percent of expenses that flow through a company have a problem that needs to be addressed, said Anant Kale, CEO of AppZen, based in San Jose, California.
The algorithm can clear expense reports with no issues almost instantly, so that these employee outlays can be reimbursed as quickly as two days.
If a charge has a red flag, it goes to a human auditor. One Concur Detect customer, Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc, said it had reduced the number of expense reports that required review by one-third.
Kale has been surprised by the kind of problems that are popping up since AppZens 2016 launch.
Employees are claiming the same expense multiple times. That happens more often than you can imagine, Kale said. Its not fraud, but an honest mistake.
AppZen also finds many expenses that are disallowed by corporate policy. Some of these are for strip clubs, in-room movies during business travel or charging gifts at a hotel shop.
Oversight Systems has identified questionable expenses like eyelash extensions, lost sunglasses and an employee who billed for a new shirt after he spilled coffee on himself on the way to a meeting.
There is also true fraud. Oversight Systems, for instance, found an employee who expensed for parking over and over using the same receipt each time. By the time the fraud was discovered, the parking lot no longer even existed.
What makes the difference between catching wrongdoers and companies losing money? Better compliance and making audits more efficient, said the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners McNeal.
As much as machines can learn and improve their performance, people are more complicated. AppZen, for instance, has yet to run a clean screen on a company where it catches no problems, no matter how much effort a company puts into employee education and catching disallowed expenses before they are filed.
Youre never going to get all of them to comply thats just human nature, McNeal said. Youre just trying to let the fewest grains get through the sieve.
(Editing by Lauren Young and by Leslie Adler)
Topics Fraud Commercial Lines Business Insurance
Deerfield Beach, Florida-based workers compensation carrier Normandy Insurance Co. is now offering workers compensation insurance to small, mid-size and large businesses in Arkansas.
The company said it has entered four new states in 2019. In addition to Arkansas, Normandy now offers workers compensation insurance in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Normandy has underwritten to a profit for many years and is well-positioned to provide innovative and cost-effective workers comp coverage in multiple states, the company said. In 2017, Normandy Insurance Co. was assigned a Demotech Financial Stability Rating of A (Exceptional) in recognition of the companys strategic growth and solid business operations.
Source: Normandy Insurance Co.
Topics Workers' Compensation
Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr is warning consumers in his state to be wary of individuals posing as car insurance agents to sell fraudulent policies at car dealerships.
In a media release, Kerr said the Criminal Investigation Division at the Arkansas Insurance Department has received complaints from Progressive Insurance about people posing as Progressive agents and selling auto policies to consumers looking to purchase a vehicle from a dealership. Arkansans should be wary of insurance agents selling cut-rate plans at a car dealership in order to show proof of insurance.
Progressive Insurance referred 240 initial cases of alleged fraudulent insurance being sold to AID for investigation. The company alleges that individuals frequented area car dealerships representing themselves as Progressive agents and offering their services to assist would be car-buyers in acquiring insurance online.
Policies were purportedly purchased by paying cash to the individuals at the car lot. The fake agents would then go online to purchase a Progressive policy using a checking account. The individuals would then claim the transaction as fraudulent, leading to a return of the purchase and rescission of the auto policy.
People who sell or are in possession of a false, fake, or counterfeit insurance policies or insurance identification care may be charged with committing a Fraudulent Insurance Act, which is a Class D Felony that carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to the insurance departments release.
The Arkansas Insurance Department encourages consumers who may have been victims of the fake insurance agents to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 866-660-0888.
Source: Arkansas Insurance Department
Topics Agencies Auto Fraud
Federal judges in California are cracking down on warped incentives in class-action lawsuits, exerting tighter oversight of settlements that provide hefty fees for plaintiff lawyers but no meaningful benefit for those harmed by corporate misdeeds.
A recent example was the proposed $50 million settlement over a customer-data breach at Yahoo! Inc. U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh blocked it, saying a request by plaintiffs lawyers for an additional $37.5 million in compensation for their work on the case was excessive. She also criticized Yahoo for a lack of transparency about how many people were affected and for trying to use the deal to avoid liability in an unrelated breach.
Kohs actions epitomize new court guidelines in San Francisco and Silicon Valley that require more justification for class-action settlements in California, a state with some of the toughest consumer-protection laws. Judges are nixing more deals, including some with companies like Uber Technologies Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. The increased scrutiny may mean fewer settlements and more cases going to trial.
The rules are to ensure that class members are adequately protected, said Neal Marder, an attorney with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Los Angeles. Lawyers come up with clever ways to settle a case that isnt always in the best interest of the class.
Granting class-action status to a lawsuit is supposed to put more power in the hands of the little guy. It allows a single plaintiff to sue on behalf of a larger group of individuals who were harmed by the same bad act but may have little incentive to take a company to court over a relatively small claim.
Some class actions work as intended, like when Volkswagen AG agreed to spend $10 billion in 2016 buying back 500,000 vehicles with polluting diesel engines. The vast majority are settled once they are elevated from individual claim to class action. Most businesses want to avoid going to trial, where they risk losing in a huge jury verdict.
But when companies settle, some of their deals provide no tangible benefits for the people the suits were intended to help.
Short Sandwiches
In one noteworthy 2016 case involving Subway sandwich shops prompted by a teen-aged customer who was sold an 11-inch-long sandwich rather than the 12 inches the company advertises the U.S. appeals court in Chicago derided a class-action settlement as utterly worthless. The Subway deal called for each restaurant to achieve better bread-length uniformity on all its foot-long sandwiches.
Plaintiffs lawyers sought $520,000 in fees for negotiating the settlement with Subway, even though most customers understand that variations in bread making mean sandwiches may not be exactly 12 inches long, the court ruled, noting that such deals amounted to rackets for lawyers.
Even when agreements call for a more tangible damage award, like cash, most class members dont end up with anything. A 2013 study by Mayer Brown LLP, at the request of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, looked at 148 class-action suits filed in 2009 and found that when people have to file a claim to participate in a settlement, very few bothered to do it, with responses in some cases below 1 percent.
In November, the federal court in Northern California updated guidelines for proposed class-action settlements, giving judges more leeway to reject deals that dont deliver for the group of intended beneficiaries. Among the new rules: parties must provide a lot more information about how the amount of the settlement was reached and how, specifically, theyll make sure class members get their share.
Judges will want a genuine assessment of the value of the case, said Thomas Loeser, an attorney with plaintiff firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP in Seattle. The new guidelines will make all class settlements better because judges will be equipped to detect marginal cases.
Judges also are looking more closely at the non-monetary portion of a proposed deal, which may mean corporate defendants will pay more to settle strong cases and will fight more of the weaker ones, Loeser said. So, more could end up at trial.
Consumer Advocates
In class actions, judges arent just impartial referees. Theyre obligated to represent the interest of class members who arent participating in the litigation but still stand to benefit from a settlement.
Federal judges Edward Chen and Richard Seeborg, who sit on the court in San Francisco, said in January that the updated guidelines give them more tools to vet class-action deals. During a forum at the University of San Diego School of Law, the judges said they were particularly keen to get more specific details about what will happen after they approve a settlement and how the parties will ensure that as many people as possible participate.
Theres a lot that we dont know, for example, about claims administration, Seeborg said.
Class-action payout rates tend to be very low because most people dont understand the notices they get about the settlement or simply dont believe them, according to Elizabeth Cabraser, an attorney with Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP, one of the plaintiff lawyers in the Volkswagen class action.
A good settlement is like any other good product you need to market it, Cabraser said.
Cases involving people who bought flawed products at a retail outlet can be challenging because finding each one is time-consuming and expensive, Cabraser said. The new guidelines will give plaintiffs lawyers more leverage to demand that defendants make more of an effort to identify class members, she said.
The more aggressive rules in Northern California could be copied in other federal districts, though they may already be having an impact, said Michael Brody, co-chair of the class action practice at Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago. Corporate defendants may need to sweeten the pot more to ensure settlements please judges, he said.
Negotiating a settlement that looks good for the defendant isnt good if it doesnt get approved, Brody said.
Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
Topics Lawsuits California Legislation USA
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has moved to bypass environmental regulations to prepare for the next wildfire season, a move he said was necessary to prevent further loss of life even as it frustrated activists in a state viewed as a national environmental leader.
The increasing wildfire risks we face as a state mean we simply cant wait until a fire starts in order to start deploying emergency resources, Newsom said in a statement ahead of declaring a state of emergency.
California experienced two of its most destructive and deadly wildfire seasons in 2017 and 2018 and experts say climate change increases the risks. Newsom said clearing dead trees at a quick pace is essential to diminishing future threats. President Donald Trump has blamed California fires on poor forest management, though experts say climate change caused by people is more of a factor.
Newsom is taking recommendations from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, but one environmental group likened it to actions by Trump.
Gov. Newsom should reject the Trump approach of logging and rolling back critical environmental protections, said Shaye Wolf, climate science director for the Center for Biological Diversity.
Newsom also pledged $50 million for fire preparedness in low-income communities and asked the private sector to bring forward innovative proposals.
The center and other environmental groups said focusing on retrofitting and creating defensible space around homes is more effective than thinning forests. Sierra Club California said clearing trees might create more danger by loosening soil that could lead to mudslides.
Newsoms order will apply only to 35 projects covering nearly 141 square miles of land, allowing state fire officials to go around multiple state regulations. They include provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, one of the nations strictest state-level regulations. Administration officials would need to give the go ahead to each individual project and its unclear exactly which regulations each individual project would forego.
Newsom said moving through the normal process would drastically slow down the states ability to act.
Some of these projects quite literally, not figuratively, could take two years to get done, or we could get them done in the next two months, he told an audience in Lake County, the site of several massive wildfires in recent years.
The union representing state firefighters praised Newsoms plan.
These circumstances are unusual, unpredictable, unseen in our lifetime, and courageous decisions that sometimes go against the political winds need to be made, said Tim Edwards, president of CAL Fire Local 2881.
Republican state Sen. Pat Bates also praised Newsom for acting with urgency ahead of the wildfire season.
I stand ready to assist the Governor with any legislative action to eliminate bureaucratic roadblocks that could slow these projects, she said in a statement.
While environmental groups bristled at Newsoms plan, they still align with him on a wide range of issues. Newsoms predecessor, fellow Democrat Jerry Brown, was known globally for his fight against climate change but still clashed with environmental groups at home on some issues.
California has set a goal, for example, of getting 100 percent of its energy from carbon-free sources by 2045, and passed a landmark cap-and-trade law to decrease emissions.
On the whole we see (Newsom) as an ally on environmental issues. I think what were disagreeing with here is an approach to a problem that we all recognize, said Kathryn Phillips, director of Sierra Club California.
The states environmental laws are designed to protect Californias soil stability, watershed and wildlife habitats, she said, and waiving environmental reviews could have unintended consequences.
For some suspension of oversight now, whats the consequence going to be later? she said. Are we going to end up having huge silt floods and mudslides?
Beyond accelerating tree clearing, Newsom put out a request for innovative ideas from the private sector to help fight California fires. He said he wants to tap into Silicon Valley and Californias spirit of creativity to come up with solutions to reduce wildfire threats.
Related:
Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Legislation Wildfire Pollution
March 26, 2019 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Technical analyst Clive Maund charts a small-cap with royalties on a gold project in Nevada, and explains why he sees it as a strong speculative buy.
Although Terraco Gold Corp. (TEN:TSX.V; TCEGF:OTCPK) stock hasn't done much since we looked at it late last year and in fact it is barely changed, the technical case for owning its stock and the fundamental case for owning its stock remains the same, but the difference now, as we will see in this update, is that it looks like it is about to get moving at last, which of course is partly due to improving conditions across the sector.
Since what was set out in those earlier reports remains valid, there is no need for us to go over this material again in this update. Here we are going to focus on how the stock is shaping up technically.
First of all let's remind ourselves how cheap this stock is historically by means of its 11-year chart. On it we can see that it got to over 50 cents at the start of 2011 but since then it has been downhill all the way. However, the latest downtrend from mid-2016, that has taken it marginally to new lows, has been going on for a long time now, making it likely that it is close to a cyclical low here, especially as the fundamentals are favorable and the entire sector is firming up for a major new bull market. Note that a 20-year chart may be viewed in the 31st October article on Terraco.
While it is not of much use technically, the 6-month chart shows recent action in detail, and in particular a marked buildup in upside volume over the past five weeks that has driven the Accumulation line sharply higher, and to another new high on its 11-year chart. This of course is bullish, and even after the rise of the past few days, Terraco is still cheap here, as the 11-year chart forcefully reminds us.
The conclusion is that Terraco is a strong speculative buy here, and since it has barely moved yet, there is considered to be relatively little downside risk.
Terraco Gold website.
Terraco Gold Corp. TEN.V, TCEGF on OTC, closed at C$0.08, $0.062 on 21st March 19.
Originally posted on CliveMaund.com at 9.50am EDT on 22nd March 2019.
Clive Maund has been president of www.clivemaund.com, a successful resource sector website, since its inception in 2003. He has 30 years' experience in technical analysis and has worked for banks, commodity brokers and stockbrokers in the City of London. He holds a Diploma in Technical Analysis from the UK Society of Technical Analysts.
Disclosure:
1) Clive Maund: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: None. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: None. CliveMaund.com disclosures below. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector.
2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Terraco Gold. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.
3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.
4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports (including members of their household) own securities of Terraco Gold, a company mentioned in this article.
Charts provided by the author.
CliveMaund.com Disclosure:
The above represents the opinion and analysis of Mr Maund, based on data available to him, at the time of writing. Mr. Maund's opinions are his own, and are not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell securities. Mr. Maund is an independent analyst who receives no compensation of any kind from any groups, individuals or corporations mentioned in his reports. As trading and investing in any financial markets may involve serious risk of loss, Mr. Maund recommends that you consult with a qualified investment advisor, one licensed by appropriate regulatory agencies in your legal jurisdiction and do your own due diligence and research when making any kind of a transaction with financial ramifications. Although a qualified and experienced stock market analyst, Clive Maund is not a Registered Securities Advisor. Therefore Mr. Maund's opinions on the market and stocks can only be construed as a solicitation to buy and sell securities when they are subject to the prior approval and endorsement of a Registered Securities Advisor operating in accordance with the appropriate regulations in your area of jurisdiction.
More Info:
This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders
Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.
More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com
Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp
Its the fifth ad Lightfoot has released during the runoff, including a well-received commercial that shows her daughter attempting to distract Lightfoot as she talks about change. Lightfoots campaign said its spending $90,000 to run the latest ad on Telemundo and Univision.
March 26, 2019 (Investorideas.com Newswire) In this interview with Peter Epstein of Epstein Research, Skyharbour Resources' CEO Jordan Trimble outlines his uranium company's projects and prospects.
I have been impressed by Skyharbour Resources Ltd.'s (SYH:TSX.V; SYHBF:OTCQB) CEO Jordan Trimble's command of the uranium sector. He puts out the best market commentary in his press releases, and his team has a great corporate presentation. Skyharbour is well positioned with a strong flagship project in its 100%-owned Moore project, and five other projects that are either optioned to partners or in the process of potentially being optioned (see latest press releases). - Peter Epstein
Peter Epstein: You have six properties in the eastern part of the Athabasca Basin. Tell us about your most important project.
Jordan Trimble: Skyharbour Resources is a preeminent uranium exploration company with projects in the prolific Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, Canada, ranked the best global mining jurisdiction by the Fraser Institute in 2017. The company has acquired top-tier exploration projects at attractive valuations culminating in six uranium properties totaling approximately 200,000 hectares.
In July 2016, Skyharbour secured an option from Denison Mines Corp. (DML:TSX; DNN:NYSE.MKT), a large strategic shareholder and partner of ours, to acquire a 100% Interest in the Moore uranium project. Skyharbour now owns 100% of this flagship project, which hosts the high-grade Maverick Zone, where previous drilling intercepted grades as high as 21% U3O8 over 1.5 meters (1.5m).
There's still strong discovery potential at the project in the sandstone and below the unconformity in the underlying basement rock, where little historical drilling has been done (recent discoveries, like the NexGen Energy Ltd. (NXE:TSX; NXE:NYSE.MKT) and Fission Uranium Corp. (FCU:TSX; FCUUF:OTCQX; 2FU:FSE) deposits, are basement-hosted). Skyharbour just commenced a 3,000m drill program to further test this, which will provide news flow in the near term. The company is run by a strong management and geological team, who are major shareholders.
Peter Epstein: Can you provide some commentary on the uranium market?
Jordan Trimble: The uranium market has shown notable signs of recovery, with increasing uranium prices and improving sentiment. Analysts that cover the sector have stated that this could be a sustained upswing, as they are currently seeing some of the best fundamentals since pre-Fukushima. That should be supportive of higher uranium prices, as a major supply-side response is playing out while the sticky demand-side continues to improve.
Uranium production is on the decline and expected to be just 135 million pounds (135 Mlb) U3O8 in 2019 given recent closures and project deferrals, while demand continues to rise and is expected to be approximately 194 Mlb. The spot uranium price is just ~$27/lb U3O8, which is still well below the average all-in global cost of production. Significant price appreciation is needed to justify production as well as develop new mines to meet growing global demand.
Mine closures and production curtailments continue to dominate headlines, while U.S. lawmakers are starting to take notice of external pressures on what is deemed a strategic industry. Major production cuts and depleting mine reserves appear to be working their way into the uranium market, driving prices higher. The two largest producers, Cameco Corp. (CCO:TSX; CCJ:NYSE) and KazAtomProm, announced large supply cuts in 2017 and 2018, including Cameco's suspension of the world's largest uranium mine, McArthur River, as well as KazAtomProm cutting 20% of its production over a three-year period.
Additionally, several new uranium holding companies and funds have emerged, including Yellow Cake PLC, Uranium Trading Corp. and Tribeca Capital Partners, which have collectively raised hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase physical material, effectively taking further spot supply from circulation. Lastly, Cameco recently announced plans to purchase 11-15 Mlb of uranium directly in the spot market through 2019 to fulfill its contracts.
On the demand side, there are 450 operating nuclear reactors and ~50 new reactors under construction globally. China continues to be at the forefront and has the largest pipeline, including 45 operating reactors, ~15 under construction and 213 ordered, planned or proposed. According to the World Nuclear Association, at the end of 2018, just 4.2% of China's electricity came from nuclear power. Officials want to triple that number by 2030. The situation in Japan finally seems to be improving, with nine reactors in full operation and several more coming back online this year, up from three in 2016.
Peter Epstein: What are Skyharbour's second and third most important projects?
Jordan Trimble: While focused on our core strategy as a discovery-driven exploration company at the Moore Project, Skyharbour also employs the prospect generator model to advance its other projects in the basin. The Preston and East Preston properties are important for shareholders, as both are being actively drilled this year by partners Orano Canada Inc. (previously AREVAFrance's largest nuclear and uranium mining company) and Azincourt Energy Inc. (AAZ:TSX.V).
Combined, the Preston projects comprise a large, 74,965-hectare (185,164 acre) land position, strategically located to the south of, and adjacent to, NexGen's Rook 1 project. It is also proximal to Fission Uranium's Patterson Lake South project.
As part of our prospect generation strategy, we optioned 70% of Preston to Orano, which can earn up to 70% by spending up to $8 million ($8M) (up to $7,300,000 of exploration work programs and $700,000 in cash payments) over six years. Orano is carrying out $2.2 million in drilling and exploration this year alone, which will generate additional news flow for Skyharbour.
The company also entered into an agreement with Azincourt whereby it has an earn-in option to acquire 70% in the East Preston project. The company has to issue shares and contribute cash, and it has exploration expenditure requirements totaling up to $3.5 million ($1 million in cash payments and $2.5 million in exploration expenditures) over a three-year period. Azincourt just commenced a drill program at East Preston.
The company also owns a 100% interest in the Falcon Point Uranium project on the eastern perimeter of the basin, which contains an NI 43-101 Inferred resource totaling 7 Mlb of U3O8 at 0.03%, plus 5.3 Mlb of ThO2 (thorium) at 0.023%. The project also hosts a high-grade surface showing with grab samples of up to 68% U3O8 from a massive pitchblende vein, the source of which has yet to be discovered.
Peter Epstein: Can you summarize the significant amount of drilling being done this year on your properties, both internally and by your partners?
Jordan Trimble: Skyharbour plans to carry out exploration and drilling programs at our flagship Moore Project over the course of the year. Given the success of the 2017/2018 drilling programs, the company recently commenced a winter diamond drilling program of a minimum of 3,000m. The Moore Project will provide steady news flow over coming months, supplemented by news from partner-funded projects and potential prospect generator transactions. Skyharbour's strategic partner Orano has commenced its 2019 winter diamond drilling program consisting of 11 to 15 holes for a total of about 3,600m on the Preston Project.
More recently, Azincourt announced that it has commenced drilling at Skyharbour's East Preston uranium project consisting of 2,0002,500m. So, among the three drill programs, the company is poised to enjoy news flow from approximately 9,000m of drilling, and we highlight that the bulk of this drilling is partner-funded.
Peter Epstein: Uranium is one element where a strong and experienced management team and board is critical. Does Skyharbour make the grade?
Jordan Trimble: Yes, we do! Skyharbour is managed by a team with vast experience in capital markets, mineral exploration and discovery, and mine development. Specifically, Skyharbour's technical team is led by Rick Kusmirski, P.Geo, M.Sc., head of our Advisory Board, who has over 40 years of global exploration experience. Rick actively participated in the discovery of a number of uranium, gold and base metal deposits. He was exploration manager for Cameco's exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin.
In 1999, Rick joined JNR Resources, becoming VP of Exploration in 2000. Subsequently, he directed the exploration program that led to the discovery of the Maverick Zone on the Moore Lake uranium joint venture with partner Kennecott Canada. In 2013, Denison Mines acquired JNR in a friendly all-share takeover bid.
Our largest shareholder, Denison Mines, is represented by the president and CEO David Cates. He is also president and CEO of Uranium Participation Corp. (U:TSX). Prior to being appointed to those positions, Mr. Cates served as Denison's VP Finance, Tax, and as CFO. Mr. Cates played a key role in merger-and-acquisition activities, leading the acquisitions of Rockgate Capital Corp. and International Enexco Ltd. Prior to that, Mr. Cates held positions at Kinross Gold Corp. (K:TSX; KGC:NYSE) and PwC LLP, with a focus on the resource industry.
Paul Matysek is a large shareholder and strategic advisor. He's a mining entrepreneur, professional geochemist and geologist, with over 35 years' experience. He was the founder and CEO of Energy Metals Corp., increasing its market cap from CA$10 million to approximately CA$1.8 billion, when it was acquired by Uranium One Inc. (UUU:TSX) in 2007. Last year, Mr. Matysek, as chairman, successfully sold Lithium X for $265 million to NextView in Hong Kong. He has built and sold several other mining companies over the course of his career.
Finally, I have been running the company as the president and CEO since it started as a uranium company in 2013. I have worked in the resource industry with numerous TSX Venture-listed companies, specializing in corporate finance and strategy, shareholder communications, marketing, deal structuring and capital raising. Prior to Skyharbour, I managed corporate development for Bayfield Ventures, a gold company with projects in Ontario, which was acquired by New Gold (NGD:TSX) in 2014.
I hold a bachelor of science degree from UBC, and I am a CFA charterholder, currently serving as a director of the CFA Society Vancouver. My chairman, Jim Pettit, brings over 30 years' experience within the industry, specializing in finance, corporate governance, management and compliance. He was previously chairman and CEO of Bayfield Ventures Corp.
Peter Epstein: Can you talk about your largest shareholders? What percentage of the company does management own?
Jordan Trimble: Denison Mines is our largest shareholder and a strategic partner. There are several other noteworthy shareholders including Marin Katusa and the KCR Fund, OTP Fund Management, Extract Capital, Sachem Cove Partners, Paul Matysek, Doug Casey and Jeff Phillips. This group, in addition to management and insiders, controls a large portion of the company's outstanding shares.
Peter Epstein: Your corporate presentation mentions several high-grade discoveries by peers. What makes your technical team believe there's a reasonable chance of delineating a high-grade resource at the Moore Project?
Jordan Trimble: NexGen Energy, Fission Uranium, Alpha Minerals Inc. (AMW:TSX.V), Denison Mines and Hathor Exploration Ltd. are just a few examples of successful uranium discovery stories in the Athabasca Basin.
It's worth noting that traditional Athabasca exploration involved rudimentary geophysical targeting and widely spaced vertical drill holes, which led to a high cost of discovery and a low probability of success. However, new exploration techniques and strategies have led to new discoveries through new target types and improved targeting methodologies, leading to lower costs and a higher probability of success. Skyharbour is utilizing these new techniques and is entering overlooked projects, at low cost, with robust discovery potential.
Peter Epstein: Does Skyharbour require blockbuster 10%+ uranium grades at Moore to host an economic deposit? If not, what approximate grade might be needed?
No, uranium is a valuable commodity, especially compared to traditional metals. For example, 1% U3O8 equals 20.0 grams per ton (20 g/t) gold or 1,404 g/t silver, or 13.7% copper, or 28% zinc. Furthermore, there are new innovative mining methods being proposed for Athabasca Basin deposits that could bring costs down, including SABRE and ISR mining methods.
Peter Epstein: If a lot more high-grade uranium were to be found at Moore, is the Maverick zone alone large enough to potentially host an economic deposit?
Jordan Trimble: Yes, potentially it is, but this will be determined by further drilling.
Peter Epstein: Are you in discussions with potential strategic partners on your other properties?
Jordan Trimble: Yes, management is continually assessing new opportunities to add value for our shareholders. At a high level, we have a dual track strategy of 1) discovering more high-grade uranium at Moore, and 2) prospect generation from our portfolio, ex-Moore, as exemplified by the two option agreements with Orano and Azincourt. We would like to find partners at our Falcon Point, Mann Lake and Yurchison properties, which we own 100% of.
Peter Epstein: What should readers make of the occasional showings of high-grade cobalt and nickel? Just noise, or potentially more important?
Jordan Trimble: This is positive, but the extent of how meaningful the discovery of cobalt and nickel is will be determined with further drilling. It's fair to say it's an interesting development that will certainly be followed up on.
Peter Epstein: Why should readers consider buying shares of Skyharbour Resources?
Jordan Trimble: When the uranium market turns, it can turn fast, and stock gains can be large. The underlying uranium price can double or more in under a year. This has happened twice in the past 12 years or so. Are we at an inflection point where select uranium stocks are poised for big gains? We might be, and if not this year, I think it's likely in 2020. If one believes, as I do, that the uranium price is headed higher and that nuclear power is here to stay, then Skyharbour Resources is a good bet.
With six properties in the best uranium basin on the planet, and partners funding a significant portion of this year's exploration, there's a decent chance of new discoveries and favorable drill hole results. Skyharbour Resources will be very active on multiple fronts this year. The same cannot be said about many other uranium juniors (corporate presentation).
Peter Epstein: Thank you, Jordan, for a very good update and review of Skyharbour Resources. I look forward to drill results from you and your partners later this year.
Peter Epstein is the founder of Epstein Research. His background is in company and financial analysis. He holds an MBA degree in financial analysis from New York University's Stern School of Business.
Disclosures: The content of this interview is for information only. Readers fully understand and agree that nothing contained herein, written by Peter Epstein of Epstein Research [ER], (together, [ER]) about Skyharbour Resources, including but not limited to, commentary, opinions, views, assumptions, reported facts, calculations, etc. is not to be considered implicit or explicit investment advice. Nothing contained herein is a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security. [ER] is not responsible under any circumstances for investment actions taken by the reader. [ER] has never been, and is not currently, a registered or licensed financial advisor or broker/dealer, investment advisor, stockbroker, trader, money manager, compliance or legal officer, and does not perform market making activities. [ER] is not directly employed by any company, group, organization, party or person. The shares of Skyharbour Resources are highly speculative, not suitable for all investors. Readers understand and agree that investments in small cap stocks can result in a 100% loss of invested funds. It is assumed and agreed upon by readers that they will consult with their own licensed or registered financial advisors before making any investment decisions.
At the time this interview was posted, Peter Epstein owned no shares in Skyharbour Resources, and it was an advertiser on [ER]. Readers understand and agree that they must conduct their own due diligence above and beyond reading this article. While the author believes he's diligent in screening out companies that, for any reasons whatsoever, are unattractive investment opportunities, he cannot guarantee that his efforts will (or have been) successful. [ER] is not responsible for any perceived, or actual, errors including, but not limited to, commentary, opinions, views, assumptions, reported facts & financial calculations, or for the completeness of this article or future content. [ER] is not expected or required to subsequently follow or cover events & news, or write about any particular company or topic. [ER] is not an expert in any company, industry sector or investment topic.
Streetwise Reports Disclosure:
1) Peter Epstein's disclosures are listed above.
2) The following companies mentioned in the article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Skyharbour Resources. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Skyharbour Resources, a company mentioned in this article.
Graphics provided by author.
More Info:
This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders
Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.
More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com
Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp
Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) has linked up with Dell to introduce virtual reality (VR) technology in its classrooms to help students design industry standard VR games using cutting-edge technology.
Implementing the new technology has allowed teaching staff to gain an extra 40 minutes of classroom instruction time each day, they said. It has already been used to create projects to help patients with Parkinson's and individuals being released from prison.
In introducing new technology, including VR, for students, CIT was hindered by outdated technology. Old workstations and supporting infrastructure were unable to support the programmes required to roll out modules on gaming, VR, animation and application design.
To overcome these challenges, CIT collaborated with Dell in a programme of updating design labs. New technology, including state-of-the-art workstations and gaming desktops, have given the students the tools to use VR in their learning.
In giving students access to VR technologies, CIT is responding to a growing demand for the use of cutting-edge computer technologies in the workplace.
Rose McGrath, head of media communications in CIT said: "In recent times, outdated technology has meant we have been unable to meet the needs of students and teachers who increasingly undertake intensive VR projects as part of their digital media and e-learning curriculum.
"Our partnership with Dell has proved pivotal in enabling our students to be more creative and use VR to push the boundaries of what they can do with graphics. Without the improved performance from the Dell workstations and Alienware gaming desktops, we wouldnt have been able to regain 40 minutes of classroom instruction time every day."
Aisling Keegan, vice-president and general manager of Dell EMC Ireland, said that the technology will help to prepare the students for a digitally-focused working environment.
"Students have used our devices to create projects ranging from therapeutic activitybased video games to assist patients with Parkinsons disease, to a VR immersive programme that helps prepare individuals in prison for release," she said.
This story was originally published on March 20, 2019 at 3:55pm.
Cork-based recruitment firm PE Global is currently recruiting for in excess of 500 live jobs, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device roles, along with positions within the finance, IT, manufacturing, business and healthcare sectors.
This includes a huge demand for doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and social care workers to the HSE in Ireland and the NHS in the UK.
In line with this soaring demand, PE Global has appointed three of its recruitment managers to associate directors. Grainne Killilea, David Van Der Vegt and Ken Tierney have all played a big part in the companys steady growth.
Grainne Killilea has been promoted to an associate director of recruitment with PE Global Locum Express and PE Global Healthcare (Ireland).
She has worked in all areas of recruitment since 2005. Very active in business development, she specialises in providing short and long-term locum and healthcare professionals to the public and private health sectors, managing, motivating and leading healthcare recruitment teams.
David Van Der Vegt has been appointed as associate director recruitment with PE Global Healthcare (UK and International).
He joined shortly at PEs inception in 2006 and was instrumental in setting up the UK Healthcare Division. He specialises in providing medical personnel to include doctors, nurses, Allied Health Professionals (AHP) and ancillary professionals to the UK, European, Middle Eastern, Australian and New Zealand markets.
Ken Tierney has also been appointed as associate recruitment director.
He has played an integral role in PEs contracting and temporary teams since joining in 2008. He has recruited across the pharmaceutical, medical device as well as oil and gas sectors for both national and international clients.
Shell stepped closer to becoming the worlds biggest power company with an aggressive move into the UK retail market by offering one of the cheapest tariffs available. Shell Energy, formerly First Utility, said it has a fixed-rate power-supply tariff, for UK customers, of 970 (1,133) a year, or 81 a month until July 2020.
The move is part of its rebranding of its UK utility business. This undercuts former cheapest UK power supplier, Bulb Energy Ltd, which has a deal available for 981 a year, and is 18% cheaper than power supplied by Centrica-owned British Gas, according to data from UK power regulator Ofgem.
Shell plans to become the worlds biggest power company within 15 years and is spending as much as 1.7bn a year on its new-energies division, which suggests it sees climate change as a significant threat to the fossil-fuel business.
Shell has been increasingly vociferous about its ambitions in electricity markets, and we see it as a significant, competitive-disruptive force over the coming years for traditional, utility energy suppliers-retailers, said RBC Capital Markets.
The bank said Shells plan to invest about 1.7bn a year on its new energies division is only 5% of the companys annual capex (capital expenditure) and, hence, has significant room to grow.
It added that it is difficult to rule out Shell buying other UK-based utilities, such as the retail unit of SSE or Npower, which are both up for sale.
The move will bring yet more pressure to the UK power market, where swathes of customers have abandoned the traditional Big Six utilities for smaller, cheaper suppliers. Surging wholesale prices for power and gas have driven several companies out of business.
Last year, more businesses folded than in the previous 16 years combined. Earlier this month, Brilliant Energy, which has about 17,000 domestic customers, became the tenth firm to cease trading in the past 12 months.
Britsh Gas, which lost 742,000 customers last year, held a 19% share of the UKs electricity market in the third quarter of 2018, according to Ofgem. Bulb, which has about one million customers, had a 3% stake in the market. As well as announcing the rebranding, Shell also said it has switched its existing, 700,000 UK customers to power supplied entirely by renewable sources of energy, such as wind, solar, and biomass.
Reuters
The total number of trips to Ireland by overseas visitors rose by 2.7% to 590,700 last month - an increase of 15,400 compared to the same period last year.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office also show that in the first two months of the year, the total number of trips to Ireland rose by 7% compared to the first two months of 2018.
The biggest increase came from outside of Europe or North America, growing by 22.6% to 258,100 in February. Trips by US and Canadian visitors were up by nine per cent to 86,800 the same month.
While trips by British visitors fell by 2.0% to 258,100, those made by residents of other European countries increased by 3.4% to 208,900.
The overall increase was welcomed by Tourism Ireland. Overseas arrivals increased by 7% in the first two months of 2019, said CEO Niall Gibbons.
Arrivals from North America grew by almost 11% in the first two months of 2019. Weve also seen good results from mainland Europe, up almost 8% with particularly strong performances from France, Spain and Germany. Visitor numbers from Australia and emerging tourism markets increased by almost 15%."
However, Mr Gibbons cautioned that while Tourism Ireland welcomed the 4% increase in arrivals from Britain for January-February, it is concerned about Brexit and its impact on outbound travel from Britain.
Arrivals in January and February represent around 11% of total annual arrivals and growth in the month of February alone has slowed to 2.7%," he said.
Looking to the summer season, Mr Gibbons said the air and sea access picture is very positive, with increases in the number of airline seats from Britain, Mainland Europe, North America and long-haul markets.
A protest is being held by asylum seekers at the Clonakilty Lodge facility this morning after residents claimed they were not told of a visit to the centre yesterday by the Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration.
As many as 30 residents and their children have been in the foyer area and outside the building since early this morning amid claims that the visit yesterday by Minister David Stanton was not flagged in advance, with some residents absent during it.
Some children were kept back from school with residents holding homemade placards and putting signs on the entry doors bearing statements such as what was the purpose of their visit?, why didnt you inform the residents? and who is the minister for?
One resident, Evelyn Adoga, who has been in the centre for more than two years, said: We are on a peaceful protest today.
We got annoyed that the Minister for Immigration and Integration was here yesterday at the Lodge and we assumed that he came here to see people living here in the Lodge.
But at the end of the day none of the residents were told.
Its understood the Minister did meet with some residents, but some of those protesting this morning said the event was stage-managed and claimed that a committee formed by residents were not invited to meet with Minister Stanton to share any issues or concerns they may have.
Ms Adoga, who said she has been granted asylum but who cannot find alternative accommodation, said housing was one of the issues residents wanted to raise.
Some of the committee have been waiting to meet with him [the Minister] and TDs, especially about areas of childcare and education, she said.
Some members of the gardai have attended the scene to meet with residents, who have said they want to meet with management to address their concerns.
Other residents, who did not want to be named, said they had been living in the centre for different periods of time ranging up to eight years and that they also had personal issues they wanted to raise.
One resident said: They painted the picture that they wanted the Minister to see.
Local people have also attended in support of the residents with one stating: Peoples expectations were really mismanaged.
Its understood management are due to meet the residents shortly.
The Irish Examiner is seeking comment from the managers of the centre and the Ministers office.
A baby boy whose mother was found dead in her room at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) is understood to be in a critical condition.
The newborn was discovered underneath his mother who was lying on the floor.
The hospital has described the incident, which took place this morning, as a tragic occurrence.
A spokesperson for the South/Southwest hospital group (SSWHG) said a full medical investigation was immediately initiated as is the case in all maternal deaths. The investigation is ongoing.
A post mortem was also conducted today on the body of the mother, understood to be in her 30s.
Its understood the baby, who was born at the weekend, was found at the breast of its mother, on the floor of the single room, and required emergency treatment.
Staff had checked on the woman at 7am on Monday morning, and found nothing amiss.
However she was found lying on the floor with her child when doctors arrived during a ward round an hour later.
One possibility being investigated is that a medical episode caused the woman to fall out of bed while she was breastfeeding.
Figures published by the Confidential Maternal Death Enquiry Ireland (CMDE) for the period 2013-2015 show a total of 15 maternal deaths, occurring during or within 42 days of the end of the pregnancy.
Of these 15 deaths, four were classified as direct, nine as indirect, and the remaining two were attributed to coincidental causes.
There was no evidence of clustering in any one maternity hospital.
The data also found that two-thirds of maternal deaths were due to a pre-existing health condition, with heart disease being the leading cause of death.
Direct causes included Thromboembolism (blood clot) (1), Pre-Eclampsia/Eclampsia (1), Amniotic Fluid Embolism (1) and Early Pregnancy Complication (1).
Six of the nine indirect maternal deaths in 2013-2015 were attributed to cardiac disease.
The two coincidental maternal deaths were due to malignancy.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has claimed Ireland will not drift into recession even if the United Kingdom crashes out of the European Union (EU).
Responding to the warning from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which said 80,000 jobs would be at risk were the UK leave without a deal, Mr Varadkar said in any scenario Brexit will be bad for Ireland.
He was responding during Leaders' Questions in the Dail.
The ESRI report published this morning is a reminder of the very stark consequences that Brexit will have for Ireland and the Irish economy, he said.
The Taoiseach said there is no such thing as a good Brexit for Ireland. It confirms again that a deal is better than no deal, and a managed no-deal situation would be better than a disorderly no-deal situation, he said.
Despite the risks, Mr Varadkar said the report also shows that the economy will continue to grow. It will not be as fast as we anticipate it will grow in the event of a deal but it will continue to grow, he said.
We will not go into recession, at least according to the ESRI. There will continue to be an increase in the number of jobs. There will be more jobs, just not as many extra jobs as we would have in the event of a deal. Incomes will continue to rise, just not as fast as they would rise in the event of a deal. Public finances would deteriorate, but not to the extent that we witnessed ten years ago. We would move from a small surplus into a small deficit, he said.
Mr Varadkar said we should not underestimate how serious a no-deal Brexit could be for some very vulnerable sectors in our economy, especially the agri-food sector, tourism and small exporters whose only market is the UK.
That is where we are most exposed and they will need the most support, should we end up in a no-deal scenario in a few weeks, he said.
The Taoiseach hit out at Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fail's Brexit spokesperson who refused to rule out or at least refused to answer a question about whether Fianna Fail thinks we should be preparing for a physical border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin questioned the Taoiseach about reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron sought clarity on the Irish border issue, but the Taoiseach denied pressure was placed on Ireland.
There were differences of opinion on which dates we should choose but there was no push-back at all against there being an extension and we as 27 stand behind the extensions we agreed last week, he said.
Cabinet ministers and the Attorney General privately expressed concerns that 130,000-a-year directly elected mayors in Cork, Limerick, and Waterford could become too powerful, a confidential memo reveals.
Ministers warned that the new positions must be subject to proper checks and balances to avoid an over-concentration of control. Last week, ministers approved the holding of plebiscites in the three electoral areas and to create the legal frameworks for such offices, but behind the scenes concerns were raised by ministers about the new roles having too much power.
According to the memorandum, seen by the Irish Examiner, Communications Minister Richard Bruton raised alarm stating it is important that checks and balances are developed to match the new powers being developed for the elected Mayor and Council.
Mr Bruton also called on Local Government Minister Eoghan Murphy to consider requiring more than a simple majority for the council to direct the elected mayor to do a particular act, (or to refrain from acting).
The memorandum also reveals that Attorney General Seamus Woulfe made a number of key and lengthy observations about the plan to create the directly elected mayors, warning that the plan involves the transfer of responsibility, control and direction of the preparation of such plans from officials with expertise in planning to elected persons who may have little or no expertise in this area.
Mr Woulfe said: Issues may also arise with complying with proper and sustainable development, e.g. in the context of permitting development of one-off housing in the countryside, and complying with climate change and mitigation requirements.
Mr Woulfe said the shift of powers to these newly elected mayors could see a loss of expertise from the official side.
He added: The transfer of this executive function to a directly elected mayor, as appears to be implied by the current proposals, reflects a significant shift in the balance of duties and responsibilities and a potential loss of expertise. This is a matter which may bear some further policy consideration in the context of the departments awareness of the kinds of litigation which has arisen to date.
He concluded that these risks arise irrespective of the oversight of planning functions represented by An Bord Pleanala, the Ombudsman, or the Office of the Planning Regulator.
Mr Woulfe recommended that the wording of the plebiscites should be sent for legal advice as there will be constitutional considerations and European best practice on how the questions being posed in the plebiscites should be framed.
Mr Woulfe also said that while it is a matter of policy it will be recalled that, in addition to the issues which gave rise to the Mahon Tribunal and to the decision to provide that planning applications will be decided by the CEO, the department is aware that legal issues have arisen where local and planning authorities have not complied with Government policy in areas such as waste management in the context of providing for and locating landfills, of excessive zoning for housing, and of attempts to sterilise areas from the development of wind farms.
He also said that care will have to be exercised to ensure that when setting up the directly elected mayor to take over functions formerly carried out by the CEO that the Ethics in Public Office, conflict of interest, lobbying and related provisions that now apply in respect of the CEO will also be applied to the directly elected mayor.
In response, Mr Murphy said he welcomed the response of his colleagues. He said he addressed the issues about the legal advice and spending of public monies in the revised draft that he presented to Cabinet last week.
He said he would also consider further the most appropriate arrangements to comply with the judgements in the McKenna/McCrystal cases. Mr Murphy said that Mr Brutons concerns will be considered them before the final draft of the legislation is published. Voters will decide on whether to establish the new positions on the same day as the local and European elections on May 24.
The Government has been urged to provide clarity on plans for the border as the threat of a no-deal Brexit increases. The European Commission has said it is increasingly likely that the UK will crash out without an agreement next month and warned that if this happens, the EU will immediately apply its rules and tariffs at its borders with the UK.
Fianna Fail Brexit spokeswoman Lisa Chambers said the Government now needs to be more transparent about its no-deal Brexit plans for the border.
It is clear that discussions are being had, but when questioned on this issue the Government continues to trot out vague and ambiguous statements that shed no light on this matter, said Ms Chambers. The situation in the United Kingdom is very fluid at the moment, but we must take heed of a statement from the Commission which said that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the EU will be required to immediately apply its rules and tariffs at its borders with the UK.
However, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach stressed the Government is not preparing for a hard border, adding that Ireland and the EU are at one on this.
The EU has been clear that it is determined to do all it can, deal or no deal, to avoid the need for a border and to protect the peace process, said the spokesperson.
The European Commission said it is prepared for a no-deal scenario which, it said, is now more likely as British prime minister Theresa May struggles to secure enough MPs to back the withdrawal agreement.
It is now important that everyone is ready for and aware of the practical consequences a no-deal scenario brings, the Commission said, adding that it would mean significant disruption for citizens and businesses.
The EU will be required to immediately apply its rules and tariffs at its borders with the UK. This includes checks and controls for customs, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and verification of compliance with EU norms. Despite the considerable preparations of the member states customs authorities, these controls could cause significant delays at the border.
Health Minister Simon Harris asked people not to stockpile medicines.
We have no notification of any medicine shortage associated with Brexit, said Mr Harris. The advice to patients doctors and everybody else remains the same: not to stockpile because if you stockpile, you can inadvertently disrupt the supply chain.
There was nothing cavalier about the way that we handled it, Lightfoot said of the judges comments to debate moderators. I directed the people who preserve the tapes to make sure that they preserved them, and they failed to do that. And the people who were responsible were disciplined accordingly.
A promotional trip billed as Irelands first carbon-neutral bus journey took place in Cork yesterday as a bio-methane powered vehicle took passengers from the city centre to Ringaskiddy. Proponents of the biomethane buses say its fuel is renewable and results in lower carbon emissions and better air quality in cities.
The bus left Lapps Quay in Cork City and travelled to the SFI-funded Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy in Ringaskiddy, where passengers heard insights from leading gas and algal biofuels researcher Jerry D Murphy on the centres work.
The initiative was hosted by Energy Cork, a grouping of stakeholders including Cork city and county councils, Gas Networks Ireland, Bus Eireann and Cork Chamber. Donal Kissane, commercial manager, Gas Networks Ireland said that, unlike the diesel buses currently in operation, the bus used yesterday runs on renewable gas and its journey will have a zero carbon emissions footprint.
Gas Networks Ireland believes that the future of public transport in Ireland will be based on renewable gas, using waste from the agriculture and food industry, he said.
Michelle OSullivan, Energy Cork spokeswoman and Cork Chamber public affairs senior executive, said the demand for public transport in Cork has never been greater, with the city centre expecting an additional 10,000 jobs in the next five years. She said Energy Cork has long advocated the benefits of adopting compressed natural gas and biomethane for the public bus fleet.
This technology is tried and tested with examples of biomethane bus fleets in Stockholm, Lille, and Nottingham to name just a few cities, Ms OSullivan said. We are very keen to see this technology supported by the National Transport Authority and hope to see these buses rolled out in Cork in the not-too-distant future.
The Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport has been carrying out trials of hybrid diesel, fully electric, electric hybrid, compressed natural gas and biomethane powered buses in Cork and Dublin in recent months, amid growing concerns about Irelands failure to meet its European-set emission targets. However, such transport alternatives are well established in other European cities. Last month, it was announced that Nottingham City Transport in the UK would more than double its fleet of biogas double deck buses this year, with an additional 67 buses to be added to the 53 already in use.
The woollen red cardigan that Connie Robert wore as a child of four before the industrial school took her away hangs recreated in crushed glass in the National Museum of Ireland. She had written a poem about it some years ago after it was found in a suitcase above a press following the death of her mother, bringing with it a fresh round of memories and sorrows.
There were six crude mendings in it and I could picture my mother darning it by the range, waiting for me to come home, she says.
Connie, now aged 56 and a 36-year resident of the US, didnt come home for 12 years after she was sent to Mount Carmel Industrial School in Moate, Co Westmeath, to the grief of her battered mother who lost all 15 of her children to institutions because of the violence of her alcoholic husband. Now the artistic representation of the cardigan and Connies poem form part of an absorbing new exhibition in the museums Collins Barracks campus.
(A)Dressing Our Hidden Truths is the work primarily of Northern Ireland artist Alison Lowry. She has selected items that symbolise some of the darkest parts of Irelands recent history industrial schools, mother and baby homes, and Magdalene laundries and recreated them in pate de verre, layers of crushed glass made into a paste and fused into shapes with both strength and fragility.
Picture: JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY
In one display, pairs of glass scissors are suspended from rosary beads above a pile of cruelly hacked hair, remembering the women shorn of their identity when they had their names and hair stripped from them on entry to the institutions. In another, nine childrens christening gowns hang glistening in the dark in memory of the 796 babies and children buried in the disused septic tank in Tuam.
A soft voice in the background lists all 796 names while dotted between all the displays are earphones for listening to the recorded memories of survivors. The final displays deal with the current issues of sexual assault and domestic violence to show that the subjugation of women is not only historical. Audrey Whitty, curator of the exhibition, says while the subjects are not easy to explore, exploration through art is a valuable pursuit.
A national museum in the true sense presents all history pertaining to that particular nation and if youre looking at the history of 20th-century Ireland and you were not to respond to these issues, you wouldnt be doing your job, she says.
Connie Roberts, a poet and teacher, also believes art is an important tool for truth-telling. The 2,500-page Ryan report [from the commission on child abuse], very few people will read that but when you tell the stories like this through art, people will take it in a little better. They might listen to a three-minute ballad, they might look at the glass sculptures and take away a bit of Irish history.
The exhibition is being opened tonight by Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone who is urging all schools to visit it.
Gardai were threatened they would have their throats cut and get shot in the head when they went to help a man to get medical care from an ambulance crew. Paul Woods, aged 44, of Cork Simon community, was jailed for two months yesterday for his threatening comments to An Garda Siochana.
Sergeant John Kelleher said that at approximately 5.30pm on Sunday, January 27, gardai Conor Cronin and Paul Dromey attended responded to a call to attend at Parnell Place where it was alleged that a man had fallen on the footpath.
Cork County Council engineers have urged Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to provide improved on-road and off-road warning signs at a notoriously dangerous crossroads, in advance of major works to make it safer.
A number of serious accidents have been recorded at Ballymaquirke Cross which is close to Kanturk and on the main N72 Mallow-Killarney road. The latest serious incident took place there earlier this month when two articulated lorries crashed into each other at the crossroads. One of the drivers was taken to Cork University Hospital with serious injuries.
For many months, the danger had been highlighted to county council engineers by Fianna Fail councillor Bernard Moynihan. The council decided to acquire some land in the area and is planning to build a roundabout at the junction.
However, it will take some time to complete the work. In the interim, assistant county manager for North Cork, James Fogarty told councillors that his engineers were in contact with officials at TIIs Killarney office seeking that additional safety signage be deployed there.
Mr Moynihan had suggested that flashing speed detection signs and even ramps be installed at the junction ahead of the completion of the roundabout. Bob OShea, the councils senior roads engineer for the area, said that the council in conjunction with TIIs Safety Section, had already engaged Roadplan Consulting Engineers to design and prepare contract documents for the construction of the roundabout and they were already surveying the area.
Mr OShea added that the council is exploring short-term safety interventions with TII staff that could be implemented before the roundabout is in place. As the road is a national secondary route, the county council has to seek permission from TII which is responsible for the national network.
Mr Fogarty insisted that the council wasnt sitting on its hands in the meantime. Were making representations about better signage there with TII and we will be following that up vigorously, he said.
Independent councillor Timmy Collins noted: There was a massive crash there recently when the cab of a truck was blown off.
Meanwhile, Padraig Barrett, the councils director of roads, told West Cork Division meeting an appraisal plan was being finalised for the extension of the southern relief road in Bandon. He said it was hoped to submit plans to TII by the end of April or early May. Applications for funding for the Bantry relief road and the Castletownbere southern relief road were being prepared.
An investigation has been launched at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) after a mother was found dead on the floor of her hospital room with her newborn child underneath her.
The womans baby was seriously hurt in the incident and is receiving emergency treatment in the hospital, according to the Irish Times.
Workers will be hit by lower wages, higher prices and decreases in employment rates in all Brexit scenarios. A study published today has found that 80,000 jobs would be lost in the next decade if Britain crashes out of the EU, and even if a deal is agreed around 44,000 posts would still be lost.
The study from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Department of Finance finds GDP in Ireland 10 years after Brexit will fall 2.6% if the UK leaves with a deal, but could fall up to 5% in a disorderly no-deal scenario, compared to a situation where the UK stays in the EU.
The reports lead author, Adele Bergin, said: The impact of each Brexit scenario is considerable and will have negative effects throughout the economy on the household sector, the labour market, firms and the public finances.
The negative impact on Irish output in the long run in the deal scenario is approximately half that of the no-deal scenario.
The predictions are more pessimistic than previously outlined by the ESRI and reveal people will see a cut in their disposable income ranging between 2% less and 4% less depending on the type of Brexit.
Ms Bergin said it is highly unlikely the country would plummet into a long-term recession and instead we will see the pace of growth significantly slow down with negative consequences throughout the economy.
However, she warned it is difficult to predict the scale of impact a no-deal disorderly Brexit would have on Ireland, especially in the immediate aftermath.
The results of the study indicate employment, in the long run, would be 1.8% lower in a deal scenario, 3.2% lower in a no-deal scenario, and 3.4% lower in a disorderly no-deal scenario. However, there is more uncertainty about the short-term impact of Brexit as it depends on how smooth any transition to the new trading arrangements will be.
Unsurprisingly, the report also finds Ireland has far greater exposure than other European countries given how deeply integrated the economies are. In 2015, Irish exports to the UK accounted for 14% of total cross-border goods exports and 20% of total service exports.
The study also finds Ireland could benefit from Brexit in the area of foreign direct investment. It states that the UK is expected to lose a quarter of its foreign direct investment inflows in the event of a no-deal Brexit and 21% in the case of a deal. As Ireland is already an attractive destination for FDI, it is reasonable to assume that this country would gain some of this investment.
A man who sued St James's Hospital Dublin over the care he received when he was brought there by ambulance after he was assaulted has settled his High Court action for 750,000.
Francis Cunningham (45) who is now in a wheelchair, the High Court heard had a cut on the back of his head when admitted to St James's Hospital, Dublin nine years ago.
His counsel, Oisin Quinn SC told the court it was their case Mr Cunningham who was found to have bleeding on the brain after having a CT brain scan should have had the scan sooner and as a result, would have had brain surgery earlier. If that happened Mr Cunningham on the balance of probabilities would be able to walk and live independently, Counsel said.
Francis Cunningham, Casement Park, Finglas, Dublin had through his brother James of the same address sued St James's Hospital Dublin over the care he received there nine years ago when he was admitted after suffering an assault.
It was claimed there was an alleged failure to properly assess Mr Cunningham on attendance at the hospital and an alleged failure to treat him with appropriate urgency, particularly in circumstances of head injury.
It was also claimed there was an alleged failure to carry out any or any proper or suitable observation or monitoring of Mr Cunningham.
Mr Cunningham it was claimed had been brought by ambulance to St James's Hospital on October 2, 2010 after he had been assaulted nearby.
It was recorded when he attended at the hospital A&E at 15.26 his primary complaint was alcohol and his secondary complaint a laceration. When he was assessed two hours later it was noted Mr Cunningham was intoxicated and not verbalising and he had a cut to the back of the head. It was claimed that a CT scan three hours later showed bleeding on the brain and he was transferred to another hospital for brain surgery but it is claimed at this stage his clinical condition was much worse.
It is claimed that if a CT scan was carried out earlier it would have led to a more immediate referral to another hospital for surgery.
St James's Hospital admitted it was in breach of duty in that the review of Mr Cunningham at 17.20 ought to have lead to a request for a CT brain scan at that point but all other claims were denied.
Approving the settlement Mr Justice Kevin Cross said it was a good one and hopefully the house in Finglas can now be adapted for Mr Cunningham's needs.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has declared there will be no return to armed actions in the event of a 'no-deal' Brexit, as several parties blasted government preparations for Britain's EU exit.
Frustration is growing among the Opposition over the lack of clarity about what will happen to the border if Britain crashes out of the EU. Proposed aid for firms is also inadequate, parties argue.
Fianna Fail, Labour and Sinn Fein all want answers as to what exactly is plan B if there is a no deal for the border and maintaining the EU's customs union for trade. A proposed 200m 'soft' financial package for SMEs and workers also falls short of what will be needed to protect firms, they say.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was asked by the Irish Examiner whether republicans would take up arms if Britain crashes out and there is a threat of a new border.
She responded: There is no circumstances, no excuse, no scenario in which anybody from any disposition anywhere across this island would have a justifiable cause to take up arms.
There is no appetite for a return to armed actions anywhere across this island in any community in the North of Ireland and in fact people have embraced a new reality right across our country which is one of relative stability and advancement and progress.
Ms McDonald also called on the government to take responsibility for peace on the island, adding:
Part of ensuring stability across the island is being politically truthful about where we are at. And where we are at is the potential of a crash Brexit, the potential of a hardening of the border and the absolute need to respond to that to make sure that we don't see damage to the Good Friday Agreement.
The Opposition leader said that in the long run the ultimate 'backstop' for the island of Ireland was the removal of the border. But armed action was out of the question, she insisted:
There is no, under any circumstances, any explanation or no cover should be given to anybody who pursues actions of aggression or violence. That is off the table. People have made their view very clear on that.
She criticised the Government for failing to support a border poll which in a democratic and peaceful way would lay the steps towards a removal of the border
Meanwhile, Ms McDonald said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was overly relaxed when it came to no-deal planning.
"We heard An Taoiseach in the course of the weekend almost philosophically say that where as Brexit might define Britain for a generation that it doesn't have to define us," she said.
"I think it's a very worrying statement. I think it belies an overly relaxed attitude by An Taoiseach."
Ms McDonald has also described the DUP's approach to Brexit as "absolutely reckless and dangerous".
"You can't have part of the island inside the European Union and the other part outside of the European Union and imagine that there won't be huge consequences for trade and our economy but also, critically, for the enjoyment of rights by our citizens and for the smooth operation of the Good Friday Agreement," she said.
Ms McDonald added: "They are very much out of step with public opinion in the north. I think they're very well aware of that and yet they are quite content to play very, very dangerous games with their friends in the Tory Party."
- additional reporting by Press Association
A new group set up to represent retailers in Cork city and county says it wants a seat at the table of decision-making on retail.
The Cork Retailers Association (CRA) becomes the latest group - alongside Cork Chamber and the Cork Business Association (CBA) who both count retailers amongst their membership - to speak on behalf of retailers in the region.
CRA spokesman John Minihan, who runs a pharmacy on Oliver Plunkett St and is a member of the CRAs interim executive, said there has never been a "dedicated voice" for retail in Cork and they plan to give a voice to the estimated 35,000 people working in some 5,000 retailers across the region.
And with the very large sector that it is and the conduit that it is for everything economic in Cork, we are taking on the challenge of establishing this organisation so that we can embrace change and effect change, he said.
Our message is all about positivity and progress for this sector and we want a seat at the table of decision-making on retail in Cork city and county and for an industry of this size - that seat is long overdue.
CRA's interim executive also includes retailers Pam ORegan, Tim Keane, Paul Gallagher, Wyon Stansfeld, Eddie Mullins and Michael Mulcahy.
The retail sector is already represented on CORE, the city centre partnership group, alongside representatives of Cork Chamber and the CBA.
City council chief executive, Ann Doherty, said CORE has had no formal communication from the new group and that any application to participate in CORE's work will be considered.
Confirmation of the new group comes just days after several city centre retailers, many of whom led vocal opposition to the city councils afternoon car ban on St Patrick's St, invited Retail Excellence to brief traders on the future of retailing. It is now preparing a report on retailing in Cork.
Mr Minihan said: We want Cork to be the retail capital of Ireland south and to reinvent its offering. We want every suburb, village and town in Cork to look at its local offering and reinvent itself where it needs to so that it remains relevant, vibrant and ready to embrace a future that will support it."
Since Emanuel announced in early September that he wouldnt seek another term, his campaign fund, Chicago for Rahm Emanuel, has made at least $620,000 in campaign contributions to 28 sitting aldermen, according to state campaign finance records. Eighteen of them won new terms outright in February. Another eight are in runoffs, and two lost outright in the February elections.
A project board has been established to drive the development of a new elective hospital that could ultimately replace the Mercy University Hospital and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in Cork.
The new build, which will result in the relocation of elective surgeries from Cork University Hospital, will include a diagnostics centre and possibly a primary care centre. The location should be decided by the end of the year.
The board, chaired by Professor Geraldine McCarthy, held its first meeting this month. Prof McCarthy, who is also chair of the South/Southwest Hospital Group, said four main workstreams have been identified.
They are:
Those driving the individual workstreams will have terms of reference and report to the chair. Prof McCarthy said a business case was submitted to the Department of Health in 2017 and an amended one in 2018 for an elective hospital and diagnostics centre and the possibility of a primary care centre.
The new hospital would allow the transfer of more elective surgery out of CUH where bed demand is constantly high.
Electives are not getting done to the extent that they should be when a hospital has an emergency department, said Prof McCarthy. With an elective/ambulatory hospital where GPs could directly refer patients, we would get a lot of work done uninterrupted.
Prof McCarthy said the project board asked the chief executives of the Mercy, South Infirmary, and CUH to identify what they think could be facilitated in such a facility with strong input from clinical leads and consultants.
Asked if the new hospital would mean the closure of the Mercy and South Infirmary, Prof McCarthy said: One or both would close.
What would happen to the Mercys emergency department is unclear.
Prof McCarthy said she would hope the bulk of the service redesign work will be completed by the autumn, after which they would present their plan to the HSE and Department of Health. Slaintecare, the Governments blueprint for health reform, commits to deciding on the criteria for site selection for the new hospital, as well as two new electives in Galway and Dublin, in 2019, as well as deciding on the locations.
Prof McCarthy said it would be best if site selection was taken out of our hands. She said: I would hope it would be done independently.
However, she said the new hospital would have to be within a short distance of CUH.
I have no fixed belief of where it should be, but it cant be somewhere thats more than half an hour away from CUH, she said.
Asked about funding, Prof McCarthy said they wouldnt need a huge amount upfront.
The Governments National Development Plan 2018-27 also contains a commitment to three new elective-only hospitals to tackle waiting lists and provide access to diagnostic services.
Revenue has announced that officers seized more than 58,000 cigarettes and 1.45kg of pipe tobacco during a cargo vessel search on Monday.
Revenue say the tobacco products had an estimated retail value of over 35,100.
Students in Cork have had to walk peers who express suicidal thoughts to a support centre because of a lack of mental health resourcing at third level, a union has claimed.
An official at Cork Institute of Technologys student union says the waiting list to see a counsellor is so lengthy, some students who experience mental health issues are putting off seeking an appointment in case they take a place from someone suffering greater difficulties.
The union has written to all Cork TDs, as well as President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, to seek extra supports and claim the current six-week wait to see a CIT counsellor is twice as long as that at any other third-level institute in the country.
CIT student union vice president for education Stephanie Kelly said students have had to accompany fellow students to Pieta House after they had expressed suicidal thoughts but had nowhere to turn. In other instances, students were brought to emergency rooms to ensure they were seen by a doctor.
Ms Kelly said that some students will not seek an appointment with a CIT counsellor for fear that they are prolonging the wait for someone who is feeling worse than them.
Its sad that students feel the need to prioritise other people when they need to go and seek help for their mental health, she said.
Ms Kelly said student union officers have had some training in how to spot warning signs of mental health difficulties, but that they are not trained counsellors or psychologists. There are instances when students who had not displayed warning signs presented to student union officials expressing suicidal ideation.
Its scary. The wait is 60,480 minutes to see a counsellor. That is a long time when you are living with depression every second of the day.
The letter to politicians warned that Cork is at crisis point with regards to mental health.
In CIT alone, our current waiting list as it stands is six weeks, the letter states. From conversations with our colleagues in student unions around the county, we have found that our wait lists are roughly three times what they are in other higher education institutions. Unfortunately, that means that students in need of someone to talk to are being turned away unless they are presenting as an immediate danger to themselves or others. People are dying because they cant get access to the help that they desperately need People are finally beginning not to be ashamed of their mental health but are still hit with a wall when they seek help.
We cannot attend more funerals of people who may still be here had they received help. We cannot take on the extra load of one-on-one meetings that we are not equipped for. We cannot risk our own mental health anymore.
Contact the Samaritans in confidence on 116 123.
A judge has criticised some young male drivers for treating public roads as some form of private racetrack to show off their driving skills and the performances of their vehicles, without regard to the dangers for their passengers or others. Judge Eugene OKelly made his comments as he sentenced 19-year-old Edward OShea from Magnh, Fenor, Co Waterford, to 14 months in prison for careless driving causing the death of 16-year-old Katie Murphy in a crash in October of 2016.
Mr OShea pleaded guilty at Waterford Circuit Court in January to careless driving causing the death of Ms Murphy, from Ballinamona in Waterford, and careless driving causing serious harm to friends Joseph Walsh and Jessica Flynn. The pleas were not accepted by the State and he went on trial at the circuit court earlier this year on charges of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing serious harm, but was convicted by a jury of the careless driving causing death and serious harm charges.
He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, concurrent, on each of the careless driving charges, by Judge OKelly and also banned from driving for six years and fined 800, the latter for driving on a learner permit without being accompanied by a qualified driver.
Judge OKelly referred to evidence of Snapchat messages sent from the car, not heard by the jury in the trial, one of which was from Katie Murphy to a friend shortly before the crash in which a female was heard saying they were probably going to die and another which contained a male voice saying they were travelling twice over the speed limit.
The court heard that the four friends were in a high-powered, modified Toyota coupe, registered in the name of Edward OSheas familys garage business and being driven by Mr OShea on the evening of October 5, 2016. Mr OShea had a provisional licence since the previous May and there was no qualified driver in the car with him.
Family of the late Katie Murphy outside Waterford courthouse after Edward OShea was sentenced to 14 months in prison: Scott (Katies brother), Vivienne (mother) and Hilary (father)
With other friends behind them in cars in convoy, they decided to head for a scenic area outside Tramore, and as they hit about 65km/h, the other cars lost sight of Mr OSheas car. On the Cliff Road on the edge of the town, the car went sideways at the entrance to a housing estate, hit a kerb and then collided with a wall. Katie Murphy died as a result of severe head and chest injuries while Joseph Walsh and Jessica Flynn suffered serious injuries.
Edward OShea told gardai at the scene that he didnt know what happened and was only doing about 30 at the time. He also said, I cant remember, I had a blackout, at the scene. A Garda forensic crash investigator found that the driver lost control of the car near the housing estate entrance and the car went sideways into a wall. Mr OShea was interviewed four times in a garda station following the crash but had no comment to make on each occasion.
John OKelly SC, defending, said Edward OShea worked as an apprentice mechanic in his father Michael OSheas garage business. It was evident from a probation report prepared on Mr OShea that he was very affected by the consequences of his actions and extremely aware of the terrible loss that the Murphy family suffered. He was not, in any way, unaffected by what happened, Mr OKelly said.
By pleading guilty to the careless driving charges, he said, he was prepared to accept responsibility for the consequences of his bad judgement and, obviously, bad driving on this day where he failed to negotiate this turn.
There were no previous convictions and a psychotherapist he has since been attending found he has been suffering from depression, survivors guilt, post-traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks, shame, grief, and insomnia.
A letter written by Edward OShea to the Murphy family was read out by his barrister, in which he said that with a broken heart, I want to personally apologise to the families affected. I am truly sorry, he said. I loved Katie and I miss her so much. I am so sorry that this happened and that you have to feel the pain and devastation you are going through.
He said he is devastated by the effect on so many people of his bad judgement on the day of the crash. I am truly sorry and hope that one day you will be able to forgive me.
Judge OKelly said he put the offences at the very upper end of the range of careless driving offences but took account of the accuseds age 17 at the time and immaturity. He criticised the OShea family garages extreme and blatantly irresponsibility in facilitating the accuseds driving unaccompanied by putting him on the garages insurance policy.
The judge said: Some drivers, particularly young men, treat the public roads as some form of private racetrack, for the exhibition of what they believe to be their driving skills and the performances of their vehicles, and do so without any regard for the potentially catastrophic consequences for their passengers and other road-users.
A toddler was left seriously injured after a hit-and-run in Cork City yesterday afternoon. Gardai at Anglesea Street Garda Station are appealing for information following the hit-and-run collision.
Shortly before 4pm yesterday, a three-year-old boy was struck by a car at Castle Meadows, just off the Skehard Road in Mahon on the south side of Cork City.
The Government jet will not be used to bring home Isis bride Lisa Marie Smith. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar ruled out using the jet to bring back Ms Smith from Syria, where she is understood to be interned in a camp with her two-year-old daughter. She will face a security assessment when she is returned to Irish soil. Cabinet briefly discussed Ms Smiths predicament yesterday and officials from the departments of justice, defence and foreign affairs are assessing how to help her.
In the Dail, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said a security assessment will be carried out to make sure the Dundalk woman is not a threat to life and limb here in Ireland.
Confirming the cabinet discussion, he added: I am very conscious of the fact that while nobody can condone the choice that she has made and the actions that she took in aligning herself with Isis, a terrorist regime that is hell-bent on the destruction of the West and Christendom, she does have a two-year-old child that is an Irish citizen and that child is an innocent child.
And, as is the case with all Irish citizens, they will be permitted to re-enter the State should they try to do so. But, of course, a security assessment will have to be carried out to make sure that Lisa Marie Smith is not a threat to any of us. We are working out how best that can be done to make sure that she does not become a threat to life and limb here in Ireland. But that does not apply obviously to a two-year-old child.
Responding to Labour questions, Mr Varadkar dismissed reports that the Government jet would be used to repatriate Ms Smith and her daughter. This suggestion was absolutely without foundation.
Furthermore, it emerged, the plane did not have the range to reach Syria or Turkey, the Dail heard.
Mr Varadkar also told TDs that he was aware of reports that Ms Smith, a former member of the Defence Forces, was in a camp in an area in northern Syria controlled by Kurdish forces. While consular assistance is traditionally given to Irish citizens, the States capacity to do so in a war zone is limited. It is understood the International Red Cross will try and help Ms Smith. The Government says her family has requested assistance.
A woman with an Irish accent in a burka was recently interviewed by CNN in the camp containing suspected Islamic State fighters, saying she was Irish and wanted to return to Ireland.
Meanwhile, the Government yesterday agreed terms to hold a referendum on May 24, coinciding with local and European elections, asking voters to reduce from four to two years the time divorcing couples must live apart. Voters will be asked to amend Article 41.3.2 in a move that will also take terms for living apart out of the Constitution and into the hands of legislators.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: The irreconcilable breakdown of a marriage causes immense sadness and stress for all concerned. The Government wishes to ensure that the process for obtaining a divorce is fair, dignified and humane and allows both parties to move forward with their lives within a reasonable timeframe.
Mr Flanagan also praised Arts Minister Josepha Madigan who has campaigned for and proposed changes to the divorce rules. Elsewhere, Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty brought proposals to beef up checks for bogus self-employment. This will include upskilling 200 social welfare officials, creating a standalone unit to inspect big firms, and creating a new workers rights code.
Jazz and punk rock may seem like opposite ends of the musical spectrum, but to drummer Brian Chase, switching between genres is all in a days work.
It basically comes down to music as expression, and I often see it in terms of language, says the drummer best known for his work with New York art-punk trio Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Just as different languages can express the same concept, in music, you can ask, how does the sentiment I love you get expressed in Indie Pop, or 60s R&B, or 19th century classical music? It becomes a matter of understanding different languages.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs say I love you in undeniably memorable style. They burst onto the early Noughties New York scene with a snarl, a three-piece with no bass guitar. But despite his love of punk, Chases roots are in jazz; conservatory trained, he took up drumming at the tender age of five. He comes from a musical family of eastern European origin. His Jewish Ukrainian jazz-band leader grandfather changed the family name from Chaikin to Chase in the 1950s, having fled anti-Semitism in Kiev in the 1920s.
I grew up listening to a lot of different music so the differences between genres dont feel like such a big deal to me, Chase says. I think that if people had a wider listening experience, then different music would be more accessible.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are ramping back up again with some upcoming gigs: they havent released an album since 2013s Mosquito. In the early days of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, it could have been imagined that they were a band on a typically punky nihilistic trajectory. Karen Os performances in grimy clubs could stray into dangerous territories: rolling on stages littered with broken glass, emerging onto the stage in ripped fishnets, her face scrawled with messages or her skin doused in olive oil.
But almost 20 years in, theres been no crash and burn. It starts off as super-energetic and feeds off that youthful hyperactivity, but with age and wisdom comes power, Chase says. Were more grown up. Were getting better command of ourselves as individuals.
Their enduring career can be credited to Karen Os insistence on taking long breaks between albums. After a tour it was like, right, get back in and start writing songs. I was thinking more along those lines, but Karen had a special insight. Now, I think if we had done that, we would have burnt out.
During their time out, both Karen O and Chase became parents. Chase also founded his own label, Chaikin Records, and has released his own triple album, a ten-year minimalist project called Drums and Drones, and an album with West Cork born jazz saxophonist Catherine Sikora.
Chase and Sikoras 2016 album, Untitled: after, is inspired by Seamus Heaneys translation of Beowulf. A forthcoming week-long tour will see the free jazz duo reunited; they met in New York but Sikora has returned to live in Ireland.
Its amazing to play with Catherine again, Chase says. Now, were separated by the Atlantic Ocean so getting this opportunity to play and present our music in Ireland is great. Well be playing some of the material from that album, but well be bringing in some newer material and start searching for some new directions on this trip.
Chases collaboration with Sikora can prove something of an acquired taste for fans of his more mainstream fare. There hasnt been as much over-lap as Id have liked, he says. Yeah Yeah Yeahs fans might be intrigued at first when they hear the music, theyll step into it for a minute, but their first reaction will be that its unfamiliar music.
Chases love of avant-garde music, and niche scenes in noise and jazz in New York earned him the moniker of consummate music nerd in the New York Times. Is it so? He laughs. Im a music nerd but there are other people out there nerdier than me. My nerdiness pales in comparison to the nerdiness of others.
Catherine Sikora and Brian Chase will perform at the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh on Friday, April 5
Carol Morley talks to Esther McCarthy about her new supernatural thriller, and her teenage years at the legendary Hacienda nightclub.
Patricia Clarkson is on the hunt for a killer in Carol Morleys new film Out of Blue, a police procedural with a daring supernatural twist. Clarkson plays Mike Hoolihan, an unconventional New Orleans cop on the trail of the killer of a renowned astrophysicist found shot in her observatory.
As Mike investigates, she finds herself drawn down the rabbit hole of parallel universes and cosmic secrets. Morley describes the film as a radical adaptation of the Martin Amis novel, Night Train isnt she concerned about drawing the ire of fans of the novel?
I think actually a lot of the Hitchcock films were adaptations of books but took them quite far away. The themes are true to the book and the intent. But its just as you start working on it you start to own it. I didnt want to make a literal translation or a description of the book. I wanted to take the themes and some of the characters and run with that and create characters.
Still, Morley does pay homage to the author a new character, Ian Strammi, is an anagram of Martin Amis. She became so involved in the characters and her story that she actually became confused when she read Amis take on them.
I read Martin Amiss memoir Experience which is really good. He mentions Night Train and some of the characters and I couldnt understand how he knew about them because theyd become mine. I mean it was this really weird slippage where I thought: How does he? And then I went: Oh yeah. You start to sort of own it in a really weird way.
COMPLICATED ROLE
Clarkson is excellent in the leading role and Morley felt she was perfect to play the complicated character.
She has this quiet intensity, the character herself is hiding a lot. I did do research and go meet homicide cops and theyre not over demonstrative, lets say, so I really wanted someone that could bring so much to a character without having to labour that. Bring so much to it without the emotion being available all the way. Over the years Ive really fallen in love with her and the characters that she plays, but also the depth she brings to them without labouring.
Morley has always been a filmmaker who marched to her own beat. Her psychological drama The Falling, about a mysterious fainting outbreak at a girls school, was effective and unnerving. But it was Dreams Of A Life, the docudrama about a woman, Joyce Vincent, whose body wasnt discovered for three years after she died, which really struck a chord.
Carol Morley
Actually the Irish Film Board were instrumental in that because they put money into that and the bedsit that you see in the film was filmed in Ireland, she tells me. We used post-production and we filmed here.
I think loneliness or being alone is a fear and also a reality for many. But also I think that this rise of so-called connection with social media, certainly hearsay and anecdotally, everybody looks happy or everybody looks like theyre having a great time so I think it does lead to isolation. Dreams of a Life hit because its something core to us all about who we are and where well end up.
I had never really thought about it but people were talking about dying alone.
"They were very concerned about dying alone. I hadnt really ever thought about that so much but that certainly came out.
Many, many people have told her at the time and since that the film prompted them to get in contact with friends, relatives and loved ones.
It was beautiful, it was a great legacy for Joyce you know. That was why I wanted to do it, because it just felt wrong, in a way, that somebody should be passed by.
PARTY GIRL
Carol, the younger sister of top music journalist Paul Morley, grew up in Manchester and experienced a huge trauma in her childhood when her father took his own life. Later in her teens, she turned to partying and later made a documentary about the people she met at that time, called The Alcohol Years.
Though she didnt feel it at the time, in hindsight, she realised it was connected to her enormous loss. At the time I think you dont think that. But now you go, yeah of course it was. I was 11 when my dad died and I think that then, also, youre becoming a person and sort of learning about the world so I think at 11, that happening is quite a brutal lesson on the world. Tragedy can make you stronger and make you see things differently. So its definitely informed my films.
She was a teenager in Manchester when legendary nightclub the Hacienda opened its doors, and spent a lot of time there in the early days when it was a cultural melting pot.
It opened in 1982. It was billed as a 2,000 capacity nightclub based on a kind of New York model but at the beginning about 100 people came. So it would be quite cold and youd all wear overcoats. It was before rave.
When it opened and they would have a lot of gigs there and also people doing things. I remember I saw William Burroughs there. So it was like my university at the time, getting exposed to things and finding things out. And then of course when anyone came to play at the Manchester Apollo they would come down to The Hacienda so youd get to see people like Siouxie and the Banshees. It was edgy in the way of being alternative but then later, after my time, it became edgy in terms of drugs and guns and thats why it eventually shut down.
LATE DEVELOPER
She didnt go to the cinema growing up, watching films on TV at home, and was in her 20s before she decided to study filmmaking.
I dont remember going to films as a kid. I saw films on TV like a lot of people. Paul was nine years older, and the culture in the house really was his little bedroom that had 100
albums. His thing was music. Id seen somebody have this passion and so that must have been instrumental.
Then he started to write for the NME when he was about 18, 19 and he interviewed Mark Boland and that was his first big interview. So I left school at 16 and I thought: Well Ill just be in a band and Ill make it. And then when I was about 23, I did
A-level film studies at nightclass in London which you normally do at 16. I had this teacher. And I just got into film. It was like the power of the teacher.
Out Of Blue opens on Friday
When it comes to environmental issues, from single-use plastics to water wastage, consumers are regularly told the solution is in their own hands, writes Grainne McGuinness.
But Im not sure the same message is getting out for other issues, including the loss of community amenities. The decline in the strength of Irelands local community has been cited as a factor in everything from mental health problems to the increase in homelessness.
Facilities like the local post office are the cornerstone of communities, and their loss hits hard. Rural residents can face serious hardship if their local office closes although the harm is also felt in urban communities. The closure of the Shandon Street branch in Cork city led to protests and complaints of long queues in the next available outlets.
Do you like having a local post office? Do you think your community would lose out if it closed? If so, have you looked at ways to use it more?
Hard-pressed Irish households are doing everything they can to stay afloat, and need to make the right financial decisions for their budget. But, when it comes to personal finance services, An Posts offering has extended so it may be possible to support your community while also helping your own bottom line.
The principal financial product is the current account and An Posts version has a number of features that make it an attractive proposition. An Posts does charge fees on its current account so you would have to compare it to what you are currently paying. At first glance, it would appear to be good value for those who pay most of their bills through their accounts and are disciplined about how frequently they visit an ATM.
Customers pay a monthly maintenance fee of 5 for their account which covers all electronic payments in the eurozone, except for ATM withdrawals. So this includes contactless payments, direct debits, online purchases and transfers, point-of-sale transactions and statements. It also includes one cash withdrawal per week at a post office. This is not bad when compared to Irish retail banks; it adds up to 60 per year so you can easily look back at your last years statements and see how it compares.
My only word of warning would be for those who visit an ATM multiple times a week, it is .50c per trip with this account, which could rapidly add up. But restrict yourself at the ATM and use contactless and point-of-sale and the fees are reasonable. The current account comes with a Mastercard debit card.
I have written previously about another of their benefits, aimed at putting some money back in the pockets of loyal spenders. When you use the account to buy from their partners, you will get money back. The offer ranges from 5% back on all transactions of 25 and above with Lidl to 10% back on direct debit payments with the SSE Airtricity MoneyBack plan. You can get a full list of their partners and the benefits offered at www.anpost.com.
Another neat feature is two wallets to allow customers put money aside for big or unexpected expenses. The wallets, which work like two mini-accounts alongside your main account, can be accessed online or through their mobile app.
Most consumers will need other products in addition to a current account and An Post are offering an ever-increasing range of these. For foreign travel, the An Post Money Currency Card now has 10 currencies and customers can get sterling and US dollars in cash. Safer than cash, cheaper and a credit card, it can also be topped up easily online.
An Post also offer loans of between 5000 and 75,000 with terms available of up to seven years and offer 0% Balance transfers for 12 months with their credit card.
Some Irish retail bank customers can also support An Post. If you have an AIB account, you can lodge or withdraw money and pay your AIB credit card at the post office. If youre an Ulster Bank customer, you can also lodge cash and pay your credit card. Some post offices also allow you to lodge cheques to AIB and Ulster Bank accounts.
Irish mammies have been portrayed on screens as domestic masters or martyrs for too long. Times have changed, writes Ed Power.
No two Irish mothers are the same. And yet, to judge by the depiction of motherhood in Ireland on the screen, you might be forgiven for concluding otherwise. The cult of the Irish mammy unflappable, resourceful and long-suffering is deeply embedded in film and TV. Brenda Fricker in My Left Foot won an Oscar for her portrayal of an indefatigable Irish mother, though as we shall see opinions differ as to whether she was embellishing or subverting a stereotype.
Brendan OCarrolls Agnes Brown is a potty-mouthed updating of that same caricature. And perhaps the most iconic evocation of cliched Irish motherhood the semi-invisible martyr bearing tea and biscuits came from a character whom, to the best of our understanding, wasnt even a mother: Mrs Doyle in Father Ted.
Its easy to write of the depiction of Irish motherhood on screen through the years as the Irish mammy, says Cork-based screenwriter Jonathan Hughes, who deconstructed these archetypes with his 2018 short film, Mother.
Master of the domestic domain, put upon, the ultimate martyr, is how he summarises the Irish mammy. Giving their long-suffering children a hard time. Harder on the daughters than the lout of a son. Technophobe, can barely send a text, and dont get her started on the Skype. But under it all beats the heart of gold, someone who would do anything for her family but dont you dare try to cross her.
The social construction of motherhood in Irish society is very likely also reflected [in cinema and television], adds Dr Anna Kingston, co-ordinator of UCCs Community-Academic Research Links initiate and a member of the universitys MA in Womens Studies teaching board. Good mothers are self-sacrificing, always putting their children first. They are married and heterosexual and, not too young, not too old, primary caregivers etc.
She feels, however, that Brenda Frickers take on suffering motherhood in My Left Foot confronted long-established perceptions of the maternal Irish woman.
[Frickers character] is an example of a mother who despite patriarchal oppression giving birth to 23 children refuses to give up on her son. A good example of maternal agency where the mother is an active subject, challenging so-called experts. This as opposed to the passive objectification of mothers who should be fulfilling their duties in the home.
Irish film and television are hardly unique in their condescending portrayal of motherhood. Globally mothers have historically been caricatured on screen as either quietly suffering or a disgrace to their vocation.
That mothers might just like fathers be well-intentioned but flawed is not a possibility that has traditionally been allowed for. Yet that reflex has lately come under attack. Promoting her recent film Birdbox, in which she plays a mother leading two children to safety in a post-apocalyptic world, Sandra Bullock was in little doubt that perceptions needed to progress. The way motherhood has been represented on film needed to not just change, she said. It needed to expand because the complexities of being a mum, I dont think, have not been fully represented cinematically. I learned that we need to start showing women in a more complex fashion when it comes to motherhood, she said in another interview promoting the same project.
Brenda Fricker, who won an Oscar in My Left Foot, with Daniel Day-Lewis. Picture: PA
The same we need to show men in a more complex fashion when it comes to those who are incredibly maternal and who are very demonstrative and loving and hopeful with their kids. Its happening all over the world but we are just not seeing enough of it on film.
Filmmakers responsibility to render motherhood in shades of grey rather than black and white is also underlined by the success of the 2016 movie Bad Moms about mothers who reject the pressure to be perfect.
And there are glimmerings of a more nuanced portrait of motherhood in the recent Irish horror film, The Hole In The Ground about a young mother (Seana Kerslake) who begins to suspect her son is a demonic changeling.
I cant think of a more realistic depiction of moms than this movie, and thats a little sad, said Bad Moms star Kristen Bell. When you put the word mom in there, this certain set of characteristics subconsciously infiltrates your mind. You enter this realm of martyrdom. People are scared to write mothers who take time for themselves. That was likewise the theme of director Sian Heder explored in 2016s Tallulah, about a young woman who steals a baby from an irresponsible woman and passes it off as her own.
After the premiere, I became this weird priest hearing these bad-mommy confessions, and I realised all moms feel like failures, said Heder, a mother of two. Theres a disconnect between the role of the mother as its presented in the movies and what it actually feels like to be a mom, the amount of guilt and shame you put on yourself.
In Mother, writer Hughes and director Natasha Waugh, likewise offer a fresh perspective on the Irish mammy. To her shock, the eponymous mother, portrayed by Young Offenders actor Hilary Rose, is replaced by a fridge. This is a commentary on how mothers can often come to be regarded or at least portrayed on screen as a glorified domestic appliance.
Its bonkers but I think reflective of how many mothers must feel, reduced to nothing more than an appliance or something to wait on you hand and foot, says Waugh. The fridge embodies a lot of ideas about women in the home, and the lead character is a working parent. I think its interesting, in the context of our archaic legislation that states that a womens is in the home. Irish mothers are this bastion of hearth and home, and old national values so the film takes that idea and turns into satire by replacing the mother with an appliance. The idea of a mother is reduced to something functional and something that provides bare essentials for the family.
I think mums are badass and were seeing that more and more, like in The Hole In The Ground. Thats a great example because Seana Kerslakes character is resolute, and takes matters into her own hands to rescue her son. I think whats interesting is seeing more depictions of single motherhood in this way. Hilary Rose who plays Grace in Mother has something similar with her role as Mairead MacSweeney in Young Offenders. Shes assertive, shes tough, she provides, while she faces the trials of raising a troublesome son. Were definitely moving on from the image of the Irish mammy.
Robert Mueller found no evidence that Donald Trumps campaign conspired or co-ordinated with Russia but the stage is set for a new set of political and legal battles, says Andy Sullivan.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller has concluded that nobody associated with President Donald Trumps campaign conspired or knowingly coordinated with Russia during the 2016 presidential election, and US attorney general William Barr says he does not see enough evidence to charge Trump with obstruction of justice.
But that does not necessarily mean Trump is in the clear he still faces multiple investigations into his business and other aspects of his political campaign, and Democrats are launching a wave of probes from Capitol Hill. The following are some possible next steps as Washington continues to wrestle over Russias role in the election, the conduct of Muellers investigation, and other aspects of the Trump-Russia saga.
HOW MUCH OF MUELLERS REPORT CAN BE MADE PUBLIC?
Barr said he wants to release as much of Muellers report as he can, as long as it does not undermine legal proceedings that should be kept secret, such as grand jury interviews, or interfere with other ongoing investigations. He is now going through the report to determine what can be released. Democrats are pressing Barr to release the entire report so they can draw their own conclusions. If he does not do so, expect a protracted tug-of-war that could end up in court.
THE QUESTION OF OBSTRUCTION
Foremost on Democrats minds is whether Trump obstructed justice by interfering with Muellers probe and other investigations. Barr says he did not, but he adds that Mueller presented evidence on both sides of the question. Democrats will press for access to Muellers full report as well as the underlying evidence he collected over the course of an investigation that interviewed 500 witnesses and issued more than 2,800 subpoenas. The Democratic chairs of six House of Representatives committees said on Friday they expected that evidence to be turned over on request to their panels, which cover everything from taxes to banking.
The House Judiciary Committee is also expected to continue its own investigation into alleged obstruction of justice after requesting documents from 81 people and organisations weeks ago.
US attorney general William Barr could face a grilling from Democrats. Pic: EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
TRUMPS ALLIES SAY ITS TIME TO MOVE ON OR MAYBE NOT
The Russia probe has dogged Trumps presidency from his first months in office. Trump allies say it is now time to move on and focus on substantive issues like the economy. But some of Trumps biggest supporters on Capitol Hill do not want to put the issue to rest just yet. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Lindsey Graham, a Republican, has said he wants to investigate whether top officials at the Justice Department discussed forcing Trump from office, and is pressing the FBI to hand over documents relating to their surveillance of Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser on Trumps election team.
BARR ON THE HILL
House Judiciary Committee chairman, Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat, said he planned to ask Barr to testify before his committee to explain why he thought Trump should not be charged with obstruction of justice.
Many Democrats are already suspicious of Barrs views on the issue. As a private lawyer, Barr wrote an unsolicited memo to the Justice Department last year arguing that Muellers obstruction inquiry was fatally misconceived and saying that presidents have all-encompassing authority over law enforcement investigations, even those that relate to him directly. Barrs views of presidential power are relevant not only when it comes to obstruction of justice but other issues like how much the administration is required to cooperate with congressional investigators which will be a key issue over the next two years. Barr faced pointed questions from Democrats during his January confirmation hearing. Any session devoted to obstruction of justice and presidential powers could be much more contentious.
Robert Mueller may not be willing or able to discuss aspects of his report.
MUELLER SPEAKS?
Mueller has not spoken publicly over the course of the 22-month investigation, but that might change now that his work is done. Nadler and House Intelligence Committee chairman, Adam Schiff, has said they may try to get him to testify in front of Congress. The questioning might be relatively polite as a former FBI director and decorated Vietnam War veteran, Mueller is one of the most respected people in Washington. But his testimony may not be that revealing. Mueller has cultivated a reputation as a scrupulous prosecutor, and he may not be willing to discuss evidence or reach conclusions not contained in his report. Also, as special prosecutor, he is required to defer to Barr as to what can be disclosed to the public.
US attorney general William Barrs conclusion that President Donald Trump did not obstruct justice, revealed publicly on Sunday in a letter to lawmakers, reflects inherent difficulties in proving such an obstruction case, legal experts said.
Barr sent a four-page letter to congressional leaders summarising a report by US special counsel Robert Mueller, handed in on Friday, which remains confidential. Mueller was appointed to investigate whether Trumps campaign conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election and to probe whether the president later unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe. Mueller vindicated Trump on the core question of Russian collusion, writing in his report that the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities, according to Barrs letter.
While Mueller stopped short of determining whether Trump obstructed justice, Barr concluded that there was insufficient evidence to bring such a case. Following are some reasons why proving an obstruction case against Trump was so difficult and what may lay ahead.
WHAT DID MUELLER SAY ABOUT AN OBSTRUCTION CASE AGAINST TRUMP?
Mueller said he did not reach a finding on whether Trump obstructed justice and set out evidence on both sides of the question, according to Barrs letter. Barr did not make this evidence public, noting only that Mueller said there were difficult factual and legal questions raised by an obstruction case. Muller said while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him, according to Barrs letter. Barr, however, found there was insufficient evidence to establish an obstruction case against Trump.
WHY WAS IT DIFFICULT TO PROVE OBSTRUCTION AGAINST TRUMP?
A federal law makes it a crime to attempt to influence, obstruct or impede the due administration of justice. To prove obstruction, prosecutors must show an individual acted with a corrupt, or improper motive a specific intent to impede an investigation. Muellers obstruction investigation likely focused on Trumps interactions with former FBI director James Comey, legal experts said. According to Comey, in February 2017 Trump asked him to back off an investigation into national security adviser Michael Flynn over Flynns contacts with Russia. Trump eventually fired Comey in May 2017.
I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go ... He is a good guy, Trump told Comey, according to a memo written by the former FBI director. Some legal experts have said in the last year that Trumps intent was clearly to block an investigation, and that there was a strong obstruction of justice case to be made. But others have said that establishing that Trump acted with the corrupt intent of blocking the investigation would have been difficult. Trump could have argued he was simply vouching for Flynns character, and not pressuring Comey to drop an investigation, these lawyers said. In an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt that aired two days after the firing, Trump said he was thinking of this Russia thing when he fired him. But Trump also said in the NBC interview and in others that he fired Comey because he was incompetent, weakening a potential obstruction case, experts said.
WHY DID BARR CLEAR TRUMP OF OBSTRUCTION?
An obstruction of justice case against Trump was also undermined by Muellers findings that the Trump campaign did not conspire with Russians to interfere in the election. Obstruction of justice is usually coupled with some underlying wrongful act that is being covered up, experts said. Barr cited this shortcoming in his letter, saying that, while not determinative, the absence of such evidence bears upon the presidents intent with respect to obstruction. Barrs letter also notes that obstruction, like any crime, requires to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court. Barr also noted that many of the actions described in Muellers report took place in public view. Obstruction of justice typically describes secret efforts to impede a court proceeding, and Barr may have viewed the public nature of Trumps acts as weakening the case against him.
COULD CONGRESS PICK UP THE OBSTRUCTION INVESTIGATION?
Yes. Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in January, giving them investigatory powers including the ability to issue subpoenas. US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement on Sunday that the fact that Mueller had not cleared Trump of obstruction demonstrates how urgent it is that the full report and underlying documentation be made public without any further delay.
COULD CONGRESS BRING AN OBSTRUCTION CASE AGAINST TRUMP?
The US Constitution empowers Congress to remove a president from office for high crimes and misdemeanors, including obstruction of justice through a process of impeachment. In an impeachment proceeding, lawmakers have broad leeway to define obstruction of justice and are not bound by Barrs determination, legal experts said. But impeachment is a very political process and appears unlikely because Trumps Republican party controls the Senate. Some Democratic lawmakers had hoped Muellers investigation would lay a groundwork for impeachment, but that hope has now largely faded.
MPs in the UK have voted for an amendment enabling them
Read More:
How will that work?
At 2pm on Wednesday, normal proceedings in the House will stop and MPs will then consider a backbench motion setting out the future Commons business, including the arrangements for staging indicative votes on the various options but forward.
Oliver Letwin tabled the amendment (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
The architect of the amendment, Tory former minister Oliver Letwin said he hoped to be able to work with both the Government and the Labour frontbenches in coming to an agreement on how it should actually work.
After a debate lasting up to an hour, the Commons will then start to consider the various propositions that are put forward.
How long will that take?
Its not clear, although Mr Letwin suggested it could be quite a lengthy process covering several sitting days, as the House whittles down the various options to one which can command a Commons majority.
Result of the House of Commons vote on Oliver Letwin amendment (PA Graphics)
He said that should stop MPs trying to game the outcome based on the sequence in which the votes are called.
Once they they have established which of the proposals have significant support, he said a way would have to be found possibly through some form of preferential voting system to zero in on the one around which a majority of MPs could coalesce.
Which options are likely to be considered?
It will be up to the Speaker, but Mr Letwin said he believed all serious proposals that were put forward should have a chance to be debated.
At one end of the spectrum that could include a second referendum or revoking the Article 50 withdrawal process altogether. At the other it could include a no-deal Brexit, leaving the EU on World Trade Organisation terms.
In between, there could be proposals for a softer Norway-style Brexit sometimes called Common Market 2.0 the customs union plan favoured by Labour, and a harder Canada-style free trade deal.
What is the Governments response?
Ministers have warned it sets a dangerous, unpredictable precedent while Theresa May has said she will not necessarily be bound by the results particularly if they are undeliverable by the EU.
That prompted Tory former minister Nick Boles to warn that MPs could bring forward legislation forcing the Government to act if ministers try to ignore the wishes of Parliament.
How long have they got to sort this out?
The clock is ticking. Last week the EU gave Mrs May until April 12 to come forward with an alternative plan if she cannot finally get her twice-rejected Brexit deal through the Commons in a meaningful vote this week.
- Press Association
Asia India to Auction Fugitive Billionaire's Art Collection
A man talks on a phone as he walks past a Nirav Modi showroom during a raid by the Enforcement Directorate, a government agency that fights financial crime, in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 15, 2018. / Reuters
MUMBAI Indian tax authorities are hoping for a windfall with the auction on Tuesday of rare oil paintings that were once part of fugitive billionaire jeweler Nirav Modis collection and have been seized by the government.
Auctioneers say the sale is the first of its kind in a country where tax authorities have usually auctioned property, gold and luxury items, but not art.
After a court order allowing the auction to take place, tax authorities, who are pursuing Modi over the countrys largest bank fraud, appointed professional auction house Saffronart.
The sale in Mumbai of some 68 works is expected to fetch anywhere between 300 million and 500 million rupees ($4.4 million-$7.3 million).
Until a few years ago, the tax authorities really didnt know the value of art, said Farah Siddiqui, an art adviser who is advising clients eyeing Modis collection.
The 48-year-old Modi, whose diamonds have sparkled on Hollywood stars, is one of the prime accused in a $2 billion loan fraud at state-run Punjab National Bank. Modi denies the charges and believes they are politically motivated.
The auction comes just weeks before a national election and as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces pressure to bring back Nirav Modi (no relation), who fled the country last year and has been residing in the United Kingdom.
He was arrested last week by British authorities and remanded in custody after he appeared before a London court. India asked Britain last August to extradite Modi.
The auction includes works by Raja Ravi Varma, a 19th century painter considered among Indias finest, and V.S. Gaitonde, a modern artist known for his abstract and often monochromatic paintings.
We believe that the collections intrinsic value will garner a positive response from collectors, said Saffronart Chief Executive Dinesh Vazirani.
India Law Alliance, a law firm representing the company controlled by Modi that owns the artwork, said it was challenging the court order that allowed the auction. The case will be heard by the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, a lawyer at the firm told Reuters.
Vijay Aggarwal, a lawyer for Modi, declined to comment.
Burma Ferryman Reportedly Shot Dead by Soldiers in Northern Rakhine
The wife of U Maung Chay and their two children sit at Rathedaung General Hospital on Tuesday morning. / Supplied
YANGON A ferryboat operator in northern Rakhine States Rathedaung Township was shot dead Monday morning by soldiers stationed at a temporary military base in the area, according to a local resident.
U Maung Win, a resident of Ahmyet Taung Village, identified the man as U Maung Chay, 33, a casual laborer and father of two from the same village.
He said U Maung Chay had dropped off two passengers from Ye Soe Chaung Village on the banks of the river of the same name and was heading back to the opposite shore when some soldiers from the military tactical operations base in Ye Soe Chaung called after him to turn back. But he said U Maung Chay probably could not hear them over the noise of the boats motor and kept going, at which point about four of the soldiers opened fire.
U Maung Win said U Maung Chay was hit by two bullets, on in the back and one in the arm, and that his body was taken to Rathedaung General Hospital Tuesday morning.
He said there was no fighting in the area between the military and rebel Arakan Army (AA) and that the military, which controls the area, had not informed locals that any locations were off limits.
Residents of Min Byar Townships Kalarma Tuang Village reported a similar incident on Monday as well.
Ko Khine Thura Hein said his brother, Maung Win Htay, was driving his boat across a local river with four passengers heading home to Kalarma Tuang Village from the neighboring town of Myebon when about 10 soldiers crossing a nearby bridge at the time opened fire on the boat. He said a bullet hit Maung Win Htay in the leg and that his brother then docked the boat near the bridge.
According to Ko Khine Thura Hein, the soldiers, from Light Infantry Battalion 380 based in Min Byar, said they had whistled at the boat to stop for inspection and then fired warning shots into the air, not at the boat.
Ko Khine Thura Hein said he was not aware of any official restrictions on movement in the area.
They should not target innocent civilian like this, he said.
Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for the military, said he was not aware of any shooting in Min Byar on Monday.
He said soldiers from the tactical operations base in Ye Soe Chaung did exchange fire for a few minutes that day with AA fighters who ambushed them from a mangrove forest and that the boatman was likely caught in the crossfire.
Last week, soldiers shot dead five civilians in Buthidaung Townships Say Taung Village and wounded eight others, driving the more than 2,000 residents from their homes for refuge in nearby urban areas. Locals said the shooting was unprovoked. The military said it was responding to AA attacks.
Burma Myanmar's Top Court to Hear Reuters Reporters' Appeal in Official Secrets Case
A journalist in a "Free Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo" t-shirt waits outside the Yangon Northern Distritc Court before a judge sentenced the pair to seven years in jail on Sept. 3. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy
NAYPYITAW Myanmars Supreme Court was scheduled on Tuesday to hear the appeal of two Reuters journalists imprisoned for breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, in a case that has raised questions about Myanmars progress towards democracy.
Reporters Ko Wa Lone and Ko Kyaw Soe Oo have spent more than 15 months in detention since they were arrested in December 2017 while investigating a massacre of Rohingya Muslim civilians involving Myanmar soldiers.
A judge found the two guilty under the Official Secrets Act in September and sentenced them to seven years in prison.
Both remain separated from their young daughters. The wife of 32-year-old Ko Wa Lone gave birth to their first child last year while Ko Wa Lone was behind bars. Ko Kyaw Soe Oo celebrated his 29th birthday in Yangons Insein jail this month.
Their convictions were heavily criticized by press freedom advocates and Western diplomats, putting additional pressure on Myanmar leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate who took power in 2016 amid a transition from military rule.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said in September, the week after their conviction, that the reporters case had nothing to do with press freedom as the men had been jailed for handling official secrets, not because they were journalists.
At the Supreme Court in the capital Naypyitaw on Tuesday, a judge will hear arguments for and against their appeal, alongside 17 other cases, according to a listing published on the courts website.
Myanmars Supreme Court has the opportunity to correct the serious miscarriage of justice inflicted on Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo for the last 15 months, Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler said in a statement.
They are honest, admirable journalists who did not break the law, and they should be freed as a matter of urgency.
The appeal, submitted last month, cited lack of proof of a crime and evidence that the pair was set up by police.
During eight months of hearings, Ko Wa Lone and Ko Kyaw Soe Oo testified that two policemen they had not met before handed them papers rolled up in a newspaper during a meeting at a Yangon restaurant on Dec. 12. Almost immediately afterwards, they said, they were bundled into a car by plainclothes officers.
A police captain testified that, prior to the restaurant meeting, a senior officer had ordered subordinates to plant documents on Ko Wa Lone to trap the reporter.
The prosecution said the reporters were caught holding secret documents at a routine traffic stop.
The high court in Myanmars largest city Yangon rejected an earlier appeal in January.
Before their arrest, Ko Wa Lone and Ko Kyaw Soe Oo had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys by security forces and Buddhist civilians in western Myanmars Rakhine State during an army crackdown that began in August 2017.
The operation sent more than 730,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, according to United Nations estimates.
Burma New Tanintharyi Chief Minister Pledges to Tackle Power, Land Issues
New Tanintharyi Region Chief Minister U Myint Maung takes the oath of office on March 25. / Tanintharyi regional parliament
YANGONThe new Tanintharyi Region chief minister has vowed to address power shortages and land disputes in the region.
As he took the oath of office as the regions new chief minister on Monday, U Myint Maung promised to return to local farmers the farmland that private companies have left idle, for the development of the entire region.
On Friday, the Tanintharyi regional parliament approved U Myint Maung, who previously served as the minister of natural resources and environmental conservation, as the new chief minister, replacing Daw Lei Lei Maw, who was arrested on corruption charges earlier this month.
U Myint Maung also promised to ensure fair power rates in Tanintharyi, where electricity is mainly supplied by private suppliers, making it expensive.
The governments anti-graft body found that the Global Grand Services company, whose directors were arrested along with Daw Lei Lei Maw on corruption charges, broke a contract with the regional government and owes 8 billion kyats (US$5.2 million) to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy for natural gas it purchased to generate the power it supplied in Tanintharyi.
The new chief minister also talked about developing the regions tourism and fishery industries, promoting regional security and the rule of law, and ensuring responsible extraction of natural resources.
I will build a clean, transparent, responsible and accountable government, he said.
U Myint Maung, who is also the National League for Democracys secretary for Tanintharyi Region, had been serving as acting chief minister since Daw Lei Lei Maw was arrested on March 10.
He was elected to the regional parliament from Kawthoung Township in the 2015 general elections.
His appointment is acceptable. We are taking a wait-and-see attitude. We dare not expect much from him, said Dawei resident Ko Wai Phyo.
The Tanintharyi Parliament on Tuesday also approved the three new regional ministers to fill vacant posts.
Daw Yi Yi Cho, regional lawmaker from Myeik Constituency 2 and U Aung Thura, regional lawmaker for Tanintharyi Constituency 1, were appointed as the regional ministers of planning and finance; and electricity and energy, respectively. Their predecessors resigned last week.
The former ministers, U Phyo Win Tun and U Kyi Hlaing, remain lawmakers for Myeik Constituency 1 and Pulaw Constituency 2.
U Hla Htwe, the regional lawmaker for Yebyu Constituency 1, was appointed minister of natural resources and environmental conservation to succeed U Myint Maung.
The Tanintharyi parliament has 21 elected lawmakers, all of whom are NLD members, and seven military appointees.
News Ex-Govt Figures Back Togetherand Back in Uniformfor a Day
Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing (left) and former general and ex-president U Thein Sein (front) observe statues of recipients of the Aung San Thuriya military honor on Tuesday. / Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services
YANGONIt has been nearly nine years since the last time former General Thein Sein was in military uniform. His presidency in 2011 saw him wearing civilian suits. Constitutionally, the same was true for his fellow generals and senior military officials who took Union ministerial posts in his administration until March 2016.
But they were their former military selves on Tuesdayfor a whiledonning military outfits to attend a ceremony.
A flock of former senior military officials mostly from the previous administration, including former general and ex-president U Thein Sein, gathered at a statue unveiling ceremony in Naypyitaw. The ceremony was held to honor the six holders of the prestigious military title Aung San Thuriya (all are deceased) and was joined by the current military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and other serving officials.
Among the attendees were former Union minister U Ohn Myint, a former lieutenant general who used to threaten people by saying, I can go around and slap everyones face If anyone insults or opposes the government, when he was the head of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development in 2014. The others included ex-brigadier general and former immigration minister U Khin Yi, and U Tin Aye, a former Union Election Commission chairman and ex-lieutenant general.
On Tuesday, they were all in olive green uniforms. Back in military uniform, the slapping minister took pictures with his wife and posted them on Facebook with the caption, I became a soldier again when I met my seniors, friends and juniors [at todays event].
Their appearance in their old outfits seemed unusual because, apart from attending the annual military parade on Armed Forces Day every March 27, they rarely show up in their uniforms. Its also interesting to speculate on why nearly everyone in the previous government suddenly appeared en masse in their former uniforms at a statue unveiling ceremony.
Yangon-based political analyst U Maung Maung Soe said it was not unusual for veterans to attend a military-related ceremony in full dress uniform.
But its strange when nearly everyone from the previous administration appears at once, he said.
He pointed out that their appearance coincides with a popular campaign across the country to amend the Constitution, initiated by the NLD. The military and the Union Solidarity and Development Party have complained that the NLDs approach is unconstitutional.
Probably, they just wanted to make a show of force. Who knows? he said.
Dr. Min Zaw Oo, a Myanmar affairs expert, said that it is not surprising that all the former generals have gathered in the capital for the Armed Forces Day ceremony to be held Wednesday, and that maybe they happened to come in to show solidarity. But he added that it could be that [the reason] is to show that former and existing personnel want to demonstrate that they pay attention to their heroes, regardless of their ethnicities, as four of the six service men with the Aung San Thuriya title were ethnic Karen, Chin and Gurkha.
But Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun, a military information officer, told The Irrawaddy that Tuesdays ceremony at the Mausoleum for the Fallen Heroes was to honor the six servicemen from 1948 to 1950s who have received the nations highest military honor, which is awarded for gallantry in protecting the countrys sovereignty. For veterans in uniform, he said, its normal.
As in other countries, they just want to show how seriously they take these heroes, he said.
On This Day The Original Panglong
Shan chieftains pose for a photo at the 1946 Panglong in Shan State.
Today marks the 73rd anniversary of a conference held in advance of the historic 1947 Panglong. The 1946 conference, which ran through March 28, also in Shan States Panglong Township, has been recognized as the first Panglong but is less known than the one that followed.
Though the conference was organized by the British with the intention of establishing a Shan State, U Nu, the vice-chairman of the Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League criticized the empires divide-and-rule policy. Shan, Kachin, Chin and Karenni chieftains signed an agreement at the historic Panglong Conference in on Feb. 12 the following year to collectively seek independence for the so-called frontier areas from Burma proper. The day is marked as Union Day on the Myanmar calendar.
In Myanmar politics, Panglong is synonymous with national unity. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of independence hero Gen. Aung San, has co-opted the name for her governments peace talks with ethnic minorities, calls the 21st Century Panglong.
Travel Distinctive Ethnic Cultures and Misty Mountain Towns Destination Guide to Western Myanmar
Koe Thaung Pagoda in Mrauk U which is preparing for nomination for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. / Marie Starr
Ngapali
Usually accessed by flight from Yangon and with many high-end hotels, Ngapali is known as a more upscale seaside getaway. Sunsets can be especially spectacular from this beach which has been dubbed one of Asias best. Though youre likely to spend most of your time relaxing on the white-sand beaches or under the shade of coconut trees dining on fantastic seafood, visitors can also go snorkeling, diving or take a boat trip.
Sittwe
Usually only visited on the way to Mrauk-U, Sittwe is the capital of Rakhine State and the center of Arakanese culture. Arakanese foodall fresh green chilies and juicy seafoodis loved far beyond the state and is a must-try while youre in town. In the morning, check out the bustling central market and in the evening join locals walking along the beach at sunset.
Mrauk-U
Mrauk-U is currently prone to outbreaks of conflict between Myanmars military and the Arakan Army and visitors should not travel to the area until it is officially declared safe.
Arguably one of the most special places in Myanmar, Mrauk-U was once the capital of the Arakan Kingdom which was a regionally powerful realm between the 15th and 18th centuries which is when most of the temples were built. Though some shoddy conservation work has been carried out, inside the most famous Shitthaung Pagoda is a series of tunnels lined with thousands of colorful carvings of religious and historical Arakan figures. Unlike Bagan, life in the vicinity of the temples remains as it always has been with farmers grazing their herds and kids fishing in the streams right next to the ancient structures.
Mount Victoria and Mindat/Kanpetlet
In southern Chin State, Mount Victoria is rising in popularity as an easygoing trekking destination set in a beautiful national park with wild orchids, cherry blossoms and rhododendron trees. Travelers usually base themselves at Mindat or Kantpetlet and drive to the base from where the trek to the peak takes two to three hours. There are now plenty of accommodation options, especially at Kantpetlet. Southern Chin State is where traditional facial tattoos are still seen on older women today.
Hakha and Falam
Falam is a typical example of remotest ethnic Myanmar with an unstable electricity supply, minimal modern construction, basic infrastructure and strong cultural and religious values. And these are just some of the factors which make it such a special place to visit. The hilly streets and incredible mountain views in every direction are unforgettable. Hakha is the capital of Chin State located about four hours south of Falam. The cold, often foggy weather and conifer trees and cherry blossom in the winter make it feel like these towns are in a different country altogether.
Tedim and Rih Lake
Tedim in northern Chin State is a small Christian town set around a peak among the beautiful blue Chin mountains. Theres not much to do in the town apart from admiring the view. Hiking to Kennedy Peak, Chin States second highest mountain located 90 minutes from Tedim, is not too taxing and worth it for the views. Nearby, Siansawn is a unique village on a neighboring hillside where the people have created their own religious sect and marriages are arranged by the village leader. Rih Lake is a famous heart-shaped lake four hours drive from Tedim and close to the Indian border.
Tuesday, March 26th, 2019 (8:28 am) - Score 4,997
Mobile operator Vodafone has warned that it would consider a legal challenge against Ofcoms forthcoming auction of the 5G friendly radio spectrum bands at 700MHz and 3.6GHz 3.8GH, unless the regulator changes their proposed strategy of auctioning these as part of a bundled package.
Ofcom are currently preparing to award 200MHz of spectrum frequency to UK mobile network operators (i.e. 80MHz in the 700MHz band and 120MHz in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band) and they hope to complete this by Spring 2020 (here). The purpose, they claim, for auctioning off both bands at the same time is so that the winners can bring the spectrum into use as soon as possible.
Sadly auctions of new mobile spectrum have become increasingly synonymous with legal challenges, which have an ugly tendency of causing significant delays to the roll-out of faster Mobile Broadband services and related coverage targets. The recent 4G/5G auction (2.3GHz and 3.4GHz) suffered various delays as operators argued over spectrum caps, while different gripes stalled the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands before that.
Unfortunately Vodafone have now signalled that they too might be prepared to hinder the latest auction. The operator is concerned that Ofcoms decision to auction off two very different bands at the same time could inflate spectrum valuations by indirectly forcing operators to bid for licenses they do not need (i.e. it makes valuing spectrum a harder task for auction participants).
The 700MHz band travels further and so is ideal for helping to improve rural coverage via 5G (indeed it includes a coverage obligation), while the higher frequencies in the 3.6-3.8GHz band dont travel as far but could be combined with other bands in urban areas to help deliver ultrafast multi-Gigabit fixed wireless broadband or mobile broadband speeds at low latencies.
Scott Petty, Vodafone UKs CTO, said (Lightreading): Putting [these bands] together in unusual combinations creates a very difficult situation where your valuation is hard to work out and you end up buying things you dont need because part of the bundle is something you do need. We could end up with a very fragmented spectrum situation depending on how the bundles are put together. It would be disappointing if a falling out over the spectrum auction stalls leadership and we stop deploying for a year and lose that leadership position. Do I want to spend money litigating? No, because it is a waste of money. If we have to, we might.
On top of that Vodafone are worried about a so-called two tier outcome, where one or two operators end up dominating specific bands and others miss out. Mind you this is hardly a new scenario for mobile operators and much depends on their appetite during the bidding (nature of the auction). For example, O2 is the only operator to own a 40MHz slice of the 2.3GHz band and Three UK is the only one to currently own a huge chunk of the 3.6-3.8GHz band (see below).
A Spokesperson for Ofcom told ISPreview.co.uk: A combined auction could allow winning bidders to bring these airwaves into use as soon as possible, so that people and businesses can benefit quickly from better services. Weve gathered a range of views on our plans, and well set out our decisions later this year.
Previous legal challenges have already caused the Government to toughed up Ofcoms ability to fight them off (i.e. requiring operators to prove theyre challenging the substance of the regulators decision instead of its technicalities) and to introduce an updated appeals system. The changes have made it possible to resolve such situations in a shorter space of time, although they do not completely remove the possibility of significant delays.
Meanwhile other mobile operators, such as Three UK, are known to have concerns about the currently proposed coverage obligations on the 700MHz band and the possibility of future obligations for other bands. However any operator choosing to rail against the new obligation risks looking like a pariah to consumers, many of which have grown tired of the UKs flaky mobile connectivity outside of busy towns and cities.
All of this puts Ofcom in a difficult position. If the regulator continues on its course then Vodafone may challenge and cause delays, but if they make any a big change(s) then that could require another consultation and this in turn might create its own delays.
The current distribution of mobile spectrum between UK operators can be seen below (correct as of December 2018).
March 25, 2019
POCATELLO Idaho State University Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Mustafa Mashal was awarded the Southern Idaho Section Engineer of the Year award at the 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Awards Banquet on March 19.
The awards banquet was part of the ASCE Southern Idaho Sections first annual civil engineering conference held at Boise State University.
The award is given to a civil engineer with eight-plus years of experience who has made outstanding contribution to the field of civil engineering through leadership, research, and career accomplishment, and contributions to community, society, humanity, promotion of civil engineering profession including mentoring, and serving ASCE at either local, section, regional, or national level. The awardee must be a member of ASCE within Region 8 in good standing.
Mashal is an expert in structural and earthquake engineering. He obtained his Ph.D., masters and bachelors degrees in civil engineering with focus on structural and earthquake engineering from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, University at Buffalo-SUNY in the United States, and Kabul University in Afghanistan, respectively.
He is a registered Professional Engineer in Idaho, a Chartered Professional Engineer and International Professional Engineer in New Zealand (buildings and bridges), and is certified by the Structural Engineering Certification Board in the United States.
Mashal designed and supervised construction of the new Structural LAB (SLAB) at ISU that was officially opened in October 2017. He also supervised the renovation of several other labs in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is an affiliated faculty with the Center for Advanced Energy Studies in Idaho Falls and has collaborated with Idaho National Laboratory. He has been the faculty advisor for the ISU ASCE Student Chapter since August 2016.
Mashal has many years of consulting experience in the United States, New Zealand and Afghanistan. He started his career working on complex projects of the United States Army Corps of Engineers in Afghanistan in 2006. Following the Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand in 2011, Mashal has been involved with seismic assessment, retrofitting and design of a variety of structures. He has served as an expert for companies in New Zealand and the United States.
In addition, Mashal is the holder of U.S. and international patents on novel metallic seismic devices for vibration protection of structural and non-structural components.
The ISU assistant professor has authored/co-authored more than 50 publications. He has been the recipient of externally funded projects at ISU. Mashal has been working on projects funded by Idaho Transportation Department, Center for Advanced Energy Studies and other funding agencies. He has been serving in several building code/technical committees for buildings and bridges at the national level in the United States.
I am humbled to know that I was selected for the Engineer of the Year Award, Mashal said. It is a great honor. I have enjoyed my career as a civil engineer and I thank the ASCE Southern Idaho Section for recognizing my contributions to the profession. I dedicate this award to the hard working students of the Department of Civil and Environmental engineering at ISU.
This is a great honor for Dr. Mashal and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at ISU, said Scott Snyder, dean of ISU's College of Science and Engineering and interim vice president for research. The fact that one of our accomplished assistant professors can win Engineer of the Year speaks to Dr. Mashal's experience working in both industry and academia and the quality of the program he represents.
Mashal has also been selected to participate in the competitive Center for Advanced Energy Studies Summer Visiting Faculty Program in 2019. The main focus of CAES is collaboration, this summer program has been designed to bring university faculty and Idaho National Laboratory researchers together to interact, build new relationships/networks, and develop joint funded research programs. Mashal will work with collaborators from the INL on areas of mutual research interest.
For more information on Mashal, visit https://sites.google.com/isu.edu/mustafamashal.
Professional services outfit KPMG Australia has hired two new professionals to bolster up its cyber team which offers services like strategy and governance, cyber transformation, cyber defence and cyber response.
The company said in a statement that Katherine Robins (below, left) and Phil Baker (below, right) had joined what it described as an industry-leading team.
Robins has worked in a number of industries, ranging from automotive, telecommunications, mining and high education for more than two decades, with previous stints at Telstra, Deloitte, IBM, and BHP Billiton.
The statement said she would concentrate on "building leading-edge digital security services around cloud, mobility, Internet of Things, and next-gen services for clients".
Gordon Archibald, National Partner and leader of KPMG Australias Cyber practice, commented: Cyber security and data privacy have consistently ranked as top priorities for Australian chief executives, and is a strategic growth area for KPMG.
"We are excited to be adding two of Australias top cyber experts to our leadership team as we continue to grow and invest in our business, in response to client demands.
"Both Katherine and Phil bring in-depth expertise, and unparalleled technology and cyber skills. They will play a major role helping KPMG to shape the future of how our clients safeguard their digital systems.
Robins said: "The need for a sophisticated and all-encompassing approach to cyber has never been greater, and KPMG is playing a critical role in supporting clients to deliver effective and efficient security strategies.
"Im excited to be joining the fast-growing and highly-accomplished team at KPMG, and of course to add my own experience to how we approach cyber in the Australian market."
Baker has worked with Telstra and PwC and spent 25 years with the British and Australian armed forces. He will deal with KPMG clients in Canberra.
Said Baker: KPMG have made a significant investment in developing the depth of technical skills needed in a modern cyber practice, in areas such as cyber security strategy realisation, cyber risk management, privacy, data security, business resilience and access management.
"Im looking forward to working with the team here to bring our capabilities to our Canberra and national clients."
Global ICT solutions and services provider Dimension Data and Japanese telco NTT have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Australias Deakin University and Western Sydney University to collaborate on research projects, including a focus on the health of the ageing.
The research projects will focus on solving social challenges that are common between Australia and Japan, and the joint-vision partnership is the first time NTT has entered into an agreement of this nature with research institutions outside Japan.
Under the agreement, all parties say they will start working together to develop and implement innovative solutions to improve the lives, health and well-being of citizens.
The MOU was officially signed at a ceremony at Dimension Datas Australian headquarters in Darling Park, Sydney and attended by representatives from all parties including Katsuhiko Kawazoe, senior vice-president, head of Research and Development Planning at NTT; Steve Nola, chief executive of Dimension Data Australia; Julie Owens, deputy vice-chancellor, Research at Deakin University, and Deborah Sweeney, deputy vice-chancellor and vice-president, Research and Innovation at WSU.
Dimension Data and NTT say the emphasis on healthcare, disability and ageing is influenced by the ageing populations in both Australia and Japan and the challenges this poses for society as a whole.
The companies say Japanese societal transformation plan, "Society 5.0", has inspired the MOU and explores how the development and access to disruptive technologies, such as connected healthcare can transform and improve society.
This partnership provides a framework for Australia and Japan to drive the creation and commercialisation of technologies and solutions to address real-world issues such as the needs of the disabled and those of an ageing population, the companies note.
Dimension Data and NTT say that in order to realise this vision, several joint research projects will be established and will commence in the next 12 months. The projects include research and development into communication between dementia patients, their family and other caregivers, as well as research and development on smart homes to ensure a safe and secure life for the elderly and the disabled.
Kawazoe said, This MOU is testament to the strong bonds forged between Australia and Japan, and demonstrates our commitment to the transference of knowledge between our two markets. It represents another chapter in our ongoing partnership with Dimension Data, Deakin University, and WSU to create solutions and applications that will help our societies grow and prosper.
The missing piece of Australia's innovation puzzle is often identified as the strategic collaboration between universities and the business community, Nola said.
This MOU is a significant step towards preserving Australias economic future. The collaboration between business and academia drives knowledge exchange and innovation, and that innovation is what underpins economic and societal growth. This co-innovation partnership deepens our relationship with two of Australias leading universities and enable us to commercialise cutting- edge solutions which will help Australian businesses solve fundamental problems and create new value for years to come.
Professor Owens said, Deakin has been working closely with Dimension Data for several years, and we are excited to now extend that partnership to NTT. Our strong engagement with one of the worlds most significant technology companies, gives confidence that we can open up new technologies to change how aged care is delivered in Australia and Japan and have a genuine impact on the communities we serve.
Professor Sweeney said, Western is committed that its research will have real impact and deliver tangible health outcomes for the benefit of the community. The applied, translational, end-user focus of our researchers perfectly complements the world leading tech capabilities of our partners. This collaborative model exemplifies Westerns commitment to partnerships, were extremely excited at the prospect of what our joint initiative will achieve.
Last year, delegates from Deakin University and WSU participated in the NTT R&D Forum in Tokyo, with the R&D Forum serving as the annual proving ground for NTTs breakthrough technologies and providing an opportunity to introduce next-generation innovations to NTTs customers, partners and employees.
The Federal Government will fine social media and online platforms operating in the country $10 million for serious breaches of the Privacy Act, or thrice the value of any benefit derived from the breach.
"This penalty and enforcement regime will be backed by legislative amendments which will result in a code for social media and online platforms which trade in personal information," Attorney-General Christian Porter said.
A joint statement on Tuesday, from Communications Minister Mitch Fifield and Porter said legislation would be drafted for consultation in the second half of 2019.
Regarding the fines, the two ministers said a third option would be to fine the offending company 10% of its annual domestic turnover, with the biggest amount to be charged.
Can you imagine the roars of laughter from the representatives of Google, Facebook and Twitter after their meeting with Luddites Mitch Fifield and Christian Porter this afternoon. These blokes have no idea what algorithms are, let alone how they're used. #auspol pic.twitter.com/v1AvjYUTcp ???? ????? (@actualfredsmith) March 26, 2019
Porter also said: "The draft legislation will also incorporate any relevant findings of the current Digital Platforms inquiry by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission which is due to issue its final report in June 2019."
The government's reaction comes in the wake of events in Christchurch on 15 March when a white supremacist gunman killed 50 Muslim worshippers in a mosque and live-streamed the shooting on Facebook. The social media giant removed the video after more than an hour and YouTube also struggled to remove clips of the killing.
Porter and Fifield said the new fines would be imposed under the Privacy Act.
Other measures they announced were:
Giving the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner with new infringement notice powers backed by new penalties of up to $63,000 for bodies corporate and $12,600 for individuals for failure to cooperate with efforts to resolve minor breaches;
Expanding other options available to the OAIC to ensure breaches are addressed through third-party reviews, and/or publish prominent notices about specific breaches and ensure those directly affected are advised;
Requiring social media and online platforms to stop using or disclosing an individuals personal information upon request; and
Introducing specific rules to protect the personal information of children and other vulnerable groups.
"Existing protections and penalties for misuse of Australians personal information under the Privacy Act fall short of community expectations, particularly as a result of the explosion in major social media and online platforms that trade in personal information over the past decade," Porter said.
For a better experience on our website and avoid any trouble, we strongly recommand to activate Javascript ( click here ).
Hello and welcome to Journal des Palaces
You are a communication or the PR manager?
Click here
You are an applicant?
Check out our questions and answers here !
Vancouver, British Columbia / TheNewswire / March 26, 2019 - Pacton Gold Inc. (TSXV: PAC, OTC: PACXF) (the "Company" or "Pacton") is pleased to announce that the initial field work program at the Tardarinna Gold Project in Pilbara, Western Australia, has commenced.
Exploration is focused on high-grade, at surface, visible gold mineralization in the unusual "Tardarinna" metagabbro that contains a mineralized shear zone along 1 km of known strike. Prior work generated sample grades up to 328 g/t Au, obtained from a trench dug to a depth of 10m and a width of 1m, estimated to contain 400 t grading 66.8 g/t Au. (Source: Government of Western Australia, Minedex Site Code: S0024887.) Prior work also reports eluvial gold showings downslope from the prominent, resistive gold-bearing, stockworked Tardarinna metagabbro.
Highlights:
Large, high-grade identified gold target: Field work is focused on high-grade, shear hosted gold mineralization within a known 10-50 m wide shear zone extending for over 1 km.
Surface gold mineralization: Previous sampling has reported grades of up to 328 g/t Au from surface with visible gold.
Historical workings: Historical eluvial gold mining has occurred downslope of the prominent Tardarinna metagabbro.
Increased target size potential: The entire Tardarinna tenement contains the structurally intense "nose" of a distinct southeast plunging syncline that is dramatically outlined by folded Tardarinna metagabbro, most of which has not been explored.
Upcoming drill program: Mapping and rock chip sampling will be used to help define the extent of gold mineralization and to plan the initial drill program.
Prospecting & Logistics Assessment: Johnathon Campbell is leading a prospecting campaign across Pacton's West Pilbara tenements to assess the near surface nuggety gold potential and also conducting a logistics assessment across Boodalyerrie, Yandicoogina and Tardarinna.
Dale Ginn, Chairman for Pacton Gold, stated "The high-grade gold mineralization at Tardarinna represents a particularly compelling target, with previous surface sampling yielding results of up to 328 g/t. This initial sampling and geological mapping program will increase our understanding of the geology, as well as the number and size of additional targets at the project, and will assist our targeting process for drilling later this year. Our initial geological work will concentrate on the gold-bearing shear stockworks of the Tardarrina metagabbro, the fold axis of the anticline near the known gold occurrences, the unexplored north trending arm of the anticline, and the Mallina formation under the eluvium between the anticlinal metagabbro arms. The Mallina formation is reported to contain gold in a similar anticlinal setting at Croydon, 45km to the north
In addition, Johnathon Campbell, a highly-regarded Pilbara prospector, will carry out a prospecting program and logistics review across Tardarinna and our other West Pilbara tenements to accelerate exploration progress."
Pacton has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Tardarinna Gold Project in Pilbara, Western Australia (see news release dated March 1, 2019). The Company will acquire a 100% interest in the Project by issuing 1,250,000 common shares on closing of the transaction, subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Tardarinna Project
The Tardarinna Project is located approximately 125 km southwest of Port Hedland, 10 km southwest of Croydon Outcamp and 50 km southeast of Whim Creek, Western Australia (Figure 1).
Pacton's Tardarinna project is located in an area that once hosted an old Archean terrane that was completely obliterated by granodiorite and granite intrusions. This old basement was covered with sedimentary rocks of the Mallina formation of the De Grey Group, mapped as varying from 2.5 km to 10 km thick. Subsequently, a gabbro sheet-like intrusion up to 700 m thick was intruded along the bedding plane of the Mallina formation near its base. The entire area was then subjected to two significant structural events, resulting in the development of synclines made obvious by the distinctive dark metamorphosed Tardarrina gabbro, which remains over 500 m thick in most places. (Figures 2 & 3). The Tardarrina area was then completely covered by Mount Roe volcaniclastic rocks, subjected to two more minor folding events, and the emplacement of the regional Powereena dolerite dyke. Erosion subsequently exposed the Tardarrina metagabbro, leaving relatively flat-lying Mount Roe formation cover in the south and west portions of Figure 2.
The known gold mineralization in the area, apart from eluvial showings, occurs in the spectacularly folded Tardarinna metagabbro. (Figures 2 & 3). The Tardarinna metagabbro is resistant, and its strike controlled ridges dominate the local topography. The nose of a southeast plunging anticline occurs within the tenement boundary and presents an outstanding exploration target. The Tardarinna metagabbro contains a complicated, dense stockwork of sheared quartz and calcite veins, with many orientations showing obvious gold transportation into the system. The metagabbro is rich in textures, ranging from fine-grained to large grained pegmatitic texture. Gold mineralization consists of free gold, and gold associated with minor amounts of iron, copper, lead and nickel mineralization.
Figure 1. Pacton Gold's Australia property map showing the location of Tardarinna Project
Figure 2. Pacton's Tardarinna Project (E 47/3745). Local geology showing multi-phase folding of metagabbro gold host rocks with spectacular large scale folding represented by alternating synclines and anticlines. The rocks between the fold arms, elluvial in nature at surface, are mapped as Mallina formation of the De Grey Group, and contain the injected Tardarinna metagabbro. The south and west portions of the area are overlain by the Mount Roe formation of basalt and volcaniclastic rocks. The Powereena dolerite dyke cuts all rocks and, except for erosion, represents the last geological event in the area.
Figure 3. Tardarrina Project. Sampling locations, geology and structure.
About Pacton Gold
Pacton Gold is a Canadian exploration company with key strategic partners focused on the exploration and development of high grade conglomerate and orogenic gold properties located in the district-scale Pilbara gold rush in Western Australia and the Red Lake District, Ontario.
The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dale Ginn, P.Geo., a director of the Company and a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. The qualified person has not yet verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in the written disclosure.
On Behalf of the Board of Pacton Gold Inc.
R. Dale Ginn
Executive Chairman
For more information, please contact 1-(855)-584-0258 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
This news release may contain or refer to forward-looking information based on current expectations, including, but not limited to the Company achieving success in exploring its properties and the impact on the Company of these events, including the effect on its share price. Forward-looking information is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, as actual results may differ materially from forecasted results. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date hereof and we assume no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances. References to other issuers with nearby projects is for information purposes only and there are no assurances the Company will achieve similar results.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the Company) announced today its Nevada Mining Units exploration plans include targeted expansion of the Isabella Pearl (IP) open pit deposit by testing the adjacent Civit Cat North. Additional nearby targets with open pit potential include Scarlet, where numerous high-grade surface samples are situated over historic drill intercepts including 70.1 meters of 1.02 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, and the Civit Cat North West target also along trend, where historic surface samples have reported grades as high as 9.70 g/t gold. Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, U.S.A. The Company has returned $111 million to its shareholders in monthly dividends since commercial production commenced July 1, 2010 and offers its shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery.
A modest 2018 drill program testing the boundaries of the IP deposit increased year-end reserves by 22,200 gold ounces and increased the deposits average gold grade by 2.7% to 2.28 g/t. Looking to build on the 2018 drill program success, Civit Cat North is the next target for potential IP pit expansion, which is the northern extension of the Civit Cat trend, located within the IP deposits northern boundary and currently hosting proven and probable reserves. Surface samples from the Civit Cat North target have reported grades as high as 2.1 g/t gold.
Much of the early mine bench material in Civit Cat was estimated to be waste in the IP mine plan; however, a significant amount of this material to date has shown economic mineralization and has been delivered to the heap leach pad for future gold extraction. Topographic constraints around Civit Cat North have limited its historic exploration drilling. With the upper portions of the pit shell now removed from mining, there is better access to test the Civit Cat North target. If future drill programs define sufficient mineralization at Civit Cat North, a pit lay-back to the north would be analyzed to potentially expand the IP open pit.
In addition to adding to the IP deposit, the Company targets nearby gold discoveries for additional open pit mining to the north west including the Scarlet and Civit Cat North West targets. Scarlet begins approximately 100 meters north west of the Isabella Pearl Projects current planned pit boundary (see target map below). Although limited historic third-party drill data exists in this area, the results are encouraging.
Three (3) historic reverse circulation drill holes returned (m = meters, g/t = grams per tonne):
Hole # TS-32* drilled at 90 degrees 32.00m of 1.12 g/t gold (from 33.53 meters down hole) incl. 1.52m of 5.49 g/t gold incl. 7.60m of 1.81 g/t gold Hole # TS-37* drilled at 90 degrees 70.10m of 1.03 g/t gold (from 128.02 meters down hole) incl. 18.24m of 1.53 g/t gold incl. 7.60m of 1.70 g/t gold incl. 9.12m of 1.19 g/t gold Hole # TS-39* drilled at 90 degrees 19.81m of 0.73 g/t gold (from 156.97 meters down hole)
*Historic third-party drill results
Gold Resource Corporation has also collected and assayed numerous surface samples at Scarlet with gold grades assaying as high as 9 g/t (see surface sample highlights table below). There is a consolidation of high-grade surface samples at Scarlet along the Pearl fault structure. At least three north west regional faults extend through the IP deposit, with geologic models suggesting mineralization hosted in both the Isabella and Pearl structures may extend north west through the Scarlet target area. The high-grade surface samples are situated above and near the three historic drill holes at Scarlet, including 70.1 meters of 1.03 g/t gold starting at 128 meters down hole. Depending on the dip of this mineralization, these drill holes could represent the extensions at depth of the high-grade mineralization sampled at surface.
In addition, the IP deposit is being mined from the top of two peaks to access a higher-grade core at depth. Scarlet has a lower elevation, as it sits deeper in the valley at the base of the mountains. In other words, the elevation of the IP deposits high-grade core is closer to the surface elevation at Scarlet. Because of this proximity to surface the overburden/waste rock at Scarlet could be much less. The high-grade surface and historic drill intercepts make Scarlet a priority target, indicating that it could be the next minable deposit discovered at the Isabella Pearl Project.
Initial exploration efforts are planned to focus on the south eastern portion of the Scarlet target, which lies within the current permitted IP mine plan of operations, potentially reducing the number of permitting requirements necessary to bring additional mineral resources into production. The initial Scarlet drill program has been defined and the Company plans to begin drilling this area once commercial production has been established at Isabella Pearl.
Records from Scarlet of historic drill holes, including an intercept of 70 meters of 1 gram per tonne gold starting 128 meters below the surface, has the signatures of a potential deposit and warrants additional exploration, stated Mr. Barry Devlin, Vice President of Exploration. There is a high probability the surface samples we have collected at Scarlet connect to the deeper drilled mineralization. Our exploration program targets this prospective area, with a goal of discovering and delineating our next deposit at our Isabella Pearl Project.
The Company also plans an exploration program at the Civit Cat North West (CCNW) target, located along the same trend and faults as the Scarlet target and IP deposit. Located approximately 3,000 meters north west of the IP Project, CCNW was mined on a small scale historically producing approximately 2,300 ounces of gold from several disconnected areas including a 9-meter shaft, a 50-meter lower adit and 110-meters of upper adits and workings. Historic third-party rock chip assays ran as high as 9.70 g/t gold (see CCNW assays below). The Company plans to initiate the exploration drill permitting process at CCNW, with a goal of discovering another open pit gold deposit at the IP project.
The Isabella Pearl mine has a current estimated mine life of four and one-half years and we are optimistic we can add to that with the Civit Cat North and other targets, stated Gold Resource Corporation CEO and President, Mr. Jason Reid. It is not uncommon for numerous deposits to be located along the same mineralized trend. We look to targets including Scarlet and Civit Cat North West as having excellent potential of becoming additional open pit deposits. We know at least four historic open pit gold deposits operated south east along this same mineralized trend with the nearest one producing about three hundred thousand ounces of gold. Isabella Pearl is the fifth deposit along trend. Our property position spans over six miles on trend to the north west with numerous areas of open pit potential beyond Scarlet and the Civit Cat North West target. The exploration potential along this trend is tremendous and we expect to become a very long-term operator in this mining district.
Mr. Reid continued, With our Isabella Pearl mines construction activities nearing completion and mine operations ramping up, it is time to start focusing on the expansion of the project with a goal to extend its longevity by discovering numerous additional open pit gold deposits.
ISABELLA PEARL SURFACE SAMPLE HIGHLIGHTS SCARLET TARGET CIVIT CAT NORTH WEST TARGET Sample Number Au g/t Sample Number Au g/t 843652 0.836 300 2.52 843653 3.757 301 9.70 843659 0.773 302 1.81 843660 1.252 303 3.15 843661 0.848 304 3.41 843669 1.217 305 1.13 843670 0.933 310 1.58 843672 4.617 318 0.72 843673 0.621 320 0.48 843674 2.052 321 1.22 843676 0.553 322 0.21 843681 1.158 324 1.13 843682 0.554 325 7.82 843683 1.414 328 7.92 843684 1.535 332 0.84 843688 1.261 345 1.74 843689 0.787 347 0.97 843694 2.141 348 0.56 843695 9.278 358 3.40
Scarlet target samples taken by Gold Resource Corporation and assays reported by Inspectorate America Corp., Sparks, Nevada, USA. Civit Cat North West Target samples are historic assays reported by previous operators.
About GRC:
Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, USA. The Company targets low capital expenditure projects with potential for generating high returns on capital. The Company has returned $111 million back to its shareholders since commercial production commenced July 1, 2010 and offers its shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery. For more information, please visit GRCs website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com and read the Companys 10-K for an understanding of the risk factors involved.
Cautionary Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. When used in this press release, the words plan, target, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding Gold Resource Corporations strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Gold Resource Corporation on the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the Companys 10-K filed with the SEC.
Contacts:
Corporate Development
Greg Patterson
303-320-7708
www.goldresourcecorp.com
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / TheNewswire / March 26, 2019 (TSXV: NRG, OTCQB: NRGOF, Frankfurt: X6C) - Newrange Gold Corp. ("Newrange" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing geological interpretation and relevance for the exploration model on the Pamlico Project in Mineral County, Nevada. A review of all Reverse Circulation (RC) drill hole assays (highlights of all holes have been previously released and results available on the Company's website at www.newrangegold.com) has concluded that gold mineralization appears to fall into three broad categories: High-grade (>10 g/t) gold mineralization, locally with coarse visible gold, exists in discontinuous vein-like structures that cut mid-grade (1-10 g/t Au) fracture-controlled gold mineralization that, in turn, is surrounded by a large 'cloud' of lower-grade (<1.0 g/t Au) mineralization.
Furthermore, the level of oxidation locally extends for approximately 300 meters beneath the surface and recent metallurgical work completed on drill hole samples has indicated high recoveries, low reagent consumption and fast leach times (See Newrange news releases dated Dec. 11, 2018 and Feb. 5, 2019), all of which are favourable features for heap leaching. Due to the Company's previous focus on the high-grade zones, samples with fire assay grades less than 0.12 g/t Au had not been reported as containing significant mineralization. However, given the favourable metallurgy and revised geological interpretation, an internal exercise to estimate the grade ranges of the entire assay suite and examine the overall tenor of the system was undertaken. Assays from all 47 RC holes drilled by Newrange were tabulated with the following length weighted results at different potential cut-off grades:
Cutoff (g/t Au) # Samples Meters Average Grade (g/t Au) No cut All - 4,093 5,402 0.581 0.01 2,476 3,171 0.986 0.05 1,218 1,498 2.063
Note: The reader is cautioned that the above numbers do not represent a resource estimate and do not imply any economics. They are only presented as an indication of the grade distribution within the 47 RC holes drilled to date in order to refine the exploration model for future drill hole targeting. The Company is working towards the completion of a NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate later in 2019.
"The recognition that the high-grade zones we have found may actually represent 'sweeteners' within a much larger, lower grade system is a significant step in the development of our exploration model at Pamlico," stated Robert Archer, CEO. "Not only does it explain the somewhat discontinuous nature of discrete gold veins but it allows us to step back and focus on the potential of the whole system. When the drill results are considered in this context, it validates our premise that Pamlico has significant potential to host a large lower-grade gold deposit with excellent metallurgy. The area of drilling extends approximately 500 by 100 meters, within a 1,500 by 1,000 meter area hosting the old mine workings. Future drilling will take this new model into consideration and will include fill-in holes within the existing drill pattern to demonstrate continuity and step out holes to test the extent of mineralization throughout the area of artisanal mining."
The program of mapping, sampling and surveying of the underground workings is continuing. New, previously unknown adits and stopes have recently been discovered, expanding the known footprint of the mineralized system and providing additional opportunities for data collection. Additional metallurgical work is underway, and a detailed exploration program is being developed that will allow for the progressive delineation of gold mineralization with the goal of establishing a maiden resource.
Mr. Robert G. Carrington, P. Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, the President and Chairman of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved for disclosure the technical information contained in this news release.
About Pamlico
Located 12 miles southeast of Hawthorne, Nevada, along US Highway 95, the project enjoys excellent access and infrastructure, a mild, year-round operating climate and strong political support from Mineral County, one of the most pro-mining counties in the pro-mining state of Nevada. The Pamlico project covers the historic Pamlico group of mines, as well as the nearby Good Hope, Gold Bar and Sunset mines.
Discovered in 1884, the district rapidly gained a reputation as being one of Nevada's highest-grade districts. Held by private interests for most of its history, the property remains underexplored in terms of modern exploration.
About Newrange Gold Corp.
Newrange is an aggressive exploration and development company focused on near to intermediate term production opportunities in favorable jurisdictions including Nevada, Colorado and Colombia. With numerous drill intercepts of near surface oxide gold mineralization to 340 grams gold per metric tonne the Company's flagship Pamlico Project is poised to become a significant new Nevada discovery. Focused on developing shareholder value through exploration and development of key projects, the Company is committed to building sustainable value for all stakeholders. Further information can be found on our website at www.newrangegold.com.
Signed: "Robert Archer"
CEO & Director
For further information contact:
Sharon Hebgin Dave Cross
Corporate Communications Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
Phone: 760-898-9129 Phone: 604-669-0868
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.newrangegold.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statement:
Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Newrange Gold Corp. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
Vancouver, BC - March 26, 2019 - Global Li-Ion Graphite Corp. ("LION" or, the "Company") (CSE: LION) The Company is pleased to announce it has retained environmental consultant ECG Auguste to undertake the updating and filing of the environmental and social impact reports as required by the Malagasy authorities as part of the mining development and implementation plan for Lion's Ambato-Arana graphite mines.
ECG Auguste has a 25-year track record of preparing similar reports and the talented team that they have assembled for this project has over 10 years of specific experience gained in Lion's project area covering both the environmental and social aspects. This work is well under way and the Company plans to be in a position to file the necessary reports imminently.
The company is also delighted to announce the appointment of Tom Cushman as its Resident Manager in Madagascar. Tom has over 25 years of operational experience in Madagascar, including artisanal scale mining policy development. Mr. Cushman has also acted for many years as a consultant to the Ministry of Mines and Energy as well as being a founding member of the Malagasy National Mines Committee and is a Chevalier of the Ordre National de Madagascar in recognition of his service to the Republic. Tom is the Managing Director of Richfield Investor Services, an entity that assists international investors in navigating the Malagasy business environment, with a particular focus on minerals and mining. In addition to holding MBA and BBA degrees, Tom is also a Graduate Gemmologist. Richfield will also provide general in-country logistical and administrative support.
Company President John Roozendaal states, "Retaining ECG Auguste and the appointment of Tom Cushman are key steps in our ultimate goal of reactivating the Ambato-Arana graphite mines on as short a timeline as is possible. As the news releases of the past several months show, 2019 is setting up to be an exciting year for the Company."
Sam Malin adds "The work currently being undertaken by Lion in Madagascar shows the great progress the Company is making to get its graphite mines back into production while remaining in full adherence to Madagascar's regulatory framework while laying the foundation for Lion to move towards a significant level of graphite output"
Further information about Global Li-Ion is available under its profile on the SEDAR website, www.sedar.com, on the CSE website, www.thecse.com, and the Company's website, www.globalli-iongraphite.com.
For Further information about the Company, please contact:
Jason Walsh
Director & Officer
Global Li-Ion Graphite Corp.
Telephone 604.608.6314
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Forward-Looking Information:
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks discussed in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Highlights:
Winter drill program successfully expands new discoveries on the Courvan property confirming a new parallel gold trend located 1.5km west to the New Beliveau deposit
Drilling results at Southwest and Creek Zones, along the Courvan trend, continue to identify significant gold mineralization with intercepts grading up to 1.5 g/t Au over 104.3 metres, including 3.9 g/t Au over 30.0 metres; and 16.7 g/t Au over 4.0 metres, including 58.7 g/t Au over 1.0 metre, respectively
Near-surface discoveries grading 3.6 g/t Au over 9.3 metres, 10.2 g/t over 1.0 metre, and 33.2 g/t over 1.0 metre identified in step-out drilling 300 metres, 550 metres and 650 metres West of the Southwest zone, respectively
Winter drill program is continuing with three drill rigs
Results from the program will be included in the 2019 updated mineral resource estimate
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Probe Metals Inc. (TSX-V: PRB) (OTCQB: PROBF) (Probe or the Company) is pleased to provide new results from its ongoing 24,000-metre winter drill program on the Val-dOr East property area (the Property) located near Val-dOr, Quebec. The drill program is focusing on expansion and exploration drilling in and around the former Beliveau, Bussiere and Monique gold mines. Results from twenty-two (22) follow-up drill holes, totaling 6,285 metres, were received and continue to outline new discoveries as well as expand previous discoveries surrounding the former Bussiere mine in the Courvan area. Drilling continues to indicate strong potential for additional resources north and south of the former Bussiere Mine (see figure 1) as it delineates this new parallel gold trend. The 100%-owned ground is located approximately 1.5 kilometres west of, and adjacent to, the New Beliveau deposit. Significant drill results are presented below.
Owing to the continued success of our drilling Probe has decided to postpone the updated Resource Estimate so that the results of this winter program can be included in the calculation. The inclusion of these new results will allow a better assessment of the potential contribution of the parallel gold trend to the overall resource base and will provide a much better understanding of the gold system for our exploration program. The winter drill program will be completed in April and, once all assays are received, we will begin modeling the gold resources. We expect that the updated Resource Estimate will be ready by early Fall 2019.
David Palmer, President and CEO of Probe, states, The identification of a parallel gold trend is significant not only for the potential increase in gold resources but also confirms our belief that the eastern half of Val-dOr has been underexplored and is highly prospective for new gold discoveries. We have assembled one of the largest land holdings in the area and, with a strong treasury, expect to make significant advances to the project during 2019.
Assay results from selected drill holes are reported in the following table:
Selected drill results from the Courvan Area drilling program1
Hole Number From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Area CO-71 64.1 67.1 3.0 7.7 Southwest Zone including 65.1 67.1 2.0 11.0 Southwest Zone CO-71 136.2 137.2 1.0 5.2 Southwest Zone CO-71 159.5 160.5 1.0 18.4 Southwest Zone CO-73 116.50 220.80 104.3 1.5 Southwest Zone including 144.0 174.0 30.0 3.9 Southwest Zone including 146.0 147.0 1.0 72.1 Southwest Zone CO-75 245.7 255.0 9.3 3.6 Southwest Zone including 254.0 255.0 1.0 21.3 Southwest Zone CO-78 113.3 117.3 4.0 16.7 Creek Zone including 116.3 117.3 1.0 57.8 Creek Zone CO-85 149.5 150.5 1.0 10.2 Southwest Zone CO-86 116.0 117.0 1.0 33.2 Southwest Zone
(1) All the new analytical results reported in this release and in this table, are presented in core length and uncut. Additional drilling is planned for the immediate area which will enable the true width determination.
Figure 1: Surface Map Val-dOr East - Courvan and Pascalis Gold Trend Area
https://www.probemetals.com/site/assets/files/1421/2019_03_25_vde-courvan-surface_map.pdf
About the Courvan Property, Val-dOr East Project:
The Courvan Property is adjacent to the Companys New Beliveau deposit at Val-dOr East and unlocks significant exploration potential to the west of the New Beliveau mineralized system. The Property land package is largely unexplored, with limited historic diamond drilling in the vicinity of the past-producing Bussiere Mine. Gold-bearing veins historically mined on the property consisted of quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins associated with shear zones and diorite dykes, similar to what is found in the New Beliveau deposit, approximately 1.5 kilometers to the east. The Bussiere Mine produced 42,000 ounces at an average grade of 5.8 g/t Au up until 1942, when it was destroyed by forest fires.
Qualified Persons
The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed, prepared and approved by Mr. Marco Gagnon, P.Geo, Executive Vice President, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
Quality Control
During the last drilling program, assay samples were taken from the NQ core by sawing the drill core in half, with one-half sent to a certified commercial laboratory and the other half retained for future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples; which includes insertion of mineralized standards and blank samples for each batch of 20 samples. The gold analyses were completed by fire-assayed with an atomic absorption finish on 50 grams of materials. Repeats were carried out by fire-assay followed by gravimetric testing on each sample containing 3.0 g/t gold or more. Total gold analyses (Metallic Sieve) were carried out on the samples which presented a great variation of their gold contents or the presence of visible gold.
About Probe Metals:
Probe Metals Inc. is a leading Canadian gold exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of highly prospective gold properties. The Company is committed to discovering and developing high-quality gold projects, including its key asset the Val-dOr East Gold Project, Quebec. The Company is well-funded and controls a strategic land package of approximately 1,000-square-kilometres of exploration ground within some of the most prolific gold belts in Quebec. The Company was formed as a result of the sale of Probe Mines Limited to Goldcorp in March 2015. Goldcorp currently owns approximately 13.7% of the Company.
On behalf of Probe Metals Inc.,
Dr. David Palmer,
President & Chief Executive Officer
For further information:
Please visit our website at www.probemetals.com or contact:
Seema Sindwani
Director of Investor Relations
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+1.416.777.9467
Forward-Looking Statements
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Companys objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other indigenous peoples, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Auryn Resources Inc. (TSX: AUG, NYSE American: AUG) ("Auryn" or the "Company) announces the appointment of Stacy Rowa as Chief Financial Officer and the resignation of Peter Rees as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, effective April 1, 2019. Mr. Rees is resigning to pursue a new opportunity.
Ms. Rowa is a Canadian CPA, CA who has worked with Canadian and US publicly listed resource companies for the past 10 years. Ms. Rowa has been with the Company since 2016 serving as Corporate Controller. Prior to joining Auryn, Ms. Rowa held finance roles with Elgin Mining Inc., before it was acquired by Mandalay Resources Inc. in 2014, and Aura Minerals Inc. She began her career with KPMG LLP's mining practice after obtaining her Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of British Columbia.
A Message from Ivan Bebek, Executive Chairman & Director:
"On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Peter for his valuable contributions to our management team and our companies over the past nine years. Peter has worked with Auryn since its inception and played a key role in establishing Auryn as a premier mineral exploration company. We wish him very well on his future endeavor and welcome Stacy to our team in the role of CFO."
On Behalf of the Board,
Ivan Bebek
Executive Chairman and Director
For further information on Auryn Resources, please contact Natasha Frakes, Manager of Corporate Communications at (778) 729-0600 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
About Auryn
Auryn Resources is a technically-driven, well-financed junior exploration company focused on finding and advancing globally significant precious and base metal deposits. The company has a portfolio approach to asset acquisition and has seven projects, including two flagships: the Committee Bay high-grade gold project in Nunavut and the Sombrero copper-gold project in southern Peru. Auryn's technical and management teams have an impressive track record of successfully monetizing assets for all stakeholders and local communities in which it operates. Auryn conducts itself to the highest standards of corporate governance and sustainability.
The Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2019) - Lara Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: LRA) ("Lara" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has completed a non-brokered private placement financing raising $2,000,000 by the issuance of 4,000,000 units at $0.50 per unit. Each unit consisted of one common share and one half of a non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each full warrant entitles the holder to purchase an additional common share at $0.70 until March 26, 2021. If, after July 26, 2019, the closing price of the Company's shares on the TSX Venture Exchange is $1.00 or greater for 10 consecutive trading days, the Company may, by news release issued within five trading days thereof, accelerate the expiry of the warrants to the 21st calendar day (not the 21st trading day, as previously announced) after such news release.
The Company paid finders' fees of 5% to Raymond James Ltd. ($2,500) and Sprott Global Resource Investments, Ltd. ($25,000) in respect of subscriptions from investors introduced by them as finders. Insiders of the Company purchased 900,000 units and a Pro Group member purchased a further 30,000 units.
The shares, and any shares issued on the exercise of the warrants, are subject to a restricted resale period under Canadian securities law until July 27, 2019.
The proceeds of the offering will be used by Lara to further its mineral property acquisition and exploration activities and for general corporate purposes.
About Lara
Lara is an exploration company following the Prospect Generator business model, which aims to minimize shareholder dilution and financial risk by generating prospects and then exploring them in joint ventures funded by partners. The Company currently holds a diverse portfolio of prospects and deposits in Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Chile. Lara's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "LRA".
For further information on Lara Exploration Ltd. please consult our website www.laraexploration.com, or contact Chris MacIntyre, VP Corporate Development, at +1 416 703 0010.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2019) - Seabridge Gold (TSX: SEA) (NYSE: SA) announced today that the Environmental Assessment ("EA") certificate for its KSM Project issued by the Province of British Columbia has been extended to July 29, 2024. The original KSM EA certificate was issued by the Province for an initial five year term on July 29, 2014 following a comprehensive independent environmental assessment review. Seabridge initiated the renewal process in October, 2018 following a thorough engagement with local Indigenous groups. The new five-year certificate was approved with the same terms and conditions as the original certificate, including the requirement to commence construction of the Project within the five-year period.
Seabridge Chairman and CEO Rudi Fronk stated: "We are pleased that our EA Certificate has been renewed until 2024 under the same terms and conditions, reaffirming the Government of British Columbia's support for KSM and the robustness of the original 2014 EA. The extension highlights that KSM is a well-designed, environmentally responsible project offering significant economic benefits for British Columbia and Canada. The receipt of the extension allows us to continue our engagement with prospective joint venture partners for KSM. On behalf of Seabridge and our shareholders, I would like to thank the Nisga'a Nation, and the Tahltan and Gitxsan Nations for their ongoing guidance and support of KSM during the extension review process."
Seabridge Gold holds a 100% interest in several North American gold resource projects. The Company's principal assets are the KSM and Iskut properties located near Stewart, British Columbia, Canada and the Courageous Lake gold project located in Canada's Northwest Territories. For a breakdown of Seabridge's mineral reserves and resources by project and category please visit the Company's website at http://www.seabridgegold.net/resources.php.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Rudi Fronk"
Chairman & C.E.O.
For further information, please contact:
Rudi P. Fronk, Chairman and C.E.O.
Tel: (416) 367-9292 Fax: (416) 367-2711
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, nor their Regulation Services Providers accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
Syrias Kurds called Monday for an international court to be set up in the country to try suspected Islamic State group jihadists following the announced fall of their caliphate.
IS imposed its brutal interpretation of Islam on millions living in the proto-state that it declared across a large swathe of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014.
The extremists stand accused of carrying out numerous crimes including mass executions, kidnappings and rape.
We call on the international community to establish a special international tribunal in northeast Syria to prosecute terrorists, the Syria Kurdish administration said.
In this way, trials can be conducted fairly and in accordance with international law and human rights covenants and charters, it said in a statement.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces on Saturday announced the end of the caliphate after defeating IS jihadists in the eastern village of Baghouz near the Iraqi border.
Kurdish-led forces, backed by a US-led coalition, have detained thousands of suspected IS fighters in more than four years battling the jihadists, including around 1,000 foreigners.
9,000 foreign IS relatives
While alleged IS fighters are held in jail, women and children suspected of being affiliated to the group are housed in Kurdish-run camps for the displaced.
More than 9,000 foreigners, including over 6,500 children, are being held in the overcrowded main camp of Al-Hol, Kurdish spokesman Luqman Ahmi said Monday, citing figures from a week ago.
The Kurdish administration has repeatedly called for the repatriation of foreign IS suspects, and warned it does not have capacity to detain so many people.
But the home countries of suspected IS members are reluctant to take them back, due to potential security risks and the likely public backlash.
The Kurdish administration in northeast Syria has appealed to the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards members of the terrorist organisation detained by Kurdish security forces, it said Monday.
But unfortunately there was no response.
It urged the international community, particularly countries that have nationals detained, to support the establishment of an international tribunal, calling for legal and logistical cooperation and coordination.
Previous international courts include the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda which tried genocide perpetrators in the African country.
The International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia meanwhile tried those accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in conflicts that tore apart the Balkans in the 1990s.
Humanitarian crisis
Tens of thousands of people streamed out of the last IS pocket on the eastern banks of the Euphrates in recent months, sparkling a humanitarian crisis.
The camp in Al-Hol is now bursting at the seams, housing more than 70,000 people in a place designed for just 20,000.
Humanitarian conditions in Hol camp are extremely critical, World Food Programme spokeswoman Marwa Awad said Monday.
The Kurdish administration called on the United Nations to improve living conditions in the Al Hol camp, accusing UN bodies of responding poorly to the massive influx of women and children to the shelter.
It particularly appealed to UN bodies to provide increased humanitarian assistance as well as support efforts to expand the camp, establish medical points and clinics, and enhance water supply and sewage networks.
Despite the declared victory against IS in Baghouz, the jihadists still maintain a presence in the countrys vast desert and have continued to claim deadly attacks in SDF-held territory.
Syrias war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since starting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.
Apart from fighting IS, the Kurds have largely stayed out of the civil war, instead setting up their own semi-autonomous institutions in the northeast of the country.
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita vowed Monday to beef up security as he visited a village where more than 130 people were killed by suspected militiamen from a rival ethnic group.
We need security here this is your mission, Keita said, giving a public order to military chief General Aboulaye Coulibaly, who was abruptly appointed on Sunday after the massacre.
Justice will be done, he vowed.
The deadly raid took place on Saturday in the village of Ogassogou, home to the Fulani herding community, near the town of Mopti in central Mali.
A militia from the Dogon ethnic group a hunting and farming community with a long history of tension with the Fulani over access to land is suspected to have carried out the raid.
State television ORTM on Sunday gave a provisional toll of 136 dead.
An AFP reporter on Monday said many homes in the village had been burned down and the ground was littered with corpses.
I have never seen anything like that. They came, they shot people, burned homes, killed the babies, said 75-year-old survivor Ali Diallo.
The perpetrators are not jihadists. They are traditional hunters, a health worker told AFP.
But Aurelien Tobie, the chief expert on the Sahel region at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told AFP that it is very hard to make a true, legitimate identification of who is a militiaman, who is a jihadist, (or) who is the enemy of whom.
Everyone is armed but membership of one group or another fluctuates with personal, family, community or circumstantial interests, he said.
The victims, many of them woman and children, were shot or hacked to death with machetes, a security source told AFP.
It was the deadliest attack in Mali since the 2013 French-led military intervention that drove back jihadist groups who had taken control of the north of the country.
Jihadist raids remain a persistent threat, and in the centre of the country, an ethnic mosaic, the attacks have had a bloody impact on groups with a history of rivalry.
The Fulani have been accused of supporting a jihadist preacher, Amadou Koufa, who rose to prominence in central Mali four years ago.
So-called self-defence groups have emerged in the Dogon community in the declared role of providing protection against the insurgents.
But these militias have also used their status to attack the Fulani.
Egregious crimes
Violence between the Fulani and Dogon and between the Fulani and Bambara ethnic group claimed some 500 civilian lives last year, according to UN figures.
Fatou Bensouda, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), on Monday condemned the vicious attacks and urged all parties to refrain from resorting to violence.
She urged the investigation and prosecution of those who participated in or otherwise contributed to what appears to be egregious crimes which may fall under the jurisdiction of the ICC.
In January, Dogon fighters were blamed for the deaths of 37 people in another Fulani village, Koulogon, in the same region.
On Sunday, Keita fired the heads of the army and air force and replaced armed forces chief of staff MBemba Moussa Keita with Coulibaly.
The Dogon militia, called the Dan Nan Ambassagou, was ordered to be dissolved.
A newly restored World War II memorial in Malaysia sparked anger and calls for its demolition Tuesday after a sign described three Japanese soldiers honoured as heroes.
The Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia in the early 1940s was marked by brutality, and bitter memories still linger even after Tokyo made reparations and built friendships with its former enemies since the war.
Funded by Japan, Malaysian authorities restored the long-neglected stone monument built in 1941 in Alor Setar, capital of the northern state of Kedah, in a bid to bolster tourism.
It was originally built by the Japanese in honour of three soldiers who were killed while securing a strategic bridge to cut off British and Allied troops.
However, a sign that accompanied the restored monument inaugurated last week bore the title: History Of Three Japanese Heroes Who Conquered The Alor Setar Bridge.
Lim Swee Bok from the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) on Tuesday led some 15 supporters to the Japanese consulate in the northern state of Penang and handed over a letter demanding the monument be torn down.
It only reminds us of the painful era of Japanese occupation, Lim told AFP.
The Japanese occupied Malaya modern-day Malaysia and Singapore for almost four years from December 1941.
The Star newspaper Tuesday reported that MCA members had draped black cloth over the monument covered with the words: Heroes monument for those who fought Japan.
The newspaper also published a photo of the monument surrounded by five large red banners bearing the slogans: Japanese soldiers not heroes, Killing, raping and beheading locals and Japanese soldiers are cruel.
Anger was also expressed online.
On the Malay Mail newspapers Facebook page, reader Keke Lim said the Japanese were aggressors who committed atrocities and crime against humanity.
Reader Lim Hong Meng said calling the soldiers heroes makes Malaysia a laughing stock especially in ASIA (which) suffered the cruelty and brutality of Japanese army.
Mohamad Asmirul Anuar Aris, the state tourism committee chairman, apologised for an error in translation.
He said the sign has been taken down but rejected calls to demolish the memorial.
It has been there since 1941. Furthermore we are trying to bring more tourists to Kedah and it is part of our attempt to upkeep historical sites, he told AFP.
jsm/mba/fa
BOK HOLDINGS
A tribunal tasked with healing the wounds of dictatorship in Tunisia called for institutional reforms and an official apology from the head of state, in its final report published Tuesday.
Set up three years after the 2011 uprising that ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) was created to probe human rights violations and make recommendations for Tunisia on its path to democracy.
The IVDs report calls for reforms to dismantle a system of corruption, repression and dictatorship within state institutions.
It also proposes measures to boost the independence of magistrates and administrative courts, as well as legal protection for victims and witnesses in corruption cases.
Tunisias security forces should be restructured to increase transparency and prevent their use for political ends, an independent body set up to oversee the police and an intelligence service which answers directly to the president and under parliamentary supervision, according to the report.
The panel calls for President Beji Caid Essebsi, as a symbol of the state, to make an official apology to all the victims of human rights violations at the hands of the state since 1955, a year before independence from France.
The apology would be addressed to all the victims in a presidential speech delivered at a venue to be renamed after the event.
The IVD proposed that its archives on violations, based on tens of thousands of interviews it carried out and cases studied, be opened to preserve the national memory for future generations.
Amnesty International hailed the publication of the report as a watershed moment for Tunisia.
Tunisias authorities must take concrete steps to implement the Truth Commissions recommendations and finally break the pattern of impunity that has marred human rights progress for decades, said Fida Hammami, Amnestys researcher on Tunisia.
On March 19, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva held a general debate on racism. This was one of the items on the agenda of its 40th session, and it was the turn of NGOs to speak. Director of UN Watch Hillel Neuer spoke up on behalf of a partner association, Ingenieurs du monde (Engineers of the World). His aim was to denounce the repression conducted against Chinas Muslim minorities (Uyghurs, Kazakhs and Turkmens) in the autonomous Chinese region of Xinjiang as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperations silence or even praise for the Chinese authorities.
Banging on the table, the Chinese government representative interrupted the speaker immediately, saying this meeting on racism in the world was not the place to talk about a specific case in a country. Her objection was overridden by the president of the Human Rights Council who let the NGO speak again. But the diplomat continued to interrupt noisily, repeating the same argument. This brought a call to order by the president, Coly Seck of Senegal, reminding Chinas representative that speakers may refer to specific situations and asking her not to disturb the discussions.
VIDEO
General debate on racism during the 40th ordinary session of the UN Human Rights Council
Watch the video on UN Web TV
This was the latest clear sign of the strategy adopted in Geneva by the Chinese delegation, which came in force for the main annual session of the HRC. Beijing deploys a whole panoply of strategies aimed at keeping its abuses away from the spotlight in international forums: mobilisation of friendly countries to praise the regime, pressure on other diplomats not to take part in meetings criticizing massive rights violations in China, interventions by NGOs under Beijings thumb. An exhibition vaunting great development of human rights in Xinjiang was even organized on the sidelines by the Chinese mission in Geneva and the China society for human rights studies.
Strike force
I have been following the work of the UN human rights bodies since 1980 and I have never seen at the Palais des Nations such a strike force deployed by a state to stifle criticism, said Adrien-Claude Zoller, director of Geneva for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization that provides training for civil society.
John Fisher, the Geneva representative of Human Rights Watch, echoed Zollers words: I have never seen such strong pressure and intimidation on diplomats and NGOs from a government at the Human Rights Council.
The American NGO denounced such practices back in 2017, but that has not stopped them at all. John Fisher gave another example from a meeting organized on the sidelines of the session by several countries including the United States. Following a damning testimony by Omir Bekali, a Kazakh who was detained for several months in Xinjiang, a Chinese representative intervened calling him a liar, and mentioning personal information about him. If that is not intimidation and veiled threats, I dont know what is, said Fisher.
Fear of a commission of inquiry
Zoller thinks the Chinese delegations restlessness was probably linked to fears of a resolution being tabled at the human rights council to establish a commission of inquiry into alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang. This had been called for by a broad coalition of NGOs before the March HRC session. In a statement in February, the coalition urged the Council to urgently adopt a resolution establishing an international fact-finding mission to investigate credible allegations that up to one million Turkic Muslims are being arbitrarily detained in `political education` camps across Xinjiang, a region in northwest China.
This possibility has been cautiously evoked by Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights. The former president of Chile said she wanted to continue the discussion with the Chinese government to allow an independent assessment of allegations of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions, particularly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Despite the blanket of silence imposed on Xinjiang since the riots that shook the autonomous region in 2009, the existence of large internment camps where an estimated one million Kazakhs, Turkmens and Uyghurs of the Muslim faith are reportedly detained is increasingly documented. Last September, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination published a report in which it expressed alarm at numerous reports of the detention of large numbers of ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, held incommunicado and often for long periods, without being charged or tried, under the pretext of countering religious extremism. The Committee regrets the lack of official data on how many people are in long-term detention or who have been forced to spend varying periods in political `re-education camps` for even non-threatening expressions of Muslim ethno-religious culture, such as a daily greeting. Estimates of the number of people detained range from tens of thousands to over a million.
After first denying the existence of such camps, the Chinese government now says they are training and de-radicalization centres. In Geneva, Chinese vice foreign minister Le Yucheng continued to denounce as lies reports of abuses committed in these camps. Terrorist attacks and other troubling acts have been committed in this region, he said. With the support of the population, measures have been taken, notably the creation of these training centres which are not internment camps. The Chinese delegation invited anyone who wishes to visit Xinjiang to do so, provided they are honest and respect Chinas sovereignty.
Turkey expresses concern
The Muslim countries had nothing to say, except for Turkey. The Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu briefly declared in Geneva that the Rohingya crisis remained a situation of serious concern and also Chinas treatment of Uyghurs. The Chinese delegation predictably replied that this statement was baseless and unacceptable.
A month earlier, a Turkish official had been more explicit. It is no secret that more than a million Uyghurs facing arbitrary detention are being subjected to torture and brainwashing in internment camps and prisons, declared Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy. He called this a shame on humanity and urged the UN to put an end to the human tragedy taking place in Xinjiang.
Pakistan, speaking in Geneva on behalf of the OIC, did not express any concern. It even praised China for the care it takes of its Muslim citizens. During a press conference at the Palais des Nations on February 27, the Pakistani Minister for Human Rights tried to justify this position. According to Shireen Mazari, abuses committed against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang are essentially allegations by Westerners. Her government, she said, prefers to discuss these issues on a one-to-one basis as part of its cooperation with its Chinese counterparts.
As a result, no resolution on China was finally tabled at the end of this session of the Human Rights Council. However, such a resolution, or even a simple declaration by States, is one of the essential steps to set in motion UN mechanisms for collecting evidence, according to John Fisher. This was clearly easier in the case of Myanmar, for which the HRC voted last September to create an investigation mechanism.
This article contains an interview veteran data scientist, Dr Stylianos (Stelios) Kampakis, in which he discusses his career, and how he helps decision makers across a range of businesses understand how data science can benefit them.
By Jo Stichbury, Freelance Technical Writer
Introduction
In this article, Im interviewing a veteran data scientist, Dr Stylianos (Stelios) Kampakis, about his career to date and how he helps decision makers across a range of businesses understand how data science can benefit them.
While data science is a field showing immense growth at present, its somewhat nebulous in its description. I think theres a lot of uncertainty as to exactly what it is and how to apply it. Fortunately, Stelios is an expert data scientist with a mission to educate the public about the power of data science and AI. He is a member of the Royal Statistical Society, honorary research fellow at the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies and CEO of The Tesseract Academy. A natural polymath, with a PhD in Machine Learning and degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, Psychology, and Economics he loves using his broad skillset to solve difficult problems and help companies improve their efficiency.
The Interview
Data Science is an increasingly popular career choice these days. Stelios, how did you come to work in the field, and how long have you been doing it?
Well, thats an interesting question. Many people these days end up being data scientists solely because there are great job prospects. You see people having studied something completely different (e.g. chemistry), and then they educate themselves in data science using various online materials.
My case was quite different. My first degree was in Cognitive Psychology, and I was planning to become an academic in the area of cognitive science, AI and neuroscience. I ended up spending more and more time in data analysis, until I decided to do an applied PhD in machine learning. This was the transition point for me, as I moved away from academia and into the industry. However, I would say that my involvement with the wider area of data and AI, has lasted more than 10 years, and started in my early university days.
Of course, data science is a broad umbrella term. How would you break the field down into different subject areas? Do you have any preferences for any of them?
Thats a great question, because not many people understand that. Before the term data science we had people working in distinct fields such as rules-based AI, machine learning, statistics, computational intelligence, etc.
Data science as a term means I am doing stuff with data, and it is more of a term used to make it easier to sell these kinds of services, because understanding the subtle differences between the various schools of thought, is way too confusing for the uninitiated.
In my book (The Decision Makers Handbook to Data Science) and workshop I explain that there are three main fields that have shaped data science: classic AI, machine learning and statistics. Classic AI is not so much around anymore in terms of techniques, but it has played a huge role in shaping part of the history of modern AI.
I am one of the few people that have received training in all of these areas (and some more, e.g. computational intelligence). I dont have any particular preferences, and Ive done work using methods from all of them. However, if I had the possibility, I believe that the most fascinating opportunity would be to work on general AI.
What is your advice for anyone wanting to get into data science?
Hm, I think that getting into data science now is the easiest it has ever been. I know some people will disagree with me. I also know, that me and other people have spent countless hours in our education and training before we called ourselves data scientists, so it might not seem fair to say this. However, let me explain.
I believe that there are three main layers of data science expertise.
The expert: You have a wide coverage of most areas of data science, and can do research in the field, or propose new methods. This usually describes people with 7+ years of academic experience alongside a few years of industrial experience.
The practitioner: You have some knowledge of how techniques work, know how to code and how to use some tools, but your knowledge is not very extensive. This describes people with some academic and industrial experience (e.g. an MSc degree).
The tool user: You are familiar with some basic techniques, and know how to use some basic tools and libraries. These people might come from different fields (e.g. physics), and they may be good with using tools, but they may have somewhat limited coverage or understanding of some of the areas of data science.
I think that most people that self-educate themselves are between the practitioner and the tool user archetypes. And in reality, the majority of jobs can be done by these people, as they dont require an excellent understanding of how methods work.
We had seen a similar trend with software development. You had to really know about computer science in the past, if you were to code the simplest thing. Now, many software projects can be accomplished by people who have just spent a few months going through tutorials and using high level frameworks and platforms.
This is not to say, however, that experts are not needed. They will just cover the upper end of the market.
Do you have any thoughts on where we are heading in the future? What will the next 5 years look like?
I believe we are going to see more of the same trends. Data science will expand across more and more verticals and more and more countries. Ive been doing work with companies from all over the world (from Egypt and Cyprus, to the US and Germany). Industries in all countries are trying to catch up with the trend, collect more data and make better use of it.
We will keep seeing a shortage of data scientists, but it might not be as bad, given that (as I mentioned in the previous question), we will see the appearance of many data scientists with limited skills, who will be sufficiently good to solve most problems.
Can you tell us about your upcoming event that covers data science and AI?
Its coming up soon, on March 21st 2019, and is a workshop that covers everything a decision maker needs to know about data science, such as how to use data science in a company, or how to hire and manage data scientists.
The motto of my company, The Tesseract Academy, is technology made simple. Most of the resources and events out there are either very technical, or very fluffy. The goal of the Tesseract Academy is to deliver training in this fine balance, that helps a decision maker understand what data science is about, and how it can be used, but without assuming that they will develop anything themselves.
I have people from all backgrounds coming to the workshop. Investors (who want to learn more about the subject), recruiters (who want to understand more about how data scientists think), CEOs of scale-ups or startups and product managers.
I think you recently published a book what is it about?
It is the Decision Makers Handbook to Data Science. Much like the workshop, it is a high level overview of data science, and covers everything a decision maker needs to know about data science. It includes many case studies from my experience, as well as various examples from multiple industries. I also hand it over for free to the participants of the data science workshop
It is available in PDF format from my blog, but also on all major e-book platforms (Kindle, PlayStore, iTunes, etc.)
Finally, besides the resources you have published, what are your recommended go-to websites, books and courses?
I guess this depends on what path of your learning journey you are in! I am working on releasing a new training program for aspiring data scientists called Datalyst. However, I, myself, am concerned with keeping up with the latest trends on research and the most cutting edge techniques.
I am reading the blogs of all major companies doing research in AI (Uber, Google, Facebook, etc.). I am also reading the papers from all major conferences (ICML, NeurIPS, AI & Stats, etc.). Finally, there are some blogs and newsletters I am following, such as Data Elixir and Towards Data Science.
In Conclusion
Thanks Stelios, it was good to get some clarity from someone so clearly gifted with the ability of simple explanation, which is close to my heart! Ill look forward to find out more from your workshop in March, and wish you and all budding data scientists happy number crunching!
Bio: Jo Stichbury is a senior software professional with 20 years experience and Freelance Technical Writer with interest in AI, data science, AR & VR, science and science education, software engineering and agile/lean development
Original. Reposted with permission.
Related:
VF Corp. is adding skateboard and streetwear brand Supreme to its line of recreational apparel brands as people seek comfort and leisure wear during the pandemic.
The parent company of Vans, Dickies, Timberland and The North Face on Monday announced plans to purchase Supreme in a $2.1 billion acquisition deal set to be completed before the end of the year.
Founded in a New York skateboard shop in 1994, Supreme apparel has become popular with skateboarders, hip-hop fans and other Millennial and Gen Z youth cultures. In 2007, the Carlyle Group acquired half the company for $500 million. Over the years, VF and Supreme have routinely collaborated on products for VF's North Face, Timberland and Vans apparel lines.
Both companies' leaders say the acquisition allows Supreme to leverage VF's expertise and resources, including its global supply chain, to maximize growth. VF says Supreme gives it "deeper access to attractive consumer segments that apply to many of VF's existing brands."
VF CEO Steve Rendle says his company is the "ideal steward" for Supreme's unique brand and can provide it with the resources and insight "to enable sustainable long-term growth."
"We are thrilled to welcome Supreme to the VF family and to build on our decades-long relationship as we create value for all of our stakeholders," Rendle said in a written statement.
The news gave VF's stock price a notable boost following the opening bell on Monday before leveling out by midday.
Alumni were recognized at a special pre-concert reception, as well as later in front of an audience of 800 in the auditorium at West Aurora High School. And the schools founder, the Rev. Dan Haas, a leading ecumenical pastor in the Fox Valley who also created the Aurora Prayer Coalition for victims of violence, was honored for his decades of service with Christian Covenant, the community and the Chicago area.
TALENT, Ore. -- Southern Oregon Climate Action Now says that the City of Talent is leading the Rogue Valley in going solar.
They say Solarize Oregon and the City of Talent have created a community-wide clean energy plan.
They are inviting other regional residents and Pacific-Power customers to join them for an informational meeting tonight, at 6pm, at the Medford Library.
Their hope is for Oregon to lead by example in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
They say Pacific Power generates 60 percent of the power provided to the area from coal-fired plants.
Southern Oregon Climate Action now would like to replace the electricity taken from the regional grid, with a clean solar source.
WHITE CITY, Ore. A hiker was seriously injured and had to be airlifted to an area hospital after falling at Upper Table Rock on Monday, according to Ashley Blakely with Fire District 3.
Details remain sparse at this time, however Blakely said that a report came in to emergency dispatch around 3:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon, reporting that a hiker had fallen some 20 feet at Upper Table Rock and was injured.
Crews from Fire District 3 and Mercy Flights rushed to the scene and were able to extract the injured hiker from the slopes, securing him for transport. Blakely said that the patient would be airlifted to a local hospital, but their condition or the extent of the injuries remains unknown at this time.
This is a developing story, and NewsWatch 12 will update the article with more details as they emerge.
GOLD BEACH, Ore. A jet skier who went under the current of the Rogue River on Sunday remains missing at this time in spite of extensive search attempts, according to the Curry County Sheriff's Office (CCSO).
Witnesses told CCSO that 37-year-old Jason James of Gold Beach had been testing out a pair of jet skis on Sunday along the Rogue River near Jim Hunt Creek with 25-year-old Thomas Morris, also of Gold Beach. When Morris' jet ski quit running "in the middle of the river," James stopped to help him but his own jet ski flipped over and he slipped into the river.
A bystander reportedly tried to swim out and help James, but was unable to reach him. Soon James, Morris and the bystander were all out in the current of the Rogue.
"It was reported that none of the three people had life vests on," CCSO said in a statement.
Someone called 911 reporting a person in distress in the Rogue River, prompting CCSO deputies, search and rescue (SAR) teams, and emergency personnel from Oregon State Police and multiple fire departments to respond to the scene.
"Two members of the Cedar Valley/North Bank Fire Department who live across the river witnessed the event and paddled their Kayaks over and were able to assist two of the three people back to shore," CCSO said. "Jason James had gone under water in the current and disappeared."
Search and rescue divers searched under the surface while boats and a Gold Beach Fire crew with a jet ski searched the area. Meanwhile, CCSO said that deputies and fire crews lined both sides of the river, with a helicopter observing from the air.
"A SAR member in his private boat used sonar scan to search the river bottom but by late evening, crews suspended the search due to poor light," CCSO said.
The search continued on Monday in spite of rainy, overcast weather, but rescuers found no sign of James.
Again on Tuesday, searchers set out to find James. Someone flew a drone overhead while crews continued to use boats and jet skis to scour the area. Searchers also used a private plane and a Life Flight helicopter to cover the entire river system from the point that James was last seen to the mouth of the Rogue River, including along the beach, CCSO said.
As of the CCSO statement released on Tuesday afternoon, James' body remained missing.
"This is a heartbreaking ordeal that affects our entire community and beyond. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Jason James and we hope that we will be able to find Jason so the family can have some closure," CCSO said.
COOS BAY, Ore. The suspicious nature of a fire that consumed two structures along Highway 101 in Coos County on Saturday led investigators to suspect arson and make two arrests, according to Oregon State Police (OSP).
Fire crews from a number of different agencies descended on the scene following reports of the fire, finding two separate but adjacent buildings in flames. According to OSP, the buildings were unoccupied at the time of the fire.
Once firefighters were able to knock down the flames, crews found "several suspicious factors preceding the fire." At this point, they brought in the State Fire Marshal's office, the Southwestern Fire Investigation Team (SFIT) and the Oregon State Police Arson Unit.
"Following an investigation into the origin and cause of the fire it was determined to be incendiary and intentionally set," OSP said.
Investigators from the OSP Arson Unit and deputies from the Coos County Sheriff's Office eventually tracked the possible source of the fire to 26-year-old Andrew Eastep and 22-year-old Breanna Schuster.
"After they were contacted and interviewed, they both admitted to stealing several items from the residence and property days before setting it on fire," OSP said.
Officers arrested Eastep and Schuster, charging them with Burglary in the First Degree, Arson in the First Degree and Criminal Mischief in the First Degree. Additional charges are under consideration by the Coos County District Attorney's Office.
Investigators were able to recover "a large amount of stolen property" and return it to the owners of the burned buildings.
ASHLAND, OR-- Food is coming back out of the Standing Stone Brewery in Ashland this week.
Scott Allen the General Manager at Standing Stone Brewery says, "I was called by our chef first thing on Tuesday morning and he was concerned there was no gas on the line for any of our cookware."
Last Tuesday he was one of the many people that thought something was broken at his business. Most people didn't have hot water, heat and their stoves weren't working.
Allen says, "I came down and stopped for coffee on my way in and I heard a buzz around the coffee shop that there were several people effected. Got a jist that it was a wider region thing that was going on. "The brewery, like many restaurants in Ashland closed their doors for the day.
Dana Preston the Membership and Businesses Development Director at the Ashland Chamber of Commerce says, "we then tried to help reach out and let the broader community know here's what we know from our businesses." All week she has been working with the community and businesses about the outage.
Preston says, "I mean Avista responded really quickly. We understand that their respond was first to the business community because they recognize the impact."
Allen says, "oh us being closed could represent up to $1,000 dollars an hour of operational lose." Allen also says he was on the phone with Avista every hour on the hour Tuesday and Wednesday until their gas got turned back on.
Allen says "they were here by 10 am to turn on the gas. I was glad I did that because there were several other businesses that didn't get their gas for another 26 hours in the plaza area."
Now the community in Ashland and in Southern Oregon is wanting to help. Preston says, "we've had a couple people contact us saying who do you know that was impacted that we can go out and help support."
Luckily the spring tourism season is just starting up. Which Allen says will bring a lot of support to businesses impacted.
There are lots of ways to stretch your meals and use up every bit of the food you buy and prepare. From piling roasted vegetables into an omelet to using leftover potato chips as a breading for chicken, here are some smart moves when it comes to using up your leftovers.
186 Shares Share
There comes a time in a doctors medical career when the demands of caring for patients is too much. To survive medicine, doctors put on armor so we can go into the battlefield of medicine and do the work we do. The armor is the walls and barriers we erect to maintain a safe distance from all that comes at us in the line of duty. Our armor may take the form of the white coat and stethoscope that defines us as the doctor and the person on the examining table as the patient. Behind our white coat and stethoscope, we keep our humanity at bay. We hide the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion that comes with the MD after our name. We take on this authoritative persona that may manifest as cold, demanding and indifferent.
Wearing this armor benefits not only the physician. It benefits medicine as a whole. It allows doctors to continue to serve their patients in the face of challenges and adversity. It gives doctors the ability to move from exam room to exam room. With our armor on, we are conditioned to give unfavorable test results to the patient in exam room one and move right along to the exam room two where a word of reassurance is all that is needed. The walls that we have built shield doctors from the feeling of helplessness when all medical interventions have been exhausted, and there is little left to offer the patient. It is how we can sit with the family after they have lost their loved ones and hide our pain until we find a more appropriate place to express it. Some doctors never do express it.
Each doctor puts on her or his own armor. It shows up in different ways. But wearing this armor presents its own challenges. While it shields us from the pain, it separates us from the people of medicine. It distances us from the core of our being. Instead of building connections with people, numbness seeps in and pushes compassion and understanding away. This separation can be the gateway to criticism, demoralizing colleagues, workplace bullying and even patient dissatisfaction.
The armor we design to protect us becomes the very thing that keeps doctors from living fully. Instead of connecting to one another and building meaningful relationships that support professional and personal growth, we stay disconnected and stuck in the struggle that has become common in medicine.
3 ways that your armor may be ruining your medical career
1. Your armor has taken over and is no longer serving your best interest if you start your day expecting the worse instead of living in positive expectation. You tell yourself that if you expect the worse, then you will not be disappointed. Holding this type of energy is wearing you down and keeping you drained.
2. Your armor has taken over and is no longer serving you if you feel detached from your patients, your colleagues, and your life. You are wearing your armor at times when it is no longer needed. While you maintain a professional distance with your patients and your colleagues, you are also disconnected from your passion and purpose. Instead of feeling energized by the work that you do, it takes all of your effort to get and stay motivated.
3. Your armor is holding you back if you tell the same story or complain about the same issues in medicine over and over. Your armor has taken the shape of the limiting beliefs that you have told over the years to keep you safe from the negative feedback and criticism that you have endured in medicine. Its chipped away at your confidence and blocked your ability to extrapolate the critical lessons that will allow you to find your next level of phenomenal. You have fallen into the trap of collecting evidence to support the frustration and struggle that keeps you feeling like a victim instead of being empowered to make the shifts needed to live into all you are meant to be.
It does not have to be this way. To reveal and reconnect to your greatest self, doctors must be willing to peel back their armor and release the struggle. It is a process that takes time and consistent effort. The rewards are invaluable.
Stephanie Wellington is a physician and can be reached at Nurturing MDs.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- An Oregon politician is reacting to the findings of special counsel Robert Mueller's report.
Congressman Peter DeFazio said it's crucial that Mueller's report is released to the American people as quickly as possible.
As for the findings that President Donald Trump did not collude with the Russians, DeFazio said he needed more information.
"I don't think it's adequate at all for Congress or for the American people," DeFazio said.
DeFazio said that after over two years of investigation, a four-page report released by Attorney General William Barr over the weekend doesn't cut it and that the House of Representatives is overwhelmingly behind releasing the full report.
"The House has voted unanimously, democrats and republicans, that this report should be released with minimal redactions," DeFazio said.
DeFazio said it's not only the House of Representatives that think this report should be released.
"So, you have the unanimous House of Representatives, I don't know if the Senate has taken a position, and the President of the United States saying it should be released," DeFazio said. "That seems like a slam dunk to me."
DeFazio also said he thinks releasing Mueller's full report will help shed light the findings that President Trump did not collude with Russia in the 2016 election, even though according to DeFazio, several people were indicted or convicted for lying about their contact with the Russians.
Eugene, Ore.--The Federal ban on bump stocks is going into effect Tuesday.
Gun owners had 90 days to throw away or destroy their bump stocks, and Tuesday is the deadline.
RELATED: Urgent - Trump administration officially bans bup stocks
Last year, President Trump called on the Justice Department to outlaw the devices after a gunman in Las Vegas unleashed rounds from 24 guns, killing 58 concertgoers and injuring more than 500.
The Justice Department issued a ruling, declaring an existing ban on fully automatic weapons, that would also apply to bump stocks.
Gun owners are able to drop off their bump stocks at their local Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives office, but by appointment only.
Two of Kilkennys Fishwives from the award winning Cookbook were honoured to make the trip to Paris last week as they took part in a huge come-together of the international food & drinks cultural network at the first Gourmand World Summit. Head Fishwife Mag Kirwan of Goatsbridge Trout accompanied by fellow Fishwife Siobhan Donohoe represented Ireland at the Summit. Over 200 countries and WINNERS from the last 3 years of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards attended the exhibition at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Among them were 2000 VIPs representing Ambassadors, publishers, authors, chefs, distributors, agents, photographers, food and tourism journalists, bloggers, influencers, winemakers, designers and TV producers.
Mag Kirwan of Goatsbridge Trout Farm said it was an extraordinary opportunity to represent Ireland and to see how our Fishwives Cookbook is still being recognised internationally among the best Cookbooks in the World. This Cookbook has taking us on some journey, from Uganda, to China and to Paris and believe me the journey is not over yet. She added This was also an extraordinary opportunity to network, meet friends from the 2017 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, and to be part of something incredible - an opportunity of a lifetime!
The Fishwives were invited to be part of the first Gourmand World Summit which was held in the famous UNESCO building - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization that seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. As part of the Summit they also attended the International Village of Gastronomy at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. This food festival was also making history as the idyllic plot of land it was held on had only once ever being used by the public before and that was to host a fashion show by French fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent.
Speaking of fashion and food the Kilkenny business women did not miss an opportunity to showcase Kilkenny on their Paris trip, they brought presents of Goatsbridge Trout to the members of the Summit as well as custom madeberets from Kilkennys Lady Lornas Design Emporium for the famous Australia 4ingredients ladies, who wore them with pride!
Mag Kirwan said as well as networking the trip was also very important from a business point of view. She said the cat is not out of the bag yet but we are working on bringing the Best of the Best international food writers to Ireland. Watch this space, something extraordinary is unfolding.
Gourmand World Cookbook Awards was founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau and honours the best food and wine books, printed or digital. The internationally recognised awards is recognize outstanding contributions to food and drink writing across the globe and are regarded as the Oscars of Culinary Publishing, celebrating international food culture across all platforms. The founder and president Edouard Cointreau is from the Cointreau liqueur family aswell as the Cognacs Frapin and Remy Martin. Fishwives the Cookbook won two world titles at the Gourmand World Awards in China in 2017, when it was crowned Best Fish and Seafood book in the world and Best Charity-Africa, but at the same time this unique cookbook is all about raising awareness for Hospice Africa Uganda.
The cookbook Fishwives, was created in less than a year after Mag Kirwan of Goatsbridge Trout came up with the idea to write a cookbook in aid of charity Hospice Africa Uganda. Goatsbridge, self-published the book to celebrate trout, Irelands so-called forgotten fish, with proceeds going to Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU), a charity that is helping thousands of sick and dying in Africa have a pain-free, dignified death. Kirwan is pleased to say that no costs are being kept for the publication or printing of the book, every cent that the consumer spends on the book will be go to Hospice Uganda.
After Mag visited Uganda with her husband Ger and seeing first-hand the plight of the people, they agreed that it was vital for no costs or return to be taken. She says to be highlighting the merits of trout and supporting this amazing charity at the same time is so humbling.
This exquisite book contains 78 recipes 70 featuring trout. Contributors include well known chefs, food writers and bloggers in Ireland - Darina Allen, Clodagh McKenna, Suzanne Campbell, Lucinda OSullivan, Sally McKenna, Georgina Campbell, Clodagh McKenna, Caroline Hennessy, Aoife Ryan and Sofie Skehan, wife of celebrity chef Donal Skehan.
Other contributors are: Former Tanaiste and Progressive Democrats leader, Mary Harney, much loved ex-RTE star Bibi Baskin, Presenter of the RTE One TV Ear to the Ground Programme Helen Carroll, newly appointed Chief Executive of Bord Bia Tara McCarthy, Julie Calder Potts of Highbank Orchards, and Mary Morrissey and Helen King, also of Bord Bia.
Recipes in the book range from trout caviar cocktails to fish curries, pies and salads. Kirwans four sisters, Miriam, Louise, Joanne and Cathy as well as her sister in law Siobhan Donohoe, have all contributed recipes. Miriam (Donohoe) volunteered with Hospice Africa Uganda in Kampala for eight months in 2016 and is currently revisiting it to volunteer this month.
Hospice Africa Uganda was founded by the inspirational 83-year-old Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Anne Merriman, in 1991. It has helped make a difference at end-of-life to almost 30,000 seriously ill and dying patients since its foundation.
Merriman says Irish people have been hugely supportive of our charity over the years. We are striving to ensure that no one in Africa dies in pain and discomfort, and we cannot do it without the generosity and support of donors. I hope this book is a sell-out. Winning global awards is so well deserved and it will help spread the message of what we do on a world stage also.
Goatsbridge Trout Farm produces trout caviar and high-quality rainbow trout products including cold smoked and hot smoked trout, which sells under the Eat Trout brand. Fishwives is available to buy on goatsbridgetrout.ie for only 20.
The publication of the 20 million Slaintecare Integration Fund will support the delivery of community healthcare in Kilkenny, according to Junior Minister, John Paul Phelan, TD.
The fund will be open to applications from both the public and voluntary sectors and will focus on testing new models of care with a focus on community care. Successful applications will facilitate a shift in care to the community or provide measures to help people avoid hospital.
This is a really exciting opportunity for health and social care sectors here in Kilkenny to pitch their ideas to Slaintecare. The Integration Fund is looking for initiatives that help support us in meeting our ultimate goal of reducing waiting lists and reducing waiting times.
I encourage local interested parties to check out the guide to the application process on the Department of Health website. Weve a long history of firsts in Kilkenny. We were one of the first to develop the GP on-call, out of hours service. Our A&E was one of the first to develop a dedicated medical assessment unit.
The entirety of the 20m Integration Fund has to be spent in 2019 so this is a great opportunity for local health services to demonstrate leadership and help realise the aims of Slaintecare implementation."
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: Slaintecare is our ten year cross party plan to significantly improve and modernise the health service.
However, we certainly dont think we have a monopoly on good ideas, and we now want to hear directly from health and social care providers on how we can better provide care in the community.
Through this 20m Integration Fund, we can put good ideas into action and share best practice to help care for people closer to home and keep them out of hospital.
Minister for Health, Simon Harris said: Slaintecare will reform Irelands health and social care service to create a modern, responsive service that offers the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Central to this is our goal to shift the majority of care from the acute to the community setting in order to bring care closer to home for service users.
Today, we are asking those within the health and social care sector at large to pitch their ideas to help deliver this Slaintecare goal. Finding, supporting and scaling innovative new ways of providing care is fundamental to delivering Slaintecare, the Fine Gael Minister said.
Applications are to be submitted via email to PitchToSlaintecare@health.gov. ie.
Mooncoin singing legend, Darren Holden was sitting in his hotel bedroom in Annapolis, Maryland when he got a call from fellow High Kings band member, Brian Dunphy, ordering to come down to an Irish themed pub in the centre of the US city.
A photo hanging on the wall of the bar was to provide Darren with a history lesson on his own family and one of the highlights of the sold-out tour of the United States by the folk super group.
It also brought back memories of the black and white still that he hadn't seen since he was a child.
The picture was taken in the summer of 1921 in Tullamore, County Offaly.
It shows his paternal great grandfather, James Byrne on the street playing the uileann pipes with a staff for support.
He was a travelling musician who was popularly known as Jem and his life style may explain from where Darren brought the love of music and performing.
It's amazing that I came over to Maryland, to the Fado Irish Pub in the state capital of Annapolis to see a photo of my great grandfather playing the pipes, he said.
Darren will return from the America today (Wednesday) after being away from home for five weeks on the High kings 10th anniversary tour, playing allover the States where they received rave reviews and had the sold-out signs on almost every auditorium they played.
The High Kings US Tour began in Memphis this Saturday, February 23 and finished in Helena, Montana on Sunday night.
The tour covered some old favourite locations as well as some brand new ones.
The High Kings are hugely successful and were formed in Dublin in 2008.
The band consists of Darren along with Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, and George Murphy.
By June 2016, the group had released four studio albums, two live albums, and two live DVDs.
Their first three studio albums appeared at number three or higher on the Billboard world music chart,] the first two went platinum in Ireland and all of their albums charted in Ireland.
Their latest, The Best of the high kings has also sold very well.
After the release of their first album, the new group moved from a highly staged format to a more natural performance style.
Their third album Friends for Life contains traditional Irish songs, as well as some original songs.
Since the inception of the band, The High Kings has toured Ireland, the United States, and Europe on multiple occasions.
Together they play 13 instruments during their performances.
The group's motto is Folk 'n Roll, and their singing is especially noted for its close harmonies.
The citys western environs including the Wetlands, Poulgour, and Drakelands Lower has been christened with a new name as work gets under way to deliver the new neighbourhood there.
Breagagh Valley was the name put forward by Kilkenny County Councils infrastructure naming committee, and it received the backing of local councillors at a council meeting yesterday (Monday). Director of services Tim Butler told the meeting that the area in the west would accommodate up to 3,500 houses, three schools and more, encompassing three distinct townlands.
Three other pieces of public infrastructure were also given names with the members support, despite the fact that two of them are not yet in existence.
The new road which runs through the former mart site from Wolfe Tone Street to the Castlecomer Road will be known as Old Mart Street. Kilkenny Co-Op has been consulted and indicated support for the name, suggested at a recent meeting by Cllr David Fitzgerald.
The new road due to be constructed between the Callan Road and Circular Road as part of the LIHAF scheme will be known as William Robertson Way. William Robertson (born in Kilkenny in 1770) was an architect who lived in the area near Rosehill , and was responsible for the appearance of many of Kilkennys notable buildings.
A seven-hectare park, proposed to be built as part of the new neighbourhood in the west, will be called Father Tommy Maher Park. Much of the land in the area was or still is owned by St Kierans College, and Fr Maher attended there and taught there, as well as having guided Kilkenny to seven All-Ireland wins.
It was the latter two names that raised the eyebrows of Cllr David Kennedy, who said while he had no issue with the choices, it was a bit premature to name the road and park at this stage.
We are naming stuff before its even built, he said. I just find it a bit ridiculous.
Cllr David Fitzgerald said it was more than appropriate as infrastructure comes on stream to attach a name. He said it was great to see other councillors happy to support the proposed names, and he was delighted the western environs names has now been ditched.
Cllr Melissa O Neill asked whether the proposed names should have been the subject of public consultation. Director of services Tim Butler said that in the naming policy adopted by members, each name is not required to go to public consultation. It was felt a consultation was appropriate for naming the St Francis Bridge, but not in this case.
LIMA/HONG KONG, March 26 (Reuters) - Chinese miner MMG Ltd on Tuesday said it expected to declare force majeure on contracts for copper from its Las Bambas deposit in Peru, hit by a weeks-long blockade by an indigenous community.
MMG, controlled by state-owned China Minmetals Corp Ltd, said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange that it expected production at the site to be "progressively impacted" from later this week.
"Consequently, force majeure will be declared under sales contracts," it said, without giving further detail on the contracts that would be affected.
Las Bambas is one of Peru's biggest copper mines, with about 385,000 tonnes in output last year.
The move comes after the indigenous community's second-in-command said on Monday that it would not take part in negotiations aimed at ending its blockade of a road used by MMG until its leader is freed from jail.
Edison Vargas, the vice president of Fuerabamba, said by phone that the arrests last week of the community's president and lawyers on accusations of extortion were groundless and aimed to delegitimize their complaints. Fuerabamba wants MMG to pay it for using a stretch of road on its farmland, accusing the company of building it to transport copper from its Las Bambas mine without the community's permission.
The company denies those allegations and has said it remains open to dialogue.
"Our primary focus remains on ensuring the health, safety and security of our employees, contractors and the community," MMG CEO Gao Xiaoyu said in Tuesday's filing to the Hong Kong bourse.
"The company will continue to pursue active dialogue with Fuerabamba and other community representatives, as well as the authorities, to seek a safe and peaceful resolution to current concerns," Gao added.
The arrests have triggered an outcry from other communities in Peru's southern copper belt, threatening to broaden a protest that has prevented Las Bambas' copper output from being shipped to market for more than a month.
The mayors of six districts in the province where Las Bambas is located, Cotabambas, have signed a declaration condemning the "criminalization" of local leaders and calling on MMG and the government to make good on previous commitments to communities in the region.
The government of President Martin Vizcarra did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It previously denied it was behind the arrests of Gregorio Rojas, Fuerabamba's president, or Fuerabamba's lawyers, the brothers Jorge and Frank Chavez.
Peru's police department did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. The police have accused Rojas and the Chavez brothers of belonging to a criminal organization that deals in extortion, but have not yet publicly detailed the evidence against them.
MMG said protests near the entrance to the Las Bambas mine were disrupting personnel transport, as well as inbound and outbound logistics.
Peru, the world's No. 2 copper producer, is rife with conflicts over mining, especially in remote provinces where international companies operate alongside farming communities.
(Reporting by Mitra Taj in Lima and Donny Kwok in Hong Kong; Editing by Peter Cooney and Joseph Radford)
Evergreen Park police declined to release any information about the motive for the alleged assault or how it was carried out. They also declined to say how all four individuals knew each other or what brought them together before the alleged assault happened.
HONG KONG, March 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers will look at the scale of the slowdown in the Chinese and European economies to determine any possible impact on Fed policy, Charlie Evans, president of the Chicago Fed, said in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
"It depends a lot on how large the slowdown would be in China, and how big the headwinds would be from European deceleration as well," he said at an event hosted University of Chicago.
He noted recent instances where uncertainties in the two economies influenced Fed policy.
"We were about ready to start raising rates then additional uncertainty pushed us off until December 2015," he said. "And then the uncertainty of 2016 made us wait again until end of 2016."
Eric Rosengren, president of the Boston Fed, said at the same event policymakers are "really focused on domestic economic conditions generally in the United States," but "to the extent that it does affect the United States, we fully take that into account."
(Reporting by Noah Sin; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
Editor's Note: Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news stories and expert opinions that moved the precious metals and financial markets. Sign up here!
Gold has eased on liquidation from traders disappointed the market couldnt accelerate to the upside, says Afshin Nabavi, head of trading at MKS (Switzerland) SA. As of 8:33 a.m. EDT, spot metal was $5.85 lower to $1,315.95 an ounce. There does not appear to be any fresh news driving the move, Nabavi says. The fact we didnt break $1,322ish is bringing in some light liquidation, he says. The market poked just above this but could not hold. Nabavi adds that soft U.S. economic data first thing Tuesday morning could limit further downside. U.S. housing starts fell 8.7% last month.
By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com
Commerzbank: Platinum ETF Holdings Hit Record High
Holdings of platinum by exchange-traded funds have hit a record high but prices are not rising much, says Commerzbank. Analysts cite Bloomberg data showing that platinum ETFs posted inflows of 92,000 ounces Monday. Platinum ETFs have thus registered inflows of 220,000 ounces since the start of last week and of 600,000 ounces since the beginning of the year, Commerzbank says. Yesterdays inflow has put holdings at a record high, yet the platinum price has hardly reacted at all in recent months. Apparently the inflows are not being regarded as a sign of robust demand. Instead, it seems as if surplus material is being merely parked in the ETFs at present.
By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com
BMO: 'We Expect Volatility In The Gold Price This Week'
BMO Capital Markets looks for volatility in gold in the near term. Analysts point out that the yellow metal hit a several-week high Monday amid economic-growth worries and recessionary concerns, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note falling to its lowest level since December 2017. Data continues to signal a slowing economy with the Dallas Fed Texas manufacturing outlook survey showing falling new orders and a decline in the shipment index, BMO says. With U.S. trade figures released on Wednesday, as well as jobless claims and 4Q18 GDP growth on Thursday, we expect volatility in the gold price this week.
Seasonally-adjusted data from the UK Finance industry body showed banks approved 35,299 mortgages last month, the smallest number since April 2013 when Britain was still suffering the after-effects of the global financial crisis.
The value of net mortgage lending increased by 711 million pounds ($936 million), the smallest rise since April 2016 and around half the size of increases in much of last year.
The figures added to signs of a weakening in Britain's housing market ahead of Brexit.
Overall consumer credit growth also slowed, rising by 3.8 percent compared with February last year, the smallest increase since October, the UK Finance data showed.
($1 = 0.7593 pounds)
(Reporting by William Schomberg, editing by David Milliken)
* FTSE 100 up 0.3 pct, mid-caps up 0.5 pct* Ocado at record high on partnership deal* Housebuilders gain after HSBC upgrades* Carnival slumps on reduced profit target
* ConvaTec surges on M&A talks (Recasts, adds company news items, quote, updates prices) By Shashwat Awasthi and Muvija M March 26 (Reuters) - London's main index bounced back from two sessions of losses as exporters were boosted by a strong dollar while oil companies rose on higher crude prices and Ocado surged to a record high on its latest partnership deal. The FTSE 100 added 0.3 percent, lagging behind European peers as Brexit uncertainties kept a lid on gains, while the FTSE 250 firmed by 0.5 percent. After British lawmakers on Monday wrested control of the parliamentary agenda from the government for a day in the hope of breaking the Brexit deadlock, two eurosceptic lawmakers indicated they might support Prime Minister Theresa May's EU divorce deal rather than risk parliament cancelling the exit. Sterling gained after that, with parliament poised to conduct indicative votes on a range of options on Wednesday. Dublin's main index , seen as a barometer of Brexit mood, also recovered from initial losses to register a 0.2 percent gain. However, CMC Markets analyst David Madden emphasised that there was still no clarity on how, when or even if the UK would leave the European bloc. He said that had led to housebuilders , which are considered particularly sensitive to Brexit-related news, giving up some of the early gains and prompted losses in financial stocks including Barclays and Lloyds . Homebuilders had initially rallied on bullish comments on the sector and rating upgrades from HSBC.
Leading gains on the main index were internationally focused stocks, such as Diageo , GlaxoSmithKline and Reckitt Benckiser , lifted by a stronger dollar as U.S. benchmark 10-year yields recovered from 15-month lows. Also supporting the index were oil majors Shell and BP as their share prices tracked a rally in crude oil. Online grocer Ocado rose 4.1 percent to a record
high after signing a partnership deal with Australia's Coles Group in its fifth major overseas tie-up in less than 18 months. London-listed shares in Carnival , the world's largest cruise operator, slumped by 8.5 percent after it cut its annual profit forecast on an expected hit from higher fuel prices and a stronger dollar. Ferguson , meanwhile, slid 7.2 percent on its worst day in nearly three years after the heating and plumbing equipment supplier said it expected trading profit for the year to be towards the lower end of analyst expectations. Mid-cap housebuilder Crest Nicholson added 5 percent after naming Galliford Try's Peter Truscott as chief executive. Galliford dipped 2.4 percent. Medical devices maker ConvaTec jumped 6 percent - its biggest one-day gain in more than a year - after Swedish business daily Dagens Industri said that several players were running the numbers for a possible buyout. (Reporting by Shashwat Awasthi and Muvija M, additional reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Jon Boyle and David Goodman)
223 3403; outside U.S. +91 80 6749 3403; Reuters Messaging: rm://shashwat.awasthi.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))UK hot stocks: [HOT and GB] Wall Street: Gilts report: Euro bond report Pan European stock report: Tokyo stocks: HK stocks: Sterling report: Dollar report:* For company prices, click on -* Company directory: By sector:* For pan-European market data, click on -* European Equities speed guide................ FTSE Eurotop 300 index........................... DJ STOXX index................................... Top 10 STOXX sectors........................ Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors................... Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors.................. Top 25 European pct gainers.................... Top 25 European pct losers..................... ))
The Herald reports:
Images and video taken at the emergency conference of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC), show Peters, who is 74, with his head slumped and eyes closed for extended periods of time.
He did not, however, deny being asleep.
It is not the first time Peters has appeared to nod off at meetings.
Last week, Peters sat with his eyes closed and his head down at times while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and a contingent of Ministers and MPs met Muslim community leaders following the mosque terror attacks in Christchurch.
A few weeks before that, Peters eyes were closed during a Security and Intelligence select committee hearing, also attended by Ardern.
Groth said the table is available to anyone in the community, and not just Guerin students and alumni. She said she wanted to become president after seeing the hard work and dedication shown to her by the seniors who graduated last year.
South Korea's customs agency has set up a temporary task force, with China, the Philippines and other regional partners, to crack down illegal shipments of waste, an official said Monday.
Participants plan to discuss ways to effectively deal with cases of transboundary movements of waste at an Operational Control Unit in southern Seoul, said Woo Je-guk, an official handling the issue at the official of the Korea Customs Service.
Delegations from Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam took part in a joint campaign that is set to end on Friday.
South Korea plans to inform seven other countries and international organizations Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, India, Japan, Maldives and Singapore, as well as the U.N. Environment Program and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention of the results of this week's meetings as part of regional efforts to combat illegal shipments of waste, Woo said.
The Basel Convention, a multilateral environmental agreement that went into force in 1992, is meant to combat, among other things, toxic trade. (Yonhap)
The owners of these parcels, Richard Fisher of The Autobarn and Oscar Tatosian of Oscar Isberian Rugs, are longtime Evanston business owners who are considering redeveloping their combined 66,594 square-feet properties. Both business owners have said they plan to stay on Chicago Avenue and could occupy parts of any new building if redevelopment goes forward.
The main issue they and Illinois have from the data we have seen is not a need for more trains, but rather a need for an extra car on their rush hour trains to address some that are standing room only, Owen said.
Benveniste noted that Gloria lives a very, very sheltered life in the zoo. When she is released in the wild, she can kind of be who she is naturally big hips, boom-boom when she walks. She likes to lay down and fan herself and put her toes in the sand. Shes also a very feminine hippo. She likes to do her nails and her toes, and she wears makeup.
Saving Sadie: Come meet Sadie, a dog no one wanted who ended up inspiring the world. A presentation about Sadie's story and a meet and greet after take place, so everyone can see that despite her limitations, Sadie is a happy, healthy dog, so worthy of love. All ages are welcome to attend. Sadie's story delivers a strong anti-bullying message and reminds kids and adults everywhere: "Think about what you can do, not what you cannot do just like me!" 2 p.m. Sunday, Antioch Public Library District, 757 Main St., Antioch, free, 847-395-0874.
Unfortunately, these types of telephone scams arent going away, and we know it can be very unnerving to be on the receiving end of one of these calls, Son said in a press release. These scammers can sound very convincing and are oftentimes quite persistent and even threatening. Just remember to never give personal or banking information over the phone.
According to police, officers responded to the intersection of Austin Boulevard and Roosevelt Road at 2:30 p.m. March 24 for a report of shots fired. Police said when they arrived, they found a 43-year-old Chicago man with a wound to his arm in front of an apartment building in the 1100 block of Austin Boulevard in Oak Park.
Court filings in December admitted that evidence was lacking to convict Buncich on three counts of wire fraud, and Hollar, in court documents, said at the time that Buncich should be resentenced and the court should vacate the convictions on three of the wire fraud counts, but the others should stand.
The gorgeous Surbhi Chandna, who rose to prominence with her popular character Anika in the much-celebrated Star Plus Ishqbaaaz, is quite a social media sensation. The actress, who has garnered popularity for her unique style of acting, enjoys whopping millions of followers on popular social sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Surbhi is also quite active on her social media accounts and never fails to impress her fans with her exceptional sartorial choices. The diva is definitely reaching new peaks with her glamour quotient and the jaw-dropping pictures on her Instagram handle is a proof! Hot Pic Alert! Surbhi Chandna Posts a Flirty Throwback Photo From Her Swiss Holidays
Post her exit from Ishqbaaaz, Surbhi, who is currently enjoying her sabbatical from the daily soaps, has been traveling extensively- from England to the snow-clad mountains and her Instagram feed is all about her fancy vacay pictures. On Monday, the actress took to the photo-sharing app to share a throwback picture on social media from her recent vacation to Switzerland. In the picture, Surbhi can be seen capturing the perfect touristy selfie and we totally loved it, don't we? HOT Alert! Surbhi Chandna Aka Ishabaazs Anika Is Hotness Personified in This Sexy FHM Indias March 2019 Girlfriend Video
Take a look!
View this post on Instagram Touristy SelFie A post shared by Surbhi Chandna (@officialsurbhic) on Mar 25, 2019 at 1:39am PDT
On the personal front, the actress is rumoured to be dating someone in real life. Yes, the actress is reportedly in love with a heartthrob named Karan Sharma; they are in a long distance relationship. Going by the pictures of the two on social media, the two seem to be totally in love with each other. On the professional front, the beloved TV star was appreciated for her on-screen chemistry with Nakuul Mehta in Ishqbaaaz. The new season of Ishqbaaz premiered on December 17, 2018. Stay tuned to this space for further updates.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 26, 2019 09:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Federal judges in California are cracking down on warped incentives in class-action lawsuits, exerting tighter oversight of settlements that provide hefty fees for plaintiff lawyers but no meaningful benefit for those harmed by corporate misdeeds.
A recent example was the proposed $50-million settlement over a customer-data breach at Yahoo Inc.
U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh blocked that settlement, saying a request by plaintiffs lawyers for an additional $37.5 million in compensation for their work on the case was excessive. She also criticized Yahoo for a lack of transparency about how many people were affected and for trying to use the deal to avoid liability in an unrelated breach.
Kohs actions epitomize new court guidelines in San Francisco and Silicon Valley that require more justification for class-action settlements in California, a state with some of the toughest consumer-protection laws. Judges are nixing more deals, including some with companies such as Uber Technologies Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. The increased scrutiny may mean fewer settlements and more cases going to trial.
Advertisement
The rules are to ensure that class members are adequately protected, said Neal Marder, an attorney with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Los Angeles. Lawyers come up with clever ways to settle a case that isnt always in the best interest of the class.
Granting class-action status to a lawsuit is supposed to put more power in the hands of the little guy. It allows a single plaintiff to sue on behalf of a larger group of people who were harmed by the same act but may have little incentive to take a company to court over a relatively small claim.
Some class actions work as intended, such as when Volkswagen agreed to spend $10 billion in 2016 to buy back 500,000 vehicles with polluting diesel engines. The vast majority are settled once they are elevated from individual claim to class action. Most businesses want to avoid going to trial, where they risk losing in a huge jury verdict.
But when companies settle, some of their deals provide no tangible benefits for the people the suits were intended to help.
Short sandwiches
In one noteworthy 2016 case involving Subway sandwich shops prompted by a teenage customer who was sold an 11-inch-long sandwich rather than the 12 inches the company advertised the U.S. appeals court in Chicago derided a class-action settlement as utterly worthless. The Subway deal called for each restaurant to achieve better bread-length uniformity on all its foot-long sandwiches.
Plaintiffs lawyers sought $520,000 in fees for negotiating the settlement with Subway, even though most customers understand that variations in bread-making mean sandwiches may not be exactly 12 inches long, the court ruled. It said such deals amounted to rackets for lawyers.
Even when agreements call for a more tangible damage award, such as cash, most class members dont end up with anything. A 2013 study by Mayer Brown, at the request of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, looked at 148 class-action suits filed in 2009 and found that when people have to file a claim to participate in a settlement, very few bothered to do it, with responses in some cases below 1%.
In November, the federal court in Northern California updated guidelines for proposed class-action settlements, giving judges more leeway to reject deals that dont deliver for the group of intended beneficiaries. Among the new rules: Parties must provide a lot more information about how the amount of the settlement was reached and how, specifically, theyll make sure class members get their share.
Judges will want a genuine assessment of the value of the case, said Thomas Loeser, an attorney with plaintiff law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro in Seattle. The new guidelines will make all class settlements better because judges will be equipped to detect marginal cases.
Judges also are looking more closely at the non-monetary portion of a proposed deal, which may mean corporate defendants will pay more to settle strong cases and will fight more of the weaker ones, Loeser said. As a result, more could end up at trial.
Consumer advocates
In class actions, judges arent just impartial referees. Theyre obligated to represent the interest of class members who arent participating in the litigation but still stand to benefit from a settlement.
Federal judges Edward Chen and Richard Seeborg, who sit on the court in San Francisco, said in January that the updated guidelines give them more tools to vet class-action deals. During a forum at the University of San Diego School of Law, the judges said they were particularly keen to get more specific details about what will happen after they approve a settlement and how the parties will ensure that as many people as possible participate.
Theres a lot that we dont know, for example, about claims administration, Seeborg said.
Class-action payout rates tend to be very low because most people dont understand the notices they get about the settlement or simply dont believe them, said Elizabeth Cabraser, an attorney with Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, one of the plaintiffs lawyers in the Volkswagen class action.
A good settlement is like any other good product you need to market it, Cabraser said.
Cases involving people who bought flawed products at a retail outlet can be challenging because finding each one is time-consuming and expensive, Cabraser said. The new guidelines will give plaintiffs lawyers more leverage to demand that defendants make more of an effort to identify class members, she said.
The more aggressive rules in Northern California could be copied in other federal districts, though they may already be having an effect, said Michael Brody, co-chair of the class action practice at Jenner & Block in Chicago. Corporate defendants may need to sweeten the pot more to ensure settlements please judges, he said.
Negotiating a settlement that looks good for the defendant isnt good if it doesnt get approved, Brody said.
Direct Lending Investments founder Brendan Ross attracted hundreds of millions of dollars from investors with the help of an impressive track record: consistent profits of about 1% a month, without fail.
It turns out those numbers were too good to be true, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The regulator sued Direct Lending on Friday, accusing it of inflating annual returns by about 2% to 3% for years.
Direct Lending, based in Glendale, competes with banks by financing loans with money it raises from investors. At the center of the SECs case are allegations that Ross urged a key business partner to alter loan data, giving the false impression that borrowers were repaying their debts.
Masking losses?
Ross knowingly engaged in a multiyear scheme to mask the poor performance of one of the funds largest investments, the SEC said in its lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles. The agency is seeking to have a receiver appointed to take over the fund and preserve its assets. In a Monday statement, the SEC said its investigation is ongoing.
Advertisement
Jahan Raissi, a lawyer for Ross, said that the founder unequivocally denies the allegations and believes the regulators lawsuit contains factual inaccuracies. Yasser Ahmad, Direct Lendings head of investor relations, said the company reported the matter itself and is cooperating with the agency. SEC spokeswoman Judith Burns declined to comment.
Direct Lending, an early investor in whats known as peer-to-peer loans, reported as recently as November that it had $758 million in assets. (Peer-to-peer lenders are online firms that offer loans to consumers and small businesses, then sell those loans to investors.) But Direct Lending has been in turmoil since last month, when Ross disclosed the default of a borrower representing a quarter of the firms assets.
Ross then quit March 18 after Direct Lending found evidence that the valuations of another investment may have been materially overstated. The firm reported its conclusions to regulators.
Those valuations tied to Direct Lendings investment in online small-business lender QuarterSpot Inc. are the focus of the SECs complaint.
Unmade payments
From 2014 to 2018, Ross emailed QuarterSpots principals, urging them to falsely report to Direct Lending that borrowers made hundreds of monthly payments when, in fact, they had not, according to the SEC. The misconduct enabled Direct Lending to avoid recognizing losses on its QuarterSpot investment and to make $11 million in undeserved fees, the regulator said.
More loans are going late each month than I can afford and still have normal returns, so that the can we are kicking down the road is growing in size, Ross wrote in one 2015 email quoted in the SEC suit. The agency said it wants Direct Lending to pay an unspecified fine and return all illicit profits to investors.
Raissi, Ross lawyer, said the QuarterSpot investment peaked in 2017 and has since declined to about $2 million, an immaterial position for the fund.
Despite the salacious allegations regarding the QuarterSpot investment, payments were made on the loans, he said. We believe a quantitative analysis will show that owning the QuarterSpot loans was profitable for investors.
The SEC didnt sue QuarterSpot or its management. The company didnt return a phone call seeking comment.
Lending boom
Founded in 2012, Direct Lending has been part of a boom in alternative asset managers that make loans to midsize companies, filling a gap left by banks after the 2008 financial crisis. The return numbers the firm reported were incredibly smooth. It reported gains every month through at least November 2018, according to an investor letter seen by Bloomberg.
Its assets increased about tenfold from 2014 to 2016, Ross said on a podcast hosted by Lend Academy in 2016. Ross initially focused on loans to small businesses and then branched out into making larger loans to companies that were in the business of lending, such as QuarterSpot.
Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family have agreed to pay $270 million to settle Oklahomas claims that illegal marketing of the painkiller OxyContin devastated local communities. The deal could influence the results of thousands of lawsuits faced by Purdue and other companies.
The settlement comes two months before the scheduled start of a trial against Purdue, Johnson & Johnson and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in Norman, near Oklahoma City. Oklahoma is the first state in the nation to try claims against opioid makers, and the trial against the other two companies will proceed.
The settlement resolves a sliver of the massive legal liability that has led Purdue to threaten to file for bankruptcy protection as a way of managing its legal costs. The drugmaker is owned by the billionaire Sackler family, and states and local governments have recently targeted the familys wealth to recoup billions spent on the social costs of opioid addiction.
This agreement is only the first step in our ultimate goal of ending this nightmarish epidemic, Oklahoma Atty. Gen. Mike Hunter said in a press release. He said the state is pressing ahead to hold other defendants in this case accountable for their role in creating the worst public health crisis our state and nation has ever seen.
Advertisement
Representatives of Teva and Johnson & Johnson didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.
I see this as a one-off tied to Purdues limited financial resources, said Richard Ausness, a University of Kentucky professor who teaches about mass-tort law. I think these other companies will wait to see the outcome of some of these test trials before they get serious about settling.
At a news conference Tuesday, Hunter said the Purdue settlement is structured in a way to ensure the state gets paid even if the drugmaker seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors. Purdue gave Oklahoma officials a commitment that theyre not filing for bankruptcy in the near term, he said.
The companies and others are battling claims by three dozen states and 1,600 U.S. cities and counties, but those suits are pending in other courts and the first test trial isnt until the fall. Purdues settlement could give other states a road map for resolving their cases if they want to avoid trial, said Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond professor who teaches about product liability law.
Shares of Johnson & Johnson rose 1.4% on Tuesday to close at $138.57. Bonds of drugmaker Endo International, which is being sued elsewhere, rose as well.
In its suit, Oklahoma sought $25 billion in damages and penalties over Purdues push to induce doctors to prescribe OxyContin for unauthorized uses to generate billions of dollars in profits for the company. Although doctors have wide discretion to prescribe medicines for purposes beyond what those medicines are approved to treat, drugmakers are limited to marketing their products for ailments approved by regulators.
The Sackler family is accused of taking home billions of dollars tied to the abuse of OxyContin that the companys marketing allegedly fueled. The family made more than $4 billion between 2008 and 2016, according to a recently unsealed opioid suit filed by the Massachusetts attorney general.
Craig Landau, Purdues chief executive, confirmed in a March 8 interview with the Washington Post that bankruptcy is an option to deal with the wave of opioid suits that threaten the pharmaceutical companys financial strength. A Chapter 11 filing would shield Purdue from litigation by imposing a stay on all U.S. suits and allow the privately held drugmaker to consolidate its legal costs and expenses. Experts say taking the cases out of the regular court system and putting them before a single bankruptcy judge would be likely to allow Purdue to pay less in settlements.
The settlement announced Tuesday will allow Stamford, Conn.-based Purdue to avoid filing for bankruptcy protection, at least for now.
Lawyers for Oklahoma and Purdue have been in talks for months, according to people familiar with the negotiations. The talks were overseen by a court-appointed mediator.
Oklahoma sued opioid manufacturers in 2017 over their marketing campaigns for painkillers. Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman agreed to break up trials to have only three companies face juries at one time. Purdue, J&J and Teva were slated to be the first three drugmakers to come to trial.
In 2016, there were 444 opioid-related overdose deaths in Oklahoma; the state ranked 28th in the nation for such deaths, according to data analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The year before, Oklahoma doctors wrote more than 4 million opioid prescriptions a number exceeding the states population. State officials noted more state residents died from opioid overdoses than car accidents since 2009.
The states suit sought millions of dollars in damages for the current costs of dealing with the opioid epidemic and billions of dollars in future costs tied to counseling, healthcare and social services for recovering addicts and children orphaned by overdoses.
Among the terms of the settlement, Purdue will pay $103 million to establish the National Center for Addiction Studies and Treatment at Oklahoma State University, donate $20 million worth of medicine to the center and contribute $72 million for counties and cities and the cost of the litigation. The Sacklers have pledged $75 million to the center over five years even though they werent named defendants in the case.
The agreement reached today will provide assistance to individuals nationwide who desperately need these services rather than squandering resources on protracted litigation, family members said in an emailed statement.
The Sacklers, whose total fortune has been estimated at $13 billion, have had doors closed on them recently as museums refused charitable donations and activists demand the familys names be removed from academic buildings in the United States and Israel.
For about two years, Purdue has unsuccessfully sought to negotiate a separate settlement with other attorneys general who have sued the company over its OxyContin marketing. Fellow opioid maker Endo International has had no luck coming up with its own settlement for suits filed by U.S. cities and counties.
European Union lawmakers approved a copyright directive Tuesday to give writers and artists more protection of their creative rights and incomes, an intensely contentious measure that could have major transatlantic implications for American technology companies.
The European Parliament voted 348 to 274 to pass the online copyright bill, with 36 abstentions. Opponents argued that the legislation, which had been in the works for three years, would stifle freedom and creativity online. The EUs member countries gave the measure preliminary approval in February and have final reviews set for next month.
If the directive is enacted, companies such as Apple Inc., Facebook Inc. and Google parent company Alphabet Inc. likely would have to pay European artists more and do more to prevent work that appears online from being used without permission.
The most controversial section would make companies responsible for copyrighted material that is uploaded to their online platforms.
Advertisement
Web giants have been able to benefit from content created in Europe by paying derisory taxes, transferring huge profits to the U.S. or China, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said. Parliament has chosen to put an end to the existing digital Wild West.
Lobbying against the bill by internet giants was said to be so intense even after EU members gave their provisional support that passage wasnt viewed as a sure thing Tuesday.
German EU lawmaker Axel Voss, who was the bills lead backer, let out a massive sigh when the vote tally flashed up on a screen inside the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France.
We have agreed a new set of rules which will do exactly the opposite of killing the internet, Voss said.
After the vote, Google said in a statement that the bill will still lead to legal uncertainty and will hurt Europes creative and digital economies. The details matter, and we look forward to working with policy makers, publishers, creators and rights holders as EU member states move to implement these new rules.
EDiMa, an association of European tech companies, said in a statement that the version approved Tuesday improved on earlier drafts, but we still fundamentally disagree with it, as it undermines other EU law, tries to force a licensing business model on open platforms, and weakens the fundamental privacy and freedom of speech rights of EU citizens.
Tens of thousands of people marched in cities across Germany over the weekend to protest what the EU sees as reforms and what critics see as restrictions that could lead to online censorship.
Outside parliament, a French band performed music to push the point that artists need higher payments and better copyright protection.
There is nothing like free lunch, and I dont know why the giant techs should carry on, you know, having a free lunch on our expense, French music producer Wally Badarou said.
In France, ever the guardian of European culture, the government greeted the bills passage with relief.
The EU message is clear, French Culture Minister Franck Riester said. Everyone intervening on the European market must respect our common preferences, whether it is copyright or fiscal rules that require Americas tech companies to pay more taxes in Europe.
The leader of the EU Parliaments liberal ALDE group, Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium, countered the bills critics by saying the cards had been stacked so much in favor of monopolistic American companies that it was ridiculous to talk about a free internet.
The only freedom you have is to send your data mainly to U.S. companies who are using it for their profit. That is all, Verhofstadt said during Tuesdays session.
Qualcomm Inc. has fired multiple legal shots at Apple Inc., aiming to use patents to get a ban on importing the iPhone. In separate rulings Tuesday, one missed and one hit.
The U.S. International Trade Commission on Tuesday invalidated a Qualcomm patent for a battery-saving feature. Earlier in the day, a separate trade judge said Apple infringed a different Qualcomm patent and recommended certain older models of the iPhone be banned. The commission is scheduled to release a final decision in that case in July.
The cases are among about 80 worldwide between the companies in a dispute that has lasted more than two years. Qualcomm is hoping a victory, particularly an import ban, could give it greater leverage in technology licensing negotiations. Qualcomm says its due billions of dollars in unpaid royalties on the iPhone as the two tech giants argue over the value of the chipmakers patents.
Apple denied infringing any of the patents in the two cases and said Qualcomm is trying to shut its only U.S. competitor, Intel Corp., out of the market; Apple argues that would hinder the development of the fifth generation of mobile communications, known as 5G.
Advertisement
In both cases at the trade commission, the Cupertino, Calif., company argued that no import ban should be imposed even if a patent violation is found.
Qualcomm argued that the opposite is true. If the San Diego company cant enforce its patents, that will lessen the value of its innovation and give rivals particularly Chinas Huawei Technologies Co. a chance to gain greater market share. Qualcomm has called Intel chips inferior to its own, and it has accused Intel and Apple of incorporating unlicensed Qualcomm inventions into the Intel chips to improve their quality.
In the earlier case Tuesday, International Trade Commission Judge MaryJoan McNamara said she would recommend an import ban on certain models of iPhones, which are made in China, a notice posted on the commissions electronic docket says. The judge found no violation of two other Qualcomm patents in the case.
The earlier ruling sent Qualcomm shares up 2.4% to $58 in regular trading Tuesday. Apple shares fell 1% to $186.79. In after-hours trading, both stocks reflected the partial wins and losses after the commission decision. Apple was up less than 1%, while Qualcomm fell less than 1%.
In the case before McNamara, Qualcomm contended that Apple iPhones with Intel chips infringed two patents related to ways to improve the speed and quality of data downloads and infringed one patent for a power-saving feature. It is seeking an order that would ban imports of those iPhones. The judges finding of infringement related to the power-saving feature, according to the notice. Her full findings arent yet public, and they wont be until both sides get a chance to redact confidential information.
We appreciate Judge McNamaras recognition of Apples infringement of our hardware patent and that she will be recommending an import ban and cease and desist order, Qualcomm General Counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement when the earlier notice came out. The company had no immediate comment on the later-issued decision from the full commission.
The original complaint in the McNamara case linked that patent only to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but it was unclear which models would be affected by McNamaras decision. If the ban applies only to those models, it could have a multibillion-dollar effect on Apple each year Apple still offers those devices. The company will probably discontinue them in the next two years.
The second decision announced Tuesday targeted a broader range of iPhones, including the iPhone 7, iPhone 8 and iPhone X, and only ones that had Intel chips. Models with Qualcomm chips wouldnt be affected. The commissions full decision which, for now, sidestepped arguments over whether the Apple-Qualcomm legal battle has broader implications for U.S. supremacy in 5G telecommunications is not yet public.
Apple, chafing under what it considers onerous and expensive licensing requirements, has directed its contractors to stop paying Qualcomm until the two sides can reach a new deal. It also has turned to Intel to supply the modem chips on its newest models.
The iPhone probably generated about $58 billion in the United States in Apples 2018 fiscal year. The majority of iPhone sales last year were from newer models such as the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
By all accounts, Qualcomms technology underpins all modern communications. The company is a large player in the development of industry standards, spending billions of dollars on research each year. Its also richly rewarded it makes money off the chips in all mobile devices, and it also gets paid for the use of its inventions in chips made by others.
The Federal Trade Commission has accused Qualcomm of using its patents on industry standards to shut out competitors from the market and demand high licensing fees; the two sides await a judges ruling in that case. The patents in this case dont relate to standardized technology, but Apple says Qualcomm is using the International Trade Commission to maintain monopoly power.
Uber Technologies Inc. Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi has cut the largest deal of his tenure, buying Middle Eastern ride-hailing competitor Careem Networks for $3.1 billion.
Uber will pay Dubai-based Careem $1.4 billion in cash and $1.7 billion in convertible notes when the deal closes, the two companies said in a statement. They are seeking regulatory approval in the 15 countries where Careem operates. Bloomberg had previously reported some details of the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020.
The deal comes as San Francisco-based Uber is preparing to file in April for an initial public offering, people familiar with the matter have said. The acquisition isnt expected to slow Ubers IPO process and will enable the ride-hailing firm to emphasize its global footprint relative to rival Lyft Inc., which is expected to begin trading Friday.
The acquisition will be Ubers priciest and will mark the first time the company has bought one of its regional competitors. Uber has sold many international business units, including in China, Southeast Asia and Russia, taking stakes in Didi Chuxing Inc., Grab and Yandex in the process. Another recent major purchase was electric bike company Jump Bikes.
Advertisement
The Careem acquisition represents one of the largest technology deals in the Middle East, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. As part of the agreement, Careem will continue to operate as a stand-alone brand after the deal closes.
Careem will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Uber. Mudassir Sheikha will remain as Careems CEO. Careem will have its own board, with three representatives from Uber and two from Careem. Both companies apps will continue to operate under separate brands. Jefferies acted as exclusive financial advisor to Careem on the transaction
Because the move combines the two largest ride-hailing companies in the Middle East, it could face regulatory scrutiny. One inevitable selling point of the deal will be that it enables the two companies to raise prices, while also reducing pressure to compete with each other in how much they pay drivers.
Uber was very good at convincing the management team that [Careem] can run independently post-acquisition, said venture capitalist David Chao, an investor in Careem. I think terms were good and this was a huge victory for Uber.
Some of Careems early backers are set to benefit from the deal. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-based Al Tayyar Travel Group, one of the companys largest corporate shareholders and earliest investors, said it expects to gain at least $470 million, pushing shares up more than 8%. Saudi Telecom expects to get about $274 million in cash and stock.
For investors of Careem, this acquisition is a good deal as they have the minimum guaranteed price of $3.1 billion, said Meziane Lasfer, a professor of finance at Cass Business School in Dubai. Because part of the acquisition is paid for in Uber shares, Careem investors also have a large potential upside value if the shares go higher than the $55 price on which the deal is based.
California is moving to codify a sweeping court decision curbing employers use of independent contractors, and the new law is unlikely to exempt Uber, Lyft and other app-based technology companies.
The two ride-hailing giants are on the verge of going public with initial stock offerings valued at tens of billions of dollars. Both companies are losing money, and converting their California drivers, currently classified as contractors, to employees would cut into their potential profits.
Am I concerned about the stock price of Uber and Lyft? said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), author of Assembly Bill 5, who planned to release the legislations new language Wednesday.
No. It doesnt keep me up at night.
Advertisement
The bill offers exceptions for a small group of occupations and may include more as it moves through the Legislature. But employers offering services through digital platforms wont be among them, Gonzalez added. Its not going to happen.
Classifying workers as employees requires companies to pay for overtime, Social Security and Medicare taxes, workers compensation, unemployment and disability insurance, and benefits such as family leave and sick pay. That can add about 30% to labor costs.
Are you an employee or a contractor? Carpenters, strippers and dog walkers now face that question
The California Supreme Court last April set a strict new test for classifying workers as contractors. The ruling was in favor of drivers for Dynamex Operations West, a package delivery company, who disputed the companys move to reclassify them as contractors and force them to use their own vehicles a similar model to that of app-based ride-hailing companies.
Uber, Lyft, Amazon, Grubhub, Postmates and other gig economy behemoths are facing lawsuits across the country brought by thousands of workers who say they are misclassified as contractors. They are not alone: A broad swath of sectors including trucking, construction, janitorial services, home care, newspapers and even strip clubs have grappled with similar complaints.
Lyft drivers are independent contractors who decide when, where, and for how long they wish to drive, Loni Mahanta, Lyfts vice president of future of work, wrote in an email. We are engaging with policy makers, labor, drivers, worker advocates, and others to actively explore options to allow drivers to maintain this flexibility while also addressing the lack of benefits for independent contractors.
Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the bill.
The Gonzalez legislation may be amended over the next few months, but as currently written, it grants just four exemptions to the courts test for designating workers as contractors. Those are for doctors, insurance agents, financial advisors and direct sellers who offer products to consumers under the aegis of such companies as Mary Kay, the cosmetics firm, or Herbalife, the supplements giant.
Those occupations are already regulated by other statutes but adding them to the bill makes their exemption more explicit.
The bills new language is basically a declaration of existing law, Gonzalez said. But she added, We know we have more work to do. We will have another round of amendments for additional folks such as Realtors and hairdressers.
We dont want to stop true independent contractors from having their own little businesses. But we dont want to continue this farce of large businesses declaring their people are independent contractors. These workers miss out on all benefits of being an employee.
The California Chamber of Commerce, which last year urged the Legislature to suspend or postpone the application of the Dynamex decision, praised the exceptions in the current bill. But the group said in an email that exemptions should also be extended to all individuals who enjoy, prefer, and benefit from the flexibility and security of performing work as independent contractors.
Gonzalez said she had met with dozens of companies, some of which sought exceptions, as well as individual workers who want to make sure they are not exempted.
Echoing an argument made by a unanimous Supreme Court, she said, California continues to lose millions possibly billions of dollars. Studies show many independent contractors dont actually pay their taxes.
Moreover, she added, the cost of treating low-income injured or sick contractors often falls on the state, while workers who are paid below minimum wage and denied overtime often end up on food stamps.
Independent contractors are not covered by the National Labor Relations Act, which protects workers who organize unions a fact that partly accounts for the strong support for the Dynamex decision in labor circles. The California Labor Federation is sponsoring Gonzalezs legislation and has jointly drafted its language. It is reluctant to carve out significant exemptions to the bill.
We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring millions of workers out of exploitative working conditions and rebuild the middle class, said labor federation legislative director Caitlin Vega.
AB 5 will protect that landmark decision, she added. Workers will gain higher wages, greater workplace protection and a safety net in hard times.
As for the app-based technology companies, she said, we have had nonstop meetings with every industry and company which has asked. The bar to get exempted is properly high. How are they treating their workers? It is a myth that independent contractors necessarily have more flexibility than employees. Our employment laws allow flexibility.
Last year, Assemblyman Evan Low (D-San Jose) introduced Assembly Bill 2765 to establish a new category of worker called marketplace contractor, which would have allowed app-based companies to avoid classifying workers as employees. Similar legislation in other states has been sponsored by Handy, a digital platform for household services, and other gig companies and has been adopted in Kentucky, Florida, Utah, Iowa, Tennessee and Indiana.
In California, after stringent opposition from a swath of unions, the bill died.
The California Legislature has a Democratic supermajority, Vega said. They believe in worker protections.
margot.roosevelt@latimes.com
Twitter: @margotroosevelt
Suits star Sarah Rafferty is looking to try on something new after listing her West Hollywood home for $2.35 million.
Spanish on the outside and modern on the inside, the 1950s estate sits behind gates and lush landscaping a block away from Melrose Avenue. Through an arched doorway, the interior opens to 1,691 square feet of white walls and hardwood floors.
Pocketing doors line most of the common rooms turning the living room, family room and kitchen into airy indoor-outdoor spaces. Other highlights include a bright dining area and spacious master suite with a pebble shower.
Advertisement
The floor plan boasts three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a studio, but the entertainers backyard is the main draw. Surrounded by hedges, the space descends from a wood deck to a patio with a swimming pool, spa and fire pit.
Alejandro Lombardo and Roberto Seixas of Keller Williams Realty hold the listing.
Rafferty, 46, bought the home in 2006 for $1.787 million, public records show.
Known mostly for her role in USAs Suits, the actress has also appeared in Law & Order, Bones, CSI: Miami and Brothers & Sisters.
jack.flemming@latimes.com | Twitter: @jflem94
Gibson said he 'crashed his boat,' 'two of my friends are in the water, can you send somebody to get them,' that 'he hit something,' was 'ejected,' he had been 'drinking at the yacht club' and he had been swimming for two hours," the affidavit states.
The exhibition Richard Diebenkorn: Beginnings, 1942-1955 does a good job busting up a pretty entrenched assumption.
A standard timeline of the artist, one of Californias most important painters, has him launching headlong into Abstract Expressionist waters (when he lived in New Mexico), pulling back to representational landscapes and figures in interiors (in the Bay Area), then returning to full abstraction with ethereal veils of structured color in the great Ocean Park paintings (in Los Angeles). But the narrative is not that simple.
At the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University, a handsome traveling exhibition organized by Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum in conjunction with the Richard Diebenkorn Foundation zeroes in on his early years. Before there was Ab Ex, it handily demonstrates and for a while afterward too he was all over the map.
Which is to be expected. Diebenkorn was feeling his way through.
Advertisement
Diebenkorn was 23 when his Marine Corps service ended along with World War II. By the time he settled in Albuquerque five years later, in 1950, he had a wife and two kids, and the family had crisscrossed the country, living in San Francisco, Woodstock, N.Y., and Sausalito. He finished a degree from Stanford, where the war had interrupted his studies, and he was picking up visual information all along the way.
SPRING ARTS: Exhibitions on our radar
Richard Diebenkorn, Untitled, 1944, ink on cardboard (Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art)
Richard Diebenkorn, Untitled, 1949, oil on canvas (Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art)
REVIEW: Charles White show at LACMA pinpoints the power of an underappreciated black artist
The show, drawn from the foundations collection and most never exhibited before, has been trimmed to about 75 works (from 100). Only a handful are paintings, many of them rather worse for wear. But the abundance of works on paper makes it well worth seeing, since drawings are where Diebenkorn trained his hand and worked out his pictorial ideas.
Here hes applying Cubist facture to a landscape, there hes adding a blast of Matisses color, in between hes rendering a more conventional study of the figure or a still life; veils of liquid hue are perhaps inspired by a new interest in the nature abstractions of Arshile Gorky. The paintings, even in their mostly less than pristine state, do show these and other elements working their way into his canvases.
Among the most intriguing is an animated 1954 oil sketch of a horse and rider galloping across the small canvas, with three brushy bands of color behind them. Yes, Diebenkorn would likely have witnessed similar action firsthand in rural New Mexico. But, if the image puts you in mind of Rembrandts famously enigmatic Polish Rider painting in New Yorks Frick Collection, that makes sense too.
Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Through March 31. (310) 506-4851, arts.pepperdine.edu
REVIEW: Allen Ruppersberg show at the Hammer Museum is a dont-miss tour de force
Although it has been almost two years since Jeffrey Kahane stepped down as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, it was still fully the band he had exhilarated for two decades when he returned to conduct Sunday at UCLAs Royce Hall.
But what made the evening especially notable beyond the premiere of a cello concerto by noted film composer James Newton Howard and a recent work by an arresting young Bay Area composer was what looked to be a Mozart hand-off.
A new music director doesnt officially take over until next season, and whether intended or not, the weekend program began and ended with the LACO conductor laureates signature Mozart: Kahane led a piano concerto from the keyboard and conducted a symphony. Next month, when LACOs music director designate begins with a new work by another hot composer and ends with Mozarts Requiem, Jaime Martin will have big, beloved shoes to fill.
There were no surprises expected or delivered by Kahane in Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 14, written when the composer had just turned 28 and already had reached a lyrical, playfully complex, miraculous maturity. Mozart flowed from Kahanes hands as naturally and refreshingly as mountain water from a crystalline spring.
Advertisement
Mozart used his Linz Symphony, tossed off in four days the previous year when he already had an astonishing 35 behind him, to spectacularly sow his oats. Kahane used it for similar purpose, as a very happy, see-you-later gesture and not one to weigh down the new guy. But these two mid-career Mozart mini-masterpieces seemed to have another kind of purpose.
Not too many composers these days can toss off a half hour of music in a matter of days. Not too many prolific twentysomethings are ready to really stand out. The modern exception in the first category is the film composer. Gabriella Smith counts in the second.
SPRING PREVIEW: Mahlers Eighth, Hannigans Ojai and Central Park Five and more
A concert work is, of course, a different animal than a film score, and composers very often make it a point of pride to separate the two. It takes deep listening to recognize the John Williams everybody knows in his concertos, and it requires a leap of imagination to pick out the Ennio Morricone who began as a radical Italian avant-gardist from his work in pictures.
But that can be done. It can also be done in Howards concerto, which LACO commissioned for principal cellist Andrew Shulman. (The piece technically got its world premiere at LACOs concert the night before at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.) Howard began writing the concerto in 2017, broke off to score the thriller Red Sparrow and ultimately had something of a startling cinematic vision for the concerto, a sense of foreboding apocalypse fueled by our nations political chaos and the fires in Malibu.
An elegiac tone, along with thematic material from the beginning and closing titles of Red Sparrow, thus begin and end the concerto. In between, the work is structured as a kind of sequence of scenes, each with a different color or mood one sweet and led by the orchestras winds, another disturbing, with stamping lower strings, something else more dancelike that refashions earlier material.
The cello plays continually, as the dramatic character, and the Shulman plays commandingly. That the orchestra sounds utterly at home with Howard is one more nonsurprise. Several LACO players are studio musicians who can be heard on Howards soundtracks.
There is little reason to be surprised that Smiths Riprap, written in 2013, when she was in her early 20s, is a knockout. This happens to be her third orchestral piece performed in L.A. this year. (John Adams programmed another early work, Tumblebird Contrails with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Kaleidoscope premiered a substantial new work for strings, Hexacorallia) There is no question that she is a composer on her way to great things.
Smith is a violinist who has a nose-to-tail approach to instruments. Every inch of the instruments music-making potential is used. Surprise is what her pieces do. In Tumblebird Contrails, oceanic slow music that sounds like it is going nowhere goes somewhere. The brilliant Hexacorallia is like Vivaldi played by aliens who start it the way its supposed to be but find it much more interesting to translate it into their own language.
Riprap is a 10-minute marimba concerto that takes its start from conventional early Philip Glass and Steve Reich minimalism. But before long, Smith throws spanners in the works. Principal percussionist Wade Culbreath, the hypnotizing soloist, finds himself hitting not just the standard bars but also the resonators. Essentially, whatever is hittable, it be hit. One thing leads to another without seeming to.
The piece dazzles. As does Smith. Remember that name its not that hard.
Before Jussie Smollett took the stage at the Troubadour earlier this month, members of his family came out to address rumors about what had happened just four nights before when their brother reported being attacked by two presumed racists, homophobes and Trump supporters.
Sneakersnstuff, a Swedish multi-brand retailer catering to the global sneakerhead, has chosen the Venice boardwalk as the site of its second U.S. store and just its sixth worldwide which is set to open its doors today, 20 years to the day after its first boutique bowed in Stockholm.
A delightful departure from the minimalist, intimidating cookie-cutter sameness that characterizes many a SoCal premium sneaker boutique, the 3,500-square-foot space is warm and welcoming and chock full of nods to its surroundings, from its concrete floors that are the same shade of beige as the sand that stretches toward the water just beyond its doorstep to store fixtures that pay homage to the canals of Venice, Californias Italian namesake.
A pinata in the shape of a giant Nike Cortez sneaker marks the space dedicated to all things Swoosh-emblazoned (including, if you take the time to look, the woven Mexican rugs on the floor) while the space dedicated to Adidas is dominated by an homage to the concrete barbells of nearby Muscle Beach.
Interior design touches include a Nike Cortez pinata, left, and a dressing-room door, right, tricked out to resemble a low-rider. (Kate Glicksberg / Sneakersnstuff)
Advertisement
Other sneaker brands in the mix include Jordan, Converse, Vans, Under Armour, Puma, Reebok and Saucony (among many others), while the stuff part of the Sneakersnstuff merchandise mix includes laid-back streetwear offerings from Freshjive, Pleasures, Levis and Carhartt WIP (the U.S. workwear brand interpreted through a decidedly European lens).
In an additional nod to its surroundings, theres a souvenir shop just inside the front door stocked to overflowing with ironically SNS-branded lighters, Wham-O Frisbees, floating key rings, Nalgene water bottles and graphic print T-shirts advertising make-believe palm-reading businesses.
Co-founders Erik Fagerlind and Peter Jansson, whose adventures in retailing began with sneaker-buying trips to the U.S. more than two decades ago, explained that the locally inspired details which here included carved wooden column toppers depicting sneakers, sand-sculpture artwork of Dodgers caps and Swedish fish, and a changing room customized to resemble an old-school low rider (complete with a car door handle outside and eight-track tape player inside) are something that theyve done with each of their other boutiques around the world (including Stockholm, London, Berlin, Paris and New York the first U.S. outpost which opened in the Meatpacking District in December 2017).
The new SoCal outpost of Stockholm-based Sneakersnstuff includes a souvenir shop that pays homage to its Venice environs. (Kate Glicksberg / Sneakersnstuff)
With most of the citys high-end sneaker boutiques clustered around the Fairfax District, what prompted Fagerlind and Jansson to head to the Venice boardwalk?
Well, theres a lot of foot traffic, first of all, Fagerlind said last week, pointing to the steady stream of people passing by the not-yet-open store. And there was nothing else [like this] on the beach.
Also, were from Sweden, and growing up, we watched movies like White Men Cant Jump, so this is California to us.
Sneakersnstuff, 1011 Ocean Front Walk, Venice. Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
adam.tschorn@latimes.com
For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me at @ARTschorn
Diya Chacko is a former audience engagement editor for the Los Angeles Times Metro desk and writer of the Times Coronavirus Today newsletter. She previously worked as the public health and environment editor for the Southern California News Group and digital production manager for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans. A USC grad, Diya holds masters degrees in environmental science and journalism from Columbia University.
On Monday morning, I walked from my house near the Venice Pier north along Ocean Front Walk. I wanted to check on something I heard last week at a West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission meeting that made me question my sense of reality.
At the meeting, I heard folks who own stores along Ocean Front Walk tell planners that the Venice boardwalk is a commercial space, hardly residential at all, and that Venice has a severe hotel shortage.
Therefore, argued the entrepreneurs, a landlord who converted a 32-unit rent-stabilized apartment building to a hotel without proper permits and in apparent violation of zoning laws should be allowed to keep operating his business.
Despite the citys insane housing shortage, they said, he should not be forced to restore the rent-stabilized units. Nobody lives on the boardwalk, see. Its tourist central.
Advertisement
Ive lived on the boardwalk for 50 years, said Jordan Monkarsh, owner of Jody Maronis sausage stand, a Venice boardwalk fixture. To say that my area is residential is silly.
Which is how I found myself standing in front of Monkarshs famous sausage shack on Monday, trying to validate my own belief that the boardwalk is every bit as much a residential neighborhood as a commercial one.
Sure enough, Jody Maronis is dwarfed by the five-story apartment building next door.
I guess it is possible to be so distracted by the T-shirt shops, restaurants and sidewalk vendors that you can miss the fact that the boardwalk is full of residences, too. True, the homes are not your typical suburban affair. They befit the urban beach environment; there are new multimillion-dollar houses jammed up against funky apartment buildings and run-down shacks.
Much of the recent debate over the future of Venice Beach has focused on the incursion of tech companies such as Snapchat and Google, which have displaced many small businesses and turned once-thriving blocks into locked-up, blank storefronts.
But the housing market is really at the heart of the enduring struggle for the soul of Venice Beach. Will it be able to remain one of the only demographically mixed beach enclaves in the state, or become a more colorful version of Santa Monicas hyperconsumerist Third Street Promenade, with a few strategically placed sidewalk performers, graffiti walls and skateboard pits to remind us of what Venice used to be?
::
Venice Suites owner Carl Lambert, right, speaks during a public hearing in Los Angeles on March 20. He is appealing the West Los Angeles Area Planning Commissions decision to deny him a zoning change to operate his hotel on the Venice Boardwalk. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Carl Lambert was pleasant but not super chatty when I called him Monday. Anything I say can and will be used against me, he said.
Lambert is the landlord at the center of last weeks planning meeting. In 2005, he bought an apartment building at 417 Ocean Front Walk and converted 30 of 32 units into hotel rooms. According to the hotels website, rooms at the Venice Suites go for $255 to $329 a night in the summer high season and well under $200 a night in winter. Thats a lot more revenue than hed get from the rent-subsidized tenants who used to live there.
In 2015, he was cited by the city at the urging of local housing activists for operating a hotel without the proper occupancy permit.
Then, two years ago, it became unavoidably clear that the short-term rental craze was taking thousands of rental units off the market in Venice Beach, exacerbating an already severe housing crisis. City Atty. Mike Feuer sued a few landlords, including Lambert, claiming he was not just illegally operating a hotel in a residential zone, but falsely advertising it as such and engaging in unfair competition. (Later, the City Council adopted regulations covering short-term rentals, but dont hold your breath that they will ever be enforced.)
Though Lambert won a preliminary technical victory in court last year, the suit has not been fully resolved and a trial is scheduled for the end of May.
Im a preservationist of buildings, Lambert said. Everybody was happy with the properties I saved until the Airbnb phenomenon. Now, Im the scapegoat.
Indeed, he is often vilified by housing advocates and neighborhood preservation folks. Lambert has been accused by housing activists of converting five rent-stabilized apartment buildings in Venice to hotels, thus removing more than 125 units from the market.
(He told me that two of the buildings had always been operated as hotels, but declined to discuss the others.)
A recent critical story in the community paper, the Free Venice Beachhead, bore the headline The Carl Lambert Problem.
::
Last week at the planning commission meeting, Venice resident David Ewing called Lambert a one-man housing crisis.
On the phone, Lambert was silent for an uncomfortably long moment when I asked him to respond.
Every Venetian has their own idea of what Venice has been and should be, he finally said. But Venice is about change.
Hes right, of course. Theres no holding back the tide of money that has swamped Venice.
But is accommodating tourists an important value?
Lambert saw an opportunity to make money and made his move, hoping to persuade city officials after the fact that what he did is in the best interest of the community, and those beautiful old buildings.
Im not among those who think that Venice, which is only three square miles, needs more hotels. We need more housing.
In October, a city zoning administrator ruled that the Venice Suites building is zoned for medium-density residential use only, and does not qualify for rezoning. Lambert appealed that decision last week. His supporters attested to Lamberts generosity and good citizenship. But Lamberts personality and civic engagement were not at issue.
Three planning commissioners unanimously upheld the denial of his zoning change application. Before casting her vote against Lambert, panel Chairwoman Lisa Waltz Morocco wryly nailed the problem:
I think the appellant has already granted himself a variance, she said.
Unfortunately, that does seem to be the way things work in Venice.
robin.abcarian@latimes.com
Twitter: @AbcarianLAT
Every day I search for stories big and small about Latinos in Los Angeles.
I find tales everywhere in swap meets, parks, panaderias, buses and schools.
The Column One I wrote about Vicks VapoRub came from a source I know quite well: my big Salvadoran family.
Growing up, my mom and tias each had their own jar of Vicks and their special way of calling it: Beep Vaporu, El Bic, El Vix Vaporoob.
Advertisement
I didnt learn the real name of the stinky, gooey ointment until high school when I finally took a good look at the little blue container. This was also around the time I learned not all families were as devoted to VapoRub as mine.
Over time, I came to consider Vivaporu a Latino thing a fond, funny connection shared from L.A. to Miami to New York by many Central Americans, Mexicans, Cubans and Dominicans.
To talk about Vicks is to go back in time, to hear stories about moms and abuelas and all the off-label ways many cleverly and sometimes questionably put the salve to work.
Most used it for colds and sore muscles. Others on cuts, burns and bruises. Some drank it with coffee, sipped it with tea or used it to battle headaches, toothaches and nail fungus.
As a kid, you never really stop and question these kinds of things, said Michael Diaz, a Dominican from New York whose childhood involved lots of Vicks. You figure it must be normal.
For a long time, I thought it was normal, too. Doesnt everyone have stories about Vicks?
The North Carolina pharmacist who invented the ointment, I recently found, was a master when it came to marketing his product worldwide. Youll hear plenty of VapoRub tales from the Philippines to India to the far reaches of the Himalayas.
But its among Latinos where youll find a treasure trove of tributes. Some are nostalgic. Others hilarious.
Ive been stumbling across Vicks videos and Vicks lists online for years: 10 Curious Customs of Latina Moms, Whats With Our Vivaporu Obsession?, Latinas Use Vicks VapoRub For Everything.
The story idea had been on my list since college. When I brought it up to my editor recently, we decided to explore the topic.
I was fascinated to find much more material than I could ever use.
The Latino-Vivaporu connection was easy to find on the internet. On TV, too on popular Latino-based television shows like Jane the Virgin and One Day at a Time. Some people had written about their in nostalgia in dissertations, poems and published essays. Others sold all sorts of merchandise featuring the little blue jar.
Diaz, the Dominican from New York, was so inspired by his parents loyalty he and his friends a few years back made a Vivaporu rap video.
We knew it was something Latinos would relate to, he said.
When I spoke to Sion Boney, the great-grandson of Vicks VapoRub creator Lunsford Richardson, he chuckled on the phone as I mentioned all these tributes, most of all the rap video.
His family sold the company to Procter & Gamble in the 1980s, but they still gather once a year to talk about all things Vicks.
My great-grandfather always wanted Vicks to be a universal experience, he said. I think he would be shocked and also very proud.
Behind the exclusive gates of Hollister Ranch are some of Californias most-coveted beaches and surf breaks. Few have had the chance to visit them.
But earlier this month, after decades of pushback and stalemates, state officials passed through these gates with the cooperation of the ranchs powerful landowners. For the first time in years, they traversed the pristine 8.5-mile shoreline to establish initial boundaries that could be used for an ambitious public access program.
Its one of many milestones this year in the escalating fight to open Californias coast to everyone. An all-out legal battle over Martins Beach near Half Moon Bay culminated with the nations highest court rejecting a Silicon Valley billionaires appeal to lock the gate on his terms. A Santa Cruz neighborhood that for decades has charged a fee recently agreed, under state pressure, to open its beach for free.
And though beach access at Hollister Ranch remains limited to landowners, select visitors and those strong enough to paddle in, coastal officials have declared they will find a way to open up this stretch of Santa Barbara County coastline once and for all.
Advertisement
The California Coastal Act proclaimed in 1976 that the beach is for everyone not just for those fortunate enough to own an oceanfront home. The state over the years has chipped away at locked gates, private roads and neighborhoods that try to keep out the public. Whats left are access battles against those with the means to fight back in court in perpetuity.
This is a long game that over the last 40 years has gotten over a thousand points of public access, and were actually down to a handful of holdout cases: Hollister Ranch, Martins Beach, said Coastal Commissioner Aaron Peskin, who urged the public to keep the pressure on not only the commission but also incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom and new coastal appointees.
The time is right, so strike and make progress.
Read more: There are more than 1,000 beach access points in California. A new app shows you where
The Hollister Ranch gatehouse guard allows only designated owners and guests to enter the secluded oceanfront property. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Coastal access often jostling for priority with wildlife protection, plastic pollution, offshore drilling and other high-profile environmental issues has captured Californias attention in ways that did not resonate in years past. The issue has taken on new meaning as conversations of equity dominate politics.
Ive talked about access for years, and this issue just didnt have the same impact and understanding and reception that it is now getting not just from decision makers but also from my conservation colleagues, said Marce Gutierrez-Graudins of Azul, a group that aims to bring more Latino voices to coastal issues. I think there are a lot of things that are coming together, finally, at the right time.
She points to decades of work by advocates such as Robert Garcia of the City Project and the Free the Beach! study. They pushed for Californias new environmental justice law, which explicitly authorizes coastal officials to consider not only impacts to plants, animals and coastal habitats when making decisions, but also the effects on underrepresented communities.
The more people have opportunities to go to the beach, the more they will care about protecting these environments, Gutierrez-Graudins said. Theres an assumption that these communities dont really care about beach pollution or conservation or that we only care about access but in reality, its all linked.
Mounting public outrage has fueled new efforts by state officials to open a coveted stretch of California coastline in Santa Barbara County. (Tamlorn Chase / For The Times)
Equity became a rallying cry this year at Hollister Ranch. The fight to open some of the states most unspoiled beaches had seemed like a done deal in favor of ranch owners, who have long contended the environment has benefited from their private stewardship. Coastal officials, in a controversial agreement struck behind closed doors, ceded a contested claim to access by land.
As news trickled out, more than 1,500 people emailed the commission lambasting the deal. Others drove seven hours from Riverside to a commission meeting in Santa Cruz to plea the case for access. The state changed course and has now teamed up its agencies to finish what was promised decades ago.
The latest strategy relies on updating a ranch-wide access program that the state had adopted in 1982 after a complicated legislative history and long standoff with resistant landowners.
California beaches are supposed to be public. So why is the Hollister Ranch coast an exception?
The program includes a walking trail and bicycle lane that would run parallel to the ranchs main private road. To minimize the number of cars in the interest of privacy and environmental protection a van would operate from nearby Gaviota State Park to six Hollister beaches, where there would be picnic areas and bathrooms.
(California Coastal Commission)
The Coastal Commission, along with the Coastal Conservancy, the State Lands Commission and State Parks, is working quickly to update the plan which officials say does not need a major rewrite.
State Lands this month started surveying the beaches to establish the mean high tide line, which separates public from private land, and coastal officials have established an email account to collect ideas and public input on what an access plan today should include.
We have an aggressive timeline. We want to move forward on the program as quickly as possible, while allowing enough time for adequate public input upfront, said Coastal Commission Executive Director Jack Ainsworth. We dont want to just hand a plan that we developed to the public.
Monte Ward, president of the Hollister Ranch Owners Assn., which represents the more than 1,000 people who own a share of the ranch, urged in a letter to the commission that residents also need to play a central role in the process.
The Ranch, landward of the mean high tide line, is our property and our home, he said. We propose a collaborative approach to the task of revising the 1982 Public Access Program in the hope and expectation that working together we can achieve success.
Signs warn of trespassing at Hollister Ranch Road. The fight to open some of the states most unspoiled beaches had seemed like a done deal in favor of ranch owners, who have long contended the environment has benefited from their private stewardship. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Dozens of owners and ranch supporters, in detailed emails and public testimonies, have also pleaded their case to the commission. They worry that unfettered access could spoil the ranchs coastline and undo years of effort to protect the land. They point to the temporary access that they already grant to scientists, academics, historical societies, environmental groups and schoolchildren, and question how someone unfamiliar with the rugged terrain could safely navigate the steep canyons, unpaved roads and high tides without cell service.
Many objected to their characterization as wealthy landowners who just want a private beach.
I am not an elitist enemy of the people. I share the ranch with as many people as possible. I do not surf. Im not trying to protect a surf break or something like that. I am concerned with the destruction of something that is deeply important to me, Grant Fowlie wrote in an email to the commission. I can tell you from firsthand experience that the impact on the beaches is apparent when even 10 people are there and dont clean up thoroughly. I can guarantee that what exists would be ruined from the 100,000s of visitors that would end up against these bluffs and on the reefs.
They spoke one after another at a commission meeting in Newport Beach this month for the first time in years outnumbering access advocates during public comments. Some spoke of their connection to the land and its history; others pointed to the disrepair of nearby Gaviota State Park and worried how a state with limited funding could maintain the pristine coastline.
We only have the opportunity to protect things, Patrick Rebstock, who has ties to the ranch, said to the commission, before theyre destroyed.
Coastal Commission Chair Dayna Bochco listened to these comments quietly for about an hour. Then, in an unexpected outburst, she pushed back at those who worry that access by the public is going to somehow make your pristine property no longer pristine.
I find that somewhat offensive. I find it to be a very subtle kind of elitism that for some reason youre better at protecting natural habitat than anyone else, she said.
I can see why for the last 36 years that people of this type of thinking have blocked the state from doing what it legally has the right to do, which is to have an access program to Hollister Ranchs beaches, she said. You shouldnt be able to enjoy it any more than any other human being. You are no better of a steward than we are.
Access advocates praised these comments and pointed to other recent victories in the greater fight for access. Earlier that week, a push by the ranch to reject the validity of a public intervention of its settlement with the state was overruled by a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge.
Read more: Coastal advocates challenge deal that bars public from reaching Hollister Ranch by land
Were thrilled that the judge appears to understand that the public has rights here, and the public has a role here and that was the role that was not represented when the settlement was negotiated, said Susan Jordan of the California Coastal Protection Network.
The coalition of advocacy groups, the ranch and the state will reconvene in January to determine the future of this settlement.
We look forward, Jordan said, to representing the publics interest.
rosanna.xia@latimes.com
Interested in coastal issues? Follow @RosannaXia on Twitter.
California is building walls at its borders theyre just not the kind President Trump has in mind.
As the Trump administration continues its assault on environmental regulation, state officials are throwing up legal barriers to some high-stakes attacks.
They are preparing to strengthen safeguards for waterways that are about to lose federal protections in a major rollback of the Clean Water Act.
They are refusing to issue permits the federal government needs to build a controversial dam project that would drown portions of a Northern California river renowned for its wild trout fishery.
Advertisement
And they can use state water quality standards to limit Washingtons ability to boost irrigation supplies for Central Valley agriculture by relaxing federal safeguards for endangered fish.
The state can stand up against the federal government on every single one of those issues, said Noah Oppenheim, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Assns.
Armed with some of the strongest environmental laws in the nation, California has been a leader in the resistance to the Trump administration.
Trump administration unveils major Clean Water Act rollback
As governor, Jerry Brown repeatedly clashed with the White House over Trumps policies on climate change and vehicle fuel economy standards. Since taking office in January, Gov. Gavin Newsom has continued the fight.
That became clear one week after Newsoms inauguration, when representatives of three state agencies reiterated that the dam project is illegal under California law.
The $1.3-billion proposal would raise the 602-foot-tall Shasta Dam near Redding another 18 feet. Doing so would increase the storage capacity of Shasta Lake, Californias largest reservoir, by roughly 14%.
But it would inundate a stretch of the McCloud River, which is protected under Californias Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
We are prohibited by state law from permitting the Shasta project, said Andrew Sawyer, assistant chief counsel of the State Water Resources Control Board. The water board, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the State Lands Commission outlined their objections Jan. 14 in letters to the Westlands Water District in Fresno, the states largest irrigation district and primary backer of the proposal.
Westlands did not respond to a request for comment.
California authorities say the Shasta plan is clearly subject to a section of the 1902 Reclamation Act that requires federal irrigation projects in the West to comply with state laws that relate to the control, appropriation, use, or distribution of water used in irrigation. Exceptions can be made only if Congress directly exempts a project from that mandate.
In 2017, the GOP-dominated House approved legislation that attempted to do that for operations managed by the federal Central Valley Project, including Shasta Dam.
But concern for states rights killed the bill in the Senate, where the proposal never got out of committee. And with Democrats now in control of the House, any similar efforts in the new Congress are all but doomed.
Trumps pick for a top Interior post has sued the agency on behalf of powerful California water interests
On another front, the state water board is expected to vote Tuesday on a package of rules that would counter Trump administration plans to cut wetlands protections.
In December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave notice that it is dropping Obama-era regulations that broadened the Clean Water Acts coverage of wetlands and seasonal streams, which are common in California and the arid West.
The law allows states to adopt regulations that are more stringent than the federal standards. Californias water board has been considering tougher wetlands protections for more than a decade, ever since the U.S. Supreme Court issued a set of decisions that left authorities confused about which waters were covered under the act.
The boards efforts have taken on a new urgency in the wake of the EPAs move.
The threat of the Trump administration rollback has really amplified interest and concern about a need for developing state-level protection, said Julia Stein, a supervising attorney at UCLAs environmental law clinic.
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the center of Californias water system, is another Trump-California battleground.
Westlands and other San Joaquin Valley irrigation districts have long fought protections for endangered fish that limit water exports from the delta. Under Trump, they have a major ally at the Interior Department: acting Secretary David Bernhardt, a former lobbyist for Westlands who is in line to succeed Ryan Zinke in the agencys top post.
Last month, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released documents that justified loosening the restrictions on the grounds that habitat restoration and other measures would help imperiled populations of delta smelt and migrating salmon.
Federal fish and wildlife biologists have until this summer to issue a new set of delta export rules. If the regulations are weakened, environmentalists will almost certainly mount a challenge in the courts, which blocked a similar effort by the George W. Bush administration.
California has its own endangered species law, but it is unclear whether those protections fit into the category of state laws that the federal reclamation bureau must adhere to.
Still, state standards for salinity levels in the delta and for the volume of water that flows through delta habitats to the ocean will restrict the Trump administrations ability to boost exports, said Holly Doremus, an environmental law expert at UC Berkeley.
Another leverage point lies in the linkage of state and federal water operations in the delta. The California Department of Water Resources can, for example, refuse to let federal water managers use the state-owned California Aqueduct to convey delta supplies if the state believes the water shipments would hurt protected fish.
The state retains primary regulatory authority over its water, period, Doremus said. It has always been bluster for the feds to run around saying that they are going to make California do whatever.
bettina.boxall@latimes.com
Twitter: @boxall
We are going to do a much better job of telling our story (so that parents have) confidence that they made the right choice by trusting us with their childs education, he said.
A state lawmaker is applying new pressure on coastal officials and Hollister Ranch owners to provide access to some of Californias most coveted beaches and surf breaks a promise to the public that has been in limbo for decades as legal battles and stalemates dragged on.
A bill unveiled Tuesday would set a deadline of April 1, 2020, for coastal officials to come up with a comprehensive public access plan at Hollister Ranch. Failure to do so would trigger a number of procedures that would hold the state accountable.
Multiple barriers have prevented the public from accessing and enjoying an 8.5-mile stretch of the coast at Hollister Ranch in the County of Santa Barbara for over 36 years, the bill declares, thwarting legal guarantees for public access.
There has to be a deadline. And if we dont meet the deadline, there has to be consequences, said Assemblywoman Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara), who has been pushing for legislation since hundreds of people called on her office last year to ensure that Californias beaches are open to everyone.
Advertisement
Finding a resolution isnt easy, but if theres a will, theres a way, she said. Thats whats been in question: Is there a will to do this?
The proposed legislation, AB 1680, comes about a year after coastal officials and ranch owners struck a controversial deal behind closed doors that would have allowed access to Hollisters coastline only to landowners, their guests, visitors with guides, and those who could boat or paddle in from 2 miles away.
The settlement sparked public outrage after The Times published terms of the deal. Many worried that ranch owners who contend that unfettered access would undo years of careful work to protect the land had found a way to keep the public at bay for good. And a bill last year by Limon that sought to address this long-delayed issue of access was vetoed at the governors desk and celebrated by ranchers as a victory.
But the public backlash over the settlement pushed officials to dust off old records and uncover other ways to obtain access at Hollister.
One strategy in recent months appears to be blocking new development permits coming in from Hollister owners. The commission last year challenged a ranch owner seeking to build a new house, guesthouse and footbridge citing for the first time in decades that a condition of any permit, under the California Coastal Act, is providing public access in a timely manner.
Another owners permit for a new swimming pool was appealed in February by commissioners on similar grounds, and two more permits are in limbo pending a commission vote in April.
Another strategy focuses on a ranch-wide access program that the state had adopted in 1982 after a complicated legislative history that had faded from institutional memory.
(California Coastal Commission)
Read more: California beaches are supposed to be public. So why is the Hollister Ranch coast an exception?
The program includes a walking trail and bicycle lane that would run parallel to the ranchs main private road. To minimize the number of cars, a van would run from nearby Gaviota State Park to six Hollister beaches, where there would be picnic areas and bathrooms.
The Coastal Commission, along with the Coastal Conservancy, the State Lands Commission and California Department of Parks and Recreation, is working quickly to update the plan. In a collaboration agreement signed earlier this month, the agencies agreed to work efficiently to expand and enhance meaningful, safe, environmentally sustainable and operationally feasible public access to and along the coast at the Ranch.
The executive directors of all four agencies are scheduled to meet with the Hollister Ranch Owners Assn. this week yet another milestone in a standoff that has lasted for decades.
Read more: These California beaches have long been off-limits. But public outrage is changing the tide
The publics demand for more access was a wake-up call, officials said. A state email account, hollister@coastal.ca.gov, has been created to collect ideas and public input on what an access plan today should include, and a public workshop will take place in the coming months.
Limons bill supports updating the 1982 plan, and specifies that any new access plan created at Hollister Ranch must include public access by land and opportunities for beach recreation, science and education.
If a new or updated plan has not been established by April of next year, the bill states, implementation of the 1982 access program will go into effect until coastal officials adopt a new access plan.
Read the 1982 Hollister Ranch Access Progrm
In an interview with The Times, Limon stressed the importance of equity along the coast and said she hopes that ranch owners, who are also her constituents, will work with the state and the public this time.
Coming to a compromise is hard, but the people of California deserve a resolution, said Limon, who grew up in Santa Barbara and sees firsthand what access to Hollister Ranch symbolizes to those on the other side of the gate. They deserve to have the California Legislature try to settle this issue. They deserve to have access to beaches that belong to all Californians.
Identifying ways to fund this access program will be considered as later amendments to the bill.
To start, the legislation calls for coastal officials to reexamine a special section of the Coastal Act that has allowed Hollister Ranch owners since the 1980s to pay a $5,000 fee in exchange for not providing access on a parcel-by-parcel basis whenever they sought a building permit.
Those fees were meant to be spent on public access whenever ranchers and the state reached an agreement. That special section had not been scrutinized in years, but officials recently discovered that the wording could be read a few different ways.
Based on the way state officials today say the law should be interpreted, the fund should now amount to more than $1 million, according to a Times analysis of public records.
But for some 30 years, no one had seemed to challenge Hollister Ranchs interpretation of how the fees should be paid. To date, officials have received only about $300,000 from owners.
In the settlement agreement, those in-lieu fees would be used by Hollister Ranch to operate their managed access program, which includes inviting disabled veterans and other underserved groups on guided trips, and providing at least 24 opportunities a year for K-12 groups to learn about tide pools and marine ecosystems.
Critics say that is an insult to the original public access plan and have called it out in court.
In a long-awaited ruling last month, a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge refused to approve the controversial settlement and gave a group of advocates the opportunity to legally challenge the deal.
Lawyers representing Hollister Ranch responded by filing a motion to disqualify the judge, questioning her bias and actions that they say have made her both judge and advocate.
A different judge reviewed the ranchs claims and rejected them late last week, saying the motion was devoid of concrete facts evidencing bias. The case will reconvene in April.
Five people were charged Monday with attempted murder and carjacking of a woman in Sunland, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office.
Christian Reyes, 20; Andrew Bran, 19; Jesus Morales, 18; Christina Luna, 24; and Monica Gomez, 25, were charged Monday with one count each of attempted murder, carjacking, second-degree robbery and hit-and-run driving. Hometowns for them were not released.
Authorities say the five alleged gang members might have acted at the direction of a criminal street gang.
On March 20, about 6 p.m., the woman, who is 12 weeks pregnant, was parking her vehicle outside her home in the Sunland-Tujunga neighborhood when Reyes, Bran and Morales ambushed and robbed her, according to the district attorneys office. Reyes is accused of stabbing the woman multiple times before the men stole the womans car, hitting other vehicles as they tried to flee. Luna and Gomez were nearby in a getaway vehicle, prosecutors said.
Advertisement
Bail for Reyes is recommended at $1.9 million and $1.4 million for the other defendants. If convicted as charged, each faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison.
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, Foothill Community Police Station.
Around 300 people including law enforcement officers and volunteers will take part in an active shooter drill at Los Angeles International Airport over two days this week, federal authorities said.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protections Office of Field Operations at LAX will conduct the drill at Terminal 4 from 3 to 11 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
The airport does not expect the exercises to cause any delays, Los Angeles World Airports spokeswoman Becca Doten said.
The training wont be out in the open or visible to travelers, she said.
Advertisement
The two-day drill will involve 12 agencies and happen at one gate and one baggage area but will not affect national or international flights at the terminal, said Jaime Ruiz, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman.
LAX was the scene of a fatal shooting in 2013. A Transportation Security Administration officer was killed and three other people were injured by a gunman with a semiautomatic rifle who shot up Terminal 3 one November morning.
The man who was fatally shot, Gerardo Hernandez, was the first TSA officer slain on duty since the agency was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The chaotic and disorganized response to the shooting by emergency personnel led to a highly critical report, noting that poor communication and a lack of coordination between various agencies led to delays reaching victims and sent thousands of passengers fleeing onto nearby streets and airport ramps.
javier.panzar@latimes.com
@jpanzar
Its the end of an era at the San Diego Zoo as the last two giant pandas will soon leave for China.
In an announcement Monday, zoo officials said the pandas, Bai Yun, 27 a fixture at the zoo for 23 years and her son, Xiao Liwu, 6, would leave San Diego because a multiyear agreement with the Chinese had ended. Zoo officials said sending the pandas back was always planned for April and was not prompted by any sudden request from the Chinese government.
The iconic black-and-white bamboo eaters have had a consistent presence at the zoo since 1996. The last day pandas can be viewed by the public is expected to be April 27.
How the San Diego Zoo helped unlock the mystery of panda sex and parenting
Advertisement
With their impending departure, it is unknown if or when new pandas might inhabit the zoo again. Zoo officials are unable to say whether the wait is a matter of months or years.
We have high hopes for pandas returning, but I dont know that we have any set date when they might return, said Shawn Dixon, chief operating officer for the San Diego Zoo.
There are still pandas at Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington, D.C., Zoo Atlanta and the Memphis Zoo.
In the two decades since the first pandas arrived in San Diego, the animals have become intertwined with the image of the zoo. Their likenesses grace T-shirts and postcards promoting the region, and they had a featured role in the 2004 Anchorman movie. In the comedy, a San Diego news team chronicled the impending birth of a panda with the Panda Watch.
Although the prospect of no new pandas for the indefinite future might alarm fans, there is a promising sign: The zoo has no plans to take down the animals exhibit. And several zoo officials are planning to travel to China in the coming months for in-person negotiations with leaders of the countrys panda program.
The pandas departure may sadden the community, Dixon said, but its a time for celebration. They are going home to their home country. It truly is a celebration of all the work we have done.
The San Diego giant panda program has been very successful by most measures, producing six cubs and developing techniques now used around the world to keep young pandas alive. At the time pandas first came to the zoo in 1996, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the species as endangered. Within 20 years, their status had improved to vulnerable.
Two decades ago, the wild population of pandas was estimated to be less than 1,000. As of the latest count in 2014, there were 1,864 pandas living in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Another panda at the zoo, 28-year-old Gao Gao, returned to China in October. Gao Gao and Bai Yun produced five cubs together, including Xiao Liwu. All three will be back together at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan. Dont expect much of a reunion pandas are very solitary and arent expected to interact.
Pandas are only native to China, so all pandas in American zoos are on loan from the Chinese government. Even those born on American soil are considered property of China. Its unclear from zoo officials what their negotiating strategy will be with the Chinese, or if whatever program comes next will involve breeding.
Young male panda Xiao Liwu was born at the San Diego Zoo. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)
The species is the rarest of all bears and lives among damp bamboo forests in southwestern China. Most of the decline in numbers has largely been attributed to human encroachment, but pandas are also notoriously difficult to breed. They only mate one to two days a year, and successful pregnancies are rare.
It is unknown exactly when the pandas will leave. Bai Yun and her son Xiao Liwu will travel by plane and be attended to by numerous keepers and veterinarians. Bai Yun is expected to go into a retirement wing of the center, and Xiao Liwu will eventually be put in a breeding situation.
Zoo officials said it was bittersweet to say goodbye to the pandas but that they were proud of everything that was accomplished over 23 years.
The intent was to prevent the extinction of the species. This program can be looked at as one of a handful of programs that have actually prevented the extension of a key species, said Carmi Penny, director of husbandry sciences at the zoo.
Despite tension with the Chinese government and the Trump administration over tariffs, zoo officials say that sort of issue doesnt filter down to those who are working with pandas.
A storied panda history
Giant pandas first took San Diego by storm in 1987 when two of the animals Basi and Yuan Yuan stayed for 200 days. The pandas were a sensation, drawing more than 2 million visitors, the zoo said.
A 1987 article in the San Diego Evening Tribune described their arrival as a fanfare usually saved for humans as news reporters, TV cameramen and zoo employees fawned over the pair. The price of a one-day adult ticket at the time was $8.50 and $2.50 for children. Now it is $56 for an adult and $46 for a child (ages 3 to 11).
Pandas did not return again until 1996, when Bai Yun and another panda, Shi Shi, arrived at the zoo from the Wolong Nature Reserve in China. Both were supposed to stay 12 years, although Bai Yun remained 13 years longer. The pandas, in special traveling crates, were loaded onto a moving truck and escorted by the California Highway Patrol to the zoo.
Things were rocky at first with Shi Shi, who was not interested in mating with Bai Yun. Bai Yun gave birth to her first panda, Hua Mei, in 1999 by artificial insemination. That panda became the first born in the United States to survive and grow into adulthood.
In 2003, Gao Gao showed up and quickly began a successful pairing with Bai Yun. A son, Mei Sheng, was born in 2003. Four other cubs followed: Su Lin in 2005, Zhen Zhen in 2007, Yun Zi in 2009 and the last, Xiao Liwu, in 2012.
Under the agreement with the Chinese government, most young pandas born in other countries are supposed to go back to China when they are around 3 years old. Xiao Liwu, though, has now stayed longer than expected, as has Bai Yun, who was allowed to remain because of how much success she had in breeding.
Xiao Liwu, shown at 7 months, tries to get mom Bai Yun to play in 2013. (Peggy Peattie / Peggy Peattie)
Bob Wiese, chief life sciences officer at San Diego Zoo, said several of the six cubs had gone on to have children of their own, building on a lineage originating in San Diego.
At the time the pandas were brought to the United States in 1996, the survival rate for cubs was 10% to 20%, Wiese said. Now, there is a 95% likelihood they will survive, he said, and part of that is because of work done at American zoos. One of those advances came from a San Diego Zoo nutritionist who developed a milk formula for cubs that is now in widespread use.
The formula is especially useful if the mother panda is not giving her cub enough milk. The milk that panda newborns need to survive is much more nutrient-dense than that of many species and is crucial for survival, making neglect by the mother potentially disastrous.
Xiao Liwu, star attraction
More than 100 people waited in line Friday to see Xiao Liwu on a cool 64-degree day. The line slowly snaked through the exhibit until the end, where adults and children crowded around the 6-year-old pandas enclosure.
Xiao Liwu climbed around the tree-fort-style area and plopped down in one of his favorite spots to sit. A ray of sunshine illuminated the top of his head as he leaned back with a bamboo stalk. He put the stalk in his mouth and peeled off outer layers to begin his meal.
Visitors were squeezing against each other to see the panda, although he didnt seem to notice.
Hes right there, yelled 6-year-old Brooklyn Putich, of Chino, as she finally got her first glimpse of the panda and climbed on the railing for a better look.
Families of young children made up much of the crowd, leading to the occasional baby-stroller traffic jam. Stephanie Toscano, of Tucson, Ariz., said she was in town for a wedding and decided to take her 4-year-old daughter, Adynn, to the zoo.
Shes waited all day for this, Toscano said. She wouldnt stop talking about it.
Zoo officials said none of the staff that worked with the pandas would be laid off but would work with other animals. Still, it may be tough for those employees to say goodbye, especially to Bai Yun, the 23-year resident.
She was the perfect panda, said Penny, the husbandry director. She was behaviorally stable, very intelligent, very inquisitive, not aggressive. Just a nice, good animal.
Bai Yun was not on display for much of Friday, but no one seemed to notice with Xiao Liwu content to put on a show. He got up from his sitting spot, climbed across logs in the enclosure, grabbed another bamboo stalk, leaned back and started to chew again. Each movement was captured by dozens of smartphones.
Molnar and Bradley J. Fikes, who contributed to this report, work for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, long has been an irritant for the Trump administration. The congressman President Trump has dubbed little shifty Schiff has suggested on several occasions that he had seen evidence of collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia more than circumstantial evidence, as Schiff put it in 2017.
But Schiff is coming under fire from prominent Republicans now that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has reported that his investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities. Thats a quotation from Muellers report, not a paraphrase by Atty. Gen. William P. Barr, and it is a victory for the president.
On Monday White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Schiff should resign because he had been peddling a lie about collusion. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said Schiff should apologize and step down as committee chairman. Schiff has scoffed at the calls for his resignation, telling CNN that Im more than used to attacks from my GOP colleagues, and I would expect nothing less.
Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute
Advertisement
Schiff also legitimately has drawn a distinction between the evidence of collusion he referred to and a conclusion that there was evidence strong enough to justify a finding of criminality. As he put it on Twitter: Mueller did not find sufficient evidence to establish conspiracy, notwithstanding Russian offers to help Trumps campaign, their acceptance, and a litany of concealed interactions with Russia. I trust Muellers prosecutorial judgment, but the country must see the evidence.
Republican calls for Schiff to step down ignore the distinction he drew; they can be dismissed as a partisan pile-on. And Schiff is right that its important that the actual Mueller report be made public so that we can evaluate whether his statements about collusion receive any support from its findings.
But at that point, Schiff needs to be forthcoming about what led him to assert that there was evidence of collusion and whether Muellers investigation has inspired any second thoughts.
We know some of what Schiff has in mind. In an interview with CNN last month, Schiff mentioned contacts between former national security advisor Michael Flynn and the Russian ambassador as well as the notorious Trump Tower meeting in June 2016 involving Trump associates (including campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Donald Trump Jr.) and a Russian lawyer who was expected to provide negative information about Hillary Clinton.
If there is more behind Schiffs suggestions about collusion, he should say so not to preserve his position as chairman of the Intelligence Committee, which isnt in any jeopardy, but to demonstrate that he is willing to explain and, if necessary, modify his conclusions. That would make it at least somewhat more likely that he could win the backing of some Republicans for future investigations of the president and his administration.
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
In the first major policy proposal of her presidential campaign, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is focused on boosting the salaries of teachers.
Harris campaign says her plan is an unprecedented investment in teacher pay and toward programs dedicated to teacher recruitment, training and professional development. In new details released Tuesday, the Democrats campaign described the underpayment of teachers as a national failure thats holding America back and said that weve failed to give teachers the respect and resources they deserve.
The issue is hardly new. For years, teachers have said they are underpaid and their schools are underfunded. Teachers in more than a half-dozen states have walked out of their classrooms in protest in recent months. But in wading into the education spending debate in her first policy rollout, Harris is set to capitalize on a debate that has been boiling in districts across the country and that is critical to the nations teachers unions, which have been key players in Democratic Party politics in many regions.
Harris previewed her plan in a Houston speech Saturday, saying that you can judge a society by the way it treats its children, and one of the greatest expressions of love that a society can give to its children is educating those children with resources they need.
Advertisement
Traditionally, elementary and secondary schools receive most of their budget dollars from state and local governments, with the federal government providing less than 10% of total funding. But Harris is calling for the federal government to immediately invest a base level of funding into each state with the goal of closing the teacher pay gap the difference in compensation for teachers and similar professionals with college degrees. Then, Harris campaign says, for every dollar a state contributes to increasing the pay of teachers, the federal government will invest an additional four dollars.
Harris campaign says that under the plan, the average teacher in the U.S. will receive a $13,500 a year raise.
The campaign estimates this will cost $315 billion over a decade, paid for by strengthening the estate tax and closing tax loopholes that benefit the rich.
While it is early in the Democratic primary and the American Federation of Teachers has not backed any Democrat running for president, the head of the AFT praised Harris plan.
Randi Weingarten, the groups president, said in an interview that theres been a woeful underinvestment in public schools throughout the country and that Harris had proposed a bold, smart, strategic and decisive proposal that will help solve the problem of how we recruit and retain great teachers.
What shes doing is saying personnel is absolutely key in terms of teaching, and she is investing in our personnel, shes investing in teaching, she said.
Catherine Brown, a senior fellow at the liberal Center for American Progress, said that states have been systemically disinvesting in public education for a decade, particularly in more conservative parts of the country.
I think it would be better if states would step up and pay teachers what they deserve. I think we can all agree its a very hard job, a foundational job to our democracy, and they are underpaid, she said. I think that states are not stepping up in particular, conservative states. What weve seen are states led by GOP leaders have disinvested in education systematically in favor of giving tax cuts.
The issue of teacher pay and education spending has been cause for strikes in a number of states. In Harris hometown of Oakland, striking teachers recently went back to their classrooms following a weeklong strike after union members voted to approve a contract agreement that provided pay raises.
In 2016-17, the average annual salary for a public school teacher nationally was $58,950, down slightly from the previous year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Overall, 78% of Americans said thats not enough, according to an April 2018 poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Just 15% think teachers are paid the right amount, while 6% think theyre paid too much.
Harris campaign emphasized that education funding was a national issue, affecting both urban centers and rural schools, but explicitly singled out the area along Interstate 95 in South Carolina known as the Corridor of Shame because of its underperforming schools. The region gained that nickname from a 2005 documentary that depicted decrepit conditions and deteriorating buildings.
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos recently toured the region, and South Carolina lawmakers have said that improving the states education system is a priority this year. On her own South Carolina trip in February, Harris weighed in on the teacher pay issue.
You know, right here in South Carolina, we need to pay our teachers what they are worth, Harris said at a North Charleston town hall, adding later: For most of us who ever have a microphone like this in our hands, we have never achieved this kind of success without the teachers and the public education system that made us who we are.
Harris plan also includes investments in teacher recruitment, training, retention and professional development, her campaign says. It says there will be a multibillion-dollar investment in programs at historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
Atty. Gen. William Barr plans to release a version of the final, confidential report from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III on his Russia investigation in the coming weeks, a senior Justice Department official said Tuesday.
The White House would not get an advance look at the document, said the official, who was not authorized to speak on the record and requested anonymity.
The timetable for reviewing and releasing the report would be relatively quick, the official said: weeks, not months.
Barr has been reviewing Muellers report to determine whether any information needs to be withheld to protect continuing investigations or grand jury testimony, which is supposed to be kept confidential.
Advertisement
He sent Congress a letter on Sunday summarizing what he called the principal conclusions from the investigation that Trumps campaign did not conspire with the Russian government and that Mueller did not make a conclusion on whether the president obstructed justice.
The special counsel wrote that while his report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him on obstruction, according to Barrs letter.
Its unclear whether Barrs timetable or redaction process will satisfy House Democrats. Six committee chairs sent a letter to Barr on Monday demanding a full copy of Muellers report by April 2. They also asked for the underlying evidence gathered by the special counsel so that Congress can make its own determination on the presidents actions.
Congress must be permitted to make an independent assessment of the evidence regarding obstruction of justice, they wrote.
Barr and Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who supervised the special counsels office, have already made their own determination that there was no criminal case to be made on obstruction, a controversial decision that Democrats are eager to probe.
Asked on Monday whether the Mueller report should be released, Trump told reporters it was up to the attorney general, but it wouldnt bother me at all.
The Supreme Court justices sounded closely split Tuesday during arguments over whether to rein in partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, with new Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh probably holding the deciding vote.
The four liberal justices, all Democratic appointees, said the court was confronting the worst of the worst examples of politically motivated gerrymandering in cases from North Carolina and Maryland.
It is so dramatically wrong to leave all this to professional politicians who rig the outcomes, said Justice Elena Kagan.
But most of the courts conservatives, all Republican appointees, sounded just as insistent that the Constitution left it to state lawmakers, not federal judges, to draw election districts for members of Congress.
Advertisement
Why should we wade into this? asked Justice Neil M. Gorsuch.
If there was one encouraging sign for the challengers, it was that Kavanaugh seemed open to interceding in cases of extreme gerrymandering. He repeatedly asked whether the Constitution calls for proportional representation in Congress, so that the political views of the elected members of Congress would roughly match the political views of the states voters.
None of the lawyers gave a firm answer to Kavanaughs question, but he suggested that the extreme deviations in the cases under consideration could be struck down.
North Carolinas map gave Republicans a 10-3 majority, even though they won just 51% of the vote.
In the Maryland case, Democrats redrew the districts in 2011 to eliminate one Republican stronghold. The revised map gave Democrats a 7-1 majority in the states congressional delegation.
That may go too far, Kavanaugh, who lives in Maryland, told a state lawyer. The 7-1 is a problem. The 5-3 is almost certainly not a problem, which I think has got to be right ... because its close to the proportion of Democrats and Republicans in the state, he said at one point.
If Kavanaugh were to stick with that view, it could transform the courts approach to partisan gerrymandering. For more than 30 years, the court has struggled with gerrymandering but has never struck down a states election districts on the grounds that they were so unfair as to deny one partys voters equal representation.
In the past, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said he believed the Constitution left the election map to state legislators, He could now be in a position to close the door to partisan gerrymandering claims in the future, but only if Kavanaugh is prepared to join him.
The other justices on the right said they did not see a way to create a clear, legal test for deciding when ordinary politics goes too far and becomes unconstitutional.
I know it when I see it, Gorsuch said in a mocking reference to the courts struggle to define obscenity in the 1960s.
In the North Carolina case, a three-judge federal court last year struck down the partisan gerrymandering by saying it discriminated against voters in violation of the 1st Amendment and the guarantee of equal protection of the laws.
The states lawyer, former U.S. Solicitor Gen. Paul Clement, urged the court to reverse that ruling and declare that the Constitution gave the power over election districts to elected legislators. The case is Rucho vs. Common Cause.
Meanwhile, a Maryland state attorney urged the justices to toss out a similar ruling that struck down its Democratic plan. That case is Lamone vs. Benisek.
In both cases, the architects of the election maps admitted they were acting for partisan motives.
Three years ago, Republican state Rep. David Lewis opened a North Carolina legislative session on redistricting by proposing to use the latest political data to benefit Republicans and draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to 10 Republicans and three Democrats because I do not believe its possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats.
Marylands Democrats were nearly as blunt in their motives when they redrew districts, deciding they would shift more than 300,000 people to convert a solidly Republican district into a reliably Democratic one. They succeeded in creating a U.S. House delegation that had seven Democrats and only one Republican.
Last year, the chief justice wrote an opinion that overturned a partisan gerrymandering ruling against Wisconsins Republicans. He said the Democratic voters who filed the suit did not have standing to challenge the statewide electoral map for its state Assembly. That ruling, in Gill vs. Whitford, allowed the Wisconsin GOP to maintain a supermajority control of its lower legislative house, despite winning only 44% of the votes statewide.
In decades past, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy had left the door open to ruling that partisan gerrymandering was unconstitutional because it discriminated against voters due to their political views. But he never voted to strike down an election map as unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering, and he retired last year shortly after the Roberts-led punt in the Wisconsin case.
Allison Riggs, a voting rights lawyer from North Carolina, warned the justices of the risk of doing nothing on redistricting as the 2020 census approaches. If the high court punts again or upholds the gerrymandered districts, it will be read as a green light for this kind of discriminatory rhetoric and manipulation in redistricting from here on out, she said on behalf of the League of Women Voters.
She is not likely to win over the chief justice, however.
Roberts spelled out his view four years ago when he dissented in a 5-4 ruling upholding independent commissions authorized by voters in Arizona and California to draw election districts. The chief justice pointed to a provision in the Constitution that says the times, places and manner of holding elections for members of Congress shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof.
Roberts said that meant only elected lawmakers may decide on election districts. No matter how concerned we may be about partisanship in redistricting, this court has no power to gerrymander the Constitution, he wrote in dissent then.
The latest from Washington
More stories from David G. Savage
California voters would consider a state-mandated tax on the assets of wealthy residents, one that could generate as much as $1 billion a year for low-income families, under legislation introduced in the state Legislature on Tuesday.
The bill would ask voters next year to impose an estate tax of a size equal to what was loosened in 2017 by President Trump and Republicans in Congress as part of a broad tax overhaul law. The goal, said the proposals author, is to create an overall tax burden for wealthy Californians equal to what existed before the federal tax break was created.
Under Senate Bill 378, the revenues from the tax would be earmarked for programs designed to combat income inequality.
A California estate tax benefits low-income families by helping them build wealth and end the cycle of intergenerational poverty, state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said in a written statement.
Advertisement
Wiener floated a similar proposal just after Trump took the oath of office in early 2017. That effort came before the president and GOP congressional leaders pushed to loosen the federal estate tax which now kicks in only on estates worth more than $11.4 million for individuals and $22.8 million for a married couple.
SB 378 envisions a California tax that applies to estates larger than $3.5 million for an individual, where the federal tax applied between 2009 and 2011. The tax break grew in 2011 and was expanded dramatically through action in 2017 by Trump. To avoid any instance of double taxation by the state and federal government, SB 378 stipulates the California version would phase out once the value of a deceased residents estate hits the federal threshold.
Its obscene that the federal estate tax exemption has escalated so dramatically, Wiener said.
Sign up for the Essential Politics newsletter
Wieners proposal sets aside the revenues from his estate tax for programs and services that directly address and alleviate socioeconomic inequality, according to a news release. It would include establishing savings accounts for children from low-income families. San Francisco created its own program for child savings accounts when Gov. Gavin Newsom was the citys mayor.
The proposal, if passed by the Legislature and signed by Newsom later this year, would have to be ratified by voters in the November 2020 statewide election. A pair of 1982 ballot measures banned a state-level estate tax, which means any change would have to receive final approval on election day.
john.myers@latimes.com
Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast
This legislation is critical for Indiana, since anyone could fall into a persecuted class and become a victim of such crimes, according to Wyatt. It would provide protection available to all of us. All of us fall into one of those protected groups.
Trenton Veches liked to suck on the toes of young boys and has spent the last 16 years in prison because of it.
A jury convicted him in 2003 at age 32 in a case that shook Newport Beach, where he was a supervisor in the citys youth recreation program. He was tried on multiple counts of child molestation and sentenced to two concurrent life terms after being caught in the act by a co-worker.
Last week despite an attempt by Gov. Gavin Newsom to stop it Veches won parole.
Veches impending release is one of 33 cases in which Newsom, since taking office, has attempted to stop a serious offender from receiving parole, according to documents provided by the governors office. Parole hearings usually take place in front of a two-person panel. The governor cant revoke these paroles but can ask the states 15-member Board of Parole Hearings to review them.
Advertisement
Newsom also has stopped 46 paroles for murderers, a different process that allows him to act unilaterally through executive powers.
Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for Newsom, said, Each case that comes before the governor is evaluated on its own merits and receives careful review and consideration.
The interventions mark a steep increase from those undertaken by former Gov. Jerry Brown and are a departure from the progressive criminal justice reform stance that Newsom has championed, including his recent moratorium on the death penalty.
In 2018, the parole board reviewed seven cases at Browns request and Brown reversed 28 paroles for murderers, a steady decline from his peak of 133 reversals in 2014. Newsom has more than quadrupled requests for reviews of serious offenders in three months in office and is on pace to match Browns peak year of reversals for murder cases.
Newsoms spike in parole interventions has some wondering whether he is trying to keep more serious offenders in prison or just taking a cautious approach to a dicey issue.
The governors reversal rate [on paroles] has dramatically increased over Brown, said Charles Carbone, Veches attorney and a specialist in parole hearings. The question now becomes: Is it a matter of a new policy?
Newsoms active role in opposing releases might point to a growing political problem for him within the states parole system: rising numbers of offenders eligible for release because of criminal justice reforms, including Proposition 57, a measure championed by Brown. More so than any of his predecessors, Californias new governor likely will be responsible for overseeing tough decisions on whether certain sex offenders and criminals with multiple felonies should be freed.
California holds between 4,000 to 5,300 parole hearings each year, according to a recent legislative report. Next year, that is expected to jump to 7,200 and rise again to 8,300 the following year changes wrought by Proposition 57 alone could add up to 4,000 new hearings, according to Michael Romano, head of the Three Strikes Project at Stanford Law School. There are currently 34,136 California inmates serving life sentences with the possibility of parole, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
There is an incredible backlog and bottleneck, Romano said.
Veches parole was not the result of reforms. But he is the kind of potential parolee, complicated and controversial, whom politicians fear and Newsom might increasingly encounter. Along with Proposition 57, passed in 2016, a series of legislative changes and legal rulings has added multiple categories of offenders to the roll of those eligible for release. Among them are offenders who committed crimes in their youth; inmates serving time for crimes other than violent felonies; potentially some sex offenders serving sentences for crimes such as human trafficking, pimping a minor, or raping a drugged or unconscious victim; and those who previously served time for violent sex offenses but are currently incarcerated for other types of crimes.
While some governors, such as Gray Davis, took a hard line on parole, Brown and Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger allowed an increase in releases, said Keith Wattley, executive director of an Oakland legal nonprofit that specializes in prisoners rights. Brown dramatically decreased the number of both reversed murder paroles and non-murder cases flagged by the governors office during his terms.
Jack Pitney, a professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College, said Newsom is keenly aware of the potential for political danger after his controversial decision to halt executions. Many criticized Newsom for ignoring the will of California voters, who rejected a ballot measure to abolish the death penalty and approved another to speed up executions in 2016.
The thing that keeps governors awake at night is the prospect that a bad person will be let out and go on to commit heinous crimes and the governor will be held responsible, Pitney said. After the death penalty reprieves, he is very sensitive to that risk and does not want to be the next Michael Dukakis.
During the 1988 presidential campaign, Dukakis came under fire for defending a Massachusetts law that allowed criminals to be released from prison for weekend furloughs. Strategists for George H. W. Bushs presidential campaign linked Dukakis to the case of Willie Horton, a convicted murderer who raped a woman and stabbed her boyfriend after escaping while on furlough. Dukakis, then a Democratic governor of Massachusetts, lost the election.
Newsoms efforts to prevent the release of criminals poses little downside, Pitney said.
I think he can make a case that hes being consistent: We should be careful of releasing prisoners and careful about the punishments we impose, Pitney said.
Romano said some of the interventions might be leftovers from Browns time in office and are too few in number to judge.
Wattley, head of the nonprofit that specializes in prisoners rights, agreed it was too early to know how alarmed to be, but the possibility of parole raised by Brown gave inmates hope and created an incentive for rehabilitation. Newsoms interventions, if ongoing, could undo that, he said.
Wattley said paroling serious offenders is necessary to decrease the number of people incarcerated, a key component of criminal justice reform.
You cant do that unless you find a pathway home for people convicted of serious or violent crimes, he said.
Sex offenders in particular are politically perilous candidates for parole. Proposition 57 backers promised it wouldnt free sex offenders, and state prison officials wrote rules for its implementation that excluded them. But a state court ruled last year that the wording of Proposition 57 didnt give leeway for a blanket prohibition, particularly for inmates with past sex offenses currently incarcerated on other charges.
Fifteen of the cases Newsom has flagged for reconsideration involve inmates with current or past sex offenses, according to the CDCR.
Sonya Shah, executive director of a Bay Area nonprofit that works with sex offenders, said sex crimes are left out of criminal justice reform and often lumped together in public perception despite encompassing a spectrum of harms to victims.
We are not willing to have the nuance with sexual crime, Shah said. The way [sex offenders] are painted, they are monsters.
On the day the parole board granted Veches his release, it also heard 15 other reviews at Newsoms request, including for Jose Valencia, convicted in 1997 and serving a life sentence for sex crimes and torture.
In emotional testimony, Valencias former spouse begged the board not to release him, detailing how he beat her in the head with a hammer while she was pregnant and dug a grave in the backyard, ordering her into it to see whether she fit.
Newsom questioned whether Valencia had sufficient insight into his crimes. The board agreed and sent Valencia back for another hearing.
Veches mother, Joyce Ormes, attended the meeting to speak for her son. Contesting that release, Newsom again cited a lack of insight, including Veches denial of an allegation by a victim that Veches penetrated him with a finger.
Ormes said when Newsom challenged Veches parole it was heartbreaking, and while the harm of his crimes is significant, it is not the same as the damage caused by a violent offender such as Valencia.
This thing about grouping all sex offenders into one has haunted me, Ormes said. I know the governor is new and I understand his concerns, but my son wont be back [in prison]. Hes probably one of the best candidates for parole.
How a list of 23 crimes now dominates Californias debate over prison punishment
Agents from the FBI and U.S. Secret Service descended on homes in Burbank, La Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge on Wednesday where they conducted early-morning raids on the residences.
Authorities simultaneously carried out the raids around 6 a.m. after receiving federal search warrants for homes at 512 S. Via Montana in Burbank, 3122 Pontiac St. in La Crescenta and 1435 El Vago St. in La Canada.
Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Investigations, said the details and targets of the raids were unavailable because a judge sealed the contents of the warrants.
Property records show that the homes in Burbank and La Canada are owned by Alen and Dina Gharehbagloo, while the home in La Crescenta is owned by Robert and Dana Khudaverdyan. Its unknown what connection, if any, the four had to the raids.
Attempts to contact Alen Gharehbagloo were not returned as of press time.
A number associated with Robert Khudaverdyan was answered by a woman who did not wish to identify herself and who said he was unavailable for comment.
When the woman was informed about the raids, she responded, OK, thank you, bye-bye and promptly hung up the phone.
Eimiller said the raids were conducted jointly by the FBI, Secret Service and Los Angeles Police Department.
Requests for comment from the Secret Service were not returned by press time, and the LAPD directed all inquiries to the FBI.
Officers from the Burbank Police Department and deputies from the Crescenta Valley Sheriffs Station were also present at raids in their respective jurisdictions.
Burbank Lt. Mitch Ross said officers were at the raid to provide a uniform presence in the neighborhood and to provide any assistance, if needed. However, he said officers did not actively participate in serving the warrants.
andy.nguyen@latimes.com
Twitter: @Andy_Truc
A longtime horse rental business at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank will be shutting its doors this summer after a lengthy legal dispute between the business owner and facility officials.
Julie Schad, owner of Griffith Park Horse Rentals, said she is looking forward to a fresh start at the end of May, when her sublease with the equestrian center expires.
She couldnt say exactly where the new stables will be located, but Schad said the 55 horses she currently owns and rents out to those who want to go on a horseback ride will have a new home soon.
Itll be in Southern California, but it doesnt look like well be in this area, she said on Thursday. Well certainly invite our current clientele to where were going, but itll certainly feel like starting over.
Schad is leaving the equestrian center after several years of disagreements between herself and those who run the facility.
According to a lawsuit filed by Schad on Feb. 24, 2015, she alleged the Los Angeles Equestrian Center breached a contract they had entered into on April 15, 2014.
Under that agreement, the center was supposed to negotiate a sublease extension with Schad and draft a request for proposal to be submitted and approved by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, which oversees the equestrian center.
However, Schad alleged the request for proposal was biased and favored a competing horse rental business owned by James and Scott Perez, who own Circle K Riding Stables in Burbank.
Neither George Chatigny, general manager of the equestrian center, nor James and Scott Perez could be reached for comment.
In the 2015 lawsuit, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center had issued Schad a written notice to vacate the center within 60 days. Schad claimed the notice did not specify the reason for the eviction, and she was up to date on all the fees she had to pay under the sublease.
As the 2015 lawsuit was being heard, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center filed an eviction lawsuit against Schad on May 6, 2016. The case was ultimately dismissed in January 2017, when the two parties settled the original lawsuit.
Schad took over Griffith Park Horse Rentals, which has been at the center for more than 50 years, back in 2003 and spent $150,000 to purchase the business, according to the lawsuit.
During that time, there were about 20 horses and a handful of horse stalls when started, Schad said on Thursday.
She said she invested about $250,000 into the business, which resulted in 30 covered stalls, according to court documents. There are currently 55 horses in the stables, Schad said.
Because of a nondisclosure agreement she signed as part of the settlement, Schad could not provide detailed information about leaving the equestrian center.
anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com
Twitter: @acocarpio
Whether tweets or memes, text messages or snaps, education about cyber technology is important, so Luther Burbank Middle School will host a discussion Wednesday evening designed to help Burbank Unified parents bridge the digital divide with their children.
Lori Getz, founder of Cyber Education Consultants, will lead the presentation, titled Creating a Family Plan around Texting, Gaming, Surfing, YouTube, Social Media and more, at 6 p.m. on the schools campus, 3700 W. Jeffries Ave, Burbank.
Admission is free. Parents are also encouraged to bring their children, and childcare will be provided. Also, Spanish translation services will be offered, according to Luther Burbank principal Oscar Macias.
This is a great opportunity to present information to all our adults in how we can provide education, prevention and intervention in the online experiences of young adolescents, Macias said.
Its a conversation some parents have problems initiating, Getz said. Many are incredibly stuck, and we want to show them how we can deal with it, she added.
Getz iterated a desperate need for cyber education, pointing to statistics, such as one that shows 80% of children and teens say they have communicated with an online stranger through games and social media, but less than 10% have told a parent.
Getz also noted that nearly every child has reported seeing something that makes them uncomfortable online, but less than 10% have reported the incident to a parent.
This is about how the technology works and what the kids are doing what is dangerous, what is silly and what are bad habits, Getz added.
The discussion will cover topics such as text messages, social-media platforms, YouTube and Netflix.
As a parent, myself, our children are growing up as digital natives, Burbank Supt. Matt Hill said. As a parent, its important to support our kids and educate our parents on cyber living.
Internet hoaxes, such as the recent Momo Challenge, in which media outlets incorrectly reported children encouraging each other to do self-harm, will also be discussed.
Getz said she wants to encourage all parents, from the internet savvy to the novice, to learn different strategies in understanding and communicating with their children.
She also thinks most parents already have many of the tools to be successful.
Parents will never get one step ahead of technology. Its like slang, Getz said. Instead, they should focus on parenting behavior and not technology. Its about personal safety.
Getz added, Rather than talk about [popular video games] Fortnite, Call of Duty and FIFA 19, talk about personal safety.
The event was originally intended for Luther Burbank parents only as part of the districts implementation of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program.
However, Macias said he felt the program should reach a broader audience.
We see the value in sharing this information [with] everyone, Macias said. There is a strong hope that we fill every seat in our auditorium. Our belief is that the more adults and students learn to positively interact in the cyber world, the better off our Burbank community will be.
andrew.campa@latimes.com
Twitter @campadresports
A shootout at a Northern California Rastafarian pot farm has brought new focus on the criminal prosecution of religious observers who use marijuana, despite the drugs recent legalization in the state, an article published in High Times reports.
Religious organizations throughout California have been growing marijuana for ceremonial purposes for years and have been losing in court for just as long, the report says.
Any cultivation of cannabis going forward will have to comply with the rules of a regulated market regardless of a groups religious affiliation, California officials stated.
In contrast, in Indiana, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence in 2015 prompted the founding of the First Church of Cannabis, which when it opened elicited a visit from multiple members of law enforcement, shutting down any use of marijuana.
The churchs Grand Poobah Bill Levin filed a civil lawsuit shortly thereafter, with a trial expected in November 2017, which could determine the validity of the churchs claim that religious freedom extends to the use of pot.
Q. Is marijuana use a religious civil right? Are there other activities or positions deemed illegal that you believe infringe on religious freedom?
..
In our country freedom of religion is a constitutionally protected right. What is not necessarily protected is every possible rite or ritual a given religion chooses to practice. For example, child sacrifices were a common pagan religious practice in Israels kingdom years. Nobody would think thats permissible in America today. Of course, our courts do allow people to take the lives of their children as long as theyre still in the womb. But I digress. Generally speaking, if the law makes something illegal for everyone without an obvious bias against any particular group, then thats acceptable. Usually. The courts are still open to judge which exceptions should be allowed, and some probably should. So to me, marijuana use as a religious practice should be contingent upon its legality for the general population. Other interesting considerations in this question would be animal sacrifice and polygamy.
The courts have declared it illegal for me to pray in Jesus name when Ive been invited to give Burbank City Council meeting invocations. Jesus is the name of my God. I believe this ban is a flagrant violation of both my religious freedom and my freedom of speech. The government is not establishing a religion by letting me practice mine in public. But regardless of the particular issue, when it comes down to it, I believe Peter and the apostles had it right: We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
Pastor Jon Barta
Burbank
..
Anyone who has ever puzzled over why certain mood-altering substances are legal (alcohol, cigarettes, Oxycontin, soda with high-fructose corn syrup) but others are mostly not (cannabis, lets say), knows the exclusionary logic at work in the world of what were allowed to put in our bodies.
Many of my older friends grew up quaffing sacramental wine at Catholic mass, long before drinking age. This sort of thing was OK, whereas late Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the majority in a 1990 Supreme Court decision against the use of peyote in certain Native American rituals, stated, Leaving accommodation to the political process will place at a relative disadvantage those religious practices that are not widely engaged in ... (the) consequence of democratic government must be preferred to a system in which each conscience is a law unto itself.
It is clear from Scalias words that some religions are too big to fail a drug test.
While Nine Inch Nails Trent Reznor was talking about something else when he sang You get me closer to God, substances have been used in religious rituals for centuries, regardless of which belief system currently has the blessing of the Supreme Court. Peyote, Ayahuasca, wormwood, Jimson Weed, good old alcohol, and hundreds of other herbs and spices are smoked, crushed, wafted, and otherwise ingested to bring adherents closer to God. At issue in the Rastas case is whose God.
That said, churches use of substances should reflect how those substances are regulated in the outside world. And the more substances are legalized and regulated in the outside world, we wont just have to rely on vino to get the veritas.
Marty Barrett, Vice President
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Verdugo Hills (UUVerdugo)
..
As it so happens, the shoot-out was caused by a violent ex-con named Sanchez who also had two outstanding warrants. He was not part of the Rastafarian community, but a trimmigrant who came looking for work, and it wasnt the stoned church-members who caused the altercation except to call 911 and report the scary behavior of this man. The rest is history, as two police officers were wounded and Sanchez has permanently gone to his reward. I mention this detail in fairness to the church folk, since readers might get the wrong impression that it was they who caused the violence.
As for whether cannabis should be legal for religious use, I suppose thats the quandary isnt it? The Declaration of Independence states that God grants the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, yet the latter two come into conflict when government deems illegal something people believe satisfies these rights. Also, the Constitution states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Obviously free exercise is prohibited if the law forbids a religious sacrament. I dont mean to imply that I think cannabis is any legitimate sacrament, as I do not believe that Rastafarianism or the Church of Cannabis are true religions (the latter being most idolatrous for its devotion to a weed rather than the God who created it).
Government has a tough job protecting our rights while simultaneously protecting the greater good. Would a Church of LSD be going too far? After all, these marijuana faiths point to the legal use of hallucinogenic cactus pods by Indians attending the Native American Church; why can they freely ingest something far more intense than cannabis as their sacrament? And what about the Appalachian snake-handling, poison drinkers? As well, half the Christian world consumes alcohol for its sacrament, even giving it to those who are not of legal age! Judaism does similarly, so theres going to have to be a decision here with this one vegetable: Should it be illegal? Perhaps leaving it to individual conscience is a better path, but that will cause problems of its own, just on the flip-side of what we have currently.
Rev. Bryan A. Griem
Tujunga
I am a member of Burbank Boy Scout Troop 209 and I am working on a communications merit badge. I have been asked to send a letter to an editor as part of my requirement.
My mom doesnt let me read the newspaper very much because theres so much bad stuff happening in the world, but she does let me read the good stuff that the Burbank Leader puts in. So, the more positive stories you run, the more I can read! And I believe that would make everyone happier, too.
I like stories like the one about the Burbank police department painting their cars pink to address people about cancer awareness. I saw one of the cars at the station the other day and I remembered your article.
Ogden Lucsik
Burbank
---
I have said it many times to anyone who would listen and according to the evening ratings at KFI, that number might be fairly small. I moved to Burbank because of the cops, the schools, and other city services. (This city is a race track and a casino away from being paradise!)
I didnt have the best experience with LAUSD nor did they have an amazing 12 years with me either, I call it a wash. I was never a proponent of public schools, but that all changed when I moved to Burbank. The schools in Burbank are incredible, with the most wonderful teachers and counselors, and I want to keep it that way!
The politicians in Sacramento are doing a lousy job of providing funding for education, but we can change that here in Burbank. The single best way to keep your property values increasing year to year is to have the greatest school system in SoCal. Please join me in voting Yes for Measure QS to ensure our local students receive the funding they deserve!
Tim Conway Jr.
KFI AM 640 host
Burbank
--
There is a long list of things that are useless. I name only a few of them here: 1) a white crayon 2) a glass hammer 3) a knitted condom 4) the g in lasagna. To this list I add another item that easily surpasses them all: the bike lanes on Verdugo Avenue. I drive this route several times a week and can count on one hand the number of bicyclists that use these lanes. Get rid of them!
Mike Davison
Toluca Lake
While Werner Heisenbergs uncertainty principle might not appear in Heisenberg, the 2015 play does find ways to translate its tenets into everyday life specifically, romantic relationships.
Its about the un-sureness and the strange way that relationships either progress or dont, said Joe Spano, who plays Alex Priest in the Laguna Playhouse production. [Its about] not being able to know anything concretely, the mystery of life, how do we just exist with the complexity and terror of not knowing, and how to make connections.
Spano completed a three-week run of Simon Stephens play at the Rubicon Theatre Company in February and is now reprising his role as the Laguna-Rubicon co-production moves from Ventura to Laguna.
The play opens as Priest, a 75-year-old British butcher, sits on a bench listening to music at Londons St. Pancras International train station. Hes kissed on the neck by Georgie Burns (Faline England), a free-spirited, 42-year-old American woman a surprise since theyre strangers.
Heisenberg follows what unfolds between them after that initial encounter. As the two become a couple, Alexs conventional life becomes increasingly chaotic and uncertain. Theres eventually a visit to New Jersey in search of Georgies missing son.
Spano saw England perform in 2017 when they both participated in a Speaking of Stories project in Santa Barbara, and he was gobsmacked with the depth and truth of her emotional connection.
He immediately suggested that they perform Heisenberg together, because they were the right ages for it.
Joe Spano said his role in Heisenberg allows him to display vulnerability and play a character who makes a romantic connection. The play runs at Laguna Playhouse through April 14. (Photo by Jeanne Tanner)
While Spano has engaged and reveled in theater for more than a half-century he is a founding member of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, which started in 1968 hes better known to mass audiences for portraying gritty characters, including Lt. Henry Goldblume (Hill Street Blues) and FBI Special Agent Tobias Fornell (NCIS).
The character [Alex] himself is a lot more vulnerable than a lot Ive played, he said. I like to say that hes porous, that hes able to see and hear but not really good at communicating in normal ways. But he has an eye for truth, and when he senses something is not true, he cant understand how that can be.
He notes that its also very sexy and romantic for an actor in his 70s [to play the role] just to validate the fact that age doesnt necessarily indicate how vital and involved a person is.
For more Orange County news and entertainment, follow us @timesocofficial
Spano said both Rubicon and Laguna had always planned for a dual-venue approach, to provide the show a longer overall run.
That means Orange County audiences will see the fruits of the same troupe, from Spano and England to director Katharine Farmer to scenic and lighting designer Mike Billings, costume designer Michael Mullens, and sound designer/stage manager Jessie Vacchiano.
Yet Spano said the production has grown and changed since it opened on Feb. 2.
Its the same production but much deeper, richer, truer than we did before, he said. People mature and learn things, and were trying to take advantage of that to make it more compelling.
Eric Marchese is a contributor to TimesOC.
IF YOU GO
What: Heisenberg
Where: Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
When: Previews March 27 and 29, 7:30 p.m.; March 28 and 30, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Runs March 31 through April 14. Wednesdays through Fridays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1 p.m.; April 2, 7:30 p.m.; April 7, 5:30 p.m.; April 11, 2 p.m.
Cost: $56-$86
Information: (949) 497-2787, lagunaplayhouse.com
Follow @timesocofficial for more news and features about Orange County.
There is not enough evidence to conclude that a Costa Mesa police officer fired his weapon improperly when he shot and wounded a man suspected of prowling over the summer, according to a report the Orange County district attorneys office made public Monday.
After seven months and six witness interviews, authorities closed the investigation into the Aug. 14 shooting of Bradley Montgomery, 49, by Officer Dana Potts.
Potts declined to voluntarily give a statement to investigators, leading them to conclude that there was a lack of sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt criminal culpability on the part of Officer Potts.
However, the district attorneys office cautioned that a lack of testimony should not be interpreted as a sign that the officer acted improperly.
Certainly, it would have been preferable if the OCDA were able to obtain a voluntary statement from Officer Potts regarding his observations and state of mind at the time of the shooting, the report concluded. However, Officer Potts decision to decline to give the OCDA a voluntary statement may not legally and ethically be used to draw negative evidentiary inferences regarding the conduct and the state of mind of Officer Potts.
The Costa Mesa Police Department declined to comment on the report.
The shooting followed a 5 a.m. call to the 2000 block of Charle Street, where neighbors reported that a prowler tried to enter a residential patio. Potts arrived on the scene and, according to a Costa Mesa police report at the time, gave Montgomery instructions that Montgomery ignored.
Potts fired his handgun once, hitting Montgomery who was near the entry of the residence in the abdomen, the report found.
Testimony, as well as recordings from the officers digital audio recorder, revealed that Potts fired and then immediately said, Oh, shoot, according to the district attorney report.
While Montgomery lay face-up on the ground, Potts, according to the report, asked, What did you have in your hands?
Potts asked Montgomery if he had a metal stick, according to the report.
Montgomery denied having anything in his hand. However, the district attorneys office found two objects that fit the description of a metal stick near the shooting scene, the report found.
Potts also told another officer, Ryan Novikoff, that it appeared Montgomery had something in his hand, Novikoff said in his account of the events, according to the report.
After the shooting, Potts and two other officers who were present but did not witness the shooting turned Montgomery onto his back and handcuffed him.
Montgomery suffered a non-life-threatening through and through gunshot wound to the right side of his abdomen. He was taken to a trauma center, where he was treated.
Montgomery pleaded guilty Feb. 19 to one count of prowling and was sentenced to 30 days in county jail, court records show.
A previous investigation determined that Potts acted reasonably when he fired into a pickup truck that crashed into his patrol car, apparently intentionally.
On July 5, 2012, Potts found two men in a stolen truck in a parking lot. The trucked backed up and rammed the patrol car twice, police said at the time. Potts fired multiple shots into the truck.
The driver, who was struck, survived the injury and ran from the vehicle and was arrested a week later, police said.
UPDATES:
This article was originally published at 9:20 p.m. March 25 and was later updated with additional information.
Last weeks arrests of four members of a Huntington Beach-based white supremacist group raised questions about whether Surf City has indeed overcome the racist episodes of its past, as city leaders suggest, or continues, as critics contend, to incubate extremism.
Officials pointed to the low number of arrests for hate crimes and argued that the countys fourth-largest city is increasingly diverse and welcoming.
But Latinos living in historically blue collar areas and civil rights watchdogs said racism persists not so obviously on Main Street like it once did but in online forums and at provocative beachfront protests.
How does a community shake a myth? posited Mayor Mike Posey, adding that suggestions that Huntington Beach is some kind of epicenter for white supremacists are laughable.
Huntington Beach is (a) blended, diverse culture where everyone is welcome.
Not so fast, argued Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano, who covered hate groups extensively while editing OC Weekly.
If Huntington Beach proclaimed war against neo-Nazis, I sure as hell never heard of it, Arellano said.
New arrests pick at old wounds
Memories of old racial tensions resurfaced last week when the FBI arrested Huntington Beach resident Robert Rundo on suspicion of conspiring to violate the federal riots statute. Rundo is a key member of the Rise Above Movement, an alt-right street-fighting gang.
A protestor is pulled by the Make America Great Again March crowd at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach in March 2017. The march was in support of President Donald Trump. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
In March 2017, RAM participated at a Make America Great Again rally at Bolsa Chica State Beach, where members attacked counter-protesters and two journalists, according to the FBI.
The federal criminal complaint charges the four RAM members of traveling to political rallies across California to engage in a series of violent attacks and conspiring to violate riot statutes.
The affidavit alleges that the men used the internet to organize their activities, coordinate combat training and celebrate their acts of violence in order to recruit members for future events.
Although Huntington Beach has a history of racially-charged incidents involving skinheads and others, city officials argued that H.B. has moved forward, even if outsiders dont know it.
We unfairly get labeled with that every time something comes up again, said Police Chief Robert Handy, who has said that hes made diversity a priority in his department.
The 80s and 90s were different
In the mid-1980s, Huntington Beach gained a reputation for drawing both local and out-of-town white supremacists. The pier and downtown area became gathering spots for young people with shaved heads, swastika tattoos and steel-toed boots.
In 1994, 19-year-old Jonathan Russell Kennedy fatally shot 44-year-old African American Vernon Windell Flournoy outside a McDonalds restaurant. A week after his arrest, Kennedy was charged with the attempted murder of two Latino men in a shooting that occurred just weeks prior. The gunman pleaded guilty to both the murder and attempted murder charges with hate crime enhancements. A 17-year-old was also charged with Flournoys murder and tried as an adult.
In 1996, Erik R. Anderson, 22, of Huntington Beach stabbed a 20-year-old Native American, George Mondragon, 27 times at the beach. Anderson was convicted of attempted murder and given a life sentence.
These two hate crimes prompted city officials to take action. The city created the Human Relations Task Force to promote and celebrate cultural diversity through tolerance and education. Police report hate speech and other issues to the group.
Handy credits these and other efforts with improving relationships.
Rundos arrest, Handy said, isnt reflective of our community, which has come an awful long way.
He said his officers log about two hate crimes a year.
However, one expert argued that racist groups still persist.
We have a problem with denying the problem of hate groups in our country, Chapman University sociology professor Peter Simi said. Thats our default mode.
Though Huntington has improved, Simi said there is a substantial problem across Orange County and Southern California.
Simi explained people wouldnt recognize neo-Nazis or white supremacists walking down Main Street; they now look like everyone else.
If you examine Huntington Beach in social media, my sense [is] it would be more than you might expect, he said.
Arellano cited a hate crime incident in the last decade where four white supremacists entered a home in the Hispanic Oak View neighborhood and tried to murder a Latino man.
Oscar Rodriguez, who lives in the neighborhood, doesnt hear racist remarks yelled on the streets, but agreed they are being said over the internet.
He called on politicians to do something about it.
If public officials arent outright denouncing hate incidents, then the culture is going to stick around, he said. If this isnt a priority to them, its going to keep going on.
SB 54 challenge angered many Latinos
Rodriguez also expressed concern with the City Councils court-upheld decision to ignore the states sanctuary city law protecting immigrants.
Demonstrators protest Senate Bill 54, a California sanctuary law, during a Huntington Beach City Council meeting in April. (File Photo)
Senate Bill 54 in many cases prohibits state and local police agencies from notifying federal officials about the impending release of immigrants in custody who may be deported. Huntington Beach rejected enforcement of the bill, using its city charter to beat a state challenge in court.
Rodriguez called the action an excuse to get away with using the city charter.
But City Attorney Michael Gates doesnt see it that way.
We will continue to hold Sacramento accountable for unconstitutional state law overreaches, he told the Daily Pilot last month.
California has the nations largest racist skinhead population, according to the Anti-Defamation League, an organization tracking anti-Semitic incidents since 1979.
RAM, the organization affiliated with Rundo, is estimated to have 50 members, several of whom have violent criminal histories. Rundo previously served prison time for a gang-related felony in New York, according to court records.
And Matthew Branstetter of Huntington Beach, also an ex-con, has been known to train with RAM,, according to the nonprofit investigative news agency ProPublica.
Branstetter is a known member of Hammerskin Nation, which the ADL classifies on its website as the most violent and best-organized neo-Nazi skinhead group in the United States.
In 2011, Branstetter was convicted of aggravated assault with a hate crime enhancement and sentenced to three years in state prison after beating a 23-year-old Jewish man in Coto de Caza, court records show.
Joanna Mendelson, a senior ADL researcher, said groups like RAM romanticize themselves as soldiers on the front line, helping defend a victimized white population.
Statistics reflecting hate crimes in Huntington Beach were not immediately available, but the number of hate crimes rose in Orange County for the third year in a row, according to an annual report by the Orange County Human Relations Commission.
Anti-Semitic incidents went up 60% nationwide and 27% in California, according to the ADL.
There are bad actors that may have ties to Huntington Beach, but it is no different than other cities in Southern California, Mendelson said. We have to change the stereotype.
One elected official said that the city is far better than it once was but agreed theres still work to do.
Once you get a bad reputation, its a long road to improving that reputation, said Councilwoman Jill Hardy, who teaches at Marina High School. Im optimistic weve worked on it. It doesnt mean we cant do more to improve the situation and our reputation, but I have seen some positive movements when Im with high school students.
Priscella.Vega@latimes.com
Twitter: @vegapriscella
The Laguna Dance Festival is raising the, um, barre on its autumn show by staging it at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.
Laguna Beach, however, will remain in first position for the rest of the series 2019 schedule.
For the record: This article originally stated incorrectly that the free summer performances at the Festival of Arts are weekly. Typically they are on two Sundays.
For the fall installment, the festival will dance 20 minutes up the road to a space that is nearly double the size of its main home at the Laguna Playhouse, where the festival has held its fall performances for the past seven years.
Its time to think broader about how we can impact our community with the performing art of dance, said Jodie Gates, the festivals director.
Septembers performances include a weekend of shows and a workshop with the New York-based Parsons Dance Company and the RubberbanDance Group of Montreal. Both troupes have performed at the Barclay. Another group, to be announced later this week, will join the Sept. 27-29 performances.
Jerry Mandel, president of the Irvine Barclay Theatre, said he was thrilled to collaborate with Gates on the upcoming shows.
This is, as far as Im concerned, a win-win for everybody for our audiences, for the Laguna Dance Festival, for everybody, and a great opportunity for us to work with Jodie, said Mandel, who formerly served on the Laguna Playhouses board of trustees.
Gates said the opportunity to stage performances in Irvine is a case of turning lemons into lemonade. She needed a venue for the specific weekend in September and said she was unable to confirm the dates with the playhouse in time.
Then the opportunity arose to move from the nearly 400-seat playhouse, which is undergoing remodeling, to the 750-seat Barclay.
It will give audiences who are accustomed to the intimacy of the playhouses Moulton Theatre a different experience, she said.
Thats OK. Thats lovely, Gates said. Irvine Barclay was made for dance.
Its too early to know whether the festival will hold its fall show at the Barclay in future seasons, she said.
The Barclay, which is adjacent to UC Irvine, has lighting, an orchestra pit and a stage designed for dance performances, Mandel said.
It was a natural for her to move it here, Mandel said.
RubberbanDance Group, based in Montreal, will perform at the Irvine Barclay Theatre during Laguna Dance Festival weekend Sept. 27-29. (Bill Hebert / Courtesy of RubberbanDance)
The September performance will highlight choreographer David Parsons signature piece, Caught, which features a soloist leaping more than 100 times in six minutes. Parsons last brought the work to Laguna as part of the 2013 festival.
Gates, a former Joffrey Ballet principal, said she is excited to blend her audience with the Barclays but was quick to add that the festival, which is heading into its 15th season, remains dedicated to its roots.
We are still the golden gem of Laguna Beach, she said of the renowned series, which has hosted Misty Copeland, the first African American female principal with the American Ballet Theatre, as well as Complexions Contemporary Ballet and other major companies.
Gates said she hopes the local audience she has cultivated will make the short trek to Irvine.
My hope is that our brand is strong enough, that our Laguna dance lovers will come, and that also not to worry, that Laguna Beach is very much a part of our identity, but our future vision includes a broader community, said Gates, who also is vice dean and director of USCs Glorya Kaufman School of Dance.
Aside from the fall show, the remainder of the 2019 Laguna Dance Festival performances will be local. The festival will hold a summer dance intensive in June at Laguna Beach High School, free performances during the summer at the Festival of Arts, and a November show with New Zealand performer Black Grace at Lagunas Neighborhood Congregational Church.
In 2013, Suggs left his job as chief of staff for the Indianapolis Public Schools to accept the superintendents job in Little Rock, the largest school district in the state with about 24,000 students.
A Laguna Beach man was accused Friday of using revenge porn to try to coerce a woman back into a romantic relationship with him, police said.
The Orange County district attorneys office charged the 54-year-old man with three misdemeanor counts of violating a protective order and three misdemeanor counts of disseminating private photographs of another person without the persons consent.
The Daily Pilot is not identifying the man to avoid indirectly identifying the woman.
On March 20, according to Laguna Beach police, the defendant sent the woman the photos and threatened to disseminate them to others if she didnt get back together with him. The man is accused of sending the photos via text message, which the district attorneys office called unlawful dissemination, according to court documents.
Its unclear whether the photos were shared with anyone else, police said.
In 2013, California enacted a law that prohibits distributing photos that depict sex acts or intimate body parts of another person without the persons consent while knowing it would cause emotional distress for the victim.
At 7 p.m. Friday, police went to a residence on Highland Way and arrested the man, who they said was standing in his kitchen and apparently intoxicated. He received medical clearance before being booked at the Laguna Beach Police Department. He was later released on bail, police said.
The defendant remains out on bail and no hearings are currently scheduled in the case, according to police and court records.
The contest between two Newport-Mesa Unified School District board candidates is becoming increasingly heated and personal in the elections final days.
Area 4 incumbent Karen Yelsey, a board member for 12 years, is being challenged by Gina Nick, who owns a medical practice.
While Yelsey has made public statements calling out Nicks history of personal bankruptcies, Nick has lodged claims of her own, including that Yelsey is breaking a promise to limit her terms on the board and is somehow connected to the online publication of her daughters personal information.
Documents show Nick filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2009 and again in 2017. The first, which was jointly filed with her ex-husband, showed more than $785,000 of general unsecured debt, while last years showed more than $185,000 filed under her name alone.
Yelsey calls this a red flag for voters, arguing Nick would not be fiscally responsible in dealing with NMUSDs $300 million operating budget.
But Nick says she was advised by legal counsel to file for bankruptcy during divorce proceedings to provide a clean break from her ex-husband.
I have been the sole breadwinner for many years and was involved in a complicated financial divorce, Nick told the Daily Pilot via text message. It is disappointing that my opponent has chosen to engage in a low-level smear campaign to redirect our voters attention away from her promise to only serve 12 years.
Though Yelsey admitted that during her first campaign in 2006 she advocated for 12-year term limits, she said she never made a promise to leave after three terms.
The longer Ive been on the board, the less enamored I am by the idea of term limits, Yelsey said, adding that shed be happy to mentor someone to take over her seat, but that no one has approached her with interest.
Nicks bankruptcy filings were passed onto Yelsey by one of her supporters, Suzanne Gauntlet, a heavily involved Parent-Teacher Assn. member.
Gauntlet said she conducted a web search on Nick to learn who she was after seeing one of her campaign ads on Facebook.
I have deep roots in this community, and like everybody else, if you are involved in the schools, youre pretty passionate about it, Gauntlet said.
This passion also led Gauntlet to peruse Nicks social media pages, where she found information on where she lived and where her 6-year-old daughter attended school.
She said she shared this information with other parents via an email, which then ended up on a community news website without her consent. The information was later redacted.
Nick, however, said she believes Yelsey was behind the release of the information about her daughter, and rejects the notion that it was found online, arguing that a school official had to have accessed her daughters records.
The school district looked into the claim after an attorney brought it forward during the Sept. 11 board meeting.
After researching this matter, our findings have determined that no NMUSD employee or official disclosed private student information, district spokeswoman Annette Franco wrote in a Sept. 13 email.
Nick said she has since contacted officials with the California Department of Education, who have expressed concern.
Attorney Steve Baric, Nicks spokesman, raised a separate concern about Yelsey Thursday, claiming that video endorsements from teachers posted on her candidate Facebook violate a government code that prohibits the use of public resources for campaign activity.
A complaint on the matter was filed with the Orange County district attorneys office, Michelle Van Der Linden, a spokeswoman for the D.A., confirmed Friday.
No filing decision has been made at this point, Van Der Linden said.
According to Yelsey, the videos were taken during non-school hours, when no students were on campus.
Attorney Dan Shinoff, who has served as legal counsel for school districts in San Diego and Orange counties, said that Yelseys videos dont contain anything even close to a violation.
I dont know how youd put a monetary value on being inside a school building, Shinoff said.
Yelsey, whose top campaign priorities are academic excellence, safety and fiscal responsibility, said that she has to take Nick as a serious threat in this race.
When I do something, whether it be as a school board member or something else, I put my whole self into it, she said.
Nick said she hopes to bring leadership, mentorship, honesty and collaboration to the school board, if elected. In a text message she said she had no other comments that could be used to promote more unnecessary divisiveness.
I have no problem with Karen. I am sure she has done great things, Nick wrote. I am simply here to take the seat with additional fresh ideas after her 12-year term.
charity.lindsey@latimes.com
Twitter @CharityNLindsey
The Orange County district attorneys office will not pursue criminal charges against a Laguna Beach man in connection with an online post that city officials considered a threat, a spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday.
The prosecutor did not feel we would be able to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, D.A. spokeswoman Michelle Van Der Linden wrote in an email.
Laguna Beach police arrested Michael James Ross Jan. 5 on suspicion of criminal threats and threats to public officials regarding a Craigslist post that authorities said showed photos of a man dressed in camouflage with an automatic rifle hiding in brush.
The Daily Pilot inquired about the cases status after Ross father, Laguna Beach resident Robert Mason Ross, appeared at Tuesdays City Council meeting.
Escorted by two Laguna Beach police officers, Robert Ross addressed the council for the first time in months after serving time in Orange County Jail.
Robert Ross, who ran for a council seat in 2012 and regularly speaks during meetings, criticized the citys change to its bus hours and the size of the trolleys.
In an interview outside council chambers, Ross, 75, struck an apologetic tone while alluding to a long-standing concern with the city regarding property line boundaries in the Top of the World neighborhood.
My son made a mistake, said Ross, whom authorities also arrested Jan. 5 on suspicion of illegal firearms possession.
Investigators found six rifles, a semi-automatic handgun and more than 100 boxes of ammunition.
I am warning the City Council that I am going to show up with my gillie suit, to remove these tyrants from office, in 2017, the post stated, according to police. Call the police and the city, council and tell them I am coming to end this corruption, from the Laguna Beach City Council, once and for all. Hahahahahaha, you are going down now.
Michael Ross was released Jan. 9 without posting bail because he was not arraigned in time, according to jail records.
Voter registration records show Michael Ross has the same phone number as his father. A call placed Wednesday afternoon was not returned.
Robert Ross pleaded guilty March 8 to three felony counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the Orange County Superior Court website.
He was sentenced to jail time, which he has served, and three years of probation, according to the D.A.s office.
Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Boyd said Wednesday he knew Robert Ross would be at Tuesdays meeting.
I think he handled himself well, considering everything that happened, Boyd said.
Councilman Steve Dicterow said he was confident in the D.A.s decision to not file charges.
I think the D.A. does a wonderful job and thoroughly investigated the case, Dicterow said.
Per a court order, Robert Ross must contact the city or police department before conducting official business and must stay at least 15 feet away from council members.
bryce.alderton@latimes.com
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
It wasnt easy, and it almost didnt happen. But Corona del Mar is getting a tattoo studio, the Newport Beach Planning Commission decided.
E Art Gallery will operate in an existing space in the basement level of a 1940s-era multi-tenant office building at 2721 E. Coast Hwy. to offer tattoos by appointment only. The 513-square-foot studio, where artist and owner Savaanah Gallegos has drawn and painted on canvas for the past year, also will host occasional art classes.
The saga of E Art Gallery goes back to December, when the commission narrowly rejected Gallegos application for a permit, against staff recommendation. Commissioners said it would be inconsistent with zoning code, could lead to a proliferation of personal services, that the site is not physically suitable and that the business may impact nearby residences.
Gallegos appealed to the City Council in February, saying the commission didnt provide evidence for the concerns.
The day of the council meeting, a neighbor in the office building submitted a 17-page letter questioning the physical space, effects on parking and whether live models for classes would be nude, which would require a different type of restrictive permit. The council sent the matter back to the Planning Commission without voting.
Last week, in her third attempt to get the permit, Gallegos told commissioners that tattoos and the act of tattooing are protected under the First Amendment.
Although I have never claimed this right has been violated, I stated this fact because I am an American citizen and have rights just like everyone else who wanted to open a business in a place where it is zoned, Gallegos told the commission before it voted 4-1 to allow the business.
Commissioner Lee Lowrey, who voted against the permit both times it went before the commission, asked about the constitutionality angle.
What precludes me if I wanted to go and open an indoor range in Newport Beach? What trumps? Is it our zoning or my right to have a firearm and to be able to use it in the city? he asked Assistant City Attorney Yolanda Summerhill. Its not really a political thing. Id like to know, because thats a pretty big deal throwing that around.
Summerhill answered that case law protects tattoos as a form of expression.
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with tattoo artists twice in the past 10 years in Long Beach, where city regulations on studios were heavily restrictive, and in Hermosa Beach, which effectively banned tattoo shops.
E Art Gallery is the sixth tattoo studio in Newport Beach and the only one not on or adjacent to the Balboa Peninsula, which is about four miles from it.
Several neighbors in addition to the letter writer a lawyer in an upstairs suite submitted comments opposing Gallegos application, expressing anxiety about possible effects on property values and children who attend Harbor View Elementary School about a quarter-mile away.
Gallegos said her business would not be an average tattoo parlor. She said it would have no more than two artists at a time working by appointment only. The space would be largely for her to work on commissioned paintings; tattoos and instruction would be occasional. She said she would not post signs, live models would not be nude and tattoo equipment would be portable and able to be stowed during classes.
While we talk about tattoo parlors being seedy for the neighborhood, I think that stereotype is an old stereotype, said commission Vice Chairman Erik Weigand, who motioned to approve the permit.
Commissioner Kory Kramer said Corona del Mar doesnt have tattoo establishments but that the lack of tattoo businesses does not mean that this type of use is not compatible in the neighborhood.
Army and Marine Corps veteran Joel Montes can remember the clicking sound his shoes made as he ascended the front stairs of a house to tell the parents inside that their son wasnt coming back from Afghanistan.
Navy veteran Richard Castro recalls tripping over a compatriots severed leg while rushing to tend to the man after he was felled by a landmine in Vietnam.
Army veteran Al Harvard can recite the joke some of his fellow servicemen made him tell through a mouthful of cigarettes while hanging from a rafter: Charles Dickens goes into a bar and orders a martini and the bartender says, Olive or twist?
Seven Southern California military veterans took the stage together Tuesday night to share their memories and experiences in front of a rapt audience of about 150 people during the Voices Veterans Storytelling Project outside the Heroes Hall veterans museum at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.
The project was meant to give veterans a creative outlet to talk about their time in the service and how their experiences have shaped them.
Over six weeks, the participants met at Heroes Hall to learn more about one another and develop Tuesdays event.
In many cases, they said, those gatherings were the first time they felt comfortable to share some of their experiences.
Army veteran Bruce Olav Solheim said its liberating and absolutely essential for all of us to tell our own story.
America does not go to war; individual Americans go to war, he said. Our veteran voices need to be heard.
Richard Castro, Donald Pageler, Frank Barry and Bruce Olav Solheim, from left, participate in the Voices Veterans Storytelling Project on Tuesday outside Heroes Hall at the Orange County fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)
Navy veteran Donald Pageler was aboard the USS Liberty when the ship was attacked by the Israeli military in 1967.
Israel has maintained the attack was an error caused by mistaken identity and has apologized and paid restitution. However, some people, including some Liberty crew members, believe the attack intentionally targeted the American ship.
Pageler said he was sworn to secrecy about the experience for years.
He has struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and dangerously high blood pressure. The latter, he said, was greatly relieved when he was finally able to summon the strength to talk about the ordeal.
Recovery is a process, not an event, and that process cant take place if your experiences are hidden, said Pageler, who lives in Westminster. When I denied my lifes experiences, I had no identity. You dont get over your military experience, but you can learn to live with it.
Though some fond memories of military life do stand out, the speakers Tuesday said they still bear physical, emotional and psychological burdens of their service.
War isnt just devastation on the front lines, it destroys us at home too, said Montes, a Huntington Beach resident. Like a virus creeping into our bodies unannounced, it dismantles families, extinguishes hope and handicaps dreams.
Air Force veteran Frank Barry said he was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer in 2011, an affliction he blames on his exposure to Agent Orange, the notorious defoliant used during the Vietnam War.
Its far worse to see children afflicted with maladies we suspect come from our exposure to think that we are the cause of their hurt and pain, the Huntington Beach resident said. Those invisible wounds of war are now visible.
To Castro, Vietnam evokes memories of gunfire, sweltering heat and the smell of burnt bodies.
My soul carries so many memories of those months, and not one day goes by without thinking about the insanity and the misery of that war, the Anaheim Hills resident said.
Harvard, of Coto de Caza, said he doesnt talk about his combat experiences in Vietnam he still struggles with the traumatic memories.
Still, he said he valued participating in the storytelling project and hearing the stories of the other servicemen.
I was particularly enchanted by the inflections and the passions that surfaced as the weeks went by, he said.
Because of the continuing struggle with the horrors of war and the challenge of readapting to civilian life, its vital for people to continue supporting veterans after their service has ended, said Army vet Eric Kuyper of Costa Mesa.
Now, the mission of the people of the United States is to help the veterans in whatever individual way each one needs, he said. For some, its as simple as a cup of coffee or a pat on the back. But whatever a veteran needs, find that problem and fill it.
The Voices Veterans Storytelling Project was presented by Arts Orange County, a nonprofit arts council, in collaboration with Heroes Hall, Anaheim-based Chance Theater and Veterans First, a nonprofit service provider.
luke.money@latimes.com
Twitter @LukeMMoney
A former Glendale police detective who lied to authorities about his connection to organized crime and warned the Mexican Mafia about an upcoming gang arrest was sentenced on Friday to 21 months in prison.
John Saro Balian will also have to serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration and will be required to pay a $300 special assessment and a $60,000 fine to the government. The punishment comes after he pleaded guilty last July to one count each of soliciting a bribe, obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal investigators.
During the hearing, Balian, who was in handcuffs and wearing a khaki-colored prison jumpsuit, addressed the court, saying he didnt wake up one day and decide this was the road in life I was going to go down.
He added, I didnt have the courage at the time to say no to someone who asked me for a favor I regret what Ive done, Im truly sorry.
He ended his remarks saying he hopes to one day get a chance to redeem himself and become a member of society again once hes released.
A federal judge pointed out what Balian had done was more than just grant a favor because there was an exchange of money.
U.S. District Judge John F. Walter also said he hadnt heard a satisfactory answer as to why Balian made the conscious decision to turn to a life of crime and blatantly disregarded the oath he made to protect and serve as a police officer. Balians conduct was a gross abuse of the public trust he accepted as an officer and that no one should be above the law.
I suspect a major part of his remorse is that hes sorry he got caught, Walter said.
Balian was arrested last May after being identified as a person of interest during an investigation by the FBIs Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force into possible ties between the Mexican Mafia and Armenian organized crime. Three confidential informants had told investigators of their troubling interactions with the detective.
Balian previously worked as a narcotics detective for the Glendale Police Department and served as the agencys spokesman.
According to the plea agreement Balian made with authorities, he accepted $2,000 in 2017 to locate someone thought to have broken into an office and stolen $100,000 worth of property from an acquaintance. In March 2017, he utilized law-enforcement resources in an attempt to catch the alleged thief by giving information about the incident to the U.S. Marshals Services.
In June 2017, Balian overheard Glendale officers discuss an upcoming sweep of roughly 20 members of the Frogtown gang, which has ties to the Mexican Mafia. He tipped off his associates within the mafia, allowing a Frogtown shotcaller named Jorge Grey to evade authorities for about a month, according to the affidavit.
The plea agreement stated Balian had given false and misleading information to authorities to hide his connection with the Mexican Mafia and Armenian organized crime and that he acted corruptly with the specific intent to subvert the due administration of justice for the purpose of enhancing his reputation with the Mexican Mafia.
Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this article.
andy.nguyen@latimes.com
Twitter: @Andy_Truc
Two Northern California men were found guilty on Tuesday of the 2016 murder of a man outside a Glendale apartment complex.
It took a jury only two days of deliberation to convict Suisun City resident Laquan Parker and Brandon Perkins of Stockton for the murder of Phillip Niles Jr.
Parker was found guilty of first-degree murder while Perkins was guilty of second-degree murder.
The incident began on the night of June 24 when Niles, a recent transplant to Los Angeles from Florida, was out with friends at a Hollywood nightclub, according to previous court testimony. Niles had met two women at the club, Dezerae Lyons and Daniela Love, and the group Niles, his friends and the two women eventually made their way back to an apartment complex in the 1700 block of North Verdugo Road.
Both Lyons and Love testified in 2017 that Niles became angry at the pair after he found out they worked as pornographic actors and an argument ensued.
Lyons said in court last year she then called Parker to pick her and Love up from the apartment.
As the two women headed to a car driven by Parker, Niles reportedly followed them out of the apartment to continue the argument.
It was there that Niles was confronted by Parker and Perkins.
Police first received reports of gunfire in the neighborhood around 4 a.m. on June 25, according to a department spokesman. Niles had been shot multiple times and was found on the front lawn of a home in the 1600 block of Midway Street.
Parker and Perkins were arrested later that day at a hotel in Monrovia where they were staying with Lyons. Police said two handguns were recovered from the scene.
The two are scheduled to be sentenced on June 22.
andy.nguyen@latimes.com
Twitter: @Andy_Truc
A home on La Canadas El Vago Street, along with a La Crescenta property and another in Burbank, were targets of federal search warrants served Wednesday morning by personnel from the FBI, U.S. Secret Service and Los Angeles Police Department.
The warrants were issued simultaneously at 6 a.m. one at 1435 El Vago Street, another at 3122 Pontiac Street in La Crescenta and a third in Burbank and while local law enforcement reported the cases were related, it could not be determined which agency was overseeing which warrant.
Lt. Mark Slater, acting captain for the Crescenta Valley Sheriffs Station, said deputies were called on to assist agents from the FBI and U.S. Secret Service in the execution of the federal warrants in La Canada and La Crescenta following a 5:15 a.m. briefing.
They did request CV Station to be a uniformed presence, so we provided one black and white [vehicle] and one deputy, just to be seen, Slater said of the two locations, adding the officers did not participate in serving the warrants.
Although we do have some limited information about what the search warrant is about, since its not our investigation, I dont feel comfortable releasing it, he continued.
At around 11 a.m. on El Vago Street, five hours after agents arrived on scene, the house was still busy with activity as personnel came and went from the property. Two vehicles a red Nissan SUV with out-of-state license plates and a silver Ford Taurus with California plates were parked in the semicircular driveway out front.
In the backyard, another car sat inside a detached garage underneath an interior light. An empty trashcan and unread newspaper were still out by the driveway, and occasional onlookers drove by slowly to catch a peek at the property that had been mentioned on Facebook posts for the FBI activity spotted there.
Laura Eimiller, a public affairs officer for the FBIs Los Angeles field office, confirmed a federal search warrant had been served at the El Vago address but said the warrant was under a judge-issued sealing order, which restricts disclosure of the documents and their contents.
Online listing information from blockshopper.com indicated the 5,451-square-foot Colonial style house at 1435 El Vago was sold on Dec. 27 for the purchase price of $2.8 million. Real estate transaction records list the current owners as Alen and Dina Gharehbagloo. The latter works in real estate and owns the Arcave Room, a video-game-event space in La Crescenta.
Public records show the home on Pontiac Street in La Crescenta is owned by Robert and Dana Khudaverdyan.
No further details were available as of early Wednesday afternoon.
sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
Little is known about the life of former La Canada resident James Reginald Bauder, though his name and military rank appear on a bronze plaque in Memorial Park honoring those who lost their lives in service to their country.
The son of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Reginald Bauder and wife Dorothy, who lived on Ocean View Boulevard, James was a 35-year-old lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navys Fighter Squadron 21 serving onboard the U.S.S. Coral Sea off North Vietnam on Sept. 21, 1966, the night his plane went missing.
Harlan Updegraff, who also hailed from La Canada at the time, was working onboard the U.S.S. Coral Sea that day in 1966. An aviation structural mechanic third class, he was responsible for filling fighter jets with liquid oxygen before they went on missions.
Before takeoff, Updegraff signaled to pilots with a thumbs up or down to confirm whether their oxygen supply was functioning. The La Canadan would be one of the last people to communicate with Bauder on that fateful night.
Lt. Cmdr. James Bauder, top row, center, was a pilot assigned to the Navys Fighter Squadron 21 in September 1966, when his plane went missing during a nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. (Courtesy of Jane Bauder Castellani )
I knew the names of the pilots because their names were below the canopy on the sides of the jets, recalled Updegraff, 71, who now lives in Tennessee, in a phone interview. I didnt know [Bauder] was from La Canada at the time he gave a thumbs up. I saluted him as he took off.
Later that night, Updegraff and others onboard heard an announcement from the captain that two men had been lost on that nights bombing mission. No one in the sky with Bauder ever saw his plane go down or heard a distress call. No wreckage was discovered in the searches that followed.
Bauder and passenger James Burton Mills a lieutenant junior grade working as a radio intelligence officer had simply disappeared.
James Bauder with wife Sara, in an undated photo from the mid-1950s, on their wedding day. (Courtesy of Jane Bauder Castellani )
Bauder left behind wife Sara, whom hed met while training in her hometown of Pensacola, Fla., and their two children son Chris, 6, and daughter Jane, 4. The family was living in a modest house near an air base in San Diego when they got the news.
I was pretty devastated when I learned he was lost, which is how my mom put it to us, recalls Jane Bauder Castellani, now 55 and living in Pensacola. He was like my idol.
A self-proclaimed daddys girl, Castellanis memories of her father are vivid, if episodic.
She remembers him working on cars with a neighbor, or the times hed come home from the ship for a visit, when it was like every holiday wrapped into one. In another memory, right before her father left for his second tour in Vietnam, shed missed out on flying kites in the yard because she hadnt finished her orange juice.
With sadness, she recalled this week the time he flew alone to Florida to bury her infant sister Jennifer, a blue baby whod died not long after she was born.
In the months that followed Bauders disappearance, his father Reginald would die from complications of cancer, according to a Nov. 10, 1966, issue of the Valley Sun. Dorothy would later have to leave the family home on Ocean View Boulevard when it was declared uninhabitable due to a crevice that opened up in a nearby hillside, according to Castellani.
Bauders wife would pack up the kids and head back to Pensacola to be closer to her support system, her daughter recalled. She would be hospitalized once for a nervous breakdown, but would rally and return home. Some seven years later, the time after which Bauder would be presumed dead, Sara would go on to remarry a neighbor whod lost his wife.
But the familys loss would never truly heal, no matter how much time passed.
There was still the wondering. The only way I can accurately describe it is emptiness, Castellani recalled. The loss of my dad, it affected me really bad. I had a difficult time coping.
Was he still alive? Was he living somewhere with amnesia, and maybe with another family? These thoughts ran through Castellanis head as she grew up, turned to less-than-ideal situations for the momentary escape and release they offered, then suffered the consequences of her decisions.
Family members received occasional updates from the Navys Casualty POW/MIA Branch, saying theyd located a piece of a plane or a speck of bone but nothing had ever panned out.
Then, on Sept. 8 of this year, Castellani got an email that would send a lifetime of fears and speculations to a grinding halt.
I do hope this email reaches you, read the missive from Branch Head Rudy Gonzales. Please call me, I have some very important information regarding your father.
James Bauders father, Reginald, left, was a Los Angeles Superior Court judge who lived with wife Dorothy and daughter Jane in the familys La Canada home when James was declared missing in action in September 1966. (Courtesy of Jane Bauder Castellani )
Castellani made the call and learned a piece of bone a femur had been found in June in the area of North Vietnam where her fathers plane was last seen. A test matched its mitochondrial DNA to a sample submitted years earlier by Bauders younger sister, Jane.
I was just numb and in shock, Castellani said. It floored me.
She tried to call her aunt and namesake, Jane Bauder Darrow, a noted watercolorist living in Sedona, Ariz., only to learn from cousin Mike shed died just days earlier. Castellanis own mother died in 2011.
Now, with her cousin and brother, Castellani is making arrangements to meet with Navy representatives in November to get a full account of the search and what it turned up. Plans are being made to have her fathers remains interred at Arlington Cemetery with full military honors.
Updegraff, who found Castellani online and has communicated with her over the years, says he cant wait to attend and lay to rest a mystery thats lasted more than half a century.
It feels good that hes home, he said. My shipmate was shot down and now hes back.
For Castellani this last memory of her father, his homecoming, is bittersweet.
Its been decades of wondering and hoping, and not hoping, then hoping again like a yo-yo, she said. When the news finally came, I didnt know how to feel about it. I didnt cry. I wasnt happy. I was just kind of stoic.
Im still kind of not sure how to feel about it its still sinking in.
sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
Eight months after the death in October of P-41 the first adult male mountain lion documented living in the Verdugo Mountains above Glendale and Burbank from rodenticide poisoning, theres a new puma in town.
On June 19, camera traps captured images of an adult male mountain lion traveling in close proximity to an untagged female nicknamed Nikita, whod earlier mated with P-41 and produced multiple litters of kittens, none of which survived in the wild.
A picture of health with an apparently unblemished coat and white teeth, the newly spotted male has already been nicknamed Adonis by conservationists and the wildlife photographers-turned-citizen-scientists whose cameras caught the first dazzling images of the newcomer.
Hes definitely young. The way he moves, his musculature, his coat, he doesnt have any scars hes just perfect, which is why we call him Adonis, said Johanna Turner, a Universal Studios sound effects editor who began camera trapping in 2008 and prolifically followed the exploits of P-41 with fellow photographer Denis Callet.
Uncollared female mountain lion Nikita in the Verdugo Mountains above Glendale on July 5. A mate of P-41, found dead in October from apparent rodenticide poisoning, Nikita is thought to be traveling with Adonis, a young male who may have migrated from a nearby mountain range. (Courtesy of Johanna Turner)
First seen in 2010, P-41 may have come south from the San Gabriel Mountains, possibly crossing the Foothill (210) Freeway in search of his own territory, according to Jeff Sikich, biologist for the National Park Service. Sikich collared the 8-year-old cat in 2015 for inclusion in a mountain lion study thats tagged 69 subjects in or near the Santa Monica Mountains since 2002.
Data collected from P-41s GPS collar indicated he crossed into the San Rafael Hills, on the southern side of La Canada Flintridge, at least twice while living in the Verdugo Mountains. Bordered by freeways and surrounded by intense development, the isolated Verdugos fall outside the aegis of the Park Services Santa Monica National Recreation Area but play a role in understanding wildlife movement throughout the Southland, Sikich says.
There are a lot of implications of connectivity in the area, the biologist said. By following animals in these fragmented landscapes we hope to learn about landscape connectivity in the region and if there are any movement corridors these animals are using.
When P-41s decomposed body was discovered in Los Angeles Shadow Hills neighborhood after the 7,200-acre La Tuna fire, tests identified six strains of anticoagulant rodenticide in his system. Sixteen of the 17 living cats in the Park Services mountain lion study have tested positive for rodenticide, including P-55, a 3-year-old Santa Monica Mountains lion found dead on Wednesday.
As Nikita was caught on video dolefully calling out for her mate, Turner and other conservationists grew concerned for the fate of mountain lions in the Verdugos. Then along came Adonis.
On June 19, a young adult male mountain lion was spotted by wildlife cameras in the Verdugo Mountains above Glendale and Burbank. Nicknamed Adonis for his good looks and apparent health, the puma is seen taking a drink in Burbank on June 23. (Courtesy of Johanna Turner)
Barbara Goto is director of operations for the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy, a Pasadena-based group that preserves land for use as wildlife corridors. AFC recently acquired Cottonwood Canyon, an 11-acre parcel off of Linda Vista Avenue in the San Rafael Hills that the group believes opens up to a 20-mile wildlife corridor stretching from Hahamongna Watershed Park west to Tujunga.
For Goto, the discovery of a new male in the Verdugos, especially given the nearby presence of a female, is promising.
We hope hes found, if not the love of his life, at least someone hed like to have a few litters with, she said of Adonis. Wed really like him and his female to be able to go back and forth in the San Gabriel Mountains so they have greater genetic diversity. That would be our wish for him to find love and freedom.
sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him on whether he obstructed justice. Robert Muellers report states. What is that supposed to mean? He is sorta, kinda, guilty, but because he is the president, we will cut him some slack.
I get the sense from most people I encounter that they consider Christmas one big hassle. Theres the rush to shop for presents, dress the tree, hang the lights and plan for the festivities. The meaning of Christmas is lost to commercialism. According to Christian tradition, its supposed to commemorate the birth of Jesus, but he rarely gets a mention anymore.
Understanding moments of euphoria are important. This time of year, Im vulnerable to such musings since Christmas evokes thoughts during an era where meaning is skewed toward triviality.
I thought Id share a Christmas story from my personal journal titled: 1970. Its about a child; but more so, it tells of the metamorphic change among a platoon of Marines serving in the Vietnam War and their realization that Christmas magic exists in a wasteland. Its copied directly from my journal. The events of those few days forever clarified for me that the miracle of Christmas is the joining of this world with the next.
23 December 1970 the day began after midnight. We were inserted north of Quang Tri, close to the Laotian border. Our mission: to establish a radio-relay site between the enemy and us. Shortly before dawn, we reached the perimeter of the village. We were expected a battle ensued we prevailed. We entered the village and found it abandoned except for one. She couldnt be more than 3. Id say she was closer to 2. She was hungry, unclothed, and gave us a big smile when we came into view.
After 49 years, I still see her smile.
Corporal Feldman swaddled her while the men gave her the last of their rations. Oh! Even the hardest of hearts of the hardest of men were softened by caring for this child.
The Marines held the little Montagnard girl; the wise men, the shepherds and the drummer boy. Only circumstance made them different. The same star they originally followed centuries before still led the way. Chocolate, canned peaches and pound cake replaced the gold, frankincense and myrrh.
As we tended to her needs, we treasured the gifts she gave us. We were given a new birth, a chance to find meaning in the maddening inertia of things; a hope that finding and saving her would save us and somehow make the insanity and inhumanity worth it. We had found a reason to exist and rationalize the havoc we brought.
We searched for her family or any signs of life. There were none. Regardless, the mission was scrubbed unsuitable for communications.
24 December 1970 Carrying the little girl, we moved quickly to our extraction point. For her sake, not ours, I hoped that the Captain had read the map correctly. Navigating in a dense jungle is no better than a guess.
Miracle of miracles! The choppers came at dawn and returned us and the Montagnard girl to Quang Tri. The whole platoon was present when we delivered her to the orphanage of the Sisters of Mercy.
As we said our goodbyes, the Marines showered her with keepsakes and good luck charms. Somehow, we didnt need these anymore. We had found something better! We promised to return, but knew we wouldnt.
In Vietnam, the dream was always better than the reality.
Christmas Eve brought a 24-hour truce. It was a silent night, and, in most areas, all was calm, and all was bright. For one day, the hate and anguish that filled our hearts were replaced by joy and peace, the gift from the little Montagnard girl.
That evening, the men moved in slow motion and hardly made a dent in the beer the chopper brought.
Sergeant Lehue and I shared a can of ham and lima beans. We sat in silence, unable to find the words to describe what we felt. Sergeant Lehue said, Lieutenant, if there is a God, hes alive and well and with us tonight. Merry Christmas, sir.
Thinking back nearly half a century, I remember it was a very Merry Christmas.
Joe Puglia is a practicing counselor, a retired professor of education and a former officer in the Marines. Reach him at doctorjoe@ymail.com. Visit his website at doctorjoe.us.
As most of Southeast Asia rushes into the future new development is seemingly everywhere Laos continues to feel quiet, dreamy, old-fashioned.
No place seems more so than southern Laos along the wide, slow Mekong River, where time seems to stand still. Youll see Khmer-era ruins, glittering gold Buddhist temples, crumbling French colonial mansions, myriad islands, and emerald rice paddies, and perhaps sample fish curry and coconut ice cream.
I needed a break from living in hot, congested Ho Chi Minh City in neighboring Vietnam, so I spent a week during the Lunar New Year holiday in Laos. I was suffering from what a doctor had diagnosed as allergy to HCMC pollution. He said Laos would be just the ticket.
(Lou Spirito For The Times)
Advertisement
It took about an hour to fly to the city of Pakxe, or Pakse, as its sometimes spelled, in Laos from HCMC and cost about $100 each way. At the Pakse airport, I was picked up by the River Resort, an enchanting small hotel on the banks of the Mekong River just north of Champasak town.
My second-floor room had a wrap-around terrace overlooking the river, which is why I eagerly awakened for sunrise, a gorgeous, milky-pink affair reflected in the water. I also liked to watch the river from the resorts swimming pools and terrace restaurant. Actually, I liked to watch the river from almost anywhere.
The River Resort also booked my two-night cruise on the handsome old Vat Phou, which took me sightseeing farther down the river toward the Four Thousand Islands, or Si Phan Don, at the Laos-Cambodia border. I joined about 20 other tourists, most of them French, German and American, installed in a snug wooden cabin with a window and private bath.
Why Asia? Why now? Heres why, from a writer who now calls it home
Together with five nights at the hotel (including two spa services, a sunset cruise and free use of bicycles) the trip cost about $2,000. Well worth it, Id say.
Info: The River Resort; Mekong Cruises
travel@latimes.com
@latimestravel
If you like taking a cooking class when you travel, the Moana Surfrider in Honolulu is featuring master classes with its chefs that will teach you how to make the perfect French macaron and a classic gumbo, with a local twist.
Monthly Moana Masters classes at the hotels Beachhouse at the Moana restaurant last two hours and cost $100 per person, including cooking demonstrations and a custom meal. Heres the schedule:
French macarons await finishing touches in the pastry kitchen at the Moana Surfrider, where visitors can take a class on how to make them. (Moana Surfrider)
April 13: The Easter-themed class starts with a chocolate tasting before demonstration of how to make macarons and chocolate ganache. It ends with afternoon tea, complete with bite-size desserts and a variety of beverages. Its led by pastry chef Carmen Montejo.
Advertisement
May 11: The class teaches you how to make a single dish: sous-vide pork chops, or chops cooked in water to keep them extra juicy. Participants stay for lunch to eat the featured dish, adding creamed corn and a salad with poached egg and bacon lardons. Its taught by chef de cuisine Colin Sato.
Chef de cuisine Colin Sato, in apron, looks on as guests practice preparing paella during a cooking class. (Moana Surfrider)
June 8: Chef Sato also leads a class on making gumbo thats a twist on the Deep South dish. He uses locally made andouille and chicken sausage in making the classic soup. Beer pairings accompany a lunch of salad, gumbo, Hawaiian-style dirty rice and dessert.
July 6: Learn how to shuck oysters before serving them in specialty Bloody Marys. The class and lunch feature another traditional Southern dish, a Low Country seafood boil. Its taught by chef de cuisine Colin Sato.
Monthly Moana Masters classes feature chefs at the Moana Surfrider, Waikikis oldest hotel. (Moana Surfrider)
More classes will be added in August. Sessions run noon to 2 p.m., and you dont have to be a hotel guest to take them. Ticket prices includes four hours of valet or self parking.
The Moana Surfrider is Waikikis oldest hotel, first welcoming guests in 1901.
Info: Moana Surfrider
travel@latimes.com
@latimestravel
The Ft. Moore Pioneer Memorial is a stone wall honoring the Mormon Battalion, U.S. 1st Dragoons, and the New York Volunteers who raised the American flag on July 4, 1847 the first Independence Day celebrated in Los Angeles. The city and California became part of the United States following the Mexican-American War.
An article in the July 4, 1958, Los Angeles Times reported:
The citys first Independence Day celebration July 4, 1847 was recalled yesterday in the dedication of 400-foot-long, 45-foot-high Ft. Moore Pioneer Memorial Wall on Hill St. just north of the Hollywood Freeway.
The Memorial Wall, dedicated to the brave men and women who faced privation and death in extending the frontiers of our country to include this land of promise, commemorates Los Angeles first Independence Day.
It was in 1847 at the newly constructed Ft. Moore on the hill overlooking the little Mexican pueblo that all American troops in the immediate area the First U.S. Dragoons, New York Volunteers and Mormon Battalion gathered to participate in the historic Flag-raising ceremony.
The largest section of the huge bas-relief panel of the Memorial Wall depicts that Flag-raising. Three smaller sections illustrate other aspects of pioneer life.
In addition to the ceramic veneer bas-relief panel, the Memorial Wall features an 80-foot-wide, 47-foot-high waterfall, a 68-foot-high pylon in front of the wall supporting an immense ceramic eagle and a towering flagpole.
Participating in yesterdays dedication ceremony of the $373,887 memorial were city and county officials, descendants of members of the Mormon Battalion, members of the Sons and Daughters of Utah Pioneers and the 72nd U.S. Army Band and a color guard from Ft. MacArthur. ...
During the 1976-77 drought, the fountain was turned off and sat empty until 2018.
A Jan. 28, 2017, Los Angeles Times article announced that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors set aside money to rebuild the memorial.
On Dec. 13, 2018, in a move that received little fanfare, water in the fountain flowed again after 42 years.
March 10, 1954: Contractor M. J. Brock Jr., left, and Superintendent Bill Lassetter check the progress of the Ft. Moore Pioneer Memorial. R. L. Oliver / Los Angeles Times
Dec. 16, 1955: Barren wall of Ft. Moore Pioneer Memorial, under construction on Hill Street next to the Hollywood Freeway. Los Angeles Times
The photo above of a blank wall appeared in the Dec. 16, 1955, edition of the Los Angeles Times as part of the "Know Your City" photography series. The original caption reported:
Know Your City, No. 32 When we said we wouldnt trick you we fibbed. Because this is pretty tricky. Looks like an unfinished wall. But it isnt. This is part of a memorial. Can you guess what and where?
Answer: This is the Hill Street approach to the Board of Educations headquarters atop Ft. Moore Hill. Actually, it is part of the walled memorial dedicated to the pioneer leaders of Los Angeles.
The post was originally published on Aug. 18, 2016.
July 3, 1956: Members of the Mormon Battalion rehearse a July 4 ceremony to mark the raising in 1847 of the first American flag on Ft. Moore Hill. Edward Gamer / Los Angeles Times
July 9, 1957: Four boys ignore a sign prohibiting entering pool at the Ft. Moore Memorial, and merrily transform it into a downtown swimming pool. R. L. Oliver / Los Angeles Times
July 18, 2016: Ft. Moore Pioneer Monument on Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times
July 18, 2016: Part of the Ft. Moore Pioneer Monument on Hill Street, downtown Los Angeles. Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times
See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here
Algerias powerful army chief said Tuesday he wants to trigger the constitutional process that would declare President Abdelaziz Bouteflika unfit for office, after more than a month of mass protests against the ailing leaders long rule.
The Algerian armys chief of staff is one of the countrys top power brokers, so the announcement by Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah could pave the way for Bouteflikas ouster after 20 years in power or lead to a showdown with the presidents closest protectors.
The 82-year-old Bouteflika has rarely been seen in public since a 2013 stroke.
Gaid Salah said in remarks carried on Algerian television that the only guarantee for political stability is to apply the article of the Algerian Constitution that empowers the Constitutional Council to determine if the president is too ill to fully exercise his functions and to ask lawmakers to declare him unfit.
Advertisement
If the request receives two-thirds majority approval in parliament, the Senate president takes charge of the government until a presidential election can be held, according to the constitutional procedure.
Some protesters have called for the application of Article 102 during massive demonstrations that have been held in Algeria every Friday since Feb. 22.
They accuse Bouteflika and his entourage of corruption, hoarding the gas-rich countrys wealth and being out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Algerians, especially struggling youth.
In this context, it becomes necessary, even imperative, to adopt a solution to get out of the crisis which reflects the legitimate demands of the Algerian people, Gaid Salah said in his televised address from a military base in the southern city of Ouargla.
Gaid Salah has served as Bouteflikas public defender so his remarks came as a particular surprise. However, another crucial figure, Constitutional Council President Tayeb Belaiz, is a close friend of Bouteflika, who had served as interior minister before becoming a presidential aide. He has headed the Constitutional Council since February.
Several opposition parties quickly reacted to the proposal, with the Rally for Culture and Democracy denouncing what it called an attempted coup detat.
Gaid Salah is part of our misfortune. He can in no way be the solution, the party spokesman, Yassine Aissiouane, said in a statement.
In contrast, the main moderate Islamist party, the Movement for a Peaceful Society, said the army chiefs proposal to allow the Constitutional Council to determine if the president is fit could lead to a solution but only if measures responding to the peoples demands are taken first.
In this July 1, 2018, photo, Algerian chief of staff Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah presides over a military parade in Algiers, Algeria. (Anis Belghoul / AP)
The military institution should be limited to the role of an accompanist, a party statement said.
Speeches by the army chief have been closely watched as he travels from region to region to inspect bases. The army has held a top role in the countrys power structure since Algeria won independence from France in 1962 after a brutal seven-year war. Gaid Salah recently softened his remarks, describing a link between protesters and the military.
Algeria had a presidential election scheduled for April 18, but Bouteflika announced in a letter this month that he was withdrawing as a candidate and delaying the vote in response to the protests. First elected in 1999, he has not addressed the nation in years. The stroke required him to use a wheelchair and weakened his voice.
Critics said the postponement was unconstitutional and alleged it amounted to a desperate bid to cling to power until the presidents entourage found a replacement who would continue corruption and other policies they are protesting.
Bouteflikas March 11 letter said he planned to establish a national conference to draft a new constitution and to set a new date for the presidential election.
The president also dismissed his prime minister and appointed a new one the same day. Noureddine Bedoui, a Bouteflika loyalist, promised to form a new Cabinet within days to respond to the demands of Algerias demonstrators.
However, Bedoui is struggling to form a government, with many potential ministers trying to keep their distance from the unpopular president.
Bouteflika is credited with bringing peace to his nation after what Algerians call the black decade of the 1990s. During that period, extremists hoping to create an Islamic state battled security forces while carrying out village massacres and targeting journalists, intellectuals and foreigners.
Just before two former students took a .38 revolver into a school outside Sao Paulo and opened fire, Brazils president talked about loosening the nations gun laws.
Hours after the gunmen killed eight people, then themselves, a Brazilian senator proclaimed in response, As long as guns are illegal, only criminals will have guns.
He then suggested that armed teachers could have prevented the shooting, an idea endorsed by President Trump last year after a gunman killed 17 people at a Parkland, Fla., high school.
The rare school shooting March 13 in the town of Suzano has heightened the debate in Brazil about the countrys gun laws and amplified pro-gun politicians rhetoric echoing that of the U.S. gun lobby.
Advertisement
The former students, 17 and 25, walked into Raul Brasil public school at 9:30 a.m. during the morning snack break. Theyd already killed the younger gunmans uncle. Their faces were covered with skull masks and they carried the revolver, a crossbow, a bow and arrow and an ax. They killed five teenage students and two school workers before killing themselves.
The same morning, at a breakfast meeting that started at 8:30, President Jair Bolsonaro announced he was working on a bill to loosen Brazils strict laws on gun-carry permits, which currently allow only security professionals to carry firearms while on the job.
A woman leaves flowers one day after a mass shooting at the Raul Brasil state school in Suzano, Brazil, on March 14, 2019. (Andre Penner / Associated Press)
Its part of a campaign promise the new president insists will help fight violent crime and reduce the number of homicides in the country, which approached 64,000 in 2017. In January, he signed an executive order to loosen laws around gun ownership.
Bolsonaros actions went against the sentiment of a majority of Brazilians, according to a December poll. Sixty-one percent said the possession of firearms should be prohibited because it represents a threat to the lives of others, according to independent polling firm Datafolha.
But Bolsonaros moves came as no surprise. During the campaign, an undated video of Bolsonaro at a Taurus gun sales stand circulated on social media. In it, he insists hes not there to help promote the company, one of the worlds leading gun manufacturers, and asks a sales representative about the models of revolvers and rifles displayed on the table.
With a T4 in his hand a rifle Taurus describes on its website as being based on M4s and M16s Bolsonaro says hes always been passionate about guns.
If I get there [to the presidency], you, good citizens, will have this in your home, he says in the video, holding up a TX revolver. And you, farmers, if its up to me, will have this too, he continues, holding up the T4.
More important than your life is your freedom. An armed population will never be an enslaved population.
President Trump with visiting Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, left, at the White House on March 19, 2019. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)
It is no accident that Bolsonaros rhetoric reflects that of U.S. gun-rights activists despite the fact that Brazilians do not have the constitutional right to bear arms.
The National Rifle Assn. has a special section on its website where Taurus gun owners can register for a free one-year membership courtesy of the firearms manufacturer.
The organization that donates to so many U.S. politicians has long shown interest in Brazils pro-gun movement. It advised pro-gun activists here in a failed attempt to block the passage of the 2003 Statute of Disarmament, a law that made it hard for most people to buy or own a firearm.
An NRA official traveled to Brazil that year, discussing strategies with organizations fighting gun laws, according to a report by one of the groups, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property.
When Brazil held a referendum two years later on banning the sale of firearms and ammunition, it was widely expected to pass. But after a public lobbying effort that framed the debate in terms of the right to own a gun, voters rejected the ban.
Now the divide in Brazil has become starker.
Before Octobers federal election, Brazils pro-gun caucus, known as the bancada da bala, or bullet caucus, didnt hold any seats in the Senate. Now, the group has 18 senators out of 81 ready to vote in favor of legalizing carry permits, and they havent shown any sign of backing down in the week since the school shooting.
On the day of the shooting, Sen. Sergio Olimpio Gomes, known as Maj. Olimpio, not only defended the presidents decision to loosen gun ownership laws, but also suggested arming teachers could have prevented the shooting.
If you had a citizen with a regulated gun inside the school a teacher, an employee, a retired police officer working there he could have minimized the tragedy, Olimpio, the Senate leader of Bolsonaros Social Liberal Party, said during a session of the Senate Commission on Constitution and Justice.
But Rodrigo Maia, president of Brazils lower house, says what Olimpio is suggesting would be barbaric and a step in the wrong direction.
I hope people will think a little bit about the victims of this tragedy and understand that public security is the states responsibility and not the responsibility of citizens, he said on the day of the shooting.
Now the debate is no longer just about gun ownership, he said, noting that arming teachers would become part of the discussion about carrying a concealed weapon. I think that would lead us to a barbaric proposal for our Brazil, and one that should not move forward.
But pro-gun activists reject arguments like Maias, insisting the shooting in Suzano should not weigh on the decision to loosen carry laws.
Carrying a concealed weapon is prohibited, but that didnt stop the aggressors from getting hold of a gun and using it in this nefarious attack, said Fabricio Rebelo, a criminal attorney who was director of the pro-gun Viva Brazil Movement from 2010 to 2015. What we actually have is proof that the legal restrictions against the circulation of firearms are completely ineffective in avoiding these types of insane acts.
Brazils President-elect Jair Bolsonaro makes no secret of his admiration for Trump
Research says otherwise. According to a 2018 study by the Institute of Applied Economic Research, or Ipea, for every 1% increase in the number of firearms in circulation, the rate of homicides increases 2%. The study noted that guns caused 71.1% of the homicides in Brazil in 2016.
A firearm is not an element that brings safety to a home, but one that will propagate insecurity in it and to the wider public, said Daniel Cerqueira, a researcher at Ipea and council member at the Brazilian Forum on Public Security. This idea of making access to guns more flexible is completely misguided and is irresponsible public policy.
Bolsonaros son Eduardo, who in 2018 received more votes that any lawmaker in the countrys history, is another backer of his fathers upcoming bill. In the aftermath of the shooting in Suzano, he compared the dangers of guns to those of cars.
We always use the argument that a gun is a piece of metal; it does the same damage as a car, the younger Bolsonaro told reporters on the day of the shooting. That is, for it to do harm, you need a person behind it. Guns dont kill anyone. People kill people, whether it be with a gun, a pistol, a knife or stones.
He also argued that the number of homicides in Brazil continued to increase after the implementation of the 2003 Statute of Disarmament.
But a 2016 study of gun violence in the country conducted by the Latin American Social Sciences Institute found a markedly slower increase in the rate of homicides caused by firearms after the statute took effect. Between 1980 and 2003, gun-related homicides increased by 8.1% each year. That growth slowed to 2.2% annually after the Statute of Disarmament was enacted in 2003.
For some Brazilians, that slowed growth is not enough to make them feel safe.
Ive been robbed at gunpoint three times. You have to just hand everything over, said Adelio de Sousa, who owns a small restaurant in downtown Sao Paulo. But having a gun wouldnt have made things any better. I would probably be dead now if I had pulled a gun on one of the thieves. More guns wont make our country any safer. We have to find a better solution than that.
Langlois is a special correspondent.
Air raid sirens wailed across southern Israel on Tuesday as a truce with Hamas collapsed hours after it began and the two sides exchanged aerial bombardments and rocket fire for the second night in a row.
The new round of fighting began Monday when a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip which is ruled by the Islamist militia Hamas landed on a home north of Tel Aviv, injuring seven people.
The Israeli army retaliated with an aerial offensive against Hamas targets including a military compound and a weapons warehouse as militias in Gaza fired about 80 missiles toward Israel, according to Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
The violence subsided much of Tuesday, apparently as a result of a cease-fire that Hamas said was brokered by Egyptian mediators. But in the evening, it resumed.
Advertisement
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was visiting Washington, D.C., cut short his trip and and returned to Israel on Tuesday. With national elections exactly two weeks away, he faced blistering condemnation from political rivals.
Naftali Bennett, the minister of education and chairman of the New Right party, implored Netanyahu to name him defense minister in a future government so I can deal with Hamas properly.
The Israel Defense Forces must be given the order to defeat Hamas, to uproot Hamas, to destroy its ability to harm the residents of the south not to talk about deterrence, but to take Hamass sword and break it, he said at a news conference in the southern city of Ashdod.
He dismissed the latest Israeli operation as taking out an empty building and telling ourselves that Hamas was deterred.
About 30 people gathered Monday evening at the Nir Am Junction, about seven miles from Gaza, taunting Netanyahu with chants that used his nickname.
Bibi rise and shine! The whole south is on the line!
The escalation comes at a crucial time for leaders on both sides of the fraught border, which for the last year has been the site of massive weekly protests.
With the first anniversary of the border protest marches on Saturday, and few achievements to show Gazas beleaguered population, Hamas faces a daunting challenge.
Last week, about a thousand Gazans were arrested after taking to the streets to protest dismal living conditions in the enclave, which has been subject to an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since Hamas took control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in a bloody coup 12 years ago.
Conditions have recently worsened because of sanctions imposed by the Palestinian government.
Close to 200 Gazans have been killed in the weekly protests.
In the last year, Israelis have lost more than 7,000 acres of agricultural land in fires ignited by explosive kites and balloons launched from Gaza as part of the protests.
In the Israeli city of Sderot, which was first struck by a rocket from Gaza in 2001, Shlomo Moskowitz pondered 18 years of this as members of a construction crew strolled in and out of his house, repairing a massive hole created by a rocket late Monday.
I heard a huge boom, said Moskowitz, who had taken cover in a bomb shelter. When I saw that my living room was filled with smoke, I realized the boom must have come from my own house.
The only thing he would say about the looming elections was that it is the leaders job to ensure citizens can live a good life. No rockets, just like anywhere else.
As you can see, he said, they are not doing it.
Tarnopolsky is a special correspondent. Special correspondent Rushdi Abu Alouf in Gaza City contributed to this report.
For months, Father Jose Alberto Idiaquez has received threats on Twitter, on WhatsApp and in phone calls. The aggressors say that the Jesuit university he runs in Nicaraguas capital supports a coup against the government and that he has been inciting his students to protest.
On any given day, dozens and sometimes hundreds of armed police and paramilitary surround Universidad Centroamericana in Managua. They have been deployed to intimidate him and others, said Idiaquez.
Idiaquez has loudly condemned longtime President Daniel Ortegas violent crackdown against a civil uprising that began last April and has led to more than 300 deaths and 2,000 injuries, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, mostly at the hands of national police and paramilitary gunmen. Many of Idiaquezs students are opposition activists, and he has participated in marches himself and offered the campus as shelter for those fleeing gunfire.
When you see them killing people, you have an obligation to protect someone who is defenseless, he said in a phone interview.
Advertisement
As a result, he is now a target himself.
Since the protests began, the Roman Catholic Church and individual clergy in the Central American nation of 6 million have condemned excessive government force, and have sheltered demonstrators and mediated attempts at dialogue. Consequently, some have suffered physical attacks and have either fled the country or faced threats or defamation campaigns.
While the initial demonstrations were sparked by changes to the social security system that would increase taxes, they quickly escalated into demands for Ortegas resignation and for broad-brush political reforms. In reaction, the government forcefully quelled dissent and outlawed public protests. Over 600 people, considered political prisoners by the opposition, are currently in detention, according to the IACHR.
Ortega has said that opposition human rights groups have reported an inflated number of deaths. And in a July interview with Fox News, Ortega blamed the violence on paramilitary groups organized by people who are opposed to the government. He denied any persecution of priests, saying, Theres not a single priest who can claim that hes been attacked by the government.
Violence has ebbed since the summer but arrests continue. On March 20, the government agreed to release all those who have been imprisoned within 90 days as a precondition for renewed negotiations with the Civic Alliance, a coalition that represents the opposition.
Papal nuncio Waldemar Sommertag answers questions at a news conference in February with Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes (second from left), archbishop of Managua. (Alfredo Zuniga / Associated Press)
In a predominantly Roman Catholic country, many view the church as the only legitimate institution remaining that can intervene with the Ortega administration as it has suppressed political parties, jailed journalists and forced human rights groups into exile.
While the church in March declined an invitation to join political negotiations, priests have continued to speak up and have faced a backlash. Bishop Abelardo Mata, the general secretary for the Roman Catholic Conference of Bishops in Nicaragua, said that bishops have suffered denigration and slander by government supporters.
There has been a strong moral attack against the bishops and priests that have distinguished themselves for defending human rights accusing us of attempting a coup when our goal is to ask the president to respect the conditions of the dialogue, said the bishop, who last July was shot at by paramilitaries while traveling in a car, according to local news reports.
The churchs leadership has historically alternated between supporting and opposing the leftist Sandinista government, which came to power in a 1979 uprising that toppled Nicaraguas U.S.-backed dictator Anastasio Somoza.
In 2005, Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo, a prominent critic of the Sandinista government following the revolution, officiated the marriage of Ortega and his wife (the countrys vice president). This reconciliation played an important role in Ortegas reelection the next year following 16 years out of office, said Karen Kampwirth, a Latin America expert at Knox College. Ortega also backed an abortion ban to win support from the church before the election.
In 2014, the national assembly voted to scrap presidential term limits. That year, the churchs Conference of Bishops sent a letter to Ortega, criticizing his government for violating indigenous peoples rights, stifling freedom of expression and using force against protesters.
They have utilized religious language and have tried to infiltrate the parishes on the pretext that they are loving people, said Mata. They gave money to support the festivals for patron saints, but their goal was another one trying to gain supporters in the church for the regime.
Nicaraguas President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, lead a rally in Managua in September 2018. Ortega forcefully quashed last years protests, effectively outlawing opposition demonstrations. (Alfredo Zuniga / Associated Press)
When the violence broke out last April, the church condemned the government and pushed to mediate talks with the opposition. In a July letter, the Conference of Bishops said the government lacked political will for sincere dialogue, writing that the churchs pastoral mission does not contradict our role as mediators and witnesses since we search for peace and justice like [all] Nicaraguans.
Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, the archbishop of Managua, denied accusations that the church has backed a coup and Ortegas assertion that some churches have housed armed protesters.
The crisis was so abrupt, unexpected, violent that it put the bishops in a much more delicate situation, said Felix Maradiaga, an academic and opposition activist living in exile. The absence of opposition political parties obligated the church to step to the front to fill that vacuum by being the force that told the government to end the human rights violations.
When student-led protests began on April 18, Idiaquezs Jesuit university was one of the first attacked. Sandinista youth arrived on buses and destroyed the schools main entrance with sticks and stones, Idiaquez said. On May 30, Idiaquez opened the school up to thousands when pro-government forces repressed a march in support of mothers of victims.
Ortegas government, he said, has reduced its funding for students who receive financial scholarships a loss of $2.5 million and has refused to let imported products for the school through customs.
They punish us from every side, he said.
Evangelical pastors have denounced repression and faced intimidation as well. Tanya Mroczek-Amador started a mission in 2000 in a rural area of Matagalpa, where she worked with about 100 churches. After church leaders participated in marches, she said, they faced threats from Sandinista supporters and had their wells poisoned or their animals stolen or slaughtered.
All of a sudden, the evangelical churches went completely quiet, she said, adding that now, most pastors from that area are in hiding.
A Nicaraguan city became famous as a rebel stronghold. Now it has turned against the Sandinistas it once backed
While the Catholic Church strongly opposes abortion, that has not deterred its legitimacy as a mediator in the eyes of many human rights activists, including those within Nicaraguas womens movement who fiercely criticized the abortion stand, said Manuel Orozco, a Central America expert at the D.C.-based Inter-American Dialogue think tank.
You are simply entering in a battle that is far bigger, that is, the future of the country in terms of democracy institutions, he said.
Violeta Granera, a prominent opposition activist, agreed.
They have risked their lives to be on the side of the Nicaraguans, she said. That has given it recognition that goes beyond differences between the churchs positions and some sectors.
A masked demonstrator holding a Nicaraguan flag and a sign that reads in Spanish: No more deaths, protests government repression in April 2018 in Managua. (Alfredo Zuniga / Associated Press)
The Organization of American States and the Vatican both helped facilitate the agreement to release political prisoners. Many who experienced the violence firsthand, like Father Edwin Roman Calderon a priest at the church of San Miguel in Masaya hope that this type of international pressure will push talks forward.
For several months last summer, Calderon turned his rectory into a medical refuge. He says he often woke up to the sound of gunshots and rushed outside to carry wounded protesters to his church. Those taken to the church included some who were injured and others who were dead.
The church became a type of morgue. Calderon said.
Doctors and medical student volunteers slept on the floor and Calderon often went days without sleeping or showering. The church also turned into a place for mothers to report their childrens disappearances.
It had a tremendous impact on me, he said. Especially when they entered the rectory bleeding and I saw the streams of blood. There is no reason for the blood of youth to be running on the floor.
Calderon still receives threats for his activism. His church services have been disrupted by government supporters and in February, he said, agents of the national police stopped his car and physically harassed him. In a news release, authorities said he was stopped because he was zigzagging while driving and was intoxicated, an accusation the priest denies.
Calderon says he will not be intimidated.
On the contrary, he said, it has filled me with more courage and more obligation to the people. I dont consider myself only a priest for Mass. Rather, I am immersed in a reality.
He became an astronaut at the age of 41, when he was finally selected as a mission specialist on board of the Space Shuttle Discovery. In 2009, Hernandez was part of the 14-day mission to finish construction of the International Space Station. He was the only Mexican-American astronaut in that crew. However, one of his greatest accomplishment, he said, was helping to create the first full-field digital mammography imaging system used to detect breast cancer in its early stages while working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
- A UK-based group has condemned the report on human rights activities in Nigeria by the United States
- The group said the report was aimed at forcing homosexuality and sale of national assets on the current government
- According to the group, the Nigerian government must reject the report and make its stance known to the US without delay
A group of Nigerians in the diaspora has reacted to the recent report by the United State through its State Departments Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour which accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of abating corruption and extra-judicial killing.
The United Kingdom Chapter of Arise Nigeria said the US report titled: "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018" was aimed at forcing homosexuality and sale of national assets on the current government.
Arise Nigeria in a communique issued after its meeting in London on Saturday, March 23, called on the Nigerian government to reject the report and make its stance known to the US without delay.
The communique jointly signed by Philip Idaewor, the chairman of Arise Nigeria and its secretary, Charles Eze, said documents like the US report are equally cited as input for decision making by third party countries that could withhold economic, political, military and other critical co-operation from Nigeria based on the conclusions reached in the report, and similar documents.
The group said the observation about manufacture of dissent suggests that the United States might be at the early stage of engineering forceful regime change in new set of countries.
READ ALSO: 9th NASS: APC commences mobilisation of governors, key chieftains
"Even though is recommended that the valuable strong points highlighted in the report should prompt the authorities to taking decisive steps aimed at improving Nigeria they must nonetheless focus on the more pressing issue of asking the international community to call the United States to order by way of discontinuing any of its subversive programs targeted at Nigeria," the communique said.
The group also said its observation Nigerian authorities will have to set up a government team to study the report with the aim of further decoding it to get a fairer sense of the estimate in which the United States holds Nigeria.
According to the report the exercise should be with a view to developing reciprocal measures that will ensure that the US will soft pedal on the promoting damaging content about Nigeria.
"The report, rather than commending the Nigerian Military for their feat in suppressing Boko haram, set out to make the war against terrorism appear like a criminal enterprise undertaken by the Nigerian state," the communique added.
It further added that the misinformation contained in the report in its assessment of the anti-terrorism war against Boko Haram and ISIS-WA strongly suggest that the only interest the United States has in the matter is for Nigeria to come under more terrorist attacks.
"This is especially so as the report failed to acknowledge the role of the US in aggravating the crisis through its policy that caused instability in the Middle East and North Africa to strengthen ISIS and accelerate the flow of weapons to terrorists.
"The unfair demonization of the Nigerian military was matched by attempts to exonerate terrorist sympathizers like those who hide under the cover of being aid workers to support terrorists," the communique said.
READ ALSO: Meet senator, House of Reps member reportedly favoured by Buhari for Senate president, speaker
In its recommendations, the group urged the federal government to reject the fabrications contained in the report and make its stance know to the United States.
It said efforts must be made to reassure commanders and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that their efforts and sacrifices in fighting terrorism are appreciated by government and citizens alike and that they must not be dissuaded by the neocon lies of the US.
It also added that Nigerians must remind the United States that the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2014 was the product of a National Assembly that was democratically elected such that blackmailing the military and security forces of the country to have the law repealed will be counterproductive.
PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the US ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington, has warned against breaking the law by announcing results before the official announcement by the Independent Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does.
The US envoy, in a statement congratulated Nigerians on the predominantly peaceful conduct of the general elections that held on Saturday, February 23.
It was proof of the Nigerian peoples resolute commitment to choose their leaders. The peaceful achievement of millions was shadowed by the violence of a few, he said.
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.ng
- Senator Dino Melaye has dropped words of wisdom on social media
- In a recent post shared on the senator's Instagram page, he adviced Nigerian universities to adopt the style of INEC
- In his opinion, exams in which majority of the students fail should be considered inconclusive and a supplementary exam held
Senator Dino Melaye seems to have a solution to students failing courses in Nigerian universities and he has publicised his opinion on social media. In a recent post shared on his Instagram page, the senator opined that Nigerian universities should adopt the style of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in determining status of an examination.
Melaye stated that exams in which majority of the students fail should be considered inconclusive and a supplementary exam issued in 21 days. His suggestion is stemmed from the practice of INEC, where an election is declared inconclusive when the margin between the leading candidate is lower than the cancelled votes.
With his suggestion, Dino, has managed to spark debates on social media where people agree that it might be a good idea. However, some are of the opinion that such a practice already exists in some institutions, where staggering failure in a particular course questions the teaching method of the lecturer and sometimes leads to a supplementary examination being held.
READ ALSO: I want my share of money raised for Success and a joint account with her - Stephanie fights dirty (video)
Read below:
PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group
Meanwhile, Professor Akin Oyebode said Nigeria should change its name to Republic of Songhai. Oyebode said the Green White Green does not symbolize anything progressive. The professor earlier called for constitutional and electoral reforms to accommodate electronic voting and transmission of results.
Did you know? NAIJ.com (naija.ng) is now-> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better.
PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app
Nigeria News: Dino Melaye and 2019 Criminal Conspiracy on Legit TV:
Source: Legit.ng
- Foremost poet, Gabriel Okara, passed away on Sunday evening at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state
- The poets death has been described by the Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson, as a great loss to the state and nation
- Among Okaras works are Piano and Drums, Call of the River Nun, The Voice, The Fishermans Invocation
Nigerias foremost poet and novelist, Gabriel Okara, has died, just one month before his 98th birthday.
A family member disclosed that the renowned poet died on Sunday evening, March 24 at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, The Cable reports.
READ ALSO: 2 communities sacked, 27 houses burnt in Nasarawa by suspected herdsmen
Legit.ng gathers that Okara slumped around 4pm on that fateful day, as he was relaxing at his Yenagoa residence.
Okaras death has been described by Governor Seriake Dickson, as a great loss to Bayelsa state and Nigeria.
The Bayelsa state commissioner for information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a statement released on Monday, March 25, disclosed that Dickson has declared a three-day mourning period for Okara.
According to the commissioner, all flags will fly at half mast for the next three days.
Okara, who is touted as the first modernist poet of Anglophone Africa, was born on April 24, 1921.
He was educated at Government College, Umuahia, Abia state and Yaba Higher College and became a lifelong patron of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
Among his works are Piano and Drums, Call of the River Nun, The Voice, The Fishermans Invocation, The Dreamer, His Vision.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Pius Adesanmi, a popular Nigerian professor and columnist based in Canada, was on the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed in the early hours of Sunday, March 10.
The Ethiopian Airlines flight was traveling from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, when it crashed, killing 149 passengers and eight crew members aboard.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service!
Ethiopian Air Crash: Nigerians pay homage to Adesanmi - on Legit TV:
Source: Legit
- A coalition has said that the recent report by the United States on human rights activities in Nigeria is aimed at degenerating the entity called Nigeria
- The coalition also called on the US government and the former US ambassador to Nigeria to apologies over the report
- Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI) said the US report on Human Rights Practices for 2018 was dedicated to sending out the wrong signals about Nigeria
A coalition has asked a former United States ambassador, John Campbell, to stop denigration of Nigeria's sovereignty.
The Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI) on Monday, March 25, in letter to the former ambassador reacted to the recent report by the US Department of State on corruption and alleged human rights violation under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government as well as a submission by John Campbell, former US Ambassador to Nigeria, who described the presidential election as bad news for democracy.
The letter written by Egnunu Abutu said both reports where aimed at degenerating the entity called Nigeria.
Abutu asked Campbell to tender apology to the country for his regenerating report.
READ ALSO: CCT trial: Onnoghen speaks, says he has no case to answer
The letter warned that, a failure to tender the apology within reasonable time shall compel us to taking measures to educate Nigerians to resist the racist-oriented US interference in the affairs of Nigeria.
The group said the country reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018 was dedicated to sending out the wrong signals about Nigeria.
The group also alleged that the report was done in the belief that the negative messaging about Nigeria would catalyze some sort of citizens revolt against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and probably lead to a forceful change of government.
The letter read in part: "Since the report emanated from the State Departments Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, the US Embassy in Abuja would have had the chance to make input while you would have signed off on the aspect about Nigeria, at least the embassy in Nigeria would have validated the claims made in the document and that is assuming the contents were not mostly generated under your supervision."
"It is therefore not necessary to repeat the offensive conclusions drawn by your country about Nigeria other than to state in clear terms that the report is unacceptable to the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative.
Like majority of Nigerian, who unlike the opposition are not looking to fraudulently take over government, we reject the report in its entirety," the letter said.
Further calling for an apology, the coalition urged the United States government and persons or organizations acting in its interest to cease and desist from further publishing reports, commentaries or analyses targeted at undermining stability of Nigeria.
"A failure to tender the apology within reasonable time shall compel us to taking measures to educate Nigerians to resist the racist-oriented US interference in the affairs of Nigeria. We shall also do our best to criminalize the series of exchange programmes targeted at Nigerians youths such that the US will no longer have cohorts from Nigeria for such programmes.
"It is our belief that Your Excellency will communicate our disaffection with the lies about Nigeria to the high-up authorities in your home country while also emphasizing our demand for apology over the wrong done to our country," the letter said.
PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the US ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington, has warned against breaking the law by announcing results before the official announcement by the Independent Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does.
The US envoy, in a statement congratulated Nigerians on the predominantly peaceful conduct of the general elections that held on Saturday, February 23.
It was proof of the Nigerian peoples resolute commitment to choose their leaders. The peaceful achievement of millions was shadowed by the violence of a few, he said.
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
- Charly Boy has denied collecting money from spokesman for Buhari's campaign, Festus Keyamo
- This was shared in a series of posts on Instagram where Charly Boy broke down in tears and defended his stance in the Our Mumu Don Do socio-political movement
- According to Charly Boy, the allegations are just mere conspiracy and he is still rooted in the cause of fighting for frustrated Nigerians
Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has denied collecting millions from spokesman for Buhari's campaign, Festus Keyamo. The activist had been accused of being paid a nine-figure sum to release a diss song attacking the opposition party and for getting in bed with the 'oppressors.'
The convener of the Our Mumu Don Do movement allegedly admitted to receiving payment from the official spokesperson for the Buhari campaign but claimed that it was money for the right to use a song he recently composed.
However, it appears the activist has done a 360 and cleared the air on the allegations in his most recent posts shared on Instagram. In a series of video clips, Charly Boy denied ever receiving money from Keyamo and assured his followers of his commitment to the Our Mumu Don Do movement.
READ ALSO: I want my share of money raised for Success and a joint account with her - Stephanie
While assuring Nigerians of his innocence, the 68-year-old broke down in tears as he reminisced how much he has put up with for the cause of fighting for frustrated Nigerians.
Charly Boy breaks down in tears as he talks about Our Mumu Don Do movement (Picture/Instagram)
Source: Instagram
He stated that he admitted to collecting the money to Deji Adeyanju because he wanted to play along and understand if they believed the rumours.
Charly, also claimed that he was aware that Adeyanju showed up with a tape recorder and he decided to play along because he wanted to understand the position of the person he considers a son.
Watch below:
PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group
Meanwhile, Festus Keyamo has denied allegation that he paid millions of naira to Charly Boy. Keyamo who is the official spokesperson of the 2019 re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari claimed it would be wrong of anybody to believe that he paid such money to Charly Boy.
According to him, it is the culture of entertainers to raise their stock in the public by bandying phantom figures for their engagements.
Did you know? NAIJ.com (naija.ng) is now-> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better.
PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app
Nigeria Killings: 'Charly Boy' and Other Activists March to Aso Rock in Protest on Legit TV:
Source: Legit.ng
Visitors of the Crayola Experience soon will be able to help needy children while enjoying 65,000 square feet of attractions.
The endeavor kicks off Sunday, March 31 for National Crayon Day and runs throughout April. Its mission is to provide financial assistance to the Massachusetts-headquartered nonprofit organization, Cradles to Crayons, which provides children from infancy to age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with essential items needed to thrive at home, school and playtime.
Crayola Experience in Easton has a goal to help 300,000 children living in the Greater Philadelphia area. Aside from Boston, Cradles to Crayons has additional locations in Philadelphia and Chicago.
How it works is $1 per ticket sold will be donated by Crayola Experience during the campaign and guests also are encouraged to bring in additional donations, such as seasonal clothing, nursery items and lightly-used shoes. Keith Koepke, general manager at the Crayola Experience in Easton, said Cradles to Crayons was chosen because the company couldnt think of another organization more in line with the inspiration behind the Crayola Experience brand.
Michael Smith, who serves as executive director of Cradles to Crayons in Philadelphia, said in a statement he was excited about the partnership with Crayola Experience in Easton.
Corporate partnerships that are centered around raising funds and donating product are essential to our mission and allow us to serve more children living in poverty in the Greater Philadelphia Region," he said.
National Crayon Day, which uses #NationalCrayonDay on social media, encourages children and adults on Sunday to open up a box of crayons and enjoy coloring.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Lighter-than-air croissants and the perfect, crispy baguette are just some of the items The Modern Crumb Bakeshop will be bringing to the Easton Public Market.
The bakery has plans to become a vendor public market this May and will be operated by pastry chef Kathryn Gaffney, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and previous executive pastry chef for the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.
Gaffney has worked alongside James Beard Award-winning Chef Francisco Migoya, taught at CIA, and has worked on perfecting her skillsets at various bakeries and restaurants including Bolete in Salisbury Township.
Gaffney plans to bring her skills to Easton through her menu of baguettes, seasonal focaccia, brioche rolls and braids, and English muffin Pullman loaves.
The Modern Crumb Bakeshop will also be carrying savory items like goat cheese and herb scones along with savory breakfast items like ham and cheese croissants, and smoked salmon with creme fraiche, cucumbers, and pickled onions on brioche.
Oh and theres more for those with a sweet tooth.
Apple pie Danishes, hazelnut pai au chocolat, coconut keto muffins, vegan chocolate banana muffins, butterscotch bars, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, custom cakes and more are also available to customers, giving everybody something to enjoy.
The Modern Crumb Bakeshop will be taking the place of Barred & Broody, which will be closing their doors on March 31.
Lehigh Valley International Airport is again hosting an event to help people with autism or other developmental disabilities navigate taking a flight before they get to the airport to travel.
The airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County and the Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties are hosting their fifth annual Wings for All event at 9 a.m. May 11th.
Families can register for the event here.
Wings for All is a national airport rehearsal program produced by The Arc of the United States, and is designed for people on the autism spectrum or those with other intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The event is very popular, and more than 200 people have participated over the years. The event is a collaboration between The Arc, Allegiant Air and the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, which operates the airport. This year there are 177 spots, for participants and one additional person with them.
Participants practice parking in the airport lot, checking in at a ticket gate, going through TSA and waiting to board. Organizers do not avoid crowd situations, in the hopes families can see potential triggers before they plan a trip.
The participants board an Allegiant plane and sit through the flight instructions, about 15 or 20 minutes on the plane. Afterwards, there is a reception.
Last year, officials debuted the new sensory room off the Wilfred M. Wiley Post departure concourse at LVIA, for passengers with intellectual or developmental disabilities, such as autism.
It has specialized flooring, low-frequency lighting, a mounted projector and other sensory equipment.
Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
France-based LOccitane en Provence, an international retailer of body, face, fragrances and home products, will be no longer operate out of the Lehigh Valley Malls Lifestyle Center, come Thursday.
Amanda Pasquariello, a spokeswoman for the chain, confirmed the closure Tuesday evening. She did not provide a reason. Patrons, she said, can still visit the online store or shop the next closest location at the King of Prussia Mall, 160 North Gulph Road in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County.
Pasquariello said the Whitehall Township store was in existence for the past seven years at Lehigh Valley Mall. When asked if the store was closing, mall representatives on March 13 released an emailed statement: At this time, the mall team would like to refrain from commenting. Representatives did not immediately respond to a request for information Tuesday evening.
There was no signage at the store on March 14 indicating a closure was coming. A public relations firm representing the Lehigh Valley Mall, then stated, According to the mall team, LOccitaine is open and operating.
LOccitaine is the latest to close at the malls Lifestyle Center, in which two other retailers left in 2018 -- J. Crew and Ann Taylor. Apple, a technology industry leader, completed a remodel and 8,500-square-foot expansion this past September, taking over space previously left by the J. Crew store. Forever 21, a California-based fast fashion retailer, expanded from 4,500 to 8,500 square feet of retail space this past December, taking up some space previously housed by the Apricot Lane store.
Apple, J. Crew and Ann Taylor were among the first tenants when the Lifestyle Center addition between JC Penney and Macys opened in 2007. It now also includes Lululemon, Williams Sonoma, Sephora, White House Black Market and Pottery Barn.
The mall, however, has plans to fill vacancies. It announced earlier this month BoxLunch, a civic-minded specialty store offering a curated collection of licensed and non-licensed merchandise, has moved into a 2,200-square-foot space formerly housed by Gift Design Galleries. Showcase, offering trendy and As Seen on TV products, took over a space this past December.
By spring, the mall also expects Johnnys Bagels & Deli, a New York-style bagel cafe, and The Joint Coffee Co., a specialty coffee shop featuring flavorful beverages, to be open. Johnnys Bagels is slated to move in next to Boscovs department store and Lolli & Pops; while Joint Coffee is planned to move into the outdoor Lifestyle Center. Its unclear if Joint Coffee was planned to move into LOccitanes vacancy.
LOccitane en Provence In the first half of its 2018-19 fiscal year, ending Sept. 30, reported unconsolidated sales of 595.4 million euros -- up 12.4 percent on a constant exchange basis. Growth was led by the United States and Hong Kong, whose sales jumped by 65.8 percent, according to a Fashion Network report.
The United States markets strong performance, where LOccitane has a little less than 200 stores, was largely boosted by the arrival of American care and makeup brand, Limelife, in which LOccitane acquired a majority stake of in January 2018, according to the report.
The Lehigh Valley Mall is home to more than 150 stores and restaurants along MacArthur Road and Grape Street.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Options detailed in a report for Upper Mount Bethel Townships first public sewers could cost from $5.6 million to $7.4 million.
Upper Mount Bethel Township is in the process of updating its Act 537 sewage facilities plan. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recommends municipalities update the required plan every five years. Upper Mount Bethel Townships most recent adoption occurred in 1992.
The township currently does not have a public sewer system. Residents and businesses use on-lot septic systems, cesspools or other private sewage systems.
The 1992 plan and the recently updated version compiled by Carroll Engineering Corp. identify several Areas of Concern (AOC) in the township, which include areas with outdated or failing sewage systems that may be contaminating nearby wells and streams.
Mullin and Lonergan Associates provided township officials with a financial analysis that deals with some of the more urgent areas of concern and the recently established Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) areas, which provide tax exemptions for industrial and commercial development.
One option would be to install sewers in the area designated as the Route 611 corridor from Portland Borough to just south of Route 512. These sewers would tap into neighboring Portlands wastewater treatment plant for an estimated cost of $5.8 million, according to the analysis.
Its a very realistic and somewhat sobering account, Township Manager Rick Fisher said of the reports estimates.
That cost does not include the cost of expanding Portlands plants capacity, which would likely be needed, nor does it include ongoing service fees Portland would likely charge.
To install sewers near Shooktown Road, the township would need to tap into Roseto Boroughs sewers that feed into Bangor Boroughs treatment plant. That option would cost about $885,000 including a grinder pump station.
If the township were to extend along Lake Minsi Drive from Valley View Road to Persimmon Lane, the cost is estimated to be $786,000.
These options do not include the cost of tapping fees for residents.
The total cost for these three scenarios that tap into neighboring systems is estimated to be $7.4 million.
Another option would be for the township to construct its own sewage treatment system, consisting of a sequencing batch reactor and drip irrigation system, which would service all the sites. That would cost an estimated $5.6 million.
Costs for land acquisition from the treatment plant to the receiving stream or drip irrigation disposal fields are not included in that figure.
The report lists various grant and loan options to help pay for the sewers. For either extending into neighboring boroughs or constructing a water treatment plant in the township, the analysis projects the township should be prepared to pay $1 million for matching funds for grants.
Once the sources of potential grants and loan terms become clearer, the report states, a more complete financial gap analysis can be run on either scenario (including debt service payments, etc.).
Supervisors have the option of accepting the proposed ACT 537 update, edit it, or reject it. Even if adopted, supervisors would still need to decide on which aspects get implemented, if any. The timeline for projects could span years or potentially decades.
Its not that we are going to jump into a multimillion-dollar project, Supervisor Robert Teel said.
Teel and other supervisors have indicated they do not wish to raise taxes to install the sewers.
More than 250 residents attended a public information meeting in February regarding the proposed ACT 537 plan.
Aside from costs, many residents have expressed concern that public systems will invite unwanted development of the township.
Sewer and water are going to change the township, resident Richard Wilford-Hunt said.
A second public meeting is scheduled for May 8 at 6 p.m. at the Mount Bethel Volunteer Fire Co. building at 2341 N. Delaware Dr.
John Best is a freelance writer. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
China saw a surge in the sales of books on the Chinese classics last year, especially those designed for children.
Chinese online retailer giant JD said that compared to 2017, 131 percent more such books were sold in 2018. The sales volume of Chinese classic photocopies rocketed by nearly 200 percent.
Sales of Chinese literary classics also boomed, with the sales volume of the classic novel "Journey to the West" published by the Commercial Press increasing five-fold, and "A Dream of Red Mansions" published by the People's Literature Publishing House rising by nearly 150 percent from 2017.
The craze for classics has been growing among children and adolescents.
Almost all of the 100 best-selling editions of the classic novel "The Three Kingdoms" and those for "A Dream of Red Mansions," more than 60 percent are intended for children, according to Beijing-based book industry researcher OpenBook.
The learning of Chinese classics was listed as a major task in a guideline on preserving and developing excellent traditional culture released by China's central authorities in 2017.
The same year, the Ministry of Education issued a guideline on college entrance exam reform, urging Chinese classes to increase student exposure to Chinese classics and related texts.
A Palmer Township teenager ran a stop sign before colliding Feb. 19 with a municipal SUV driven by Phillipsburg police Chief Robert Stettner, according to a crash investigation report provided by town police.
The 17-year-old, whose name wasnt released due to her age, was found at fault in the 7:03 p.m. crash at Firth and Heckman streets in town, the report says. She cited with failure to stop and pleaded guilty March 6 to the traffic count in the towns municipal court.
The teenager told police she slowed due to a dip in the road but didnt stop, the report says. She said her view was blocked by a parked 2002 GMC box truck as she drove a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu north on Firth Street and she didnt see the stop sign, per the report.
Stettner was driving a 2017 Ford Explorer east on Heckman and told the investigating officer the Malibu crossed in front of the SUV and he hit the drivers side of the Chevy, the report says.
He did not have any time to stop his vehicle before impact, the investigator said Stettner told him, according to the report.
After the collision, the SUV swerved to the left and struck 395 Firth St., the report says. Little damage was done to that property, according to a report from the scene. Both vehicles had significant crash damage and were towed.
Stettner was taken by ambulance to St. Lukes Hospital in town, treated then released, police said at the time. The teenager was checked out at the scene by EMS but not transported, according to a report Feb. 19 from the scene.
Phillipsburg Police Chief Robert Stettner on Feb. 19, 2019, was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Phillipsburg following a motor vehicle crash that began when a Chevrolet Malibu ran a stop sign on Firth Street at Heckman Street in town and was struck by the SUV that Stettner was driving, police say. (Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor)Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.c
The investigation revealed the white box truck was parked about four feet south of the stop sign and partially blocked the view of the" traffic device, police said.
This vehicle was a contributing factor in this crash, police said about the truck.
Registered owner Roberto Martinez, of the Phillipsburg area, was issued a ticket for parking within 50 feet of a stop sign, police said. Martinez pleaded guilty on March 6, the court said.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter@TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Met Eireann has forecast temperatures between 11 and 14 degrees for today and this mild spring weather is set to continue for a couple of days before a 'cold front' hits at the weekend.
Met Eireann forecaster Gerry Murphy said on the nine oclock weather on Monday night that temperatures are expected to climb to 17 degrees on Thursday.
Weather is going to continue largely dry as we go through the rest of the week.
Therell be a mix of cloud and sunny spells with the best of the sunshine over the southern half of the country in general.
In terms of temperatures values up around 11 to 14 degrees tomorrow (Tuesday) but getting up that bit higher through Wednesday and Thursday possibly 16 maybe even 17 by Thursday," he said.
'Much colder air' is set to hit at the weekend.
"Cold front on Friday making its way in from the north-west through Friday night and into Saturday a little rain pushing down and most significantly introducing much colder air for the weekend behind it," he said.
Despite the cold front and patchy rain and drizzle early on Saturday, it is expected to stay mainly dry and calm on Sunday.
NATIONAL OUTLOOK
OUTLOOK: Overall a lot of dry and calm weather with high pressure in charge, but with further frosts by night. Any rainfall will mainly occur Friday night/early Saturday with somewhat cooler conditions this weekend.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Dry and calm with clearest skies across the midlands, south and east; remaining mostly cloudy elsewhere. Lows of -1 to +5 degrees Celsius, coldest under cloud breaks with frost setting in. Some shallow fog patches too.
THURSDAY: Mild and dry with long spells of spring sunshine occurring widely. It will be the mildest day this week with light southwest breezes. Highs of 11 to 16 degrees Celsius, best values across north Munster and north Leinster. Cloud will increase across the west and northwest on Thursday night with patchy rain and drizzle developing towards morning. Lows of 2 to 7 degrees Celsius, coldest under clear spells in the east.
FRIDAY: A mostly cloudy day with patchy drizzle in the west and northwest. However pockets of mild sunshine will occur over parts of Leinster. Highs of 11 to 14 or 15 degrees Celsius, in moderate southwest breezes. On Friday night scattered outbreaks of rain will gradually feeding down from the northwest. Lows of 3 to 6 degrees Celsius.
THIS WEEKEND: Feeling fresher in a northwest breeze, with highs of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. Starting out rather dull on Saturday morning patchy rain and drizzle, but brightening up into the afternoon. Mainly dry and calm on Sunday with brightest skies early on.
MORE: Weather forecast for the week from Met Eireann
A gang of up to four masked armed raiders broke into a house in Bluetown, Allenwood yesterday evening.
It's understood the couple, who were home at the time, heard the dogs barking at around 8.30pm and one of them went to the door to see what was going on. They were confronted by the intruders who ordered them back into the house and tied them up.
The men had their faces covered and were carrying weapons. It's believed they took a quantity of cash and left the house at approximately 9.30pm.
It's not yet clear what kind of vehicle the intruders were using as the investigation is at a very early stage.
Gardai are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Bluetown area from around 7.30pm onwards yesterday evening to contact them at Naas Garda Station on (045) 884 300.
It's understood the couple were not seriously injured in the incident, but they did receive minor injuries and were traumatised by the violent break-in.
The scheduled monthly meeting of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board did not go ahead this morning because too many members of the board failed to attend.
There are 20 members of the board, but only 10 appeared at the offices of Wicklow County Council, which was being used as a venue for the meeting. A minimum of 12 was required to have a quorum.
The chairman, Noel Merrick told those who did appear that he and the staff of the KWETB had received apologies or communication from five of those missing, but no word from others.
The March meeting of the KWETB is a vital one because it is close to the time when accounts for the final year need to be finalised, a statutory role of the body.
This meeting is also the first one since the chairman Noel Merrick and the chief executive Dr Deirdre Keyes appeared before the Public Relations Committee, something Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy told the chairman she had wanted to question him about.
Cllr McLoughlin Healy also raised the fact that there were 416 pages in the briefing pack that was made available to members in advance of the meeting, something that she felt could leave them overwhelmed and feeling they couldnt contribute.
Cllr Reada Cronin called for longer time to consider the briefing pack rather than three days. She suggested also that they be sent in hard copy rather than electronically.
Cllr Jennifer Whitmore expressed frustration that people werent showing up to meetings and not explaining why.
Its absolutely unacceptable. And were coming to the end of the term with an awful lot of work to do, and were going to hand over a basket case to the next board.
Mr Merrick added that the staff of the KWETB had worked for the last few weekends to get everything ready for the meeting.
Cllr McLoughlin Healy wondered if some of those who did not attend and did not send apologies were among those who had complained in a review of the board being carried out by the Institute of Public Administration, about people raising concerns at meetings.
Well, I dont know. But anyhow, replied the chairman.
Board member Deirdre Coughlan Murray noted that critical work needed to be done to move the organisation forward and she expressed concern that if this was not being done it jeopardised the organisation.
Read also: Kildare's Ballyann Sim scoops top Greyhound Award
She said that she was worried that the inefficiencies of the board, because of people not showing up and because were not in a position to have a board meeting, means that were putting the business if the KWETB at risk.
Thats ultimately what were here for, she said.
Residents opposed to the Naas ring road say iif its approved it will bring more traffic congestion to parts of the town.
About 400 people opposed to the plan, mainly those living close to the when the road starts at the Dublin road entrance to Naas racecourse, staged a public meeting last night at the Osprey Hotel.
The road will exit onto Blessington Road, near the AIB centre and roughly opposite the entrance to Sundays Well
Most of the Naas councillors representing the Naas area were there along with the three constituency TDs - Catherine Murphy, James Lawless and Bernared Dujrkan.
Of the six councillors present only one - Fianna Fails Rob Power - indicated support for the plan.
Sundays Well resident Gerry Costello said their will be increased congestion at Blessington Road as well at Ballycane Road where there is a church, school and nursing home generating considerable traffic anyway.
He predicted airborne pollution would rise and criticised the proplosal to provide walls at the Kingscourt estate.
Mr Costello also said there will be congestion at the AIB junction.
Kevin Greene, a Bru na Riogh residents, also highlighted the additional traffic - between 11,000 and 17, 000 vehicles a day - arriving at Ballycane Road.
He also pointed out that its proposed to have traffic passing closer to homes along the new stretch of road than it currently does along the Dublin Road, where congestion will ease.
Most of the councillors, including Darren Scully, say whats needed instead is an outer ring road around Naas, taking traffic away from all residential areas.
Another councillor who favours the plan Fintan Brett sent a letter to the meeting. He too also favors an outer ring road, which he said should start nearJohnstown, But in the meantime the plan is worthwhile because it will take traffic off Dublin Road and facilitate a cycleway.
Kildare County Council says the route will take traffic away from built up areas and the road will facilitate the provision of much needed housing and whose lack of delivery would likely restrict further development (beyond already granted planning permissions) in the environs of the inner relief road.
The worlds most famous living explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes visited the hometown of another famed adventurer, Ernest Shackleton, when he gave the keynote address at a health and wellbeing conference last week.
The event, held at the Clanard Court Hotel, Athy, last Friday and attended by some 526 delegates, was hosted by County Kildare Chamber in association with Kildare Local Enterprise Office.
The adventurer recalled attempting to climb onto the roof of the Dail during a family visit to Dublin as a teenager.
I was detained by a garda and kept overnight it wasnt the first time I was arrested for climbing up drainpipes. I think they thought I was trying to take the copper or lead from the roof, he said.
He recalled the incident during his keynote address to a mixture of business attendees and locals who were enthralled throughout his 60 minute talk.
Dr Eddie Murphy of Operation Transformation fame also spoke at the conference.
Allan Shine, CEO of County Kildare Chamber said: This conference is one of the largest health and wellbeing gatherings of the year so far in Ireland. We were delighted with the numbers attending and working closely with our partners LEO Kildare we are able to put on events such as this with relative ease.
Health and wellbeing is such an important topic currently. We believe that by hosting conferences such as this, we are able to hopefully inspire the people attending in some way in improving their own health and wellbeing.
Of particular interest to Sir Ranulph Fiennes was his visit straight after the event to Athy Heritage Centre Museum as he is in the midst of writing a book on Ernest Shackleton.
Sir Ranulph said that Shackleton was one of the worlds finest explorers and whilst there are more than 60 books written on Shackleton, I believe that my own experiences of extremes gives me a unique perspective on the adventurer from Kilkea.
Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy will host a special Brexit Day event in Donegal on Friday March 29, 2019. The event, Brexit: Whats next?, will take place in Dillons Hotel, Letterkenny at 8pm.
Ahead of the event Carthy said: March 29th is the original Brexit date. So it makes sense that we would hold a public meeting on that date in one of the regions that has most to lose from a bad Brexit deal.
The fact that there remains huge uncertainty about what will happen is symptomatic of the absolute chaos in the British Parliament and particularly their cavalier attitude to Ireland.
Farmers and other businesses in Donegal and in other areas along the border dont know what impact Brexit will have other than knowing there is no such thing as a good Brexit.
Carthy again reiterated that the backstop is the basic minimum acceptable to the people of Ireland. The backstop remains the least bad option but even if the withdrawal agreement is adopted it will still leave many challenges for Ireland," he said.
Therefore this public meeting in Donegal will be an opportunity to provide an update on whats happening with Brexit at that stage. It will also be a chance to discuss how we can deal with all of the potential scenarios in order to protect our communities, farmers, businesses and workers. We will also discuss the issue of Irish Unity recognising, of course, that Brexit has highlighted the failure of the partition of our country in very stark terms."
A WOMAN has been taken to hospital after she was rescued from the river Shannon in Limerick city.
Emergency services were alerted shortly after 4.30pm this Tuesday after the woman, whose aged in her 30s, was spotted near the Lock Gates at Sarsfield Bridge.
Three appliances from Limerick Fire Station, Mulgrave Street were mobilised along with the Limerick Fire and Rescues rescue boat - FireSwift.
On arrival in the area, two SwiftWater Rescue Technicians entered the water and swam to the womans assistance.
Two members of the public and a member of An Garda Siochana also assisted the woman who was quickly taken on board the FireSwift boat.
Limerick Marine Search and Rescue was also alerted and volunteers mobilised its rescue boat and assisted with the rescue.
After the woman was taken from the water, she was transferred to the pontoon at the rear of Sarsfield House and handed over to paramedics from the National Ambulance Service.
While the woman was treated for hypothermia, her physical condition is not believed to be life threatening.
In an effort to better protect ancient relics remotely located in deep mountains and forests, experts are turning to drones for assistance.
The Maijishan grottoes, over 1,600 years old, are carved in the caves of an isolated mountain peak on the ancient Silk Road in the city of Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province.
The 221 caves are connected by trestle roads suspended above the ground.
The grottoes are well-preserved, given their long history, thanks to the unique geological conditions. However, their location also poses challenges for the protection of the site.
To accurately assess the conditions of the grottoes, researchers have been using drones to monitor the site since 2018.
"Compared to traditional manual work, drones have a broader view and higher precision," said Hu Junjian, director of the monitoring center of Maijishan grottoes art research institute.
With the help of drones, researchers can better understand landform changes and the construction of nearby villages in a timely manner, allowing authorities to stop destructive activities or adopt protective measures accordingly.
In the summer of 2018, cultural workers discovered a rain-triggered landslide with drones.
"Without the drones, we would never have been able to discover such a natural disaster," said Xu Bokai, an official with the institute's protection research office.
After further evaluation and analysis, researchers decided that the landslide would not damage the grottoes or affect tourists, he said.
Drones have been widely used by the country in the protection of cultural relics.
Cultural workers in the provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi have been using drones to monitor the Great Wall. Henan Province said at the end of last year that it will use drones to patrol 35 cultural relic sites.
A HOMELESS man who assaulted a resident at a hostel in the city has been sentenced to two months imprisonment
David Griffin, aged 40, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act relating to an incident at McGarry House, Alphonsus Street, just before Christmas.
The victim, who sustained a number of cuts and facial injuries, was discovered by members of staff on the floor of Mr Griffins room at around 9.30am on December 20, last.
Limerick District Court was told the defendant was asleep and covered in blood when gardai entered the room having been alerted.
Gardai, who woke Mr Griffin, also observed a considerable amount of blood all over the apartment.
Solicitor John Herbert said his client was friends with the victim and that they had been drinking together the previous evening and had regularly travelled around the country together in the past.
He said Mr Griffin, who is in receipt of disability allowance, has no recollection of what happened but accepts he launched an attack when he returned to his room.
He is ashamed of himself, he let himself down, he said adding he lost his accommodation at McGarry House and is facing the prospect of being returned to the homeless system.
Mr Herbert said his client had no explanation for what happened and he suggested a sleeping tablet he took may have interacted with the alcohol.
After being informed the victim had declined the opportunity to draft a victim impact statement, Judge Mary Larkin commented the defendant should know better.
She accepted he has an addiction to alcohol and suggested that he is well and truly sober by now given the fact he has been in custody since his arrest.
The judge imposed a two month prison sentence which she back-dated to the date of his arrest,
Mr Griffin was also ordered to engage with the Probation Service and to complete a alcohol and drug awareness programme.
AN alcoholic who forced his way into a supermarket and drank a bottle of vodka fell asleep in one of the shopping aisles before gardai arrived, a court has heard.
Limerick District Court was told the Lidl store at Childers Road was closed to the public when the incident happened but that there were a number of staff members working there at the time.
George OConnor, 38, of Castletown, Gort, County Galway pleaded guilty to stealing the 14 bottle of vodka on June 7, 2018.
Sergeant Sean Murray said the defendant was taken to University Hospital Limerick following the incident and that he failed to appear in court on two occasions since.
Judge Mary Larkin was told he was arrested on March 14 last after he entered the Circle K filling station at Roxboro Road and stole a bottle of wine which he drank in the store.
That incident, Sgt Murray said, happened at around 9.30am while the store was open.
He was still present in the store when gardai arrived. He was intoxicated when he was arrested, he added.
Solicitor Sarah Ryan said her client, who has 63 previous convictions, has psychiatric problems in addition to his alcohol addiction.
She said Mr OConnor, who spent a number of days in custody following the most recent incident, began drinking heavily more than a decade ago to deal with his mental health issues.
Judge Larkin was told the defendant, who is a qualified mechanic, previously ran his own panel-beating business until his drinking got worse.
He became a martyr to drink, said Ms Ryan who urged the court not to jail her client.
Imposing sentence, Judge Larkin commented that if Mr OConnor does not address his drinking problem he will be dead soon.
She imposed a one month prison sentence in relation to the incident at Lidl which she suspended for a year.
A 100 fine was imposed in relation to the incident at Circle K.
COUNCILLORS have agreed a voluntary ban on posters in the upcoming local and European elections. At a meeting of the full council on Monday, Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Collins argued that it takes 400 years for corriboard, used in posters, to biodegrade.
During the last local elections in 2014, he said, over 2,000 candidates had contested 949 seats and some 611,000 posters had been manufactured at a cost of 3m. That was the equivalent of generating 363 tonnes of carbon dioxide or running a family car for 592 consecutive days, he said. The posters alone would have covered 23 Croke Parks, he pointed out.
Eight million tonnes of plastic a year are going into the worlds oceans, Cllr Collins said and are becoming entangled in the bodies of fish and other marine life.
We are trying to tackle climate change locally and nationally, Cllr Collins said, urging councillors as leaders in our communities to support a voluntary ban.
I am not trying to impose this on anybody, he said. But he argued there was considerable public support for a ban.
In a Facebook poll which he conducted and in which 1,700 people took part, 1,623 people voted against the use of posters, he said. By using other media, he told his fellow councillors, you should have no fear of being re-elected.
Let us do our bit locally for climate change, he said.
It would be better if this was a directive from the Minister for the Environment, Cllr Kieran OHanlon said. He agreed with Cllr Collins sentiments, he said, but did not think it was realistic at this point in time.
Most people have their posters paid for by now, he said.
There is a very strong voice coming from young people. It is at our peril that we ignore them, Cllr Kevin Sheahan warned.
The most important word is voluntary, Cllr John Sheahan said. But he asked: Are we as sitting councillors trying to corner the market?
Would new candidates, perhaps not as well known, be put at a disadvantage, he wondered. And would the election turn out to be about who put up posters or not?
He was, he said, open to Cllr Collins proposal but said it was those who didnt take down the posters and ties that were causing the real annoyance.
THE FATHER of Molly Martens is to pay 160,000 to settle a wrongful death civil proceedings taken by the estate of Jason Corbett, the proceeds of which will go to the murdered Limerick mans children.
Tom Martens, who is currently serving a life sentence along with his daughter for his role in the brutal killing of the father-of-two from Janesboro, has now agreed to settle the action without the admission of liability.
We are relieved as a family to close this difficult chapter and try to move forward with our lives and focus on our children, the late Mr Corbetts sister Tracey Corbett Lynch told the Irish Independent.
Ms Corbett Lynch and her husband Dave Lynch, who are currently raising Mr Corbetts children in Limerick, have spent the last four years engaged in civil proceedings relating to the late Mr Corbetts estate.
While she was not included in the current proceedings, Ms Martens, the second wife of Mr Corbett, will also not benefit from a 530,000 life insurance policy on her husband, the Irish Independent reports.
She will also not be able to make any claim to the estate of the late Mr Corbett.
A further 17,500 will also be paid to a trust fund for the Corbett children by an insurance company acting for Mr Martens and his wife Sharon.
Upon the advice of my attorney, I have agreed to accept the recommendations in the best interests of Jasons children, Mr Lynch said.
I welcome the independent trustee who has the appropriate skills to invest the funds in the childrens best interest.
It is a burden lifted, I can now focus on my family, he told the Irish Independent.
Our next step is to go over and finally be able to sort Jasons belongings so we can hopefully retrieve some items of sentimental value to his family and children.
Ms Corbett Lynch said she was very proud of her husband.
Dave has always taken his fiduciary duties seriously and acted in the best interest of the kids.
What we want now is to continue to focus on ensuring those responsible for Jasons murder remain in prison.
A SERIAL offender who has more than 200 previous convictions cut her finger with a blade as she tried to remove security tags from a store in the city, a court has heard.
Mary Ryan, 38, of Sharwood Estate, Newcastle West pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to an incident at Boots, William Street on December 4, last.
Sergeant Sean Murray told Limerick District Court the defendant entered the store at 4.45pm and was observed on CCTV placing a number of items into a bag.
The items, he said included a Yankee Candle and a variety of razor blades worth almost 100.
Judge Mary Larkin was told when security staff approached Ms Ryan, they noticed she had cut her hand and that the items in the bag were covered in blood.
The goods were recovered but they were not re-saleable. The tags were damaged, he said confirming that a blade was also seized from the defendant.
During the same hearing, Ms Ryan admitted stealing a bottle of perfume, worth 84, from Brown Thomas at O'Connell Street around an hour later.
After hearing the facts of the case, Judge Larkin, who jailed Ms Ryan in January for a separate spate of offences in west Limerick, said she was sick to death of this adding that she continues to get back on the merry-go-round every time she is caught and released from prison.
Its not fair on everybody else, she told solicitor Michael ODonnell who informed the court that his client has no further matters pending at present.
The judge said Ms Ryan is not getting any younger and that she has to deal with her drug addiction.
Its a terribly sad case, she commented.
She imposed fines totalling 750 with default a penalty of three daysimprisonment.
CLAM Senior Pastor, Wole Oladiyun in this recent interview with City People Magazine explains why all Christians must pay tithe and also advised all Christians to adopt the principle of giving.
Below are excerpts of his views. It is very educative.
Over the last few months many Pastors have come under close scrutiny and attack from those outside the church. What is your take on various criticisms pastors have been subjected to?
The Bible says the prince of this world comes and finds nothing in me. The Bible equally said: He who stands must beware, so that he does not fall. The criticisms are both positive and negative. There are norms that we must conform to as Christian leaders. Once we deviate from those norms, we must be checked. The criticisms, in a way are checks, and they are welcome. We are in a position of leadership and we must be responsible.
There are 3 major things I emphasise to Christian leaders. One, that God has put us in the ministry, we have not put ourselves there and its a great opportunity. So, the first thing is God has given us an opportunity. When a man is given an Opportunity, the onus now lies on the man to be responsible and be accountable.
So, those two things must be adhered to. We must be responsible for the opportunity to be in ministry and we must be accountable. When responsibility is shirked, then there must be deterrent measures. When we are not accountable then we must be pummeled.
The public, singularly speaking can raise voices against us, and then we must check ourselves. You cant rule it out that people are saying what they dont know because we are human beings. We have the episcopal grace. But we must use the grace to better the lot of the people. Some pastors are not called, they called themselves.
You can imagine abominable things happening in Christendom. It gives us concerns, those of us who are really standing right by the grace of God. How can you imagine pastors patronising dark practitioners, people in the occult world? Its not right.
How can you imagine pastors using the inflowing to the ministry for frivolous things, instead of using the resources to build humanity, to build a better life for people, to build legacies that our children will see tomorrow and congratulate us. When you see pastors living extravagantlifestyle, it shouldnt be so.
These days, you see pastors sleeping with women in church and young ones doing abominable things or saying things they dont do. Its not right. That is not being responsible, that is not being accountable. When those things are happening, the Holy Spirit goes away from such ministers, and then they will now look for other means to help themselves up.
So, when we are criticized in those areas, those criticisms are welcomed, so that we can change. So that we can conform to the norms of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many General overseers, who are doing evil these days dont have eternity in mind. But I must say some criticisms in some areas are purgatory.
They are not positive, like people criticizing Giving, Tithing and first fruit. Those are biblical norms nobody can work against. You can criticize those who are not using the resources right. For instance, every income in CLAM for the past 21years is well accounted for, I have the records. And you can see the visible things we are doing with the income.
By the grace of God, if you check in Nigeria today, CLAM has one of the leading medical facilities, caring for people with minimal charges. We just take charges that can make us to pay the staffers. For example, we did the 4th brain surgery a few weeks ago.
Each brain surgery will cost 8 million in India, but here we did each one successfully for 900k. Here in CLAM Soteria Maternity, weve done hip replacement and so many surgeries successfully. Now we just concluded one-month free medical checkup for women with our Mammogram machine.
Last year alone, 2 to 3 mad persons gave birth to children by the way side and they were brought here. We took care of them and handed them over to the Lagos medical welfare successfully. When we see people who could not afford their bills we let them go.
We are doing things right here. Our farms alone will be able to take 7,000 to 10,000 youths off the street. How about using money coming in to CLAM to set up an acquisition scheme, vocational center? Miscreants are being brought in here to be trained. People from other faith are coming here to be trained. We award scholarships. We are training a lady who will become a Pilot in 3 months time, in Philippine.
We are training people in primary school, secondary school and University. Even the Muslim community here benefited from our scholarship awards. We are taking care of them. We live together in peace with our neighbours. That is Christianity as defined by Jesus. When ministers veer off, we must be checked, they must be checked.
The money that built the Soteria Hospital could have been deposited to wet lease a plane, but I have not done that. There is nothing bad in using a Jet. Let me balance it and let the whole world hear. I am a crusader; I go to villages that pastors dont go. I have been to several countries, states, towns and villages.
Sometimes I would be tired in the car and feel like having a helicopter, to bring me out of those villages and hamlets immediately I finish. If anybody gives me, a helicopter, I will collect it, use it, and nobody must shout because I have paid my dues. So, for those of us, who have paid our dues, we deserve a major comfort.
What is your take on the issue of Titthe?
Tithing has to do with the 10% of your income. It belongs to God. When you pay your Tithe, you activate benefits from the Lord. When you give your Offering, you activate blessings from the Lord. When you give your First fruit, you enter into a level of wealth unprecedented, because God will begin to release ideas, he will begin to minister to you.
Payment of Tithes is a spiritual thing; it cannot be analyzed with our gumption. These are biblical norms that must not be faulted by anyone. No one is compelled to give; we explain the principle to the people, the onus now lies on you to activate the principles. It is as simple as that.
When you give your Tithe, you chase away devourers from your finances. Even the Muslims give Zakat. They believe Zakat is a matter of must for them. Those who are not born again, they are neither a Muslim nor Christian, yet they Give and receive, Law of nature, Law of nemesis, Law retribution. What you give will activate receiving from the supernatural; Im talking on the mundane level.
Every Giver is an Achiever, even those who dont know God, once you give you receive. Its a natural principle that God has instituted. So, in our faith by the grace of God, Tithing, Giving of Offering and first fruit is very important. When the money flows into the church, they must be multiplied. They must be well used. When its not well used, then criticism comes in.
What is the correlation between the Old and New Testaments on the issue of Tithing, because that has been the argument over the years?
When people are bringing issues up, Ill want us to discuss holistically. The bible is just one book. Everything in the Old Testament is the shadow of the New Testament.
When you are talking of Tithing, are they saying we dont have Tithe issues in the New Testament? When you look at Hebrew 7 for example you will see everything there.
The Leviticus priest had paid Tithe in Abrahams time. Abraham was the great grandfather, followed by Isaac, Jacob then Levi. The Levi was the 4th generation. When Abraham had an encounter with Melchizedek, there was an exchange. He paid Tithe.
He said this levite has paid tithe in Abraham. I dont like complication. That simply means through the blood, genetically levite has done that, though he wasnt born then. We are the modern day Leviticle priest.
So, the priesthood is there and there is nothing anybody can do about that. If you say tithe should not come to church; we should not follow the principles of God? We would deny many people of their benefits? You want me to go back and be practising engineering and give myself fully to this work; If I do that you wont meet CLAM like this.
We wont be affecting our nation like this. So, for those of us who are genuinely doing the work if I do that well, we know these principles are real and these principles will be there till the 2nd coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. They cannot be discarded. They cannot be removed. They cannot be deleted and they cannot be taken away from the Bible. They remain as God has stated them.
When you are talking of Giving, Giving runs through. When you are Tithing, you are Giving the 10% of your earnings to activate the blessing and promises of God. Giving is an act. Some people dont even give physical money, but they give their services. Some people intercede, they give in intercession. So, Giving is multi-dimensional. Its the principle of God; its the principle of the kingdom. Giving must not be compromised.
As a rational human being, what you sow, you reap. It works for everyone irrespective of your faith bias. There is something very unscientific about Giving just like the Anointing. The first Submarine made by God was the fish that swallowed Jonah.
He was in the belly of a fish for 3 days, God suspended the digestive system of that fish, Jonah was not digested, and the fish vomited him on the 3rd day. That was not scientific. So, this principle is beyond Science. Its beyond rational analysis.
Take for instance. Jesus met with the disciples and the tax payers asked them to pay tax. Jesus asked Peter to go to the sea with his hook, the first fish that comes, he should pick it, open it and bring the money in it. Can science rationalize that?
So, its the same thing with Giving. Also, the wife of one of the prophets went to Elisha, she said to him, Your servant, when he was alive owed, though he was a good man, now the creditors have come to take the two sons, what shall I do?
Elisha asked if she has anything in the house, she said nothing but a little measure of oil and Elisha said, go and borrow vessels, lock the door, get the oil and start pouring it inside the vessels, and the little oil filled so many vessels. Can science rationalize that? So, you cant rationalize the principle of Tithing, first fruit and Giving. There is something that is beyond common sense about the principle of God.
A monkey in a Finland zoo recently gained a lot of attention on social media for her unusually "buff" body, but she isn't quite as muscular as she appeared.
In the photo, the primate a female white-faced saki monkey (Pithecia pithecia) named Bea crouches on a branch in her enclosure at the Helsinki Zoo. Her arms, chest and legs look exceedingly bulky in contrast to her small, glowering face, making her seem as heavily muscled as a steroid-infused bodybuilder.
But in reality, the monkey's muscles aren't all that impressive, and the suggestion of bulk came from Bea fluffing up her abundant fur, zoo representatives told Live Science. [8 Humanlike Behaviors of Primates]
White-faced sakis are native to Brazil and parts of Venezuela and Indonesia, spending most of their time in rainforest canopies at heights up to 82 feet (25 meters) above the ground, according to the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology.
Bea, the leader of the zoo's white-faced saki monkey troop, was born at the Helsinki Zoo and is 9 years old, zookeeper Merja Wahlroos told Live Science in an email. On average, adult female monkeys weigh about 3 to 4 pounds (1.4 to 1.9 kilograms) with a body length of (32 to 40 centimeters), "and the tail is usually as long as the body," Wahlroos said.
And even though Bea hasn't been measured recently, her size is likely "in the bigger end of the scale," Wahlroos estimated. Nevertheless, Bea's apparent burliness is not the result of rigorous weightlifting and chugging protein shakes; rather, it's an illusion created by her thick, furry coat, zoo representatives explained in a tweet.
See more
Finnish photographer Santeri Oksanen snapped the image in February; he was visiting the zoo to practice taking pictures of wildlife, which he later shared on Flickr, he told Live Science in an email. As Oksanen stood outside the monkey troop's habitat, Bea struck "this epic pose" and surveyed her territory; at that moment, Oksanen captured the photo that later went viral.
"Bea's expression couldn't had been any better," Oksanen said.
Little is known about saki monkey's social habits in the wild, but in captivity the monkeys usually live in small family groups of four individuals, and the most common group is parents and offspring, Wahlroos explained. But saki monkeys can also form groups of multiple males or females that contain up to 12 monkeys. Males generally dominate groups in captive populations, but the group hierarchy is flexible, and sometimes females like Bea assume leadership, Wahlroos said.
As for Bea's fabulous floofiness, many types of animals fluff their fur (or feathers) to appear bigger and more intimidating when threatened. However, saki monkeys are typically not aggressive toward each other, and unusual fluffiness such as Bea's display "is usually only to show off to other group members," Wahlroos said.
"The mighty appearance might be enhanced by shaking a branch vigorously," she added.
Originally published on Live Science.
A delegation from Taiwan's Kaohsiung city led by mayor Han Kuo-yu Monday signed agreements with four companies from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, to sell 200 million yuan (29.8 million U.S. dollars) worth of agricultural and processed products to the latter in the next four years.
Han described his trip to Shenzhen as "short but fruitful," saying he was looking forward to more people-to-people exchanges between the two cities in the future.
The delegation also visited Yantian Port, the Han's Laser company, the Tencent company, and the administrative service hall of Nanshan District, in Shenzhen Monday.
Han expressed the hope to expand cooperation with Shenzhen in agriculture, economy and trade, sports, culture, exhibition and other fields in the future.
When he was asked to comment on the Democratic Progressive Party's criticism of his ongoing visit, Han said he did not worry about or fear verbal attacks.
"We hope that the Taiwan residents can keep their eyes open so that they can tell right from wrong. Politicians should serve the people."
A handful of Albert Einstein's letters, including one in which he talks about the "Hitler-insanity" that had taken over Germany and also describes his son's schizophrenia treatments, are being auctioned off this week to the highest bidder.
Einstein was a prolific writer, and his letters have allowed historians to see what occupied his mind. As these letters show, Einstein thought about issues big and small, especially about how world events affected him and other people targeted by Nazi Germany.
For instance, in one of the letters being auctioned off, dated June 10, 1939, Einstein wrote to Maurice Lenz, a leader in the field of radiation therapy at Columbia University in New York City. But Einstein didn't discuss Lenz's research in the note. Rather, Einstein congratulated Lenz on his work benefiting Jewish refugees during World War II. [6 Ways Albert Einstein Fought for Civil Rights]
"The power of resistance which has enabled the Jewish people to survive for thousands of years has been based to a large extent on traditions of mutual helpfulness," Einstein wrote to his friend. "May we stand this test as well as did our fathers before us."
The letter that Einstein wrote to Maurice Lenz about helping Jewish refugees. (Image credit: Nate D. Sanders Auctions)
In another letter hitting the auction block, dated April 17, 1934, Einstein wrote to his ex-wife Mileva Maric about finances and their children. The couple had three kids, including Eduard ''Teitel'' Einstein, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia by age 20.
The letter, written in German, expresses hope that a chemical intervention might help treat Eduard. Einstein wrote that "I read the articles closely, and it does not seem completely impossible that a successful result might be obtained through a chemical intervention such as this. It would simply constitute a strong stimulus to the secretory system created by a deficiency of sugar within the blood."
Still, Einstein ever the scientist urged caution before trying the treatment, writing, "we should not rush into this thing, we must wait until more experience has been gained."
He also discussed money he was sending to help Maric pay bank debts. But time and money were tight, he wrote, saying, "I am strained so severely by the various acts of assistance that I have to restrict myself all around in the most extreme way. All this is the result of the Hitler-insanity, which has completely ruined the lives of all those around me."
The letter that Albert Einstein wrote to his first wife in German, discussing a possible treatment for their son's schizophrenia. (Image credit: Nate D. Sanders Auctions)
Even in 1921, Einstein could see that the Nazis were gaining power in Germany. In a letter to his sister, Maja Winteler-Einstein, that is also being auctioned, he wrote, "I am supposed to go to Munich, but I will not do that, because this would endanger my life right now."
Eight of Einstein's letters are currently up for grabs at the Nate D. Sanders Auctions in Los Angeles until 2 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT on Friday, March 28.
Originally published on Live Science.
Matthew Busch, For The San Antonio Express-News / For The San Antonio Express-News
Model Emily Ratajkwoski was in Austin again.
Multiple photos posted to her highly popular Instagram page show Ratajkowski wearing a silver outfit with a cowboy hat and blond wig and at one point, feeding farm animals while wearing white boots over the weekend.
It's unclear why she was in Texas, but the Austin Rodeo, where she's likely to have taken the photos, is currently underway.
RELATED: P!nk recaps San Antonio concert, says it was one of her 'favorite nights'
"Yeehaw Thanks Texas," she captioned a series of Instagram photos early Tuesday.
This trip was not her first to Austin. She spent Memorial Day weekend 2017 touring Texas' capital, stopping at Barton Springs Pool and for some barbecue.
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
Where is the best taco? Where is the best margarita? Where is the best barbecue?
If youre a San Antonian, these are the questions that really matter whether its to satisfy our own cravings or those of the countless visiting friends, family members and random strangers who ask. Culinaria has proposed an answer to all three of those questions in a trio of San Antonio Food Trails celebrating the citys best tacos, barbecue and margaritas.
Such food trails are one of the goals the city's World Heritage Office included in its application to be named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, which was approved in 2017. Culinaria's trails are independent and not part of the World Heritage Office's efforts. Colleen Swain, director of the office, said that their official trails were still in the works and have yet to be released.
The designation honors the food traditions in San Antonio left by numerous cultures beginning with American Indians followed by Spaniards, Canary Islanders, Mexicans, Germans and others who have migrated through the region over the past 13,000 years. Numerous area chefs, Culinaria, Visit San Antonio and other organizations have been involved in establishing the trails.
A total of 30 restaurants 10 in each category were named to the trails. Longtime area favorites including Henrys Puffy Tacos, Garcias Mexican Food and Los Barrios represent the taco category; 2M Smokehouse, The Big Bib and South BBQ and Kitchen are among the barbecue representatives; and margaritas at Aldacos, La Fonda on Main and Soluna are included.
On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios UNESCO City of Gastronomy title could be big business
For the time being, the trails exist solely as lists published at culinariasa.org, although Suzanne Taranto-Etheredge, Culinarias president, said guided tours and a mobile phone app will be offered in the near future. Culinaria intends to roll out new trails celebrating seasonal foods and geographical parts of the city every quarter moving forward.
Taranto-Etheredge said more than 100 people voted to identify the initial batch of recognized restaurants. In addition to exceptional food, trail honorees had to meet a set of criteria including consistently high health scores and a visible web presence.
The establishments will enjoy a one-year tenure on the list, at which point the trails will be re-evaluated by the electing committee.
NOTE: Because of incorrect information provided to the Express-News, this story has been updated to state that these these food trails are an independent project not affiliated with the World Heritage Office.
Paul Stephen is a food and drink reporter and restaurant critic in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen
A convicted burglar was recently sentenced to nine years in prison, according to the Webb County District Attorney's Office.
Authorities identified him as Ovidio Navarro Jr., 28. He entered a no-contest plea last week to one count of burglary of habitation in the 49th District Court.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam on Monday said that investigation on the recently crashed Ethiopian plane that killed all 157 people aboard is "well underway."
A Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa on March 10, killing all 157 people on board.
"The investigation of the accident is well underway, and we will learn the truth," Gebremariam said, adding that "many questions on the B-737 MAX airplane remain without answers, and I pledge full and transparent cooperation to discover what went wrong."
Amid ongoing investigations, recent reports indicated that despite Ethiopian Airlines is among the first to install a training simulator on the new Max 8, the captain of the crashed Flight ET-302 was not trained on the simulator.
However, Gebremariam stressed that Ethiopia's flag carrier has been providing the training effectively.
"As it is well known in our global aviation industry, the differences training between the B-737 NG and the B-737 MAX recommended by Boeing and approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) called for computer-based training, but we went beyond that," an Ethiopian Airlines Group statement quoted Gebremariam as saying on Monday.
According to the CEO, after the Lion Air accident in October last year, Ethiopian pilots who fly the Boeing 737 Max 8 "were fully trained on the service bulletin issued by Boeing and the Emergency Airworthiness Directive issued by the USA FAA."
"We are the only airline in Africa among the very few in the world with the B-737 MAX full flight simulator. Contrary to some media reports, our pilots who fly the new model were trained on all appropriate simulators," Gebremariam said.
"The crews were well trained on this aircraft," Gebremariam said, adding "immediately after the crash and owing to the similarity with the Lion Air Accident, we grounded our fleet of Max 8s."
"Within days, the plane had been grounded around the world. I fully support this. Until we have answers, putting one more life at risk is too much," he added.
Gebremariam also noted that Ethiopian Airlines flight mechanics are certified by the FAA.
Ethiopian Airlines also stressed that it operates with "one of the youngest fleet in the industry, our average fleet age is five years while industry average is 12 years."
Ethiopia's flag carrier, which serves more than 11 million passengers annually according to figures from the airlines, has relatively better safety record in the aviation sector with minimal incidents in over 7 decades of its operations.
The French air accident investigation authority BEA is investigating the crashed plane's black boxes.
A Laredo man has been indicted on two counts of intoxication manslaughter after authorities said he killed a father and daughter in a vehicle crash last year.
Jose Guadalupe Perez Jr., 45, was also indicted last month in the 49th District Court on one count of possession of a controlled substance.
Laredo police said Perez was intoxicated when he struck a 2013 white Kia Soul driven by Gerardo Guerrero, 17. The two passengers in the Kia, Jesus Guerrero Jr., 53, and Galilea Guerrero, 15, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
READ MORE: LPD: Man accused of intoxication manslaughter released from hospital, charged
Gerardo Guerrero survived the crash with non-life threatening injuries.
LPD said Perez was driving a 1997 white Dodge Ram 1500 when he rear-ended the Kia at about 10:30 p.m. July 15 at the intersection of Mines and Lowry roads.
Police said the Kia was stopped at the traffic light when it was rear-ended. The Guerreros were killed upon impact, police said.
After the crash, police said Perez "had very visible signs of intoxication." LPD said they also found 1.6 ounces of cocaine on Perez.
RELATED: Texas police ID baby killed when alleged drunk driver struck shopping cart
Perez was taken to Doctors Hospital in stable condition. He was later airlifted to a San Antonio hospital to recover from injuries he sustained in the crash. After his release, LPD traveled to San Antonio to serve warrants charging Perez with intoxication manslaughter.
An evidence exchange hearing is scheduled for April 26 in the 49th District Court.
Maria Salas may be reached at msalas@lmtonline.com
In the 74-page manifesto Brenton Harrison Tarrant, the alleged New Zealand mosque shooter, published on social media before this month's attacks that left 50 people dead, he denounced immigration to Europe, calling it an invasion.
Now Austrian investigators are probing why someone by his last name made a "disproportionately high donation" to a far-right activist in Austria.
On social media, Martin Sellner, leader of the Identitarian Movement of Austria (also known as Generation Identity), said police raided his apartment Monday, The Associated Press reported. And Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted that "any connection between the Christchurch attacker and members of the Identitarians in Austria needs to be comprehensively and ruthlessly investigated."
"It is important that the independent justice system can use all necessary means and resources to conduct its investigation together with the security services and expose these networks," he said. "There needs to be total clarity about all extremist activities."
Hansjoerg Bacher, a spokesman for the prosecutors in Graz, Austria, who apparently ordered the raid, told the AP that most donations to the group were in the two- to three-figure range, but the one linked to Tarrant's name was "in the low four-figure area."
"This made it stand out, and the events in New Zealand put a face to this donation," he said.
Sellner is a controversial figure in Europe. Last year, he was denied entry into Britain and was detained for two days when he tried to travel there to make a speech. The BBC reported at the time that a Home Office representative said officials have the right to deny individuals entry "if it is considered that his or her presence in the U.K. is not conducive to the public good."
This is not the first time police have raided Sellner's home. Last year, prosecutors in Graz charged him and 16 people affiliated with his group. The charges included incitement to hatred and forming a criminal organization; two people were eventually found guilty of lesser charges related to stunts carried out by the group.
In a YouTube video this week, Sellner said he "had nothing to do with the attack" in Christchurch.
But Tarrant's travel history has come under scrutiny since the attack, particularly after he outlined in his manifesto how visits to Europe amplified his distrust of immigrants.
Austria is among the places he traveled in recent years, which include Bulgaria, Hungary, North Korea and Pakistan. Austrian authorities have not released information about whether Tarrant met with members of Sellner's group or other far-right activists on that visit. Bulgaria's chief prosecutor, Sotir Tsatsarov, announced after the attack that Bulgaria would also be probing whether Tarrant was in the country as a tourist "or if he had other objectives."
CONCORD, N.H. - Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., slammed his head on the table four times when I asked what he thought about other Democratic presidential contenders embracing the idea of expanding the Supreme Court.
"Having seen up close just how cynical and how vicious the tea party guys and the Freedom Caucus guys and Mitch McConnell have been, the last thing I want to do is be those guys," he said during an interview at a coffee shop recently. "What I want to do is beat these guys so that we can begin to govern again."
Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, suggested that morning during a speech in Manchester, which coincided with Bennet's first foray to New Hampshire, that the number of justices should grow from nine to 15 - with Republicans picking five, Democrats picking five and those 10 justices together agreeing on the rest.
"I can understand Mayor Pete's frustration because he's a mayor," Bennet said. "He comes to this with the purest intentions a person could have. I'm not sure if he spent a couple months in Washington that he'd have the same point of view."
But Buttigieg is far from alone. Even some of Bennet's Senate colleagues have rushed to endorse the latest litmus test from the far left: Sens. Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand express varying degrees of openness to the concept of changing the composition of the court to benefit liberals. Sens. Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar, however, each express skepticism about the very idea that famously derailed Franklin Roosevelt's second term.
Court packing, like reparations, has emerged as a bright new dividing line to separate the pragmatists from the ideologues in the Democratic contest. The issue is quickly become a proxy for the larger choice Democrats must confront as they pick a standard bearer for 2020: Will they go with their heads or their hearts?
Bennet, who says he's inclined to run for president and will decide in a matter of "weeks," represents an antidote to the Democratic Party's leftward lurch. "I guess I'm starting to think strongly that we need a voice in this primary that's willing to make the kind of case that I think that I would make," he said.
Speaking at a house party up the hill from the State House after our interview, Bennet made an impassioned plea to 50 Democrats that the party must be more careful to avoid the "traps" being laid by President Donald Trump. "Look, we've got to nominate somebody who can beat Donald Trump. That means we have a responsibility not to do ourselves in," he said. "I went around in 2016 saying Trump couldn't win. I was totally wrong. . . .
"Trump's not an idiot," he continued. "Whatever you think of Trump - and I can't stand the guy myself - he is a marketing genius. He is a savant of some kind when it comes to marketing. And where he sees the weakness, he will exploit it. . . . Trump knows he can't get elected on his two feet. What he's trying to do is disqualify the Democratic Party. He looks for opportunities to do that by calling people socialists . . . by saying Democrats are for open borders . . . and by saying Democrats are anti-Israel. . . . I think Democrats need to be very strategic in not falling into the traps that Donald Trump is laying for us."
Bennet explained why he stood to applaud the president during the State of the Union. "When he said we're never going to be a socialist country, I was the first Democrat out of their chair," he said. "I didn't know this at the time, but Bernie [Sanders] ... is sitting right behind me and he's sitting in his chair scowling while I'm standing up and applauding. ... The reason I was on my feet is that I'm not going to let him disqualify us that way. I know what he's trying to do. . . . It's not because I'm applauding him. It's because I want to show that Democrats don't feel that way. Most Democrats don't."
Asked about the Medicare-for-all bill that several of his Senate colleagues running for president have co-sponsored, Bennet made the case against the bill both on the substance and the politics. "That legislation takes insurance away from 180 million people who get it from their employer, 80 percent of whom like it," he said. "It takes it away from every single union that has collectively bargained for their health-care plan. It takes it away from 20 million people that have Medicare Advantage who love Medicare Advantage. . . .
"We're making it too easy for the people who don't want to cover everybody," he continued. "Donald Trump has been smart enough to figure out that he can agitate seniors about this question because he's going to say to seniors, 'Wait a minute, you guys had to wait until you were 65 years old. You spent your whole life paying into it. And now all of America is going to be in the plan with you.' I have no problem with political slogans, but we have to have a plan for how to address this. . . . I want to say very clearly: This is a not a call for moderation. It is not a call for splitting the difference."
Bennet's pedigree, plus his status as a second-term senator from a purple state that Democrats must carry to win the White House in 2020, would have made him a top-tier candidate in presidential elections of the recent past. His resume and record are more distinguished, and his platform is more polished, than someone like former House member and failed Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke, who has been the subject of saturation media coverage since he announced last Thursday. Bennet even chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in the 2014 cycle. Traditionally, this kind of coveted post was considered invaluable for a candidate to build a national network of major donors. But Beto raised $6.1 million of small-dollar contributions during his first 24 hours as a candidate without it, and Bennet so far has been little more than an afterthought among pundits or an asterisk in polls.
Partly this is because so much of the energy has been on the left thus far, and there's so much hunger for sending a shock to the political system. "'Morning Joe' calls you a 'centrist' candidate," a man at the house party told Bennet, referring to MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. "Is that what you are!?"
"I'm not," Bennet said, before pausing for eight solid seconds. "If you get up in the morning worrying about the poor kids in America's schools and you think about that all day and you go to bed thinking about that, then I would say you're a progressive. That's how I think about it. . . . Sometimes I don't hear about that from more 'progressive' candidates. So I hope in this debate maybe we can redefine some terms about what's progressive, what's centrist, what's moderate, what's whatever. I was described by a reporter in the New Haven Register as a 'pragmatic idealist.' I'll take that description. I think that's what we need."
If there was an American aristocracy, Bennet would be part of it. His grandfather was an economic adviser to FDR during the New Deal. His father worked for Lyndon Johnson during the Great Society and was Jimmy Carter's assistant secretary of state before taking the helm of National Public Radio. His brother is currently the editorial page editor of the New York Times. (The Times says James Bennet will recuse himself from any work related to the 2020 election "or major issues in the campaign" if Michael runs.)
The senator went to St. Albans and Wesleyan University before Yale Law School. Then he clerked for a circuit court judge, worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Connecticut and served a stint in Bill Clinton's Justice Department. But he really didn't want to be a practicing attorney. So he moved to Denver to support his wife Susan's career as an environmental lawyer - like Bill and Hillary, they met at Yale Law - and took a very lucrative job overseeing corporate reorganizations and consolidations at the investment company owned by billionaire conservative megadonor Phil Anschutz. Bennet brushed aside my question about the certain attacks he'd face in the Democratic primaries for this work. "I stand on my record in the private sector," he said.
Feeling called to public service, Bennet gave up the big paychecks in 2003 to become chief of staff to the new mayor of Denver, a fellow by the name of John Hickenlooper. Hickenlooper then tapped Bennet to become the superintendent of the city's public schools. When Barack Obama appointed then-Sen. Ken Salazar as Interior secretary in 2009, the governor at the time appointed Bennet to replace him. He won a full term in 2010 and another in 2016.
Hickenlooper, who also wanted that open Senate seat, instead got elected as governor in 2010 and just finished his second term. He's already announced he's running for president, which is awkward. Both Hickenlooper and Bennet downplay differences and say they're different people with different backgrounds. In fact - temperamentally, ideologically and geographically - they seem quite similar. "I don't think my being in the race would have kept John out of the race, and I think the reverse is true," Bennet said.
A question about court packing really got Bennet animated. He believes strongly that Trump won in 2016 as a direct result of McConnell blockading Merrick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court, and he's angry that the majority leader went nuclear in 2017 after Democrats filibustered Neil Gorsuch. But he volunteered without prompting that he doesn't have a totally clean nose. Referring to Harry Reid ending the filibuster for circuit court judges in 2013 after McConnell prevented so many of Barack Obama's nominees from getting a vote, which he supported at the time, Bennet said: "We didn't always follow the rules. We changed the rules. People can decide whose fault it was. There's plenty of blame to go around. My point is that we owe something much better than this to the American people."
Bennet, who edited the most prestigious of the law reviews at Yale and studied American history as an undergraduate, praised the founding fathers for devising a Constitution that created "the most elegant mechanisms" to facilitate decision making among free people. Sitting next to him at the table was the eldest of his three daughters. Caroline, 19, a Yale freshman, is on spring break. They wore matching fleece Patagonia pullovers. The 54-year-old father turned his answer into an extended civics lesson.
"They believed we would have disagreement, that this was an essential part of living in a democracy, and out of that disagreement would come much more durable and imaginative solutions than any king or tyrant could ever think of," he said. "That's what those mechanisms are for, and we're in the process of breaking all of those mechanisms. We should think long and hard about whether or not we want to destroy all that, whether we think that what we should do is live in a world where they have their version of one-party rule for a while and then we substitute it with our version of one-party rule. To me, that seems like a really bad answer."
Bennet has sought to stake out the moral high ground as a vocal defender of institutions and norms. He complained that both parties focus too much on raw power. He lamented the descent of American politics into "this continuous game of shirts and skins, where you put in your climate policy for two years and they rip it out and then you put in another and they rip it out." He criticized his congressional colleagues for believing that dueling press releases somehow serve the people they represent. "I don't know why we think we can be so lazy that we could just go on cable television at night and somehow our work is done," Bennet complained. "Or that we've introduced legislation and somehow that's the same thing as actually providing health care to people in America.
"For me, this isn't just about beating Trump, which I think is important and essential but not sufficient. We also have to figure out how to govern the country, and we're not. We weren't before Trump showed up," Bennet added. "I'm not going to say one thing in the primary and something else in the general, and obviously I'm betting on the fact that that's going to be appealing to people who want politicians to . . . level with them. That may sound naive, but I think that's the only path that I have. And I don't happen to think it's naive because I think what's naive is imagining that we can keep repeating what we're doing in Washington - and this is even without Trump - and imagine that our kids and grandkids are going to remember us very favorably."
Independents can vote in either party's primary in New Hampshire, and they're central to Bennet's theory of the case. If Trump doesn't have a credible challenger on the right, many swing voters will take ballots to vote in next February's Democratic contest. Bennet interacted with several of these voters during a town hall style meeting for employees of a rural manufacturing plant in the town of Jaffrey.
Barry Charron, 36, is an independent who didn't vote in the 2016 primary or general election because none of the candidates caught his fancy. He's undecided about 2020. "He has a very moderate approach, and I appreciate that, because I only see things escalating," Charron said after watching Bennet talk for an hour. "It's a pendulum right now, and I'm afraid that the next president that we're going to get will be even worse than Trump but in the other direction. Like painfully liberal. To the point where they're ignoring important issues just to make people clap."
Chris Hanley, 42, is also an independent who works in the machine shop. He voted for John Kasich in the 2016 GOP primary and Hillary Clinton in the general election. He pressed Bennet about how Democrats can do a better job reaching blue-collar voters. "He probably needs to present himself a little bit more firmly and speak a little bit louder and what not, but I liked his answers and I was pretty impressed with him as a candidate," Hanley said afterward. "Some people in Congress are really alienating people in their own parties that aren't far enough to the right or far enough to the left. And that's really a shame because, if you don't have compromise, you don't really have a working government."
Bennet has given everyone who hosted him in Iowa and New Hampshire two books wrapped together in a blue bow: "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City," by Princeton sociologist Matthew Desmond, and "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom," by Yale historian David Blight.
"The abolitionists were saying the Constitution was a pro-slavery document, and Frederick Douglass said that's not right," Bennet explained when I asked about these selections. "He said it's an anti-slavery document and we are not living up to what it says. In his generation, he changed the politics of the abolitionist movement. I think it made them successful in what they were trying to do. As a result, I think Frederick Douglass deserves to be considered a founder just as much as any of the people who wrote the Constitution. That was just as important as what they did.
"We forget how hard people have struggled to make this society, as imperfect as it is, less imperfect than it has been," he added. "When we think about what it means to be a citizen in a republic that is under the kind of stress this republic is under, we should be thinking of ourselves as founders. That's why I can't accept . . . the idea that we are fated to have this pathetic and disgraceful political system for the rest of our lives. Other Americans have found ways to fix it. We should be able to find ways to fix it."
Bottom line: If he decides not to try in 2020, Bennet would be well positioned to run in 2024 if Democrats nominate the kind of unelectable candidate whom he fears - and that person subsequently flames out a la George McGovern in 1972.
WASHINGTON - The Senate on Tuesday rejected the Green New Deal, with Republicans casting the proposal to reduce dependence on fossil fuels to combat climate change as a far-left idea and with Democrats taking the rare step of voting "present" on a politically driven vote.
The measure failed on a 57-to-0 vote, with all Republicans and four Democrats blocking the resolution. Aiming to avoid an intraparty fight on the issue, 43 Democrats - including those who introduced the Green New Deal - voted "present."
The vote Tuesday came against the backdrop of historic flooding in the Midwest and repeated warnings, including from agencies in the Trump administration, about the economic and environmental impact of failing to deal with global warming.
Yet the vote amounted to a political show vote as President Donald Trump and Republicans deride the Green New Deal, but few in Congress have worked on crafting a bipartisan approach to deal with climate change.
The broad proposal from freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., envisions the United States achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions within a decade while guaranteeing Americans high-paying jobs and high-quality health care.
Republicans call it unrealistic and see it as a means to divide Democrats, pitting liberals who have embraced the idea, including some 2020 presidential hopefuls, against moderates from Republican-leaning states.
Joining Republicans in voting "no" were Democratic Sens. Doug Jones of Alabama, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, as well as Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.
Forcing the vote was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who called the plan a "far-left wish list."
"The proposal addresses the small matter of eliminating the use of all fossil fuels nationwide in a 10-year time frame," McConnell said Tuesday. "This might sound like a neat idea in places like San Francisco or New York, the places that the Democratic Party seems totally focused on these days. But communities practically everywhere else would be absolutely crushed."
He told reporters at the Capitol that he believes climate change is real and a result of human behavior. But he added, "The question is, how do you address it?"
Democrats have countered by calling McConnell's maneuver a "sham," saying the vote was held without any hearings or expert testimony, all to scuttle meaningful legislative efforts on climate change.
"McConnell tried to rush the #GreenNewDeal straight to the floor without a hearing," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. "The real question we should be asking: Why does the Senate GOP refuse to hold any major hearings on climate change?"
The vote was in part intended to put the six Democratic presidential contenders in the Senate on record. But those 2020 hopefuls - all of whom co-sponsored the legislation - voted "present" on Tuesday, with several decrying the vote as "a political game."
"Combating this crisis first requires the Republican majority to stop denying science and finally admit that climate change is real and humans are the dominant cause," one of the 2020 candidates, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., said in a statement.
Another presidential contender, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said it is politically savvy to set a seemingly aspirational goal, as President John F. Kennedy did when he called for sending a man to the moon.
"We don't know if we can get to net-zero carbon emissions in 10 years, but we should certainly try," Gillibrand said at a pro-Green New Deal news conference in front of the Capitol. "Why not let this be a measure of how great we are as a nation?"
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Tuesday that McConnell's "stunt is backfiring" and that it was becoming clear that "the Republican Party is way behind the times on clean energy."
"I heard talk here about floods in the Middle West," Schumer said, speaking shortly after Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, raised the issue at the Senate GOP news conference. "To not do something about climate change when you know your communities are being hurt by it is so badly representing the voters of your state."
Later on the Senate floor, Ernst again raised the issue of the severe flooding in Iowa, but she made no mention of climate change in her remarks. A spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what Ernst would like to see done to address the issue.
The main Senate sponsor of the Green New Deal, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., was unapologetic about the broad scope of his proposal. "It is the national-security, economic, health care and moral issue of our time," he said at Tuesday's press event.
But a chorus of detractors, including some Democrats, have argued that the sweeping resolution contained many items only tangentially related to reducing climate-warming emissions or addressing their impacts.
Others said the goal of drastically curbing the release of the heat-trapping gases across U.S. electricity, manufacturing, transportation and agricultural sectors within just 10 years is impossible to achieve.
Among them is former Colorado governor and 2020 Democratic presidential aspirant John Hickenlooper, who said in an op-ed published Tuesday in The Washington Post that the vision being pushed by Ocasio-Cortez and Markey has "laudable aims but also take an approach that limits our prospects for success."
"The resolution sets unachievable goals," Hickenlooper said. "We do not yet have the technology needed to reach 'net-zero greenhouse gas emissions' in 10 years. That's why many wind and solar companies don't support it."
Ernest Moniz, President Barack Obama's energy secretary, has also criticized the idea of an all-renewable energy economy by 2030 as "just unrealistic."
"And putting forward unrealistic goals in my view may impede our progress if it starts to leave behind key constituencies," Moniz said last month on the day the Green New Deal was introduced.
A panel of U.N. scientists says the world has about 10 years to rein in emissions and keep the global temperature increase to moderate levels.
One irony of the Green New Deal proposal is that it is forcing some Republicans to put forward their own climate proposals after being led by for two years by Trump, who has repeatedly dismissed the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists that humans are warming the world.
- - -
The Washington Post's Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report.
San Francisco Chronicle
A man is facing life-threatening injuries after being shot inside a parole office in the Mission District Monday afternoon, according to police.
San Francisco officers responded to a call of a shooting just after 3:50 p.m. at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facility near 13th and Mission streets, and found a man in the lobby suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
The competitiveness gaps between Asian economies were narrower in 2018 than in previous years, according to a report released by the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Tuesday.
The 37 Asian economies evaluated in the report all scored higher in 2018 in terms of their comprehensive competitiveness, with shrinking gaps between the scores, the BFA Asian Competitiveness Annual Report 2019 said.
The report provides rankings of the Asian economies in terms of their commercial and administrative efficiency, infrastructure level, overall economic vitality and social development as well as human capital and innovation capability.
"Asian economies have started to enjoy the bonus of the progressing regional economic integration against the complexity of the domestic and international situation," the report said.
With increased awareness of building an Asian community of shared future and further regional integration, Asia will be able to achieve self-reliant stable growth, it said.
"Its huge consumption market and infrastructure market will enable Asia to take the lead in recovering from the economic downturn and drastically improving security," it said.
The BFA annual conference runs from March 26 to 29 in Boao, a coastal town in China's southern island province of Hainan.
WASHINGTON - Former president Barack Obama gently warned a group of freshman House Democrats Monday evening about the costs associated with some liberal ideas popular in their ranks, encouraging members to look at price tags, according to people in the room.
Obama didn't name specific policies. And to be sure, he encouraged the lawmakers - about half-dozen of whom worked in his own administration - to continue to pursue "bold" ideas as they shaped legislation during their first year in the House.
But some people in the room took his words as a cautionary note about Medicare-for-all and the ambitious Green New Deal, two liberal ideas popularized by a few of the more famous House freshmen, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
While the more liberal freshmen have garnered much of the attention in Washington, many first-year Democrats hail from swing- or even red-districts and have struggled with how to respond to the emboldened far-left.
"He said we [as Democrats] shouldn't be afraid of big, bold ideas - but also need to think in the nitty-gritty about how those big, bold ideas will work and how you pay for them," said one person summarizing the former president's remarks.
Obama's words - rare advice from a beloved leader who has shunned the spotlight since leaving office - come as the Democratic Party grapples with questions of how far left to lean in the run-up to 2020. Most Democratic candidates seeking the presidential nomination have embraced a single-payer health-care system and the Green New Deal, an ambitious plan to make the U.S. economy energy efficient in a decade.
But some moderate Democrats worry a lurch left will upend their chances at ousting President Donald Trump. Notably, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calf., who helped organize Obama's meeting with the freshmen, has not put those ideas on the floor for a House vote - nor does she plan to, senior Democrats close to her say.
People in the room, who asked for anonymity to describe the evening, said Obama's cost warnings weren't deficit-scolding, per se. Rather he argued that voters care about the costs associated with policies and that Democrats should be ready to answer questions about how they will pay for idea while making big promises to constituents.
Obama gave the example of taxes: Even a liberal, he argued, could be repelled from supporting a liberal policy if it's accompanied by a major tax cut to their own bottom line.
Obama, these people said, made few if any remarks about Trump or the newly released conclusion of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Impeachment also never came up.
Rather, the evening was casual and friendly. Obama spoke about his own experience in Congress, however brief it was before his ascension to the White House. The former president - who had campaigned for a number of freshmen in the room - said he was proud of them for fighting for what they believed was right.
Obama also complimented Pelosi.
"The reason I love Nancy is because she combines a passion for doing what's right for our country and our kids, along with a toughness that can't be matched on the Hill," Obama said.
Pelsoi, notably, has focused Democrats' legislative agenda on passing issues the lawmakers campaigned and won on in 2018, including legislation codifying protections for preexisting conditions and background checks for gun owners.
When the freshmen asked Obama about his approach to governing, Obama talked about the importance of constituent services and making voters feel seen and heard. He told them to work across the aisle but also warned against becoming trapped by "phony bipartisanship," as one person described his remarks.
"He was speaking to staying in touch with your constituents. . . making sure you're doing the regular communications as well as [recognizing] that there's often-time nuances to policy making and that it takes time," said Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., who worked in the Obama administration. "He told stories about passing the ACA, and how that took a lot of conviction and 'Don't ask, don't tell,' and how that took a lot of time."
Stevens did not get into additional specifics of the evening.
Obama at one-point dinged Republicans for moving too far right, holding up the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., as an example of the traditional GOP before Trump re-branded the party. He spoke of turning out voters and how to push for progressive ideas while also hailing from a swing district.
Obama also gave the freshmen some advice: Find the policy you're willing to lose your seat over and fight for it. The Affordable Care Act was that policy for him as well as a handful of Democrats who took the vote knowing it would cost them their seats.
They don't regret that, he said, after millions of people got health insurance. Or, at least, he certainly didn't.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Tragedies like the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High and Sandy Hook Elementary school massacres eventually fade from view, blunted by other mass shootings and the passage of time. But for the survivors, the pain can never end.
The father of a Sandy Hook victim killed himself Monday, just days after two Stoneman Douglas students also took their lives. The Florida deaths have officials in Parkland and nearby Coral Springs renewing their communities' focus on the suicide prevention and mental health resources that remain available 13 months after a gunman killed 17 people at the high school.
In Newtown, Conn., where 20 first-graders died along with six staff members six years ago, the body of 49-year-old Jeremy Richman was found outside his office Monday morning.
Richman's daughter Avielle was fatally shot at Sandy Hook. He had visited Florida last week and met with the parents of Stoneman Douglas victims, said Lori Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter Alyssa died there.
Richman and his wife oversaw The Avielle Foundation, a group they started dedicated to preventing violence by better understanding brain health.
"Our hearts are shattered, and our heads are struggling to comprehend," the foundation said in a statement. "Tragically, his death speaks to how insidious and formidable a challenge brain health can be and how critical it is for all of us to seek help for ourselves, our loved ones and anyone who we suspect may be in need."
Multiple suicides among mass shooting survivors can be alarming, but mental health experts said the Florida deaths are not surprising. They come amid a rising nationwide trend: More than 47,000 U.S. suicides occurred in 2017, at the highest rate in at least half a century 14 per 100,000. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among U.S. teenagers.
"One of the big risk factors for suicide is exposure to violence," said Dr. Louis Kraus, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Even if they weren't hit by bullets or didn't see shots fired, "anyone who was at that school is at risk," Kraus said, and should be screened.
"The scars simply don't go away with a fresh coat of paint," he said.
Psychologist April Foreman, a board member at the American Association of Suicidology, said survivors are more prone to suicide and thus must be vigilant about mental health check-ups just as if they had a family history of breast cancer or heart disease.
With help, people can overcome their suicidal impulses, she said.
"It's not a foregone conclusion that this will happen to everyone who's been exposed to this and the majority of people who are suicidal don't go on to die. They go on to recover and live," she said.
The first suicide took place March 16. Cara Aiello told WFOR-TV last week that her 18-year-old daughter Sydney had suffered from survivor's guilt her friend, Meadow Pollack, died in the attack.
Sydney had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and struggled to attend college because she feared being in a classroom, but never asked for help, her mother said.
Coral Springs police officer Tyler Reik confirmed Monday that a Stoneman Douglas sophomore apparently killed himself Saturday, but said an official determination had not been made pending an autopsy.
SILVER SPRING, Md. - Members of a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee scrutinizing the safety of breast implants urged the agency on Tuesday to take steps to ensure that patients have a clearer understanding of the risks - which includes a rare cancer that is linked to several deaths around the world - posed by the devices.
The members, speaking at the conclusion of a two-day FDA hearing, signaled support for a standardized, easily understood consent form that would lay out the major risks of the devices and be reviewed by patients and their doctors before a woman underwent surgery.
They said the FDA could negotiate the format and content of the consent form with patients, plastic surgeons' groups and manufacturers. Frank Lewis, chairman of the agency's panel on general and plastic surgery devices, said the current documents written by manufacturers are too long - some are more than 70 pages - and unwieldy. "They were constructed to provide legal protection for the companies," he said.
During the sometimes emotionally wrenching hearing on implants, several women testified that they had not been adequately warned of risks posed by implants and were harmed by the devices.
The FDA had asked the panel to hold the hearing and provide guidance on several complicated issues involving implants, which have stirred controversy for decades.
The panel members came up with other suggestions for the FDA. One said that the tissue removed when implants are taken out should be analyzed by pathologists to try to understand what causes illness or complication. Another said it was important to try to establish an official definition for "breast implant illness" - the constellation of autoimmune problems that many women say are caused by implants - so insurance would pay for treatment of the ailments. The FDA has said the weight of evidence does not support such "systemic" effects from implants.
But the panel did not appear to reach consensus on recommending that any implants be taken off the market, including certain textured ones that have been linked to cancer. Many patients and advocates called for such a ban, but several panel members said they opposed the step at this time.
At the end of the meeting, however, Texas plastic surgeon Pierre Chevray, a member of the panel, called for banning textured implants that have been barred in other countries.
The FDA has identified 457 cases and nine deaths in the United States associated with the cancer, called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Six hundred cases and 17 deaths have been reported worldwide. Several countries have banned one type of textured device.
Diana Zuckerman, a longtime advocate who is president of the National Center for Health Research, said the recommendations from the panel "were rather vague," but she said the meeting was important because it allowed women to tell their stories to the FDA and the surgery panel. "We don't know what comes next, but I'm hopeful," she said after the meeting.
The panel also said that the FDA should change its recommendation that women with implants begin to get MRIs after three years to check for ruptures. Perhaps starting after six years would be more practical, members said, considering the cost involved.
Facebook groups have attracted tens of thousands of women who say they came down with such afflictions after getting implants and then saw that many of their symptoms eased when the devices were removed. Nicole Daruda, who had her implants removed several years ago, runs the biggest group, called Breast Implant Illness and Healing, with 70,000 members. "Hundreds of women are joining every day," she said.
The advisory committee, which includes plastic surgeons, epidemiologists and biomaterials experts, did not take formal votes over the two-day hearing. Instead, it discussed questions posed by the FDA.
About 400,000 women a year get implants, 75 percent for cosmetic reasons and the rest for reconstruction after breast-cancer surgery. Implants are either filled with silicone gel or saline solution; their surfaces are smooth or textured. The majority of implants used in the United States are smooth.
The FDA banned most implants in 1992 but lifted that ban in 2005. The agency approved implants made by Allergan and Mentor in 2006, requiring them to conduct long-term studies on the impact on women's health. Earlier this month, the FDA sent warning letters to Mentor and Sientra, saying they had failed to comply with those long-term study requirements.
Much of the two-day session underscored the difficulty of making regulatory decisions in the absence of reliable, long-term data about the effects of implants. Committee members complained, for example, about a lack of control groups in studies that would allow researchers to compare patients who have implants with people who do not have them.
Plastic surgeons and manufacturers defended the implants, saying they provided important option for women who undergo breast-cancer surgery or want to have their breasts enlarged. Lisa Lynn Sowder, a Seattle plastic surgeon who testified on Tuesday, said she had "never been a big fan of breast implants," but she worries that some patient-driven social media sites make women unnecessarily anxious. She said some of the patients "are worried sick" by what they read on the sites.
The patients and advocates had asked the committee to recommend that the FDA ban some products, require a "black box" warning on all devices and direct doctors and patients to sign a two-page checklist on implant risks before surgery.
Natalie Compagni Portis, a clinical psychologist who is a member of the panel, said just acknowledging what women have suffered is progress. "Women have felt dismissed," she said. "We can at least acknowledge that something is happening."
RTHK: Junta holds edge as Thai rivals jockey for power
Rival political camps jostled for position on Tuesday, hoping to form a government after Thailand's first election since a coup a vote clouded by allegations of rigging and other chicanery under junta-written rules.
The junta is in pole position to return to power as a civilian administration after preliminary results from Sunday's poll showed its proxy party had secured an unexpected majority of the popular vote.
Around 7.6 million votes went to Phalang Pracharat with 94 percent of ballots tallied, the Election Commission has said.
That gives it and its prime ministerial candidate, junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha a strong claim to legitimacy from a poll held under new junta-scripted rules.
It is more than 400,000 ballots better than Pheu Thai, the populist party toppled from power by the 2014 coup and affiliated with self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
But Pheu Thai still appeared set to become the largest party in the lower house, on track for 137 constituency seats compared to Phalang Pracharat's 97, according to early figures.
Experts predict days, perhaps weeks, of messy negotiations, with both parties claiming the right to form a government.
Disqualifications of candidates and disputes over poll irregularities are also likely to reshape the balance of the lower house before May 9, when final results are to be published.
Pheu Thai on Monday said as the majority party it is entitled to try to put together an anti-junta coalition.
That would lean on the Future Forward party, which took over five million votes, emerging from nowhere to become the third biggest party in Thai politics.
The party was given impetus by the millennial vote who support its radical agenda of economic and military reform.
"We are willing to form a coalition with the party that got the most seats," its telegenic figurehead Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit told reporters late on Monday as the horse-trading began.
Another smaller party, Bumjaithai, the vehicle of a cabal of savvy billionaires whose allegiance shifts with the political winds, is likely to be crucial in swinging a lower house majority towards or against the junta party.
It has proposed Anutin Charnivirakul, 52, for prime minister and trailed promises of boosting rural incomes across the northeast by allowing medicinal cannabis to be grown.
Seen as a rare compromise figure across a political landscape bisected by personal hatreds, he was once a senior official in a Shinawatra party. (AFP)
This story has been published on: 2019-03-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
China Aviation Supplies Holding Company and Airbus have signed a record deal worth 35 billion U.S. dollars in Paris on Monday for the purchase of 290 narrow-body A320 and 10 wide-body A350 XWB aircraft.
A screenshot of the Airbus website. [Photo: China Plus]
President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of the deal with French President Emmanuel Macron at a ceremony in France during this week's state visit by the Chinese leader.
China Aviation Supplies announced news of the deal on its website, saying that air transportation had grown rapidly in China in recent years. "In order to meet the developing needs of our enterprises and address demand in the air transportation market, we decided to purchase a batch of Airbus aircraft to expand our carrying capacity."
File photo of A350 XWB. [Photo: IC]
In an announcement on the company's website, the President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft said "We are honored to support the growth of China's civil aviation with our leading aircraft families single-aisle and wide-bodies. Our expanding footprint in China demonstrates our lasting confidence in the Chinese market and our long-term commitment to China and our partners."
The latest Airbus forecast on China's aviation market shows that some 7,400 new passenger and freight aircraft will be needed over the next 20 years, which will account for 19 percent of global demand.
File photo of Airbus A320. [Photo: IC]
As of the start of this year, 1,730 Airbus aircraft were in service with airlines in China, including 1,455 of the A320 and 17 of the A350 XWB.
A recent survey shows that close to 90 percent of university students want to gain financial independence, the China Youth Daily reported Monday.
Among those who have such plans, 72.88 percent said they realized financial independence to varying degrees, and 8 percent are paying their own personal bills, the Beijing-based newspaper said.
The survey was based on answers from 805 respondents.
Different from the older generations that earned money to alleviate the burden on their families, the current students aspire for freedom, a sense of pride and responsibility, and satisfaction of supporting themselves, it said.
Nearly 50 percent of respondents attributed their pursuit of financial independence to "a sense of being cool" and reluctance to tell parents why they need the money.
Li Yuhui, a professor with the School of Labor and Human Resources of Renmin University of China, warned against the risks facing students in taking part-time jobs to this end.
"With various choices ranging from tutoring jobs to being hired to create fake reviews in online marketplaces, how to make the right and safe decision should be a problem to be jointly addressed by the students, society and schools," Li told the paper.
A media registration system under the press center of the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition opened to media from home and abroad on Monday, the organizing committee said.
Journalists can log onto the official website -- https://exhibitionreg.news.cn -- to sign up. Registration will close on Sept. 10.
After registering online, foreign journalists temporarily in China can apply for J-2 visas at Chinese embassies, consulates or other agencies abroad entrusted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry with the confirmation letter generated by the registration system.
The time and method for collecting the press cards will be announced on the official website of the Beijing expo in due course.
Open from April 29 to October 7 next year, the 162-day expo will exhibit the latest achievements in floriculture and fruit and vegetable farming at the foot of the Great Wall in northwest Beijing's Yanqing District.
So far, 110 countries and international organizations have confirmed attendance. It is expected that more than 16 million people will visit the expo this year.
This is the second time China will hold such a high-level horticulture expo. Southwestern Chinese city Kunming held the expo in 1999.
The acrimonious legal fight over Charlie Thrash, 81, a mentally incapacitated millionaire, came to a dead halt Tuesday.
Thrashs legal guardians went to court to seek a permanent injunction against his girlfriend Laura Martinez, her lawyer and various family members. But the matter was put on hold when Phil Ross, the lawyer for Martinez, asked to recuse Probate Judge Oscar Kazen.
Today would have been the hearing on all the marbles but Mr. Ross, at the midnight hour, filed a motion to recuse, said Kazen, who declined to step down.
SUBSCRIBERS: San Antonio millionaire marriage annulled after abuse, exploitation and 'abduction' claims
Kazen signed a temporary restraining order March 14 that accused Martinez and her family of fraud, converting Thrashs property, committing assault and battery against Thrash and interfering with his court-appointed guardians. That order expires Thursday.
Another judge, yet to be appointed, will hear Rosss motion, possibly this week.
On March 15, Kazen annulled the March 4 marriage between Thrash and Laura Martinez, citing a court order that Thrash, because of his mental incapacity, not be allowed to drive, vote or make important personal decisions.
A few days later, District Judge David Canales voided the March 5 adoption by Thrash of Martinezs two adult children, Joe and Brittany Martinez.
Martinez says she began dating Thrash in 2012 when he was still operating his business, CT Thrash Differential & Axle Service on West Avenue.
Thrashs estate is worth an estimated $3 million, and Martinez said she is his sole heir.
MORE ON EXPRESSNEWS.COM: Judge nullifies mentally incompetent San Antonio man's adult adoptions, scolds lawyer for misleading him
In his recusal motion, Ross cites a host of reasons why Kazen should step down, ranging from the judges decision not to hold a political fundraiser that Ross offered to host in 2018, to ignoring pertinent evidence about Thrashs restored mental state, to scolding Ross in open court about unprofessional conduct.
Lawyers for Thrashs two court-appointed guardians said the recusal motion was little more than an attempt by Ross to delay.
We will argue it is a motion filed in bad faith, a dilatory tactic, said Laura Cavaretta, who represents Tonya Barina, the guardian who last week attempted to make an inventory of Thrashs assets, including his classic car collection.
I was able to go to his home and the hanger and take pictures and make an inventory, Barina said.
Barina said that all but one vehicle a $100,000 Corvette have been recovered. It is believed to be in Junction.
Thrash was not present at Tuesdays hearing. On March 6 ,he was removed from the home in Shavano Park he shared with Laura Martinez by his personal guardian, Mary Werner.
Werner said she took the dramatic action, backed by Shavano Park police, because she feared for Thrashs safety. Since then, she said, Thrash has been staying with a relative.
Hes doing good. Hes getting out and about. Yesterday he got his hair cut, Werner said.
Ross, who has been publicly criticized by both Kazen and Canales, said he is trying to rid Thrash of the guardianships on the grounds that his mental capacity has been restored and to reverse the annulment of the marriage to Martinez and the voiding of the adoptions of her children.
We are fighting for everything, he said.
Weve also asked Judge Kazen to appoint a medical expert and make a report to the court on whether Charlie has capacity, he added.
Liu Jieyi, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Monday met with Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu, who is leading a delegation from the city.
Welcoming the delegation, Liu said compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are of the same family.
"We welcome and support cities on both sides, on the basis of upholding the 1992 Consensus, to enhance exchanges and jointly seek development to bring Taiwan compatriots a stronger sense of fulfillment," Liu said.
Liu expressed the mainland's willingness to continue to share the development opportunities on the mainland with Taiwan compatriots first, carry on efforts to deepen cross-Strait integrated development and build more links across the Strait.
He also called on people on the two sides of the Strait to unite, uphold the 1992 Consensus, resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" and make joint efforts in promoting the cross-Strait development toward the right direction and creating a bright future of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Han said the 1992 Consensus is the underpinning of the cross-Strait relations.
He expressed hope to strengthen exchanges with mainland cities, carry out practical cooperation in economic and trade fields and take concrete measures to promote the people's wellbeing.
The May 4 San Antonio Independent School District board election is pivotal. Our union and the SAISD superintendent have fundamental differences in our views. When you follow the money and connections and they all lead to corporate education world it becomes clear that the superintendent supports a Betsy DeVos agenda privatize public schools, take them away from the community and give them to charter companies to profit off our children, attack teachers and their unions, and listen only to the voices of the privileged.
We contend that public schools belong to the public and that we need a district where parents and community have a stronger voice in decisions about their schools, where our teachers and support staff are respected and valued, and where our SAISD neighborhood schools are strengthened.
SAISD board members are either well-meaning but misdirected or complicit in the destruction of our neighborhood public schools. They have become a rubber stamp for the superintendent with unanimous vote after unanimous vote, never a dissenting opinion from anyone.
Over the past 3 years, there has been a remarkable lack of transparency, and although the superintendent will engage with businesspeople, parents and the communitys voices have been ignored.
The decision to turn Stewart Elementary over to a charter company from New York City was perhaps the most stunning example of this lack of transparency and lack of community voice.
Although the district administration had been in talks with the charter company beginning in June 2017, parents were not informed about the takeover until January 2018, just four days before the school board was to vote on the matter. Neither the superintendent nor school board sought parents opinions about their school, their children or the takeover of their school.
Public schools are the foundation of strong neighborhoods and a strong community. Over and over in conversations, families have told us they want neighborhood schools that provide a high-quality education for their children. They do not like the gentrification of their schools. They do not want outside charter companies profiting off our children and taking our tax dollars out of state. They want schools that serve as neighborhood hubs; offer supports and services for families and the community; utilize the assets of the community; and provide academic enrichment for students.
They want schools with less standardized testing and more engaging learning activities. They want schools that address students social and emotional needs and help students who have experienced trauma. They want the district to stop adding high-priced district administrators and start putting more money into classrooms.
Last May, the school board unnecessarily laid off more than 130 teachers, held a job fair a week later, and then started this school year with the highest number of teacher vacancies in years. This resulted in some students going most, if not all, of the first semester without a certified teacher.
In addition to the layoffs, teachers and other employees received no pay increases this year, and the length of the teachers workday was increased without any added compensation.
The school board eliminated the class-size cap for kindergarten through fourth grade, resulting in class sizes that make it harder for teachers to give students the individual attention they deserve. These factors plus a systematic silencing of teacher and employee voices have caused morale to plummet under the current superintendent and school board.
On top of this are teacher concerns about whether district money is being spent efficiently and equitably, fears that the schools at which they work are being set up for failure and privatization, and questions about why there seem to be so many new, highly paid administrative positions.
For all these reasons and more, our union is supporting fresh leadership for the SAISD board of trustees Alicia Perry for District 2, Janell Rubio for District 5 and Eduardo Torres for District 6.
Shelley Potter is president of the Texas Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel.
Re: Imperfect climate plan a useful start, Opinion, Feb. 10:
As a student enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin currently taking a marine ethics course, I found this recent commentary of great interest. I commend San Antonio for taking great initiative on ways the city can begin reducing its carbon emissions and implementing more sustainable policies. However, I agree that the citys new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan is just that a beginning.
After reading the plan, I first want to applaud its educational format. It does an exceptional job of explaining climate change and how it is specifically affecting San Antonio, helping readers understand the urgency of the issue. I also appreciate the emphasis the plan gives to climate equity, recognizing those who are more vulnerable to the effects climate change will have on the city. I believe policymakers often forget that at the end of a policy or plan is a persons livelihood, so it was refreshing to read equity is at the heart of our CAAP.
While the plans introductory and educational purpose were helpful, I agree that it falls short in its mitigation section. While it described some specific, practical strategies, such as converting all streetlights to LEDS with daylight sensors by 2021, other general statements need more clarification, such as reducing the GHG-impact of employee commuting. These broad strategies will require more specific planning on behalf of the city, its partners and its people to most efficiently execute these plans.
Indeed, the plan provides an excellent public forum for the people of San Antonio to begin having deeper conversations about mitigating climate change. I agree it is important to recognize this plan as a start to a larger communitywide effort to address this issue, not an end to it.
Additionally, I am curious about the communication and distribution facets of the plan. How accessible and well-communicated is this plan to all residents of San Antonio, and how much importance and urgency have city officials placed on it? Only by creating and ensuring the entire community is fully informed of and engaged in this climate change plan can substantial, progressive action take place.
Ashley Stluka is a student at the University of Texas at Austin.
More than 1,000,000 Acura and Honda vehicles are being recalled due to an airbag defect.
About the Airbag Defect Recall
Fox Business reports that Honda Motor Company has announced plans to recall more than a million Honda and Acura vehicles in the United States. The recall is in response to a defect that can cause the airbag to explode and spray shrapnel when it is deployed.
The company says it is aware of one injury linked to the latest batch of recalled vehicles.
Honda previously recalled the same vehicles, repairing them with specific Takata brand replacement airbag inflators. Honda is urging vehicle owners who have already had their airbags replaced to check whether this latest recall applies to them.
Honda and Acura dealers will make the repairs for free.
About the Recalled Vehicles
The Honda and Acura recall applies to several models, including the Honda Pilot from 2003 to 2008, the Civic from 2001 to 2005, and the Accord from 2001 to 2007 and 2009.
To check whether your vehicle is affected, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and search using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Exploding Takata Air Bags Linked to 23 Deaths
The Takata recalls deal with some 125 million vehicles worldwide that are equipped with faulty airbags that can explode on deployment, unleashing metal shrapnel into vehicle cabins. At least 42 million of the affected vehicles were sold in the United States.
So far, 23 deaths and hundreds of injuries have been linked to the faulty airbag inflators, most of which have occurred in the U.S.
The defect led Takata to file for bankruptcy protection in June, allowing it to sell its non-airbag inflator business to Key Safety Systems, a unit of Chinas Ningo Joyson Electric Corp.
As of July, less than half of affected vehicles had been repaired.
In February, Ford issued a stop driving warning to 35,000 Ford ranger and Mazda B-Series owners.
Contact an Experienced Airbag Recall Attorney
If you or a loved one have been injured by a defective and dangerous Takata airbag, call Thomas J. Henry today. Our attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends to evaluate your claim and provide you with a free legal consultation. Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide.
Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!
Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.
The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.
The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.
The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.
Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education.
Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.
Vote
View Results
At a press conference on Thursday, Nada Boustani, Lebanons Minister of Energy and Water, presented the outline of her plans to reform the electricity sector, of which L'Orient-Le Jour was able to obtain a partial copy. The plans were discussed the same day in the Council of Ministers, which decided to form a ministerial committee to study the plan before submitting its report within a week.
EDL tariffs hike expected in early 2020
Boustanis plan provides for a 180 percent increase in Electricity du Liban's (EDL) tariffs by early 2020, the tariffs have been frozen and subsidized since 1994. The plan also stipulates an increase in power generation and therefore electricity output (see below) in the same year. This would, therefore, eliminate private generator bills for consumers. For the first (lowest) tariff category, which includes 375,690 users consuming an average of 510 kWh / month, EDL's monthly bill will average at around 110,744 Lebanese Pounds (approximately US $74) in 2020, meaning a 14.5% decrease compared to their current total bill (including costs relating to private generators). For the fifth category (the top consumers), which includes 38,843 users consuming an average of 2,150 kWh / month, EDL's monthly bill will average at 466,863 Lebanese Pounds (about $310) in 2020, a drop of 10.7% compared to their current total bill.
EDLs deficit in 2018 was estimated at US $1.8 billion, with an accumulated deficit of $30 billion. The rise in tariffs should have a direct positive impact on EDLs deficit and consequently on public finances, as the Treasurys financial transfers to EDL to cover this deficit are the third largest public expenditure in the budget. Lowering the fiscal deficit is one of the main commitments made by Lebanon at the CEDRE conference in return for $11 billion in soft loans promised by the international community.
However, before implementing the tariff hike, a reduction of EDL's deficit could be achieved as early as 2019, as the plan provides for improving the collection of bills (EDL expects to eventually recover almost $2 billion in unpaid bills) and the installation of smart meters starting in 2019. Non-technical losses (theft and illegal connections) are estimated to account for 21% of EDLs output. The modernization and extension of the transmission and distribution network, also covered by the plan, would make it possible to address the technical losses which waste 16% of the output.
An increase in production
Boustanis plan also provides for the launch of a new call for tenders for long-term power purchase agreements. Interested companies will have to propose a solution to increase output by an additional 1,450 MW (megawatts) in the short-term (i.e. before EDL's tariff increase comes into effect and until 2025) in addition to a long-term solution, through the construction of new sustainable plants at Selaata (550 MW in 2023), Zahrani 2 (550 MW in 2023) and Hraiche (300 MW in 2024). Based on our information, one alternative route (instead of leasing an additional power barge, an option which remains on the table) in order to ensure additional production in the short term would be the installation of 14 to 16 small butane gas-fired power generation units (180 MW each) in several regions in Lebanon.
The installation process for these facilities should require between three and six months. This temporary solution has been recommended by the World Bank and will probably be given preference in the potential applications by GE or Siemens, the companies have already begun discussions with the Ministry of Energy.
The plan also foresees the rehabilitation of the Deir Ammar 2 plant in 2019 so that it would be partially functional by 2021 and reach its full capacity by 2022; the construction and commissioning of the new Zouk 2 plants (550 MW in 2025) and Jiye 2 (550 MW in 2026); and the development of solar power farms (300 MW in 2022) and wind farms (400 MW in 2023). The three liquefied gas storage and processing units (FSRUs) in the Deir Ammar 2, Selaata, and Zahrani 2 plants will be commissioned by 2021. In parallel, the plan foresees the dismantling of the former Hraiche, Zouk, and Jiye power plants, with the first projected to be dismantled in 2020, and the other two in 2022. In addition, the two power barges currently producing 370 MW will no longer be used.
(This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour on the 26th of March)
Political populism has expanded around the world, from Brazil and Hungary to the United States. In each country, populist politicians have echoed and emulated each other, proudly promoting an us versus them worldview. The spread of this ideology has, at times, taken an extreme and violent turn. The most recent example of this occured on March 15 when a self-avowed white supremacist attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
In response to the populist trend, a number of initiatives advocating dialogue, coexistence and tolerance have been started. Some have come from organizations while others are more symbolic and international in scope. One example is the Document on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, during a summit in Abu Dhabi in February. The document called for the freedom of belief and expression.
Among these initiatives, Lebanon holds a special place when it comes to interreligious dialogue. The country has 18 religious communities and during its 15 year civil war experienced the worst results that intercommunal hatred can produce. In response, Lebanon has tried to move beyond scattered initiatives promoting tolerance by becoming the first and only country to establish a national holiday for Islamic-Christian dialogue, which is celebrated on March 25.
Here is an overview of where this initiative came from and how it became a national holiday.
The Virgin Mary: a bridge between religions
According to the Bible, March 25 is the day that the Archangel Gabriel informed the Virgin Mary that she had divinely conceived Jesus, the son of God.
In the Quran, Gabriel did not announce that Mary was pregnant with the son of God, but with a prophet named Issa. The announcement is mentioned in two different surahs (chapters): Surah 3, al-Omran (Omrans family), and Surah 19, the Surah of Mary (Mariam, in Arabic). The figure of Mary also appears more than 30 times in the Quran, more than the mother, wives or the daughter of the Prophet Mohammad. Her prevalence, as well as her status as the mother of a prophet, has earned her special recognition among Muslims.
This is why many Muslims visit the shrine of Our Lady of Harissa, overlooking the Bay of Jounieh about 20 km north of Beirut. Muslims also represent 5 percent of the 6 million annual visitors to the pilgrimage site in Lourdes, France where believers say the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared, according to Gerard Testard, coordinator of Ensemble avec Marie (Together with Mary), a French initiative bringing Christians and Muslims together.
The origin of the Islamic-Christian celebration
In the early 2000s, there were an increasing number of roundtables, conferences and meetings on Islamic-Christian dialogue in Lebanon. These events were happening on a regular basis, but we formed a closed-knit club of some 100-150 members who enjoyed using great words about dialogue without having any impact on society, Nagy el-Khoury, who was an educator with Notre-Dame de Jamhour College at the time, told LOrient-Le Jour (OLJ).
El-Khoury had grown tired of having endless conversations that didnt yield any concrete results. During one of the interreligious dialogues, he asked Mohammad Nokkari, a former managing director of Dar el-Fatwa and renowned islamic judge in Beirut, Cant we just simply pray together?
Nokkari replied that only Mary could bring Christians and Muslims together.
In July 2006, the two men organized an interreligious prayer. And in March 2007, on the celebration of the Annunciation, they organized the first big interreligious ceremony with 1,000 attendees from various communities. It was an extraordinary event, seeing Muslims and Christians pray together for one common religious figure; hearing them all singing; hearing the call to prayer resonate in a church, Nokkari told OLJ.
A delegation from al-Azhar attended the first event, and in light its success, the organizers decided to make it an annual occurrence and started pushing to turn March 25 into a national holiday. The idea was, for a change, to work on what brings us together as opposed to what divides us, el-Khoury said.
March 25: a national holiday
In February 2010, Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced that March 25 would be a national day for Christian-Muslim dialogue. The day became a holiday in Lebanon. About 30 different organizations representing diverse constituencies gradually joined Nokkari and el-Khoury in organizing annual celebration all over Lebanon. The initiative became known as the Muslim-Christian Meeting around Mary.
A culture of dialogue beyond Lebanon
Today, the Meeting around Mary aims to strengthen this culture and see it travel beyond Lebanese borders. El-Khoury is currently serving as the President of the Republics advisor on Islamic-Christian dialogue. He said that the goal of the annual meeting is to break down barriers between communities. To this end, el-Khoury is working in his capacity as a presidential advisor to turn Lebanon into an international center for interreligious dialogue. One of the aims of this initiative is to establish an Academy for Human Dialogue, which Salim Jreissati, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, is currently working on.
Lebanon is not an arbitrary location to host these kinds of initiatives, according to el-Khoury. Lebanon is one of the few countries where we can find a real mix. Its not an Islamic country in which Christians live, nor vice-versa, he said. Despite issues and problems, Christians and Muslims live together naturally.
The dialogue initiatives centered on Mary are gradually gaining ground. Nokkari has been criticized and faced threats from Islamists for his involvement in the project, and some Christian extremists have also accused the Meeting of stealing the Annunciation holiday. Most of the time, it is more about misunderstanding than opposition, Nokkari said. For instance, the use of the term prayer was problematic for Salafists and Wahhabis who thought that it was a liturgical prayer. We prefer, henceforth, to talk of the invocation of Mary; same thing for people who didnt understand that it could be a national holiday, thinking instead that we wanted to add a new religious holiday to the two big celebrations of al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) and al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan).
On the other hand, el-Khoury emphasized that politics often plays the role of troublemakers.
For his part, Nokkari is looking for new opportunities to create bridges between the communities. The next step may be inviting Christians to participate in the al-Adha celebration. Abraham, after all, is an important figure for both Christians and Muslims, Nokkari said.
Regionally, the first event of this kind was organized in Amman, Jordan last year, and the country is looking to establish a national day for dialogue as well, according to el-Khoury and Nokkari.
(This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour on the 25th of March)
A female leopard and her cub have been caught on camera at Three-river-source National Park in northwest China's Qinghai Province, according to the park administration.
The three-river-source area is the source of China's major rivers and a major habitat for the big cat. It is estimated that more than 1,000 snow leopards live in the area.
The videos filmed on infrared cameras in January and February showed the leopard and her cub near the source of the Yellow River. It is the first time that the animal has been spotted during a scientific investigation at the source.
"Through continuous long-term investigations, researchers will gradually confirm the population, density, living conditions and migration routes of the animal in this area," said He Bin, an expert with World Wildlife Fund and a participant in the investigation.
The snow leopard is a Class-A protected animal in China, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies it as endangered-to-vulnerable.
On September 28, 2000 a majority of the Danish voters said no to the Euro - 53.1% voted No and 46.9% voted Yes. This was a surprisingly high No-vote, since almost all the different opinion polls and "experts" etc., had been predicting a very close, almost fifty-fifty situation. The participation in the referendum was very high - about 88%, which is the highest percentage in a Danish EU-referendum since the first one in 1972 where 90.4% voted.
This was a No against all odds: the majority of the political parties, the unions, the employers' organisations and most of the newspapers had campaigned for a Yes, and the amount of money spent on the Yes-campaigns was much, much bigger than that spent on the No-campaigns. The parties in the government - Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) and Radikale Venstre ("Radical Left", which is neither radical nor left - it is a small bourgeois party) - campaigned for a Yes, as did also the main parties of the opposition: the Conservatives, Venstre ("Left" - again not a left party, but the biggest bourgeois party) and the small bourgeois Centrumdemokraterne. The LO - the national organisation of the unions - equivalent to the TUC in Britain - and most unions also recommended a Yes vote, in some instances even in joint campaigns with the employers' organisation.
The Yes-campaigns
The arguments put forward by the Yes-campaigners, especially the Social Democrats, changed quite a lot during the weeks and months of the debate before September 28. In the beginning the focus was on the economic gains that would be won from joining the Euro. This, however, was changed when a report from a group of "independent experts" called the "wise men" concluded that the gains would be small and uncertain.
Then there was a series of arguments about more political issues - it would be a "yes of solidarity and internationalism", "a yes to a project of peace", "the best way of controlling international capital" and so on. And all the time it was stressed that Denmark had to join because then the minister of economic affairs could be at the meetings where the decisions are made - exactly what will be decided at these meetings has never been revealed. Of course these arguments are completely empty - since when have European finance and monopoly capital, who have built, and control, the EU, been the defenders of solidarity and peace? How are we supposed to combat the domination of international capital by giving more power to a handful of financial people in a bank somewhere in Europe, and what has the attempt to build an EU-army got to do with peace?
Apparently the leaders of the Social Democracy also realised that these kind of arguments didn't work either, so in the last week or so before the referendum, the campaigning got more and more desperate and turned into threats: the effects of a No would mean the end of the welfare society, it would lead to unemployment and massive cuts (of course carried out by the government, i.e. the Social Democracy). Prime minister Nyrup Rasmussen said that various plans of action (a series of cuts) had already been worked out, that would be implemented when the negative reactions of the world market would make themselves felt after a No. As it turned out - and as one would expect - these kinds of threats didn't have the intended effect: many people felt that the Yes-campaigners were bullying people who were in doubt or saying no.
The No-campaigns
The Danish population is divided over the question of the EU - and so are all the parties and organisations. In most of the Yes-parties there are Euro-sceptic groups. In the Social Democracy, for example, there is the SNE, Socialdemokratisk NetvErk Europa. While the LO and, for example, the metal workers' union were pro-Euro, there are also unions that were against, especially on a local level. For example there is a group called FagbevEgelsen mod Unionen (Unions against the Union).
Several parties also adopted an official line against the Euro. These were Socialistisk Folkeparti (SF, "Socialist People's Party"), Dansk Folkeparti (DF, "Danish People's Party"), Enhedslisten (EL, "The Unity List" - a small party uniting different left sects and the remnants of the old Communist party), Kristeligt Folkeparti (a very small Christian party) and various small groups, among them all the ultra-lefts. Besides there are two so-called "people's movements" against the EU - FolkebevEgelsen mod EU and JunibevEgelsen. In some of these parties there were also people who went against the leadership and supported a Yes. Especially in SF there is a small group of pro-EU people - the "modernisers" of the party.
After the referendum it was Pia KjErsgArd, the leader of the nationalist DF, who was on the front pages of most papers, and when CNN broadcast live, it was from DF's rooms. But in the debates leading up to September 28, DF had stayed a little in the background, probably realising that their nationalist arguments could make some No-voters vote Yes instead. (Their campaign was called "For krone og fEdreland" - "For the Krone and the fatherland.") So the main participants in debates on TV, in the newspapers and so on were the Social Democratic leaders and Holger K. Nielsen, the leader of SF.
The welfare state
What was very interesting in the different campaigns was that the main arguments used to persuade the voters were basically more or less the same on both sides and from all parties: all the leaders talked about the need to defend the Danish welfare state, the so-called Danish model, to fight the bureaucratic and undemocratic aspects of the EU, to build a peaceful Europe - the only difference was that the No-campaigners said that this could best be done without the Euro, while the Yes-campaigners argued that standing outside of the Euro would damage "Danish interests" and thus do harm to the welfare state and that the best way to defend the welfare state would be as a full member of the EU.
The fact that we are in a period where no parties (except maybe some extremists) dare to speak out against the welfare state is very important. Of course we know that there is a steady flow of cuts that is slowly dismantling the welfare state. The Social Democrats in government are doing that now, and so would any other Danish party in government, if they follow the rules of capitalism.
The Danish working class has fought to build a civilised existence through the welfare state - this was probably as good as it could get under capitalism and it was only possible as an historic exception in a special period of capitalist development. In our present period capitalism will be forced to remove many of the gains of the past, and the government - whether reformist or bourgeois - will be forced to carry out this policy.
In words no party dares to say what is the real situation - even the former ultra-liberals from Venstre are talking about the welfare state as something positive, and yet it is only a decade or so ago that their present leader wrote his infamous book "From social state to minimal state" in which he more or less demanded the abolition of the Social Democratic welfare state. They all know that any serious attacks on the welfare state will probably create huge dissatisfaction and resistance, so all the political leaders talk about "developing" the welfare state, "creating new possibilities and choices for the people" and so on. Poul Nyrup Rasmussen has even made himself quite a reputation for giving out "guarantees": in the last election campaign he promised not to make cuts in a the rules for early retirement, but after the election these things were cut anyway, which created huge unpopularity for the Social Democracy, sending the party to historically low levels of support in the opinion polls and at the same time boosting the support for the populist DF. Still he apparently hasn't learned anything from this experience, because in the last weeks of the EU-referendum campaign he issued another "guarantee" - that there wouldn't be any cuts in the pension system. Apparently that did not work.
A majority didn't believe in all these assurances and didn't accept the threats. The No represented - for many people - a vote against uncertainty, opposition to any cuts and fear for the general future of the Danish welfare system, a vote of big mistrust in the established leaders of all the main parties and "the elite" in general. The mistrust in the political elite is shown by the very widespread "joke" that "if we don't vote yes, we'll just get another referendum in October." One of the two main tabloid papers - one of the few anti-Euro papers - even used this in a commercial. Of course this is not a joke - it is what really happened after the No in the 1992 EU-referendum. A recent opinion poll as to why people voted like they did on September 28 showed that 37% of No-voters voted No because they didn't want more "integration" in the EU and more "union", and 23% indicated that they had a "general mistrust in the EU". At the same time only 11% of the Yes-voters voted Yes because they thought it would improve their economy. This opinion poll also showed that a very large part of the population had a deep mistrust of Danish politicians in the question about the EU.
Who voted what
This whole attitude is also reflected in the distribution of Yes and No votes throughout the country. In previous EU-referendums there had been a bit of an "area influence" - people from the countryside voting more Yes, and people in the cities voting more No. But this time the Yes-percentage in the cities on the whole has increased, while the No-percentage has increased in the countryside.
The surveys that have been made show that the division was really one of income: generally the richer you were, the more likely you were to vote Yes, and this was reflected in the fact that one of the only places with a Yes-majority was in the rich people's residential areas north of Copenhagen, whereas some of the biggest No-votes came from the traditionally Social Democratic working class suburbs west of Copenhagen and other places where there is also a larger number of people who are in one way or another dependent on the welfare system. As in all previous EU-referendums the No-percentage was much bigger among women than among men - also reflecting the fact that women generally have lower incomes and are more dependent on the welfare system.
Of the big Yes-parties it was also among Social Democratic voters that there was the biggest percentage of No-voters - some surveys say 40% of Social Democratic voters voted No, but the fact is that many traditional Social Democratic voters at the present time wouldn't classify themselves as Social Democratic voters. There has been a more or less steady flow of voters away from the party in protest against Nyrup Rasmussen's broken "guarantees", the interference of the government against the workers in the big strikes in 1998 and so on. But if we still classify these people as Social Democratic the percentage of Social Democratic voters voting No would be much, much bigger.
No alternatives from the left wing
The Marxists think that the No vote is a positive development - it is a big blow to the so-called "political elite", bourgeois and right reformists alike, and it shows that a majority of the Danish working class will not be prepared to accept cuts and "reforms" to the welfare state without protesting. But at the same time this is a very confused No. It is a No to a lot of things, but it is not a Yes to something else - there have never really been any alternatives.
The left-wing No-campaigners - SF, EL, the ultra-lefts and the No-groups in the Social Democracy and the unions - have all been more or less entangled in different "popular" campaigns together with all kinds of bourgeois and nationalist groups. There hasn't been one word of independent working class policy from these people. They have just used the same arguments that other No-campaigners have used. But without a clear Socialist perspective these arguments are really hollow:
"We still want to be able to control our own economy" - yes, but we, i.e. ordinary working people and youth, don't have any control over the economy and we will never have that under capitalism, inside or outside the Euro or EU.
"We want to keep the special Danish model and the welfare state" - yes of course, but this is being dismantled, and this will continue whether Denmark is inside or outside the EU, as the welfare state is being destroyed in all capitalist countries.
"We don't want to give up our democratic rights to the EU bureaucrats" - no of course not, and every step in the direction of more EU-integration is a lessening of democracy, but what about the present democracy in Denmark - do we control our own lives, do we have anything to say about our workplace, our schools and the economy and politics? etc., etc.
An independent working class alternative
And what has happened after the No vote? Has Denmark suddenly been changed into something better, do we have en eternal "guarantee" of the welfare state? Of course not. Denmark is still a capitalist country in a capitalist Europe, and the Danish economy is still dependent on the world market and on Europe, the Krone is tied to the Euro, and the Danish government will pursue the same policies as before. After the referendum the yes-campaigners have tried to explain their defeat. Apparently they haven't realised that a majority of the voters actually disagree with their policies - they try to explain the no-vote with "we haven't been good enough at informing", "obviously people haven't understood what we've been saying", and so on. The leader of the DSU (Young Socialists) has said that now they have to be even more aggressively pro-EU in order to "convince" young people. This can only lead to new defeats for the leadership in the future, as more people will see through their empty words.
And what have the No-campaigners done after the No vote? The leaders of SF are negotiating with the government in order to reach some kind of "compromise" on the EU question; the EL is hardly saying anything; the DF is having another round of internal fights and expulsions which is more or less their trademark; the "people's movements" are only "active" when there are referendums - so in short: nothing.
However, another important development has taken place in the weeks after the referendum, something which is an even bigger victory: the childcare workers in Copenhagen have been on an "illegal" strike against proposed cuts from the Social Democratic-led local city council. The after-school centres had previously also been open before school, but it was proposed that that be changed, which meant that many childcare workers would be forced to work less (with less pay), and of course it would also be a big problem for the children and their parents.
The strike enjoyed enormous sympathy from the children's parents - as a consequence of the strike they are going to get a refund of the money they have paid for the childcare, and in some places they have decided to give that money to the childcare workers, who have lost a lot of income from being on strike. There have been big demonstrations, and all this support combined with the fact that the workers succeeded in getting other types of childcare workers to threaten to join the strike led to victory.
The Social Democracy in the city council has been forced to make an agreement with SF and EL that cancels the cuts in the morning openings. Of course we'll still have to see these promises turned into reality, but right now it looks like a clear victory. One of the spokespersons of the strikers said on the radio that the best thing about this strike was that it had showed that the class struggle was not dead.
All this contains a valuable lesson for Danish workers and youth: if we want to defend our rights and welfare and even expand it, it's no use just relying on being in the EU or outside the EU; it's not enough just to put our trust in the Yes-side or the No-side. The only way to progress is the unity of the working class itself, its understanding of its own strength and its will to fight against the cuts of capitalism and for a new socialist order, which is the only real guarantee for a life with welfare and progress.
The government of Luohu district of Shenzhen city and Tencent Holdings Ltd. signed an agreement on March 21 to cooperate in the fields of digital government, healthcare, smart education, and scientific innovation, giving Luohu a boost in becoming "smarter" and more innovative.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Luohu district. Its mayor, Luo Yude, noted at the signing ceremony that the cooperation with Tencent will allow Luohu to strengthen its governance and speed up the smart building process.
Leon Guo, senior vice president of Tencent, said he hoped such cooperation will empower intelligent industry in Luohu.
With a big data-based education ecosystem expected in the near future, Luohu is taking the lead in exploring supply-side structural reform in education.
Robert A. Sundberg III, a fired Massachusetts State Police trooper convicted of raping his former girlfriend, a fellow state police trooper, was sentenced to 10-to-15 years in prison Tuesday in Lowell Superior court, officials said.
Judge Heidi Brieger also sentenced Sundberg, 48, to three years probation. He was ordered to consume no drugs or alcohol, to stay away from and have no contact with the victim, to complete a certified batterers program, to undergo a mental health evaluation and to register as a sex offender and other conditions.
The former 14-year veteran of the department was fired after a jury found him guilty last week of two counts of rape, strangulation, stalking, assault with intent to rape, five counts of assault and battery on a household or family member, three counts of assault and battery and malicious damage of a motor vehicle.
Authorities said Sundberg, who is now living in Framingham, attacked the victim in his former Boxborough home in April 2016. The woman told investigators Sundberg had a long history of sexual and physical abuse.
Sundberg and the victim began dating in 2010, according to a statement from the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
In the years that followed the defendant would routinely monitor the victims phone and consistently questioned her communications with others," the statement read. "The defendant on multiple occasions became angry at the victim and physically assaulted her by punching, kicking and strangling her. The defendant also used physical force to coerce the victim into engaging in non-consensual sexual acts.
On April 22, 2016, Sundberg was out with friends when he became convinced the victim was contacting a male friend of his, Ryans office said.
When Sundberg returned to Boxborough, his then-girlfriend was sleeping. Sundberg strangled the victim until she started to lose consciousness and attempted to rape her, according to the statement. The woman later snuck out of the residence and tried to conceal the injuries inflicted on her.
The victim reported Sundbergs actions to a supervisor, resulting in Sundbergs arrest.
An investigation resulted in charges against Sundberg in connection with six incidents of domestic abuse in addition to the April 2016 charges, Ryans office said. Sundberg was indicted by a Middlesex Superior Court Grand Jury in June 2016.
Sundberg was suspended without pay after state police learned about the attack. He was fired after he was found guilty and sentenced.
We have absolutely no tolerance for domestic violence, and hope this case makes clear that any such allegations will be swiftly and decisively investigated, a state police spokesman said after Sundbergs conviction.
Former trooper Gregory Raftery, possibly the worst offender in the Massachusetts State Police overtime scandal, was sentenced to three months in federal prison Tuesday morning the first going to prison in the scam that included nearly 50 troopers.
Judge William G. Young ordered Raftery to report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons on April 9 to serve 90 days in prison, followed by a year of supervision. Raftery also must pay a restitution of $51,337, the amount of money he made for overtime hours he skipped.
Raftery, 48, of Westwood, pleaded guilty in July to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. He not only wrote fake tickets for overtime hours he skipped, but also destroyed copies of those citations to cover up his misdeeds, according to the sentencing memo.
The now-retired state police trooper admitted to skipping more than 100 specialized patrol shifts in 2015 and 2016, pocketing $51,337 for overtime hours he didnt work.
The crime here is so extensive, so sophisticated, motivated by nothing but greed, it is the view of this court that you must spend a short time in prison, Young told Raftery in federal court Tuesday morning.
Raftery delivered a tear-filled apology Tuesday morning, saying he has to regain the trust of his family and friends as well as the people of Massachusetts.
I know what I did was wrong, and Im truly sorry for that, Raftery said, adding that he hopes people dont judge other police officers for his misdeeds.
He was one of nearly 50 troopers tied to the overtime scandal, according to an internal audit conducted by the Massachusetts State Police. Authorities say the members of the now-disbanded Troop E earned thousands of dollars for overtime hours they did not work on the Accident Injury Reduction Effort patrols, or AIRE, the specialized overtime patrols on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
But Raftery may have been the worst offender. Sources told MassLive that Raftery appears to be the only trooper who skipped triple-digit AIRE shifts.
Raftery spent part of his regular shifts taking down license plate numbers on cars that passed him on the Massachusetts Masspike. He cited those in the tickets he claimed to have given out during the overtime shifts he skipped, authorities said.
The sentencing guidelines called for 12 to 18 months in prison, according to Rafterys sentencing memo. U.S. Attorneys Mark Grady and Dustin Chao recommended a 6-month prison sentence, followed by a period of supervised release and restitution.
16 Massachusetts State Police overtime scandal
Rafterys attorney, Thomas Butters, said he hopes the judge considers multiple factors in the case, including Rafterys service in the 20-plus years he spent in the Massachusetts State Police. Then he asked to approach the judges bench and spoke with Young and prosecutors quietly about his clients circumstances.
It is unclear what they discussed, but it didnt seem to be enough to dissuade Young from ordering prison time. Ive got to send you to jail, Young said.
Rafterys sentencing triggers a review by the state retirement board. Raftery retired last year and receives a monthly payment of $6,017.07.
Raftery is the second trooper sentenced in connection with the overtime investigation. Eric Chin, a former trooper who was fired last year, was sentenced to three months of house arrest, followed by nine months of supervised release.
Eight troopers were charged with embezzlement in federal court. All of them have pleaded guilty. Three troopers are also facing state charges. Lt. David Wilson is the only trooper in the group who is facing both state and federal charges.
In a new policy memo released by the Suffolk County District Attorney, Rachael Rollins orders her staff keep watch of ICE officers around any courthouse and directs those working in her jurisdiction to not prosecute misdemeanor crimes.
The 65-page document created by Rollins, elected to replace Daniel Conley as Suffolk County district attorney last November, answers many of her campaign promises and details her plan to change traditional criminal justice system outcomes such as arrest, detention, prosecution, probation and incarceration."
The guidelines come less than a week after the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts called on Rollins to act on her campaign commitments, including a pledge to not prosecute some 15 misdemeanor crimes like trespassing and shoplifting.
In the memo, shared by her office on Monday night, the DA orders her staff to notify her when Immigrant and Customs Enforcement officers are in or near any Suffolk County courthouse.
If any [Assistant District Attorney], victim witness advocate, or other [Suffolk County District Attorneys Office] employee observes Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, Department of Homeland Security officers, or other civil immigration authorities apprehending or questioning parties scheduled to appear in court about residency status in or around the public areas of any Suffolk County courthouse, they are to immediately notify me (the District Attorney), my First Assistant, or my General Counsel, Rollins writes in the memo.
Rollins also writes that local criminal matters always supersede federal civil matters, and that all parties should be able to arrive in court without fear of civil immigration authorities.
Rollins includes that pledge in her policy memo under the title, Declination and Diversion Policy. The policy lists the 15 low-level offenses that she believes are best addressed by avoiding prosecution entirely.
Offenses such as trespassing, shoplifting, larceny, disorderly conduct, threats, possession of alcohol for minors, possession of non-marijuana drugs, possession with intent to distribute, destruction of property, breaking and entering to escape cold or sleep, driving with a suspended license, and several other charges should always be declined, even when attached to another charge," the memo reads.
She writes that every case must be placed in context, with consideration of factors like repeated offenses, or the purpose behind the individuals action. But ultimately, Rollins says these types of charges should be declined or dismissed pre-arraignment without conditions. .
While campaigning, Rollins received pushback from some groups, including the National Police Association who filed a complaint against her, claiming she had reckless disregard for the law.
The DA writes that her policies are rooted in data, as well as meetings with law enforcement representatives, the criminal defense bar, the judiciary and the neighborhoods in Suffolk County. The diversion practices are also reportedly based on methods being used by innovative law enforcement leaders across the country, such as Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
Her ideas are neither radical nor untested, she writes, citing a statistic that under her predecessor in Suffolk County, more than 12 percent of low-level crimes were dismissed or diverted compared to more serious crimes.
Instead of courts and jail, the district attorney said such those who commit low-level offenses are better served when their crimes are treated as civil infractions. Rollins said in the memo that the Suffolk D.A.'s office can file fewer criminal charges and send fewer people to jail, diverting offenders to seek services and treatment instead.
Many of the adults who come before the court each day can likewise be best served by something other than the criminal justice system, the memo reads.
Gregory Rafterys pattern of falsifying citations, then destroying copies of those records all so he could pocket overtime pay for shifts he missed was part of a larger culture of deception at the Massachusetts State Police, Judge William G. Young said Tuesday morning in court.
That didnt stop Young from sending the retired state trooper to jail. Raftery, 48, of Westwood, was sentenced to three months in federal prison and a year of supervision. He also had to pay a restitution of $51,337 for the overtime pay he collected for hours he skipped.
Still, its the first time a judge acknowledged the systemic nature of the overtime scandal alleged by federal prosecutors. Defense attorneys for former trooper Eric Chin made the same argument Monday.
U.S. Attorneys Mark Grady and Dustin Chao say the troopers misdeeds were in part the result of a quota implemented by supervisors that required troopers to give out at least eight citations during the specialized overtime patrols they were assigned.
A spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police Department said the agency doesnt have any policies or procedures regarding quotas.
Raftery was one of dozens of troopers in now-disbanded Troop E, the unit that exclusively worked the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort patrols on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Nearly 50 troopers were flagged for receiving money for AIRE shifts they didnt work, according to an internal audit by the Massachusetts State Police.
He also was considered the worst offender. Sources told MassLive that Raftery was suspected of skipping more than 100 AIRE shifts, collecting $51,337 in overtime pay.
By contrast, Chin, who was sentenced Monday, was convicted for collecting $7,125 for overtime hours he skipped.
Federal prosecutors say Raftery planned out the fake citations, taking note of random license plates he spotted during his regular shifts. He used those plate numbers while writing the citations and submitted them to the Massachusetts State Police. He also destroyed copies of the citations that were supposed to go to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Raftery retired last year amid the investigation. He pleaded guilty in July to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds.
The quota allegations first surfaced in the sentencing memorandum for Eric Chin, the former state trooper who was sentenced on Monday to house arrest. Both sentencing memorandums alleged the department had an eight-citation minimum for the troopers.
Both sentencing memoranda state that troopers who failed to issue enough citations had to explain it to their supervisors and commanders and that repeated failures to meet this quota often resulted in a trooper being blocked from receiving such overtime opportunities.
In the courtroom, Raftery said he apologized and hoped people wouldnt judge police officers based on his actions.
I know what I did was wrong, and Im truly sorry for that, Raftery said.
His attorney, Thomas Butters, pleaded with the judge to consider all the factors in Rafterys case, including his prior commendations and his commitment to public service in the 20-plus years he spent in the Massachusetts State Police. He also approached the bench and spoke privately with the judge and federal prosecutors about his clients circumstances.
Young referred to the sentencing guidelines throughout the hearing, saying he wanted to impose a sentence that promoted general deterrence." He said he balanced Rafterys public service background and the extensive and sophisticated nature of the crime committed.
Even taking into account the sentencing guidelines, Young said the crime here is so extensive, so sophisticated, motivated by nothing but greed, it is the view of this court that you must spend a short time in prison.
SPRINGFIELD A non-profits new outpatient behavioral health program will benefit from an April 1 charity volleyball tournament being organized by Springfield College students.
The Mental Health Association has opened its BestLife Emotional Health and Wellness Center at 153 Magazine Street adjacent to MHAs Worthington Street headquarters.
MHA, which was founded in 1960, is a provider of residential and support services to individuals impacted by mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse and homelessness throughout the Greater Springfield Area.
We reached out to MHA because they provide such great support to individuals in our community, said Maura Fennessey, a member of the colleges Physician Assistant Student Organization that has planned the event.
People are really beginning to rethink and reframe the perception of mental health, and we wanted to find a way to support a local organization that provides so much support to individuals affected by mental health issues.
Kimberley Lee, MHA vice president of resource development and branding, said MHA was very appreciative of the students recognition of the work it does that includes helping 600 individuals annually with residential and support services.
The new center will offer mental health, substance use, and/or co-occurring services to adults, children, families and couples in the community as well as to existing MHA clients through its programs and clinician staff that includes a psychiatrist.
Its brochure carries the message Best Life Live Yours, and lists its numerous services including comprehensive substance abuse treatment, pharmacological intervention and parent/caregiver support and aftercare planning.
The new outpatient behavioral health program will serve the community, as well as our own participants who may not have already engaged with a therapist. It is adjacent to our Worthington offices, but with its own Magazine Street entrance so it is its own entity/service offering, Lee said.
While we opened this new program to specifically address the need for clinical supports to the greater community, it is a valuable resource in our continuum of services to those we currently serve who are challenged by chronic homelessness, substance use, acquired brain injuries and developmental disabilities.
The April 1 tournament organized by students Fennessey and Dajia Angell to benefit MHA and its new center starts at 6 p.m. in Dana Gymnasium on the colleges Alden Street campus. Teams of six to eight individuals will compete for prizes.
A minimum donation of $30 per team is requested to compete.
Damon Markiewicz, college spokesperson, said anyone interested in participating should contact Fennessey at mfennessey@springfieldcollege.edu.
He also said the public is welcome to attend the free event and that donations will be accepted during the tournament.
SPRINGFIELD A property manager for the Eastfield Mall said Tuesday that a proposal for a marijuana facility at the former Macys department store fits in well with the malls long-term redevelopment plans.
A public community outreach meeting, giving residents a chance to hear details about the proposed marijuana business and to ask questions, is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Eastfield Mall Food Court.
Springfield-based Cannaworld Inc. recently announced plans to open a recreational marijuana retail store on the first floor of the former Macys store at the 1685 Boston Road mall. The plans call for a cultivation and manufacturing facility on the second floor, said Cannaworld President David Mech.
Nicole Sweeny, co-property manager for the mall owner, Mountain Development Corp., said the reaction from other tenants has been very positive.
Mountain Development Corp. and the mall are certainly supportive of it, Sweeney said. "Were ultimately looking to redevelop the property into a mixed use space, with office as well as retail and dining. We think this particular use would help us attract other alternative health practitioners into those proposed office spaces, like chiropractic, yoga and holistic health care providers.
The mall has no concerns regarding safety or security, Sweeney said, because of Mechs security plans and strict state regulations. State requirements include video cameras inside and outside any marijuana facility, and procedures to prevent anyone under age 21 from entering the business.
The proposal by Dave Mech addresses every security concern we could possibly think of, and many we hadnt even considered, Sweeney said.
There is currently a multi-vendor weekend market operated by Bulldog Enterprises at the Macys location. The malls goal is to relocate the market to another area, Sweeney said.
A lease agreement between the mall and Cannaworld is not yet finalized due to the pending marijuana license application process.
The Macys store closed in 2016, and the 127,000-square-foot building was sold to Mountain Development for $1 million in 2017. The company already owned the Eastfield Mall property before purchasing the separate Macys building.
Mech said the proposed new marijuana business is an amazing opportunity, and "will be a rebirth for the mall."
He would also seek to use part of the first floor for cannabis-related products such as growing lights, tents and cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is an extract from hemp that lacks marijuana's psychoactive properties.
Sweeney said that with the legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts, it seems to be "the wave of the future."
There has been other interest in the mall for marijuana-related uses, Sweeney said.
Clearly, the repeated interest seen in the anchor space, for marijuana sale and cultivation, has shown us that this is an opportunity that should not be ignored with marijuana no longer prohibited in Massachusetts, Sweeney said.
Sears, which is now vacant, is separately owned.
"We're holding our own," Sweeney said, regarding how the mall is faring with challenges.
The mall is about 98 percent occupied. Dean Foods is a tenant at the former JCPenneys store, she said.
Sweeney said the mall sees the proposed marijuana business as an opportunity for increased foot traffic.
A lot of tenants are excited about the idea, she said.
BOSTON A controversial House proposal to let caucuses raise private money did not make it into the final version of a budget bill that is being voted on this week.
But House leaders say that, under their internal rules, caucuses will still be able to raise private money as long as they comply with ethics rules, which bar lobbyists from giving and require any gift of over $50 to be approved by House counsel to avoid conflicts of interest.
The object of House Rule 19B is a uniform, transparent process under which legislative member organizations can operate and accept donations if they wish to do so, wrote Rep. William Galvin, D-Canton, chairman of the House Rules Committee, in a memo sent to House members Monday evening. It moves historical practices into the modern accounting structure utilized for state entities; and intends to do so thoughtfully. The Rule also ensures a level of transparency in how these organizations communicate information from outside stakeholders.
Caucuses are groups of legislators like the rural caucus or the black and Latino caucus who meet and advocate for a particular agenda. Most of them are informally organized with any money spent generally coming from members campaign accounts. The exceptions are the Caucus of Women Legislators, a business, and the Black and Latino Caucus, a nonprofit, which maintain private bank accounts, although leaders in both caucuses say they are member-funded.
When the House passed its rules in January, members approved a rule that would let caucuses raise money from public or private sources.
The House version of a supplemental budget bill would have set up a Legislative Member Organization Trust Fund to hold the money the caucuses raise.
But some advocates for open government worried that this could create a legislative slush fund where special interests with business before the Legislature could donate to lawmakers with no transparency.
After The Republican/MassLive.com first reported on the proposal, the Boston Globe editorial board called it a simply dreadful idea.
When the latest version of the supplemental budget bill was released Monday, the caucus trust fund was left out.
House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz, D-Boston, and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport, said it was left out during negotiations between the House and Senate.
We could not agree on that, Rodrigues said, noting, It wasnt one of our initiatives.
Asked whether the Senate had concerns about the proposal, Rodrigues said, I really havent given it much thought.
Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, said the Senate did not agree to the proposal and we will have some more discussion with House leaders.
Monday afternoon, Michlewitz said House leaders were trying to clarify with House legal counsel whether the House rules alone are enough to let caucuses raise private money, without the trust fund. Were going to take a look at it and see what we can do, he said.
Michlewitz called private funding of caucuses something well re-evaluate going forward.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, said he did not think the trust fund could become law without being passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the governor.
Right now, it is not included in the (supplemental budget) that was agreed to between the House and the Senate, DeLeo said.
But later Monday evening, Galvin sent out the detailed memo indicating that caucus fundraising can occur, under certain circumstances, despite not having the trust fund.
The new rules require caucuses to certify that state money is not being used for partisan political purposes. It will ensure that caucuses only accept gifts for public purposes, and those gifts are held in a dedicated caucus account with their accounting managed by the House business office.
Galvin wrote that the states conflict of interest laws do apply to caucuses, lobbyists would be barred from contributing, and House counsel would need to ensure that any gift over $50 complies with the conflict of interest law and appropriate disclosures are made.
Galvins memo says any caucus considering fundraising should consult with House counsel, because lawmakers might have to abstain from certain matters, may have to make disclosures and may not be able to take the donations.
He also wrote that any accounts will be subject to state finance laws, and to legislative rules on accounting, procurement and auditing. They will be subject to an annual audit, as other House funds are, and will appear on the Comptrollers Open Checkbook site. Only expenditures are listed on the comptrollers site, not who is giving to an account.
Galvin wrote that until the rules change, the caucuses that had bank accounts lacked clear, official guidance about how to handle their accounting, while other caucuses operated informally with no clear structure.
By formalizing the process relative to how caucuses are formed and how they operate, the new rule provides uniform guidance to members and staff and increases transparency, Galvin wrote.
Catherine Williams, a spokeswoman for DeLeo, said the new rules are a step toward transparency and accountability, since the two caucuses with private bank accounts will now have to comply with the rules and be subject to ethics rules, audits and disclosure on the comptrollers website.
The 25-acre Otis Poultry Farm property home to the quirky country store known for its pot pies may also become the site of a marijuana cultivation and retail business.
Otis residents will get a chance to discuss the proposal by marijuana company Turning Leaf Industries, which involves keeping the country store open, at a meeting Saturday at Otis Town Hall.
Otis Poultry Farm owner Andy Pyenson put the 115-year-old family business up for sale in 2013. Now, the sale of the lakefront property on Route 8 to Turning Leaf is pending.
The community meeting is a required step in the licensing process for marijuana businesses. Turning Leaf first came to town in 2018 under the names Community Medical Cannabis Associates and CannaSure.
The select board is encouraging everyone to attend, said Town Administrator Rebecca Stone. I think, if the company is serious about meeting the needs of the community whether it is policing, whether it is parking, whether its odors then we can make a host community agreement.
The town and Turning Leaf are working on an agreement, she said. Last year, the towns select board voted that it was amenable to marijuana businesses. But, the board hasnt endorsed or agreed to this specific project.
Thomas Gecewicz, one of the three partners in Turning Leaf, said the companys goal is to be a good neighbor.
"The most important thing is respecting the integrity of the town," he said.
The country store at 1570 North Main Road will remain open, said both Gecewicz and fellow partner David Reiner.
We did promise the town that we would keep operations going, Reiner said. "We are going to have an operator continue to run the store. The town really wants to keep that going,
Reiner said Turning Leaf will build a marijuana greenhouse and a facility to make marijuana products on the property. The company will also need to create retail space for recreational and medicinal marijuana.
Gecewicz, who lives now in Bridgeport, Connecticut, said hes a longtime public health official in Massachusetts and in Bridgeport. He also worked for the federal government. His third business partner, John Saccenti, is a public health professional and police trainer in New Jersey. Reiner works in real estate.
Gecewicz said hed had his eye on the property for decades, first spotting it as a college student driving from Massachusetts to Connecticut on Route 8.
It gives us a great foothold in the Berkshires, he said.
Turning Leaf has plans for operations in two other states, he said. Their names show up in a list of applicants for medical marijuana licenses in New Jersey.
Reiner said he and his partners have begun the process of applying for licenses from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, but they cant proceed until after the public meeting. The licensing process can take months.
Stone said the town has not been given an estimate of how much money it will get as a host community. But the local sales tax on marijuana is 3 percent.
Under state law, the total tax on recreational marijuana can be as high as 20 percent. There is a 10.75 percent state excise tax, the regular 6.25 percent sales tax and cities and towns have the option of charging 3 percent.
"Maybe we could use the money to have more of a full-time police force," Stone said.
She said shes seen how crowds are still lining up outside NETA in Northampton, which in November became one of the first two retail marijuana shops to open in the state. She doesnt know if that would be the case by the time Turning Leaf opens demand might be spread out among numerous recreational marijuana outlets. But, she says Turning Leaf will still need a plan to deal with crowds.
Pyenson said Monday that he started working at Otis Poultry Farm 63 years ago. Back then he was a 5-year-old collecting and grading eggs on the family farm, which his grandparents founded in 1904.
They stopped raising chickens in 2006, and the eggs are now shipped in.
"The problem is, you can buy eggs cheaper than I could raise them," he said.
But even though he hasnt raised chickens for a dozen years, he still displays whimsical signs promising Chicken Hilton, No Vacancy and Limited Edition Eggs, Only Laid Once.
Today the store stocks candy, baked goods including chicken pot pies and a few grocery items along with sweatshirts and knickknacks. In the summer they have ice cream.
Saturdays meeting at Otis Town Hall, 1 North Main Road, begins at 2 p.m.
A Didi Chuxing passenger allegedly killed his driver in Changde, Hunan province, according to local police.
Police said that the suspect, a 19-year-old man surnamed Yang, hailed a Didi late Saturday night, and then stabbed the driver, surnamed Chen, several times with a knife, as he was about to alight near a bus station around midnight.
Yang later surrendered to police and confessed to long harboring thoughts of suicide that led to a breakdown on the Saturday night and then the killing.
Didi said in a statement Sunday: "We have set up an emergency response team to fully cooperate with the police for investigations. And we have sent staff to visit and comfort the driver's family to help with the follow-up matters and provide humanitarian assistance."
China's biggest ride-hailing provider, Didi, was at the center of public outcry after two female passengers were killed last year by two of the company's drivers in separate cases in May and August.
Paul Sagan, the chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, announced during Tuesdays meeting that he would step down from the role.
Sagan was named to the position by Gov. Charlie Baker during his first term in office. He said Tuesday that he spoke with the governor about stepping down during Bakers campaign for a second term and chose to announce Tuesday with a replacement lined up.
Board member Katherine Craven has been appointed as chairwoman. Craven currently serves as the chief administrative officer of Babson College, in Wellesley. She previously worked as a budget director and policy advisor to the Massachusetts House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means.
Matt Hills, a former chairman of the Newton School Committee, will fill the vacated board seat.
Sagan said Tuesday he plans to remain involved in education policy.
We can be proud that Massachusetts leads the nation, he said, of educational opportunities overall in the state, adding that theres still work to be done to close achievement gaps in schools. We have to bring equity to the most challenged schools and districts.
During his four years on the board, Sagan has advocated for traditional and non-traditional public school opportunities in Massachusetts. He was a supporter of Question 2, a ballot question in 2016 which sought to expand the cap on charter schools. The question was rejected by a majority of voters.
Sagan faced backlash for his donations of $496,000 to Families for Excellent Schools-Advocacy, which supported the ballot question. The organization faced a hefty fine after initially keeping the names of donors private.
When the donations were made public, Sagan addressed the matter during a board meeting, saying the donations were made as a private citizen. He did not publicly share the donations, he said, for fear he would politicize the issue.
But I was clear and unequivocal with these organizations, Sagan said in 2017. I would not help them with fundraising, and they could not use, or even reference, my involvement with the board in any of their activities, specifically because I did not think that would be appropriate.
Sagan is a managing director at General Catalyst Partners in Cambridge. He previously served as a member of the executive team of Akamai Technologies, Inc., a senior advisor to the World Economic Forum and on the boards of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University and Massachusetts Business Leaders for Charter Public Schools.
Massachusetts Education Secretary Jim Peyser thanked him for his service Tuesday, saying Sagans leadership has been both steady and deliberate as well as inspirational.
Peyser thanked him for his leadership during a time of transition in the department after the death of longtime Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester, who died in 2017 following a short illness.
Jeffrey C. Riley was named commissioner in 2018. He previously served as receiver of Lawrence Public Schools, leading the districts turnaround efforts.
Fall River Police made three arrests last week in connection to two bank robberies in the city.
A week after two men held up Bank Five on 13th Street in Fall River, police arrested 18-year-old Riley Tejeda of Attleboro and Jayln Hill of Cambridge, also 18, in connection with the robbery on March 21, police said.
Authorities used bank surveillance to identify Tejeda and Hill, who both took an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. Tejeda was charged with armed robbery. Hill was also charged with armed robbery as well as being a fugitive of justice out of Rhode Island.
The following day police arrested Jason Boudria in connection with a robbery at Bay Coast Bank at 490 Robeson St. on March 19. Bourdria allegedly covered his face and wore sun glasses as walked up to a teller window, held a note to the window and demanded money. The teller gave an undisclosed amount of money.
Boudria was charged with unarmed robbery.
Police credited anonymous tips from the public and police officers who dealt with the 36-year-old prior to the robbery.
All three men been arraigned in court. Boudria and Tejeda are both scheduled back in court Wednesday. Police didnt know Hills next appearance.
SOUTH HADLEY Town Administrator Michael Sullivan presented his fiscal 2020 budget proposals during the Select Boards March 19 meeting, recommending a total of $46.5 million in spending for a 1.71 percent increase over the previous year.
Sullivans budget allocates $21.5 million for schools and $20.7 million to the general fund, with the balance going to capital requests and other expenditures.
Sullivan told the board he had an honest discussion with the School Committee about the proposed budget. He said the town made every effort to bolster education funding.
In the past decade, 35 percent of all new money has gone to the school budget, according to Sullivan. Twenty-three percent of new money, related to new growth and increased revenues, went to the towns general fund.
While the School Committee could make a salient argument for an additional $1.2 million in funding, Sullivan said the town does not have the money.
The average annual new growth hovers around $930,000.
Sullivan noted a substantial increase in spending for human resources, explaining that the town must observe state gender-equity laws that relate to positions in town government or the schools.
Sullivan added that the town could consider shared services among departments, like personnel or human resources. He said some school districts are switching to a consolidated human resources model.
He cautioned that consolidation does not translate immediately into savings.
I think the long-term practice of consolidating the HR, modernizing it and systemizing it, is a smart way to go, Sullivan said. We just havent been able to get there.
The assessors office would see a 6 percent boost, mostly tied to salaries. He said the department was underfunded. The town clerks office, which turned a part-time position into a full-time job, would also see an increase.
Sullivan cited a significant drop in legal services charges in the past few years, which now average $54,000 to $56,000 annually.
The town realized savings by not bringing in outside counsel for every contract negotiation session. The town continues negotiations with the police and public works unions.
In other town news, Sullivan announced that newly elected State Sen. Jo Comerford and State Rep. Dan Carey will meet with constituents at town hall on March 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The town administrators staff will direct the public to the right meeting room.
SPRINGFIELD - A 24-year-old city man is charged with the having sexual contact with minors and with disseminating child pornography, according to District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.
Christean Velazquez emerged as a suspect after he apparently uploaded materials depicting the sexual assault of a child and other pornography to the photography social media site Photobucket, Gulluni said. Officials with Photobucket notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Gulluni said the agency notified the state police detectives unit assigned to his office, and they launched an investigation. Velazquez was arrested Friday at his job in Springfield.
He is charged with two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under age 14, four counts each of dissemination of sexually explicit visual materials depicting children, possession of visual materials of child sexual contact, and knowingly permitting a child to engage in sexual conduct for reproduction of visual material.
The child in the photos has been located and determined to be safe and staying with relatives. The DAs office has contacted the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.
The relationship between Velazquez was not disclosed to the press.
The state police and DAs office are continuing to investigate.
Velazquez pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday in Springfield District Court. He is being held on $75,000 bail. As a condition of his release if he posts bail, he will be required to wear a GPS tracking device, maintain a curfew, and keep away from the child.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces in connection with soliciting prostitution in Florida and has waived his arraignment, according to court documents.
Kraft through his attorney has also requested a jury trial, reversing a previous request to be tried without a jury.
Charged with two counts of soliciting another to commit prostitution in late February, Krafts arraignment was scheduled for Thursday in Palm Beach County.
Kraft was charged after being ensnared in a larger sex sting operation conducted over several Florida counties dating back to the summer.
If convicted, the 77-year-old billionaire could face one year in jail and a $5,000 fine per charge, plus an order to enroll in an educational course on the dangers of prostitution and human trafficking.
Police allege Kraft was caught on video receiving sex acts at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida, on Jan. 19 and 20. He was among 25 men charged by local authorities. The owner and manager of the spa are facing felony charges.
Through a team spokesperson, Kraft denied the allegations immediately after charges were announced. In recent weeks, his representation has been negotiating a possible plea deal with state prosecutors. Kraft reportedly turned down an offer that would have dropped his charges so long as he entered a pre-trial diversion program and conceded he would have been found guilty had the case gone to trial.
Krafts legal team has publicly questioned the legality of the investigation.
Several members of Massachusetts congressional delegation spoke out Tuesday against the Trump administrations push to strike down the Affordable Care Act in a new court filing, arguing that millions of Americans benefit from the controversial health care law.
The Democrats, who have opposed GOP-led efforts to dismantle the ACA, criticized the Justice Department for stating in a Monday legal brief that it will not challenge any parts of the ruling in Texas v. United States, which found the law unconstitutional.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat and 2020 presidential candidate, stressed that lawmakers will not let the Trump administration rip health care away from millions of Americans.
Not now. Not ever, she said, calling health care a basic human right.
Ill say it for the zillionth time: We will not let the Trump administration rip health care away from millions of Americans. Not now. Not ever. https://t.co/QXzTFgkcv0 Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 26, 2019
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, D-Boston, agreed.
Not on my watch, she tweeted in response to reports of the administrations court filing.
Not on my watch. https://t.co/pWO5L0h1q9 Rep Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) March 26, 2019
Congressman Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, contended that the contrast between the Trump administration and Democrats -- who unveiled legislation which they said will protect individuals with pre-existing conditions and lower health premiums -- has never been more clear.
Democrats are doing what the American people elected us to do stand up for them. Meanwhile, Republicans are putting profits before people and rolling back the health insurance protections that Americans want and deserve,he said in a statement. "We will not stop fighting until every person in this country has high-quality, universal coverage. Period.
U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, offered that while President Donald Trump campaigned ahead of the 2018 midterms on protecting coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions, the DOJ letter declares war on the health care law these Americans rely on.
When will the GOP stop treating health care like its a privilege for the healthy and the wealthy she tweeted. Signs point to never. So, well stand up against these attacks like we did in 2017 and 2018, and well win.
The President campaigned on protecting #Medicare & #Medicaid. Then, he released a budget that cuts both programs by $2 TRILLION.
The President campaigned on protecting #PreExistingConditions. Then last night, his DOJ declares war on the health care law these Americans rely on. pic.twitter.com/Q51NJbmvLh Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) March 26, 2019
Congressman Joe Kennedy III, D-Newtown, meanwhile, took to Twitter to highlight how several Americans could be impacted if the Trump administration succeeds in gutting protections for pre-existing conditions.
Last week, @morethanmySLE & I asked you to tell us what it would mean for you if @realDonaldTrump succeeded in gutting preexisting conditions. This thread highlights a few of them. Please read & keep them coming! #ProtectOurCare https://t.co/rXM8IkRvjH Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) March 26, 2019
Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, which is led by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, also raised concerns about the DOJ filing and pledged to fight to protect Americans with pre-existing health conditions.
Eliminating the ACA would mean gutting protections for people with pre-existing conditions. It would mean reverting our country back to a time when preventative care cost a fortune and it wold mean -- once again -- limited, lifetime caps on coverage, panel Democrats said in a statement. Democrats are in this fight with you. And we will never stop working to protect your care.
2/2 Democrats are in this fight with you. And we will never stop working to protect your care. Ways & Means Committee (@WaysMeansCmte) March 26, 2019
Assistant Attorney General Joseph Hunt and other Justice Department officials, in a letter sent to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Monday, said the agency had determined that the district courts judgment in the case should be affirmed.
They added that the administration is not urging that any portion of the district courts judgment be reversed.
The letter marked a departure from the Justice Departments previous assertion that only two provisions of the law needed to be removed, including language requiring insurers to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions and barring insurers from charging such customers higher premiums.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who filed her own brief in the case Monday, stressed that "Democrats will continue to fight relentlessly to protect people with pre-existing conditions and to deliver lower health costs and prescription drug prices for every American.
House Democrats are expected to offer legislation Tuesday to shore up the ACA, the Associated Press reported.
U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor ruled late last year that the health care laws individual coverage mandate can no longer be sustained as an exercise of Congresss tax power," according to reports. Therefore, he argued, the individual mandate is unconstitutional and invalidates the rest of the ACA.
The case centered around the question of whether the laws insurance mandate still required Americans to purchase health coverage after Congress essentially removed the penalty as part of its GOP-backed tax overhaul.
Plaintiff states contended that the mandate had become unconstitutional when lawmakers zeroed out the penalty. The rest of the law, they further argued, is tied to the mandate.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the mandate as constitutional in 2012 based on Congresss taxing power.
Shortly after the courts ruling, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey joined colleagues from other states in a national effort to appeal the decision.
SPRINGFIELD Hampden Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Ford sentenced Nathaniel L. Wilson to five to seven years in state prison on six drug and five gun charges.
Ford sentenced Wilson, 40, of Springfield, on Friday after Wilson pleaded guilty to the 11 charges.
Wilson was arrested Dec. 1, 2017. Police said he had 27 grams of cocaine and 196 bags of heroin, along with smaller quantities of MDMA, Oxycontin and Xanax.
Police found two guns a Makarov 9 mm pistol and a FEG 9 mm handgun and 18 rounds of ammunition in Wilsons Ranney Street home.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal possession of a firearm with one prior drug or firearms conviction, two counts of improper storage of a firearm and one count of illegal possession of ammunition.
Wilson also pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine in the amount of 18 to 36 grams, distribution of heroin, possession to distribute heroin and three other drug counts.
In early 1996, Lin Jing, then 33 years old, had her first experience on a sailboat -- which included her first fall overboard. As she and her husband, the helmsman, were trying to lower the boat rail with a sling, she dropped it and the boat flipped, knocking both of them into the water.
Despite a scratched lip, Lin didn't give up. She got back onto the boat and kept going.
Since that first time out with her husband, a sailing aficionado from France, the two of them often went to sea together in a Hobie catamaran 16.
"I found it was a sport that requires not only physical strength, but also a flexible strategy," Lin said with a twinkle in her eyes and lively gestures. For her, she said, it will never be boring, because no two sailing trips are the same.
The feeling of braving the wind and waves made a deep impression on Lin and sowed the seeds of her lifelong obsession with sailing. That obsession has driven her onward for 23 years, leading her to take sailing voyages around the Atlantic and to Antarctica.
Bountiful yields
In 2001, to facilitate a transition from their small boat to a bigger one, the couple went for training at an offshore sailing school in the U.K., where Lin trained to be a "competent crew" and her husband to be a "sea master."
Equipped with years of hands-on practice and now professional training, Lin and her husband set out to sea from France in 2005 in a new vessel. They named the ship Kindred Spirit, which, said Lin, refers both to the boat and to the relationship between her and her husband.
On this voyage, the couple sailed around the Atlantic, taking turns on duty every four hours at night. Their voyage lasted a total of 760 days, with the longest continual stretch spent at sea lasting 23 days.
During their time on board, the couple cooked and ate their meals, fished, played games, read books and shared their opinions, and quarreled at times. When she had spare time, and even when she was running on a tighter schedule, Lin always managed to write something down, at least a few lines, on her iPad. She then posted her writings on her blog.
Now Lin has published a book about the voyage, and is working on another one about their second major global expedition, which took place from 2015 to 2017. On this trip, they sailed the Haiyou, whose name means "friend of the sea," to Antarctica.
Lin said she harvested a great deal along both journeys -- and not only fish, either, but also beautiful scenery, genuine friendship, reflections on life and more.
Compared to the more common way of traveling -- merely ticking off places on the destination checklist and taking quick snapshots -- Lin sees sailing as a slower way to travel the world. "It allows one to understand the world, to get to know the customs of different places, and to discover interesting things about them."
During the first night sailing the Haiyou, Lin sat astern to enjoy the sunset during her turn on duty.
She described the moment on her Chinese blog, how the sun, like a golden loop with a dazzling white dot in the middle, seemed to be chasing the boat as it moved and wavered on the ocean. As it sunk toward the sea, the sun took on clear-cut edges and a red color. It kissed the stern of the ship before disappearing into the ocean horizon over the course of several minutes, leaving a colorful sunset glow in the sky. Lin looked at her watch and saw that it was past 10 in the evening.
Certainly, said Lin, there were also many challenges along the way, like surges and gales around the Drake Passage between the Antarctic Peninsula and the southern tip of Chile, as well as the extreme cold weather in Antarctica, and many others.
"The sport requires one to have determination, to be able to bear hardships and endure loneliness," Lin said.
The unexpected has also happened along the way, like the time they ran into a fishing net in coastal waters. But there were also unexpected pleasures, such as meeting so many different kinds of people, including other sailors and locals from different countries they passed through.
Lin said she has treasured many friendships along the way as well. According to her, in such brief meet-ups, small formalities and reciprocity are required for people to get acquainted, and everyone values the relationship even when it is only a short encounter.
Market Scenario:
The Anaesthesia Delivery Devices Market, as Market Research Future (MRFR), suggests is all set to achieve 8.2% CAGR during the forecast period (2017-2023). Anaesthesia delivery devices play a pivotal role during a medical surgery where it helps in making the patient unconscious during the procedure. The device generates, blends, and delivers fresh medical gas flow with anaesthetic agents to have control over the entire process. The process often includes a mechanical ventilator, breathing system, suction equipment, and patient monitoring devices to ensure smooth workflow. MRFR in their detailed report on the said market included segmental analysis and factors that can impact the market in the coming years. The report also contains expert comments and updated information on the major market players portfolios.
Request Free Sample Copy at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1285
The anaesthesia delivery devices market centers around the growing need for surgical procedure across the world as the prevalence of chronic diseases is on the rise. Advanced technologies are amply backing up the modern surgical requirements and, in the process, are fostering growth for the market. However, the supply-demand relationship is facing some crises globally. Both the developed and developing countries are facing a shortage regarding anaesthesia delivery devices. Manufacturers across the globe are trying to figure out some sort of solution. One such is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) that can ensure specific delivery and reduce the cost in the process. Such technological association can surely guide the anaesthesia delivery devices market to better prospects.
Competitive Landscape:
Notable market players operating in the global anaesthesia delivery devices market are MEDTRONIC (Republic of Ireland), Teleflex (US), MAQUET Holding B.V. & Co. KG. (Germany), Smiths Medical (UK), GE Healthcare (US), Sedana Medical (Sweden), Dragerwerk AG & Co. (Germany), OSI Systems (US), ResMed (US), Fisher, Paykel (New Zealand), Philips Healthcare (Netherland), Intersurgical Ltd (UK), Covidien plc (UK), Getinge Group (Sweden) and others.
In August 2018, Hologic came up with a fluid management system with an aim to help in hysteroscopic procedures. The setup has a modern touchscreen and almost noiseless functioning ability. Fluid capacity, deficit, and how much content left in the fluid bag would get displayed on the monitor that would ease the entire process.
Segmentation:
As described in the MRFR report, the global anaesthesia delivery devices market can be segmented by types and end-users.
Based on types, the anaesthesia delivery devices market can be segmented monitoring devices, anaesthesia delivery devices, disposables device and other. The disposables device segment includes anaesthesia masks and anaesthesia accessories.
Based on the end-users, the anaesthesia delivery devices market comprises hospitals, clinics, research facilities, and others.
Regional Analysis:
Geographically, upon considering the inputs by MRFR on the anaesthesia delivery devices market, the report can be segmented by Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, North America, and the Rest-of-the-World (RoW).
The APAC region is currently leading the global market, and the market demography is expected to remain the same. This can happen as the regional market is also expecting the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Countries such as India and China, with their revamped healthcare sector and the huge population has tapped into a vast patient pool who require surgeries of different sorts. In the process, they have widened the scale in which the anaesthesia delivery devices market can operate.
North America can take credit for being the second largest market. Its substantial revenue can be attributed to the advanced technologies, easy accessibility to products & services, and the emphasis on providing the best equipment in the industry is fostering the growth in the region.
Europe has considerable control over the global market as many of the manufacturing companies are from the region. Countries such as the UK, Germany, and France, are boasting off their advanced technology, affordability power, and government initiatives in research and development sector can trigger good responses from the regional market in the coming years.
Browse Complete 80 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 30+ Respective Tables and Figures at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/anesthesia-delivery-devices-market-1285
About Market Research Future:
At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
Contact
Market Research Future
Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers
Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar,
Pune 411028
Maharashtra, India
+1 646 845 9312
Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Market Scenario
The Global Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market is presumed to register 51.9% CAGR during the forecast period (2018-2023) owing to the growing adoption of AI solutions among the healthcare providers, asserts Market Research Future (MRFR). Artificial intelligence (AI) is regarded as the next frontier for healthcare innovation. In the healthcare sector, artificial intelligence is being applied for sorting structured and unstructured data. Potential of AI spans across healthcare verticals. AI is considered to play a vital role in overcoming some of the toughest hurdles being faced by healthcare providers.
Competitive Dashboard
The prominent players operating the global Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare market are Google, General Electric, IBM Watson Health, Microsoft Corporation, Intel Corporation, DEEP GENOMICS, Koninklijke Philips N.V., General Vision, NVIDIA Corporation, CloudMedx Inc., Next IT Corp., and Stryker.
Get Free Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5681
Drivers and Constraints Impacting the Market
The augmented focus on the use of artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector in the recent past. The adoption of AI solutions in the healthcare sector is growing rapidly owing to the growing number of healthcare applications of AI coupled with its rising demand for medical research. AI is also being employed in clinical laboratories, hospitals, and research facilities, which is further contributing to the growth of the market during the assessment period. Broader applications of AI and technological advancements in deep learning have further led to its increased adoption in the healthcare sector across the globe.
Technological companies are highly investing in the development of AI for research and healthcare, which is further boosting the market growth. Moreover, AI in the healthcare sector is being used for prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy, thereby stimulating its growth during the appraisal period. AI has also developed several applications across the healthcare sector, such as delivery of health services, detection of diseases, drug discovery, and management of chronic conditions. AI in the healthcare sector ensures effectiveness and efficiency, which is further considered to trigger its adoption in the coming years. AI also enables the healthcare sector to overcome the crisis of human resource by providing productivity through automation of complicated tasks. Such factors are presumed to contribute to the market growth.
On the flip side, the high cost associated with the implementation of AI in the healthcare sector coupled with the stringent guidelines regulating AI are some of the major concerns considered to dampen the market growth during the appraisal period.
Global Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market: Segmental Analysis
The global Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare market has been segmented on the basis of component, application, technology, end-user, and region.
By mode of component, the global Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare market has been segmented into software, hardware, and services.
By mode of application, the global Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare market has been segmented into virtual nursing assistant, robot-assisted surgery, clinical trial, dosage error reduction, automated image diagnosis, and preliminary diagnosis. Among these, the robot-assisted surgery segment is considered to hold the most significant share in the global market owing to the flexibility and high precision assured by robot-assisted surgeries while performing complex procedures.
By mode of technology, the global Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare market has been segmented into querying method, machine learning, and natural language processing. Among these, the machine learning segment is considered to demonstrate the highest CAGR owing to the ability to handle multi-dimensional data while facilitating a reduction in the process time cycle.
By mode of end-user, the global Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare market has been segmented into pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, hospital & diagnostic centers, and academic & research laboratories. Among these, the hospital & diagnostic centers segment holds the largest market share owing to the extensive application of healthcare AI in robotic surgeries and diagnostic imaging.
Regional Insights
Geographically, the Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare market span across regions namely, Europe, America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.
Among all the regions, America is predicted to dominate the global Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare market due to the growth witnessed in the biotechnology industry, presence of a developed healthcare sector, and rising cases of robotic surgeries.
The European region has secured the second position across the globe and is considered to garner USD 3453.4 million during the appraisal period. The growth is attributed to the extensive research and development activities for healthcare AI. Also, increased funding is responsible for catalyzing the proliferation of the regional market.
The Asia Pacific region is predicted to strike a relatively higher CAGR owing to the increasing therapeutic demand for chronic diseases coupled with the fast-developing healthcare sector.
Browse Full Reports with Table and Figures Respectively @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/upcoming-reports/Healthcare-artificial-intelligence-market-5681
Industry Updates
December 25, 2018: By harnessing digital health data, artificial intelligence, and deep learning, Shefayim-based health care start-up Zebra Medical Vision is aiming towards identifying the exotic diagnoses; the zebras by offering radiologists with high-performance algorithms in order to identify accurately and prevent breast, lung, cardiovascular, liver, and bone diseases.
Contact Us:
Market Research Future
Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers
Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar,
Pune 411028
Maharashtra, India
Phone: +1 646 845 9312
Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Contraceptives are the drugs or devices which not only inhibit pregnancy but also sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In addition to this, contraception is deliberate prevention of pregnancy by interfering with the normal process of ovulation, fertilization and implantation through the use of barriers, drugs, medical devices or surgical techniques.
Advance Market Analytics published a new research publication on Global Contraceptives Market Insights, to 2025 with 189 pages and enriched with self-explained Tables and charts in presentable format. In the Study you will find new evolving Trends, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities generated by targeting market stakeholders. The growth of the Contraceptives market is mainly driven by the increasing R&D spending across the world. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Merck & Co. (United States), Cipla Inc. (India), Allergan Plc. (Ireland), Bayer AG (Germany), GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (United Kingdom), HLL Lifecare Limited (India), Mankind Pharma (India), Pfizer Inc. (United States), Amgen (United States), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Israel), Mithra Pharmaceuticals (Belgium) and Johnson & Johnson (United States) etc.
According to AMA, the market for Contraceptives is expected to register a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period to 2024.
Scope of the Report of Contraceptives
Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This Research @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/6756-global-contraceptives-market
Market Drivers
Rise in Menstruating Population Worldwide, and Encouragement by Government to Use Contraceptives.
Market Trend
Increasingly Causing Working Class Women to Postpone Pregnancy in Both Developed and Developing Economies
Restraints
The Side Effects Associated with the Use of Contraceptive Drugs and Devices
Opportunities
Rising Numbers of New HIV Infections Patients Across the Globe and Increasing User Awareness
Challenges
Rising Prevalence of Infertility
The Contraceptives Market report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, geography segment, end use/application segment and competitor segment and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international major industry players in detail.
According to the Regional Segmentation the Contraceptives Market provides the Information covers following regions:
*North America
*South America
*Asia & Pacific
*Europe
*MEA (Middle East and Africa)
The key countries in each region are taken into consideration as well, such as United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc.
Have Any Questions Regarding Global Contraceptives Market Report, Ask Our Experts@ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/6756-global-contraceptives-market
The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below:
The Study Explore the Product Types of Contraceptives Market: Oral Contraceptive Pills, Contraceptive Injectable, Topical Contraceptive Patch
Key Applications/end-users of Global Contraceptives Market: Hospitals, Homecare, Gynecology Centers, Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC)
Medical Devices: Male Contraceptives Devices (Condoms), Female contraceptive devices (Female Condoms)
Top Players in the Market are: Merck & Co. (United States), Cipla Inc. (India), Allergan Plc. (Ireland), Bayer AG (Germany), GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (United Kingdom), HLL Lifecare Limited (India), Mankind Pharma (India), Pfizer Inc. (United States), Amgen (United States), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Israel), Mithra Pharmaceuticals (Belgium) and Johnson & Johnson (United States) etc
List of players also available in Coverage: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (India) , Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (India) , Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (India) , Piramal Healthcare Limited (India)
Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/6756-global-contraceptives-market
Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Contraceptives Market:
Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Contraceptives market
Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary the basic information of the Contraceptives Market.
Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Contraceptives
Chapter 4: Presenting the Contraceptives Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.
Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region 2013-2018
Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Contraceptives market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile
Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions.
Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source
Finally, Contraceptives Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies.
Buy the Latest Detailed Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/buy-now?format=1&report=6756
Contact Us:
Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)
AMA Research & Media LLP
Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ
New Jersey USA 08837
Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218
sales@advancemarketanalytics.com
Executive Summary
A comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis Global Blood Plasma Market. The report analyses the Blood Plasma Market By Type (Immunoglobulins- IV+SC, Albumin, Factor VIII- Plasma Derived, and Others), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Rest of the World) and By Country (U.S, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, China, Japan, India, Australia, and South-East Asia). The report on Blood Plasma assesses the market for the actual period of 2013-2017 and the forecast period of 2018-2023.
According to research report Global Blood Plasma Market Analysis By Type (Immunoglobulins IV+SC, Albumin, Factor VIII Plasma Derived), By Region, By Country (2018 Edition): Opportunities and Forecast (2013-2023), the global blood plasma market is projected to display a robust growth represented by a CAGR of 10.18% during 2018 2023.
The Blood Plasma market witness a substantial growth at a noteworthy rate over the past few years and anticipated to grow on the back of its increasing usage in plasma-derived medical products. In addition, rise in awareness towards plasma donation, rise of China blood plasma industry, introduction of new and specialized products, rising geriatric population, rapid increase of the healthcare expenditure on the diseases such as immunodeficiency, neurological disorders, clotting disabilities etc. anticipated to boost the market growth in future. Amongst the regions, North America accounts for the largest regional share in the global blood plasma market. Key factor driving the robust growth rate in North America region is collection of source plasma in large volume for the fractionation process.
The report titled Global Blood Plasma Market Analysis By Type (Immunoglobulins IV+SC, Albumin, Factor VIII Plasma Derived), By Region, By Country (2018 Edition): Opportunities and Forecast (2013-2023) has covered and analysed the potential of Global Blood Plasma Market and provides statistics and information on market size, shares and growth factors. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the global blood ingredients market. Additionally, the report also highlights market entry strategies for various companies across the globe.
Scope of the Report
Global Blood Plasma Market (Actual Period: 2013-2017, Forecast Period: 2018-2023)
Blood Plasma Market Size, Growth, Forecast
Analysis By Type- Size, Volume, Growth, Forecast
o Immunoglobulin (IV+SC)
o Albumin
o Factor VIII (Plasma Derived)
Request Free Sample Report at https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3501441-global-blood-plasma-market-analysis-by-type-immunoglobulins
Regional Markets North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (Actual Period: 2013-2017, Forecast Period: 2018-2023)
Blood Plasma Market Size, Growth, Forecast
Analysis By Type
o Immunoglobulin (IV+SC)
o Albumin
o Factor VIII (Plasma Derived)
Country Analysis U.S., Canada, Germany, France, Italy, China, Japan, India, Australia, and South-East Asia. (Actual Period: 2013-2017, Forecast Period: 2018-2023)
Blood Plasma Market Size, Growth, Forecast
Analysis By Type
o Immunoglobulin (IV+SC)
o Albumin
o Factor VIII (Plasma Derived)
Other Report Highlights
Market Dynamics Drivers and Restraints
Market Trends
Porter Five Forces Analysis
Company Analysis CSL Limited, Baxter International, Grifols S.A, Octa Pharma, Emergent Bio-solutions, Antaris Pharma, AMAG Pharma, Biota Pharma, Bio delivery Science International, Biotest A.G.
Customization of the Report
The report could be customized according to the clients specific research requirements. No additional cost will be required to pay for limited additional research.
Table of contents
Research Methodology Executive Summary Strategic Recommendations Global Blood Plasma Market: Product Outlook Global Blood Plasma Market: Growth and Forecast Global Blood Plasma Market Size, By Type: Breakdown (%) Global Blood Plasma Market: Regional Analysis Global Blood Plasma Market Dynamics Blood Plasma Market: Policy and Regulatory Landscape Global Blood Plasma Market: Supply Chain Analysis Porters Five Forces Analysis
12 Company Profiles
About Us:
Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.
Contact Us:
NORAH TRENT
sales@wiseguyreports.com
Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (US)
Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)
The Sleeping Bruxism Treatment Market report offers immense growth opportunities across developing as well as developed economies. The research report intends to provide factors influencing the Sleeping Bruxism Treatment Market and gain all possible information with respect to market. The analysis of reports gives a satisfactory result to the user.
Segments for Global Sleeping Bruxism Treatment Market
MRFRs report states that the sleeping bruxism treatment market is segmented on the basis of type, diagnosis, treatment type, cause, patient type, and end-user.
By type, the market is segmented into primary bruxism and secondary bruxism. The secondary bruxism segment accounted for the largest market share in 2017. Increasing sleep disorders, growing consumption of medicines which lead to dental side effects, and changing lifestyle due to stress can fuel the growth of the secondary bruxism segment.
By treatment, the market is segmented on the basis of dental approaches and medication. The dental approaches segment is divided into mouth guard and NTI-tss device. The medication segment is sub-segmented on the basis of muscle relaxants, Botox injections, and anti-anxiety drugs.
By cause, the global sleeping bruxism treatment market is segmented on the basis of obstructive sleep apnea, sleep paralysis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), malocclusion, and others. Among these, the obstructive sleep apnea segment is estimated to be worth USD 233.20 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period.
To Get Free Sample Report visit https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5422
Pediatric and adult are two major segments under patient type. The pediatric segment held the largest market share in 2017. Prevalence of hyperactivity among children, growing anger issues, increasing pain from earache and teething, and even growing stress has fueled the growth of pediatric segment.
The end-users in the global sleeping bruxism treatment market are hospitals, dental clinics, and others. The end-users in the market are growing rapidly and will continue to grow at the same pace throughout the forecast period. The number of dental clinics has increased owing to growing awareness among patients regarding bruxism, government funding, and increasing number of dentists opening up standalone clinics.
Sleeping Bruxism Treatment Market Overview
The latest report by Market Research Future (MRFR) affirms that the Global Sleeping Bruxism Treatment Market is set to accrue USD 638.22 million at 6.7% CAGR during the forecast period (20182023). This growth can be put down to growing prevalence of dental diseases and consequently growing dental procedures coupled with growing funding and healthcare insurance coverage across the globe. Moreover, changing lifestyle, elevating demand for affordable healthcare delivery systems, rapid health insurance penetration, mergers and acquisitions to reach untapped markets, and government initiatives trigger the global market growth. Also, aging population and stressful lives led by a large population have an influence on the market.
However, restraining factor such as expensive treatment may hinder the market growth to some level. On the flip side, several types of research and tests are being conducted to enhance treatment for sleep bruxism. Various methods such as drug therapy, behavioral therapy, custom dental and mouth guards are being developed to find out the most effective treatment procedure for sleeping bruxism. These researches help upgrade the treatment procedures, thus leading to market growth.
One of the most popular trends creating waves in sleeping bruxism treatment market is treating patient with behavior therapy. It involves the patient practicing proper jaw and mouth positions. The patient can also rest the tongue up with teeth apart and closed lips, which will counteract grinding.
Key Players for Global Sleeping Bruxism Treatment Market
Market Research Future (MRFR) recognizes the following companies as the key players in Sleeping Bruxism Treatment Market: There are plenty of large and small market players which operate in this market all over the globe.
The key players competing in the market are S4S Dental Laboratory, Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA, Carestream Dental, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Randmark and Dental Products LLC.
Regional Analysis for Global Sleeping Bruxism Treatment Market
The Americas market accounted for 39.1% share in 2017 in the sleeping bruxism treatment market. Factors such as rising stress and anxiety among the population have led to this market growth. Rising government funding and growing healthcare insurance coverage also contribute to the markets expansion in the region.
Europe is the second largest market owing to growing cases of sleeping bruxism. High economy, growing dental awareness, growing number of dental clinics and healthcare infrastructure aid in market growth in the region. A large number of people also suffer from sleep disorders, snoring and irregular breathing which gives rise to sleeping bruxism, driving the market progress in the area.
On the other hand, Asia Pacific will observe steady growth due to rapid adoption of sophisticated healthcare technology, rapid economic growth, massive population size, and rise in investments in the healthcare sector. The pediatric population is growing tremendously which also shapes the market size positively. Furthermore, elevating awareness in terms of sleep bruxism and rapidly growing dental industry in countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea can spur overall market demand.
The Middle East & Africa market will experience sluggish growth as there is less exposure to the healthcare services along with lack of awareness about sleeping bruxism.
To Browse Complete Report visit https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/sleeping-bruxism-treatment-market-5422
Some Brief Table of Contents of Report
Chapter 1. Report Prologue
Chapter 2. Market Introduction
2.1 Definition
2.2 Scope Of The Study
2.2.1 Research Objective
2.2.2 Assumptions
2.2.3 Limitations
Chapter 3. Research Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Primary Research
3.3 Secondary Research
3.4 Market Size Estimation
Chapter 4. Market Dynamics
4.1 Drivers
4.2 Restrains
4.3 Opportunities
4.4 Challenges
4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators
4.6 Technology Trends & Assessment
Chapter 5. Market Factor Analysis
5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis
5.1.1 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers
TOC Continued
Do You Have Specific Requirement? Ask To Our Experts https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/5422
About Market Research Future:
At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Statistical Report, Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
Contact Us:
Market Research Future
Hadapsar, Pune 411028
Maharashtra, India
Phone: +1 646 845 9312
Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
by Sarah Mahoney , Staff Writer @mahoney_sarah, March 25, 2019
Now that were all kinda bored with how fast formerly all-digital brands are opening physical stores, its worth wondering when its time to say Whoa. Indochino, the made-to-measure mens apparel company, plans to have 50 showrooms open by the end of the year. Casper has 20. Warby Parker is now up to 100.
Does opening more stores which usually means sinking considerable cash into pricey rents, long-term leases and at least some amount of inventory make financial sense? Especially at a time when mainstream retailers like Macys, JC Penney and even Nordstrom are closing down stores, looking for more efficient ways to build their digital business?
Maybe. I think of it as retail 2.0, says Jeff Greenfield, COO of C3 Metrics, an attribution platform based in Portsmouth, N.H. For these D2C companies, its all an experiment. Theyre trying to get attention for their brands, and above all, to gain a one-to-one relationship with everyone who comes in. Thats not true of a Kohls or a Walmart.
Because its all about collecting data, at least theoretically, these stores arent governed by the same brutal sales-per-square foot math traditional stores face. For them, location, location, location translates to a different kind of prospecting. They look for sites with high concentrations of trendsetters, ecommerce devotees and even international visitors. It has to do with visibility, Greenfield says.
Maybe. But while that explains why Warby Parker has stores in Venice, Calif., and Cambridge, Mass., it does little to illuminate what theyre getting from their shops in places like Indianapolis and Oklahoma City.
Greenfield thinks these companies see stores as a shorter-term strategy, and that theyll vaporize once a D2C company feels its sufficiently mined any given zip code. By then, theyll have turned neighborhood browsers into established e-customers.
Its cheaper to serve these customers via internet channels, and likely, more convenient for shoppers, too.
So D2C companies will be pushed into deciding whether [their] money is better spent on physical retail locations, or other ways of generating demand, like national TV, says Greenfield.
I believe him. And as the reality of those pricey rents starts to eat into venture funds, I suspect well see more companies follow Birchboxs lead. The D2C pioneer, which sold a minority stake to Walgreens last year, quietly closed its Soho, New York City shop back in December, while opening more Birchbox locations within Walgreens stores. (Its already up to 11 stores.)
And with the general sense of excitement surrounding upcoming IPOs, its likely that the freewheeling growth is good mantra will be followed by investors chanting show me the money. Very quickly, some of these companies are going to have to show they can be profitable, Greenfield says.
But if asking how fast these storefronts can lead to D2C profits is a valid question, I think it makes just as much sense to ask the reverse: How soon can traditional brands adapt the D2C storefront model to generate brand buzz and customer acquisition?
Whether its Nordstrom, expanding its Local concept, a service-heavy and practically inventory-free approach, or Procter & Gambles Tide, which is now up to 128 dry cleaning locations, legacy brands are trying new retail formats to capture some of that D2C buzz. Well just have to wait and see how soon profits and growth can meet in the middle.
by Larissa Faw , March 25, 2019
Nick Brien CEO, Americas, Dentsu Aegis Network took the industry to task Monday at a 4As gathering in Washington, chastising media agencies for lagging behind in a fast-changing marketing landscape.
There has been a fundamental shift in the balance of power" between brands and consumers, Brien said. "It has shifted and we are now in a consumer led world."
And agencies arent responding well, Brien asserted. We are too passive. We are too slow to change. We have legacy structures and relationships. We are output-focused versus outcomes. We have an inefficient value proposition among a fragmented industry. We also are losing our creative edge.
Consumers expect brands to be more and mean more, said Brien, citing research that shows 78% of consumers expect brands to bring social change. "Our challenge, collectively, is how do we live up to the greater expectations of consumers?"
advertisement advertisement
Brien shared the stage with peers Mat Baxter, global CEO, Initiative; Tim Castree, CEO, North America, GroupM; Erin Matts, CEO, Hearts & Science; and Jodi Robinson, president, Digitas North America to debate how to best address these issues facing media agencies.
Baxter, for his part, believes the single most important thing for the industry to address is trust, or the lack thereof. "Without that, everything is fanciful dreams," he says. We need to move beyond mere lip service to regain trust because the things we are seeing in the wider industry, such as moving work in-house and bundling, are getting taken away from us because that trust is not there," says Baxter.
But Robinson points out that Digitas parent company Publicis Groupe was cleared in all 35 audits conducted by clients. "How can we move beyond that issue?" she asks.
Castree believes that trust will slowly return. But there are other pressing issues as well such as data and measurement and the development of new business models.
Matts added that there needs to be a broader educational program to teach consumers about advertising. "We can be a force for good and for change," says Matts.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, March 26, 2019
He began his first full day in office by declaring war on the media, and now the President is circulating an "enemies list" asking "the enemy of the people" to bar his most vociferous political opponents from speaking on their airwaves.
In a memo first circulated in a tweet by Axios National Political Reporter Jonathan Swan, the reelection campaign's Director of Communications Tim Murtaugh asked TV news producers to bar:
* Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
* Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
* Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
* Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
* DNC Chairman Tom Perez
* Former CIA Director John Brennan
The memo cites Attorney General William Barr's initial sum-up of the Special Counsel's investigation of the President's campaign ties to Russia as proof that his enemies -- who mostly are members of Congress responsible for providing oversight of the President -- lied to the American people and that if they do appear on their news programs, the producers "should replay the prior statements and challenge them to provide the evidence which promoted them to make the wild claims in the first place."
advertisement advertisement
My first reaction was that this felt like it was part of a prepared campaign strategy to seize on the White House's spin that Barr's summation is the final word, and in the words of the President himself, a "complete and total exoneration," even though Barr's summary included a statement from Special Counsel Robert Mueller saying explicitly that the investigation "does not exonerate him."
In other words, the President entered the post-Barr part of his term the way he began the first part: by lying.
My second reaction is that the reelection campaign's request to blacklist the President's political opponents is part of a much bigger disinformation campaign that may be the envy of the counter intelligence community.
Time will tell what the Special Counsel's investigation actually found, not what the President's hand-picked Attorney General asserts, but the tactics being employed by the White House and the reelection campaign are straight out of the GRU. Trump's campaign may not have actively colluded with Russia, but it's reelection campaign, at least, has studied Russia's tradecraft well, especially its use of so-called "active measures" to attack political opponents by sowing disinformation that creates division within society.
What surprises me most isn't that the White House would try to spin Barr's spin, it is the brazen and outlandish way they are doing it. It's more than a war on media. It's more like a war on reality, even if the media are the conduit for it.
"The bottom line is that Donald Trump would love to run against the news media," Washington Post Associate Editor David Ignatius observed on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Tuesday morning, adding, "We are his favorite target. And in some ways, we are his most successful target. Beating us up, seems to work. We have a lot of enemies out there.
"It's branding for him," added "Morning Joe" co-anchor Mika Brzezinski.
"I just think we need to avoid taking the bait," Ignatius added, suggesting, "There are so many important issues facing the country. Hes going to want to make this a daily circus about how terrible the press is.
Memo To TV News Producers: Take Ignatius' advice. Don't take the bait.
by Ray Schultz , March 26, 2019
The Trump campaign has wasted no time in getting out fundraising emails hailing his exoneration by the Mueller report.
The subject line says "NO COLLUSION OR OBSTRUCTION," then asks for donation of $5 or more, according to reports.
Promising to quadruple-match any donations, the email seems to imply that the President will personally review the email donor list.
My campaign will send me a list of everyone who donates at this critical moment, it says. I know Ill see you on there, Friend.
The email was sent after Sundays release of Attorney General Barrs four-page synopsis of the long-awaited Mueller report.
Barrs letter to Congress states that Mueller found no evidence of collusion with Russians trying to influence the 2019 campaign an apparent political victory for Trump. However, the report does not exonerate on the obstruction of justice issue, although Barr and Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein found no evidence of obstruction.
advertisement advertisement
The email and corresponding text messages were sent amid a report that says Republican operatives seek to prevent Trump from raiding the donor lists in GOPs new fund-raising tool called WINRED.
The new tool is a small-dollar donation machine designed to match the Democrats small-dollar juggernaut, according to Yahoo News.
The brains behind the project say that donor and voter data will be safe against poaching by the Trump campaign.
However, traditional conservatives are concerned that Trump operatives will gain backdoor access to donors, the story continues.
Trumps email has the headline: WITCH HUNT INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED: NO COLLUSION OR OBSTRUCTION.
One caustic observer tweeted: Why do these always read like they were written by a Nigerian prince?
However, the Trump fund-raising team has been successful in generating contributions from supporters.
The email reads as follows:
Friend,
After more than 2 YEARS and $25 MILLION taxpayer dollars spent, the Mueller report proves what I have been saying since Day One: NO COLLUSION, NO OBSTRUCTION COMPLETE EXONERATION.
Democrats worked with the Fake News Media for 2 years orchestrating this Nasty Witch Hunt to use our government as a weapon to take away the votes of 63 MILLION Americans.
After they lied to the American people, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic leadership and all of the 2019 Democratic candidates raised MILLIONS of dollars off of their phony Witch Hunt!
Democrats and the Fake News media have proven that there is no line they wont cross, so we need to fight back BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE.
Thats why I am activating a short-term QUADRUPLE MATCH for my best supporters only, the ones who stood by my side through the entire Witch Hunt.
My campaign will send me a list of everyone who donated at this critical moment. I know Ill see you on there, Friend.
Please make a contribution of $5 before 11:59 TONIGHT and your gift will be QUADRUPLE-MATCHED.
by Sara Guaglione , March 26, 2019
Say hello to the new and improved Texture app. Apple has launched a platform to access editorial content from a range of publishers, dubbed Apple News+.
Over 300 magazines and newspapers have signed up to partner with the service, which is built out from the Texture app often called the Netflix of magazines acquired by Apple last year.
Users pay $9.99 a month, with the first month free, in the U.S. and Canada, to access content from big publishers like The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, theSkimm, Vox, Vulture, New York, TechCrunch, Grub Street and many Conde Nast media brands, such as Vogue, The New Yorker and Wired.
It will allow users to get behind the paywall many of those publishers have put up to increase subscription revenue and diversify publishers' businesses, given digital advertising's struggle to keep up with declines in print ad revenue.
In a memo to staff, Wall Street Journal publisher William Lewis said: Our product offering for Apple News+ is designed to drive scale among new readers. WSJ will likely give Apple News+ subscribers access to only three days of its content archive, with the rest exclusive to its full digital subscribers.
Notably, The New York Times and The Washington Post are not part of the service.
Mark Thompson, CEO The New York Times, warned that "relying on third-party distribution can be dangerous for publishers who risk losing control over their own product," reports Reuters. We tend to be quite leery about the idea of almost habituating people to find our journalism somewhere else.
Apple will reportedly take as much as a 50% cut in revenue made on the News+ platform. It will include advertising, but Apple lets publishers keep 100% of the ad revenue for ads they sell against their content, according to Axios.
Editors will choose what news sources and articles to surface on the Apple News+ app. Algorithms will prioritize engagement.
However, it is unclear if subscribers will have full access to all the publisher partners content.
Lewis wrote in the memo to staff: "WSJ members will continue to have exclusive access to the rich business reporting and analysis about which they are so passionate. Apple News+ introduces an entirely new category of readers who will have the opportunity to experience a specially curated collection of general interest news from The Wall Street Journal. As a result, our newsroom will grow.
Business articles can be found by searching on the Apple News+ app, but mostly general interest news is surfaced to Plus subscribers.
Despite other publishers' reservations about jumping onto a new platform and giving away content at a fraction of a full subscription cost, WSJ editor-in-chief Matt Murray assured staff: The Apple venture is about more people seeing and paying for our journalism.
Apple has the potential to push that further and farther, and at a much faster rate than we have experienced before. That's an incredible opportunity." The platform has the potential to bring in millions of new readers.
Los Angeles Times owner and executive chairman Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has a similar belief in the Apple News+ app. We have every confidence the Apple affiliation will spur the growth of our digital subscriptions," he stated.
Lewis added The Wall Street Journals collaboration with Apple will also extend to areas like video, voice, market data and AI, and announcements will come in the following weeks and months. WSJ will hire several dozen people in the coming weeks, including reporters in politics, U.S. news and features, as well as editors. More platforms and more audiences mean a greater need to deepen coverage to serve all types of readers," he noted.
Jennifer Hicks has been promoted to editor of news partnerships at The Wall Street Journal. She will determine the daily lineup on the Apple News+ platform.
The Wall Street Journal had 1.71 million digital subscribers at the end of 2018.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, March 26, 2019
Omnicom Media Group agency OMD US has named George Manas president, chief media officer, effective April 1. The role is new and will make Manas, 36, the second-highest-ranking executive at the agency behind CEO John Osborn, to whom he reports.
Manas joins the agency -- top-ranked in the U.S. by billings and market share according to COMvergence -- from performance marketing agency Resolution Media, where he was president. Resolution is also part of Omnicom, and has previously partnered with OMD on performance marketing related assignments for clients.
The appointment follows OMDs recent decision to integrate performance marketing, data science, and platform management capabilities at the account team level.
Manas will oversee (and is tasked with accelerating) OMDs digital capabilities across all planning, investment, data and analytics and agency operations platforms.
advertisement advertisement
As OMD continues to advance its digital and data-driven future at the core, we need expanded expertise at the leadership level Osborn said.
In his role as OMDs performance marketing partner [at Resolution], George has been singularly agile and effective in creating platform solutions that drive business results for our clients and propel the relevancy of our go-to-market offer.
Manas joined Resolution Media in 2011 as a team lead and chief strategy officer before being named president in 2016. Under his leadership, annual revenue grew at double-digit rates and the agency expanded beyond its New York and Chicago operations, adding offices in Dallas and Charlotte.
During his tenure, Resolution secured partnerships across multiple platforms, including first-to-market access to premium programmatic video and connected TV offerings on Amazon FireTV. Most recently he has led the agencys expansion into ecommerce and newer marketing channels such as voice.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 26, 2019
Well-documented changes to browser-based ad targeting across a swath of companies like Apple, Mozilla and Google prompted the IAB Tech Lab DigiTrust ID Working Group to sharply pivot its focus earlier this year. The group began digging "deeper into shared concerns by member companies related to ad targeting through web browsers such as Safari, Firefox and Chrome.
The DigiTrust ID Working Group, now talking publicly about its focus, formed a smaller unit consisting of privacy attorneys and technology influencers to determine how to address these changes and the next steps to take, said Jordan Mitchell, senior vice president and operations for the IAB Tech Lab.
Theres general consensus on how to address the changes that these browser companies made and continue to make, Mitchell said. We recognize that consumer trust must be at the center of everything.
IAB Tech Lab, which develops technical standards for the advertising industry, created the DigiTrust ID Working Group in August 2018, with the first meeting following in September.
advertisement advertisement
The focus began with creating specifications around the return on investment for the standardized identifier used in ad targeting, along with ways that companies can adopt the technology as the industry changes.
Between 250 and 300 employees from a variety of brands, publishers and ad-tech companies will collaborate on building standards. The change in focus began early in 2019.
Its pretty clear what browsers have been doing during the last several years because of the limitations of HTTP and the proliferation of JavaScript on the pages that consumers visit and the ill effects, Jordan said.
The types of changes to which Mitchell refers points to a similar group, Identity Standards, which the IAB Tech Lab created in 2017. The group developed workarounds for Apples Intelligent Tracker Prevention, which reduced the value of advertising impressions that serve up on mobile and desktop in Safari.
We dont work with the browsers today, but that would be a wonderful next step, he said. We realize consumer trust must be at the center of everything we do.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 26, 2019
President Donald Trump doesn't violate the First Amendment when he blocks critics on Twitter, because he is acting in a personal capacity, and not a governmental one, a Department of Justice attorney told federal appellate judges Tuesday.
If there's no state action, there can't be a constitutional violation, Justice Department lawyer Jennifer Utrecht told 2nd Circuit Judges Peter Hall, Barrington Parker Jr., and Christopher F. Droney during a hearing in New York Tuesday morning.
The Justice Department is asking the 2nd Circuit to reverse an opinion by U.S. District Court Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald, who ruled last year that Trump engages in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination when he blocks critics.
advertisement advertisement
Utrecht acknowledged at the hearing that Trump uses Twitter to make official statements, but said he doesn't act in an official capacity when he blocks people. Certainly there is speech made from @realDonaldTrump account regularly that does constitute official statements, but that does not change the nature of blocking, she said.
Some of the judges on the panel appeared skeptical of the Justice Department's argument stance.
Are you seriously urging us to believe that the president is not acting in his official capacity when he is tweeting? Parker asked Utrecht.
Parker added that Twitter users can engage in a worldwide dialogue on public matters. What the blocking does ... is subtract from that discussion points of view that the president doesn't like, he said. Why isn't that just a quintessential First Amendment violation?
The legal battle dates to 2017, when the Knight Institute at Columbia University sued Trump on behalf of seven critics who were blocked by him on Twitter. The organization argued that Trump was violating the critics' free speech rights.
Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight Institute, told the judges that online platforms are comparable to public forums like town halls, where the government can't engage in viewpoint discrimination.
Public officials across the country now use social media to communicate with and to hear from their constituents, he said. And these social media accounts often serve the same purposes as forums like city counsel meetings or school board meetings or town halls.
Jaffer also asked the judges to reject the Justice Department's argument that Trump uses Twitter in an official capacity when he posts policy statements, but acts in a private capacity when he blocks people.
I'm not sure that these two things can be separated in that way, Jaffer said, adding that the users represented by the Knight Institute were blocked after disagreeing with Trump's official policy positions.
One of them was blocked after he complained about the president's immigration policies, another was blocked after complaining about health care policies, Jaffer said. Even if you focus myopically on the reasons why the individuals were blocked in this case, they were blocked for having criticized the president about his policies.
The battle over Trump's Twitter account is only one of several recent rights over public officials' use of social media.
In one high-profile example, earlier this year the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an official from Loudon County, Virginia violated a constituent's rights by briefly banning him on Facebook. In that matter, Phyllis Randall, chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, banned county resident Brian Davison after he made a post on Randall's page about alleged corruption and conflicts of interests at the local school board.
This is some of the first research investigating links between exposure to chemical mixtures present in the indoor environment and metabolic health of children living in those homes, emphasizes Kassotis.
Kassotis presented these findings yesterday at ENDO 2019 , the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, which was held in New Orleans, LA.
Now, a study led by Christopher Kassotis, Ph.D., from Duke Universitys Nicholas School of the Environment, in Durham, NC, has found evidence suggesting that household dust may promote the development of fat cells. Why? Because this dust can contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Many plastics, for instance, contain phthalates , which are endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Such substances are sometimes present in household cleaning products, and even in objects that we use on a daily basis.
In recent years, researchers and international policymakers have expressed concerns about the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals , a class of substances that can interfere with the functioning of the endocrine or hormone system.
Researchers have found that the dust in our households may harbor numerous chemicals that may accelerate the development of fat cells, potentially contributing to obesity.
Kassotis and the team took their cue from existing research that indicates a connection between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and impaired lipid (fat) regulation in animal models.
This evidence ties in with that of other studies, which have suggested that the mechanism may contribute to the development of obesity in humans.
For the current research, Kassotis and the team collected samples of household dust from 194 houses in central North Carolina, with the aim of studying the effect of the dusts chemical components on the inhabitants metabolic health.
To do this, the investigators first extracted the chemical substances from the dust samples. Then, they tested the substances effects in vitro, specifically trying to find out whether the chemical mixtures would prompt the development of fat cells.
The researchers report that even very low concentrations of the chemicals present in the dust samples did, indeed, promote the growth of precursor fat cells (from which adult fat cells develop) and, consequently, fat cell growth.
This discovery is particularly concerning because, according to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), children most likely ingest between 60 and 100 milligrams of dust and soil per day.
We found that two-thirds of dust extracts were able to promote fat cell development and half [could] promote precursor fat cell proliferation at 100 micrograms, or approximately 1,000 times lower levels than what children consume on a daily basis, notes Kassotis.
In total, the researchers identified the presence of over 100 different chemicals in samples of household dust, and about 70 of these substances demonstrated a role in the growth of fat cells. Around 40 of the chemicals played a role in the development of precursor fat cells.
This suggests that mixtures of chemicals occurring in the indoor environment might be driving these effects. Christopher Kassotis, Ph.D.
Moreover, the researchers say that several of the chemicals that induced the growth of fat cells were present at elevated levels in the dust samples collected from homes inhabited by children who were either overweight or obese.
At present, Kassotis and the team are trying to take this initial research further and find more specific information about the potential relationship between the ingredients of common household products and the development of metabolic conditions.
More than 70% of children who lost parents and caregivers are 13 or younger; Communities of Color have been affected the most; Coalition calls for urgent public and private action to help COVID-bereaved children WASHINGTON , Dec. 9, 2021 ...
One thousand days after a majority of voters decided that the United Kingdom should leave the European Union, it is still not clear if, how or when this is going to happen.
The result of the June 2016 referendum delivered a huge shock to the British establishment. This came after the peoples of Britain and Northern Ireland had been urged to remain in the EU by the Tory-led coalition government, all the mainstream political parties, the main business organizations, the Bank of England, most trade union leaders, many former diplomatic and military chiefs and even U.S. President Obama.
The government and the pro-EU movement had also warned of dire economic, political and security consequences should people ignore their advice.
Yet a clear majority of voters ignored that advice, demanding that the Westminster parliament should regain full sovereignty over the U.K.'s laws, borders and trade. Undoubtedly, too, many working-class electors saw the referendum as an opportunity to express their distrust of politicians, bankers and so-called "experts," and to oppose policies of austerity and privatization. Then as now, people were fed up with low incomes, deteriorating public services and a lack of decent, affordable housing.
At the May 2017 General Election, both the Conservative and Labour parties pledged to implement the result of the EU referendum. So why has the quest for "Brexit" turned the referendum shock into a full-blown parliamentary and political crisis?
Prime Minister Theresa May and Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond have been determined to carry out the wishes of their Business Advisory Council of top industrialists and financiers. These powerful forces proposed a "half-Brexit" whereby the U.K. would formally leave the EU while remaining tied to EU Single Market rules. These rules limit state intervention in the economy, while upholding the freedoms to move capital, labor and market operations across Europe in order to maximize corporate profits.
Under the half-Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, concluded with the EU last year, the U.K. would remain part of the EU Single Market for most goods during a 20-month transition period. Many financial services would be excluded, enabling the City of London to escape the threat of mild EU regulation.
Should no new permanent relationship be agreed, a "backstop" device would thereafter prevent the construction of a "hard border" between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and would lock the whole of the U.K. into a single market and customs arrangement with the EU, preventing future British governments from reaching their own international trade deals.
Unfortunately for May, her Withdrawal Agreement has been rejected in two of the biggest defeats in British parliamentary history. Despite having legislated for the U.K. to leave the EU on March 29 ("Brexit Day"), a majority of MPs including most Labourites would prefer a quarter-Brexit or no Brexit at all, while a significant minority of Conservatives are still holding out for a full Brexit.
Many opposition MPs want a second referendum in order to cancel Brexit, emboldened by a media campaign portraying the 17.4 million "Leave" voters as ignorant reactionaries, racists and nationalists, and forecasting catastrophe should Brexit go ahead.
This has shifted public opinion marginally against Brexit, although there is less support for what the millionaire campaigners for a second referendum cynically call a "People's Vote."
Now the EU heads of government keen to keep Britain aligned with the EU Single Market and Customs Union have offered the Westminster parliament a new range of options: first, approve the Withdrawal Agreement before March 29 and have until May 22 to legislate for a delayed Brexit Day; second, reject the agreement and leave the EU no later than April 12; third, seek a longer extension if the British government can "indicate a way forward" and take part in the European Parliament elections this May; or fourth, revoke "Article 50" and the decision to quit the EU.
Given the British government's lack of preparation, leaving the EU with no Withdrawal Agreement would cause substantial, if temporary, disruption to trade with the EU. However, it would also mean no payment of a 49 billion "divorce bill" to the EU, and freedom for British governments to carry out their own economic, financial and labor policies.
Many on the political left, as well as on the right, would be happy with this scenario. More likely is that MPs will either adopt the Withdrawal Agreement or delay Brexit still further to negotiate an amended quarter-Brexit. The latter course might allow time for a second referendum or General Election, resulting in a half- or quarter-Brexit or no Brexit at all.
The main casualty of most scenarios could be the Labour Opposition, which increasingly appears to many working-class electors as an anti-Brexit party. Conversely, the main beneficiaries would be the far right, feeding on popular disillusionment and likely filling the anti-EU vacuum gifted to them by Labour.
Robert Griffiths is former Senior Lecturer in Political Economy and History at the University of Wales and currently General Secretary of the Communist Party of Britain.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
If you would like to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.
March 26, 2019
Providence
Rhode Island
Joseph P. Marasco
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Providence Rhode Island
Joseph Marasco
Donna Nesselbush
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Marasco & Nesselbush, a-based law firm specializing in cases involving Social Security disability, personal injury, and medical malpractice, announce today that the firm has been listed in the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms."Ranked firms, presented in tiers, are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity.Marasco & Nesselbush, LLP received the U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms ranking forlaw firms in Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiffs.Firms included in the 2019 "Best Law Firms" list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving the ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.The 2019 Edition of "Best Law Firms" includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 122 metropolitan-based practice areas. A "Law Firm of the Year" is named in 74 of the 75 nationally ranked practice areas."We are honored to once again be recognized by U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyers Best Law Firms," said, Partner. "This honor is indicative of our attorneys' commitment to providing exceptional client service and extraordinary legal results."About Marasco & Nesselbush Marasco & Nesselbush, LLP is a New England law firm dedicated to providing extraordinary legal results in the areas of personal injury, medical negligence, and Social Security disability in, and. Since 1999, Marasco & Nesselbush has helped thousands of disabled and injured individuals. The main office is located at 685 Westminster Street in. To learn more about Marasco & Nesselbush, LLP, please visit the firm's website at: http://www.M-N-Law.comOur History In April of 1999,andjoined hands as partners to establish the law firm of Marasco & Nesselbush. Today, their unwavering friendship, old-fashioned work ethic, their commitment to each other and to the pursuit of justice, all continue to propel the firm. In 1999, Joe and Donna established the firm with just one legal assistant. Blessed with success, Marasco & Nesselbush has grown impressively over the years, today boasting an accomplished array of attorneys and dedicated support staff.Our Values Hard work, honesty, intelligence and integrity are the hallmarks at Marasco & Nesselbush. Our unwavering commitment is to quality legal work, attention to detail and extraordinary results. Our legal assistants and attorneys treat each client with dignity, respect, kindness and compassion, while we work vigorously to advocate and favorably resolve your case. When we accept a case, we strive for nothing short of extraordinary results for each client.SOURCE Marasco & Nesselbush
Study Background
In 2016, there were over 110,000 women in federal and state prisons across USA
75 percent of the above women were in the age group 18-44 years
As per a 2004 BJS survey, 3 percent of women in federal prisons and 4 percent of women in state prisons were pregnant at the time of imprisonment
The 2004 BJS survey data only took into consideration self-reported pregnancies
Study Objective
Study Procedure
Prison administration was contacted for participating in the study
Approval for the participation of federal prisons was granted by the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Approval for the participation of state prisons was granted by the US State Departments of Corrections
A 'Site Reporter' was appointed for each prison to collect data on pregnant women and pregnancy outcomes on a monthly basis
Information on the following parameters was collected:
Live births
Miscarriages
Stillbirths
Preterm births
Abortions
Maternal deaths
Monthly data were sent by site reporters to the Johns Hopkins researchers through a secure, web-based program called Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap)
Johns Hopkins research staff assessed the data for any inaccuracies and made the necessary corrections
43 percent of site reporters were interviewed by the researchers to cross-check the accuracy and quality of the submitted data
Study Findings
1,396 pregnant women were imprisoned in 22 state and all federal prisons across the US during the study period (2016-2017)
The above prisons contained 57 percent of all imprisoned women in the US
During the women's incarceration, there were 753 live births
6 percent of live births were preterm (10% in the general population)
30 percent of live births were delivered by Cesarean section (31.9% in the general population)
Statistics on other pregnancy outcomes include the following:
Miscarriages - 46
Abortions - 11
Stillbirths - 4
Newborn deaths - 3
Maternal deaths - 0 (Annual national figures: >700 maternal deaths)
Reasons for variation of preterm birth rates between prisons include the following:
Pre-incarceration health conditions
Access to prenatal care
Availability of food and shelter
Access to illegal drugs
Access to quality healthcare varied between prisons. So, the data are not generalizable for states that didn't participate in the study
Pregnancy outcomes varied widely between states
Study Limitations
Stage of pregnancy at the time of imprisonment
Size of the prisons
Prison policies on pregnancy testing
Type of hospital used for delivery of babies
Quality of living conditions in prisons
Pregnancy statistics from the other 28 state prison systems (including New York, Florida and California - the largest)
Demographic data on age and ethnicity
Future Plans
Concluding Remarks
Advertisement
Pregnancy Outcomes in US Prisons, 2016-2017 - (https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305006)
says Sufrin.The study was based on the only dataset available on the prevalence of pregnancy in US prisons, which was collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Interestingly, all current national health statistics totally excluded data from prisons, thereby contributing to the paucity of information on maternal health and childbirths in US prisons. The major background information obtained from the BJS includes the following:The study was aimed at reducing the above information gap by gathering data on pregnant women and pregnancy outcomes in 22 state and all federal prison systems across the US over a span of one year (2016-2017).The study procedure involved the following steps:The major findings of the study are indicated below:says Sufrin.She adds:Information is lacking on the following important aspects:The research team plans to gather demographic data, as well as information on patient experiences by conducting one-on-one interviews. They also plan to assess the quality of maternity care in prisons.The research team is optimistic that this study will be instrumental in developing guidelines for tracking pregnant women and improving their antenatal healthcare in prisons across the US.says Sufrin,Source: Medindia
Amidst the heat of elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been accused of stealing a template for its party's new website. A start-up, W3Layouts, has alleged that the party used their template but deliberately removed the backlink.
W3Layouts also alleged that the party had removed the code wherever W3Layouts' name was mentioned as soon as the matter was brought to light.
The company published a blog post explaining the matter and even posted a series of tweets exposing the whole debacle.
Why Removed author information from css ?? But it is available at https://t.co/PyHj2HymCG pic.twitter.com/Nih9cFJe85 W3layouts (@W3layouts) March 22, 2019
While the visible backlinks were removed, it was clear that BJP was still using the W3Layouts code as it was evident in the source code of the page, one of the tweets said.
After a few days of back-and-forth banter, BJP decided to take down the code from their website. In response, the party said, It was a free-to-use application. Their code was dropped after they insisted on a backlink, as it is not something we do in the normal course. We had in fact offered to mention their name but since it didn't find favour, we preferred to work with the alternate solution. We are not using their template.
Twitter
Although the matter has been settled with BJP dropping W3Layouts' template, the start-up founder stressed that the license agreement was clear. He said, You are not allowed to remove back-link to W3Layouts in a template unless you have paid for the template.
Both the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have decided to remain tight-lipped on this matter. In fact, the PM has found himself facing flak for using selling #MainBhiChowkidar merchandise on his Twitter handle.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker met on Tuesday and agreed to strengthen China-European Union (EU) relations and global governance cooperation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L), French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd R), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (1st R) and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker attend the closing ceremony of a global governance forum co-hosted by China and France in Paris, France, March 26, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua/Ju Peng)
The leaders met in the French capital on the sidelines of a global governance forum co-hosted by China and France.
Noting the increasing volatility and uncertainty in the international situation with a rising tide of protectionism, Xi said China is willing to work with all parties to firmly uphold multilateralism, improve global governance and jointly address global challenges.
China and Europe are two major forces in the world, and are important participants in and constructors of the economic globalization process, Xi said, adding that they share broad common interests.
The Chinese president proposed that the two sides join efforts in three aspects.
Firstly, they should together uphold multilateralism, Xi said, urging China and Europe to protect the status and authority of the United Nations (UN) and the international system with the UN at its core.
China is willing to increase communication and cooperation with Europe within the framework of the UN, and actively strive for more achievements in resolving international disputes by political means, addressing climate change, promoting sustainable development and other fields, Xi said.
Secondly, he proposed that China and Europe work to facilitate development and prosperity on the Eurasian continent.
China is willing to continue to push forward the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative and the EU's Euro-Asian connectivity strategy, Xi said, adding that China will promote bilateral as well as third-party market cooperation to realize mutual benefits and win-win results for all parties.
Thirdly, China and Europe should improve strategic mutual trust, he said.
China has always regarded the EU as a strategic partner of cooperation and supported the EU's solidarity, stability and prosperity, Xi said.
Stressing that China and Europe share far more common interests than differences, the Chinese president urged both sides to take the lead in upholding peace, development and win-win cooperation, and make the cake of cooperation bigger.
China stands ready to work with European countries to promote the development of China-Europe ties, he said.
Speaking of their meeting, Macron said it has sent a positive signal to the international community that the EU and China firmly uphold multilateralism.
Meanwhile, France and China have inked a joint statement on jointly safeguarding multilateralism and improving global governance, which fully demonstrates the strategic nature of their cooperation, Macron said.
France and the EU are willing to further enhance mutual trust with China, and together shoulder the historic responsibility of promoting world peace, security and development, he said.
Noting that the world today is faced with many difficult problems regarding peace and development, Merkel underlined China's success and huge achievements in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.
Germany attaches importance to China's key role in international affairs, highly appreciates China's support for Europe's prosperity, and is willing to work with China to advance the process of multilateralism, she said.
Juncker said the EU and China, as cooperation partners, could do great things together for the world.
The EU stands ready to accelerate cooperation with China and play a positive role in jointly addressing global challenges, he said.
Flash
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, marking a major shift in U.S. policy in the Middle East.
The proclamation said that it is "appropriate to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights" because of the security need of Israel.
"This was a long time in the making," Trump said before signing the decree at the White House with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing alongside.
Netanyahu welcomed Trump's move over the Golan Heights, territory that Israel seized from Syria in 1967, and called the recognition "historic." "In a day of history, we have never had a greater friend than President Trump," he said.
Trump expressed condolences to Netanyahu for the Gaza rocket attack and affirmed Israel's right to defend itself. The two leaders also discussed shared interests in the Middle East, according to the White House.
Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in a war in 1967 and annexed it in the 1980s, but the international community has never recognized the move.
In response, Syria's foreign ministry called the U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights as a "blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Syria, according to the state news agency SANA.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric also said on Monday that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "clear that the status of Golan has not changed."
Abdoulaye Magassouba told delegates to Fastmarkets 25th annual bauxite and alumina conference in Miami, on Tuesday March 26, that a key driver for his government was to ensure the integration of as much as possible of the mining sector into the general economy.Our main goal is to use mining to develop and diversify the rest of the economy, so that, in 10-20 years time, Guinea has a much larger gross domestic product [GDP] due to the contribution of the mining sector, he said.Magassouba referred to agriculture, transportation and technology as areas of the countrys economy that the government was seeking to develop.
Guineas GDP rose on average by 10% in 2016 and 2017, compared with...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos is travelling to the United Arab Emirates today, 26 March, where he will be having contacts with the country's political leadership. More specifically, on Wednesday, 27 March, he will meet his counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, with whom he will discuss on recent international and regional developments, as well as issues of bilateral interest. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will then meet with UAE's Minister of State for Tolerance, Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan.
In the context of the aforementioned meetings, memoranda of cooperation are expected to be concluded in areas of mutual interest.
Finally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will meet with representatives from the Mubadala Investment Company, and he will also be visiting the Centre for Countering Violent Extremism (Hedayah).
A. SPANOU: Lets welcome the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Giorgos Katrougalos. Good morning.
G. KATROUGALOS: Good morning to you too, and to our listeners.
V. SKOURIS: Good morning.
A. SPANOU: You have just returned from Antalya, and what did you come face-to-face with? An attack on the Russian Consulate in Chalandri. Whats your take, Minister?
G. KATROUGALOS: We are a safe country but, unfortunately, isolated events such as this can happen in every country, and it is not possible to fully avert them. Obviously, I do not have to state that we condemn it as an unacceptable act. We have spoken to the Russian Embassy, and we will do everything in our power to arrest those who committed this utterly insane act; and we have obviously reconfirmed our excellent relations with the Russian Federation.
V. SKOURIS: Do you have any information from the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the Counter-terrorism Unit?
G. KATROUGALOS: Even if I did, I wouldnt tell you.
V. SKOURIS: According to the information we broadcast just before, the evidence points towards the "Revolutionary Self-Defence Organisation."
G. KATROUGALOS: When the need arises for a public statement, one will be released by the competent Ministry.
V. SKOURIS: Indeed.
A. SPANOU: However, in the last year, there have been many attacks, in one way or another, against foreign diplomatic missions, each on a different scale. They are becoming somewhat of an epidemic in this country. Isnt that right?
G. KATROUGALOS: Lets not confuse tossing flyers with tossing grenades.
V. SKOURIS: Right, but going to a foreign Embassy and tossing flyers is a problem in itself.
G. KATROUGALOS: To avoid giving rise to doubts and misunderstandings: obviously, we condemn anything that violates the space occupied by each Embassy, which is sovereign territory. It has occurred even in milder ways, as I have already mentioned. Undoubtedly, since antiquity, foreign embassies have held everyones respect, and we do not tolerate anyone disrupting our good relations.
V. SKOURIS: You fully condemn it verbally, Minister. In practice, however, when this keeps happening, this shows that theres a problem.
G. KATROUGALOS: Lets get something straight. Grenade attacks do not keep happening.
V. SKOURIS: No, we did not mean grenades, for Gods sake.
G. KATROUGALOS: This is precisely the reason we should not group the two events together. Not because we do not condemn them, but because they are truly different in terms of quality. Being in a country where grenades are tossed at embassies is different to being in a country where flyers are tossed.
V. SKOURIS: Should patrolling outside embassies perhaps increase?
G. KATROUGALOS: We have already taken measures to this end, and we shall take more. But let me reiterate, and we see this from the incidents that unfortunately fill up our newspapers, it is not possible to fully avert such incidents in the world we live in.
A. SPANOU: Lets move on to the other topics. Today, the turkish Press is praising the statements you made yesterday on the rights that Turkey also enjoys in the eastern Mediterranean, based on International Law. Were you expecting to make such an impression? Because New Democracys condemnation is on its way.
G. KATROUGALOS: Why should New Democracys condemnation be on its way - a condemnation of the International Law? It seems ludicrous to me.
Listen, what is Turkeys fixed policy when it comes to issues that concern us? Turkey traditionally comes across as a revisionist power that needs to exhibit strength to get around obligations arising from International Law. We, along with the Republic of Cyprus, have handled Turkeys practice quite effectively in the context of the diplomatic alliances we have forged.
It is in our interest to make Turkey talk in terms of International Law, and not in terms of strength. Therefore, when we make moves that have not been fully accepted by the other side -with the other side having other things at mind- obviously it is in the interest of our country to always talk in terms of International Law, as well as to acknowledge the rights of the other side, always in terms of the Law of the Sea, International Law.
When we refer to International Law, this does not mean that we want to claim single ownership where we believe our interests lie. We want the rules that stem from International Law to be followed to the letter.
V. SKOURIS: Mr Koumoutsakos, for example, criticised you with regard to the issue of Turkey having rights in the Mediterranean.
G. KATROUGALOS: There is no doubt that there have been narrow party interests in the announcements issued by New Democracy, which, as I pointed out, echo similar announcements of the Union of Centrists in this case.
But lets hold on a minute, what do you mean? Doesnt Turkey have a coastline? Doesnt it, therefore, have rights according the Law of the Sea? Isnt it in the interest of our country to talk on this level, based on the Law of the Sea? I dont understand how there can be any doubt about something that is a fixed national policy line. There is no inconsistency between what I am saying and what we have always said.
A. SPANOU: Is any type of cooperation with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean possible? In terms of energy interests, for example.
G. KATROUGALOS: Hold on a minute. When Turkey decides that it will respect International Law, that it will not challenge it, and that it will not attempt to exceed the provisions of International Law, through shows of force, that prospect may indeed exist. However, the prospect does not exist at the moment.
Whats the issue at the moment? Will International Law be fully respected or not? If we start by accepting this framework of rules and discussion, we can move on.
V. SKOURIS: Mr Koumoutsakos accused you of opening up loopholes and connecting Greek-Turkish relations with the Prespa Agreement.
G. KATROUGALOS: What does that have to do with this? Nothing was said. What does Mr Koumoutsakos whom I respect and who obviously is getting carried away by the general populist climate within his party mean? If he means that we do not want the problems to drag on, but rather to resolve them, because that is the message from the Prespa Agreement, then thats true. We want to resolve problems; we dont want to keep kicking the can further down the road.
At the moment, though, the situation in the relations with Turkey has not matured enough for a breakthrough similar to the Prespa Agreement. The effort we are making is completely incomparable.
What we are doing with Turkey is to take many small steps, generally accepted steps, as they relate to soft politics and bilateral issues, mainly in the field of economy or the field of confidence-building measures, so as to advance the positive agenda a bit further, just a tad, each month. To de-escalate tensions and to create conditions for dialogue.
At the moment, theres no chance of reaching a major solution for all our issues with Turkey. It would be unrealistic for someone to hope for this. However, we have to come up with the rules and a framework for dialogue, and I reiterate yet again that we have always wanted the dialogue to be determined by International Law and not by force.
V. SKOURIS: Let me ask you something else, on a political level. Due to your statement and due to the statement by Mr Nikos Pappas about "Famous Macedonia," which New Democracy also used to make a video, if Im right, in principle, you are being accused of having diminished patriotic consciousness by a sector of the political world. I think youve seen the statements, youve seen the headlines.
G. KATROUGALOS: I have said before that foreign policy is not ideal ground for exploiting narrow party interests. Whoever goes further even than Rouvikonas and doubts the patriotism of their political opponent, they do not just undermine the exercise of foreign policy, they undermine democracy.
I want discussion to take place on the terms of political controversy, but a political controversy within the context of democracy and the rule of law. And never will I contribute to a further degeneration of the level of political dialogue.
Those doubting the patriotism of others must be very careful, because, in reality, they will not gain the electoral benefits they are expecting. They will be led to anti-democratic, semi-fascist forces that have fathered, have the copyright on roughnecks, on traitorous politicians, who are the only ones to benefit from this discussion.
V. SKOURIS: Yes, but we witness you granting them use of the hall at the Zappeion Megaron to present their European Parliament ballot paper, and I am referring to Golden Dawn on 25 March, on Greek Independence Day.
G. KATROUGALOS: We cannot forbid -I dont know about the Zappeion Megaron- any party from running for elections, even if it is outside the context of the democratic spectrum.
V. SKOURIS: I didnt say that
G. KATROUGALOS: What did you mean then? How could we have done this?
V. SKOURIS: I talked about granting use of the hall at the Zappeion Megaron on that specific date.
G. KATROUGALOS: I know nothing about this, but in any case, the main issue is not forbidding Golden Dawn from running for elections, using policing measures. The issue is to convince the Greek people that this party does indeed have neo-fascist traits, which do not have room, cannot fit within the room afforded by our Constitution and the democratic context of political dialogue.
This -I repeat- does not mean that we must be led to banning any party. The policy should be condemnation and isolation.
A. SPANOU: The counter argument to what we were discussing before is that today, Mr Akar, the Turkish Minister of National Defence, has again made statements saying the Aegean and Cyprus belong to us or something to that effect, while you are talking about recognising Turkeys rights in the eastern Mediterranean. Therefore, each sides rhetoric is on an entirely different level.
G. KATROUGALOS: Quite the opposite is happening. When Turkey is making any kind of allegations, if the dialogue is based on International Law, then the answer will be: Based on what could these allegations be substantiated?
Let me repeat, it is in the interest of our country for the controversy not to be based on verbalism and rhetoric, but on International Law. Because in that case, everything is clear and the winner is not the one who screams the loudest; the winner is the one who can prove ones case, based not only on legal arguments, but mainly through diplomatic cooperation, based on International Law and also on the acceptance of multilateralism, as the foundation of diplomacy.
Its what we do. To state it clearly: we must have a strong foreign policy, which can be secured through our diplomatic initiatives. We must rebuff the other sides display of strength. We have achieved this through our trilateral cooperation schemes. There is no better proof than the success of this aspect of our policy, of the recent 3+1 Summit, where in reality, the USA confirmed our role as an exporter of stability in the region.
V. SKOURIS: We are going to ask you about that...
G. KATROUGALOS: Hold on a minute. I referred to two things. The second is to avert and curb the other sides policy, when it seeks a show of strength.
The positive flipside of this policy is making Turkey talk in our terms, not in our national terms, but in the terms of International Law. If we can achieve this, we will be creating the conditions for truly resolving the issues. If we cannot achieve it, the only thing we will end up doing every time we receive a verbal assault from the other side is to counter it with another verbal assault. But differences between countries are not won or resolved with verbal assaults.
V. SKOURIS: Minister, I was reading yesterday in the announcement by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs that in your meeting with Mr Cavusoglu you discussed issues concerning bilateral relations, especially the issue of the Turkish Muslim minority in Greece, in a frank and honest manner. As a matter of fact, he is bringing up the issue of the Turkish minority with you yet again.
G. KATROUGALOS: This is a fixed policy line by Turkey, which is always met with our own fixed national policy. This is a religious minority in Thrace, not only because it is recognised as such by the Treaty of Lausanne, but because, in reality, President Erdogan himself admitted so during his visit to Athens, when he talked about ethnic differences, the well-known ethnic differences existing in the minority between groups of Turkish origin, Pomaks and Roma. All three components of this religious minority are Greek citizens. And we have an obligation, according to our Constitution, to treat them in terms of equality before the State and the Law, and I pointed this out during our joint interview with Mr Cavusoglu.
And actually, what I said in response to his opposing allegations, was that I was glad to hear them, because the problems are real, they go back decades, and we must not sweep them under the rug. We must we resolve them. I reiterate this, yet again, because it must become our mantra and we must keep repeating it: based on the provisions of International Law.
V. SKOURIS: On the same topic, you told Mr Cavusoglu yesterday that talks on confidence-building measures would begin on 12 April. Would you like to give us an idea about what is being discussed?
G. KATROUGALOS: It is not just about the confidence-building measures; theres also the so-called positive agenda we have initiated.
V. SKOURIS: And this positive agenda? I was going to ask you that next.
G. KATROUGALOS: I will tell you about the positive agenda later, as part of a second question. We have also begun unofficial preliminary talks on the international dimension of the Cyprus issue, where we mainly expect Turkey to lay out its cards. Because, what we said at Crans-Montana, was precisely...
V. SKOURIS: Lets take the issues one by one, Mr Minister, starting from the confidence-building measures.
G. KATROUGALOS: In the confidence-building measures, the first thing we will do is a recap of where we find ourselves. Because we have had important confidence measures that had been decided in the past, chiefly the Papoulias-Yilmaz Memorandum, which imposes an abstention from military exercises in the Aegean Sea during summer, but also during religious holidays, which is not clear whether it is understood by both sides in the same manner.
The same applies for other confidence-building measures. So, an effort is being made to see whats there, so that it can be enforced. Discussions are being held between the Ministries of National Defence, in which one of our own teams is participating, to see whether we can complement these measures with others. The objective is again obvious: to de-escalate tensions and to avoid a heated incident.
It is an agenda of measures that do not resolve the situation, but prevent it from deteriorating.
V. SKOURIS: And the positive agenda? Is the Izmir-Thessaloniki line opening this summer?
G. KATROUGALOS: We have already secured the first connection between Lavrio-Izmir as of 2 June, and we are truly trying to push this positive agenda, so as to have even more connections, by air and by sea.
We have agreed for a business forum to take place in Istanbul, before the big one that has already been decided in the context of the Erdogan-Tsipras meeting, which will accompany the High-Level Cooperation Council, when that takes place.
V. SKOURIS: By the way, when is it being scheduled for? You had mentioned Thessaloniki.
G. KATROUGALOS: The discussion must continue to see whether our neighbours will respond in practice to what we have agreed on, in other words to slowly start building a cooperation framework.
V. SKOURIS: Can it take place this year, for example?
G. KATROUGALOS: It can take place this year, but I dont think theres a chance it will take place before autumn. And there are also other symbolic measures: for example, one could say that the Mass at Panagia Soumela Monastery, which will take place on 15 August is not a major political event, but it does carry a certain symbolism.
A. SPANOU: In terms of the Cyprus issue, should we expect an initiative soon?
G. KATROUGALOS: We are not talking about initiatives. What do we want to do? To prepare for restarting negotiations in a very systematic manner. How can this be achieved? By having cleared up the technical aspects in advance, and mainly by knowing what the other side is saying.
Let me remind you that our responsibility because this must be our countrys only role during the negotiations concerns the international dimension of the Cyprus issue. It pertains to the in depth discussion on the issue of withdrawal of the occupation forces, where, obviously theres no agreement. We have not yet heard other sides ideas with regard to the new mechanism for implementing the agreement, which will follow the abolishment of the colonial nature of the guarantees.
V. SKOURIS: Did you mention an international conference?
G. KATROUGALOS: Dimension.
V. SKOURIS: Pardon me.
A. SPANOU: The impact of the Prespa Agreement seems to be quite strong in Northern Greece. In reality, government officials cannot go anywhere without being met with disapproval.
G. KATROUGALOS: Hold on. Before moving to the political part of your question, I have to challenge the factual part. In the last few instances, there has indeed been a small group of people -under no circumstances more than ten- who gather and jeer in an organised manner. It is not some type of spontaneous reaction. On the contrary, I think that the small number and premeditated planning of such cheap provocations obviously demonstrate that there is no general opposition on the same level.
I do accept, because this is the reality, that a large portion of our fellow citizens have an emotional reaction against the agreement. But to equate an emotional reaction with the bullying, the anti-democratic, semi-fascist way these few choose to show their disapproval towards our officials is a major leap we should not take. It is like saying that whoever opposes the Prespa Agreement is a bully and I do not wish to use harsher terms to describe them.
A. SPANOU: Despite all this, isnt the emotional reaction you are referring to, which is healthy as you said, more marked in Northern Greece?
G. KATROUGALOS: There is an explanation for this. Where is it stemming from? It is stemming from the fact that due to our bruised national pride from the years of the memoranda, it is easy to view a positive agreement through a lens that distorts it.
It is my personal view that, as time goes by, Northern Greece will be the first to reap the financial benefits from the Agreement. It will actually become the heart, the economic hub of a single Balkan economic area of 50 million. Then they will be able to calmly review the significant gains for Greece that resulted from the Prespa Agreement.
In my opinion, thats where the integrity of the Prime Minister as a person became evident, who placed the countrys interests before any expectations for ephemeral political gain. I believe this will be appreciated. It is an investment in Greeces national interest, but I believe, also in the integrity of the Prime Minister as a politician of a European calibre.
V. SKOURIS: Has Mr Tsipras trip to Skopje on 2 April been finalised?
G. KATROUGALOS: It seems so. He will be visiting there on the first week in April.
A. SPANOU: What will happen with the statues? With the exchange?
V. SKOURIS: Will we be making new ones, to quote Angeliki?
G. KATROUGALOS: It is their decision. They might decide to collect them, to make a...
G. KATROUGALOS: What will we give them? In exchange, I mean, after the fiasco with The Runner.
G. KATROUGALOS: There was no fiasco with The Runner. There have been indeed attempts to spin negatively our attempts to build good relations, which you, being a fine journalist, should not serve.
V. SKOURIS: Of course not, Minister. Angeliki serving such things?
A. SPANOU: So, are you going to tell us? Will we be sending them a statue?
G. KATROUGALOS: Shes a friend. I said the exact opposite. Let me reiterate, we are trying to find ways, with people to whom we had never even exchanged a word previously, to jointly schedule the promotion of our common interests and to stabilise the region.
We are also thinking of moves that will show our people that the climate has indeed improved. These moves must be carefully carried out.
A. SPANOU: Since you are not answering this, give us some answers on the European Parliament elections. How high is the bar for SYRIZA?
G. KATROUGALOS: A very good result, similar to the one we had in the previous elections.
V. SKOURIS: First question, and a key one for the issue. Yesterday, through Pratto, Mr Kotzias accused you of settling with Turkey on the issue with the Muslim minority of Thrace. I would like an answer to this and to whether your collaboration with Pratto is actually in jeopardy.
G. KATROUGALOS: Nikos Kotzias would never correlate our government with serving Turkish interests. Thats not what Prattos announcement is saying. I think it should be read carefully.
I made an announcement about the issues I thought I ought to have addressed, and which concerned the resignation of Pratto members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I made the clarifications I think should have been made.
My relationship with Nikos Kotzias goes back 30 years. I speak with him in private about things I believe should not be said publicly.
A. SPANOU: Therefore, do you believe there is no issue of the relationship between Pratto and SYRIZA breaking down?
G. KATROUGALOS: In my statement, I too referred to Pratto as an allied party working with SYRIZA, and if you had read Prattos announcement carefully, you would have noticed that in its last paragraph it is stated that Pratto will remain within the larger group of democratic political partiew.
V. SKOURIS: The issue is whether it will continue to work with SYRIZA as a party. Thats what we are asking.
G. KATROUGALOS: At the moment, SYRIZA is at the core of this group of democratic political parties in Greece. There can be such group in Greece, without the key political body that embodies it.
A. SPANOU: Will the Greek stance against Turkey's accession course be reviewed?
G. KATROUGALOS: No. It is one of the firm positions in Greeces policies and all the parties essentially agree on it. It is telling that during a recent voting session in the European Parliament concerning a possible freeze on accession talks, the majority of Greek MEPs, including members from both New Democracy and SYRIZA, voted against it.
V. SKOURIS: Mr Georgiadis or Mr Syrigos who is a candidate with New Democracy and, therefore, a political figure essentially told us that the accession prospects of Turkey are over, and they are partially correct. None of the countries will accept Turkey.
G. KATROUGALOS: It is one thing for one to predict that the environment is radically different, and something else to change the national policy line. That is again something hugely irresponsible.
How is the national policy line determined? Based on our interests. It is not left to chance. Otherwise, the national policy line would change every time the state of affairs changed. That is extremely frivolous. I hope Mr Syrigos, and I dont recall who else you mentioned, didnt say that.
V. SKOURIS: Mr Georgiadis, and they did.
G. KATROUGALOS: If they did, it is a sign of frivolity. I hope they didnt say it.
V. SKOURIS: Angeliki, you said something about the bar. Should we insist? I mean about the bar in the European Parliament elections.
A. SPANOU: Lets insist, because he is talking about the best possible result, but what loss would you consider manageable? Three points? Four? Five?
G. KATROUGALOS: We are not going for a loss. That's all we needed
A. SPANOU: I am talking about a hypothetical scenario. You are going for a win. We know this. Is being the first party the bar?
G. KATROUGALOS: Should I give an answer to a scenario that considers that our goal is to lose, and for you to ask me what we would consider a dignified loss?
At every election you go for the win. Isnt it obvious?
A. SPANOU: And if you dont win?
G. KATROUGALOS: Thats democracy. If you dont win, you lose. But you go for the win. And in any case, we believe that, both in these elections and the crucial ones in October, we will carry the vote, for the simple reason that we believe the Greek people will find themselves facing a dilemma that is similar to the corresponding major dilemma in Europe: to move forward or to regress? Open societies or nationalism? In Greece, our memories are still vivid in terms of what a New Democracy government means for rights, job security and the way in which a party which does not have the interests of many but the interests of a few in mind addresses our day-to-day issues.
Faced with such a dilemma, I dont think the Greek people will demonstrate again that they have the memory of a goldfish, or suicidal tendencies.
V. SKOURIS: Thank you very much.
G. KATROUGALOS: You're welcome. Have a good day.
V. SKOURIS: All the best.
Qualcomm Inc. has fired multiple legal shots at Apple Inc. aiming to use patents to get an import ban on the iPhone. In separate rulings Tuesday, one hit and one missed.
The U.S. International Trade Commission on Tuesday invalidated a Qualcomm patent for a battery-saving feature. Earlier in the day, a separate trade judge said Apple infringed a different Qualcomm patent and recommended certain older models of the iPhone be banned. The commission is scheduled to release a final decision in that case in July.
The cases are among some 80 worldwide between the companies in a dispute that's lasted more than two years. Qualcomm is hoping a victory, particularly an import ban, could give it greater leverage in technology licensing negotiations. Qualcomm says it's due billions of dollars in unpaid royalties on the iPhone as the two tech giants argue over the value of the chipmaker's patents.
The Cupertino, California-based Apple denied infringing any of the patents in the two cases and claimed Qualcomm is trying to shut its only U.S.-based competitor out of the market, something Apple argues will hinder the development of the fifth-generation of mobile communications. In both cases at the trade agency, Apple argued that no import ban should be imposed even if a patent violation is found.
Qualcomm, based in San Diego, argued that the opposite is true. If it can't enforce its patents, that will lessen the value of its innovation and give rivals, particularly China's Huawei Technologies Co., a chance to gain greater market share. Qualcomm has called the Intel products inferior, and accused Intel and Apple of incorporating unlicensed Qualcomm inventions into the Intel chips to improve their quality.
In the earlier case on Tuesday, ITC Judge MaryJoan McNamara said she would be recommending an import ban on certain models of iPhones, which are made in China, according to a notice posted on the Washington agency's electronic docket. The judge found no violation of two other Qualcomm patents in the case.
Qualcomm jumped as much as much as 2.6 percent in New York on that earlier ruling. Both stocks reflected the partial wins and losses in extended trading following the commission decision. Apple was up less than one percent while Qualcomm fell less than one percent.
In the case before McNamara, Qualcomm contended that Apple iPhones with Intel Corp. chips infringed two patents related to ways to improve the speed and quality of data downloads and one for a power-saving feature. It's seeking an order that would ban imports of those iPhones. The judge's finding of infringement related to the power-saving feature, according to the notice. Her full findings aren't yet public, and won't be until both sides get a chance to redact confidential information.
"We appreciate Judge McNamara's recognition of Apple's infringement of our hardware patent and that she will be recommending an import ban and cease and desist order," Qualcomm General Counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement when the earlier notice came out. The company had no immediate comment on the later-issued decision from the full commission.
The original complaint in the McNamara case linked that patent only to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but it was unclear which models would be affected by this decision. If the ban only applies to those models, it could have a multibillion-dollar impact on Apple for each year that it still offers those devices. The company will probably discontinue them in the next two years.
The second decision announced Tuesday targeted a broader range of iPhones, including the iPhone 7, iPhone 8 and iPhone X, and only ones that had Intel chips. Models that had Qualcomm chips wouldn't be affected. The commission's full decision, which sidestepped arguments for now over whether the legal battle between the two tech titans has broader implications for the U.S. supremacy in the fifth generation of telecommunications, isn't yet public.
Apple, chafing under what it considers onerous and expensive licensing requirements, has directed its contractors to stop paying Qualcomm until the two sides can reach a new deal. It's also turned to Intel to supply the modem chips on its newest models.
Apple likely generated about $58 billion from the iPhone in the U.S. in its 2018 fiscal year. The majority of iPhone sales last year were from newer models like the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus.
By all accounts, Qualcomm's technology underpins all modern communications and it's a large player in the development of industry standards, spending billions of dollars on research each year. It's also richly rewarded -- the company makes money off the chips in all mobile devices, and also gets paid for the use of its inventions in chips made by others.
The Federal Trade Commission has accused Qualcomm of using its patents on industry standards to shut out competitors from the market and demand high licensing fees, and the two sides await a judge's ruling in that case. The patents in this case don't relate to standardized technology but Apple claims Qualcomm is using the ITC to maintain monopoly power.
The cases are In the Matter of Certain Mobile Electronic Devices and Radio Frequency and Processing Components, 337-1093 and 337-1065, both U.S. International Trade Commission (Washington).
WASHINGTON Connecticut Democratic lawmakers are pushing for release of the full report of special counsel Robert Mueller.
But they are also looking toward other investigative avenues involving President Donald Trump, mindful that Democrats face potential voter blowback if their probes appear to be purely partisan.
The president is far from out of the woods, said Rep. Jim Himes, a member of two House committees Financial Services and Intelligence that will pursue investigations involving Trump.
Even so, Himes said, we also need to make progress for the American people on jobs, retirement and health care.
Mueller last Friday delivered a long-awaited report on his nearly two-year probe of Trump 2016 campaign connections to Russia.
In a four-page summary delivered Sunday to Congress, Attorney General William Barr wrote that Mueller had concluded that Trump and his staff did not conspire with Russia to help Trump beat Democratic contender Hillary Clinton.
But on the question of whether Trump obstructed justice to thwart investigators, Barr quotes Mueller as saying: While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.
More for you Opinion: For Dems, Mueller report turns politics upside down
Barrs interpretation
Barr said he and Rod Rosenstein, who supervised the Mueller probe before Barr won Senate confirmation last month, decided not to pursue an obstruction case, which would have been based primarily on Trump firing then-FBI Director James Comey in May 2017, then telling a television interviewer that he was bothered by this Russia thing.
As a private lawyer, Barr last year wrote a memo in which he argued that the president cannot be charged with obstruction for actions that are within his powers as chief of the executive branch. He called Muellers inquiry fatally misconceived.
Why should we accept an interpretation of the Mueller report by an attorney general who was appointed by the president for his hostility to the investigation? Sen. Chris Murphy said Monday during a roundtable on gun violence at New Britain High School. Maybe Barr is right, maybe hes wrong, but thats up to Congress to decide.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, himself a former Connecticut state attorney general and U.S. attorney, also cast doubt on whether Barr can be trusted to correctly interpret the Mueller report.
Barr is a Trump appointee, he said. What is necessary is for the American people to see the full report with all the underlying facts and evidence and not just the Barr summary or some other abridged version.
Proposed change
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on Monday called for passage of legislation that would require full release of the Mueller report. Blumenthal introduced such a resolution in January with a Republican co-sponsor, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa. It would require release of any special counsel report to Congress and the public when an investigation is complete, or the counsel resigns or is fired.
Blumenthal on Monday said release of the Mueller report is key.
No intelligent reaction is possible without the Mueller report and the underlying facts and evidence, he said.
Among the issues not addressed so far is why Mueller did not compel the president to answer questions under oath. After negotiations with Trumps lawyers, Mueller agreed to let the White House answer written questions in place of an interview.
Since criminal intent is a part of any obstruction inquiry, direct questioning of Trump would have been a necessary step to determine whether charges were warranted, Blumenthal said.
The American people want transparency, he said, noting that Trump himself on Monday said release of the report wouldnt bother me at all.
During a meeting Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump portrayed himself as victim of a probe he frequently denounced as a witch hunt.
In apparent reference to Democrats, Trump said that those people are to be looked at.
Theyve done so many evil things, he said. It was a false narrative, it was a terrible thing. We can never let this happen to another president again.
Himes said: Its fair to say the president has been cleared on the part about conspiracy with Russians. I always said a Hollywood ending, with suitcases changing hands, was unlikely.
The House Financial Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee will continue to probe different aspects of Trumps financial entanglements and his conduct in office. Among them: The role of Deutsche Bank in financing various Trump projects and whether Trump has benefited financially as president, for instance, through his Washington hotel near the White House used as a virtual watering hole by foreign officials and business executives seeking to cozy up to Trump.
But ultimately, Democrats run the risk of losing public support if they focus too heavily on Trump and not enough on the needs of everyday Americans.
I dont give Democrats and A-plus for the last three months on kitchen-table issues, said Himes, a centrist and former chairman of the center-leaning New Democrat Coalition.
dan@hearstdc.com
HARTFORD After a few collaborative tweaks, Chief States Attorney Kevin Kane announced Monday his support of a bill that would require his office to annually provide all arrest and sentencing data for public view. The bill would also allow defendants to have legal representation during parole revocation hearings.
Kane told members of the Judiciary Committee during a public hearing that he supports a revised version of the bill that was crafted with input from the Judicial Branch, the Office of Policy and Management, the Chief Public Defenders Office, and the Connecticut American Civil Liberties Union.
Its a good bill and it gets us to a good place, Kane said before qualifying that hell need additional resources in the form more technology staff to deal with a Case Management System his office hopes to pilot this summer.
If that helps us get the resources we need, thats a great thing, Kane said of the bill.
The first aspect of SB 880 would require the Division of Criminal Justice to gather all information on arrests and sentencings including the demographics of the defendants, the number of continuances and pre-trial proceedings, information on plea agreements, and the number of trials.
The second would provide legal counsel through the states public defender system to all sentenced defendants who are facing parole revocation.
Had a similar law been in effect two decades ago, Tracie Bernardi said, she would have had a chance to receive a life-altering sentence reduction.
Bernardi, who now works in call support for Community Health Resources in Manchester, served 23 years of a 30-year sentence for felony murder. She was released in 2015.
She was 19 years old when she was involved in a Waterbury gang beating of another woman that turned deadly, she said. Even though she didnt personally kill the woman, she participated, which led to the felony murder charge.
They stack the charges up against you, so they told me I was facing 160 years if I went to trial, she said. Bernardi felt she had no choice but to take a plea agreement for a 30-year prison sentence. She then found out she wasnt allowed a sentence modification, which the prosecutor, Waterbury States Attorney John Connolly, noted in his files that were uncovered after his 2012 death.
Everything was veiled, the 45-year-old prison reform activist said. If there was more transparency and it was known what was going, it might have been different. Right now you cant see how many people are trying to get their sentences modified. Any bill that requires transparency helps.
Bernardi was among the dozens of people who showed up to support the bill from the CT ACLUs Smart Justice campaign. While the ACLU is in favor of the bill, Smart Justice campaign field organizer Gus Marks-Hamilton, who spoke for the group at the hearing, pointed out that more transparency in juvenile matters is needed.
There is a lack of data about how youth are treated in the system and how and why juveniles end up in regular criminal court, Marks-Hamilton told the committee.
The bill, which was suggested by Gov. Ned Lamont, currently does not require the Division of Criminal Justice to include information on juvenile arrests.
The new version of the bill that Kane supports shortened the laundry list of information the Division is required to supply. The original version of the bill included items such as the amount of time people were spending incarcerated during pre-trial proceedings and whether the defendant utilized a professional bondsman.
Kane and the Connecticut Association of Prosecutors also cautioned that while greater transparency is the goal of the bill, in most cases, a cursory review of the data would not tell the whole story of an arrest.
The association, which represents the states 248 prosecutors, opposes the release of plea bargaining information, citing concerns that the public doesnt know what factors play a role in the process including the strength of a case and the impact of the crime on victims.
It is very important to realize that while data is very helpful for some purposes, it can also lead to misleading and erroneous conclusions if it is analyzed out of context or superficially, Kane said in his testimony. Bail recommendations, plea offers, sentence recommendations and indeed, even the decision whether or not to charge are based on many different but important factors such as quality and strength of the evidence, availability of witnesses at the time the case is to be tried, original history of the defendant, and impact of the conduct on a victim. Justice and fairness must be based on the facts and circumstances of each individual case.
Marlene Torres remembers as a young child waiting for the one or two minutes shed get to talk to her brother on the phone when he was in prison. The family often couldnt afford to talk to him more than once a week and, even then, only for a short time because the phone calls were so expensive.
At a hearing Monday before the Judiciary Committee, Torres spoke in favor of a bill that would allow inmates to make or receive phone calls for free, telling lawmakers she grew up stressed out and very depressed because she missed her brother, who was a father figure to her.
Obviously, its important to keep a family together no matter what the circumstances, Rep. Toni Walker, D-New Haven, said to Torres. The best thing we can do is maintain that security so that when your brother comes home, he comes home to a family that is going to open their arms to him and try to keep him on the straight and narrow.
Brittany Kane, program coordinator for the CT Children with Incarcerated Parents Initiative, also spoke in favor of the bill, telling lawmakers that a 15-minute call within the states prisons costs about $4.
Kane said Connecticut receives a 68 percent commission rate on the revenue from the calls and collected $7.7 million in Fiscal Year 2018.
She noted that its not the inmates paying for the phone calls. That cost is born by the family they left behind.
When a parent is incarcerated, specifically a father, a familys income drops by an average of 22 percent, Kane said. As a result, mothers and caregivers report being unable to pay for their childrens basic necessities, including food, utilities, rent and medical care, often creating reliance on state aid programs and services. It is also these same mothers and caregivers that are paying for the phone call that we are speaking about today.
Bianca Tylek, executive director of Worth Rises, a New York-based national criminal justice advocacy group, told legislators that since 2012, the state has contracted through Securus Technologies, a national prison telecommunications corporation, which she said capitalizes off the need for human connection and, understanding the vulnerability of the people subjected to its services, charges exorbitant rates for loved ones to stay in contact.
She said that Connectiut now ranks 49th, in front of only Arkansas, in the high cost of phone calls.
A phone call to Securus for comment was not immediately returned Monday afternoon.
The bill says the Commissioner of Corrections shall provide telephone service for free and may provide supplementary telecommunications services including video and electronic mail services. To the extent that the commissioner provides any such services, each such service shall be provided free of charge to such persons the bill says, whether the inmate initiates the contact or receives it.
Child Adovcate Sarah Eagan said this is particularly important for youths who are incarcerated in the adult system so they can be in touch with their families.
Kane supplied personal impact statements from family members of inmates. One of the family members, a mother who wished to remain anonymous, said that to date she has spent $4,320 to talk to her son.
The phone calls are very expensive and not for a long amount of time, she said in a statement. We only get to talk a couple of times a week because of money, but I know he wants to call and talk a lot more than I can afford. That hurts as his mother.
Rep. Craig Fishbein, R-Wallingford, said the bills seems to allow for a call of any length every day, which I think people in this building might think is a little much.
He suggested there might be a happy medium, allowing inmates free calls on holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving, but perhaps not at other times of the year.
Another legislator suggested that perhaps the calls could be less expensive, but not free.
Testimony submitted by the Judicial branch said that while it takes no position on the policy change contemplated in this proposal, the bill as proposed would seriously impact the funding of several adult probation positions.
The agency said that in Fiscal Year 2018, the Judicial Branch received more than $5.5 million from the revenue generated by telecommunication services to pay for staff and other expenses related to the Probation Transition Program, as well as for a unit that provides enhanced supervision of people who violated probation.
We do not have the necessary funding in our budget to make up for this loss of revenue, the judicial branch wrote.
HARTFORD Advocates for making voting easier are pushing for a bill calling for Connecticut to join at least 16 other states in legislatively adopting Automatic Voter Registration.
Automatic Voter Registration was implemented administratively through the Department of Motor Vehicles in 2016 and since then a record number of individuals submitted new voters registrations. However, the agreement with the DMV is limited in its scope because it only captures voters who are also drivers.
The legislation the General Administration and Elections Committee debated Monday would expand registration efforts to allow other state agencies to participate.
Advocates said it would also streamline what historically have been chaotic Election Day cycles in the state, especially during very heavy turnouts which was the case in the 2016 presidential election and the 2018 mid-term elections.
Its a good bill, Common Cause in Connecticut Executive Director Cheri Quickmire said in an interview right before the start of the public hearing.
She said which agencies would be eligible to be part of the registration program is something that would still need to be worked out. But she thought adding state colleges and universities would be likely be a good addition. Working through the college system would be a way to get a lot of our young people engaged, she said.
Quickmire said one benefit of the bill is it might stem the flood of same-day registrations that have plagued the state in certain cities in the recent elections - notably New Haven and Mansfield - where many college students have come to the polls to register to vote on Election Day.
That surge in last minute registrations has caused big lines at some polling places in those communities. In some cases, specifically in New Haven, many voters had to wait hours to vote. Some frustrated by waiting so long, gave up and went home.
Theres no question that Connecticuts elections need to be modernized, and we can achieve that by passing AVR, Quickmire said. Its a common-sense step thats been implemented in states across the country, one that is a critical to modernizing our government, improving our elections processes, and ensuring up-to-date voter rolls.
But there is bound to be some opposition, right?
In 2016, Republicans were critical of the AVR agreement Merrill struck with the DMV, which was under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice.
This isnt a partisan issue - its a pragmatic one, Quickmire said. As it expands the right to vote, AVR is an opportunity to reduce data entry for poll workers, so they can focus on running our elections seamlessly. It saves time and money.
There was no testimony on the Connecticut General Assembly website uploaded in opposition to the concept.
Both Quickmire and and another advocate, Connecticut Citizen Action Group Director Tom Swan said they werent sure whether there would be opposition to the bill.
Hopefully not, Swan said. After all voting is traditionally a bipartisan issue.
Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott, said he hadnt looked at the bill closely enough, yet to say whether he would be for or against it.
I will say this, Sampson said, however. I do think there is an element of personal responsibility involved when it comes to voting, adding that he wanted to reserve the right to review any language allowing automatic registration before committing himself one way or another on the bill.
Swan said passing AVR is a no-brainer.
He said it would increase voter turnout and save money in the process.
Swan reasoned that if there was less people registering at the polls in the last minute run-up to an election, then there would no longer be the need to bring in additional staff, especially in bigger cities, to handle the number of late registrants.
Swan and Quickmire said another added benefit of the bill is that it would the cash-starved state save a few bucks on elections.
By moving from paper to electronic methods, AVR eliminates the costs of provisional ballots, costly paper transactions, and manual data entry, they said. While there is a small initial startup cost for AVR, long-term savings will be achieved after implementation, both claimed.
HARTFORD One legislative committee took the first step toward legalizing cannabis in Connecticut by approving a bill that creates a regulatory structure and gives equity opportunities to those impacted by the War on Drugs.
The committee voted 10-8 in favor of the bill Monday.
The legislation would establish a Cannabis Commission inside the Department of Consumer Protection along with regulations for growers, manufacturers, and retailers, and would require the commission to allow those disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement to apply for a license three months before other applicants.
Sen. Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, said the bill doesnt go far enough and voted against the legislation.
He said the War on Drugs was racist in its intent.
My point is we have a policy thats left over from the Jim Crow era. Its probably the last one, McCrory said.
He said he isnt going to argue about the medical data and whether cannabis is harmful, a focus of many Republicans on the committee.
McCrory said he wont support a bill in which Connecticuts law is anything less than the gold standard of equity for those whose lives have been most impact by racially disparate enforcement policies. He said Connecticut has a chance to stand up for the past 80 years of prohibition that has harmed his community.
Sen. Kevin Witkos, R-Canton, said the communities most impacted by marijuana arrests, possession and sale were Clinton, New Haven, Meriden, and Granby.
It is not communities that some people think are disproportionately harmed by arrests for marijuana, Witkos said.
An equity applicant under the legislation is defined as individuals or communities disproportionately impacted by high rates of arrest and conviction, as well as individuals who can demonstrate, via affidavit and other documentation as the commission may require, (A) requisite experience with cannabis cultivation, distribution or the sale or manufacture of cannabis products.
Witkos said that prioritizes people who have been breaking the law over law abiding citizens.
Rep. Juan Candelaria, D-New Haven, said not to offer these entrepreneurs in the blackmarket a chance to become legal is a slap on the face.
He said its not so much about equity, but its about the human piece of making these individuals who have been wronged by life and society to say were going to give you an opportunity.
Rep. Bobby Gibson, D-Bloomfield, said minority communities most impacted by this have to have a seat at the table.
This bill here is a step in the right direction, Gibson said.
Rep. David Rutigliano, R-Trumbull, said those opposed to the bill are opposed to the commercialization of cannabis.
He said someone of his political persuasion could be in favor of decriminalizing it and allowing people to grow their own at home. But allowing these big companies to come in is a mistake, Rutigliano said.
Rep. Michael DAgostino, D-Hamden, said they went with this approach because he doesnt believe there is public support or legislative support for an unregulated marketplace.
He said they are still studying some home grow models and microbusiness opportunities.
Rep. Craig Ackert, R-Coventry, said hes not voting on the legislation based on race, but the health of the community.
Rep. Tony DAmelio, R-Waterbury, said pot is being used everywhere in his community and hes surprised at who supports legalization and who doesnt.
I appreciate that were trying to regulate it, but Im not there yet, DAmelio said.
He said he thinks legal weed will be too costly when its legal and that will only increase the black market, which will offer discounts.
Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, said if you make something legal thats illegal, those people might give it a try because its not illegal anymore.
We dont want to open the barn doors and allow the horses to roam free, Kissel said.
Lawmakers on both sides of the issue used statistics from Colorado, the first state to legalize marijuana, to support their arguments.
Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said he cant image how legalization helps Connecticut.
He said former U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner is investing in a holding company that invests in a Connecticut medical marijuana dispensary, not because its good public policy but because theres a lot of money to be made.
That money is being made at the expense of our youth and our adults, according to Candelora.
There are at least four other bills that deal with portions of the legalization debate.
Meanwhile, the committee passed another bill that would allow opioid use disorder to become a condition for its medical marijuana program.
The bill would also eliminate the $25 registration fee.
Last summer, the Board of Physicians that oversees Connecticuts medical marijuana program, voted against adding opioid use disorder to the list of qualifying conditions.
NEWTOWN As shock rippled through town after Mondays suicide of a Sandy Hook man who lost his daughter in the 2012 school shooting, families were turning to each other to grieve their common loss.
In the last 24 hours, people in the community have been reaching out to each other by phone, by text, by email and in person, making sure everybody is OK and letting people know that they care, said Monte Frank, an attorney from Sandy Hook and the founder of an annual bicycle ride to Washington, D.C., to honor victims of gun violence. That connectedness is so important, not just for this afternoon or tomorrow, but for years to come.
The towns top-elected leader agreed.
That is something good that comes out of such a horrible tragedy that people are looking out for one another, said Dan Rosenthal, Newtowns first selectman, who has mental health experts on call to supplement the towns in-house grief counseling network.
Concern over Newtowns well-being follows Mondays news that 49-year-old Jeremy Richman took his life at the old Edmond Town Hall.
Richmans death made national headlines in part because he was a leading figure in town who was making good out of the grief of losing his daughter, Avielle, in the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting. Richman ran the Avielle Foundation, a home-grown nonprofit that supports research into the roots of violence in the brain.
He was someone who was so prominent and who was doing such incredible work to help us understand the physiological reasons people do these kinds of things, said Monsignor Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church. You could see peoples reaction when they heard the news their faces had this sadness and disbelief.
Richmans death also drew national attention because it came just days after the suicides of two teenagers who attended the Parkland, Fla., high school where 17 students and staff were killed in 2018.
This is what trauma does, says Melissa Glaser, the former coordinator of the federally funded Newtown Recovery and Resiliency Team, whose new book, Healing a Community: Lessons for Recovery after a Large-Scale Trauma, uses Newtown as a model for developing a communitywide trauma recovery effort. The idea that these things heal quickly just isnt the case.
In addition to extra mental health experts who are on call at the police department, the towns municipal center and the schools, grief counseling is being offered by Newtowns Center for Support and Wellness.
Because there are different circles of grief in Newtown, and because families grieve differently, it is hard to predict when people in pain will need someone to talk to, Rosenthal said.
Reach out anytime If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or needs emotional support, help is available 24/7 through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The lifeline is free, confidential and available any time by calling 1-800-273-8255 or by visiting www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. See More Collapse
I am trying to keep an ear to the ground, so that if we have a tidal wave of people needing support, we are covered, Rosenthal said. Sometimes it takes time to digest the gravity of what happened, so this is something we will continue to stay vigilant about.
Glaser, who worked with families of loss after the Sandy Hook shooting, said Richman was the last person anybody thought would do something like this.
He was helping others with support and education, and developing programs to help prevent this type of thing from happening, which is why this is so stunning, Glaser said on Tuesday. We just dont have the answers.
Richman left a note, but police have not released information on what it said. Autopsy results are expected Wednesday.
In the absence of answers, Weiss said it was important to express emotions.
Certainly, let the tears come, even if it pulls back the scab and reopens the wound, Weiss said. Make sure you dont suppress it, because if you do it will be even worse.
At the same time, Frank said, Newtown residents have learned to lean on each other.
Its amazing to me how many people Jeremy touched, and the positive influence he had on so many people lives, Frank said. I hope people will remember those contributions and his radiant smile and his generosity.
rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
MIDDLETOWN The police chief has ordered an investigation into whether the spouse of a mayoral candidate and common councilwoman broke department policy when he shared questionable images on his Facebook page.
In a joint statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Dan Drew and Chief William McKenna said internal affairs will look into posts made by Sgt. Sebastian Bartolotta, husband of Common Councilwoman Mary Bartolotta, to determine if his actions constitute a violation of police standards of conduct or general orders.
We want to reiterate that Sgt. Bartolottas posts are not indicative of how the men and women of the Middletown Police Department interact with the public, the statement said.
More for you Middletown mayoral candidate denounces husbands social media posts
The 25-year veteran of the force has said he apologizes to those he offended.
Democrat Mary Bartolotta, who announced her candidacy March 19, denounced her husbands actions a day after she made public her bid for the citys top job.
Sebastian Bartolotta re-posted unsavory posts by others on his now deleted Facebook account. The images have been publicly condemned for depicting undocumented immigrants, females and other groups of individuals.
In a press release Thursday, Mary Bartolotta called the sergeants action distasteful and offensive.
My husband shouldnt have shared those posts on Facebook. I completely and unequivocally denounce the posts, and any rhetoric in any form that makes light of or contributes to the struggle of different groups, including the LGBT community [and] the immigrant community. Its upsetting, she said.
... This does not reflect my beliefs. I have been a strong advocate for the LGBT community [and] the immigrant community. All of my voting record shows that, she continued.
The chief and mayor made clear members of the police force are sensitive to needs of all people.
In the past eight years, we and our officers have endeavored to build a stronger, more accountable police department. We have expanded the diversity of our police force and continue recruitment efforts to hire officers from underrepresented communities, according to the press release.
The Middletown Police Department is an accountable and high-quality department, and we strive each day to ensure that every citizen is safe, it said.
Passengers on a British Airways flight from London's City Airport to Dusseldorf in Germany were met with a surprise Monday morning when their plane touched down in Scotland's capital, Edinburgh.
The error was down to an incorrectly filed flight plan, leading both the pilot and cabin crew to believe the flight was bound for Edinburgh.
The flight was operated by German leasing company WDL Aviation on behalf of the British Airways subsidiary airline BA CityFlyer. The incorrect flight plan was filed at WDL Aviation's offices in Germany.
After landing in Edinburgh, the plane took off a second time for Dusseldorf.
Piotr Pomienski, a student at Imperial College London, told CNN his girlfriend Zsofia Szabo was on the plane that landed in Edinburgh by mistake. "I saw on Flightradar that the flight was flying north instead of south, but I assumed it was a system error of some sort. That is until she wrote to me that they're in Edinburgh."
Szabo told CNN she realized something wasn't right when she saw mountains outside the plane, instead of the "usual German industrial landscape."
"When we started descending and I saw some taller hills/mountains, I did think that this isn't how Eastern Netherlands/Western Germany should look like but I assumed we took some small detour," she said. "Then my colleague sitting across the aisle from me told me to check Google Maps, and it showed us being around Carlisle."
"The information then spread around quite quickly. Everyone started asking everyone else where they were going everyone was for Dusseldorf."
"When we landed there was a bit of a hilarious moment when the flight attendant asked for a show of hands for the people going to Dusseldorf, which turned out to be everyone," she said.
The captain subsequently apologized to the passengers, telling them the plane would refuel before heading to Germany.
"Most of us found this situation quite funny," Szabo said. "People were on phone calls trying to convince everyone that they've arrived in the wrong city."
Another passenger on the flight, Son Tran, told CNN: "Most passengers sleep or work through this flight so no one really noticed we were not flying over the Channel. We only realized we are in Scotland once we descended on approach and asked the crew."
In a statement, a spokesperson for British Airways said the airline was working with WDL Aviation "to establish why the incorrect flight plan was filed."
"We have apologized to customers for this interruption to their journey and will be contacting them all individually," the spokesperson said.
WDL Aviation said in a statement: "We are working closely with the authorities to investigate how the obviously unfortunate mix-up of flight schedules could occur. At no time has the safety of passengers been compromised. We flew the passengers on the flight with number BA3271 to Dusseldorf after the involuntary stopover in Edinburgh."
Airmen Have Five Days to Get Immunized After Vaccine Exemption Is Denied or They Face Punishment, Air Force Says
The service required all active-duty troops to become fully vaccinated by Nov. 2 after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in...
The case of a Coast Guard lieutenant who purchased firearms allegedly to commit an act of domestic terrorism and also was accused of holding white supremacist views demonstrates that officers and enlisted leaders should be more "intrusive" when it comes to knowing the people they lead, the service's commandant, Adm. Karl Schultz, said March 21.
In his first public statement on the Feb. 15 arrest of acquisitions officer Lt. Christopher Hasson on drug and weapons possession charges, Schultz said leadership should be "very alert and aware in our workplace," and the Coast Guard must be more proactive in promoting diversity across its ranks.
"People can have a work life and an outside-work life. It heightens all our awareness about keeping our senses, being intrusive leaders," Schultz said.
Hasson, who worked at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., was arrested in Maryland on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of Tramadol, a Schedule IV pain medication to which he was allegedly addicted.
But according to court documents, the 49-year-old also identified as a white nationalist who hoped to attack people and maintained a list of journalists, Democratic lawmakers and judges. He was, court documents, say, "bent on committing acts dangerous to human life that are intended to affect government conduct."
Related content:
The case comes as the Coast Guard plans to launch a major effort to recruit and retain more women and minorities. The service, which is 85 percent male and 80 percent Caucasian, "doesn't look as representative of our nation as it should be," Schultz admitted.
During a speech on the state of the Coast Guard at the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach, California, the admiral said the service will introduce a policy designed to better support women who need to take maternity, caregiver or convalescent leave; launch a study on minority retention; and review its weight standards and tattoo policies as part of an overall effort to recruit and retain quality personnel.
"We have to continue to lean in. We've got to make sure we are setting all people who want to serve up for success," he said.
Schultz said the Coast Guard is looking for opportunities to promote women and minorities to higher ranks and attract a more diverse recruiting pool, and should not be measured by the views of an alleged criminal.
"I would say, judge us on the fiber of our character. We are an organization that is embraced by the nation. We saw some of that in the shutdown," he said.
-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @patriciakime.
Top lawmakers have denied the Pentagon's request to reprogram up to $1 billion of infrastructure funding on the U.S. southern border in response to a recent request from the Department of Homeland Security.
Less than 24 hours after Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan authorized the request -- which would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin making plans for construction along the border -- chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, sent a letter opposing the reprogrammed funding.
"The committee does not approve the proposed use of Department of Defense funds to construct additional physical barriers and roads or install lighting in the vicinity of the United States border," Smith wrote to Shanahan and David Norquist, DoD undersecretary and budget comptroller.
Shanahan and defense officials said Monday the funds would be used to support DHS' request "to build 57 miles of 18-foot-high pedestrian fencing, constructing and improving roads, and installing lighting within the Yuma and El Paso Sectors of the border in support of the February 15 national emergency declaration on the southern border of the United States."
The acting secretary said the Pentagon would use the authorities under Title 10 U.S.C. 284(b)(7), a section of the law pertaining to "support for counterdrug activities and activities to counter transnational organized crime."
The law "gives the Department of Defense the authority to construct roads and fences and to install lighting to block drug-smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States in support of counter-narcotic activities of Federal law enforcement agencies," DoD officials said in a statement.
Though the committee did not approve the reallocation of funding, the Pentagon can still move forward on the effort. While consensus between Congress and the Defense Department is not a legal requirement, the tradition of collaboration has deep roots, said Rick Berger, a research fellow with the American Enterprise Institute who specializes in defense policy and budget appropriations.
"Smith's denial is a really good part of the messaging piece, because he's highlighting the issue," Berger said in an interview with Military.com on Tuesday. "He's trying to highlight [that] this is a complicated issue, but a really, really important agreement between Congress and the Pentagon."
Reallocating funding is a serious issue, one that Congress usually "puts up guardrails" for, he added.
The committee's message of denial came as Shanahan, Norquist and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joseph Dunford were testifying before its members on Capitol Hill on the Pentagon budget.
In the coming months as lawmakers debate the fiscal 2020 defense and appropriations bills, Democrats are likely to focus on other pressing issues requiring resources, such as addressing shortfalls in military housing; making repairs at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Florence last year; or dealing with Hurricane Michael's devastation of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Congress' approval of reallocating funding is "more than a formality, but it's less than a legal requirement. It's really an agreement, and [acts as a] certain degree of trust," Berger said. "This [reprogramming] is breaching that trust."
Berger expects the DoD will likely move forward with the reallocation, but lawmakers may find other ways to hinder the Trump administration's efforts to use military funding for border security.
"Smith is broadening the issue by highlighting that this will set up the second border wall-slash-military funding fight," he said. "Politically, this is more complex, and the people to watch are the Senate Republicans on this and the authority to spend taxpayer dollars."
Trump's recently released fiscal 2020 budget request included $8.6 billion for the border wall project.
About $3.5 billion of that is set to be reprogrammed from planned military construction projects, and another $2.5 billion from existing counter-narcotics programs.
The Pentagon hasn't said which military construction projects have been targeted, but officials on March 18 released a list of unawarded projects adding up to nearly $6.8 billion that could be diverted for the border effort.
"I assume there will be a lot more talk about this as it goes on," Berger said.
-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
Several years after a scientific body recommended that the Department of Veterans Affairs consider adding four conditions -- bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, hypertension and Parkinson's-like symptoms -- to the list of qualifying diseases tied to Agent Orange, affected veterans may soon find out whether they are eligible for disability compensation and VA health care.
During a Senate Veterans Affairs hearing Tuesday on the VA budget, Dr. Richard Stone, the executive in charge of the Veterans Health Administration, said a decision on the three illnesses likely would come in the next 90 days.
Responding to a question from Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Stone said the VA is working "through this right now, and it would be my hope" to have a decision within three months. He added that the recommendation will go to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie for final approval.
"It's took this country far too long to come to terms with Agent Orange," Brown said.
Related content:
In March 2016, the National Academy of Medicine found evidence that two conditions, bladder cancer and hypothyroidism, are likely linked to Agent Orange exposure and that a third condition, Parkinson-like symptoms, also should be included on the list of diseases presumed to be related to contact with the herbicide.
The announcement brought hope to thousands of veterans living with bladder cancer and thyroid problems, as well as those who have essential tremors and other symptoms similar to Parkinson's, but who haven't been diagnosed with the disease.
In late 2017, former VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin said he had made a decision on whether to add the three conditions to the list of 14 Agent Orange-related illnesses, but it was never announced.
In November 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine also released a report finding sufficient evidence to link high blood pressure with exposure to Agent Orange.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, previously had been designated as having limited or suggestive evidence that it is related to contact with Agent Orange. A National Academies committee, having reviewed new studies, upgraded the association to say there is "sufficient" evidence that ties the disease to exposure.
But high blood pressure is so common among older Americans that it has never been added to the presumptive list, even though the suggested evidence shows it may be tied to exposure.
The U.S. military sprayed millions of gallons of herbicides, including Agent Orange, in Vietnam to clear the jungle of foliage that obscured enemy movements.
More than 2.7 million veterans served in Vietnam. Veterans with health conditions connected to serving on the ground in Vietnam and inland waterways are eligible for health care and compensation from the VA.
A legal decision announced in January by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit may extend those benefits to sailors and Marines who have qualifying diseases and were assigned to ships offshore.
The VA announced Thursday it will not appeal the decision by a federal judge to award benefits to the veterans, known as the Blue Water Navy.
-- Editor's Note: This story has been updated to list the four conditions under consideration.
-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Miltiary.com. Follow her on Twitter at @patriciakime.
Stay on Top of Your Veteran Benefits
Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by signing up for a free Military.com membership, which will send all the latest benefits straight to your inbox while giving you access to up-to-date pay charts and more.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will not appeal a January court ruling that ordered it to provide health care and disability benefits for 90,000 veterans who served on Navy ships during the Vietnam War, likely paving the way for "Blue Water Navy" sailors and Marines to receive Agent Orange-related compensation and VA-paid health care benefits.
VA Secretary Robert Wilkie told members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Tuesday that he will recommend the Justice Department not fight the decision, handing a victory to ill former service members who fought for years to have their diseases recognized as related to exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange.
Last year, the House unanimously passed a bill, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, to provide benefits to affected service members. But Wilkie objected, saying the science does not prove that they were exposed to Agent Orange. Veterans and their advocates had argued that the ships' distilling systems used Agent Orange-tainted seawater, exposing sailors on board to concentrated levels of dioxin.
However, the bill failed in the Senate when two Republicans, Sen. Michael Enzi of Wyoming and Mike Lee of Utah, said they wanted to wait for a vote pending the outcome of a current study on Agent Orange exposure.
Related content:
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in January ruled that a Vietnam veteran, 73-year-old Alfred Procopio, and other Blue Water Navy veterans qualified for benefits currently given to service members stationed on the ground in Vietnam or who served on inland waterways and have diseases associated with Agent Orange.
Procopio, who served on the aircraft carrier Intrepid, suffers from prostate cancer and diabetes, illnesses presumed to be related to exposure to the toxic herbicide.
The VA has contended that any herbicide runoff from the millions of gallons sprayed in Vietnam was diluted by seawater and would not have affected offshore service members. It also objected to the cost of providing benefits to Blue Water Navy veterans for illnesses common to all aging patients, not just those exposed to Agent Orange.
The proposed Blue Water Navy Veterans act had estimated the cost of providing benefits to these veterans at $1.1 billion over 10 years. VA officials say the amount is roughly $5.5 billion.
Wilkie told members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee during a hearing on the VA's fiscal 2019 budget that the department already has started serving 51,000 Blue Water Navy veterans.
He cautioned, however, that while he is recommending the Justice Department drop the case, he "didn't know what other agencies would do."
Lawmakers praised Wilkie's announcement, urging him to ensure that the DoJ drops the case. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, said it would "bring fairness" to these veterans.
"I am grateful for you in making these considerations," Blumenthal said, adding that he'd like to see the VA do more research on toxic exposures on the modern battlefield. "The potential poisons on the battlefield are one of the greatest challenges of our time."
Committee chairman Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Georgia, also promised a hearing later this year on burn pits and other environmental exposures some troops say left them with lifelong illnesses, including cancers -- some fatal -- and respiratory diseases.
Isakson added, however, that the VA needs to care first for Blue Water Navy veterans. "If it happens, we are going to be in the process of swallowing a big bite and chewing it," he said.
The diseases considered presumptive to Agent Orange exposure, according to the VA, are AL amyloidosis, chronic B-cell leukemia, chloracne, Type 2 diabetes, Hodgkin's lymphoma, ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Parkinson's disease, early onset peripheral neuropathy, porphyria, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers and soft tissue sarcomas.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, in a veteran who served 90 days or more in the military is automatically considered service connected, regardless of date of service.
Editor's Note: Wilkie testified before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @patriciakime.
Vietnam Veterans Can Get Free Commemorative Pin at Base Exchanges
For the second year in a row, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) will honor Vietnam veterans on National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29. In partnership with The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, AAFES will give away a free Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin to everyone who served on active duty during the period from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975. Along with the pin giveaway, many exchanges will be conducting ceremonies with local organizations. For more information on the times of the ceremonies at local exchanges, visit the exchange website. If you can't get to the exchange for a lapel pin March 29, you can visit this site to find an event or commemorative partner in your local area. Read more about the pins on Military.com.
The Cubs have agreed to re-sign veteran righty Junichi Tazawa, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link). Its a minors deal that would pay $900K in the big leagues, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).
The 32-year-old Tazawa had been cut loose by the Cubs over the weekend. It appears that he was afforded an opportunity to test the open market when it was decided he wouldnt crack the Chicago Opening Day roster. With no superior chances to be found, he landed back as a depth option for the Cubs, who now avoid paying Tazawa the $100K retention bonus to which hed have been entitled as an Article XX(B) free agent (i.e. a player with six-plus years of service who finished the preceding season on a Major League roster but signed a minor league deal in the offseason).
Tazawa produced good results in his 5 2/3 innings in camp, racking up nine strikeouts without permitting any runs, but has struggled quite a bit in recent seasons. He long produced solid peripherals, if not always the desired results, during his run with the Red Sox. But over the past two seasons, Tazawa carries an ugly 6.16 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 over 83 1/3 MLB innings.
PHOENIX -- The Detroit Lions thought Luke Willson was ready for a breakout season at tight end. They were wrong, and paid dearly for it.
Now theyre hoping the second times the charm.
The Lions signed Jesse James during the first wave of free agency, and hes currently penciled in as the starter at the position even though hes never had more than 43 catches or 423 yards in a season. For comparison, Eric Ebron had 53 catches for 574 yards in his final season in Detroit. Then he was cut, and the Lions turned to Willson and Levine Toiolo last season instead.
Willson had never had more than 22 catches or 362 yards in a season. But he was also playing behind Jimmy Graham in Seattle, and Quinn believed he was capable of a lot more if given the opportunity. Then Willson turned in his worst season as a pro, with just 13 catches for 87 yards in 14 games.
A year later, Quinn is hoping to fix his mistake by making another gamble on James, an undeniably talented tight end whose production was limited by playing behind Vance McDonald at tight end and alongside skill-position stars like Antonio Brown and LeVeon Bell.
(The Steelers) obviously had a good group of skill guys, Quinn said. They had a tight end that was so-called their starter in Vance McDonald who took a lot of the third-down opportunities away from Jesse. So, yeah. We think he can do more. We think all our players can hopefully do more for us than they did for the teams that theyve come from.
Quinns comments echo those of James himself, who believes he was misused and under-used in Pittsburgh. He chose Detroit over other opportunities because of the playing time he figures to get here. Logan Thomas, Michael Roberts and Jerome Cunningham are the only other tight ends under contract. Those guys combine for 40 catches and 349 yards in their careers.
At 6-foot-7, James wont be running away from a whole lot of guys. But he has great length and uses it well in the short field, which should make him an asset on third down and in the red zone, which were problem areas for Detroit last year.
"In Pittsburgh, I was splitting time with Vance, so I was more of a first- and second-down (guy) and he would come in in third (down), James said. So Im looking forward to having that challenge of being in there on third down and helping the offense succeed in those high-pressure moments: the red zone, third down, double (coverage) situations on third down and the red zone. I just think I can do more.
Like Ive said, Ive gotten better every day. Im still young, 24 years old. My ceiling hasnt been reached yet.
A newly formed Hate Crimes Unit within the the Michigan Attorney Generals office already has received hundreds of phone calls and emails, according to the Attorney Generals office.
The contacts range from questions to comments to what may be actual concerns, which we are reviewing for possible investigation," said Kelly Rossman-McKinney, spokesman for Attorney General Dana Nessel.
At least a few of those contacts include questions and comments from those worried about government overreach and potential harassment of conservatives.
Nessel, who took office in January, recently created the unit to identify, investigate and prosecute hate crimes, defined by federal law as threats or attacks motivated by a persons race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Assistant Attorney General Sunita Doddamani has been named lead prosecutor in the unit and Special Agent David Dwyre has been named lead investigator.
Michigan had 456 hate crimes reported in 2017, up from 399 in 2016 and 309 in 2015, according to the FBI.
The units formation fulfills a campaign pledge for Nessel, a former Wayne County assistant prosecutor who helped start the Fair Michigan Justice Project, a task force that specializes in and trains other prosecutors in addressing hate crimes.
Its an incredibly important issue, Nessel said in a recent conversation with several reporters. There are so many people living in fear all day, every day, and who have felt nobody in law enforcement cared about that.
As examples, she pointed to the palpable fear in the Jewish community after the October 2018 mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synogogue and the similar fears in Michigans Muslim communities after mass shootings in three New Zealand mosques earlier this month.
People are afraid to send their kids to schools, to pray in their mosques," she said. Thats just not the way we should be living in America.
Nessel says she sees the units creation as nonpolitical." But she also sees President Donald Trump has been a huge factor in the rise in reported hate crimes, based on his rhetoric regarding Muslims, immigrants and others he has deemed as presenting a threat to Americans.
I think theres always been undertones here and there, over the years of racism and sexism, Nessel said, but never with elected officials this high up. I think its emboldened people who share similar sentiments, and in some cases, caused them to take action.
Meanwhile, some conservatives worry that the plan by Nessel and Agustin Arbulu, director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, to maintain a database on hate groups could open the door to harassment of conservatives.
One reason for their concerns: In talking about the database, Arbulu and the attorney generals office have referenced an annual list compiled by the Southern Poverty Legal Center, which conservatives say puts some nonviolent far-right organizations in the same category as violent extremists.
That includes groups such as the Church Militant/St. Michaels Media in Ferndale, which advocates for strict adherence to Catholic teachings on homosexuality and abortion and is labeled by SPLC as an anti-LGBT hate group.
The hate group designation is outrageous," said Christine Niles, editor for the Church Militant, adding her organization is extremely concerned their members civil rights could be violated if they come under government monitoring.
Weve committed no crimes, Niles said. "We are faithful Catholics who robustly defend Catholic teachings, and we should have the right to do that without fear of being investigated by the attorney generals office.
Kelly Rossman-McKinney, Nessels spokeswoman, said the Attorney Generals office will use the Southern Poverty Law Centers list is one place to start, but well do our own research.
Nessel acknowledges that hate itself is not a crime.
Our civil liberties protect the right to speak about even the most terrible of things," Nessel said, but adds her office will prosecute to the full extent of the law when hate crimes are committed.
Nessel also says monitoring is an important part of the process. To properly address the problem, we need to know when its happening, where its happening and who its happening to, she said.
Another criticism of the new unit involves the whole idea of hate crimes. Some question why, for instance, a case of vandalism or assault that is deemed a hate crime should receive a harsher punishment than vandalism or assault that involves a different motive.
Nessel said that hate crimes are different because its a crime directed at an entire community.
When you have crimes of hatred, it really affects the entire community and causes people to live in fear, she said. "It has a different sort of impact.
Thats why Michigans hate-crime law take acts that would otherwise be deemed minor, such an assault or a property crime or a threat, and turns into a two-year offense, Nessel said.
Nessel also maintains the enhanced punishments associated with hate crimes allow for better monitoring of those defendants, who likely would be on probation longer.
The attorney general says she thinks there is a massive under reporting of hate crimes. I think hate crimes are even more under-reported that sexual assaults, in many instances," she said.
Just having a Hate Crimes Unit can help address that problem, she said, by letting people know that there are law enforcement officials are focused on this issue.
Having a unit like this, where thats their only job, were probably going to a lot more people calling in because they feel more comfortable reporting, Nessel said.
The FBI and U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider in the Eastern District of Michigan have been very, very positive about creation of the new unit, Nessel said.
If there is resistance from law enforcement, I havent heard about it," Nessel said. In most cases, I think sheriff departments and local law enforcement agencies are going to welcome this and going to want the extra assistance. We want to work cooperatively with local law enforcement and be as helpful as we can.
Victims of a hate crime or people who have credible information about a hate crime can contact the Department of Attorney General at (313) 456-0180.
While the first of three spacewalks scheduled in the next three weeks is complete, NASA has adjusted its upcoming, first-ever all-women spacewalk due to spacesuit availability.
Astronaut Christina Koch -- a Michigan native -- is still set for the scheduled Friday, March 29 spacewalk outside of the International Space Station. The U.S. space agency reports that astronaut Nick Hague will now replace Anne McClain after officials and astronauts considered the situation.
Related: Michigan astronaut successfully launches to space station ahead of spacewalk
Koch had been scheduled to conduct this spacewalk with astronaut McClain, in what would have been the first all-female spacewalk, NASA writes in a news release. "However, after consulting with McClain and Hague following the first spacewalk, mission managers decided to adjust the assignments, due in part to spacesuit availability on the station.
McClain learned during her first spacewalk that a medium-size hard upper torso essentially the shirt of the spacesuit fits her best. Because only one medium-size torso can be made ready by Friday, March 29, Koch will wear it.
Everybody on station wanted a piece of the action during last Fridays spacewalk! We had front row seats out the windows of the Japanese Laboratory module. Awesome watching Anne and Nick with added bonus of prepping for this weeks spacewalk. Round two of battery swaps coming up! pic.twitter.com/i3IJk6DdSS Christina H Koch (@Astro_Christina) March 26, 2019
McClain is scheduled to now participate in the last of three spacewalks with Canadas David Saint-Jacques on April 8 outside of the orbiting laboratory. NASA adds that the specific assignments for this spacewalk will be announced after reviewing the work from Koch and Hagues this Friday.
As for Fridays planned tasks, NASA astronauts Koch and Hague will focus on completing the installation of lithium-ion batteries on the space stations solar arrays. This continues the work astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory in January 2017 to improve its power system.
Koch graduated from the NASA Academy at Goddard Space Flight Center back in 2001, and was selected as part of the 2013 astronaut class. She will serve as the flight engineer for Expeditions 59 and 60 on the International Space Station. While she is a Grand Rapids native, she now calls Jacksonville, North Carolina home.
She launched to the ISS back on March 14 from Kazakhstan with Hague and Russias Alexey Ovchinin. During the stay of Expedition 59 and 60, the crew will also be on hand for the arrival of three resupply spacecrafts. This includes a Russian Progress, Northrop Grumman Cygnus and SpaceX Dragon that will bring the crew supplies for various science investigations.
No ordinary battery swap & work day routine. Pics from suiting up Anne & Nick for their first spacewalk! 7 hours later, success upgrading the batteries that allow us to have power even when were shadowed by the Earth from the sun! Great day of teamwork both on and off the Earth. pic.twitter.com/a3R6y2jC7Q Christina H Koch (@Astro_Christina) March 25, 2019
Related: NASA to offer in-depth live coverage of 3 spacewalks over next 3 weeks
Spacewalk assignments may be adjusted if the flight operations team deems it necessary, NASA writes on its website.
These will be the 214th, 215th and 216th spacewalks in the history of International Space Station assembly and maintenance.
When Marquettes Northern Michigan University first started its Educational Access Network program in 2008, the intent was to give its off-campus students an option for a decent internet connection to complete their schoolwork in a region with notoriously unreliable coverage.
Since then, the university has expanded its reach to dozens of communities across the Upper Peninsula, opening up their services beyond current students and alumni to K-12 schools and members of the public. Currently, university officials say 3,300 homes are signed up for the service, and the service is averaging about 150 new signups per month as the university expands to new areas.
Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson said the program has well exceeded initial expectations, and now, the ultimate goal is to extend the service to interested residents anywhere in the Upper Peninsula. He said the university is also exploring expanding into the northern Lower Peninsula as well.
When we started this, I was hoping wed get to maybe 2,000 users by 2020, Erickson said. Were constantly reevaluating...Our goal is to get everybody access in the Upper Peninsula that needs access.
To participate, users in communities where the service is available opt into the universitys LTE network and pay a monthly fee of one of three tiers, starting at $19.95 for students and schools and up to $34.95 for community members. The networks do not have a cap on data use.
The Educational Access Network isnt a traditional internet service provider in the sense that users are expected to use it for at least some educational purpose. Community subscribers are required to complete at least one learning component per year.
The university switched to LTE in 2016 and obtained additional licensing approval from the Federal Communications Commission to access the Educational Broadband Service Spectrum. In 2017, the university received a $6.5 million loan from the Michigan Strategic Fund Board to continue expanding the network, with the university kicking in another $3.2 million.
When considering where to expand the service, the university approaches communities that are underserved or have gaps in existing broadband access, said Eric Smith, director of broadcasting and audio-visual services at Northern Michigan University.
Participating communities work with the university on location for placing broadband equipment - oftentimes, a water tower will do the trick, Smith said, but extremely rural areas or places with rocky terrain pose additional challenges - he noted in one community, the equipment was placed in an old mine shaft.
For communities with limited options for reliable internet, the university is an ideal partner, said Judy Trudell, supervisor of Rock Township, in a statement.
In an area where our options are limited, NMUs Educational Access Network has provided an affordable, effective means to reliable, high-speed internet, she said. "This is a huge win for our students and citizens that utilize EAN.
While the option to use Northern Michigan Universitys network is helpful for students and educators, the system isnt a commercial broadband service and therefore shouldnt be considered an all-encompassing fix to the Upper Peninsulas issues with internet access, Iron County administrator Gene Smith said.
The Educational Access Network currently has an access point in Iron Countys Crystal Falls, and at least two commercial network providers operate in the area. He said coverage options are still limited for those who live outside the countys population centers.
I believe there is an accurate perception here that development of adequate and reliable broadband can be a key element of economic development, he said. As the Upper Peninsula struggles with trying to enhance the economy, broadband development implementation would be a major issue from our perspective.
Both Erickson and Eric Smith said its possible what Northern Michigan University is doing could be replicated in other areas of the U.S.
This is a problem facing not only the Upper Peninsula, but the rest of many parts of Michigan and across the country, Erickson said. Were all pretty proud of this.
Longtime Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced Tuesday, March 26 that he has been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.
In a news release from the county government, Patterson said he will continue to keep working as county executive while undergoing treatment. While he will keep working, Patterson will not seek an eighth-term as Oakland County executive during next years election.
Alex Trebek has nothing on me, the 80-year-old said in a statement. "Im fighting this cancer to be among the 10 percent who survive it.
I will continue to do my job as Oakland County executive alongside the members of my administration who comprise the best team anywhere in government.
Patterson has served in the role since Jan. 1, 1993, after serving as the Oakland County prosecutor from 1973 to 1988. He said he was officially diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer back on March 15.
Related: Oakland County executive apologizes for Ku Klux Klan remark
The county reports that if a vacancy were to occur during his term, deputy executive Gerald D. Poisson would take over until a new successor was appointed or a special election was held.
If the board of commissioners elects to appoint a successor, the appointment shall be made no later than 30 days from the date of the vacancy, Oakland County reports in the Tuesday news release.
A county executive appointed by the board of commissioners shall serve until the next general election. If the board of commissioners does not make an appointment within 30 days, a special election shall be held at the earliest possible date allowed by the law.
Related: Oakland County the epicenter of Michigans blue wave in midterm elections
For more information on pancreatic cancer, click here.
OAKLAND COUNTY, MI - The Oakland County measles outbreak has now jumped to 18 confirmed cases, and state health officials have released a new list of sites in the community where people may have been exposed to the highly-contagious disease.
The cases have been confirmed in Oakland county since March 13, the county health division and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Monday night.
An effort to get more people protected against the disease had meant 970 new vaccinations since March 22.
State health officials also released a new list of measles exposure dates and locations. If you were at these places at the times listed, you were at risk of being exposed to the disease.
March 23
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit: 24600 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, 7:00 9:00 p.m.
March 22
Aldi: 26300 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, 1:15 4:00 p.m.
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit: 24600 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, 7:00 9:30 p.m.
Berkley Urgent Care: 3270 Greenfield Road, Berkley, Noon 4:00 p.m.
Congregation Shomrey Emunah: 25451 Southfield Road, Southfield, 7:30 10:00 p.m.
One Stop Kosher Food Market: 25155 Greenfield Road, Southfield, Oak Park, 1:45 4:30 p.m.
March 21
Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak Emergency Department: 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
Congregation Yagdil Torah: 17100 W 10 Mile Road, Southfield, 8:30 11:30 a.m. and 7:00 9:45 p.m.
Dorfman Funeral Home: 30440 West 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, 2:00 5:30 p.m.
Dovid ben Nuchim: 14800 Lincoln St., Oak Park, 8:30 11:30 p.m.
Yeshiva Beth Yahuda : 15751 Lincoln Drive, Southfield, 8:15 a.m. 1:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. 12:45 a.m.
Ohr HaTorah Synagogue: 15150 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, 8:00 11:30 a.m. and 2:45 5:30 p.m.
March 20
Aldi: 26300 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, All Day
Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit: 15230 Lincoln St., Oak Park, 8:20 11:20 a.m.
Meijer: 5150 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak, 10:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m.
One Stop Kosher Food Market : 25155 Greenfield Road, Southfield, Oak Park, Noon 3:30 p.m.
Pointview Products : 46986 Liberty Drive, Wixom, 8:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m.
Ohr HaTorah Synagogue : 15150 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, 7:00 11:00 p.m.
Yeshiva Beth Yahuda: 15751 Lincoln Drive, Southfield,10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Health officials say anyone at these locations on the times and dates listed is at risk of being exposed to the measles.
Vaccination is available and effective within 72 hours of exposure. High-risk individuals can receive immune-globulin (Ig) treatment within 6 days of exposure, health staff said.
To view the full list of confirmed exposure locations, visit www.oakgov.com/health.
This photo shows measles and tetanus vaccine vials, ready to be administered at the Dallas County Health & Human Services immunization clinic in Dallas on Friday, March 8, 2019.AP
A handful of vaccinations sites are available across Oakland County:
Oakland County Health Division offices in Southfield and Pontiac are open Monday, 8:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac.
South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield.
Other locations:
Tuesday, March 26 at Young Israel of Oak Park, 15140 W 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday through Friday Young Israel of Oak Park, 15140 W 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
State health officials also suggest you contact your health care provider for measles vaccine availability.
Measles outbreaks have occurred recently in other states. Between Jan. 1 and March 21, 314 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in the 15 states, including Michigan, Arizona, Illinois and Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Michigan, health officials also released the following information about who should be seeking vaccinations, symptoms of the disease, and how to find out more information.
Important points to remember:
Unvaccinated individuals need to get vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure. If you do not have documentation of two measles (MMR) vaccines from a doctor or Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), unsure if you have been vaccinated, or unsure if you have had measles in the past, contact your healthcare provider or visit a location above to get vaccinated.
Immune Globulin (Ig) treatment is effective within 6 days of exposure for high-risk individuals including those who are unvaccinated or unsure about vaccination status, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system due to illness and diseases like HIV, malnutrition, and/or medications.
If symptoms develop, do not visit your doctor or emergency room unless you call ahead so they can take precautions to prevent exposure to other individuals.
Stay home if you are sick and dont allow visitors in your home as measles is highly contagious. The virus is spread by direct person-to-person contact, and through the air. It can live in the air for up to two hours where the infected person was present.
Watch for symptoms for 21 days after potential exposure. Call your preferred healthcare provider if symptoms develop and you believe you were exposed.
Measles is a serious disease that can make individuals very ill. Complications from measles can be severe and include: Pneumonia, Encephalitis (swelling of the brain), Ear infections (can result in permanent hearing loss), preterm birth and/or low birthweight babies in pregnant women.
Rambo Islas, 8 months, is held by his mother Maria Islas, as he gets a shot for a vaccine administered by RN, Nicole Ives at the Dallas County Health & Human Services immunization clinic in Dallas on Friday, March 8, 2019.AP
Measles symptoms
Usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may include: High fever (may spike to over 104F)
Cough
Runny nose
Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums, and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots) 2-3 days after symptoms begin
A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms, and legs 3-5 days after symptoms begin
For more information
ST. JOSEPH, MI A man convicted in the fatal shooting of his wife inside a marijuana grow room in Michigan has been sentenced to life in prison.
The Associated Press reports that John Lewis, of Niles Township, was given the mandatory punishment in a Berrien County courtroom on Monday.
Berrien County man convicted of killing wife in marijuana grow room
In February, Lewis was found guilty of killing his 55-year-old wife, Carla Lewis, in 2017. He then called 911, saying two men had broken into the home, killer her and fled in her car.
His lawyer Jolene Weiner-Vatter told the court that Lewis "maintains his innocence" and is adamant that the killers remain "in the community, according to the Associated Press.
Lewis sentence does not include the possibility of parole.
A special commission is advising Michigan lawmakers not to set limits on how much THC a person can have in their system before theyre deemed too impaired to drive.
The six-member commission appointed by former Republican Governor Rick Snyder has studied the possibility of setting a legal limit on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) -- the active mind-altering chemical in marijuana -- for the past year.
Last week the Impaired Driving Safety Commission sent its report to state lawmakers, which recommended they not set a numerical impairment limit for THC.
After reviewing several studies, the commission found there is no scientifically supported threshold for THC that correlates to impaired driving.
Its something that people want to compare it to alcohol, said defense attorney Barton Morris, who founded Cannabis Legal Group in Royal Oak. It simply doesnt exist.
Blood levels of THC can be low when people are very impaired -- and conversely, chronic users of marijuana with high levels of THC in their blood can not be impaired, according to the commissions report. With multiple ways of consuming marijuana -- from smoking it to eating infused edibles -- the time it takes to feel its effects vary widely and from person to person.
Studies have found that people impaired by cannabis typically drive slower, leave more space between cars and take fewer risks than when they drive sober, according to the commissions report.
The Impaired Driving Safety Commission included Michigan State Police Director Col. Kriste Etue, Dr. William Morrone, Norbert Kaminski of Michigan State University, University of Michigan professor Carol Flannagan, forensic toxicologist Nicholas Fillinger and medical marijuana patient and activist Margeaux Bruner.
The commission was very accurate, Morris said. There cannot be a THC concentration in blood that reasonably equates to impaired driving.
Six states have established per se limits for THC impairment. Colorado, Montana and Washington have set theirs at 5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Nevada and Ohio have limits of 2 ng/ML, and Pennsylvania has a legal limit of 1 ng/ML.
Without a legal limit for marijuana -- like the 0.08 percent blood alcohol content -- Michigan prosecutors are left to the facts of the case, said D.J. Hilson, president of the Prosecuting Attorney Association of Michigan.
"The science is unsettled in that area. I think most of us prosecutors appreciate that because of that they decided not to recommend a level; as we really have with the change in the law we're going to be focused on the facts of the case," Hilson said.
A positive test result for THC does not mean a driver can automatically be charged with driving under the influence, Morris said.
Now its just a factor that must be taken into consideration, Morris said, explaining a drivers ability to control the car, field sobriety tests and the police officers observations are also factors for prosecutors.
The Impaired Driving Safety Commission recommended that more police officers be trained on how to identify drugs and drugged driving, and to continue a planned expansion of roadside drug tests.
A trial run of the roadside saliva tests in five counties last year found most of the drivers police suspected were impaired were under the influence of marijuana. A statistical analysis of the roadside tests found that they performed well compared to the subsequent blood tests.
Just as the results from breathalyzer tests for alcohol cannot be used in court, the roadside saliva tests for marijuana and other drugs also cannot be used to charge a driver with a crime, Hilson said.
-- Amy Biolchini is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact her with questions, tips or comments at abiolch1@mlive.com. Read more from MLive about medical and recreational marijuana.
LANSING, MI Michigan is joining a growing number of states which are drafting enforceable regulations for toxic fluorochemicals called PFAS in public drinking water supplies.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered the Department of Environmental Quality to begin the regulatory process for establishing drinking water standards for PFAS, a class of chemicals found at some level in public supplies serving 1.4 million in Michigan last year.
Expedited draft rules are expected to be ready this fall.
All Michiganders deserve to know that we are prioritizing their health and are working every day to protect the water that is coming out of their taps, Whitmer said.
According to Whitmers office, the states PFAS team, MPART, will form a science advisory workgroup to review existing and proposed health-based drinking water standards from around the country.
The goal is to establish maximum contaminant levels, or MCLs, for PFAS compounds that public supply operators would be required to comply with under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The workgroup will present public health goals for PFAS in drinking water by July 1. The proposed regulations should be ready by Oct. 1, after which theyll go through a more typical state rule-making process.
According to the DEQ, the workgroup will consider standards for the compounds PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFHxS and PFNA the last of which is regulated at 13 parts-per-trillion (ppt) in New Jersey. Thats the only existing state PFAS drinking water standard in the country.
Upset that the federal government is moving slowly on the issue, states like New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania have begun developing their own PFAS drinking water standards.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not set enforceable standards for PFAS in public supplies. The agency has an unenforceable advisory level of 70-ppt for PFOS and PFOA thats been criticized by some states and independent scientists as inadequate.
A science advisory panel convened by former Gov. Rick Snyder to review PFAS health literature concluded in December that 70-ppt may not be protective enough of public health.
The EPA says it will decide later this year whether to establish a national drinking water standard for PFAS compounds.
Michigan has long advocated that the federal government establish national standards to protect the nations water from PFAS contamination, but we can no longer wait for the Trump Administration to act, Whitmer said.
Whitmers announcement drew praise from Democrats and environmental groups, which have been pushing for the state to enact regulatory limits on PFAS in drinking water.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, as well as the Michigan Environmental Council, Clean Water Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, the Huron River Watershed Council and Need Our Water (NOW) all issued statements supportive of the move.
I commend Governor Whitmer for directing swift action to protect our drinking water, our children and our families, said Tony Spaniola, an attorney and member of NOW in Oscoda, where PFAS from the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base has polluted local waters.
Spaniola said that science has clearly shown that PFAS chemicals pose serious threats to the most vulnerable among us, particularly pregnant women and children. He expressed hope for a stakeholder process that includes robust participation from communities whose water has been contaminated, as well as the citizens who have been directly impacted.
Lansing Republicans were supportive, but reserved.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, praised efforts that began under Snyder to discover and respond to PFAS contamination in Michigan. He called it imperative that government rely on scientific research and facts when setting standards.
Shirkey promised scrutiny in the legislature.
The Governors proposed rule will be vetted and scrutinized by the Senate and will be subject to the regular rule-making process, he said. The Senate has worked diligently to fund efforts to assess and mitigate the impact of PFAS and my colleagues and I remain committed to pursuing science-based standards to protect the health and safety of our constituents.
Bonnifer Ballard, director of the American Water Works Association in Michigan, said shes pleased the governor is prioritizing public health and likes the idea of a scientific workgroup review, but she expressed concern about the aggressive timeline.
Theres an established process and accelerating that may cause people to inadvertently make some ill-informed decisions, Ballard said.
The Michigan Chemistry Council, which represents chemical manufacturers and distributors, sounded a skeptical note about the proposal.
We encourage a careful review process that accounts for the numerous determinations and their potential ramifications, said council director John Dulmes. Todays announcement leaves many questions unanswered, including which PFAS compounds will be proposed for regulation and on what basis of risk assessment.
Dulmes said the chemistry council believes "the EPA and other federal agencies are ultimately best-positioned to develop such rules, and have reinforced their commitment to do so. For that reason, we urge the Whitmer administration to ensure that science not politics is at the front and center of this proposed process.
Scott Dean, DEQ spokesperson, said MPART will meet April 4 in Lansing to select experts for the workgroup. That meeting is open to the public.
Dean said the workgroup will consider health-based criteria developed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and recommendations from groups ranging from the Natural Research Defense Council, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and other states with proposed drinking water standards.
Meanwhile, the DEQ will begin talking with communities, environmental groups, business interests and utilities as part of whats generally called the stakeholder regulatory review process.
As part of the rulemaking process, DEQ is required to consider analytical and treatment technology capabilities and identify the costs and benefits to communities, he said.
This is pretty unique for us, Dean said. Really, only one other state has set a rule for PAFS in drinking water and thats for PFNA in New Jersey.
After Oct. 1, the timeline for the regulations to take effect gets a little muddy. The DEQ is unique in state rulemaking because its proposals must go through additional review by a panel established under Snyder that has the power to overturn proposed regulations.
Whitmer tried to abolish that panel earlier this year, but her executive order was overturned by Republicans in the legislature in January.
State Sen. Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, issued a statement calling the plan for setting a PFAS standard good news for every family and community in our state. Brinks introduced a bill that would set standards at 5-ppt for the compounds PFOS and PFOA, but Republicans in the state legislature have shown little interest in moving the legislation.
Enforceable standards based on the best science available put us on the right path one that holds polluters accountable, deters further contamination and keeps the hardworking people of Michigan safe, Brinks said. I look forward to helping (Whitmers) administration in any way I can as we take this important next step.
ANN ARBOR, MI - The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the city of Ann Arbor in a Freedom of Information Act dispute with conservative pundit Debbie Schlussel.
The court, on Tuesday, March 26, reaffirmed Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Timothy Connor's choice to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Schlussel in 2017 in connection to false reports of hate crimes in the city.
Schlussel wanted the city to release the name of a Muslim woman who, in 2016, claimed a man threatened to light her on fire if she didnt remove her hijab and said she believed the attacker was a Trump supporter. Police determined the report was false, but prosecutors declined to charge the woman, saying it wasnt in the interest of justice.
The womans name was redacted, along with other information, from the police report Schlussel obtained from Ann Arbor police through the Freedom of Information Act. Though the city attorneys office cited privacy and medical exemptions in the act as reasoning for the redactions, Schlussel claimed the move was politically motivated and an attempt by the city to implement Sharia law.
Connor threw out Schlussels subsequent lawsuit in October 2017, after reviewing an un-redacted version of the police report, City Attorney Stephen Postema previously said.
The Court of Appeals supported the move Tuesday, disagreeing with Schlussel that Michigans FOIA law permits disclosures identifying someone found to have committed a crime, even if that person was not charged.
Public interest didnt outweigh the unwarranted invasion of privacy, because the release of the womans name, address and medical history would not contribute to public understanding of the operations of the government, the court ruled.
Because prosecutors, not police, make the decision whether to charge a case, further release of information by the Ann Arbor Police Department can't show existence of any preferential treatment, the court said.
The Court of Appeals said AAPD treated the case in the same way it treated a false hate crime claim made by a non-Muslim woman, who was charged and had her name released through FOIA.
"Plaintiff asserts that there 'could be' any number of reasons that justify her claim, including abuse of prosecutorial discretion or some sort of coverup," the court said in an unpublished opinion released to The Ann Arbor News.
"However, plaintiff points to no record evidence that supports these allegations. Plaintiff has the relevant information she appears to have sought: the complainant is a Muslim woman, and the woman who was prosecuted for making a false claim is not."
City Attorney Postema celebrated the decision in statement released Tuesday.
"Judge Connors correctly applied the balancing test for privacy under FOIA, as the Court of Appeals recognized," he said in the statement. "The City (sic) will always vigorously defend against such claims.
For their part, Schlussel and her attorney, West Bloomfield-based Daniel Lehman, vowed to fight the decision and appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court by the end of the week.
Lehman said he was "shocked" by the ruling, while Schlussel called it "outrageous."
"I dont understand why they are so intent of keeping this person's name a secret," she said. "Is it because she's not a U.S. citizen and if she were prosecuted, she'd be deported?"
She believes religion is a factor, based on the non-Muslim woman being charged and named.
Schlussel also called the release of the decision Tuesday ironic, given the national news the same day that charges would be dropped against "Empire" star Jussie Smollett. Smollett was accused of staging an attack and falsely claiming to be a victim of a hate crime.
"I think this woman defamed (President) Donald Trump and those of us who voted for the president by claiming that Donald Trump supporters threatened her life when in fact it just never happened, just like Jussie Smollett did, and I think that the world needs to know her name just like they know Jussie Smollett's name," she said. "These people that perpetrate hate crime hoaxes have to be brought to justice and part of that process is releasing their names and the complete police reports."
Schlussel is an attorney and pundit who has worked with various national media outlets.
City attorneys, in court filings, have called her an anti-Muslim blogger and pundit who "attacks Muslims and the Muslim religion."
The office accused her of using the case to prey upon a specified person as well as the Muslim public through tactics of fear and prejudice and she is using her website as an anti-Muslim Internet offering plate.
FLINT, MI -- An old school once part of the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Flint is filled with abandoned cases of donated bottled water.
Flint resident Jimmy Cowell wandered into the structure with his fiance and said he stumbled upon hundreds of cases of bottled water.
We were pretty dumbfounded that anyone could leave that much water behind that this city truly relied on, Cowell said. If anyone wants to know where Flint donations went, its just sitting in abandoned buildings in stockpiles... This is probably a 30-by-50 room full of water.
Fundraisers have been held at St. Agnes Catholic Church since the Flint Water Crisis started in 2015 and the old school behind the church was used to store donated bottles of water.
In 2016, a water drive was hosted at St. Agnes Catholic Church on West Pierson Road through donations from the Grand Rapids Latino community. The water from that drive was cleared out by the Genesee County Hispanic Latino Collaborative, CEO San Juana Olivares said.
Those bottles of water werent left by our community, Olivares said. We took all that water out that same year. Our community helped make sure it was taken out and given to residents.
Roberto Torres, who helped facilitate the donations along with two Latino radio stations in Grand Rapids, said his community was just answering Flints call for clean water. The radio stations made a call out to the community and residents began dropping off donations at the stations.
Those donations were loaded onto two trucks and delivered to Flint, where volunteers from Grand Rapids and Flint passed bottled water out to residents.
We were looking to serve the Flint community, Torres said. We just unloaded the two trucks at the church, we just delivered the water.
Torres said he doesnt know who helped organize the event on Flints end and that hes not sure if the water in the building now is the water that was donated in Grand Rapids.
Families were taking a lot of water while we there passing it out, so it could have been another delivery of water that wasnt ours, Torres said. Isnt there someone in general coordinating all of these donations?
Bottled water was distributed by the city of Flint using water pods funded by the State. Those pods required residents to show identification proving their Flint residency in order to receive water. The citys water distribution sites were shut down last year in April.
Churches throughout Flint have taken it upon themselves to accept and distribute donated bottled water. Part of the reason Torres community rallied together at St. Agnes was it didnt require residents to show identification in order to receive bottled water.
People were asked to show identification, we didnt feel that was necessary, Torres said.
St. Agnes closed its doors in 2008 after struggling financially and having low attendance, MLive-The Flint Journal previously reported. The Catholic church was absorbed by St. John Vianney Catholic Church and sold in 2008, St. Johns Pastor Tom Eckert said.
Genesee County Property records show Reginald Williams of Flint as the owner of the property.
City utility records state utilities are billed to Gods City of Refuge of Flint LLC. State records show Patricia C. Williams as the registered owner of the LLC.
Attempts to reach Patricia Williams and Reginald Williams failed as all phone numbers associated with them or Gods City of Refuge on public records were out of service.
Torres, who participates in donation drives often, said this kind of thing happens. Torres helped organize a drive for victims of Hurricane Mitch in Honduras and encountered issues with getting the goods delivered.
We received a lot of donations. The first shipment that went out didnt make it past the port, Torres said. Once it got to the port and was unloaded, people took it with them. It never reached its destination and we had to do another shipment of donations.
While problems getting donations to the people who need them can arise, Torres said it shouldnt stop people from trying to help others out.
You dont let that discourage you from giving and donating, Torres said.
KENT COUNTY, MI Theres no easy way around it: Motorists in the Grand Rapids area are going to be slowed this summer, with two major construction projects set to begin next week.
On April 1, westbound I-196 will shut down just before U.S. 131 to reconstruct the bridge over the Grand River and widen the expressway. The project is expected to last through Aug. 31.
Then, theres the project just down the road.
In early June, eastbound I-96 will be closed at Leonard Street for about five months so that the existing westbound I-196 bridge over eastbound I-96 can be removed and a new eastbound 1-96 bridge completed.
The East Beltline Avenue ramps to I-96, and the Leonard Street ramp to eastbound I-96, will be closed during construction.
Any time you lose a lane, let alone a full closure, itll cause a lot of congestion, said John Richard, a Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman.
There will be some growing pains.
10 Major road projects to slow traffic in Grand Rapids area
Eastbound I-96 near Leonard Street has already seen intermittent lane and ramp closures. Lane and ramp closings are to begin April 1, with total closure of eastbound I-96 at Leonard in mid-June.
Traffic will be detoured onto southbound U.S. 131 to eastbound I-196.
That project will create dedicated exit lanes to East Beltline Avenue from both I-96 and I-196.
The detour for westbound I-196 is I-96 to southbound U.S. 131 and back to I-196. Richard noted that there are other east-west options, including M-6, and 28th, 44th and 54th streets.
Drivers on westbound I-196 can take exits to Fuller, College or Ottawa avenues before the highway shuts down. But there will be no access to U.S. 131.
The projects cost $60 million.
Richard said that the roads need replacement, with westbound lanes of I-196 over the Grand River built in 1960. The reconfiguration will also improve safety and ease of travel.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI The Grand Rapids school board plans to ask more rigorous questions and probe deeply into the past experiences of two finalists for superintendent during second round interviews to determine if either is a good fit.
During a special board meeting Monday, March 25, members also said they will carefully weigh the focus group feedback from parents, students, teachers, community members, and administrators.
The candidates will meet with those stakeholders prior to the evening interviews on Monday, April 8. Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal will retire at the end of the school year after having served seven years in the position.
The finalists for the second-round interviews are from large districts, have superintendent cabinet level experience, and have been teachers and principals. They are:
Devon Horton, Chief of Schools for Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY. The district has approximately 101,000 students. He was previously deputy superintendent of East St. Louis School District 189.
Adrian Talley, Director of Community Schools for Prince Georges County Public Schools in Maryland. The district of more than 130,000 students. He was previously executive director of student services.
We are not just asking questions that are pre-made but we are digging deeper into the skill sets that these candidates would bring to Grand Rapids based on their experience and creative thinking, said school board member Jose Flores, about being very intentional about vetting the finalists.
I think that we are fortunate that we have two proven educators with advanced degrees in education (doctorate degrees) and who have experiences in the trenches -- in the classroom, with building level management, and at the cabinet level.''
Kristian Grant, school board president, said she is confident the board will make the right leadership decision for the community.
Grant told board members that final decision will be based on a combination of things, including what they know about the district of more than 16,000 students and its needs going forward.
Horton and Talley emerged as the top choices out of four candidates interviewed on March 16. This week the board opted not to interview a fifth candidate, River Rouge Superintendent Derrick Coleman.
Rod Green, executive search consultant for the Michigan Association of School Boards, told the school board Monday the finalists had strong references from current and previous positions and were very highly recommended.''
He said reference checks provided good insight into their work experience, character, and overall ability to handle the superintendent job.
Horton and Talley are both in newly created positions.
As director of community schools since September, Talley is focused on supporting student development, improving student outcomes, and supporting families. Horton became chief of schools in June following an organizational review noted the need for of a chief to provide focused operational oversight and guidance to and consistent evaluation of school principals.
I think that it is important that we really get to know them, said school board member Tony Baker, about the upcoming interview.
Baker said the board should also look to interview people that would have relevant knowledge of the candidates beyond the references each provided for more perspective.
School board member Kymberlie Davis said moving into the second round the board will be looking to drill down on some specific areas they still need to know more about from the candidates.
She said they are going to be zeroed in on learning what they didnt hear during the March 16 interviews.
With our meeting today, its very obvious that everyone on the board also wants to make sure that all voices in the community are heard and that we get the perspective of students, parents, teachers, and administrators, Davis said.
Kimberley Williams said there is a lot riding on the decision. She said she will be cautious and make her decision based on whats in the best interest of the children and the community.
Officials say more details regarding the focus groups, to be held at GRPS University, 1400 Fuller Ave. NE, will be available at a later date. However, participants would be meeting with Talley and Horton during the afternoon of April 8, after they tour a few school buildings.
Candidate interviews will be held at the district administration building, 1331 Franklin St. SE, with the interview times to be determined. The meetings be live streamed that evening. Those details will be released later.
Board members will discuss the interviews and focus group feedback that night to determine if either candidate demonstrated they are the right fit for the community and the capacity run to lead the district.
No district employees applied for the position that received 30 applications. For more information about the two candidates, visit the district website.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Kent County Road Commission officials have turned down the sole bid on their 14.2-acre riverfront property.
The vote by the Kent County Road Commission Board at their meeting Tuesday, March 26, to reject the $5 million bid on their central complex location at 1500 Scribner Ave. NW was unanimous.
Steven Warren, managing director of the Kent County Road Commission, said the bid was about $6.4 million short of what they ideally wanted to align with plans to design, build and move to a new facility billed at $45 million.
The request for bids had no minimum offer requirement. A third party hired by the road commission to appraise the property valued it at $7.5 million to $8 million.
In rejecting the bid, the board directed Warren to re-examine options for the property sale.
Warren expressed he was admittedly a little surprised to only receive one bid on the property but said time is on our side for rebidding in the future.
Some factors that may increase the potential for more and higher bids in the future include housing needs near downtown, planned river access and restoration projects and downtown redevelopment encroaching further north to the central complex, Warren said.
The lone bidder, West Michigan businessman Chris Weller, previously said he envisioned a number of opportunities for the space but didnt yet have concrete plans for development.
The road commission property is one of 15 along the river identified in 2015 as opportunity sites in the GR Forward strategic plan for downtown Grand Rapids and the Grand River.
That plan envisions river access, trail connections, recreation areas and opportunities for the development of high loft and office space at the site.
We certainly have time, in my opinion, Warren said, to continue to operate out of this facility, to continue to do what we need to do to improve our road network and to consider our options: either rebid it at some time in the future, perhaps gather some more information during that time on potential market value.
Road commission officials say theyve outgrown the central complex property and want to move operations about four miles northwest to a 29-acre space purchased two years ago.
Because design and construction for a new facility on Northridge Drive NW between Shippers Drive and Bristol Avenue would take an estimated two years, solicited bids were asked to include options for purchasing the central complex property and then leasing it back to the road commission during that time.
The $5,050,000 bid included terms to allow the road commission to rent back their property at $82,500 a month until Dec. 31, 2020, with an option to go month-to-month for up to a year after.
Subtracting rent and utility costs, the property sale would yield a net value of about $3.1 million.
With those funds and about $11 million in reserves, the road commission would need to take out a $31 million bond to fund the new facility project, according to their estimates.
But, Warren said, the road commission has an estimated debt limit of $24.5 million, leaving them about $6.4 million short of funding the facility.
Warren said the time spent exploring next steps will afford the road commission an opportunity to bolster their reserves.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Drivers will encounter some extra obstacles driving around downtown Grand Rapids on Thursday, March 28, as the city hosts President Donald Trump for a re-election campaign rally.
On Tuesday, city officials announced street and parking lot closures around Van Andel Arena, where the rally is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.
The immediate streets around the arena at 130 Fulton St. W will be closed starting at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, and until about 8:30 p.m. That includes:
Fulton Street West from Ottawa Avenue to Ionia Avenue;
Weston Street SW west of Ionia Avenue;
Oakes Street SW from Ottawa Avenue to Ionia Avenue;
Ottawa Avenue SW from Fulton Street to Oakes Street.
The Area 2 parking lot on Oakes Street SW and Area 3 lot on Ionia Avenue SW will be closed beginning at midnight Wednesday, March 27, through midnight Thursday. All access card-holders for the two lots will have access to the Louis Campau ramp on Monroe Avenue NW and McConnell Ionia lot on McConnell Street SW during that time.
Additional closed parking spaces include the metered parking at:
Ottawa Avenue NW between Oakes Street and Fulton Street;
Oakes Street SW between Grandville Avenue and Market Avenue;
Weston Street SW between Ottawa Avenue and Grandville Avenue;
Weston Street SW west of Ionia Avenue;
Parking lot at Fulton Street SW and Ionia Avenue.
Thursdays 2020 campaign rally for Trump is expected to draw 10,000-12,000 attendees, according to city officials. Downtown travelers can expect heavy traffic and possible delays as a result of the additional motorists and pedestrians.
Officers from Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kent County and Michigan State Police will be in the area directing traffic.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI Tornado sirens will wail throughout Jackson County Wednesday afternoon, but weather forecasts predict no actual tornado will be on the ground.
As part of Michigans Severe Weather Awareness Week, Jackson County is participating in the annual statewide tornado drill on March 27, to raise awareness and preparedness for severe weather, according to a Jackson County Sheriffs Office statement.
At 1 p.m., the county's tornado sirens will activate, calling for residents to seek shelter as if a real tornado was coming.
Beyond the drill, Jackson County residents can receive free emergency alerts and notifications by signing up for the countys CodeRED alert system. Residents may register online at https://www.mijackson.org
Here are some tips to be ready in the event of a tornado.
WISCONSIN No foul play is suspected in the death of a Kalamazoo woman whose body was found in Wisconsin, police say.
The body of Amanda Hanover was found in the water near the Lake Michigan shoreline Saturday, March 23 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kenosha police responded around 2:20 p.m. to the 6600 block of 3rd Avenue on a report of a body found.
The body was later identified as Hanover, 39, who was last seen by family members March 18.
An autopsy was conducted Monday, March 25. The results are pending the toxicology report, which will take several weeks, Kenosha police said in a press release. The investigation is ongoing, but there is no indication of foul play and there is no suspected threat to the public, according to police.
Kenosha police said on March 21 they had found Hanovers vehicle unoccupied near Fishermans Circle at the Lake Michigan shoreline. A cell phone had been left in the vehicle. Kenosha police considered Hanover as missing-endangered until they found her body two days later.
MASON COUNTY, MI A man suspected of stabbing a relative numerous times and then assaulting a sheriffs deputy who was arresting him initially resisted jail arraignment in Mason County, according to the sheriff.
Gerald Francis Morong, 57, is the suspect in the stabbing of his 72-year-old roommate on Saturday, March 23, said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. Its alleged that Morong also struck a sheriffs deputy who was arresting him.
After being taken to the Mason County Jail, Morong refused to cooperate with authorities, Cole said. He wouldnt fill our paperwork, take a shower or leave the cell in order to be arraigned, the sheriff said.
As a result, a magistrate agreed to visit Morong in his cell, where the arraignment took place early in the evening of Monday, March 25, Cole said. Usually, arraignments are done via video from a secure room in the jail.
The stabbing was reported around 12:20 p.m. Saturday, March 23, in Mason Countys Free Soil Township, according to a news release from Coles office.
Sheriff deputies and a Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer responded to the scene in the 8200 block of North Custer Road. Inside a home they found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds to the arm and leg, according to the news release.
The stabbing suspect was outside and the DNR officer and a deputy were taking him into custody when he allegedly punched the deputy on the side of the head, according to the release.
The stabbing victim was taken to Spectrum Health Ludington before being transferred to Spectrums Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids with serious injuries not considered to be life threatening, Cole said. He did not have updated information on the victims condition on Tuesday, March 26.
Morongs bail has been set at $10,000 cash or surety bond.
MIDLAND, MI - K-9 TzaYid now has brand new body armor that is bullet and stab-proof for working in the field.
Tza-Yid and his handler, Midland Police Officer John DuBois, have been working together for the last seven years and DuBois said it was time for his dog to get new armor to stay safe.
Prior to this vest he had a body armor vest, but it was only bulletproof, DuBois said.
Each vest has a value from $1,744 to $2,283 with a five-year warranty and an average weight of 4-5 lbs, according to a news release.
Community Relations Sgt. Chris Wenzell said typically officers should replace those vests every five-to-six years and it was the right time to get a new vest.
The vest was sponsored by RoxAnne Twinning-Russo who helped pay for the vest, which came from a nonprofit charity organization called Vested Interest in K9s Inc. based in Massachusetts.
DuBois said its possible that he and his K-9 will be retiring together at the end of the year after almost a decade together. Wenzell said the department is interested in looking at getting another K-9 since TzaYid is their only one right now.
ALBEE TWP, MI Michigan State Police detectives are investigating a body found in a creek in rural Saginaw County.
About 8 p.m. on Monday, March 25, troopers responded to Bueche Road south of Fry Road for report of a body floating in Pattee Creek.
Initial investigation indicated the body had been in the water for an extended time. Troopers did not see anything obviously indicating the cause of death.
The identity of the deceased remains unknown.
An autopsy of the remains is scheduled for Tuesday. In the meantime, investigators are working with area agencies to determine if there are any missing persons cases that could connect to the case.
Troopers were assisted by Albee Township firefighters and the Saginaw County Sheriffs deputies.
SAGINAW, MI Rev. Ernest W. Bothuel of Bethlehem Baptist Church left a legacy rooted deep in the Saginaw community, in his family and in the people who loved him.
That legacy is one of service.
Bothuel, 100, died on Monday, March 18. He served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist for 63 years, which he founded in 1950, said Executive Minister of Bethlehem Ben Smith.
He was considered my grandfather in the ministry, said Smith. Ive known him all my life.
Bothuel impacted generations of families who would attend services at the South Side church, 3309 Bundy St., and strangers he met when he would visit prison and hospitals to pray.
Some would say serving the community was something Bothuel did around the clock, because he was always moving, Smith reminisced.
He invested in people no one thought about, Smith said. "He truly appreciated who they are.
Bothuel invested his time in building Saginaw up by involving himself in organizations such as Parishioners on Patrol and American Baptist College and founding the Saginaw Valley District Association.
When Bothuel retired from his official duties at the church in 2014 he became pastor emeritus and still continued to serve the community and church, Smith said.
Those close to him knew he loved to make others laugh by cracking jokes.
To honor Bothuel and his legacy, plans are in the works to get Bundy Street, where the church is located, changed in Bothuels name.
The legacy of serving is going to live on forever, Smith said.
Bothuel is survived by his wife, children and many grandchildren.
A funeral service for Bothuel was held on Monday, March 25.
China will buy a total of 300 passenger jets from European aircraft maker Airbus as its US rival Boeing struggles in the aftermath of two deadly crashes involving its 737 MAX.
The deal was signed during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to France. Beijings order includes 290 aircraft from the A320 Family and 10 more from the A350 XWB line, Airbus said in a statement on Monday. The agreement reflects strong demand in all sections of the Chinese aviation market, according to the company.
Airbus did not reveal the total value of the deal. However, French officials told Reuters that it could be worth 30 billion (around $34 billion), roughly matching Airbus list prices.
Also on rt.com Indonesian air carrier to ditch Boeings jets after crash, in favor of rival Airbus
The conclusion of a big [aviation] contract... is an important step forward and an excellent signal in the current context, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a joint address with Xi Jinping.
Apart from the order for 300 jets, the two sides signed the total of 15 business contracts in sectors ranging from energy to shipping. Frances industrial equipment supplier Fives and the China National Building Materials Group inked a 1 billion ($1.13 billion) deal on cooperation in energy savings in developing countries.
Another 1.2 billion ($1.36 billion) agreement to build 10 container ships was signed between the Marseille-based shipping line CMA CGM and China State Shipbuilding Corporation. Beijing also agreed to lift an embargo on French poultry, which was imposed following bird flu outbreaks in France.
Also on rt.com Profit v passenger safety: Why the US was the last to ground troubled Boeing jets
The massive contract with the European aviation giant comes after Boeings 737 MAX aircraft were grounded following two fatal crashes in recent months. China was the first to suspend the aircraft operation. Previously, Beijing was set to purchase up to 300 Boeing jets, but the US-China trade war is believed to have put that deal on hold.
Xi Jinping came to France after his three-day visit to Rome, during which the two sides signed the memorandum of understanding on Italys joining of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. The deal was sealed despite other EU countries, including France and Germany, warning Rome against the move. French President Emmanuel Macron called on his European allies to stick to a more consolidated approach toward China.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
The Chinese Belt and Road initiative is an important project, which European states would be glad to join, according to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who stressed that cooperation should be based on reciprocity from Beijing.
We, as Europeans, want to play an active part and that must lead to certain reciprocity and we are still wrangling over that a bit, Merkel said, as quoted by Reuters.
The comment comes shortly after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is currently paying a state visit to France.
The Chinese president came to France after his three-day visit to Italy. On Saturday, Rome and Beijing signed the memorandum of understanding on Italys joining of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. The move had not been received well by European nations, particularly France and Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron had called for a more consolidated approach toward China among European allies, at the same time as Paris was signing multi-billion-euro contracts with Beijing.
The Belt and Road Initiative is expected to provide effective connectivity and boost Chinas cooperation with more than 152 countries in Southeast and Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and Africa via various infrastructure projects, along the lines of the old Silk Road.
The project, proposed by Xi in 2013, promises to significantly boost global trade, cutting trading costs by half for the countries involved. China has heavily invested into the ambitious enterprise with a reported $900 billion having been spent on projects in partner countries. Most of the investment projects of the Belt and Road initiative have reportedly benefitted Chinas state-owned corporations.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
Gulf states reject Washingtons decision on Golan Heights
Gulf states reject Washingtons decision on Golan Heights
Four Gulf Arab states all regional allies of Washington that host American troops on Tuesday rejected a US decision to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait criticized the move by President Donald Trump to recognize Israels 1981 annexation, and said the territory was occupied Arab land. The decision will have significant negative effects on the peace process in the Middle East and the security and stability of the region, a statement released by Saudi Arabias state news agency SPA said. It described Mondays declaration as a clear violation of the UN Charter and of international law. Kuwait and Bahrain said they regretted the decision. Qatar called on Israel to end its occupation of the Golan Heights and comply with international resolutions.Source : RT - Daily news
Passengers aboard a British Airways (BA) flight to Dusseldorf were understandably surprised to find themselves not only in the wrong city, but the wrong country, when their plane landed in Edinburgh, Scotland.
When the pilot announced that the early morning flight from London City Airport was nearing Edinburgh, passengers initially thought it was a joke. But the commander was being perfectly serious.
The flight crew themselves only figured out things were amiss when they asked the confused passengers to raise their hand if they had planned to go to Dusseldorf, at which point everyone on the plane raised their hands.
The airline claims that the pilot hadn't gotten lost and what happened was a mix-up of flight schedules which had put the plane on the wrong path. It also assures the passengers were never at risk.
Also on rt.com Scorpions on plane! Student STUNG on Canadian flight
Frequent flier Sophie Cooke told the BBC that the plane sat on the runway for nearly two hours before taking off toward its actual destination, leaving the angry passengers stuck in the stuffy cabin and, more importantly, without snacks.
We have apologised to customers for this interruption to their journey and will be contacting them all individually, BA said in a statement.
While some disgruntled passengers took to social media, others reading about the incident were baffled at how no one had noticed the error. After all, navigational instruments aside, there were certainly a few tell-tale signs the plane was not even headed in the right direction.
Despite the companys statement, some people had their own imaginative explanations for what caused the mix-up.
While no one had signed up for a visit, some friendly Scots suggested that, as long as the confused passengers were in the area, they might as well stop to smell the Haggis before heading to mainland Europe.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
Lion Air, Indonesias largest privately run airline, has announced plans to replace its Boeing 747-400 aircraft with the Airbus 330-900NEO as part of its strategy in response to the dynamic aviation market.
The air carrier is currently operating only one Boeing double-deck airplane, which has been part of its fleet since 2009. The aircraft has 12 business class and 492 economy class seats.
The airline was proud to operate the plane dubbed Queen of the Skies for the last 10 years to serve domestic commercial flights, the companys spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantoro said, as quoted by The Jakarta Post.
Also on rt.com Boeings latest crashes pose serious risk to global AI development analysts
The Airbus 330-900NEO will arrive in Indonesia gradually, starting in May. This year, Lion Air will receive two of the airplanes, Mandala added.
The air carrier ordered 10 Airbus 330-900NEO planes in 2018 with the jets expected to be delivered in 2019 and 2020.
Lion Air is happy with the addition of the Airbus 330-900 NEO to its fleet as it is in line with the long-range aviation business development. The plane is known for its fuel efficiency and long range, the spokesman added.
Also on rt.com Doomed Boeing 737 Max missing 2 key safety features that were sold as optional extras
The airline reportedly accounts for some 40 percent of Indonesian air transport service. The second largest low-cost airline in the country, Lion Air carried around 51 million passengers in 2017. The company operates 300 planes, most of which are Boeing 737s.
In October, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Lion Air crashed into the Java Sea en route from Jakarta to the Indonesian city of Pangkal Pinang, 13 minutes after take-off. The fatal accident killed all 189 people on board. Earlier this month, an aircraft of the same model crashed in Ethiopia, claiming the lives of 157 people.
The two crashes in five months created an international firestorm for the worlds biggest plane manufacturer, with regulators grounding all MAX 8s across the globe. The measure dragged Boeings shares down, wiping more than $40 billion from the companys market value.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
Manila (CNN Philippines Life) In the early 90s, the garment and textile sector in the Philippines was once considered to be one of the top-performing industries in the country. At that time, the country was under the Multifiber Arrangement (MFA), an agreement that limits imports into countries, particularly developing countries.
However, the MFA was abolished in 1995, and when the quotas ended, many countries opted to trade with those that can produce massive volumes of textiles or products at a lower cost. The Philippines suffered greatly because of its relatively higher cost of labor.
The Philippine Research and Textile Institute has initiated programs that can help save the textile industry, but the cheaper cost of importing textiles from outside the Philippines is a reality that the country also needs to contend with. Most of these cheaper textiles, largely imported from China and India, can be seen in Ylaya St. in Divisoria.
Take a look at some of the textiles and textile shops in the area:
The textile stalls inside a building by Ylaya St. feature seamstresses who take on basic sewing jobs that turn some textiles into bed sheets, pillowcases, and other home products. Photo by JL JAVIER
Many stalls specialize in a specific type of textile. In this store, they mostly sell cashmere, wool, and linen textiles used for suits. Photo by JL JAVIER
Kevin Endab works at another stall in Ylaya that only sells lace. He says that the colors beige and off-white, those used for wedding gowns, sell the most. Photo by JL JAVIER
Endab and other workers at their store call the lace chantelace, which may have been derived from the famous French lace fabric, Chantilly lace. Photo by JL JAVIER
Nene Rufino works at this store that offers printed textiles. She says that most of the buyers are those who come from Quezon City and Pampanga, who then turn the fabrics into bed sheets and pillow cases. Photo by JL JAVIER
All of the shops usually present swatches of textiles to potential buyers. This allows the buyer to feel and touch the textile as well as compare the colors more easily. Photo by JL JAVIER
This store only sells printed cotton fabrics, akin to indigenous textiles. They import these from China and have both rolls of these textiles as well as pre-cut ones that are sold as malongs. Photo by JL JAVIER
A common print that is also present in Ylaya is the camouflage cotton textile. One yard costs 180 and are usually bought by subcontractors who turn them into military garbs. Photo by JL JAVIER
This store is one of the biggest in Ylaya and features textiles (from checkered polyester to plain gina cloths) that are used for school uniforms. Photo by JL JAVIER
For most stores, deliveries of the textiles come once a month. Photo by JL JAVIER
Outside the textile shops are a myriad stalls and bangketas. Photo by JL JAVIER
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has formally requested an apology from both Spanish King Felipe VI and Pope Francis for the Spanish conquest some 500 years ago.
The letter cited massacres that took place during the Spanish conquests of the indigenous peoples of Mexico throughout the 16th century. He also referenced the imposition of the Catholic faith as well as the human rights abuses committed by forces acting on behalf of the Spanish crown.
Also on rt.com Can President-elect Lopez Obrador pull Mexico out of slumber?
The churches were built above the temples, our patriotic heroes were excommunicated, he said speaking among the ruins of an ancient Mexican city in a video posted to his social media accounts. We are going to reconcile but first we ask for forgiveness.
Spain's foreign ministry immediately published a statement rejecting the contents of Obrador's letter.
The arrival 500 years ago of the Spanish on present-day Mexican territory cannot be judged in light of contemporary considerations, the government said.
The government of Spain reiterates its willingness to work together with the government of Mexico.
Also on rt.com Pope to open secret archives of wartime pontiff, shedding light on Vaticans Holocaust actions
Spain is currently one of Mexico's biggest sources of foreign direct investment but the Mexican government has yet to ratify a new free trade deal reached with European Union in mid-2018. Mexico also boasts the world's second largest Roman Catholic population after Brazil.
The conquest-proper began with the arrival of Hernan Cortes in 1519, and the powerful Aztec Empire was eventually defeated, paving the way for 300 years of Spanish rule. Mexico would eventually gain independence after an 11-year war which ended in 1821 after which it became a federal republic in 1824.
Obrador, 65, came to power in December and has maintained friendly relations with Spain's center-left government since his election.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
Moscow calls on Israel, Palestine to resume ceasefire amid rising Gaza tensions
Moscow calls on Israel, Palestine to resume ceasefire amid rising Gaza tensions
Moscow is calling on Israel and Palestine to immediately resume the ceasefire, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. We call on the Israelis and the Palestinians to exercise restraint and immediately resume the ceasefire, the ministry said, commenting on the rising tensions in the Gaza Strip. There is a need to resume the Israeli-Palestinian negotiation process based on decisions made by the US Security Council and General Assembly and the Arab Peace Initiative in order to stop the spiral of violence, the statement reads. Moscow is deeply concerned about a new round of tensions that may lead to a large-scale armed conflict, according to the ministry.Source : RT - Daily news
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has decried the EUs decision to pass highly controversial copyright reform in a move that critics argue clamps down on free speech.
Shortly after the European Parliament voted to adopt Article 13 on Tuesday, Snowden, who currently resides in Russia, tweeted his disgust at the decision to pass a directive that will shift responsibility onto web platforms to enforce copyright law more stringently.
Also on rt.com 'Dark day for internet freedom': EU lawmakers approve controversial copyright reform
Tweeting in German, Snowden took aim at Germanys ruling CDU/CSU alliance, urging people to punish the parties at the ballot box.
Never forget what they did here. Since @CDU_CSU_EP voted for never more internet freedom, the internet must never vote for more @CDU_CSU_EP. #nieMehrCDU, he wrote.
The US government fugitive also took the opportunity to aim a barb at the EU for standing by the US and effectively exiling the whistleblower.
For the most part, Snowden received widespread support for his criticism of Germanys ruling parties, which despite at least alluding to an attempt at postponing the Article 13 vote, failed to prevent it from passing.
Article 13 has faced severe criticism since it was first proposed by the European Commission two years ago and sparked major, last-minute protests across Germany in the days prior to the final vote.
Critics allege that MEPs declined to reconsider the proposed legislation and effectively rubber-stamped new rules which will have far-reaching consequences for content producers and average citizens of the EU alike.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media wont tell you.
Washingtons sanctions against Moscow have not stopped bilateral trade from steadily growing over the past two years and it stood at $25 billion in 2018, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
This is less than the record-high level of $31 billion in 2011 but much better than the figures that we were at when the Obama administration decided to destroy the basis of our cooperation, Lavrov said on Tuesday during a meeting with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.
In his opening remarks, the minister said that Russia is always open for US business, but the cooperation between the two sides could be much better.
Also on rt.com Sanctions on Moscow will hurt US long term head of Russias wealth fund
Today Russian-US cooperation falls short of its potential, Lavrov said, adding that Moscow would like to give an additional impetus for our economic and investment cooperation.
However, mutual investments have remained on the rise and US companies are still interested in the Russian market and vice versa. Russia wants to further improve the investment climate and attract foreign firms, including from the US, by creating better conditions for foreign businesses.
But Europe and the US want businesses to understand the need to sacrifice economy for politics, Lavrov stressed. Such an approach contradicts the interests of businesses and the need to create more jobs and many in the West already agree with it, he explained.
Ways to boost bilateral cooperation were discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump at their Helsinki summit in July 2018. During the meeting the leaders floated the idea of setting up a special group involving heads of major private companies from each side.
The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs had already sent its suggestions on the matter to their US counterparts, but without a response. The silence from Washington might be the result of the political environment dominating in the US, Lavrov explained.
Washington has slapped multiple rounds of sanctions on Russian individuals and entities over its reunification with Crimea, alleged involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine and alleged meddling in the US elections among other pretexts.
US allies, including the EU, followed Washingtons lead and introduced their own restrictions targeting Russia. Moscow retaliated by imposing an embargo on agricultural products, food, and raw materials from countries that joined in the sanctions. Mutual sanctions have been extended several times since.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
Another crippling blackout that hit Venezuela this week was orchestrated from the outside, Vice President Delcy Rodrigues suggested, singling out the masterminds of the attack.
Power went out in most of Caracas and nearly a dozen states in the afternoon on Monday, hitting local businesses and public places. The outage has also affected Venezuelas main airport and Caracas metro system, spreading across 20 states of the country.
Shortly after electricity was restored, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez made a televised statement, claiming that the fascist right and their imperial masters in the US had attacked key transmission lines, thus plunging the country into darkness.
Rodriguez, who offered no evidence in support of his claims, pinned blame on the trio of misfortune, perversity and criminality namely US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton, and Republican Senator Marco Rubio
What was the objective of this new attack? It was to deprive Venezuelas people of electricity as happened so terribly just two weeks ago, the top official stated, saying the outage was dealt with in record time in most parts of the country.
Another Vice President and Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said the countrys lines transmitting power to the west of Venezuela were attacked using EMP equipment.
Because of the blackout, shop owners pulled down shutters on darkened stores while employees flooded the streets trying to get home before sunset.
It comes less than three weeks after almost all of the country was left without electricity in what was considered the worst power failure in decades. The Venezuelan government maintained that a cyberattack led to the disruption of services.
Venezuelas beleaguered President Nicolas Maduro blamed that blackout on foreign-sponsored saboteurs and terrorists. Meanwhile, Juan Guaido, the self-proclaimed interim president of Venezuela, accused Maduro of letting the countrys infrastructure crumble to breaking point.
Separately, Rubio, a major proponent of Venezuelan regime change, claimed local electricity workers had predicted the blackout and blamed Maduro for pocketing money that could have been used for repairs.
to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media wont tell you.
Donald Trump's decision to recognize Israel's annexation of the Syrian Golan has been met with condemnation by the international community, with the UN and Washington's Gulf and European allies slamming the move.
The US president signed a declaration on Monday recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was present at the signing ceremony, praised Trump's unilateral move, comparing the president to biblical and Zionist heroes. But reactions among the international community including Washington's closest Gulf and European allies were considerably less enthusiastic.
The United Nations, which has long maintained that Israel's occupation of the Golan is illegal under international law, signaled that its position had not changed. A UN spokesman said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will continue to honor a December 1981 resolution which called Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights "null and void and without international legal effect."
Also on rt.com Trumps Golan Heights recognition an act of brigandry George Galloway
The declaration was similarly unpopular among nations which normally follow Washington's foreign policy lead.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait Washington's accommodating Gulf allies which host US military bases have criticized Trump's move.
"It will have significant negative effects on the peace process in the Middle East and the security and stability of the region," a statement on Saudi Arabia's state news agency SPA said. Saudi Parliament Speaker Mishaal bin Fahm al-Salami reaffirmed Riyadh's "principled position" that the Golan Heights is Syrian land.
NATO ally Turkey also lashed out at Washington. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the US has "ignored international law" by recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Washington's northern neighbor Canada echoed similar concerns.
In a statement, Ottawa said that it "does not recognize permanent Israeli control over the Golan Heights."
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne went so far as to take a subtle jab at US foreign policy.
"The Golan Heights is a matter for Israel and Syria to determine through negotiations in the context of a comprehensive peace settlement," she said.
"US policy positions are a matter for the US government."
Trump's declaration will also likely exacerbate already strained relations with Washington's European allies. Both Germany and France issued statements last week in an attempt to pre-empt the president's Golan decision.
"If national borders should be changed it must be done through peaceful means between all those involved," a German government spokesman said.
The French Foreign Ministry tweeted about its opposition to the move, describing it as "contrary to international law."
Not surprisingly, Trump's Golan resolution received an equally chilly reception from nations with less cordial relations with Washington.
Syria's government said the decision was a "slap" to the international community, claiming that Trump's Golan resolution makes Washington "the main enemy" of Arabs.
Following suit, Lebanon's Foreign Ministry insisted the Golan Heights are "Syrian Arab" territory and that "no country can falsify history" by seizing land from another nation.
Also on rt.com US backs Israels sovereignty over Golan Heights, proving sovereignty is not something it respects
Tehran expressed bafflement over Trump's "unprecedented" move.
"No one could imagine that a person in America comes and gives land of a nation to another occupying country, against international laws and conventions... Such action is unprecedented in the current century," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA. He added:
At a time when colonialism dominated, some colonial powers were doing these things and giving part of a country to another, but this is unprecedented in the current century
For its part, Moscow said that Trump's decision marks yet another unilateral violation of international law.
"This decision will definitely have negative consequences both for the Middle East settlement process and the entire atmosphere in the Syrian political settlement. No one doubts this," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Also on rt.com US decision on Golan Heights is highway to war: Russian Duma speaker
Similar to Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, his Golan resolution will likely face a vote in the UN General Assembly. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has already promised to bring the issue before the international body.
The December 2017 resolution condemning Trump's Jerusalem decision was supported by 128 nations almost two thirds of the UN's 193 member states. Only nine countries backed Trump's position.
to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media wont tell you.
The US decision to recognize the Golan Heights as Israel's territory was taken bypassing the UN Security Council and ignoring the UN dialogue on the issue, said Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russias Lower House.
All members of the international community should voice their stand on the matter, he said during the meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
Such a development could lead to a situation where everyone is fighting each other, he stressed. The rule of force would dominate. This is a highway to war.
Also on rt.com Trumps Golan Heights recognition is a move towards further isolation for the US
On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed a declaration recognizing Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights, seized by Israel from Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967 and formally annexed by the Jewish state in 1981.
In response to the US decision the UN reminded that the UN Security Council in a December 1981 resolution called Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights null and void and without international legal effect" and this position hasnt changed. Russia, Turkey, and the Arab League have also condemned the move.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
US envoy for N. Korea in Beijing to coordinate policies
US envoy for N. Korea in Beijing to coordinate policies
The US special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, is visiting Beijing to coordinate policies with China, the US embassy said on Tuesday. The trip comes a month after the failure of a denuclearization summit between Washington and Pyongyang. Biegun is here to continue US-China coordination on policies related to North Korea, a US embassy spokesman told AFP. The visit overlaps with the arrival of an unidentified high-ranking North Korean, who was greeted by Chinese government officials and Pyongyangs envoy to China on Tuesday, Yonhap reported.Source : RT - Daily news
US imposes sanctions on 25 people, entities supporting Irans Revolutionary Guards
US imposes sanctions on 25 people, entities supporting Irans Revolutionary Guards
The US on Tuesday imposed fresh sanctions on a network of companies and people in Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates it said was transferring billions of dollars and euros to Irans elite Revolutionary Guards. The US Treasury said it was blacklisting 25 people and entities, including firms based in the three countries, associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. The targeted institutions include banks and other financial institutions, including Ansar Bank, Atlas Exchange, Iranian Atlas Company. We are targeting a vast network of front companies and individuals located in Iran, Turkey, and the UAE to disrupt a scheme the Iranian regime has used to illicitly move more than a billion dollars in funds, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.Source : RT - Daily news
Washington abhors the thought of foreign actors intervening in the Western hemisphere, and calls on the Venezuelan military to support the US-backed opposition leader in Caracas, John Bolton has thoughtfully tweeted. Come again?
The United States will not tolerate hostile foreign military powers meddling with the Western Hemispheres shared goals of democracy, security, and the rule of law. The Venezuelan military must stand with the people of Venezuela, the national security adviser wrote on Monday.
The tweet was clearly directed at Moscow, which sent Russian military personnel to Caracas to discuss defense industry cooperation with Venezuela. The consultations, however, were not related to the political turmoil in the country, and had been scheduled long before Juan Guaido, with full backing from Washington, declared himself Venezuelas leader in January.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza expressed disbelief over Washingtons attempt to frame defense cooperation between Venezuela and Russia as some sort of devious imperialist plot. He noted that it was pure cynicism for the US, with more than 800 military bases in the world, to lecture others about alleged foreign meddling.
In total, Boltons very airtight Twitter prose received more than 800 responses, with many inquiring about Boltons train of thought.
I am sure that other countries feel the same way about us, one weary Twitter user responded.
Oh the irony, quipped another member of the Twitterati.
Is this some sort of Vaudeville sketch? asked journalist Patrick Henningsen.
Others were impressed by Boltons 19th century foreign policy positions.
President Bolton reinvokes the Imperialist geopolitical ideology of the Monroe Doctrine over the entire Western Hemisphere, observed analyst Mark Sleboda.
John Bolton s**tting on people for meddling in others affairs..... classic, one Twitter user noted.
The senior White House adviser has repeatedly used Twitter as a means to disseminate his unique vision for the world. Aside from his countless pronouncements about the need for regime change in Venezuela, Bolton has also targeted Iran and Syria with strongly worded tweets.
Boltons insistence that the Western hemisphere is a US-only playground is also nothing new.
In this administration were not afraid to use the phrase Monroe Doctrine, Bolton said earlier in March.
[Venezuela] is a country in our hemisphere and its been the objective of American presidents going back to Ronald Reagan to have a completely Democratic hemisphere.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described Boltons statement as arrogant and insulting to all the countries in Latin America.
Also on rt.com Bolton says Trump very serious about all options as Venezuela dismantles terrorist cell
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
Yemenis hold mass rally in Sanaa to mark 4th anniversary of war
Yemenis hold mass rally in Sanaa to mark 4th anniversary of war
Yemenis held a mass rally in the capital Sanaa on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the country to the brink of starvation, Reuters said. The rally was a show of support for the Houthi movement as the UN pushes ahead with tough talks with the group and the Saudi-backed government to find a political solution to the conflict. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the head of the Houthis Supreme Revolutionary Committee, denounced the US decision to recognize Israels sovereignty on the Golan Heights. The Houthis have controlled the capital and Yemens largest populated areas since 2014 when they ousted the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.Source : RT - Daily news
Sounak Mitra Last week, Toyota Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan outlined the contours of a proposed collaboration, including electric vehicles. Suzuki gets the technology for electric vehicles from Toyota, which in turn gets access to Suzukis expertise in compact cars. While it plugs a gap in Toyotas portfolio, it makes Suzuki future ready for an era when electric vehicles may rule the planet. Maruti Suzuki India, whose output contributes to around half of Suzukis global output, will be...
China President Xi Jinping
The leaders of China, France, Germany and the EU were set to meet in Paris on March 26 for "unprecedented" talks on how to improve ties, despite growing jitters over Beijing's massive investments in Europe. It comes ahead of an EU-China summit in Brussels next month and a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an array of deals with France including a huge aircraft contract.
At a glitzy state dinner on March 26 evening French President Emmanuel Macron said he hoped to build a "new global governance" with China and would discuss this at the "unprecedented meeting with the German chancellor and the president of the European Commission".
"This is an important gesture that we are making now. It is testament to your deep attachment to China's cooperation with Europe... and my desire to build a strong Europe," he told Xi.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker will join Xi and Macron at the Elysee Palace to explore "points of convergence" between the two trading giants.
On March 25 China and France inked a dozen deals on nuclear power, cultural exchanges and clean energy, while Beijing also committed to buy 290 Airbus A320s and 10 A350 airliners from Europe's Airbus conglomerate. The order, originally for 184 A320s for 13 Chinese airlines, was first announced during Macron's state visit to China in January 2018. All of the deals, including one on French exports to China of frozen chicken, amount to a total of some $40 billion.
Xi's visit poses a particular challenge for Macron, who wants to deepen EU ties with China while pushing back against Beijing's growing global clout.
Speaking at the Elysee Palace on March 25 following talks with Xi, Macron called for a "strong Europe-China partnership", adding that this must be based on "strong multilateralism" and "fair and balanced" trade. Meanwhile Xi stressed that "a united and prosperous Europe fits in with our vision of a multipolar world".
"China will always back European integration and its development," he added in a statement to the press.
Around 200 guests including the French actor Alain Delon, who is widely known in China, French electronic music composer Jean-Michel Jarre and Chinese actress Gong Li attended the state dinner on March 25.
live bse live
nse live Volume Todays L/H More
Hyderabad-based Laurus Labs on March 26 said it had entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Global Fund for three-and-half years to supply antiretroviral (ARV) combination medicine for treating HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Through this long term agreement Laurus Labs will have the volume
commitments from the Global Fund for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
The company didn't disclose the size of the supply contract.
Sub Saharan Africa, is having one of the highest disease burden for HIV/AIDS.
This is the maiden order for Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir 300/300/50mg (TLD) after the Laurus received a tentative approval from USFDA in the month of February 2019.
"For Laurus Labs it is a very significant development which has ventured into the FDFs couple of years ago," said Satyanarayana Chava, Founder and CEO of Laurus Labs.
"This partnership has increased the companys commitment to contribute to the global mission for treating millions of HIV AIDS patients across the globe," said Chava.
Laurus, which is one of the leading manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for anti-retroviral (ARV), has ventured into finished dosages forms (FDFs). The company has current capacity of 5 billion units per year, expandable up to 8 billion units per year.
Laurus staved off competition from drug makers such as Mylan, Cipla, Sun Pharma and Macleods to win the contract.
Global Fund is a partnership between governments, civil society and the private sector working towards accelerating the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. The Fund raises and invests nearly U$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in countries and communities most in need.
live bse live
nse live Volume Todays L/H More
The board of Mindtree will meet on March 26 to deliberate on whether to proceed with the share buyback proposal.
The founders of Mindtree, who together own 13.32 percent in the company, are trying to fend off a Rs 10,800-crore hostile takeover bid from L&T, Indias largest engineering company, by buying back shares from public shareholders.
Rostow Ravanan, Managing Director and CEO of Mindtree, spoke to CNBC-TV18 about what they plan to achieve at the board meet on March 26 and cultural differences that are likely to emerge if the L&T deal goes through.
Here's the edited transcript of the interview that was conducted on March 25:
Q: We are all looking at the crucial board meeting on Tuesday which is a follow up to last weeks board meeting and we have reported on CNBC-TV18 that there will be an independent directors committee at the board meeting tomorrow and we also understand that many of the independent directors are more positive about the L&T deal than the promoters are, what is your opinion on where they stand right now?
A: While we are always busy, I am never too busy not to talk to CNBC-TV18. With respect to the independent directors, they are completely aligned with our approach. The board as a whole has endorsed the stand that we have taken and all the steps that we have taken. The independent directors have a statutory obligation so they will fulfil that obligation as and when that appropriate time comes. But the entire leadership team and the entire board is completely aligned with this approach, so any reports that indicate any kind of differences within the board is completely, totally false.
Q: You have reiterated even during your press conference last week that you continue to enjoy support from institutional investors. You have only specifically named Nalanda Capital which holds about 10 percent stake or so. Why have you not named the others? Do you see others backing you as well?
A: Absolutely, the question at that time was posed to me saying what does Nalanda Capital think and I guess it could have been asked by that particular journalist because they are like you said they are our larger shareholders. So we said yes, we have spoken to them and they are in line with our way of thinking and no difference of opinion from their side. But many of our large investors have exactly that same view. They have recognised that Mindtree is a high performing organisation, great management team and they have also recognised that financial performance is a function both of strategy and culture and therefore any disturbance to either strategy or culture will then lead to differences in performance and that is why all our shareholders have endorsed the Mindtree management team.
Q: You said you named Nalanda because it was specifically asked about it. Let me also name a few others, you have Amansa Holdings, you have Arohi Asset Management, UTI MF and several others what is their stand on this deal?
A: Completely aligned with our approach. No difference of opinion amongst any of our large shareholders.
Q: You are positive on support from all your large institutional investors?
A: Absolutely.
Q: All of you have said time and again that there is going to be cultural differences and value destruction if this deal goes through. Could you highlight what exactly is your main concern about what the difference in culture is?
A: Without passing any kind of judgment with respect to other cultures, all we are saying for us our culture is unique and our culture is an important ingredient for the success that we have delivered to our all stakeholders there and therefore we would like to leave this equation undisturbed.
Q: So basically nothing that employees have expressed concern on or clients have expressed concern on specifically about this?
A: There has been an outpouring of support for the Mindtree leadership team and just look at all the comments that have come on twitter using #MindtreeMatters, that plus the feedback we are getting during our internal town hall meetings, our emails that I send and feedback that I get etc. so from our people perspective there is a strong recognition for Mindtree and there is a lot of support again like I said for the current leadership team because we have delivered strong performance from our people across all the countries that we are operating. Similarly, from clients as well there is very strong support for the leadership team and for the successes we have delivered to our clients.
Q: L&T continues to say that this is not a hostile takeover, they say that Mindtree will continue to remain an independent entity. Has this been communicated to you categorically or have you sought any such assurance from them on this?
A: We have not sought anything from anybody. But if somebody gives us something, obviously we will take a look at it. One of the reasons why we are successful as a leadership team as we are very data-driven in all our decisions. So somebody presents data to us, we will no doubt take a look at the data and then make our decisions on that.
However, as of now, no such data has been given beyond the statements in the media and maybe in a lighter way I can say that all the comments that are written about us and when I know how divorced they are from our reality, therefore then I am unable to take any real seriousness for the comments that are attributed to L&T in the media because all those statements have only come to us through the media because I dont believe all the things that are written about Mindtree, I dont want to believe anything else that they have said as well. But we have not reached out to them, they have not reached out to us, nothing has come to us directly.
Also read: Mindtree-L&T saga far from over, but founders could benefit from not letting emotions guide their decisions
Q: So you havent heard directly from them on how the integration will go?
A: Nothing from them till now.
Q: If L&T does manage to take a controlling stake which doesnt seem to be very difficult given that they have already taken 20 percent, what will be the managements decision then once they come on board?
A: I have no way of commenting on the first part of your statement of how easy or difficult it is for L&T to take a controlling stake and I dont even want to comment on what is a controlling stake because different people have different views on what percentage of stake formulates a controlling stake there. So let some of these things play itself out. They have bought a certain block and they have announced a certain plan. Let us see how all of that pans out in reality in the market place and then we will take a call at that stage there.
Q: After the board meeting last week, the company had put out a statement saying that despite detailed discussions there couldnt be any decision taken on the share buyback. What is the status, I know you cannot reveal everything but what is the status, do you think it will go through and will you now require 75 percent shareholder approval?
A: Like I said, since the board meeting is getting reconvened tomorrow, so it is only at the end of the board meeting will I be able to say what does the board want. Maybe the board wants some buyback to go through, maybe the board wants to wait, maybe the board wants to do this some other time, so it will be inappropriate for me to make any sort of predictions on what the board meeting will result in tomorrow but however the board decides, we will completely go in the implementation path thereafter and we are confident that if we do things that are right for stakeholder value creation, we will get the support of all our shareholders as well. But we cannot predict anything. Let the board meeting happen tomorrow and then let us decide on that basis.
Q: During your Q3 results, you said you are on a one billion dollar run rate, you had a great Q3 as well, but I think the last few months have been quite tumultuous, was business going as usual and have you touched that one billion figure?
A: We will formally announce results on April 17, 2019. So I will have to keep you in suspense till then. If I make any comments on Q4 results right now, I will be breaking the law and I definitely dont want to do that.
All I can tell you is the leadership team at Mindtree is very broad and very deep. Therefore, they are ensuring that we deliver all the results that we need for our clients, for our book close process etc.
This issue has not distracted us in any manner over the last few weeks. So all of us collectively are doing whatever we can even within the board for example, members are focusing on this issue. I spend a minimal amount of time, the majority of my time is with clients and people. The operating leadership team is completely focused on the business, we are not getting distracted by this.
Q: So no impact on the business, business is going as usual?
A: Exactly. So whatever we have to do on a day-to-day basis to take care of clients and people, that is not getting impacted because of this.
Q: I know it has just been a week since L&T made that open offer but have you seen any kind of attrition, any signs of attrition or any concerns from clients who may be holding back on renewing contracts or so on, anything on those lines so far?
A: Firstly, L&T has not announced an open offer. L&T has just announced they have signed an agreement with Coffee Day group to buy that 20 percent. That itself is subject to regulatory approval. So that itself will close only in due course whenever those approvals are received. They have intended to buy another 15 percent and want to launch an open offer by 31 percent all of which is way ahead in the future. So nothing has happened as of yesterday. As of yesterday, my shareholder register continues to be Coffee Day group and all their entities. So nothing has changed at the moment for us.
No change to client perceptions at the moment because we have been in touch with our clients continuously. So many people have shown their interest and their support for us, some people have had questions. We have been engaging with our clients and answering those questions there. So it is business as usual for us at the moment.
Q: You said last week that Mindtree will reach out to as many people as possible to get support from the industry. You mentioned even the government, NASSCOM and so on, what kind of support have you received so far, who all have you reached out to on this?
A: I think the general industry perception is completely aligned with our view that our business is a very strong people-oriented business and unsolicited bid - if you dont want to use the word hostile upsets that equation. Therefore, in our business, there is a discouragement for unsolicited bids at the moment. That is the kind of feedback we have got from multiple stakeholders there. Many people have given us support, given us ideas and obviously, we are taking that on board and planning our actions accordingly.
Q: L&T last week had said that there was a similar deal about a four years ago and they had actually said that Mindtree management had approached them and it didnt go through. But last week you said that it was Mindtree which has rejected the offer, could you give us some clarity on what happened four years ago and with respect to what is happening now?
A: I can tell you that we never approached anybody then or now. So, to that extent, this is not a deal that Mindtree sought. Our shareholder had his own challenges or issues whatever priorities so he went and did a deal based on those priorities. We were not a party to that transaction and neither then nor now.
Source: CNBC-TV18
Reliance Industries Ltd said on March 26 its unit Reliance Retail Ltd (RRL) has acquired consumer goods company ITC Ltd's menswear brand John Players.
The acquisition would strengthen RRL's readymade garments and accessories portfolio in the fashion and lifestyle retail space, Reliance told Reuters in an email.
ITC sold the brand John Players and related trademarks and intellectual property to Reliance Retail as part of its restructuring plan, an ITC spokesperson said.
The two companies, however, did not disclose the financial details of the deal.
The Economic Times earlier reported that Reliance bought the John Players brand and distribution rights through 750 stores, in addition to 65 exclusive franchise outlets, for an estimated 1.50 billion rupees ($21.79 million).
Earlier this month, sources told Reuters that Reliance planned to grow the number of low-cost Reliance Trends fashion stores across India to 2,500 from 557 over the next five years and integrate them with its online business.
Reliance plans to diversify into e-commerce and expand in fashion as the conglomerate's billionaire owner Mukesh Ambani aims to grab a dominant share of Indian consumer spending in a struggle with rivals, particularly Amazon.com Inc and Walmart Inc's Flipkart.
Reliance shares climbed 1.6 percent as of 0602 GMT while those of ITC were 0.95 percent lower in Mumbai trading.
Tata Sons, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Delta Airlines. The list of suitors looking to woo Jet Airways may include these names, and many more.
Each of these companies has engaged with Jet sometime in the past two years, and industry observers say that banks will again approach them to take a look at the distressed airline.
On March 25, the Jet board cleared the way for the banks, led by State Bank of India, to take 51 percent stake after fresh allotment of shares. With that, shareholding of Naresh Goyal fell to 25.5 percent from 51 percent. Etihad's share also got diluted to 12 percent, from 24 percent.
Goyal and his wife Anita, have stepped down from the Board of Jet Airways, as did one of the two nominees of Etihad.
The banks, who will put in Rs 1,500 crore in the Indian airline, have now set a deadline of May 31, by when a new owner will have the controls of Jet Airways. Interested companies will have to submit expression of interest by April 9, and the deadline for binding bids is April 30.
"But are two months enough for companies to complete their due diligence for an investment that could cost up to Rs 30,000 crore?" asked a senior executive from the industry.
Domestic suitors
To start with, a major stumbling block for these investors has been set aside. Exit of Goyal would mean that one common condition for all the suitors has been fulfilled.
Tata Sons, which had held preliminary talks with Jet Airways, would be on of the favourites in the race, given its history in aviation. The conglomerate is keen to scale up its presence in the sector. Jet will fit in well with Tata's ambition to scale up operations of Vistara, its joint venture with Singapore Airlines.
IndiGo, which has already built a commanding lead in the domestic market, is looking to do the same in international traffic. Jet Airways, which flies to about 20 countries and has code share with an equal number of airlines, will help IndiGo build on that ambition.
The Rahul Bhatia-led carrier is also perhaps the only airline in India that is financially capable to acquire Jet Airways, which has debt of over Rs 8,000 crore. IndiGo has a market cap of Rs 53,282 crore (at the time of writing), many times more than Jet's Rs 3,160 crore.
International investors
Delta, the Atlanta-based second largest airline in the world, had been in talks with Jet for over a year, from 2017 on wards. But talks got stuck over the role of Naresh Goyal.
Delta has a code share agreement with Jet. And there is one more connection. Jet's CEO Vinay Dube is a former Delta veteran.
Also, the American airline has been keen to link the US market with Mumbai. A stake in Jet Airways, will give it access to the fastest growing aviation market in the world.
Qatar Airways also wants to have a presence in India. And its CEO Akbar Al Baker has repeatedly talked about his interest in forging a deal with IndiGo. While the Gurugram-based airline has not played ball yet, Baker will find a willing partner in Jet.
But Qatar has till now stayed away from Jet, especially given the presence of Etihad in the Indian airline. But if Etihad does sell its stake in Jet, and its CEO reportedly offered to do so to the latter's lenders, Qatar could become an interested party.
Dark horse
But the dark horse will be the founder himself. Even though much of Goyal 25.5 percent stake may be pledged with the lenders, the deal doesn't prevent him from increasing his stake in Jet Airways.
And despite statements on Monday that sounded like farewell comments, Goyal continues to have a presence, including nominees on the Board, in Jet Airways. For someone who defied odds to start a full service airline in India, and then led it through many a turbulence, it won't be surprising to see Goyal team up with an investor to bid for Jet Airways.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY, also called Ayushman Bharat or Modicare)) that offers Rs 5 lakh health insurance scheme may need to be in operation for at least 10 years for its real benefits to reach the masses.
A team from the University of Chicago is working with the National Health Authority (NHA) to offer strategies to improve coverage and awareness under the scheme.
Until now, 27 million people have been enrolled under the scheme and the target is to enrol 500 million people classified under the socio-economic caste census (SECC). NHA is the umbrella body to implement the scheme.
Research has shown an estimated 7 percent of Indias population is pushed into poverty each year due to medical expenses. In an interaction with Moneycontrol, Anup Malani, Professor at the University of Chicago said they are looking to improve efficiencies under the programme.
You need to give it time. About 10 years later, this scheme could make a meaningful impact as a public health insurance scheme in India, he added.
The Tata Centre for Development, in collaboration with the University of Chicago and the government of Karnataka, had conducted a randomised control trial that examined the impact of Indias previous government-run program-RSBY-on the health and financial security of roughly 50,000 people in Karnataka.
Malani said the study has direct relevance for PMJAY, also known as Modicare. This programme covers up to 500 million poor and near-poor Indians for up to Rs 5 lakh ($7,000) in hospital expenses. Important lessons for PMJAY emerged from the study.
RSBY and lessons learnt
Malani said they looked at what happens to RSBY when it is expanded to the above poverty line families as well. They had started the project in 2013 and followed the individuals for four years since then.
The idea was to look into the individuals covered and how people utilise the benefits. Further, the team also wanted to look into how the scheme improved the financial status of households.
People in India are pushed into poverty due to high medical expenses. We wanted to take an overview from the see what the financial benefits were, he added.
Compared to RSBY where a health cover of Rs 30,000 was given, Modicare offers Rs 5 lakh cover. This includes tertiary care as well.
Giving the example of the RSBY programme, Malani said the scheme moved quickly to 120 million enrollments between 2008 and 2012.
Modicare will also see similar increases in enrollments. But the country needs to set up an infrastructure that is able to meet the rising demand. Like the United States, it will take time, he added.
With respect to the RSBY scheme, Malani said, on the one hand, while there were concerns about fraud, on the other the premiums quoted also fell. With the trust model, Malani said some of these issues could be addressed.
The success of such an ambitious health insurance programme hinges on three primary factors, whether people sign up for the service, whether they use it, and whether hospitals participate. Participation of private hospitals is key, he added.
This comes at a time when the majority of private hospitals are reluctant to join Modicare given the low rates for the different procedures proposed by the NHA.
Another area of work is awareness. Under RSBY, Malani said many enrolled did not know how to use the cards for availing medical facilities.
The research has recommended putting more effort into information and education campaigns. Besides reducing paperwork and hassle costs for beneficiariesPMJAYaccording to the research findings, must ensure that hospitals have functioning payment systems and do not turn away patients.
Besides addressing demand and supply issues, sound financing and a strong data infrastructure are also important. According to the research team, for a financing scheme like PMJAY, it is important to get the data backbone right, without which claims cant be tracked and paid, and without which the plan runs the risk of failing.
Obamacare vs Modicare: What can India learn?
Malani said while Obamacare and Modicare are similar in spirit, there are technical differences.
Obamacare covered medicine and physician care and it also provided a subsidy for those not rich enough to buy their own health insurance plan. Modicare, on the other hand, is only for those below a certain economic class.
India has had a public health insurance system only for 10 years. US introduced a programme like RSBY called Medicaid as early as 1965. But even in the US, the first decade of the programme was very challenging. They had to find enough hospitals, physicians to provide services, he added.
Considering the vast population of India, Malani said it would be advisable to not expect a quick turnaround time for the programme.
In 2014, Obamacare launched its Medicaid expansion and premium subsidy to get 24 million people enrolled. It took more than a year to get 10 million enrollees and even now they only have 16 million enrollments, he added.
How to improve access to private hospitals
Malani said private hospital participation will depend on their individual locations. Similar to the RSBY scheme, where private hospitals were keener to participate, Malani said rural areas will see more success in Modicare than urban areas.
However, he also said since the scheme does not make financial sense to the private hospitals in larger cities, some tweaks could be considered.
NHA is also open to tweaks in the rates that have been uniformly set for hospitalisation procedures across the country. In countries like the US, there is a cost factor adjustment based on the procedure and the location and it shouldnt be difficult to implement in India, he explained.
Apart from this, he said that the rise in demand would require more private hospitals to help meet the gap. Going forward, Malani said Modicare could also improve a rise in private facilities provided they have adequate financial incentives/subsidies.
Future expansion under Modicare
The first step, said Malani would be to have selective targeting through viral marketing campaigns. Further, Malani said that the claims data can be looked at to see what are the exact medical needs of policyholders as well as if there is any fraud by hospitals over the billing.
Since the states under the trust model have the power to settle the claims, they also can take over the information campaign. How successful the programme will depend on how many relevant people we are able to target, he added.
Modicare is the worlds largest health insurance scheme and was launched in September 2018. A total of 1.6 million beneficiaries have taken the hospitalisation benefit under the scheme among the 14,912 network hospitals
India has emerged as the second largest market after the UK for Marks & Spencer, and the British retailer is looking at a double digit growth in terms of store addition this fiscal, said a top company official. M&S has opened one store each in Chennai and Hyderabad on Tuesday.
As part of expansion, M&S is now looking at the fast emerging tier II & III cities and also plans to increase the products range with more local relevance.
"India has now the largest market for us outside UK," Marks & Spencer India MD James Munson told PTI.
For M&S, India is a "strategic market", where there is acceptance of international brands and has space to grow.
After recent openings, M&S now has 76 stores across 32 cities and is expanding its presence.
As part of its expansion drive, M&S has opened six stores in last 48 days.
"We are really excited to be reaching the landmark of our 75th store opening, as well as continuing to improve the online experience for our customers," he added.
The company clocked a turnover of Rs 908 crore in India in FY 2017-18 and expects to continue its growth momentum further in the next fiscal.
Besides, the company would also continue to add more stores to maintain the pace of expansion of its sales network.
"In FY 2019-20, we would continue double digit growth in terms of store addition on like-to-like basis," Munson added.
Presently, M&S sources around 30 per cent material locally and rest is from imports, and will increase more products "which are relevant to customers, he said.
The company is also present on the fast growing online sales through its several channel partners.
Although, the present contribution of online sales is in single digit but Munson expects it to grow further.
M&S opened its first store in India in 2001 and in April 2008 signed a JV with Reliance Retail to form Marks & Spencer Reliance India Pvt Ltd.
Established in 1884, M&S is one of the UK's leading retailers and trades in 57 markets, with over 400 stores and online presence in 33 markets.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has gone on a campaign overdrive to curb dabba trading but the police says that the regulator's hesitance in filing a case in several cases is letting violators get off the hook.
Sources close to the Mumbai police department told Moneycontrol that cops are unhappy with SEBI for not registering a police complaint even as the regulator sends them details about illegal hoax trading that takes place in the city as well as in several hubs around the country.
In 'dabba trading', traders bet on movements of stock prices through cash. This system works entirely on trust; traders are often allowed to invest without having adequate collateral, and trades are typically cash-settled -- meaning if a trader buys a stock for Rs 100 and sells it for Rs 110, he simply gets Rs 10 after the position is squared off.
Since the system works outside the formal stock exchange system, there are few transaction costs and zero taxes to be paid.
In the absence of regulation, defaults also take place, sometimes resulting in players having to resort to pressure tactics and extortion to recover money.
SEBI has taken action against such activity, which is prevalent in Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Indore, Nagpur and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan.
But a source in the police department says that sometimes the action is not enough. "SEBI sends details of dabba trading in intervals with specific information about location and traders profiles. However, when we ask the regulator to register a formal complaint with us, it backs off."
The lack of a formal complaint means police are often unable to make a strong case when the matter reaches court.
"It makes the case weak in trial court," another source said. "When the regulator itself files a complaint, it will make for a strong case."
Moneycontrol reached out to SEBI for comments last week but did not get a response.
Famously, SEBI's 2016 crackdown on illegal dabba trading in Nagpur suffered an upset when the high court rapped the city's cops for filing the case without authority.
When the matter reached the Supreme Court, the apex court insisted on SEBI becoming a party to the case.
In this case, Nagpur police's Economic Offences Wing had pegged dabba trading volumes in the city to be about at Rs 10,000 crore per month.
The overall volume of the dabba trading across the country is estimated at Rs 1 lakh crore a day.
live bse live
nse live Volume Todays L/H More
Larsen & Toubro shares gained nearly a percent in the morning trade on March 26 after its hydrocarbon engineering division bagged an order in Oman.
The stock was quoting at Rs 1,381.75, up Rs 4.55, or 0.33 percent on the BSE, at 1012 hours IST.
"The wholly-owned subsidiary L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering Limited has won a large order from Tawfiq Coke Products-Oman," the engineering and construction major said in its exchange filing.
The contract scope includes the selection of technology licensor, FEED & EPC for a 2 x 225,000 TPA plant of calcined coke from green pet coke.
"This award will further reinforce L&T's operations in Oman and provide an opportunity to contribute to the expansion of industrial facilities in Sohar," the company said.
live bse live
nse live Volume Todays L/H More
Reliance Industries shares gained 3.16 percent to close at Rs 1,367.15 on Tuesday after its retail company acquired ITC's menswear brand John Players.
"The acquisition would strengthen Reliance Retail's readymade garments and accessories portfolio in the fashion and lifestyle retail space," Reuters said quoting Reliance's email.
Consumer goods company ITC sold the brand John Players and related trademarks and intellectual property to Reliance Retail as part of its restructuring plan, Reuters said quoting ITC spokesperson.
The two companies, however, did not disclose the financial details of the deal.
Meanwhile, according to a report by The Economic Times, Reliance bought the John Players brand and distribution rights of 750 stores, in addition to 65 exclusive franchise outlets, for an estimated Rs 150 crore ($21.79 million).
Earlier this month, sources told Reuters that Reliance planned to grow the number of low-cost Reliance Trends fashion stores across India to 2,500 from 557 over the next five years and integrate them with its online business.
: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
March 26, 2019 / 03:39 PM IST
Market Closing
Benchmark indices rebounded sharply after falling in previous two straight sessions, driven by banking & financials, and index heavyweight Reliance Industries.
The BSE Sensex rallied 424.50 points or 1.12 percent to 38,233.41 and the Nifty50 climbed 129 points or 1.14 percent to 11,483.30.
The Nifty Midcap index also gained over a percent but the market breadth was not so great.
About 1,377 shares advanced against 1,286 declining shares on the BSE.
NTPC, Reliance Industries, SBI, Vedanta and Bajaj Finance were leading gainers among Nifty50 stocks, rising 3-4 percent while Tech Mahindra, IOC, UPL, Infosys and Wipro lost 0.6-2.4 percent.
live bse live
nse live Volume Todays L/H More
Here are the stocks which are in news today:
Indiabulls Real Estate: To raise Rs 600 crore Via NCDs
Titan Company: Appoints Pradyumna Rameshchandra Vyas as Independent Director of company
DCM: Sumant Bharat Ram resigns as Chief Executive & Financial Officer w.e.f March 31
ICICI Prudential: Prudential Corp to sell up to 2.6% stake via OFS; Floor Price set at Rs 300 per share
Suzlon Energy: Completes sale of Wind & Solar Subsidiaries
Jet Airways: Resolution plan - Conversion of Re 1 of Lenders' debt into 11.4 crore equity shares. Two nominees of promoter - Naresh Goyal and Anita Goyal, and one nominee of Etihad Airways PJSC to step down from the Board. Naresh Goyal to cease the be the Chairman of the company.
Grasim Industries: The Bombay High Court granted a stay against the recovery demand worth Rs 5,872.13 crore on account of dividend distribution tax.
Newgen Software Technologies: Company said it will incorporate Australian arm with an initial investment of 1.5 million Australian Dollars.
Bharti Airtel: Company said that it eliminated ISD Packs for making regular call to Bangladesh and Nepal. Prepaid user can make calls to Bangladesh at Rs 2.99 per minute and to Nepal at Rs 7.99 per minute.
DLF: Company said it will consider QIP issue price on March 28. QIP opens from March 25. The floor price for the issue is set at Rs 193.01 per share.
UCO Bank: Board approved preferential issue of 175 crore shares at Rs 19.01 each, against the governments capital infusion of Rs 3,330 crore.
Bank of Maharashtra: Shareholders approved issue of 15.5 crore equity shares at Rs 13.25 per share aggregating to Rs 205 crore to the central government.
Kalpataru Power Transmission: Company acquired 85 percent stake in a Swedish EPC Company for USD 24 million, which deals in power supply solutions and services.
Future Retail: Board approved the re-appointment of Kishore Biyani as the MD of the company and Rakesh Biyani as joint MD for a three years from May 2, respectively.
Tourism Finance Corporation: Appoints Anirban Chakraborty as CMD.
Prabhat Dairy: Competition Commission of India approved the scheme of the companys sale of its dairy business, which is run by the companys arm Sunfresh Agro Industries to Tirumala Milk Products.
NHPC: Company said that it had started power trading in IEX as trader for J&K Power Development Department with effect from March 22.
MEP Infra Developers: Company arm entered into concession agreements with NHAI for three highway projects in Maharashtra.
Aurionpro Solutions: Board approves the buyback of 10.8 lakh shares or 4.6 percent of equity capital at a price of Rs 185 per share aggregating to Rs 20 crore.
Hetal Dalal
While MNCs have been paying royalty to their parent companies for the use of brands and technological support, Indian promoters too have been charging listed companies for the use of the brand. Investor pressure has resulted in SEBI bringing in regulations for royalty payments above 2 percent of net sales to require shareholder approvalone of the many recommendations of the Kotak Committee (that was modified by SEBI in its final acceptance). Royalty payments carry different nomenclaturesometimes these are charged in the name of brand fees or technical know-how fees, or other service-related fees.
The regulatory intervention was much needed. In several instances, royalty payments made by Indian companies needed to be justified. In February 2019, Jubilant FoodWorks Limited had to withdraw its decision to pay royalty to promoters just a few hours after making the announcement following immediate investor pushback. Havells promoters were paid royalty for the brand up until April 2016 despite the company itself bearing advertisement and other brand-building costs. The Singh brothers (erstwhile promoters of Fortis Healthcare Limited) announced that the over Rs 5 billion recoverable from them would be adjusted against royalty for the Fortis brand.
On the other hand, the Tata Group has signed a brand equity agreement with its group companies where, depending on the degree of usage of the Tata brand, the royalty payouts from group companies will be restricted to a specified percentage of turnover (Disclosure: The Tata group, through Tata Investment Corporation Limited, is one of IiAS shareholders.). These payouts are restricted to a maximum of Rs 750 million and 5 percent of profitsensuring that the fees are not excessive and are linked with operational performance. In case Tata companies make losses, they are not required to pay brand fees to Tata Sons. This brand equity agreement is publicly available and lists out Tata Sons' responsibility towards brand building. Tata Sons has a well-organised function that manages the Tata brand.
MNCs in India pay royalty because they bring brands to India that have been developed globally. To be fair, those brands do carry market value and are able to attract customer loyalty. But to what extent should royalty be paid? The quantum of royalty paid by MNCs has been egregious in the past, tempering only over the past two years. In the financial year ending in 2018, 27 MNCs (Schaeffler India Limited, Castrol India Limited, and ABB Limited all pay royalty to their parent companies. However, these are yet to publish the FY18 annual reports. Therefore, their data has not been included in this assessment) paid an aggregate of Rs 67. 37 billion in royalties, more than half of which is accounted by Maruti Suzuki India Limited at Rs 38.18 billion.
The Rs 67.37 billion royalty payment accounts for 16 percent of these 27 MNCs pre-tax pre-royalty profits and almost 27 percent of their aggregate Rs 250.40 billion profit after tax. Maruti Suzuki India Limited, GE, T&D India Limited, 3M India Limited, and Johnson Control-Hitachi Air Condition India Limited have paid more than 20 percent of their pre-tax pre-royalty profits as royalty to their parent company. 14 of the 27 MNCs (whose recent financial statements were available) have paid over 2 percent of net sales as royalty to their parent company.
Although royalty payments are related party transactions, they earlier escaped shareholder approval since these did not exceed 10 percent of revenues or networth. Companies maintain that royalty payments are in the ordinary course of business (in several instances that is so) and on arms length terms (which is debatable). Given how high these payouts were in some companies, and the significant investor push back over not having oversight on these payments, the Kotak Committee recommended that such payments be brought for a separate shareholder approvalthe Kotak Committee set a threshold of royalty payments in excess of 5 percent of revenue, SEBI while accepting the recommendation decided to lower the threshold to 2 percent of revenues. Shareholder approval is required for payments made from April 1, 2019, onwards.
Should the company be paying royalty in the first place?
When was the brand registered?
Why was the brand not registered in the companys name itself?
When was the royalty agreement first signed?
How much does the company spend on the advertisement and brand building?
How does the recipient use the royalty or brand fees? Is there a structure around spending on brand development?
Does the market see value in the brand/technology?
Does the company have an almost monopolistic position in the market or are there several competitors in the market?
Has the brand/company developed a certain size to become comparable to peers, or does it remain a niche player in the industry?
Has the company outperformed its peers on revenues or profit margins?
How has the quantum of royalty been decided?
Will the royalty agreement be periodically reviewed (every 5 years at the very least) or is the agreement in perpetuity / to be reviewed at the parent companys / promoters insistence only?
How has the royalty been determined? Is it a share of revenues, profits, or on specific product lines?
Is there a cap on the aggregate royalty that will be paid out?
For MNCs, is the royalty being charged to the Indian company comparable to that charged by the global parent in other Asian markets?
Is there an independent (third party) evaluation of the terms of royalty? Has the audit committee of the Indian company got its own independent advisor to assess the appropriateness of the terms of royalty?
The question is how should shareholders vote on such resolutions when these are presented? Likewise, what disclosures should companies make while asking for shareholder approval? Here, are a few issues to address:This question pertains to domestic companies more than MNCs. Investors need to question whether there is a need to pay royalty in the first place. Where companies themselves pay for brand development or the company is itself synonymous with the brand, the rationale to pay promoters for the brand must be questioned. More importantly, for recipients of the royalty or brand fee must be able to justify what they are doing to create or develop the brand. And this should include technology: Nestle spent CHF1.7 billion (Rs 119.7 bn) on R&D. Looking at royalty as a mere charge for ownership of the brand must be avoided. Specific questions that must be answered are:Brands that have a strong franchise must be able to command faster sales growth than competitors or be able to command better product margins or both. Therefore, while assessing whether there is value in the brand, investors must ascertain if the company has been able to outperform its peers within the same industryeither on revenue growth or on marginson a consistent basis. For recently introduced brands, on could argue that their acceptance in the Indian market is largely because of the brand (Starbucks, Mercedes-Benz, Oral-B); even so, royalty payments must not begin immediately, but after the brands have established themselves locally as well. Specific questions that must be answered are:Companies have decided on royalty payments as a percentage of sales and profits. But in several cases, it is unclear how the number has been arrived at. Companies must disclose the basis of the royalty charge, and as a good practice have either a cap on the absolute quantum or seek periodic review of royalty terms from shareholders or both. MNCs charge royalty from other markets therefore, clarity on the comparability of the royalty to be paid by the Indian entity vis-a-vis the region is an equal determinant of its legitimacy. Having independent brand valuers, with oversight by the audit committee, makes the proposition more convincing. Specific questions that must be answered are:
As resolutions get presented to shareholders over the next few weeks, both investors and companies would be well placed in greater transparency and better disclosure. Investors understand the value of brands and are unlikely to oppose such paymentsunless the quantum is much too high or the payout is simply unjustified. Asking for periodic approval from shareholders is importantshareholder approvals or agreements in perpetuity (Castrol India Limited and Nestle India Limited) are unlikely to be supported by all investors. Most of all, companies need to engage with investors and discuss their perspectives on royalty.
Representative Image
Vikas V Gupta
Recent events over the past couple of months again highlighted the defence and security challenges that India face. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, India has a defence spending of around $63 billion. The same report highlights that global defence spending is $1.7 trillion. According to a News18 report, India has been the top arms importer across the globe for the last eight years, except this year. It is estimated that India imports about 60-65 percent of its arms requirements.
Focusing on the Indian defence spending, the question as an investor is: What is the best way to capitalise on this large expenditure?
Since India imports a majority of its arms requirements, it is clear that it is best to look outside the Indian equity markets for taking proper exposure to the defence, aerospace and security sector.
Just focusing on the familiar developed markets of US, EU and UK, one can see 42 companies with a market cap of $1 billion or more listed in the defence and aerospace sectors. There are numerous other companies that also contribute to defence and security but are listed under some other industry categories.
One could look at Dassault Aviation SA of France, which makes the Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighter jets. Or, one could look at Lockheed Martin that manufactures F-16 and F-21 fighter jets. Similarly, there is Boeing, the makers of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, or SAAB, the makers of Gripen. Besides, these companies make several other defence and security products.
Or one could look at Aerovironment that specialises in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones), such as, Raven and Wasp. Besides, it also offers tactical missile systems. Then there is the Cubic Corporation that specialises in C4ISR (Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems.
The whole theme of defence and security is rich with possibilities and is an established and fast-evolving theme that has numerous companies in the global markets offering products, services and solutions.
Of course, as an intelligent investor (on the lines of Benjamin Graham) one cannot just jump on a theme and buy companies that look interesting. An investor will have a necessary condition that the company operates and benefits from the targeted theme.
But sufficient conditions before investing in a company will be a stable business model, strong balance sheet, and a sustainable competitive advantage. These factors would make it a supernormal company. Supernormal companies generate supernormal profits or excess returns on their capital.
However, as an intelligent investor an investment cannot be made unless these supernormal companies are available at a large discount to intrinsic value, i.e. they are available at supernormal prices.
Further, buying a handful of companies, say 3-5, with exposure to the theme will not make sense. This will become a very risky portfolio. Ideally, one should have around 20-25 companies in a portfolio with limits on the maximum allocation to a single company. If one can create such a portfolio then it is likely to not only have low risk, but also a potential for high returns.
Most people do not invest globally since they find it unfamiliar. However, once they start becoming aware of the opportunities available globally and start becoming familiar with them through research, the discomfort of the unknown will reduce, and global companies will start becoming a natural opportunity set for an equity investor.
Remember that not only are you getting exposure to different economies, countries, currencies, but also to different sectors and themes. Thus, the defense theme discussed above could just one among many themes in your international portfolio of stocks/funds. Thus your portfolio is becoming more diverse and hence more robust and anti-fragile. This means it is a lower risk portfolio.
Further, the chances of enhanced returns have increased, too, since the portfolio has exposure to fast-growing themes or significantly discounted companies or both. This creates the possibility of coming closer to the holy grail of investing with lower risks and for higher returns at the same time.
But, remember, always build knowledge before building the portfolio!
The author is the CEO and Chief Investment Strategist, OmniScience Capital.
Equity investments are subject to market risks. Global investments entail currency and country risks. The above is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any of the stocks or sectors mentioned. The author and his clients might have exposure to the above-mentioned stocks or sectors. Please consult your investment advisor and assess suitability of investment products for your circumstances before investing.
Representative image
Hotel Leelaventure is seeking shareholders' nod to sell four hotels, including one in the national capital, and other assets to Canadian investment fund Brookfield Asset Management for Rs 3,950 crore. In a regulatory filing on March 25, the company said it is seeking approval for special resolutions from its shareholders through postal ballots to sell the different hotels.
As per the postal ballot notice, the company said its board has approved selling The Leela Palace, New Delhi together with all its assets and liabilities as a going concern, on a 'slump sale' basis, to an Indian subsidiary of BSREP Ill India Ballet Pte Ltd (Brookfield) for a lumpsum consideration of Rs 1,705 crore.
Similarly, the board has also approved selling of the company's Bengaluru hotel undertaking as a going concern on a 'slump sale' basis to Brookfield for a lumpsum consideration of Rs 1,000 crore.
The company further said its Chennai hotel will be sold to the same buyer in a similar manner for a lumpsum consideration of Rs 675 crore.
The Udaipur hotel undertaking will also be sold for a lumpsum consideration of Rs 320 crore.
Further, Hotel Leelaventure said the board has approved sale of its hotel operations undertaking pertaining to hotel management operations together with all its assets and liabilities for Rs 135 crore.
Moreover, the board has given its nod to sell the company's entire shareholding in Leela Palaces and Resorts Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary that owns property and holds licences for the development of a hotel in Agra, for Rs 115 crore.
The voting by shareholders will commence on March 26 and end on April 24 and the result will be declared on April 26, the filing said.
The office has total 30 floors spanning multiple buildings and has a capacity to house 7,400 employees which Flipkart says is enough for them. The buildings are connected by nine bridges.
Institutional investors invested more than $4 billion funds across the country's real estate segments in 2018. Total private equity inflows in residential segment stood at $266 million in 2018, an 82 percent decline since 2015. Commercial real estate drew the lions share with USD 2.8 billion in PE funds, says a report.
The average deal size increased by over 170 percent in four years from $47 million in 2015 to $128 million in 2018. Overall the real estate sector attracted over $4 billion of PE funds in 2018; a decline of 9 percent against 2017. In less than 3 months into 2019, PE equity investment into real estate are close to $1 billion, according to a report by Anarock titled Private Equity in Indian Real Estate.
At the city-level, Mumbai continued to be the most-preferred destination for overall PE investments, seeing nearly 38 percent of the total capital inflows in 2018. Hyderabad witnessed a sudden burst in investments in 2018, attracting more than $1.1 billion of private equity a more than three-fold increase in investments compared to the collective previous three-year period. Hyderabad surpassed Bengaluru and Chennai, the other two major South Indian cities, in investment inflows, says the report.
The commercial office segment saw the highest inflows, accounting for a massive 70 percent share of the total institutional investments into the industry in 2018. Retail real estate came in a distant second with 7 percent and the residential sector drew the least private equity among the three sectors, with less than 7 percent of the overall share.
The report says that out of the total PE inflow of USD 14 bn into the sector in the last four years, 2017 and 2018 collectively saw the maximum investments to the tune of USD 8.6 billion.
"Currently, funding is a major hurdle for the Indian real estates growth prospects especially post the NBFC crisis. Private equity funding is the best alternative for developers who qualify for it. Despite a decline of 9 percent in PE inflows in 2018 against the preceding year, 2019 will bring a marked increase in private equity funding because of Indias first REIT listing," says Shobhit Agarwal, MD & CEO - ANAROCK Capital.
"From this point onward, commercial real estate especially Grade A office spaces will attract considerable investments," he says. "Nevertheless, much of the industry's prospects also hinge on the outcome of the upcoming general elections. Institutional investors will continue to pump in funds into the real estate industry if they can rely on political stability, proactive policies and a favourable microeconomic environment."
The report further states that despite deal numbers declining since 2015, the average deal size has increased by nearly 172 percent in the last four years from $47 million in 2015 to $128 million in 2018. Interestingly, the top 5 deals in 2018 alone contributed almost 50 percent of the total investments during the year. PE investors have become more cautious about selecting and associating with developers; however, once confident, they are making larger investments.
"A segment-wise breakdown indicates that commercial realty saw an annual increase of 27 percent in PE investments from nearly USD 2.2 bn in 2017 to over USD 2.8 billion in 2018," says Agarwal. "High occupancy levels, relatively lower rentals in dollar terms, quality Grade A assets and high-quality tenants are the key reasons for commercial space to draw around 70 percent of the overall share of the total private equity investments in 2018. Considering high demand, fund exits have been relatively easier in commercial real estate - and with REITs being launched, they will become even easier."
Also, investors interest in long-term real estate plays with preferred developers continues to be visible with more than USD 500 million of additional platforms getting created in just 2.5 months. As we speak, the REIT offering by the Blackstone Embassy Group is ongoing. If the interest for this new investment platform is as expected, it will open a new chapter in the countrys real estate space.
Going forward in 2019, institutional investors are likely to continue infusing investments into the maturing Indian real estate market, which offers more scope for growth than developed countries with matured real estate markets. Moreover, strategic policy relaxations to boost the ease of doing business, coupled with the rapidly transformed business environment, will continue to attract private equity to Indian real estate.
Global ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies Inc will spend $3.1 billion to acquire Middle East rival Careem, buying dominance in a competitive region ahead of a hotly anticipated initial public offering.
Uber said late on March 25 night it would pay $1.4 billion in cash and $1.7 billion in convertible notes in a deal that gives it full ownership of Careem. The long-expected agreement ends more than nine months of start-and-stop negotiations between the two companies and hands Uber a much-needed victory after a series of overseas divestments.
The notes will be convertible into Uber shares at a price equal to $55 apiece, Uber said, marking about a nearly 13 percent increase over Uber's share price in its last financing round, led by SoftBank Group Corp more than a year ago.
The acquisition makes Careem a wholly owned subsidiary of Uber and will keep the Careem brand and app intact, at least initially. Careem co-founders Mudassir Sheikha, Magnus Olsson and Abdulla Elyas are staying on with Careem following the acquisition, the companies said.
However, Careem's board will be overhauled, with three seats going to Uber representatives and two belonging to Careem. Sheikha, who is Careem's CEO, and Olsson will have board seats. An Uber spokesman declined to say whom Uber would appoint to the board.
The $3.1 billion cash-and-stock purchase buys out all outside Careem investors, the companies said, and Careem stock will be converted into Uber equity. Careem had raised less than $800 million from investors and as of October had a $2 billion valuation. Its backers include German car maker Daimler AG , Chinese ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing, Japanese internet company Rakuten Inc and Saudi investor Kingdom Holding Company.
The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020, the companies said, meaning it will not be reflected in Uber's first couple of quarterly earnings releases as a public company, although it will likely be disclosed in a public IPO filing. Uber will kick of its IPO next month and is expected to receive a valuation of at least $100 billion.
The agreement is subject to regulatory approval, including by antitrust officials in the countries where Careem operates, which could prevent the deal from moving forward or compel the companies to modify the terms.
MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS
The deal is particularly important for Uber, whose ability to be a competitive global ride-hailing player had come into question after it sold its operations in China, Russia and Southeast Asia to local rivals after sustaining heavy losses.
Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi in a statement called the deal with Careem "an important moment for Uber."
Uber has been eager to reach an agreement before the company begins its "roadshow," when it will meet with public market investors prior to listing shares on the New York Stock Exchange. The deal enables Uber to claim dominance in a growing region for ride-hailing outside of the United States.
Uber operates in more than 70 countries, but faces strong rivals in Latin America and India, and tough regulations in Europe.
Talks between the companies had dragged on since at least last summer, sources told Reuters, although they did not get serious until the end of the year. The companies had for years battled in a competition for drivers and riders that had required discounts and subsidies and pushed prices artificially low.
Careem over the course of last year grew its business rapidly, including adding a delivery service, and went on to nearly double its valuation, pressuring Uber to increase its bidding price.
Toward the end of last year, Careem was entertaining interest from investors for another financing round when Uber moved aggressively to buy the company outright, sources said.
SPOTLIGHT ON MIDDLE EAST TECH
Careem, founded in 2012, has a larger presence than Uber in the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Turkey, operating in 98 cities there compared with Uber's roughly 23 locations.
"An Uber-Careem merger underscores the huge potential of car-hailing in the Middle East," said Sam Blatteis, CEO at the MENA Catalysts, a Middle East public policy advisory and research firm.
The merger also follows the $580 million acquisition of Dubai-based ecommerce company Souq Group Ltd by Amazon.com Inc in 2017, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing, spotlighting the Middle East's budding technology scene.
"It's the first 'unicorn' exit in the Middle East, and it's representative of things to come out of the Middle East," said David Chao, co-founder and general partner at venture firm DCM and a Careem investor, referring to start-ups valued at $1 billion or more.
Uber said its revenue last year was $11.3 billion, while its gross bookings from rides were $50 billion. But the company lost a staggering $3.3 billion, excluding gains from the sale of its overseas business units in Russia and Southeast Asia.
Careem does not disclose its earnings.
The Aam Aadmi Party has sought an explanation from Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri over the recent media report of fall in Delhi metro ridership following fare hikes, claiming that the move has led to increase of pollution and impacted the economically weaker sections of the society. According to a recent media report, the average daily ridership of the Delhi metro has dropped by over 3 lakh.
Reacting to it, the AAP has sought an explanation from Puri, alleging that apart from directly affecting the revenues of Delhi Metro, the fare hike has also forced the metro commuters to switch to other modes of transport "which is causing an increase in the air pollution levels in Delhi."
"Higher Metro tariffs also directly affect the travel pattern of the economically weaker sections of the society," the AAP said in a statement.
"The Aam Aadmi Party would like to know from the Union Minister of State for Urban Development Hardeep Singh Puri, who is these days taking a keen interest in politics of Delhi, what is his response to the fact that following the twin Metro hike in 2017, average daily Metro ridership has fallen by over three lakh daily?" the party said.
The AAP questioned the official BJP stand on the metro fare hike.
"Can any of the seven BJP MPs from Delhi show a single letter they had written to the central government opposing the Metro fare hike? Can any BJP MP show a single speech/statement they had given in the Parliament or outside against this anti-people decision?Does the Delhi BJP endorse the statement of Mr Hardeep Singh Puri that fare hike was mandatory?" the AAP asked.
The AAP said it will make Delhi Metro fare hike by the BJP's central government an issue for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and will tell the people of Delhi that the seven MPs elected by them in 2014 fully deceived them.
Earlier, the state BJP had said that the Delhi government has a 50 per cent stake in DMRC and there can be no fare hike without its consent.
Nomination of the Aam Aadmi Party's Shweta Sharma from Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar Lok Sabha seat was rejected on Tuesday as she failed to find 10 mandatory proposers, poll officials said.
Ten mandatory proposers are required for any candidate who is not from a recognised national or regional party in a state, the officials said.
"She said in her nomination papers that she is a candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party. AAP is not a recognised regional party in Uttar Pradesh. It is not recognised as a national party by the Election Commission as well. It is recognised in Delhi though. This was a flaw in her claim," District Magistrate and Returning Officer Brajesh Narain Singh told PTI.
He said only one proposer is required in case of a recognised party otherwise 10 proposers are needed.
"The nomination process was allowed till 3 pm of March 25. Today the nominations were scrutinised and the candidate was told to bring any document, a court order or directive, to substantiate her claim, but she came up with none and had only one proposer. The decision (to reject her nomination) was taken on this basis," Singh said.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is in power in adjoining Delhi and had last week announced fielding three candidates in Uttar Pradesh, but with cancellation of Sharma's nomination, it will be fighting only on the other two -- Aligarh and Saharanpur.
In 2014, the AAP had fielded Kishan Pal Singh as its candidate from this seat who got 32,358 votes, a 2.70 per cent share of the total votes polled.
Gautam Buddh Nagar goes to polls on April 11 during the first leg of the seven-phased general elections.
Representative image
After the work on the Kartarpur corridor has begun, Pakistan is taking steps to open a similar corridor for Hindu pilgrims from India to visit the Sharda Temple in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to reports.
The two countries have been working towards opening a corridor linking Dera Baba Nanak in India with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur, Pakistan.
Pakistans Express News television channel, citing sources in the foreign ministry, reported that officials would be visiting the Sharda Temple and would submit a report to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Ramesh Vankwani, a lawmaker of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was quoted by media reports as saying: Pakistan has decided to open the Sharda temple. I am going to visit the place in a couple of days. I will also send a report...to Prime Minister Imran Khan. Work on the project will start in the current year, after which Hindus in Pakistan will also be able to visit the site.
The Sharda Peeth temple is considered to be 5,000-years-old. Water from a pond called Madomati, near the temple, is considered sacred by Hindus.
It is believed that the site was one of the foremost temple universities in the Indian subcontinent between the 6th and the 12th century AD.
The temple is located on the banks of the Neelum River more than 100 kilometres from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
In the past, India had made repeated requests for such an arrangement keeping in mind the wishes and religious sentiments of people.
The Indian Express quoted Indian government sources as saying: India had made this request several times as part of the Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan. The proposal was made keeping in mind the wishes and religious sentiments of people.
On December 20, 2018, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh had told Rajya Sabha: The issue of religious tourism to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has been raised from time to time. The Joint Statement issued following the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan on 27 July 2011, inter-alia stated that travel across the Line of Control would be expanded to include visits for tourism and religious pilgrimage. India has proposed pilgrims visit to shrines in PoJK, including Sharada Peeth. Pakistan has not concurred with the proposal so far.
The Congress on Tuesday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clearly spell out whether he supports its scheme of giving Rs 72,000 annually to each of five crore poorest families in the country, and accused the BJP leadership of opposing the proposal.
At a press briefing, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said women heads of five crore poor families will get the amount directly in their bank accounts under Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme.
According to estimate, implementation of the scheme will require Rs 3.6 lakh crore annually, and the Congress is yet to clarify how resources will be generated to implement the scheme.
Surjewala said 'Nyay' is not a "top-up scheme" and modalities for its implementation would be worked out once the party assumes power, adding the party was working on finances for the scheme.
Party leaders said Nyay is not a work-oriented scheme like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment programme and money will provided directly into the bank accounts of women in the beneficiary families to help them come out of poverty.
"We are working on finances to implement the scheme. It will not put the economy under strain," said a party leader who wished not to be named.
Surjewala said the existing schemes like MNREGA, and existing subsidies would continue and will not be subsumed into 'Nyay'.
"No scheme will be closed, no subsidy will be cut. This is neither a replacement of MNREGA, nor of any other scheme, as all existing schemes will continue and this scheme will be besides the existing ones," he said.
"This is an income supplementing scheme to pull the family out of poverty and that is why the money is being paid directly into the accounts of women of poor families," Surjewala added.
Taking on PM Modi, he said, "His politics thrives on keeping people poor, lest they start asking questions."
It was "shameful" that "pro-rich" Modi was opposing the world's biggest anti-poverty scheme, Surjewala alleged, adding "the PM and BJP must clarify whether they support 'Nyay' or not, whether they support helping the poor or not."
The Congress leader also attacked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for dubbing the scheme as a "bluff announcement", saying no other political party has "betrayed" India for more than seven decades in the name of poverty.
Surjewala also attacked government think tank NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar dubbing the body he headed as "Rajneeti Ayog" and asked him to run the organisation from the BJP office and contest elections instead.
Kumar had criticised Congress on 'Nyay'.
Brushing aside critics of the scheme who claim it will strain the economy, he said, "We have looked at the economics of the scheme, we have looked at the contours of the scheme and the scheme is fully implementable," he claimed, brushing aside critics who say this will further strain the economy."
On the proposed scheme, the Congress spokesperson said, "...every poor family shall be rightfully entitled to Rs 72,000 per annum. This will apply to both urban and rural poor families."
"Rs 72,000 would be deposited directly in the bank accounts of the woman of the family. Modi Government's 'Economic Survey 2016-17' accepted that India under the Congress reduced poverty. Poverty which was 70 per cent during Independence has come down to just 22 per cent in 2011-12. With the path-breaking 'Nyay' scheme, Congress will now eradicate the remaining 20 per cent poverty too," he said.
Targeting the prime minister, he said, "The anti-poor DNA of suited-booted PM Modi and his incompetent Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stand exposed as they bitterly oppose the world's biggest anti-poverty scheme."
He alleged that the prime minister "can happily waive" Rs 3.17 lakh crore for a handful of crony friends but opposes the Rs 6,000-per month respite for the poor.
"Because Modiji opposes anything & everything that is pro-poor, People will now do NYAY' (justice)," he said.
He said former finance minister P Chidambaram has had wider consultation with economists and has drafted the contours of the scheme and he will spell out further details of the scheme.
President Ram Nath Kovind
President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday was honoured with Croatia's highest civilian award -- the Grand Order of the King of Tomislav.
Kovind is in the European country as part of his eight-day three-nation visit to Croatia, Bolivia and Chile to further strengthen bilateral ties between India and the three countries.
"President of India honoured with highest civilian order in #Croatia! During his State Visit to Croatia #Presidentkovind is honoured with Grand Order of the King of Tomislav, the highest award of Croatia. #Presidentkovind dedicated it to India-Croatia friendship! @KolindaGK," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted.
The civilian order is awarded to heads of state for their important contribution towards the development of state relations between Croatia and their respective countries.
Kovind, who is the first-ever Indian head of state to visit Croatia, was earlier accorded a ceremonial welcome here. He is in the European nation from March 25 to March 28.
June 02, 2019 / 09:01 AM IST
Welcome to the Lok Sabha election 2019 coverage. This blog tracks the latest developments from the general election.
The BJP reacted with jubilation at the exit polls, which forecast a return of the NDA government, saying that they show a huge positive vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but opposition parties rejected the forecast.
Narendra Modi is returning to power with a bang,
With 510 private cars every kilometre, Mumbai is the most car-congested city in India, ahead of cities like Pune, Kolkata and national capital Delhi.
Delhi, with 108 cars per kilometre, has a car density five times lower than Mumbai, according to a report by The Times of India.
Punes car density is 359, while Kolkata has 319 cars per kilometre, the report said, citing data from state transport departments.
Chennai and Bangalore have 297 and 149 cars per kilometre, respectively.
The high density of cars in India's financial capital has risen 18 percent from 430 in mid-2016, due to a shortage of road space and an increasing number of private vehicles.
"Mumbai has been bursting at the seams past few years, and if there is no control over the purchase or mobility of private cars across the city, commuting by road will be a nightmare," transport expert Ashok Datar told The Times of India.
There are about 10.2 lakh private cars on Mumbais roads, comprising about 28 percent of the citys total number of vehicles, the report added.
Mumbais western suburbs have about five lakh registered cars, while eastern suburbs have 1.7 lakh private cars, RTO officials told the paper.
"There is an urgent need to set up a parking authority to implement the new parking policy, and also impose congestion tax in the business hubs," said AV Shenoy of Mumbai Transport Forum.
YSRCP chief and Andhra Pradesh CM Jaganmohan Reddy
Amar Devulapalli
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President YS Jaganmohan Reddy has a way with people. He is at utmost ease when surrounded by people, whether it is when addressing a gathering or walking with folded hands greeting strangers. Unfavourable weather conditions or health ailments are non-factors for this 46-year-old politician whenever he hit the streets. This is because in the last five years, Jagan has never stopped from being in the midst of people.
For every politician, the election campaign for the upcoming polls is filled with challenges but not for Andhra Pradeshs Opposition leader. After losing to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2014, Jagan raised many issues and protested over it. He undertook the Rythu Bharosa Yatra to interact with farmers and highlight their problems, besides instilling confidence in them.
When the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government, which was a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, supported the special package for the bifurcated state, it was Jagan who went to people with the demand for special category status.
Jagans continuous yatras
Immediately after his fathers death in a helicopter crash in 2009, Jagan announced the Odarpu Yatra (Condolence tour) to visit every family in the state whose family lost a member due to the shock of his fathers demise.
Back in 2015, he undertook an indefinite fast. Later, the YSRCP intensified its protest with hunger strikes and awareness programmes. Last year, all the Lok Sabha MPs of the YSRCP resigned from Parliament and sat on an indefinite fast in Delhi. The favourable reaction to the YSRCPs stand forced the TDP to toe its line.
However, the one campaign that completely presented him in a new light and brought him closer to voters was the Praja Sankalpa Yatra. For over a period of 14 months, beginning November 2017, Jagan toured the state walking 3,600 km, covering thousands of villages. The yatra showed Jagan as a committed and strong leader.
This yatra also helped Jagan in one more way. At every given opportunity, he conveyed to people that he will promise only what he can deliver. This way, he tried to convince people that he is a man of words, unlike other politicians. This seem to be a well-calculated move.
At the same time, the TDP gained notoriety for encouraging defections from other parties and inviting 23 MLAs and MPs to switch sides. Some of them were made ministers before they resigned from their old parties or re-elected on a TDP ticket. On the other hand Jagan insisted that whoever joined his party had to resign from his/her existing party. This approach seems to have helped in improving Jagans image as a leader with a difference.
In less than a decade, Jagan has grown from being the son of a popular Chief Minister to an MP, and now to a popular leader.
Fighting it alone
Alliances and secret pacts have become the order of the day in Andhra politics. However, Jagan has made it clear that he will not be part of any alliance. Even though there were proposals from within and outside his camp to explore the option of teaming up with the Left parties or with actor Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena Party, Jagan had decided against it. The sagacity of this decision, will, of course, be evident on May 23rd when the election results are announced. For now, the decision to contest alone has given clarity to his voters and at the same time thwarted dissidence that could have arisen due to seat-sharing.
All said, it will not be a breezy ride for Jagan. Naidu is known for his shrewd political moves and is also a master in poll management. Knowing well that it cannot single-handedly win the elections, the TDP has allegedly propped up various political forces, such as Kalyans party, to split the anti-incumbency votes. The actors party has an alliance with the CPI, the CPI(M) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). What increases rumours of such a tacit understanding between Naidu and the alliance is that Kalyan and the Left leaders have repeatedly criticised and questioned Jagan, who was never in power, while going soft on Naidu who is in power. That apart, the alliance has not fielded strong candidates in any of the seats where important TDP leaders are contesting.
Congress-TDP understanding
Amidst many such examples, the Congress too seem to be playing to Naidus tunes. It is no secret that after his break-up with BJP, Naidu has grown closer to Congress President Rahul Gandhi. After the TDP-Congress experiment failed in the Telangana assembly polls last year, both parties announced that they would not have a tie-up in Andhra Pradesh. However, considering that both parties are active players in the Mahagathbandhan, it is tough to imagine that they do not have an understanding.
A couple of senior Congress leaders may have it easy this time because Naidu has given tickets to weak candidates from those seats. Allegedly, the Congress is also returning the favour. Come young Congress leaders feel that the party will be doomed if it is working hard for Naidus victory.
In the thick of action, the BJP seems to have faded into oblivion. With no friends and its credibility taking a hit over granting the state special category status, the national party will be too happy if they manage to win at least a few of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Amar Devulapalli is a Hyderabad-based senior journalist. Views are personal.
For more Opinion pieces, click here
Image: Twitter/ @INCIndia
Rasheed Kidwai
Congress President Rahul Gandhis Nyuntam Aay Yojana (Minimum Income Scheme) or, in short, NYAY, which means justice in Hindi is in keeping with Congress economic thinking of social left and economic right. The pre-poll announcement has a potential of a game-changer and blunting Prime Minister Narendra Modis muscular politics and hyper nationalism.
Rahul, 49, has some understanding of economy and has reportedly been in touch with economists Thomas Piketty and Angus Deaton to address the Indian model of economic disparity between the rich and the poor. Privately, Rahul is said to have often wondered that if huge non-performing assets (NPAs) of industrialists can be written off, why shouldnt Indias poorest of the poor get a basic income. According to a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report, corporate loan defaults to the tone of Rs 1,08,500 crore and Rs 1,62,700 crore were waived off by banks in 2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively.
A flexible thought
Since Pandit Jawaharlal Nehrus times, the Congress thinking has been fluid and flexible. Nehrus biographer, S Gopal felt that even during the Nehru era, the real aim of the Congress was not so much to implement its declared policies but to ensure continuation in power. For this objective, the Congress under Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi accommodated men of different economic thinking even at the expense of the stated social and economic commitment to the country.
From 1967 to 1972, Indira displayed her extraordinary political acumen and sense of realpolitik. She kept pitting one Congress leader against the other to deal a body blow to the conservatives during the bank nationalisation, abolition of the privy purse and the presidential polls that pitted Neelam Sanjiva Reddy against VV Giri. Chandrashekhar and others took on the high and mighty on the basis of her stray thoughts at the stormy AICC meets in Bangalore, Bombay and Faridabad.
Continuous change
In the larger context, party leaders handling economic issues reinforce a stand that as an ideology, the party has been following the course of change with continuity. From Nehru to Sonia and Rahul, the party leadership has not followed any dogmatic or indoctrinated ideology. Successive Congress leaderships have instead chosen to reinvent, avoiding confrontations and sharp divisions in a multi-cultural and pluralistic Indian society.
From its inception, the Congress functioned as an amorphous organisation. Describing the Congress at the Avadi session, UN Dhebar, president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1955, spoke extensively in poets flair in the presence of Nehru, Indira and others, who nodded their heads in approval. Dhebar said, What is the Congress? It is a tear, fallen from the sufferings and agonised heart of humanity in bondage, coming to life.
According to Nehru, the Congress was always something more than a party and capable of drawing allegiance from millions who were not formally with the party. Speaking in New Delhi at the 1951 AICC session, Nehru said, We have to retain something of that wider aspect of the Congress, but this should not lead to floppiness and loose thinking and an accommodation of all kinds of contrary opinions within its fold. In regard to principles social, economic and political this must be clear. There should be no room for reactionaries in the Congress fold. Nor should there be any room in it for those who seek, through its medium, personal advancement and profit at the cost of the public good. We have to pull ourselves up from the narrow grooves of thought and action, from factions, from mutual recrimination, from tolerance of evil in public life and in our social structure, and become again fighters for a cause and upholders of high principles.
Absence of ideological clarity
In subsequent party sessions and position papers, the Congress clarified and explained that its concept of socialism was not dogmatic or indoctrinate. In 1972, under Indira, the election manifesto prepared for the assembly polls read, Poverty must go. Disparity must diminish. Injustice must end. Earlier, at the Mumbai AICC session, Jagjivan Ram moved a resolution saying, Modern man is the inheritor of all that is noble and good in human thought. And thus our democratic socialism is a synthesis of all that is best in the thinking of the East and the West and provides an ideology superior to other sectarian ideologies which are communalistic or communitarian.
In terms of science of ideas or ideology, many feel the Congress strength lies in the absence of ideological clarity. Senior Congress leader Shriman Narayan Agarwal (who later dropped his caste surname) used to insist that the Congress ideology should not be interpreted in any rigid set of ideas whose acceptance was obligatory to all Congressmen.
The culture of having a powerful, dominant leader and the tendency to change from time-to-time as per the political situation kept giving the Congress fresh ideological frames. These were more matters of policy than faith. Such a compromise between various interest groups helped in the sharing of power and the doctrinal pluralism of its leaders.
By the time the Congress under Sonia met at Pachmarhi (1997), Shimla (2003) and Hyderabad (2006), the party had formally accepted the need for coalitions with parties of varying ideology. The political resolution in Hyderabad said, At present, coalition of political forces and opinion is inevitable. Each political epoch needs a leader and a visionary who changes the traditional paradigm of society to face contemporary challenges.
Focus on the poor
Away from public scrutiny, Sonia and Rahul have found Manmohan Singhs economic thinking to be on the same page as theirs. The Gandhis do not believe in a State-controlled economy. Sonias lengthy discussions with Singh prior to 2004 had convinced her that a market-controlled economy, if properly guided, could benefit many, including those who were at the margins of society. Her understanding of the new world order and need for reforms contributed significantly to convincing the great Indian middle class and captains of industry that under Manmohan Singh, reforms would continue and there would be further liberalisation.
Singh, too, made it clear that his government was not Sensex-driven, but functioned in a transparent, pro-industry, 24 Akbar Road, 252 pro-entrepreneur manner. In a nutshell, Sonia managed to communicate to the masses, even those who did not read newspapers or watch television, that the Congress prime responsibility towards the poor did not stand compromised by Singhs economic reforms.
Rahul had been contemplating to unleash a socio-economic programme that would help him score a point or two against Modi. This explains his frequent and often long trips abroad where he has supposedly spent some time with Piketty and Deaton. Rahul somewhere fancies himself as Indian version of Emmanuel Macron of France or Jeremy Corbyn of England.
Rasheed Kidwai is a visiting Fellow of the Observer Research Foundation. He is resident commentator with CNN-Network 18
For more Opinion pieces, click here
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to visit the party bastions of Amethi, Rae Bareli and Faizabad beginning Wednesday in her next leg of campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, party officials said. Earlier this month, she had taken river route to visit parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi.
AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi is expected to visit Amethi, Rae Bareli and Faizabad from March 27, party spokesman Rajiv Bakshi said.
She will arrive in Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of her brother Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday and hold a meeting with booth-level party presidents.
Congress spokesman for Amethi unit Anil Singh said Priyanka Gandhi will interact with 1,965 party booth presidents at the AH Inter college in Musafirkhana.
After the meeting, she will leave for Rae Bareli where she will hold a programme on Thursday.
The AICC general secretary's visit to Faizabad has been rescheduled for March 29. She was earlier scheduled to visit the temple town on March 27.
The detailed programme of the Congress leader is being worked out, party sources added.
A day after being removed as president of the Mumbai Congress, party leader Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday said he will continue to take on the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra and highlight its "failures".
The Congress on Monday appointed former Union minister Milind Deora as Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief, replacing Nirupam, who has been fielded by the party from the Mumbai North West parliamentary constituency.
Addressing a press conference here, Nirupam said being a resident of the constituency for over 25-30 years, he always wanted to represent its people in the Lok Sabha.
The former MP expressed confidence about his victory from Mumbai North West, which will vote on April 29. The seat is currently represented Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar.
Speaking about his campaign, Nirupam said, "The Mumbai North West constituency has its own set of problems. We are planning to draft a separate and special manifesto for this particular constituency."
"We will focus on issues being faced by the people here and will move from the streets of Mumbai to Parliament to solve them."
Nirupam said the special manifesto for Mumbai North West will focus on issues like unemployment, construction and maintenance of roads, providing clean water, proper drainage system, solving traffic issues and protection of mangroves, among others.
The Congress leader asserted he will not let Aarey Colony, a green belt in suburban Goregaon (which falls in Mumbai North West), get destroyed for construction of a metro car shed.
Speaking about Deora, Nirupam said, "I congratulate Milind Deora for being appointed as the new Mumbai Congress president and hope he fight for the people of Mumbai just like I have been doing till now."
Mumbaikars are agitated over the "failures" of the BJP -Sena government and the inability of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide them even basic amenities, the 54-year-old Congress leader said.
Nirupam, who was appointed the MRCC chief in 2015, said he will continue to fight for resolution of problems being faced by people just like he has been doing so far.
Meanwhile, an internal survey that showed the Congress under Nirupam was being perceived as a party of one particular community apparently led to his removal as the MRCC president just a month ahead of polling in the metropolis.
According to MRCC sources, the survey was done last week and the feedback was that the Congress had a scope to put up a good fight in four of the five Lok Sabha seats that it is contesting in Mumbai if it is led by a face that is acceptable to all communities.
"Under Nirupam, the image of the party was that it is a party of only one community," the sources said.
Jains, Marwaris and Gujaratis, which form a large chunk of electorate in Mumbai, were miffed with the Shiv Sena, they said, adding the survey's findings were discussed Sunday.
Nirupam was earlier with the Shiv Sena and joined the Congress in 2005.
"The Congress under Nirupam was seen as a party of one particular community. Milind Deora is a half Marathi as his mother is a Maharashtrian.
"He speaks fluent Marathi. Besides, he is acceptable to all other communities as well," a former party MLA said.
The former MLA said all senior leaders who had stayed away from party affairs when Nirupam headed the MRCC are likely to be active again under Deora (42), a two-time MP.
Deora will lead from front in all the six Lok Sabha seats that the Congress-NCP combine is contesting. All party candidates in Mumbai are former MPs and they can handle their own campaign, he said.
Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who has been associated with BJP for about three decades, will join Congress at New Delhi on March 28, a senior party leader said here on Tuesday.
"Shatrughan Sinha will join Congress in New Delhi on March 28 at 11.30 am ... He will be our candidate from Patna Sahib", chairman for the state Congress election campaign committee Akhilesh Prasad Singh told newsmen here.
Sinha is a two-term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib Singh but has been dropped by the saffron party which has chosen to field union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat.
Sinha has been openly critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Speculation had been rife for some time that he would join the Congress, which is an ally of the 'Mahagathbandhan' which also consists of the RJD and other local parties.
Asked whether Sinha would be induced in the party in the presence of AICC president Rahul Gandhi, as was being speculated in the media, Singh said Top leaders will be present on the occasion".
Sources in the 'Mahagathbandhan' had recently claimed that there was a tug of war between the Congress and RJD over Sinhas candidature as Lalu Prasad's party, with which the 'Bihari Babu' shares cordial relations, was said to be keen on fielding him on its own symbol.
Congress has been contesting from Patna Sahib whenever it has fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the RJD and Singhs statement indicate that decks have been cleared for Sinhas candidature by the Congress leadership.
Singh, however, dodged queries about Kirti Azad, another BJP MP who had recently joined the Congress saying He will be contesting elections. From where, it will be decided by the party.
Azad is serving his second consecutive term in the Lok Sabha from Darbhanga and the Congress wants to field him from the seat as the constituency has a large population of Maithil Brahmins its traditional supporters.
RJD has been insisting that it has won the Darbhanga seat many times and would like to contest it again with its senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui as its candidate.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said there would have been no need for the IAF to enter the Pakistani airspace to hit the Balakot terror camp if it had Rafale aircraft.
Addressing a rally in northeast Delhi's Yamuna Vihar, he said the "miracle" would have been possible from Indian territory.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the results would have been different if India had Rafale fighter jets, as he attacked the Congress for its tirade against his government over the aircraft deal.
"During the UPA government's tenure, the Indian Army would hoist a white flag whenever the Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire at the border. During my tenure as home minister, I gave orders that if Pakistan fires one bullet, then you fire as much as you can," Singh said.
Responding to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's jibe 'chowkidar chor hai' against Modi, the senior BJP leader said the prime minister was "pure and the only cure" for all problems of the country.
Gandhi has often used the slogan 'chowkidar chor hai' to hit out at Modi over alleged corruption in the Rafale jet deal.
"Chowkidar is not a thief, but pure. He is the only cure for all problems of country. He will become prime minister again for sure," Singh said and asked "for whom will our prime minister take money?"
Referring to the Balakot air strikes, he said, "Had Rafale been there, there was no need for our air force personnel to go to Pakistan. And that miracle would have taken place from Indian territory. And these people (the Congress) level baseless allegations against us."
Targeting the previous Congress governments for stalling defence modernisation, he said the Indian Air Force did not get any new aircraft for 30 years despite repeated requests.
He also asked if Prime Minister Modi committed any crime by finalising the Rafale deal with France when the armed forces were in dire need of fighter jets.
"Our armed forces kept asking for fighter jets for 30 years. They should be modernised," Singh said.
Singh said the Congress did not take action against the perpetrators of the 26/11 attack, but the attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district was avenged.
"Now the Congress is asking how many (terrorists) were killed in Pakistan. The brave armed forces don't count bodies. This is for the others to do," he said.
Over reports of Kashmiri-origin people being attacked in different parts of country following the Pulwama attack, he asked people to protect Kashmiri students.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on March 26 promised a "surgical strike" on poverty and said his party had been working on how to eradicate it for the last six months.
Addressing a rally in Suratgarh a day after declaring his party would roll out a minimum income guarantee scheme for the poorest 20 per cent households if voted to power, Gandhi said only the rich could dream under the Narendra Modi rule.
"We will eradicate poverty in the country. This is a 'dhamaka'. No country has done this in history. There should not be a single poor person in the country," Gandhi said.
He said his party would work to reduce unemployment if it comes to power.
"If Modi gives money to the rich, the Congress will give money to the poor," Gandhi said.
Alleging that Modi had helped those who had black money, the Congress president said those lifted from poverty by the UPA government had again been made poor in the last five years.
According to him, 14 crore people were lifted from poverty by the UPA government.
"It is a shame that there are still 25 crore poor people in the country," Gandhi said.
"You will get the right price for your labour and product," he told the gathering.
The UPA government had launched schemes over 10 years but Modi ended them all, the Congress chief said, adding that the prime minister had failed to understand the MGNREGA job scheme.
Taking a jibe at Modi, he said the prime minister was indeed a "chowkidaar" but of industrialist Anil Ambani.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said Indo-Pak relations would remain tense till the general elections in India are over.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pulwama.
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 Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India later.
Khan said shadows of war were still hovering over Pakistan and India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration could go for "another misadventure" before the general elections.
"The danger is not over. The situation will remain tense till forthcoming general elections in India. We are already prepared to avert any aggression from India," Dawn quoted Khan as saying.
Khan also claimed that he cancelled his scheduled meeting with the Taliban in Islamabad due to "concerns" expressed by the Afghan government.
The Taliban last month said that its representatives would visit Islamabad to meet Prime Minister Khan on February 18.
Media reports later suggested that the Taliban called off the meeting as most of the members of their negotiating team could not travel to Pakistan due to sanctions imposed on them by the US and the United Nations.
The TDP, CPI and TJS are throwing their weight behind the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, giving the Rahul Gandhi-led party some extra muscle to take on the battle-ready Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).
These parties were part of the Congress-led "Prajakutami" (People's Front) in the assembly elections in December last year but, there is no formal alliance for the April 11 Lok Sabha polls among them.
The Congress is now contesting all the 17 Lok Sabha seats. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has decided not to contest in Telangana. "We are against the TRS and BJP", TDP spokesperson Nellore Durga Prasad told PTI.
The TDP would extend support to any leading party fighting against the TRS and BJP in the constituencies, Prasad said, hinting that his party would back the Congress. The Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) President Prof. M Kodandaram said his party has fielded candidates in three segments -- Mahbubabad, Khammam and Hyderabad -- and would support the Congress nominees in the remaining 14 seats.
The CPI and CPI-M have inked a seat-sharing agreement over four seats. Accordingly, the CPI would contest from Mahbubabad and Bhongir, and the CPI-M from Khammam and Nalgonda.
"In the remaining seats, we will support the Congress party which can defeat the TRS-BJP in the constituencies. If there are any other Left candidate, we will consider about it", the CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said. Kodandaram, meanwhile, said the "form" of Prajakutami has changed but the alliance continues.
"On issues, we work together, we support each other whereever there is no conflict of interest. That's the general idea. Therefore, we are able to continue the alliance", Kodandaram told PTI.
In the assembly elections, the Congress had bagged 19 seats and the TDP two, while the CPI and TJS drew a blank. The TRS was swept back to power with a rich haul of 88 seats in the 119-member House.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on March 24 declared his candidacy from the Azamgarh parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Even though Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has declared that she would not contest the upcoming general election, Akhilesh picked the Azamgarh seat, which was won by his father Mulayam Singh Yadav in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Akhileshs decision is being seen as an attempt to get support of the Yadav-Muslim vote base in eastern Uttar Pradesh for the SP-BSP alliance.
Azamgarh and the area around it, which comprises at least half a dozen constituencies like Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Lalganj, Ambedkarnagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Deoria, etc, have a significant voter base comprising of Muslims, Yadavs and some sections of non-Yadav OBCs. As per the seat-sharing arrangement between the SP and the BSP, the latter will be contesting from these constituencies.
The Muslim-Yadav voter base also has an influential presence in parliamentary constituencies such as Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, etc, from where the SP has fielded its candidates.
In the 2014 elections, most of these seats went in favour of the BJP because of the division of the Muslim-Yadav vote. The Muslim votes went to the BJP with the SP landing at the second or the third position.
"The primary agenda of the alliance is to prevent the division of these votes in order to defeat the BJP," an SP leader told The Indian Express.
In addition, it is said that the Dalit and Yadav voters may not come together in the elections due to local issues. To address this issue, the SP and the BSP have been holding joint rallies in many constituencies including Azamgarh. The candidature of Akhilesh Yadav from the constituency may also run in the possibility of uniting the Yadav and Dalit voters.
Azamgarh has nearly four lakh Yadav voters, three lakh Muslim voters and around 2.75 lakh Dalit voters.
During the 2014 polls, SP patriarch Mulayam Singh had defeated BJPs Ramakant Yadav in the Azamgarh constituency by a margin of just 63,000 votes. BSP candidate Shah Alam had finished third. At that time too, the BJP candidate had received a share of Yadav votes while the BSP candidate had eaten into the Muslim votes.
Earlier, Akhilesh had planned to contest from Kannauj, but he later changed his plan and fielded his wife, Dimple Yadav from that seat.
The SP has won from Azamgarh in 1996, 1999 and 2014; while Akhilesh has successfully contested the general election in 2000, 2004 and 2009.
Moneycontrol News
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkaris income has jumped from Rs 2.7 lakh in 2013-14 to Rs 6.4 lakh in 2017-18 -- a hike of around 137 percent in five years.
The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader disclosed his income in an election affidavit filed along with nomination paper for the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat, on March 25.
According to a report by The Times of India, the hike in Gadkaris income was largely due to the big jump it took in 2014-15 when his income rose to Rs 6 lakh. The report suggests that it has been largely stagnant in the years since.
According to the affidavit, the income of Gadkaris wife Kanchana has increased ten times in five years, from Rs 4.6 lakh in 2013-14 to nearly Rs 40 lakh in 2017-18.
Gadkari has declared movable and immovable assets worth Rs 25.12 crore in the affidavit, PTI has reported. As per his tax return forms, his total income stood at Rs 2,66,390 in 2013-14 and Rs 6,40,700 in 2017-18.
According to his affidavit, he has movable assets worth Rs 69,38,691, while his wife has movable assets worth Rs 91,99,160.
A sum of Rs 66,07,924 is in the name of the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF).
Gadkari declared six cars in his affidavit, four of which are in the name of his wife.
There has been a rise of 10 percent in Gadkaris total assets in five years. It stands at Rs 6.9 crore, which includes his inherited property worth Rs 1.96 crore.
In the case of his wife, the increase in the value of assets is 127 percent as compared to 2014. Key assets held by her include three properties with an aggregate value of Rs 4.4 crore. These properties include one plot of agricultural land valued at Rs 88 lakh.
For the first time candidates contesting elections have to declare their total income as shown in their Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the last five years, as recommended by the Election Commission of India (EC). The disclosure shall also have to cover the candidates spouse, members of the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) and dependents.
Abiding by the new rule, Gadkari has declared income of his HUF, which was Rs 8.75 lakh in 2017-18.
The BJP stalwart, who defeated Congress Vilas Muttemwar in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls by a margin of 2.84 lakh votes, has expressed confidence about winning with a bigger margin this time.
"This time, I will win with a bigger margin. People have a good opinion of the work done by the Narendra Modi-led government in the last five years. Our government did more than (what was promised) in the poll manifesto," Gadkari told reporters after filing his nomination.
(With inputs from PTI)
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on March 26 expressed hope that the new dispensation at the Centre will reciprocate steps taken by Pakistan so that New Delhi and Islamabad can move towards resumption of comprehensive dialogue.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was reacting to reports that Pakistan has decided to open the Sharda Peeth corridor to religious pilgrims.
"One can only hope that in a post May 23rd India these steps will be reciprocated by the central government & we can move towards resuming the comprehensive dialogue between India & Pakistan," Abdullah said in a series of tweets.
The Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations.
"After the welcome announcement to open the Sharda Peeth corridor to religious pilgrims by @ImranKhanPTI, we hope the government in Pakistan will only announce the Kargil-Skardu road as also other routes to facilitate greater people to people contact," Abdullah said.
"It's good to see @ImranKhanPTI take decisions that have been held up for years. Allowing greater people to people contact & opening routes to religious pilgrims are always welcome developments that help to ease tensions," he added.
live bse live
nse live Volume Todays L/H More
Over the past four years, three global automotive companies have announced detail plans for their India foray. At least two of these Kia Motors and MG Motors are in the final leg of launching their cars while PSA Peugeot Citroen will take a couple of years.
A collective investment of around Rs 20,000 crore by the three companies is expected to come to India.
While this may seem impressive, the list of companies and brands who have exited India, or are on the verge of closing down, is much longer. From companies producing heavy trucks to premium SUV makers, to manufacturers of commuter bikes, India's auto space has witnessed an exodus of foreign carmakers over the past five years.
AMW, Ssangyong Motor Company, Eicher Polaris, Scania, Premier, MAN and General Motors are some of the brands and companies who have shut shop in India completely or partially in the vehicle manufacturing space.
Brands like Fiat and Mahindra Two Wheelers are likely to be the next ones to take the exit door. Fiat did not produce even one unit under its own brand in February. Mahindra has shifted focus to the premium offering, where at present it has Jawa.
Others such as Beiqi Foton, Changan Automotive, Great Wall Motors, Cherry Automobile, Geely, all headquartered in China as well as Volkswagen-owned Ducati had plans to have a manufacturing presence in India. These plans have largely remained on paper.
Heightened competitiveness, change in company strategy, high debt burden and poor product and brand recall are some of the reasons why these brands have failed in India.
For instance the joint venture company of Eicher Polaris, which saw an investment of more than Rs 350 crore, downed shutters in less than six years after the firm was incorporated. Its plant in Rajasthan that made a personal utility vehicle called Multix, remains closed.
Korean SUV brand Ssangyong was pulled out from India last year when its parent company Mahindra & Mahindra decided to launch a SsangYong product, G4 Rexton, under its own brand. SsangYong was pulled out of India due to a very limited brand recall value with many even failing to identify the country of the brands origin.
Volkswagens two truck and bus making companies MAN and Scania had to rearrange their business plans in the wake of poor demand for their products. Strong competition from home-grown companies like Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland restricted their growth.
While MAN shut down operations entirely, its sister concern Scania has exited the bus body making operations. VW group is instead rerouting investments to its car business, which includes the Skoda brand, to produce India-specific model.
Another VW-owned brand Ducati, that makes premium performance bikes, had plans to have a completely knocked down (CKD) plant operation in India. However, given the free trade agreement that India has with Thailand Ducati imports its models from instead of assembling them in India.
Investing in Bharat Stage VI emission norms and making it available at affordable prices was a challenge for all companies and may have proved to be a bummer for them.
Vivo Nex | Amazon | Rs 33,927 | The Vivo Nex was the first commercial smartphone to adopt the pop-up selfie camera. The Nex packs a flagship Snapdragon 845 SoC, 8GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage. This last generation flagship from Vivo offers excellent value for money with its current price drop from Rs 39,990 down to Rs 33,927.
Google Pixel 3 XL | Flipkart | Rs 61,999 | The Google Pixel 3XL features one of the best camera systems, focusing primarily on AI technology rather than multiple cameras or a high megapixel count to get results. The Pixel 3 XL features more than decent hardware and is one very capable flagship. Additionally, low-light photography of the Pixel remains unmatched thanks to Googles Night Sight. Additionally, Flipkart is offering an extra Rs 500 off on exchange as well as a 5-per cent off on Axis Bank credit cards.
Samsung Galaxy S9 | Amazon | Rs 48,900 | While the Galaxy S9 doesnt see any price cut, it makes it to this list simply because of the whopping up to Rs 9,000 extra off on exchange. Only recently released, the S9 is an excellent smartphone with a great camera, beautiful display and powerful performance. We used a OnePlus 3T on Amazons exchange calculator, which helped us bring the price of the phone down to Rs 33,100. Sure, youre thinking why not get the Galaxy S10e. Using the same phone for exchange, the S10e came in at Rs 49,100 down from Rs 55,900.
Asus ZenFone 5Z | Flipkart | Rs 24,999 | The Asus ZenFone 5Z offers high-end flagship hardware at a mid-range price, not high-end mid-range, just mid-range. The ZenFone features a Snapdragon 845 SoC and 6GB of RAM to run everything from demanding applications to games with ease. The ZenFone 5Z also has a more than decent 90 DxOMark score with its flagship Sony IMX363 sensor with Optical Image Stabilisation, Night HDR mode and image capture up to 48-megapixels.
Xiaomi Poco F1 | Flipkart | Rs 19,999 | Xiaomis Poco F1 is undoubtedly the best value-for-money smartphones on the market. Coming in at just about Rs 20,000, this mid-range smartphone features very few compromises with the primary focus on getting the best hardware for the price.
LG G7 ThinQ | Flipkart | Rs 27,999 | The LG G7 ThinQ is another one of those affordable flagships that just about manages to tick all the boxes for a flagship smartphone without much compromise. Boombox speaker, dedicated Google Assistant button, DTS: X 3D surround sound and thats notwithstanding its flagship Snapdragon 845 processor, excellent video capture capabilities and so much more make the G7 an excellent value for money proposition.
Image for representation
A pint of beer you drink, the one you pay for can feed a cow. Intriguing, isn't it? Top breweries such as Anheuser-Busch InBev, United Breweries, and craft beer makers such as White Rhino and Simba Beer are parting with large amounts of spent grain as cattle fodder. Spent grain or leftover barley and wheat, which are the by-products of breweries, are sold to local farmers, dairies, and cattle sheds at nominal rates.
And the more a person drinks, the more they aid cow welfare in states such as Punjab, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, where a cess is applicable on beer and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). The cess makes beer bottles cost 50 paise more and IMFL cost an extra Rs 2. At bars, the MRP goes up by Rs 5 and Rs 10, respectively. The extra amount goes to the cow welfare cess, which funds sheds that provide shelter to stray cattle.
We are largely dependent on agriculture for our industry, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, the founder of craft beer brand Simba Beer, told The Economic Times. The start-up company sells around 5,000 kg of spent grain per day as fodder to large dairies, while also donating some to farmers residing in the vicinity of its brewery in Durg, Chhattisgarh.
Similarly, White Rhino, New Delhi-based craft beer brand, which was the first to be sold in a bottle in India, has been supplying cattle feed to farmers residing near its brewery in Malanpur, close to Gwalior.
According to an Economic Times report, AB InBev, in partnership with the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) in Telangana supplied over 7,000 kg of spent malt daily for a minimal fee. Ben Verhaert, the South Asia president of the beer firm said that supply from the company's breweries in Telangana brewery benefited "about 1,500 cattle across 10 villages".
Interestingly, not just the cattle owners, but the breweries also benefit from this initiative. Since spent grain is sold at a rate that is four to five times lesser than standard fodder available at markets, it also translates into CSR initiatives for the companies, while also earning them a token amount.
Shekhar Ramamurthy, the MD of Heineken-controlled UB, said: Spent grain is of no use to us. The idea of selling it as cattle feed, in a country where agriculture is integral, was thus a good proposition.
Representative Image
Observing the 88th year of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdevs martyrdom, Imtiaz Rashid Qureshi, a Pakistan-based lawyer, has vowed to make the British government pay heavy sums as compensation to the families of the martyrs.
Qureshi, who also heads the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation (BSMF), plans to make the British government a party in the case he filed in Lahore High Court to reopen a 90-year-old case concerning the murder of then ASP John Saunders in 1928.
Speaking to the media, he discussed his wish to seek huge compensation from Britain for both India and Pakistan over the judicial killing of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on March 23, 1931. They were hanged 11 hours before their scheduled time of execution.
The advocate has also alleged that Bhagat Singhs name is not even there in the FIR registered in December 1928 at Anarkali police station, Lahore.
Speaking to The Sunday Express, he said, I will file an amended appeal in the case, which I had filed in March 2013, seeking an apology from the British Prime Minister and the Queen of England to the people of India and Pakistan for hanging the trio."
Justifying his demand, Qureshi said: If the previous UK Prime Minister David Cameron can visit Jalianwala Bagh and express regret, then why cant the current PM Theresa May do the same?
Speaking to Huffington Post, he also discussed the hurdles he has been facing in his quest. Qureshi said the FIR, which was written in Urdu, was registered at 4:30 pm against two unidentified gunmen for murdering John P Saunders and head constable Chanan Singh.
It mentioned that the Saunders assailant was 5.5 inch tall, had a small moustache, slim and strong body and wore white trousers (pyjama) and a grey shirt (kurta) along with a small black christi-like-hat.
Qureshi said: I went to get a copy of FIR filed in John Saunders case and the police at Anarkali Police station at Lahore asked me to pay a bribe. I refused and filed a compliance petition with Lahore High court. It was only then that a DSP rank officer submitted a sealed copy of the FIR in the high court. The copy was so important that even the judges asked me for a copy of it.
We are not debating if Bhagat Singh killed Saunders or not, but the evidence on the basis of which he was hanged. The FIR did not contain his name, over 300 witnesses named in the case were not questioned and he was hanged on the order of registrar of Lahore High Court, he added.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday threatened the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with contempt proceeding for not disclosing banks' annual inspection reports under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. In January this year, the apex court had issued a notice to the central bank on a contempt petition.
Earlier, both, the apex court as well as Central Information Commission (CIC), had held that RBI cannot refuse to put in the public domain the annual inspection reports of banks. However, RBI has refused to follow these orders saying that these reports contain 'fiduciary information' as defined under the RTI Act and, hence, cannot be placed in the public domain.
The Supreme Court also directed RBI to decide its course of disclosure within one week, failing which the apex court says it will take necessary action against the central bank.
Commenting on the SC warning, Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner, says, "It is a very sad comment on RBI and its commitment to the law of the land. RBI is displaying complete arrogance and a basic lack of commitment to transparency. As one of the prime regulators of the nation, it must realise that it is setting a wrong example. If it will not obey the mandate of law, who will respect its directions?"
In the petition, Mumbai-based Girish Mittal, represented by senior counsel Prashant Bhushan and Pranav Sachdeva, contended that he had sought information under the RTI Act in December 2015 like copies of inspection reports of ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and State Bank of India (SBI) from April 2011 and copies of case files, with file notings on various irregularities detected by RBI in the case of Sahara Group of companies and erstwhile Bank of Rajasthan.
Read: SC issues contempt notice to RBI in RTI case ) The petition recalled the Supreme Court ruling in a case that RBI is clearly not in any fiduciary relationship with any bank. RBI has no legal duty to maximise the benefit of any public sector or private sector bank and thus there is no relationship of 'trust' between them. (
Read: RBI Governor Gets Show Cause Notice from CIC for Not Disclosing Defaulters List ) Last year in November, the CIC too had issued a show-cause notice to Dr Urjit Patel, the then governor of the RBI, for not honouring a judgement of the Supreme Court on disclosure of wilful defaulters list who had not paid loans of Rs50 crore and more. (
In the notice, the then central information commissioner Prof Sridhar Acharyulu had also asked the prime ministers office (PMO), finance ministry and RBI to make public the letter sent by previous governor Raghuram Rajan on bad loans.
In the order, Prof Acharyulu had stated, "The Commission finds no merit in hiding the names of, details and action against wilful defaulters of big bad loans worth hundreds of crores of rupees. The RBI shall disclose the bad debt details of defaulters worth more than Rs1,000 crore at the beginning, of Rs500 crore or less at later stage within five days and collect such information from the banks in due course to update their voluntary disclosures from time to time as a practice under Section 4(1)(b) of RTI Act."
Prof Acharyulu, irked over the denial of information on wilful defaulters who had unpaid loans of Rs50 crore and more, asked the RBI governor to explain why maximum penalty should not be imposed on him for dishonouring a verdict from the apex court, which had upheld a decision taken by then Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, calling for disclosure of names of wilful defaulters.
Earlier in February 2016, the Supreme Court had directed RBI to furnish a list of the companies which are in default of loans in excess of Rs500 crore or whose loans have been restructured under corporate debts restructuring (CDR) scheme by banks and financial institutions. ( Read: Supreme Court asks RBI to submit list of big defaulters
Even in December 2015, the apex court, in a landmark judgement, had told RBI that the banking regulator cannot withhold information citing 'fiduciary relations' under the RTI Act.
Hearing a set of transferred cases, a division bench of Justice MY Eqbal and Justice C Nagappan had said, "From the past we have also come across financial institutions which have tried to defraud the public. These acts are neither in the best interests of the Country nor in the interests of citizens. To our surprise, the RBI as a Watch Dog should have been more dedicated towards disclosing information to the general public under the Right to Information Act. We also understand that the RBI cannot be put in a fix, by making it accountable to every action taken by it. However, in the instant case the RBI is accountable and as such it has to provide information to the information seekers under Section 10(1) of the RTI Act."
In most of the transferred cases, Mr Gandhi, the former central information commissioner, while directing the RBI to provide information sought by applicants, had rejected the central bank's contention of 'fiduciary relation' for denying information.
The Jet Airways deal has naturally evoked a strong reaction from fugitive industrialist Vijay Mallya, whose flight to the UK has made him the poster boy of industrialists who flee the country after duping banks. Mr Mallya has taken to Twitter to voice his views.
Alleging double standards under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government while dealing with debt-ridden carriers, Mr Mallya asks why his Kingfisher Airlines was not given the same treatment by bankers as they are giving to Jet Airways.
He tweeted: "Happy to see that PSU Banks have bailed out Jet Airways saving jobs, connectivity and enterprise. Only wish the same was done for Kingfisher (Airlines)."
Mr Mallya points out that he had placed liquid assets before the Karnataka High Court to pay off his lenders, the public sector bank (PSBs) and all other creditors.
"Why do the banks not take my money? It will help them to save Jet Airways if nothing else," he tweeted.
Mr Mallya owes banks Rs9,000 crore with interest, while Jets outstanding was only a little lower at Rs8,000 crore. The Kingfisher Airlines chief has always claimed that he has offered much more than he owes in terms of assets, to settle his dues.
And I repeat once again that I have placed liquid assets before the Honble Karnataka High Court to pay off the PSU Banks and all other creditors. Why do the Banks not take my money. It will help them to save Jet Airways if nothing else. Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 26, 2019
A consortium of 17 banks, led by the State Bank of India (SBI), had sanctioned loans of Rs5,500 crore over a decade back to Mr Mallya's now defunct Kingfisher Airlines. He claims that he had invested over Rs4,000 crore to save Kingfisher Airlines and its employees. However, he says, "(this effort) not recognised and (I was) instead slammed in every possible way. The same PSU banks let Indias finest airline (Kingfisher) with the best employees and connectivity fail ruthlessly. Double standards under NDA."
I invested over 4000 crores into Kingfisher Airlines to save the Company and its employees. Not recognised and instead slammed in every possible way. The same PSU Banks let Indias finest airline with the best employees and connectivity fail ruthlessly. Double standards under NDA Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 25, 2019
Mr Mallya also accused a spokesperson for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for 'eloquently' reading his letters to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh, alleging support by the united progressive alliance (UPA) to Kingfisher.
BJP spokesman eloquently read out my letters to PM Manmohan Singh and alleged that PSU Banks under the UPA Government had wrongly supported Kingfisher Airlines. Media decimated me for writing to the current PM. I wonder what has changed now under the NDA Government. Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 25, 2019
The Kingfisher Airlines chief also asked why the current government led by prime minister Narendra Modi is not asking banks to accept money he has put on the table.
Following on from my earlier tweet, I respectfully ask why the Prime Minister is not instructing his Banks to take the money I have put on the table so he can at least claim credit for full recovery of public funds lent to Kingfisher. Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 14, 2019
In June 2018, Mr Mallya had approached the Karnataka HC requesting permission for him and his group companies to sell their assets under judicial supervision and pay creditors. "This cannot be dismissed as frivolous. It is a perfectly tangible, sincere, honest and readily achievable offer. The shoe is on the other foot now. Why dont the banks take the money lent to Kingfisher Airlines?" he had asked.
I have made the offer to settle before the HonBle High Court of Karnataka. This cannot be dismissed as frivolous. It is a perfectly tangible, sincere, honest and readily achievable offer. The shoe is on the other foot now. Why dont the Banks take the money lent to KFA ? Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 14, 2019
The liquor baron fled the country in March 2016. He has been living in London since then. In May 2018, he lost a lawsuit filed by 13 Indian banks in the UK High Court seeking to collect from him more than $1.55 billion.
While Mr Mallya may have a point in what he says, there are a few big differences. First, he attracted a lot of public anger by continuing to flaunt his flamboyant lifestyle and personal wealth, especially on social media, even as Kingfisher Airlines' customers suffered losses due to cancelled flights, while hardworking employees were left in the lurch and without a salary for months on end. Mr Mallya had even omitted to pay taxes and provident fund dues, in what was seen as another attempt to pressure lenders to bail him out again.
Secondly, he had used his influence to get lenders, mainly IDBI Bank, to accept the Kingfisher Airlines brand, which had no real value, as collateral and provided personal guarantees that he refused to honour.
Thirdly, Mr Mallya has a long record of finding ways to game the judicial system to delay the resolution of any action against him by various investigation agencies. The loans to Kingfisher Airlines were certainly seen as part of the notorious phone banking pressures under the previous government.
And, finally, Mr Mallya has also been accused of money laundering by the enforcement directorate, so his problems today are a lot worse than they were when he fled to the UK.
Having said that, it will be interesting to see how the Indian government justifies the demand to extradite Mr Mallya, when Jet Airways, which was in a similar financial mess, has been bailed out. At the very least, it gives Mr Mallyas lawyers a chance to argue vendetta when he fights his extradition in the appellate proceedings.
Smart classrooms that beam knowledge into students headsalmost entirely automated farmsmankind having the ability to fly
These were all predictions made in 1899. And they got it all right
Students can beam knowledge about almost anything from a screen right into their heads. Farming output has increased while the population of famers has diminished. And thats largely thanks to automated equipment. Mankind has also taken to the skies, although weve had some trouble with that of late.
In 1899, they got it all rightsort of.
OK, I might be fibbing a bit. The futurists of 1899 didnt get it exactly right.
Source: Little Things
[Click to open new window]
And how could they? They had no concept of mobile phones or digital screens. How could they imagine the possibilities of such technologies?
Their general ideas were solid, at least. The details just turned out to be a little different. The same will likely happen in the Internet 2.0 world.
You might remember yesterday, I talked about two moments in history. The first was the creation of the internet. The second was the creation of the Web.
From both spawned the digital world you see today, either directly or indirectly. Without either, companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon may never exist.
I also briefly mentioned a third moment in history. It will be built atop of the first two. And the world may be drastically different because of it.
Its the next evolution in connectivity and youre living through it right now
1,000 years into the future
Now its my turn to look silly.
What kind of tech will exist 1,000 years into the future?
Im going to guess we will have mastered artificial intelligence. Or maybe it will have mastered itself. It will speak, interact, listen and remember just like you or me. The only difference is it can process data exponentially faster.
We could also have nanobots swimming around in our bloodstream. Theyll not only fight off infection, but enhance our natural abilities.
And forget manual labour for construction. I envision tiny microscopic robots that will construct themselves into whatever shape or building we desire.
Doesnt sound too laughable for 1,000 years into the future?
I bet somewhere along the line I end up looking like the futurists of 1899. My ideas might be sound, but Ill bet the details are way off.
All I can be sure of is that the future will be different, lets put it that way.
In yesterdays video, I talked about one type of futuristic technology. And its only possible if we have this next evolution in connectivity.
That example was remote surgery.
Picture it
A Melbourne-based paediatrician delivering lifesaving surgery to children across the other side of the world. How? With robotics and an extremely fast connection speed of course.
Maybe this will give you a good mental picture
Source: Inverse
[Click to open new window]
Its from that new Samsung ad. The girl is getting a tattoo from a dexterous robotic arm. The tattoo artist is controlling the arm in another state, maybe even another country from his tablet.
Something similar might be just around the corner for surgeons.
And it could be one of the greatest leaps forward to disseminate the highly detailed skills that surgeons acquire over the years.
You may remember the recent separation of conjoined twins Nima and Dawa. These Bhutan born babies came all the way to Melbourne to have the six-hour procedure.
Why not get some surgeons in Bhutan to do it? There were none available. None qualified or experienced enough could pull it off. So they came to Melbourne.
But with this next evolution in connectivity, complex surgeries like this might all be done locally, via a robotic arm and live stream. This tech likely isnt 1,000 years away either. Maybe just a few years
The same goes for driverless cars. In the video above, I mention estimates of how much data driverless cars eat up and spit out.
Its about 4,000 gigabytes per hour. To put that into context its like streaming 4,000 Netflix moviesALL AT ONCE.
And this is just one car for one hour. Imagine how much data will be flying around with a road full of these autonomous cars.
Point is we need this next evolution in connectivity. With it, possibilities like remote surgery and driverless cars, which are mere inches from our fingertips, become achievable. But without it we dont get there.
We need faster connection speeds. We need a network with more capacity. We just need more.
Free report: Aussie stock picker, Sam Volkering (with gains as high as 1,431% in the last 18 months) reveals what he believes are his next four big potential winners.
What about the NBN?
What a joke. The NBN is yet to be fully rolled out. When its complete, it wont even be 100% fibre. Itll be a mix of fibre and copper wire.
Such a network wont dramatically improve our connection speeds. Maybe youre already on an NBN plan. If you are, youll know what Im talking about.
Thats why we still need this next evolution in connectivity. With it, we leap into the future. Without it, we just dont get there.
And boy, do we Aussies need it. Take a guess where we stand at fixed broadband speeds?
Top 25? Nope. Top 40? No, again.
Australia comes in at number 60 for fixed broadband speeds. Were behind names like Uruguay and Serbia.
Source: Speedtest
[Click to open new window]
I think its pretty clear the government cant fix this problem. They tried their best and they gave us the NBN.
No. This job will be left up to the private sector. Theyre already rolling out the infrastructure for this next evolution in connectivity in fact. And its not just in Oz but in China, the US, the UK and most other G20 nations.
When the Internet 2.0 finally goes live, I dont think it will be that hard to guess what happens next
Two ASX opportunities
I expect hundreds, no, thousands of businesses will be scrambling to benefit from this third moment in history.
Not only will it pave the way for new technologies, but new businesses and income streams as well.
Google, Facebook and Amazon, Im sure theyll all benefit from this next generation in connectivity. But they probably wont be the names that double overnight.
The really big winners from this opportunity will likely be found in the smaller end of the market, where $50 million in sales is a noticeable addition.
Down here in the bottom of the market, you might see stocks rise 100%, 200%, maybe even 300% on this opportunity.
With that in mind, I decided to go on a hunt a few months ago. I wanted to find the few stocks that could really benefit from this Internet 2.0 evolution.
I kept coming back to two names. These two ASX stocks, I believe, could really benefit from our ever-increasing data-filled world.
One is involved in the infrastructure build-out. The other could see a myriad of customers jump onto their system as we move to a cloud-dominated world.
Ill reveal more about both in a report that goes live tomorrow.
See you in the future,
Harje Ronngard,
Editor Money Morning
PS: Our Three In-House Small-Cap Experts Have Revealed Their Top Picks for 2019. Download the free guide today.
March 26, 2019 Trump Tries To Undo North Korea Sanctions - Gets Sabotaged By His Own Staff Last week saw some confusion within the Trump administration about sanctions against North Korea. A Trump tweet seemed to contradict his own administration's policies. The White House then thought up an implausible explanation for what Trump had done. The face saving measure worked, but new leaks now again undermine him. U.S. media reported of the episode but missed a major point. The timeline below shows that the internal White House conflict was prompted by reactions from North Korea's side. After bad weather and a strong sanctions regime against it, North Korea is running low on food. Last month its ambassador to the UN requested food assistance: Kim, the ambassador to the U.N., said record-high temperatures, drought and flooding last year shaved more than 500,000 tons off of the 2018 harvest from the nearly 5 million tons produced in 2017.
...
Humanitarian assistance from the U.N. agencies is terribly politicized, he said, and sanctions against North Korea are barbaric and inhuman. On Thursday the 21st the Treasury Department, ignoring the dire situation, issued new sanctions (pdf) against two Chinese shipping companies that are trading with North Korea. It also named more North Korean vessels that it suspects to be involved in sanction busting efforts. National Security Advisor John Bolton tweeted: John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton - 18:31 utc - 21 Mar 2019
John Bolton Retweeted Treasury Department Important actions today from @USTreasury; the maritime industry must do more to stop North Koreas illicit shipping practices. Everyone should take notice and review their own activities to ensure they are not involved in North Koreas sanctions evasion. The next day North Korea reacted to the move by pulling its officers from the liaison office with South Korea: Matt Lee @APDiploWriter - 9:25 utc - 22 Mar 2019 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) #SouthKorea says #NorthKorea has withdrawn its staff from an inter-Korean liaison office in North Korea. The move was unexpected: Seoul's Unification Ministry said Friday that North Korea informed South Korea of its decision during a contact at the liaison office at the North Korean border town of Kaesong. The ministry calls the North's decision "regrettable." It says the North didn't give a specific reason for its move. The liaison office opened last September as part of a flurry of reconciliation steps. The liaison office is one the few diplomatic contact points where talk between the two sides are still happening. The U.S. uses it to indirectly communicate with North Korea. Following the North Korean pull back there was likely a phone call from President Moon Jae-in of South Korea to U.S. President Donald Trump. Ten hours after North Korea pulled back its liaison officers Trump contradicted his administrations position: Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump - 17:22 utc - 22 Mar 2019 It was announced today by the U.S. Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions would be added to those already existing Sanctions on North Korea. I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional Sanctions! The New York Times reported of confusion: President Trump undercut his own Treasury Department on Friday with a sudden announcement that he had rolled back newly imposed North Korea sanctions, appearing to overrule national security experts as a favor to Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader. The move, announced on Twitter, was a remarkable display of dissension within the Trump administration. It created confusion at the highest levels of the federal government, just as the presidents aides were seeking to pressure North Korea into returning to negotiations over dismantling its nuclear weapons program. The North Korea hawks were aghast. They wanted to keep the sanctions but could not contradict Trump. The White House needed to come up with an explanation: It was initially believed that Mr. Trump had confused the day that the North Korea sanctions were announced, and officials said they were caught off guard by the presidents tweet. Asked for clarification, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, declined to give specifics. President Trump likes Chairman Kim, and he doesnt think these sanctions will be necessary, she said. Then, hours later, an official familiar with Mr. Trumps thinking said the president was actually referring to additional North Korea sanctions that are under consideration but not yet formally issued. That statement sought to soften the blow that Mr. Trumps tweet had dealt to his most loyal aides. Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, personally signed off on the sanctions that were issued on Thursday and hailed the decision in a statement accompanying them. The Washington Post noted: The move to forestall future sanctions represents an attempt by the president to salvage his nuclear negotiations with North Korea in the face of efforts by national security adviser John Bolton and others to increase punitive economic measures against the regime of Kim Jong Un. The explanation that Trump referred to future sanctions seemed implausible. Why would Trump need to publicly prevent future sanctions? It made no sense. To me it seemed that Trump had tried to play the good guy by revoking the sanctions that were enacted the day before but was overruled by his staff. The issue was then presented in a way that made Trump still look good in the eyes of North Korea. It was a face saving measure. After the failed Hanoi summit between Chairman Kim Jong-un and Trump both sides emphasized their good personal relations. Trump wanted to keep the relation alive but the sanctions were kept up. Luckily North Korea swallowed the additional sanctions and accepted the face saving explanation. On Monday it reacted to the happy spin: Some North Korean officials returned to a liaison office with South Korea just days after Pyongyang withdrew from the facility that allowed the rivals to communicate around the clock. The cut-off of the last face-to-face communication line was avoided. But to some people in the White House that situation is not to their liking. They want to further undermine Trump's efforts to continue negotiations with North Korea. They now leak that the "future sanction" explanation, which North Korea accepted, was indeed nonsense. Bloomberg reports today: President Donald Trump last week intended to reverse sanctions imposed on two Chinese shipping companies accused of violating North Korea trade prohibitions -- until officials in his administration persuaded him to back off and then devised a misleading explanation of his vague tweet announcing the move.
...
The president in fact intended to remove penalties Treasury had announced the day before against two Chinese shippers that had helped Pyongyang evade U.S. sanctions, according to four people familiar with the matter. It was unclear whether Trump knew about or signed off on the measures before they were issued, or what triggered his tweet the next day.
...
There were no additional North Korea sanctions in the works at the time, according to two people familiar with the matter. It is quite obvious what "triggered" Trump's tweet. It was the North Korean pullback from the liaison office. But Bloomberg, like other U.S. outlets, ignores that quite obvious explanation. This constant ignorance of the action of the other side is one of the systemic problems U.S. media have. New sanctions were announced to which North Korea reacted negatively. Trump, who wants to keep the door open for future negotiations, took note and pulled back on the sanctions. But John Bolton intervened. The sanctions were kept. A well sounding but implausible explanation was found. North Korea accepted that and came back to the table. The new leak now again aggravates the situation. It shows that Trump has little real say about his administration's policy. It shows that he was powerless when he tried to undo the sanctions that had worsened the situation in the first place. The leak undermines whatever trust Kim Jong-un still has in Trump's words. How will North Korea react to this? Will it again pull back from the liaison office, a step the John Boltons of this world would see as a win? Will it ignore the new leak? Posted by b on March 26, 2019 at 17:46 UTC | Permalink Comments
A small business has caught out a fibbing bride after she had tried to pull the rug out from under them.
A florist shop in the UK was approached by a bride to organize her and her bridesmaids bouquets for her upcoming wedding. They said yes, and just before the wedding they sent the bouquets out, satisfied that they had done a good job.
But, then the florist company received a call from the bride saying that she hadn't received the flowers which were valued at a few hundred dollars.
The florists were stumped, because they had proof that the flowers were shipped out.
They spent a couple weeks going back and forth with the bride, until the florist eventually decided it was best for business to refund her money and move on.
While the owners said that refunding the amount of money that they did, was quite substantial to them as they were a small business, they decided to go with 'the customer is always right' rule.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is urging at least 31 celebrities in its watchlist to stop using or selling illegall drugs immediately.
"Kasi iiniidolo sila ng kabataan, iniidolo sila ng publiko and yet gumagamit sila ng illegal na droga. Time will come mahuhuli namin sila. Dapat ihinto na nila," PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in an ambush interview Tuesday.
[Translation: "They are being idolized by the youth and the public and yet they use illegal drugs. Time will come that we will arrest them. They should stop now."]
Aquino said they are famous personalities on television and movies, with most of them using cocaine, marijuana, shabu, and party drugs.
"May ilan na pusher karamihan user Parang tatlo lang yata ang matatanda, most of them are young," he added.
[Translation: "A number of them are pushers but most are users. I think three are old people, most of them are young."]
He refused to name the celebrities, since their links to the drug trade have yet to be validated. They are part of over 60,000 alleged drug personalities in the National Drug Information System (NDIS), an intelligence system maintained by PDEA.
Aquino earlier explained that once an individual in the NDIS has been confirmed of drug links, that person will be part of the "PRRD list," also known as narco list which now contains more than 6,000 public officials and civilians initially validated to be part of the illegal drug trade.
Malacanang said it is saddened by the celebrities' alleged drug links and urged PDEA to file the necessary charges.
"If they have sufficient evidence to back them up in court, then they should (file cases) and they must," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a separate media briefing.
While President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier ordered the release of names of politicians involved in the illegal drug trade, Panelo said he will have to ask the President if he also wants to make public the list of narco celebrities.
However, this may not be PDEA's priority as Aquino earlier told CNN Philippines it is focusing now on going after the alleged narco politicians. He even admitted that the government cannot verify the drug links of all 60,000 public figures and civilians in the NDIS since Duterte's term ends in 2022. He is hoping the next President would continue the fight against illegal drugs.
READ: Drug watchlist: Over 6,000 persons validated, 60,000 to go
CNN Philippines' Triciah Terada and Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
Talking to Buzzfeed, it was reported that the hairstyle took about 25 minutes to do all up.
The costs were minimal with green hairspray and the Ariel doll being the only extra costs to the hair.
The young girl (obviously) took top spot in her class for the best crazy hairdo, and she loved her hair so much she wore it to her gymnastics class later on that day.
Homeowners insurance does not cover damage to a home caused by flooding. A homeowner must have a separate policy to cover flood-related losses, defined as water traveling along or under the ground.
Most such policies are underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program, which is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program was established in 1968 to address the lack of availability of flood insurance in the private market and reduce demand for federal disaster assistance. It also contains provisions intended to reduce flood risk.
The National Flood Insurance Programs activities are funded largely by the premiums and fees paid by its policyholders, supplemented by a little from the federal budget to help pay for flood risk mapping. Because the program serves the public interest by promoting sound land use and minimizing exposure of property to flood losses, some believe that more of its funding for flood risk management should be borne by taxpayers.
Homeowners can purchase a federal flood policy directly from the program or through a private insurer. Separately, some private insurers sell their own flood policies on a limited basis for properties that are overcharged by the governments program.
It is difficult to determine exactly how many homeowners have flood insurance.
The National Flood Insurance Program had just over 5 million policies in force as of this January. Of these policies, approximately 69 percent were on single-family homes and 20 percent on condo units. There is no source on how many private flood policies are in force, but my sense is that that they represent only about 15 percent of all policies sold nationally.
In recent years, the number of such policies has been dropping across the country over concerns about the cost and because people underestimate the risk of flooding. In Nebraska, the hardest hit by recent record flooding in the Midwest, there are fewer than 10,000 policies for a state with almost 2 million residents. The damage is expected to exceed $1 billion.
Even hurricane-prone areas, such as those hit by Harvey in 2017, are woefully underinsured. In Harris County, which includes Houston, for example, experts estimated before Harvey that only about 15 percent of homeowners were insured for floods though the percentage should be higher in areas near coastlines.
Real estate data company CoreLogic estimated that approximately 75 percent of flood losses from Harvey were uninsured, a figure that totaled about 80 percent for Hurricane Irma.
A number of factors affect a homeowners decision to buy flood insurance or not.
People who perceive that their exposure to floods is high are more likely to buy it, all other things equal. While a mandatory purchase requirement is intended to force owners of mortgaged homes in areas at high risk of flooding to buy insurance, its estimated that only about half of them do.
One reason might be that 43 percent of homeowners incorrectly believe that their homeowners insurance covers them for flood losses.
Other factors also come into play, such as a lack of information, the difficulty of calculating flood risk and the expectation that the government will provide disaster assistance that will fully cover a homeowners uninsured flood losses which is in fact rarely the case.
With a National Flood Insurance Program policy, a homeowner can purchase coverage on a dwelling up to $250,000 and the contents of a home up to $100,000. It does not cover costs associated with loss of use of a home.
These limits have been in effect since 1994 and are no longer high enough to account for the increase in the replacement cost of homes and the actual cash value of their contents. As a result, some homeowners buy additional flood protection from private insurers to make up any shortfall.
The National Flood Insurance Program has faced considerable criticism over its underwriting and pricing of policies, which have resulted in a substantial debt. Essentially, its premiums are not high enough to cover how much it pays out on claims and its other costs.
Part of the problem is that about 20 percent of the properties the program insures pay a subsidized rate. But many other National Flood Insurance Program policyholders are also paying premiums substantially less than what it costs to insure them based largely on whether a home is inside or outside of the 100-year floodplain.
To show how much single storms can cost, the National Flood Insurance Program paid out $8.7 billion to cover Harvey-related flood losses, $16.3 billion for Katrina and $8.8 billion for Sandy.
These inadequate rates also exacerbate the moral hazard created by flood insurance. People are more likely to buy, build or rebuild homes in flood-prone areas and have diminished incentives to invest in flood risk mitigation, such as by elevating their home, if they can buy insurance at below-cost rates.
Although Congress forgave $16 billion in debt in 2017, the National Flood Insurance Program still owed $21 billion to the U.S. Treasury as of September.
Legislative efforts to reform the National Flood Insurance Program to put it on firmer fiscal footing have produced mixed results.
The Biggert-Waters Act of 2012 made a number of changes to the program, such as increasing premiums, to make it more financially stable. While that would have gone a long way to restore its fiscal solvency, an outcry from homeowners in high-risk areas led to the 2014 Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which limited or rescinded many of the Biggert-Waters rate increases.
Fundamentally, the program that millions of Americans rely on to help them rebuild their lives after a devastating flood needs to be fixed. Its dire financial straits could be resolved by either making taxpayers foot more of the bill or increasing premiums closer to full-cost rates for most homeowners, while also raising total coverage levels.
The Trump administration for its part proposes calculating premiums to more accurately reflect the actual flood risk individual homes face beginning in 2020. This could result in higher rates for many homeowners.
But I believe the government also needs to do more to convince or compel more at-risk homeowners to buy flood insurance which would be harder to do if it were to raise rates. To me, this suggests that increasing taxpayer support for the program will have to be part of the solution so that pricey premiums dont become a deterrent to someone buying insurance.
Ride-sharing company Lyft is set to go public this week. The company is one of several highly anticipated IPOs, with competitor Uber and content-sharing website Pinterest also expected to make their public market debuts this year. The wave of IPOs comes amid a strong start to the year for U.S. equities. The S&P 500 was up 12.2% for the year to date through March 25, 2019, providing favorable timing for newly listed companies that hope to benefit from broader market tailwinds.
Lyft is one of many private firms that have grabbed the attention of mutual fund managers in recent years. As startups gained traction with consumers and raised huge sums of money in the private markets, they delayed their IPOs, preferring to build their businesses without the pressure that comes with being publicly traded. Some mutual fund managers, who were already doing due diligence on such names to understand the competitive dynamics facing their public company holdings, decided to invest privately, with prominent fund companies such as Fidelity and T. Rowe Price leading the charge.
"When this announcement was released, it was a little bit off the mark for what we were pushing for as an industry," Penney, a broker with East Coast Mortgage Brokers, told CBC News.
"With regard to the rules around that, the maximum household income is $120,000 and the maximum purchase price would be four times that, so you take something around the $500,000 mark, that's a great opportunity for anyone in this market," he said.
"But when you take the larger markets, we'll say in Toronto or Vancouver where the average price is $750,000, that doesn't even scratch the surface."
Penney also said that, until the details are released, the incentive was still unclear on several matters. From a homeowner's perspective, you've got the government with, essentially, an equity stake into your home," Penney told CBC News.
"So some of the clarity we're waiting to hear on is it just a set amount up front, or as the equity increases or decreases in your home, is that shared as well?"
"Homeownership is the best tool for a young household to build financial wealth," said Yanick Desnoyers, market analysis manager at QFREB. "We had asked the Quebec government to increase its tax credit for the purchase of a first property and reduce the scope of the property transfer tax, commonly known as the welcome tax.
QFREB added that Quebecs budget runs counter to moves by the federal government to improve the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP), as well as fund a CMHC incentive for first-time homebuyers.
The housing body also said it was disheartened to note that the government is abandoning the RenoVert program for home renovation work, which is said was very popular with homeowners.
"In order to encourage individuals to carry out environmentally responsible residential renovation work, the government set up the RenoVert tax credit in 2016 in conjunction with the LogiRenov and EcoRenov government programs, respectively launched in 2014 and 2013," said Desnoyers.
"We are disappointed to see this flagship program disappear and believe that maintaining this measure would have benefited both homeowners and future home buyers."
Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier?
Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop.
Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News
Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time.
Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up!
Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page.
Houston pipeline operator Kinder Morgan has sold its stake in a proposed offshore crude oil export terminal in the Gulf of Mexico known as Texas COLT, the company confirmed.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Kinder Morgan confirmed in a Monday afternoon statement that the company sold its stake to Enbridge, the lead developer in the project.
"Given the ongoing commitment required to move this project forward through the regulatory phase and, after an internal review within Kinder Morgan, it was determined that continuing with the project does not align with our strategic priorities," the company said in a statement.
Deepwater Rivalry: Competing offshore crude oil export terminals proposed near Houston
Proposed to be built in an area of the Gulf of Mexico about 40 miles south of Freeport, Texas COLT was launched as a joint venture of Enbridge, Kinder Morgan and German marine terminal operator Oiltanking to accommodate Very Large Crude Carriers, or VLCCs.
Capable of carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil in a single load, VLCCs are emerging as the tanker of choice for exports, but U.S. ports are too shallow to handle them. A fully loaded VLCC tanker requires 66 feet of water, while ship channels in Texas and elsewhere are typically between 40 to 45 feet deep prompting the need for offshore terminals.
"Texas COLT is a more strategic and desirable project for Enbridge," Kinder Morgan said in its statement. "The project aligns with Enbridge's existing footprint in the U.S. Gulf Coast region and their stated interest in growing their position in the region."
Fuel Fix: Get daily energy new headlines in your inbox
If approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration, the offshore export terminal would be supported by an an underwater pipeline and an onshore tank farm capable of storing up to 15 million barrels of crude.
Drawing on crude oil from U.S. shale plays such as the Permian Basin in West Texas, the Eagle Ford Shale pf South Texas and the Bakken Shale of North Dakota, the offshore platform would be able of loading a VLCC tanker in 24 hours.
In a statement, Enbridge officials said the joint venture is moving forward without Kinder Morgan and will still be able to provide multiple varieties of U.S. crude oil for export.
"The COLT partnership, which combines Enbridge's leading North American asset portfolio with an international petroleum terminaling company in Oiltanking, continues to be central to the strength of the Texas COLT proposal," Enbridge stated.
A 36-year-old Midland woman died Sunday morning after being hit by a Jeep Wrangler in the intersection of Big Spring Street and Dormard Avenue, according to a press release from a city spokesman.
Jeniffer Vodron was walking in the middle of the intersection in or near the left turn lane and stumbled into the northbound inside lane in front of the approaching Jeep, according to the release. She was hit and died at the scene.
WINCHESTER A bench trial begins today for a Missouri man charged with shooting into a vehicle in Scott County in 2016.
Robert L. Carter Jr., 41, of Florissant, Missouri, is charged with attempted first-degree murder after a shooting incident Aug. 1, 2016. According to police, someone tried to kill Dylan Whicker of Scott County by shooting into his vehicle along U.S. 67.
Carters trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday, according to court records. He waived his right to a jury trial in December 2017.
Trial dates in the case have been pushed back for a year and a half, according to court records.
Bill Whicker, the grandfather of Dylan Whicker, said that the family has been following the case and is anxious for a resolution. He said that a bullet broke the back windshield and struck the roof of Dylan Whickers truck.
Carter was indicted in June 2017, but was arrested in Pike County the same day as the shooting on other charges, including aggravated discharge of a firearm, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, driving with a suspended or revoked license, possession of a weapon by a felon and on a Scott County warrant.
Carter is represented by attorney John Coonrod.
Attempted first-degree murder is a Class X felony and the sentence could be lengthened by up to 20 years because of the involvement of a firearm.
Updated: A previous version of this story stated that Carter was also facing a charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm in Scott County. That charge was dismissed after a Scott County grand jury indicted Carter on the charge of attempted first-degree murder.
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
During the Democratic Weekly Address, Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL) stated that she and her colleagues and I are going to lower health costs and lower prescription drug prices for seniors and families across America.
Underwood was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are her words:
Hi there, Im Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, coming to you from the great state of Illinois where I represent the 14th District.
I am one of the 64 Democratic freshmen members of Congress Americans sent to Washington to protect their health care, and I bring to this job a unique perspective: Im a nurse. And I have a pre-existing condition that I was diagnosed with when I was a little girl. So, I know first-hand the importance of quality, affordable health care for every American.
Nine years ago this weekend, the Affordable Care Act delivered life-saving protections for the health care of American families. For the first time ever, everyone including Americans like me with pre-existing conditions are protected under the law. Now, people with asthma, diabetes, and mental illness cannot be denied health insurance or charged more for it.
But maintaining this promise for the last nine years has been hard fought senselessly so. Since Day 1, Republicans have stopped at nothing to sabotage and repeal the law.
I watched for years as my representative, a Republican, worked relentlessly, first with his colleagues and then with President Trump, to undermine and sabotage the law putting millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions at risk.
This includes nurses like me, but also small business owners, working parents, and our neighbors. One hundred and thirty million people in this country have a pre-existing condition, and none of us deserve to be discriminated against because of a health condition.
But, President Trump is continuing to try to destroy protections for people with pre-existing conditions and cynically working to drive up health costs for families across America.
To me, this fight is personal. As a nurse I am determined to help everyone in my community access the resources they need to live healthy lives. I couldnt sit around and do nothing. So I ran for office. And I won. And now Im speaking to you today as a leader in a strong, diverse class that has come to Washington to get to work For The People.
House Democrats arent wasting time on our agenda of lowering costs and improving care. On Day One we moved to protect people with pre-existing conditions and the health care of all Americans when we voted to oppose the Republicans cruel lawsuit which seeks to destroy life-saving protections. That was just the start.
Im proud to have introduced legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions by overturning a Trump Administration rule that allows companies to dupe consumers by selling them junk plans plans that dont have to offer protections like coverage for pre-existing conditions or benefits like maternity care, prescription drugs, and hospitalization things almost all of us will need at some point in our lives.
And in the weeks and months to come, my colleagues and I are going to keep moving forward with legislation to reverse and block the Republican sabotage of affordable health care and instead move our current system and make it more affordable with lower health costs and lower prescription drug prices for seniors and families across America.
So, while Republicans continue to work to limit access to care and make it more expensive just last week President Trumps budget proposed repealing health care protections and slashing Medicare and Medicaid Democrats in Congress will continue fighting For The People, so you and your families can have the quality, affordable health care you deserve.
Calaveras County Seal View Photos
San Andreas, CA Calaveras County Health Officer Dr. Dean Kelaita delivered the board of supervisors an overview of the local response to a measles case, and gave an update on the child impacted.
The girl diagnosed with measles had been on an international flight that landed at San Francisco Airport on March 13. The following day the family returned to Calaveras County, and the girl became sick at their Valley Springs home.
On the 15th, the child was taken to Mark Twain Medical Center for an evaluation and she was diagnosed with a routine virus. The next day, the 16th, the child was taken back to Mark Twain Medical Center to the ER. However, since she had to stay in the waiting area for 30-45 minutes, the family became frustrated, and she was then taken to an ER at Sutter Amador Hospital in Jackson. She was then evaluated and again told that it was a routine viral illness, and released back home.
On Sunday, March 17, the mother took the child to UC Davis Medical Center where she was admitted to the hospital because a rash had developed. It was there that she was diagnosed with measles.
Dr. Kelaita says, During the time between when the child became sick, and was finally diagnosed with measles, there were significant exposures to multiple members of our community. The health department conducted a contact investigation with over 40 interviews with members of the community. We had to find out who was potentially exposed, we had to assess whether they were vaccinated against measles, and whether they were immune.
There was also a provider alert that was sent to doctors and clinics in the area so that they could be on the lookout for other cases.
Dr. Kelaita adds, Weve communicated with the local hospital, Mark Twain Medical Center, and through the health department in Amador County, Sutter Amador Hospital, where they have had to also assess all the potentially exposed people, generate a line listing, and all of those people have to be monitored for symptoms of measles.
Thankfully, Dr. Kelaita reports the child is recovering, and there have been no secondary cases at this time. We dodged a bullet, he added.
The girl had not been vaccinated for measles. Sometimes vaccines are controversial and parents fear they can have adverse effects.
Vaccines are required for students to enter school in California, but there are medical exemptions. We reported previously that Tuolumne and Calaveras counties lag behind the state average when it comes to vaccinations. Data from 2017 showed that between 88-89 percent of children in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties were vaccinated, and the state average was nearly 96-percent.
Dr. Kelaita notes that measles vaccines are given at age one, and again right before kindergarten. He adds, If children are under one year of age, they are very vulnerable (if exposed to measles). Pregnant women are also very vulnerable because exposure to measles during pregnancy can cause birth defects to a developing fetus. So, this is serious business and an example of what happens when the community is not adequately vaccinated against routine child diseases.
The Supervisors praised Dr. Kelaita, and the public health department, for the quick response and actions following the diagnosis.
Students and many parents packed the Plainview ISD board meeting room Thursday as the school board recognized student achievements.
The board recognized choir students, art students, young authors and a student who was accepted into a prestigious summer program at Harvard University.
Plainview High School Sophomore Jordyn Ramirez will attend the Harvard Pre-College Program this summer.
The program, according to its website, is a two-week program designed to submerse participants in a college experience.
Alissa Carter, advanced academic services/instructional technology coordinator for Plainview ISD, introduced Ramirez to the board and stated that Ramirez has been determined to attend Harvard University since a young age.
As she concluded her remarks, Carter added: "This is the beginning of her Harvard experiences."
The meeting room was decorated with art designed by some students. A display of ceramics was stationed at the door of the meeting room and a table filled with cardboard pieces was at the back with multiple other pieces hung along the walls and displayed along the tables in front of the board.
Juanetta Bocko, art teacher at Plainview ISD, said these were projects completed by her students.
Some of the pieces included a computer, guitar and turtle all made of cardboard; a teapot, a vase and a figurine with two faces each made of ceramics; and some drawings and paintings along the walls.
"They've done a good job," Bocko said. "It's some really fantastic work."
She pointed out the teapot set, which was placed in front of the board president.
The design was submitted via photo to an art competition and was selected to hang on the wall of Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott's office in Austin until March 2020, Bocko said.
The piece was created by Yingzhi (Kari) Huang, a PHS senior.
Following that recognition, the board recognized the group of young authors present.
Vickie Young, principal of La Mesa Elementary, told the board a little about books created by the fifth grade students.
The books are called "It Matters" and cover topics like confidence and success both of which were passages read by two of the many authors/illustrators.
Prior to these presentations, the board kicked off its meeting with performances by the school's choir and a solo performance by Caleb Aguirre, the choir member who was selected earlier this school year to sing with the Texas All-State Choir in San Antonio last month.
The students competed earlier this school year and received 146 gold medals at the regional UIL Solo-Ensemble competition. Eighty of those students qualified for the state contest, which is June 2-4, according to Choir Director and Coordinator Debra Buford.
"The choir broke its own record for the number of students earning state level and regionally from the surrounding area," Buford wrote in an email to The Herald.
It's competitive, she added. Students can earn scholarships.
"It's not common to have this many choir students compete at this level from one school! Students and directors are pumped!"
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) The deadlock on the proposed 3.757-trillion 2019 budget was finally broken on Tuesday, with Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III signing the enrolled spending bill and Congress transmitting it to Malacanang for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature.
The Senate and the House, however, are still not meeting eye to eye on the alleged "internal realignments" made by the lower chamber to the budget after its ratification by Congress, with Sotto signing the measure with reservations.
"It is my view that it is unconstitutional that 75 billion worth of programs and projects under the local infrastructure program of the Department of Public Works and Highways was funded through internal realignments, after the bicameral conference committee report was ratified" he said Tuesday, reading from the annotation he attached to the budget bill.
Upon the suggestion of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Sotto signed the same budget bill which the House earlier withdrew amid protests from senators who viewed their amendments to the measure after its ratification by Congress as illegal and unconstitutional.
He admitted that the Senate was ready to play "hardball," but could not keep the budget "hostage" and negatively impact the economy over amounts worth only two to three percent of the total outlay.
The Senate leadership hopes Duterte will veto the realignments mentioned by Sotto in his annotation.
READ: Duterte will not sign an illegal budget
However, they said the President is at liberty to keep those in the budget bill if he decides to approve the measure as is.
"It's his call. Authorized 'yan ng Constitution [He is authorized by the Constitution] to line item veto or to approve it in toto. Who are we to question the authority of the President?" Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said.
Drilon added, "Remember, this is the opinion of the Senate that this is unconstitutional. We are not the Supreme Court who has the final say that it is unconstitutional."
He said this is the first time that a Senate leader has expressed reservations in signing a budget measure.
"Ngayon lang naman nangyari na pagkatapos ng ratification ng bicam report eh nabago 'yung printed copy," he said.
[Translation: It is only now that the printed copy was changed after the ratification of the bicameral report.]
The Senate and the House had locked horns on whether the itemizations of lump sums done by congressmen after the ratification of the budget is legal. Senators say it is illegal and unconstitutional, but congressmen insisted that it is aboveboard.
This had kept Sotto from signing the spending bill. He was concerned that Congressional leaders may be charged with falsification of legislative documents if they certified a budget bill that was altered after its final version was passed by the legislature.
READ: Lacson: Arroyo can be charged for signing 'falsified' budget
But senators now believe that Sottos strong reservation and annotation would protect him from possible lawsuits in the future.
The withdrawal of the measure paved way for the creation of two panels consisting of three members each from the Senate and the House, which met Monday in hopes of breaking the deadlock and finally passing the long-delayed 2019 budget.
The delayed budget has impacted key transportation projects and has raised fears that its effects will cascade to the 2020 barangay elections. Economic managers have also warned that the economy will slow down if no fresh funding is enacted.
CNN Philippines Correspondent Joyce Ilas contributed to this report.
Oil continued its torrid start to the year as bullish supply news from the world's second-biggest producer and disruptions to refiners along the Houston Ship Channel kept crude on pace for its best first quarter since 2002.
Futures rose 1.9 percent in New York. In the morning, Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters in Moscow that Russia will likely reach its pledged output cut of 228,000 barrels a day by the end of the month. OPEC and its partners, led by Saudi Arabia, have been cutting supplies to counter a global supply glut. Meanwhile, a four-day closing of the Houston Ship Channel following a tank fire and subsequent chemical spill has further disrupted supply networks.
"We're back in rally mode," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC, a New York hedge fund focused on energy. "We're seeing a steady supply decline that's getting us back to $60 and everyone is trying to figure out the fallout from the refinery snags in Houston and the disruption in the Houston Ship Channel."
EARLIER: Oil ends volatile day lower as yield-curve jitters linger
Crude futures have rallied 32 percent this year as OPEC and its allies implement production cuts to stave off a global surplus. American sanctions on Iran and Venezuela have further squeezed supplies, making for a tighter market more susceptible to disruptions like those in Houston.
"The expectation is very much that OPEC+ will stick to its 1.2 million barrel a day reduction plan for as long as one would expect for that market to come into balance," said Bart Melek, head of global commodity strategy at TD Securities in Toronto.
West Texas Intermediate for May delivery gained $1.12 to settle at $59.94 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Ship Channel closure could cost energy industry $1 billion
Brent for May settlement advanced 76 cents to $67.97 a barrel at settlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark crude was at a premium of $8.03 to WTI.
Meanwhile, the U.S. administration is deeply divided as a deadline approaches for a decision on whether to exempt some countries from sanctions on Iranian crude. The division -- primarily between John Bolton's National Security Council and Michael Pompeo's State Department -- has led to rising frustration and flared tempers.
Above the fray, at least for now, is President Donald Trump, who must weigh competing priorities. While Trump wants to make good on his "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran and strong-arm the country into meeting U.S. demands, there's also concern that squeezing Tehran too much will lead to a spike in oil prices that could raise gasoline costs for U.S. drivers as the 2020 election approaches.
--With assistance from James Thornhill, Grant Smith and Sharon Cho.
2019 Bloomberg L.P.
More than a week of partying is almost upon San Antonio, something locals have been waiting on for a year.
They're circling dates, gathering their squads and hoarding medals in anticipation of the big event. Meanwhile, newcomers might still be trying to figure out why people are eager to stand in long lines for a skewered Tyson chicken patty.
Fiesta is only a few weeks away, but San Antonio has everything "Fiesta" on their minds. MySA asked readers on social media to describe the biggest party of year in a phrase or sentence, and San Antonio delivered.
RELATED: T-shirts, purses and shoes to add to your Fiesta wardrobe now
Some folks called it a "city-wide reunion" while others sum it up perfectly: a "puro party."
Click through the slideshow above to see some of the ways San Antonians describe Fiesta.
Candice.Garcia@express-news.net | Twitter @_candicegarcia
Native Texans are always proud to claim our Lone Star State heritage, and we're quick to share our familiarity with the state's history and geography. But even those of us who are fluent in Texan may find that there's some hidden nook left to discover, or maybe just a small town we can't get enough of.
There's "weird" Marfa, a far west town stuck in the hippie era, one with a drawl. The growing popularity of this odd, art installation-filled town has some residents concerned that it will soon become another tourist destination with souvenir gift shops proffering flashy key chains. So get there soon, and opt to stay in a yurt, teepee or tent (pictured in the slides above).
It had not been planned as a historic mission, yet it would have represented a moment of sorts: the first all-female spacewalk.
But that moment will have to wait, NASA said Monday, because of a somewhat basic issue spacesuit sizes.
The two astronauts who were scheduled to walk together in space Friday, Anne C. McClain and Christina H. Koch, would both need to wear a medium-size torso component. But only one is readily available at the International Space Station.
The mission itself is unchanged. On Friday, two astronauts will venture outside the space station on a six-hour mission to install massive lithium-ion batteries that will help power the research laboratory. Koch is still scheduled to participate, along with fellow astronaut Nick Hague; McClain did her first spacewalk last week.
MISSION MOON: How 50 years of space exploration has helped define Houston
But the first women-only venture outside of the confines of the space station will have to happen on another day. After consulting with McClain and Hague following the first spacewalk, mission managers decided to adjust the assignments, due in part to spacesuit availability on the station, NASA said in a statement.
Stephanie Schierholz, a spokeswoman for NASA, said in an interview Monday that there were already two medium-size hard upper torsos essentially the shirt of the spacesuit, according to NASA at the space station.
But there were a couple of issues. One was that McClain had thought she would be able to work in a large-size torso, but after her spacewalk last Friday, she wore a medium-size torso and learned that it fit her better. Koch also uses the same size.
And of the two medium-size torsos available, one has yet to be properly configured for a spacewalk. It would take hours of crew labor not to mention some additional risk to fix that in time for Friday. Instead of doing that, NASA decided to simply switch out the astronauts.
In the end, both women will have done a spacewalk just not together.
When you have the option of just switching the people, the mission becomes more important than a cool milestone, Schierholz said.
GET YOUR SPACE JUNK: Sign up for our newsletter devoted entirely to space coverage
On Friday, Koch and Hague will be supported by a team on the ground that includes a number of women in key positions, including the spacewalks flight director, Mary Lawrence, and its lead officer, Jackie Kagey.
In a briefing at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston this month, Lawrence, Kagey and Kenneth Todd, the stations operations integration manager, said officials had not immediately recognized the significance of the original lineup for Fridays extravehicular activity, or EVA.
It was only as they discussed the schedule during a meeting that they realized it was the first time they had scheduled an all-female spacewalk.
After the rescheduling Monday, Schierholz said that while there were no concrete plans for an all-female spacewalk, one is increasingly likely because NASA astronauts have been diversifying in terms of gender.
Were sort of getting to the point of inevitability, Schierholz said of an all-female EVA.
McClain and Koch were part of the 2013 astronaut class, and of the eight people in that class chosen from more than 6,000 applicants half were women, a first for NASA. The agency lists 38 active astronauts on its website, and 12 are women.
The current roster of six astronauts at the space station three Americans, one Canadian and two Russians allows the team to carry out a number of important projects, with an eye toward making sure each crew member accumulates significant experience, Todd said. NASA officials hope the relatively young American astronauts will continue to travel to space in the coming years and assist new recruits in the future.
The batteries being installed on this mission store solar power that the station needs when it is not in direct sunlight. Work on the battery systems will continue for the next few years as international teams bring more lithium-ion batteries to the station, which is more than 200 miles from Earth.
The missions require meticulous planning, and robots do as much of the work as possible before astronauts take the risk of venturing into space. In the busy days before a spacewalk, the crew help to prepare and fit their colleagues spacesuits, which function as mini-spacecraft once they step outside.
Koch shared photos on Twitter of her colleagues as they suited up for last Fridays spacewalk.
No ordinary battery swap & work day routine, she wrote.
A firefighter fell through a roof while extinguishing a blaze at a bar near downtown San Antonio, officials said.
The firefighter was one of dozens who responded to the blaze just before 9 a.m. at Club Essence, 1010 N. Main Ave.
The flames were extinguished in about 10 minutes, Joe Arrington, a spokesman for the department, said. But while a few firefighters were checking the roof for any remaining hot spots, one of them stepped through a tin roof covering a patio area of the bar.
FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox
The 18-year veteran of the fire department was evaluated at the scene and declined to be hospitalized.
"More of a pride hurt kind of thing," Arrington said. "No physical injury."
Two people outside the building at the time of the fire complained of smoke inhalation and were also evaluated at the scene but not hospitalized.
READ ALSO: SAPD: Man fatally shoots alleged attacker while protecting woman
Arrington said the fire caused minimal damage to the bar.
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
If you're looking to move, an organization that uses data to rank cities and schools has published its list of the safest San Antonio suburbs for 2019.
Niche, which provides an assessment on places to live throughout the country, recently released its 2019 report and its methodology.
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) A minister who promised a woman he'd take care of her daughter began having sex with the teenager daily and later encouraged two other pastors to have sex with her as well, federal prosecutors said Monday.
Anthony Haynes could face up to life in prison if he's convicted of child sex trafficking and other charges. The two other Toledo-area pastors charged in the investigation have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Prosecutors said during the opening of Haynes' trial that he first had sex with the girl when she was 14. They said the evidence against him includes text messages, photos, voice mails and DNA evidence from his church where the girl said they often had sex.
Haynes' attorney told jurors that the allegations are shocking, but there's not enough evidence to prove the trafficking and conspiracy charges he faces.
Attorney Pete Wagner also said Haynes may have had a questionable relationship with the girl, but he didn't coordinate or take part in trafficking her to the other ministers. He also said there was no paying for sex.
Prosecutors say the girl had a difficult childhood and was sexually abused by a relative.
Haynes pledged in front of his congregation to protect her and serve as a father figure, but he began grooming her for sex when she turned 14 and first forced her to perform sex acts in front of him, said Michael Freeman, an assistant U.S. attorney.
They had sex day after day, often at a motel or his church, the Greater Life Christian Center in Toledo, and Haynes would give her cash, Freeman said.
After about a year, Haynes introduced her to Kenneth Butler, another pastor, and he also began having sex with her, Freeman said.
Sometimes, the two men joked about the arrangement, prosecutors said. One text shown in court that prosecutors say was sent by Butler to the girl said: "You better be nice and naked when I get there."
Prosecutors said the girl next met Cordell Jenkins, a minister who founded his own church in Toledo and built a large following until it closed after his arrest.
The FBI has said in court documents that Jenkins had sex with two girls at his home, church office and a motel and often recorded the acts with his phone.
Haynes, prosecutors said, encouraged the relationship with Jenkins.
In addition to the charges against the men, Haynes' wife and stepdaughter are accused of abducting the girl at gunpoint in January and warning her not to testify at his trial.
Court documents say the pair forced the teenager from her apartment, choked her with a cord and told her to take back statements she made to investigators. Attorneys for Haynes' wife and stepdaughter have declined to comment.
Just before her husband went on trial, his wife appeared Monday in the same courtroom where the judge overseeing the case turned down her request to be released.
Officials have identified four teenage suspects, including one already in custody in connection with an attempted cop killing, involved in a break-in and shooting at a student living complex near the University of Texas at San Antonio, according to court records.
Todd Allen Smith, Conrad Perez and Jonathan Cruz Garcia, all 17, and a 15-year-old are accused of shooting a 21-year-old woman during an attempted robbery on Jan. 21 at the Prado Student Living complex in the 7100 block of UTSA Boulevard. They all face a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
RELATED: Suspect in ambush shooting faces attempted capital murder of a police officer charge
Court documents made available Tuesday provided more details about the break-in and how police identified the suspects.
According to court records, the four went to the Prado complex to rob a 22-year-old resident. Perez drove the group to the apartments, where Smith, Garcia and the 15-year-old rushed into one of the units and opened fire as the resident hid behind a closed door. During the robbery attempt, Smith wore a ballistic vest with "POLICE" printed along the front, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
One of the bullets fired by the trio pierced a wall and struck a resident in an adjacent apartment. Paramedics tended to her at the scene, and she was not hospitalized, police said.
The suspects fled in a stolen 2009 Toyota Camry, authorities said. As they sped away, one of the suspects fired a final round at the apartments.
Sometime after the shooting, Perez contacted the man they had tried to rob and revealed himself as one of the people involved. He said that "he and his friends were responsible," according to the affidavit.
On Jan. 25, Perez and the 15-year-old were arrested after they were caught driving the stolen Camry, the affidavit says.
Investigators interviewed Perez on Feb. 28 at the Bexar County Jail. He identified everyone involved and laid out the robbery plan, which he claimed was Smith's idea, court records show.
By the time of Perez's interview, three of the four teens allegedly involved in the shooting at Prado had been arrested.
FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox
Garcia was in custody on a charge of attempted capital murder of a police officer. He is accused of shooting San Antonio Police Officer Drew Matthewson during a foot chase on Feb. 12. Matthewson was hit in his left shoulder and returned fire, striking Garcia multiple times.
Only Smith remained at large. Authorities were able to secure a warrant for his arrest on March 19, and he was arrested Monday.
According to court records, Smith is the only suspect not facing additional criminal charges for unrelated incidents.
The 15-year-old has an "extensive criminal history" including arrests for house burglary, vehicle burglary and assault, according to the arrest affidavit.
In addition to the charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Perez is accused of theft, marijuana possession, harboring a runaway child, unlawful possession of a handgun and vehicle burglary.
Garcia is awaiting indictment on the charge for attempted capital murder of a police officer, as well as charges of evading arrest and theft of vehicle.
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
San Antonio Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 for information on who killed a 24-year-old man outside his North Side home two years ago.
Jean-Michael Pilar Lee was found dead on March 19, 2017, in the 4800 block of Roxton Avenue, according to police. He died of multiple gunshot wounds.
San Antonio Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information on a woman suspected of stealing a car from a West Side gas station, then abandoning it nearby after running out of gas.
On Feb. 27, a woman left her Nissan X-Terra running and unattended as she went to the bathroom and paid for gas at the Circle K gas station at 7530 Northwest Loop 410 around 2:30 p.m., according to a news release.
OPPOSITION leader Nelson Chamisa has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa and government that the high levels of unemployment could lead to yet another civil unrest unless they quickly address the deepening economic crisis.
This comes as the stabilisation measures unveiled by government are threatened by drought and the recent tropical Cyclone Idai whose scale of destruction has added pressure to Treasury.
Zimbabwe is facing a severe drought which aid and relief agencies say will leave five million needing food support in the ravaged communities. In an interview with the Daily News, Chamisa warned that the deepening economic crisis and runaway unemployment could spark yet another fury from long-suffering youths.
The plight of young people is a threat to the national stability, youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb that has to be resolved in the context of national dialogue and engagement, Chamisa said.
The youthful opposition leader also said Mnangagwas foreign trips appeared to be misplaced because they were not bringing anything tangible.
I am getting worried with his trips it seems he is not appreciating the problems that Zimbabwe has, especially the young people, he said.
In January this year, police and soldiers were engaged in running battles with protesters who flooded the streets of Harare, Bulawayo and other towns to protest the steep fuel price hikes which were announced by Mnangagwa ahead of his tour of Eastern Europe.
Mnangagwa, who was feted like a king when he replaced ousted former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017, initially lifted the mood of crisis-weary Zimbabweans who were hopeful at the time that he would turn around the countrys economic fortunes.
However, the post-July 30, 2018 election shootings which left at least six civilians dead when the military used live ammunition to quell an ugly demonstration in Harares central business district (CBD) and dozens of deaths during this years fuel riots, as well as the subsequent vicious clampdown of dissenting voices are seen as having dented his international image significantly, in addition to harming his chances of getting financial support from Western countries.
Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi said Mnangagwa was working hard to attract investors but the opposition was choosing to criticise him for the sake of gaining relevance.
The opposition is overlooking what government is doing. We are creating wealththe president has hosted South Africa and Botswana and travelled to other countries.
The message that we are getting is that we are going to get development partners. We have taken measures towards reducing coststrying to instil confidence in investors and laying the foundation for them, Mutodi said.
There is no need for people to demonstrate because demonstrations are retrogressive. We know the opposition want to manipulate every situation to remove the government.
Those in the opposition should know that the law will take its course and those who are on the wrong side of the law will be punished, he added.
Zimbabwe is currently in the grip of a ginormous economic crisis which sparked riots in January when protesters who heeded calls for a stay-away by labour unions clashed with heavily armed security forces, leading to several deaths.
Property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars was destroyed and looted in the mayhem which ensued, after a three-day strike call by labour unions. At the same time, security forces unleashed a brutal crackdown against the protesters, the opposition and civil society leaders, in a move which received wide condemnation in the country and around the world.
Meanwhile, A United Nations report shows that Zimbabwe was better off under former President Robert Mugabe than under his predecessor, current leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The UN World Happiness Report 2019 ranks Zimbabwe as the 146th happiest country out of 156 nations. Zimbabwe dropped two places from number 144 the previous year.
In an interview with Newsday, Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe director Godfrey Kanyenze had this to say:
It is not unexpected. If you compare where we are now with where we were last year, certainly last year we were in a better place. Certainly, last year, we did not have the fuel queues, last year expectations were much higher than they are now.
The longer we go, the more disappointed we are now because it is a crisis of expectations. After the elections, people are expecting results, for the economy to begin to pick up and the government to address the challenges affecting us.
The UN looked at six key variables when compiling the report over a period stretching from 2005-2018.
These variables are GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption, according to the World Happiness Report 2019.
DailyNews/NewsDay
Breaking News via Email
Loading...
Related Zimbabwe Latest News
On Wednesday, 27 March 2019, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ms. Rose Gottemoeller will meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mr. David Zalkaliani.
During his visit to NATO Headquarters, Mr. Zalkaliani will also attend a meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission.
There will be no media opportunity.
Still images will be available on the NATO website after the event.
Follow the Deputy Secretary General on Twitter (@Gottemoeller). Also follow us at (@NATOPress and @NATO)
(Natural News) The 2014 water crisis in Flint, Michigan, raised national awareness of the effects of lead exposure on children. After municipal officials decided as a cost saving measure to switch the citys water supply from Lake Huron to the polluted Flint River, residents immediately started complaining about the discolored and foul-smelling water. Nonetheless, it took scientists more than a year to get around to analyzing the water, at which point they discovered that it was heavily contaminated with lead and other heavy metals. The problem was swept under the rug for some time, and by the time government officials started doing something about it, thousands of children had already been exposed to dangerously high levels of lead.
While the crisis in Flint received national attention, it would be dangerous to assume that this was a once-off problem. In reality, studies have linked lead exposure to over 400,000 premature deaths each year. While lead poisoning levels are now considerably lower than they were at their peak in the 1980s, at least 1.2 million American children still have elevated levels of lead in their blood.
Years of research have confirmed that exposure to even low levels of lead can affect growth, intelligence and behavior in children. It has also been linked to coordination problems, learning disabilities and aggressive, violent behavior. Now, a study by researchers from Duke University, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, has revealed that childhood lead exposure can also have long-term effects on mental health and personality right into adulthood.
Long-lasting negative effects
As reported by Science Daily, the recent study found that participants who had high blood lead levels at the age of 11 were more likely to struggle with mental illness later in life and to exhibit difficult personality traits by the time they turned 38. Risk of these problems increased exponentially the more lead they were exposed to during childhood. (Related: Lead exposure linked to emotional problems, anxiety and pervasive developmental problems in children.)
The 1,000 study participants were all born in Dunedin, New Zealand, between 1972 and 1973, back when New Zealands gasoline lead levels were among the highest in the world. Globally, gasoline was treated with high levels of lead between the 1960s and 1980s, meaning that most adults who are now in their 30s, 40s and 50s were exposed to lead when they were children.
Science Daily explained the studys methodology:
Researchers measured blood lead levels in micrograms per deciliter of blood (ug/dL) when participants were 11 years old. Today, blood lead levels above 5 ug/dL will trigger additional clinical follow-up of a child. At age 11, 94 percent of participants in the Dunedin Study had blood lead levels above this cutoff.
The Duke research team also assessed participant mental health and personality at various points throughout their lives, most recently at age 38. Diagnostic criteria or symptoms associated with eleven different psychiatric disorders were used to calculate a single measure of mental health, called the psychopathology factor, or p-factor for short.
The higher an individuals p-factor score, the greater the number and severity of psychiatric symptoms.
The team found that leads effects on mental health were as severe as other studies had previously found them to be on IQ. In addition, the researchers found that the families of children who experienced high levels of lead exposure described them as having difficult personalities, being more neurotic, less agreeable and less conscientious than other people.
With at least two decades worth of kids being continuously exposed to high levels of lead is it any wonder that the world is in the state its in? Could we now be witnessing a lead-poisoned society going insane?
Learn more about the true causes of mental health issues at Psychiatry.news.
Sources for this article include:
ScienceDaily.com
NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Pesticide manufacturers like to reassure the public that their products are very safe, painting them as harmless substances that are actually doing all of us a big favor. They can pay off scientists and journals to bolster this message as much as they want, but the volatility of these chemicals speaks for itself in incidents like a recent pesticide factory explosion in China.
Last week, a massive explosion took place at a Yangcheng pesticide plant on Chinas east coast, killing 78 people and injuring hundreds of others. These numbers are expected to climb as rescue workers make their way through the rubble; 13 people are currently listed as critically injured and 566 are still hospitalized and undergoing treatment. The explosion was so strong that it spurred a 2.2-magnitude earthquake tremor, shattering the windows of residential buildings situated miles away from the site and blowing shards of glass into peoples faces.
There was a high number of injuries related to broken glass as far away as four miles from the plant, with nearby schools forced to evacuate and hospitals struggling to keep up with the demand for aid. Not surprisingly, many of the casualties involved inhaling toxic substances and dust. Some of the victims were kindergarten students.
The factory was almost completely destroyed by the accident. It is believed that a tanker truck that was full of natural gas sparked the incident when it caught fire and detonated a storage area filled with chemicals. It took roughly 900 firefighters to stabilize the situation.
This accident is just the latest in a string of deadly explosions and industrial accidents in recent years. The president of China, Xi Jinping, ordered an investigation into the accident, and several of the plants workers were detained by police. Unreasonable production targets, lots of corner-cutting, and a lack of oversight are among the factors shouldering the blame for the countrys poor record in this regard.
The plant where the incident took place, the Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Company, is no stranger to controversy. The chairman of the company that owns the plant was convicted of dumping toxic waste two years ago. The plant itself has been cited for more than a dozen different safety hazards, accumulating hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for environmental regulation violations in the last three years. One citation was for improperly handling benzene, which is believed to have played a role in this accident. Its hard to believe they were allowed to continue to operate given their track record.
Are you sure you want to put these chemicals into your body?
This incident should serve as a wake-up call to those holdouts who still dont think choosing organic is important. The very class of chemicals that caused an explosion strong enough to register a 2.2 on the Richter scale are being regularly sprayed on crops and, by extension, the foods that many people eat. Are you sure thats what you want to put into your body?
On top of that, this is also a timely reminder of how loosely regulated this industry is, especially in places like China. If pesticide plant workers can let something like this happen, what other safety protocols are they ignoring? Were the chemicals mixed properly? Were they applied in the right ratio? Were they used at levels within those permitted, which are still considered by many to be too high?
There are so many variables to take in to account when it comes to pesticide use that buying and consuming these foods really is a gamble. Are you sure you want to roll the dice with your health?
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
Reuters.com
(Natural News) March 21, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) I live in New Zealand. Ive become alarmed at developments in my country since the shootings last Friday. What I see unfolding seems so disproportionate to the magnitude of the crime. It seems like Ive woken up and all of a sudden live in an Islamic State.
(Article by Michelle Kaufman republished from LifeSiteNews.com)
Here are some highlights of whats unfolding:
The thought police are out in full force and people are being scrutinized for hate speech. Green ribbons are being worn as a symbol against hate.
Mosques and many of the prayer rooms continue to be protected by armed police (police arent usually armed in my country).
Vigils are being held all over the place in solidarity with the victims. These seem to have morphed into what amounts to support for the Islamic religion. One Catholic bishop held one last Sunday afternoon in the Ponsonby church. After prayers there, they processed over to the mosque, which is on the opposite side of the road and prayed and met there.
Whitcoulls, one of our book stores, probably the oldest, has removed Jordan Petersons book 12 Rules for Life from its shelves because he was photographed with a member of the public wearing an anti-Islamic t-shirt while he was in New Zealand recently. Apparently, thats being construed as him having something to do with the madmans agenda.
On Tuesday a Muslim prayer was said in Parliament. Just recently all Christian prayer in Parliament was removed.
On Friday March 22 at 1:30pm New Zealand will be called to prayerIslamic prayer that is. And we will be expected to keep 2 minutes silence after they read the Muslim prayer acknowledging Allah as great and Muhammad as his prophet. The call to prayer will be broadcasted on national radio stations and TV as well.
One top Catholic Church leader will go to the local mosque (Kilbirnie) as well on Friday to stand outside during their prayers as an act of solidarity. The Catholic bishops here have been very sympathetic and playing out their inter-faith role with great enthusiasm.
Catholic school students have been praying inside mosques.
It seems like were living in a different world all of a sudden. It seems that showing our great respect for those who were killed has somehow been manipulated into showing affirmation of the Islamic religion.
New Zealand is now putty in the Islamists hands.
The shooting on Friday was terrible. But what has now unfolded is something else entirely and may just be the beginning of something very terrible for New Zealand.
Certainly, on a spiritual level, our crisis has become even deeper.
Please keep New Zealand in your prayers.
Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com
(Natural News) Hemp and hemp seed oil are all the hype these days. Millions of people have jumped on the recent health craze by adding high-quality hemp protein powder or hemp hearts to their morning smoothies. But did you know that a pure extract of the cannabis bud could potentially cure cancer, with hungriness, happiness and sleepiness being the only possible side effects?
Cannabis oil has become a favorite topic of discussion. While the medical world hasnt fully explored the drugs true potential yet, hundreds of scientists around the world are investigating cannabis oil as a miraculous treatment for cancer and other diseases.
Despite resistance from the authorities, government health agencies, Big Pharma and UN offices, one man, Rick Simpson, successfully used cannabis oil to help over 5,000 patients (himself included) defeat their disease. For many years, the medical marijuana activist has devoted himself to providing people with information about the medicinal properties of cannabis or hash oil.
The Rick Simpson cannabis oil story
In 2003, Rick Simpson was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma skin cancer. After failed surgeries, Simpson decided to try something different. Remembering a radio headline he had heard almost 30 years earlier which stated that the University of Virginia had discovered that the cannabinoid in cannabis, THC, could kill cancer in mice he decided that cannabis oil could kill his cancer too.
Simpsons cancer spots disappeared in a matter of days after he applied cannabis oil and bandages to the affected areas. When he tried to tell his doctor and several cancer organizations about his recovery, however, nobody wanted anything to do with the controversial discovery.
If you want to learn more about how Rick Simpson cured himself and others through the use of hash oil, watch Christian Laurettes full documentary, Run From The Cure, below.
Many cannabis oil enthusiasts, including Simpson, think there has been a Big Government and Big Pharma conspiracy to suppress research and halt medical progress. As reported by Natural News, scientists have known about the anticancer benefits of cannabis oil for decades. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), however, quickly shut down a study that reported on the potential benefits and destroyed its results.
Some believe they handled the study in this way out of fear of possible substance abuse. Others believe that it is the fear of losing billions of dollars of chemotherapy profits that drives them to keep this natural cure a secret. After all, why is it that while the government and pharmaceutical companies claim that cannabis is not a cure for cancer or other diseases, they hold patents for medicinal marijuana use?
Rick Simpsons cannabis oil recipe
According to Simpson, the oral ingestion of hash oil targets and destroys cancer cells in the body, while topical use can control or even cure various skin conditions such as melanomas. Furthermore, he claims that cannabis oil rejuvenates vital organs, and that it is not uncommon for individuals to report the oil making them feel 20 to 30 years younger shortly after beginning treatment.
To help people all over the world cure cancer and other diseases free of charge, Simpson has shared his recipe online. As reported by Organic and Healthy, one ounce of the dried herb will typically produce 3 to 4 grams of Rick Simpsons famous hash oil. The amount of oil produced per ounce will vary from strain to strain, though.
Since the solvents and fumes are highly flammable, it is important to be very careful when making the oil. It is recommended that the whole process take place in a well-ventilated area. Also, do not use open flames; set up a fan to direct fumes away from the pot; and avoid smoking, sparks, stove-tops and red-hot heating elements.
You can find the full extraction method and dosage instructions on Rick Simpsons website, or watch the video below.
(Natural News does not endorse the use of marijuana products in States where its use has not yet been legalized.)
Sources include:
CureYourOwnCancer.org
NaturalNews.com
PhoenixTears.ca
ATTN.com
Google.com
(Natural News) There is a simple, powerful way that President Trump can end Big Techs evil censorship with a single signature. It requires no act of Congress, no regulatory action and no criminal prosecution (although, at this point, it seems that criminally prosecuting Google for election meddling would be justified as a separate action).
The move requires nothing more than Trumps signature on an executive order that cancels and prohibits all federal contracts with large-scale internet platforms that refuse to protect the First Amendment rights of all Americans. In a single signature, President Trump could end all government contracts with Google, Twitter, YouTube, Apple and other dominant online platforms that are now maliciously de-platforming users for expressing conservative or Christian views.
The President, in fact, just issued a similar executive order demanding that universities respect free speech or find themselves terminated from all government grants. The strategy is aggressive and effective. Those universities which choose to engage in the un-American practice of suppressing speech for political reasons will quickly find themselves cut off from federal funds. Now, President Trump needs to direct the same tactic at the tech giants.
I explain how this would work in the video below:
Brighteon.com/6017852129001
If that doesnt work, just seize the domain names of Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
If the tech giants still refuse to play fair and respect the speech of all Americans, then President Trump can simply order to U.S. State Department to seize the domain names of these companies until they agree to respect the First Amendment.
He doesnt even have to initiate the seizure. He merely needs to threaten to seize all those domains as a way to force these companies to sign a consent decree with the Dept. of Justice, where they agree to respect First Amendment protections of all users as a condition of being allowed to operate in the United States of America. If that tactic doesnt ring a bell, let me remind you that the Obama administration, after accusing police departments of being racist for daring to arrest black people who committed crimes, demanded those police departments sign consent decrees with the U.S. Dept. of Justice. In these agreements, the city police departments agreed to adhere to equality guidelines that hilariously required them to treat people un-equally, based on the color of their skin. The goal was to reduce arrests of black people and increase arrests of white people to make policing appear less racist. (Yes, only under Leftists policies could systematic bigotry against white people be called equality.)
Now, the left-wing tech giants are engaged in widespread bigotry that threatens the very future of this nation. Thanks to the de-platforming efforts of Google, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Apple and others, people are now being discriminated against based on the color of their ideas rather than the color of their skin. Those who hold Christian beliefs are doubly targeted for de-platforming efforts happily carried out by the bigoted Leftists who run the dominant search engines and social media platforms.
The tech giants all took part in an attempted insurrection against the United States of America
The U.S. Dept. of Justice has the power to threaten these corporations with criminal indictments, investigations and even seizure of assets if they engage in the routine discrimination of Americans based on political or religious views. If thats not enough, the DOJ can correctly assert that all of these tech companies actively took part in an attempted insurrection against the United States government through complicity with the now-collapsed Russia collusion hoax. It is factually correct to say that Google, Facebook, YouTube, Apple and Twitter all conspired to steal the 2018 mid-term elections for Democrats. And they are now attempting to steal the 2020 election away from Trump.
These are criminal offenses by powerful, dangerous corporations which have maliciously asserted control over nearly all public conversations involving politics or religion. They must be halted, criminally indicted and then dismantled and banished from our society.
President Trump can begin by issuing an executive order denying all federal funds to these insidious, anti-American corporations. The next step would be to seize their domain names. And the ultimate end game here is to seek criminal indictments of the CEOs of these companies (Jack Dorsey, a jail cell is waiting with your name on it) and prosecute them for RICO Act racketeering violations.
Listen to my recent podcast for more details on how this would work:
Brighteon.com/6017784233001
Join me in calling for the shut-down of Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple and YouTube. These are all evil corporations that have abused their power to discriminate against hundreds of millions of Americans. They no longer deserve the opportunity to operate as corporations in the United States of America.
(Natural News) POTUS Donald Trump and his administration have been under siege since before he was even inaugurated in January 2017, as elements of the Justice Department, FBI, intelligence community, and willing propagandists in the mainstream media have worked in concert to undermine his White House with the objective of deposing him.
This soft coup attempt is unprecedented in our history. Had it been successful, it would have turned our country in to the worlds biggest banana republic, where presidents serve not at the pleasure of the American people but instead at the behest of the Deep State ruling class.
The most visible weapon deployed against the Trump presidency was the Russian collusion investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Initiated by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in May of 2017, the investigation ensnared scores of Trump allies, former employees, and campaign staffers and advisers.
But in the end, not a single person including importantly POTUS himself was ever charged with criminal collusion or any other treasonous cooperation with a foreign power to steal the 2016 election from Hillary Clinton, the most criminally investigated presidential contender ever.
On Friday, Mueller finally filed his final report with the Justice Department. Attorney General William Barr, in a four-page summary to Congress on Sunday, quoted Muellers findings of no collusion and no evidence to charge the president with obstruction of justice (for doing what hes permitted to do under the Constitution fire federal employees, in this case, James Comey).
Now the presidents allies in Congress are preparing a counterattack against individuals known to have been involved in the coup attempt and who, suspiciously, were never probed by Mueller and his Clinton donor investigator/prosecutors.
As The National Sentinel reported last week, former House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), now the panels ranking member, told One America News that members of his panel were preparing criminal referrals of individuals tied to the coup attempt who Mueller strangely skipped over. (Related: Russia hoax COLLAPSES: Not a single American charged with collusion with Russia; left-wing media has been LYING all along.)
Time for the coup conspirators to pay for their treason
Were still continuing to get to the bottom of what was happening to the Department of Justice and the FBI, trying to make sure that everyone there is held accountableeither through the courts or otherwise. Well be making criminal referrals on a whole host of topics, most importantly probably lying and misleading Congress, he told the network.
He added that Mueller has skipped a whole bunch of people whove lied or mislead Congress, so well be making those referrals to the Department of Justice.
In a follow-up interview with Fox News Sean Hannity, Nunes added:
We are preparing a criminal referral that we will present to the attorney general at the appropriate timefor many crimes. The obvious ones that you would know about would be lying to Congress. But we will also be looking at FISA [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] abuse and all the other matters that we have been looking into. It will probably be one large referral.
On Friday, hours, after Mueller filed his report with Barr, Nick Short with Security Studies Group, tweeted a quote from Nunes, This is the unraveling of the biggest political scandal in American historyremember, this dates back to late 2015, early 2016 & this began as nothing more/nothing less than a Clinton/Obama operation with a bunch of dirty cops at the FBI & career DOJ officials.
On Saturday, Nunes noted: The Russia investigation was based on false pretenses, false intel, and false media reports. House Intel found a yr ago there was no evidence of collusion, and Democrats who falsely claim to have such evidence have needlessly provoked a terrible, more than two-year-long crisis.
The Russia investigation was based on false pretenses, false intel, and false media reports. House Intel found a yr ago there was no evidence of collusion, and Democrats who falsely claim to have such evidence have needlessly provoked a terrible, more than two-year-long crisis. Devin Nunes (@DevinNunes) March 24, 2019
Investigative reporter Paul Sperry, citing Nunes, added, Rep. Devin Nunes says House Intel has evidence Clinton operatives & hi-level FBI & DOJ officials started Trump-Russia investigation in late 2015/early 2016 &that House GOP will be making criminal referrals to AG Barr for officials who perpetuated this hoax for 3+ yrs.
BREAKING:Rep. Devin Nunes says House Intel has evidence Clinton operatives & hi-level FBI & DOJ officials started Trump-Russia investigation in "late 2015/early 2016" &that House GOP will be making criminal referrals to AG Barr for officials who "perpetuated this hoax" for 3+ yrs Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) March 24, 2019
The coup has failed. Now its time for the conspirators to pay for their treason.
Sources include:
NewsTarget.com
TheNationalSentinel.com
(Natural News) A few days ago, NBCs show TODAY spent five and a half minutes talking about vaccines. But they didnt talk about vaccine safety studies and how they arent held to the same standard of other medicines. They didnt talk about the revolving door between vaccine manufacturers and government entities. They didnt even talk about why the CDC vaccine schedule has increased exponentially over the years.
(Article by Ty & Charlene Bollinger republished from TheTruthAboutCancer.com)
They utilized the typical ad hominem attacks. This phrase is Latin for against the man. Instead of advancing good, sound reasoning, ad hominems replace logical argumentation with attack-language unrelated to the truth of the matter. This is a typical tactic of those in favor of vaccine mandates. Call those who question the safety or efficacy of vaccines a name like Vaccine Refuseniks or Science Deniers or Conspiracy Quacks.
It was a hit piece that used a broad brush to label people as anti-vaxxers and accused them of deliberately spreading misinformation and preying on peoples fear. By the way, the anti-vaxx and pro-vaxx terminology creates a logical fallacy called a false dichotomy because the vast majority of medical doctors today would probably categorize their position as somewhere in between.
Many doctors who consider themselves pro-vaccine, for example, do not believe that every single vaccine is appropriate for every single individual. Many doctors recommend a delayed vaccine schedule for some patients, and not always the recommended one-size-fits-all CDC childhood schedule. Other doctors choose to recommend vaccines based on the actual science and merit of each vaccine, recommending some vaccines, while determining that others are not worth the risk for children.
Then, the segment featured a clip from our Global Health News series, a quick sound bite designed to portray TTAC as dishonest and fear-mongering. The clip was used without our knowledge, and NBC did not reach out to us for comment.
Were here to set the record straight.
18-Year-Old Ethan Lindenberger Used as Prop in Pro-Vaxx Propaganda
Host Kristen Dahlgren began the segment by repeating the WHOs statement that vaccine hesitancy is a top ten global health risk. She then introduced Ethan Lindenberger, who testified on Capitol Hill recently about the role of social media in spreading misinformation and fear-mongering that Dahlgren said puts many people at risk.
Lindenberger is an 18-year-old boy from Ohio, with no background in medical research nor any other credentials or experience that would qualify him as an expert in any way. The teen gained some notoriety when he chose to be vaccinated after turning 18. His mother had chosen not to have her children vaccinated, and it wasnt until his 18th birthday that he could choose for himself.
He blamed social media for his mothers choices, claiming that she would turn to anti-vaccine groups online and on social media looking for her evidence and defense, rather than health officials and through credible sources.
Ethans mother and brother speak out in the video with Del Bigtree below:
When asked where he gets most of his information, he said, not Facebook and cited the CDC and WHO as his primary sources. To be clear, both the CDC and the WHO have Facebook pages where they routinely share short videos or images, often with links to relevant health articles.
Lindenberger fancies himself a social media whiz, having listed OH! Publishing as an employer, but his Reddit page clarifies that he simply helped a friend set up social media accounts to promote a book. He also has two Facebook accounts, allegedly because he forgot his password. Why were listening to an unqualified young man who cant figure out how to reset his password explain the dangers of social media remains a mystery.
The fact that information is shared on Facebook does not inherently make it untrue. Frankly, the boys story adds no value to the social debate revolving around vaccines, though Dahlgren seemed happy to use the gimmick to lead off her segment. [Note: We believe in medical freedom of choice, and support Ethans constitutional right to make his own choices regarding vaccination.]
NBC Attacks The Truth About Cancer
The host went on to accuse anti-vaxxers of blanketing social media with misinformation campaigns that are designed to scare families, while showing logos from TTAV, the documentary Vaxxed, and the National Vaccine Information Center.
At the 1:40 mark, Ms. Dahlgren, while referring to the 2019 outbreak of measles, states
in the first 2 months of 2019, the CDC has reported more cases of measles than in all of 2016 and 2017 combined.
Wow! So we must be looking at thousands and thousands of measles cases to be considered an outbreak, right? Wrong. According to the CDC, from January 1 to February 28, 2019, 206 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 11 states. Doing the math, thats an average of about 19 cases per state. NINETEEN ONE NINER. Not exactly what most people would think when they hear outbreak is it? But according to the CDC, an outbreak is defined as 3 or more cases. Can anyone say fear mongering?
Oh yeah, since 2000, there have been a total of eleven reported deaths from measles, or an average of one death every couple of years. While any death is tragic and heartbreaking, you can see that measles is not typically a deadly disease. The number of Americans who die from measles every year is about the same number that die from a scorpion sting! Youre about 100 times more likely to die from being struck by lightning than from measles in the USA.
At 1:48 Amy Pisani (the executive director for Vaccinate Your Family) says
Its a public health nightmare, because children are actually getting the diseases that were eliminated from our country years ago.
HMMMMM Ms. Pisani is referring to measles, which she claims was eliminated from the USA years ago. But thats a misleading play on words, because elimination does not really mean eradication. In 2000, when the CDC said that measles had been eliminated in the country, they actually meant that measles was no longer endemic. In other words, any measles cases that occurred would come from people traveling to the country.
At the 2 minute mark, they show a clip from Global Health News, singling out the line where Ty says, The only science thats settled is that vaccines harm. In the episode, we discussed mandatory vaccinations, state senator Richard Pans refusal to discuss whistle-blowers in the CDC, and unsupported claims about vaccine safety. After diving into the issues with safety testing and research in the context of a discussion about mandatory vaccination we pointed out that the only thing we know for certain is that vaccines can cause harm.
Watch the full episode here:
This was a blatant and unethical attempt to slander and discredit our work and our mission. The clip was carefully used to fit Dahlgrens narrative, and we were lumped unfairly into the anti-vaxxer and misinformation categories without so much as an email requesting a comment.
After the slanderous attack on our mission, we were introduced to Dr. John Torres, an ER doctor and NBC medical correspondent. They asked him about three vaccine myths. Since preventing misinformation is such a priority for the network, were going to fact-check Dr. Torres responses.
The Fact Check
Fact Check #1
Concern: Vaccines can cause autism.
Torres Response: There was one study thats been disproven. Multiple studies show that vaccines dont cause autism.
Fact Check: Honestly, we had a difficult time finding the multiple studies on the CDC.gov website that show vaccines dont cause autism. However, we did find one of the studies they cite for support of their assertion. Poul Thorsen was one of the co-authors, so we will refer to it as the Thorsen study.
The Thorsen study was a CDC sponsored cohort study and was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2002 and Pediatrics in 2003. There were 7 other co-authors of the study, and they looked at Danish data between 1991 and 1998. Thimerosal was removed from Danish vaccines in 1992, and the Thorsen study indicated that not only did autism rates not go down after its removal, they actually went up. Therefore, there was no link between thimerosal (mercury) in vaccines and autism. Therefore, vaccines do not cause autism.
Heres the rest of the story that was never included in the Thorsen studys findings. Its a perfect example of lying by omission. During that period, the Danish registry added outpatient clinics to their count of autism cases, when these cases had never been included before. It turns out that 93% of Danish children are diagnosed with autism at outpatient clinics, but the number of autism cases before 1995 did not include the clinics. Also, in addition to adding outpatient clinic autism diagnoses, there was also a new law requiring, for the first time, that autism cases be reported on the national registry in Denmark. The combination of these 2 factors is what likely accounted for the sudden rise in reported cases of autism, not the removal of mercury from vaccines.
But thats not all. Of the 8 co-authors of the study, Poul Thorsen was actually a CDC employee, three co-authors had received direct funding from the CDC on vaccine-safety related projects, and two of the co-authors were employees of Statens Serum Institute, a Danish vaccine manufacturer. None of these conflicts are mentioned in the study. In a report released September 18, 2017, our good friend, Bobby Kennedy, and his team outlined various criminal acts committed by the CDC, whose problematic ethics coupled with downright scientific fraud have resulted in extremely unreliable vaccine safety science.
And this isnt the first time weve seen a problem with study ethics. The FDA conducts inspections of clinical sites where human testing is underway. They sometimes find misconduct or substantially substandard practices, but arent able to relay the issues to the medical community, so the studies are still published.
In a JAMA Network review, 57 studies published between 1998 and 2013 were found to have falsification or submission of false information, problems with adverse events reporting, protocol violations, inadequate or inaccurate recordkeeping, failure to protect the safety of patients and/or issues with oversight or informed consent, and violations not otherwise categorized. The studies we see are not always backed by good science.
Among other alarming information, Kennedy has found evidence of criminal activity by Poul Thorsen. The evidence, recently uncovered by Childrens Health Defense, shows that Thorsen and his collaborators did not obtain permission from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to conduct their research. In 2009, when CDC discovered that Thorsen never applied for the IRB approvals, they did not report the errors and retract the studies. Rather, FOIA documents show that CDC supervisors ignored the missteps and covered up the illegal activity. In 2011, The Department of Justice indicted Thorsen on 22 counts of wire fraud and money laundering for stealing over $1 million in CDC grant money earmarked for autism research. Thorsen is currently on the most wanted list on the OIG website.
Despite the obvious ramifications of the above-omitted details, conflicts of interest, and criminal activity, the Thorsen study was never retracted. And heres the kicker: This fraud-tainted study is now cited as one of the primary studies that form the backbone of the popular orthodoxy that vaccines do not cause autism.
There have been several instances in which experts and professionals who speak up about the connection between vaccines and autism have been quickly silenced. Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, Dr. William Thompson, and even Congressman Mark Green have been threatened, persecuted, or simply dismissed at the first sign that they are unwilling to play ball with the vaccine industry.
Further, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has paid over $4 billion to families who have suffered injury or death caused by vaccines. Given the low reporting rate, rigorous application process, and unique rules that make findings for the plaintiff uncommon, this is a massive number.
Have you ever heard of Hannah Poling? Hannahs father, Jon a Harvard trained medical doctor/neurologist claimed in 2008 that Hannahs autistic symptoms were caused by a vaccine reaction after she had received 5 vaccines (DTaP, Hib, MMR, Varicella, and Polio) at the age of 19 months. Heres whats interesting: Hannah had been part of a study of normally developing children prior to being diagnosed with autism and had received an advanced brain imaging technology being developed by Harvard University.
Dr. Jon Poling was able to present compelling evidence that the vaccine reaction was causative of Hannahs autism. The vaccine court ruled in favor of Poling stating that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that vaccines given to Hannah Poling likely aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disease causing brain damage with features of autism. The Poling family was awarded $1,507,284.
Also interesting is the Sanofi Pasteur Tripedia Vaccine insert (for the DTaP vaccine) which lists autism as a possible adverse event. The Tripedia vaccine was taken off the market several years ago due to public outcry about its link to autism and other adverse affects. Its crystal clear that the science is not settled regarding vaccines and autism.
Fact Check #2
Concern: Infant immune systems are not able to handle the burden of the current vaccine schedule.
Torres Response: Infants have very strong immune systems to begin with. They are exposed to thousands of germs every day. The shots only have a few germs to prime their systems and are totally safe.
Fact Check: Infants are born with very susceptible immune systems. For the first month or so, most of the babys immunity is passed on from the mother. Their immune systems develop as they encounter various viruses and germs, but the process takes time. Infants have weak immune systems that can be compromised by such a heavy load of antigens and toxins at such an early age.
Whats more, this suppressed immune response is necessary for the child to develop healthy gut bacteria, which are necessary for a strong immune system. Toxic adjuvants in vaccines cause the body to go into a protective mode that prevents healthy bacteria from getting in, potentially causing permanent damage.
In addition to the relevant antigens (the virus itself), vaccines contain a host of preservatives, adjuvants, and antibiotics including thimerosal (mercury), aluminum, gelatin, and MSG, are just a few of the ingredients commonly used. It is thought that the rise in childhood allergies may be a result of increased exposure to these ingredients and other toxins. Additionally, certain cell lines, like WI-38 and MRC-5, are derived from aborted fetuses. These are used in vaccines for Hepatitis A, Rubella, chickenpox, and shingles, to name a few.
Below is the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for thimerosal. As you can clearly see, these do not look like benign substances.
Fact Check #3
Concern: The bodys immune system is better than any vaccine.
Torres Response: The bodys immune system is better only once youve been exposed to the disease. Measles has a 1 in 500 death rate and the vaccine has a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of an allergic reaction.
Fact check: It is true that the body builds immunity based on exposure to various germs and diseases. However, according to Physicians for Informed Consent, the fatality rate of measles is closer to 1 in 10,000. This number (0.01%) is 20 times smaller than Torres number (0.2%). Conversely, the WHO says that reactions to the MMR vaccine are not uncommon. The risk of a fever over 103 degrees is between 5 and 15 percent. Rashes occur between 2 and 5 percent of the time. Anaphylaxis occurs in as many as 10 in every million doses. The rate of seizures caused by the vaccine is about 1 in 3,000. Torres says the odds of an allergic reaction are 1 in a million, or 0.0001%. The odds of severe fever, rashes, anaphylaxis, and seizures are 15%, 5%, 0.001%, and 0.033%, respectively. Again, these numbers come directly from the WHO website, and expose Torres as either a liar or an unreliable source.
For someone who claims to be battling misinformation, neither Ms. Dahlgren nor Dr. Torres seem very interested in accuracy. But maybe theres another reason for such a biased, slanderous, and inaccurate report: money.
Pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars every year on TV advertising and are one of the primary sources of revenue for most major networks. In fact, pharmaceutical companies spend far more on marketing than on actual research. In a 2017 interview, lawyer and radio host Mike Papantonio said the following:
According to a 2009 study by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, with the exception of CBS every major media outlet in the United States shares at least one board member with at least one drug company. Let me put it in perspective for you, these board members wake up, they go to a meeting at Merck or Pfizer, and then they have their driver take them over to a meeting with NBC to decide what kind of programming that network is going to air. For those board members who arent pulling double duty with a media conglomerate and a big drug company, they still understand that they cant be honest and objective about big pharma because big pharma pays their bills.
We see how this influence has spread to social media. Our profile was removed from Pinterest, and Facebook has released statements that they will be taking steps to remove or bury anti-vaccination posts and pages. But remember false dichotomy? Speaking up about the safety of vaccines, or the money that the industry uses to influence the government and regulatory bodies, does not automatically make someone anti-vaxx.
At TTAC, we are pro-freedom and pro-knowledge. We believe that no government should dictate what chemicals we put into our bodies and that we should be able to travel freely across state lines without carrying papers that verify our compliance. These are not wild, unfounded fears. These are based on real legislation in motion right now regarding mandatory vaccination. We support Ethan Lindenbergers right to choose vaccinations, just as we support his mothers decision to abstain. What we will not abide are the lies being pushed by manufacturers, health organizations, and major media outlets.
We do thorough research before publishing an article, eBook, or docu-series. We interview experts from around the world and spend hours pouring through scientific studies so that we can give you all the information you need to make the decision thats right for you, no matter what that decision may be.
Vaccines are one of the most polarizing topics of our day. People on both sides have dug in their heels and are unwilling to have an open discussion. The moment that a person questions the safety of vaccines, they are branded as a dangerous lunatic. But we challenge you to look through some of our articles. Look at our coverage of Vaxelis, or the yellow fever vaccine. Check our sources. Our goal here is to present the truth.
Shame on you, Kristen Dahlgren, and shame on the executives at NBC. This was not reporting; this was a targeted and dishonest attack. If NBC, Kristen Dahlgren, Dr. John Torres, or Ethan Lindenberger want to join the fight against misinformation and fake news, perhaps they should start by looking in the mirror.
6 Vaccine Truths Everyone Should Know
1| Vaccines have not been proven to be safe.
New vaccines are routinely tested against confirmed dangerous ones in order to arrive at what appear to be positive outcomes, and the timeline for these studies is significantly shorter than for other drugs seeking FDA approval.
As a matter of fact, the 2011 Supreme Court decision, Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, SCOTUS referenced the already established status of vaccines as unavoidably UNSAFE. To reiterate U.S. law regards vaccines as unavoidably unsafe. (the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42 USC 300aa-22)
2| Theres too much money being pumped into the system by the pharmaceutical industry.
Those who serve in the CDC Immunization office are often rewarded with lucrative jobs by some of the industrys biggest companies, including Merck, who has been repeatedly accused of defrauding the U.S. government but continues to be one of the leading manufacturers of U.S. vaccines.
3| Vaccines use preservatives that are known to be dangerous.
Many vaccines are accompanied by adjuvants like aluminum and mercury. These toxic substances can wreak havoc on the immune system and have been linked to a host of diseases. There is evidence that these preservatives cause a number of health issues, including autism.
4| Infant immune systems are not equipped to handle the load that the current vaccine schedule presents.
In order to develop healthy gut bacteria, infant immune systems are initially suppressed. The massive load of toxic adjuvants and antigens put the infant body on defense, preventing healthy gut bacteria and permanently damaging the childs immune system.
5| Vaccine manufacturers are not liable for harm caused by their products.
Lobbyists have pressured the government, claiming that to NOT make vaccines available is unethical. Thats why there are no studies comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. If you or your family are injured or killed by vaccines, you have to go through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, where you essentially sue your own government for the negligence of private corporations.
6| Freedom of information is under assault.
Politicians who question vaccine safety are quickly silenced, and expert witnesses are dismissed and misrepresented if their findings dont support the vaccine industry. Now were seeing social media platforms caving to pressure by silencing anyone who speaks out against the CDC schedule, safety testing standards, or the millions of dollars the industry spends on lobbying efforts.
Read more at: TheTruthAboutCancer.com
(Natural News) Now that special counsel Robert Mueller has filed his report with Attorney General William Barr and the Justice Department announced there would be no new indictments in his witch hunt investigation into imagined collusion between POTUS Donald Trumps campaign and Mother Russia, the president wants a little payback.
Or justice.
Whatever you want to call it, its long overdue.
Specifically, the president wants to see some investigative action taken against members of the Obama-era Deep State who were involved in the coup attempt to overthrow him after he beat the pantsuit off of Hillary Clinton in 2016, much to their surprise and anger.
But also, POTUS wants to see some Democrats pay a political and legal price for their involvement and cover-ups as well.
There are a lot of people out there that have done some very, very evil things, very bad things. I would say treasonous things against our country, President Trump said at a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday when asked about the conclusion of Mullers investigation.
And hopefully, people that have done such harm to our country, weve gone through a period of really bad things happening. Those people will certainly be looked at. I have been looking at them for a long time, he added.
The president did not name specific people he would like to see investigated. However, he gave indications that they had a lot to do with triggering the special counsel probe, to begin with which, weve since learned, was premised on a hoax narrative devised pre- and post-election (an insurance policy) to undermine him every moment of his presidency and, in doing so, find a way to depose him.
Why havent they been looked at? They lied to Congress. Many of them, you know who they are. Theyve done so many evil things, he said. (Related: Russia hoax COLLAPSES: Not a single American charged with collusion with Russia; left-wing media has been LYING all along.)
The president went on to note that what has happened to him and his administration cannot be allowed to happen to any other president that includes weeding out Deep State rogues in the FBI and Justice Department, as well as the intelligence community.
Traitor is not too strong a word or charge against someone who tried to overthrow our president
What they did, it was a false narrative, it was a terrible thing, POTUS noted. We can never let this happen to another president again.
Democrats definitely deserve some blame here and, if at all possible, some legal attention.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) comes immediately to mind. Not only has he lied repeatedly to his constituents and to the American people regarding his oft-repeated claim that Trump colluded with Russia, he is a serial leaker, according to several people including former colleague Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.).
So does Rep. Eric Swalwell, another California Democrat. As Fox News Tucker Carlson said on his program Friday, hes the original collusion truther, adding that there hasnt been a single aspect of that bogus narrative he has failed to embrace and hasnt repeated as established fact.
There are a host of others including Reps. Maxine Waters (another California Democrat) and Steve Cohen of Tennessee, both of whom have not only lied about collusion but have called for the presidents impeachment based on the lie.
There are plenty of Deep State operatives as well as current and former government officials who should not simply be allowed to resign or be fired but should face charges of treason: James Comey, John Brennan, James Clapper, Lisa Page, Bruce Ohr, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, and Stephen Halper, to name a few.
And lets never forget the ringleader himself Barack Hussein Obama, for without his approval none of this would have taken place.
If the word traitor sounds too harsh, so be it. Thats what these people are; anyone who takes part in a plot to overthrow a duly elected, innocent president should be treated as an enemy of the state.
Sources include:
Breitbart.com
TheNationalSentinel.com
Barnacles that hitch rides on the backs of humpback and gray whales not only record details about the whales' yearly travels, they also retain this information after they become fossilized, helping scientists reconstruct the migrations of whale populations millions of years in the past, according to a new University of California, Berkeley, study.
Oxygen isotope ratios in barnacle shells change with ocean condition and allow scientists to chart the migration of the host whale, for example to warmer breeding grounds or colder feeding grounds. Now, marine paleobiologists led by UC Berkeley doctoral student Larry Taylor have discovered that barnacles retain this information even after they fall off the whale, sink to the ocean bottom, and become fossils."
As a result, the travels of fossilized barnacles can serve as a proxy for the peregrinations of whales in the distant past, like GPS trackers from the Pleistocene.
"One of the more exciting things about the paper, in my mind, is that we find evidence for migration in all of these ancient populations, from three different sites and time periods, but also from both humpback and gray whale lineages, indicating that these animals, which lived hundreds of thousands of years ago, were all undertaking migrations similar in extent to those of modern-day whales," Taylor said.
One surprise finding is that the coast of Panama has been a meeting ground for different subpopulations of humpback whales for at least 270,000 years and still is today. Whales visit Panama from as far away as Antarctica and the Gulf of Alaska.
This information about ancient migration will help scientists understand how migration patterns may have affected the evolution of whales over the past 3 to 5 million years, how these patterns changed with changing climate and help predict how today's whales will adapt to the rapid climate change happening today.
"We want to understand how malleable migratory behavior has been through time, how rapidly whales have adapted to previous climate changes, and see if this can give us some clues as to how they might respond to the current changes in Earth's climate," he said. "How will whales cope with that, how will the food base shift, how will the whales themselves respond?"
Taylor and his colleagues, senior author Seth Finnegan, a UC Berkeley associate professor of integrative biology, Aaron O'Dea of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama and Timothy Bralower of Pennsylvania State University in University Park, will publish their findings this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Riding the whales
Barnacles are crustaceans, like crabs, lobsters and shrimp, that remain stuck in one place their whole lives, encased in a protective hard shell and sticking out their legs to snatch passing food. Most glue themselves to rocks, boats or pilings, but whale barnacles attach to a whale's skin by boring down into it. Some whales have been estimated to carry up to 1,000 pounds of barnacles, which are visible when they breech. Clusters of barnacles are used to identify individual whales.
"This gives the barnacle several advantages: a safe surface to live on, a free ride to some of the richest waters in the world and a chance to meet up with other (barnacles) when the whales get together to mate," O'Dea said.
Taylor's technique works because different species of whale barnacle hitch rides on different species of whale, so paleontologists can know, when they find a fossilized barnacle, which species it rode with. Normally, the barnacles stay with a whale between one and three years, until they fall or are brushed off, often at whale breeding grounds. At least 24 fossil assemblages of whale barnacles have been found around the world, Taylor said.
The new discovery means that the fossilized barnacles recovered at these sites can tell about ancient migrations of humpbacks, gray whales and perhaps other baleen whales (toothed whales, such as sperm whales, do not host many barnacles), potentially turning up previously unsuspected feeding and breeding areas.
The technique is based on measuring the oxygen isotopes in the calcium carbonate, or calcite, shell of the barnacle. The ratio of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 goes up as the temperature drops. Since barnacles lengthen their shells by a few millimeters a month as they try to stay attached to whales in the face of the mammals' shedding skin, the composition of the new shell reflects the ocean temperature and general isotopic composition where it formed.
Taylor built on previous work showing that barnacles attached to living gray whales record a chemical signature of their migrations. He confirmed that the isotopic composition of the humpback whale barnacle (Coronula diadema) also tracks its environment today during the whales' yearly migration, showing monthly changes. He then demonstrated that fossilized barnacles from Panama and from the California coast could be analyzed similarly, and that they showed isotopic changes similar to that of today's whales."
This technique will be particularly valuable for studying prehistoric humpback populations, Taylor said, because the humpback was and is more cosmopolitan than the California gray whale, cruising widely through the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Scientists theorize that whale migration began as food sources became more scattered as the climate changed 5 million years ago. Modern Pacific whales migrate tens of thousands of miles annually, visiting several known feeding areas and returning to warm waters off Central and South America or Hawaii to breed.
"We plan to push this approach further back in time and across different whale populations," Finnegan said. "We hope that by analyzing other aspects of the geochemistry of the barnacles shells we might ultimately be able to figure out what areas different ancient whale populations were migrating to."
A federal appeals court Monday upheld the dismissal of a negligence claim against the city of San Francisco and former Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi by the parents of a woman killed by a bullet from a gun held by an undocumented immigrant.
A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Mirkarimi was acting within his discretion when he issued a 2015 memo limiting the amount of information jail staff could give federal authorities about the release of inmates who were undocumented immigrants.
The court said that while federal laws require sharing of some information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the laws "plainly and unambiguously" do not require notification of jail release dates.
Kate Steinle, 32, was killed while walking on Pier 14 in San Francisco on July 1, 2015, by a ricocheting bullet from a gun held by Jose Ines Garcia Zarate.
Garcia Zarate, a Mexican citizen with a history of drug convictions and deportations, was released from San Francisco county jail two and a half months earlier. The jail staff did not inform ICE about the release.
Garcia Zarate was acquitted in a San Francisco Superior Court trial of Steinle's murder, but was convicted of being an ex-felon in possession of a gun. He is appealing that conviction.
The lawsuit by parents James Steinle and Elizabeth Sullivan still contains an additional claim against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The gun held by Garcia Zarate was stolen four days earlier from a bureau ranger's car, and the parents claim the ranger violated a duty to secure the loaded handgun properly.
Family members say a body discovered at San Francisco's Fort Funston Monday has been determined to be that of 22-year-old Kyra Sunshine Scarlet, the woman who was buried in a landslide at the beach last month.
Family members made the announcement Tuesday on a GoFundMe page dedicated to Scarlet.
Back on Feb. 22, Scarlet was with another woman and a dog when tons of sand gave way and came sliding more than 100 feet, carrying them along. The other woman and dog were rescued, but crews were unable to find Scarlet until Monday.
Fort Funston is part of the federal Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is about 10 miles south of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is set above steep cliffs that are about 200 feet above the San Francisco beach.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
U.S. Coast Guard crews and other authorities are continuing to search for a man who went missing after going swimming with friends at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica early Tuesday morning.
Officers responded at about 4:20 a.m. to a report of a missing swimmer, later identified as 28-year-old Tyler Collins of Merced County, among a group of friends who were staying at a nearby hotel. The group had been at the beach when two decided to go into the water, police said.
The two were about 50 feet from shore when one went missing. The friends searched the beach and surrounding area but didn't find him, then called the police. The swimmer had been last seen about 45 minutes before the friends called police.
Police, firefighters and Coast Guard crews have been searching Tuesday morning for the swimmer, described as a white man in his 20s who is about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 160 pounds with brown hair, and was last seen wearing black boxer shorts, according to police.
The Coast Guard sent a lifeboat and aircraft to the area but they had not found the man as of 8:30 a.m.
The Henry Avocado company in Escondido is voluntarily recalling whole avocados that might be contaminated with the listeria bacteria at the company's North County packing facility.
Henry Avocado said the recall covers conventional and organic avocados grown and packed in California. The company said the avocados subject to recall were in stores before March 22. The questionable fruit was sold in bulk to retailers in California, Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, North Carolina and New Hampshire.
Phil Henry, president of the avocado company, told NBC San Diego that avocados imported from Mexico are safe to eat and are not being recalled.
The types of Henry avocados can be easily identified by the small stickers on their skins (Pictured Above).
One sticker has the words "Organic" and "California" and the number 94225.
The other has the words "California" and "Bravocado" and the number 4770.
There have been no reports of any illnesses associated with the avocados.
The company says it issued the voluntary recall after a routine inspection of its packing plant revealed samples that tested positive for listeria.
The company says avocados imported from Mexico and distributed by Henry are not being recalled and are safe.
Listeria is a bacteria that can cause fever and diarrhea, and more dangerous complications in pregnant women, and the frail and elderly.
"This voluntary recall is being conducted and overseen by a third party expert," company president Phil Henry told NBC San Diego. "Henry Avocado is focused on thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing our Escondido facility. This will be followed by comprehensive environment sampling before we begin packing there again."
The San Diego Farm Bureau said the avocado recall is a good reminder of the importance of washing all fruits and vegetables -- including avocados -- before eating.
"Because the concern with an avocado is very simple," said Farm Bureau spokesman Eric Larson. "You peel the skin off, so people assume that it's completely safe (to eat). But if you put a knife through it, you can take whatever's on the skin and put it onto the fruit."
California lawmakers will discuss the future of high-speed rail Tuesday and seek answers from the Newsom administration about the governor's vision for the long-delayed project.
The Senate Transportation Committee's oversight hearing will be lawmakers' first public discussion on the project since Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested changes last month.
California voters approved nearly $10 billion in bond money in 2008 to build a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The total cost now stands at $77 billion with a completion date of 2033. The state does not have nearly enough money to complete the project.
Newsom in his state of state speech said there wasn't a path for the project as planned and said he's instead focus immediately on completing and expanding a line through the Central Valley, adding about 50 miles of track to a line already under construction.
He also said he'd continue environmental work on the full line and has since said he's committed to a train from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
A background paper put together by Senate staff says Newsom's comments left people "perplexed" about his plans. His administration has not provided any additional details, including how much his new plan will cost, according to the paper.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority will lay out more details about Newsom's plan in a May 1 report.
Sen. Jim Beall, a San Jose Democrat who heads the transportation committee, said lawmakers want to be proactive in discussing the project's future instead of waiting for Newsom's administration to offer more clarity.
"We can't be passive," he said.
Set to testify are Lenny Mendonca, Newsom's appointee to head the board that oversees the rail project; the head of the project's peer review group; the state auditor and the legislative analyst's office.
The Senate background briefing outlines the project's challenges, including the risk of losing roughly $3.5 billion in federal money that the Trump administration has threatened to rescind or withdraw. The state has spent about $2.5 billion and is waiting for about $929 million more.
A roughly 119-mile segment of track in the Central Valley must be completed by 2022 to keep that money, and environmental reviews on the entire line must be finished. The Senate paper says the rail authority will have to work twice as fast as it has been to meet the deadline.
Police late Monday afternoon were investigating a shooting at the California Department of Corrections building in San Francisco.
The victim, an 18-year-old who was on pretrial release, has been transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police sources tell NBC Bay Area. Authorities initially told NBC Bay Area the victim was a parolee.
Witnesses tell police the suspect hopped into a white vehicle and fled the area.
Several nearby streets are blocked off and police have alerted residents to avoid the area of 13th Street and South Van Ness Avenue.
Police said no Department of Corrections personnel are involved in the incident.
No other information was immediately available.
The sanctuary county debate in Santa Clara continued Tuesday.
Santa Clara County Police Chiefs Association wrote a joint letter to the county board of supervisors last week, asking to modify the sanctuary county status after a woman was murdered in San Jose by an undocumented immigrant with criminal records.
The March 21 letter, signed by 11 police chiefs, including San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia, who has previously asked the county's santurary policy to be revisited, addressed the Board of Supervisors and President Joe Simitian to revise the policy so that it's consistent with the California Values Act.
"Contrary to other immigrant-focused initiatives that our agencies have supported, the existing policy that allows predatory criminals to evade lawful deportation requests makes everyone less safe," the letter read. "The County's policy, which predates California's law allowing the safe transfer of individuals deemed to be a threat to public safety to federal immigration officials, undermines the safety of the communities we collectively seek to protect, to include law abiding immigrants."
The man who sparked the conversation, Carlos Eduardo Arevalo Carranza, was arrested earlier this month after a 12-day manhunt. Hes accused of killing Bambi Larson in what investigators described as one of the most gruesome and disturbing murders in recent memory.
Carranza is an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said cities and counties ignored its requests to detain him for deportation after having prior arrests.
"If I have to oppose policies that hinder my ability to keep my city safe, then thats something I have to do," Garcia previously said.
Since 2010, Santa Clara has barred its employees from using county resources to communicate with ICE regarding any information collected in the course of providing critical services or benefits.
The policy predates the CA Values Act (SB54), which was signed into law on Oct. 5, 2017 and went into effect on Jan. 1, 2018, the police chiefs argued.
The letter asked that the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office be allowed to "honor ICE Notification Requests for inmate outdates as allowable under [CA Values Act.]"
Erik Bonnar, an acting field office director for ICE, said Carranza has been arrested numerous times for criminal activity and convicted of more than 10 crimes in the past three years, including kidnapping, drug possession, battery on a police officer, trespassing and burglary, which would have made him eligible for transfer to ICE under SB54, according to law enforcement.
Carranza was diagnosed with psychosis back in 2016, according to a source.
Read the police chiefs' full letter below:
Authorities arrested a man suspected of a Thanksgiving shooting at an Alabama mall where police killed a man they mistakenly believed to be the gunman, officials said Thursday.
Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr. was killed by an officer responding to the report of a mall shooting. Police said Bradford had a gun, and they initially blamed him for opening fire. They later retracted that allegation.
Erron Martez Dequan Brown, 20, of Bessemer was charged with attempted murder in the Nov. 22 shooting at the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, according to a statement from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Inspector Frank Lempka with the U.S. Marshals in Atlanta said Brown was arrested Thursday morning at a relative's home in South Fulton, just outside of Atlanta.
Brown was taken to the Fulton County jail for a hearing to be sent back to Alabama, Lempka said.
Brown's arrest followed days of protests over Bradford's killing in Hoover, where leaders of an asked the state Thursday for permission to release more information about the killing.
Brown was charged in the shooting of Brian Xavier Wilson, 18, of Birmingham, who was wounded. He wasn't charged with shooting a 12-year-old girl who also was injured.
Court records show Brown was arrested in June 2017 in Huntsville on a charge of using a gun to rob a man, but the case was dismissed three months later after prosecutors filed notice that they didn't want to pursue the case.
With the city's lone black City Council member, Derrick Murphy, acting as a spokesman, officials made the request during an appearance at City Hall that ended with two prayers. The city will look at releasing information on its own if no response comes by noon Monday, Murphy said.
Demonstrators and relatives of Bradford have pushed authorities to release video and other evidence since an officer responding to a report of the shooting, which happened at Alabama's largest shopping mall.
Murphy, who joined other leaders in meeting with Bradford's relatives earlier this week, said the city wanted to help answer questions raised by the family.
"They have our love, they have our prayers," he said.
The city made the request about evidence to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency because state investigators are handling the shooting probe. A statement from the agency about Brown's arrest said it was "highly likely" that releasing evidence would hamper the continuing probe, but it didn't directly address the city's request.
The statement from the Alabama police agency did not say whether there was any relationship between Bradford and Brown, and an attorney representing the Bradford family did not return a message about whether the two men knew each other.
A minister who described himself as the Bradford family's pastor, Mike McClure Jr., said releasing video of the shooting would help calm growing tensions that have included days of protests and racist social media posts.
"When there is no information it only leads to imagination," said McClure, one of two pastors who closed the councilman's statement with prayer.
McClure said Bradford attended his church, and McClure will officiate at funeral services on Saturday which will include a eulogy by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Bradford was shot to death on a mall concourse decorated for Christmas. An officer, who has yet to be publicly identified, shot and killed Bradford upon seeing the young man with a gun moments after shots were fired, police said.
Bradford's family has said he had a permit to carry a weapon legally, and their attorney has said witnesses reported that Bradford was trying to help after the shooting.
In arguing for border wall funding, President Donald Trump claimed without any evidence that only 2 percent of those apprehended crossing the border and released pending immigration hearings appear in court. Actually, Trump administration officials put the figure at about 50 percent, while immigration experts say it is even higher.
The president made his remarks on Day 24 of the partial government shutdown, which began because Congress would not agree on Trumps request for $5.7 billion in funding for a proposed border wall. The president was speaking at the American Farm Bureau Federations annual convention in Louisiana.
--Trump, Jan. 14: Somebody comes into our country, they touch one foot on the ground, and we have to catch them. Its called, catch. We then take their names and we bring them to a court can you believe this? and we release them. And they go into our country, and then you announce these are the laws then you say, Come back in three years for your trial. Tell me, what percentage of people come back? Would you say 100 percent? No, youre a little off. Like, how about 2 percent? (Laughter.) And those people, you almost dont want, because they cannot be very smart. (Laughter.) Two percent. Two percent. Two percent come back. Those two percent are not going to make America great again, that I can tell you. (Laughter and applause.) Crazy.
It is important to note first that most people apprehended at the border are quickly returned to their home country.
In an August 2018 report, the Department of Homeland Security said that 52 percent of the 479,000 people apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol for crossing the border illegally in 2014 were returned to their home countries within three days.
Overall, DHS repatriated 65 percent of aliens encountered in 2014, with the majority (80 percent) of these repatriations occurring as expedited removals or reinstatements of previous removal orders, according to the DHS report, which tracked the enforcement outcomes over time for people trying to cross the Southwest border legally and illegally in 2014.
Mexican nationals, in particular, are often immediately processed and removed, as are those with criminal records, the report said.
Existing enforcement measures are highly efficient at repatriating Mexicans, convicted criminals, and single adults who do not seek humanitarian relief, according to the report, which noted that 97 percent of those with criminal records were repatriated.
However, DHS has criticized current laws and court rulings that favor the release of unaccompanied children and families from noncontiguous countries until their immigration status can be resolved in court a process that can take years. The DHS report said that more than half of those from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador who were apprehended at the Southwest border in 2014 remained in the U.S. after three years, and about half of all those apprehended from those countries were unaccompanied children and families.
But we found no evidence to support Trumps claim that only 2 percent of those released return for court hearings, and no one from the administration provided us with any evidence, either.
We contacted the Department of Homeland Security, which referred us to the White House. Hogan Gidley, the White House deputy press secretary, promised to respond in a minute, but never did.
However, two administration officials testified about the subject before Congress, and both officials put the figure for no-shows at around 50 percent not 2 percent.
At an Aug. 16, 2018, hearing, Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, questioned James McHenry, director of the Justice Departments Executive Office for Immigration Review, specifically about unaccompanied children who are released and then fail to show up at immigration hearings.
Im trying to figure out how many that we actually know are showing up to hearings or are still engaged in the process, Lankford said. Do you have a number on that at all?
The closest estimate we have is the in absentia rate, the number who receive an order of removal for not showing up at the hearing, McHenry replied. (In absentia is Latin for in the absence.)
McHenry said a little over 50 percent of cases involving unaccompanied children crossing the Southwest border are decided in absentia. A chart on the website of the Executive Office of Immigration Review, which McHenry heads, shows the in absentia rate in fiscal year 2018 for unaccompanied alien children, or UACs, was 50 percent.
Similarly, Matthew T. Albence, executive associate director for Enforcement and Removal Operations at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told senators at a Sept. 18, 2018, hearing that 53 percent of cases involving family units encountered at the Southwest border in FY 2014 were decided in absentia.
One immigration expert told us Trumps 2 percent figure is highly unlikely.
As usual, I have no idea where he is getting his figures from and would suggest it is highly unlikely. This is so because those who are processed through the border are released from detention on an ankle monitor and have to follow a number of different procedures to help track them, all found to be highly effective alternatives to detention, said Ayodele Gansallo, an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School who is a senior staff attorney with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of Pennsylvania.
Lenni B. Benson, who teaches immigration law at New York University, also questioned the 50 percent figure cited in congressional hearings by Trump administration officials.
In a phone interview, Benson said the fact that a deportation order is issued in absentia does not mean that the person will be or should be deported. Too often, she said, noncitizens dont know when to appear in court because they are given inadequate notices to appear.
Benson cited the case of Wescley Fonseca Pereira, who was ordered removed in absentia because he missed a removal hearing in 2007. The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in June that Pereiras notice to appear was inadequate because it lacked both time and location. In the majority opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the Department of Homeland Security almost always serves noncitizens with notices that fail to specify the time, place, or date of initial removal hearings, and instead state that the time, place and date are to be determined.
The government acknowledged in a court filing that almost 100 percent of notices to appear omit the time and date of the proceeding over the last three years.
If given inadequate notice, noncitizens may seek to reopen their immigration proceedings, even though a deportation order was filed against them in absentia. Benson argued that the 50 percent figure cited by the Trump officials is inflated, because it is a snapshot in time. In other words, some who failed to show up and received a deportation order in absentia may nevertheless continue to work through the judicial system.
When asked about the best available data on case outcomes, several immigration law experts referred us to a study published last year in the California Law Review that analyzed government data from immigration court cases initiated between 2001 and 2016.
The study led by Ingrid Eagly, an immigration law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles found that [f]amily members released from custody attended all of their hearings in 86% of cases during the 15 years covered by the study period. The percentage was slightly lower 81 percent for nonfamilies.
One group in particular families seeking asylum had a very high rate of showing up for court hearings. We find that family members seeking asylum who were released from detention attended their hearings in 96% of cases that began in family detention since 2001, the study found.
The president frequently complains about what he calls catch and release. Last year, he claimed only 3 percent of those released show up in immigration court, while on other occasions he has said the released immigrants never show up in court or nobody ever shows up. But there is no evidence to support any of these claims.
The first all-female spacewalk, which NASA had scheduled for Friday, has been called off "due in part to spacesuit availability on the station," the agency said Monday.
That issue involves the upper part of the spacesuit, called the hard upper torso, which connects to the helmet and arms. There was only one hard upper torso in a medium size that could be ready by Friday, NASA said in a news release, and astronaut Anne McClain found on a spacewalk last week that it fit her best.
That meant McClain and fellow American Christina Koch couldn't participate in the spacewalk together. NASA didn't say in the news release what other factors might have contributed to the schedule change, or when the first all-female spacewalk would be rescheduled for.
But after a cavalcade of ridicule on Twitter from people who said NASA should have more suits that fit its female astronauts, the agency acknowledged the criticism. It noted in its own tweet that there is a second medium-sized spacesuit torso aboard the space station, "but to stay on schedule with @Space_Station upgrades, its safer & faster to change spacewalker assignments than reconfigure spacesuits."
A NASA spokeswoman had told The New York Times, "When you have the option of just switching the people, the mission becomes more important than a cool milestone."
Last week, NASA's spacewalk flight director, Mary Lawrence, previewed the series of spacewalks the astronauts are embarking on. She said that, while the astronauts are fitted for their suits on Earth, they are checked again in space.
"Of course, your body changes slightly in space due to fluid shifts or spine elongation, so we do refit suits to the crew members and make sure that they have the optimal fit," Lawrence said.
Asked about what being part of the first all-female spacewalk would mean to her, Lawrence noted that the spacewalk assignments might change, but added, "If they [the astronauts] can inspire that next generation of space explorers, they are certainly worthy of that inspiration and I am just proud to be a part of it."
Both McClain and Koch are still slated to take part in upcoming spacewalks: Koch on Friday, to continue installing batteries for a solar array, and McClain tentatively on April 8.
Animal shelters from around Georgia were called in to help authorities rescue 700 dogs from a home in Valdosta.
News outlets report the shelters say the dogs were kept in small cages, and many of the animals rescued on Saturday had never been walked or held before. One shelter, Release Atlanta, calls it "an extreme hoarding puppy mill case."
A transport coordinator with the Humane Society in Valdosta, Tim Hill, says the dogs did appear to have been fed and watered. He says the owner had asked for help from the state Department of Agriculture.
Reason Craig Gray, 58, of Nashville, was facing charges of animal cruelty and obstruction, the Berrien County Sheriffs Office said in a statement late Thursday.
Gray ran a licensed pet-breeding business known as Georgia Puppies. It sold miniature breeds including teacup Yorkies and toy poodles for up to $600 per dog.
Releash Atlanta, an organization caring for eight of the rescued animals, said they "flinch at the feeling of grass under their feet" and were used to sleeping standing up.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Atlanta Humane Society said the animals "have been living in crates their whole lives one tiny crate stacked on top of another. Theyre matted, covered in feces and have never been held or walked."
The Humane Society previously named Gray on its "Horrible Hundred 2018" list of problem puppy mills and puppy sellers in the United States.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture inspected his facility last week. Gray initially voluntarily surrendered 630 of the dogs, but police say he admitted to subsequently bringing puppies back onto the property. An additional 85 dogs were rescued Thursday after a search warrant was obtained.
The shelters say the dogs will be up for adoption once rehabilitated.
Over strong objections from prosecutors, a federal judge on Monday took the rare step of letting a 25-year-old man charged with plotting to bomb a Chicago bar avert trial and move on to sentencing without ever saying he did anything wrong.
Adel Daoud entered an Alford plea at the end of a three-hour hearing in U.S. District Court, telling Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman he maintained his innocence but that he simultaneously acknowledged prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him had he gone to trial.
Agents arrested Daoud in an FBI sting in 2012, after he pressed the button on a remote he was told would ignite what he thought was a 1,000-pound bomb in a car, just blocks from the federal courthouse. Daoud said he wanted to kill at least 100 people, government court filings allege.
Daoud's case has dragged out for six years, delayed in part by his statements that the judge was "a reptilian overlord" and that his own lawyers were in cahoots with the Illuminati. After he received treatment for schizophrenia, Coleman earlier this year declared him fit to stand trial.
Dressed in orange jails clothes Monday, Daoud at times seemed unsure about the right words to use in a plea that's rare for federal cases and rarer still for federal terrorism cases. Standing before Coleman, he paused and remained quiet when the judge asked: "You are saying you didn't do anything illegal or wrong in this case?"
Daoud said he accepted the "factual basis" of the charges against him. But he added, "I deny culpability and maintain my innocence."
Daoud, of the Chicago suburb of Hillside, Illinois, faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when he learns his punishment next year. His sentencing will be April 29. Though Daoud didn't enter standard guilty pleas, Coleman explained to him that a judgment of guilty will be entered in the record for nine counts two related to the bomb plot case and seven regarding charges brought while he was in prison.
In objecting to the Alfred plea, prosecutor Barry Jonas alluded to statements from Daoud's lawyers that they intended to put "the FBI on trial" for entrapping Daoud. Jonas said that taking the case to a jury would allow the government to show that's not what happened.
"I consider this an FBI success story," Jonas said about the case. "The public has a right to know that."
Daoud also entered Alford pleas Monday on the seven other counts. Those included charges that, while behind bars, he solicited the killing of a FBI agent who participated in the sting and that he attacked a fellow inmate with a shank fashioned from a toothbrush after the inmate drew a picture of the Prophet Muhammad.
In accepting the Alfred pleas, Coleman cited both Daoud's mental health and concerns the defense had raised about what she said was "the overall environment when (the word) 'terrorism' is mentioned." She didn't elaborate.
Daoud's lawyers and other critics have argued for years that federal stings tend to snare psychologically vulnerable youth, not committed would-be terrorists. But in the lead up to Monday's hearing, prosecutors sought to dispel the idea that agents roped Daoud into a bomb plot he never would have contemplated on his own.
In a 19-page description of the evidence against Daoud recently filed with the court, prosecutors alleged Daoud expressed an interest in acts of violence for months before undercover FBI agents ever engaged him online.
President Donald Trump rallied voters Monday for Republican Senate appointee Cindy Hyde-Smith who has found herself in a closer-than-expected runoff contest after comments she made about attending a public hanging drew condemnation.
As Trump praised Hyde-Smith at two high-profile rallies in different parts of the state, her opponent, Democrat Mike Espy spoke at a predominantly African-American church and described his campaign as an effort to reach across the "chasm of racial division."
The runoff election Tuesday will decide who serves the final two years of a term begun by Republican Sen. Thad Cochran, who resigned in April amid health concerns.
The historic contest features Hyde-Smith, who would be the first woman elected to Congress from Mississippi, against Espy, who's vying to become the state's first black senator since Reconstruction.
It's a contest that has been buffeted by racial tensions after Hyde-Smith's public hanging comments. And the tensions continued right up until Election Day with the discovery of seven nooses and six handwritten signs on Capitol grounds Monday morning.
It was not immediately known who put them there. The signs referred to the state's history of lynchings and the Senate race. One sign said Mississippi needs a senator "who respects the lives of lynch victims."
At rallies in Tupelo and then in Biloxi, Trump praised Hyde-Smith and called on voters to send her back to Washington. She was appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant to fill the senate seat after Cochran retired.
"She votes for us and she votes for 'Make America Great Again,'" Trump said in Tupelo, where he was accompanied by Hyde-Smith.
Trump called her "a truly incredible leader and tireless champion" for Mississippi.
"She stood up to the Democrat smear machine," Trump said, praising her for voting to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Hyde-Smith, who has made the Trump rallies a highlight of her runoff campaign, told the crowd in Tupelo: "I worked very, very hard for you. I have stood up for you and you know I will continue to stand up for the conservative values of Mississippi."
But race has become a dominant issue as Hyde-Smith faces Espy, a former congressman and U.S. agriculture secretary.
Hyde-Smith has drawn fire for a photo showing her wearing a replica hat of a Confederate soldier, and a video showing her praising a supporter by saying, "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."
Mississippi has a history of racially motivated lynchings and violence against people who sought voting rights for black citizens. About 38 percent of the state's residents are black. Espy is trying to boost their turnout and pick up support from white voters who are uneasy with Trump or the racially tinged stories about Hyde-Smith.
Espy spoke for nearly 30 minutes Monday to a crowd of about 200 people gathered at church in Jackson. He called on his supporters to go out to vote on Tuesday "like it's a holiday."
"We've got a job to do. We need to come out tomorrow in such numbers, such strength, marching to the polls like it's a holiday," he said.
"This is a campaign that goes to the color line and it reached across the color line, across the chasm of racial division, across the chasm of racial acrimony," Espy said, saying blacks and whites share common concerns in the issues he's centered his campaign on, such as health insurance, student debt and jobs.
It's the last U.S. Senate race to be decided in 2018 and will determine whether Republicans pad their slim majority.
"If we win tomorrow, we'll be at 53-47 which is substantially more than we had," Trump said. He said of Espy, "Oh, he's far left, he's out there. How does he fit in in Mississippi?" And he told the crowd, "don't take any chances" by not voting.
Hyde-Smith's support of Trump is unmistakable. She used both her opening and closing statements of the only debate of the runoff campaign to promote Monday's presidential rallies, citing the online address to get tickets. Even on trade and tariffs, where Trump's decisions could hurt Mississippi farmers, Hyde-Smith praised the president.
After the event in Tupelo, best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Hyde-Smith and Trump flew to the Gulf Coast for a larger rally in Biloxi where thousands of Trump supporters were waiting.
"Cindy Hyde-Smith will support President Trump's agenda, and President Trump's agenda includes a better America for all of us, every state, including Mississippi," said Virginia Olander from Bay St. Louis.
About 100 anti-Trump protesters were also there, chanting "Impeach 45" as they held signs with red strikes through Hyde-Smith's name.
Espy has emphasized that he's a moderate seeking the votes of everyone and willing to work across party lines. He noted during a campaign stop earlier Monday that he had crossed the "party chasm" to endorse the re-election of Republican Gov. Haley Barbour in Mississippi in 2007.
Democrats also have used some star power.
Former Vice President Joe Biden endorsed Espy, and three Democrats who could run for president in 2020 Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick have been to Mississippi to campaign for the former congressman who served as agriculture secretary in 1993 and 1994 under Democratic President Bill Clinton.
For Espy, turnout is key. He must close the gap in a state where Trump received 58 percent in 2016. Mississippi hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1982.
Hyde-Smith has apologized to "anyone that was offended" by the hanging comment, saying she meant no ill will. She and her campaign have refused to discuss the Confederate hat.
Trump defended Hyde-Smith Monday. He said the comment was "a little flip" but said she apologized and that he'd "heard that loud and clear." He said he knows "where her heart is and her heart is good."
Walmart asked Hyde-Smith to return a $2,000 campaign contribution because of the hanging remark.
AP video journalist Stacey Plaisance contributed to this report.
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.
The Mexican government said Tuesday that it will award President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner the highest honor the country gives to foreigners, the Order of the Aztec Eagle.
The Foreign Relations Department said Kushner earned the award "for his significant contributions in achieving the renegotiation of the new (trade) agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada."
Once known as the North American Free Trade Agreement, the pact was renegotiated this year and is now called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
Kushner "played a fundamental role during the whole process, displaying decisive support for the trade talks ... thus achieving satisfactory results," the department said in a statement.
Tuesday's announcement was met by criticism in Mexico, where Trump is widely disliked for his comments about Mexican migrants and promises to build a border wall between the countries.
Prominent Mexican intellectual Enrique Krauze called the decision to give Kushner the Aztec Eagle an act of "supreme humiliation and cowardice."
"Kushner is the son-in-law of the man who called Mexicans 'killers and rapists,'" Krauze tweeted.
Outgoing President Enrique Pena Nieto was harshly criticized for inviting Trump to Mexico while he was still a U.S. presidential candidate.
The decision to give Kushner the award comes days before President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office on Dec. 1.
Mexico has previously given the award to foreign leaders, dignitaries, cultural figures and philanthropists ranging from Walt Disney to Bill Gates.
Mexico's willingness to accept U.S. asylum seekers while their applications are processed appears to be yet another sign of the blooming honeymoon between leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and President Donald Trump, though it is also causing concern among officials in Mexican border cities already struggling to deal with thousands of Central American migrants.
Mexico could have simply refused, as it historically has, to accept the return of non-Mexicans. But this week's announcement of $10.6 billion in U.S. development aid and the personal relationship between the two presidents appeared to smooth the path. It is the same relationship that helped resolve stalled negotiations on Mexico's free trade agreement with the United States and Canada.
"Right now it's a honeymoon, in part because even though one is on the left and the other is more to the right, they have things in common protectionism, the anti-establishment thing, each one's nationalism," said Jose Antonio Crespo, a political analyst at Mexico's Center for Economic Research and Training.
Crespo noted Trump was getting along better with Lopez Obrador than with his conservative predecessor, Enrique Pena Nieto. "Up to now it's been a honeymoon, who knows how long it will last."
Mexico, meanwhile, is struggling to say how it will house and protect what could become tens of thousands of Central American migrants who might wind up in its cities along the border with the United States. It is clearly not ready to shelter so many.
Tonatituh Guillen, the head Mexico's immigration agency, said, "In the short term, the National Immigration Institute does not have the organizational capacity to operate this kind of program ... the current legislation also doesn't help us."
Mexico is already hosting thousands of Central Americans who arrived as part of a migrant caravan in November. Those migrants were dismayed by Thursday's announcement.
"This is bad, because every country has its sovereignty, it doesn't have to depend on another country," said Luis Miguel Conde, a Guatemalan who travelled to Tijuana with his wife and two children to request asylum in the U.S. "When you apply for asylum in Mexico, they don't send you to Guatemala to wait. You wait for your application within the country's territory."
Tijuana is currently the most popular crossing point for asylum seekers waiting to submit claims in the United States, but the border city is already weary of housing over 7,000 migrants who arrived in the caravan in November.
The city's police staged a raid before dawn Thursday to clear dozens of migrants who had resisted moving to a shelter farther from the border and camped out on a downtown street a few blocks from the border. Riot police loaded about 120 people onto buses to take them to the Barretal shelter, located about 14 miles (22 kilometers) from the San Ysidro border crossing. Officers arrested two dozen who refused to relocate.
"We did have to detain 24 people who refused to leave the street, and we found some who were doing illegal drugs," Police Chief Marco Sotomayor said.
Cesar Palencia, director of migrant affairs for the city government, reacted with surprise to Thursday's announcement by the federal government on housing asylum seekers.
"How would it be done? For how long? How many people? We don't know what the strategy or the plan is, nor have any studies been done," Palencia told The Associated Press. "We respect the federal government's decision, but we would ask that it be accompanied by personnel, funding and a strategy."
The assistant legal counsel for Mexico's foreign relations department, Alejandro Celorio, said that there will not be any detention centers for migrants. "They will not be detained," he said.
But Celorio did not say whether shelters, like the former Barretal concert venue in Tijuana, would be built, expanded or made more permanent and whose money would be used to pay for such shelters.
The only strategy Mexico's federal government has launched so far is a TV and radio "campaign against xenophobia" announced Thursday to combat suspicion and dislike of migrants.
"Migrants are not a threat, this is not an invasion," said Alexandra Haas, the head of Mexico's anti-discrimination agency.
The most outraged reaction came from U.S. immigration activists, but reaction on the Mexican side was muted, in part because Lopez Obrador's administration was apparently successful in depicting the decision as a humanitarian measure to protect migrants.
"There is a segment of Mexicans who are better off and don't feel threatened by migrants who can say this is good, we have to be humanitarian, show solidarity," said Crespo, the analyst. "But for those (Mexicans) who are looking for a job, they perhaps won't like this."
All in all, it will be hard for opponents to accuse a die-hard nationalist like Lopez Obrador of being too pro-American.
"Who can stand up in congress and say: 'You're selling the country out,'" said Federico Estevez, a political science professor at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico. "He (Lopez Obrador) may absorb a cost, but it's relatively small price to get your neck out of the noose on the immigration issue."
"I don't think you can find on the Mexican side much of a coherent stance against these concessions," Estevez added. "I don't think you have a very strong constituency on this side" in favor of the Central American migrants.
The country's intelligence chief was on the verge of resigning at the end of last year over his frustrations with President Donald Trump but was talked out of it by his closest ally in the administration, Vice President Mike Pence, current and former senior administration officials told NBC News.
Among the many tensions the officials said have marred the relationship between the president and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats was Trump pushing Coats to find evidence that former President Barack Obama wiretapped him.
But the tipping point for Coats came in December with Trump's abrupt decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, and the contentious departure of former Defense Secretary James Mattis after protesting the policy, according to the current and former officials. The vice president, who has repeatedly played the role of envoy between Trump and Coats, convinced his longtime Indiana friend to stay until at least this summer, the officials said.
In a statement to NBC News, Coats said, "I am focused on doing my job, and it is frustrating to repeatedly be asked to respond to anonymous sources and unsubstantiated, often false rumors that undercut the critical work of the Intelligence Community and its relationship with the President."
A Maine startup company that makes seaweed edibles and kelp puree has a lot more money to grow its business than it did just days ago.
Over the weekend, Ocean's Balance, which has offices in Biddeford, and seaweed farms in Casco Bay, won $100,000 beating out dozens of other companies.
One of Ocean Balance's founders, Tollef Olson, says the win is huge for a small business that has no full-time employees.
"We're small enough that $100,000 is going to go a long way for us," said Olson. "We've been bootstrapping like nobody's business so this could not have come at a better time for us."
Olson dove into seaweed in 2006 after holding various types of commercial fishing jobs.
He wants to put the award towards hiring more staff, expanding seaweed farms and outsourcing package labeling work that's being done by hand right now.
When asked what the long-term plan for his company is, Olson explained it's to make the Maine coast known for producing products from seaweed.
Right now, the company sells its products to dozens of stores across New England and beyond.
Olson hopes to branch into Whole Foods soon and says he's working on developing new product lines that will be easier to roll out with the new seed money.
A state audit released Monday contradicted former Gov. Bruce Rauner's claim that his administration had done everything federal experts recommended to remedy a deadly 2015 Legionnaires' disease crisis at an Illinois veterans' home.
Auditor General Frank Mautino reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recommended in December 2015 that filters be put on every water spigot. Despite Rauner's claim, the audit found that only shower and bathtub heads were outfitted with filters before 2018.
The audit sharply criticized the Departments of Public Health and Veterans' Affairs for delays in taking action and notifying nursing staff and the public in August 2015 of the outbreak at the Quincy facility, which ultimately led to the deaths of 13 elderly residents.
"Based on our review of communications between IDPH and the Quincy veterans' home, auditors determined that there was limited communication ...," Mautino wrote. "IDPH officials often did not know the seriousness of the problems."
Legionnaires' is a flu-like malady caused by inhaling water vapor infected with Legionella bacteria. Particularly susceptible are the elderly or those with compromised immune systems. The audit determined the average age of those who died was 88, with several in hospice care.
The crisis at Quincy became a main point of criticism of Rauner in his last year in office after families of residents filed lawsuits against the state. The audit found that 66 residents and eight employees of the 130-year-old home contracted Legionnaires', including the 13 deaths.
Through June 2018, the state spent $9.6 million to fix the problem, including a $5 million water plant reimbursed by the federal government. Ultimately, Rauner decided the whole campus should be rebuilt . He was defeated for re-election in November by Democrat J.B. Pritzker.
"The new administration is committed to working to ensure the Quincy veterans' home sets the standard for what quality care looks like for our veterans," Veterans' Affairs acting director Linda Chapa LaVia said in a statement. "The health and safety of our state's heroes is our top priority and we will take all available action to keep our veterans safe as we move forward."
Rauner repeatedly claimed that the administration had done everything federal experts suggested. But the audit determined that while the CDC recommended filters for all water fixtures in December 2015, only shower and tub heads were outfitted with them before April 2018.
Mautino noted that after the confirmation on Aug. 21, 2015, of a second case of Legionnaires' a red flag that an outbreak was imminent Public Health officials didn't visit the campus until three days later and nursing staff were not given sufficient instructions on protecting other residents for six days.
The audit pinpointed the cause of the initial outbreak to water which sat unused in a disabled boiler for a month in July 2015. When the boiler began operating again, it was not drained. The water in it was heated to 120 degrees before it was released into the water system. But Legionella bacteria can survive in water up to 140 degrees.
Mautino made four recommendations for the Veterans' Affairs and Public Health departments, including sufficient and timely instructions to nursing staff and caregivers after a Legionnaires' outbreak is confirmed to protect other residents from water vapor exposure.
He said the Veterans' Affairs should develop strict monitoring procedures for residents during outbreaks. Quincy staff said they increased monitoring but had no records to show for the stepped-up activity. Both agencies should improve communication and additionally, ensure that all CDC recommendations are followed.
In responses included in the audit, the agencies generally agreed with the recommendations.
One of Germany's richest families, whose company owns a controlling interest in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Panera Bread, Pret a Manger and other well-known businesses, plans to donate millions to charity after learning about their ancestors' enthusiastic support of Adolf Hitler and use of forced laborers under the Nazis, according to a report Sunday.
In a four-page report, the Bild newspaper reported that documents uncovered in Germany, France and the U.S. reveal that Albert Reimann Sr. and Albert Reimann Jr. used Russian civilians and French POWs as forced laborers.
Family spokesman Peter Harf, who is one of two managing partners of the Reimann's JAB Holding Company, said recent internal research confirmed Bild's findings.
"It is all correct," he told the newspaper. "Reimann senior and Reimann junior were guilty ... they belonged in jail."
The father and son, who died in 1954 and 1984, did not talk about the Nazi era and the family had thought that all of the company's connection to the Nazis had been revealed in a 1978 report, Harf said.
But after reading documents kept by the family, the younger generation began to ask questions and commissioned a University of Munich historian in 2014 to examine the Reimann history more thoroughly, Harf said.
The expert presented his preliminary findings to the Reimann children and grandchildren, as well as Hanf, several weeks ago, he said.
"We were all ashamed and turned as white as the wall," he said. "There is nothing to gloss over. These crimes are disgusting."
In addition al Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Pret a Manger, the Luxembourg-based JAB Holding Co. has controlling stakes in Keurig Green Mountain, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Caribou Coffee Co., Panera Bread and other companies.
Many German companies have acknowledged using slave laborers during the Nazi era and have conducted their own independent investigations.
In 2000, the German government approved a 10 billion mark (about 5.1 billion euro) fund to provide compensation, with half the money coming from companies like Bayer, Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Daimler-Benz, Volkswagen, and AEG.
Bild reported that even before the Nazis came to power, the Reimanns donated to the paramilitary SS.
During World War II, the company used forced laborers in its industrial chemicals company. It was not clear how many were used overall, but Bild said in 1943, 175 forced laborers were being used, about 30 percent of its workforce.
In addition to Russian and other Eastern European civilians, the company used French prisoners of war about whom Reimann Jr. complained in a letter to the Ludwigshafen mayor in 1940 that they weren't working hard enough.
After the war, the two were investigated by the occupying Allied powers and initially banned by the French from continuing their business activities but then had the judgment overturned by the Americans, Bild reported.
Harf said the family would donate 10 million euros ($11.3 million) to a not-yet-determined charity as a gesture, and once the historian's report is complete, it would be released to the public.
"The whole truth must be put on the table," he said.
A Chicago officer who was fatally shot while off-duty over the weekend died while shielding his girlfriend from gunfire, police said Monday.
John Rivera, 23, was at a pizza restaurant with a co-worker, a friend and his girlfriend early Saturday morning in the city's River North neighborhood when a gunman opened fire on their vehicle as they left the restaurant.
Police believe the shooting was a case of mistaken identity, saying the gunman murdered "the first Hispanic man that he came into contact with" following an earlier and unrelated altercation.
In announcing charges against two suspects, Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said Rivera's killing was apparently the result of an incident that happened just blocks away from the restaurant where Rivera had been with friends.
Police said the gunman and a friend were involved in an altercation inside what was once known as Chicago's Rock N' Roll McDonald's downtown and is now the chain's flagship eatery at Clark and Ontario. The altercation involved a group of people from a party bus, described as Hispanic.
When the altercation turned physical, the gunman allegedly fled the scene only to return a short time later after the party bus had already left, authorities said.
That's when police say the gunman and two others began searching for the party bus and ultimately shot "the first Hispanic man that he came into contact with."
"He got into it with a group of Hispanics, there was a physical confrontation and he wound up murdering a Hispanic so I think that speaks for itself," Johnson said.
Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said those in the car told police Rivera was shot and killed while leaning over and shielding his girlfriend from the gunfire with his body.
Rivera was shot in the chest, arm and mouth and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. Another 23-year-old man in the car was shot in his chest and arm and taken to Northwestern where he was in "critical but stable" condition and underwent surgery Saturday morning.
Another off-duty Chicago police officer and Rivera's girlfriend were not wounded in the shooting, officials said.
Rivera had been with the department for about two years, police said, and had worked his shift the night before, handling the paperwork on a murder case.
This appears to be an unprovoked attack against a group of individuals who went out to unwind on a Friday night, Johnson said at a news conference Saturday.
"Theres no problems, theres no words exchanged, Deputy Police Supt. Anthony Riccio told reporters.
The incident was captured on a CPD pod camera in the area and police said witnesses and license plate reader technology ultimately led to an arrest in the case.
Menelik Jackson, 24, and 32-year-old Jovan Battle, of Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, were both charged with one felony count of first degree murder and three felony counts of attempted murder, Chicago police said in a statement. Both were ordered held without bail Monday.
Jackson, of suburban South Holland, was also charged with resisting or obstructing a peace officer, according to police. He was later identified as the gunman in the shooting, Johnson said.
Police were still searching for a third person of interest Monday.
Jackson, who police say also confessed to the crime, was arrested using Rivera's handcuffs. Police said the alleged weapon used in the "senseless act" and the clothing Jackson was wearing during the shooting, were recovered from his apartment.
Johnson, whose son worked with Rivera in the 6th District, said the slain officer was "the kind of officer that we want in Chicago. Hard-worker, who loved going out on patrol and solving problems...he helped investigate a tragic murder, helped console a family on an unthinkable loss."
"My third watch is really struggling because he was such a good person," said Commander William Bradley with the department's 6th District.
A police procession escorted Rivera's body from the medical examiner's office to the Elmwood Funeral Home on the South East Side Sunday afternoon.
"He went out there every day trying to make this city safer," Bradley said.
A wake was tentatively scheduled to take place Thursday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a funeral the next morning at 10 a.m. at Annunciata Church, located at 11128 S. Avenue G, according to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.
A Lake County, Indiana, sheriffs deputy has been arrested on bribery and theft charges for allegedly falsifying vehicle inspection reports.
Deputy Louis Vasquez, 38, is charged with one felony count each of bribery, official misconduct, theft and perjury, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Superior Court of Lake County.
Vasquez, a 14-year veteran of the sheriffs department, is accused of illegally accepting cash in exchange for completing at least 42 salvage vehicle inspection forms for Fast Import Cars LLC of Knox, Indiana, Indiana State Police said in a statement.
Salvage auto inspections can only be performed by detectives with the sheriffs Auto Theft Unit, according to court documents. The person requesting the inspection must pay the county a $60 fee and show the receipt to a qualified detective before the inspection is performed.
Vasquez, who is not qualified to perform the inspections, charged the business $20 for each vehicle check, according to court records. The 42 forms signed by Vasquez were completed between Sept. 25, 2017, and Nov. 24, 2018.
I fully support the work being done every day by our county police officers and the members of our local law enforcement community but if an officer crosses the line, fails to abide by the law and their oath to protect and serve, they must be held accountable as nobody, including police officers, are above the law, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said in a statement.
Vasquez turned himself in to the sheriffs department on Tuesday, state police said.
Disciplinary charges against Vasquez were filed this January, seeking his termination in connection with the investigation, the sheriffs department said in a statement. He has been placed on administrative leave pending a hearing before the Lake County Sheriffs Merit Board this summer.
The owners of Fast Import Cars, Pavel Rohatinovici and Andrii Lakymenko, were also arrested and charged with one felony count each of perjury, state police said.
What to Know All criminal charges against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett were dropped Tuesday, his legal team said
Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of disorderly conduct earlier this month
Chicago police alleged he staged a hate crime attack on himself in January
All criminal charges were dropped against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett in Chicago Tuesday, nearly two months after the actor was accused of staging a hate crime attack on himself to further his career.
The surprise decision, which was celebrated by Smollett and his legal team and blasted by the city's mayor and police department, came during an "emergency court appearance" where prosecutors not only dropped the charges against Smollett but agreed to expunge the actor's record.
"Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgment," attorneys Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes said in a statement.
Smollett maintained his innocence, saying after court that he has been "truthful and consistent on every single level since day one."
"I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of one drop of what I was accused of," he told reporters outside the courtroom.
"I would not bring my family, our lives, or the movement through a fire like this," he added. "I just wouldn't."
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Supt. Eddie Johnson hammered the decision, saying they were unaware it was happening.
"At the end of the day it's Mr. Smollett who committed this hoax. Period. If he wanted to clear his name the way to do that was in a court of law so that everyone could see the evidence," Johnson said. "I stand by the facts of what we produced. If they want to dispute those facts the place to do that is in court."
Johnson added, "Do I think justice was served? No...I think this city is still owed an apology."
Emanuel called the decision a "whitewash of justice."
"Where is the accountability in the system? You cannot have because of a persons position, one set of rules apply to them and another set of rules apply to everybody else," he said.
In a statement, the Cook County State's Attorneys office said the decision came after reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollets volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago."
"We believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case," the statement read.
Tandra R. Simonton, the chief communications officer for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, said the resolution in the Smollett case was not "new or unusual."
"An alternative disposition does not mean that there were any problems or infirmities with the case or the evidence. We stand behind the Chicago Police Department's investigation and our decision to approve charges in this case," Simonton said. "We did not exonerate Mr. Smollett. The charges were dropped in return for Mr. Smollett's agreement to do community service and forfeit his $10,000 bond to the City of Chicago. Without the completion of these terms, the charges would not have been dropped. This outcome was met under the same criteria that would occur for and is available to any defendant with similar circumstances."
State's Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself from the case in February, with documents obtained earlier this month via Freedom of Information Act request showing that Foxx had asked Johnson to turn the investigation over to the FBI.
The Chicago Police Department said it found out about the latest news during a graduation ceremony for recruits.
"Its a punch in the gut. Is absolutely a punch in the gut," said Commander Ed Wodnicki. "We worked closely throughout our three-week investigation to get to point where we arrested the offender. For the state's attorney at this point to dismiss charges without discussing this with us at all is just shocking."
Smollett pleaded not guilty to multiple disorderly conduct charges earlier this month. He was initially charged with one felony count of disorderly conduct in filing a false police report in February, with Chicago police alleging that he staged a hate crime attack on himself the month before because he was "dissatisfied with his salary."
A Cook County grand jury then indicted Smollett on 16 felony counts.
Smollett reported the alleged attack to police on Jan. 29, claiming to have been beaten by two men who shouted racist and homophobic slurs, beat him, put a noose around his neck, and poured bleach on him, according to the indictment.
Initially investigating the incident as a possible hate crime, Chicago police said new information "shifted" their approach to the case, leading them to allege that Smollett orchestrated the assault by hiring two brothers who worked on "Empire" to execute it.
The lawyer for the brothers, Obabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo, said the pair had evidence backing their claim that Smollett orchestrated the attack. Smollett's lawyers said "misinformation" had been reported in the case and they planned to prove a lack of evidence in the case.
A representative for the brothers' legal team said their attorneys were reviewing the latest developments.
Smollett said he would "like nothing more than to just get back to work and move on with my life but make no mistakes I will always continue to fight for the justice, equality and betterment of marginalized people everywhere."
20th Century Fox which produces "Empire" also released a statement saying Jussie Smollett has always maintained his innocence and we are gratified on his behalf that all charges against him have been dismissed.
Among the questions that have gone unanswered are whether prosecutors still believe Smollett concocted the attack or whether theres new evidence that altered their view of events.
In an interview with NBC 5, First Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Magats said Smollett is "not a victim of a hate crime" and noted that dropping the charges "did not exonerate" him.
A man has been charged in a stabbing death at a hotel in southwest suburban Joliet.
Robert A. Watson, 25, of Chicago, is charged with murder following the incident at Harrahs Joliet Hotel and Casino, Joliet police said in a statement.
Authorities were called about 10 p.m. Sunday for a stabbing in the 100 block of Joliet Street and found Emmanuel M. Burgrino, 76, in a hallway of the hotel with multiple stab wounds in his chest and neck, police said.
Watson allegedly attacked him as he was leaving his room, police said.
Burgrino, who lived in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, was pronounced dead at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, police and the Will County coroner said.
Watson was arrested about 1:25 p.m. Monday on the second floor the Joliet Public Library in the 100 block of North Ottawa Street, police said. He was wearing clothing similar to the suspect recorded on surveillance video at the hotel.
Joliet police said they are no longer looking for anyone related to the case.
Watson was due in court Tuesday afternoon, according to the Will County sheriffs office.
A forensic expert says it would take five years to clear the state's DNA backlog.
Monday's hearing was the second in the past few months to try and get to the bottom of the backlog and also discuss solutions.
Latonya Moore determined to get justice for her daughter. Moore joined several other parents whose children were murdered, their cases still unsolved, at a public hearing Monday about the backlog of DNA testing in Illinois crime labs.
"I have not found out how she was murdered," she said. "She has a daughter and she needs to know what happened."
Moore says she won't give up until police arrest the person who killed her daughter, Shantanieya Smith.
Smith's body was found last June in a garage in Lawndale. Moore believes that DNA evidence could be key in her daughters case.
"I need to know whose hand prints was on that girl," she said. "I need forensics."
Carmia Tang held a picture of her murdered son as she testified.
"When the case first happened, (the) detective told me a few months, then six months--then a year--then almost two years," she said. "Why do they not know how long (it takes) for DNA to come back?"
One solution discussed at the hearing is a new technology that could reduce the time it takes to get the DNA profile of potential suspects to less than two hours.
The parents say they are open to trying anything at this point.
A Massachusetts woman napping on a couch was awoken by a pickup truck that crashed into her house and just missed hitting her by inches on Thursday, according to Templeton police.
"Thank God I have my guardian angels watching over me," said Tracy Samuels, the woman on the couch.
At approximately 11:22 a.m., police received multiple 911 calls reporting a vehicle collision into a house at 315 State Rd. An investigation determined a pickup truck driven by Simon Quero-Luna of Gardner, Massachusetts, veered off the road and collided with the house, according to police.
"I got up and I went, 'Oh my God, what in the world is going on?'" Samuels said. "I turned and I looked and I went 'why is there a pickup truck in my living room?'"
The truck traveled through the entire length of the house and collided with a parked vehicle in the driveway on the opposite side of the house before the truck came to a stop.
Samuels said Quero-Luna got out of the truck and started running around.
"He turned around and he saw me and went, 'Oh my God, are you OK?' and I said, 'Yeah, I'm fine, are you OK? she recounted.
Miraculously, nobody was injured, but the house sustained major structural damage and was condemned by the Templeton building inspector.
Life throws you a curveball. Throws you a lemon. Do what you need to do. Try to keep an upbeat attitude," Samuels said. "And as for Christmas? Its a day. Its a day you spend with your friends and family. Thats what Im gonna do.
The incident is being investigated by Templeton police.
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.
What to Know Attorneys for Kevin Spacey are seeking surveillance footage, text messages and other records they say they need to defend their client.
Spacey's lawyers also want documents from the accuser's civil attorney, including fee agreements with the accuser's family.
Last year, former WCVB-TV news anchor Heather Unruh publicly accused Spacey of groping her son at a Nantucket restaurant in July of 2016.
Attorneys for Kevin Spacey are seeking surveillance footage, text messages and other records they say they need to defend the disgraced actor against accusations that he groped a young Massachusetts man at a Nantucket bar in 2016.
Kevin Spacey's lawyers asked the judge in court documents filed this week to order the accuser to turn over his cellphone so they can retrieve messages, photos and other data.
They also want documents from the accuser's civil attorney, including fee agreements with the accuser's family.
The lawyers say they believe the accuser intends to file a civil lawsuit against Spacey, which they say would bolster the defense's argument that the accuser has a "substantial financial motivation to falsify his claims."
Spacey pleaded not guilty last month. A hearing is scheduled for Monday, but the judge said Spacey doesn't have to attend.
Sex assault resources are available at the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673. Since it was first created in 1994, the National Sexual Assault Hotline has helped more than two million people, according to its website.
A jury trial is now underway in a high profile patient abuse case a story broken two years ago by NBC Connecticut Investigates.
Former forensic nurse Mark Cusson is facing 16 criminal charges, accused of abusing Whiting Forensic patient Bill Shehadi, with the alleged acts all caught on surveillance video.
Dr. Michael Norko, a top administrator with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, described video evidence of the alleged abuse of Whiting patient Bill Shehadi, by now former forensic nurse Mark Cusson.
I saw him pour water on his head, take a mop that he had just used to mop the floor and then mop his head with it, Norko said.
Surveillance of Shehadi was set up around 2000, to substitute, at times, for having two staffers in his room with him.
Watching him constantly all the time was intrusive, and may have been causing him more problems, Norko explained.
Cusson is among 10 former Whiting Forensic Division employees arrested in connection with the abuse.
Shehadi is a patient in his 50s, committed to Whiting decades ago for the murder of his father. He is described as possibly the most difficult patients at Whiting.
Norko said He sometimes yells and screams at people, he sometimes uses racial slurs, when he does that, and at other times he can hit, kick, bite, other people.
The defense tried to show the jury that Shehadi is a patient not easily handled by the standard restraint and de-escalation techniques, and that Cusson often did not get a great deal of support from management in dealing with patients like Shehadi.
Patient advocates tell us Shehadis issues are still no excuse for the treatment he received.
The maker of OxyContin and the company's controlling family agreed Tuesday to pay a groundbreaking $270 million to Oklahoma to settle allegations they helped create the nation's deadly opioid crisis with their aggressive marketing of the powerful painkiller.
It is the first settlement to come out of the recent coast-to-coast wave of nearly 2,000 lawsuits against Purdue Pharma that threaten to push the company into bankruptcy and have stained the name of the Sackler family, whose members rank among the world's foremost philanthropists.
"The addiction crisis facing our state and nation is a clear and present danger, but we're doing something about it today," Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said.
Nearly $200 million will go toward establishing a National Center for Addiction Studies and Treatment at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, while local governments will get $12.5 million. The Sacklers are responsible for $75 million of the settlement.
In settling, the Stamford, Connecticut-based company denied any wrongdoing in connection with what Hunter called "this nightmarish epidemic" and "the worst public health crisis in our state and nation we've ever seen."
The deal comes two months before Oklahoma's 2017 lawsuit against Purdue Pharma and other drug companies was set to become the first one in the recent barrage of litigation to go to trial. The remaining defendants still face trial May 28.
Opioids, including heroin and prescription drugs like OxyContin, were a factor in a record 48,000 deaths across the U.S. in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oklahoma recorded about 400 opioid deaths that year. State officials have said that since 2009, more Oklahomans have died from opioids than in vehicle crashes.
Other states have suffered far worse, including West Virginia, with the nation's highest opioid death rate. It had over 1,000 deaths in 2017.
In a statement, Purdue Pharma said the money that will go toward addiction studies and treatment in Oklahoma will help people across the country. CEO Craig Landau said the company is committed to "help drive solutions to the opioid addiction crisis."
Plaintiffs' attorney Paul Hanly, who is not involved in the Oklahoma case but is representing scores of other governments, welcomed the deal, saying: "That suggests that Purdue is serious about trying to deal with the problem. Hopefully, this is the first of many."
But some activists were furious, saying they were denied the chance to hold Purdue Pharma fully accountable in public, in front of a jury.
"This decision is a kick in the gut to our community," said Ryan Hampton, of Los Angeles, who is recovering from opioid addiction. "We deserve to have our day in court with Purdue. The parents, the families, the survivors deserve at least that. And Oklahoma stripped that from us today."
Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin in the 1990s and marketed it hard to doctors, making tens of billions of dollars from the drug. But the company has been hit with lawsuits from state and local governments trying to hold it responsible for the scourge of addiction.
The lawsuits accuse the company of downplaying the addiction risks and pushing doctors to increase dosages even as the dangers became known. According to a court filing, Richard Sackler, then senior vice president responsible for sales, proudly told the audience at a launch party for OxyContin in 1996 that it would create a "blizzard of prescriptions that will bury the competition."
Earlier this month, Purdue Pharma officials acknowledged that they are considering bankruptcy . But Oklahoma's attorney general said the company gave assurances it will not take such a step in the near term. And he said the settlement money is "bankruptcy proof" that is, "it's not at risk in the event Purdue declares bankruptcy."
Lance Lang, a 36-year-old recovering user from Oklahoma City, said he is glad some of the settlement will go toward helping those still suffering from addiction.
"My heart breaks for those that we've already lost. I've buried several myself," said Lang, who now helps recovering users find housing. "But I also know we have waiting lists of dozens and dozens for our facilities, and the state has waiting lists of hundreds and hundreds of people who need help right now."
But Cheryl Juaire, whose 23-year-old son Corey died of an overdose in 2011, said she was devastated to hear about the settlement.
Jauire, who lives in Marlborough, Massachusetts, had been organizing a group of hundreds of mothers to go to the first day of the trial and stand outside with photos of their dead children. She said a complete airing of the facts is the only way to fully hold Purdue to account.
A settlement is "a huge disservice to the tens of thousands of families here in the United States who buried a child," she said. "That's blood money from our children."
Members of the Sackler family are defendants in some of the lawsuits but were not actually parties to the Oklahoma case. The company said the family nevertheless voluntarily contributed to the settlement. "We have profound compassion for those who are affected by addiction," the family said in a statement.
The Sacklers are major donors to cultural institutions, and the family name is emblazoned on the walls at many of the world's great museums and universities. In the past few weeks, as the accusations have mounted, the Tate museums in London and the Guggenheim Museum in New York have cut ties with the family, and other institutions have come under pressure to turn down donations or remove the Sackler name.
A Massachusetts court filing made public earlier this year found that Sackler family members were paid at least $4 billion from 2007 until last year.
Purdue Pharma has settled other lawsuits over the years, and three executives pleaded guilty to criminal charges in 2007. But this is the first settlement to come out of the surge of litigation in the past few years that focuses largely on the company's more recent conduct.
More than 1,400 federal lawsuits over the opioid crisis have been consolidated in front of a single judge in Cleveland who is pushing the drug makers and distributors to reach a nationwide settlement.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is joining 20 other states in an effort to prevent the Affordable Care Act from being ruled unconstitutional.
A Federal Judge in Texas ruled earlier this year that the law was now unconstitutional because the penalty for not carrying insurance has been effectively eliminated, nullifying the rest of the law.
"This isn't about national issues. It's certainly not just about Donald Trump and the Trump administration and its cruel attack on Connecticut, said William Tong, a Democrat. Residents and families and American people. This is about families in Connecticut who depend on the Affordable Care Act for life."
The Trump administration had initially stayed out of the legal battles surrounding Obamacare, as the law is known. But the Justice Department announced Tuesday morning that it supported the effort to dismantle the law.
In Connecticut, Republican State Sen. Kevin Kelly, (R Stratford), stopped short of calling for the law to be scrapped, but he did advocate for efforts to rein in some of the high premiums consumers have to pay for coverage.
"What we need to do is get better ways to solve the cost problem, said Kelly, who is the ranking Republican on the Insurance Committee in the Connecticut General Assembly.
If the law were to be ruled invalid, Connecticut has a lot to lose. The state received about $6 billion in federal funds relating to Obamacare from 2011 through 2017. There are also more than 260,000 people who receive Medicaid coverage as a result of an expansion of the program.
Tong says the answer to the question at the heart of the case, whether the law can exist without a penalty for not carrying coverage, has already been answered.
"There's no reason to think that the federal government can't enact a comprehensive law about health insurance. They have. It's called Medicaid and Medicare, he said.
A federal appeals court will hear the case, and then it is possible it could go to the US Supreme Court for a second time, on the question of constitutionality.
Tong says hes optimistic that the high court will rule the same way it did the first time it decided that the law met constitutional muster.
"They can be thoughtful about the Affordable Care Act, he said. "They know how huge of an impact this law has had on the people of Connecticut."
Stepping into a nail salon, most customers may not realize that Connecticut stands out from other states.
"As it stands today, anyone in Connecticut can work as a nail technician, eyelash technician, or esthetician, or open a business, no training needed, no oversight except occasional health inspections by the local departments of public health. We're the only state in the country that doesn't license these professions," said Rep Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford).
A proposed bill would change that, requiring anyone in those professions to have a license from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The license would be renewed biannually and the application fee would cost $100. The bill also says the applicant would need to have "evidence that the applicant has a high school diploma or the equivalent."
An esthetician would need to complete no less than 600 hours of practical training and experience under the personal supervision and instruction of an esthetician and complete an exam or have practiced esthetics continuously in the state for no less than two years prior to January 1, 2020. A nail technician would need to complete 300 hours. An eyelash technician would need to complete at least 200 hours.
The legislation faced quite a bit of scrutiny at Monday's public hearing. Some say the industry is regulated enough.
The Connecticut Department of Labor issued stop-work orders to two dozen nail salons across the state for what the agency says are wage and employment violations.
"The health department is already in charge of regulating these businesses for the purposes of public health. The format for inspection already addresses salons and spas for proper sanitation and guidelines that are already in existence," said Tara Swagger, owner of Taraesthetics. "Many industry professionals have voiced serious concerns when learning about the proposed language and how this will affect their businesses in terms of financial costs."
Even those who applauded the intent had at least some concerns with the language.
DPH says the bill's start date is too soon for proper implementation, is unfunded, and may not give qualified individuals time to obtain a license without interruption in service.
The Connecticut Society of Plastic Surgeons said language in the bill would allow estheticians to perform "cosmetic medical procedures" which includes cosmetic surgery. The organization is asking the bill be amended to fix that.
Kellie Steeves owns Oxford Academy of Hair Design and Diana Leonardi owns Branford Academy of Hair and Cosmetology. They support licensing but say the bill should require nail and eyelash technicians and estheticians to be taught at a school and not a salon.
"Anybody can watch a YouTube video and put nail polish on. Anybody can watch a YouTube video and do a facial manipulation. It's actually knowing what you're doing and why you're doing it," said Leonardi.
"You need to know the anatomy. You need to know physiology. You need to know chemistry. You need to know what manipulation moves can cause some type of adverse reaction," said Steeves.
The name of the bill, 'An Act Concerning Human Trafficking and State Contracts and the Licensing of Estheticians, Nail Technicians and Eyelash Technicians,' also drew some criticism.
Gilchrest says she believes they will see a reduction in human trafficking with the passing of the bill.
"As chair of Connecticut's Trafficking in Persons Council from 2015 through this past December, we heard time and again from the Department of Labor that while not all nail salons have human trafficking, there is labor trafficking taking place at some nail salons in the State of Connecticut," said Gilchrest.
DPH said that it "is skeptical that the proposed occupational licensing will have an impact on the problem of human trafficking in nail salons."
To see the language of the proposed bill, click here.
To read some of the public hearing testimony, click here.
What to Know The Crowne Hotel Plaza in Natick, Mass. was evacuated Tuesday morning as police responded to an active shooter report.
Police say the victim was followed into the hotel by multiple suspects unknown to him and fled after a shot was fired, escaping injury.
Investigators are still interviewing the victim and going through surveillance video.
A Massachusetts hotel was evacuated as police responded to a report of an active shooter early Tuesday after multiple suspects allegedly followed a man into the hotel's front lobby and shot at him.
The victim was not injured in the melee, and the suspects fled from the area, according to Natick Police Chief James Hicks.
State and local police responded to the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Worcester Road in Natick around 2:40 a.m. and set up a perimeter and evacuated the hotel.
At the scene, responding officers encountered a victim who said he was followed into the hotel by multiple suspects unknown to him when a shot was fired, according to Natick Police Department Chief James Hicks.
"As he was entering the hotel. persons unknown to him followed him into the hotel at which shots were fired inside the atrium of the hotel," Hicks said at a press conference Tuesday morning.
Hicks said one of the suspects opened fire at the victim, but the victim was not injured. The victim ran away and the suspects left in an unknown direction.
As their investigation developed, officials determined no one entered the hotel following the victim.
The suspects were initially believed to be inside the building after the shooting, according to state police. Out of an abundance of caution, the hotel was evacuated. About 75 guests and employees were sheltered at the Natick Mall cafeteria, while other patrons stayed in their cars.
"They were exceptionally courteous," hotel guest Angeles Salas said. "They have these enormous, large scary guns and managed at the same time to say things like 'we're very concerned for your safety and your warmth and were going to arrange for shelter for you, please come this way.'"
Hicks said officials do not believe the suspects are in the hotel at this time and that they fled from the scene in a car. He added authorities don't believe there is a danger to the public, and that investigators believe "this is a specific incident on a specific individual."
Officials are working to determine how many people were involved in the shooting. The investigation is ongoing, and investigators are interviewing the victim and going through surveillance video.
Hotel guests were eventually allowed back into the premises three hours after the evacuation.
In addition to state and Natick police responding the active shooter report, police officers from Framingham, Wayland, Wellesley and Ashland were at the scene.
A day after the apparent suicide of a father of a Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim, there is an important conversation taking place in Newtown and all around Connecticut.
Suicide and what is being done to prevent it are topics that a lot of people are now saying must be discussed. Monday's apparent suicide of Jeremy Richman, 49, the father of one of the victims in the December 2012 shooting, is spurring a new and potentially life-saving conversation.
"I think it's so important that we're talking," said Hilary Blumberg, Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. Blumberg points to statistics that show that, on average, there is one suicide every day in Connecticut.
What is it that could push someone to the point of taking their own life?
Blumberg said it can be feelings of isolation, hopelessness, someone feeling like they are a burden to others, a past traumatic experience or any combination of those factors.
"Some kind of a major stressor or a trauma can have long-lasting consequences," said Blumberg.
On Monday, Newtown Police Chief James Viadero told NBC Connecticut that shortly after the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012, mental health professionals were warning that the impacts of the shooting could and would be seen for years.
Details around Richman's actions are unknown, and maybe always will be.
Blumberg said, despite what happened Monday, she finds hope in her research. For instance, the team at Yale is using special scanning methods to identify brain circuitry in young people who suffer from bipolar disorder or from depression, which are the disorders most common in people who die by suicide.
"I think it's so important that we're having this conversation and I would really encourage people to be talking about this," said Blumberg. "It's important to talk about it. It can really help people."
If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting 'Home' to 741741.
Local and federal law enforcement launched an investigation into an alleged arson attack at an Escondido, California, mosque early Sunday morning, where the suspect left behind a note referencing the terrorist attacks at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, that killed 50 worshippers.
The fire broke out at 3:15 a.m. at Dar-ul-Arqam in what authorities are investigating as arson and a hate crime.
"If its an arson, its possibly a hate crime as well," Escondido Police Department (EPD) Lt. Chris Lick said.
Yusef Miller, a member of the Muslim community in Escondido, said it was fortunate the fire happened before the early morning prayer when there weren't as many people at the mosque.
"God bless that it didnt happen that way, he said.
Police do not have a description of the suspect, and no arrests have been made at this time.
The FBI, ATF and the San Diego County Sheriffs Bomb/Arson Unit also responded to the scene, where there was visible scorching to one of the mosque's exterior walls, Lick said. It appeared that the fires damage was contained to that area of the mosque, located at 318 W. Sixth Ave.
The mosques security camera spotted an unidentifiable person breaking a lock to a parking lot gate and then pouring a flammable liquid near a side door and setting it on fire.
Seven people were inside the mosque for religious purposes at the time of the fire, police said. They were able to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived on the scene.
There are people who sleep there overnight, Miller said. They heard the sounds, they smelled some funny smells, and there was a letter saying something connecting to New Zealand at the same time. So, this made everybody especially on edge.
Dar-ul-Arqam was built four years ago and serves a community of several hundred people in Escondido, Miller told NBC 7.
He said the tension is high following the fatal shooting in New Zealand.
Were not surprised by this incident," Miller said. "But, were very on edge right now.
Police said the suspect left a message in graffiti in the mosques parking lot. EPD did not reveal what the graffiti said, only noting that it referenced the New Zealand shooting.
The graffiti was covered in dirt to block out the hate-filled message.
Everybody should stay absolutely vigilant and watchful over their prayer centers. If there are people in the neighbor that are not supposed to be there, please give us a call, Lick said. We have also just re-doubled our efforts in terms of making sure that theres a high police presence in the area.
Anyone with information may call the EPDs Community Safety Tip Line at (760) 743-8477.
The stretch of West Sixth Avenue in front of the mosque was closed for a time while officials investigated; however, Miller said it wouldn't stop the mosque from remaining open as a place of worship.
Were going to stay vigilant. Were not going to close down this mosque yet. People are still going to come pray, he said. We wont stop praying. We wont stop gathering.
The Escondido Fire Department, the Escondido Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriffs Bomb/Arson Unit responded to the scene.
Hours after the New Zealand terrorist attacks on March 15, San Diego Muslims unified in worship during a prayer at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Days later, a vigil was held at Balboa Park in honor of the victims of the New Zealand massacre.
Following the New Zealand attacks, Lick said the EPD began doing extra patrols in the area. Lick reaffirmed these additional patrols after Sunday mornings incident.
Miller said, although we are heightened in our awareness, were still resolved in the idea that there are people here that love us and support us.
A page was set up on a crowdfunding site called LaunchGood to collect money for repairs and added security for the mosque and its members.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, more than 75 supporters had donated over $2,000. The pages goal is set at $20,000.
President Donald Trump is calling on Republicans to revive the effort to quash the Affordable Care Act, handing Democrats an opportunity to unite in defense of the law as they try to move past the Russia investigation and win the White House in 2020.
Trump's administration is asking a federal appeals court to strike down the entire health care law. The president vowed on Tuesday to make the GOP the "party of health care" and told Senate Republicans to lean into their own agenda on the issue as they head into next year's election.
The moves could help Trump rally his conservative base as he celebrates Attorney General William Barr's summary of special counsel Robert Mueller's report that said there was no evidence that the president or his associates colluded with Russia in the 2016 campaign. But the push also poured political kerosene on an issue that many Democrats credit with powering their midterm election victories in November.
Top Democrats, including presidential candidates, said health care is an issue that resonates with voters more than the Mueller investigation.
"This is something that Americans care deeply about," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a White House hopeful. "I may not have been asked about the Mueller report at town hall meetings, but I was sure asked about health care."
Other Democrats appeared to relish the chance to shift to health care. Asked if the Trump administration's court filing allowed Democrats to turn the page on Mueller, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would have been talking about health care no matter what.
"We have been dealing with health care constantly," the California Democrat said. "The public attention has been on the Mueller report, but we have been focused on health care."
Another 2020 contender, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, said if Trump "wants to have a fight on health care, it's a fight we're willing to have. And it's a fight he is going to lose."
That confidence is in part because health care was a big political winner for Democrats last year. According to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 115,000 midterm voters nationwide, nearly 4 in 10 Democratic voters identified health care as the most important among a list of key issues including immigration, the economy and the environment. A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday found 55 percent of Americans supporting the improvement and not the replacement of the nation's health care system.
The Supreme Court has twice upheld President Barack Obama's health care law, known as "Obamacare." Five justices a majority who upheld the law in 2012 are still on the bench.
Trump's effort to repeal Obamacare narrowly failed in the Senate in 2017. Nearly two years later, it's unclear where the White House plans to focus its health care efforts. Trump's most recent budget backs one piece of the legislation that stalled in the Senate.
Republicans gained Senate seats last fall, but there's no indication that GOP senators want another fight over repealing Obamacare particularly not those up for re-election next year. The GOP also lost control of the House, which means any attempt to dismantle the law could not pass Congress.
One White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to address still-early talks, said discussions are ongoing with Pelosi's office on legislation to lower prescription drug prices, but no substantive path forward for a broader health care bill has emerged.
As the debate plays out on Capitol Hill, the White House made a surprising legal argument for eliminating the health care bill. In a Monday court filing, the administration said the entire health care law should be struck down as unconstitutional after Congress repealed fines on people who remain uninsured.
That's at odds with previous statements by leading congressional Republicans who said they didn't intend to repeal other parts of the law when they cut out its fines, effective this year. It's also a departure from the administration's earlier stance in a lower court, where it had argued that only federal safeguards for people with pre-existing medical conditions and limits on premiums charged to older, sicker people should be struck down.
Repeal of Obamacare in its entirety would risk making more than 20 million people uninsured. That includes some 12 million low-income people covered through its Medicaid expansion and some 11 million purchasing subsidized private health insurance through HealthCare.gov and state-run insurance markets.
Some Republicans say that wouldn't happen because the Trump administration's "repeal and replace" plan would send grants to states for them to run their own health insurance programs. However, during the 2017 congressional debate over repealing the health law, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the GOP replacement plans would result in steep coverage losses.
Several GOP senators said Tuesday that Trump told them to ensure those with pre-existing conditions stayed protected as they work on an Obamacare replacement. Republicans appeared ready to back up the president on health care for now.
Trump is "thinking that's the issue that defines us as conservatives," Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., told reporters after the president addressed a closed-door meeting of GOP senators.
Rep. Steve Scalise, the House minority whip, said Democrats have "misled" voters about the benefits of Obamacare.
"They were misled about collusion with Russia," said Scalise, R-La. "The same people that have been misleading on all those other issues want to try to mislead people on health care costs."
The sudden focus on the health care law comes as Democratic presidential candidates have embraced a move toward a single-payer health care system known as "Medicare for All." The momentum for that effort could wane if congressional Democrats instead have to focus on defending Obamacare.
House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled legislation to shore up the Affordable Care Act and expand enrollment to millions more people.
"For (Trump) to bring this back up is traumatic, and it shines a real light on what the contrast is going to be between him and whoever the Democratic nominee is," said Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the Democratic group American Bridge. The group's planned $50 million investment in deterring swing-state voters from backing Trump in 2020 will focus in part on health care, as well as other economic issues, Bates said.
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller, Kevin Freking, Mark Sherman and Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report.
What to Know San Diego researchers were the first to participate in the new model of conservation.
The giant pandas born at the San Diego Zoo have helped to produce 22 additional giant pandas in China.
The giant panda is still on the endangered species list but is less threatened than when the program began.
Two giant pandas who have been a favorite of San Diegans for decades and a star attraction for visitors will no longer be a part of the San Diego Zoo, officials announced Monday.
Bai-Yun, 27, and her son, Xiao Liwu, 6, will leave at the end of April for China. They are the last two giant pandas to live at the San Diego Zoo, one of only a few zoos where giant pandas can be found in the United States. Zoos in Washington, D.C, Atlanta and Memphis also have the animals.
The news, while shocking to many who love to visit and follow the lives of the giant pandas, was not unexpected as a long-term conservation agreement was ending, according to the San Diego Zoo officials.
Although we are sad to see these pandas go, we have great hopes for the future, Shawn Dixon, chief operating officer for San Diego Zoo Global said in a written release.
The zoos giant panda conservation program began more than two decades ago when the species was threatened with extinction.
"This is a Chinese program and we feel fortunate that we were the first foreign zoo to be invited to participate with a new conservation, a new model of conservation," said Carmi Penny, director of Collections Husbandry Science at the San Diego Zoo. "The threat to the giant panda is less than it was when we started this program."
The zoo's work with Bai Yun and her cubs have helped to boost the wild population of pandas in China to more than 2,000, according to the zoo.
In 2016, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species changed pandas from endangered to vulnerable.
With the remaining giant pandas to leave the San Diego Zoo for China, many are wondering how it will impact business. NBC 7's Danny Freeman has more.
Now, researchers will work to redefine what panda conservation and research will mean in the future. Zoo officials plan to maintain their exhibit and keep it in place in case they are able to negotiate a new agreement that could ultimately bring pandas back to the zoo.
Bai Yun's longtime mate Gao Gao was returned to the Chinese Center for Research and Conservation for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in October.
The father of five cubs born at the San Diego Zoo, Gao Gao had been living at the zoo for 15 years as part of the long-term loan agreement with the Peoples Republic of China.
Guests to the San Diego Zoo will be able to say goodbye to Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu up until April 27.
[G] San Diego's Cutest Critters
Don Heffern, a visitor Monday from Costa Mesa in Orange County, said his reaction to learning that the two giant pandas would be leaving in a month was "sadness."
"Obviously, it's the highlight of the zoo. It's something that you don't find everywhere. There's so few zoos in North America that have pandas so I was completely shocked to hear it today," he said. "Hopefully, they're able to work out something to do it again. Of anything in the zoo this is the one thing that has a line -- that's a big attraction."
COO Shawn Dixon said for the first time in the park's 100-year history, the San Diego Zoo surpassed 4 million visitors in 2018. And, while he did admit the pandas are a big draw, he is not worried about the ramifications of losing one of their main attractions.
"We know our community is concerned about what that looks like, and we feel like we are so much more," Dixon said. "We are a zoo we are a safari park, we have thousands of animals to come visit, so we have so much more to see."
Special counsel Robert Mueller told Attorney General William Barr three weeks ago that he wouldn't be making a decision on obstruction of justice charges against President Donald Trump, a source told NBC News Monday. Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who was also at the meeting, hadn't expected that, said the source.
The pair ultimately decided there was no evidence requiring prosecution on the obstruction issue, Barr announced Sunday. Mueller had set out "evidence on both sides" of the question of obstruction and stated that "while this report does not conclude the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."
Congressional Democrats prepared to huddle behind closed doors Monday evening to plot strategy for their own investigations of obstruction of justice and Russian election interference, among other matters related to the president, following the release of Barr's summary. Barr's four-page document said Mueller did not find that Trump's campaign "conspired or coordinated" with the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential election knocking down arguments from Democrats who have claimed there was evidence of such collusion.
Even as Democrats clamored for the Justice Department to release the entire document and not just Barr's summary, Trump said Monday the release of Mueller's full report "wouldn't bother me at all."
Having already claimed vindication from Barr's summary, he said that "we can never let this happen to another president again." As he has many times before, he suggested the investigation was tainted from the beginning and said it was a "terrible thing."
He even accused those responsible for launching it of "treasonous things against our country" and said they "certainly will be looked into."
Trump has spent months railing against former Justice Department officials, including former FBI Director James Comey, accusing them of an illegal witch hunt for the purpose of delegitimizing his presidency. He has also falsely claimed that the investigation was based on memos compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele, and even blamed former Sen. John McCain, who died last year, for passing the memos to the FBI. But the investigation began months before the FBI ever saw the dossier and the FBI already had a copy by the time McCain turned it in.
Trump, asked on Monday if he'd be OK with the release of the full report, responded: "Up to the attorney general, but it wouldn't bother me at all."
Republicans followed Trump's lead, with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham promising to "unpack the other side of the story" of the Russia investigation.
Graham, who spent the weekend with Trump in Florida, said his committee will investigate the actions of the Justice Department in the Russia investigation, including the FBI's use of the Steele dossier.
Graham's comments echoed Trump's own complaints Sunday in which he compared the probe to a failed coup and said those behind it should be held responsible. But Graham wouldn't go quite as far, saying he believed that the Mueller investigation was legitimate and had to happen in order to answer questions about Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The South Carolina Republican also had a warning for Trump using his pardon power to help those who were ensnared by Mueller's investigation.
"If President Trump pardoned anybody in his orbit, it would not play well," Graham said.
Among those whom Mueller charged during the course of his investigation were the president's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Five Trump aides pleaded guilty and a sixth, longtime confidant Roger Stone, is awaiting trial on charges that he lied to Congress and engaged in witness tampering.
Monday morning, White House aides and allies blanketed television news broadcasts to trumpet Barr's letter and claim that Trump had been the victim in a probe that never should have started. Democrats said they were still waiting for the full report, in addition to the underlying evidence that Mueller used.
"The fact that Special Counsel Mueller's report does not exonerate the president on a charge as serious as obstruction of justice demonstrates how urgent it is that the full report and underlying documentation be made public without any further delay," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement Sunday evening. "Given Mr. Barr's public record of bias against the Special Counsel's inquiry, he is not a neutral observer and is not in a position to make objective determinations about the report."
Given the report, Democrats seemed more likely to focus on their ongoing investigations, calls for transparency and frustrations with Barr, rather than engaging with the talk of impeachment that has been amplified on Pelosi's left flank. As the release of Mueller's report loomed, Pelosi recently tried to scuttle that talk by saying she's not for impeachment, for now.
In a joint statement, Nadler, House intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md., seemed to concede that collusion had not been found, saying they have confidence in Mueller, "notwithstanding the very public evidence of Trump campaign contact with and willingness to receive support from Russian agents."
Still, they said, "it will be vital for the country and the Congress to evaluate the full body of evidence collected by the special counsel, including all information gathered of a counterintelligence nature."
Ahead of their Monday meetings, Democrats discussed strategy in a flurry of calls over the weekend. Pelosi and Schumer talked repeatedly, including several calls Sunday from her home in San Francisco. As soon as Barr's letter arrived, Pelosi quickly convened a call Sunday with Cummings, Schiff and Nadler to go over its main points. They were on the same page with their response, according to a person familiar with the call. Nadler later held a conference call with Democratic members on the Judiciary panel and reiterated calls for transparency.
People familiar with the calls requested anonymity to discuss them freely.
Republicans unified to call for Congress to move on. "This case is closed," said House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy in a statement.
Associated Press writers Catherine Lucey, Mike Balsamo and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
A Soviet-born convicted felon who worked on real estate deals with President Donald Trump was accused in a lawsuit Monday of plotting to use Trump-branded skyscrapers to launder money allegedly stolen from a Kazakhstan bank.
BTA Bank and the City of Almaty, Kazakhstan, allege Felix Sater conspired with the son of the city's former mayor to use some of the $440 million to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow.
Sater, who was due to testify before Congress this week about his work with Trump, started pushing the Moscow project in 2005 and tried to kickstart it during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, but it was never built.
The bank also alleges Sater helped the mayor's son, Ilyas Khrapunov, mask $3 million as down payments on three condominiums in Trump SoHo, a New York City hotel that Sater helped develop as an executive at Bayrock Group LLC.
Sater arranged for Trump and Khrapunov to meet and discuss potential investments, the lawsuit said, but it makes clear: there is no suggestion Trump engaged in impropriety or that he was aware Sater and Khrapunov allegedly stole money.
Messages were left with Sater and representatives for Trump and his company, the Trump Organization. Khrapunov is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan. His lawyer noted that all claims against him regarding alleged money laundering have been dismissed by federal Courts in New York and California.
Sater's work on the Trump Tower Moscow project has made him a key figure in the House Democrats' investigations into Trump's ties to Russia. The Congressional probes are moving forward after Attorney General William Barr on Sunday said that Special Counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence that Trump colluded with Russia to influence the election.
Sater's public testimony, however, will wait.
The House Intelligence Committee postponed Sater's appearance, scheduled for Wednesday. It wasn't immediately clear if he would still meet with the House Judiciary Committee in a closed-door session Thursday.
Khrapunov's father-in-law, former BTA Bank chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov, is accused of embezzling billions of dollars from the bank and funneling the money into offshore entities. The lawsuit said that, once caught, he turned to Khrapunov to monetize and launder remaining assets.
Khrapunov knew Sater through his family and asked him to join the scheme in 2011, the lawsuit said. Sater had been involved in coal extraction and oil drilling ventures with Khrapunov's family and attended Khrapunov's 2007 wedding to Ablyazov's daughter, the lawsuit said.
Sater and two other people are named as defendants, along with five companies, including Bayrock. In addition to the money laundering allegations, Sater is accused in the lawsuit of stealing $40 million for himself and an associate.
Sater, 53, is among the more colorful characters in Trump's orbit. He served 15 months in jail in the early 1990s and permanently lost his stockbroker's license for stabbing a man in the face with the stem of a broken margarita glass at a Manhattan bar.
A few years later, he got caught in a $40 million pump-and-dump stock fraud, turned state's evidence against two New York crime families and then continued providing the government with information related to national security and other matters.
In another Trump connection, BTA Bank hired his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen in 2017 to help with litigation over Ablyazov's alleged embezzlement but dumped him within two months because it says he "did absolutely nothing of value." Sater and Cohen worked together on the Moscow project in 2016.
In barely a week's time, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has cemented the authoritarian reputation of his government by shuttering the offices some of the few remaining resonant voices of dissent and expelling the international monitors documenting his government's alleged crimes.
The heavy-handed raids on the country's most prominent nongovernmental organizations and the seizure of the offices of the independent news outlets Confidencial and 100% Noticias left a clear message that no one especially former Sandinista comrades was safe from a crackdown on dissent following a wave of protests that increasingly aimed at pushing the 73-year-old president from power.
At least 325 people have been killed since protests erupted in mid-April and were violently suppressed. Some 565 people have been jailed, according to the Nicaraguan Human Rights Center, which itself was raided. Many of those held face terrorism charges that carry decades-long sentences. Thousands have fled the country in self-imposed exile.
"All Nicaraguans are vulnerable to the possibility that they fabricate charges from the laws they (the government) invented," the founder of Confidencial, Carlos Fernando Chamorro, said in front of Managua's courthouse. "No one is safe here. The law protects no one because in Nicaragua there is not rule of law."
Chamorro ran the Sandinistas' newspaper La Barricada for years and his mother Violeta Barrios de Chamorro was initially part of the Sandinista ruling junta when it gained power. But she later split and eventually ran for president, defeating Ortega in 1990.
Vice President Rosario Murillo who is Ortega's wife and who also controls the government's communications did not grant a request for an interview with herself or Ortega. But at an event with police last week, she made a thinly veiled reference to Chamorro and other "traitors."
"Disgracefully in our country we have known names that repeat throughout history in their eagerness to betray the country," Murillo said. "We are going to strengthen the peace and security every day. Here traitors to the country have no place."
The new wave of crackdowns began a little over a week ago when Ortega loyalists in Congress stripped nine organizations of their legal status, alleging they supported what the government has called a coup attempt, a reference to the protests.
Police raided the groups' offices the night of Dec. 13, hauling off computers and reams of documents. They returned the following night to occupy their buildings.
Police toting rifles could be seen watching television inside the offices of Confidencial while its staff kept its website updated from hotel rooms, their homes and eventually a secret location where they re-established their newsroom.
"The issue is that the institutions that he's going after are symbolic of the strength of civil society," said Manuel Orozco, a senior associate at The Inter-American Dialogue in Washington. Ortega thought he could maintain control through the political parties, but this opposition movement has come from civil society.
When Chamorro went to police headquarters on Dec. 15 to ask to see what order had allowed the seizure of his offices, he and his staff were pushed away by riot police who punched and kicked at least one of his reporters.
Riot police were present again two days later when Chamorro and his wife walked hand-in-hand to the gates of the courthouse to seek judicial relief.
"As human beings, obviously we're afraid of being smashed by the regime, which up to now has prevailed through force and terror," Chamorro said. Invoking his father, a journalist and national hero killed in 1978 by the Somoza dictatorship that was later overthrown by the Sandinistas, Chamorro said that each person is the master of his own fear. "All citizens have to learn to manage fear and overcome it and show that you can't kill ideas and ideas can't be killed by killing journalists."
Chamorro isn't alone as a former Sandinista now squarely in Ortega's sights. Many of the intellectuals and key figures who participated in early Sandinista governments have split away over the years, accusing Ortega of taking a more authoritarian path.
Vilma Nunez, the president of the Nicaraguan Human Rights Center, was a supreme court vice president under Ortega's first Sandinista government in 1979 and dedicated much of her early career to defending Sandinistas persecuted by the Somoza regime.
But last week she circulated a panicked audio recording saying that the police had surrounded her offices and she thought they were going to force their way in. They did and now the center, known by its Spanish initials of Cenidh, is reorganizing at a clandestine location.
"They believe that by finishing off belligerent organizations that won't be silent about human rights they are going to silence the voices of protest that persist," Nunez said. Cenidh has been documenting abuses by police and paramilitaries since the violence began in April.
But in Cenidh's case, it also may be personal. Nunez represented Zoilamerica Narvaez, Murillo's daughter and Ortega's stepdaughter, when she accused Ortega of rape and abuse during her childhood. Efforts to prosecute the case at first were blocked by Ortega's immunity as a member of Nicaragua's congress. He renounced that immunity after his lawyers determined the statute of limitations had expired.
"Daniel Ortega, since he thinks that everything belongs to him, believes that everyone who was in the Sandinista Front is his property and that's why he considers everyone traitors," Nunez said.
In the streets of Managua, outward appearances suggest some degree of normality. Christmas decorations are spread about the city, more restaurants and bars are staying open after dark and the city's Eastern Market has been humming with shoppers.
The sprawling 37-block market, which claims to be the region's largest, holds vendors selling everything from fresh produce to large appliances.
But vendors say business has been running 25 to 30 percent below what it was last year, even in the run-up to Christmas.
Veronica Guzman Pavon stood at her produce stand bagging fat carrots. She had a big basket of onions on offer but said it now took four days to sell out whereas before it took two. "And they complain because it's expensive," she said.
Prices are up because fewer crops were planted because banks were lending less to farmers, she said. That scarcity has driven up costs, which she has to pass on to her customers.
Nicaragua's private business umbrella organization COSEP issued a report this month saying that instead of the forecast 5 percentage-point growth in Nicaragua's economy this year, it will finish with a 4-point contraction.
Not so visible are people living in fear.
A woman who for months has been helping to hide dozens of university students who had occupied campuses in anti-government protests continues to ferry donated food and clothing to them. But she said there's never enough food, and some subsist on rice and ketchup.
But their emotional health is the greater concern, she said: These were students on career tracks who suddenly found themselves unable to return to the university or even walk down the street. After police and paramilitaries retook the university campuses last summer, hundreds of students have either fled the country or remain in hiding.
"They have imprisoned their future," said the woman, who requested anonymity to protect the students in her care.
To get to the Managua home of Carlos Tunnermann, a former university rector, the Sandinistas' first education minister and later Ortega's ambassador to the United States, you have to get through two police checkpoints.
Tunnermann, a member of the Civic Alliance formed to negotiate with the government last spring, lives near Ortega's home and falls within his expanded security perimeter. The first checkpoint is easy enough, just a question about where you're going.
The second, however, is more challenging. Police took identifications from this reporter and his cab driver. Once an officer established that the cab's passenger was a journalist, an agent dressed as a civilian but carrying a radio followed up with more questions.
Who do you work for? What are you reporting on? Where are you staying? Is that the only place you've stayed? When did you arrive? When will you leave? The answers were scribbled into a small notebook. After a half hour, the gate finally swung aside.
Half a block away, Tunnermann patiently waited. He apologized for the inconvenience, but such were the times. A young relative recently came to visit and was similarly held up when a police officer remarked that he didn't see the family resemblance.
Tunnermann said that the recent aggression toward the NGOs and Chamorro's media outfit could have been a reply to the U.S. government's economic sanctions last month against Murillo and Nestor Moncada, Ortega's national security adviser.
Tunnermann said Ortega seemed to not grasp yet that each time he ratchets up the crackdown, the international community will increase the pressure on him.
Just a few hours later, Ortega's government would expel teams from two branches of the Organization of American States that were investigating human rights violations. A day after that, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a law ordering sanctions against countries that assist Ortega's government a measure that had stalled in Congress in earlier years.
Undeterred, Ortega's police raided the offices of 100% Noticias on Friday night, and the following morning its director was accused in court of inciting "terrorism."
In Tunnermann's mind, dialogue and eventually a concession by Ortega to move up presidential elections scheduled for 2021 were the country's best chance for peace.
But there was a major obstacle, he said: Ortega and Murillo "have invented a reality that is not the true reality. It's a reality that is only in their minds."
Two long-sleeved shirts, a sweater, a fleece jacket, two scarves and two pairs of socks.
That has been Karen Ericson's go-to outfit in her office in Des Moines, Iowa, in recent weeks.
"I am still shivering," the 39-year-old graphic designer said last week, estimating the temperature in the office was in the mid-60s while outside, the city hit 19 below zero at one point. "Living in the Midwest, I'm well-trained to dress warmly and in layers, but this deep freeze has been difficult to endure, especially when I expect to be comfortable or at least not shivering inside."
As much of the nation muddled through bitter weather in recent weeks, office dwellers found they still had to brave the cold even when indoors. Many relied on winter parkas, gloves, blankets and space heaters just to keep working.
"Today I've got two sweaters, a scarf, ear coverings, gloves and a blanket over my lap," Rebecca Miller, a 27-year-old academic adviser at Tennessee State University in Nashville, said last week as temperatures barely ticked above 50 degrees in her office while outside it was 20 degrees or lower in the daytime. "But I'm still having a hard time working. I'm shaking cold, and it's hard to focus. The gloves make it hard to type, and the bulky layers make it difficult to move around."
Like thousands of other chilly Americans, she snapped selfies of herself at her desk in attire usually reserved for the ski slopes and shared them on social media.
Office developments are built with centralized heating systems that make the buildings suitable for a range of uses over many years. The downside is that they provide little climate control to individual tenants sometimes purposely, said Khee Poh Lam, architecture professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Thermostats are often tucked into hard-to-reach spaces like false ceilings and air ducts so office tenants can't mess with them, Lam said. Other buildings have dummy units out in the open that don't actually do anything except give desperate workers the illusion of control.
Finding the right temperature to please everyone has been an elusive goal for office designers and builders, said Stefano Schiavon, architecture professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who co-wrote a 2012 study that found roughly 40 percent of U.S. workers were satisfied with their office's temperature. Design standards call for an acceptability rate closer to 80 percent, he said.
The challenge isn't just confined to the winter, of course. Chilly offices have long been the bane of women who complain air conditioning is cranked up in the summer to appease their male, suit-wearing counterparts. And there are certainly many offices with overzealous furnaces that prompt workers to crack open windows even on the coldest days.
Optimal temperature for office work is 72 to 79 degrees or nearly 10 degrees more than what many buildings typically set their thermostats, said Alan Hedge, a design professor at Cornell University in New York who has researched how temperature affects productivity.
Schiavon suggested that companies, even those based in the draftiest old offices, can invest in safe, relatively inexpensive technology to keep workers warm and productive, like heated chairs, electric blankets and heated floor mats.
"The bottom line is that central heating won't work for everyone, even if designed right," he said. "We're very different people and need some sort of personalization of our environment."
Ericson, the Iowa resident, said the key to getting through the work day has been reminding herself the cold is only temporary.
"Every day that passes," she said, "is a day closer to spring."
Here's a timeline of the giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo:
September 10, 1996: Bai Yun and Shi Shi arrive to the San Diego Zoo from the Wolong Panda Preserve in China.
August 21, 1999: Hua Mei was born in San Diego, the first panda cub to survive in captivity in the United States. She was the product of artificial insemination between Bai Yun and Shi Shi.
January 2003: Gao Gao arrived in San Diego as a new mate for Bai Yun. Born in the wild, he would go on to father five cubs at the San Diego Zoo.
August 19, 2003: Mei Sheng was the first cub born to Bai Yun and Gao Gao and the second cub to be born at the San Diego Zoo. He was moved to China at age 4.
February 2004: Hua Mei returns to China where she would live at the Wolong Giant Panda Conservation Center.
Panda Portraits: A Look Back at San Diego's Beloved Bears
August 2, 2005: Su Lin was born to Bai Yun and Gao Gao as their second cub, and the third to be successfully raised in San Diego.
August 3, 2007: Zhen Zhen was the fourth panda to be born to the San Diego Zoo. She was later named by panda fans through an online poll.
July 2008: Shi Shi dies at the Guangzhou Zoo.
August 5, 2009: Yun Zi was born at the San Diego Zoo to Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Even though it was the fifth successful birth for the panda program, one veterinarian described it as "just as exciting as our first."
August 2010: Siblings Su Lin and Zhen Zhen were returned to China.
March 16, 2011: Panda Bai Yun pushed open a safety barrier between the keeper area and the animal's habitat. When a keeper tried to herd Bai Yun back into her living quarters, the panda grabbed onto one of the worker's legs with her jaws. The keeper was treated at a hospital.
July 29, 2012: Xiao Liwu was born to Bai Yun, her last cub. He continues to live at the San Diego Zoo with his mother. His name means "Little Gift."
January 9, 2014: Yun Zi leaves the San Diego Zoo, flies out of LAX, and is returned to China.
Images: San Diego Zoo's Panda Cub Xiao Liwu
June 2016: The zoo announced its eldest panda was suffering from heart disease.
October 30, 2018: Gao Gao leaves San Diego for China.
March 25, 2019: The San Diego Zoo announces the remaining two giant pandas will leave the U.S. at the end of April.
[G] Giant Panda Celebrates 24th Birthday
Visitors of Panda at San Diego Zoo in 1987 Invited to China
The body of a 15-year-old girl who had been missing all weekend was found near a business in Compton, ending her family's heartbreaking search Monday.
"They found her and I dont know what to say. I dont have words," said Blanca Bautista, the girl's mother.
The mother of Samantha Bustos, 15, confirmed to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that the person they found was indeed her daughter after detectives showed her a picture of the victim.
The teen was last seen Friday in Compton.
Her mother said her daughter and the girl's best friend had told their parents they were having a sleepover. They had gone to a party, Bautista said. Samantha said she would be home Saturday, but she didn't come home.
Samantha's body was found face down in the bushes Monday morning at 1:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Victoria Street near National Retail Systems, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
"This individual did sustain traumatic injuries to upper torso and is being investigated as homicide," Lt. Rodney Moore said.
The company was working to provide surveillance footage.
On Tuesday, mourners stopped at a memorial in Compton for Samantha.
"It just hit me emotionally before I knew who she was," said Leticia Willis, who works nearby. "When I found out, I just broke down."
Authorities had not identified a suspect, but detectives told Samanthas mother she was last seen in a white Jeep with two young men.
"They just hurt her, thats what he said. They hurt her bad," Bautista said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's department at (323) 890-5500.
The family of the victim has set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses. If you would like to donate, you may do so here, but please note that GoFundMe takes a percentage of money raise in the form of platform and other fees.
Heather Navarro contributed to this article.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to make a planned six-hour visit to the Los Angeles area Friday for a fundraising dinner for his re-election campaign.
Tickets are $15,000 for dinner, $50,000 for the opportunity to take a picture with Trump and $150,000 to participate in a roundtable discussion during the April 5 event, according to an invitation obtained by City News Service.
Trump is scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport aboard Air Force One in mid-afternoon after viewing a newly completed section of the border wall in Calexico. He is set to leave the Southland Friday night, bound for Las Vegas, where he will speak Saturday at the Republican Jewish Coalition's Annual Leadership Meeting.
The visit will be Trump's third to the Los Angeles area as president. He headlined a Republican National Committee fundraiser near Beverly Hills last March and toured areas ravaged by the Woolsey Fire in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, then met with survivors of the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks in November.
Barack Obama made 21 visits to Los Angeles and Orange counties at the similar stage of his presidency, attending fundraisers during 18 of those visits.
Divided in debate but mostly united in a final vote, the House passed a resolution condemning anti-Semitism and other bigotry Thursday, with Democrats trying to push past a dispute that has overwhelmed their agenda and exposed fault lines that could shadow them through next year's elections.
The one-sided 407-23 vote belied the emotional infighting over how to respond to freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar's recent comments suggesting House supporters of Israel have dual allegiances. For days, Democrats wrestled with whether or how to punish the lawmaker, arguing over whether Omar, one of two Muslim women in Congress, should be singled out, what other types of bias should be decried in the text and whether the party would tolerate dissenting views on Israel.
Republicans generally joined in the favorable vote, though nearly two-dozen opposed the measure, one calling it a "sham."
Generational as well as ideological, the argument was fueled in part by young, liberal lawmakers and voters who have become a face of the newly empowered Democratic majority in the House. These lawmakers are critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, rejecting the conservative leader's approach to Palestinians and other issues.
They split sharply from Democratic leaders who seemed caught off guard by the support for Omar and unprepared for the debate. But the leaders regrouped.
"It's not about her. It's about these forms of hatred," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said before the vote.
The resolution approved Thursday condemns anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry against minorities "as hateful expressions of intolerance." Omar, a Somali-American, and fellow Muslims Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Andrew Carson of Indiana, issued a statement praising the "historic" vote as the first resolution to condemn "anti-Muslim bigotry."
Some Democrats complained that Omar's comments on Israel had ignited all this debate while years of President Donald Trump's racially charged rhetoric had led to no similar congressional action.
The seven-page document details a history of recent attacks not only against Jews in the United States but also Muslims, as it condemns all such discrimination as contradictory to "the values and aspirations" of the people of the United States. The vote was delayed for a time on Thursday to include mention of Latinos to address concerns of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It was inserted under a section on white supremacists who "weaponize hate for political gain" over a long list of "traditionally persecuted peoples."
An earlier version focused more narrowly on anti-Semitism. The final resolution did not mention Omar by name.
Getting this debate right will be crucial for Democrats in 2020. U.S.-Israel policy is a prominent issue that is exposing the splits between the party's core voters, its liberal flank and the more centrist Americans in Trump country the party hopes to reach.
"What I fear is going on in the House now is an effort to target Congresswoman Omar as a way of stifling that debate. That's wrong," said presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent.
"Anti-Semitism is a hateful and dangerous ideology which must be vigorously opposed in the United States and around the world," the senator said. "We must not, however, equate anti-Semitism with legitimate criticism of the right-wing, Netanyahu government in Israel."
Other Democratic presidential contenders tried to walk a similar line.
California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris said "we need to speak out against hate." But she said she also believes "there is a critical difference between criticism of policy or political leaders, and anti-Semitism."
A statement from Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said, "Branding criticism of Israel as automatically anti-Semitic has a chilling effect on our public discourse and makes it harder to achieve a peaceful solution between Israelis and Palestinians." She said threats of violence, including those made against Omar, "are never acceptable.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said, "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, they are allowed to have free speech in this country," Gillibrand said. "But we don't need to use anti-Semitic tropes or anti-Muslim tropes to be heard."
Another member of the new crop of outspoken young House freshmen, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, said the final product, as well as the way presidential candidates are now talking about the issue, showed "there's been some really great progress we've made."
But Omar's rhetoric is taking Democrats to a place that leaves many uneasy. The new lawmaker sparked a weeklong debate in Congress as fellow Democrats said her comments have no place in the party. She suggested Israel's supporters were pushing lawmakers to take a pledge of "allegiance" to a foreign country, reviving a trope of dual loyalties. It wasn't her first dip into such rhetoric.
The new congresswoman has been critical of the Jewish state in the past and apologized for those previous comments. But Omar has not apologized for what this latest comment.
Pelosi said she did not believe that Omar understood the "weight of her words" or that they would be perceived by some as anti-Semitic.
Asked whether the resolution was intended to "police" lawmakers' words, Pelosi replied: "We are not policing the speech of our members." Instead, she said, the goal was to condemn anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and white supremacy.
Some of the House's leading Jewish Democrats wanted to bring a resolution on the floor simply condemning anti-Semitism.
But other Democrats wanted to broaden the resolution to include a rejection of all forms of racism and bigotry. Others questioned whether a resolution was necessary at all and viewed it as unfairly singling out Omar at a time when Trump and others have made disparaging racial comments.
There remained frustration that the party that touts its diversity conducted such a messy and public debate about how to declare its opposition to bigotry.
"This shouldn't be so hard," Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., said on the House floor.
Among the Republican dissenters, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a member of the GOP leadership, called the resolution "a sham put forward by Democrats to avoid condemning one of their own and denouncing vile anti-Semitism."
In part, Democratic leaders were trying to fend off a challenge from Republicans on the issue.
They worry they could run into trouble on another bill, their signature ethics and voting reform package, if Republicans try to tack their own anti-Semitism bill on as an amendment. By voting Thursday, the House Democratic vote counters believed they could inoculate their lawmakers against such a move.
House lawmakers on Tuesday denounced Defense Department plans to use military funds to pay for President Donald Trump's border wall, telling Pentagon leaders the "unbelievably irresponsible" maneuver will threaten the agency's future ability to shift money around when needed.
Both Republicans and Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee said there is little support for tapping military construction projects for the wall, about a week after Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan sent a list of vulnerable projects to Capitol Hill.
"Whatever one feels about the border wall, to look at the Pentagon as sort of a piggybank - slash - slush fund, where you can simply go in and grab money for something when you need it, really undermines the credibility of the entire DoD budget," said Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., chairman of the panel. "Funding a border wall out of the Department of Defense is also unbelievably irresponsible."
As the hearing continued, Smith sent a letter from the committee to the Pentagon denying the department's first formal request to shift about $1 billion in surplus personnel funds to a counter-drug account in order to pay for barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Pentagon said it was exploring the potential impact of that letter and what steps the department would take next.
The committee's top Republican, Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, also said he opposes using defense funding for other purposes. But he noted that Shanahan is facing "a lot of criticism for decisions that you had nothing to do with."
In response, Shanahan said he knew that maneuvering around Congress to fund the wall was risky and would have long-term negative effects on the department. But he said the department was executing a "legal order from the commander in chief."
The Pentagon last week sent to Capitol Hill a list of more than 400 military construction projects, totaling about $13 billion, that might be tapped for wall funding. But Shanahan has said that any money for military housing or barracks would not be touched, as well as any projects that will have contracts awarded before the end of this fiscal year, Sept. 30. When those projects are removed, about 150 remain, totaling about $4.3 billion.
Shanahan has also said that projects deemed necessary for military readiness or other high priorities will be protected. But those haven't been identified yet.
Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and David Norquist, the department's budget chief, were also at the Tuesday hearing.
Both the House and Senate voted to overturn Trump's declaration of a national emergency to use construction money to fund the wall. Trump vetoed that bill.
A number of lawmakers also objected to the Pentagon's assumption that Congress would simply refund the affected projects next year, calling it a political maneuver to get Congress to pay for the wall.
Other lawmakers, such as the entire New Jersey congressional delegation, have written to Shanahan to defend the projects in their state. In their letter, they told Shanahan that they "adamantly oppose" diverting any money for a border barrier, adding that Congress, not the executive branch, has the power to appropriate funds for specific projects.
A plan to spend $41 million at the Picatinny Arsenal's munitions disassembly complex in New Jersey is on the list of projects that could be affected.
On Monday, Army Secretary Mark Esper told The Associated Press that he and other military service leaders will go through the list and work to protect critical projects.
"I will prioritize based on readiness, lethality and things like that," he said, noting that something like a training complex could be protected if it's designed to help soldiers face emerging threats from competitors such as Russia and China.
Esper added, however, that there are clearly some projects that could be used.
"I can tell you what's not a priority. It's the parking garage, the cemetery," Esper said, referring to two projects planned at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York.
The garage could be affected, but the cemetery money would not be touched because the contract award date is June, and would therefore be exempt under rules set up by Shanahan.
At least half of the $4.3 billion in vulnerable projects would affect U.S. military bases overseas or in Puerto Rico and Guam. And they include a vast cross-section of facilities, ranging from schools and maintenance facilities to shooting ranges, a cybersecurity center and a military working dog kennel.
An exuberant President Donald Trump took a victory lap on Capitol Hill Tuesday, emboldened by the end of the special counsel's Russia probe, even as Democrats pressed insistently for Robert Mueller's full report and Justice Department officials said more information could be released in "weeks, not months."
Trump strode into a high-spirited gathering of Senate Republicans, flanked by party leaders, saying the attorney general's weekend summary of Mueller's report "could not have been better." GOP senators applauded his arrival, and he celebrated what he called his "clean bill of health."
But challenges are ahead for both the Republicans and the Democrats who hope to deny Trump re-election next year. Both parties are readjusting their aims and strategies in the post-probe landscape, pivoting to health care and other issues that are more important for many voters, even with Mueller's full findings still unknown.
At House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's own closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday, she urged rank-and-file Democrats to "be calm" and focus on the policy promises of health care, jobs and oversight of the administration that helped propel them to the House majority last fall.
"Let's just get the goods," Pelosi said.
Not that the Democrats are forgetting Russia and the 2016 presidential election. Many Democrats dismiss the four-page summary released by Attorney General William Barr as inadequate.
"I haven't seen the Mueller report. I've seen the Barr report. And I'm not going to base anything on the Barr report," said Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland.
"The president is saying he's been completely and totally exonerated by the report," Raskin said. "The one sentence we've seen from the report says this is not an exoneration of the president."
Meanwhile, a Justice Department official said it will take Barr "weeks, not months" to finish reviewing Mueller's longer, still-confidential report and make a version available for the public. It's not clear whether that will be Mueller's own words or another synopsis.
Trump has said he "wouldn't mind" if the full report were released. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he's hesitant to agree to releasing information from Mueller that would "throw innocent people who've not been charged under the bus." He is blocking legislation approved unanimously by the House calling for the report's release.
In the GOP luncheon, Trump was in a lively mood, senators said. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said the president is "always high energy. He had a little extra today."
Russia report aside, the president showed an eagerness to move on. He told GOP senators that health care should be their focus heading into the 2020 election.
He said he wants them to abandon efforts to simply repeal "Obamacare" and instead focus on a replacement for President Barack Obama's signature law.
"I was a little surprised he came out of the chute in health care," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., after the meeting. "He wants us to try again."
Even so, the White House was making a new effort to get rid of the Affordable Care Act entirely. In a legal filing late Monday, the administration said it would not defend the act against a court challenge essentially encouraging the law's demise.
Meanwhile, House Democrats, led by Pelosi, unveiled their own sweeping measure to rescue the program on Tuesday.
Trump's hour-long talk to Senate Republicans touched on trade, foreign policy and a vote later in the day on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal, which the Senate declined to take up. Trump said the climate-change proposal would be a good campaign issue to fight over with Democrats.
Almost no mention was made of the president's national emergency declaration to expand the border wall with Mexico, even though the House was voting on an effort to block it as the senators lunched. Congress had voted to block Trump, and he had vetoed that action. House members voted 248-181 to override Trump's veto, but that was well short of the needed two-thirds majority. Fourteen Republicans joined Democrats in trying to block the president from taking military funds to build his long-promised wall.
The president seemed to have heeded advice from allies, including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who encouraged him to use the political capital he's now gained to accomplish policy goals.
Pelosi's advice to Democrats to stick with the strategy that won them control of the House in 2018 was reinforced by Obama himself, who counseled freshman Democrats at a reception Monday night.
Obama advised the newly elected lawmakers to focus on constituents' hopes and concerns, while also identifying issues they feel so strongly about that they'd be willing to lose their House seats in fights over them, according to people at the private party.
The focus must go beyond Russia and collusion, Democratic leaders said.
"House Democrats did not win the election on collusion; we didn't win the election on impeachment; we didn't win the election on obstruction of justice," said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic Caucus chairman. "Our candidates didn't even talk about those issues. What we all collectively talked about was making life better for everyday Americans ... and that's what we're going to continue to do."
At the same time, Democrats will continue their investigations of the Trump-Russia connection, and other aspects of the president's finances and business practices, including his tax returns.
"You can't move forward on a four-page memo," said Rep. Karen Bass of California. "It's hard for me to accept that as an objective opinion."
Six House Democratic committee chairmen have written to Barr asking to have Mueller's full report by April 2. If not, they have suggested subpoenas could be issued.
Police are investigating after someone shot at another vehicle Monday afternoon on the Julia Tuttle Causeway.
Witnesses told Miami Beach police they saw another vehicle along Alton Road throwing garbage out the window and took a picture of the subjects.
Once they were on the Causeway, a male passenger in the subject vehicle discharged his firearm and shot at the victims three times, with one of the bullets grazing their vehicle.
There were no injuries in the shooting.
Police temporarily shut down the westbound lanes of the Causeway for the investigation.
Check out current traffic conditions on nbc6.com/traffic.
This is a developing story. Check back with NBC 6 for updates.
The father of one of the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre took his own life Monday morning at Edmond Town Hall, in Newtown, according to police.
Emergency crews responded to the building at 45 Main St. that house a theater as well as meetings rooms around 7 a.m. for the report of a suicide.
Paramedics found Jeremy Richman, 49, of Newtown, dead at that location, police said. Authorities said Richman's death appears to be a suicide. On Wednesday, the office of the chief medical examiner said the cause of his death was suicide.
Richman was the father of Avielle Richman, a 6-year-old who was among the 20 first-graders and six educators killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012.
Police Chief James Viadero said while his department is confident the death was a suicide, what no one knows for certain is why, but the community has carried heartache for so long.
We know its there. Some people perceive that everybodys going about their daily business and as a result of what happened in Sandy Hook, but thats not the fact," Viadero said.
"My main concern is are there other children out there that are going to look at their parents and wonder now is that something that they have to worry about," he added.
Richman and his wife created The Avielle Foundation, an organization dedicated to preventing violence by seeking a better understanding of brain health, according to its Facebook page.
Our hearts are shattered, and our heads are struggling to comprehend. Jeremy was a champion father, husband, neuroscientist and, for the past seven years, a crusader on a mission to help uncover the neurological underpinnings of violence through the Avielle Foundation, which he and his wife, Jennifer Hensel, founded after the death of their daughter, Avielle, at Sandy Hook Elementary School," the Avielle Foundation said in a statement.
"Jeremy was deeply devoted to supporting research into brain abnormalities that are linked to abnormal behavior and to promoting brain health. Tragically, his death speaks to how insidious and formidable a challenge brain health can be and how critical it is for all of us to seek help for ourselves, our loved ones and anyone who we suspect may be in need," the statement says.
The foundation said Jeremy Richman's mission will be carried on "by the many who love him, including many who share the heartache and trauma that he has suffered since December 14, 2012. We are crushed to pieces, but this important work will continue, because, as Jeremy would say, we have to."
Monsignor Robert Weiss of the St. Rose of Lima Church told NBC Connecticut Richmans death is a dark and sad day for the community. It brings back so much of the sadness we experienced six years ago. We have lost a gifted and dedicated man to helping us understand the mind of those who act in such violent ways. Our prayers are with his family as they are asked to accept another loss.
Richman had an office at Edmond Town Hall, according to police.
"This is a heartbreaking event for the Richman Family and the Newtown community as a whole, the police department's prayers are with the Richman family right now, and we ask that the family be given privacy in this most difficult time," Lt. Aaron Bahamonde said in a statement.
The board of managers for Edmond Town Hall said they will close early Monday out of respect for Richman.
"The Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers and staff wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the Richman family, the Avielle Foundation, and the community. Dr. Richman was a well-respected and beloved member of the Edmond Town Hall family. We are deeply saddened by his passing," the board of managers said in a statement.
They said preparations are being made with the Newtown Resiliency Center to help staff.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal called Richman's death "devastating."
"Jeremy Richman's passing is simply devastating. I was proud to call Jeremy a good friend, a dedicated father, an esteemed researcher & an outstanding human being. He will be deeply missed by all that knew him," Blumenthal said in a Tweet.
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy said in a Tweet that Richman's death was "awful, horrible devastating news."
"My god. This is awful, horrible, devastating news. Jeremy was a good friend and an unceasing advocate for better research into the brains violence triggers. He was with me in my office two weeks ago, excited as could be about the Avielle Foundations latest amazing work," Murphy said in a Tweet.
U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes released a statement, saying she recently met with Richman and his death is heartbreaking.
"The news of Jeremy Richmans death is heartbreaking. I recently met with Jeremy to learn about the Avielle Foundation, and was struck by how optimistic he was about the progress the foundation was making in understanding brain health. He spoke about how the foundations investments have led to broader study of brain chemistry and violence," Hayes said.
Richmans death comes after a second survivor of the Parkland school shooting died of what police called an apparent suicide on Sunday.
Todays news, along with the two recent suicides of Parkland students, further illuminates the fact that we must do more as a society to help victims of gun violence and their families grieve. These tragedies show that the trauma of gun violence extends far beyond the initial tragedy," Hayes said in a statement. We have failed in this area and must do more to help survivors and their support networks when tragic events occur. I am so thankful for Jeremys work and grieve today with his family and the rest of the Newtown community.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that suicide is a serious and preventable problem and causes vary. The CDC has resources for prevention strategies here.
If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting 'Home' to 741741.
Spain has issued two international arrest warrants for members of a self-proclaimed human rights group that allegedly led a mysterious attack on the North Korean Embassy in February before offering data stolen during the raid to the FBI.
National Court judge Jose de la Mata on Tuesday lifted a secrecy order in the case, announcing it had found evidence of various crimes, including trespassing, injuries, threats and burglary committed by "a criminal organization" at the embassy in a leafy northern Madrid neighborhood. He identified a Mexican, an American and a South Korean as main suspects in the case.
The judge named Adrian Hong Chang, a Mexican national and resident in the United States, as the leader of a gang of 10 people who escaped on Feb. 22 after stealing computers and documents from the embassy, where they shackled and gagged its staff.
De la Mata said the assailants identified themselves as "members of an association or movement of human rights for the liberation of North Korea" and that they urged So Yun Sok, the embassy's business envoy and only diplomat, to defect. He refused to do so and was also gagged.
That group is the Cheollima Civil Defense, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the incident. The shadowy activists have the self-declared mission of helping defectors of the North Korean regime.
The court document said Hong Chang flew to the U.S. on Feb. 23, where he got in touch with the FBI and offered to share material and videos with federal investigators. The Spanish investigation didn't say what the content of the material was, or whether the FBI accepted it.
The document added that most suspects were believed to be outside of Spain.
The FBI said in a statement that its standard practice is not to confirm nor deny the existence of investigations but added that "the FBI enjoys a strong working relationship with our Spanish law enforcement partners."
A police spokesman who wasn't authorized to be named in media reports confirmed to The Associated Press that arrest warrants had been issued against Hong Chang and one other suspect.
No formal charges have yet been brought into the attack.
So, the North Korean diplomat, didn't respond to written questions from The Associated Press and declined to talk to reporters during a recent encounter outside his embassy in northwestern Madrid.
Others identified as part of the assailants' group were Sam Ryu, from the U.S., and Woo Ran Lee, a South Korean citizen. Their whereabouts and their hometowns weren't immediately known.
The South Korean Embassy in Madrid said it had no knowledge of the events and couldn't offer further comment.
The assailants purchased knives and handgun mock-ups when they visited Madrid in early February, according to the investigation, and later used them for the attack.
While in Madrid, Hong Chang also applied for a new passport at the Mexican Embassy, the investigation found, and used the name "Oswaldo Trump" to register in the Uber ride-hailing app.
The North Korean Embassy hasn't pressed charges in Spain, and officials in Pyongyang haven't officially commented on the attack.
Spanish police first found out about the incident after the wife of one of the embassy's workers managed to escape by jumping from a window.
When confronted by Spanish police officers who went to check on the embassy, Hong Chang posed as an embassy official and said everything was normal. That paved the way for the group's escape in the embassy's cars.
The attack's timing, barely a week before a high-stakes U.S.-North Korea summit on denuclearization derailed in Hanoi on Feb. 28, had led many to speculate that it was an attempt to obtain data related to the North's former ambassador to Spain.
Kim Hyok Chol, who was expelled from Spain in September 2017 following Pyongyang's sixth round of nuclear tests and missile launches over neighboring Japan, has become North Korea's top nuclear negotiator with the U.S.
When asked if Washington had anything to do with the embassy raid, U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said Tuesday that "the United States government had nothing to do with this."
Palladino also said that "regarding the specifics of what's going on, the Spanish authorities are investigating. The investigation is still underway. For any details on their investigation, I would have to refer you to Spanish authorities."
Spanish authorities have kept the events of the embassy attack out of the public eye until Spain's El Confidencial news site first revealed some details on Feb. 27.
A police investigator with knowledge of the case told the AP that "this attack, whatever it is, would have gone unnoticed if it wasn't for the woman who escaped."
Last week, the rights group that allegedly led the attack posted a short video on its website allegedly showing a man shattering against the floor portraits of North Korean late leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
The group said the video had been filmed recently "on our homeland's soil," in what could be a reference to the North Korean Embassy in Madrid.
AP writers Deb Riechmann and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
The first glimpse into the special counsel's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election did little to mend a gaping American political divide.
The four-page summary of Robert Mueller's probe released by Attorney General William Barr didn't satisfy many who wanted more details. But in a bitterly divided country, the little bit that was known stirred cheers from many Republicans and scoffs from many Democrats.
"The one side that's happy is happy. And the other side that's not happy wants to do some more investigation or do something else," said Stephen Turner, an electrical engineer from Belmont, North Carolina, who is Republican and voted for Trump. "I wish it'd just go away."
Across the union, the split reaction to the Mueller news repeated.
In West Palm Beach, Florida, along the route Trump's motorcade took before returning to Washington on Air Force One, Mary Jude Smith got a wave and a smile from the chief executive. The 71-year-old retiree from Hypoluxo, Florida, speaks about him with passion, and insists he has been exonerated. She sees the investigation as Democrats' pathetic attempt to impeach Trump.
"I think Mueller was a crook. He wasted millions of our tax dollars for nothing," she said, before offering her assessment of Trump: "He's as clean as the driven snow."
In blue-state New York, 49-year-old filmmaker Dan Lee of Brooklyn Heights felt let down by Mueller and left with more questions than answers.
"It stings a little, because I trusted Mueller," said Lee, a Democrat. "There are still so many questions and it seems inconceivable that obstruction isn't one of the conclusions."
In red-state West Virginia, 44-year-old truck driver Michael Tucker of Bancroft, declared the Russian investigation "a joke, for the most part" and that Trump has been treated unfairly.
"It's one witch hunt after another," said Tucker, who gave his vote to Trump in 2016 and likely will again next year. "If they could have found anything, they would have."
There were morsels in Barr's letter both sides could savor. For Republicans, it was acknowledgement that there was no evidence Trump or his campaign conspired with Russia. For Democrats, it was the admission that while Trump wasn't charged with obstruction, he also wasn't exonerated.
Trump supporter Richard C. Osburn, 52, a nurse from South Charleston, West Virginia, said Mueller's findings were proof the president was "drug through the mud." He knows Democrats are "hell-bent" on destroying Trump, but says it's time for the president to be given a break.
"The things that the man's doing to try to help the average worker in this country never gets recognized by the mainstream media," said Osburn, a longtime Republican. "They would rather hate, hate, hate than recognize accomplishments. Those days have got to stop."
In Los Angeles, 57-year-old accountant Sue Arani, checked news on her phone as she took her dog for an afternoon walk Sunday. She calls herself a Republican-leaning voter, though she gave her support to Clinton in 2016. She trusts Mueller, but even with Barr's release, she thinks there was collusion between Trump's campaign and the Russian government.
"The public needs to see the report," she said, "especially before the next election."
Claire Finkelstein, a University of Pennsylvania professor who founded the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law, said if the full report isn't made available to the public and its contents become known only through leaks and back channels, it would be damaging to faith in the government.
"Secrets are where conspiracy theories fester and grow," Finkelstein said. "The only way that we are going to be able to move past this state of affairs is by as much coming out into the light as possible. Let's flesh out the facts, let's get them on the table and have a robust conversation."
What seemed certain was there would be no end to the debate over Trump, Mueller's investigation, and the political divide across the U.S.
In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 74-year-old Richard Howell, a supporter of the president, said news of the Mueller report proves what critics of the investigation have been saying all along.
"So we spent two years and millions of dollars," he said, "worrying about nothing."
In Gaston County, North Carolina, Trump voters outnumbered Clinton backers nearly two-to-one in 2016, but Joy Owens didn't budge from her opposition. She believes Mueller has done a good job with the investigation but she's left feeling unfulfilled.
"I keep hoping that if we just be patient, we be patient for a little bit longer, that there will be justice," said Owens, 66, who recently retired from running a yarn shop and framing business. "I cannot believe of all the other convictions that are happening about this that Trump is going to be scot-free on this."
Contributing to this report were Corey Williams, Sharon Cohen, Chris Weber, Claire Galofaro, Jeff Baenan, Rebecca Santana, Tim Talley, Alanna Durkin Richer, Denise Lavoie, Josh Replogle, Colleen Slevin, Sarah Blake Morgan, Roxana Hegeman, Adam Geller and John Raby.
North Korea is pursuing the "rapid rebuilding" of the long-range rocket site at Sohae Launch Facility, according to new commercial imagery and an analysis from the researchers at Beyond Parallel.
Sohae Satellite Launching Station, North Korea's only operational space launch facility, has been used in the past for satellite launches, NBC News reported.
These launches use similar technology to what is used for intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Daily attempts by undocumented immigrants to cross into the United States from Mexico over the past month surpassed daily averages not seen since fiscal year 2006, according to Customs and Border Protection data obtained by NBC News.
The surge has maxed out the capacity of existing detention centers, and the Department of Homeland Security is now in negotiations with the Department of Defense to detain and care for the overflow on U.S. military bases, according to a DHS official and two other U.S. officials familiar with the discussions.
On March 19, CBP officers and agents stopped or apprehended 3,974 immigrants, the highest single day since the beginning of the Trump administration. Six other days since mid-February have topped 3,595, surpassing the daily average of 3,530 in fiscal year 2006.
Those seven days are the highest on record since President Donald Trump took office, a DHS official told NBC News, and they have all been recorded over the past six weeks.
What to Know Rockland County declared a countywide State of Emergency relating to the ongoing measles outbreak Tuesday
A ban went into effect at midnight, Wednesday, barring any unvaccinated minor from public places for 30 days or they are vaccinated
As of last Thursday, there are 151 confirmed reported cases of measles in the county, according to Rockland County
Rockland County has declared a state of emergency and banned children who are unvaccinated against the measles from public places after a local outbreak entered its 26th week the longest since the disease was eradicated in the United States in 2000, according to officials in the New York.
The ban went into effect at midnight, Wednesday, barring anyone younger than 18 who is unvaccinated against the measles from public places until they receive the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The ban expires in 30 days.
Those unable to be vaccinated for documented and confirmed medical reasons are exempt from the declaration.
"We believe this to be the first such effort of this kind nationally and the circumstances we face here clearly call for that," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day at a Tuesday press conference. "Rockland will lead the way in service and safety to the people here."
The outbreak started after seven unvaccinated travelers with measles entered the county in early October, Day said. As of Tuesday, there were 153 confirmed cases.
Rockland County has been grappling with a measles outbreak in recent months affecting residents in Spring Valley, New Square and Monsey. Officials had previously asked students who are unvaccinated not to attend school.
Still, Day said county officials have been met with "pockets of resistance" from people unwilling to comply with health department advice and this played a part in the decision to enact a ban.
Anyone found in violation could face six months in jail and/or a $500 fine, Day said. However, he added that the county is not looking to arrest people, but rather a means to grab the public's attention.
Measles is a highly contagious disease. Young children, the immunocompromised and non-immune pregnant women are at highest risk for severe complications. Measles is transmitted by airborne particles, droplets and direct contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person.
Measles typically presents in adults and children as an acute viral illness characterized by fever and generalized rash. The rash usually starts on the face, proceeds down the body and may include the palms and soles. The rash lasts several days. Infected individuals are contagious from four days before rash onset through the fourth day after the rash appears.
Rockland officials encourage everyone to be up-to-date with the MMR vaccine to help protect them in case of any future exposure to measles in Rockland.
Rockland health officials have urged those who are ill with a fever, rash, or conjunctivitis (red watery eyes) to stay home, not have visitors and not go out in public.
To further prevent the spread of illness, the Rockland Health Department said individuals who have symptoms consistent with measles should contact their health care provider, a local clinic or local emergency department before going in person to prevent exposing the illness to others.
The Rockland County Department of Health is coordinating its response with the New York State Department of Health. The Department of Health will also host free MMR vaccination clinics Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. One in Pomona and another in Spring Valley.
U.S. prosecutors are looking into the development of Boeing's 737 Max jets, a person briefed on the matter revealed Monday, the same day French aviation investigators concluded there were "clear similarities" in the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8 last week and a Lion Air jet in October.
The Justice Department probe will examine the way Boeing was regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the inquiry is not public.
A federal grand jury in Washington sent a subpoena to someone involved in the plane's development seeking emails, messages and other communications, the person told The Associated Press.
The Transportation Department's inspector general is also looking into the FAA's approval of the Boeing 737 Max, a U.S. official told AP. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Wall Street Journal reported on the probe Sunday said the inspector general was looking into the plane's anti-stall system. It quotes unidentified people familiar with both cases.
The anti-stall system may have been involved in the Oct. 29 crash of a Lion Air jet off of Indonesia that killed 189 people. It's also under scrutiny in the March 10 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet that killed 157.
The Transportation Department's FAA regulates Chicago-based Boeing and is responsible for certifying that planes can fly safely.
The grand jury issued its subpoena on March 11, one day after the Ethopian Airlines crash, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press.
Spokesmen for the Justice Department and the inspector general said Monday they could neither confirm nor deny the existence of any inquiries. The FAA would not comment.
"Boeing does not respond to or comment on questions concerning legal matters, whether internal, litigation, or governmental inquiries," Boeing spokesman Charles Bickers said in an email.
The company late Monday issued an open letter from its CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, addressed to airlines, passengers and the aviation community. Muilenburg did not refer to the reports of the Justice Department probe, but stressed his company is taking actions to ensure its 737 Max jets are safe.
Those include an upcoming release of a software update and related pilot training for the 737 Max to "address concerns" that arose in the aftermath of October's Lion Air crash, Muilenburg said. The planes' new flight-control software is suspected of playing a role in the crashes.
The French civil aviation investigation bureau BEA said Monday that black box data from the Ethiopian Airlines flight showed the links with the Lion Air crash and will be used for further study.
Ethiopian authorities asked BEA for help in extracting and interpreting the crashed plane's black boxes because Ethiopia does not have the necessary expertise and technology.
The Ethiopian Accident Investigation Bureau intends to release a preliminary report within 30 days.
The United States and many other countries have grounded the Max 8s and larger Max 9s as Boeing faces the challenge of proving the jets are safe to fly amid suspicions that faulty sensors and software contributed to the two crashes in less than five months.
Both planes flew with erratic altitude changes that could indicate the pilots struggled to control the aircraft. Shortly after their takeoffs, both crews tried to return to the airports but crashed.
Boeing has said it has "full confidence" in the planes' safety. Engineers are making changes to the system designed to prevent an aerodynamic stall if sensors detect that the jet's nose is pointed too high and its speed is too slow.
Investigators looking into the Indonesian crash are examining whether the software automatically pushed the plane's nose down repeatedly, and whether the Lion Air pilots knew how to solve that problem. Ethiopian Airlines says its pilots received special training on the software.
Dennis Tajer, an American Airlines pilot and a spokesman for their union, said Boeing held a discussion with airlines last Thursday but did not invite pilots at American or Southwest, the two U.S. carriers that use the same version of the Max that crashed in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Tajer said airline officials told the unions that Boeing intends to offer pilots about a 15-minute iPad course to train them on the new flight-control software on Max jets that is suspected of playing a role in the crashes. He called that amount of training unacceptable.
"Our sense is it's a rush to comply 'let's go, let's go, let's go,'" Tajer said. "I'm in a rush to protect my passengers."
A spokesman for the pilots' union at Southwest Airlines also said Boeing representatives told that union they expected the upgrade to be ready the end of January.
The spokesman, Mike Trevino, said Boeing never followed up to explain why that deadline passed without an upgrade. Boeing was expected to submit a proposed fix to the FAA in early January.
Krisher reported from Detroit. Associated Press writers David Koenig in Dallas and Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report.
Warning: The details of this story are extremely graphic and could be disturbing to some readers.
No decision was reached Tuesday night in the sentencing of a man who stabbed, raped and strangled his girlfriend's daughter while the older woman watched.
A jury deliberated in the sentencing for Jacob Sullivan but did not reach a decision regarding whether he'll get the death penalty or life in prison. They'll return to court Wednesday morning.
Sullivan, 46, pleaded guilty to the July 2016 murder and dismemberment of 14-year-old Grace Packer. The teen's adoptive mother, Sara Packer, previously pleaded guilty in exchange for a life sentence. She will appear in court Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. for her sentencing.
Last week, the teen's loved ones said in court that they remain haunted by her torture and excruciating death.
They described for jurors their unrelenting pain at an emotional hearing in Doylestown.
"It sickens me to know that Grace was abused, tortured and literally thrown away like she was a piece of trash," her cousin, Karie Heisserer, with whom Grace lived for a time in 2015, said. "Grace is in a better place now, free from evil and pain."
Prosecutors painted a nightmare scenario inside the family's Quakerstown home. They said Sara Packer hated Grace, shared a rape-murder fantasy with Sullivan, watched as he sexually assaulted and strangled her in a hot attic outside Philadelphia, and helped hack up her body and dispose of it months later.
Sara Packer took the stand last week and said Grace had a tendency to be a "very difficult child.
Grace had become, for lack of a better word, a non-entity, Packer said. She didnt exist anymore. I wanted her to go away.
Sara Packer, who wore a red prison jumpsuit, also said she has a degree in psychology and an IQ over 140.
Earlier in the week, Amy Adam, Grace's guidance counselor, said the teen got excellent grades but required emotional support. She said that a few months before Grace's death, Sara Packer had threatened to send her to foster care or to a residential center. That prompted Grace to write a "good-bye letter" to her family, Adam said.
The letter was displayed for the jury.
"I know that you guys are at your breaking point and I understand," Grace wrote. "I love you guys I always have and I always will."
Jurors saw photos of the bubbly but troubled teen in happier times: Sitting in the cab of her uncle's big rig, frolicking in the sand at her first trip to the beach, delighting in birthday cake at a pool party. But all of that happened with relatives, not with Sara Packer, a former county adoptions supervisor who, prosecutors said, spent years physically and mentally abusing the little girl she fostered and then adopted.
Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub told the jury that he agreed to a life sentence for Sara in exchange for her confession and guilty plea because the physical evidence against her was weak, because it was Sullivan who raped and killed Grace, and because her crimes did not qualify for the death penalty.
In a confession to police, Sullivan said he and Sara Packer plotted Grace's death. Sullivan admitted he punched and raped Grace as Sara Packer watched, bound her hands and feet with zip ties and stuffed a ball gag in her mouth.
I got wrapped up in Jakes fantasy, she said. I didnt think I could tell him no without losing him.
Prosecutors said Sullivan and Packer also gave the teen what they intended to be a lethal dose of over-the-counter medication and left her to die in a sweltering attic.
Grace eventually managed to escape some of her bindings and spit the gag out, but was unable to make it out of the house before Sullivan and Packer returned overnight some 12 hours later and Sullivan strangled her as Sara Packer watched.
The couple stored her body in cat litter for months, then hacked it up and dumped it in a remote area where hunters found it in October 2016, prosecutors said.
Sullivan told police he wanted the torture and death "to be fun" for the teen.
Grace's younger brother, Josh Packer, now 14, told jurors the only way he can bear his loss is if adults know her story and then act to prevent child abuse.
He said in a statement read by a detective that if his big sister was told she could save other kids' lives by giving her own, she would ask, "What do I have to do?"
"Watch out for all the kids so that a loss like Grace's loss never happens again," Josh wrote. "Do your best to help kids who can't help themselves."
That's not what happened in Grace's case.
Sara Packer and her husband at the time, David Packer, adopted Grace and Josh in 2007. Their biological parents lost custody of the children because they could not provide a safe home for them due to mental illness and her husband's intellectual challenges, The Morning Call reported.
The Packers, meanwhile, cared for dozens of children before David Packer was sent to prison for sexually assaulting Grace and a 15-year-old foster daughter at their Allentown home.
Sara Packer lost her job as a Northampton County adoptions supervisor in 2010 and was barred from taking in any more foster children. But child welfare authorities did not remove Grace from the home, despite evidence of abuse.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services launched an investigation after Grace's murder. Its findings have not been made public.
Both Sara Packer and Sullivan survived suicide attempts in the months following the murder.
What to Know Liberation Way, a for-profit treatment company, is accused of exploiting addicts and insurers.
Prosecutors say the company fraudulently billed insurance companies for tens of millions of dollars.
Liberation Way has centers in suburban Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania attorney generals office charged the co-founder and former executives of an addiction treatment firm Monday and accused them of profiting off addicts by fraudulently billing insurance companies for tens of millions of dollars, with seemingly little regard for the welfare of the addicted person.
The charges announced by Attorney General Josh Shapiro against 11 people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida, and nine corporations revolve around Liberation Way, a for-profit treatment company with centers in suburban Philadelphia that was sold to a private equity firm in 2017 for nearly $42 million.
Shapiro said the two-year investigation found more than $44 million in profits from fraudulent schemes. In some cases, the addicted people returned again and again for treatment, leading to more and more fraudulent billing by Liberation Way, Shapiro said.
The attorney generals office began investigating based on information it received from the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, whose inspectors had flagged various violations at Liberation Way facilities.
The schemes include billing for substandard, nonexistent or unnecessary treatment, Shapiro said. State charges include dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, criminal conspiracy, insurance fraud and identity theft. Federal conspiracy charges have also been filed.
A telephone message seeking comment was left at a number listed for Jason Gerner, a Liberation Way co-founder and one of the people charged. Court officials say no attorney is listed for him.
The private equity firm that bought the majority interest in Liberation Way, Fulcrum Equity Partners, absorbed Liberation Ways treatment centers into a company called City Line Behavioral Health.
Fulcrum-owned entities last year sued Gerner and others who had sold stakes in Liberation Way, accusing them of failing to disclose violations and other activity that prompted the investigation. The Fulcrum entities won a settlement that City Line spokeswoman Missy Orlando said is confidential.
Two of the three former Liberation Way centers remain open, but with an overhaul of the treatment, programming and staff, Orlando said.
Authorities said one scheme at Liberation Way involved illegally signing up addicted people for insurance policies and then paying their insurance premiums in ways that hid the source of the money. That included cash, pre-paid Visa gift cards and bank accounts of two non-profit organizations created by Liberation Ways owners, they said.
Shapiro also said the company got kickbacks from insurance coverage of unnecessary urine lab tests from a Florida firm and by warehousing addicts in poorly run and unlicensed inpatient facilities that it owned.
The schemes often inflicted suffering on the addicted people, Shapiro said.
If insurers didnt pay lab fees in full for unnecessary urine tests, Liberation Way had the labs demand that patients and their families pay the outstanding balances, Shapiro said.
Meanwhile, one of the treatment homes was known as the party house, Shapiro said. Patients there were in unsavory or even unsafe situations where the temptation to relapse was rampant, authorities said.
Patients who relapsed would re-enter treatment at a higher level of care, and Liberation Way billed insurers for higher rates of reimbursement. Liberation Way cycled patients through the treatment process as many times as possible, even as many as eight times, authorities said.
What to Know State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz is a first-term Republican lawmaker from Clinton County, Pennsylvania.
State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell is the state's first Muslim woman elected to the Legislature. She won a special election in Philadelphia.
Johnson-Harrell described Borowicz's prayer as "blatant" Islamophobia. Borowicz said she was simply praying as she always does.
A Pennsylvania lawmaker was accused of "weaponizing" religion after she delivered a Christian invocation on the floor of the State Capitol Monday, the same day the first Muslim woman was sworn into the legislature.
Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, a Republican from Clinton County, went on for nearly two minutes talking about Jesus, Israel, Gov. Tom Wolf, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln before another lawmaker yelled something from the audience.
House Speaker Mike Turzai, whose method of choosing members and religious leaders to open hearings with prayers has invoked controversy of its own, then tapped Borowicz on the arm to wrap it up.
Borowicz's prayer came the same day that Pennsylvania's first Muslim woman was sworn in. Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, a Democrat from Philadelphia who won a special election earlier in March, told a news outlet that she had a large group of friends and family in attendance. She said 30 of those 52 guests are also Muslim.
"It blatantly represented the Islamophobia that exists among some leaders leaders that are supposed to represent the people, Johnson-Harrell told the Pennsylvania Capital-Star news site.
A fellow Philadelphia lawmaker, Rep. Jordan Harris, said Borowicz's prayer "weaponized" religion.
"On a day that should be celebrated across Pennsylvania as we see the first Muslim woman sworn into office, we instead started off with a rambling, at times incoherent prayer that consisted of weaponizing the name of Jesus while dipping into partisan rhetoric on President Donald Trump," Harris said of Borowicz's reference to the president's support of Israel in her prayer.
"Let me be clear. I am a Christian. I spend my Sunday mornings in church worshiping and being thankful for all that I have. But in no way does that mean I would flaunt my religion at those who worship differently than I do. There is no room in our Capitol building for actions such as this, and its incredibly disappointing that todays opening prayer was so divisive."
Borowicz insisted she did nothing wrong, according to an Associated Press report.
Her husband is an associate pastor at Crossroads Community Church in Jersey Shore, Lycoming County. A voicemail at the church and an email for Jason Borowicz seeking comment were not returned.
"Absolutely not," she said as she headed into closed-door meeting afterward. "I pray every day. I prayed."
Last year, a federal judge rejected Turzai's practice of refusing non-believers the chance to give the opening invocation before House sessions. House Republicans, who control the chamber, said they would appeal the ruling.
From 1865 to 1994, the state House maintained a permanent chaplain to give invocations. Since 1994, however, guest chaplains, including lawmakers, have served in the role.
Bitter cold is setting in after a major winter storm blanketed a wide swath of the country in snow, sleet and rain this weekend, creating dangerously icy conditions that promise to complicate cleanup efforts and make travel challenging on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Some of the coldest temperatures felt so far this season started to set in across the Midwest and Northeast Sunday and are expected to plunge further overnight.
Wind chills will bring temperatures into teens in the New York City area and down to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 degrees Celsius) in upstate New York, the National Weather Service predicted.
In New England, they'll fall to as low as 20 F (29 C) below zero around Boston and as low as 35 F (37 C) below zero in parts of Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire, the service said.
Temperatures across the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic will drop 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average, the service said.
"It's life-threatening," said Ray O'Keefe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albany. "These are dangerous conditions that we're going to be in and they're prolonged, right through tomorrow."
The freeze will follow the weekend's run-ins with power outages, canceled trains and planes, overnight stays at the airport and traffic jams.
Local officials warned residents to limit their time outside to prevent frostbite and to avoid treacherous travel conditions. They also said places could see strong wind gusts, flooding and further power outages.
Utilities in Connecticut reported more than 20,000 customers without power by Sunday afternoon.
"We had more freezing rain and sleet than we expected," Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said Sunday as public works crews across the state raced to clear and treat major roadways before dangerous black ice could form.
Amtrak canceled trains across the Midwest and Northeast over the weekend, but promised full service would resume Monday. Boston's transit system urged commuters to allow 10 to 15 minutes of extra travel time and warned of icy conditions for pedestrians come Monday.
The storm caused by the clash of an Arctic high-pressure system with a low-pressure system coming through the Ohio Valley wreaked havoc on air travel and other forms of transportation all weekend.
More than 1,500 flights were canceled nationwide Sunday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking company.
Among the hardest hit was Boston's Logan Airport, where stranded passengers lingered Sunday as typically bustling security lines, ticketing counters and baggage claims were largely deserted.
Xavi Ortega, a 32-year old engineer from Spain, said he and his wife slept overnight at the airport after their Saturday night flight home to Barcelona was canceled. He said the couple hoped to board a flight Sunday night.
"We've been sleeping, playing Candy Crush," Ortega said when asked how'd they been passing the hours.
A ferry service route across Lake Champlain between Vermont and New York was also closed Sunday and flights were mostly cancelled at major airports in Vermont and New Hampshire.
In the Midwest, where it dumped 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow in parts, the storm caused a plane to skid on a slick runway at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Saturday, though no injuries were reported.
In Kansas, a snowplow driver was killed when his vehicle rolled over, and in southeastern Missouri, slippery conditions caused a 15-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 on Saturday.
One saving grace of the storm: heavily populated coastal communities from New York to Boston largely escaped major snowfall after days of sometimes dire predictions.
Manhattan saw mostly rain while places along Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts' coast recorded 2 to 5 inches (5 to 13 centimeters) of snow.
Mountain regions saw significantly more, to the delight of ski resort operators.
New York's Adirondacks registered up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) while western Massachusetts' Berkshires saw as much as 10 and parts of northern New England were on track to approach 24 inches of snow.
Nicholas Nicolet and his 6-year-old son Rocco welcomed the fresh powder as they cross-country skied on the sidewalks of Montpelier, Vermont early Sunday morning.
"We think it's great," Nicholas Nicolet said during the storm.
President Donald Trump urged Americans affected by the winter storm to "be careful" in a tweet early Sunday. But, as he's done in the past, Trump conflated the short-term weather phenomenon with longer-term climate change.
The White House's own National Climate Assessment recently rejected the idea that a particular plunge in temperatures can cast uncertainty on whether Earth is warming.
"Amazing how big this system is," Trump tweeted. "Wouldn't be bad to have a little of that good old fashioned Global Warming right now!"
Associated Press reporters Bob Salsberg, Deepti Hajela and Lisa Rathke contributed to this story.
Japan announced Wednesday that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts for the animals for the first time in 30 years, but said it would no longer go to the Antarctic for its much-criticized annual killings.
Japan switched to what it calls research whaling after the IWC imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in the 1980s, and now says stocks have recovered enough to resume commercial hunts.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan would resume commercial whaling in July "in line with Japan's basic policy of promoting sustainable use of aquatic living resources based on scientific evidence."
He added that Japan is disappointed that the IWC which he said is dominated by conservationists focuses on the protection of whale stocks even though the commission has a treaty mandate for both whale conservation and the development of the whaling industry.
"Regrettably, we have reached a decision that it is impossible in the IWC to seek the coexistence of states with different views," he said.
Suga said the commercial hunts would be limited to Japan's territorial waters and its 200-mile (323-kilometer) exclusive economic zone along Japan's coasts. He said Japan would stop its annual whaling expeditions to the Antarctic and northwest Pacific oceans, noting that non-signatory states are not allowed to do so.
The IWC imposed the moratorium on commercial whaling three decades ago due to a dwindling whale population. Japan switched to what is calls research whaling, but the program was criticized as a cover for commercial hunting since the meat is sold on the market at home.
The environmental group Greenpeace condemned the Wednesday's announcement and disputed Japan's view that whale stocks have recovered, noting also that ocean life is being threatened by pollution as well as overfishing.
"The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures," Sam Annesley, executive director at Greenpeace Japan, said in a statement. "The government of Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than resume commercial whaling."
Australia's government, often a vocal critic of Japan's whaling policies, said in a statement that it was "extremely disappointed" with Japan's decision to quit the commission.
However, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters joined Australia in welcoming Japan's withdrawal from the southern ocean. Japan was the only country with an ambition to return to commercial whaling in the Antarctic Ocean.
Japanese Fisheries Agency official and longtime IWC negotiator Hideki Moronuki said Japan would use the IWC's method to carefully determine a catch quota, but declined to give an estimate.
Japan has hunted whales for centuries, but has reduced its catch following international protests and declining demand for whale meat at home. The withdrawal from the IWC may be a face-saving step to stop Japan's ambitious Antarctic hunts and scale down the scope of whaling to around the Japanese coasts.
Japan slashed its annual quota in the Antarctic by about one third after a 2014 International Court of Justice ruling that the country's research whaling program wasn't as scientific as Japan had argued. Japan currently hunts about 600 whales annually in the Antarctic and the Northern Pacific.
Fisheries officials have said Japan annually consumes thousands of tons of whale meat from the research hunts, mainly by older Japanese seeking a nostalgic meal. But critics say they doubt commercial whaling could be a sustainable industry if younger Japanese don't view the animals as food.
Suga said Japan would notify the IWC of its decision by Dec. 31 and remains committed to international cooperation on proper management of marine life even after its IWC withdrawal.
Associated Press writer Steve McMorran contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) President Rodrigo Duterte, in a speech Tuesday night, asked why an ex-police official is still alive.
The chief executive was referring to former anti-narcotics police officer Eduardo Acierto who had on Monday said that Duterte's former economic consultant Michael Yang was deep into the illegal drug trade.
"Huwag kayo maniwala dito, lalo na ito si Acierto ito ... tanungin ko kaya military at saka police bakit buhay pa 'yang pu********* 'yan," Duterte said in a speech delivered to beneficiaries of the government's unconditional cash transfer program in Koronodal City, South Cotabato.
[Translation: Don't believe this, especially that Acierto. So I ask the military and the police, why is this son of a b**** still alive?]
Acierto, in a Facebook video Monday, said that Yang was into the drug trade.
He added that he had submitted an intelligence report on the matter to top police officials, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Chief Aaron Aquino, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Richard Gordon, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea back in December 2017.
The Palace responded by announcing that Yang is no longer Duterte's adviser and that charges would be filed against the Davao-based businessman if Acierto's allegations are true.
READ: Michael Yang no longer Duterte's economic adviser - Medialdea
Duterte, however, insisted that Acierto should not be believed in and implicated him in kidnapping Chinese citizens, killing a Korean national in Camp Crame. Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said Acierto was the officer in charge during Jee's murder because his superior was on leave then. Duterte also said Acierto was involved in selling firearms to rebels.
"Na-dismiss sa police (He was dismissed from the police force) due to procurement of AK-47 rifles which eventually landed in the hands of the New People's Army," Duterte said about Acierto.
Following in the footsteps of the U.S., Russia will abandon a centerpiece nuclear arms treaty but will only deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles if Washington does so, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday.
President Donald Trump accused Moscow on Friday of violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with "impunity" by deploying banned missiles. Trump said in a statement that the U.S. will "move forward" with developing its own military response options to Russia's new land-based cruise missiles that could target Western Europe.
Moscow has strongly denied any breaches and accused Washington of making false accusations in order to justify its pullout.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in explaining that Washington on Saturday formally suspended its treaty obligations, said in a statement that Russia's "continued noncompliance has jeopardized the United States' supreme interests." He said the treaty will terminate in six months unless Moscow returns to "full and verifiable compliance."
The collapse of the INF Treaty has raised fears of a repeat of a Cold War showdown in the 1980s, when the U.S. and the Soviet Union both deployed intermediate-range missiles on the continent. Such weapons were seen as particularly destabilizing as they only take a few minutes to reach their targets, leaving no time for decision-makers and raising the likelihood of a global nuclear conflict over a false launch warning.
After the U.S. gave notice of its intention to withdraw, Putin said Russia would do the same. He ordered the development of new land-based intermediate-range weapons, but emphasized that Russia won't deploy them in the European part of the country or elsewhere unless the U.S. does so.
"We will respond quid pro quo," Putin said. "Our American partners have announced they were suspending their participation in the treaty, and we will do the same. They have announced they will conduct research and development, and we will act accordingly."
The U.S. has accused Russia of developing and deploying a cruise missile that violates provisions of the pact that ban production, testing and deployment of land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,410 miles). Trump's move also reflected his administration's view that the pact was an obstacle to efforts needed to counter intermediate-range missiles deployed by China, which isn't part of the treaty.
NATO allies have strongly backed Washington and urged Moscow to save the treaty by returning to compliance.
Russia has rejected the U.S. claims of violation, charging that the missile, which is part of the Iskander-M missile system, has a maximum range of 480 kilometers (298 miles). Russian officials claimed the U.S. assertions about the alleged breach of the pact by Moscow were intended to shift the blame for the pact's demise to Russia.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday released a satellite image of what it described as new production facilities at the U.S. missile maker Raytheon's plant in Tucson, Arizona, noting that their expansion began in 2017 as the Congress authorized spending for the development of intermediate-range missiles.
"The character and the timing of the works provide an irrefutable proof that the U.S. administration had decided to pull out of the INF treaty years before making unfounded claims of Russian violations," it said.
Putin has argued it makes no sense for Russia to deploy a ground-based cruise missile violating the treaty because it has such weapons on ships and aircraft, which aren't banned by the pact.
Speaking Saturday in a televised meeting with his foreign and defense ministers, Putin instructed the military to work on developing new land-based weapons that were previously forbidden by the INF treaty. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that they would include a land-based version of the Kalibr ship-based cruise missile and a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile.
Putin emphasized that such new weapons won't be deployed unless the U.S. does so.
"Russia will not station intermediate-range weapons in Europe or other regions until similar U.S. weapons appear in those regions," he said.
The Russian leader said Moscow remains open to talks with Washington, but added it would be up to the U.S. to take the first step.
"Let's wait until our partners are mature enough to conduct an equal and substantive dialogue on those issues," he said.
At the same time, Putin told his ministers that he would like to review the progress on building other prospective weapons that don't fall under the INF treaty, including the intercontinental Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle and the Poseidon underwater nuclear-powered drone.
He noted Shoigu's report that a key stage in testing of the Poseidon was completed several days ago. The drone is designed to carry a heavy nuclear weapon that could cause a devastating tsunami wave.
The Russian leader last year unveiled an array of new nuclear weapons, including the Avangard and the Poseidon, saying that they can't be intercepted.
Putin also noted during Saturday's meeting that he would like the military to prepare a response to the possible deployment of weapons in space.
The Pentagon's new strategy unveiled last month calls for a new array of space-based sensors and other high-tech systems to more quickly detect and shoot down incoming missiles.
Putin instructed the military to make sure the research and development works on new weapons don't swell military spending. He said the military must reconfigure the existing defense budget to find money for the new weapons.
"We must not and will not be drawn into a costly arms race," he said.
Deb Riechmann, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee and Lynn Berry contributed to this report.
What to Know Mike Stack lost his re-election bid last year for a second term as Pennsylvania Lt. Governor.
The former state senator and lieutenant governor blamed the way the Philadelphia Board of Elections picks candidates' ballot positions.
Stack is one of the more recognizable politicians from Northeast Philadelphia.
Mike Stack, one of the more well-known Northeast Philadelphia politicians of the last two decades, is dropping his bid for a City Council at-large seat.
The former state senator and lieutenant governor blamed the method that the Philadelphia Board of Elections picks ballot positions for candidates.
"The most disappointing aspect of this effort is that the fate of my candidacy was largely at the mercy of a coffee can, an archaic and dysfunctional system for determining ballot position that is not fair to anyone and needs to be reformed," Stack said in a statement.
He is referring to an old Hard N Hardart can that has been used for years to hold numbers that candidates pick blindly from the can. That number is where the candidate will appear on city ballots for voters in the upcoming election.
Stack pulled #16, meaning he'd be in the middle of a stacked list of candidates running for Council at-large seats.
The ballot is particularly deep this year, in part because of two open Council at-large seats because of retiring incumbents. More than 30 Democrats filed petitions to run for at-large seats. Seven Republicans filed to run for at-large seats as well.
After the initial candidate filings earlier in March, the ballot was expected to be the biggest in three decades.
Stack's self-elimination, however, could portend more candidates dropping out of the race.
Stack, whose political career was feared over after he lost his re-election bid for lieutenant governor last year, said he will not stop working with other city Democratic leaders to push the party's platform.
"Although I have won convincingly in Philadelphia in my previous campaigns, overcame two challenges to my City Council At-Large nominating petitions and continue to enjoy widespread support from the leaders of the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee, I believe I can better serve the party and the City at this time as a unifying force seeking to bring people together in common cause," Stack said in his statement. "I am withdrawing my candidacy and will work with Chairman Brady to help elect our endorsed candidates and build party unity for this election and the elections in 2020 when we have an opportunity to defeat Donald Trump, take back the United States Senate and win majorities in both houses of the Pennsylvania legislature."
It's Official: Candidates for Mayor, Sheriff, City Council in Philadelphia
Incumbents in nearly every elected position in Philadelphia are facing competition in the upcoming May municipal elections. Notably, Mayor Kenney faces an old foe, and two women are trying to unseat the incumbent sheriff and become the first-ever female sheriff in the city.
Democrat names are in blue and Republicans in red.
An artist is making a political statement at the U.S.-Mexico border in a unique way: with cheese.
Cosimo Cavallaro is sculpting a giant wall in Tecate, California out of spoiled cotija cheese. The project is just feet away from the border.
"This is a wall that is perishable," said Cavallaro. "It will dissolve in time, like all walls should, because walls are fear."
Cavallaro has been raising money through crowdfunding online. He already has 200 blocks of cotija. Each block weighs 50 pounds and costs about $100 to make.
"I teamed up with a chemist to make a paste that we can shape into a brick," said Cavallaro.
The goal is to make the wall 1,000 feet long and 6 feet high.
Cavallaro is leasing the land near the border from a private owner for one year.
"It's food so it is obvious it is a waste," said Cavallaro. "In the [border fence] you can't see the waste. The cheese wall uncovers the truth."
The project is called 'Make America Grate Again.'
If you would like to donate money to the cheese wall, click here.
San Diegans were stunned to learn Monday that the world famous San Diego Zoo would be returning their beloved giant pandas to China at the end of April as a long-term contract comes to an end.
Within minutes of the announcement, hundreds of locals had already chimed in on social media about what the departure of Bai-Yun, 27, and her son, Xiao Liwu, 6, meant to them.
With the remaining giant pandas to leave the San Diego Zoo for China, many are wondering how it will impact business. NBC 7's Danny Freeman has more.
"Sad to see them go. 'Little Gift' is my favorite," Barbara Vollen said, referring to the meaning behind Xiao Liwu's name.
Joseph Vega recalled working there when the giant pandas were introduced more than two decades ago.
"Crazy I remember working there at 18 because they got the panda's (sic)," Vegas said.
Panda Portraits: A Look Back at San Diego's Beloved Bears
Bai-Yun and her mate Shi-Shi arrived at the San Diego Zoo from the Wolong Panda Preserve in China in 1996. Through the use of artificial insemination, the pair birthed the first cub to survive in captivity -- Hua Mei.
Several social media commenters noted the pandas' departure as a tribute to the success of the San Diego Zoo's breeding program.
"It's a huge conservation achievement, but yes, it is sad to see them go," Karyl Carmignani said.
Bai-Yun birthed another five pandas, including the young Xiao Liwu, while living at the San Diego Zoo.
"That's fine, San Diego Zoo is part of their breeding program with China, and now it's time to go home," Eva Antal said adding a smile icon.
To some, the move was not unexpected.
"[China does] loan them to other countries, but they must always be returned. Weve always known at some point they would be returned to China," Linda Beccue said.
Some noted feeling lucky to have seen them before the two were sent back to their homeland while others said they would have to make one more trip to see Bai-Yun and Xiao Liwu before they are gone.
Nooooooooooo. Good thing my girlfriend and I got to see them last month when we were in town. Aaron Matthew Kaiser (@aaronkaiser) March 25, 2019
Visitors will have until April 27 to say goodbye to see the pair of pandas at their exhibit at the San Diego Zoo's Panda Canyon.
The San Diego Zoo encouraged Twitter users to use the hashtag #Pandas4Ever share their favorite memories of the giant pandas during their more than two decades with the zoo.
Australia's prime minister on Tuesday accused an influential minor political party of trying to "sell Australia's gun laws to the highest bidders" by asking the U.S. gun lobby for donations.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was responding to an Al Jazeera documentary that reported One Nation party officials Steve Dickson and James Ashby flew to the United States for meetings with pro-gun interests including the National Rifle Association and political donors Koch Industries in September last year seeking money to undermine Australian gun laws.
Dickson and Ashby later told reporters that they had not secured any U.S. money. They also said they had been quoted by Al Jazeera out of context and often after drinking.
The trip took place weeks before the Australian Parliament banned foreign political donations with laws that took effect Jan. 1.
Morrison said the revelations were reasons why Australians should not vote for One Nation at general elections due in May.
"We have reports that One Nation officials basically sought to sell Australia's gun laws to the highest bidders to a foreign buyer and I find that abhorrent," Morrison said.
Morrison said his government had made laws to "criminalize taking foreign political donations so foreign lobbyists cannot seek to influence our politics."
Opposition leader Bill Shorten, whom opinion polls suggest will be prime minister after the election, accused One Nation of a "betrayal of the Australian political system."
"The idea of One National political party operatives going to the United States, seeking millions of dollars, promising to water-down gun law protection in Australia that was absolutely horrifying," Shorten said.
The Al Jazeera documentary used secret recordings made by a journalist posing as gun lobbyist Rodger Muller with a hidden camera.
One Nation, an anti-Muslim party that had four senators after 2016 election but has been left with two after defections, said in a statement that all party members "have always complied with the law."
One Nation also suggested the Qatar-owned Al Jazeera had breached new laws that prohibit covert foreign interference in Australian politics. The party said it had had complained to Australia's main domestic security agency and police "due to concerns of foreign interference into Australian politics in the lead up to the imminent federal election."
"Al Jazeera are a state owned propaganda arm of the Qatari government that supports Islamic extremist groups and are not a legitimate media organization," the statement said.
"One Nation was invited by Rodger Muller, who has now been outed as a foreign agent working for Al Jazeera to meet with the NRA, American business leaders and attend the Congressional Sportsmen's Dinner" in Washington, the statement said.
The NRA did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Ashby, who is party leader Pauline Hanson's chief of staff, is recorded saying that the party would "own" both the Australian Senate and House of Representatives with a $20 million donation from the U.S. gun lobby. This means the party would hold the balance of power in both chambers and influence a government's legislative agenda.
Ashby also warned that if such a donation became public, it would "rock the boat."
He told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. trip had been a fact-finding mission to learn campaign tactics.
"These conversations with the NRA were to look at nothing more than their techniques. This was not about sourcing money from the NRA. This was about sourcing technology, sourcing an understanding of how they operate, but never was it about seeking $20 million dollars from the NRA," Ashby told reporters.
The news followed the mosque attacks in New Zealand on March 15 for which an Australian white supremacist has been charged with murder. New Zealand has responded by banning a range of semi-automatic weapons and foreshadowing a government-funded buyback of newly outlawed guns. The country's response is similar to how Australia strengthened its gun laws following the murders of 35 people by a lone gunman in 1996 in Tasmania.
One Nation state president Steve Dickson, who is a Senate candidate at the next election, traveled with Ashby and Muller to the United States to ask for political donations, Al Jazeera reported.
Dickon told NRA officials that the Australian gun control model "will poison us all, unless we stop it," Al Jazeera reported.
Dickson told reporters on Tuesday he supported Australia's gun laws. He said had not solicited donations in the United States, but conceded his party was not wealthy.
"I will tell you the absolute, humble truth. When I was asked: 'Do we need money to run election campaigns?' I said: 'Yes,'" Dickson told reporters.
A former One Nation senator who is now an independent lawmaker, Fraser Anning, has been widely criticized for blaming Muslim immigration for the New Zealand massacre.
Hanson, One Nation's leader who was criticized for wearing a burqa in the Senate, voted for the ban on foreign donations in November.
"Overseas money should not have an influence in our political scene .... so I believe foreign donations should be stopped," Hanson told the Senate.
Ashby and Dickson said Hanson did not speak to the media on Tuesday because she was unwell.
The founder and CEO of Chobani has no regrets about moving his Greek yogurt company to south-central Idaho, a region embroiled in the national debate over refugee resettlement that spread to company boycotts by far-right bloggers and conspiracy theorists.
"I hear the conversations here and there, but it's a peaceful community that we all love," said Hamdi Ulukaya, a Turkish immigrant. "It's the home of Chobani."
Ulukaya spoke to The Associated Press before a Thursday announcement of a $20 million expansion of the company's facility in the city of Twin Falls the world's largest yogurt plant to serve as its global research and development center tackling how yogurt is made and consumed.
It's a project Ulukaya says he's been planning for several years. As to what innovations the company plans for the 70,000-square-foot facility, Ulukaya isn't sharing yet. He said the focus will be on offering natural and non-synthetic products.
The project follows a series of expansion efforts by Chobani since opening its Idaho plant in 2012. The $450 million, 1 million-square-foot plant is the company's second after Ulukaya started Chobani in New York. The company employs 2,000 workers, including 300 refugees.
However, Chobani's time in Idaho also has taken a darker turn as anti-immigrant advocates have seized on the company's open stance on refugees. Fringe websites have falsely claimed that Ulukaya wanted to "drown the United States in Muslims." Other websites, like Breitbart News, falsely attempted to link Chobani's hiring of refugees to an uptick in tuberculosis cases in Idaho.
To counteract the hateful rhetoric, Chobani sued right-wing radio host Alex Jones earlier this year, saying that Jones and his InfoWars website posted fabricated stories linking Ulukaya and the company to a sexual assault case involving refugee children in Twin Falls. Jones originally promised to never back down in his fight against the yogurt giant but eventually retracted his statements in a settlement.
Ulukaya declined to comment on the Jones lawsuit but said the rise in anti-refugee sentiment has never delayed a project he wanted to pursue. And he says he is committed to being a welcoming company.
"Don't leave anyone out," he said. "At Chobani, we believe in second chances."
During Thursday's expansion launch, Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter praised Chobani's impact on the community.
"This new investment in Twin Falls reflects Chobani's commitment to Idaho and to the people who have responded so positively to its corporate citizenship," Otter said in a prepared statement. "Congratulations to all those who are contributing to Chobani's growth, just as Chobani is contributing to ours."
Strong economic growth in south-central Idaho an agriculture-dominant area dubbed the Magic Valley led Ulukaya to describe the region as the "Silicon Valley of food," pointing to the wide range of food manufacturing plants that have invested in food science since Chobani moved to the state.
"It's an ecosystem generated for food making," he said. "There's now a general knowledge around food science that wasn't there 10 years ago."
The boon extends to Chobani's Idaho workers, who earn an average of $15 an hour, more than twice the minimum wage of $7.25.
The company's new facility will be open for employees to enjoy, featuring sweeping windows to overlook the rural farm landscape and Sawtooth Mountains, complete with an exercise room, kitchen and visitors center.
Sensing a possible shift from conventional automobiles to flying cars, one tiremaker has come up with a tire that doubles as a propeller. Goodyear's Aero tire is designed to support the weight of a vehicle while driving and then tilt horizontally so its spinning bladed spokes can function as a tiltrotor to provide lift and forward propulsion for flying.
Designed at a Goodyear facility in Luxembourg and introduced by the company Tuesday at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, the tire doesn't actually exist yet, NBC News reported.
The company calls it a "concept tire" designed to "trigger a debate on the tires and transport technologies for a new mobility ecosystem."
A Maryland man is accused of purposely striking a woman he knew with a car in Manassas, Virginia, and taking off.
Shamsa Begum, 66, died on Monday, a day after the crash in the 9600 block of Cloverhill Road, the Manassas City Police Department said.
Police say 29-year-old Muhammad Taha intentionally struck Begum when she was standing in the roadway about 5 p.m. Sunday.
Taha drove off and Prince William County police later arrested him at a 7-Eleven on Dumfries Road, police said.
Taha was charged with second-degree murder and hit-and-run involving death in Manassas. Prince William County authorities also charged him with driving under the influence and having an open container.
He is being held in jail without bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for May 20.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is trying to revive an effort to ban motorists from holding cellphones while driving.
Northam announced Tuesday he's adding a proposed amendment to legislation that would bar drivers from holding a cellphone while driving in a highway work zone. The governor's amendment would broaden the ban to all roads in Virginia.
The time has come for the Commonwealth to implement an effective and fair law to combat distracted driving, Northam said in a news release. Too many families have lost loved ones as a result of a driver paying more attention to their phone than to their surroundings. This bill, as amended, will be a significant step forward in promoting traffic safety across the Commonwealth.
Lawmakers in the Virginia House and Senate both passed a version of a hands-free driving bill earlier this year but could not agree on compromise language in a final product.
Sen. Monty Mason added Virginia's traffic fatalities have risen every year since 2014.
Distracted driving caused by cellphone use, whether its dialing, texting, or checking email, is clearly the reason," Mason said in a news release. "Im proud to be a part of a safety measure that will undoubtedly save the lives of many Virginians.
The Virginia House of Delegates has passed a bill prohibiting drivers from holding their cell phones while on the road. News4's Justin Finch reports.
Both D.C. and Maryland ban the use of hand-held devices while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The legislature will return April 3 to take up Northam's vetoes and amendments. State law already makes it illegal to text or email on a cellphone while driving.
The portion of Jefferson Davis Highway that runs through Arlington County could be renamed as early as this summer thanks to the discovery of a loophole in state law and a legal opinion from the Virginia attorney general.
Attorney General Mark Herring said the name change does not need approval from the General Assembly. Instead, the Commonwealth Transportation Board has authority to rename the section of Jefferson Davis Highway if Arlington County makes such a request, the opinion said.
Herring's opinion was requested by Del. Mark Levine, D-Alexandria. Levine opposes having a road named after Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America.
"In Arlington County, one of the most diverse and progressive localities in the nation, we are saddled with a primary highway that honors a racist traitor and slave owner who led the fight to take up arms against our nation in order to preserve the brutal system of slavery,'' Levine said in a newsletter to constituents.
"In that brutal Civil War, more Americans died than in all of our other wars combined. We still live with the terrible legacy of that ruthless and once-legal system of terror that represents America's greatest shame.''
Before Herring issued his opinion, the general understanding was that local governments lacked authority to change names that the General Assembly had placed on certain roads.
Several years ago, the attorney general's office issued an advisory opinion saying city governments had the power to rename state highways but county governments didn't. Last year, legislators killed a bill to authorize local governments to rename highways in their jurisdictions.
On Jan. 1, the section of Jefferson Davis Highway through the city of Alexandria was renamed Richmond Highway to match the name the road has always carried in Fairfax County.
To change the highway's name in Arlington County, Levine took things into his own hands. He found a loophole in a footnote to transportation legislation that the General Assembly passed in 2012.
That legislation deleted a line in state law prohibiting the Commonwealth Transportation Board from changing the names of "highways, bridges or interchanges as have been or hereafter be named by the General Assembly."
According to the opinion Herring released Thursday, lawmakers' actions in 2012 showed "clear legislative intent to empower the CTB to rename transportation facilities that were originally named by the General Assembly.''
"Accordingly, it is my opinion that the Commonwealth Transportation Board may change the name of those portions of Jefferson Davis Highway located in Arlington County, provided that its Board of Supervisors adopts a resolution requesting the renaming,'' the opinion said.
The designation of Jefferson Davis Highway began almost a century ago. In 1922, the United Daughters of the Confederacy asked that a Southern transcontinental highway be named to honor Davis, who was a senator from the state of Mississippi before becoming the first and only president of the Confederacy.
The Virginia General Assembly's response was to name Highway 1 as the Jefferson Davis Highway, stretching from Washington, D.C., to the North Carolina line. Today, Jefferson Davis Highway also can go by other names, such as U.S. Route 1 and Route 18.
Some people want to keep the name as Jefferson Davis Highway. More than 600 people signed an online petition saying renaming the road would be "a slap in the face to U.S. soldiers as a whole and should not be permitted to happen.'' However, more than 4,300 signed a petition supporting the name change.
Levine said Arlington County supervisors could ask for the name change this month - and then the request would go to the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
"If all goes well, Arlington street signs could be changed as early as this summer,'' he said.
Levine said times have changed since the United Daughters of the Confederacy sought to honor Davis and preserve his legacy.
"It's 2019. It is not 1865, nor 1922, nor even 1953,'' Levine said. "We live in a post-Charlottesville time. And the vast majority of Northern Virginia no longer wants to honor the Confederacy or the racist legacy of Jefferson Davis.''
Authorities have linked active pipe bombs found in the woods in Maryland to a stalking suspect who killed himself after he was convicted in 2001.
A man with a metal detector came across an old bucket Sunday in Frederick County, and when he dumped it out, he found six old pipe bombs.
They had been sitting there for quite some time, Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci said. There was a lot of rust on them and those types of things.
Fire marshals determined the bombs were still active and could have gone off.
Investigators found links to Alan Chmurny, who, in 2000, was charged in Howard County with pouring mercury into the vents of a car of a coworker he was accused of stalking, according to Howard County police.
We found some writings and things like that that had his name and those types of things, Geraci said.
After his conviction in 2001, Chmurny took cyanide in court and later died at a hospital.
The coworker was not harmed.
The bombs were found in the woods behind Mark Renn's property.
I think I've walked by that white bucket many times and didn't go over, he said. Just thought, 'Oh, it's an old white bucket laying in the woods.'
Chmurny lived about a half-mile from where the pipe bombs were found.
We are glad that these dangerous materials were discovered and could be destroyed safely, Geraci said in a police press release. It was quite a surprise to learn they were connected to an old criminal stalking case in which a woman could have been seriously harmed.
A man is dead, and a woman is injured after a shooting that put two schools in Maryland on lockdown for hours Monday.
Damon Proctor and three others went to a townhome in the 5200 block of Daventry Terrace in District Heights about 1:40 p.m. to continue a domestic-related incident that took place earlier in the day at a different location, Prince Georges County police said. A fight broke out between Proctor and people at the townhome, and a man at the townhome fired a gun.
Proctor, 42, died several hours later, police said. A woman was shot in the leg and treated at a hospital and released.
Police identified the gunman, who voluntarily spoke with investigators Monday night. He was released pending the results of the investigation, police said.
Police were concerned the gunman might still be in the house, possibly with other people, so Suitland High School and Drew-Freeman Middle School were locked down Monday afternoon as police investigated.
Northbound Silver Hill Road was closed in front of Suitland High.
Police also asked all residents of the Royal Plaza neighborhood to stay inside their homes.
The house was cleared by 5:15 p.m.
Three vehicles including two sedans and a work van were towed from the scene later Monday night.
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning and building 57 miles of 18-foot-high fencing in Yuma, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas, along the U.S. border with Mexico.
The Pentagon says it will divert up to $1 billion to support the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. The funding would also go toward installing lighting and constructing roads in those areas.
Shanahan says the Corps' focus will be on blocking "drug-smuggling corridors."
The El Paso sector has suddenly become the second-busiest corridor for illegal border crossings after Texas' Rio Grande Valley, many of them asylum-seeking families from Central America. The Yuma sector has also witnessed a jump in illegal crossings, particularly Guatemalan families in remote areas.
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Monday recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, reversing more than a half-century of U.S. policy.
Standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump made formal a move he announced in a tweet last week. The president said it was time for the U.S. to take the step after 52 years of Israeli control of the strategic highlands on the border with Syria.
Netanyahu had pressed for such recognition for months. Trump's action gives him a political boost weeks before what's expected to be a close Israeli election.
Israel captured the Golan from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war but its sovereignty over the territory is not recognized by the international community.
"Today, aggressive action by Iran and terrorist groups in southern Syria, including Hezbollah, continue to make the Golan Heights a potential launching ground for attacks against Israel very violent attacks," Trump said.
"This should have been done numerous presidents ago," Trump said.
The two leaders met as the Israeli military was striking Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to a rocket that hit a house north of Tel Aviv and wounded seven people.
"Israel is responding forcefully to this wanton aggression," said Netanyahu, who planned to return to Israel to manage the attack following his meeting with Trump and other U.S. officials, including Vice President Mike Pence.
He added: "Israel will not tolerate this. I will not tolerate it."
In a speech earlier Monday, Pence said the rocket attack "proves that Hamas is not a partner for peace." Pence told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that "Hamas is a terrorist organization that seeks the destruction of Israel, and the United States will never negotiate with terrorist Hamas."
The rocket destroyed a residential home in the farming community of Mishmeret, north of the city of Kfar Saba. The sounds of air raid sirens jolted residents of the Sharon area, northeast of Tel Aviv, from their sleep shortly after 5 a.m., sending them scurrying to bomb shelters. A strong sound of an explosion followed. The Israeli military quickly mobilized troops and called up reserves.
Gaza's Hamas rulers said Egypt has brokered a cease-fire to end the latest round of fighting with Israel.
Hamas media says the cease-fire went into effect at 10 p.m. Monday. There was no immediate Israeli reaction.
Ahead of the Israeli airstrikes, Hamas' leadership went into hiding.
Several airstrikes rocked Gaza, including an explosion that destroyed the office of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The Israeli military confirmed the bombing, saying the building had "served as an office for many military meetings." An earlier blast destroyed a multistory building in Gaza City that Israel said had served as a Hamas military intelligence headquarters.
There were no immediate reports of casualties. In both blasts, Israel fired warning shots to evacuate the buildings. But the airstrike on the multistory building was so powerful it sent debris flying onto the roof of The Associated Press bureau, located on the 11th floor of a nearby high-rise.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Sunday for what was to have been a three-day visit.
In his remarks, Pence also took issue with comments by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., that he said were anti-Semitic. Omar, a first-term lawmaker who is one of two Muslim women in Congress, has alleged that congressional support for Israel reflected "allegiance to a foreign country" and that Israel "has hypnotized the world." She also has accused Americans who support Israel of being bought off by campaign donations.
"Anti-Semitism has no place in the Congress of the United States, and any member who slanders those who support the historic alliance between the United States and Israel with such rhetoric should not have a seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee," Pence said.
"Making a Murderer" subject Steven Avery will have his case re-examined by a Wisconsin court, his lawyer announced this week.
Avery, who is serving a life sentence for the 2005 murder of photographer Teresa Halbach, won a motion to appeal, sending his case back to a circuit court. There, the court can either grant a new trial or send the case back to the appellate court, which could potentially reverse his conviction or grant a new trial, his lawyer Kathleen Zellner told Newsweek.
Zellner noted the appeal centered on a collection of possible human bones, which she said were never tested for DNA before they were returned to Halbachs family.
"We Won!!!!!!" Zellner tweeted Monday. "Back to the circuit court."
Avery was the subject of the Netflix documentary series "Making a Murderer" series, which recently released its second season.
The series follows Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey, both convicted of murdering Halbach and both serving life sentences, as they try to overturn their convictions. Avery had argued that his conviction was based on planted evidence and false testimony.
The series spawned conjecture about the pair's innocence, but those who worked on the cases accused the filmmakers of leaving out key pieces of evidence and presenting a biased view of what happened.
"[Steven Averys] DREAM OF FREEDOM is a NEW REALITY as [Court of Appeals] lets us reveal all the States BAD FAITH, DESTRUCTION & SUPPRESSION of evidence-misdeeds cannot be undone," Zellner tweeted Tuesday. "States old way of doing business is OVER."
She noted that the court of appeals "is letting us create an avalanche of evidence in this record" and called the courts ruling a "very good sign."
Should his conviction be overturned, it would mark the second time Avery has been imprisoned for a crime he says he didn't commit. Zellner's office did not respond to NBC Chicago's multiple requests for comment.
A genealogy database used to match a family's DNA with evidence found at a 1973 crime scene has led investigators to identify the long-dead suspect in the strangulation killing of a young married couple, a Montana sheriff said Monday.
Linda and Clifford Bernhardt, both 24, were killed at their Billings-area home in a case that would stymie investigators for decades.
Investigators now believe they were killed by Cecil Stan Caldwell, a longtime city of Billings employee who was once a co-worker of Linda Bernhardt, Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder said. He did not identify a motive in the killing.
Caldwell had no criminal record, and died in 2003 at the age of 59, according to his obituary in the Billings Gazette.
Relatives of the victims attended a news conference in which Linder named Caldwell as the suspect. The family issued a statement thanking the sheriff's office for its work, but made no further comment and asked for privacy.
Clifford Bernhardt was a concrete worker and Vietnam veteran and his wife worked at a grocery distribution warehouse. They been married several years and had just moved into a new house when they were killed.
Linda Bernhardt had been bound and sexually assaulted before her death, and authorities used psychologists to try to build a profile of the suspect, according to reports at the time.
Hundreds of interviews were conducted, and police at one point even brought in a psychic in their desperate search for clues to a crime described in a newspaper article as "the most sensational unsolved murder case in Billings history."
They also enlisted the help of "The Amazing Kreskin," when the mentalist visited town, according to a 1980 news report.
Scott Goodwin, a volunteer with the cold case unit who helped with the investigation, said he and others involved were unwilling to let it go.
"We were obsessed with it," Goodwin said. "These are two young people who didn't deserve what happened to them. They didn't do anything. They came home on a Tuesday night and they were murdered."
All other leads had dried up by 2004, when DNA was discovered on evidence gathered at the crime scene.
But comparing that DNA against an FBI database of known criminals yielded no results, leaving authorities frustrated yet again.
In 2015, the sheriff's cold case unit enlisted a Reston, Virginia, technology company, Parabon NanoLabs, to analyze the DNA by comparing it to genetic samples available through a public genealogy database. That process ultimately narrowed the list of suspects to Caldwell and his brother, who is still alive and living outside the area, said Vince Wallis, a former detective captain with the sheriff's office who now works for the Billings Police Department.
After DNA was obtained voluntarily from the brother, it was analyzed by the Montana State Crime Lab to eliminate him as a suspect. That left only Caldwell, Wallis said.
Wallis added other circumstantial evidence including "unspecified behavior" by Caldwell connected the suspect to the crime scene, but he declined to offer additional details.
An anonymous donor in 2013 had offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the couple's killer.
Democrats' gains in state legislatures didn't end with last November's elections.
Over the past two months, as lawmakers were sworn in and this year's statehouse sessions got underway, Republicans in California, Kansas and New Jersey switched their party affiliations to become Democrats.
They cited various reasons, but the party-switchers have one thing in common: They say the GOP under President Donald Trump has become too extreme.
"The Republican Party, for all of its statements of having a big tent, continues to limit the tent," said Kansas state Sen. Barbara Bollier, of Mission Hills, one of the switchers. "Those of us who were moderates are clearly not welcome."
Bollier was one of four moderate Republicans from the Kansas City suburbs to switch parties.
The latest party-flip came this week in New Jersey. Republican state Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego, who represented a suburban Philadelphia district in southern New Jersey for nearly a decade, left the GOP, the minority party in both houses of the Legislature.
She cited the desire to "be a part of the discussion" in the Democratic majority but also hinted that the national Republican Party is no longer recognizable.
"My core values that originally drew me to the Republican Party have not changed, but the party which once echoed the vision of Ronald Reagan no longer exists," she said in a statement announcing the change.
Her announcement came just days after California Assemblyman Brian Maienschein, who represents San Diego, left the GOP. He said he differs with his former party on immigration, health care, gun control, abortion and gay rights.
The defections come after the Democratic Party won control of the U.S. House in the midterm elections and gained seats in 62 of the 99 state legislative chambers, according to data provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures (Nebraska is the only state with a single legislative chamber).
They also come at a time when the president's approval ratings are dipping.
"This is largely a product of the Trump phenomenon," said Patrick Murray, the director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. "President Trump has blown the lid off of this party. It starts to look like a personality cult."
In Democratic-leaning states such as California and New Jersey, the defections add to the GOP's challenges.
Republicans will have to focus on state issues to regain relevance and votes, said Jack Ciattarelli, a former New Jersey Republican lawmaker who says he is planning to run for governor in 2021. In New Jersey, that means focusing on underfunded public pensions and affordability.
"In this era, there will always be those whose intense disdain for Donald Trump will determine their vote," he said. "But I still believe there are a majority of New Jersey independent-unaffiliated voters and even some soft Democratic voters that will vote for the party that's going to solve the various crises."
The political landscape in the party-switchers' seats has been changing for some time, which also helps explain the shifts.
In New Jersey, Addiego beat her Democratic opponent with 63 percent of the vote in 2013. By 2017, her winning percentage was cut to 52 percent. And last November, Democratic Rep. Andy Kim defeated then-incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur in the 3rd U.S. House district, which includes all the towns Addiego represents in the state Senate.
Maienschein's Assembly District has become more Democratic since his first election, when it was considered safe for Republicans. Republicans had 38 percent of registered voters to Democrats' 30 percent in 2012. Registration is now roughly even. Statewide, independents now outnumber Republicans in California.
In Kansas, the four defectors were all from a congressional district that Trump narrowly lost in 2016 and that elected Democrat Sharice Davids last year.
Unlike the lawmakers in California and New Jersey, they went from the majority to the minority party. Republicans in Kansas pointed to the fact that the lawmakers were moderates who voted mostly with Democrats, anyway.
Republicans in New Jersey and California criticized the lawmakers for their switch, characterizing it as a ploy to hold on to power.
"People will view Addiego's party change for what is an attempt at political survival," Ciattarelli said.
But voters were split on how they viewed her defection from the GOP.
Dick Bozarth, a 79-year-old retiree from the construction industry, said at a diner in Medford, New Jersey, in the heart of Addiego's district, that the change sends a bad signal.
"She wants to be with the radicals right now?" he asked. "Is that what she wants to do?" Bozarth said he's voted for Addiego before but will not do so again.
Dave DeAngelis, a 65-year-old retired auto repair shop owner who recently moved to Berlin, a town just outside of Addiego's district, said he's supported her over the years.
He said that because of her long political experience in local and state office, her political party isn't important to him.
"If she still holds her opinions, I don't think that would make a big difference," he said.
The change could help her get more done: "It's very difficult to be a Republican in this state," he said. "She wouldn't get anything through the state Assembly because she doesn't have the votes."
Party switching can go in both directions. In Oklahoma, state Rep. Johnny Tadlock, who represents a rural district in the state's southeast corner, switched to the GOP. Democrats have been losing seats there over the last two decades.
Associated Press reporters Geoff Mulvihill, John Hanna, Don Thompson and Sean Murphy contributed to this report.
Chinese tech giant Huawei is challenging a U.S. law that labels the company a security risk and would limit its access to the American market for telecom equipment.
Huawei Technologies Ltd.'s lawsuit, announced Thursday, asks a federal court to throw out a portion of this year's U.S. military appropriations act that bars the government and its contractors from using Huawei equipment on the grounds it is unconstitutional.
It comes as the biggest global maker of network equipment for phone and internet companies fights U.S. efforts to persuade allies to exclude the company from next-generation telecom systems.
The complaint, filed in Plano, Texas, the headquarters of Huawei's U.S. operations, cites the framers of the U.S. Constitution, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, in arguing that the law in question violates the constitutional separation of powers, denies due process and amounts to a "Bill of Attainder" that singles out a specific entity for adverse treatment.
It says the law causes the company "concrete and particularized injury, and imminent future injury" and subjects it to a "burden that is severe, permanent and inescapable" that amounts to the corporate "death penalty."
Huawei, China's first global tech brand, is at the center of U.S.-Chinese tensions over technology competition and cyber-spying. The company has spent years trying to put to rest accusations it facilitates Chinese spying or is controlled by the ruling Communist Party.
Increasingly, both sides appear to be resorting to courts to try to press their cases.
"We are compelled to take this legal action as a proper and last resort," the company's rotating chairman, Guo Ping, said at a news conference. Guo said the ban would limit competition, slowing the rollout of fifth-generation communications and raising consumer prices.
Huawei has pleaded not guilty to U.S. trade-theft charges after a federal court in Seattle unsealed a 10-count indictment in January against two of its units, Huawei Device Co. and Huawei Device USA. The charges include conspiracy to steal trade secrets, attempted theft of trade secrets, wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
The company's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, is fighting extradition to the U.S. after she was arrested in Vancouver, Canada on Dec. 1. U.S. prosecutors have filed charges accusing Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei's founder, of lying to banks about dealings with Iran.
Huawei denies any wrongdoing.
The company has about 40 percent of the global market for network gear but its U.S. sales evaporated after a congressional panel in 2012 cited the company and a Chinese competitor, ZTE Corp., as security risks and told phone carriers to avoid dealing with them.
U.S. authorities "have hacked our servers and stolen our emails" but have presented no evidence to support their security claims, Guo said. He complained Washington was "sparing no effort to smear" the company.
The U.S. campaign to persuade allies to shun Huawei threatens to block access to major markets as phone carriers prepare to invest billions of dollars in 5G systems.
Huawei says the new law would shrink its potential U.S. market further by prohibiting the government from buying the Chinese vendor's technology and from buying goods or services from or giving grants or loans to companies or other third parties that do. The United States accounts for 20 to 25 percent of the global market for computer and telecom technology.
Huawei says the U.S. law it is protesting improperly has Congress play the role of a court.
The ban is "based on numerous false, unproven and untested propositions," said Song Liuping, the company's chief legal officer, at the news conference. "Huawei has an excellent security record and program. No contrary evidence has been offered."
The Chinese government says Washington fabricates or exaggerates security concerns to block competition.
Huawei, based in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, is a leading developer of 5G along with rivals Nokia Corp. of Finland and Sweden's LM Ericsson. Industry analysts say excluding the Chinese vendor from markets for 5G equipment would reduce competition and might lead to higher prices.
Founded in 1987 by a former military engineer, Huawei overtook Ericsson in 2017 as the biggest global supplier of network gear. It says it supplies 45 of the world's top 50 phone companies and has contracts with 30 carriers to test 5G wireless technology.
European governments are balking at U.S. pressure to ban Huawei. The company has announced contracts with customers including the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East for network technology.
China's government arrested two Canadians, a former diplomat and a businessman, on Dec. 10 in what was widely seen as an attempt to pressure Canada to release Meng, the company's CFO.
On Monday, Beijing accused the two men of acting together to steal state secrets. That followed the Canadian government's announcement Friday that the extradition proceeding for Meng would be allowed to continue.
Huawei executives say American security warnings have yet to affect sales outside the United States. The company's 2018 revenue forecast is $100 billion and its founder, Ren Zhengfei, said last month this year's target is $125 billion.
Some European officials and others cite a Chinese security law requiring companies to cooperate with intelligence agencies. They say Huawei and other tech companies might be required to install "backdoors" in equipment to allow eavesdropping.
Huawei denies altering its equipment to facilitate spying and has set up testing centers in Britain, Canada and continental Europe to allow governments to examine its technology.
"Huawei has not and will never implant 'backdoors,'" said Guo, the chairman.
The company also has launched a public relations campaign abroad.
Its typically press-shy founder, Ren, gave a two-hour interview to foreign reporters in January in which he said Huawei would reject Chinese government demands to disclose confidential information about its customers. Since then, Ren also has talked at length with foreign TV broadcasters.
The U.S. pushed China Wednesday to rein in companies that deal with North Korea after President Donald Trump tweeted ahead of the high-level talks that Beijing's efforts to sway its wayward ally weren't working.
Trump has been counting on China to use its economic leverage with the government of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as American concern grows over the North's acceleration toward having a nuclear missile that can strike the U.S. mainland.
The security talks between U.S. and Chinese diplomats and defense chiefs are occurring amid outrage in Washington over the death of Otto Warmbier days after the American student was released from imprisonment in North Korea in a coma.
U.S. lawmakers are pressing for a tough response against Pyongyang over its treatment of the 22-year-old university student, who was accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner while visiting with a tour group and was convicted of subversion.
Trump has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for trying to contain North Korea, which counts on China for 90 percent of its trade, but the effort has delivered few results. North Korea hasn't conducted a nuclear test explosion as feared earlier this year but has kept up its rapid pace of missile launches.
"While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!" Trump tweeted Tuesday.
Also Tuesday, the U.S. flew two supersonic B-1B bombers over the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. often sends powerful warplanes in times of heightened animosities with North Korea. South Korea's Defense Ministry said the bombers engaged in routine exercises with its fighter jets aimed at deterring the North.
At the talks in Washington, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis were hosting Chinese foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi and Gen. Fang Fenghui, chief of the People's Liberation Army's joint staff department.
Susan Thornton, the senior U.S. diplomat for East Asia, said North Korea would get "top billing." She said the U.S. would be consulting with China on implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that are intended to restrict revenue and technology for the North's nuclear and missile programs.
Last week, Tillerson told a Senate hearing that China's efforts on North Korea had been "uneven." Thornton cited Chinese restrictions on imports of North Korean coal as "notable" progress. But she said the U.S. wants more action against blacklisted North Korean companies doing business through China.
Beijing, which wants resumed U.S. negotiations with North Korea, was hoping for "positive outcomes" from Wednesday's dialogue, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.
The discussions replace a strategic and economic dialogue held annually under the Obama administration. Those talks rarely produced significant results. This year's edition separates out the security aspects.
Thornton said the talks would also cover the South China Sea, where Beijing's island-building and construction of possible military facilities have rattled neighbors and caused tension with Washington; U.S.-Chinese military cooperation to reduce risk of conflict; and efforts to defeat the Islamic State group.
Divisive trade issues will be dealt with at a later date.
Like past presidents, Trump is finding the U.S. has limited scope for punishing North Korea, particularly over the arrest of U.S. citizens.
His administration is considering a ban on Americans visiting North Korea. That would only slightly add to the North's isolation and loss of revenue. The route to inflicting significant economic pain on Kim's government remains through China.
Washington has one threat it can use with Beijing: The possibility of "secondary" sanctions that go after Chinese companies doing business in North Korea. Such a move risks fraying relations between the world's two biggest economies.
The Chinese state-run Global Times warned in an editorial that if Washington imposes sanctions against Chinese enterprises "it will lead to grave friction between China and the U.S."
Associated Press writer Richard Lardner contributed to this report.
Univision said journalist Jorge Ramos and a TV crew were "arbitrarily detained" in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday after an interview with President Nicolas Maduro was abruptly terminated.
In a tweet Monday night, the Spanish-language news network said that "a @Univision team, headed by @jorgeramosnews, is being arbitrarily detained at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas. They were interviewing @NicolasMaduro but he didn't like the questions. Their technical equipment was also confiscated."
Western Hemisphere Assistant Secretary of the State Kim Breier Tweeted that the State Department had received word of the detention and insisted on their immediate release, warning that "the world is watching."
Minister Jorge Rodriguez responded for the Maduro administration on Twitter by calling the reported detention a "new fake allegation."
According to Univision president Daniel Coronell, the crew was later released, but their recording equipment and records of the interview remained confiscated by Maduro loyalists. Coronell said in a tweet that he spoke with Ramos over the phone after he and the crew were released.
World of Dance returns for its second season on Tuesday, and Access Lives Scott Evans is pulling duties as the competitions new host! Scott takes us on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the set!
Coronell also said that he confirmed Ramos' release with the Maduro regime's communications minister.
Speaking from Caracas Monday night, Ramos told Univision anchor Patricia Janiot during a phone call that aired on the networks broadcast, Maduro didnt like the questions he was asking about the countrys humanitarian crisis and after showing the president photos he had taken of Venezuelans eating out of trash cans on the street, Maduro left the interview.
Ramos told Janiot they were then held for more than two hours and placed in a dark room for some of that time. Janiot said Venezuelan Communications Minster Jorge Rodriguez told Univision that Ramos insulted Maduro repeatedly by calling him a dictator and murderer.
Ramos made headlines in 2015 after then-candidate Donald Trump had him removed from a news conference when the Miami-based anchor attempted to engage with the GOP front-runner as he recognized another reporter. Ramos was trying to question Trump on his proposal to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants. As the two spoke over one another in a testy back-and-forth, Trumps security detail approached the Mexican-American journalist and escorted him out of the room.
"You cannot build a 1,900-mile wall," Ramos continued on his way out.
Ramos was eventually allowed to return to the presser and Trump called on him to ask a question.
A security guard removes Univision anchor Jorge Ramos from a news conference on Tuesday in Dubuque, Iowa. Ramos stood up and began to ask Trump about his immigration proposal.
Could a visit to Maine's Acadia National Park become a little more complicated?
Management at the park is proposing a new parking reservation system to enforce during peak visitation periods in some of Acadia's most popular areas. The plans were made available online this week.
Beginning in 2020, drivers who want to visit sites like Cadillac Mountain's summit may have to pick a time and pay a $10.00 fee before pulling into a space.
The system would be in effect from the middle of June to the middle of October and is meant to combat overcrowding.
Park officials say Acadia has seen a 59 percent increase in visitors between 2007 and 2017, adding that it has logged record-breaking numbers of visits in recent years, over 3.5 million annually.
"Visitors don't want the experience of not being able to find a place to park at Jordan Pond or Cadillac Mountain," said Stephanie Clement, conservation director for Friends of Acadia, a non-profit that assists the National Park Service care for Acadia.
The organization helped lead meetings to craft the new transport plan.
Under the proposal, most trails and recreation facilities at the park would remain reservation-free, but parking spaces at sites like Thunder Hole and Sand Beach, and access to a new "Ocean Drive Corridor," would be restricted for private vehicles.
Access to those sites via bike, foot and Island Explorer bus service would not be limited.
"It's not that we have too many people throughout the park, it's that of the people we have, they all want to be in the same place at the same time," said Christie Anastasia, Acadia's public affairs specialist.
Anastasia explained the reservation system will be tiered, with groups of reservations opening up months, then days, in advance, then day-of on a first-come-first-serve basis. It will be based online, accessed through a website or app.
She also said the new plan will be rolled-out slowly and will also include increased parking in other areas, making it possible for more visitors to enjoy Acadia.
For those who still wish to visit the park completely reservation-free, the new system will not begin implementation for an entire year, which means the summer of 2019 is unaffected.
The case of a former Massachusetts priest who was convicted of sexually assaulting an altar boy in Maine years ago is due to return to court later this week.
Ronald Paquin was found guilty of 11 of 24 counts of gross sexual misconduct in November and has been awaiting sentencing. The case is expected in York County Superior Court in Alfred on Friday.
Paquin's sentencing was delayed when his attorney filed a motion requesting a mental health evaluation. A judge granted the request.
A pair of men who testified during Paquin's trial said they were altar boys when the priest invited them on trips in the 1980s and assaulted them repeatedly. Paquin also spent more than a decade in a Massachusetts prison for sexually abusing an altar boy there.
A detention facility in Rhode Island is once again housing people detained by federal immigration authorities, a decade after a man's death there ended the practice.
The Providence Journal reports the privately-run Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls said it received 133 detainees. The facility was responding to a query from the newspaper.
ICE spokesman John Mohan says its Boston office started using space in Central Falls for detainees March 10 and the facility will comply with rigorous detention standards.
In 2008, 34-year-old Hiu Lui "Jason" Ng (Eng) died of advanced liver cancer while held there. ICE said in 2009 when ending its contract with Wyatt that an internal investigation found a lack of communication about Ng's health care needs.
The ACLU of Rhode Island expressed concerns about Wyatt housing ICE detainees again
A former Massachusetts State Police trooper convicted of raping his ex-girlfriend has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
The Middlesex district attorney says Robert Sundberg was sentenced Tuesday in Lowell Superior Court.
The 48-year-old Framingham resident was convicted by a jury last week of multiple charges, including rape, strangulation, assault and battery, and stalking.
He was arrested after the victim, who is also a state police employee, reported she was attacked at their Boxborough home in April 2016.
Prosecutors said Sundberg had a history of abuse directed at the victim.
Sundberg, a 14-year veteran of the Massachusetts State police, was suspended without pay after his arrest and fired soon after his conviction. The agency confirmed Tuesday that he had been terminated.
"The State Police support the sentence sought by the district attorney and handed down by the court, which is commensurate with the severity of the crimes for which the defendant was convicted," the department said in a statement. "The department has zero tolerance for sexual assault and domestic violence and will vigorously investigate any such allegations."
A tow truck driver is being hailed for protecting a man in a wheelchair who was on the side of the Prudential Tunnel on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Boston as they waited for first responders to arrive at the scene.
State police said they received calls Tuesday morning from several drivers reporting a man in a wheelchair on the westbound side of the tunnel at the bottom of the Clarendon Street on-ramp going onto the Massachusetts Turnpike.
The man in the wheelchair, identified only as a 56-year-old Boston man, was in the right lane and up along the tunnel's right wall, drivers told state police. They said the wheelchair was not motorized.
When troopers arrived at the scene, they found that AAA tow truck driver Waylon Mills had stopped his vehicle and put on his truck's yellow lights in an effort to shield the man in the wheelchair from oncoming traffic.
"I was like, 'it's definitely not right,'" recalled Mills. "So I said, 'this person is going to get hurt. Let me just toss my lights on and wait.'"
Mills had caught up to the man at the Clarendon Street on ramp, but it appears as though he may have hopped onto the turnpike two blocks earlier at Arlington Street.
"It sounds ridiculous. There's no need for anybody other than cars and trucks to go on the Pike," said Mills.
Paramedics came to the scene and took the man in the wheelchair, who did not have any apparent injuries, to Tufts Medical Center to be evaluated.
In recent years, bikes have been spotted on the city's major highways as well.
Resident Lotti Baird uses a wheelchair to get around and said the man on the highway may have been confused.
"It wouldn't have gone good for me. I have a hard time getting around as it is," Baird said.
It's still unclear how or why he ended up on the turnpike but police said they are thankful for the public's help in protecting the man.
"We are grateful to the motorists who called to report the situation and to the tow driver who took steps to protect the man until first responders could arrive," a state police spokesperson said.
Police also said they decided not to cite the man in the wheelchair even though they could have.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is among a group of prosecutors who have formed a coalition to support Liberians fighting to stay in the U.S.
Healey, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and other attorneys general filed a brief Monday supporting Liberian immigrants in a lawsuit over President Donald Trump's decision to end a humanitarian program that allows them to live and work in the U.S.
"The president's cruel decision to end Deferred Enforcement Departure will tear apart thousands of Liberian families and force people into an unsafe country," Healey said in a tweet.
Ellison said added in a statement that Liberians in Minnesota are "our co-workers, our neighbors, and our friends." The state has one of the largest populations of Liberians in the U.S.
Trump decided last March to end the Deferred Enforced Departure program that dates to 2007. The program protects about 4,000 Liberian immigrants who came from the African nation to escape environmental disasters and war.
The coalition also includes attorneys general of Rhode Island, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.
Massachusetts is reducing the maximum period that residents can receive unemployment benefits from 30 weeks to 26 weeks.
State officials say the change, required by law, takes effect on March 31. It will not affect claims that were filed prior to that date.
The reduction in the maximum benefit from 30 to 26 weeks is tied to the state's strong economy and low unemployment rate.
State law requires that the maximum benefit be adjusted downward when the 12-month average unemployment rate dips below 5.1 percent in each of the state's designated metropolitan areas.
The shorter period could save the state $40 million over the next year. But state officials point out if Massachusetts' labor market begins to deteriorate, the 30-week benefit could be reinstated.
Two teenage girls in Vermont are accused of online bullying after police say a Colchester high school student tried to kill herself after she was bullied on social media.
Police say the 18-year-old student intentionally overdosed on acetaminophen on Jan. 20. Authorities say she was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center and then transferred to a Boston hospital. Mynbc5.com reports she survived, but police say she will suffer lifelong consequences involving the care of her liver.
Two 16-year-old girls have been cited to appear in Vermont Family Court on a delinquency charge of disorderly conduct by electronic means.
Colchester Police Chief Douglas Allen says there are consequences for this kind of action.
If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting 'Home' to 741741.
Police pulled 27-year-old over for driving too slowly
A MAN who got behind the wheel after taking ecstacy and cannabis triggered the suspicion of police officers by driving too slowly.
The 27-year-old from Monks Lane in Newbury had been taking drugs to celebrate the new year, Reading magistrates heard on Thursday, March 14.
But 2019 went rapidly downhill for Royal Mail employee Ionut Emanuel Dascalescu after his car was stopped by the traffic patrol.
Anne Sawyer-Brandish, prosecuting, said: It was around 8pm and the officers were suspicious because he was driving at just 20mph on the A4 in a 30mph limit.
When they caused the car to stop they smelled cannabis.
A roadside drug test proved positive for the Class B-controlled drug cannabis, the court heard.
A subsequent blood test at Newbury Police Station also revealed the presence of the Class A-controlled drug MDMA, or ecstacy, in his system.
Mr Dascalescu admitted driving a blue Vauxhall Corsa on the A4 Bath Road at Thatcham on January 2 when the proportion of both drugs in his system exceeded the specified limit.
Simon Hammudi, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and added: He had the drugs in his system following a new year celebration.
There are no aggravating features and, apart from the low speed, no issues with the manner of his driving.
He co-operated fully with the police.
Mr Dascalescu has since resigned his job with Royal Mail and now works as a Premier Inn chef, earning the minimum wage, magistrates heard.
He was banned from driving for 12 months and fined 250.
In addition, Mr Dascalescu was ordered to pay 85 costs, plus a statutory victim services surcharge of 30.
BRIDGEPORT More than three years after his new North End liquor store was forced to close, City Councilman Michael DeFilippo has the citys OK to try again.
The Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday approved DeFilippos application to re-open Vitros at 1044 Brooklawn Ave.
Im done waiting. Its crazy, DeFilippo said in an interview. This is go time.
Vitros opponents, however, are not done fighting. A coalition of competing package stores is appealing in court the recently passed, re-written liquor regulations the Planning and Zoning Commission used to review and approve DeFilippos proposal.
And their attorney, Joel Green, also appeared to lay the ground work Monday for a lawsuit against the vote on Vitros, should the liquor rules be upheld.
Still, DeFilippos attorney, Charles Willinger, said his client will move forward re-launching his small business.
Theres risk, Willinger admitted, but added he believes the citys decisions will withstand any appeal.
When DeFilippo first opened his package store in 2015, he needed a zoning variance because the site, in a small strip mall, was within 1,500 feet of houses of worship and a daycare.
DeFilippo was elected to the council last year. But he tended bar at Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testas pizza restaurant across the street from Vitros. So his seemingly mundane zoning application in 2015 drew support not just from Testa, but an ex-mayor, a City Council president and other council members.
But Superior Court Judge Dale Radcliffe was not swayed, and in early 2016 rejected the variance to open Vitros. So Willinger began a controversial push to change the 1,500-foot-rule so his client would not need a zoning variance.
That effort received support from Planning Director Lynn Haig in 2017. Haig endorsed a 750-foot-rule along with new criteria that zoning officials could use to better screen liquor store applications, like evaluating the impact on property values and future development.
Despite opposition from education officials and some elected officials, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted for Haigs new regulations last summer and replaced the previously required zoning variance with a certificate of approval of location.
Green filed a legal appeal, claiming Haig had no standing to submit regulation changes to zoning officials.
So last month Zoning Commission members, in an effort to nullify Greens lawsuit, re-submitted the new liquor store rules to themselves and voted on them. And Green promptly filed another appeal, which is pending.
For my family
Both Willinger and Green appeared before the Zoning Commission at its Monday meeting.
Mike DeFilippo is young. He lives in Bridgeport has all his life. And he wants to do business in Bridgeport, Willinger testified. The surrounding area is already fully developed. There is nothing were doing that would impair future development.
Willinger said the small strip mall housing his clients business was built over 60 years ago and is part of the neighborhood.
Green questioned the need for another package store in the city, arguing there is a limited amount of business. The state issues liquor permits based on population, and Bridgeports allowance is 57. There are currently 17 state permits available about the same number as when DeFilippo first sought to open Vitros in 2015.
All were doing ... is taking the pie and putting more slices in, but the pie stays the same size, Green said. Youre actually hurting small businesses in Bridgeport.
Green also said that Willinger offered no solid evidence, only his own opinion, about Vitros impact.
Hes not an engineer or appraiser, Green said.
Willinger did submit two signed letters from neighbors who support DeFilippo: Frank Macari, who owns Lil Blessings Daycare, and Deacon Don Foust of St. Margaret Shrine.
When Radcliffe ruled against DeFilippo three years ago, the judge criticized the parade of preening politicians endorsing this application. The only politician to show up Monday was North End Councilwoman AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia, who urged zoning officials to support DeFilippo and not base their decisions on his political associates.
We need more small businesses, she said.
Zoning Commission members quickly approved Vitros certificate of location. Chairman Mel Riley noted that no one was here from the general public to oppose the application and said the commission does not make decisions based on competition.
Afterward, DeFilippo said in an interview that Vitros was the name of a store his grandfather ran in the city.
The stores not for me, he said. Its for my family.
DERBY The same building the city deemed unsafe earlier this month and considered demolishing until the owners lawyer stepped in is apparently still falling apart.
Michael Hillis, a local defense lawyer and principal in Derby Shores LLC, presented the city with a structural engineers report claiming the building was sound.
Last week some of the stucco fell off.
Sunday, the chimney collapsed, spewing brick and mortar onto Main Street shortly after 2 p.m.
Mayor Richard Dziekan met with his staff Monday to discuss what to do with the four-story building at 195 Main St. just across the street from the ongoing state demolition of four buildings.
Theres a big hole in the roof where the chimney had been, Dziekan said. Fortunately, no one got hurt, but I am told one of the pieces came close to hitting a car.
It was a firewatch working the state Department of Transportations demolition on the south side of Main Street that first noticed problems with 195 Main St.
They saw the chimney titling to a 45 degree angle, Dziekan said.
The firewatch worked from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. while the demolition of the four buildings was ongoing. The demolition, which is complete, is the first step in the states plan to widen Route 34/Main Street into four lanes beginning next year.
The mayor ordered a firewatch established for 195 Main St., which is near a bus stop. He also closed off the sidewalk around the building.
He also said the owners told him that they would be putting up scaffolding and netting while they repair the facade. However the mayor expressed concern that the damage from the fallen chimney that left a hole in the roof could mean further damage to the inside if the building is open to rain and wind.
Dziekan said the state Department of Transportation has been informed of Sundays damage.
Hillis had said Derby Shores LLC is suing MESA Underwriters Specialty Insurance Company of New Jersey in Milford Superior Court for failing to pay repairs to the roof for damage allegedly caused by heavy snow and strong winds during the blizzard that began Feb. 9, 2013.
MESA is challenging the claims. No hearings have been scheduled.
A message left at Hillis law office in New Haven early Monday morning was not immediately returned.
One of Connecticuts highest-ranking labor officials charged Gov. Ned Lamonts administration Monday with trying to roll back crucial clean contracting reforms enacted in the wake of the corrupt administration of former Gov. John G. Rowland.
Connecticut AFL-CIO President Sal Luciano called certain aspects of Lamonts proposal reckless and shortsighted and a recipe for disaster that threatens the public trust.
The bill introduced on Lamonts behalf is an alarming attempt to return us to the shadowy Rowland years in which the governor engaged in pay-to-play contracting and procurement, awarding lucrative state contracts to those who compensated him with expensive gifts, trips and home improvements, Luciano wrote in testimony to the Government Administration and Elections Committee. Rowland repeatedly and systematically used his office for personal gain and was ultimately convicted of corruption charges and sent to prison.
The Lamont administration countered Monday that it is trying to transform state government and streamline spending as Connecticut faces unprecedented fiscal challenges.
We respect Sal Luciano and the role he plays on behalf of his organization, but on this issue we wholeheartedly disagree and find this type of rhetoric alarmist and unconstructive, Chris McClure, spokesman for the governors budget office, said. Public-private partnerships hold the potential to play an important role in economic and infrastructure development, and the governors bill is his attempt to bring our state government into the 21st century in a way that doesnt overly burden state taxpayers and enhances accountability and efficiency.
Lucianos testimony comes just a few weeks after the new governor said he would consider a public-private partnership to cover some or all of the capital costs associated with installing toll gantries on Connecticut highways should legislators approve an electronic tolling system. The administration has estimated capital costs at $213 million and projected 53 gantries would be needed.
At issue is the so-called Clean Contracting system enacted in October 2007 to counter the contracting scandals that drove former-Gov. John G. Rowland from office amid an impeachment inquiry in July 2004. Rowland served 10 months in federal prison after admitting he accepted about $100,000 in gifts from state contractors and his staff.
Among the many provisions of that law was a new 14-member standards board, to be appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, as well as a staff consisting of an executive director and a chief procurement officer.
Another key component of the statute involved a series of rules governing when state agencies can hire the private sector. Before privatizing most services currently performed by state employees, agencies would have to develop a cost-benefit analysis that demonstrates at least a 10 percent cost savings, and no loss in quality of service.
The law also makes the presumption that a core governmental function should not be privatized, and any departments cost-benefit analysis arguing that private contracting is necessary must demonstrate that the agency in question lacks staffing to do the job properly.
But that system has had a troubled history almost from its onset.
In the years immediately after its enactment, Govs. M. Jodi Rell and Dannel P. Malloy asked legislatures to approve minimal funding for the standards board as Connecticut fell into recession and struggled with a weak recovery.
At one point the contracting standards boards annual budget was reduced to $10,001 the minimum amount needed to retain a line item in the overall state budget, but not enough to employ full-time staff.
The chairman of the contracting standards board, Lawrence Fox, told the Associated Press last month that the state could save $174 million to $260 million annually it its relied more heavily on competitive bidding. Fox said the state waves the competitive process nearly 70 percent of the time in contract awards.
Still, as long-neglected pension funds pushed overall state finances into crisis over the past decade, Malloy and his budget director, Ben Barnes, argued the system made it too difficult to privatize government services and cut costs.
And Lamont inherited the same fiscal challenges that plagued Malloy.
Pension and other debt costs already consume nearly 30 percent of the annual operating budget, roughly triple what they did just 20 years ago.
Long-neglected pension and other retirement benefit programs are expected to grow dramatically in cost over the next 10-to-15 years. And legislatures increasingly are pressuring governors to close deficits without raising income taxes or cutting vital social service programs or municipal aid.
State finances, unless adjusted, will run $3.7 billion in deficit over the next two years combined, according to the governors budget office.
Lamont proposed legislation this year that would open the door for more public-private partnerships to streamline state spending.
The governor has developed a bill that would make several changes to the law, removing limits on:
The number of major public-private partnerships that can be authorized. The current limit is five.
The duration of such partnerships. The current limit is 50 years.
The kinds of projects that can be undertaken with the private sector. Currently they are limited to early child care, health, housing and transportation initiatives.
Lamont also proposed that the governor no longer need to seek legislative approval to establish new types of services that can be delivered through the private sector.
Luciano, whose federation represents hundreds of local unions and more than 220,000 workers in the public and private sectors combined, also serves on the contracting standards board.
The labor leader told the CT Mirror he worries many at the Capitol are losing sight of corruption scandals that cost taxpayers millions of dollars in the early 2000s.
I hope not, but Im here to remind them, he said. We were a laughing stock. At one point we were called Corrupticut.
We are here today to examine the issue of sexual harassment here in Albany, in the public sector, and in the private sector across the state.
These simple words from state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi opened the state Legislatures first hearing on sexual harassment in 27 years. Just two months into her first term, Biaggi found herself presiding over this landmark hearing. She had prepared so much that she felt she may have been overprepared, to make sure she wouldnt let anyone down. Even so, Biaggi felt nervous as she began asking her first questions. But the moment passed quickly and she confidently plugged ahead. I dont have time to be nervous, Biaggi recalled thinking. As a survivor of sexual abuse, she recognized the seriousness of the issue and the responsibility she had to the victims. I have to do this.
It wasnt the only recent effort by state government to address sexual harassment. Last year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced several measures to increase protections for victims of sexual harassment that passed as part of the state budget, touting them as the most comprehensive in the nation. The main changes required all employers in the state to institute a sexual harassment policy and provide all employees with sexual harassment training, either their own or following models created by the state, and forbid confidentiality agreements unless it is the preference of the accuser. Despite the reforms, many lawmakers and advocates agreed that state policies on sexual harassment remained woefully inadequate.
The harassment we had experienced, we dont think the laws that passed last year would have changed any of that. And thats a problem. Rita Pasarell, a co-founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group
While Cuomos proposals were not opposed by advocates, the consensus among advocates at the time was that the bills largely missed the most pressing issues for victims of sexual harassment. Something that all of us in the (Sexual Harassment) Working Group thought was that those laws would not have improved our situations, Rita Pasarell, a co-founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group, told City & State. Its members, Pasarell included, are former state legislative staffers who say they were victims of or have encountered sexual harassment or assault. None of the harassment we had experienced, none of the problems in the investigative process that we experienced, we dont think the laws that passed last year would have changed any of that. And thats a problem.
Among advocates, there is widespread agreement that the first thing the state must do is change the burdensome standard by which sexual harassment claims are measured. While people are protected from sexual harassment under the federal Civil Rights Act and the state Human Rights Law as a form of discrimination, that harassment must be severe or pervasive in order for the behavior to fall under either law.
The standard was established by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1986 case Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, in which a 19-year-old bank teller sued her employer for sexual harassment. This case marked the first time the court ruled that such harassment constituted discrimination on the basis of sex, and was therefore illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had previously issued guidelines in 1980 that Title VII included sexual harassment, but the 1986 decision codified those guidelines through precedent. For sexual harassment to be actionable, it must be sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of (the victims) employment and create an abusive working environment, Justice William Rehnquist wrote in the majority opinion, thus creating a broad definition for courts to follow. Courts in New York have long deferred to that standard as well, creating state precedent.
New York State Senate
Imagine showing up to work only to have a co-worker tell you to get breast implants, touch your butt while telling you to tighten up and tell you not to adjust your exposed underwear because he was enjoying himself. Or to be subjected to name-calling like dumb blonde, repeated remarks about your appearance and being swatted on the butt with papers by a supervisor. Or even to have a supervisor pull your hair, rub lubricant on your arms and tell you to buy sexual paraphernalia.
We as lawyers (have to) tell people that, as painful and humiliating whatever they faced was, it probably isnt going to succeed because of the severe or pervasive standard. Miriam Clark, president of the National Employment Lawyers Associations New York chapter
None of that behavior is hypothetical. Women described those and other actions taken against them in three separate sexual harassment cases in New York from 2012, 2015 and 2016. And in each one, the court ruled the behavior did not meet the severe or pervasive standard and, under the law, did not constitute a hostile work environment.
These standards are so ridiculously high, said Miriam Clark, president of the National Employment Lawyers Associations New York chapter. We as lawyers are often in the position of having to tell people that, as painful and humiliating whatever they faced was, it probably isnt going to succeed because of the severe or pervasive standard.
RELATED: 3 horrifying cases that didn't meet the standard
Currently, several pieces of legislation in Albany would eliminate this standard. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic introduced one bill shortly before the sexual harassment hearing. Biaggi and Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas introduced similar legislation shortly after the hearing that the lawyers association helped draft. Cuomo also introduced a measure as part of his latest executive budget to eliminate the standard and lessen the burden on accusers. However, the Senate rejected Cuomos proposal in its budget resolution, stating sexual harassment legislation should pass outside of the budget to allow for robust discussion.
None of the proposals would introduce a specific new standard into law; they would simply add language to the state Human Rights Law that the law applies to discriminatory harassment regardless of how severe or pervasive it is. They do, however, include language that allows employers to defend themselves in court if they can prove the behavior did not rise above petty slights or trivial inconveniences. The statutory change is to move it from severe or pervasive to a less well standard, Simotas said of the effect of the language change while warning against any language that would inadvertently narrow protections. So if you are treating somebody less well in their workplace than another person based on a protected class, then you are discriminating against them. The Gounardes and Rozic bill would, however, explicitly add sexual harassment to the Human Rights Law as unlawful discriminatory behavior, adding to statute what has already been established through the courts.
RELATED: All the bills that aim to adress harassment
Both the Gounardes and Rozic bill as well as the one from Biaggi and Simotas would eliminate what is known as the Faragher/Ellerth defense named after the two U.S. Supreme Court cases that set the precedent an aspect not included as part of Cuomos budget proposal. The defense allows employers to use a delay in reporting or a failure to follow a particular reporting procedure to avoid liability for a supervisors actions, or as a basis to deny claims of sexual harassment. The Biaggi and Simotas bill also includes provisions related to the allotment of punitive damages, which is currently not allowed under state law. Another key difference is that the Biaggi and Simotas bill would apply to all discriminatory behavior, while the Gounardes and Rozic bill specifically targets sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination only.
Hans Pennink/AP/Shutterstock
The definition of sexual harassment and the high burden of proof that falls on accusers obviously plays heavily not only in potential court cases, but in the reporting process people can go through with the state. Any changes to the severe or pervasive standard would entail changes in how those cases handled, a prospect that has largely not been addressed yet. At the state level, employees can file a sexual harassment complaint with the state Division of Human Rights. Theyll do an investigation, theyll find probable cause or not probable cause, theyll have a hearing, and that is all extrajudicial, Clark said. It is underfunded and no one (in government) pays much attention to it, and most lawyers dont go there.
(The state Joint Commission on Public Ethics) testified that its totally legitimate to ask complainants about their prior sexual history and really interrogate them on that. state Sen. Andrew Gounardes
Pasarell added that based on conversations that the Sexual Harassment Working Group has had, the Division of Human Rights is often not an effective route for victims, who may not know the agency is an option.
At last months sexual harassment hearing, lawmakers did not hear oral testimony from the division since its commissioner was not available on short notice. But they did hear from the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which investigates and holds hearings on claims made against state government employees in a method comparable to how the Division of Human Rights investigates and holds hearings on sexual harassment and other discrimination complaints. Many were disturbed by what they heard. At one point, they testified that its totally legitimate to ask complainants about their prior sexual history and really interrogate them on that, Gounardes told City & State, expressing concern about a culture of victim shaming. Biaggi raised a similar concern. The questions that they asked (the accusers) ... indicated to me that not only are they ill-equipped, but the people who are there, who are claiming to be experts on this thing, are not trauma-informed, she said, adding that she had not been aware of the level of what she called the commissions incompetence in handling sexual harassment claims.
We need to travel into uncomfortable territory and do it as often as possible. state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi
While not every criticism of the commission could apply to the state Division of Human Rights, the two agencies share similar investigative powers when a person files a complaint. Shortcomings in how the Joint Commission on Public Ethics handles those investigations and hearings might naturally raise questions about the divisions process for complainants. The agencys written testimony offered little insight into its process beyond how many complaints it received and how many were found to have probable cause, describing its methods as efficient and effective investigation and adjudication. In 2017, the Division of Human Rights found that 143 out of 578 complaints had probable cause and referred the cases to a public hearing, noting that the number of complaints had increased during the #MeToo era. The absence of oral testimony from the division, and testimony from victims who had filed with the agency, leaves many unknowns about the impact of past and potential changes. Last months hearing made it clear as day that we need systematic reforms with the (Division of) Human Rights, Simotas told City & State. And we need to make sure the (Division of) Human Rights is more supportive to victims of this conduct.
New York State Senate
On May 9, 2018, advocates and lawmakers packed into the New York City Hall rotunda, the crowd extending up the rounding staircases. They came to celebrate a landmark package of 11 bills, each of which would offer new protections for victims of workplace sexual harassment, that Mayor Bill de Blasio would soon sign. Im proud to say with this legislation, New York City government is standing up, and were saying very, very clearly where we stand, what we believe, that we will not tolerate harassment or abuse of any kind, de Blasio said.
Many advocates have pointed to the protections established in New York City that day as a good starting point for the state Legislature. Along with eliminating the severe or pervasive standard for cases before the city Commission on Human Rights or city courts, the new laws also expanded protections against gender-based harassment to all employers, regardless of size, and extended the statute of limitations for filing a gender-based sexual harassment claim from one year to three years. And though these laws passed last year, lawmakers are already looking at new ways to make them stronger.
Soon after de Blasio signed the bills into law, City Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal introduced legislation aimed at making it easier for a victim of harassment to prove their employer retaliated against them for reporting harassment or other discriminatory behavior. Under current law, the burden of proof lies completely on the accuser to show that a demotion, firing or other form of negative action taken was done so illegally as retribution. Rosenthals bill would shift some of that burden to the employer by requiring them to show good cause for the action. While she said that she is working with business interests to minimize any concerns they may have, Rosenthal asserted that this would not be overly burdensome to any employer that keeps good records. Its such a struggle, certainly in sexual harassment, but also in terms of racial discrimination, its so hard to prove it happened, so shifting the burden, I think, makes sense, Rosenthal told City & State. She added that other municipalities like Seattle have already enacted similar laws.
Rosenthal also said that as the city nears the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the sexual harassment package, the City Council will be able to assess data collected by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services under new reporting measures for city agencies and government offices that will be able to better inform the next steps for lawmakers to continue strengthening protections for victims of sexual harassment.
However, regardless of the various ways the legal standards or definitions of sexual harassment may change, the group Girls for Gender Equity, which focuses on sexual harassment and sexual assault among young people and students, asserts new policies should address how sexual harassment is broadly understood, beginning with young people. Ashley Sawyer, the organizations director of policy and government relations, said that steps to ensure victims are able to seek justice and perpetrators are punished are positive, but do little to prevent the behavior. Sawyer said a cultural shift must occur by teaching children about consent, sexual harassment and power dynamics beginning at a young age. Students dont even often have the language to define it, Sawyer said. I think there are very few conversations happening that help people understand that, and I think that is the work to help young people feel safe and to prevent adults from experiencing sexual violence. Sawyer said the state should pass comprehensive sex education policy so that young people can be taught about sexual harassment and assault. The Assembly currently has a bill that would create an educational program in schools to prevent sexual harassment, but it does not have a corresponding bill in the state Senate.
The state Legislature has yet to introduce new sexual harassment bills based on testimony from last months hearing, but Biaggi told City & State that her staff is working on an internal report. She added that she and other lawmakers are committed to holding more hearings, which Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins also support.
In order for us to do our jobs, Biaggi said, we need to travel into uncomfortable territory and do it often and as often as possible to be able to inform us to make policies and laws that protect the people in the state of New York.
/
STRATFORD Police arrested a teenager Sunday after they said he tried to rob a man at the 7-11 in Paradise Green.
The 16-year-old male was charged as a juvenile with attempted third-degree robbery and second-degree breach of peace.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) The budget will finally be transmitted to the President despite some concerns from senators.
Still, House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rolando Andaya is confident that the budget, which was signed by the heads of Congress earlier today, will be passed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Andaya continued to back the House of Representatives' itemization of lump sum budget provisions, and said that it is up to Duterte to veto such provisions that caused the deadlock between the House and the Senate.
"How can the President veto something when it is not presented in the budget? When it is kept in a lump sum, how can you veto a particular project when it's just the full amount," Andaya said in an interview on CNN Philippines' Newsroom.
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Franklin Drilon and Panfilo "Ping" Lacson had previously denounced the P75 billion worth of programs and projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways budget that were itemized by the House of Representatives after the bicameral conference committee report was ratified.
While the budget bill was signed by Sotto after meeting with House heads, the Senate president had also a written an annotation for Duterte on his views on the House's actions.
READ: Impasse on proposed 2019 budget ends; Congress sends spending bill to Palace
Like the Senate, Andaya said that it is up to Duterte to decide whether or not he would veto the contested budget item.
"But of course there has to be a set or general standards for it. It can not be capricious or merely a sentiment," Andaya said.
The delayed budget has already made a dent in the Philippine economy, leading the economic managers of the Duterte administration to revise its gross domestic product target to 6 to 7 percent from 7 to 8 percent.
Willowick-based company NVeyeTech continues to make strides towards its innovative production supply of motor vehicle safety equipment.
Last week, the startup gained a major investor, Altair Investments Inc., which will assist in bringing the companys night vision system for motorcycles to market in 2019.
NVeyeTech co-owner and founder Robert Schindler has been working with LakeStart, based in Willoughby, for more than a year to help bring his product to the marketplace.
LakeStart is a nonprofit organization committed to mentoring and inspiring entrepreneurs cultivate and commercialize concepts, ideas, and prototypes for startups, while also assisting businesses in various stages of development.
The incubator provides diverse industry guidance from experienced professionals and proven entrepreneurs, ultimately accelerating economic growth and job creation in Lake County.
According to a news release, NVeyeTechs system will feature a camera monitor that will attach to a bikes handlebars, enabling the rider to see much more clearly at night.
A friend of mine was biking on a road trip and he said the nighttime riding was extremely dark, so we asked, What can we do about it?' Schindler said. Our night vision system will open up the riders visibility laterally and make riding at night much safer.
The investment from Altair is expected to provide NVeyeTech with the funds, along with the management experience, to successfully launch the product to consumers.
What we found exciting about this is the safety aspect, how it helped solve the existing needs in the marketplace, said KK Tiwari, president of Altair Investments. Well be actively involved in taking this business to the next level, in supply chain, marketing, social media those are the skills that we bring.
We are delighted and proud to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, said LakeStart mentor Kip Marlow. All of us are volunteers who want to make Lake County an even better place.
Willoughby Mayor Robert Fiala congratulated NVeyeTech on its recent success in acquiring capital to help take the company to the next level.
We are proud to have the LakeStart organization reside in Willoughby City Hall and delighted Altair Investments is supporting the mission to mentor and inspire entrepreneurs, he said. Collaboration leads to great things.
To learn more, visit lakestart.org or call 440-953-4133.
EDITORS NOTE: This article was edited at 11:40 a.m., Aug. 1, to correct the name of NVeyeTechs investor.
African-American women are nearly twice as likely to give birth prematurely as white women. Such births often coincide with low birth weight, and together are linked to other developmental delays and health effects believed responsible for almost one-fifth of infant deaths nationwide.
The trend holds up regardless of socioeconomic factors. That means, for example, that a black woman with a college degree and a comfortable income has a greater chance of giving birth prematurely than a white woman who didn't graduate high school.
Past research has pointed to other contributing factors to the difference, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. In a paper in the winter issue of the Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, Amelia Gavin, an associate professor in the University of Washington School of Social Work, connects racial discrimination to PTSD, and thus to preterm birth.
"Pregnancy is a stress test for the body. If you've been stressed during your life through discrimination, poverty and residential segregation, then the likelihood of having a healthy birth outcome has been compromised," Gavin said.
A typical pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks; a birth before the end of the 37th week is considered "preterm." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 percent of babies born in the U.S. in 2016 were born prematurely - a slight uptick that year, following a steady decline for several years prior. While the CDC attributed that decline to the decrease in the number of teen mothers, the agency noted a consistent difference in the rates of preterm birth among African-American versus white women. In 2016, the preterm birth rate among African American women was 14 percent, compared to 9 percent for white women. There are medical causes of preterm birth, "but the majority of cases have an unknown cause," Gavin said.
Research over the years has examined behavioral and biological risk factors for preterm birth, including access to prenatal care, substance use and stress. PTSD, associated not only with combat experiences, but also other traumatic events such as natural disasters, assault and abuse, affects more women than men. Several studies have linked PTSD with a higher risk of preterm birth.
When broken down by race and ethnicity, PTSD affects African-Americans more than any other group, and more African-American women than men.
Meanwhile, studies have tied racial discrimination to poor health, and to African-American women's health, in particular. The daily experiences of discrimination, as well as the legacy of racism - neighborhoods with higher crime and fewer resources, generational poverty and limited access to health care - can lead to stress, and engagement in unhealthy behaviors.
Gavin drew a hypothesis from those connections: If discrimination is associated with PTSD, and PTSD is associated with preterm birth, then racial discrimination, via PTSD, also can be tied to preterm birth.
The racial disparity among preterm birth sparked her research interest in graduate school, Gavin said. By studying childhood poverty and abuse, as well as maternal depression, Gavin honed in on PTSD.
"I'm trying to unpack, from a life course perspective, how risk factors in black women's lives can have an impact on the next generation," she said. "Exploring the mechanisms by which racial discrimination affects the next generation is really important, and that means taking into consideration maternal mental health status. When we talk about racial disparities in health outcomes, we have to think about how we construct mental health, the role of PTSD and how different racial and ethnic groups experience it."
One challenge has been how PTSD is defined, generally by members of the mental health community, Gavin said. PTSD isn't always related to one physically or emotionally devastating event; events can recur and continue to affect a person over the long term. There has been little research into how racial discrimination could manifest as PTSD and influence an early childbirth, she said.
Further research could more definitively demonstrate the role of PTSD as the conduit between racial discrimination and preterm birth, Gavin said.
In the paper, Gavin and her co-authors recommend that health-care providers start screening all pregnant women for prenatal PTSD, in order to spot those at risk for preterm birth. Pursuing the role of racial discrimination, of course, requires more wide-ranging, social-justice-oriented strategies. The authors suggest greater government investment in the quantity of and access to affordable housing, and in funding for K-12 education and health care. By addressing such social factors, the authors write, the health of African-American women and their offspring can improve.
The Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation (FLRF) and The University of Western Australia (UWA) have just released a new clinical tool to help medical practitioners resolve lactation challenges and support breastfeeding mothers: LactaMap (www.LactaMap.com). Featuring content developed by UWA, the online resource offers a wealth of evidence-based information to advance understanding of human lactation, ensure consistent care for breastfeeding mothers and their infants, and prevent dissemination of conflicting advice.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mothers exclusively breastfeed infants for the first six months to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Unfortunately, according to the WHO, only 38% of infants aged zero to six months are exclusively breastfed. Research published in the 2016 Lancet Series for Breastfeeding shows medical practitioners can play an important role in supporting breastfeeding mothers. Nevertheless, medical practitioners at all levels report they are not receiving the education needed to support the knowledge and skills required to do so.
LactaMap aims to help fill these gaps. With a grant of over AUD 1 million from FLRF, LactaMap content was researched and developed by the LactaResearch Group at UWA under the leadership of Senior Research Fellow Melinda Boss and Emeritus Professor Peter Hartmann. The clinical tool functions as a decision support system, helping practitioners rapidly navigate its wealth of information with an intuitive care pathway to appropriate, evidence-based clinical information for their patients. LactaMap is free of charge and available to medical practitioners in any country.
Lactation completes the reproductive cycle. Yet when difficulties occur, there generally is no medical doctor specialized in lactating breasts that a breastfeeding mother can turn to for help unlike for difficulties with other major organs, says Boss. As an online tool that allows translation of new research into practice soon after publication, LactaMap aims to change that.
LactaMap contains over 100 evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, LactaPedia (a glossary of lactation for science and medicine) and 21 information sheets that can be printed or e-mailed to patients.
LactaMap provides relevant, state-of-the-art clinical practice guidelines with medical care plan options, as well as a framework defining normality to assist medical practitioners in decision-making for patients with lactation concerns. Online and soon also available as an app, LactaMap is a real-time, border-free resource for point-of-care consultations with patients. Dr Katharina Lichtner, Managing Director, Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation
We are delighted to have joined UWA on another fruitful project, one that follows and builds on LactaPedia. Its heartening to be involved in the creation of this important evidence-based clinical resource. As it evolves, we anticipate LactaMap will serve not only practicing professionals, but those in training as well. Goran Larsson, Chairman of the Board, Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation
LactaMap is being evaluated for further development as a case-based learning tool for teaching at medical and healthcare schools. With its ability to answer specific questions and support resolution of lactation and breastfeeding difficulties for mothers and infants, LactaMap has the potential to become a widely used resource that can contribute to the global increase in breastfeeding rates.
LactaMap has been appraised against the Agree II Instrument, the international gold standard for practice guidelines evaluation and development, and is now online: www.LactaMap.com
GPs will have a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the new Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) for Cancer, new research from the University of Surrey finds.
In the first study of its kind, published today in the British Journal of General Practice and funded by Cancer Research UK, researchers investigated public attitudes towards the new FDS for Cancer. Scheduled to be introduced in England next year, this new standard will give patients a diagnosis or all-clear for cancer within 28 days of referral with suspected cancer.
Conducting focus group sessions in Bradford and Guildford with participants who in the last six months had undergone diagnostic tests for cancer and received results, researchers identified a degree of scepticism amongst the groups about how the new standard would work. Many participants had experienced swift referrals for diagnostic testing but encountered a delay when receiving test results and were unsure about how the FDS would rectify this.
Concern existed amongst participants that the FDS may ultimately extend waiting times and could become more of a 'tick box' exercise, with one participant noting:
'So what happens is that as soon as 28 days appears anywhere that becomes the standard, rather than the last resort, so when suddenly you go, well we've got 28 days, we'll give them a we'll get in touch with them in three weeks' time [].'
Participants also described a lack of transparency in the referral process and were apprehensive about getting lost in the system. This feeling was exacerbated by not knowing what to expect and/or being unable to draw upon past experiences due to inconsistency between one referral and the next.
Interestingly, researchers found that participants valued reassurance and support from their GP as highly as a speedy referral. A feeling of being listened to by a GP was found to be important to participants when being referred for diagnostic tests.
'Being listened to I think, so it's being heard and my GP was fine, has really really been it was really quick, it couldn't have been quicker, but it was feeling I suppose it's being listened to and then almost like being believed.'
Dr Katriina Whitaker, Reader in Cancer Care at the University of Surrey, said: "The new Faster Diagnosis Standard for Cancer is an important step in diagnosing cancer earlier and faster. However we have found that although patients value a speedy referral there are other factors that they regard as just as important.
"Simple steps such as informing patients about the diagnostic testing and referral processes and about time scales will help patients better prepare, both physically and emotionally, for the next phase. This will ultimately fall to GPs, who will need clear guidance so they are able to support their patients."
Dr Jodie Moffat from Cancer Research UK said: "We need to redouble our efforts to reduce the late stage diagnosis of cancer, so that more people survive their disease. Reducing late stage diagnosis of cancer requires action on a range of fronts, and we all have a part to play. Ensuring there's enough workforce in the system - whether that's in primary care or in hospitals - is vital to achieving our early diagnosis ambitions."
Although smart wristbands are popular fashion gadgets for monitoring heart rate and physical activity, they are usually not sophisticated enough to provide specific and accurate information about potential health problems of the wearer. Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania researchers are developing a smart wrist-worn device for monitoring of atrial fibrillation - a condition, which if left untreated can lead to serious health complications and even death.
According to the data provided by the US government, atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia. Approximately 9% of people aged 65 years or older have atrial fibrillation; it is estimated that due to the rapidly aging society, the prevalence of the disease in the global population will increase 3-fold in the next 30 years.
At the beginning of arrhythmia development, the episodes are usually short and self-terminating thus may remain unnoticed. If untreated, atrial fibrillation can contribute to the development of serious complications, such as brain stroke.
"Atrial fibrillation can often develop after a heart attack, thus these patients need certain medical care and attention to prevent from serious health complications. However, after leaving the hospital their health check-ups are only episodic. Non-invasive, compact wearable devices, which are providing continuous monitoring is an attractive solution for monitoring the health status of such high-risk groups", says Vaidotas Marozas, the Director of KTU Biomedical Engineering Institute (BEI).
The team of KTU BEI researchers, led by Dr Marozas is developing a multisensory system, i.e. the wrist-worn device for atrial fibrillation monitoring. Two types of modalities are being used in the device - photoplethysmographic (PPG) for continuous monitoring and electrocardiographic (ECG) for the acquisition of a control signal. When the PPG sensor registers the heart activity akin to atrial fibrillation, the device vibrates mildly, asking the patient to touch the device with the other hand in order to register a short ECG signal.
The quality of vital signals acquired in real life is worse than those recorded under clinical conditions. Therefore, continuous monitoring - or the remote observation of patients- is only made possible through high-quality data. According to Dr Marozas, one of the main challenges in the development of the wearable monitoring systems is advanced signal processing solutions which would separate useful information from the "noise" i.e. motion artifacts and other types of arrhythmia. The biomedical engineers of KTU are working together with the international team of physicians and health scientists from Kaunas University of Health Sciences, Vilnius University, Lund University, and industrial designers from Vilnius Academy of Arts.
"We are focusing on developing technologies, which are needed for the public and contemporary medicine. For example, due to the prevalence of this condition, every person older than 65 should be checked for atrial fibrillation. However, relying on the short-term clinical ECG, the arrhythmia can be detected only if the condition is chronic. What if the episodes are occurring only occasionally? Then our technology is very useful", explains Dr Marozas.
He assures that despite complicated technology and sophisticated algorithms the smart wrist-worn device is very easy to use. It is aimed at seniors - people, who are especially self-conscious when using technologies and smart devices.
At the moment, the team is working on adding additional functions to the technology, such as implementing the algorithm of monitoring the heart's response to physical load. Slow heart's adaptation to physical load is related to increased mortality rate and risk of cardiovascular disease, therefore monitoring of this parameter could be valuable for people of all ages.
The patent application for the smart wrist-worn device has been submitted to the Lithuanian State Patent Bureau at the end of 2018. The KTU BEI team is preparing international applications for two other inventions.
KTU Biomedical Engineering Institute is specializing in developing non-standard electronic systems for monitoring human health parameters; usually for research purposes. Together with local and international partners, the KTU researchers have implemented many innovative solutions under the concept of "wearable health", such as a smart T-shirt, multisensory system for hemodialysis, monitoring system for divers, used in military training.
Source: https://en.ktu.edu/news/smart-wrist-worn-device-developed-by-lithuanian-researchers-can-alert-about-dangerous-health-conditions/
The Chinese Famine of 1959-61 has been widely interpreted as an important contributor to later epidemics of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitis (T2DM), but in re-examining 17 related Chinese studies researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Leiden University Medical Center, found little evidence for this association. The paper is published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology.
"Most Chinese studies were limited in using appropriate age-balanced controls," said L. H. Lumey, MD, professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School. "Therefore, establishing a firm connection between prenatal famine and T2DM in future studies in China will require significant improvements in study design and execution."
To demonstrate the limitation in the Chinese studies, the researchers re-analyzed published data using several control groups. With age-balanced controls, no increases were seen in T2DM.
Lumey and colleagues further determined that studying just pre-famine births as controls could suggest a 'protective' effect of famine on later health outcomes. Studies from both the Dutch Famine and the Chinese Famine show that increased body size in adulthood has important implications for T2DM after prenatal famine exposure. "However our studies of the Dutch famine have not yet examined if changes in DNA methylation in individuals exposed during gestation could lead to 'intergenerational' effects, on the grandchildren, large enough to explain the increased obesity and hyperglycemia in China today," said Dr Bastiaan T. Heijmans of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands.
Because of limitations in study design and the original analyses of the Chinese studies it is an open question if the famine has significantly contributed to the current epidemic in China. And accordingly, it is also not yet possible to make firm statements regarding the long-term impact of direct exposure or the intergenerational impact of indirect exposure.
"The current T2DM epidemic in China represents an enormous public health challenge," noted Lumey. "Public health efforts for prevention and treatment should therefore focus now on well-established risk factors for overweight and obesity, especially the increased intake of energy dense foods and sedentary lifestyles that affect the entire population, regardless of early famine exposure."
Wonder Woman "Trial of the Amazons" crossover to elevate Themiscyra to Gotham City and Metropolis status
Three of the masterminds behind DC's upcoming Woman Woman Trial of the Amazons crossover open up about what to expect
The BBC reports that the volume of children not being vaccinated since 2001 has quadrupled in number raising concerns from all quarters about the rising anti-vaccination movement. Social media plays a significant part in the spread of information, but as Brookings notes, it can be difficult to pin down the effect of misinformation since it tends to mix in with the legitimate information that a user shares. People tend to trust their friends and relatives on social media and because of that give more thought to the media shared by those people. However, there is no organization that fact-checks these posts for accuracy, meaning that what may look and sound like news could be completely fake. Facebook has been leaning towards dealing with so-called 'fake news' ever since the 2016 election and the latest target in its sights is the anti-vaccination movement.
Dealing with the Threat of Anti Vaccination
Vice President for Global Policy Management of Facebook Monika Bickert mentioned in a post hosted on Facebook's blog that the company intends to directly tackle the misinformation spread by anti-vaccination groups in many ways. Among the steps that the company wants to take include demonetizing ad accounts that promote anti-vaccination advertisements and delisting anti-vaccination groups from the search bar. The aim is to limit the misinformation and access to groups that propagate this misinformation across the social media giant's platform. When it comes to the spread of misinformation, NBC has noted that lies spread a lot faster than the truth on social media. In some cases, this can be a minor inconvenience, but the anti-vaccination movement has caused serious public health problems.
A Disaster in the Making
Anti-vaccination rhetoric is directly responsible for a recent outbreak of measles in Washington State. The Washington State Department of Health confirmed at least seventy-two (72) cases of measles in the state, a staggering number based on how close to eradication contemporary science considered the diseases to be. The growing trend of shirking the responsibility of vaccination has led to a large volume of the population being unprotected against diseases that were all but unheard of in the developed world. Facebook, noticing the tendency of misinformation to spread have decided to take a serious look at anti-vaccination posts, after previously stating that anti-vaccination rhetoric did not directly violate their terms of service, Bloomberg reports.
A Threat to Free Speech Or a Responsibility to the Public?
In the past, Facebook has been accused of censoring conservative commentators and have been charged with supporting and promoting partisan politics in the posts they have censored. Gizmodo states that former Facebook workers have admitted to suppressing conservative news while working at the social media company. While in some circles this may be argued as the infringement of an individual's freedom of speech, the same could be said of anti-vaccination rhetoric. However, in the wake of the measles outbreak in Washington state, leading to the increase of sales of scrubs, and further outbreaks of diseases in other populated areas, the anti-vaccination movement has come under scrutiny for spreading patently false information, misinformation that could directly lead to the loss of life. As it stands, the company has decided that it can no longer allow the spread of this misinformation because of the danger it poses to the general public.
Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes
More and more people rely on social media to provide news for them, and this may be a problem when shares contain blatant misinformation. Facebook is trying to make misinformation a thing of the past on their platform, but it faces a real moral dilemma when it starts censoring content. It's the age-old question when it comes to the censorship of speech - where is enough and how much restriction is too much? While the halt of anti-vaccination posts is a necessity to roll back the wave of outbreaks in some states, it needs to be tempered with moral direction, lest the precedent be used for more nefarious purposes in the future.
Sorry!
This content is not available in your region
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that the country's drug problem had "worsened," and even warned that the Philippines could be the next Mexico which is supposedly controlled by drug cartels.
"Things have worsened. My policemen are at the brink of surrendering," Duterte said in Bisaya during a campaign rally of the administration party PDP-Laban in Cagayan de Oro City Sunday night.
"Now you can see the headlines: everyday billions worth of drugs are entering the country. Look at the main screen and the crawler, the running news at the bottom. It's always about drugs, drugs, and drugs," he said, letting out an expletive.
The President lamented how shabu by the billions of pesos would enter the country on a certain day, a diversionary tactic that will be followed by an even bigger drug shipment.
"Everyday, don't believe that it's one billion. The next day there will be another one point three billion. That's just an excuse. That's a bait. Believe us so we can focus on it," he said. "Actually there are other billions coming in."
Authorities seized 1.13 billion worth of shabu during a raid in the upscale Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City last March 19. Three days after, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs intercepted a 1.8 billion shabu shipment at the Port of Manila.
The President said he is worried that the country's drug situation would further worsen.
"In the end, we will be like Mexico. We will be controlled by drug cartels. The Sinaloa has already entered the country and that is why drugs are being thrown in the Pacific. The same is happening in the West," he said. Sinaloa is an international organized crime syndicate.
He said he had told the police and the military to do everything to put a stop to the drug problem.
The President said he urged them not to listen to human rights groups who have criticized his bloody war on drugs that has left over 5,000 people dead in police operations. Critics say thousands more may have been killed in the drug war, something that is being examined by the International Criminal Court.
"Don't listen to the human rights. I'll take care of it. Things like that are my orders. The 5,000 are my orders, because that's what it resulted in, encounters," Duterte said.
New Delhi:
It has been four months since Indian carmaker Mahindra launched the Mahindra Alturas G4 SUV in India. The two-wheel drive (2WD) version of the car is priced at Rs 26.95 lakh while the four-wheel drive (4WD) version is being sold at Rs 29.95 lakh (ex-showroom). The Alturas G4 marked the entry into Mahindras most expensive car segment. The Mahindra Alturas G4 will compete for the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and Isuzu MU-X which fall in the same price bracket. However, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra feels the car is under-rated and under-priced.
"There's now a waiting list for the Alturas. I drive one myself so I know it's a car that is hugely under-rated in fact and I think we are under-pricing it, which people recognise and that's one reason why they're buying it too," said Mahindra at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show as quoted by NDTV.
Speaking about its competitors, the business tycoon said, "If you asked me three years ago how confident are you, that you can actually make Mahindra a serious contender in the a 30 lakh plus price range SUV; I would have said, I am not 100% sure."
Mahindra Alturas G4 has a wheelbase of 2,865mm and will come with automatic LED headlamps, LED tail lamps, 5-spoke alloys, and electronic tailgate.
On space front, the new Mahindra Alturas G4 has more space than the previous launched SUVs of Mahindra. It has a massive space for seven people and 8-way electrically adjustable driver seat with memory function and ventilated Nappa leather front seats as well.
Mahindra Alturas G4 bumper gets a detailed front design and back with LED foglamps.
The Alturas G4 features an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and WiFi support.
Other features include, nine airbags on the front and side airbags for two rows. Mahindra Alturas G4 gets electronic stability program (ESP) with its top of the line features like Active Rollover Protection (ARP), Brake Assist System (BAS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Traction Control System, ABS + EBD and Emergency Stop Signal.
New Delhi:
Hyundai Motor India on Monday said it has signed a wage settlement agreement with the workers of its Chennai plant, under which the technicians will get an average salary increase of Rs 25,200 per month spread over three years. The three-year wage settlement will be implemented with retrospective effect from April 2018 and will remain effective until March 2021, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) said in a statement.
The wage settlement agreement was signed between the company's management and the recognised union, the UUHE (United Union of Hyundai Employees), it added.
"As per the agreement, technicians will receive an average salary increase of Rs 25,200 per month spread over three years," the company said.
Technicians will receive 55 per cent of the increased salary in the first year, 25 per cent in the second year and 20 per cent in the third year.
"This would mean a monthly salary raise of Rs 13,860 will be given in the first year, Rs 6,300 in the second year and Rs 5,040 a month in the third year," HMIL said.
The company, which sells models like Creta and i20 in the domestic market, is one of the leading passenger vehicle exporters from India. It exports to over 91 countries across Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific.
New Delhi:
Jet Airways will fly 40 more planes by the end of April and is in talks with leasing companies to restart operating several of its grounded aircraft, Pradeep Singh Kharola, secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Tuesday. "As per plan the given by Jet Airways, they're hopeful that by the end of next month, they would be able to fly about 40 more planes. If this happens, it comes to about 80% capacity," Kharola said.
Kharola also said Jet Airways have assured the ministry that no more jets will be grounded. "Today 35 planes are flying, they will approach the DGCA for the next one month to get the schedule approved for the 35 planes," he said.
Shares of Jet Airways continued to rise for the second day on Tuesday and closed 6.5 per cent higher on the bourses following the exit of Chairman Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal from its board.
The stock closed at Rs 271, up 6.48 per cent on the BSE. During the day, it zoomed 9.62 per cent to Rs 279. At the NSE, shares jumped 5.37 per cent to close at Rs 267.75.
On the traded volume front, 54.11 lakh shares were traded on the BSE and over 6 crore shares on the NSE during the day. Shares of Jet Airways had zoomed 15.5 per cent on Monday.
Naresh Goyal and his wife will resign from the board of the airline, according to a regulatory filing Monday. The decision was taken at the airline's board meeting held in Mumbai Monday.
In the filing to the stock exchanges, Jet Airways on Monday said Naresh Goyal, Anita Goyal and one nominee of Etihad Airways PJSC would step down from the board.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad is a strategic partner with 24 per cent stake in Jet Airways.
For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
The income tax department Tuesday evening auctioned the artworks owned by the absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi, who fled the country after duping state-run lender PNB of a whopping Rs 14,000 crore, for Rs 59.37 crore.
Of the gross proceeds, the department will get a net of Rs 54.84 crore, with the rest being the commission to the auction house Saffronart and the buyers' premium.
This is the first time that a government department has sold artworks adopting the auction-route involving a professional art-house. The department had put up a total of 68 works for auction to recover Rs 97 crore from the scamster.
An untitled work by the abstract artist VS Gaitonde fetched a winning bid of Rs 25.24 crore, including the buyer's premium, which however, is lower than the Rs 29.3 crore his work had fetched in 2015, making it the most expensive bid for an artwork from the country ever.
The great Raja Ravi Varma's 1881 work depicting the Maharaja of Travancore and his younger brother welcoming Richard Temple-Grenville, and Chandos, the third duke of Buckingham and the governor general of Madras, got sold for Rs 16.10 crore through a phone bid.
Potential investors and artlovers started trickling in into the central Mumbai gallery Tuesday evening, but it was the bids over the phones and the Net which were higher at the auctions that began early evening but extended through the course of late night.
None of the artworks, "lots" in auction-speak, saw intense bidding, though. As many as 13 works out of 68 had to be passed or returned unsold as the bids were lower than the reserved price.
Barring a few works which could not be sold, many of the artworks were sold at prices above the reserve price. Modi's collection of paintings by FN Souza which saw significant interest from the collectors, with "cityscape" and "golly-wog" notching up bids of over Rs 1 crore each.
Akbar Padamsee's "Grey Nude" completed in 1960 got a winning bid of Rs 1.72 crore as against an expected price of Rs 1.5-2 crore.
Throughout the bidding that lasted over 120 minutes, eight dedicated agents worked frantically on the phones getting the bids from investors and art lovers.
The online bids came in from diverse places like Seattle in the US, Toronto in Canada and Belgium in Northwestern Europe, which has emerged as the nerve-centre of the global diamond trade now.
Works by some Chinese artists also generated considerable interest among the bidders, with all of them fetching more-than-expected prices.
Every buyer will have to pay a 15 percent premium for works costing up to Rs 20 crore, while the same for the ones above Rs 20 crore is a td lower at 12 percent. The premium goes to the art gallery. A successful bidder has to pay 10 percent of the amount plus the buyers' premium within four days and pay up the remaining in a month's time.
The sale is being undertaken under relevant sections of the Income Tax Act of 1961. The department was looking to raise up to Rs 97 crore, which is the tax liabilities of Modi shell firm Camelot Enterprises.
The tax department reportedly discovered the paintings in a climate-controlled room at his house in the metropolis.
As many as 68 artworks went under the hammer this evening and included works by the greats like Raja Ravi Varma, VS Gaitonde, FN Souza, Jogen Chowdhury, and Akbar Padamsee among others to recover dues and the department was expecting to mop up over Rs 97 crore from the artworks which had a reserve price of Rs 50 crore.
The auctions took palce after a special PLMA court had on March 20 allowed the law enforcement agencies to sell 173 paintings and 11 luxury vehicles owned by Modi, who is currently in a London jail seeking bail, which will come up for hearing on March 29.
The auctions came in ever after Camelot Enterprises, a firm owned by Modi, sent a legal notice to against the auction, terming it unlawful late last week.
"The Saffronart online art catalogue lists 68 artwork due for auctions, overlooking the fact that only 19 of the artworks from the 68 belongs to the company," said the legal notice, sent through its law firm India Law Alliance Advocates to the department.
"Given this circumstances, the purported auction is unlawful and liable to be cancelled forthwith," the legal notice added.
The legal notice also claimed that the sole director of the company Hemant Dahyalal Bhatt is in judicial custody and all the papers and records of the company are with the statutory authorities.
The paintings belonging to Camelot and other arms of Modi-promoted firms and were seized by the tax department as part of their probe to recover tax Rs 95.91 crore.
The revenue department is also probing a Rs 4,000 crore missing amount from the books of the Modi group of companies. The remaining paintings and artworks will be auctioned by the ED.
The ED, CBI, and the department of revenue intelligence (DRI) are investigating Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and uncle Mehul Choksi-the prime accused in the Rs 14,000-croere Punjab National Bank fraud case.
For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
The ripple effects of the Jet Airways bailout were felt in far-away London. Absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who saw his Kingfisher Airlines going bankrupt, has accused the NDA government for having double standards. In a Twitter rant, Mallya accused both government and the banks in failing to save his airline. Happy to see that PSU Banks have bailed out Jet Airways saving jobs, connectivity and enterprise. Only wish the same was done for Kingfisher, Mallya said in one of his tweets.
BJP spokesman eloquently read out my letters to PM Manmohan Singh and alleged that PSU Banks under the UPA Government had wrongly supported Kingfisher Airlines. Media decimated me for writing to the current PM. I wonder what has changed now under the NDA Government, he added. Mallya slammed the Modi government and said that, I invested over 4000 crores into Kingfisher Airlines to save the Company and its employees. Not recognised and instead slammed in every possible way. The same PSU Banks let Indias finest airline with the best employees and connectivity fail ruthlessly. Double standards under NDA.
And I repeat once again that I have placed liquid assets before the Honble Karnataka High Court to pay off the PSU Banks and all other creditors. Why do the Banks not take my money. It will help them to save Jet Airways if nothing else, Mallya said as he renewed his payback offer.
Last month also, Mallya had tweeted to PM Modi saying that he is not absconding. He also said that Indian banks must take the money that he has offered for the full recovery. The Prime Ministers last speech in Parliament was brought to my attention. He certainly is a very eloquent speaker. I noticed that he referred to an unnamed person who ran away with 9000 crores. Given the media narrative I can only infer that reference is to me, Mallya tweeted.
Following on from my earlier tweet, I respectfully ask why the Prime Minister is not instructing his Banks to take the money I have put on the table so he can at least claim credit for full recovery of public funds lent to Kingfisher, he said in another tweet. Talking about his offer, Mallya said that, I have made the offer to settle before the HonBle High Court Court of Karnataka. This cannot be dismissed as frivolous. It is a perfectly tangible, sincere, honest and readily achievable offer. The shoe is on the other foot now. Why dont the Banks take the money lent to KFA ?he also slammed the misleading public opinion. Am appalled to say the least at the media reports on the Enforcement Directorate claims that I hid my wealth ! If there was hidden wealth how could I put approximately 14,000 crores worth of assets openly in front of Court ? Shameful misleading of public opinion but unsurprising, he added.
Troubles are mounting for the embattled business tycoon as latest reports suggest that India may soon acquire details of his Swiss bank accounts. The latest move means that India will be able to know the extent of money stashed by the liquor baron in the secret account. According to a Hindustan Times report, the development came after the top court of Switzerland agreed to share the information with Indian authorities. The accounts are held at Edmond de Rothschild (Switzerland) SA and Compagnie Bancaire Helvetique (CBH) in names of Mallya and his companies, Drayton Resources, Black Forest Holdings and Harrison Finance, the HT report quoted a CBI official as saying.
For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
CBSE CTET 2019 correction window is now open. The Central Board of Secondary Education or CBSE, the official organisation supervising the CTET July 2019 has opened the application correction window on its official website.
According to CBSE applicants can correct any entry or chance the particulars uploaded by the candidate from March 25, 2019 (Monday) to April 1, 2019 (Monday). The Board has also said that no corrections will be allowed under any circumstances after this date. Candidates, who have already registered for the CTET will be allowed to make corrections in applications at the official website, ctet.nic.in.
Online registration for 12th edition of Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) on official website was held till March 12, 2019 and the fees were accepted till March 15.
CTET July 2019 examination will be held on July 7, 2019 (Sunday).
CTET 2019 application correction: How to apply
Follow these steps to make the correction in your CTET 2019 July application:
Log on to CTET official website www.ctet.nic.in.
Click on the link "Correction in Application Form for CTET July 2019"
On next page login with your application number, password and security pin given there.On next page, make the necessary changes.
The candidates will be allowed to make changes in their following particulars i.e. name, father and mother name, date of birth, category, differently abled category, Paper opted (i.e. Paper I or CTET - JULY-2019 4 Paper II), Subject for Paper II, First choice of Centre, language I and/or II opted, Address of correspondence and the name of the Institution/College/University from where he/she has obtained his/her B.Ed Degree/Diploma in Elementary Education etc.
Save and submit the details
The admit cards are expected by June 2018. Fee once remitted shall not be refunded or adjusted for any future test under any circumstance.
For all the Latest Education News, Jobs News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
Less than a month ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, eteran Bollywood actress Jaya Prada joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to sources, the former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader may contest Lok Sabha elections from Rampur against Azam Khan who has been named by the SP its candidate from the constituency.
Jaya Prada, who started her political journey with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1994 on the invitation from its founder NT Rama Rao. However, she quit the party following differences with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and joined the Samajwadi Party. She contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections on SP's ticket from Rampur and won the constituency by a margin of over 85,000 votes.
The actress-turned-politician has a bitter rivalry with Azam Khan, whom she had accused of distributing her nude pictures. Despite the controversy, she contested the 2009 general elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket from Rampur and won again.
Jaya Prada with BJP MP Bhupender Yadav. (Photo: News Nation)
In 2010, the Samajwadi Party expelled her from the primary membership of the party over her alleged involvement in anti-party activities. The decision was taken after she openly supported the former General Secretary of the Samajwadi Party, Amar Singh.
Later, she floated her own party along with Amar Singh. Her party, the Rashtriya Lok Manch had even contested the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections but failed to win a single seat.
Interestingly, Amar Singh, whom she considers her "godfather", has been in close touch with the BJP over the years. Recently, he even added "chowkidar" to his name on Twitter in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Main Bhi Chowkidar" campaign.
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to direct the Election Commission to issue the common symbol of "Pressure Cooker to TTV Dhinakaran faction of AIADMK for its candidates to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly by-elections in Tamil Nadu. However, the Supreme Court asked the poll panel to give them a common symbol from among the free symbols available. The top court also said that if any candidate is elected, he or she will be treated as an Independent.
Earlier on March 15, a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi issued a notice to the Election Commission of India on the limited plea of Dhinakaran that they be allowed to use the common symbol of "Pressure Cooker". Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Dhinakaran faction said that EC is not giving them a common symbol. He said the apex court has directed to allot "pressure cooker' as a common symbol to the party. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami led faction said that, "I am the real AIADMK and he (Dhinakaran) has already floated a new party".
On February 28, the high court had dismissed the pleas of Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala challenging the Election Commission's order granting the 'AIADMK' name and the 'two leaves' symbol to the faction led by the Tamil Nadu chief minister, saying the figures showed the Palaniswami-led group "enjoyed a clear majority".
It had upheld the EC's decision of November 23, 2017, saying none of the grounds of challenge raised by the Dhinakaran-Sasikala faction were made out and there was "no infirmity" in the poll panel's order allotting the party name and symbol to the group led by Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam.
After the high court order was pronounced, Dhinakaran and Sasikala had urged the court to direct the EC not to allot the 'pressure cooker'symbol to anyone during the next 15 days so that they have time to move the apex court and seek an appropriate relief from there.
The EC, thereafter, had agreed not to allot the 'pressure cooker' symbol to anyone for next 15 days in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi:
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will blow the poll bugle in Rajasthan on Tuesday in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. He will address two poll campaign rallies in Sriganganagar district's Suratgarh and Bundi district headquarters, besides a meeting of his party workers. He will later meet his party workers at Ramlila Maidan in Jaipur, which would be attended by shortlisted booth-level activists from all 200 Assembly segments of the state.
"Preparations for the meetings have been completed for Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state," a party leader said.
Rajasthan, which has 25 Lok Sabha seats, will go to polls in two phases. Elections on 13 seats will be held on April 29 and on remaining 12 seats on May 6.
In an interview with news agency PTI earlier this month, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said is "complete unanimity" among all senior Congress leaders in Rajasthan on the names of the candidates to be fielded in almost all of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, asserting that his party will accomplish its "mission 25" in the state. The Rajasthan Congress chief also asserted that the Lok Sabha polls will be fought on "bread and butter" issues and not on emotional matters that the BJP wants to take the narrative to. The BJP-led government is trying to shift the narrative away from issues of economic non-performance and job creation, he told PTI in an interview.
Asked about the issue of infighting over ticket distribution which had reportedly been a concern in assembly polls, Pilot said there is a set process for ticket distribution in the Congress and at every level, all stakeholders are involved in the decision making, from the district to the national level.
New Delhi:
After Ganga Yatra from Allahabad to Varanasi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi is likely to launch her partys campaign for Lok Sabha elections 2019 in BJPs temple turf Ayodhya. According to reports, the Congress leader will start her Ayodhya visit with a special Pooja (prayer) at Hanuman Garhi temple. Her itinerary includes a round of corner meetings and road shows in Ayodhya and Faizabad.
Yes, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will reach Ayodhya on Wednesday morning. She may have darshan at the Hanuman Garhi temple and some other temples in Ayodhya. She will hold corner meetings and a road show during her day-long visit to the constituency, The Hindustan Times quoted Ayodhya City Congress Committee president RP Singh as saying.
The BJP has been using Ayodhya as its political turf since the 90s when LK Advani carried out a Rath Yatra to build Ram Temple. The demolition of Babri mosque by right-wing extremists made the temple town more politically sensitive. The visit of Priyanka Gandhi is also significant given the fact that the BJP is trying to suppress the Ram Temple issue with nationalism.
In its 2014 manifesto, the BJP had promised to build a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya but failed to do so and the issue is still being heard by the Supreme Court. Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself ruled out the option of an Ordinance to construct the Ram Temple.
Priyanka, who has been given the task to revive Congress party's fortune in Uttar Pradesh, has been on an offensive against PM Modi and the state government over a host of issues, including piling dues of sugarcane farmers and most recently the "Shiksha Mitra" (Para-teachers).
"The hard work of shiksha mitra in Uttar Pradesh has been insulted. Many affected have committed suicide. Those who protested on road, were lathicharged, NSA was imposed on them. BJP leaders are busy in T-shirt marketing. Wish they would focus on the needy as well," she said on Monday.
Earlier, the Congress leader had carried out a three-day long 'Ganga Yatra' from Allahabad. The visit, which was started with prayers at Bade Hanuman Ji Temple near Sangam, concluded on Wednesday after she reached Varanasi parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
New Delhi:
After Gorakhpur bypoll, Nishad Party has once again come together with the Samajwadi Party. The party announced its alliance with 'Mahagathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections next month. Nishad Party and Janvadi Party (Socialist) are now a part of Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said at the press conference in Lucknow on Tuesday. After the alliance, Nishad party chief Dr Sanjay Nishad said, we registered the victory in Gorakhpur bypolls. And looking at the present situation in the state, we have decided to come together for the General Elections.
Sanjay Singh Chauhan of the Janwadi Party (Socialist) said that the alliance has been formed to fight against BJP governments anti-people policies. Taking a jibe at the BJP, Akhilesh Yadav said that those who dream of winning 74+ seats in Uttar Pradesh will now wonder how to open an account. He also said that entire state machinery and even Governor have become a way of promoting the BJP in poll season.
Janwadi Party Socialist party has a strong hold among the Chauhan community, an extreme backward caste of the OBC category, which has a considerable presence across Eastern UP. I congratulate Dr Chauhan for his move and assure that the Samajwadis will always treat Chauhans as younger brothers, Akhilesh Yadav had once said during a rally in December last year.
The politically-sensitive state which sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha will go to polls in seven phases starting April 11, the Election Commission announced on Sunday. Voting in Uttar Pradesh will be held on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
When it comes to vote-sharing, the News Nation opinion poll predicts that the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) could again do better than the BJP-AD alliance. While the parties of Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Jayant Sinha may win 39 per cent of the votes, Amit Shah-Anupriya Patel alliance may end up with 36 per cent of the total votes. Whereas the Congress may bag only 13 per cent.
New Delhi:
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will kick off her next leg of her three-day campaigning in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
She will reach Lucknow by air on Wednesday morning from where she she will travel by road to visit her brother and party President Rahul Gandhi's constituency Amethi, according to party leaders.
In Amethi, she will interact with the party's booth-level presidents -- who number 1,965 -- at the AH Inter College in Musafirkhana.
After this meeting, she will leave for Sonia Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency Raebareli. From there, she will reach Ayodhya on Friday before returning to New Delhi. Her earlier plan had her beginning her visit from Ayodhya on Wednesday.
The party has planned a 50-km road show in Faizabad-Ayodhya on Friday, during which she is expected to address two meetings, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Rajendra Pratap Singh told PTI.
She will stop at over 30 other points during the road show, interacting with people, according to the schedule worked out so far.
The party is yet to announce if Priyanka Gandhi will visit any temple in Ayodhya, the town where the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site is located.
Former Faizabad MP Nirmal Khatri said the local unit of the party will try to get her to visit a temple in the town.
From March 18 to 20, she undertook a 140-km-long boat ride from Prayagraj to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi, interacting with people along the way and visiting prominent places of worship.
The Congress won only two seats out of UP's 80 in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and now faces both the BJP and the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance.
New Delhi:
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan was among the top economists consulted to draft the partys proposed minimum guaranteed income scheme -- 'Nyunatam Aay Yojana' (Nyay).
On Monday, Gandhi had announced in New Delhi that Rs 72,000 per year will be given as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, if his party is voted to power in Lok Sabha polls, and asserted it will be the final assault on poverty.
Gandhi had said 20 per cent or five crore families belonging to the poorest category with monthly income less than Rs 12,000 would come under the scheme.
On Tuesday, addressing a meeting of his party workers in Jaipur, Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to transfer Rs 15 lakh to every bank account.
"We thought it was a good idea...Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts. But the promise was not fulfilled by Modi. We started our work six months back to make such a thing reality," he said.
He went on to say that his party consulted "all big economists, without telling anyone, without giving any speeches".
"We were engaged in this work for six months. Take the list of all big economists of the world, we consulted them...Raghuram Rajan...One by one," he said.
"First thing, we we came to know was that there should be a minimum income line. We calculated and the result was that the minimum income line should be 12,000 per month," he said.
Gandhi said his party will fulfil the promise.
According to Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, the party has already worked out the finances for the 'Nyunatam Aay Yojana' (Nyay) that will entail a total expenditure of Rs 3.6 lakh crore.
New Delhi:
After opposition parties including the Congress, the CPI(M) and the CPI, approaching the Election Commission (EC) seeking the postponement of the release of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now a seperate plea has been filed by an activist, questioning the timing of the films' release, reported Times Now.
The Congress delegation comprised of Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, R P N Singh, and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (NMS) had also threatened to stall the film's release in Maharashtra.
The opposition parties contended that the film violated the code of conduct and demanded that the film's release should be deferred till the last phase of votiing, i.e. May 19.
Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said the concerned parties have been given time till March 30 to reply and they will examine it and take action accordingly.
The film, PM Narendra Modi, is scheduled to be released across the country in early April, close to the first phase voting beginning April 11. The film features actor Vivek Oberoi as the Prime Minister and chronicles his life. The film also features Boman Irani, Manoj Joshi, Zarina Wahab and Prashant Narayanan.
The movie has stirred controversies even before when the credits row included the name of Javed Akhtar and Sameer Anjaan, even without them being part of the movie. Producer Ssandip Singh, in an official statement, later clarified the poster mentioned their names because they had taken two of their old songs - Ishwar Allah from the film 1947: Earth and the song Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walon from the film Dus.
For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Mumbai:
British-Indian actor Dev Patel has revealed he is tired of being criticised for "stealing" roles from "real" Indian actors.
The 28-year-old actor, who was born in London to parents from Gujarat, India, said he is trying to understand himself better by connecting to his heritage.
"I get flak sometimes because people will say, 'Why aren't they giving these roles to a real Indian?' I wonder, What does that even mean? The only way I can converse with my grandparents is in Gujarati. Does that make me real enough? Or am I only allowed to witness the moments of prejudice and racism going through airports? Is that the only bit that I'm allowed of the culture?
"The truth is I'm trying to understand myself better and my heritage, to figure things out, in the movie choices I make.
That's been the greatest thing for me in going to India repeatedly," Patel told San Francisco Chronicle.
The "Lion" star previously confessed he "reconnected" with his Indian roots when he starred in the Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire". In 2016, he later said that he could never really fit in as the locals "could smell the foreigner on me".
For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
Ranbir Kapoors flexibility with his onscreen roles is making him appear in the speed dial of filmmakers and his newest buzz as a double role in Shamshera is one among them. According to latest buzzs, the Sanju star who is ready to make big again in Brahmastra alongside Alia Bhatt is also armored up for his double role ever. Mid Day report claims that the actor who will be seen playing a dacoit in the film may be seen in a double role for the first time.
According to the report, the actor will play both a father and his son in the film. A source told the media daily, The film revolves around a dacoit tribe that is fighting for its rights and independence from the British Raj. Apart from playing the protagonist, Ranbir might also be seen as the central characters father. He has been shooting for both roles simultaneously. This is the first time in his 12-year-long career so far that Ranbir will play a double role.
The film which also marks Ranbir's return to Yash Raj Films after a period of nine years is also expected to clash with girlfriend Alia Bhatts Telugu debut RRR.
Sanjay Dutt who has proven to take on roles of dark roles in Agneepath has also been reported to play the antagonist. Karan, who has earlier directed Sanjay in the 2012 hit Agneepath, told a daily earlier, "Shamshera is a ferocious and fearless character in the film. Therefore his nemesis, the villain had to be even more fierce and monumental in every aspect. Who better than Sanjay sir to give us that impact on screen?"
Shamshera, produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films is expected to hit the screens in 2020.
For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
The Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, one of the biggest talked-about and successful biopics will finally have its China release more than five months after the biopic hit the big screens last year. Audiences in China will however, see a drastically different than the version playing in North America because it is reported that all the scenes with references to Freddie Mercury's sexuality or explicit physical contact between men have been removed.
For long, there has been speculation as to whether Bohemian Rhapsody would premiere in China at all with homosexuality despite been legal for more than two decades is still a very much debated issue, particularly in China. This speculation about the Freddie Mercury biopic release in China has been left unsure for quite a time with Chinese censors banning abnormal sexual behaviour, including same-sex relationships, shown in films and TV in 2016.
According to CNN, the censorship reportedly includes cutting any mention of the word "gay" from the film, as well as excising a scene in which the actors recreate the filming of the I Want to Break Free music video, which famously features Mercury and the other members of Queen in drag, satirizing bored housewives. It also cuts the major interactions between Mercury and his long-term partner Jim Hutton (Aaron McCusker).
Even Malek's best actor Oscar acceptance speech could not escape censorship in China, as the words "gay man" were cut from the broadcast.
Bohemian Rhapsody, which released in the US in November, was a critical and commercial success. It earned four Academy Awards, including Best Actor, and was nominated for Best Picture.
For all the Latest Entertainment News, Music News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday arrested alleged middleman Sushen Mohan Gupta in the AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper scam case. Sushen will be produced in Delhi's Patiala House Court today. Gupta, officials said, has allegedly dealt in defence deals, including the AgustaWestland helicopters deal. The ED officials said Gupta's role in the case came to light on the basis of disclosures made by Rajiv Saxena. It is suspected that Gupta has in his possession some payment details in the purchase of VVIP choppers and the link is to be unravelled, they said.
On Monday, Delhi court allowed Rajeev Saxena, an alleged middleman, to turn approver. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier told the court that it has no objection with Saxena being allowed to turn approver as it would be very useful for the agency.
Saxena, who had sought to become an approver in the case, recorded his statement on March 6 during in-chamber proceedings after which the court sent the copies of his statement to the special judge hearing the case. He was earlier granted bail by the court on medical grounds after the perusal of reports submitted by AIIMS.
Saxena, director at two Dubai-based firms - UHY Saxena and Matrix Holdings - is one of the accused named in the charge sheet filed by ED in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland scam. Christian Michel, Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa are among other accused who are being questioned in connection with the bribery scandal in the AgustaWestland deal.
Earlier, Christian Michel was granted 15-minute time in a week to speak to his family and lawyers by a special CBI Court. Last week, India granted consular access to Michel, a British national who was brought here from the UAE last month in connection with the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal.
The British High Commission had sought consular access to Michel after he was arrested in the first week of December. Michel, 57, was brought to India following his extradition by the United Arab Emirates in connection with the chopper deal case. At present, he is lodged in the Tihar jail in New Delhi. Michel has denied the charges.
The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. The CBI, in its charge sheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros.
For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
A Singapore Airlines flight with 263 passengers onboard landed at Changi Airport at 7.54 am after a bomb threat on board flight SQ423 from Mumbai on Tuesday, the airline confirmed. The threat later turned out to be a hoax. The plane, a Boeing 777-300ER, had departed Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 11.36 pm local time on Monday, according to website FlightAware. It arrived in Singapore 31 minutes behind schedule, the site added.
A Singapore Airlines statement said, "Singapore Airlines confirms there was a bomb threat concerning SQ423 operating from Mumbai to Singapore. The aircraft arrived in Singapore on 26 March 2019 at about 0800hrs (local time). There were 263 passengers on board. We are assisting the authorities with their investigations and regret that we are unable to provide further details."
All the passengers were safely deboarded and a security check was conducted on them. However, authorities at the airport have detained a woman and a child for questioning, reported news agency ANI.
Changi Airport Group said there was no impact to airport operations.
For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and NC vice president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday welcomed the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans decision to open the Sharda Peeth corridor to religious pilgrims. Earlier, the Pakistan government gave its approval for the opening of Sharda Peeth Corridor Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Sharda Peeth is an abandoned temple in Sharda village along the Neelam river across LoC. It was a major centre of learning and is regarded as one of the 18 highly-revered temples in South Asia.
Taking to micro-blogging website Twitter, Omar in a series of tweets wrote, Its good to see @ImranKhanPTI take decisions that have been held up for years. Allowing greater people to people contact & opening routes to religious pilgrims are always welcome developments that help to ease tensions (sic).
One can only hope that in a post May 23rd India these steps will be reciprocated by the central government & we can move towards resuming the comprehensive dialogue between India & Pakistan.
Omar in another tweet wrote, After the welcome announcement to open the Sharda Peeth corridor to religious pilgrims by @ImranKhanPTI we hope the government in Pakistan will only announce the Kargil-Skardu road as also other routes to facilitate greater people to people contact.
India and Pakistan recently laid the foundation stones of the Kartapur corridor on their respective sides. The construction of the corridor is expected to be complete in five months, facilitating the visit of Indian Sikh pilgrims to the 16th-century gurdwara in Kartarpur in Pakistan.
Recently, more than 200 Kashmiri Pandits took out a protest march in Anantnag demanding that a passage on the lines of the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikhs be opened to facilitate devotees to visit the Sharda Devi temple.
For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was held captive for around 60 hours in Pakistan after being captured during a dogfight on February 27, chose to go back to his squadron in Srinagar during his four-week sick leave, instead of spending time with his family in Chennai.
After his two-week-long debriefing and medical treatment, the brave IAF pilot was advised to go on sick leave for at least three weeks before resuming duty.
During his sick leave, the officer had the option of going to his family home in Chennai where his parents live but he decided to go back to Srinagar where his squadron is deployed for operations, ANI quoted IAF sources as saying.
At the moment, the officer has decided to stay with his men and machines in Srinagar and would be required to come back from New Delhi for a review medical board which will decide on his fitness for flying fighter planes, they added.
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.
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.
A video circulated on social media that he was badly beaten up by a group of people after being rescued by Pakistani security personnel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the return of Varthaman, saying the nation is proud of his exemplary courage.
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 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.
For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
Rap god, Eminemas daughter Hailie Scott Mathers' is no more the teeny-weeny, pony-tailed chid as we remember her back in the 2000s. She is now a 23-year-old beauty ready to take on the world of her own. Hailey, who is also a social media influencer recently posted pictures of her much-needed-vacay in bikini-clad pictures flaunting her rock hard, six-pack abs exuding fitness goals.
Hailie, who has over 1.4 million followers on Instagram had previously announced that she was 'heading somewhere exotic' and a 'little rest and relaxation'. Posting pictures of her bikini snaps as Hailie captioned the pics with "Aloha", Hailey is making the best of her amuch-needed vacaya possibly in Hawaii.
Her Instagram caption read, 'taking some much-needed vacay time & just in time to share some of my outfit details since iave just started using the liketoknow.it app!'A
The beauty can be seen sharing bikini pictures of her vacay in two different bardot bikini tops, one in yellow and the other in a kneaded blue.
Check out Hailieas vacation picture here.
Hailey, who graduated from Michigan State University last year with a degree in psychology had planned to forge a path on social media, influencing the use of beauty products.
New Delhi:
Playschool teachersA are blessed with the opportune of witnessing a kidas dream pan out right before their eyes. It is only is some rare, precious moments that teachers get to see the aI want to be a doctor, aactora, apilota, aastronauta evolve into a reality. Sudha Satyan is one of those few fortunate who got to see her once studentas dream evolve right before her very eyes.
Satyan, on her Air Indiaas long-haul flight from Delhi to Chicago on Sunday had a memory-juggle when she heard an announcement of the captainas name familiar to her some 30 years down memory lane. As a young playschool teacher, she had come across a bright 3-year-old who had introduced himself as aCaptaina Rohan Bhasin, and true to his acaptainhooda Rohan is now actually a flight captain.
Giving into the benefit of her doubts, she requested the airhostess to meet the pilot and lo-behold stood her former student right before her eyes as a now grown-up aCaptaina bring pools of happy tears before his teacheras eyes.
#WarmsTheCocklesOfMyHeart....
During Playschool admission, the teacher asked my son his name.
Nonchalantly he answered, "Capt Rohan Bhasin".
And he was just 3.
And today, the same teacher was enroute to Chicago.
And he was indeed the Captain. YYaai#StudentTeacherReunionai pic.twitter.com/nGAqZSKUnF a Nivedita Bhasin (@nivedita_bhasin) March 24, 2019
Rohanas mother took toA Twitter to share this very previous reunion of a teacher and a student. She shared two photos of the pilot and his teacher, one from 1990-91 and another from Sunday.A Since her tweet, the reunion of the teacher and her student have brought hap-tears all around the Twittersphere. A
Check out some of the tweets here:
Beautiful YYY. Dreams do come true! a Ashaba Faridah (@AshabaFaridah) March 24, 2019
Thats very lovely, best moment for a teacher to see her student reached his goal...truely amazing a Jitendra Bhavsar (@jitu_bhavsar) March 26, 2019
Words cannot describe this moment. Never would someone might have seen such a dream becoming reality. Blessed are the people who are a part of this wonderful event. a Vivek (@vsormasd) March 26, 2019
Just imagine that moment when she hears aCapt Rohan Bhasina Your son must have been thrilled. Indeed #WarmsTheCocklesOfMyHeart . a Louvina Andrade (@LouvinaA) March 25, 2019
For all the Latest Offbeat News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
An artist from Bengaluru found an innovate way to paid tribute to the Wing Commander Abhinandan for his heroic feat. He has created a black and white portrait using a typewriter.A
The artists named AC Gurumurthy said ANI, "He is the real hero, he brought real laurels for our country, this is what inspired me."
The artwork was done on March 01, when Abhinandan has returned to India from being held captive in Pakistan via Wagah-Attari border.
The photos went viral and the social media was all praises for the initiative.
Bengaluru: Artist creates a portrait of Wing Commander Abhinandan using a manual typewriter. AC Gurumurthy, artist says, "He is the real hero, he brought real laurels for our country, this is what inspired me." #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/PFQC2E2gMu a ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2019
A
Artist Gurumurthy typed out numbers, alphabets, symbols and special characters that are available on a regular typewriter in a fashion that the IAF pilot's picture is visible.
The portrait is complete with Abhinandanas gunslinger moustache which recently caught the fancy of thousands of people.A
Ever since Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured by Pakistani Army on February 27 and released on March 1, his courage and confidence have been celebrated with many gestures across the country.
Thousands of Indians celebrated the brave pilotas return by bursting crackers, writing poems, distributing sweets, and even naming newborns after his first name.
Last week, a chef carved the IAF pilotas face on a watermelon at the 14th Culinary Art of India event in Delhi.A
In the thoughtful gesture, Singh, who has served PM #NarendraModi and former PM #ManmohanSingh, carved out #Abhinandan's distinct and "iconic" moustache, on the watermelon, along with "#JaiHind" in Devanagari script and a couple of army men.
Video: IANS pic.twitter.com/REIRduk17v a IANS Tweets (@ians_india) March 12, 2019
A
Gurumurthy a former employee with Bank of Baroda is one of the first type artists in India. It took him two hours to complete the portrait using the typewriter. He has earlier made portraits of APJ Abdul Kalam, Barack Obama and other eminent personalities.
For all the Latest Offbeat News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
Apple has announced three new subscription services, including a TV service, gaming bundle, and all-you-can-read magazine subscription. This was announced on Monday at Apples campus in Cupertino, California. This is considered as a new strategic move for the iPhone maker. Apple is aimed to emphasize digital content and services to make up for a slump in smartphone sales. Director Steven Spielberg, TV host Oprah Winfrey and Hollywood stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell made appearances at the event, which puts Apple in competition with Netflix, Google, Amazon and others in various segments.
The Apple TV+ servicean on-demand, ad-free subscription service launching this year in 100 countrieswill compete with services such as Netflix and Hulu with Apple investing heavily in its own content, while upgrading its TV application for third-party services.
We believe deeply in the power of creativity, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said at the event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, without revealing key details.
Great stories can change the world. We feel we can contribute something important to our culture and to our society through great storytelling.
Meanwhile, a new Apple News+ service at a cost of $9.99 per month will include the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal, digital news sites and more than 300 magazine titles including Rolling Stone, Time, Wired and The New Yorker.
We think Apple News+ will be great for customers and great for publishers, Cook said.
Apple also launched its own credit card called Apple Card that will be available to customers this summer. Apple users will be able to sign up on their iPhone in the Apple Wallet app and get a digital card that they can use anywhere Apple Pay is accepted within minutes. The card is partnered with Goldman Sachs to bring out a new suite of functionality.
Apple Card also offers a clearer and more compelling rewards program than other credit cards with Daily Cash, which gives back a percentage of every purchase as cash on customers Apple Cash card each day.
New Delhi:
Afghanistan has recalled its ambassador from Pakistan over alleged remarks by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan that suggested Kabul should set up an interim government, calling the comments irresponsible, according to news agency Reuters. On Monday, Khan suggested an interim setup in Afghanistan as a possible solution to an apparent impasse in the ongoing peace process, while blaming the Afghan government for the stalemate in talks.
The suggestion came during PM Khans interaction with journalists at his office. The Afghan government was a hurdle in peace process that was insisting that Taliban should talk to it, said PM Khan.
The premier also confirmed that he had cancelled a scheduled meeting with Taliban leadership due to objections raised by the Afghan government.
Afghanistan also summoned Pakistans deputy ambassador to discuss the irresponsible remarks by Khan, said foreign affairs ministry spokesman Sibghatullah Ahmadi in a series of tweets on Tuesday.
The Afghan government deemed Khans statements as an obvious example of Pakistans interventional policy and disrespect to the national sovereignty and determination of the people of Afghanistan, Ahmadi said.
For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
The stand-off between India and Pakistan is unlikely to get over till the end of the Lok Sabha elections, said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that he feared "another misadventure" by Pakistan's eastern neighbour. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pulwama.
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 Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India later.
Khan said shadows of war were still hovering over Pakistan and India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration could go for "another misadventure" before the general elections.
"The danger is not over. The situation will remain tense till forthcoming general elections in India. We are already prepared to avert any aggression from India," Dawn quoted Khan as saying.
Recently, Khan welcomed his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's greetings on the eve of its National Day, saying time has come to begin a "comprehensive dialogue" between the two countries to address and resolve all issues, including the "central issue" of Kashmir.
According to official sources in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi sent a letter to Khan, greeting people of Pakistan on the eve of its National Day and highlighting the importance of a terror-free South Asia.
Modi, in his message, said it was time for the people of the sub-continent to work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive and prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence, they said.
Khan, in a tweet, welcomed Modi's message and said the time has come to begin a comprehensive dialogue between the two countries to address and resolve all issues, including Kashmir.
Khan also claimed that he cancelled his scheduled meeting with the Taliban in Islamabad due to "concerns" expressed by the Afghan government.
The Taliban last month said that its representatives would visit Islamabad to meet Prime Minister Khan on February 18.
Media reports later suggested that the Taliban called off the meeting as most of the members of their negotiating team could not travel to Pakistan due to sanctions imposed on them by the US and the United Nations.
For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday ordered Pakistani government to ensure the protection and take over the custody of the two underage Hindu girls, who were allegedly forcefully converted to Islam and married to Muslim men on the eve of Holi, according to local media reports. The court was hearing a petition filed by the girls and their spouses Safdar Ali and Barkat Ali seeking protection from adverse action. As per the petition, the girls converted because they were impressed by Islamic teachings and didnt inform their parents out of fear.
Hearing the petition, the judge said, "This is an extremely sensitive issue, Pakistan's respect is joined to it. Ensuring the rights of minorities is our responsibility."
A government representative told the court that the inquiry will be completed within a week. On this, the court ordered deputy commissioner (DC) of Islamabad to take over the custody of the girls and ensure their safety.
"Until the final report is submitted, they will remain your guests. Even if the girls are placed in a shelter home, the federal government must ensure their protection. A district and sessions judge will be appointed a guardian in this case," the judge said.
Earlier in the day, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday asked Pakistan to safely return the minor Hindu girls to their family, citing that the girls are minor, therefore, cant decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage.
"The age of the girls is not disputed. Raveena is only 13 and Reena is 15 years old. Even the Prime Minister on Naya Pakistan will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage. Justice demands that both these girls should be restored to their family immediately," she said.
For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
The Pentagon has notified the us congress that it has authorised the transfer of $1 billion for Donald trump's border wall along Mexico. The funds have been diverted from the US army corpus to build the 58 miles fence, the Daily Beast report said. I have decided to undertake yuma sector projects 1 and 2 and El Paso sector project 1 by constructing 57 miles of 18-foot-high pedestrian fencing, constructing and improving roads, and installing lighting as described in your February 25, 2019 request, acting defense secretary Patrick Shanahan said in a letter to homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
It is the same wall for which Trump had forced the federal government shutdown in January this year. On January 26, in a surprise move, trump had agreed to open the federal government without any fund for building the border wall. Trumps sudden remark ended the longest shutdown in the us history. I will sign a bill to open our government for three weeks until February 15th. I will make sure that all employees receive their back pay very quickly, trump had said in a brief address outside the oval office. The white house took to Twitter to inform about the decision. president trump supports reopening the government now that many democrats have finally agreed to negotiate on border security and barrier funding. While we hope that congress finds a solution in the next 3 weeks, the president will continue to keep all options on the table, the white house said in a series of tweets.
The announcement came on the 36th day of the us shutdown. The state of the union address, which is scheduled for January 29 will see lots of fireworks. With house of representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi not relenting, the democrats and the republicans are appeared to be headed for a collision on SOTU. Throughout the shutdown, the democrats have repeatedly voted to reopen government so that federal workers can pay their bills.
Functioning of several key wings of the US government, including security and state departments, has been paralysed for nearly four weeks now because of the ongoing partial government shutdown.
President Trump had insisted that building a wall is the only solution to protect the nation from a large flow of illegal immigrants and drug smuggling.
For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
President Donald Trump on Monday said that Robert Mueller acted honourably in the into alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election campaign. Mueller headed the probe for two years. "Yes he did," Trump said after Mueller -- whom he often bitterly criticized during the investigation -- said there was no evidence of collusion by Trump or his campaign. Earlier, US Attorney General William Barr had said Special Counsel Robert Mueller did not find proof that Donald Trump and his campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government. On Friday, Mueller handed over his report to Attorney General William Barr, who has said he will write his own account of the special counsel's findings. The investigation had cast a shadow over the Trump presidency for nearly two years with the Democratic leadership alleging that Russian interference helped him in the 2016 polls.
The special counsels investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 US presidential election, the attorney general said.
Mueller, in his report, did not draw a conclusion - one way or the other - as to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction, Barr told the lawmakers.
For each of the relevant actions investigated, the report sets out evidence on both sides of the question and leaves unresolved what the special counsel views as difficult issues of law and fact concerning whether the presidents actions and intent could be viewed as obstruction, Barr said, adding Mueller ultimately determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment.
In the letter, he also said the Department of Justice has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish that Trump committed obstruction of justice.
After reviewing the special counsels final report on these issues; consulting with department officials, including the Office of Legal Counsel; and applying the principles of federal prosecution that guide our charging decisions, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and I have concluded that the evidence developed during the special counsels investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense, the letter read.
The special counsels investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 US presidential election, it said, adding, the report identifies no actions that, in our judgement, constitute obstructive conduct.
The Democrats were banking heavily on the results of the Mueller investigation to defeat Trump in the 2020 elections. Many were also talking about impeaching the president if the report reveals collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.
For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A cruise liner that ran into trouble in rough seas off Norway was being towed to port yesterday after hundreds of passengers were helicoptered to safety. The Viking Sky lost power and started drifting mid-afternoon Saturday in perilous waters two kilometres (1.2 miles) off More og Romsdal, prompting the captain to send out a distress call. The authorities launched an airlift in very difficult conditions rather than run the risk of leaving people on board.
We would rather have the passengers on land rather than on board the ship, police chief Tor Andre Franck said. By yesterday, the crew had managed to restart three of its four engines and two tugs arrived. Authorities said 460 of the 1,373 people on board had been taken off by five helicopters before the airlift was halted to allow the towing to start. Police said 17 people had been taken to hospital, one in their 90s and two 70-year-olds suffered serious fractures.
The evacuation has been put on pause for now, a spokesman for southern Norways rescue centre said. The captain will weigh up the situation before deciding if the airlift resumes, he added. The vessel was heading for the port of Molde, with 60 kilometres (45 miles) still to go, and about 500 kilometres northwest of Oslo, officials said. Dramatic footage of the passengers ordeal showed furniture and plants sliding round the lurching vessel as parts of the ceiling came down. Dozens of passengers wearing life jackets were seated around waiting to get off the vessel.
I have never seen anything so frightening, said Janet Jacob, who was rescued. I started to pray. I prayed for the safety of everyone on board, she told the NRK television channel. The helicopter trip was terrifying. The winds were like a tornado, she added. We were sitting down for breakfast when things started to shake... It was just chaos, said another passenger, American John Curry, as quoted in Norwegian by media.
Passenger Rodney Horgan said he had been reminded of the Titanic. The best word, I guess, is surreal, he said. Sea water 6-7 feet (about two metres) high just came rushing in, hit the tables, chairs, broken glass and 20-30 people just ... went right in front of me. I was standing, my wife was sitting in front of me and all of a sudden, she was gone. And I thought this was the end, Horgan said. But it all ended well for Ryan Flynn. Heres my 83-year-old dad being airlifted from the #vikingsky, he said.
The body of an Indian student killed in the Christchurch mosque attacks was returned Monday to her grieving family in Kochi, where relatives remembered a bright young woman dedicated to her studies. Masters student Ansi Alibava, 25, was among at least five Indians shot dead by a white supremacist in New Zealand on March 15 and her body was the first of two to be repatriated. Her body arrived at an airport in Kochi in the southern Indian state of Kerala early on Monday where it was received by relatives and government officials.
It was then taken to her nearby hometown of Kodungallur and put on display -- her mother Razia and brother Asif Ali weeping over the coffin -- before a funeral. She hails from a poor family and her whole family counted on her. She was a girl who took up the challenge to succeed in life in all adverse circumstances, said K. I. Noushad, Alibavas uncle. She was praying at the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch with her husband, Abdul Nazer, when the Australian gunman opened fire on worshippers, killing 43. Another seven were murdered at a separate mosque when the shooter later turned his weapon on Muslims there in the worst violence of its kind ever seen in New Zealand.
Some families have opted for burials in Christchurch itself, where a national remembrance service for the victims will be held on Friday, two weeks after the tragedy that shocked the world. Alibava started supporting her family after her father died five years ago in Saudi Arabia where he had been working. She took out thousands of dollars in loans to fund her studies in business agriculture at Christchurchs Lincoln University.
Alibavas cousin, P.H. Niyas, told AFP the dedicated student was soon to finish her studies. She had gone there last year, the course was due to finish by April. There was to be a six-month training (course) after which she was to return home by December, said Niyas.
Supermarket job
Alibava also worked part-time at a supermarket with Nazer, who she married two years ago. On March 15, they went to the Al Noor Mosque and sat separately in the men and womens sections. When gunfire broke out, Nazer managed to flee through an emergency exit but his wife did not make it. When he returned to look for her, Nazer found his young wife motionless and face down, according to Indian media reports.
He was officially informed of her death 24 hours after the massacre. Another Indian family who lost relatives in the attack opted for burial in Christchurch. Father and son Asif Vora and Rameez Vora hailed from Gujarat, in western India, and were visiting family in New Zealand when they were killed.
The body of another victim also from Gujarat, Maheboob Khokhar, was expected to arrive late Monday at Ahmedabad airport. The body was due to be taken to a mosque for prayers and then to a burial ground.
I convey my heartiest greetings and congratulations to my countrymen as well as all expatriate Bangalees on the occasion of the great Independence and National Day of Bangladesh. The 26th March is the day of earning self-identity of our nation. Its the day of breaking the shackles of subjugation. On the eve of the Independence Day, I recall with deep gratitude the greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose undisputed leadership we earned our coveted independence.
I pay my deep homage to the 3 million martyrs. I also pay my tributes to four national leaders who steered the War of Liberation in the absence of Bangabandhu. My homage goes to the valiant freedom fighters, including the wounded ones. I extend my sympathies to those who had lost their near and dear ones, and were subjected to brutal torture during the war. I recall with gratitude our foreign friends who had extended their whole-hearted support and cooperation for the cause of our liberation. The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of the 26th March 1971.
Bangabandhus proclamation was spread all over the country through telegrams, tele-printers and EPR wireless. The international media also had circulated Bangabandhus proclamation of independence. Under the brave and dauntless leadership of Bangabandhu, we earned the ultimate victory on the 16th December 1971 after a 9-month bloody war. The independence earned through supreme sacrifices of millions of people is the greatest achievement of Bangalee nation. To ensure that this achievement remains meaningful, all have to know the history of our great liberation war and retain the spirit of independence. The spirit of the liberation war has to be passed on to generation to generations.
Being imbued with the spirit of the freedom struggle, the Awami League government has relentlessly been working to develop the country. We have been accomplishing the unfinished work of the Father of the Nation. We have achieved expected developments in every sector during last 10 years. Bangladesh has become the Role Model of socio-economic development in the world. Our government is maintaining zero tolerance policy to tackle militancy, terrorism and drug-menace. For the first time in the world, we have formulated a hundred year plan named Delta Plan 2100. Bangladesh is one of the five top countries in the world in economic development.
Ninety percent of development work is financed by our own resources. We have executed the verdict of the trial of the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman establishing the rule of law. The verdicts of the trials of the war criminals are also being executed. The trials of war criminals will be continued as per our pledges to the nation. Due to the continuation of the Awami League government, grassroot people are now getting the dividend of the development. Bangladesh is moving forward and it will continue. The next generation will get a prosperous Bangladesh. The people made Bangladesh Awami League victorious in the recent 11th parliamentary elections.
We will fully honour the huge mandate that the people of our country have given us. We will turn Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021 and a developed-prosperous one by 2041, InshaAllah. Let us come and uphold the development and democratic spree being imbued with the spirit of the freedom struggle. Let us engage ourselves for the welfare of the country and nation. Let us build a hunger-poverty-free and happy-prosperous Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation. On the historic day, let this be our commitment. Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu May Bangladesh Live Forever.
The General Assembly of Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company (BKIC) yesterday approved a cash dividend distribution of 15 per cent (BD 2,143,847) from the paid-up capital. Shareholders approved the boards recommendation during an Annual General Meeting for the financial year 2018 held at the companys head office in Seef District.
The recommendation to distribute a cash dividend of 15 per cent of the paid-up capital, excludes treasury shares, the board said noting that the company doubled its paid-up capital in 2018 through the distribution of 100pc bonus shares to increase its paid-up capital to BD 14.3 million. The board further noted that the companys end of the year net profit attributable to the shareholders increased by 22pc, from BD2.6m in 2017 to BD3.2m in 2018.
The Return on Equity (ROE) recorded was 8.8pc compared to 7.5pc in 2017. Earnings per share (EPS) at the end of the year 2018 stood at 22 fils (Paid up capital BD 14.3m) compared with 36 fils (Paid up Capital BD 7.2m) in 2017.
Stake in Takaful
Chairman Murad Ali Murad told shareholders that the company had an impressive performance and continues to maintain its leading position in the insurance market in Bahrain, despite economic challenges faced by the country, especially in the insurance industry last year. The company, the Chairman said, had increased its stake in Takaful International through subscription to the rights issue and by acquiring an additional stake to reach 81.94pc.
Since the markets in which we operate are small and limited in scope for organic growth, we believe that strategic investments like merger or acquisition will help us to maximise investment income and cost saving, Murad Ali Murad said. On credit rating, Murad stated that the international rating agency A.M. Best has affirmed the credit rating of the company A- with stable outlook after reviewing the companys performance in 2018. Ebrahim Alrayes the CEO said that the companys technical profits for the year 2018 were good.
He indicated that the company achieved underwriting profits of BD 1.9m during the year 2018, compared to BD 1.2m last year, recording an increase of 66pc. The company also achieved a gross premium revenue of BD 81.6m, compared to BD 59.5m in the previous year, recording a significant growth of 37pc. The investment net income increased by 26pc, from BD 1.6m in 2017 to BD 2m in the year 2018, he said. Alrayes mentioned that the net claims increased by 31pc from BD 18.5m in 2017 to BD 24.4m in 2018.
Despite this increase, there was no change in loss ratio from the previous year which remained at 76.8pc at the end of the year. Also, based on the report of the external actuary, additional IBNR provisions amounting to BD 564,000 was made to strengthen the technical reserves which stood at BD 29.5m compared to BD 26.5m in the previous year.
On business development, Alrayes said that the company recruited an officer in the position of Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Support and Development to implement the state of the art information technology and digital solutions within the company.
gig go
Alrayes added that among the most important projects that have been completed during the year 2018 was the launch of the application of gig go which is a smart and easy-to-use mobile application that enables customers to buy personal insurance products, renew policies and register their claims online using their mobile phones and other smart devices.
Cloud solution
Alrayes also mentioned that in accordance with the requirements of the Central Bank of Bahrain, the company is gradually moving to the Cloud Solution using Amazon web services which will save cost on IT infrastructure.
NEW MILFORD School officials are offering up $100,000 to cover the overage costs of replacing an oil tank after previously asking the Town Council for that money.
Though it is the schools capital reserve fund, the school board needs to get approval from the finance board and Town Council to withdraw from it. The Town Council is waiting to approve the request until there is a more concrete figure to prevent school officials from having to come back again to ask for more money.
To me, its open-ended, said Councilman Doug Skelly.
The Town Council approved $105,000 to initially replace the oil tank at the Lillis Building, where the schools central offices are housed, but school officials requested another $80,000 in January to cover unexpected costs, including having to remove ledge while digging a deeper hole.
Town council members said they wouldnt release the money until they spoke with the contractor to better understand why the cost went over. At the time Councilman Paul Szymanski, who has 20 years of construction experience, questioned many of the charges in the itemized list and several council members questioned the school boards ability to oversee these construction projects.
Some of these concerns resurfaced at Mondays council meeting, including how its still unclear the types of wages the workers will have to be paid. Mayor Pete Bass and Interim Superintendent Stephen Tracy are still working with the state to determine if this is a new construction project or renovation, which will determine the fees.
That could make a significant difference, Tracy said.
This also affects the town project to replace three oil tanks, which its doing with the same contractor as the schools, ETT Environmental. The town and schools are partnering on the oil tanks, along with other capital projects. All of these tanks are required to be removed because they have been in the ground for 30 years, which is a deadline set by the manufactuers and enforced by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The contractor has since answered questions at a school board committee meeting, but has yet to appear before the Town Council. School officials said theyre having a contractor not connected to the project review the list to ensure the costs were accurate.
Wendy Faulenbach, chairwoman of the school boards operations committee, said school board members agreed the schools should pay the overages for this project.
It went over on our side, she said.
This project, like the Hill and Plain oil tank project, needed more money largely due to problems stemming from the initial installation. In this case, workers discovered the tank was only put three inches under the asphalt and it should have been 18 to 24 inches. This caused them to have to remove a lot of ledge and boulders. They also had to do it in a new location because they found an old clay sewer line.
Faulenbach said the money was needed so they could start paying some of the bills. She said that while the total isnt finalized, the committee doesnt expect to need more than $100,000.
If you underestimate that number, it could be held up for months, she said, adding this approval will get the process going, including the review.
Councilman Mike Nahom said they had to be diligent because all of the money came from the same place, whether it was on the town or schools side.
Its all on the taxpayers, he said.
Tracy and Bass are determining the type of wages this week and then Town Council will revisit the school boards request to use up to $100,000 of its capital reserve to cover the extra costs in two weeks.
kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345
FAIRFIELD The Stratfield Village Association (SVA), a certified 501c3 non-profit organization serving the Stratfield neighborhood of Fairfield, CT, announced today that Sacred Heart University has committed to a $100,000 donation to the Stratfield Village Associations Four Corners Fund.
The project will renovate and revitalize the commercial center of Stratfield Village, the intersection of Stratfield Rd/Rt 59 and Fairfield Woods Rd. Renovations to the intersection will make the area more pedestrian-friendly and safer.
We would like to thank University President John J. Petillo and the entire Sacred Heart community for their very generous donation, SVA Co-President Jamie McCusker said. Since we relaunched the SVA in late 2016, Sacred Heart University has been a great supporter and resource to the SVA and a tremendous friend and neighbor to our community; we cannot thank them enough for their support. We feel incredibly fortunate to have not only a world-class university like SHU located within our neighborhood, but also a school led by good people who care about Stratfield and give back so much to our community.
The $100,000 donation by Sacred Heart University follows a $650,000 grant for the project from the State of Connecticut, as well as a $100,000 commitment by the Town of Fairfield. The SVA will continue its fundraising in an effort to begin construction. The Fairfield RTM recently approved the project, and the SVA will continue to work with the Town of Fairfield and various State of Connecticut agencies such as the Department of Transportation to finalize the plans and construction of the new Four Corners.
Sacred Heart University is pleased to contribute to the growth of Stratfield. We strongly believe that what is good for the neighborhood is good for SHU and vice versa, said SHU President John J. Petillo. We are grateful for the friendship of the Stratfield Village Association and hope to continue our partnership for many years to come.
According to the SVA master plan, the Four Corners Project entails pedestrian and streetscape enhancements to the Stratfield Village Business District to improve pedestrian safety as well as to foster economic development in the area. Improvements will include a narrowed intersection, the planting of trees and shrubs, wider pedestrian paths, lamp-posts, benches, art installations and decorative brick inlay. More details on the Four Corners Project can be found on the Stratfield Village Association website at https://stratfieldvillageassociation.org
We cannot thank Dr. Petillo and Sacred Heart University enough for their donation and support of the SVA and our neighborhood, said SVA Co-President Dylan OConnor. This is an exciting period of change for our neighborhood. The long vacant and blighted Stratfield Market is scheduled to re-open this fall as an early childhood education center and, in a short period of time, the Four Corners will be transformed into a beautiful and bustling center of our community.
BROOKFIELD Officials are investigating Tuesdays fire at a home damaged in last years macroburst.
The fire was reported at the house at 9 Parker Hill Road, which was under renovation, around 3 p.m. Emergency personnel from Brookfield and nearby towns, including Bethel, Newtown and Roxbury, responded to the fire.
The Brookfield fire marshal and police were also on scene.
Smoke from the single-family cape-style home, built in 1964 on an acre of land near the center of town, could be seen from Tower Road.
The owners had been fixing it up after it was damaged in last Mays macroburst, said Steve Fusek, who lives across the street. Over a year ago, they had a new roof put on and then the storm hit and a tree took down part of the house, he said.
Fusek said the owners havent been living in the home, but had crews working on it.
The house was looking beautiful, and then this happens, he said.
kendra.baker@hearst.com
NEW HAVEN Two people were treated for smoke inhalation after a fire at a Southern Connecticut State University dorm early Tuesday , officials said.
A SCSU spokesman said the preliminary cause of the fire appeared to have been a discarded cigarette.
SCSU dispatched the New Haven Fire Department after an alarm went off in the dorm at the West Campus Residence Complex at 160 Wintergreen Ave. around 2:21 a.m., New Haven Deputy Chief Robert Ortiz said.
As firefighters were on the way, they received reports of smoke and called in for more crews, Ortiz said.
The four-floor dorm was evacuated, with SCSU police sheltering students in a nearby building and some students taking refuge in their cars, Ortiz said.
The blaze was contained to one dorm room on the second floor and is believed to have started in a trash can, Ortiz said.
State and local fire marshals will be investigating the cause, he said.
Two people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, but both declined to go to the hospital, Ortiz said. A release from an SCSU spokesman said three people were treated for smoke inhalation.
The buildings sprinkler system went off in the immediate area of the fire, causing heavy water damage to two apartments on the floor, Ortiz said.
SCSU spokesman Joe Musante released a statement on the incident.
The West Campus Residence Complex was evacuated early this morning after University Police responding to a fire alarm found heavy smoke billowing from a second floor suite around 2 a.m.
New Haven fire fighters found that the suites sprinkler system had doused the flames when they arrived soon after. The preliminary cause of the fire appears to be a discarded cigarette.
All students left the building safely and three were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. Residents were allowed back into the complex around 5 a.m., after clearance by the state fire marshal.
The suite and several neighboring suites sustained smoke and water damage. Students from those suites are being temporarily housed in a neighboring residence hall.
The Oklahoma attorney general announced a settlement Tuesday with drugmaker Purdue Pharma Inc. in a case that's expected to be the first state lawsuit accusing major drug manufacturers of fueling the opioid epidemic to go to trial.
Attorney General Mike Hunter held a press conference announcing the settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma, according to a statement from Hunter's office. The lawsuit also names a dozen other opioid manufacturers.
It won't take five days to absorb the news from special counsel Robert Mueller and Attorney General William Barr, or five months, or even the five-plus years left of President Donald Trump's tenure if he is reelected in 2020. Indeed, in 50 years historians will still be at work in the research room of the Donald Trump Library trying to assess exactly what the investigation and conclusion that no collusion occurred meant to the Trump presidency, to the agencies involved, to the country and to the world.
I know this particularly well, as on Monday it was announced I will be returning in July to lead the Richard Nixon Foundation as president/chief executive and as a member of the board of directors. It's a job I first held nearly 30 years ago, after previously working for the former president as a writer in his retirement in San Clemente, California, and New York. At 63, I'm at that age when perspective is infused with experience but not crippled by nostalgia. That perspective has made me cautious about issuing sweeping pronouncements about the significance of this or that event. This is especially true of unread reports, even one as exhaustively researched as Mueller's.
The research room at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California, is among the busiest in the superb system of such facilities run by the National Archives and Records Administration, which jointly operates the newly refurbished library with the Nixon Foundation. Those researchers and historians are the lifeblood of the presidential libraries, as they will be of the future Trump Library.
In some future Trump Library research room many decades down the road, scholars will wrestle with the unredacted Mueller report and interpret it among the backdrop of the booming economy Trump oversees, the negotiations with China and realignment in the Middle East, his two Supreme Court appointments (and maybe more) and 36 federal appeals court judges (certainly more on the way).
As for now, critics of Trump will seize on whatever they can find that is worst in the report. Defenders will point to no collusion, no further indictments and the announcement that the special counsel wasn't impeded in any way. Russia attacked our election and - thank God - not one American and certainly not the president helped it do so.
But we don't know what the significance of the special counsel's report will be, and we won't for decades and decades, when some future historian does the work of arranging the events of the whole Trump presidency in terms of what mattered most, when and why.
When discussing returning to the Nixon Foundation, I told the board that President Nixon's defining legacy is to have been "the first mover" on the strategic relationship that is now and will remain for decades the central relationship on the planet: that between the United States and China. Nixon was also the "first mover" on comprehensive environmental protection for the planet with the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and his signing of the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act. His decisive intervention on behalf of Israel in the 1973 Yom Kippur War might be the least appreciated of his major interventions into history. But as history compresses events and especially presidencies, most crucial was probably the beginning of the rapprochement with the only other superpower left in the world. As we head into the dangerous decades of our relationship with China, what matters most from Nixon's career is not the political controversies that swirled throughout his tenure, not his political combat with Democrats and the press, not his resignation (no, not even his Supreme Court appointments). What matters about Nixon in 2019 is obviously what he launched by landing in Beijing in February 1972.
Of course, the Mueller report matters. But it will be oversold this week by critics and defenders. The disappointment that bleeds through the left's "chin up; this is the end of the beginning" rhetoric is an admission against interest that history is not likely to count the Mueller probe among the most important events of the Trump years. That won't slow down the breathless takes on broadcast platforms large and small this week, but that's how history works. It slowly but inevitably reduces every presidency to a few high peaks and low valleys. With Nixon the highest peak came in 1972. With Trump we have no idea what the peak will be, but the Mueller report does not appear to be much of a valley.
In Timothy Bishops Letter to the Editor of March 24, he objects to those in the media defending the late Senator John McCain, as well as the cartoon of March 22 in this newspaper. He refers to them as inane distractions.
Inane would actually be a fair description of the Presidents latest rants about the late Senator. They rank right up there with his I like war heroes who arent captured stated in an interview during his campaign for President. We can expect more of the same in coming rallies, unless he was somewhat chastened by the lack of cheering, after his petulant remarks, by the Lockheed Martin employees present.
"If elected, you would be the first openly gay president of the United States," Stephen Colbert said to Pete Buttigieg after the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, declared his candidacy. While the characterization of being openly gay or "out" is relatively new, the fact is the United States has already had a gay president whose contemporaries knew it: James Buchanan. Indeed, the United States has also had a gay vice president and, maybe more surprisingly, a gay senator from Alabama.
If students taking U.S. history classes are taught anything about Buchanan, they learn that he was "our only bachelor president." How quaint. But, by using euphemisms, we falsely educate students - indeed all Americans - about the realities of this country's history. We also distort how and why Buttigieg's sexual identity matters today.
Before becoming president in 1857, Buchanan openly lived with William Rufus King, who at various times served as senator from Alabama, ambassador to France and, finally, Franklin Pierce's vice president. They met in Washington as young politicians, and lived together on and off for more than 16 years until King's death from tuberculosis in 1853. Buchanan's biographer, Jean H. Baker, believes that his relationship with the Southerner King partially explains why this Pennsylvanian was a "doughface," a Northerner who did not oppose slavery. Indeed, Buchanan explicitly urged the Supreme Court to deliver an expansive ruling in the Dred Scott case - which denied freed slaves American citizenship and forbade Congress from regulating slavery in U.S. territories - and lobbied Congress to admit Kansas as a slave state.
More for you What Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris understand about 2020
How do we know Buchanan and King were a couple? In 1844, after King assumed his posting in Paris, Buchanan wrote a letter to a friend, complaining about being alone and not being able to find the right gentleman partner:
"I am now 'solitary and alone,' having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them. I feel that it is not good for man to be alone; and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who can nurse me when I am sick, provide good dinners for me when I am well, and not expect from me any very ardent or romantic affection."
Maybe he was only looking for a roommate, but who "woos" a roommate? And he admits he would not deliver "ardent or romantic affection" to a woman.
Similarly, King wrote Buchanan from Paris:
"I am selfish enough to hope you will not be able to procure an associate who will cause you to feel no regret at our separation. For myself, I shall feel lonely in the midst of Paris, for here I shall have no Friend with whom I shall commune as with my own thoughts."
Their peers knew about their relationship, which Buchanan and King made no real effort to hide. Andrew Jackson referred to King as "Miss Nancy" - a euphemism for a homosexual.
Other contemporaries called King Buchanan's "better half," and one congressman referred to him as "Mrs. B." All this would be quite peculiar if Buchanan was not gay. And we are not likely to get more explicit acknowledgment because both Buchanan and King had their personal papers burned after death.
Skeptics will note that in 1819, at age 28, Buchanan was engaged to Anne Coleman, daughter of a rich Pennsylvania ironmaster. Ultimately, she canceled the engagement and shortly thereafter apparently committed suicide. A rumor in the 1850s had Buchanan involved with Sarah Childress Polk, the widow of President James Polk, but it was never substantiated. In all, there is no evidence that he ever was intimately involved with another woman. At best it could suggest Buchanan was bisexual.
By not openly discussing this moment, we forget that being gay in the mid-19th century did not automatically exclude a man from national leadership. The idea that some people, including politicians and social leaders, are gay was not news or shocking to our forefathers. Americans generally considered it a private matter, and irrelevant to holding or performing public office. We obscure or even deny all this history, and, consequently, we miseducated our children and misdirect our attention. Moreover, we obfuscate perhaps the one positive step we took as a country in electing James Buchanan, who makes almost every list of the worst U.S. presidents.
So, sorry, Pete Buttigieg, you can't aim to be the first gay president, although you could be the first married gay president. Let's stop pretending Buchanan was a bachelor, and take a lesson from our forebears. Instead of focusing on a candidate's sexuality, let's spend our time assessing their aptitude to lead our country in this perilous moment in history.
- - -
Emanuel is vice provost for global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jeremy Richman, who took his life on Newtowns community stage, made it clear since his daughter died in the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012 that he wanted others to feel his pain.
A parent who loses a child asks Why? Richman relentlessly pursued an answer. He pointed to the void of empathy shared by the shooters behind Americas killing spree. A neuropharmacologist, he wanted to understand what prompts the mentally ill to kill. He wanted to save others.
In his own way, he managed to summon a measure of empathy for those capable of murder. While gun advocates stubbornly redirected the conversation to focus on mental health, Richman did just that.
If we can know why, with that knowledge, we can prevent similar atrocities from claiming the lives of vulnerable loved ones, he told lawmakers in Hartford seven weeks after Adam Lanza killed Avielle Richman and 25 others at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
Richman said that while burying his daughter, he was already shaping the concept of the Avielle Foundation, which has a stated mission to prevent violence and build compassion through neuroscience research, community engagement, and education.
Since then, he repeatedly invited us, challenged us and implored us to step inside the curtain of his grief:
I miss Avie more every day, he said four months after she died.
Who owns this tragedy? We argue that we do. It was bought and paid for in the most tragic of ways, he said in November 2014.
The brain is just another organ and you dont have to be a neuroscientist to recognize that it can be healthy, it can be unhealthy, and that you need to feel comfortable advocating for your own brain health and the brain health of your loved ones. We feel that the failure to do that led in large part to the tragedy at Sandy Hook, he said in 2016 .
It doesnt do any good to support research and know the mechanics of brain science that lead to violence or compassion if you cant give it to the everyday citizen in a way that is tangible. Our job is to connect the dots for people who dont see the lines in-between, he said in November, on the stage where he died.
We wanted to prevent others from suffering the way that we were suffering, and continue to suffer to this day, he said in a videotaped interview last week.
Richman left his job as a pharmaceutical researcher to focus full-time on the work of the Avielle Foundation. His suicide occurred days after two teenage survivors of the mass shooting at a Florida high school killed themselves.
He tried to save lives by challenging us to imagine the worst. As he wrote on the first page of the final report of the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission, As hard as horrible as it sounds, we need people to imagine what it is like.
Jeremy Richman believed his crusade could save others.
It still can.
Please note that the event location has changed.
KAMLOOPS, BC, March 26, 2019 /CNW/ - The Honourable Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, will be in Kamloops to discuss the government's investment in skills training through Budget 2019. Minister Ng will also meet with small business owners.
Event: Budget 2019 Announcement on Skills Training
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Thompson Rivers University
International Building
805 TRU Way
Kamloops, British Columbia
Event: A Conversation with the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Time: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Tumbleweed Lounge
405 Victoria Street
Kamloops, British Columbia
Follow @CanadaBusiness on social media for business-related news: Twitter, Facebook
SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
For further information: Mallory Clyne, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, [email protected]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [email protected]
Related Links
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/home
by Cait Bladt
Twitter set itself on fire when its new favorite political candidate and one of its favorite fictional characters met. At a recent event, Parks and Recreation actress Amy Poehler was asked which candidate Leslie Knope would cast a vote for. Poehler said she could see Knope casting her vote for Indianas own Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg then blew the Internets mind by saying he was the Indiana Parks and Recreation Associations 2018 Elected Official of the Year. So whos the better Indiana politician?
Pete Buttigiegs award win would make Leslie Knope proud.
Wait till she realizes shes talking about the Indiana Parks and Recreation Associations 2018 Elected Official of the Year... https://t.co/6lcNS6rVRj Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) March 22, 2019
While Mayor Pete seems to be receiving consistently positive coverage, Leslie Knopes political career was a roller coaster. But even in the face of serious criticism, she always stayed true to herself!
Hopefully, Buttigieg is able to handle himself around Joe Biden a little better than Leslie Knope did. (Especially since he will probably have to debate him at some point.)
One issue Buttigieg has spoken about during the campaign is the way communities are disappearing due to automation and technology.
The loss of community is one of the biggest consequences of automation, AI, and the way work is changing. We need to rally people around the sense of identity that were building each other up because community is part of how people explain how they fit in to the world. pic.twitter.com/w8nKxW8YNq Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) March 20, 2019
Leslie Knope constantly has to deal with the community of Pawnee, Indiana and somehow she remains optimistic and committed. Mayor Pete would be inspired!
The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say.
Hardware is gating the rate of progress in Artificial Intelligence. Bill Dally is the Chief Scientist and Senior Vice President of Research, Nvidia.
Moores law is not providing performance gains but improvement is being made with specialized chips.
Powerful new AI chips are developed to improve the speed and efficiency of todays systems.
The Nvidia Turing Chip was introduced last year. It achieves its performance through specialization.
Nvidia Turing has a Tensor Core at its heart. It does a 4X4 multiplication matrix. This performs 128 operations in one command. Deep Learning acceleration is mainly this matrix multiplication.
Nvidia has improved inference improvement by 110X in 6 years and Single chip inference was improved by 66X in 6 years.
Nvidia chips went from 28 nanometers to 16 nanometers. This gained 28% of the improvement.
Turing added integer tensor cores.
NVIDIA Chief Scientist Bill Dally gave a talk 6 months ago at the GPU Technology Conference Israel 2018 in Tel Aviv, where he discusses accelerated platforms and the future of computing.
Hotchips gave a 2018 tutorial on deep learning accelerators. They provide a very brief introduction to Deep Neural Nets and their applications in computer vision, speech recognition, and other areas. We review the two key computational elements of Deep Neural Nets: inference and training in regards to their compute and memory requirements. Finally, we review popular target architectures for supporting these applications, including CPUs, GPUs, and custom DNN accelerators, including a discussion around common micro-architectures for acceleration of typical computational patterns and computational considerations around batch sizes, quantization and pruning.In the second portion of this tutorial we turn our focus to the problem of accelerating inference in edge devices.
Nvidia is projecting forward and most of the energy of future chips is in data movement and memory. Most of the work is not for processing and calculation.
They need to get 70 femtojoule or less per MAC. They are considering analog.
AI hardware needs to put most of its work in simulation and training.
Nvidia eats its own dogfood and uses its AI chips for improving their own hardware and applications.
Nvidia has an evolution of models.
Bill feels that further specialization for AI chips would be to target verticals. Nvidia can target and execute on 4 verticals, but there is for more. AI chip startups can target those verticals for true differentiation.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology. Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels. A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.
SOURCES- Live Reporting by Brian Wang at Nextbigfuture.com covering EmTech Digital 2019, youtube
EAST HAVEN A former Shelton man was arrested after police say he was caught driving a car he took from Yale-New Haven Hospital.
An automatic license plate reader alerted Officer Jon Trinh that a stolen 2014 Nissan Versa passed him Sunday, Lt. Joseph Murgo said in a release. He met up with the driver, later identified as David Boles, on Harrington Avenue.
Boles initially stated that he purchased the vehicle at CarMax several months ago but was unable to provide any supporting documents to prove the purchase. Officer Trinh became suspicious when Boles stated he purchased the vehicle for a lot less than what the vehicle seemed to be worth, Murgo said.
Boles admitted stealing the vehicle, according to police.
Boles advised officers that he stole the vehicle in New Haven several months ago after he was discharged from Yale New Haven Hospital. He stated that as he walked out of the hospital, a valet attendant mistook him for the Nissan Versas owner and gave him the keys, said Murgo. Boles stated he did not object, got in the vehicle, and drove away. He advised officers that at the time, he was homeless and needed a method of transportation to leave the area.
Boles was charged with second-degree larceny and operating a motor vehicle without a license, Murgo said. He also was arrested on an outstanding warrant issued by Troop G of the Connecticut State Police.
Boles was held in lieu of $10,000 bail and arraigned Tuesday, Murgo said.
william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Prosecutors dropped all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett Tuesday.
"After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smolletts volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case," Cook County State's Attorney prosecutors said in a statement.
Smollett was indicted earlier this month on 16 felony counts after authorities said he filed false reports of a crime.
The indictment charged the 36-year-old with 16 counts of disorderly conduct.
"He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public, causing an inappropriate rush to judgement," his attorneys, Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes, said in a statement.
Smollett reported to police in January that he had been attacked in Chicago in an incident that ended with a noose around his neck. Police initially investigated the case as a possible hate crime.
The indictment said Smollett told police he was attacked by two men who used racial and homophobic slurs during an attack at 2 a.m.
After police detained two brothers who were "persons of interest" in mid-February, police sources revealed that authorities suspected Smollett knew the men and allegedly had paid them $3,500 to stage the attack. The men were released without being charged.
Smollett denied any involvement in orchestrating an attack.
Jussie Smollett has always maintained his innocence and we are gratified on his behalf that all charges against him have been dismissed," 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment said in a statement Tuesday.
NEW HAVEN LeRoya Moores co-counsel and the prosecution Monday clashed in their closing arguments over whether Moore could appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions when she killed her two children in their East Haven home.
The three judges hearing the case listened to hours of back-and-forth assertions and occasionally asked questions of the attorneys. The judges will deliberate over the next several days and are scheduled to announce their verdict Friday.
Moore, 39, acknowledged to psychiatrists hired by the state and the defense team that she killed her daughter, 6-year-old Aleisha Moore, and her son, 7-year-old Daaron Moore, four years ago in their house on Strong Street. Police charged her with two counts of murder.
Moore told the defense-hired psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Amble, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, that she believed it was Gods plan that she kill herself and her children in order to join God in Heaven.
Amble testified he had diagnosed Moore as suffering from schizoaffective disorder. He said she was in a psychotic state when she killed her children.
However, Dr. Catherine Lewis, a professor of psychiatry at the UConn Health Center who was hired by the state to evalulate Moore, testified she concluded Moore has an antisocial personality disorder but was not psychotic when she killed the children.
Senior Assistant Public Defender Scott M. Jones Monday morning called Amble back to the witness stand in an effort to rebut Lewis testimony. Jones focused on Lewis statement that Moores actions might have been triggered by a text she received from her boyfriend stating: My heart is not in this relationship anymore.
The text message was sent to Moore on May 27, 2015. Amble said Moore told him she killed her children the following day.
But Amble testified the text message was not considered devastating by Moore. He added, She made no frantic efforts to avoid abandonment.
Amble said that if Moore were suffering from a personality disorder, one would expect to see her making such frantic efforts.
Amble said the text message from Moores boyfriend was one of many stressful events that plagued her during that time. These included being arrested on an assault charge after a confrontation with her ex-husband, her older son being arrested on a robbery charge and learning that Daaron had a need for special education.
During the first phase of the states two closing arguments, Senior Assistant States Attorney Stacey Miranda told the judges Moore repeatedly had lied about what she had done. Miranda said Moores first deception came on June 2, 2015, the day police discovered the childrens bodies.
Miranda cited testimony from Moores friend, who became alarmed when she read a letter from Moore as well as text messages. The friend said when she arrived at Moores home, she asked her: How are the kids? and Moore replied they were sleeping.
After the friend called 911, police asked Moore whether she had hurt her children. Miranda noted her response: I saved them.
Miranda described how police came upon a horrific scene on the first floor. Aleisha and Daaron werent sleeping. They were lying on their backs, deceased. And they had been for quite some time.
Miranda noted Dr. Gregory Vincent of the office of the states chief medical examiner ruled Daaron was killed by acute intoxication of diphenhydramine and his sister was killed by acute intoxication of that same drug as well as alcohol.
Addressing Moores account that she had drowned her children as a form of baptism so they could go to heaven, Miranda said, Dr. Vincent found no evidence the children were drowned. He testified there was some fluid in their lungs but that this could have been caused by other factors beside drowning.
Miranda cited evidence that bottles of alcoholic beverages and containers of pills were found strewn throughout the house. She also recalled cellphone records showing that beginning the day before the childrens deaths, Moore had conducted numerous internet searches on what quantities of drugs are needed to kill a child.
Miranda and New Haven States Attorney Patrick Griffin in his phase two of the states closing arguments focused on the internet searches as showing Moore had carefully planned the deaths and so was not in a psychotic state.
The prosecutors also cited what seemed to be a suicide note Moore left by her childrens bodies. Miranda said the note shows she killed her children, knew what she was doing and knew it was wrong.
But in the closing argument by Supervisory Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Bourn, she said Moore sincerely believed she was doing the right thing, that killing herself and her kids was what God wanted.
Bourn said Moore at that time was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance. The evidence shows she lacked substantial capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of her conduct.
According to Bourn, the negative events in Moores life in the months leading up to the killings convinced her that she was meant to die. Bourn said Moore was suffering delusions and thus developed a false belief that it was Gods plan for her to kill herself.
Bourn said Moore shortly after this saw her kids as unhappy and crying all the time because Moore was out of the house for her two jobs and relying on baby-sitters. (Moore and her husband had divorced.)
She became preoccupied with the thought of what would happen to her kids after she committed suicide, Bourn said. Moore didnt trust social workers, foster parents or her ex-husband to take proper care of the children, Bourn noted.
Her delusion came to include her children, Bourn said. It was her sincere belief that what she was doing was morally justified. She admitted killing her children and she said she did it because God wanted her to protect them.
Bourn said Moores suicide note showed Moores delusional thinking. She says this was meant to happen.
Bourn said that in addition to Amble, multiple psychiatrists and clinicians at the Yale Psychiatric Institute and York Correctional Institution diagnosed Moore as being psychotic.
When Bourn concluded her argument, two of the three Superior Court judges, Elpedio N. Vitale and Jon C. Blue, asked her questions that seemed skeptical of the defenses case. Vitale noted Moore did not talk about having hallucinations of hearing a command to do the killings from the voice of God until three years after her children were killed.
This raises the question of whether it occurred, Vitale said.
Blue noted Moore wrote in her suicide message: If I burn for eternity, at least Ill know why I deserve it. Blue said Moores self-reported expectation of joining her kids in heaven doesnt make sense if she thought she was going to burn for eternity.
Griffin argued the burn for eternity phrase shows, as Lewis testified, that Moore appreciated the wrongfulness of her conduct and was inconsistent with delusions.
The defendants version given during her evaluation is simply a way to explain the unexplainable, Griffin said. How do you reconcile killing your children?
Griffin noted no experts diagnosed Moore as being psychotic until after the killings. He said they did document repeated acts of physical aggression throughout her youth.
Griffin cited Lewis testimony that the social workers and doctors who interacted with Moore in her earlier years concluded: She gets angry and lashes out. Griffin added: Unfortunately, when she lashed out, she lashed out at her two children.
Griffin called Moores killing of her children calculated, premeditated and deliberate.
Moores ex-husband, Michael Moore, who has not testified, was in the courtroom for Mondays proceedings. The defendant, who has remained emotionless throughout the trial, showed no reaction to his presence.
randall.beach@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN The Board of Education voted Monday to bring in a consultant to help crush a multi-million dollar deficit: the community.
A deficit reduction committee, which will deliver its first report to the school boards finance committee on May 1, will include 15 members appointed by presidents of the three unions representing teachers, principals and paraprofessionals, the mayor, the superintendent of schools and school board President Darnell Goldson.
Last month, district officials said they believed more could be done to eliminate the projected $5.3 million deficit for the current fiscal year, but they do not expect the budget to balance by June. With a $30 million projected deficit for next year, Superintendent of Schools Carol Birks had previously outlined a plan to remediate $20 million of that figure.
You dont have to start from scratch, said board member Joe Rodriguez, who noted he would like to see the committees work build upon and work collaboratively with the superintendents recommendations.
To help in the remediation efforts, the school board voted to freeze all general fund spending for the remainder of the year; an amended version of a policy revision that called for a freeze on all spending, until Mayor Toni Harp noted that it was the general fund that needs work, and grant funding ordinarily must be spent in the year its awarded.
We already have a freeze on spending, Birks said after the meeting, saying the district currently only spends general fund dollars on items that are necessary.
Birks said she welcomes the school boards input.
After the meeting, Goldson said he did not see the committee as an outsourcing of the boards responsibilities, but rather an important step to solicit feedback from folks on the ground to provide recommendations to the finance committee.
At the end of the day, we make the final decision, he said.
The resolution that passed lists the committees goals as twofold: eliminating the current fiscal years projected deficit and the projected upcoming $30 million deficit for 2019-20.
The first objective is to ensure that deficit reduction must coordinated in a way that minimizes harm to student achievement growth, the resolution says. The second objective is to identify and ensure deficit reduction measures are permanent and structural, and a framework is put in place to ensure savings materialize.
Following the meeting, the school board conducted an informal midyear evaluation of Birks in executive session.
Goldson, who was previously investigated by a lawyer hired by the city after Birks told Harp that she felt the board president was creating a hostile work environment for which he was cleared of any wrongdoing and received a public apology from Birks recused himself, citing their prior relationship. He said he would likely recuse himself from her formal evaluation in September as well.
brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
Norwegian officials have opened an investigation into why a cruise ship carrying more than 1,370 people set sail along the countrys often wild western coast despite storm warnings, forcing a major evacuation by helicopter.
One person is in critical condition but stabilized in an intensive care ward, hospital officials said. Eight others were still hospitalized after the weekend ordeal.
The Viking Sky had left the northern city of Tromsoe and was headed for Stavanger in southern Norway when engine problems prompted a mayday call Saturday afternoon.
The ship anchored in heavy seas to avoid being dashed on the rocks in an area known for shipwrecks. Norwegian authorities then launched a daring rescue operation despite the high winds, eventually getting 479 passengers off the ship by helicopter in an operation that went on for hours Saturday night and into Sunday morning.
Dag S. Liseth of Norways Accident Investigations Board said, the high risk which the ship, its passengers and crew were exposed to made us decide to investigate the incident.
After about half of the ships passengers were taken off, the captain made the decision mid-day Sunday to halt the evacuation. About 900 people were still on board when the ship limped into the port city of Molde on its own engines.
Viking Ocean Cruises said Monday it had begun an internal investigation .... to establish a complete and thorough understanding of what happened, and welcome the official investigations which they will fully support.
In the same statement, Viking Ocean Cruises chairman Torstein Hagen also said he would like to personally apologize for what our guests experienced.
Liseth said investigators were heading to Molde on Monday and declined to speculate why the Viking Sky captain had decided to sail to Stavanger in the first place, despite the weather warning. He couldnt immediately say how long the cruise ship would remain in Molde.
Yngve Skovly, of the police force in Moere and Romsdal district, where Molde sits, said there is no suspicion of a criminal offense but police have opened an investigation to find out why the ship had engine problems. That probe would be part of the one by the Accident Investigations Board.
The Viking Sky is a relatively new ship, delivered in 2017 to operator Viking Ocean Cruises.
The ship was on a 12-day cruise along Norways coast before its scheduled arrival Tuesday in the British port of Tilbury, on the River Thames. The passengers were mostly an English-speaking mix of American, British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian citizens.
All the cruise ship passengers were expected to be flown out of Norway by Monday evening, police said.
Viking Skys next trip, to Scandinavia and Germany, which was to leave on Wednesday, has been canceled but its owner said no other trip cancellations for the ship were foreseen yet.
President Donald Trump is nearing a victory over Democrats as the House tries overriding his first veto, a vote that seems certain to fail and would let stand his declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border.
Tuesday's vote would keep the border emergency intact, which for now would let him shift an additional $3.6 billion from military construction projects to work on a barrier along the southwest boundary. Building the wall was one of his most oft-repeated campaign promises, though he claimed the money would come from Mexico, not taxpayers.
Trump's emergency declaration drew unanimous opposition from congressional Democrats and opposition from some Republicans, especially in the Senate, where lawmakers objected that he was abusing presidential powers.
But while Congress approved a resolution voiding Trump's move, the margins by which the House and Senate passed the measure fell well short of the two-thirds majorities that will be needed to override the veto. That's expected to happen again when the House votes Tuesday.
"The president will be fine in the House," said Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in a brief interview. "The veto will not be overridden."
Even with his veto remaining intact, Trump may not be able to spend the money for barriers quickly because of lawsuits that might take years to resolve.
Tuesday's vote was coming as Trump claimed a different political triumph after Attorney General William Barr said special counsel Robert Mueller had ended his two-year investigation without evidence of collusion by Trump's 2016 campaign with the Russian government.
Democrats were hoping to use the border emergency battle in upcoming campaigns, both to symbolize Trump's harsh immigration stance and claim he was hurting congressional districts around the country.
The Pentagon sent lawmakers a list last week of hundreds of military construction projects that might be cut to pay for barrier work. Though the list was tentative, Democrats were asserting that GOP lawmakers were endangering local bases to pay for the wall.
Congress, to which the Constitution assigned control over spending, voted weeks ago to provide less than $1.4 billion for barriers. Opponents warned that besides usurping Congress' role in making spending decisions, Trump was inviting future Democratic presidents to circumvent lawmakers by declaring emergencies to finance their own favored initiatives.
Trump supporters said he was simply acting under a 1976 law that lets presidents declare national emergencies. Trump's declaration was the 60th presidential emergency under that statute, but the first aimed at spending that Congress explicitly denied, according to New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, which tracks the law.
The House approved the resolution blocking Trump's emergency by 245-182 in February. On Tuesday, Trump opponents will need to reach 288 votes to prevail.
Just 13 Republicans opposed Trump in February, around 1 in 15. Another 30 would have to defect to override his veto.
This month, the GOP-led Senate rebuked Trump with a 59-41 vote blocking his declaration after the failure of a Republican effort to reach a compromise with the White House. Republicans were hoping to avoid a confrontation with him for fear of alienating pro-Trump voters.
Twelve GOP senators, nearly 1 in 4, ended up opposing him.
If the House vote fails, the Senate won't attempt its own override and the veto will stand.
SEYMOUR Seymour High School senior Alexa Michaud knows a thing or two about Wildcat pride.
And thanks to her creativity, Michauds blue-and-gold artwork has been selected to appear on the new shirts the school districts cafeteria and custodial staff soon will be sporting.
Michaud, 17, was among more than 50 students who entered a districtwide contest to design a new logo for the staff. Her winning design, done on a bright blue background, features a the Wildcat pawprint surrounded by vibrant splashes of yellow and the words Seymour Public Schools in white.
I was super surprised and honored to be chosen as the winner of the logo contest, Michaud said. Im excited to have people wear my design and to promote more pride within our schools.
Michaud, who is in the graphic arts design program at SHS and has been doodling and drawing since she was little, said it took her about an hour to come up with the design and put in on paper. Of course she had to incorporate a Wildcat pawprint to represent all of the Seymour schools, and the splashes speak to the positive energy she said resonates from within the district.
I cant wait to see the design on the shirts, she said.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Wilson lauded Michaud and the other students who participated in the contest.
All of our students showed a tremendous amount of talent and their designs were very creative and well thought out, which made it a very hard decision for all of the judges, said Wilson. Alexas design was very bright and showed a lot of energy.
The designs were judged by Wilson and a panel of seven staff members, including Director of Nutrition Services Cindy Brooks and Facilities Director Tim Connors, who spearheaded the contest in order to give the cafeteria and custodial staff more of a visual identity.
Brooks was thrilled with the designs students came up with, and lauded them for their creativity.
I really enjoyed looking at all the artwork the students submitted. They are all so talented, Brooks said. Tim and I thought it would be great for our staff to be wearing shirts with a logo that one of our students created. It is a sense of hometown pride and a one of a kind.
Michauds design will replace the Seymour Schools Nutrition Services embroidered on the current polo shirts worn by cafeteria staff, as well as the traditional blue-and-gold town seal printed on the corner of the custodians shirts.
Michaud won a $100 Amazon gift card for her winning design.
Wilson also commended contest runner-ups Sydnie Drezek, Sarah Gagaza and Ashlyn Holland, who all did such a tremendous job and we are very fortunate to have such talented artists here in Seymour.
jean.sos@snet.net
A Japanese Psychiatrists Takes on the Trials of Life
A new report offers fresh insights into the issue of non-attendance at Japanese junior high schools.
A Broader Picture of the Problem
School non-attendance has long been a major social issue in Japan. The results of a 2018 survey by the Nippon Foundation provide important hints for considering the problem.
Unlike the surveys previously implemented by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), which operated through local boards of education to gather replies from schools, this Nippon Foundation survey was conducted online and posed questions directly to childrenincluding those attending school regularly. This revealed a broader picture by going beyond those who fit MEXTs definition of absenteeism, namely, children who stay home from school for 30 or more days in a year. It also covered what I might describe as a reserve corps for absenteeism: children who have not reached the threshold of 30 days absence, who come to school but study separately from their classmates, or who come to class but do different work or feel a strong aversion to participation, along with those whose normal attendance masks an internal aversion to school. The expanded scope found 330,000 affected children, or more than three times as many as under the narrow MEXT definition, clearly demonstrating the problem is more serious than previously thought.
The reasons that students cited for not wanting to go to junior high school illustrate the true state of their complex feelings, which could not be found in earlier statistics. Here, I will focus on analyzing the answers to examine the psychological state of todays junior high school students.
Five Categories of Reasons for Non-Attendance
Multifarious reasons were provided for not wanting to go to junior high, but I have grouped them into the following five categories.
Repressed feelings, as seen in answers like I cant get up in the morning, It makes me tired, When I try to go, I feel sick, and Even I myself dont really know. Although there is no conscious feeling of not wishing to go to school, the end result is an inability to attend. Problems with others, evident from such responses as I dont get on with other students/my teacher[s], I cant rely on my teacher[s], and I dont feel comfortable at school. Although bullying is the core issue here, the category includes less clearly defined feelings of unease. Problems with schoolwork. Among the comments in this category are, I dont understand my classes, I cant get good marks like in elementary school, and I dont want to take tests. Existential issues like I dont understand why I should go to school, and Compared with elementary school, its boring. Students may find junior high boring because they cannot accept that it is meaningful. Other specific problems related to the school, such as I hate the school rules, or Club activities are too tough. Students responses vary greatly depending on the sorts of rules their school imposes and the intensity and duration of their clubs activities (such as practicing sports).
Junior High School Students Mental State
From these groupings, it is possible to discern the following tendencies.
Among all the replying students, including those attending school regularly, the most common answers were ones indicating repressed feelings, the first category above. This is a useful indication of junior high school students mental state. In psychological terms, repression means to hold down thoughts so that they do not rise to the conscious level. In this case, the thought is I dont want to go to school. As it fails to reach the conscious mind, it is liable to be expressed physically instead in a mechanism known as somatization. This leads to inability to get up in the morning and feelings of sickness or fatigue associated with attending school.
Repression occurs when children have powerful conscious feelings that they should go to school and should not think negative thoughts about attending. This attitude has likely come to the fore because they have not been allowed to say no from an early age; parents and schoolteachers have made them passively follow instructions.
Children who have not attended school for an extended period mainly gave their reasons as problems with others or with schoolwork, the second and third categories above. These have long been viewed as major causes of absenteeism. For children in the early stages of adolescence, how they are perceived by people around them is of the highest importance. It is not surprising that many children identify relationships with others as a reason for non-attendance. It is a problem related to the growth process that is difficult to avoid.
Among those who go to school and attend classes normally along with their schoolmates while masking an internal desire not to go to school, many of the responses fall into the fourth category, existential issues. Questioning of the meaning or inherent interest of junior high school is common among children who reach mental maturity early and are highly introspective. Many others will consider the same topic later: in high school, university, or when they start working.
These children, who doubt the meaning of what they are doing, are nonetheless able to perform their expected role as students who attend school and participate in classes. And since they are skilled at setting their internal feelings aside and coping with the demands of student life, they are relatively unlikely to cite the final set of reasons, namely, specific problems related to their schools.
Subconscious Dissent
To date, measures tackling long-term absenteeism have focused heavily on support dealing with bullying and poor academic performance. It goes without saying that these will continue to be crucial. However, analysis of the recent report illustrates the psychological repression among students, which has received little attention.
Children start forming their identity when they first learn to say No! during their terrible twos. As their sense of self awakes, they refuse to passively follow parental instructions. Parents and educators must properly appreciate this sort of defiance as a sign of the emergence of selfhood. This is the start of the process by which children learn to express their own will.
Nowadays, though, zeal for early education is causing parents to fill their childrens days with scheduled classes and other learning activities during this delicate stage of their self-development. This can make their budding sense of self wither, turning them into obedient but spiritless youngsters. Unable to express themselves through outright rebellion, todays children seem to be tending toward non-attendance at school as a subconscious form of resistance. In their repressed state, they cannot hear the voices of their hearts.
The trend to passivity undoubtedly derives initially from the home and the education industry before children ever get to school. I believe that we must think again about how to raise children so they can develop naturally, and that all adults should individually reconsider their values, which have inclined toward excessive management and control.
(Banner and Illustration by Mica Okada)
Newsfrom Japan
Tokyo, March 26 (Jiji Press)--Most of the work style reform measures included in legislation enacted into law in Japan last year are set to take effect on Monday, with the start of the new fiscal year, including the first effective compulsory caps on overtime hours at major companies.
The reform will also obliges all companies to have their employees take at least five paid holidays a year, in a bid to redress long work hours.
But many companies are likely to face difficulty in implementing the reform measures at a time when labor shortages are becoming severe, pundits said.
Overtime will be limited to less than 100 hours a month per employee and a total of 720 hours a year. Companies will face penalties if they fail to abide by the regulation.
The overtime caps will take effect for small and midsize companies in April 2020.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
A Bergen County family already caught in one multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme later launched a second scam that netted them $3 million more.
The father, mother and son pleaded guilty Monday to involvement in a scheme defrauding investors of a total of $7 million, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a news statement.
George Bussanich Sr., George Bussanich Jr. and Wilma Bussanich took part in a first scheme between May 2009 and July 2013. In that, they sold 26 investors more than $4 million in investment notes in a fictitious surgery center.
To make it appear the investments were profitable, the family made dividend payments from the initial money they collected, while spending the rest on high-class excess.
That includes multiple homes, shopping, dining, travel, and seven luxury cars -- including two Maserati Quattroportes, a Ferrari F430 Spider and a Mercedes ML350.
But they were found out and by August 2014 settled for $5.5 million with the state Bureau of Securities.
Between September 2014 and September 2015, the Bussaniches got 15 of those 26 investors to chip in another $3 million to another fictitious company that they create with the family accountant. Some of that money went to mortgage payments, vacations and restaurant bills, but also to penalty payments for the prior settlement, prosecutors said.
The family entered their pleas before Superior Court Judge Margaret Foti in Bergen County.
Bussanich Sr., 60, of Park Ridge, pleaded guilty to first-degree conspiracy to commit securities fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 10 years in state prison.
Bussanich Jr., 39, of Saddle River, pleaded to second-degree securities fraud and second-degree money laundering. Prosecutors will reccommend he serve eight years in prison.
Wilma Bussanich, 58, of Park Ridge, pleaded guilty to third-degree money laundering and faces probation.
Theyre also liable for full restitution to all the victim investors.
Four others have pleaded guilty in the case and face probation sentences:
Bryan Nazor 47, of Chestnut Ridge, New York - conspiracy and theft
Heidi Francavilla, 60, of Park Ridge
Robert Schooley, the Bussanich family accountant
Christopher Hanna, 37, of Parlin
Sentencing is scheduled June 28 in Fotis courtroom.
Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
A Camden County jury deadlocked on whether Michael Disporto Jr. should be convicted of sexually assaulting and fatally injuring his girlfriends 23-month-old daughter in 2016.
Superior Court Judge Edward McBride declared a mistrial Friday after jurors couldnt agree on any of the charges, including murder and sexual assault, following a week of deliberations and roughly six-weeks of evidence in the case that featured grisly testimony.
The Camden County Prosecutors Office plans to retry the case, spokeswoman Alexandra McVeigh said Monday.
Disporto, 25, of Manahawkin, remains jailed.
Disporto was 22 when he was charged with sexually assaulting Ariana Smyth in Gloucester City on July 2 or 3 of 2016, leading to her death a few days later.
Assistant Prosecutor Peter Crawford told jurors in closings that Disporto, the last man with access to Ariana, was alone with the child several times on July 2 and 3 and that he tried to convince the girls mother not to get medical help for her ailing daughter.
Amber Bobo, 28, was the key witness against her former boyfriend. She agreed to testify as part of a plea deal that saw her serve 15 months in jail after admitting she failed to get help for her daughter despite her bruises, vomiting and other medical issues over the course of a day.
In addition to Bobo, jurors heard from detectives, EMTs, doctors and medical examiners about the horrific injuries that Ariana endured, including internal and genital injuries, a broken arm, and the blunt force trauma to her head that authorities say caused her death.
Ariana Smyth, left, died after being assaulted by the boyfriend of her mother, Amber Bobo, right, according to authorities. (Provided by Tawnya Hughes/Dept. of Corrections)
Disportos attorney, Jason LeBoeuf, noted in his closings that he saw some of the jurors crying during the trial. He said police got the wrong man because they focused their investigation only on Disporto because they believed Bobo, who was lying to save her own skin.
LeBoeuf told jurors the states witnesses, especially Bobo, gave testimony that was riddled with inconsistencies or outright lies, and that there was no DNA or other scientific evidence to support the theory that Disporto sexually assaulted the girl.
On Monday, after the judge declared a mistrial, LeBoeuf said the state did not meet its burden. He speculated that the jurors who did want to convict might have been influenced by a strong desire to hold someone accountable for the tragic death.
Mr. Disporto maintains his innocence as he always has. He has rejected and will continue to reject all overtures toward a plea deal and he looks forward to demonstrating his innocence to another jury of his peers in the near future, LeBoeuf said Monday.
During the trial, jurors heard Ariana Smyths father, Robert Smyth Jr., say his child was fine when he handed her over to Bobo on the afternoon of July 2, 2016, as part of their informal shared custody agreement.
Bobo told authorities that Disporto, whom she had been seeing for a few weeks, came over to her apartment that night and took Ariana to the park alone because he wanted to get to know her better.
The prosecutors office said Bobo reported that she awoke to discover Disporto had moved the girl to the couch and changed her clothes. She later noticed bruises on her daughters head, arms and genitals in the morning, the prosecutors office said.
But LeBoeuf told jurors that Bobo lied and changed her story about whether Disporto had been sleeping in bed or on the couch.
The pair then went to the Deptford mall to shop for shoes, but went home when Ariana vomited. They later took the child back out for more shopping, she told police. Bobo said Disporto told her not to get medical help but she finally did call 911 after Ariana vomited more and lost consciousness.
LeBoeuf pointed out that Bobo told EMTs she didnt know where the bruises were from and that she had just gotten the child back from Smyth.
Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
A shadow hanging over the future of the embattled historic lightship Barnegat may have gotten longer after the death of a Camden marina owner who had been trying to save it for the past 25 years.
Rodney Sadler, 69, died last week. He acquired the ship in the early 1990s from a preservation group in Philadelphia, across the Delaware River from his Pyne Poynt Marina in Camden.
Today, the Barnegat sits rusting in the mud, moored at the marina on the Camden waterfront.
The former Coast Guard vessel was built in 1904 in Camden and used primarily on the Jersey coast to steer ships clear of shallow waters as a floating lighthouse and during WWII for coastal security. Sadlers vision was to raise money from donors to preserve it.
He wanted to transform it into an exhibit on the Camden waterfront, his widow, Anna, said Monday.
It was going to be an attraction, eventually, Anna Sadler said. He wanted to call it Birth to Berth. But the battleship became available and it took over the idea of a historic ship on the waterfront.
The Battleship New Jersey arrived on the Camden waterfront in 2001. Since then, the Home Port Alliance, a private non-profit organization, has worked to raise money to maintain and restore the most decorated warship in the U.S. Navy. It is berthed in a county park on the waterfront.
Meanwhile, the Barnegat is included in a 2018 list of the states most endangered historic sites.
Preservation efforts for the Barnegat Light Ship are continuing in Camden.
Anna Sadler said she thinks the Barnegat can still be saved but it might cost as much as $1 million to build a floating dock to lift it out of the mud and move it to where work can be done to preserve it.
I used to be in development, said Sadler, who once worked with the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild that owned the Barnegat before her husband acquired it. Its very hard to find money for this.
An official with Preservation NJ, which included the Barnegat on its most endangered historic sites list, said she has been pitching donors on the restoration project but hasnt received any interest.
We arent the ones who have a lot of capacity to save them, Courteney Mercer, director of Preservation New Jersey, said this month.
Anna Sadler said she knows her husband wanted to preserve the ship and the marina to benefit the North Camden community. She said the vessel belongs to the Camden Museum and Learning Center, a nonprofit foundation he created to mange it.
She said they both also hoped to have the marina included in city and county waterfront bike trails or as a nature preserve. She said there is an eagles nest at the top of one of the masts on the Barnegat.
But if that doesnt happen, she may put the 7-acre marina, with dozens of abandoned boats strewn around it, up for sale.
If someone came through and was interested in (the Barnegat), Id be thrilled, she said. I dont have the money to do it.
Richard Feldmann, a project director of the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum said he spoke to Rod and Anne earlier this year about the future of the Barnegat and the marina.
Having known Rod and Anna I know their hearts are in the right place, Feldmann said. They want to do things for Camden, the city they loved.
Shes a beautiful old ship." Feldmann said. "Id like to see someone come in and make it their focal point.
Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us.nj.com/tips.
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Millville police are looking for a pair of gunmen after two people were wounded in an early morning shooting.
Police responded to a home on West Broad Street for a report of shots fired around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday and found a 49-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man with gunshot wounds, authorities said.
Both were airlifted to Cooper University Hospital, Camden, and were listed in stable condition.
The victims told police that two men entered the house from the rear and a struggle with the intruders ended in gunfire.
The gunmen fled the area on foot.
There are no suspects at this time, police said, but they described the shooting as an isolated incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Millville Police at 856-825-7010, the tip-line at 856-825-2182 or text millvillepd and your tip TIP411.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Martinos Cuban Restaurant, which closed after nearly 30 years of business in Somerville, isnt reopening. But Somerset County foodies are getting the next best thing. Martino Linares, whose parents owned Martinos and worked there as well, is opening his own restaurant in town.
De Martino, a Cuban Restaurant, is tentatively scheduled to open its doors in mid-April, Linares told MyCentralJersey.com, at 9 Davenport St., the location that previously housed Thai restaurant Bangkok Thai.
I want to pay homage to the classic Cuban dishes that my father taught us but elevate them by enhancing their flavor and plating with better ingredients and meats, Linares told MyCentralJersey.com. "Our Martinos regulars will think theyre coming back to Martinos, but theyre not. Some people may be upset, but change is good.
De Martino will feature dim lighting and an intimate setup with hand-painted artwork. Dishes like oven-roasted pork shank over mofongo, braised oxtail over yuca mash and Cuban sandwiches will be on the menu.
Martinos closed at the end of September because the lease was up at the 202 W. Main St. location, according to MyCentralJersey.com, and Linares worked at Jockey Hollow Bar and Kitchen in Morristown as a chef before finding the space for his new restaurant.
We had a lot of regulars at Martinos, and it was a staple in Somerville. People loved it and they would come from Pennsylvania and New York to eat there, Linares told MyCentralJersey.com. Im hoping to bring in locals as well as new customers because Somerville is changing for the better, and that only brings in more people to town to try something different.
Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Gynelle Harvey was driving a tractor trailer, headed toward the Pacific Coast, when she got a phone call from a number she didnt recognize.
It was an inmate inside Northern State Prison. The voice on the other line told her that her son, Anthony Fontanez, had just been beaten by the prison guards, and by the way he looked, he was not going to survive. She turned around, and headed back to New Jersey, desperate to see her son.
Most of the information I had received was from the inside, Harvey said, adding that officials at the prison would not tell her about her sons condition. I wound up getting a lot of these 3-way calls from people telling me he was in ICU and the way he was beaten up so bad, they are surprised if he would ever live after that beating. One of them said he was passed out, knocked out unconscious and they still dragged him down the steps.
Fontanezs allegations are laid out in a notice of claim he filed on Friday against the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC), the Northern State Prison warden, and three corrections officers.
The incident started when Fontanez who is less than five years into a 31-year sentence for crimes such as attempted murder and aggravated assault stemming from two shootings in Camden was told he wasnt allowed to take a shower, but took one anyway instead of participating in recreation, according to the claim.
Immediately after, he was cuffed and put in a cage where he watched while corrections officers began pouring over his entire cell and his clothing disinfectant, Clorox, cleaning supplies and other toxic substances, the claim states.
Fontanez said he was told to go back into his cell, but refused because of the fumes from the chemicals. Additional guards were called in, and one sprayed mace on Fontanez, who then ran to the shower to attempt to wash it off.
He claims the officers then attacked him with their batons, hitting him in his head and arms, then eventually dragged him down the stairs and put him in a wheelchair, while blood was dripping from his nose and head.
Eventually, he was transferred to University Hospital and had to undergo surgery on his ankle that required plates and screws to be installed, he claims. He also sustained broken ribs and a broken nose.
NJ Department of Corrections spokesman Matt Schuman confirmed that an incident involving Fontanez on Jan. 6 is being investigated. He said the department doesnt comment on pending litigation.
While Harvey was making her way back to New Jersey, Fontanez was released from the hospital and transferred around various prisons, including the East Jersey State Prison in Rahway before winding up at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. During that time, Harvey said was not able to speak with her son to see how he was doing. It was not until five days after the incident happened that Harvey was able to talk with him on the phone, and not able to see him in person until Jan 16.
He told me he did not do anything, Fontanezs mother said. I know my son, and he might get into situations in prison here and there. If certain things happen, I do find out later.
When they finally spoke, Harvey said her son told her his cell was trashed, pictures were ripped off the wall and thrown in the garbage and he had a cast on his leg. Harvey said she did not see his face but was told his it was badly bruised.
His family questions why they werent notified sooner by the prison.
Here is the thing that kills me: When you have 10, 9 or 8 guys doing that, that is a problem, said Antonio Fontanez, Anthonys father. That does not sit well in my stomach. I understand if something happens, put him in lockup. When you start using excessive force like that and actually break this kids leg and break his ribs, theres something wrong with the system.
Harvey said inmates and her son has said the assaults had become something they have come to accept while serving time in the prison.
All these guys in here think that this is a routine that goes on in prison and no one will do anything about it, so they take the beat down, suck it up, and go about their business, she said.
Fontanez is being represented in the case by civil rights attorney Shelley Stangler.
I certainly can say that this is yet another horrific and brutal example of gross misconduct and excessive use of force over a minor infraction, Stangler said. Why does this keep happening?
Stangler said it is very common in the corrections system not to let loved ones know what is going on with an inmate or even be allowed visitation under a series of what she considers to be archaic rules that do not let family members into the hospital room. The civil rights attorney also said the types of policies are not transparent, including not being allowed to take photographs of injuries.
She said some of these issues are contributing to the reoccurrence of these types of events.
It all relates back to the internal affairs function and the lack of discipline and the tolerance for misconduct, Stangler stated. This is what we see in these cases and why it continues to occur.
NAACP of Newark criminal Justice chairperson Rick Robinson was contacted by Harvey immediately after the alleged assault. Robinson believes that this incident furthers the cause for more oversight of the prisons.
If were going to continue to have complaints regarding inmates who are abused in any way, there must be some type of vehicle in place regarding oversight, he said. We have already had women who were being raped the Edna Mahan Prison, and the NAACP-Newark testified on that because one of the women is from Newark.
Harvey is hoping the situation changes the way families are notified when serious injuries or near-death experiences happen.
All I wanted was information about my child, Harvey said. Could you put yourself in my predicament? Dont look at him differently because he is a prisoner. At the end of the day, he is somebodys child, regardless of what he did. I am a parent, and I need to know if something is going on with my son.
NJ Advance Media reached out to the Attorney Generals Office to inquire if there is an ongoing investigation into the Northern State Prison, but a spokesperson said it is the Offices policy to neither confirm nor deny investigations.
Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us.nj.com/tips
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) Chinese businessman Michael Yang is no longer sitting as the presidential economic adviser, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Tuesday.
Medialdea confirmed that Yang's "one peso per annum contract" as an "adviser" to President Rodrigo Duterte expired on December 31, 2018.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in November 2018 said that Duterte "from time to time" has been seeking advice from the Davao-based businessman in his capacity as a "consultant."
Yang, who owns the Davao City Los Amigos shopping center, is currently facing allegations of involvement in the illegal trade.
If proven true, charges will be filed
A day after clearing Yang of his supposed involvement in the drug trade, Malacanang on Tuesday said it is now waiting for concerned agencies to validate claims against the Davao-based businessman.
In his media briefing, Panelo said charges will be filed against Yang if former anti-narcotics cop Eduardo Acierto's allegations are proven true.
"This President will not tolerate anyone regardless of the stature or the relationship with him if he's involved in drugs," Panelo told reporters.
"I think the burden would fall on the law enforcement agencies. If they received reports of alleged activities of a particular person, then they should do something about it."
Acierto on Monday said that based on his investigation, Yang is deep into the drug trade.
"Alam ninyo, 27 years ako sa police force, 18 years dito sa anti-illegal drugs operations. Kapag ganun po katagal ang involvement sa isang bagay, may instinct na po kaming mga pulis," Acierto said in a video provided by his camp to Facebook page Now You Know PH.
"Marami akong tanong. Bakit pusher/user ang description niya kay Michael Yang? Kung pusher at user ang description, eh bakit consultant ng Presidente? Kung galit ang Presidente sa droga, bakit kasama-sama lagi?" Acierto added.
But Panelo said the former anti-drug operative may just be "getting back at the government" for previously tagging him as one of the officials involved in illegal drug trade.
"Obviously the motive is, since he has been accused of involvement in drugs, he wants to get back. That's why he's pointing fingers at whoever," the spokesman noted.
Panelo added if Acierto's claims were true, then the latter should have filed it when he was still connected with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Acierto said he sent copies of the intelligence report starting in December 2017 to top police officials, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) head Aaron Aquino, Sen. Richard Gordon, and the office of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, but he was unaware of any action taken.
The Palace on Monday cleared Yang of drug links, saying if that were the case, his name would have been included in a narco list and released to the public.
President Rodrigo Duterte in October 2018 also said the Chinese businessman is not a drug pusher because he has close ties with top Chinese officials.
Close ties with the President?
Acierto had also presented photos of Yang with the President, implying what looked like "close ties" between the two.
Panelo, however, said he is unaware of the "extent of friendship" between Duterte and Yang. He added the economic adviser will continue to enjoy the chief executive's trust and confidence as a public official.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday said as far as his agency is concerned, Michael Yang is "not included in any watchlist or investigation" of people with links to illegal drugs.
The police chief, in a press conference Tuesday, likewise issued a challenge to Acierto.
"Man up and face the charges squarely rather than shoot from the hip with indiscriminate accusations," Albayalde said.
CNN Philippines Correspondent Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
A municipal official charged last week with inappropriately touching an employee and stealing from his employer is now facing a lawsuit.
Charles M. Bosco, 53, of Malaga, was charged with criminal sexual contact and official misconduct over his alleged behavior as public works director for Franklin Township in Gloucester County.
An employee in his department told police that Bosco repeatedly harassed her and in one incident allegedly grabbed her by the back of the head and forced her head down to his groin, where her face touched his penis on the outside of his clothing.
That employee, Deanna Tyciak, has now sued Bosco and the township, claiming that Franklin officials did nothing to protect her from her supervisors abusive behavior.
Tyciak, who has worked for the township as an administrative assistant since 2015, accused Bosco and the township of violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination through harassment, creating a hostile work environment and retaliation.
On top of the allegations described in the police report last week, Tyciak offers additional details in her suit, describing how Bosco repeatedly tried to convince her to have sex with him.
In addition to grabbing her by the waist and rubbing his groin against her backside, grabbing her breast, and talking about his sex life, Bosco has told (her) that if she will just have sex with him that her life at work will be easier, according to the suit.
Among the allegations, the plaintiff also claims Bosco routinely grabbed Tyciak by her ponytail and described it as a good holding knob.
Bosco also commented on her appearance in front of male employees and told them he wanted to have sex with Tyciak, who is described in the suit as the lone female employee in the department. He also had a camera installed above her desk in order to watch her, the plaintiff alleges.
When Tyciak complained to township officials that Bosco was using the departments female restroom, he went into the room and urinated all over it, including the walls, she claims, so that she couldnt use it.
Thereafter, Bosco declared the ladies room was unisex, the suit states.
Tyciak said she repeatedly told Bosco to stop harassing and touching her and tried to get help from township officials. She feared she wouldnt get any assistance due to nepotism in upper management.
When she rejected his advances, Bosco demoted her, cut her hours, screamed at her and called her a dumb blonde and a bitch, she claims.
Attorney Arykah A. Trabosh, who is representing Tyciak, said she filed the suit after the township ignored two letters she had sent in an effort to resolve the issues.
Tyciak is still employed with the townships public works department, but has been transferred to another building, her attorney said.
Bosco was rehired by the township in 2017, according to the suit, after previously working for the municipality for several years. He was terminated around 2008 for official misconduct, the suit alleges, but Franklin officials rehired him even though they knew his employment history.
While Bosco declined to comment on Tyciaks allegations in the suit, he said the claim he was fired by the township in 2008 was inaccurate. His position with public works was eliminated in 2009 because of downsizing and he had the least seniority in the department, Bosco said Tuesday.
Township officials declined to comment on the allegations in the suit Tuesday, but an official indicated last week that Bosco had not been suspended over the allegations in the criminal complaint.
His status with the township is expected to be discussed at Tuesday nights township committee meeting.
Bosco is due in court next month on his criminal case.
In addition to the sexual contact charge, he is also accused of selling public works scrap at a local scrap yard, then, instead of turning the money over to the township, spending it at local restaurants and stores. Police reviewed 2018 and 2019 receipts from the scrap yard and petty cash records which revealed multiple receipts for cash expenditures at local dining establishments and retail stores, according to the complaint.
Boscos salary is $71,875, according to state pension records.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
BAYONNE Police detectives arrested a Linden man in connection with a February shooting and are still seeking a second person of interest, authorities said.
Bayonne police detectives and Linden police officers arrested 33-year-old Andre Taylor on Monday in Linden and charged him with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault for his alleged role in the Feb. 11 shooting that left a Jersey City man with three gunshot wounds.
Authorities said Taylor was not the shooter in the incident and that they are still working to identify a second person who may have been involved.
It is unclear what Taylors alleged role was in the incident. Detectives said the incident is still under investigation.
Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @cwmcdonald_. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
BAYONNE Peter Cresci, the citys former business administrator, was disbarred by the state Supreme Court after an ethics board stated he had been engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.
In a decision submitted to the states highest court, the nine-member Disciplinary Review Board voted to disbar Cresci after detailing cases where he knowingly misappropriated clients funds in three separate matters.
The totality of Crescis conduct, the board said in its 86-page decision has demonstrated, clearly and convincingly, that he is unsalvageable.
Cresci could not be reached for comment.
The decision, made public on Friday, cites three cases: one involving a wrongful termination, another involving a property sale and another in an estate administration where Cresci "commingled personal and client funds."
In each of the cases, Cresci avoided or outright lied to his clients and ethics officials about his misuse of funds, the report said, and often refused to cooperate with authorities.
"The extent and degree of respondent's pathological dishonesty alone warrant a two- to three-year suspension," the board said.
In the wrongful termination affair, Cresci was indicted for allegedly forging a signature on a settlement agreement and unlawfully taking $25,000 without informing his client. He later pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree crime stemming from the initial charges.
The two other cases, meanwhile, saw Cresci misuse or mishandle thousands of dollars, according to the board.
Cresci was suspended from practicing law in November 2016 for his involvement in handling his attorney trust account.
The review board also pointed out that Cresci continued to practice law despite his suspension. Even after warnings from state officials reminding him of his status, Crescis law firm continued to use his name in its letterhead, in violation of New Jersey State Bar Association statutes.
But the decision states Cresci continued operating his office through intermediaries and neglected to tell his clients about his status.
During this time, he became an active critic of City Hall, representing a number of plaintiffs in lawsuits against the city.
In 2017, he filed a civil complaint against the city that asserted several city employees were in violation of a residency requirement ordinance. The city maneuvered to avoid the requirement, but residents petitioned for the ordinance to be established.
A Hudson County judge later ruled that the city must enforce the referendum petition, thus solidifying the residency requirement.
Many of his other open cases against New Jersey City University, the Bayonne and Jersey City Boards of Education and Hudson County, among other entities are now in limbo.
The cases have either been closed by attorneys from Crescis firm, or clients have been ordered to find new counsel.
One case in particular, filed by city resident Stacie Percella against Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis alleging he sexually harassed her, has been shuffling through different attorneys after having been originally taken on by Cresci and his associates, court documents show.
Cresci was once a prominent figure in City Hall. He was hired as an assistant city attorney in 2001, was appointed city business administrator in 2007 and later represented the Bayonne Parking Authority as its attorney and interim director.
But he was ousted in 2009, and arrested in 2011 after city officials said he had illegally taken $150,000 as his salary as acting director of the Bayonne Parking Authority.
A grand jury declined to indict him and, after suing the city for wrongful arrest, he settled in 2016 for $25,000.
Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @cwmcdonald_. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
Reda Ged was 23 years old when he packed his bags, got on a plane and made the 12-hour trip from Egypt to the United States in 1999.
His plan was to start a career with his skills as a mechanical engineer but like many immigrants, he spent months looking for employment after moving to the U.S. Ged eventually landed a job at an auto shop in Jersey City and after five years, he was ready to once again venture out on his own this time to open his own business, AG Service Center in Bayonne.
Call it the American Dream.
Geds story is not an uncommon one for immigrants in New Jersey. While immigrants make up 22 percent of states total population, they own 47 percent of main street businesses, a study by the left-leaning think tank New Jersey Policy Perspective shows. The report, compiled by policy analyst Erika Nava, refers to documented and undocumented immigrants and defines main street businesses as small businesses focused on neighborhood services, accommodation and food services, and retail.
First generation immigrants do not typically have the access or the time to develop strong networks of support in the business community, Nava writes in the report. This makes it difficult for immigrants to acquire full-time, professional positions in the workforce.
But in Geds case, he said he started his own business because he wanted to be independent.
I dont like to work for somebody, he said standing inside a tiny office at his auto shop at the corner of 51st Street and Avenue C in Bayonne. If youre a handy man, you have to open a business because its better for you."
In 2018, Ged, 40, acquired his second business, Noches Antojitos, a Colombian restaurant in North Bergen. I like Spanish food I used to go eat over there, and I liked the place."
Immigrants own over half of main street restaurant and food services in New Jersey, according to NJPPs report, which used data collected in 2016 by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Immigrants also own 81 percent of household maintenance businesses and 79 percent of dry cleaning and laundry businesses, while also running 48 percent of child care services and 50 percent of clothing stores. In Hudson County where 43 percent of the total population is foreign-born minority groups own over half of all businesses, according to 2012 census data.
This tells us that first-generation immigrants who come to New Jersey dont just stop by. They want to stay here and invest in New Jersey," Nava said.
New Jerseys immigrant share of main street businesses ranks second in the country, second only to California. In total, New Jerseys immigrant-owned businesses earn $4.4 billion dollars per year, including nearly $1 billion per year from main street businesses, the report indicates.
Its astonishing, Nava said.
Nava noted that not only are immigrants racially and ethnically diverse, the businesses areas they pursue are also diverse.
Khoa Le, for example, now owns and runs Kvibe Productions, a media production company in Jersey City that focuses on content creation, ranging from marketing to documentaries.
A Vietnamese refugee, he was six months old when he and his family landed in Michigan in 1980 at the height of the hardline communist rule in Vietnam. Months later, his family moved to Jersey City where he attended School 38, went on to Dickinson High School and then earned his bachelors degree in music from Rutgers University-Newark.
Le said he grew up not being educated about his purpose or opportunities in life. But when he graduated college at 21, he knew wanted to have his own company.
My thing was always about having control in my life, he said. He recalls thinking, I should have a company that can provide opportunities for people that I couldnt have myself."
Now, 38, Le also runs Live Picture Studios, a wedding videography and photography company.
Le added that he hopes his businesses create an environment for his children to succeed in.
By the time I die, I hope that I had built an environment where my son and his friends and the people that he loves ... can prosper in an environment that I was involved in," Le said. Its always about moving things forward, building a future, building opportunities.
Aya Elamroussi may be reached at aelamroussi@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @aya_elamroussi. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY A member of New Jerseys royal family The Springsteens may become one of Jersey Citys bravest, sources told The Jersey Journal.
Bruce Springsteens firefighter son Sam was one of hundreds who took the civil service exam last year to become a firefighter, the sources said. Results were released last week but have not been made public yet.
The city wants to send about 60 of the top scorers to training, according to the sources. Training takes about five months and will occur later this year at an academy in Morristown, after the firefighter hopefuls take required physicals.
Sam Springsteen, 25, is the youngest of Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfas three children. He could not be reached to comment. A spokeswoman for his father declined to comment.
The family appeared together at the Tony Awards in June where Bruce received a special award for his show, Springsteen on Broadway, which ran from October 2017 to December 2018.
Sam Springsteen graduated from the Monmouth County Fire Academy in 2014 and joined the all-volunteer Colts Neck Fire Department.
Jersey City has about 600 firefighters.
Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
Delaware Valley High School senior Thai Branowski of Alexandria Township is the grand prize winner in a statewide photo contest that attracted 370 entries this year. Also distinguishing themselves were Del Val students Gaby Klein, Alena Graziani and Skye Bundt.
The 15th annual New Jersey Youth Photography Competition, sponsored by the Ocean County Camera Club, attracted entries from 14 counties, and its winners go on to the Photographic Society of Americas national competition.
Branowskis photo, Into the Woods, won first place in the People/Animals category. Hell receive $50 for taking first place, plus $100 for grand prize.
Clockwise from left, Branowski's Into the Woods, Alena Grazianis Self Portrait, and Skye Bundts Natures Eye.Thai Branowski, Alena Graziani, Skye Bundt
Grazianis Self Portrait took fourth place in People/Animals, and Kleins Wet Paint took fourth place in Photographers Choice Color. Her Drizella and Skye Bundts Natures Eye achieved Judges Choice recognition; that is accorded to a photo when one or more of the three judges believe a photo has special merit.
Also winning recognition are two photos by Gaby Klein -- Wet Paint and Drizella.Gaby Klein
Branowski, Klein and Graziani are in Sarah Rupperts Advanced Photography course, and Bundt took Intro to Photography last semester.
Submitted by Delaware Valley Regional High School
Several New Jerseyans played a prominent role Monday during a ceremony to commemorate the continued construction of the attack submarine New Jersey at a shipyard in Newport News, Virginia.
The submarine, which has been under construction, since 2016 is 43 percent complete and is expected to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2021.
The New Jersey is being built by Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding and is the 23rd Virginia-class fast attack submarine.
The ships welder is 35-year-old Momouth County native Jessica Batruk. At Mondays keel authentication ceremony, she traced the initials with a welding torch, signifying the keel of SSN 796 as being truly and fairly laid. The metal plate will remain affixed to the ship throughout its life.
Meanwhile, the ships sponsor is retired dentist Susan DiMarco, a Montclair resident and the wife of former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. DiMaroco on Monday chalked her initials onto a metal plate.
Jeh Johnson and the couples son, Jeh Johnson Jr., a member of the U.S. Coast Guard were also on hand.
I am extremely proud to sponsor the submarine New Jersey, named for my home state, DiMarco said at the ceremony. My family prides itself on service to our great country, and I am pleased to contribute in this way.
U.S. Rep. Donald Norcorss, D-1st Dist., also attended.
Members of the U.S. Navy flank Susan DiMarco, left, and Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1) at a keel authentication ceremony Monday, March 25 for the Virginia-class attack submarine New Jersey. DiMarco, a Montcalir resident and the wife of former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, is the ship's sponsor The ceremony was held in Newport News, Virginia. (Photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries)Photo by Ashley Cowan
Virginia-class submarines are built in dozens of individual modular sections, which are then joined together in open ends of hull sections to form the ship during final assembly.
The submarine is being built under the terms of a series of multi-year contracts first awarded in 1998 to build the current generation of nuclear subs soon to join the Navys Silent Service.
Under those contracts, General Dynamics Electric Boat in Connecticut is sharing construction of the first 28 ships of the Virgina-class submarines with Huntington Ingalls. Each company builds certain parts of each boat, and the yards take turns building the reactor compartments and performing final assembly of the submarines.
The lead ship, the USS Virginia, was commissioned in 2004.
Shipyard officials in September said including the New Jersey, there currently are 10 Virginia-class submarines under construction at Newport News, as part of the teaming arrangement with Electric Boat.
NJ Advance Media staff writer Ted Sherman contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
A spectator suffered serious injuries Sunday after a dirt bike rider crashed during a race at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds, state police said.
Police were called to the fairgrounds, which are located in Millville, at 11:49 a.m. after the riders bike ended up in the spectator area and hit a woman, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Lawrence Peele said.
The woman, whose name was not released, was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden for treatment, Peele said.
Police did not have an update on the womans condition Monday night.
The fairgrounds host several dirt bike races throughout the year for adults and children.
Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
UPDATE: Ashley Combs was found safe Wednesday evening.
The 17-year-old New Jersey girl who hasnt been seen or heard from since she did not return home from school Friday has not been located and her family said Tuesday they believe she left the school with someone that afternoon.
Ashley Combs, a senior at Toms River High School North, didnt show up for school again on Tuesday and hasnt returned home, according to Jef Henninger, a lawyer who represents her legal guardians.
Police and her family believe she was picked up from school Friday afternoon by someone, Henninger said. The teen didnt have a cell phone, any additional clothing besides what she wore that day or any credit cards or ATM cards, he said. She was carrying just a few dollars in cash.
Ashleys legal guardian, Rob Nieratko, posted an update on social media Tuesday morning emphasizing he has no idea where she is and pleading for the teen to return home. He added that she is not allowed to have a cell phone or have contact with her birth parents, but otherwise lives a very comfortable life.
Any person that would keep a child away from their parents knowing that they are breaking the law is a sick individual, Nieratko said.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Henninger, the familys attorney, commented on the ultimatum he issued Monday which gave the person Ashley is with until 9 a.m. Tuesday to drop her off at a police station.
We had to leave open the possibility they thought they were helping this kid. We wanted to give them the opportunity to say, oops, sorry. That wasnt done," Henninger said. "We believe she went with this person voluntarily but theres no indication this was a long-term thing.
When Henningers deadline passed, he issued his second statement, imploring the person who is with Ashley to send her home.
Someone has her and that person knows that what they are doing is illegal and they dont care, Henninger wrote. They are willing to sacrifice their job, their family and their own freedom by keeping Ashley away from her parents, family members, friends, school and a normal teenage life. To those that think she just ran away, ask yourself this: what type of person would risk everything to help a child runaway knowing that everyone is looking for her? Do you think that this person is mentally sound? Do you honestly think she is not in danger?
Toms River police reiterated late Tuesday morning that detectives are still looking for Ashley and that her disappearance is not suspicious.
All indications are that she left home purposely and would not divulge her location to people she has had contact with, spokeswoman Jillian Messina said.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Theres an old saying that goes. When you set out to kill the king, make sure you dont miss.
I got thinking of that after the news broke that special counsel Robert Muellers probe failed to find proof that the Donald Trump campaign colluded with the Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign.
That was no surprise to me. From the evidence available to the public, it never looked like a case for collusion could be made.
The anti-Trumpers made much of the campaigns contacts with various Russians in search of possible dirt on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
But at the height of that hysteria, UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, who is a leading expert on the First Amendment, addressed that on his Volokh Conspiracy blog:
If the Hillary Clinton campaign had reason to think that, say, the British government had very high level and sensitive information showing serious misbehavior by Trump, I think it would have had every right to get that information and see if it should be put before the American people as evidence that Trump shouldnt be elected, he wrote. Limiting candidates ability to expose their opponents misbehavior would violate the First Amendment.
It would indeed as every journalist should have realized, given that we seek information from shadowy sources all the time.
For a crime to be committed, the Trump people would have had to do something truly devious, such as hacking into the Clinton campaigns computers. But the campaign was far too disorganized and chaotic to pull off such a sophisticated stunt.
Nor was it needed, not with Hillary Clinton doing things like labeling as deplorables many of the very blue-collar voters who traditionally made up her partys base.
When Trump stole that base from right under her nose, Clinton and her supporters were shocked. And that shock led them to search for alternative explanations for her miserable performance.
That search needs its own investigation. Maybe now its going to get one, said one of my sources in the world of intelligence.
Pat Lang, who lives in Virginia and runs the Sic Semper Tyrannis blog, had a long career with the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Lang noted that Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz is conducting an investigation into the events that led to the Mueller probe. That could highlight a major difference between the pro- and anti-Trump forces.
Opposition research is not unusual, Lang said. But its a big difference when you make stuff up and peddle it in federal court.
The stuff made up was the infamous Steele Dossier, a compilation of unfounded allegations against Trump put together by a former British intelligence agent by the name of Christopher Steele of Fusion GPS, an opposition-research firm that was first hired by Trumps primary opponents and then later by Democrats and the Clinton campaign.
That dossier was used to get a FISA warrant against a Trump campaign worker, an issue Horowitz is likely to address, Lang said.
He said that its likely Horowitz will also be looking into the conduct of FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. The two shared emails in which Strzok wrote, We will stop it in reference to a potential Trump presidency. He also wrote Im afraid we cant take that risk.
Perhaps theres an innocent explanation for those remarks. But on the surface, that sounds like unwarranted political interference by FBI officials.
Lang said he expects Horowitz to get answers to a lot of questions that have been hanging over the Mueller probe.
The Horowitz report is potentially a really potent document, especially with Barr now encouraging him, he said.
Thats Attorney General William Barr. Hes the Trump appointee who succeeded Jeff Sessions, the former Alabama senator who I suspect will go down in history as the worst presidential pick ever.
In the frantic days after his surprise victory, Trump picked Sessions to be his attorney general. Sessions promptly thanked him by recusing himself from the Russia investigation.
That permitted his deputy to name a special prosecutor who would spend 675 days telling us what should have been obvious from the start: Gathering information is not a crime.
Trump punished Sessions by giving him the cold shoulder for two years before finally firing him. That treatment seems to figure in the Mueller reports conclusion on potential obstruction of justice: "While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."
Barr has said he wont be pursuing any charges of obstruction, but some Democrats seem determined to carry on the fight in Congress.
All I can say is good luck.
All of the kings enemies have taken their best shots and hes still standing.
Perhaps they would be wise to find another target.
BELOW - LEADING DEMOCRAT WANTED TO BOMB RUSSIA:
Federal authorities have charged a fourth Paterson police officer in an alleged scheme to steal cash during traffic stops and then falsify reports.
FBI agents arrested Daniel Pent, 32, of Paterson, on Tuesday and charged him with conspiring to deprive individuals of their civil rights under color of law.
Five cops took part in the scheme, which ran from at least 2016 through April 2018, authorities said. They allegedly used text messages with code words to describe their actions. The word mango referred to illegally seizing cash, authorities previously said.
In addition to traffic stops, the officers would detain people on the street and rob them, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
Two other Paterson officers, Jonathan Bustios and Matthew Torres, were arrested last year for their alleged roles in the operation and officer Eudy Ramos, 28, was indicted last week. The fifth officer has not been identified.
Pent and Ramos allegedly stopped a motorist on Feb. 1, 2017, and stole about $10,000 from one of the vehicles occupants.
The pair split the cash and then arrested the victim on a charge of loitering in a drug area, according to authorities. Pent filed a prisoner property report that stated the victim had only $36 in his possession and the pair submitted an incident report in which they didnt mention finding and seizing the $10,000.
A cooperating witness told investigators that the officers had discussed whether to steal the money, according to the complaint against Pent, and that Pent allegedly told Ramos they should either tag it all or take it all.
Ramos was indicted March 20 on nine counts, including conspiring to violate the civil rights of individuals in Paterson, and filing multiple false reports to conceal his actions.
In December 2017, Ramos and Bustios allegedly stopped and searched someone on a street corner and stole $1,000 from that victim, authorities previously said.
Ramos and Bustios were arrested last April as a result of an investigation launched by the Paterson police internal affairs unit, officials said at the time.
Pent is due in a federal courtroom in Newark on Tuesday afternoon for his initial appearance.
His conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
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.
Only hours after after a bill that would legalize marijuana in New Jersey was shelved over a lack of support, Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday told a packed room in Union City that he will greatly expand New Jerseys medical marijuana program.
Murphy said his administration will soon move ahead with expansion plans that would boost enrollment in the medical marijuana program to as many as 200,000 patients by increasing the number of cannabis growers and sellers far beyond the six operators that currently serve New Jerseys 42,000 patients.
The Democratic governor made the declaration at a town hall meeting at a Union City elementary school, where hundreds of supporters packed the gymnasium and dozens more filled the hallway after the room reached max capacity.
Well likely aggressively further open up the medical regime in the next day or two, Murphy said, adding the number of people enrolled in the program probably should be at 150,000 or 200,000.
The governor fielded a question about opioid addiction and was pressed on the benefits of medical marijuana to help with recovery.
It has proven to be an invaluable effort, Murphy said.
Democratic leaders in the Senate have insisted the separate recreational weed bill and medical expansion bill be voted on together in order to corral more support for legalization.
But on Friday, Murphy, also a Democrat, told reporters he would not wait to add to the pool of medicinal cannabis businesses if recreational marijuana bill did not pass on Monday.
We have put off (responding) to the enormous demand for medical marijuana. We have resisted granting more licenses, the governor said.
He did not specify how many more licenses would be granted.
It will be a significant number, Murphy said. "It wont be six. It will be many multiples of that.
Sources close to the negotiations told NJ Advance Media last week the administration said the number could be 30 to 50 separate licenses for growers, cultivators, wholesalers and retailers.
After the legal weed bill was pulled from consideration, Murphy told reporters Monday afternoon he expected to focus on expanding the medicinal market but said he was not ready to share the details yet.
Details could come as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday, Murphy said at the town hall meeting.
Expanding New Jerseys medical marijuana program was billed as a sort of contingency plan if the push to get legal weed in the state stalled which it did Monday morning after it was clear the state Senate didnt have the votes to pass legislation.
The backup plan would not cover other parts of the medical marijuana bill designed to help patients, including allowing those enrolled in the program to buy more each month, and steps to make it easier to qualify for the program, two sources familiar with the plans told NJ Advance Media last week.
The plan would simply give patients more options when it comes to buying medical marijuana by making the market significantly larger, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
The states 42,000 medical marijuana patients, is more than twice the 18,000 patients when Murphy took office in January 2018.
The state Health Departments move to add six additional dispensaries hit a legal snag after a handful of applicants who passed over the permits challenged the decision in court. Those appeals are pending.
Mondays town hall meeting was Murphys first since he unveiled his second budget proposal at the beginning of the month.
He is expected to hold at least one about every three weeks until the July 1 budget deadline, Murphy officials said.
NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.
Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.
Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
WASHINGTON In a blistering address closing out the annual conference of thousands of pro-Israel activists, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez accused President Donald Trump of lacking any genuine understanding of the history of anti-Semitism, racial hatred and white supremacy.
Menendez leveled his attacks as Republicans used the American Israel Public Affairs Conference to try drive a wedge between Jewish voters and their traditional political home after a freshman House Democrat used anti-Semitic memes to question congressional support for Israel.
History warns us against letting anyone use the Jewish community as a pawn in a political game, said Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the final speaker at a conference that drew 18,000 participants as well as Vice President Mike Pence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of both houses of Congress.
For what is politically expedient today may not be tomorrow when youre dealing with a leader who lacks any genuine understanding of the history of anti-Semitism, racial hatred and white supremacy, he said. Because in the history of this nation, weve learned that the only ones who are truly on the side of justice are those who fight for it every day not those who find politically convenient moments to criticize anti-Semitism.
In the midterm elections, Jewish voters supported Democratic candidates over Republicans, 79 percent to 17 percent, according to network exit polls.
Menendez first referred to freshman Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, a supporter of Palestinian rights, who used long-standing anti-Semitic tropes in claiming that pro-Israel lawmakers had allegiance to another country and their votes were paid for.
Then he turned his attention to Trump and other Republicans.
When you imply that money is the only driving factor of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, you are fanning those flames, said Menendez, D-N.J. And just the same, when you accuse Jews of funding caravans of asylum-seekers at our southern border, or fail to call out and condemn the rise of white supremacy at home and abroad, you are fanning those flames.
There is simply no excuse for dangerous vitriol from any politician that threatens both the safety of Jewish Americans and Israels core existence, he said.
Trump last fall falsely accused George Soros, a Jewish financier, of funding a caravan of immigrants seeking asylum in the United States and of hiring protesters opposed to the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
And House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in a tweet deleted after 12 Jewish worshippers were gunned down in a Pittsburgh synagogue, accused Soros and two other Jews of trying to buy the 2018 midterm election.
In his address to AIPAC on Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence claimed that Omar and her supporters spoke for the entire Democratic Party, in contrast to Trump moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, captured from Syria during the 1967 Six Day War.
Its astonishing to think that the party of Harry Truman, which did so much to help create the State of Israel, has been co-opted by people who promote rank, anti-Semitic rhetoric, and work to undermine the broad American consensus of support for Israel, Pence said.
Menendez fought back against those comments, as well as remarks by Trump last week calling the Democrats anti-Israel and anti-Jewish.
As a Democrat, Im proud to belong to the party of Truman, the first American president to recognize the state of Israel, Menendez said. Im proud to belong to a party that at its core embraces Jewish values like social justice, equal rights and tolerance, which have always strengthened American values.
The Trump-Pence campaign was criticized by the Anti Defamation League for using anti-Semitic memes, including a final campaign ad showing pictures of prominent Jews as the narrator described these people that dont have your good in mind." As president, Trump said there were very fine people among the neo-Nazis marching in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Trump and other Republicans recently have seized on the failure of House Democrats to pass a resolution specifically condemning anti-Semitism due to blowback from Omar and others in their caucus.
Instead, the House passed a resolution that condemned both anti-Semitism and attacks on Muslims with 23 Republicans voting no, including the No. 3 leader of their conference, GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney of Utah.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., praised that resolution in her address to AIPAC as she declared her support for the Jewish state.
We will never allow anyone to make Israel a wedge issue, Pelosi said.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who had helped lead the fight for a resolution specifically addressing anti-Semitism, participated in a panel discussion during the AIPAC conference. He, too, talked about how support for Israel needed to remain bipartisan.
Whenever we see anything shifting, I think its very, very important that Democrats and Republicans, stand up and make it very clear that we will not allow partisanship, from either side, into the relationship, said Gottheimer, D-5th Dist. We cant allow anti-Semitic rhetoric. We cant use these tropes. We cant make these claims. Any little comment is unacceptable and has to be addressed immediately.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
WASHINGTON A group of New Jersey political and business have banded together to lobby Congress to end the decades-long Cuban embargo.
The Engage Cuba New Jersey State Council is the 19th state organization to join the national effort led by the Washington-based advocacy group.
It comes at a time when President Donald Trump has rolled back President Barack Obamas efforts to establish normal relations with the Communist country. Earlier this month, the State Department ended a five-year tourist visa for Cubans, allowing them to make multiple trips to the U.S., granting instead only single-entry visas for up to three months.
New Jersey is home to 44,974 Cuban Americans, behind only Florida and Texas, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
As long as we maintain restrictions on trade with Cuba, we burden American business owners, said state Senator Declan OScanlon, R-Monmouth, one of 29 founding members of the state council. The business community in New Jersey should be free to meet demand in foreign markets and truly compete in the global marketplace. From biotechnology, to agriculture, to manufacturing, New Jersey products have the potential to change lives in Cuba and create jobs across our state."
Their efforts face opposition from New Jerseys two Cuban-American lawmakers in Washington, who also disagreed with Obamas overtures to Havana.
Just weeks after the Cuban regime approved a new constitution designed to keep the Communist Party in power for the foreseeable future, it seems like a fools errand for Engage Cuba to set up an New Jersey chapter," said U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
New Jersey, with its rich history and vibrant Cuban-American community, should continue leading the way in sending a clear message to the world and to the Cuban people that the United States will never give-up on our commitment to a free and democratic Cuba.
And Rep. Albio Sires, D-8th Dist., called the effort all about the almighty dollar, saying that when Obama tried to engage Cuba, the government doubled down on its efforts to quash opposition.
If you want to talk about giving something to Cuba, Cuba has to give something back, which they did not do with Obama," Sires said. "If there is dissent, they beat them up they put them in jail and they abuse them.
One obstacle in New Jersey, however, is the continued presence in Cuba of Joanne Chesimard. who is on FBIs list of the most wanted terrorists. Chesimard has lived there since 1984 after escaping from prison after being sentenced to life imprisonment in the killing of state Police Trooper Werner Foerster in a 1973 shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Trump mentioned Chesimard by name in his Cuba speech in June 2017 announcing changes to U.S. policy.
A member of the new council, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, D-Bergen, said the U.S. could be in a better position to push for Chesimards extradition.
Many of us in New Jersey have close ties with the Cuban people, and we should foster that connection." Johnson said. "Both countries have so much to offer each other. We cannot allow the economic and social isolation of the Cuban people to prevent us from continuing to advocate for our interests in Cuba like the return of Joanne Chesimard.
Others on the council include Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora; John Harmon, chief executive of the New Jersey African American Chamber of Commerce; and Peter Furey, executive director of the New Jersey Farm Bureau.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
If you are a late night traveler and use the Delaware Memorial Bridge for your commute, you may want to alter your plans on how to get to New Jersey or Delaware on Tuesday night.
The Delaware River and Bay Authority announced the bridge would be closed for a half hour between 11:55 p.m. Tuesday and 12:15 a.m. Wednesday morning to allow a massive cargo ship to travel under the twin-span bridge. Once the vessel safely clears under the two spans, the bridge will reopen.
A similar closure happened in March 2018, when cranes were delivered to Philadelphia, but the DRBA is closing the bridge as a precaution and to eliminate driver distraction.
The authority says the Zhen HUA 25, a Hong Kong-registered ship, will be carrying three ship-to-shore cranes made by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co in China up the Delaware River, traveling under the Delaware Memorial Bridge before continuing to PhilaPorts Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in Philadelphia.
Because of the size of the cranes, which are just over 188 feet tall, the ship has to wait until low tide to safely travel under the bridge without striking it. According to authority spokesman Jim Salmon, the last time a ship carrying the type of cranes under the bridge, there was a clearance of 5 feet, 8-inches from the bridge to the top of the cranes.
The DRBA will be monitoring the clearance through sensors on the bridge and tide data to make sure the ship safely passes through.
According to the Marine Traffic website, as of 3:13 p.m. Monday, the ship was anchored on the Delaware side of the Delaware Bay, waiting to make the trek up the river.
This will not be the last time the bridge will be closed in the near future. Once the ship delivers two of the cranes, it will turn around and head back south with the remaining crane headed for Wilmington, North Carolina. Because of this, the bridge will close once again on April 2. Details on the time the bridge will close will be available at a later date.
Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us.nj.com/tips
The police lieutenant tasked with running a small Sussex County police department was arrested Monday on charges he stole a cable TV box from headquarters and sought compensation for time he didnt work.
Hamburg police Lt. George Gunderman, 41, faces charges of official misconduct, tampering with public records, tampering with evidence, and theft, Sussex County Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller said. Gunderman is the officer in charge of the eight-member Hamburg Police Department and receives a salary of $96,171, according to public records.
Gunderman was taken into custody by detectives with the prosecutors office while in full uniform in front of the Hamburg Municipal Building, and taken to the Sussex County Jail pending a detention hearing.
An internal affairs investigation began March 19 when Gundermans fellow officers reported he was using compensation time for classes he did not attend, and was allowing other Hamburg police officers to do so as well, according to the criminal complaint.
An officer also reported the departments cable TV box was missing on Feb. 3, Superbowl Sunday. Gunderman told the officer he had taken the monitor and box to the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department, where Gunderman is a member, but the cable box, TV and remote hadnt been returned as of March 20, the complaint states.
Gunderman previously took the TV the fall 2018 and did not return it until January, authorities said.
During the week of Feb. 18, another officer alleged Gunderman paid himself for 12 hours to attend a training course on March 3. The hosting agency confirmed to the prosecutors office Gunderman never attended the course, which was cancelled on Feb. 25.
Gunderman maintains his innocence, his attorney Anthony J. Iacullo said Tuesday morning.
Officer-in-charge Gunderman is not guilty of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint," Iacullo said. We are preparing to mount a defense to all of these baseless allegations. We are presently working on securing his immediate release from custody so that he could return home to his family and begin the process of defending against the allegations.
Gunderman was hired by the police department in 2007 and was appointed to lieutenant/officer in charge of the police department in May 2018 after the council voted to eliminate the police chief position.
Gunderman is expected to appear in court on Thursday.
Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
A second Wawa convenience store has been approved in Sussex County about four miles from a still-unbuilt location, approved nearly a year ago, where the popular Chatterbox Drive-In restaurant had a devoted following.
The Hampton planning board unanimously approved Thursday night a 5,051-square foot Wawa on Route 206, said John Ursin, attorney for the property owner.
It will be built on a vacant parcel between a Lowes home improvement store and a Dairy Queen, according to the site plan.
Further north on Route 206, at the intersection with Routes 15 and 565 in Frankford, the building that once housed the Chatterbox still stands, more than seven months after the 1950s/60s-themed restaurant said farewell on Labor Day weekend.
Actor Henry Winkler, best known as Fonzie on Happy Days, was among the visitors to the Chatterbox during its 15-year run.
The former Chatterbox Drive-in restaurant as seen on Monday, March 11. (Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
While the Frankford land use board unanimously approved the Wawa on March 28, 2018, the state Department of Transportation is continuing to review a driveway permit application, DOT spokesman Steve Schapiro said earlier this month.
Ursin did not have a timeframe for opening the Wawa in Hampton.
The Pennsylvania-based company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on either location.
Wawa operates more than 800 stores in six states, most notably in the Philadelphia area and southern New Jersey. It offers fresh foods such as cheesesteak hoagies, breakfast sandwiches, soups, sides and snacks, in addition to coffee and other beverages.
Most Wawas also offer fuel. Ursin said the approved location in Hampton would have about eight pumps.
Wawa has been expanding in New Jersey and opened a store in Ewing, in Mercer County, in the summer of 2017. The company is in the midst of a hiring push and, through April 10, is holding open-house hiring events at 20 stores.
Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters
A Metairie man, who previously pleaded guilty to rape and kidnapping, is now accused of stealing a gun safe from Mississippi in December 2016. The safe contained 11 guns, according to an indictment handed down Thursday (March 21) by a federal grand jury.
David Hunter, 22, is accused of stealing the safe from Tylertown, Miss. and transporting it to Louisiana. The guns included seven rifles, two pistols and two firearm frames.
At the time of the theft, Hunter was out on bail for charges of second-degree kidnapping and rape in Orleans Parish. In November 2015, Hunter held his ex-girlfriend against her will as he drove her around through Orleans and Jefferson parishes before punching her and dragging her by the hair to his car where he raped her. He received an eight year prison sentence after pleading guilty to both counts in June 2018 and, court records show. He is currently detained at the Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport, La.
Man pleads guilty to 2015 rape, kidnapping of ex-girlfriend
In the federal gun case, Hunter faces one count of possession of stolen firearms, being a prohibited person under indictment in possession of firearms and possession of a suppressor not registered to him. The first charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years and a $250,000 fine, the second a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a $250,000 fine, and the third a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years and a $10,000 fine.
The investigation was handled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans is prosecuting the case, according to Monday release from the office of U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser.
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office named 41-year-old Mica Sood Fitzhugh and 44-year-old Robert Wolfe as the man and woman found dead inside a Ponchatoula residence early Monday (March 25).
Deputies went to a home on Kraft Road to check on the welfare of one of the residents and they found two people with fatal gunshot wounds, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release. After investigating the scene, police now believe the incident was domestic.
No suspects were being sought in connection to deaths, authorities said.
The investigation is ongoing.
A life sentence has been reinstated for a 41-year-old man accused in what prosecutors described as a murder-for-hire plot to kill his girlfriends husband, after the Louisiana Supreme Court on Tuesday (March 26) reversed an appeals court decision that had scrapped the mans obstruction of justice conviction.
Khoi Quang Hoang was initially charged with second-degree murder, solicitation of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction of justice in the 2013 case. A jury in 2015 convicted Hoang of obstruction, but could not reach a verdict on the other three charges.
Charity Nguyen was found not guilty in the death of her husband, Lien Nguyen, in a separate trial.
Criminal District Judge Camille Buras sentenced Hoang to 35 years in prison on the obstruction conviction, and later gave him life after prosecutors filed a motion to have him re-sentenced as a multiple offender.
Louisianas 4th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Hoangs obstruction of justice conviction and vacated his life sentence in a 2-1 vote in 2016, saying the only evidence presented by the state was circumstantial and of a speculative nature. Unless that circumstantial evidence excluded every reasonable hypothesis of innocence defendants conviction cannot stand.
District Attorney Leon Cannizzaros office appealed that decision to the Louisiana Supreme Court, which heard arguments in the case in January and reversed the appeals courts decision Tuesday.
Jury deadlocks on murder charges, convicts on obstruction of justice in murder-for-hire trial
Lien Nguyen, 40, was found bleeding from gunshots to his face and torso in a ditch in New Orleans East on April 23. 2013. Before he died, Nguyen told the passerby who found him that his wife was responsible for his death.
A New Orleans police homicide detective said at trial that after 2 years of investigation, police found no physical evidence linking Hoang to Lien Nguyens murder.
Jurors heard testimony from a man who claimed Hoang and Charity Nguyen asked him on four occasions to kill Lien Nguyen, and from a woman who said she loaned Hoang a truck police believe was used in Lien Nguyens kidnapping.
Irene Booker said Hoang returned her truck the next day with the license plate missing.
Prosecutors also alleged Hoang removed a security system from Nguyens home.
Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up
Appeals court Judge Terri F. Love wrote in her opinion that reversed Hoangs obstruction conviction that witnesses could only speculate as to when they thought the license plate was removed, and the woman who loaned Hoang her truck said she loaned it to a number of people. The woman also testified she learned several other license plates had gone missing at her apartment complex that same night, Love wrote.
In their opinion issued Tuesday, Supreme Court justices said from all of the evidence presented, a jury could reasonably infer (without speculating) that defendant removed the trucks license plate or directed someone else to do so because the truck was going to be used in a murder or had just been used in a murder.
They said the appeals court panel erred in finding that circumstantial evidence connecting Defendant to the removal of the license plate was nonexistent.
Chief Justice Bernette Johnson and Justice John Weimer dissented from the majority opinion.
Johnson wrote in her dissent, there is absolutely no rational interpretation of the circumstantial evidence by which a jury could convict this defendant of obstruction of justice.
The states evidence connecting Hoang to the truck was based solely on the testimony of an admitted cocaine addict, Johnson said, adding her testimony regarding the missing license plate was inconsistent and confusing.
Not only is there a complete lack of evidence to support a finding that defendant removed the plate or directed removal of the plate, there is also a complete lack of evidence from which a jury could find defendant had the requisite specific intent, Johnson wrote. Considering Ms. Bookers testimony, and the lack of any other evidence, I find the record before us wholly inadequate to support defendants conviction for obstruction of justice."
Weimer agreed with Johnson, adding the appellate court correctly determined the state failed to prove obstruction beyond a reasonable doubt.
Cannizzaro said he was pleased with the Supreme Courts ruling.
The jurors who heard and carefully weighed the evidence in this case worked hard to reach consensus, and Im glad to see their verdict upheld to deliver a measure of justice for this victim, he said.
Hoangs defense attorney could not immediately be reached.
Hoang is scheduled to face trial on the three counts the jury could not reach a verdict on -- second-degree murder, solicitation of murder and conspiracy to commit murder -- in May.
Jurors in Covington heard testimony Tuesday (March 26) in two separate murder trials - a teen accused of shooting his stepfather to death in their home near Abita Springs in 2016, and a Mobile, Alabama, man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death south of Covington in 2014.
Daniel Tucker Hamilton, who was 16 at the time of his arrest, is on trial for the murder of his stepfather, James Kenny Hamilton, in the home they shared on Lenel Road north of Abita Springs. The case is being tried before state Judge Alan Zaunbrecher.
Deputies were dispatched to the house on March 7, 2016, after James Hamilton, 51, did not show up for work and a relative went to the home and found the body, authorities have said. Hamilton had been shot six times as he sat in a recliner, according to authorities.
Daniel Hamilton surrendered two days later after fleeing to the Lake Charles area.
Teen arrested in slaying near Abita Springs
Hamilton, now 19, is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of murder solicitation. He is accused of soliciting another person on Sept. 1, 2017, to kill two people, according to a grand jury indictment.
District Attorney Warren Montgomery said in 2016 that he decided to try Daniel Hamilton as an adult, calling the shooting a gruesome crime.
Jurors heard testimony Tuesday from the victims brother and niece, as well as a St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office detective who knew Daniel Hamilton and James Hamilton from a hunting club of which they were all members.
April Jenkins described her uncle as a big teddy bear, and said he and Daniel Hamilton had a good relationship. They were like best friends, she said.
Sheriffs Detective Daniel Buckner testified that he went to the house after getting a call from a fellow hunting club member who became concerned when James Hamilton failed to show up for work. A few deputies were already on the scene.
Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up
Buckner said he went inside the house and saw Hamiltons body. I could tell he was lifeless . . . we backed out.
Buckner described James Hamilton as a good-hearted person who liked to help others.
Assistant district attorneys Elizabeth Authement and Angad Ghai are prosecuting the case.
Daniel Hamilton is being represented by attorneys Stephen Hebert and Greg Thompson.
In the second trial, which began last week, Johnathan Lee Nall, 39, is on trial before Judge August Hand for the second-degree murder of his girlfriend, Melinda Denny, 26, of Mobile. Denny was found dead of stab wounds Feb. 27, 2014, in a wooded area along Brewster Road south of Covington.
Denny, a mother of four, drove to the New Orleans area Feb. 20, 2014, to pick up Nall, who said he was stranded with no money, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reported at the time.
At the request of Nalls mother in Alabama, deputies went to check on the couple in the parking lot of a grocery store along Louisiana 21 south of Covington. Deputies found the pair, and both seemed to be OK, authorities said.
Hours later, Nall became involved in a standoff with deputies at a convenience store on Louisiana 1077. He was eventually arrested, but Dennys whereabouts were unknown at the time and deputies suspected foul play.
Dennys body was later found along Brewster Road between Louisiana 21 and Louisiana 1077.
St. Tammany deputies find missing woman's body
Click here for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival "cubes.''
New Orleans music fans have known who will perform at the 50th-anniversary New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for two months now, but they still couldnt precisely plan their personal festival. Until Tuesday (March 26) that is, when the management released the hour-by-hour, stage-by-stage schedule in an easy-to-read, color-coded grid, aka the cubes. Scanning the cubes for happy scheduling coincidences and possible conflicts is a springtime tradition right up there with twisting the first crawfish.
Theres good news if you didnt get tickets to Rolling Stones Day. Stones Day tickets had been sold out. But "a very limited number of tickets'' will go on sale Wednesday, March 27, at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.com for Rolling Stones Day, May 2, director Quint Davis announced at the news conference. Davis also announced Coca Cola will sell Jazz Fest 50th anniversary edition bottles.
Two significant changes have occurred since the lineup was first announced. Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band canceled their May 4 appearance due to scheduling conflicts. Jerry Lee Lewiss April 28 appearance was canceled when the 83-year-old rock and roll pioneer suffered a stroke. Lewis was replaced by Johnny Secret Agent Man Rivers.
Performing at the news conference on Tuesday were Soul Queen Irma Thomas and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Speakers included Kathleen Turner, president of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation; festival producer and director Quint Davis; Mark Romig, president and CEO, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation; and Allen Pertuit, general manager, of Shell Convent Refinery. Shell is the major sponsor of Jazz Fest.
Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of Jazz Fest, Irma Thomas said that the fest began at an opportune time for her and other musicians whose careers may have waned. Thanks for keeping us alive, she said, you brought us out of the closet, took the cobwebs off and gave us a job. You never get too old to play Jazz Fest.''
She sang a rendition of "Happy Birthday'' to Jazz Fest for its 50th, a cappella. "What an honor,'' Davis responded.
Quint Davis laughed as he announced that as the festival passes the half-century milestone, it has acquired a new sponsor: AARP. The American Association of Retired Persons will sponsor the CD, book and wine store, known as the Rhythmpourium.
Asked if New Orleans music fans could look forward to another 50 years of Jazz Fest, Davis said he saw no reason why not. Heritage isnt something in the rear view mirror, he said. We think of this fest as everything for everybody, of all ages.
Davis pointed out that as the years have gone on, the festival has continually added new genres to traditional favorites such as jazz and gospel. He said that when the Jazz Fest first presented bands like Bon Jovi or Pearl Jam it opened up the fest to new audiences. The same should pattern should continue in the future.
Rolling Stones will headline 2019 New Orleans Jazz Fest: Its true!
Jazz Fest takes place from April 25-28 and May 2-5 at the Fair Grounds Race Track, 1751 Gentilly Blvd. Advance tickets to the rest of the fest besides Rolling Stones Day cost $75 in advance or $85 at the gate. Louisiana residents with proper ID may buy two tickets at the gate on Locals Thursday (April 25) for $50 each. Tickets for children ages 2 to 10 are $5 on all days except May 2.
Doug MacCash has the best job in the world, covering art, music and culture in New Orleans. Contact him via email at dmaccash@nola.com. Follow him on Instagram at dougmaccash, on Twitter at Doug MacCash and on Facebook at Douglas James MacCash. As always, please add your point of view to the comment stream.
Conversations with the President
Conversations with the President are opportunities for President Morton Schapiro to discuss key issues facing the University with staff, faculty and students.
The forums, which are are co-sponsored by the Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC), the Faculty Senate and the Office of the President, are webcast live.
Conversations with senior leaders
Conversations with Senior Leaders are opportunities for leadership to discuss key issues facing the University with staff, faculty and students. The forums, which are sponsored and hosted by the Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC), are webcast live. Recordings will be posted here after each event.
Highlights from past conversations
Watch video and read about President Schapiros annual Conversations with the President forums:
March 25, 2019 Mark Romanski , 906-487-7154 Liz Valencia , 906-487-7153
HOUGHTON, MICH --- Following the translocation of wolves from the Grand Portage Indian Reservation in Minnesota, Michipicoten Island Provincial Park, and the Ontario mainland to Isle Royale National Park, a team of wildlife researchers working with the National Park Service have collared moose on the island for the first time since 1984. This collaboration among the National Park Service, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan Technological University, and Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa aims to help the National Park Service assess population health, effects of herbivory, and impacts of predator restoration to the ecosystem.
This is the beginning of a novel effort to compare numerous aspects of ecology and the health of the moose population between Isle Royale National Park and the Grand Portage Indian Reservation, Mark Romanski, Chief of Natural Resources for Isle Royale National Park said. It also represents an opportunity to evaluate the impacts of restoring predation to the island ecosystem. The National Park Service is implementing a plan to translocate 20 and 30 wolves to the island over the next three to five years.
Funding for the moose collaring project came from National Park Service, National Science Foundation, Michigan Technological University, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Many generous private donations also have supported this project.
During 13 17 February, 2019, a helicopter team, wildlife veterinarian, and wildlife research biologists attached GPS collars to 10 female moose on both the west and east ends of the island. During capture they also collected biological samples and assessed individual moose health. The moose were alert and able to walk away in under two minutes after being handled by the team. Since then, the research team has been continuously monitoring them by GPS.
The team plans to conduct several studies with this data including understanding differences in the health of island and mainland moose populations, how predator dynamics influence moose populations, how forest management influences moose, and the role of climate on moose and ecosystem health.
Isle Royales simple predator-prey system of wolves and primarily moose is ideal for comparative research with the mainland population of moose, also fitted with GPS collars, found on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation. The reservation hosts a more complex ecosystem with multiple predator and prey species. Mainland populations of moose are in decline for numerous reasons: predation from bears and wolves and the effects of changes in climate, such as changes in amount and duration of snow, which has allowed increases in winter ticks as well as parasitism from brain worm as whitetail deer move into moose range.
In contrast to mainland Minnesota, the moose population on Isle Royale has increased rapidly in recent years.Although moose in Isle Royale also suffer from high winter tick loads, brain worm has not made it to the island because of the absence of deer. Another crucial difference is that wolf numbers are high on the mainland (due to high deer densities), whereas until recently on Isle Royale only a few remaining wolves are impacting the moose population. As a result, impact of the growing moose population on forest composition and succession is increasingly apparent and experts are concerned that such high levels of browsing damage are impacting forest regeneration and may eventually lead to nutritional stress for moose.
The Grand Portage Band of Chippewa were the historical occupants of Isle Royale and used the Island for subsistence purposes. says Seth Moore, PhD, director of biology and environment at the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa. We hope to learn how to better manage moose populations from this research.
The team of researchers includes Tiffany Wolf, University of Minnesota; Seth Moore, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; Rolf O. Peterson, John A. Vucetich, and Sarah R. Hoy, Michigan Technological University; and Mark Romanski, Isle Royale National Park. This team collectively has decades of experience concerning moose and wolf research, as well as the ecosystems in which the project occurs.
March 25, 2019 Hanako Wakatsuki , 208-539-3416 Park Ranger , 208-825-4169
On April 4, 2019 from 10am to 11am, the National Park Service will be
hosted by the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee to give an update on Minidoka National
Historic Site and previewing the parks film produced by North Shore Productions. This will
provide folks from the Seattle area to hear from the Minidoka National Historic Sites
superintendent, Wade Vagias; the Executive Director of Friends of Minidoka, Mia Russell; and
the producers of the film, Rory Banyard and Cristin Norine. The NVC Memorial Hall is located
at: 1212 S. King St., Seattle, WA 98144.
Minidoka National Historic Site is located at 296 S. 1400 E. in Jerome, Idaho twenty miles northeast of Twin Falls, Idaho. Admission is free. Visitors can walk the 1.6 mile trail and around historical buildings like the barrack and mess hall in Block 22 on a self-guided-tour from sunrise to sunset. There are trail exhibits allowing visitors to learn more about life at Hunt Camp and the history of why Americans were imprisoned by their own country during WWII. Please be aware of safety at the site in regards to the wildlife as there are bees, snakes, and other animals. For more information, please call (208) 825-4169, or visit the website at www.nps.gov/miin, or explore our Facebook page Minidoka National Historic Site.
The purpose of Minidoka National Historic Site is to provide opportunities for public education and interpretation of the exclusion and unjust incarceration of NikkeiJapanese American citizens and legal residents of Japanese ancestryin the United States during World War II. Minidoka National Historic Site protects and collaboratively manages resources related to the Minidoka War Relocation Center in Idaho and the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial in Washington State.
You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person.
Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else.
Does everyone pay?
State legislators are considering several possible exemptions for drivers who are low income, have disabilities or are going to medical appointments. Assemblyman David I. Weprin, a Democrat from Queens and a leading opponent of congestion pricing, has called for an exemption for all city residents, which seems unlikely.
Though details are being worked out, fees are expected to apply to people driving into the congestion zone from elsewhere in the city, including parts of Manhattan north of 60th Street and other boroughs, as well as beyond.
Drivers who live in the congestion zone would not pay when they drive within the zone or when they leave the zone, but they will when they return from elsewhere.
Of course, that could change if an exemption or discount is granted to residents of the congestion zone. For instance, London offers a 90 percent discount for registered residents of its congestion zone.
But more exemptions could mean higher tolls for everyone else.
After all, the fees are supposed to generate $1 billion a year. Every exemption you provide is less revenue coming into the system, said Kate Slevin, a senior vice president for the Regional Plan Association, a research and advocacy group that supports congestion pricing.
Alex Matthiessen, the head of a grass-roots campaign to support congestion pricing, said too many exemptions could hollow out the plan, making it ineffective. Now we must guard against a race to the bottom as legislators seek carve-outs and exemptions for every class of driver.
Instead, he suggested taking other measures, such as offering discounts on commuter railroads for city residents and subsidizing ride-app services like Uber for those with disabilities, to ensure more people benefit from congestion pricing.
During flight simulations recreating the problems with the doomed Lion Air plane, pilots discovered that they had less than 40 seconds to override an automated system on Boeings new jets and avert disaster.
The pilots tested a crisis situation similar to what investigators suspect went wrong in the Lion Air crash in Indonesia last fall. In the tests, a single sensor failed, triggering software designed to help prevent a stall.
Once that happened, the pilots had just moments to disengage the system and avoid an unrecoverable nose dive of the Boeing 737 Max, according to two people involved in the testing in recent days. Although the investigations are continuing, the automated system, known as MCAS, is a focus of authorities trying to determine what went wrong in the Lion Air disaster in October and the Ethiopian Airlines crash of the same Boeing model this month.
The software, as originally designed and explained, left little room for error. Those involved in the testing hadnt fully understood just how powerful the system was until they flew the plane on a 737 Max simulator, according to the two people.
There have been tipping points and bombshells, walls closing in and turning points. And there have been so, so many declarations of The beginning of the end! that the comedian John Oliver had a recurring, satirical We got him! segment on his late-night HBO show, complete with a jubilant marching band and sequined majorettes celebrating President Trumps downfall.
But in the swirl of reporting and speculation about the 45th president, nothing has held viewers on the edge of their seats quite like the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, and his investigation into possible ties between Mr. Trumps 2016 campaign and Russian agents.
The story line had it all: Cold War-era intrigue, allegations of shadowy meetings in Moscow and a cast of recurring characters that included an aide in a $15,000 ostrich skin jacket (Paul D. Manafort) and another who has a tattoo of Richard Nixon on his back (Roger Stone).
Mr. Muellers complete report hasnt yet been released, but on Sunday, Attorney General William P. Barr made public a four-page letter to Congress reporting that the 22-month inquiry did not have sufficient evidence to conclude that Mr. Trump and his associates conspired or coordinated with the Russian government ahead of the 2016 election. The news blindsided many liberals particularly those with an ambient knowledge of Rachel Maddows nightly monologues on MSNBC.
When allegations about misconduct at the school surfaced on Facebook in 2017, Saint Anns leaders hired an outside investigator. Emails were sent to the schools community, requesting that anyone with information step forward.
The investigation, conducted by T&M Protection Resources, a New York-based firm, included interviews with 47 witnesses who reported misconduct from the 1970s through 2017.
None of the witnesses appeared to be exaggerating or embellishing facts and all seemed genuinely concerned about being as precise as possible when answering the investigators questions, the school said in its letter.
The letter detailed the actions of six male faculty members whose alleged misconduct included having sexual contact with a high school senior and then sexual intercourse after graduation, engaging in sexual contact with a student at an off-campus party, unwanted kissing and inappropriate physical contact. None of the teachers were named, the letter said, because the school found that in some cases the evidence was not clear and convincing. All six of the teachers had left the school before the investigation.
What we tried to make clear in the letter was these were the six instances where the investigator made a judgment that the evidence he was able to compile met the appropriate evidentiary standard, Mr. Tompkins, who became headmaster of the school in 2010, said in an interview.
Hospitals understandably dislike these proposals, and there may well be a better dividing line. Its also possible that in some cases, the federal government should pay higher fees to private practices rather than pay lower fees to hospital affiliates. The administrations budget contains only a thumbnail sketch of its own ideas, and the details clearly matter.
But Democrats are not debating the details. Instead, a proposal to improve the efficiency of health care spending is being treated as an attack on the availability of health care.
This is not a new phenomenon, of course. The Affordable Care Act included substantial reductions in Medicare spending. Those cuts, like Mr. Trumps proposals, came mostly at the expense of providers rather than patients. But Republicans chose to attack the changes in language strikingly similar to the language Democrats have used in recent weeks.
Both parties have fallen into the unfortunate habit of characterizing every proposal to reduce Medicare spending as an attack on the programs beneficiaries. In fact, careful stewardship of spending is necessary to ensure the program can help as many people as possible.
Mr. Trump is guilty of contradicting his campaign promise that he would not seek to cut Medicare spending. But it is the promise that was irresponsible, not the budget proposal.
Some items on Mr. Trumps list of proposed savings have obvious downsides. For example, he has proposed to cut federal spending by increasing the annual amount that several hundred thousand Medicare beneficiaries are required to pay for needed medications. The budget also proposes large cuts in Medicaid that would reduce the availability of health care for many lower-income and disabled Americans.
But a presidents budget is just a list of ideas. It's up to Congress to pick the good ones.
Support for past cuts in Medicare spending was driven in part by concerns about the growth of the federal debt. Both parties lately have taken a more relaxed view of the governments borrowing capacity, in part because apocalyptic predictions about the current level of federal debt look rather silly in retrospect. But the governments ability to borrow money is not a justification for the wasteful spending of tax dollars.
Duke University will pay $112.5 million to the federal government to settle allegations that researchers submitted applications and reports containing falsified data to win more than two dozen grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Justice Department said on Monday.
Taxpayers expect and deserve that federal grant dollars will be used efficiently and honestly, Matthew G.T. Martin, United States attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, said in a statement. May this serve as a lesson that the use of false or fabricated data in grant applications or reports is completely unacceptable.
The allegations were initially made in a whistle-blower lawsuit brought by Joseph Thomas, a research analyst who worked in Dukes pulmonary division. He claimed that another researcher, Erin Potts-Kant, had fabricated data linked to as much as $200 million in federal research grants.
Mr. Thomas filed the lawsuit under the False Claims Act, a federal law that allows individuals to sue on behalf of the government. Under the law, the plaintiff may receive a portion of the damages. Mr. Thomas is to receive more than $33 million from the settlement.
But the first women-only venture outside of the confines of the space station will have to happen on another day. After consulting with McClain and Hague following the first spacewalk, mission managers decided to adjust the assignments, due in part to spacesuit availability on the station, NASA said in a statement.
Stephanie Schierholz, a spokeswoman for NASA, said in an interview on Monday that there were already two medium-size hard upper torsos essentially the shirt of the spacesuit, according to NASA at the space station.
But there were a couple of issues. One was that Ms. McClain had thought she would be able to work in a large-size torso, but after her spacewalk last Friday, she wore a medium-size torso and learned that it fit her better. Ms. Koch also uses the same size.
And of the two medium-size torsos available, one has yet to be properly configured for a spacewalk. It would take hours of crew labor not to mention some additional risk to fix that in time for Friday. Instead of doing that, NASA decided to simply switch out the astronauts.
This article was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba Military prosecutors say they have tapes of telephone calls between the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and three of his accused co-conspirators talking in code about the plot months before it took place, a defense lawyer disclosed on Monday.
The lawyer, Jay Connell, revealed the existence of the tapes as part of a protest over plans to use them as evidence at the death penalty trial of the alleged conspirators. More than 17 and a half years after the attacks in which 19 hijackers commandeered four commercial airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, killing nearly 3,000 people there is still no date set for the trial in the proceedings at Guantanamo Bay.
Prosecutors gave defense lawyers the original audio and transcripts of their translation on Sept. 30, 2016, Mr. Connell said, and made clear they planned to use them at trial. Defense lawyers sought to investigate their origins and later discovered that the original trial judge, Army Col. James L. Pohl, had issued a secret order preventing them from knowing about the phone call collection system or asking questions about it.
Mr. Connell, who is representing Mr. Mohammeds nephew, Ammar al-Baluchi, said that prosecutors secretly obtained a ruling in August 2018 from Colonel Pohl forbidding defense lawyers from learning how the phone calls were collected or investigating that question. The phone calls in at least two languages were made between April and October 2001.
This group, which differs from more traditional Democratic activists and party operatives, was sure that Mr. Mueller would implicate the president in conspiracies to influence the 2016 election and obstruct justice. That belief drove an almost obsessive Mueller fandom among the group, which formed its own internet subculture among the wider anti-Trump base. Mr. Mueller was personally revered for being everything the group thought Mr. Trump was not, in ideology, integrity and temperament.
A popular podcast called Mueller, She Wrote, which is streamed up to 200,000 times a week, calls its Russia-obsessed fans Muellerites. One of the three hosts, a California comedian who goes by A. G. and has a tattoo of Mr. Muellers silhouette on her arm, said the community was in what could only be described as a collective state of muted shock.
Ive had to talk a couple people off the ledge, she said.
One fan of the podcast, Anne Craig-Tillmond, said she wants to see the full report before shes completely deflated.
Ive been emotionally invested from the start, and was I let down by what Barr said? Absolutely, Ms. Craig-Tillmond said. Was I let down by what Mueller said? I dont know what he said.
The Facebook page of the Robert Mueller Fan Club says on its About page, All hail Robert Mueller through his work we shall be delivered from this ignorance and evil we suffer. Barbara Llewellyn, a retired real estate agent from Naperville, Ill., had written Hallelujah on the page. But by Monday, she had changed her tune.
I am very disappointed, because I felt that there were so many public instances where Trump acted guilty and tried to shut down the investigation in various ways, Ms. Llewellyn said. And I am realizing that this is just Barrs interpretation of what the report said. And Im hoping very quickly that Congress gets ahold of it totally unredacted, and we can go from there.
Some progressive activists have been calling for Mr. Trumps impeachment almost since he took office, and billionaire Tom Steyer ran television advertisements with that aim across the country. But the sense of profound disappointment that has set in on the left illustrates why Democratic campaigns have been so leery of resting their electoral hopes on Mr. Muellers investigation and the possibility of impeachment.
Good Tuesday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today.
_____________________
President Trump and his Republican allies vowed to pursue and even punish those responsible for the Russia investigation now that the special counsels inquiry has concluded without implicating him. Mr. Trump said some of them had done treasonous things.
The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, reached no conclusion about whether Mr. Trump had obstructed justice it was Attorney General William P. Barr who cleared him of that offense. Democrats seized on that, portraying Mr. Barrs decision as a hasty, dubious intervention on behalf of the president who installed him.
The tight-lipped Mr. Mueller is poised to return to civilian life, still a figure of mystery and fascination.
WASHINGTON The Trump administration broadened its attack on the Affordable Care Act on Monday, telling a federal appeals court that it now believed the entire law should be invalidated.
The administration had previously said that the laws protections for people with pre-existing conditions should be struck down, but that the rest of the law, including the expansion of Medicaid, should survive.
If the appeals court accepts the Trump administrations new arguments, millions of people could lose health insurance, including those who gained coverage through the expansion of Medicaid and those who have private coverage subsidized by the federal government.
The Justice Department is no longer asking for partial invalidation of the Affordable Care Act, but says the whole law should be struck down, Abbe R. Gluck, a law professor at Yale who has closely followed the litigation, said on Monday. Not just some of the insurance provisions, but all of it, including the Medicaid expansion and hundreds of other reforms. Thats a total bombshell, which could have dire consequences for millions of people.
michael barbaro
From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: The special counsel was supposed to make the decision about whether President Trump committed a crime. Why did the attorney general do it instead? Its Tuesday, March 26. Mike Schmidt, it has been 48 hours since the attorney general, Bill Barr, sent his summary of the special counsels report to congressional leaders. Where are you at in your thinking about all this?
michael schmidt
In a certain way, Im starting to think that the special counsel regulations, the way that this investigation was set up, has failed.
michael barbaro
What do you mean failed? Do you mean, because this investigation didnt produce criminal charges against the president?
michael schmidt
No, no, no. Its not about that. Its about the perception of politics in criminal decisions. Bob Mueller, the special counsel, operated under certain regulations that were designed to protect him and his investigation but also give the public assurances that investigators who were free of politics pursued the facts. In this case, theres a perception problem.
michael barbaro
What do you mean by perception problem?
michael schmidt
The special counsel is supposed to go out, look into the issues that are in question in this case, collusion and obstruction of justice and no matter how hard the questions they are looking at are, make a determination about whether someone broke the law or not.
archived recording 1 Because obviously, Mueller did not feel comfortable making a decision in either direction on obstruction. archived recording 2 Mueller said, you know what, I cant decide. Its up to you.
michael schmidt
In the case of the president, Mueller made no conclusion with respect to obstruction.
archived recording 1 I would love to learn more about what was happening behind the scenes and why Mueller decided to punt. archived recording 2 Prosecutors get paid to make determinations. Thats what we do.
michael schmidt
So that meant that the special counsel, the person who had been put there to protect themselves from politics, had no determination.
archived recording Thats not the job of the prosecutor. The job of the prosecutor is to decide yes or no.
michael schmidt
And that left it up to the political appointees, the attorney general and deputy attorney general, people who had been placed there by Donald Trump.
archived recording Barr says he and the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, concluded that that conduct did not reach the threshold of a crime.
michael barbaro
So youre saying that because Mueller punted the decision on obstruction of justice to Barr, and it was Barr who then cleared the president of that charge, the special counsel failed because there was no apolitical figure reaching a conclusion on one of the central questions of the investigation.
michael schmidt
Correct. Part of the reason the special counsel is there is to give the public the assurance that a investigator whos not politically tied to the person under investigation is doing the work and following the facts. And in this case, that person, Mueller, said, I cant come to a determination on this, and kicked it up to the folks above him who are the political appointees. By not reaching a conclusion, Mueller left the door open for Barr to come in and make a determination that he didnt think there was enough to say the president broke the law. But Barr has another perception problem.
michael barbaro
Whats that?
michael schmidt
Back in 2018, Bill Barr, who had been the attorney general under George H. W. Bush and was now semi-retired, he, unprompted, wrote a memo that ended up in the hands of the Trump legal team that essentially said there is a very, very high bar for a president to be charged with obstruction of justice. And in that argument, he says that in order to prove obstruction, you also have to prove the underlying crime. In this case, collusion. So to make a case, you have to be able to establish both.
michael barbaro
And Barr writes this long before his attorney general. What is meaningful about that memo and that legal logic about obstruction of justice now?
michael schmidt
In the letter he sends to Congress this weekend in which he explains the decision on what they did with the president on obstruction, he says that one of the reasons that its so difficult to make this case is that they cant show that the president was part of collusion.
michael barbaro
An underlying crime that would justify a charge of obstruction of justice.
michael schmidt
Correct. I actually want to can I read from it?
michael barbaro
Yeah.
michael schmidt
In his letter, he said, quote, In making this determination, we noted that the special counsel recognized that the evidence does not establish that the president was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference, and that, while not determinative, the absence of such evidence bears upon the presidents intent with respect to obstruction.
michael barbaro
So just to translate that for us, what exactly is he saying?
michael schmidt
Hes saying that unless you can show that the president was trying to obstruct to cover up another crime, then the obstruction is sort of hollow. It doesnt really resonate because theres nothing really to cover up.
michael barbaro
So that is a clear echo to the original Barr memo from 2018 written to the Trump administration. And it sounds like what youre saying is that because Barr wrote this memo before he was nominated as attorney general, the White House knew he held this position when it came to obstruction of justice. And the fact that it ended up being that legal interpretation that is used to help clear the president of wrongdoing when it comes to obstruction of justice that starts to feel quite political.
michael schmidt
Heres the problem. Barr may be right. He may have come to the correct conclusion based on the law and the fact. But because Mueller took a pass in this highly weird thing where he didnt want to make a call about whether the president broke the law on obstruction, it ended up in Barrs hands. And he looks like the ultimate and only decision maker. And he, because of politics, has perception issues on this decision.
michael barbaro
Well, lets talk about the actual conclusion that Barr reached. What do you make, Mike, of his rationale? Is there a broad legal consensus around Barrs argument here that obstruction of justice depends on an underlying crime?
michael schmidt
I think prosecutors would say that they dont want to bring cases against folks who did not obstruct an actual criminal act. Legally, you could make the case, but most prosecutors wouldnt want to because its not worth their time and energy to go after someone who is trying to cover up something thats not criminal.
michael barbaro
Got it.
michael schmidt
But in this case, I would say that there were crimes that the president may have wanted to cover up.
michael barbaro
Hmm. Which ones?
michael schmidt
Well
archived recording Breaking news. President Trumps former longtime attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, pleading guilty to eight counts of campaign finance violation, including, and importantly, hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal hush money payments that Cohen said then-candidate Donald Trump directed. Cohens stunning words today, and I quote, in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office.
michael schmidt
The president has been named essentially as an unindicted co-conspirator in Michael Cohens payments to women before the election for violating campaign finance.
archived recording Prosecutors say the hush money payments Cohen made violate campaign finance laws. President Trump calls them a simple private transaction.
michael schmidt
Donald Trump knew about those payments in May, June, July of 2017. So if youre the president and Bob Mueller comes along and you know that you made these payments, you think, well, if this thing really gets out of hand, I could have some problems. So in the summer of 2017 the presidents talking about trying to fire Mueller.
archived recording Now, according to The New York Times and The Washington Post, the White House is laying the groundwork to try to discredit or undermine Muellers investigation.
michael schmidt
Why was he really talking about that? Was it because of Russia? Was it because it was simply a distraction? Or did he want to ensure that Mueller didnt go too far into his personal finances?
archived recording Multiple U.S. officials tell NBC News Mueller is gathering documents involving the financial records and businesses of dealings close to the Trump campaign, something the president says is a red line a red line, except following the money is what Mueller does.
michael schmidt
Barr says, look, he had nothing to cover up on Russia, but his same Justice Department has essentially said hes an unindicted co-conspirator in a campaign finance case. The Justice Department is looking at his inaugural committee
archived recording Putting all information related to inaugural donors, vendors, contractors, bank accounts.
michael schmidt
and his businesses. And Muellers investigation has led to great embarrassment for the president.
archived recording 1 President Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn just hours away from finding out if hell go to prison for lying to the F.B.I. about his Russia contacts. archived recording 2 Also, breaking tonight, the presidents former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, found guilty on eight counts. archived recording 3 Roger Stone, longtime Trump associate and adviser, was taken into custody by the F.B.I.
michael schmidt
Even though he was cleared on collusion, more than a handful of his advisors and associates have pled guilty to different charges. So was there really nothing to obstruct?
michael barbaro
So youre saying that Barrs rationale that there is no obstruction, because there were no crimes to obstruct, doesnt really hold up, because there were crimes, they just werent the crimes of coordinating with Russia to influence the election?
michael schmidt
Im saying that a day after Barr sent the letter, as we look at it, thats another part of it that doesnt make complete sense yet.
michael barbaro
Mike, is that one more way in which, by kicking the decision to Bill Barr, the special counsel put this in the political realm of interpretation by political actors in a political system that might have been better left to an independent figure as the special counsel rules envisioned?
michael schmidt
It means that instead of Mueller explaining the determination, Barr is doing it. And that just exposes the decision to the politics that Mueller was there to protect it from. And the head-scratching part of it is, so you went through this whole exercise of creating a special counsel.
michael barbaro
To be apolitical.
michael schmidt
To be apolitical. And in the end, the special counsel takes a pass, and it ends up right back in the hands of the political appointees. Well, why did you need a special counsel?
michael barbaro
Right. And to that point, I guess the question is, why did Robert Mueller kick this question of obstruction of justice to the attorney general knowing full well everything you just explained, that that would make whatever decision Barr made feel political and in violation of the spirit of having a special counsel? He arguably handed off his central job to a political appointee.
michael schmidt
Well, we dont know, and were trying to find out. But here are two possibilities. Maybe, one, he didnt want to box in Barr. He didnt want to put him in a situation where he may appear to be disagreeing with the investigators. The second is that the legal issues around this are very difficult to unravel because its caught up in the unique position the president has as the head of the executive branch. And it may just be so hard to untangle them that Mueller kind of threw up his hands and said, this is a highly unusual situation. Im going to let the Justice Department make the call.
michael barbaro
Its interesting. You said that maybe Mueller doesnt want to box in Bill Barr, but it feels like it also puts Barr in a very weird position, because Barrs options are all about degrees of political once Mueller kicks the decision to him. If Barr makes a decision about obstruction, yes, that seems political. But if he sends Muellers findings along to Congress with an open-ended question of whether or not the president obstructed justice, he leaves it to a Democratically controlled House to answer the question. And honestly, that feels as political, maybe even more political, than the attorney general making the call himself.
michael schmidt
In a sense, maybe Barr was damned if he did and damned if he didnt. I dont know.
michael barbaro
Do you think that Mueller would have anticipated all of this, that this would put Barr in a political position and would essentially violate the spirit of what the special counsel was all about?
michael schmidt
Its one of the mysteries right now. Its one of the questions were trying to answer. Why is it that Mueller couldnt come to a conclusion? Came to a conclusion on collusion, said it didnt happen. But obstruction wouldnt exonerate the president.
michael barbaro
Mike, it seems like before this report came out over the weekend, the main concern from Congress about Attorney General Bill Barr was whether he would ever release the full Mueller report to Congress, not that he would actually weigh in on whether the president committed crimes, because the idea that Mueller would not reach a conclusion wasnt really conceivable. In retrospect, was that a mistake, that we werent focused enough on the possibility that Barr might weigh in on something like this and that he had already kind of told us how he would act in this situation?
michael schmidt
Like the folks who put the special counsel regulations together 20 years ago, we, just a few weeks ago, couldnt predict the future, and we couldnt come up with the idea that Mueller, whos been there for two years, would, at the end of the day, throw up his hands and say, I cant make a determination on this. I spoke to a former senior Justice Department official today who said he had never seen an example in his entire career of prosecutors saying, we just cant make a call here.
michael barbaro
I wonder if the way that this has played out, in such a political manner Mueller sends a decision to Barr, Barr decides not to pursue obstruction how much does that influence what comes next, how Congress now conducts its side of this investigation, and how it treats the Mueller report?
michael schmidt
Well, if Mueller had said there was no obstruction, and Barr put that out, then the Democrats would really have nothing to work with. But because Mueller didnt make a decision, it now opens the door for the Democrats to say, we really need to take a look at everything that was here. Why was it that Mueller couldnt make a decision? How did Bill Barr assess this? And they actually have something to work with. It gives them an issue to continue to prod on the obstruction of justice. Because if Mueller had cleared the president, the bar, no pun intended, for them to overcome to even investigate it wouldve been pretty high.
michael barbaro
So counterintuitively, because of the way this played out, because of what Mueller did or didnt do, and what Barr did as a political figure in all this, he has given someone like Jerry Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, a reasonably good reason to keep pushing forward for as much evidence as possible.
michael schmidt
Correct. And I think thats what well see.
michael barbaro
Thank you, Mike.
michael schmidt
The Pentagon said that a test on Monday of a new tactic for intercepting missiles aimed at American cities was a success, in an exercise that appeared intended to simulate how the United States would defend against an adversary like North Korea.
The test, the first in nearly two years, was conducted over the Pacific Ocean. It fired two interceptors from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California against a mock warhead launched from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
The system worked exactly as it was designed to do, Air Force Lt. Gen. Samuel A. Greaves, director of the Pentagons Missile Defense Agency, said in a statement. This test demonstrates that we have a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat.
Evaluating the success of missile interceptions is difficult. In the past, the Missile Defense Agency has been accused of exaggerating its kills in order to quiet critics who say a 50 percent successful interception rate is far from satisfactory.
PARIS France rolled out red carpets and honor guards for President Xi Jinping of China on Monday, but beneath the pomp, there were wary statements about Chinas influence by his host, President Emmanuel Macron.
With Italy last week breaking from Europe in signing on to Chinas global infrastructure project for moving Chinese goods, Mr. Macron has made it clear that a unified European response, in his view, is critical in dealing with the Chinese hegemon.
He reiterated that sentiment Monday as Mr. Xi listened in a deal-signing ceremony at the presidential Elysee Palace, where more than a dozen commercial and governmental treaties were signed worth billions of euros.
Earlier Mr. Macron welcomed Mr. Xi at a symbol of French imperial history and power, the Arc de Triomphe.
A curator who accused MoMA PS 1 of gender, pregnancy and caregiver discrimination has settled the claim she brought against the museum saying it had rescinded a job offer upon learning she had recently given birth.
Nikki Columbus, who is also an art editor, filed the claim in July 2018 with the New York City Commission on Human Rights. The settlement, made public by the law firm that represented Ms. Columbus, Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady, includes financial compensation for Ms. Columbus as well an agreement by the contemporary art museum in Queens to update its written policies designed to protect women, working parents and other caregivers who apply for jobs or work there.
What happened to me was wrong and clearly against the law, Ms. Columbus said in a statement on Tuesday. I decided to speak out in order to protect other women at MoMA PS1 and beyond.
The financial terms were not disclosed, but Ms. Columbus said in an interview that she made it a point that her agreement not bar her from discussing other details of the case.
Measuring 26 feet by nine feet, it is an outsized testimony to Raphaels talents.
There are details in the cartoon, sketched in charcoal, that are remarkable for their originality, Antonella Ranaldi, Milans principal official in charge of art and archaeology, said at a news conference on Monday. It is a precious testimony, she said.
Its value must have been evident to Raphaels contemporaries, and rather than use the cartoon itself for the fresco, a copy was used and the original was preserved. That copy was destroyed through use when the outlines of the figures and details were pricked with pins, and the cartoon was dabbed with a cloth bag containing charcoal powder to transfer the image to the walls
AMSTERDAM An art crimes investigator in the Netherlands said Tuesday that he had recovered Pablo Picassos 1938 painting Portrait of Dora Maar, which was stolen from the yacht of its Saudi Arabian owner in the south of France in 1999.
Arthur Brand, an independent art detective based in Amsterdam, handed the painting over to an insurance company two weeks ago, he said. Mr. Brand had been trying to track down the Picasso painting since 2015, but all of his leads went nowhere.
Earlier this month, he said, he was contacted by two persons with good contacts in the underworld, who said the painting was in the Netherlands.
They told me, Its in the hands of a businessman who got it as payment, and he doesnt know what to do with it, Mr. Brand said in an interview. I talked to the two guys and we made a plan to get it out of his hands.
CHICAGO In a startling about-face on Tuesday that drove a rift between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and local prosecutors, the Cook County States Attorneys Office dropped all charges against the Empire actor Jussie Smollett, who had been accused of staging a hate crime attack in the citys downtown in January.
The decision, announced in court in a hastily convened hearing, slammed the door on a case that became a national fascination and flashpoint, with its overtones of racial and political discord in a city with a history of tension over law enforcement.
It drew waves of celebrity commiseration and torrents of finger-shaking tweets as the victim turned into a suspect and then a defendant. And by Tuesday night, many questions remained unanswered, including why prosecutors had suddenly decided to let Mr. Smollett off only a month after his arrest, and what actually happened at 2 a.m. on Jan. 29 as he was walking back from a late sandwich at a Subway.
Mr. Smollett, who is black, gay and outspoken on social issues, had told the police that two men jumped him, while taunting him with homophobic and racial slurs and yelling This is MAGA country, a reference to President Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. The assailants, according to Mr. Smollett, tied a rope around his neck and poured a chemical substance on him. He was briefly treated at a hospital.
Bending Toward Justice: The Birmingham Church Bombing That Changed the Course of Civil Rights is a valuable addition to the historical record of Alabamas role as the battleground state of the civil rights revolution. It provides an inside look at how Jones, a former United States attorney from Birmingham, and his role model, the former Alabama attorney general Bill Baxley, sent to prison three Birmingham Klansmen who murdered four black girls by dynamiting their church on Sept. 15, 1963. The four children, aged 11 to 14 Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Morris Wesley died instantly in a womens restroom where they were preparing for Sunday school.
Image Credit... Claude Sitton/The New York Times
Without Jones and Baxley, both white men born in Alabama and educated in the states law schools, the murders of the children killed on that bloody Sunday and memorialized in Spike Lees wrenching film 4 Little Girls would have gone forever unpunished. (I was interviewed in Lees film, and my reports that first identified the four bombers by name were nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting by this newspaper in 1983.)
With this book, Jones invites us indeed, challenges us to look anew at the central paradox of the case. The three bombers were all convicted on evidence from confidential interviews and wiretaps conducted by F.B.I. agents who were on the scene in Birmingham in the mid-60s. Yet the agencys Washington leadership sought at every opportunity to impede Jones, Baxley and their chief investigator, the former Alabama state detective Bob Eddy.
During the past year, I was lucky enough to talk to all three men in Alabama, and Joness account provides an opportunity to revisit both the remarkable dark-horse campaign that made him the first Democratic senator from the Souths reddest state in nearly three decades, as well as this tormenting saga of justice long delayed by Justice Department ineptitude and the personal malfeasance of the longtime F.B.I. director J. Edgar Hoover.
Joness account is evenhanded to a fault: He fails to emphasize the villainous role of Hoover as the chief reason that Robert Dynamite Bob Chambliss and his two thuggish accomplices, Tommy Blanton and Bobby Frank Cherry, were all old men before Baxley and Jones were able to put them behind bars in a series of three dramatic trials conducted in 1977, 2001 and 2002. A Justice Department task force reviewing F.B.I. misconduct in investigating crimes in Alabama proved that Hoover stalled the investigation in 1965, causing a delay that continued well beyond his death in 1972.
Trump and Republicans seek to turn the tables
As the president declared victory in the wake of the Mueller report, he and Republican allies vowed to pursue and even punish those responsible for the Russia investigation.
He called his adversaries treasonous and said they should be investigated. Those people will certainly be looked at, he said. Many of his allies agreed, while Democrats weighed whether to shift their focus entirely.
Republican response: Senator Lindsey Graham, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that he would investigate whether there is any anti-Trump bias at the F.B.I. and Justice Department, and called for a new special counsel inquiry to look at the origins of the last one.
The president denounced treasonous people who should be investigated themselves, and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee suggested a separate inquiry into potential anti-Trump bias at the F.B.I.
The attorney general: William Barrs decision to declare that Mr. Trump had not committed a crime despite the fact that the special counsel, Robert Mueller, stopped short of exonerating the president has renewed a debate about the role of American law enforcement in politically charged investigations.
The special counsel: Now that his report has been filed, Mr. Mueller is poised to return to civilian life as a figure of mystery and fascination.
The news media: Journalists faced bipartisan criticism after the special counsel found that the Trump campaign had not conspired with Russia. Dean Baquet, the executive editor of The Times, said. We wrote a lot about Russia, and I have no regrets. Its not our job to determine whether or not there was illegality.
The Daily: In todays episode, a reporter discusses Mr. Barrs determination that Mr. Trump had not illegally obstructed justice.
Some legislatures are easier targets than others
One consequence of these industrywide measures is that they could affect far more than current gig workers. According to Maya Pinto of the National Employment Law Project, a nonprofit worker-advocacy group that has just published a report on the topic, the broader measures encourage companies to reclassify employees as contractors. Any business that dispatches employees such as plumbers or electricians or nannies could deem them contractors by using a digital interface to coordinate the work and meeting a few other criteria, Ms. Pinto said.
Marla Kanemitsu of Tusk Ventures, who has helped to write such measures, said the motivation for the bills wasnt just to preserve the contractor status of Handys workers, but also to allow companies to provide benefits, like health care and retirement-savings vehicles, that might otherwise suggest an employment relationship.
Providing benefits was always the driving force for this, Ms. Kanemitsu said.
In the first six months of 2018, six states passed bills broadly carving out gig workers from employment laws and effectively classifying them as contractors. Mr. Tusks book referred to these states as the low-hanging fruit of Kentucky, Iowa, Tennessee, Indiana and Utah (and medium-hanging fruit like Florida).
But in other states, the fruit stood at a considerably higher altitude: The efforts came up short in Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina and California.
Colorado, with a large technology sector, was perhaps the most instructive example. The state was the first to pass legislation legalizing ride-hailing companies like Uber, and a local lobbying firm involved in that effort helped spearhead this one, too. It received more than $80,000 in 2018 from Uber and Handy, according to lobbying disclosures compiled by the National Employment Law Project. The carve-out bill glided through the Republican-led Senate on a bipartisan vote last March, but it ran into resistance in the Democratic-controlled House.
Media companies whose business models have been upended by the internet have long complained about Google and other online platforms profiting from their content without compensating them adequately.
On Tuesday, the media industry got some help with the European Parliaments adoption of a copyright law that requires technology platforms to sign licensing agreements with musicians, authors and news publishers in order to post their work online.
The new law is meant to force tech firms to aggressively remove unlicensed copyrighted material from their websites proactively, rather than waiting for complaints to come in before acting.
The vote followed one of the most intense lobbying campaigns in years over a European Union law. Digital rights activists and tech industry representatives who opposed the law said it would result in censorship while limiting the sharing of information. The measures supporters said it would protect Europes creative industries and force companies to pay for the content they share online.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) Manila mayoral candidate Isko Moreno wants a new administrative building for the city's local government if he wins in the upcoming elections.
Moreno, whose real name is Francisco Domagoso, said he will push for the establishment of a new Manila city hall, as the existing one can no longer keep up with the current demands of the city government.
"City hall ang ganda (The City hall is beautiful) architecturally ... but you know, it cannot accommodate anymore the demands of our time," the actor-turned-politician told CNN Philippines' Politics As Usual.
"Traffic-wise, it cannot. For offices? Mess in here, mess in there. They use to be one room. Storage? It's everywhere. It's by the hallway, you can see our storage," he added.
The city's existing administrative building, Moreno said, will be maintained but "converted [to] other uses."
The current Manila City hall, which is located along Taft Avenue, was built in 1939. It was designed by renowned Filipino architect Antonio Toledo. The city hall is popular for its clock tower.
Moreno said the new building will be built beside the current city hall, juxtaposing the city's past and future.
"Katabing katabi lang, may open space, and you'll see ... may makikita kang ... (In an open space just right beside the current city hall, you'll see) it's a simple statement. Without saying a word that this is our past, we will never forget it, but this is the future of Manila. So dalawa 'yung magiging (there will be two) postcard landmarks. It's a dream," he said.
Moreno, a former undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, is going up against Manila's incumbent mayor Joseph Estrada and former mayor Alfredo Lim. Moreno previously served as city vice mayor under the leaderships of the two.
Heritage protection
Moreno vowed to protect Manila's heritage should he secure the city's mayoralty.
"You know Manila, when it was designed in the case of Architect Berno designed the Lawton area, as you can see maganda talaga ang sukat eh (the symmetry is really beautiful). I think ang kailangan na lang namin (what we only need), kailangan ko na lang ng (what I only need is) polishing ointment... 'yung we protect our heritage, the bank of Pasig River, that Burke building in Escolta, that certain heritage to be protected," he said.
"We will protect that asset of Lawton, the Arroceros park, na 'pag nakita mo 'yan sa Google (when you see them on Google) you'll be excited na meron pa pa lang ganito (that they still exist)," he added.
Moreno said many historic and old establishments in Manila are currently used as mere storage facilities as businesses move to more progressive cities, manifesting the city's "deterioration."
"Ngayon bodega na lang kami (We are just a storage facility now). Literally bodega (a storage facility)," he said.
Almost every polyethylene factory in the United States is on the Gulf Coast. But more than 70 percent of the American plastics manufacturing sector is within 700 miles of Shells plant, according to the findings of a 2017 IHS Markit study.
Proximity to markets, lower transportation costs and lower prices for ethane are competitive advantages that strengthened Shells decision to proceed, Ms. Mercer said. Shell was also encouraged by a $1.65 billion, 25-year tax reduction package offered by state lawmakers.
The Ohio River plant will subject ethane to high heat and pressure to crack the chain of carbon molecules to produce ethylene. When completed and operational in the early 2020s, the Shell plant will turn 1.6 billion gallons of ethane into 3.3 billion pounds of little white polyethylene beads annually.
More than 6,000 tradespeople and laborers will be on the site during the peak summer construction period. Some 600 full-time workers will manage automated technology to operate the completed plant. A 97-mile pipeline from gas separation installations in Ohio and West Virginia will supply ethane; a 250-megawatt gas-fired electrical generating station will power the plant.
The Shell plant is already drawing attention from competitors. In December, Ohio issued air-emissions and water-discharge permits to PTT Global Chemical of Thailand and its partner, South Koreas Daelim Industrial, for a proposed polyethylene plant in Shadyside, about 80 miles downriver. That plant would be about the same size as Shells. Ohio lawmakers are discussing tax incentives valued at more than $1 billion. PTT Globals decision is expected this year.
China Energy Investment Corporation, the countrys largest energy company, signed a memorandum of understanding with West Virginia in 2017 to invest $83.7 billion in gas-related power, chemical and storage projects in the upper Ohio River Valley. The agreement was the largest among a number of deals that were announced during a summit meeting in Beijing between President Trump and President Xi Jinping of China.
All the activity has generated resistance from environmental and public health groups, which have expressed concern about the effects of the chemical corridor on air and water quality. Emissions of volatile organic chemicals into the air and discharges into the river will increase in an area that already has some of the nations worst pollution.
Already the influx of gastro-pilgrims has upset some natural algorithms. Last year in Bangkok, after the crab-omelet specialist Raan Jay Fai was anointed with a Michelin star, waits for a table at the tiny shop-house restaurant stretched to three hours.
While the spike in business is a financial boon, the owner who cooks each omelet herself, wearing ski goggles to protect herself from the spitting oil has said that she wishes she could give the star back.
There is little chance the crowds will let up. A 2016 report by the World Food Travel Association classified 93 percent of vacationers worldwide as food travelers, who seek out food beyond the demands of sustenance attending a class on cooking mole in Oaxaca, say, or riding a boat at dawn through a floating market in Kashmir.
The philosopher Lisa Heldke has critiqued the colonialist impulse behind what she calls eating adventures, which she likens to collecting and uprooting artifacts from their cultural context.
But some tour operators contend that in opening our mouths, we open our minds.
The polarized view that we get, the xenophobia, comes from the lack of a data set, said Luis Vargas, the chief executive of Modern Adventure, which funnels data in the guise of weeklong eating and drinking itineraries in destinations like the Republic of Georgia and the Basque region of Spain.
In this thinking, a basket of dumplings can teach as much about a culture as its greatest monuments.
When Little Adventures in Hong Kong helps you decode the tome of a menu at a Cantonese restaurant so you dont repeat dishes with the same ingredients or cooking methods, said Daisann McLane, the companys founder you may earn a grudging nod of approval from the waiter and a deeper understanding of the society in which these feasts are central.
Headliner
Nora Thai
Lately, when it comes to Thai food in New York, the spotlight has been on the spice-fueled cuisine of the Isan region, in the northeast. But the restaurateur Kittigron Lertpanaruk, also known as Khun Oh, is from the south, where curries dominate, and he feels its time to give that part of Thailand its due. His new restaurant, decorated with red hanging lamps, gilded Buddhist statues, temple bells and carved wood panels, features a long list of curries. They include cua kreang, a dry curry; gaeng kua, a black pepper curry; and tiplah, a salted fish paste curry. But Mr. Lertpanaruk, who founded the chain of Asian restaurants called Spice and who recently became a partner in Aruns , a highly regarded Thai restaurant in Chicago, also knows whats popular, so the menu has dishes like crispy spring rolls, tom yum soup, pad Thai, green papaya salad, satays and mango salmon.
176 North Ninth Street (Bedford Avenue), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718-302-1499, norathainyc.com.
Opening
Serra Fiorita by Birreria
The rooftop restaurant at Eataly NYC Flatiron has undergone its seasonal makeover. This spring, and continuing until fall, its a fantasy of blossoms, bedecked in flowers real and fake. The menu now features an array of spritzes, along with porchetta-stuffed pig .
Eataly, 200 Fifth Avenue (23rd Street), 212- 937-8910, eataly.com.
Grimaldis Pizzeria
On Jan. 15, the Dumbo, Brooklyn, location of the famous coal-oven pizzeria closed for renovation and a change of ownership. Its now about to reopen, with two floors of tables seating 100 in all, and an open kitchen, as part of the Grimaldis chain of 43 pizzerias, based in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Grimaldis name and ownership have been repackaged more than once, and despite the companys attempt to drape it in history, the Dumbo location, in a 19th-century bank building, became a Grimaldis only in 2011 . The original Grimaldis, now Julianas, is next door, and is still owned by its founder, Patsy Grimaldi. He has nothing to do with the bank-building location, nor with the national chain, and has only a tenuous connection to another Grimaldis group in Hoboken, N.J. (Opens Friday)
One Front Street (Old Fulton Street) , Dumbo, Brooklyn, grimaldispizzeria.com.
Wall Street Grill
This kosher steakhouse featuring grilled veal chops and rib-eye chops, among other cuts of steak, also showcases specialty items like beef Wellington, Delmonico steak and Chateaubriand on a rotating basis. Raw bar items like sake-cured king salmon and hamachi carpaccio, as well as a panoply of sushi rolls (finfish, no shellfish), are served as starters. Roasted bone marrow with oxtail confit and duck dumplings are also on the menu devised by the executive chef, Joseph Paulino. Currently, the restaurant serves only dinner Sundays through Thursdays, but will begin serving lunch late next month.
128 Pearl Street (Wall Street), 212-635-5757, wallstreetgrill.com.
When I left my home state of Rhode Island at 18, it didnt take long to discover that there was almost nothing about its local food customs that didnt make outsiders laugh. That small children routinely bought coffee-flavored milk in school cafeterias; that beer was not pronounced with an r at the end, but pizza was; that a hot dog shortened to about four inches and topped with meat sauce is called a hot wiener, and that a counterman preparing six of them at a time may deploy a maneuver known as wieners up the arm all of this apparently strikes people who grew up more than 20 miles from Providence as very funny.
When New Yorkers hear that Violet, a new restaurant in the East Village, serves a style of pizza that comes from Rhode Island, they start to smile, as if getting ready for the punch line. In fact, though, Violets pies are a homage not to the whole state but to a specific restaurant, Al Forno, in Providence. If you know one thing about Al Forno, you know that its pizza is not a joke.
One of the restaurants two founders, George Germon, originated the recipe in the early 1980s, more or less out of desperation. After failing to get an oven hot enough to produce a crust as thin and crunchy as the ones he remembered eating in Italy, he tossed dough on a wood-burning grill and watched in awe as it stiffened to a crisp almost instantly. The pizza he and his wife, Johanne Killeen, would develop and elaborate from there was in a category of its own. The skills required to bake dough in a pizza oven, whether it runs on gas, coal or wood, dont apply to grilled pizza at all. This makes it an unending source of fascination to pizza technologists including Violets chef, Matt Hyland.
With his wife and business partner, Emily Hyland, Mr. Hyland paid tribute to wood-fired New Haven and New York pizza at his first place, Emily, then took on Detroit pan pizza at Emmy Squared. They have expanded both restaurants to new locations, including Citi Field, where Emmy Squared is now the official pizza. But Mr. Hyland has been a student of the Al Forno school of pizza for years, since going to college in Rhode Island. Violet, which he opened at the start of the year, is dedicated to the style. He has worked allusions to other features of the states cuisine into the menu, which makes forays into pasta and small seafood dishes, but the pizza grill is at the center of the action.
Most Americans would still be able to get coverage under a plan provided by an employer or under a federal program, as they did before the law was passed, but protections for pre-existing conditions are particularly important to those who want to start their own businesses or retire early. Employers would sometimes refuse to cover certain conditions, and companies would have to decide if they would drop any of the conditions they are now required to cover.
The need to protect people with existing medical conditions from discrimination by insurers was a central theme in the midterm elections, and Democrats attributed much of their success in reclaiming control of the House of Representatives to voters desire to safeguard those protections. Many Republicans also promised to keep this provision of the law, although exactly how was unclear. Before the law, some individuals were sent to high-risk pools operated by states, but even that coverage was often inadequate.
171 MILLION
Americans who no longer face caps on expensive treatments.
The 156 million Americans who get coverage through an employer, as well as the roughly 15 million enrolled in Obamacare and other plans in the individual insurance market, are protected from caps that insurers and employers used to limit how much they had to pay out in coverage each year or over a lifetime. Before the A.C.A., people with conditions like cancer or hemophilia that were very expensive to treat often faced enormous out-of-pocket costs once their medical bills reached these caps.
While not all health coverage was capped, most companies had some sort of limit in place in 2009. A 2017 Brookings analysis estimated that 109 million people would face lifetime limits on their coverage without the health law, with some companies saying they would cover no more than $1 million in medical bills per employee. The vast majority of people never hit those limits, but some who did were forced into bankruptcy or went without treatment.
60 MILLION
Medicare beneficiaries would face changes to medical care and possibly higher premiums.
About 60 million people are covered under Medicare, the federal insurance program that covers people over 65 years old and people with disabilities. Even though the main aim of the A.C.A. was to overhaul the health insurance markets, the law touches virtually every part of Medicare, said Tricia Neuman, a senior vice president for the Kaiser Family Foundation, which did an analysis of the laws repeal. Overturning the law would be very disruptive, she said.
Medicare beneficiaries would have to pay more for preventive care, like a wellness visit or diabetes check, which are now free. They would also have to pay more toward their prescription drugs. About five million people faced the so-called Medicare doughnut hole, or coverage gap, in 2016, which the A.C.A. sought to eliminate. If the law were overturned, that coverage gap would widen again.
The law also made other changes, like cutting the amount the federal government paid hospitals and other providers as well as private Medicare Advantage plans. Undoing the cuts could increase the programs overall costs by hundreds of millions of dollars, according to Ms. Neuman. Premiums for as many as 55 million people under the program could go up as a result.
Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, and its owners, the Sackler family, agreed to pay $270 million to avoid going to a state court trial over the companys role in the opioid addiction epidemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans over the past two decades.
The payment, negotiated to settle a case brought by the state of Oklahoma, was far larger than two previous settlements Purdue Pharma had reached with other states. It could jolt other settlement talks with the company, including those in a consolidated collection of 1600 cases overseen by a federal judge in Cleveland.
Purdue appears to have concluded that it was less risky to settle the Oklahoma case than have the allegations publicly aired against it during a televised trial and face exposure to what could have been an astronomical jury verdict, said Abbe R. Gluck, a professor at Yale Law School who directs the Solomon Center for Health Policy and Law.
That said, she continued, the settlement does put a stake in the ground for the other cases. It telegraphs what these cases might be worth and makes the elephant in the room even larger namely, do Purdue and the Sacklers have sufficient funds to give fair payouts in the 1600-plus cases that remain?
8. The authors write:
How many minds it changes is another matter. Opinions have hardened over time, with many Americans already convinced they knew the answers before Mr. Mueller submitted his conclusions. Some believe that the special counsels previous indictments, twinned with voluminous news reporting, have already shown a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. Some believe that the investigation is, as Mr. Trump has long described it, a witch hunt.
What impact do you think the report will have on the country? Do you think it will change minds?
Finally, tell us more about what you think:
What is your reaction to the Mueller report and Mr. Barrs summary? Do they change your view of Mr. Trump and his presidency? Do you find Mr. Barrs interpretation of the Mueller report to be satisfying?
Has the investigation restored your confidence in the American system of law or in Mr. Trump and his presidency? Or has deepened your distrust?
The investigation took over 22 months and cost over $25 million. Was it worth it? Why or why not? What, if anything, would you change about the proceedings? Do you agree that the full Mueller report should be made public?
Should the nation now move on, or should Democrats continue their investigations into the issue of collusion?
President Trump claims the Mueller report is a complete and total exoneration. Do you agree? Is he correct to have called the investigation a witch hunt?
In No Collusion, No Exoneration, The New York Times editorial board writes:
while Mr. Mueller may not have found sufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy, lets not lose sight of what we already know, both from his investigation and from news reports over the past two years. We know that the Russian government interfered repeatedly in the 2016 presidential election, by hacking into computer servers of the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign. We know that it did this with the goals of dividing Americans and helping Donald Trump win the presidency. We know that when top members of the Trump campaign learned about this interference, they didnt just fail to report it to the F.B.I. They welcomed it. They encouraged it. They made jokes about it. On the same day that Mr. Trump publicly urged the Russians to hack into Hillary Clintons emails, they began to do just that. And we know that when questioned by federal authorities, many of Mr. Trumps top associates lied, sometimes repeatedly, about their communications with Russians. None of this is in dispute. That Mr. Mueller couldnt find sufficient evidence that Mr. Trump or anyone involved in his campaign had coordinated directly with the Russians may be explained by the fact that they didnt need to. They were already getting that help. We also know that what began as a counterintelligence investigation quickly turned into a criminal investigation, in large part because Mr. Trump surrounded himself with criminals. To date, his campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; his deputy campaign chairman, Rick Gates; his national security adviser, Michael Flynn; his campaign foreign policy adviser, George Papadopoulos; and his personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, have all pleaded guilty or been convicted of federal crimes. In January, Mr. Mueller charged Roger Stone, Mr. Trumps longtime aide, with multiple counts of witness tampering, obstructing justice, and making false statements. Imagine if wed learned all of this just Sunday, in one fell swoop, rather than in a trickle of indictments and prosecutions over the last 18 months.
Do you agree with the editorial boards interpretation of the report? Which points do you find to be most persuasive? Which the least?
In Right and Left React to the Mueller Report, Sarah Mervosh surveys the reaction to the report from across the political spectrum. Read through the short quotations provided and choose one article to read in its entirety. What different facts and perspective did this additional article provide?
What do you think about the media coverage of the investigation? Do you think it was fair? If you feel it was not, in what ways do you think the media coverage was flawed? Why?
Other Resources:
The Daily Podcast: Coordination: Not Established. Obstruction: More Complicated.
The Mueller Report: How Did We Get Here?
Mueller Has Delivered His Report. Heres What We Already Know.
As Brian Otieno was waiting to start college six years ago, he spent his days snapping pictures with his phone as he wandered the unpaved streets and alleyways of Kibera, a sprawling shantytown on the outskirts of Kenyas capital, Nairobi. Often referred to as Africas largest slum, Kibera is home to up to a million people living side by side in ramshackle homes. Poverty, crime and hardship have long defined its visual narrative.
Mr. Otieno, who had grown up in Kibera, saw beyond those stark realities.
I would look around me, at the rooftops and the scenery, and it just looks beautiful, he said. And I would think this view is amazing for photography.
When I was 9, my dad took me to lunch at 360 Restaurant in Torontos CN Tower, then the tallest free-standing tower in the world. At the time, we lived in Saskatchewan, where my father was a judge serving the remote, northern parts of the province, flying into far-flung communities for court. Though this eventually took a toll on my family, as a child I always associated my dads absence with romantic adventure, and this father-son trip to Toronto only deepened my sense that any life away from home was one characterized by rich, unending discovery. Its the visit to the CN Tower that still stands out most in my mind about that trip: Dining in a rotating restaurant in the sky, in a city so big that you could not clearly distinguish its edges, seemed to me the greatest thing in the world. Each moment, something new.
For decades, the worlds most famous revolving restaurant was located atop the Seattle Space Needle, which was built for the 1962 Worlds Fair and literally named for the Space Age optimism of the era. From the late 1950s through the 70s, dozens of cities in the United States and Europe built towers capped with rotating restaurants: the Florianturm in Dortmund, Germany (1959), was the first, followed by the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu (1961). Many more popped up around the world the BT Tower in London, the Grand Nile Tower in Cairo, the Holiday Inn in Beirut until they fell out of favor in the 1980s and 90s. You might reasonably dismiss revolving restaurants as kitsch, or worse: imperious eyesores, turning a citys skyline into a tacky tribute to The Jetsons. Thats not to mention the food, which is as overpriced as it is beside the point. For me, these restaurants have always evoked the spirit of ridiculous audacity that many of our cities lack today. Theyre civic boosterism in physical form: We built a tower so you can properly enjoy the other towers were so proud of having built.
A Connecticut-based company called Macton built the bulk of Americas revolving restaurants more than 100 during the trends glory days. The company still exists, but the reigning king of the rotating-restaurant space is now a Chinese firm called Weizhong. That should come as little surprise, considering that most of the worlds new revolving restaurants over the last 20 years have been built in Asia. My own wanderings, both professional and personal, eventually took me there for many years abroad, mostly in China. In Asia, audacity reigns. Ceaseless development is certainly not good in and of itself, but it does, at least to some degree, speak to the prevailing sentiment of a people.
In an interview, Peele said that as he was writing Us he stumbled across a commercial for the event and got this really eerie feeling. A Hands Across America commercial of the directors own making plays at the beginning of the film. Theres something cultlike about the imagery that makes me think of the Manson family singing folk songs as they leave the courtroom, said Peele, who was 7 when the nationwide gathering happened. Theres like an insistence that as long as we have each other, we can walk blindly past the ugliness and evil that we may be a part of.
By infusing Hands Across America with malevolent power, Peele is cinematizing one of the main criticisms it faced in 1986: that it was a superficial gesture that offered no long-term solution to poverty in the United States, as The Times described homeless advocates objections in a front-page article the day after the event. Eventually, the initiative distributed about $15 million to various charities, lower than its target of at least $50 million.
In his satirical poke at Hands Across America, Peele said he wasnt calling into question the well intentioned, good people behind it. I dont think the notion is an evil one, he explained.
Yet as he reflected on it these years later, Peele said it struck him as an event more for the people who are holding hands to cure hunger than for the people who are hungry themselves.
There is no dark side to Hands Across America for Ken Kragen. A former talent manager whose clients included Kenny Rogers and Lionel Richie, Kragen was the events main organizer. Now 82 and a business consultant in Los Angeles, he considers it the biggest accomplishment of his professional life. Thats in addition to his role as president of U.S.A. for Africa, the organization behind the song We Are the World, a 1985 hit featuring Michael Jackson, Tina Turner and other megastars that, according to Rolling Stone, raised over $63 million in humanitarian aid for organizations in Africa and the United States.
Despite its surface-level placidity, the Israeli feature Working Woman unfolds like a psychological thriller a procedural that, as it tightens its grip, captures how workplace sexual harassment slowly takes over one womans life.
The movie, directed Michal Aviad, opens with Orna (Liron Ben Shlush) emerging from a successful job interview with Benny (Menashe Noy), a prominent property developer who was her commanding officer in the army. Even though Orna has no experience in real estate she feels as if Benny is giving her an unusual chance she demonstrates a knack for the business and an ear for what customers want to hear.
It doesnt take long for Benny to reveal less altruistic intentions. He makes comments about Ornas hair and clothes and, one night, kisses her. She rebuffs him, and he apologizes but its clearly not the end of the matter, and only the beginning of a toxic push-pull dynamic in which he will pretend to be interested in her well-being while finding ways to exert control over her, and to insinuate that she owes him.
[What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]
An executive order pulled close to 6,000 unvaccinated children out of schools. Nearly 17,000 doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (M.M.R.) vaccine were given in 26 weeks. There was a public health campaign in which community officials, doctors and rabbis testified to the importance of immunizations.
None of those efforts stemmed the severe measles outbreak that has been plaguing Rockland County in New York since October.
So on Tuesday, in an extraordinary step, the county executive, Ed Day, declared a state of emergency, effective at midnight, that would bar children and teenagers who are not vaccinated against measles from public places.
Mr. Day said he believed Rockland Countys order was the first of its kind in the United States, and several public health experts said that they could not recall any action like it in recent years.
More than half appear to be in New York. Others are in Washington, Virginia and Los Angeles.
Why are so many investigations in New York?
Mr. Trump worked in New York for years and ran his campaign from here. That puts the president, his associates and his company, the Trump Organization, in the jurisdiction of New York investigators.
Who is investigating in New York?
On the federal level: the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York.
On the state level: the attorney general, the Manhattan district attorney, the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Taxation and Finance.
What are they investigating?
A lot. Mr. Trumps business, his campaign, his inauguration and his presidency.
They are mostly following his money: where it went and how it was accounted for.
One set of inquiries relates to Mr. Trumps campaign and other activities. Did his business arrange payments to women who claimed they had affairs with Mr. Trump, which may violate campaign finance rules?
Did Mr. Trumps inaugural committee make false filings with the Federal Election Commission? Did the committee receive illegal donations? Did a top campaign and inaugural committee fund-raiser use his connections to the president to bolster his own businesses?
In 2018, when Mr. de Blasio proposed a plan that would discard the exam and overturn the law, known as the Hecht-Calandra Act, he called the paltry numbers of black and Hispanic students in the specialized high schools a monumental injustice.
Can anyone look the parent of a Latino or black child in the eye and tell them their precious daughter or son has an equal chance to get into one of their citys best high schools? the mayor asked.
Opponents of the mayors plan have said it could water down the schools academics and that it discriminates against Asian students, who would lose about half their seats at specialized schools under his plan.
We firmly oppose the amended bill that completely eliminates the test and substitutes unnamed subjective criteria, said the leaders of the Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Technical High School alumni associations, in the wake of Mr. de Blasios proposal.
A half-century after Hecht-Calandra passed, Mr. de Blasio has tried to make the case for why state legislators should eliminate it. But that plan has scant political support in Albany or downstate.
But both supporters and critics of the mayors plan have pushed him to release a blueprint to integrate all of the citys 1,800 schools, not just eight especially prominent ones.
No proposal has materialized.
In 1977, a Times reporter observed that, after a decade of advocacy and discussion, the prospect of school integration in New York was dimming.
If the dream of racially integrated public schools is slipping away now in much of New York City, what will have become of it five years from now, or ten years? The outlook, at best, is uncertain and troubled.
Larry Cohen, a writer and director whose wide-ranging career included mainstream television series, outlandish horror movies featuring killer babies and killer yogurt, slick thrillers and even a few blaxploitation films, died on Saturday at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 82.
Jeff Sanderson, a spokesman for his family, said the cause was cancer.
Mr. Cohen broke into show business as a writer. He earned his first television writing credits in the late 1950s, and by 1965 he had his first credit as series creator. The show he created was Branded, a western starring Chuck Connors as a man trying to rebuild his reputation after having been drummed out of the Army because of a false accusation of cowardice.
He also created the series Blue Light in 1966 and Coronet Blue and The Invaders, both in 1967. In 1972, seeking more control over his work, he directed and produced his first movie, Bone, a social satire about a home invasion, from his own script.
Mike Greco, who was known to connoisseurs of Italian cuisine as the Salami King and the Mayor of Arthur Avenue, and whose salumeria has catered to old neighbors, visiting politicians and insatiable Bronx expatriates for more than six decades, died on March 20 in White Plains. He was 89.
His death was confirmed by his son David. Mr. Greco, who lived in Yonkers, died in a rehabilitation center at White Plains Hospital.
A Calabrian immigrant, Mr. Greco arrived in New York in 1947 with his 17-year-old twin brother, Joe, each sporting a new suit and carrying $50. Mike went to work in a Bronx butcher shop, married the bosss daughter and, in the early 1950s, opened a delicatessen nearby in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, a building housing an array of merchants. His brother became the chef and owner of Joe Ninas restaurant in the boroughs Pelham Bay section.
Mr. Greco started work at 6 a.m. seven days a week and made Mikes Deli a place of pilgrimage in the heart of the Bronxs Little Italy, roughly bounded in the Belmont section by Fordham Road on the north, East 181st Street on the south, Third Avenue on the west and the Bronx Zoo on the east. (The neighborhoods most famous alumnus is probably Dion DiMucci, whose group, Dion and the Belmonts, plaintively sang in 1959, Why must I be a teenager in love?)
China , a country the size of a small continent, tends to leverage its heft by negotiating with other states one-on-one rather than through regional blocs. It has put this technique to use with Asean, the Southeast Asian association , using bilateral deals to divide members . Judging by the tone of President Xi Jinpings visit to Italy and France over the past week, China has adopted the same approach in Europe this time pitting the Italian government, which is anti-European Union, against the pro-E.U. French government of Emmanuel Macron, among others.
As expected, Italy signed a wide-ranging memorandum of understanding, or M.O.U., with China, becoming the first major Western economy to endorse Beijings colossal and controversial One Belt, One Road infrastructure initiative. Most contentious, perhaps, was the Italian governments decision to grant a Chinese state-owned company access to two ports, including one used by the United States Navy that is just 100 kilometers from NATOs largest air base in the Mediterranean region.
But did Mr. Xi really get out of Italy what he came for?
Since June 2018, when the awkward motley coalition formed by the populist Five Star Movement and the extreme-right, anti-immigration League came to power, the Italian government has been as triumphalist as its politics have been amateurish and confused. The same goes for its recent dealings with Mr. Xi.
Essential terms of the M.O.U. and of the 29 contracts signed along with it, which range from the frivolous to the reckless are exceedingly vague. In fact, some commitments are inherently noncommittal.
MAPUTO, Mozambique On Tuesday evening, five days after Cyclone Idai hit central Mozambique and the rains started, thousands of survivors were still stranded, waiting to be rescued from trees or the roofs of houses.
On that same evening, far from the floods, I was in an air-conditioned office here in the capital with a group of bankers and oil industry executives, hearing about how rich and happy Mozambicans would soon be. Standard Bank was presenting a new report on the billions of dollars it predicted the Mozambique government will earn from the giant natural gas projects the American oil companies Exxon Mobil and Anadarko plan to start building in the northernmost province of Cabo Delgado this year.
We observed a minute of silence for the victims of the flood. What was not observed was the possibility that climate change, driven by the oil and gas industry, had any responsibility for the natural disaster.
If the Standard Bank report is right, Mozambique will earn $80 billion to $100 billion over the next 30 years from Exxons project alone. Anadarkos project is estimated to deliver $67 billion. Those are huge sums in a country whose gross domestic product is estimated to be around $14 billion.
In schools, civic education tends to accord outsize importance to the Bill of Rights at the expense of the more complex topics of separation of powers, federalism and other pillars of the constitutional edifice. Hamilton had opposed a Bill of Rights in part because he thought these mechanisms safeguarded rights better than protections inscribed on paper could. Journalists and politicians equally obsess over winners and losers. The public hears whose ox is being gored, but too rarely the importance of the constitutional process by which the goring occurs.
A Madisonian people, by contrast, will care about constitutional integrity in addition to political outcomes. This is for constitutional reasons but also for selfish ones: The power whose use one celebrates today will be wielded by a leader with whom one disagrees tomorrow, a lesson Democrats who endorsed Mr. Obamas unilateral executive orders are now learning. Such citizens will also understand that they occupy the country along with more than 325 million fellow citizens whose views must be accommodated.
Crucially, they will not tolerate members of Congress who surrender legislative authority, even for results to some voters momentary liking, because they will prioritize enduring constitutionalism over transient policies. They will realize, too, that maintaining legislative authority, which is more immediately responsive to local concerns, serves their own interests as well.
Finally, some group among a Madisonian people will have the foresight to step off the cynical and anti-constitutional carousel according to which President George W. Bush did it so Mr. Obama could do it so Mr. Trump might as well, too.
None of this excuses members of Congress from their duties, which sometimes include withstanding public opinion. Even the Democratic justification for an override vote sure to fail is, as the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, put it, to create a record so the issue can be resolved by the courts.
To her credit, Ms. Pelosi did say that we are Article I, the first branch of government. But she was less reticent about executive power when Mr. Obama acted unilaterally on immigration. In both cases, the House should have defended its constitutional turf. It is no solution on the contrary, it presents its own constitutional problems for one party to ask the courts to provide the institutional protection the whole House declined to provide itself.
As for the Senate, one purpose of its members six-year terms is to enable what Madison called great firmness in resisting public whims and defending constitutional principles. So much for that. Every legislator is accountable for how he or she votes on the emergency declaration, but Madison expected those immediately facing re-election to capitulate more easily to public opinion. There are worse political sins. Harsher criticism should be reserved for senators who caved without facing immediate electoral consequences.
But their constituents who demanded this constitutional surrender especially those who profess fidelity to the Constitution as the bedrock of their politics deserve the sternest rebuke. It is an axiom of republican politics that everyone incurs criticism sooner or later, except the people. Yet if the people care solely about expediency at the expense of law, we are in a wretched situation from which the Constitution will not rescue us.
Greg Weiner (@GregWeiner1) is a political scientist at Assumption College and the author of Madisons Metronome and American Burke: The Uncommon Liberalism of Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.
Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
To the Editor:
In Scottish criminal courts there are three possible verdicts rather than our two. To guilty and not guilty is added not proven. This has the effect of a not guilty, yet the jury is saying, There was insufficient evidence, but we believe you committed the offense. The stigma remains.
Robert Mueller wrote that his investigation did not establish that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia, rather than Attorney General William Barrs wording, more favorable to Mr. Trump, that Mr. Mueller did not find a conspiracy. It seems to me that Mr. Mueller intended the stigma of that Scottish not proven choice.
Mr. Trump may call himself fully exonerated, yet I anticipate that if we get to read the Mueller report itself, we will see a much less favorable verdict.
Steven C. Chinn
Bronx
To the Editor:
As someone who firmly believes Donald Trump is unfit to be president, I have simple advice for the Democratic Party: Put the Mueller report behind you and concentrate on the defeat of Mr. Trump in 2020. Mistakes were made in the 2016 campaign, resulting in the election of Mr. Trump. Learn from those mistakes.
[Get a more personal, less conventional take on political developments, newsmakers, cultural milestones and more with Frank Brunis exclusive commentary every week. Sign up for his newsletter.]
He had known, he said, that Republican officials in North Carolina cheat to draw the district lines. In fact their gerrymandering was deemed unconstitutional by a panel of federal judges last year and is now being examined by the Supreme Court. But he has learned that on top of that, They cheat to steal votes. And now theyre sending emails attacking Democrats, saying Democrats forced a new election. Its like zero moral compass literally zero. I didnt expect that.
President Trump was asked late last month about what went down in the Ninth District, which has led to the indictment of an operative who worked for Harris, Leslie Dowless, on felony charges of obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of absentee ballots. He responded that all fraud was bad and pivoted into his self-pitying, delusional lament about an epidemic of illegal voting by undocumented immigrants. This didnt fit the narrative, McCready said.
What an optimism-straining odyssey he has been on. He belonged to the bevy of military veterans who ran for office for the first time in 2018, and he stood out even among them for his avoidance of divisive issues, his insistence on the possibility of post-partisan consensus, his buoyancy. Hed been a Boy Scout in his teens. A chess champion, too. His dad, a history buff, made him memorize the Gettysburg Address in the seventh grade.
At Duke University, he majored in economics and thought about a career in consulting or finance. But 9-11 had happened when he was a freshman, America was fighting wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan and he was struck by how few of his classmates went into the military. He felt an obligation to serve and figured if I was going to do it, go all the way. So he joined the Marines.
MEXICO CITY In the first months of this year, the word huachicolero once a rarely used term has been on the lips of people all around the country. Car owners particularly have cursed it, but Ive even heard schoolchildren shouting it. Etymologists debate the words origins and whether its root comes from a Mayan term for thief or a French word for watered-down paint. But today, its used almost solely to refer to people who steal gasoline , diesel and even some crude oil, usually directly from pipelines, so they can sell it. This has become an extremely lucrative illegal business in Mexico .
The term was brought to national attention by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has made a crackdown on these huachicoleros a cornerstone of his administration, which began in December. Soldiers have been securing pipelines, the police have raided the thieves mansions, and the authorities have recaptured tanks of stolen gasoline.
Its been a messy operation. When Mr. Lopez Obrador shut down some pipelines in January, to stop the huachicoleros stealing from them, it caused shortages of gasoline in swaths of the country. The fuel thieves have fought back against the police and soldiers, blocking roads with burning cars and ambushing convoys. In January, they hung a banner with a message threatening to kill innocent people if Mr. Lopez Obrador didnt end the offensive.
But he continued the battle, and it is a battle worth fighting. Mexicos oil is publicly owned, so when the fuel is looted on a grand scale, it robs the state of money. The government oil monopoly, Pemex, said the huachicoleros took fuel worth 140 billion pesos, or roughly $7.4 billion dollars, over three years. The huachicoleros also contribute to the lawlessness that has seen Mexicos murder rate rise and rise, with a record 33,300 or so homicides last year. And it is a catastrophic public health risk. When a crowd filled cans from a tapped pipeline in the town of Tlahuelilpan in January, a fireball exploded, burning many alive, leaving others hospitalized and struggling for their lives. The death toll for that disaster reportedly is now well over a hundred.
Over the last three years, since Brexit and the Trumpening and the general rise of disreputable forces in Western politics, there has been a steadily boiling elite panic about the power of the paranoid fringe, the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories, the pull of fake news and the danger of alternative realities.
And yet over that same period, a good many members of the opposition to Donald Trump a mix of serious journalists, cable television hosts, pop culture personalities, erstwhile government officials, professional activists and politicians have been invested in what appears to be exactly the kind of conspiracy-laced alternative reality that they believed themselves to be resisting.
With the apparent no collusion conclusion to the Robert Mueller investigation, there will now be a retreat from this alternative reality to more defensible terrain the terrain where Trump is a sordid figure who admires despots and surrounded himself with hacks and two-bit crooks while his campaign was buoyed by a foreign powers hack of his opponent.
All of this is still true, in the same way that once the W.M.D. and Qaeda connections turned out to be illusory, Saddam Hussein was still a wicked dictator whose reign deserved to end. But as with the Iraq war, what has been sold, and often fervently believed, about laffaire Russe has been something far more sweeping a story about active collaboration and tacit treason and the subjection of United States policymaking to Vladimir Putins purposes, a story where the trail of kompromat and collusion supposedly went back decades, a story that was supposed to end with indictments in Trumps inner circle, if not the jailing of the man himself.
If you squint at NASA satellite photos taken on the evening of Mar. 7, you will see the immediate source of the blackout that paralyzed Venezuela for a week: two tiny wildfires, perilously close to essential power transmission lines.
Zoom out and youll see the capital, Caracas, plunged into darkness. On Monday, another blackout struck Caracas and 16 other states. The government has blamed cyberattacks for the blackouts, but under Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor as president, Hugo Chavez, the electrical system was neglected for decades.
To fully understand why it took Venezuela at least four days to restore power in March, you need an even wider lens: one that includes Washington. It is undeniable that Mr. Chavez and Mr. Maduro are to blame for having brought the country to this ruinous state . Nevertheless, United States economic sanctions have left Mr. Maduros government unable to resolve the crisis on its own.
The cause of the first blackout is now well understood. A comprehensive report by the chairman of the engineering school at Central University in Caracas shows that the blackout resulted from a wildfire near three power transmission lines from the Guri Dam complex in southeastern Venezuela. The complex includes several hydroelectric dams and power stations that provide 80 percent of the nations electricity; its shutdown can thus by itself produce a nationwide blackout.
In the capital of Zimbabwe, a building called Eastgate Centre holds nearly 350,000 square-feet of office space and shops. It uses 90 percent less energy than a similar sized building next door.
Whats Eastgate Centres secret? Termites.
In the 1990s, Mick Pearce, the buildings architect, took his inspiration from mounds built by fungus-farming termites he saw on a nature show. The insects created their own air conditioning systems that circulated hot and cool air between the mound and the outside.
As architects and builders seek new and improved ways to cool buildings without using more energy in a warming world, a study of another type of termite mound suggests that Mr. Pearce wont be the last human to take design tips from these cockroach cousins.
We think humans are the best designers, but this is not really true, said Kamaljit Singh, an engineer at Imperial College London and an author on the study, published Friday in the journal Science Advances. We can learn from small animals.
These virtues are paraded on the website of a new entrepreneurship-focused lobbying firm, the Cicero Institute. The organization started quietly last year, and is intended to advocate for start-up interests.
Its landing page is adorned with a quote from Cicero, a Roman philosopher-statesman who embraced much of Stoicisms ethical systems while remaining skeptical of its metaphysics: I have always been of the opinion that unpopularity earned by doing what is right is not unpopularity at all but glory.
As stocks rise despite crises, as a new wave of wealth rises in the American West, and promotions and payouts come despite scandals, the old mantra that every start-up is going to save the world now rings hollow. But tenets of Stoicism which can be interpreted to argue that the world and its current power structure are correctly set as they are fit right in.
Is this really a thing?
Stoicism has been the preferred viral philosophy for a moment for years now or two decades, by one count. The topic of Stoicism usually comes up in the Valley in terms of the maintenance of the personal life. Start-ups big and small believe their mission is to make the transactions of life frictionless and pleasing. But the executives building those things are convinced that a pleasing, on-demand life will make them soft. So they attempt to bring the pain.
Were kept in constant comfort, said Kevin Rose, the founder of Digg, in an interview on Daily Stoic, a popular blog for the tech-Stoic community. Mr. Rose said he tries to incorporate practices in his life that mimic our ancestors environments and their daily challenges: This can be simple things like walking in the rain without a jacket or wearing my sandals in the December snow when I take the dog out in the mornings.
In the beginning, it was. Founded by the editor Nick Logan as a music magazine with an eye for style, it showcased David Bowie, John Lydon and Siouxsie Sioux among its first covers. Early contributors included Julie Burchill, Jon Savage and James Truman, who would go on to become the editorial director of Conde Nast.
With each issue, the magazine quickly broadened to track night life, youth culture, politics and fashion. There was this view of The Face as a fashion magazine, but it wasnt, said Paul Gorman, the author of The Story of The Face: The Magazine That Changed Culture. It was a general interest magazine.
The Face offered something new. All these things we now take for granted didnt really exist, said Princess Julia, a D.J. and artist who has been a linchpin of London counterculture since the 1970s. At the time, Julia was living in a London squat with friends like Stephen Jones, now the milliner for labels such as Dior and Marc Jacobs. I mean, whod heard of a stylist in 1981?
Face readers were obsessive. I was one of them, living in a small village 100 miles north of London. I bought my first issue, April 1986, at age 12. The magazine taught me how to read with discernment. It was personal: None of my friends cared. All that mattered to me was that, each month, I soaked up its information and let it push my own thinking about what was possible.
Its readers were not just in Britain. I was going to the mall to buy a 12-inch, said Honey Dijon, a D.J. and producer who grew up in Chicago. She was a teenager in the 1980s. They had these magazines on the countertop at JRs Music . I freaked out because Id never seen a man in a skirt on a magazine before.
In 2013, the company started an ambitious, flashy effort to create robots. Now, its goals are more modest, but the technology is subtly more advanced.
Brian Dawson and
March 26, 2019
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. Google has quietly been retooling an ambitious but troubled robotics program that was once led by an executive who left the company amid accusations of sexual harassment.
Starting in 2013, the internet company spent tens of millions of dollars buying six robotics start-ups in the United States and Japan. The project included two teams specializing in machines that looked and moved like humans. In a nod to Googles grand ambitions, Andy Rubin, the vice president of engineering who ran the effort, called it Replicant . (The term was originally used in the science-fiction movie Blade Runner.)
Little came of it. Over the next few years, Google either sold off the companies it had acquired or shut them down. The best known of the bunch, Boston Dynamics, was bought by the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank and is still working on robots that move like humans or animals. Mr. Rubin left Google in 2014 after the harassment allegations.
On Tuesday, Google unveiled a Doodle in honor of Chen Mao Ping, the renowned Chinese-born author known as Sanmao, on what would have been her 76th birthday. She traveled the globe and wrote of her adventures, inspiring generations of women to see the world beyond their own homes.
Sanmao died in 1991 in Taiwan, but its not hard to imagine that while traveling she had encountered some risk, as many women who travel today do.
After the publication of a New York Times article about the dangers women face while traveling alone a thread in a broader fabric of harassment and violence readers had lots of suggestions about how to keep women safe. Jessica Nabongo, who appeared in the article, says she stays in hotels with 24-hour security or in Airbnbs that have achieved Superhost status. She tries to always take Ubers so that her location is tracked, especially at night.
Paramount among the suggestions were calls for men to be allies.
Many readers noted that men can do much to help women and others who travel alone by simply not ignoring the bad behavior of others. If something seems amiss, check on another traveler, and if need be, intervene safely or alert the authorities.
Our columnist, Sebastian Modak, is visiting each destination on our 52 Places to Go in 2019 list. He arrived in Columbus, Ohio, from Cheyenne, Wyo., where the state was commemorating 150 years of womens suffrage, and then moved on to Williamsburg, Va.
Before beginning this journey, I didnt realize how often Id be traversing time, as well as space. Like a sci-fi sojourner crossing dimensions, Ive found myself in places I didnt recognize, not just because of unfamiliar terrain, but because it felt like I had landed in another era.
There was the time warp in 1960s Las Vegas and, in Santa Catalina, Panama, two timelines for the future: one of rapid development, another of peaceful seclusion. But nowhere has the demarcation between past and future been as clear to me as it was in Columbus, Ohio, a city obsessed with its future, and in Williamsburg, Va., a place dedicated to its past, even as it reassesses it.
No looking back
Admittedly, Columbus had long been a blank spot in my understanding of the country. Not so for my Instagram followers. I had more people send direct messages to me about Columbus things to do, favorite restaurants, offers to act as tour guides than any other place so far.
A suspect in the deadly shooting of an off-duty police officer in Chicago over the weekend was targeting the first Hispanic man he saw after a dispute with a group of Latino men, the citys police superintendent said.
The officer, John Rivera, 23, was shot in a parked car early Saturday along with a friend, who was hospitalized and is now in stable condition, according to Melissa Staples, the Chicago Police Departments chief of detectives.
Surveillance camera video showed that one of the two men who have been charged in the attack, Menelik Jackson, 24, encountered the Latino men on a party bus in front of a McDonalds in the River North neighborhood, Chief Staples said at a news conference on Monday. Mr. Jackson, who is black, was punched in the face by one of the men and ran away, the chief said.
Shortly after, Mr. Jackson returned but the party bus had left the area, Chief Staples said. Mr. Jackson then got in his white Ford pickup truck and searched the area for the bus but did not find it, she said.
Seven Muslim worshipers gathered on Saturday night for an overnight spiritual retreat at the Islamic Center mosque in Escondido, Calif., about a week after dozens of Muslims were massacred thousands of miles away in New Zealand.
Shortly before dawn prayers on Sunday, someone noticed a fire outside the building, the police said. One person called 911. Someone rushed to put out the flames using a fire extinguisher. An outside wall was scorched but not badly damaged, and no one was injured. Still, harm was done: There was anti-Muslim graffiti referring to the New Zealand attack.
On Tuesday, an Escondido Police Department official, Lt. Chris Lick, said in a phone interview that the fire had been set with an accelerant. But there were no suspects, he said, and investigators were examining video surveillance from anywhere we could get it.
The department, which announced in a statement on Sunday that the fire was being investigated as arson and a hate crime, is working with the F.B.I., the San Diego Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on the case.
Prosecutors sought a life sentence. But Judge Marcia Cooke balked, noting that there were no specific, identifiable victims of his crimes and that the F.B.I. had known what he was doing for years before arresting him a fact that she said does not support the governments argument that Mr. Hassoun poses such a threat to the community that he needs to be imprisoned for the rest of his life.
In the lawsuit, Mr. Hassouns lawyers accused the government of seeking to impose what amounts to a life sentence on the very same basis that the trial judge considered and rejected.
The Departments of Homeland Security and Justice declined to comment.
Complicating matters, the lawsuit says that the F.B.I. has produced a memorandum assessing Mr. Hassoun as a security risk for reasons that go beyond his actions two decades ago, citing allegations that he used unspecified incendiary rhetoric in Muslim prayer services at the immigration facility and tried to recruit three unidentified fellow detainees for illegal activities.
Neither the government nor his defense team would provide the memo to The New York Times or describe the purported illegal activities. Ms. Hallett and Mr. Manes called the claims false, and said making the details of such slander public would only smear their clients reputation. Part of their argument is that he has a right to a hearing to confront his accusers and contest the credibility of such claims.
While the dispute over Mr. Hassoun is new, the dilemma it raises is not. A longstanding immigration statute says that when a foreigner is subject to a final removal order, the government should take him into custody for deportation. But it does not dictate what should happen if that goal proves impossible.
In June 2001, the Supreme Court rejected the idea that the government can hold such people indefinitely. Writing for a five-justice majority, Justice Stephen G. Breyer said that it would be unconstitutional to interpret the law as permitting perpetual civil detention, and set a general six-month limit for such custody.
Still, in that case, Zadvydas v. Davis, the majority also suggested that exceptions could be made for special circumstances, like if a detainee had a mental illness that caused him to pose a threat to public safety. Justice Breyer also noted that the case before the court in 2001 did not involve terrorism.
It was sold as a next generation aircraft. But it has now been involved in two fatal crashes in just five months. The Boeing 737 Max 8 entered the market in 2017, a part of the 737 Max class, and became an instant hit. Within the first six months, more than 4,000 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes had been ordered. It quickly became the companys best-selling plane ever. The new model was advertised as a rare win-win for both airlines and passengers. Its going to give them max efficiency, which leads to profitability; max reliability, and to the flying public: max passenger appeal. The demand for something new. Boeing debuted the new planes in response to market pressures. In late 2010, Boeings archrival, Airbus, had just announced a new fuel-efficient version of its best selling A320. Boeing countered with the introduction of the 737 Max The Max uses 14 percent less fuel than current 737s its own version of fuel- and cost- efficient aircrafts. Their message to customers was: These are new planes that arent that new. Boeing 737 Newest arrival in the Boeing family of airliners, the 737 attracts a crowd. Boeings first 737 model took off in 1967. A new queen of the sky. For the Max class, Boeing upgraded the engine and design. They added more cabin space, bigger windows and multicolored ceiling lights to help modernize the planes. But the company kept the 737 name because it evoked a legacy of reliability and built trust. Ill tell you what, its just a beautiful, beautiful airplane. Not only were they able to modernize the airplane with new engines, and new winglets, but they were able to keep that classic iconic 737 look. But that isnt the whole story. The new model was also designed to help carriers save money. Which means CEOs like the Max. Really like the Max. Major changes to the plane would have required pilots to be retrained. But Boeings position was that the new models handled enough like the old ones. Though the 737 Max 8 planes did actually have a number of changes, including the size and location of the engines. The higher and more forward position of the larger engines can cause the planes nose to pitch up, a potential danger. To compensate for this, Boeing added a computerized system called MCAS to prevent the planes nose from getting too high and causing a stall. But the F.A.A. initially said pilots did not need to be informed of this system update. Experts say that the lack of training for the new system may have helped cause a deadly crash with a Max 8 off the coast of Indonesia in October, killing 189 people. All of the Boeing 737 Max 8s in the world are believed to have been grounded, while a second crash in Ethiopia is investigated. Boeing said it supported the decision to ground the planes and is cooperating with investigators.
I dont think theyre talking about impeachment, he said on Tuesday as he walked into a Senate Republican luncheon on the other side of the Capitol. We have the greatest economy weve ever had. Our country is in incredible shape. They and others created a fraud on our country with this ridiculous witch hunt, where it was proven very strongly, no collusion, no obstruction, no nothing.
In fact, the special counsel pointedly said he did not exonerate Mr. Trump on the issue of obstruction of justice. It was Attorney General William P. Barr who stepped in to reject that charge.
Nonetheless, Democratic leaders were eager not to make too much of the opening. They have tried for months to play down the possibility of impeachment. Too divisive, they said. Too dangerous. Not worth it, said Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, who has urged her colleagues to beat Mr. Trump at the ballot box instead.
Mr. Muellers report to Mr. Barr, summarized in a letter to Congress on Sunday, seems to have finally proved the point. Mr. Barr wrote that Mr. Mueller had not found evidence to prove that the Trump campaign had conspired with Russia to subvert the 2016 presidential election or to bring a case that the president obstructed justice.
Ms. Pelosi met privately with members of her leadership team Monday night to discuss the path forward after the conclusion of Mr. Muellers investigation. On Tuesday, they emerged abuzz about a Trump administrations legal motion to have the Affordable Care Act invalidated by the federal courts and intent on wrestling the narrative back to the partys policy agenda.
Democrats have not given up on the Mueller report entirely, with six committee leaders leading the fight for access to the full report. And they say they will push ahead energetically with their own investigations into other aspects of the Trump presidency.
WASHINGTON The Trump administrations decision to ask a federal appeals court to invalidate the Affordable Care Act has given House Democrats a new opening to pursue what they see as a winning political strategy: moving past talk of impeachment to put kitchen-table issues like health care front and center.
The notice to the court, filed late Monday by the Justice Department, could not have come at a more opportune time for Democrats. The finding by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, that there was no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, dashed the hopes of the most partisan Democrats that the House would impeach the president.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi who celebrated her 79th birthday on Tuesday had already planned to move to change the conversation with the unveiling of the Democrats own health care plan on Tuesday. The Democrats bill aims to lower health insurance premiums, strengthen protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions and ban the sale of what Democrats call junk insurance.
The Justice Departments move gave the unveiling an urgency that not even she could have anticipated.
There is no question that Ms. Harris remains far behind Mr. Sanders and Mr. ORourke in the race for small donors. But unlike those two rivals, Ms. Harris has not benefited from running in a campaign that soaked up national attention, which suggests she has barely begun to tap into her fund-raising potential, digital experts said.
Ms. Harriss first-day fund-raising figures were almost identical to what Mr. Sanders raised on his first day in 2015, when he made a splash as a favorite of grass-roots givers. Her campaign has said that her email list grew by 20 percent on that day alone. People close to the Sanders and ORourke campaigns view Ms. Harris as the candidate most likely to eventually compete with them for small donations.
Some rivals have already witnessed her lists force and reach.
The day of Ms. Klobuchars windfall, Ms. Harris had written an email seeking contributions for several female Democratic senators, including Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who is also running for president. The number of online donations Ms. Gillibrand received that day ranks as her fourth-most one spot behind the day President Trump attacked her on Twitter according to an analysis of election data from ActBlue, which processes Democratic donations online.
For Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, also a 2020 candidate, her top two days in the last six years, in terms of number of online donations, coincided with days that Ms. Harris had asked her email list to support Ms. Warren financially. (One was after the now-infamous attempt to silence Ms. Warren on the Senate floor, when the Republican leader declared, Nevertheless, she persisted.)
[Check out the Democratic field with our candidate tracker.]
We couldnt run a campaign of this magnitude without the consistent support of our incredible online supporters, said Shelby Cole, who runs Ms. Harriss email program and previously worked on Mr. ORourkes Senate race. Our supporters arent an ATM. This is a deep, lasting relationship we constantly seek to strengthen because their voices are central to our grass-roots campaign.
Unlike Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren, who have sworn off big-money fund-raisers, Ms. Harris has raced across the country to appear at events where donors give as much as $2,800 to attend; last week she held fund-raisers in Texas and California.
Senator Kamala Harris of California announced a plan Tuesday to heavily invest federal money into teacher pay, the first policy rollout of her campaign for the Democratic nomination for president.
Ms. Harriss proposal, which was billed as the largest federal investment in teacher pay in U.S. history, marks the next step for a campaign that began in February before a crowd of 20,000 supporters.
[Join the conversation around the 2020 election: Sign up here for the On Politics newsletter.]
In a statement detailing the proposed increase in teacher pay, Ms. Harris said that, under her administration, the Department of Education would create incentivized baselines for teacher salaries that local school districts would have to meet in order to receive certain federal funds.
The average teacher in America would receive a $13,500 pay increase, the campaign said.
We have got to think about how we can bridge the gap between helplessness and hope, Ms. Harris said at a campaign rally in Houston on Saturday, where she unveiled early portions of the teacher pay plan. We dont need walls. We need bridges. And thats what we need in the next president of the United States someone who knows how to build bridges, not walls.
WASHINGTON The Trump administration will withhold funding from foreign nongovernmental organizations that give money to foreign groups that perform abortions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday.
In an expansion of the administrations anti-abortion policies, Mr. Pompeo also said the government was fully enforcing a law that prohibits groups from using United States aid to lobby on abortion issues.
We will enforce a strict prohibition on backdoor funding schemes and end-runs around our policy, Mr. Pompeo said. American taxpayer dollars will not be used to underwrite abortions.
The move builds on a 2017 announcement by the Trump administration that it was reinstating and expanding the so-called Mexico City policy. The executive action dating to 1984 and described by critics as the global gag rule requires foreign nongovernmental organizations to refuse to perform abortions in exchange for receiving American funding.
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against sailors injured in the 2000 bombing of the destroyer Cole in Yemen by Qaeda operatives, saying the sailors had failed to serve their legal papers properly in a lawsuit against the government of Sudan. The decision threw out a $314 million default judgment, though the court said the sailors should be able to pursue further litigation.
The attack killed 17 American sailors and injured dozens more. Fifteen of the injured sailors and three of their spouses sued Sudan by delivering a copy of their suit to its embassy in Washington. The suit said Sudan had harbored and supported Osama bin Laden and other members of Al Qaeda in the years before the bombing.
The question for the justices was whether the suit had been properly served. A federal law allows service against foreign governments by any form of mail requiring a signed receipt, to be addressed and dispatched to the head of the ministry of foreign affairs of the foreign state concerned.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., writing for eight members of the court, said the language of the statute required sending the legal papers to the foreign ministry in Sudan rather than Sudans embassy in Washington.
Its one of the darkest arts of electoral politics. And its perfectly legal. This is like original sin. Both sides are infected with it. Gerrymandering. It has a surprising history and an uncertain future, as the nation awaits a ruling by the Supreme Court. What it has become to mean is districts that I dont like because somebody else drew them. The former steel town of Tarentum in western Pennsylvania is a mix of working-class Republicans and Democrats. Former Congressman Jason Altmire says thats given him a close-up view of how gerrymandering works. When I was in office, if you lived in this house you were my constituent. But if you lived on this side, your congressman was 60 miles away in Johnstown, Pa. Its a small town. Theyre in the same school district. Theyre one community, except for the fact they were represented by two different members of Congress. In the decade after each new census, states redraw their congressional and legislative districts. The party in power, whether Republican or Democrat typically draws maps to protect its own members. Well, if youre right there on that line, and that border, and if its a crazy district, it can become very confusing. But gerrymandering isnt a partisan problem. We see this in other states like Maryland where its been the Democrats in power and the Democrats drawing the map to essentially marginalize Republican power. Gerrymandering doesnt just determine how many Democrats and Republicans will serve. It determines what kind of Democrats and Republicans. It contributes to polarization. It makes the more liberal Democrats more likely to win. It makes the more conservative Republicans more likely to win. And they are less likely to cooperate with each other, and that gets us to the politics we have now. If youre a member of Congress representing that type of district, you dont hear different points of view. You hold a town hall meeting and all you ever hear is, Right on, keep doing what youre doing, and dont you dare compromise. Both parties have long played the redistricting game. But todays hard-fought battles have their origins 30 years ago, when the Supreme Court rendered a decision that upended the political landscape. And in one unanimous decision today, the court said that North Carolinas redistricting plan violated the 1982 Voting Rights Act by reducing black voting power. The court ruled that under the Voting Rights Act, minority groups should have the opportunity to elect their preferred candidates to Congress. Need your help! The remedy? New majority-minority districts, where minority residents of voting age made up more than 50 percent of the population. In several states, new snake-like district lines were drawn, linking together small pockets of black voters. I feel like things are changing in the right direction. Just want to say hello to you. Im running for Congress. In the 1992 elections, the new majority-minority districts achieved their goal, and 17 new black representatives were elected to Congress. The new Congress looks more like America than any other Congress in history. Hello, America! One of them was a North Carolina lawyer and activist named Eva Clayton. From 1901 to 1992, no Afro-American had ever represented North Carolina. So that was a beautiful, historical moment. We too sing America. I felt privileged, I felt honored, and I felt humbled and blessed. But for the Democrats, who still controlled the redistricting process, there was a price to pay. By packing black voters into a limited number of districts, there were fewer Democrats everywhere else. And Republicans saw an opportunity to divide and conquer. Let me tell you that the Voting Rights Act has the potential to really shake things up and frankly it is frightening to the Democrats. Very quickly, the Republican politicos figured out that if you drew three minority-majority districts, it meant that there were three incredibly Democrat districts, which meant there were more Republicans in the other eight or 10 districts. So the Republicans went to the African-American community, largely Democratic, and said, Lets make a deal. In South Carolina, blacks and Republicans are already talking about a crescent-shaped district through the southern part of the state. The alliance, when it comes to redistricting, between the Republicans, mostly in the South, and the African-Americans, mostly in the South, has been called The unholy alliance. Certainly, the Republicans knew what they were doing. The first sign of what a big deal the unholy alliance was was the 1994 elections. We will keep our commitment to keep our half of the contract with the help of the American people. Theres a new wind blowing, and it is a majority for Republicans. You saw the white Democrats in the South losing seat after seat. Voters sweep Democrats from power in midterm elections and give Republicans control of the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. So its an irony. More African-American districts meant less Democrats were elected. I dont think the African-American community was out to destroy the Democratic Party, but they were out to get the representation they thought they were entitled to. What happened was, it led to complete Republican dominance of virtually every state south of the Mason-Dixon line. So its sort of like taking our fight against racism, and the advancements weve made and the laws weve used and literally turning them around on their head and saying, These are the laws you want and you fought for? Fine. Were going to implement them 150 percent and see if you like that. Let me hold the map. Angela Bryant served in the North Carolina legislature from one of the carefully drawn majority-minority districts. Whats on the left side is in my district. Its one of the few trailer parks thats still in the city. The lines can get complicated, even for a seasoned legislator. So Im going to stop here and get my bearing. This road is sort of the boundary. And this is what I cant tell, if these are in or out. It always bothered me, in terms of gerrymandering, that there was what I call a finger that scooped down into what was otherwise my district that interrupted the compactness and scooped out the wealthier households, which are more white and Republican. In a micro sense, both me and my community benefited from the racial gerrymander, in that I got to represent them. However, in the big sense, it rendered us powerless in that the surrounding white communities and representatives didnt need us, and they could label our party as the black party. Having lost their voting strength, Democrats are now running up against the reality that Republicans are firmly in control of mapmaking in a majority of states. The map drawers create a map which is perhaps likely to elect 10 Republicans and three Democrats. I acknowledge freely that this would be a political gerrymander, which is not against the law. Come up with something different. It could be five Democratic seats. Democrats dont like the fact that Republicans took over a lot of state legislatures, and what weve seen with Democrats across the country is to look for bogeymen under every rock they can to explain their electoral failures. And, of course, it is my opinion that Democrats want to use the courts to do what they cant win at the ballot box, and that is elections. Across the country, gerrymandering is facing challenges in court. In North Carolina in 2018, the courts ruled that Republicans had packed too many African-American voters into too few districts. North Carolina is really ground zero for gerrymandering. It was a victory for Democrats, but Angela Bryants district was a casualty. It was more compact now, but also much more Republican. Bryant decided not to run for re-election. People say, Oh, they pushed her out. They didnt push me out. Its a shift we helped design and we pushed for. The Republicans, they said, You realize if you fight this you lose your district. And Im saying, somehow youre missing the point. I say, its not my district thats important to me. Im against racism. Were insulted to have a district based on racial discriminatory practices. Black people are overwhelmingly Democrats. So the question is, is it in the interest of African-Americans to have African-American legislators elected? Or is it in the interest of African-Americans to have the party they belong to have power? You may not be able to have both. Regardless of election outcomes or court decisions, Americas political divisions are unlikely to go away anytime soon. It has to do with where Americans live. The problem that Democrats have is they have sorted themselves into like-minded communities, and it makes it very easy to draw lines that advantage the Republican Party because you can put all the Democrats into one single area. And thats not something thats going to change. Thats a social trend that is greater and more impactful than just gerrymandering. Heres what the Democrats need to do to fix their problem. They need to go win people back over in areas theyve lost, or they need to get the ones they have to move to other places. A Democrat would draw it differently. They would probably come here to Cumberland, divide it up and do something like this, and try to find a district by combining all over the state. I mean, they have lost voters and they dont have voters in the right areas. I mean, thats just what it is. In a democracy, what we have as a final tool are our votes. Thats how people express themselves. Fifty years ago, before the days of majority-minority districts, Eva Clayton ran for Congress and lost. When you find people who are in tears because you lost, then you know that you have not only stirred the emotions, but also the hope. Today, Clayton feels that a minority candidate like herself can appeal to everyone. I have hope that America has moved far enough that a Eva Clayton could get elected. Now I dont know why Eva Clayton would want to run right now. But anyhow, I think I can make my case to anyone. I just need the opportunity to do that.
WASHINGTON Nearly a year after imposing stiff tariffs on foreign metals, the United States is pressing Canada and Mexico to agree to permanent limits on the amount of steel and aluminum they export to America each year.
The demand, reiterated in meetings with Canadian officials this week, has been rejected by Canada and Mexico and is eliciting opposition from American companies that use foreign steel and aluminum in their products.
The dispute is further complicating efforts to finalize a new North American Free Trade Agreement, which faces a long battle in Congress and must be ratified by legislators in all three nations. Canada and Mexico had hoped that President Trump would remove the tariffs last year, when the three countries agreed on a new trade deal known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. That did not happen, and Mexico and Canada are now demanding that the United States drop the levies as a condition of ratifying the deal.
But Mr. Trumps advisers appear hesitant to do away with what they see as a source of leverage with Canada and Mexico. Democrats, who now control the House, have made clear they will not approve the new agreement without changes that could require all three countries to sign off, and the White House may use the tariffs as a cudgel to force Canada and Mexico to agree to any alterations.
[Watch the full remarks in the video above.]
Mayor Rahm Emanuel: This is a whitewash of justice.
One thing is, not only do I support the hard work of our police officers, the detective unit, Id like to remind everybody a grand jury indicted this individual based on only a piece of the evidence that the police had collected in that period of time. So the grand jury, actually, brought the charges. I think there are two things, three things Id like to say.
One, on financial cost, this $10,000 doesnt even come close to what the city spent in resources to actually look over the cameras, gather all the data, gather all the information that actually brought the indictment by the grand jury on many, many multiple different charges.
Second, is what I would call the ethical cost. The ethical cost is as a person who was in the House of Representatives when we tried to pass the Shepard legislation that dealt with hate crimes, putting them on the books, that President (Barack) Obama then signed into law; to then use those very laws and the principles and values behind the Matthew Shepard hate crimes legislation to self-promote your career is a cost that comes to all the individuals.
Gay men and women who will come forward and one day say they were a victim of a hate crime now will be doubted. People of faith Muslim or any other religious faith who will be a victim of hate crimes; people of also, of all walks of life, of backgrounds, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, now this casts a shadow of whether theyre telling the truth, and he did this all in the name of self-promotion. And he used the laws of the hate crime legislation that all of us collectively over years have put on the books to stand up to be the values that embody what we believe in.
This is a whitewash of justice. A grand jury could not have been clearer.
To then say, not only is the cost $10,000 doesnt come close financially, but all the other repercussions of this decision made, I mean, where is the accountability in the system? You cannot have, because of a persons position, one set of rules apply to them and another set of rules apply to everybody else.
[Read the full remarks by the mayor.]
PARIS After weeks of large street protests, Algerias army chief of staff called Tuesday for a declaration that the incapacitated 82-year-old president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, be deemed unfit to rule, appearing to pave the way for an end to his 20 years in power.
The army chief of staff, Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah, one of the top power brokers in the regime, who had until recently been loyal to the president, threw his weight behind what he called the legitimate demands of the demonstrators in a speech broadcast continuously on Algerian television.
The statement from the powerful army leader, in a speech in the central town of Ouargla, seemed to signal an end to the presidents rule, and the thousands who have taken to the streets of the capital Algiers and other cities nearly daily for weeks greeted the news with joy. Mr. Bouteflika, paralyzed and in a wheelchair, has not spoken to his country in years.
Mr. Shanahan did not give a timeline for his review, saying only that it would end soon.
In May, United States Africa Command finished an initial investigation into the ambush and found widespread problems across the military operation. That inquiry focused mostly on the actions of junior officers before an hourslong gun battle against dozens of Islamic State militants.
A separate investigation, by Special Operations Command, has been in limbo as high-ranking Defense Department officials have been divided on its outcome. It largely sought to overhaul training protocols but also designated soldiers for awards for valor and for punishments.
In December, before he left the Pentagon, Mr. Mattis criticized Defense Department officials for the length of the investigation and the fact that most of the resulting punishments were issued against junior officers with relatively little experience.
The Army has since punished officers and enlisted soldiers who were involved in the battle at nearly every level of command, like a captain, who was the Green Beret team leader in the ambush, and the two-star general who oversaw all Special Operations Forces in Africa. The punishments focused primarily on training failures that led up to the attack on Oct. 4, 2017.
Col. Bradley D. Moses, then the commander of the Third Special Forces Group, is the one of the only people in the Special Operations chain of command involved in the ambush who remains unpunished.
BEIJING One of Chinas most prestigious universities has suspended a law professor and placed him under investigation after he published a series of essays that warned of deepening repression under President Xi Jinping, he said on Tuesday.
Professor Xu Zhangrun, of Tsinghua University in Beijing, shot to prominence last year when he published a passionate essay in July that was a rare rebuke of Mr. Xis rule. The essay denounced Mr. Xis authoritarian tendencies as driving China back to closed, repressive politics that could prove disastrous for the country.
In spite of censorship, the essay spread in China, capturing a current of disquiet about the direction of the country. Professor Xu received warnings, but he kept publishing pieces that criticized the authorities intolerance of dissent.
Now, as if to prove Professor Xus point, the ruling Communist Party seems to want to silence him.
His fate will be closely watched as a measure of how far the party under Mr. Xi will go in tightening restrictions over Chinese academic life, which is already heavily controlled. Since Mr. Xi came to power as party leader in 2012, he has taken particular aim at legal ideas, like constitutional limits on power, that he warned could be used to weaken party control.
DOHA, Qatar When the United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and toppled the Taliban government, even those who surrendered were treated as terrorists: handcuffed, hooded and shipped to the American detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Now, in a stark demonstration of the twists and contradictions of the long American involvement in Afghanistan, five of those men are sitting across a negotiating table from their former captors, part of the Taliban team discussing the terms of an American troop withdrawal.
[To follow the Afghan war peace negotiations, sign up for the weekly At War newsletter.]
During our time in Guantanamo, the feeling was with us that we had been brought there unjustly and that we would be freed, said one of the former detainees, Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa. But it never occurred to me that one day there would be negotiations with them, and I would be sitting there with them on one side and us on the other.
The five senior Taliban officials were held at Guantanamo for 13 years before catching a lucky break in 2014. They were exchanged for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only known American service member to be held by the insurgents as a prisoner of war.
MELBOURNE, Australia Dozens of prominent Australian news outlets and journalists have been ordered to appear in court to answer allegations that they violated a gag order barring coverage of the trial of Cardinal George Pell, a former Vatican official who was convicted in December of molesting children.
Among those summoned to appear in a Melbourne court on April 15 were editors and reporters for Fairfax Media, which owns The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Financial Review, and for Nationwide News, which is owned by News Corp. They could face fines and possibly prison time.
Some of the news outlets themselves were also named in the summons. Ive never seen so many media organizations and journalists charged in one hit, said Jason Bosland, director of the Center for Media and Communications Law at Melbourne Law School.
Chief Judge Peter Kidd, who presided over Cardinal Pells trial in the County Court of Victoria, imposed a suppression order on journalists who were covering it, on the grounds that news reports could prejudice a jury in what was then expected to be the second of two trials.
It was the liquor talking, apparently.
Two officials from an anti-immigrant political party in Australia said on Tuesday that an undercover recording of them explaining the political influence that money from the American gun lobby could potentially buy was not what it seemed.
Their comments, they said, were just small talk made over rounds of scotch.
In the recording, James Ashby, the chief of staff for Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, is heard to say that his right-wing party could own the Australian Senate and House of Representatives with a $20 million donation from the American gun lobby.
The recording by a reporter for Al Jazeera was made in the United States during a trip last year, just weeks before an Australian law banning foreign political donations took effect.
HONG KONG A Filipino woman who sheltered Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor, when he fled to Hong Kong has been granted asylum in Canada, where she arrived on Monday with her daughter.
The woman, Vanessa Mae Bondalian Rodel, was part of a group of asylum seekers in Hong Kong who briefly allowed Mr. Snowden to stay in their homes in 2013.
This is a really great day, said her lawyer, Robert Tibbo. Shes departed Hong Kong. Shes left behind all the distress, hopelessness and uncertainty in life, the discrimination and marginalization she has suffered.
The Hong Kong government in 2017 rejected the asylum claims of all seven migrants connected with Mr. Snowden. Since then they have been living in limbo, fearing deportation while awaiting decisions on asylum applications to Canada.
There is no ownership of the issue by the government, said Anna Wicha, a director at the Adecco Group, one of the largest employment agencies in Poland. You ask how many Ukrainians are working here and they will say 500,000. But it is more than two million. And many may be going to Germany.
For now, the government lacks a long-term strategy to expand the labor pool. Many experts and some opposition politicians in Poland say the situation will only be resolved if political leaders soften their resistance to migrants and embrace plurality. But at the national level, even talking about immigration can be politically lethal.
When Pawel Chorazy, the deputy minister of investments and development, said during a televised debate before the October local elections that the inflow of immigrants to Poland needs to be increased to sustain economic growth, he was met with scorn.
Joachim Brudzinski, the interior minister, said that Mr. Chorazys comments were not a position of the government. The prime minister, Mr. Morawiecki, said that Mr. Chorazy got seriously ahead of himself.
Then he fired him.
Politicians are dancing on the line, well aware that you can wake up demons, said Irena Kotowska, head of the center for demography at the Warsaw School of Economics. It is easy to play into nationalist feeling with anti-immigrant rhetoric. But the reality of the need in the labor market is more and more clear every day.
This is a defining moment for the country, she added. Some decisions simply have to be made.
Here in the central city of Lodz, the contradictions of Polands migration dilemma are evident. Unlike national leaders, however, the local mayor, Hanna Zdanowska, has embraced immigrants. When she ran last October, she called for an inclusive Poland that welcomed newcomers.
The governing party campaigned hard against her, but she won with 70 percent of the vote, which she credited in part to the citys history of tolerance. It was once a manufacturing center of hundreds of red brick factories, with a diverse population of Dutch, English and German residents, and a strong Jewish contingent.
MADRID An armed group attacked the North Korean Embassy in Madrid last month and then fled. Neighbors reported hearing a womans screams, but the embassy did not want to discuss the events with the Spanish police.
On Tuesday, the story got even stranger.
A Mexican man who lives in the United States led the raid, and later offered material stolen from the embassy to the F.B.I., a Spanish judge investigating the case said.
In a summary of his investigation, Jose de la Mata, a judge of Spains national court, identified the leader of the gang as Adrian Hong Chang, who he said had escaped, through Portugal, to the United States. An American citizen, identified as Sam Ruy, was also involved in the Feb. 22 assault, he said.
The judge later issued international arrest warrants for both suspects, according to an official from the court.
ROME The founder and the entire editorial board have quit a Vatican womens magazine that has drawn international attention for exposing the abuse of nuns, citing a climate of distrust and progressive delegitimization of their work inside the Vaticans communications office.
In a letter of resignation to Pope Francis, Lucetta Scaraffia, the founder and editor of Women Church World, wrote that the editorial board members, all women, felt in the last few months, that a hierarchy dominated by men was marginalizing them and did not value their work.
It seems to us that a vital initiative is being reduced to silence, to return to the antiquated and arid method of the top-down selection, under direct male control, of women who are perceived as being reliable, Ms. Scaraffia wrote in the letter, dated March 21, which was provided to The New York Times. Instead of promoting fruitful discussion, the Vatican preferred to return to a clerical self-referential mode, she wrote.
The monthly magazine, published by the Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano, has focused on womens issues and on the role of women inside the Roman Catholic Church. Recently it had become a forum for revealing and discussing hardships faced by some nuns around the world, including the exploitation of their labor and sexual abuse by priests.
JERUSALEM For decades, international law has held that territory seized in war must be returned. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel asserted Tuesday that this was no longer a given.
He made the argument after President Trump recognized Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights, but his remarks, two weeks before a tight Israeli election, were taken to refer to the West Bank as well.
There is a very important principle in international life, Mr. Netanyahu said late Monday after attending the Golan signing ceremony at the White House. When you start wars of aggression, you lose territory, do not come and claim it afterwards. It belongs to us.
And moments before landing at Ben-Gurion Airport on Tuesday, he emphasized the point, telling reporters, Everyone says you cant hold an occupied territory, but this proves you can. If occupied in a defensive war, then its ours.
Flash floods in Iran have killed at least 24 people and injured hundreds more after days of torrential rain caused rivers to overflow in various parts of the country, local news media reported on Tuesday.
The sudden, destructive deluge hit the country during Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, when many take to the road for vacations.
At least 19 people died in Shiraz, a city in southern Iran that is a popular tourist destination, according to the privately owned Tasnim News Agency, based in Tehran.
SELAMAT DATANG DI MESINSLOT. SITUS JUDI CASINO DAN SLOT TERBAIK DI iNDONESIA - Pemeliharaan Terjadwal: Global Gaming pada 2021-02-26 dari 10:00 AM sampai 2031-02-26 10:00 AM (GMT + 7). Selama waktu ini, Global Gaming permainan tidak akan tersedia. Kami memohon maaf atas ketidaknyamanan yang mungkin ditimbulkan. - Pemeliharaan Terjadwal: Asia Gaming pada 2021-04-07 dari 1:00 PM sampai 2021-04-08 11:00 PM (GMT + 7). Selama waktu ini, Asia Gaming permainan tidak akan tersedia. Kami memohon maaf atas ketidaknyamanan yang mungkin ditimbulkan. - Pemeliharaan Terjadwal: S128 Cockfight pada 2021-02-26 dari 12:00 PM sampai 2031-02-26 12:00 PM (GMT + 7). Selama waktu ini, S128 Cockfight permainan tidak akan tersedia. Kami memohon maaf atas ketidaknyamanan yang mungkin ditimbulkan.
In recent years, cattle farmers in Frances Brittany region have lost hundreds of cows to deaths that veterinarians simply cannot explain. After running various tests on their land, some now claim that the solar panels and wind turbines in the area are releasing too much electricity into the ground, which is slowly killing their animals.
Although mysterious cattle deaths have been reported in various parts of Brittany, the situation is particularly dire in Cote-dAmour, where several farmers have sustained hundreds of losses in mysterious conditions. According to local farmer Patrick Le Nechet, his cattle just started losing weight a few years back and many of them ultimately died. The strange thing was that the animals didnt seem to be suffering from any diseases and the veterinarians couldnt explain the cause of death. After conducting his own investigation, Le Nechet concluded that the mysterious deaths started occurring around the time that a photovoltaic installation appeared in the area.
Photo: Couleur/Pixabay
The cows started losing weight, and weve lost 120 of them in the last five years, Le Nechet told Europe1. It can not be explained, not even veterinarians know what to do.
After beginning to suspect that the solar panels near his farm may be to blame for the mysterious deaths of his cattle, Patrick Le Nechet conducted tests on his land and found that there were electrical currents of over one volt both in the ground and in the water, three times the accepted threshold for animals.
There is a direct electrical current going into the earth, the desperate farmer said. Watching all the animals die, its unbearable.
Stephane Le Brechec, another cattle farmer from Allineuc, 30 kilometers Cote-dAmour, has lost even more cows in mysterious conditions. He started suspecting something was wrong after 37 of his cows died in six months. Today, the death count is over 200 and he is extremely worried.
Photo: distel2610/Pixabay
Im panicking. So far, Ive invested 500,000 euros, I can not pay my bills, the situation is dramatic, Le Brechec complained, adding that he has identified at least 17 probable culprits for the unexplained deaths, including wind turbines, antennas and transformers.
At this point, French cattle farmers are merely speculating, because there is no irrefutable proof that the electrical current from sustainable energy installations is killing the cows. However, the negative effect electricity has on cattle is well documented. Two years ago, another French farmer from Val de Saone, in Rhone, reported problems related to the electrical current from a nearby industrial area. He claimed that the electrical current sent into the ground by large transformers influenced the health and behavior of his cows.
When there are power spikes, some cows gather in one corner, others start to limp, calves that felt good the day before, die, the farmer told Le Progres, adding that many of his cows were also losing weight and producing considerably less milk.
Thibaut Bouchut, Building Advisor of the Sanitary Defense Group, confirmed that electricity can indeed cause problems for cattle farmers.
The human body has an electrical resistance of 1,500 Ohms, while the cows, only 500 Ohms, not to mention that they are not separated from the ground by rubber soles, Bouchut said. Breeders are not always aware of electrical disturbances, and sometime the seemingly-unexplained problems they face discourage them, even if they are competent. Farms close down because of that.
In most places around the world, people are taught that eating raw meat is bad for them due to the high risk of contacting parasites and harmful bacteria, but in Ethiopia raw meat is a popular delicacy.
Walking through the streets of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, its not uncommon to see groups of people gathered around restaurant tables feasting on chunks of raw beef or goat meat. Although particularly popular on holidays or various celebrations, like weddings, a lot of people consume raw meat virtually every day. They will tell you that raw meat is a hearty meal that energizes them and refreshes their bodies, as for the risks associated with eating uncooked meat, which include exposure to tapeworms and dangerous bacteria like salmonella and E-coli, most just choose to ignore them.
Photo: Zichrini/Pixabay
I do not buy that nonsense, one raw meat lover told Vpro Metropolis correspondent Yidnek Lemma. For the last 20 years I have been eating raw meat and I never got sick. My body loves it!
I think that is false information, another raw meat enthusiast said about the dangers associated with eating uncooked meat. Recently my grandmother died when she was 114-years-old and my mother when she was 92. They ate raw meat until the end of their days.
Dr. Mesafint Abebe, who runs a private clinic in Addis Ababa, told Turkish news agency Anadolu that most raw meat fans tend to overemphasize the nutritional benefits of meat, while ignoring or flat-out denying the risks associated with their eating habit. Many of the patients diagnosed with health issues caused by consuming uncooked meat usually return to his clinic complaining of the same ailments.
No one knows exactly how eating raw meat has come to be so popular in the African country, but the most widely-accepted explanation can be traced back to one of the many wars between the Christian Gurage and the Muslims, centuries ago. Gurage fighters hiding in the mountains would often get exposed by cooking their meat, as the smoke and smell of the meat would attract their enemies, who then slaughtered them in their sleep. Once they became aware of this, the Gurage started consuming the meat raw.
However, the wars have been over for a long time, yet Ethiopians continue to consume raw meat. It has become a sort of national dish consumed by all ethnic groups and followers of all faiths, leading some scholars to describe it as a transcendental national dish.
The most popular raw meat dishes served in Ethiopia are tere siga, literally raw meat, long strips of meat from which small bites are sliced with a knife and dipped in various sauces, like Mitmita a powdered hot chili mixed with spices or Awaze, a kind of chili paste, and kifto, finely chopped beef mixed with spiced Ethiopian butter and served with Awaze or fresh crumbled cheese.
John Childs
JW Childs Assocs, has rebranded as Prospect Hill Growth Partners following the Feb. 22 raid of a Florida massage parlor that netted its chairman/co-founder John Childs.
The 77-year-old Childs, who stepped down Feb. 27, has dismissed the charge of soliciting prostitution lodged against him as "totally false."
The raid was part of an investigation into human trafficking that resulted in similar charges against Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.
Prospect Hill will continue to operate under the leadership of Phil Damiano, Joe Fortunato, Mitchell Eisenberg and Lewis Gold, operating partners under JW Childs Assocs.
The Boston-area private equity firm has invested more than $2.5B in 35 portfolio companies.
A heritage and community-led submission is currently being undertaken by Edenderry Chamber of Commerce and Edenderry District Lions Club to put the town in the running for future funding initiatives.
Chamber chairperson Christine Traynor is drafting the submission which includes a stocktake of Edenderrys heritage and cultural Assets such as Blundell Castle Development, Church Walk and Monasteroris Graveyard.
Working side-by side with the District Lions Club, a renowned and well-considered organisation that supports local communities, the two committees joined forces to ensure Edenderry is considered in the National Planning for Investment in Heritage & Culture.
Christine, a new Fianna Fail candidate for the Edenderry Electoral Area, says give me any opportunity and I will put our region on the agenda."
Christine is campaigning on a number of fronts, inlcuding the wastewater treatment plant debacle in Edenderry and Walsh Island threatening to stunt construction, as well as road and footpath concerns for residents in Greenwood, Fairgreen Churchview and Clonbullogue.
"Working with Edenderrys Chamber of Commerce has really put Edenderry on the agenda," she said.
Following the successful 'A Gateway to the Hudden Heartlands campaign in 2018, an important follow-on is the chamber announcement for the return of the Easter Boating Raleigh in 2019 which has been confirmed for April 20.
The chamber has worked with Waterways Ireland and Inland Waterways Ireland to ensure the return of the popular event in Edenderry.
"The Chamber Committee have together been working hard to roll-out a welcome mat on that day and a cross-community
effort is been undertaken, with the help of the Edenderry Fesitval Committee, the Edenderry Parade Committee, The Tidy Towns and the Local CE Scheme and with pubs, shops and eateries all joining forces to bring to life the community spirit that we all know exists in our much-loved communities," Christine said.
The Chamber of Commerce have been working hard on the Hidden Heartlands: Edenderry, A Gateway and campaigning for
infrastructure to raise the profile of the town, bringing tourists and supporting indigenous job growth.
Speaking about putting Edenderry on the heritage and culture map, Christine said: Our national heritage offers a window
into our origins, allowing us a glimpse into our history."
It is also enormously fulfilling to participate in our local district. In an ever-changing, smartphoned, iPadded, instant-access, future-obsessed world, there is solace in all things local."
"Local heritage is the patchwork quilt of everything we call 'home.' It celebrates our home landscape, an enduring landmark such as Blundell Castle, which should be restored, a prominent church steeple, the Church walk, continued Christine.
Of course, local heritage celebrates our local shops, pubs and eateries and our local people too!
Christine supports identifying a key location in the town that could be developed in family-friendly parkland. "A lot of work has been done by those community-activists in developing a playground, a pitch and putt area and the soon to be skatepark, all much-needed amenities and the great work being done must be supported," Christine concluded.
She encouraged people to suggest locations that could be developed to promote the culture and heritage of Edenderry and bring the community together around tangible heritage features.'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo is sticking by his earlier statement that the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago's election as a judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was void.
Defensor Santiago's sister, Dr. Linn Defensor Evangelista, on Monday cried foul over the spokesman's stance on the issue.
In a statement, Defensor Evangelista slammed Panelo's remarks, saying it is "deeply disturbing when politics enters the realm of a person's life and personal achievement." She added it was "immoral and extremely disrespectful" especially considering that her sister is no longer around to defend herself.
"To say that the Philippine membership in the ICC is not valid and that Miriam was not a valid ICC judge is irresponsible, offensive and full of malice," she said.
In a media briefing Tuesday, Panelo apologized to the late lawmaker's sister for "hurting her feelings." However, he said his earlier statement was only "misunderstood."
"I'm apologizing for hurting her but I think the concern and the hurt is misplaced. I am an admirer and a friend of the late Miriam Defensor Santiago," Panelo told reporters.
"If the theory is that we never were under the jurisdiction of the ICC, it goes without saying as logic, then any appointment to the international court would be void," he clarified.
Malacanang on Monday stressed the Defensor Santiago's election as ICC judge was "void" as the country was never under the tribunal's jurisdiction.
Panelo added the appointment was only seen as valid before because the perception was that the country was still under ICC jurisdiction.
"She was very much qualified to be a justice. She had the credentials but the problem is, prior to the assumption of the presidency of the President, nobody knew that we were never under the jurisdiction of the ICC," the spokesman noted.
The country's withdrawal from the ICC became official on March 17, though Malacanang insists that the Philippines was never under the ICC's jurisdiction to begin with. While the Philippines ratified the Rome Statute that created the ICC, the administration said the government never published that in a newspaper or the official gazette, as required by law.
President Rodrigo Duterte in March 2018 announced the country's pullout from the ICC - following supposed attacks against him and his administration as well as the international court's attempt to place him under its jurisdiction.
Plans are advancing for two further stretches of Grand Canal greenway in Offaly, Offaly County Council has revealed.
The two latest additions will join Ballycommon to Kilbeggan with a 13km stretch and Turraun to Shannon Harbour in a 16km stretch and an update on both was given to members by Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney at the March meeting of Offaly County Council on Monday, March 25.
The route from Ballycommon to Kilbeggan section has been long-awaited as a potential tourism driver in both Offaly and Westmeath with the potential to connect major attractions and is at the final consultation stage of the Part 8 process.
Stakeholders, including Waterways Ireland and landowners, are working with Offaly County Council and Westmeath County Council as the process nears completion. It is expected to be published in April.
Funding for this stretch has been allocated to both local authorities under the Department of Rural and Community Development's ORIS Fund 2018.
The section of greenway from Tarraun to Shannon Harbour is at the design stage in the Part 8 process and work is continuing with relevant stakeholders, including Waterways Ireland and landowners.
Plans for the 16km route is expected to be published in late May with funding being sought under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sports' National and Regional Greenway Strategy Fund.
"Today in Latin America, we have suffered a huge regression. None of us are safe," said Moises Borges of Brazil.
Borges is a member of Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragems (MAB) movement of people affected by dams, a Brazil-based grassroots movement that fights for the rights of communities affected by dams. Borges, along with Leticia Oliveira, also of MAB, were recently in Geneva meeting with members of the international human rights community to raise awareness of the plight of those who were harmed with the recent rupture of the dam in Brumadinho, which left at least 214 dead and 91 still missing.
"The risks of being an activist in Brazil and in Latin America are big, so we try to work collectively where there is not only one person acting alone but as a group", Oliveira said.
Human rights defenders, particularly those who defend environmental rights, are in the crosshairs of increasing violence. On 21 March, Dilma Ferreira Silva, a human rights defender and regional coordinator for MAB in Tucurui, was killed alongside her husband Claudionor Costa da Silva and Hilton Lopes, a family acquaintance in a rural settlement in the city of Baiao, in the state of Para in Brazil. The UN Human Rights Regional Office for South America issued a note condemning the killings, calling for impartial, independent and thorough investigations, and increased protection for human rights defenders in Brazil.
According to MAB, thereare more than 1.5 million people affected by dams in Brazil, either through displacement, environmental damage or in accidents when dams fail. Borges said he got involved with MAB when he realised his own family was threatened with the building of a dam but their worries and rights went unrecognized.
"From that I started to understand that the construction of these dams projects were imposed on us, so I got involved in order to create a better world and to avoid other people facing what has affected us," he said.
Oliveira too has been affected by dam construction and joined MAB because she wants the community to better understand the relationship between themselves, the environment and the economic situation.
"We need a new way to re-organize society to be able to change the environmental and social problems we have today, and MAB was the way I and other people saw that we can contribute," Oliveira said.
The Human Rights Council has recognized the increasing threats to environmental defenders. In its last session that ended on 22 March, the Council passed a resolution expressing "grave concern at the situation of environmental human rights defenders around the world and strongly condemns the killing of and all other human rights violations or abuses against environmental human rights defenders." The Resolution urges States to take concrete steps to protect and defend these activists, including pursuing accountability for all attacks and threats made.
Borges and Oliveira, who are still attending meetings in Europe and will return to Brazil at the end of March, say that Silvas death reminds them that while the work of an environmental human rights defender dangerous, it wont stop them from continuing to advocate for change and protection for their communities.
"We are saddened by the murder of Dilma," they said in a joint statement, "but we will stand firm in the struggle, for her and against all forms of injustice."
26 March 2019
A decade after Irelands devastating financial crisis, the state of financial supervision is arguably much better. The flawed philosophy of principles-based supervision, whereby financial firms were largely left to their own devices as long as profits were high and credit losses low, has been replaced by intense supervision. Rigorous processes, independent controls and sound risk culture are now key concerns of the Regulator.
The resources devoted to supervision have increased dramatically. The Central Bank of Irelands staff count has almost doubled since before the crisis, to about 1900 employees today, and the vast majority of this increase is in supervisors. Most profoundly, it is now the ECB and not the CBI that is responsible for supervision of Irelands largest banks, adhering to a single rulebook that applies to all banks in the eurozone.
Yet despite this momentous ramp-up, and the associated costs for the industry and taxpayers, supervisors may soon find themselves on the back foot again. Developments in fintech just a sound bite a few years ago are shifting the nature of financial services in a way that defies regulatory frameworks and traditional, entity-based supervision.
Payments were once the preserve of banks and credit card companies. Now that fintechs and online retailers are entering the business, payments are gradually but inevitably shifting outside the regulatory perimeter. It is not difficult to imagine that some of the tech giants or social media platforms will eventually bypass traditional players and provide financial services entirely on their own. Which activities will be regulated, and by whom, is not a straightforward question.
Second, operational risk is quickly moving outside the supervised entities into firms to which they outsource automated functions such as data storage, reporting and transaction processing. Several global financial services providers have suffered serious data breaches and IT disruptions in recent years. Outsourcing does not itself reduce the likelihood of such incidents - sometimes the opposite - yet it removes these functions from the direct purview of supervisors.
Thirdly, and perhaps most challenging, is the pace with which artificial intelligence is removing humans from every part of the financial value chain marketing, risk analysis, pricing, and decision making. The amount of data available to inform credit decisions has grown exponentially with cloud storage, which gives machines an undisputable advantage over people.
Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label.
Cong's surgical strike on poverty: Rahul on promised minimum income for poor
India
pti-PTI
Jaipur, Mar 26: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed his party's promise of minimum guaranteed income to the poorest 20 per cent households a "surgical strike on poverty" and said nobody should be poor in 21st century India.
Addressing a rally in Suratgarh town of Ganganagar district, a day after declaring his party would roll out the scheme if voted to power, Gandhi alleged that Prime Minster Narendra Modi gave money to the rich and top industrialists of the country, but the Congress would serve the poor. He said the promised minimum income scheme was a "big bang".
"Dhamaka hai ye...bomb fatega (It's a big bang...a bomb will set off). This is a Congress's surgical strike on poverty. They (the BJP) worked to eliminate the poor we will eliminate poverty," Gandhi said. On helping the poor, he said, "We thought how it should be done. After discussion and brainstorming, we thought that there should be a minimum income line of Rs. 12,000 per month.
Soon after formation of the Congress government in 2019, the minimum income line in India will be Rs 12,000 per month." The name of the proposed scheme is 'Nyuntam Aay Yojana' or Nyay. The word 'Nyay' stands for justice in Hindi. He alleged that poverty and unemployment increased under the Modi government. While the Congress-led UPA government lifted 14 crore people out of poverty, "Modi made them poor again", he claimed.
On Monday, Gandhi announced in New Delhi that Rs 72,000 per year will be given as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, if his party is voted to power in Lok Sabha polls. "Nobody should be poor in the country in 21st century," he told the Suratgarh rally Tuesday.
[Congress's Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme 'NYAY' Explained in 7 Points]
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Monday dismissed the Congress promise of minimum guaranteed income, saying the party has a history of "cheating" the poor and misleading the country in the name of removing poverty. In 1971, Rahul Gandhi's grandmother and then prime minister Indira Gandhi had also given 'Garibi Hatao, Desh Bachao' (remove poverty, save the nation) slogan during the general election campaign. Years later, PM Modi, during a speech in 2018, termed the 'Garibi Hatao' slogan a "false promise".
Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday also alleged the Modi government weakened the schemes and programmes such as MGNREGA and food security introduced by the UPA dispensation. "Whatever was done under the MGRENGA, food security and loan waiver by the UPA government, that all were finished by Narendra Modi. Poverty and unemployment increased in his rule," he said. He said that top industrialists were helped by the government in "looting" the public money and their debt of Rs. 3.5 lakh were written off, but farm loans were not. The Congress chief continued his "chowkidar" barb at the PM.
"During last elections, he promised jobs to two crore youths, Rs 15 lakh in every bank account. But no jobs were given and no money was transferred. He made tall promises. He spoke whatever came to his mind. He had asked public to not make him the prime minister but a chowkidar (watchman). But he never told that he will not be your chowkidar but a chowkidar of people like Anil Ambani," he said.
Gandhi said that all those who took away public money from banks were "helped" by the NDA government, PM Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and Union minister Arun Jaitley. All of them have looted public money, he charged. He also targeted the government over demonetisation and GST and asked if the note ban was announced to curb black money why nobody having such asset was seen in queue to covert the currency. Banks changed the black money through the back door, he alleged.
Gandhi said that Shah's son business of Rs 50,000 progressed to crores of rupees, tainted businessman Mehul Choksi transferred money to the bank account Jaitley's daughter, and fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya met Jaitley in the parliament house before absconding. All these allegations have been refuted by the BJP and its leaders.
The Congress president reiterated his allegation on the government over the Rafale deal, saying Modi helped Anil Ambani in getting the contract for manufacturing the plane despite the fact that he had no experience in making aircraft. These allegations have also been rejected by the government and Ambani. Rajasthan Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, deputy chief minister and Pradesh congress committee president Sachin Pilot and other senior leaders of the party were present at the Suratgarh rally.
Later, addressing a rally at Bundi, Rahul Gandhi alleged Modi "mocked" MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) as he failed to understand the Congress govt's employment generation scheme. "Small and mid-size businessmen are not doing any business, they are just filling GST forms," he claimed. Gandhi said, "Nyay scheme is not free gift to the poor, it's justice."
PTI
Rahul Gandhi in centre of Cong posters for Jaipur rally; call for him to become party chief again
Consulted 'big economists' including Raghuram Rajan over minimum income scheme: Rahul
India
pti-PTI
Jaipur, Mar 26: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said his party consulted "big economists" including former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan before it came up with the idea of minimum guaranteed income to the poorest 20 per cent households in the country.
Addressing a meeting of his party workers at the Ramlila ground here, Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to transfer Rs 15 lakh to every bank account but did not keep the promise.
"We thought it was a good idea...Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts. But the promise was not fulfilled by Modi. We started our work six months back to make such a thing reality," he said. He went on to say that his party consulted "all big economists, without telling anyone, without giving any speeches" on the Nyuntam Aay Yojana or Nyay.
"We were engaged in this work for six months. Take the list of all big economists of the world, we consulted them...Raghuram Rajan...one by one," he said. "First thing, we came to know was that there should be a minimum income line. We calculated and the result was that the minimum income line should be Rs 12,000 per month," he added.
He attacked the BJP, saying it wants a Congress-free India but the Congress will fight it with love and defeat it. "Ek baar tukka lag gaya 2014 mein, wo alag baat hai (By chance they won in 2014. That was a fluke). Look at Indian history. Whoever spreads hate loses and one who spreads love wins," Rahul further said.
[Cong's surgical strike on poverty: Rahul on promised minimum income for poor]
AICC president said his party will fulfil the promise of minimum guaranteed income to the poor. On Monday, Gandhi had announced in New Delhi that Rs 72,000 per year will be given as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, if his party is voted to power in Lok Sabha polls, and asserted it will be the "final assault" on poverty.
Gandhi had said 20 per cent or five crore families belonging to the poorest category with monthly income less than Rs 12,000 would come under the scheme.
On Tuesday, the Congress chief said that if his party comes to power, young entrepreneurs will not require any permission for first three years for running a business, unlike under the Modi government, which he alleged, mandates various permissions and bribe is demanded for granting them. "Just start your business and after three years, take whatever permission is required," he said.
PTI
Kanhaiya Kumar likens Giriraj Singh to a school kid
India
oi-Vikas SV
Patna, Mar 26: Taking a jibe at Union Minister Giriraj Singh over his reluctance to contest from Begusarai, former JNU students' union president and CPI candidate from the Bihar seat, Kanhaiya Kumar, wrote in a Facebook post that the minister's behaviour could be compared to a kid's refusal to attend school after failing to complete his homework.
Giriraj Singh earlier expressed dissappointment with the BJP leadership for changing his seat from Nawada, from where he is a sitting MP, to Begusarai in Bihar without consulting him. Singh, after meeting with the senior BJP leaders in Delhi, reportedly refused to contest from the Begusarai seat and demanded to contest only from Nawada, where the NDA has named an LJP representative, Chandan Kumar.
"Watched the news on TV and learnt that the BJP minister known for sending off people to free of cost Pakistan tours is not ready to come to Begusarai for contesting the polls. My nephew also refuses to go to school when he has not done his homework. But, he never thinks of sending the teacher to Pakistan. He doesn't hate anyone, neither does he want someone to be expelled from the school," Kumar's Facebook post read.
[After coalition snub, Kanhaiya Kumar to contest from Begusarai on CPI ticket]
Kanhaiya Kumar's reference to Pakistan was aimed at taking a swipe at the Union Minister over an earlier remark. Singh, a staunch Modi supporter, had earlier asked people who oppose the prime minister to "move to Pakistan". The union minister said those who oppose PM Narendra Modi "should move to Pakistan" as they do not deserve to be in India.
Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav blocks Kanhaiya Kumar's grand alliance entry]
CPI's decided to field candidate Kumar from Bihar's Begusarai on Saturday (March 23) after the former JNU students' union president was left out of the opposition's Grand Alliance or Mahagatbandhan on Friday. The party also slammed the seat sharing formula of Mahagatbandhan, claiming the decision was not in sync with the ground realities in the state.
The 'Mahagathbandhan' on Friday announced its seat-sharing formula for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, half of which will be fought by the RJD and nine by the Congress.
Here is Kanhaiya Kumar's Facebook post:
Kashi Vishwanath Corridor: PM to take part in 'cruise baithak'; witness Ganga 'aarti', fireworks on ghats
UAE to be first foreign destination of PM Modi in 2022
Lok Sabha Election 2019: PM Modi, Amit Shah set to hit campaign train from Thursday
India
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, Mar 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Amit Shah are set to hit the campaign train between last week of March and mid-May, for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The duo will be addressing around 125 and 150 rallies in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Western Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
In Meerut, the BJP is aiming at garnering public support for the saffron party in eight seats across western Uttar Pradesh that will go to the polls in the first phase of the elections on April 11.
'BJP asked me to not contest LS polls': Murli Manohar Joshi's unsigned message triggers buzz
BJP chief Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have been making rounds to stir up supporters. On Monday, Adityanath visited a temple in Mathura along with local lawmaker Hema Malini after which she filed her nomination papers.
The BJP is expected to face a tough challenge from the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance (SP-BSP) this time around despite party's gains in the previous Lok Sabha elections and the state assembly polls that followed it.
PM Modi will also address an electoral event in Uttarakhand's Rudrapur on Thursday.
On Friday too, PM Modi will have a packed schedule with three rallies in Odisha's Koraput, Telangana's Mahboob Nagar and Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool.
The Prime Minister will then visit Jammu and Kashmir for a rally in Akhnoor the same day. Security arrangements in the town are being enhanced in view of his visit.
Also Read | Modi losing popularity, playing 'China card' to win Lok Sabha election: Chinese media
The BJP launched its campaign for the national election with the Vijay Sankalp Sabha at around 200 locations on Sunday, although the Prime Minister was not part of this. More such meetings will happen at around 250 locations on March 26.
Modi is BJP's most popular campaigner, and the party won the 2014 parliamentary election following a campaign centred on him.
As Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Cong says such posturing for personal ambition will help BJP
Rahul Gandhi in centre of Cong posters for Jaipur rally; call for him to become party chief again
Lok Sabha Elections 2019 updates: Anti-BJP front gains momentum, Naidu meets Sonia Gandhi
India
oi-Oneindia Staff
By Anuj Cariappa
New Delhi, May 19: Andhra Pradesh Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday met BSP chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, continuing his efforts to put together a coalition to form the next government at the Centre. He reached Lucknow after meetings in New Delhi with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, CPI leaders G Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and LJD leader Sharad Yadav. The Telugu Desam Party chief has already held several rounds of discussions with various opposition leaders, including TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to Uttarakhand today with a visit to Kedarnath shrine. The prime minister is also expected to offer prayers at Badrinath tomorrow before returning to Delhi in the afternoon. The prime minister's visit to the holy shrine came a day before the last phase of the marathon Lok Sabha elections.
Fifty nine parliamentary constituencies, including Varanasi, will go to polls in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections and the results will be announced four days later, on May 23.
Stay tuned for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 UPDATES:
Lok Sabha polls 2019: EC appoints special observers for eight states
India
pti-PTI
New Delhi, Mar 26: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday appointed four special observers, two retired IRS and two IPS officer, to spearhead its efforts to check the abuse of black money and illegal inducements to voters and monitor deployment of security forces in select sensitive states during the Lok Sabha polls 2019.
The poll-body appointed Gopal Mukherjee as special expenditure observer for the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and D D Goel for Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Mukherjee, a 1980-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) retired as Member (Investigations) in the Central Board of Direct Taxes, while Goel, a 1982-batch officer of the same service, superannuated as Director General of I-T (Investigations).
The Election Commission also appointed former BSF chief and retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer K K Sharma as the special central police observer for the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand. Mrinal Kanti Das, a 1977-batch IPS officer of Manipur-Tripura candre, has been assigned as police observer for the states of Tripura and Mizoram.
[Air India withdraws boarding passes featuring PM Modi amid row]
The Election Commission, last week, had appointed the two special expenditure observers -- IRS officers Shailendra Handa and Madhu Mahajan. While they were assigned the states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu initially, the Election Commission Tuesday said Handa will also supervise the EC machinery to check illegal cash and inducements to voters in Gujarat and Mahajan has been additionally assigned Karnataka. This is the first time that special central expenditure observers have been appointed for any polls in the country.
PTI had reported on Monday that the Election Commission is mulling to deploy more such officials. In the order for the appointment of Mukherjee and Goel, the Election Commission said the two officers "have extensive knowledge of search and seizure operations conducted by the I-T department".
"The special observers will be supervising and monitoring the work being done by the electoral machinery and ensure that stringent and effective enforcement action is undertaken based on intelligence inputs and complaints received through C-Vigil app and voter helpline-1950- against all persons/entities trying to induce voters by distributing cash, liquor and freebies among others in order to vitiate the poll process," it said in a statement.
The Election Commission added that former BSF Director General (DG) Sharma "would oversee the deployment and other security related issues" in the two states assigned to him.
PTI
Shatrughan Sinha likely to join TMC, may be sent to Rajya Sabha
Masterstroke by master of situation: Shatrughan Sinha's compliment to Rahul
India
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, Mar 26: BJP's in-house critic Shatrughan Sinha today heaped praises on Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi over the minimum support scheme, a Congress poll promise.
Taking to twitter Sinha wrote: It's a masterstroke by the 'master of situation', Rahul Gandhi - declaring MinimumIncome Guarantee scheme. It has rattled our people so much that some of our prominent people had to rush for a press conference, calling the whole declaration/ announcement "chhal kapat".
The actor-turned politician added: "Would like to know from our learned friends / leadership - that when you announced various 'jumlaas'....15 Lacs to every individual, farmers' loan waivers & subsidies, more than 2 crore jobs for the youth every year, etc. etc..Was all this fair?"
Shatrughan Sinha to join Congress by end of this week
The BJP has named Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as the NDA candidate from Sinha's constituency.
"Remember Newton's third law...every action has an equal and opposite reaction. And I am capable of paying back,' said the actor-politician who had debuted in politics nearly three decades ago.
Sinha has been widely expected to walk out of the party to align with the joint opposition camp led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar. He had earlier promised to unveil his plans last week.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 12:58 [IST]
As Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Cong says such posturing for personal ambition will help BJP
Rahul Gandhi in centre of Cong posters for Jaipur rally; call for him to become party chief again
Minimum Income Guarantee will increase Congress tally, say people
India
oi-Hardeep Singh Bedi
New Delhi, March 26: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday announced that 20% of the poorest families in the country would be annually given Rs. 72,000 each under the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) or minimum income guarantee, if his party was voted to power.
He termed the NYAY as a surgical strike on poverty and said the scheme will benefit 5 crore poor families and 25 crore individuals directly.
One India talked to some common Indians to know about their views on the NYAY. Though they do not believe on the feasibility of the Minimum Income Guarantee promise but admit that it will improve Congress ' tally in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Rahul makes BIG promise, assures Rs 72,000 per year to poor
Anshu Ahuja, marketing executive of a textile company and a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says that Rahul Gandhi is hoodwinking poor as his grandmother late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used to do.
The announcement made by Rahul Gandhi is a desperate attempt to win as many seats as possible in the Lok Sabha elections. His grandmother Indira Gandhi gave Garibi Hatao (eradicate poverty) slogan and rode to the power but did nothing for the poor. Now, Rahul Gandhi has come up with this Minimum Income Guarantee, which is nothing but old wine in a new bottle, says Ahuja.
When asked how the poor are going to respond, he hesitantly accepts that this poll promise is likely to benefit the Congress.
Ironical part is that when poor of our country trade their votes in lieu of country liquor then there is no guarantee that they will not vote for the Congress for Minimum Income Guarantee. The Congress may improve its tally but will not be able to form the next government. The next Prime Minister will be Narendra Modi, the marketing executive tells this scribe at Connaught Place.
Amit Sharma, Eastern Zone Sales Head (Dairy) of a very big private company, says Congress' move is impractical, but it will attract votes of poor.
Rahul Gandhi has made a poll promise that sounds good but he should have given a blueprint that how his government would arrange over three lakh crore rupees to fulfill the promise if the Congress comes to power, says Sharma.
He also said that despite being an impractical poll promise, the Congress will be benefitted politically.
When many poor people of our country cast vote after taking money from candidates then there is no doubt that they will vote for the Congress for Rs. 6000 monthly income, Sharma tells One India.
Akbar Ali, an autorickshaw driver, tells this scribe that a law must be enacted in the country to prevent politicians and political parties from making false poll promises.
Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Rs. 15 lakh to every Indian nor Congress government will be able to give Rs. 6000 per month to every poor. It is in the interest of the political parties that the poor remain poor. If the poor become affluent then whom will these politicians befool? India must have a law against false and impractical poll promises. Those who come to power after making false promises should be sent to jail if they fail to fulfill those promises, says agitated Ali.
An insurance agent Pradeep (name changed) equates Rahul's Minimum Income Guarantee with selling the insurance policy.
I often misguide and hide some facts in order to sell an insurance policy, particularly to uneducated low-income group. When the customer purchases insurance policy then he/she comes to know about different riders and they generally crib but are not able to do anything. Rahul is also trying to sell a kind of insurance policy. If Congress comes to power then the poor will come to know about different riders of Rahul's Minimum Income Guarantee, says the insurance agent on the condition of anonymity.
He also says that many poor people will buy Rahul 's insurance policy, and if Congress is voted to power then they will only crib because then the media will not have time and desire to highlight how the poor were cheated.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is also being trolled by people, mostly Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters, after the Congress party tweeted a video clip wherein Rahul Gandhi is seen making the announcement of Minimum Income Guarantee at a press conference in New Delhi.
Rahul Gandhi attacks Mamata: The high command's Bengal dilemma
Please stop your rant of #GaribiHatao. This nation's garibi (poverty) is your #RojiRoti (Bread and Butter). #MinimumIncomeGuarantee nahi #FinalDesperateAttempt hai ye (This is not Minimum Income Guaratnee but Final Desperate Attempt to win elections), tweeted @neuralamit.
Another twitter user @jaswanttak mockingly said, Rahul Gandhi jee if your promise is taken as a genuine one then also yearly Rs. 3.5 lakh crore would be needed to extend minimum support to 5 crore families. It seems you have finally invented the machine to make gold from potatoes.
It is notable that an edited 20-second video clip of Rahul Gandhi had gone viral in 2017 on social media in which the Congress President is heard saying that he knows of a machine that if fed potato, will give gold in return.
Later the full video was released in which it was evident that Rahul had made potato and gold remark while alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made false promises to the people of Gujarat.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 6:30 [IST]
Nirav Modi's paintings sold for Rs 54.84 cr in auction
India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Mumbai, Mar 26: Nirav Modi's extensive art collection, that was seized by the government was sold for Rs 54.84 crores that will be handed over to the Income-Tax department. 55 out of total 68 paintings in his possession were sold on Tuesday.
2 paintings of Nirav Modi's collection-Untitled oil on canvas(pic 1) by VS Gaitonde sold for Rs 22 cr;oil on canvas depicting Maharaja of Tranvancore&his younger brother welcoming Richard Temple-Grenville,3rd Duke of Buckingham(pic 2) sold for Rs 14 crore.
Auctioneers say the sale is the first of its kind in a country where tax authorities have usually auctioned property, gold and luxury items, but not art.
[How Nirav Modi was tracked down and arrested]
After a court order allowing the auction to take place, tax authorities appointed professional auction house Saffronart.
Meanwhile, the firm of Nirav Modi, had moved the Bombay High Court against a special court order which permitted the Income Tax Department to auction 68 paintings seized as part of its probe against the diamantaire.
In a petition filed before the high court, the firm, Camelot Enterprises, has said such action is unlawful. However, the petitioner is likely to seek an urgent hearing in the case, at an earlier date, since the auction is scheduled to begin on March 27.
Last week, a special court permitted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to auction 11 luxury vehicles belonging to Modi.
The special court also allowed the Income Tax Department to auction the high value art collection of the diamantaire who is wanted by agencies on charges of tax evasion and money laundering.
Modi was arrested in London last week. He was remanded in custody till March 29 by a court there. Modi and his uncle, Mehul Choksi, another accused in the case, had left India before the fraud came to light in January 2018.
The Income Tax Department had last month provisionally attached 29 properties and 105 bank accounts of Modi, his family members and firms as part of its probe.
The taxman had also filed a charge sheet against Modi before the special court under sections 276 C (1) (wilful attempt to evade tax), 277 A (false statement in verification), 278 B (offences by companies) and 278 E (presumption as to culpable mental state) of the Income Tax Act, 196
Piyush Goyal challenges Chandrababu Naidu for debate on NDA govt's aid for Andhra Pradesh
India
pti-PTI
Amaravati, Mar 26: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday threw an open challenge to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asking the latter to come for a debate in New Delhi on what all the Narendra Modi government did for the state in the last five years.
Maintaining that Naidu accepted a special economic package in lieu of special category status for the state, the Union minister said Andhra Pradesh might lose a special grant of Rs 17,500 crore if the SCS was granted. "This is an open challenge to Chandrababu Naidu. Let him come to New Delhi. I am ready for a debate on this," Goyal said.
The railway minister visited Vijayawada in Amaravati to release the state BJP's election manifesto which, among other things, promised a transparent, corruption-free and responsible administration besides empowering all sections politically.
Seeking to expose the chief minister's "double standards" on the SCS issue, Goyal gave a presentation on the Centre's special assistance to the state. "After getting double benefit from the Centre in the form of a revenue deficit grant and a special (economic) assistance measure, Naidu was now misleading the people by demanding the SCS purely for political reasons," he said.
[Lok Sabha elections 2019: Forest rights could decide results in 133 seats, says report]
He lashed out at Naidu for carrying out a "malicious propaganda and spreading falsehoods" only to "hide his own failures, corruption and unpopularity" and alleged that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has been reduced to a "private limited company". "On one hand, he is indulging in huge corruption and on the other, nominating members of his family as (electoral) candidates. He is running away from investigations (by the CBI, ED and the Income Tax Department) because all his corruption is coming uncovered," he said.
Accusing the TDP chief of ditching former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government and now the Narendra Modi government, the senior BJP leader claimed that the people of Andhra Pradesh have decided to ditch Naidu now. Hitting out at the Congress and the TDP, he said the two "corrupt parties", came together in the recent Telangana Assembly elections and Naidu got a "taste of his unpopularity".
"He has now ditched even the Congress by not continuing the alliance in Andhra Pradesh," Goyal said. The BJP, he asserted, never ditches friends and works with partners together. Former state chief secretary I Y R Krishna Rao, who headed the BJP manifesto committee, said political empowerment of all sections was the prime promise incorporated in the manifesto.
"The BJP will provide a transparent, corruption-free and responsible administration and empower all sections politically. Since the existing districts in the state are large in size, the party will undertake a reorganisation exercise to make each Lok Sabha constituency a district," Rao said, highlighting the salient features of the manifesto.
PTI
Why did Reuters remove photo of Nikki Haley with the swastika?
US expects the Reuters journalists to be acquitted
Reuters survey on India's most used news brands
India
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, Mar 26: Online news generally and social media specifically have outpaced print as the main source of news among English-speaking young Indian news users.
The University of Oxford's Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism recently conducted a study pertaining to Indian news media.
The Reuters report says, "NDTV (47%) and The Times of India (40% online) are far more widely used among our respondents than any other brands."
The report highlights the concerns of an audience and the role of digital media news in an election year.
What are the top concerns of Indians? Here's what Pew survey found
The India Digital News Report shows that Indians are embracing a mobile-first, platform-dominated media environment with search engines, social media, and messaging applications playing a key role in how people access and use news.
As many as 68% of those surveyed identified smart phones as their main device for online news with 52% stating that they got their news from Facebook. WhatsApp (52%), Instagram (26%), Twitter (18%), and Facebook Messenger (16%) were the other sources of news.
"Online news generally (56%), and social media specifically (28%) have outpaced print (16%) as the main source of news among respondents under 35, whereas respondents over 25 still mix online and offline media to a greater extent," the Reuters Institute report said.
For me, my family & wife come first, worried husband Robert Vadra on Priyanka Gandhi's arrest
Robert Vadra accuses ED of select media leaks
India
oi-Oneindia Staff
By Anuj Cariappa
New Delhi, Mar 26: Robert Vadra claimed before a Delhi court that ED has been leaking details of his interrogation to the media to "embarrass" and "humiliate" him on account of a "political vendetta", a charge strongly denied by the probe agency.
Special judge Arvind Kumar, who extended Vadra's interim protection against arrest till March 27 in a money laundering case, was told by the counsel for the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi that every question and answer of the interrogation has been leaked to the media with some ulterior motive.
Posters urging Robert Vadra to contest Lok Sabha polls surface in Moradabad
This showed that the Enforcement Directorate's probe was meant to "embarrass" and "humiliate" Vadra on account of a "political vendetta" and the agency was guided by the "lust for custody", said senior advocates A M Singhvi and K T S Tulsi appearing for Vadra.
ED's counsel D P Singh countered the submission vehemently saying, "They talked about agency's 'lust for custody'. It is their 'lust for money' which has led to our 'lust for custody'".
At the outset of the hearing on the anticipatory bail plea of Vadra, Tulsi claimed that even the raid conducted on the businessman's house to obtain documents was "illegal" and moreover, Vadra has not misused the liberty granted to him.
The ED case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square, worth 1.9 million pounds. The property is allegedly owned by Vadra.
The court also extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Manoj Arora, Vadra's close aide and an accused in the case, till the next date of hearing - March 27.
ED opposed Vadra's bail plea + saying he has been given sufficient opportunity to come out with some proof against the allegations levelled against him by the agency but so far, he has failed to do so.
It further said that the offence was about the money coming as kickbacks, as direct payments to bank accounts.
It alleged that the case involved payment of Rs 300 crore in a defence deal and $10 million received in a petroleum deal.
ED's counsel submitted that he requires more time to conclude his arguments and to present certain details before the court.
The court had on March 19 extended his interim protection from arrest till March 25 after the ED had alleged that he was not cooperating and sought his custodial interrogation.
ED had told the court that there was reasonable apprehension that Vadra being a highly influential person would tamper with the evidence and hamper the investigation.
In his anticipatory bail plea, Vadra has alleged that he was being subjected to "unwarranted, unjustified and malicious criminal prosecution which on the face of it is completely politically motivated and is being carried out for reasons other than those prescribed under law".
The ED had also alleged that Arora, an employee of Vadra's Skylight Hospitality LLP, was a key person in the case and he was aware of the latter's overseas undeclared assets and was instrumental in arranging funds.
It told the court earlier that it lodged the money laundering case against Arora after his role came up during the probe of another case by the Income Tax Department under the newly enacted Black Money Act and tax law against absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
Union Minister calls Robert Vadra a 'joker' in 'Priyanka-Rahul's political circus'
It alleged that the London-based property was bought by Bhandari for GBP 1.9 million and sold in 2010 for the same amount despite incurring additional expenses of approximately GBP 65,900 on its renovation.
"This gives credence to the fact that Bhandari was not the actual owner of the property but it was beneficially owned by Vadra who was incurring expenditure on the renovation of this property," the ED had told the court.
ED said it has received information about various new properties in London which allegedly belong to Vadra, including two houses of five and four million pounds each and six other flats.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 5:50 [IST]
New India in making, infrastructure to be no less than US, Europe in 5 years: Nitin Gadkari
Senior PDP leader offers legal aid to Jamaat-e-Islami, JKLF against ban
India
pti-PTI
Srinagar, Mar 26: Senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig on Tuesday offered the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir and the JKLF legal help to contest the ban imposed on them by the Centre, saying while these outfits were ideologically opposed to his party, he would do it to uphold civil liberties.
"Although both Jamaat-e-Islami and JKLF are our opponents, we are ready to provide legal help in contest the ban imposed on them. It is a matter of principles and for upholding civil liberties," Baig said.
[How Indian agencies are hitting anti national Kashmir separatists in a sustained manner]
The senior leader made the offer of legal assistance to the two banned outfits while addressing a workers' meeting in Baramulla. The Union Home Ministry last week banned the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), led by Muhammad Yasin Malik, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
As per a notification issued on March 22, the central government is "of the opinion that the said organisation is involved in anti-national and subversive activities and is in close touch with militant outfits and is supporting extremism in the state".
In an earlier notification issued in February, the Centre had banned the Jamaat, saying that the organisation was "in close touch with militant outfits" and that the group claimed "secession of a part of the Indian territory from the Union". Both the outfits have been banned for five years.
PTI
Tamil Nadu welding labourer makes remote-controlled bed for ailing wife; gets awarded
India
oi-Shubham Ghosh
Chennai, March 26: Couple's love bonding sometimes produces unbelievable tales to share. A welding labourer from Tamil Nadu's Nagercoil recently won the National Innovation Award for making a remote-controlled bed for his ailing wife who has remained bed-ridden for the past two months.
The man, S Saravana Muthu, impressed the hospital staff members at Nagercoil with his innovation and was awarded the second prize for the remote-controlled bed which is now helping his ailing wife.
According to a report in Times of India, Muthu started working on his innovative project after his wife underwent a surgery. When he found his wife struggling on a normal bed, he came up with the idea of making a remote-controlled bed which also has facilities of toilet.
Hot sauce is saving human lives in US nowadays... Interesting, isn't it?
"I understand the woes of bedridden patients and how they are dependent on others for almost everything. Even the caregivers often show signs of disgust while attending to them," Muthu was quoted as saying by Times Of India.
"More often than not, the privacy of the patients is affected in such cases. To maintain the dignity and independence of the patients, I decided to design the bed," he added.
The bed which Muthu designed for his wife as a flush tank, a closet, a linkage to a septic tank and an opening in the middle which would help her wife to relive herself without undertaking much pain.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 11:06 [IST]
Court has to limit itself under the law: SC on Uphaar sentence
Uphaar fire tragedy: Non-bailable warrants issued against Ansal brothers
India
oi-Vikas SV
New Delhi, Mar 26: A Delhi court on Tuesday issued Non-Bailable Warrants against Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal for allegedly tampering with evidence in the Uphaar cinema hall fire case.
The NBW was issued by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Delhi's Patiala House court Deepak Sherawat.
On June 13, 1997, 59 people died of asphyxia in a fire in south Delhi's Uphaar cinema during the screening of Hindi movie "Border". Over 100 were injured in subsequent stampede.
Uphaar fire tragedy: Non-bailable warrants issued against Ansal brothers
The Patiala House court is hearing a case related to the tampering of evidence in the case after Krishnamoorthy, who lost two children in the fire, pressed for an early date contending it was a 10-year-old matter which has been already delayed. Krishnamoorthy has been fighting a legal battle for the past 20 years.
Krishnamoorthy, convenor of the Association of Victims of the Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), and her husband Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, have been the flag-bearers in the fight to seek justice on behalf of all the victims.
On February 9, 2017, the Supreme Court, on a curative petition, had directed Gopal Ansal to undergo the remaining one-year jail term in connection with the tragedy. However, it had spared 77-year-old Sushil Ansal because of his age. Justice Gogoi, in a 2:1 majority verdict on February 9, had granted relief to 76-year-old Sushil Ansal considering age-related complications by awarding him jail term already undergone and had asked Gopal to surrender in four weeks to serve the remaining jail term. The apex court had also upheld the fine of Rs. 30 crores each imposed on the brothers and said the money should be utilised for setting up a trauma centre.
A timeline of Uphaar tragedy case:
June 13, 1997: 59 people die of asphyxia in a fire in south Delhi's Uphaar cinema during the screening of Hindi movie "Border". Over 100 were injured in subsequent stampede.
July 22, 1997: Uphaar theatre owner Sushil Ansal and his son Pranav arrested in Mumbai.
July 24, 1997: Probe transferred from Delhi Police to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Nov 15, 1997: CBI files charge sheet against 16 accused including theatre owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal.
March 10, 1999: A sessions court presided by L D Malik initiates trial.
Feb 27, 2001: Court frames charges against accused under various sections, including sections 304 (culpable homicide), 304 A (causing death by negligent act) and 337 (hurt) of the IPC.
May 23, 2001: Recording of prosecution witnesses' testimony begins. April 4, 2002: Delhi High Court asks trial court to try to wrap up the case by December 15.
Jan 27, 2003: Ansals' plea seeking re-possession of the theatre rejected on the ground that place of incident is to be preserved to appreciate evidence.
April 24, 2003: Delhi High Court awards Rs 180 million compensation to be paid to relatives of victims.
Uphaar fire tragedy: SC asks Gopal Ansal to surrender
Sept 4, 2004: Court starts recording statements of accused.
Nov 5, 2005: Recording of testimonies of defence witnesses begins. Aug 2, 2006: Court concludes recording of testimony of defence witnesses. Aug 9: Additional Sessions Judge Mamta Sehgal inspects the theatre.
Feb 14, 2007: Accused start advancing final arguments.
Aug 21, 2007: Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) approaches Delhi High Court seeking conclusion of trial within a time frame.
Aug 20, 2007: Senior advocate Harish Salve appears for CBI and advances final arguments.
Aug 21: Judgement reserved. Court fixes September 5 for pronouncement of verdict.
Sept 5: Court defers pronouncement of verdict and says it would fix the date of judgement on October 22.
Oct 22: Court fixes November 20 as date of verdict.
Nov 20, 2007: Court convicts all 12 accused, including Sushil and Gopal Ansal, in the case and sentences them to two years imprisonment.
Jan 4, 2008: Delhi High Court grants bail to Ansal brothers and two other accused. Sept 11: Ansals sent to Tihar Jail after Supreme Court cancels their bail.
Nov 17, 2008: Delhi High Court reserves order on appeals filed by Ansals, other accused, CBI and AVUT.
Dec 19, 2008: Delhi High Court upholds trial court order convicting Ansal brothers but reduces their sentence from two years to one year. Upholds conviction of six out of 12 accused.
Jan 30, 2009: SC issues notice on petition filed by AVUT for enhancement of sentence of Ansal brothers and alteration of charge. SC also issues notice on plea of Ansals and others challenging their conviction. CBI files appeal in SC seeking enhancement of sentence of Ansals.
Apr 17, 2013: SC reserves order on appeals of Ansals, CBI and AVUT.
Mar 5, 2014: SC upholds conviction of Gopal and Sushil Ansal. However, two judges differ on sentence. Justice T S Thakur awards one year jail term, while Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra sentenced them to period undergone. Matter referred to three-judge bench.
Apr 21, 2015: The new bench couldn't start hearing.
Aug 11, 2015: Hearing begins on quantum of sentence.
Aug 19, 2015: SC allows Ansals to walk free, asks them to pay a fine of Rs 30 crore each.
Mar 9, 2017: Real estate baron Gopal Ansal will have to surrender to serve the remaining period of the one-year sentence in the Uphaar fire tragedy case with the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissing his plea for parity with his elder brother Sushil Ansal.
Jan 8, 2018: Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday dismissed application of victims of Uphaar Tragedy which alleged that Sushil Ansal, convicted in the case, duped the concerned authority to get his passport renewed.
We cannot wait longer now: SC to hear Vijay Mallyas contempt case in January for final disposal
Take my money, save Jet Airways: Vijay Mallya urges banks
India
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, Mar 26: Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya blamed banks for letting "India's finest airline" close its operations and said his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines too could have been bailed out by lenders, similar to what happened with cash-strapped Jet Airways on Monday.
His statement comes a day after the government announced that banks will infuse Rs 1,500 crore to save Jet Airways from debt crisis.
In a series of tweets, Mallya said he has not been recognised for his investments to save Kingfisher and is being criticised for no reason. He also called out the present NDA regime, alleging "double standards".
"I invested over 4000 crores into Kingfisher Airlines to save the Company and its employees. Not recognised and instead slammed in every possible way. The same PSU Banks let India's finest airline with the best employees and connectivity fail ruthlessly. Double standards under NDA," wrote Vijay Mallya on Twitter.
Mallya set to lose more properties
Vijay Mallya asked the PSU banks to take his offer and save the Jet Airways.
"And I repeat once again that I have placed liquid assets before the Hon'ble Karnataka High Court to pay off the PSU Banks and all other creditors. Why do the Banks not take my money. It will help them to save Jet Airways if nothing else," he added.
And I repeat once again that I have placed liquid assets before the Honble Karnataka High Court to pay off the PSU Banks and all other creditors. Why do the Banks not take my money. It will help them to save Jet Airways if nothing else. Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 26, 2019
Mallya, known for his lavish lifestyle, left India in March 2016 owing more than $1 billion after defaulting on loan payments to state-owned banks and allegedly misusing the funds.
The loans from the state-owned IDBI bank were intended to bail out his failed carrier Kingfisher Airlines, whose motto was "Fly the Good Times" but folded in 2012 under huge debts.
Indian authorities last year laid money-laundering charges against the tycoon, who dropped off India's most wealthy list in 2014.
India formally asked for his extradition in February last year. He is currently living near London.
As Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Cong says such posturing for personal ambition will help BJP
What exactly is home ministry doing: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over Nagaland incident
Farmers should be given rights, compensation, jobs: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha
Rahul Gandhi in centre of Cong posters for Jaipur rally; call for him to become party chief again
Congress's Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme 'NYAY' Explained in 7 Points
Infographics
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, Mar 26: Congress has announced structure of a minimum income guarantee scheme, which according to the party is going to be a final assault on poverty.
Termed as Nyay (justice), the scheme offers Rs 12,000 per month for a family (upto Rs 72,000 per year) as basic income.
Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi claimed that this "is an extremely powerful, ground-breaking and well-thought through idea". While all this sounds good, only time will tell if this is just another election promise or a serious policy proposal.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 17:53 [IST]
Is China the reason why Pakistan opted to skip Summit for Democracy hosted by Biden?
After FATF, APG may also Grey-list Pakistan over terror funding: Report
International
oi-PTI
Islamabad, Mar 26: Pakistan was facing the risk of being grey-listed by the Asia/Pacific Group too as Islamabad has a high non-compliant rate of nearly 70 per cent on 40 recommendations against money laundering and terrorist financing, a media report said on Tuesday.
The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has already grey-listed Pakistan from June 2018 and any adverse findings by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) could further complicate problems for the Pakistan government, The Express Tribune reported.
A delegation of experts from the APG arrived here on Monday to review whether Pakistan has made enough progress on global standards against financial crimes to warrant its exclusion from the Sydney-based watchdog's grey list.
Pakistan is already under intense international pressure to rein in terror groups like the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) after the Pulwama terror attack.
As the APG begins mutual evaluation to gauge Pakistan's compliance with global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards, the country faces the risk of being grey-listed by the APG due to a very high ratio of nearly 70 per cent non-compliance, the report said.
The APG is the FATF-style regional body for the Asia-Pacific region. It is an inter-governmental organisation founded in 1997. The mutual evaluation process by the APG is separate from the FATF but it is based on the implementation of 40 FATF recommendations, the report said.
The APG delegation currently in Islamabad will conduct last on-site mutual evaluation of Pakistan that began in June 2018. It will be last face-to-face meeting by the mutual evaluation team, suggesting that Islamabad does not have the luxury to take a lenient approach, the report said.
The APG has done Pakistan's second mutual evaluation in the past ten years. The last mutual evaluation took place in 2009.
[Act or face FATF wrath, Pakistan's finance secretary warns]
The mutual evaluation would be based on a third draft of technical compliance annexure that the APG shared with Pakistan this month.
There is not much difference between the first and the latest draft technical annexure, a senior Finance Ministry official who has seen the report told the newspaper.
The APG Executive Secretary Gordon Hook is leading the delegation that is comprised of experts from the UK, the US, Turkey, China, Indonesia and the Maldives.
"If we go by the third draft of technical annexure shared by the APG, there are high risks of being declared non-compliant," said a senior government official who is directly working on the mutual evaluation told the newspaper.
Out of the 40 recommendations, the APG has provisionally assessed Pakistan non-compliant on nearly 28 recommendations, he added.
He said Pakistan has to be fully compliant or largely compliant with at least 23 recommendations to avoid the grey list. Pakistan is already on the grey list of the FATF and even if it successfully implemented all the 27 actions determined by the FATF, its fate will hinge on the mutual evaluation report outcome, the report said.
It has also been conveyed to Finance Minister Asad Umar that the situation could worsen for Pakistan if it did not improve ranking on at least 8 to 10 recommendations, said another official who works for a counter-terrorism authority.
Officials said all the stakeholders were not on the same page, which not only created difficulties during the October 2018 on-site inspection but might also create problems this time.
Out of the 40 recommendations, Pakistan is fully compliant with hardly two, largely compliant with three and partially to largely compliant with another three. It is either partially compliant or non-compliant with the rest of the recommendations, the report said.
But Pakistani authorities believe that they have addressed the APG's concerns in areas of customer due diligence, beneficial ownerships of legal persons, statistics, record keeping, money or value transfer services, new technologies, wire transfers, international cooperation, nuclear non-proliferation and targeted financial sanctions related to terrorism and terrorism financing, the report said.
After the current visit, the APG would finalise its draft report that is expected to be shared with Pakistan by the end of April or early May for its comments.
After obtaining Pakistan's response, the Mutual Evaluation Report will be presented in the Annual General Meeting of the APG that is likely to take place in August. The APG meeting would either accept the report or suggest changes to it, the report said.
In case of the worst outcome, Pakistan may have to implement yet another Action Plan from October onwards. The FATF's Action Plan implementation deadline is September this year.
The review on the implementation of the FATF Action Plan held in February did not go well, which has increased pressure on Pakistan, the report said.
The next FATF review would take place in June in Washington and before that Pakistan will have to show compliance on 16 points that have been agreed for May in addition to three issues that were left out in the last review, the report added.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 21:01 [IST]
Australia: Man accuses ex-colleague of fart bullying him; seeks Rs 12.4cr compensation
International
oi-Shubham Ghosh
Melbourne, March 26: An engineer in Australia has sought $1.8 million (Rs 12.4 crore) in a legal suit against his former employer for a bizarre reason. No, it is not about being deprived of equal opportunity or income at the work place but farting. The 56-year-old man has alleged that one of his former colleagues bullied him for several months by constantly farting near him and even "thrusting his bum" at him.
According to a report in Yahoo News, David Hingst sought the legal suit against his former employer Construction Engineering although the supreme court said that there was no evidence to back his charge of bullying. In his appeal, Hingst said his ex-colleague Greg Short was a "serial farter" and that "flatulence was a form of bullying".
"I would be sitting with my face to the wall and he would come into the room, which was small and had no windows. He would fart behind me and walk away. He would do this five or six times a day," Hingst was quoted by Yahoo News.
Pentagon authorises Billion for Trump's border wall
Hingst also said that Greg, who was the manager of the company, abused him over telephone and taunted him with gestures. He said Short's behaviour was part of a conspiracy that left him with "psychiatric injuries".
Supreme Court Justice Phillip Priest dismissed the appeal saying farts were not the 'key issue' in the complainant's original claim.
The final ruling of the case is expected on Friday, March 29.
Muslim youth invites NZ PM Jacinda Ardern to embrace Islam & she gives a beautiful reply
International
oi-Shubham Ghosh
Wellington, March 26: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has won hearts all over for her handling of the situation post Christchurch massacre on March 15 that left 50 people dead, has made the headlines yet again.
In a video that has gone viral, the 38-year-old leader was seen telling an unidentified Muslim youth who invited her to embrace Islam the following: "Islam teaches humanity and I think I have it".
Ardern's gesture following the shootings in two mosques in Christchurch on a Friday, the prayer's day, earned accolades the world over as she met the bereaved families wearing a Hijab. Her government also changed the country's gun laws fast to ensure that such deadly incidents did not occur again.
The young Muslim man was heard appreciating Ardern who he told: "To be honest with you, what brought me here it's you. I have been crying every day for the last three days. I have been making one Dua from Allah and I said I wish other leaders can look at your leadership skills. And my other one wish is I hope one day you enter into Islam and I wish I will be with you in Jannah."
French Muslim group sues Facebook, YouTube over NZ Christchurch attack video
It was then Ardern gave her reply which was not only diplomatic but empathetic as well.
Ardern even went to the extent of greeting the parliament with the words "Assalam o Alaikum" (peace be upon you) soon after the Christchurch mayhem. Also, a Muslim cleric was invited into the parliament to recite Holy Quran.
Ardern earned praise of the Muslim world as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai was lit up with her picture last Friday, March 22, as tribute from the government and people of the UAE to the Kiwi premier.
The New Zealand prime minister also received death threats on the social media on Friday and the country's police were probing it.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 6:49 [IST]
Report claims most of the revered Hindu sites in Pakistan in state of decay
India has just one DNA and it is Hindu: RSS leader
Court orders Pak govt to ensure protection of abducted Hindu girls
International
oi-Deepika S
Islamabad, Mar 26: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the government to take into custody the two Hindu girls allegedly abducted and forcibly converted from Hinduism and married to Muslim men. The Court has also ordered to ensure they are protected, GeoTV reported.
After hearing their plea, the Chief Justice of the IHC directed the Islamabad Deputy Commission and Director General Human Rights to take over their custody, until the matter is resolved in court.
The court remarked that the girls cannot be taken back to Sindh fearing persecution, vengeful activities and the threat to their lives, till the matter is in court, GeoTV reported.
Minister of External Affairs (MEA) Sushma Swaraj has refuted the claims of willing conversion in a series of tweets on Tuesday morning. Swaraj said, "Even the Prime Minister on Naya Pakistan will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage."
Russia: Man tries to board flight naked saying clothes make him 'less aerodynamic'
Pakistan has arrested at least seven people, including a man who assisted in solemnising the wedding of two teenage Hindu girls after their alleged abduction and forced conversions.
The two girls, Raveena (13) and Reena (15), were allegedly kidnapped by a group of "influential" men from their home in Ghotki district in Sindh on the eve of Holi. Soon after the kidnapping, a video went viral in which a cleric was purportedly shown soleminising the Nikah (marriage) of the two girls, triggering a nationwide outrage.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered a probe into the incident after the two separate videos started doing rounds on social media.
Citing police, Dawn reported that several raids were conducted on Sunday night in Punjab's Rahim Yar Khan district - where it was believed the girls were taken from Ghotki - and arrested the Nikah Khwan who solemnised their marriages, a leader of the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, and some relatives of the two men who had married the two girls.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 13:06 [IST]
Is China the reason why Pakistan opted to skip Summit for Democracy hosted by Biden?
Pakistan: Cops find woman in deep sleep next to body parts of 70 year old man
Did Pakistan use a J-17 used to shoot down Indian aircraft?
International
oi-Oneindia Staff
By Anuj Cariappa
Islamabad, Mar 26: Pakistan's military has said for the first time that JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft developed jointly with China were used in retaliation to India's pre-emptive strikes on a JeM terror camp in Balakot as it once again denied that US-made F-16 jets were involved in the attack.
Referring to the aerial dogfight with the Indian Air Force jets after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said the Indian jets violated the Pakistani airspace on February 26, dropping payloads without inflicting any casualties or damage to infrastructure.
Video: Indian Army destroys Pakistani base in Akhnoor sector
The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was handed over to India later.
"The aircraft which engaged those targets and fought them were JF-17. As regard to how to use F-16, in what context [they] were used or not - because at that point of time our entire Air Force was airborne - now it remains between Pakistan and the US to see how the MoUs regarding the use of F-16 have been adhered to or otherwise," Ghafoor told Russian news agency Sputnik International.
A day after Pakistan's attempt to retaliate the IAF's air strikes at the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot, the Indian armed forces displayed parts of an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) fired by an F-16, which fell in Indian territory. New Delhi had also underlined that electronic signatures captured by Indian radars had established the use of F-16 for the offensive.
The US State Department announced that it was seeking more information from Pakistan on the potential use of American-made F-16 jets against India in violation of the end-user agreement.
The Pakistani General noted that Islamabad was discussing the use of its JF-17 with the US citing "friendly relations" with Washington, stressing, however, that the country would use whatever it deemed necessary if it came to "legitimate self-defence."
He said Pakistan only wanted to tell India that it has the capability to hit back. He said Pakistan has the footage of the operation.
At the time of the attack, the media reports said that the PAF military aircraft that shot down the Mig-21 Bison was JF-17 Thunder Block II multirole fighter jet.
"Proud to announce, I was project director for JF-17 Thunder program jointly produced by Pakistan and China during the tenure of General Pervez Musharraf," retired PAF Air Marshall Shahid Latif said at the time.
"Today, same jets targeted and shot down Indian Jets which entered Pakistani Airspace," he said soon after the attack last month.
Ghafoor said that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is a deterrence tool to prevent wars in the region.
"Pakistan holds the position that this capability eliminates the possibility of conventional war. No sane country having this capability would talk about using it," Ghafoor was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency.
He said Pakistan would take steps towards non-proliferation of nuclear arms but only if India does the same.
Further terror attack on India will be extremely problematic: US to Pakistan
Ghafoor said Pakistan would welcome every effort, including that of Russia, which can bring peace in the region.
On military cooperation with Russia, Ghafoor said Pakistan is negotiating defence industry cooperation with Moscow in the areas of aviation, air defence systems and anti-tank missiles.
Pakistan's defence ties with Russia have moved past the bitter Cold War hostilities in recent years and the chill in the relations between Pakistan and the US has further pushed the country towards Russia and China.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 5:58 [IST]
Modi losing popularity, playing China card to win Lok Sabha election: Chinese media
International
oi-Shubham Ghosh
Beijing, March 26: The general elections in India are not too far away and China's state-run Global Times has said in an op-ed on Monday, March 25, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is playing the China card to win the upcoming election.
In the piece, Zhao Gancheng, a research fellow of the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, said the twin incidents of India's escalating tension with Pakistan in the wake of the terror attack on its paramilitary forces in Pulwama and New Delhi's quest in making the international community announce Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist showed that PM Modi and his BJP were eyeing to make the soar relations with Pakistan as one of their main poll planks.
It said such an effort has been undertaken to "shore up" Modi's popularity and "lure" voters.
"Bilateral problems are generally not used as election issues in India or other countries, unless tensions boil over leading to a war," the piece said.
Narendra Modi to address rally in Jammu on March 28
It also said that though India and China have their share of issues but their relations are far from leading to a major crisis. It added that China has nothing to do with the Lok Sabha elections but accused Modi of playing the "China card" to divert the voters' mind.
It also said that the BJP was once confident of winning the polls but various factors like low employment rate and unfulfilled poll promises have left the people upset, making the "China card" relevant in the election. It said the ploy would work to some extent in India's northern parts for the region is underdeveloped and people living in such areas harbour strong nationalist sentiments.
It also said that Modi's popularity has declined and to make up more that, he is also playing up the standoff with Pakistan besides using the China card.
Why doesn't BJP play China card in South India, asks Chinese op-ed
"Why didn't the BJP play the "China card" in southern India, which is more developed and prosperous? The people there wouldn't buy it as the general elections are about domestic politics. Anyone who has a relatively clear perception of the international situation can easily see through Modi's intention of raking up the China issue in election rallies to gain popularity when he cannot figure a better way out of his domestic predicament," the op-ed added.
It ended up saying that if Modi wins the upcoming election, he will handle his China policy rationally.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 6:56 [IST]
Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump
Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden
Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump
Pentagon authorises $1 Billion for Trump's border wall
International
oi-Deepika S
Washington, Mar 26: Pentagon has authorised $1 billion to begin new wall construction along with the US-Mexico border.
A Pentagon budget reprogramming notification sent to Capitol Hill on Monday and obtained by CNN indicates that up to $1 billion will go towards building 57 miles of fencing, improving roads and other measures on the southern border.
The Department of Defense authorized the Army Corp of Engineers to begin planning and construction for the project Monday night. The department will direct the funds toward 18-foot-high fencing along the Yuma and El Paso sections of the border, according to a letter acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan sent to Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen.
Hurdles cleared for AK 203 rifles deal with Russia; likely to be sealed next month during Putin's visit
Russia: Man tries to board flight naked saying clothes make him less aerodynamic
International
oi-Shubham Ghosh
Moscow, March 26: The aviation sector has come up with all sorts of bizarre news nowadays. Recently, a woman boarded a plane in Saudi Arabia forgetting her newborn back at the airport and the pilot had to return to pick it up. Now, another bizarre incident has happened in Russia's Domodedovo Airport where a man tried to board a plane naked not for he felt that wearing clothes would make his less aerodynamic, the Moscow Times cited a report by REN TV as saying.
The man completed the Ural Airlines flight's registration before suddenly shedding his clothes and ran naked onto the jet bridge, according to eyewitnesses.
"He shouted that he was naked because clothing impairs the aerodynamics of the body. He flies with more agility when undressed," REN TV quoted a fellow passenger as saying.
The man's explanation of physics though did not convince the airport staff members and they intercepted him before he could board the flight heading for Crimea. He was also detained by the police later.
Bizarre! Woman passenger forgets baby at airport; pilot turns plane back to pick it
"After the police had detained the offender, he was taken to the airport's medical room and then was hospitalized in a medical facility. The offender is a native of Yakutsk but lives in the Moscow region," Moscow Times cited the press service of the Interior Ministry as saying.
A video was released of the man after he was handcuffed by the police and sat on the floor, without any clothes on his body.
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 9:18 [IST]
4K Technology Market Trends Exhibits Growth by Leading Key Players: AsusTek Corp, Hong Kong Skyworth Digital Holdings Ltd, Innolux Corp, LG Electronics, Hisense, Sharp, JVC Kenwood Corp, Samsung Electronics Corp
4K Technology Market
https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/875560
https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/875560
https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/875560
www.orianresearch.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/13281002/
4K Technology Market Research Report 2019 offers detailed analysis of market size, share, growth, trends, organization size, region, and deployment mode. This market report is a dynamic and statistical insights pertaining to the market at both regional as well as global level. Technology refers to a horizontal screen display resolution in the order of 4,000 pixels. There are several different 4K resolutions in the fields of digital television and digital cinematography.4K technology market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the MEA. Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region for 4K technology because of the increasing demand of higher quality of communication.Get Sample Copy of this Report -Market Overview: The Global 4K Technology Market 2019 report includes 4K Technology market Revenue, market Share, industry volume, and Trends, Growth aspects. 4K technology is an advanced technology that provides sharp quality pictures along with vibrant colors. YouTube and the television industry have adopted 3840 2160 as their 4K standard. The report provide in-depth analysis of key business trends and closure market is segmented and forthcoming growth opportunities and prospective. The report focuses in decision making abilities, essentials data of Market size and supports to make effective counter strategies in order to achieve competitive advantage and the Current market scenario of the segment and forecasts of the market situation have also been bounded in this market report.Complete report on Global 4K Technology 2019 Market Research Report is spread across 94 pages and provides exclusive vital statistics, data, and research analysis lists the key regional countries, highlighting on the extraordinary regions.Inquire more or share questions if any before the purchase on this report @The following manufacturers are covered:AsusTek CorpSamsung Electronics CorpJVC Kenwood CorpHisenseSharpLG ElectronicsHong Kong Skyworth Digital Holdings LtdInnolux CorpThe report provides insights on the following pointers:Market Dynamics: The report shares important information on influence factors, market drivers, challenges, opportunities, and market trends as part of market dynamics.Market Diversification: Readers are provided with production and revenue forecasts for the global 4K Technology market, production and consumption forecasts for regional markets, production, revenue, and price forecasts for the global 4K Technology market by type, and consumption forecast for the global 4K Technology market by application.Regional Market Analysis: It could be divided into two different sections: one for regional production analysis and the other for regional consumption analysis. Here, the analysts share gross margin, price, revenue, production, CAGR, and other factors that indicate the growth of all regional markets studied in the report.Market Competition: In this section, the report provides information on competitive situation and trends including merger and acquisition and expansion, market shares of top three or five players, and market concentration rate. Readers could also be provided with production, revenue, and average price shares by manufacturers.Order a copy of Global 4K Technology Market Report 2019 @Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoTVCameraDigital signageMarket segment by Application, the market can be split intoTelevision and Consumer MediaMovie ProjectionScope of the Report: To split the breakdown data by regions, type, manufacturers and applications. To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. To identify significant trends, drivers, influence factors in global and regions. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.About Us:Orian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.Contact Us:Ruwin MendezVice President Global Sales & Partner RelationsOrian Research ConsultantsUS: +1 (832) 380-8827 | UK: +44 0161-818-8027Email: info@orianresearch.comWebsite:Follow Us on LinkedIn:
Start-Stop Technology Market 2019: Growth Opportunities, Demand, Size, Share, Innovation, Top Companies (Continental, Bosch, Aisin Seiki, Denso, Delphi, Hitachi, Johnson Controls, Mitsubishi Electric, BorgWarner, Valeo etc.)
Start-Stop Technology Market
https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/875273
https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/875273
https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/875273
Start-stop technology automatically shuts down and restarts the internal combustion engine of vehicles to cut down the amount of time the engine spends idling. Additionally, the technology helps in reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Based on product, the enhanced starter segment is expected to be the largest segment of the global start-stop technology market during the forecast period.Get Sample Copy of This Report atThe Start-Stop Technology Market Research Report 2019 includes various topics like total market size, key drivers, business challenges, growth opportunities, industry share, international demand, outlook etc. Furthermore it covers key impact of regulations and technological updates. The report focuses on Global Start-Stop Technology Industry major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information.Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions North America, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa etc.)Inquire more or share questions if any before the purchase on this report @Key Companies Analyzed in this Report are: Continental Bosch Aisin Seiki Denso Delphi Hitachi Johnson Controls Mitsubishi Electric BorgWarner Valeo Global Start-Stop Technology Market report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through analytical research, market survey and observations) and secondary research. The report also features a complete focused on qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain, growth aspects, utilization ratio and manufacturing capacity.Segment by TypeEnhanced starterBelt-driven alternator starter (BAS)Direct starterIntegrated starter generator (ISG)Segment by ApplicationPassenger CarsCommercial VehiclesPlace a Direct Order Of this Report @Major Points Covered in Table of Contents:1 Start-Stop Technology Market Overview2 Global Start-Stop Technology Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Start-Stop Technology Production Market Share by Regions4 Global Start-Stop Technology Consumption by Regions5 Global Start-Stop Technology Production, Revenue, Price Trend by Type6 Global Start-Stop Technology Market Analysis by Applications7 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Start-Stop Technology Business8 Start-Stop Technology Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Marketing Channel, Distributors and Customers10 Market Dynamics11 Global Start-Stop Technology Market Forecast12 Research Findings and Conclusion13 Methodology and Data SourceAbout UsOrian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on The World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.Contact UsRuwin MendezVice President Global Sales & Partner RelationsOrian Research ConsultantsUS: +1 (415) 830-3727 | UK: +44 020 8144-71-27Email: info@orianresearch.com
Spindle Shaper Market Shares, Strategies and Forecast Worldwide, 2018-2028
https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=3208
https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=B&rep_id=3208
https://www.factmr.com/report/3208/spindle-shaper-market
www.factmr.com/
http://insiderstribune.com/
Growing Spindle Shaper Market in Automation sectorSpindle shaper is used in industries to shape and mould material. Spindle shaper market has gained sizable momentum in its overall sales over the forecast period. Automation in spindle shaper will make it much faster and is likely to aid in market growth over the forecast period. Use of spindle shaper is primarily concentrated in primary metal, fabricated metal and machinery manufacturing industries.Consumers are also using low RPM spindle shaper to create creative artworks of wood. The spindle shaper is likely to develop substantial incremental opportunities for the manufacturing companies of cutting and crafting machines to penetrate a significant market share in the emerging economies. The demand for spindle shaper is bound to increase in the upcoming years due to its efficiency and easy-to-use system, which is attracting consumers.Global Spindle Shaper Market likely to register lower single-digit growth during the forecast periodThe spindle shaper is essential and economic machine for manufactures to cut and shape material and its demand is likely to grow over the forecast period of 2018 to 2028, according to the companys recent research analysis. The global market for spindle shaper is estimated to dominate in Europe by 2028-end owing to a large number of research facilities, which can help develop spindle shaper in the upcoming years. Consumers from China and Japan prefer wooden furnished houses, which will help the spindle shaper market grow in these countries during the forecast period. America and MEA region are expected to witness a sizable rise in the overall sales of spindle shaper in the coming years due to its reasonable cost.Request For Sample @Increasing Investment in Automation to Boost Sales of Spindle ShaperThe global market for automation in spindle shaper is anticipated to see strong growth over the forecast period due to several growth factors like ability to withstand the bending movement of a machining part, high speed and torque, which are directly or indirectly responsible for the growth of the global spindle shaper market. Growth factors include increasing investment in R&D for fast working spindle shaper for growing automation facilities in emerging and low economies countries over the globe. The rising demand for rapid production companies to fulfil the needs of the population has opened plethora of market opportunities for the manufacturers of the spindle shaper. It is also likely to increase their sales footprint across the globe to maintain their existing customer base and expand new end users in developed and developing economies. Combination of a system like spindle shaper with CNC (Computer Numerical Control) can also give scope to the market of spindle shaper in the upcoming years.Global Spindle Shaper Market : SegmentationThe spindle shaper market can be segmented into motor power, spindle speed, applications and tool type and tool material. By motor power, spindle shaper market can be categorized as 1/2HP, 3 HP and 5 HP. By spindle speed, the spindle shaper market can be segmented in different ranges of RPM such as 4,000, 6,000, 7,000, 7,500, 8,000, 8,500 and 10,000 RPM.By applications, the spindle shaper market can be segmented into material removal process, facing, surface smoothing process and other artwork related area, which largely consists of wood cutting artwork by spindle shaper machine. By tool type, the global market for spindle shaper can be classified into round nose, roughing tool, finishing tool, side recessing tool, slot cutting tool, goose neck tool and other. Geographically, the global market spindle shaper can be segmented into seven regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, CIS & Russia, and Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.Request For Brochure @Key Manufacturers of Spindle Shaper machines Focusing on AtomizationThe global market for spindle shaper devices comprises several manufacturers, who are primarily converging on bringing eco-friendly devices into the market. Some key market players are STC-STEYR Walzlager Deutschland GMBH, Holytek Industrial Corporation, Woodtech Consultants Private Limited, Wealden Tool Company Limited, Hwacheon Machinery, Europe GmbH Tewkesbury Saw Co, W S Wood Machinery, Futura Woodmac, Felder Grouo Headquarter, JMJ Woodworking Machinery Ltd, Charnwood, Michale Weining AG ind and Charnwood Woodworking Machinery among others.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the spindle shaper 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 spindle shaper market segments on motor power, spindle speed, applications, and tool type and tool material.Report Analysis @The report is a compilation of first-hand information of qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments of spindle shaper. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Read Industrial News :
Small Hydropower Market | Top manufactures key player - Eco Power Holdings, Artelia, Lesotho Electricity Company, Agder Energi AS, Ontario Power Generation Inc.
mrrse
https://www.mrrse.com/sample/2471
Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has recently updated its massive report catalogue by adding a fresh study titled Small Hydropower Market Assessment and Revenue Forecast until the End of 2024. This business intelligence study encapsulates vital details about the market current as well as future status during the mentioned forecast period of 2026.The report also targets important facets such as market drivers, challenges, latest trends, and opportunities associated to growth of manufacturers in global market for (Small Hydropower Market). Along with these insights, the report provides the readers crucial insights on the strategies implemented by leading companies to remain in the lead of this competitive market.Request Free sample report @Small Hydropower (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. MRRSEs 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 UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559
Community Care Facilities for the Elderly Market Technology Trends and Top Key Players to Watch in Future
https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/11992
https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/toc/11992
https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pharmaceuticals-healthcare-and-medical-devices/11992/community-care-facilities-for-the-market-research-reports
http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/
Community Care Facilities or Residential Care Facilities are services provided to geriatrics to assist their day-to-day routine of care, supervision and assistance with activities such as bathing and grooming and providing medicine as per regimen. In many cases high level of care and supervision is required when people are unable to ambulate by themselves but who do not need 24 hour nursing care. They are considered non-medical facilities and are not required to have nurses, certified nursing assistants or doctors on staff. These services are provided either home to home or at a private facility away from the patients home. Community care facilities are strictly regulated for quality of environment and expertise of the staff.Get Sample Copy of this report @The demand for community care has increased exponentially over the years particularly due to decreased focus and attention meted out to geriatrics by family. This is further fueled with low awareness and training in handling of serious medical situation for old people such as Alzheimers Parkinsons, heart attack, post-surgical care and palliative care. In many situations, end-of-life care is required to be provided which cannot be given in hospitals due to over occupation of hospital premises. Other services may include adult day health care, companionship, delivery of consumables and medical supplies, counseling, emergency alert response, home repair, home-delivered meals, home nursing, legal assistance, material aid, medical therapeutic services, personal care, transportation, and other community-based services.The largest market for elderly community care services is estimated to be in North America which accounts for approximately 37% of the global market followed by Europe. China and Japan, are the worlds largest geriatric population regions where the market is expected to rise significantly in coming years. Cultural differentiation has affected the decision of hiring community care facility as aged people tend to misconstrue the move as abandonment by families which can strain health further. This is expected to remain a constant challenge in developing regions. Rapid urbanization and changing mindset may lead to better acceptance of these facilities in future. Home Community Care will be accepted much faster than care provided at a different facility such as an old age home.Request For TOC Report @Since the facilities are strictly regulated, many of the facilities are government based facilities. Private companies such as Visiting Angels, Care Pathways, Home Instead, Senior Homes and Maxim Home Care are just a few examples in a market teeming with hundreds of players. Unique aspect of this industry is the fact that local players can have a market space of their own regardless of global leaders. Thus the market is expected to remain highly fragmented in coming years as well.MRR.BIZ has been compiled in-depth market research data in the report after exhaustive primary and secondary research. Our team of able, experienced in-house analysts has collated the information through personal interviews and study of industry databases, journals, and reputable paid sources.The report provides the following information:Tailwinds and headwinds molding the markets trajectoryMarket segments based on products, technology, and applicationsProspects of each segmentOverall current and possible future size of the marketGrowth pace of the marketCompetitive landscape and key players strategiesThe main aim of the report is to:Enable key stakeholders in the market bet right on itUnderstand the opportunities and pitfalls awaiting themAssess the overall growth scope in the near termStrategize effectively with respect to production and distributionView Complete Report @MRR.BIZ is a leading provider of strategic market research. Our vast repository consists research reports, data books, company profiles, and regional market data sheets. We regularly update the data and analysis of a wide-ranging products and services around the world. As readers, you will have access to the latest information on almost 300 industries and their sub-segments. Both large Fortune 500 companies and SMEs have found those useful. This is because we customize our offerings keeping in mind the specific requirements of our clients.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Latest Report On Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market By Growth, Size, Share and Forecast AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Merck
Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/81446
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/81446
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/81446
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/81446
www.upmarketresearch.com
Up Market Research recently published a new research on Global Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market 2019-2026 Report that provides an in-depth overview of industry and competitive landscape, covering multiple market segments and elaborates market outlook and status to 2026.Get Exclusive FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @The report contains pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period. It is a professional and a detailed report focusing on primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. Further, key players, major collaborations, merger & acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are reviewed in the report. The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 20192026.The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.For More Information On This Report, Please VisitThe generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. Secondary research techniques are implemented for better understanding and clarity for data analysis.The report for Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market analysis & forecast 2019-2026 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Global Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market Segmentation Includes:Region-wise Analysis covers:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)The Major players include:AstraZenecaBristol-Myers SquibbEli LillyGileadMerckNovartisPfizerAbbVieBoehringer IngelheimProduct Type Analysis:Immediate ReleaseExtended ReleaseOthersApplication Analysis:Hospital PharmacyRetail PharmacyDrug StoresOthersThere are many other application and segment on which the study has been conductedGet Exclusive FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 report helps the clients to take business decisions and to understand strategies of major players in the industry. The report also calls for market- driven results deriving feasibility studies for client needs. UpMarketResearch ensures qualified and verifiable aspects of market data operating in the real- time scenario. The analytical studies are conducted ensuring client needs with a thorough understanding of market capacities in the real- time scenario.Key Reasons to Purchase:- To gain insightful analysis of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Global Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 and its commercial landscape.- Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by your competitors and leading organizations.- To understand the future outlook and prospects for Oral Solid Dosage Pharmaceutical Formulation Market analysis and forecast 2019-2026.Avail Discount On this Report @Customization of the Report:UpMarketResearch provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UpMarketResearch:The UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well- defined we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States.
UV Infection Control Device Industry (Market) Growth Analysis By Top Key Players Getinge Group, STERIS, Clorox Professional, Xenex, Tru-D SmartUVC, Seal Shield
Global UV Infection Control Device Market 2019-2024
https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/877857
https://www.orianresearch.com/discount/648393
https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/877857
www.orianresearch.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/13281002/
UV Light refers to Ultraviolet light which is outside the visible light spectrum between wavelength ranges of 100 nanometers (nm) to 400 nm. UV Light is classified into three wavelength ranges: UV-C from 100 nm - 280 nm, UV-B from 280 nm - 315 nm, UV-A from 315 nm - 400 nm.Ask for Sample Copy of This Report @Infection control used to be that washing hands and sterilizing tools and equipment with high temperature water was enough to keep patients, healthcare workers and visitors safe from viruses and bacteria. With the rise of more virulent viruses and antibiotic resistant bacteria in the last five years, healthcare providers are scrutinizing their infection prevention methods and are adopting new methods of disinfection.Top Key Vendors: Getinge Group, STERIS, Clorox Professional, Xenex, Tru-D SmartUVC, Seal Shield, American Ultraviolet, UVC Cleaning Systems, Infection Prevention Technologies, AquiSense Technologies, Lumalier Corp, American Air & WatersWith independent lab tests and peer-reviewed studies validating ultraviolet-C lights ability to quickly and effectively kill germs, UVC light disinfection systems have become increasingly popular with hospitals in the last one to two years. At the same time, many well-publicized incidents of healthcare-associated infections have occurred at hospitals, which have contributed to an increase in use of UVC light disinfection in hospitals.Global UV Infection Control Device Industry is spread across 123 pages, profiling 27 companies and supported with tables and figures.Early buyers will receive reasonable discount on exclusive report @The growing manufacturing sector in all regions is expected to generate demand and drive the UV Infection Control Device market during the forecast period.Today, UV Light can be an important part of a hospitals infection control protocols. As UV Light technology continues to improve and costs come down, it is likely that we will see the development of more devices using UV Light for effective cleaning and disinfection.In addition to the human toll, hospitals now have a financial reason to reduce hospital-acquired infections: beginning in 2017, the federal government will dramatically reduce Medicare payments to hospitals that exceed incidences of them and of other conditions.The worldwide market for UV Infection Control Device is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly xx% over the next five years, will reach xx million US$ in 2024, from xx million US$ in 2019, according to a new study.This report focuses on the UV Infection Control Device in global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and applicationInquire for further detailed information before the purchase on Global UV Infection Control Device Market Research Report @Market Segment by Type, covers:Mobile TypeStationary TypeOther TypesMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into:HospitalClinicOthersAbout UsOrian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.Contact Us:Ruwin MendezVice President Global Sales & Partner RelationsOrian Research ConsultantsUS +1 (415) 830-3727| UK +44 020 8144-71-27Email: info@orianresearch.comWebsite:Follow Us on LinkedIn:
The Truth About Marriage, Divorce And The Remarriage Adultery Epidemic Offered By Evangelical Outreach Dan Corner VS Pat Robertson Of The 700 Club
https://www.evangelicaloutreach.org
Dan Corner posted a somewhat shocking recording of Pat Robertson of the 700 Club on his website. In that recording, Robertson made a comment regarding an Alzheimer's wife and her husband, whom she doesn't recognize anymore; with the husband who has started seeing another woman: "I know it sounds cruel, but if he is going to do something he should divorce her and start all over again."Divorce in the US is at an all-time high. The numbers shown by the National Center for Health Statistics are staggering. Even more unfortunate is the fact that some people have divorced and remarried more than once - some many times. Therefore it is important that Christians understand the spiritual ramifications of divorce and make good decisions based on Biblical truth.But finding that truth can be extremely difficult, especially when we hear conflicting points of view and contradictory opinions from pastors, church leaders and others, all of whom seem to be able to find something in the Bible to shore up their respective positions. Regarding divorce and remarriage, some say "yes", some say "no", and some say "maybe, but". However Dan Corner believes the answer is very clear. He recently had this to say:The Bible declares that remarriage while one's former spouse is still living constitutes adultery (Rom. 7:2,3). Divorce and remarriage have become so widespread, especially since the advent of "no fault divorce", that over 50% of married people divorce in the USA; Belgium is even worse with over 70% of their married people getting divorced.It is typical for remarriage adulterers to cite polygamist King David in an attempt to justify their own remarriage (even though David was never remarried and Bathsheba was a widow when they married). Furthermore, such arguments are all nullified by what the PRECIOUS Lord Jesus, who knew all about King David, taught:Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery (Luke 16:18).He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery" (Mark 10:11,12).The two people of opposite sex, whom God has joined together and have become one flesh through marriage, are bound together as husband and wife for life. God's eternal word calls that the law of marriage:For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man (Rom. 7:2,3).That same essential "until death do we part" scriptural truth (Mark 10:7-9) is repeated here:A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord (1 Cor. 7:39).Divorce does not end a marriage! Only physical death ends a marriage. People often wonder how the aforementioned verses can parallel the exception clauses in Mt. 5:32 and 19:9 ("except for marital unfaithfulness"), but in their bewilderment, they all too often overlook Mt. 1:19. That verse is where Joseph was going to "divorce" Mary because he wrongly thought she was guilty of sexual sin during their betrothal, that is, BEFORE they were actually married. Again, Joseph was going to "divorce" Mary, which is the same Greek word found in Mt. 5:32 and 19:9, before they were actually married.Furthermore, Jesus taught such remarriage adultery is a continuous tense sin. It is not a one-time sin, which can be confessed and forgotten about, all while continuing to indulge in sexual union. Such soul-damning adultery is committed every time sexual union occurs, because at least one of the two parties is still married to another living person. The lethal seriousness of unforgiven adultery is shown in 1 Cor. 6:9,10 and Rev. 21:8, where such sin will drag both parties to the lake of fire, just on that basis alone. What the many wolves in sheep's clothing say about the permissibility of remarriage after divorce does not change the written word of God, which forbids such practice and is detestable in Gods sight.John the Baptist was beheaded over his preaching about the illegitimate marriage between Herod and Herodias. The truth is, Herodias was still Philip's wife (Mt. 14:3,4; Mark 6:17-19). Hence, Herod and Herodias were committing adultery by their sexual union because their marriage was not legitimate before God.This vital message is not just for people in remarriage adultery now, who desperately need to repent and get forgiven, but also for single people before they become entangled in an emotional bear trap. Marriage is a very serious commitment; only death terminates the bonds of marriage. Marriage is not some trivial arrangement to try out only to have both parties go their own way and try again with different people when problems arise.Finally, please know people in remarriage adultery are not cancelling out their adultery by going to church, praying, reading the bible, giving to the poor, soul winning or by any other church activity. Adulterers must stop their sexual union and seek God's forgiveness to be cleansed. If you have found yourself in such an adulterous situation, which is condemned by God, you must act while you still can. If you die in your sins, you'll be eternally lost. There is no Once Saved Always Saved. Pass this teaching on to those you care about.Dan Corner, a former pastor, is the author of a number of books including 'The Believer's Conditional Security: Eternal Security Refuted', 'The Myth of Eternal Security' and 'Is this the Mary of the Bible?'. He also provides a massive amount of information on his websites.Ex Catholic Dan Corner is available for media interviews, including debates, and can be reached using the information below or by email at eternallifeblog@gmail.com, by phone at 724-632-3210 or by mail at PO Box 265, Washington, PA, 15301. More is available at his websites.After graduating from college, Dan Corner got saved by reading the Bible. For over four decades, he has diligently served the Lord Jesus. Dan Corner's pastoral, apologetic, counter cult and street evangelism experiences have equipped him to contend for the faith and win souls to Jesus from many backgrounds.He is an ordained minister and director of Evangelical Outreach who pastored for almost seven years and has authored hundreds of Christian articles, answered thousands of emails and letters and has written several books of vital importance in our day.Press Contact:Dan CornerPO Box 265Washington, PA 15301724-632-3210eternallifeblog@gmail.com
Global Car Rental Market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 6.6% over the forecast period.
Car Rental Market
https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5086
https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-5086
Future Market Insights (FMI) presents a revised forecast of the global car rental market for the period 2017-2027 in its published report titled Car Rental Services Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012 2016) and Opportunity Assessment (20172027). In terms of revenue, the global car rental market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 6.6% over the forecast period, owing to numerous factors, about which FMI offers thorough insights and forecasts in this informative report. The market is segmented on the basis of end use, customer type, sector, booking type and car type.Increased Global Affluence to Make Leisure Travellers Demand Car Rental ServicesBy customer type, the global car rental market is segmented into business and leisure customers. The leisure segment is expected to dominate over the forecast period due to expansion of global tourism market, increasing disposable income, and improved infrastructure for rental service. The leisure segment is anticipated to record a high CAGR growth rate of 7.8% over the forecast period with the total market valued at US$ 51,734.7 in 2017. On the other hand, the business segment has low growth rate of 4.3% CAGR with market valued at US$ 52,365.3 in 2017.Get Sample Copy of Report @Online Booking Unlikely to Outpace Offline Booking in the Car Rental MarketBy booking type, the market is segmented into offline access, mobile application, and other internet access. Offline booking is projected to be the higher revenue generator compared to online bookings and mobile apps. The offline booking segments is estimated to account for approximately 68% of the car rental market i.e. a value of US $ 44,871.6 Mn in 2016. Online bookings for car rentals have increased globally with the development of mobile applications and IT infrastructure advancements making it easy to book car rental services online or via mobile apps. Therefore, the car rental market is thriving. An updated report of the International Telecommunication Union, 2015 WSIS Forum states that Internet users have increased rapidly worldwide on account of continuous developments in Information & Communication Technologies. This is estimated to further increase the demand for car rental services. The proportion of households with the internet access at home increased from 18% in 2005 to 46% in 2015; whereas in 2000 the penetration rate was 6.3%.On-Airport End Use has Maximum Potential in the Car Rental MarketOn the basis of end use, global Car Rental Services is segmented into Intercity, Intracity, On-Airport, and others. On Airport segment has highest growth rate of 7.3% CAGR followed by intercity with a CAGR of 5.3% in the forecast period. Air travel has skyrocketed mainly because of the plummeting prices of airline tickets, leading to a substantial increase in air travelers across the globe. The increasing air trips for business and leisure purpose is fuelling the growth of car rentals to airports.Booming Economic Growth makes APEJ Car Rental Market Critical in the Long TermThe North America market has been estimated to dominate the Global car rental market, accounting for maximum revenue share of 45.9% by 2027 end. In terms of value, North America and Western Europe collectively accounted for more than 57% share in the global market in 2027. Although APEJ has a relatively lower market share of 17.5%, all the stars are in its favor making it likely to witness high growth rate in the medium term. Latin America, Japan and Middle East are also anticipated to show substantial amount of growth over the forecast period.If You Have Any Query, Ask The Analyst @Competition Dashboard in the Global Car Rental MarketSome of the key players in the global car rental market include Enterprise Holdings Inc., The Hertz Corporation, Avis Budget Group Inc., Europcar S.A., Carzonrent India Pvt Ltd., Sixt Rent a Car, Al-Futtaim, Localiza Rent a Car S / A, Eco Rent a Car, and GlobalCARS.For more insights on the car rental market, get in touch with our analysts at press@futuremarketinsights.comABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705
Impressive Growth of the Mobile Phone Accessories Market during the forecast period, at an estimated CAGR of 6.6%.
Mobile Phone Accessories Market
https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5338
https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-5338
Rapid technological advancements and tremendous penetration of mobile technology have been pushing the demand for mobile phone accessories over the past decade. The global market for mobile phone accessories will possibly witness robust growth in the near future, as indicated by a recent mobile phone accessories market examination by Future Market Insights (FMI) over a 10-year forecast period 2017-2027. FMI foresees impressive growth of the mobile phone accessories market during the forecast period, at an estimated CAGR of 6.6%.Get Sample Copy of Report @Rapidly Growing Consumer Inclination towards Smartphone Usage Boosting Sales of Mobile Phone Accessories in Developing EconomiesIncreasing adoption of smartphones and tablets are likely to promote immense opportunities to key players in the mobile phone accessories market. Furthermore, growing population and urbanization, especially in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa, are anticipated to contribute to the demand for mobile phone accessories market during the forecast period. As indicated by FMIs study on the global mobile phone accessories market, the growth is substantially driven by increasing disposal income pushing the purchasing power of consumers in developing countries. However, piracy poses a major threat to the growth of mobile phone accessories market, as the market has been witnessing growing inclination of a sizable population towards the cost effective counterfeit products especially in developing countries. Additionally, lack of standardization in manufacturing mobile phone accessories will hamper the market growth to a greater extent.Advancing trends of online shopping and e-banking have significantly influenced the use of smartphones, sequentially fueling the growth of mobile phone accessories market. Furthermore, the key players in mobile phone accessories market increasingly relying on high potential distribution channels such as multi-brand distributors and online shopping sites to gain a competitive advantage.APEJ to Witness Significant Growth in Global Mobile Phone Accessories MarketMore than 50% share of the global mobile phone accessories market revenue is collectively contributed by North America, Western Europe, and Asia Pacific excluding Japan. The FMI report estimates that the revenue contribution of APEJ in mobile phone accessories market will see a significant expansion at a robust pace during the forecast period. China is expected to remain the largest shareholder in this region, owing to growing consumer affluence and rampant urbanization.If You Have Any Query, Ask The Analyst @Power Bank to Witness Maximum Revenue Growth over Other Types of Mobile Phone AccessoriesNumerous options such as USB plug-in power bank, portable solar panel power bank, and pocket-size units are gaining popularity across the globe. In order to expand the customer base, power bank manufacturers are also focusing on delivering highly innovative products which will influence the growth of mobile phone accessories market through 2027. Europe leads in the sales of power bank owing to the presence of organized multi-brand stores. Furthermore, latest developments in power banks such as LED torch and digital charge indicators are anticipated to attract more customers.On the basis of product type, protective cases are also likely to register robust growth as they have high popularity as a fashion accessory. This further influences the key players to manufacture trendy and attractive products and in turn contribute in shaping the mobile phone accessories market.For more critical insights on the overall performance of global mobile phone accessories market, feel free to contact the team of expert research analysts at press@futuremarketinsights.comABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705
Want To Know the Future of International Lingerie Market Report 2026? know the trends along with SWOT analysis With Key Players: American Eagle Outfitters, Calvin Klein Inc., L Brands
International Lingerie Market
https://www.qyreports.com/request-sample?report-id=116007
https://qyreports.com/enquiry-before-buying?report-id=116007
https://www.qyreports.com/ask-for-discount?report-id=116007
https://www.qyreports.com/report/global-international-lingerie-market-research-report-forecast-2026-116007/
www.qyreports.com
The global International Lingerie market has moderately high entry barriers to new customers, such as brand loyalty, increased marketing investment, an important role for customers, and a low brand switch. While there are many local players on the market, the significant advertising and media costs of multinational brands overwhelm local players' share of the market.The reason for replacing this edition with another is that as the publisher's resource database becomes available recently, more analysis of the supply chain can be done. In other words, where International Lingerie in the world is being manufactured for women to wear in developed countries and regional retail markets.Get sample PDF pages on this report:Top Key Players:American Eagle Outfitters, Calvin Klein Inc., L Brands (Victorias Secret), Triumph, Bare Necessities, Fredricks of Hollywood, Freshpair, Hanes Brands and HerRoom are companies mentioned in this 65Chapters include: The lingerie consumer Lingerie retailing Lingerie products The lingerie market, 2019 Lingerie supply chain analysis The lingerie market, 2026 Lingerie time lines US$bn and percentage growth Market shares and value added Global lingerie sector playersThis research report categorizes the world market for women's lingerie by player / brand, region, type and application. The report also studies global market conditions, competitive landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels, distributors and Porter 's Five Forces Analysis.For More Details Inquire@Lingerie is at least a category of women's clothing, including underwear, nightwear and lightweight robes. The specific choice of a word is often induced by the intent to imply that the garment is attractive, sophisticated, or both. Lingerie is made of silk, satin, lycra, charmeuse, chiffon, or light, stretchy, soft, sheer or decorative fabrics (especially traditionally) These fabrics can be made of natural fibers such as silk or cotton or synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon.Market Size Split by TypeBraKnickers and PantiesLounge WearShape WearOtherMarket Size Split by ApplicationOnline StoresStore FrontMarket size split by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaGet Up To 30% Discount on this Report:Table of Contents International Lingerie Overview1 International Lingerie Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of International Lingerie1.2 Classification of International Lingerie1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.2.3 Type III1.3 Application of International Lingerie1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 International Lingerie Market by Regions1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2019-2026)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2019-2026)Complete Report Available at:About QYReports:We at, QYReports , a leading market research report publisher accommodate more than 4,000 celebrated clients worldwide putting them at advantage in todays competitive world with our understanding of research. Our list of customers include prestigious Chinese companies, multinational companies, SME's and private equity firms whom we have helped grow and sustain with our fact-based research. Our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering unfailing insights into analysis to reimagine your business. We specialize in forecasts needed for investing in a new project, to revolutionize your business, to become more customer centric and improve the quality of output.Contact:QYReportsJones John(Sales Manager)+(1) 786-292-8164sales@qyreports.com
Latest Viscose Filament Market Report by Growth, Size, Share and Forecast Research Till 2026 - Key Players are Xinxiang Bailu Chemical Fiber, Yibin Grace Group, Swan Fiber, Jilin Chemical Fiber, Etc.
Latest Viscose Filament Market
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/62360
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/62360
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/62360
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/62360
www.upmarketresearch.com
Up Market Research published a detailed Reports Global Viscose Filament Market Size Status and Forecast 2026. The report classifies the global Viscose Filament Market in a precise manner to offer detailed insights about the aspects responsible for augmenting as well as restraining market.Get Exclusive FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @The report contains pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Viscose Filament Market research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period. It is a professional and a detailed report focusing on primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. Further, key players, major collaborations, merger & acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are reviewed in the report. The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Viscose Filament Market global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 20192026.The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.For More Information On This Report, Please VisitThe generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. Secondary research techniques are implemented for better understanding and clarity for data analysis.The report for Viscose Filament Market analysis & forecast 2019-2026 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Global Viscose Filament Market Segmentation Includes:Region-wise Analysis covers:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)The Major players include:Xinxiang Bailu Chemical FiberYibin Grace GroupSwan FiberJilin Chemical FiberNanjing Chemical FiberIndian RayonCentury Rayon(IN)Hubei Golden RingENKAGlanzstoff IndustriesCHTC HelonZhonghui FiberDandong Chemical FiberKesoram RayonJiu Jiang Jin YuanHunan Heli FiberAbirami TextilesThreefold Export CombinesSniace GroupRahul RayonProduct Type Analysis:Ordinary Viscose FiberPolynosicViscose RayonViscose Strong SilkApplication Analysis:Over CoatingFancy SuitingBedding ArticleOthersThere are many other application and segment on which the study has been conducted.Get Exclusive FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @Viscose Filament Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 report helps the clients to take business decisions and to understand strategies of major players in the industry. The report also calls for market- driven results deriving feasibility studies for client needs. UpMarketResearch ensures qualified and verifiable aspects of market data operating in the real- time scenario. The analytical studies are conducted ensuring client needs with a thorough understanding of market capacities in the real- time scenario.Key Reasons to Purchase:- To gain insightful analysis of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Global Viscose Filament Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 and its commercial landscape.- Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by your competitors and leading organizations.- To understand the future outlook and prospects for Viscose Filament Market analysis and forecast 2019-2026.Avail Discount On this Report @Customization of the Report:UpMarketResearch provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UpMarketResearch:The UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well- defined we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States.
Vascular Closure Equipment Market Detailed Global Analysis Report by Key Players - Abbott Laboratories, Cardinal Health, St. Jude Medical, Vascular Solutions, Etc.
Vascular Closure Equipment Market
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/62586
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/62586
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/62586
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/62586
www.upmarketresearch.com
Vascular Closure Equipment Market report provides a comprehensive analysis by Key players and regions. This report also displays the forecast till 2026 production, consumption, revenue, gross margin, cost, market share, types, applications, and market influencing factors.Get Exclusive FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @The report contains pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Vascular Closure Equipment Market research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period. It is a professional and a detailed report focusing on primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. Further, key players, major collaborations, merger & acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are reviewed in the report. The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Vascular Closure Equipment Market global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 20192026.The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.For More Information On This Report, Please VisitThe generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. Secondary research techniques are implemented for better understanding and clarity for data analysis.The report for Vascular Closure Equipment Market analysis & forecast 2019-2026 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Global Vascular Closure Equipment Market Segmentation Includes:Region-wise Analysis covers:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)The Major players include:Abbott LaboratoriesCardinal HealthSt. Jude MedicalVascular SolutionsArstasisBeijing Puyishengji Medical TechnologyEndocorEssential MedicalInSeal MedicalMedeon BiodesignMorrris InnovativeTransluminal TechnologiesVasorumVivasure MedicalProduct Type Analysis:Active ApproximatorsPassive ApproximatorsApplication Analysis:Diagnostic InterventionTherapeutic InterventionOthersThere are many other application and segment on which the study has been conducted.Get Exclusive FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @Vascular Closure Equipment Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 report helps the clients to take business decisions and to understand strategies of major players in the industry. The report also calls for market- driven results deriving feasibility studies for client needs. UpMarketResearch ensures qualified and verifiable aspects of market data operating in the real- time scenario. The analytical studies are conducted ensuring client needs with a thorough understanding of market capacities in the real- time scenario.Key Reasons to Purchase:- To gain insightful analysis of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Global Vascular Closure Equipment Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 and its commercial landscape.- Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by your competitors and leading organizations.- To understand the future outlook and prospects for Vascular Closure Equipment Market analysis and forecast 2019-2026.Avail Discount On this Report @Customization of the Report:UpMarketResearch provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UpMarketResearch:The UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well- defined we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States.
Multivalent Vaccines Market Detailed Report With Growth Opportunity by Major Players GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Merck, Sanofi Pasteur, Etc.
Multivalent Vaccines Market
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/64808
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/64808
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/64808
https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/64808
www.upmarketresearch.com
Multivalent Vaccines Market report provides a comprehensive analysis by Key players and regions. This report also displays the forecast till 2026 production, consumption, revenue, gross margin, cost, market share, types, applications, and market influencing factors.Get Exclusive FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @The report contains pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Multivalent Vaccines Market research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period. It is a professional and a detailed report focusing on primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. Further, key players, major collaborations, merger & acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are reviewed in the report. The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Multivalent Vaccines Market global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 20192026.The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.For More Information On This Report, Please VisitThe generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. Secondary research techniques are implemented for better understanding and clarity for data analysis.The report for Multivalent Vaccines Market analysis & forecast 2019-2026 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Global Multivalent Vaccines Market Segmentation Includes:Region-wise Analysis covers:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)The Major players include:GlaxoSmithKline plc (U.K.)Pfizer Inc. (U.S.)Merck & Co. Inc. (U.S.)Sanofi Pasteur SA (France)Astellas Pharma Inc. (Japan)CSL Limited (Australia)Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (U.S.)Johnson and Johnson (U.S.)MedImmune LLC (U.S.)Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (India)Bavarian Nordic (Denmark)Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (Japan)Daiichi Sankyo (Japan)Protein Sciences Corporation (U.S.)Panacea Biotec (India)Product Type Analysis:Conjugate VaccinesInactivated and Subunit VaccinesLive Attenuated VaccinesToxoid VaccinesRecombinant VaccinesApplication Analysis:PediatricsAdultsThere are many other application and segment on which the study has been conducted.Get Exclusive FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @Multivalent Vaccines Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 report helps the clients to take business decisions and to understand strategies of major players in the industry. The report also calls for market- driven results deriving feasibility studies for client needs. UpMarketResearch ensures qualified and verifiable aspects of market data operating in the real- time scenario. The analytical studies are conducted ensuring client needs with a thorough understanding of market capacities in the real- time scenario.Key Reasons to Purchase:- To gain insightful analysis of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Global Multivalent Vaccines Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 and its commercial landscape.- Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by your competitors and leading organizations.- To understand the future outlook and prospects for Multivalent Vaccines Market analysis and forecast 2019-2026.Avail Discount On this Report @Customization of the Report:UpMarketResearch provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UpMarketResearch:The UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well- defined we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States.
Home prices in the Portland metro continued their upward climb in January but at their slowest rate since 2012.
Portland-area home values rose 3.3 percent in January compared with a year ago, according to the S&P/Case Shiller home price index. Thats slower than national gains of 4.6 percent year-over-year.
Prices rose fastest in Las Vegas (up 10.5 percent over the past year), followed by Phoenix (7.5 percent and Minneapolis (5.1 percent). Home prices rose in all 20 cities included in the index, but most saw prices rising more slowly than a year earlier.
The rise in home prices is cooling across the country but particularly in cities like Portland, Seattle and San Francisco that saw prices rise by 10 percent or more in recent years. That pushed prices out of reach for many of the cities residents, who havent seen wages rise as quickly as housing costs.
Formerly scorching hot, in-demand markets have seen home value growth steadily slow over the past few months, Matthew Speakman, an economic analyst for the real estate website Zillow, said in a statement.
A rise in mortgage rates also helped price out some buyers through 2018, putting pressure on sellers to lower prices.
It came as a culture shock to sellers and builders, said Kevin Hanna, the Northwest regional executive vice president for Tennessee-based Churchill Mortgage. Buyers are always really heavily motivated by rates.
Mortgage rates have since returned to lower levels 4.28 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate loan last week, according to the government-backed mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.
Home prices in Portland remain 24 percent higher than their 2008 bubble peak and 79 percent higher than their low in the housing crash.
The Case-Shiller index uses repeat sales of the same homes to measure changes across the market. Its numbers reflect a three-month rolling average.
The median home price in the Portland metro was $384,900 in January, according to the Regional Multiple Listing Service. It rose to $399,900 in February.
-- Elliot Njus
enjus@oregonian.com; 503-294-5034; @enjus
Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
Apple is getting on board with TriMets Hop Fastpass transit card.
At its showcase Monday in Silicon Valley, where Apple announced a new streaming service, the company said the Portland area transit system will soon accept Hop card payments directly from the iPhone.
Android phones have been able to use their phone as a ticket for nearly a year. Android users can load a digital Hop card onto their phone, then pay for their ride by tapping their phone on a TriMet card reader instead of tapping a physical card.
Riders with a credit card loaded onto their iPhone or their Apple Watch can already tap their phone to pay for a ride. Once TriMet and Apple enable the Hop card, though, theyll be able to deduct funds directly from their Hop cards.
People who use their Hop card for pay for multiple rides wont be charged extra once theyve hit the cost of an all-day ticket, or a monthly pass.
The addition of the iPhone sometime this spring, according to TriMet comes as the transit agency prepares to eliminate its smartphone ticketing app, which has been a popular way to pay for rides since its introduction six years ago.
At that time few phones had the technology to interface directly with a card reader and so the old ticketing app shows an animated image to verify that riders have paid for their trips. TriMet is promoting the Hop card as a standardized alternative that is gradually replacing paper passes and fares.
More than a fifth of rides are now paid for with a Hop pass, according to TriMet, while the mobile ticketing app has declined to about 15 percent of all rides. TriMet plans to eliminate the ticketing app sometime this year but hasnt said when.
-- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699
A nurse practitioner who helped run an illegal pill mill in Portland became Oregons first medical professional to face federal sentencing for unlawfully prescribing opioids, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.
Julie Ann DeMille subsidized her job working for a Clackamas County public health clinic by running the Fusion Wellness Clinic, first on Southeast 122nd Avenue in Portland and then later at a larger site in Northeast Portland, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Maddux.
An experts review of patient files found DeMille regularly wrote prescriptions for opioids without a documented medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice, at times ignoring or disregarding medical histories that indicated a patients propensity for addiction, the prosecutor wrote in a sentencing memo.
A co-defendant, DeWayne Taylor, told investigators that in 2015, word was out that the Fusion Wellness Center was just a candy store, according to court records.
In December, DeMille pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal opioid distribution and one count each of filing a false tax return and lying to a federal agent from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Under a plea deal, DeMille on Tuesday received a four-year prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Prosecutors also are expected to seek $43,126 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service from DeMille.
DeMille, now 60, lost her nurse practitioners license, and in 2016, voluntarily surrendered her Drug Enforcement Administration registration as a narcotics provider. She had lied to an undercover DEA agent posing as a DEA clerk that she only practiced at the Clackamas County public clinic, concealing her work at Fusion Wellness.
Based on a review of Fusion Wellness patient records seized in July 2016, every one of the approximately 580 patients received a prescription for opioids written by DeMille at nearly every visit, according to the government.
DeMilles defense lawyer, Philip Lewis, argued that the business manager of Fusion Wellness, co-defendant Osasuyi Kenneth Idumwonyi, was the mastermind of the illegal scheme. Idumwonyi pleaded guilty earlier in the case and was a cooperating witness, but after he provided untruthful information, the government decided to revoke some or all of the benefits initially offered under a plea deal, according to Lewis. Idumwonyi will be sentenced in June and is expected to face a longer sentence.
One Fusion Wellness customer told investigators that Idumwonyi and his girlfriend, Brandi Elwood, also a co-defendant, would go to Narcotics Anonymous meetings to recruit patients, according to court documents.
Oregon has one of the highest rates of prescription opioid misuse in the country, with an average of three deaths in Oregon every week from prescription opioid overdose, Maddux wrote in her sentencing memo, quoting figures from the Oregon Health Authority.
In 2015 , DeMille wrote at least 1,940 prescriptions for controlled substances, according to the investigation. Charging her patients $200 a visit, the prescriptions generated at least $388,000 in revenue for Fusion Wellness in 2015, and DeMille split the proceeds with her business partner, according to prosecutors.
When DeMille filed her federal income tax return for 2015, she reported only her income from her job for Clackamas County. She failed to pay taxes on the income she received in 2015 or 2016 from Fusion Wellness, according to court records.
Initially, 21 people were indicted after the Drug Enforcement Administrations 14-month investigation, but two federal prosecutors who took over the case from the initial assistant U.S. attorney ended up dismissing charges against 10 defendants after finding the evidence and the law didnt support the allegations.
Federal authorities say DeMille conspired to illegally write prescriptions for opioids from Fusion Wellness from January 2015 until her arrest in July 2016. DeMille moved to Oregon in 2014 after working as a nurse practitioner in Texas, at one time working with Idumwonyi at a Houston clinic.
Oregon was an attractive place to work because nurse practitioners here can write prescriptions without the oversight and approval of a physician, Maddux said. DeMille was hired to work at a Clackamas County public health clinic in July 2014 and opened Fusion Wellness the following January at 1320 S.E. 122nd Ave., across the street from the Multnomah County parole and probation office.
Word quickly spread of the small, cash-only clinic where opioid prescriptions came easy, Maddux wrote in her memo.
By April 2015, DeMille and her business partner and office manager moved the clinic to 2442 N.E. 101st Ave., Suite 205, after the other location became too cramped, with patients waiting in their parked cars for their appointments on Friday and Saturday mornings.
Their prescription practices immediately triggered red flags and prompted an inquiry by the Oregon Board of Nursing just three weeks after Fusion Wellness opened.
Three Fusion Wellness patients had received identical prescriptions on the same day for 60 tablets of 30mg doses of oxycodone. The three then went together to a pharmacy to fill their prescriptions. A pharmacist turned them away and alerted Gresham police. A Gresham police officer caught up with the patients on their way to a second, nearby pharmacy. The officer contacted DeMille, who insisted that the prescriptions were legitimate, and so the officer forwarded his report to the state.
The nursing board requested DeMille provide files from eight specific patients.
According to prosecutors, Fusion Wellness patient files in early 2015 included few records, contained no medical histories, no prior medical records, few examination notes and no risk assessments for the use or abuse of opioids. But once contacted by the state board, DeMille forged patient signatures on newly created forms and inserted falsified documents into patient files, Maddux said.
DeMilles lawyer acknowledged DeMille was in way over her head, but said his client never signed another persons name and never completed forms for patients. Idumwonyi often altered forms without DeMilles knowledge, he said.
The nursing board eventually found DeMilles charting and protocols for prescribing to be adequate. The board issued DeMille a letter of concern, but didnt pursue discipline until the close of the federal criminal investigation.
-- Maxine Bernstein
Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com
Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
Daniel Armaugh Butts, who fatally shot Rainier Police Chief Ralph Painter eight years ago using the chiefs own gun, pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated murder and was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after nearly 49 years.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted aggravated murder and guilty except for insanity to six other charges.
Butts, 29, muttered, "Yes, your honor,'' when Columbia County Circuit Judge Ted E. Grove asked him if those were his pleas in a courtroom packed with Painters seven children, mother, two brothers and former police colleagues, as well as Butts family members.
Butts wore a blue suit and blue-striped tie and sat at the far end of the defense table beside his two lawyers. He looked down during most of the two-hour hearing.
Ten members of Painters family spoke. They took turns sitting at the opposite end of the prosecution table, facing Butts. A handful of Columbia County sheriffs deputies stood in the entrance to the courtroom and two deputies stood behind Butts.
Photos of Painter, in uniform as chief and with his children and grandchildren, were set up in a display at the front of the courtroom.
Painters wife, Amy, said Butts robbed Ralph Painters children and grandchildren of many years with their loving and caring father and "Papa Ralph'' who enjoyed taking them fishing and hunting and was preparing the night before his death to return home to help his youngest son, Riley, then 7, with basketball drills before his first practice.
She said the love of her life died "protecting his community from evil.'' The family has put its faith in the criminal justice system, "but there is no penalty harsh enough,'' she said.
You did not succeed in ruining our lives, she told Butts. "We still live on with Ralphs memory. I choose to forget how Ralph died. I choose to only remember how Ralph lived.
Riley Painter, now 15, sat beside his mother and tearfully read a typed letter to his father, sharing how he wished he could get "one more shoulder ride'' or "one more Disney trip'' with his father. Riley said hes now running track and thinks his father would be proud of him.
I now have more time without you than I had with you -- 7 years, three months and five days,'' he said. He then looked up at Butts and struggled to continue, but added, "You may have taken my dads life but his spirit will always live on. I can only wish for one more bear hug, but I will never get one. I love you Dad.
Mother Kathy Painter, 83, helped to the prosecutions table with her youngest son, Manuel Painter, began, "You took my son ... I feel you killed my son in cold blood. I also feel you knew what you were doing. No family should wait eight years to have justice for their loved one.
Butts will not be eligible for parole until hes 70 and will be returned to the Oregon State Hospital in Salem.
He essentially was sentenced to 48 years and nine months under an unusual dual jurisdiction sentence governed by both the state Psychiatric Security Review Board and the Oregon Department of Corrections. His sentence starts from the date of the crime, with Butts getting credit for the eight years already served.
Hell initially be under the authority of the psychiatric review board and it will be up to the board to determine when or if hell ever be transferred to prison, according to the lawyers involved in the case.
Columbia County District Attorney Jeffrey Auxier called the plea deal a practical, pragmatic decision, recognizing Butts substantial mental illness. The judge accepted a psychological evaluation from March 20 that said Butts suffered from schizophrenia at the time of the killing and still does.
Butts was able to enter guilty pleas to the aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder charges because the judge last July found Butts symptoms of schizophrenia had diminished with hospitalization and forced medication and that he was competent to aid in his own defense.
The sentencing marks the end of years of legal wrangling over Butts mental state and came after several sit-down settlement conferences led by Multnomah County Senior Judge Jean K. Maurer between September and January. It also marked a departure for the Columbia County District Attorneys Office to consider a plea in a homicide case, but Auxier said he believed "it was appropriate under the circumstances.''
"This plea agreement acknowledges that there is substantial evidence that Daniel Butts does in fact suffer from a mental illness, but that his mental illness was never an excuse for the killing of Chief Ralph Painter,'' Auxier said.
Butts, of Kalama, Wash., has been housed most recently at the Oregon State Hospital and ordered to face regular mental health evaluations.
Painter, 55, was a 25-year veteran of the Rainier Police Department and led the force for five years. His death devastated the small community of about 2,000 on the Columbia River and left his large family, friends and colleagues grief-stricken.
According to new details confirmed Tuesday, Butts grabbed the chiefs gun from his holster after Butts knocked him to the ground, Auxier said.
The chief had responded to the Sound Authority stereo shop shortly before 11 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2011, on a call about a man acting suspiciously. Butts had entered a car on the shops property and was trying to steal it when the chief confronted him, Auxier said.
The chief pepper-sprayed Butts and then Butts assaulted Painter. While the chief was lying on the ground, Butts realized he had just attacked an officer and grabbed Painters gun and shot him in the head, Auxier said.
"Thats why it was so important for us that he face criminal liability'' for the killing, the district attorney said.
Butts was wounded in a short gun battle with other officers.
One of the attempted aggravated murder charges involved Clatskanie Police Chief Marvin Hoover, who raced to the scene and got into a shootout with Butts. The other involved civilian Charles Buchanan, who "exposed himself to great harm'' while rushing up to render immediate aid to Painter "after he was executed,'' Auxier told the court.
The guilty-except-for-insanity pleas came on two counts of first-degree robbery with a gun, two counts of first-degree burglary with a gun and one count each of unauthorized use of a vehicle and first-degree theft.
Painters family approved the plea deal, partially to put an end to the extensive legal maneuverings, hoping the plea would curtail an appeal, said one of Painters younger brothers, Alan Painter, 62.
Alan Painter said he believes his brother was knocked out when Butts took Ralph Painters gun out of his holster and proceeded to shoot him execution style.
Another brother, Manuel Painter, told Butts, "I, too, have problems with mental illness and drugs. My brother was right there to help me. ... That day, if you would have asked, he would have helped you. .. I dont hate you. What you did to my family is what I hate.''
Jeremy Howell, a veteran St. Helens police officer who said Ralph Painter married his mother when he was 6, said hes haunted by the killing of the man who served as his father figure. Im hoping this resolution will bring some type of healing process for me and everyone else, he said.
Butts declined to address the court. Patrick Sweeney, one of his lawyers, said Butts made the decision because hes severely mentally ill and on medication and didnt want his flat affect or his trouble displaying emotion to be misconstrued. Butts also wanted to respect the Painter familys request not to hear from him, Sweeney said.
But outside of court after the hearing, Butts maternal aunt Melissa Gavin expressed her familys sorrow for the Painter family.
"Words cannot begin to express our deep sympathy we feel for the chiefs family and the community. This was a profound tragedy that never should have happened changing everyones life forever,'' Gavin said.
"We love Daniel very much. His illness was not his fault. ... It can happen in any family. We hope that Chief Painters family and community can understand that we are a family caught up in terrible circumstances and just wish for healing and peace for all.''
-- Maxine Bernstein
Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com
Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
South Africa: Chinese employers get lessons on NMW Act
The Department of Labour took its awareness drive on the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) Act to Chinese employers.
The department on Monday held a seminar with Chinese employers in Cape Town to inform them about the new NMW legislation and amendments on other legislations.
The department used the session to also inform them of the exemption of certain sectors and how to apply for exemption, as well as to share knowledge on best practices to ensure compliance.
With more than 20 000 foreign Chinese living in South Africa, the department identified the Chinese employers around the country as one of the key stakeholders in ensuring the implementation of the NMW which became effective from January.
Unpacking the NMW Act and Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) Amendments, the departments Pravin Naidoo told employers that if they dont comply with the new law, they will face a sanction where they will pay an amount equal to twice the value of the underpayment or twice the monthly wage, whichever is greater.
Provincial Chief Inspector in the Western Cape, David Esau, presented findings of a recent inspection at China Towns, which indicated that Chinese employers were well on their way to becoming compliant with South African labour laws.
This is as a result of the ongoing partnership between Chinese businesses and the Department of Labour.
Poverty alleviation came out strong on the day with the Chinese Consulate supporting the NMW as a tool to close the wage gap and to overcome poverty.
Deputy Consul General Lia Cao emphasised that poverty alleviation is a core task for all the developing countries and both South Africa and China can share ideas and learn from each other on how they can better eradicate poverty in their countries.
We appreciate the Department of Labour to grant the Chinese community an opportunity to sit down with us to explain better the laws that we need to follow and abide with, Cao said.
The NMW sets the minimum which a worker must be paid. According to the law, all workers must earn a minimum rate of R20.00 per hour. The Act applies to all sectors. SAnews.gov.za
This story has been published on: 2019-03-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) Conglomerate San Miguel Corporation broke ground Tuesday on its tollway project that is seen to cut travel time between Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Lucena City in Quezon province.
SMC, through its South Luzon Tollway Corporation (SLTC) is starting construction on the 66.74-kilometer South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Toll Road 4 (TR-4).
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Tiaong, Quezon, SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang said he expects the project to be completed on time.
"Itong expressway na ito ay mapapadali ang trabaho dahil grabe ang support ng DPWH at ng local government officials...Madalas po ang delay is caused by right-of-way dahil walang cooperation ang local government or DPWH. In this case, napakagaling noong DPWH secretary natin, napakagaling ng LGU so wala akong nakikitang dahilan para madelay itong project," he said.
[Translation: The building of this expressway will go fast because the support of the DPWH and the local government is overwhelming...Often, the issue of right-of-way is the cause of delay because there is no cooperation from the local government or the DPWH. In this case, both the local government and the DPWH have been excellent so I see no reason for the project's delay.]
"Cavite and Laguna were considered no man's land. Once we finish this tollway, the peace and order situation in Quezon and Bicol will improve. Local tourism will improve. New businesses will emerge. Progress will be brought to the level of the small towns and barangays," Ang said.
The usual travel time of three hours along the stretch will be shortened to 45 minutes with the tollway.
SMC said the tollway will boost the economy and reduce vehicle volume along Maharlika Highway, a main road leading to the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and the Bicol region.
"We believe that the TR4 will further unlock the economic potential and promote tourism in Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Bicol provinces," Ang said. "With the growing population of Metro Manila, more and more people and businesses will move to these provinces due to these areas' proximity. We will continue to invest in modern toll roads and expressways that are at par with our neighbors in Asia."
Ang said "under the leadership of President (Rodrigo) Duterte and Secretary Mark Villar, the TR4 project finally gets underway, and I look forward to inaugurating this project in 36 months."
The toll road will be divided into six sections, namely Sto Tomas, Batangas to Makban in Laguna (11.32 km); Makban to San Pablo City (12.75 km); San Pablo to Tiaong in Quezon (7.5 km), Tiaong to Candelaria (15 km); Candelaria to Tayabas (10.21 km) and Tayabas to Lucena (9.96 km).
Apart from the SLEX, San Miguel's Star Tollway Corporation also operates the Star Tollway, Skyway and the NAIA Expressway in the South, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway at northern part of Luzon.
As state legislators consider a bill that would require Oregons teacher licensing agency to speed up investigations of Oregon teachers accused of sexual misconduct, the agencys leader gave lawmakers a price tag to consider: $540,000.
As it stands, it takes around eight months for the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to run an investigation from beginning to end, given its investigators staggering caseloads. Senate Bill 156, which would patch numerous loopholes that allowed a longtime Portland Public Schools teacher dodge allegations of sexual misconduct, would require those investigations to wrap up in 90 days.
Anthony Rosilez, the licensing agencys executive director, said its doable. He just needs more people under his employ.
Rosilez told senators during an Education Committee meeting Monday that hes recently lost an investigator to budget cuts. In order to comply with that three-month deadline to close an inquiry, Rosilez said he needs that investigator back plus two more.
Im appreciative of these (directives) because theyre indicative of what we should do, Rosilez told committee members.
He expects that staffing would cost $540,000 over two years, or $90,000 in yearly salary and benefits for each of the three investigators Rosilez wants to hire.
Rosilezs estimated expense to compy with Senate Bill 156 is just one of many changes and clarifications the legislation has undergone since it was introduced to this legislative session.
Its one of a handful of bills in Salem produced as a direct result of a damning report that shows how Portland teacher Mitch Whitehurst dodged accusations of sexual misconduct for 32 years. It was submitted to the legislature by Portland Public Schools, where Whitehurst worked until he was forced out in 2015.
Another, Senate Bill 155, codifies many of the licensing agencys practices into state law and gives it broader authority, including giving it subpoena powers and allowing it to fine educators and administrators up to $1,000 for failing to obey its rules.
That bill would also bar districts from signing new union contracts with provisions that would suppress information about accusations of employee sexual misconduct that are proven or cant be ruled out. It would also prohibit termination agreements that require district officials to drop an investigation into employee misconduct.
In the last month, amendments to Senate Bill 155 have included protocols that put the onus on school employees to file a report if they know of alleged misdeeds and administrators to follow through with internal investigations and also comply with the licensing agencys inquiries.
Sen. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay, who co-sponsored the bill last summer as a lame duck chair of the Education Committee, said those updates will alleviate issues he saw during his time as a principal in schools on Oregons southern coast.
I think we had an assumption that there was more being done than there was, Roblan said.
The Education Committee will again consider amendments to the bills on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
GRANTS PASS (AP) A Grants Pass man is back in jail after authorities say he escaped through the facilitys ventilation system.
The Mail Tribune reports 26-year-old Justin Denney made it to the roof of the Josephine County Jail after entering the ventilation system through a human-made hole in a janitor closet, authorities said.
Josephine County Undersheriff Travis Snyder says once in the ventilation system, Denney was able to get to the roof of the jail.
After sheriffs deputies spotted Denney on the roof, Snyder says Denney jumped down and ran. Sheriffs deputies and Grants Pass police captured Denney in a Walmart parking lot next to the jail.
Denney was in jail facing charges in connection with a burglary and a break-in at the sheriff's impound lot.
He's now being held without bail.
It wasn't known if he has an attorney.
-- The Associated Press
In the wake of U.S. Attorney General William Barrs Sunday letter, which clears President Donald Trump of obstruction of justice and asserts the Special Counsels office concluded there was no collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russian operatives, Republicans are going on the offensive.
President Trump wants his investigators investigated, insisting there are a lot of people out there that have done some very, very evil things, very bad things.
But thats not all his team wants. It wants to control the message.
Tim Murtaugh, the Trump 2020 campaigns communications director, is seeking to shame broadcast and cable news networks into keeping some high-profile Trump critics off the air. He sent a memo to networks listing Democratic politicians who Murtaugh says made outlandish, false claims about the president colluding with Russia.
In the memo, Murtaugh writes:
Moving forward, we ask that you employ basic journalistic standards when booking such guests to appear anywhere in your universe of productions. You should begin by asking the basic question: Does this guest warrant further appearances in our programming, given the outrageous and unsupported claims made in the past?
The memo has been met with head-shaking by seasoned television journalists.
In two decades as a news producer Ive never seen anything like this, Zev Shalev wrote on Twitter. Ive had skirmishes with spokespeople about stories they didnt like but this is a directive to all producers on all networks with a very clear message: stop booking our critics. Or else?
In two decades as a news produce Ive never seen anything like this. Ive had skirmishes with spokespeople about stories they didnt like but this is a directive to all producers on all networks with a very clear message: stop booking our critics. Or else? @NarativLive https://t.co/IVUmQLmTJL Zev Shalev (@ZevShalev) March 25, 2019
Below is the bulleted list of the Democrats Murtaugh would like to keep off the air. It is presented here exactly as written in the memo:
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): The evidence is pretty clear that there was collision [sic] between the Trump campaign and the Russians... (MSNBC, All In, 10/17/18)
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA): I think theres plenty of evidence of collusion or conspiracy in plain sight. (CBS This Morning, 8/5/18)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY): There was obviously a lot of collusion. The question is how high. Every day we every day every so often we get new information about involvement. (CNN, Erin Burnett OutFront, 10/27/17)
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA): In our investigation, we saw strong evidence of collusion. (CNN, Wolf, 3/16/18)
DNC Chairman Tom Perez: And over the course of the last year we have seen, I think, a mountain of evidence of collusion between the campaign and the Russians to basically affect our democracy. (NBC, Meet the Press, 4/22/18)
Former CIA Director John Brennan: I called his behavior treasonous, which is to betray ones trust and to aiding [sic] and abet the enemy, and I stand very much by that claim. (NBC, Meet the Press, 8/19/18).
The Democratic officials targeted by Murtaugh are rejecting the memos accusation that they made outlandish, false claims.
The only person who has been caught lying about Russia is Donald Trump, Swalwell wrote on Twitter.
The only person who has been caught lying about Russia is Donald Trump. If he thinks Ive made a false statement, he can sue me. And Ill beat him in court. https://t.co/x9UvPnTqkO Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) March 25, 2019
Blumenthal, meanwhile, appeared on CNN despite the memo. I do not deeply respect and trust the Barr summary, which was designed to frame the message, he said on air.
Barr, selected by Trump after Jeff Sessions resigned as attorney general late last year, took office in February. On Sunday he produced a four-page summary of a confidential report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who had submitted his work to the Department of Justice two days earlier.
Neither Congress nor the president has actually seen Muellers report. Congressional Democrats are pushing for the reports release. On Monday, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, blocked a measure calling for the report to be made public.
House Democrats insist their various investigations into the presidents and his teams conduct will continue, possibly including calling Mueller to testify publicly before Congress.
-- Douglas Perry
@douglasmperry
Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
SALEM The attorney for a child in Oregons foster care system plans to sue the state after the child allegedly witnessed two state workers having sex in the same hotel room where the child was staying.
The attorney further alleges that the state sent the child to a juvenile detention facility as punishment after the child reported the incident.
Oregon child welfare workers in Polk County were housing boy at a hotel, a practice the state increasingly relied on over the years amid a shortage of foster homes and programs to care for the most vulnerable and traumatized children.
In a letter to the state on Friday, lawyer David L. Kramer wrote that a male employee from the Polk County child welfare office placed my client in the hotel so that he could secretly use the hotel room for a sexual liaison with another DHS employee, a woman. Both the male and female employees names were redacted in the copy of the letter obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Kramer wrote that the two employees arranged to meet in the hotel room after the foster child fell asleep and had sex in the bed immediately adjacent to where my client was sleeping. The sex awakened my client, and he then witnessed the sexual activity. The incident allegedly occurred at the Best Western Motel in Dallas on or around Nov. 21.
At least one of the employees then threatened the child and ordered him not to tell anyone what happened, Kramer wrote in the tort claim notice, which serves to alert the state that Kramers client plans to sue and instruct the state to maintain relevant records. The following day, as a means to further intimidate my client and keep him quiet, DHS caused my client to be placed in a juvenile detention facility, despite the fact he had committed no new offense that would warrant further incarceration.
Kramer alleged the state employees treatment of the boy not only violated his clients Constitutional rights to due process and freedom from unlawful restraint, but also violated a legal settlement the state signed a year ago to phase out its use of hotels to house foster children. Kramer also wrote that his clients rights to be free from false imprisonment and the intentional infliction of extreme emotional distress were violated.
According to the state, the average daily cost to house a child in a hotel room is $2,180. Thats largely because of overtime for two state workers to stay with the child.
The two Polk County Department of Human Services employees allegedly involved in the incident are Mark Walsh and Kate Guy, according to sources with knowledge of the case. They have been on paid leave since Nov. 30, according to public records obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive last week. Guy could not be reached for comment on Tuesday afternoon and Walsh did not immediately respond to a text message. Yamhill and Polk counties child welfare supervisor Stacey Daeschner has been on paid leave since Feb. 14. She could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Letters from the Department of Human Services to Guy and Walsh noted that the paid leave was non-disciplinary in nature. The agencys letter to Daeschner stated that she was being placed on leave pending the outcome of an investigation into concerns of your conduct in the workplace." It was unclear whether that investigation was related to the alleged incident at the hotel.
Robert Oakes, a spokesman for the Department of Human Services, said the employees remain duty stationed at home, pending a personnel investigation. He declined to comment further.
On Monday afternoon, the Salem Reporter published a story about a state investigation into whether two unidentified Department of Human Services workers were involved in child abuse that involved indecency.
According to a decline-to-prosecute memo issued by the Oregon Department of Justice on March 15, the employees were investigated for first-degree official misconduct, endangering the welfare of a minor and private indecency. State prosecutors decided not to charge the employees.
Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud
Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
SALEM Oregon teenagers who spent time in foster care were less than half as likely as their classmates in the class of 2017 to graduate on time.
The graduation rate for teenagers who spent any amount of their high school years in foster care was 35 percent, according to figures quietly reported by the Oregon Department of Education at the end of last year. The Oregonian/OregonLive is the first news organization in Oregon to report the abysmally low rate.
The state was able to identify 501 high school students who spent time in foster care, out of a 2017 class of 46,155 total students. That means just over 1 percent spent time in foster care.
Under a new federal law that took effect last year, states are supposed to report foster childrens graduation rates along with school test results on annual school performance reports. But according to the national education news site The 74, Oregon is one of just 16 states that have made the information available to the public. The news site reported that although the Obama administration required states to publish that data by the end of 2018, the Republican-controlled Congress voted to eliminate the deadline to begin reporting the information.
Of the states that did release their rates, Oregon had by far the lowest rate. New Hampshire was the next worst, at 44 percent, followed by Washington at 46 percent, the 74 reported.
Oregon test results showed 31 percent of children in foster care during the 2017-2018 school year scored proficient in reading and writing and just 18 percent scored as proficient in math. That compared with all-student proficiency rates of 55 percent in reading and writing and 41 percent in math.
The subject of education outcomes for Oregon children in foster care bubbled up in the Legislature this session, with a proposal by Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, and Rep. Duane Stark, R-Grants Pass, to require caseworkers to track foster childrens educational progress at monthly meetings.
Gelser said the proposal arose out of frustration that no individual or government agency is currently tasked with tracking how foster children are doing in school. But she plans to scrap much of the bill, saying that it would not be practical to add new requirements for overburdened caseworkers.
Senate Bill 475 is scheduled for a work session, when it could be amended and received a vote, at a Thursday afternoon meeting of the Senate Committee on Human Services.
Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud
Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
Oregon would no longer cap damages awarded for so-called pain and suffering resulting from bodily injury under a bill approved in Salem Monday. The Oregon House voted 36-22 to advance House Bill 2014 to the Senate.
The measure would remove a $500,000 limit on noneconomic damages that was put in place by a 2016 Oregon Supreme Court ruling. Noneconomic damages are defined in the bill as subjective, nonmonetary losses and could include emotional distress, humiliation and injury to a persons reputation.
They differ from economic damages, which are usually awarded to cover the cost of medical care, lost wages and damage to property.
Supporters of removing the cap said limiting jury awards limits justice for people who have been harmed through the negligence of others.
A senior who has been abused or neglected in a nursing home doesnt have lost wages, said Rep. Carla Piluso, D-Gresham. A child who was sexually abused likely does not have large medical bills. But survivors in both situations are left with a lifetimes worth of mental anguish and trauma.
Opponents said the $500,000 cap is sufficient and that lifting it would increase costs to health care providers through larger liability insurance premiums. We have such a difficult time drawing people to our community who want to be health practitioners, said House Republican leader Carl Wilson, who hails from Grants Pass.
We already have a reasonable and a just law on the books that gives badly need compensation to those who are injured, and at the same time gives stability to our health care system, said Wilson. Why damage something that already works?
Mondays vote was mostly along party lines, with a handful of Democrats voting no, and a handful of Republicans voting yes.
One aisle-crosser was Rep. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte. He said he supports giving juries more discretion when it comes to awarding noneconomic damages.
But he said he wants the Senate to amend the bill to make a distinction between lawsuits that arise from intentional acts and lawsuits that address negligence. McLane said he would support eliminating the cap on the former, but he wants to maintain a cap on the latter.
McLane wouldnt specify what level of cap he would support on noneconomic damages arising from negligence, but said it should be higher than the current $500,000 limit.
Oregon lawmakers considered a similar bill in 2017, but that proposal failed to advance out of committee.
The legislation is a high priority for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. The group spent heavily on legislative races during the 2018 election cycle, giving out a total of $383,085. Their three largest direct donations to candidates came in races in which incumbent lawmakers were ousted or party control was flipped.
In testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, trial lawyers lobbyist Arthur Towers said the measure gives underdogs who have been harmed a fighting chance against powerful interests through the power of a jury.
Chris Lehman | clehman@oregonian.com | @capitolcurrents
A Portland man was arrested last week on suspicion of sexually abusing two female relatives for years, including raping one of them several times beginning when she was 6 years old.
Matthew A. Campbell, 55, is accused of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree unlawful sexual penetration for alleged abuse of the two between 2009 and 2012. One of the people Campbell is suspected of abusing is now an adult and the other is a teenager.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Campbell admitted to Portland police last Thursday, the day he was arrested, that he sexually abused the girls between the ages of 5 and 10 and that he became physically attracted to them after they turned 5.
A police investigation began when the mother of the two relatives called police on March 10 after the younger of the two told her three days earlier that Campbell had been sexually abusing her since she was 6, the affidavit said.
That girl was interviewed by authorities on March 18 and said Campbell raped her several times, according to the affidavit. The older alleged victim also told authorities that Campbell had been abusing her as well when she was a child, the court papers said.
Campbell also admitted to sexually abusing a third girl, court documents said.
That woman, also now an adult, was interviewed by Portland police and said Campbell abused her as a child while she was living in New Mexico, the affidavit said.
-- Everton Bailey Jr.
ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey
Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
Despite Portlands worldwide fame as a craft beer and bespoke doughnut mecca, according to a report put out earlier this month by Wallet Hub, the metro area is 98th out 100 in a list of the Fattest Cities in America.
Side note: There is nothing wrong with being fat anyway, OK?
Apparently, we are less fat than the Denver area, the Miami area, the New York City area and, most surprisingly, the Los Angeles area.
I have been to Los Angeles. I find this study to be a little suspicious.
The report judged each of 100 major metro areas in the United States on three metrics: obesity and overweight, health consequences and food and fitness, gathering data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies.
Still, really? Portland, home of the ubiquitous doughnut, land of never-ending-beer-and-french-fry-based happy hour, where theres a cannabis dispensary on every corner, is somehow less fat than Los Angeles, full of Instagram influencers sipping collagen-infused oat milk before barre class on the beach?* Where 50 percent of the population has been in a music video?* Were less fat than them?
[*Not verified fact.]
So, who are we thin fitness health freaks fatter than? It turns out just the San Francisco Bay area, number 100, and Seattle, 99, come in ahead of us. Or behind us.
That checks out, if the study is based solely on me. I used to live in San Francisco and when I moved back to Oregon I truly gained 40 pounds, mostly from happy hour and brunch. I also lived in Seattle for a short time about 18 years ago and was a lot skinner there too because I mainly walked up hills and spent my meal plan money on thread for sewing projects at the dorm convenience store.
Obviously, I am happier now, in deep third place.
Probably the whole concept of ranking cities on fatness is body shaming. And reductive. And a little meaningless. So, apologies to first and second place: the McAllen, Texas-area and the Shreveport, Louisiana-area.
Honestly, you guys most likely just have better local cuisine than we do, so its all we can do to take wins like this. Maybe we should all move to the South?
An economist hoping to familiarize Midwestern communities with the United States' central banking system will visit Saginaw Valley State University this week.
Cindy Ivanac-Lillig, an economic outreach specialist at the Chicago Federal Reserve, will discuss the central bank's influence on the U.S. economy at 6 p.m. Thursday in SVSU's Curtiss Hall, seminar rooms D and E. The event is free and open to the public.
Hemlock Semiconductor Operations (HSC) is offering 30 scholarships for Great Lakes Bay Region high school students interested in attending Michigan Technological University's Engineering Scholars Summer Youth Program from July 21-27.
The $1,000 scholarship will fully cover tuition, classroom supplies, housing, meals and round-trip charter bus transportation from the Great Lakes Bay Region to Michigan Tech's campus in Houghton in the Upper Peninsula. Applications will be accepted from students attending school in Midland, Saginaw or Bay counties until 5 p.m. April 10.
Summer Youth Program Scholarships provide funding for students in grades 9 to 11 to attend a week-long program at Michigan Tech that will fully immerse them in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and help them explore careers in engineering and related disciplines.
"The strong relationship between HSC and Michigan Tech helps both area students and our company," said Mark Bassett, HSC chairman and CEO. "The scholarship is HSC's way of encouraging young talent in the Great Lakes Bay Region to explore engineering and to think about a career that could include HSC."
Students who are selected for this competitive scholarship program will:
Explore engineering by constructing a building strong enough to withstand an earthquake, create an artificial intelligence army and much more.
Get inside information from role models working in engineering fields.
Work in teams to solve engineering problems and complete group projects.
Experience college life by staying in a residence hall, exploring campus and meeting others with similar interests.
Enjoy team competitions, a variety show and many outdoor activities in Michigan's beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula.
"Since 1972, the Summer Youth Programs we've been running here at Michigan Tech have given students an interactive glimpse into the engineering world," said Amanda Jackson, assistant director of the Center for Pre-College Outreach at Michigan Tech. "We appreciate the support HSC gives students so they can attend the program without having to worry about the cost."
Twenty-two high schools have had students who have benefitted from the scholarships since they've been available starting in 2010. Between Dow Corning Foundation and HSC, 171 scholarships have been awarded. Of the students who attended the Summer Youth Program on one of those scholarships, 38 ended up attending Michigan Tech, 30 attended Delta College, 24 attended the University of Michigan, 19 attended Michigan State University, and 18 went to Saginaw Valley State University. In addition, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan universities each attracted seven students and four attended U-M-Flint. Several others attended Central Michigan University, Oakland University or Lawrence Technological University.
More than 100 ended up studying some type of engineering or computer science.
More information about the program and the HSC scholarship can be found at: https://blogs.mtu.edu/syp/2019/02/07/hsc-esp-2019/
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has had a significant presence on Midland's Main Street for more than 20 years, and has made a significant impact on public policy in Michigan and beyond since the think tank was founded in 1987.
The Mackinac Center recently celebrated its 32nd anniversary. The myth is that the Center was founded on Mackinac Island but Joe Lehman, the organization's president since 2008, said the idea for the Mackinac Center actually came during a barroom conversation in Lansing involving several people including John Engler, a Republican who later became governor.
"The idea was that free market ideas deserved a voice in the public policy debate but there was no consistent source of free market ideas in that debate that were coming from an independent source, backed by research," Lehman said.
The 55-year-old Lehman joined by the Mackinac Center in 1995 after first coming to Midland in 1986 to work for the Dow Chemical Co. as an engineer. The Illinois native succeeded Larry Reed as the head of the Center.
Reed's first office was located behind Pizza Sam's in downtown Midland. After a major renovation, the Mackinac Center moved into the former downtown Woolworth's Store in 1997. The center now has 40 employees, most who work in Midland. There's also a satellite office in Lansing.
"Midland has been great for the Mackinac Center," Lehman said. "A great advantage is that we are not headquartered in the capitol. They (organizations there) have a constant temptation to get involved in the day to day political squabbles. ... We're all about ideas and we accommodate the politics."
The Mackinac Center's primary sources of revenue are grants and donations. The Center is a 501(c)(3) research and education institute.
In 2018, Lehman noted the Center received more than $10 million. A report on the Charity Navigator website indicated the income for 2016 was $4.6 million. Lehman said the swing in revenue from year to year comes from how income and pledges have to be reported in IRS filings. In rough figures, Lehman said about 60 percent of the income comes from foundations, a small percentage from corporations, and the balance from individual donors.
"(People in) Midland should really appreciate how unique a town it is for philanthropy," Lehman said.
The Center recently was ranked among the top 5 percent of think tanks in the country by the 2018 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. There are almost 1,900 think tanks in the United States.
One bullet point on the donation page of the Center's website reads: "Since 1987, Mackinac Center experts have offered free-market ideas to fix public education, reduce the tax burden, cut government red tape, respect property rights and end compulsory unionism."
Lehman listed what he viewed as three of the Center's more significant accomplishments: Michigan is now a Right to Work state, the spread of school choice, and what he calls the rescue of the teacher pension system.
The Right to Work law prevents employers from requiring union membership and the payment of dues as a condition of employment. Of Right to Work, Lehman said, "No one can be fired for not supporting a union. That's a huge victory for workers."
In response to criticism of their right to work efforts, Lehman said, "It's only a bad move if you think it's a good move to put unions in the role of workers getting fired."
Of school choice, Lehman said, "School choice is not a silver bullet but there's a moral component. Who should make one of the most important decisions for a child -- (where to go to school) -- a parent or a bureaucrat drawing boundary lines on a map?"
He added the biggest gains from school choice tend to be for students most disadvantaged and subject to poverty.
Regarding teacher pension reform in 2017, Lehman said the system was $29 billion in the red. The state eventually closed the old pension system to new employees instead offering them enrollment in privately managed retirement plans.
"It (the change) assured that teachers would get what they were promised and that taxpayers would not be on the hook," Lehman said.
The Mackinac Center has its critics. One website describes it as a "right wing pressure group."
Lehman responded, "That's a mischaracterization because political groups are pressure groups. We don't put any money into campaigns or candidates. ... We welcome a strong critique of our ideas."
Next on the agenda is the state's infrastructure. Lehman would like to see what he calls the "state's corporate welfare spending go to the roads."
He questioned the programs offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., that he said allows some companies to not pay corporate taxes and keep secret their identities and the amounts they don't pay.
Also, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently proposed a 45 cents per gallon increase in gasoline taxes to fund improvements to Michigan's roads.
"It doesn't make sense to raise taxes on everyone so a few favored companies can be released from their tax burden."
Plans to build a Dollar General on the east side of town are up for approval by the Midland Planning Commission this week, according to its agenda.
The store is slated to contain more than 9,000 square feet and will be located at 3401 James Savage Road, right off the Waldo Avenue exit on US-10.
Port Louis, Mauritius (PANA) Mauritian Agro-industry and Food Security minister Mahen Seeruttun on Tuesday informed Parliament that his ministry was made aware of the presence of fall armyworm in Rodrigues on Friday, which is feared to have devastating consequences in agriculture
Brussels, Belgium (PANA) - A migrant who has complained about ill-treatment in a given European country cannot be sent back to that country if he has left it for another country, the European Court of Justice ruled, following a complaint lodged by a Gambian migrant, Jawo, who had left Italy for Germany, to escape ill-treatment on Italian territory
Abidjan, Cote dIvoire (PANA) The International Criminal Court (ICC) said here Monday it would take the necessary measures against perpetrators of recent massacres in Mali
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) The deputy minister of Interior of the Libyan Government of National Accord, Colonel Khaled Mazen, on Monday held talks with members of the committee in charge of activating the cooperation in terms of security with the United States
Niamey, Niger (PANA) - Niger's tertiary institutions will now welcome ''unrestricted'', students from the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), which groups together eight countries that share the CFA franc, an official statement said
Paris, France (PANA) A delegation of officials from the South African Department of Trade and Industry, will Thursday in Paris hold talks with members of the council of French-South Africa company leaders of the French employers organisation to discuss several issues, including the economic partnership between the two countries
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) During his meetings with the mayors and municipal councils members of Zliten, Khoms and Gasr al-Akhyar (southeast), the deputy representative of the UN Secretary general in charge of political affairs, Stephanie Williams, on Tuesday presented the UN action plan, including the national inclusive programme, the results expected and the guarantees for the materialization of those results
Watch this 30-second clip from Chuck Schumers speech Monday night at the annual AIPAC conference:
Sen. Chuck Schumer at #AIPAC: "When someone looks at a neo-Nazi rally and sees some, 'very fine people' among its company, we must call it out. When someone suggests money drives support for Israel, we must call it out." pic.twitter.com/6UIQTOwAom The Hill (@thehill) March 26, 2019
Heres the full quote:
When someone names only prominent Jews as trying to buy or steal our elections, we must call it out. When someone says that being Jewish and supporting Israel means youre not loyal to America, we must call it out. When someone looks at a neo-Nazi rally and sees some very fine people among its company, we must call it out. When someone suggests money drives support for Israel, we must call it out.
Lets take those sentences one by one.
FIRST SENTENCE: When someone names only prominent Jews as trying to buy or steal our elections, we must call it out.
This one is the most unclear, as it could be a reference to George Sorosa liberal donor who is often criticized by white supremacists, one of whom delivered a pipe bomb to his home, but it could also be a reference to Sheldon Adelson, a huge GOP donor, or a few others. In any case, Schumer is already blurring the lineto target only Jewish donors with criticism is both anti-Semitic and very short-sighted, so in that sense Schumer is right. But if the implication is that calling out specific donors is anti-Semitic if one of them happens to be Jewish, well then, the AIPAC shield is officially going up. (Hint: That is, indeed, the implication.)
SECOND SENTENCE: When someone says that being Jewish and supporting Israel means youre not loyal to America, we must call it out.
Here we go! This is the first oblique reference to Ilhan Omar, the Muslim-American congresswoman who was wrongly accused of this dual loyalty version of anti-Semitism earlier this month, and was the victim of a nonstop smear campaign until that campaign hit a wall of progressive resistance. She was not, in fact, throwing out accusations of dual loyalty against Jewish figures in America, but protesting the forces that demanded that she express allegiance to Israel as an American elected official. And anyway, the broader accusation of dual loyalty to Israel is 100% true and provable, though it should be noted that it doesnt mean not being loyal to America as Schumer phrases it here, and its practiced overwhelmingly not by Jewish-Americans, but by conservative Christian politicians with a variety of financial and ideological interests in bolstering the state of Israel.
Its the third sentence, though, when Schumer really ups the ante
THIRD SENTENCE: When someone looks at a neo-Nazi rally and sees some very fine people among its company, we must call it out.
Yes, this statement by Donald Trump in the wake of Charlottesville was terrible and frightening and deeply anti-Semitic. And for Schumer to equate one of the low points in American presidential history with the legitimate criticisms put forth by Ilhan Omar is so deeply wrong-headed and cynical that it de-legitimizes his entire point. Its the epitome of the both sides! thinking that yielded up a president like Trump, and its deeply, deeply irresponsible. The great irony is that its a false equivalence just like the one Trump made after Charlottesville when he said there were very fine people on both sides.
FOURTH SENTENCE: When someone suggests money drives support for Israel, we must call it out.
Yes, how dare they suggest something so(checks reality)...fundamentally true. Its not even controversial! AIPAC is an organization dedicated to supporting Israeli interests in America, and like any lobbying group, money plays an essential role!
This is another reference to Omar, of course, and if its not bad enough that Schumer is throwing a fellow Washington Democrat under the bus, its made a million times worse that hes equating her legitimate criticisms with the bigotries of Donald Trump.
If theres anything positive to be taken from the Ilhan Omar controversy, its that House Democrats buckled to progressive pressure when it looked very much like they were about to throw Omar under the bus for the second time in a month. Maybe this heralds the end of the period in American history where it was impossible to criticize the influence of pro-Israel groups like AIPAC without being called anti-Semitic, and maybe it will shift the Overton Window to a degree where its now accepted to ask legitimate questions about the America-Israel relationship. But Schumers speech at AIPACand please know, he wasnt alone, and even as I write, Nancy Pelosi is making criticism-snuffing noises like we will never allow anyone to make Israel a wedge issueproves that powerful interests are going to fight back tooth and nail in an attempt to ensure that blind support for Israel remains the norm, and that even the most thoughtful, intelligent, evidence-based critique gets lumped in with the callous slurs of bigots and anti-Semites.
Actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of staging a fake hate crime against himself, has had his criminal charges regarding disorderly conduct dropped and expunged from his record.
The actor appeared in an emergency court hearing in Chicago where the case was ultimately dismissed, per the Chicago Tribune.
Smolletts attorneys followed up the ruling with a statement:
Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him. Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.
Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions. This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.
Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career.
Smollett thanked his supporters and the state of Illinois during a new conference at the courthouse, calling the ordeal an incredibly difficult time for me. He went on to tell reporters, I have been truthful and consistent from day one.
The black, openly gay actors alleged attackers, brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo, were previously arrested, then released without charges after claiming that Smollett paid them $3,500 to carry out the hate crime. Smollett claimed the brothers approached him yelling racial and homophobic slurs when they began to beat him, placed a noose around his neck and poured liquid chemicals on him.
Following Smolletts arrest in February for disorderly conduct, 20th Century Fox removed the actors appearances in Empire for the last two episodes of its newest season.
Theres a scrumptious niche of cinema-orbiting food, food culture and cultural history comprising classics and masterworks: Tampopo, Big Night, Eat Drink Man Woman, Babettes Feast. Add to that number Ramen Shop, Singaporean filmmaker Eric Khoos latest, a piece so gentle and breezy that viewers may be fooled into thinking it weightless.
Like the best food porn movies, Ramen Shop is an expression of authentic passion, the kind fostered by abiding connections not simply to food but to the people, places and times food recalls. Even before Khoo swaps locations from Japan to Singapore (where the bulk of the narrative plays out), he diligently photographs beautiful, carefully composed ramen bowls laden generously with pork, eggs, scallions and other accoutrement, all resting on a bed of noodles bathing in broth steaming right through the screen and into viewers nostrils. Khoo captures the esteem by which ramen is held in Japanese culture and its accompanying sensory experience in a single shot. Its enough to get the mouth watering and the mind racing.
Thats how Ramen Shop encourages appetites and invites audience curiosity, and to facilitate both, it removes Masato (Takumi Saito) from his hometown in Japan to the birthplace of his late mother, Mei Lian (Jeanette Aw), where, following the present-day passing of his father, Kazuo (Tsuyoshi Ihara), the young man seeks to find out about his ancestry. It turns out Masato doesnt know a whole lot about his Singaporean roots. Hes never even met his grandmother (Beatrice Chien), or his kindly, sharp-witted uncle, Wee (Mark Lee), which means theres a mystery afoot. Whatever reason there is for keeping Masato apart from his Singaporean relatives, it cant be good. Japan did, after all, occupy Singapore during World War 2, and Singapores memory is long.
Ramen Shop straddles the line between the sumptuous and the tragic: Khoo, digging deep into what food means to Singapore, positions cuisine not simply as a matter of practice and a function of tradition, but as a marriage between cultures that strengthens. Blending elements of one cultures cuisine with those of anothers means creating new cultures, new traditions and new customs, and that act of creation can reconcile old grudges and temper bad blood. Masato intends to learn to cook bak kut teh, Singaporean pork rib soup, a working mans dish, but his goals expand the longer he remains in Singapore. At first he wants only to get to know his maternal family. Eventually, bak kut teh becomes a peace offering, and his trip becomes a mission to heal historys scars.
Thats a heavy burden to put on a bowl of soup. Ramen Shop is made with little gravity; its a bright and airy melodrama that cuts between the present, as Wee teaches Masato the secrets of great bak kut teh, and the past, where Kazuo and Mei Lian make their courtship. This back-and-forth structure stirs up sentimentality that borders on cloying, but as sweet as the film gets, theres an ever-present bitterness to Khoos plot, the kind introduced by unspeakable horrors we all prefer to ignore than address. (A sequence where Masato visits a museum and listens to gruesome audio testimony of Japanese war crimes committed on Singaporean soil may require the faint hearted to reach for the nearest bucket.)
Khoo knows he cant tell this story without facing up to the barbaric violence inflicted on Singapores people in WW2. Without that acknowledgment, Ramen Shop would be overwrought and undercooked at the same time. Maybe this is a case of Khoo having his cake and eating it: He gets to touch on a branch of history that most WW2 films tend to ignore, and he also gets to make a movie thatll leave viewers with rumbling tummies. But in keeping with Ramen Shops support of cultural cross-pollination, joining love of food with acceptance of history as prejudices breeding ground results in a movie that packs surprisingly authentic emotional power. Food lets people discover who they really are; thats nothing new. But food also lets us reconnect with the dead in profound ways. In Ramen Shop, a sip of broth and a slurp of noodles means more than a trip down memory lane. It means a second chance to say goodbye to loved ones.
Director: Eric Khoo
Writers: Tan Fong Cheng, Wong Kim-Hoh
Starring: Takumi Saito, Jeanette Aw, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Seiko Matsuda, Mark Lee, Beatrice Chien
Release Date: March 22, 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.
Patna: The continuing saga of the Patna University Students' Union (PUSU) 2018 election took yet another turn on Wednesday when Patna High Court reversed an earlier decision of the Patna University Vice Chancellor who had, shortly after the poll results were announced, declared the election of Divyanshu Bhardwaj for the post of President null and void on technical grounds.
A single bench of Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, after hearing arguments from both sides of the case, declared his judgment in favor of Bhardwaj saying Patna University Vice Chancellor erred in his decision when he canceled the plaintiff's election on ground that 'violated natural justice' process.
The judge lashed out at Ras Bihari Prasad Singh for rushing to judgment and declared Bhardwaj's election valid. He, however, directed the university to continue the investigation so it took its natural course for a final verdict in the case.
As recalled, the PUSU election was held on February 17 after a gap of five years. Former Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activist-turned-Independent candidate Divyanshu Bhardwaj was declared winner defeating his nearest candidate, a Chhatra Jan Adhikar Party contender, by a margin of 112 votes.
Bhardwaj's victory, however, was short-lived after reports of him being not transparent in his nomination papers surfaced. During an investigation, the university found him to be a simultaneous student of Himalayan University, apparently a violation of the UGC rules according to the PU Vice Chancellor who wasted no time in canceling his election.
Bhardwaj then filed a writ petition with Patna High Court that quashed PU's decision in a ruling on Wednesday saying the election was valid but the enquiry may continue until it comes to a natural end.
A spokesperson for the Vice Chancellor said the university was looking into its options to bring the case to an end in a way that was fair to all parties involved.
Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejaswi Yadav on Wednesday issued what he described as a 'report card' of the NDA government in Bihar that depicts Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his administration in a poor light.
The booklet-style report card, complete with a cover that has a cartoon image of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, along with an over-the-top title 'Kursi Ke Pyare, Bihar Ke Hatyare', is designed to expose the failure of the NDA government in Bihar and in particular, the fiasco that Nitish Kumar had been since he broke alliance with the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The former Deputy Chief Minister accused Kumar of being in bed with a communal party like the BJP and held him responsible for the recent communal flare-ups in Bihar.
"The functioning of the Bihar government has come to a standstill while rioters in Bihar were having a field day for the past couple of weeks. This is the same Nitish Kumar who walked out of the Grand Alliance on account of his moral conscience so where is his outrage now?" the leader of the opposition in Bihar Assembly said.
Yadav also took a dig at the Chief Minister for abandoning his demand for special status for Bihar.
"Nitish Kumar was never interested in getting special status for Bihar. When the Center was governed by the NDA under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Nitish Kumar was a high-ranking cabinet member of the central government. During that time, it was he who opposed the idea of special status that was raised by the then RJD government in Bihar. Now that both Bihar and the Center has the NDA government, what is stopping the Chief Minister from getting special status for Bihar now?" he asked.
Ruling out return of Kumar back into the RJD-led Grand Alliance fold, Yadav said that the door for the JD-U leader was closed for good.
The RJD leader, however, in a stunning about turn from his party's previous stand, said that if the Grand Alliance came into power once again, it would, unlike the NDA government, strictly enforce the prohibition law.
As reported previously, senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and a few others, just a couple of months back, had said that if the RJD came into power again, it will completely get rid of the prohibition law as it did nothing but damage the economy and put hundreds of thousands of Dalits behind bars.
"We favor prohibition but we will enforce it in a different way than it is currently being enforced," he said.
Yadav, who was accompanied by other senior leaders, also criticized Nitish Kumar for 'rising crime against Dalits and backwards saying crime against the impoverished and minorities had gone significantly up since the JD-U leader went back into the NDA fold.
Patna: A thirty-something man died after falling from the roof of a four-storied residential building behind the AG Building on Birchand Patel Marg on early Monday morning.
As reported, the guard of the building that has two flats on each four heard a loud thud sound around 3:00 am on Monday morning. As he looked for the source of sound, he found the blood-drenched body of a man in the narrow area between the two sides of the flats.
The guard then woke up all the residents in the building but no one could recognize or identify the man.
With the victim still breathing, he was rushed to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) where he died shortly.
Kotwali police station in-charge Rama Shankar said that only after a post mortem, the real cause of the mans death could be confirmed.
Officials speculated that the victim, possibly a member of a theft ring, after climbing the stairs of the building to the roof, was climbing down a pipe to gain entry into one of the apartments through its balcony and fell on the ground while trying to do so.
On the other hand, there were more than one set of footprints on the roof giving rise to speculations that he may have been thrown by someone else who was with him.
Police are investigating the case from various angles.
Its called a mistake of fact shooting.
And people understandably get upset after it happens, especially when the mistake means a police officer killed an unarmed person.
But when is the mistake by a police officer criminal?
A jury in Allegheny County last week acquitted a former East Pittsburgh police officer in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Antwon Rose, even though the officer shot the unarmed teen in the back as the teen fled a felony car stop.
A jury in Dauphin County acquitted former Hummelstown Officer Lisa Mearkle in 2015 after she was charged with homicide for shooting a 59-year-old man in the back because she thought he was reaching for a gun as he lay face-down in the snow. David Kassick turned out to be unarmed.
Similar scenarios have played out across America in recent years.
So are the juries getting it wrong? What are the laws regarding deadly use of force?
A pair of Supreme Court decisions based in the 1980s, Tennessee v. Garner and Graham v. Connor, create the legal framework for determining when deadly force by officers is deemed to be reasonable.
In short, the rulings say that officers are to be judged based on what they know when they pull the trigger, and whether it was reasonable at that moment, not based on what is discovered afterward.
The U.S. Supreme Court also established that officers can shoot fleeing suspects if it is necessary to prevent the escape and the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others.
Many police departments across the country train their officers based on these Supreme Court precedents. So if residents want to see drastic changes in deadly use of force by police, then changes likely would be necessary by the Supreme Court, experts say.
The law in Garner acknowledges there will be cases where the officer doesnt have all the information. But if the officer has enough information and reasonably believes the person poses a threat, then shootings can be considered justified even if the officer turns out to be wrong.
People want a black and white line, but thats not the law, said Steve Ijames, a retired Missouri police chief and nationally recognized use-of-force expert. Instead, courts look at would a reasonable, prudent and properly trained officer believe this created an immediate danger? And that all has to be digested in a split-second.
In the East Pittsburgh case, a jury comprised of Dauphin County residents weighed the fate of former Officer Michael Rosfeld, who shot Antwon three times, hitting him in the face, elbow and back as he fled.
The shooting was captured on a bystanders cell phone and triggered weeks of protests by residents who thought it represented unreasonable force.
Rosfeld said he thought either Antwon, who fled from the front passenger seat, or the teenager who fled from the back seat, had pointed a gun at him.
Rosfeld said he couldnt see whether the teen was still making the motion when he fired, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, saying that his own arms and his own gun were blocking the view.
I couldnt tell, he said, adding later, I just saw the person was moving so I assumed the threat was still there.
As it turned out, Antwon didnt have a gun. And evidence later proved Antwon wasnt the shooter from the drive-by shooting that prompted the car stop in the first place.
The shooting was not necessary, said Ijames, who was police chief in Springfield, Missouri, and a founding board member of the National Tactical Officers Association. But you learn that in hindsight. Officers have to act on the reasonable appearance in the moment. And the inference is if youre running from a car used in a drive-by shooting that youre likely to cause harm.
Antwon certainly didnt deserve to die simply for running away, Ijames said, but the shooting was based on more than just the act of fleeing. The officer testified that he saw an arm motion by one of the teens that he interpreted as a threat and the car with a shot-out window had been linked to a previous drive-by shooting.
Video of the drive-by shooting proved powerful to the jurors, according to the jury foreman, who was interviewed by Abc27.
Youre a police officer. You make a stop. A felony stop. Someone just shot up someone else. How do you approach it? Jesse Rawls, of Susquehanna Township, explained in the interview, the full version of which can be seen on Pittsburghs WTAE. Maybe if the kids wouldnt have jumped out and ran, we would have never been in this situation.
Ijames said that a common factor in many mistake of fact shootings he has reviewed (and hes reviewed 3,000 shooting cases since 1994) is people failing to comply with lawful orders by police.
The common denominator is non-compliant or resistant people who are posturing like they are trying to shoot you, he said, and police officers will react to that. Theyre not going to wait for a gunshot to the forehead to see if youre really a player.
In the East Pittsburgh case, however, Rosfeld had not issued any orders to Antwon and the other teen to stay in the car, a point made by prosecutors during trial.
Officials from the Allegheny District Attorneys office didnt believe Rosfelds shooting was justified, which is why they filed the single count of criminal homicide.
Prosecutors said Rosfeld originally said he saw something "he perceived as a gun" in Antwons hand but the officer later told detectives he did not see a gun, according to the criminal complaint.
Despite the prosecutors best efforts, the jury sided with the defense, likely in part because jurors could see themselves making a similar decision in the officers shoes, said Dauphin County Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephen Zawisky.
The officer is out there doing their job, Zawisky said. Then they encounter a situation thats potential dangerous. The jurors are likely thinking: What would I have done in those circumstances?
With the benefit of hindsight, the jurors likely believed the killing wasnt necessary and the officer shouldnt have done it, Zawisky said. But they may have thought: Do we really want to see this guy convicted of a crime? I wouldnt be surprised if thats what came up in the jury deliberations.
If the shooting had occurred after a traffic stop, with no connection to a violent crime, Zawisky believes the outcome at the trial could have been different.
Those are two very different situations, he said. Traffic stops can be dangerous, but in a standalone traffic stop youre not going to have that knowledge that someone in the car was involved in a shooting. Now that fear level by the officer is automatically higher The drive-by shooting was a huge factor in this case.
Jurors tend to give police officers the benefit of the doubt, Zawisky said. But there have been officers convicted in Dauphin County, although the cases involved theft and a beating, not fatal shootings.
Residents should always obey lawful orders by police, Ijames and Zawisky said. An increase in resistance to police is behind some of the increase in fatal police shootings, Ijames said.
While parents should teach their children at a young age to obey lawful commands, there is enough blame to go around when looking for ways to reduce fatal police shootings, experts say.
Often in these situations, that blame is meted out in civil lawsuit, where the threshold is much lower than a criminal case. Instead of trying to reach the level of beyond a reasonable doubt, families of someone killed by police simply need to prove that their allegations are more likely than not to be true.
In the case of Mearkle shooting Kassick in Dauphin County, his family collected a $300,000 settlement to drop their federal lawsuit. Antwons family has filed federal lawsuits against Rosfeld and his former employer, the University of Pittsburgh. The latter suit was filed because the school allowed Rosfeld to resign after several alleged incidents instead of firing him before he was hired by East Pittsburgh.
Its unclear if better training could have impacted the case in East Pittsburgh, but Ijames said police agencies would be wise to look critically at how they train officers and how they review all instances of use-of-force. Comparisons between agencies and against national averages can help police leaders identify problems before an incident that makes national news, he said.
Officers at Ijames departments always were trained to try to take cover first, buy time and focus on a suspects hands. Officers also were told to shoot based on what you know, not what you think, he said. While officers sometimes arent in a position to know everything, he said that should be the goal.
I thought he had a gun, thats not what we want, he said. Not that its illegal to shoot that guy. But thats the greater responsibility we have to our officers and the public.
Everyone is better off when officers are judicious in using deadly force. Officers who are involved in deadly incidents often end up leaving police departments within five years, and even more quickly than that if an incident was considered bad.
Suicide also claims more officers each year than on-duty shootings, so protecting the public while protecting officers mental health should be important to police leaders.
In addition to training, Ijames said police leaders should look at the culture of their department when it comes to use of force.
In some police departments, officers like to say they would rather be judged by 12 than carried by six, referring to a jury of 12 vs. six casket pallbearers. But Ijames said the hyper-vigilant shoot-first, ask questions later mentality is problematic and creates an imbalance in threat assessment.
Adding to the problem is that there are no national standards for policing similar to other professions such as nursing.
Instead, each department picks their own guidelines and different circuit court decisions establish different laws for officers depending on their state, so its no wonder residents are confused and upset after fatal police encounters.
Theres a whole lot of policing that hasnt been answered as to what is right or wrong, he said of national best practices. That is what is so confounding to citizens.
A student was nearly abducted as he walked to school on Monday, according to the Harrisburg School District.
The 12-year-old boy, however, was able to get away and make his way back home.
The incident happened in the area of South 17th and Sycamore streets, according to an email from district spokeswoman Kirsten Keys.
A man grabbed the boys backpack, then grabbed the boy by the waist, Keys wrote. The boy was able to break away from the mans grasp and run home.
The boy is a student of St. Patricks School, and walks from his home on South 19th Street to Foose Elementary School at 13th and Sycamore streets. There, a bus takes him to St. Patricks, Keys wrote.
The suspect is described as a black man in his 30s, and is about 5 feet 9 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a grey and black jacket.
Keys said the student was unable to provide police with more details due to the quickness of the incident. City police canvased the area, and a detective was talking to people in the area Monday evening.
According to the Harrisburg Bureau of Police, there was a similar incident that occurred a couple of weeks ago on Market Street in Harrisburg, Keys wrote. In this instance, police stopped and detained an individual that may have been the suspect in that case. Students were not able to identify the male even though he matched the description to include the accent. The male did have mental health issues and was committed to the hospital for evaluation."
Police continue to investigate Mondays incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Harrisburg Bureau of Police at 717-558-6900.
Water that flows from a school drinking fountain in Pennsylvania may be doing more than quenching childrens thirst, it could be harming their brains from elevated lead levels.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday calling for the state to mandate public and non-public schools to annually test all water outlet used for drinking or cooking for elevated levels of lead.
When we send our children to school, they go there to learn, said Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny County. The last thing they should have to worry about is their drinking water.
Davis is among those supporting legislation to be introduced by Rep. Karen Boback, R-Luzerne County, that would require schools to annually test all water outlets.
House Bill 930 further would require schools to shut off outlets that are found to have lead levels above 5 parts per billion, which is the statewide standard that it seeks to set but is lower than the federal standard of 15 parts per billion. Additionally, it would require schools notify parents within two weeks of learning of the elevated lead levels.
Tapped Out: PennLives special report examines how PennLives special report examines how Pennsylvanias failing water system is hurting you
A newly released report Get the Lead Out by PennEnvironment, a statewide citizens environmental group, gave Pennsylvania an F for failing to take steps to address the issue of lead in school drinking water. Boback said a survey of the years from 2012 to 2015 found Pennsylvania had the highest number of schools with elevated levels of lead.
Since then, Stephanie Wein, PennEnvironments clean water advocate, said some schools have begun to take steps to address the program prevalent in schools with aging infrastructure. Some are removing the leaded fixtures and others are going the less expensive route of investing in lead filters, which cost about $1,500 each.
A state law enacted last year encourages schools to test for lead but allows them to avoid taking that step by discussing their refusal to test at a public meeting.
How much assurance and comfort level does that provide for you? said Rep. Mark Gillen, R-Berks County. A child is drinking water that has not been tested. Are you going to be placated by the fact that there was a discussion at a public meeting in a school facility and in the fact, now that you heard that discussion, you have every assurance of nothing, absolutely nothing.
*This story was updated to reflect that Rep. Mark Gillen is a Republican.
Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
You need more than headlines. Sign up for Good Morning, Pennsylvania.
NEW BLOOMFIELDPerry County residents packed a VFW hall on Monday night to offer many different arguments both for and against legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Much of the argument against it came from people who said they worked in education or human services and expressed great worry over harm to young people. One of them, Donna Shambaugh, further argued states which have legalized pot are finding the tax benefits are overblown, and legalization is being pushed by profit-driven commercial interests. Its todays version of big tobacco, she said.
Another opponent, a retired guidance counselor, said Because of the students Ive lost, Ill never be convinced its not a gateway drug.
The arguments in favor were many: Jails are filled, and lives are ruined, as a result of people convicted of victimless marijuana crimes. Marijuana has great relaxation and medical benefits, including helping veterans and others with post traumatic stress disorder. The war on drugs is a failure and legalizing pot would allow it to be regulated and generate tax revenues. And in rural, conservative Perry County, where one speaker said many are Libertarians, government intrusion into what people put into their own bodies has no place.
I really dont like the idea of people telling me what I can and cant do inside my own home, said one resident. Perry County is an agricultural county. Think of the opportunity marijuana presents for this county, said another.
In the end, a show of hands indicated about 65 percent of the audience favored legalization, with about 35 against, and a few undecided.
The meeting was hosted by Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, in the midst of a statewide listening tour to hear views on legalizing marijuana for recreational use. He plans to visit all 67 counties; Monday nights session, which had to be rescheduled several times because of bad weather, was the twenty-fourth. At the conclusion of the tour, Fetterman will share results with Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat who recently began his second term with a promise that Pennsylvania will consider legalization.
The VFW outside New Bloomfield was packed well before Fetterman, shirt untucked, took a seat in front of a wall-sized painting of the American flag and a bald eagles head. A Christmas tree occupied a nearby corner. All of the chairs were taken and the parking lot was full, forcing many people to park in soggy fields or halfway into the roadside gully before walking through a drizzle.
Marijuana could take this state from a deficit to a surplus, said one man, adding that tax revenues from marijuana could solve problems from potholes to teachers having to buy classroom supplies.
Another said, Its a medicinal herb given to us by God. Its in the Bible.
Numerous legalization supporters told Fetterman the state must allow people to grow marijuana at home for their personal use.
But one stressed that in states that have legalized marijuana, the industry has been dominated by moneyed interests or people who own large amounts of land.
Don Harris, an Air Force veteran and college student, said he favors legalization, but has concerns about aggressive law enforcement aimed at people who grow it at home for personal use. How can you ensure that people can grow safely in their home?, he asked Fetterman.
Numerous people argued that marijuana isnt a gateway drug. One of them, Claudia Miller, 23, argued the true gateway is drug dealers who try to sway marijuana customers to drugs such as heroin.
We need to have a safe place to get it from, she said. I personally feel it helps people. I feel what you put in your body is your own choice.
Several people, while not arguing against the possible negative impacts on young people, said its up to each parent to control what their child does, and the possible harm should not impact the rights of adults who want to use marijuana.
However, an opponent of legalization said, Youre sending a message to young people this is OK, this is what everybody is doing. Youre ruining young lives before they get started.
A second Harrisburg man has been arrested in the federal investigation into the distribution of large quantities of cocaine and heroin in the Milton-Lewisburg area.
Luis Hernandez Santiago, 20, who was arrested last Wednesday, is one of the 22 individuals named in two indictments in U.S. Middle District Court accused of being responsible for the distribution of more than 20 kilograms of cocaine and several hundred grams of heroin.
Seventeen of the 22 had been identified March 15 by U.S. Attorney David J. Freed at a news conference in Milton.
Santiago and Paul Santos, 45, of Milton, who was arrested in Florida, were not identified because they were among the five still being sought. Three others still are.
Santiago has been released to a third party custodian while Santos was ordered detained pending further court action.
The federal, state and local investigation that led to the indictments was undertaken in October 2016 because of a sharp increase in overdose deaths in the Milton area, Freed said.
Kilogram quantities of cocaine were sent through the mail from Puerto Rico and transported from California for distribution in central Pennsylvania, he said.
Santiago allegedly was responsible for a mixture containing 500 or more grams of crack cocaine and at least 100 grams of a mixture containing heroin, the indictment states.
Like the other indicted Harrisburg resident, Kevin Caban Robles, 29, he is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess, with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Robles is accused of being responsible for at least five kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin and 40 grams of fentanyl.
Santiago is alleged to have been a distributor for Reymond Nieves Hernandez, 31, of Milton, who according to the indictment is accused of being responsible for the same amount of cocaine and heroin as Robles.
Santos allegedly was responsible for the distribution of at least 500 grams of cocaine and 100 grams of heroin.
Those charged in both indictments are being prosecuted in federal court in Harrisburg.
A court battle waged by a fired-then-reinstated Steelton-Highspire School District elementary teacher seems destined for a trial, even though a federal judge just gave district officials a partial legal win in the case.
At issue is a disability discrimination lawsuit lodged by teacher Mark Risser.
Risser claims he was mistreated and then wrongly fired him on trumped-up accusations in October 2015. He contends, among other things, that the district violated his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar state regulations because he has anxiety issues.
U.S. Middle District Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner disagreed in a ruling issued this week. He freed the district from the ADA retaliation claims, finding there is no evidence school officials acted against because he filed the ADA-based discrimination complaints.
In a 24-page opinion, Conner noted Risser was hired in 2013 and assigned to second-grade. He soon took medical leave due to anxiety and missed 26 days of teaching between late September and early November of that year, the judge wrote.
District officials required Risser to undergo a special medical examination before returning to the classroom, citing parental concerns about the consistency of education that Rissers students were receiving and to ensure Risser was comfortable coming back and ready to come back, Conner noted.
Risser was placed on limited duty at first, but resumed teaching second grade for the 2014-15 school year. The judge noted Risser received an unsatisfactory rating in an evaluation after the rater found he had trouble controlling student behavior and that (his) language and presentation of material in his lesson was inappropriate for his grade level.
Parents and district staff complained about Risser, Conner noted. Risser was accused of pointing his finger at a student in the cafeteria like a gun and saying Pow, Pow, youre dead, Im gonna kill you, the judge wrote. Risser also was accused of telling a student he was reading the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey.
There were other complaints about Risser grabbing students by their shorts, Conner wrote. Risser was suspended in December 2014 after a parent reported he had thrown a chair during class. Police were called to escort Risser out of the school.
District officials claimed Risser was finally fired by the school board after receiving two consecutive unsatisfactory ratings regarding his teaching.
Risser was reinstated with back pay and benefits after an arbitrator concluded in August 2016 that his firing wasnt justified based on his job performance. The arbitrator also found the complaints of his physical contact with students were either unfounded or were overstated by school officials, Conner noted.
In this weeks ruling, the judge determined Risser has made at least a basic case for his disability discrimination claims. Still, Conner rejected Rissers argument that he was illegally retaliated against for filing those complaints.
On Tuesday, Conner issued an order scheduling a jury trial in the case for July.
Arnold Arnie Gundersen was a lead nuclear engineer in 1979 when the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island sent a tide of fear and panic across central Pennsylvania.
Gundersen, a former licensed reactor operator, needed no coaxing to convince a jittery public that it had nothing to fear with regards to the March 28, 1979 accident at the Londonderry Township plant.
I was on television telling people not to worry, said Gundersen, whose wife was pregnant at the time. I was telling everybody, Dont worry. No radiation got released. I think I said, The Titanic hit the iceberg and the iceberg sunk. I think that was my comment at the time and boy was I wrong.
But it took him about a decade to change his mind.
His conversion from proponent to nuclear whistleblower occurred gradually in the 1990s as Gundersen, among other things, served on nuclear energy symposiums and as an expert witness for plaintiffs lawsuits against the nuclear industry.
I was on the other side of the argument, said Gundersen, who sits on the board of the Fairewinds Energy Education, a Charleston, S.C.-based anti-nuclear energy nonprofit that advocates for renewable energy. I would call myself a nuclear zealot back then as opposed to a nuclear critic now.
Others come at the nuclear energy debate from a decidedly opposite direction.
Kristin Zaitz and Heather Matteson, for instance, were once adamantly distrustful and suspicious about nuclear energy. Like legions of other people behind the anti-nuclear energy movement in this country, they worried about exposure to radiation and the dangers of a catastrophic nuclear plant accident.
The self-described progressive thinking California moms had a change of heart and opinion.
These days, Matteson, who works at the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant in San Luis Obispo County, and Zaitz, who used to work there, are ardent supporters of nuclear energy.
I realize people need energy for a higher quality of life and the best way to do that is by using resources that are more energy dense, Matteson said. Anything we do is going to have an impact on the environment. We have to look at those impacts in context of everything else we care about.
Forty years after the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island changed the trajectory of nuclear energy in this country, the debate over its safety and viability continues rages increasingly over new environmental concerns - that of climate change.
Nuclear energy is by far the largest source of clean-air energy in the United States, generating more than 56 percent of the nations emission-free electricity, proponents note.
We need to to provide people around the world with clean energy, Zaitz said. Clean energy in particular. Its our responsibility for future generations to get out of the way and try to open our minds to all possible options for clean energy.
Once nuclear energy opponents, Kristin Zaitz (with Oliver), left, and Heather Matteson (with Zoe), are now nuclear energy proponents.
The U.S. consumes more energy per capita than any other country in the world. Most of the energy is derived from fossil fuels, which is also the main source used to replace nuclear energy worldwide. Solar, hydro, wind and geothermal electricity sources also are emission-free, but nuclear supplies more electricity than all of them combined, the Nuclear Energy Institute points out.
Matteson said the nuclear energy has been misrepresented and maligned in the eyes of the public, much of it by the media.
We hear scary news that pesticides are going to kill you. That vaccines cause autism, she said. These are all conspiracy theories trying to explain why something bad happens to people. We want to blame it on something and I think radiation is a scapegoat for lot of people.
Radiation, she explains, occurs naturally in the natural world, and it would take an inordinate amount of radiation to pose a danger to the public.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has long stood by its determination that the amount of radiation released in the 1979 Three Mile Island accident was well under acceptable levels and that no member of the public was put in danger as a result.
Now 70, Gundersen, stands by his conviction that the health of untold numbers of people across central Pennsylvania was endangered by the Three Mile Island partial meltdown. Over the years in his testimonies, Gundersen has attested to a litany of factors, he said, contributed to the misrepresention by the nuclear industry about the facts of the accident, including the number of radiation plumes released, the amount of radiation released and the amount of radioactive waste that was released inside the reactor.
Gundersen said that because of the inaccurate assessments released to the public, subsequent medical studies on the impact of Three Mile Island radiation exposure were compromised.
The plant wives pulled all the kids out of school by 11, Gundersen said. The plant staff knew how serious it was. Civilians, who trusted government, didnt do a darn thing.
The 2011 Fukushima Daiishi nuclear plant disaster in Japan has furthered fueled the debate on nuclear energy, reinforcing the public opinion chasm. Radiation particles from the plant, which was destroyed that March in the wake of a powerful tsunami, spread over an area the size of Connecticut. About a quarter of a million people fled the area.
Zaitz and Matteson say that experts have determined that the Fukushima accident released far less radiation and subsequent risks to the public than initially estimated.
In the wake of the accident, Japan took offline its entire fleet of nuclear plants and turned instead to natural gas and coal as its sources of energy. Japan, home of the Kyoto Protocol, the first international treaty on emissions cuts, and once a leader in the fight against climate change, now ranks among the worlds biggest emissions violators.
Its having adverse health effects including killing people every year, Zaitz said. Its affecting far more people who live there than Fukushima ever will.
A report published by Scientific America in January, noted some areas near the Fukushima plant continue to exceed five times the level of radiation set by Japan as safe for the general public. In certain spots radioactivity remains as high as 20 millisieverts, the maximum exposure recommended by international safety experts for nuclear power workers, according to Scientific America.
Three Mile Island, owned today by Exelon Corporation, continues to fuel the debate over nuclear energy. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com HARHAR
The debate goes beyond radiation and certainly includes arguments about uranium mining and radioactive waste. Nuclear proponents say that the mining of uranium levels a far lower impact on the environment compared to fracking, natural gas pipelines and other fossil fuel energy sources.
Gundersen argues that uranium mining exposes workers to radiation, and contaminates groundwater and aquifers.
Citing statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the NEI notes that between 1990 to 1995, states that increased nuclear electricity generation by just 16 percent reduced their emissions by 37 percent. Nuclear power, the NEI says, helps states comply with the Clean Air Act.
Gundersen discredits the assessments released on Fukushima. He claims the nuclear industry used identical tactics to deal with that disaster as it did with the Three Mile Island accident, Chernobyl and even the Deepwater Horizon disaster. That includes downplaying the risks and telling the public it is in no immediate danger.
The industry controls the narrative, Gundersen said. The orthodoxy very quickly circles the wagons and protects trillions of dollars of investment.
Eric Epstein, chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, an anti-nuclear advocacy group, stands behind Gundersens assessment of the lack of transparency in the nuclear industry. Epstein says the industry will never own up to the dangers of nuclear energy nor the dangers inflicted on central Pennsylvania as a result of the Three Mile Island accident.
He says he remains resolutely cynical about nuclear: We can all agree that there are no safe levels of radiation exposure. ... But the industry cant afford to acknowledge the truth. It would bankrupt the nuclear industry.
Japan has reactivated about seven of its nuclear plants.
Gundersen remains troubled by the nuclear industry.
Its an orthodoxy, Gundersen said. The nuclear industry is an orthodoxy. What the high bishops say the lowly priests repeat. At the time I just accepted the party line of the orthodoxy.
For Zaitz and Matteson, co-founders of Mothers for Nuclear, too much is at stake not to stand behind it.
In college I learned about the biases we all have, Zaitz said. I started evaluating my beliefs and using more data instead on a feelings-based approach. I used that to examine beliefs about nuclear.....it aligns with my values about preserving the environment. The ability to use electricity on a tiny footprint with no emissions was something that made me challenge my views.
This month marks the 40th anniversary of the partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. PennLive is collaborating with PA Post and WITF on a multimedia monthlong look at the accident, its impact and the future of TMI and the nuclear industry.
By a show of hands, roughly 60-65 percent of people who attended Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's listening tour stop in New Bloomfield favored marijuana legalization.
Fetterman brought his statewide tour to Perry County on March 25 with about 150 residents packing the VFW hall on Soule Road, leaving standing room only. As the evening went forward with people expressing their opinions for and against, the majority said they wanted cannabis legalized for recreational uses, sales and home growth.
Fetterman said afterward that's how most of the stops have come down. When he's asked for a show of hands, about 60-70 percent favor legalization. Somerset County was the closest stop with about 50-50 for and against.
Things that have moved me were the veterans with (post traumatic stress disorder) in favor, and people against it who had someone killed by impaired driving, the lieutenant governor said.
People who shared their stories included a wide variety of ages and backgrounds. Some want to grow it for medicinal and recreational uses, others for agricultural reasons.
Nate Raffon said he's been dealing with PTSD since 2009.
It's nearly impossible for me to get out and eat with my family without having my back to a wall, the veteran said, noting he was constantly searching for threats and it had made his life miserable.
He said he favored full legalization, with people having the right to grow marijuana.
Marijuana has opened the door to happiness that wasn't available to me since 2009, he said.
Bob Snook, a veteran, former law enforcement officer and New Bloomfield VFW officer, said continued prohibition of marijuana was a billion-dollar mistake.
As a military police officer, Snook said he once arrested a guy for a few marijuana seeds. That's nonsense, he said. He, and others, also referenced the vast number of people incarcerated for marijuana possession as an injustice for a non-violent, victimless crime.
The revenue generated by cannabis sales taxes could be put toward needs in the state, whether that's drug and alcohol treatment for more addictive drugs, infrastructure or school funding, he said.
I'm not going to force your kids to smoke marijuana. That's on you. You're their parents. I am in favor of legalizing marijuana, Snook said.
Many others drew comparisons to alcohol and tobacco, noting that while they can have problems, adults can use them as a personal choice.
I have nephews, said a man who favored legalization. If someone gave them alcohol, tobacco or marijuana, I would have a problem with that. We should have strong child corruption laws and let adults be adults.
A man named Wes said he smoked marijuana for pain relief, but the plant could have benefits for the economy. Perry is an agricultural county. Think about what that would do for us.
Many Perry Countians opinions came down to simple libertarian spirit: they didn't want the government continuing to threaten them with prison for growing or smoking a plant.
It's not anyone's business what I put in my body, said Lindsey Friends.
Many others dont want legalization citing affects on young people, drugged driving, and gateways to harder drugs.
It sends the wrong message to our youth, and I'm unequivocally opposed to legalization, said Ed Boyle, the pastor at Trinity Christian Church in New Bloomfield.
Glenys Dilissio, the retired director of the drug and alcohol treatment non-profit Perry Human Services, pointed to studies showing marijuana use adversely affects the development of young brains. She also said marijuana would have adverse affects on business owners and cost the state more in public services like welfare.
My view of legalization of marijuana has never changed, she said. Bad idea.
David Hartzel said hes known too many young people who died from drug addictions, and they started with gateway drugs like marijuana and alcohol.
I'm opposed to legalization, he said. When we legalize something like marijuana, we have our heads in the sand if we think it won't affect children.
Perry was Fetterman's 24th stop out of 67 counties. He said he was moved by the turnout at the event, especially after it had been rescheduled twice in February due to weather.
It was outstanding. The people in Perry County were great. Third time's a charm. People were universally civil, the lieutenant governor said.
In addition to the listening tours, residents can enter their comments online at the lieutenant governor's website. Fetterman said residents have submitted about 25,000 online comments about marijuana legalization, in addition to comment cards filled out at the events. The administration is tabulating the general consensus, as well as analyzing comments from residents.
What happens next? We dont know, Fetterman said. Were going to share (the findings) with the people of Pennsylvania.
Well-oiled machine: Eta Nu's Dress for Chill program continues to provide warmth, smiles
Thanks to the Boyne Eta Nu Charities' "Dress for Chill" program, a total of 187 Boyne City students will be dressed warmly this winter season.
Pennsylvania conservatives are asking U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and other Congresspeople for hearings on alleged political interference by left-wing rivals and their influence on the U.S. banking system. Read more
Editors note: Updated at 9:38 a.m. with comments from Sen. Pat Toomey
Pennsylvania conservatives are asking U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) and other members of Congress for hearings on alleged political interference by left-wing rivals and their influence on the U.S. banking system.
To be sure, business-bashing can be a bipartisan enterprise. There are plenty of business folks who tolerate President Donald Trump slugging Amazon, GM and other big, profitable employers in speeches and social media posts at least as long as he delivers low taxes and conservative judges, and the economy keeps growing.
But a handful of prominent local folks the longtime head of a big Philly law firm, and Wally Nunn, the former Delaware County Council president and investment banker, among others called here last week to express apprehension at JPMorgan Chase & Co.s decision to stop funding private prison operators Geo Group and Corrections Corp. of America, after a long activist campaign against their role in imprisoning undocumented immigrants, including children.
Nunn sees this as an escalation, in a well-organized left-wing direct-action campaign to force capitalists to adopt costly socialist ideals, not just through legislation, but pressure on such powerful companies as JPMorgan, the nations biggest bank, to alter their policies to serve leftist goals.
I pointed out that business boycotts are an American tradition. I wrote last year about how banks, rent-a-car companies, and Chubb Insurance abandoned their National Rifle Association marketing programs under pressure from anti-gun activists after the Florida school massacre.
But Nunn has a local worry: Hes the self-described godfather of Geos contract to operate the Delaware County prison, the only private prison manager for any of Pennsylvanias 67 counties.
I visited the county-owned but privately run prison with Nunn a few years back, after Geo had been kicked out following well-publicized inmate suicides, and a New Jersey firm had taken over. Board members told me the private operators saved taxpayers money by not providing county-guaranteed pensions for corrections officers.
Geo is now back, having bought out the firm that replaced it. Nunn says Department of Corrections data show that the prison is well-run. Local Democrats, who think theyre going to take over Delaware County in next years elections, want the prison run by the county again.
Nunn tells me the problem is bigger even than JPMorgan.
Hes on the board of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a conservative group that is listed as an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center well-known for reporting on Nazi and Ku Klux Klan groups for granting anti-Muslim voices and radical ideologies a platform to project hate and misinformation.
Nunn rejects that characterization; he calls the Horowitz centers politics mainstream-conservative.
The center says its had at least two payments to its affiliates stopped by what it believes are financial intermediaries scared to fund organizations on the poverty law centers list.
In one case this winter, MasterCard blocked the payment before the money was transferred to our client funds, the Horowitz Centers San Francisco-based lawyer, Harmeet Dhillon told me. MasterCard processed it, but then credited it back to the donor before the money would have been transferred" to the Horowitz Center. MasterCard never gave us policy in writing, never admitted it. The payment was later allowed.
I called and emailed MasterCard, asking about political tests for network access, and got no further than Dhillon. I read through MasterCards public user guidelines and saw nothing about hate or political speech.
Thats not a lot to prove a conspiracy around.
Still, combined with JPMorgans shift on GEO and other recent campaigns, Nunn says it looks to him as if leftists are making an increasingly coordinated push to move their agenda directly on corporate America without the old step of first winning elections. The latest instance involving the financial system, it amounts to an assault on free speech rights, he added.
So Nunn says its time the federal government steps in.
Arent credit cards a kind of public accommodation that ought to be covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964? He asks. Hasnt the Supreme Court ruled that political or charitable donations are constitutionally protected speech? He wants congressional hearings and for legislators to guarantee conservatives and others their civil right to use their money as a form of speech.
We already have fair-lending laws against discrimination by race or sex. But explicit government guarantees of payments as a form of speech would go further.
Comcast, Google and Facebook are private publishers that so far have resisted attempts to force them into utility-style regulation of content. I dont expect financial companies will be any more cooperative with efforts to step up federal control.
Most Americans seem to accept laws that limit free speech (and payments) for child molesters and narcotics dealers. But where else to draw the line?
Sen. Toomey is "very concerned about the ramifications if some of these banks choose to deny services to legitimate ideologically-based think thanks, websites, and nonprofits regardless of their political leanings, he said in a statement after meeting with former Delaware County council chairman Nunn to discuss recent actions by MasterCard, JPMorgan and other big financial companies.
Under a true free market banking system, a decision of this nature by a single institution," would not be a concern, he said. However, due to massive regulations and high barriers to entry that limit competition, our system is not truly free. Our financial infrastructure is very dependent on a handful of the nations largest banks, according to his statement.
That implies Toomey believes big financial companies share some of the features of public utilities, though he stopped short of demanding they be regulated as such, or calling for hearings.
Nunn is right that companies should feel pressure to apply fair standards, and make them public. Those are tough for people and businesses to make and enforce.
Maybe hearings would push firms that hold media and financial near-monopolies to make their policies transparent so we know where they are, and arent, drawing lines. (Sen. Toomeys office did not have any immediate comments when asked late Monday.) But Im not convinced that government ordering companies explicitly how to do that will solve more problems than it creates.
In this Friday, March 22, 2019 photo, a bud is seen on a marijuana plant at Compassionate Care Foundation's medical marijuana dispensary in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Lawmakers will vote on a measure that could make New Jersey the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Read more
I know that times have changed when my 80-year-old mother is legally smoking pot.
Its true. My mother has a medical marijuana card and, as a resident of Pennsylvania, partakes of the substance to help ease certain of her ailments. Thats all well and good if youre a senior citizen. But what if that same person is one of your employees?
Thats the issue many employers are trying to figure out and the challenge is expected to be more pressing. This week, New Jersey lawmakers postponed voting on a bill to make recreational marijuana use legal in the state. Pennsylvania lawmakers are currently considering a similar bill, and even legislators in Delaware who had their efforts defeated last year are regrouping for another try.
Currently, recreational marijuana is legal in 10 states and medical marijuana is legal in 33 states. Although the federal government still considers marijuana to be a controlled substance, its clear that theres a growing trend toward legalizing it across the country.
So as the use of marijuana medicinal or otherwise grows, how does this affect your workplace policies?
For starters, its important to know that Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware do not require their private employers to conduct drug test of its current or prospective employees. As an employer, and unless youre a federal contractor or subject to specific industry mandates, the decision to do this is entirely yours.
I have some clients particularly those with manufacturing operations or who deal with hazardous materials that have very strict no tolerance drug policies for safety and insurance reasons. I have many others who have much looser policies or simply ignore drug testing altogether.
There are certainly valid reasons not to test for drugs if you dont have to and the biggest is that finding good people in these days of low unemployment is challenging for both small and large companies. This is likely a significant factor behind the reason why such corporations as Apple, Facebook, Whole Foods and Starbucks have either (privately) relaxed their drug testing policies of late or eliminated them altogether, according to a report from Alternet, an independent news platform.
You might wind up with results you dont want, Ian Meklinsky, a labor and employment lawyer at Fox Rothschild in Princeton, told the Asbury Park Press last year. If a person comes to work and is a great employee, do you really care if they smoke pot on the weekend?
Still, I believe that employers should have a safe and drug-free workplace.
Drug testing even if only for specific employees based on their job description is a good idea, as long as its done consistently and regularly communicated. Tests should be made of employees at least twice a year, and its certainly reasonable for an employer to be allowed to conduct discretionary random tests. Rules a warning, suspension and possibly termination should be documented in case of a violation.
Drug testing of job candidates after an offer has been made may also be a good practice. If you do the testing, though, I would recommend ignoring the presence of marijuana and instead focus on the more damaging stuff, such as cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine, amphetamines, PCP, benzodiazepine, barbiturates, methadone, tricyclic antidepressants, ecstasy, and oxycodone.
Thats because the testing of marijuana can be tricky. According to the popular health website Healthline, marijuana is "usually detectable in bodily fluids for 1 to 30 days after last use and, as with other drugs, it may be detectable in hair for several months. Unless there are visible signs of marijuana use while on the job, it is very difficult to determine whether the presence of cannabis in a drug test is from recent use or from weeks before.
However, its important to be consistent when dealing with employees who may appear to be impaired.
Employers should train managers in this regard, advises Mike Trabold, director of compliance at Paychex Inc., a payroll provider and human resources consulting firm. They should set a standard procedure for responding to suspected impairment, including documenting observable signs and removing bias.
So what do you do if you become aware that an employee is using marijuana? If its for health reasons, you may be required to accommodate that employee under the Americans with Disability Act or to at least make certain accommodations, such as allowing an employee to work different hours.
Generally, in Pennsylvania, employers are barred from discriminating against an employee certified to use medical marijuana, Trabold says, although they can prohibit employees from using the substance on work premises or coming to work under the influence, or prohibit use all together in certain dangerous or safety-sensitive jobs.
The takeaway is that its important to review your policies and employee handbook and meet with both your insurance and legal professionals. Considering how fast our local laws are changing, the issue needs constant attention.
If you dont believe me, just ask my mother.
President Donald Trump turns to depart after speaking with the media after stepping off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Washington. The Justice Department said Sunday that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation did not find evidence that President Donald Trump's campaign "conspired or coordinated" with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. Read more
Over on Earth 2 or in some other alternative universe, news of the Barr report the abridged Sunday-night book report version of the Mueller report thats been released to the American public so far struck with the political impact of a powerful asteroid.
Confirmation of an extensive Russian plot to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. A body of evidence for Congress to probe obstruction of justice by President Trump in the same type of investigation that built an impeachment case against Richard Nixon. This after criminal charges against 37 people: The Russian trolls and hackers and some key Trump allies including his campaign manager, his personal attorney and his national security adviser.
But here on the hell of Earth 1, in 2019, the Barr report splashed down in tainted waters. What Trumps hand-picked Attorney General William Barr squeezed out of his political juice machine was a four-page concoction spiked with Special Counsel Robert Muellers other main ingredient a finding that unusual contacts between Team Trump and Team Russia never rose to the level of a chargeable criminal conspiracy to keep Trumpland and its Greek chorus of Fox News Channel pundits giddy with intoxication for months.
President Trump stood on a Florida tarmac and jubilantly called the Barr report on the unseen Mueller report "a complete and total exoneration ignoring the Mueller statement that the report doesnt exonerate him on obstructing justice. But such statements by Trump and his allies still managed to drive the early news coverage from reporters who just like the rest of us have only seen several dozen words from the actual Mueller report so far.
It this feels vaguely familiar, it should. This is the GOP playbook that was perfected during the 2000 presidential election and the Florida recount. Declare victory first and as loudly as possible (preferably on Fox) and plow through any real-world uncertainty or facts to the contrary, and make anyone the media, Democrats who challenges the Republican version of reality into a bitter, sore L-on-forehead loser.
Lets be real. If the Mueller report were a complete and total exoneration of the president and his minions, Sean Hannity would have been waving the massive file on your TV screen Friday night. Instead, on Monday we had Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refusing to allow even a non-binding vote on making the report public, Thats a tell, and also a familiar pang of recognition for those of us who lived through moments like the Pentagon Papers, COINTELPRO or Iran-Contra. There are things our government doesnt want us to know. Again.
Despite the outrage of getting the four-page Barr report instead of the Mueller report, there are still some important takeaways:
1. Vladimir Putin and Russia wanted Trump to be your president, and took extensive active measures to help that happen. The so-called witch hunt of the Mueller probe nonetheless eliminated any doubt that Russian spies, hackers and trolls launched a campaign to undermine Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party and either woo or discourage U.S. voters, even if its impossible to gauge its full impact on the November 2016 election. The same people who spent months denying Russias role including Trumps speculation about a 400-pound hacker" in his bed now shrug at being proved wrong.
2. Muellers findings on obstruction of justice a key part of the investigation that Team Trump is eager to pretend never existed remain shrouded in mystery, thanks to Barr. According to a report in the Daily Beast, the special counsel wanted Congress to decide whether Trump through moves such as firing FBI director James Comey or dangling pardons before key figures, among others committed obstruction. That move would mirror how the obstruction issue was handled by the special prosecutors investigating President Bill Clinton (ultimately impeached) and President Richard Nixon (who resigned in the face of certain impeachment).
3. On the issue that Mueller called coordination but most folks called collusion and became the public and media obsession for everybody from the president (who by the end was saying No collusion!! to people instead of Hello) to the strangest internet theorists, Mueller found no felonies were committed. All those strange contacts between Trumpists and Russians were real, but Barr says Mueller found no crime.
I wasnt surprised but I was a little surprised by how many people were. For two years, weve learned all the quids of the Trump-Russia relationship (the bizarre June 2016 meeting in Trump tower, followed in short order by hacked DNC emails and documents, the Trump Tower Moscow plans, etc., etc.) and the quos (a pro-Putin change in the RNC platform on Ukraine, Mike Flynns promises on sanctions, Trump echoing the Putin line on a variety of issues, etc). But there was never the pro a conversation where Team Trump actively hatched a plan for Russia to do the hacking or the social media campaigns that it ultimately did.
The Barr-reported Mueller finding is very much in line with a column I wrote in November 2017 when many of the key facts had already emerged. About 17 months ago, I said the general vibe is that while the Trumpsters werent 100 percent sure what the heck was going on [with Russias hacking], they were happy to help in any way they could. And of Trumps infamous public plea on Clintons emails (Russia, if youre listening ... )? I wrote: The candidates desperate plea does reflect a certain, perhaps alarming, level of awareness that Americas global rival was dangling criminally obtained dirt on his opponent but Trump also doesnt sound like a man in full control of a clever criminal enterprise, does he?
My overall appraisal of the Trump campaign, a year and a half ago, was in the headline: A confederacy of dunces. Since speculating about the unseen Mueller report is now a thing, my guess is that Mueller and his team of prosecutors pretty much found the same thing.
Russia didnt coordinate anything with Trump because it didnt have to. When The Donald emerged from the swamp of 2016 primaries, Putin decided hed found his dream candidate to run America: A useful idiot.
Michael Cohen said in his recent House testimony that Trump knows not to give traceable orders but talks in code, like a mob boss. The Russians dont even do that. They took the measure of the man in June 2016 and then quietly went to work with their hacks and their Facebook mucking around. The Trump campaign didnt run the Russian op but they also didnt run away from it. As far as they were concerned, the hacked emails just fell off the back of a truck.
Meanwhile, the chaos and constant discord that swirls around Trump, much like the dirt around Peanuts Pigpen, would help Putins ultimate goal of a weaker America even if he lost. And in what still seemed, in the fall of 2016, like the unlikely event of a Trump victory, the Russians would either be working with an effective president inclined to help Putin on sanctions and in the Middle East, or with a horrible, divisive president whod tear the country apart and create needless chaos.
It was, arguably, the ultimate win-win scenario. But Russia could never just just show up in an America where everything was hunky-dory and hope to have any influence. Its goal was the stir the pot that was already boiling, to put even just a light finger on the scales of a nation that was already split in two by income inequality and a hollowed-out middle class, and racial and other fears stoked by right-wing media and cynical pols. Putins interference wasnt a conspiracy with the Trump campaign but with 62 million angry American voters.
So I accept Muellers finding that there was no coordination that rose to the level of a crime. But I also accept the finding of a lawyer who knows Trump even better, Michael Cohen, who called his ex-boss a racist ... conman ... cheat. Thats exactly the president that Russia wanted, and thats a big problem. But its also the president that 62 million of us wanted, and that remains the bigger problem. And the fact that 65 million of us didnt want this or the corruption, dishonesty, incompetence, racism and misogyny that came with it but seem constantly thwarted from doing anything about it is the biggest problem of all.
And yes, as Ive written as recently as January, too many of the 65 million majority were too willing to think Mueller would single-handedly solve that problem. Now, the all-or-nothing stakes that too many placed in the hands of the taciturn lawman are going to be wielded like a bludgeon against the presidents perceived enemies list, and to tamp down things that have nothing to do with the Mueller report the inhumane cruelty toward children and other living things on the Southern border, the constitution-shredding emergency order on the wall, the embrace of white nationalism that allows racists to believe Trump is one of them.
Did you think Trump was a bad, dangerous president before March 24, 2019? You aint seen nothing yet. Emboldened by the Barr-fed Total Exoneration Myth, an energized Trump is acting exactly like the autocrat so many feared on the night he was elected. His war against press freedom has already shifted into overdrive, including a demand letter from his campaign to TV producers that could silence his political critics, a move that reeks of the worst authoritarianism.
Thats not all. In less than 48 hours, Trumps lawyers have moved in court to kill the Affordable Care Act, threatening the health of millions of Americans. A hunger crisis in Puerto Rico is rapidly deteriorating with the president who responded to the islands hurricane with apathy and then contempt not lifting a finger. It was symbolic, if not intentional, that Israel dropped bombs across Gaza at the very moment Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting Trump. The world has some bad leaders in 2019, and they are feeling empowered.
None more so than Putin. Even the brief information specified in the summary has no basis, Putins spokesman told reporters, echoing the GOP spin campaign. "It is difficult to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if it is not there. With Trump already using his belief that Russian interference was a hoax as an excuse to ignore ballot security, Putin may see a green light to move on the 2020 election, or the territory he covets. When you pray for America tonight, put in a good word for Belarus, the Baltic states and Ukraine.
But you should do more than pray. For Team Trump, the only goal thats greater than shutting up journalists is discouraging everyday citizens from doing something about the situation in America. If you care about stopping the rise of white nationalism, preserving human rights and returning to a government thats free of corruption, this is exactly the moment to rise up, not stand down. Since Sunday, Ive seen suggestions that for those who are Trump-resistant, this is the moment to forget Mueller and start thinking about 2020. But why wait? The fight to reclaim an America that we can be proud of needs to begin today.
Actor Jussie Smollett talks with the media while leaving Cook County Court after his charges were dropped Tuesday, March 26, 2019, in Chicago. Read more
Cook County prosecutors have dropped all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett involving allegations he paid two men to stage a hate crime against him.
Prosecutors didnt elaborate on the dropped charges, other than to say their decision came after a review of the facts involved in the case, and after Smollett agreed to forfeit his $10,000 bond payment.
"We didnt exonerate him, First Assistant States Attorney Joseph Magats told the New York Times on Tuesday. "The mere fact that it was disposed of in an alternative manner does not mean that there were any problems or infirmities in the case or the evidence.
Magats explanation contradicted comments made earlier by Smolletts attorney, Patricia Brown Holmes, who denied reports that the charges were dropped due to any deal with prosecutors.
Smollett touted his own innocence during a brief press conference at the Cook County Courthouse in Chicago.
I have been truthful and consistent since day one, Smollett told reporters. I would not be my mothers son if I was capable of one drop of what Ive been accused of.
Smollett had faced 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly paying two men to fake an attack against him near his Chicago home in January. Smollett pleaded not guilty to the charges March 14, and told police he was taunted and attacked by two men who were supporters of President Donald Trump who tied a noose around his neck. Prosecutors had contended that Smollett orchestrated and helped rehearse the fake attack, and then misled the public about the incident.
Heres what happened after the announcement of the dropped charges:
Chicago mayor rebukes Smollett: 'This is a whitewash of justice
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel blasted Smollett in a press conference, telling reporters it was unbelievable for the Empire actor to continue to profess his innocence.
Mr. Smollett is still saying he is innocent and still running down the Chicago Police Department. How dare him? How dare him? an angry Emanuel said. This is a person now who has been let off scot-free, with no sense of accountability of the moral and ethical wrong of his actions Is there no decency in this man?
Emanuel railed against Smollett for taking advantage of laws intended to protect minorities, telling reporters the false attack the actor was accused of perpetrating would hurt future victims of hate crime.
He used the laws of the hate crime association that all of us through the years have put on the books to stand up to be the values that embody what we believe in, Emanuel said. This is a whitewash of justice. A grand jury could not have been clearer.
Fox gratified by Smollett dismissal, but no word on his Empire future
20th Century Fox Television said in a statement it was gratified prosecutors dismissed Smolletts case, but didnt elaborate on what it meant for the Empire stars future.
"Jussie Smollett has always maintained his innocence and we are gratified on his behalf that all charges against him have been dismissed, 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment said in a statement.
Fox removed Smollett from the final two episodes of Season 5 of Empire in February. Following his press conference Tuesday, Smollett didnt respond when a fan asked if he thought he should be welcomed back onto the show.
Ex-Philadelphia police chief: This whole thing, it just stinks
Former Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey, now a CNN contributor, suggested Smollett got preferential treatment from prosecutors due to his status as a Hollywood actor.
This whole thing, it just stinks, Ramsey said on CNN Newsroom. If this were Joe Shmoe, just a guy living in Englewood in Chicago, his butt would probably be in jail right now.
This is just not right, Ramsey added.
Ramsey, a Chicago native who also previously worked for that citys police force, also said he thought it was wrong for prosecutors to seal their decision-making from the public.
If a prosecutor is going to make a decision, then they need to stand behind that decision and stand by why they made it, Ramsey said. If the evidence changed, fine, what was the new evidence? Lets bring it on and lets talk about this openly.
Prosecutor: We didnt exonerate him'
First Assistant States Attorney Joseph Magats, who reportedly made the decision to drop the charges against Smollett, told the New York Times the charges were dropped in return for the actors agreement to perform community service and for forfeiting his $10,000 bond.
"We didnt exonerate him, Magats told the Times.
We stand behind the investigation, we stand behind the decision to charge him and we stand behind the charges in the case," Magats added, according to the Times. "The mere fact that it was disposed of in an alternative manner does not mean that there were any problems or infirmities in the case or the evidence.
Magats explanation contradicts comments made earlier on Tuesday by Smolletts attorney, Patricia Brown Holmes, who denied report that the charges were dropped due to a deferred-prosecution deal.
Smolletts attorney: There is no deal. Prosecutors dismissed the charges
Patricia Brown Holmes, an attorney for Smollett, denied reports that the charges were dropped due to a deferred-prosecution deal.
There is no deal. Prosecutors dismissed the charges, Holmes told reporters during at a press conference.
Holmes said Smollett deferred his $10,000 bond voluntarily, and that the money paid to brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo were for nutrition and training," not to orchestrate a fake assault against him.
We believe that it was the correct result in this case. Were very happy for this result," Holmes added. And we are very anxious for Jussie to get on with his career and his life and to move forward.
Smolletts full statement: Id like nothing more than to get back to work and move on with my life.
Here is Smolletts full statement on the matter:
I just made a couple notes. First of all I want to thank my family, my friends, the incredible people of Chicago and all over the country and the world who have prayed for me , who have supported me and who have showed me so much love. No one will ever know how much that has meant to me and I will be forever grateful. I want you to know that not for a moment was it in vain. I would not be my mothers son if I was capable of one drop of what Ive been accused of. This has been an incredibly difficult time. Honestly one of the worst of my entire life. But I am a man of faith and I am a man that has knowledge of my history and I would not bring my family, our lives or the movement through a fire like this. I just wouldnt. Now Id like nothing more than to get back to work and move on with my life. But make no mistakes, I will always continue to fight for the justice, equality and betterment of marginalized people everywhere. So again thank you for all the support. Thank you for faith and thank you to God. Bless you. Thank you very much. Jussie Smollett statement
Fox News legal analyst: This is almost unheard of'
Like many people, Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano was stunned by prosecutors decision to drop all charges.
It sounds as if the government has asked to dismiss its own indictment, Napolitano said during Americas Newsroom. Quite frankly this is almost unheard of.
It is either the result of extraordinary lawyering on behalf of his lawyers, or a realization by the government of some defect in its evidence that it did not know it had at he time it sought and obtained an indictment against him, Napolitano added.
Smolletts attorneys: He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator
Smolletts attorneys Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes issued a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times after the hearing:
Delawares Dogfish Head is known for its off-centered approach to craft beer, but with its latest brew, the company is moving into the world of film development literally. It even made a little movie featuring Philly landmarks to prove it.
As it turns out, Dogfish Heads latest beer, a gose dubbed Super Eight, can be used to develop Kodak Super 8 film. Created in collaboration with the film company, Super Eight features a low pH level and plenty of vitamin C, making it a good catalyst for a step in film developing, according to a release.
Clocking in at 5.3 percent ABV, the brew falls on the fruity side of the gose style with the addition of mango, prickly pear, kiwi, raspberry, blackberry, elderberry, and boysenberry. Its balanced with toasted quinoa and red Hawaiian sea salt, giving it nine ingredients, though Dogfish says the salt doesnt count.
Technically, thats nine, but it gose without saying that theres going to be salt, the release said. These unique ingredients give this beer a vibrant red color, with delicious flavors of berries and watermelon, along with a tart yet refreshing finish.
Super 8 is a well-regarded analog film that Kodak released in 1965. A revolutionary technology at the time, the film is credited with giving rise to the amateur film genre and the home movie rage of the 60s and 70s due to its ease of use and affordability, according to LiveScience.
The idea for the beer arose last year after Dogfish founder Sam Calagione appeared on Kodaks podcast The Kodakery. While there, Calagione learned about beers potential as a film-developing agent and decided to brew Super Eight, which was in development at the time, to suit the task.
We said, Hmm, this beer is going to have an acidic sort of sour pH, its going to have a heightened level of vitamin C,' and we thought this beer could be the ultimate film-developing catalyst, Calagione said in a statement. We tested it. Lo and behold, it is.
As NeatPour points out, however, the process involves a little more than pouring a can of beer into a container and developing film. In addition to the film developer, finished film requires a stop bath and fixer, two steps for which Super Eight is inappropriate. To use the beer as a developer, Dogfish-loving filmmakers will have to add vitamin C and baking soda, as a chart from Kodak shows.
However, despite those additional steps, Calagione seems to be all-in on the new Kodak partnership and promises a Super 8-filmed (and Super Eight-developed) movie to be released in partnership with the Nature Conservancy in the fall. Dogfish and Kodak even made a little teaser film of beer-developed Super 8 film featuring Philly landmarks to show that the process works:
Ryan Fitzgerald releases a few flavors each week. Pictured is the Dunkatron, featuring feuilletine, peanut butter, dark chocolate chunks, fermented cocoa nibs, chocolate stracciatella, brown butter solids, and salt, all mixed into a popcorn-flavored ice cream base . Read more
Ryan Fitzgerald is living in a world of sweet and salty mix-ins.
Scattered around his Fairmount kitchen, the makings for fillers like peanut butter crunch clusters, malt chocolate fudge swirl, Vietnamese-brown-sugar streusel clusters, and candied lemon rind all await assembly. These are, Fitzgerald says, the nuts and bolts of 1-900-ICE-CREAM, which he launched in February. Its not an actual phone number, so dont try to dial; at 1900icecream.com, customers can order for pickup. The $10 pints go fast.
A self-taught chef, Fitzgerald is the founder of Boku Supper Club, a popular underground dining experience that hes now closing. Fitzgerald wants to focus entirely on ice cream, taking inspiration from Ben & Jerrys to craft pints liberally filled with made-from-scratch mix-ins. Theres some sort of crunch in every bite; many flavors feel as though theyre infused with homemade candy bars.
Fitzgerald told us what its like to launch an ice cream business and how to get one of his coveted pints.
Take me back to the beginning. When did ice cream come on your radar?
It really began five years ago, when I did the very first Boku. I had all my friends come and served this big meal with Korean fried chicken, pork buns, and ramen. I finished it with a tomato sorbet and a salted lemon sorbet. Everyone thought they were disgusting.
I started having guest chefs qualified line cooks and sous-chefs doing the menus for Boku, so there was a period where I wasnt in charge of the cooking. But in 2016, I quit my full-time job, and thats when I stepped back into the kitchen and returned to ice cream. I needed something on the dessert side where I wouldnt have to build a multicomponent pastry course.
When did you transition from scoops to sandwiches?
As I started to elevate my menus, I knew I couldnt just serve up a scoop with a spoon, so I was putting ice cream in between sheets of macaron and cutting it into triangles. Thats when my ice cream began gaining a lot of attention.
Howd you decide to turn your dessert course into a full-fledged ice cream business?
It all happened organically. I was making really good ice cream. Then I made the ice cream sandwiches, and guests loved them. People started asking how they could get them, and so I was doing a bunch of custom orders. The demand was already vetted, and I knew if I set it up right, the business would have a lot more scalability. Running Boku became my life, and I desperately needed something that was easier to scale.
Are you sad to be saying goodbye to Boku?
Its definitely sad, but Im looking three years down the road Ill have a life back, I can see my friends, go to weddings. If I frame it that way, Im really happy that we are putting Boku to bed. Its the right time its going to allow me to do something even better.
Whats best part about being in the ice cream business?
People call me a chef, but Im not a chef. Im a recipe DJ, a glorified home-cook that was cooking out of a book. With ice cream, its the one thing where it just comes to me. I did a lot of research on the base, and now that I understand how ice cream works on a scientific level, Im able to shape the matrix of ideas flying through my head into a pint. I also love making a product people have been eating since they were kids. Everyone can wrap their head around ice cream.
Describe your ice cream. What makes it better than Ben & Jerrys?
I dont think its a better-or-worse equation. Its another style, particularly for the Philly area. If you look at Weckerlys, for example, they use a French-custard-style base with seasonally driven flavors its a chef execution on a really great ice cream sandwich. Then you look at some of the other makers in Philly, and theyre more about high production. This also serves a need in the marketplace relatively inexpensive ice cream you can get at your neighborhood scoop shop.
Then, theres a space that was open for me, where I do a familiar base, not a pizza-flavored Little Babys base, and add a crunch and a swirl. Every single pint has those three elements. The mix-ins are fun and gratuitous, which is a nod to Ben & Jerrys, creating a style we didnt have here.
Did you have a go-to Ben & Jerrys flavor?
Phish Food. It has a lot of textural components going on gooey marshmallow, smooth caramel swirl, and crunch from the chocolate chunks.
What goes into crafting a new flavor?
I start by looking at a product thats already made, like blueberry cheesecake, and how I can make that into ice cream. Ill deconstruct the different ways that each component can be executed. Do I want to use freeze-dried blueberries as the crunch or use a blueberry compote and add a crunchy graham cracker crust?
The mix-ins you make them all from scratch?
The mix-ins need to do a job: Provide crunch, salt, chew, sweetness, umami, and color. They are the nuts and bolts of the whole ice cream robot. When you make them yourself, you have the flexibility to adapt their flavor profile.
Tell me about the God Mode flavor, the weekly release youre doing in collaboration with local coffee roasters.
Its a pint where I take a local roasters coffee and I reconstruct the flavor profile. Its like wine the coffee bag might list flavor notes like blood orange, red apple, pecan, and chocolate. I start by steeping the beans in my standard base for 12 hours. Then I think about how I can add and accentuate all of those different flavor notes. Maybe its a pecan praline and chocolate chunk situation, with a pureed blood orange swirl. I have to think about how I can accommodate two different fruits with the red apple the hard part and where the real fun begins.
Were you concerned about starting an ice cream business in the middle of winter?
No. Its counterintuitive, but people often buy more ice cream in the winter. They dont want to go walk outside to the scoop shop, but theyre still picking up pints at the store. It just happened to be winter when my ice cream started to really take off, so I went with it.
Whats the story with the name 1-900-ICE-CREAM?
I was struggling so hard to find a name that would fit. Im a 90s kid, so I started thinking about the psychic and sex hotline commercials youd see on TV. Then,1-800-FLOWERS popped into my head, which shifted to 1-900-ICE-CREAM 1-900 because you need to have a little edge. I grabbed the domain as a placeholder, figuring Id figure out the actual name later. Then news started to spread, and now Im just kind of stuck with it.
Your flavor names Crunchy Munchy Man, Funny Bunny theyre equally playful. Whats the process for crafting those?
Crunchy Munchy Man is what I call my parents dog. They have this four-pound, blond teacup poodle. The pint is caramel-colored, and it just fit. Dunkatron is that pint where you go to the movie theaters, get a bag of popcorn, and put Reeses Pieces and Kit Kat into it. This pint feels like you dunked a peanut butter container into the ice cream, and the tron gives the dunking a nice aggressive tone. Really, the naming is just about showing that its important to have fun with yourself.
What are some of your favorite flavors?
I love the Dunkatron and the Apple Streusel Doodle Pie. The God Mode we just did with ReAnimator [coffee] was also really dope that was a plum caramel swirl, fermented cocoa nibs, and smoked, candied almonds.
Four out of five times visiting your website, every pint reads sold-out. Whats the secret to getting one?
Its all based on a preorder system. On midday Sunday, Ill post the flavors of the week to Instagram stories and to my website. You want to place your order by Sunday night, because I cut off orders on Monday, and the earlier the better, because certain flavors get capped. I make the mix-ins on Mondays, and the bases on Tuesdays, so I need to know how much of each I need. Right now, the whole production is being held together by duct tape, but in the future, I promise, this will be the easiest ice cream you can buy.
What are your future ice cream goals?
Im moving to Liberty Kitchen until my own retail shop and production facility comes to life. But I dont want to do a scoop shop, where you come in and get a cone. If at all, Ill scoop one flavor, but I want to focus on pints and sandwiches. Ill finally be able to sell individual sandwiches, which wasnt feasible before. Well have delivery, through Caviar or wherever. Itd be great to even have a truck of our own, driving through city streets handing out sandwiches.
Yanako at its new location at 4345 Main St., next to Chabaa Thai. Read more
Yanako, chef Moon Krapugthongs Japanese BYOB, has moved a block away in Manayunk, as it opens March 27 at 4345 Main St., next door to her Chabaa Thai.
Yanako, which takes the space that was Binto, her Asian market, is darker in this incarnation, sporting plenty of dark wooden paneling, wooden tables, and a seven-seat sushi bar fashioned from a live edge.
Menus will pick up where they left off with sushi and kitchen dishes, and lunch Tuesday to Sunday and dinner daily.
Krapugthong has shuffled Manayunk locations before. Chabaa Thai opened in 2005 at 4371 Main St. (now the Diner @ Manayunk). It closed in 2014 and reopened in 2016 at 4343 Main.
Meanwhile, Krapugthong briefly operated a second restaurant called MangoMoon at 4161 Main, where La Roca is now.
Kate Beschen, 45, of Philadelphia, is insured through the ACA marketplace. Read more
Sometimes Kate Beschen lies awake at night, thinking about what shed do if the health insurance she buys through the Affordable Care Act marketplace disappeared.
The 45-year-old Philadelphian has a chronic form of leukemia that shed never be able to afford to treat on an adjunct professors income without insurance.
The occasional sleepless nights began after President Trump, who vowed during his campaign to repeal the health law, won the 2016 election.
But what was once a hypothetical monster under her bed is starting to feel more real.
In early December, a Texas judge issued a judgment that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional and should be eliminated, a move that would have a seismic effect extending to all kinds of insured consumers.
Millions of people who gained insurance through the ACA marketplaces and expanded Medicaid eligibility would lose coverage. Rules that require insurance plans, including those offered by employers, to guarantee coverage of pre-existing conditions would go away. Adult children would no longer be able to stay on their parents health plans until age 26.
This would affect nearly every American in some shape or form, said Katie Keith, an adjunct law professor at Georgetown University.
The Texas-based lawsuit, brought by 20 Republican attorneys general or governors, faces certain appeal, possibly all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In the meantime, the ACA remains intact. The federal government has said it will continue to enforce the law including health coverage for the millions of people who bought insurance through the ACA marketplace for 2019 until a final ruling.
Thats good news for people like Daisy Fried, 51, of Philadelphia, who was able to sign up for health insurance for the first time in years when the ACA marketplaces opened in 2013.
A poet and part-time professor, Fried occasionally had access to health insurance through an employer, but mostly she just counted on staying healthy.
I hit my 40s and was like, you know, this is getting a little scary, said Fried, who expects to pay $270 a month for an ACA marketplace plan in 2019.
She never worried too much about being uninsured, but getting covered made me feel more secure, she said, especially as unanticipated health needs become more likely with age.
Whether Fried continues to have access to her health plan will depend on what happens ultimately with the Texas lawsuit.
The lawsuit arose after Congress decided to stop penalizing people who dont buy health insurance, beginning in 2019. Under the ACA, most people were required to buy insurance or pay a tax penalty, a rule that, though unpopular, ensured enough healthy people were buying insurance to allow insurers to cover unhealthy members.
In an earlier lawsuit against the ACA, the Supreme Court ruled that the law was constitutional because it wasnt forcing people to buy insurance. Rather, it was taxing those who didnt, which Congress is allowed to do.
The Texas lawsuit alleges that with the tax reduced to zero, the individual mandate is unconstitutional and the law should be eliminated.
The Justice Department agreed that without the individual mandate, new rules for private insurers such as requiring coverage for pre-existing conditions should be revoked, but said the rest of the law should remain.
The case could take years to work through the legal system, and though ACA insurance remains available, uncertainty about the laws future could do its own damage.
It could have a very serious effect, even if it has no real legal effect at this point, said Timothy Jost, a law professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law, during a call with reporters organized by the Commonwealth Fund.
Insurers will need to decide in the spring, before the lawsuit is resolved, whether to continue selling ACA plans in 2020 and how much to charge.
People confused over the status of their plans could fail to pay their first months premium, which is required for coverage to take effect.
Analysts speculated whether the judges order, which came out the night before the final day of the ACA marketplaces open enrollment period, would deter people from signing up at the last minute.
Federal health officials announced Wednesday that enrollment is stronger than expected but still down from the same point last year. The data are preliminary.
Theres this shroud of uncertainty thats going to hang over everything, Keith said. We sort of just got to this place where the marketplace was stable.
Legal scholars are skeptical that a higher court would uphold the Texas judges broad decision, but for people like Beschen, who are counting on insurance coverage made possible by the law, the threat is terrifying.
Theres always the worst-case scenario and getting carried away. Im not the person who thinks that way about life full of fear about whats going to happen. But this is an actual, real, practical fear, she said.
Every three months Beschen pays $60 for blood testing to monitor her slow-growing blood cancer. Her monthly premium next year will be $70 because she qualifies for an income-based tax subsidy.
Without the ACA, Beschen could be denied coverage because of her pre-existing condition or charged an exorbitant and out-of-reach amount.
Eventually shell need chemotherapy, which would be unaffordable without insurance, she said.
She has looked into whether she could move to Canada or another country with universal health care.
Beschen thought she always would live in the country where she raised her own family, but she said she may not have a choice. She cant afford to live without health insurance.
Temple is offering free MMR vaccines after a mumps outbreak has sickened more than 100 people. Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, from left: Temple's Mark Denys, Director of Student and Employee Health, Steven Alles Director of Disease Control, Philadelphia Department of Health and Susan Coffin, Medical Director with the city health department. Read more
Temple University officials announced Tuesday that they are prepared to vaccinate up to 1,800 students and staff at a free clinic to address the mumps outbreak that has sickened 105 people over the last two months.
The walk-in clinic will be held on Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Temples Mitten Hall Great Court. All Temple students, faculty, and staff can get a dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine at no charge.
Hopefully, the numbers go down as we vaccinate more and more people, Mark Denys, director of Temples student and employee health services, said at a news conference.
Mumps is a contagious viral disease. Common symptoms include swollen salivary glands, fever, headache, muscle aches, and loss of appetite. Although serious complications are rare, especially in people who were vaccinated as children, mumps can cause inflammation of the brain, deafness, or sterility.
Its typically spread through direct contact with saliva or respiratory droplets, which often happens by sharing food and drink or living in close quarters making college campuses particularly vulnerable.
The outbreak at Temple was first reported in late February, just before the schools spring break.
Although city health officials said theyve most likely identified Patient Zero the person who started the outbreak they did not provide any details about the persons vaccination status. Steven Alles, director of disease control for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, said the original case related to an individual traveling somewhere outside of Philadelphia.
As of Tuesday, the Philadelphia health department reported 18 confirmed cases of mumps and 87 probable cases. Most are at Temple, but a handful are in surrounding counties. West Chester University and Drexel University have also reported one case each.
All the cases have been linked to Temple, Alles said. None of those infected have been hospitalized.
Although most of the people with symptoms had been vaccinated as children, Alles said, the mumps vaccine loses its effectiveness over time. A booster dose can help prevent infection or decrease the severity of symptoms for those who do get sick.
In the early weeks of the outbreak, Temple officials focused on isolating infected individuals and getting booster shots to people in close contact with them. Between the schools health services and nearby pharmacies, Denys estimated, about 1,000 booster doses have already been delivered.
But as the outbreak continued to grow about five additional cases are reported each day, Denys said school officials decided opening a vaccine clinic was necessary.
The incubation period of mumps is relatively long, Alles said. Students can be contagious for 12 to 25 days. Many can spread it before they even know theyre sick."
The clinic will offer two doses of the MMR vaccine to anyone who hasnt had it before, or a third booster dose for those who are already vaccinated with the usual two doses, but are now in close contact with an infected person.
Standard recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are for children to get two doses of the MMR vaccine: the first at 12 to 15 months old and the second at 4 to 6 years old. The vaccine is 88 percent effective after two doses.
But there is evidence that its power may fade after 10 years, shortly before students are ready for college.
Although mumps cases in the United States have declined by 99 percent since the vaccine was introduced in 1967, theres been a resurgence in recent years driven by college students.
In 2016, outbreaks at universities in Iowa and Illinois affected several hundred students. In 2017, Pennsylvania State University had an outbreak of more than 40 cases.
Researchers at Harvard University have suggested requiring mumps booster shots might help protect students as they enter college.
As of now, the CDC recommends a third dose only during an outbreak such as the one at Temple.
Since the outbreak, Temple announced a new policy that will require all incoming freshmen to be up to date on the MMR vaccination series, as well as the chicken pox and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines. Previously, the university did not require immunizations for admitted or enrolled students.
Although some students have petitioned Temple to temporarily close, the university is not considering it because health officials say closing wouldnt help control the outbreak.
For anyone who is already experiencing symptoms, Alles said, the best plan of action is to stay home and rest. Limiting contact with others will help prevent the spread of the disease.
A new study suggests that girls who share the womb with a twin brother may suffer some negative consequences, possibly from the burst of testosterone that makes its way into her amniotic sac. Read more
Does the battle of the sexes begin in utero?
A new study has found that women who have shared a womb with a twin brother are less likely to graduate from high school or college, may earn less money and will have lower marriage and fertility rates than twins who were both female.
A possible culprit? Blame it on the male hormone testosterone manspreading its way into female twins amniotic sacks.
The researchers, who hail from Northwestern University and the Norwegian School of Economics, looked at data on about 13,800 twins born in Norway from 1967 to 1978, and tracked their lives over three decades.
Nobody has been able to study how male twins impact their twin sisters at such a large scale, said economist Krzysztof Karbownik, a study author and research associate at Northwesterns Institute for Policy Research. This is the first study to track people for more than 30 years, from birth through schooling and adulthood, to show that being exposed in utero to a male twin influences important outcomes in their twin sister.
The findings published last week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) show that girls with a male twin are about 15 percent less likely to graduate from high school that a girl with a twin sister and almost 4 percent less likely to complete college.
The women with male twins also had on average nearly nine percent lower earnings by their early 30s than female twins with sisters, about six percent lower fertility rates and 12 percent lower marriage rates.
No long term negative impact on the male twins was found as a result of sharing space with a female twin.
The rate of twin births in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 1980, a development attributed to women having babies later in life and increased reliance on in vitro fertilization.
Karbownik said it is known from other studies that once a male fetus testes start developing, there is a spike in testosterone in his amniotic sack, and some of it goes into his sisters.
In addition, Karbownik said women pregnant with a male child have a higher level of testosterone in their blood than women carrying a girl, or female twins.
What the initial study does not get into is how much of the later-life outcomes are due to the biological effect of the testosterone, versus how much is due to how the girl is socialized, Karbownik said.
To get a better sense of the prenatal testosterones impact, the team repeated their study focusing on female twins whose twin siblings either a sister or a brother died shortly after birth. The results were the same as for the twins raised with their sibling. To the researchers, that was clear evidence that the long-term effects documented by the study were due to prenatal testosterone exposure, rather than postnatal socialization.
Karbownik said he believes the issue of prenatal exposure as opposed to postnatal socialization merits further study.
A next step, the author said, could be to look at whether the results are consistent across different cultures and time frames.
The fact that we can distinguish between prenatal and post-natal exposure doesnt mean post-natal channels are not responsible for (some of) what we observed, Karbownik said. It just means that growing up with a brother is not responsible for this.
Antonio Laredo and his wife, Mercedes Barrios Hernandez, at the time of their arrests in Chiapas, Mexico, in September. Read more
A reputed Mexican drug kingpin accused of raking in millions of dollars while pumping tons of heroin into the United States has been extradited to face trial in Philadelphia.
Antonio Laredo, 51, of Cuernavaca, Mexico, pleaded not guilty to more than 75 counts including conspiracy, drug distribution, and money laundering during a brief appearance in federal court Tuesday. His wife, Mercedes Barrios Hernandez, who was sent to the U.S. last week for prosecution, also denied the charges.
The hearing came four years after the couple, several members of their family, and associates were indicted in a narcotics probe that involved federal agents and local law enforcement in two countries and several states.
Handcuffed and sullen, Laredo said little during his hearing Tuesday a far cry from his demeanor during his first U.S. court appearance in Philadelphia last week, when he claimed that Mexican authorities had tortured him and kept him from communicating with his wife while they awaited extradition.
Its been six months since Ive been detained, he told U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda K. Caracappa through an interpreter on Thursday. Ive been beaten. My wife was also detained, and I havent been able to contact her.
Until last week, both had remained in custody in Mexico after their arrests in September in Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacan, a town of 30,000 about five hours from Mexico border with Guatemala. The couple had moved there from their home about 13 hours away in Cuernavaca after receiving news of their indictment in the U.S., investigators said.
If they were trying to hide, they ultimately failed to blend in. Mexican news accounts described the couple arriving in the poverty-stricken village in 2015 with a fleet of luxury cars. While there, the reports said, Laredo bought ranch land paying the full price in cash, and forged highly public relationships with local politicians.
Laredos Center City lawyer, Frances Alperin Shapiro, declined to comment Tuesday on the case Laredo now faces in the U.S. one that comes with a mandatory life sentence if he is convicted.
The smuggling network he and his family allegedly oversaw stands out amid Mexicos thriving narcotics trade. Investigators believe it operated largely independently of the massive drug cartels that dominate illicit business south of the border.
According to court filings, Laredo and his brother Ismael sourced the opium gum they used from an independent broker and processed it themselves. They also turned to family members to oversee operations inside the U.S., including Laredos son-in-law Joseph Torres, who helmed the organizations Philadelphia operations.
But to describe the business as a mom and pop outfit would mischaracterize its scope and size. Between 2008 and 2014, prosecutors say, the organization smuggled more than 30 kilograms of heroin a month to distributors in Philadelphia, Camden, Chicago, and New York much of it in secret compartments in custom-built car and motorboat batteries or in sealed fruit and vegetable cans.
Couriers transported the drugs to stash houses across Philadelphia, and funneled millions in revenue back to Mexico through at least 60 dummy bank accounts. Their business was so lucrative that authorities estimated one Philadelphia distributor alone was sending up to $1.2 million a month between 2009 and 2011.
And just like larger competitors, prosecutors allege, the organization protected its supply and network through assaults, kidnappings, and threats of murder and arson.
In all, more than 27 associates of Laredos organization have been convicted either through trials or guilty pleas, including Torres, who was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016.
Eliana Fabiyi plays Emily, the girl hero who replaces boy hero Jim Hawkins in the Arden Theatre's musical adaptation of 'Treasure Island.' Read more
In 1883, Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island established a genre. Arden Theatres musical adaptation, opening next week, redefines it for ages 8 and up.
Buccaneers and buried gold stay central to the swashbuckling, high-seas, young-adult tale. But the Old City theaters adaptation by British playwright Toby Hulse recasts 19th-century boy hero Jim Hawkins as Emily, a modern girl with an active imagination, a penchant for adventure, and an uncommonly reflective nature.
The adaptation also replaces main pirate Long John Silver with one Mary Ann Evans (played by longtime fan favorite Mary Tuomanen).
South Philadelphia resident Eliana Fabiyi plays Emily. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Baltimore, Fabiyi studied acting in college in Cleveland, came to the Arden for an apprenticeship, and stayed. At 26, shes got a few years on her fictional counterpart. Still, she relates to Emilys adventurous drive and free spirit.
You didnt start out at the Arden as an actor. How did you end up there?
I studied acting and anthropology in college. When I graduated, I went out into the world seeking a stepping-stone. I landed at the Arden in a 10-month program for theater administration and marketing.
It was like a mini-graduate school year, a paid position, full-time, to learn how a nonprofit theater is run. If youre going to be in this world, you ought to be able to wear a million hats. But I always knew I wanted to get back into acting.
How did you?
After the apprenticeship, I just kind of threw myself into anything I could do artistically. I stayed friendly with contacts I made at the Arden.
I performed with a group called Orbiter 3, which is no longer in existence, because they were like a born-to-die-in-four-years model. I work with a company called Ninth Planet that does a lot of experimental work. The last show I did with them was theater for babies really, really young.
It was called Homeworld. It was an interactive performance in this beautiful white tent where everything was soft and at their level. Its going to come back next year. We might go on tour.
How did you start performing at the Arden?
The first show I did was A Midsummer Nights Dream. Someone else they had cast had to drop out. They needed someone to play a musical instrument. I play violin. I was called in, did the audition, and booked the part.
With the exception of The Bluest Eye, all the shows Ive done at the Arden have also incorporated my violin. Treasure Island is my fourth Arden show.
How does the violin fit into Treasure Island?
It starts out with Emily practicing violin. Its one of those Cat in the Hat days: She would rather be anywhere else, because practicing is so hard.
In that moment, her imagination is allowed to open up, and all these pirate characters spring from that. Theres this dual story happening. Theres her pirate character that she makes up, and the cast all play characters from the book.
Whats Emilys age?
Shes about 10. Thats when things are still exciting, and youre dreaming, having all these cool adventure fantasies, but, at the same time, youre coming into that time when youre starting to be embarrassed about those same dreams.
Does Emilys gender play a role?
The cool thing is, it does and it doesnt. I love that the play is blurring gender lines and norms, but its still a classic adventure. Its more subtle messaging. All kids can really enjoy seeing themselves as pirates.
I would die happy if a bunch of little girls saw themselves up there, if they were really kind of blown away by seeing themselves in a role that they hadnt always imagined. In my mind, feminism is just equality anyway.
What are your favorite parts of Treasure Island?
Im not really a musical theater actress, but there are some really beautiful, big, musical moments.
There is the also iconic scene in the book, in the end, where Jim Hawkins kills a pirate. In the book, its the N.C. Wyeth picture of the pirate climbing up the mast towards Jim with the knife in his mouth.
But in the play, theres a real reckoning with the violence of that act. Emily thinks, Wow I just chose to kill this pirate: What does it say about me? The choice doesnt sit with her. Theres this interesting throughline about violence and whats OK in games or in pretend and when does it start to become reality?
Does the play have a moral?
Emily has a monologue at the beginning and another at the end about how she really wants to be a pirate. Thats her dearest wish. Whenever she tells that to an adult, they say, You cant be a pirate. Thats not possible.
At the end of the play, she realizes she can still be a pirate, or have a pirate spirit, no matter what she does. She can be wild and free and unbridled and a little bit mischievous, while being, say, a businessperson or whatever else she grows up to be. You dont have to choose.
My favorite takeaway is, you don't have to grow up in every aspect. You can reconnect with that crazy, wild self and just do it, and just do what you're doing. Thats the spirit of Emily and the spirit of the story.
THEATER
Treasure Island
Willie Singletary, Democratic candidate for Philadelphia City Council At-large, speaks at a forum hosted by the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia at Congregation Rodeph Shalom Sunday. Moderator Lorraine Haw holds the microphone. Read more
Former Philadelphia Traffic Court Judge Willie Singletary cant run for a City Council seat due to his felony conviction for lying to FBI agents in a corruption probe, a judge ruled Tuesday.
And former Lt. Gov. Mike Stack III, who on Tuesday successfully defended a challenge to his nomination petitions, said he was dropping his bid for one of City Councils at-large seats because of a bad draw for ballot position that ranked him 16th out of more than 30 Democratic primary candidates.
Singletary, representing himself, had argued in Common Pleas Court on Friday that a Pennsylvania Constitution ban on certain felons serving in office does not apply to local offices like City Council. He also suggested a presidential pardon could clear his record before he took office if he won election.
Judge Stella Tsai was not swayed. In a 12-page order, she said Article 2, Section 7 of the state constitution made Singletary ineligible for the May 21 Democratic primary ballot.
That section says people convicted of embezzlement of public moneys, bribery, perjury or other infamous crimes cannot hold any office of trust or profit in the state.
Singletary, who spent 20 months in federal prison and is still appealing his 2014 sentence, said he was not giving up on running for office.
Im going to file an appeal, he said in a brief phone interview Tuesday. Thats all I can say at the moment.
The legal blow came a week after Singletary experienced a stroke of political luck. He pulled the fourth position on the primary ballot, considered prime political real estate in a Council at-large field of more than 30 candidates.
Stack was not so lucky, pulling the relatively high number of 16 from the Horn & Hardart can the city uses for the ballot-position drawing.
The most disappointing aspect of this effort is that the fate of my candidacy was largely at the mercy of a coffee can, an archaic and dysfunctional system for determining ballot position that is not fair to anyone and needs to be reformed, Stack said.
He said he would work with city Democratic Chairman Bob Brady to help build party unity for this election and the elections in 2020 when we have an opportunity to defeat Donald Trump, take back the United States Senate and win majorities in both houses of the Pennsylvania legislature.
Stack, scion of one of Philadelphias political dynasties, lost the 2018 primary for reelection as lieutenant governor. Gov. Tom Wolf wanted him off the ticket after a scandal in which Stack and his wife were accused of mistreating their state police security detail and employees who worked at the lieutenant governors residence.
In another case, Democrat Tonya Bah lost her bid to remain on the ballot in Councils 8th District. Attorney Kevin Greenberg had challenged her candidacy since Bah had not properly filed a statement of financial interest.
Bah, in a statement from her campaign, expressed outrage and said she was carefully evaluating the courts ruling and exploring all options. She had been challenging Councilwoman Cindy Bass, a Democrat who now faces no primary or general election challengers.
Whatever comes from the secret Mueller report, which did not I repeat, did not fully exonerate President Donald Trump, this much I know for sure: It wont do a damn thing for the rot that has set into our country, the kind where a president can declare war on a free press while weaponizing lies and provoking hate, and can declare a made-up national emergency over immigrants seeking refuge instead of tackling head-on this countrys true national emergency.
You all know what it is without me having to say it: the epidemic of gun violence and its aftermath that has been breaking hearts while the president and his supporters take their victory laps.
Last week, a year after the Parkland, Fla., school massacre, two students took their own lives. On Monday, the father of a 6-year-old girl shot to death in her Newtown, Conn., school was found dead, another apparent suicide. In Philadelphia, more than 70 people have been shot and killed so far this year.
Thoughts and prayers, at least? Nah. The president of the United States was too busy tweeting about his Complete and Total EXONERATION.
This is one of those post-Trump weeks when as a columnist Im torn between jumping into the national fray, which is so deftly handled by the likes of Margaret Sullivan and Will Bunch, and using my platform as a metro columnist to amplify the local stories and voices of the very people Trump and his administration aim to erase.
Immigrants.
LGBTQ people.
Women. People of color.
Specifically, women of color, who seem to really irk the administration and its supporters when they not only dare claim their space but use it to call BS.
Take Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a favorite target of Republicans.
Last week, Foxs Laura Ingraham and her guest Joe DiGenova, desperate to find new ways to mock a politician who terrifies them, tried to make fun of Ocasio-Cortez for how she pronounces her name.
DiGenova, who was once in the running to be Trumps lawyer: She does the Latina thing , he said, which is apparently what were calling having the audacity to pronounce our own names correctly.
In her usual way, AOC wasted no time swatting away the nonsense and getting back to work. Thats what women of color have to do, on the regular.
If by the Latina thing, she means I actually do the work instead of just talk about it, then yeah, Im doing the Latina thing,' she tweeted.
In the realm of all awful things said in these hate-fueled times, it wasnt the worst thing said about her or any of the people the president and his supporters routinely dismiss and discriminate against. When they go as low as you think they can, they find a new low.
Except that for me, for some obvious and not so obvious reasons, this one cut extra deep.
The morning after the racist mocking, I was giving an on-camera interview where I needed to identify myself, and I found myself tripping over my own name. Again. Saying my name is always tricky, and not just because my name has proven hard for others to pronounce. I struggled to embrace the ethnicity that made my family targets of discrimination and bigotry, and that we sometimes hid. Ive written about it. It wasnt pretty, or easy.
It still isnt.
Do I say Yoo-bin-iss the way Anglos are likely to pronounce the name Ubinas? Or do I say Ooh-veen-yass, the way the name is actually pronounced, tilde and all?
The latter is correct. I fought long and hard for that tilde, causing a minor uproar at my old newspaper when in 2003 I demanded to use it after years of being told they didnt have the technical capability to use accents. They figured it out.
For me, its not just about calling people by their actual names; I still find myself using both pronunciations interchangeably. Thats my choice. Its about seeking out those who might be marginalized or erased because of their last name or the color of their skin or whom they happen to love or pray to, and telling them that you see them. And using whatever platform you have to make sure others see them, too.
So, for now, Ill leave the Mueller report tea-leaf reading to others while I plan for my next pop-up newsroom at a program that gives clothes to people in need across the city, and while I hang out with a man, a Puerto Rican man, who cleans up his North Philadelphia neighborhood parks on his own time, and while I talk to a local Mexican photographer about the people she documented at the Mexican border last year, while Im over here, you know, doing my Latina thing.
Philadelphia School Superintendent William Hite and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, right, climb the stairs into Pennell Elementary. Hite released his Action Plan 3.0 update Tuesday, claiming slow, steady progress. Read more
How many Philadelphia 8-year-olds read at grade level? How many city students graduate from high school prepared for college and careers? Are the districts finances in good shape? Are all school jobs filled with talented employees?
Philadelphia School Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. measures the accomplishments of his administration by these yardsticks, the four anchor goals of his Action Plan 3.0. In an update released Tuesday, he highlighted the slow, steady progress the district has made since he arrived in 2012.
The progress that we are seeing in schools across the city is not a coincidence; its because of intentional planning around how we can best support our diverse school communities, Hite said.
Hites goals were lofty, and some are difficult to quantify. Here are the goals and the 2019 measure for each:
100 percent of students will graduate, ready for college and career. Score: 69 percent. (This measures the districts four-year graduation rate. Whether those graduates are ready for college and career is a more subjective measure, difficult to quantify.) This is up 4 percentage points since Hite became superintendent in 2012.
100 percent of 8-year-olds will read on or above grade level. Score: 36 percent. This is down nine points since Hite took over, but up three points since 2014-15, when the test changed considerably based on Pennsylvania Common Core Standards. Statewide, 64 percent of Pennsylvania third-graders read at or above grade level.
100 percent of positions filled by great principals, teachers, and employees. Score: 97 percent. (This reflects the districts overall employee fill rate for 2018-19, but does not take into account teacher turnover, which is an acknowledged issue, or address whether those employees are effective, which is difficult to quantify.)
100 percent of funding for great schools is secured with zero deficit. Score: 100, for five years straight. (The district has, after years of deficits and brutal budgets, been known for good financial stewardship under Hite and chief financial officer Uri Monson, but whether the school system has enough funding for great schools is debatable. Most education watchers believe the district is underfunded, and federal statistics have shown that Pennsylvania has the widest gap in the country between wealthy school districts and needy school districts such as Philadelphia.)
Hite first introduced his plan in 2013, and has issued annual updates since then.
The most recent update comes on the heels of the districts releasing progress reports for each of its 220 schools, plus most city charter schools. There are about 130,000 students enrolled in district schools.
Seven out of 10 district schools have improved since the district first began issuing progress reports in 2014-15. The number of low-performing schools has dropped 50 percent, from 84 to 41, and the number of high-performing schools has more than doubled, from five to 12.
World War II has just ended in The Aftermath when a British woman named Rachael (Keira Knightley) disembarks from a train in Hamburg, where her officer husband is in charge of the occupying Allied forces.
On the stations platform, couples separated by war reunite in passionate embrace. Rachael eyes them furtively, and maybe a little enviously. When her own husband, Lewis, shows up, she gets a chaste peck on the cheek.
Shes in the dreaded cheek-peck zone. Its a sign of trouble, as is the fact that her husband is played by Jason Clarke, who has become casting shorthand for At Some Point In This Movie, My Wife Is Going To Cheat On Me. (See also Serenity. Or better yet, dont).
On the other hand, maybe Lewis is just tired. He bears the weighty, taxing responsibility of managing a fragile and unstable peace in a dangerous city.
The defeated Germans are bitter, Hamburg is in ruins, and Hitler loyalists are organizing into terror groups and killing British soldiers. Counterintelligence officials deal ruthlessly with this insurgency, and also hunt down Nazis trying to blend in with the civilian population.
The movie wants to take a reasonably sober look at this postwar context, as well it might its adapted from a novel by Rhidian Brook, who based on his story the experiences of his own grandfather in postwar Germany.
The overpowering tone in Aftermath, though, is one of soap opera, and it takes over once Rachael arrives at her new home. Its a mansion confiscated from a wealthy German family, but Lewis has decided to set an example of reconciliation, and so allows the owners to remain including the strapping, handsome head of the household, Stefan (Alexander Skarsgard), who greets Rachael with the first of what will become many Significant Glances.
Rachaels personal history of wartime grief and loss, for which she holds all Germans accountable, means that her initial response to Stefan is hostile. But her attitude changes when she learns of widowed Stefans own family tragedy, and she starts to feel that he understands her in a way that her distracted, emotionally distant husband does not.
In no time, Rachael is peeking at Stefan through the lace curtains of an upstairs window as he manfully chops wood, pausing to wipe the dew from his glistening brow and to steal a glance at his attractive house guest.
As Knightley and Skarsgard wrestle with this material and each other, the movie around them goes plot crazy Lewis counterspy subordinates (including Martin Compston) wonder if Stefan might be a Nazi, and local terrorists target Lewis for assassination.
Aftermath, for a movie set in a demolished city, is also weirdly glamorous, awed by Stefans posh mansion and also by Rachaels amazing wardrobe. She has an impressive array of nightgowns, evening gowns, Burberry coats, and endless supply of turquoise and jade sweater sets.
This raises a credibility issue, if we think back to that first scene at the railroad station, and remember that Rachael was traveling light. As one sharp-eyed woman at the preview screening noted: Theres no way she fit all of those clothes into one suitcase.
The Aftermath. Directed by James Kent. With Keira Knightley, Jason Clarke, Martin Compston, and Alexander Skarsgard. Distributed by Fox Searchlight.
Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Parents guide: R (nudity)
Playing at: Ritz East
A Philadelphia Police officer stands alongside a damaged Audi at Seventh Street and Packer Avenue, in Philadelphia, after fatal collision on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Read more
Prosecutors upgraded charges Tuesday to include murder and homicide by DUI against a Delaware man who police said stabbed himself before driving into an SUV in the early morning of Jan. 2 in South Philadelphia, killing three people including two Mummers.
Keith Campbell, 29, who used a walker to enter the Philadelphia courtroom, was there for a scheduled hearing on his mental-health status. But prosecutors Joanne Pescatore and Anthony Voci asked Judge James M. DeLeon to amend the charges against Campbell to include three counts of third-degree murder and homicide by vehicle while DUI.
Campbell, of Bear, Del., had been charged with three counts of homicide by vehicle in the deaths of Dennis Palandro Jr., Joseph Ferry, and Kelly Wiseley. He also faces one count of aggravated assault and related charges.
Voci said the murder charges were added due to the extreme recklessness involved in this crash and the DUI charge was added after a toxicology report indicated that Campbell was clearly impaired and under the influence.
Voci said the toxicology report showed that Campbell was under the influence of marijuana, amphetamine, and midazolam.
The report concluded that the combination of the drugs, and the various dosages, rendered him unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely on the highway.
Psychiatrist Robert W. Stanton performed a mental-health evaluation on Campbell in early March and deemed him competent to stand trial.
Hes got mental-health issues, Voci said, but hes competent.
Police said that at 1:45 a.m. Jan. 2, Campbells speeding Audi crossed the median in the 600 block of Packer Avenue, near the stadium complex, and into oncoming traffic, crashing into the SUV. Authorities later confirmed that Campbell had been pursued by police in Delaware shortly before the crash.
Ferry, 36, of South Philadelphia, was the driver of the SUV. Wiseley, 35, of Glenolden, and Palandro, 31, of Morton, were passengers. Ferry and Wiseley had recently been engaged. A fourth passenger, Palandros 30-year-old wife, Nicole, was critically injured but survived the crash.
Ferry and Palandro were members of the South Philadelphia String Band, which came in second in its category at the Mummers Parade. Palandro was the son of Denny Palandro, the bands captain. Wiseley was the daughter of retired Folcroft Borough Police Sgt. William Wiseley.
Campbells next court appearance is scheduled for May 21.
This article has been updated to more accurately describe the effect of the collision on Nicole Palandro.
Sara Packer (left), Grace Packer (middle) and Jacob Sullivan. Sullivan and Sara Packer have been charged in Grace Packer's gruesome death. Read more
For two minutes, the amount of time it took Jacob Sullivan to kill Grace Packer, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub stood in silence.
He stared at a tearful Sullivan as photos of Grace, the 14-year-old girl Sullivan choked to death in 2016, flashed across a screen in a Doylestown courtroom.
Weintraub then asked a jury to sentence Sullivan to death to disregard the defenses arguments that the 46-year-olds fate should be the same as that of Sara Packer, who also participated in the kidnapping, rape, murder, and dismemberment of her daughter, and will be sentenced to life in prison.
If this was about universal fairness, Weintraub said, Grace would be here.
Sullivans defense attorneys disagreed, arguing that Packer manipulated her boyfriend in the same way she had done to others throughout her life.
To say Sara Packer and her sentence shouldnt be in your mind is ridiculous, public defender Jack Fagan said. She got life. He should be getting life.
The impassioned closing arguments brought Sullivans seven-day sentencing hearing to an end, leaving his fate up to a Bucks County jury of six men and six women. Judge Diane E. Gibbons sent them to deliberate just before 4 p.m. Tuesday. They spent about three hours discussing the case before going home for the night. They are expected to resume deliberations at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
For Sullivan to be sent to death row, the jurys decision must be unanimous. If even one juror doesnt believe a death sentence is appropriate, Gibbons will sentence Sullivan to life in prison without parole.
The jury is not tasked with deciding Sullivans guilt or innocence. He pleaded guilty to the crimes last month, admitting how he and Packer tortured Grace during her final hours, killed her, then cut up and disposed of her remains.
Packer, 44, struck a deal with prosecutors. She is set to plead guilty on Wednesday and be sentenced to life in prison.
During his closing argument Tuesday, Weintraub argued that by Sullivans own admission, he dominated Packer, not the other way around. He asked jurors: Could anyone dominate them into committing these crimes?
He personally and actually ended her life by strangling her, Weintraub said of Grace. He owns that, by himself.
Jurors shouldnt give Sullivan credit for confessing either, the prosecutor said, because he didnt do it to accept responsibility.
Its a power trip. Sometimes people get a thrill from reliving this rape-murder fantasy," Weintraub said. Sometimes people get a thrill from shocking others in letting them know what theyve done to another human being."
Fagan, however, said Sullivan gave the prosecution its case by confessing.
Would we be here if my client hadnt confessed?" Fagan asked the jury. He said Sullivan, a former draftsman, had no criminal record before the killings and has maintained good behavior in prison.
Dressed in a black suit jacket, Sullivan sat stoically at the defense table, turning around to chat with relatives before the proceedings began.
A calm and emotionless Packer took the stand last week, publicly detailing for the first time how she and Sullivan attacked Grace, originally with the intention of keeping her tied up in a Richland Township attic for years for Sullivan to rape at will.
Sullivans public defenders, Fagan and Christina King, called Packer to testify in hopes of convincing the jury that she dominated Sullivan and manipulated him into committing the crimes. Without her influence, they argued, he never would have killed.
But Packer testified that Sullivans twisted sexual fantasy led them to murder.
She didnt have to die," Packer said. But she added, I never told him not to do it.
She described watching Grace be savagely beaten, raped, and choked by her boyfriend. At one point, Grace looked to her mother, and Packer said she told the girl: I cant help you anymore. This is now your life.
Packer worked for adoption and foster agencies until 2010, when her foster rights were terminated for failing to report an earlier sexual assault of Grace and another child by her then-husband, David Packer. But Sara Packer was able to keep custody of her adopted children, Grace and her biological brother.
On the witness stand in a red prison jumpsuit, Packer said she groomed Sullivan to assault Grace the same way she had groomed her ex-husband.
By summer 2016, Packer said she wanted Grace not to be a part of my life anymore." One July morning, after weeks of drugging Graces pudding to make her groggy, she said, she and Sullivan drove the sleeping teenager from a home they rented in Abington to another rental property near Quakertown. Inside, Sullivan punched Grace in the face and raped her, then he and Packer drugged her, bound her wrists and ankles with zip ties, shoved a pink ball gag in her mouth, and left her in a cedar closet in the homes swelteringly hot attic.
When they returned early the next morning, they found Grace alive, having broken free of the zip ties and spit out the ball bag. Packer said Sullivan panicked" and choked the girl to death as Packer watched.
They stored her body in cat litter inside a cardboard box until October, when Abington Township police arrived at the the home to investigate a missing person report Packer had filed and never followed up on. After officers left, Packer purchased a bow saw, and she and Sullivan cut up Graces remains in a second-floor bathroom.
The next day, they drove 75 miles to Luzerne County, Pa. Packer said she directed Sullivan to a wooded spot where they dumped Graces remains, which were found by father-and-son hunters, Guy and Cody Blakeslee, on Halloween.
As authorities focused in on the couple, they attempted suicide, but survived. In a hospital intensive-care unit, Sullivan confessed to hospital staff and later police. He and Packer were charged with the crimes in January 2017.
If Packer were to be sentenced to death, hed join 142 other inmates on death row. Pennsylvania has not executed anyone since House of Horrors killer Gary Heidnik was killed in 1999. When Gov. Tom Wolf took office in 2015, he imposed a moratorium on the death penalty.
Books in the new library at the Taggart school in South Philadelphia. Read more
Just seven Philadelphia public schools now have functioning libraries with certified school librarians, down from 200 decades ago.
So it was a big deal this month when the community celebrated the reopening of the library at Bache-Martin Elementary at a ceremony where politicians made speeches and TV cameras rolled. The price tag for the library and a part-time staffer was $90,000, paid through the hard work and fund-raising prowess of a nonprofit organized by parents to support the school in Fairmount, a diverse and relatively affluent section of the city.
The act felt familiar, with people pitching in to pay for what the Philadelphia School District no longer could or did.
But to many, the library laid bare a truth in city schools the divisions between the haves, often in whiter and wealthier neighborhoods, who can fund-raise for new playgrounds and support staff salaries, and the have-nots, in under-resourced schools mostly populated by kids of color, left to make do with whatever they can scrape together.
Stephanie King, a parent at Kearny Elementary in Northern Liberties, heard the news of the Bache-Martin triumph and felt frustration, she said, in part because the district is putting the work of funding on the shoulders of parents because they cant or wont fix things themselves.
(The district said it lets principals decide whether to prioritize libraries and librarians, but virtually no one has the money to pay for what is expected in most private and suburban schools.)
Its absolutely not possible for a school thats got a 99 percent poverty rate to raise $90,000 for a library, or for anything, said King, president of Kearny Friends and a member of the Home and School Association for Kearny, whose student poverty rate is approaching that figure. The only way would be if we won an outside grant, or if an outside group more or less gifted it to us, like a fairy godmother.
Shereda Cromwell, a parent at Kenderton Elementary in North Philadelphia, said her school is like a lot of others.
Kudos to parents who can get together and advocate and raise money, but I know a lot of schools that cant even worry about fund-raising for big things, like a library," said Cromwell, who is struggling to start a parents' group at her school, where 94 percent of students live in poverty. Theyre trying to make sure that every child that comes to school has a winter coat and socks on. Thats what our school is looking at, thats where our resources have to go.
The contrasts are stark. At Chester Arthur, in South Philadelphia, the community raised $1.7 million in grants and donations over five years to build a new playground and outdoor classroom; the Home and School Association at Greenfield, in Center City, has a $125,000 annual fund to spend on after-school programs, technology, and enrichment.
The Friends of Bache-Martin made their library happen with crowdfunding, grants, and two years of elbow grease; their funds paid for technology, supplies, and the salary of a part-time retired teacher to staff it for at least two years.
Jerilyn Dressler, the Friends of Bache president, said she hoped their communitys efforts serve as a model. But her group members know they have advantages that others dont.
This shouldnt be something that takes thousands of dollars or thousands of volunteer hours, Dressler said before the librarys opening. Everyone should have the resources to do this.
Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. stressed that he loved the Bache-Martin communitys coming together to rally for literacy in the form of a reopened school library, a wish-list item of school staff, but that other schools have identified upgraded technology or a new play space as their top priorities.
Still, Hite acknowledged, there is an equity issue among the districts 220 schools.
Everyone doesnt have a `friends of' group that can raise the types of moneys that theyve raised here, the superintendent said at the Bache-Martin library opening this month, or the type of money that was raised at Chester Arthur to do a new playground, or the types of moneys to donate instruments that some of our schools have.
Hite said the district has addressed the equity issue with initiatives like a $20 million citywide classroom modernization project and turnaround programs worth millions more that give the citys most struggling schools more resources, support, and scrutiny.
But those have limited scope; the modernization project revamped 250 of the citys thousands of classrooms. The turnaround efforts also target a limited number of schools, and the money that comes with them must generally be spent on district-identified priorities.
The fund-raising equity issue came up this month at a school board committee meeting where officials detailed the schools' budget process. Let me get this straight, board members asked: Even though schools might start on a level playing field, those in better-resourced communities often end up with more?
Essentially, thats how it works, said chief financial officer Uri Monson.
If you have that kind of community, and if your school is lucky enough to have Kevin Hart as an alum, these are not funds that we can redistribute or choose who gets what, Monson said at the meeting. (Hart, a George Washington High graduate, has donated hundreds of thousands to purchase computers for district schools and also given money to put charter-school students through college.)
Taggart Elementary School in South Philadelphia has a library thanks mostly to the work of its staff. Teacher David Hensel devised a system to allow students to check books out of the library, which closed years ago, when budget cuts decimated most school libraries. Each class got its own binder, and each student had a page in the class binder with space for recording the books they had checked out. Hensel, who is now the Taggart dean, devised a schedule for teachers to take their classes to the library, and he used prep periods and lunches to reshelve books.
A local business, the Nelson Group, paid to renovate the Taggart library, which still operates using Hensels system. The schools reading specialist now uses the library as her home base, and though a librarian would be a dream, Hensel said, thats not happening absent district help.
With a student body made up of largely poor and immigrant children, large-scale parent and community fund-raising is not something thats possible here, he said. And even if it was, I wouldnt want it. Funding things the district should, that just digs a deeper hole not just for yourself, but for everybody.
Cromwell, the Kenderton parent, said that a library is a wish to a school like ours" and that she doesnt begrudge the better-off schools their bells and whistles, but it stings.
I signed my kids up for the same things those parents signed their kids up for: a free public education, Cromwell said. Its sad how different it is for kids in different neighborhoods.
How do you fix the chasm? Funding, officials said.
At the library opening, State Rep. Donna Bullock (D., Phila.) looked around the room and alluded to the divide between what Bache-Martin could provide for its students and what others lack.
What this day also reminds us is the importance of funding public education we dont fund it fairly," Bullock said. It is my responsibility to go back to the state and to make sure that we have libraries like this in each and every one of our schools.
Philadelphia Media Network is one of 21 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the citys push towards economic justice. See all of our reporting at https://brokeinphilly.org.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., walks to a Democratic Caucus meeting at the Capitol Tuesday, hours before she and leading House Democrats unveiled legislation to shore up the Affordable Care Act. Read more
WASHINGTON Democrats on Tuesday hoped to turn away from the special-counsel investigation into Russian election interference and back to the kitchen-table issues that powered their 2018 victories.
President Donald Trump offered a helping hand.
Changing course, his administration this week joined a legal push to strike down the Affordable Care Act, the health-care law commonly called Obamacare that has proved politically resilient.
The shift in strategy refocused attention on one of the defining policy differences of the last decade, and gave Democrats including those running for president an opening to move to more comfortable political terrain, as Trump and his allies continued to bludgeon their critics over Robert Muellers finding that the president did not conspire with Russia during his 2016 campaign.
Even before the Department of Justice intervention, in which it joined with a number of Republican state attorneys general to oppose the law, House Democrats had scheduled a Tuesday news conference to highlight new proposals to expand the health laws protections for people with preexisting health conditions, and reverse some of Trumps steps to undercut the law. They aimed to return to one of the most popular issues the party emphasized as it swept to a House majority last year, and one that is now likely to become a major piece of the 2020 presidential race.
When Democrats ran on a platform of increasing access to quality health coverage, protecting against discrimination in access to coverage and care, Americans responded, said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D., Md.), the second-ranking Democrat in the House.
The topic came back to the forefront as many Democratic strategists and candidates have stressed that they need to turn their attention toward everyday issues as opposed to attacking Trumps actions.
Health care is a basic human right, and we fight for basic human rights, tweeted one candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.).
Another, Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), tweeted, Trump and his administration are trying to take health care away from 10s of millions of Americans again ... we need to elect a president who will make health care a right.
Beyond the national race, the shift in attention could also be welcomed by freshman Democrats who won in tough swing districts last year, and whose agenda has been overshadowed by the partial government shutdown around the holidays, the Mueller probe, and the partys internal struggles over Israel and other issues.
U.S. Reps. Susan Wild, of the Allentown area, and Andy Kim, of Burlington County, who both flipped Republican seats in moderate areas, were among the freshmen who spoke at Tuesdays event alongside Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
As a representative of a district with as many Republicans and independents as Democrats, I can tell you this: It is not a partisan issue," Wild said. "When my constituents gather around their kitchen tables, they arent talking about party or ideology. They are talking about how theyre going to afford their premiums this month.
Kim and Wild, like most Democrats who won swing districts, campaigned heavily on issues such as health care, gun laws, and government ethics while trying to avoid talk of impeachment or other hot buttons centered on Trump that animate some party activists.
Their proposals for modest improvements in the existing health law also drew a contrast with more liberal colleagues who have called for sweeping overhauls of the entire health system.
Theres a general consensus that health care played a big part in Democrats retaking the House," said Larry Levitt, vice president of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, which tracks health policy. The Trump administrations legal maneuver here puts this issue front and center once again as the 2020 campaign ramps up.
The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of people obtain insurance, including those who previously faced roadblocks because of existing illnesses, and allowed young people to stay on their parents insurance plans up to the age of 26, helping the law rise in popularity even as Republicans blame it for growing costs. More than 1.3 million people in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have obtained health coverage under the laws Medicaid expansion.
Exit polls from last years midterm elections found that 41 percent of voters ranked health care as their top priority, and 75 percent of those favored Democrats.
Repealing the law remains a major goal for most Republicans, who largely still disapprove of it, but that has remained out of reach for years.
The Republican Party will soon be known as the party of health care you watch, Trump told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
He didnt elaborate, keeping with his longstanding but unspecified promises to replace Obamacare with something that covers more people for less cost. A GOP replacement plan that passed the House in 2017 would have weakened protections for preexisting conditions, however, while other measures Republicans pushed for years would have repealed those safeguards.
In their Tuesday meeting, Republican senators said Trump talked up a health-care overhaul, saying details would follow.
Republicans claimed in last years campaigns that they support protections for people with preexisting conditions. Democrats said that the administrations latest move undercut those pledges.
The intentions of the Trump administration were unmasked, said Rep. Richard Neal (D., Mass.).
The administration shift centered on a lawsuit in Texas brought by the Republican attorneys general. They are seeking to eliminate the Affordable Care Act, and won an initial round in a Texas federal district court, where a judge struck down the law. Previously, the administration supported the lawsuit in part, arguing that the preexisting condition protections should be thrown out while the rest of the law should stand.
But, with the case pending before the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Department of Justice revealed a new stance this week, agreeing that the entire law should be invalidated.
The Department of Justice has determined that the district courts comprehensive opinion came to the correct conclusion and will support it on appeal, said department spokesperson Kerri Kupec. Democratic attorneys general and House Democrats are defending the law in court.
If the administration wins, it could send shock waves through the health-care system, affecting how people get coverage, what insurance companies must offer, payments to doctors and hospitals, and even calorie counts displayed at restaurants, Levitt said.
Its sort of almost impossible to imagine throwing out an entire law that is so entwined with our health-care system at this point, he said.
Carmen Pagan walked out of VisionQuest, the youth-services agency that plans to hold immigrant children in Philadelphia, after a supervisor told her colleagues not to speak Spanish. Read more
Toward the end of a rigorous day of training for new VisionQuest employees in North Philadelphia, Carmen Pagan recalled, the board chairman of the youth services agency, Bob Burton, interrupted a conversation between two of her Latino co-workers.
Stop speaking Spanish, he told them.
Pagan, hired as a bilingual case manager, said Burton had made similar comments all week. This time, she walked out.
I felt like I was at Genos Please speak English, Pagan said, referencing the South Philadelphia cheesesteak stores infamous This is America counter sign.
The incident occurred last month as Pagan and other new hires prepared for the arrival of about 60 Spanish-speaking, undocumented immigrant boys, to be housed at the Logan Plaza property of the Arizona-based agency. The children, ages 12 to 17, are among thousands of unaccompanied minors who turned up alone at the southern border, fleeing violence and poverty in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico.
The for-profit company, under contract with the federal government, now seeks local zoning approvals to begin accepting children.
Burton, who founded VisionQuest in 1973, did not respond to an email and phone message left for him at the agency. VisionQuest would not make Burton available to answer questions, and instead provided a statement from him.
It was not my intention to dishonor or offend anyone, and I apologize for any confusion I may have caused, Burton said. My intention was simply to encourage a work environment that promotes open communication and understanding among everyone.
VisionQuest operates in six states to provide housing and therapies to hundreds of juvenile offenders and other at-risk youth.
A VisionQuest program at the same Philadelphia site closed in 2017 after state inspectors found that staffers had struck and choked children. At least three VisionQuest employees were fired between 2011 and 2017 after hitting or physically handling children, state records show.
Some local government officials, union leaders, and activists harbor deep doubts about VisionQuests plans, and question why the sanctuary city of Philadelphia should allow the confinement of immigrant children within its borders.
A spokesperson for Mayor Kenney earlier called VisionQuests proposal highly disturbing, and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan declared that incarcerating children who have crossed the border seeking freedom and safety is morally bankrupt.
In October, about 40 people staged an emotional protest outside the VisionQuest property, on Old York Road two blocks south of Einstein Medical Center. City Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker, who represents the area, has set a community meeting for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Pagan, 41, is known as an outspoken single mother who has confronted drug dealers near her home in the Fairhill section. She grew up on the same streets, and landed in prison for drug offenses. Released in 2011, she has since earned a college degree and become a vocal activist against drugs and the gun violence that killed her brother in 2016.
Pagan left her job at Forget Me Knot Youth Services, which offers housing, crisis intervention, and counseling, after seeing a VisionQuest advertisement. The pay was higher, and she thought that as a native Spanish speaker of Puerto Rican heritage, she could support and encourage immigrant youths.
I wanted to do the work and help the kids, she said.
Instead, she walked out after four days and, on March 3, filed a complaint with VisionQuest. In an email to the company, she said she was very insulted by the way my co-workers were addressed by Mr. Bob Burton. How do you hire bilingual case managers and youth attendants and then tell them that they cant speak Spanish amongst themselves?
Two days later, on March 5, VisionQuest president Mark Contento replied, telling Pagan he had investigated and found Burtons comments were unauthorized and inappropriate.
Bob did say those things, and he was wrong in doing so, Contento wrote in a follow-up email.
As a result, he wrote to Pagan, VisionQuest would review its language policies with all administrative staff.
The agency has no English only requirement, nor a ban against employees speaking Spanish in the workplace, he said. Agency leaders sometimes encourage the use of English for work discussions because not all staffers speak Spanish. The federal government expects the agency to try to teach English to the migrant youths, he said.
Pagan answered, Bob Burton directly stated to numerous employees in my presence, Speak English! I already feel bad for the children.
In his statement, Burton said, I made statements regarding speaking English in the workplace because, although most of our staff are bilingual, we have some employees who only speak English.
He noted that the federal government expects the agency to teach English, and said he would adhere to VisionQuest policies that allow staffers to communicate in their native language, except in very limited circumstances based on business necessity.
Burton, who is about 77, founded VisionQuest in Arizona, incorporating what he says are Native American teachings he learned as a VISTA volunteer with the Crow Tribe of Indians in Montana. The VisionQuest name refers to a native rite of passage undertaken by some young men entering adulthood.
Pagan said that in the last week of February, she and 40 to 50 co-workers began a two-week training program.
They were expected to gather in what was called a medicine circle by 9 a.m. each day. Burton would move around the circle and touch each person with a feather, she said.
Pagan said some colleagues were bilingual, others mainly spoke Spanish and Burton became displeased when they communicated in that language.
Every conversation, Dont speak Spanish. You cant speak Spanish, Pagan recounted.
She said nothing at first, Pagan said, not wanting to risk her job.
Then, on what she recalls as Feb. 28, she and several colleagues were talking to one another near the end of the day. Some people were standing, others sitting.
Burton, seeing her seated, approached and told her that she wasnt doing any work, Pagan said. She answered that shed been working all day, since before he arrived.
He looks at my two coworkers who are speaking Spanish, she said, and said, Stop speaking Spanish.
At that point, she left.
I regret the way I just walked out, Pagan said. I should have handled it another way. I dont regret speaking up for my coworkers. Thats my native language. Whats going to happen when these children come in, they speak only Spanish?
In the informal economy of prisons, where tobacco has long functioned as extralegal tender, traded to settle gambling debts, outsource laundry service, hire personal security, tip barbers, commission a portrait of a loved one or purchase a spare sandwich swiped from the mess hall, what will prisoners do when the DOC bans smoking come July 1? Read more
Necessity is the mother of invention and in the Pennsylvania prison system, inmates are in need of a new informal currency. As of July 1, tobacco will be banned, but reporter Samantha Melamed knows what will take its place on the market. And no, you havent heard the last of Robert Muellers investigation into Russia and the U.S. 2016 election. In this case the end was merely the beginning of debate over the investigation and its outcomes.
Reading this online? Sign up here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox every morning.
Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)
In the informal economy of prisons, tobacco has long functioned as extralegal tender. Inmates trade them for food, everyday necessities, and even laundry services or personal security.
But tobacco products will be banned in Pennsylvania State Prisons as of July 1. So whats next?
As the price of cigarettes has gone up and more prisons have banned smoking, new, hotter commodities are taking their place.
The co-founder of Liberation Way, a Bucks County drug treatment company, and 10 others have been charged in a fraud scheme, state officials say.
The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals office alleges Liberation Way was trapping patients suffering from drug and alcohol addiction in a cycle of ineffective treatments and relapse.
All the while, the company made tens of millions of dollars off insurance reimbursements and kickbacks.
If you thought the end of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election was, well, the end think again. Battles over its conclusions are just getting started.
Democrats and Republicans alike have called for more hearings and investigations, signalling a partisan debate over unanswered questions as we head into the 2020 election. Leaders of both parties have called for the full report to be made public.
What effect has it all had on voters? In a New Jersey town that flipped for President Trump in 2016, those who followed the investigation are still on his side.
What you need to know today
Join Inquirer columnist Jenice Armstrong for a conversation about the Starbucks protests one year later at the next Inquiring Minds Wednesday, April 2. Get your free tickets here.
Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly
Looks like it was a success, @filadelphie.
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!
Thats Interesting
Opinions
The Soviets used to call unwitting collaborators useful idiots. That may not equate with overt collusion but the term certainly fits Trumps behavior. Columnist Trudy Rubin on what she calls the truth about the Mueller report.
Employer bias against applicants with criminal records drags us all down by boosting the unemployment rate writes Claudia De Palma, staff attorney at the Public Interest Law Center.
Following the release of a summary of the Mueller report to Congress, responses from the political right, left, and center show the saga is far from over.
What were reading
A Daily Dose of | Fudge Swirl
You cant call 1-900-ICE-CREAM, but if you plan ahead you can snag a coveted pint of this new Philly brands mix-in-filled ice cream before it sells out.
(CNN) Canadian authorities have granted asylum to a Filipino woman and her daughter who housed Edward Snowden in Hong Kong after the former NSA contractor leaked classified documents on US surveillance programs around the world in 2013.
The decision allows Philippines national Vanessa Rodel and her 7-year-old daughter Keana to leave Hong Kong after living in the city without proper legal status for years.
"I'm truly happy," Rodel said. "I'm so excited. I can't sleep."
Rodel and two Sri Lankan families put up Snowden shortly after he went public in 2013.
At the time, Snowden's lawyer Robert Tibbo worried that his client could face possible rendition back to the US, where he was branded a traitor.
So Tibbo advised Snowden to hide with Hong Kong refugees because he thought it would be the last place anyone would look.
"This has been a seven year battle," said Tibbo, who also represents the refugees who hid Snowden.
After Snowden left the city and was granted asylum in Russia, Rodel and the other refugees who hid him moved forward with their Hong Kong refugee status applications. Their cases were rejected in 2017.
As of now, only Rodel and her daughter Keana have been granted asylum in Canada. Lawyers working on behalf of the other refugees who hid Snowden said the Canadian government is still considering their cases.
Rodel told CNN the process has been long, arduous and depressing. She said she came to Hong Kong because she was a victim of human trafficking in her home country of the Philippines, and is too afraid to go home. However, as a refugee without legal status, she also does not feel safe in Hong Kong.
"There's nothing here," Rodel said. "It's a living hell in Hong Kong. We've had a miserable life in Hong Kong."
Rodel said in Canada, she hopes she and her daughter can learn French, buy a home and perhaps even enroll in university.
Keana doesn't remember much of Snowden, except that he has short hair. She said she's excited for her new life in Canada, and is looking forward to seeing snow for the first time and Siberian huskies.
Rodel and two Sri Lankan families who hid Snowden came forward in 2016, around the time Oliver Stone's film "Snowden" was released.
The three families they always faced long odds on being granted legal status in Hong Kong.
The city is not a signatory to the United Nations Refugees Convention, and historically has only allowed a very small number of refugees to settle in. There are about 10,000 people living in Hong Kong who are seeking refugee status, according to the NGO Justice Centre Hong Kong.
Those who are not recognized have trouble accessing basic services like healthcare or police protection. Children born here to refugees, like Rodel's daughter Keana, are effectively stateless. Keana does not have a passport.
The Hong Kong government said in a statement to CNN in 2017 that it rejected the three families' asylum claims because it believed there were no "substantial grounds for believing that the claimants, if returned to their country of origin, will be subject to real and substantial risk of danger."
This story was first posted on CNN.com, "Woman who housed Snowden in Hong Kong granted refugee status in Canada"
Lynnette Hammond McNeal, 87, of Rosemont, a noted psychiatrist who treated adolescent patients, died Thursday, March 21, of a pulmonary embolism at Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Dr. McNeal was one of 11 children born to Horace and Albertha Hammond. The family lived in the Elmwood section of Southwest Philadelphia. She graduated from John Bartram High School in 1949.
In December of that year, she enlisted in the Army at a time when the armed forces were working to comply with President Harry S. Trumans 1948 executive order abolishing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin.
She began her military service in one of the last remaining all-black Womens Army Corps units, her family said. By the time she was honorably discharged in 1953 with the rank of corporal, the vestiges of segregation had lessened but were not eradicated, she told her family.
During the Korean War, she spent two years in Japan as a laboratory technician in an Army hospital. She was awarded a Korean Service Medal and a U.N. Service Medal.
After returning home from her military service, Dr. McNeal earned a bachelors degree in chemistry in 1957 from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, now the University of the Sciences.
In 1961, she received a medical degree from Womans Medical College of Pennsylvania, now Drexel University College of Medicine. She earned board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with a specialty in psychiatry in 1973.
She had a love of chemistry, and received numerous awards for her work in that field of study, which led to a long career in medicine and psychiatry, her family said. Her practice focused on adolescent patients, although she did treat other age groups.
She interned at Germantown Hospital and afterward completed a psychiatric residency at Norristown State Hospital, where she served as the director of the adolescent unit. Later in her career, she was involved with clinical drug trials at Merck, Sharp & Dohme Corp., now Merck & Co. Toward the end of her career, she practiced psychiatry part-time at Haverford State Hospital before retiring in the 1990s.
She married George Edward McNeal Jr., a pathologist, in 1960. They raised four children in Rosemont.
Dr. McNeal was a lifelong student of the arts as well as French, Italian, German, Spanish, guitar, violin, and piano.
Her idea was to keep her mind active, and she did that, said daughter Jacqueline. Dr. McNeal supported local theater and the Philadelphia Orchestra. She enjoyed taking long walks in Ashbridge Park and on the Rosemont College campus. She was fond of growing flowering plants.
She and her husband traveled to Egypt, China, India, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, and the Caribbean.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Dr. McNeal is survived by daughters Frances, Nancy, and Marilyn; two grandchildren; two brothers; and many nieces and nephews.
Plans for services were pending.
Memorial donations may be made to the Mary Louise Curtis Branch of the Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147.
Rodney S. Sadler Sr., 69, of Camden, a mariner, harbormaster, and community activist, died Wednesday, March 20, of heart failure at Samaritan Hospice in Marlton.
Camden County lost a great public servant and community leader with the passing of Rodney Sadler, Camden County Freeholder Jeff Nash said in a statement.
Starting in 1992, Mr. Sadler served the county as the harbormaster of Wiggins Park Marina. But he was best known for his leadership role with Save Our Waterfront, a citizens organization working to change Camdens rundown waterfront on the Delaware River into an enticing destination for recreation and economic growth.
Mr. Sadler rose to prominence as an advocate for razing the Riverfront State Prison, a correctional facility with 800 inmates in a Camden neighborhood teeming with drug use and violence. The state wanted to consolidate its operations because the inmate census was decreasing. The plan recommended transfer of the inmates to other state prisons.
As president of the group, Mr. Sadler argued forcefully at public meetings for demolition. Local officials and prison guards opposed the move because they feared overcrowding of local jails and existing state prisons.
Riverfront State Prison has held Camden down since the day it opened on the waterfront, Mr. Sadler told the Newark Star-Ledger in March 2009.
The citizens prevailed. When the prison was demolished that same year, Mr. Sadler was thrilled, said his wife, Anna. In its place is a four-acre park along the water. Little people dont usually win, but it was a great win, she quoted him as saying.
The neighborhood has stabilized, but the economic development that county officials had hoped would occur on the remaining three acres has been slow to materialize, causing some residents to leave Camden. Mr. Sadler stayed.
He had roots here. This was home to him, his wife said.
Nash said Mr. Sadler contributed by volunteering for the Economic Recovery Board, Camden City Planning Board, North Camden Neighborhood Development Corp., and Camden Greenways Working Group.
Rodney was as quick to lend a hand as he was to flash a smile, and his confident and easygoing style will be missed by all the organizations that benefited from his input, Nash said.
Born in West Philadelphia, Mr. Sadler graduated from Overbrook High School and Antioch College with a bachelors degree in science. Mr. Sadler and his wife met while working for civil rights and against gang violence in West Philadelphia in the late 1960s.
Weve got to get out on the streets, she said he told her, and we did.
He taught high school for four years in Philadelphia. In 1976, he moved to Camden after he was offered a teaching job at an alternative education program there. Since the job required residency, the Sadlers moved to a seven-acre property on the Delaware.
His wife said the couple were caretakers for the owner, who lived in a large house on the tract of land, while the couple raised three children in a small house. Two more children would come later. When the man died in 1980, the owners daughter asked Mr. Sadler what he wanted to do with the property.
I want to build a marina, he told her. And he did, Anna Sadler said. From 1980 to 2000, Mr. Sadler ran a marina business, but when it began to falter, he became harbormaster of the county-run Wiggins Park Marina.
Mr. Sadler held the job for 25 years before stepping down last year. He loved being on the water, his wife said.
She described Mr. Sadler as outgoing and fun.
He was a party guy when he was younger, and he threw an enormous Christmas party every year. He loved reggae and Jamaica, his wife said.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by children Rodney Jr., Eshu Ryan, Laura, Caroline, and Quinn Sadler; 11 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and three brothers.
A viewing from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 29, at the Falco/Caruso & Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Rd., will be followed by a Requiem Eucharist at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 30,, at the Episcopal Church of St. Paul, 422 Market St., Camden. Interment will be private.
Memorial donations may be made to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Dr., Suite 300, Marlton, N.J. 08053, or the Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Dr., Camden, N.J. 08103.
Beth Underwood holds her baby, Gertrude, in the Queen Memorial Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, in Queen Village, Philadelphia PA, Sunday, March 5, 2019. For the third straight year, President Trump has proposed to virtually eliminate federal funding for libraries. Read more
President Donald Trumps proposed 2020 federal budget includes major cuts for library budgets, reducing funding from $242 million in 2019 to $23 million and seeking to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Libraries are a crucial part of our society, and the impulse to cut their funding shows a profound lack of understanding of the role they play in modern life.
The budget cuts seem to take libraries to be a relic of the past rather than the pathway to the future. After all, millennials are the generation most likely to use libraries, according to Pew research. If we want students who become educated, employed members of our society, we should be increasing library funding, not cutting it.
Libraries are community centers that the young and old rely on. Theyre a noncommercial space where the public can access news and research about both popular subjects and the more arcane. Libraries dont just lend books; some let users borrow everything from medical supplies to professional clothing for job interviews to musical instruments and works of art.
Cutting back library services, resources, and/or hours, as this budget proposes, could threaten the vital services they provide. Libraries help in combating summer slide, where students lose some of the knowledge theyve learned over the school year. Programs like the Free Library of Philadelphias Summer Camp Challenge, which assists camps in adding 30 minutes of daily reading or literacy activities, tackle this problem. And some LGBTQ teens, who may face intolerance or violence at home and/or school, use libraries as refuges to acquire information and cultural affirmation.
Other vulnerable populations who rely on library services would be impacted by this budget. According to a letter sent by the New Jersey Library Association to state congressional representatives, if the proposed federal budget is enacted, New Jersey State Librarys Talking Book and Braille Center, which assists those who face challenges with reading, would have to be eliminated.
Libraries also help prepare people to take the U.S. citizenship test. Even the Department of Homeland Securitys website states, Libraries play a critical role in serving immigrant communities. How will they perform that service without funding? Or perhaps, given this administrations attitude toward immigrants, thats exactly the point. By slashing library funding, we are telling these groups, among many others, that their needs do not matter.
While the budget proposal states it is unlikely the elimination of IMLS would result in the closure of a significant number of libraries and museums, even a single library closing, or reduced hours or programs, is a huge loss for that community. Local library advocates argue that the impact would be profound.
Christi Buker, executive director of the Pennsylvania Library Association, said the states libraries are funded through federal, state, and local governments, as well as fund-raising, endowments, and donations. Buker told me that federal funding will be particularly important because the 2020 census will be online for the first time ever. Libraries will be vital in connecting individuals experiencing homelessness, immigrants, new citizens, and rural populations with the online [version of the] census, Buker said. Additionally, she noted, libraries provide internet access and public-access computers, which allow job seekers who dont have other ways to get online to apply for employment.
Laverne Mann, director of the Cherry Hill Public Library, said her library also relies on federal funding via the New Jersey State Library. Many of our research databases, for students needing magazine or journal articles, are purchased with this funding. Without it, our 24/7 digital access would be severely restricted. Mann said that the cost of hardware as well as staffing could be passed on to local taxpayers if federal funds are cut.
The proposed library cuts assume that our society has other ways of delivering these services but it doesnt. The cuts are so drastic that they signal a dire message: that we as a country are not willing to invest in a culture that values community, reading, learning, and research.
Rachel Kramer Bussel is a freelance writer based in South Jersey. rachelkramerbussel.com
Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and his wife Ann, depart St. John's Episcopal Church, across from the White House, in Washington March 24, 2019. The release of the special counsels findings in the Russia probe has swiftly reshaped the 2020 presidential campaign. Read more
Ask yourself this simple question: When you heard the news that special counsel Robert Mueller concluded that President Trump had not engaged in a criminal conspiracy with Russia, were you relieved or disappointed?
Be honest.
If the answer is the latter, then its time for a little introspection. Every American should be thankful that, as Attorney General William Barr explained in his letter to Congress, the Special Counsel did not find that the Trump campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign.
It would have been devastating for our country if the president of the United States had engaged in a criminal conspiracy with a foreign power to undermine our democracy. Mueller's finding that he didn't should be cause for celebration by Trump supporters and opponents alike. You do not have to believe Trump is a good president to know that it is good that the president did not betray the country.
But the sad truth is that many Democratic presidential wannabes were hoping Mueller would find evidence the president had conspired with Russia. Some were almost salivating in anticipation of the Mueller report. In February, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) crowed that by the time we get to 2020, Donald Trump may not even be president. In fact, he may not even be a free person. Last month, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) tweeted, A campaign for President of the United States should never be in the business of scheming with foreign adversaries to tamper with our elections. And just this Saturday (one day after Mueller delivered his report exonerating Trump!), Beto ORourke assured us that you have a president who, in my opinion, beyond a shadow of a doubt, sought to, however ham-handedly, collude with the Russian government, a foreign power, to undermine and influence our elections.
No, he didn't. As Barr notes, the special counsel "issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, obtained more than 230 orders for communication records, issued almost 50 orders authorizing use of pen registers, made 13 requests to foreign governments for evidence, and interviewed approximately 500 witnesses." Mueller found no evidence of conspiracy or even coordination with Russia. Thank God.
It is understandable that Trump believes the Mueller investigation should never have happened. But the probe may end up being the best thing that ever happened to him. If even career prosecutors in his own Justice Department had cleared Trump of conspiracy charges, Democrats would never have accepted their conclusions. But after embracing Mueller even launching a campaign to pass legislation protecting him from being fired by Trump Democrats now will look ridiculous if they refuse accept his determination that there was no Trump-Russia conspiracy.
Moreover, keep in mind that Mueller was not simply investigating Trump; he was also investigating the Russian government. He exonerated Trump but not Vladimir Putin. Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies on charges of conspiracy and identity theft. There was a conspiracy to influence the 2016 elections. Trump just wasnt a part of it.
With the collusion fallacy behind us, Republicans and Democrats should be working together to address that ongoing threat. As the U.S. intelligence community declared in a January 2017 report, We assess Moscow will apply lessons learned from its campaign aimed at the U.S. presidential election to future influence efforts in the United States. But instead of focusing on countering those efforts, Democrats seem to want to continue spending their time on Trump. On Sunday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) stood by his claim that there is significant evidence of collusion and said he plans more hearings.
Those who continue to push the false collusion narrative are the ones inadvertently assisting Russia. The intelligence community report noted that Russias objectives in 2016 included undermining public faith in the U.S. democratic process faith in the U.S. Government and fuel[ing] political protest. In this sense, it worked like a charm. Instead of helping Russia further divide us, we should be uniting to push back against Moscows continued efforts to interfere in our democratic process as the 2020 elections approach.
For the past two years, the Mueller probe has hung like a cloud over Trumps presidency. Instead of the presumption of innocence, Democrats and many in the media presumed his guilt. Trump said more than 200 times that there was no collusion. He was mocked. But it turns out he was right the whole time.
Marc Thiessen writes a twice-weekly column for the Washington Post on foreign and domestic policy. He is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and the former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush. @marcthiessen
FILE- In this Nov. 16, 2018, file photo William Marx points out one of the districts that crossed four counties as an image of the old congressional districts of Pennsylvania are projected on a wall in the classroom where he teaches civics in Pittsburgh. In Pennsylvania, the Democratic-majority state Supreme Court redrew the congressional map for the 2018 elections after striking down the previous Republican-drawn version as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. Read more
Last January, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the states congressional map, ruling that it clearly, plainly and palpably violates the Constitution of the Commonwealth. After the Republican-controlled legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf failed to agree on a map, the state court stepped in with a new map that, for the first time in decades, created fairer congressional districts. Under the former map, Republicans held 13 seats to Democrats six, despite President Trump only carrying Pennsylvania by a slim margin. Under the fair map, Republicans and Democrats now each hold nine seats.
Several plaintiffs in the case are members of my organization, Common Cause Pennsylvania. Our job is to defend Pennsylvanians rights to ensure every voice is heard, every vote is counted, and every vote is protected. Taking this map to court to get a fair outcome shouldnt have been necessary.
We need real solutions to guard against corrosive attacks from partisan actors who want to protect their incumbencies at the expense of everyday voters. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the For the People Act (H.R. 1), a bold, comprehensive bill designed to create a democracy thats open to all Americans. Im thrilled that Pennsylvanias House Democrats all supported the bill. Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey should join them and support the Senate companion bill, because our democracy works best when everyone can participate fully.
READ MORE on Pennsylvania and gerrymandering
Millions of voters around the country cast ballots in gerrymandered districts in 2018. And, while Pennsylvanians voted under a fair map, voters must be assured the map stays fair. The For the People Act requires all states to adopt independent redistricting commissions to draw congressional districts, ending partisan gerrymandering and make sure voters get to pick their representatives not the other way around. This provision is critical to ensure our map stays fair and to ensure other states maps are fair.
The bill also includes important reforms missing in the Commonwealth necessary to make sure voters have unfettered access to the ballot box. The bill requires our election officials to create an automatic voter registration system to automatically register eligible citizens with data from government sources, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, eliminating the need to register by an arbitrary deadline, a system our neighbor New Jersey implemented last year. It also allows for same-day voter registration, ensuring that no one is turned away because they couldnt get registered before Election Day.
The For the People Act also includes less championed reforms that are no less essential to protecting our democracy. The bill mandates that states use individual, voter-verified paper ballots, instead of paperless electronic voting machines. Without a paper record that voters can review and that election officials can use to check the totals, voters cant be sure their vote is accurately logged.
READ MORE: Pennsylvania, Polarized: How a blue wave and red response deepened the states political divisions
Pennsylvania was one of 13 states in 2018 that still used machines that dont have printed ballots or paper-based backups . And, our voting machines are rapidly aging, making them less secure and more likely to fail on Election Day. Last April, Gov. Wolf gave the Commonwealth a 2020 deadline to switch to machines that leave a paper trail. Common Cause has been working to make sure every county in the Commonwealth has adequate funding for purchasing new technology to make sure our voting systems are secure. The For the People Act would provide grants to state and local governments for election security-related activities, including new machines.
These are just a few of the reforms the For the People Act includes to make sure every single voter has his or her voice heard. Our democracy suffers when we allow politicians to choose their voters. Passing these reforms allows us fix our broken political system and focus on some of the most pressing challenges we face as a society.
READ MORE: Phillys new voting machines: A Q&A guide to the process, the controversy, and why it matters
The For the People Act will help us build a 21st century democracy that works for everyone, ensuring that every eligible voter can cast a ballot free from barriers and intimidation, end the dominance of big money in politics, and make sure our politicians are working for the people, not big donors or special interests. I urge Pennsylvanians to call our senators and demand they support the For the People Act.
Micah Sims is executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. Trump said the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's full report "wouldn't bother me at all" as congressional Democrats demanded that the Justice Department hand it over quickly. Trump's remarks came as Democrats planned to huddle behind closed doors Monday evening to figure out how to move forward with their own investigations on obstruction of justice and Russian collusion.. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Read more
So, President Donald Trumps holding a rally in Michigan on Thursday. The start of a Total Vindication Tour that just might come to Pennsylvania?
Michigan makes sense. As does Pennsylvania. Both gave Trump narrow 2016 wins critical to his election. Both are key to his reelection odds.
And total vindication whether you believe it or not, whether it holds or not is the message of the moment. Maybe even the 2020 cycle.
To say Republican leaders here are pumped by results of special counsel Robert Muellers nearly two-year probe no collusion, insufficient evidence of obstruction of justice is to understate their elation.
The response Im getting from the field is: Were feeling great, says state GOP Chairman Val DiGiorgio.
It fires up the base, lights up fundraising, and plays into Trumps narrative that hes under constant attack by elements of a deep state out to protect the status quo.
I hope" for a victory tour, DiGiorgio says, I want the president in Pennsylvania as much as possible. Id love to have him in the southwest, where theres a special state Senate election April 2.
This is for the seat of former State Sen. Guy Reschenthaler, south and west of Pittsburgh. Reschenthaler, a Republican, was elected to Congress last November.
The race features Republican D. Raja, a tech firm founder and Allegheny County GOP chairman, and Democrat Pam Iovino, who spent 23 years in the Navy prior to serving as assistant secretary of veterans affairs.
There are three other special elections scheduled to coincide with the May 21 Municipal Primary Election.
One is for an open seat in the 12th Congressional District, covering more than a dozen counties in central and north-central Pennsylvania.
It was held by former GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, who resigned in January for a job in the private sector. The candidates are Penn State assistant prof Marc Friedenberg, a Democrat who has run before, and State Rep. Fred Keller (R., Union).
And there are two more special state Senate elections for seats in south-central and western Pennsylvania.
DiGiorgio expects Muellers findings to be a big positive for Republicans now and in 2020. And he says if the Dem-controlled House presses to reinvestigate Trump on issues covered by Mueller, Democrats will pay for it at the polls.
Democratic leaders, no surprise, dont see it that way.
I cant believe they feel they need a victory lap because they were not found guilty of colluding with Russia, says Democratic state party chief Nancy Patton Mills.
She concedes current optics are a plus for Trump, but she isnt buying a carryover effect in upcoming special elections or in 2020. And she points to significant Democratic gains in 2018 for Congress and both state legislative chambers (though both remain GOP-controlled).
We ran our races one district at a time. Not against Trump, she says. Republicans try to nationalize races. We stress each district and the state. And for 2020, well still talk about what concerns Pennsylvanians. Thats going to make a difference.
Other Democrats discount the Mueller effect due to the here-then-gone nature of todays politics.
State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa of Pittsburgh, for example, says thats why Muellers findings wont have a major impact on state voters.
I just think the presidents actions and activities will continue to be as objectionable as they have been, says Costa, The way he treats folks, his recent treatment of [the late] John McCain. Those are things people remember.
But Republican consultant Christopher Nicholas says one reason Mueller is immediate good news for Republicans is that special elections not held in conjunction with regularly scheduled elections, such as the April 2 contest, dont draw turnout. Mueller, in this case, might change that in favor of the GOP.
There are, youll recall, other issues facing Trump. Investigations into his finances, his business, and that pesky stuff about hush money to two women to cover up alleged extramarital affairs. And, of course, the full contents of Muellers report remain unseen.
Still, no denying Trumps in a good place.
I hope it gets Republicans excited, says Nicholas, Question is, is this a sustained boost or just a quick sugar high? And does the president start another imbroglio?
At this point, the sole certainty? The answer to that last thing is yes. But plural.
Officer Tommy Gibbons of the Philadelphia Highway Patrol on his Harley-Davidson in 1970. He became a journalist after he was critically wounded in a 1970 ambush. A new Harley will be presented to the Highway Patrol in his name. Read more
Duty first.
A ceremony scheduled for Tuesday at which a gleaming, loaded Harley-Davidson was to be presented to the Philadelphia Highway Patrol was postponed when the elite unit was reassigned to escort the funeral procession for firefighter Michael Bernstein, who died last Wednesday while on duty.
The motorcycle was to have been presented in memory of Thomas J. Gibbons Jr., who served four years in Highway Patrol until he was critically wounded in a 1970 ambush.
Physically unable to return to active duty, in 1972 Tommy went to the Evening Bulletin as a police reporter. The Inquirer lured him away in November 1981, two months before the Bulletin folded.
By the time Tommy retired in 2005, he was one of the most popular journalists in the city, loved by colleagues and competitors alike. He was unfailingly friendly to everyone, and dressed better than anyone.
He enjoyed his career as a reporter, but nothing meant more to him than his years in the Highway Patrol, says his widow, Carol. They had been married 47 years when Tommy died of brain cancer a year ago.
Tommys father, Thomas J. Gibbons Sr., was a cop who became police commissioner in 1952. There was little doubt Tommy would become a cop, although his close friend Walt Hunter, the retired CBS3 investigative reporter, says Tommy had a secret yen to be a firefighter.
Carol and Tommy met on a Friday night 50 years ago at the Shack on Roosevelt Boulevard. He approached her and said, Dont our plaids match? He was wearing a glen plaid sportcoat and she was wearing a glen plaid dress.
It was a good line, Carol tells me. A handsome 6-footer, Tommy looked good in glen plaid, but even better in his polished Highway Patrol boots, breeches, and white helmet.
Tommy was a great cop and it was the sorriest day of his life when he had to step down, says Maureen Rush, president of the Philadelphia Police Foundation, which pitched in with Tommys family and friends to raise the $20,300 for the Harley that will carry saddlebags with Tommys name.
Rush is now superintendent of police at the University of Pennsylvania but met Tommy after she as a rookie Philadelphia police officer got into a face-to-face showdown with an armed robber.
By then at the Bulletin, Tommy wrote the story as a Mexican standoff.
When the Harley is presented, Tommy will be doing an Irish jig in heaven, says Rush.
Because I was Daily News and he was Inquirer, I knew Tommy mostly by byline and reputation, until one day in 1983 in the Temple University faculty lounge.
Going into Christmas break, the school threw a wine and cheese cocktail party for the adjunct faculty. It was nice enough, and as it began to dissipate, Tommy said: Hey, pal, you want to have a pop and shoot some pool?
Pal was his favorite salutation, and pop meant a real drink, not wine.
He didnt like to miss a party and was the last one to leave, says Carol.
For the next two hours in the faculty lounge, we talked, drank, and shot pool. Before long, neither of us could sink a ball. A friendship was born.
On the day Tommy retired after 24 years with The Inquirer, he was escorted into the newsroom by then-Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, because the cops first had a sendoff for him at Police Headquarters, the Roundhouse.
Why the escort by Johnson?
We rode right next to each other on the [Highway Patrol] drill team for three or four years, Johnson tells me. Tommy was an outstanding officer, Johnson says, and a reporter who stuck to the facts.
Another fact-based reporter, two-time Pulitzer winner Bill Marimow, worked alongside his friend Tommy before becoming his boss at The Inquirer. When five Dallas police officers were ambushed in 2016, Marimow asked Tommy if he would write about his own near-death experience 46 years earlier.
Although hed been retired from The Inquirer by then for more than a decade, Tom as always did what was required, recalls Marimow. Within a few hours, he had sent us a dramatic, seamless, and poignant account of how he was nearly killed during a car stop in West Philadelphia.
Tommys byline appeared on Page One. Not for the first time, but for the last time.
Ill be there, Pal, when that Harley is presented to the Highway Patrol.
Protesters and Logan neighborhood residents opposed to plans by Arizona-based VisionQuest to house 60 undocumented immigrant children here gather outside the company's property on Wednesday. Speaking in front of the group are Erika Almiron, executive director of Juntos (left), and Josh Glenn (right) co-founder of the Youth Art and Self-Empowerment Project. Read more
About 40 people gathered outside the VisionQuest property in the city's Logan neighborhood on Wednesday, loudly stating their opposition to the agency's plan to house 60 undocumented immigrant children there.
The "Immigrants Are Not for Sale" rally, organized by the Juntos advocacy group, drew leaders from the city teachers union, justice groups, and neighborhood organizations. All said they wanted children to be safe and cared for and did not believe that would happen in a shelter run by the Arizona-based agency.
"VisionQuest has no place in Philadelphia," said Erika Almiron, executive director of Juntos. "Unaccompanied minors need support, not jail."
Efforts to contact the CEO of VisionQuest, a youth-services agency that operates in six states, were unsuccessful Wednesday.
The agency says it will provide a comfortable, dormitory-like setting for the children, who arrived alone at the U.S.-Mexico border. The youths would come here from other shelters across the United States.
For years, thousands of "unaccompanied minors" have approached the border as they flee violence and poverty in their homelands of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico.
The government has attempted to place children with family members already living in the United States, but many of the youths have no relations here.
VisionQuest plans to house the children, all boys ages 12 to 17, at its leased property in the Logan Plaza complex on Old York Road. The minors will receive legal services, counseling, and other therapies as needed, the company said, while officials seek to find adult sponsors who might serve as foster parents.
VisionQuest said it ensures that the children in its care are safe, that families are respected and communities protected. The agency is rooted in American Indian culture, it says on its website, where a traditional "vision quest" marks the transition from child to adult.
"The people of Logan," said civic association leader Charlene Samuels, "will not have it."
She and others who gathered on Wednesday said they want VisionQuest to stay away, that children need love and homes, not large shelters.
"We should be insulted that they think they can come here and make money off of kids," said Sean Damon, organizing director of the Amistad Law Project, a Philadelphia-based human-rights advocate.
In June, immigrant children walked in a line outside the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children, a former Job Corps site that now houses them in Homestead, Fla. Read more
An Arizona-based youth-services agency is planning to house 60 immigrant children, all of whom arrived alone at the U.S. border with Mexico, in a property it's now preparing in North Philadelphia.
For two days, talk that the city would be the site of a shelter for children caught up in the nation's immigration crisis ricocheted through local migrant and youth agencies upsetting some who questioned why a sanctuary city like Philadelphia should accept the confinement of immigrant children within its boundaries.
In a phone interview Wednesday, VisionQuest CEO Peter Ranalli confirmed that his agency has signed a contract with the federal government to house the children, all boys, ages 12 to 17, in a facility in the Logan neighborhood, just south of Einstein Medical Center. The children would come here from other shelters, located in places around the United States, he said.
City officials weren't pleased.
"This is highly disturbing news and we are still investigating the facts," said Mike Dunn, a spokesperson for Mayor Kenney. "But assuming the currently known facts are true, the city is confident that the proposed use would be illegal under the existing use permits and the city plans to vigorously apply the law."
Ranalli said none of the children who would be housed here are among those separated from their parents at the southern border circumstances that provoked a national outcry and a reversal in Trump administration policy. All are among those youths described as "unaccompanied minors," part of a tide of thousands who have arrived at the border on their own, fleeing violence in their homelands.
Most come from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Beginning under President Barack Obama, the federal government placed those migrant children in closed housing, pending their transfer to relatives such as aunts or uncles who were already living in the United States.
Some youths have no family here. They may be sent to live with unrelated sponsors as they await courtroom immigration proceedings.
The 60 children will arrive in Philadelphia in stages, the first not for at least two months, Ranalli said. All are native Spanish-speakers. None are recent arrivals to the United States.
Immigration agents apprehended about 6,400 unaccompanied children on the nation's Southwest border in May, according to the Pew Research Center. That number was higher than each previous month in 2018, and a big increase over the 1,473 who were apprehended in May 2017, Pew said. But in June the number of unaccompanied children dropped to about 5,100.
Ranalli said the leased property, located in the Logan Plaza complex on Old York Road, was "not a shelter," and was being transformed into a dormitory-like setting, one that will be comfortable and even homey for the youths.
The minors will receive legal services, developmental aid, counseling, and other therapies as needed, he said, as officials seek to find adult sponsors who might serve as foster parents. He said VisionQuest planned to hire about 80 people to work at the site.
None of the children would be allowed to leave the facility without supervision, he said.
"They're really good kids," Ranalli said. "Nobody's going to have a problem with them."
Peter Gottemoller, who directs Bethany Christian Services refugee programs and who has long worked with unaccompanied minors, said the VisionQuest site concerns him.
Minors living in shelters must be able to go outside, to get exercise, and breathe fresh air. That's why similar facilities often are deliberately located in former school buildings or other places with substantial, surrounding grounds.
"Them being cooped up in a building doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me," Gottemoller said. "You've got teenagers who need the outlet of being able to get out and run around."
Ranalli said the children will have plenty of room. The same space previously housed more than double the number of kids, 125 in all, when VisionQuest ran a juvenile-justice facility there.
The agency operates in six states, including Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, focused on helping youths who have become involved in the court and correctional systems or who are otherwise at risk.
The agency began its work in late 1960s and early 1970s, when founder Bob Burton worked in juvenile corrections facilities. He imagined an alternative after serving as a VISTA volunteer working with the Crow peoples in Montana, according to the agency website.
In 1973 he met an Arizona judge, John Collins of the Pima County Juvenile Court in Tucson, who placed the first six youthful offenders into VisionQuest care. What began as a residential program soon added an outdoor wilderness component. Within three years, about 130 children were in group home and home-based programs in Arizona.
VisionQuest said it ensures that the children in its care are safe, that families are respected and communities protected. The agency remains rooted in American Indian culture, where a traditional "vision quest" marks the transition from child to adult, according to its website.
Pathways to Housing PA, which helps chronically homeless people find decent places to live, has offices in the same Logan Plaza complex as VisionQuest.
President and CEO Christine Simiriglia said that in the last couple of days, word had spread that VisionQuest planned to house immigrant minors there. That was confirmed, she said, when the Pathways staffer who runs the furniture bank told her he had been approached by VisionQuest, which wanted furniture for its new setting.
"I said, 'Tell them I'm sorry we can't help with that,' " Simiriglia said. "We're opposed to this. We don't think the City of Philadelphia, a sanctuary city, should be allowing agencies to warehouse detained children."
Protesters and Logan neighborhood residents opposed to plans by Arizona-based VisionQuest to house 60 undocumented immigrant children gather outside the company's property on Wednesday. Speaking in front of the group are Erika Almiron, executive director of Juntos, and Josh Glenn, co-founder of the Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project. Read more
One child's head crashed through a wall during an altercation with a staffer at the VisionQuest shelter for troubled youths in North Philadelphia.
Another youngster was struck in the face by an adult worker during an argument over a chair. In a separate incident, a youth was choked and slapped by a staff member.
But physical violence toward children wasn't the only problem at the Arizona-based company's facility, according to Pennsylvania state inspection reports.
Two staffers repeatedly cursed at the children, telling them, "You're nothing," and promising to "make life a living hell," inspectors wrote.
Some workers didn't have adequate training. And the place was dirty.
The shelter closed in late 2017.
Now VisionQuest is back in Philadelphia, intending to use the same Logan neighborhood building to house 60 undocumented immigrant children, all boys ages 12 to 17, who arrived alone at the nation's southern border. They'll come here from shelters around the country, among the thousands of "unaccompanied minors" who fled violence and poverty in their homelands of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico.
VisionQuest CEO Peter Ranalli said the new program will be better run, better staffed, and much better financed, through a contract with the federal government. As for its previous shelter at the site, he said, complaints of abuse occur at virtually all juvenile-justice centers, and not all those lodged against VisionQuest workers were true.
"Did we have staff do inappropriate things?" Ranalli said. "When you have 130 staff, somebody is going to do something inappropriate."
At least three VisionQuest employees were fired between 2011 and 2017 after hitting or physically handling children, state records show.
VisionQuest had contracted with the city to provide protective care to teenagers awaiting court adjudication and placement, and other at-risk youths needing short-term supervision. The work could be difficult. At one point in 2013, for instance, 40 percent of the children at the shelter were mentally ill, and 85 percent had been judged delinquent.
The first group of migrant children won't arrive for at least two months, during which VisionQuest says it will remake the Logan Plaza domain into comfortable, dormitory-style housing. It plans to try to find foster families for the children. Barring that, the youths could be housed here indefinitely.
The federal government's treatment of migrant children has become an explosive issue.
In the "sanctuary city" of Philadelphia, a surge of opposition brought about 40 protesters to the VisionQuest property at 5201 Old York Rd. on Wednesday. They said immigrant minors need care and love, not group housing.
"VisionQuest has no place in Philadelphia," said Erika Almiron, executive director of Juntos, the advocacy group that organized the demonstration.
Kenney administration officials called VisionQuest's plan "disturbing," and City Councilwoman Helen Gym said the agency "seeks to profit off the misery and terror of children."
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan, who spoke at the rally, said his 11,000-member union will not "stand by and watch VisionQuest enter our city and perpetuate a profoundly shameful practice." If union members need to march outside VisionQuest, he said, they'll do it.
Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker, whose district contains the VisionQuest site, wants to hear from neighbors in the area, some of whom have already expressed their concern, her spokesperson said.
Founded in Arizona in 1973, VisionQuest operates in six states, focused on helping youths in the court and correctional systems.
In February 2011, VisionQuest was licensed to run its New Directions Shelter in Logan, two blocks south of Einstein Medical Center. It added children in phases, toward an approved limit of 128 boys and girls.
The youths got meals and schooling, along with group therapy sessions, anger-management counseling, and drug and alcohol therapies, records say. They were assigned four to a room.
Inspectors from the Department of Human Services cited the first deficiencies six months later: A lack of supervision enabled two youths to leave the premises. Boys and girls complained they weren't permitted additional portions of food. Dirt and food droppings littered the stove area, and overall maintenance was poor.
VisionQuest executives filed a plan to make fixes and were allowed to continue operating.
Inspectors documented a physical altercation on July 27, 2012. At 11 p.m., a staffer heard a youth making noises while other children in the room were trying to sleep. Told by an employee to be quiet, the person refused, "but remained harmless to self or others," the inspection report stated.
The staffer put the child in a restraint and took him out of the room, the young person kicking a dent in the wall as he resisted.
VisionQuest fired the staff member, records show.
In April 2013, investigators wrote that two staff members "do not treat the children that live at the facility with fairness, dignity and respect." Those staffers allegedly swore at the youths, and said, "You're going to be nothing in life."
Both workers received written admonishments and warnings that further violations could get them fired, records show.
The state reports do not identify staff members or children by name, age or sex. They provide a summary of events and findings, and in some cases do not specify the date of an altercation or deficiency.
In August 2013, inspectors found that eight staffers had not been certified in CPR and first aid. Fire drills were an issue. VisionQuest needed to be able to evacuate all children within 2 minutes. Instead, it was taking three, four, or five minutes, and in one drill, nine minutes.
In 2014 and 2015, a staffer was found to be working without a child-abuse clearance. Three had no CPR or first aid training, and five had no medical proof that they were free of serious communicable diseases, required when working around children or food.
An August 2016 summary outlined the episode in which a staff member choked and hit a child. The cause of the violence was not stated, but an examination found scratches on the left and right sides of the youth's neck. The employee was suspended immediately and soon fired.
The cleanliness of the shelter suffered through 2016: shower heads covered in mildew, a water fountain clogged with rusty brown water, mouse droppings in cafeteria heaters. Floors of community lunch areas and youth bathrooms were corroded with a dirty brown substance, a report stated.
"The facility," VisionQuest wrote in response, "is under continuous physical renovation and improvement."
In a November 2016 summary, signed in February 2017, inspectors described the episode when a child's head went through a wall. It occurred in what was called the Quiet Room, when a staff member with no training in restrictive procedures improperly attempted to restrain the child, they wrote.
A May 2017 summary recounted how, after a child and a staffer got into an argument over a chair, the adult struck the youth in the face. The staffer was fired the same night.
In October 2017, the state approved VisionQuest for another year of operation, but the center never made it that far.
VisionQuest's Ranalli said his agency closed the shelter after the city declined to pay more for the program. City officials said that while they did deny a rate increase, they ended the contract because of poor oversight of the children and bad building conditions.
"When it is clear that a service is not meeting our standards, we close intake" of children, said Heather Keafer, spokesperson for the city Department of Human Services. "We have closed sites that we believe do not serve the best interest of our youth."
Staff writers Dylan Purcell and Nathaniel Lash contributed to this article.
PENN Many in Chester County are disappointed and angry over this weeks announcement by Tower Health that its deal to sell Jennersville and Brandywine hospitals to Canyon Atlantic Partners had fallen through. Were going to respond to this like we would anything else, said Gary Vinnacombe, deputy chief of EMS from Union Fire Company, []
MEC Poker Open and bwin Poker Join Forces in Belgium
March 26, 2019 Jason Glatzer
On March 26, bwin and MEC Pokerevents announced a sponsorship agreement for the MEC Poker Open events hosted at the Casino de Spa in Spa, Belgium.
The MEC Poker Open is a newly founded Belgian-based poker tour designed for recreational poker players that enjoy low buy-in live tournaments in high-quality settings with its first event held last October. The inaugural event caught bwin's attention when it was sold out in record time.
The partnership will kick in for the next stop on the tour at Casino de Spa on April 4-7. The highlight of the festival is the 175 Main Event featuring three opening flights April 4-6. The final day on April 7 will be played on a live stream on bwin Poker's website.
bwin: "Offering a slightly lower buy-in tier will be welcomed by our players for either the fun experience or as an early exposure to the world of live poker."
In addition, the schedule features five side events with buy-ins ranging from 35 to 440 alongside cash games with stakes starting at 1/1.
Casino Spa is one of the oldest casinos in Europe. It was established in 1763 with its current face dating back over 100 years when it was rebuilt in 1918.
The newly inked partnership with bwin includes online promotions, online events, and qualifiers to future MEC Poker Open events for bwin Poker players. The first satellite with an $11 buy-in will take place on Sunday, March 31 at 8:15 p.m. CET where three seats are guaranteed to April's MEC Poker Open. Online qualifiers for future MEC Poker Open stops will be held exclusively at bwin Poker.
Both bwin poker and The MEC Poker Open are thrilled to join forces in Belgium.
"Our new collaboration with the MEC Poker Open is a unique one and a recognition of how successful we believe the MEC Poker Open events will be," said bwin Poker's Marketing Manager Robin van den Heuvel. "MEC Poker Open complements our already strong live offering supported by partypoker LIVE. Offering a slightly lower buy-in tier will be welcomed by our players for either the fun experience or as an early exposure to the world of live poker."
"Partnering up with Bwin marks a new chapter for MEC Poker Open and promises many extras that our players will enjoy for sure," MEC Poker Open Founder Mathijs Jonkers said. "With the MEC Poker Open, we hope to give the players a great poker event in a good and player friendly atmosphere. We are proud and excited to collaborate with one of the most recognized and trusted brands within the industry."
* Lead image courtesy of Casino de Spa.
Follow the APPT Korea Action Live Here at PokerNews
March 25, 2019 Matthew Pitt
PokerStars Live is heading to Asia from April 5 for the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Korea festival and PokerNews will be on the tournament floor providing you with coverage of the Main Event, High Roller and Super High Roller tournaments.
APPT Korea returns to Paradise City in Incheon, South Korea from April 5-14 where five huge events are scheduled. It is the second time in as many years that Paradise City has hosted the festival with all prior APPT Korea events taking place at the Paradise Walker-Hill Casino in Seoul.
Last years APPT Korea Main Event saw Malaysias Christopher Soyza outlast a field of 449 entrants to get his hands on KRW158,700,000 (approx. $149,000).
APPT Korea Schedule
APPT KickOff: April 5-6, 2019 KRW350,000 buy-in, KRW 50,000,000 Guaranteed
APPT National: April 7-8, 2019 KRW 700,000 buy-in, KRW 80,000,000 Guaranteed
APPT Super High Roller: April 10, 2019 KRW 10,000,000 buy-in
APPT Main Event: April 11-14, 2019 - KRW 1,800,000 buy-in - KRW 300,000,000 Guaranteed
APPT High Roller: April 13-14, 2019 - KRW 5,000,000 buy-in
PokerNews Live Reporting team will bring you live and exclusive updates from three of the scheduled events taking place at Paradise City in Incheon. Follow all of the action from the Super High Roller on April 10, the APPT Korea Main Event from April 11-14 and the High Roller from April 13-14.
Qualify to the APPT Korea Online at PokerStars
It could be you who the PokerNews updates are covering if you manage to qualify for the APPT Korea Main Event online at PokerStars. Satellites start at just $1.10 and feed into a $109 buy-in 2019 APPT Korea Qualifier.
If you want to try to qualify for APPT Korea but dont have a PokerStars account, follow these simple instructions and you will be up and running in next to no time.
Click here to open PokerStars in a new tab
Sign up for a free account
Enter the marketing code " PNEWS "
" Use the code " STARS600 " at your first deposit
" at your first deposit Register for the event once your ticket is credited
Making your first deposit at PokerStars makes you eligible for a 100 percent up to $600 bonus, plus you can play in three PokerNews-exclusive $2,000 freerolls and three $2.20 buy-in PKO tournaments where PokerStars adds $2,000 to each prize pool. Learn more here.
The Stars Group owns a majority shareholding at iBus Media.
PokerStars EPT Sochi: Ustimov Leads Day 1B, Sapozhnikov Builds Biggest Day 1C Stack
March 26, 2019 Lisa Yiasemides Will Shillibier
On Monday, both starting flights Day 1B and Day 1C of the PokerStars EPT Sochi were played at Casino Sochi.
Viktor Ustimov Tops EPT Sochi Main Event Day 1b Field
In stark contrast to the EPT Sochi Main Event Day 1A starting flight, it was a much more competitive affair when it came to the end-of-day chip leader on Day 1B. Several players battled it out over the closing exchanges, but eventually, it was Viktor Ustimov who bagged the chip lead with 305,700 after a field of 359 was whittled down to 137.
Ustimov has over $700,000 in lifetime earnings, with several big scores and deep runs coming from Casino Sochi. Last year he followed up a runner-up finish in the EPT National for 4,745,000 ($82,191) with a 42nd place run in the EPT Sochi Main Event.
In September last year, he also final-tabled the EPT Open Sochi High Roller, finishing fourth for a further 2,321,160 ($35,445).
Viktor Ustimov
Other big stacks advancing include Serafim Kovalevsky (233,900), Leonid Semenyuk (195,200), Aleksey Falko (192,900) and EPT favourite Yuriy Guliy (191,300).
Also advancing is last year's EPT Main Event runner-up Viktor Shegay who bagged 41,800. He will be joined by 2018 EPT National Sochi champion Matous Houzvicek (118,000) and the 2019 EPT National Sochi champion Yury Masliankou (28,300) along with 2018 EPT Open Sochi Main Event final tablist Nikolay Fal and Leonid Bilokur (64,200).
Aditya Sushant had started the day in blistering form, moving up to around 80,000 within a blink of an eye. However, a chastening last two levels knocked him down and will have to settle for 53,300 when play resumes on Day 2.
Several players had even worse luck and were eliminated, meaning they would have to make it through Day 1C. They include defending champion Arseniy Karmatskiy who fired two bullets with no success. Also failing to advance from Day 1B were Andrey Andreev, Boris Mondrus, Maksim Panyak, Sarkis Karabadzhakyan, Ezequiel Waigel, and Andrey Guliy.
Top 5 EPT Sochi Main Event Day 1B Chip Counts
Position Player Country Chip Count 1 Viktor Ustimov Russia 307,500 2 Serafim Kovalevsky Russia 233,900 3 Leonid Semenyuk Russia 195,200 4 Sihao Zhang Luxembourg 194,200 5 Aleksey Falko Belarus 192,900
Sapozhnikov Finishes Top of the Counts as Day 1c of the Main Event Drew to a Close
The third and final starting flight of the Main Event concluded, and it was Denis Sapozhnikov who had the most productive day on 1C. His impressive run began with a bit of good fortune when Sapozhnikov got it in with jack-nine suited on a nine-high flop against Mikhail Galitskiy's pocket-queens. He hit a backdoor straight by the river, and the pot saw him take the chip lead, sending Galitskiy to the rail in the process. This all happened in Level 4, and for the next six levels, he didn't relinquish the lead once.
Denis Sapozhnikov
There were 82 entries in total and by the end, half were still standing when level ten reached its conclusion. The other success stories of the night were Sergey Chaban (163,000) who finished in second, Yang Wang (153,300) in third, Andrey Andreev (124,300) in fourth, and Garik Tamasyan (124,300) bagged the fifth largest stack.
There were several other familiar faces who took to the felt and made it through to Day 2. Reigning Champion Arsenii Karmatckii (78,100) will return on Day 2 to continue defending his title. He will face stiff competition though from Sergey Baburin (63,700), Konstantin Puchkov (60,800), Volodymyr Drokin (56,800), Jean Souprayenmestry (49,500), and Maxim Panyak (33,800).
It wasn't good news for all the notables who took a seat today. Sedrak Bagdasaryan got very close but busted in the last hand of the night. Jia Tang, Ezequiel Waigel, Ariel Malnik, Mikhail Kovalyuk, Gor Kazaryan, Bernard Boutboul and Timur Azizov were some other casualties. It may not be the last we have seen of any of them though as late registration closes when Day 2 gets underway. That gives any hopefuls one last shot if they so choose.
Top 5 EPT Sochi Main Event Day 1C Chip Counts
Position Player Country Chip Count 1 Denis Sapozhnikov Russia 207,700 2 Sergey Chaban Russia 163,000 3 Yang Wang China 153,300 4 Andrey Andreev Russia 124,300 5 Garik Tamasyan Armenia 124,300
EPT Sochi Live Reporting The total number of players who have advanced is 306 plus any last minute registrations. The man to catch is Aleksandr Denisov who is the overall chip leader with a monstrous 498,600 chip stack. Play resumes at Level 11, with blinds at 800/1600 and a big blind ante of 1600. As always PokerNews will be live at Casino Sochi to bring all the latest news from the Main Event from start to finish. Check out the PokerNews Live Reporting with PokerStars EPT Sochi Main Event live updates.
1.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard
Former Attorney General Eric Holder exposed the holes in Trumps fake total exoneration claim and explained why Mueller must testify before Congress.
Holder was asked what did it mean to him that Barr didnt quote a single full paragraph from the Mueller report.
He answered, Its a little troublesome because you look at the letter and youre trying to figure how much of this is Barr, how much of this is Mueller, how much of this is based on the Mueller findings. I think it all points to the fact that at the end of the day, Congress, the public are going to have to get access to the Mueller report. And also, I think here from both Bob Mueller and from attorney general Barr.
Holder also explained that far from exonerating Trump, Mueller was working within the confines of the DOJ position that a sitting president cant be indicted, I think that what Bob Mueller was doing there was presenting something as best he thought he should do under the obligations that I think he faced. I think he was taking into account the justice department regulation that says you cannot indict a sitting president. And I think that really changed the way in which Bob Mueller conducted himself, conducted his probe. I mean, Ive known Bob Mueller for 30 years.
Video:
Eric Holder, "You look at the letter and youre trying to figure how much of this is Barr, how much of this is Mueller, how much of this is based on the Mueller findings." https://t.co/9hN2g8gbUR pic.twitter.com/vOvhURQy6p PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) March 25, 2019
Mueller Didnt Exonerate Trump. Barr Did
The broader point that can be taken away from Attorney General Holders comments is that Robert Mueller didnt exonerate Trump. Trumps attorney general did. Everything that Barr and the White House has released has been designed to fool the public into a false conclusion. Trump is hiding behind Barr, who isnt going to release the Mueller report.
It took less than a day to reveal that Trumps exoneration claims are fake.
Trump exonerated himself, and we wont know what Robert Mueller found until the report is released and he testifies before Congress.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
1.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard
Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr on Monday demanding Robert Muellers full report by Tuesday, April 2.
According to NBC News, Six Democratic committee chairs in the House sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr Monday requesting that he submit the full report from special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation to Congress by next Tuesday, April 2.
The Democratic leaders stated the obvious and said that Barrs four-page PR summary of Muellers report is not sufficient for Congress.
More from NBC News:
The top House Democrats argued that the provision of the report in complete and unredacted form and the underlying evidence and materials would be fully consistent with the Justice Departments practice and precedent with Congress. To the extent that you believe applicable law limits your ability to comply, we urge you to begin the process of consultation with us immediately in order to establish shared parameters for resolving those issues without delay, they wrote. The letter is signed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md., House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., and House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.
Read the full letter here
Forget the Barr report. We need the Mueller report.
Attorney General William Barrs hastily-crafted summary released on Sunday has raised far more questions than it has answered.
So far, Barrs political document seems to have served just one purpose: give the Trump administration a jumpstart on the PR war that is likely to be set off by the release of the actual Mueller report, which has not yet been released.
Ultimately, House Democrats are right to demand a swift release of Muellers report, as well as the underlying evidence that led to his conclusions. The longer the Barr summary circulates, the more misled the American people will be about the actual facts.
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked an attempt to release the report. The Democrats must continue to fight back until the special counsel findings are released in full.
The American people deserve the Mueller report, not the Barr report.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter
3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard
Rachel Maddow tore into Donald Trumps attorney general, William Barr, on Monday for breaking historical precedent in order to clear his boss of wrongdoing.
The MSNBC host pointed to the Watergate era, when special prosecutor Leon Jaworski produced a report similar laying out all the facts related to Richard Nixons potential obstruction of justice.
In 1974, as Maddow noted, the report was passed along to the House Judiciary Commitee, which decided what to do based on the facts and evidence presented.
On Sunday, William Barr broke that norm and instead issued a four-page letter in which he made the decision himself that Trump did not obstruct justice and he did it without presenting any underlying facts.
Barr could have just passed that information (from the Mueller report) onto the Judiciary Committee for them to decide what to do with it, following in Jaworskis footsteps in the handling of the Watergate road map in 1974, Maddow said. But instead, somewhat inexplicably, he decided to take it upon himself to declare definitively there is no crime there.
Video:
Rachel Maddow says William Barr handled the Mueller report much differently than a similar report was handled during the Watergate era. #ctl #p2 #maddow pic.twitter.com/Y4Lude8k7k PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) March 26, 2019
Maddow said:
When that exact sort of document was handed over to the Judiciary Committee in the House by Leon Jaworski in the Watergate grand jury in 1974, the Judiciary Committee in 1974 looked at that factual record of information they had obtained from the grand jury and the special prosecutor and they decided, in fact, that based on that information they would draw up impeachment proceedings against Nixon primarily for obstruction of justice. This time, this factual record, this description of the presidents behavior, it didnt go over to the House Judiciary Committee. Instead, they got a letter, because the actual information went instead to the presidents newly appointed attorney general who has been on the job for a month and who got the job after submitting to the White House an unsolicited 19-page memo which claimed that the president inherently cant obstruct justice and Robert Mueller cant even investigate him for that. Whatever information Attorney General William Barr just received from Robert Mueller about the presidents behavior, as it pertains to potential criminal obstruction of justice, Barr could have just passed that information onto the Judiciary Committee for them to decide what to do with it, following in Jaworskis footsteps in the handling of the Watergate road map in 1974. But instead, somewhat inexplicably, he decided to take it upon himself to declare definitively, yeah, you know, I looked at all that stuff and I can tell you there is no crime there. Its fine. At which point, whatever you think about the quoted conclusions about the other half of Robert Muellers report, on this obstruction stuff, its like, what? Where did this come from? I mean, on what grounds are you saying that you have concluded there is no crime here? What facts did you consider about the presidents behavior when arriving at that conclusion?
William Barrs summary is just political noise
William Barrs four-page summary he released on Sunday 48 hours after Robert Mueller submitted his final report was a political document. It should be treated as such.
As Maddow noted on Monday, the important facts will be found in the Mueller report, which nobody outside of the highest ranking officials in the Justice Department has seen yet.
Congress and the American people should ignore Barrs political flackery and instead let the facts in the Mueller report guide their decisions on what to do next.
Its another reason why the full special counsel report should be released to Congress and the public immediately.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter
4.5k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) just blocked a measure by Sen. Chuck Schumer to make the Mueller report public.
Steven Dennis reported:
"The report should be made public" Schumer
McConnell: Barr should have time to decide what to make public
Schumer: Resolution doesn't specify a timeframe
Schumer's resolution was nonbinding Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) March 25, 2019
If the report is so great for Trump, why did McConnell block this measure?
The Republican cover story on the Mueller report is falling apart. There are obvious cracks appearing in the Trump PR scam of total exoneration. If the report is so great for Trump and the Republican Party, why wont they support releasing it to the public? If the report contains everything that Trump and the White House claim it does, Mitch McConnell should have never blocked the resolution and the vote should have been unanimous in support its release.
The reality of the information that is slowly trickling out does not match what Trump and Barr are selling. Mueller wrote his report with the full expectation that Congress would get it. Muellers report is intended not to charge Trump with a crime, but to provide investigative evidence and the facts.
The Trump administration and their Republican Senate enablers are hiding the Mueller report because they dont want Democrats in the House and the American people to read the special counsels findings.
Mitch McConnel is helping Trump to hide the Mueller report because what it contains could lead to Republican defeat in 2020.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
While Donald Trump and his allies take a victory lap, even before the full Mueller report has been released, there are signs that Attorney General William Barrs summary of the special counsel findings could be very different than Muellers final conclusions.
In an interview with MSNBCs Ari Melber, former attorney general Eric Holder said he doesnt believe Mueller would have left the decision on obstruction to Barr, who was recently appointed by the president.
It seems hard for me to imagine that Bob Mueller asked Bill Barr to do this, Holder said. That would be Bob Mueller shifting the responsibility for making the call to the attorney general, and thats just not the way in which Bob Mueller is wound.
Former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi went further to say that he believes Muellers final report could be very different from Barrs PR stunt and that the attorney general should have left the unsettles question of obstruction to Congress.
Rossi called Barrs four-page letter released on Sunday tainted.
Video:
Eric Holder and a former federal prosecutor dont believe Robert Mueller wanted William Barr to have the final say on whether Trump obstructed justice. #ctl #p2 pic.twitter.com/dhAuOxoMXl PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) March 25, 2019
This is why we need the full Mueller report
Given the Trump administrations public relations stunt and the controversy surrounding Barrs four-page summary, it is imperative now more than ever that the Mueller report is released in full.
The American people havent been waiting for two years to see a political document cooked up by a Trump appointee in less than 48 hours. They want answers, not spin. So instead of arguing over the contents of the four-page Barr report, its time to see the facts.
Not only do the American people need to read the full report immediately, but Robert Mueller should testify before Congress to clear the air.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter
669 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard
Democratic members of Congress are ready for a fight against the latest move by the U.S. military to make money available for Donald Trumps misguided wall at the Mexican border.
It was announced Monday night by the Pentagon that it will be transferring $1 billion to the Army Corps of Engineers to build barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The move immediately brought an outcry from from Democratic lawmakers who have refused to appropriate money for the wall.
The Pentagon justified the movement of money under Trumps bogus declaration of a national emergency at the southern border. The shift in funds will make possible the construction of 57 miles of what is called pedestrian fencing. It will also allow for road construction and installation of new lighting along a few stretches of the border in both Arizona and Texas.
Ten Democratic U.S. Senators, including Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, voiced their objections to the move by the Pentagon. They wrote a letter saying that the military brass were supposed to seek approval of congressional defense committees before transferring money, but they did not do so.
The letter said:
As a result, we have serious concerns that the Department has allowed political interference and pet projects to come ahead of many near-term, critical readiness issues facing our military.
The $1 billion reprogramming that the Department is implementing without congressional approval constitutes a dollar-for-dollar theft from other readiness needs of our Armed Forces.
The letter was addressed to acting secretary of defense Patrick M. Shanahan and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen.
The new conflict between the Pentagon and Congress has highlighted the continuing tensions between the Trump administration and congressional Democrats.
The administration has pledged to try to make good on Trumps campaign promise of a border wall, and the latest movement of money is an attempt to make that happen.
Earlier this month, Trump had to veto a bill passed by both the House and Senate that nullified his declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border.
Trump is using the emergency declaration to spend more on border barrier funding than Congress has authorized.
The Pentagon said that the $1 billion that was transferred will help block drug-smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States in support of counter-narcotic activities of Federal law enforcement agencies.
677 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard
Attorney General William Barrs summary of the special counsel report does not address key counterintelligence aspects of the investigation into Donald Trumps ties to Russia, according to national security experts quoted by The Atlantic.
Even though Barrs summary addressed the issues of crimes and criminal indictments, it leaves open the question of alleged security and national intelligence violations by the president and his aides.
Immediately after Trump fired the FBI director James Comey, the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation. But at this point its not clear what happened to that probe. After Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel, the direction of the FBIs investigations changed and became focused on obstruction of justice, conspiracy and other crimes.
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe explained the counterintelligence investigation this way:
We were concerned, and we felt like we had credible, articulable facts to indicate that a threat to national security may exist.
The original counterintelligence investigation was directed at determining whether the president was acting as a Russian agent.
Normally, the bureau would investigate, said Jeremy Bash, former chief of staff at the Defense Department and the CIA during the Obama administration, and if criminal matters were involved, theyd ask prosecutors to get involved.
But if it is just a matter of there being a national-security threat, the FBI would report to the director of national intelligence, who would then report to the president. But what if the president is the threat? We dont have a playbook for this.
Trump was seeking lucrative real estate deals in Moscow during the 2016 campaign, which he and his lawyer Michael Cohen lied about. That explains some, but not all, of his unusually strong devotion to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
We still do not understand why President Trump has this affinity for Putin, said former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell. What happened yesterday is Mueller took one possibility off the table that there was a criminal conspiracy. But we still dont know what is going on between these two leaders, and what is driving this relationship.
Barrs summary claims that Mueller determined there was not enough evidence to prove a criminal conspiracy case, but thats a different standard of proof than what a counterintelligence investigation would determine.
You can have a national security threat and still not have the evidence needed to bring criminal charges.
John McLaughlin, a former acting CIA director, clarified this:
Mueller always noted that the term evidence meant something different to intelligence analysts who had to work with a variety of sources of varying reliability, whereas an FBI officer needed something so unassailable as to work in a court prosecution.
That distinction is very important to understanding what evidence Mueller was looking for, but Barr did not address these issues in his summary.
If all we do is provide criminal standards to investigative findings, we are missing the point, said Frank Figliuzzi, the former assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI.
Most counterintelligence cases dont result in criminal prosecution, but are intended to determine whether a foreign power targeted, compromised or recruited the subject of the investigation.
This thing started as a counterintelligence investigation, Figliuzzi said, and it needs to end as a counterintelligence investigation.
The American People Must See the Results of the FBIs Counterintelligence Probe
As I wrote last Sunday:
Most people are not aware that Mueller will issue a second report called the counterintelligence report that cant be kept from either Congress or the public by William Barr or anyone else.
This counterintelligence report will deal only with counterintelligence findings and not whether crimes were committed.
It is this report that may address the question of whether or not there was collusion between Russia and Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.
Unlike a final criminal report, a Mueller counterintelligence report cannot be bottled up. By statute it must be shared with Congress.
The most critical elements of Robert Muellers report and findings will be seen by Congress and the American people. These elements deal with national security and intelligence risks posed by the Trump presidency.
The criminal elements of Muellers investigation were contained in the report that William Barr received on Friday. He might try to keep that report secret, but in fact the criminal aspects of Muellers probe have already been farmed out to other federal prosecutors, including the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
In short, Donald Trumps possible treason and conspiracy against the United States, will soon be known to the American people. And he will soon be paying the price for those crimes.
800 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard
MSNBCs Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski expressed outrage at Donald Trump and his allies today for claiming vindication before special counsel Robert Muellers report had been released to either Congress or the public
The Morning Joe co-hosts made clear that there are some extremely important questions that still must be answered from the 22 month investigation of the Trump campaigns ties to Russia. And they demanded that we be given those answers.
Despite the claims of the president, the short summary of Muellers report by Attorney General William Barr did not in any way vindicate him or let him off the hook for his misdeeds.
At one point during the show Brzezinski said:
The one quote in it that Barr did put forward is that Trump is NOT exonerated in terms of obstruction. If you listen to the White House, and if you listen to Fox News, and if you listen over and over and over again, they are branding this as a full exoneration it is not. Its not even close to an exoneration, it is not an exoneration. Does anybody want to argue that? Its not.
Joe Scarborough then pointed out that the short Barr summary didnt even include any quotes of entire sentences from Muellers report.
Since Robert Mueller said they couldnt exonerate him, and we only get sentence fragments, I think we should do something really radical, Scarborough said. Then he clarified what he meant:
We should wait and read the entire report, because we have read with a letter from the man who applied for his job by sending a letter to Donald Trump saying, I dont think the special counsel should be doing all the terrible things that hes doing to you. Thats not a letter Im going to put a lot of stock in, Im going to wait for the real report.
MSNBC contributor David Ignatius, a Washington Post columnist, added to the discussion by bringing up the point that Donald Trumps actions of lying and attempting to stifle the Russa probe strongly suggested he had done something wrong.
There is the enduring mystery of why, if he was so innocent, he has acted so guilty for two years, Ignatius said. Thats going to take historians to sort out, probably.
We Must See the Entire Mueller Report
This despicable chapter of American history will not end with a short summary written by Trumps hand-picked attorney general. It will only end once Congress and the American people are allowed to see Muellers entire report.
There is no exoneration of Donald Trump for anything, despite the claims of his allies and despite the headlines that have appeared in the media for the past two days.
Donald Trump was elected president with the help of Vladimir Putin and his Russian intelligence operatives. The details of how that happened have not yet come to light, but someday they will. And when that happens we will see the truth of how Donald Trump has sold out his country.
CLICK HERE to watch the Morning Joe video on MSNBC
12.8k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard
Trump went to Capitol Hill and suggested that Barack Obama was behind the Russia investigation and demanded an investigation of the former president.
Here was Trumps exchange with reporters:
Q: Youve accused the people who launched the investigation into your campaign of treasonous acts how high up do you think it went.
Trump: I think it went very high up. I think what happened is a disgrace. I dont believe our country should allow this ever to happen again. This will never happen again. We can never let it ever happen again. It went very high up, and it started fairly low, but with instructions from the high up. This should never happen to a president again. We cant allow that to take place.
Do you think it reached the West Wing of the Obama White House?
Trump: I dont want to say that, but I think you know the answer.
Video:
Trump now wants Obama investigated for his crimes https://t.co/ypJKFZEgRR pic.twitter.com/mJsqTqmUsn PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) March 26, 2019
Trump was calling for an investigation into Obama
Donald Trump is pulling all of the old tricks out of his playbook now. After the lie and refuse to release documents stunt related to the Mueller report, Trump has moved to trying to distract from the Mueller report by calling for an investigation into former President Obama. This is a stunt that Trump used to try to distract from his own problems in the past. Trump has at various times called for investigations into Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Trump clearly still believes that Obama spied on his campaign.
Trump has convinced himself and he is trying to sell the rest of the country on the idea that Obama is the real criminal. Republicans in the Senate arent going to launch an investigation into Obama. Trump is in full cover-up mode, and he is trying to distract the country by calling for a baseless investigation into Obama that isnt fooling anyone.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
1.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate is now saying that if special counsel Robert Mueller had indicted Donald Trump it would have eventually led to civil war.
Gabbard issued a lengthy statement that she posted on Twitter:
I strongly supported Mueller being allowed to complete his investigation and submit his findings. Now that Mueller has found no collusion took place, we need to set aside our partisan interests and recognize that finding the president of the United States not guilty of conspiring with a foreign power to interfere with our elections is a good thing for America.
If the President of the United States had been indicted for conspiring with Russia to interfere with and affect the outcome of our elections it would have precipitated a terribly divisive crisis that could have even led to civil war.
Now we must stand together and move beyond this divisive issue that has taken up enough of the national conversation. Im calling on Congress to protect the integrity of the 2020 elections and all elections by passing my Securing Americas Elections Act, which empowers every state to use voter-verified paper ballots making it impossible for Russia or anyone else to change our election results.
Americans all over the country are asking when our leaders, from every party, are going to put aside partisan politics and work to address the challenges that are threatening American lives and livelihoods.
We have a lot of work to do rebuilding our countrys crumbling infrastructure, ending wasteful regime change wars, forging a clean energy future, ensuring healthcare for all, achieving immigration reform and so much more.
(1/6) I strongly supported Mueller being allowed to complete his investigation and submit his findings. Now that Mueller has found no collusion took place, we need to set aside our partisan interests and recognize that finding the president of the United States not guilty Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) March 26, 2019
(6/6) We have a lot of work to do rebuilding our country's crumbling infrastructure, ending wasteful regime change wars, forging a clean energy future, ensuring healthcare for all, achieving immigration reform and so much more. Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) March 26, 2019
Tulsi Gabbard Is Right We Have a Lot of Work to Do
Although her presidential campaign has not taken off, Gabbard makes some excellent points in her tweets.
She has correctly called on Congress to safeguard against further election interference by supporting the Securing Americas Elections Act, a bill she sponsored that would allow every state to use paper ballots, making it impossible for Russia or anyone else to change our election results.
She also is correct in saying that Democrats must focus on solving the problems of everyday Americans. Donald Trump is a genius at distraction, and the more we are distracted then the less we can focus on Trump administration corruption and the many ways that Republicans have sold out our government to large corporate interests.
After the release Sunday of Attorney General William Barrs summary of Muellers findings, Gabbard joined other Democratic candidates in calling for the release of Muellers full report, so she does want that to happen.
We must see the full report, and even if it does not lead to indictments it will show American voters the truth of Donald Trumps corruption and lies.
And when that happens, the chances of Democrats taking back control of Congress in 2020 will skyrocket. Which is the outcome that most Americans want anyway.
Jerrel Floyd is an Alabama raised reporter who covers Summerville and Dorchester County for The Post and Courier.
You are the owner of this article.
Santee Cooper approved more than half a million in retention bonuses for seven of its executives last year. The contracts were meant to keep t
Gregory Yee covers the city of Charleston. He's a native Angeleno and previously covered crime and courts for the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA. He studied journalism and Spanish literature at the University of California, Irvine.
David Slade is a senior Post and Courier reporter. His work has been honored nationally by Society of Professional Journalists, American Society of Newspaper Editors, Scripps foundation and others. Reach him at 843-937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication.
Jamie Lovegrove is a political reporter covering the South Carolina Statehouse, congressional delegation and campaigns. He previously covered Texas politics in Washington for The Dallas Morning News and in Austin for the Texas Tribune.
Assistant Columbia bureau chief
Adcox returned to The Post and Courier in October 2017 after 12 years covering the Statehouse for The Associated Press. She previously covered education for The P&C. She has also worked for The AP in Albany, N.Y., and for The Herald in Rock Hill.
Ombre Ga'chong
As we head into the Christmas and New Year season it is imperative that all residents take an extra moment and adjust and increase their perso Read more
Lawmakers should be "ashamed of themselves" for their failure to enable easy access to marijuana, according to Dr. Vince Akimoto.
Akimoto and Dr. Samuel Friedman spoke to The Guam Daily Post on Tuesday afternoon, as senators of the 35th Guam Legislature discussed Bill 32-35, which would legalize recreational marijuana.
A supporter of legalizing marijuana, Akimoto had strong words for senators should the bill fail. Friedman seeks more of a middle ground, saying decriminalization may be the best way forward.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.
Akimoto said, if Bill 32 doesn't become law, then the island's lawmakers have failed in their duty to ensure his patients have access to the substance.
He said the government has failed to construct regulations that provide for easy and affordable access which means people have suffered unnecessarily.
Resistance from lawmakers regarding marijuana access essentially amounts to obstruction of justice, Akimoto added.
"I think it's disrespectful for people of Guam who voted (to legalize medicinal marijuana and) make this the law of the land. So basically, the attorney general should arrest these senators for obstructing justice," Akimoto said.
Lawmakers debated Bill 32, or the Guam Cannabis Industry Act, for several days. Prior to that, opponents and proponents of the bill testified at a public hearing. In the last few days, the volume of debate has gotten louder, particularly those against the measure. A local veterinarian and retired teacher are among those who were at the Guam Congress Building in Hagatna on Tuesday in protest of the bill.
Some opponents of the proposed legislation claim marijuana to be highly addictive and consider it a gateway to other drugs.
Akimoto called these people "idiots."
"People who claim any plant or thing is evil is ascribing to it properties that are basically magical. It's the behavior of people when they use substances that is the issue," he said, pointing out the effect of wine on people, as an example. "Quit blaming the drug or the plant. Quit blaming God for your bad behaviors it's a plant, it grows in the ground."
Friedman calls for 'middle ground'
Friedman called for a "middle ground" with recreational marijuana. Rather than full legalization, Friedman suggested decriminalizing or ignoring marijuana "more or less."
"Why not take the toe-in-the-water approach instead of full immersion that some fear?" Friedman asked.
Some countries, such as Portugal and Switzerland have decriminalized drug use, according to Friedman. The "four pillars" of the Swiss law include harm reduction and treatment.
"The result, a drop in drug use overall, no prison for drug use, legal drugs available for addicts in Switzerland, a great drop in infection rate and overdose because of proper instructions on use and accurate dose of drugs," Friedman said.
He suggested decriminalizing marijuana and observing the results over a couple of years before deciding on a future direction.
"This was the approach for some years in Canada before they finally legalized the sale and distribution of marijuana recently," he said.
Two Hawaii-based forensic pathologists will be performing autopsies for Guam in the near future.
Attorney General Leevin Camachos office announced that a $70,000 contract has been signed with Dr. Martin Ishikawa and Dr. Rachel Lange.
I am both relieved and grateful we have this in place. We want to make sure the families who have lost loved ones have closure and peace. A forensic pathologist will play an important role in making sure that they also receive justice, Camacho said
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.
Guam hasnt had a forensic pathologist since February after Dr. Aurelio Espinola retired. Without a replacement for Espinola, several families have been waiting on autopsies of their loved ones. Additionally, police also are waiting for autopsy reports, which are part of their investigation into deaths that occurred in February and March.
Questions to the Guam Police Department regarding the number of autopsy reports GPD needs werent answered as of press time.
In the last few weeks, police have said they are waiting for autopsies for various cases.
Pyung Sik Lee, who died after being attacked in February, has yet to undergo an autopsy, which police have said they need as part of their investigation into his death.
And police have several other cases that require a forensic pathologist including a death investigation in the discovery of the body of an elderly man found last week, a woman who died after a three-car collision in Mangilao, and the body of the man found Monday near Two Lovers Point. These cases require an autopsy to determine the cause of death and, among other things, rule out foul play.
Contract cost
At $5,000 an autopsy, the $70,000 contract will not last long.
The contract also provides $2,200 for airfare from Honolulu and $2,450 for airfare from Maui, as well as a $1,500 travel allotment for lodging, meals and transportation. Additionally, if a medical examiner reviews a case or testifies in court, that will cost $300 per hour.
Carlina Charfauros, the AGs office spokeswoman, said the budget will be discussed at the next Commission on Post-Mortem Examinations session.
The forensic pathologists are expected to fly in to perform autopsies when a homicide or a similar crime is suspected as the manner of death, according to the press release.
All other autopsies will continue to be performed by Saipan-based Dr. Phillip Dauterman, who has an existing contract with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Camacho is looking for a long-term solution. He is working with the AG of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which also relied on Espinola for forensic autopsies.
CNMI Attorney General Edward Manibusan said discussions with Camacho included sharing the cost of recruitment.
POTTSTOWN Shots fired at a West Street home Sunday night may be connected to a long-running bullying issue among eighth-graders at Pottstown Middle School, officials say.
Police responded to the 500 block of West Street for reports of shots fired Sunday around 8:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, ballistic evidence was found in the street indicating multiple shots had been fired, according to police.
Residents of 552 West St. told authorities the home had been struck several times. There were no injuries reported by anyone in the home or elsewhere.
Police are asking anyone with information in regard to this investigation to contact them at 610-970-6570.
Monday morning, the Pottstown School District issued an email that read we have been alerted to a situation involving eighth grade students which allegedly included the use of weapons over the weekend. We are fully cooperating with the Pottstown Police Department and have taken extra precautions to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
Pottstown Police Capt. Robert Thomas replied to a Mercury query Monday afternoon by noting we are looking into the possibility that (the shooting incident) is related to a call less than an hour prior to the shots being fired. The prior call did involve middle school-age kids.
On Facebook, a parent who said it was her house that was shot, and whose name is being withheld to protect the familys identity, said her child has been the target of bullying by a group of Pottstown Middle School girls for six months.
The parent also said her daughter was receiving Instagram death threats from boys as well, and that she had contacted the police and school administration multiple times. She said police took no action and her daughter got in trouble for fighting back.
John Armato, direction of community relations for the Pottstown School District, confirmed that the school district is cooperating with police and that one aspect of the investigation into the shots fired report involves middle school bullying.
He said the middle school building and district administration have been deeply involved in working with the students and adults in attempting to resolve this ongoing incident.
He also confirmed the conflict has been ongoing for several months.
Armato, who has been with the Pottstown School District for 49 years, said he cannot remember another incident during his tenure that involved gunfire and middle school students.
He said in those 49 years, he has seen how our culture is desensitizing us all to how we deal with other individuals. We all heave reason to be concerned about the social and emotional issues that give rise to such acts. It is a sad reflection on our times and on our culture.
The shots being fired at the house also comes at a time of increased concern about behavior issues at Pottstown Middle School.
Just last week, Principal Brian Hostetler updated the school board on the methods being used to control behavior problems there, including a chart showing that discipline referrals have been down in the past three years.
The school also has two mentor programs with David Charles and Terrence Shawell, as well as two mental health counselors from Creative Health. Visits there are up over last year.
Hosteler said the middle schools students understand the lessons of the Social Emotional Learning protocol the district is using to reduce bullying and fighting, but struggle to apply the skills and concepts in the situation.
There are anger management, two friendship skills, anxiety and two grief groups for student, four more than last year.
Supports even include grab and go breakfasts for children who arrive at school too late for sit-down breakfast as well as collaboration with Operation Backpack, so children have food over the weekend; and St. James Lutheran Church so they have food over the holidays.
One factor making it difficult to get a handle on discipline issues, Hostetler said, is the large staff turnover at the North Franklin Street building.
Nearly 40 percent of the staff has been there less than five years and another 5 percent are retiring this year. Further, there have been seven different administrators in the building in the last 18 months, Hostetler included.
Armato said in the wake of the gunfire incident, the district will continue, as it always does, in assessing the effectiveness of our programs and looking for ways to make it more effective.
Hostelers presentation came in the wake of a series of three town hall meetings the district held to gather input on a proposal that the former Edgewood Elementary School, last used in 2014, be re-opened as a fifth grade center in order to pull the fifth grade out of the middle school building.
No decision has been made on that matter.
Governments, both state and national, have a primal urge to tinker in our formerly free market economy. Sometimes governments are moved to such intervention out of ideology, such as the currently in vogue strain of socialism coursing through the Democrat Party. Intervention is also born of arrogance as elected officials and deep state regulators believe they can do a better job running the economy. And, often, intervention comes at the behest of the private sector itself.
Such is the case here in Pennsylvania as two examples of government picking winners and losers have generated headlines in recent weeks. One is an effort by a failing industry to survive; the other a state agency exceeding its mandate.
To wit, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission recently awarded a $2 million contract for a feasibility study to determine whether a cross-state hyperloop should be built. This raises a wide range of issues, not the least of which the financial instability of the turnpike itself.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a ticking fiscal time bomb that may soon blow up the entire state budget. Back in 2007, Gov. Ed Rendell and lawmakers hatched a scheme to have the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission toll Interstate 80 and divert a substantial portion of the revenue to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The federal government refused to allow the tolling of I-80, but the turnpike was stuck making annual payments of $450 million to PennDOT.
That has not only triggered substantial toll increases on the turnpike, but legislators learned during recent budget hearings the agency has missed making several payments to PennDOT and likely will be unable to make this years payment. Worse, trucker associations have filed suit against the turnpike claiming the siphoning off of toll revenue to non-turnpike related projects is illegal. If they are successful, and the chances they will be are high, the turnpike will be on the hook for billions and PennDOTs subsidies will be a thing of the past.
Given that scenario, and the fact a hyperloop falls outside the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commissions charter to run a highway, the decision to squander $2 million to study a futuristic mode of transportation was ill advised. The company awarded the study built a test track for entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2016.
A hyperloop would put passengers and potentially freight into pods and propel them at speeds of 600 to 700 miles per hours using a vacuum system. Several companies are working to develop such systems, which do in fact show promise especially for the movement of freight, but those private firms are exactly who should be refining the technology, not the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
The federal government is sticking its hands into the mix as well recently announcing the establishment of a Non-Traditional and Emerging Technology Council. There is no better way to retard or kill the development of such technologies than to clutter their pathway with government councils and commissions.
Another effort to put the foot of government on the scales of free enterprise is legislation designed to bail-out Pennsylvanias nuclear power industry. This is an example of the industry itself seeking government intervention in a bid for self-preservation.
The fact is nuclear power has become uncompetitive in the energy marketplace due to the development of the nations fossil fuel resources, particularly natural gas which is plentiful in Penns Woods. While some in state government are seeking to tax the successful natural gas industry more, others are advocating the subsidization of an energy source that simply cant compete.
There is also a proposal to make nuclear power part of the states alternative energy mandate, meaning requiring a certain percentage of energy must come from nuclear power even though it is not the least expensive source. Either a bailout, or alternative energy mandate would mean one thing: taxpayers and/or rate payers will be paying hundreds of millions of dollars to protect an uncompetitive source of energy generated by otherwise highly profitable companies.
Such interventions as these rarely end well. In California a government-inspired high speed rail project was recently cancelled after billions in state and federal tax dollars were squandered.
High speed rail, hyperloops, energy generation all are functions that are and should be left to the private sector to develop and to implement. When government picks winners and losers there is only one certain outcome taxpayers will be losers.
Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His email address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org
The House failed today to overturn President Trumps first veto, leaving his declaration of a national emergency at the southwestern border intact. Both chambers of Congress passed a resolution nullifying the presidents order, but Trump vetoed the resolution and the veto could not be rendered ineffective without two-thirds of both chambers voting to override it.
Opponents of the emergency declaration missed by about 40 votes in the House. The final count was 248-181.
This was almost the same margin by which the resolution passed the House. That count was 245 to 182. Only one additional House Republican joined forces with House Democrats this time around (Rep. John Katko of New York who was absent for the last vote), bringing the total to a mere 14.
Now the battle over Trumps declaration moves to the courts, where Democrats enjoy the edge, at least until the case arrives before the Supreme Court. At that point, well see.
Yesterday, the New York Times carried an op-ed by Bob Bauer. As the title Trumps Shamelessness Was Outside Muellers Jurisdiction suggests, the op-ed is just another attempt to talk around the fact that Robert Mueller cleared President Trump of collusion with Russia.
Whats notable about the article is how the New York Times identifies Bauer. The Times states:
Mr. Bauer is a professor of practice and distinguished scholar in residence at New York University School of Law.
Thats true as far as it goes. But for purposes of an op-ed about the Mueller investigation of alleged collusion with Russia, it doesnt go very far.
Until May 2018, Bauer was a partner at the Perkins Coie law firm. Moreover, when Bauer left the firm, it announced that he will maintain his representation of a number of key clients in an individual, solo capacity and will co-counsel with Perkins Coie on a number of those representations.
At Perkins Coie, Bauer headed the firms political law practice the largest in the country. It became the go-to practice for prominent Democrats trying to use lawyers to win elections.
During the 2016 presidential race, Perkins Coie served as the private lawyers for the Democratic National Committee. According to The Hill, both the DNC and the Clinton campaign used Perkins Coie secretly to pay Fusion GPS and Christopher Steele to compile a dossier of uncorroborated raw intelligence alleging Trump and Moscow were colluding to hijack the presidential election.
Fake intelligence in that dossier was then used by the FBI as the main basis for seeking a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant targeting the Trump campaign in the final days of the campaign. After the election, the dossier continued to be used by those pushing claims of collusion.
These claims led to the Mueller investigation. Its unclear whether, without the dossier, there would ever have been an investigation into (nonexistent) collusion.
Given the role of Bauers law firm in ginning up the collusion narrative, the Times should not have run an op-ed by Bauer about the Mueller investigation and where things stand in light of the collapse of the narrative that led to it. If the Times was going to run such an op-ed, it should have disclosed Bauers affiliation with Perkins Coie both his leadership role as of 2016 and, arguably, the ongoing affiliation cited in the 2018 announcement (assuming it persists).
Its not hard to find partisans who will castigate Trump for shamelessness. The Times didnt need Bauer to perform this task. In any event, there is no excuse I know of for not providing full disclosure about his connection, via Perkins Coie, to the events at issue in the investigation about which Bauer was commenting.
Over the weekend I came across the Snopes fact check: Did U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar Marry Her Brother? It rates the allegation, originally raised by me on Power Line, Unproven. Published on February 15, it stated in its conclusion that neither Omar nor Power Line had responded to a list of questions. Before writing Snopes I searched the Power Line gmail account for any email from Snopes. It turned up nothing. I emailed Snopes stating that we had never received a list of questions and asking for a correction.
Around noon yesterday we received a forwarded email with a list of questions from Snopes reporter Bethania Parma dated February 15, the same date as Snopess Omar post. It read:
Hello, Im a reporter for the fact checking organization Snopes.com. I am looking into rumors about Ilhan Omars marriage and the claim she married her brother. A post written by Scott Johnson on Powerline appears to be most-cited as the original source for this claim. Johnson cited a message board called SomaliSpot. My questions are:
Does Mr. Johnson have any evidence to back the claim that Rep. Omar married her brother, other than a post on the SomaliSpot message board?
Is Mr. Johnson aware of any evidence that has surfaced since his blog post was published?
Was Mr. Johnson and Powerline the first to report this claim? Thank you in advance for your help, I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Bethania Palma
Reporter, Snopes.com
I immediately asked Palma where the forwarded email had allegedly been sent. I wrote:
Bethania: I am not sure how you responded to the question I asked regarding where you sent your February 15 email. Let me state unequivocally that it was not received at our Power Line gmail account (this one). I have searched under your name and under Snopes. A search returns the Snopes automated response to my March 23 email and our exchange today but nothing else. I want you immediately to correct the comment that we have not responded to [you]. I will have a substantive response to you later today. I want to add this. I also ask that you share it with your editors at Snopes. I have promptly responded to every reporter who has asked me about my work on Ilhan Omar. That includes Patrick Coolican of the Star Tribune, Sheryl Gay Stolberg of the New York Times, Brent Scher of the Washington Free Beacon, John Gage of the Washington Examiner, Preya Samsundar of Alpha News in Minneapolis, and David Steinberg of PJ Media. None of them had any problem contacting me. Indeed, my phone number is listed on our site. Several of them called me. How is [it] that only Snopes was unable to contact me prior to publication of your fact check? That is one fact I would like to check. I emailed Snopes on Saturday from my personal gmail account. I would appreciate your acknowledgement that you have shared this message with your editors and copying your response to me at my personal gmail address [omitted]. Thanks. Scott Johnson
I received no response. Our Power Line publisher is searching our spam folders for the February 15 message [see update below], but does any legitimate news organization consider a single unsolicited message from a previously unknown email account to be a legitimate attempt to contact a named subject? When the subject has a publicly displayed cell phone number on the site that gives rise to the issue under review? Give me a break.
When I returned home yesterday afternoon I quickly responded to the substance of Palmas questions. Im not proud of it, but it is submitted for your consideration as part of the story:
Bethania: This message responds to your inquiry received at our Power Line email account on this date. I am responding at my earliest opportunity. Please forgive possible typos.
You asked: Does Mr. Johnson have any evidence to back the claim that Rep. Omar married her brother, other than a post on the SomaliSpot message board?
Is Mr. Johnson aware of any evidence that has surfaced since his blog post was published?
Was Mr. Johnson and Powerline the first to report this claim? This is my response to your first question: When I originally reported that we had been tipped to Omars peculiar marital situation on Power Line, I had been tipped by a reader to a post with photographic evidence (as I recall) on the SomaliSpot message board. I first checked out the dates of Omars marriages on the Minnesota online marriage database. The dates and names checked out. Checking Omars online site, I found that she advertised husband number 1 as her husband and the father of her children. I followed up with an inquiry to Omar through her campaign spokesman. The spokesman told me they would respond to me later that day. Late that day I heard from a criminal defense attorney whom I knew from covering the Somali terrorism case here. She represented one of the defendants in the case. The attorneys response provided a nondenial denial attacking me in personal terms. I drew adverse inferences from Omars response. That is what I originally reported. The attorneys message instructed me to communicate with Omar through her (the attorney). When I submitted follow-up questions, I received no response. I laid all this and more out in the City Journal column The curious case of Ilhan Omar. I laid all this out at that time so I could respond to reporters with inquiries like yours. This is my response to your second question: Yes, I am. I cite some of it in the City Journal column. See Preya Samsundars several articles at Alpha News and David Steinbergs four 2018 columns for PJ Media. Steinbergs four 2018 columns are full of additional evidence supporting the proposition that Ahmed Nur Said Elmi (husband number 2) is her brother. In addition, I continue to draw adverse inferences from what I interpret to be Omars guilty behavior. She behaves as if she has something to hide. See my March 21 post The curious case of Ilhan Omar revisited [URL omitted]. To all this I would add (1) Omars refusal to respond to AP reporter Amy Forliti last year when she revisited the controversy in the article cited at the end of your item; and (2) Omars queer behavior with Star Tribune reporter Steve Montemayor during the campaign (in connection with the article cited at the end of your item). She showed Montemayor a copy of her immigration documents on her cell phone but would not let him make copies or jot down the names. I emailed Montemayor to confirm her refusal to let him take down names. She is hiding something. I have also met with a confidential Somali source who confirms my reporting based on his acquaintance with the family members. He gave me copies of Facebook photos now removed of her brothers in London. I believe that one of Preyas Alpha News 2016 articles has the photos and a lot of other related social media information. This is my response to your third question: Yes. These questions are very basic and it is not apparent to me that you have done more than a minimal level of research. I am available to elaborate if you have follow-up questions. I would like to emphasize this: possible immigration fraud was the only reason I could think of for Omar marrying her brother, if that is what she did. when I first raised these issues in 2016. Subsequent reporting suggests other reasons. I do not assert that she married her brother to commit immigration fraud, which you focus your fact check on. although I think she may have committed immigration fraudShe has not responded to a serious interview on these issues with anyone. Snopes is only the latest in a long line of organizations with whom she has declined to engage.
I freely acknowledge, and have expressly done so on Power Line, that my inability to state definitively why she might have married her brother is a weakness in the theory that she did so. I may be wrong. However, Omars refusal to answer questions about her marriage to husband number 2 is the underlying reason for any possible error. I would appreciate your confirmation of receipt of this message and your prompt correction of the Snopes fact check stating we failed to respond to you. Thanks. Scott W. Johnson
Power Line
Snopes has now updated the conclusion of its post to read:
We sent a list of questions to Omars spokesman but did not receive responses prior to publication. We also sent a list of questions to Powerline blogger Scott Johnson, who responded on 25 March 2019 but offered nothing more substantive in support of the claim than inference and supposition.
I wrote the Snopes reporter again:
Bethania: I see you have updated your post to state that I provided you nothing but inference and supposition. I rate that false, if not a lie, and request that you post my email to you in full so readers can see for themselves. If nothing else, I cited the work of Preya Samsundar and David Steinberg, which is full of facts supporting my work. Your post simply omits it all, which makes it easy for you to misrepresent me as you do. Scott Johnson
In Faulknerian terms, I rate the Snopes post four Flems.
UPDATE: Our publisher reports: Cant find any evidence that she sent this email to Power Line Feedback on the date claimed. If it was tagged as spam, it was automatically deleted 30 days later, on March 15. If it was deleted, the trash would have been emptied automatically 30 days later as well. One thing she can easily do to help prove that she asked PL for comment on February 15 would be to go into her email, find the message that was sent on February 15, and send us the full headers of the email.
Now that the Lefts collusion narrative has fallen apart, many are speculating about whether those who drove it, and roiled our public life for more than two years on the basis of opposition research that they probably knew was fraudulent, will be held to account. There is much to investigate: the fraudulently obtained FISA warrants; the hundreds of incidents of unmasking of innocent American citizens; the attempt by the FBIs top leadership to swing the election to Hillary Clinton or, failing that, to derail the newly-elected Trump administration; the CIAs role in leaking the fake dossier to the press while purporting to brief President Trump on its contents, thereby giving the Democratic Party news media permission, with a wink and a nod, to report on the Clinton campaigns fake dossier in the guise of a news story. And, of course, the over-arching question: what did Barack Obama know, and when did he know it? That is only a partial list.
Will these misdeeds be investigated? Not in the House, obviously. Possibly in the Senate: Lindsey Graham has indicated as much on Twitter:
Could not agree more. See you soon. https://t.co/KNGzyDizdq Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 25, 2019
But the Senate is generally a very poor investigative body. One question remains unanswered: why, with both House and Senate ostensibly in Republican hands, have the obvious questions about Obama administration corruption not been investigated already? Only Devin Nunes in the House has made a serious effort in that direction, for which we all should be eternally grateful. But what has the Senate done? Not much. Likewise, why hasnt President Trump declassified and released full information about the Democrats unmasking and FISA abuses, and other information that must be under executive branch control? I dont know.
Will anything change now? Maybe Republican senators and President Trump are orchestrating a brilliant strategylying in the weeds (and losing the House) until the Mueller report routed the Democrats, and only then beginning a counterattack. I seriously doubt that is the case. Perhaps there will be serious investigations of the Obama administration and its holdovers in the FBI and the CIA, but I doubt it.
Then there is the press. I confess to being surprised at the suggestion by many on the right that the liberal media have disgraced themselves, should apologize and seek reform, and so on. In truth, the liberal media have been disgracing themselves for decades. They have no problem, in principle, with deceiving the American people with fake news on behalf of the Democratic Party, as long as they dont get caught. That was the lesson of Rathergate: they needed to up their game from a technical standpoint.
If anyone in the Democratic Party press sincerely regretted defaming President Bush (as opposed to failing in the attempt), I havent seen it. The Democratic Party press will continue what it has been doing for many yearseverything it can to help its party. The idea that the collapse of the collusion narrative might change this pattern is delusional.
So, I would love to be proved wrong, but I think the likelihood of any serious accounting for the outrages of the last two-plus years is slim.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 16:13:43
Press Information
Published by
ACCESSWIRE News Network
888.952.4446
e-mail
http://www.accesswire.com
# 537 Words
ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446
SAN JOSE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / On January 21st, 2019, under the provisions of the attorney- client doctrine, Dominic Caserta participated in a polygraph examination regarding allegations of misconduct by a volunteer for Caserta supervisorial campaign, Lydia Jungkind. In an attempt to dispel all duplicitous accusations, Caserta requested a polygraph test and signed a waiver citing his participation as entirely voluntary.Mr. Caserta was questioned on various incidents pertaining to the allegations after being accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with female students during his time as a teacher and candidate for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. The examiner has conducted over eleven thousand polygraph examinations and is used by law enforcement throughout California. The examiner categorized the test as a 'Sex Offense Lie Issue type test for question formulation purposes'. The polygraph examiner concluded that Dominic Caserta passed with the highest score, 99.9%. The primary accuser of the 2018 allegations, Lydia Jungkind has not participated in a polygraph. Mr. Caserta continues to maintain his innocence and that the incident was made in effort to derail his front-leading status as a candidate for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors occurring 29 days before the primary election.Relevant questions were hand scored by the polygraph governing board. The instrument accurately recorded his breathing, changes in blood pressure, and pulse rate throughout the examination period. The results proved that Dominic Caserta was being truthful in his responses, and, after careful analysis of the test charts, the examiner determined that the participant was in no way deceptive with his answers.After being wrongfully accused of misconduct, all sexual harassment charges involving Dominic Caserta were officially dropped in August 2018 by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office citing "insufficient evidence." Having maintained his innocence, the former Vice-Mayor of Santa Clara, California, Dominic Caserta remains a model citizen and is ready to move on from this political hit, focusing on the well-being of his family.About Dominic CasertaDominic Caserta is a graduate from Bellarmine College Preparatory and Santa Clara University, graduating cum laude. In 2000, Dominic received his teaching credentials from Santa Clara University where he graduated with honors. After obtaining his educational degree, he ran for Santa Clara City Council and he was elected to Seat Two in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. In 2014, Dominic was elected again to the Santa Clara City Council, Seat Five. He takes pride in his ability to serve his community, and one of his most significant accomplishments was establishing a scholarship program in the City of Santa Clara for local graduating seniors that reside in Santa Clara, raising the minimum wage to the highest in Santa Clara County, and passing the first worker retention ordinance to protect workers.In 2009, he attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government where he participated the State and Local Officials Executive Program. In 2010, Dominic was awarded the prestigious James Madison Fellowship where Dominic received a high master's degree in political science from San Francisco State University where he currently teaches. Dominic is a passionate advocate for higher education. As a proud father and husband, Dominic Caserta is continuously searching for new ways to better his local community.For more information, please contact:Mlnarik Law Group, Inc.Phone Number: (408) 919 0088SOURCE: Dominic Caserta
Research Report Insights (RRI) has launched the Fruit Puree Concentrate Market expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period 2026
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 12:46:43
Press Information
RESEARCH REPORT INSIGHTS
Research Report Insights (RRI)
42 Joseph Street
Port carling P0B 1J0
Muskoka, Ontario1
Phone - +1-631-721-4201
Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com
Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com
BISHU
T.L
6317214201
email
https://www.researchreportinsights.com
# 1144 Words
Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.comEmail: sales@researchreportinsights.comT.L6317214201
In this report, Research Report Insights (RRI) offers a 10-year forecast of the global Fruit Puree Concentrate Market: Global Industry Analysis, size, sales and Forecast by 2026. In terms of value, the market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period. The current study reveals the market trends and market dynamics in all seven regions that are expected to positively affect the current market environment and future scenario of the Fruit Puree Concentrate Market over the forecast period.This Research Report Insights report inspects the Fruit Puree Concentrate market for the period 20162026. The prime objective of this report is to offer insights into developments in the Fruit Puree Concentrate market that are gradually helping transform global businesses associated with the same.The global Fruit Puree Concentrate market report begins by the executive summary and defining various categories and their share in the Fruit Puree Concentrate market. It is followed by market dynamics, overview of the global Fruit Puree Concentrate market, which includes RRI analysis of market drivers, restraints, opportunities and trends that are affecting growth of the Fruit Puree Concentrate market. Furthermore, to understand the popularity of the market segment and regions, the attractiveness index with elaborated insights on the same is provided, which will show the markets attractiveness based on the factors such as CAGR and incremental opportunity.Request For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114817/Fruit-Puree-Concentrate-Market The market is segmented based on product type, fruit family type, application type and region. Based on product type, the market is sub-segmented into With Sugar and No Added Sugar. Among all the product type segment, No Added Sugar segment is expected to account for the highest market share, followed by With Sugar segment over the forecast period. The With Sugar type segment is expected to register a significant CAGR of 2.4 % during the forecast period in terms of value. The No Added Sugar segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 6.4% over the forecast period. The factors fuelling demand for Fruit Puree Concentrate is the development in food industry and easy regulations for Fruit Puree Concentrate globally.The next section of the report highlights the Fruit Puree Concentrate adoption, by region, and provides the market outlook for 20162026. The study investigates the market attractiveness regionally, as well as analyses the limit to which the drivers are influencing the Fruit Puree Concentrate market in each region. Main regions assessed in this report include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). The sections, by product type, by fruit family type and by application type, evaluate the present scenario and growth prospects of the regional Fruit Puree Concentrate market for 20162026. Increasing focus of global key players for expansion in North America and APEJ region is expected to increase the Fruit Puree Concentrate market share in these regions. Latin America and Eastern Europe is expected to be the most attractive regions in terms of CAGR by 2026. The Fruit Puree Concentrate consumption in APEJ is anticipated to rise over the forecast period. In 2016, the region is estimated to account for 7.3% value share in the global Fruit Puree Concentrate market; and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.1% by the end of the forecast period.To ascertain the Fruit Puree Concentrate market size, we have also taken into account the revenue generated by the various manufacturers. The forecast presented here assesses the total revenue generated by value, across the Fruit Puree Concentrate market. In order to provide an accurate forecast, we initiated by sizing up the current market, which forms the basis on how the Fruit Puree Concentrate market is expected to develop in the future. Given the characteristics of the market, we triangulated the outcome on the basis of three different types of analysis; based on supply side, downstream industry demand and the economic envelope. In addition, it is imperative to note that in an ever-fluctuating global economy, we not only conduct forecasts in terms of CAGR, but also analyse the market based on key parameters, such as year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth rates, to understand the predictability of the Fruit Puree Concentrate market and identify the right opportunities across the market.The Fruit Puree Concentrate segments, by product type, by fruit family type, by application type and region, have been analysed in terms of basis point share (BPS) to understand the individual segments relative contributions to market growth. This detailed level of information is important for identifying various key trends in the Fruit Puree Concentrate market. Another key feature of this report is the analysis of key segments in terms of absolute dollar opportunity. This is overlooked while forecasting the market. However, absolute dollar opportunity is critical for evaluating the scope of opportunity that a provider can look to achieve, as well as to identify potential resources from a delivery perspective of the Fruit Puree Concentrate market. The overall absolute dollar opportunity along with the segmental split is mentioned in the report.In the final section of the report on Fruit Puree Concentrate, the dashboard view of the companies is provided to compare the current industrial scenario and their contribution in total Fruit Puree Concentrate market. Moreover, it is primarily designed to provide clients with an objective and detailed comparative assessment of key providers specific to a market segment. Report audiences can gain segment-specific manufacturer insights to identify and evaluate key competitors based on the in-depth assessment of their capabilities and success in the Fruit Puree Concentrate marketplace.Detailed profiles of Puree Concentrate production companies are also included in the report to evaluate their long and shortterm strategies, key product offerings and recent developments in the Fruit Puree Concentrate market. Key market competitors covered in the report include Agrana Juice Gmbh, China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd., Cobell Ltd, Doehler Gmbh, Fenix S.A., Grunewald Fruchtsaft GmbH, Kerr Concentrates Inc., Tianjin Kunyu International Co. Ltd., Tree Top Inc. and Watt's S.A.Request Report Discount: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114817/Fruit-Puree-Concentrate-Market Key Segments CoveredBy Product TypeWith SugarNo Added SugarBy Fruit family typeBerry FruitBlueberryRaspberryStrawberryCitrus FruitOrangelemonExotic FruitBananaAppleMangoMelonPineappleCoconutTomatoOrchard fruitApricotPeachPearBy Application TypeFoodBaby foodsDairy and Frozen ProductsBakery and ConfectionaryOthers (Fruit snacks and bar, etc.)BeverageJuiceAlcoholic beveragesSmoothies and snack drinksOthers (cider, drinkable dairy products, etc.)Key Regions/Countries CoveredNorth AmericaS.CanadaLatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaWestern EuropeK.GermanyFranceItalyBENELUXRest of Western EuropeEastern EuropeRussiaRest of Eastern EuropeAsia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ)ChinaIndiaAustralia & New ZealandRest of APEJJapanMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesTurkeySouth AfricaRest of MEAReport Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114817/Fruit-Puree-Concentrate-Market
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 19:56:54
Press Information
Research N Reports
10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064
Sunny Denis
Sales Manager
+1-8886316977
email
http://www.researchnreports.com
# 523 Words
10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064Sales Manager+1-8886316977
The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Credit Insurance market based on services and industry vertical. It also provides market size and forecast for overall market with respect to five major regions, the market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. Credit insurance is an insurance policy that pays off an outstanding debt in the event of the policy holders death, disability, or termination of employment.The global Credit Insurance market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of +3% during the period 2019-2025.The need for this product is swelling and its recognition in the market will fuel up in the market globally in the near future. Its quick disposition in the industry, scalability and flexibility that they offer are anticipated to add to reputation over the forecast period. Porters five forces and SWOT analysis have been utilized as well to scrutinize the market. This report offers an inclusive analysis of the Credit Insurance market.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Top Key Vendors in Market:Euler Hermes, Atradius, Coface, Zurich, Credendo Group, QBE Insurance, CesceTrade credit insurance, business credit insurance, export credit insurance, or credit insurance is an insurance policy and a risk management product offered by private insurance companies and governmental export credit agencies to business entities wishing to protect their accounts receivable from loss due to credit risks such as protracted default, insolvency or bankruptcy.The research report segments the Global Credit Insurance Market based on its application into clinics, residential, and hospitals, and others. On the basis of topography, the worldwide market is separated into North America, China, Europe, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia. The research report witnesses that North America will be a key territorial market in the general market. There is a lot of statistical surveying organizations out there, however, just a couple are trusted and are fruitful in pulling in the trust of the clients.Ask for discount@Market segment by Region: North America Europe Asia-Pacific Middle East & AfricaReasons for Buying this Report: Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size and segments in the Credit Insurance market Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies. The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the market. Develop and modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging Credit Insurance market.For more Information @About Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Where counting on a legitimate board company for your selections will become critical. Research N Reports specializes in enterprise evaluation, marketplace forecasts and as a result getting great reports overlaying all verticals, whether be it gaining angle on modern market situations or being in advance inside the cut throat Global opposition.
Research Report Insights (RRI) has launched the report 5G Network Equipment Market a remarkable 59.3% CAGR all through the duration of 2019-2025
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 08:35:39
Press Information
Research Report Insights
Research Report Insights (RRI
42 Joseph Street
Port carling P0B 1J0
Muskoka, Ontario1
Phone - +1-631-721-4201
Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/
Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com
BISHU
CEO
6317214201
email
http://www..
# 449 Words
Research Report Insights (RRI42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/Email: sales@researchreportinsights.comCEO6317214201http://www.. researchreportinsights.com
5G also referred as 5th generation wireless systems, are enhanced wireless network advancements positioning them in 2018 and later. On the other hand, early inclusion of organizations in the market could profit them from numerous points of view and network equipment makers would have created mature products before the business arrangement of 5G starts.The worldwide market for 5G network equipment is likely to foresee a market estimate of more than US$ 1,100 Million in 2019 and is projected to grow over US$ 18,200 Million by 2025 end. The global market is projected to expand at a remarkable 59.3% CAGR all through the duration of 2019-2025.Market SegmentationIn terms of the component type, the worldwide market includes macro cell, small cell, RRU, AAU, RF filter, BBU, phase shifters and energy supply equipment. Amid these components, the worldwide market is likely to foresee an increase in the number of small cells category. Although the macro cells have been used until now, the category offered radio coverage to a broad geographical area as well as small cells was dependent and connected to macro cells.Request For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114878/5G-Network-Equipment-Market In terms of the region, the worldwide market includes APAC, Europe, North America, MEA and Latin America. In growth rate terms, Europe regional market is anticipated to remain the largely attractive region in the worldwide market for 5G network equipment. The region is estimated to record an increase at a remarkable CAGR of 65% all through the six years forecast period 2019-2025. In the Europe regional market, nations, for example, the U.K., France and Germany are dominating in contrast to other regions for before time commercialization of the 5G services. On the other hand, the overall market share of Asia Pacific (APAC) regional market is considered to remain the biggest in the years to follow.This regional market is estimated to dominate the worldwide market with a market evaluation of more than US$ 10,300 Million towards the end of the calculated year 2025. This is moreover an outcome of the regional concentration on the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) inclination with the intention of improving workforce efficiency by the flexible employment of enterprise resources to fulfill the rising business requirements. The expansion of the 5G network equipment market is also likely to be rapid in nations of the Middle East.Request For Reprot discount: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114878/5G-Network-Equipment-Market Key Market PlayersThe major companies functional in the global market includeSamsung Electronics Co., LtdQualcomm Technologies, Inc.Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.NEC CorporationNokiaZTE CorporationCisco Systems, Inc.CommScopeEricsson ABAirspan Networks, Inc.Hitachi, Ltd.QorvoEquinix, Inc.OthersReport Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114878/5G-Network-Equipment-Market
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 12:33:05
Press Information
RESEARCH REPORT INSIGHTS
Research Report Insights (RRI)
42 Joseph Street
Port carling P0B 1J0
Muskoka, Ontario1
Phone - +1-631-721-4201
Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com
Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com
BISHU
T.L
6317214201
email
https://www.researchreportinsights.com
# 726 Words
Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.comEmail: sales@researchreportinsights.comT.L6317214201
Research Report Insights (RRI) delivers key insights on the Europe & Asia Pacific herbal beauty products market in its upcoming outlook titled, Europe & Asia Pacific Herbal Beauty Products Market: Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026. In terms of value, Europe & Asia Pacific herbal beauty products market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period due to various factors, which RRI offers vital insights into in detail.On the basis of end-use, the Europe & Asia Pacific herbal beauty products market has been segmented into male and female. Female segment is estimated to account for the largest share by 2016 end. Male segment is expected to account for substantial growth over the forecast period. Increasing inclination of male consumers towards personal grooming and outward appearance is expected to support growth of the male segment over the forecast period.Europe & Asia Pacific herbal beauty products market distribution channel has been segmented into supermarket, specialty stores, departmental stores, drugstores, beauty salons and online/direct selling. Among all these segments, supermarket segment is expected to account for relatively higher value share during the forecast period. Specialty stores segment has been estimated to occupy the second largest share accounting for 21.1% value share in 2015.Request For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114787/Herbal-Beauty-Products-Market On the basis of type, Europe & Asia Pacific herbal beauty products market has been segmented into hair care, skin care, fragrance and oral care. Among all these, skin care segment has been estimated to represent highest value share of 45.7% in 2016 and is expected to remain dominant over the forecast period. Increasing acne issues owing to increasing humidity and pollution levels is expected to drive growth of the skin care segment in the market in the region during the forecast period. Skin care segment is further sub-segmented as cleanser & toner, cream & lotion, face wash & scrub and others. Among all these sub-segment, cream and lotion is expected to account for major value share over the forecast period. Hair care segment is predicted to occupy second largest position of the pie in terms of revenue contribution. Hair care segment is further sub-segmented as hair oil, powder, shampoo, conditioner and others. Oral care segment is expected to represent substantial growth over the forecast period. The segment is projected to represent CAGR of 3.1% in terms of value growth by 2026 end.Increasing adoption of products with naturally-derived herbal ingredients for acne, skin and hair problems especially in Asia Pacific region is expected to further drive demand for herbal beauty products market in Europe and Asia Pacific over the forecast period. In addition, availability of wide range of herbal cosmetics in retail outlets coupled with regular launch of new and innovative herbal beauty products by the manufacturers is expected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period.Shifting consumer preference towards Green Label cosmetic products that promote healthy skin and hair and enhance beauty to increase Europe & Asia Pacific herbal beauty products market value from US$ 1,727.0 Mn in 2015 to US$ 2,571.2 Mn by 2026: Research Report InsightsThis report discusses trends driving growth of each segment and offers analysis and insights of the potential of the Europe & Asia Pacific herbal beauty products market in specific regions including Europe and Asia Pacific (APAC). Markets in APAC are expected to record high growth rates in terms of value between 2016 and 2026. Japan has been estimated to be the largest consumer of herbal beauty products followed by China in 2015 across the APAC region.This report covers detailed profiles of key players in Europe & Asia Pacific herbal beauty products market that includes major strategies, key developments, product offerings and others. Key companies profiled in this report are Bio Veda Action Research Co., VLCC Personal Care Ltd., Surya Brasil, Dabur India Ltd., Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd., Lotus Herbals, Hemas Holdings Plc, Sheahnaz Herbals Inc., and Herballife International of America Inc.Request Report Discount: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114787/Herbal-Beauty-Products-Market Key Segments CoveredBy End-useMaleFemaleBy Distribution ChannelSupermarketsSpecialty StoresDepartmental StoresDrugstoresBeauty SalonsOnline/Direct SellingBy End-useHair CareHair OilPowderShampooConditionerOthersSkin CareCleanser & TonerCream & LotionFacewash & ScrubOthersFragranceOral CareKey Regions/Countries CoveredEuropeGermanyFranceK.SpainItalyRussiaNordicBeneluxRest of EuropeAsia Pacific (APAC)ChinaIndiaASEANJapanAustralia & New ZealandRest of APACReport Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114787/Herbal-Beauty-Products-Market
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 17:22:44
Press Information
Published by
ACCESSWIRE News Network
888.952.4446
e-mail
http://www.accesswire.com
# 315 Words
ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446
Recipient of the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Award - Peter Russo seeks to prepare his students for post-secondary education by helping them navigate the educational landscapeBATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / In an attempt to help educate high school students on potential career opportunities, Louisiana educator Peter Russo hosts a Q&A with Harvard student Amanda Gorman. As a sociology major, activist, poet, and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Amanda has a sophisticated understanding of how to excel in a professional capacity. She was also the first person to be named national youth poet laureate in April 2017 and is the Founder of a non-profit organization One Pen One Page.By discussing relevant social issues, students were encouraged to contribute to a lively discussion and ask a wide range of questions from personal opinions to life as a Harvard student.In this discussion, Amanda encourages students to pursue their passions and implies that every individual has a unique perspective to offer the world.Peter Russo claims that the casual interaction between his students and Amanda Gorman was a means to fuel motivation and provide an opportunity to ask questions. Many students fear the transition between high school and post-secondary education; however, taking the time to establish clear lines of communication may eliminate some of those initial fears.About Peter RussoIstrouma High School Teacher, Peter Russo is the proud recipient of the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Award presented by the East Baton Rouge Parish. As a private school educator, some of his most notable achievements include the Voices of a People's History program a collaboration with Cornell University to create community building experiences. Peter takes pride in his ability to challenge his students, while motivating them to connect with real-world issuesFor more information on Peter Russo please visit https://peterrusso.org/ Email: info@ peterrusso.org SOURCE: Istrouma High School Teacher
The actor, who was then dating Kristen, didnt want to take up the show since it was scheduled for shoot in Philadelphia and required him to live away for months, reports JustJared.com.
Actor Dax Shepard says that he had initially turned down the role in American television series Parenthood. When it was offered, the actor didnt want to live away from his now wife Kristen Bell.
The actor, who was then dating Kristen, didnt want to take up the show since it was scheduled for shoot in Philadelphia and required him to live away for months, reports JustJared.com.
I got offered Parenthood I hadnt acted in a long time, no one was offering me anything and they said, This show shoots in Philadelphia and I said, Theres no way I can be in this relationship and move to Philadelphia. says the actor.
He goes on to add, I turned that show down which, by the way, is certainly the first time in my life that I had ever done thatI couldn't believe I was doing it.
Dax eventually took the show after the shoot schedule moved to Los Angeles.
The market, which is estimated to reach US$ 59 Bn value by the end of 2017, is poised to showcase a CAGR of 3.7% and bring in US$ 87.6 Bn by 2027-
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 14:42:02
Press Information
Research Report Insights
Contact Us:
Research Report Insights (RRI)
42 Joseph Street
Port carling P0B 1J0
Muskoka, Ontario1
Phone - +1-631-721-4201
Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/
Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com
BISHU
TL
+1631721420
email
https://www.researchreportinsights.com
# 681 Words
Contact Us:Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/Email: sales@researchreportinsights.comTL+1631721420
With the rising demand for petroleum products and newer technologies, there has been a growth in oil and gas extraction. Increasing number of oil and gas projects globally are driving the pipeline installation and construction. Hence the rise in a number of pipelines covering long distance are fitted with a number of valves to regulate hydrocarbon flow. Moreover, development of new refineries and upgrading existing refineries are driving the demand for industrial valves.According to the report by Research Report Insights (RRI), a massive boost in offshore oil and gas exploration in countries like Brazil, Peru and Argentina are fueling the demand for industrial valves. Moreover, Total S.A., a petroleum refining company has decided to spend half a billion dollars to develop shale gas field in Argentina, this presents an opportunity for industrial valve manufacturers. More such projects are taking place in diverse regions such as Europe and North America. Russia and Poland are also increasingly investing in subsea exploration. Hence, installation of subsea stations in both the countries are expected to drive demand for industrial valves. The market, which is estimated to reach US$ 59 Bn value by the end of 2017, is poised to showcase a CAGR of 3.7% and bring in US$ 87.6 Bn by 2027-end. In terms of volume, as well, the global industrial valve market is expected to register a 4% CAGR over the forecast period.Request For Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114781/Industrial-Valves-Market However, oil and gas industry is the largest end user of industrial valve, is witnessing uncertainty due to high oil prices. This factor is impacting the growth of industrial valve market.Advances in industrial valve technology is at more evolutionary paceAlthough evolving at a slow pace, innovation in industrial valves have significantly contributed to the access and process of iron ore, gold, oil and gas. New power plants to operate at higher temperatures and pressures are being developed. Moreover, oil and gas industry is also involving in new offshore projects, hence these industries require effectively operating products. Here, pressure relief valves which are used to control and limit pressure in a system are playing a major role.Manufacturers and major players are using advanced technologies to make these pressure relief valves more effective. With help of emerging technologies the valves are able to remotely sense relieving pressure, are well-balanced against back pressure, are bigger and lighter in weight and are cost-effective. New industrial valves are also being developed to meet changing demands for change in weight and size requirements, to adjust with higher temperatures and pressures and emission standards.Increasing number of partnerships and mergers & acquisitions in industrial valve marketManufacturers and major companies are entering into partnerships and mergers and acquisitions to provide services, increase capacity and develop innovative products. For instance, Denholm Valvecare, a valves provider to global oil and gas industry has entered into a partnership with IBOR Valves to enhance its manufacturing and designing capabilities.Another deal has been signed between Maersk Oil and SIMMONS EDECO. As per the contract, SIMMONS EDECO will provide valve and wellhead maintenance service for offshore wells of Maersk Oil in Danish North Sea. The company will also refurbish valves and wellhead maintenance equipment.Request Report Discount: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114781/Industrial-Valves-Market An increasing number of projects are taking place in oil and gas industry. As per the U.S. Energy Information Administration report on International Energy Outlook 2016, shale gas production included more than 50% of natural gas production, is expected to reach 79 bcf/d by 2040. This will lead to more construction in oil and gas sector resulting in increasing demand for industrial valves.The report further profiles key players in the global industrial valve market which include Flowserve Corporation, Emerson, AVK Holding A/S, KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Zhejiang FuGe Fluid control equipment CO.,LTD ., Cameron International Corp., Neway Valve, LESER GmbH & Co. KG Hamburg, CIRCOR International, Inc., KITZ Corporation, ABO valve, Tecofi, Guichon Valves, Robvalve, Polna corp. s.r.o, Gunric Valves (Pty) Ltd, John Mills Valves, Achech Europe, Orion Valves, Exotica Valves.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114781/Industrial-Valves-Market
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 19:55:42
Press Information
QYReports
204, Professional Centre,
7950 NW 53rd Street, Miami, Florida 33166
Jones John
Sales Manager
+(1) 786-292-8164
email
http://www.qyreports.com
# 414 Words
204, Professional Centre,7950 NW 53rd Street, Miami, Florida 33166Sales Manager+(1) 786-292-8164
A compressive outline of the global Virtual 3D Nanorobots market has newly published by QYReports to its extensive database. Qualitative and quantitative research techniques have been used to collect and interpret the various facts of the Virtual 3D Nanorobots market. The global market has been explained in detail by considering each and every market segments over the forecast period.Nanorobotics is the technology of creating machines or robots at or close to the scale of a nanometre (10-9 metres). More specifically, nanorobotics refers to the still largely theoretical nanotechnology engineering discipline of designing and building nanorobots. Nanorobots (nanobots or nanoids) are typically devices ranging in size from 0.1-10 micrometres and constructed of nanoscale or molecular components.Request for Sample Copy Of this Report @ https://www.qyreports.com/request-sample?report-id=82039 The Top Key Players including in the Virtual 3D Nanorobots Market: Zymergen, Gingko Bioworks and SynthaceThe global Virtual 3D Nanorobots market breakdown into various global regions such as North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, Europe and Africa based on various business parameters. Top manufacturers are also examined in those global regions to understand the global market investment. The data which has been examined by considering both established key players as well as upcoming entrants in the market. The growth prospects and profit margin are elucidated in the research report. Different key variables, as well as regression models, have been used to estimate the trajectory of the global Virtual 3D Nanorobots market.For more Information and Enquiry Click Here:The financial aspects of businesses such as growth rate, profit margin, and revenue have been presented by applying effective infographics. The global market has been studied by using SWOT and Porters five-technique. Furthermore, dominating trends in the global Virtual 3D Nanorobots market are also marked in the research report. The productivity of global Virtual 3D Nanorobots market has been described by focusing on different pointers such as production, pricing structure, capacity, and revenue.The main points which are answered and covered in this Report are-What will be the total market size in the coming years till 2025?What will be the key factors which will be overall affecting the market?What are the various challenges addressed?Which are the major companies included?Buyers will get up to 30% discount on this report Click Here:If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 11:48:03
Nokia Corporation
Stock Exchange Release
March 26, 2019 at 12:45 (CET +1)
Nokia Board convenes the Annual General Meeting 2019, proposes that the Board be authorized to distribute an aggregate maximum of EUR 0.20 per share and Sren Skou be elected as a Board member
Espoo, Finland - Nokia announced today that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has resolved to convene the Annual General Meeting on May 21, 2019. The notice of the Meeting and the complete proposals by the Board are scheduled to be available on Nokia's website on March 29, 2019.
Distribution of distributable funds for the financial year 2018
As announced earlier, the Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorize the Board to resolve on the distribution of an aggregate maximum of EUR 0.20 per share as dividend from the retained earnings and/or as repayment of capital from the fund for invested unrestricted equity.
The authorization would be valid until the opening of the next Annual General Meeting and it would be used to distribute funds in four instalments during the validity of the authorization, unless the Board decides otherwise for a justified reason. The Board would make separate resolutions on the amount and timing of each distribution with preliminary record and payment dates stated below. The Company will announce each Board resolution separately and confirm the relevant record and payment dates in such announcements.
Preliminary ex-dividend date Preliminary record date Preliminary payment date May 22, 2019 May 23, 2019 June 6, 2019 July 29, 2019 July 30, 2019 August 8, 2019 October 28, 2019 October 29, 2019 November 7, 2019 February 3, 2020 February 4, 2020 February 13, 2020
Each instalment would be paid to the shareholders that are registered in the Company's Register of Shareholders maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy on the record date of the relevant instalment. The actual dividend payment dates outside Finland would be determined by the practices of the intermediary banks transferring the dividend payments.
Board composition and remuneration
Louis R. Hughes has informed that he will no longer be available to serve on the Board after the Annual General Meeting. Consequently, the Board proposes, on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, that the following current Board members be re-elected as members of the Nokia Board of Directors for a term ending at the close of the next Annual General Meeting: Sari Baldauf, Bruce Brown, Jeanette Horan, Edward Kozel, Elizabeth Nelson, Olivier Piou, Risto Siilasmaa, Carla Smits-Nusteling and Kari Stadigh.
Furthermore, the Board proposes that Sren Skou, CEO of A.P. Mller Mrsk A/S, be elected as a member of the Board for the same term.
The Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee will also propose in the assembly meeting of the new Board of Directors after the Annual General Meeting on May 21, 2019 that Risto Siilasmaa be elected as Chair of the Board and Sari Baldauf as Vice Chair of the Board, subject to their election to the Board of Directors.
The resumes of the Board member candidates are available on www.nokia.com/agm.
The Board does not propose changes to the Board remuneration.
Authorization to the Board to issue shares and repurchase company's shares
In line with previous years, the Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorize the Board to resolve to issue an aggregate maximum of 550 million shares or special rights entitling to shares under Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act. The Board may issue either new shares or treasury shares held by the Company. Shares and special rights may be issued in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights within the limits set by law. The authorization may be used to develop the Company's capital structure, diversify the shareholder base, finance or carry out acquisitions or other arrangements, to settle the Company's equity-based incentive plans or for other purposes resolved by the Board.
Also, in line with previous years, the Board proposes that the Board be authorized to resolve to repurchase a maximum of 550 million shares. The repurchases would reduce distributable funds of the Company. The shares may be repurchased otherwise than in proportion to the shares held by the shareholders (directed repurchase). Shares may be repurchased to be cancelled, held to be reissued, transferred further or for other purposes resolved by the Board.
550 million shares correspond to less than 10 per cent of the Company's total number of shares.
The Board shall resolve on all other matters related to the issuance or repurchase of Nokia shares in accordance with the resolution by the Annual General Meeting. It is proposed that both authorizations be effective until November 21, 2020.
Auditor election and remuneration
The Board proposes, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, that PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy be re-elected as the auditor of the Company for the financial year 2019.
In addition, Nokia has an obligation to organize an audit firm selection procedure in accordance with the EU Audit Regulation concerning the audit for the financial year 2020 (mandatory auditor rotation). The practical requirements for arranging the selection procedure under the EU Audit Regulation and the obligation to include at least two candidates in the recommendation of the Audit Committee have caused the Board to re-evaluate of the timing of the election of the auditor. The election of an auditor for the financial year 2020 already in Annual General Meeting 2019 would give the elected auditor time to prepare for the new audit engagement. At the same time, the shareholders of the Company would have an opportunity to elect the auditor already prior to the relevant financial year.
Consequently, the Board proposes, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, that Deloitte Oy be elected as the Company's auditor for the financial year 2020.
It is also proposed that elected auditors be reimbursed based on the invoice of the auditor and in compliance with the purchase policy approved by the Audit Committee.
About Nokia
We create the technology to connect the world. We develop and deliver the industry's only end-to-end portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing that is available globally. Our customers include communications service providers whose combined networks support 6.1 billion subscriptions, as well as enterprises in the private and public sector that use our network portfolio to increase productivity and enrich lives.
Through our research teams, including the world-renowned Nokia Bell Labs, we are leading the world to adopt end-to-end 5G networks that are faster, more secure and capable of revolutionizing lives, economies and societies. Nokia adheres to the highest ethical business standards as we create technology with social purpose, quality and integrity. www.nokia.com
Media Enquiries:
Nokia
Communications
Tel. +358 (0) 10 448 4900
Email: press.services@nokia.com
Jon Peet, Vice President, Corporate Communications
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
It should be noted that Nokia and its businesses are exposed to various risks and uncertainties and certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Nokia's current expectations and views of future developments and include statements regarding: A) expectations, plans or benefits related to our strategies and growth management; B) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of our businesses and any expected future dividends; C) expectations and targets regarding financial performance, results, operating expenses, taxes, currency exchange rates, hedging, cost savings and competitiveness, as well as results of operations including targeted synergies and those related to market share, prices, net sales, income and margins; D) expectations, plans or benefits related to changes in organizational and operational structure; E) expectations regarding market developments, general economic conditions and structural changes; F) our ability to integrate acquired businesses into our operations and achieve the targeted business plans and benefits, including targeted benefits, synergies, cost savings and efficiencies; G) expectations, plans or benefits related to any future collaboration or to business collaboration agreements or patent license agreements or arbitration awards, including income to be received under any collaboration or partnership, agreement or award; H) timing of the deliveries of our products and services, including our short term and longer term expectations around the rollout of 5G and our ability to capitalize on such rollout; and the overall readiness of the 5G ecosystem ; I) expectations and targets regarding collaboration and partnering arrangements, joint ventures or the creation of joint ventures, and the related administrative, legal, regulatory and other conditions, as well as our expected customer reach; J) outcome of pending and threatened litigation, arbitration, disputes, regulatory proceedings or investigations by authorities; K) expectations regarding restructurings, investments, capital structure optimization efforts, uses of proceeds from transactions, acquisitions and divestments and our ability to achieve the financial and operational targets set in connection with any such restructurings, investments, capital structure optimization efforts, divestments and acquisitions, including our 2019-2020 cost savings program; L) expectations, plans or benefits related to future capital expenditures, temporary incremental expenditures or other R&D expenditures to develop or rollout new products, including 5G; and M) statements preceded by or including "believe", "expect", "expectations", "commit", "anticipate", "foresee", "see", "target", "estimate", "designed", "aim", "plan", "intend", "influence", "assumption", "focus", "continue", "project", "should", "is to", "will" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are based on management's best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and views of future events and developments and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: 1) our strategy is subject to various risks and uncertainties and we may be unable to successfully implement our strategic plans, sustain or improve the operational and financial performance of our business groups, correctly identify or successfully pursue business opportunities or otherwise grow our business; 2) general economic and market conditions and other developments in the economies where we operate, including the timeline for the deployment of 5G and our ability to successfully capitalize on that deployment; 3) competition and our ability to effectively and profitably invest in new competitive high-quality products, services, upgrades and technologies and bring them to market in a timely manner; 4) our dependence on the development of the industries in which we operate, including the cyclicality and variability of the information technology and telecommunications industries and our own R&D capabilities and investments; 5) our dependence on a limited number of customers and large multi-year agreements; 6) our ability to maintain our existing sources of intellectual property-related revenue through our intellectual property, including through licensing, establish new sources of revenue and protect our intellectual property from infringement; 7) our ability to manage and improve our financial and operating performance, cost savings, competitiveness and synergies generally and our ability to implement changes to our organizational and operational structure efficiently; 8) our global business and exposure to regulatory, political or other developments in various countries or regions, including emerging markets and the associated risks in relation to tax matters and exchange controls, among others; 9) our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits, synergies, cost savings and efficiencies of acquisitions, including the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent; 10) exchange rate fluctuations, as well as hedging activities; 11) our ability to successfully realize the expectations, plans or benefits related to any future collaboration or business collaboration agreements and patent license agreements or arbitration awards, including income to be received under any collaboration, partnership, agreement or arbitration award; 12) Nokia Technologies' ability to protect its IPR and to maintain and establish new sources of patent, brand and technology licensing income and IPR-related revenues, particularly in the smartphone market, which may not materialize as planned, 13) our dependence on IPR technologies, including those that we have developed and those that are licensed to us, and the risk of associated IPR-related legal claims, licensing costs and restrictions on use; 14) our exposure to direct and indirect regulation, including economic or trade policies, and the reliability of our governance, internal controls and compliance processes to prevent regulatory penalties in our business or in our joint ventures; 15) our reliance on third-party solutions for data storage and service distribution, which expose us to risks relating to security, regulation and cybersecurity breaches; 16) inefficiencies, breaches, malfunctions or disruptions of information technology systems; 17) our exposure to various legal frameworks regulating corruption, fraud, trade policies, and other risk areas, and the possibility of proceedings or investigations that result in fines, penalties or sanctions; 18) adverse developments with respect to customer financing or extended payment terms we provide to customers; 19) the potential complex tax issues, tax disputes and tax obligations we may face in various jurisdictions, including the risk of obligations to pay additional taxes; 20) our actual or anticipated performance, among other factors, which could reduce our ability to utilize deferred tax assets; 21) our ability to retain, motivate, develop and recruit appropriately skilled employees; 22) disruptions to our manufacturing, service creation, delivery, logistics and supply chain processes, and the risks related to our geographically-concentrated production sites; 23) the impact of litigation, arbitration, agreement-related disputes or product liability allegations associated with our business; 24) our ability to re-establish investment grade rating or maintain our credit ratings; 25) our ability to achieve targeted benefits from, or successfully implement planned transactions, as well as the liabilities related thereto; 26) our involvement in joint ventures and jointly-managed companies; 27) the carrying amount of our goodwill may not be recoverable; 28) uncertainty related to the amount of dividends and equity return we are able to distribute to shareholders for each financial period; 29) pension costs, employee fund-related costs, and healthcare costs; 30) our ability to successfully complete and capitalize on our order backlogs and continue converting our sales pipeline into net sales; and 31) risks related to undersea infrastructure, as well as the risk factors specified on pages 60 to 75 of our 2018 annual report on Form 20-F published on March 21, 2019 under "Operating and financial review and prospects-Risk factors" and in our other filings or documents furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors or underlying assumptions subsequently proven to be incorrect could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: NOKIA via Globenewswire
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the "Perfume Ingredient Chemicals Market to Witness Steady Growth at 5.5 % CAGR During 2017 - 2027" report to their offering
Perfume Ingredient Chemicals
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 05:11:00
Press Information
Future Market Insights
616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,,
Abhishek Budholiya
Manager
3479183531
email
https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/
Published by
Abhishek Budholiya
+1-347-918-3531
e-mail
http://www.futuremarketinsights.com
# 578 Words
616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,,Manager3479183531Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531
Global revenue from the sales of perfume ingredient chemicals was valued at US$ 5,254.1 Mn in 2017 and is projected to reach a market value of US$ 8,967.3 Mn by 2027 end, increasing at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period i.e. between 2017 and 2027. According to a new publication by Future Market Insights titled Perfume Ingredient Chemicals Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012 2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017 2027), most of the companies manufacturing perfume ingredient chemicals focus on manufacturing fragrances and materials with synthetic chemicals. The expert analysts of Future Market Insights have observed that the personal care and cosmetics industry will witness major opportunities for growth and is all set to help market players increase their market share and business revenue.Global Perfume Ingredient Chemicals Market: RestraintsHigh cost of raw materials and lack of low tier manufacturingLow awareness of greener products and low production growthHigh cost of extracting raw ingredients and expensive research & development programmesRaw material price fluctuations and high cost of petroleum based fuelsGrowing concerns regarding the harmful effects of using aggressive ingredientsRequest For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6131 Global Perfume Ingredient Chemicals Market: Forecast by ApplicationOn the basis of application, the global perfume ingredient chemicals market is segmented into fine fragrance, home care, laundry care, personal care, cosmetics, and others. The fine fragrance segment accounted for a significant market value share of 22.3% in 2017, followed by the personal care segment. The personal care segment is expected to remain dominant till 2027. This segment is also expected to remain the most lucrative during the forecast period.Global Perfume Ingredient Chemicals Market: Forecast by Product TypeProduct type segmentation comprises synthetic aroma chemicals and essential oils. Synthetic aroma chemicals segment is further segmented into alcohols, esters, ethers, ketone, and others. Essential oils segment is sub-segmented into orange, citronella, peppermint, eucalyptus and others. Synthetic aroma chemicals segment is anticipated to witness the highest value CAGR of 5.7% in the global perfume ingredient chemicals market. Cost factor is expected to move market players to adopt synthetic products; further, a global trend towards green products is expected to create lucrative opportunities for manufacturers of essential oils owing to a growing consumer preference for herbal products.Global Perfume Ingredient Chemicals Market: Forecast by RegionAsia Pacific is estimated to be the most lucrative regional market in terms of revenue generation in the global perfume ingredient chemicals market, valued at US$ 1,198.0 Mn in 2017 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.2% over the forecast period. Within the Asia Pacific, China & India are expected to remain in a dominant position for perfume ingredient chemicals demand. In terms of growth, following the Asia Pacific are several European countries such as Italy, France, and U.K. A noteworthy increase in sales in other developing markets such as Brazil, Russia, Turkey, GCC countries and South Africa is anticipated over the forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-6131 Global Perfume Ingredient Chemicals Market: Key PlayersSensient Technologies Corporation, BASF SE, Eternis Fine Chemicals, YingYang (China) Aroma Chemical Group, KDAC CHEM Pvt. Ltd., Frutarom Harmony Organics Pvt. Ltd., Atul Ltd, GODAVARI BIOREFINERIES LTD, Givuadan Firmenich, International Flavors and Fragrances Inc., Symrise, Takasago International Corporation, MANA SE, Robertet SA, T. Hasegawa USA, Huabao International Holdings Limited, Zhejiang, Xinhua Chemical Co., Ltd, Henkel AG & Co KGaA ADR, and Charkit Chemical Company LLC are some of the leading companies operating in the global market that have been profiled in this report.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 18:50:25
Press Information
Published by
ACCESSWIRE News Network
888.952.4446
e-mail
http://www.accesswire.com
# 388 Words
ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Podiatrist and business owner, Schlomo Schmuel announced today a new investment in the pursuit of academic excellence with the launch of Dr. Schlomo Schmuel's Scholarship program. Providing three scholarships, the program is designed to award students who showcase initiative and academic excellence at the post-secondary level.Schlomo Schmuel's Scholarship program is open to students who have been accepted in or are currently enrolled in a college or university program. Applications are currently being accepted online until May 20. One winner will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship and two awardees with be selected for $750 scholarships.An entrepreneur specializing in Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Schmuel has built nine Los Angeles-based clinics, serving patients throughout Southern California with foot and ankle conditions. Dr. Schmuel attended the College of Podiatric Medicine at Kent State University and performed his Residency in Podiatric Surgery at the University of Southern California Medical Center."The goal of the Schlomo Schmuel Scholarship program is to encourage the pursuit of academic excellence at all levels," said Dr. Schmuel. "By shining a light on students who show both promise and initiative, we can promote a deeper and wider respect for the importance of learning and those who dedicate themselves to its pursuit." Program applicants will be judged on a variety of criteria, including academic accomplishments, non-academic accomplishments, awards, recommendations, personal statements, volunteer efforts, as well as independent diligence, including research of available public information. Applicants must show a GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.0 scale and evidence of enrollment in or acceptance of enrollment in a degree program at a four-year accredited college or university within the United States for the 2019-2020 academic year.About Dr. Schlomo SchmuelSchlomo Schmuel, DPM is a successful entrepreneur who built a thriving business specializing in Podiatric Medicine. As the owner of Sunset Foot Clinic, he has specialized in podiatric care for nearly 25 years. As a matter of fact, he has been serving patients on Sunset Boulevard adjacent to The Happy Foot/Sad Foot sign on the border between Silver Lake and Echo Park for a large portion of his professional career.Visit https://schlomoschmuelscholarship.com to apply. Applications must be received via the online application portal before May 20, 2019.Application or scholarship questions should be directed to: info@ schlomoschmuelscholarship.com SOURCE: Dr. Schlomo Schmuel & Sunset Foot Clinic
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 18:32:55
Press Information
Published by
ACCESSWIRE News Network
888.952.4446
e-mail
http://www.accesswire.com
# 924 Words
ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / Skeena Resources Limited ( TSX.V: SKE, OTCQX: SKREF) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that metallurgical optimizations as well as a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"), for the Eskay Creek Project ("Eskay Creek") have been initiated. The Company also welcomes Stacy Freudigmann, P.Eng., to the Skeena team as Project Manager for the aforementioned studies. Eskay Creek is endowed with excellent infrastructure including road access, proximity to recently commissioned 195MW run-of-river hydroelectric facilities, tailings storage capacity and historical underground development situated less than 100 metres from existing mineral resources.Phase I Metallurgical OptimizationsDemonstrated metallurgy from the past producing Eskay Creek mine involved a 350 TPD flotation plant with average gold and silver recoveries of 80% and 92% respectively. Gravity separation of gold accounted for 10-30% of preliminary separation. Sulphide concentrates were subsequently transported via truck to either the Port of Stewart for further smelting in Japan or trucked to Kitwanga for loading onto rail cars and transported to a smelter in Quebec.Notwithstanding the proven historical process associated with flotation, the Company will be investigating the amenability of the Eskay Creek blended mineralization to leaching.The Blue Coast Research Group ("Blue Coast"), located in Parksville British Columbia, is currently undertaking the metallurgical investigations and subsequent optimizations. Blue Coast provides metallurgical laboratory test work services, specializing in precious and base metals, metallurgical flowsheet development, evaluation of processes and technologies including grinding, froth flotation, gravity concentration, leaching, heap leaching, to full continuous pilot plant testing.The Phase I metallurgical testing is proceeding on schedule with results anticipated in Q2 2019.Preliminary Economic AssessmentAusenco Engineering Canada Inc. ("Ausenco") has been engaged to perform a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Eskay Creek. The PEA will contemplate an open pit mining scenario with a small up-front contribution of underground resources. Dependent on the results of the metallurgical optimizations, subsequent trade-off analyses will contemplate either the leaching or flotation processes. The Eskay Creek PEA is scheduled for completion in Q3 2019.Ausenco is a global diversified engineering, construction and project management company providing consulting, project delivery and asset management solutions to the resources, energy and infrastructure sectors. Ausenco's experience in gold projects ranges from conceptual, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for new project developments to project execution with EPCM and EPC delivery. Ausenco is currently engaged on a number of global projects with similar characteristics and opportunities to Eskay Creek.New Project Manager Strengthens Operational TeamStacy Freudigmann P.Eng., is a metallurgist with over 20 years' experience, specializing in areas of mining management, metallurgy and process engineering, project management and development. He possesses extensive experience in evaluating, directing and coordinating engineering for mineral development projects and managing process operations and production. Stacy brings with him the proven capability to oversee large engineering studies for clients, including Prefeasibility and Feasibility studies, as well as the proven ability to solve complex metallurgical and process issues. His founding of Canenco Consulting Corp. ("Canenco") in 2010 has seen him assist multiple mining and engineering companies around the world such as Nystar N.V., Sabina Gold & Silver Corp., Lion One Metals Ltd., SRK Consulting Inc., Dalradian Resources Inc. and more. Other operational, technical and management experience includes Pebble Limited Partnership working with Northern Dynasty and Anglo American, Hunter Dickinson Inc., Taseko Mines Ltd and Placer Dome.About SkeenaSkeena Resources Limited is a junior Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing prospective precious and base metal properties in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company's primary activities are the exploration and further development of the past-producing Eskay Creek and Snip mines, both optioned from Barrick. In addition, the Company has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the GJ copper-gold porphyry project.Qualified PersonsExploration activities at the Eskay Creek Project are administered on site by the Company's Exploration Managers, Colin Russell, P.Geo. and Adrian Newton, P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities on its exploration projects.On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited,Walter Coles Jr.President & CEOCautionary note regarding forward-looking statementsCertain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of fut
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 10:37:02
OAG uncovers developing golden airport triangle in Asia; London Heathrows European dominance continues
Key findings:
1. South Korea Jeju (CJU) to Seoul (GMP) is the busiest route on the planet, with 79,460 flights annually.
2. Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore (SIN) is the busiest international route in the world, with 30,187 operating flights.
3. New York (LGA) to Toronto (YYZ) is the busiest international route outside of Asia, with 17,038 annual operating flights.
4. Two of the busiest international routes worldwide arrive in London Heathrow (LHR), with service from New York (JFK) and Dublin (DUB) ranking 13th and 15th, respectively.
South Korea is Home to Busiest Route on the Planet
Caroline Mather
OAG
pressoffice@oag.com
OAG, the worlds leading provider of travel data and insight, today revealed the Busiest Routes in the world. OAGs analysis, which is based on operating flight volume, includes insight into on-time performance (OTP) and carrier frequency at the route level, both domestically and internationally.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005
(Photo: Business Wire)
The busiest routes in the world can be found in the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to 15 of the top 20 international, and 13 of the top 20 domestic routes globally. The busiest route on the planet is South Korea Jeju (CJU) to Seoul (GMP), with 79,460 annual operating flights. For a second straight year, Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore (SIN) is the worlds busiest international route (30,187 flights annually), followed by Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE), with 28,447 flights.
The busiest international routes outside of Asia are from New York (LGA) to Toronto (YYZ) and Chicago OHare (ORD) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ). In North America, Toronto (YYZ) is featured in five of the top 10 international markets. Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO) is the busiest route in North America and ninth busiest in the world.
London Heathrow is the only European hub with routes (from New York JFK and Dublin) ranking among the top 20 busiest international. Within Europe, Amsterdam (AMS) to London (LHR) is the third-busiest international route, with 13,115 operating flights annually.
Asia is once again home to the worlds busiest routes. In addition to the dominant role played by Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta have become Asias new golden triangle, offering similar benefits to major U.S. hubs, Boston, New York and Washington, said John Grant, senior analyst with OAG. While Asia and North America lead the global rankings, connectivity at London Heathrow remains critical for global air travel, with seven of the regions busiest long-haul routes ending at the airport.
OAGs full analysis includes regional insights for Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Middle East and Africa, with short, medium and long-haul route categorization. For OAGs full criteria and more insights, access the complete analysis here.
About OAG
OAG is a leading global travel data provider, that has been powering the growth and innovation of the air travel ecosystem since 1929.
Every day, we support millions of journeys across the globe, enabling a simpler, seamless and more enjoyable travel experience. With the worlds largest network of schedules and status data, and leading-edge analytics tools, we enable our customers to make smarter decisions, better adapt to change and create exceptional customer experiences.
We partner with some of the biggest global brands, airports, airlines, travel operators and fast-growing start-ups to design the best services available today, and the finest innovations of tomorrow.
Headquartered in the UK, OAG has global operations in the USA, Singapore, Japan, Lithuania and China.
For more information, visit: www.oag.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005
South Korea is Home to Busiest Route on the Planet. OAG uncovers developing golden airport triangle in Asia; London Heathrows European dominance continues
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 14:07:00
Press Information
Published by
ACCESSWIRE News Network
888.952.4446
e-mail
http://www.accesswire.com
# 610 Words
ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / The Board of Directors of Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. ("Viridium" or the "Company") (TSXV: VIR) (OTC Pink: VIRFF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Kamini Hitkari to the position of Chief Financial Officer, commencing on March 26, 2019.Ms. Hitkari joins Viridium from Aurora Cannabis where she was the Vice President of Strategic Finance. Previously, Ms. Hitkari was with HSBC Bank Canada for over ten years at its head office in Vancouver, where she was most recently a Director of Finance for one of HSBC's lines of business. She began her career with KPMG (Victoria) earning a CPA, CA designation, and subsequently moved to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Vancouver). She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria."We're excited to welcome Kamini to Viridium as our new CFO," said Viridium CEO, Jay Garnett. "Kamini brings extensive financial, operational, and strategic experience. This, combined with her knowledge of the cannabis industry and experience in scaling high-growth companies, will be a huge asset to Viridium as we enter our next phase of growth and further our mission. We thank Ms. Wong for her service and contributions over the year as CFO and assisting the Company in finding her replacement. We are delighted that Ms. Wong will continue the role as the Company's Corporate Secretary." Ms. Hitkari will succeed Ms. Winnie Wong, who has served as Viridium's Chief Financial Officer since 2018 and will remain as the Corporate Secretary of the Company and a strategic advisor to the Company during the transition period.In addition, the Company issued stock options to its officer that will be exercisable to acquire 250,000 common shares at $0.65 per share until March 26, 2022 and granted 181,250 RSUs to its directors and a former director, of which 50,000 vested immediately into common shares and the remaining 131,250 RSUs will vest 12 months after the directors resign.About ViridiumViridium Pacific Group Ltd. is the parent company of Experion Biotechologies Inc., a Health Canada licensed cultivation and processor of cannabis, based in Mission, BC and EFX labs, a medical products production and clinical research company based out of Calgary, AB.More information about Viridium can be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com For further information:Viridium Pacific Group Ltd.Jarrett MalnarichTel: (604) 837-8688info@ viridiumpacific.com DisclosureThis press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, forecast, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities; recent market volatility; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; the risks identified in the Filing Statement, and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to the Filing Statement dated September 25, 2017 and/or the most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com SOURCE: Viridium Pacific Group Ltd.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-03-26 13:29:05
Press Information
Published by
ACCESSWIRE News Network
888.952.4446
e-mail
http://www.accesswire.com
# 747 Words
ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2019 / EVITRADE Health Systems Corp. (CSE: EVA, OTCQB: EVAHF) (the "Company") provides overview of the North American Cannabidiol (CBD) industry. The CBD market is projected to be worth more than $20 billion by 2022, according to research firm Brightfield Group.As North America and most parts of the industrialized world look to legalize THC based cannabis products, the world of Hemp-based products has taken on a revival. Not so much for food-based products, but for the specific extracted oils from the plant that contain high concentrations of Cannabidiol or "CBD".In Canada, the Canadian Cannabis Act clears the way for whole hemp plant utilization. Industrial hemp licenses would authorize the intra-industry sale of leaves, flowers and branches (or the whole plant). That means licensed industrial hemp producers could sell the flower to someone who has permits to process and sell CBD-based products from plants that contain less than 0.3% THC in Canada and the United States. The newly enacted Farm Bill in the United States has created opportunities within the CBD sector as well,'' any cannabinoid that is derived from hemp would be considered legal, provided that the production meets all of the federal regulations, state level regulations, and other guidelines in a manner that is consistent with the Farm Bill".The value of Hemp for the Company is not necessarily in the raw biomass but rather in the extracted oils and resulting CBD based products. Biomass is generally is worth .10 - .20 cents per gram, CBD isolate market price is around $7.5/ gram, 50x more price dense per volume. With its Hemp production facility near completion in Nevada, the Company is ready for the demand for its branded hemp-derived CBD based products.EviTrade continues to fulfill its commitment to elevate the human condition through advanced medical solutions and effective health and wellness research and products.Contact:EVITRADE Health Systems Corp.(formerly Auxellence Health Corporation)Email info@ evahealthsystems.com or ceo@ auxellence.com Website http://www.evahealthsystems.com CSE Micro-site: http://thecse.com/en/listings/technology/evitrade-health-systems-corp US OTC Markets (OTCQB): http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/EVAHF/news About EVITRADE Health (CSE: EVA, OTCQB: EVAHF)EVITRADE Health Systems Corp. (formerly, Auxellence Health Corporation), is a technology company specializing in the Health and Life Sciences sector looking to deliver effective personalized health solutions with a higher degree of predictability and consistency.The Company is focused on the following areas to help improve health: personalized medical care (including CBD usage monitoring and effects on the cardiovascular system), molecular biology, nutraceutical solutions and genetic tailoring.DisclaimersThis news release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators and on the OTC Markets website which is posted on www.sedar.com http://thecse.com/en/listings/technology/evitrade-health-systems-corp , and http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/EVAHF/filings.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE or CNSX Markets), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE), or any other regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Company does not undertake to update this news release unless required by applicable law.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.SOURCE: EVITRADE Health Systems Corp.
Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, and Globacoms Executive Vice Chairman, Bella Disu, believe that the digitalization of Africa will play a crucial role in the continents search for regional integration and economic growth.
They expressed the view at a private meeting between the two leaders at the 2019 edition of Africa CEO Forum which kicked off in Kigali, Rwanda, on Monday.
They agreed that the deployment of digital technology would help fast-track the continents march towards economic prosperity, adding that Globacom would be of immense support in driving the digitalization on the continent, especially through the Glo 1 international submarine cable.
President Kagame also commended the success Globacom has made over the years.
The Glo EVC, on her part, said that the company could help Africa achieve a digitalized economy through Glo 1, as well as digital solutions such as mobile money, artificial intelligence, E-Health, Smart Cognitive Learning and Smart Energy.
I commend President Kagame for his exemplary leadership and for the tremendous success Rwanda has achieved under him, Mrs Disu said. Like President Kagame, I have no doubt that greater integration will lead to continental growth and a more prosperous Africa. Globacom is committed to Africas economic renaissance.
Earlier, President Kagame, while declaring open the Africa CEO Forum, called for open, responsive and accountable governance on the continent, saying the private sector was critical to growth because of its ability to envision what needs to be changed to achieve desired improvement in the private and public sectors.
Speaking later when she chaired a session on Women in Business, Mrs Disu applauded Rwandas policy of 50 per cent female representation in appointments as a good model. She also called for more gender parity on the boards of companies.
Dignitaries at the opening session of the Forum included Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbe Ethiopian President, Sahle-Work Zewde; Cote dIvoires Prime Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly; Prime Minister of Rwanda, Edouard Ngirente, President of Congo Democratic Republic, Felix Tshisekedi.
The session was also attended by over 1800 leading decision makers in the private and public sectors from different parts of Africa and beyond.
Organisers describe the annual Africa CEO Forum as the foremost international meeting for African CEOs and investors. The gathering, now in its seventh edition, is holding between 25 and 26 March 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda.
(CNN) A math and physics teacher from rural Kenya, who gives away 80% of his monthly income to help the poor, has won a $1 million prize.
Peter Tabichi, who is also a Franciscan brother, was awarded the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize on Sunday.
He teaches at a rural Kenyan school in Pwani Village, with only one computer, poor internet and a student-teacher ratio of 58:1. Nearly all his students are from poor families, and almost a third of them are orphans or have only one parent.
Tabichi gets online educational content by visiting internet cafes and using them offline in class, according to his profile from the Varkey Foundation.
He guided the school's science club, in which students now compete in national and international competitions. The mathematical science team qualified to compete the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair this year in Arizona. His students also won an award from the Royal Society of Chemistry after using local plant life to generate electricity.
"Everyday in Africa we turn a new page and a new chapter. Today is another day," Tabichi told the foundation. "This prize does not recognize me but recognizes this great continent's young people."
Tabichi's students face many challenges, including food scarcity, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies and young marriages. Yet at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School where Tabichi teaches, enrollment has doubled over three years and more of the students are going on to college, according to his profile.
"You have to do more and talk less," Tabichi said.
He accepted the award from actor Hugh Jackman, who hosted the ceremony in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
This story was first published on CNN.com, "Kenyan teacher who gives away 80% of his salary is awarded a $1M global prize."
This 5 ft 8 inches beauty, who hails from an orthodox Gowda family from Mandya, started modelling model while studying engineering. Soon after her photos started making the rounds, and she ventured into Tamil films. Her journey took her to new destinations including her debut in the Hindi film Rangrezz. Akshara Gowda, who has been busy with her Tamil movies had actually signed her first Kannada film titled Premadalli but for some reason, it never took off. Eventually she made it big with Yogaraj Bhats Panchatantra in which she plays a character called Artha which means meaning. The actress who underwent depression talks to Bengaluru Chronicle on how she overcame the problem with medical treatment along withe support from her family and her close friends who stood beside her during the toughest phase of her life, and more.
After my debut in Tamil and Hindi, I was looking forward to my first film in Kannada, which is my mother tongue. I signed my first Kannada movie which was titled Premadalli but for some reasons, it did not take off and as they say the right things happen at the right time, and so Panchatantra happened to me. I guess, destiny had bigger plans with my Kananda debut. Moreover working with Yogaraj Bhat is like entering into an institution and coming out of it as a graduate. After working with him, I can now talk something about my acting skills. The entire team is so skilful and to portray a female character etched by Yogaraj is treat by itself for an artiste, says Akshara Gowda.
The actress who graduated from SKIT College in Bengaluru as an engineer, recalls how she landed in the film industry. Even during my college days, my height which is 5.8 paved the way for several modelling assignments and during one such assignment with Santhosh Sivan, he suggested that I could do more than just ramp walks. I never looked back after that I started taking things as it came. As far as Kannada films were concerned, I was not offered any projects and hence took time to realise my wish to work in my mother tongue, she adds.
In Panchatantra, she plays the role of Artha, which has shades of a tomboyish character, but the actress explains that it is a complex character. It is difficult to understand Artha but it is she who foresees other characters in the movie. It was an honour to depict such a strong female character but the director shows her in the most subtle manners.
About facing depression, Akshara shares, I get very emotional when I talk about it and always hope that my fight against it could help at least one person to identify it in their life and overcome it effectively. I could do it because of the strong bond I share with my parents especially my father and my friends, she says adding, Initially it was ethargy and then the depression followed , which made me realise that I needed immediate help. It is according to me is no less than a cancer. When a serious illness is diagnosed, a patient is medically treated but people hesitate when it comes to mental illness. I come from an orthodox family and going public about mental illness would easily lead to several consequences and even becomes difficult to get married in the end. But it was my father, who stood beside me and pushed me to get it treated, she says.
She goes onto add that her fathers word yede gundabardu which means that one should not lose faith and become weaker, helped her grab herself and face it with a braveheart.
Akshara concludes by adding that apart from a web series in Hindi, she is excited with the release of her Kannada film. She confesses that her family members are eagerly waiting to see her on the big screen in the state soon.
Authorities in the United States have dropped all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett.
The Empire actor was indicted earlier this month for allegedly faking an attack against himself and later lying to the police in Chicago about it.
After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollets volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, American media quoted a statement from the office of the Cook County States Attorney as saying Tuesday. We believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.
The statement comes as Mr Smollett was expected to appear for trial at the Cook County Courthouse in Chicago Tuesday morning.
He was accused of faking a brutal, racist attack against himself, during which his attackers allegedly hurled racial epithets at him.
Abel and Ola Osundairo, two brothers of Nigerian descent, were later said to have been hired carry out the attack, with People Magazine later reporting that the brothers apologised for their involvement in the scandal that reverberated across the world.
Mr Smollett was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement, his lawyer, Patricia Brown Holmes, said in a statement.
The lawyer added that Mr Smolletts record in the criminal database had been wiped clean following the development, which many on social media received with shock Tuesday.
Burundi has released three schoolgirls who were detained for scribbling on President Pierre Nkurunzizas picture in textbooks which led to international outcry.
The three were the last still being held from a group of seven children arrested earlier February in Kirundo province, in Burundis northeast some 200 kilometres from the commercial capital Bujumbura.
All were accused of insulting Mr Nkurunziza by defacing his image.
A regional court in Kirundo had decided last Wednesday to proceed with a full trial against the three.
But Aimee Kanyana, the Minister for Justice, told state broadcaster RTNB that the girls had been given provisional release. Future cases would result in prosecutions, she said.
She added that we call on parents to strengthen the education of their children.
We remind children that they have to respect authorities, that the age of criminal responsibility is 15.
Next time, justice will clamp down on such behaviours.
The arrest of the schoolgirls resulted in an online campaign, with users using the social media hashtag #freeourgirls to post pictures of the president defaced with clown wigs, twirly moustaches, pointy ears, and bloody fangs.
With so many real crimes being committed in Burundi, its tragic that children are the ones being prosecuted for harmless scribbles, Human Rights Watch Central Africa Director, Lewis Mudge, wrote.
Members of the ruling partys youth wing have killed, arbitrarily arrested, abducted, beaten, raped, and intimidated real and perceived political opponents with impunity, Mudge wrote last week.
Authorities should focus on holding perpetrators of serious rights violations to account instead of jailing school children for doodles.
Burundi denies that its ruling party carries out systematic human rights violations.
Mr Nkurunziza has been in power since 2005. His decision to stand for a third term in 2015 was called illegal by the opposition, triggering protests and a failed coup.
In 2016, 11 children were jailed on accusations of defacing photos of Mr Nkurunziza in a textbook, and more than 300 students at a school in the capitals Ruziba neighbourhood were expelled.
Early this month, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said Burundi had forced the UN to close its local human rights office after 23 years.
In 2016, Burundi stopped cooperating with the UN human rights office in Burundi after a UN-commissioned report accused the government and its supporters of committing crimes against humanity. (Reuters/NAN)
A call on African countries to reinvigorate their quest for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 rang out from the hills of Kigali, Rwandas capital, a fortnight ago. The event was one of the largest biennial health gatherings in the continent the Africa Health Agenda International Conference 2019 (AHAIC).
To advance the critical conversations initiated in Nairobi, Kenya at AHAIC 2017, 1500 participants from over 40 countries gathered at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) between March 5 and 7 for this years conference.
The upbeat mood, buoyed in large part by the ambiance of the event centre, was interrupted by the urgency of seeking ways to tackle the numerous challenges bedeviling the health system in Africa.
Co-hosted by the Ministry of Health of Rwanda and the African Medical and Research Foundation (Amref Health Africa), AHAIC 2019 focused on the greatest health challenges facing Africa under the theme 2030 Now: Multi-sectoral Action to Achieve UHC in Africa.
The participants confronted the stack reality that Africa is falling behind in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Three, one of the 17 goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030.
Achieving UHC by 2030 is the central target of SDG 3.8.
Targets of SDG 3 include ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age by 2030.
However, five children under five years of age are still dying from preventable causes every five minutes in Africa, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
AHAIC, now in its second edition, arose from the need for home-grown solutions, innovations, political commitments and lessons from successes and setbacks of other countries in achieving affordable health for all.
Here are some of the talking points at the conference.
Affordable health for the poor and vulnerable
Providing an affordable option for Africas poorest will determine whether countries achieve SDG 3, which is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all by 2030, Githinji Gitahi, CEO Amref Health, explained in his first press briefing.
Financial protections for the vulnerable is embedded in what universal health coverage means by definition, which is a concept that overall looks at how to provide quality health services to people without them struggling to afford it.
Eleven million Africans are pushed into poverty every year by medical expenses, according to the WHO.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, health services are mostly paid for out-of-pocket and those gravely affected already live far below the poverty line.
Universal health coverage is about equity, not equality, Gitahi said. Services must first be built for the vulnerable. With that, governments show that the services are responding to equity.
Poverty and ill health are intimately linked in many developing countries, particularly in Africa where public health services are severely strained. A report by the UK Institute of Development Studies suggests that public healthcare services often provide limited benefits to the poor.
Experts at the conference agreed that achieving UHC would require increased access for the marginalised populations and heightened financial support from both governments and public-private partnerships. It would also require improved health service quality and ways to hold governments and health providers accountable to citizens.
Health Insurance: Learning from Successes and Failures of other African Countries
One countrys success story is anothers gain, just as one countrys loss is anothers lesson.
AHAIC 2019 had both setbacks and success stories. A working and affordable Health insurance and finance mechanism is a major driver for UHC.
Host country, Rwanda and their neighbors, Kenya and Ethiopia were exemplified for advancing UHC through various health financing mechanisms.
In Rwanda, community-based insurance has provided the modern social security we want for our people, Rwandas Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Patrick Ndimubanzi, said.
This health insurance scheme is financed by both the national government and individuals through insurance and fees for services.
Members pay annual premiums at a flat rate based on their economic status, regardless of individual health risks, which can then be used for discounted treatments at community health centers.
Health insurance became mandatory for all individuals in 2008; in 2010 over 90 per cent of the Rwanda population was covered. In 2012, only about four per cent was uninsured.
This scheme increased the number of women delivering in health facilities from 50 percent in 2010 to 90 percent in 2015, Mr Ndimubanzi noted.
In Kenya, government appeared to have a larger plan of achieving UHC by 2022.
UHC hospital insurance pilot project is currently being tested in four regions troubled with high disease burdens.
Since the launch in December 2018, the government has offered free basic health care services to all citizens holding a UHC card which required the presentation of national identification to register and covers anyone in the household under 18.
Today, 75 percent of all residents [in the pilot counties] have been registered and are holding a UHC card, Rashid Abdi Aman, chief administrative secretary at the Kenya Ministry of Health, said. He explained that health programmes requiring registration may need to be adapted for those who lack identification papers.
Rwanda and Ethiopia were recognised for their exemplary efforts to expand health care access to their population.
While President Paul Kagame of Rwanda received the UHC Presidential Champion Award, Amir Aman, Ethiopian Minister of Health, got the UHC Ministerial Champion Award.
Setbacks: The Nigeria story
All I had built in the scheme now goes down the drain. It hurts, said Dogo Muhammad Waziri, Past Executive Secretary, Nigerias Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in an emotional outburst.
Mr Dogo was a panelist at the side event at the conference organised by the Development Research and Project Centre (DRPC) in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPPS) the groups that led the Nigerian delegation.
The Nigeria delegation at the Africa Health Agenda International Conference
The former executive secretary was dismayed by the failure of his countrys NHIS to deliver 14 years after inception.
It hurts to see that NHIS has always been in the news for the wrong reasons.
Reeling out the grim statistics, Nasirdeen Usman, the Secretary General of NIPPs who anchored the panel, said only five per cent of Nigerians are covered under the NHIS. Of that five per cent, he said only four per cent is in the formal sector with only one percent in the informal sector.
It is as bad as that. In view of this, we want to interrogate why we still have a serious deficit in our journey to UHC.
Many have traced the relatively poor coverage to the structure of the scheme which has been tainted with financial irregularities even before the embattled executive secretary of the scheme, Usman Yusuf, took over in 2016.
Both Mr Dogo and the current Chairperson of the NHIS governing board, Enyantu Ifenne, said the problem is from the act enabling the scheme.
It was resolved that the act should be reviewed and the scheme made compulsory and public inclined.
The last call: Abuja Declaration
The participants called on governments in Africa to take local actions on prior commitments they made, such as the 2016 Tokyo International Conference on African Development and signing of the Universal Health Coverage in Africa Framework for Action.
Adoption of the 2001 Abuja Declaration was the last and ultimate call, however.
It is the realisation of shortfalls in their health systems that made African governments commit in April 2001 to dedicate at least 15 per cent of their annual budgets to the health sector in what is now known as the Abuja Declaration.
Sixteen years later, only about seven countries Rwanda, Botswana, Niger, Zambia, Malawi and Burkina Faso, Togo have met the Abuja target. In 60 per cent of the countries, the health sector share of total government expenditure is below 10 per cent.
Nigeria that hosted the conference has never voted more than six per cent of its annual budget to the health sector.
The highest percentage since the declaration was in 2012 when 5.95 per cent of the budget was allocated to health.
We need to educate our people because from this conference, I can see that many dont know the real situation of our health sector, Lanre Tejuoso, the Chairman, Nigerias Senate Committee on Health, told PREMIUM TIMES shortly after a panel discussion at the conference.
Lanre Tejuoso, the Former NHIS boss Mohammed Dogo Waziri and Chairman, Nigerias Senate Committee on Health, Lanre Tejuosho
He said through good policies, education, and advocacy, the 15 percent benchmark is achievable and can also chart the road-map in achieving UHC.
Mr Tejuoso said the struggle for UHC has been tough in the Senate, noting that there are many unimplemented laws in Nigeria.
First of all, I have to educate and lobby my colleagues on the need for health financing. I started with the Senate President, he said while explaining his role in the inclusion of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) into the countrys annual budget.
The BHCPF is the fundamental funding provision under the National Health Act and was appropriated for the first time in the 2018 budget since the Act was signed in 2014.
Round Up: Health for All
Ensuring that everyone has access to basic health services is a challenge and the key to the success of UHC. That was the key take-home that signaled the stirring end of this years conference.
There is need to ensure that the quality of services is good enough to improve the health of the people who access them, said Michel Sidibe who co-moderated a high-level ministerial panel in a compelling speech.
We need to track the impact of UHC. Coverage is not enough, we need to be delivering quality, affordable, accessible services to all.
The ultimate measure of success for UHC will be whether the poorest, the marginalised and the most vulnerable people are able to benefit.
Eleven parliamentarians from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia launched the Kigali UHC communique, committing to strengthening health systems, addressing health inequities, supporting community health and ensuring universal access to immunisation to drive progress on UHC in their countries.
Former NHIS boss, Mohammed Dogo Waziri speaking at the Nigerian side panel organised by Drpc and nipps.
A new initiative, the Women in Global Health (WGH) Africa Regional Hub , was also launched as a strategy for a greater emphasis on gender equity in the leadership of global health within the continent.
Certainly, AHAIC 2019 has set the stage for the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage which will take place on 23 September 2019 during the United Nations General Assembly under the theme Universal Health Coverage: Moving Together to Build a Healthier World.
Violence, vote trading and intimidation of voters characterised the February 23 supplementary governorship election in Kano State, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) said on Monday in its report of the exercise monitored by 20 of its observers.
The mission said it was disturbed that both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies did little to address the violence and malpractices, which spread to many parts of Kano State.
Also in the statement, the EU said its deployed observers, some of whom were prevented from accessing some polling units, witnessed widespread interference and vote-buying by party agents during the supplementary poll.
Extensive electoral security problems were observed in some areas, with groups of men with weapons intimidating and obstructing the process, and security agencies ineffective at protecting citizens right to vote, the EU said in its report sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday afternoon.
In particular, parts of Kano were largely inaccessible to EU observers, and citizen observers and journalists were also obstructed. EU observers also witnessed increased interference by party agents and cases of vote-buying, the major foreign observers group found.
Supplementary governorship elections were conducted in five states Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto where results from the March 9 initial ballot were declared inconclusive as the margin of victory was less than the cancelled votes.
Notwithstanding the violence across Kano, INEC on Sunday declared Abdullahi Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress winner of the governorship supplementary election, handing the scandal-ridden governor a second term.
Mr Ganduje was trailing Abba Yusuf of the Peoples Democratic Party by about 26,000 votes before the March 9 first ballot was declared inconclusive, but INEC said additional figures from the supplementary election put the governor ahead of his main challenger.
The EU Mission acknowledged general improvements in the supplementary polls, but said these were overshadowed by apparent disregard for ballot secrecy, inability to access some polling units, amongst other issues.
Throughout the day, INEC did not comment on electoral disturbances, despite its overall responsibility for the
election and security arrangements, the observers said. In the polling units that could be fully observed, there were improved logistical arrangements and procedures were mostly followed, although there were problems with secrecy of the ballot.
The mission identified suspected political thugs, who patrolled Kano streets with machetes and other deadly weapons as largely responsible for the brutality which neither police nor INEC could do anything about.
In some areas the environment was intimidating and not conducive to voters free participation in the election.
Party leaderships locally and centrally did not appear to take any steps to rein in supporters and prevent evident violence, intimidation or other misconduct.
In Nasarawa local government area (LGA) in Kano, which accounted for approximately one-third of all registered voters for the supplementary governorship election, EU observers witnessed organised intimidation of voters.
Groups of youths with clubs and machetes patrolled the streets, and people with party agent tags harassed voters. During collation in Kano, EU observers saw that several INEC polling staff had been attacked.Large groups of men with weapons were not contained by the police.
Due to intimidating crowds and disturbances, EU observers in Kano could not access or continue observation in polling units in Dala and Nasarawa LGAs.
The observers also noted previously reported cases of violence against media practitioners on election duty.
The electoral process in Kano was further compromised by the harassment and obstruction of citizen observers, and journalists from BBC Hausa, the Nigerian Television Authority, and TVC. This compromised scrutiny of both polling and collation of results in the affected areas.
Other supplementary elections
Isolated violent incidents also disrupted voting and counting in other states. In Bauchi, EU observers witnessed around 50 people with clubs disrupting counting in one polling unit.
In Benue, election materials were burnt, resulting in the cancellation of polling affecting 13,000 registered voters, and a collation officer carrying result sheets was shot in the leg, the observers group found.
The EU Mission has been in Nigeria on invitation of INEC since January, and is expected to continue its observation until early April. A final report of the EU Mission on the entire 2019 general elections in Nigeria is expected to be made public in June.
INEC did not comment on the violence, but the police said the election was largely peaceful, and skirmishes, where reported, were summarily addressed.
Nigerias central bank (CBN) has slashed the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 14 per cent to 13.50 per cent.
The decision was reached at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the CBN on Tuesday.
The MPR is the rate the CBN lends to commercial banks. It had remained unchanged at 14 per cent for 30 consecutive months or 15 meetings of the MPC, since July 2016. It moved from 12 per cent in June 2016.
The cut in the MPR is the first time since the CBN decided in July 2016 to pursue a tight monetary policy to bring stability to the financial market and engender growth in the countrys economy.
In announcing the committees decision at the end of its 122nd meeting in Abuja, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, said the committee, however, resolved to retain other parameters unchanged.
He said Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) was left at 22.5 per cent, while the liquidity ratio was kept at 30 per cent.
The CRR is the funds kept with the CBN as a minimum deposit a commercial bank must hold as reserves, rather than lend out.
Prior to the meeting, most analysts expected the MPC to retain the rates unchanged.
Details later
The Algerian Army has stepped in to ensure the exit of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from office.
The Chief of Army Staff, Gaed Salah, said in a televised announcement Tuesday that Mr Bouteflika was unfit for office.
The army chief urged an immediate adoption of the countrys Article 102, which allows for a president to vacate office if declared unfit, according to Algerian media.
The development comes days after the 82-year-old leader said he would not stand for reelection for another term, following a wave of protest about six weeks ago.
The protests stemmed from Mr Bouteflikas extended medical vacation in Switzerland, which citizens said was costing the country too much in terms of state business.
Mr Salah was the first to meet Mr Bouteflika when the ailing leader returned home to announce he would not stand for election again earlier this month.
Mr Bouteflika, however, postponed the scheduled presidential elections to allow for some issues to be resolved.
Mr Salah said the military was with the people, and their demand for a new leader would be looked into.
The military chief has now urged the country to activate constitutional provisions to ease Mr Bouteflika out of office without crisis.
It was not immediately clear how Mr Bouteflika would respond to the call, especially as the military represents a crucial decider in power formation in Algeria.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Africa and other groups have condemned attacks on journalists during the 2019 general elections.
Reports from the media and election situation rooms indicated several journalists and election observers were attacked during the polls while others were denied access to cover election proceedings.
Groups including Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, (PTCIJ) BBC World Service Group, YAIGA Africa, Connected Development (CODE) have condemned the attacks.
The community to Protect Journalist (CPJ), and The International Press Centre (IPC) also condemned the attacks.
The groups also urged the federal government to ensure a safe environment for journalists during subsequent elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), conducted the Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 23, while governorship and state assembly elections were held on March 9. Supplementary elections in five states were held on March 23.
The BBC in a statement emailed to PREMIUM TIMES, condemned the harassment of two of its reporters during the governorship election dscribing it as completely unacceptable.
Dooshima Abu, was assaulted on February 27. The BBC reporter was assigned to film a procession in front of the Benue State government house when she was attacked by a policewoman and other people.
On March 9, Ajoke Ulohotse, was assigned to monitor voting proceedings around a polling unit along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway when she was attacked by Mr Segun Adewale, popularly known as Aeroland, a prominent member of the ADP in the Alimosho local government. In both instances, the reporters were assaulted by more than one person, the statement said.
When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Adewales spokesperson, Ajala Adeboye, in a telephone interview, he debunked the claims, admitting that he did say he was going to slap her (reporter) but later did not do so.
Two PREMIUM TIMES journalists were harassed at the governorship and supplementary elections in Plateau and Sokoto states.
Kunle Sanni, a PREMIUM TIMES journalist was abducted by political thugs for taking pictures during the governorship elections in Plateau.
He was later released after he was forced to delete the pictures.
Taiwo-Hassan Adebayo, also a PREMIUM TIMES journalist, during the governorship supplementary election, was harassed by the police in Magajin Garri Ward, Sokoto North Local Government Area when he was trying to access one of the polling units.
Reactions
The Head of West Africa Languages for BBC World Service, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, said the harassment of journalist is completely unacceptable.
Harassment of journalists who are simply doing their jobs is completely unacceptable. Our reporters should not have to face physical threats or intimidation and we call on the authorities to take action to protect the freedom of the media, Ms Ogunseye said.
Oluwatosin Alagbe, Deputy Program Director (PTCIJ), in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES said: Its disappointing that the very institution tasked with the mandate to create a safe and secure environment for every Nigerian, including journalists is found wanting again despite the uproar from Nigerians during the last elections.
IPC Director, Lanre Arogundade, in a statement published on its website said: The rights of journalists to monitor and report election activities as guaranteed by various regulatory frameworks such as the Electoral Act, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage have not been respected as expected.
Angela Quintal, CPJ Africa program coordinator, in New York, in a statement also published on its website said: Nigeria must act to ensure journalists can work safely during elections, and the first step is to hold responsible those who attacked or impeded the media during the recent polls.
YAIGA Africa also condemned the attacks.
The attack on journalists and civil society actors during the 2019 elections is condemnable. During the March 9 elections, journalists and observers were intimidated, abducted and assaulted, it said.
CODEs Chief of Mission on Election Observation, Hamzat Lawal, also weighed in.
CODE condemns the acts of intimidation, threats and assaults of some journalists and observers by thugs and party loyalists.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday, fixed April 4 for ruling in the no- case- submission filed by Maryam Sanda, charged with the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Ms Sanda was charged with the murder of Mr Bello, a son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Haliru Bello.
The accused was charged alongside her mother, Maimuna Aliyu; her brother, Aliyu Sanda; and their house-help, Sadiya Aminu.
Mr Bello died in November 2017.
They were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on culpable homicide and conspiracy.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Judge, Yusuf Halilu, adjourned after listening to submissions of all counsel on the adoption of addresses on the no- case- submission.
During the court session on Tuesday, Mrs Sandas counsel, Olusegun Jolaawo, in his submission told the court that the prosecution had not made a prima facie case against the first defendant to warrant her to enter a defence.
According to Mr Jolaawo, the evidence brought by the prosecution before the court were done away with by cross-examination.
He then urged the court to uphold that there is no case to answer by the first defendant and discharge her of the allegation against her.
In his part, counsel to the second, third and fourth defendants, Hussein Musa, urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendants because the prosecution did not adduce enough evidence to warrant them to enter a defence.
Responding, prosecuting counsel, Fidelis Ogbobe, told the court that the prosecution had made out enough evidence to warrant the defendants to enter a defence.
He said there is enough evidence that linked the first defendant and others to the crime which they have to answer to.
Mr Ogbobe, therefore, urged the court to reject the no- case submission of the defendants and allow them to enter a defence.
Tje prosecution closed its case on January 22 after calling six witnesses.
The first defendant counsel, Mr Jolaawo and Mr Musa, counsel for three other defendants, thereafter informed the court that they were going to file a no- case- submission.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday congratulated First Bank Nigeria on its 125th anniversary, which he said historically and remarkably marked the commencement of banking in the country in 1894.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president felicitated with the bank on behalf of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and Nigerians in general.
Mr Buhari joined the financial services industry, particularly the banking sector, in celebrating the purposefulness, prudence and propriety that has become the hallmark of the bank for more than a century and quarter.
He also congratulated the board, management and staff for upholding the vision of the founder, Alfred Lewis Jones.
The president saluted the vision and strength of character of the management in providing a voice for the Nigerian economy by rendering competitive financial services that had culminated in spread of branches across the country, Africa and Europe.
According to him, as the oldest bank in Nigeria, the FBN has lived up to the expectation of customers over the years, both private and public, necessitating its survival and continuous service as a formidable training ground for many Nigerian bankers and chief executives.
He noted that such chief executives had also established banks and served the country as Governors of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
While celebrating the milestone and great achievements of FBN, the president commended banks in the country for generally supporting government policies in buoying the economy.
He especially lauded banks for their renewed focus on infrastructural development and providing financial lifelines for businesses.
He, however, urged them to always explore partnerships that would benefit the country and promote trust.
(NAN)
The Nigerian government has begun a process for the digitalisation and standardisation of street naming and numbering across the country.
The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the second meeting of the National Addressing System (NAS) Committee.
He said it has become necessary for the country to adjust the NAS from analogue to digital.
Mr Shittu explained how difficult it is for people to locate various places within the country.
If more than two streets have the same name within a state, the postal man to discharge messages to a street will be confused about the location to go to, he said.
The minister said the NAS committees move will tackle such challenge and aid accessibility.
The postal code will also be adjusted in the plan.
.
Mr Shittu is also the Chairman of NAS committee.
He said postcode and addressing are as important as the mobile phones people use regularly.
Mr Shittu said the NAS is aimed at positively impacting on the economy and social development in the country.
NAS is domiciled at the Nigeria Postal Service through the Federal Ministry of Communications.
In other countries, even before development, they were well planned, road connections are seen. But the contrast is the case in Nigeria, he said.
He said the only planned cities in Nigeria are Abuja and Port Harcourt.
We want to ensure that we are able to identify everybodys address by the name of the street and postal code also, he said.
He said the government can not fund the implementation of the NAS programme, hence, strategies will be developed to attract funding partners to participate in the activities with shared benefit in focus.
Mr Shittu emphasised the need to set up addressing infrastructure items such as National Addressing Data Ecosystem (NADE), that will enhance the performance of the NAS.
He said the approval for the infrastructure items was granted last year by the National Economic Council.
NADE will comprise software that will link all addressing Data GIS offices in all the 774 local government areas through their state offices to the National Addressing Database, he said.
The National Database and the National Bureau of Statistics portal are essential for the easy take off of the Addressing Data Collection from the field, Mr Shittu said.
Interested software developers are expected to participate in an open procurement process for the development of the addressing software and associated tools for its management, he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Musa Istifanus, said the NAS committees responsibilities are vast, thus, require adequate planning and timelines to achieve seamless project implementation.
He urged the committee members to perform their duties for the socio-economic development of the country.
The NAS committee are urged to bring their expertise to bear in the discharge of this national assignment , which is to build a dependable National Addressing System, he said.
The National Secretary of NAS, Julius Anjorin, said the committee is to ensure that every Individual is accessible in Nigeria.
In Nigeria, a lot of places are not properly addressed, NAS will ensure that all nook and cranny is addressed, he said.
Streets are going to be named, they are going to be named digitally and electronically, he said.
He said the digitalisation will assist in commerce, building and also attract foreign investors.
17% of the patients were on the right treatment path according to scientific international guidelines.
Hyderabad: A massive 83 per cent of cancer patients in India are mistreated, according to findings by an online cancer care platform, the report of which was published in the American Society for Clinical Oncology.
The online platform is a site that patients approach for second opinion. It was found that in the case of 15 per cent of the patients, the treatment was completely wrong.
The forum which carried out the study with data of 365 patients, found that 27 per cent were not being given the right chemotherapy drugs and 41 per cent did not undergo complete tests. Only 17 per cent of the patients were on the right treatment path according to scientific international guidelines.
Dr Amit Jotwani, co-founder of the online cancer care platform, said, When we say that 83 per cent patients are mistreated, it means that they are not getting optimal treatment. It means that there is better treatment or the best possible treatment which can be given to them.
Dr Jotwani explained that cancer is a complex disease and required multi-disciplinary and evidence-based approach.
It has been found that Indian patients do not get access to multi-disciplinary care which is the major reason for higher deaths. A multi-disciplinary review means doctors of three specialities surgical, medical and radiation oncology must attend, then outcomes can be improved, Dr Jotwani said.
The study noted that practicing doctors in India may sometimes not get the time to update themselves with latest guidelines and protocols which leads to mistreatment.
Ms Rashie Jain, CEO of the online portal, said the purpose of the study was to understand the adherence to international treatment protocols for cancer patients and the treatment they are undergoing in India.
Gaps in the treatment are also one of the reasons why cancer treatments are not effective in India, opined experts.
According to members of the platform, there have been cases when oncologists have refuted their opinion and told them that it is not right.
The portal gives a detailed written reply to the patient and the right treatment which must be followed.
There have been more than 10,000 queries on the portal.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned until May 7 a suit seeking the disqualification of President Muhammadu Buhari and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, over alleged excess spending on campaigns.
The presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Usman Ibrahim-Alhaji, dragged the duo to court alleging that they both spent over N1 billion each on campaign expenses.
Mr Ibrahim-Alhaji prayed the court to invoke Section 91(2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 to nullify the participation of Messrs Buhari and Abubakar in the February 23 presidential election for allegedly violating the Electoral Act 2010.
The plaintiff through his counsel, Ezekiel Ofou, alleged that by spending over N1 billion each, the two violated the electoral law and were liable to be removed as contestants in the election.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Ofou informed the court that he had served the processes on Messrs Buhari and Abubakar through substituted means as was ordered by the court on March 5.
He, however, acknowledged that even though they were yet to respond, according to the law, they had up till 30 days within which to respond.
He added that since they were served on May 22, they had until April 22 to respond, thereby asked the court for an adjournment to enable the defendants to file their responses.
The judge, Ahmed Mohammed, agreed with the counsel and adjourned the matter until May 7 for further mention.
Mr Mohammed said since the defendants were still within time to respond, it could not be adjourned for hearing, but rather for further mention.
On the last adjourned date, Mr Ofou said he found it extremely difficult to serve the court papers on the two, who were the main defendants in the suit because of the retinue of security around them.
Mr Ofou then moved an ex parte motion in which he prayed the court for an order of substituted service on the two major defendants which was granted by the judge. (NAN)
The Authority Newspaper on Tuesday in Abuja nominated the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, for its Minister of the Year 2018 Award.
The Managing Director of the newspaper, Madu Onuorah, said Mr Onu, a former governor of the old Abia State, was chosen following his outstanding performance in office.
Mr Onuorah added that we are aware that you came into the ministry with an unblemished image as a fine statesman, brilliant scholar, accomplished administrator, prolific author and poet.
A man of great ideas and inventions, as well as a distinguished man of exceptional principle and exemplary character. These qualities
have been displayed in your daily conduct of affairs and we also noted them.
Sir, the board and management of The Authority Newspaper considered you for `Minister of the Year 2018 Award because of your giant
strides.
The managing director said under Mr Onus stewardship, President Muhammadu Buhari signed on February 2, 2018, the landmark Presidential Executive Order No.5 for planning and execution of projects, programmes and contracts with science, engineering and technology components.
According to him, the bold initiative now puts the use of science and technology as key instruments toward realising the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, beginning with the 2017-2020 plan to further diversify economy in a sustainable manner.
He said so, more jobs will be created, poverty and illiteracy reduced, thereby leading to significant improvement in standard of living for our people.
In addition, the Presidential Executive Order No.5 will help to move Nigeria toward developing the necessary local capacity she needs to fight capital flight.
It will also strengthen local manpower development, encourage indigenous technology capacity, enhance national self-reliance and restore national pride.
Mr Onuorah said the formal award ceremony would come up soon.
Mr Onu thanked the Board of Authority Newspaper for assessing his deeds and counting him worthy for the nomination.
In another developing, Mr Onu said the ministry would strengthen its collaboration with May & Baker Pharmaceuticals Limited in formulating
new therapeutic food supplement to manage sickle cell anaemia as major contribution to healthcare delivery.
He made this known during a meeting with the directors-general of agencies under the ministry and directors in Ministry of Science and Technology.
The minister urged the agencies to synergise toward national development.
(NAN)
The Nigerian government has hinted at issuing stronger measures in tackling corruption, money laundering and financing of terrorism and other violent crimes.
The government, in a statement by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), said it will soon unveil significant measures it described as necessary in order to move the country forward.
The NFIU was recently granted operational autonomy from the Economic and Financia Crimes Commission (EFCC), after the signing of a law passed by the National Assembly last year.
President Muhammadu Buharis nominee to head the financial intelligence agency, Modibbo Tukur, was cleared for the post in January.
A statement by NFIUs Ahmed Dikko said the unit is now fully repositioned to commence full operations from 1st April 2019.
The main focus of the NFIU will be to fight all crimes through money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation of weapons real time analyses in the entire country, the statement said.
The unit said it will begin the implementation of the national sanctions regime to all detected areas of vulnerabilities within our systems and issue guidelines and advisories that will affect cash transactions by governments and bureau de change operators.
The Unit will also release new reporting requirements on suspicious transactions for terrorism prone areas and on suspects taken into custody in violent and flashpoint communities to check vices of terrorism, proliferation of small arms, kidnapping, ethnic violence, cattle rustlings etc. with the view to providing credible intelligence for law enforcement and national security.
Mr Dikko further explained that the beneficial ownership database for politically exposed persons and public servants, which has been in the works, will be completed and expanded to capture additional areas.
The new process which includes new approach to analysing compliance in public account expenditures will almost shut down corruption from the way we used to know and new transparency methods will come to governance, the statement added.
The statement further stated that Nigerias recent listing among high risk countries with deficiencies in money laundering and terrorism financing controls, has been objected by the European Union Council.
The listing was officially withdrawn by the Council of Europe on 5th March 2019 while giving room for the European Commission and the European Parliament to align their positions.
The Nigeria government engaged the E.U authorities through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NFIU to reach an understanding, he explained.
The statement urged all entities and individuals to cooperate with the new processes being proposed by the NFIU because the measures are necessary in order to move the country forward.
President Muhammadu Buharis campaign has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of having illegal access to the computer server of the electoral commssion, INEC.
The spokesperson of Mr Buharis campaign, Festus Keyamo, stated this in a petition sent to the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the State Security Service.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the alleged content of the INEC server is one of the major basis of the electoral petition filed by the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, against the re-election of Mr Buhari.
Mr Abubakar claims that by votes on the INEC server, he won the February 23 presidential election and not Mr Buhari as declared by INEC.
It is based on the petition of Mr Abubakar and other factors that Mr Keyamo petitioned the security chiefs accusing the PDP of illegal access to the INEC server.
Read Mr Keyamos full petition as sent to PREMIUM TIMES below.
1. The Inspector-General of Police,
Police Force Headquarters,
Louis Edet House,
Abuja.
2. The Director-General,
Department of State Services,
Aso Drive,
Abuja.
Dear sirs,
PETITION TO INVITE, INTERROGATE AND INVESTIGATE THE PDP LEADERSHIP OVER ITS ADMITTANCE OF ILLEGAL ACCESS TO INECS SERVER
BACKGROUND
1. It would be recalled that an Electoral (Amendment) Bill containing the provision for electronic transmission of results to INECs central computer system (otherwise called server) was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari by the National Assembly for assent late in the year 2018.
2. Despite the shortness of time before the Presidential/National Assembly Elections, and the lack of time to first simulate the process to ensure its effectiveness in a country like ours with problems of effective networks in many rural areas and constant failure of technological devices, together with its violation of the time frame of such laws as provided for in regional and continental Protocols in terms of the length of time required for the passage of such laws before any major election, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was hell-bent that the President should sign the Bill into law. That was the first indication that the main opposition was up to something sinister regarding the electronic transmission of the results.
3. Upon the last-minute postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/National Assembly Elections, the nation was shocked to see already prepared presidential elections results floating around in the cyber space just less than 24 hours after the postponed election was originally billed to hold! The fake results had details of the scores of the candidates of the major parties. Of course, the fake results gave victory to the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, even when elections did not hold.
4. The only conclusion one can draw from the above is that the PDP had prepared those results which were to be smuggled into the INEC Server. However, the sudden postponement of the election scuttled that evil plan, but it was too late to restrain the release of the fake results.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
5. The proper elections were held on February 23, 2019 and President Muhammadu Buhari declared the winner. Despite the approval of the elections as credible by nearly all local and international observers (except some few known PDP acolytes masquerading as local observers), the PDP cried foul and made a shocking claim: it claimed that from purported results it obtained from INECs server, it has so-called proof that its candidate won the election by about 1.6million votes!
6. Shockingly and coincidentally, this margin was about the same margin by which it also purportedly won by the fake results released just hours after the postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/National Assembly Elections.
7. As if this expensive joke was not enough, the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have gone ahead to file an Election Petition against the clear victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and have repeated the same outlandish claim of having access to INECs server which shows that they have some purported results at their disposal giving victory to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
8. Sirs, we wish you to note that INECs server is the back end of electronic records of INEC. This is not INECs website but its server! Although, the purported results have been conclusively shown by public engagements to be false and even ridiculous, especially as the total number of accredited voters is exactly equivalent to the purported votes of the APC and PDP candidates, this criminal claim of the PDP has revealed a few things:
(a) It is now clear that some criminally-minded PDP operatives have access to the INEC server to be able to smuggle in fake results into that server.
(b) The only means by which they could have access to the INEC server is by the criminal hacking of the server or through the criminal conspiracy of some INEC officials.
PRAYERS
The APC Presidential Campaign Council hereby prays that the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services use your good offices to investigate the hacking of and/or illegal tampering with the INEC server by the PDP. The leadership of the PDP must be invited, interrogated and investigated and those identified as perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted.
Opposition is healthy in a democracy but it is not a license for criminality and illegality. A country governed by laws cannot be blackmailed or cowed into indolence by the perceived underdog status of the opposition so as to condone such a blatant criminal claim by the PDP of having illegal access to INECs server.
We trust you will act with alacrity.
Thank you.
The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday urged Governor Gboyega Oyetola to shelve any plans for appellate review of a judgement that sacked him as governor last week.
The election petitions tribunal for the September 2018 governorship election in Osun State declared Ademola Adeleke winner of the election in its March 22 ruling.
The tribunal found that the supplementary election that held on September 28 to make up for the inconclusive September 22 poll was illegal. It, therefore, deducted the scores of both major candidates, and found that Mr Adeleke was the true winner based on the results of the initial ballot.
Nigerian politicians have always appealed such judgements to the highest applicable jurisdiction, and Mr Oyetola is expected to appeal the ruling without delay.
Challenges to governorship and presidential election terminate at Supreme Court, while the Court of Appeal has the final say on complaints arising from parliamentary polls.
The PDP said since Mr Oyetola is a Muslim, a religion that teaches fairness, equality, peace and truthfulness,he should search his conscience and ask this pertinent question did I truly win the governorship election'?
Diran Odeyemi, a PDP spokesperson, in a statement Tuesday, described Mr Oyetola as a refined gentleman, very religious but whose gubernatorial election was favourably manipulated by APC and INEC to discredit his person and personal belief and we believe he will not want his integrity to be dragged into the mud.
Mr Odeyemi said it was long acknowledged by local and international observers that the governorship poll was manipulated for Mr Oyetola against the overall verdict of the electorate, but the governor could still atone for his alleged wrongdoing by immediately vacating office for Mr Adeleke.
The PDPs advice contradicts its position on the outcome of the presidential elections, which its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged.
Following repeated demand by supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari for Mr Abubakar to abandon tribunal petition, the PDP said both itself and its candidate would see the case through, including to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Mr Abubakar last week submitted his petition for the tribunal to declare him winner of the presidential election, alleging manipulation of results, falsified identity documents by Mr Buhari, amongst other grounds.
Atiku Abubakar has hailed President Donald Trump for his breakthrough in the extensive investigation of alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 elections.
Mr Trump, of the Republican Party, was accused by the opposition Democratic Party of enlisting Russian hackers and other criminals to manipulate the outcome of the November 2016 presidential elections in his favour.
Mr Trump vehemently denied wrongdoing, accusing the Democrats and their supporters in the media of being on a witch-hunt.
An independent panel was ultimately raised in 2017 to look into the allegations, which dominated American media coverage without break.
The panel was headed by Robert Mueller, a former head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
For several months, there were reports that Mr Trump was on the verge of firing Mr Mueller after the top detective closed in on several of Mr Trumps allies.
Paul Manafort, a former campaign manager of Mr Trump, and Michael Flynn, whom Mr Trump appointed as a national security adviser shortly after assuming office in January 2016, were amongst the top associates of the president arrested on Mr Muellers findings.
However, their cases, even though they stemmed from the larger collusion investigation, were completely unrelated to the collusion itself.
Mr Manafort was prosecuted for questionable business ties with Russians and Ukrainians in his personal capacity and years before the 2016 campaign.
At least 37 persons were indicted by Mr Muellers panel, which included top FBI investigators and government prosecutors, and hundreds of subpoenas also went out.
In the final report which Mr Mueller submitted to Attorney-General William Barr, the special counsel found that neither Mr Trump nor anyone in his campaign colluded with Russians to alter the 2016 elections.
Mr Mueller, however, said he was unable to clear Mr Trump of obstruction of justice, even as he was unable to indict him of committing such offence, either.
Mr Trump quickly hailed the findings as a total exoneration of alleged collusion and descended on Democrats for allegedly lying to Americans for so long.
Mr Trumps supporters said the decision by Mr Mueller not to indict or exonerate the president on obstruction of justice was in itself a satisfying decision that favoured the president.
Mr Barr, who made a four-page excerpt of the report public on Sunday, said Mr Trump cannot be charged for obstruction of justice based on the entire document submitted by Mr Mueller.
The outcome jolted the Democrats, who immediately waved it off as largely opening the path for over a dozen investigations already ongoing against Mr Trump than an absolute exoneration of the president.
The Democrats argued that Mr Trump would be hurt by those investigations at the 2020 presidential elections after the presidents supporters suggested that Mr Muellers exoneration had handed him an easy second term.
Mr Trump is facing charges, including those targeting his tax filings, in some American jurisdiction, especially New York.
I congratulate President @realDonaldTrump on his vindication by the Robert Mueller report, Mr Abubakar tweeted Tuesday afternoon. It is my hope that the lifting of this cloud will give room for further successes by the 45th President of the United States.
The former vice-president, who has challenged the outcome of the 2019 presidential election against President Muhammadu Buhari in court, longed for an era when Nigeria can emulate the rigour of the American system in unravelling a political crisis.
I trust Nigeria can learn from the application of rigorous due process to get to the truth of our current challenges. Congratulations once again, Mr Abubakar said.
Except Nigerias ruling party puts its house in order, it risks making the same mistake it made in 2015 when Bukola Saraki emerged Senate President against the interest of the party.
Hours after the APC leadership at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and senators-elect announced the endorsement of Ahmed Lawan to be the next Senate president, Ali Ndume has vowed to fight on.
Mr Ndume, a Borno State senator, expressed dissatisfaction over the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to endorse lawmakers for leadership positions in the 9th assembly.
The lawmaker said the endorsement of Mr Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila for positions of Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives may have sparked off a crisis of confidence in the ruling party.
Mr Ndume, a ranking senator, on Monday wrote the chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomole, to declare his intention to run for Senate President.
Same Monday, the party was reported to have endorsed Mr Lawan for this position at a meeting held at the Presidential Villa.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr Ndume described the endorsement APC handed to Mr Lawan as unconstitutional and against the spirit of fair play.
His reaction was reported by The Nation.
He said the position of the party on who emerges the Senate President cannot stand as it did not follow due process adding that he consulted widely and was given the go-ahead by party leaders to vie for the position.
For him, the best the party could have done was to zone the slot of Senate President to a geo-political zone and allow the zone to choose their candidate
First of all, let me say that the decision by the party to settle for an individual instead of zoning the position to a particular geopolitical zone and also consulting or allowing the senators from that zone to decide who among them they prefer as Senate President, is a surprise.
We were surprised on Monday when national chairman of our party told us a decision had been taken to adopt Ahmad Lawan as candidate from the North-east for the position of the President of the Senate.
The reason why I am shocked and I am sure that is the feeling of my colleagues, is that the constitutional provision for the emergence of the leadership of the Senate is clearly spelt out.
Section 51 (a) of the Constitution says that there shall be a Senate President and Deputy Senate President who shall be elected by members of the House.
Section 1 of the Constitution clearly states that this Constitution is binding on all Nigerians and government agencies.
It went further to say that any other law that contravenes the provision of the Constitution is null and void.
Ndume takes swipe at APC
Mr Ndume also tackled the APC on its decision, questioning the democratic credentials of its leaders.
As a party that is supposed to be democratic and as a government that insists on allowing due process to prevail, this is strange. A candidate of APC normally emerges by one of three means, namely- consensus, indirect elections and direct primaries, he said.
As I said, such a decision was taken and we were not given the chance to ask questions. We were not allowed to make comments.
The President made his remarks and after that, the national anthem was recited.
Even the chosen candidate was not given the chance to thank us or say something about it. Those of us that have indicated interests were not consulted or given the chance to make any comments.
I left there with that shock but I slept well notwithstanding. I am one among equal. I am just one among 109 senators. I am not better than them, except for Lawan. I came back and slept well.
My wife and children were worried about my feelings. I was even late for the prayers in the morning.
I try my best in everything I do and I leave the rest to God. I am now leaving this to God and those who elected me. I am going home to consult with elders who gathered themselves and asked me to contest. I will consult with them and then take a final decision.
The party has taken a decision. I ultimately wait on the decision of Almighty God and my colleagues. That is what I will say for now.
Asked to explain what he meant by waiting for his colleagues to decide his fate, he said:
You should not be confused. The constitution is clear. It says the Senate shall elect its president and deputy.
Like I said, my decision to contest for the position of the Senate President is not personal. Even my colleagues encouraged me to run. Not just the elected ones. They said I should vie for the position. Even then, the party didnt say it had elected Ahmad Lawan. It only said it has nominated Lawan.
The way the leadership of the National Assembly should emerge is clearly stated. Anything contrary to that means it is illegal and it cant stand. As I said, we wait on God.
I am not the one saying this. It is the decision of my colleagues. I am one of those offering himself to contest for the position. I cant even nominate myself. Someone has to nominate and second me. I cant say that a candidate has been imposed on us. The decision is now left for my colleagues. If you look at the history of the National Assembly, such decisions have never gone down well.
In 1999, Evan Ewerem was imposed. He didnt last. Wabara was also imposed. It didnt last. After that, the PDP we have accused of impunity didnt do this.
In 2007, the PDP showed wisdom by zoning the position to North Central. That was what led to the contest between David Mark and George Akume. Because that happened, Mark served for two terms. Mark would have served for another term if PDP had won. He served his tenure peacefully.
The Saraki Experience
Although the APC has a clear majority of Nigerias109 senators (over 60), Mr Ndume stands a chance for the Senate presidents seat if he is able to get significant support of the partys lawmakers and those of other opposition parties.
Should the APC not be able to resolve its internal squabbles, the party risks going through the same crisis it went through in 2015 when Bukola Saraki defeated the APC-endorsed Ahmed Lawan to emerge Senate president.
The ruling party never got out of that crisis as Mr Saraki, now an opposition lawmaker continues to preside over the Senate.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has alleged that the deputy governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the state, Akpo Yeeh, was bribed with N200 million by Governor Nyesom Wike to defect from the AAC.
Mr Yeeh stunned the public on Monday when he resigned his membership of the AAC, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and pledged political support to Mr Wike who has been battling to survive a tough election battle with the AAC.
Mr Yeehs action came as a surprise to many because his party, backed by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the APC, has become the major opposition against PDP in the state.
The court had barred the APC from being on the ballot because of the internal power struggle in the party.
More so, the governorship and the House of Assembly elections are yet to be concluded in the state.
Honestly, I think we are not surprised at the news that the deputy governorship candidate of the African Action Congress, Mr Akpo Yeeh, has resigned the membership of his party to join Wike after collecting N200 million from the government, the APC spokesperson in Rivers, Chris Finebone, told PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday afternoon.
We are only reacting to his decision because we adopted in principles, the AAC governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, and the fact that Mr Akpo, for want of justification for his actions, is struggling to lie about the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Even the retarded of the earth know that Mr Akpo simply responded to what many people called stomach infrastructure.
Depending on Mr Akpos station in life, N200 million definitely is a once in a lifetime opportunity he had to grab. His ilk totally jettisons their conscience in time like that.
We wish him well. We only want to inform Mr Akpo that even as he struggles to reap from a script written by others, that in a few days he came close, he had no opportunity to know or to associate with the minister as to be in a position to say what he is claiming, Mr Finebone said.
The Rivers State government has denied that it bribed Mr Yeeh to abandon the AAC.
They are talking rubbish, the Commissioner for Information in the state, Emma Okah, said of the bribery allegation.
They are a people who have no shame, trying to distract peoples attention from the calamity which they have inflicted upon the people of Rivers State during the elections.
Why do we need to bribe a deputy governorship candidate? Does it change the fact that we won the elections? Are we under any threat by AAC? Mr Okah said.
The commissioner said the PDP has won the governorship and the House of Assembly elections in the state.
What we can say is to thank the man (Mr Yeeh) for realising that there comes a time in a mans life when you must tell yourself the truth, he said.
Mr Yeeh has reportedly been making disparaging remarks against Mr Amaechi since he (Mr Yeeh) announced his defection from AAC.
When Mr Yeeh visited the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday to formally inform Mr Wike of his decision to support him, he was quoted as telling the governor, I cannot afford to leave the fast lane and go to the slow lane.
The governor-elect of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammed, has assured of good governance in the state after he was declared winner on Monday following a close contest.
Mr Muhammed, a former senator and former minister of federal capital territory (FCT), defeated the incumbent governor, Muhammed Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a vote margin of 14, 488 votes.
In the keenly contested election, the former minister polled 515, 113 votes against the incumbents 500, 625 votes.
Mr. Abubakar is the first governor of Bauchi who failed to secure a second term since the return of democracy in 1999.
Delivering his acceptance speech at about midnight Tuesday, the governor-elect said he was humbled by the confidence the people of Bauchi reposed in him through their ballots.
He said his core mandate is to give Bauchi citizens a better prospect and greater opportunity for a prosperous life.
He promised to reduce poverty and encourage the people in the area of agriculture, education, urban and rural infrastructure.
Thanking the chairman and members of the PDP for giving him the opportunity to stand for the election and ensured victory for his mandate, the governor-elect thanked those who formed his governorship campaign team.
I sincerely extend my sincere appreciation to my brother, the Right Honourable Speaker of the House of Representative, Barrister Yakubu Dogara and our father and elder statement, Alhaji Bello Kirfi and other statesmen, religious and community leaders who stood by us, he said.
Mr Muhammed also thanked the coalition of political parties that came together to support his candidacy.
Most importantly I want to thank each and every of 2.4 million voters of Bauchi state for supporting us because this victory belongs to all of us. You have not only made Bauchi state proud but have restored states political culture to highest state of integrity and credibility to our greater glory.
Four years ago the citizens of Bauchi state accepted a clarion call with excitement and voted a government they believe will usher a new and radical beginning. This dream turned out a nightmare with the scandalous consequences leading majority of our people and children to doubt we will ever have a better future. As a matter of fact, it is the failure of the present administration to fulfil virtually all its electoral promises that boomerang to their rejection by the citizens of Bauchi state.
The governor-elect also promised to ensure the welfare of women and children which he said saving their lives remains close to his heart.
He said his incoming administration is determined to launch a pro-business and pro-market, while agricultural and economic revolution within four years.
Transition and the Future
He said n the coming days and weeks, his team shall be engaged with officials of the outgoing government in what will hopefully be a peaceful transition exercise.
Once we have a clearer picture of the enormity of task of rebuilding our state, I shall be honest with you about the challenges we will face because I know the roads will be rough and tough. We are indeed at a historic crossroad.
He promised to engaged the best hands in the running of his administration whom he said he will hold responsible and accountable to my administration and the people of Bauchi state.
In this task, I am delighted to have an able and tested senator as my partner (deputy governor), who has a distinguished record of service to our country and to Bauchi state. I am lucky to have him as a deputy governor. With him, Baba Tella, as a senator and me a senator, I think the leadership will not be bereft of ideas and capacityWe will lead our people with dignity; as the people have spoken and we have taken charge.
Profile of Bauchi Governor-Elect
Mr Muhammed was born on October 5, 1958 at Duguri Town in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
He started his formal primary and secondary education between 1965 and 1976 in Bauchi State.
He obtained Advanced Level Certificate at the North East College of Art and Science between and 1977 and 1979.
Mr. Muhammed obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Language at the University of Maiduguri in 1982.
He attended the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in 1988 for a general management course. In 1997, he attended a capacity building training in Lagos and was given a certificate of the Institute of Purchase & Supplies.
He began his career as a journalist in the early 1980s and rose to the position of news editor of the Mirage Newspaper, Jos, between 1982 and 1983. He also had a stint as a news reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN).
In 1984, he joined the federal civil service as an Administrative Officer under the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Abuja. In 1994, he was promoted and redeployed as Principal Administrative Officer in the Cabinet Secretariat of the Presidency.
He was Chief Supplies Officer, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals from 1995 to 1997. He rose to the position of Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel in 1997.
He held the position until 1999 when he was promoted Deputy Director/Special Assistant to the Minister, Federal Ministry of Transport.
Mr Mohammed was later promoted the position of Director of Administration, Nigerian Railway Corporations in 2003. Later in September that year, he became special assistant to the Minister of Aviation.
In January 2004, he became Director of Administration and Supplies, Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
He was once the Personal Assistant to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Personal Assistant to the Director General, Cabinet Secretariat, the Presidency.
He also served as Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power and Steel and Secretary Ministerial Tenders Board, Federal Ministry of Power and Steel.
In 2007, he joined politics and was elected as the Senator, Bauchi South District.
He occupied the seat until his appointment as the Minister of Federal Capital Territory in April 2010 and served until 2015.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yobe State, Iliya Damagum, on Tuesday, said he would not challenge the results of the election at the petition tribunal.
Mr Iliya told journalists in Damagum after a PDP stakeholders meeting which reviewed the outcome of the governorship election that he had accepted the election of Mai Mala Buni of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the next governor of the state.
There may be areas and issues that bedeviled the elections, but a winner has emerged and that has been announced.
We have no option but to accept it as the will of God and move forward, he said.
Mr Iliya said he had already congratulated the governor-elect on his victory.
I have congratulated Mai Mala, the governor-elect and called on him to look at Yobe as his entire constituency, knowing that God has given him this opportunity, he said.
He urged the governor-elect to use the mandate for the good of the people of the state irrespective of their political differences.
Mr Iliya commended his supporters and politicians in the state for conducting themselves peacefully during and after the elections.
(NAN)
After the tanker had left suctioning the sewage, Krishnamoorthy reportedly spotted a small area inside the tank which required further cleaning and hence he got inside the tank to do it himself.
Chennai: At least six men, including three from the same family and a Good Samaritan who rushed to their help, died inhaling poisonous gas from a septic tank in a house at Sriperumbudur near Chennai on Tuesday, sending shock waves across the state.
Police gave the names of the deceased as Krishnamoorthy, the house owner, his two sons Kannan, 28, and Karthik, 25, two of the landlord's tenants, Suradhabhai, 28 and Paramasivam, 32, besides a 22-year-old youth, Lakshmikanthan who was delivering gas cylinders in that locality.
All fell like ninepins, one after another, in a serial tragedy hardly witnessed in recent days, to the noxious gas emanating from the tank, starting with the family head Krishnamoorthy who first got inside to apparently round off the cleaning to perfection after a sewage tanker had initially emptied the septic tank in his house.
While the family lived on one of the floors, Krishnamoorthy had let the other portions in the building to other families for rent. Since this part of Sriperumbudur is yet to get underground drainage system, Krishnamoorthy made sure the septic tank was cleaned periodically. But Tuesday work was to be deadly.
After the tanker had left suctioning the sewage, Krishnamoorthy reportedly spotted a small area inside the tank which required further cleaning and hence he got inside the tank to do it himself. As Kannan and Karthik watched, Krishnamoorthy fell unconscious within the tank. Karthik rushed inside the tank to get his father wake up, but also fainted inside the tank. Kannan, hoping to revive his brother and father, jumped into the tank only to faint in it.
As one disaster after another unfolded in front of their eyes, Krishnamoorthy's family shouted for help and two of their tenants - Suradhabhai (28) and Paramasivam (32) - came running to help the three men. They also got inside the septic tank, fainted, taking the tally to five. Hearing the cries of the families of the men, Lakshmikanthan, delivering gas cylinder nearby, rushed to their help. He jumped into the tank to rescue the men, but also succumbed to the gas.
Shocked neighbours and others nearby alerted the police, fire station and the ambulance. A fire engine reached the spot and pulled out all six men from the tank, but they were all reportedly dead by then. The Fire and rescue services personnel also cleaned the contaminated tank with foam and sealed it shut.
Bezwada Wilson, Founder and National Convener of the Safai Karamchari Andholan (SKA), was later quoted by a news website as having said that people set out to do such things due to lack of awareness about the technology available to clean septic tanks.I would hold the state responsible for such deaths, he reportedly added.
The police registered an FIR under section 174 CrPC and sent the six bodies for autopsy to the government hospital in Sriperumbudur.
A Justice of the Supreme Court, Sidi Bage, has emerged as the 17th Emir of Lafia Emirate following the demise of Mustapha Agwai I.
Mr Agwai died on January 10.
Haruna Osegba, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs announced the selection of the Emir on Tuesday in Lafia following the state traditional council meeting.
Mr Osegba said the new emir was selected by the emirates college of selector, ratified by the state traditional council and approved by Governor Umaru Al-Makura.
He said the selection of the new emir was in line with legal notice 12 of 1986, section 31 stipulating the rotation of the stool between the two royal houses.
Mr Osegba explained that Mr Bage and Musa Mustapha-Agwai, son of the late emir, contested for the position.
Mr Bage was however selected by four out of the five members of the college of selectors.
Mr Bage was born on June 22, 1956, in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.
He attended the Dunoma Primary School Lafia from 1963 to 1969 Government Secondary School Lafia from 1970 to 1974.
He was admitted into the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, for a Diploma Programme in Law between 1975 and 1977, obtained same at Credit Level and later got his L.L.B. Hon degree in 1980.
He graduated with Second Class Lower Division, proceeded to the Nigerian Law School Lagos in 1980 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981.
Mr Bage worked as a Legal Officer, Ground Training Group, Nigerian Air Force Base Kaduna (NYSC) 1981 to 1982, and Appointed Magistrate Grade II Plateau State Judiciary 1982.
He was Promoted Magistrate Grade I 1984, Promoted Senior Magistrate Grade II 1986, Appointed Chief Magistrate II F.C.T Judiciary 1989, Promoted Chief Magistrate I. 1990 and was promoted as Deputy Chief Registrar FCT Judiciary 1991.
He was again promoted Substantive Chief Registrar, FCT High Court January, 1992, elevated to the High Court Bench as a Judge November 9, 1992, elevated Justice Court of Appeal December 10, 2007, and appointed Justice of the Supreme Court on December 5, 2016.
Mr Al-Makura also approved the selection of Isa Abubakar Umar as the Emir of Awe following the death of the late emir.
Mr Osegba noted that the new emir of Awe was unanimously selected by the four surviving kingmakers of the emirate.
Also selected was Umar Dodo as the new Osu Kadarko a third class tradition ruler in Keana local government area.
The Osu Kadarko stool became vacant following the death of Fabian Orogu on January 12, 2018.
(NAN)
The Kano State Government on Tuesday dismissed reports that killings were perpetrated during the March 23 re-run governorship election in the state.
The government challenged those who made the claims come forward with proof of such killings.
The State Commissioner of Information, Mohammed Garba, threw the challenge while addressing a news conference in Kano.
I want to challenge anyone with proof of killings during the election to come and give the names of those killed.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that two persons were killed in Nasarawa Local Government Area but we went to the area and Nasarawa Hospital as well, but we were not able to get a report of any death.
So, if there is any person who witnessed the killing of somebody in Nasarawa local government or anywhere, let him or her come forward and say so, Mr Garba said.
He also debunked the rumours that there was protest after the election results were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, there were a lot of fabricated stories during the election which was the handiwork of those he described as desperate members of the opposition who wanted to discredit the election at all costs.
The desperation of the opposition to discredit the election was the reason why they continued to spread all sorts of rumours and lies on social media platform to misinform the public, he said.
The commissioner said that the supplementary election was generally peaceful besides two incidents which were quickly addressed by the security agents in the affected areas.
He said the State Government would continue to ensure the security of lives and property in the state and urged all residents of the area to remain law abiding.
Kano is very peaceful because people are going about their normal businesses since the declaration of the election results by INEC, contrary to the rumours being peddled on the social media platform.
I commend journalists for their adequate coverage of the exercise and call on them to continue to use their various media to promote peace in the state, Mr Garba said. (NAN)
A coalition of 28 political parties in Sokoto State on Tuesday rejected the victory of Governor Aminu Tambuwal at the governorship election in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Tambuwal winner of the election after Saturdays supplementary polls with a narrow margin of 342 votes,
The Chief Collation/Returning Officer, Fatima Mukhtar, said that Mr Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured the highest votes of 512, 002, defeating his close rival Ahmad Aliyu of APC, who polled 511, 660 votes.
Addressing a news conference in Sokoto, the coalition leader, Musa Aliyu of the Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP), rejected the declaration.
Mr Aliyu, the NEPP governorship candidate in Sokoto State, said the process was flawed with irregularities and characterised by acts of violence which contravened the nations electoral laws and the Constitution.
Our decision was rightly informed by the glaring fact that the elections were hugely marred by myriad of flaws, which had rendered the result of the polls null, void and unacceptable.
We observed that the elections were characterised by massive vote-buying, intimidation, non-use of card reader machines as well as the duplication of voting in polling units where the polls were earlier conducted.
The coalition, therefore, deemed it necessary to unravel these infraction on the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, as well as INECs Electoral Guidelines.
We are also in total and formidable support of All Progressives Congress (APC) action to seek legal redress, he said.
He appealed to supporters and the entire people of the state to remain calm and law abiding, while we patiently await the outcome of the litigation on the polls.
Some of the delegates at the conference included Mujjitaba Aminu of MPN, Muhammad Shehu of GPN, Lawali Haliru of UPP, Dan-Ali Kasarawa of LP and Bello Ibrahim of DPP.
(NAN)
The Edo State Government has granted clemency and parole to 84 inmates in various prison formations in the state, in alignment with the federal governments commitment to decongest prisons across the country.
Edo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Yinka Omorogbe, said the move has the backing of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, with the aim of tackling overcrowding in Nigerian prisons.
Mr Omorogbe said the state government in conjunction with the Attorney General of the Federation and a donor agency raised N9 million to secure the release of the prisoners, who could not meet their bail conditions due to their lowly status.
According to her: the high number of inmates awaiting trial for crimes ranging from stealing, breaking and entering and other minor offenses, are the major causes of overcrowding. The state government is working hard to decongest and improve the living condition of prisoners as well as ensure proper rehabilitation of the inmates.
The Edo State Controller of Prisons, Joseph Usendiah, said 23 inmates were being released from the Benin prisons, while 61 inmates are to be released across the various prisons in Edo State, bringing the total number of those affected to 84.
He said the move will help decongest the already overcrowded prisons, as it would help the ministry properly manage resources for the welfare of the remaining inmates.
One of the affected inmates, identified as Mr Efosa, who has been in prison since 2016, thanked the Edo State Government for coming to their rescue. He said he is now a changed man and promised to lead a crime-free life.
The police in Anambra State on Monday paraded one Monday Onyikwa from Umuefi Village, Nteje in Oyi Local Council Area for allegedly selling a six-year- old girl for ritual purposes.
Rabiu Ladodo, who briefed reporters in Awka, said the suspect was arrested in the bush with the victim, Chisom Egbunu.
Mr Ladodo said Mr Onyikwa confessed that he was taking the child to one Nnamdi, a native doctor in Nando Village, Anambra Council Area who was also arrested.
He said the man also confessed that he was paid N100,000 for the trafficking business, adding that the matter was still under investigation.
The police commissioner also paraded the masterminds of the viral video of a nude woman, Ogochukwu Okafor, who allegedly visited her Facebook friend, Ifeanyi Azotani, and was humiliated by his wife and her friend.
Mr Azotani, his wife Toochukwu and her friend Nwankwo posted the nude video on the internet after the victim refused to pay them the sum of N60, 000 they demanded from her to kill the video.
The command said it recovered seven cars including one black Toyota Venza, three Toyota Corolla, two Lexus-350 Jeep and a Toyota Rav 4 Jeep from an Asaba based robbery syndicate led by one Paul Chukwuezugo and an accomplice Michael Obinna.
The commissioner said the syndicate had earlier robbed one Chinyere Onwuzulike of her Lexus Jeep in Orumba North council area.
Items recovered from them include one Barreta pistol, three IPhones and a Samsung phone.
He said the suspects have voluntarily confessed to the crime.
Mr Ladodo said a total of 113 suspected cultists were arrested with 45 of them already charged to court and 33 under investigation.
According to him 35 of the cultists were screened out.
(NAN)
Ifeanyi Ubah, the Anambra South Senator-elect, has reacted to reports of his reported defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Many newspapers reported that the senator-elect of the Young Peoples Party (YPP) dumped the party for the APC Monday night.
Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday evening during a phone interview, Mr Ubah said he is caucusing with the APC, but has not joined the party.
I am still with the YPP, we do not have a crisis in my party so why would I leave the party? Although the APC Chairman introduced me as a potential APC incoming senator during a dinner I attended, but it is normal for chairmen of parties to do that, he said.
Mr Ubah said he has a case in court challenging the election result while noting that he is still a member of YPP.
The Uba brothers are challenging the result of the election in court, he said
According to him, I am caucusing with the party because I cannot be a loner at the Senate.
Its either I move with the opposition or the ruling party, and I chose the ruling party, but it doesnt mean I have joined them, he said.
He said caucusing in parliamentary terms means to work with people in harmony.
Mr Ubah is the only candidate of YPP who will be a member of the 9th assembly.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Capital Oil and Gas boss won the Anambra South Senatorial ticket on the platform of the YPP polling 87,081 votes in the February 23 election.
Mr Ubah, a former governorship candidate in the state, defeated his closest rival, Chris Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 62,462 votes.
Meanwhile, the senator representing Anambra South, Andy Uba, his younger brother, Chris Uba, and Victor Umeh are among those who filed petitions challenging the outcomes of their various elections in the Anambra Election Petitions Tribunal as at March 19.
An Ado-Ekiti High Court on Tuesday sentenced a 40-year-old driver, Ajibola Abednego, to death by hanging for the murder of a fellow driver.
Lekan Ogunmoye, the judge, sentenced the convict to death by hanging for the murder of Ojo Ogunsakin, 42, during a disagreement over loading arrangement.
The prosecution has established the ingredients of the offence of murder against Abednego.
May almighty God have mercy on your soul, Mr Ogunmoye said.
The convict was charged with a one count of murder which contravened the provisions of Section 316 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP C16 Laws of Ekiti State.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the IPO, Momoh Kamoru, the incident occurred on or about March 10, 2017, at the Tosin Aluko Motor Park in Ado Ekiti.
Mr Kamoru told the court that an argument ensued between the convict and the deceased over who should get passengers first.
He told the court that the convict took a stone and threw it at the deceased which caused his death.
To prove its case the prosecution, called six witnesses including Mr Kamoru, the wife of the deceased, and J.A.Omotayo of the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital who conducted the post-mortem examination.
Counsel to the convict, Kayode Oyeyemi, called two witnesses including the convict. (NAN)
The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) has suspended one of its officers, Alex Ikuburuju, for allegedly collecting a bribe of N30,000 from an offender on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane at Agric, Ikorodu.
Adebayo Taofiq, the task forces, said in a statement Tuesday that the agency suspended the officer for extorting money from an arrested traffic offender.
Investigations revealed that the officer, Mr. Ikuburuju Alex, truly negotiated and extorted the sum of N30,000 from the owner of an impounded vehicle who committed a traffic offence by plying the BRT lane around Agric Bus-Stop in Ikorodu, Mr Taofiq said.
While Mr Ikuburuju was suspended from the agency, the senior police officer who led the team that impounded the vehicle was moved to a different unit for lack of supervision, the statement added.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, Olayinka Egbeyemi, said the suspended officer confessed that he collected the bribe and that the suspension became imperative following complaints against the officer on the social media and subsequent investigation of the accused staff.
Mr Egbeyemi said the action of the officer was disgraceful and did not justify the training he received.
The government recently trained all paramilitary officers attached to the agency on Career Evaluation where they were taught how to be professionals and civil in dealing with members of the public.
He said the Lagos task force would not tolerate indiscipline in any form and corrupt officers would be dismissed from the agency and urged members of the public to not hesitate in reporting any officer found misbehaving while discharging official duties.
On learning of the accident, police rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to a government hospital at Kancheepuram. (Representational Image)
Chennai: In a tragic incident, two persons were killed and at least 13 were injured after a trailer lorry ran amok near Oragadam on the wee hours of Tuesday.
According to the police, a speeding trailer lorry ran amok a private company's bus and a car, reportedly after his brakes failed, which resulted in the death of two men.
In the accident, a trailer lorry collided head-on with a van carrying a staff of a private company and a car behind the van. Police said the accident happened at around 2 am on Tuesday.
The accident happened near the HP petrol station on the Chennai - Arakkonam highway at Avalur near Walajabad. The trailer lorry driver had turned the vehicle fast in the bend which resulted in the accident.
The victims were identified as Logesh, 32 a staff of the private company and Nishanth, 22 the car driver. Fourteen people who were inside the van suffered minor and major injuries. The van belongs to a private company in Oragadam, said a police officer.
On learning of the accident, police rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to a government hospital at Kancheepuram. The driver of the lorry and the injured were shifted to Chengalpattu government hospital for post mortem.
The driver said that failure of brakes resulted in the accident, but a report from technical experts will ascertain the exact reason, the police said in a statement.
The Walajabad police have registered a case and are investigating the exact reason for the accident.
Patna: Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who has been associated with BJP for about three decades, will join Congress at New Delhi on March 28, a senior party leader said here on Tuesday. "Shatrughan Sinha will join Congress in New Delhi on March 28 at 11.30 am ... He will be our candidate from Patna Sahib", chairman for the state Congress election campaign committee Akhilesh Prasad Singh told newsmen here.
Sinha is a two-term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib Singh but has been dropped by the saffron party which has chosen to field union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat. Sinha has been openly critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Speculation had been rife for some time that he would join the Congress, which is an ally of the 'Mahagathbandhan' which also consists of the RJD and other local parties. Asked whether Sinha would be induced in the party in the presence of AICC president Rahul Gandhi, as was being speculated in the media, Singh said Top leaders will be present on the occasion". Sources in the 'Mahagathbandhan' had recently claimed that there was a tug of war between the Congress and RJD over Sinhas candidature as Lalu Prasad's party, with which the 'Bihari Babu' shares cordial relations, was said to be keen on fielding him on its own symbol.
Congress has been contesting from Patna Sahib whenever it has fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the RJD and Singhs statement indicate that decks have been cleared for Sinhas candidature by the Congress leadership. Singh, however, dodged queries about Kirti Azad, another BJP MP who had recently joined the Congress saying He will be contesting elections. From where, it will be decided by the party. Azad is serving his second consecutive term in the Lok Sabha from Darbhanga and the Congress wants to field him from the seat as the constituency has a large population of Maithil Brahmins its traditional supporters. RJD has been insisting that it has won the Darbhanga seat many times and would like to contest it again with its senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui as its candidate.
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.
Gorakhpur: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday termed the Congress' minimum income scheme a poll "gimmick" and accused it of obstructing the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya along with the SP and BSP.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to visit the party bastions of Amethi, Rae Bareli and Faizabad beginning Wednesday in her next leg of campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, party officials said.
"Earlier too the Congress party had given the slogan of 'garibi hatao'. The announcement of a minimum (annual) wage of Rs 72,000 (too) is nothing but a gimmick," said Mr Adityanath, addressing a "Vijay Sankalp Rally" here.
On Ram temple, Mr Yogi said, "The Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP are the biggest hurdles in construction of the Ram temple. An army of advocates was brought to the fore by the Congress (to obstruct the construction)."
Mr Kapil Sibal moved an application in the Supreme Court to see that the hearing in the case does not take place before 2019 elections, he added.
"There is a family which starts remembering Lord Ram when elections draw closer but sit in temples in the posture of offering Namaz," the chief minister said, apparently referring to an incident involving a Gandhi family member.
"These people visit places to show disrespect to great men. They offer garlands worn by them to the statue of Lal Bahadur Shastri," he added, without taking names. "While the Congress serves biryani to terrorists, the BJP feeds them bombs," he added.
Mr Adityanath also compared the achievements of previous governments with those of the Modi government and his own in two years, claiming the BJP government did much better. He also attacked the previous governments on the issue of corruption and asserted that due to Mr Modi, an All India Institute of Medical Sciences was being built in Gorakhpur and a fertiliser plant, closed for 26 years, was revived here.
He reminded people that though they would be voting for Lok Sabha candidates, they would be choosing a prime minister, appealing to them to pick Mr Modi again.
SOUTH BEND, Ind., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Global vehicle systems provider, AM General, is featuring its wide array of tactical mobility solutions at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium & Exposition, Mar. 26-28, Booth 1205 at the Von Braun Convention Center in Huntsville, Ala. This comes on the heels of a Department of Defense (DoD) contract award for 103 armored M1152A1B2 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) with a value of approximately $14.8 million.
"Through continuous improvements, today's Humvee demonstrates its relevance and reliability while ensuring readiness for our U.S. military partners," said Executive Vice President of U.S. Defense, Chris Vanslager. "The AUSA Global Force expo is an invaluable platform that enables us to demonstrate our alignment with the Army's modernization strategy by showcasing the latest technology integrations into our mobility platforms to meet the U.S. Army's requirements now and in the future."
On display at the show is the HMMWV Enhanced Tactical Kit Narrow Body. This kit enables the vehicle's body width to be reduced by 8 inches. It allows for internal transportation inside a CH47, has a payload capacity for up to 9 soldiers, and can be added to the existing HMMWVs already in service.
The DoD's recent order of 103 armored Humvees is also a testament to the versatility and longevity of the vehicle platform. The M1152A1B2 configuration not only features the current production chassis with added power and performance, but also has additional perimeter and overhead armor as well as a rear ballistic bulkhead. These vehicles, like the less armored versions, are air transportable, droppable, and can be sling-loaded by helicopter without additional modifications. This vehicle order will support the Product Manager Mission Network initiatives and be delivered Q3-Q4 2019.
About AM General
AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. Through its military business, the company is widely recognized as the world leader in design, engineering, manufacturing and logistics support of Tactical Vehicles, having produced and sustained more than 300,000 vehicles in over 70 countries. AM General has more than five decades of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com .
Media Contact: Deborah Reyes
Global Marketing and Communications Director
Phone: 248-309-5897
E-mail: [email protected]
SOURCE AM General
Related Links
http://www.amgeneral.com
AUSTIN, Texas, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Aurigo Software Technologies, developer of America's leading capital program and project management software, today announced a major new version of Aurigo Masterworks Cloud version to help infrastructure owners reimagine success for their capital projects. The SaaS product offering from Aurigo is delivered on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud infrastructure.
Aurigo Masterworks Cloud is a comprehensive, purpose-built SaaS product specifically designed for the complex needs of large-scale, public-facing capital projects. Aurigo Masterworks Cloud will help cities, counties, states, agencies, and facility owners plan, build, and maintain capital assets, infrastructure, and facilities, without having to rely on a multitude of point solutions or system integrators to develop custom solutions. The new capabilities introduced in this release, powering over 25,000 users across 40,000 capital projects in North America, are designed to enable public agencies, and infrastructure owners across North America operate more efficiently, increase transparency, reduce risks, and transform their communities and regions.
Aurigo offers a total of seventeen products in the Masterworks Cloud suite, and they can be purchased either stand-alone or bundled. Aurigo Masterworks cloud comprises four distinct product lines:
Capital Projects Portfolio Management Full Lifecycle Construction Management Safety, Quality & Maintenance; and Business Operations.
Each product line of Aurigo comprises a family of products to automate different aspects of the plan, build, maintain and operate phases of the infrastructure lifecycle. All products are powered by the Aurigo Masterworks platform, which includes powerful reporting and dashboard capabilities, robust document management and collaboration tools, and a native mobile application for iOS, Android, and Windows smartphones and tablets.
Some of the new enhancements in version 11 include:
"Master Contract" and "Work Orders"
As an extension of our best-in-class contract management product, Aurigo has now announced the new "master contract" feature that can be used to create contracts which can benefit multiple projects. With the master contract feature, contracts are established with a specific vendor for a pre-defined time. Ceiling costs and work orders are executed within the contract across various projects. Masterworks Cloud version 11 simplifies the tracking of all work done and every payment made in the contract.
Resource Management
Capital projects are always resource-intensive. Effective resource management is a pivotal part of effective project management. Masterworks' all-new Resource Management feature helps users manage and allocate the 3 M's--Manpower, Machines, and Material--across and within individual projects. Masterworks provides over-utilization and under-utilization charts along with extensive resource reporting and dashboarding capabilities to give organizations full clarity into their resource planning.
Vendor Management
The enhanced Vendor Management feature in version 11 enables capital project and infrastructure owners to oversee and analyze all the vendors, consultants, and suppliers they interact with during the capital project lifecycle. Vendor performance can be measured and ranked based on criteria you can define to meet your organization's specific quality standards and needs.
Microsoft Outlook Plug-in
The plug-in for Microsoft Outlook is now a standard feature in Aurigo Masterworks Cloud version 11. Masterworks users can now upload emails and attachments directly from Microsoft Outlook without logging into Masterworks! The new Outlook Plug-In requires a one-time setup and configuration within MS Outlook. Once configured, users can seamlessly upload their emails and attachments to document management folders of a project or contract in Masterworks.
Microsoft Project Integration
Microsoft Project is one of the most widely-used scheduling applications to maintain construction project plans across the world. Aurigo Masterworks' new MS Project integration API in version 11 allows users to import, export, and run bi-directional updates of project plans either in MS Project or with Masterworks Schedule. This new functionality provides schedule or actuals data to be synced in both applications at all times--ensuring everyone gets the most current and accurate view of the information.
"Aurigo Masterworks Cloud version 11 has been tested for large scale deployment. I am excited to announce that our investment in designing high performance architecture has paid rich dividends, and our users will now experience a 3X faster response with the latest release of Masterworks," said Kevin Koenig, Chief Technology Officer.
"Aurigo Masterworks Cloud version 11 is more secure and scalable. It uses microservices to support critical business functions and comes with pre-configured forms and workflows to reduce the implementation time. From an implementation perspective, the latest release of Masterworks Cloud can be deployed in 90 - 120 days for small to mid-size cities and counties," said Ashish Agrawal, Vice President of Product & Platform.
"Aurigo Masterworks Cloud version 11 significantly extends the lead we have over our competition. It is a major release that we are very proud of, and we have done this by enhancing the full lifecycle construction management capability and adding newer products. Our customers will experience superior ease of use, rapid deployment capabilities and higher availability with our new release. Also, Masterworks 11 extends our breadth of capability into the full plan, build, maintain and operate lifecycle of capital projects," said Balaji Sreenivasan, CEO, Aurigo Software.
Mr. Sreenivasan added "Infrastructure in America is crumbling, and a massive investment in this sector is a matter of when and not if. We see that transparent, performance-based monitoring and timely infrastructure delivery are the biggest goals facing transportation agencies across America today, as they prepare to consume and spend over a trillion dollars on infrastructure projects over the next decade. Agencies need the latest technology and tools that are catered toward transportation agencies to help them plan and deliver these projects on time and budget. With our latest release 11, Aurigo Masterworks has secured its position on the leader board as the best-in-class capital program and project portfolio management software in North America."
About Aurigo
Aurigo Software is North America's leading provider of modern cloud software to help infrastructure owners plan, build, maintain and operate their multi-billion-dollar capital investments safely and efficiently. Aurigo Masterworks Cloud is a comprehensive suite of enterprise software products that automates the entire lifecycle of capital programs, including planning, forecasting, budgeting, bid & estimation, project management, contract administration, scheduling, right of way, permitting, materials testing, field inspection, civil rights, and document control. The system has robust reporting and dashboard capabilities, and a native mobile application. Aurigo is investing extensively to harness Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Blockchain technologies in its product roadmap. Aurigo helps over 200 customers plan and deliver over $300 Billion of capital programs safely and efficiently. Aurigo is a privately held US corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas, with wholly owned subsidiaries in Canada and India. Visit www.aurigo.com for more information.
SOURCE Aurigo Software
Related Links
http://www.aurigo.com
CHARLESTON, S.C., March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Multifamily investment firm Blaze Partners announced today the successful acquisition of The Gibson, a 250-unit luxury apartment community in Charlotte, North Carolina located in the thriving Plaza Midwood neighborhood. This transaction marks a continuation of the Company's current strategy of acquiring Class A communities within dynamic locations throughout institutional growth markets in the Southeast.
"We are thrilled to expand our Charlotte presence and add The Gibson to our growing portfolio of institutional assets," said Chris Riley, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Blaze Partners. "The Gibson, unique in its design, walkability, and historic legacy, helped spur the transformation of the neighborhood. We are excited to take a stake in the continued growth of the submarket and embrace a community that stands unmatched amongst its peer set."
The Gibson, developed in 2015 and built upon the site and legacy of a historic recording studio, offers residents a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom floorplans with designer-level finishes and an expansive amenity set. Positioned at the gateway to Plaza Midwood on Central Avenue and minutes from Uptown Charlotte, the community is walkable to high-profile restaurants, bars, and retail and offers remarkable views of the Charlotte skyline.
"The Gibson transaction marks over $215 million in net acquisition volume in the last nine months, the vast majority of which has been with a slant towards core-plus assets in markets and locations that we deem to have superior long-term fundamentals with transformative catalysts to further drive demand," added Eddy O'Brien, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Blaze. "We anticipate a continuation of this investment focus throughout the year as we look to prudently expand our footprint throughout the Southeast with a keen eye towards relative risk and return."
About Blaze Partners
Blaze Partners, LLC is a multifamily investment firm focused on owning and operating institutional rental housing communities throughout the United States with a specific focus on the Southeast. Headquartered in Charleston, SC, the company offers a full suite of investment services including research, acquisitions, development, and asset management capabilities. Blaze Partners was founded by Chris Riley and Eddy O'Brien in 2016 with the goal of establishing a premier real estate investment firm with focused specialization across the rental housing spectrum. To learn more about Blaze, visit www.blazepartners.com.
SOURCE Blaze Partners, LLC
Related Links
http://www.blazepartners.com
Mr Lakshmana Reddy said that in 1990, JCV had started various awareness programmes and inspired by the same, women had started an anti-liquor movement.
VIJAYAWADA: Jana Chaitanya Vedika has asked the public to defeat the ruling Telugu Desam for getting the public addicted to liquor in the past five years. JCV State president Mr V. Lakshmana Reddy said that TD had promised to restrain liquor sales to save the public from liquor addiction but sadly liquor sales had incre-ased greatly as it was a strong source of revenue generation. Mr Reddy said that as YSR Congress was aiming to implement phase wise liquor ban, the JCV was supporting YSRC in the elections.
He stated that JCV had asked all political parties to announce their party policy on liquor and had appealed to all political parties to ban liquor in the State.
Mr Lakshmana Reddy said that in 1990, JCV had started various awareness programmes and inspired by the same, women had started an anti-liquor movement.
He mentioned that responding to the movement, the then AP chief minister N.T. Rama Rao put a liquor ban in AP State but later Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu lifted the liquor ban.
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Campari, the iconic Italian aperitif, and The New York Film Festival (NYFF), the premier U.S. showcase of the best in world cinema presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, are pleased to announce a two-year partnership. As the exclusive spirits partner for the 57th and 58th editions of NYFF - and the presenting partner of Opening Night, the festival's gala event - Campari extends its long-standing commitment to the world of film and art.
Campari has long embraced film as an expression of its brand, working with such film luminaries as Federico Fellini, Salma Hayek, Zoe Saldana, Paolo Sorrentino and Clive Owen, celebrating creativity, storytelling and innovation in all its forms. Its Red Diaries platform, a series of unique short film collaborations with renowned international directors and actors, uses innovative storytelling to depict Campari's rich history. The most recent short film in the series, Entering Red, premiered in February 2019 and stars Ana de Armas from the blockbuster film Blade Runner 2049. The film is directed by Matteo Garrone, whose newest feature, Dogman, opens at the Film Society April 12. Remaining true to Campari's mantra that every cocktail tells a story, the release of Entering Red kicks off a year-long celebration of the iconic Negroni cocktail as the world-famous drink marks its 100th anniversary.
"Our partnership with the New York Film Festival is a major step forward in continuing our devotion to film and the arts," said Melanie Batchelor, Vice President Marketing at Campari America. "The festival is the perfect place to share our excitement about Entering Red and support the creative individuals who devote themselves to making captivating films for film lovers. We look forward to toasting a collaborative partnership with a Negroni in hand."
Since 1963, the New York Film Festival has brought new and important cinematic works from around the world to Lincoln Center, introducing New York audiences to many of the industry's most acclaimed filmmakers as well as fresh new talent.
New York Film Festival Director Kent Jones said, "We are thrilled to be working with Campari to elevate our most important event of the year. Our festival prides itself on presenting the best in international cinema without competition, because, above all, our mission is to support the art and craft of cinema and foster film culture; it's very meaningful to collaborate with a partner that shares those values."
For further details on Campari, visit, campari.com. For further details on the New York Film Festival, visit: filmlinc.org/about-us/new-york-film-festival.
For inquiries regarding Campari, please contact:
Emily Anderson / M Booth
[email protected]
212-388-7664
For media specific inquiries regarding the Film Society of Lincoln Center, please contact:
Lisa Thomas
[email protected]
212-671-4709
Kate Patterson
[email protected]
212-875-5945
Isadora Johnson
[email protected]
212-875-5419
#NYFF #Campari #RedDiaries #N100
www.campari.com
https://www.youtube.com/EnjoyCampari
www.facebook.com/CampariUS
www.instagram.com/campariusa
https://twitter.com/campari
ABOUT CAMPARI
Campari is a contemporary and charismatic classic. The secret recipe, which has remained unchanged, originated in Novara in 1860 and is the base for some of the most famous cocktails around the world. Campari is an alcoholic spirit obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water. With its vibrant red color, intense aroma and inspiring flavor, Campari has always been a symbol of intrigue and pleasure, which unfurls itself into a captivating drinking experience. These are the values that have made the Campari brand famous throughout the world as an icon of passionate Italian style and excellence.
ABOUT CAMPARI AMERICA
Campari America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI Bloomberg CPR IM). At the heart of Campari America are two legends in the American spirits industry. The first, Skyy Spirits, was founded in San Francisco back in 1992 by the entrepreneur who invented the iconic SKYY Vodka. The second is the world-famous Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where they have been making the world's finest whiskies since the 1800's. Both companies were purchased by Davide Campari-Milano and together they form Campari America, which has built a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Campari America manages Campari Group's portfolio in the US with such leading brands as SKYY Vodka, SKYY Infusions, Grand Marnier, Campari, Aperol, Wild Turkey Straight Kentucky Bourbon, American Honey, Russell's Reserve, Glen Grant Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Forty Creek Canadian Whisky, BULLDOG Gin, Cabo Wabo Tequila, Espolon Tequila, Appleton Estate Rum, Wray & Nephew Rum, Coruba Rum, Ouzo 12, X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, Frangelico, Cynar, Averna, Braulio and Jean-Marc XO Vodka.
Campari America is headquartered in New York, New York. More information on the company can be found at www.campariamerica.com, www.facebook.com/campariamerica, Twitter: @CampariAmerica, Instagram: @CampariAmerica, and www.camparigroup.com. Please enjoy Campari America brands responsibly and in moderation.
ABOUT CAMPARI GROUP
Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional and Local priorities. Global Priorities, the Group's key focus, include Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, SKYY, Wild Turkey and Grand Marnier. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. It has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. Campari Group's growth strategy aims to combine organic growth through strong brand building and external growth via selective acquisitions of brands and businesses. Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group owns 18 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 20 countries. Campari Group employs approximately 4,000 people. The shares of the parent company Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM) have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. For more information: http://www.camparigroup.com/en Please enjoy our brands responsibly.
ABOUT THE NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL
Since 1963, the New York Film Festival has brought new and important cinematic works from around the world to Lincoln Center. In addition to the Main Slate official selections, the festival includes newly restored classics, special events, filmmaker talks, panel discussions, an Avant-Garde showcase, and much more. The New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring top films from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The festival is presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and the 57th edition will take place September 27-October 13, 2019. Additional confirmed partners of the 57th New York Film Festival include HBO, Netflix, and JCDecaux.
FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is devoted to supporting the art and elevating the craft of cinema. The only branch of the world-renowned arts complex Lincoln Center to shine a light on the everlasting yet evolving importance of the moving image, this nonprofit organization was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international film. Via year-round programming and discussions; its annual New York Film Festival; and its publications, including Film Comment, the U.S.'s premier magazine about films and film culture, the Film Society endeavors to make the discussion and appreciation of cinema accessible to a broader audience, as well as to ensure that it will remain an essential art form for years to come.
The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from The New York Times, Shutterstock, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. For more information, visit www.filmlinc.org and follow @filmlinc on Twitter.
SOURCE Campari
DUBLIN, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Exosome Research Products Market by Product and Services (Kit, Reagent, Instrument, Service), Application (cancer [lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer]), and End User (Hospitals, Academics, Research Institute) - Global Forecast to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
High global prevalence of cancer and increasing funding for life sciences are expected to drive the overall growth of the exosome research products market
The global exosome research products market is projected to reach USD 264 million by 2024 from USD 91 million in 2019, at a CAGR of 23.8% during the forecast period.
Factors driving the growth of this market include the increasing funding for life science research, the high global prevalence of cancer, and the increasing interest in exosome-based procedures. However, the dearth of skilled professionals is a major factor that is expected to restrain the growth of this market to a certain extent in the coming years.
The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period
Based on end user, the exosomes research products market is segmented into academic & research institutes, hospitals & clinical testing laboratories, and pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies. Pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies are expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. This can majorly be attributed to significant investments by companies in research activities for the development of exosome-based diagnostics to combat new diseases.
The lung cancer segment accounted for the largest share of the exosome research products market during the forecast period
Based on cancer applications, the exosomes research products market is segmented into lung, prostate, breast, colorectal, and other cancers. In 2018, lung cancer accounted for the largest share of the exosomes market for cancer applications. The large share of this segment can primarily be attributed to factors such as the increasing prevalence of lung cancer, technological advancements in instruments & assays for liquid biopsy, and the growing demand for advanced diagnostic technologies.
North America to dominate the market during the forecast period
In 2018, North America accounted for the largest share of the exosome research products market. The North American market is also expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Factors such as the availability of government funding for life science research, favorable regulatory environment, increasing focus on exosomes in research and diagnostics, and the presence of high-quality infrastructure for clinical and laboratory research are driving the growth of the exosomes market in North America.
According to R&D Magazine (2018), North America accounted for 27.36% of global R&D spending. North America has several national institutes that support biotechnology and life science research activities. The growth of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and growth in the number of cancer cases in the region are also supporting market growth.
Key Topics Covered:
1 Introduction
2 Research Methodology
3 Executive Summary
4 Premium Insights
4.1 Exosomes Market: Overview
4.2 Exosomes Market, By Application, 2019-2024 (USD Million)
4.3 Exosome Market Share, By Cancer Applications & Region (2018)
4.4 Exosome Market, By End User, 2019 vs. 2024 (USD Million)
4.5 Exosome Market: Geographic Growth Opportunities
5 Market Overview
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Market Dynamics
5.2.1 Drivers
5.2.1.1 Increasing Funding for Life Sciences Research
5.2.1.2 High Global Prevalence of Cancer
5.2.1.3 Increasing Interest in Exosome-Based Procedures
5.2.2 Restraints
5.2.2.1 Lack of Skilled Professionals
5.2.3 Opportunities
5.2.3.1 Untapped Emerging Markets
5.2.3.2 Growing Interest in Exosome-Based Therapeutics
5.2.3.3 Personalized Medicine
6 Exosomes Market, By Product & Service
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Kits and Reagents
6.2.1 Kits and Reagents Segment to Witness the Highest Growth in the Exosomes Market During the Forecast Period
6.3 Instruments
6.3.1 Increase in the Number of Diagnostic Laboratories Offering Exosome-Based Tests to Drive the Adoption of Instruments
6.4 Services
6.4.1 Exosome Services Aid Oncologists to Detect and Monitor Cancer Biomarkers From A Simple Blood Or Urine Sample
7 Exosomes Market, By Application
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Cancer Applications
7.2.1 Lung Cancer
7.2.1.1 Increasing Prevalence of Lung Cancer and Technological Advancements in Instruments & Assays for Liquid Biopsy to Drive Market Growth
7.2.2 Breast Cancer
7.2.2.1 High Prevalence of Breast Cancer and Increasing Awareness to Drive the Market for This Segment
7.2.3 Prostate Cancer
7.2.3.1 Liquid Biopsy Helps Detect Aggressive Prostate Cancer Before SurgeryA Key Factor Driving Market Growth
7.2.4 Colorectal Cancer
7.2.4.1 Increasing Research Activities and Projects Based on Exosomes to Drive the Market for This Segment
7.2.5 Other Cancers
7.2.5.1 Rising Incidence of Cancer and Increasing Research Funding to Drive the Market for This Segment
7.3 Non-Cancer Applications
7.3.1 Wide Range of Non-Cancer Applications to Drive Growth in the Demand for Exosomes in This Application Segment
8 Exosomes Market, By End User
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Academic & Research Institutes
8.2.1 Academic & Research Institutes are the Largest End Users in the Exosomes Market
8.3 Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
8.3.1 Significant Developments in Research Activities to Drive Market Growth in This End-User Segment
8.4 Hospitals & Clinical Testing Laboratories
8.4.1 Hospitals & Clinical Testing Laboratories Use Exosomes for the Diagnosis of Cancer
9 Exosomes Market, By Region
9.1 Introduction
9.2 North America
9.2.1 US
9.2.1.1 High Burden of Cancer and Favorable Public and Private Funding for Research Activities to Drive Market Growth
9.2.2 Canada
9.2.2.1 Availability of Research Funding & Rising Incidence of Cancer to Drive Market Growth
9.3 Europe
9.3.1 Germany
9.3.1.1 Presence of A Large Number of Academic Research Institutes to Support Market Growth
9.3.2 UK
9.3.2.1 Growth in the Life Sciences Industry to Drive the Market for Exosomes in the UK
9.3.3 France
9.3.3.1 Government Initiatives to Boost R&D Activities in the Country and High Healthcare Expenditure are the Key Factors Driving Market Growth
9.3.4 Roe
9.4 Asia
9.4.1 China
9.4.1.1 Government Initiatives to Strengthen the Biotechnology Industry and the High Prevalence of Cancer are the Major Factors Driving Market Growth
9.4.2 Japan
9.4.2.1 High Prevalence of Cancer and Increasing Healthcare Expenditure are the Key Drivers for the Exosomes Market in the Country
9.4.3 Rest of Asia
9.5 Rest of the World
10 Competitive Landscape
10.1 Overview
10.2 Market Share Analysis
10.3 Competitive Scenario
10.3.1 Partnerships and Agreements (2016-2019)
10.3.2 Product Launches (2016-2019)
10.3.3 Acquisitions (2016-2019)
10.3.4 Expansions (2016-2019)
10.4 Competitive Leadership Mapping (2017)
10.4.1 Vanguards
10.4.2 Innovators
10.4.3 Dynamic Players
10.4.4 Emerging Players
11 Company Profiles
11.1 Bio-Techne
11.2 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
11.3 System Biosciences (SBI)
11.4 NX Pharmagen
11.5 Qiagen N.V.
11.6 Miltenyi Biotech
11.7 AMS Biotechnology Ltd.
11.8 Nanosomix
11.9 Lonza Group AG
11.10 Norgen Biotek Corp.
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/dw957m/exosome_research?w=5
Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Media Contact:
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
[email protected]
For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470
For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
SOURCE Research and Markets
Related Links
http://www.researchandmarkets.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2017, a total of 793,000 new elevators were sold globally, a slight rise of 3% from a year earlier, thanks to the increased demand from Asia-Pacific and Europe, bringing global elevator ownership to estimated 14.5 million units. It is predicted that in 2018 global new elevator sales will sustain growth in the context that global economy is on a steady rise, expectedly reaching 813,000 units with a year-on-year increase of 2.5%.
Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p01254433/?utm_source=PRN
Globally, most elevators are produced and sold in Asia-Pacific region and China is the largest producer and consumer of elevators. World-renowned elevator brands have set up their either own companies or joint ventures in China, making the country a center of global elevator production.
New elevator market:
In 2017, around 480,000 elevators were sold in China, up 2.1% year on year driven by the property market growth. Shanghai Mechanical & Electrical Industry Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Guangri Stock Co., Ltd. and Canny Elevator (except for players with smaller business scale, like SJEC Corporation and Shenyang Yuanda Intellectual Industry Group) saw a varied increase in new elevator sales, of which Shanghai Mechanical & Electrical Industry Co., Ltd. reached the highest 75,600 units, a year-on-year increase of 9.4%, a 15.8% share of the total.
Under the impetus of urbanization, aging population, fast-growing urban rail transit, enforcement of the policy for elevator installation in old buildings as well as a growing number of old elevators to be replaced, Chinese elevator market will continue to grow steadily in the next five years, and till 2022 the sales of new elevators is anticipated to record 560,000 units.
Maintenance Market:
The ownership of elevators has been climbing in China year after year. By the end of 2017, there had been a total of 4.8 million elevators in China. Higher ownership has contributed to the robust elevator maintenance business. Assuming the maintenance cost of RMB8,000/year for each elevator, Chinese elevator maintenance market size now reaches RMB38.4 billion and will fetch RMB52 billion by 2022.
At present, Chinese elevator maintenance market is in a state of disorderly competition. As the elevator maintenance is featured with high gross margin and huge market space, Chinese and foreign brands attach great importance to the development of the maintenance business, and they have rushed into the maintenance market successively. In the future, Chinese elevator maintenance market will be developing in an orderly and sound way.
Global and China Elevator Industry Report, 2018-2022 highlights the following:
Global elevator industry (new elevator market, maintenance market and competitive landscape);
China elevator industry (new elevator market, maintenance market, competitive pattern and development tendency);
Elevator demand in China (demand from downstream sectors, demand structure, factors influencing demand);
7 foreign and 10 Chinese companies (operation, elevator business, R&D and investments, development strategies, etc.)
Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p01254433/?utm_source=PRN
About Reportlinker
ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.
__________________________
Contact Clare: [email protected]
US: (339)-368-6001
Intl: +1 339-368-6001
SOURCE Reportlinker
Related Links
http://www.reportlinker.com
To build towards this goal, the Houston Open Innovation Conference (HOIC) will bring together industry, government and academia in an open exchange of ideas and sharing of best practices, challenges and success stories. Lone Star College (LSC), the City of Houston and the Energy Conference Network (ECN) are teaming up to host the unique platform Thursday at Houston Exponential, 410 Pierce St., Houston, Texas 77002. The event kicks off with a welcome message at 8:30 a.m.
"As mayor, it is my distinct honor to invite you to the third annual Houston Open Innovation Conference," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "At this conference, I'll lay out my vision for Houston's innovation ecosystem, and you will learn techniques and specific ideas to innovate within your organizations from industries' top executives and thought leaders."
Lone Star College the largest institution of higher education in the Houston region - is a vital engine of economic development and growth and promotes the area as a leader in innovation.
"Innovation is key to the success of LSC, so we are proud to once again host HOIC as the founding partner," said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor. "Any opportunity we have to facilitate the exchange of ideas to fuel growth and innovation ultimately benefits our community and the businesses and organizations that attend."
Open innovation fosters an environment where companies, industries, communities and organizations share ideas in a forum that will lead to transformative technologies, cutting-edge breakthroughs and new business for the future.
"HOIC brings together a unique cross section of leaders, thinkers and innovators," said Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park president. "The collaboration and networking at this conference will inspire new opportunities and practical breakthroughs to transform ideas into reality and turn Houston into one of the nation's premier innovation hubs."
Visit HoustonOpenInnovation.com to learn more about the conference, speakers and sessions and to register.
To learn more about Lone Star, visit LoneStar.edu and for LSC-University Park, visit LoneStar.edu/UP.
Media Contacts:
Kimberley Baker
Interim Executive Director
281.401.5315 (O)
[email protected]
Jessica Jordan
Communications Manager
281.290.1812 (O)
[email protected]
SOURCE Lone Star College - University Park
Related Links
http://www.LoneStar.edu/UP
STAMFORD, Conn., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus Partners (Olympus) has acquired Tank Holding Corp (Tank) for the second time in a decade. The private equity firm based in Stamford, CT originally formed Tank with the management team in 2008 by merging Norwesco and Snyder Industries, creating the leading manufacturer and marketer of rotationally molded polyethylene tanks and containers.
Olympus acquired Tank from private equity firm Leonard Green Partners (LGP), who has owned the company since buying it from Olympus in 2012. "The Tank management team has built a remarkable business with impressive and consistent performance across all of their products and customers. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the Company again," said Manu Bettegowda, a Partner at Olympus.
Tank, North America's largest rotational molder, markets their products under the brand names of Norwesco, Snyder, Bonar, Stratis and Bushman. Besides being a leader in the manufacturing of plastic tanks used to store and transport bulk liquids for a variety of industries, Tank's product portfolio also includes dry material handling bins, insulated containers, steel transport tanks, medical waste containers, and specialty pallets.
"Our management team cannot be more excited about partnering with Olympus once again. They have a great understanding of our business, and we look forward to working with them in the execution of our many growth initiatives," said Greg Wade, President and CEO of Tank.
Founded in 1988, Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for companies needing capital for expansion. Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries including business services, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services, and manufacturing.
Olympus manages in excess of $8.5 billion mainly on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs. The Olympus team included Manu Bettegowda, Mike Horgan, Griffin Barstis, and Connor Wood. Olympus was represented by Jim Faley, Matthew Goulding, Michael Hanna, and Devon Mongeluzzi from Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
SOURCE Olympus Partners
Related Links
http://www.olympuspartners.com
SHELTON, Conn., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NNVC) (the "Company") a company with novel platform technology to treat difficult and life-threatening viral diseases, announces that it has requested a pre-IND meeting with the US FDA, as it progresses its lead drug candidate towards human clinical trials.
The Company recently reported that its first broad-spectrum drug candidate in the HerpeCide program, namely, NV-HHV-101, has successfully completed the non-GLP portion of the Safety/Toxicology studies that are required for filing an IND in order to initiate human clinical trials. The Company is now in the process of manufacturing a large batch of the drug as needed for the GLP portion of the Safety/Toxicology studies. Our IND-enabling non-GLP as well as GLP Safety/Toxicology studies are being conducted by BASi, Evansville, Indiana, a well known CRO specializing in these studies.
NanoViricides has now submitted a request for a "Type B" Pre-IND Meeting with the US FDA for this drug candidate. The Company believes that the resulting pre-IND meeting will provide valuable information for designing the Company's clinical program for this drug candidate. The initial indication of this drug candidate will be for the treatment of shingles rash. The Company is also developing drugs against HSV-1 "cold sores" and HSV-2 "genital ulcers", both based on this same drug candidate, although final clinical candidates are in pre-clinical optimization stage for both of these indications as of now.
NV-HHV-101 is a broad-spectrum nanomedicine designed to attack herpesviruses that use the HVEM ("herpesvirus entry mediator") receptor on human cells. This drug candidate is composed of a flexible polymeric micelle "backbone" to which a number of small chemical ligands are chemically attached. The ligands in this case are designed to mimic the binding site of the herpesviruses on HVEM, based on molecular modeling. NV-HHV-101 is expected to bind to VZV via a number of binding sites (i.e. the ligands), thereby encapsulating the virus particle and destroying its ability to infect human cells. This "Bind, Encapsulate, Destroy" nanoviricide strategy is distinctly different from the mechanism of action of existing antiviral drugs against VZV.
The Company is developing its clinical program for NV-HHV-101, formulated as a skin cream for topical application, with the help of regulatory affairs experts from the Biologics Consulting Group, Inc., Alexandria, VA.
Until our own antiviral cell culture studies, it was not known whether such a drug would be able to attack the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). VZV causes chickenpox in children and shingles in adults. Upon primary infection in childhood, VZV becomes dormant in the nerve ganglia as the patient recovers from chickenpox (or from the attenuated viral vaccine "ZostaVax"), and then the virus reactivates in adulthood when immune surveillance weakens to present as shingles.
The Company has conducted a drug candidate optimization program using an ex vivo human skin organ culture ("SOC") model of VZV infection, together with cell culture based VZV infection studies, to arrive at NV-HHV-101. The SOC model of VZV infection has been developed by Professor Jennifer Moffat at the Upstate Medical Center, SUNY, Syracuse, NY. It is the only pre-clinical model suitable for evaluating a topical therapy against shingles because VZV infects only humans. There is no animal model available for the evaluation of topical drugs against VZV infection.
NV-HHV-101 is formulated as a dermal cream to be applied topically on the rash. It is expected to reduce viral load at the site, thereby arresting the progress of the shingles rash, and minimizing damage to nerve endings in the area. It is generally believed that the damage to nerve endings caused by VZV that is replicated locally after it is released from the nerves initially leads to the severe "pins-and-needles" debilitating pain of shingles. Thus NV-HHV-101 is expected to minimize the entire pathology of shingles, including the rash, skin damage, nerve damage, and associated pain. The Company intends to focus the initial clinical studies to evaluate the effect of application of NV-HHV-101 on the shingles rash.
Existing antivirals against VZV include oral derivatives of acyclovir. These drugs requires activation by a viral enzyme, thymidilate kinase (vTK), for further cellular conversion to the active triphosphate form that interferes with the viral DNA polymerase. However, the vTK encoded by VZV has an extremely poor activity (compared to vTK from HSV-1 or HSV-2), and thus these drugs have very poor activity against VZV, and large oral dosages over extended periods are needed to be given for relatively small clinical benefit. Additionally, a dermal topical cream formulation of cidofovir is employed in very severe cases of shingles. Cidofovir is highly toxic, particularly towards kidneys. A safer, effective, drug is thus an unmet medical need for VZV.
Zostavax and other attenuated VZV (Oka strain) vaccines for chickenpox are available, but not widely adopted. These vaccines may lead to a less severe form of shingles in adulthood or at a later age, compared to the "wild type" chickenpox virus. A new vaccine, Shingrix has been introduced by GSK recently, based on subunits or protein fragments of the virus, which cannot lead to rebound shingles, but suffers from a very severe side effects profile. Shingrix is not yet widely available, potentially due to difficulties in manufacturing.
The market size for a highly effective drug against shingles is projected to be in several billions of dollars, if it leads to substantial reduction in the advanced manifestation of the disease, namely PHN, by independent consultants. These market size estimates account for the effect of ZostaVax and the newly introduced Shingrix vaccine on the patient population size. PHN or "post-herpetic neuralgia" is the continuation of the debilitating pain of shingles well after the patient has recovered from the shingles rash episode itself. PHN is believed to be due to extensive damage to nerve endings in the area of the shingles rash, and is expected to be correlated with the severity of the shingles presentation (or viral load). A less effective drug that minimizes the pathology of the shingles rash alone is also projected to have a market size into a billion dollar range.
The Company also continues to evaluate this broad-spectrum drug candidate as well as certain variations based on the same candidate, for the treatment of other herpesviruses, namely HSV-1 cold sores and HSV-2 genital herpes. The market size for our immediate target drugs in the HerpeCide program is variously estimated into billions to tens of billions of dollars. The Company believes that its dermal topical cream for the treatment of shingles rash will be its first drug heading into clinical trials. The Company believes that additional topical treatment candidates in the HerpeCide program, namely, HSV-1 "cold sores" treatment, and HSV-2 "genital ulcers" treatment are expected to follow the shingles candidate into IND-enabling development and then into human clinical trials.
NanoVircides' platform technology and programs are based on the TheraCour nanomedicine technology of TheraCour Pharma, Inc. NanoViricides holds licenses for developing drugs against several different viruses from TheraCour, including HSV-1 and HSV-2. A license for drugs against VZV is in progress. The Company recently announced that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with TheraCour with respect to the terms of a license for use in all therapeutic indications caused by the shingles virus (VZV), including shingles, chickenpox, PHN, ARN (acute retinal necrosis), and other clinical manifestations where attacking the VZV virus would be of clinical benefit. TheraCour is owned substantially by the Company's President and Executive Chairman of the Board, Anil R. Diwan, PhD. A final license agreement is in progress.
About NanoViricides
NanoViricides, Inc. (www.nanoviricides.com) is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide class of drug candidates are designed to specifically attack enveloped virus particles and to dismantle them. The Company is developing drugs against a number of viral diseases including H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, oral and genital Herpes, viral diseases of the eye including EKC and herpes keratitis, Hepatitis C, Rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola virus, among others. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors. Certain statements in this release, and other written or oral statements made by NanoViricides, Inc. are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed by the company from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors, they may include the following: demonstration and proof of principle in preclinical trials that a nanoviricide is safe and effective; successful development of our product candidates; our ability to seek and obtain regulatory approvals, including with respect to the indications we are seeking; the successful commercialization of our product candidates; and market acceptance of our products.
FDA refers to US Food and Drug Administration. IND refers to investigational drug application. API refers to active pharmaceutical ingredient.
SOURCE NanoViricides, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.nanoviricides.com
La Sagesse will be an incomparable master-planned development on one of the best locations in the Caribbean, just 15 minutes' drive from Grenada's airport. It will feature two luxury 5-star hotels, oceanfront villas, spas, retail and water-sports' facilities.
Range Developments specializes in developing luxury resorts in the Eastern Caribbean, and will be working with award winning Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. As in other of Range's developments, investors will be able to participate in the project, and if applicable, apply for citizenship in Grenada.
According to Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell: "We are extremely delighted to welcome such an experienced hospitality developer to Grenada. Range Developments is well known for the high quality of its hotels and for the ability to deliver the results in our region. Our Government's policy is to bring investment and sustainable jobs to the country, and our partnership with Range Developments is an irrefutable proof to this. What's more telling is that this project will be based in a rural part of the country, St. David; showing our commitment to ensuring that every part of our Tri-Island State is developed."
The project is scheduled to open in 2022, and will create more than 500 jobs during construction and many more during operations.
"We have been impressed by the welcome and the opportunities in Grenada," said Mohammed Asaria, Managing Director and Board Member of Range Developments. "Six Senses which has been voted the world's best hotel brand by the readers of Travel+Leisure magazine in 2018 for a second consecutive year. We look forward to working together on this exciting project."
On announcing the project, Six Senses President Bernhard Bohnenberger (BB) said, "We are very excited about coming to Grenada, the legendary spice island of yore. The ease of access from the United States and from Europe is also a very positive factor as these markets represent our two most prominent markets who embrace the quintessence of Six Senses. We are equally thrilled to work with the Government of Grenada and with Range Developments who are so aligned with our commitment to sustainability."
About Six Senses
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas operates 11 resorts and 28 spas in 20 countries under the brand names Six Senses, Evason and Six Senses Spas. Aggressive development plans will triple the portfolio over the next five years with resort, hotel and spa openings underway in Austria, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Nicaragua, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia and United States.
Six Senses operates resorts in far-flung locations of incredible natural beauty known for their distinctive and diverse design personalities. Each of the nine properties is supported by a leadership commitment to community, sustainability, wellness and design. Six Senses hotels which share the same vision and values found at their award-winning resorts will premiere in urban locations in 2019.
Six Senses Spas offers a wide range of holistic wellness, rejuvenation and beauty treatments administered under the guidance of expert therapists. Six Senses Spas are located in all Six Senses and Evason resorts; 17 additional standalone spas are located in prestigious hotels and resorts as well as the premier class lounges of two major airports.
Evason introduces a collection of two unique resorts that follow the Six Senses philosophy of uncompromised responsibility to sustainability and to the community. Family friendly, these properties also provide a strong value focus while offering a vast array of guest services and personal attention.
About Range Developments
Range Developments is an international property developer focusing on high-end hotel resorts in the Caribbean that are well-designed, sustainable and desirable.
Its flagship project Park Hyatt St. Kitts is open to guests since 1 November 2017. This luxury resort has received multiple awards and has been widely recognized in the international media. CNN has singled it out as "the Best Hotel in the Caribbean" with Forbes naming it "a grand Caribbean debut that was well worth the wait". It has been included in Conde Nast Traveler's 2018 hot list "Best New Hotels in the world".
Range has other developments in the region. The Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski, Dominica is the first government approved real estate project in Dominica under the country's Citizenship-by-Investment Program. The hotel is expected to open in 2019 and has recently been named "the most exciting new Caribbean property set to open in 2019" by the Caribbean Journal and Forbes. A minimum investment of US$ 220,000 in the project will entitle investors and their families to a citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominica. It is currently under construction and the most advanced of any government-approved project on the island.
SOURCE Range Developments
SACRAMENTO, Calif. and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The not-for-profit Sutter Health network announced today that it is teaming up with Suki to pilot an artificial intelligence-powered, voice-enabled digital assistant with doctors in Northern California. Suki uses a combination of voice commands from a physician and context in which they are operating, to create a clinically accurate note that is then pushed to an electronic health record (EHR) systemenhancing the quality of care and creating greater efficiencies.
"Maximizing the amount of time clinicians spend with patients while reducing the documentation burden on our clinicians is a strategic and tactical priority," said Howard Landa, M.D., vice president of clinical informatics and EHR for Sutter Health. "Personalized care paired with digital assistant tools will enhance care delivery and have a positive impact on health outcomes for our consumers, which is what really matters."
Sutter will initially introduce Suki into three clinical practice areasprimary care, dermatology and orthopedics. Over time with use, Suki can distill a doctor's conversation with a patient into an actionable plan, based on the doctor's known preferences and clinical practice guidelines.
A doctor can tell Suki, "I did my typical diabetes counseling" for a patient, and Suki knows how to create relevant content for the noteand the resulting note is tuned not only to the doctor's medical specialty, but also to their own vocabulary and style. This type of support can lend to streamlined documentation inside the patient's EHR, which can help create the most appropriate care plans for patients. The overall care experience also can improve as more time is freed up from administrative tasksgiving patients and providers more one-on-one time during visits.
While Suki launched in May 2018, results from one-year pilots across multiple specialties show up to a 70 percent reduction in the amount of time physicians spend on medical notes. (In comparison, for every hour of direct clinical facetime with a patient, physicians spend nearly two additional hours on medical paperwork). Today, Suki is used five days per week across the country, working with three different EHR systems and seven medical specialties, and accounting for more than 1,000 patient interactions every week.
"We are excited to work with Sutter network doctors to help ease the burden of administrative work like medical charting and to give doctors time back in their day. Through this collaboration, we will expand our footprint into new specialties, allowing Suki to master new skills from one of the most tech-savvy health systems in the country," said Punit Soni, Suki's CEO and co-founder.
With this new collaboration, Suki will continue building on the amount of time it saves physicians by capturing high-quality medical notes for patient encounters, and work with the Sutter Health network to build a data layer on top of these notes that will not only reduce the documentation burden but also attack other interesting use cases like clinical decision support.
About Suki
Suki is an AI-powered, voice-enabled digital assistant for doctors that lifts the burden of documentation, enabling them to focus on what they love: treating patients. By using artificial intelligence, Suki is able to be personalized to each doctor, gets smarter as they use it, and is rapidly and inexpensively scalable. Suki is like having an assistant in the exam room who knows how a doctor practices and, as a result, makes the work day easier.
Suki was founded by Punit Soni a former senior executive at Google and Flipkart and Karthik Rajan, who previously led IT infrastructure for Salesforce. Its team includes technologists from Apple, Google, Salesforce, and 23andMe, as well as physicians from the University of California, San Francisco and Stanford. Headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., Suki is backed by investors such as Venrock, First Round, Social Capital, and Marc Benioff. The company was named "Best New Startup" in Rock Health's Top 50 in Digital Health 2019. To learn more, visit suki.ai, or follow them on AngelList, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
About Sutter Health
Sutter Health is more than 60,000 people strong thanks to its integrated network of physicians, employees and volunteers. Rooted in Sutter Health's not-for-profit mission, these team members partner to deliver exceptional care that feels personal. From physician offices to hospitals to outpatient care centers and home services, they proudly support the more than 3 million people in their carenearly 1 percent of the U.S. population, in one of the most diverse and innovative regions in the world. Sutter team members adopt new technologies, make novel discoveries and embrace creative thinking to help patients and communities achieve their best health. From its street nurse program that provides check-ups for homeless people, to telemedicine-aided specialist consultations, to walk-in care clinics, to smart glass technology, the Sutter Health team goes beyond traditional models to make care more convenient and to nurture and empower people throughout their medical journey.
For more information about the Sutter Health network visit: sutterhealth.org | facebook.com/sutterhealth | youtube.com/sutterhealth | twitter.com/sutterhealth.
SOURCE Sutter Health
Related Links
http://www.sutterhealth.org
LONDON, March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Middle East leisure boats market is expected to grow to US$ 2,947.1 million by 2027 from US$ 1,840.0 million in 2017, growing at a CAGR of 4.9%. Middle East region comprises a significant high net-worth individual (HNI) population. A majority of this population has an affinity towards spending on travel and leisure activities. They prefer new experiences and privacy to spend some quality time. Today, people are shifting towards more personalized holiday vacations such as renting superyachts to discover the region's coastlines. Renting a crewed superyacht provides them the flexibility to personalize their travel plan and explore, thus offering liberty to make the most of every moment of their vacation. Therefore, it makes the Middle East one of the most lucrative regions for the leisure boats market.
Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5730249/?utm_source=PRN
The key trend which will predominantly affect the leisure boats market in the coming year is growth in the adoption of hybrid leisure boats.With the need for a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution, hybrid leisure boats are expected to gain high adoption in the near future.
The leisure boat manufacturing companies are already working on the technology and have announced to launch their product in the market soon.For instance, Volvo has announced to commercialize its hybrid marine propulsion concept in 2021.
This concept will enable a boat to operate with both electric as well as diesel. The factor above is expected to have a noteworthy impact on the leisure boats market.
Leisure boats market by application is segmented into sailboats, runabouts, jet boats, cabin cruisers, and watercraft.With the increase in real estate waterfront developments each year, the opportunities for the growth of leisure boats are very apparent.
The sailboats can be distinguished from the other boats mechanically, as they are propelled entirely or partly by the wind. The Leisure boats market for sailboats in the Middle Eastern region is foreseen to be prominent as during the coming years the region is anticipated to be the most preferred destination for luxury travel and water sports/adventure.
The overall leisure boats market size has been derived using both primary and secondary source.The research process begins with exhaustive secondary research using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market.
Also, the primary interview was conducted with industry participants and commentators in order to validate data and analysis.The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry expert such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, and external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the Leisure boats industry.
The leisure boats market report profiles key players such Gulf Craft Inc., Al Shaali Marine, Al Hareb Marine, Al Fajer Marine Llc, Al Seer Marine Supplies & Equipment Company L.L.C, Ribcraft Middle East, Ocean Boats, Al Suwaidi Marine, Al Marakeb Manufacturing Boats Est, and Instinct Marine, among others.
Reasons to Buy
Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the Middle East Leisure Boats market
Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies
The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Middle East Leisure Boats market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies
Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets
Scrutinize in-depth Middle East market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it
Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution
Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5730249/?utm_source=PRN
About Reportbuyer
Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers
For more information:
Sarah Smith
Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904
Website: www.reportbuyer.com
SOURCE ReportBuyer
Related Links
http://www.reportbuyer.com
SANTA FE, N.M., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Building off the success of its 2018 inaugural event, The Whiskey Classic has announced that the event will be held on Oct. 12, 2019, at the San Cristobal Movie Ranch in New Mexico. The Whiskey Classic is an immersive event experience designed for whiskey, bourbon and scotch aficionados and industry professionals as well as those who want to discover the art behind these beverages. The venue for the event is one of the most famous western movie sets in the film industry.
The Whiskey Classic
"We were so excited by the turnout last year, and we are expecting 2019 to be even better with more people and exhibitors in a venue that brings the perfect atmosphere to this kind of event," says Micaela Brown, producer of The Whiskey Classic. "We encourage attendees to buy their tickets now. We have exhibitor information available on the website and ticket packages will be available soon."
This year, The Whiskey Classic will benefit a new scholarship program for students in Central New Mexico Community College's Brewing and Beverage Management program. The award-winning program prepares students for a career as a beverage manager working in the beverage and brewing industry. In addition to brewing technology, students learn the underlying sciences behind beer production, including biology and chemistry courses. Students are also introduced to purchasing, cost controls, marketing and business/hospitality law.
For more information about the Whiskey Classic including exhibitor and sponsorship information and upcoming ticket and VIP packages, visit WhiskeyClassic.us or email [email protected].
The Whiskey Classic
The Whiskey Classic is the premier whiskey, scotch and bourbon event in the United States. The event is held each year at a movie ranch that lends to the authenticity of the experience. For more information, visit WhiskeyClassic.us.
Related Images
image1.jpg
image2.jpg
image3.gif
image4.jpeg
Related Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRp0AJTwn4w
SOURCE The Whiskey Classic
Related Links
http://WhiskeyClassic.us
This time, Trump is referring to the two-year probe led by special prosecutor Robert Mueller into Trump's opaque links with Russia. (Photo:AP)
Washington: President Donald Trump on Tuesday branded the mainstream media the "enemy" and the "opposition party" after the Mueller report cleared him of collusion, accusing journalists of covering the Russia probe unfairly.
"The Mainstream Media is under fire and being scorned all over the World as being corrupt and FAKE.
For two years they pushed the Russian Collusion Delusion when they always knew there was No Collusion," Trump tweeted. "They truly are the Enemy of the People and the Real Opposition Party!" Trump has previously used "enemy of the people" -- echoing a Stalinist phrase used to describe political enemies -- to describe the media, which he has always said does not give him accurate coverage.
This time, Trump is referring to the two-year probe led by special prosecutor Robert Mueller into Trump's opaque links with Russia and suspicions that his 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russian agents in attempts to influence the election in his favor.
According to a brief summary released by Trump's attorney general William Barr on Sunday, Mueller could not find evidence of collusion, although he did establish that Russian agents tried to disrupt the election.
Trump has seized on that summary clearing him of collusion as a complete vindication of his many claims to have been subjected to a "witch hunt" -- and that the media, which covered the bombshell investigation, was part of an organized assault against him.
The summary of the report says Mueller could not decide whether Trump obstructed justice and left that up to the Justice Department. Barr wrote in the summary that Trump had not in fact committed such a crime.
HOUSTON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tissue Genesis, LLC, the leading provider of cell isolation technology is pleased to announce that the Icellator is being used to generate therapeutic cell preparations at the V.P. Komisarenko Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism in Kiev, Ukraine, for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). The autologous stem-cell therapy, which utilizes a patient's own fat cells, is the first of its kind in Ukraine to treat CLI patients. This effort will build on previous stem cell studies that have shown promising results as a potential therapeutic option for this debilitating and increasingly common vascular disease.
Six patients were treated in the opening week in the open-label registry study. The CLI patients are treated with their own stem cells in a series of direct intermuscular injections into the lower limbs. The surgical team, led by Dr. Yuri Tarashchenko, and the research team, led by Dr. Svitlana Bolgarska, PhD, will follow patients to determine whether SVF therapy reduces amputation, accelerates wound healing or increases ambulatory function. Lower limb blood pressure and quality of life surveys will also be assessed throughout the follow up.
"This study is an alternative way to achieve limb salvage for patients with Critical Limb Ischemia," explained Dr. Bolgarska. "I am glad to report that all of our patients are recovering well and feeling good. I am looking forward to seeing the results of our study and I am optimistic that there will be positive results."
Dr. Marc Penn, Tissue Genesis' Chief Medical Officer, traveled to Kiev to oversee the first treatment week. He was joined by Dr. Bart Rademaker, a plastic surgeon and clinical consultant who provided training in the liposuction technique to obtain a patient's adipose tissue and prepare it for cell processing. The study was organized with the help of Faon LLC, a Ukrainian company.
"It is exciting to bring autologous cell therapy to patients in Ukraine with critical limb ischemia who otherwise would be at risk of losing their limb," said Dr. Penn. "Collaborating with the expert clinicians in the Ukraine who offer their patients excellent state of the art care, to bring stem cell therapy to their patients has been equally rewarding."
As the leader in the production of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from a patient's own adipose (fat)-derived stem cells, the Icellator is a state-of-the-art, enzyme-derived cell isolation system. The totally enclosed, fully automated process is designed to minimize the risk for human error and contamination. The Icellator has a sterile, single-use, disposable cartridge kit per patient and uses a patented, purification process to obtain a consistent yield of SVF.
"Tissue Genesis is committed to providing the most advanced cell processing technology to address the unmet medical needs in vascular diseases, including CLI," said General Manager Ben Chlebina. "The Icellator allows physicians access to active stem cell preparations to treat their patients without the need to build an expensive cell isolation infrastructure or support a large scientific team. We are excited to expand our clinical program into new markets and offer therapeutic options for populations with chronic conditions and diseases."
ABOUT CRITICAL LIMB ISCHEMIA
Critical limb ischemia, also known as chronic limb-threatening ischemia, is a condition where lack of blood flow to an extremity, such as an arm or leg, inhibits normal metabolic function. CLI can lead to pain, skin ulcers and dermal sores, and, if not successfully addressed, amputation. It can also put patients at a higher risk for cardiovascular complications, and death. CLI is considered the "end stage" of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Currently, CLI affects approximately 200 million people worldwide. As the population ages and the prevalence of diabetes, obesity and chronic kidney disease rises, so will the incidence of peripheral arterial disease and, consequently, CLI.
ABOUT TISSUE GENESIS
Tissue Genesis, LLC, (TG) offers best-in-class, clinical grade cell therapy solutions. Its state-of-the-art Icellator is a high-performance, point-of-care device that efficiently extracts adult stem cells from a small sample of autologous adipose tissue in an enclosed and automated process. Manufactured under cGMP to the highest ISO 13485 and FDA standards, the Icellator provides yields of stromal vascular fraction that is sufficiently pure to allow for intravenous infusion in an hour or less. Tissue Genesis' Icellator is approved for use by medical regulatory authorities in South Korea, Ukraine and the Bahamas, and is working to obtain regulatory approval for its cell therapy products in Japan and the US, with ongoing FDA-cleared trials for multiple indications of chronic disease.
Media Contact: Erik Borg
Ph: (212) 584-7829
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Tissue Genesis, LLC
COLLEGE PARK, Md., March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland has named Georgina Dodge, PhD as Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, Dodge will work closely with senior leaders, faculty, staff, students and external constituencies to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and respect as core institutional values. She will be a member of the President's Cabinet, and work with the Senior Vice President and Provost, the Provost's Council of Deans, and other senior leaders to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment.
"Following a highly competitive national search, Georgina was selected based upon her 23-year career of successful leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion at three universities," said University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh. "She is a tireless advocate for human rights, civil liberties, and equal opportunity, and we welcome her to Maryland."
Since 2017, Dodge has served as Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Bucknell University, and has held similar roles as Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President; Title IX Coordinator at the University of Iowa and Assistant Vice Provost of Office of Minority Affairs at The Ohio State University where she she convened and directed the university's Bias Assessment and Response Team, produced the university's annual diversity report and helped develop metrics for diversity performance evaluations.
"I am honored to be chosen to lead diversity and inclusion at the University of Maryland," said Dodge. "Across many higher education institutions, I have listened and learned from the communities I serve, and I look forward to partnering across the university to foster a vibrant and inclusive climate for all."
As a first-generation college student, Dodge brings a unique perspective to Maryland as an individual who took an unconventional path to educational and professional success. Prior to her career in academics, she served in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician. Upon completion of her six-year enlistment term, Dodge began her pursuit of an A.A. from Golden West Community College in Huntington Beach, California. After graduating with honors, Dodge continued to build on her education with a B.A. in English from the University of California Irvine, graduating summa cum laude. The scholar went on to earn both her MA and PhD in English from University of California, Los Angeles.
Following a six-year appointment as an Assistant Professor of English at The Ohio State University where she taught courses in African American, Asian, Multiracial and Women's Literatures, Dodge became the Director of the Department of African American and African studies at the community extension center in Columbus, Ohio. There she developed and implemented enrichment courses for community residents, worked with city and community officials on citizen beneficial partnerships and continued to develop multi-ethnic focused courses under the university umbrella.
Along with her various memberships to professional organizations like the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) and Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), she organized the Women of Color Caucus within the Society for the Study of Multi-Ethnic Literatures of the United States and has served in several other change-making positions throughout her 23-year career. Dodge was recently featured on the September 2018 cover of Diverse: Issues of Education.
About University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 37,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and 250 academic programs. Its faculty includes three Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 56 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. The institution has a $1.9 billion operating budget, and secures $560 million annually in external research funding. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit www.umd.edu.
SOURCE University of Maryland
Related Links
http://www.umd.edu
"We are honored to welcome Drs. Lipshultz, Sawhney and Stothers to the Foundation," said Harris M. Nagler, MD, Urology Care Foundation President. "Each believe deeply in our mission, offer a rich set of skills and experiences and will play an integral role in ensuring our continued impact through meaningful philanthropy - it is also a wonderful development for the Foundation to appoint its first female Board Member."
Larry I. Lipshultz, MD is Professor of Urology and Chief of the Scott Department of Urology's Division of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Lipshultz, who holds the Smith Chair in Reproductive Medicine, is a well-known authority on abnormalities of male reproduction, erectile dysfunction and male hormone production. He also is the AUA's first Research Scholar.
Recognized as a leading expert on men's health, Dr. Lipshultz is a highly respected author and editor, as well as lecturer. His research has been in many journals, books and videos. Dr. Lipshultz instituted a fellowship training program in male reproductive medicine and surgery that has trained more than 80 physicians who are now in practice both in the U.S. and abroad.
Amarpreet Sawhney, PhD is the Chairman of Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., a company focused on solving unmet needs in ophthalmic drug delivery and wound sealing. He is also the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Instylla, Inc., a company focused on liquid embolic products for interventional oncology. His entrepreneurism has facilitated the creation of several bio-pharma and medical device companies, as well as the development of such innovative technology solutions as extravascular closure devices, surgical sealants and spacers that enable improved radiotherapy. Dr. Sawhney's innovations are the subject of more than 120 issued and pending patents in medical devices, methods, and biomaterials. Many of his innovations have been "first of a kind" to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
He has been involved in several charitable causes including ones focused on education, the environment and creating platforms to support other healthcare entrepreneurs. Through his companies and inventions, Dr. Sawhney has touched more than five million patients and created more than 2,000 jobs.
Lynn Stothers, MD, MHSc is a Professor at the University of British Columbia in the Department of Urologic Sciences. She also serves as a Senator at the University of British Columbia and is an associate Member in the School of Population and Public Health and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Stothers is a former Peter Wall Institute Scholar and is a Principal Investigator at the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), where she has a keen interest in the results and challenges relating to neurogenic bladder such as those following spinal cord injuries. She is committed to her work with hospital foundations and other nonprofits and has been involved in raising funds for more than 20 years. She enjoys her time volunteering and helping to raise funds for urology research, including spinal cord injury research and education.
Learn more about the Urology Care Foundation Board of Directors.
About the Urology Care Foundation: The Urology Care Foundation is the world's leading nonprofit urological health foundation, and the official foundation of the American Urological Association. Partnering with physicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, families and the public, the Foundation supports and improves urologic clinical care by funding research, developing patient education and pursuing philanthropic support. To learn more about the Urology Care Foundation and its programs visit: www.urologyhealth.org. The Urology Care Foundation is the official foundation of the American Urological Association. www.UrologyHealth.org
About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 21,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy. www.AUAnet.org
SOURCE Urology Care Foundation
Related Links
http://www.urologyhealth.org
WASHINGTON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Line Pipe Producers Association (ALPPA), a domestic coalition of large diameter welded pipe (LDWP) producers, urges the Administration to maintain Section 232 relief on imports from Canada and Mexico. In addition, both countries have and continue to engage in unfair trade practices with respect to LDWP products.
The United Steelworkers (USW) recently called for the removal of Section 232 tariffs and quotas on Canada ahead of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's (USMCA) ratification. However, while ALPPA supports the USMCA, it strongly rejects that USMCA should be tied to removal of Section 232 tariffs, particularly given the trade-distortive practices of Canada and Mexico:
Canada: Last month, the Department of Commerce concluded that Evraz and other Canadian LDWP producers are dumping LDWP in the United States at a rate of 12.32%. A final injury determination vote will occur next week at the U.S. International Trade Commission. Further, even with Section 232 tariffs and dumping duties in place, Canadian LDWP producers have continued to ship massive volumes of LDWP into the U.S. market. U.S. imports of Canadian LDWP increased by more than 25% in the past year alone. This increase has directly and adversely impacted domestic LDWP producers and their workers, including USW workers working at ALPPA members Dura-Bond (McKeesport and Steelton, Pennsylvania) and Stupp Corp. (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).
Mexico: The Mexican large diameter pipe market is closed to U.S. producers. Mexico's most recent WTO Trade Policy Review indicates that current tenders for oil and gas pipeline projects issued by Mexico's National Hydrocarbons Commission require 25% local content; this requirement will reach 35% by the end of 2025. Further, reports indicate that, in practice, Mexico's local content requirement for oil and gas pipeline projects may be much higher.
It is imperative that Section 232 tariffs relief be maintained on both Canada and Mexico in order to uphold the President's goal of increasing U.S. steel capacity, including domestic LDWP capacity, to support U.S. national security needs. The failure to do so will directly undermine LDWP production in the United States and increases the possibility of Canada and Mexico becoming platforms for circumvention by China and other countries. Nonetheless, to the extent that Section 232 tariffs are removed on Canada and Mexico, the tariffs should be replaced by a quota to ensure that U.S. national security is protected, and that Section 232 relief benefits U.S. companies and workers, including USW workers. Such a quota should be well below the 2016 to 2018 average volumes for U.S. imports from Canada any quota set at historic levels would improperly reward Canada for its surge of LDWP imports at dumped prices.
CONTACT: Timothy C. Brightbill
American Line Pipe Producers Assn.
202-719-3138 | [email protected]
SOURCE Wiley Rein LLP
AHMEDABAD, India, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Veeda Clinical Research Pvt. Ltd., a leading independent CRO, is pleased to announce that our clinical (Shivalik, Ahmedabad) and Bioanalytical facilities (Insignia, Ahmedabad) have successfully completed the third inspection by NPRA (Malaysian Regulatory Agency).
This was a routine study inspection by the NPRA to verify the compliance of the facilities and the studies with the principles of Good Clinical Practices and applicable Good Laboratory Principles. The inspection outcome confirmed Veeda's commitment to the highest Quality standards and compliance with the defined SOPs and regulatory guidelines.
Veeda Clinical Research has successfully cleared 60 regulatory audits in the last 14 years including 19 USFDA Inspections of its facilities and clinical trial sites in last 24 months.
With its focus on sustaining a strong Quality Culture that underscores its Quality Policy and robust Quality Management System, Veeda continues to steadfastly pursue its mission 'To Strive for Excellence in Quality and endeavour to become the partner of choice for our Sponsors and our Stakeholders'.
ABOUT VEEDA CRO
Veeda is the leading independent CRO in India. Veeda offers a diverse range of clinical studies including bioequivalence as well as PK, PD and Clinical End point studies for Generics, NCE and Biopharmaceuticals. Veeda is a partner of choice for many global pharmaceutical companies and is reputed for its best-in-class scientific knowledge, quality and ethics.
Veeda has an exemplary regulatory track record of successfully completing 29 USFDA, 6 ANVISA, 5 WHO, 3 MHRA, 1 AGES, 1 ANSM, 1 MCC, 12 DCGI and 3 NPRA audits till date.
Please contact the following for any clarifications regarding this communication:
Ms. Priyanka Tiwari
Veeda Clinical Research Private Limited
Vedant Complex, Beside YMCA Club, S. G. Highway
Vejalpur, Ahmedabad - 380 051
Gujarat India
Phone: +91-79-3001-3000
Fax: +91-79-3001-3010
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Veeda Clinical Research Pvt Ltd
NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- VisuWell has been awarded the contract for Nevada Health Centers' comprehensive telemedicine initiative. Established in 1977, Nevada Health Centers is the largest provider of primary care for uninsured, underinsured, and geographically isolated patients in Nevada. The organization conducts over 150,000 patient encounters annually through 17 locations and utilizes the VisuWell platform to expand access and improve convenience for patients.
"We are excited to have VisuWell as our partner in launching our first telemedicine initiative," said Corie Nieto, director of telehealth services for Nevada Health Centers. "VisuWell allows us to extend hours and coverage in low population areas and expand programs, such as our school-based services. The combination of platform options provided by VisuWell is something that exceeds what is available from other vendors as a package. The platform is browser-deployed, providing flexibility to reach our goal of extending services directly to patient homes, yet also supports diagnostic peripherals when connecting to our own centers and specialty consult partners."
The VisuWell platform accommodates workflows throughout health systems and provider groups, allowing for deployment of unique solutions associated with various sub-organizations and locations. Integration options are extensive and include the 3M Littmann Stethoscope, Horus Scope, Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras, legacy SIP endpoints, and telemedicine carts, as well as the organization's native EHR. VisuWell maintains a consumer-first approach that is browser-deployed, device agnostic, and plugin-free, creating an unparalleled patient experience.
"Nevada Health Centers is attacking one of the greatest challenges in healthcare - limited access to care - and we are excited to help them achieve their goals," said Sam Johnson, CEO, VisuWell. "Our goal at VisuWell is to offer the most robust set of enterprise-ready options that provide limitless scalability, open device integration, and a myriad of workflow options that are superior to other options on the market. Corie and her team are innovators in the community health center model and it will be exciting to watch them as they advance their telemedicine strategy."
About VisuWell
VisuWell is the leader in patient-centered telemedicine offering an easy-to-use, cloud-based platform that improves access to care through the integration of consumer devices, clinical monitoring peripherals, EHR platforms, and legacy SIP endpoints and telemedicine carts. The VisuWell platform utilizes a flexible SaaS-delivery model enabling health systems and provider groups to meet consumer demand while improving outcomes and increasing efficiency. Learn more by visiting visuwell.io , and the company's telemedicine resources page that includes guides and white papers, as well as an in-depth review of telemedicine reimbursement .
SOURCE VisuWell
Related Links
https://www.visuwell.io
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), the leader in Digital Knowledge Management (DKM), today announced that its Spring '19 Product Release is available for general access. Live for Yext customers and partners, the Spring Release features integrations with some of the largest global digital services used by Chinese travelers around the world, including Baidu Map (Overseas), Fliggy, CK Map, and PIRT. These integrations put businesses outside China in control of their brand information in the services that hundreds of millions of Chinese travelers all across the globe use to find places to eat, shop, stay, and more.
"Travelers from China spent $261 billion overseas in 2016more than tourists from any other countrybut the digital services these travelers use to find businesses are completely different from those popular in the West, and businesses are struggling to reach this major customer base," said Marc Ferrentino, Chief Strategy Officer of Yext. "Yext's integrations with leading Chinese services like Baidu Map make it possible for Western businesses to provide correct answers to these consumers as they look for places to eat, shop, and stay."
Chinese tourists use services they're familiar with, like Baidu Map (Overseas), Fliggy, CK Map, and PIRT, while traveling. Baidu Map alone has exceeded 100 million users in China's outbound travel market so far. A survey by Coresight Research indicates that 72% of Chinese tourists use online resources to plan their trips and 98% rely on their mobile phones while abroad to keep in touch and do research on the go.
The Spring '19 Release, now available for general access, includes the following features:
New Integrations with Chinese Apps: The Yext Knowledge Network now includes leading services that Chinese travelers use when they travel around the world. Businesses outside China using Yext can now publish their information to Baidu Map (Overseas), Fliggy, CK Map, and PIRT, so their critical business information will be correct and up to date in these services.
The Yext Knowledge Network now includes leading services that Chinese travelers use when they travel around the world. Businesses outside using Yext can now publish their information to Baidu Map (Overseas), Fliggy, CK Map, and PIRT, so their critical business information will be correct and up to date in these services. Google Q&A: Businesses can now monitor and answer questions that consumers ask about them on Google in Google's Q&A search results, directly in the Yext dashboard. Using Yext, they can also sync pre-answered FAQs to pre-empt common customer questions in order to provide a better customer experience and win more business.
Businesses can now monitor and answer questions that consumers ask about them on Google in Google's Q&A search results, directly in the Yext dashboard. Using Yext, they can also sync pre-answered FAQs to pre-empt common customer questions in order to provide a better customer experience and win more business. AI-Ready Pages: Yext has enhanced AI-Ready Pages with new customization options. AI-Ready Pages let businesses create a smart landing page on their website for any entity stored in Yext with just a few clicks to drive consumer discovery and action.
For more information on the Spring '19 Product Release, visit the Release Notes.
About Yext:
Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT) is the leading Digital Knowledge Management (DKM) platform. Our mission is to give companies control over their brand experiences across the digital universe of maps, apps, search engines, voice assistants, and other intelligent services that drive consumer discovery, decision, and action. Today, thousands of businesses including brands like Taco Bell, Rite Aid, and Steward Health Care use the Yext Knowledge Engine to manage their digital knowledge in order to boost brand engagement, drive foot traffic, and increase sales.
Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo and the Washington, D.C. Area. For more information, visit yext.com .
SOURCE Yext, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.yext.com
TULSA, Okla., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Zarrow Pointe, Tulsa's leading retirement community for seniors, has launched a peer-mentoring program for the development and advancement of its team of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in partnership with the National Association of Healthcare Assistants (NAHCA).
The program aims to reinforce teamwork, learning, and problem solving by nominating CNA mentors who will be trained to increase employee productivity and reduce turnover by fostering a culture of leadership and peer support.
Mentors will be selected on the basis of outstanding caregiving skills, commitment to service delivery, experience and track record of adherence to policies and procedures. Selected CNA mentors will be expected to contribute to the professional development and success of their peers including existing and new nursing assistants. Upon completion of the full NAHCA mentorship program, Zarrow Pointe CNAs will earn a nationally certified preceptor certificate in recognition of their professional competence and proficiency in peer mentoring.
For over three decades, the Zarrow Pointe retirement community has redefined industry standards in Oklahoma by delivering an exceptional program that combines high-quality senior care, with a philosophy of life-long learning and wellness. The CNA mentoring program is yet another initiative that highlights Zarrow Pointe's commitment to quality, performance and resident-focused care.
Jim Jakubovitz, CEO Zarrow Pointe, views the CNA mentoring program as an important investment that will enable mentees to make a meaningful contribution in the future. "At Zarrow Pointe, we place a very high emphasis on quality and have set benchmarks that exceed state and national requirements. By equipping our nursing staff with hands-on skills, training, and knowledge to ensure their continued success in health-care settings, we hope to bridge the caregiving gap in nursing facilities that are struggling to meet required standards in service delivery. Through this initiative, we hope to empower our nursing team to improve performance and outcomes not only at Zarrow Pointe but throughout the state of Oklahoma."
Zarrow Pointe is a vibrant and engaging senior living community in Tulsa that inspires lifelong learning and represents active seniors of all faiths and traditions. View more here: https://vimeo.com/262428158
For more information, contact Aaliya Briggs: [email protected]
SOURCE Zarrow Pointe
Related Links
https://zarrowpointe.org/
Since 2009 ZeroCater has fed some of the world's fastest-growing companies. As these companies grew in size and scale, ZeroCater followed suit with the launch of ZeroCater Snacks & Kitchens in 2017, ZeroCater Pours in 2018 and now ZeroCater Enterprise Catering in 2019. With its formal expansion into enterprise catering, ZeroCater has built a suite of products for enterprise customers that offers a single-source solution for all their corporate food needs.
"Our goal is to be the single provider for every calorie consumed in an enterprise company's kitchen," said Ali Sabeti, CEO of ZeroCater. "We've spent the last two years listening to the needs of our largest customers, and with our new enterprise catering solution we are able to deliver the unlimited cuisine and meal variety of our core product but at the scale and consistency large headcount companies demand."
Operating out of industrial-sized kitchens, our Enterprise Culinary Partners prepare all meals according to the highest industry standards of commercial food safety to ensure compliance throughout the supply chain. Meals are weighed to ensure portioning accuracy and then delivered through a temperature-controlled and fully managed delivery fleet. The Enterprise Catering solution also includes a fully managed on-site dining experience customized to a company's office layout, headcount, and culture. ZeroCater's team of dedicated on-site staff is responsible for all aspects of the meal service including presentation, equipment, replenishment, cleanup and food donation.
With enterprise companies spending millions annually on their corporate food programs, ZeroCater's dedicated food concierge team works to ensure each employee has a flawless experience. Every customer receives a dedicated customer success manager who is responsible for the entire food program including office catering, snacks and one-off special events. The food concierge team uses proprietary technology to analyze a company's food program, identify trends and make recommendations for optimization based on each company's unique tastes and preferences.
In a $130 billion-dollar industry, ZeroCater is redefining corporate food programs for enterprise companies with a single solution that promises unmatched variety and consistency. ZeroCater Enterprise Catering is now available in New York and the Bay Area. To learn more, please visit zerocater.com or call (844) 229-9376.
ABOUT ZEROCATER
With a mission to help companies build a better culture through food, ZeroCater is on a path to becoming the No. 1 food company serving the workplace. Founded in 2009, ZeroCater has become a leading provider of office catering and snacks, serving companies including Cisco Systems, Fandango and Salesforce. Technology, people and an ecosystem of culinary partners allows ZeroCater to provide the food that employees love. ZeroCater's office catering and snack products serve the Bay Area, New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Austin and Los Angeles. For more information, please visit zerocater.com. Follow @ZeroCater on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Media Contact:
Megan Palmer
[email protected]
415-432-8173
SOURCE ZeroCater
Related Links
https://www.zerocater.com
PITTSBURGH, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Annually, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) brings together more than 3,700 oncology nurses from across the country and around the globe to celebrate and advance the oncology nursing profession. The 44th Annual ONS Congress in Anaheim, CA, from April 1115, 2019, showcases educational sessions, networking opportunities, and groundbreaking nursing research.
One key theme for the 2019 ONS Congress is nurse-led innovation. On April 11, ONS member and keynote speaker Rachel Walker, PhD, RN, OCN, assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and American Association for the Advancement of Science Invention ambassador, will discuss the ways nurses have changed health care for more than 100 years. New for 2019, Johnson & Johnson is sponsoring the keynote address and opening ceremony.
"For more than 120 years, Johnson & Johnson has proudly supported the nursing profession and partnered with nurses on the frontlines of care," team at Johnson & Johnson said. "Today, we are focusing on elevating the visibility and impact of nursing by championing nurse-led innovation, supporting skills development, developing nurse leaders, and strengthening nurse resiliency. This sponsorship also represents a continuation of a 25-year partnership with the ONS, where the Janssen Pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson have partnered in the essential work of ensuring that oncology nurses have the latest information they need to best care for their patients. At Johnson & Johnson, we believe nurses change lives and that changes everything."
For four days in Anaheim, oncology nurses will attend sessions in five educational tracks designed specifically for the field, including clinical practice; advanced practice; leadership, management, and education; research; and radiation. Each session provides continuing education opportunities for nurses as well. Attendees will also discover ways to advance their careers at ONS's Career Fair, where educational presentations provide useful tips on resume writing, how to leave an impression in job interviews, and best practices for publication, along with many other career-centric sessions.
For nurses unable to attend Congress, ONS will stream live coverage of selected sessions at congress.ons.org and archive them after each initial broadcast. Members and attendees can access the sessions online after Congress to revisit or share material with their colleagues back home.
ONS is a professional association of more than 39,000 members committed to promoting excellence in oncology nursing and the transformation of cancer care. Since 1975, ONS has provided a professional community for oncology nurses, developed evidence-based education programs and treatment information, and advocated for patient care, all in an effort to improve quality of life and outcomes for patients with cancer and their families. Learn more at www.ons.org. To Register for a Congress press pass, please email [email protected].
Media Contact: Nicole Lininger
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (412) 859-6321
Congress Onsite Press Number: (724) 601-0337
SOURCE Oncology Nursing Society
Related Links
http://www.ons.org
But the Israeli army reported late-night mortar fire and 30 new rocket launches from Gaza, on top of 30 rockets detected earlier in the evening. (Photo: AFP)
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories): Israel kept up air strikes on Gaza into Tuesday and Palestinian militants launched new rockets despite a reported ceasefire deal, raising fears of a return to open conflict in the enclave.
Gaza's Islamist rulers, Hamas, had said on Monday evening that an Egypt-brokered ceasefire has been agreed following a flare-up of violence just two weeks before an Israeli general election.
But the Israeli army reported late-night mortar fire and 30 new rocket launches from Gaza, on top of 30 rockets detected earlier in the evening.
Israel struck around 15 fresh targets including what the army said were a Hamas military compound and an Islamic Jihad position, adding in a statement that it would increase its operational activity as necessary.
Our response was very powerful, very very powerful, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israeli reporters accompanying him on a visit to Washington.
Hamas needs to know that we shall not hesitate to go in (to Gaza) and take all necessary steps, he said.
NEWTON, Mass., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Abcuro, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class immunomodulatory therapeutics, announced the publication of proof-of-concept data describing KLRG1 as a promising new target for cancer immunotherapy. The article, published in Oncotarget ( link ), reports the anticancer activity of KLRG1 antibody blockade in syngeneic mouse models of breast cancer, colon cancer and melanoma. The study also highlights the expression of KLRG1 in human tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and its role in adaptive resistance to immunotherapies.
KLRG1 was identified as a critical immune inhibitory receptor by datamining expression profile databases with the aim of finding immune checkpoint receptors that align with the state of T cell differentiation. This analysis showed that KLRG1 is, genome wide, the immune inhibitory receptor that best aligns with degree of T cell differentiation. Compared to other clinical targets that are active in early and intermediate stages of T cell differentiation (such as CTLA-4 and PD-1), KLRG1 functions as the ultimate break on the most differentiated and cytotoxic T cells. Furthermore, KLRG1 expression on a differentiated subset of T cells and the high cytotoxic potential of these cells strongly suggests a beneficial therapeutic combination with existing treatments.
The results presented in the publication show in vivo proof-of-concept for the anti-cancer action resulting from KLRG1 blockade in mouse syngeneic models and highlight KLRG1 as an important driver of adaptive resistance to immunotherapy in humans. Abcuro has discovered KLRG1 blocking antibodies and is developing first-in-class new immunotherapy agents for treatment of cancer.
ABOUT ABCURO
Abcuro's mission is to develop a new generation of immunomodulatory therapeutics for treating both autoimmunity and cancer. The company uses proprietary analysis of transcriptome data from human disease to identify new approaches to target key compartments of the immune system. Abcuro was launched in 2016 and is based in Newton, Massachusetts.
Abcuro contact: [email protected]
SOURCE Abcuro, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.abcuro.com
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM, TSX: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle" or the "Company") today announced that it will release its first quarter 2019 results on Thursday, April 25, 2019, after normal trading hours. Additionally, the Company will host its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "AGM") the following day, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Toronto.
First Quarter 2019 Results Conference Call Webcast
Agnico Eagle's senior management will host a conference call on Friday, April 26, 2019 at 8:30 AM (E.D.T.) to discuss the Company's financial and operating results.
Via Webcast:
A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's website at www.agnicoeagle.com.
Via Telephone:
For those preferring to listen by telephone, please dial 1-647-427-7450 or toll-free 1-888-231-8191. To ensure your participation, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call.
Replay archive:
Please dial 1-416-849-0833 or toll-free 1-855-859-2056, access code 7073579. The conference call replay will expire on May 27, 2019.
The webcast, along with presentation slides, will be archived for 180 days on the Company's website.
Annual Meeting
The AGM will begin on Friday, April 26, 2019 at 11:00 am (E.D.T). The AGM will be held at the Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street, Simpson Tower, 8th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2Y4.
During the AGM, management will provide an overview of the Company's activities. For those unable to attend in person, the alternatives to participate are set out below.
Via Webcast:
A live audio webcast of the AGM will be available on the Company's website at www.agnicoeagle.com.
Via Telephone:
For those preferring to listen by telephone, please dial 1-647-427-7450 or toll-free 1-888-231-8191. To ensure your participation, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the AGM.
Replay archive:
Please dial 1-416-849-0833 or toll-free 1-855-859-2056, access code 5296987. The conference call replay will expire on May 27, 2019.
The webcast, along with presentation slides, will be archived for 180 days on the Company's website.
About Agnico Eagle
Agnico Eagle is a senior Canadian gold mining company that has produced precious metals since 1957. Its operating mines are located in Canada, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in each of these countries as well as in the United States and Sweden. Agnico Eagle and its shareholders have full exposure to gold prices due to its long-standing policy of no forward gold sales. Agnico Eagle has declared a cash dividend every year since 1983.
SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
Related Links
http://www.agnicoeagle.com
AUSTIN, Texas, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- argodesign , a product design consultancy and incubator of new experiences, is proud to announce further expansion into Europe, with the introduction of our Amsterdam studio. With a growing product design demand beyond the U.S., argo's hire of veteran design heavyweights means our customers will have fresh, creative thinking at the ready and around the globe.
argo Amsterdam will hit the ground running on day one, with a seasoned team already well-known for its work with NS Dutch Railway, Facebook, Elsevier, Philips and a large Dutch bank. Tjeerd Hoek, coming off a decade long stint as VP at frog design, and Joe Fletcher, former Co-founder and Executive Director at Raft and Creative Director at frog design, will lead the studio, deepening the argo bench of experienced designers, expert technologists, strategic thinkers, and passionate makers. The talent the Amsterdam team brings is a reflection of the incredible work Joe and his co-founders Guus Baggermans, Matthias Dittrich, and Serve Custers did at their previous outfit, Raft , in addition to decades of experience in the industry.
"From day one of our founding, we've been intent on rethinking how a design consultancy is run," said Mark Rolston, argodesign Founder and Chief Creative. "We are always looking for complex, interesting problems to solve. It's important to us to build something that will last, something bigger than ourselves. Amsterdam is an ideal city for this vision. It is a center of design and top talent, which is clear in the incredibly talented team kickstarting our first European studio."
As a design consultancy, growth partner to entrepreneurs, and incubator of new products and experiences, argodesign has built an amazing market presence and client roster - including Magic Leap in AR, CognitiveScale in AI, and Sam's Club in retail - helping forward-thinking companies combine their physical and digital spaces. The new Amsterdam studio sets argo up even better to help its clients transform digitally.
"Great user experience design is not a commodity, despite a common industry narrative that says otherwise," said Tjeerd Hoek, Head of Creative, argo Europe. "We take a nimble but deliberate approach with our clients, tying all design decisions back to business strategy and doing everything we can to understand the full picture of what they and their customers need, want, and do. With that mindset, the creative team that we now have in Amsterdam and the U.S. is primed to push the boundaries of how we deliver design, innovation and digital strategy with real business impact, bringing delight to users at a global scale."
About argodesign
argodesign is a product design consultancy, growth partner to entrepreneurs, and incubator of new experiences. We create products that hide their technological prowess, evoke delight, and demonstrate simplicity and value. Our team is made up of experienced designers, expert technologists, strategic thinkers and passionate makers. To learn more, please visit www.argodesign.com .
SOURCE argodesign
Related Links
http://www.argodesign.com
TOKYO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., "Astellas") today announced results from a Phase 2b dose-finding study of fezolinetant, presented in an oral session (Abstract OR33-6) at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in New Orleans. Fezolinetant, a selective neurokinin-3 (NK3) receptor antagonist, is an investigational oral, non-hormonal compound being studied for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) i.e., hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women. The study met the four FDA-recommended co-primary endpoints of mean decrease in frequency and mean decrease in severity of VMS at both week 4 and week 12 in most groups.
"Vasomotor symptoms can significantly impact a woman's quality of life and there are currently limited non-hormonal options for managing them," said Arthur Waldbaum, M.D., a gynecologist in Denver, Colo., specializing in women's health, and lead investigator for the Phase 2b study. "The study findings presented at ENDO are promising as they suggest that fezolinetant may have the potential to address these symptoms as early as one week."
In the Phase 2b study, 356 women were randomized to receive either placebo or fezolinetant doses ranging from 15 90 mg twice daily (BID) or 30 120 mg once daily (QD).
Most groups were statistically significant from placebo in mean change in the frequency and severity of moderate-to-severe VMS at both week 4 and week 12. Results were maintained throughout the 12-week treatment period, with a return to baseline once treatment was stopped.
"We are encouraged by these results showing fezolinetant to be a potential non-hormonal therapeutic agent for women living with moderate-to-severe hot flashes," said Salim Mujais, M.D., Senior Vice President and Therapeutic Area Head, Medical Specialties, Astellas. "Further, these results suggest once-daily dosing including the lower doses produced similar reductions in severity and frequency of VMS to the twice-daily dosing. We look forward to studying fezolinetant in Phase 3 clinical trials, scheduled to begin later this year."
Fezolinetant significantly reduced VMS frequency compared to placebo, showing between -1.9 to -3.5 mean change per day from baseline for the BID doses and between -2.3 to -3.0 mean change per day for the QD doses at week 4. At week 12, fezolinetant demonstrated reduced VMS frequency compared to placebo, showing between -1.8 to -2.6 mean change per day for the BID doses and between -2.1 to -2.6 mean change per day for the QD doses. The percentage reduction in VMS frequency from baseline to week 12 was between 74.3 to 86.9 percent for the BID doses and between 75.1 to 77.9 for the QD doses versus a 55 percent reduction for placebo.
Additionally, fezolinetant showed improvement in VMS severity compared to placebo, with a mean change per day range of -0.5 to -1.0 for the BID doses and -0.4 to -0.7 for the QD doses at week 4. At week 12, fezolinetant demonstrated improvement in VMS severity compared to placebo, with a mean change per day range of -0.3 to -0.6 for the BID doses and -0.2 to -0.5 for the QD doses.
Overall treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) rates were similar across groups and mostly mild or moderate. There were no deaths or treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs) reported. Common TEAEs (greater or equal to 5 percent in any treatment arm) include headache, nausea, urinary tract infection, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, fatigue, viral upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis and cough. There were no reports of endometrial hyperplasia. Nine patients (less than 3 percent) treated with the higher doses of fezolinetant saw brief increases in the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). There were no cases of bilirubin greater than two times the upper limit of normal. Patients returned to baseline levels after discontinuation of dosing. No other clinically meaningful changes were noted in the vital signs and laboratory tests, electrocardiogram parameters, or plasma bone marker concentrations.
About Fezolinetant
Fezolinetant is an investigational oral, non-hormonal compound being developed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe VMS, including hot flashes and night sweats. Fezolinetant works by blocking neurokinin B (NKB) signaling and normalizing KNDy (kisspeptin/NKB/dynorphin) neuron activity, which modulates the temperature control center and reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes.
About Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS)
Globally, approximately 57 percent of women 40 to 64 years of age have reported the occurrence of hot flashes and sweating.1 VMS can have a considerable effect on women's comfort and sleep and can lead to anxiety, irritability, loss of productivity and depression.2 Hot flashes are also the most common symptom for women transitioning through menopause.3
About the Phase 2b study
The Phase 2b study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study. The study enrolled postmenopausal women 40 to 65 years of age suffering at least 50 moderate-to-severe hot flashes per week. In the study, 356 women were randomized to one of the following doses: fezolinetant 15, 30, 60 or 90 mg twice daily or 30, 60, 120 mg once daily. For more information about this study, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov [NCT03192176].
The safety and efficacy of the agent discussed herein are under investigation and have not been established. There is no guarantee that the agent will receive regulatory approval and become commercially available for the uses being investigated.
About Astellas
Astellas Pharma Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, is a company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en
Cautionary Notes
In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management's current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas' intellectual property rights by third parties.
Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.
1 Makara-Studzinska MT, Krys-Noszczyk KM, Jakiel G. Epidemiology of the symptoms of menopause an intercontinental review. Menopause Review. 2014;13(3):203-211. doi:10.5114/pm.2014.43827
2 Utian WH. Psychosocial and socioeconomic burden of vasomotor symptoms in menopause: A comprehensive review. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2005;3(1):47. doi:10.1186/1477-7525-3-47.
3 Freedman RR. Menopausal hot flashes: Mechanisms, Endocrinology, treatment. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2014;142:115-120. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.08.010.
SOURCE Astellas Pharma Inc.
Related Links
https://www.astellas.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Automotive Millimeter Wave Compatible Emblem Market: Overview
This comprehensive reportanalyzes and forecasts the automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market at the global and regional levels.The report provides analysis for the period from 2018 to 2026, wherein 20182026 is the forecast period and 2017 is the base year.
Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05760673/?utm_source=PRN
Data for 2016 has been added as historical information about the market.An in-depth and unbiased market assessment has been made to offer readers comprehensive and accurate analysis.
Based on application, the market has been broadly classified into passenger and commercial.The report emphasizes all major trends likely to be witnessed in the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market from 2018 to 2026.
It also focuses on restraining factors, market drivers, and opportunities for the automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market during the forecast period. The study provides a complete perspective about the automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market, in terms of value (in US$ Mn) and volume (in thousand units), across various geographies including Asia Pacific, South America, North America, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Europe.
The report includes detailed value chain analysis, which is focused to offer a widespread view of the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market.Porter's five forces analysis has also been provided to help understand the competition scenario in the global market.
The study incorporates market attractiveness analysis, wherein application and regional segments of the market have been benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and market attractiveness. In order to offer a complete analysis of the overall competition scenario in the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market, every geographical region mentioned in the report has been provided with attractiveness analysis.
The market overview chapter in the report explains market trends and dynamics including restraining factors, drivers, and the current and future opportunities for the automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market.Market outlook analysis has also been provided in the report.
Moreover, the report provides analysis of different business strategies being adopted by leading players in the automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market. The market introduction chapter assists in getting an idea of different trends in the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market.
Global Automotive Millimeter Wave Compatible Emblem Market: Scope of Report
The study provides a decisive view of the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market, by segmenting the market in terms of application and region.Based on application, the market has been segregated into passenger and commercial.
The report provides detailed region-wise segmentation of the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market by categorizing it into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America, thereby providing valuable insights at micro and macro levels.
The report further highlights the competition scenario in the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market, by ranking all major players according to their geographical presence and key recent developments.The insights into the market is a result of our extensive primary interviews, secondary research, and in-house expert panel reviews.
The market estimates have been analyzed by considering the impact of different economic, political, social, legal, and technological factors.
In terms of country, the North America automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market has been divided into Canada, the U.S., and Rest of North America. Furthermore, the Europe market has been categorized into the U.K., Germany, and Rest of Europe. The APAC automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market includes China, Japan, and Rest of Asia Pacific. Middle East & Africa covers Turkey, South Africa, and Rest of Middle East & Africa. Similarly, South America includes Brazil and Rest of South America. This report provides all strategic information required to understand the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market. Also, the report provides insights into the market in geographical regions mentioned above.
Global Automotive Millimeter Wave Compatible Emblem Market: Research Methodology
The research methodology is a perfect combination of primary research, secondary research, and expert panel reviews. Secondary sources include annual reports, company websites, SEC filings, investor presentations, national government documents, internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases, relevant patent and regulatory databases, government publications, and statistical databases.
Primary research involves telephonic interviews, e-mail interactions, and face-to-face interviews for detailed and unbiased reviews of the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market.Primary interviews are usually conducted on an ongoing basis with market experts and participants in order to obtain the latest market insights and validate the existing data and analysis.
Primary interviews offer new information on important factors such as market trends, market size, competition landscape, and growth trends.These factors help validate and strengthen secondary research findings.
Moreover, the data collected and analyzed from secondary and primary research is again discussed and examined by our expert panel.
Global Automotive Millimeter Wave Compatible Emblem Market: Competition Dynamics
The research study includes profiles of leading companies operating in the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market.Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, SWOT analysis, business strategies, and recent developments.
Major players operating in the global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market are TOYODA GOSEI Co., Ltd, Shinko Nameplate Co., Ltd., ZANINI AUTO GRUP, S.A., Toyota Motor Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation, and ROHDE & SCHWARZ GmbH & Co. KG.
The global automotive millimeter wave compatible emblem market has been segmented as follows:
Global Automotive Millimeter Wave Compatible Emblem Market, by Application
Passenger
Commercial
Global Automotive Millimeter Wave Compatible Emblem Market, by Geography
North America
U.S.
Canada
Rest of North America
Europe
U.K.
Germany
Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific
Japan
China
Rest of Asia Pacific
Middle East & Africa (MEA)
Turkey
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa
South America
Brazil
Rest of South America
Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05760673/?utm_source=PRN
About Reportlinker
ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.
__________________________
Contact Clare: [email protected]
US: (339)-368-6001
Intl: +1 339-368-6001
SOURCE Reportlinker
Related Links
http://www.reportlinker.com
BOCA RATON, Fla., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Customers at Nature's Pavilion Health Food Store in New Jersey have known about Steve Shah's traditional remedies for the past 20 years.
Now, it is time for the rest of the country to learn about these products that are rooted back 5,000 years ago in India, and which Shah has brought to today's consumer.
Shah's flagship supplement is CVF, formerly called Cold, Virus & Flu Formula, which is a unique blend of 24 different herbs from around the world in a ratio that addresses all the symptoms associated with a cold or the flu.
CVF's satisfied -- and healthy -- customers from his health food store are the best word-of-mouth endorsement any supplement could receive.
"We have had nothing but positive feedback for the past two decades about CVF," said Steve Shah, the owner of Nature's Pavilion and CEO of Bio-herbMD. "The support from our customers has given us the confidence to introduce our supplements to American consumers throughout the country."
Once Shah developed CVF, a process, which took him more than a year to determine the correct herbs to use and the proper amount, he went on to create other remedies that combine an Indian Ayurvedic approach with traditional Chinese medicine as well as natural herbs from Europe, North America, and South America.
Bio-herbMD's other natural remedies are:
Aller-G for allergies, hay fever, and sinus infections.
Deep Tissue Gold for joint and muscle relief.
Nerve Calm for stress, anxiety, panic attacks, Restless Leg Syndrome, muscle tightening and sleeplessness.
Anti-Fungal Oil for nail fungus, athlete's foot, ringworm, etc.
Balanced Superfood for energy and the immune system, digestive system, sugar balance, and weight management.
"When we first introduced CVF there was a flu epidemic. Nurses, who were ordered to come to work healthy or sick, started using CVF and found it worked. From there, word of mouth just took off," Shah said. "We introduced our other remedies over the years. Now is the time to go national."
For more information, check out his website at healthpavilion.com .
Please direct inquiries to:
Andrew Polin, 561-544-0719
[email protected]
SOURCE Bio-herbMD
DUBLIN, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Biocompatibility Testing for Medical Devices" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The medical device field is one of the most heavily regulated industries, for obvious reasons. Medical devices are an important tool in efforts to improve patient care and treatment outcomes. Learn how to achieve more successful biocompatibility testing outcomes by attending this seminar.
Biocompatibility testing is in the spotlight with regulatory bodies - especially with the recent release of the updated European MDRs and the FDA's Guidance document on ISO 10993-1. It is essential for medical device manufacturers to have an understanding of the current landscape for biocompatibility testing while keeping an eye on the future trends that will affect future requirements. This seminar will discuss the recent changes to regulatory documents and standards and how they will impact the overall biocompatibility assessment of medical devices.
Attendees will understand and apply ISO 10993-1 and the FDA Guidance on its use. They will know how to use the ISO documents to locate information that you need. Understand what tests to select and how to choose among various options.
By attending this seminar, attendees will get answers of these questions:
When is testing not the only option?
Understand how to apply Materials characterization, and more importantly learn how to use the information to understand biological safety?
Understand ISO 14971 and how to use it?
Learn how to use ISO 10993-1 as a tool for hazard identification?
Learn how to develop a program that guides your device on the regulatory path and reduces your time to market?
Practice how to execute your plan from development to completion and how to schedule and document the implementation of your biocompatibility plan?
Learning Objectives:
After completing this seminar, participants should be familiar with the full scope of ISO 10993-1, including the current version.
The topics covered will include:
Gain a deeper understanding of global regulatory expectations for biological safety.
Know how to review reports for accurate data and work with a laboratory when unexpected results are reported.
Understand evaluating complexities for drug/device combination devices.
Familiarization with calculating allowable limits for cancer, chemical mixtures, and assessment of unidentified chemicals.
Experience working application with real life examples to calculate allowable limits, experience testing errors and how to mitigate them, and then manage a device from concept to market clearance.
Gain knowledge on the principles of toxicology, FDA consensus standards, and Good Laboratory Practices.
Learn the difference between evaluation and testing. Recognize when testing is absolutely necessary and how to avoid unnecessary testing.
Areas Covered:
The areas that will be discussed in the seminar will include the following topics throughout the agenda:
History of ISO 19993-1
Overview of collateral standards, i.e., 10993-X
Risk based approach (for Biocompatibility)
Review of ISO 14971 Risk management file
Biocompatibility evaluation endpoints
Endpoint assessment vs. testing
Endpoint consideration: Test specific
Chemical testing: Extractables and Leachables
Toxicology assessment
Key Topics Covered:
Day 1
08.30 AM - 08.59 AM: Registration and Meet & Greet
09.00 AM - 10.00 AM:
Seminar outline
History of Biocompatibility testing
10.00 AM - 11.00 AM: ISO 10993-1
The general principles governing the biological evaluation of medical devices within a risk management process;
The general categorization of devices based on the nature and duration of their contact with the body;
The evaluation of existing relevant data from all sources;
The identification of gaps in the available data set on the basis of a risk analysis;
The identification of additional data sets necessary to analyse the biological safety of the medical device;
The assessment of the biological safety of the medical device.
11.00 AM - 12.00 PM: FDA & 10993-1
ODE Final Biocompatibility Guidance Use of ISO 10993-1 Biological evaluation of medical devices - Part 1: Evaluation and testing within a risk management process Published: June 16, 2016
12.00 PM - 01.00 PM: Lunch
01.00 PM - 02.00 PM: ISO 14971-Risk Assessment
Have risks been designed out if possible?
Have manufacturers shown that risks have been reduced as much as possible?
Have manufacturers conducted a risk benefit analysis for all risks?
Have residual risks been incorrectly reduced by warnings placed on IFUs or provided in training?
02.00 PM - 03.00 PM: Developing a Biological Safety Plan
Biological Safety: More than just Test Data
Leverage information that is known about the constituents of the device
Identify and characterize biological and toxicological hazards associated with the medical device product in an effort to characterize risk
Define a plan for ensuring biological safety
Explain how your company uses the requirements of ISO 109931:2003 to assure biological safety
03.00 PM - 04.00 PM: Chemical Testing: Extractables & Leachables
Regulators are concerned with substances migrating from different materials (polymers, metals, glass etc.) which patients may be exposed to through many different routes of administration.
Extractables studies
Leachables studies
Analytical Techniques for Extractables and Leachables
What do the results tell you?
04.00 PM - 04.30 PM: Good laboratory practices
What are they? How do they apply?
Day 2
08.30 AM - 10.00 AM: ISO 10993-17 Allowable Limits
Approach for setting tolerable intake (TI) values for chemical compounds released from medical device materials based on the method described in the standard
Practical advice is provided on how to derive both non-cancer and cancer-based TI values
10.00 PM - 12.00 PM: Biocompatibility Endpoints-Testing
Use of ISO 10993-1 and the FDA-modified matrix (Attachment A) to determine the relevant biocompatibility endpoints for an evaluation
General biocompatibility testing considerations, including test article preparation
Specific considerations for the following testing: cytotoxicity, sensitization, hemocompatibility, pyrogenicity, implantation, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and degradation assessments
Chemical assessment recommendations
Considerations for labeling devices as -free
12.00 PM - 12.30 PM: Seminar wrap up
For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/gwns4x/biocompatibility?w=5
Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Media Contact:
Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
[email protected]
For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470
For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
SOURCE Research and Markets
Related Links
http://www.researchandmarkets.com
ARCADIA, Calif., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Blo Blow Dry Bar, North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise, announced today the opening of its newest bar in Arcadia, California, marking the third Blo Blow Dry Bar in greater Los Angeles. Located at 316 E Huntington Dr., Blo Arcadia will kick off its grand opening on April 12th with a ribbon-cutting ceremony accompanied by treats, beverages and $35 blow out specials lasting through the grand opening weekend.
Blo Arcadia is owned and operated by first-time franchisee, Helen Lin. With a dual bachelor's degree in economics and psychology and a master's degree in international business, Helen's hardworking nature led her to a successful career in real estate development. But her entrepreneurial spirit ignited a desire to own her own business one that would fill a need in her hometown of Arcadia. As a working woman whose career took up much of her time, Helen was attracted to Blo Blow Dry Bar, as the concept provides a practical and enjoyable experience that can fit into a busy schedule. Coupled with the desire to empower women by making them look and feel good, all while saving them the time and stress of styling their own hair and makeup, Helen made the decision to become a franchisee and open her own location in Arcadia.
"We are thrilled to partner with someone as dedicated and hardworking as Helen. Her knowledge of the industry and background in real estate are great attributes that will set her up for success as she launches Blo Arcadia," said Vanessa Yakobson, CEO of Blo Blow Dry Bar. "Helen is deeply rooted in her community and with her connection to her neighbors, family and friends, there's no one better to introduce Blo to the Arcadia suburb."
Over the past few years, an array of beauty and personal care brands have established a strong presence across California in an effort to meet the needs of the wellness-oriented consumer. With a demand for more retailers that promote a balanced lifestyle, Blo Blow Dry Bar's presence in Arcadia will positively impact the community and encourage residents in the area to prioritize self-care.
"I've always seen myself operating my own business and partnering with a brand like Blo Blow Dry Bar is a dream come true. My family is very familiar with the blow out concept, as we would frequently treat ourselves to blow outs on our trips to China, so I'm excited to not only bring a sense of familiarity to the community, but also an affordable luxury that I know our town needs," said Helen Lin. "When deciding on the location, I wanted to make sure Blo Arcadia was in close proximity to not only residents, but also other businesses that Blo Arcadia could partner and collaborate with on future initiatives in our hometown. That's why I'm eager to introduce Arcadia to Blo Blow Dry Bar."
Recognized as America's original blow dry bar, Blo Blow Dry Bar believes in creating an inclusive space where people of all ages, ethnicities and orientations can feel welcomed, represented and gorgeous. Combining a chic and modern design with a fun and lively environment, Blo creates a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests from start to finish. Expertly trained bloers are available for consultation seven days a week to meet the needs of all customers. Blo's hair menu includes seven signature styles to choose from, ranging from a sleek ponytail to flirty and bouncy curls.
Blo Arcadia is open from dawn to dusk seven days a week. Walk-ins are accepted and online reservations are available at blomedry.com/Arcadia or via the app (available for IOS or Android). Appointments can also be made by calling 626-538-4037. To stay up to date on the latest news and promotions, follow Blo Arcadia on Facebook (@BloBlowDryBarArcadia) and Instagram (@blo_arcadia). For more information on Blo Blow Dry Bar, visit www.blomedry.com.
About Blo Blow Dry Bar
Blo Blow Dry Bar is North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise. The company transformed beauty norms and reinvented the salon industry when it launched the "no cuts, no color" concept: only blow outs. Since opening its first location in Canada in 2007, Blo has grown to over 130 locations across the U.S., Canada and the Philippines and continues to expand rapidly. With a mission to enhance the lives of those in the community through the power of flawless blow outs and beauty services, Blo Blow Dry Bar offers perfectly styled hair and exceptional customer experiences seven days a week. For more information, visit www.blomedry.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Shana Rosenthal
Fish Consulting
[email protected]
954-893-9150
SOURCE Blo Blow Dry Bar
Related Links
http://www.blomedry.com
CHICAGO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --According to the new market research report "Blockchain IoT Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, and Infrastructure Provider), Application (Smart Contract, Data Security, Data Sharing/Communication, and Asset Tracking & Management), End User, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Blockchain IoT Market is estimated to grow from USD 113.1 million in 2019 to reach USD 3,021 million by 2024; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 92.92%. Major factors driving the market growth are increasing adoption of IoT, growing need for IoT security, simplifying business processes and affording transparency and immutability, and increasing focus on operational efficiency. Further, underlying opportunities for the blockchain IoT market include higher adoption of blockchain solutions for smart contracts and digital identity and rising government initiatives. Major factors hindering the market growth are uncertain regulatory status and higher latency with an increase in the number of nodes. The lack of awareness about blockchain technology and lack of standards pose major challenges to the blockchain IoT market.
Ask for PDF Brochure:
https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=168941858
Asset tracking and management for blockchain IoT to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period
Among all applications, the blockchain IoT is majorly used for asset tracking and management applications. Asset tracking and management of integrated software is instrumental in tracking and managing physical assets and the performance of equipment on the manufacturing floor. Protection of physical assets such as plants, machinery, and fleet are the backbone of manufacturing operations. These physical assets help in ensuring the integrity of assets, which is the top-most priority of any enterprise. Managing and monitoring the integrity of assets or transactions is easy, and if a change is necessary, a new digital fingerprint can be generated and validated.
Transportation and logistics is expected to hold largest market size in blockchain IoT market
Among all end users, the transportation and logistics to hold the largest market size in the blockchain IoT market. The blockchain technology helps transportation and logistics end users by tracking freights, offering secure transactions, and validating user identities through single sign-on and multi-factor authentication. Thus, with these unique offerings from blockchain-focused solution providers, the demand for blockchain IoT solutions in transport and logistics is expected to increase in the near future.
Browse in-depth TOC on "Blockchain IoT Market"
65 Tables
34 Figures
143 Pages
For blockchain IoT, North America is major contributor among all regions, thereby expecting to hold largest market size in next 5 years
North America is among the major contributors to the blockchain IoT market, and the US accounted for the largest share of the market in North America in 2018. The global blockchain IoT market is dominated by North America as the region is an early adopter of the blockchain. North America is the most advanced region in terms of technology adoption and infrastructure. The presence of key market players here is the main factor driving the growth of the North American blockchain industry. Organizations in this region are gradually moving toward the adoption of blockchain IoT. Businesses have recognized the potential of blockchain IoT in delivering enhanced customer experience. Hence, they have started adopting technology to develop business applications.
Request Sample pages of the Report:
https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=168941858
Key players in the blockchain IoT market include IBM Corporation (IBM, US), Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft, US), Intel Corporation (Intel, US), Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon, US), Cisco Systems (Cisco, US), Ethereum Foundation (Ethereum, Switzerland), The Linux Foundation (Linux Foundation, US), R3 (R3, US), Filament (Filament, Nevada), and KrypC (KrypC, India).
Please Explore Relevant Report:
Blockchain in Manufacturing Market by Application (Business Process Optimization, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Counterfeit Management), End Use (Automotive, Energy & Power, Industrial, Pharmaceuticals), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025.
About MarketsandMarkets
MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.
Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.
MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.
Contact:
Mr. Shelly Singh
MarketsandMarkets INC.
630 Dundee Road
Suite 430
Northbrook, IL 60062
USA: +1-888-600-6441
Email: [email protected]
Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/blockchain-iot-market.asp
Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com
SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Braze, the leading global customer engagement platform that delivers personalized messaging experiences across push, email, apps, and more, today revealed the next generation of email, identifying personal, responsive, and relevant messaging value across the entire customer lifecycle. More human email communication leads to deeper impact and ROI for brands.
Braze found that users who receive email alone see 45% higher engagement than those who receive no messages at all, while a triple-digit boost in engagement can be achieved by adding even one other channel.1 With the proliferation of digital platforms and touchpoints, it's become increasingly difficult to break through the noise and reach customers. Email should be used when it is most effective, and understanding that requires agility and experimentation across channels. The shift to emerging technology solutions that support sophisticated email strategies and provide cohesive, cross-channel value to consumers is becoming table stakes in the holistic customer experience and Braze continues to evolve to provide the most effective solutions.
"The next generation of email is now upon us. Early email programs are still sent in bulk, impersonal, and considered successful by merely driving more eyeballs to the top of a funnel. Next-generation email is integrated throughout the customer lifecycle, wielded like a specialized tool rather than a blunt object," said Bill Magnuson, CEO & Cofounder at Braze. "Email can now understand the product journey and brand discovery process, using data and sophisticated strategy to be deployed when it's most effective and most appropriate."
The channel-agnostic solution offered by Braze enables global campaign reach with options for message frequency and delivery prioritization. The agility of the platform allows for experimentation with advanced email campaigns and engagement strategies through an established partner ecosystem to help accomplish marketing goals, at scale.
"Empowering everyone across the globe to be able to design anything and publish anywhere has been a core part of our vision since our early days. Today Canva is available in over 100 languages and is embraced by over 15 million users worldwide. Due to our broad international reach, it's important that our approach to email marketing continues to evolve with our growth. With Braze, we're able to deploy localized campaigns to engage with our design community in an authentic, meaningful way," said Michelle Huang, Email and Messaging Lead, at Canva.
Braze has supported email since day one and works with email marketers at brands like Canva, iHeartRadio, Overstock, and Yelp to send billions of emails that use trillions of cross-channel data events based on customer behavior. To learn what next-generation email capabilities can do for your business visit, Braze.com .
About Braze (formerly Appboy)
Braze (formerly Appboy) is a customer engagement platform that delivers messaging experiences across push, email, apps, and more. Braze is built specifically for today's mobile-first world and tomorrow's ambient computing future. Braze is set apart as the platform that allows for real-time and continuous data streaming, replacing decades-old databases that aren't built for today's on-demand, always-connected customer. With data, technology, and teams working together in unison, the Braze platform makes marketing more authentic, brands more human, and customers more satisfied with every experience. Braze is a venture-backed company with hundreds of employees. Offices are located in New York City, San Francisco, London, and Singapore. We've been recognized by Forbes Cloud 100 at #85, ranked #225 on Inc.'s 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies, and listed as #21 in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 List, and recognized by The New York Times as 'The Next Wave of 'Unicorn' Start-Ups'. Learn more at Braze.com .
Contact Information:
Stephanie Cortez
Communications Manager
[email protected]
1 https://www.braze.com/resources/library/report/cross-channel-messaging/?utm_content=email-press-release
SOURCE Braze
Related Links
http://www.braze.com
"As a health and wellness company, we help people live healthy lives," said Ian Gilley, founder of Candy Head, which is based in Rhode Island. "This is why we offer our support for National Nutrition Month to help get the word out. It is important for people to eat healthy and to exercise."
Candy Head manufactures full-spectrum, CBD-infused edibles, which many people use to ease inflammation and pain, as well as depression, blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety and some chronic diseases. Research also has indicated that CBD oil may help with childhood epilepsy disorders, such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. Meanwhile, the recent farm bill, which allows licensed farmers to grow hemp and transport it across state lines, moved the CBD industry into the mainstream of health and wellness society.
Candy Head uses only the best possible full-spectrum oils available. The company chose to develop CBD-infused hard candies because it provides optimal absorption of the many compounds found in full-spectrum oil. When you slowly consume the great-tasting CBD candy, you are giving your body the time it needs to accrue benefits from the oil.
Candy Head, which prioritizes health and safety, uses a third-party lab to test their candies for proper CBD dosing and consistency to make sure consumers receive the precise amount of oil. None of Candy Head's products contain dairy, gluten, animal products, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish, sesame, coconut, peanuts or tree nuts.
"At Candy Head, we know the importance of health," Gilley said, adding that his family developed the CBD-infused hard candies to help their 10-year-old son, who was enduring pain because of scoliosis. "During National Nutrition Month, please take stock of your lifestyle choices and choose wisely."
For more information, visit candy-head.com .
Please direct inquiries to:
Andrew Polin, 561-544-0719
[email protected]
SOURCE Candy Head
Related Links
http://candy-head.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study from the Capgemini Research Institute has found that just 10 percent of major automotive companies are implementing artificial intelligence1 (AI) projects at scale, with many falling short of an opportunity that could increase operating profit by up to 16 percent. The research also shows that fewer automotive companies are implementing AI than in 2017, despite the cost, quality and productivity advantages.
The "Accelerating Automotive's AI Transformation: How driving AI enterprise-wide can turbo-charge organizational value" study surveyed 500 executives from large automotive companies in eight countries, building on a comparable study from 2017, to establish recent trends in AI investment and deployment. The research highlighted the following potential reasons for the modest progress in relation to AI implementation:
The roadblocks to technology transformation are still significant, such as legacy IT systems, accuracy and data concerns, and lack of skills.
The hype and high expectations that initially came with AI may have turned into a more measured and pragmatic view as companies are confronted with the reality of implementation.
Key findings include:
Scaling of AI has seen a slow growth: Since 2017, the number of automotive companies that have successfully scaled AI implementation has increased only marginally (from seven percent to 10 percent). However, the increase in companies not using AI at all was more significant (from 26 percent to 39 percent). According to the report, just 26 percent of companies are now piloting AI projects (down from 41 percent in 2017). This is maybe due to companies finding it harder to realize a desired return on investment. The results also reveal a significant regional disparity, with 25 percent of U.S. firms delivering AI at scale, compared to nine percent in China.
Automotive organizations can drive significant reward from scaled AI: The modest progress in implementing AI projects at scale represents a major missed opportunity for the industry. Modelling in the report, based on one typical top 50 original equipment manufacturer (OEM), estimates that delivering AI at scale could achieve increases in operating profit ranging from five percent (or $232m) based on conservative estimates, to 16 percent (or $764m) in an optimistic scenario.
"With AI-empowered visual inspection we have sensibly reduced the ratio of false positives with respect to the previous systems," said Demetrio Aiello, head of the AI & Robotics Labs at Continental. "I am very confident that if we can deploy AI to its fullest potential it would have an impact on performance equivalent to almost doubling our capacity today."
AI is seen more as a job-creator than a job-replacer: The report showed that the industry has become more positive about AI's job-creation potential - 100 percent of executives say that AI is creating new job roles, up from 84 percent in 2017.
Where AI is being deployed, it is achieving results: The survey found a consistent story of AI delivering benefits across every automotive business function. On average, it delivered a 16 percent increase in productivity across Research and Development (R&D), operational efficiency improvements of 15 percent in the supply chain and 16 percent in manufacturing/operations, reduced direct costs of 14 percent in customer experience and 17 percent in IT, and reduced time to market by 15 percent in R&D and 13 percent in marketing/sales.
Additionally, a number of successful AI projects are identified and detailed in the research report. One example is Continental generating 5,000 miles of vehicle test data an hour through an AI-powered simulation, compared to 6,500 miles a month it was getting through physical test driving.
Others include:
Volkswagen accurately modeling vehicle sales across 250 auto models in 120 countries using machine learning. 2
Mercedes-Benz testing an AI-recognition system for parcel delivery that can reduce vehicle loading time by 15 percent.3
Markus Winkler, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Automotive at Capgemini concludes, "These findings show that the progress of AI in the automotive industry has hit a speedbump. Some companies are enjoying considerable success, but others have struggled to focus on the most effective use cases, vehicle manufacturers need to start seeing AI not as a standalone opportunity, but as a strategic capability required to shape the future which they must organize investment, talent and governance around."
He continues, "As this research shows, AI can deliver a significant dividend for every automotive business, but only if it is implemented at scale. For AI to succeed, organizations will need to invest in the right skills, achieve the requisite quality of data, and have a management structure that provides both direction and executive support."
To deliver at scale, companies must invest, upskill and create infrastructure: The report also examined the behaviors of the companies in the survey who have had the most success implementing AI at scale ('Scale Champions'). It found they had typically,
invested much more in AI (more than $200m a year for 86 percent of Champions),
a year for 86 percent of Champions), focused hiring and training efforts on AI skills (32 percent said hiring was relevant to their AI strategy, versus 14 percent of others; 25 percent said they proactively upskilled and re-skilled current employees, compared to eight percent of others); and
created a clear governance structure to prioritize and promote AI, with measures including a central steering to govern AI investment, and a cross-functional team of tech, business and operations experts.
Research Methodology
The Capgemini Research Institute conducted a primary survey of 500 automotive executives from large automotive organizations in eight countries: China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. The research team then conducted in-depth interviews with a number of industry experts and entrepreneurs.
The report can be downloaded here.
About Capgemini
A global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation, Capgemini is at the forefront of innovation to address the entire breadth of clients' opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and platforms. Building on its strong 50-year heritage and deep industry-specific expertise, Capgemini enables organizations to realize their business ambitions through an array of services from strategy to operations. Capgemini is driven by the conviction that the business value of technology comes from and through people. It is a multicultural company of over 200,000 team members in more than 40 countries. The Group reported 2018 global revenues of EUR 13.2 billion (about $15.6 billion USD at 2018 average rate).
Visit us at www.capgemini.com. People matter, results count.
About the Capgemini Research Institute
The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini's in-house research center. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was recently ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts.
Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/
1 Artificial intelligence (AI) is a collective term for the capabilities shown by learning systems that are perceived by humans as representing 'intelligence'. Today, typical AI capabilities include speech, image and video recognition, autonomous objects, natural language processing, conversational agents, prescriptive modeling, augmented creativity, smart automation, advanced simulation, as well as complex analytics and predictions.
2 Automotive World, "VW says OK to AI", March 2018
3 Daimler website, "Vans as motherships", September 2018
SOURCE Capgemini
Related Links
http://www.capgemini.com
MIAMI, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK) announced U.S. GAAP net income of $336 million, or $0.48 diluted EPS, for the first quarter of 2019, compared to U.S. GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2018 of $391 million, or $0.54 diluted EPS. First quarter 2019 adjusted net income of $338 million, or $0.49 adjusted EPS, compared to adjusted net income of $375 million, or $0.52 adjusted EPS, for the first quarter of 2018. Adjusted net income excludes net charges of $2 million for the first quarter of 2019 and net gains of $16 million for the first quarter of 2018 relating to unrealized gains on fuel derivatives net of other charges. Revenues for the first quarter of 2019 were $4.7 billion, higher than the $4.2 billion in the prior year.
Carnival Corporation & plc President and Chief Executive Officer Arnold Donald stated, "First quarter earnings included revenue growth from higher capacity and improved onboard spending, offset by the timing of cost increases and a drag from fuel price and currency compared to the prior year. First quarter adjusted earnings were better than the mid-point of December guidance by $0.07 per share."
Donald added, "For the full year, our earnings guidance now reflects $155 million, or $0.22 per share, from fuel price and currency moving against us. Operationally, we continue to expect revenues and adjusted earnings per share improvements in line with our December guidance. We expect adjusted earnings per share to be higher than the prior year, despite a $45 million, or $0.06 per share, year over year drag from currency and the price of fuel."
Key information for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018:
Gross cruise revenues of $4.6 billion compared to $4.2 billion for the prior year. In constant currency, net cruise revenues of $3.6 billion compared to $3.4 billion , an increase of 4.7 percent.
compared to for the prior year. In constant currency, net cruise revenues of compared to , an increase of 4.7 percent. Gross revenue yields (revenue per available lower berth day or "ALBD") increased 5.8 percent. In constant currency, net revenue yields increased 0.5 percent, better than December guidance of approximately flat.
Gross cruise costs including fuel per ALBD increased 8.6 percent. In constant currency, net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD increased 0.9 percent, better than December guidance of up approximately 2.0 percent, mainly due to the timing of expenses between quarters.
Changes in fuel prices and currency exchange rates decreased earnings by $0.03 per share.
Highlights from the first quarter included the delivery of AIDAnova, the first cruise ship in the industry powered at sea by liquefied natural gas and the delivery of Costa Venezia, the first Costa ship designed for the Chinese market. Princess Cruises expanded its MedallionClass experience onboard Regal Princess, with three additional ships to follow in 2019. OceanMedallion, the wearable device that powers the breakthrough guest experience platform behind MedallionClass vacations, was awarded the 2019 IoT Wearables Innovation of the Year. Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line was named the Best Ocean Cruise Line in the annual USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards and Carnival Corporation was named by Forbes as one of America's best employers for diversity for its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
2019 Outlook
At this time, cumulative advanced bookings for the remainder of 2019 are ahead of the prior year at prices that are in line with the prior year on a comparable basis. Pricing on bookings taken since January have been running in line on a comparable basis to the prior year while booking volumes are ahead compared to the prior year. As a result, even with higher capacity, there is less inventory remaining for sale than at the same time last year.
Donald added, "Booking trends achieved during wave season rivaled last years' historical highs and were consistent with the demand trends we experienced going into the year, building further confidence in our full year guidance. For our North America and Australia brands, our booked position is ahead of the prior year at higher prices while our Europe and Asia brands are well ahead of the prior year at lower prices. Our brands are strong and growing, including Continental Europe, where we continue to expect revenue growth driven by double-digit capacity increases."
Based on current booking trends, the company continues to expect full year 2019 constant currency net cruise revenues to be up approximately 5.5 percent, with capacity growth of 4.6 percent, and net revenue yields in constant currency expected to be up approximately 1.0 percent compared to the prior year driven by our NAA brands. The company continues to expect full year net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD in constant currency to be up approximately 0.5 percent compared to the prior year.
Taking the above factors into consideration, the company expects full year 2019 adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $4.35 to $4.55, compared to December guidance of $4.50 to $4.80, due to changes in fuel price and currency exchange rates and 2018 adjusted earnings per share of $4.26.
Donald commented, "We believe we are on a path that includes delivering, over time, double-digit earnings growth and improving return on invested capital through a consistent strategy of creating demand in excess of measured capacity growth while leveraging our industry leading scale." The company invested more than $250 million in share repurchases during the quarter, bringing the cumulative total to nearly $5 billion since late 2015.
Second Quarter 2019 Outlook
Second quarter constant currency net revenue yields are expected to be in line with the prior year. Net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD in constant currency for the second quarter are expected to be up approximately 1.0 percent compared to the prior year. Changes in fuel prices and currency exchange rates are expected to decrease earnings by $0.08 per share compared to the prior year. Based on the above factors, the company expects adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter 2019 to be in the range of $0.56 to $0.60 versus 2018 adjusted earnings per share of $0.68.
Selected Key Forecast Metrics
Full Year 2019
Second Quarter 2019 Year over year change:
Current Dollars
Constant Currency
Current Dollars
Constant Currency Net revenue yields
Approx (1.0%)
Approx 1.0%
Approx (2.5%)
Approx Flat Net cruise costs excl. fuel / ALBD
Approx (1.0%)
Approx 0.5%
Approx (1.5%)
Approx 1.0%
Full Year 2019
Second Quarter 2019 Fuel cost per metric ton consumed $494
$502 Fuel consumption (metric tons in thousands) 3,320
840 Currencies (USD to 1)
AUD $0.71
$0.71 CAD $0.75
$0.75 EUR $1.14
$1.14 GBP $1.31
$1.32 RMB $0.15
$0.15
Three Months Ended
February 28,
2019
2018 Net income (in millions) $ 336
$ 391
Adjusted net income (in millions) (a) $ 338
$ 375
Earnings per share-diluted $ 0.48
$ 0.54
Adjusted earnings per share-diluted (a) $ 0.49
$ 0.52
(a) See the net income to adjusted net income and EPS to adjusted EPS reconciliations in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures included herein.
Conference Call
The company has scheduled a conference call with analysts at 10:00 a.m. EDT (2:00 p.m. GMT) today to discuss its 2019 first quarter results. This call can be listened to live, and additional information can be obtained, via Carnival Corporation & plc's website at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com .
Carnival Corporation & plc is the world's largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
Together, the corporation's cruise lines operate 105 ships with 245,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 19 new ships scheduled to be delivered through 2025. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.
With a long history of innovation and providing guests with extraordinary vacation experiences, Carnival Corporation has received thousands of industry awards - including recognition by the Consumer Technology Association as a CES 2019 Innovation Awards Honoree for Ocean Medallion. A revolutionary wearable device that contains a proprietary blend of communication technologies. Ocean Medallion enables the world's first interactive guest experience platform transforming vacation travel on a large scale into a highly personalized level of customized service. The prestigious CES Innovation Awards honor outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products.
Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com , www.princess.com , www.hollandamerica.com , www.seabourn.com , www.pocruises.com.au , www.costacruise.com , www.aida.de , www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com .
Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results
Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc and their respective subsidiaries are referred to collectively in this document as "Carnival Corporation & plc," "our," "us" and "we." Some of the statements, estimates or projections contained in this document are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions with respect to us, including some statements concerning future results, outlooks, plans, goals and other events which have not yet occurred. These statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed forward-looking. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. We have tried, whenever possible, to identify these statements by using words like "will," "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "depends," "expect," "goal," "anticipate," "forecast," "project," "future," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "target," "indicate," "outlook," and similar expressions of future intent or the negative of such terms.
Forward-looking statements include those statements that relate to our outlook and financial position including, but not limited to, statements regarding:
Net revenue yields Net cruise costs, excluding fuel per available lower berth day Booking levels Estimates of ship depreciable lives and residual values Pricing and occupancy Goodwill, ship and trademark fair values Interest, tax and fuel expenses Liquidity Currency exchange rates Adjusted earnings per share
Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are many factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. This note contains important cautionary statements of the known factors that we consider could materially affect the accuracy of our forward looking statements and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial position. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
Adverse world events impacting the ability or desire of people to travel may lead to a decline in demand for cruises
Incidents concerning our ships, guests or the cruise vacation industry as well as adverse weather conditions and other natural disasters may impact the satisfaction of our guests and crew and lead to reputational damage
Changes in and non-compliance with laws and regulations under which we operate, such as those relating to health, environment, safety and security, data privacy and protection, anti-corruption, economic sanctions, trade protection and tax may lead to litigation, enforcement actions, fines, penalties and reputational damage
Breaches in data security and lapses in data privacy as well as disruptions and other damages to our principal offices, information technology operations and system networks and failure to keep pace with developments in technology may adversely impact our business operations, the satisfaction of our guests and crew and lead to reputational damage
Ability to recruit, develop and retain qualified shipboard personnel who live away from home for extended periods of time may adversely impact our business operations, guest services and satisfaction
Increases in fuel prices and availability of fuel supply may adversely impact our scheduled itineraries and costs
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may adversely impact our financial results
Overcapacity and competition in the cruise and land-based vacation industry may lead to a decline in our cruise sales and pricing
Geographic regions in which we try to expand our business may be slow to develop or ultimately not develop how we expect
Inability to implement our shipbuilding programs and ship repairs, maintenance and refurbishments may adversely impact our business operations and the satisfaction of our guests
The ordering of the risk factors set forth above is not intended to reflect our indication of priority or likelihood.
Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant stock exchange rules, we expressly disclaim any obligation to disseminate, after the date of this document, any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (in millions, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
February 28,
2019
2018 Revenues
Cruise
Passenger ticket $ 3,199
$ 3,148
Onboard and other (a) 1,446
1,071
Tour and other 29
13
4,673
4,232
Operating Costs and Expenses
Cruise
Commissions, transportation and other 709
663
Onboard and other (a) 467
140
Payroll and related 557
558
Fuel 381
359
Food 268
264
Other ship operating 731
711
Tour and other 29
14
3,142
2,709
Selling and administrative 629
616
Depreciation and amortization 516
488
4,287
3,813
Operating Income 386
419
Nonoperating Income (Expense)
Interest income 4
3
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest (51)
(48)
Gains on fuel derivatives, net (b)
16
Other (expense) income, net (2)
1
(49)
(28)
Income Before Income Taxes 338
390
Income Tax Expense, Net (2)
Net Income $ 336
$ 391
Earnings Per Share
Basic $ 0.48
$ 0.54
Diluted $ 0.48
$ 0.54
Dividends Declared Per Share $ 0.50
$ 0.45
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - Basic 693
717
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted 695
719
(a) Includes the effect of the adoption of new accounting guidance of $323 million for the three months ended February 28, 2019. (b) During the three months ended February 28, 2018, our gains on fuel derivatives, net include net unrealized gains of $32 million and realized (losses) of $(16) million.
CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (in millions, except par values)
February 28,
2019
November 30,
2018 ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 649
$ 982
Trade and other receivables, net 406
358
Inventories 444
450
Prepaid expenses and other (a) 603
436
Total current assets 2,101
2,225
Property and Equipment, Net 37,005
35,336
Goodwill 2,943
2,925
Other Intangibles 1,181
1,176
Other Assets 700
738
$ 43,930
$ 42,401
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Short-term borrowings $ 768
$ 848
Current portion of long-term debt 1,684
1,578
Accounts payable 798
730
Accrued liabilities and other 1,637
1,654
Customer deposits (a) 4,755
4,395
Total current liabilities 9,642
9,204
Long-Term Debt 9,134
7,897
Other Long-Term Liabilities 912
856
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock of Carnival Corporation, $0.01 par value; 1,960 shares authorized; 657
shares at 2019 and 656 shares at 2018 issued 7
7
Ordinary shares of Carnival plc, $1.66 par value; 217 shares at 2019 and 2018 issued 358
358
Additional paid-in capital 8,776
8,756
Retained earnings 25,033
25,066
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,869)
(1,949)
Treasury stock, 130 shares at 2019 and 129 shares at 2018 of Carnival Corporation and 53
shares at 2019 and 48 shares at 2018 of Carnival plc, at cost (8,063)
(7,795)
Total shareholders' equity 24,241
24,443
$ 43,930
$ 42,401
(a) Includes the effect of the adoption of new accounting guidance of $142 million as of February 28, 2019.
CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC OTHER INFORMATION
Three Months Ended
February 28,
2019
2018 STATISTICAL INFORMATION
ALBDs (in thousands) (a) (b) 21,299
20,462
Occupancy percentage (c) 104.8 %
104.7 % Passengers carried (in thousands) 2,937
2,860
Fuel consumption in metric tons (in thousands) 830
821
Fuel consumption in metric tons per thousand ALBDs 38.9
40.1
Fuel cost per metric ton consumed $ 459
$ 437
Currencies (USD to 1)
AUD $ 0.72
$ 0.78
CAD $ 0.75
$ 0.79
EUR $ 1.14
$ 1.21
GBP $ 1.28
$ 1.37
RMB $ 0.15
$ 0.15
CASH FLOW INFORMATION (in millions)
Cash from operations $ 1,116
$ 1,064
Capital expenditures $ 2,129
$ 574
Dividends paid $ 348
$ 323
Notes to Statistical Information
(a) ALBD is a standard measure of passenger capacity for the period that we use to approximate rate and capacity variances, based on consistently applied formulas that we use to perform analyses to determine the main non-capacity driven factors that cause our cruise revenues and expenses to vary. ALBDs assume that each cabin we offer for sale accommodates two passengers and is computed by multiplying passenger capacity by revenue-producing ship operating days in the period.
(b) For the three months ended February 28, 2019 compared to the three months ended February 28, 2018, we had a 4.1% capacity increase in ALBDs comprised of a 5.0% capacity increase in our North America and Australia ("NAA") segment and a 2.5% capacity increase in our Europe and Asia ("EA") segment.
Our NAA segment's capacity increase was caused by:
Full quarter impact from one Carnival Cruise Line 3,960-passenger capacity ship that entered into service in April 2018
Full quarter impact from one Seabourn 600-passenger capacity ship that entered into service in May 2018
Partial period impact from one Holland America Line 2,670-passenger capacity ship that entered into service in December 2018
Our EA segment's capacity increase was caused by:
Partial period impact from one AIDA 5,230-passenger capacity ship that entered into service in December 2018
The increase in our EA segment's capacity was partially offset by:
Full quarter impact from one P&O Cruises (UK) 700-passenger capacity ship removed from service in March 2018
Full quarter impact from one Costa Cruises 1,300-passenger capacity ship removed from service in April 2018
(c) In accordance with cruise industry practice, occupancy is calculated using a denominator of ALBDs, which assumes two passengers per cabin even though some cabins can accommodate three or more passengers. Percentages in excess of 100% indicate that on average more than two passengers occupied some cabins.
CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Consolidated gross and net revenue yields were computed by dividing the gross and net cruise revenues by ALBDs as follows:
Three Months Ended February 28, (dollars in millions, except yields) 2019
2019
Constant
Dollar
2018 Passenger ticket revenues $ 3,199
$ 3,289
$ 3,148
Onboard and other revenues (a) 1,446
1,472
1,071
Gross cruise revenues 4,645
4,760
4,219
Less cruise costs
Commissions, transportation and other (709)
(734)
(663)
Onboard and other (a) (467)
(475)
(140)
(1,177)
(1,209)
(803)
Net passenger ticket revenues 2,490
2,555
2,485
Net onboard and other revenues 978
996
931
Net cruise revenues $ 3,468
$ 3,551
$ 3,416
ALBDs 21,299,196
21,299,196
20,461,582
Gross revenue yields $ 218.06
$ 223.51
$ 206.20
% increase 5.8 %
8.4 %
Net revenue yields $ 162.82
$ 166.73
$ 166.95
% decrease (2.5) %
(0.1) %
Net passenger ticket revenue yields $ 116.90
$ 119.95
$ 121.46
% decrease (3.8) %
(1.2) %
Net onboard and other revenue yields $ 45.92
$ 46.78
$ 45.50
% increase 0.9 %
2.8 %
(a) Includes the effect of the adoption of new accounting guidance of $323 million ($328 million in constant dollar) for the three months ended February 28, 2019.
Three Months Ended February 28, (dollars in millions, except yields) 2019
2019
Constant
Currency
2018 Net passenger ticket revenues $ 2,490
$ 2,576
$ 2,485
Net onboard and other revenues 978
999
931
Net cruise revenues $ 3,468
$ 3,575
$ 3,416
ALBDs 21,299,196
21,299,196
20,461,582
Net revenue yields $ 162.82
$ 167.86
$ 166.95
% (decrease) increase (2.5) %
0.5 %
Net passenger ticket revenue yields $ 116.90
$ 120.96
$ 121.46
% decrease (3.8) %
(0.4) %
Net onboard and other revenue yields $ 45.92
$ 46.90
$ 45.50
% increase 0.9 %
3.1 %
(See Explanations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.)
CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
Consolidated gross and net cruise costs and net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD were computed by dividing the gross and net cruise costs and net cruise costs excluding fuel by ALBDs as follows:
Three Months Ended February 28, (dollars in millions, except costs per ALBD) 2019
2019
Constant
Dollar
2018 Cruise operating expenses (a) $ 3,113
$ 3,185
$ 2,695
Cruise selling and administrative expenses 623
638
610
Gross cruise costs 3,736
3,822
3,305
Less cruise costs included above
Commissions, transportation and other (709)
(734)
(663)
Onboard and other (a) (467)
(475)
(140)
Gains (losses) on ship sales and impairments (2)
(2)
(16)
Restructuring expenses
Other
Net cruise costs 2,558
2,611
2,485
Less fuel (381)
(381)
(359)
Net cruise costs excluding fuel $ 2,177
$ 2,231
$ 2,127
ALBDs 21,299,196
21,299,196
20,461,582
Gross cruise costs per ALBD $ 175.40
$ 179.46
$ 161.51
% increase 8.6 %
11.1 %
Net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD $ 102.21
$ 104.73
$ 103.92
% (decrease) increase (1.6) %
0.8 %
(a) Includes the effect of the adoption of new accounting guidance of $323 million ($328 million in constant dollar) for the three months ended February 28, 2019.
Three Months Ended February 28, (dollars in millions, except costs per ALBD) 2019
2019
Constant
Currency
2018 Net cruise costs excluding fuel $ 2,177
$ 2,233
$ 2,127
ALBDs 21,299,196
21,299,196
20,461,582
Net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD $ 102.21
$ 104.84
$ 103.92
% (decrease) increase (1.6) %
0.9 %
(See Explanations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.)
CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
Three Months Ended
February 28, (in millions, except per share data) 2019
2018 Net income
U.S. GAAP net income $ 336
$ 391
Unrealized (gains) losses on fuel derivatives, net
(32)
(Gains) losses on ship sales and impairments 2
16
Restructuring expenses
Other
Adjusted net income $ 338
$ 375
Weighted-average shares outstanding 695
719
Earnings per share
U.S. GAAP earnings per share $ 0.48
$ 0.54
Unrealized (gains) losses on fuel derivatives, net
(0.05)
(Gains) losses on ship sales and impairments
0.02
Restructuring expenses
Other
Adjusted earnings per share $ 0.49
$ 0.52
Explanations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We use net cruise revenues per ALBD ("net revenue yields"), net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share as non-GAAP financial measures of our cruise segments' and the company's financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided along with U.S. GAAP gross cruise revenues per ALBD ("gross revenue yields"), gross cruise costs per ALBD and U.S. GAAP net income and U.S. GAAP earnings per share.
Net revenue yields and net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD enable us to separate the impact of predictable capacity or ALBD changes from price and other changes that affect our business. We believe these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors and expanded insight to measure our revenue and cost performance as a supplement to our U.S. GAAP consolidated financial statements.
Under U.S. GAAP, the realized and unrealized gains and losses on fuel derivatives not qualifying as fuel hedges are recognized currently in earnings. We believe that unrealized gains and losses on fuel derivatives are not an indication of our earnings performance since they relate to future periods and may not ultimately be realized in our future earnings. Therefore, we believe it is more meaningful for the unrealized gains and losses on fuel derivatives to be excluded from our net income and earnings per share and, accordingly, we present adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share excluding these unrealized gains and losses.
We believe that gains and losses on ship sales, impairment charges, restructuring and other expenses are not part of our core operating business and are not an indication of our future earnings performance. Therefore, we believe it is more meaningful for gains and losses on ship sales, impairment charges, and restructuring and other non-core gains and charges to be excluded from our net income and earnings per share and, accordingly, we present adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share excluding these items.
The presentation of our non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as substitute for, or superior to the financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. It is possible that our non-GAAP financial measures may not be exactly comparable to the like-kind information presented by other companies, which is a potential risk associated with using these measures to compare us to other companies.
Net revenue yields are commonly used in the cruise industry to measure a company's cruise segment revenue performance and for revenue management purposes. We use "net cruise revenues" rather than "gross cruise revenues" to calculate net revenue yields. We believe that net cruise revenues is a more meaningful measure in determining revenue yield than gross cruise revenues because it reflects the cruise revenues earned net of our most significant variable costs, which are travel agent commissions, cost of air and other transportation, certain other costs that are directly associated with onboard and other revenues and credit and debit card fees.
Net passenger ticket revenues reflect gross passenger ticket revenues, net of commissions, transportation and other costs.
Net onboard and other revenues reflect gross onboard and other revenues, net of onboard and other cruise costs.
Net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD is the measure we use to monitor our ability to control our cruise segments' costs rather than gross cruise costs per ALBD. We exclude the same variable costs that are included in the calculation of net cruise revenues as well as fuel expense to calculate net cruise costs without fuel to avoid duplicating these variable costs in our non-GAAP financial measures. Substantially all of our net cruise costs excluding fuel are largely fixed, except for the impact of changing prices, once the number of ALBDs has been determined.
Reconciliation of Forecasted Data
We have not provided a reconciliation of forecasted gross cruise revenues to forecasted net cruise revenues or forecasted gross cruise costs to forecasted net cruise costs without fuel or forecasted U.S. GAAP net income to forecasted adjusted net income or forecasted U.S. GAAP earnings per share to forecasted adjusted earnings per share because preparation of meaningful U.S. GAAP forecasts of gross cruise revenues, gross cruise costs, net income and earnings per share would require unreasonable effort. We are unable to predict, without unreasonable effort, the future movement of foreign exchange rates and fuel prices. We are unable to determine the future impact of gains or losses on ships sales, restructuring expenses and other non-core gains and charges.
Constant Dollar and Constant Currency
Our operations primarily utilize the U.S. dollar, Australian dollar, euro and sterling as functional currencies to measure results and financial condition. Functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar subject us to foreign currency translational risk. Our operations also have revenues and expenses that are in currencies other than their functional currency, which subject us to foreign currency transactional risk.
We report net revenue yields, net passenger revenue yields, net onboard and other revenue yields and net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD on a "constant dollar" and "constant currency" basis assuming the 2019 periods' currency exchange rates have remained constant with the 2018 periods' rates. These metrics facilitate a comparative view for the changes in our business in an environment with fluctuating exchange rates.
Constant dollar reporting removes only the impact of changes in exchange rates on the translation of our operations.
Constant currency reporting removes the impact of changes in exchange rates on the translation of our operations (as in constant dollar) plus the transactional impact of changes in exchange rates from revenues and expenses that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency.
Examples :
The translation of our operations with functional currencies other than U.S. dollar to our U.S. dollar reporting currency results in decreases in reported U.S. dollar revenues and expenses if the U.S. dollar strengthens against these foreign currencies and increases in reported U.S. dollar revenues and expenses if the U.S. dollar weakens against these foreign currencies.
Our operations have revenue and expense transactions in currencies other than their functional currency. If their functional currency strengthens against these other currencies, it reduces the functional currency revenues and expenses. If the functional currency weakens against these other currencies, it increases the functional currency revenues and expenses.
SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc
Related Links
www.carnival.com
On April 3, 2010, despite being in the middle of an economic recession, Samuel Bistrian started ROMA Boots, the company that merges fashion with philanthropy to 'Give Poverty the Boot.' After spending years working at Neiman Marcus, Bistrian developed a passion for quality and customer service and wanted to take that a step further by giving back to people in need. Growing up extremely poor, he realized how big the impact of rain boots are in a child's life in poverty-stricken countries and from that, his business model was created.
"I never considered myself a businessman or even an entrepreneur. Even when I wanted to leave Neiman Marcus to start ROMA, some of my superiors told me that it was a poor decision, and to some degree they were right. I did not have much of a plan as the country was in a recession. I had $5,000 in my bank account, significant credit card debt and student loans, but over all of that, I had passion," explained Samuel Bistrian, Founder and CEO of ROMA Boots.
With the mission of bringing impoverished children throughout the world hope, love, and lasting change through aid and education, for every pair of boots sold, a new pair is donated to a child in need. ROMA's ultimate goal is not only to provide aid but to educate. By doing so ROMA is empowering impoverished children around the world to break out of the cycle of poverty and contribute their gifts and talents to society.
"Having grown up so poor, 'Giving poverty the boot' was everything I always wanted to do, to help those less fortunate just like someone once helped me. But I knew from the start that without love as the foundation, all of my good intentions will result in disappointment," told Bistrian.
After the first few years of launching, ROMA was a success but he wanted to expand. Finding the solution that any logical businessman would, he borrowed money and took on investors. While things seemed to be off without a hitch, there were downsides that came from this.
"All the pressures of growing a business can cause one to lose their purpose and you no longer have that same passion to help those in poverty when you can't pay your own bills and you have partners putting enormous pressure on you," Bistrian expressed.
It took a family crisis to put things back in perspective to help him rediscover his purpose; helping those who can't help themselves. Hitting rock bottom was the motivator for Bistrian to take back the company that was once all his. Over the course of 9 months, he was able to buy out his investors and today, Samuel Bistrian is returning to his roots as the sole owner of ROMA Boots, running a successful business, giving back and doing what he loves.
After nine years, ROMA is 'America's Favorite Rain Boot' and doing better than ever by giving poverty the boot with joy and love. ROMA Boots is easily on its way to becoming 'World's Favorite Rain Boot' with countless practical, yet fashionable rain boots for women and kids.
For the first time ever, ROMA now offers a new, men rain boot line, which just launched January 2019, creating rain boot options for the whole family.
ROMA Boots can be found at boutiques across the U.S., Canada, and Australia. They are also available online at romaboots.com and Amazon. To learn more about ROMA Boots and how you can make a difference in a child's life, visit romaboots.com or romafoundation.com.
For media inquiries or to request interviews, please contact Geena Mahler at [email protected] .
IMAGES: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VTFfPxCbHgTmSEaj6
VIDEO: https://bit.ly/2UeAbjO
SOURCE ROMA Boots
Related Links
https://www.romaboots.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tax refunds are arriving just in time for the spring travel season and CheapOair, an online travel agency and leading provider of cheap flights, has analyzed trends and booking data to reveal the top destinations that travelers are jet-setting to with their extra cash. This year, travelers from different age groups are planning getaways to big cities, warm weather destinations, European hot spots, and more.
Travelers in Generation Z, aged 18-23, are cashing in their tax refunds to travel to some adventurous international destinations, including Paris, Barcelona, Cancun, and even Bangkok. Domestically, young globe trotters are heading to Orlando, Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale, New York City, and Miami1.
This year, a top destination for millennial travelers aged 24-38 is Zagreb, Croatia, among other European hotspots like London and Rome. CheapOair also found that millennials are traveling internationally more than any other generation, specifically to big cities across Europe and Asia, including Bangkok and Tokyo2.
While the younger generations are jet-setting off to big cities, CheapOair found that Generation X and Baby Boomers, travelers aged 39-73, are taking this opportunity to relax and travel to popular warm-weather destinations. These destinations include many cities in Florida, like Orlando, Miami, and Fort Myers, in addition to international destinations like Cancun, Madrid, and the Philippines3.
"This year, travel is a very popular way for Americans to spend their tax refunds, as they're receiving them right in the middle of the spring travel season," said Tom Spagnola, Senior Vice President of Supplier Relations at CheapOair. "Many parents are also using this opportunity to plan a spring break vacation for their families, while younger generations are using their extra funds for spring break trips to big cities and popular beach destinations within the U.S. and the Caribbean."
By consistently monitoring travel trends, CheapOair's mission is to educate and aid consumers and travel professionals in both planning their travel accommodations and staying current on the most popular destinations.
For more information, please visit cheapoair.com, cheapoair.com/mobile, or our social media pages, facebook.com/cheapoair and twitter.com/cheapoair.
About CheapOair
CheapOair is an online travel agency that specializes in providing cheap flights and great last-minute flight deals for travelers worldwide. Consumers can book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone (1-800-566-2345) or live chat. Part of Fareportal's family of travel brands, CheapOair bridges the gap between an online travel agency and a traditional agency with certified travel agents available 24/7 to help find discount flight tickets to global destinations on over 600 airlines, a million hotels, and 100s of car rental companies. Follow CheapOair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to learn how to travel the world for less.
1 Based on booking data for passengers ages 18-23 departing from all U.S. gateways from 3/1/19 5/31/19 as of 2/26/19
2 Based on booking data for passengers ages 24-38 departing from all U.S. gateways from 3/1/19 5/31/19 as of 2/26/19
3 Based on booking data for passengers ages 39-73 departing from all U.S. gateways from 3/1/19 5/31/19 as of 2/26/19
SOURCE CheapOair
Related Links
http://www.cheapoair.com
"While we are no longer newlyweds, we are still head-over-heels with the partnership between China Airlines and the City of Ontario," said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority.
"The airline's commitment to Ontario is a strong show of confidence in all we are doing to develop a first-rate international gateway with the services travelers demand, not to mention creating an economic driver for the region," said Curt Hagman, commissioner of the Ontario International Airport Authority.
"China Airlines has carried approximately 175,000 passengers between Ontario and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) since last March, more than 14,000 air travelers per month on average," said Jim Bowman, commissioner of the Ontario International Airport Authority.
"Over the past year, China Airlines has worked closely with Ontario International Airport in bringing a more convenient and friendly service to travelers, we provide a daily service from Ontario with the brand-new Airbus 350 aircraft. Currently we enjoy a strong customer demand on our ONT flight. China Airlines Ontario route has steadily increased its passenger and cargo loading over the past 12 months and we are excited to have these numbers continuously grow," said Simon Lee, Vice President of China Airlines, The Americas.
The ONT-TPE route is currently served with Airbus A350-900 aircraft, the newest, most technologically advanced model of the Airbus fleet. The aircraft, which features an extra-wide body, is equipped with 306 seats configured in three cabins including 32 lie-flat seats in Premium Business Class, 31 Premium Economy seats and 243 seats in Economy Class.
Daily flights arrive at ONT's Terminal 2 at approximately 3:00 p.m. pacific time with return flights to TPE departing at 11:55 p.m. Arrivals into TPE are scheduled for approximately 5:00 a.m. local time enabling travelers to make convenient connections to South East Asia, Japan, Korea and China.
TPE is the primary International gateway airport for the Taipei-Keelung-Taoyuan City metro area, with more than nine million residents, while ONT is the closest and most convenient international airport for more than 10 million Southern California residents in the Inland Empire, northern Orange County, and eastern Los Angeles County.
Airline passengers enjoy easy access to ONT, ample reasonably priced parking close to passenger terminals, quick and efficient security screening, spacious gate areas and complimentary Wi-Fi. The airport's retail and dining concessions underwent multi-million-dollar upgrades in 2018 and now include a variety of local and national brands popular with air travelers.
About Ontario International Airport
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport with nonstop commercial jet service to 19 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 67 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)
The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).
News Media Contacts:
Atif Elkadi, Deputy Executive Director, (858) 361-9319 [email protected]
Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected]
SOURCE Ontario International Airport
Related Links
https://www.flyontario.com/
CLEVELAND, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Eric Gordon will discuss Say Yes to Education and other key issues facing today's schools during the first of McDonald Hopkins LLC's Leaders in Education Lunch Series at noon on April 2.
The Leaders in Education event, the first in a series of four lunches to be hosted by McDonald Hopkins through December, will be held at the firm's Cleveland office at 600 Superior Ave. and streamed live on mcdonaldhopkins.com.
"We have chosen to focus our community outreach efforts on education," said David Kall, managing member of McDonald Hopkins' Cleveland office. "It is so important to educate our future workforce, which will help relieve poverty in our community."
The conversation with Gordon, who is responsible for the daily management of Cleveland's 39,000-student school district and integral in the city's Say Yes to Education and College Now Initiatives, will offer valuable insight to anyone interested in the state of education systems and the opportunities being made available to today's students.
Cleveland was selected in January by Say Yes to Education, a national nonprofit organization designed to revitalize communities by helping them give every public high school graduate access to college or other postsecondary scholarships. Founded in 1987 with the promise of preparing 112 Philadelphia sixth graders for college and pay their college tuition if they graduated high school, Say Yes to Education now helps entire communities make a similar commitment to every public high school student. In addition to Cleveland, Say Yes to Education has community-wide chapters in Buffalo and Guilford County, N.C.
Similarly, College Now of Greater Cleveland helps students as early as middle and high school students as well as adult learners achieve their dreams of going to and succeeding in certificate, two-year and four-year degree programs. It reaches over 29,000 students and adult learners each year, providing college access success advising, financial aid, counseling and scholarship retention services. Many of their students are from low-income families and are first-generation college students.
College Now is one of six convening partners which worked over a period of two years to make Cleveland the most recent Say Yes to Education chapter. McDonald Hopkins is a proud sponsor of College Now's Say Yes to Education program.
About McDonald Hopkins
Founded in 1930, McDonald Hopkins is a business advisory and advocacy law firm with locations in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, and West Palm Beach. With more than 50 service and industry teams, the firm has the expertise and knowledge to meet the growing number of legal and business challenges our clients face. For more information about McDonald Hopkins, visit mcdonaldhopkins.com.
CONTACT:
David Carducci
McDonald Hopkins LLC
600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Phone: 216.348.5814
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE McDonald Hopkins
Related Links
http://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com
Launched in the United States in 1991 and now active in more than 80 countries on six continents, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF) is among the most far-reaching, successful children's oral health initiatives in the world, driving better oral health actions, greater awareness and increased access to oral care.
The cornerstone of BSBF is an award-winning educational curriculum presented by classroom teachers. The company also has created new classroom toolkits for its employees to bring activities and experiments to school age kids. In addition, Colgate operates nine mobile dental vans that travel to more than 1,000 U.S. cities and towns to provide free dental screenings, oral health education and treatment referrals to underserved children. These vans visit schools, Head Start and after school programs, and community events.
"Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children around the world, so it's our hope to reach the next billion children in half the time it took to reach our first billion," said Dr. Marsha Butler, a dentist and Colgate-Palmolive vice president who has led the program from its inception. "The Colgate brand is found in nearly two thirds of homes around the globe more than any other brand in the world so we have a special opportunity and responsibility to promote healthy oral care habits among the next generation."
To reach further into communities around the world, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures partners with governments, schools and community groups.
Partnerships Around the World
In the U.S., Colgate is expanding its partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America for 2019 with a "Smile-a-bration" competition. Children at participating Clubs will use music, dance, art or some other creative expression to share the importance of healthy oral care habits. Winning Clubs will receive a grant from Colgate.
"This is our fourth year bringing the Bright Smiles program into our Boys & Girls Clubs across the country," says Jim Clark , president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "We believe it makes an important contribution to the health of our kids. Good brushing habits and a healthy mouth help build a child's self-esteem and promote academic success. That's a big part of our mission."
"This is our fourth year bringing the Bright Smiles program into our Boys & Girls Clubs across the country," says , president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "We believe it makes an important contribution to the health of our kids. Good brushing habits and a healthy mouth help build a child's self-esteem and promote academic success. That's a big part of our mission." In Mexico , Colgate BSBF has reached over 224 million children since 1993. Colgate worked with the Mexico City government in 2017 to support legislation that ensures that 1.2 million school children receive oral health education and a tooth-brushing kit from Colgate. The company now hopes to extend the reach of that program to additional Mexican municipalities.
, Colgate BSBF has reached over 224 million children since 1993. Colgate worked with the government in 2017 to support legislation that ensures that 1.2 million school children receive oral health education and a tooth-brushing kit from Colgate. The company now hopes to extend the reach of that program to additional Mexican municipalities. In Romania , the Romanian Red Cross is a valued partner in bringing the BSBF program into schools. In the past 25 years, Colgate Bright Smiles , Bright Futures has reached 6 million Romanian children.
, the Romanian Red Cross is a valued partner in bringing the BSBF program into schools. In the past 25 years, , Bright Futures has reached 6 million Romanian children. In South Africa , Colgate has a longstanding relationship with the Department of Health. The partnership includes two mobile vans that reach 100,000 children a year, and visits by dentists to schools to educate, screen and provide treatment to children.
, Colgate has a longstanding relationship with the Department of Health. The partnership includes two mobile vans that reach 100,000 children a year, and visits by dentists to schools to educate, screen and provide treatment to children. In India , where the focus has been on reaching underserved children in rural areas, Colgate recently added outreach to children in cities, partnering with the Dental Council of India and Government agencies. Colgate India has reached 162 million children with dental education and checkups.
Said Dr. Butler: "Colgate people are honored to play a part in helping children to have a healthier and brighter future. We believe that every child, everywhere in the world, deserves a future to smile about."
About Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sorriso, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sanex, Elta MD, PCA Skin, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet. For more information about Colgate's global business, visit the Company's website at http://www.colgatepalmolive.com. To learn more about Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures oral health education program, please visit http://www.colgatebsbf.com. CL-E
SOURCE Colgate-Palmolive
SEATTLE, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Committee for Children (CFC) announced today that it is creating a new social-emotional learning (SEL) program for after-school care, summer camps, and other learning environments beyond the classroom, through support provided by The Wallace Foundation. A grant of $836,500 from Wallace will contribute to CFC's efforts to launch an out-of-school-time (OST) adaptation of their award-winning Second Step program during the 20192020 school year.
"We're extremely thankful to The Wallace Foundation for this important opportunity to address the need for social and emotional learning in out-of-school settings," said Joan Cole Duffell, Committee for Children's executive director. "Though our organization reaches millions of children annually with research-based SEL curricula taught in schools across the US and around the world, we know that children's social-emotional development is enriched far beyond the classroom. For SEL to make its greatest impact, this vital area of learning should take place in all facets of a child's life. We have committed ourselves to positively transforming the social-emotional well-being of 100 million children annually by 2028, and this investment in out-of-school time programming will be integral to reaching that goal."
CFC's research-based Second Step program currently reaches 14 million children annually, from preschoolers to middle schoolers. In recent years, the demand for an OST program has grown as many OST providers have adapted the programwhich is designed for school settingsto support children's social-emotional development out of school. Although this interest has been encouraging, CFC knows that out-of-school time contexts differ meaningfully from school contexts and demand different instructional approaches. To meet these context-specific needs and catalyze broad impact, the organization is developing a program that will focus on research-based activities, group discussion, games, and projects to support SEL in OST environments.
To ensure the new out-of-school time SEL curriculum can meet the needs of OST settings, CFC will use the Wallace Foundation grant to focus on three key activities:
OST activities differentiated by children's developmental levels
Professional development for OST facilitators
Content designed to support culturally relevant and responsive teaching
Based in New York City, The Wallace Foundation is a philanthropy working nationally to answer important questions that, if solved, could help strengthen practices and policies within a field. Their mission is to foster improvements in learning and enrichment for disadvantaged children and the vitality of the arts for everyone. The organization has made significant investments in SEL through their Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative (PSELI), a six-year initiative to build partnerships between school districts and out-of-school time intermediaries for the development of children's social-emotional skills.
"Based on what we have learned to date in PSELI, it has become clear there is a dearth of evidence-based SEL curricular supports available for out-of-school time providers," said Gigi Antoni, director of learning and enrichment at The Wallace Foundation. "We believe that CFC is well positioned to help fill this gap by creating an SEL-specific OST program that meets the needs of this learning environment."
The new OST program will launch during the 20192020 school year and will support mixed-age settings from Kindergarten through Grade 5. For more information on the program's launch, and to sign up to participate in online surveys, focus groups, or user testing of the program in development, please visit www.secondstep.org/out-of-school-time-program.
About Committee for Children
Committee for Children is a nonprofit on a mission to ensure children everywhere can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. Best known for our innovative social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula that blend research and rigor with intuitive program design, we empower children and their adults with skills that help them realize their goals in the classroom and throughout their lives. Since 1979, we've been connecting experts in the field to share experiences and advance the cause of educating the whole child. A force in advocacy, we're helping pass policies and legislation that place importance on creating safe and supportive learning environments. Today, our programs reach more than 14 million children in over 70 countries worldwide. By lifting up children today, we're helping them create a safe and positive society for the future. Learn more at cfchildren.org.
Connect with Committee for Children on Facebook and Twitter.
About The Wallace Foundation
The Wallace Foundation is an independent, national foundation dedicated to supporting and sharing effective ideas and practices that expand learning and enrichment opportunities for children. The Foundation maintains an online library of lessons at www.wallacefoundation.org about what it has learned, including knowledge from its current efforts aimed at strengthening educational leadership to improve student achievement; helping disadvantaged students gain more time for learning through summer learning and through the effective use of additional learning time during the school day and year; enhancing out-of-school time opportunities; and building appreciation and demand for the arts.
CONTACT: Shauna McBride, [email protected], 206-612-8718
SOURCE Committee for Children
Related Links
http://www.cfchildren.org
(CNN) Thailand's first general election since the army took over in a coup five years ago was not free and fair, according to an election watchdog, amid concerns over alleged voting irregularities.
The outcome of Sunday's elections is still unclear, with no party taking a decisive lead but both leading parties claiming the right to form a coalition. Persistent delays in the release of the final results has added to the confusion surrounding the electoral process.
On Monday evening, the fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra added his voice to the growing chorus of criticism saying that Thailand's military government "manipulated" polling to ensure its grip on power.
Writing in an opinion piece in the New York Times, Thaksin pointed to myriad voting irregularities and accused the country's Election Commission of "interfering" with "the work of what are supposed to be independent agencies and institutions."
The billionaire telecoms mogul was ousted in a 2006 military coup and lives in self-imposed exile. But he remains extremely influential and leaders loyal to him have continued to dominate Thailand's turbulent political landscape.
"If neither the rules of the game nor the referees are fair, the outcome will not be respected by Thai people or internationally," Thaksin wrote.
His words come as two Asian election monitors released their reports into the integrity of Sunday's poll.
Inept Election Commission
The non-governmental election watchdog Open Forum for Democracy Foundation (P-Net) determined that the election was "not free and fair."
Thai-based P-Net cited a litany of failures allegedly committed by the Thai Election Commission, including that it was unprepared for overseas advance voting; commission members were inexperienced, having being appointed just six to seven months before the election; and there were no voluntary observers at polling stations to detect potential fraud. Polling station staff were poorly trained and did not follow regulations strictly and there was a lack of coordination to investigate claims of vote buying, according to P-Net.
Some candidates relied on vote buying and influence of local officials to secure wins, the watchdog added.
The commission was "incompetent to hold the elections efficiently," P-Net concluded.
A separate report from the The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFRE) International Election Observation Mission also released on Tuesday said the election process "displays fundamental democratic shortcomings."
While it said the voting process ran smoothly, issues such as "overly restrictive regulations" on the validity of ballot marks "contributed to the 2.8 million invalid ballots." And the organization and tally of ballots was "deeply flawed," leading to "an announcement of some preliminary results that were wildly inaccurate on election night."
"The blunders did further damage to the perceived integrity of the general election, and ANFREL invites the ECT to release comprehensive election results as soon as possible in order to foster trust in the general public's eye," ANFREL said.
The military-drafted 2017 constitution was designed to ensure the army could keep a hold on politics through a military-appointed Senate and new and complex electoral rules that weaken big parties such as Thaksin's Pheu Thai, critics say.
"People were free to vote, but the choices are so limited under manipulated rule that such freedom is also curtailed," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University.
Election Commission members were chosen by the military leaders and were seen to be favorable to them. The pro-Thaksin Thai Raksa Chart party was dissolved for nominating a princess for its prime ministerial candidate but the case came from the Election Commission, which took less than a week to formulate and send the case to the Constitutional Court.
"ANFREL saw a campaign environment which is heavily tilted to benefit the incumbent military junta and the candidates that it supports," the ANFREL election observers report found.
The commission was also underprepared for the complexities of polling under the new electoral rules.
"If they had been prepared and neutral with these rules it would already be difficult to oversee this election process," Thitinan said.
Deal making begins
By Tuesday, the Thaksin-aligned main opposition Pheu Thai Party appeared to be on course to be the largest winning party, with early results showing it took 137 out of 350 seats in the lower house.
Though parties are still waiting to hear how many party list lawmakers they will get -- 150 are up for grabs -- it was enough for Pheu Thai to announce that they would form a coalition government with any third party that does not support the return of the military.
"We have been chosen to come in number one (in constituency lawmakers) therefore we will start to form a government as we have received consensus from people," Suradat Keyurapan, a prime ministerial candidate for Pheu Thai said Monday.
But early results showed the pro-military Palang Pracharat Party -- formed to ensure junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha's return to power -- taking a slight lead in the popular vote.
On Monday party spokesman Kobsak Pootrakool told reporters that it aims to form a government, calling on "like-minded parties" to enter talks.
Analysts said this put Palang Pracharat in a stronger position politically than Pheu Thai.
It (Palang Pracharat) could use the popular vote to "insist on forming the government because it has the Senate and army backing, and the full force of the law and power in the interim," said Thitinan.
A dark horse in the race for prime minister is emerging, however.
The Bhumjaithai Party, which campaigned on a ticket of marijuana legalization, won the fifth most seats in early results. Its leader Anutin Charnverakul has found himself at the center of power brokering and experts say he could be swayed by the sweetest deal.
Deal making may be underway but the military has spent the past five years consolidating its power. Pro-military parties only need to 126 seats in the lower house to form a majority as they can rely on the support of the Senate.
Still, any coalition is likely to be weak and unstable, according to Thitinan, with multiple small parties fielding one or a few representatives.
A large anti-junt bloc made up of Pheu Thai and other pro-democracy parties such as Future Forward could also be an effective block to junta policies.
"It will look rather unwieldy and messy," Thitinan said.
This story was first published on CNN.com, "Thai election 'not free and fair' says monitor group."
Scott Warren, founder of Generation Citizen. Courtesy
Scott Warren grew up in Del Mar until he was eight years old. After that, his childhood horizons expanded beyond anything his young imagination could conjure up. His father joined the State Department as a foreign-service officer and the international whirlwind began. Warren lived in the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Kenya and Ecuador.
At first, I was incredibly disappointed to be leaving the comfortable environs of Del Mar, Warren recalls. Now I look back on that experience as incredibly formative to becoming the person I am now. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have observed so many different types of cultures and to have seen so many emerging democracies in action.
Warren observed the first truly democratic elections in Kenyas history in 2002. He was in Ecuador during a coup in 2005. He visited his parents in Zimbabwe in runoff elections in 2008.
All these experiences convinced Warren, now 32 and back in Del Mar, of the power and the fragility of democracy. I believe democracy is a concept we always need to cultivate, grow and improve upon. It also taught me how much the United States can and has to learn from the rest of the world. We do not have a monopoly on effective democracies.
Warren decided to take action on all his observations while living across the globe. In college at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, he majored in international relations and became an activist concerning the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan. He knew he wanted to do more, beyond the campus itself.
Cover of Scott Warren's new book, Generation Citizen: The Power of Youth in Our Politics. Courtesy
I learned a lot about the political process by emerging myself in it. I learned about the Rhode Island legislature through pushing lawmakers to pass Sudan divestment legislation. I also realized that a lot of my peers wanted to make the world a better place, too, but didnt necessarily see government or politics as the best way to do so. There are a lot of reasons for that, including a very valid distrust and cynicism of government right now. But a key reason is that we dont teach civics anymore, and when we do, its one of the most boring classes in school.
Warren was determined to change that perception, so he started a nonprofit with another Brown student called Generation Citizen. The mission of the organization is to ensure that every student in the country receives an effective action civics education to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in this countrys democracy as active citizens.
Warren calls it Action Civics. Over the course of a semester, a class of students chooses one issue to focus on, then examines the root cause of that issue and takes action to change it. Warren believes the best education takes place when students are learning by doing, so he believes students should learn civics by doing civics.
Students in the program focus on hyper-local issues in their community including housing and gentrification, youth homelessness, cafeteria food, and then bigger causes such as immigration.
The goal of the program, Warren explains, is to ensure young people become engaged and active citizens in the long term. Democratic change takes a long time, so we dont necessarily expect that theyll achieve massive results in one semester; thats not how democracy works. At the same time, students have helped secure funding for youth homeless shelters, passed police accountability legislation and changed disciplinary policies across school districts.
Warren says many students are skeptical of the program at first because theyve been programmed to believe they have little ability to effect change. Public institutions often tell young people implicitly and explicitly that their voices do not matter. The most empowering moments happen when young people recognize, often through meeting with elected officials, that their voices can and do matter.
Warren believes the work of Generation Citizen is more vital in todays political climate than ever before. There is unprecedented interest in our work right now, he says. We are non-partisan, but I think its impossible to ignore the ramifications of the fact that weve deprioritized civics education for so long. At the same time, our work is so local that we can avoid a lot of the hot-button issues that make our politics so tumultuous at the national level.
Warrens greatest fear is that reaction to the immediate reality, like election after election, will take away from the long-term foundational efforts to rebuild this countys democracy. And his greatest hope? That we use this moment in our democracy to collectively rebuild, and that young people are at the center.
Warren has just published a book on the same topic titled Generation Citizen: The Power of Youth in Our Politics. The book is available on Amazon. Hell be doing a book-signing event at the Del Mar Library on Wednesday, April 3 at 6 p.m. Address: 1309 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, 92014.
AMSTERDAM, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Core Laboratories (NYSE: "CLB US" and Euronext Amsterdam: "CLB NA") will broadcast its first quarter 2019 conference call over the Internet at 7:30 a.m. CDT / 2:30 p.m. CEST on April 25, 2019.
David Demshur, CEO, Larry Bruno, President, Chris Hill, CFO, and Gwen Schreffler, SVP Investor Relations, will discuss financial and operating results. An earnings press release will be issued after market close on April 24th and may be accessed through the Company's website at www.corelab.com.
To participate in the live webcast, simply log on to www.corelab.com at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call. For those who are not available to listen to the live webcast, a Podcast will be available immediately following the conference call and a replay will be available on Core's website shortly after the call which will remain on the site for 10 days.
To listen to the conference call via telephone, please contact Elizabeth Blanchard at [email protected] for the dial-in number.
Core Laboratories N.V. (www.corelab.com) is a leading provider of proprietary and patented reservoir description and production enhancement services and products used to optimize petroleum reservoir performance. The Company has over 70 offices in more than 50 countries and is located in every major oil-producing province in the world.
SOURCE Core Laboratories N.V.
Related Links
https://www.corelab.com
SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Corn Oil Market evaluates the growth trends in the industry and is anticipated to display a significant rise in the CAGR by 2028. Corn oil is pale-yellow oil produced from corn or kernel. The past few years have demonstrated product quality as the most imperative factor among customers as well as manufacturers. It has numerous heal benefits and is used for various therapeutic purposes. These attributes are projected to exhibit expansion of the market. "Corn oil has been increasingly used as a feedstock for biodiesel production. Manufacturing of paints, pesticides, cosmetic products, and pharmaceuticals is further boosting the proliferation of corn oil market."
The market's growth has been anticipated based on increasing demand for healthy oil from the millennial population and the rising health concerns due to an improper lifestyle. Corn oil has demonstrated enormous usability in treating diseases like blood pressure, heart ailments, and diabetes. The global industry players are increasing their spending over the research & development activities of healthy and organic oils. Based on end users, the retail segment will hold the highest market share as modern trade is estimated to stay the major distribution channel for corn oil. Also, the advent of e-commerce and social marketing strategies adopted by businesses, have surged the online sales of corn oil. These factors are driving the growth of corn oil market. Striving to reduce the carbon footprint, industries have established the employment of corn oil as a biodiesel and support environmental sustainability.
Based on geography, the corn oil market has been segmented into North America, Latin America Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Europe is the largest manufacturer of corn oil, whereas North America and India are forthcoming attractive markets in terms of prospects. The Asia Pacific region has been ascribed as the fastest growing, owing to the high adoption of corn oil as cooking oil. The global market is characterized by the presence of major international players and emerging domestic entrants. Some of the key competitors or manufacturers capitalizing in the market include Abu Dhabi Vegetable Oil Company, Archer Daniels Midland Company, IFFCO, Cairo Oil and Soap, Wilmar International Ltd., Cargill, Lam Soon Edible Oils Sdn. Bhd., Incorporated, ConAgra Brands, Inc, ACH Food Companies, Inc., Bimald.d. Bracko, The Savola Group, Qingdao Changsheng Group Co., N.K. Proteins Pvt Limited, Elburg Global, Taj Agro International, Ltd., Henry Lamotte Oils GmbH, Macjerry Sunflower oil Co. Ltd, Fytel, Saporito Foods Inc., and The J.M. Smucker Company among others.
The emerging companies have identified raw material suppliers, buyers, research investors and distributors of the corn oil market. The competitors are profiling their business expansion strategies by incorporating merger & acquisition, collaborations, and joint ventures with the fellow contenders. ACH Food Companies, Inc has emerged as a trusted brand in North America for manufacturing cooking spray and corn oil. They had introduced Mazola in the year 1911 and it is still being used as a staple ingredient for chefs across the country. The global Corn Oil market was valued at $XX million in 2017, and Radiant Inights analysts predict the global market size will reach $XX million by the end of 2028, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2028.
Access 100 page research report with TOC on "Corn Oil Market" available with Radiant Insights, Inc. @ https://www.radiantinsights.com/research/2013-2028-report-on-global-corn-oil-market
This report provides detailed historical analysis of global market for Corn Oil from 2013-2018, and provides extensive market forecasts from 2018-2028 by region/country and subsectors. It covers the sales volume, price, revenue, gross margin, historical growth and future perspectives in the Corn Oil market.
Leading players of Corn Oil including:
Sunora Foods
Henry Lamotte
Yonca Gida
Cargill
Taj Agro International
Xiwang Group
Shandong Sanxing Group
COFCO Group
Yingma
Changsheng Group
Market split by Type, can be divided into:
High Oleic
Middle Oleic
Low Oleic
Market split by Application, can be divided into:
Industrial
Commercial
Household
Market split by Sales Channel, can be divided into:
Direct Channel
Distribution Channel
Market segment by Region/Country including:
North America ( United States , Canada and Mexico )
( , and )
Europe ( Germany , UK, France , Italy , Russia and Spain etc.)
( , UK, , , and etc.)
Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , Korea, India , Australia and Southeast Asia etc.)
( , , Korea, , and etc.)
South America Brazil , Argentina , Colombia and Chile etc.)
, , and etc.)
Middle East & Africa ( South Africa , Egypt , Nigeria and Saudi Arabia etc.)
Browse reports of similar category available with Radiant Insights, Inc.:
About Radiant Insights, Inc.:
At Radiant Insights, we work with the aim to reach the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Our representatives strive to understand diverse client requirements and cater to the same with the most innovative and functional solutions.
Contact:
Michelle Thoras.
Corporate Sales Specialist
Radiant Insights, Inc.
Phone: +1-415-349-0054
Toll Free: 1-888-928-9744
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.radiantinsights.com/
SOURCE Radiant Insights, Inc.
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Cove Key Bluescape Holdings LP (" Cove Key ") announced today that on March 25, 2019, Mangrove Partners Master Fund, Ltd. issued a notice (the " Notice ") to TransAlta Corporation (the " Company ") pursuant to the Company's Advance Notice By-Law No. 2 submitting nominations for the election of directors (collectively, the " Nominees ") to the Board of the Company (the " Board ") at the upcoming Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Company currently scheduled to take place on April 26, 2019 (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) (the " Annual Meeting "). No securities were acquired in connection with the filing of the Early Warning Report filed by Cove Key on the date hereof.
As of the date of hereof, Cove Key has ownership and control of 8,397,333 common shares, representing approximately 2.95% of the issued and outstanding common shares as of the date hereof, calculated on an undiluted basis. As of the date hereof, the Mangrove Cooperating Parties (defined below), the Cove Key Cooperating Parties (defined below) and the Bluescape Cooperating Parties (defined below) (collectively, the " Cooperating Parties ") collectively have ownership and control over 28,729,196 common shares, representing approximately 10.1% of the issued and outstanding common shares as of the date hereof, calculated on an undiluted basis.
On March 25, 2019, the Company announced that it had entered into an Investment Agreement with Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc. (the " Brookfield Investment Agreement "), a copy of which was subsequently filed on SEDAR on March 25, 2019. Under the terms of the Brookfield Investment Agreement, if two or more persons, who are not among the Company's director nominees recommended in its management proxy circular for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting, are elected as directors of the Board, then the Company will have the right, up to six business days prior to the date that is 30 days after the date of the Annual Meeting, to decline the financing provided for in the Brookfield Investment Agreement and terminate the Brookfield Investment Agreement.
The Cooperating Parties have had insufficient time to fully evaluate the Brookfield Investment Agreement. However, they believe that transactions superior to the Brookfield Investment Agreement may be available to the Company and that it is therefore important to preserve the Company's ability to terminate the Brookfield Investment Agreement in order to explore and potentially pursue such superior transactions. Accordingly, Mangrove Partners Master Fund, Ltd. has submitted the nominations for election to the Board to ensure that it is possible that two or more persons not nominated in the Company's management proxy circular may be eligible for election at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the Company's Advance Notice By-Law. If no shareholder nominations were to be made in accordance with the Advance Notice By-Law, the Company would have no ability to terminate the Brookfield Investment Agreement to pursue a superior transaction that may emerge.
The Advance Notice By-Law provides that shareholders may provide a notice of nomination up to 5:00 p.m. Calgary time, 30 days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting, which means that further nominations may be made up to 5:00 p.m. Calgary time on March 27, 2019. Mangrove Partners and the Cooperating Parties may supplement the Nominees before the nomination deadline with the nomination of additional persons for election to the Board. The Cooperating Parties also reserve the right to withdraw one or more Nominees from time to time or to submit further nominations after March 27, 2019, subject to waiver of the Advance Notice By-Law by the Board.
On March 6, 2019, Mangrove Partners, Bluescape Energy Partners LLC (" Bluescape Energy Partners "), and Cove Key entered into a cooperation agreement (the " Cooperation Agreement ") whereby, among other things, they agreed to coordinate and cooperate in certain activities related to their ownership of the common shares of the Company any other voting or equity securities of the Company, any securities convertible into voting or equity securities of the Company, and related derivative contracts. Cove Key may be considered a joint actor of the Mangrove Cooperating Parties, the Cove Key Cooperating Parties and the Bluescape Cooperating Parties. The " Mangrove Cooperating Parties " are the following individuals and entities, each of which may be considered to be a joint actor with Cove Key: (i) The Mangrove Partners Master Fund, Ltd; (ii) Mangrove Partners; and (iii) Nathaniel August. The " Cove Key Cooperating Parties " are the following individuals and entities, each of which may be considered to be a joint actor with Cove Key: (i) Cove Key Fund GP LP; (iii) Cove Key GP LLC; (iv) Cove Key Management LP; (v) Cove Key GP Management LLC; and (vi) Jeff Coviello. The " Bluescape Cooperating Parties " are the following individuals and entities, each of which may be considered to be a joint actor with Cove Key: (i) Bluescape Energy Partners, (ii) Bluescape Cove Key GP LLC; (iii) Bluescape Energy Partners III GP LLC; (iv) Bluescape Resources GP Holdings LLC; (v) Bluescape Resources Company LLC; and (vi) Charles John Wilder, Jr.
Mangrove Partners, Cove Key and Bluscape Energy Partners have not yet determined whether they will solicit proxies for the election of the Nominees.
Depending upon other factors, including overall market conditions, other investment opportunities available to the Cooperating Parties, and the availability of securities of the Company at prices that would make the purchase or sale of such shares desirable, the Cooperating Parties may endeavor (i) to increase or decrease their respective positions in the Company through, among other things, the purchase or sale of securities of the Company on the open market or in private transactions or otherwise on such terms and at such times as the Cooperating Parties may deem advisable and/or (ii) to enter into transactions that increase or hedge their economic exposure to the common shares without affecting their beneficial ownership of common shares.
No Reporting Person has any present plan or proposal which would relate to or result in any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) - (k) of Item 5 of the Early Warning Report filed by Cove Key on the date hereof except as set forth herein or such as would occur upon or in connection with completion of, or following, any of the actions discussed herein. The Cooperating Parties may take positions regarding or make precatory, conditional or binding proposals with respect to, or with respect to potential changes in, the Company's: operations, management, certificate of incorporation and bylaws, composition of the board of directors of the Company or its committees, ownership, capital or corporate structure, dividend policy, potential acquisitions or sales, businesses or assets, including the sales thereof, strategy and/or plans of the Company as a means of enhancing shareholder value. The Cooperating Parties may change their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in Item 5 of the Early Warning Report filed by Cove Key on the date hereof. The Cooperating Parties intend to review their investment in the Company on an ongoing basis and may from time to time in the future express their views to and/or meet with management, the board of directors of the Company, other shareholders or third parties, including, potential acquirors, service providers and financing sources, and/or may formulate plans or proposals regarding the Company, its assets or its securities. Such possible plans or proposals may include one or more plans or proposals that relate to or would result in one or more of the changes referred to herein, or any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) - (k) of Item 5 of the Early Warning Report filed by Cove Key on the date hereof.
Cove Key is a Delaware limited partnership whose principal business address is 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1900, Dallas, Texas (United States of America) 75201. The principal business of Cove Key is investments.
The head office of the Company is located at 110 - 12th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2R 0G7.
This press release does not constitute a solicitation of proxies and is being filed in accordance with legal requirements under applicable Canadian securities laws. For further information and to obtain a copy of the early warning report filed by Cove Key under applicable Canadian securities laws in connection with the matters descried herein, please see the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com or please contact:
SOURCE Cove Key Bluescape Holdings LP
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The national voice of cybercrime victims, Cybercrime Support Network (CSN), is pleased to announce a new leadership sponsorship with the world's most advanced VPN service provider, NordVPN. With this sponsorship, CSN can continue to give a voice to cybercrime victims and to work toward accomplishing the organization's mission of bringing together national partners to support cybercrime victims.
The impact of an online scam or attack can be devastating, and knowing where to go for help can be confusing. Over a billion people's data was compromised in 2018, increasing the growing need for cybercrime victim support. Millions of American consumers and small businesses are affected by cybercrime each year and struggle to find resources to help report and respond to the incident. As a solution, CSN launched Phase 1 of FraudSupport.org in November 2018, as a platform to provide guidance on where to go and what to do after a cybercrime has occurred.
The corporate sponsorship of NordVPN is a natural fit with CSN's mission to help cybercrime victims not only report and recover after an incident but to learn about valuable tools that will reinforce their cybersecurity to help prevent revictimization. "As a NordVPN user myself, I reached out to them to form a partnership knowing the quality of the product," said CSN's CEO and President Kristin Judge. "For anyone who uses public Wi-Fi in a hotel, airport, coffee shop or school, protecting your data with a strong virtual private network (VPN) is a critical step to improve account security. We are thankful for NordVPN's support of CSN's work to serve cybercrime victims."
"At NordVPN we understand how important it is to leverage new digital possibilities and personal cybersecurity needs. Even if cyber-threats cannot be prevented completely, there are things people can do to make their digital life safer," says Marty P. Kamden, CMO at NordVPN. "We are thrilled to support the Cybercrime Support Network and we hope this partnership will help to elevate the conversation around digital threats and possible solutions. One of the best ways to empower people is to educate them on how they can mitigate cyber risks themselves."
About Cybercrime Support Network
Cybercrime Support Network (CSN) is a public-private, nonprofit collaboration created to be the voice of cybercrime victims. With the strong support of our sponsors, Craig Newmark Philanthropies - Google - KnowBe4 - NordVPN - AT&T - Comcast - Facebook, CSN can continue to support victims through FraudSupport.org, which provides assistance to individual and small business cybercrime victims.
For more information: cybercrimesupport.org
About NORDVPN
NordVPN is the world's most advanced VPN service provider that is more security oriented than most VPN services. It offers double VPN encryption, ad blocking & Onion Over VPN. The product is very user-friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, has over 5,000 servers worldwide and is P2P friendly. For more information: nordvpn.com.
Media Contact:
[email protected]
SOURCE Cybercrime Support Network
Related Links
https://cybercrimesupport.org/
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board Marketing and Communications Center has extended by one week its Call for Entries for the 2019 Excellence in Marketing and Communications Awards (formerly the Society for New Communications Research Excellence in New Communications Awards). Submissions now close on Friday, March 29, 2019 at 11:59pm EST. Organizations that have made innovative use of digital, social, and mobile marketing and communications technologies can now submit their case studies for consideration at www.conferenceboard.org/2019mktgcommsawards. Entrants are asked to detail their initiatives, technologies used, and success metrics.
Now in its 13th year, this prestigious awards program honors the work of corporations, nonprofits, governmental organizations, educational institutions, and media organizations that are using digital and social media, online video, data analysis, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, and other emerging technologies in innovative ways to achieve their marketing and communications goals. It was started by the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR), which merged with The Conference Board in 2016. SNCR recently retired its brand and is (including their Fellows and Advisory Board) now fully integrated into The Conference Board.
Award Divisions and Criteria
Awards are granted in six divisions: Academic, Corporate, Government, Media, Nonprofit/NGO, and Technology Innovation, and eight categories, including:
Agile Marketing
Excellence in creating a seamless, connected, comprehensive and usable customer data set, including behavioral, transactional, financial, operational, and more to achieve a complete understanding of customers for immediate, relevant and personalized actionethically and with data privacy and security compliance. The data is also being used for fast adaptation of marketing programs and/or product/service innovation.
Excellence in creating a seamless, connected, comprehensive and usable customer data set, including behavioral, transactional, financial, operational, and more to achieve a complete understanding of customers for immediate, relevant and personalized actionethically and with data privacy and security compliance. The data is also being used for fast adaptation of marketing programs and/or product/service innovation. Content Marketing
Excellence in creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to engage, attract and retain a clearly defined audience. Judges reward case studies that provide evidence of a "pull" effect that results in the generation of consumer-based content.
Excellence in creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to engage, attract and retain a clearly defined audience. Judges reward case studies that provide evidence of a "pull" effect that results in the generation of consumer-based content. Digital Advertising and Paid Social Media
Excellence in the use of paid social media and other digital advertising, including display advertising, native, online video ads, etc.
Excellence in the use of paid social media and other digital advertising, including display advertising, native, online video ads, etc. e-Commerce and Social Commerce
Excellence and innovation in the use of digital and social platforms for online sales transactions, including the use of native, experiential, AR/VR, voice, mobile, and other digital technologies to enhance the shopping experience.
Excellence and innovation in the use of digital and social platforms for online sales transactions, including the use of native, experiential, AR/VR, voice, mobile, and other digital technologies to enhance the shopping experience. Emerging Communications Technologies
Excellence in the innovative and effective use of AI, chatbots, AR, VR, smart speakers, IoT, screens in cars, smart devices and experiments with other emerging technologies for marketing, media and communications.
Excellence in the innovative and effective use of AI, chatbots, AR, VR, smart speakers, IoT, screens in cars, smart devices and experiments with other emerging technologies for marketing, media and communications. Employee Engagement: Digital Internal Communications, Online Communities & Collaboration
Excellence in internal communications and employee engagement and collaboration initiatives using social intranets, and other online employee engagement initiatives such as mobile platforms, virtual town halls, and other digital communications tools, technologies and tactics.
Excellence in internal communications and employee engagement and collaboration initiatives using social intranets, and other online employee engagement initiatives such as mobile platforms, virtual town halls, and other digital communications tools, technologies and tactics. Organic Social Media
Excellence in the use of social media and social networks to build relationships, communities, and interact with stakeholders, from prospects to customer engagement to crisis communications, relationship management, social customer care and social selling, brand building and media / analyst relations.
Excellence in the use of social media and social networks to build relationships, communities, and interact with stakeholders, from prospects to customer engagement to crisis communications, relationship management, social customer care and social selling, brand building and media / analyst relations. Video Marketing
Excellence in the use of video to build brands, engage customers, communicate how-to's, live-stream events, and deliver engaging content.
JUDGING CRITERIA
The Excellence in Marketing and Communications Awards honor projects that are successful at achieving business or societal goals. For this reason, judges will reward entries that display the following characteristics (as well as excellence in implementation within their category):
Meaningful business impact
Effective use of other program performance metrics
Contribution to achieving business/organizational goals (this includes, for relevant projects, achieving social good)
Integration of digital and traditional platforms
Efforts to overcome obstacles and take advantage of opportunities
Recognition of lessons learned
About The Conference Board
The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what's ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org.
SOURCE The Conference Board
Related Links
http://www.conference-board.org
HOUSTON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A new media campaign from FamilyTreeDNA featuring Ed Smart, the father of Elizabeth Smart, will begin airing in San Diego, California this week and expand to more cities this spring, asking the millions of Americans who have already taken a DNA test to join their effort to help victims of violent crimes, and their families, find answers.
Earlier this year, FamilyTreeDNA announced that law enforcement would use the same family matching features available to all its customers in order to help solve violent crimes. Since that time, arrests and/or identifications have been made in more than five decades-old cold cases, including the murder of 11-year-old Linda Ann O'Keefe of Newport Beach, California, and the 37-year-old San Diego mother of two young boys, Barbara Becker.
According to Bennett Greenspan, President and Founder of FamilyTreeDNA, "The genealogy community has the ability to crowd-source crime solving. With the evolution of the family matching database, which FamilyTreeDNA first created nearly two decades ago, we can do the greatest good for the greatest number of people in our society."
An independent poll conducted by the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine* found that 91% of people polled supported law enforcement's use of investigational genetic genealogy and consumer DNA databases to help solve violent crime cases.
FamilyTreeDNA's long-standing commitment to the privacy of its customers remains fully intact. As specified in FamilyTreeDNA's Terms of Service, law enforcement can only receive information not already accessible to the standard user by providing FamilyTreeDNA with valid legal process such as a subpoena or a search warrant.
Additionally, FamilyTreeDNA customers have the option to opt out of law enforcement matching entirely. If customers do opt out, they can still see their family matches but are excluded from being seen by law enforcement.
According to Greenspan, "If FamilyTreeDNA can help prevent violent crimes, save lives, or bring closure to families, then we feel the company has a moral responsibility to do so."
*https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2006906
MEDIA: "Families Want Answers" :30 Spot.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hpaowzheym5p9yf/FTDNA%20Ed%20Smart.mp4?dl=0
URL: join.familytreedna.com
ABOUT FAMILYTREEDNA AND GENE-BY-GENE
Founded in 2000, FamilyTreeDNA is the pioneer of the genetic genealogy and direct-to-consumer DNA testing industry and the top choice for consumer privacy, according to U.S. News and World. FTDNA is a privately held company located in Houston, Texas. www.familytreedna.com . Gene-by-Gene is a CAP and CLIA accredited laboratory located in Houston, Texas which processes genetic tests for commercial customers, along with consumer DNA tests for its FamilyTreeDNA division. www.genebygene.com
SOURCE FamilyTreeDNA
Related Links
http://www.familytreedna.com
PARIS, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, global leader in anti-corruption certification ETHIC Intelligence, a subsidiary of The Red Flag Group, launches its global series of three-day training workshops on the International Organization for Standardization's Anti-Bribery Management Systems standard, ISO 37001.
The workshops are designed to get compliance professionals familiar with the requirements of the ISO 37001 standard, including its implementation, the certification and audit process, and an overview of developments in corruption prevention and in the international legal framework.
Key objectives:
Learn how to plan, implement, monitor and improve the Anti-Bribery Management Systems
Interpret the requirements of ISO 37001 from an implementation perspective in the context of your organisation
Identify focus areas for the Anti-Bribery Management Systems
Recognise the threat of bribery within the context of your organization
OPTIONAL Day 3 - Learn more about ISO 37001 Certification & Audit Process
Since 2006, ETHIC Intelligence has certified companies in corruption prevention from every sector across the globe. With the publication of the ISO 37001 standard in 2016, ETHIC Intelligence is uniquely qualified to respond to the requirements of this universal standard and has been running successful global training workshops on ISO 37001 to corporate compliance staff and consultants since 2017.
The first of the 2019 workshops will take place in Paris from 27 to 29 May, and will be followed by sessions in Phoenix, New York, Dubai, London and Singapore.
Visit the ETHIC Intelligence website to learn more about the training series: https://www.ethic-intelligence.com/en/iso-training/iso-37001-training.
Contact:
Maria Girald
[email protected]
+34 673 839 491
SOURCE The Red Flag Group
Related Links
http://www.redflaggroup.com
Mr. Barrett, who will be based in London and report to Hamilton Group CEO Pina Albo, will be responsible for overseeing the integration of the Lloyd's and non-Lloyd's operations that are being acquired by Hamilton from Liberty Mutual Group. These include Pembroke Managing Agency and Ironshore Europe DAC as well as two MGAs one in the US and one in Dubai.
Mr. Barrett will also be responsible for overseeing the development of a broader insurance strategy that builds on the operations associated with the pending acquisition.
An insurance industry veteran, Mr. Barrett was recently honoured with the Vincent Donahue/Charles McAlear Industry Award presented by the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA). He began his career in 1976 and joined Bell & Clements in 1986. He was appointed the broker's Managing Director in 1989 and Chairman in 2004.
Mr. Barrett has been an active industry association participant throughout his career. He served as a board member of the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA) and participated on various National Association of Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO) committees. AAMGA and NAPLSO merged in 2017 to form WSIA.
Ms. Garber will be based in New York and report to Group CFO Jonathan Reiss. She will serve as a key member of Hamilton's finance team and will be responsible for all taxation matters including, but not limited to, developing and maintaining an overall approach for taxation efficiency and operations that support Hamilton's growth strategy. She will also be responsible for all aspects of Hamilton's global tax compliance.
Ms. Garber joins Hamilton from Validus Group where she was Tax Director of the Americas. Her 25 years' experience in the insurance and financial services sectors also includes eight years as Tax Director and Senior Vice President at Sirius Group, and three years as Vice President, Financial Guaranty Insurance Company.
Mr. O'Donohoe, who joined Hamilton in 2015, oversaw the April 2015 acquisition of Sportscover Managing Agency and Syndicate 3334 and the subsequent transformation of both into a fully functioning specialty Lloyd's player recognized in the market for its talent.
In discussions with Ms. Albo, Mr. O'Donohoe agreed to stay with the Company until the definitive agreement with Liberty Mutual was signed.
"Following the announcement earlier this month of our transformative deal with Liberty Mutual, I'm delighted to welcome Peter Barrett and Christi Garber to the Hamilton team," said Ms. Albo. "Their impressive skills and valuable experience are going to be critical as we complete our transaction and plan for the subsequent integration of the operations we're acquiring. The establishment of these two new positions are key developments in achieving our goal of establishing a leading diversified global specialty insurance and reinsurance company.
"Tempering our welcome to Peter and Christi is our regret at losing Dermot. He's been with Hamilton at Lloyd's from the beginning and has steered our agency and syndicate with a steady hand.
"We're grateful for all that he's contributed to Hamilton and wish him the very best in his future endeavours."
"It's been a great pleasure to be a part of establishing Hamilton's platform at Lloyd's," said Mr. O'Donohoe. "While I've enjoyed my time with the Company, I'm looking forward to a new challenge. I wish everyone well as they continue to build a top quartile specialty franchise at Lloyd's."
About Hamilton Insurance Group
Hamilton Insurance Group ("Hamilton") is the Bermuda-based holding company for insurance and reinsurance operations in Bermuda and at Lloyd's. Hamilton leverages analytics and research to create underwriting and investment value for its clients and shareholders. For more information, please visit www.hamiltongroup.com. Follow us on Twitter: @HamiltonInsures.
Media contact:
Wendy Davis Johnson
[email protected] or
+1 441 707 5240
SOURCE Hamilton Insurance Group
Related Links
https://www.hamiltongroup.com
SAN DIEGO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- AIIM Conference -- Fasoo, a leader in the intelligent information management market, will demonstrate how content virtualization revolutionizes information management and collaboration at the AIIM Conference being held March 26-28 in San Diego.
Fasoo's content virtualization works across a myriad of cloud, enterprise repositories, collaboration tools and personal devices to control and synchronize files so employees are free to access, work and store content anywhere. The approach ensures the latest version is always available, eliminates redundant copies, and maintains back-up and usage history for all versions. Employees no longer waste time searching for files in multiple locations with the risk of working on the wrong version. Fasoo's Wrapsody and Wrapsody eCo solutions are powered by content virtualization.
Wrapsody is an enterprise grade solution that manages and integrates all organization documents regardless of where they are located. The platform provides an integrated set of key content services including access control, sync, revision control, and back-up, all transparent to user workflows. Its intuitive user interface helps employees manage and share content more efficiently. File-level protection and traceability enable enterprises to protect their data and comply with privacy regulations.
Wrapsody eCo is a security-by-design collaboration solution that offers users the flexibility to specify the security and control for each file, from open sharing to encryption, even to granular rights such as edit and print. Users can work across collaboration portals while preserving consistent file security and traceability. Wrapsody eCo puts 3rd-party security and risk management under your control with the ability to remotely expire access to shared data at will.
Visit Fasoo at AIIM booth #41 to learn why our content virtualization powered solutions bring a new era to information management.
About Us
Fasoo provides unstructured data security and enterprise content platforms that enable our customers to protect, control, trace and analyze critical business information while enhancing productivity. Fasoo has successfully retained our leadership in the unstructured data security market by deploying enterprise-wide solutions for more than 1,500 organizations globally, securing a million+ users. Fasoo is experiencing continuous improvement in its global market position, based on our unique technology, ongoing R&D and strategic approach to comprehensive product capabilities by extending our core security capabilities into content-centric collaboration, behavioral analytics and information security consulting services. www.fasoo.com
Contact:
Gennifer Biggs
Witz Communications on behalf of Fasoo
(814) 449-2676
[email protected]
SOURCE Fasoo
Related Links
http://fasoo.com
ORLANDO, Fla., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- LSQ, an alternative funding provider to small and mid-sized businesses, announced today plans to relocate its headquarters from Maitland, Florida to Downtown Orlando. Scheduled to commence Friday, April 05, 2019, the move will relocate LSQ's 130-person staff to the second floor of Landmark Center One, located at 315 East Robinson Street.
LSQ will soon be relocating its 130-person staff to the second floor of Landmark Center Two, located in Downtown Orlando, FL.
Overlooking Orlando's famed Lake Eola and Walt Disney Amphitheater, the newly renovated space will provide more capacity and situate LSQ within Central Florida's business epicenter. The new headquarters features a collaboration-inducing atmosphere, on-site fitness center, covered parking, and a cafe serving up breakfast and lunch options.
"Our objectives for new space were room to grow, a collaborative working environment, and central location. We believe Landmark checked all of those boxes. To be in close proximity to our bank partners and the dynamic downtown environment are also tremendous benefits," said LSQ President, Dan Ambrico.
Attracting local talent and investing in the community remains a high priority for LSQ. The company regularly participates in local festivals and charity events, including the annual Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival and upcoming IOA Corporate 5k. Mr. Ambrico asserts that the new location will better serve LSQ's commitment to recruiting Central Florida's brightest professionals and recent college graduates.
"Finding and cultivating talent is critical to our success. Across our organization, the goal is to create an environment conducive to identifying and developing the deep talent pool in Central Florida. We believe a downtown location in a new and modern office will enhance our ability to attract talented individuals to LSQ."
This news comes in conjunction with the release of the company's new client dashboard and the announcement of record fundings in 2018. With recent additions to multiple departments and increasing demand for Software Engineers and Data Scientists, LSQ looks poised to offer high-quality jobs to Central Floridians for years to come.
About LSQ
LSQ has been helping small and medium-sized business access the working capital they need to grow and thrive for more than 20 years. Offering invoice financing and alternative funding options to thousands of businesses across the U.S., the company provides clients with a simple, secure, and honest funding experience. With a robust bank partner network that spans coast to coast, LSQ helps incubate businesses to meet future requirements for bank financing. For more information, visit LSQ's website at https://www.lsq.com/ .
SOURCE LSQ
Related Links
https://www.lsq.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Anti-Aging Devices Market to Reach $15.77 by 2028
The anti-aging devices market is a well-established, multi-billion dollar market consisting of a wide range of devices offering anti-aging treatments.Skin rejuvenation, body contouring, hair removal, skin tightening, and cellulite reduction are the most common types of treatment carried out by anti-aging devices.
Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05760799/?utm_source=PRN
The market mainly comprises two type of devices depending on end-user of such device type- stand-alone devices and direct-to-consumer devices.Stand-alone devices are those devices that are mainly handled by skilled professionals and used to conduct in-office skin treatment.
On the other hand, direct-to-consumer devices are user-friendly, hand-held devices that are used by the consumer directly and allows home-based treatment. These anti-aging devices are designed based on a single technology or a combination of technologies, such as laser, pulsed light, infra-red light, ultrasound and radiofrequency.
The demand for restoring younger looks by repairing aging skin has been the initial driving force towards the growth of the anti-aging devices market.The growing influx of reconstructive procedures and minimally invasive aesthetic procedures has been a key trend witnessed by the market in the past few years.
Besides, factors such as increasing awareness related to novel anti-aging devices, high demand for non-invasive skin treatments, growing incidences of premature skin aging, and rise in geriatric population, are contributing significant towards the growth of the global anti-aging devices market.On the contrary, lack of clinical data, instances of product recalls and side-effects associated with these devices are some of the challenges hampering the growth of the market.
However, technological upgradations and innovations related to anti-aging products offer lucrative opportunities favoring the growth of the market in the coming years.
The purpose of this study is to gain a holistic view of the global anti-aging devices market in terms of various influencing factors, such as recent market trends and technological advancements.The scope of this report constitutes of an in-depth study of the global anti-aging market, including a thorough analysis of the products across different regions.
The market has been segmented into 'device type', 'product type', 'target area' and 'regions'.The 'devices' segment consist of both stand-alone and direct-to-consumer devices.
The report presents the reader with an opportunity to unlock comprehensive insights with respect to the market and helps in forming well informed strategic decisions. The research uncovers some of the substantial parameters that must be taken into consideration before entering into the market.
This research report aims at answering various aspects of the global anti-aging devices market with the help of the key factors driving the market, restraints that can possibly inhibit the overall market growth, and the current growth opportunities that are going to shape the future trajectory of the market expansion.The report includes an in-depth examination of the key ecosystem players and key strategies and developments taking place in this market.
Moreover, the report includes chapters on market dynamics (market drivers, opportunities and challenges) and industry analysis as well.
The research study considers the market share analysis for a comprehensive understanding of the global anti-aging devices market, and assesses the factors governing the same.Opportunity matrix and detailed product mapping have been included in the report.
The market by region has been further sub-segmented in various countries, and in each sub-segment the key market trends, list of the key players, and the recent developments that have taken place, have been discussed.
The answers to the following key questions can be derived from this report:
What are different types of anti-aging devices available in the market and what are the benefits offered by them?
What are the advantages of non-invasive and minimally-invasive anti-aging devices and what are the different technologies they support?
What are the major market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global anti-aging devices market?
What are the key developmental strategies implemented by the key players to stand out in this market?
What are the leading companies dominating the global anti-aging devices market?
How many types of anti-aging devices available in the market, and which are the companies offering them?
Based on product type, which anti-aging device type is anticipated to witness massive rise in the demand in the forecast period?
What are investors' perceptions about the global anti-aging devices market?
What are the regulations pertaining to the global anti-aging device market? What are initiatives implemented by different government bodies regulating the development and commercialization of anti-aging devices?
What was the market value of the leading segments and sub-segments of the global anti-aging devices market?
How will each segment of the global anti-aging device market grow during the forecast period, and what will be the revenue generated by each of the segments by the end of 2028?
How will the industry evolve during the forecast period 2018-2028?
Which region will contribute to the highest sales of the global anti-aging devices market during the forecast period?
What are the leading trends and consumer preferences witnessed in global anti-aging devices markets?
The key players who have significant contributions to the global anti-aging devices market include Allergan plc, Cutera Inc., El.En. S.p.A, Koninklijke Philips N.V., L'Oreal S.A., Spectrum Brands Holding, The Procter & Gamble Company, Alma Lasers GmbH, Cynosure, Inc., Home Skinovation Ltd., INMODE, Lumenis Ltd., Merz Aesthetics, Neutrogena, NuFACE, PMD Beauty, Quasar Biotech, Sciton, Inc., Solta Medical, and Tria Beauty Inc., among others.
Executive Summary
Aging is a complex process of becoming older that is associated with several biological, physical, psychological, and social changes in human beings over time.Broadly there are two factors that act simultaneously in the process of aging- intrinsic and extrinsic.
Intrinsic factors are genetically and physiologically determined factors that cannot be controlled and results in natural aging.On the other hand, extrinsic factors are those that are governed by a number of environment and lifestyle aspects, such as smoking, sleep deprivation, exposure to harmful radiation, and air pollution, among others.
Unlike chronological (natural) aging, extrinsic aging affects different individual at different levels.Some individual may age comfortably, while others may age progressively, expressing the early signs of aging.
Human aging is usually accompanied by changes in the physical appearance of an individual that becomes more prominent on the outer layer of the skin. Aging of skin is a genetically determined process that affects all the layers of the skin. Fine line, wrinkles, folds, loss of skin elasticity, and growth of facial hairs are some of the common signs of aging that results due to dermal disorganization, atrophy of dermal and epidermal components, and loss of the dermo-epidermal papillae of the skin.
Anti-aging device refer an electronic or mechanical device that aims to the prevent, diminish or reduce the signs of aging.These devices mainly target the skin and offer vast range of anti-aging applications including skin rejuvenation, body contouring, hair removal, skin tightening and cellulite reduction.
Currently, there are several anti-aging devices available in the market that are either stand-stand devices (designed for providing in-office treatments) or direct-to-consumer devices (user-friendly devices that are used directly by the consumers). These devices are designed based on a single technology or a combination of more than one technology. Some common examples of anti-aging devices include laser devices, pulsed light devices, ultrasound devices, exfoliation devices, and radiofrequency devices.
The purpose of the study is to gain a holistic view of the global anti-aging devices market in terms of various factors influencing it such as recent trends and technological advancements of the market.The scope of this report is centered upon conducting a detailed study of the devices allied with anti-aging applications including skin rejuvenation, hair removal, body contouring, skin tightening, and cellulite reduction.
The global anti-aging devices market is segmented into four different parts: by device type, by product type, by target area, and by region.The global market value was estimated using these three different approaches and was validated with one another.
These segments are further segmented into several sub-segments to ease the market estimation.
The global anti-aging market was estimated at $6.37 billion in 2017 and is anticipated to reach $15.77 billion by 2028. Among the different anti-aging device products available in the market, laser devices contributed to highest market share of the global anti-aging devices market in 2017. However, based on product type, cryotherapy devices are expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period between 2018 and 2028. High public as well as clinical acceptance of cryotherapy treatment in addition to the benefits offered by it attribute to the highest CAGR displayed by the cryotherapy market. Based on device type, stand-alone devices occupied higher market share in 2017 as compared to direct-to-consumer devices, whereas direct-to-consumer devices demonstrated the potential to register higher growth rate than stand-alone anti-aging devices. Based on target area, skin rejuvenation registered the highest market share in 2017.
The global anti-aging devices market is further segmented by the geographical regions into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin-America and Middle-East and Africa.North America is the leading contributor to the global anti-aging devices market with a contribution of almost 40% of the total market share in 2017.
However, several emerging countries of Asia-Pacific and Latin America displayed high potential to witness robust growth rate during the period. The global anti-aging devices market is majorly dominated by the U.S. and Chinese players. Based in Dublin (Ireland), Allergan plc offering the "CoolSculpting System" was the leading player of the market in 2017.
The key players who have significant contributions to the global anti-aging devices market include Allergan plc, Cutera Inc., El.En. S.p.A, Koninklijke Philips N.V., L'Oreal S.A., Spectrum Brands Holding, The Procter & Gamble Company, Alma Lasers GmbH, Cynosure, Inc., Home Skinovation Ltd., INMODE, Lumenis Ltd., Merz Aesthetics, Neutrogena, NuFACE, PMD Beauty, Quasar Biotech, Sciton, Inc., Solta Medical, and Tria Beauty Inc., among others.
Countries Covered
North America
The U.S.
Canada
Asia-Pacific
Japan
China
South Korea
Australia
India
Thailand
Indonesia
Philippines
Malaysia
Singapore
Rest-of-Asia Pacific
Europe
Germany
France
The U.K.
Italy
Spain
Netherlands
Poland
Belgium
Sweden
Denmark
Rest-of-Europe
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Argentina
Rest-of-Latin America
Middle East and Africa
Saudi Arabia
U.A.E
Egypt
Rest-of-Middle East and Africa
Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05760799/?utm_source=PRN
About Reportlinker
ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.
__________________________
Contact Clare: [email protected]
US: (339)-368-6001
Intl: +1 339-368-6001
SOURCE Reportlinker
Related Links
http://www.reportlinker.com
DUBLIN, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Structural Insulated Panels Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The global structural insulated panel market is expected to register healthy growth, by 2024, at an estimated CAGR of 6.13% over 2019-2024.
The major factors driving the market studied are the increasing demand from the construction sector and increasing cold storage applications. Advancements in building technologies such as modular construction techniques are expected to hinder the growth of the market studied.
In 2018, the building wall segment is expected to dominate the market and expand at the fastest CAGR of 6.39% during the forecast period. This is due to the robust demand from the residential sector.
In 2017, North America dominated the market, holding a share of almost 37%, and is expected to register a CAGR of 6.21% during the forecast period. This growth is primarily due to rising construction activities in Canada and Mexico.
Key Market Trends
Increasing Demand for Building Walls
Structural insulated wall panels are generally available in thicknesses of 4-1/2 inches and 6-1/2 inches. Manufacturing of curved wall panels are possible and it is often more practical to use stud framing for non-orthogonal geometries.
The whole wall R-value of a wall assembly is currently the best and the most followed method of quantifying the total thermal performance. The whole wall R-value takes the resistance of heat flown through an opaque cross-sectional area of the insulation and structure into the account while the total loss of energy at the interfaces of the wall with the roof and floor are accounted.
The whole wall R-value of a 4-inch structural insulated wall panel is 14, whereas for a 2x4 wall is less than 10. The whole wall R-value of a 2x6 wall is between 11 and 13.7 depending on the quality of the installation of batt insulation.
The elimination of thermal bridging and a more airtight envelope contributes to the higher whole wall R-value of structural insulated wall panels, compared to the conventional metal and wood stud walls.
The total volume of the panels used as structural insulated wall panels is much higher, compared to the volume of the panels used as structural insulated roof panels.
North America Region to Dominate the Market
North America region dominated the global market share in 2017. The construction industry in the United States has not been the same in 2017 as it was in the past three years. An increase has been observed in private construction spending over the years. The residential and non-residential construction in 2017 has increased significantly compared to the previous years and is likely to grow in 2018.
Competitive Landscape
The global structural insulated panels market is a highly fragmented market with no major player accounting for a prominent share in the global market.
Most of the market leaders are forward integrated, i.e., they produce structural insulated panels along with providing installations and maintenance services.
Premier Building Systems is the leading manufacturer of structural insulated panels in the North America region.
Topics Covered
1 Introduction
1.1 Study Deliverables
1.2 Study Assumptions
1.3 Scope of the Study
2 Research Methodology
3 Executive Summary
4 Market Dynamics
4.1 Drivers
4.1.1 Increasing Demand from the Construction Sector
4.1.2 Increasing Cold Storage Applications
4.2 Restraints
4.2.1 Advancements in Building Technologies such as Modular Construction Techniques
4.3 Industry Value-Chain Analysis
4.4 Porters 5 Force Analysis
5 Market Segmentation
5.1 Product
5.1.1 EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) Panel
5.1.2 Rigid Polyurethane (PUR) and Rigid Polyisocyanurate (PIR) Panel
5.1.3 Glass Wool Panel
5.1.4 Other Products (Extruded Polystyrene Foam)
5.2 Application
5.2.1 Building Wall
5.2.2 Building Roof
5.2.3 Cold Storage
5.3 Geography
5.3.1 Asia-Pacific
5.3.2 North America
5.3.3 Europe
5.3.4 South America
5.3.5 Middle East & Africa
6 Competitive Landscape
6.1 Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations and Agreements
6.2 Market Share Analysis
6.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players
6.4 Company Profiles
6.4.1 Alubel SpA
6.4.2 ArcelorMittal
6.4.3 BALEX-METAL
6.4.4 DANA Group of Companies
6.4.5 Isopan (Manni Group SpA)
6.4.6 Italpannelli SRL
6.4.7 Jiangsu Jingxue Insulation Technology Co. Ltd.
6.4.8 Kingspan Group
6.4.9 Marcegaglia SpA
6.4.10 Metecno
6.4.11 Multicolor Steels (India) Pvt. Ltd.
6.4.12 NCI Building Systems
6.4.13 Nucor Building Systems
6.4.14 Owens Corning
6.4.15 PFB Corporation
6.4.16 Premier Building Systems
6.4.17 Rautaruukki Corporation
6.4.18 Tata Steel Europe Limited
6.4.19 Zamil Steel Pre-Engineered Buildings Co. Ltd.
7 Market Opportunities and Future Trends
7.1 Increase in Demand from Emerging Economies
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fmkhzz/global_structural?w=5
Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Media Contact:
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
[email protected]
For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470
For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
SOURCE Research and Markets
Related Links
http://www.researchandmarkets.com
SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP alerts investors in Bridgepoint Education Inc. (NYSE: BPI) of the May 10, 2019 Lead Plaintiff deadline in the pending securities class action. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Bridgepoint Education securities between March 8, 2016 and March 7, 2019 and suffered losses contact Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP. For more information about the case or to inquire about serving as Lead Plaintiff click
https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/BPI
or contact Reed Kathrein, who is leading the firm's investigation, by calling 510-725-3000 or emailing
[email protected].
According to the complaint, during the class period Defendants misled investors concerning Bridgepoint's revenue and expense recognition practices.
On March 7, 2019, Defendants announced investors should no longer rely on the Company's consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and disclosed "the Company identified errors, relating to revenue, provision for bad debts, accounts receivable and deferred revenue, which resulted in the overstatement of revenue and expenses."
This news drove the price of Bridgepoint Education shares down $3.21, or down over 34%, to close at $6.22 that day.
On March 12, 2019, Defendants filed Bridgepoint's amended financial statements for the periods containing restatements of balance sheet and income statement data.
"We're focused on investors' losses, admitted improper accounting, whether the so-called "errors" were in fact "irregularities," and the extent to which Defendants may have misled investors," said Hagens Berman partner Reed Kathrein.
Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Bridgepoint Education should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 510-725-3000 or email [email protected].
About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a national investor-rights law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington with 78 attorneys in 9 offices across the country. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .
Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 510-725-3000
SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
Related Links
https://www.hbsslaw.com
Aviation Leaders Set to Transform Seaplanes into ePlanes a Zero-Emission Aircraft for the Future
REDMOND, Wash. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution, and Harbour Air, North America's largest seaplane airline, today announced a partnership to transform Harbour Air seaplanes into an all-electric commercial fleet powered by the magni500, a 750 horsepower (HP) all-electric motor.
Operating 12 routes between hubs like Seattle and Vancouver and across the pristine natural wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, Harbour Air welcomes more than 500,000 passengers on 30,000 commercial flights each year. Through this partnership, both companies are furthering the vision to someday connect communities with clean, efficient and affordable electric air travel.
"Harbour Air first demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by becoming the first fully carbon-neutral airline in North America in 2007, through the purchase of carbon offsets," said Greg McDougall, founder and CEO of Harbour Air Seaplanes. "Through our commitment to making a positive impact on people's lives, the communities where we operate and the environment, we are once again pushing the boundaries of aviation by becoming the first commercial aircraft to be powered by electric propulsion. We are excited to bring commercial electric aviation to the Pacific Northwest, turning our seaplanes into ePlanes."
The aviation industry currently contributes 12 percent of all U.S. carbon emissions and 4.9 percent globally, all while providing few low-cost, fuel-efficient options for passenger flights under 1,000 miles. By modifying existing Harbour Air planes with innovative, all-electric magniX propulsion systems, the partnership will create the world's first completely electric commercial seaplane fleet. A Harbour Air ePlane will have zero reliance on fossil fuels and produce zero emissions a significant step forward in the innovation and advancement of the airline industry.
"In 2018, 75 percent of worldwide airline flights were 1,000 miles or less in range. With magniX's new propulsion systems coupled with emerging battery capabilities, we see tremendous potential for electric aviation to transform this heavily trafficked 'middle mile' range," said Roei Ganzarski, CEO of magniX. "We're excited to partner with Harbour Air, a forward thinking, like-minded company that is dedicated to bringing environmentally conscious, cost effective air-transport solutions to the West Coast of North America. This partnership will set the standard for the future of commercial aviation operators."
The first aircraft to be converted will be the DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver, a six-passenger commercial aircraft used across Harbour Air's route network. Harbour Air and magniX expect to conduct first flight tests of the all-electric aircraft in late 2019.
This partnership follows significant milestones for both companies, including the successful testing of magniX's 350 HP all-electric motor and the addition of a Vancouver to Seattle route in Harbour Air's destination roster.
To learn more, visit magniX and Harbour Air.
About magniX
Headquartered in Redmond, WA with engineering facilities in Redmond and in Australia, magniX is dedicated to connecting communities by enabling an era of clean and affordable commercial air travel with all-electric propulsion. Developed with proprietary technology, magniX offers a range of revolutionary solutions including the 375HP and 750HP all-electric motors which produce zero emissions and increased efficiency and power electronics solutions for various aviation applications. For more information, please visit: www.magnix.aero.
About Harbour Air
Founded in 1982 with two small seaplanes, Harbour Air is North America's largest seaplane airline and the first to be fully carbon-neutral. The company's international seaplane service, which originally began as a service for the forestry industry in B.C., is now a quintessential west coast experience. With a showcase fleet of more than 40 aircraft, Harbour Air offers up to 300 daily scheduled flights, scenic tours, adventure packages, and private flights. With 12 scheduled destinations connecting downtown Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle (WA), Nanaimo, Tofino, Whistler, Richmond (YVR South), Sechelt, Salt Spring Island, Pitt Meadows, Maple Bay and Comox, B.C. born Harbour Air welcomes 500,000 passengers every year. For more information, visit www.harbourair.com.
Media Contacts:
Barokas Communications for magniX
[email protected]
Samantha Kent
Marketing Manager, Harbour Air Group
[email protected]
SOURCE magniX
Related Links
http://www.magnix.aero
LONDON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Countries that are considering and recommending food donation policies will soon have a valuable resource. Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) and The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) announced today at the Food Bank Leadership Institute in London that, together with the support of the Walmart Foundation, they have partnered to develop the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas, a two-year project that will map the laws and policies affecting food donation in 15 countries.
According to the United Nations, more than enough food is produced to feed every person in the world, yet an estimated 821 million people globally suffer from hunger. While millions of people go without adequate food, one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. Because food is heavily regulated, and food safety laws can pose barriers to the creation of food donation programs in many countries, redirecting safe, surplus food can be difficult and complicated.
The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas will help in-country partners by providing research that will help them understand national laws relating to food, compare laws across countries and regions, analyze donation barriers, and share best practices and recommendations. In addition to written legal guides to food donation and policy considerations for each country, the Global Food Donation and Policy Atlas will outline its findings with a website and interactive map presenting countries' food donation laws.
"In the U.S., our work has uncovered unclear or confusing laws that lead to unnecessary food waste. Businesses throw food away because they do not know what safety rules apply to donations, or because they cannot access tax credits to cover the cost of transporting such food," said Emily Broad Leib, Director of the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic. "We are thrilled to collaborate with The Global FoodBanking Network and in-country partners to examine these issues in a range of countries, aiming to reduce barriers, learn best practices and build more thoughtful policies to get food to those in need."
FLPC and GFN will assess food donation laws and policies in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Mexico and the United States in the project's first year. An additional 10 countries will be incorporated in the second year. The project team will collaborate with local not-for-profit organizations, businesses, policymakers, government officials, and academics in designing and developing the atlas.
"Through the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas business, community and government leaders will access comprehensive and global information on food donation policy all in one place," said Lisa Moon, GFN President and Chief Executive Officer. "GFN is excited to partner with Harvard Law School's Food Law and Policy Clinic in developing this important resource, and we thank the Walmart Foundation for their support for the project."
The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas will benefit from FLPC's leadership in researching, evaluating and documenting food donation laws and policy at all levels of government in the United States, as well as GFN's work in launching and strengthening food banks in more than 30 countries. Food banking is a unique model that provides hunger relief to more than 60 million people globally by saving surplus food and redirecting it to social service organizations that feed the needy. It's a successful model that has been replicated and tailored to different countries and communities.
"Drawing on Walmart's local presence, logistics expertise, and associate passion, around the world we donate millions of pounds of food and our associates volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours toward hunger relief," said Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation. "Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are also committed to help innovate and strengthen the charitable system through philanthropy, extending the reach of hunger relief programs. The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas is a key part of this strategy and we're proud to be involved in the project."
About the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic
The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) serves partner organizations and communities by providing guidance on cutting-edge food system issues while engaging law students in the practice of food law and policy. FLPC focuses on increasing access to healthy foods, supporting sustainable production and regional food systems, and reducing waste of healthy, wholesome food.
About The Global FoodBanking Network
The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is an international non-profit organization based in Chicago that nourishes the world's hungry through launching and strengthening food banks in 30 countries. GFN focuses on combating hunger and preventing food waste by providing expertise, directing resources, sharing knowledge and developing connections that increase efficiency, ensure food safety and reach more people facing hunger. Last year, GFN member food banks rescued and redirected food to more than 9 million people facing hunger.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. Walmart has stores in 27 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Our philanthropy helps people live better by supporting upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where Walmart operates and inspiring our associates to give back.
To learn more about Walmart's giving, visit http://giving.walmart.com/foundation
SOURCE The Global FoodBanking Network; Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic
Related Links
https://www.chlpi.org/food-law-and-policy
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HGGC, a leading technology-focused private equity firm, today announced several promotions and new hires in the wake of receiving a strategic investment from Dyal Capital Partners. These moves recognize contributions from current team members and enhance talent across the firm as it continues to build its portfolio and execute its successful 'Advantaged Investing' strategy.
"Steve Young and I are excited to have five team members join us in the partnership group of HGGC," said Rich Lawson, Chairman, CEO and co-founder of the firm. "Les, John, Steven, Harv and Lance have taken strong leadership roles within our firm to drive the success of our model of true partnership among our portfolio companies, our global investors and our team."
The HGGC team members promoted to Partner include:
Les Brown joined HGGC in 2007 and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for HGGC's Fund III investment in Nutraceutical International Corporation. He was previously a member of the Board of Directors for HGGC's Fund II investment in Dynata, and the exited investments in Serena Software and hybris Software.
John Block joined HGGC in 2010 and is active in the firm's Fund III investment in Mi9 and HelpSystems, Fund II investments in Aventri, Davies Group, Integrity, FPX and Pearl, as well as Fund I investment in Innovative and MyWebGrocer. He previously was involved with the firm's exited investments in Citadel, Hollander and hybris Software.
Steven Leistner joined HGGC in 2009 and is active in the firm's Fund III investments in Nutraceutical International Corporation and Denodo, Fund II investments in Selligent and Dynata, as well as Fund I investment in iQor. He previously was involved with the firm's exited investments in Serena Software, Power Holdings, MaMa Rosa's and Sunquest Information Systems.
Harv Barenz joined HGGC in 2008 and leads HGGC's business development efforts globally and focuses primarily on sourcing new platform investments and assisting portfolio companies with add-on acquisitions. Harv is also responsible for developing and managing the firm's intermediary relationships and plays an integral role in the HGGC ecosystem.
Lance Taylor joined HGGC in 2014 and serves as the Chief Financial Officer of HGGC overseeing the Firm's finance and accounting operations. Prior to joining HGGC, Lance was Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at Calera Capital.
"Rich and I are incredibly proud of the talented team here at HGGC," said Steve Young, President and co-founder of HGGC. "Not only are these professionals smart and hard-working, they also continue to learn and grow to the benefit of our firm, our portfolio companies and our investors. We are happy to recognize their contributions, and to welcome five new additions to the team."
Kurt Krieger joined HGGC in 2008 and has been promoted from General Counsel to Chief Legal Officer. Kurt serves as the Corporate Secretary of the firm's portfolio holding companies and fund entities. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of HGGC's affiliated private foundation. In addition, he serves or has served on the boards of various HGGC portfolio companies.
Jay Tabu joined HGGC in 2010 and has been promoted from Vice President to Principal. Prior to joining HGGC, Jay was the Manager of Information Technology at Mayfield Fund, a venture capital firm in Menlo Park, California.
Chris Schulze joined HGGC in 2016 and has been promoted from Senior Associate to Vice President. Prior to HGGC, Chris was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, where he advised clients primarily in the technology, consumer and retails sectors.
Peter Cozzi joined HGGC in 2017 and has been promoted from Associate to Senior Associate. Prior to joining HGGC, Peter was an Investment Banking Analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he focused on leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions and debt offerings.
Neha Vaidya joined HGGC in 2017 and has been promoted from Associate to Senior Associate. Prior to joining HGGC, Neha was an Investment Banking Analyst at Evercore, where she worked on mergers and acquisitions, activism defense and IPOs.
New additions to HGGC include:
Greg Caltabiano and Lindsay Sparks join HGGC as Executive Directors who will work directly in support of HGGC's portfolio companies.
Lindsay Sparks is a seasoned Senior Executive who has extensive experience building and running a diverse set of businesses. As a former Officer of Microsoft Corporation and a multi-time founder and CEO, Lindsay has extensive experience scaling and guiding businesses to industry leading returns. Lindsay also sits on a number of boards and provides strategic guidance to large investment firms and selected companies.
Greg Caltabiano has deep knowledge of the technology ecosystem and over 30 years of operating experience in the US, China, Japan, Korea, and Europe. Previously, he was President and CEO of Teknovus, which was acquired by Broadcom, President and CEO of ACCO, and President and COO of SOMA Networks. Greg holds an MBA from Stanford University and a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University, where he graduated with highest honors and Phi Beta Kappa.
Mo Gulamhusein, Vice President, joins following his graduation from Harvard's MBA program and a 2018 summer internship at HGGC. Prior to business school, he spent 3 years in the direct private equity group of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and 2 years in investment banking at CIBC World Markets. Gulamhusein graduated from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
Holland Reynolds, Investment Associate, joins from Cambridge Associates where she worked as an investment analyst and investment associate focused on U.S. Private Equity. Reynolds earned Bachelor's Degrees in Spanish and Art History from Colgate University.
Chandni Shah, Fund Accountant in the Operations Team, joins from CITCO Fund Services where she held the same position. Prior to Citco, she was a Fund Analyst at Northern Trust. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois At Chicago.
About HGGC
HGGC is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused on technology investments with $4.3 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., HGGC is distinguished by its "Advantaged Investing" approach that enables the firm to source and acquire scalable businesses at attractive multiples through partnerships with management teams, founders and sponsors who reinvest alongside HGGC, creating a strong alignment of interests. Over its history, HGGC has completed more than 120 platform investments, add-on acquisitions, recapitalizations and liquidity events with an aggregate transaction value of nearly $20 billion. More information is available at www.hggc.com.
SOURCE HGGC
Related Links
https://www.hggc.com
"The new packaging allowed us to get into prominent, luxury stores," Bernardo said. "Our new look is attracting customers and retailers, and has transformed our brand."
The team at Hippo created a clean, fresh look for Canna Bath products by developing beautiful new packaging, featuring a new logo, specially selected pastel colors, and carefully applied metallic inks and foils.
Most importantly, the new packaging has helped generate a significant increase in sales for Canna Bath.
"Our sales of bath salts and bombs have doubled since we rolled out the new packaging," Bernardo said. "We are so gratefully to the Hippo team!"
Kary Radestock, Co-Founder and CEO of Hippo Premium Packaging, said she loved the collaboration with Canna Bath Co.
"Jessica told us that she wanted her packaging to pop," Radestock commented. "It was a fun process bringing her new brand to life and getting creative with the decorating treatments," she added. "It is especially gratifying that the new packaging is helping Canna Bath get into prominent new retail chains, as well as stimulating a terrific increase in sales."
Hippo Premium Packaging, which recently won a PAC Global Leadership Award for excellence in packaging, recently celebrated its 3rd anniversary.
"We have grown so much in the past 3-years, that it is a bit astonishing," Radestock said. "We not only have won prestigious awards for our work, but have also become experts in compliance, and a trusted resource for our clients," she added. "We are proud that we can provide superb branding and packaging solutions, as well as help guide our clients through the maze of rapidly evolving regulations that govern this industry."
For information on Hippo Premium Packaging, call: 619-269-0939, or visit: www.hippopackaging.com.
For information on Canna Bath, visit: www.cannabathco.com
Connect:
Facebook: facebook.com/hippopackaging
Twitter: @HippoPackaging
Instagram: instagram.com/hippopackaging
Pinterest: pinterest.com/hippopackaging
YouTube: youtu.be/DMC5D5dLW-4
Website: www.hippopackaging.com
SOURCE Hippo Premium Packaging
Related Links
http://hippopackaging.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarity Benefit Solutions, one of the leading HSA Companies, advises on attracting and retaining younger workers.
It may come as a surprise to many that millennials currently comprise the largest share of this country's workforce. These 18- to 35- year old workers now make up the largest share of the workforce Attracting and retaining them requires a vastly different approach than with other generations. The following are tips to recruit this younger generation as well as those who come after.
Promote a flourishing corporate climate. It is vital to offer a nontraditional working experience to the younger generation, as they are not interested in being a part of a typical office environment with a time clock and cubicles. They want to feel as if they belong to a community. As such, progressive employers will offer amenities such as nontraditional workspaces, team-building events, and off-site meetings that foster creative thinking and productive relationships.
Offer an amazing benefits program. The younger workforce wants the ultimate in benefits. While health insurance, raises, and bonuses are important, flex time is top-of-mind. The younger generation wants to not only have the ability to work from home, they want to be able to have additional time off. And, although they may be young, they are already thinking about retirement options.
Foster a mentorship program. While a traditional workplace mentor, where an older colleague teaches a younger colleague, isn't a new concept, millennials and their peers want to give back and provide feedback to their mentors.
Utilize modern recruitment methods. Employers who want to reach new talent should look beyond newspaper ads and word-of-mouth, such as a strong digital presence, a relationship with college career centers, and websites like LinkedIn.
Provide health and fitness initiatives. There is a multitude of offerings employers can offer the younger generation to attract and retain them. Paid gym memberships, a lunchtime yoga session, healthy lunch items, and entrance to activity- and sporting-related events are just a few examples.
Ease financial worries. Younger generation workers seek security and stability, especially in light of the financial struggles their parents experienced while they were growing up. Offer financial education webinars and workshops to provide them with peace of mind, which will reduce any stress they may be experiencing.
About Clarity Benefit Solutions: Clarity Benefit Solutions HSA Administration provides technology that makes the health insurance plan selection process fast, easy, and straightforward. For over two decades, we have provided clients with industry-leading technology, compliance, and exceptional customer service. Our offering is designed to save time and lower the costs of managing benefits while also promoting employee self-service and automated ACA compliance.
SOURCE Clarity Benefit Solutions
Related Links
http://claritybenefitsolutions.com
AUSTIN, Texas, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyalose, LLC, a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel hyaluronic acid (HA) technologies, announced today that it has selected Echelon Biosciences, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah, to serve as the new, sole distributor of its Select-HA products. Echelon Biosciences, a leading supplier in novel biochemical reagents, assays, and screening services, will sell Select-HA products directly from its website and through distributors worldwide.
Unlike any other HA polymers available today, the Hyalose Select-HA products have very narrow size distribution ranges and discrete molecular weight ranges allowing researchers to study the physical and biological properties of defined HA compounds. Effective immediately, customers may purchase the size-defined HA standards and products at the Echelon Biosciences website. Initially, the companies will offer a variety of Select-HA products including Hi-Ladder and Lo-Ladder products, in addition to further expanded HA product offerings.
W. Tim Miller, CEO and President, stated that, "Echelon Biosciences is pleased to join with Hyalose to again make these products available to HA researchers and product developers throughout the world. Echelon already has an existing and strong presence in the field with unique HA & Hyaluronidase assays and fluorescent analogs." For more information about Select-HA products visit: www.Echelon-HA.com.
About Hyalose
Hyalose was founded in 2000 to address the commercial and research need for the supply of hyaluronic acid products. Its unique and proprietary synthetic hyaluronic acid technologies were developed by Chief Scientist, Dr. Paul DeAngelis at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Hyalose is a portfolio company formed and managed by Emergent Technologies, Inc.
About Emergent Technologies
Emergent Technologies, Inc. is an innovation solutions and technology commercialization leader headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information visit www.etibio.com.
About Echelon Biosciences
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Echelon Biosciences, was established in 1997 to supply synthetic lipid reagents for R&D. Since then, Echelon has successfully grown in scale and scope to include custom chemistry, peptides, and assays with over 700 catalog items in the fields of cell signaling, extracellular matrix, cancer drug discovery, and disease biomarkers. For more information visit www.echelon-inc.com.
About OU College of Medicine
Founded in 1910, the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine trains the next generation of healthcare professionals. With campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the College of Medicine offers the state's only Doctor of Medicine degree program and a nationally competitive Physician Assistant program. For more information, visit oumedicine.com/collegeofmedicine .
Media Contact:
Cameron Mackie
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (512) 697-8224
SOURCE Emergent Technologies, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.etibio.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Welton Investment Partners today announced the hiring of Basil Williams as President, a new position. Williams joins Welton's senior leadership in managing the overall business, including oversight of the firm's investment products, operations, and expansion initiatives. Based in New York City, Mr. Williams will report to Dr. Patrick Welton, CEO and CIO.
Williams brings deep general management experience as a 30+ year industry leader, both as an investment manager and allocator. He is a proven investor in alternative strategies having traded a broad suite of relative value strategies during his 20 years at Concordia Advisors. Moreover, he brings C-suite experience having built and led hedge fund businesses at Concordia and Mariner Investment Group. Most recently he was the Head of Portfolio Management at PAAMCO, one of the largest alternative allocators and emerging manager investors.
"Basil is a tremendous addition to our team. His broad leadership expertise and strong track record as an investor will directly enhance our capabilities and catalyze initiatives to broaden our global client partnerships," said Patrick Welton.
"I am very excited to join Welton because their expertise is in high demand from investors. Over the last several years they have built a first-rate institutional framework, integrated systems, and broadened their investment talent. Their goal of delivering absolute returns with a low correlation to the equity and credit markets aligns perfectly with my own background. The happiest and most rewarding times of my career were when I was facilitating growth, and I see a similar opportunity now," said Williams.
Welton Investment Partners is a privately-owned, alternative asset management firm co-founded by Dr. Patrick Welton to provide investors long-term capital appreciation with no correlation to overall asset markets. Welton is a pioneer in advancing quantitative investment techniques. The firm manages approximately $1B in assets for institutional and private investors across four distinct product offerings with offices in New York and California. https://www.welton.com
SOURCE Welton Investment Partners
Related Links
https://www.welton.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson Vision today announced that results from two Phase 3 clinical studies evaluating the company's investigational antihistamine-releasing contact lens (etafilcon A with 0.019 mg ketotifen) were published in the journal Cornea. The results demonstrated that patients wearing the investigational contact lens had lower mean itching scores after their eyes were exposed to allergens compared to those wearing non-medicated control lenses, indicating that in these studies, the lenses reduced symptoms of eye itch.
Click to Tweet: @JNJVision announces Phase 3 data published on its investigational antihistamine-releasing contact lens in patients with #allergy eyes https://bit.ly/2HIXDzY
"These Phase 3 study results are important on multiple fronts. Contact lens wearers who historically suffer from itchy, allergy eyes had meaningful reductions in itching across two randomized, well-controlled studies," said Brian Pall, OD, MS, FAAO, Director, Clinical Science, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. and lead author of the manuscript. "There was both a clinically and statistically significant reduction in ocular itching that occurred 15 minutes after lens insertion and lasted for the 12-hour study evaluation period. This marks the first time that contact lens technology has shown potential in a large-scale study to address itch stemming from ocular allergies."
According to the Cornea publication, more than 20 percent of the U.S. population experience ocular allergy, or itchy eyes, when exposed to allergens such as tree or grass pollen, pet dander or dust. The condition has a similar prevalence worldwide and can have a significant impact on productivity and quality of life.1,2,3,4,5,6
"At Johnson & Johnson Vision, we are committed to pioneering new technologies that both correct people's vision and also have potential to address other lifestyle or medical needs they may have," said Xiao-Yu Song, PhD, MD, Global Head of Research and Development, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. "It is encouraging to see this large-scale assessment that indicates the potential of a contact lens-based drug delivery system which, in the future, could represent an entirely new category of contact lenses. We will continue development of this contact lens technology and are committed to making regulatory submissions for this antihistamine-releasing contact lens as we move forward."
Study Design and Results
The antihistamine-releasing contact lenses worn in the studies are daily disposable lenses containing ketotifen, a drug that inhibits certain substances in the body that are known to cause allergic reactions and inflammation. They were tested in two multicenter, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled trials that included 244 patients and used the conjunctival allergen challenge model (Ora-CAC) to measure efficacy.
After the initial screening visits, patients were randomized by eye to receive either the antihistamine-releasing lens or the placebo control lens. The lenses were then worn for either 15 minutes or 12 hours depending on the study visit. After the prescribed wearing time, allergens were dosed into the eyes wearing the contact lenses and the patients reported the severity of their itching symptoms using a 0-4 scale (where 0 equals no itch and 4 equals an incapacitating itch with an irresistible urge to rub).
The primary study endpoint was comparisons of reported itching scores between the two lens types. Across both studies, the patients who wore the antihistamine-releasing contact lenses experienced both a clinically and statistically significant (p< 0.001) reduction in the average eye itch symptom at both time point evaluations (15 minutes and 12 hours) as compared to those receiving control lenses in the study.
Secondary endpoints in the trials evaluated the reduction in eye redness (ciliary, conjunctival and episcleral vessel beds) while wearing the antihistamine-releasing lens. The antihistamine-releasing lenses did not demonstrate a clinically significant reduction in eye redness.
In the studies, both the antihistamine-releasing contact lenses and control lenses demonstrated a low rate of ocular adverse events (4.9% overall) with the majority being mild and not considered study related. The most commonly reported adverse events associated with the antihistamine-releasing lenses were stinging upon insertion (1.7%) and temporary pupil enlargement (2.1%). The stinging upon insertion was generally classified as mild and there were no discontinuations from study treatment based on these or any other ocular adverse events.
Johnson & Johnson Vision
At Johnson & Johnson Vision, part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies*, we have a bold ambition: to change the trajectory of eye health around the world. Through our operating companies, we deliver innovation that enables eye care professionals to create better outcomes for patients throughout their lives, with products and technologies that address unmet needs including refractive error, cataracts and dry eye. In communities with greatest need, we work in collaboration to expand access to quality eye care, and we are committed to helping people see better, connect better and live better. Visit us at www.jjvision.com. Follow @JNJVision on Twitter and Johnson & Johnson Vision on LinkedIn.
About Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies
As the world's most comprehensive medical devices business, we are building on a century of experience, merging science and technology, to shape the future of health and benefit even more people around the world. With our unparalleled breadth, depth and reach across surgery, orthopaedics, vision and interventional solutions, we're working to profoundly change the way care is delivered. We are in this for life.
*Comprising the surgery, orthopaedics, vision and interventional businesses within the Johnson & Johnson's Medical Devices segment
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding data on an investigational antihistamine-releasing contact lens. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., any of the other Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: uncertainty of regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; challenges to patents; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; manufacturing difficulties and delays; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, or Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.
1 Rosario N, Bieolory L. Epidemiology of allergic conjunctivitis. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011; 11: 471-6.
2 Blaiss MS. Allergic rhino-conjunctivitis: burden of disease. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2007; 28:393-7.
3 Gomes PJ. Trends in prevalence and treatment of ocular allergy. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014; 14: 451-6.
4 Bielory L, Friedlaender MH. Allergic conjunctivitis. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2008; 28: 43-58.
5 Smith AF, Pitt AD, Rodruiguez AE, et al. The economic and quality of life impact of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in a Spanish setting. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2005; 12: 233-42.
6 Pitt AD, Smith AF, Lindsell L, et al. Economic and quality-of-life impact of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in Oxfordshire. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2004; 11: 17-33.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 2019.
SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Vision
Related Links
http://www.jjvision.com
LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer supported a deceptive notice to ratepayers in a class action settlement over the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars in what amounts to a City slush fund, according to attorneys for Consumer Watchdog.
On Monday, Consumer Watchdog filed its final court papers in an appeal of a class action settlement in which the City Attorney's office did not provide any notice to Angelenos or the court of the $242 million transfer. Though the $242 million transfer was not disclosed to consumers in time to exercise their right to opt-out or object to the settlement, the settlement barred consumers from challenging it in court. Read Consumer Watchdog's opening brief here: https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2019-03/Opening%20Brief.pdf.
The Court of Appeals filing comes as scrutiny intensifies over public corruption at the City Attorney's office involving the settlement of another DWP ratepayer case. Two City Attorney special counsels secretly represented both the ratepayer plaintiff and the City/DWP defendant. The City Attorney failed to inform the court, the public or ratepayers that attorneys he hired represented parties on both sides of the case. City Attorney Mike Feuer's Number Three deputy, Thomas Peters, resigned over the weekend, the third resignation in two weeks in connection with the scandal. Consumer Watchdog called for all three resignations and that of top deputy Jim Clark at the beginning of March when it learned about the scandal.
DWP billing errors have been a perennial problem for Angelenos, with outrageous examples, like a family being overcharged $60,000 for a leaky toilet.The special counsel quickly settled the action, with little scrutiny and no investigation and no real changes to DWP's practices. The City Attorney's special counsel Paul Paradis received $36 million no-bid contracts in the settlement from DWP. Read Consumer Watchdog's letter calling upon Attorney General Xavier Becerra to take over a public corruption investigation at the City Attorney's office: https://consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2019-03/LtrBecerraJonesCase3-12-19.pdf.
"The cozy relationship between the City Attorney, DWP, and co-opted private lawyers is costing Angelenos hundreds of millions of dollars and year. The illegal cash transfers between DWP and the City gives the City Attorney a strong incentive to shield DWP from scrutiny from the courts and the people of Los Angeles, even if it means consumers will continue to face outrageous rip-offs," said Ben Powell, staff attorney for Consumer Watchdog. "It's like a scene out of Chinatown, unfortunately, it's all too real."
Consumer Watchdog objected to the class action settlement over the $242 million transfer in December 2017. The trial court approved the settlement and the case is now awaiting decision by the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles. The case is Eck, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, Appeal No. B289717. Read the brief filed yesterday here: https://consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2019-03/Reply%20Brief.pdf.
The settlement purported to resolve a dispute regarding surcharges embedded in the electricity rates of City of Los Angeles residents, which resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in annual financial transfers from the DWP to the City. Illegal taxes fueling such transfers have been the subject of a voter revolt expressed in multiple ballot initiatives over the last four decades.
On December 12, 2017, before final approval of the Settlement and approximately two months after notice of the settlement was provided to Angelenos, the City authorized an additional $242 million transfer from LADWP. City residents were not given notice of the $242 million transfer even though the City had line-itemed the anticipated revenue as early as April 20, 2017, and the City Attorney's office, which represented the City and LADWP in the litigation, was aware of the transfer and signed off on its legality on November 17, 2017 and December 5, 2017.
Timeline
Apr. 20, 2017
Unbeknownst to consumers, the proposed City budget, dated April 20, 2017, anticipated a $242 million transfer from the DWP.
Sept. 14, 2017
The court preliminarily approves the settlement. The Settlement Agreement does not mention the $242 million transfer.
Oct. 12, 2017
Postcard Notice is mailed. Long Form Notice is posted to settlement website, and internet and publication notice is provided. None mention the $242 million transfer.
Nov. 16, 2017
The DWP Board receives staff recommendation to transfer $242 million to City of Los Angeles for FY 2017/2018.
Nov. 17, 2017
City Attorney's Office signs off on the $242 million transfer: "Approved as to form and legality."
Nov. 28, 2017
DWP Board authorizes transfer of $242 million to the City of Los Angeles.
Dec. 5, 2017
City Attorney's office once again signs off on transfer.
Dec. 6, 2017
The Final Approval and Attorney Fees briefs are posted to the settlement website to allow Angelenos the opportunity to consider them before deciding whether to object to the settlement or opt-out. No notice of the $242 million transfer was provided on the settlement website.
Dec. 12/13, 2017
Two weeks prior to Opt-Out/Objection deadline, the City Council adopts an ordinance approving the $242 million transfer on December 12, 2017. The ordinance is signed by Mayor Garcetti on December 13, effective January 26, 2018. No notice of the $242 million transfer was provided on the settlement website.
Dec. 27, 2017
Deadline for consumers to decide whether to object to the settlement or opt-out.
Feb. 14, 2018
The court approves the settlement. The "Released Claims" and "Release and Waiver" provisions of the Settlement Agreement purport to release all claims pursuant to the '08, '12, and '16 Rate Ordinances and any financial transfers between LADWP and the City through the date of the Final Fairness Hearing February 14, 2018.
SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
Related Links
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- La Granja Restaurant Chicken and Steak on the Grill in Riviera Beach offers award winning Peruvian Cuisine that's fast and affordable.
La Granja Peruvian Restaurants offer customers in Riviera Beach a 1/4 Chicken Lunch special starting at $5.25 for a limited time.
La Granja opened its first South Florida location in Margate in 1993. Serving Peruvian cuisine praised by locals, La Granja has become a favorite place for many to grab a quick lunch or a family dinner. Regular customers note their love affair with the Chicken meal as a reason for their constant return. Those choosing to dine at La Granja have their choice of chicken, steak, seafood or pork with 2 sides of their preference.
La Granja Restaurant Chicken and Steak on the Grill serves Peruvian dishes with big portions and authentic flavors.
When ordering, customers can choose from a wide variety of platters and side options. Each platter comes with a sizable portion of meat and 2 or more sides. Dishes are seasoned to perfection and paired with perfect additions, of which arroz, frijoles, and fried plantains are most popular. One patron advises first time visitors to choose the grilled chicken plate with yellow rice, black beans, and plantains; while another notes that no matter what she has ordered from the sizable menu, she hasn't been disappointed.
La Granja offers local favorite Boneless Breast Special starting at $10.25 to residents in Riveria Beach.
Providing patrons with mouth watering Peruvian dishes holds true to the roots of the original La Granja. First serving customers in Aruba, the local restaurant expanded to South Florida just two years later. Known for their perfect mix of flavor and convenience, La Granja has served up must-have cuisine to locals for over 20 years. According to one customer, "the Arroz con Mariscos is simply delicious."
Winner of "The Best Peruvian Restaurant of the Year" award, La Granja is proud to serve South Florida with affordable comida that's both appetizing and worth the money. Customers enjoy large portions that are just as big on flavor. Savory platters adorn the menu next to an assortment of fajitas and sandwiches, making La Granja Chicken and Steak on the Grill a perfect choice for a fast lunch.
For a Peruvian meal to remember, enjoy the new restaurant La Granja Chicken and Steak on the Grill in Riviera Beach.
At La Granja, delectable platters are served with sides that are a step above the rest. Family platters are available to make dinner quick and hearty.
Visit La Granja Chicken and Steak on the Grill at 2700 Broadway Ave. Riviera Beach, FL 33404.
Taste authentic Peruvian cuisine at an affordable price. Take advantage of their lunch $5.25 1/4 chicken lunch special when ordering at the counter. (Monday through Friday until 4:00 p.m. Prices and items in locations may vary).
Related Images
la-granja-winner-of-the-best.png
La Granja, Winner of "The Best Peruvian Restaurant of the Year" Expands to a Location in Riviera Beach in 2019.
La Granja opened it's first South Florida location in Margate in 1993. Serving Peruvian cuisine praised by locals, La Granja has become a favorite place for many to grab a quick lunch or a family dinner.
1-4-chicken-lunch-special-starting.png
1/4 Chicken Lunch Special starting at $5.25
Monday thru Friday until 4:00 p.m. Prices and Items in locations may vary.
boneless-breast-special-starting.png
Boneless Breast Special starting at $10.25
Boneless Breast with Beans and Rice
1-2-lb-grilled-steak-starting-at.png
1/2 lb Grilled Steak starting at $11.25
La Granja Restaurant Chicken and Steak on the Grill serves Peruvian dishes with big portions and authentic flavors.
SOURCE La Granja Restaurants
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consulting firm BRG announced today that John Auerbach has joined its Global Investigations + Strategic Intelligence practice as a managing director based in New York.
"I am very excited to welcome John to our international group of experts," said Frank Holder, the Global Head of BRG's Investigations and Strategic Intelligence practice. "His expertise in conducting high-profile corporate and white collar investigations is a tremendous asset."
Auerbach has over twenty years of experience managing complex domestic and international corporate investigations, compliance assessments and pre-M&A due diligence. He specializes in corporate integrity issues related to anti-bribery and corruption, third-party risk management, anti-money laundering and financial fraud.
Before joining BRG, Auerbach was a partner in a Big Four Forensic and Integrity Services group. He was managing partner of that firm's forensic practice in Greater China for nine years before returning to its US forensic practice in New York in 2014. Previously, he was a managing director with a corporate investigations and risk consulting firm and head of the firm's mainland China practice. He is a fluent Mandarin speaker and a widely recognized subject-matter expert and public speaker on issues related to fraud, corruption and operational risk management in China.
Auerbach has directed numerous investigations and compliance reviews in response to US Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, and overseas regulatory enforcement actionsfrom Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations to securities fraud and accounting restatement matters. He has particular experience with matters in the life sciences, financial services, consumer product and technology sectors.
"I am very excited to join one of the world's most dynamic investigations consultancies in BRG, and to bring my experience to bear in expanding its innovative global platform," said Auerbach.
About BRG
Berkeley Research Group, LLC (BRG) is a global consulting firm that helps leading organizations advance in three key areas: disputes and investigations, corporate finance, and strategy and operations. Headquartered in California with offices around the world, we are an integrated group of experts, industry leaders, academics, data scientists, and professionals working beyond borders and disciplines. We harness our collective expertise to deliver the inspired insights and practical strategies our clients need to stay ahead of what's next. Visit thinkbrg.com to learn more.
SOURCE BRG
Related Links
http://www.thinkbrg.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring its continued commitment to providing customized solutions to customers across its key verticals, Logicalis, an international IT solutions and managed services provider, is celebrating 15 years of partnership with Trevecca Nazarene University, a Christian university in the heart of Nashville, Tenn. Logicalis has supported Trevecca Nazarene through various custom IT projects focused on improving the students' technology experience and providing them with greater security. Most recently, Logicalis led the successful implementation of HPE Nimble, an intelligent, self-managing flash storage solution. In conjunction with the HPE Aruba networking and security platform, this implementation helped strengthen the overall network to better meet the university's growing networking and storage needs.
Established in 1901, Trevecca Nazarene University serves as home to several thousand students pursuing higher education. The fully accredited university boasts a highly esteemed faculty and comprehensive degree programs across its five locations and online, as well as an impressive growth rate. Since 2015, Trevecca Nazarene's student population grew by 48 percent, making it the fastest-growing university in Middle Tennessee and resulting in a significant strain on the university's antiquated IT storage network.
"We didn't want our own growth to hinder our students' success," said Dr. John Eberle, Chief Information Officer, Trevecca Nazarene University. "We knew that we could trust Logicalis to pinpoint a solution to meet our needs, and they did exactly that with HPE. Now, we have centralized storage in a stable, fast, and easy-to-use platform, as well as a clear, sustainable path for growth. It's a prime example of how Logicalis continuously leverages their network and partnerships to enable us to better focus less on our technology and more on what matters most: our students."
Leveraging its expertise in the GovEd sector and its position as an HPE Platinum partner, Logicalis helped Trevecca Nazarene identify which of HPE's range of server, storage, software and networking solutions would best meet the needs of the university's growing population.
"At Logicalis, we focus on our customers' needs to identify solutions that address challenges before they become larger issues," said Mike Houghton, President, Logicalis U.S. "As Trevecca Nazarene continued to grow, we understood that a stronger overall network would become a top priority for the IT team. Leveraging our experience in the education industry and partnership with HPE, we were confident that a combination of HPE Nimble's storage solutions and the HPE Aruba platform for networking and security would help the university continue to deliver the level of service its faculty, staff and students need for success. We look forward to continuing to work with the university for the next 15 years and beyond."
For more details on the partnership with Logicalis and Trevecca Nazarene University, please see this video.
About Logicalis
Logicalis U.S. is an international multi-skilled solution provider, providing digital enablement services to help customers harness digital technology and innovative services to deliver powerful business outcomes.
We focus on delivering custom IT solutions for vertical markets including healthcare, government and education, manufacturing, financial services, TMT (telecommunications, media and technology), education, retail, and professional services. We apply the skills of our 5,700 global employees in modernizing key digital pillars; data center and cloud services, security and network infrastructure, workspace communications and collaboration, data and information strategies, and IT operation modernization. Our customers which are among the world's leading technology companies including Cisco, HPE, IBM, NetApp, VMware, Microsoft and AWS.
Logicalis U.S. is a part of the Logicalis Group, which has annualized revenues of $1.6 billion, from operations in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa. It is a division of Datatec Limited, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with revenues of over $4 billion.
Follow Logicalis U.S.: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
SOURCE Logicalis
PORTLAND, Ore., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Lovett Inc., a construction services provider for drain cleaning, plumbing, masonry restoration, excavation, directional drilling, and vac-truck projects headquartered in Portland, Oregon, today announced the acquisition of Synergy Restoration & Construction LLC.
The acquisition goes hand in hand with key strategies recently implemented to support long-term organic and inorganic growth of the company. One of the most critical of those strategies is to expand our service offering to be among the most comprehensive in the industry fortifying key customer relationships while improving profitability through verticalization of services previously outsourced by both organizations.
"The more time I spent with the Synergy team exploring opportunities for them to become part of our Lovett family the more excited I was about the transaction. We are going to be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to solving our customer's problems," said Dale Lovett, Lovett Inc. Founder & CEO.
"We have a strong culture match and many overlapping customer relationships we can grow together, our combined portfolio of services gives us the most comprehensive offering in the industry allowing us to disrupt the markets we now serve and expand beyond them," said Gary Cosmer, Lovett Inc. President & COO.
"We are thrilled to be joining forces with the Lovett organization. They are a proven winner and the combination of our two organizations brings a unique value to the industry.
This opportunity is the natural progression of our "Achieving Greater Results through Teamwork" motto," said Stuart Babicky, Synergy Restoration & Construction LLC. Founder & CEO.
Synergy will continue to operate under their existing brand and at their current location for up to one year during the transition.
About Lovett Inc.
Lovett is a construction services company providing excavation, directional drilling, plumbing, drain cleaning, vac-truck, and masonry restoration services. The company serves the greater Portland and SW Washington metro areas by providing a multitude of construction services specializing in emergency services, project consultation, building maintenance, service repair and installation. www.lovettservices.com
About Synergy Restoration & Construction LLC.
Synergy is a full-service restoration company providing fire, smoke, water, and storm damage containment, repair, and remodeling services. The company serves the Northwest specializing in commercial and residential emergency crisis response mitigation and remediation using the most recent technology and state-of-the-art procedures to reduce exposure and restore normalcy as soon as expeditiously possible. www.synergyrnc.com
Contact: Heather Cutler / 503-351-5109 / [email protected]
SOURCE Lovett Inc.
Related Links
http://www.lovettservices.com
BOSTON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mendix , a Siemens business and the global leader in low-code for the enterprise, announced today that Lorraine Vargas Townsend is the company's new Chief People Officer. In this role, Lorraine will lead people functions in the company already voted best place to work by employees for three years running and the top Cloud Computing Company to Work for in 2019, according to Glassdoor . Mendix was also named a February 2019 Gartner Peer Insights Customer's Choice for Enterprise High-Productivity Application Platform as a Service, is consistently named a "Leader" among low-code development platforms by Forrester, and was named a "Leader" in the Gartner " Magic Quadrant for Enterprise High-Productivity Application Platform as a Service " and the Gartner "Magic Quadrant for Mobile App Development Platforms" , both for the second consecutive year.
Ms. Townsend joins Mendix from athenahealth where she served as SVP, global head of HR. While at athenahealth, she created and delivered a transformative HR strategy that encompassed all aspects of the employee life cycle. She focused on employee experience as the core of the HR organization, fostering a cultural transformation that connected business growth with the attainment of marketable skills for each employee's unique career aspirations. Prior to athenahealth, Ms. Townsend worked at TE Connectivity, Schneider Electric, and Dell Inc.
"I am thrilled to welcome Lorraine to our executive team as our first chief people officer," said Derek Roos, co-founder and CEO at Mendix. "We are on a tremendous growth trajectory, having added 200 people to our team in 2018, and are looking to add as many in 2019 and beyond. Lorraine will play an instrumental role in creating and executing a world-class talent strategy that underpins our growth ambitions and helps us maintain and disseminate our unique culture globally. I'm looking forward to working closely with Lorraine so that Mendix continues to be a great place to work and attract top talent to help make our customers even more successful and help build on our position as the leader in the low-code market."
"In a perfect world of leading top employee talent, we create leaders and structures that unleash people to bring their passion and genius to their work," said Ms. Townsend. "We can't do that with over-engineered HR programs and processes that stifle the creativity and desire for accomplishment every team member covets. We do that by creating a culture where personal growth is well rewarded and where team achievement is celebrated across the organization. I am excited to bring this philosophy to Mendix and contribute to its already impressive culture."
To learn more about Mendix and open career opportunities, please visit https://www.mendix.com/careers/ .
About Mendix
Mendix , a Siemens business and the global leader in low-code for the enterprise, is transforming the world of legacy software and application development by bringing business and IT teams together to rapidly and collaboratively build robust and modern applications for the enterprise. The Mendix application development platform directly addresses the tremendous worldwide software developer talent gap, and involves business and IT at the very start and throughout the entire application building and deployment process. Recognized as a "Leader" by top analysts, including Gartner and Forrester , Mendix helps customers digitally transform their organizations and industries by building, managing, and improving apps at unprecedented speed and scale. More than 4,000 forward-thinking enterprises use the Mendix platform to build business applications that delight customers and improve operational efficiency. Join the Mendix community on LinkedIn and Twitter . Start building apps for free at signup.mendix.com .
Press Inquiries
Katie McGovern
Senior Account Manager, SHIFT Communications
[email protected]
(617) 779-1867
Dan Berkowitz
Senior Director of Global Communications
[email protected]
(415) 518-7870
SOURCE Mendix
Related Links
http://www.mendix.com
ST. LOUIS, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- FleishmanHillard today announced the promotion of Mette Grolleman to general manager of the agency's Brussels office, effective May 1. Grolleman will succeed Caroline Wunnerlich, who will join a roster of distinguished senior advisors and serve as chair of FleishmanHillard's Brussels Advisory Board.
Grolleman joined FleishmanHillard in 2017 as a senior vice president in the Brussels office where she has spearheaded senior counsel to clients on their reputational and regulatory issues at European level. Previously, she served as an advisor in the European Commission, and prior to that, Grolleman worked as the financial counselor at the Danish Permanent Representation to the European Union. For more than a decade, she served in the Danish public administration, latterly as a senior advisor in the Ministry for Business and Growth.
"Mette is an inspired choice to take over from Caroline," said John Saunders, president and CEO of FleishmanHillard. "I know she will work closely with other outstanding leaders in our Brussels office to ensure both a smooth transition and continuity.
"I am thrilled that Caroline will remain with us in an advisory capacity. Caroline is one of the most respected leaders in our entire industry, not just our firm. I am truly honored to be able to call her a dear colleague and friend. No one has done more than she has to build FleishmanHillard into one of the most respected public affairs and communications firms in Europe."
Wunnerlich has been with FleishmanHillard for 26-years, 20 of which were as the general manager of the Brussels office. In addition to overseeing two decades of growth to a market leadership position, she served as vice chair on the Management Committee of the European Public Affairs Consultancy Association from 2010 to 2015. In 2016, she was named to Politico's Top 20 'Women who Shape Brussels' and received the prestigious personal award for 'Outstanding Contribution' to the industry at the EuroPAwards.
"With a big year of change ahead at EU institutional level, this is a good moment to hand over the reins as a new chapter starts in Brussels," Wunnerlich said. "I am absolutely delighted that Mette has agreed to take on this challenge. Since joining us, Mette has demonstrated not only her extraordinary political acumen with clients, but also her talent as a people person, making her an obvious choice to lead FleishmanHillard Brussels into the future. With strong succession now in place, I look forward to accompanying the team's continued success in an advisory capacity."
About FleishmanHillard
FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named Agency of the Year at the 2017 and 2018 North American Excellence Awards; 2017 and 2018 ICCO Network of the Year for the Americas; 2018 Large Consultancy of the Year by PRWeek UK; PR News' Best Places to Work in PR 2016-2018; Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality for 2018; PR Awards Asia 2017 Greater China Agency of the Year; and NAFE's "Top Companies for Executive Women" for 2010-2019. The firm's award-winning work is widely heralded, including at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, and has more than 80 offices in 30 countries, plus affiliates in 43 countries.
About Omnicom Public Relations Group
Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,300 public relations professionals in more than 370 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and non-profits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.
SOURCE FleishmanHillard
Related Links
http://www.fleishmanhillard.com
MIAMI, March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mining Power Group, Inc., (the "Company" or "MPGR") (OTC: MPGR), announced today, that as a result of preliminary negotiations, it has issued a draft letter of intent ("LOI") to the management of a CBD company that already generates millions of dollars in revenues under its various brand names that are well known in its sector. The draft LOI, which would have the Company acquire the CBD company as a wholly-owned subsidiary, provides the foundation for finalizing negotiations in order to lead to its signing and subsequent entry into a definitive agreement. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, the acquired company will operate as an independent subsidiary producing and marketing its brands and maintain its current management. Current CEO and controlling shareholder, Dror Svorai, will transfer complete control of the Company to the management of the newly acquired company, who will appoint new officers and directors. Additional details were not disclosed at this time. Results of the negotiations will be announced at a later date.
Dror Svorai, President and CEO, stated, "Closing this transaction will be a total game changer for us. Not only will it mean a major refocus of our business into a rapidly growing consumer sector, but the addition of millions in annual revenues from a known CBD company with a solid history of steady year-over-year increases in its business. Once we get the LOI agreed to, we believe we will be able to complete this acquisition in 30 days."
He added, "We couldn't be more excited by the prospects of completing this acquisition. All indications are that the years ahead for the CBD business represent unparalleled accelerated growth, meaning for us that completing this acquisition puts us in an excellent position to be able to capitalize on that growth with an established brand leader in the industry."
About Mining Power Group, Inc.
Mining Power Group, Inc. is a holding company for subsidiary operations that provide data center services for companies in the cryptomining industry. The Company trades under the symbol "MPGR") and is a fully reporting SEC company listed on the OTC market. For additional information on the Company, visit,
Safe Harbor Statement:
This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include any that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "estimate", "project", "intend", "forecast", "anticipate", "plan", "planning", "expect", "believe", "likely", "should", "could", "would", "may" or similar words or expressions. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results and financial position to differ materially from those in such statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Company's ability to grow. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted and any reported should not be considered an indication of future performance. Potential risks and uncertainties include the Company's operating history and resources, economic, competitive, and equity market conditions.
CONTACT:
Mining Power Group, Inc.
(800)304-2657
SOURCE Mining Power Group, Inc.
Related Links
http://http://www.miningpowergroup.com.
LAS VEGAS, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- People representing all 50 U.S. states responded to a quiz assessing their money knowledge. The National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) designed the 30-question National Financial Literacy Test to measure teens' and young adults' ability to earn, save, and grow their finances. The average score of financial capability among this sample was 67.74%.
Among the 15- to 18-year-olds who participated, 55.40% failed the test that is, they scored 70% or lower. Young people from Oregon posted the highest average score (68.59%) among the 50 participating states from which at least 200 youth responded; respondents from Arkansas scored lowest (52.23%).
Other notable state results of participants between the ages of 15 to 18 years: New York 1,347 participants averaged 62.22%, California - 1,472 participants averaged 61.99%, Texas 1,419 participants averaged 68.58%, Florida - 443 participants averaged 62.67% and Oregon 680 participants averaged 68.59%.
Full Results Available at: https://www.financialeducatorscouncil.org/national-financial-literacy-test/
Take the Test at: https://www.financialeducatorscouncil.org/financial-literacy-test/
The test questions assess knowledge about the 10 subjects covered in the Financial Literacy Framework & Standards. The questions were designed to measure comprehension across three key areas of financial wellness: learning motivation, topic understanding, and ability to recognize the first step toward securing one's financial future.
"Nationwide testing demonstrates that the average person lacks the basic financial knowledge he or she needs to make qualified financial decisions. Testing is just an indicator of content knowledge. But unlike other subject matter taught in school, financial literacy requires more than just understanding content. It requires learners to be able to adjust their daily financial behaviors and have enough knowledge to make confident financial decisions." Vince Shorb, CEO National Financial Educators Council
The NFEC also posted results from 3 other tests.
Advanced Financial Education Test: The average score on this personal finance test, which asks more advanced questions focused only on financial literacy, was 58.95%. Of the 6,651 respondents, 58.11% failed (scored below 70%). Full results available at: https://www.financialeducatorscouncil.org/advanced-financial-education-test-results/
Financial Foundation Test: This 8-question test establishes whether participants possess knowledge to make entry-level financial decisions; among 6,235 respondents the average score was 64.60%, with 43.70% failing (scoring below 70%). Full results available at: https://www.financialeducatorscouncil.org/financial-foundation-test-results/
Student Loan Test: This test for college-bound youth and current college attendees measures ability to make responsible student loan decisions; out of 5,987 respondents, the average score was 60.13% and 63.99% failed (scored under 70%). Full results available at: https://www.financialeducatorscouncil.org/student-loans-financial-education-test-results/
The NFEC's Financial Literacy Testing & Survey Center provides more than 30 complimentary tests and surveys. Individuals and organizations may leverage these tools online; the measures are automatically graded for self-assessment and to help reach financial literacy programming goals. Visit the Financial Literacy Test & Survey Center assessment page for more information.
The National Financial Educators Council is a social enterprise organization committed to improving financial capabilities among the global community. The NFEC develops tools, resources, and training to help organizations and individuals share financial literacy messages at the community level. The NFEC's Financial Literacy Test & Survey Center represents one available tool for organizations to assess program effectiveness and gather baseline measures of personal finance knowledge.
Contact:
Trevor Stoll
415.729.7290 ext 7010
SOURCE National Financial Educators Council
SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Doximity, the largest professional medical network, today released its third annual Physician Compensation Report. The report shows that after years of steady pay increases, national physician wages have plateaued for the first time since 2016.
The study also shows that the gender pay gap is decreasing from prior years. Male physician pay has remained flat since 2017, while female physician pay has increased. Major variations in pay were also found across metropolitan areas and within medical specialties. The report is based on the responses of nearly 90,000 licensed U.S. doctors across six years, making it the largest repository of data available on physician compensation.
"Compensation transparency is a powerful force. As more data becomes available to us, exposing the pay gap between men and women, we see more movements to rectify this issue," said Christopher Whaley, PhD, lead author of the study and adjunct assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health.
Key findings include:
Physician Compensation by Metro Area
The top five cities with the highest average compensation are: Milwaukee ($395,363) ; New Orleans ($384,651) ; Riverside, Calif. ($371,296) ; Minneapolis ($369,889) ; and Charlotte, N.C. ($368,205) .
; ; ; ; and . The bottom five metros where physicians are paid the lowest average salary are: Durham, N.C. ($266,180) ; Providence, R.I. ($267,013) ; San Antonio ($276,224) ; Virginia Beach, Va. ($294,491) ; and New Haven, Conn. ($295,554) .
; ; ; ; and . Seattle saw the highest growth rate in compensation at 15 percent, followed by Hartford, Conn. (13 percent); Riverside, Calif. (12 percent); Cincinnati (12 percent); and Baltimore (10 percent).
saw the highest growth rate in compensation at 15 percent, followed by (13 percent); (12 percent); (12 percent); and (10 percent). San Antonio had the lowest wage growth rate at -10 percent, followed by Tampa, Fla. (-10 percent); Virginia Beach, Va. (-7 percent); Chicago (-7 percent); and Louisville, Ky. (-6 percent).
Physician Compensation by Medical Specialty
The top five highest-paying medical specialties are: Neurosurgery ($616,823) ; Thoracic Surgery ($584,287) ; Orthopedic Surgery ($526,385) ; Radiation Oncology ($486,089) ; Vascular Surgery ($484,740) .
; Thoracic Surgery ; Orthopedic Surgery ; Radiation Oncology ; Vascular Surgery . The lowest-paying medical specialties are: Pediatric Infectious Disease ($185,892) ; Pediatric Endocrinology ($201,033) ; Pediatrics ($222,942) ; Pediatric Hematology & Oncology ($222,953) ; and Family Medicine ($242,352) .
Physician Compensation by Gender
Cities with the smallest gender wage gaps in 2018: Birmingham, Ala (9 percent wage gap); Bridgeport, Conn. (10 percent); Milwaukee (14 percent); Seattle (15 percent); Jacksonville FL (16 percent).
(9 percent wage gap); (10 percent); (14 percent); (15 percent); (16 percent). Cities with the largest gender wage gap in 2018: Louisville / Jefferson County (40 percent); New Orleans (32 percent); Austin Texas (31 percent); Hartford, Conn. (31 percent); Dallas, Texas (31 percent).
/ (40 percent); (32 percent); (31 percent); (31 percent); (31 percent). Cities where female physicians earn the highest average annual salary are: Milwaukee ($351,247) ; Bridgeport, Conn. ($319,577) ; Seattle ($306,310) ; Minneapolis ($303,416) ; and Riverside, Calif. ($302,937) .
; ; ; ; and . Female physicians earn the lowest average annual salary in these metros: Providence, R.I. ($220,482) ; Durham, N.C. ($226,594) ; Louisville, Ky. ($230,754) ; Virginia Beach, Va. ($232,172) ; and Austin, Texas ($232,333) .
Physician Compensation by Employment Type
Of the 10 employment types examined in this study, half of them experienced little to no changes in compensation, including the following: single specialty group; solo practice; multi-specialty group; health system/IDN/ACO; and health maintenance organization.
Only one employment type saw a double-digit percentage increase in wages: Industry / Pharmaceutical (17 percent).
The following employment types saw a decline in compensation: hospital (-7 percent); academic (-9 percent);
"We hope that this study can be used as a comprehensive resource to better inform U.S. physicians, medical students, and health care organizations," said Mandy Armitage, M.D., Director of Medical Content at Doximity. "Although pay for female physicians has improved substantially, there is still significant progress that needs to be made."
Methodology
Doximity's study is drawn from self-reported compensation surveys completed by approximately 90,000 full-time, licensed U.S. physicians who practice at least 40 hours per week. Responses were mapped across metropolitan statistical areas, and the top 50 were ranked by the number of respondents in the data.
To control for differences in specialty, geography, and other provider-specific factors that might influence spending, we estimated a multivariate regression with fixed effects for provider specialty and MSA. We also controlled for how long each provider has practiced medicine and their self-reported average hours worked per week. This regression was estimated using a generalized linear model with a log link and gamma distribution. For the geographic and specialty rankings, we used the predicted values from this regression.
About Doximity
Founded in 2011, Doximity connects physicians and clinicians to make them more successful and productive. It is the largest professional medical network with over 70 percent of all U.S. physicians as members. The network enables medical professionals to communicate with colleagues and patients, and to share their perspectives on the latest health care trends and research. Doximity is based in San Francisco and was created by the founders of Epocrates and Rock Health. To learn more, visit www.doximity.com
SOURCE Doximity
Related Links
http://www.doximity.com
BOLOGNA, Italy and HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Menarini Silicon Biosystems, the pioneer of liquid biopsy technology, today announced that significant advances in research using the company's CELLSEARCH and DEPArray technologies will be presented at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
One presentation will cover research from Northwestern University that used the FDA-cleared CELLSEARCH Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Test to conduct CTC testing on metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients.* The study was co-authored by Massimo Cristofanilli, M.D., F.A.C.P., Associate Director of Translational Research at Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University. It will report on a significant correlation between high levels of co-expression of CCR5 and HER2 in CTCs. CCR5 has been associated with cancer stem cells and believed to drive metastatic process. The researchers suggest that CCR5 may contribute to more aggressive phenotype by upregulating HER2 expression. It is the first evidence of identifying CCR5 expression in CTCs as a potential new marker for MBC with potential therapeutic implications.
"This is an exciting study, as it provides evidence of CCR5 being a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer," said Dr. Cristofanilli. "This observation is the basis of an upcoming clinical trial incorporating detection CCR5/CTC expression and in which we will target CCR5 with a specific antibody in the hopes of preventing metastasis and prolong disease control in patients with TNBC."
In addition, the Northwestern researchers will present a new application of the CELLSEARCH and DEPArray NxT systems for the isolation of CTC clusters in MBC.** CTC-clusters are reported to have greater potential to form distant metastasis compared to individual CTCs. The novel Research Use Only workflow helps streamline the isolation of both single CTCs and CTC-clusters to facilitate genomic analysis for MBC patients.
"Our goal at Menarini Silicon Biosystems continues to be the improvement of patient care through innovative single-cell precision medicine technologies and solutions that provide actionable information for clinicians and researchers," said Bob Roda, Chief Executive Officer of Menarini Silicon Biosystems. "Our expanding portfolio of technologies and solutions is helping researchers better understand cancers at the molecular level."
A study involving a collaboration between Menarini Silicon Biosystem researchers and scientists from Fraunhofer ITEM Regensburg will present a new application using the company's DEPArray technology for marker-dependent single-cell isolation from malignant melanoma lymph nodes.
Another study will demonstrate a new approach to understanding tumor heterogeneity in classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), starting from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples and enabling cHL genome-wide genetic analysis at the single-cell level. In the future, these approaches could be used to help select individualized therapies for patients with these cancers.
Menarini Silicon Biosystems will also be introducing two new products for research use only: Ampli1 OncoSeek, a targeted cancer panel, and MSBiosuite, a cloud-based bioinformatics platform.
Ampli1 OncoSeek is a panel that offers a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay comprised of 60 clinically-relevant oncology genes, which facilitates NGS library preparation from single cells isolated with the DEPArray technology.
MSBiosuite is a fully-automated, secure platform that enables customers without bioinformatics capabilities to easily analyze and interpret the NGS data generated by the DEPArray and Ampli1 molecular analysis kits. It provides a complete end-to-end solution for laboratory workflow from sample input through to processed results, including genetic interpretation for research use only, not for diagnostics purposes.
These products will be featured in a study that presents a complete solution to detect hotspot mutations and focal copy number alterations (CNA) that are needed for accurate tumor characterization. This targeted sequencing workflow is suitable for analyzing CTCs at a single-cell level, which assists researchers with understanding tumor heterogeneity.
To learn more about the Menarini Silicon Biosystems technologies, AACR attendees can visit Booth #2702. The AACR Annual Meeting will take place March 29-April 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.
About Menarini Silicon Biosystems
Menarini Silicon Biosystems, based in Bologna, Italy, and Huntingdon Valley (PA), USA, develops innovative technologies and products that help researchers understand the biological complexity of disease through the study of single cells. The company manufactures and markets the DEPArray NxT, the only image-based digital cell-sorting and isolation platform that enables clinical researchers to conduct molecular analyses on live or fixed cells with single-cell precision. In 2017 Menarini Silicon Biosystems purchased all the assets and relevant business related to the CELLSEARCH Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) System*. The integration of CELLSEARCH and DEPArray provides an end-to-end workflow solution** for the enumeration, isolation, and molecular characterization of CTCs from a simple blood test in the clinical research setting. This will help drive the clinical utility and correlation of CTCs with the effectiveness of specific therapies. Menarini Silicon Biosystems is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group, a multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics company headquartered in Florence, Italy, with a heritage of over 130 years and over 17,000 employees in more than 100 countries.
*For more information on the full intended use and limitations of CELLSEARCH system, please refer to the Instructions for Use on http://documents.cellsearchctc.com/.
**The workflow described is for research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. The performance characteristics, safety, and effectiveness of the workflow have not been established and are not cleared or approved by the FDA.
Contact: Liz Dowling, (415) 388-2794
Dowling & Dennis PR
[email protected]
SOURCE Menarini Silicon Biosystems
Related Links
http://www.siliconbiosystems.com/
WASHINGTON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A landmark national survey of over 40,000 Americans, including results for all 50 states, released today by PRRI finds approximately seven in 10 (69 percent) Americans support nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people today. The survey also finds nearly six in 10 (57 percent) Americans oppose allowing small businesses to refuse services to gay and lesbian people based on religious objections. More than six in 10 (62 percent) Americans also support same-sex marriage. The only major groups in which a majority oppose same-sex marriage are white evangelical Protestants and Republicans.
Majorities in All States Support Nondiscrimination Protections for LGBT People
Approximately seven in 10 (69 percent) Americansincluding majorities in all 50 statesfavor laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in jobs, public accommodations, and housing, virtually unchanged from 2017 levels (70 percent). Though support is highest in Northeastern (72 percent) and Western (72 percent) states, majorities in the Midwest (68 percent) and South (65 percent) are also supportive. Even in states with the lowest levels of support, such as South Carolina (58 percent) and Arkansas (56 percent), solid majorities support these policies.
"The broad support for laws to protect LGBT people from discrimination represents a rarity in our polarized politics todayan issue that actually brings Americans together across partisan, religious, and geographic lines," notes PRRI CEO Robert P. Jones.
The nationwide strength of support for nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people transcends age and religion. Three in four Americans ages 18-29 (76 percent) favor these protections, as do 59 percent of Americans ages 65 and over.
Solid majorities of all major religious groups in the U.S. support laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and the workplace. Among major religious groups, the strongest supporters of LGBT nondiscrimination protections are Unitarian Universalists (90 percent), Jews (80 percent), Hindus (79 percent), Buddhists (75 percent), and religiously unaffiliated Americans (78 percent). Even majorities of faith traditions that have been historically more opposed to LGBT rights support these protections. Fully seven in 10 Mormons (70 percent), along with 65 percent of black Protestants, 60 percent of Muslims, 54 percent of white evangelical Protestants, and 53 percent of Jehovah's Witnesses favor LGBT nondiscrimination laws.
Majorities of Democrats (79 percent), independents (70 percent), and Republicans (56 percent) also favor such protections, though Republican support has slipped five percentage points over the last few years, down from 61 percent support in 2015.
All Racial Groups, Most Religious Groups Oppose Allowing Businesses to Refuse Services to LGBT Customers
A majority of Americans (57 percent) oppose allowing a small business owner in their state to refuse products or services to gay or lesbian people based on their religious beliefs. Opposition to religiously-based refusals to serve gay and lesbian people is slightly lower than support in 2017 (60 percent) and 2016 (61 percent) but consistent with support levels in 2015 (59 percent).
Majorities of residents in 40 states believe small business owners in their state should not be allowed to refuse service to gay and lesbian people. While there are no states in which a majority support religiously-based refusals to serve gay or lesbian people, opposition falls short of a majority in 10 states: Arkansas (50 percent), Kansas (50 percent), Alabama (49 percent), Nevada (49 percent), Utah (49 percent), Louisiana (48 percent), Oklahoma (48 percent), Idaho (47 percent), Tennessee (47 percent). Alaska is the only state with plurality support for religiously-based service refusals (46 percent favor, 42 percent oppose).
Younger Americans ages 18-29 (63 percent) are noticeably more likely than seniors over the age of 65 (52 percent) to oppose religiously-based refusals to serve gay or lesbian people.
Americans of all racial and ethnic groups oppose religiously-based service refusals. Black (66 percent) and Hispanic (60 percent) Americans are most likely to oppose allowing businesses to refuse service to gay or lesbian people because of religious objections. White (54 percent) and Native Americans (52 percent) are least likely to oppose such service refusals, though a majority remain against them.
Majorities of most major religious groups oppose religiously-based refusals to serve gay or lesbian people. The greatest opposition comes from Unitarian Universalists (83 percent), Jews (68 percent), religiously unaffiliated Americans (66 percent), Buddhists (66 percent) and Muslims (60 percent). White evangelical Protestants (55 percent) and Mormons (54 percent) are the only religious groups where a majority support allowing small business owners to refuse service to gay and lesbian customers if doing so violates their religious beliefs. Jehovah's Witnesses have no majority opinion: a plurality (43 percent) are opposed, while almost as many are in favor (39 percent); 18 percent offer no opinion.
Opposition to religiously-based service refusals varies dramatically by political affiliation. Three-quarters of Democrats (75 percent) and a majority of independents (56 percent) oppose allowing businesses to refuse service to gay or lesbian people based on religious objections. Only 36 percent of Republicans oppose religiously-based refusals to serve gay or lesbian people, compared to nearly six in 10 (59 percent) who support such a policy. Conservative Republicans exhibit significantly more support for religiously-based service refusals (65 percent), compared to moderate (44 percent) and liberal (35 percent) Republicans.
Support for Same-Sex Marriage Remains Widespread
Support for same-sex marriage has continued growing since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 rule that established a constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples. More than six in 10 (62 percent) Americans now say gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry legally, while only about half as many (30 percent) are opposed. The increased support for same-sex marriage over the last decade has been dramatic: In 2007, over one in three (36 percent) Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 55 percent were opposed.
Majority support for same-sex marriage extends across all regions of the nation. Residents of Northeastern (70 percent) and Western (67 percent) states are the strongest supporters of same-sex marriage. Robust majorities in the Midwest (60 percent) and South (56 percent) support it as well.
Nearly eight in 10 (79 percent) young Americans (ages 18-29) support gay marriage, with only 16 percent opposed. Even among seniors (ages 65 and older), nearly half (49 percent) favor same-sex marriage today, compared to 43 percent who are opposed.
Majorities of all racial and ethnic groups support same-sex marriage. The strongest levels of support come from Asian-Pacific Islander Americans (75 percent), Americans who identify with another race or as mixed race (68 percent), and Hispanic Americans (65 percent). But majorities of white (62 percent), black (56 percent), and Native Americans (55 percent) also support same-sex marriage.
Most major religious groups in the U.S. now support same-sex marriage, including an overwhelming majority of religiously unaffiliated Americans (82 percent). White evangelical Protestants are the only major religious group in which a majority oppose same-sex marriage (31 percent favor, 60 percent oppose).
Strong majorities of Democrats (77 percent) and independents (65 percent) favor same-sex marriage. While only four in 10 (41 percent) of Republicans currently favor same-sex marriage, support among Republicans has risen by 10 percentage points since 2011, when only 31 percent favored this policy.
Methodology:
The American Values Atlas (AVA) is a project of PRRI. The survey was designed and conducted by PRRI and was made possible by generous grants from The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, The Gill Foundation, The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, and the United Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock. Results for the nondiscrimination laws and religiously-based service refusal questions are based on a subset of 40,292 telephone interviews (including 24,149 cell phone interviews) conducted between March 14, 2018 and December 16, 2018. The margin of error for these questions is +/- 0.5 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. Results for the same-sex marriage question are based on a subset of 4,028 telephone interviews (including 2,413 cell phone interviews) conducted between March 14, 2018 and March 25, 2018 and between June 27, 2018 and July 8, 2018. The margin of error for the same-sex marriage question subsample is +/-1.5 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence.
About PRRI:
PRRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to conducting independent research at the intersection of religion, culture, and public policy.
SOURCE PRRI
OTTAWA, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Nordion (Canada) Inc., a Sotera Health Company, has signed an amendment to an existing agreement with Tong Xing (Beijing) Nuclear Technology Co. Ltd. (TXNTC), a subsidiary of China Isotope & Radiation Corporation (HK. 01763) to supply Nordion with Cobalt-60 produced in CANDU reactors in China.
The amendment expands an existing supply relationship between Nordion and TXNTC that began in 2016, resulting in several shipments of Cobalt-60 to date, and will now allow for an increased amount of Cobalt-60 to be supplied in the future. The agreement also contains provisions for the extension of the term.
"The combination of Tong Xing's high quality production capacity with Nordion's best in class regulatory and logistics expertise are critical to provide global customers access to previously landlocked Cobalt-60 from China," said Kevin Brooks, President of Nordion. "As our customers' demand for Cobalt-60 grows, we continue to expand our supply network and are committed to ensuring that the available supply grows along with it."
Cobalt-60 is used to sterilize single-use medical devices, to reduce pathogens in food and other products, and to treat certain cancers. As the world's leading supplier of Cobalt-60, Nordion maintains the most geographically and technologically diverse supply network and plans to further diversify production in the future.
About Nordion
Nordion, a Sotera Health company, is a leading provider of medical gamma technologies used for the prevention and treatment of disease and infection. Nordion's products are used daily by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical-device manufacturers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories. Nordion supplies products to more than 40 countries around the world, and is committed to their mission, Safeguarding Global Health with every critical isotope they supply. Learn more at www.nordion.com.
SOURCE Nordion, a Sotera Health company
Related Links
www.nordion.com
DENVER, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Northstar Commercial Partners announced the hiring of Tim Lorman as the company's new Chief Operations Officer. Northstar's Former Chief Operations Officer, Scott Gibler will now be the Chief Investment Officer.
Mr. Lorman brings over 20 years of commercial real estate experience to Northstar, specifically focused on driving growth and managing teams. Prior to joining Northstar, Tim has served as a senior executive at CBRE, Colliers, Serco, TIAA-CREF, and Gensler.
"We couldn't be more excited to have Tim join Northstar," stated Brian Watson, Chairman and CEO of Northstar Commercial Partners. "It's clear that Tim has the expertise and experience to drive significant growth while also promoting a positive company culture."
As a part of this process, Northstar is pleased to announce that former Chief Operations Officer, Scott Gibler, has accepted a new role as the company's Chief Investment Officer. In this role, Scott will help vet all major property investment decisions for the company.
"Scott has been a key decision maker for our organization since he started with us in 2016," continued Watson. "At Northstar, we love promoting our own employees, which is why I was thrilled to give Scott his new CIO title. I have no doubt that Scott's 20+ years of experience in commercial real estate investing will help us make even more calculated, objective decisions moving forward."
Northstar specializes in buying vacant and value-add assets in both Colorado and throughout the United States, in order to help stabilize properties, and create jobs and opportunities for thousands of people. The company also develops and owns commercial real estate assets for companies and for its own account, and these consist of office, industrial, retail, medical, senior care, mixed-use, and data center facilities. Since Watson founded the company in 2000, Northstar has been responsible for closing more than 130 deals, and currently has 48 properties in 15 states under its investment, development, and management. The portfolio exceeds $1.3 billion of market value.
To learn more about Northstar Commercial Partners, please visit: www.northstarcp.com
Media Contact: Nick Pennebaker, [email protected]
SOURCE Northstar Commercial Partners
Related Links
http://www.northstarcp.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Following on the heels of the launch of the revolutionary pain relief solution Comfort! comes Comfort Extra Strength!, combining THC-Free Cannabis with traditional herbal remedies to deliver a faster-acting, longer-lasting formula that targets specific pathways associated with intense occasional pain. Created by respected Naturopath and nutraceuticals product developer Brazos Minshew in collaboration with renowned wellness development company Vergence Naturals, Comfort Extra-Strength! will make its US and Canada debut in March 2019.
Offering a unique combination of phytocannabinoids from THC-Free Cannabis and non-Cannabis sources, Comfort Extra-Strength! safely and effectively addresses occasional pain through its unique blend of five non-Cannabis plants that interact with Cannabis receptors in the brain and body without any THC side effects.
For thousands of years plants have been used in medicine to reduce occasional pain. For example, Aspirin is derived from White Willow Bark, and morphine is derived from plants in the poppy species. Cannabinoids from THC-Free Cannabis have been used by progressive physicians to successfully treat occasional pain. Science has identified cannabinoids in many non-Cannabis plants, such as Hops, Turmeric and Cocoa that yield full functional health benefits. THC-Free Cannabis is recognized as a method to reduce both occasional physical and emotional discomfort by soothing CB-1 receptors in the brain and CB-2 receptors in the body. Reports on the ability of THC-Free Cannabis to soothe occasional emotional distress include:
Preventing us from holding on to emotionally irrelevant memories. 1
Helping us respond to stress appropriately, especially the stress from the memories of injuries. 2
Reduces learned-fear stress response and enhancing stress extinction, both of which can result in a lasting reduction of learned emotional discomfort.3
Brazos Minshew and Vergence successfully combined THC-Free Cannabis with five phytocannabinoids to create Comfort Extra-Strength!, including:
Turmeric phytocannabinoids and terpenes support a healthy inflammatory response without the side effects of THC. Curcumin from turmeric powerfully activates Cannabis receptors for relief of occasional pain. 4
Ginger phytocannabinoids and terpenes support a healthy COX-2 inflammatory response, balance leukotrienes and quiets certain genes associated with pain. 5
Kaempferia galanga phytocannabinoids and terpenes inhibit occasional pain from multiple pathways, including histamine-induced, serotonin-induced and bradykinin-induced models. 6
phytocannabinoids and terpenes inhibit occasional pain from multiple pathways, including histamine-induced, serotonin-induced and bradykinin-induced models. Frankincense phytocannabinoids and terpenes strongly inhibit occasional pain that arises from the nervous system itself (neuropathic pain). This is important because, over time, the brain pathways related to occasional pain tend to experience pain even when nothing is really wrong. 7
Red Pepper phytocannabinoids and terpenes harmonize and amplify the cannabinoids of other plants. Further, pain is often worsened by obesity and obesity, in turn, may produce sensitivity to pain. Red Pepper reduces the pain process that is directly associated with obesity.8
"I am excited to join with Vergence Naturals in the development and launch of Comfort Extra-Strength! uniquely blends phytocannabinoids from THC-Free Cannabis and non-Cannabis plant species to deliver safe and effective relief from occasional pain. We look forward to introducing this extraordinary remedy to adults throughout North America," said Minshew.
"Brazos Minshew has worked tirelessly throughout his distinguished career in medicine to create herbal remedies focusing on endocannabinoid and phytocannabinoid science. Comfort Extra-Strength! is the result of his intense experience in this critically important area of wellness and we are proud to work together to introduce his latest achievement to the public," said Vergence Naturals CEO, Rob Abenante.
Brazos Minshew has dedicated his professional life to the development of wellness technologies that promote health and prolong vitality. His cutting-edge work in bioscience has led to the creation of life-enhancing therapies and helped expand the knowledge and understanding of Functional Medicine. He ranks among the most respected product developers in the burgeoning field of nutraceuticals. Brazos Minshew graduated Hollywood College in 1981 with a degree in Naturopathy, from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1985 in Psychophysiology, from Brantridge Forrest School in 1987 as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and from Brantridge University in 1993 with a Master of Science degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He has been in clinical practice for more than 35 years. Brazos Minshew has significant experience in creating formal and ad hoc Medical Advisory Boards and Scientific Panels in support of Wellness initiatives worldwide. As a media contributor, Dr. Minshew has prepared over 250 Weekly Wellness Reports for 320,000 subscribers, as well as more than 180 VitaJournal articles with circulations exceeding 450,000 and produced a series of audiobooks including the acclaimed Body Systems 101. At the same time, his collection of YouTube videos on Health and Wellness have achieved thousands of visitors. As a speaker, his travels have taken him across the US and Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia, where he averages more than 60 speaking engagements each year.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018 Feb;235(2):447-458. doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4766-7. Epub 2017 Oct 24. Phytocannabinoids modulate emotional memory processing through interactions with the ventral hippocampus and mesolimbic dopamine system: implications for neuropsychiatric pathology. Hudson R1, Rushlow W1,2, Laviolette SR3,4. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 May;76(Pt A):56-66. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.12.033. The endocannabinoid system as a target for novel anxiolytic drugs. Patel S1, Hill MN2, Cheer JF3, Wotjak CT4, Holmes A5. Br J Pharmacol. 2017 Oct;174(19):3242-3256. doi: 10.1111/bph.13724. Epub 2017 Mar 9 . Cannabidiol regulation of emotion and emotional memory processing: relevance for treating anxiety-related and substance abuse disorders. Lee JLC1, Bertoglio LJ2, Guimaraes FS3, Stevenson CW4. Altern Med Rev. 2009 Jun;14(2):141-53. Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: a review of preclinical and clinical research. Jurenka JS1. https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/natural/supplements-herbs/guide/ginger.php https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273636921_Antinociceptive-Kaempferia_galang https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5736925/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5442453/
CONTACT: Steve Syatt
SSA Public Relations
[email protected] / (818) 222-4000
SOURCE Vergence
CLIFTON, N.J. and BOISE, Idaho, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NuMSP, a leading national managed service provider (MSP) offering IT and cybersecurity solutions, announced its acquisition of the Boise, Idaho assets from Corporate Technologies. Corporate Technologies continues its operations in California, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, and New Jersey.
"We are happy to reach an agreement with Corporate Technologies to buy the business in Boise," said Jim Griffith, CEO of NuMSP. "The Boise market is a vibrant, growing market for businesses, and NuMSP looks forward to delivering IT services to those businesses with the highest level of excellence."
This acquisition is the ninth for NuMSP. The company is building a nationwide company with the scale and resources to deliver advanced IT services to SMBs that will rival incumbent solutions at Fortune 500 companies to meet the challenges SMBs face in leveraging their IT investments.
"NuMSP was our first choice for an MSP committed to the SMB market when we decided to exit the market. We remain committed to our customers in our California, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, and New Jersey markets," said Elam Baer, CEO of Corporate Technologies. "Jim and his team at NuMSP will continue to take care of the Boise customers with the same level of care and service delivery we provide."
Learn more at www.NuMSP.com and www.GoCorpTech.com.
About NuMSP
After years of providing IT services and security solutions for SMBs, NuMSP's leadership recognized the need to offer premium solutions in every U.S. state. The SMB market is responsible for most of the job and economic growth in the United States but this segment's ability to leverage technology has always been limited to in-house research capabilities and expertise or the reliance on an IT advisor, a role made more difficult given the advances in technology and proliferation of security threats. In response, NuMSP is creating a nationwide company with the scale and resources to deliver advanced IT services and security solutions that will rival the solutions leveraged by Fortune 500 companies. NuMSP is actively looking to enter new geographic areas and acquire MSPs in existing geographic markets. If you are interested in having your MSP join the NuMSP platform, please contact us at [email protected].
SOURCE NuMSP
Related Links
http://www.numsp.com
KIGALI, Rwanda, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Online marketplaces such as Jumia, Souq, Uber, and Travelstart could create around 3 million new jobs by 2025 across Africa. These digital platforms, which match buyers and providers of goods and services, could also raise incomes and boost inclusive economic growth with minimal disruption to existing businesses and workforce norms. These are among the findings of a new report, titled How Online Marketplaces Can Power Employment in Africa, released today by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Generating employment is an urgent priority across the continent. The African Development Bank estimates that one-third of the 420 million Africans age 15 through 35 were unemployed as of 2015. Around 58% of the new jobscreated directly, indirectly, and through the additional economic activity generated by online marketplaceswill be in the consumer goods sector, 18% will be in mobility services, and 9% in the travel and hospitality sector, according to the report.
For online marketplaces to reach their full potential, however, the public and private sectors must work together to build the right digital environment from the outset, the report notes. Obstacles to industry expansion include underdeveloped infrastructure, a lack of regulatory clarity, and limited market access. For their part, African policymakers are concerned about issues such as data security and potential disruption to traditional business sectors.
The Economic and Social Benefits of Online Marketplaces
"Online marketplaces are a good illustration of how the digital revolution can create economic opportunity and improve social welfare in Africa," said Patrick Dupoux, a senior BCG partner who leads the firm's Africa business. "Because Africa currently lacks an efficient distribution infrastructure, online marketplaces could create millions of jobs."
Concerns that growth in online marketplaces will merely cannibalize the sales of brick-and-mortar retailers are misplaced in the case of Africa, according to the report. There were only 15 stores per one million inhabitants in Africa in 2018, compared with 568 per million in Europe and 930 in the US. This extremely low penetration suggests that there's minimal risk that e-commerce will displace existing retailers and that much of the population is underserved.
Nor are online marketplaces likely to disrupt labor-market norms by blurring the lines between employees and freelances. Unlike in developed economies, the vast majority of African workers are in the largely undocumented and unregulated informal sector. In Nigeria, for example, 71% of workers are self-employed and another 9% contribute labor as family members.
The report also details the ways in which economic activity generated by online marketplaces boosts employment and incomes. These businesses create demand for personnel in new fields, such as platform development, as well as for merchants, marketers, craftspeople, drivers, logistics clerks, and hospitality staff. Some also offer skills-development programs and help small enterprises raise capital to expand their businesses. Online marketplaces also boost demand for goods and services in areas currently beyond the reach of conventional retail networks and bring new peoplesuch as women and youth who may be currently excluded from labor marketsinto the workforce.
"While online marketplaces are often seen as disruptive forces in advanced economies, in Africa's less-structured economics they can be tremendous catalysts of economic development," said Lisa Livers a BCG partner and co-author of the report.
The report recommends that the online marketplace community and African governments collaborate to address the challenges that hinder the online marketplaces' ability to grow. Both industry and government should take actions that foster a mutual understanding of both opportunities and concerns, strengthen trust through the sharing of resources, and build the right technological infrastructure and governance systems.
"Fulfilling the tremendous promise of online marketplaces relies on the ability of the private and public sectors to come together to create the right digital environment that is designed from the outset to bring economic and social benefits for all," said Amane Dannouni, a BCG principal and co-author of the report.
A copy of the report can be downloaded here.
To schedule an interview with one of the authors, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or [email protected].
About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world's leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with offices in more than 90 cities in 50 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com.
About the Center for Customer Insight
Boston Consulting Group's Center for Customer Insight (CCI) applies a unique, integrated approach that combines quantitative and qualitative consumer research with a deep understanding of business strategy and competitive dynamics. The center works closely with BCG's various practices to translate its insights into actionable strategies that lead to tangible economic impact for our clients. In the course of its work, the center has amassed a rich set of proprietary data on consumers from around the world, in both emerging and developed markets. The CCI is sponsored by BCG's Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice and Global Advantage practice. For more information, please visit https://www.bcg.com/capabilities/marketing-sales/center-customer-insight/default.aspx.
SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Related Links
www.bcg.com
SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- LF Networking (LFN), which facilitates collaboration and operational excellence across networking projects, today announced OpenDaylight (ODL), the most pervasive open source Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller, celebrates its sixth anniversary with the release of OpenDaylight Neon.
The Linux Foundation's first networking project and now part of LFN, OpenDaylight was founded in 2013 as an open source framework to accelerate adoption, foster innovation, and create a more open and transparent approach to SDN. Today, ODL has become the most pervasive open source SDN controller that helps power over 1B global network subscribers. Its 10th release, OpenDaylight Neon , demonstrates industry commitment to fostering an open, scalable and interoperable networking solution and supporting ecosystem of developers, integrators, and users.
"This has been possible in large part due to the modular and extensible software architecture which makes it possible to use OpenDaylight in a variety of use cases," said Abhijit Kumbhare, OpenDaylight Technical Steering Committee chair.
"Neon speaks to OpenDaylight's longevity as well as its integration with other projects like Kubernetes, ONAP, OPNFV, and OpenStack," said Phil Robb, vice president, Operations, Networking, and Orchestration, the Linux Foundation. "I am continually impressed by the community's cohesiveness in delivering platform releases with updates and features that enhance evolving SDN use cases."
Most Pervasive Open Source SDN Controller
Scope, diversity and deployments: In just six years, OpenDaylight has delivered 10 releases with the help of 1000+ authors/submitters who contributed 100K+ commits, across dozens of unique organizations. Additionally, ODL-based solutions help power over 1B global network subscribers.
In just six years, OpenDaylight has delivered 10 releases with the help of 1000+ authors/submitters who contributed 100K+ commits, across dozens of unique organizations. Additionally, ODL-based solutions help power over global network subscribers. Support from top vendors, end users: Over time, ODL community contributions have moved from a select group of initial creators to a diverse set of global users and vendors, all building and leveraging solutions based on ODL today.
Over time, ODL community contributions have moved from a select group of initial creators to a diverse set of global users and vendors, all building and leveraging solutions based on ODL today. In-demand upstream: As a robust open source SDN controller, ODL continues to be sought-after by key downstream projects across layers of the network stack, including Akraino Edge Stack, Kubernetes, OpenStack, ONAP, OPNFV, and more.
More industry partners continue to deploy the ODL platform and realize the power of open SDN/NFV. Recent examples include:
Coweaver , one of the largest optical network system makers in South Korea , used ODL to build its Network Management Service (NMS), which is leveraged by South Korean and global vendors.
, one of the largest optical network system makers in , used ODL to build its Network Management Service (NMS), which is leveraged by South Korean and global vendors. FRINX's UniConfig, now powered by PANTHEON.tech's lighty.io, is based on OpenDaylight and enables vendors to build and deploy applications faster.
UniConfig, by PANTHEON.tech's lighty.io, is based on OpenDaylight and enables vendors to build and deploy applications faster. Inspur 's OpenDaylight-based SDN controller is used to manage virtual and physical devices for both enterprise and government cloud environments in China .
's OpenDaylight-based SDN controller is used to manage virtual and physical devices for both enterprise and government cloud environments in . Partnership between NoviFlow and Lumina Networks , a provider of OpenDaylight-based SDN Controller solutions, who together are using OpenDaylight as part of a solution to create and deliver an intent-based Terabit-scale network that reduces costs and network complexity.
, a provider of OpenDaylight-based SDN Controller solutions, who together are using OpenDaylight as part of a solution to create and deliver an intent-based Terabit-scale network that reduces costs and network complexity. Lumina Networks also just announced Lumina Extension & Adaptation Platform, LEAP, which is a platform that extends the benefits of OpenDaylight to legacy devices as well as advanced model-to-model translation, and a cloud native app (or MicroServices) dev environment.
also just announced Lumina Extension & Adaptation Platform, LEAP, which is a platform that extends the benefits of OpenDaylight to legacy devices as well as advanced model-to-model translation, and a cloud native app (or MicroServices) dev environment. Telecom Argentina has chosen OpenDaylight for a wide range of use cases, including the enablement of CDN traffic optimization capability that improves customer experience and reduces data transport costs.
for a wide range of use cases, including the enablement of CDN traffic optimization capability that improves customer experience and reduces data transport costs. Integration with other open source communities continues to grow, including collaborations with OpenStack, Kubernetes, OPNFV, and ONAP. ONAP is using OpenDaylight in its APP-C, SDN-C, and SDN-R projects for use cases like 5G and CCVPN.
Meanwhile, SDN adopters1 including AT&T , CableLabs , China Mobile , Ericsson, Globo.com , Orange, Tencent , Verizon , and more continue to leverage OpenDaylight within their networks and solutions. More details on OpenDaylight user stories are available here.
OpenDaylight Neon brings best-in-class functionality for key SDN use cases
Neon includes updated features important to networking use cases, such as optical transport networking, WAN connectivity and routing, as well as virtual networking in cloud and edge environments. Neon also features new stability and scalability enhancements, and cements the project's leadership in working with other open source communities to expedite next-generation networking solutions. Specific enhancements include:
Cloud/Edge Network Virtualization features have been hardened with the Neon release to further enhance the suitability of OpenDaylight in production networks.
features have been hardened with the Neon release to further enhance the suitability of OpenDaylight in production networks. Optical Transport Infrastructure Control now offers new features that ensure interoperability with higher level controllers using an open northbound API.
now offers new features that ensure interoperability with higher level controllers using an open northbound API. WAN Connectivity: Building on Fluorine's mature BGP stack, Neon brings enhancements that improve error reporting, restarts and network stability.
Building on Fluorine's mature BGP stack, Neon brings enhancements that improve error reporting, restarts and network stability. Improved Stability and Reliability: Neon includes improvements in stability and scale, in addition to functional enhancements and bug fixes. OpenDaylight continues to undergo infrastructure enhancements making it easier for vendors and downstream open source projects to rapidly put-together and deploy OpenDaylight-dependent products and platforms.
More details on OpenDaylight Neon are available here: https://www.opendaylight.org/what-we-do/current-release/neon
Looking Ahead
In conjunction with the Open Networking Summit (ONS) April 3-5 in San Jose, Calif., OpenDaylight will host a Developer Forum, April 1-2, 2019, for its next release, "Sodium." More details are available here: https://wiki.opendaylight.org/view/Events:Sodium_Dev_Forum . There will also be a demo of OpenDaylight's integration with Network Service Mesh in the LFN Booth at ONS. ONAP Dublin, slated for mid-2019, will include the OpenDaylight Fluorine release to support the SDN-C and APP-C modules.
Ongoing Support for OpenDaylight
AT&T
"We are pleased to congratulate OpenDaylight on its sixth birthday," said Brian Freeman, Distinguished Member Technical Staff, AT&T Labs. "AT&T has been using OpenDaylight since Hydrogen, with production deployments since Helium in 2015. Today, we have global deployments with L3 applications using BGPCEP and NETCONF. Our deployments span control of L0 OpenROADM devices to L7 Mobility PNFs and VNFs. Needless to say, we look forward to test-driving Neon and deploying it to production."
Cisco
"OpenDaylight has massively evolved in its six short years and I'm incredibly proud to have been part of the community from the beginning," said Dave Ward, XXX, Cisco. "With a large, sustainable community showing strong collaboration across a diverse set of developers, vendors, and end users, it's become the de facto open source SDN controller for the industry. It's great to see how many other hugely impactful OSS projects are using ODL at their core. I'm very excited to watch its evolution into the future. Happy Birthday ODL!"
Ericsson
"Congratulations to the OpenDaylight community on both the Neon release, and the longevity that its sixth anniversary represents," said Eric Ericsson, Head of Solution line NFVi, Ericsson. "Ericsson continues actively to upstream to the OpenDaylight community and to use the ODL open source software in our commercial NFVi solutions, that enable telecom operators evolved to 5G and to be more productive and lower OPEX and CAPEX expenditures. This includes solutions for onboarding cloud based services, as well as offering intra and inter cloud network automation, multi tenancy and other advanced networking use cases. Ericsson has so far deployed ODL software to more than 50 service providers worldwide".
INSPUR
"Warm congratulations to the OpenDaylight community on the release of Neon and project's sixth anniversary," said Max Zhang, CTO, Inspur Cloud Service Group. "Inspur's Cloud Engine SDN Controller 2.0, based on OpenDaylight Nitrogen SR2 release, has been deployed in both government and enterprise clouds environments. It helps our customers to deploy businesses quickly and flexibly, automate network management, and significantly reduce the cost of operation and maintenance. Future Inspur Cloud Engine SDN Controller releases will continue to use the newest and most stable OpenDaylight release to provide even more features for our customers."
Lumina Networks
"The digital transformation OpenDaylight was built to support, isn't easy," said Andrew Coward, CEO of Lumina Networks. "But in six years, this impressive effort of community innovation has managed to start returning network control and service innovation to the Service Providers. It's an honor to contribute to our shared goals and continue to reach these release milestones."
Red Hat
"The OpenDaylight project started a little more than six years ago with an ambitious set of goals, creating a community from scratch to build an evolving, flexible and open source software-defined networking platform," said Chris Wright, CTO, Red Hat. "Over those six years, we've seen the power of community-driven innovation take OpenDaylight from an aspiration to a thriving open source ecosystem of SDN developers and users. Congratulations to the ODL community on their continued success with the launch of the Neon release."
About The Linux Foundation
Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation is supported by more than 1,000 members and is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, open standards, open data, and open hardware. Linux Foundation's projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org.
The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
Media Contact
Jill Lovato
The Linux Foundation
[email protected]
1 Based on publicly-available information
SOURCE LF Networking
OPPO's 10x Hybrid Zoom is a new technology created by OPPO with a triple-lens camera structure consisting of a telephoto lens, a 120-degree ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 48MP main camera. To provide further value to users, OPPO will also introduce Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on both the main camera and the telephoto lens to achieve higher, anti-shake accuracy that brings people closer to the world around them so that they never miss the unmissable. With all the three lenses, the OPPO technology can cover broad focal lengths of 16 mm-160 mm, which make up the 10x Hybrid Zoom.
The global smartphone maker has tasted much success in the last few years, in large part due to its focus on smartphone camera innovation. It was the first to usher in the era of selfie beautification, and while the trend was eventually copied by other brands, OPPO still retains its crown as the leader in this domain. This is seen in technologies such as the AI Beauty Camera, which features on a number of OPPO flagships and lets users decide what goes into the making of a perfect shot, including face slimming, makeup, and six other fully-configurable modes as well as a live preview option.
The company was also the first in the world to release a 13-megapixel camera smartphone, introduced the world's first smartphone with a rotating camera, and revolutionized the world of smartphones with the world's first stealth 3D cameras in its OPPO Find X phone.
For more details of OPPO's 10x Hybrid Zoom technology, please check this video: https://youtu.be/9raEfOlN2A0
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.
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, 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.
SOURCE OPPO
Leading Cannabis Brand in California and Oregon Lists on the Public Markets
COSTA MESA. Calif., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Orchid Ventures, Inc. ("Orchid"), with its award-winning cannabis brand Orchid Essentials, initiated trading on the CSE under the ticker ORCD on March 18, 2019. This is yet another milestone for the fast-growing Cannabis brand that became a top-selling brand the first year it entered the Oregon market and has plans to meet those same goals in California this year. Orchid was co-founded by Corey Mangold, a serial entrepreneur that has founded multiple successful ventures, and built and marketed brands of products sold around the world, and Rene Suarez, an entrepreneur with a proven track record of developing products that the consumer is looking for in the market. Both Corey and Rene are California natives.
"The public listing of our shares signifies an important milestone for our company as we seek to expand our footprint in our current markets of California, Oregon and beyond," says Corey Mangold CEO and Co-Founder of Orchid Essentials. "We are also gratified to offer our loyal customers and the public access to our shares alongside our longtime early investors."
"Since day one, Corey and I set out to build a company focused on premium quality, calculated expansion and a strong brand," says Rene Suarez, President and Co-Founder of Orchid Essentials. "Finding the right partners has been critical in our growth in this emerging market. Our listing on the CSE is a big step towards reaching our goal, and, establishing Orchid as a leading cannabis company across global markets. Keep watching as there is so much more coming from our team in the near future."
As the CEO of Orchid, Corey brings 20 years of start-up experience and a knack for developing successful companies. Corey is also the principal and co-founder of Gigasavvy, a leading southern California creative marketing agency. He's established a thriving agency that has launched and managed campaigns for Toshiba, Knott's Berry Farm, Johnny Rockets, Hi-Chew Candy, Tenet Healthcare and Northgate Markets to name a few. Corey has also worked tirelessly to create a thriving culture at Gigasavvy that has been recognized, 4 out of the last 5 years, as a "Top 10 Places" to work in Orange County.
As the President of Orchid and former CSO/Partner at Space Jam, a leader in the nicotine/vape juice industry, Rene Suarez brings years of experience in supply chain operations and sales management and has a keen eye for accounting and statistics. At the beginning of his tenure with Space Jam, the company was generating $80k/mo. Through Rene's vision and strategic execution, sales grew rapidly over $1.6MM/mo in less than 6 months. Rene was ultimately responsible for driving over $15MM in sales revenue in 2014 which catapulted Space Jam towards becoming an industry leader.
As validation for the brand and the management team, Orchid was able to attract Tom Soto and Robert MacDonald, sophisticated and experienced political and financial influencers, to its Board of Directors.
Tom Soto is the Chairman of the Board for Orchid, and a long-time investor in the impact sector. His leadership, voice and investments range from Fintech, to electric vehicle technology and policy, to political process, regulatory frameworks and more. His presence in the impact sector as an investor and opinion leader over the past twenty years has been substantial, creating tectonic shifts in policy and in the lives of millions of people who now benet from improved health policies. Mr. Soto was also an appointee of President Bill Clinton to the State Department's Border Environmental Cooperation Commission which oversaw the $2.5b North American Development Bank's activities. In addition, he was President Barack Obama's Co-lead of the Executive Oce of the President's Transition Team for The White House Council on Environmental Quality from November of '08 to January of '09.
Robert MacDonald is the Chair of the Audit Committee for Orchid and, an influential, trusted advisor with deep Board and corporate governance expertise in energy, clean technology, banking, and manufacturing industries. He has had success in raising billions of dollars in capital to catapult startups and growth companies into thriving, profitable entities. Mr. MacDonald has served on 23 Board of Directors for 16 private and 7 public companies and has raised over $8 billion in funds over his extensive career. His experience varies from co-founding and leading the development of one of the country's first fully integrated independent power production companies to helping create two of the largest municipal joint action agencies in California.
Within two years of formation, Orchid has secured distribution in over 250 locations and offers 12 SKUS with many more in development. Orchid has plans to expand into new markets in the US and globally. Orchid is in the process of securing licensing to gain more control of its supply chain and plans to launch its first phase of its CBD line next month.
About CSE
The Canadian Securities Exchange, or CSE, is operated by CNSX Markets Inc. Recognized as a stock exchange in 2004, the CSE began operations in 2003 to provide a modern and efficient alternative for companies looking to access the Canadian public capital markets.
About Orchid Essentials
Orchid is an award-winning cannabis brand with THC and CBD product lines currently sold in 250+ dispensaries across California and Oregon. Orchid plans to expand its brand into new markets such as Nevada, New York, Puerto Rico, Canada and other global markets. With a continued focus on brand and intellectual property development, Orchid will execute strategic acquisitions to solidify an integrated cannabis manufacturing and distribution infrastructure with the goal of becoming a dominant premium cannabis brand in the United States. Orchid's management brings significant branding, product development, manufacturing, and distribution experience with a proven track record of scaling revenues, building value generating partnerships, and creating enterprise value.
THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN.
Contact: Rosie Mattio, [email protected]
SOURCE Orchid Ventures, Inc.
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, announced today that NanoXplore Inc. ("NanoXplore"; TSX-V: GRA; OTCQX: NNXPF), a graphene company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. NanoXplore upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.
NanoXplore begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "NNXPF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.
"We are pleased to welcome NanoXplore to the OTCQX Best Market," said Jason Paltrowitz, EVP of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group. "OTCQX companies must meet high financial standards, demonstrate compliance with U.S. securities laws, and have a professional third-party sponsor introduction. Upgrading to the OTCQX Market from the Pink Market is an important milestone for international issuers, and we look forward to supporting NanoXplore as the company seeks to build visibility among U.S. investors."
"We are delighted to have achieved this very important milestone. Trading on OTCQX will allow for more transparency and liquidity to our current U.S. shareholders," said Soroush Nazarpour, CEO and Founder of NanoXplore. "As a leader in graphene technology, NanoXplore has a patented process in graphene production that provides a cost-effective solution for high-volume applications. The OTCQX Market will provide a platform to attract a broader U.S investor base as we continually achieve our objectives and position ourselves as one of the largest graphene producers in the world."
J.P. Galda & Co. acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor.
About NanoXplore
NanoXplore is a graphene company, a manufacturer and supplier of high-volume graphene powder for use in industrial markets. The company provides standard and custom graphene-enhanced plastic and composite products to various customers in transportation, packaging, electronics, and other industrial sectors. NanoXplore is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, with nearly 400 employees supporting manufacturing facilities across Canada, the U.S., and Switzerland.
About OTC Markets Group Inc.
OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.
To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.
OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.
Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed
Media Contact:
OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected]
SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.
Related Links
http://www.otcmarkets.com
WARREN, Mich., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Art Van Furniture customers are invited to roll out of bed, grab their blankies and head to the retailer's Midwest showrooms and Art Van PureSleep freestanding stores wearing their comfiest sleepwear to shop for a new mattress on Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31. Pajama-clad guests will be treated to complimentary coffee and breakfast in bed while enjoying a fun Art Van PureSleep shopping experience. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 30 and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 31 at Art Van Furniture stores and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 30 and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 31 at Art Van PureSleep stores.
Free pillows will be given away while supplies last to customers who take a rest test wearing their favorite slippers, robes and jammies at the Midwest's No. 1 furniture and mattress retailer's Michigan, Chicagoland, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Iowa showrooms.
Art Van PureSleep shoppers in search of a great night's sleep can be fit to the right mattress for their body using advanced technology. They will be educated by Art Van PureSleep experts on the physical and emotional benefits of quality sleep as well as different adjustable powerbases, pillows, sheets, protectors and sleep accessories to keep them cool, healthy and comfortable all night.
Art Van PureSleep carries today's most trusted brands in the sleep industry, including Sealy, Beautyrest, Stearns & Foster, Tempur-Pedic, Serta, iComfort, Sleep to Live, Reverie, Bedgear Performance Bedding, and Detroit Mattress Co.
For additional information, visit artvan.com.
About Art Van Furniture, LLC.
At Van Furniture, LLC is the Midwest's No. 1 furniture and mattress retailer with 189 stores in nine states operating under the following brands; Art Van Furniture, Art Van PureSleep, Scott Shuptrine Interiors, Levin Furniture, Levin Mattress, Wolf Furniture and Gardiner Wolf Furniture. Founded in 1959, the company is headquartered in Warren, Mich. Art Van Furniture owned by Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. of Boston. Visit artvan.com for more information.
SOURCE Art Van Furniture
Related Links
http://www.artvan.com
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play, the largest global innovation platform, and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the leading international financial centre based in Abu Dhabi, have kicked off their second fintech accelerator and innovation program in the Middle East. Currently, they are partnered with BNP Paribas, Boubyan Bank, Finablr Group, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), and Riyad Bank. These corporate partners are part of Plug and Play's global ecosystem, amongst more than 80 financial institutions across Silicon Valley, New York, Tokyo, Paris, and Frankfurt.
"After the tremendous success of our first fintech accelerator batch last year, we are incredibly excited and motivated to continue bringing value to the financial services sector in the GCC. The local and international startups participating in this upcoming batch will continue to provide value to key financial institutions in the region, and we look forward to cultivating impactful engagements with our corporate partners," said Omeed Mehrinfar, Managing Partner, EMEA at Plug and Play.
The nine fintech startups that have been selected to participate in Plug and Play ADGM's three-month accelerator will have the opportunity to work alongside the financial institutions for a possibility to execute POC or pilot projects. There is no cost for the startups to be in the program and they will remain part of the ecosystem post-graduation.
The Plug and Play ADGM accelerator program will begin on March 26th, 2019 with the selected startups residing at ADGM's co-working space in Abu Dhabi.
The selected fintech startups are as follows:
API Fortress: API Fortress is a versatile testing platform for any company that relies on application programming interfaces (APIs). It creates and automates functional tests, virtualizes APIs, and performs load tests. It also saves time with automated test generation, collaborates with an intuitive interface, and validates deployments to identify problems before your customers or partners.
Cygnetise: Cygnetise is a digital platform built to help organizations maintain and distribute their authorized signatory lists (ASL) in a more secure, efficient and auditable manner. Utilizing blockchain technology, the platform alleviates the pain associated with managing ASLs through its intuitive peer to peer network.
Cyr3con: Cyr3con uses artificial intelligence and dark web information to provide proactive cyber threat intel. A robust API enables multiple next-generation prediction applications. Predictive patching and prediction of specific cyber attacks are two such use cases. Cyr3con also supports current darkweb use-cases through advanced search (i.e. brand protection, leaked data search).
IDNow: IDNow is the world's fastest, most flexible and most secure identity verification platform. Designed to meet specific needs, the platform offers complete flexibility across a wide range of KYC services, from fully automated to agent-assisted solutions. Using a combination of artificial intelligence, facial recognition and machine learning, it delivers instant verification of the identity documents used by seven billion people.
Labiba: Labiba is an artificial intelligence and robotic process automation company specialized in building virtual agents. These virtual agents can emulate human actions in executing business processes and interacting with customers.
Merit Incentives: Merit Incentives provides gifts, rewards and engagement strategies using innovative technologies. This includes gift registry, gift cards, merchandises, and employee & customer rewards with over 400 retailers and service providers across 10 countries in the MENA region.
Narrativa: Narrativa was founded with the mission of making the world's data understandable. Narrativa transforms data into natural language through artificial intelligence. So far they have enjoyed important success in the media and e-commerce sectors and are expanding into financial services.
Silot: Silot empowers banks with a fast and scalable artificial intelligence platform. Their technology helps banks by integrating siloed systems onto the Silot Banking Platform, and transforming data into knowledge and actionable insights across various use cases, enabling banks to better serve their retail and business customers.
Token: Token provides software to banks enabling them to support open APIs, as well as software to developers enabling them to use a single API to access thousands of banks. Token provides the tools to deliver best-in-class data access and payments use cases, and better open banking propositions.
If you are a financial institution looking to work with innovative fintechs disrupting the industry, or a startup enabling the advancement of the financial sector in the MENA region, get in touch today to learn about our programs: [email protected] .
About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 30 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 6,000 startups and 280 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. We provide active investments with 200 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and host more than 700 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $7 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club, and PayPal. For more information, visit www.plugandplaytechcenter.com
About Abu Dhabi Global Market
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), an international financial centre (IFC) located in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, opened for business on 21 October 2015. Established by a UAE Federal Decree as a broad-based financial centre, ADGM augments Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for business and finance and serves as a strategic link between the growing economies of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and the rest of the world.
ADGM's strategy is anchored by Abu Dhabi's key strengths including private banking, wealth management, asset management and financial innovation. Comprising three independent authorities: ADGM Courts, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the Registration Authority, ADGM as an IFC governs Al Maryah Island which is a designated financial free zone. It enables registered financial institutions, companies and entities to operate, innovate and succeed within an international regulatory framework based on Common Law.
Since its inception, ADGM has been awarded the "Financial Centre of the Year (MENA)" for three consecutive years for its initiatives and contributions to the financial and capital markets industry in the region.* For more details of ADGM, please visit www.adgm.com or follow us on Twitter : @adglobalmarket and Linkedin : ADGM
* Source : The Global Investor Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Awards
SOURCE Plug and Play
Related Links
http://plugandplaytechcenter.com
CHICAGO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Did last year's Pride celebrations give you FOMO? With April acting as the unofficial kick off to Pride season, recognized annually and internationally throughout June, now is the perfect time to start planning a trip around the upcoming 2019 Pride festivities. Travelers planning a trip to celebrated Pride destinations including Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco and New York City can browse hotels, booking tips and itineraries using the new Orbitz Pride Travel Guide launching April 1 at Orbitz.com/Pride.
According to recent data from Orbitz, a long proponent of LGBTQ+ travel and the first online travel company to launch a microsite dedicated to gay and lesbian travel more than a decade ago, hotel searches for Pride weekends have already increased by more than double digits when compared to 2018, along with a significant increase in flight searches and Pride package considerations. In fact, when asked directly in an online survey, 79 percent of LGBTQ travelers plan to attend this year's Pride events with a group. Hotels (57 percent) and car shares (54 percent) are the travel accommodations most likely to be booked for Pride celebrations in 2019. 1
"More travelers than ever before will be celebrating love and equality in some of the most gay-friendly cities across the country this year," said Carey Malloy, Director of Brand Marketing for Orbitz Brand. "With this being a milestone year for Pride, our message to travelers is now is the time to plan your trip while accommodations are in high demand."
Pride Travelers are OUT in the World
From east to west, LGBTQ travelers have visited a range of gay-friendly cities throughout the United States, with San Francisco (13 percent), New York (11 percent) and Chicago (10 percent) ranking as the top three destinations based on a recent survey by Orbitz. Nearly half of respondents confirmed they plan to travel between five and 50 miles for a Pride event in 2019, and 42 percent plan to travel more than 50 miles. Three in four (74 percent) of LGBTQ travelers also said that knowing whether a destination is Pride-friendly impacts their decision on where to travel.
Based on hotel inventory in key Pride-friendly destinations, recent flight prices and travel searches, the top 10 cities to celebrate 2019 Pride according to Orbitz are:
Provincetown, Mass. St. Petersburg, Fla. Atlanta, Ga. Long Beach, Calif. New York City , N.Y. Minneapolis, Minn. Columbus, Ohio Miami, Fla. Houston, Texas San Francisco, Calif.
"My summers in Provincetown are always the highlight of my year, so naturally I love that P-Town is ranked as the number one Pride-friendly place to travel!" said Miss Richfield 1981, a well-known drag personality for Orbitz. "It is such a joy to see Pride celebrations spreading throughout the United States and internationally; I encourage my fans and queer community to get out and plan a weekend getaway to celebrate Pride with friends, loved ones and fellow LGBTQ travelers."
Celebrity Shout-OUT
Known as a true LGBT icon, it is no surprise that Ellen DeGeneres topped the list of celebrities that travelers would most like to attend Pride with (31 percent), followed by Lady Gaga (24 percent) and the cast of Netflix's Queer Eye and the Obamas tied for third (both 15 percent). When asked who they would like to see as Grand Marshall of this year's Pride Parade, Ellen DeGeneres, Ru Paul, Barack Obama and Janelle Monae were the top picks from nearly half of respondents (47 percent).
Can't Put a Price on Pride
A shocking 80 percent of LGBTQ travelers said they would sacrifice their cell phone and break the "pics or it didn't happen" rule of Instagram during Pride celebrations in exchange for free parade tickets, meals and hotel accommodations for the weekend. Additionally, while one-in-three travelers (30 percent) say they are looking to spend less than $100 on Pride travel and accommodations, 67 percent of Orbitz's respondents claim experience is the most important consideration when traveling for Pride.
Anchorage Pride Meets Miami Beach Pride
In addition to being one of the top 10 destinations to celebrate Pride based on Orbitz data and recent search demand, Miami Beach is known as an award-winning LGBTQ destination and rightfully kicks off Pride season from April 1-7, 2019. To continue its strong support of LGBTQ+ travel, Orbitz is sending a small delegation from Alaska to the upcoming Miami Beach Pride Week and Parade. The group of four Anchorage Pride members will travel 5,000 miles together, trading the Alaska snow for sand, to embrace Miami's city-wide Pride festivities and gay-friendly accommodations first-hand. Orbitz is sponsoring the Anchorage Pride group to reward and recognize them for the positive impact they have had on their local LGBTQ community, while also connecting with people who share their same passion and Pride, despite the vastly different destinations.
To further spotlight the 2019 Pride celebration, Orbitz will be changing its logo to the rainbow "O" for the month of June. LGBTQ travelers and supporters are encouraged to follow Orbitz on Instagram (@Orbitz) to check out photos, videos and live moments from the Anchorage Pride group's first-time experience at Miami Beach Pride. To book your hotel and LGBTQ-friendly travel accommodations for 2019 Pride, visit www.Orbitz.com today.
Highlights from Orbitz's Pride-Friendly Travel Survey:
Social media (82 percent) and feedback from friends, family and peers (69 percent) are the main sources from which LGBTQ travelers are most likely to hear about Pride events
Nearly three in four (74 percent) Pride travelers say knowing whether or not a place is LGBTQ+ friendly impacts their decision to travel there
67 percent of LGBTQ travelers say the experience is the most important consideration when traveling for Pride; while 17 percent say its location and 10 percent are most cognizant of price
LGBTQ travelers are looking for the best Pride discounts and deals; nearly one in three (30 percent) are looking to spend less than $100 on travel and accommodations
on travel and accommodations Hotels (57 percent) and ride or car shares (54 percent) are the travel accommodations most likely to be booked for 2019 Pride events
80 percent of LGBTQ travelers would forgo their cell phone during Pride in exchange for free tickets, meals and hotel accommodations for the weekend
From their experience, the most Pride-friendly cities LGBTQ travelers have visited include San Francisco (13 percent), New York City (11 percent) and Chicago (10 percent)
(13 percent), (11 percent) and (10 percent) Nearly half of LGBTQ travelers (47 percent) will travel between five and 50 miles for a Pride event in 2019, and 42 percent will travel more than 50 miles
Pride travelers are split on where to sit; more than half (53 percent) would rather get front row at the Pride parade while 47 percent would rather travel first class for Pride
According to LGBTQ travelers, the top U.S. destinations for celebrating Pride include Boston , Miami , San Francisco , New York City and Los Angeles
, , , and Approximately 79 percent of Pride travelers are planning to attend this year's events with a group, with most wanting to attend with their best friend (81 percent)
Nearly half (47 percent) of LGBTQ travelers expressed that their ex is the companion they would least want to go with to Pride
More than 30 percent of LGBTQ travelers say Ellen DeGeneres is the celebrity they would most like to travel with for Pride; 24 percent would prefer to travel with Lady Gaga and 15 percent would like to travel with the cast from Queer Eye or the Obamas
For more information:
Mel Dohmen
Sr. Manager, Brand Marketing
Orbitz Press Office
Coyne PR on behalf of Orbitz:
Laurel Mundth
Account Supervisor
[email protected]
973-588-2000
1This report is based on Orbitz search and historical booking data from 2017 to 2018, as well as a survey conducted among 300 U.S. adults ages 18-44 fielded between March 11 and March 15, 2019. In addition, supplemental data was incorporated from Orbitz pricing and demand information based on historical averages for flights and hotels booked during Pride event dates during 2017 and 2018, as well as travel intent based in search information collected during Pride event dates from 2018 to 2019.
SOURCE Orbitz
Related Links
http://www.Orbitz.com
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- It is not easy being human. That's one of the conclusions reached by Katherine Kelly, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., after nearly 30 years of clinical practice in psychological, medical and holistic health. With that in mind, Kelly has created 11 Soul Health Essential Oils that she says treat deep-rooted mental, emotional and spiritual issues and pair well with her new book, Soul Health: Aligning with Spirit for Radiant Living.
Katherine Kelly Pictured are the 11 Soul Health Essential Oils created by Katherine Kelly, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.
Sold individually or as a set, the products are made with 100 percent organic Jojoba oil, which closely mimics oils produced by human skin and hair. Only non-GMO and mostly organic oils are used in Soul Health Essential Oils which have all been approved by a certified aromatherapist.
This oil set includes:
Soul-Centered: Made with palo santo, spruce, citrus, and lavender, it is the signature oil in the collection. Soul-Centered is designed to ground, relax, and focus users for radiant living.
Evolve-Ease: Made with cedar, frankincense, sandalwood, grapefruit, lemon and vetiver, the oil is said to ease souls as they undergo grief and other transitions.
Soul-Soother: Made with orange, rose, jasmine, bergamot, chamomile, sandalwood and lavender, the oil was created to calm, soothe and empower those who are dealing with prolonged sadness and depression.
Karma-Klear: Made with cypress, frankincense, grapefruit, peppermint, sage, lemon and lavender, the oil is said to help souls say goodbye to patterns that no longer serve them.
The additional seven oils, Love My Soul, Awake My Soul, Manifesting Magic, Radiance, Divine Wisdom, Ascension, and Empath's Armor are designed to assist people who struggle with negativity, low self-esteem, or poor body-image, awaken the senses and inner wisdom, and help people envision their optimal life.
Kelly also plans to offer lines of essential oils for workplace wellness, healthcare practitioners, educators, and for hospice workers and those suffering from grief.
In an interview, Kelly can discuss:
How effective is aromatherapy for relieving depression, anxiety, grief, emotional eating, and focus?
Why is the global aromatherapy market expected to reach $2.35 billion by 2025?
by 2025? What are some tips for using essential oils to greater advantage?
About Katherine Kelly
Katherine Kelly, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., is a clinical health psychologist and consultant currently practicing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has taught in two major medical schools, received specialized training from the Mind-Body Medical Institute of Harvard University, holds a master's of science degree in public health, and is soon to receive certifications in Integrative Mental Health and aromatherapy. She has been a guest on over 300 radio and television shows following the publication of her book Soul Health: Aligning with Spirit for Radiant Living, now in its second edition.
Availability: Nationwide by arrangement and via internet or telephone
Media Contact: Dr. Katherine T. Kelly, office: (336) 659-3923, cell: (336) 406-8431; [email protected]; www.drkatherinetkelly.com
SOURCE Katherine Kelly
Related Links
https://www.drkatherinetkelly.com
Prior to joining TSG, Jonathan was the Director of Business Development for OB Hospitalist Group, where he helped the company achieve new growth milestones and strategic partnerships in highly competitive markets. In addition, Culp served as the Vice President of Business Development for NorthStar Anesthesia, where he delivered nearly $20mm in annualized run rate growth in both 2016 and 2017.
"I am enthusiastically looking forward to building long-term relationships with hospitals to educate and inform senior leadership about how they can benefit from The Surgicalist Group's Model. I pride myself in the ability to assess and diagnose client challenges along with business and market dynamics to successfully build partnerships with hospital administrators that deliver on key clinical quality and financial metrics, that in long-term will benefit patients, surgeons and hospitals alike," said Culp.
The company continues to educate the healthcare industry about the benefits of adopting The Surgicalist Model. Members of the company's leadership team will be present at the 10th Annual Becker's Hospital Review Meeting (booth #403) to inform hospital business leaders about how they can improve their hospital's patient care and its bottom line. This year's conference will be held in Chicago from April 1-3, 2019.
For more information about The Surgicalist Group, call 888-510-1325 or visit TheSurgicalist.com.
SOURCE The Surgicalist Group
Related Links
http://www.thesurgicalist.com
"Over the past decade, Taylor has led RMS through a significant period of technological and business growth. His leadership has set the foundation for future business success and we thank him for his extensive contributions to both our customers and our nation's security," said Kennedy.
In commenting on the company's new leadership appointments, Kennedy added, "Wes and Ralph each bring extensive technical and operational expertise to their new roles. Their customer relationships and proven leadership capabilities will serve our company well as we enter a new period of technical advancement, product innovation and global growth."
Wesley D. Kremer
Kremer, who joined Raytheon in 2003, was named a corporate officer and President, IDS in 2015. Previously, Kremer was vice president of the Air and Missile Defense Systems (A&MDS) product line at RMS, where he managed the SM-3, SM-6, Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) and Redesigned EKV (RKV) programs, as well as Advanced Kill Vehicles and European Missile Defense efforts.
Kremer previously served as the director of Raytheon's SM-3 program, where he was responsible for the development, testing and production of all variants of the SM-3 missile portfolio. He had previously served as the director of Systems Design and Performance Engineering, leading an organization of more than 1,700 engineers responsible for the systems engineering; modeling, simulation, and analysis; guidance, navigation and control; and signal processing design for all Missile Systems programs.
Kremer served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force as a weapon systems officer, flying the F-111 and F-15E, with more than 1,500 hours of flight time in fighter aircraft, including over 90 combat sorties in Iraq and Bosnia. He was the first person to be named the top graduate of both the Electronic Warfare Officer course and the Fighter/Bomber course at Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training. Kremer was ranked first of 411 graduates and named as the Air Training Command Navigator of the Year for 1989. He received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Montana State University and his MBA in engineering technology management from City University of Seattle. Kremer will be based at RMS headquarters in Tucson, Arizona.
Ralph H. Acaba
Acaba joined Raytheon in 1986 and has held a series of increasingly senior leadership roles in the company, including director of the Patriot Systems business, director of Maneuver Protection Programs, and program manager for the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor program.
In 2013, Acaba was named vice president of Raytheon's Integrated Air and Missile Defense portfolio within IDS, which includes all aspects of the global Patriot Air and Missile Defense System, Hawk Air Defense System, and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System business, supporting customers in more than 20 countries. He was named a corporate officer and vice president of Raytheon Program Management Excellence in 2017, where he was responsible for the continuous improvement and implementation of program management best practices and automation across the company's more than 8,000 programs. In this role, Acaba also led the development and certification of the company's program leaders.
Acaba received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, and his master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. In his new role, Acaba will be based at IDS headquarters in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence
Dr. Lawrence retires after serving more than 13 years with the company, including over a decade as President, RMS. Prior to leading RMS, Dr. Lawrence served as Raytheon's vice president of Engineering, Technology and Mission Assurance. In that role, he guided the company's vision and provided corporate leadership in the strategic areas of technology and research, engineering, operations, performance excellence, Raytheon Six Sigma and Mission Assurance.
Previously, Dr. Lawrence was sector vice president and general manager of the C4ISR and Space Sensors division for Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. Before joining Northrop Grumman, Dr. Lawrence served as the staff director for the Select Committee on Intelligence for the U.S. Senate and, previously, as deputy director of the Information Systems Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. He also held a variety of scientific and research leadership positions, including deputy program leader of the Advanced Imaging, Imaging & Detection Program of the Lasers Directorate at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; senior staff scientist of the Research and Development division of Trex Enterprises; and research assistant and undergraduate research fellow in the physics department at the California Institute of Technology.
Dr. Lawrence holds a bachelor's degree in physics from the California Institute of Technology and a master's degree in applied physics from Stanford University. He earned his doctorate in applied physics from Stanford in 1992. He is a member of the Caltech Board of Trustees, the Caltech Space Innovation Council and a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service.
About Raytheon Missile Systems
Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, Raytheon Missile Systems also has locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as oversight of the operations of Raytheon UK and Raytheon Emirates. RMS' broad portfolio of weapon systems supports every mission area of its customers, including air-to-air, land combat, naval weapons, strike weapons, missile defense, guided projectiles, directed energy systems, and combat and sensing systems. The business continually develops and invests in new, innovative technologies to provide rapid, high-quality, affordable mission capability to its customers. RMS is the world's leading producer of weapon systems for the United States military and the allied forces of more than 50 countries. Missile Systems had 2018 sales of $8.3 billion and employs more than 16,000 people.
About Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems
Headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, IDS has 31 locations around the world and provides oversight of the operations of Raytheon Australia and Raytheon Saudi Arabia. Its broad portfolio of weapons, sensors and integration systems supports its customer base across multiple mission areas, including air and missile defense systems; missile defense radars; early warning radars; naval ship operating systems; C5I products and services; and other advanced technologies. IDS provides affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security. IDS had 2018 sales of $6.2 billion and employs 14,700 people.
About Raytheon Company
Raytheon Company, with 2018 sales of $27 billion and 67,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 97 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Follow us on Twitter.
Media Contact
Raytheon Company
Mike Doble
+1.703.284.4345
[email protected]
SOURCE Raytheon Company
Related Links
http://www.raytheon.com
President Kagame said Africa's hopes of achieving regional integration and economic growth would not be realized without modern technology. He also commended the success Globacom has made.
The Rwandan leader who had in his opening remarks at the forum called for "open, responsive and accountable governance" on the continent, said the private sector was critical to growth because of its ability to "envision on what needs to be changed to achieve desired improvement in the private and public sectors".
Mrs Disu said Globacom's Glo 1 armoured submarine cable and digital solutions such as mobile money, artificial intelligence, E-Health, Smart Cognitive Learning and Smart Energy, could help Africa achieve a digitalized economy.
"I commend President Kagame for his exemplary leadership and for the tremendous success Rwanda has achieved under him. Like President Kagame, I have no doubt that greater integration will lead to continental growth and a more prosperous Africa. Globacom is committed to Africa's economic renaissance," Mrs Disu stated.
The Globacom EVC also chaired a session on "Women in Business" on the opening day of the forum. She called for more gender parity on the boards of companies and applauded Rwanda's policy of 50% female representation in appointments as a good model.
"There are no two ways about it, women must continue to advance. After all, we make up more than half of the world's population.
"My charge to women is to keep climbing the career ladder. Climb it anxious. Climb it confidently. But just keep climbing. And when you get to the top, because you will - give a helping hand to the women coming behind you - this is how we grow," Mrs Disu said.
The opening session was attended by Cote d'Ivoire's Prime Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly; Ethiopian President, Sahle-Work Zewde; Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbe; President of Congo Democratic Republic, Felix Tshisekedi, Prime Minister of Rwanda, Edouard Ngirente, and over 1800 leading decision makers in the private and public sectors in Africa.
SOURCE Globacom Limited
Dear @IlhanMN,
I hear you plan to go on a fact-finding tour of Israel. In fact, Israel is doing pretty well. Its, Somalia, your native country, that could truly use your formidable skills. Maybe you could use your frequent flyer miles and swing by.
DUBLIN, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanlam Asset Management (Ireland) Limited (SAMI) has selected award winning AQMetrics to provide AIFMD Annex IV regulatory reporting for its funds.
Sanlam will utilise AQMetrics software technology to automate Annex IV reporting, having deemed the AQMetrics platform the most scalable and robust technology best suited to fit the firm's requirements as the regulatory landscape evolves. Sanlam is beginning a digital overhaul for the firm's operations and are pleased AQMetrics will deliver a seamless, time-saving technology platform.
CEO of AQMetrics Geraldine Gibson stated, "We are delighted to welcome Sanlam to our ever-growing client base. We have the ability to quickly onboard even the largest portfolios and provide a dedicated customer success team to manage the process. We have the best solution to meet Sanlam's requirements for functionality, transparency and cost-effectiveness. Regulation is constantly changing for asset management, but with AQMetrics platform, our clients will always be compliant for both today's and tomorrow's emerging regulations."
Commenting on the partnership Dale Bucknell, Head of Operations at Sanlam, stated, "Sanlam is embarking on a journey of digital transformation, this process will be driven by in-house development of technology solutions, where appropriate, and by partnering with high quality service providers such as AQMetrics where it makes more sense to do so. We very much look forward to working with AQMetrics over the coming months and years."
About AQMetrics
AQMetrics, established in Ireland in 2012 is one of the world's leading regulatory technology ("RegTech") providers. Since inception AQMetrics has continually improved and evolved its technology offering and offers a full risk management and regulatory reporting platform to its clients: from $bn hedge funds, alternative investment managers, MiFID firms, asset servicing providers, fund administrators to banks. Award winning AQMetrics now provides RegTech solutions to a number of the top global fund administrators and asset servicing providers in addition to directly servicing fund managers who require direct access to multi-jurisdictional regulatory reporting technology.
www.aqmetrics.com
About Sanlam Asset Management (Ireland) Limited
Sanlam Asset Management (Ireland) Limited (SAMI) was established in June 1997 in Dublin, Ireland. SAMI currently manages in excess of $8bn for clients world-wide. Clients include various large institutions and retail clients from South Africa, United Kingdom and other jurisdictions. They offer institutional and third-party fund solutions and fund hosting capabilities, along with a wide range of funds for both institutional and retail investors in a range of international markets. All their funds on offer to retail investors in South Africa are FSCA approved.
SAMI is part of the Sanlam Group of companies
https://www.sanlam.com/ireland
Contact:
Phoebe Toal
[email protected],
+353-1-903-5689
Out of office hours: +353-87-7696-448
SOURCE AQMetrics Ltd
Related Links
https://www.aqmetrics.com/
In Hajjah Governorate, SDRPY engineers assessed the capacity of local roads and coast guard facilities in Midi. The Yemeni government has been an important ally in establishing maritime security and combating the smuggling of both licit and illicit goods, including arms. The needs assessments were not limited to the mainland, but extended to the adjoining Red Sea islands of Fasht and Buklan, where education, electricity and water needs were examined. On Fasht, a plan to rehabilitate and re-equip the health center with modern medical devices was outlined with local authorities.
In Al-Jawf Governorate, SDRPY and a body of local officials, under Deputy Governor Sinan Al-Iraqi, established priorities in the agriculture, education, electricity and health sectors. The needs assessment was holistic in nature: while examining agricultural potential and suitable types of seed and fertilizer, the team also examined the potential for digging new and restoring old wells, improving water distribution networks and providing public lighting along main roads in the capital Al-Hazm and the Al-Rayyan Highway. A preliminary study of the requirements for rehabilitating provincial health centers was also conducted.
In Marib Governorate, SDRPY engineers met with Governor Sultan al-Arada and toured Kara Hospital to inspect its transformation from a local to a regional hospital. Since the conflict began, Marib's population has increased from a mere 40,000 to 1.5 million people. This influx of primarily refugees and IDPs has doubled the hospital's caseload several times over.
"The health sector is absolutely vital to our province, and even more so now," said Gov. Al-Arada. "Marib's residents welcome plans for new projects to improve healthcare, as we do for all sectors fundamental to a dignified standard of living."
In Hadhramaut Governorate, SDRPY engineers, resident expert teams and local authorities in the Wadi Hadhramaut valley, including a deputy governor of the province, held extensive discussions on electricity, health, roads, water, agriculture and education at Seiyun University and a local technical institute.
"All of the projects are carried out in consultation with local authorities," said Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber, SDRPY Supervisor and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen. "The joint nature of this needs assessment is good evidence of that."
SOURCE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
DULUTH, Ga., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sebacia, Inc., a privately held, commercial stage dermatology and aesthetics company, today announced that new data from studies on the Company's proprietary Sebacia Microparticles will be featured in three separate presentations during the 39th Annual Conference of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, being held March 27-31, 2019 in Denver, CO at the Colorado Convention Center & Hyatt Regency at Colorado Convention Center. The presentations will feature durability data out to 12 months from the Company's real-world study in Europe, as well as the results from two studies focused on imaging the gold microparticles in the skin.
The study results will be presented by Jill S. Waibel, MD, board-certified dermatologist practicing at the Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute and a Sebacia U.S. clinical trial investigator, and Merete Haedersdal, MD, PhD, DMSc, dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
Anthony Lando, Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are excited to share our new real-world results from Europe demonstrating 85% improvement in acne with Sebacia Microparticles out to 12 months with the U.S. dermatology community. At ASLMS, we will also present results from research that compares the ability of different imaging technologies to detect gold microparticles in vivo. These studies supplement our existing clinical data set and provide physicians further evidence supporting the use of Sebacia Microparticles in the treatment of acne."
Details of the presentations include:
* Abstract Session: Clinical Applications Cutaneous * Oral Presentation: "Gold Microparticles and Laser for the Treatment of Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris: A New Paradigm" * Time: Friday, March 29; 12:40 - 12:45 pm MT * Location: Four Season Ballroom 4 * Presenter: Jill S. Waibel, MD
* Abstract Session: Basic Science and Translational Research * Oral Presentation: "Improved Follicular Delivery of Microparticles Following Topical Pretreatment Visualized by Optical Imaging" * Time: Friday, March 29; 1:09 - 1:16 pm MT * Location: Room 109 * Presenter: Vinzent K. Ortner, MD
* Abstract Session: Non-CME Basic Science and Translational Research * Oral Presentation: "Correlation of in vivo Imaging and Histologic Photothermal Damage to Follicular Structures Using Gold Microparticles and Laser Pulses" * Time: Sunday, March 31; 8:03 - 8:10 am MT * Location: Room 109 * Presenter: Jill S. Waibel, MD
About Sebacia
Sebacia, Inc. is a private medical device and aesthetics company focused on creating advanced topical therapies for the treatment of dermatological conditions, with a primary focus on a novel procedure-based acne treatment. Sebacia's goal is to provide a better alternative to the daily use of topical and systemic drugs currently available for the treatment of acne. Sebacia's patented microparticles technology was invented at Rice University, and the proprietary dermatology applications were further developed with researchers from the Wellman Center of Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Sebacia Microparticles is cleared for use in the U.S. and in the EU, the two largest dermatology markets in the world. Sebacia is planning its U.S. commercial launch for mid-2019. In the EU, Sebacia Microparticles is sold in select markets. Investors in the company include Accuitive Medical Ventures, Domain Associates, Partners Innovation Fund, Salem Partners and Versant Ventures.
Sebacia, Inc. is located in Atlanta, Georgia. More information is available at www.sebacia.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/SebaciaNews and https://www.facebook.com/sebaciainc/.
SOURCE Sebacia
Related Links
https://www.sebacia.com/
BOCA RATON, Fla., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, LLC is pleased to announce the asset acquisition of Prey Insurance Services, LLC, headquartered in Shawano, Wisconsin.
Prey Insurance Services has been serving the state of Wisconsin for 20 years and counting. Prey has grown to be one of Wisconsin's leading independent insurance agencies with a knack for assessing their client's needs and building key relationships. They offer personal and commercial insurance, from home and life insurance to auto and theft. Led by Mike Prey and his team, Prey Insurance excels in customer care with the ability to find the right plan for every need with emphasis on the customer. This acquisition will strengthen Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty's foothold in the Midwest under its Vincent Urban, Walker division.
Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc. continues to target high-quality independent agencies for geographic expansion and continued growth throughout the United States. With the addition of Prey Insurance Services, Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc. will continue to reach new and current clients by helping them protect their most important valuables with not only the right insurance but with the right service for each client.
SHP&C offers:
All Personal Insurance lines
Private Client
Umbrella Coverage
Commercial, Trucking, Marine Insurance
Payroll
Employee Benefits
Human Capital Management
Professional Liability Insurance
Medical & Malpractice
Marshal Seeman, President of Seeman Holtz Property and Casualty, stated, "David Anderson who runs our Vincent Urban Walker division was instrumental in identifying and coordinating this acquisition. Prey will provide us additional resources and dramatically add to our client base in Wisconsin." Eric Holtz, Executive Vice President, added, "Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty has always been committed to the Midwest with emphasis on providing quality regional carriers a connection to farmers and business owners. We are happy to have the Prey team join our family of companies."
About Our Company:
The Seeman Holtz family of companies provides comprehensive risk management, financial and insurance advice to clients across the country.
Contact: Eric Holtz
Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty
844.255.6639
[email protected]
SOURCE Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.seemanholtzpc.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- seriesOne today announced its rapid growth efforts with its series of major partnership and acquisition moves in the last five months. As the only end-to-end platform for fundraising and issuing digital securities, seriesOne has successfully expanded to Switzerland, Seoul, and New York; acquired software development firm, Dynamo Development ; and launched partnerships with Canada-based Polymath , top South Korea-based crypto exchange, Bithumb , and iDisclose , a proprietary legal technology platform.
"Our mission to offer the world's most complete investment and digital security platform, backed by industry best technology and long-standing Wall Street connections, is off to a red hot start in 2019," said seriesOne CEO Michael Mildenberger. "Between November's Bithumb announcement and this month's recent global acquisitions and partnerships, including Dynamo Development in which we were able to accelerate the delivery of solutions for issuers and react to market demands with the support of an additional 40 engineers, we're gaining meaningful traction in the ecosystem."
seriesOne enables investors to put a new wrapper around a familiar or traditional asset, with a view towards broadening the market and enhancing liquidity. This simplified asset and distribution channel that is easier to customize, manage and approve, leveraging blockchain and infrastructure to enable assets, funds, and companies to digitize ownership in a way that is more inclusive, liquid and regulation-compliant, with reduced management costs for investors.
Key developments include:
Partnerships
Bithumb - created a new exchange in the U.S. that seeks to offer a compliant marketplace to trade tokens offered as securities, subject to approval by the SEC, FINRA and other applicable regulatory agencies.
- created a new exchange in the U.S. that seeks to offer a compliant marketplace to trade tokens offered as securities, subject to approval by the SEC, FINRA and other applicable regulatory agencies.
Polymath - enables issuers to create and manage tokens that are compliant throughout their entire lifecycle; from initial offering to trading on a secondary exchange.
- enables issuers to create and manage tokens that are compliant throughout their entire lifecycle; from initial offering to trading on a secondary exchange.
iDisclose - provides legal and disclosure documents to issuers coming through the seriesOne platform. The service enables seriesOne to help their clients by providing a cost-effective solution for filling out detailed disclosure documents that are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission for companies raising capital.
- provides legal and disclosure documents to issuers coming through the seriesOne platform. The service enables seriesOne to help their clients by providing a cost-effective solution for filling out detailed disclosure documents that are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission for companies raising capital. New Offices
New York - launched the New York office after hiring Yvonne Beri , Investor Relations Advisor and Dmitry Grinberg , Chief Technology Officer
- launched the office after hiring , Investor Relations Advisor and , Chief Technology Officer
Switzerland - hired former Accenture consultant, Marcus Maute to launch the Zurich office as the Global Head of Issuer Management.
- hired former Accenture consultant, to launch the office as the Global Head of Issuer Management.
Seoul - welcomed Kaine B. Kim , the former Deputy Director of South Korea's Financial Services Commission ("FSC"), to become the Head of Legal & International Development. Kim will assist seriesOne clients and stakeholders in accessing the South Korean and other major Asian capital markets while ensuring compliance with international law, evolving structures and governing bodies.
- welcomed , the former Deputy Director of Financial Services Commission ("FSC"), to become the Head of Legal & International Development. Kim will assist seriesOne clients and stakeholders in accessing the South Korean and other major Asian capital markets while ensuring compliance with international law, evolving structures and governing bodies. Acquisitions
Dynamo Development - the acquisition enabled seriesOne to expand and strengthen its in-house technology development capabilities and accelerate the delivery of solutions for issuers.
To learn more about seriesOne, visit here: www.seriesone.com .
About seriesOne
seriesOne is a leading blockchain based FinTech company formed by industry veterans with decades of expertise across technology, investment banking, venture capital, and financial compliance. The firm enables digital securities offerings by providing a combination of key technology, strategic consulting, regulatory compliance, fundraising infrastructure and access to a network of investors worldwide. All seriesOne services are designed to comply with applicable securities regulations, enabling companies to register, market, and escrow their fundraising initiatives.
SOURCE seriesOne
Related Links
https://seriesone.com
DALLAS, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark R. Dambro, MD, SVP of Medical Informatics at Signify Health was awarded the prestigious Dr. Martin L. Block Award in a ceremony held on March 18 at the RISE Nashville conference in Nashville, TN. The award was created by the RISE Association to honor the late Dr. Martin L. Block, whose dedication to medicine fueled a deep passion to improve patient care.
Mark R. Dambro, MD Dr. Mark Dambro addresses the audience at the RISE Nashville conference after being named as the winner of the Martin L. Block Award
Earlier in his career, Dr. Dambro spent more than 18 years treating thousands of patients through his private family medicine practice in Fort Worth, TX. In spite of early difficulties, he was able to run his entire practice as a paperless office on an electronic medical record (EMR) years before it became a requirement.
Dr. Dambro also authored and coedited a book with Dr. Winter Griffith in the '90s titled "The 5-Minute Clinical Consult." The book became a mainstay for physicians seeking to efficiently answer clinical questions of diagnosis and treatment and was the first database of medical information. The book was revised and re-released every year with new information.
In 2008, Dr. Dambro accepted a consulting position to help build a Medicare risk adjustment company. He eventually joined the company, CenseoHealth, as Chief Medical Officer. In his role, he continued to teach clinicians the art of bedside diagnosis while helping the company with a thousand clinical and practice-related questions. Today he serves as the Senior Vice President of Medical Informatics for Signify Health, where he continues to use his clinical and technology background to transform the quality and delivery of care.
"Dr. Dambro has been an integral part of this company since the beginning," said Kyle Armbrester, Chief Executive Officer of Signify Health. "His vision and knowledge are the foundation of our current practices; his tremendous kindness and keen insight into the needs of patients--especially seniors--are now integral to the practice of literally thousands of physicians every day. He embodies every aspect of the Martin L. Block Award."
"It is very poignant for me to be honored by my peers and to be standing here today to accept this award," said Dr. Dambro in his acceptance speech. "It is always a team effort, and I'm fortunate to be surrounded by a group that is spectacular and who have helped me deliver on the promise of good medicine. I am so humbled and so thankful."
About Signify Health:
Signify Health partners with leading health plans, healthcare providers, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and technology companies to improve quality of life by providing comprehensive care where and when it's needed most. With an innovative logistics and clinical workflow technology platform, exhaustive data set, and an unparalleled national clinical network, the company provides tech-enabled care services to vulnerable populations within the routine of their daily lives to improve health and quality of life. Signify Health serves well over one million health plan members each year, providing health risk evaluations, complex care management, outcomes-based pharma services, and specialized medical services in the home and other convenient locations. Signify Health is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and employs more than 1,800 professionals throughout the U.S.
Media Contact:
For Signify Health:
Melissa Humphrey
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 469-466-7306
SOURCE Signify Health
Related Links
https://www.signifyhealth.com/
SoftIron's HyperDrive Storage Router is a highly intelligent services gateway for software-defined storage (SDS) that supports multiple protocols and enables enterprise-wide adoption of Ceph. By consolidating user shares, virtualization and any other storage technologies onto one scalable, high-performance platform, the power of Ceph is unlocked for the entire organisation, no matter the end user.
SDS is an attractive enterprise storage solution due to its ability to scale as an organisation grows, and Ceph is widely considered to be the leading open-source software that underpins SDS. However, one of the biggest challenges for Ceph-driven SDS is its inability to support all of the necessary services an enterprise may need. Whilst Ceph caters to Block, Object, and File storage protocols, it is unable to simultaneously provide block service over iSCSI and file shares for users and servers using NFS, SMB/CIFS, until now.
"HyperDrive Storage Router acts as the intermediary between all of these different protocols, finally allowing businesses to leverage Ceph as their unified storage solution. As you can imagine, this massively reduces the complications, delays, and costs that administrators have had to deal with in the past" says Tim Massey, SoftIron's CEO. "It unlocks the exponential potential of Ceph and SDS and allows the entire enterprise to benefit from this technology, regardless of the end user."
"HyperDrive Storage Router has been built as a services gateway that can have different services modules added as features or requirements grow over time. The benefit for our customers is long term scalability and considerable cost reductions. A great example of this is support for VMware. You may want to consolidate all of your storage on Ceph and that is where you would use Storage Router. It exposes iSCSI block services to VMware while at the same time storing all data within the Ceph cluster, maintaining all of the benefits of Ceph for the enterprise" says Tim. "It will do for SDS what Uber did for transport."
Coupled with the HyperDrive Storage Manager, all of this can be managed via a unified, online management system, vastly reducing the management complexity and overhead of your storage.
To find out more about SoftIron and Storage Router, or to book a demo, visit softiron.com or email [email protected]
About SoftIron:
SoftIron makes the world's finest solutions for the data center. The company's HyperDrive software-defined storage portfolio is built on Ceph; it's custom-designed and purpose-built for scale-out enterprise storage and runs at wire speed. HyperCast delivers the best density and value for real-time video streaming. SoftIron unlocks greater business value for enterprises by delivering great products without software and hardware lock-in.
Web: www.softiron.com
Twitter: @SoftIron
Facebook: SoftIronNews
LinkedIn: SoftIron
SOURCE SoftIron
Related Links
https://softiron.com/
PHOENIX and CHICAGO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Solera Health , and Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute (BCBS Institute) today announced the launch of a nationwide program to directly address social determinants of health (SDOH) at the community level, including patient access to healthy food and transportation. The national roll-out of the program is expected in Q2 of 2019 and will focus on the unique environmental and cultural influences and barriers to successfully coordinating regional patient resources at scale.
As an integrated benefits network, Solera offers an extended care marketplace that connects patients, payers, and physicians with a curated network of programs and services paid for outcomes through medical claims. In the case of the BCBS Institute partnership, Solera is actively building and managing a diverse ecosystem of community organizations and resources focused on addressing SDOH while also handling the program's patient identification and enrollment, reimbursement and payment as well as increased consumer engagement.
By tailoring local SDOH resource recommendations to directly align with individual wellbeing needs and preferences, Solera and BCBS Institute's collaboration is expected to have a significant impact on improved consumer health and enhanced quality of life for plan members. In fact, a recent survey by Change Healthcare found that 80 percent of payers believe that addressing the SDOH of their beneficiary populations will be a crucial way to improve their population health programs. Reaching beyond population health, the relationship between Solera Health and BCBS Institute further exemplifies a commitment to bringing private and public entities together to improve community health in a manner that a healthcare organization could not address on its own.
Solera is committed to changing lives by guiding people to better health in their communities. From a consumer engagement perspective the company's technology platform acts like a Match.com service to seamlessly connect people to a curated and managed network of in-person community providers and SDOH resources, ensuring care continues outside the traditional hospital or doctor's office and into the individual's community and home. Through the program, BCBS Institute will leverage Solera's data science to match members with health resources that meets their individual goals, needs, and preferences, which has proven to drive both engagement and outcomes.
"The Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute and Solera Health strategic collaboration was conceived around our organizations' mutual recognition that in order for healthcare to have the maximum impact on individuals, care must reach beyond the four walls of the doctor's office and extend to the community," said Brenda Schmidt, CEO of Solera Health. "To help improve overall health outcomes, Solera's proven, curated network and payment innovation model is being applied to address social determinants of health, connecting BCBS plan members with a diverse array of local resources that best meet their unique needs and preferences. We look forward to seeing the full impact of the initiative as it scales nationally in the coming months."
"The future of healthcare prevention moves away from the clinical setting into the community setting. This transition means that food, fitness and transportation will become an integral component of how we evaluate holistic approaches to the health and well-being of our population," said Dr. Trent Haywood, president of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute. "The collaboration with Solera will help us to better understand how we can address social determinants of health quicker and more effectively."
Solera's marketplace model eliminates the need for health plans to evaluate, contract and manage multiple point solutions to meet the needs of diverse populations at the community level. The company's expansive network of local SDOH resources are paid through outcomes-based medical claims, providing a sustainable revenue model for these organizations and value-based payment innovation that results in healthier individuals and communities all while lowering healthcare costs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 10 percent of factors affecting premature death are related to clinical care, and 30 percent of factors relate to genetics. This means that 60 percent of factors impacting premature death are based on a combination of social/environmental factors and behavior.
About Solera Health
Solera Health is committed to changing lives by guiding people to better health in their communities. The company serves as an integrated benefit network that connects patients, payers, and physicians with community organizations and digital therapeutics providers, simply and securely. Solera helps consolidate highly fragmented programs and services into a single marketplace allowing health plans and medical providers to increase consumer participation while lowering associated costs. By using data science to proactively identify the "best fit" program provider based on each individual's unique health goals, needs and preferences, the company has proven to have a significant impact on improved patient outcomes at a fraction of the cost of traditional medical care. For more information, visit Solera Health at www.soleranetwork.com, call 800-858-1714 or follow us on Twitter @SoleraNetwork or LinkedIn.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute
Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute (BCBS Institute) is the first entity dedicated to addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) at the community level by identifying geographic areas of opportunity and targeting services to improve health within commercially insured markets. The Institute is a subsidiary of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), an independent licensee of BCBSA, and filed as a benefit corporation. CHM Hub and the CHM Hub proprietary software application are intellectual property owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute. CHM Hub is a proprietary software application that offers general information, only, in "as is" condition. CHM Hub does not provide medical, legal, or financial advice. For medical issues, check with your healthcare provider. Neither BCBSA nor any Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan recommends, endorses, warrants, or guarantees, nor are they responsible for damages based on any program, provider, product, service, or community asset whose information may appear on CHM Hub's website. For details, see our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy available at https://app.chmhub.com/.
SOURCE Solera Health
Related Links
http://www.soleranetwork.com
PHOENIX, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Solidarity HealthShare, a pro-life, life affirming alternative to traditional health insurance is proud to premiere UNPLANNED. Based on the incredible true story of Abby Johnson, a former clinical director of Planned Parenthood, who has become one of the most prolific pro-life activists after witnessing the savagery of abortion.
Solidarity HealthShare will host a premiere of UNPLANNED Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. at Ahwatukee 24. The movie premieres nationwide in theaters Friday, March 29, 2019.
UNPLANNED exposes the abortion industry, specifically Planned Parenthood and their for-profit business, killing countless of innocent babies every year, even in the late-term. "We are honored to have Abby Johnson and her family as members of Solidarity HealthShare. She is an incredible heroine and true advocate for the pro-life movement. Abby's story will profoundly impact American's views on abortion and be a force continuing to change hearts and minds promoting a pro-life culture in America," said Solidarity HealthShare COO, Chris Faddis.
"Solidarity HealthShare is an amazing, life-affirming option for affordable healthcare, better options and peace of mind. My family and I could not be happier as members of Solidarity. Working with Solidarity to promote 'Unplanned' has been a joy and I am so appreciative and grateful for their support. I hope every Solidarity member sees the film so they know exactly what Solidarity supports and that they too become passionate supporters of life," said Abby Johnson, CEO and Founder of And Then There Were None.
Proceeds from the premiere will fund Aid to Women Center, a local Catholic, non-profit pregnancy center whose mission is to educate, support, and encourage women and families through pregnancy, providing compassionate care no matter the circumstances.
"Solidarity HealthShare is an affordable, moral, viable alternative to traditional health insurance. We offer a life affirming option for women and their families that unlike most healthcare plans never pays for abortions. We are also working tirelessly, promoting legislation that prevents tax payer funding of abortion and exposing plans that cover the life-ending procedure," said Solidarity HealthShare CEO, Bradley Hahn.
Solidarity HealthShare is a healthcare sharing ministry that offers its members an affordable and ethical way to pay for healthcare. Based on the social and moral doctrine of the Catholic Church, we protect our members' well- formed consciences by sharing in the costs of life-affirming healthcare, and by refusing to participate in unethical medical practices. Our mission is to restore and rebuild an authentic Catholic healthcare culture that promotes the sanctity of all human life, while facilitating the sharing of our members' medical expenses.
SOURCE Solidarity HealthShare
AUSTIN, Texas, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker BP ASA ( AKERBP:NO ), one of the largest independent offshore oil and gas companies, and global artificial intelligence (AI) company SparkCognition, are collaborating to enhance AI applications in Aker BP's "Cognitive Operation" initiative, a new upstream flagship transformation project.
"We recognize the imperative of applying advanced technology to optimize our critical operations," said Per Harald Kongelf, SVP Improvement at Aker BP. "Working with SparkCognition on the Cognitive Operation project confirms Aker BP's unmatched commitment to surpass industry demands and propel its innovation strategy forward."
Through the new transformation initiative, Aker BP is deploying SparkCognition's analytics solution SparkPredict on offshore production platforms to accelerate productivity with advanced predictive maintenance capabilities. SparkCognition's AI systems will monitor both topside and subsea installations for over 30 offshore structures, augmenting Aker BP's entire fleet of production platforms.
"SparkCognition is dedicated to advancing the most important interests in society with sophisticated AI systems," said Philippe Herve, Vice President of Solutions at SparkCognition. "Our collaboration with Aker BP confirms SparkCognition's capability to address difficult challenges in the world's most significant industries and illustrates our dedication to enhancing operations with artificial intelligence."
Using machine learning algorithms, SparkPredict analyzes sensor data to identify suboptimal operations and impending failures before they occur. By deploying SparkPredict on its offshore production platforms, Aker BP will maximize production and efficiency, accelerating its mission to deliver unparalleled value to its customers throughout the world.
"The oil and gas industry is facing a rapidly changing digital landscape that requires cutting-edge technologies to cultivate growth and success," said Per Harald Kongelf. "Aker BP has long term collaborations in place with companies like SparkCognition to deploy industry-leading solutions."
About Aker BP ASA:
Aker BP is a fully-fledged E&P company with exploration, development and production activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). Measured in production, Aker BP is one of the largest independent oil companies in Europe.
Aker BP has a balanced portfolio and is the operator of the Valhall, Ula, Ivar Aasen, Alvheim and Skarv field hubs. The company is headquartered at Fornebu outside Oslo and has offices in Stavanger, Trondheim, Harstad and Sandnessjen.
At the end of 2016, the company had 1,371 employees. Aker BP ASA is jointly owned by Aker ASA (40%), BP (30%) and other shareholders (30%). The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with ticker 'AKERBP'.
About SparkCognition:
With award-winning machine learning technology, a multinational footprint, and expert teams focused on defense, IIoT, and finance, SparkCognition builds artificial intelligence systems to advance the most important interests of society. Our customers are trusted with protecting and advancing lives, infrastructure, and financial systems across the globe. They turn to SparkCognition to help them analyze complex data, empower decision making, and transform human and industrial productivity. With our leading edge artificial intelligence platforms, our clients can adapt to a rapidly changing digital landscape and accelerate their business strategies. Learn more about SparkCognition's AI applications and why we've been featured in CNBC's 2017 Disruptor 50, and recognized three years in a row on CB Insights AI 100, by visiting www.sparkcognition.com .
For Media Inquiries:
John King
SparkCognition
[email protected]
512-956-5491
SOURCE SparkCognition
Related Links
http://sparkcognition.com
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- People with and without cancer are more likely, over time, to use a more potent form of medical marijuana with increasingly higher amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a new study shows.
In a report publishing in the Journal of Palliative Medicine on March 26, researchers say that cancer patients were more likely to favor forms of medical marijuana with higher amounts of THC, which relieves cancer symptoms and the side effects of cancer treatment, including chronic pain, weight loss, and nausea.
By contrast, marijuana formulations higher in cannabidiol (CBD), which has been shown to reduce seizures and inflammation in other studies, were more popular among non-cancer patients, including those with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, say the study authors.
Cancer patients were also more likely to prefer taking oil droplets containing medical marijuana under the tongue than "vaping".
"Although there is growing patient interest in medical cannabis, there is a scarcity of solid evidence about the benefits, risks, and patterns of use of marijuana products in various disease settings," says study lead investigator Arum Kim, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and rehabilitation medicine at NYU School of Medicine and director of the supportive oncology program at its Perlmutter Cancer Center. "Such information is important for delivering the best care."
Since 1996, 31 states, including New York in 2014, have legalized medical marijuana.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from 11,590 men and women in New York, of whom 1,990 (17.2 percent of the total patient cohort) were cancer patients who purchased and used cannabis products from Columbia Care LLC., a dispensary licensed in New York State, between January 2016 and December 2017.
The researchers caution that their data did not include the type of cancer the purchasers had, how much of what they bought was used, or whether marijuana was used for symptoms unrelated to the cancer. Nevertheless, the patterns of use among cancer patients were distinctly different from those of non-cancer patients.
Specifically, the study found that cancer and non-cancer patients used different dosages of cannabis formulations with dramatically different THC:CBD ratios. The two most common formulations contained THC and CBD, but one had twenty times more THC than CBD, whereas the other had the opposite ratio.
Over the two years of the study, the research team found that all types of patients increased their THC dose by approximately 0.20 milligrams per week.
"Our study provides valuable new information about how cancer patients are using marijuana," says study senior investigator Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine and population health at NYU School of Medicine. "In the absence of strong clinical research data for medical marijuana, identifying patterns of use offers some sense of how to guide patients who come in with questions for using medical marijuana, and what may or may not help them."
Researchers say they next plan to get more detailed information about how medical marijuana affects patient response to therapy and functional status at different stages of their disease, as well as the risks and side effects of treatment. Furthermore, the profiles of other cannabinoids besides THC and CBD in medical marijuana products warrant further research, according to the study authors.
Along with Kim and Han, another co-author from NYU School of Medicine and Perlmutter Cancer Center, which funded the study, was Zujun Li, MD. Other study authors include Christopher Kaufmann, PhD, MHS, at University of California San Diego; and Roxanne Ko, BA, BS, at the University of Hawaii.
Media Inquiries:
Jamie Liptack
212-404-4279
[email protected]
SOURCE NYU Langone Health
Related Links
http://www.med.nyu.edu
A Public Sale of Assets Representing over $200 Million at Replacement Cost in Soup Cooking, Processing, Filling & Packaging will be open to the public after the massive plant is decommissioned in May 2019.
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL Asset Group Inc., Corporate Assets Inc., Rabin Worldwide and Capital Recovery Group LLC, today announced the recent joint venture acquisition of assets from the Campbell's Soup 600,000 sq ft Toronto processing plant. The world-renowned facility is known within the industry for having late model, well maintained equipment.
The joint venture is now facilitating an unprecedented offering that will not only attract manufactures in the soup production industry, but buyers from other food and beverage sectors globally.
OAKLAND, Calif., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- TerViva, an agriculture technology firm commercializing resilient pongamia trees that produce as much as ten times the beans per acre as soy for the supply of plant protein, vegetable oil, and biofuel raised an additional $20 million in its first close of its Series D funding and current commitments. This latest round of investment was led by a diversified agricultural family office, Evans Properties, The Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust, and a group of Florida agricultural family offices, who join existing investors including the Elemental Excelerator, the Yield Lab, Astia Angels, Allotrope Ventures and Howard Fischer of Gratitude Railroad. New funds will allow TerViva to accelerate research connecting the pongamia bean's valuable functional properties to critical processing and product development partnerships that will demonstrate commercial viability of pongamia protein and oil. These funds will also grow TerViva's infrastructure to supply farmers with the company's patented high-yielding oilseed trees in Florida and Hawaii.
TerViva sells farmers patented non-GMO cultivars of pongamia selected for their high yields and hardy growth. Farmers partner with TerViva to grow pongamia on abandoned agriculture lands with little to no fertilizers or pesticides. TerViva buys back the crop for processing into plant protein, livestock feed, and high-oleic oil. By cultivating high seed-producing trees and successfully removing compounds impacting taste, TerViva is the first company to make the ancient pongamia tree's protein and vegetable oil yields accessible for food applications.
"Consumption of plant-based proteins and oils is growing rapidly, but the amount of arable land to grow these crops is increasingly limited," says Naveen Sikka, founder and CEO of TerViva. "We've developed a sustainable, market-driven approach for farmers to profit off marginal land by cultivating trees that can feed the planet. We look forward to building partnerships that will incorporate our supply of highly-sustainable pongamia protein and oil as food and feed ingredients."
TerViva is planting patented varieties of the pongamia tree in Florida, where the citrus industry has dramatically shrunk and few alternative crops have emerged, and in Hawaii, on former sugar cane lands on Oahu, Kauai, and Maui, which saw the state's last sugar cane harvest in 2016. TerViva has 150,000 trees under contract with existing customers that include several of the largest citrus farmers in Florida and will use funding to deliver an additional 200,000 trees in the coming two years. Growers and local communities will benefit from a sustainable plant protein with a dramatically lower carbon footprint, and greater resilience to extreme storms, flooding, drought, and heat than annual plant proteins.
The pongamia tree produces a legume that is related to beans, peas and lentils and has been harvested for mostly medicinal uses for more than 1,000 years. As a plant protein, pongamia has excellent potential as a replacement for soy. Pongamia protein has strong gelling and emulsification properties and pongamia vegetable oil is similar to high-oleic acid vegetable oils. TerViva has conducted studies utilizing pongamia protein as an animal feed ingredient with poultry and cows, with promising results emerging as it prepares for regulatory submissions with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
TerViva's funding round has enabled the firm to bring on new leaders in sustainability, growth, and food and feed commercialization, including Jim Astwood, PhD., Agricultural Food and Science, Certified Food Scientist, formerly VP of Scientifics and Government Affairs at Martek (DSM), VP of Global Nutrition at ConAgra Foods, and Science Fellow and Director of Food Regulatory Affairs at Monsanto; and Marc Diaz, who has led impact investing for NatureVest at The Nature Conservancy and UNICEF Bridge Fund, a 2017 Aspen Institute Finance Leaders Fellow, member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and former management consultant at McKinsey & Company.
TerViva's board chairman is Ron Edwards, president and CEO of Evans Properties, Inc., former COO of Tropicana, co-founder of SoBe Beverages and Blue Buffalo Pet Food. He observes that, "TerViva will invest this Series D fundraising support alongside Florida's citrus growers eager to revitalize fallow acreage and scale-up a sustainable, transparent oilseed supply chain. This will unlock numerous applications of the company's intellectual property growing high-performing trees and processing beans in to nutritious food and feed products to meet a broad range of needs."
ABOUT TERVIVA
Formed in 2010, TerViva is a Series-D agricultural technology company that produces pongamia trees with abundant oil and protein-rich beans, similar to soybeans. We provide patented high-yielding trees and offer proprietary bean processing to create sustainable food and fuel. TerViva uses pongamia to restore farmland to productive use, helping farmers feed people while taking care of the planet. Learn more at TerViva.com.
For more information: Justin Wilson, [email protected]
SOURCE TerViva
Related Links
https://www.terviva.com
The five-year Age Well Study is the most extensive longitudinal research to date relative to Life Plan Community residents, and includes responses by 5,148 residents from 80 Life Plan Communities from 28 states nationwide. It is available to download for free at www.TheAgeWellStudy.com .
"This research has the potential to enhance the lives of older adults by providing facts, based on actual data, regarding housing alternatives that positively impact health and wellness," said Mary Leary CEO and President, Mather LifeWays.
Age Well Study key findings show Life Plan Community residents report:
Greater satisfaction with life
More physical activity
Increased personal connections
Higher frequency of volunteering
More optimism
Greater life purpose
Better self-reported health, and fewer chronic conditions
Life Plan Communities are lifestyle residences where people can pursue new passions and priorities, with a plan that supports aging in place. They provide an important benefit: a continuum of living options, which enables people to plan ahead to access additional services, including health care, if ever needed. The Mather, which is projected to open in 2023, will feature amenities and program offerings centered around six dimensions of wellness that are supported by research from Mather LifeWays nationally-recognized Institute on Aging. In addition to the Age Well Study, the Institute has recently partnered locally with George Washington University on other age-related research.
The Mather will offer well-appointed apartment homes with Smart Home Technology, amenity-rich community spaces, and lush green space as well as a variety of dining venues, a fitness center and day spa and inspiring social, educational, and cultural opportunities, such as digital media workshops, live music, art + technology seminars, featured lecturers, and much more.
In addition to The Mather in Virginia, Mather LifeWays operates Life Plan Communities in Illinois and Arizona. For more information about The Mather, visit www.TheMatherTysons.com, call (703) 348-8522, or email [email protected].
SOURCE Mather LifeWays
Related Links
http://www.matherlifeways.com
BOSTON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Opioid Spoon Project (OSP) founded by artist-activist Domenic Esposito, names Tufts University as the first recipient of their "Virtual Spoon Drop" campaign launch today. Tufts were selected for their continued connection via funds and influence with the owners of Purdue Pharma. Esposito, who garnered national attention by placing his hand sculpted, 800lb opioid spoon at the doorsteps of Purdue Pharma and Rhodes Pharma to protest Purdue's alleged role in creating the opioid epidemic, has expanded his activism efforts via this new online platform. The Virtual Spoon Drop campaign will allow Esposito to target the many "players" who continue to contribute to, and profit from the opioid crisis, and serves as an extension of his on-going "live" spoon drop agenda. The Virtual Spoon drops consists of a Meme depicting Esposito's opioid spoon sculpture and a photo of recipient's logo and/or headquarters, and will be displayed on all OSP social media platforms.
Tufts University has a long history with Purdue's founders, and has continued their relationship in spite of court documents filed in January 2019 from Massachusetts attorney general Maura Healy. The State of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, and Purdue's owners, and revealed via the court documents, detailed allegations about Purdue's Oxycontin production and its alleged misleading attempts to deceive the public and medical industry about the drug's highly addictive qualities. The documents further allege Purdue's founders had influence within Tufts University, and their medical programs via funding and the influence they secured through funding that include, Purdue owner board placements, educational programs and policy and the naming of University structures such as the "Sackler Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering," proving a very deep seated relationship.
"It is unacceptable and highly disturbing that Tufts has allowed an entire generation of doctors to be trained by the founders of Purdue within their institution," stated Domenic Esposito. "The next generation should be trained on the merits of medicine, not influence. Sales people belong in car dealerships not our medical schools," Esposito proclaimed.
The Opioid Spoon Project hopes Tufts will cease their relationship with the owner's of the Pharma giant, by rejecting funds and influence, and supports the students and faculty who have created a petition to formally outline their list of demands to the Tufts Administration. The petition demands include; A fair and transparent investigation into all connections between Tufts University and Purdue Pharma; Appropriate steps to defend Tufts' academic integrity, including the removal of Purdue-sponsored curriculum material and Financial support for opioid treatment programs through the School of Medicine and the University at large. "We want the students and faculty of Tufts to know that The Opioid Spoon Project fully supports their efforts in this cause, and hope the Virtual Spoon Drop helps them achieve their goals," stated Esposito.
For all media inquiries, please contact: Cheryl Riley, [email protected]; 202-403-7971, or visit: www.theopioidspoonproject.com. To view the petition created by Tufts University students and faculty: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/455/880/532/tufts-university-sack-sackler/
SOURCE Domenic Esposito
Related Links
http://www.theopioidspoonproject.com
SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tigera, an enterprise software company providing security and compliance solutions for Kubernetes platforms, today announced the general availability of Calico for Windows, adding Microsoft Windows support to its popular Calico container security and networking solution for Kubernetes. Collaborating with Microsoft, Tigera has leveraged the latest Windows platform capabilities to deliver seamless networking and network policy support for cross-platform Linux/Windows Kubernetes deployments.
The combination of Tigera Calico for Windows and the release of Kubernetes 1.14 this week lets development teams move Windows workloads such as .NET applications into a Kubernetes environment while Calico handles the networking and network security across both Windows and Linux.
Tigera Calico leverages a number of built-in Microsoft Windows Server networking features to deliver open networking interoperability and secure host-based policy enforcement, including host networking services (HNS), virtual filtering platform (VFP), and built-in border gateway protocol (BGP) support.
"In talking to many large enterprises, there's a good deal of demand to move applications to more agile, cloud-based environments running in Containers on Kubernetes," said Ratan Tipirneni , president and CEO of Tigera. "Windows workloads are a key component of many enterprise applications, and with Kubernetes now supporting Windows workloads, I expect to see enterprise Kubernetes adoption accelerate."
Tigera Calico is the industry's de facto standard for Kubernetes networking and network security, having been integrated into all major Kubernetes distributions including offerings from AWS, Docker, Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Red Hat. More than 100,000 Calico-based Kubernetes clusters are active daily with innovative organizations such as Atlassian, Github, GiantSwarm, and Idealo.
"More than anything, the benefit afforded by MSA ( microservices architecture ) is agility. MSA was made famous by digital business leaders such as Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter, which adopted it to support their ever-increasing traffic volumes and their competitive requirements to continuously deliver new features and capabilities. Most organizations don't have to deal with Netflix-level scalability concerns, but they do need to deliver new features more quickly," per Gartner.1
According to Gartner: "By 2022, more than 75 percent of global organizations will be running containerized applications in production, which is a significant increase from fewer than 30 percent today."2
Further, Windows users are adopting a cloud strategy, with the share of Windows server deployments in public cloud more than doubling from 8.8 percent in 2014 to 17.6 percent in 2017, according to IDC.3
Tigera Calico for Windows is generally available now with enterprise-grade support via Tigera's Essentials subscription service. Interested end users should contact Tigera to learn more.
About Tigera:
Tigera provides Zero Trust network security and continuous compliance for Kubernetes platforms. Tigera Secure extends enterprise security and compliance controls to Kubernetes environments with support for on-premises, multi-cloud, and legacy environments. Tigera powers all of the major managed Kubernetes providers and is integrated with the majority of Kubernetes distributions. Visit us at www.tigera.io or follow us on Twitter @tigeraio
Contacts:
Andy Wright
[email protected]
(415) 361-3594
Scott Samson
[email protected]
(415) 781-9005
1 Gartner, Inc., "Best Practices for Running Containers and Kubernetes in Production" by Arun Chandrasekaran, February, 25, 2019.
2 Gartner, Inc., "Innovation Insight for Microservices" by Anne Thomas, Aashish Gupta, March 4, 2019.
3 IDC, "Windows Server Operating Environment Market Update" by Stephen Belanger, August 2018.
SOURCE Tigera
Related Links
http://www.tigera.io
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tortuga Logic, a cybersecurity company specializing in hardware threat detection and prevention, is exhibiting at GOMACTech 2019. The four-day conference will take place March 25-28, 2019 at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, NM.
Visit Tortuga Logic at booth #216 to speak with a team of hardware security experts, view live product demos and more.
Exhibit Hours
Tuesday, March 26 from 12:00pm - 8:00pm MT
Wednesday, March 27, from 9:00am - 4:00pm MT
For inquiries or to schedule a meeting with Tortuga Logic at GOMACTech 2019, please contact [email protected].
Conference Details
What: GOMACTech 2019
When: March 25-28, 2019
Where: Booth #216 | Albuquerque Convention Center | 401 2nd Street NW | Albuquerque, NM 87102
About Tortuga Logic
Tortuga Logic is a cybersecurity company that provides industry-leading solutions to address security vulnerabilities overlooked in today's systems. Tortuga Logic's innovative hardware security verification platform, Radix-S, enables design teams to identify and prevent system-wide exploits arising around a Hardware Root of Trust that are otherwise undetectable using current methods of security review. To learn more, visit www.tortugalogic.com or contact [email protected].
SOURCE Tortuga Logic
Related Links
http://www.tortugalogic.com
WATERTOWN, Mass., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tufts Health Plan has joined the growing national movement to adopt eight "National Principles of Care" for the treatment of addiction that will improve outcomes and save lives. Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation addiction causes families, is spearheading the initiative.
"The high number of Americans over 21 million that suffer from substance use disorder is deeply concerning. During the first nine months of 2018, there were over 1,500 deaths in Massachusetts due to the opioid crisis," said Paul Kasuba, M.D., chief medical officer at Tufts Health Plan. "We are proud to join this national effort and collaborate with Shatterproof to improve access and care in substance use disorder treatment. These Principles are another important step that Tufts Health Plan is taking to ensure our members are receiving the best care possible, at the highest quality."
The National Principles of Care were derived from the Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health and are backed by three decades of research. Aligning care with these evidence-based Principles will significantly improve the quality of treatment for the 21 million Americans with substance use disorders. Tufts Health Plan will work to identify and promote substance use disorder treatment that aligns with the Principles, which are expected to improve results and save lives. The Principals include:
Universal screening for substance use disorders across medical care settings
Personalized diagnosis, assessment and treatment planning
Rapid access to appropriate substance use disorder care
Engagement in continuing long-term outpatient care with monitoring and adjustments to treatment
Concurrent, coordinated care for physical and mental illness
Access to fully trained and accredited behavioral professionals
Access to FDA-approved medications
Access to non-medical recovery support services
Tufts Health Plan is one of several health plans, representing 250 million lives nationally, who have signed on to the initiative. As part of the commitment, Tufts Health Plan will also serve on the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Task Force, launched in April 2017 by Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof, and Dr. Thomas McLellan, founder and chairman of the Treatment Research Institute and former Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Obama. The Taskforce will develop metrics to measure progress on this initiative and will publish regularly.
Tufts Health Plan and the Opioid Epidemic
As the opioid epidemic continues to devastate families, Tufts Health Plan is playing a critical role in its early identification and intervention with initiatives and health benefits designed to treat substance use disorder. Several of the health plan's initiatives include:
Substance Use Navigator: Complementing the work of our care management program, the substance use disorder navigator helps members and their families understand treatment options, benefits and coverage; make decisions about next steps; find resources available to them and find solutions that fit their situation on a case-by-case basis. This personalized attention allows members to capitalize on the spectrum of treatment options.
Locally-based Treatment: Unlike costly, out-of-state treatment alternatives, Tufts Health Plan advocates for local treatment, allowing for recovery in a familiar environment. This means individuals learn to cope with triggers, rather than avoid them. Local treatment also provides an easier transition back to the community including a return to the member's professional and personal life.
Medication and Training: Tufts Health Plan has created a unique program to encourage behavioral health and primary care providers to prescribe Suboxone as a medication-assisted treatment by offering providers reimbursement for the federally-mandated training. The goal of this program is to increase access to a critical treatment.
Education: Tufts Health Plan and Delta Dental of Massachusetts are collaborating to improve safe prescribing practices and to promote alternative treatments, through messaging to all dentists. This is critical because, as a 2011 study in the Journal of the American Dental Association indicated, dentists are responsible for 12 percent of prescriptions for fast-acting opioid pain relievers.
About Tufts Health Plan
Tufts Health Plan is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage. Staying true to our mission of improving the health and wellness of the diverse communities we serve, we touch the lives of more than 1.16 million members in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire through employer-sponsored plans; Medicare; Medicaid and Marketplace plans, offering health insurance coverage across the life span regardless of age or circumstance. We are continually among the top health plans in the country based on quality and member satisfaction. Our Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and Senior Care Options plans received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the highest rating possible.i
To learn more about how we're redefining what a health plan can do, visit www.tuftshealthplan.com/whatwedo. Connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube and LinkedIn .
About Shatterproof
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation the disease of addiction causes families. Shatterproof works to end the stigma and foster a community of support, providing evidence-based resources to support prevention, treatment, and recovery. Shatterproof advocates for changes in federal and state policy and supports the development and implementation of evidence-based solutions for substance use disorders.
iEvery year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next. For more information on plan ratings, go to www.medicare.gov. Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO plans received 5 out of 5 stars for contract years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.
Contact: Kathleen Makela
[email protected]
857-304-8293
SOURCE Tufts Health Plan
Related Links
http://www.tuftshealthplan.com
"I am so excited to be back in my hometown of Tulsa, leading Leake Auction Company into the next stage of its history as a pioneer in the collector car industry," said Gary Bennett, General Manager, New Ventures & Sectors (Collector Cars) for Ritchie Bros. "Tulsa is a special place and Leake is a special company and with the strength of Ritchie Bros. as our owner, we expect to accomplish some amazing things here in Oklahoma and around the country. We aren't resting on our laurels. Our next auction in Tulsa in June should not be missed."
While at Barrett-Jackson Gary oversaw the consignment, bidder, guest services, and insurance divisions. He expanded the company from annual events to quarterly events, as well as implementing strategic campaigns to increase attendance at its auctions. Now at Leake, Gary plans to expand the company's auctions to Florida and Arizona, as well as online-only auctions through Ritchie Bros.' online brand IronPlanet.com.
The June 6 8 auction being held at Tulsa's River Spirit Expo is already building with excitement.
"We had more than 700 vehicles on the auction block in Tulsa last June," said Mr. Bennett. "We encourage interested sellers to contact us early to make sure they get a chance to sell in this auction. The earlier you consign the more time we have to market your vehicle to the world."
For more information about the upcoming Tulsa auction, becoming a registered bidder or consigning a vehicle, visit LeakeCar.com or call +1.918.254.7077. Admission is $20 for adults; $15 for seniors; $7 for children under 12; and free for military with ID. Online bidding in the auction will be available via IronPlanet.com.
About Leake Auction Company:
Leake Auction Company was established by James C. Leake, Sr. and is America's first collector car auction. The company continues to carry out the principles Mr. Leake founded the company on: quality, respect, knowledge, and loyalty to the business. The team of industry experts provide decades of world-class collector car auction knowledge. Currently Leake conducts auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Dallas. In January 2018, Leake was acquired by Ritchie Bros., a global asset management and disposition company. With Ritchie Bros. online audience of 3.3 million registered bidders worldwide, Leake has the largest bidder base of any collector car auction company in the world.
About Ritchie Bros.:
Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The company's suite of multichannel sales solutions also includes RB Asset Solutions, a complete end-to-end asset management and disposition system. Ritchie Bros. also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy Auctioneers, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.
Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media.
SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
Related Links
http://www.rbauction.com
DUBLIN, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "UAE Electric Motor Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2019-2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The UAE electric motor market reached a value of US$ 198 Million in 2018
An electric motor is an electro-mechanical machine that produces mechanical energy from electrical energy. It can be operated by direct current (DC) sources, such as solar cells or batteries, or by alternating current (AC) sources, which includes generators or inverters. Electric motor is extensively used in modern-day life, such as in dishwashers, blowers, cars, vacuum cleaners, computer printers, machine tools, water pumps, printing presses and many more.
On account of rising energy consumption in the region, the UAE government is planning to increase its target for power generation to more than 27 per cent by 2023. As electric motors are extensively used in the power generation, this is projected to drive the demand for electric motors in the country. Additionally, expanding applications of pumps and compressors in the desalination, water and wastewater sectors are anticipated to facilitate the electric motor market. Moreover, government initiatives aimed at promoting the adoption of electric vehicles among the consumers represents another major market driver.
As a result, the market is expected to reach a value of US$ 298 Million by 2024, growing at a CAGR of around 6.2% during 2019-2024.
The report has segmented the UAE electric motor market on the basis of application. Some of its major applications are found in pumps and fans, compressors and others. The market is also segmented on the basis of end-use, covering HVAC, oil and gas, food and beverage, mining, water and utilities, and others. Based on efficiency, the market is segmented into IE2, IE3, IE1 and IE4. An analysis of the competitive landscape provides the details of the key players operative in the market.
Some of the major players are ABB, Siemens, WEG Industries, NIDEC Corporation and TECO Middle East Electrical & Machinery Co. Ltd.
Key Questions Answered in This Report:
How has the UAE electric motor market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
What are the key end-use segment in the UAE electric motor industry?
What are the major applications in the UAE electric motor industry?
What are the key efficiencies in the UAE electric motor industry?
What are the price trends of electric motors?
What are the various stages in the value chain of the UAE electric motor industry?
What are the key driving factors and challenges in the UAE electric motor industry?
What is the structure of the UAE electric motor industry and who are the key players?
What is the degree of competition in the UAE electric motor industry?
What are the profit margins in the UAE electric motor industry?
What are the key requirements for setting up an electric motor manufacturing plant?
How is electric motor manufactured?
What are the various unit operations involved in an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What is the total size of land required for setting up an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What are the machinery requirements for setting up an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What are the raw material requirements for setting up an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What are the packaging requirements for electric motor?
What are the transportation requirements for electric motor?
What are the utility requirements for setting up an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What are the manpower requirements for setting up an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What are the infrastructure costs for setting up an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What are the capital costs for setting up an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What are the operating costs for setting up an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What will be the income and expenditures for an electric motor manufacturing plant?
What is the time required to break-even?
Key Topics Covered:
1 Preface
2 Scope and Methodology
2.1 Objectives of the Study
2.2 Stakeholders
2.3 Data Sources
2.4 Market Estimation
2.5 Forecasting Methodology
3 Executive Summary
4 Introduction
4.1 Overview
4.2 Key Industry Trends
5 Global Electric Motor Market
5.1 Market Overview
5.2 Market Performance
5.3 Market Breakup by Product Type
5.4 Market Breakup by Region
5.5 Market Breakup by End Use
5.6 Market Forecast
6 Global Low Voltage Electric Motor Market
6.1 Market Overview
6.2 Market Performance
6.3 Market Breakup by Power Ratings
6.4 Market Breakup by Efficiency
6.5 Market Breakup by End Use Industry
6.6 Market Breakup by Application
6.7 Market Breakup by Region
6.8 Market Forecast
7 GCC Low Voltage Electric Motor Market
7.1 Market Overview
7.2 Market Performance
7.3 Market Breakup by Power Ratings
7.4 Market Breakup by Efficiency
7.5 Market Breakup by End Use Industry
7.6 Market Breakup by Application
7.7 Market Breakup by Region
7.8 Market Forecast
8 UAE Low Voltage Electric Motor Market
8.1 Market Overview
8.2 Market Performance
8.3 Market Breakup by Power Ratings
8.4 Market Breakup by Efficiency
8.5 Market Breakup by End Use Industry
8.6 Market Breakup by Application
8.7 Market Forecast
8.8 SWOT Analysis
8.9 Value Chain Analysis
8.9.1 Raw Material Procurement
8.9.2 Manufacturing
8.9.3 Distribution
8.9.4 Exports
8.9.5 End-Use
8.10 Porters Five Forces Analysis
9 UAE Electric Motor (Low Voltage) Market: Performance by Efficiency
9.1 Standard Efficiency Electric Motors
9.2 High Efficiency Electric Motors
9.3 Premium Efficiency Electric Motors
9.4 Super Premium Efficiency Electric Motors
10 UAE Electric Motor (Low Voltage) Market: Performance by End-Use Industry
10.1 HVAC
10.2 Oil and Gas
10.3 Food, Beverage and Tobacco
10.4 Mining
10.5 Water and Utilities
10.6 Others
11 UAE Electric Motor (Low Voltage) Market: Performance by Applications
11.1 Pumps and Fans
11.2 Compressors
11.3 Other Applications
12 Competitive Landscape
12.1 Market Structure
12.2 Key Players
13 Electric Motor Manufacturing Process
13.1 Product Overview
13.2 Detailed Process Flow
13.3 Various Types of Unit Operations Involved
13.4 Mass Balance and Raw Material Requirements
14 Project Details, Requirements and Costs Involved
14.1 Land Requirements and Expenditures
14.2 Construction Requirements and Expenditures
14.3 Plant Layout
14.4 Plant Machinery
14.5 Machinery Pictures
14.6 Raw Material Requirements and Expenditures
14.7 Packaging Requirements and Expenditures
14.8 Utilities Requirements and Expenditures
14.9 Manpower Requirements and Expenditures
14.10 Other Capital Investments
15 Loans and Financial Assistance
16 Project Economics
16.1 Capital Cost of the Project
16.2 Techno-Economic Parameters
16.3 Product Pricing and Margins Across Various Levels of the Supply Chain
16.4 Taxation and Depreciation
16.5 Income Projections
16.6 Expenditure Projections
16.7 Financial Analysis
16.8 Profit Analysis
17 Key Player Profiles
ABB
Siemens
WEG Industries
NIDEC Corporation
TECO Middle East Electrical & Machinery Co. Ltd.
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/zqzpmp/uae_electric?w=5
Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Media Contact:
Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
[email protected]
For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470
For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
SOURCE Research and Markets
Related Links
http://www.researchandmarkets.com
For 2019, the top five Healthiest Communities score above the national average in all 10 categories. Following Douglas County, Colorado, at No. 1, Los Alamos County, New Mexico, rose to No. 2, moving Falls Church city, Virginia, to No. 3, down from No. 1 in 2018. Loudoun County, Virginia, jumped up a spot to No. 4, with Broomfield County, Colorado, rounding out the top five.
"Through the Healthiest Communities initiative, U.S. News expands on three decades of expertise in measuring health care quality to assess how social determinants affect community health," said Eric Gertler, executive chairman of U.S. News & World Report. "Our second-year endeavor with the Aetna Foundation combines high-quality data with the power of journalism to engage communities about where they can improve and how they can learn from each other."
The Healthiest Communities rankings, underwritten by the Aetna Foundation, are part of a $100 million commitment by CVS Health and its affiliates to making community health and wellness central to the company's charge for a better world. The new Building Healthier Communities initiative, which will be funded over five years by CVS Health and the CVS Health and Aetna foundations, builds upon the outstanding tradition of community investment by CVS Health and Aetna and advances CVS Health's purpose of helping people on their path to better health.
"Through our support of organizations across the country, we know that the most effective and innovative solutions to improve health are consistently developed by addressing the needs of each specific community," said Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Health. "The Healthiest Communities rankings continue to provide the insights that are essential to identify key issues and support community organizations, leaders and residents who are tackling the unique social determinants of health that impact their respective neighborhoods."
In addition to an overall ranking of the top 500 communities, four peer groupings were developed based on counties' urban-rural status as tied to population density and economic status. The peer groups assure fair comparisons between communities and are categorized as: urban high-performing, urban up-and-coming, rural high-performing and rural up-and-coming.
Key Findings in the 2019 Healthiest Communities rankings:
For 2019, Douglas County, Colorado , is the No. 1 healthiest community in America . The Denver suburb is among the top 10 healthiest communities in the country in at least four of the 81 measures, including physical activity, educational attainment and median household income.
. The suburb is among the top 10 healthiest communities in the country in at least four of the 81 measures, including physical activity, educational attainment and median household income. Seven communities in Colorado rank among the top 20 : Douglas County (1), Broomfield County (5), Chaffee County (11), Routt County (14), San Miguel County (17), Pitkin County (19) and Boulder County (20). In those seven counties, nearly all adults exercise and only about a quarter missed their annual wellness checkup. Across all of its counties, Colorado has the highest average score in the country in the Environment category, which includes measures of natural amenities and air and water quality.
: (1), (5), (11), (14), (17), (19) and (20). In those seven counties, nearly all adults exercise and only about a quarter missed their annual wellness checkup. Across all of its counties, has the highest average score in the country in the Environment category, which includes measures of natural amenities and air and water quality. Iowa has the strongest presence in the Healthiest Communities rankings overall , with 62 counties landing among the top 500 . Average community scores put Iowa among the top 10 states in four of the 10 broad categories assessed, including Population Health and Housing. Iowa's top-performing community, No. 26 Bremer County, takes top scores in walkability and low toxic releases.
, . Average community scores put among the top 10 states in four of the 10 broad categories assessed, including Population Health and Housing. top-performing community, No. 26 Bremer County, takes top scores in walkability and low toxic releases. 81 counties are new to this year's top 500 communities , including Montour County, Pennsylvania , which improved in the Population Health category. Bath County, Virginia , saw significant progress in Education and Sweetwater County, Wyoming , rose in Environment.
, including , which improved in the Population Health category. , saw significant progress in Education and , rose in Environment. Of the 81 metrics included in the Healthiest Communities analysis, diabetes prevalence and smoking rate have the strongest correlation to life expectancy. According to Healthiest Communities calculations, Hawaii counties perform the best in the country in life expectancy, with an average of 81.15 years.
According to Healthiest Communities calculations, Hawaii counties perform the best in the country in life expectancy, with an average of 81.15 years. At 8.7 percent, the average smoking rate across Utah counties is the lowest in the country. The rate is about half the national average and about 3 percentage points lower than in California , the state with the second-lowest rate.
The rate is about half the national average and about 3 percentage points lower than in , the state with the second-lowest rate. Poor self-reported mental health has about the same negative link to life expectancy as diabetes, smoking and physical inactivity. The same metric also is linked to higher rates of poverty at the community level.
The same metric also is linked to higher rates of poverty at the community level. Communities in Nebraska take 16 of the top 100 spots in the Mental Health subcategory, including Cherry County and Morrill County , which both score among the top 10 in the subcategory. The state has averaged 26 deaths due to suicide, alcohol-related disease and drug overdoses per 100,000 population; only New York state has averaged fewer "deaths of despair," with 25 per 100,000 population.
To compile the rankings, U.S. News worked with the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES), a research institution skilled in community health assessment, and consulted with members of the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics. For the 2019 rankings, three new measures were added: two under the Equity category assessing racial disparities and one under the Housing category measuring households with incomplete plumbing. Overall, the rankings are based on metrics drawn from sources such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Healthiest Communities rankings are the centerpiece of a platform featuring in-depth reporting and analysis on community and public health issues, as well as comprehensive data covering the full spectrum of factors that influence population health. Healthiest Communities is part of U.S. News' expanding civic journalism portfolio, which includes the Best States and Best Countries sections that evaluate how government leaders and public policies best serve their citizens.
2019 Healthiest Communities- Top 10
*See the full rankings here
Douglas County, Colorado Los Alamos County, New Mexico Falls Church city, Virginia Loudoun County, Virginia Broomfield County, Colorado Teton County, Wyoming Hamilton County, Indiana Carver County, Minnesota Delaware County, Ohio Howard County, Maryland
Peer Group Rankings Top 5
Urban, High-Performing
Douglas County, Colorado Los Alamos County, New Mexico Falls Church city, Virginia Loudoun County, Virginia Broomfield County, Colorado
Rural, High-Performing
Teton County, Wyoming Chaffee County, Colorado Morgan County, Utah Routt County, Colorado Jefferson County, Montana
Urban, Up-and-Coming
Houston County, Minnesota Hood River County, Oregon Bennington County, Vermont Island County, Washington Marquette County, Michigan
Rural, Up-and-Coming
Wallowa County, Oregon Lincoln County, Washington Calhoun County, Iowa Iron County, Wisconsin Baylor County, Texas
Key Health Measures Top 5
Top 5 Communities for Access to Health Care
Suffolk County, MA Olmsted County, MN Montour County, PA Ohio County, WV Johnson County, IA
Top 5 Communities for Mental Health
Manassas Park city, VA Cherry County, NE Tripp County, SD Honolulu County, HI Santa Clara County, CA
Top 5 Communities for Low Cancer Prevalence
Ziebach County, SD Culberson County, TX Presidio County, TX Garfield County, WA Hudspeth County, TX
The 2019 Healthiest Communities rankings are accompanied by data-driven and narrative stories examining the health island of Williamson County, Tennessee; the conflict of city vs. suburban health as seen in Nassau County, New York; and more.
To view the full rankings and search county profiles, please visit: https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities.
For more information on Healthiest Communities explore Facebook and Twitter using #HealthiestCommunities.
U.S. News Media Contact: Maria Santucci, [email protected], 202-955-2031
Aetna Foundation Media Contact: Ethan Slavin, [email protected] 860-273-6095
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and Civic, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
About the Aetna Foundation
The Aetna Foundation is an independent charitable and philanthropic affiliate of CVS Health (NYSE:CVS). As a national health foundation, the Aetna Foundation promotes wellness, health and access to high-quality health care for everyone. This work is enhanced by the time and commitment of Aetna employees, who volunteered 670,000 hours in 2018 alone. For more information, visit www.aetnafoundation.org.
SOURCE U.S. News & World Report
Related Links
http://www.usnews.com
LONDON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Visiongain has calculated that the Microgrid Market will see a capital expenditure (CAPEX) of $12.6bn in 2019. Read on to discover the potential business opportunities available.
Microgrid is one of the most advanced concepts in the power generation. The technology acts as a promising source of electricity during emergencies, bad weather conditions and power outages.
The microgrid market is mainly driven by factors including rising demand for efficient energy usage, growing adoption of renewable energy and need for efficient grid infrastructure. The rapid growth in the population has led to increased congestion and stress on the existing grid leading to an unbalanced and inefficient supply of electricity among the consumers; the bulk of them affected by lack of electricity supply.
Most of the rural and remote areas across the world lack an efficient supply of electricity and thus have to rely on imported fossil fuels to meet their energy requirements. The bulk of them lack connectivity to power grids.
Microgrid has an ability to store energy and can be connected and disconnected from the main grid. It helps deliver secure energy for emergency facilities including hospitals, defence and police stations during extreme climatic and weather conditions. The microgrid technology can suffice both fossil fuel and renewable energy resources which can lead to a clean, affordable and efficient electricity supply both on-grid and off-grid.
The deployment of microgrid technology will not only reduce the burden on existing utilities but will also help reduce greenhouse gases through the adoption of renewable resources. The technology can be considered as a building block towards the development of smart energy system with its compact design and high reliability during emergency conditions.
Microgrid market is expected to witness a high potential in remote regions and islands. Increasing measures by the government to facilitate efficient and reliable electrification benefits will boost the demand for microgrid globally.
Visiongain's Microgrid market report can keep you informed and up to date with the developments in the market, across five different regions: North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
With reference to this report, it details the key investments trend in the global Microgrid market, subdivided by regions, capital expenditure and capacity. Through extensive secondary research and interviews with industry experts, Visiongain has identified a series of market trends that will impact the Microgrid market over the forecast timeframe.
The report will answer questions such as:
How is the Microgrid market evolving?
What is driving and restraining Microgrid market dynamics?
How will each Microgrid submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much Sales will these submarkets account for in 2029?
How will market shares of each Microgrid submarket develop from 2019-2029?
Which individual technologies will prevail and how will these shifts be responded to?
Which Microgrid submarket will be the main driver of the overall market from 2019-2029?
How will political and regulatory factors influence regional Microgrid markets and submarkets?
Will leading national Microgrid market broadly follow macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual country sectors outperform the rest of the economy?
How will market shares of the national markets change by 2029 and which nation will lead the market in 2029?
Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?
How will the sector evolve as alliances form during the period between 2019 and 2029?
Five Reasons Why You Must Order and Read This Report Today:
1) The report provides Analysis and Forecasts for the Microgrid Markets by
CAPEX (US$m)
Capacity (MW)
2) The report provides forecasts for the Microgrid Market by Application, for the period 2019-2029
Remote Application Forecast 2019-2029
Utility Distribution Application Forecast 2019-2029
Commercial and Industrial Application Forecast 2019-2029
Community Application Forecast 2019-2029
Institutional/Campus Application Forecast 2019-2029
Military Application Forecast 2019-2029
3) The report provides forecasts for the Microgrids Market by Region, for the period 2019-2029
North America Microgrid Market
US Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Canada Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Europe Microgrid Market Forecast
Russia Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
France Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Denmark Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Rest of Europe Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Asia-Pacific Microgrid Market
China Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Japan Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
South Korea Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
India Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Rest of Asia-Pacific Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Latin America Microgrid Market
Brazil Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Rest of Latin America Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Middle East and Africa Microgrid Market
Saudi Arabia Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
South Africa Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
Rest of the Middle East and Africa Microgrid Forecast 2019-2029
4) The report also includes Extensive details and analysis of contracts, projects and programmes in the Microgrid Market information on:
Location
Technology
Project
Contractor
5) The report provides market share and detailed profiles of the leading companies operating within the Microgrid market:
ABB Ltd.
General Electric
Hitachi Ltd.
Siemens AG
Eaton Corporation
NRG Energy
Caterpillar
Honeywell International Inc.
This independent 171-page report guarantees you will remain better informed than your competitors. With 168 tables and figures examining the Microgrid market space, the report gives you a direct, detailed breakdown of the market. PLUS, Capital expenditure AND Capacity, as well as Analysis of Contracts, Projects and Programmes that will keep your knowledge that one step ahead of your rivals.
This report is essential reading for you or anyone in the Energy sector. Purchasing this report today will help you to recognise those important market opportunities and understand the possibilities there. I look forward to receiving your order.
To request a report overview of this report please contact Sara Peerun at [email protected] or refer to our website: https://www.visiongain.com/report/the-microgrid-market-forecast-2019-2029/
Did you know that we also offer a report add-on service? Email [email protected] to discuss any customized research needs you may have.
ABB Ltd
Advanced Microgrid Solutions
Anbaric Microgrid
Canadian Solar Inc
Caterpillar
Centrais Eletricas do Para (CELPA)
Chevron Inc
Corinex Communications
Cummins Inc
Duke Energy Corporation
Dynapower Company LLC
Eaton Corporation
eCAMION
Emerson Electric Corporation
ENERES
ENGIE
Fairbanks Morse
FuelCell Energy Inc.
General Electric
Green Energy Corporation
Hitachi Ltd.
Homer Energy LLC
Honeywell International
Hyosung
IBJ Leasing
KERI
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)
Lockheed Martin Corporation
LSIS
METI
Nalcor/ Frontier Power Systems
NEDO
Nimschu Iskudow Inc
NRG Energy
PanaHome
Power Analytics Corporation
PowerShift Atlantic
Princeton Power Systems
Qulliq Energy Corporation
S&C Electric Company
Saudi Electricity Company (SECO)
Siemens AG
Solantro Semiconductor
Tesla Motors Inc.
TUGLIQ Energy Co.
Viridity Energy Inc.
Organisations Mentioned
BC Institute of Technology
Centre for renewable Energy Development (CRED)
China National Renewable Energy Centre
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Department of Energy
Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) Saudi Arabia
Energy Market Authority
Fairfield University
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) - South Korea
National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)
National Energy Agency (NEA)
Natural resources Canada
New York University
Princeton University
Saudi Ministry of Water and Electricity
Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA)
University of California, Sand Diego
To see a report overview please e-mail Sara Peerun on [email protected]
SOURCE Visiongain
SALT LAKE CITY, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As nearly 13,000 students across the country are affected by the closure of Argosy University, Western Governors University (WGU) President Scott Pulsipher today announced that the university has created transfer pathways and is offering scholarship opportunities for those students seeking to complete bachelor's and master's degrees at WGU.
President Pulsipher offered encouraging words to the nearly 13,000 students impacted by Argosy's closure: "Don't give up. You've worked too hard and come too far to give up on your dreams of a better life now. At WGU, our competency-based programs offer students the flexibility to earn credentials on their schedule, with the option to accelerate, and our tuition is very affordable. WGU won't be the right fit for every Argosy student, but it may be a great option for many who don't want to let their hard work go to waste."
The Finish Strong Scholarship is a competitive program and is available for any of WGU's more than 60 bachelor's and master's degree programs in business, nursing and healthcare, information technology, and teacher education. Scholarships will be awarded based on the student's academic record, previous college experience, readiness for online study, current competency, and other considerations.
In addition to the scholarships, WGU will waive the university's $65 application fee as well as the first-term resource fee of $145 for Argosy transfer students. WGU's dedicated admissions staff are on standby to review Argosy University students' situations and answer transfer or other questions.
About WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 114,000 students nationwide and has more than 136,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation's leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 21 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today's rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, and was featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at www.wgu.edu.
Follow WGU:
http://www.facebook.com/wgu.edu
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/western-governors-university
http://twitter.com/wgu
http://www.youtube.com/WesternGovernorsUniv
http://google.com/+wgu
http://news.wgu.edu/news/news.xml
Contact for media inquiries: Contact for enrollment information: Joan Mitchell, VP Public Relations 866-225-5948 801-428-5463 wgu.edu [email protected]
SOURCE Western Governors University
Related Links
http://www.wgu.edu
MOUNTAINSIDE, N.J., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The cost of motor vehicle accident injuries continues to rise, notes My NJ Injury Lawyer, Howard P. Lesnik, Esq. These costs have grown by 26 percent for personal injury protection (PIP) no-fault claims over a nine-year period, according to the recent Insurance Research Council's (IRC) study. Medical expenses from an accident can include ambulance service, hospital, doctors, MRIs and other scans, and months of medical care, more scans, surgery and physical therapy.
Although many people assume the car insurer for the other car will pay their medical bills, this is no longer the case in New Jersey. New Jersey requires insurance companies to provide Personal Injury Protection (PIP coverage). PIP coverage covers medical bills resulting from a NJ car accident, regardless of who is at fault for the crash.
PIP may cover:
Family members injured in a car accident who reside with you, and do not own their own car even when they were not in your car at the time of the accident. No one should be afraid to ask a relative they reside with for the car insurance policy.
Medical coverage to passengers in your car who are injured in a car accident, if they don't have their own car, and don't reside with someone who has PIP coverage.
NJ's PLIGA When PIP Car Insurance Coverage is Not Available
The State of NJ. NJ has set up a fund through a program called NJ PLIGA which may cover medical benefits for people injured in a car accident and there is no PIP coverage available to them from their own car insurance or family member's policy. To qualify, NJ PLIGA must be notified within 180 days.
How Much Will My PIP Coverage Pay?
PIP benefits are available to you through your automobile insurance policy if you own your own car. Therefore, you can elect how much PIP coverage you want to purchase. You can purchase the minimum coverage, which is $15,000. However, if you are involved in a serious accident and require extensive medical coverage and surgeries, this limit will not fully cover your medical expenses, and you will be responsible for the balance of the bills. Even if your personal injury attorney settles your claim against the other driver, your bills will have to be paid out of the settlement. In other words, your settlement amount may be greatly reduced to satisfy the outstanding medical bills.
If you elect full PIP benefits, you are entitled to $250,000 in medical coverage. If you are the victim of a traumatic car crash and require substantial medical care and surgeries, your medical bills will be fully covered. And your settlement will not be reduced by reimbursing the doctors for outstanding medical liens. Finally, the insurance companies don't want you to know that full PIP coverage, which provides an additional $235,000 in medical benefits, is just a hair more expensive then the basic minimum coverage. This small increase in your premium provides full medical coverage to prevent against astronomical medical bills that can not only affect your settlement, but your financial freedom going forward after the accident.
About My NJ Injury Lawyer Howard P. Lesnik, Esq.
Howard Lesnik is a NJ Certified Trial Lawyer who brings experience and knowledge of the laws of New Jersey to protect seriously injured clients. His legal counsel allows clients to heal from injuries while he negotiates with insurance companies, and prepares for trial, if reasonable settlements cannot be reached. See https://mynjinjurylawyer.com/, or contact him directly [email protected].
Media Contact:
Howard P. Lesnik, Esq.
My NJ Injury Lawyer, Howard P. Lesnik, Esq.
Cell: 908-264-7701
[email protected]
https://mynjinjurylawyer.com/
Image: https://mynjinjurylawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/howard-lesnik-my-nj-injury-lawyer.jpg
SOURCE My NJ Injury Lawyer Howard P. Lesnik, Esq.
Related Links
https://mynjinjurylawyer.com
"The response in our inaugural year was nothing short of inspiring," said WWP CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Linnington. "Now it's time to build on that momentum. We want to reach more veterans and communities as we strive to empower those who have served."
Every participant has a story. Three sailors in San Diego exemplified the spirit, taking turns carrying each other. Volunteers cheered as a father, with his young son perched on his shoulders, waved a flag, while others carried weights across the finish line. There were countless smiles and pictures of supporters who provided a snapshot of perseverance and patriotism.
"With all of the hundreds of people that are here supporting us, it really warms my heart to know this is the country we live in," said one veteran at the Carry Forward event in Nashville.
Here's where the stories will unfold this year:
San Diego Aug. 24
Nashville Sept. 21
San Antonio Oct. 5
Jacksonville Nov. 9
Virtual now thru Dec. 15
If you can't attend an event, don't worry there's another way to participate. Virtual runs or walks give you the flexibility to create your own Carry Forward event on a date and location that's most convenient for you. Follow this link to see how you can set up your own event: https://carryforward.woundedwarriorproject.org.
All proceeds of Carry Forward help veterans on their journeys to recovery. Warriors don't pay a penny for WWP programs, because they paid their dues on the battlefield. WWP's free services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care change lives. To donate or read more about WWP, visit https://wwp.news/GiveBack.
For updates on Carry Forward events, follow WWP Carry Forward at https://www.facebook.com/wwpcarryforward.
About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more: http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.
SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project
Related Links
https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Yapstone ("Yapstone" or the "Company"), a leading provider of online and mobile payment solutions for global marketplaces, software companies, platforms and merchants, and Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. ("Priority"), a leading provider of merchant acquiring and commercial payment solutions, today announced that they have entered into a real estate payments operating partnership within Priority Real Estate Technology ("PRET"), an operating subsidiary of Priority. The business that Yapstone is contributing represents less than ten percent of Yapstone's overall revenue.
Yapstone will continue to provide credit and debit card processing to PRET and will contribute its leading real estate payment processing technology, as well as its extensive property management contracts and customer relationships in the rent, storage and dues markets. Additionally, Yapstone will maintain a significant minority stake in PRET and will serve on its board. Yapstone will continue to focus on providing superior payment solutions to marketplaces, software companies, platforms and merchants worldwide.
Priority will be the majority owner in the partnership and assume responsibility for the management and daily operation of the newly combined business. In addition to managing the new entity, Priority Real Estate Technology will provide critical operating infrastructure, marketing and sales support and real estate technology assets, including products and services derived from the previous acquisitions of RadPad and Landlord Station. Priority will fund the transaction through its recently amended Senior Secured Credit Facility.
Tom Villante, Chairman and CEO of Yapstone stated, "We're thrilled to partner with Priority to jointly attack the multi-trillion-dollar global rentals market. Priority's existing real estate businesses, strong distribution platform and product offerings fit perfectly with Yapstone's technology and market position we've built in these verticals over the past 20 years. The partnership with Priority allows Yapstone to better serve the global rentals market and at the same time, allows us on a standalone basis to focus on providing superior end-to-end payment solutions to a broader set of marketplaces, software companies, platforms and merchants worldwide."
Thomas C. Priore, Executive Chairman and CEO of Priority, added, "We are both excited and optimistic about joining forces with a market leader like Yapstone in the rapidly growing real estate payments industry. Building on our prior acquisitions of RadPad and Landlord Station, when combined with Yapstone's market-leading enterprise market offering, PRET possesses a single platform that addresses the needs of all landlord constituents from integrated enterprise property managers and middle market partners to small/local landlords for rent, dues and storage payment processing. This partnership aligns perfectly with our integrated payment solutions strategy in a key industry vertical, and we expect it to be highly accretive for shareholders."
About Yapstone, Inc.
Yapstone is a leading fintech company that delivers tailored payment technologies and manages risk for some of the world's largest marketplace platforms. Yapstone is among the largest private payment companies in the world and processes billions of dollars annually. It continues to be recognized by Inc., Forbes, and Entrepreneur Magazines for its explosive growth and has won numerous accolades for being a Best Place to Work. The company has raised over $120 million from investors including Accel Partners, Meritech Capital, Premji Invest, and MasterCard. Headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA, Yapstone has additional offices in Santa Monica, CA and Ireland.
About Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.
Priority is a leading provider of merchant acquiring and commercial payment solutions, offering unique product and service capabilities to its merchant network and distribution partners. Priority's enterprise operates from a purpose-built business platform that includes tailored customer service offerings and bespoke technology development, allowing the Company to provide end-to-end solutions for payment and payment-adjacent opportunities. Additional information can be found at www.PRTH.com .
SOURCE YapStone, Inc.
MADRID, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In a ranking dominated by apparel brands, Zara has retained the top spot as the most valuable Spanish brand with a value of $24.8 billion in the BrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Spanish Brands report released today by WPP and Kantar.
Overall, the 2019 ranking value grew 1% to $103.9 billion but there were many brands that defied the average. CaixaBank (No. 13, $1.7 billion) was the fastest riser, up 36%, followed by oil & gas brand Repsol (No. 8, $3.0 billion) and national airline Iberia (No. 25, $430 million), which both grew by 19%.
The top five remained unchanged with telecom provider Movistar (No. 2, $21.6 billion), banking giant Santander (No. 3, $9.9 billion), finance brand BBVA (No. 4, $8.5 billion) and energy titan IBERDROLA (No. 5, $5.6 billion) completing the list.
Kindness and difference drive growth
When asked to associate which of 24 positive or negative words best described brands, those identified by Spanish consumers as 'kind' exceeded average growth rates by 5%. Iberia is perceived as the kindest brand in the Spanish Top 30, indexing 126 (where the average is 100).
Growth was also driven by a clear perception of 'difference', a measure of consumer recognition that the brand stands apart from rivals in its sector. Spanish brands in the ranking scoring highly on difference are worth an average of $6.9 billion, compared to $1.4 billion for those with a low difference score.
David Roth, WPP said: "Offering something different is vital for building brand value today if companies want to stand apart from their competition and grow their business faster. Being indistinct means slower growth and a greater vulnerability to fast-moving rivals. A significant proportion of brands clearly recognise this but there is potential for many of Spain's most valuable brands to improve in this area."
The BrandZ Top 10 Most Valuable Spanish Brands 2019
Rank 2019 Brand Category Brand value 2019 ($M) 1 Zara Apparel 24,801 2 Movistar Telecom providers 21,614 3 Santander Banks 9,879 4 BBVA Banks 8,473 5 IBERDROLA Energy 5,591 6 Naturgy* Energy 5,110 7 Endesa Energy 4,922 8 Repsol Oil & Gas 3,018 9 Massimo Dutti Apparel 2,210 10 Mercadona Retail 1,818
Apparel's competition
Zara's top spot reflects its leadership in 'fast fashion trend' retailing, and while the brand saw a minor drop in value (1% year-on-year), it performed significantly better than the apparel sector as a whole, which fell 6% in total value over the same period.
Spain's international apparel brands are being challenged by greater competition and currency fluctuations, as well as the ongoing challenge of transferring sales to digital platforms, all of which are impacting their brand value. The best-performing brand in this category was Pull&Bear (No. 11), which rose 5% to $1.8 billion and targets a younger group than many of its competitors. The retail sector also faced many of the same challenges, with total brand value down by 20%.
Banking boost
CaixaBank, this year's fastest riser, stands out due to strong perceptions of its corporate responsibility (indexing 139); it is also the only Spanish bank to be perceived as 'friendly' (indexing 110). The banking sector saw the largest change in total brand value, up 12% to $21.9 billion, with six brands in the Top 30, including Bankia (No. 16, $1.1 billion), Banco Sabadell (No. 22, $516 million) and Bankinter (No. 29, $242 million).
Better financial results, fuelled by greater consumer optimism, rising employment, combined with the benefits of offering greater convenience to consumers via tools such as digital banking have helped boost brand valuations across the sector.
Other trends highlighted in this year's BrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Spanish Brands report include:
A healthy brand is a valuable brand: The ranking shows a strong correlation between good health as measured by BrandZ's 'Vitality Quotient' metric and brand value. The 10 healthiest brands in the ranking have an average value of $6.8 billion , while the bottom 10 have an average value of just $868 million . Healthy brands can be found across a range of sectors including beer, insurance, retail and travel but the healthiest is oil and gas company Repsol , which indexes 133.
The ranking shows a strong correlation between good health as measured by BrandZ's 'Vitality Quotient' metric and brand value. The 10 healthiest brands in the ranking have an average value of , while the bottom 10 have an average value of just . Healthy brands can be found across a range of sectors including beer, insurance, retail and travel but the healthiest is oil and gas company , which indexes 133. Brands need to show they can be trusted: While personal confidence is generally up, trust in institutions and the government is down, driving a growing need for honesty and transparency from Spanish brands not least because trust is closely linked to recommendation, which is increasingly important in the digital age.
Martin Wohlfart, Head of Client Management, Madrid, Kantar Millward Brown, said: "For Spanish consumers we've seen it's not just about cost but about valuing brands that are perceived to support local jobs and communities. Brands should maximise the presence they have in Spain, seize the opportunities to build on trust and demonstrate their contribution to national pride."
The BrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Spanish Brands report and rankings, and a great deal more brand insight for key regions of the world and hundreds of market sectors, are available online here.
The Spanish report, rankings, charts, articles and more can also be found via the BrandZ app. The BrandZ app also contains the same features and functionality for all BrandZ regional reports and can be downloaded free for Apple IOS and all Android devices from www.brandz.com/mobile or by searching for BrandZ in the respective iTunes or Google Play app stores.
Background and methodology
Created by WPP and Kantar, the valuation behind the BrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Spanish Brands was conducted by brand equity research experts Kantar. The methodology mirrors that used to calculate the annual BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking, which is now in its 13th year.
The ranking combines rigorously analysed market data from Bloomberg with extensive consumer insights from over 3.7 million consumers around the world, covering more than 166,000 different brands in over 50 markets including opinions from over 61,500 Spanish consumers on more than 700 brands in over 49 categories.
The ability of any brand to power business growth relies on how it is perceived by customers. As the only brand valuation ranking grounded in consumer opinion, BrandZ's analysis enables Spanish brands to identify their strength in the market and provides clear strategic guidance on how to boost value for the long-term.
The BrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Spanish Brands is the most definitive and robust ranking of the country's brands available, and the brands ranked all meet these eligibility criteria:
Brand is originally created in Spain
The brand is owned by a publicly listed company traded on a credible stock exchange or a private company with financials publicly available
*Please note that consumer fieldwork was carried out prior to the rebrand of Gas Natural Fenosa as Naturgy.
The suite of BrandZ brand valuations and reports also includes China, India, Indonesia, Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, UK, US, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Australia, South Africa, Italy and Global rankings.
About Kantar
Kantar is the world's leading marketing data, insight and consultancy company. We know more about how people live, feel, shop, vote, watch and post worldwide than any other company. Working across the entire sales and marketing lifecycle, we help brands uncover growth in an extraordinary world. Kantar is part of WPP and its services are employed by over half of the Fortune 500 companies in 100 countries. For further information, please visit us at www.kantar.com.
About WPP
WPP is a creative transformation company. We build better futures for our clients through an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce and technology. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.
For more information please contact:
Teresa de Ledesma
Communications Manager
Insights Division, Kantar Spain
[email protected]
SOURCE Kantar
Rio De Janeiro, March 26 : Brazil's former President Michel Temer and seven of his close aides were ordered to be released from prison on Monday, following their arrest last week on corruption charges.
Temer, his former Minister of Mines and Energy Moreira Franco and six others, were granted release by a federal judge, Antonio Ivan Athie, two days before a panel of judges was scheduled to rule on a habeas corpus petition from Temer's defence team.
"Upon examining the case, I verified that there was no justification for waiting another two days for the decision... on the matter of release," Athie wrote in his decision, Xinhua news agency reported.
Athie said he was not acting to curtail Operation Car Wash, Brazil's ongoing judicial investigation into graft, but argued it was the suspects' constitutional right to remain free while awaiting trial.
Preventive arrest in Brazil aims to prevent a suspect from destroying evidence, witnesses tampering or continuing to commit a crime.
In Temer's case, investigators had argued he was still committing the crime of taking bribes, but Athie contradicted their finding.
Temer was arrested on Thursday, 80 days after leaving office, for accepting kickbacks from nuclear energy firm Electronuclear, which was granted a government contract to build the Angra 3 power plant. Under questioning Friday, he decided to remain silent.
The former President was arrested in Sao Paulo, where he resides, and taken to Rio de Janeiro, where the investigation is taking place. He had been held at the headquarters of Rio's federal police force.
London, March 26 : MPs have voted to take control of Commons business in an unprecedented move to try to find a majority for any Brexit option.
The government was defeated by 329 votes to 302 on the cross-party amendment, a majority of 27. It means MPs will get a series of votes on Wednesday to find out what kind of Brexit they will support.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has said there is no guarantee she will abide by their decision, the BBC reported.
But Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, who had backed the amendment tabled by Conservative Sir Oliver Letwin, said the government "must take the process seriously".
He added: "The government has failed and this House must, and I believe will, succeed."
He said MPs would want to find a consensus on the way forward, including a possible "confirmatory vote" on the PM's deal by the public -- something May told MPs earlier she did not want because Remain would be on the ballot paper.
May had earlier tried to head off a defeat by offering MPs a series of votes on Brexit alternatives, organised by the government.
She said allowing MPs to take over the Commons agenda would have set an "unwelcome precedent".
But supporters of Sir Oliver Letwin's amendment said they did not trust the government to give MPs a say on the full range of Brexit options.
Thirty Tory MPs voted against the government, including three ministers -- Richard Harrington, Alistair Burt and Steve Brine -- who have now resigned from their ministerial posts.
Sukma : , March 26 (IANS) Four Maoists were killed on Tuesday in a gun battle with a special unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, said the paramilitary unit.
The gunfight began around 6 a.m. when a Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit, was on a search mission in deep forested area around one kilometre from Bimapur in Jagargunda area.
"Four bodies of Maoists in uniform, one Insas rifle and two 303 rifle were recovered," said a CRPF official.
The specialised unit of the CRPF proficient in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare continues with the deep combing of the forested area, he added.
New York, March 26 : Michael Avenatti, who represented adult film star Stormy Daniels in her case against US President Donald Trump, was arrested after he was charged in two criminal cases over complaints that he allegedly attempted to extort over $20 million from Nike and also for committing wire and bank fraud.
Avenatti was arrested on Monday in Manhattan, law enforcement officials told CNN.
He was however, released on a $300,000 bond later in the night and said outside a federal court here that he was "highly confident" that he will be "fully exonerated."
The criminal complaint unsealed in the New York case describes a rapid investigation that unfolded over the course of the past six days, beginning March 19.
According to the complaint, Avenatti on March 19 met attorneys for Nike and threatened to release what he said were allegations of misconduct by employees on the eve of both its quarterly earnings call and the start of the NCAA tournament.
Avenatti would disclose the allegations at a press conference, according to the complaint, unless Nike made millions in payments to him and an unnamed co-conspirator by hiring them to conduct an "internal investigation", for which he later requested between $15 million and $20 million.
After the meeting, Nike's outside counsel, lawyers from Boies Schiller Flexner LLP contacted federal prosecutors to inform them of Avenatti's threats.
In the second case, federal prosecutors in California charged Avenatti for wire and bank fraud -- charges that could bring a maximum sentence of 50 years in federal prison.
The California complaint alleged he "embezzled a client's money in order to pay his own expenses and debts, as well as those of his coffee business and law firm, and also defrauded a bank by using phony tax returns to obtain millions of dollars in loans".
On Monday, after the two sets of charges against Avenatti became public, Daniels said she was "saddened but not shocked" at the news, CNN reported.
"I made the decision more than a month ago to terminate Michael's services after discovering that he had dealt with me extremely dishonestly and there will be more announcements to come," she said in a statement.
Washington, March 26 : US President Donald Trump's administration has said that the entire Affordable Care Act or Obamacare should be struck down, in a dramatic reversal.
In a filing with a federal appeals court, the Justice Department said on Monday night that it agreed with the ruling of a federal judge in Texas that invalidated the Obama-era health care law, CNN reported.
"The Department of Justice has determined that the district court's comprehensive opinion came to the correct conclusion and will support it on appeal," said Kerri Kupec, spokesperson for the Department.
It's a major shift for the Justice Department from when Jeff Sessions was attorney general. At the time, the administration argued that the community rating rule and the guaranteed issue requirement -- protections for people with pre-existing conditions -- could not be defended but the rest of the law could stand.
After the Justice Department took that position, federal District Judge Reed O'Connor struck down the entire law and the case is currently before a federal appeals court.
Overturning the law would have far-reaching consequences -- way beyond disrupting coverage for the millions of people who get their health insurance on the exchanges or through Medicaid expansion.
Obamacare saves senior citizens money on their Medicare coverage and prescription drugs. It lets many Americans obtain free birth control, mammograms and cholesterol tests. It also allows children to stay on their parents' health insurance plans until they turn 26.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the administration's stance amounted to "all-out war on the health care of the American people", CNN reported.
"While the Trump administration broadens its monstrous ambitions from destroying protections for pre-existing conditions to tearing down every last benefit and protection the Affordable Care Act provides, Democrats are fiercely defending the law of the land and protecting all Americans' health care," she said.
Senator Kamala Harris, a California Democrat, became the first 2020 candidate to weigh in on the filing with her criticism on Monday night.
"Trump and his administration are trying to take health care away from tens of millions of Americans - again," Harris wrote in a tweet.
"We must fight back again with everything we've got. And in 2020, we need to elect a president who will make health care a right."
New York, March 26 : A US federal court here has sentenced a disgraced former Hong Kong politician for six years in jail for his role in a multimillion-dollar scheme to bribe African leaders through contacts made at the UN.
The sentencing on Monday wrapped up a case that began with his arrest by FBI agents at the John F. Kennedy Airport here in November 2017, and saw Ho convicted on seven counts of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering in December 2018, reports CNN.
The maximum penalty for each charge ranged from five to 20 years in jail. He has pleaded not guilty.
Besides the sentence, the court also asked Ho to pay a $400,000 fine.
In sentencing, Judge Loretta A. Preska had called corruption "an insidious plague". She noted that it is "found in all countries -- big and small, rich and poor -- but it is in the developing world that its effects are most destructive".
But she also noted Ho's record of helping others, including the inmates he had tutored during his 16 months at the Manhattan Correctional Centre, which will be deducted from his sentence.
After leaving the Hong Kong government, where he had served as Home Affairs secretary from 2002 to 2007, Ho became the head of a UN-based NGO which was fully funded by a mysterious Shanghai-based conglomerate called CEFC China Energy, which had been founded by Ye Jianming, who in 2016 was ranked No. 2 on Fortune's 40 Under 40 list.
At the UN, Ho befriended African politicians and ultimately offered them bribes to gain business advantages for CEFC China Energy, CNN said.
He was found to have offered a $2 million cash bribe in gift boxes to the President of Chad, Idriss Deby, after arranging a meeting with him in the Sahara Desert to secure oil rights for a Chinese conglomerate.
In Uganda, Ho caused a $500,000 bribe to be paid, through the New York banking system, to Sam Kutesa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda, who had recently completed his term as the president of the UN General Assembly.
Uganda has since said in a statement that it was "erroneous" to say Kutesa was involved.
Ho also schemed to pay a $500,000 cash bribe to Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda. The bribe was not paid and there is no suggestion that Museveni accepted or solicited it.
Singapore, March 26 : A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from Mumbai landed safely at Changi Airport here on Tuesday after the pilot raised a bomb threat alert.
Flight 423 was escorted safely back to the airport by Singapore's air force and touched down at about 8 a.m., The Straits Times quoted the police as saying.
The police searched the Boeing 777-300ER that carried 263 people onboard, but did not find any suspicious item.
All passengers, except for a woman and a child who were held back for questioning, disembarked safely and had to undergo security screening before they could leave.
Preliminary investigation showed that the airline had received a call after the plane left the Mumbai airport on Monday at 11.35 p.m. The caller claimed that there was a bomb on the plane.
An airline spokesman told The Straits Times: "Singapore Airlines confirms there was a bomb threat concerning SQ423 operating from Mumbai to Singapore... We are assisting the authorities with their investigations and regret that we are unable to provide further details."
New Delhi, March 26 : After a heated argument with her husband, a woman pushed her two children and then jumped off the third floor of her house here, a police official said on Tuesday, adding that both minors died on the spot.
The incident occurred late on Monday in Lalita Park of Laxmi Nagar. Neighbours heard a loud thump and informed the police.
Aliya, 34, mother of seven-year-old Mehak, and three-year-old Aafraan pushed the two children from her balcony. Aafraan landed on the ground, while his sister and mother fell on the first floor balcony, a senior police officer from Laxmi Nagar police station said.
"Aliya has been admitted to the LBS hospital, and is critical," he added.
"Probe suggests Aliya took the extreme step after her husband, Munawar Ali, left the house following their argument," he added.
"A Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) inquiry has been ordered into the incident and we are questioning Munawar Ali," he added.
Washington, March 26 : US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and called on Moscow "to cease its unconstructive behaviour" in Venezuela, the State Department said in a statement In the phone call, Pompeo told Lavrov that "the US and regional countries will not stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions in Venezuela", reports Xinhua news agency.
Pompeo noted that the presence of Russian military personnel in Venezuela "risks prolonging the suffering of the Venezuelan people".
In response, Lavrov said: "Washington's attempts to organise a coup in Venezuela and threats against its legitimate government are in violation of the UN Charter and undisguised interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state."
Monday's development comes after two Russian air force planes landed in Venezuela on March 23 carrying a defence official and nearly 100 troops, reports said.
The US has been pursuing a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against the Venezuelan government, in support of the opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Moscow has condemned Washington's threats against the legitimate Venezuelan leadership, calling them "blatant interference" in the South American nation's internal affairs and a "flagrant violation" of international law.
US President Donald Trump's administration recognised Guaido as the nation's "interim president" on January 23, days after incumbent Nicolas Maduro was inaugurated for a second term.
In response, Maduro severed "diplomatic and political" ties with the US.
Sukma : , March 26 (IANS) CRPF troopers on Tuesday shot dead four Maoists in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.
The Central Reserve Police Force {CRPF) said the four were killed in a gunfight Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit that was on a search mission in the forested areas around one kilometre from Bimapur early in the morning.
"Four bodies of Maoists in uniform, one Insas rifle and two 303 rifle were recovered," said a CRPF official.
The CRPF's specialised unit, proficient in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare, continues with its anti-Maoist operations, the official added.
March 26 : The much hyped APPLE Showtime Event 2019 had been wrapped up pretty well. It was in fact a delight to watch. They do promise a lot, but only reality will speak for us.
Some of the highlights are the Apple TV, then Apple TV+, Apple News +, Apple Arcade, and the Apple Credit Card. All claim to be unique in their own way, but since the past experiences with their product launches have not met the expectations of customers- we just have to wait and see.
To make things look more promising, they had roped in some of the top celebrity names in the film world and the media. So, a sneak peek into that, will show what went on at the event.
They have quite a few good and promising shows lined up for the subscribers. It seems that this is one of their diligent entries into Hollywood.
The celebrities who have joined hands with Apple are: Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell, Steven Spielberg, Damien Chazelle, J.J.Abrams, Kumali Nanjlani, and M. Night Shyamalan.
Oprah reportedly commented at the event, The Apple Platform allows me to do what I do in a whole new way.
Roger Rosner, offered a talk on the new Apple News+ and how it will offer a curated new and magazine experience to all. Wyatt Mitchell also pitched in with more highlights of the Apple News+.
Jennifer Bailey explained about the all new Apple Credit cash card. Then Anna Thai went on to reveal the dynamics of the Apple Arcade- a gaming platform with games that have been developed with a difference. They are original and exclusively only provided by Apple services.
Steve Spielberg did his fair bit of creative talk and how Apple would help launch his new series very soon.
Big Bird along with Cody was there to bring back the fun and animated feel of the 80s.
If Cook opened out the Event, then this time, it was graceful Oprah who concluded the final moments of the show time event. She briefed about her two documentaries that would be aired via Apple.
Sources obtained : https://www.apple.com/in/apple-events/march-2019/
Washington, March 26 : The US Missile Defence Agency successfully launched two ground-based missile interceptors in rapid succession against a simulated intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched from a test site in the Pacific.
According to the Agency, Monday's test was to ensure that if multiple missiles were in the air, the sensors of the US ground-based interceptors would be able to distinguish the enemy's incoming missiles from other missiles and electronic clutter in the environment, CNN reported.
While the interceptors were launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the ICBM flew from the test site on the Kwajalein Atoll.
The first ground-based interceptor destroyed the re-entry vehicle on the mock adversary missile as it was designed to do. Then the second ground-based interceptor's sensors tracked the resulting debris and remaining objects.
As expected, it did not sense any adversary warhead. So it struck the next "most lethal object" it could identify, as designed, the agency said.
"This was the first GBI salvo intercept of a complex, threat-representative ICBM target, and it was a critical milestone," Agency Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Samuel A. Greaves said.
"The system worked exactly as it was designed to do, and the results of this test provide evidence of the practicable use of the salvo doctrine within missile defence, CNN reported.
"The Ground-based Midcourse Defensc system is vitally important to the defence of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we have a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat."
Jammu, March 26 : Indian and Pakistani armies exchanged heavy fire on the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.
Defence Ministry sources said the Pakistan Army broke the 2003 ceasefire in Keri area around 11.30 p.m. on Monday, leading to exchange of firing that continued into Tuesday.
"Indian positions retaliated effectively. Firing between the two sides continued till early this morning," an official said.
There were no reports of casualties or damage on the Indian side.
Dubai, March 26 : An Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered robot will address a session during the Arab Media Forum (AMF) in Dubai on Wednesday and Thursday.
The robot will address the session called the 'future of news anchoring' and highlight the use of AI in news anchoring, the Khaleej Times reported.
At another session, the world's youngest journalist, Janna Jihad from Palestine, will share her inspirational story as a young activist and how she began her journey reporting about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the age of seven using her mother's iPhone.
Over 3,000 regional and international media leaders, scholars, writers and experts will come together for the 18th edition of AMF.
Held under the theme 'Arab media: From now to the future', the event will feature over 75 speakers and 200 prominent media figures representing more than 20 countries from across the Arab region and the world.
Kabul, March 26 : Federica Mogherini, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs who arrived here on Tuesday on a surprise visit, reaffirmed the bloc's support for the Afghanistan peace process.
In a TV appearance along with Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Mogherini said the EU supported the Afghan people's desire for "peace, human and women rights, rule of law and development of the country", reports Efe news.
"The EU will be at your side in this process (peace)," said Mogherini, in addition to offering the bloc's cooperation for the country's general election.
Abdullah thanked her for being "a friend of Afghanistan in the position she has been working in" and said she had played a critical role in supporting the war-torn South Asian nation.
Mogherini will meet President Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan leaders.
Her visit comes two weeks after the conclusion of the fifth round of talks between the Taliban and the US on ending a 17-year long conflict in Afghanistan.
At the end of the latest meeting in Qatar on March 12, the Taliban said there had been progress on issues such as the withdrawal of foreign troops, although a concrete draft of the agreement was yet to be prepared.
Due to the ongoing negotiations, where the insurgents have refused to bring the Afghan government to the dialogue table, the presidential elections scheduled for July have been postponed to September 28.
The Afghan government controls just 55 per cent of the country's area while the Taliban have around 11 per cent and the rest is contested.
Bengaluru, March 26 : Around 6,000 mining dependents from Bellary and Chitradurga districts, as well as surrounding mining belts, protested here on Tuesday against the bad condition of the mining industry in Karnataka and appealed to the government to save their livelihoods.
The mining ban in the state has resulted in large-scale job losses, said members of Karnataka Gani Avalambithara Vedike (KGAV) who gathered at the Freedom Park here.
"Their livelihood became highly uncertain even after the Supreme Court permitted mining operations to start, as production cap, e-auction and lots of other restrictions lowered the mining capacity that has led to stagnation in the iron ore industry," said KGAV spokesperson Rajakumar S.
"Lakhs of lives are hanging in uncertainty due to the discriminatory policies prevalent only in the Karnataka mining sector. This will not be found anywhere else across the globe," he added.
According to the association, the production and dispatch from the leases are never fixed and fluctuate according to the purchasing pattern of the steel industry.
While buyers of iron ore are allowed to buy freely from outside Karnataka, sellers are not allowed to sell freely resulting in huge pile-up of inventory due to lack of sale, they added.
Besides, there is also loss of contribution to the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) when ore from areas outside the state is bought by Karnataka buyers.
In his appeal to the government, Rajakumar S. said: "We urge the government to ensure our survival by allowing free trade, giving preference to local iron ore over imports, and ensuring regular business for truckers and lakhs of other mining dependents."
After the protest rally, a delegation of 15 members met the authorities to hand over a memorandum of appeal.
Dubai, March 26 : The Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar Dubai organised the Punjabi Culture and Heritage Festival at the Indian High School here.
The Al Maktoum Foundation Dubai, an organisation focused on humanitarian work at the local, regional and global levels, was the patron of the event, Gulf News reported on Monday.
The event's schedule included a video presentation on Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus.
It also included panel discussions on teaching and travels of Guru Nanak as well as Punjabi poetry and literature.
"We are indeed most fortunate that the United Arab Emirates not only values harmonious coexistence but also upholds these values that are being echoed to the rest of the world," said Surender Kandhari, Chairman of the Gurudwara, referring to the Year of Tolerance.
The event also saw performances by the renowned Pure Bhangra Group, an all-male Bhangra dance and an all-female Gidda Jugni dance.
Mumbai, March 26 : Actress Renuka Shahane stood up for prostitutes when actress Suchitra Krishnamoorthi bracketed prostitutes and criminals in a tweet.
Renuka said there needed to be ways to correct the injustice that the traditions had imposed on sex workers.
Suchitra tweeted: "Amma always said 'money is not everything. Even criminals and wh**es have money. What matters is not money but character and integrity'. I truly understand her words only today. I've never felt more proud of my middle class roots."To this, Renuka replied: "No disrespect to your Amma, Suchitra, but as women let's try and correct the injustice that our traditions have imposed on wh**es. We castigated wh**es while letting off their customers who are leading 'respectful' lives! Let's not put wh**es and criminals in one bracket at least." "Wh**es sell what is theirs. Criminals take what is others," she added.
Renuka said sex workers were often pushed into their profession due to human trafficking at a young age.
"Does any child have the right to say 'no' at that age? Wh**es are pushed into prostitution by people they trust explicitly. Wh**es are abused, raped, tortured, drugged, given hormonal injections at a very early age and then raped relentlessly throughout their professional lives."Suchitra concurred with Renuka's point of view.
"Yup, good point Renuka. Agree with you totally," she said, adding that she made the comment in context of her friend Pramod Goenka's alleged abduction.
Ranchi, March 26 : There was a time when prominent leaders of the UPA in Jharkhand would visit RJD chief Lalu Yadav often but now the party is left fending for itself in the state.
The RJD chief played the role of a kingmaker in Jharkhand. He was instrumental in the formation of the Madhu Koda government in 2006 and also played a key role in the formation of the JMM government led by Shibu Soren in 2009.
The opposition parties' Grand Alliance cold-shouldered the RJD in its seat-sharing deal. The RJD wanted to fight the Palamau and Chatra Lok Sabha seats.
But as per the initial seat-sharing deal, RJD was offered the Chatra seat and Jharkhand Vilas Morcha-Prajtantrik (JVM-P) was offered Koderma and Palamau seats. JVM-P declined to fight from Palamau as it wanted to fight from the Godda Lok Sabha seat.
Considering the demand of the JVM-P, the alliance partners agreed to give Godda and Koderma seats to JVM-P and Chatra was given to the Congress. RJD was offered Palamau.
The opposition Grand Alliance partners on Sunday announced the seat-sharing deal. No RJD representative was present at the joint press conference organised by the Grand Alliance partners.
RJD sources said that the party had almost finalszed the name of Subhas Yadav, a leader from Bihar for the the Chatra seat. The sources further said that former RJD state president Annapurna Devi was not happy with the party stand to field Subhash Yadav as she considered him an outsider.
Even though she was party president, she was not consulted in the slection process of the Chatra Lok Sabha candidate.
The RJD suffered another jolt when Annapurna Devi joined the BJP in New Delhi. Annapurna Devi met BJP president on Monday in New Delhi and later joined the party in presence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and party general secretary Bhupendra Yadav.
This is a big shock for the RJD in Jharkhand. Annapurna Devi was the face of the RJD in the state. She had won the Assembly polls four times. Annapurna Devi is wife of late Ramesh Prasad Yadav, who was a Minister in undivided Bihar in the Lalu Yadav government. He died due to a heart attack in 1996. After his death, Annapurna Devi fought the Assembly polls from Koderma and won the seat till 2014.
RJD, however, is putting up a brave front. "There will be no impact on the party after the exist of Annapurna Devi. People come and go. We reiterate our demand to fight from Chatra and Palamau seats," Gautam Sagar Rana, the new president of the Jharkhand RJD, told reporters on Tuesday.
The RJD is gradually losing ground in Jharkhand.
The RJD had fought from Palamau in 2014 Lok Sabha elections but lost the seat. In 2014 Assembly polls, RJD failed to open an account in the state Assembly. The RJD had won seven seats in the 2009 Assembly polls.
New Delhi, March 26 : Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube on Tuesday said that the stakeholders of the cash-strapped airline were optimistic about the airline's future.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting on Jet, he said: "We are optimistic."
State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Singh, DGCA chief B.S. Bhullar and Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola were also present in the meeting held to discuss the future of Jet.
The meeting came a day after Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal resigned and lenders of the bank agreed to provide immediate funds of Rs 1,500 crore.
Gandhinagar, March 26 : The Border Security Force (BSF) caught a 35-year-old intruder from Pakistan in Gujarat's Gandhinagar sector, an official said on Tuesday.
Muhammad Wali was held on Monday evening from the border outpost of Kumar.
According to the official, the intruder speaks Sindhi and he was being questioned.
This is the second such arrest in Gujarat this month. The BSF caught a 50-year-old man from the Rann of Kutch border on March 6.
Kolkata, March 26 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya here on Tuesday said party's former Presidents Murli Manohar Joshi and Lal Krishna Advani themselves refused contest the Lok Sabha polls this time.
"Advani Ji and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi refused to contest the Lok Sabha polls. Similarly, I also refused to contest. If someone is unwilling (to contest) will the party give them tickets?" Vijayvargiya said after inspecting the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public meeting at the Brigade Parade Ground here on April 3.
When asked whether the two party veterans wrote any letter to the leadership expressing their unwillingness to contest the coming elections, Vijayvargiya said the message was conveyed to their organisational minister.
The BJP leader's remark comes amid the controversy over Joshi's claim in an open letter that the party asked him not to contest the 2019 polls.
Earlier, the BJP denied a ticket to Advani and replaced him with party President Amit Shah in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat.
The two veteran leaders have also been kept out of the list of 40 leaders who will be campaigning for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh.
Colombo, March 26 : A Sri Lankan telecom official said on Tuesday that plans were underway to transform Polonnaruwa district into the country's first "Smart City" following several projects launched to upgrade education, health and transportation.
Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) Chairman Kumarasinghe Sirisena told the media that the government was discussing the transformation of Polonnaruwa by launching the smart health, smart education, and smart transportation concept, which will accelerate economic development and social progress in the district, reports Xinhua news agency.
Sirisena said that the Smart City concept was a possibility as the SLT had now covered the entire country with ultra-fast fibre-optic connectivity.
This would help upgrade education, health, and transportation.
Under the government's Smart City project, 2,500 schools will be connected through a wireless connection to enable smart education in Sri Lanka.
The initial discussions have been completed, and the government hopes to connect these schools within this year, Sirisena said.
(CNN) The Pentagon notified U.S. Congress Monday night that it has authorized the transfer of $1 billion to begin new wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border, drawing immediate objections from Democratic lawmakers.
A Pentagon budget reprogramming notification sent to Capitol Hill on Monday and obtained by CNN indicates that up to $1 billion will go toward building 57 miles of fencing, improving roads and other measures on the southern border.
The Department of Defense authorized the Army Corp of Engineers to begin planning and construction for the project Monday night. The department will direct the funds toward 18-foot-high fencing along the Yuma and El Paso sections of the border, according to a letter acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan sent to Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen.
In February, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in order to funnel billions of dollars to wall construction. As part of his announcement, he directed the use of counterdrug monies to partially fund new wall construction. Under the national emergency, other funds can also be dedicated to building the wall and related infrastructure, including military construction funds.
Monday's announcement was just the first $1 billion the administration is making available for wall funding. The administration said previously it plans to shift an additional $1.5 billion at some point in the future.
These initial counterdrug funds will ultimately flow from the Department of Homeland Security to the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction.
Senate Democrats immediately objected to the transfer of money to build fencing along the southern border to block drug smuggling.
Every Democratic senator on the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittees on Defense and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies signed on to a letter written to Shanahan objecting to moving $1 billion in personnel funds to counter drug funds to go toward the wall. The senators say the Pentagon did not seek permission before notifying the committee of the transfer.
"We strongly object to both the substance of the funding transfer, and to the Department implementing the transfer without seeking the approval of the congressional defense committees and in violation of provisions in the defense appropriation itself," the senators wrote. "As a result, we have serious concerns that the Department has allowed political interference and pet projects to come ahead of many near-term, critical readiness issues facing our military."
The letter was signed by Sens. Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont; Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois; Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island; Brian Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii; Jon Tester, Democrat of Montana; Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington; Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut; Tammy Baldwin, Democrat of Wisconsin; Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California; and Tom Udall, Democrat of New Mexico.
This story was first published on CNN.com, "Pentagon notifies Congress $1 billion authorized to begin new wall construction."
New Delhi, March 26 : As reports emerged of the suicide bomber behind the Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir using virtual SIMs for communication with his handlers, the country woke up to the dangers of allowing these kinds of app-based communication services.
What are these virtual SIMs and how do they work?
Virtual SIM is an application-enabled service that requires you to install an app to use a number. With this technology, it is possible for one to have numbers of different countries.
There are a number of apps that offer virtual SIMs for Android and iOS users. InstaVoice ReachMe, for example, offers virtual numbers from the US, UK, France and Canada. Incoming calls to the virtual number can be answered for free in the ReachMe app, over data or Wi-Fi.
FreeJe is another such app that offers virtual numbers of more than 70 countries.
These apps which often offer calling as well as messaging services generally work using the VoIP (voice over IP) technology.
There are several benefits of a virtual SIM. If you have to travel to a foreign country, you can give your virtual SIM number to a friend and make use of free incoming call services that many of these apps offer.
If you run a business, virtual SIMs can help you have a different number for business purposes while keeping your physical SIM number completely private.
However, there are also dangers of using virtual SIM as the verification process can easily be faked by bad actors.
Adil Dar, the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) bomber behind the Pulwama attack, reportedly used virtual SIM generated by a service provider in the US, prompting security agencies in India to seek more details about the terrorist and his associates from the US service providers.
"Now this is an issue, because first of all you will have to depend on how closely the other country would cooperate and the second issue is that the address and other details might be faked," Faisal Kawoosa, Chief Analyst at market research firm techARC, told IANS.
The February 14 Pulwama attack killed 40 CRPF personnel and brought India and Pakistan on the brink of a conflict.
"The government must simply ensure that such virtual coordinates are blocked in India," Kawoosa said, while adding that virtual SIMs should not be confused with eSIM or embedded SIM that users of the latest iPhone models can use.
In India, telecom operators Airtel and Reliance Jio offer eSIM, or digital SIM support.
"eSims first of all let you change the operator without any swap of SIMs and you would digitally go to a new operator. Upon registration your eSim would get reconfigured on a new operator network," Kawoosa said.
"eSIMs are the inevitable future as regards the evolution of SIMs. It's going to happen and more smartphones are going to be launched with eSIM," he added.
New Delhi, March 26 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that the two Hindu girls, who were reportedly kidnapped in Pakistan and forced to convert, should be restored to their families immediately.
In a series of tweets, Swaraj said the age of the girls is not disputed and even Pakistan Prime Minister will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion and marriage.
"Forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan: The age of the girls is not disputed. Raveena is only 13 and Reena is 15 years old.
"Even the Prime Minister on Naya Pakistan will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage. Justice demands that both these girls should be restored to their families immediately," she said.
The Minister had on on Sunday sought details from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad following reports of abduction, forced conversion and underage marriage of two Pakistani Hindu girls in Sindh province.
The two sisters were reportedly abducted on the eve of Holi.
India also shared its concerns through an official note to Pakistan Foreign Office sent on Saturday and said that suitable remedial action is being taken by the Pakistan government to protect and promote safety, security and welfare of its own citizens, especially from the minority communities.
The incident came to light after their father and brother said in videos that went viral in social media that the two were kidnapped and forced to embrace Islam.
In a separate video, however, the minor girls were heard saying that they accepted Islam of their own free will.
Sushma Swaraj's tweet on Sunday had led to a spat between her and Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who had responded through tweet and said it was his country's internal issue.
Replying to Chaudhry's tweet, Sushma Swaraj asked him if giving data on abducted Hindu girls is making them nervous. She attributed the nervousness to a guilty conscience.
Kabul, March 26 : Over 92,600 Afghan refugees have returned from neighbouring countries Pakistan and Iran since January this year, the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday.
"(A total of) 92,698 Afghans returns from Iran and Pakistan since January 1," said IOM in a statement.
A total of 88,516 Afghans have reportedly returned to their homeland from Iran as the value of local currency had fallen and job opportunities were low, reports Xinhua news agency.
Another 4,182 Afghans were back from Pakistan during the period.
More than 849,000 Afghan refugees had returned or were deported to Afghanistan in 2018, according to figures from Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations.
Kochi, March 26 : The Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference (KCBC) declared Tuesday that it will not support any political party in the Lok Sabha elections but will be with those who "protect democracy and secularism".
Kerala goes to the polls on April 23 to elect 20 Lok Sabha candidates.
A circular issued by KCBC President Archbishop Soosa Pakiam said: "KCBC wishes to make it clear that they will not support any political front or political party or any candidate. We do not wish to interfere in the freedom of our laity.
"But at the same time, the KCBC will be with those who protect democracy and secularism and who will work for the upliftment of the country," said the circular.
The KCBC, the Regional Bishops Council for Kerala, is constituted under the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI).
The churches that come under KCBC includes the Syro Malabar Church, Syro Malankara Church and Latin Church.
Catholics in Kerala constitute 50 per cent of the 61.41 lakh Christians in Kerala, which is home to 334 lakh people.
Tokyo, March 26 : A Japanese company is aiming to release a mass-market flying motorcycle by 2022, its CEO has announced.
Tokyo-based venture company A.L.I. Technologies Inc., which mainly develops small drones, hopes to sell the product, called a "hover bike", in emerging economies in Africa, the Middle East and Asia with poor road infrastructure, The Japan Times reported.
"We'll create a (flying) bike first, in order to get flying cars widely used in society eventually," CEO Shuhei Komatsu said.
"Our hover bike is an ensemble of drone technologies," he said, expressing confidence that his company can commercialise the flying motorcycle.
The envisioned vehicle will use propeller power to hover dozens of centimetres above the ground. It will stay at the desired altitude through technologies that use sensors to avoid obstacles.
A.L.I. Technologies is developing a special limited version for sale around late next year.
Reservations will be accepted in May at the earliest.
As for the mass-market model, Komatsu said: "We want to deliver it to customers from around 2022."
He said the price will roughly match those of mini-vehicles.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 26 : BJP Kerala chief P S Sreedharan Pillai on Tuesday dropped broad hints that the BJP could field its own nominee in Wayanad constituency should congress national president Rahul Gandhi decide to contest from there.
Replying to reporters queries on whether the BJP would field a strong candidate in Wayanad if the congress scion chose to contest, he said that his candidature would obviously influence our election campaign and candidate selection.
We were watching the developments with curiosity, he said of the speculation swirling over Mr. Gandhis potential candidature from the north Kerala constituency, adding that they had already devised strategies to meet any contingency.
He, however, took a swipe at the congress leaders in Kerala, saying that they were mocking at the public by making empty claims that Rahul Gandhi would be declared the candidate for Wayanad constituency imminently.
The Wayanad seat is among the five seats the BJP had allotted to the BDJS. But the rumours of Mr. Gandhi contesting from there have thrown a spanner in the works with the BJP contemplating taking over the seat and fielding a strong candidate of its own to give the congress scion a tight contest.
The BDJS list of candidates announced on Tuesday was conspicuous by the absence of candidates for Wayanad and Thrissur. BDJS chief Thushar Vellappally is more or less certain to be named the candidate for Thrissur. Reports suggest candidate selection for Wayanad seat was put off because of the Rahul factor.
A decision on Mr. Gandhis contesting from Wayanad is expected in the next couple of days. Should Mr. Gandhi accede to the congress Kerala units request and throw his hat in the ring, the BJP is expected to take over the seat from BDJS.
Thushar Vellappally, however, told reporters that the BDJS state council meeting scheduled to be held within the next two days would take a decision on the candidates for Thrissur and Wayanad.
Congress Kerala unit leaders had the other day revealed that they had requested the AICC leadership to have Rahul Gandhi contest from Wayanad. The AICC leadership is contemplating fielding Rahul Gandhi from a south Indian state to shore up the congress prospects in the region.
However, Mr. Gandhi is reportedly yet to make up his mind on contesting from Kerala. He refused to be drawn on his potential candidature from Wayanad the other day when reporters quizzed him on it.
Mumbai, March 26 : Just two per cent of major automotive companies in India are implementing artificial intelligence (AI) projects compared with 25 per cent in the US and 9 per cent in China, according to the French technology services major Capgemini.
Globally, just 10 per cent of major automotive companies are implementing AI projects, with many falling short of an opportunity that could increase operating profit by up to 16 per cent, said the report.
Since 2017, the number of automotive companies that have successfully scaled up AI implementation has increased only marginally, from 7 per cent to 10 per cent.
However, more significant has been the increase in companies not using AI, from 26 per cent to 39 per cent, the findings showed.
According to the report from the Capgemini Research Institute, just 26 per cent of companies are now piloting AI projects, down from 41 per cent in 2017.
"These findings show the progress of AI in the automotive industry has hit a speedbump," said Markus Winkler, Executive Vice-President, Global Head of Automotive at Capgemini.
"While some companies are enjoying considerable success, others have struggled to focus on the most effective use cases, vehicle manufacturers need to start seeing AI not as a standalone opportunity, but as a strategic capability required to shape the future which they must organise investment, talent and governance around," Winkler said.
Los Angeles, March 26 : "Slumdog Millionaire" actor Dev Patel says he often gets criticised for stealing roles from "real Indian" actors.
In an interview to San Francisco Chronicle, Dev, who was born and raised in the UK and has Gujarati parents, opened about the racist remarks he has been receiving in the film industry.
He said: "I get flak sometimes because people will say, 'Why aren't they giving these roles to a real Indian?' I wonder, what does that even mean? The only way I can converse with my grandparents is in Gujarati. Does that make me real enough?"
Raising more questions, the 28-year-old said: "Or am I only allowed to witness the moments of prejudice and racism going through airports? Is that the only bit that I'm allowed of the culture?
"The truth is I'm trying to understand myself better and my heritage, to figure things out, in the movie choices I make. That has been the greatest thing for me in going to India repeatedly."
Dev is currently gearing up for the release of his film "Hotel Mumbai", which also stars veteran actor Anupam Kher.
New Delhi, March 26 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that it has not intercepted phone of the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and former CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana at any point of time.
The CBI remark came in a reply to a plea seeking direction to form an SIT to look into charges of abuse of power by some officials of the probe agency by illegally tapping phone calls.
The court was hearing a plea filed by lawyer and social activist Sarthak Chaturvedi, who also sought a direction to the Central government to frame comprehensive guidelines regarding tracing, tapping and surveillance of phone calls.
The CBI said no telephone number was under surveillance illegally and that the Centre has already framed rules and comprehensive guidelines in the form of Indian telegraph rules on phone tapping.
The CBI also told the court that technical surveillance by the agency has been carried out in a "proper manner" and the competent authority from which authorisation is obtained is being apprised regularly about the outcome of the technical surveillance.
The technical surveillance is undertaken by the agencies authorised by the central government with due approval of the competent authority.
It requested the court to dismissed the plea filed by the social activist.
London, March 26 : A British Airways (BA) flight destined for Dusseldorf in Germany mistakenly landed in Edinburgh, Scotland, after a flight plan paperwork was submitted incorrectly.
The Times newspaper reported on Tuesday that BA flight 3271 to Dusseldorf left the runway at London City airport on Monday and passengers only realised the error had been made when they heard the "welcome to Edinburgh" announcement after the plane had landed, reports Xinhua news agency.
The flight was operated by WDL Aviation, a small German aviation business, on behalf of BA. On Sunday, the plane flew Dusseldorf-London City-Edinburgh-London City-Dusseldorf.
It was believed that someone had picked up or emailed the wrong day's flying programme and the mistake wasn't noticed.
A BA spokeswoman said the company was working with WDL Aviation to establish why the incorrect flight plan was filed.
"We have apologized to customers for this interruption to their journey and will be contacting them all individually," the spokesperson said.
Sophie Cooke, a 24-year-old passenger on the flight, said when the pilot first made the announcement that the plane was about to land in Edinburgh, everyone assumed it was a joke. She asked the cabin crew if they were serious.
The pilot then asked passengers to raise their hands if they wanted to go to Dusseldorf. Everyone raised their hands.
"The pilot said he had no idea how it had happened. He said it had never happened before and that the crew was trying to work out what we could do," Sophie said.
The passengers remained on the plane during its stay at Edinburgh and took off again for its intended destination. They eventually landed in Dusseldorf more than three hours late.
Passengers were entitled to 215 British pounds in compensation.
Chennai, March 26 : The southern-tip Lok Sabha constituency Kanniyakumari will see a battle of crorepatis in the ensuing general elections slated for April 18 in Tamil Nadu.
The three crorepatis are: Congress candidate and businessman H. Vasanthakumar, outgoing MP and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and Kamal Haasan-floated MNM party candidate J. Ebenezer.
Interestingly, Vasanthakumar, the promoter of consumer durable retail chain Vasanth & Co, will be the richest candidate contesting in the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.
According to the affidavit filed with the Election Commission, for the fiscal 2017-18 Vasanthakumar has shown an income of Rs 28,93,59,990.
He has also declared total assets of about Rs 412 crore -- movable about Rs 230 crore and immovable about Rs 182 crore -- in his name.
The movable and immovable assets in his wife's name is just over Rs 5 crore.
On the other hand, Radhakrishan has declared an annual income of Rs 7,72,850 for the fiscal 2017-18, down from Rs 14,09,490 earned in 2016-17.
Radhakrishnan has declared total assets of about Rs 7.49 crore -- moveable worth Rs 50,56,298 and immovable of Rs 699,40,155.
MNM candidate Ebenezer has declared an annual income of Rs 5,31,881 for 2017-18, immovable assets of Rs 2 crore and movable assets worth Rs 36 lakh.
The two bitter political rivals -- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress -- are in direct contest in Kanniyakumari and Sivaganga seats out of the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP's Radhakrishnan is seeking a re-election.
In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when the entire Tamil Nadu was swept by late AIADMK leader and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, it was only Kanniyakumari and Dharmapuri constituencies that bucked that wave.
Pon Radhakrishnan won that election polling about 3.72 lakh votes and Vasanthakumar was the runner-up polling about 2.44 lakh votes, while the AIADMK candidate came third securing about 1.76 lakh votes. The fourth position was taken by DMK candidate who got about 1.17 lakh votes.
This time around, the BJP has tied up with the AIADMK and Congress with the DMK.
Delhi, March 26 : Jet Airways' management on Tuesday informed the Civil Aviation Ministry that it would fly 40 more aircraft by April end and also assured that it would not ground any more aircraft, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said.
"By Monday or Tuesday, Jet and the lessors should come into an agreement on getting back the grounded planes. By the end of April, Jet would be able to fly 40 more aircraft. As on today, Jet is flying 35 aircraft," Kharola said after meeting with the Jet management including representatives of the State Bank of India (SBI).
The meeting took place post the management takeover by the SBI and its subsequent Rs 1,500 crore capital infusion for emergency funding on working capital needs.
A total of 75 aircraft is envisaged by April end which is around 80 per cent of the Jet's total aircraft previously, he said.
Elaborating on the operational part, Kharola said the financial part of the problem at the airline are being handled by the lenders led by the SBI and the Ministry is only looking at the passenger safety aspects so that they don't have to face any hardship.
He also said the government is also keeping a close watch on the airfares and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suggested to the airlines not to resort to predatory pricing.
On Monday, Jet Airways promoter Naresh Goyal stepped down and the SBI-led management took over the daily operations and cash flow.
With Goyal's exit and the SBI leading a consortium of banks to take charge of the interim committee, Rs 1,500 crore was infused as emergency funding by the lenders to look at immediate issues.
Jet Airways has been struggling with cash flows for the past six months because of rising fuel costs and intense competition. It has even delayed payment to lessors, airport operators and oil marketing companies besides a part of its workforce to keep the company running.
As many as 40 of its aircraft were grounded due to inability to pay rentals. Its pilots and certain sections of the employees have been without pay for some months, leading the pilots to issue an ultimatum on salary payment to the erstwhile management.
The airline owes Rs 8,000 crore to the SBI-led lenders consortium.
SBI expects Jet to find a new financial investor by the first quarter of next fiscal.
Srinagar, March 26 : National General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Ram Madhav on Tuesday said the alliance between the Congress and the National Conference (NC) is a dichotomy everyone fails to understand.
Addressing a party meeting in Srinagar, Ram Madhav said, "J&K is one state. The NC and the Congress have alliance in Jammu region, while they will fight each other in the Valley.
"It is a dichotomy everyone fails to understand. They are double-faced and double-tongued. They say one thing in Delhi and quite the opposite in the Valley."
These are their gimmicks to fight the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, adding that they will not succeed by doing such dramas.
Madhav expressed hope that the BJP would produce better results in the state during these elections.
The BJP had bagged three out of the six Lok Sabha seats in 2014 elections in the state.
Out of 87 members in the state Legislative Assembly, the BJP had 25 while it had the support of two other members of the Peoples Conference (PC) led by Sajad Lone.
Patna, March 26 : Two days after the CPI fielded the former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) President from the Begusarai Lok Sabha seat in Bihar, Kanhaiya Kumar appealed to people to donate at least 1 rupee for his campaign fund.
"Like every drop of water fills an earthen pot, (your) donation of Re 1 to my campaign fund will help me to fight the election and take the voice of the marginalised and exploited to Parliament," he said.
Kanhaiya Kumar also launched an online crowdfunding platform to collect money to contest the elections.
Kanhaiya Kumar is the Left candidate and will take on Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh in Begusarai.
Earlier, the Grand Alliance of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and other parties did not allocate Begusarai to the CPI.
The RJD is set to field Tanweer Hasan who lost to Bhola Singh of BJP in 2014.
Kanhaiya Kumar has said that his fight will be against Giriraj Singh, not RJD.
"People of Begusarai will defeat Giriraj Singh and the BJP-led NDA will be defeated across Bihar as the people have made up their minds to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.
"The people of Begusarai have decided not to support any hardliner. The BJP has been spreading hatred across the country," he said.
Kanhaiya Kumar, 32, was arrested in February 2016 and accused of sedition for allegedly doing nothing to prevent the raising of anti-India slogans on the JNU campus.
The JNUSU President for 2015-16 was then pursuing doctorate from the School of International Studies and was affiliated to the All India Students Federation (AISF).
Mumbai, March 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday warned that it could attach the entire amount of the one-time settlement (OTS) to be paid by the absconding directors of the scam-hit Sterling Biotech Group to the Committee of Banks.
The ED informed the National Company Law Tribunal that it is also in the process of declaring the company's promoter Nitin Sandesara as an absconder under the stringent Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, and the agency has already attached Rs 4,700 crore worth of the promoters' assets so far.
Since the FEOA supersedes all other laws, the ED can also attach and seize the entire amount of the OTS which the banks, led by the Andhra Bank, expect to get from the Sterling Biotech Group.
The agency's response came to the March 14 notice issued by the NCLT, Mumbai members V.P. Singh and R. Duraiswamy, after the Committee of Creditors sought withdrawal of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) after the Stering Biotech Group's absconding promoters agreed to pay an OTS.
In another revelation on Tuesday, the Committee of Creditors' lawyers said that the promoters have revised the settlement offer and instead of clearing the full OTS by March 31, they will now pay a token Rs 179 crore and the rest, estimated around Rs 3,100 crore, in June.
The Gujarat-based pharmaceutical giant owes Rs 8,100 crore only to the banks and more to other financial creditors, amounting to a total of around Rs 14,938 crore - bigger than the Nirav Modi scam.
The OTS of around Rs 3,100 crore would mean that the banks would have to forget a whopping nearly 65 percent of their total dues.
The NCLT, questioning the sources of funds for the OTS offer, asked the Resolution Professional to verify the authenticity and posted the matter for further hearing on April 26.
It has also directed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to give its opinion in the matter as most of the banks involved in the matter are public sector banks.
During the last hearing, the NCLT had asked for the views of the MCA, the ED, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Reserve Bank of India, the Income Tax Department, and the Central Bureau of Investigation, but only the ED and SEBI have responded so far.
The NCLT had slammed the Andhra Bank's proposal of an OTS especially since the firm's directors were missing and even specialized agencies like the ED and the CBI have failed to track them down so far.
The Sterling Biotech matter came before the NCLT in June 2018 and during pendency of the matter, in the first week of March, the Committee of Creditors comprising banks, suddenly voted to withdraw the proceedings against it in return for a OTS from the Sandesara brothers.
If accepted, the OTS plan -- under Section 12A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 -- could entail a loss of around two-thirds to the creditors-lenders, and probably help the fugitives emerge unscathed by the scam.
According to the company's last Annual Report as on March 31, 2018, it had loans, borrowings, and external commercial borrowings of Rs 7,564 crore, and financial creditors have made claims worth Rs 14,938 crore.
Of this Rs 14,938 crore, the RP has admitted claims of Rs 8,967 crore till November 21, 2018.
The company admitted that its premises were sealed by the ED and it is under the scrutiny of multiple agencies including the CBI and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).
In October 2018, the CBI had registered a case against Sterling Biotech and its top officials for obtaining fraudulent loans worth a total of Rs 8,100 crore from Indian banks and their overseas branches between 2004-2012.
The ED had named a web of 184 group companies in India and abroad, besides 181 accused, and charged the Sandesara brothers of hatching a criminal conspiracy to cheat the banks by manipulating the balance sheets of their companies and luring banks to sanction higher amounts in loans.
Taking action on a CBI complaint, in January, the ED nabbed former Andhra Bank Director A.P. Garg in connection with the fraud, accusing him of money-laundering and other charges.
On February 14, the Sandesara brothers moved a Delhi court seeking cancellation of the non-bailable arrest warrants against them. Their plea will come up for hearing on April 2.
Chennai, March 26 : Out of total sum of about Rs 913 crore available under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) with the district authorities in Tamil Nadu, Rs 801 crore has been spent, said Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The data pertains to the 16th Lok Sabha and as on March 26.
According to the figures, the total entitlement for Tamil Nadu during the 16th Lok Sabha was about Rs 982 crore while the funds released by the central government was Rs 870 crore.
As per the figures, the percentage of utilization over the released sum stands at about 92 per cent for Tamil Nadu.
The unspent balance available under the MPLADS in the state is about Rs 112 crore.
As per MPLADS, the role of an MP is restricted to recommending a project. It is the responsibility of the district authority to sanction funds and execute the projects recommended by the MP.
"We consider the amount sanctioned by the MPs as an additional parameter to measure an MP's performance in Parliament while awarding the Sansad Ratna award," K.Srinivasan, Founder, Prime Point Foundation, told IANS.
The Foundation has been awarding top performing MPs since 2010.
"During the interactions with the MPs over the years, we found that local politics come into play in sanctioning the projects if the MP belongs to a different party and the state government is run by another party," Srinivasan said.
The Hague, March 26 : A stolen Pablo Picasso "Buste de Femme" (Female Bust) that the Spanish artist never sold has been recovered by the so-called Indiana Jones of the art world, the Dutch art detective said on Tuesday.
The painting was stolen from Abdul Mohsen Abdulmalik, a Saudi Sheikh, from one of his yachts in southwestern France on March 11, 1999, Efe news reported.
"I am excited," Arthur Brand said. "We are talking about one the greatest artists of the 20th century and this was one of his most important works and his favourite because he didn't sign it and never wanted to sell it," Brand said. "He stored it in his house until he died," the art detective remarked.
At the time of the theft, the painting was valued at four million euros ($4.5 million).
French authorities archived the case and assumed it had been destroyed. "When a canvas disappears it is usually because thieves have been unable to sell it and choose to destroy it to avoid problems," Brand continued.
The owner had offered a 400,000 euros reward to whoever retrieved the artwork. However, once he lost the hope of recovering it he made a claim to his insurance company which made him a four million euros payout.
The artwork is an abstract portrait of Dora Maar, a French artist who was Picasso's lover, and is a good example of Picasso's cubism, an art movement the painter was at the forefront of. The Dora Maar has never been exhibited.
The pair were a couple during the 1930s and Picasso painted the canvas a year after producing his most famous the "Guernica," (1937), an epic canvass of huge proportions that depicts the bombing of the eponymous Basque town during the Spanish civil war (1936-39).
Despite assuming it was long lost, Brand had been searching for the stolen Dora Maar since 2015. When such a high profile artwork gets stolen there is, Brand said, a 10 per cent chance of it surviving, with it usually being handed over to an organised criminal group, often, to settle debts.
According to Brand's investigative work, the Picasso canvas probably exchanged hands around 20 times. In 2015, the detective heard the painting was doing the rounds on the Amsterdam black market and that in 2002 it had been handed over as insurance to a mafia that trafficked weapons and drugs.
Brand contacted both the French and Dutch authorities but because the case had been closed in France investigations did not progress any further.
"Because there are so many stolen Picassos, I wasn't sure which one it might be and this was before the internet boom and it was difficult to keep up with the details," the art sleuth said.
"I dug deeper and then knew which painting it was and how important it was for its painter," Brand continued. "When he died his family sold it to a dealer who then sold it to an Arab sheikh who kept it on his boat."
Several weeks ago the investigator became aware that an art dealer had purchased the painting without any knowledge of what he was handling.
When the new owner realised the painting could have been the long lost Picasso he reached out to try and pinpoint the origins of the work, somewhat cautiously as he was concerned of the legal implications of owning a stolen painting, if it indeed was proven to be so.
"We knew he had nothing to do with the theft," the art expert said. "Launching an investigation did not make much sense, we would never get to the thieves because the canvass changed hands many times during this time. Thus, we reached a deal: he would hand over the painting to me and there would be no investigation."
The Dutch art sleuth admired the colorful cubist portrait in his home on Monday, the day he recovered it, while he waited for the insurance company to come and collect it on Tuesday.
The Picasso is now in the hands of Abdulmalik's insurance company's headquarters in Amsterdam. An American expert is analysing it to confirm the painting's attribution and assess the condition of the canvas before returning it to Abdulmalik.
Once returned to its rightful owner, it is thought, the artwork would be valued at around 25 million euros if it were to be sold at auction.
This is not the first high profile artwork brand has retrieved. Brand estimates the total value of cases solved by the Dutch art historian amounts to over 150 million euros, a statement on his website said.
New Delhi, March 26 : A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court will begin hearing from Wednesday on five matters, including whether a member of legislative assembly can escape criminal prosecution for accepting or offering bribe by citing immunity under Article 194(2) of the Constitution.
Other matters before the Constitution bench include the interpretation of Section 24 of the right to fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, whether a citizen is entitled to seek information on the appointment of top court and high court judges and challenge to the restructuring and re-organisation of 19 tribunals that was brought by the 2017 Finance Act.
The question whether Article 194(2) of the Constitution confers any immunity on the members of the legislative assembly for being prosecuted in a criminal case for an offence involving offer or acceptance of bribe is rooted in the election of two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand in March 2012.
The Jharkhand High Court had by its February 17, 2014 order rejected the plea for quashing a trial court order taking cognizance by one JMM lawmaker Sita Soren for allegedly accepting money from a contestant.
Later Election Commission countermanded the election to the Rajya sabha from Jharkhand.
In the right to fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition, the bench would examine the correctness of the payment of compensation to the land owners whose land has been acquired as well as when the award granting compensation would come into effect.
The matter was referred to the Constitution bench following conflicting judgements by two bench of the top court - each bench with three judges.
Another significant hearing would be challenge to the Finance Act 2017 relating to the restructuring and re-organisation including the appointment, removal and the service conditions of the members of 19 tribunals.
The Tribunal, Appellate and other Authorities (Qualifications, Experience and other conditions of Service of Members) Rules, 2017 was brought as a part of the Finance Act, 2017.
The hearing on the appeal by top court's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) challenging November 24, 2009, Central Information Commission's order directing the CPIO to furnish the information sought by one Subhash Chandra Agrawal on the appointment of judges to top court could bring it in the ambit of Right to Information Act.
The matter was referred to the Constitution bench on August 17, 2016.
The Constitution bench would adjudicate the question "whether the concept of independence of judiciary demands the prohibition of furnishing of the information sought and whether the information sought amounts to interference in the functioning of the judiciary.
Kolkata, March 26 : The Election Commission is examining a report sent by the North 24 Parganas district election officer in the controversy surrounding Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira Naroola allegedly trying to stonewall Customs officials from checking her baggage at the Kolkata airport recently, an official said on Tuesday.
"We are examining the report", Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu told reporters.
Banerjee had already described all the allegations that his wife was caught at the Kolkata airport carrying gold in her check-in baggage as "baseless".
Basu mentioned that they have received a report from Antara Acharya, DEO of North 24 Parganas, and everything is "under examination".
On Tuesday, BJP members submitted the lyrics of the party's campaign song for which MP Babul Supriyo was given a show- cause notice.
Asked if the CEO office will approve of the content, Basu said: "We have an elaborate mechanism and the steps will be taken accordingly".
Referring to cash recovery made so far, Basu said about Rs 6.80 cash has so far been seized.
Around 5,093 litres of country spirit, 21,683 litres of illicit liquor and other items have also been recovered.
Sharing the details of 'c-Vigil App' Basu said, "As many as 1,562 complaints have been registered so far, out of which 988 have been found correct and action was taken".
Also, the EC has received 711 complaints via ECI's National Grievance Services (NGS) portal and 335 of them have been resolved.
The citizens portal of NGS recorded 1,008 complaints and 503 of them have been addressed, he said.
New Delhi, March 26 : Samsung Electronics on Tuesday announced the launch of Galaxy A70 in its popular Galaxy A range next month.
Featuring a 6.7-inch Infinity-U display along with the biggest screen in the Galaxy A portfolio to date, Galaxy A70 provides a more immersive edge-to-edge experience, the company said in a statement.
The device will be unveiled on April 10.
"Today's consumers are using their phones in a more visually active and authentic way - sharing their experiences and staying connected longer.
Image Source: IANS Samsung Galaxy A7 comes with a triple camera configuration at the back.
"To meet the needs of this emerging generation, we created the new Galaxy A70 - designed for the way people are connecting now," said D.J. Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.
Galaxy A70 has a triple camera system with a 32MP super high-resolution front and rear lens.
The device comes with 4,500mAh battery and super-charging technology.
Paired with Samsung Pass, people can sign into websites and apps by using biometric authentication as an easier and more secure way of logging-in.
New Delhi, March 26 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said it will hear on April 2 petitions challenging the electoral bond scheme.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said the matter would be heard by an appropriate bench.
One of petitioners, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)'s advocate Prashant Bhushan told the court that 95 per cent of the electoral bonds sold so far have been in favour of one ruling political party. He called it a form of kickbacks before the elections.
He said most of the bonds purchased since 2018 have been in the category of Rs 10 lakh and 1 crore, indicating that it is not common citizens but corporates who have been buying these bonds while enjoying complete anonymity accorded by the electoral bond scheme.
As per the said scheme, an electoral bond is an instrument issued in the nature of promissory note -- it may be purchased by a citizen of India or entities incorporated or established in India. The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakhs and Rs 1 crore.
"These are available at specified branches of State Bank of India and any KYC-compliant account holder can buy these bonds," the petition said.
Bhushan has argued that this scheme has been introduced even as Election Commission has registered strong reservations.
He said that these electoral bonds are being made available in the last three months leading to the general election scheduled in April-May.
"It is expected that the enormous amount of corporate funding would be received by political parties in April and May and this would play a critical role in the elections. It is known that corporate financiers use their clout to get lucrative contracts and get laws passed for their profits, often at the cost of public interest," Bhushan said.
"That is why many corporates are keen to fund political parties," he said.
The petitioner NGOs have challenged various amendments to the Companies Act, Income Tax Act, Representation of the People Act, Reserve Bank of India Act and Foreign Contribution Regulations Act.
Agartala, March 26 : Nominations of five candidates, including one from the IPFT, were cancelled in Tripura for different reasons on Tuesday, an official said.
The rejected candidates include Sukla Charan Noatia (IPFT), Subrata Chakraborty (SUCI-C), Sonacharan Debbarma (Tipraland State Party) and two independents.
"The IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura) candidate Noatia's nomination was cancelled as he has been holding the office-of-profit as Chairman of the Tripura Small Industrial Corporation," Mahatme Sandeep Namdeo, returning officer of Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency, told IANS.
However, the nomination of another IPFT candidate Brishaketu Debbarma, an alternative nominee of the party for the seat, was found valid.
Namdeo said 18 candidates of different political parties and independents filed nominations for the Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency till Monday and scrutiny of these papers was undertaken on Tuesday in presence of leaders of political parties and Election Commission observers.
The IAS officer, also the District Magistrate and Collector of the West Tripura District, said 13 nominations were found valid after the scrutiny and the remaining five were rejected for a variety of reasons.
The IPFT has fielded candidates in Tripura's two Lok Sabha seats, rejecting dominant partner BJP appeal to not contest the elections.
IPFT president and Revenue Minister Narendra Chandra Debbarma, a candidate from the Tripura East (reserve) seat, said the IPFT is contesting the polls to raise the party's statehood demand in Parliament.
The IPFT has been agitating since 2009 to upgrade the existing Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to a separate tribal state.
The TTAADC has jurisdiction over two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area that is home to over 12,16,000 people, mostly tribals.
Ahmedabad, March 26 : An application was filed in the Special CBI Court, here on Tuesday, challenging the Gujarat government's refusal to sanction prosecution of retired police officials D.G. Vanzara and N.K. Amin in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case.
The plea has been filed by Shamima Kausar, Ishrat Jahan's mother, who also asked the court to share with her the copy of the Gujarat government's letter.
Earlier, CBI lawyer R.C. Kodekar informed special CBI Judge J.K. Pandya the Gujarat government had denied sanction to prosecute its retired officers under Section 197.
The state government's letter claimed the encounter, carried out by the cops, was genuine and 'in the line of duty'.
Vanjara, a former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Gujarat Police, and Amin, a retired Superintendent of Police (SP), are two of the seven accused chargesheeted by the CBI in the case.
Ishrat Jahan, a 19-year-old girl from Mumbra near Mumbai, was killed along with Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar by the Gujarat Police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004.
The police claimed the killed persons had links with terrorists and were plotting to kill then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Following a Gujarat High Court order, the CBI probed the encounter and said it was "staged".
New Delhi, March 26 : The Centre on Tuesday declined to share details relating to the appointment of RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das citing a clause in the transparency law that bars disclosure relating to the appointment of key government functionaries.
In a reply to an RTI query, it declined to share the details, including names of short-listed candidates and other such details of the appointment.
Shaktikanta Das was appointed as the Reserve Bank of India Governor on December 11, 2018. He succeeded Urjit Patel after he resigned months after a tussle with the government over the autonomy of the central bank.
The RTI application was filed with the Department of Financial Services (DFS) seeking details about the appointment procedure.
"It is informed that the requisite information about appointment of Shaktikanta Das as Governor, Reserve Bank of India, being Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) related file notings/documents/records, is exempt from disclosure under Section 8 (1) (i) of the Right to Information Act 205," the cabinet secretariat said in its reply to the RTI application.
In its reply, the DFS said the selection of Governor, RBI is done by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on the basis of a recommendation made by the Financial Sector Regulatory Appointments Search Committee (FSRASC).
The committee is headed by cabinet secretary as its chairperson and has an additional principal secretary to Prime Minister and secretary of the department concerned besides three outside experts as its members, the DFS said, without giving the names of the experts.
The section which the government cited to withhold information related to the appointment of Das and bars disclosure of cabinet papers, including records of deliberations of the council of ministers, secretaries and other officers.
New Delhi, March 26 : India on Tuesday termed reports about denial of overflight to an aircraft carrying Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during his visit to Islamabad as "false and motivated".
Sources said Pakistan has blocked it's own airspace from flights which are overflying India. Therefore, even though the Directorate General Civil Aviation had given overflight clearance to Malaysian PM's flight, it had to take a longer route because Pakistan denied permission.
They said it is strange that even for their National Day guest from Malaysia, Pakistan could not make an exception, thereby resulting in a longer flight for the Malaysian Prime Minister.
The sources said that all flights, including international flights, flying westward from or over Pakistan are not being allowed to fly over India by Pakistan. India has not imposed any such restriction.
Sections of Pakistani media have claimed that Malaysian Prime Minister's flight took longer to reach Pakistan as India did not give the requisite clearance.
Panaji, March 26 : A corpse is beautiful, there is nothing impure about it, said Datta Naik of the Dakshinayan Abhiyan, an organisation that promotes rationalism, slamming the purification ritual carried out at the government-run Kala Academy, where Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's mortal remains were kept for public homage on March 18.
Naik also demanded suspension of academy officials responsible for facilitating the 'purification' on Saturday, claiming such practices promote superstition.
"Death is a beautiful thing and the message which has gone out is that a corpse is bad, a corpse is impure. What is bad about it?" Naik said in his statement on Tuesday.
"Forget Kala Academy, every house where there is a death, the practice of purifying it should be stopped," Naik added.
The purification ceremony, photos and videos of which surfaced on the social media, triggered a furious debate in the coastal state.
Goa Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, who on Saturday ordered a probe into the incident, on Tuesday did a U-turn saying purification ceremonies were conducted in "99.99 per cent" Hindu homes after a death in the family and therefore a probe was not necessary.
He also ruled out any action against academy staffers, who had invited Hindu priests to perform the 'shuddhikaran'.
Naik accused Gaude of promoting superstition. "I feel bad that our friend Govind Gaude has supported it by saying 'havans' are offered in homes. We say it should not be performed even in houses. Someone should be suspended or punished. A message should go out," Naik said.
Gandhinagar, March 26 : The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Tuesday announced two more candidates for Gujarat for the 2019 general elections.
The AICC came out with a list of three candidates on Tuesday, of which two are for Gujarat -- one for Kutch and the other for Navsari.
The grand old party has trusted experienced political leader Naresh Maheshwari for Kutch -- a seat reserved for the Scheduled Castes. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded a sitting legislator Vinod Chavda in the constuency.
Maheshwari, is a resident of Madhapur, a town close to the main city of Kutch. He has been with the Congress for over two decades, and contested elections at all levels of government, from block to the state Assembly.
Dharmesh Patel has been nominated for the Navsari seat in south Gujarat, who will be fighting it out against the BJP stalwart C.R. Patil. The contest in Gujarat is primarily between the two main parties.
The Congress had earlier declared candidates for Ahmedabad West, Anand, Vadodara and Chhota Udaipur seats for the Lok Sabha elections.
Mumbai/Singapore, March 26 : Singapore Airlines' Mumbai-Singapore flight landed safely at the Changi Airport on Tuesday, with two F-16s of the Singapore Air Force escorting it, after a call warning that there was a bomb on board.
Soon after the flight, which had 263 passengers on board, landed in Singapore at around 8 am local time, security officials checked the aircraft thoroughly but nothing suspicious was found.
A Singapore Airlines spokesperson said that there was a bomb threat concerning SQ-423 operating from Mumbai to Singapore.
"We are assisting the authorities with their investigations and regret that we are unable to provide further details," the spokesperson added.
The Boeing 777-300ER plane had departed Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 11.36 p.m. on Monday.
Sources in Mumbai said that a woman passenger and a boy have been questioned by the police in connection with the incident. However airline officials have not yet commented.
The Singapore Air Force swung into action as the plane approached Singapore.
"Heard the roar of our fighters early this morning? That's because two of our F-16C/Ds were scrambled to intercept a Singapore Airlines flight from Mumbai to Singapore after receiving a bomb threat. Our fighters escorted the airliner till it landed safely at Changi Airport," the Republic of Singapore Air Force said in a post on its Facebook page.
Rome, March 26 : Italy views America as its chief ally, but is "an independent country" that will seize new trade opportunities like the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road infrastructure project with China, Industry and Welfare minister Luigi Di Maio said on Tuesday as he began a three-day US visit.
"I will meet members of the administration (of United States President Donald Trump) during the trip," Di Maio told Corriere della Sera newspaper.
"The US is our principal ally and my visit will be an opportunity to underscore this in a concrete way," said Di Maio, who is also Deputy Premier.
Italy has always had "solid bilateral ties" with the US, he underlined.
"We are a NATO member and well aware of our alliances but we are an independent country that can go after new business opportunities such as the new Silk Road project," Di Maio said.
Italy on Saturday became the first European Union and G7 country to join China's massive Belt and Road Initiative, drawing concern from the US and European allies over the Asian power's push for economic domination.
The Italian government's signing of a preliminary accord on the BRI took place during a visit to Rome by Chinese President Xi Jinping that saw a total of 29 deals signed worth a total of $2.8 billion.
The potential value of those business accords with the Chinese is as much as 20 billion euros, giving Italy's recession-hit economy a much-needed boost, according to Di Maio.
The raft of deals are part of the BRI - a global trade project aimed at connecting Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe via a network of ports, railways, tunnels and other infrastructure.
During his visit to Washington, Di Maio plans to assuage concerns over the BRI project, which comes as the US and China negotiate to end a protracted trade war and amid US concerns at the security threat posed by Chinese telecoms companies, particularly its largest, Huawei.
Rome, March 26 : Days before Britain's slated departure date from the European Union - and with no deal yet approved by its Parliament and politicians and the public bitterly divided on the issue - Italy's Foreign Minister on Tuesday likened the Brexit endgame to an Alfred Hitchcock thriller.
"As Brexit has unfolded in recent days, it seems the UK could be talking part in the (May) European elections," Enzo Moavero Milanesi said.
"We will have to see. It's rather like a film by that great European master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock, which leaves you guessing until the very last moment," he added.
Current Brexit options include the withdrawal accord negotiated by Premier Theresa May with the EU, which critics say could see Britain permanently "trapped" in a customs union; leaving the bloc on Friday without a deal; a softer Norway-style exit; revoking the Article 50 divorce process; a second referendum and a general election.
EU leaders last week granted the UK the option of delaying Brexit until May 22 but on the condition that May's deal is approved this week. Otherwise the government will have until April 12 to tell the EU what its plans are - a no-deal exit on that date or a longer extension, meaning Britain will take part in the European elections on May 23-26.
Washington, March 27 : US President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexico border survived a critical vote in the House on Tuesday, as Democrats failed to muster the necessary two-thirds majority to override his veto, the media reported.
The vote was 248-181, well short of the 288 that would have been required. The vote effectively ends -- for now -- legislative attempts to strike down Trump's national emergency declaration.
According to the Washington Post, now the fight over his attempt to circumvent Congress to get more money for his border wall will shift to the courts.
"President Trump can't take taxpayer dollars to build his wall without Congress's permission," California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a former congressman who has filed a lawsuit to block Trump's declaration, said following the vote.
"The 20 states standing with us in court are ready to fight long and hard to stop his fabricated emergency in its tracks," he added.
Congress sent Trump a bipartisan disapproval resolution earlier this month that sought to nullify his national emergency declaration, but Trump used the first veto of his presidency to strike it down.
Trump had announced the national emergency in February, following a record-long government shutdown and weeks of negotiations that resulted in a deal giving him billions less than he sought for barriers along the border.
Lawmakers of both parties said the emergency declaration -- which allows Trump to redirect money Congress appropriated for other purposes and use it for border construction instead -- represented a dramatic intrusion into Congress's authority over government spending.
In floor debate ahead of the vote on Tuesday, Democrats insisted Trump was violating the Constitution's separation of powers, while Republicans argued he was acting within his authority under the National Emergencies Act to address a genuine crisis at the southern border.
"What we have here is an act of constitutional vandalism -- the executive trying to steal the power of the purse from Congress," said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.). He warned that if lawmakers allow it to happen, future presidents of both parties will have great power to ignore Congress.
Fourteen Republicans broke ranks to vote with Democrats in attempting to overturn Trump's veto, but they represented a small minority as most GOP lawmakers stood with the president, arguing he was addressing an emergency Democrats had ignored.
"The radical left in this House would dissolve our borders entirely if given the chance," declared Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.). "They care more about defending the Iraqi border than defending our own."
Border apprehensions have spiked and are on pace for the highest level since 2008, although they remain below peak rates in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Lawmakers of both parties generally agree that there is an unfolding humanitarian crisis at the border, with many families from Central America attempting to enter the US, but Democrats argue that a wall won't help with that.
McGrath Estate Agents have expanded their reach, opening a new office in Ballarat in regional Victoria.
Their move, which is part of the focus to expand into key regional areas in the state, comes after they opened a Geelong office, their first regional
John McGrath, the founder and executive director of McGrath, said Ballarat is an important growth area of Victoria.
We earmarked Ballarat over two years ago in our McGrath Report as an important key regional market that has transformed itself from an industrial hub to an attractive lifestyle centre that offers more affordable housing, employment opportunities, a strong sense of community and a relaxed way of life," McGrath said.
"Ballarat is a prime example of a regional city that is no longer the sleepy second tier town but conversely, one that has come of age as thriving economic centre and community.
McGrath Ballarat will service the area of from Ballarat North to Durham Lead in the south; and Cardigan in the west to Warrenheip in the East. Key suburbs will include Ballarat Central, Solders Hill, Wendouree, Canadian and Ballarat North.
EXPERT OBSERVER
We dont often get sensible analysis of price data from economists - mostly they generalise about the Australian property market - but Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan provides an exception.
In a recent article he notes that some sections of the Melbourne market are still strong and that Regional Victoria has many locations with rising prices.
This correlates with recent Hotspotting research revealing that the cheaper areas of Melbourne still have strong prices while Regional Victoria is the most buoyant market in the nation.
Hassan says Melbournes overall price correction has shown much bigger differences across segments and tiers than has Sydney.
For Melbourne, units and bottom tier areas are holding up much better, he says, noting that prices across the bottom 25% of the market remain resilient.
This theme is also apparent across sub-regions. The big movers over the second half of 2018 were Melbournes Inner East and Inner South, with the Inner City and West holding up considerably better.
Prices are also performing better across Regional Victoria.
Hassan says that, overall, the citys rental market remains tight with vacancy rates holding around 2%.
Meanwhile, rental vacancy rates are extremely tight across Victorias regions, having fallen from 2% in late 2017 to just 1.2% in early 2019, he says. This in turn suggests the uneven performance is likely to continue.
Hotspottings regular nationwide research into sales activity and price movements has identified numerous growth markets in Regional Victoria.
They include Geelong (above), Ballarat, Bendigo, Pakenham, Officer and Warragul, as well as many smaller towns within an hour or so of Melbourne.
The Price Predictor Index published by Hotspotting ranks Regional Victoria as the No.1 market in Australia for strong sales activity and rising prices.
It has also identified growth markets in the Melbourne metropolitan area.
The generalised data on prices - i.e. one growth figure for the entire nation or for a major city - has Melbourne house prices down, although how much theyve fallen depends on whose figures you believe.
One major data source has the Melbourne median house price rising slightly in 2018, while others say it fell 2% or 3%, the latest figure from the ABS says 6% and CoreLogic (which usually has the most negative figures) says Melbourne is down 11%.
These sources have one thing in common: they generalise about very large areas. They lump all of Greater Melbourne, which has 500 suburbs as diverse as Toorak and Epping, into one melting pot, with one figure to describe the whole market.
But Melbourne has many different scenarios in play, including precincts where prices are still rising. Hotspottings suburb-by-suburb analysis shows many of the outer-ring areas still have price growth.
This is confirmed by new data on the suburbs of the Melton LGA in Melbournes west. Most Melton suburbs have had annual price growth above 13%.
Meltons median sits at $410,000 (up 14.5%) while Melton South is $411,750 (up 15.7%), Kurunjang $432,000 (up 19.5%) and Melton West $450,000 (up 13.9%).
The figures confirm that investors who are able to ignore media generalisations and do some real research will have little trouble finding strong markets where prices are growing.
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
[email protected]
twitter.com/hotspotting
The bond between a dog and their human is unbreakable. Wed like dog owners and their family members to have fun with the entire family, fur and all, by participating in our unique event.
Dogs and their owners alike will be able to participate in the 10th annual Easter Egg Hunt hosted by Wag Hotels to benefit the Humane Society Silicon Valley on April 6, 2019. Thousands of eggs will be filled with pizza-flavored dog treats, then hidden so each pup can discover the egg and earn its treat. There are also prizes for humans inside some of the eggs.
The event is Wag Hotels largest signature event and one of the largest fundraisers for local animal rescues. After attendees hunt eggs with their dogs, they can participate in a variety of activities, including taking photos with the Easter Bunny, eating delicious snack items, visiting local dog-friendly vendors, and purchasing tickets toward a raffle that benefits the Humane Society Silicon Valley. Those who plan to attend are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite bunny ears and pastel colors.
The bond between a dog and their human is unbreakable. Wed like dog owners and their family members to have fun with the entire family, fur and all, by participating in our unique event. The dogs will have fun hunting eggs and the humans will have fun with all the amazing vendors, all while benefiting a great and necessary organization. One-hundred percent of the events proceeds will go to the Humane Society Silicon Valley, said Kristen Rau, Director of Marketing for Wag Hotels.
Dogs and children under twelve receive free entry to the event. It will take place rain or shine at several parks throughout California. Tickets for the April 6th Egg Hunt for Dogs event can be found on Eventbrite, and those who would like to make a donation can also donate on Eventbrite. Links for individual events are below:
San Francisco, Benefiting Humane Society Silicon Valley: https://sfeasteregghunt2019.eventbrite.com
Oakland, Benefiting Humane Society Silicon Valley: https://okeasteregghunt2019.eventbrite.com
Hollywood + West LA + Carson, Benefiting Much Love Rescue: https://laeasteregghunt2019.eventbrite.com
West Sacramento, Benefiting Pits R Us All Breed Rescue: https://wseasteregghunt2019.eventbrite.com
Redwood City + Santa Clara, Benefiting Humane Society Silicon Valley: https://scrceasteregghunt2019.eventbrite.com
San Diego, Benefiting Second Chance Rescue: https://sdeasteregghunt2019.eventbrite.com
About Wag Hotels: Wag Hotels is the ultimate stay and play resort for dogs and cats. Founded in 2005, Wag has redefined the pet care business by offering a variety of innovative services including hotel-style boarding, all day play/doggie day care, grooming and spa services. Wag offers climate-controlled environments, personalized Wag cams and provides care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Learn more about Wag Hotels, https://www.waghotels.com/.
Alain Leon Pavon We are so pleased to work in partnership with HRH Prince Charles to support the preservation of Cubas remarkable capital through sponsoring the continuing education of talented young Cuban architects like Alain Leon Pavon.
We are pleased to announce Alain Leon Pavon as the recipient of the 2019 Havana Heritage Foundation Traveling Grant for Cuban Architects. This is the third year that this award has been presented. The Princes Foundation is a loyal co-partner in the grant program, and this years announcement coincides with the historic royal visit of HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to Cuba to highlight the arts and historic preservation and restoration of the country.
James F. Friedlander, Founder and Chairman of the Havana Heritage Foundation, said, In conjunction with the historic royal visit of HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall in March and the landmark 500th birthday of Havana in November, we are so pleased to work in partnership with HRH Prince Charles to support the preservation of Cubas remarkable capital through sponsoring the continuing education of talented young Cuban architects like Alain Leon Pavon.
Friedlander adds, The Princes Foundation Summer School program enables students to work alongside peers from around the world to apply current architectural techniques to 21st-century challenges. This opportunity will help Alain play a crucial role in the redevelopment and protection of Cubas rich architectural heritage in the years ahead.
About Alain Leon Pavon
Grant:
Havana Heritage Foundation Traveling Grant for Cuban Architects
Work:
Joined the architecture studio DAG Arquitectos as an intern in 2015 and, after graduating college in 2017, became a full-time employee. Most of his projects at the company deal with the architectural rehabilitation of buildings with patrimonial or historical value.
Education:
Architecture Graduate of Instituto Superior Politecnico Jose Antonio Echeverria (ISPJAE) / Jose Antonio Echeverria Institute of Technologies of the University of Havana.
Home:
Resides in Havana.
Alain will spend the month of July in the United Kingdom including three weeks at The Princes Foundation Summer School for Architects and Builders. There are approximately 30 participants in the Summer School, and they come from a multitude of countries. One week is spent in London followed by two weeks in Scotland based at the historic estate of Dumfries House. Alain will also have an additional seven days for exploration of London and the rich cultural scene of museums and architecture.
I am the product of a rich cultural legacy here in Cuba, says Alain Leon. Therefore, I am very passionate about the preservation and evolution of my home city. The current process of transformation in Havana is challenging, and there is still so much to do. As the recipient of the Havana Heritage Foundation Traveling Grant, I hope to gain further skills to maintain our citys heritage for future generations.
Past recipients of the Havana Heritage Foundation Traveling Grant include Ailyn Lazara Penton Ansia (Fellow 2017), Daniel Munoz Cedeno (Fellow 2017), and Joel Estevez Gonzalez (The Alejandro Alonso Fellow 2018).
Partners in the Traveling Grant Program:
Havana Heritage Foundation (HHF) | http://www.HavanaHeritage.org
The Princes Foundation | http://www.Princes-Foundation.org
Ludwig Foundation of Cuba | http://aflfc.org/
INTBAU CUBA, a chapter of The International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism | http://www.INTBAU.org
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which will help facilitate some of Alains additional time in London. This will include an introduction and visit to the RIBA Collections (located at the RIBA and at the Victoria & Albert Museum), a visit to a school of architecture exhibition of student work, visiting a large architectural firm to see first-hand contemporary practices of such a firm, learning about the latest technologies being utilized, and meeting with other young architects. RIBA | http://www.architecture.com
Sir John Soanes Museum Foundation, the originator of the Traveling Grant for Cuban Architects program in 2016/2017 in partnership with the Havana Heritage Foundation. In 2018, the Soane handed over the program to the Havana Heritage Foundation.
Havana Heritage Foundation is a New York based 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to promote, preserve, protect, and restore the rich architectural and cultural heritage of Havana. James F. Friedlander, Founder and Chairman.
Havana Heritage Foundation
1040 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd FLOOR
New York, NY 10018
Press Contact: Chas(dot)Miller(at)HavanaHeritage(dot)org
Telephone: 212-327-3160
http://www.HavanaHeritage.org
A+ Dental
In Partnership with the Smiles for Everyone Foundation, A+ Dental will provide free dental services for low-income, underinsured individuals at its Roseville, California office on April 27th.
Dental services provided include same-day procedures such as exams and x-rays, fillings, cleanings and extractions. For more information, please visit the A+ website.
About A+ Dental
A+ Dental Care is a rapidly growing group dental practice owned and operated by Herman Dental Corporation and affiliated with the dental support organization, Smile Brands, Inc. Since 1975, A+ Dental has been delivering quality care to Northern California residents. With five convenient locations, A+ Dental Care provides comprehensive general and specialty care to patients in the greater Sacramento area including the communities of Roseville, Lincoln, Rocklin and Folsom. Their mission is to create long-term patient relationships by making dental visits convenient, affordable and stress-free. A+ relies on Smile Brands to provide world-class business support services so they can focus on delivering highly personalized patient care. Learn more at https://www.aplusdentalcaregroup.com/.
About the Smiles For Everyone Foundation
The Smiles for Everyone Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of delivering smiles for everyone by providing free dental care for those in need, both at home in the U.S. and around the world. Since 2011, the Smiles for Everyone Foundation has delivered over 19,000 smiles and $14.5 million in donated dentistry. The foundation currently supports programs which provide free dental care to those in need in Cambodia, Ghana, Laos, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Thailand, and the United States. For more information or to make a donation, visit http://www.smilesforeveryone.org.
Contacts:
A+ Dental
Jody Martin
PR@smilebrands.com
714.427.1299
Smiles for Everyone Foundation
Crystal Strait
crystal.strait@smilesforeveryone.org
714.824.5037
I cannot begin to express the magnitude of the extra hours we had with Collin, said Collins mother, Alissa Rodriquez. I hope these will gather dust and never be used but in reality, they will be used and needed by other families.
The family of Collin Sebastian Mellor has partnered with Madisons Miracles to graciously donate a Cuddle Cot to The Baby Place at AdventHealth Zephyrhills, in honor of their son. Collin Sebastian Mellor passed away September 1, 2018 during birth at AdventHealth Tampa. Traditionally, families only have a few hours to say goodbye when an infant passes away but the Cuddle Cot cools the baby, allowing the family to spend additional time to process bereavement.
Collins parents, Alissa Rodriquez and Ryan Mellor, were able to use a Cuddle Cot to spend more precious time with their son, allowing time for his only bedtime story and the opportunity for his grandparents to hold him and say their goodbyes. These are moments the family shared that would not have been possible without a Cuddle Cot.
I cannot begin to express the magnitude of the extra hours we had with Collin, said Collins mother, Alissa Rodriquez. I hope these will gather dust and never be used but in reality, they will be used and needed by other families.
Collins family was so touched by their experience using a Cuddle Cot, they will donate a total of six through Madisons Miracles, with the first being donated to AdventHealth Zephyrhills. Collins father is a surgeon at AdventHealth Tampa.
Madisons Miracles is a 501 (c) 3 founded by Chris and Christina Stamper following the loss of their daughter, Madison Elizabeth Stamper. Christina wanted to use her tragedy to help other families who experience loss. Madisons Miracles is dedicating to honoring all babies gone too soon every day. For more information about the Cuddle Cot and Madisons Miracles, please visit http://www.madisonsmiracles.org.
About AdventHealth West Florida Division (Formerly Florida Hospital)
The West Florida Division of AdventHealth has some of the nations brightest medical minds making lifesaving breakthroughs with surgical pioneers, scientists and researchers using leading edge technology and innovation to deliver our brand of whole-person care. Our network of care includes AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Connerton, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Lake Placid, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Ocala, AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Wauchula, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, as well as three freestanding offsite Emergency Rooms including AdventHealth Central Pasco ER, AdventHealth Palm Harbor ER and AdventHealth TimberRidge ER. We are more than hospitals, as we have a robust system of care including specialty acute care, over 200 primary care and specialty employed physicians, Express Care at Walgreens clinics, urgent care centers, wound care, physical therapy and home health care. AdventHealth is a faith-based not-for-profit health care system with a mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. AdventHealth has hundreds of care sites and nearly 50 hospitals across the United States. For more information about AdventHealth, visit AdventHealth.com, or Facebook.com/AdventHealth, and for West Florida Division, click here.
West Penn Hospital We chose Voalte Platform for its unified directory, which makes it easy to reach any member of the care team quickly and quietly, and for the customized workflows it enables for responding instantly to alarms and alerts.
Voalte, the leader in healthcare communication technology, today announced that West Penn Hospital, part of Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network (AHN), is using Voalte smartphones to help monitor and care for premature and critically ill infants in its Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), including a new, $23 million, all-private bed expansion.
Using Apple iPhones with Voalte Platform for integrated voice, alerts and secure text messaging, the entire AHN Women and Children Institute team based at West Penn Hospital is connected via a unified directory and simple search capabilities, enabling efficient communication among a large team that includes nurses, neonatologists, obstetrician/gynecologists, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, respiratory therapists and others. Instant notifications help the team monitor patients conditions with GE patient monitoring and instantly initiate call-backs into the patient room via Rauland nurse call and Connexall middleware. The pager-free notification system enables caregivers to receive instant notifications about patients conditions directly on their smartphones.
Our new NICU offers patients the highest level of care in addition to beautifully equipped private rooms that deliver the comfort and quiet that is so important to the families of premature or critically ill infants, said Jacqueline Collavo, VP and Chief Nursing Officer at West Penn Hospital. We chose Voalte Platform for its unified directory, which makes it easy to reach any member of the care team quickly and quietly, and for the customized workflows it enables for responding instantly to alarms and alerts.
West Penn Hospital is the first in the Pittsburgh area to deploy iPhones at the point of care for clinical communication and alarm integration, said Trey Lauderdale, Founder and CEO of Voalte. As NICUs throughout the country transition from ward-style to private room settings, Voalte Platform becomes essential for patient safety and the caregivers peace of mind. Were pleased to partner with West Penn to help them care for these tiny, vulnerable patients.
About Voalte
Voalte develops smartphone solutions that simplify caregiver communication. Ranked number-one and named 2017 Category Leader in the Best in KLAS: Software & Services report for the Secure Communications Platform segment, Voalte is the only company to offer a comprehensive Mobile Communication Strategy that enables care teams inside and outside the hospital to access and exchange information securely. Founded in 2008, Voalte is a privately held company based in Sarasota, Florida. Voalte solutions are now available to more than 215,000 caregivers throughout the United States. For more information, visit voalte.com or follow @Voalte on Twitter.
RENEW logo
The Impact Angel Network (IAN), a global angel network dedicated to investing in high-potential companies across the continent of Africa, has announced the IANs 2019 International Gathering. This year, the Gathering will be held on May 17th, 2019 at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C.
The events keynote speaker will be David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-executive chairman of the Carlyle Group. Join us for a fireside chat as he shares his story about building one of the worlds most successful private equity firms and how he views opportunities in Africa. Attendees will also interact with other special guests and dignitaries, and hear IAN members personal stories about how they help finance companies managed by smart and successful Ethiopian entrepreneurs for impact and financial returns.
Organized by RENEW, an impact and investment advisory firm which manages IAN, the annual Gathering convenes IAN members and guests to explore the dynamic investment landscape in sub-Saharan Africa, through the lens of SME investing. Guests will spend the evening at the Embassy of Canada, overlooking the Capitol Building, with other like-minded individuals, business executives, thought leaders and experts in the impact and angel investing space. RENEW aims to elevate angel and impact investing and how the private sector is driving growth. The Gathering is a great opportunity to have important conversations related to impact investing and how were all contributing to an entrepreneurial culture on the continent and to Africas growth story.
Tickets for the event are available until Monday, May 13th and can be purchased at this link. For more information about sponsorship opportunities please visit our website. Additional events will be held exclusively for IAN members throughout the weekend. If youre interested in learning more about the IAN or joining the network please visit the following link.
Wed like to thank the following partners and sponsors for making the 2019 International Gathering possible: The Embassy of Canada (co-host), Faegre Baker Daniels (platinum sponsor), LimaLimo Lodge, Enlightenment Wines and KANTER.
About Impact Angel Network and RENEW
The Impact Angel Network is one of the most active private equity investors in East Africa. Its members seek to make both social impacts and financial returns through investments in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), a proven engine of economic growth and job creation, but lacking capital in Africa due to their size. They believe that targeting employment through SMEs, dollar-for-dollar, can help reduce poverty in a more sustainable way than charity.
RENEW, with its largest office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, manages the IANs investment operations and provides investment advisory and consulting services in support of its investments. RENEWs work in Ethiopia was piloted with USAID and is currently undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada. The project, Accelerating Business Growth, aims at sustainable job creation for low-skilled workers, including women and young adults, through a dynamic and growing small and medium business sector in Ethiopia.
To find out more, please visit http://www.renewstrategies.com
As a company, we are proud to support the work of the Havana Heritage Foundation to preserve and protect this captivating nation and its 500-year-old capital for future generations.
This is a banner year for Cuba, with an historic royal visit in March and the 500th anniversary of Havana in November. Arrangements Abroad is celebrating 20 years of leading educational trips to Americas closest overseas neighbor with a special trip to the 13th Havana Biennial from April 23 to 28. The thematically based Havana Biennial, which is one of the most interesting art festivals in the Western Hemisphere, features the best of Cuban visual artists alongside those from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Chas Miller, a board member of the Havana Heritage Foundation; Wilfredo Benatez, Executive Director of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba; and Joel Estevez, Architecture Fellow of the Havana Heritage Foundation, will lead this five-day trip, which is presented by Arrangements Abroads Museum Travel Alliance (MTA), where Miller serves as Relationship Manager.
Arrangements Abroad will offer travelers exclusive access to festivities and events at the 13th Havana Biennial, as well as opportunities to connect with artists, collectors, museum curators, and gallery dealers. The previous Biennial was hosted in 2015. Planning for the 2017 event was postponed due to the damage caused by Hurricane Irma, making this years event even more highly anticipated.
For Arrangements Abroads president Jim Friedlander, Cuba is close to his heart: he is also the founder of the Havana Heritage Foundation, whose mission is to promote, preserve, protect, and restore the rich architectural and cultural heritage of the countrys capital.
Ive traveled to Cuba more than 50 times over 20 years, said Friedlander, And Arrangements Abroad has taken approximately 10,000 Americans to all parts of Cuba since we began offering tours there in 1999. As a company, we are proud to support the work of the Havana Heritage Foundation to preserve and protect this captivating nation and its 500-year-old capital for future generations. As travel leaders who form deep relationships in our destinations to provide the most exclusive access for our guests, it is our duty at Arrangements Abroad to give back to the communities who have given us and our travelers so much.
Arrangements Abroads Havana tour will follow Marchs historic official royal visit of HRH Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall to the countrys shores, the first-ever for the British royal family in Communist-run Cuba. Prince Charless visit will highlight the arts and heritage restoration, among other themes, and will coincide with the announcement of Alain Leon Pavon as Havana Heritage Foundations 2019 recipient of its Traveling Grant for Cuban Architects.
The Princes Foundation is a partner in the grant program, and Leon as the recipient of the award will receive three weeks at the Princes Foundation Summer School. The HHF Traveling Grant offers a unique continuing educational opportunity for young Cuban architects to travel to London and the United Kingdom to explore contemporary architectural practices and hone handson skills while meeting and working with likeminded colleagues from around the world. This annual award is presented with cooperation from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), INTBAU Cuba, and the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba.
###
ABOUT ARRANGEMENTS ABROAD
A leader in academic travel since 1977, Arrangements Abroad provides an insiders look at a destination, offering programs that provide special access to extraordinary places through its rich resources of museum curators, professors, and diplomats in more than 50 countries. Each itinerary is designed for its sponsoring institutions, which include some of the nation's preeminent museums, cultural organizations and alumni associations. Arrangements Abroad has been leading educational trips to Cuba since 1999, and during those two decades they have introduced some 10,000 Americans to the rich history and culture of this captivating country. Their expertise in creating and operating educational tours to Cuba is unmatched, with deep relationships all across the country. Find out more at http://www.arrangementsabroad.com.
Follow on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Follow on Instagram
Follow on LinkedIn
ABOUT THE MUSEUM TRAVEL ALLIANCE
A division of Arrangements Abroad, the Museum Travel Alliance (MTA) provides individuals who are members and supporters of more than 60 participating museums with access to unique, high-end cultural travel programs. Travelers join members affiliated with other participating museums from across the country on MTA tours, all led by curators and other experts. Find out more at https://museumtravelalliance.com/.
ABOUT THE HAVANA HERITAGE FOUNDATION
The Havana Heritage Foundation is a US based 501 (c)(3) dedicated to protecting and preserving the architecture and culture of Havana. The Foundation has a diverse group of both US and Cuban professionals, architects, city planners, politicians, academics and others that share an interest in preserving 500 years of Havanas heritage for future generations. Find out more at https://havanaheritage.org/#home.
Todays customers overwhelmingly seek businesses that make them the priority.
ASEOHosting, a provider of SEO-friendly hosting, has identified what it feels are the three most critical search engine optimization trends of 2019.
According to Daniel Page, Director of Business Development at ASEOHosting, these are, respectively, mobile friendliness, user experience, and local search.
It has been common knowledge for some time that Google uses a websites functionality on mobile devices as a ranking signal. However, Google has more recently started using a websites mobile version for indexing and ranking. This means, explains Daniel, a site that does not prioritize smartphone and tablet users is likely to suffer.
User experience, meanwhile, comprises several different aspects of a website. Page speed is among the most important, but content quality, GDPR compliance, and overall relevance are critical, as well. Daniel advises businesses endeavor to form as complete an understanding of their audiences as possible, and leverage that to provide them with the best experience they can.
Finally, local search has remained an important trend for the past several years, and 2019 will be no different. Local search results will continue to draw in audiences, while geotargeted ads will continue to show significant gains. Businesses should complete their Google My Business listing and include address and contact information wherever relevant.
Todays customers overwhelmingly seek businesses that make them the priority, explains Daniel. Its not surprising that Googles algorithms are evolving to reflect that. Ranking these days involves more than simply understanding the technical elements of on-page SEO - it involves understanding your customer and making a concerted effort to provide them with exceptional service and value.
A business that puts its customers first will not only find itself ranking higher on Google, but will also likely see increased conversions and improved customer loyalty, he continues. At the end of the day, this means that there is no reason not to follow the trends. Youll adhere to them simply by trying to provide the best service you can.
About ASEOHosting:
ASEOHosting is the leader in providing all types of SEO Hosting, including Shared SEO Hosting, Dedicated SEO Hosting, US Dedicated SEO Servers, and EU Dedicated SEO Servers, based in Orlando, FL, and Detroit, MI, owned and operated by Ahosting, Inc., supplying hosting services that are truly beyond imagination. Since 2002, ASEOHosting has established one of the webs premier solutions for reseller web hosting, multiple IP hosting, dedicated servers, and VPS hosting. For more information, visit https://www.aseohosting.com.
Our research teams work within the clinical department and are not separated from one another. They apply their own knowledge, technologies and abilities on the real clinical level thats what makes Sheba so unique and the products being developed so innovative.
At this years American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy session, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer and Dr. Nathalie Bloch, Director of Shebas Innovation Center, were recognized for groundbreaking medical innovations that have an unparalleled impact around the world. The hospital recently earned a place as one of The Top Ten Hospitals in the World.
Its our mission to redesign healthcare for the next decade and beyond, said Bloch.
Dr. Bloch spoke with other esteemed panelists about Shebas breakthrough cures and treatments and why Israel is leading the world in health innovations. Bloch spoke about Shebas new ARC Innovation Center which works to quickly and seamlessly bring start-up ideas to market.
Our research teams work within the clinical department and are not separated from one another. They apply their own knowledge, technologies and abilities on the real clinical level thats what makes Sheba so unique and the products being developed so innovative.
Sheba Medical Center has over 1900 physicians and 200 specialized researchers pursuing developments in numerous fields of study, including: pharmaceuticals, sophisticated data collection and sharing, artificial intelligence programs and smart technologies.
Dr. Bloch also touched on Shebas commitment to humanitarian crises across the globe. Even as Bloch spoke, a Sheba humanitarian team was quickly mobilizing to fly to Mozambique to assess the deadly destruction of Cyclone Idai. This kind of response is part of Shebas dedication to bring cutting edge medicine and care to those in desperate need.
About Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer
Born together with Israel in 1948, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East. Sheba is the only medical center in Israel that combines an acute care hospital and a rehabilitation hospital on one campus, and it is at the forefront of medical treatments, patient care, research and education. As a university teaching hospital affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, it welcomes people from all over the world indiscriminately. To learn more, visit: eng.sheba.co.il.
Best eCommerce Web Design Firms
10 Best Design has published its list of the 10 best eCommerce web design firms, featuring Ruckus Marketing and Blue Fountain Media in first and second place, respectively.
This monthly award has been determined by 10 Best Design, a company dedicated to finding out which design firms are the best in their areas of expertise. eCommerce websites require special handling from web development companies for security reasons and creating a payment portal that gains the trust of the customers, rather than losing them. Online stores require advanced website design to create a vehicle of commerce. To determine the best eCommerce web development company, 10 Best Design used a complex ranking process that uses qualitative and quantitative statistics. Their teams review the firms to determine the best service, and they only rank the highly regarded firms.
The top eCommerce web design firm is Ruckus Marketing. The digital agency is more than just an agency. They focus on helping businesses develop inspiring brands and companies whether they are brand new or looking to evolve the brand. They create disruption for many different markets. The New York agency creates disruption that will engage the audience. Creating a design that moves people stems from better platform design and engagement. They campaigns are driven to create consumer action rather than sounding like every other company out there. Ruckus believes branding should have life to it. Messages and imaging need to be distinct for each business. Each phase helps the brand evolve while it is infused with knowledge about how it will impact consumer behavior.
The second-place winner among the best eCommerce website design firms is Blue Fountain Media. The digital design firm focuses on combining technology and imagination to help businesses grow in the increasingly-crowded digital space. Their website design is perfect for mid-sized companies and enterprises. They believe that digital marketing shouldn't just copy the competitors or sound like a robot wrote it. The marketing needs to be designed to reach the needs of the prospect. They also use website development to create bold new websites for companies. Proper website development requires experience, planning, and communication. Blue Fountain Media exceeds in all of these areas. The right partner in designing a website needs to identify their client's needs and clear communication.
To learn more about this months winning firms, visit http://www.10bestdesign.com.
Biscom, a leading provider of secure document delivery for regulated industries, today announced integrations for Box and Microsoft OneDrive, helping organizations seamlessly and securely share confidential files and private data within a single, secure platform. The new integrations expand on Transits existing Dropbox integration and enable users to easily and securely share files from their cloud repositories but with integrated audit logging. Transit administrators have complete visibility into usage and can report on whos sharing information with others both internally and externally. Transit can be used to help meet regulatory compliance including HIPAA, SOX, and FERPA.
Most companies have instances of Dropbox, Box, or Microsoft OneDrive which are often not managed by IT, said Bill Ho, CEO of Biscom. By creating hooks into these cloud repositories, Biscom Transit can act as a unified platform for sharing files while maintaining a single searchable and exportable audit trail.
As a CPA who works with highly confidential financial information all the time, Transit has been invaluable in helping me securely communicate, send and receive files with clients and associated professionals in need of confidential data, said Robert L Baker, CPA of Baker Corbett & Geary, LLC. Its easy and intuitive to use. I can track when a client receives what has been sent, and clients appreciate the security of the environment and ease of use.
Biscom Transit features include:
Secure email: Email that supports a secure section that can be used to convey sensitive information, confidential attachments, and maintain a full audit trail
FIPS 140-2 certified AES 256-bit encryption: Transit is NIST-approved for Federal Government deployment, for the highest levels of security
Multi-tenancy: Each customer is provided its own space to store data that is not commingled with any other customer
Pseudonymization: Helps meet the needs for GDPR compliance
Integrations: Integrated with cloud storage providers including Dropbox, Box, and Microsoft OneDrive to provide a single security and tracking overlay for all corporate information sharing
Mobile-friendly: Send and receive messages and files on any mobile device
Recently, Biscom Transit was selected as a Silver winner by the 2019 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards for Cybersecurity Product - Email Security and a Bronze winner by Info Security Products Guide. In addition to its award-winning solutions, Biscom has also been recognized for its exceptional customer support by the American Stevie Business Awards as a Bronze Stevie Award recipient for two consecutive years for best customer service.
The new cloud storage integrations are immediately available to all existing Biscom Transit users. For more information about Biscom Transit, visit: http://www.biscomtransit.com.
About Biscom Transit
Biscom Transit is a cloud-based secure file sharing and email solution that provides businesses with a way to send documents, large files, and messages as easily as email, but with embedded encryption and audit logs that enable companies to meet security and compliance requirements.
About Biscom
As the leading provider of secure document transfer solutions for highly regulated industries such as healthcare, government, legal, and financial services, Biscom continues to spearhead data security with its enterprise secure file transfer, collaboration, and fax solutions. Biscom uses its thirty years of experience to help some of the worlds largest organizations securely transmit and share information, keeping confidential data protected. Biscom leads the industry in innovation and outstanding customer support. Learn more at http://www.biscom.com.
There are many insurance companies that pretend they are the best and offer the best car insurance deals. To select insurance companies that can satisfy their needs, drivers will need to analyze multiple factors , said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.
Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that explains how drivers can find the best car insurance companies.
For more info and free quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/tips-to-find-a-good-car-insurance-carrier/
When looking for a car insurance company, its important to always choose a reliable insurer. A reliable insurance company is capable to provide its customers with the services they paid for it.
To find a good auto insurance carrier, drivers should consider the following:
Avoid scammers. Drivers should look for websites that report scams and place the reported companies on an exclusions list. Also, drivers are recommended to check the local Department of Insurance website. All insurance companies authorized to sell policies in an area are listed by the respective local Department of Insurance website.
Look for insurers that are financially strong. Strong insurance companies are capable to pay their customers whenever they file a claim. Drivers can check the ratings of an insurer by visiting the websites of independent rating agencies like A.M. Best, Moodys, Fitch, Standard & Poors. These agencies are known for their independence and the accuracy of their ratings.
Look for insurers that have a high customers satisfaction rating. Customer satisfaction is very important for any insurance company. Drivers should look at the Auto Insurance Provider Ratings, that is released every year by J.D. Power. On this list, the insurance companies are rated based upon policy offering, billing, payment, pricing, and customer support.
Check the complaint ratios. To find out about the complaint ratio of an insurance company, drivers can visit the Better Business Bureau website. Based on the complaint ratios and how they solve them, the insurance companies are rated from A+ to F. Drivers are recommended to select insurers that have low complaint ratios.
For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/
Compare-autoinsurance.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.
Throughout his career as an educator Joel H. Rosenthal has worked with academic and professional constituents to bring ethical analysis to matters of international public policy.
On March 29 2019, Joel H. Rosenthal, president of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, will receive the Distinguished Scholar Award at the International Studies Association (ISA) Conference in Toronto.
The ISA's Distinguished Scholar Award is given for life achievement in International Studies. Typically, nominees will have made major contributions to scholarship in the field both via their own research and writing and their mentorship of others.
Joel H. Rosenthal has served as president of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs since 1995.
He is also chairman of the Bard College Globalization and International Affairs (BGIA) program in New York City, and editor-in-chief of "Ethics & International Affairs" journal published by Cambridge University Press.
As a scholar and teacher Rosenthal has focused on ethics in U.S. foreign policy, with special emphasis on issues of war and peace, human rights, and pluralism. His first book "Righteous Realists" is a study of Hans Morgenthau, Reinhold Niebuhr, and George Kennan, among other American realists. His edited volume "Ethics & International Affairs: A Reader," co-edited by Christian Barry, is a compilation of essays from major figures in the field and is widely used in college and university courses.
In 2016, Rosenthal was appointed Dorsett Fellow at Dartmouth College where he delivered a lecture on "Rising Fences: Migrants, Borders, and a New Frontier for Ethics." In 2019 he will deliver the McMurrin-Tanner Lecture at the University of Utah on "Ethics for a Connected World."
Throughout his career as an educator Rosenthal has worked with academic and professional constituents to bring ethical analysis to matters of international public policy. In doing so he has worked with partners in scholarly associations, colleges and universities, grant-making foundations, government, business, and the media.
Rosenthal received his Ph.D. from Yale University and B.A. from Harvard University. In addition to his ongoing teaching duties, he lectures frequently at universities and public venues across the United States and around the world. In 2013 he received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Social Science from the University of Edinburgh.
About International Studies Association
Representing over 100 countries, ISA has more than 6,500 members worldwide and is the most respected and widely known scholarly association in this field. Endeavoring to create communities of scholars dedicated to international studies, ISA is divided into 6 geographic subdivisions of ISA (Regions), 29 thematic groups (Sections) and 4 Caucuses which provide opportunities to exchange ideas and research with local colleagues and within specific subject areas. Go to https://www.isanet.org/.
About Carnegie Council
Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1914, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an educational, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that produces lectures, publications, and multimedia materials on the ethical challenges of living in a globalized world. Go to https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/.
Blue Bird Corporation brought a propane-fueled yellow school bus to the Atlanta Science Festival to show students emissions-reducing propane bus technology. We share our Blue Bird Vision Propane school buses with the youth of the Atlanta area to demonstrate how an everyday part of their lives fits in with their STEM learning.
A Blue Bird school bus was on display last weekend in an unexpected place the Atlanta Science Festival. Blue Bird Corporation brought a propane-fueled yellow school bus to the festival to show students emissions-reducing propane bus technology. The festival attracted thousands of attendees to celebrate the local science community with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities.
We share our Blue Bird Vision Propane school buses with the youth of the Atlanta area to demonstrate how an everyday part of their lives fits in with their STEM learning, said Justyne Lobello, product communications and marketing manager of Blue Bird Corporation. This bus is just one example of the thousands of our alternatively fueled buses servicing schools throughout the country.
The propane bus was borrowed from Fulton County Schools. Our school district is helping children learn about the propane buses that they ride to school in and the engineering thats under the hood, said Sam Ham, executive director of transportation for Fulton County Schools. We are so pleased with this technology that we will surpass our original goal to have 300 propane buses by 2022 with 316 propane buses in operation when we open school in August 2019.
Nearly 1 million students in about 850 school districts ride to school in emissions-reducing propane buses across the U.S. Propane is a nontoxic, non-carcinogenic and non-corrosive fuel. Buses fueled by propane emit fewer greenhouse gases and total hydrocarbon emissions, and virtually eliminate particulate matter, when compared to conventional diesel-powered buses. The ultra-low nitrogen oxide (NOx) ROUSH CleanTech propane engine in Blue Bird Vision buses is 90 percent cleaner than the current Environmental Protection Agency standard.
Were thrilled to have Blue Bird join the festival family this year, said Jordan Rose, executive co-director and co-founder, Atlanta Science Festival. Blue Bird's commitment to reducing bus emissions, and to educating the public about the dangers of nitrogen oxides makes them a great partner in building a scientifically literate community.
Blue Bird also sponsored an interactive booth at the festivals Exploration Expo. Attendees made propane molecules out of marshmallows and experienced the difference between a propane spill and a diesel spill. Blue Birds smelling station simulated the odor of propane emissions compared with diesel emissions.
About Blue Bird Corporation: Blue Bird is the leading independent designer and manufacturer of school buses, with more than 550,000 buses sold since its formation in 1927 and approximately 180,000 buses in operation today. Blue Birds longevity and reputation in the school bus industry have made it an iconic American brand. Blue Bird distinguishes itself from its principal competitors by its singular focus on the design, engineering, manufacture and sale of school buses and related parts. As the only manufacturer of chassis and body production specifically designed for school bus applications, Blue Bird is recognized as an industry leader for school bus innovation, safety, product quality/reliability/durability, operating costs and drivability. In addition, Blue Bird is the market leader in alternative fuel applications with its propane-powered, electric and compressed natural gas-powered school buses. Blue Bird manufactures school buses at two facilities in Fort Valley, Georgia. Its Micro Bird joint venture operates a manufacturing facility in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. Service and after-market parts are distributed from Blue Birds parts distribution center located in Delaware, Ohio. For more information on Blue Birds complete line of buses, visit http://www.blue-bird.com.
# # #
"Our goal here at Chromaflo is to create colorants that provide consumers with a fresh look and approach to their products and this new colorant does exactly that. - Technical Service Representative Urethanes, Lisa Collette
Chromaflo Technologies, the premier global provider of colorant technology solutions, is pleased to announce the release of a new black colorant, the latest addition to its thermoset product line. The black is associated with Chromaflos DL line of products and has a product code of DL-020017.
Created by Chromaflos Thermoset technical team, the new black colorant targets the polyurethane market, which encompasses a host of different applications. The colorant is uniquely different in that it contains 40% high structure carbon black and its thixotropy allows the product to readily flow with no need for agitation.
Benefits of the DL-020017 new black include:
Ability to achieve a jet black color at lower loadings;
Lower loading provides a cost to use benefit, less impact of the colorant and properties of the final product and less inventory;
A low viscosity, which allows for ease of handling including the ability to pump or meter.
Our goal in the creation of this new colorant was to fill the need for a high color strength, low viscosity black in the polyurethane market, said Technical Service Representative Urethanes, Lisa Collette. Tested for color strength in an array of polyurethane systems, this new colorant has the 40% high structure carbon black and low, stable viscosity that users are looking for."
The colorant was initially released at the FOAM Expo in Novi, Michigan on March 26.
About Chromaflo Technologies
Chromaflo Technologies is a leading independent global supplier of colorant systems, chemical and pigment dispersions, serving customers in architectural and industrial coatings as well as the thermoset composites market. Headquartered in Ashtabula, Ohio, USA, Chromaflo has production facilities in the USA, Canada, The Netherlands, Finland, Australia, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico and South Africa. Sales and technical support is also provided throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico and Southeast Asia. Commitment to excellence is driven by three core values: quality, speed and service. Chromaflo Technologies retains the following quality and environmental certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS-18001 in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
From the start, our mission has been to help create drug-free homes, workplaces, and environments.
Confirm BioSciences, the San Diego, CA-based leader for high-quality diagnostic testing and health & wellness solutions for both the corporate community and individual consumers, today announced it has secured impact financing from HCAP Partners, a California-based private equity firm and recognized impact investor.
Confirm BioSciences has made a great impact on corporate and personal wellness with its instant and lab-based testing solutions, educational resources, and straightforward results reports for concerns ranging from drugs of abuse to health and well-being. The testing tools are utilized by over 10,000 business customers and sold to consumers directly at many major retailers and online at https://testcountry.com and https://livewelltesting.com
Launched in 2008, Confirm BioSciences has been recognized among the fastest-growing in the U.S., scaling over 2000% as one of the top private companies providing drugs of abuse and health & wellness testing, and yielding a yearly growth rate of over 30%. The Company, which donates 5% of its profits to homeless shelters, has also earned a spot among Inc.s 2018 Best Workplaces and in San Diego Business Journals Best Places to Work four times, ranking #1 in 2016 and 2017, for its missionary ethos approach to the workplace.
From the start, our mission has been to help create drug-free homes, workplaces, and environments, said Zeynep Ilgaz, Co-founder and CEO of Confirm BioSciences. We continue to accomplish this by providing quality products, raising awareness of the issues, and supporting our communities. This partnership with HCAP Partners will provide us with additional strategic value, and help us further our mission and scale our business to impact even more geographies worldwide.
The Company is currently poised for immense growth with channel expansion, including the recent launch of HairConfirm (http://www.hairconfirm.com) in the retail market, upcoming new products serving the corporate customer and individual consumers alike, as well as international market expansion.
We see tremendous opportunity for Confirm BioSciences' continued growth and are thrilled to partner with this dynamic team, said Tim Bubnack, Managing Partner at HCAP Partners. The company has built strong momentum in the market and its core guiding principles of employee focus and nurturing meaningful jobs align directly with HCAPs impact focus and Gainful Jobs Approach."
For more information on Confirm BioSciences, its product portfolio, and leadership team, please visit http://www.confirmbiosciences.com.
About Confirm BioSciences
Confirm BioSciences is a pioneer in high-quality diagnostic testing and health & wellness solutions for both the corporate community and individual consumers. Our product portfolio ranges from instant and lab-based testing solutions for drugs of abuse, including HairConfirm (hair-based) and Drug Confirm (urine-based), to HealthConfirm, a line of testing solutions for health & wellness hormones and neurotransmitters, with all results delivered in user-friendly reports. As experts in the drug testing and health & wellness markets, Confirm BioSciences prides ourselves in supporting various organizations and projects that help families create a drug-free home. Confirm BioSciences is headquartered in San Diego, California. For company information, visit http://www.confirmbiosciences.com.
About HCAP Partners
HCAP Partners was founded in 2000 and is a provider of mezzanine debt and private equity for underserved, lower-middle market companies throughout California and the Western United States. The firm seeks to invest $2 million to $10 million in established businesses generating between $10 million and $75 million in revenues in the healthcare, software, services, and manufacturing industries. HCAP Partners has invested in over 60 companies since it was founded and through ongoing, active engagement with portfolio companies the team at HCAP Partners provides value-added resources to help optimize performance and increase enterprise value. The firm has been recognized as an ImpactAssets 50 fund six years running and, through its Gainful Jobs Approach, works to facilitate a positive impact on underserved businesses, their employees, and their communities through active portfolio engagement. Partners Tim Bubnack and Frank Mora and Principals Hope Mago and Nicolas Lopez lead HCAP Partners investment team. For more information, please visit http://www.hcapllc.com.
Covered Insurance Solutions, Inc. (Covered), an independent digital insurance marketplace, is excited to announce its partnership with Realty ONE Group, an innovative, real estate brokerage. On March 24, these two industry disruptors officially launched their partnership at the 2019 ONE Summit in Las Vegas, NV.
By integrating with Realty ONE Groups home-buying platform, Covered will provide home buyers with the ability to easily compare and purchase home insurance. When home buyers are ready to purchase their new home, Covered will provide multiple unbiased insurance quotes from top-rated local and national insurance carriers. The seamless platform integration eliminates the pain from the insurance-shopping process, delighting customers while reducing closing issues and time frames.
Realty ONE Groups Mike Clear, COO at Realty ONE Group said Realty ONE Group is excited to provide our home buyers with an innovative, simple solution for finding and purchasing home insurance. This partnership is an important part of our overall offering that gives our clients the best products and services in the industry.
Through the Covered partnership, Realty ONE Group adds to the slate of innovative products it offers to clients and continues to set the industry standard for innovation and customer focus. This partnership will allow Realty ONE Group to continue improving the customer experience and close on homes faster.
We are proud to enter into a national-scope partnership with Realty ONE Group to provide a fast, accurate, and award-winning homeowners insurance marketplace to our joint customers, said Ross Diedrich, Covereds Co-Founder and CEO. Together, Realty ONE Group and Covered are bringing the home-buying process into the 21st century with a unique combination of digital and in-person elements.
About Realty ONE Group
Founded in 2005, Realty ONE Group is known as an industry disruptor radically changing the face of real estate franchising with its unique business model, fun coolture, technology infrastructure and superior support for its real estate professionals. The company has rapidly evolved to include more than 11,000 real estate professionals in 160+ offices across 34 states and Washington D.C. and recently expanded into the international market. Realty ONE Group ranks in the top one percent in the nation by REAL Trends, has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top 5 Real Estate Franchise and has been on Inc. 500s list of the Fastest-Growing Companies for seven consecutive years. Realty ONE Group is surging ahead, opening doors, not only for its clients, real estate professionals and franchise owners. To learn more, visit http://www.RealtyONEGroup.com.
About Covered Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Covered is the smarter, easier, and faster way to buy homeowners insurance. We are an independent, consumer-first insurance agency focused on making insurance easy to understand and painless to purchase. Our integrated online marketplace combines intuitive technology with a human touch to help consumers quote, compare, and purchase the right coverage at the best price in minutes. We partner with mortgage lending, servicing, and real estate providers to make the home-buying process seamless. Covered is innovating insurance: We are a Housingwire 2018 HW Tech100 winner and one of Kairos' "50 World-Changing Startups to Watch in 2019." Learn more at https://www.itscovered.com/ and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
As Executives, Where are We Spending Our Resources? will be moderated by John McElroy of Blue Sky Productions and will feature discussions about how executives look at both internal and external influences in order to allocate their companys technical resources.
SAE Internationals WCX World Congress Experience will feature a special panel discussion addressing the challenges facing technology executives in the automotive industry. The session is part of the Leadership Summit, a unique venue offering insights from executives on the critical business issues driving quality, performance, safety, design, development and cost optimization of mobility.
As Executives, Where are We Spending Our Resources? will be moderated by John McElroy of Blue Sky Productions and will feature discussions about how executives look at both internal and external influences in order to allocate their companys technical resources; along with how resources are allocated for development of future mobility technology and continue utilizing resources in advancing current technologies. In addition, the panel will share thoughts how product development could look like in the future, the effects of disruptive technologies and the changing consumer.
The panel discussion will be held Thursday, April 11 at 2:10 p.m. at The Exchange on the Exhibit Floor. Participants will include:
Jeff Hemphill, Chief Technical Officer, Americas Schaeffler Group USA Inc., Schaeffler Group USA Inc.
Jon Lauckner, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, General Motors
Helen Pan, Director & Head of Autonomous Driving Hardware, Baidu USA LLC
Kenneth Washington, Vice President of Research and Advanced Engineering and Chief Technology Officer, Ford Motor Company
Kathy Winter, Vice President and General Manager, Autonomous Driving Solutions Division, Intel
The future of mobility is constantly in motion, and nowhere is the spirit of innovation and exploration more evident than at WCX. Presented by SAE International, WCX propels the mobility industry forward through a convergence of engineering, research, design and technology. Its where the brightest minds in mobility meet for three days of interactive learning, expert insight, collaboration and inspiration.
For more information or to register for SAE Internationals WCX 2019, visit http://www.sae.org/wcx.
Journalists and other members of the media seeking credentials should email pr(at)sae(dot)org or call 1-724-772-8522.
SAE International is a global association committed to advancing mobility knowledge and solutions for the benefit of humanity. By engaging nearly 200,000 engineers, technical experts and volunteers, we connect and educate mobility professionals to enable safe, clean, and accessible mobility solutions. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion and the Collegiate Design Series.
http://www.sae.org
Silverlon wound dressings have a permanently plated metallic surface, which provides the antimicrobial benefits of silver in the dressing without staining the skin and without increasing bioburden. Silverlon has been included in numerous studies that have clearly demonstrated that silver nylon dressings can offer advantages that help to improve patient care.
Cura Surgical has been awarded a contract with Premier Inc., a leading healthcare improvement company. This agreement enables Cura Surgical to provide a comprehensive line of unique silver-plated nylon dressings in both Silverlon and TheraBond product ranges.
Premier Inc., is a healthcare improvement company utilizing an alliance of approximately 4,000 U.S. hospitals and health systems and approximately 165,000 other providers and organizations.
Silverlon has been included in numerous studies that have clearly demonstrated that silver nylon dressings can offer advantages that help to improve patient care, said Raul Brizuela, president and CEO of Cura Surgical and Argentum Medical, provider of Silverlon. We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to working with Premier member hospitals providing improved patient care, enhanced savings, and creating exceptional value through clinical excellence.
Silverlon antimicrobial silver-plated dressings provide 50-100xs more silver than other silver-based antimicrobial dressings, and Silverlons efficacy is supported by multiple independent, peer-reviewed and published clinical studies. These studies suggest Silverlon Dressings can be an important element in wound care and that control of wound bacteria within the dressing may help reduce the risk of infection.
About Silverlon
Silverlon wound dressings have a permanently plated metallic surface, which provides the antimicrobial benefits of silver in the dressing without staining the skin and without increasing bioburden. Silverlon was originally developed for the U.S. military, where it is still extensively used for management of burn and blast injuries. Silverlon dressings are used today by surgeons and other healthcare professionals around the world on surgical wounds, in negative pressure wound therapy, on chronic wounds, burns, skin grafts, and IV and catheter-related wounds.
Silverlon Island Wound Dressings and Silverlon Wound Pad Dressings are indicated for the management of infected wounds, as the silver in the dressing provides an antimicrobial barrier that may be helpful in managing these wounds. In addition, the moist wound healing environment and control of wound bacteria within the Silverlon Island Wound Dressing and Silverlon Wound Pad Dressing may help reduce the risk of wound infection and support the body's healing process. Silverlon Island Wound Dressings and Silverlon Wound Pad Dressing's non-adherent wound contact layer reduces pain during dressing changes and evaporation of moisture in the dressing may soothe the wound.
For more information and complete indications for use, visit http://www.silverlon.com as well as Twitter and LinkedIn pages.
###
Cybera, Inc., the leader in application-based SD-WAN services, today announced that Comdata, a leading provider of fleet management and B2B payment solutions, has enhanced their partnership by now offering their customers the CyberaONE platform, allowing them to easily deploy next generation network and cloud services.
Comdata provides their merchant customers with world-class payment services and POS hardware solutions. Leveraging the CyberaONE platform, Comdata can offer their merchant community a more robust managed network service experience through a highly reliable, resilient edge appliance and cloud solution upgrade.
Merchants can standardize on Cyberas SCA-325 edge security appliance with integrated 4G LTE to achieve high availability network failover in case of an internet service disruption. In addition, the merchant can utilize the same appliance to consolidate existing and new site-specific network services, such as loyalty, digital signage, ATM, fuel tank monitoring, etc., eliminating the need to purchase new hardware.
The CyberaONE platform allows Comdata to deliver reliable and consistent network services and performance, as well as secure transaction processing to merchant customers who count on critical networking functions to run their businesses, said Andrew Lev, CEO of Cybera. Delivering a solution that reduces complexity and cost while helping futureproof for new business opportunities means they can focus on growth and leadership.
Comdata offers a suite of payment and POS solutions designed for convenience stores, truck stops and unattended fuel locations. The companys solutions help business owners manage all transactions, including retail, fuel and other services, from a single platform. Since 2011, Comdata has partnered with Cybera to provide merchants with the enterprise security infrastructure needed for its Smart Solutions POS systems.
By moving to CyberaONE, Comdatas merchants are also able to use their existing broadband connections to receive a better experience, such as network performance and uptime for services like secure connectivity to the Comdata payment network for faster transaction authorization and quicker remote POS support.
We are delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with Cybera, said Kevin EckelKamp, vice president, Merchant Products of Comdata. We have built a collaborative and successful partnership that empowers our merchant customers to adopt new applications and services quickly, so they can run profitable businesses.
To learn more about the CyberaONE Platform, please visit: https://www.cybera.com/cybera-platform/
To contact Comdata for B2B payment solutions, please visit: https://www.comdata.com/merchants/index
About Comdata Corporation
Comdata Inc., a FLEETCOR company, is a leading provider of innovative payment and operating technology that drives actionable insights from spending data, builds enhanced controls and positively impacts its clients bottom lines. The company partners with more than 30,000 businesses to better manage $55B in annual fleet, corporate purchasing, payroll and healthcare spending, making it one of the largest fuel card issuers and the second largest commercial MasterCard provider in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, Comdata employs more than 1,300 professionals across North America. To learn more about Comdata, Inc., visit http://www.comdata.com.
About Cybera Inc.
Cybera enables business for distributed enterprises, including retail and hospitality, healthcare, financial services and other key verticals with many remote locations. The company is the market leader in delivering applicationbased SDWAN services. Its cloudbased services are purposebuilt for widely distributed enterprises and IoT devices, helping to take the complexity and cost out of secure application networking and to futureproof new business opportunities. This allows customers and managed service provider partners to bring on new network and security services across 1000s of remote sites at a disruptive pace. Cybera helps customers power the worlds largest SDWAN deployment with 16,000+ locations, the largest loyalty application in the world, and the largest mobile payment application. The company has been named an IDC Innovator, a Gartner Cool Vendor and recognized seven times by Inc. 5000 as one of Americas fastest growing private companies. Investors include Sumeru Equity Partners, a Silicon Valley based spin out of Silver Lake. For more information about Cybera, visit cybera.com.
Daniel Kowalski
AnySizeDeals announced today that Daniel Kowalski, Counselor to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will be the afternoon keynote speaker at the ASDSummit - Opportunity Zones on April 11th, 2019 in New York City.
The ASDSummit will take place at the luxurious Williamsburg Hotel at 96 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 from 8:30am to 3pm.
Tickets to the event are available at ASDSummit.com.
As Counselor to the Treasury Secretary, Mr. Kowalski advises the Secretary regarding Treasurys efforts to drive the Administrations domestic policy agenda. His particular areas of focus are budget and fiscal policy; health, education and welfare policy; tax policy; and infrastructure policy. In, addition he oversees the implementation of the Opportunity Zone program at Treasury and is instrumental in crafting the rules governing the program. His insights on the program will be invaluable to the attendees of the ASDSummit.
Earlier in the day at the ASDSummit, the morning keynote session will be comprised of Anthony Scaramucci, Founder of SkyBridge Capital and Steven Witkoff, Chairman of Witkoff. Some of the other notable speakers include:
Clint Myers Partner, Revolution
Brandon Lacoff CEO, Belpointe REIT
Alfonso Costa Jr. Deputy Chief of Staff (HUD)
Craig Bernstein Principal, OPZ| Bernstein
Eric Clement SVP, NYC EDC
Zach Aarons Co-Founder, MetaProp NYC
Bryan Woo EVP, Youngwoo & Associates
Toby Moskovits CEO, Heritage Equity Partners
Jennifer Collins Fellow in Residence, Georgetown University
Clare Newman Chief of Staff, Brooklyn Navy Yard and many more.
The ASDSummit Opportunity Zones has assembled all the stakeholders in the Opportunity Zone space and is really a cant miss conference for owners, family offices and local communities who are eager to be a part of this transformative program aimed at revitalizing American cities. said Steve Nson, organizer of the ASDSummit.
In addition to the morning and afternoon keynote sessions, the ASDSummit will cover a wide range of topics around Opportunity Zones including:
a) Panel Discussion Practical Zone.
Whats the ideal opportunity zone business model and how can high growth startups benefit from Opportunity Zone investing?
b) Panel Discussion Impact Investing & Opportunity Zone Funds.
How should fund managers and developers approach impact investing in Opportunity Zones?
c) Panel Discussion Public/Private Partnership.
What makes a Designated Opportunity Zone area attractive to a real estate developer and what can/should local governments do to incentivize investments in their communities?
d) Panel Discussion Sponsor Zone.
What are the optimal partnership structures for Opportunity Zone Fund Sponsors and what are the tax & legal implications?
Tickets for the conference are currently on sale at asdsummit.com
About AnySizeDeals
AnySizeDeals (ASD) provides global events in the real estate space. Our verticals include Blockchain, AI, PropTech & Opportunity Zones. Learn more information at https://anysizedeals.com
Contact: Conference Press Team, support(at)anysizedeals(dot)com
We are thrilled to bring together an outstanding line up of some of the most influential innovators from pharma, biotech and drug delivery responsible for helping advance medicine delivery in patients and prepare the future R&D and clinical care.
The Conference Forum announces five keynotes from prominent pharma and academic institutions on the forefront of drug delivery technology for the 2nd annual Drug Delivery West Summit to be held May 6-7, 2019 at the Marines Memorial Club and Hotel in San Francisco.
Dr David Grainger, University Distinguished Professor, Chair of the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Utah will open the meeting with a state of the industry address and a talk on nano-medicines current clinical reality.
Dr Isabelle Aubert, an innovator in brain delivery and Professor of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto will present her keynote on focused ultrasound with blood-brain barrier modulation for delivery of therapeutics.
Recognized as one of the world's top 35 innovators under 35 by MIT Technology Review, Dr Zhen Gu, Professor in the Department of Bioengineering and the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA will deliver a keynote discussion on the future impact of precision medicine on drug delivery along with a talk on leveraging physiology for bioresponsive precision drug delivery.
Dr Tejal Desai, Ernest L. Prien Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences at UCSF Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine will provide a keynote on nanostructured materials for enhanced therapeutic delivery. Dr Desais work focuses on the use of micro and nanotechnologies to create new ways to deliver medicine to target sites in the body and to enable the body to heal itself.
Drug Delivery Wests pharma keynote will be presented by Dr Justin Wright, Global Head of Innovation at Novartis. Dr Wrights keynote will focus on the Digital and Connected Health Ecosystem: Incorporating Wellness into the Pharma Model and How Drug Delivery will be a Key Enabler. Dr Wright leads the drug development process for biologics and small molecules at Novartis. He has developed models and partnerships in drug delivery innovation and has commercialized drug delivery systems for the biotech, vaccine, and pharmaceutical industries.
We are thrilled to bring together an outstanding line up of some of the most influential innovators from pharma, biotech and drug delivery responsible for helping advance medicine delivery in patients and prepare the future R&D and clinical care, noted Kate Woda, Conference Director, Drug Delivery West.
The speaking faculty also includes representation from Genentech, Allergan, Merck, Novartis, GSK, Medimmune, Janssen, Amgen, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono and Bayer. Drug Delivery West will also feature extensive networking opportunities and includes a one-on-one partnering system to help facilitate business meetings and additional collaborations.
About Drug Delivery West
The 2nd annual Drug Delivery West (DDW) Summit provides a west coast venue for biotech, pharma and drug delivery companies to address scientific and business solutions for the best routes of delivery across different therapeutic areas with an emphasis on emerging technologies and to prepare for the future of R&D and clinical care.
About the Conference Forum
The Conference Forum is a life science industry research firm that develops conferences primarily around how to get therapeutics to patients faster. They examine and challenge the complex ecosystem of drug development and delivery, bringing ideas together from a variety of sources to help advance clinical research with common goals that are patient-focused. They are committed to creating the best content, exchange of ideas and solutions among peers, as well as providing high quality networking.
The Unimarket platform will provide E&I members with valuable insights into their organizational spend and deliver real cost savings - savings that can be re-invested in initiatives that make a real difference for their students and staff, said Darren Blakely, President of Unimarket North America.
Unimarket, a leading provider of procurement software and services, has announced that E&I Cooperative Services (E&I), the only member-owned, non-profit purchasing cooperative serving the needs of education, is expanding its supplier portfolio by adopting a Unimarket contract for an integrated, cloud-based spend management solution.
The contract was awarded in a competitive solicitation process and will give E&I members access to the full suite of modules that comprise Unimarkets powerful, easy-to-use spend management solution. Unimarkets integrated eProcurement offering includes purchasing, invoicing, payments, contracts, sourcing, expenses, and a continuously growing supplier marketplace.
In the world of procurement, having end-to-end visibility of the entire sourcing, purchasing, and payable process is paramount to organizational efficiency and success, said Tom Fitzgerald, CEO of E&I. Unimarkets comprehensive platform, complete with support and services most important to education, makes them a clear standout in the industry.
Were delighted that E&I has selected Unimarket as a new partner for its members, said Darren Blakely, President of Unimarket North America. With our extensive experience in higher education and a deep understanding of the sectors unique challenges and opportunities, were well placed to help E&I members develop a strategic, value-focused approach to their spend management.
The Unimarket platform will provide E&I members with valuable insights into their organizational spend and deliver real cost savings - savings that can be re-invested in initiatives that make a real difference for students and staff, Blakely added.
Unimarkets platform easily integrates with a variety of facilities, inventory, asset management, and user database/SSO systems, plus a range of ERPs and financial systems, including Ellucian (Banner and Colleague), Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday, Blackbaud, Microsoft Great Plains, TechnologyOne and more. Unimarket is a certified Ellucian partner and the only eProcurement provider to offer both Banner IFeP and Community Source integration. Unimarket co-developed Community Source with its customers to provide a cost-effective way for schools to integrate their Banner ERP with Unimarket.
More information about E&I can be found here: https://www.eandi.org/
Details about the Unimarket E&I contract can be found here: https://www.eandi.org/contracts/unimarket/
About E&I Cooperative Services
E&I Cooperative Services (E&I) is the only member-owned, non-profit purchasing cooperative solely focused on serving education and related facilities. E&I delivers expertise, solutions, and services through a diverse portfolio of competitively solicited contracts. By leveraging the knowledge and purchasing power of its nationwide membership, E&I helps higher education and K-12 institutions reduce costs, optimize supply chain efficiencies, and save time on the RFP process. The Cooperatives member-driven competitive solicitation process has been validated by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) as complying with generally accepted procurement standards. For more information, please visit: http://www.eandi.org.
About Unimarket
Unimarket is a leading provider of procurement software and services. Its powerful, easy-to-use cloud-based solution brings together purchasing, invoicing, payments, contracts, sourcing, expenses, and a continuously growing supplier marketplace all in one unified platform. Founded in 2005, Unimarket supports clients in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, spanning a range of industries including higher education, government, financial services, transport and logistics, and healthcare. For more information, visit unimarket.com or follow on Twitter @Unimarket or LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/unimarket.
EcoSystems partners with property owners to conserve billions of gallons of water and millions of dollars. We hope that more property owners throughout Georgia begin implementing multifamily water conservation efforts in their buildingsunderstanding the benefits for both business and the environment. -- Richard Lamondin, CEO of EcoSystems.
EcoSystems, in partnership with property owner BH Management, announced today that they achieved a record-setting rebate for Edgewater at Sandy Springs, a one and two-bedroom multifamily apartment community located in Atlanta, Georgia. The teams water and energy conservation efforts have secured a rebate from the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management for $117,000, the largest in the Citys history of refunds of this kind.
The conservation efforts implemented by Edgewater, in partnership with EcoSystems, included 1,171 bathroom upgrades completed in 46 days. Old and wasteful toilets, showerheads and aerators from the complex were replaced with ultra high-efficiency 0.8 GPF Niagara Stealth toilets, water-saving fixtures, and carbon monoxide detectors. The EcoSystems team also recycled all of the toiletstotaling an estimated 117,000 pounds of porcelain.
EcoSystems has been crucial in helping us to secure rebates with cities throughout the country. They manage all of the legwork, and in this case, their efforts resulted in the largest rebate of its kind in Atlanta and an immediate ROI, explained Mike Watkins, Director of Construction at BH Management.
The Edgewater conservation project is one of more than 57 EcoSystems is executing across the U.S. as part of a national retrofit program in partnership with BH Management. We are thrilled to partner with BH Management and Edgewater at Sandy Springs to conserve water, a vital resource in Metro Atlanta, while delivering financial upside to one of the largest multifamily management companies in the nation, said Richard Lamondin, CEO and co-founder of EcoSystems. We hope that more property owners throughout Georgia begin implementing multifamily water conservation efforts in their buildingsunderstanding the benefits for both business and the environment.
For more information on Atlantas Multifamily Toilet Rebate program, visit here.
About EcoSystems
EcoSystems partners with property owners to conserve billions of gallons of water and millions of dollarsone toilet, showerhead, and faucet at a time. Our mission: to provide solutions that promote smarter, more efficient uses of water and energy, and empower people and businesses by eliminating waste and cutting costs. In a matter of weeks, EcoSystems helps properties save up to 55% on sink usage, 40% on shower usage, and 50-75 percent on toilet usage. For more information, visit http://www.ecosystems.com.
I thank USWCC for all it has done to help promote Electrosofts success, and I encourage others to take advantage of this amazing resource.
Electrosoft, a leading provider of diversified technology-based solutions and services to the federal government, proudly announces that the U.S. Womens Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) has selected Sarbari Gupta, President and CEO, as a Stellar Award winner in its 2019 Women Contractor Award program. USWCC characterizes Stellar executives as exceptional contractors who have shown exemplary growth, quality, and are positioned as leaders within the contracting community. Dr. Gupta will receive her award on March 28, 2019 at the USWCC National Small Business Federal Contracting Spring Summit being held at George Mason University, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Founders Hall, Arlington, Virginia.
National Small Business Contractors Week, held during Womens History Month, celebrates the contributions and growth of Americas women-owned small business contractors. USWCC recognizes firms with the following awards: Innovation & Performance, Growth Master, Emerging Star and Stellar. This years Emerging Star is Sydney Cody, Vanguard Pacific LLC, while Alba Aleman, Citizant, takes home the Innovation & Performance award. Sarbari is joined by Cynthia Miracle, MIRACORP, and Rebecca Andino, Highlight Technologies, as Stellar Award winners.
Women-owned firms are very active and competitive in the federal supplier marketplace, says Margot Dorfman, CEO, USWCC. The U.S. Womens Chamber of Commerce recognizes firms who stand out for the achievements they have made in this challenging marketplace.
Sarbari Gupta says, I am honored to receive this award, and I congratulate my fellow winners on their accomplishments. While we have each traveled different paths in our professional lives, we share the common bond of knowing what it takes to succeed in business. Our success was made possible by the bold women contactors who preceded us and, in turn, we ease the journey for those who aspire to follow in our footsteps. I thank USWCC for all it has done to help promote Electrosofts success, and I encourage others to take advantage of this amazing resource.
Dr. Gupta will be the guest expert for the April 24, 2019 edition of USWCCs Growth Masters Series. In the interview, Sarbari will discuss the challenges and successes leading to Electrosofts amazing business growth. Individuals wishing to attend the 2 p.m. ET event may register on the USWCC website.
About Electrosoft Services, Inc.
Electrosoft, headquartered in Reston, Virginia, delivers a diversified set of technology-based solutions and services to federal civilian and defense agencies. We couple domain knowledge and experience with proven, mature management practices to design and deliver the right solutions on time and within budget. Our practices include an ISO 9001:2015 registered Quality Management System and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 3 assessed processes. Founded in 2001, Electrosoft is an 8(a) certified Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and an 8(m) certified Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). For more information about Electrosoft, visit our website at http://www.electrosoft-inc.com.
Larry Rubin We are so honored with our recent addition to our Board of Advisors. Larry Rubin brings exceptional healthcare experience and insights to our company. We are excited to bring him into discussions about our future and believe his feedback will be invaluable as we grow.
FacilityONE Technologies, LLC, which provides a cloud-based Facility Information System (FIS) that enhances a buildings functional & economic lifespan, with a revolutionary Blueprint Operations System (BOS), announced today the appointment of the Cleveland Clinics Larry F. Rubin, CPE, CEM, CHFM, CHSP, CHC to its Board of Advisors.
Rubin brings more than three decades of executive experience in plant operations and building maintenance in the healthcare sector to FacilityONEs already impressive advisory board. Rubins expertise runs the gamut of Facilities Management through healthcare and commercial properties, healthcare compliance, construction projects, and operations, to the management of power plants, education, and teaching.
Rubins wealth of knowledge, specifically in the healthcare sector, will be of tremendous value to FacilityONE as the company bolsters its Joint Commission compliance offering while implementing solutions in facility space management and visualization. These initiatives, with Rubins experience, will keep FacilityONE uniquely positioned within the healthcare industry ahead of ongoing changes in the EAM/CMMS market.
FacilityONE CEO Renee Farmer is thrilled with the addition of Rubin adding, We are so honored with our recent addition to our Board of Advisors. Larry Rubin brings exceptional healthcare experience and insights to our company. We are excited to bring him into discussions about our future and believe his feedback will be invaluable as we grow.
Rubin is currently the senior director of facilities management at Cleveland Clinic, named a top U.S. hospital in U.S. News & World Reports 2018-19 Best Hospitals. Rubin began work at the Cleveland Clinic in 2013. His first five years were spent in Ohio, where he was responsible for the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of over 33 million square feet, including all properties in the U.S. and International. As a facilities management leader at Cleveland Clinic, Rubin led the initiative to maximize utilization of Cleveland Clinics Building Automation System (BAS) and Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) in the drive towards a Most Efficient Organization (MEO) and a nationally recognized High-Reliability Organization (HRO).
Into his advisory role, Rubin brings more than 35 years experience in plant operations and building maintenance, 25 of those in a healthcare setting. He is a certified plant engineer, certified energy manager, certified healthcare safety professional, a certified healthcare facility manager, certified healthcare constructor as well as a Certified Green Belt.
In August of 2018, Rubin moved to Florida to oversee work on the newly opened bed tower at Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Weston, FL, and the integration of two new health systems into Cleveland Clinic Florida. In addition to his role with Cleveland Clinic, Rubin is a Life Safety Code Surveyor for The Joint Commission (TJC) and teaches the Environment of Care (EOC) Base Camp for Joint Commission Resources.
Larry holds a BS and Masters degree in Education/Administration from the University of Massachusetts. Larry is a long-time member of ASHE (The American Society for Health Care Engineering) and is the Past President of the local ASHE Chapter NOSHE. (Northern Ohio Society of Hospital Engineers)
More about FacilityONE at http://www.facilityone.com
About FacilityONE Technologies, LLC: Based in Louisville, Kentucky, FacilityONE Technologies is the only interconnected, interactive blueprint enhanced CMMS, with custom data analytics as a service (AaaS) in the world. FacilityONE offers a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM) and asset management solution. The system is enhanced by its proprietary SMARTPRINT technology, to support data aggregation, compliance and risk mitigation. Founded in 1999 by a group of engineers and facility managers, FacilityONE has built a legacy in the Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) marketplace, by offering an operations solution that can easily integrate into the client's existing processes. FacilityONE is currently being utilized to organize and transform facility management, in millions of square feet throughout North America, by 100,000+ users with a 99% retention rate. For more information, visit http://www.facilityone.com.
Finaeo.com Team Finaeos vision is to become the digital fabric that connects and powers the life insurance industry.
Today, Finaeo announces a $5.35M funding round, led by fintech-focused investor Luge Capital, supported by RGAX, the transformation unit of global reinsurer RGA, San Francisco based Rising Tide Fund, inovia capital and a strong angel syndicate, led by AngelList Partner, Alex Norman. The investment had follow-on participation from all previous major investors including Impression Ventures and iGan Partners. The diverse group of investors provides Finaeo unparalleled access to both strong capital partners and the right industry support to continue building towards their long-term vision.
Over the last three years, weve laid the foundation. With this new injection of capital, we can take the next steps toward executing our vision of moving this industry forward, said Aly Dhalla, CEO and Co-Founder of Finaeo. We plan to further invest in product development, customer acquisition and geographical expansionstarting with the US.
Finaeos vision is to become the digital fabric that connects and powers the life insurance industry by building a digital network of insurance carriers around the world. Digitizing the experience for all stakeholders is core to realizing that vision.
The life insurance industry has been very slow to evolve, said Karim Gillani, General Partner at Luge Capital. Finaeos mission is to build the plumbing that digitizes the insurance industry for both advisor-assisted and self-serve experiences. Theyre building Amazon for insurance products, and the Finaeo team has the right pedigree to orchestrate that mission.
Finaeos digital front-end platform enables insurance advisors to sell personalized and curated life insurance products to end customers efficiently across Canada. The back-end connectivity to insurance carriers will soon enable real-time application submission, real-time adjudication and real-time application status, which will finally enable a customer-centric approach to interacting with the insurance industry. Finaeo has also developed ground-breaking technology to help insurers digitize applications, create dynamic underwriting and automate legacy systems.
Finaeo is bringing much-needed automation that will vastly improve the level of service advisors can provide, explains Christian Lassonde, Founder and Managing Partner at Impression Ventures. When we first invested, their tech was very much in its infancy. But today, were seeing that early promise realized, and its beyond exciting. There are still challenges to overcome, but Finaeo has the talent and track record to succeed.
The industry is at a tipping point, and were excited to be at the centre of that change, summarizes Dhalla. We believe in the future of advice and, more importantly, want to be the catalyst to move this industry forward around the world. We see ourselves as an enabler to the industry and want to work with forward-thinking carriers, advisors and strategic partners to reimagine the way our industry delivers value to customers.
About Finaeo Inc.
Finaeo is a high-growth insurtech startup revolutionizing the life insurance marketplace with an advisor-first digital platform. The platforms automated tools and 24/7 concierge support offer unprecedented turn-around times, allowing financial advisors to drastically shorten the prospect-to-policy timeline. Finaeos deep industry knowledge and tech background puts them in the #1 position to create the digital fabric that powers the global insurance industry. To learn more, visit http://www.finaeo.com.
About Luge Capital
Luge Capital is a venture capital fund focused on early-stage fintech and artificial intelligence (AI) applied to financial services, with $75M under management. We invest in talented teams shaping the way the world interacts with financial services. Luge looks for founders that improve customer experiences, remove complexity, make financial institutions more efficient and use data-driven methods and decision-making. We work closely with entrepreneurs and their teams in their efforts to build world-class companies by sharing our extensive network, experience and industry insights. To learn more, visit http://www.luge.vc - Building fintech champions.
Derrick Lopez and Daniel Neal at Flint Community Schools Launch Event I want our students to be prepared and have access to a comprehensive STEM education. Derrick Lopez, Superintendent, Flint Community Schools
Kajeet, the industry leader for safe, affordable K-12 mobile solutions, announces its partnership with Flint Community Schools (FCS) to provide its students wireless connectivity and new mobile devices. Located in Flint, Michigan, FCS is providing one thousand eighty Kajeet SmartSpot devices, wireless Kajeet Education Broadband service, and the Dell Chromebook 3180 to their junior high students over the next year as they restructure their secondary education curriculum and launch a robust 1:1 program.
FCS is equipping their High Tech Junior High School seventh- and eighth-grade students with new technology as part of their program to prepare students for careers and college after high school.
I want our students to be prepared and have access to a comprehensive STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] education, said Derrick Lopez, superintendent of FCS.
The new curriculum offers different tracks to students based on their interest, all with the goal of readying students for work after high school or college. This new technology will complement the curriculum tracks to ensure students have the tools they need to enhance their skills, both inside and outside the classroom.
Kajeet has collaborated with Dell to provide the Kajeet SmartSpot devices, policy-managed and filtered Wi-Fi hotspots, with the Dell Chromebook 3180. The Chromebooks will be used in the classroom for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year, then go home with students in the 2019-2020 school year. The Kajeet SmartSpot devices will ensure students can connect their Chromebooks to safe, managed, and filtered Internet anywhere, anytime. Kajeet provides CIPA-compliant, educational Wi-Fi access to keep students focused on their schoolwork and secure while online.
Kajeet is proud to help Flint Community Schools take on this impactful initiative to prepare their students for life after high school, said Daniel Neal, CEO and Founder of Kajeet. Access to state-of-the-art technology will help Flint students advance their digital skills, while educational Internet connectivity expands their learning beyond the classroom, preparing them for todays workforce.
Access to technology and the right technology for each unique task and each students unique learning style combined with an engaged community, professional learning for teachers, and a streamlined school infrastructure will prepare students for a globally competitive workforce and even bridge socioeconomic gaps, said Bill Popp, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sales, Dell, US East. Dell is focused on delivering technology that enables successful student outcomes.
FCS received $423,600 in funding to invest in education technology for junior high students. This donation supports the revised junior high curriculum, which will begin in the 2019-2020 school year.
About Kajeet
Kajeet, the industry leader for safe, managed mobile solutions, powers the K-12 connected environment. Our secure Kajeet Sentinel platform centrally manages and enables safe, online connectivity and visibility into mobile learning environments. Schools and districts can manage and protect student mobile devices anywhere to create an ideal learning environment while extending the school day with Wi-Fi on the bus and Internet access outside the classroom. From the classroom to home, Kajeet has students covered. Kajeet products and services, which operate on the six leading North American wireless carriers, are protected by the following issued U.S. patents: 10,057,300; 10,009,480; 9,237,433; 9,137,389; 9,137,386; 9,125,057; 8,995,952; 8,929,857; 8,918,080; 8,774,755; 8,774,754; 8,755,768; 8,731,517; 8,725,109; 8,712,371; 8,706,079; 8,667,559; 8,644,796; 8,639,216; 8,634,803; 8,634,802; 8,634,801; 8,630,612; 8,611,885; 8,600,348; 8,594,619; 8,588,735; 8,285,249; 8,078,140; 7,945,238; 7,899,438; 7,881,697. Other patents are pending. For more information, please visit us at kajeet.com.
###
We are very proud of our pro bono practice, and particularly honored to be able to serve refugees that choose to live in our country to start a new life, said Frias.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Mexico City office has been awarded the 2018 Pro Bono Alexis Rovzar Medal of Merit by the Appleseed Mexico Foundation (Appleseed). Greenberg Traurig received this honor in recognition for its pro bono work with asylum seekers and refugees in Mexico and is the first firm to offer this type of pro bono work in Mexico through an alliance with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The Appleseed Foundation is a civil organization that offers pro bono legal services for institutions and social issues that have an impact in the community. It is a pioneer in organized pro bono work in Mexico, and one of the countrys most recognized clearing houses.
Greenberg Traurig Mexico attorneys worked 1,480 hours in asylum matters from May 2017 to July 2018, with 46 percent of them having volunteered in at least one case. Appleseed particularly recognized the leadership of Victor Manuel Frias Garces (Mexico, Shareholder) and Elba Gutierrez (Mexico, Pro Bono Coordinator) in spearheading these efforts. Previous relevant pro bono projects, such as our participation and support in response to the 2017 Mexicos catastrophic earthquake, were also referenced.
We are very proud of our pro bono practice, and particularly honored to be able to serve refugees that choose to live in our country to start a new life, said Frias. Anyone that has worked with this hardworking community would agree that they are the bravest women, children, and men. They deserve all the help we can provide.
Asylum seekers are one of the most vulnerable communities in Mexico, and our involvement in these causes has been key in setting precedence for other law firms in Mexico to also participate in alliance with the UNHCR. It is an honor to work with legal professionals conscious of the challenges that our society faces. We have designed multiple impact litigation strategies to shape the legal landscape and protect human rights, said Gutierrez. The law is a powerful tool for social change, as lawyers we are constrained to donate our professional talent to this type of causes. Pro bono services should not be an exception, but part of our daily practice.
About Greenberg Traurigs Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firms offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing, and homelessness.
About Greenberg Traurig Mexico: Greenberg Traurigs Mexico City office has more than 60 bilingual attorneys who have been contributors to major national projects in Mexico, and who have held positions in Mexican government offices and regulatory agencies. The Mexico City office is an integral part of the firms award-winning Latin American and Iberian Practice, and has recently been recognized with leading banking, infrastructure, real estate, privacy, administrative litigation, and competition practices in Mexico.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 39 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
"Were very appreciative of corporations like InterDev who partner and build homes for our local families. We look forward to working with InterDev in 2019 to build another home for a hardworking family.
InterDev, an Atlanta-area provider of information technology, security and geographic information systems (GIS) services, today announced it has been honored by Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia for its sponsorship and service in 2017 and 2018. To reinforce its continuing commitment to the organization, InterDev will again sponsor a home build in fall 2019.
As a sponsor, InterDev contributes $5,000 each year and sends out a team of employees to build homes for families in need. During their 2018 build, InterDev participated in the First Nail event and completed the framing of the Dilly family home.
Were very appreciative of corporations like InterDev who partner and build homes for our local families, said Sabrina Kirkland, Director of Community Engagement of Home Repair for Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia. We look forward to working with InterDev in 2019 to build another home for a hardworking family.
Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia is a not-for-profit, independently run and operated affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Through the help and financial support of sponsors like InterDev, the non-profit saves thousands of dollars on labor costs, building affordable homes for families who would otherwise not be able to own one.
Our management and team enjoy partnering with Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia, said Gary Nichols, Founder & CEO of InterDev. It allows our team to work together outside of the office while making a difference in others lives.
About InterDev
Beyond their principal role as strategic provider of Managed IT, GIS (Geographical Information Services) and Security Services, InterDev is widely recognized as a champion of IT visioning and innovation for growing businesses and government agencies; a role they perfected over nearly four decades. In addition to managing and hosting IT operations for a wide range of clients, InterDev offers location-based services aerial (drone) mapping and MosaicGIS, its Esri-based cloud GIS platform as well as VoIP telecommunications services and IT project management. InterDev also devised a unique resource-sharing model, helping municipalities form IT alliances that drive greater value through partnership. InterDev delivers services to business and municipalities throughout the Southeast and Midwest from their offices in Atlanta, Chicago and Beaufort (SC). For more information, visit http://www.interdev.com.
About Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia
Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia is a non-profit, Christian housing ministry that builds affordable housing for purchase by low- to moderate-income families who demonstrate a capacity for responsible homeownership. Since its inception in 1995, Habitat-NCG has built or rehabbed over 300 homes in North Fulton, Cherokee and Forsyth/Dawson counties. Partner families are required to attend educational classes related to homeownership and perform 200 sweat equity hours; they earn between 30% and 60% of the Atlanta area median income and purchase their homes through a 30-year, no-interest loan financed by Habitat-NCG. In 2014, Habitat-NCG started a home repair program targeted primarily at veterans and seniors. To date, 60 repair projects have been completed, bringing the total number of persons served by the ministry to over 1300, including more than 750 children. For more information regarding Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia, please visit http://www.habitat-ncg.org.
Community support, along with affordable homeownership and wraparound services, is an essential piece to the long-term success of our military families. -Donna Deutchman, President and CEO
Homes 4 Families (H4F), a nonprofit that empowers low-income veterans and their families to enter the middle class by providing them with affordable housing and holistic services that build resiliency, self-sufficiency and economic growth, held Welcome to the Neighborhood today in the Antelope Valley.
This event introduced community leaders of the Antelope Valley to H4Fs newest project, a 56-home Veteran Enriched Neighborhood being built in the City of Palmdale. Attendees enjoyed a lunch while they learned about the project and programs being offered to low-income veterans, in partnership with The California Department of Veterans Affairs and the City of Palmdale.
This project, for which they are currently accepting applications from qualified veterans, will soon be fully graded. Low-income U.S. veterans can qualify for the two- and three-bedroom homes with low- or no-interest loans. Along with this affordable home ownership opportunity, veterans and military families will be provided with access to wraparound services proven to build self-sufficiency and resiliency.
The events table committee included Vets 4 Veterans, Lily Knight, Northrop Grumman, Edwards Air Force Base, H4F Board Chair Hunt Braly, H4F Board Member and Progression Drywall CFO Rose Rockey, Lou and Joyce Gonzalez of AV Chevy, and Johnny Zamrzla of Western Pacific Roofing Company. Palmdale City Mayor Steve Hofbauer and Representatives of Congresswoman Katie Hill, Senator Scott Wilk, Assemblyman Tom Lackey, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and the City of Palmdale were in attendance.
Attendees included groups from local Chambers of Commerce, the Assistance League of Antelope Valley, Greater Antelope Valley Association of Realtors, the Antelope Valley Republican Women Federated, and local business owners.
We are thrilled to be building in the Antelope Valley. The community being so supportive of veterans is why we chose to build our third Veteran Enriched Neighborhood in the City of Palmdale, said Donna Deutchman, President and CEO of Homes 4 Families. Community support, along with affordable homeownership and wraparound services, is an essential piece to the long-term success of our military families.
For more information on Homes 4 Families, please visit http://www.Homes4Families.org.
About Homes 4 Families:
Homes 4 Families (http://www.Homes4Families.org) empowers low-income veterans and their families to enter the middle class through affordable, full-equity homeownership combined with holistic services that build resiliency, self-sufficiency and economic growth. Through its outcome-proven Enriched Neighborhood model, the nonprofit provides servicemen, servicewomen and their families with comprehensive wraparound services that equip them to succeed in civilian life, including financial education, therapeutic workshops, trauma-informed programs and veteran-to-veteran support. With more than ten years of research-backed experience and success, Homes 4 Families works closely with the California Department of Veterans Affairs and others to build permanent, thriving veteran communities.
Amidst a surging home infusion therapy market, estimated to be worth US$135 billion in just five years, providers can realize their growth potential, deliver optimal client outcomes and keep pace with emerging legislation by underpinning operations with the right technology.
A team from AlayaCare, one of the worlds fastest-growing software companies to specialize in home care, attended the 2019 National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) conference earlier this month in Orlando. Much of the conversation there focused on the new NHIA Data Initiative, a quality improvement effort that sets in motion standardized definitions for home and specialty infusion providers to use when collecting data about patient events.
Its clear that, as the demand for home infusion rises, the need to ensure rigorous patient safety and high-quality care will be a key focus across the country, says Adrian Schauer, Founder and CEO of AlayaCare. To meet that demand, and to be a successful partner in industry benchmarking, providers would be best-served to modernize and leverage technology that captures data accurately across all areas of operation.
An inventive, flexible software solution will not only help agencies meet regulations but provide significant benefits in-house. Mobile technology that captures and analyzes data in real-time can uncover vast new efficiencies that make the operation run smoother and help foster the best possible outcomes for clients. It can open the window to optimized scheduling, novel insights into each client visit, an improved caregiver experience (helping retain and recruit talent in a high-demand market), and the ability to create and measure key performance indicators in the most important elements of business.
In todays landscape, it is not that strenuous a climb to make any home infusion provider a data-driven organization. This month, AlayaCare published a guide to doing just that (Read it here: https://hubs.ly/H0h6VwY0), which further explores the benefits that stem from making the right strategic decision on technology.
It is, coincidentally, the same topic that the AlayaCare team presented at NHIA 2019, as the company continues to take its expertise in software for the home care industry and broaden it into such specialty services as home infusion.
We look forward to how this industry has progressed this time next year at the 2020 NHIA conference, says Schauer.
About AlayaCare
AlayaCare's unique platform includes back office, client and family portals, remote patient monitoring, telehealth, and mobile care worker functionality in one integrated, highly robust and secure, cloud-based system. AlayaCare is providing the platform for home and community care organizations to propel towards innovation and home care of the future. AlayaCare was founded in 2014. http://www.alayacare.com / @AlayaCare
For more information:
Media enquiries: Amy Cole, amy(at)colecomms(dot)ca, 647-287-0025
Client enquiries: Brady Murphy, VP, Sales & Marketing, 647-477-4174 ext. 201
Intrinsic ID "BroadKey enables us to quickly and easily upgrade existing hardware, whether on our production line or as a retrofit into existing deployments. These are great advantages the oil industry has historically not enjoyed. - Mark Goehring, CEO, Tyrion
Intrinsic ID, the worlds leading provider of digital authentication technology for Internet of Things security, today announced that Tyrion Integration selected Intrinsic IDs hardware root of trust technology to secure Nucleus, Tyrions Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) SCADA gateway device serving the oil & gas industries. Tyrion will utilize unclonable identities powered by Intrinsic IDs BroadKey product to protect communication and data collection from pumps and other remotely deployed Industry 4.0 equipment.
Our customers operate equipment in remote and hostile environments, where security is both vital and challenging, said Mark Goehring, chief executive officer at Tyrion. During deployment of our latest version of the Nucleus gateway product, in response to escalating attack threats, our tier one oil & gas customer increased the system security requirement. Intrinsic IDs BroadKey delivered an industry-unique software solution to deploy a robust foundation of trust via unclonable identities without any hardware modifications.
Tyrions Nucleus gateway, a SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) device, utilizes BroadKey to securely, remotely, and in real time, monitor and manage oil wells productivity and efficiency. By contrast, oil and gas industries have traditionally needed physical access to devices, with no control from a remote dashboard.
Using Intrinsic IDs BroadKey to secure our Nucleus gateway gives us two great advantages, Goehring said. First, because BroadKey delivers an unclonable identity for each device, the anchor of trust is unparalleled. This enables robust enforcement of hierarchical access control for both man and machine, as well as secure monetization of analytics in the cloud. Second, BroadKey enables us to quickly and easily upgrade existing hardware, whether on our production line or as a retrofit into existing deployments. These are great advantages the oil industry has historically not enjoyed.
BroadKey is a software-based approach to Intrinsic IDs SRAM Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) hardware root-of-trust technology, and allows semiconductor and OEM manufacturers to deliver IoT security via a unique, intrinsic fingerprint identity without the need for separate security-dedicated silicon. A root key generated by BroadKey delivers a high bar of security since it is never stored and anchors to the device all other keys and security operations.
Were pleased to help Tyrion accelerate the Nucleus gateway product to market with our software approach to unclonable identities, said Pim Tuyls, Intrinsic IDs chief executive officer. BroadKeys flexibility of deployment and security strength are great advantages for challenges faced by the oil and gas industries, and in other IIoT applications.
About Intrinsic ID
Intrinsic ID is the worlds leading digital authentication company, providing the Internet of Things with hardware-based root-of-trust security via unclonable identities for any IoT-connected device. Based on Intrinsic IDs patented SRAM PUF technology, the companys security solutions can be implemented in hardware or software. Intrinsic ID security, which can be deployed at any stage of a products lifecycle, is used to validate payment systems, secure connectivity, authenticate sensors, and protect sensitive government and military systems. Intrinsic ID technology has been deployed in more than 125 million devices. Award recognition includes the Cyber Defense Magazine InfoSec Award, the IoT Breakthrough Award, IoT Security Excellence Award, the Frost & Sullivan Technology Leadership Award and the EU Innovation Radar Prize. Intrinsic ID security has been proven in millions of devices certified by Common Criteria, EMVCo, Visa and multiple governments. Intrinsic IDs mission: Authenticate Everything. Visit Intrinsic ID online at http://www.Intrinsic-ID.com.
Intrinsic ID, the Intrinsic ID logo, BroadKey and Authenticate Everything are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intrinsic ID, Inc., and are protected by trademark laws of the United States and other jurisdictions. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
The proliferation of phishing websites is just one of many examples of how attackers are constantly in search of new ways to stay ahead of defenders.
IRONSCALES, the worlds first automated phishing prevention, detection and response platform, today announced the ability of its anti-phishing technology to prevent phishing attacks masquerading as fake login pages designed to steal user credentials. In December 2018, IRONSCALES added new mailbox-level advanced malware and malicious URL detection to its email security platform. Todays announcement bolsters those capabilities by providing even more continuous inbound protection for phishing emails designed to defeat sandbox and signature detections.
Last August, the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) detected a 46 percent increase in unique phishing websites totaling more than 263,538. Accordingly, these malicious websites have emerged as a major threat vector acting as a catalyst for account takeover, credential theft and access to personally identifiable information (PII). To reduce the risk of phishing attacks using fake login pages targeting businesses, IRONSCALES has bolstered its platforms prevention layer and adaptive self-learning AI and machine learning models to automatically detect new phishing sites in near real-time.
The proliferation of phishing websites is just one of many examples of how attackers are constantly in search of new ways to stay ahead of defenders, said Eyal Benishti, IRONSCALES founder & CEO. The ability of our advanced phishing threat protection platform to now proactively determine whether or not a login page is legitimate and to automatically block URLs when verified as malicious is another example of how our technology is built to drastically reduce employee risk as well as security team workload burden.
Utilizing advanced deep learning algorithms and computer vision to detect in real-time visual deviations and determine whether or not a login page is legitimate, IRONSCALES will now automatically block access to the verified malicious URLs while simultaneously decentralizing the threat intelligence by sharing information with open source anti phishing websites. Currently, IRONSCALES has visibility into 250 of the worlds most popular brands, with thousands more to be added over the next few months. IRONSCALES will announce additional protections for credential theft phishing attacks in the coming months.
IRONSCALES multi-layered advanced phishing threat protection platform combines technical controls to block as many phishing attacks as possible and end-user controls to help users detect more sophisticated attacks at the mailbox-level, while incorporating employees as part of the defense strategy to detect what is missed by technology. Its adaptive platform uniquely combines human intelligence with machine learning and AI to automatically prevent, detect and respond to advanced email threats and predict future attacks, so if one control fails, there are others to compensate while maintaining an adaptive security architecture.
For more information on IRONSCALES, and on forthcoming product updates, visit http://www.ironscales.com and signup for our newsletter. To learn why a 3-pronged approach to email security is needed today, download this AberdeenReport white paper using IRONSCALES data here.
About IRONSCALES
IRONSCALES is the leader in anti-email phishing technologies. Using a multi-layered and automated approach starting at the mailbox-level to prevent, detect and respond to todays sophisticated email phishing attacks, IRONSCALES expedites the time from phishing attack discovery to enterprise-wide remediation, reducing the time from detection to response from hours or days to just seconds or minutes, by significantly reducing the workload on incident responders. Headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, IRONSCALES was founded by a team of security researchers, IT and penetration testing experts, as well as specialists in the field of effective interactive training, in response to the phishing epidemic that today costs companies millions of dollars annually. It was incubated at the 8200 EISP, the top program for cyber security ventures, founded by alumni of the Israel Defense Forces elite Intelligence Technology unit.
We are thrilled to have Jessica join us to lead our continued marketing evolution and to be our brand ambassador.
Ms. Wein will be leading Lifecycles strategic marketing plans to achieve corporate objectives for the companys products and services. In her position, Ms. Wein will also oversee Lifecycles social media channels, its educational blog on lifecyclebio.com, maintain and further develop the companys website and customer beneficial features as well as any other marketing efforts in print or in person at tradeshows and conferences. Ms. Wein will be responsible for Lifecycles continued brand expansion and development in the years to come. Ms. Wein will work closely with the companys Business Development Managers, Customer Outcomes Managers, and Account Managers to ensure an optimal customer experience across the companys communication channels.
Prior to her new role at Lifecycle, Ms. Wein held the position of Marketing Coordinator for ComplyRight, Inc. an HR, labor laws and tax solutions company. At ComplyRight, Ms. Wein was responsible for lead generation projects including social media, e-mail and web campaigns; creating blog article topics and managing their production processes; creating and managing customer acquisition projects and initiatives; analyzing customer and lead behavior data to identify new market opportunities; and ensuring all campaigns were aligned with the correct messaging.
Over the past few years, our marketing program has advanced significantly, and we are thrilled to have Jessica join us to lead our continued marketing evolution and to be our brand ambassador, said Aaron Schieving, Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Lifecycle Biotechnologies. Her experiences and success prior to joining our team will allow her to quickly understand and contribute to Lifecycles continued rapid growth. We are excited to have someone with Jessicas skillset and experience join us and we are looking forward to her continued success and expansion of our marketing program.
To learn more about Lifecycle Biotechnologies, the industries it serves, or to learn more about how you can benefit from their products, please contact Lifecycle Biotechnologies at info(at)lifecyclebio(dot)com, 817-840-7855, or http://www.lifecyclebio.com.
Based in Ft. Worth, TX, Lifecycle Biotechnologies has served the life science industry for over 40 years. Lifecycles products are the beginning of the lifecycle of the lifesaving and life-enhancing medical products used globally today. As a leading life sciences tools and service supplier, Lifecycle fully understands the critical role its products play in many of the worlds leading pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biologics, cell- and tissue-based products and many other medical products. While Lifecycles products arent used to diagnose, treat, or cure patients, without their contribution, none of this would be possible.
Kathleen Sandow, a native of New York State with a masters degree in social work, avid outdoorswoman, mother, and grandmother currently living in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, has completed her book When Two Worlds Collide: a riveting tale featuring interdimensional travel, the eternal battle between good and evil, and the extraordinary abilities hidden within seemingly ordinary people.
When Two Worlds Collide is a story about a young couple who find themselves in another world. The wizard Tabuline and all his companions work with Mark, Jane, and their dog, Max, to overcome the existing dangers as well as coping with the adjacent world. Together, with the help of the people of the other world, they work to destroy the evils within. A group of people and colorful characters set out on a quest to confront and destroy the Dark Lord. If they are successful, two worlds will continue to thrive in their own dimensions. If they fail in the adjacent world, then both worlds will meet destruction.
Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Kathleen Sandows book is an engrossing story introducing an ordinary couple who, while out for a walk with their dog, are given the seemingly impossible task of saving two worlds from imminent destruction.
Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase When Two Worlds Collide at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.
For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.
About Page Publishing:
Page Publishing is a traditional New York-based, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not overwhelmed with logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of accomplished authors and publishing professionals allows writers to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
LeanIX, the leading provider of Software-as-a-Service solutions in Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM), today announced it has appointed Hylton Southey as Managing Director for the U.S. Southey will lead a growing in-market team, supporting LeanIXs rapid expansion in the region and fueling long-term strategic growth for the company. He will report to LeanIX CEO and co-founder, Andre Christ.
Southey has nearly 20 years of experience leading high-growth technology sales organizations and operations teams. He spent 10 years at Mimecast, a leading email and data security company, where he served in a variety of sales leadership roles including Vice President of Business Development and VP of North American Sales.
Hylton is a remarkable leader with a proven track record of building and leading modern IT sales organizations through periods of profound growth, said LeanIX CEO and co-founder, Andre Christ. This is an incredibly exciting time for LeanIX and I know Hylton will be a great asset to our team as we continue down our path to scale.
I am thrilled to join LeanIX, and more specifically, a consultative, fast-moving team that has an established reputation for excellent customer service and technical expertise, said Hylton Southey, U.S. Managing Director, LeanIX. LeanIX is a first-mover, with a visionary leadership team and an energized, supportive company culture. The company is poised to transform Enterprise Architecture as we know it, showing the real value EA can bring when their tools match the trajectory of the business.
Southey is LeanIXs fifth executive hire within the past year. Since opening U.S. operations in 2017, the company has nearly doubled headcount in the region to support strong customer adoption. Globally, LeanIX continues to lead doubling its enterprise customer base and deploying multiple new offerings to its comprehensive EA Management application suite. Most recently, the company achieved Strong Performer status in The Forrester Wave: Enterprise Architecture Management Suites, Q1 2019 report. It was also named one of Germanys Top 10 fastest growing technology companies by Deloitte in 2018.
To learn more about LeanIX, please visit http://www.leanix.net.
About LeanIX
LeanIX provides the leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application for Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM), which enables organizations to make faster, data-driven architecture decisions. Hundreds of global brands such as Adidas, DHL, Merck, Vodafone, and Zalando use the LeanIX software to increase transparency, visibility, and drive real-time insights and efficiencies. LeanIX addresses ITs critical need to ensure high-quality, real-time data is accessible to all the people who need it. Use cases include application rationalization, application portfolio management, technology asset management and the management of IT risk and compliance. LeanIX was founded in 2012 by Jorg Beyer and Andre Christ. The company is headquartered in Bonn, Germany, with an office in Boston, Massachusetts. To learn more about LeanIX, visit http://www.leanix.net or @leanix_net on Twitter.
Central Fremont Montessori Preschools Children are individuals and have distinct personalities. This can affect how quickly they learn to accomplish tasks for themselves.
Learn and Play Montessori, a top preschool program in Fremont, California, is proud to announce content upgrades for its Peralta location. Busy Fremont parents can learn more via social media updates for one of its key preschools serving central Fremont and the Centerville neighborhood.
"Children are individuals and have distinct personalities. This can affect how quickly they learn to accomplish tasks for themselves. Some seek assistance for all of their needs while others are ready to do everything independently," explained Harpreet Grewal, director of Learn and Play Montessori. "We want Fremont parents and the greater Bay Area to know we are ready to help all children develop good skills in self-reliance."
The school is announcing four interrelated updates. First, the upgraded content on the Learn and Play Montessori Fremont, Peralta page can be reviewed on Yelp at https://www.yelp.com/biz/learn-and-play-montessori-school-fremont. The Central Fremont Montessori Preschool pages show better photos and content. Second, a push to expand the schools' social outreach on Facebook is ready for viewing at https://www.facebook.com/LearnAndPlayPeraltaCampus/. Third, in addition, the school is increasing its tweets to Twitter at https://twitter.com/LAPMS_Peralta and has launched a "branded hashtag" as #LAPMSPeralta. And fourth the landing page for central Fremont preschools has been updated at https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/peralta-fremont.php.
CENTRAL FREMONT MONTESSORI PRESCHOOLS TAKE CHILDREN FROM INSECURE TO CONFIDENT, INDEPENDENT LEARNERS
Here is the background for this release. A professional daycare, preschool, and kindergarten program serving children ages two through six is proud to announce a significant upgrade to the Yelp page. Central Fremont Montessori preschools are expanding social outreach to support young Bay Area families in a quest for high-quality daycare. Growing children may need help navigating new challenges as they prepare for elementary school. The right preschool environment can make a positive impact.
Young children meet milestones on an individual basis. A five-year-old can push away a mother's hand to try and tie shoelaces on their own. A three-year-old can commonly use the term "do it myself" to handle daily tasks independently. Some children can move in the opposite direction clinging to a parent and asking for help with every personal responsibility. Fostering independence in an insecure child can be vital to learning development. A team of teachers at central Fremont Montessori preschools are ready to help young children gain confidence in personal abilities.
Demanding assistance for simple, manageable tasks such as wearing a jacket can be the sign of an insecure child. Fear and angst can hinder learning development. For these reasons, Learn and Play Montessori announced four key updates to its media strategy for Fremont, California.
ABOUT LEARN AND PLAY MONTESSORI
Learn and Play Montessori aims to be one of the best Montessori schools in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Whether parents are looking for a Montessori School in Danville, a Blackhawk preschool or a top-rated Montessori School in Dublin / San Ramon, Learn and Play has a campus for their child or children. Bay Area parents searching for Walnut Creek preschool options could find the right fit in Danville. All schools use the famed Montessori method, offering programs from childcare to daycare, preschool to kindergarten, in not only Danville, Fremont, Dublin or San Ramon but also in nearby towns such as Alamo, Blackhawk, Diablo or San Ramon on the I-680 corridor as well as Walnut Creek.
Learn and Play Montessori
Media Relations
https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/
Lender Price announced that David Colwell and Linn Cook are joining their management team to head up marketing, business development and strategy, reporting to CEO and founder Dawar Alimi. David and Linn bring many years of experience in the mortgage technology industry to assist in the growth of Lender Price.
David Colwell will take on the role as executive vice president of business strategy, bringing more than 20 years of experience in mortgage banking, product and pricing engine (PPE) technology and loan origination system (LOS) technology. David will oversee all aspects of revenue generation, strategic planning, business partnerships and financial forecasting.
Linn Cook brings 20 years of experience in finance and mortgage technology sales and marketing, taking on the role as senior vice president of marketing and sales. Linn will draw on his successes in credit reporting, PPE and mortgage LOS technology to drive revenue and increase visibility of the Lender Price brand.
At Lender Price, we believe in bringing on talented people with deep industry experience, said Dawar Alimi, CEO of Lender Price. David and Linn have shown that they know how to grow technology companies and were thrilled to have them join our team. They are both exceptional leaders and their experience in the mortgage technology industry will be invaluable to us.
Lender Price is an amazing technology company and Im grateful to have this opportunity to work with such a talented group of people, said David Colwell. I am looking forward to this journey, and to helping mortgage lenders leverage Lender Price to re-invent the mortgage lending process.
Lender Prices technology is modern and can handle big sets of data very efficiently, said Linn Cook. That means our products are more responsive, more configurable, and more useful to the end user. These are great products and Im looking forward to setting new sales records every year.
Lender Price provides mortgage lenders with an online and mobile borrower engagement tool that features a built-in pricing engine and automated generation of loan disclosures. Seven of the top 50 mortgage lenders in the country use Lender Price to drive online interactions with borrowers, resulting in higher application completion rates and more efficient lending.
About Lender Price
Lender Price is a California-based big data technology innovator and developer of digital mortgage lending technology, including the Digital Lending point-of-sale (POS) tool and an advanced product pricing & eligibility (PPE) engine. Lender Price provides all types of mortgage lending institutions wholesale and correspondent lenders, banks, credit unions and mortgage brokers with advanced technology designed to eliminate friction, increase transparency, and effectively engage with borrowers. For more information, visit https://lenderprice.com and https://digitallending.com
Iqbal & Kim and Baby Gursaz with LIV Fertility Center Staff To see them holding a child in their arms is an incredibly emotional feeling.
Devastated to discover the medical complications that kept them from conceiving for 15 years, LIV Fertility Center new parents, Iqbal and Kim, are now celebrating the birth of their baby boy after successful IVF in Mexico.
Like so many other couples around the globe, the journey to parenthood for Iqbal and Kim was not easy. Over a decade of trying to conceive in the United States, the couple had no success and it left them emotionally, physically and financially exhausted.
But after all of those long years of medical difficulties and infertility, their story-book journey was just beginning.
Success Rates with IVF Mexico
We help patients make well-versed decisions and can provide guidance to help them achieve their dreams of parenthood. You never have to endure infertility alone, stated Dr. Francisco Velez, Medical Director of LIV Fertility Center in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We were honored to be a part of Iqbal and Kims journey. To have them come back to the clinic and celebrate with our team is indescribable. To see them holding a child in their arms is an incredibly emotional feeling.
The LIV Fertility Center is the first and only fertility clinic in Puerto Vallarta dedicated to advanced fertility care and womens wellness and is now the only licensed lab to offer MicroSort Mexico. The clinic prides itself on being transparent with patients by providing the most current information about treatment options along with the probability of a successful pregnancy associated with each option.
When asked about the IVF success rates, Lead Embryologist Karla Martin del Campo, gave a brief statement. Because all our data comes from within our own laboratory, considering our advanced technology, expertise, progressive reproductive techniques, and overall experience, our pregnancy success rate is exceptionally high. By providing personalized, evidence-based success rates to patients, we aim to help couples move through the IVF process with as much clarity as possible.
Iqbal and Kim Celebrate Miracle Baby
It was more apparent than ever. Iqbal and Kim needed a break an escape from the hurt and pain. They needed each other. There was no hope for us, so we ended up in Puerto Vallarta for vacation, stated Iqbal Singh.
The couple arrived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in 2018 for a much-needed getaway. Little did they know, that getaway would help give them a miracle baby. Exploring the sites and taking a stroll, the couple walked past the LIV Fertility Center. In that moment, Iqbal and Kim, made a decision that would change their entire lives. They decided to take a tour of the LIV Fertility Center and see if the clinic could offer anything they had not already tried. Overwhelmingly impressed with their first visit, the couple never looked back.
Here we met one of the best best teams ever. If I say start from the reception room to the doctors to the cleaning crew, they were the best and we were so impressed. We decided right away, stated Kim Mahal. Iqbal added, when we entered the clinic, it was a beautiful place, immaculate shiny place that gives you hope that its going to be okay.
Today, Iqbal and Kim, are celebrating their 4-month-old baby boy Gursaz and a love for each other that never faded. The couple returned to the clinic to thank the team members that made it possible and to show off their handsome bundle of joy!
In an exclusive interview, the couple tells all the ins and outs of IVF in Mexico from the beginning of their journey to the experience with the LIV staff to the cleanliness of the fertility clinic all the way to the loving heartbeat of their new family. Its a journey you must see for yourself!
Watch the Entire Iqbal and Kim Interview Now
About LIV Fertility Center
The LIV Fertility Center in Puerto Vallarta is a renowned, world-class fertility center that embraces affordability, technical expertise, proven successful outcomes, and the ability to exceed the challenges for every individual case of infertility. Infertility is one of life's most difficult encounters medically and emotionally. The LIV team is continually striving to implement new infertility technologies and a management structure to embrace patients on their journey to parenthood. The world-class laboratory precisely reflects in the pioneering treatments of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Egg Donation, Embryo Cryopreservation, Assisted Hatching, and Gender Selection. LIV invites you to revel in a unique cultural experience in Puerto Vallarta with its year-round stunning climate, gorgeous pristine beaches and a dazzling array of world-class attractions.
LIV Fertility Center Mission
Adhering to a set of core values that characterizes our beliefs, the LIV Fertility Centers mission is to provide affordable, trustworthy and successful fertility support to those we serve on all facets of the globe.
"Lone Star has been far more than just a place to work to me, it is my family and it has overwhelmingly supported my endeavors as an officer in the military.
Lone Star Analysis, a trusted provider of advisory services and internationally recognized for leading-edge predictive and prescriptive analytics solutions, has been awarded the Pro Patria Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for providing support to Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership and practices.
The Pro Patria Award is given annually to only three companies in each ESGR state or territory. Recipients of this award are nominated for demonstrating the greatest support and making it easier for employees to perform their duties in the National Guard and Reserve. As of 2018, veteran and reservists comprised 15 percent of Lone Stars new hires and 17 percent of all Lone Star employees. Current Lone Star employee and active duty Apache Longbow Pilot Weston Woerner nominated the company for this award.
"Lone Star has been far more than just a place to work to me, it is my family and it has overwhelmingly supported my endeavors as an officer in the military, said Weston Woerner, analyst, Lone Star Analysis. "In addition to support, the skills I have developed, combined with Lone Stars methodologies on problem solving, have made me a much more effective officer in any challenges I face."
In order to be eligible for the award, employers must first receive the Above and Beyond Award, and have at least one supervisor who has received the Patriot Award. Lone Stars Director of Prescriptive Analytics Tom Abraham was honored with the Patriot Award in 2018 for his efforts as a supervisor to support Service members.
Lone Star also received the Above and Beyond award in 2018 for supporting National Guard and Army Reserve employees by providing extra accommodations such as expanded health benefits and other additional support beyond the scope of the act.
Lone Star is proud to even be considered for this award, because it means were doing our part, said Steve Roemerman, chairman and CEO, Lone Star Analysis. Our community is full of citizen soldiers who are always ready to answer the call, and were honored to support and employ people like them.
ESGR, a Department of Defense program established in 1972, focuses on promoting cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers, and assists in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. Its seven awards were created to recognize supportive supervisors and employers.
To learn more about Lone Star, visit: https://lone-star.com/.
About Lone Star Analysis
Lone Star Analysis is a Dallas-based predictive and prescriptive analytics specialist enabling customers to make smarter decisions faster by leveraging data and insights to provide foresight and enhance the decision-making of its customers. Lone Stars TruNavigator and AnalyticsOSTM software programs provide transparent, auditable and explainable solutions for clients. Additionally, Lone Star applies the right combination of data, people and processes to get results with its 15 years of experience and more than 1,000 subject matter experts, across several industries, including aerospace, defense, energy, logistics, manufacturing and transportation. For more information on Lone Star, visit http://www.Lone-Star.com.
Media Contact:
Andrew Williams
MCC for Lone Star
972-480-8383 ext. 273
andrew_williams(at)mccom(dot)com
Wilbur: the uber simple app-free, card-free loyalty rewards program Wilbur is ideal for Mom & Pop business owners because the set-up is super simple and requires no extra training or ongoing investment of time.
With the average American belonging to a staggering number of business reward programs, its hard for small business owners to cut through the clutter with a solution that sticks. Smart Transaction Systems wants to change that with Wilbur, a new, ultra-simple loyalty program designed for busy business owners who dont have extra time to manage a loyalty program, and customers who dont want another form to fill out, card to carry or app to download.
To kick things off in style, Wilbur is launching a Free-2-100 limited-time offer on March 29, in celebration of National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day and small businesses owners nationwide. From March 29-April 30, customers who sign up for Wilbur will pay absolutely nothing until 100 customers enroll in their new loyalty reward program.
Wilbur is ideal for Mom & Pop business owners because the set-up is super simple and requires no extra training or ongoing investment of time, said Sarah Miller, marketing director of Wilbur and Smart Transaction Systems. Customers also like Wilbur because its non-invasive and hassle-free. They simply text their first name to a number and thats it: Theyre signed up for their favorite Mom & Pop shops loyalty program and never get spammy marketing texts, calls or emailsonly rewards.
Shoppers join Wilbur by texting their first name to the business Wilbur number and earn points by giving their phone number to cashiers during checkout. Texts with updated point balances and reward notifications are sent automatically to the customer with absolutely no mobile marketing. And, once customers enroll in their first Wilbur-powered rewards program, they dont have to sign up again with other participating businesses.
Each business can use Wilbur to define its own reward structure and control how customers earn points. Wilbur requires no special training or equipment, is compatible with a wide variety of POS systems to make it easy for the merchant to get started, and can provide businesses with their loyalty transaction history on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Celebrate National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day with Wilburs Free-2-100 Promotion
To take advantage of Wilburs Free-2-100 promotion, businesses can enroll in two ways: by filling out the Contact Us form at wilburrewards.com or by calling 888-494-9760. Once enrolled, customers can participate in three easy steps:
1) Texting their first name to the provided Wilbur number,
2) Sharing their phone number when they make a purchase, and
3) Redeeming rewards with their cell phone number at checkout.
The Wilbur program will remain free until the participating business reaches 100 participants. Once the 100-customer enrollment threshold is met, businesses can continue to reap the rewards of their Wilbur loyalty program at a low rate of $49 per month.
For more information, visit wilburrewards.com or call 888-494-9760 to get started today.
About Wilbur
Based in Boulder, Colorado, Wilbur is a super simple loyalty rewards program designed for busy business owners who dont have extra time to manage a loyalty program, and for customers who dont want another form to fill out, card to carry or app to download. Wilbur is powered by Smart Transaction Systems, a leading provider of customer loyalty, mobile marketing, gift card programs and e-commerce capabilities that are custom designed for small businesses to achieve their unique goals. Visit wilburrewards.com to learn more and follow Wilbur on Twitter at @wilburrewards.
OpsCompass is precisely the type of Nebraska investment we are built to fund. Solid client acceptance, growth trajectory and differentiated by both its technology and its management fervor. We are delighted to participate... - Ben Williamson of Invest Nebraska.
Today, OpsCompass, a leading public cloud governance and compliance company, announced that they had received key funding to expand growth of their successful SaaS product, Helm, in order to meet growing client demand.
The round was led by Invest Nebraska and included Dundee Venture Capital, Nebraska Angels, M25, and NelNet, Inc. OpsCompass is precisely the type of Nebraska investment we are built to fund. It represents solid client acceptance, growth trajectory and differentiated by both its technology and its management fervor. We are delighted to participate, said Ben Williamson of Invest Nebraska.
OpsCompass Helm accelerates workload migration to the cloud through continuous governance and compliance monitoring across the leading public clouds. The company provides a high-fidelity view into an organizations status and position in the public cloud and alerts to problems in real time, which enhances awareness of company-wide cloud operations and the associated costs. This provides the missing controls needed to leverage cloud resources effectively for enterprise and high growth workloads.
In addition, the company helps enhance the corporate IT teams ability to enforce organizational policy at cloud scale, providing speed and security to the DevSecOps process, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. This is particularly important to certain industries such as healthcare and finance.
We are very grateful that so many important investors decided to support our growth, commented Manny Quevedo, president of OpsCompass. He continued, the public cloud is an undeniable presence in the age of digital transformation. They are powerful, fast and economically sound, but only if you apply proper governance and the same best practices we have used for years in the compliance and security industries. Like any great utility, it must be monitored, directed and managed.
The company was aided in its initial growth by several innovative State of Nebraska programs provided by the Department of Economic Development including the prototyping program and the Academic R&D grant program. Nebraska is a state that values entrepreneurship and innovation, said Department of Economic Development Director Dave Rippe. Investing in businesses is one of the best ways to grow our state. The Business Innovation Act gives us a set of tools in this case, the Academic R&D Grant Program to turn those values into action. Our congratulations to OpsCompass, and their research partner, NARI, on this latest success.
John Jenkins, Partner at Dundee Venture Capital captured the orientation of several of the investors when stating, This one checked all of the boxes: great team, market traction, fast growth, unique technology, significant revenue, and value priced.
The new funds will be used to enhance OpsCompass growth strategy including sales expansion in the central U.S., training of strategic service partners and the expansion of key development personnel for multi-cloud expansion and product enhancements.
Quevedo closed his announcement with a note of clarity regarding the next steps for the firm. This funding is a valuable catalyst that allows us to respond directly to the many opportunities coming our way from Microsoft, Amazon, and the clients leveraging cloud resources for their digital transformation. We appreciate the support we have received from the community and we know our continued success is built on the success of our clients, and that is our sole mission.
For more information on OpsCompass, please view the website at http://www.opscompass.com or reach out to info@opscompass.com.
About OpsCompass
OpsCompass, LLC is a Nebraska based provider of enterprise software that drives operational control, visibility, and security in Microsoft Azure, AWS and other global cloud platforms. Purpose-built for the cloud, OpsCompass replaces legacy controls that are not designed for contemporary, API-driven, cloud infrastructure. The company was formed by former tech executives that have experience in a variety of cloud-related industries and who have lived many of the challenges facing large enterprises in the transition to cloud-based systems.https://opscompass.com or https://waypoint.opscompass.com
About Invest Nebraska
Investment Nebraska was founded in 2002 and is a private nonprofit venture development organization focused on high growth companies and growing an entrepreneurial economy in the state of Nebraska. Invest Nebraska is funded in part by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development through the Business Innovation Act. Learn more at: http://www.Investnebraska.com
About Dundee Venture Capital
Dundee Venture Capital invests in high-growth, early-stage technology companies in the Midwest. With a focus on passionate and dynamic entrepreneurs, Dundee VC provides the capital and the connections to founding teams across industries with specific attention to e-commerce, B2B SaaS and consumer networks. Learn more by visiting: dundeeventurecapital.com or follow us on Twitter: @dundeevc.
About DED
Since 1967, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has focused on growing and diversifying the states economic base by bringing new investment, businesses, and people into the state. DEDs mission is to provide quality leadership and services that enable Nebraskas communities, businesses, and people to succeed in a global economy. DEDs primary divisions of Business Development and Housing & Community Development are equipped with a variety of programs to advance Nebraska businesses and communities by assisting with business formation, retention, and expansion and by supporting Nebraska communities with development efforts. To find out more about the programs that DED offers to businesses and communities, please visit opportunity.nebraska.gov
About M25
is a Chicago-based Midwest-focused venture capital firm run by Victor Gutwein and Mike Asem. Since the firm's inception in 2015, M25 has invested in over eighty early-stage tech startups in over 20 cities across 11 states in the Midwest. M25's objective, analytical model and collaborative, forward-thinking approach creates a large portfolio spanning several industries across the entire region, allowing them to establish M25 as a key node in the Midwest startup ecosystem. For more information, visit https://m25vc.com/.
About NelNet
Nelnet (NYSE: NNI) is a diversified and innovative company focused on offering educational services, technology solutions, telecommunications, and asset management. Nelnet helps students and families plan and pay for their education and makes the administrative processes for schools more efficient with student loan servicing, tuition payment processing, and school administration software. Through its subsidiary, ALLO Communications, Nelnet offers fiber optic services directly to homes and businesses for ultra-fast internet and superior telephone and television services. The company also makes investments in real estate developments and new ventures. For more information, visit Nelnet.com.
Nebraska Angels
The Nebraska Angels are a network of angel investors who meet once a month to work together to review business plans, listen to pitches, conduct due diligence and negotiate terms for potential investments. Founded in 2006, the Nebraska Angels membership continues to expand and welcomes new members throughout the year. Learn more at: http://nebraskaangels.org
About NARI
The Nebraska Applied Research Institute is a 501(c) affiliate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha that provides applied research and development, hands-on training, data analytics, and cybersecurity services within the cyber physical system domain to industry and Government clients. Built around multiple high-fidelity hardware-in-the-loop testbeds, NARIs offerings provide real-world solutions to some of the most complex and difficult cybersecurity challenges facing the high-tech digital world. The Institute was formed by tech executives and cybersecurity professionals with vast experience in vulnerability research, exploitation, data analytics, modeling, simulation, and visualization. https://nari.unomaha.edu.
ORPHANetwork CEO, Dick Anderson and Country Director, Nicaragua, Eddy Morales with Rod Brooks, CEO of Rise Against Hunger
ORPHANetworks CEO, Dick Anderson, and Country Director, Nicaragua, Eddy Morales, were recognized by the organizations partners at Rise Against Hunger for their strategic roles in the collaborative effort to end world hunger. By pairing Rise Against Hunger meals with ORPHANetworks strategic development plan to break the cycle of poverty, the partnership has become sustainable and high impact, having delivered 19 million meals to Nicaraguas most vulnerable children.
Under Anderson and Morales leadership, ORPHANetwork has grown alongside Rise Against Hunger, receiving its first container of meals in 2009 to feed 300 vulnerable children to nourishing nearly 20,000 on a daily basis. In addition to now receiving ten containers of meals annually, the partnership has yielded huge success in education and maternal health programs.
On March 14, CEO of Rise Against Hunger, Rod Brooks, hosted ORPHANetwork at his organizations corporate office to honor and award Anderson and Morales as Hunger Champions. The award was designed to celebrate individuals who have made a significant impact on hunger as Rise Against Hunger celebrated its 20th anniversary. Brooks shared with his Raleigh, North Carolina staff that ORPHANetwork was instrumental in the life of Rise Against Hunger adding, We recognize the partnership with that we have with ORPHANetwork is one of those relationships where we have grown together, we have supported one another and we have created a great impact together.
What makes Rise Against Hungers relationship with Anderson and Morales unique is not only their commitment to excellence as a distribution partner, but their willingness to host staff, volunteers and donors in Nicaragua. Rise Against Hunger has taken more than 12 teams to Nicaragua to see firsthand the impact of nutritious meals and powerful partnerships like this one. Working at ORPHANetwork is not just a job for Anderson and Morales its their calling. They are committed to breaking cycles of poverty by addressing problems in Nicaraguan communities by investing in staff, local community leaders and the next generation.
About ORPHANetwork
OPRHANetwork serves nearly 20,000 vulnerable and orphaned children in Nicaragua. Believing that the local church is the "Hope of the World," ORPHANetwork works through the local Nicaraguan church to break cycles of poverty through health, education and jobs.
About Rise Against Hunger
Rise Against Hunger, an international hunger relief organization, aims to show the world that it is, in fact, possible to end hunger by the year 2030. With 28 U.S. locations and five international offices, the organization is committed to nourishing lives, providing emergency aid, empowering communities and growing the hunger movement. Rise Against Hunger has facilitated the packaging of more than 460 million meals distributed to countries around the world.
Outdoor Enthusiasts Gear Up for Nations Biggest Off-Road Accessory Show at Washington State Fairgrounds on April 6-7 If youre a fan of the outdoors and are interested in upgrading your Jeep or truck for the off-road lifestyle, this is a show you cant miss. Attendees will find some of the best deals of the year and get the chance to talk one-on-one with the manufacturers and get insight on their latest products.
Outdoor fans can stock up on off-road gear at huge discounts when the 4 Wheel Parts (4WP) 2019 Jeep & Truck Fest tour returns to Puyallup, Washington on April 6-7. This two-day event is free to the public and brings premier off-road manufacturers and enthusiasts together with great factory deals and giveaways.
If youre a fan of the outdoors and are interested in upgrading your Jeep or truck for the off-road lifestyle, this is a show you cant miss, said Brent Goegebuer, Director of Advertising and Events at 4 Wheel Parts. Attendees will find some of the best deals of the year and get the chance to talk one-on-one with the manufacturers and get insight on their latest products.
Attendees looking to upgrade their Jeeps will find the latest in bumpers, armor, tops and interior accessories, as well as information from manufacturer representatives on which suspension systems and gearing would best fit their needs. $500,000 of inventory will be on hand at dramatic discounts by brands such as ARB, Bestop, BF Goodrich, Bilstein, Currie, Daystar, FOX Shocks, Method Race Wheels, Mickey Thompson, Pro Comp, Rancho, Rigid, Smittybilt, Toyo Tires, Warn and many more. Off-road wheels, tires, winches and lights can be found at heavily marked down prices. The ever-popular Blow-Out section will offer up to 75% off on overstocked, discontinued or damaged-package goods. For those looking for eye-candy, custom Jeeps and trucks (usually seen at pro races or industry-only events) will be on display, showcasing innovations from the industrys top manufacturers.
The Jeep & Truck Fest will be held at the Washington State Fair Events Center (near the Blue Gate) at 110 9th Avenue SW in Puyallup, Washington and will feature more than 100,000 square feet of booths and products. Doors open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.
This event will mark the fifth stop of the 11-city 4WP 2019 Truck & Jeep Fest tour. The campaign will continue to Dallas, TX (May 18-19), Ontario, CA (June 8-9), Denver, CO (July 13-14), Long Beach, CA (July 20-21), Atlanta, GA (August 3-4) and conclude in Orlando, FL (August 17-18). For event information, please visit http://www.4wp.com/Truckfest.
Highlights
Largest off-road traveling exhibition in the country
Tires, wheels, suspension, bumpers, lighting, truck bed accessories and more
Product demonstrations and installation specials
Free raffles for two $500 4WP Shopping Sprees
Hourly promotional pricing and giveaways
Puyallup Truck & Jeep Fest
Washington State Fair Events Center
110 9th Avenue SW Puyallup, WA 98371
Saturday, April 6, 2019 | 10 a.m. 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 7, 2019 | 11 a.m. 4 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION
Images, copy, logos and schedule http://bit.ly/Truckfest_2019
Liberty University is honored to welcome Pastor Jerry Vines, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, founder of Jerry Vines Ministries, and longtime Board of Trustees member, as the keynote speaker for its 46th Baccalaureate Service on May 10, 2019.
Vines served as Libertys Baccalaureate keynote speaker in 1991, 1999, 2000, and 2007.
He has been a Baptist pastor and preacher for more than 60 years.
As I have done several times in the past, I am honored to be the Baccalaureate speaker for Liberty University this year, Vines said. Over these years, I have been thrilled to see Gods marvelous blessings on the university. I pray the Lord will give me the message to encourage the graduates to move forward in their lives as they continue to be Champions for Christ.
President Jerry Falwell expressed his excitement that Vines will play such an important role.
I am pleased and honored that Liberty University graduates in the Class of 2019 and their families will hear from Dr. Jerry Vines as the keynote speaker at Libertys Baccalaureate service. Dr. Vines is a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention (two terms) and a longtime pastor of one of the nations leading churches, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Dr. Vines has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Liberty University since 1988 and was selected by Libertys founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell, to preach his funeral in 2007.
As the Southern Baptist denomination strayed from its conservative theology in the 1980s, Vines was among the leaders who stepped up to guide the denomination back to its roots. It was through that process that Vines became best friends with Liberty Founder Dr. Jerry Falwell.
Vines has also served as president of the Alabama Pastors Conference and the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference.
Through Jerry Vines Ministries, Vines trains pastors to become more effective in the preparation and delivery of expository sermons and provides Bible preaching and teaching materials, including books, DVDs, and CDs. His sermon library features more than 2,000 messages. Vines recently released an expository study Bible, which guides readers through Gods Word.
Vines was trained at Mercer University (B.A.), New Orleans Theological Seminary (B.D.), and Luther Rice Seminary (Th.D.). He and his wife, Janet, have four children and seven grandchildren.
Baccalaureate is held each year to serve as a demonstration of Libertys Christian commitment to the Great Commission and Great Commandment. It will begin at 6 p.m. in the Vines Center. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.
About Liberty University
Liberty University, founded in 1971, is the worlds premier Christian university, one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the nation, and the largest university in Virginia. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres in Lynchburg, Va., Liberty offers more than 600 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. Over 300 programs are offered online. Utilizing its world-class infrastructure and Christian faculty, Libertys mission is to train Champions for Christ with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for impacting tomorrows world.
Glasses are metastable systems continuously evolving towards microscopic configurations of lower energy. The correlation of glass stability with structural and dynamic disorder was revealed by studying the vibrational properties of geological hyperaged amber with two inelastic X-ray scattering techniques.
Glasses are characterised by their lack of long-range microscopic order and a structure continuously evolving to reach lower energy microscopic configurations. As a consequence, their physical properties are not uniquely defined and depend on their thermal history.
The correlations between the topology of the configurational energy landscape and the physical properties of the glass are crucial for understanding its metastability. Among these, the vibrational properties are particularly relevant, being responsible for universal thermodynamic anomalies with respect to crystalline solids. Moreover, the vibrational density of state (VDOS) g(E) of glasses exhibits a characteristic excess with respect to the Debye prediction for crystals g(E)E2, named Boson peak.
Since spontaneous stabilisation, or aging, would require unpractically long observation time, the conventional way of obtaining glasses of different degrees of stability (height in the energy landscape) is by cooling the liquid below the melting point at different quenching rates. The slower the rate, the lower the energy position of the basins in which the system gets trapped. The stability range covered by tuning the cooling rate is however limited, upwards, by thermal conductivity and annealing technology, downwards, by the occurrence of crystallisation.
Recently, glasses with high thermodynamic stability have been prepared by physical vapor deposition (PVD) and their study unveils a correlation between stability and vibrational dynamics [1,2]. However, the investigation of the VDOS of PVD glasses is extremely challenging for X-ray based techniques due to their limited thickness.
In this work, the vibrational properties were measured experimentally in the THz regime, including the Boson peak of the VDOS, as a function of stability by exploiting a glass that has experienced an extremely prolonged natural aging: a geological amber from El Soplao (Spain) dated back to 110 million years ago.
Specifically, the elastic properties of hyperaged amber were compared with that of its rejuvenated counterpart obtained by annealing a pristine sample into the supercooled liquid phase and cooling it down at the standard rate of 1 K/min to erase its thermal history.
The extreme stability of amber can be traced back in the endothermic peak in the specific heat at the glass-transition measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) (see Figure 1a). The different degree of stability, or age, is quantified by a 9% smaller fictive temperature T f for pristine amber.
Figure 1. (a) Specific heat of pristine and rejuvenated amber measured by DSC; (b) Normalised scattered intensity IQ and difference among raw data (red line) after scaling of 0.75% (blue line) and of 2% (green line) of the Q-axis of pristine amber; (c) Reduced VDOS and in the inset, corresponding fit with FET; (d) Phonon energy E dispersion, apparent velocity =E(Q)/Q and mode attenuation of pristine and rejuvenated ambers.
The structure was investigated by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (see Figure 1b) at the inelastic X-ray scattering beamline ID28. The scattering intensity (proportional to the static structure factor) shows similar structures in the two samples: a main peak at 10 nm1 and two smaller, broader peaks at 28 nm1 and 52 nm1. The observed 2% densification of pristine amber corresponds to a shrinking of the main diffraction peak, which does not scale linearly with density (0.75% is the optimal q-axis scaling) as expected for homogenous densification.
The reduced VDOS g(E)/E2 was measured by performing an inelastic X-ray scattering experiment with nuclear resonance analysis (see Figure 1c) at the nuclear resonance beamline ID18. Remarkably, we observe that the Boson peak appears to be less intense (26% vertical scaling), blue-shifted and broader (11% horizontal scaling) in the pristine amber.
The collective excitations in the THz regime that contribute to the VDOS were examined by measuring the phonon dispersion and mode attenuation by means of momentum Q-resolved inelastic X-ray scattering (see Figure 1d) at the beamline ID28.
The hypersonic attenuation exhibits a similar quadratic power law dependence on acoustic energy for the two samples, with slightly reduced values for pristine amber. The comparison of the acoustic phonon dispersions E(Q) reveals a mode stiffening for the pristine amber and the appearance of positive dispersion which is an excess in the apparent velocity =E(Q)/Q with respect to the low frequency limit measured by Brillouin light scattering (arrows in Figure 1d), indicating a longer relaxation time for the probed modes.
All these results can be rationalised by the fluctuation elasticity theory (FET) that describes the glass disorder in terms of microscopic random spatial fluctuations of the transverse elastic constant (shear modulus) with a certain degree of spatial correlation. The best fit for the Boson peak is reported in the inset of Figure 1c. Importantly, the FET quantitatively relates the vibrational properties to the width and correlation length of the elastic constant distribution, ruling out any density dependence.
The VDOS redistribution together with the lower hypersonic damping and positive dispersion of pristine amber in the framework of FET indicate that the elastic constants distribution of pristine amber is sharper and the correlation length longer compared to the rejuvenated sample, as summarised in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Sketch of the inherent structures explored with pristine (red dot) and rejuvenated (black dot) ambers on the potential energy landscape and the observed correlation to the structural and elastic properties of the glass.
In conclusion, the experimental characterisation of the structural and elastic properties of a glass amber in different stability states revealed that its physical aging is achieved through a reduction of the disorder of the elastic matrix of the glass.
Principal publication and authors
Tracking the connection between disorder and energy landscape in glasses using geologically hyperaged amber, E.A.A. Pogna (a), A.I. Chumakov (b), C. Ferrante (c), M.A. Ramos (d), T. Scopigno (c), J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 10, 427-432 (2019); doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b00003.
(a) Laboratorio NEST, CNR-INFM and Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, and Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano (Italy)
(b) ESRF and National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute, Moscow (Russia)
(c) Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma, La Sapienza, Rome, and Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome (Italy)
(d) Laboratorio de Bajas Temperaturas, Departamento de Fisica de la Materia Condensada (IFIMAC) and Instituto Nicolas Cabrera, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain)
References
[1] E.A.A. Pogna, C. Rodriguez-Tinoco, M. Krisch, J. Rodriguez-Viejo and T. Scopigno, Sci.Rep. 3, 2518 (2013).
[2] E.A.A. Pogna, C. Rodriguez-Tinoco, G. Cerullo, C. Ferrante, J. Rodriguez-Viejo and T. Scopigno, PNAS 112, 23312336 (2015).
Glenn McJoy, a published poet, has turned his creative attention to the nonfiction genre in his new book The Do Right Man: a brief examination of his father, Old Willie McJoy, and the actions that made him such a loveable member of society.
My dad was bigger than life itself, Glenn McJoy said when asked about his work. Dad not only told a story; he was quite the character. If any one of you out there had been fortunate enough to meet the king of the south, the real do-right man, youd say along with me, Old Willie McJoy was quite the guy.
Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Glenn McJoys work spans the life of Willie McJoy, both before parenthood and well into his later years. The work includes family photographs that bring the readers into the fold, as if inviting them into the McJoys memories.
In addition to full length chapters, Glenn McJoy offers a list of axioms and witticisms he attributes to Old Willie McJoy, which range from parental advice to major life lessons. They provide an insight into Will McJoy the man, as well as his comfort with all topics, whether humorous or sombre.
Readers who wish to learn more about the well-lived life of Willie McJoy can purchase The Do Right Man at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play or Barnes and Noble.
For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.
About Page Publishing:
Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Womens History Month allows Pond Lehocky to highlight its gender diversity and inclusion efforts. As one of its women and diversity initiatives, associates Kajal Alemo, Danielle Webb, Ruxandra Osgood and Erica Shikunov participated in a roundtable discussion at the Women, Diversity & Change Summit in Philadelphia on March 20th, hosted by Centerforce USA. The topic of the discussion was Women & Self Advocacy: Damned if you do, damned if you dont.
The event's attendance doubled from last year, with about 300 people present to listen to more than 30 leading experts and speakers. The Pond Lehocky quartet held their discussion before four rotating groups of attendees. The participants shared effective strategies used by women of all ages and ranks to handle workplace challenges.
"Participants were really interested in hearing about others' current situations at work and bouncing ideas off each other about uncomfortable topics such as raises, promotions, disproportional workloads and speaking out effectively," Ruxandra Osgood said.
"A resounding theme is that when women are faced with a situation where they want additional resources, a raise or a promotion, they are reticent to ask for it, or if they do ask, are hesitant about being persistent until they get it," Erica Shikunov said.
There was also conversation about being an ally to other women in the workplace. Shikunov said some examples discussed were "singing the praise of a female colleague who has trouble promoting herself, helping a colleague get facetime with a boss or supervisor and ensuring a female colleague gets credit for her good ideas."
"Most exciting was witnessing the evolving perspective that though longstanding socialization has contributed to an asymmetrical playing field, we have more control over our experience now than ever before," Kajal Alemo said. "We must earnestly engage in these conversations and then hold ourselves accountable too."
Getting diverse perspectives and fresh insights helps the firm better connect with its clients, who come from all walks of life. It also helps the firm deliver innovative legal solutions to our clients most pressing problems. Learn more about our diverse initiatives at http://www.pondlehocky.com/diversity.
Pond Lehocky acknowledges that there is still a long way to go in the fight for gender equality. But the firm, known for its commitment to workers, believes it is well-suited to take a lead role.
Other Pond Lehocky gender diversity initiatives include:
Womens rights in the workplace, particularly gender discrimination and sexual harassment. Visit https://www.pondlehocky.com/ME for a special message.
Mass Torts affecting women, including litigation over Talc products that cause ovarian cancer, mesothelioma and other conditions.
Founded by Samuel Pond, Jerry Lehocky, David Stern and Thomas Giordano Jr. in July 2010 with six attorneys and only 22 total staff members, the firm has expanded its practice areas to include employment law in addition to work injury and disability matters. Pond Lehocky has a successful nationwide network that allows clients to receive legal help anywhere in the nation. The firms attributes its success to its personalized, holistic client care and aggressive trial lawyer techniques.
Our retail, restaurant and bar customers were looking for an easy, simple-serve solution to create a world class Painkiller, said Pussers CEO, Gary Rogalski
Love a world famous Pussers Rum Painkiller but dont want to go through the fuss of putting all the ingredients together? No worries, because Pussers has just introduced a newly, re-formulated Painkiller Mix with all the necessary ingredients. Just add Pussers rum and garnish with an orange slice, cherry and fresh-grated nutmeg, now close your eyes and youre in the tropics!
The new mix has just the right amount of the secret recipe; pineapple juice, orange juice and cream of coconut. Just add one part Pussers Rum to three parts Painkiller mix. No fuss, no mess!
"Our retail, restaurant and bar customers were looking for an easy, simple-serve solution to create a world class Painkiller and we think we hit it out of the park with our new non-alcoholic mix blended and packaged by Bevolution Group, said Pussers CEO, Gary Rogalski. Our Bevolution Group partners are highly renowned for the quality of its packaged juices, purees and premium cocktail mixers. Pussers Painkiller Mix is the latest tasty addition thanks to this partnership. Consumers can enjoy the best cocktail the Caribbean has to offer by simply adding the Mix and a healthy dose of Pusser's Rum over ice with a little grated nutmeg.
Bevolution Group is a proprietary blend of industry leaders and pioneers that offers an unparalleled selection of beverages across several categories, including premium and classic cocktail mixes like Tropics Mixology, Tiki Tropics and Lemon-X.
Were proud to have partnered with Pussers, a premier brand, to work on this project, said Bevolution Group CEO, Sam Lteif. We never lose sight of the idea that our product mix is directly related to our partners bottom line. Every one of our beverage strategies is customized for the business that we are serving.
The new Painkiller Mix is made from all natural juices and has no artificial flavors or colors and no high fructose syrup. A single serving has only 80 calories.
The iconic Pussers Painkiller is the official drink of the British Virgin Islands where Soggy Dollar Bartender, Daphne Henderson, and Pussers Rum founder, Charles Tobias, planted the seeds for its humble beginnings. A favorite among bartenders and enthusiasts alike, the Painkiller cocktail has become legendary and traditionally becomes an establishments best-selling cocktail when added to its beverage menu.
The mix comes in 1-liter bottles which are packed 12 liters per case.
It can be purchased by going to http://pussersrum.com/painkiller-mix
Pussers Rum is imported by Shaw Ross International Importers, LLC.
About Pussers Rum
Pussers Rum is produced in strict accordance with Admiralty blending specifications last used by the Royal Navy for issue to its fleet, a tradition which began in 1655 when it first served rum as its spirit of choice, with extra tots being offered before and after some of the most infamous battles in history. In massive wood pot stills, approaching 300 years old, Pussers continues to produce liquid history without the aid of flavoring agents and is 100 percent natural. Pussers Rum is highly decorated and has taken several Gold Medals in the highly acclaimed International Wine & Spirits Festival and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Pussers Rum Limited is a British Virgin Island Company with administrative offices in Charleston, South Carolina. Its products are imported into the United States by Shaw-Ross International Importers.For more information on Pussers Rum Ltd and its brands, please visit http://www.PussersRum.com.
About Shaw-Ross International Importers, LLC
Founded in 1968 as a wine and spirit importer representing a handful of brands, Shaw-Ross has grown into one of the nation's leading importers representing leading suppliers from around the world. Shaw-Ross continues to evolve its portfolio to keep ahead of the ever-changing wine and spirits industry. For additional information go to http://www.shawross.com
EDITORS NOTE: Imagery and samples can be acquired through Peter Nasca at the above address.
George and Eli Medina We are inviting our local friends and clients to swing by this unique establishment to see what a pay what you can restaurant is all about. We hope that through spreading the word we can get more people involved in this great cause.
The Medinas will be serving up delicious food, as well as making a financial contribution to KCs first ever pay-what-you-can restaurant. We are inviting our local friends and clients to swing by this unique establishment to see what a pay what you can restaurant is all about, said George. We hope that through spreading the word we can get more people involved in this great cause.
Thelmas Kitchen, 3101 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO, is a Healthy Communities Initiative of Reconciliation Services and a member of the One World Everybody Eats collective of pay-what-you-can cafes. The goal is simple - food and community. All are welcome to eat regardless of their ability to pay. People may also offer volunteer time in exchange for lunch and not only that, it is a top-notch restaurant serving delicious, high-quality food. Weve eaten there a few times and love the idea of paying it forward by purchasing meals for people who may come in to eat, but cannot afford to buy their own lunch, added Eli.
The Medinas are extending an invitation to all friends, clients, and Kansas City community members to join them on this day to learn more about Thelmas Kitchen, and the cause behind it. The mission of Thelmas is to cultivate a community seeking reconciliation to transform Troost Avenue from a dividing line to a gathering place, revealing the strength of all.
To donate directly to Thelmas Kitchen, please visit https://www.thelmaskitchen.org/donate.
About The George Medina Team, ReeceNichols Real Estate
The George Medina Team is a father-daughter duo who specialize in the KC metro area. They are neighborhood experts and strong advocates of serving their community. George and Eli have been honored with Top 25 rankings in the Kansas City Business Journal 5 of the past 6 years. For more information, please call 816-838-5178 or visit http://www.MedinaSells.com.
For media inquiries, please call the NALA at 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
The free guide will equip educators to leverage technology to foster learning that infuses digital tools and practices with deep focus on positive youth development
A team of researchers from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and New York University (NYU) has just published Reclaiming Digital Futures, a free guide and associated website for youth organizations to use as they integrate digital learning into their programming and practices. The report is available at DigitalLearningPractices.org.
The objective of the guide is to equip educators to leverage technology to foster learning that infuses digital tools and practices with deep focus on positive youth development, igniting the hearts and minds of youth and preparing them to be impactful 21st century citizens a much larger task than simply teaching technology-related skills like coding or data analysis.
The rising generation must learn to thrive in a world changing at warp speed, and it will take more than gut-level instincts to develop effective tools and programs to prepare them for this reality. To that end, the Chicago-based foundation Susan Crown Exchange worked with UCI and NYU to execute an in-depth analysis of leading out-of-school time organizations focused on equipping youth to navigate a world both analog and digital.
The report and the associated DigitalLearningPractices.org site contain a cross-section of resources to aid organizations and educators in developing quality programming that integrate technology and youth development. Rather than focusing on efforts to help youth become fluent and skilled in uses of technology simply for the sake of meeting predetermined standards, the organizations highlighted in the report provide practical avenues to support youth in transforming their communities and worlds.
The knowledge and best practices gleaned from the reports partner organizations may be adopted and adapted by any youth-serving practitioners. Five strategic areas are identified for success in digital learning. The toolkit provides perspectives, practical how-tos and case examples in each:
Pedagogy: Co-design programs with youth, combining educator and learner expertise with youth interest to help students develop relevant launchpads for learning. Learner-centered supports carefully surround youth with the right adults, educators and peers as they pursue robust digital projects in the context and application of meaningful work, play and goal achievement.
A strong example is seen in the YOUmedia program in the Chicago Public Library, which encourages youth to co-design new programs. Young people in YOUmedia have developed video screencasts of gameplay and community tournaments that link youth interests in gaming to digital production, leadership, and neighborhood organizing skills.
Skills: Design programs that offer students the opportunity to participate in real-world contexts and practice integrated skills such as technical production, project management, collaboration, adaptability and problem solving.
One highlighted example is FUTUREWORLDS, an annual event held by youth arts organization AS220 Youth in Providence, RI. FUTUREWORLDS focuses on writing the future, and is part fashion show, part music and theater performance and part live storytelling. Apprentices from multiple programs in AS220 Youth collaborate and coordinate on all aspects; from determining a theme and format for the event, to the design and technical production of the event.
Technology: Leverage technology in a way to support larger organizational goals, moving youth from consumers to producers who understand technology is a useful tool to help achieve their own cultural and social agency. Youth should work collaboratively on projects with experts, such as teaching artists and industry volunteers, learning to tailor technical practices and applications to their deepening expertise in a field.
In Brooklyn, NY, Beam Center is a maker centered organization that supports young people to create hands-on projects that integrate a wide variety of tools that include carpentry, welding, physical computing, video, ceramics, programming, textiles and design. Students are encouraged to push beyond discomfort with new tools to start immediately growing learning.
Community: Serve all students where they are, including disconnected and at-risk youth. Featured programs are deeply rooted in their individual communities and rely heavily on rich connections to local opportunity and need. Participants are provided the inspiration and audience for media and technology projects, plus access and pathways to professional and higher education opportunities.
An example is provided from WMCAT in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where students are encouraged to understand the inner workings of the Jammys, a local musical awards night. Students are encouraged to go backstage and interview the artists, plus they have other behind the scenes access. Local professionals also come into the student space to discuss the types of paths through college and industry that make sense for their profession.
Capacity: Understand the importance of overall organizational priorities in hiring and developing staff individually and collectively. Emphasize a blend of skills in technology, creative media and the arts, and youth development.
The Digital Harbor Foundation (DHF) describes itself as a melting pot of people from wildly different backgrounds (in both education background and professional experience). At DHF, nobody presents themselves as a knowledge expert. All employees have experience on certain tools or processes, but theres always room to grow, and thats expected of staff and program participants alike.
The report on Reclaiming Digital Futures was developed after careful analysis of eight organizations that were selected through a highly competitive, national RFP. All are helping youth evolve into secure, capable, contributing adults through programs outside of the traditional classroom. The partner organizations are:
The distinctive vision of digital learning shared by these organizations focuses on youth power, creativity and agency instead of sole attention on technology or media. This kind of digital learning involves making and creating, amplifying youth voice on issues that matter, balancing technical and social and emotional skills, enhancing connections to culture and community, and directly linking youth to future opportunity.
Creating the Report
Developed through a collaborative process between the Susan Crown Exchange, researchers from the University of California, Irvine and New York University, and eight exemplar youth-serving organizations, Reclaiming Digital Futures is a toolkit of adoptable and adaptable resources that relay knowledge and best practices in achieving real success in youth-centered digital learning. The full project is available at DigitalLearningPractices.org. Learn more about the Susan Crown Exchange at scefdn.org.
Susan Crown Exchange (SCE) is a Chicago-based foundation invested in shaping an ecosystem of anytime, anywhere learning to prepare youth to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing and highly connected world. Through grantmaking programs in digital learning and social and emotional learning, SCE helps to identify, codify and promote high-quality opportunities for young people to learn and grow in out-of-school time.
Robert Kennah joined HNTB Corporation as project director, based in the firms Houston office. Robert has a strong background in delivering complex transit projects throughout the country through multiple delivery methods.
Robert Kennah, PE, joined HNTB Corporation as project director, based in the firms Houston office. Kennah has more than 23 years of engineering and project management experience and has served in leadership roles on high-profile transit projects throughout the nation.
Kennah is responsible for managing and delivering major projects, nurturing client relationships and working to expand HNTBs services to its regional transit clients.
Robert has a strong background in delivering complex transit projects throughout the country through multiple delivery methods, said Mike Voinis, PE, HNTB Houston office leader and vice president. He has a clear passion for transit and all it can offer to a robust transportation system.
Prior to joining HNTB, Kennah served as principal project manager for another consulting firm. Throughout his career, he has worked on transit projects across the U.S., including light rail, automated people movers, and terminal and station modeling.
Kennah earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Wyoming. He is involved in numerous industry associations, including American Society of Civil Engineers, American Public Transportation Association, streetcar coalitions and more. He is a graduate of the Leadership APTA Class of 2018.
HNTBs many signature transit projects in Texas and throughout the nation include design for Houston METROs Northwest Transit Center, serving as final designer and program manager for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Blue Line Light Rail extension to serve South Oak Cliff, construction manager for the Charlotte Area Transit Systems Blue Line Extension, coordinating with multiple stakeholders to communicate a vision for the Atlanta streetcar system, leading design and providing construction oversight assistance on the Wilson Station Reconstruction project in Chicago, and many others.
About HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure solutions firm serving public and private owners and construction contractors. Celebrating 105 years of service in the United States, HNTB continues to grow in size and service offerings to clients from seven office locations in Texas, currently employing approximately 360 full-time professionals in the state. HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, program management and construction management. For more information, visit http://www.hntb.com.
By Googles own admission, the E-A-T score is one of the top factors it considers when measuring a websites value.
SEOHost.net, a provider of SEO hosting, domain registration, and SSL services, today issued a statement about the importance of a websites E-A-T score in 2019.
First introduced as a concept by Google itself, E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness.
Expertise measures the level of skill a website and its creators have in their field and is critical for B2B organizations and businesses working in industries like medicine or finance. Authority is tied to credentials and reviews, both of which serve to validate expertise. Finally, Trustworthiness is based on the websites hosting platform, as well as factors like SSL certificates or the presence of HTTPS.
By Googles own admission, the E-A-T score is one of the top factors it considers when measuring a websites value, explains Terry Cane, COO at SEOHost.net. It ties back into the search engines concerted push towards high-quality content in lieu of technical, on-page elements like keywords. Well-written pages and long-form copy with a clear focus tend to perform very well in terms of establishing ones expertise, but authority and trustworthiness are a little more difficult to build.
Cane advises working hard to seek out and promote positive, verified reviews, and to engage in outreach with influencers through channels such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The more relevant, high-quality links, shares, and interactions a website receives, the likelier Google is to take notice and flag it as authoritative. In regards to Trustworthiness, Cane says that its more of an attitude than anything.
Trust seals like an SSL certificate or a Better Business Bureau badge are a good way of establishing surface-level trust, continues Cane. But an organizations best bet is to always err on the side of both privacy and authenticity. Adherence to regulations like the GDPR and a customer-first attitude are both excellent ways to inspire loyalty, and Ive no doubt they may eventually play into a websites trustworthiness - if they do not already.
Cane went on to assert that SEOHost.net is dedicated to helping its clientele with every aspect of search engine optimization, including their E-A-T score.
Sharebee Technologies, Inc. (https://www.sharebee.io) announced today that it has raised an undisclosed pre-seed investment round led by Toronto-based self-storage company All Canadian Self-Storage, with the participation of Broken Glass Angels, ex-Uber Montreal general manager JN Guillemette and a group of independent angels. The funds will allow the company to focus on growth initiatives such as expanding into the Greater Toronto Area, further improve the renter and host experience on the platform, and hire new talent.
The company is opening up the platform to Torontonians as of today, with 200 hosts already offering 300 unique locations for storage and parking. Sharebee is actively seeking new hosts in Toronto to meet the increasing demand for storage spaces.
"Sharebee is a pioneer in the P2P storage industry, with a product targeted at a market segment that is growing with the digitally enabled sharing economy. We are excited to work with and support Sharebee as they grow their customer base and expand into larger markets across Canada," said Leslie Kellen, director of operations and marketing at All Canadian Self-Storage.
Using your computer or mobile device, we envision a future where anywhere around the world, you can rent affordable, convenient and safe storage spaces in your neighbourhood for half the price of a traditional storage unit. Were very happy to be offering our services to the Greater Toronto Area. said Max Villemure, co-founder and CEO at Sharebee.
Sharebee sources and manages the best storage spaces in a neighbourhood, such as warehouses, garages, basements, vacant rooms and storage lockers. Sharebee Hosts can get reservations from verified renters. Renters can plan their move and storage needs in a couple of clicks, or by contacting Sharebees storage specialist team. Every booking comes with full customer support, a $250,000 insurance policy for civil liability, and a $10,000 insurance policy for goods in storage, provided by Intact Insurance.
About Sharebee
Launched in 2017, Sharebee is a Montreal-based technology company transforming the self-storage market by aggregating idle spaces throughout cities and turning them into local storage that provides a safe, inexpensive and convenient experience. With more than 5,000 storage spaces in Quebec and Ontario, Sharebee is the leading peer-to-peer storage platform in Canada. Its vision is to bridge a community of neighbours and businesses by building friendlier and more efficient cities.
To learn more visit https://www.sharebee.io
Specialty Technical Publishers
Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) announce the availability of the newly updated International Audit Protocol Consortium (IAPC) EHS audit protocol for Switzerland. Leading companies around the world use IAPC EHS audit protocols to understand the scope of their EHS regulatory obligations and rapidly collect, share, archive, and export audit findings in a cost effective manner. IAPC EHS audit protocols are now prepared by STC in partnership with STP and continue to focus on those national (plus, in some cases, regional or provincial) EHS requirements that have site-specific application for manufacturing operations. As a leading EHS management consulting firm with a global network of experienced EHS teaming partners, STC has indepth knowledge and technical expertise of local/regional EHS requirements.
STP and STC maintain leading-edge EHS audit protocols for more than 50 jurisdictions. The protocol documents are written in English and are available in MS Word, Adobe Acrobat and Excel formats, as well as through STPs web-based portal or can be integrated into an existing company platform. Using the protocols custom templates and advanced functionality features, auditors can easily track audit findings and manage data over time to improve compliance, risk management and safety performance. In addition, STPs formatting is compatible with leading risk management and sustainability platform providers.
This audit protocol covers relevant national and provincial EHS requirements. The regulatory date for the current release is December 2018.
Highlights of selected legislation covered in the newly developed protocol:
This EHS audit protocol is organized around sixteen topics, with a separate section devoted to each:
General Environmental
General Health and Safety
Air Emissions
Equipment, Machine and Electrical Safety
Solid and Hazardous Waste
Material Handling and General In-Plant Safety
Water Resources
Fire Safety
Above and Below Ground Tank Management
Transport of Dangerous Goods
Community Noise
Industrial Hygiene
PCBs
Chemical Management
Asbestos
Construction Work Site Safety
In Switzerland, environmental framework legislation is issued on national level. The cantons are responsible for implementing the federal statutes and ordinances, except where the law reserves this duty for the Confederation. The cantons enact the appropriate legislation. European Union (EU) environmental regulations do not directly apply to Switzerland, as the country is not a member of the EU. However, Switzerland maintains extensive co-operative relations with the EU, including with regard to the harmonization of environmental legislation.
Further, Switzerland is a party to numerous international environmental agreements. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is the main national agency responsible environmental issues in Switzerland. The mission of FOEN is to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources including soil, water, air, quietness and forests. It is responsible for the protection against natural hazards, safeguarding the environment and human health against excessive impacts, and conserving biodiversity and landscape quality. It is also responsible for international environmental policy.
Enforcement of environmental legislation is carried out by cantonal authorities. The primary legislation in Switzerland for environmental issues is the Federal Act on the Protection of the Environment of 7 October 1983 and implementing Ordinances. Examples of implementing Ordinances include, but are not limited to: Ordinance on the Register relating to Pollutant Release and the Transfer of Waste and of Pollutants in Waste Water of 15 December 2006; Ordinance on Air Pollution Control of 16 December 1985; and Ordinance of 12 November 1997 on the Incentive Tax on Volatile Organic Compounds.
As with environmental legislation, the health and safety legislation is issued by the national authorities. There are two main laws governing OSH: the Labor Act and the Accident Insurance Act. The Labor Act covers work hours, health protection, workplace building standards, and the protection of personal integrity. The Accident Insurance Act covers the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases which are caused almost entirely by work. The cantonal labor inspectorates, SUVA (main accident insurance authority) and the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO) enforce the laws. A coordination commission (EKAS) oversees and finances the inspection system for accident prevention.
The implementing legislation issued under the Labor Act includes: Ordinance 4 related to the Labor Act (Industrial Facilities, Plan Approval and Operating Permits) of 18 August 1993; Ordinance 1 related to the Labor Act of 10 May 2000; and Ordinance 3 related to the Labor Act (Hygiene) of 18 August 1993.
For more information on all International EHS audit protocols offered by STP and STC click here.
About Specialty Technical Publishers
Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) produces technical resource guides covering environmental, health & safety, transportation, accounting, business practices, standards and law, offering comprehensive guidance on key compliance and regulatory issues. STP is a division of Glacier Media Inc., a Canadian information communications company that provides primary and essential information in print, electronic and online media. Glaciers Business and Professional Information Group publishes directories, technical manuals, research and development materials, medical education, electronic databases, investment information and specialty websites.
About Specialty Technical Consultants
Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc. (STC) is a specialized management consulting firm working to enhance environmental health and safety (EHS) performance. Through its consulting services, STC partners with clients to strengthen management systems' design and implementation, and identifies needs and implements solutions to meet business objectives. Services provided include: EHS compliance support; risk assessment; EHS auditing; corporate responsibility and sustainability; EHS management systems development and implementation; EHS regulatory information tools; and EHS training.
STC is certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the Supplier Clearinghouse for the California Public Utilities Commission, and as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.
Veterans will use their card to do good while doing well. Our mission is to be the trusted financial solution for Americas heroes and their communities, and this offering will help us achieve that.
StreetShares announces plans to launch Americas first business credit card for the veteran business owner community. The card will fill the gap in the marketplace for a payment product uniquely focused on the needs of the nations 2.5 million military veteran business owners. StreetShares will use a portion of its proceeds from every card to support training and educational programs for military veterans and military spouse entrepreneurs.
StreetShares has provided over $150 million in financing for small businesses through term loans, the Patriot Express lines of credit, and specialty financing products for government contractors. Multiple studies, such as those conducted by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, suggest that military veteran business owners are a highly underserved population. The addition of a credit card to the product suite will provide veteran business owners with a convenient payment and financing tool to handle everyday expenses.
Veterans love to help other veterans. StreetShares is a veteran-run company, and the goal of the card is not only to provide a veteran focused payments tool, but also to benefit the veteran community as a whole by funding programs that benefit veteran entrepreneurship. said Mark L. Rockefeller, CEO/Co-Founder of StreetShares and an Iraq War Veteran.
Veterans will use their card to do good while doing well. Rockefeller added. Our mission is to be the trusted financial solution for Americas heroes and their communities, and this offering will help us achieve that.
StreetShares is expected to launch the card in the second quarter of 2019. Interested veteran business owners can sign up to join the waitlist at http://go.streetshares.com/join-our-waitlist
About StreetShares
StreetShares offers unique financial solutions for America's heroes and their communities. StreetShares' technology captures the social loyalty that exists within the military community and harnesses that trust to lower risk in financial transactions. StreetShares offers alternative investments, including a veterans social-impact investing product called Veteran Business Bonds. StreetShares is veteran-run and located outside of Washington, D.C. To learn more, please visit: StreetShares.com.
Our collaboration with Poetry Northwest will provide students with the pleasure of reading fresh and contemporary selections, inspiring a love of reading and providing an experience from which to expand their writing capabilities and creativity.
Today, StudySync announced a new content partnership with Poetry Northwest, one of the longest-running poetry journals in America. StudySync will be using the journals archived poems in its core StudySync ELA curriculum to boost middle and high school students literacy and appreciation of language.
Poetry Northwest was founded as a quarterly poetry journal in 1959 and soon gained an international reputation for publishing some of the best established and emerging poets in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and beyond. The journal explores the ways that poetry intersects with and informs (or is informed by) the other arts and sciences, the way that poetry has adapted to new technologies and modes of composition and distribution, as well as the role that poetry can play in restoring sanity, nuance, and balance to civic discourse.
We are delighted to be working with StudySync, said Kevin Craft, the executive editor of Poetry Northwest. We have been sparking and nurturing a love of poetry for six decades, and our archives are one of the great treasures of American literature, filled with themes that StudySync students will no doubt find interesting, instructive and useful as they work to become more thoughtful writers and readers.
With recommendations from Poetry Northwest, StudySync selects poems and develops curriculum around each poem including suggestions for further reading. "Studying poetry can be a rewarding experience for students, expanding vocabulary and improving critical analysis skills, adds Robert Romano, CEO of StudySync. In addition, and equally important, our collaboration with Poetry Northwest will provide students with the pleasure of reading fresh and contemporary selections, inspiring a love of reading and providing an experience from which to expand their writing capabilities and creativity.
The complete StudySync ELA curriculum provides students in grades 6-12 with a diverse library of more than 1,700 fiction and nonfiction texts, with rich multimedia lessons and new content added daily. In addition to reading and writing, students view video episodes that model academic collaboration by peer-aged students. The poems will appear in the products Blast lessons -- short reading and writing assignments on relevant cultural topics and global current events. Students respond in short answer social media-like format, engaging in thoughtful discussions with peers.
ABOUT STUDYSYNC
StudySync is a leading developer of the most engaging, socially connected, and rigorous academic learning products for grades 6-12. StudySync, its hallmark offering of the same name, is an award-winning, comprehensive English language arts curriculum. The companys most recently-released product, SyncBlasts, expands the companys scope to include an engaging, supplemental digital inquiry solution for social studies and science classrooms.
For more information about technology-relevant educational products from StudySync, visit http://www.studysync.com.
McGraw-Hill Education is the exclusive distributor of StudySync products in the United States.
ABOUT POETRY NORTHWEST
Poetry Northwest is a semi-annual print poetry journal founded in 1959 in Seattle, Washington. The magazine is currently affiliated with Everett Community Colleges Written Arts program. It has published incisive, thought-provoking and cutting-edge poetry from poets around the world, including such writers as William Stafford, Joyce Carol Oates, Raymond Carver, Annie Dillard and Mary Oliver. It is regarded as one of the most important poetry journals publishing today.
# # #
The new terminal, served by Norfolk Southern and CSX Railroads, will initially provide 120,000 gallons of propane storage, along with a four-position rail rack and two truck loading racks. The new MARS terminal is an example of how Superior strategically builds efficient, safe and fully automated terminals that play a crucial role in delivering fuel to underserved markets.
Superior Energy Systems has completed its most recent propane terminal build for Tri Gas & Oil, which will operate as affiliate Mid-Atlantic Rail Services (MARS). Superior spearheaded all efforts in the design, engineering, permitting, construction, startup and commissioning of the brand-new Baltimore terminal.
Family owned and customer focused, Tri Gas & Oil offers energy solutions to both residential and commercial customers in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Superior exceeded our expectations with this terminal build, said Keith McMahan, chairman and CEO of Tri Gas & Oil. From the initial design phase to commissioning, the Superior team focused on quality, efficiency and customer service at every step. Now we can provide an additional midstream source of propane to our growing community. MARS will serve the Mid-Atlantic region with a reliable source of propane by providing destination delivered supply or railcar through put arrangements.
The new terminal, served by Norfolk Southern and CSX Railroads, will initially provide 120,000 gallons of propane storage, along with a four-position rail rack and two truck loading racks. Double-acting compressors quickly unload and recover vapor from railcars. Turbine pumps allow for loading rates of 550 gallons per minute, with capability to load up to six trucks per hour at an average rate of 18 minutes per truck.
Local daily switching service from The Canton Railroad provides up to three switches a day in the peak of winter. This translates to product delivered into as many as 36 trucks per day when it is needed most, said Andy Ronald, NGL consultant with JAR Consulting, LLC.
Conveniently located just north of Baltimore Harbor off Highway 95, the terminal allows trucks access to bulk propane product. Fuel transport trucks in Maryland are prohibited from entering the tunnel system, typically traveling over bridges instead. The strategic location of MARS allows for the convenient use of the Francis Scott Key Bridge when accessing from the south of Baltimore.
The Canton Railroad, a Class III switching and terminal railroad in Baltimore County, operates the terminal. Superior led design efforts to extend the railway siding to create adequate space for the terminal.
The new MARS terminal is an example of how Superior strategically builds efficient, safe and fully automated terminals that play a crucial role in delivering fuel to underserved markets, said Derek Rimko, vice president of operations for Superior Energy Systems. Our excellence in engineering quality and design, combined with our commitment to customer service, continue to set us apart in the midstream market.
A grand opening event and tour of the terminal is planned for spring and will be open to the public. For information on the event, please contact Crystelle Markley at crystelle(at)superiornrg.com.
About Superior Energy Systems, Ltd.: For more than 40 years, Superior Energy Systems has brought together engineering, manufacturing, construction and safety expertise to focus on operational excellence. We provide the best in turnkey LPG and NGL systems and infrastructure solutions as well as safety and compliance training. We have manufactured more bulk plants and trans-shipment terminals throughout the United States than any other company and have over 1,000 autogas dispensers located across North America. In addition, we design, engineer, construct and service vaporizers and mixers, rail towers, metering and odorant skids and stand by fuel systems. Visit us at our Cleveland headquarters or learn more at SuperiorNRG.com.
About Mid-Atlantic Rail Services: Mid-Atlantic Rail Services provides unbranded petroleum products to wholesale customers in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. MARS is a new addition to the Tri Gas & Oil family of companies. With this addition, we are able to increase the transport and service area of our unbranded petroleum-based fuels to our wholesale partners. We offer fuel delivery, risk management, supply physical and financial hedges, fixed pricing, spot contracting, index, and swaps/options. For rail and supply needs, please contact Randy Marshall, Director of Logistics & Rail Operations (rmarshall(at)trigas-oil.com), or John Dalina, Director of Supply (jdalina(at)trigas-oil.com), or by calling our office at 1-888-229-9245. Find us online at http://www.trigas-oil.com/wholesale.
About Tri Gas & Oil: Since its incorporation in 1963, Tri Gas & Oil has proudly been serving the Eastern and Western Shores of Maryland and Delaware and surrounding areas. We provide propane, heating oil, petroleum-based fuels, and propane appliances to area homes and commercial businesses. Find us online at http://www.trigas-oil.com.
# # #
Lias diverse skillset and strong leadership skills will help the OCLA Special Projects group continue to grow and diversify, strengthing the company's position in this robust market.
Swinerton is pleased to announce that Lia Tatevosian has been promoted to Division Manager for the Orange County & Los Angeles Special Projects Division.
Lias diverse skillset and strong leadership skills will help the OCLA Special Projects group continue to grow and diversify, strengthing the company's position in this robust market. Lias responsibilities as Division Manager will include maintaining and strengthening our already strong Swinerton Culture and brand in OCLA, client satisfaction, succession planning, consistency in operations and realizing the companys vision moving forward.
Lia brings over 24 years of experience in the construction industry and over 22 years with Swinerton, starting her career here as a field Project Engineer in May 1996. After serving a variety of roles within our organization including Project Executive and Chief Estimator, Lia has spent the past five years as Swinerton OCLAs Operations Manager. Lia also serves on the Board of Directors of The Swinerton Foundation.
Lia has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Davis and loves spending time with her three children, Mara (19), Luca (17) and Ella (10).
In her spare time, Lia proudly serves on the Architecture Construction Engineering (ACE) Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter Board, an organization that exposes high school students to the ACE disciplines and provides direction, scholarships and internships in their desired fields. Lia also serves on the Architecture and Design (A+D) Museum board in Los Angeles, whose mission is to celebrate and promote an awareness in progressive architecture and design in everyday life through exhibits, educational programs and public outreach.
Lia was one of the co-founders of Women in Construction Operations (WiOPS) and served on their Southern California board for five years until 2017 and earlier this year was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal Publication as one of The Most Outstanding Women in Construction & Design, and by Bisnow as one of LA's most influential women in the construction industry.
An active lifestyle is fun and beneficial especially when you are over 65, Michael Dorazio, Executive Director for Landon Ridge Alamo Ranch Independent Living.
In addition to announcing its sponsorship of the Texas Senior Games, Landon Ridge Alamo Ranch Senior Living invites the public to an open-house brunch Sunday, March 31, 2019. The event is at Landon Ridge Alamo Ranch Independent Living at 11300 Wild Pine from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
An active lifestyle is fun and beneficial especially when you are over 65, Michael Dorazio, Executive Director for Landon Ridge Alamo Ranch Independent Living. With our Texas Senior Games sponsorship, it important to stress the importance of senior health.
Landon Ridge Alamo Ranch amenities feature a fitness center, walking trails, wellness programs like dancing, weight training and even sit-and-stretch exercises that can help residents live a healthier life.
Tours of the Landon Ridge Alamo Ranch community, which features spacious cottages and apartments, resort-style amenities, fine dining and a 24-hour concierge, will be offered with the brunch. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to tour Landon Ridge Alamo Ranch Assisted Living and Memory Care at 11349 Alamo Ranch Parkway.
Please RSVP to Landon Ridge Alamo Ranch Independent Living at 210-816-4700 to reserve brunch seating or for a tour.
# # #
About Sagora Senior Living
Sagora Senior Living, based in Fort Worth, Texas, currently operates 39 retirement communities in five states, each with a unique focus on retirement lifestyle choices including independent living, assisted living, respite and memory care. The companys mission is to serve and celebrate the wisdom of their residents and family members by enriching their lives with a Resident First philosophy developed locally within each community. For more information about Sagora Senior Living, visit http://www.Sagora.com.
Our consistent AM Best A rating is a true testament to our financial stability and goal to protect dentists better than any other insurance company.
The Dentists Insurance Company has earned the AM Best A rating for the 25th consecutive year.
AM Best Company ratings include comparisons to peers and industry standards as well as assessments of operating plans, philosophy and management.
The A (Excellent) rating is a reflection of TDICs financial strength and its mission to provide the best insurance products and related services to more than 24,000 policyholders.
Our commitment to providing high quality service is the reason so many dentists trust us with their business, said Daniel Davidson, DMD, TDIC board chair. Our consistent AM Best A rating is a true testament to our financial stability and goal to protect dentists better than any other insurance company.
For nearly 40 years, TDIC has upheld its promise of protecting dentists and their practices by consistently reviewing trends, auditing service processes and evolving with changing markets and policyholders needs.
TDIC recently merged with Dentists Benefits Insurance Company and Northwest Dentists Insurance Company to extend its exceptional legacy and comprehensive suite of insurance products to policyholders in 15 states.
AM Best Company is a global credit rating agency with a unique focus on the insurance industry. Insurance professionals, brokers, regulators and consumers refer to Bests Credit Ratings as an opinion of the financial strength and creditworthiness of risk-bearing entities and investment vehicles.
For more information about The Dentists Insurance Company, visit http://www.tdicinsurance.com.
About The Dentists Insurance Company
Founded in 1980, The Dentists Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the California Dental Association, underwrites Professional Liability policies, Commercial Property, and Workers Compensation coverage exclusively for dentists. Rated A (Excellent) by AM Best Company, TDIC insures more than 24,000 customers and is endorsed by 10 state dental associations and societies. AM Best Company rating effective March 2019. For the latest rating, access http://www.ambest.com.
The Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, now in its 22nd year, is a four-day music festival coming Thursday, April 18th- Sunday, April 21st to The Orleans Hotel and Casino. VLV is the Longest Running Music Festival in Las Vegas and The Largest Rockabilly Event in the World, featuring bands and fans from over 30 countries around the globe who come to experience Rockabilly & Original 50s Music, a Classic Car Show, Burlesque, Vintage Fashion Show, Dance Lessons and Competition, Tiki Pool Parties, Swimsuit Contests, Burlesque Bingo, Pin-Up Beauty Academy, Pin-Up Contest, over 120 Vendors, a Bowling event, Tattoo Lounge and more. VLV annually attracts up to 20,000 of the most eye-catching, stylish, head-turning people you will ever see in one place.
Some of the biggest attractions this year include: The Reverend Horton Heat, Wanda Jackson and The Delta Bombers performing at the Car Show on Saturday, April 20. Filmmaker and comedian John Waters will host the VLV Burlesque Showcase Friday Apr 19 at 8 p.m. in the Orleans Arena.
The Viva Las Vegas Car Show is one of the largest classic car shows in North America, featuring 800 1,000 vintage cars, all pre-1964, as well as famous movie cars, the annual VLV Pin-up Contest, and 5 bands (including Linda Gail Lewis, Jerry Lee Lewis sister). One day tickets are available for the car show.
The Stars of Rockabilly and the Rock n Roll Stars shows are two of the most popular attractions for the fans, featuring legendary musical acts from the 50s, all in one place. No other festival puts together shows with as many original 50s acts as this! (Featuring Ray Campi (sometimes called The King of Rockabilly,) Billy Harlan, Don Woody, Freddy Cannon, The Majors, Sandy Nelson).
VLV has international Rockabilly bands coming to perform from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong and Russia, some of whom have never played the U.S.!
It all happens at The Orleans Hotel and Casino, 4500 West Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89103. Tickets are available for the event until they sell out. The Hi-Roller passes for the 4-day festival event have sold out in advance 11 years in a row. (Separate tickets are available for the Car Show.)
VLV works with several other hotels to provide discounts to accommodate the fans traveling from far and wide.
For all VLV Media Inquiries, contact alisha(at)vivalasvegas.net. Click here for all Press Releases.
Facebook / IG/ Website
Uptrust logo So many of these issues from housing, to financial hardship, to childcare, to FTAs are related. Its about tackling the problem earlier, before it gets worse, said Jacob Sills, founder of Uptrust.
Uptrust, a court reminder text message communication tool, has officially launched a partnership with the Tulsa Public Defenders Office (TCPD) and Family & Childrens Services (F&CS).
Uptrust, TCPD and F&CS will work together to connect TCPD with defendants via text message to remind them of their court and scheduled legal appointments while also connecting those in need with F&CS social services.
Many times, the underlying cause of a FTA is not because the client is a flight risk. Instead, most FTAs are the result of client challenges around transportation, child care issues, mental health support and addiction recovery needs that exacerbate legal violations and often result in unnecessary incarcerations. The technology partnership will reduce costs and taxpayer burden for Tulsa County by improving client/attorney communication.
So many of these issues from housing, to financial hardship, to childcare, to FTAs are related. Its about tackling the problem earlier, before it gets worse, said Jacob Sills, founder of Uptrust. We hope to replicate this partnerships mission and continue to seek ways to mitigate or even avoid unnecessary incarcerations, that this program allows us to focus on the root of the problem: what else may be going on in these defendants lives.
Uptrust helps reduce and even eliminate FTAs and bench warrants by helping law enforcement focus on their most impactful work. Local governments spend more than $9 billion on unnecessary pretrial incarceration, and an additional $1 billion issuing and enforcing FTAs. Further, bench warrants have been shown to become expensive and wasteful of both taxpayer and law enforcements time and funds.
We are excited to partner with F&CS to better serve our out of custody clients and reduce the failure to appear rate in Tulsa County. Uptrust has had great success in other jurisdictions and we are grateful to be able to introduce it here, said Tulsa County Public Defender Glen Blake.
To date, Uptrusts messaging system has reduced FTAs by more than 50 percent in certain jurisdictions, with 30 percent of users texting back to their attorney, continuing the correspondence. The platform provides a communication and reminder tool similar to many modern dentist or doctor appointments.
Family & Childrens Services is delighted to be working so closely with the Public Defenders office, helping individuals successfully exit the criminal justice system while supporting the need for longer term sustainability. Connecting individuals to housing, employment, transportation and child care strengthens families for more successful outcomes, said F&CS Women in Recovery Chief Program Officer Mimi Tarrasch.
Partially funded by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, TCPD is one of 12 jurisdictions joining the Safety and Justice Challenge, a national $148 million initiative to reduce over-incarceration by changing the way America thinks about and uses jails.
###
About Uptrust
Uptrust is a text message-based communication and engagement tool helping defendants arrive at court for their scheduled hearings and other mandatory appointments. By improving the relationship between the criminal justice system and defendants, Uptrust has proved to keep low-income defendants out of jail on bench warrants and technical violations, while also saving attorneys time and reducing the cost to the municipality or county. Uptrust currently is contracted with more than 15 public defender offices around the US, and reaches over 100,000 defendants. Uptrust is a public benefit corporation supported by the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, RFK Human Rights and the Heising-Simons Foundation; it has offices in San Francisco, CA and Northampton, MA. To learn more about Uptrust, visit http://www.Uptrust.co.
About Tulsa County Public Defenders Office
The Tulsa County Public Defenders Office is tasked with protecting the rights of indigent criminal defendants in Tulsa County. The agency, which includes 43 attorneys, handles around 9,000 criminal cases a year, including over 1,500 probation revocations and accelerations per year. The Public Defenders office mission is to achieve the best possible results for the individual based upon the unique circumstances of each clients life.
About Family & Childrens Services
For nearly a century, Family & Childrens Services has been the place to turn for help with problems that seem overwhelming and too difficult to handle alone. The agency restores childrens well-being, heals victims of abuse, strengthens individuals and families, and provides hope and recovery for adults suffering from mental illness and addictions. Today, its life-changing services help one in six Tulsans.
About the MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the worlds most pressing social challenges, including over-incarceration, global climate change, nuclear risk, and significantly increasing financial capital for the social sector. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsible and responsive democracy, as well as the strength and vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. More information about the Foundations criminal justice reform work can be found at http://www.macfound.org/criminaljustice.
Francis By approximately two months after the stem cell therapy, Francis symptoms were reduced and only 'mildly problematic.'
A leader in the field of Regenerative Veterinary Medicine, VetStem Biopharma has been providing autologous adipose-derived stem cell services to veterinarians across the United States and Canada since 2004. The primary indications for VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy are osteoarthritis as well as bone and soft tissue injuries in the dog, cat, and horse. Recently, VetStem teamed up with the world-renowned San Diego Zoo to provide stem cell therapy for an arthritic sun bear named Francis.
In September 2018, VetStem CEO, Dr. Bob Harman, alongside local veterinary surgeon, Dr. Holly Mullen of VCA Emergency Animal Hospital and Referral Center, assisted San Diego Zoo senior veterinarian, Dr. Deena Brenner, to provide stem cell therapy for Francis. According to an article released in the March 2019 issue of ZooNooz, a San Diego Zoo publication, Francis is a 21-year-old sun bear who was diagnosed with arthritis in multiple joints. The worst of Francis arthritis was in his elbows and hips, which helped to explain why he was increasingly stiff and moving slower.
Dr. Holly Mullen, a VetStem-credentialed veterinarian who has been providing VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy for over ten years, lent her expertise by administering Francis stem cell injections into his arthritic joints and also intravenously. After careful observation by several members of the Zoo staff, it was noted that Francis stiffness, gait, and activity level began to improve. By approximately two months after the stem cell therapy, Francis symptoms were reduced and only mildly problematic. In a 90-day follow up evaluation, it was reported that Francis continues to do well.
Vetstem founder and CEO, Dr Bob Harman, has authored several articles about the benefits of stem cell therapy. He also co-wrote a chapter on stem cell therapy for zoo animals with San Diego Zoo Safari Park veterinarian, Dr. Matthew Kinney, in the 9th edition of Fowlers Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine Current Therapy. Though mesenchymal stem cell use in zoological medicine is in its infancy, successful cases like Francis help to broaden the potential applications of stem cell use as a therapeutic modality to improve the health of all animals.
About VetStem Biopharma, Inc.
VetStem Biopharma is a veterinarian-led Company that was formed in 2002 to bring regenerative medicine to the profession. This privately held biopharmaceutical enterprise, based near San Diego, California, currently offers veterinarians an autologous stem cell processing service (from patients own fat tissue) among other regenerative modalities. With a unique expertise acquired over the past 15 years and 17,000 treatments by veterinarians for joint, tendon or ligament issues, VetStem has made regenerative medicine applications a therapeutic reality. The VetStem team is focused on developing new clinically practical and affordable veterinary solutions that leverage the natural restorative abilities present in all living creatures. In addition to its own portfolio of patents, VetStem holds exclusive global veterinary licenses to a large portfolio of issued patents in the field of regenerative medicine.
"The students put in a lot of work making their videos, and had a lot of fun too. This years voter turnout is expected to be larger than ever," said Eric Joseph Esoda, President/CEO of NEPIRC.
Public voting polls for northeastern Pennsylvanias Whats So Cool About Manufacturing? (WSCM) Student Video Contest will open Wednesday, March 27, 12:01 am and run until Friday March 29, 11:59 pm on the http://www.whatssocool.org website. Everyone throughout the northeastern Pennsylvania community is welcome and encouraged to vote.
The video with the most votes will receive the Viewers Choice Award. The videos will also be reviewed by a panel of judges for awards in five other categories, including Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Educational Value.
"The students put in a lot of work making their videos, and had a lot of fun too. This years voter turnout is expected to be larger than ever," said Eric Joseph Esoda, President/CEO of NEPIRC. The program promotes STEM education and gives students a new perspective for opportunities in manufacturing careers, and I think it benefits students and manufacturers alike to see modern manufacturing through young students eyes.
Presented by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC), the WSCM Student Video Contest, gives 8th grade students in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties the opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers, discover what is "cool" about todays manufacturing industry and record their experiences through documentary video production. The students are able to gain new perspectives and experiences then present them in an educational way. The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students toward considering manufacturing career paths to create a 21st century workforce.
Partnering with NEPIRC for the project are Manufacturers Resource Center, eMediaWorks, Sahl Communications, Inc., the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, Lackawanna College, and NEPIRCs Board of Directors.
Educational resources, student camera kits, professional media training from eMediaWorks, student training materials and other project costs were funded by a number of local sponsors, including a generous donation from the PPL Foundation.
Platinum level sponsors include the PPL Foundation, the Lackawanna Workforce Investment Board and the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development. Educational sponsors include Keystone College and Luzerne County Community College. LPL Financial is the contests Silver level sponsor this year. Strategic partners include eMediaWorks and Sahl Communications, Inc.
For more information visit http://www.WhatsSoCool.org, https://facebook.com/WSCMNE and https://twitter.com/wscmne
About Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC):
NEPIRC is a not-for-profit organization that has been providing world-class professional services exclusively to manufacturers throughout northeastern and northern Pennsylvania since 1988. NEPIRC works with manufacturing clients on consultative engagements designed to address their unique challenges and maximize their profitability. NEPIRC promotes manufacturing in the region and helps small and medium-sized manufacturers generate business results in today's technology-driven economy. NEPIRC is committed to providing solutions to the region's emerging need for workforce development strategies that support manufacturing now and in the future.
About Whats So Cool About Manufacturing?:
Developed by Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), the WSCM program is a video based educational tool that increases awareness of career paths in manufacturing. MRC developed this innovative career awareness program which at its core is "peer marketing" (kids telling kids what's so cool about manufacturing jobs). The contest is showcased on the What's So Cool Website, https://www.whatssocool.org and shared nationally through the Manufacturing Institute and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership platforms. The contest is expanding across the Commonwealth and the country. Inside Pennsylvania there will be 15 regions conducting contests this year. This contest gives students the opportunity to connect with local manufacturers, document their experiences and present them in an educational and cool way. The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students towards manufacturing career paths and STEM education.
Elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea, member, Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP Without any written plan whatsoever, your intended wishes as to whom will receive your estate and handle your affairs can easily go by the wayside.
According to a new study released earlier this month by Age Wave and Merrill Lynch, nearly half of Americans over 55 have not created a last will and testament and fewer still have executed a healthcare proxy and/or durable power of attorney. Westchester elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea, member at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP in White Plains and Somers, N.Y., recently shed light on the importance of last wills and advance directives including the potential negative implications that can be avoided once they are in effect.
A last will and testament allows an individual to specify how (and to whom) their assets are to be distributed after they pass away. While a last will does not control jointly held assets, if a spouse passes away with assets in his or her name alone and no named beneficiary, the lack of a last will can have significant negative consequences. Mr. Enea believes that every adult, whether they are married, single, have children, or dont have children, can benefit from executing a last will and testament.
Without any written plan whatsoever, your intended wishes as to whom will receive your estate and handle your affairs can easily go by the wayside, said Mr. Enea, who has spent the past three decades protecting the rights of seniors, the disabled and their families. In the absence of a last will and/or trust, the laws governing intestate distribution (not your wishes) will control the outcome of your estate and virtually anyone can apply to be the estates administrator.
The new study, Leaving a Legacy: A Lasting Gift to Loved Ones, revealed that among those age 55 and older, only 55 percent had executed a last will and a mere 18 percent have a last will, durable power of attorney and healthcare proxy in place.
All power of attorneys are not created equal and, unfortunately, this document is all too often an afterthought in many estate and long term care plans, noted Mr. Enea. The most frequently seen problem with a standard short form durable power of attorney form is its lack of broad gifting powers. This prevents the agent from making transfers to protect the assets of a principal that has become disabled or taken ill. In the absence of broad powers, the incapacitated person's family must often commence a guardianship proceeding with the court to obtain the powers to make the necessary transfer. It is an expensive and time-consuming procedure.
Enea continued, Regarding your healthcare proxy, its important to ensure that you only have one named agent and alternate agent. All too often the proxy is executed with two named agents, which is not legally permitted in New York. Your agent should also know your specific wishes regarding your health care and end of life in case you are no longer able to make these decisions.
A strong leader in Westchesters legal community, Mr. Enea is chair of the New York State Bar Associations Senior Lawyers Section and president of the Westchester County Bar Foundation. He was named Westchester Countys Leading Elder Care Attorney at the Above the Bar Awards and Best Lawyers 2019 Trusts & Estates Lawyer of the Year in White Plains. A past chair of the New York State Bar Associations Elder Law Section, Mr. Eneas practice areas include elder law; Medicaid asset protection trusts; Medicaid applications (home care and nursing home); special needs planning; guardianships (Article 81 and 17-A); and wills, trusts and estates.
Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, N.Y. with additional offices in Somers, N.Y. Elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea can be reached at 914-948-1500 or a.enea@esslawfirm.com. For the latest news, visit Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano online at http://www.esslawfirm.com.
About Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP
Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is an AV preeminent rated elder law firm with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y. The practice concentrates on Elder Law; Medicaid Planning; Nursing Home and Home Care Applications; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Guardianships; Estate Litigation; Supplemental Needs Trusts; and Special Needs Planning. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Queens and is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to seniors, the disabled and their families. Visit the firm online at http://www.esslawfirm.com.
During a check presentation ceremony, Potomac Edison awarded Frederick County YMCA with $1,875 in incentives for energy-efficient upgrades.
The check was presented to the YMCA by Potomac Edisons Energy Solutions for Business Program for its installation of lighting improvements above the swimming pool. The project included the retrofitting of fluorescent high-bay lighting to LED vapor tight high-bay lighting.
The upgrades are expected to save the YMCA more than 2,900 kWh, which is equivalent to the energy used to charge 261,494 smartphones or to power the average Maryland home for more than nine months.
Potomac Edisons Energy Solutions for Business Program offers rebates to Maryland commercial and industrial customers for qualified upgrades to more energy-efficient lighting, which not only helps save energy but also provides longer lasting, brighter and significantly less maintenance than traditional lighting.
Fixing lights above a pool is challenging and dangerous, said Tim Dunn, Vice President of Facilities and Information Technology for the YMCA of Frederick County. The corrosive environment causes lamps to burn out faster and need to be changed more often. With incentives from Potomac Edison, the YMCA was able to make improvements with the help of Catoctin Lighting, resulting in lower maintenance fixtures and therefore fewer lamps to change.
And the benefits go beyond decreased maintenance. Improved pool lighting increases the visibility and safety of the pool area. It enhances contrast and highlights transitions between the pool and decks, walkways, stairs and other hard-to-see places. The result is a safer, more accessible environment for the YMCA community.
We have been working with the YMCA for over ten years and have had the opportunity to work with Tim and his team on many energy-saving lighting projects, said Jim Richards, President of Catoctin Lighting Services. We specified and supplied the LED fixtures and submitted the rebate paperwork on their behalf.
About Potomac Edison
Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., serves about 270,000 customers in seven Maryland counties and about 140,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at potomacedison.com, on Twitter @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at facebook.com/PotomacEdison.
EmPOWER Maryland programs are funded by a charge on your energy bill. EmPOWER programs can help you reduce your energy consumption and save you money. To learn more about EmPOWER and how you can participate, go to energysaveMD.com.
If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity.
PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move.
Some scientists are truly extraordinary mentors. Take, for example, professor Charlotta Turner, a chemist at Lund University in Sweden, who in 2014 received a text from her Ph.D. student telling her that he might not finish his thesis in time. When she learned that her student, Firas Jumaah, was in fact hiding with his family in an Iraqi factory as armed members of the Islamic State group roamed the streets outside, she leapt into action and worked with the universitys security chair to arrange a daring rescue operation.
But for every heroic mentor, there are just as many horror stories about bad ones. Unfortunately, most mentors dont always have the tools or training to provide the proper support to their mentees (and, unfortunately, some just dont care).
One way to address this issue is by learning the science behind great mentoring, as Jay and colleagues discussed on a panel recently. Instead of relying solely on personal anecdotes or their own gut intuitions, the panelists described theories and research on how to manage the most important relationship in science: the one between a mentor and mentee. Here, we share three lessons from that event.
Becoming a better mentor should be a central concern for new faculty members starting their own labs, but also for graduate students and postdocs mentoring research assistantsand even for more senior faculty members who are continually striving to improve their mentoring. Our capacity for growth as mentors is a lifelong journey.
Read the whole story: Science
The Society of Experimental Psychologists has awarded its most prestigious honors to APS William James Fellows Nora Newcombe and Linda B. Smith in recognition of their pioneering achievements in experimental psychology.
Newcombe, editor of Psychological Science in the Public Interest and a professor of psychology at Temple University has received the 2019 Howard Crosby Warren Medal for her distinguished research contributions on fundamental aspects of cognition and development, with emphasis on spatial cognition and the development of memory. The Howard Crosby Warren Medal recognizes outstanding achievement in experimental psychology, and was the first major award in American psychology when it was established in 1936. She received APSs highest honor, the William James Fellow award, in 2014, in recognition of her lifetime of contributions to basic science.
Her highly influential research on the development of spatial cognition has demonstrated how both children and adults can improve these skills through training and play, and that some of these abilities, such as using maps, develop even earlier than once thought. Newcombes adaptive combination model of the development of spatial cognition has shed light on how information sources are combined through psychological mechanisms that prioritize sources based on their potential usefulness.
In the realm of memory research, Newcombe has proposed that the hippocampal maturation necessary to support explicit episodic memory may not occur until around 2 years of age. Later in life, this early absence of specific memories may then lead to infantile amnesia, a phenomena in which our earliest memories become impossible to retrieve as older children and adults.
In 2014, Newcombe presented her neoconstructivist approach to cognitive development as part of her APS William James Fellow Award Address at the 26th Annual APS Convention in San Francisco.
Linda B. Smith, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at Indiana University, Bloomington, has received SEPs 2019 Norman Anderson Lifetime Achievement Award for her groundbreaking theoretical and empirical work on cognitive development, including comprehensive theories based on dynamic systems, and how the infants natural predispositions and visual world interact to guide object name learning. She is a 2018 recipient of the APS William James Fellow award.
Her model of perceptual classification has provided an essential framework for conceptualizing the developmental shift from the tendency to classify objects by overall similarity as very young children to classifying objects using identical dimensional identities such as color, size, or shape alone as adults. Smith and collaborated with developmental scientist Esther Thelen to establish a dynamic systems theory of early human development. This theory draws on a mathematical approach to the study of change to link the processes of exploration and selection to the development of self-organizing perception-action categories.
Smiths work on the shape bias in young children has also significantly advanced psychological sciences understanding of language acquisition. Her research in this area has demonstrated that children of 2 to 3 years in age will extend a novel name for one object to other objects of the same shape for example, tractor to John Deeres, ride-on mowers, and antiques regardless of variation in texture and size. This and other mechanisms support childrens ability to learn large numbers of words very quickly.
Most recently, Smith has been using head-mounted cameras and eye trackers to study how infants view of the world contributes to cognitive and visual development. Her studies in this area link vision and machine learning, and are among the first to connect infants unique visual environment to object name learning.
Smith spoke on the relationship between infant and machine learning during her APS William James Fellow Award Address at the 30th APS Annual Convention in San Francisco in 2018. She was also a keynote speaker at the 2017 International Convention of Psychological Science in Vienna, where she highlighted the intersection of object identification and linguistic learning in children.
Established in 1904 by the British psychologist Edward Bradford Titchener, the Society of Experimental Psychologists, SEP is the oldest, most prestigious honor society dedicated exclusively to psychology. The societys purpose is to honor its members and gather for annual research presentations by its fellows. SEP membership, currently totaling 220 individuals, is by invitation only.
References
Newcombe, N. S., Drummey, A. B., Fox, N. A., Lie, E., & Ottinger-Alberts, W. (2000). Remembering Early Childhood. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9(2), 55-58. doi:10.1111/1467-8721.00060
Smith, L. B. (1989). A model of perceptual classification in children and adults. Psychological Review, 96(1), 125-144. doi:10.1037//0033-295x.96.1.125
Citing Californias anti-SLAPP laws, lawyers for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the groups executive director Lin Oliver will seek to have a defamation suit filed against them by Thirteen Reasons Why author Jay Asher thrown out.
In a motion shared with PW this week, lawyers for the defendants argue that Asher cannot establish a probability of success on the merits, and that as a public figure, his complaint should be stricken under Californias robust anti-SLAPP statute. Anti-SLAPP laws are designed to protect against lawsuits (known as SLAPPsStrategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) that would otherwise chill free speech and coerce parties into remaining silent.
In addition, lawyers argue that Caifornia's anti-SLAPP statute essentially "requires" that Asher be ordered to pay the defendants' legal fees and costs. "SCBWI and Ms. Oliver have been forced to respond to Plaintiffs meritless Complaint by filing this anti-SLAPP motion, thereby incurring significant attorney's fees."
Accused by several women of sexual harassment last year, Asher steadfastly denied the charges and in January filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that Oliver and SCBWI made "false and defamatory statements about him that unfairly damaged his reputation and career." Asher is seeking monetary damages for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In seeking to strike Ashers complaint, however, attorneys for Oliver and SCBWI argue that since Asher cant show that any of the defendants statements were extreme or outrageous or "intended to inflict emotional distress," he is unlikely to prevail.
In response to serious allegations in the children's publishing industry and against Plaintiff specifically during the height of the #MeToo movement, SCBWI and Ms. Oliver acted in a careful and measured manner to address the issues facing them, the motion states. Plaintiff seeks to blame SCBWI and Ms. Oliver for the negative fallout caused by his own bad decisions and poor behavior. No evidence Plaintiff will be able to produce will show that any emotional distress he claims to be suffering is anybody's fault but his own.
In the filing, attorneys for Oliver and SCBWI informed the court that they plan to make their motion to dismiss in an appearance scheduled for April 23.
In a statement to PW, Asher's attorney, Patrick L. Fisher, said the defendants' motion to strike the suit was routine, and without merit.
We hope the judge allows us to prove to a jury that SCBWI knowingly issued false statements to the media. There was no allegation, investigation, or finding that Mr. Asher violated SCBWIs code of conduct. An investigation would have shown these relationships were between consenting adults that Mr. Asher had no power over and did not harass. An investigation would have shown this to be a continuation of vindictive harassment Mr. Asher has been subjected to for a decade. SCBWI used its status to greatly damage the reputation of one of the countrys leading young adult authors, someone who spent his entire career standing up for victims and fighting harassment."
Asher, through his attorney, also responded to the filing. I repeatedly tried to get Lin Oliver to set the record straight. I provided her with witnesses who could refute the allegations, but she refused to contact them. I offered proof with emails, texts, and a polygraph test, but she refused to investigate. Instead, she relied on anonymous and contradictory claims. This left me no choice other than filing a lawsuit to set the record straight.
This story has been updated to include statements from Jay Asher, and his attorney.
After some five years of contentious debate and negotiation, the European Parliament today voted to approve a sweeping copyright reform bill supported by publishers and media companies, but which critics say could harm free expression online and fundamentally alter the way the internet works.
By a 348 to 278 margin, MEPs approved a final version of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, including two controversial provisions: Article 11, which will require web aggregators (like Google News) to negotiate with media companies for sharing snippets of their works; and Article 13, which observers say will require web platforms hosting user-generated content to filter uploads for intellectual property violations.
In a joint statement on the EU web site, Andrus Ansip, v-p for the digital single market and Mariya Gabriel, commissioner for digital economy and society, welcomed the outcome. Today's vote ensures the right balance between the interests of all playersusers, creators, authors, presswhile putting in place proportionate obligations on online platforms, the statement reads, claiming that the copyright revision will still protect free expression online while improving the position of creators in their negotiations with big platforms which largely benefit from their content.
In a separate statement, Rudy Vanschoonbeek, president of the Federation of European Publishers, also praised the votes outcome. This Directive, the most hotly contested I have ever seen, will modernize copyright and bring certainty to stakeholders in a number of important areas, Vanschoonbeek said. The FEP represents 29 national publisher associations in Europe.
In recent weeks, the years-long battle over the directive had become eerily reminiscent of the SOPA/PIPA battle in the U.S. in 2011 and 2012, with tech companies and the public lining up against the EU directive, and publishers and news organizations supporting it.
More than 240 media groups had signed a letter of support for the EU Directive. Companies like Google, on the other hand, as well as organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation were lined up against it. "We understand that laws need to be updated and adapted for the internet age," reads a Google press release. "However, the proposed EU Copyright Directive may have unintended consequences that could limit the variety of information available online."
'The proposed EU Copyright Directive may have unintended consequences that could limit the variety of information available online...'
Meanwhile, with EU elections coming up in May, the measure is unpopular with voters. More than five million signed an online petition against the directive, with thousands of protesters taking to the streets last weekend to pressure lawmakers to vote no on the directive. In addition, a number of popular internet services, including Reddit and Wikipedia, went dark last week in protest.
"Despite what EU lawmakers believe, we dont live in a world where a few large rights holders control the copyright of the majority of creative works," argued Cory Doctorow, one of the directive's staunchest opponents, especially articles 11 and 13, on the EFF web site. "Every Internet user is a potential rightsholder. All three billion of them. Article 13 doesn't just require online services to police the copyrights of a few giant media companies; it covers everyone, meaning that a small forum for dog fanciers would have to show it had made 'best efforts' to license photos from other dog fancier forums that their own users might reportevery copyright holder is covered by Article 13."
Despite the vote to approve the copyright revision, the battle is not over. The measure will next get a vote in the coming weeks before the Council of the European Union, though observers say passage there is not in doubt. And as a directive (rather than a regulation) each EU member state will then have two years to rewrite their own national laws to comply with the directivea prospect that could still prove contentious in some member states.
LITHUANIA: Following a competitive tender, national railway Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai has awarded Skinest Rail subsidiary Vitras-S a contract worth 938m plus VAT to reinstate the line connecting Mazeikiai with Renge in Latvia, which had been closed in controversial circumstances.
RUSSIA: A framework agreement for the development of a suburban rail network in Krasnodar was signed by Russian Railways Chief Executive Oleg Belozerov and regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev on March 12.
SAUDI ARABIA: Testing company TUV Rheinland has handed over the Independent Competent Person certificate for Saudi Railway Cos ETCS Level 2 deployment on the NorthSouth Railway, completing formal acceptance by the national Public Transport Authority.
Bahrain plans to provide commercial 5G services by June, subject to availability of consumer handsets and equipment, the government has announced.
Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Bahrains minister of transportation and telecommunications, said preparations for the rollout of the kingdoms 5G networks are now complete. The regulator will allocate licenses and spectrum by the middle of April, he added.5G technology will enable a greater volume of data transmission at higher speeds, supporting interactive technologies like virtual reality and fuelling the growth of 4K video streaming and high-end gaming.Our leadership in 5G reflects Bahrains appetite for innovation and sends a signal to the world that we can be a test-bed for some of the most transformative technologies. There were a lot of hurdles along the way ensuring spectrum availability as soon as possible was a big challenge, but overcoming these obstacles exemplifies the support and cooperation amongst all stakeholders in Bahrain and demonstrates how Bahrain can move quickly, deliver enormous progress against an accelerated timeframe, and be a partner to technology leaders, said the minister.VIVA Bahrain, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabias STC, last month signed an agreement to use Huawei products in its 5G network. Ericsson has partnered Bahrains state owned operator Batelco on its 5G network, while the Gulf island nations third telecom group Zain Bahrain is yet to announce a 5G technology provider.Commercial trials for 5G technology in Bahrain were held in June 2018.Bahrain joins the UAE Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the race to launch 5G services in the Gulf. Worldwide, South Korea , China, Japan and the US are also starting to roll out their 5G networks.
While not yet a clear success or failure, Trumps America First foreign policy so far has not achieved the pillars of the administrations initial security strategy advancing American Influence. So finds a 2019 Rating World Leaders survey from Gallup, which found median global approval of U.S. leadership stood at 31 percent at the end of 2018, only a one-point improvement from 2017, when it was at a record low of 30 percent.
President Trumps bellicosity in his speeches and on Twitter has caused many abroad to dislike him and, by extension, the United States. But there has been one notable exception in world opinion: Asked whether they approve or disapprove of the job performance of the leadership of the United States, South Korean respondents gave Gallup more positive answers from 2017 to 2018, up from 39 percent approval to 44 percent. It is difficult to imagine this burst of positive sentiment is unconnected to Trumps diplomacy with North Korea. Trumps instinct for restraint and his campaign promise of no more nation building is popular when it successfully influences U.S. policy.
After an exchange of threats between the U.S. and North Korea in 2017, South Korean outreach resulted in joint-Korean cooperation in the February 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Shortly after, Washington changed course and began engaging with Pyongyang as well, progress that culminated in the historic meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June 2018. This attempt at building a peace regime was a vast improvement over previous spiraling escalation, so it is no wonder a plurality of South Koreans supported U.S. leadership and were hopeful for further progress at the second Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi. Although that most recent summit ended without a comprehensive deal, both sides left the door open to future diplomacy and seemed to understand deterrence will keep the peace.
It should be evident that diplomacy is better than threats, but that is not always clear to Washington's foreign policymakers. U.S. administrations have traditionally worked to convince North Korea to give up all its nuclear weapons even though Pyongyang has no reason to do so. Each administration has used sticks and carrots, but Kim will never give up its only deterrence against being forced out of power the way Iraq's Saddam Hussein or Libya's Muammar Al-Gaddafi were toppled and executed with U.S. help.
That is not surprising, as the desire to eliminate hostile foreign governments by force has long been a bipartisan temptation. The list of regimes the U.S. has attempted to overthrow is long and includes Iran, Guatemala, Congo, Cuba, Chile, and more. Open-ended wars of choicemost notably the Vietnam War and the 2003 invasion of Iraqare too common in American history and have been tremendously costly in lives and treasure. The administrations of former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama also all considered military strikes on North Korea specifically, though they ultimately decided against it.
The United States has many areas for leadership improvement, but the Trump administration is right when it understands that Americans do not want multiple wars that span several generations. For instance, The Eurasia Group Foundation polled Americans, asking them how in general Peace is best achieved and sustained. Only 18.1 percent supported maintaining overwhelming strength and deploying it and even then only when America is attacked, or our vital interests are compromised by another power." These conflicts do not serve U.S. interests and harm our image abroad. The White House must continually refuse the hubris and temptation that come with commanding the world's mightiest military. A return to talk of preemptive strikes or a bloody nose attack on North Korea would be a grave mistake.
A more diplomatic course is wiserand it would be more popular, too. Even when tensions reached new heights in 2017, world opinion, in general, was supportive of diplomacy to deal with North Korea. Gallup International conducted a snap poll between September 20 and October 1, 2017, which asked respondents about two options: "continue to try to reach a peaceful diplomatic solution" or "a peaceful diplomatic solution is not working; a military one is needed." Of the fourteen countries surveyed, on median 83.5 percent wanted diplomacy and just 16.5 percent favored using force. Crucially, 75 percent of Americans and 66 percent of South Koreans backed a peaceful solution.
Trump succeeds when he chooses restraint instead of conflict and peace over continuing decades-long wars. In dealing with North Korea, he should double down on that instinct and listen to the American and South Korean people.
John Dale Grover is a fellow with Defense Priorities and a writer for Young Voices. He is also assistant managing editor at The National Interest. His articles have appeared in The Diplomat, The Hill, Forbes, and the American Conservative.
The first several months of 2019 have seen several notable developments in the areas of national security in space and strategic defense areas that are becoming inextricably linked, and of increasingly vital importance to the U.S.
In early January, China landed its Chang'e-4 lander and rover on the far side of the Moon a notable accomplishment with considerable technological implications. In late February, the adversarial states of India and Pakistan engaged in cross-border hostilities a startling situation given the nuclear stakes involved. The Hanoi summit with North Korea in February concluded with President Trump walking from negotiations over the disagreement on denuclearization terms. And recently in March, Turkey seems poised to purchase several Russian S-400 missiles a move that could further complicate U.S.-Turkish relations, and perhaps impact U.S. geopolitical interests more broadly.
Amidst the unfolding of these events, the U.S. government produced two important documents the timing of which couldnt be more appropriate considering current trends in space and strategic defense. In January, the Department of Defense released its 2019 Missile Defense Review followed shortly thereafter in February with the Defense Intelligence Agencys report entitled Challenges to Security in Space. The Missile Defense Review broadly lays out the DoD policy vision and challenges in missile defense, while DIAs report provides an unclassified assessment of key concerns, threats, and issues regarding security in space.
Two things are key to take away from both documents. Number one is the alarming technological pace of peer competitors in designing, testing and fielding their strategic defense and space capabilities. Clearly, Chinas space and strategic efforts stand out, exemplified by head-turning achievements like their new Moon Lander.
Number two is the growing imperative to plan, develop and test platforms and counter-measures that effectively and accurately address the realities of space security and strategic defense in the 21st Century. Where success in a real-life scenario or circumstance is dependent on effective testing and preparation, that advance work is most productive when it is realistic, accurate and relevant to the actual effort being addressed. For those who have served in a military uniform, it is why timeless aphorisms like The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat or Train like you fight not only resonate, but serve an important purpose. For those whove played organized sports, it may simply be Practice how you play. From a strategic defense perspective, the appropriate phase may be test to the threat.
Nowhere is the need to test more effectively, and more accurately, more critical than in the area of missile defense. Simply, it is imperative that the U.S. continues to conduct missile defense testing in a way that while perhaps unconventional uses models, vehicles and targets that accurately mimic the capabilities actually being developed and operationalized by our adversaries. For example, targets should be used that as best as technology, capacity and cost can replicate incorporate the same physics of flight, the same signatures, the same profiles, size, and characteristics as those either being developed or used by our adversaries.
Not only are space and strategic defense issues becoming more closely intertwined, but they are also marked by a heightened dynamism, accelerated development, a revolution in innovation, and a renaissance in risk. All of this necessitates new, adaptive, and flexible thinking about how to anticipate, match and hopefully overmatch our opponents.
With peer competitors and hostile states quickly building and buying everything from hypersonic missiles to space-based systems to disable our defenses the need to answer their capabilities with accurate and frequent testing is pressing. In fact, the 2019 Missile Defense Review highlighting the intents and approach of the Missile Defense Agency recognizes this imperative and makes these points abundantly clear:
Given the worsening missile threat environment, DoD must prioritize speed of delivery, continuous adaptation, and deliver enhanced performance at the speed of relevance. To do so, DoD must adopt processes and cultures that enable MDA and the Services to streamline and refine acquisition processes, ensure flexibility in the development, testing, and fielding of missile defense, and swiftly adapt systems once fielded.
DoD and MDA will pursue a rigorous test program that enables us to counter evolving offensive missile threats, to include increasing the frequency of test events given the speed of adversary innovation.
Moreover, accurately and frequently testing against threats as they currently exist in form (and as our adversaries are actually designing them) may be the critical factor in effectively preparing for, and ultimately preventing, a hostile strategic strike against the U.S. In balancing requirements and capabilities with limited resources, the burgeoning commercial launch industry may offer ways to achieve greater frequency of missile defense tests that provide a more precise modeling of the threat.
The fundamental lesson is clear: preparation be it training, war-gaming, simulation or testing should be conducted in a way that closely matches the real event. In the context of strategic national security, if we as a Nation are going to spend precious resources on fielding the best capabilities to challenge our competitors whether in space or on missile defense we should encourage and continue the use of technologies that most closely simulate the platforms of our adversaries. To put it another way we need to test to the threat our national security depends on it.
Steve Mosteiro is a former strategic planner, policy analyst and missile defense expert with the U.S. Office of Secretary of Defense and the Office of Secretary of the Air Force.
Serving in the military is both an honor and a service to those who volunteer in this great country of the United States of America. Many potential volunteers are disqualified for various reasons. Thus the reason for my letter, I am a twenty-five-year-old man with a four-year college degree in history from Stony Brook University with high functioning autism. I have been rejected by the U.S. Army three times outright just from disclosing my diagnosis. I was also rejected by the U.S. Marine Corps twice after disclosing my medical records. I was never given the opportunity to take the ASVAB nor was I given an opportunity to appeal the decision.
This is a personal fight for me, but this is also a fight for other people with high functioning autism. For far too long our right to serve and fight has been denied on the grounds of our disorder, but we are so much more than that. We have served before, and we continue to serve beneath the radar. I was even told by one of my recruiters to hide my diagnosis by not mentioning it. This is wrong as, just like in the case of ethnic minorities and LGBT service members before us, we shouldn't have to hide whom we are when serving.
That is why Im asking the U.S. Government and Military to make high functioning autism a waiverable condition for military service. This waiver won't cover all people on the autism spectrum nor should it because Autism is a spectrum disorder. Functioning varies widely, from totally non-verbal to highly qualified and fully functioning individuals. The waiver would include individuals with Aspergers and other high functioning autistic people that dont have any sensory difficulties and those who dont need help in the past year in special education at school. The Medical Standards for appointment, enlistment, or induction into the military Services or DODINST 6130.03 along with DOD Directive 5124.02, establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for physical and medical standards for appointment, enlistment, or induction into the Military Services. Is this waiver policy "Autism" under the category of learning, psychiatric and behavioral disorders? DODINST 6130.03 doesnt differentiate between the levels of Autism. It just says Autism Spectrum Disorder.[i][ii]
Openly allowing those with autism to serve would raise standing for those in the autism community. Autism rates are currently at one in forty births in the USA, and the rates are even increasing. Just because you have Autism does not mean you don't have the desire to fight and serve for your country. There are also people with Autism that have served in the past successfully and even serve now. The rate of autistics that serve and have served may be higher than we think. There is one article where there are three veterans with autism, one in Korea, one in Vietnam, and one an Air Force Academy graduate. In these cases, they have served successfully with little problems.[iii] Some nations such as Israel already allow those with high functioning autism to enlist. I've included an article from Washington DC-based newspaper, The Atlantic about an Israel Defense Forces unit of teenagers with high functioning autism.[iv]There are a lot of patriotic autistic people out there who would like to contribute to their country by serving, and we need to recognize that. With autism rates at one in sixty-eight people and growing, we are a large portion of the population. It seems unjust that so many people who are willing to serve are not being given a chance.
Autism can indeed bring many advantages to the table. One veteran with autism, Jason Meade, was a Machinist Mate in a nuclear submarine in the U.S. Navy from 1997 to 2003. He said during this time the Navy provided him with a good routine and he was good at his job. Submarine maintenance is where Meade excelled. Communication issues aside, the navy had pretty standard communication that helped him in his job. Another one D (name withheld for privacy reasons) is currently serving as a combat medic in the Alabama Army National Guard. He said his single focus helps him with his job. He is able to form a strong understanding within the medical community of his group. D even attests that they make wonderful carriers but often have to mask their struggles. These two individuals I interviewed were able to adjust to the strict discipline of military life and considered their service as something positive and rewarding they did in their life. From what they told me I felt more encouraged to fulfill this task.
I realize that not everybody wants to serve in the military, even those with autism. I also recognize that military service is voluntary for everyone. However, that person with autism probably knows themselves better than anybody else and knows what they are capable of in the world. It is personally frustrating to be evaluated every day because of your disability. I know that I am not alone in feeling this way. I have read an article about an Army medic with autism that gave his life for our freedom in Afghanistan. Included is the web address.[v]
I feel the need to pioneer and fight for those who dont have a voice. Individuals with autism need legislative support to get this ball rolling. My role in this letter is to act as a spokesman and voice for those that have been beaten down before me. My passion is that I will be able to serve openly as a military man that just happens to have autism. Why blanket discount a whole group of people who could do well in the military. Autism is called a spectrum for a reason, and there are different levels to autism, we're talking about the high functioning one. We are also talking about the ones who are making a conscious choice and know what they are doing. We are not being tricked, and we know what joining the military entails.
I have served in the New York State Guard for the past three years, and continue to serve. The NY State Guard or just NY Guard is the unpaid, volunteer, auxiliary defense force of the state of New York. I have been through boot camp, and I understand the pressures such as PT and being yelled at by drill instructors. I made it through the other side, and I am currently serving as a radio operator. Every month I serve one weekend a month, and one week a year I go away to Camp Smith to hone my skills. With this experience, I am fully aware of what I am walking into, and it has not deterred my desire to want to serve my country.
The one lesson to take away from this is that every person with autism is an individual first with different talents, desires and motivations. So many other people with autism who want to join and I should not have to lie to get in. This goes against our true nature in the world. We should not have to lie to get ahead in the world. We are people, and we want to serve just like everybody else.
James Strack is a Stony Brook University graduate with autism wanting to serve in the military. Right now he works at King Kullen and Home Depot. He also serves in his local State Defense Force.
NOTES:
[i] https://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Documents/WaiverGuide/DODI_6130.03_JUL12.pdf
[ii] https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/512410p.pdf?ver=2018-03-15-115410-923
[iii]http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/31231/employee+rights+labour+relations/Asperger+Syndrome+in+Military+Service
[iv]https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/01/israeli-army-autism/422850/
[v] http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/24/local/la-me-jameson-lindskog-20110724
Last month month, ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum announced that they will proceed with construction of the >$10 billion Golden Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility on the Texas Gulf Coast. This project would export up to 2.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of LNG, and is just one of more than 50 LNG export projects to be approved by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
According to the DOE, since the startup of Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass LNG export terminal in February 2016, about 2 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of domestically-produced LNG have been exported to 34 different countries. Cheniere Energy was the first major LNG exporter, but they were joined last year by Dominion Energy, which opened its Cove Point LNG export terminal.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, however, as the LNG export market is projected to surge over the next three decades. You can thank the shale boom for that.
This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon!
Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page?
What Happened
Russia is seemingly upping the stakes in Venezuela's standoff for friend and foe alike to see. In a deliberately visible event, two Russian aircraft reportedly landed at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas on March 22. One plane arrived with 100 Russian military personnel, including the chief of staff of the ground forces, Gen. Vasily Tonkonshkurov, while the other landed with 35 tons of unspecified military equipment. According to an unnamed Venezuelan military official, the Russian forces are there as part of an agreement to assist the South American country in military training and engage in cooperation.
Why This Matters
The Russian soldiers could be the first wave of additional troops that will arrive and remain in Venezuela. A greater Russian deployment would raise the stakes of a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, as the use of military force to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro could ignite a direct confrontation with Russian military forces something that Moscow could bank on the United States wishing to avoid.
Naturally, a semi-permanent Russian deployment could complicate U.S. efforts to oust Maduro, but it would allow Moscow to make strategic inroads into Washington's near abroad and deprive foreign energy companies the prospect of greater investment opportunities in the short term. But given Venezuela's importance to the United States, especially due to its geographic proximity, Washington could seek to counter Russia's actions in Venezuela with a more forceful reaction.
Russia's Calculations
If Russia does deploy even more forces to Venezuela, it would have to consider the size of the force. Realistically, Moscow's options run the gamut from a token force to a larger-scale mission along the lines of its intervention in Syria.
A larger deployment would enable the country to bolster the Maduro government more effectively against internal threats, such as a military coup or a significant armed revolt. It would also allow Russia to spread its forces around the country, potentially deterring a U.S. intervention under the assumption that the United States would hesitate to launch military operations in Venezuela if it feared Russian casualties. In effect, Russia is calculating that the United States is unlikely to risk a wider war with Russia just to topple Maduro's government. Indeed, there is a precedent for such Russian behavior, as Moscow's increased presence in Syria restricted the United States' ability to strike and, ultimately, oust President Bashar al Assad.
While a larger deployment would offer Russia greater ability to pursue its objectives in the country, it would also present some significant drawbacks, with cost being the most obvious concern. Yet another Syrian-sized deployment would place additional strain on Russia's ability to project force, especially since Venezuela is much farther away than the Levant. A larger, more visible deployment could also ensconce Russia in a potential quagmire, exposing its forces to more dangers and threats in the event that security worsens in the country. But there are potentially graver concerns for Moscow as well: An enhanced Russian military presence in Venezuela might not actually deter the United States from acting against Maduro. What's more, the prospect of a larger Russian deployment could even spur the United States to move early to intervene before Russia can entrench itself militarily.
A smaller deployment would offer Moscow less room to maneuver, but it would not expose Russia to as much risk. A more limited deployment would be less expensive and offer Russia greater flexibility, as it could withdraw its forces much more rapidly in the event that Venezuelan security deteriorates. And while a smaller deployment is likely to present less of an impediment to the United States, it would also put fewer Russian troops in harm's way, thereby decreasing the chances of a wider military conflict.
What to Watch For
So far, Russia has sent few forces to Venezuela, and even then, most of these troops have been on temporary missions. The deployments include Wagner Group mercenaries, rotations of heavy bombers and the latest arrivals on March 22. Accordingly, we will be looking for indications that Russia is preparing to upgrade its presence in Venezuela by deploying troops for longer periods and preparing more forces and materiel for missions to the country. If the Russian government seriously intends to bolster Maduro, it is likely to deploy military forces in and around Caracas, as well as near oil production and export infrastructure.
Of course, the U.S. reaction to this latest Russian move will also be on our radar. Thus far, there is no major indication that the United States is mulling a serious military intervention to preempt greater Russian activity in the country, but this could change if the Maduro government emboldened by Russian reinforcements conducts a bloody crackdown on its opponents.
The U.S. strategy so far has been to focus on economic coercion to cripple the Venezuelan government and encourage military defections at the same time as it collaborates with Colombia and Brazil to contain the fallout. The United States will also evaluate the longer-term implication that Russia could establish a military foothold in the Caribbean basin, as that would undermine the core tenets of the Monroe Doctrine, complicating the U.S. imperative to prevent foreign powers from interfering in what it perceives to be its geopolitical domain.
For the moment, the threat of U.S. military intervention has hampered the Venezuelan government's attempts to crack down on growing internal dissent. Indeed, Maduro's government is reluctant to arrest or exile the partially recognized interim president, Juan Guaido, for fear of kick-starting a potential U.S. military intervention.
But if Maduro begins repressing the political opposition and other internal dissenters because he believes Russian forces have effectively eliminated the threat of a U.S. intervention, Venezuela's crisis will develop along two broad possible paths. On one hand, Maduro's opponents may perceive the Russian deployment as a sign they must act against the government sooner, rather than later. Depending on the extent of the plans to unseat Maduro, dissidents within the armed forces may attempt a coup before extensive Russian military deployments or a severe crackdown make that option impossible. On the other hand, the threat of a greater backlash from the government could convince officers sitting on the fence to swing back to the president's camp, making a coup much more difficult to carry out. Whatever the case, the prospects of a greater Russian presence on the shores of the Caribbean is likely to reshuffle the deck on Venezuela.
Reprinted with permission from Stratfor Worldview.
Ukraines presidential election is less than a week away, and no candidate will win outright with fifty percent. Comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy leads in the polls and will certainly be in the run-off election on April 21. The big question is whether he will face incumbent President Petro Poroshenko or former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Poroshenko leads Tymoshenko by less than 2 percent, so the race is tight.
Poroshenko is counting on several things to put him into the run-off.
One is the emergence of technical candidates meant to confuse voters. Two political nobodiesYuri Tymoshenko, a volunteer soldier, and Yuliya Lytvynenko, a TV journalistare meant to reduce Tymoshenkos vote on election day. Of course, every Ukrainian citizen has the right to propose her or his candidacy in the elections, yet these two candidates are so marginal that they are not mentioned in most opinion polls, and do not have campaigns or political movements behind them.The appearance of these two names on the ballot is a plain attempt to mislead those who would like to elect Yulia Tymoshenko. A certain number of voters will mistakenly mark the wrong line, giving their vote to Yuri Tymoshenko or Yuliya Lytvynenko when they had intended to vote for Yulia Tymoshenko.
The successful registration of Yuri Tymoshenko and Yuliya Lytvynenko would not have been possible without the silent approval from the very state that currently benefits from large-scale Western support. Ukraines president, parliament, government, general procuracy, and electoral commission are permitting this and other trickery in the run-up to the presidential election, in spite of their loud adherence to Western standards and European values, as well as pompous claims for speedy accession to the EU and NATO. That this deceit is still being actively used in a country with a ratified and far-reaching association agreement with Brussels and a strategic partnership charter with Washington should give Kyivs Western partners reason for pause.
Poroshenko and Yuliya Tymoshenko are very close to each other in the latest polls. This means that the previous irrelevant candidacies of Yuri Tymoshenko and Yuliya Lytvynenko could cost Tymoshenko the presidency. Because of the technical candidates, Yulia Tymoshenko could come third in the first round, but may not be ready to accept such a result. An uncompromising stance by Yulia Tymoshenko would gain legitimacy if the difference between her voters support and Poroshenkos winning result would be approximately similar or even smaller than the percentages acquired by Yuri Tymoshenko and/or Yuliya Lytvynenko. The outcome would be worse and indeed objectionable if Poroshenko would then go on to win in the second round. In such a case, it would become plausible to argue that Yuri Tymoshenko and/or Yuliya Lytvynenko stole Yuliya Tymoshenkos presidency.
To be sure, the probability of the above scenario is low. Most likely, Poroshenko will either come in third, or he comes in second and the margin of his lead, compared to Yulia Tymoshenkos result, will be enough to avoid fundamental doubts.
Technical candidates arent new to elections in Ukraine or the broader region. Subverting fair political competition by purposefully misleading voters through word games about the choices they are making on election day has been a staple of post-Soviet politics since 1991. Post-Soviet politics has a rich history of the creation of pseudo-parties associated with names and programs specifically chosen to confuse voters about the identities and ideologies of real competitors in elections.
Perhaps the most infamous such example is Vladimir Zhirinovskiis ultra-nationalist Liberal-Democratic Party that the Soviet ancien regime invented in 1990 to discredit and obscure the real liberal-democratic movement emerging at that time. Since then, there have been hundreds of examples of elections, in the post-Soviet space, muddled by the appearance of so-called technical parties and candidates the names and programs which sounded similar to those of some genuine political force whose electoral support they were designed to dilute.
One would have hoped that Ukraine has overcome this pathology, at least on the national level, after almost thirty years of independence, and its three pro-democratic upheavals in 1990, 2004, and 2013-2014.
The fact that the incumbents political technologists use such cheap tricks in order to preserve his power is not encouraging. It is a stark illustration of the continuing rapaciousness, immorality, and pseudo-patriotism of the loudly pro-Ukrainian clan that currently dominates in Kyiv. While most Western observers hope for a continuation of Poroshenkos presidency after April 2019, their expectations of his second term, in view of the dubious tools his team has been employing, should not be high.
Reprinted with permission from The Atlantic Council. Andreas Umland is senior non-resident fellow at the Center for European Security of the Institute of International Relations at Prague, principal researcher of the Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation at Kyiv, and general editor of the ibidem-Verlag book series Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society distributed by Columbia University Press.
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
Cardi B is celebrating the success of her "Please Me" music video.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 26-year-old rapper and former "Love & Hip Hop: New York: star thanked fans in an Instagram post Sunday after the video with Bruno Mars passed 100 million views on YouTube in less than a month.
"100,000 Million views in less then a month!!!!!!" Cardi B captioned a screenshot from the video.
"THANK YOU SOOOOOOO FREAKIN MUCH! Thank you Bardigsng and of course the hooligans! @brunomars," she wrote.
Cardi B and Mars released the "Please Me" video March 1. The pair previously released a remix of Mars' song "Finesse" in January 2018.
"Please Me" is expected to appear on Cardi B 's forthcoming second studio album. She said in an Instagram Live video in January she hopes to release the album in the spring.
"Of course it's going to be an album in 2019," the star said, according to Billboard.
"Hopefully I can get my album done around the same time that Invasion of Privacy came out."
FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!
Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
Cardi B will kick off a Las Vegas residency show at Kaos at Palms Casino Resort this year.
In addition, she is seeking to trademark her catchphrase "Okurrr."
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/25/2019
ADVERTISEMENT
FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!
Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
, which is returning to Fox after 16 years, will premiere in May and feature reality TV star Kristin Cavallari as the host.Fox has announced the revival of will premiere with a two-hour episode on Thursday, May 9 at 8PM ET/PT.The reality dating competition series will air three nights per week, and Kristin -- who found fame on Laguna Beach followed by The Hills, and currently stars on Very Cavallari, which is in its second season on E! -- said she is "so excited" to host the revival this summer."This show literally has everything -- dating, love triangles, alliances, competition -- and I can't wait to stir the pot and have a front-row seat to all the drama!" Kristin said in a statement.will air over the course of five weeks.Following the Thursday night premiere, the series will air one-hour episodes on Mondays beginning on May 13 at 9PM ET/PT and Wednesdays starting on May 15 at 9PM ET/PT. Each Thursday night broadcast will be two hours long from 8-10PM ET/PT.Fox reality chief Rob Wade said Kristin will be the perfect host of because she "grew up on the frontlines of reality television" and will appeal to a new generation of viewers."The show is a fun balance of romantic love, cutthroat competition and humor," Wade continued, "and Kristin's unique experience, especially with live television, makes her the best person to navigate the wild, unpredictable moments."originally aired on Fox in 2003 and featured contestants competing for an "Ultimate Reward" mystery prize which turned out to be $500,000.'s new revival will reportedly follow a similar format as the original show, which featured singles of the opposite sex living, playing and hooking-up with one another in an exclusive resort in a tropical location (the original took place at a resort in Acapulco, Mexico).Each week, the pairings changed and the housemates evicted one of their fellow contestants and a new person joined the cast as a replacement.In a new twist, Fox's new revival will allow viewers to play along at home and use social media to try and influence what happens on screen -- including helping to decide who stays and who goes.The "modernized version of the international hit," according to Fox, is being produced by Mentorn Media and SallyAnn Salsano's 495 Productions.is being executive-produced by SallyAnn Salsano, Becca Walker, James Sunderland, Paul Osborne, and Celia Taylor.A soapy, Big Brother-like reality series, aired a 32-episode, twice-a-week run on Fox during Summer 2003. ( Click here to read Reality TV World's extensive coverage of the original edition.)'s strong ratings performance in 2003 resulted in Fox executives all but formally announcing their intentions to air a Summer 2004 edition of .However, rather than actually doing so, they instead decided to attempt to capitalize on the format's popularity by leveraging it into a new "never-ending" year-round Forever Eden reality series that flopped and was canceled only seven episodes after its Spring 2005 launch.Fox then contemplated bringing the original format back for another run for Summer 2005, but eventually decided against it.A couple of years later, Fox decided to revive for dual broadcast on MyNetworkTV, the then-new broadcast network Fox had launched after 2006's surprise The CW network launch left many former The WB and UPN affiliates (including nearly a dozen Fox-owned stations) without a network affiliation, and Fox Reality, a short-lived cable and satellite TV network Fox had launched in 2005.Dubbed 2, the revival premiered in February 2008 and consisted of only 16 episodes that aired once a week. It was not renewed.
From Left: Doug Webb, Jim Kusserow, Grace Munoz-Riosm Raymond Camarena and Denise Marchant pose for a photo with their certificates of recognition Friday, March 22 during the 2019 Porterville Wall of Fame ceremony at the Porterville Heritage Center.
Are fireXfighters using all the right stuff?
On Tuesday, the UGA SGA 2019 election cycle will officially come to a close with the inauguration of the Empower ticket. All that remains are disintegrating stickers on odd-walls and bathroom stalls, along with a few lingering questions: How much money was spent? How many hours did they table? Where did all those stickers come from?
The total direct tax collection stands at a little over Rs 9 trillion, giving the taxman just few days to reach the 2018-19 revised target of Rs 12 trillion., reports Shrimi Choudhary.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com
The income-tax (I-T) department collected over Rs 4 trillion as advance tax from corporates and individuals as of March 15 in the current financial year, about 15 per cent more compared with the tax mop-up in the corresponding period last year.
However, the total direct tax collection stood at a little over Rs 9 trillion, giving the taxman just two weeks to reach the 2018-19 revised target of Rs 12 trillion.
Officials said it was an extremely difficult task to raise the remaining Rs 3 trillion in direct tax revenue before March 31.
State Bank of India (SBI), ONGC, and Punjab National Bank said to have topped the list of advance tax payments, but the amounts could not be ascertained.
However, it is learnt that the advance tax collection from the three companies, and from state-run banks, oil and gas public sector units (PSUs) and other government-owned entities like Life Insurance Corporation and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, was below expectations.
It is also learnt that senior tax officials of some jurisdictions, including Mumbai, expressed their concerns to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the finance ministry about a possible revenue shortfall.
The growth rate under different heads show some interesting trends.
As of March 11, growth in the collection under tax deduction at source (TDS) grew 18 per cent to Rs 4.44 trillion, while self-assessment tax rose 6.5 per cent to Rs 83, 465 crore.
However, the regular assessment tax (recovery from arrear and current demand) showed negative growth (-5.4 per cent) as compared to the same period a year ago.
The Mumbai zone, home to 45 of the top 100 companies and responsible for one-third of the total direct tax collection, has managed to achieve 70 per cent of the target.
The net collection of Mumbai stood at Rs 2.65 trillion against the revised target of Rs 3.82 trillion.
Meanwhile, I-T refunds worth more than Rs 1.56 trillion have been issued to taxpayers, which are 11 per cent more than the last year's payout by the tax department.
The increase of Rs 50,000 crore in the interim Budget 2019-20 has made the task of achieving the revised target difficult for the tax department.
However, the department has been consistently putting efforts to maximise revenues and make up for the shortfall.
The income-tax department has created various functionalities under its Project Insight, which will provide the 360-degree profile of taxpayers, including new and non-filers to gauge their accountability and tax liability. The tax department had on March 15 put out instructions for tax officials for accessing the insight.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com.
From April 1, the income-tax department will keep a check on taxpayers comprehensive profile, including transactions, relationships, social networking and all other related information under its much-awaited Project Insight, slated to be fully operational from the beginning of the next financial year.
According to sources, the income-tax department has created various functionalities under the portal, which will provide the 360-degree profile of taxpayers, including new and non-filers to gauge their accountability and tax liability. The tax department had on March 15 put out instructions for tax officials for accessing the insight portal.
The move aims to capture the tax compliance of the assessees and to bring more people under the tax net. This would also help nab errant assessees during demonetisation and those having pending demands exceeding Rs 10 lakh.
The information under the insight portal will be segregated. This will have the taxpayers master profile, including the individuals address, signature, the tax return profile, where key values of the return and processing will be accessed.
Another segment will be business intelligence hub, which will provide filtered information and parameters to identify non-complaint taxpayers. This includes tax collection -- this would have monitoring of gross and net collection, refund and top taxpayers; tax base for monitoring ITR filers, new filers and tax base; taxpayers compliance dealing with non-filers and scrutiny cases; third party reporting -- monitoring of registration, filing and defects in the third party reports such as banks, financial intelligence unit, and other institutions mandated to flag off suspicious transactions.
These apart, the insight portal will have an integrated system for managing the information in an effective manner. The objective of this system is to leverage machine learning in organising, creating, sharing and using it for getting the right perspective at the right time, said an official.
Insight portal will also comprise information regarding cases related to demonetisation. In cases where substantial cash deposits were reported during the note-ban, a list of those were made available where tax sleuths could check the status of the matter (such as notices served, non-compliant) and so on.
Similarly, to assist the assessing officer in recovery of demand, the insight profile view has been enabled for high demand cases exceeding Rs 10 lakh, where demand has been marked non-recoverable because of assesses not traceable or have inadequate assets. The portal will provide details of movable and immovable assets to help the tax department in recovering pending dues.
Project Insight was launched in 2017, aimed to use big data analytics to match information from social media sites to deduce mismatches between spending pattern and income declaration.
The making of Insight portal has been initiated by the income-tax department for data mining, collection, collation and processing of such information for effective risk management, with a view to widen and deepen the tax base. It will also help taxmen monitor high value transactions, and curb the circulation of black money.
The tax department had signed a pact with L&T Infotech for implementation of Project Insight, which is designed to strengthen non-intrusive information driven approach for improving tax compliance.
The steps include the launch of Operation Clean Money after demonetisation of old higher denomination currency for collection, collation and analysis of information on cash transactions, extensive use of information technology and data analytics tools for identification of high risk cases, expeditious e-verification of suspect cases and enforcement action.
The portal has been created by using technology allowing them to collate databases of IT returns, IT forms, TDS/TCS statements and statement of financial transactions received from financial institutions.
With unchecked powers and resources and unbridled access to the media, prosecutors can manipulate witnesses.
Typically, the prosecutors are political animals, so theyre all about winning at all cost, not finding the truth.
Rajat Gupta, 70, the first Indian managing director of McKinsey and who of 17 months in US prison for insider trading, gets ready to tell his side of the story.
IMAGE: Rajat Gupta etches a self-portrait in the first sentence to the Preface in his memoir: I am an orphan. Immigrant. Businessman. Leader. Philanthropist. Role model. Convicted felon. A file photo of Rajat Gupta leaving Manhattan Federal Court in New York on June 8, 2012. Photograph: Andre Kelly/Reuters
The cheekbones are more sharply defined, the hair tinged with grey.
Those could be signs of natural ageing for Rajat Gupta, 70, the first Indian managing director of McKinsey, rather than the result of 17 months in prison for insider trading.
The real difference is that Gupta, trim and dapper as ever, is far more forthcoming as an interviewee than he was in the early 2000s.
Then, at the height of his powers, even innocuous questions about his creation, the Indian School of Business, yielded non-committal answers.
Now, out of prison since 2016, he has plenty to say: Principally, that his conviction for insider trading in a scandal involving the flamboyant Sri Lankan-origin hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam was a miscarriage of justice.
The result is this memoir, Mind Without Fear, the title drawn from the much-quoted English translation of a poem by Rabindranath Tagore.
For someone whose life story was a model of the Great American Dream -- an Indian of modest means who rose to the highest circles of politics and business, mingling with the White House and Davos crowd -- his indictment in 2012 marked a stunning fall from grace.
Many ascribed it to the hubris of the rich and powerful.
But as Gupta writes ruefully, the critical error of judgement on his part was to not tell his story.
He never spoke to the press, those writing books on the subject nor, most crucially, did he testify at his trial.
Consequently, he says in the preface, the jury, the press and the public saw only... a cropped picture."
"The judge went out of his way to block any reference to my character and to those aspects that mattered most to me.... [And] I missed the opportunity to tell my own story and to let the jury, and the public, see who I am directly.
He helpfully etches a self-portrait in the first sentence to the Preface: I am an orphan. Immigrant. Businessman. Leader. Philanthropist. Role model. Convicted felon.
The burden of his readable autobiography, written with understated bitterness but no false sense of modesty, is that he was the victim of a justice system that was searching for villains to assuage public anger when none of the high-profile investment bank CEOs suffered for the global financial crisis they had precipitated.
I saw the underbelly of the US justice system, he says in a pre-launch interview to Business Standard.
His book offers an interesting alternative insight into the storied US justice system, hinting at collusion between the justice department and the Securities Exchange Commission.
And he is less than complimentary about Preet Bharara, then the famous crusading US attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Typically, the prosecutors are political animals, so theyre all about winning at all cost, not finding the truth, he says.
Proving insider trading, he points out, demands three criteria: the transmission of market-moving information, criminal intent and a quid pro quo or meaningful benefit from the tip-off.
The trial established that Gupta did not benefit from allegedly passing on information to Rajaratnam, whom he says he knew only on a professional basis.
So poor judgement, maybe? A rush of blood to the head?
Guptas specific defence is that phone calls, involving Goldman Sachs and Procter & Gamble, on which his convictions hinged, were made to inquire about the fate of a Galleon fund in which he had invested called Voyager; he had discovered Rajaratnam had closed the fund without informing him or paying him his due share.
IMAGE: A file photo of Galleon hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam departing Manhattan Federal Court after his sentencing in New York on October 13, 2011. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
The fact that these calls were placed immediately after those board meetings Gupta ascribes to his ultra-hectic globe-trotting schedule as a high-powered consultant to Fortune 500 corporations and a sprawling agenda of voluntary work, which the book describes in detail.
As a consequence, he used the brief breaks between meetings to make calls.
His September 23, 2008, call to Rajaratnam immediately after a Goldman Sachs board meeting (which he attended via a phone-in) approving a game-changing $5-billion investment by Warren Buffet, therefore, was one of many he had made to follow up on his Voyager investment, he says.
The call lasted less than a minute.
It was, according to phone records, the only call on Rajaratnams direct line (which was not tapped at the time) that day.
After that, Rajaratnam called an aide into his office, who reappeared minutes later on the trading floor shouting, Buy Goldman Sachs.
Four minutes before the New York Stock Exchange closed, Rajaratnam bought $25 million worth of Goldman stock, the value of which soared after news of the Buffet investment broke.
The circumstantial evidence was strong, was it not?
So heres what I remember about what happened, Gupta replies.
In the morning, I had a discussion with Raj because by then I knew he had taken money out of Voyager and I had asked him for details.
"He said he would send all the information that day.
"When the [Goldman] board call finished I asked my secretary to call him.
"Why would I ask my secretary to do this if I wanted to pass on insider information?
"I cant remember if I even got to him or not. Probably not.
"Because two hours later I made another call and left a message saying, I am trying to catch up with you. Why would I leave a message two hours later saying this if I had already caught up with him at 4 pm?
So how does he explain the bulk-buying of Goldman stock minutes after his call?
I dont know. But I know why I called and it had nothing to do with insider trading. Raj got information from all kinds of people.
"The other thing is, the Goldman stock started going up at 1 or 2 pm, well before the board meeting.
"Obviously, there must have been something in the market; why should the stock be going up when no board decision had been made?
(It is worth noting that the name of a Goldman salesman and managing director David Loeb did come up in Guptas trial. Loeb was never charged but he abruptly quit the investment bank in 2013 for reasons that were never fully explained.)
IMAGE: Rajat Gupta in a courtroom sketch during his appearance in the Manhattan Federal Court on October 26, 2011. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
Gupta offers a similar explanation for an October 23 call following a Goldman board meeting called to discuss laying off 10 per cent of its staff.
The morning after, Galleon dumped a hefty amount of stock. In his book, Gupta writes that the information about the lay-offs had been leaked to the Wall Street Journal before the board meeting.
[I]n this instance, Rajaratnam didnt need an insider at all to have known that dumping the stock was a wise move -- the leak had made that clear.
Gupta does, however, recall the contents of a January 9, 2009, call following a P&G audit meeting to discuss declining sales growth.
He says Rajaratnam asked him to call.
When he did, it was to be told that the Voyager money was gone.
After that, Galleon shorted a chunk of P&G stock but Gupta says he was not the source of this information.
In fact, that was the last time he spoke to Rajaratnam - he was to meet him later in prison, where they played the occasional game of cards, chess or scrabble.
As he points out, Rajaratnam, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison, was never charged on the Goldman or P&G transactions.
So why was I the centrepiece of his case? The prosecutors were trying to get it out into the press because I was more visible and well-known.
Rajaratnam later also told Gupta that federal agents had come to prison to persuade him to testify against Gupta, which he refused to do.
With a counter-narrative like this, why didnt Gupta take the stand?
Partly on the advice of his lawyer, the highly-regarded litigator Gary Naftalis, who suggested that doing so would be naive and stupid.
And later, having witnessed the prosecutors at work, his wife, too, advised him against doing so.
With unchecked powers and resources and unbridled access to the media, prosecutors can manipulate witnesses, he says.
He described how two former McKinsey colleagues, Pramath Sinha and Ashok Alexander, were subjected to FBI questioning when they came forward as character witnesses.
(These facts are not in the book but Sinha confirmed them, saying there were no direct threats but the tone of questioning was intimidating; ultimately, he says, only Alexander was able to testify, because the judge chose to drag out the prosecutorial process).
For all his tribulations, Gupta retains his faith in his adopted country.
Now into his eighth decade, he claims there is a certain amount of money I can afford to lose (insurance covered most of the $60 million legal fees that Goldman demanded, but he had to pay $26 million in fines and restitution, which was financially quite expensive).
His prison regimen kept him fit, but he is trying to slow down.
But then, you know, theres this project in Gujarat, and another fascinating one in Nigeria...
At first look, the reader would be aghast at the similarities in the DMK and AIADMKs manifestos, wondering if the same hand had drafted both. Yet, when it comes to drinking water and irrigation supplies, both parties are equally silent on the subject -- as if summer did not exist, as didnt water scarcity, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
IMAGE: File photograph showing a parched Chembarapakkam lake bed on the outskirts of Chennai. Photograph: PTI Photo
Days after they had launched their respective manifestos on the same day, the ruling AIADMK and the rival parent DMK in Tamil Nadu have not mentioned a word about what their voters are possibly scared of the most during the Lok Sabha poll time this summer.
Neither has mentioned the unforgettable drinking water scarcity that is already upon the state, and could be a major daily issue for the voters as the voting day, April 18, arrives, at the height of summer that is already here.
At first look, the reader would be aghast at the similarities in the two manifestos, wondering if the same hand had drafted both. If in the past the common refrain was that only the proof-reader and an occasional editorial writer read these documents in full and in some detail, this time round, its possible even he needed to have read it only once -- if written by the same hand, and printed at the same press.
So similar are the two manifestos that they have promised the very same things -- like farm loan-waiver, stipend/dole, and, of course, NEET exemption which the AIADMK state government has been enforcing and the DMK Opposition has been opposing. Where the two parties seem to differ, it may be on an odd issue, or in detail.
Yet, when it comes to drinking water and irrigation supplies, both parties are equally silent on the subject -- as if summer did not exist, as didnt water scarcity. Whether or not they are able to do something about it, before or even after the elections, with the current elections mainly being for electing a government at the national level, their respective manifestos should have talked more about river links, beginning with those within the state, before traversing out.
Already, villages and towns across the state are dotted with long queues of people, both men and women, young and old, waiting at the public water taps attached to government-built overhead tanks and manned by local panchayats. With local bodies elections long since forgotten, despite repeated reminders and warnings from the Madras high court, the state government is in charge of ensuring that there is water in the overhead tank and there is water in the taps.
In urban and semi-urban centres, government-run tankers supply drinking water at street-corners, and they are already operational most part of the year. However, for long, suburban populations, whose ground water stocks are being tapped for urban supplies, have been complaining and protesting -- with little or no effect. In the past, they had also protested against ground water tapping, especially by private entrepreneurs and tanker-lorry owners, and have also arrested men and their vehicles until the authorities/police intervened.
If such protests erupt overnight in any or many part(s) of the state and with a certain consistency between now and poll time, the chances are that radical left movements, outside of the mainstream polity, may be working with the people, as was the case with the liquor ban protests ahead of the assembly polls of 2011. This has been a recurring occurrence across the state on a series of other issues and concerns, earlier and later -- impeding at times developmental projects of the Kudamkulam N-plant and others, since.
In between, the police firing on the anti-Sterlite protestors in southern Thoothukudy last year, claiming 13 lives, and the subsequent tough action against land-owners protesting take-over for the Salem-Chennai eight-lane highway, may have discouraged future protestors. However, drinking water is more immediate an issue than any other for people to take to the streets. So is election time a wrong occasion for the authorities (read: ruling party) to act tough on protestors.
In the process, the absence of any blue-print for providing drinking water, irrigation and industrial supplies in the twin Dravidian manifestos may hit the young segments of the youthful majority of voters hard on their face. The election time is also examination time for most/all of them, and now with the campaign peaking, they would have questions for the politicos, for which no one has guessed any answer.
If anything, going by the form and content of the rival manifestos, the Big Two Dravidian majors want the voter to forget water for the moment, and focus more on what all is on promise. Ask, however, economists and veteran economy managers of previous governments, they do not know where from the two parties hope to mop up the resources required for all the freebies schemes that they have announced.
But the two party leaderships do not seem overly concerned. In their estimation, as over the past two-plus decades of economic reforms across the country, a state like Tamil Nadu incapacitated by the availability of basic natural resources like water, building on the social infrastructure becomes a modern-day necessity. Independent of whichever between the two is in power, the Dravidian majors are cued to this reality -- though they do not dress it up in the terms and phraseology of economists and sociologists.
Independent of what economists may have to say on the various poll-promises of rival Dravidian majors in Tamil Nadu, the fact is that national parties, including the Congress-UPA with reforms architect Manmohan Singh as prime minister, and the preceding and succeeding BJP governments of Vajpayee and now Narendra Modi, too seem to have put electoral pragmatism above economic realism, all through -- and borrowing much of their ideas from the south Indian state.
Less said about their counterparts from other states the better. Some of them have even despatched official teams to study Tamil Nadus social welfare schemes like Amma Canteen when Jayalalithaa was chief minister and other schemes, both under the AIADMK and DMK regimes, whenever some other scheme got rolled out -- and caught the imagination, either of the national media or of world organisations and governments -- or, both.
N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter.
'The Pollachi case will have a negative impact for the AIADMK alliance.'
'The BJP and AIADMK are in alliance in Tamil Nadu.'
'That may be the reason for the delay in the central government's approval for case transfer to the CBI.'
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
The biggest sex scandal in recent times is unfolding in Pollachi, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, on the Kerala border, in which it was revealed that young women were lured through social media, videographed in compromising positions and blackmailed into having sex with various men.
Shockingly, this terrifying assault on young women had been going on for seven years before it came to light.
The case was first investigated by the local police and then by the CB-CID, Tamil Nadu police, before the state government decided to hand it over to the CBI.
The case took a turn for the worse when a police officer not only named a victim, but also gave out her address. Then the state government named the victim in an order it issued.
The court has now fined the Tamil Nadu government Rs 2.5 million to be paid to the victim for naming her.
"I am very sure that he (the superintendent of police) deliberately revealed the identity of the victim. The state government's GO (government order) too did the same... This was done obviously to pressurise other victims not to come forward to make a complaint so that the bigwigs involved are protected," U Vasuki, vice president, All India Democratic Women's Association, tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar in an e-mail interview.
In the 21st century where college students are aware of their rights, how come this scandal went on for seven long years?
For friendship or love, trust is the basis. Is trusting someone wrong or betraying the trust wrong? Who is at fault?
I fear that the whole discourse would turn around against the victim.
The physical, psychological and social impact of sexual assaults cannot be underestimated. Despite awareness, the social stigma makes even an aware person hesitate to lodge complaints.
In the Pollachi case, there are many sections of people that started advising dos and don'ts to girls, but not to boys.
The chairperson of our state women's commission said that girls should nurture morality. (She actually meant that girls must have control over their sexuality).
Then again, note that it is not meant for boys the concepts of friendship or love, and take us back to, I don't know, which century!
Society keeps blaming women, their attitude, their dress, the timing when they were out on the streets etc.
Then how do we account for child rape or an 80-year-old woman being gang-raped?
The assembly speaker in Andhra Pradesh said women must be parked at home like cars so that there is no accident/sexual assault. He did not dare say that men must be parked at home to avoid violence.
The recent 'Me Too' movement itself is a classic example of this hesitation for fear of social stigma for years together.
Some are pushed to committing suicide. Some become chronic depression patients. Some families shift their residence. They may stop the girl from school/college.
We really have a long way to go. Moreover, the money-spinning business, the patronage given by influential persons and the connivance of police is a dangerous mix which forms a criminal network that will prevent the victims from coming forward boldly.
Do you think the police officer gave out the girl's and her brother's name and address to prevent other victims from coming forward?
I am very sure that he deliberately revealed the identity of the victim. The state government's GO (government order) too did the same.
Actually, the crime number is enough to transfer a case to another agency, no need to mention the name of the victim.
Don't tell me that the SP and higher-ups in the government/DGP are not aware of the legal position regarding not revealing the identity of victims of sexual violence. They know it perfectly.
This was done obviously to pressurise other victims not to come forward to make a complaint so that the bigwigs involved are protected.
On the other hand, Bar Nagaraj (one of the alleged accused) was booked only under an assault case and immediately let off on bail.
Cases against students/women activists are foisted. People who posted on their social network that the ruling party is involved are slapped with cases by the cyber crime police.
No action has been taken against the police officer. Will your association pursue this?
The Madurai bench of the Madras high court took up the case suo motu and has stated that disciplinary action has to be taken against the concerned police officials who disclosed the identity of the victim. Our organisation will pursue that.
But the court did not recommend the same action for the officials responsible for the GO which contained the name of the victim. The court has only recommended to issue a modified GO. We will take it up also.
As of now, we have given a complaint to the CB-CID regarding the mistakes and procedural lapses committed by the local police and attached whatever evidence we collected.
For example, statement 161 (of those involved) was recorded by a male police person which is contrary to CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) provisions; the culprits were not taken into police custody within 15 days of their arrest; they were not physically presented before the court for taking them from judicial custody into police custody, instead video conferencing was used.
There are judgments rejecting that. Later, the accused can use all this as their defence.
What does the CBI have to do to make other victims come forward?
We need not teach the CBI how to get evidence, they are quite capable!
Anyway, the central government is yet to give clearance to the CBI though the state government has already recommended the transfer of the case to the CBI.
When it is done, we will give a petition to the CBI regarding other aspects.
Do you have faith in the CBI as the ruling party in Tamil Nadu is in alliance with the ruling party at the Centre?
The question is right. The BJP and AIADMK are in alliance in Tamil Nadu. That may be the reason for the delay in the central government's approval for case transfer to the CBI.
The BJP government has consistently misused the CBI as a political instrument for their narrow political gains.
That is why we have demanded that an honest CBI officer should lead the investigation under the direct monitoring of the high court.
Are womens's associations such as yours planning to conduct independent investigation into the Pollachi crimes?
We always try and meet the victims and the neighbours to ascertain the facts of the case before putting our weight beind it.
It may not be a foolproof inquest. But to satisfy ourselves about the veracity of the complaint and to get some inputs which may have been missed by the victim herself because she will be unaware of so many aspects.
In this case, we tried. But the victim's family was unwilling. The other victims are not known to us.
Forensic examination will reveal the deleted videos in the cell phones. Are you going to put pressure on the government to make sure this evidence is not suppressed?
The local press put the number of videos at about 100.
Magazines like Nakkeeran already seem to be in possession of some of these. So, it will be very difficult for the investigating agency to hide the whole truth.
We and other organisations will keep watching, certainly.
Will the investigation slow down till voting day is out of the way?
I have a feeling the central government may not give approval for the CBI probe before elections on April 18, or they may do it just a week before the elections.
By the time the CBI makes its preparation and starts the investigation, it will be past the elections.
Do you think this scandal will have an effect on the election?
I am very sure the Pollachi case will have a negative impact for the AIADMK alliance.
That is why they removed Bar Nagaraj from the party, quick transfer of the case to the CB-CID from local police and double quick transfer to the CBI.
They are making Hindutva outfits blame our women's organisations and other organisations as Naxalites and Maoists who would create an anti-Sterlite-like situation and put people to danger by instigating violence and blowing this out of proportion.
This shows they are feeling the impact.
'But that does not make him weaker than his adversaries.'
IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi addresses a rally in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
"People are able to measure the distance between what has actually been achieved and what was promised -- and that does not put the PM in a position of strength," says Professor Gilles Verniers, author of two publications on Uttar Pradesh politics and assistant professor of political science at Ashoka University.
"But the question is whether this disenchantment is strong enough to detach voters from the BJP and get them to vote elsewhere," he tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih in the concluding part of an interview discussing the crucial BSP-SP alliance, the sameness of the BJP's electoral formula and the political dynamics of UP.
Is patriotism going to decide this election?
Indian voters are very smart and it is very rare that they will vote on a single issue.
No doubt, Pulwama and Balakot is an important electoral issue in favour of the BJP, but I don't think it will be a substitute to other issues that affect people's lives like joblessness, access to education, health, farmers's distress.
It is yet another campaign issue which clearly favours the BJP, but it will be mingled with many other considerations grounded into local realities.
Last time the Modi wave secured 71/80 seats in UP for the BJP -- that tally is expected to reduce with the BSP-SP alliance -- but Mr Modi's popularity is high, what will the Modi effect be this time?
Modi's popularity is still high.
Many people credit him for at least trying to do good. But people now have an opportunity to measure the distance between old promises and realisation.
4-5 years ago, he promised to transform UP into Gujarat, but by almost any measure, the situation in UP is worse than it was 4 years ago in terms of economic development, law and order, caste and communal violence. So there will be many who will hold him accountable for the promises made
The question is whether this disenchantment is strong enough to detach voters from the BJP and get them to vote elsewhere.
One rhetoric that works for the BJP is that voters are asked to vote for the national leadership and they have to choose between national parties and state-based parties.
Akhilesh-Mayawati for UP, but Modi for the nation remains a strong argument.
Mayawati's popularity remains very strong with her base, Akhilesh's too -- these are two parties with strong organisations and resources.
One does not see a wave in favour of the BJP like in 2014.
The Congress has not lost a back to back election since 1998-1999, what happens to the party and the family if it were to lose another?
A party is never really dead in Indian politics. A party can sustain itself with microscopic vote share and some faithful family strongholds.
It can go on like this for a very long time. It is up to the Congress to decide if they want to transform themselves.
They have been punished by the electorate repeatedly in UP. It has had very little effect so far in terms of transformation of organisational culture.
I don't see any dramatic change in the Congress party should they face yet another defeat.
There is an interesting precedent in a party that could not perform in elections -- the Jan Sangh. It merged with the Janata coalition in 1977 and took a break for a few years to introspect and reinvent itself. In the process, it did not even need a change in leadership.
The BJP was reborn with basically the same leaders -- L K Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Murli Manohar Joshi who used the time to ponder and think to change that losing streak. They did that very successfully.
In 2014, Modi was a three term chief minister contesting his first Lok Sabha election to become prime minister. In 2019, he is fighting to retain his office -- what differences do you see in him since then?
I don't see much change. A lot of strength for the PM and the BJP comes from the RSS which is a rather unchanging organisation.
The political style, rhetoric hasn't changed. From development for all, this time it is more about welfare and nationalism, but it is the same formula.
This is also an advantage that the BJP presents -- consistency, cohesiveness and solidity in front of the electorate.
It also depicts political cleverness, cunningness, sense of purpose, rarely seem in Indian politics.
The energy they deploy in any and every election really has no precedent -- whether you agree or disagree with their purpose or not.
It is the same old recipe, the same old formula that has worked for him, so why change?
Does the prime minister's position seem stronger than it was 5 years ago?
I wouldn't say that because he had a term that gave him opportunities to fulfill his promises.
Earlier, he had to create a link between expectation and promises which is a comparatively easier thing to do. Now he has to create a link between promises and achievement.
People are able to measure the distance between what has actually been achieved and what was promised -- and that does not put the PM in a position of strength.
The PM is in a weaker position compared to 2014, but that does not make him weaker than his adversaries.
Very few of his adversaries actually display a strength of their own with the exception of some regional parties.
How will the BJP's fortunes in UP be this time?
My sense is it is going to perform anyhow.
In every election there are 16 to 20 factors that work against the BJP, but the BJP seems to overcome it.
Their ability to mobilise cannot be underestimated -- their ability to canvass, its limitless resources, the charisma of the PM etc.
It remains a formidable machinery. I won't be surprised if their vote share does not drop significantly in UP.
There is a large floating population that has been voting in variation in UP. It is the floating electorate the decide the outcome of an election.
These voters don't have affiliation to any party and decide who they will vote for at the last moment.
Where do you see the Muslim voter in this election?
There is no such thing as the Muslim voter. There are Muslim voters and they are as strategic as other groups in UP or India.
There has been a long strategy of voting for the candidate that has the best chance of defeating the BJP. That is again going to work very strongly.
I would expect the Muslim voters to provide a lot of support to the alliance -- the old risk of votes splitting between the SP-BSP and the Congress has greatly reduced by the presence of the alliance.
The Congress also receives votes from Muslims in UP, fairly marginal, but Muslims will massively support the alliance.
IMAGE: Since his arrival in India in 2005, Gilles Verniers -- assistant professor of political science at Ashoka University and co-director of the Trivedi Centre for Political Data -- has been a keen observer, researcher and writer on Indian politics. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Gilles Verniers
This has effectively become a two party contest in UP which will benefit the BJP, don't you think?
Realistically, the consideration of a fragmented Opposition is a better scenario for the BJP.
Bipolar fights are closely contested because 2 to 3 players dent into the base of the opponent.
In a way, the stronger the Congress is in UP, the better the chances for the BJP to win.
What impact do you see the BSP-SP alliance having on the ground this time?
It is the only strategy that makes sense for both these parties.
There is no certitude that arithmetic alone would be sufficient. The election remains open and competitive.
The question is whether the alliance will be able to gather votes outside the core base of both the parties. There is a big question mark on that at the moment.
The alliance won the recent by-elections, but the BJP vote share also increased.
So the election in UP is very open and competitive. Small distribution of votes can make the results go either way. I foresee many closely contested elections.
What will be the big themes of this election? How different is this election from elections of the past?
There is not much contrast from elections of the past. Economic questions will be at the forefront of most voters concerns -- which party is most likely to improve their economic situation and trajectory, and whether they hold the BJP responsible for lack of progress or not.
At the end of the day, daily lives matter more than generic considerations including nationalism.
There is a great sense of patriotism ingrained into people, but it is not necessarily a substitute for legitimate daily life concerns.
I would expect those concerns to be at the forefront in determining how people are going to cast their vote.
The BJP's losses in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where the UP CM had addressed nearly 75 rallies, has put a big question mark on his ability to deliver in high-octane contests, reports Virendra Singh Rawat.
In the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in 2017, which subsequently morphed into a triangular contest between the Congress-Samajwadi Party combine, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, speculation was rife about then Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath, lobbying for tickets for his candidates in about a dozen constituencies in eastern UP, or Purvanchal.
It was no secret that Adityanath and his supporters, predominantly comprising the influential Hindu Yuva Vahini, a self-acclaimed social and cultural organisation founded by him, were at the same time peeved at the BJP not projecting him as the partys chief ministerial candidate.
Adityanath, who is also the presiding seer of the powerful Gorakshnath Peeth monastic order, had been acknowledged to have wielded influence over 12 eastern UP districts, including Deoria, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj, Sant Kabir Nagar and Siddharth Nagar.
As things turned out, the BJP and allies, riding on the euphemistic Modi wave and aided by the division of votes, went on to score a stupendous victory at the hustings, winning 325 of the 403 seats. Adityanath, on the basis of preference of the partys elected legislators, was anointed the 21st chief minister of the countrys most populous state.
The firebrand Hindutva leader, who had shared rather bitter-sweet relations with the BJP owing to his larger-than-life image in eastern UP pockets, was suddenly entrusted with an expansive canvas to govern and also extend the partys base in the state.
Now having completed two years as chief minister, the report card of Adityanath is at best a mixed one. Even as the saffron party won 14 of the 16 urban local bodies mayoral posts in December 2017, the BJP suffered defeats in all the three parliamentary and one assembly by-polls held last year, including his own turf of Gorakhpur.
While Adityanath prefers to discount these defeats by noting they did not alter the constitution of his government, the fact that the ruling party lost these by-polls with Adityanath at the helm had put a big question mark on his ability to deliver in high-octane contests.
In this backdrop, the Lok Sabha polls are an acid test for Adityanath to prove his merit as a political leader, possessing the capacity to deliver beyond his traditional pocket boroughs of Gorakhpur and adjoining districts. The coming together of the SP and BSP just ahead of the crucial elections has made the path tougher for Adityanath, considering these two opposition parties represent 42 per cent of the vote in the state.
Interestingly, the trial by fire for him becomes even tougher since he is up against the charm offensive of the Congress general secretary in charge of eastern UP, Priyanka Gandhi, who had recently led an impressive road show in Lucknow, alongside his brother and party president, Rahul Gandhi.
Political commentator Sharat Pradhan said there was more hype around the personality of Adityanath than what was real. He has been touring other states for campaigning, but hasnt done any magic so far.
The BJP faced poll reverses in Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where Adityanath had addressed nearly 75 rallies, even as the opposition criticised him for allegedly neglecting UP while electioneering in other states.
Further, Pradhan said the phenomenon of stray cattle destroying crops in rural areas would hit the poll prospects of the BJP. There is a strong undercurrent of anger among farmers, especially small agriculturists, since their livelihood is getting affected due to the menace of ever-increasing stray cattle.
In contrast, Adityanath has been religiously talking about the successful holding of the UP Investors Summit 2018 and Kumbh in Prayagraj in 2019.
Nonetheless, the Opposition has been sharpening attacks on his government over rising crime, including crime against women. A senior Congress leader slammed the government for functioning like an event management company and trying to conceal its failures.
The accusation of graft and impropriety against the personal secretaries of three UP ministers, caught in a sting operation by a news channel in December last year, had put the state government in the dock.
However, a large section of BJP supporters in UP and outside reckon Adityanath the rightful successor to BJP mascot Narendra Modi owing to their identical persona of propriety and austere lifestyle.
The Karnataka BJP core committee had proposed only later Union minister Ananth Kumar's wife's name for the Lok Sabha seat, but Tejaswi Surya emerged the dark horse.
"It's Tejaswi and not Tejaswini!"exclaimed the Twitteratti as the Bharatiya Janata Party central leadership sprang a surprise, announcing Yuva Morcha general secretary Tejaswi Surya as the party's candidate in its bastion of Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency.
It was widely expected the BJP would field late Union minister Ananth Kumar's wife Tejaswini given her active participation in scripting her husband's victories from the seat six times, but 28-year old Surya emerged the dark horse.
Ending the suspense with just hours left for the deadline for filing nominations for the first phase of polls, the BJP central leadership announced in the early hours Tuesday the name of Surya, a lawyer and the head of party's national social media campaign team.
The delay in finalising the name had even fuelled speculations that prime minister Narendra Modi might opt for Bangalore South as the second constituency, apart from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Senior leader Ananth Kumar, who died last year after battling cancer, represented Bangalore South for six terms and had defeated IT czar Nandan Nilekani in the 2014 polls.
His wife Tejaswini, an aerospace engineer, runs an NGO Adamya Chetana in memory of her mother-in-law Girija Shastry, a staunch Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh loyalist, who was active in politics as the member of Bharatiya Jan Sangh, the earlier avatar of BJP.
Active in public life through the NGO, Tejaswini had worked as a scientist at Aeronautical Development Agency between 1993-1997 and also on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA - Tejas) project.
During her student days, she was very active in Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, and has also served as its state joint secretary and the national executive member.
The Karnataka BJP core committee had proposed only Tejaswini's name, according to Padmanabhanagar MLA and former deputy chief minister R Ashok.
Tejaswini was also confident about fighting the poll on BJP ticket and had been preparing for it and had started the door-to-door campaign when the suprise decision came.
The party plumped for Surya from the RSS stable. Besides being a part of the BJP social media campaign team, he heads the the party's state IT cell.
He will take on Congress Rajya Sabha member B K Hariprasad.
"OMG OMG!!! I can't believe this. PM of world's largest democracy & President of largest political party have reposed faith in a 28 yr old guy to represent them in a constituency as prestigious as B'lore South. This can happen only in my BJP," Surya tweeted, reacting to the announcement.
The reason behind projecting Surya, said BJP sources, was to build a second line of young and talented leaders who can lead the party and the nation.
Endowed with oratorial skills, Surya was involved in strengthening the party base in Bengaluru as well as in coastal Karnataka, especially around Mangaluru and Udupi, the BJP strongholds.
Following the denial of ticket to Tejaswini, her loyalists made a bee-line to her house.
A group of her supporters shouted slogans, saying she should have been given the ticket.
Tejaswaini, however, insisted that she remained loyal to party and she accepted their decision to ensure 'NaMo Again'.
"I urge all the BJP karyakartas, friends and well wishers who are anxious and upset & still visting our house in large numbers, time to show we are a party with a difference. We are all committed to tread the path of ideology. And work for #NamoAgain2019," she said in a tweet.
Later talking to reporters, she said there can be some sense of dissatisfaction because things did not happen according to one's beliefs.
"It is but natural. But above all is the decision of the party... I have been telling my party workers, whatever the party has decided will remain binding on me. Nation first, party next and my interests come last," she added.
Highly politically conscious Bangalore South has remained anti-Congress since 1977, barring once when former late chief minister R Gundu Rao got elected in the 1989 polls.
Bangalore South has eight assembly segments, with BJP holding five and Congress three after the 2018 assembly polls.
True to its cosmopolitan nature, the constituency has considerable share of Brahmin, Vokkaliga and Muslim voters and a mix of upper and middle class voters.
The constituency was under the hold of the erstwhile Janata Party after the 1977, 1980 and 1984 general elections and from 1991-2014 in successive parliament elections, BJP has maintained its grip, mostly with Ananth Kumar, who first got elected to Lok Sabha in 1996, as MP.
Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who has been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party for about three decades, will join the Congress at New Delhi on March 28, a senior party leader said on Tuesday.
"Shatrughan Sinha will join Congress in New Delhi on March 28 at 11.30 am ... He will be our candidate from Patna Sahib", chairman for the state Congress election campaign committee Akhilesh Prasad Singh told newsmen.
Sinha is a two-term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib Singh but has been dropped by the saffron party which has chosen to field union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat.
Sinha has been openly critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Speculation had been rife for some time that he would join the Congress, which is an ally of the 'Mahagathbandhan' which also consists of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and other local parties.
Asked whether Sinha would be induced in the party in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi, as was being speculated in the media, Singh said Top leaders will be present on the occasion".
Sources in the Mahagathbandhan had recently claimed that there was a tug of war between the Congress and RJD over Sinha's candidature as Lalu Prasad's party, with which the 'Bihari Babu' shares cordial relations, was said to be keen on fielding him on its own symbol.
Congress has been contesting from Patna Sahib whenever it has fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the RJD and Singh's statement indicate that decks have been cleared for Sinha's candidature by the Congress leadership.
Singh, however, dodged queries about Kirti Azad, another BJP MP who had recently joined the Congress saying he will be contesting elections. From where, it will be decided by the party.
Azad is serving his second consecutive term in the Lok Sabha from Darbhanga and the Congress wants to field him from the seat as the constituency has a large population of Maithil Brahmins its traditional supporters.
RJD has been insisting that it has won the Darbhanga seat many times and would like to contest it again with its senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui as its candidate.
The New Hartford Land Trusts annual meeting will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. at New Hartford Town Hall, 530 Main Street, 3rd Floor. The events special guest is John Mimmelman, an author, naturalist and illustrator who co-founded the Connecticut Butterfly Association, presenting Butterfly Neighbors
This presentation will introduce all to the butterflies and moths in this area and answer questions about the lives and preferences of this fascinating group of insects. Himmelman will discuss butterfly families and species, life cycles, finding butterflies, and creating butterfly habitats. There will be a fun section on moths, cousins of the butterflies.
TORRINGTON Owen Quinn, executive director of the United Way of Northwest Connecticut, and his team of tax assistance volunteers, are offering their services through April 11.
This change is only possible because of the expanded number of volunteers we were able to recruit this year. And because of those volunteers, we were able to have close to a dozen of them become certified at the advanced level, giving them advance certification to become quality reviewers, said Quinn. The new system means an initial tax return once completed by a VITA volunteer is immediately referred to a quality review that reviews the return for accuracy and completeness and is then filed with the IRS before the customer leave the VITA site.
Authorities at China's top science university have suspended a professor from teaching duties after he criticized President Xi Jinping's constitutional amendments allowing him to serve an indefinite term in office.
Tsinghua University law professor Xu Zhangrun was recently notified by school authorities to cease performing any duties, and banned from teaching and counseling students, sources told RFA.
The move comes after Xu published an article last July hitting out at the return of totalitarianism under the ruling Chinese Communist Party, including the abolition of presidential term limits and a cult of personality around Xi.
He called for amendments nodded through by China's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC) in 2018 to be revoked, and for an end to massive international expenditure to boost China's influence overseas, as well as legislation requiring officials to publish details of their assets and financial interests.
Xu also published articles in November and January hitting out at "red" imperialism and calling for an upgrade to China's political system.
A friend of Xu's who requested anonymity confirmed to RFA on that he had been relieved of his duties at Tsinghua, although he remains on the payroll.
An employee who answered the phone at the Tsinghua University law school declined to comment on .
"We're not clear about this ... this wouldn't be for us to decide," the employee said.
'High-handed behavior'
Beijing-based writer Zhang Yihe called on fellow Chinese intellectuals to stand with Xu.
"There are many people talking about this in intellectual circles, but not many of them are brave enough to stand up," Zhang said. "Deep down, everyone, whether they are an intellectual or an ordinary citizen, is scared."
"One shouldn't underestimate what is going on in China right now," he said. "We should take a very clear stance, regardless of whether we are on the left or right of politics, that it is unacceptable for an elite professor like Xu Zhangrun to be suspended from teaching class over one or two articles."
"Everyone should be brave and speak out about this. Tsinghua University shouldn't be allowed to get away with such high-handed behavior," Zhang said.
Zhang Lun, an economics professor at the University of Selci Pontoise in France, said Xu's fate was sealed as soon as he published his articles, however.
"There are very few voices like Xu Zhangrun's in China right now ... who are willing to point out that the emperor has no clothes," Zhang Lun said. "I was pretty sure that Xu would be retaliated against as soon as those articles came out."
"It would be strange if they didn't go after him, given Xi Jinping's insistence on social control and his throttling of freedom of expression," he said. "Chinese intellectuals should continue to speak out against such oppression and persecution."
Xia Yeliang, a former economics professor at Peking University who now lives in the United States, agreed.
"The Chinese Communist Party will come after you, regardless of whether you criticize them gently or more directly and openly," Xia said. "Academics who criticize the party's autocratic rule should be under no illusions; you can't give them advice in good faith ... you have to abandon these illusions and take the fight to them."
New ideological campaign targets intellectuals
Xu, 57, also served as the director of the Center for the Rule of Law and Human Rights at Tsinghua, and as a special researcher at the liberal Unirule Institute, which was shut down by the authorities last year.
Last August, the Chinese government announced a new ideological campaign targeting the country's intellectuals, particularly those who may not be "patriotic" enough.
The campaign was based on remarks by President Xi Jinping on "carrying forward the spirit of patriotic struggle," state news agency Xinhua reported at the time, citing a joint statement from the party's organization and propaganda departments.
The campaign seeks to wage "unremitting struggle" among intellectuals so as to "strengthen unity," it said.
In practical terms, all departments are being ordered to strengthen propaganda work, including "interpretation" of Xi's directives, by organizing study sessions for intellectuals, the agency said.
Such sessions must "enhance the ideological identity, emotional identity, and value identification" of intellectuals in Xi's "new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics," the directive states.
Individuals may also be singled out for such work, it said.
Departments at all levels are required to submit concrete plans for the implementation of the directive, the report said.
Bao Tong, a former top aide to late ousted premier Zhao Ziyang, has said the current regime is mimicking late supreme leader Mao Zedong in its approach to the party line.
Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Tam Siu-yin for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Wang Yun for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Authorities in China are holding a prominent parent campaigner under criminal detention after she helped to organized protests over faulty vaccines last month.
He Fangmei, the mother of a baby made sick by a faulty vaccine, was initially detained by police from her home province of Henan on Feb. 25 during a protest by parents of children affected by faulty vaccines outside the National Health Commission in Beijing, rights groups said.
She was taken to an unofficial detention center at Majialou on the outskirts of the capital, before being sent back to her home city of Xinjiang on under escort.
He, who is also known by her online nickname Shisanmei, was handed a 15-day administrative sentence on her arrival in Xinxiang.
But instead of releasing her, the authorities issued a notice of criminal detention dated , and are continuing to hold her on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," according to the Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) network.
She is currently being held at Xinxiang Detention Center.
"He Fangmei and her husband have been part of a group of victims and their families protesting government mishandling of scandals over faulty vaccines after the couples daughter got very sick," CHRD said in a statement on its website.
"They have faced reprisals since for calling for accountability and protection for victims, including brief detention, denial of passports, and eviction from their home," the group said.
He's last communication via Twitter was dated Feb. 26.
"We were protesting injustice outside the National Health Commission, when a journalist came over to interview us," He's tweet said. "Then they went to interview the head of the vaccine control center, Gao Fu, who told them that Chinese vaccines are the safest in the world."
'Picking quarrels and stirring up trouble'
He had earlier posted a video clip of the protest to Twitter, which showed them chanting: "Vaccinating us to death! Give us back our health! Give us back our kids! Emergency treatment now! Long-term care later!"
Around 30 parents of children made sick by substandard and expired vaccines gathered outside the National Health Commission headquarters on Feb. 22, ahead of the annual parliamentary sessions in Beijing, calling on the government to deliver on earlier promises of assistance.
He Fangmei told RFA at the time that the parents-turned-activists were hoping to use heightened media attention around the National People's Congress (NPC) meeting in early March to publicize their families' grievances.
"We want the government to finish work on a Vaccine Law, taking into account suggestions from parents like us," she said. "That includes early intervention and treatment and guarantees in the longer term."
"We also want to see the health checks we were promised for our children implemented, and proper diagnoses made," she said.
Authorities in the northern province of Hebei also detained rights activist Yuanping on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," his friend told RFA.
, who is being held under administrative detention in the Shijiazhuang Detention Center, is accused of "forwarding inappropriate comments" using his Twitter account.
He had previously spoken up in support of families affected by tainted vaccines.
An employee who answered the phone at the Shijiazhuang police department on declined to give details, however.
"I don't really know, because we're not the department handling this case," the employee said.
Parents who campaign are detained and beaten
President Xi Jinping demanded a thorough investigation into last year's tainted vaccine scandal at Changchun Changsheng Biotech, and promised severe punishment for those responsible.
But the authorities repeatedly detain, beat, and even "disappear" parent campaigners, who want the government to face up to its responsibilities and give the families hit by faulty vaccines compensation to help with mounting medical bills.
The Changchun incident was only the latest in a string of public health scandals surrounding fake, substandard, and expired vaccines that have had a devastating impact on the health of young children and on their immediate family.
Many parents say they were initially promised compensation and help with medical expenses, but that the assistance never materialized. Many are still seeking redress from similar scandals that occurred years ago.
Several human rights defenders working on socio-economic rights issues have been detained just days after the close of Chinas third human rights review in Geneva, CHRD said.
The timing of the detentions indicates that authorities waited until after the end of the highly public scrutiny of Chinas rights records at the United Nations to crack down on the activists.
This year will see a number of politically sensitive anniversaries, including the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, the group said.
Reported by Tam Siu-yin for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Wang Yun for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
North Korea is experimenting with private real estate ownership in the city of Rason, part of a special economic zone located in the countrys northeastern corner near China and Russia.
Private ownership of houses is technically illegal in North Korea. The constitution states that all property is owned by the state, and the government typically grants living spaces to its citizens for specific periods of time.
According to two June reports by United Press International, the rights to living spaces were being bought and sold as a loophole around this technicality. North Korea was said in one of the reports to be undergoing a real estate development boom as homes were coming to be owned by the state in name only.
RFA sources report that the government is trying out a de jure private ownership system in Rason. It will price state-owned houses and sell them to their current residents.
[The city] recently announced the requirements for home buyers to take ownership of their state-owned houses, said a source in North Hamgyong province in an interview with RFAs Korean Service on Mar. 19.
[The country] is planning to privatize ownership of houses and people are really interested in this, said the source.
According to an announcement [by the city government], they will set a value for each house and if residents make payments, [the city] will give them the ownership of their house.
In North Korea, no one could own a house until now. It was impossible even for the rich and powerful, the source said, adding, People have been exchanging their houses or selling their rights to live in their houses but the state still had the ownership.
The benefit of ownership will not be restricted only to those with the cash flow to purchase a home outright. The government wants to make ownership more widely available.
[Buyers] can make a payment in full, or they can make monthly payments for up to 25 years, the source said.
Just as in real estate markets around the world, each home will have a different value based on a number of factors, chief of which will be location.
The value of houses is dependent upon location and convenience in the surrounding area, access to transportation, year built and [amount of living space], said the source.
The source was able to estimate the approximate value of the citys homes, saying, It is about $1-5 per square meter. There are cheaper homes in suburban areas that will go for as low as 300 Chinese Yuan ($44.71). But downtown apartments will cost more than $5,000.
There are people who would want to pay that amount to become homeowners, the source said.
Legitimate home ownership may be cheaper than the de facto system in place.
People make deals for apartments in the city, and pay tens of thousands of dollars to each other. But now people can have the right of ownership of their current house with much less, said the source.
Under the new plan there will still be limits on ownership. Buyers will not be able to purchase more than one home.
Even if you have a lot of money, you cant own any property unless you are currently living in it, the source said.
Regardless of the restrictions, Rason residents are quite enthusiastic about the idea of owning a home.
A second source from Rason said, Ever since [the city] administration committee announced the new system, the housing market has been on fire!
The rich and high ranking government officials are all busy getting ready to buy their houses, said the source, adding, Once they pay for the house [it will be theirs], so they are all doing their best to find ways to buy their house, the source said.
If the experiment proves successful, the source expects a real estate craze to sweep the entire country.
Nationwide privatization of state-owned houses depends on Rason. This experiment is just a small step, but it is the first case of the state recognizing private ownership since the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [in 1948].
Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
The Arakan National Party (ANP) received a blow last week when its leader, Aye Maung, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for high treason to be served concurrently with an additional two-year term for defamation of the state for a speech he made in January 2018 in Myanmars volatile Rakhine state. During the speech he is said to have accused the ethnic Bamar-dominated ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) government of treating the ethnic Rakhine people like slaves.
A year later, the Arakan Army (AA), a Buddhist Rakhine military fighting for autonomy in the state, was branded a terrorist organization by the Myanmar government after it killed 13 officers during raids on police outposts. Arakan fighters killed nine other officers in a similar attack in early March. The clashes which flared up late last year have claimed the lives of 24 civilians and 22 policemen and displaced thousands of residents. A day after Aye Maung was sentenced, the ANP formed a commission to investigate the civilian deaths and determine which side is responsible for recent shelling that damaged heritage sites in the ancient town of Mrauk-U.
One member of the commission is Oo Hla Saw, an ethnic Rakhine lawmaker who represents Mrauk-U in Myanmars lower house of parliament. He is also a leader of the ANP, the dominant ethnic political party in the western state. The ANP receives its greatest support from Rakhine Buddhists, the largest ethnic group in the impoverished and religiously and ethnically divided state. The Burma Task Force, a coalition of American and Canadian Muslim organizations, has said that the ANP is extremely xenophobic and has a specifically anti-Rohingya and Islamophobic platform when it comes to Rohingya Muslims who live in Rakhine state. More than 740,000 Rohingya Muslims, viewed by Myanmar as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, fled Rakhine during a vicious military crackdown in 2017.
In an exclusive interview with reporter Kyaw Min Htun of RFAs Myanmar Service, Oo Hla Saw discusses the work of the investigative commission, the jailing of Aye Maung, and what needs to be done to resolve Rakhine's states complicated issues.
RFA: Can you tell me about the investigation committee formed by ANP?
Oo Hla Saw: We know the ongoing armed conflicts will not be over anytime soon. There havent been any armed conflicts in Rakhine state for a long time. As far as I remember, there was one called the General Offensives in 1980. Apart from that, there has not been any heavy fighting in the past 40 years. There had been intense fighting in northern Shan, Kachin, and Karen states, but not us. We thought these conflicts would not diminish, [and] just as we thought, they are getting bigger. As for the people, some are frightened, while others are very motivated about them. There is growing misery among the people. The worst thing is when the conflict spread to archeological sites. A party's statement is not enough. It needs more than that. We are going to investigate all these issues independently to produce an impartial research paper. It will become a part of the historical record. We will distribute it among the public and to the media. We will also submit it to the leaders of the country.
RFA: Aye Maung, the former ANP leader who is still technically a leader of the party, has received a lengthy prison sentence. There has been widespread criticism of the authorities' decision to give such a sentence to a prominent Rakhine leader. As a Rakhine party leader yourself and as a colleague of Aye Maung, what is your opinion of the prison sentence?
Oo Hla Saw: To put it bluntly, I absolutely denounce that prison sentence. It should not be, especially as it comes from a government that assured it would have a policy of having no more political prisoners in this democratic society. It is unlawful to charge and imprison a democratically elected leader. In a democratic society, everyone is entitled to share his opinions freely. Freedom of expression is the fundamental principle of democracy. [Aye Maungs] speech was framed as incitement, and he was charged with high treason. The truth is he didnt have an army or possess any weapons not even a needle to commit high treason. Besides, he was prosecuted with three charges for a single incident. Our lawyers pointed out that that is not in line with the law. But he was still convicted. It is a very harsh decision. To put it more bluntly, it is undemocratically impertinent and authoritarian.
Like I said, people in Rakhine state have different feelings about the AAs emergence. Some are frightened, but others especially young people are very motivated to join them. Its a reflection that the young people of Rakhine are not satisfied with the current democratic transition. They view it as something that has nothing in it for them since our whole Rakhine state is still in poverty. They see the central government has no efficient control over the state government to bring prosperity and opportunities to the state. With the armed conflict spreading to Mrauk-U, more and more people sympathizing with the AA, and [the court] giving a very harsh sentence to a Rakhine party leader, it is like the [central government] keeps creating misery for the Rakhine people. It has led people to radicalization.
RFA: You said earlier that the current Rakhine state government does not see eye to eye with the Rakhine people. Can you give specifics? In what ways has the Rakhine state government led by Nyi Pu of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party acted against the wishes of the Rakhine people?
Oo Hla Saw: The leadership of the Rakhine state cabinet doesnt know what is happening on the ground. Especially on the Muslim issue, they should be consulting with the Rakhines. The Rakhine people have different attitudes toward Muslims. Some are frightened. Some are friendly. Some view them in a balanced and fair manner, but others are extreme. They should have engaged with all the people, but they didnt. They dont know what is happening in townships like Buthidaung and Maungdaw. They only followed the leaders from Naypyidaw when they visited. Everything they said is incorrect. Besides, they didnt do anything to improve the unemployment issue and bring opportunities to the locals. There is also rampant corruption, especially in awarding tenders to businessmen. They didnt take any action [on this], though they know it well. All in all, people from Rakhine state havent seen any signs of improvement during the five-year term of this government. I have visited all 14 capital cities of [Myanmars] states and regions. Rakhine state's capital Sittwe is the most dilapidated and hopeless of all of them. The management is very incompetent, so people have lost faith in the democratic transition.
As we all know, the Muslim issue is still a very pressing one in Rakhine state. Then there is the conflict concerning the AA. On top of that, China is very aggressive in promoting its investments. We Rakhine party leaders have met the Chinese ambassador. I found him very aggressive. He was dictatorial and told us only what he wants.
RFA: What must be done to resolve Rakhine states complicated issues?
Oo Hla Saw: There are such delicate and complicated issues in Rakhine state. The Union government is not working efficiently. I dont think the current NLD-appointed Rakhine state government has the capacity to resolve these issues either. I would like to suggest letting [the ANP] get involved and working together. We would like to work with the NLD government. We have plenty of ideas and contributions to make. We have talked about that with the NLD leadership, [and] Aung San Su Kyi has said, I will take care of it. Thats it. It shut us out. In reality, she cant manage. There are several pressing issues going on in the whole country. The masterminding of The Lady alone is not enough, but now they wont let us get involved. Now relations between the NLD and the ethnic parties, relations between the NLD and the military, and civilian-military relationships in parliament are all getting worse. How can national reconciliation be possible under those conditions? Will reducing the tensions and reconciliation ever be possible?
Reported by Kyaw Min Htun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Khin Maung Zaw, a Myanmar attorney representing jailed Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, speaks to the media outside the Supreme Court in Naypyidaw, Feb. 1, 2019.
Myanmars Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to rule on an appeal filed by lawyers representing two Reuters journalists sentenced to seven years in jail for violating the countrys colonial-era Official Secrets Act while they reported on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims during a brutal military-led crackdown in Rakhine state.
Reporters Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, were arrested in December 2017 while pursuing a story about the extrajudicial killings of 10 Rohingya in northern Rakhine's Inn Din village, after policemen they had met for dinner handed them papers related to security operations in the state.
A Yangon court sentenced the journalists to seven years in jail in September 2018 for possessing classified government documents.
Their lawyers filed an appeal with the Supreme Court on Feb. 1 based on a lack of proof and evidence that the two men had been set up by police, after a previous appeal filed with the Yangon Regional High Court on Jan. 11 had been rejected.
Attorney Khin Maung Zaw said Tuesday that during submission of the appeal to the court he cited 13 grounds on which he believed judicial procedure had been violated.
He also said it was unusual that the court accepted the appeal based on legal precedents involving the right to information and state secrets laws in other Asian countries.
The judge cited Singaporean and Indian rulings in the appeal, he said.
The essence of these rules is that the right to information will not prevail when it comes into conflict with the Official Secrets Act, he said.
Though Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who are jailed in Yangons Insein Prison, did not attend the hearing, their wives traveled to the capital with their young children to show their support.
We want to be together as a family as soon as possible, said Chit Su Win, wife of Kyaw Soe Oo. We have been dreaming about our times together. I believe the appeal for them will succeed.
Wa Lone's wife, Pan Ei, who gave birth to their first child last year while her husband was in prison, echoed the sentiment.
I dont understand well about the judiciary, but I simply want to be united with my husband, and I want both of them to be home as soon as possible, she said. Their health conditions are good.
No date was set for the pairs next appearance before the judge.
Ahead of the hearing, Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen J. Adler issued a statement that said: Myanmars Supreme Court has the opportunity to correct the serious miscarriage of justice inflicted on Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo for the last 15 months.
They are honest, admirable journalists who did not break the law, and they should be freed as a matter of urgency, he said.
Miscarriage of justice
Rights groups and diplomats have condemned the sentencing of the the reporters, saying their convictions have dealt a blow to freedom of the press in the developing democracy.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who defended the sentencing in September 2018, invited critics of the ruling to point out any miscarriage of justice and said that the reporters could appeal their sentences under due process of law.
She also maintained that their convictions had nothing to do with the suppression of press freedom and that they were jailed for handling classified documents about the crackdown during which roughly 740,000 Rohingya fled to safety in neighboring Bangladesh.
The United States, United Nations, and other critics have said that atrocities committed against the Rohingya amounted to ethnic cleansing, if not genocide, though the Myanmar government has denied the allegations.
Independent journalists have largely been forbidden to access to the areas where the crackdown occurred.
Dozens of journalists have been arrested under Myanmar's civilian-led government that came to power in 2016, earning the administration of Aung San Suu Kyi the wrath of rights groups for appearing to backpedal on press freedom after decades of stifling military rule in Myanmar.
Reported by Win Ko Ko Latt for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
UPDATED at 11:50 A.M. EST on 2019-04-1
China systematically impedes access to Tibet for U.S. diplomats and officials, journalists, and tourists, and when visits to the region are granted, they are highly restricted, the U.S. State Department said in a report that Beijing promptly dismissed as being full of bias and harmful to bilateral relations.
In 2018, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) was the only area of China for which the Chinese government required diplomats to request permission to visit, and Beijing denied five of the nine official requests for the U.S. diplomatic mission in China to visit the region, including one from Ambassador Terry Branstad, said the first annual report on U.S. access, submitted to Congress on Monday.
The State Department report was part of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act passed by U.S. lawmakers in December, which requires Washington by the end of this year to deny visas to Chinese officials in charge of implementing policies that restrict access for foreigners to Tibet.
When U.S. diplomats received permission through the TAR Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) to travel to the region, FAO and security personnel tightly chaperoned their trips, the report said, adding that local authorities in Tibetan areas of Sichuan province interrogated U.S. diplomats and denied them access to monasteries despite prior reassurance that they were free to travel there without diplomatic notes.
Tourists were required to obtain an official confirmation letter from the TAR government before entering the region, and were routinely denied access to the region during periods the Chinese government considered sensitive, including the March anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan Uprising against Chinese rule and the July birthday of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
China heavily restricted and controlled access for U.S. journalists to the TAR, and directly threatened to expel U.S. journalists reporting on developments in the regionthe only part of the country international reporters were required to obtain official permission to enter, the report said.
The U.S. State Department noted that journalists of Tibetan heritage also faced Chinese government restrictions on their personal travel to China, including an RFA Tibetan Service reporter who was interrogated by authorities at the Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou in August 2017 and refused entry into the country to visit his mother.
While diplomats and other officials, and journalists, were permitted to travel to Tibetan areas outside of the TAR, they were regularly subjected to monitoring by government representatives, and reporters were in some cases restricted from covering stories there.
The report said that U.S. diplomats observed an increased amount of Chinese surveillance over their movements from 2017 to 2018, while fewer international journalists applied for permission to visit Tibetan areas in 2018 due to what the Foreign Correspondents Club of China attributed to the apparent futility of applying.
The United States seeks reciprocity from China regarding the open access that China and many other countries enjoy in the United States, a State Department spokesman said in a statement issued Tuesday.
We will continue to work closely with Congress in pursuit of our shared goal of seeing Americans have full access to China, including the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas.
Bhuchung Tsering, vice president of Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet, told RFAs Tibetan Service Tuesday that justice will be done later this year, when the U.S. denies visas to Chinese officials in charge of implementing the policies that restrict U.S. access to Tibet.
It is a fact that Tibetans dont have any authority and the only authority over the welfare and prosperity of Tibetans inside Tibet is the Chinese government, he added.
Beijing responds
On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a press briefing in Beijing that the State Department report is in total disregard of facts and full of bias, and that China will by no means accept it.
He defended restrictions on travel to the region based on geographical and climatic conditions, and said Beijing encouraged foreigners to visit and conduct business there, provided they abide by Chinese laws and regulations.
We urge the U.S. to fully recognize the high sensitivity of Tibet-related issues, take concrete measures to remove the negative impact produced by the above-mentioned report, and stop using Tibet-related issues as a tool to interfere in China's internal affairs, so as to avoid damaging our bilateral relations, exchange and cooperation, he added.
Geng also called the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act a serious violation of the basic norms governing international relations that grossly interferes in Chinas internal affairs, and warned that the law is severely undermining China-U.S. cooperation.
In December, two young Tibetans set themselves ablaze in Ngaba (in Chinese, Aba) county in Sichuan province in opposition to Chinas rule, as well as political and religious repression in the TAR and other Tibetan areas.
Before the burnings, there were 155 self-immolations by Tibetans since the wave of fiery protests against nearly 70 years of Chinese rule of their homeland began in 2009.
China maintains that it peacefully liberated the TAR, and that Tibetans enjoy freedom and economic growth it brought to the region.
Reported and translated by RFAs Tibetan Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
A Vietnamese activist serving a seven-year prison term for his role in protesting a chemical waste spill three years ago on Vietnams coast ended a 12-day hunger strike earlier this month, a day after his family visited him in jail, his sister said.
Nguyen Thi Hue told RFAs Vietnamese Service that her brother, Nguyen Van Hoa, who staged his hunger strike to call for police officers and prison guards who assaulted him to be punished, sent the family a letter mailed on March 6 which arrived on Monday.
In the letter Hoa writes that he stopped the hunger strike on March 6 after 12 days. Our family visited him on March 5 and had advised him to stop, she told RFA. Hoa is being held in at An Diem prison in south-central Vietnams Quang Nam province.
Hoa wrote that he got help from other political prisoners during his hunger strike days, said Hue, who said her brother in his letter also thanked a U.S. diplomat from the embassy in Hanoi who had shown concern for him.
It was not clear whether authorities had taken any action on Hoas demand that an investigation be carried out into beatings he received in detention in 2017 and later in 2018, when he was brought from prison to testify in the trial of another detainee.
Hoa, aged 22, was jailed by the Peoples Court of Ha Tinh in Nghe An province on Nov. 27, 2018 after filming protests outside the Taiwan-owned Formosa Plastics Group steel plant whose spill in 2016 killed an estimated 115 tons of fish and left fishermen and tourism industry workers jobless in four central provinces.
Hoa, who blogged and produced videos for RFA, was arrested on Jan. 11 for abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state under Article 258 of the Penal Code, but the charges against him were upgraded in April to the more severe "conducting propaganda against the state" under Article 88.
Held for nine days at the Ha Tinh police station following his arrest, Hoa was hung by his hands and beaten by eight police officers, who also threw water in his face, one of Hoas petitions says, listing the names of the officers who attacked him.
On Aug. 18, 2018, after being brought to testify at another activists trial in Nghe An, Hoa was taken by police guards to an isolated room where he was again beaten and verbally abused, with guards from the team transferring him from his prison to the court taking part, Hoas petition reads.
Hoas petition notes that physical abuse in custody is prohibited by Vietnams own constitution and laws, and by the U.N.s International Convention on Civil and Political and Rights.
New York-based Human Rights Watch has said that police brutality is systemic in Vietnam, whose own Ministry of Public Security has admitted that 226 suspects and inmates died in police stations and detention facilities throughout the country between October 2010 and September 2014.
Prominent blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, known as Mother Mushroom and one of the best-known of Vietnams roughly 130 political prisoners before her release into exile last year, had documented 31 cases of mysterious deaths in police custody before being imprisoned for her online writings criticizing the government.
Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by An Nguyen. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
KALININGRAD, Russia -- An 18-year-old Russian activist has become the first person punished under a new law that prohibits adults from encouraging minors to take part in unauthorized protests.
In a ruling late on March 25, a court in the Baltic port city of Kaliningrad ruled that Ivan Luzin violated the law by involving two 16-year-old girls in an unsanctioned demonstration and fined him 30,000 rubles ($465).
Under the law signed by President Vladimir Putin in December, offenders can be punished by jail terms of up to 15 days, community service, and fines of up to 50,000 rubles ($775).
Civil-society activists say the law is part of a persistent effort by Putin's government to stifle dissent and restrict street protests.
It was proposed and passed amid apparent Kremlin concern over the participation of teenagers in several protest in recent years, including demonstrations organized by opposition politician Aleksei Navalny.
In February 2018, Putin called on the Interior Ministry to "vigorously put an end" to the activities of groups he said encourage teenagers to participate in unsanctioned protests.
State media have sometimes devoted particular attention to the participation of minors, and the exact numbers are unclear.
Some critics say the government has overstated the role of children in such protests, and Kremlin opponents fear the legislation could be used to discredit opponents by suggesting they are roping children in and putting them at risk
Luzin is a supporter of Navalny and a member of the unregistered Libertarian Party.
He was charged after a demonstration in downtown Kaliningrad in which he and two girls held posters expressing support for a pair of jailed activists who claim they were tortured in custody.
The following summarizes the FCPA Docket for individuals, which includes all known FCPA-related ongoing prosecutions, fugitives, sentencings, and pending appeals.
This information is current as of March 25, 2019.
FCPA-Related Ongoing Prosecutions
Uriel Sharef, Herbert Steffen, Ulrich Bock, Stephan Signer, Carlos Sergi and Miguel Czysch (DOJ | SDNY 11-1056): The DOJ charged eight defendants, all former senior executives with or agents of Siemens AG or one of its subsidiaries, on December 13, 2011. In addition to the above listed executives, Eberhard Reichert, a German national and former executive of Siemens Business Services, agreed to be extradited to the United States after his September 2017 arrest in Croatia and pleaded guilty on March 15, 2018, while Andres Truppel, an Argentinian national and the former CFO of Siemens Argentina, pleaded guilty on September 30, 2015. Both Reichert and Truppel are still awaiting sentencing (see Pending Sentencings below). No trial date has been scheduled for the other defendants, who remain at large. As non-U.S. nationals (either German or Argentinian) currently living abroad, these defendants will likely require extradition to be tried.
Dmitry Firtash, Andras Knopp, Suren Gevorgyan, Gajebdra Lal, Periyasamy Sunderalingam, and KVP Ramachandra Rao (DOJ | NDIL 13-515): The DOJ charged the defendants, all non-U.S. nationals, under seal on June 20, 2013, in connection with an alleged racketeering conspiracy in India, and later unsealed the charges on April 2, 2014. Firtash, a Ukrainian national, was arrested in March 2014 and released after posting $174 million in bail. According to the indictment, Firtash controls Group DF, a company named, but not charged, along with several other companies reportedly associated with Firtash. The United States sought to extradite Firtash, but had its request rejected by an Austrian court on April 30, 2015. This ruling was overturned on appeal on February 21, 2017, but on December 12, 2017, the Austrian Supreme Court stayed Firtashs extradition pending its review of the appellate court decision, and the court has not yet issued a ruling. On August 27, 2018, Firtash and Knopp filed a motion to dismiss in U.S. federal court, arguing that the FCPA charge should be thrown out based on the 2nd Circuits decision on U.S. v. Hoskins (see immediately below). The court has not yet ruled on the motion. Outside of Firtash, the other defendants are still at large, and no trial dates are currently scheduled. As non-U.S. nationals currently living abroad, these defendants will likely require extradition to be tried. (Note: Rao, a Member of Parliament in India, has only been charged non-FCPA offenses).
Lawrence Hoskins (DOJ | DCCN 12-238): The DOJ charged Hoskins, the former Senior Vice-President of Alstom Asia, in a superseding indictment against William Pomponi, the former Vice-President of Regional Sales for Alstom SAs U.S. subsidiary, on July 30, 2013. Pomponi pleaded guilty on July 17, 2014, but passed away in 2016 while awaiting sentencing. In contrast, Hoskins has sought to have the charges against him dismissed. Although on December 30, 2014, the Court denied Hoskins initial motion to dismiss, on August 14, 2015, the Court agreed to strike the conspiracy count against him on the grounds that Hoskins, a non-U.S. citizen/domestic concern, was not Alstoms agent and so could not be prosecuted under the FCPA for conduct occurring outside the territory of the United States. On March 16, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut affirmed its earlier ruling that a non-resident foreign national cannot be charged with conspiracy to violate the FCPA (or with aiding and abetting a violation of the FCPA) unless the government can show that he acted either as an agent of a domestic concern or while physically present in the United States. DOJ appealed to the 2nd Circuit on April 4, 2016 (2d Cir. 16-01010). On August 24, 2018, the Second Circuit ruled that individuals can only be charged with conspiracy under the FCPA if they are directly covered by the statute. Hoskins still faces money laundering charges, and his trial is set for September 9, 2019.
Ban Ki Sang (DOJ | SDNY 16-cr-0831) and Sang Woo (DOJ | SDNY 17-0139): The DOJ charged Ban, a South Korean construction executive, along with his son Joo Hyun Bahn, a New York commercial real estate broker, and Malcolm Harris, an arts and fashion consultant and blogger, under seal in an indictment on December 15, 2016 (unsealing the charges on January 10, 2017). The DOJ subsequently charged Sang Woo and Andrew Simon, Manhattan-based commercial real estate brokers, in separate but related criminal complaints on January 10, 2017, and October 17, 2017, respectively. Woo and Bahn, both South Korean nationals and U.S. permanent residents, were arrested on January 10, 2017, while Harris was arrested on January 13, 2017. It is not clear when Simon was arrested. Harris pleaded guilty to a non-FCPA offense on June 21, 2017, and was sentenced on October 13, 2017. Bahn pleaded guilty on January 5, 2018, and was sentenced on September 6, 2018 (see Recent Dismissals, Sentencings, and Denials below). Simon pleaded guilty under seal on March 30, 2018, and was sentenced on February 25, 2019 (see Recent Dismissals, Sentencings, and Denials below). Woo, whose case had been continued until May 12, 2017, is reportedly in the midst of negotiating a potential plea. Finally, Ban, a South Korean national, remains at large. As a non-U.S. national living abroad, Ban will likely require extradition to be tried.
Michael L. Cohen (DOJ | EDNY 17-00544): The DOJ indicted Cohen, a former Och-Ziff executive, on FCPA-related charges under seal on October 5, 2017. The indictment was unsealed on January 3, 2018. Cohen, a dual U.S. and U.K. national, pleaded not guilty on June 27, 2018. No trial date has yet been scheduled. Separately, the SEC charged Cohen and his colleague Vanja Baros on related grounds on January 26, 2017, but the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed case on July 12, 2018 (see Dismissals, Sentencings, and Denials).
Joseph Baptiste and Roger Richard Boncy (DOJ | D Mass 17-10305): The DOJ charged Baptiste, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, under seal on August 28, 2017, and unsealed the complaint on August 29, 2017, the same day Baptiste was arrested. On October 5, 2017, the DOJ issued an indictment against Baptiste that included an additional charge. Trial is currently scheduled for Baptiste on June 3, 2019. On October 30, 2018, Roger Richard Boncy was charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA, among other charges. The DOJ filed a superseding indictment on October 30, 2018, to include an additional count against Boncy for conspiracy to commit money laundering. No trial date for Boncy is currently scheduled.
Mark Lambert (DOJ | D. Md. 18-0002): The DOJ charged Lambert, the former co-president of a Maryland-based company that transports nuclear materials, under seal on January 10, 2018, and unsealed the 11-count indictment on January 16, 2018. No trial date is currently scheduled for Lambert, who reportedly rejected a pre-indictment plea, as well as a second plea agreement offered in October 2018.
Petros Contoguris, Azat Martirossian, and Vitaly Leshkov (DOJ | SDOH 17-233): The DOJ indicted Contoguris, a Greek national and the founder and chief executive officer of Gravitas & CIE International Ltd., on October 12, 2017, for activities related to the Rolls Royce enforcement action. Several other individuals, including James Finley, Keith Barnett, Aloysius Johannes Jozef Zuurhout, and Andreas Kohler, were indicted on related charges and have pleaded guilty (see Pending Sentences below). On May 24, 2018, the DOJ filed a superseding indictment also charging Azat Martirossian (an Armenian national) and Vitaly Leshkov (a Russian national), with money-laundering counts. On November 8, 2018, Martirossian filed a petition for a writ of mandamus with the Sixth Circuit, arguing that Mr. Martirossian is not personally subject to U.S. jurisdiction and that the extraterritorial reach of the statute under which he is charged is expressly limited. The appeal was dismissed and the writ of mandamus denied on March 7, 2019.
Nervis Gerardo Villalobos Cardenas (DOJ | SDTX 17-514): The DOJ indicted Villalobos and Luis Carlos De Leon Perez, both former employees of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), on August 23, 2017, and unsealed the indictment on February 12, 2018. Villalobos and De Leon were arrested in Spain in October 2017 pursuant to warrants issued based on the unsealed indictment. De Leon was subsequently extradited and pleaded guilty on July 16, 2018 (see Pending Sentences below). Villalobos is still awaiting extradition to the United States and does not yet have a trial date scheduled. Co-defendants Cesar David Rincon Godoy, Rafael Ernesto Reiter Munoz, and Alejandro Isturiz Chiesa were all charged with non-FCPA offenses.
Frank Roberto Chatburn Ripalda (DOJ | SDFL 18-20312): The DOJ indicted Ripalda, a U.S.-based financial advisor, on FCPA-related charges on April 19, 2018, and filed a superseding indictment on December 13, 2018. Ripalda was charged alongside Jose Larrea, another U.S.-based financial advisor, who pleaded guilty to a non-FCPA count on September 11, 2018. The men were charged in connection with a scheme to bribe officials from Empresa Publica de Hidrocarburos del Ecuador (PetroEcuador). Ripalda is contesting the charges, and his trial is scheduled for September 16, 2019.
Jose Manuel Gonzalez Testino (DOJ | SDFL 18-mj-03171): Testino, a U.S. citizen who controlled a number of U.S. and Panama-based energy companies that supplied equipment and services to PDVSA, was arrested in Florida on July 31, 2018, based on a sealed criminal complaint filed by the DOJ in the Southern District of Texas. Testino is the seventeenth individual charged in connection with the PDVSA scandal (see several other listings in both Ongoing Prosecutions and Pending Sentencings). The current status of Testinos prosecution is unclear, as the case remains under seal.
Ng Chong Hwa (Roger Ng) (DOJ | EDNY 18-538): The DOJ indicted Ng, a Malaysian national who formerly served as managing director for Goldman Sachs in Malaysia, along with Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), a prominent Malaysian financial advisor, on October 3, 2018, in connection with the 1MDB bribery scandal. Ng was arrested in Malaysia on November 1, 2018, and waived his rights to challenge his extradition to the United States. Malaysian authorities have charged him with violating the Capital Markets and Services Act (CMSA), and it is likely that he will be extradited to the United States after facing charges in Malaysia. Low is a fugitive (see Fugitives below).
Gordon J. Coburn and Steven Schwartz (DOJ | DNJ 19-120) and (SEC | DNJ 19-cv-05820): The DOJ indicted Coburn and Schwartz, the president and chief legal officer, respectively, of Cognizant Technology Solutions on February 14, 2019. The SEC charged Coburn and Schwartz with related securities violations on the next day. No trial dates are currently scheduled in either the criminal or civil cases.
Gulnara Karimova and Bekhzod Akhmedov (DOJ | SDNY 19-165): The DOJ indicted Karimova, daughter of Uzbekistans former president, and Akhmedov, former head of Uzdunrobita (MTSs Uzbek subsidiary), on March 7, 2019, in connection with FCPA allegations relating to several recent FCPA settlements. Karimova is reportedly under house arrest in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Akhmedov escaped Uzbekistan and is believed to be residing in Moscow.
Rafael Enrique Pinto Franceschi and Franz Herman Muller Huber (DOJ | SDTX 19-135): The DOJ indicted Franceschi and Huber, executives at a Florida-based company, on February 26, 2019, in connection with the PDVSA bribery scheme (see several other listings in both Ongoing Prosecutions and Pending Sentencings). Franceschi and Huber were both arrested on March 1, 2019, and neither has yet entered a plea.
FCPA-Related Fugitives
Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) (DOJ | EDNY 18-538): The DOJ indicted Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), a prominent Malaysian financial advisor, along with Ng Chong Hwa (Roger Ng), a Malaysian national who formerly served as managing director for Goldman Sachs in Malaysia, on October 3, 2018, in connection with the 1MDB bribery case. Low is a fugitive who, according to the Malaysian government, is residing in a country that is not cooperating with extradition efforts. Ng was arrested in Malaysia on November 1, 2018 (see Ongoing Prosecutions above).
Raul Gorrin Belisario (DOJ | SDFL 18-80160): The DOJ unsealed an August 2018 indictment against Gorrin Belisario, a Venezuelan who owns the Globovision news network, on November 19, 2018. The charges relate to the alleged bribery of Alejandro Andrade Cedeno (a former Venezuelan national treasurer) among other Venezuelan officials. Belisario, a non-U.S. national living abroad, is considered a fugitive and his whereabouts are unknown.
Alain Riedo (DOJ | SDCA 13-3789): The DOJ charged Riedo, the former Vice-President and General Manager of Maxwell Technologies wholly owned Swiss subsidiary, on October 15, 2013, and an arrest warrant was issued the same day. No trial date is currently scheduled, with Reido still at large. Riedo is considered a fugitive and, as a non-U.S. national living abroad, will likely require extradition to be tried.
Jald Jensen (DOJ | NDOK 12-06): The DOJ charged Jensen, a former Sales Manager for Bizjet International, along with Bernd Kowalewski, the former CEO of Bizjet, on April 5, 2013. Kowalewski, who pleaded guilty in July 2014, was sentenced to time served on November 18, 2014. Jensen, a naturalized U.S. citizen who remains at large, is believed to be living outside of the United States and has no trial date currently scheduled. According to press reports, U.S. authorities believed they were close to extraditing Jensen from Panama in 2013.
Han Yong Kim (DOJ | CDCA 09-77): The DOJ charged Kim, the former president of CCIs Korean office, on April 8, 2009. Kim, a non-U.S. national, challenged his fugitive status in an attempt to contest his indictment without surrendering to U.S. authorities. The Ninth Circuit rejected his challenge in April 2014. The South Korean government has reportedly refused requests to extradite Kim because it does not consider the individuals Kim is accused of bribing to be public officials.
Washington Vasconez Cruz, and Cecilia Zurita, (DOJ | SDFL 09-21010): The DOJ initially charged Cruz, and Zurita, executives with the telecommunications companies Uniplex Telecom Technologies and Cinergy Telecommunications, in 2011, and issued a superseding indictment in 2012. Cruz and Zurita were declared fugitives on March 7, 2013, along with a third defendant, Amadeus Richers, who was arrested on February 23, 2017, pleaded guilty on July 19, 2017, and was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay a $100 fine on September 27, 2017. Numerous other individuals have been convicted in connection with this matter, including former co-defendants Joel Esquenazi and Carlos Rodriguez, who unsuccessfully appealed their 2011 convictions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Enrique Faustino Aguilar Noriega (DOJ | CDCA 10-1031): The DOJ charged Noriega in 2010, along with Linsday Manufacturing and several other defendants. Noriega was the Director of Grupo Internacional de Asesores SA, a sales agent hired by Lindsay Manufacturing. While Linsday Manufacturing and all the other individuals charged in connection with this case have had the charges against them dropped, Noreigas case is still listed as open. Although the United States has reportedly ended its efforts to extradite Noriega, he remains a fugitive.
James Tillery (DOJ | SDTX 08-22): The DOJ charged Tillery, a former executive for Willbros International, in 2008. Tillery was reportedly arrested in Nigeria in 2010, but immigration officials prevented the FBI from extraditing him without proper documentation. A Nigerian court later found the initial arrest of Tillery to be illegal and ordered him released. Nigerian police, however, reportedly refused to comply with this request. The status of U.S. efforts to extradite Tillery is unclear. Tillery remains a fugitive.
Edgar Valverde Acosta (DOJ | SDFL 06-20797): The DOJ charged Acosta, the President of Alcatel de Costa Rica and Senior Country Officer for Alcatel Lucent SA in Central America, in 2006. Acosta is considered a fugitive.
Victor Kozeny (DOJ | SDNY 05-518): The DOJ charged Kozeny, a Czech-born investor, in 2005. The United States attempted to extradite Kozeny from the Bahamas for years; however, the Bahamas court of last resort, the U.K. Privy Council, rejected the extradition request on March 28, 2012. Kozeny remains a fugitive.
Pablo Barquero Hernandez (DOJ | WDMO 01-190): The DOJ charged Hernandez, a former employee of Owl Securities and Investment, in 2001. Hernandez is considered a fugitive.
Joaquin Pou (DOJ | SDFL 89-802): The DOJ charged Pou, a former agent for AEA Aircraft Recovery, in 1989. Pou is considered a fugitive.
Ricardo Beltran and Mario Gonzalez (DOJ | SDTX 82-224): The DOJ charged Beltran and Gonzalez, both associated with Grupo Delta, in 1982. Beltran and Gonzalez are considered fugitives.
FCPA-Related Pending Sentencings
Andres Truppel (DOJ | SDNY 11-1056): The DOJ charged Truppel, an Argentinian national and the former Chief Financial Officer of Siemens Argentina, on December 13, 2011, alongside several other former senior executives of Siemens AG or its subsidiaries (see Ongoing Prosecutions above and Eberhard Reichert in this section). After initially challenging the DOJs attempts to extradite him, Truppel pleaded guilty on September 30, 2015. His sentencing date, previously set for April 14, 2017, was delayed, reportedly due to Truppels ill health, and does not appear to have been re-scheduled.
Daren Condrey (DOJ | DCMD 15-336): The DOJ charged Condrey, the Principal of Transport Logistics International, with FCPA-related charges on June 16, 2015. Condrey pleaded guilty on June 17, 2015. Two of Condreys co-conspirators, Vadim Mikerin (the former director of Tenex, a subsidiary of Russias State Atomic Energy Corporations) and Boris Rubizhevsky (a consultant to Mikerin) also pleaded guilty to related money-laundering counts last year, though neither was charged under the FCPA. Condreys sentencing was set for June 1, 2017. Numerous documents have been filed under seal since that date.
Fernando Ardila Rueda (DOJ | SDTX 17-515): The DOJ filed a criminal information against Rueda, part owner of several Florida-based businesses, on August 24, 2017, in connection with the PDVSA bribery scheme (see several other listings in both Ongoing Prosecutions and Pending Sentencings). Rueda pleaded guilty on October 11, 2017, and his sentencing is scheduled for May 9, 2019.
Charles Quintard Beech (DOJ | SDTX 17-00006) and Juan Jose Hernandez-Comerma (SDTX 17-00005): The DOJ charged Beech and Hernandez-Comerma, two executives from U.S.-based energy companies on January 4, 2017, in connection with the PDVSA-related bribery scheme (see several other listings in both Ongoing Prosecutions and Pending Sentencings). Beech and Hernandez-Comerma pleaded guilty on January 10, 2017. Hernandez-Comermas sentencing is scheduled for May 9, 2019; while Beechs sentencing is scheduled for July 30, 2019.
Frank James Lyon (DOJ | D Haw. 19-0008): The DOJ filed a criminal information against Lyon, owner of a Hawaii-based engineering and consulting company, on January 16, 2019. Lyon was charged alongside Master Halbert, an official with the Micronesian Department of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure, against whom the DOJ filed non-FCPA charges. Lyon pleaded guilty to an FCPA-related charge on January 22, 2019, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, 2019.
Julia Vivi Wang (DOJ | SDNY 18-20108): The DOJ filed a criminal information against Wang, a naturalized U.S. citizen and vice-president of South News (a U.N.-focused media outlet), on March 16, 2016, followed by a superseding information on July 21, 2016. Wang pleaded guilty on two FCPA counts, among others, on April 4, 2018. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2019.
Tim Leissner (DOJ | EDNY 18- 439): The DOJ filed a sealed criminal information against Leissner, the former chairman of Goldman Sachs in Southeast Asia, on August 28, 2018, in connection with the 1MDB bribery scandal. Leissner pleaded guilty on November 1, 2018, the same day the indictment was unsealed, and his sentencing is scheduled for June 28, 2019.
Jeffrey Chow (DOJ | EDNY 17-466): The DOJ unsealed charges against Chow, a former lawyer for Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd, on December 21, 2017. Chow pleaded guilty on August 29, 2017, and agreed to cooperate in the DOJs efforts to prosecute Keppel Offshore and certain former company executives. Chows sentencing is currently scheduled for July 17, 2019.
Moises Abraham Millan Escobar (DOJ |SDTX 16-009): The DOJ filed a criminal information against Escobar, an employee of Abraham Jose Shiera Bastidas, on January 7, 2016, in connection with the PDVSA-related bribery scheme (see several other listings in both Ongoing Prosecutions and Pending Sentencings). Escobar pleaded guilty on January 19, 2016, but the plea agreement remains under seal. The Court entered a $533,578 monetary judgment against Escobar on August 30, 2016, while sentencing in the case is scheduled for July 30, 2019.
Juan Carlos Castillo Rincon (SDTX 18-00200): The DOJ indicted Rincon, a Texas businessman, on an FCPA-related count on April 11, 2018. He was prosecuted in connection with the payment of alleged bribes to PDVSA official Jose Orlando Camacho, who pleaded guilty to a money-laundering count in July 2017. Ricon pleaded guilty on September 13, 2018, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30, 2019.
Roberto Enrique Rincon-Fernandez and Abraham Jose Shiera Bastidas (DOJ | SDTX 15-654): The DOJ charged Rincon and Bastidas, each the owner (together with others) of several closely held oil-related companies, on December 10, 2015. The defendants are among numerous individuals charged in connection with a scheme to scheme to corruptly secure contracts from Venezuelas state-owned and state-controlled energy company, PDVSA (see several other listings in both Ongoing Prosecutions and Pending Sentencings). Rincon pleaded guilty to both FCPA-related and non-FCPA charges on June 16, 2016. Bastidas pleaded guilty to FCPA-related and non-FCPA charges on March 22, 2016. Sentencing for both defendants is set for July 31, 2019.
Eberhard Reichert (DOJ | SDNY 11-1056): The DOJ charged Reichert, a German national and former executive of Siemens Business Services, on December 13, 2011, alongside several other former senior executives of Siemens AG or its subsidiaries (see Ongoing Prosecutions above and Andres Truppel in this section). Reichert, agreed to be extradited to the United States after his September 2017 arrest in Croatia. He pleaded guilty on March 15, 2018, and his sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
David Rothschild (DOJ | DCCN 12-223): The DOJ charged Rothschild, the former Vice President of Sales of Alstom USA, on November 2, 2012. Rothschild pleaded guilty to the FCPA-related charges on that same day, but his settlement was not unsealed until April 15, 2013. Rothschild sentencing has not yet been scheduled and the last entry on his docket is dated December 17, 2014.
James Finley, Aloysius Johannes Jozef Zuurhout, Keith Barnett, and Andreas Kohler (DOJ | SDOH 17-160, 17-122, 16-248, and 17-113): The DOJ charged the defendants, three of which are former Rolls-Royce employees, under seal on July 21, 2017, June 9, 2017, December 20, 2016, and June 6, 2017, respectively, and unsealed the charges on November 7, 2017. Finley, a former senior executive in energy at Rolls-Royce, pleaded guilty on July 28, 2017. Zuurhout, a former energy sales employee at Rolls-Royce, pleaded guilty on June 13, 2017. Barnett, a former regional director in energy at Rolls-Royce, pleaded guilty on December 20, 2016. And Kohler, a managing director at an unnamed international engineering and consulting firm, pleaded guilty on July 20, 2017. Sentencing dates for these four defendants have not been set. Another individual, Petros Contoguris, was also indicted, but has not entered a plea (see Ongoing Prosecutions above).
Luis Carlos De Leon Perez (DOJ | SDTX 17-514): The DOJ indicted De Leon and Nervis Gerardo Villalobos Cardenas, both former employees of PDVSA, on August 23, 2017, and unsealed the indictment on February 12, 2018. De Leon and Villalobos were arrested in Spain. De Leon was subsequently extradited and pleaded guilty on July 16, 2018, and his sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Villalobos is still awaiting extradition to the United States (see Ongoing Prosecutions above).
FCPA- Related Appeals
Dmitrij Harder (DOJ | EDPA 15-1; 3rd Cir. 17-2698): The DOJ charged Harder, the former owner and president of the Chestnut Group, on January 6, 2015, and then filed a superseding indictment on December 15, 2015. Harder pleaded guilty to FCPA-related charges on April 18, 2016. On July 18, 2017, Harder was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Despite waiving part of his right to appeal, Harder appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on August 7, 2017. The DOJ filed a motion in response requesting enforcement of the waiver. The Court rejected Harders economic benefit argument and ruled against Harder on November 9, 2018.
Recent FCPA-Related Dismissals, Sentencings and Denials
Ng Lap Seng and Jeff C. Yin (DOJ | SDNY 15-706): The DOJ filed a second superseding indictment against Macau billionaire Ng and his assistant Yin on November 22, 2016, that added FCPA counts to the original October 20, 2015 indictment charging Ng and Yin, alongside two other defendants, with a variety of non-FCPA offenses, and the June 30, 2016 superseding indictment charging Ng and Yin with an additional conspiracy count. Yin pleaded guilty on April 7, 2017, and was sentenced on March 26, 2018, to 7 months and 2 years of probation and ordered to pay $37,367 in restitution. Ng contested the charges against him and was convicted of both FCPA and non-FCPA counts at trial on July 27, 2017. He was sentenced on May 11, 2018, to 48 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a $1 million fine, a $1.5 million forfeiture, and $303,000 restitution to the United Nations.
Michael L. Cohen and Vanja Baros (SEC | EDNY 17-00430) The SEC charged Cohen and Baros, both former Och-Ziff executives, with FCPA-related charges on January 26, 2017. Cohen is a dual U.S. and U.K. national, while Baros is an Australian national living in the United Kingdom. On July 12, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the SECs case against both Cohen and Baros on the ground that the claims were time-barred. Separately, the DOJ indicted Cohen on related charges on January 3, 2018 (see Ongoing Prosecutions).
Joo Hyun Bahn (DOJ | SDNY 16-0831): The DOJ charged Bahn, a New York commercial real estate broker, under seal in an indictment on December 15, 2016 (unsealing the charges on January 10, 2017). He was charged alongside several other individuals in connection with an effort to bribe officials in Vietnam, including Malcolm Harris, an arts and fashion consultant and blogger, Ban ki Sang, a South Korean construction executive and Bahns father, and Sang Woo and Andrew Simon, Manhattan real estate brokers who were each charged in separate criminal complaints (see Ongoing Prosecutions above and this Recent Dismissals, Sentencings, and Denial section). Bahn, a South Korean national and U.S. permanent resident, was arrested on January 10, 2017. He pleaded guilty on January 5, 2018, and was sentenced on September 6, 2018, to 6 months imprisonment and ordered to disgorge $225,000.
Anthony Mace and Robert Zubiate (DOJ | SDTX 17-618 and 17-591): The DOJ filed FCPA-related criminal informations against Zubiate (a former Sales and Marketing Director for SBM) and Mace (the former CEO of SBM) on October 6, 2017, and October 19, 2017, respectively. Zubiate pleaded guilty on November 6, 2017, while Mace pleaded guilty on November 9, 2017. Both men were sentenced on September 28, 2018, Zubiate to 30 months imprisonment and a $50,000 fine, and Mace to 36 months imprisonment and a $150,000 fine.
Colin Steven (DOJ | SDNY 17-788): The DOJ filed a criminal information against Steven, a former Embraer sales vice-president, with FCPA-related charges on December 21, 2017. Steven pleaded guilty the same day and was sentenced to time served on December 12, 2018, and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.
Andrew Simon (DOJ | SDNY 16-831): The DOJ charged Simon, a Manhattan-based commercial real estate broker, on October 17, 2017. He was charged, along with numerous others, in connection with an effort to bribe officials in Vietnam (see Ongoing Prosecutions above and this Recent Dismissals, Sentencings, and Denial section). It is not clear when Simon was arrested, but he pleaded guilty under seal on March 30, 2018 and was sentenced on February 25, 2019, to time served and ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution.
Chi Ping Patrick Ho (DOJ | SDNY 17-779): The DOJ charged Ho, the head of a Hong Kong-based non-governmental organization, along with Cheikh Gadio, the former foreign minister of Senegal, under seal on November 16, 2017, and unsealed the complaint on November 20, 2017. Ho contested the charges at trial and was found guilty on December 5, 2018, of all but one of the counts against him. Ho was sentenced on March 25, 2019, to three years imprisonment and ordered to pay a $400,000 fine. The charges against Gadio were dismissed on September 14, 2018 (see this Dismissals, Sentencings and Denials section).
Cheikh Gadio (DOJ | SDNY 17-8611): The DOJ charged Gadio, the former foreign minister of Senegal and operator of an international consulting firm, on FCPA-related counts under seal on November 16, 2017, before unsealing the complaint on November 20, 2017. Gadio was charged alongside Patrick Ho, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of China Energy Fund Committee. The charges against Gadio were dismissed on September 14, 2018, in exchange for his agreement to testify against Ho, who was convicted at trial on December 5, 2018, and sentenced on March 25, 2019 (see this Dismissals, Sentencings and Denials section).
Lawrence W. Parker, Jr. (DOJ | SDFL 17-20914): The DOJ filed an FCPA-related criminal information against Parker on December 20, 2017, in connection with bribes paid to Egbert Yvan Ferdinand Koolman, an official with Arubas state-owned telecom company whom the DOJ charged with non-FCPA counts on January 31, 2018. Parker pleaded guilty on December 28, 2017, and was sentenced on April 30, 2018, to 35 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $701,750 in restitution. (Koolman pleaded guilty on April 13, 2018 and was sentenced on June 27, 2018 to three years imprisonment and ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution.)
Paul A. Margis and Takeshi Tyrone Uonaga (SEC | File No. 3-18938 and 3-18939): The SEC filed cease-and-desist orders against Margis, the former CEO of Panasonic Avionics, and Uonaga, its former CFO, on December 18, 2018. To resolve the charges, Margis agreed to pay a $75,000 fine to resolve the charges, while Uonaga agreed to pay a $50,000 fine and was barred from appearing or practicing before the SEC as an accountant for at least five years.
Patricio Contesse Gonzalez (SEC | File No. 3-18839): The SEC filed a cease-and-desist order against Gonzalez, the former CEO of Chilean-based chemical and mining company Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, S.A. (SQM), on September 25, 2018. To resolve the charges, Gonzalez agreed to pay a $125,000 fine.
____
Marc Alain Bohn is a contributing editor of the FCPA Blog and Counsel in the International Department of Miller & Chevalier. He focuses on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other areas of international corporate compliance, including export controls and economic sanctions. He can be contacted here.
Christine Ciambella is a Librarian at Miller & Chevalier.
Afghanistan has recalled its ambassador from Pakistan over statements made by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to the media that suggested Kabul should set up an interim government.
Khan told Pakistani journalists on March 25 that forming an interim Afghan government would help peace talks between the United States and Taliban officials since the militant group refuses to speak to the current government.
"The Afghan government was a hurdle in [the] peace process that was insisting that Taliban should talk to it," Khan was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune newspaper.
Afghanistan also summoned Pakistan's deputy ambassador to discuss the "irresponsible" remarks by Khan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sibghatullah Ahmadi said in a series of tweets on March 26.
The Afghan government considers Khan's statements "an obvious example of Pakistan's interventional policy and disrespect to the national sovereignty and determination of the people of Afghanistan," Ahmadi said.
U.S. and Taliban officials have held talks to end the 17-year war, but the militants regard the Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani as a U.S. puppet.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy negotiating with the Taliban, is heading back to the region for a new round of talks, the State Department said on March 26.
Khalilzad will head to Afghanistan as well as Pakistan during the trip, which began on March 25 and is scheduled to run through April 10.
With reporting by Reuters and AP
TBILISI -- A British man dubbed the "speedboat killer" after a manslaughter conviction in London has agreed to be extradited to the United Kingdom from Georgia, where he fled last year ahead of his trial.
Jack Shepherd attended a March 26 court hearing in Tbilisi at which it was decided that he will return to Britain, where he plans appeal his conviction and six-year prison sentence over the death of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown.
Brown died in a speedboat crash on the River Thames in December 2015 while on a first date with Shepherd, whom she had met online.
The extradition order is based on the manslaughter conviction and an assault charge relating to an incident in March 2018 in which Shepherd, 31, is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Shepherd disappeared shortly before his trial later in 2018 and turned up in Georgia, where he was jailed after he handed himself in to police following 10 months on the run -- mostly in hiding in Tbilisi.
In footage from the court, Shepherd said he felt "depressed suicidally" for some time after Brown's death and that he was "sorry for the...suffering" endured by her relatives.
He said that he decided to seek closure following what he called the "horrible accident" by returning to Britain and appealing his conviction on the charge of manslaughter by gross negligence.
Safety Concerns
Shepherd had previously vowed to fight extradition, claiming his life would be in danger if he had to serve his sentence in Britain.
A lawyer for Shepherd in Georgia, Mariam Kublashvuili, told the court that he had several "demands" related to concerns about his safety in jail in Britain, including a single-person cell with 24-hour video and audio surveillance.
Judge Arsen Kalatozishvili agreed to Shepherd's extradition.
During their date, authorities say, Shepherd and Brown were thrown from the speedboat when it hit branches in the water at about midnight.
Brown was found in the water unconscious and unresponsive, and Shepherd was clinging to the upturned motorboat.
With reporting by the BBC and The Telegraph
BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament has called on the European Union's leadership to keep a close watch on Uzbekistan's progress on political reforms and adherence to human rights and media freedoms.
The recommendations on Uzbekistan, where President Shavkat Mirziyoev has promised reform after coming to power following the death of long-ruling autocrat Islam Karimov in 2016, came in a report approved by the European Parliament on March 26.
It urged the EU's executive council and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to "provide for regular, in-depth dialogue and monitor full implementation of political and democratic reforms aimed at creating an independent judiciary" in Uzbekistan.
It also calls on the Central Asian country to create "a genuinely independent parliament resulting from a genuinely competitive election" and to take steps aimed at "protecting human rights, gender equality and freedom of the media."
Cooperation Agreement
The report comes after the EU earlier this year held the first round of negotiations on a Comprehensive Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) with Uzbekistan.
The deal, which will replace an existing political framework between Brussels and Tashkent from 1999, covers issues such as trade in goods, legislative cooperation, and issues related to democracy and human rights.
A similar deal between the EU and Kazakhstan took four years to negotiate, and the European Parliament needs to give consent to the EPCA with Uzbekistan.
The parliament report welcomed the release of political prisoners but urges the authorities "to guarantee them full rehabilitation and access to remedy and medical treatment."
It also calls for the "release of all remaining political prisoners and all other individuals imprisoned or persecuted on politically motivated charges."
The text also welcomed "progress made towards the eradication of child labor" but said that "state-sponsored forced labor in the cotton and silk industries and other areas remains a problem."
In an annual report released in February, the Washington-based rights group Freedom House classified Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as "not free," placing them among countries with the worst situations for political rights and civil liberties.
But it cautiously welcomed "another year of tentative improvement" in Uzbekistan, which previously has been on the group's "worst-of-the-worst" list.
Freedom House said the government "continued to release political prisoners and ease restrictions" on nongovernmental organizations in 2018.
Russia's Investigative Committee says a former cabinet minister and ally of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has been detained for allegedly embezzling $62 million from a Siberian energy distribution company.
The committee said Mikhail Abyzov was taken into custody by Federal Security Service agents on March 26.
Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said Abyzov was allegedly involved in a criminal group that embezzled 4 billion rubles, or about $62 million, from the Siberian Energy Company and Regional Electric Grid in Novosibirsk.
Investigators alleged that Abyzov and five accomplices stole the money and transferred the funds abroad.
Defense lawyer Aleksandr Asnis told the state-run TASS news agency that Abyzov would appear in a Moscow court March 27 for a pretrial hearing, and would plead not guilty.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin had been informed in advance about Abyzov.
Abyzov served as a cabinet minister between 2012 and 2018, and is considered a close associate of Medvedev, who was president between 2008 and 2012.
After Putin resumed the presidency in 2012, Medvedev returned to become prime minister. Abyzov retained his position in Medvedev's government until last year.
Investigators alleged that Abyzov founded the criminal enterprise in April 2011 -- a year before he was appointed as Minister for Open Government Affairs, whose duties included trying to make the Russian government transparent and accountable.
Abyzov also held several executive positions at major Russian energy firms since the mid-1990s, including a role on the board of directors at the electric power holding company EES.
In 2017, anticorruption activist Aleksei Navalny reported that Abyzov owns a mansion in Italy worth about $11.7 million.
Navalny reported that Abyzov amassed his wealth through his energy-sector connections in Novosibirsk.
With reporting by The Moscow Times, Meduza.io, Interfax, and TASS
KYIV -- When it comes to distracting from the issues troubling most Ukrainians ahead of this weekend's presidential election, the rough-and-tumble among the leading candidates has rarely disappointed.
There have been allegations of vote buying, murky campaign donations, and wiretaps.
In the latest twist, the race threatened to spill over into the courts as President Petro Poroshenko's team announced a lawsuit against a TV station owned by a longtime foe linked to the incumbent's leading challenger.
Poroshenko's camp on March 25 accused the 1+1 TV channel of airing "systematic lies" and "disinformation" about him as revenge for a contentious nationalization dispute.
The TV station's owner, Ihor Kolomoyskiy, owned PrivatBank, Ukraine's biggest lender, until its nationalization in 2016 amid allegations of massive fraud.
1+1 broadcasts the traveling comedy show and sitcom of Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the actor and candidate who plays a fictional president on TV and has led most opinion polls for months.
The station's management called the lawsuit a "public relations" move by a president fighting for his political survival and said all its news programming was grounded in facts.
Three independent pollsters this week reported that Zelenskiy still held a commanding lead, with Poroshenko vying with the populist former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for second place.
Unless one candidate wins a majority outright -- and those same polls suggest that is unlikely -- the top two finishers advance to a second round on April 21.
A whopping 39 candidates are on the first-round ballot.
'Revenge'
Artur Herasymov, head of the president's Petro Poroshenko Bloc-Solidarity party in parliament, announced the lawsuit in a statement published on the official website of Poroshenko's election campaign.
"Petro Poroshenko has made his mind to sue Channel 1+1 for systematic lies on a large scale, for spreading enormous disinformation detrimental to the honor and dignity of the presidential candidate and president," Herasymov said.
"Obviously, Mr. Kolomoyskiy is guided by a sense of revenge on the state," Herasymov claimed, citing the PrivatBank case.
Ukraine's central bank made the decision to nationalize PrivatBank in late 2016, saying the move was necessary to protect some 20 million customers and "preserve financial stability in the country."
The central bank later said an investigation into PrivatBank showed it had been "subjected to a large-scale and coordinated fraud" by Kolomoyskiy over at least a decade, a charge that he has rejected.
"At any price, without hesitating to employ the dirtiest methods, [Kolomoyskiy] seeks to prevent a Petro Poroshenko victory in the presidential election," Herasymov said.
'PR Campaign'
Kolomoyskiy's 1+1 responded by calling Poroshenko's accusations "baseless" and said that "every fact that was cited in the journalistic investigations is supported by evidence and witnesses."
The broadcaster said that filing a lawsuit mere days before the election was "more like an element of a preelection promotional campaign than a real refutation in court of supposedly false information voiced on air."
"Such a reaction from the presidential candidate at the height of the election campaign once again demonstrates the weak and unjustified position of the current government," 1+1 added.
The company also leveled its own accusations, charging that "media that are associated with Petro Poroshenko have long violated journalistic norms and...been transformed into outright propaganda."
Poroshenko is the owner of Channel 5, whose television news programs have been critical of Kolomoyskiy as well as Zelenskiy.
Ukrainians Tuning In
While news consumption via the Internet is on the rise, roughly three-quarters of Ukrainians still mainly watch TV news to stay informed, according to recent studies. Hence, the attention from powerful oligarchs, five of whom control the country's leading television channels.
And while studies show trust in TV outlets has increased in recent years, television remains a "source for fake news as well," media analyst Taras Shevchenko told Hromadske Radio in a recent interview.
'A Very Loud Day Of Silence'
Besides Poroshenko's lawsuit and allegations, 1+1 has come under scrutiny over its programming lineup for March 30, the day before the election.
Under Ukrainian law, the day before any political election should be a "day of silence," with no campaigning allowed. But Ukrainian politicians have found clever ways to get around the law, including putting up billboards that look identical to their official campaign posters -- minus the candidates' name and party.
This week, photos circulated on social media showing purple billboards going up around the country with the word "Think" plastered across them, closely resembling Poroshenko's official campaign billboards.
The 1+1 preelection program lineup includes at least two slots for Zelenskiy's comedy show and a documentary about U.S. President Ronald Reagan that is narrated by Zelenskiy.
Some Ukrainians have drawn comparisons between Reagan and Zelenskiy -- two men who were successful actors before entering politics. Critics alleged that airing programs clearly aimed at bolstering Zelenskiy's campaign violated the "day of silence" law.
But 1+1 disagreed, saying the comedy shows were reruns that showed Zelenskiy "as an actor, not a candidate" and that two other shows set to air would not in any way include him.
Novoye Vremya reporter Kristina Berdynskykh, who first noticed the lineup, called it "a very loud day of silence."
KABUL -- During a visit to Kabul, the European Union's top diplomat has said that the bloc supports "an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process."
Speaking at a joint press conference with President Ashraf Ghani on March 26, EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini said that the EU had "always been on the side of Afghan people with no other agenda" than peace, security, and prosperity for the war-torn country.
She made the remarks two weeks after the latest round of negotiations between the United States and the Taliban ended in Qatar, as Washington seeks an end to the nearly 18-year war in Afghanistan.
The Western-backed government in Kabul has complained it is being left out of the talks, because of the Taliban's refusal to negotiate with what they consider as "a U.S. puppet."
Mogherini said that the political and social achievements of the past years, including in the field of rights for women, girls, and children, should be taken into account in talks with the Taliban.
The EU official also met with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah during her Kabul visit.
With reporting by AP and dpa
The major economic strides made by energy-rich Kazakhstan during President Nursultan Nazarbaev's nearly 30-year reign often overshadow reports chronicling an undemocratic, repressive tenure punctuated by jailings and the suspicious deaths of opposition leaders, activists, and journalists.
In power since the 1980s, Nazarbaev surprised many Kazakhs and outside observers on March 19 when he announced an abrupt end to his presidency.
The one-time steelworker and former Communist Party apparatchik leaves behind a legacy of economic progress striped with despotic rule that squelched democratic norms, shuttered independent media outlets, and suppressed protests or virtually any hint of opposition to his government.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) says in a recent report that the Kazakh government "heavily restricts" freedom of assembly, speech, and religion, while democracy watchdog Freedom House calls Kazakhstan a "consolidated authoritarian regime." Its annual reports conclude that the country has become less democratic and more repressive over the past decade.
Reporters Without Borders ranked Kazakhstan 158th out of 180 countries worldwide in press freedom in 2018, while the religious-freedom watchdog Forum 18 says Kazakhstan "restricts freedom of religion and belief." The Oslo-based organization said it has recorded "increasing numbers" of people jailed for their religious beliefs.
Nazarbaev's presidency was marked by numerous suspicious deaths -- many of them unsolved -- of journalists, activists, protesters, businessmen, and politicians, as well as others who were detained or imprisoned, often on what rights activists describe as trumped-up, politically motivated charges.
In November, the Open Dialogue Foundation named at least 40 people in Kazakhstan whom it considered to be either political prisoners or living under restricted freedom, many of them bloggers.
Disappearances And Deaths
Here are some of the frequently forgotten disappearances and mysterious deaths since Nazarbaev came to power in 1989:
Nuri Muftakh, 66, was a well-known journalist who was run over in a bizarre incident at a bus station parking lot in a small town during a stop by his bus on the Taraz-to-Almaty route in 2002.
Aleksei Pugaev, a journalist focused on human rights and the publisher of the opposition Eurasia newspaper, was killed in a hit-and-run car accident in central Almaty in 2002.
Askhat Sharipzhanov, 40, a prominent independent journalist and brother of then-RFE/RL Kazakh Service Director Merhat Sharipzhanov, was found bloodied and unconscious with a fractured skull in central Almaty in July 2004. He died a few days later. Police said he had been hit by a car, but friends and colleagues said his injuries suggested he had been struck in the head before being hit by a car.
Just days before he was killed, Sharipzhanov had interviewed opposition leaders Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly and Zamanbek Nurqadilov as part of an investigative report. That report, which was nearing publication, was never found, nor were the interviews with the two men -- both of whom died of gunshot wounds months after Sharipzhanov.
Yuri Baev, the chief editor of the newspaper Talap, died after being struck by a car in the western city of Oral in 2004. He had been writing articles about an oil-kickback scandal known as Kazakhgate.
Erzhan Tatishev, 37, the head of Kazakhstan's largest bank, Bank Turan Alem (BTA), died in December 2004 while hunting for wolves in what officials said was an accident. But several politicians said suspicious circumstances surrounding his death pointed to an assassination. Exiled former BTA bank Chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov was found guilty in absentia in November 2018 by a Kazakh court of organizing Tatishev's murder.
Batyrkhan Darimbet, 54, a member of the opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstans political council and a former correspondent for RFE/RL's Kazakh Service who also served as the head of the opposition newspaper Azat, died six days after a suspicious car crash in the southern Zhambyl region in 2005.
Zamanbek Nurqadilov, 60, a former government minister and Almaty mayor who joined the opposition in 2004 and accused President Nazarbaev of corruption, was found dead at his home in Almaty in 2005, three weeks before the presidential election and shortly after saying he would publicize documents proving high-level corruption. He had been shot twice in the chest and once in the head. His death was officially ruled a suicide.
Anastasiya Novikova, 23, was a news moderator at the NTK TV station in Kazakhstan and purported girlfriend of Nazarbaev's son-in-law, Rakhat Aliev. Novikova died violently under mysterious circumstances in 2004 in Beirut, where she reportedly went to give birth. Novikova's friends and relatives formed the group Justice For Novikova and accused Aliev of being behind her death.
Oksanna Nikitina, 14, the daughter of opposition activist Yelena Nikitina, disappeared in Almaty in October 2005 and was found dead weeks later. Yelena Nikitina, deputy chief of a group supporting opposition presidential candidate Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, had been questioned and pressured several times by police seeking information about the For A Just Kazakhstan political party shortly before her daughter's disappearance.
Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly (aka Sarsenbaev), 44, was a former Kazakh ambassador to Russia who also had served as information minister under Nazarbaev. Sarsenbaiuly was the co-chairman of the opposition Naghyz Aq Zhol (True Bright Path) party and was seen as a political rival to Nazarbaev. Sarsenbaiuly, spokesman Bauyrzhan Baibosyn, and driver Vasily Zhuravlyov disappeared on February 11, 2006. They were found dead two days later outside of Almaty with their hands tied behind their backs and shotgun wounds to their heads.
Saken Tauzhanov, 37, was a blogger known for his online articles critical of Nazarbaev. His last article, published on kub.kz, compared the Kazakh administration to the exploits of the movie character Shrek. Tauzhanov was hit by a large truck as he crossed a street in Almaty in 2007, five days after he wrote that article. Police declared his death a routine traffic fatality.
Oralghaisha Omarshanova, 39 when she was last seen, was a reporter for the Russian-Kazakh weekly newspaper Law And Justice until she disappeared in late March 2007, shortly after investigating clashes between ethnic Chechens and Kazakhs in southern Kazakhstan. Omarshanova was investigating a reputed political connection to the clashes. Twelve years later, Omarshanova is still missing.
Rakhat Aliev, 52, Nazarbaev's former son-in-law, was found hanged in a cell in a Viennese prison in February 2015, a few days before he was to testify in the trial of two slain Kazakh bank executives. Aliev had been married to Nazarbaev's eldest daughter, Darigha, until allegedly being forcibly divorced from her in 2007 after falling out with Nazarbaev.
Aliev was a close ally of his father-in-law for many years and held several top posts in the Kazakh government, but the relationship collapsed after Aliev publicly criticized Nazarbaev in 2007 and announced he would run in the next presidential election.
Aliev's father, who had also fled to Europe about the same time as his son in 2007, died of an undisclosed cause in Kazakhstan one month before his son was found dead in prison. Although Rakhat Aliev's death was ruled a suicide by Vienna's coroner, an internationally known forensic specialist concluded that he had been strangled before he was hanged.
Nurbank Vice President and Chairman Zholdas Timraliev and bank manager Aibar Khasenov were reported missing in Almaty in early 2007 and their mutilated bodies were discovered years later in a metal drum at a waste dump. The disappearances came weeks after Timraliev and another Nurbank official said they had been kidnapped and beaten for 24 hours by Rakhat Aliev to pressure them into selling an Almaty bank building to Aliev. Aliev was later charged by Kazakh officials of direct involvement in the bankers' murders, but Austrian officials refused to extradite him.
Zhanaozen Massacre
At least 14 oil-industry workers and their supporters demonstrating for higher wages and improved working conditions were shot dead by OMON riot police in the western oil town of Zhanaozen in December 2011. Demonstrators say dozens were killed in the incident, while state officials maintain that 11 died.
Detained, Harassed, Imprisoned
Dozens of former high-ranking officials, businesspeople, journalists, and activists have been detained, imprisoned, and harassed, with many of them fleeing Kazakhstan during Nazarbaev's tenure.
These are some of the most noteworthy:
Mukhtar Ablyazov, the former BTA bank chairman, was Kazakhstan's energy, industry, and trade minister and is the founder of the opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan. He fled Kazakhstan for the United Kingdom in 2009, where he eventually received political asylum. He was accused of embezzling billions from BTA and detained by French officials at Kazakhstan's request for three years before being released. Ablyazov's former security chief, Aleksandr Pavlov, was also sought by Kazakhstan and was detained in Spain for more than one year as he fought extradition on charges of terrorism and embezzlement.
Akezhan Kazhegeldin was prime minister from 1994 until turning critical of Nazarbaev in 1997, citing the president's autocratic ways, and resigning from his post. Kazhegeldin was prevented from taking part in the 1999 presidential election and was later accused of plotting a coup against Nazarbaev. He fled to the West in 1999 and is currently based in London. After Nazarbaev's resignation, he told Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, that he would be willing to stand in a presidential election in Kazakhstan if it were free and fair.
Mukhtar Dzhakishev was a businessman and former head of uranium giant Kazatomprom, a position he held until 2001, when he became deputy energy and mineral resources minister. He returned as head of Kazatomprom in 2002 but was sacked and charged with embezzlement in 2009 on charges that many observers said were politically motivated. Dzhakishev received a 14-year prison sentence in 2010.
Tatyana Paraskevich, former head of the Eurasian Investment and Industrial Group, where she worked with Ablyazov, fled to the West in 2012 and settled in the Czech Republic, where she was detained for nearly two years as she fought extradition to Kazakhstan. Kazakh authorities have charged her with embezzlement and abuse of funds.
Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, a former governor, businessman, and opposition leader, was jailed from 2002-06 on abuse-of-office charges. He was declared a political prisoner by international rights groups. He left Kazakhstan for the United States after serving his term.
Vladimir Kozlov was a journalist and politician who founded the Algha opposition party in 2005. He was a presidential candidate in 2011 but was prevented by officials from running. Kozlov was charged in 2012 with inciting social hatred for supporting striking oil workers at Zhanaozen and given a 7 1/2-year prison sentence. He was released in 2016.
Muratbek Ketebaev was Kazakhstan's deputy economy minister and later was a leader of the opposition Algha party. He fled in 2010 after a violent pressure campaign against independent media outlet Respublika, where he published articles about corruption and cronyism within Nazarbaev's government. He was accused of preparing terrorist attacks. He settled in Poland, where he was granted political asylum.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Bruce Pannier and Merhat Sharipzhanov
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's Supreme Court has granted bail for six weeks to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had been sentenced to seven years in prison for corruption.
Sharif, 69, will be free to get treatment anywhere in Pakistan but will not be allowed to leave the country, a three-judge panel ruled on March 26.
The three-time former prime minister has been suffering from a heart condition and kidney problems.
Last month, the Islamabad High Court rejected Sharif's bail appeal, saying that he was already being treated at a hospital.
That decision was later challenged in the Supreme Court.
Sharif was removed from office in 2017 after the Supreme Court disqualified him from serving.
In December, an anticorruption court sentenced him to seven years in prison on a charge of possessing assets beyond his known sources of income.
Sharif was also handed a 10-year prison sentence in July over the purchase of luxury apartments in London. However, he was released on bail in September.
The appeal process in both cases is under way.
Sharif has denied any wrongdoing and says the charges against him are politically motivated.
With reporting by dpa and Reuters
Russia, Iran, and a number of Arab countries including U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf have blasted President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, charging that it violates international law and could undermine regional stability.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters on March 26 that he was "saddened but not surprised" by international criticism triggered by Trump's decision, adding: "We are simply recognizing facts on the ground."
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said that "such decisions undoubtedly have negative consequences from the point of view of a settlement in the Middle East and the general atmosphere of political settlement in Syria."
He said Putin would discuss the matter with his visiting Lebanese counterpart, Michael Aoun, later in the day.
Trump signed a proclamation on March 25 officially granting U.S. recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.
Israeli forces seized the rocky plateau from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, and effectively annexing it in 1981 in a move not recognized internationally.
Trump's move came after the United States moved its Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem last year, sparking international criticism as well as Palestinian and Arab anger.
During a meeting with Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, Aoun said in Moscow that "the leader of a foreign state has no right to dispose of someone else's territories this way," according to the Interfax news agency.
Iranian state news agency IRNA quoted President Hassan Rohani as saying that "no one could imagine that a person in America comes and gives land of a nation to another occupying country."
"Such action is unprecedented in the current century," Rohani added.
Four Gulf Arab states -- Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait, all regional allies of Washington that host U.S. troops -- also rejected the decision.
Saudi Arabia has expressed its "firm rejection and condemnation of the declaration issued by the American administration," said a statement carried by the SPA state news agency.
It warned that the U.S. step would have "major negative effects" on Middle East peace-making efforts and the "security and stability" of the region.
Kuwait voiced "regret and dismay" over Trump's decision, while Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, said that it regarded the Golan Heights as occupied Syrian territory.
Qatar called on Israel to end its occupation of the Golan Heights and comply with international resolutions.
In Syria, state news agency SANA reported that thousands of people had gathered in the streets of several cities to protest Trump's decision.
The government of President Bashar al-Assad, whose forces have been battling rebels and Islamist militants in a devastating eight-year civil war, has called the U.S. move a "blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Syria.
With reporting by dpa, Reuters, Interfax, and AP
Serbian human rights activists held a commemorative march to the parliament building in Belgrade on March 26 to remember Kosovar-Albanian victims of the 1998-99 war in Kosovo. About 30 activists unfurled a banner in the center of the city with the names of 744 Kosovar Albanians, who were discovered in mass graves at a Serbian police-training facility in Batajnica, near Belgrade, in 2001-02. Serbian law enforcement ensured security during the march.
U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at possible payback for that his political enemies who did "evil" and "treasonous things," a day after the summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report cleared him of colluding with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election, although it reached no conclusion on whether the president obstructed justice.
"There are a lot of people out there that have done some very, very evil things, very bad things, I would say treasonous things against our country," Trump told reporters at the White House on March 25, without mentioning anyone by name or citing specific actions.
"Those people will certainly be looked at," the U.S. president said.
Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican Senate Judiciary Committee chairman and a Trump ally, told reporters he would ask Attorney General William Barr to appoint a special counsel to probe whether U.S. law enforcement officials made missteps in their investigation.
Trump's offensive came as Democrats made a new push for the Mueller report to be released.
The six committee chairs in the Democratic-led House of Representatives on March 25 called on Barr to release the full Mueller report to Congress by April 2.
No one outside the Justice Department has yet seen the report, including the White House.
The Justice Department has not said whether it will release Mueller's full report, but Barr has said he will be as transparent as possible.
Trump and his allies appeared jubilant after Barr said, in a letter released to Congress and made public on March 24, that Mueller's report states that the probe "did not establish that members" of Trump's campaign "conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities."
But disagreement between the White House and Democratic lawmakers over the findings appeared to herald further tension and confrontation as the next presidential election, in November 2020, draws closer. Barr quoted Mueller's report as saying, "While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."
Russian officials and lawmakers used Barr's summary to reiterate Moscow's claim that it did not meddle in the U.S. presidential campaign -- despite the attorney general's repeated and sometimes detailed references to "election interference activities" by President Vladimir Putin's government.
In his four-page outline of the report Mueller's office delivered to him on March 22 after a 675-day investigation, Barr also said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded the evidence gathered by Mueller is "not sufficient to establish" that Trump committed obstruction of justice -- a separate question that the special counsel investigated.
Democrats who disputed Trump's claim of vindication focused on those words and on the fact that while Mueller decided not to "draw a conclusion" on whether Trump obstructed justice. Barr -- a Trump appointee who was confirmed as the U.S. chief prosecutor in February -- decided along with Rosenstein that the evidence was insufficient to show that he did.
Trump said on March 25 that it was up to Barr to decide whether detailed findings from Mueller's report would be made public.
Mueller examined Russia's interference in the 2016 election, along with, as Barr's letter describes it, "allegations that members of Trump's presidential campaign, and others associated with it, conspired with the Russian government in its efforts to interfere."
That was one of several instances in which Barr's summary referred unequivocally to Russian interference. Barr said that Muellers investigation "determined that there were two main Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election" -- one involving attempts to "sow social discord" though "disinformation on social media operations," the other "computer hacking operations designed to gather and disseminate information to influence the election."
Barr also said Mueller's report described "multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign."
With reporting by AP, Reuters, and The New York Times
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Turkmenistan to immediately lift a travel ban imposed on veteran correspondent Soltan Achilova and allow her to travel freely outside the Central Asian country.
"Systematic harassment of Achilova and a handful of other journalists must be stopped as they do the important job of reporting from one of the most closed-off countries of the world," Gulnoza Said, the New York-based media watchdog's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, said in a statement on March 25.
Achilova is an Ashgabat-based contributor to the Vienna-based independent news website Khronika Turkmenistana (Chronicles of Turkmenistan).
She was about to take a flight to attend an international seminar in Tbilisi, Georgia, when she was stopped at passport control in Ashgabat International Airport on March 11, according to Farid Tukhbatullin, editor in chief of Khronika Turkmenistana.
An immigration officer told Achilova that she could not leave the country, without providing any explanation, Tukhbatullin told CPJ.
In a statement on March 21, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged the Turkmen authorities to "stop harassing [Achilova] and the small number of other independent journalists in Turkmenistan."
Achilova, a former correspondent of RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, has in the past been detained by police and physically assaulted by officers, thugs, and other unidentified assailants.
Khronika Turkmenistana and RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk Radiosy, are among the few critical Turkmenistan-focused media outlets, Tukhbatullin said.
Ranked 178th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan is a "black hole from which little news and information emerge and where the few independent journalists risk severe persecution," the Paris-based media watchdog said.
According to CPJ, the Turkmen government "tightly controls the Internet through the country's only state provider, and has blocked critical websites, social media, and messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal."
A court in Pakistan has ordered protection for two sisters from the mostly Muslim country's Hindu minority, as investigators are trying to determine whether they were abducted and forced to convert to Islam and marry two Muslims.
The Islamabad High Court issued the order on March 26, saying that the sisters had petitioned the tribunal seeking protection for themselves and their husbands.
The four, all from the southern town of Ghotki, were sent to separate government shelters.
According to police, the sisters' parents said that their daughters were 13 and 15 years old, but their lawyer told the court in Islamabad that one of them was 20, according to the Dawn newspaper.
It said that a government representative had told the judge that the probe would be completed within a week.
In their petition, the sisters said they had left their home on March 20 without informing their family because of threats to their lives, and willingly converted to Islam, Dawn reported.
After leaving their native town of Ghotki in Sindh Province, the two petitioners travelled to Punjab Province and later to Islamabad.
Reports said that several suspects had been detained in the case, including a cleric who performed the wedding last week.
Underage marriage is illegal in Pakistan but the law is often ignored.
Based on reporting by AP, Dawn, and RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal
Abingworth, a London, UK-based international investment group dedicated to life sciences, appointed Bali Muralidhar as a Partner based in the London office.
Muralidhar has 15 years professional experience in healthcare across a range of functions including venture investing, R&D, clinical practice and teaching. He will work with the team in the London, Boston and Menlo Park offices to source and evaluate new investment opportunities and support existing venture investments through to exit.
Prior to joining Abingworth, Muralidhar was a senior partner at MVM Partners LLP in London where he completed investments in and served on the boards of several companies, both public and private. Two of these were Wilson Therapeutics and Valneva, both also Abingworth portfolio companies.
Muralidhar obtained a degree in clinical medicine from the University of Oxford and practiced general surgery at the John Radcliffe and Addenbrookes Hospitals in Oxford and Cambridge, respectively.
He has a PhD in translational cancer research from the MRC Cancer Cell Unit, University of Cambridge, and has published over a dozen peer reviewed papers,a Bye-Fellow in Medical Sciences at Downing College, Cambridge where he taught pathology, surgery and medicine.
Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated to collaborating with life sciences entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into products having a big impact on health. With over $1.1 billion under management, the firm invests at all stages of development, from startups to publicly traded companies, and across all life science sectors.
Supporting its portfolio companies with a team of 27 at offices in London, Menlo Park (California) and Boston, Abingworth has invested in 152 life science companies, leading to 65 IPOs and 47 mergers and acquisitions.
FinSMEs
26/03/2019
OncoLens, an Atlanta, GA-based technology company serving cancer care programs, closed a $1.35m seed funding round.
BIP Capital and Atlanta Technology Angels (ATA) led the round. As part of this funding round, OncoLens announced Sarath Degala, vice president at BIP Capital, and ATA board member Bill Midgette have joined its board of directors.
The company will deploy the capital toward its strategic growth plans.
Led by Anju Mathew, CEO and co-founder, OncoLens provides a platform that enables a diverse and multispecialty cancer care team to collaborate on treatment plans for individual patients. The company also provides cancer-specific decision support and assists cancer programs to track, discuss and implement nationally approved quality metrics. It is part of Georgia Techs Advanced Technology Development Centers ATDC Accelerate portfolio and in 2018.
FinSMEs
26/03/2019
Ouster, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of high-resolution lidar sensors used for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and mapping, raised over $60m in equity and debt funding.
Backers included Runway Growth Capital and Silicon Valley Bank, as well as additional funding from Series A participants Cox Enterprises, Constellation Tech Ventures, Fontinalis Partners, Carthona, and others.
The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its expansion into new industries and geographic markets and rapid pace of technology development.
Led by CEO Angus Pacala, is a provider of high-resolution lidar sensors used for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and mapping. In addition to the funding, the company opened a new manufacturing facility currently producing hundreds of sensors per month and capable of producing thousands of lidar sensors per month, and appointed Susan Heystee to its board of directors. Heystee most recently served as Senior Vice President of Verizons Global Automotive business. Prior to joining Verizon, she was the Executive Vice President of Sales at Telogis, a global enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) company providing location technology solutions for fleet and mobile workforce management. Under her leadership, Telogis grew to one of the dominant players in the connected vehicle/smart mobility market, resulting in its acquisition by Verizon Communications in August 2016.
Ouster has over 100 employees and 400+ customers in 15 industries from autonomous vehicles to industrial robotics, agriculture, mapping, defense, and drones.
FinSMEs
25/03/2019
Police arrest two in Tulum in mid-ATM theft
Tulum, Q.R. Two men were arrested in Tulum after police received a report of an ATM theft.
Members of Secretaria de Seguridad Publica in Tulum say they have detained two men for the robbery of ATM.
They report that while conducting security and surveillance tours, they received a radio report of an attempted ATM theft on Avenida Satelite and Tulum Avenues. When they arrived, they found a white truck and two men attempting to steal an ATM.
Police say from the incident, arrested was 41-year-old Antonio N and 28-year-old Ruben N.
TerViva, a Oakland, Calif.-based agriculture technology company, raised an additional $20m in the first close of its Series D funding.
The round was led by a diversified agricultural family office, Evans Properties, The Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust, and a group of Florida agricultural family offices, who join existing investors including the Elemental Excelerator, the Yield Lab, Astia Angels, Allotrope Ventures and Howard Fischer of Gratitude Railroad.
The company intends to use the new funds to accelerate research connecting the pongamia beans valuable functional properties to critical processing and product development partnerships that will demonstrate commercial viability of pongamia protein and oil and grow its infrastructure to supply farmers with patented high-yielding oilseed trees in Florida and Hawaii.
TerViva is an agriculture technology company commercializing resilient pongamia trees that produce as much as ten times the beans per acre as soy for the supply of plant protein, vegetable oil, and biofuel.
The company sells farmers patented non-GMO cultivars of pongamia selected for their high yields and hardy growth. Farmers partner with TerViva to grow pongamia on abandoned agriculture lands with little to no fertilizers or pesticides. The company buys back the crop for processing into plant protein, livestock feed, and high-oleic oil.
TerViva is planting patented varieties of the pongamia tree in Florida and in Hawaii, on former sugar cane lands on Oahu, Kauai, and Maui.
FinSMEs
26/03/2019
Walk around Langold Lake 10am, meet at Langold Cafe off A60. April 24 meeting 7.30pm in The Loyal Trooper, Sheffield Road, South Anston, talk on Spain by John Gardner. The NAPT hide open Saturdays 8-11am subject to water present in the Scrape. Anyone interested in birds is welcome to join the warden and find out whats about. Contact 01909563108, www.sk58birders.com
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Notice to Proceed to Ames Construction last week to allow work on the concrete weir and fish bypass at Intake. The long delay has been due to the bid complaint filed by American Southwest Electrical, which has now been denied by the courts. Ames can begin to resubmit applications for permits, which had expired due to the delay, and mobilize its efforts towards completing the project. Actual river work will probably not start until mid-July since they are not allowed in the river during the spawning season, but site prep should begin once the permits are finalized.
Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project manager James Brower stated, We are glad that these Unnecessary court delays to the saving of the Endangered Pallid Sturgeon are finally over and the Construction of the Fish Bypass can start before the Wild Pallid Sturgeon becomes too old to reproduce sufficiently to repopulate the wild population.
Jacklyn Damm, Tobacco Prevention Specialist at the Richland County Health Department will be presenting Kick Butts Day hosted by Savage Junior High and High School on April 11.
As an annual celebration of youth leadership and activism in the fight against tobacco use, Kick Butts Day rotates around Richland County schools each year. This year Savage will feature five activities to demonstrate important consequences of tobacco use.
Posters around the school will inform students that across the nation 1200 people die every day from a tobacco related disease. 100 rubber rats will be hidden around the school for students to find and exchange for prizes. The rats represent arsenic, or rat poison, which is found in tobacco products like cigarettes, spit tobacco, and vapes. A display board showing damage caused by vape devices exploding will demonstrate that electronic cigarettes can damage lungs and may explode in addition to containing a highly concentrated amount of nicotine. A candy store comparing candy flavored tobacco and actual candy will illustrate how Big Tobacco markets towards minors. Mr. Gross Mouth, a display of oral diseases will show students how using spit or smokeless tobacco increases risk for cancer of the mouth, gums, and throat. It also increases risk for gum disease, stained teeth and tooth lossMontanans that use tobacco on average have six fewer teeth than Montanans who have never used tobacco products. Spit tobacco also absorbs into the body faster which also increases risk for nicotine addiction.
For more information please contact Jacklyn at the Richland County Health Department at 406-433-2207. The MT Quitline is also available for all tobacco users including vaping. Call 1-800-Quit-Now or go online to QuitNowMontana.com. The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program plays an important role in Partnership for Promise, a subcommittee of Communities in Action that strives to work together to with the youth of Richland County to create an ongoing, healthy, and supportive environment.
Sidney Doctors spend their lives helping and healing others, and in 1990, Congress passed and President George H. Bush signed a bill into law proclaiming March 30 as National Doctors Day. Celebration of this day has grown from simply expressing our gratitude to our physicians to using this day as an opportunity to share some positive messages for the medical profession.
As part of National Doctors day, the Fourndation for Community Care invites you to recognize a special physician who cared for you or a loved one. Let your physician know how nuch they are appreciated your words and support are the most powerful source of gratitude.
In addition to the over 20 highly skilled physicians who are affiated with Sidney Health Center, the Foundation is proud to support doctors who ensure quality care for all of Richland County, from dentists to optometrists.
Please send your message of appreciation to the Foundation for Community Care at [email protected], or call the Foundation at 406-488-2273.
Community members may also make a contribution in honor of a physician at https://foundationforcommunitycare.org. Not only will the gift affirm the commitment of an exceptional doctor, it will also support the critical programs and lifesaving care provided every day at Sidney Health Center and across eastern Montana.
LuAnn Sharbono is retiring from the profession she has loved for 38 years. Inspired by ladies such as June Sullivan and Betty McConnell, she knew in high school that she wanted to be a teller at the bank in Fairview. She attended Montana Tech in Missoula and then returned to Fairview to start her career. Other than seven years off to raise her kids, Sharbono has been welcoming customers with her beautiful smile, and taking care of their needs with courtesy and efficiency. She hadn't planned to return to work as early as she did but the bank asked her to come in "for a day or two," and she has been there ever since.
Bookkeeping was done with a pencil and ledger when Sharbono started at the bank, and all the tellers worked out of one till which was a nightmare to balance and caused some very late nights. Debit cards were unheard of and few, if any, customers had direct deposits or automatic payments, so there were piles of checks and deposits to go through at the end of the day. Everything had to be precise, right to the penny. Computers were just being introduced when she left on maternity leave, and were the norm when she returned.
The bank name has changed several times during Sharbono's tenure, from Fairview Bank to Montana Bank, back to Fairview Bank, then 1st Security Bank West, and now Merchants Bank. Several bank presidents have also come and gone, but she has thrived along with the changes.
Sharbono's favorite part of the job has been the social aspect, both the customers and the people she has worked with. "They're family," she said. "And have made it easy to stay here." She had no "dislikes" saying that "they've been good to me."
Community involvement has always been important to the Fairview native. She taught Sunday School for 10 years and was a leader for both Girl and Boy Scouts. She and Rick, her husband of 45 years, continue to take care of the Fairview Food Bank after over 35 years.
Rick retired from Tri-County Implement in 2016. The couple plans to enjoy retirement and spend more time with their kids: son Daniel and his wife Alyssa; daughter Marci and her husband David Ellingson and especially 18 month old grandson Riley Ellingson, all of Minot.
Vice-president Jan Duda is looking forward to keeping in touch with Sharbono. "We're definitely going to miss her, but she won't be a stranger. She'll keep us posted on how the baby's growing and bring pictures," she said with a smile.
Bank president Neil McWalter commented, "She's a sweetheart. It's always been her ambition to give the best customer service possible. She has been dedicated to taking care of people."
An open house will be held from 1-4 p.m. Friday, March 29 at Merchants Bank. Everyone is invited to stop by for coffee and cake and wish Sharbono well in her retirement.
The Watford City Area Chamber of Commerce and Watford City Economic Development Corporation held their annual meetings on March 22 in the Outlaws' Gallery and Ballroom in Watford City. The meetings also included legislative updates from the local state representatives, some words from ND Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford and keynote speaker Pat Bertagnolli, VP of Human Resources at MBI.
Five businesses will be popping up in the main foyer of the Watford City High School lobby from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10. This Market Day event is a part of the Youth Entrepreneurs curriculum. Earnings from the sales will go to the student minus expenses and sales tax. Watford City is the first high school in North Dakota to offer this elective course to their students thanks to generous sponsorship by First International Bank and Trust. This event is open to the public.
Singapore Airlines
New Delhi, Mar 26: A Singapore Airlines flight heading from Mumbai to Singapore with 263 passengers on board Tuesday received a bomb threat, the carrier said. However, the flight landed safely at the Changi International Airport in Singapore on Tuesday morning around 8 am local time, the airline added. "Singapore Airlines confirms there was a bomb threat concerning SQ423 operating from Mumbai to Singapore.
Singapore Airline's Mumbai-Singapore flight receives bomb threat
Advertisement
The aircraft arrived in Singapore on 26 March, 2019, at about 0800hrs (local time). "There were 263 passengers on board. We are assisting the authorities with their investigations and regret that we are unable to provide further details," a statement issued by the airline said. The flight had departed from Mumbai airport around 11.50 pm on Monday.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Nagpur, Mar 26: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has declared movable and immovable assets worth Rs 25.12 crore in an affidavit filed along with his nomination papers for the Nagpur parliamentary constituency. Gadkari filed his papers for the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat on Monday. Polling in the constituency will be held on April 11. As per his tax return forms, his total income stood at Rs 2,66,390 in 2013-14 and Rs 6,40,700 in 2017-18.
According to his affidavit, he has movable assets worth Rs 69,38,691, while his wife has movable assets worth Rs 91,99,160. A sum of Rs 66,07,924 is in the name of the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF). Similarly, Gadkari has immovable assets worth Rs 6,95,98,325, his wife Rs 6,48,60,325. A sum of Rs 9,40,31,224 was in the name of HUF. Gadkari declared over 29 acres of agricultural land in Dhapewada in Nagpur, of which 15 acres are registered in the name of his wife and 14.60 acres owned by HUF.
Advertisement
Gadkari declares assets worth Rs 25.12 crore in poll affidavit
Gadkari declared an ancestral house at Mahal (Nagpur) and a flat at an MLA Society in Worli (Mumbai). The Union minister, in his affidavit, has informed that he has invested Rs 3,55,510 in savings scheme, mutual funds, bonds and shares. He has Rs 8,99,111 in his banks account, according to the affidavit. Similarly, his wife's bank balance stood at Rs 11,07,909. The senior BJP leader also has liabilities of Rs 1,57,21,753 by way of bank loans. Gadkari declared six cars in his affidavit, four of which are in the name of his wife.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu
Mumbai, Mar 26: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu Tuesday hailed Mahatma Gandhi as a visionary for his call to disband the Congress. Naidu, a senior BJP leader before his elevation to the top Constitutional post in 2017, also lauded the Narendra Modi regime, mentioning a slew of flagship initiatives, including ease of doing business, which he said got recognition from the World Bank.
In remarks coming just ahead of polling for the Lok Sabha elections, the Vice President said Gandhi had spoken for the need to disband the Congress after Independence. Speaking at the convocation of the RBI-promoted Indira Gandhi Institute of Developmental Research here, Naidu said this was political advice from Gandhi, adding he doesnt wish to dwell on it now as hes no more in active politics.
Advertisement
"Mahatma Gandhi had such a vision. After independence, he gave two advices, one is political, I dont want to dwell on that. He said disband the Congress. That was the first advice. "Congress was a platform of different shades of people coming together to fight for Independence. He (Gandhi) said independence is achieved. So disband this (Congress) and start your own parties. That is not an issue for us today and moreover Im not in politics and dont want to speak politics also," Naidu said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Another visionary advice given by the Father of the Nation was to concentrate on rural development, Naidu said. In his over 50-minute speech, Naidu mentioned a slew of flagship schemes and initiatives of the Modi government and how they have driven change on the ground. He said these include ease of doing business, Make in India, GST, demonetisation, direct benefit transfer, JAM trinity and the PM Jan Dhan Yojana, among others.
Advertisement
JAM trinity refers to the government's initiative to link people's Jan Dhan accounts, mobile numbers and aadhar cards. He credited demonetisation and GST for widening the tax base in the country. Abhi thoda parivartan aaya hai, kaafi parivartan aana abhi bhi baki hai (a little bit of change has come now and more changes are yet to come), he said. This comment came while Naidu dwelt on work done under the ease of doing business initiative and was followed with a mention of the prime minister.
"The PM said earlier it used to be red tape; now let us have red carpet. Thats the talk of town everywhere now, he said. The Vice President also made it clear that the remarks should not be seen as him giving good marks to the Modi-led government.
For two months, the story of what happened to Empire actor Jussie Smollett on a frigid January night in downtown Chicago has transfixed the nation with its many plot twists.
On Tuesday, the script was flipped yet again and in many ways it only added to the mystery.
In a stunning reversal, Cook County prosecutors abruptly dropped all charges in an indictment accusing Smollett of staging the Jan. 29 attack in Streeterville and falsely claiming he was the victim of a hate crime.
In exchange, prosecutors said, Smollett agreed to forfeit the $10,000 hed posted for his bond and perform community service. The purported deal appeared to be hastily arranged Smollett only completed the community service Monday and apparently was not put in writing.
Advertisement
While prosecutors claimed to have overwhelming evidence, the deal did not require Smollett to admit he did anything wrong. Whats more, Smolletts lawyers have vehemently disputed there was an agreement at all, and now the entire court file has been sealed at the defenses request.
The unanswered questions surrounding the development left many wondering what might have happened behind the scenes. It also appeared to have caught Chicago police brass by surprise and brought swift condemnation from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who called it a whitewash of justice.
From top to bottom, this is not on the level, Emanuel told reporters at an afternoon news conference, emphasizing repeatedly that a grand jury had chosen to bring 16 counts of disorderly conduct against Smollett. Wheres the accountability in the system?
Read the Chicago police investigative file on the Jussie Smollett case
The arrangement came to light as Smollett appeared unexpectedly Tuesday morning for a previously unscheduled hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Wearing a blue wool coat, Smollett stood silently in Circuit Judge Steven Watkins small, third-floor courtroom as prosecutors announced they were dropping all charges. At the request of the actors attorneys, the judge agreed to seal the entire court record, a move that prosecutors did not oppose.
The proceedings were over within minutes. Afterward, the states attorneys office issued a one-sentence statement that attempted to explain the about-face but instead only added to the confusion.
Smolletts lawyers, meanwhile, professed the actors innocence, accusing police of trying the case in the media and insinuating that the two brothers who alleged that Smollett hired them to carry out the attack were the ones who should have been charged in the first place.
Before departing the courthouse, Smollett, 36, thanked his attorneys, family, friends and Chicago for supporting him through what he called an incredibly difficult time for me. He also thanked the state of Illinois for attempting to do whats right.
I have been truthful and consistent from day one, said Smollett, wearing sunglasses and reading from notes as his hands shook.
In a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon, First Assistant States Attorney Joseph Magats, who took charge of the case after States Attorney Kim Foxx stepped aside because of a conflict of interest, emphatically denied that the move to drop the charges against Smollett was a signal of any weakness with the evidence.
Magats said the office reached an unwritten deal with the defense in recent weeks to drop the charges if Smollett forfeited the $10,000 bond and did community service an arrangement he characterized as a routine way to resolve nonviolent charges against first-time offenders.
The bottom line is we stand behind the investigation, we stand behind the decision to charge him, Magats, a career prosecutor whos been with the office for nearly three decades, told the Tribune. The fact that (Smollett) feels that we have exonerated him, we have not. I cant make it any clearer than that.
The states attorneys office later released a letter from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition that said Smollett had performed community service but just for two days, on Saturday and Monday.
The letter said Smollett spent several hours in their store managing sales and later gave suggestions to staff. He also took questions from students about the music and film industries.
Later, though, a spokesman for Rainbow/PUSH, which was founded on the South Side by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, said the civil rights organization was unaware that Smolletts assistance had any connection to his court case.
He was just a volunteer, " Don Terry said.
How Lori Lightfoot, Toni Preckwinkle reacted to Jussie Smolletts case dismissal in debate
Smolletts attorney, Patricia Brown Holmes, denied any deal had been made with prosecutors, contrary to Magats account.
The states attorneys office simply dropped the charges, according to Holmes. Smollett agreed to forfeit his bond so he could go on with his life and get this over with, she said.
Smollett had posted 10 percent of the bond $10,000. Ordinarily, that money would be returned to him or his attorneys, but instead it will be handed over to the city of Chicago.
In a telephone interview, Eric Sussman, Magats predecessor as Foxxs top aide, said the abrupt, secretive nature of the deal raises questions as to whether there is embarrassing information the states attorneys office doesnt want the public to know.
Ive never, ever seen anything like this, Sussman, now in private practice, said of the decision to drop charges so soon after Smolletts indictment earlier this month.
Magats denied, however, that the dropping of the charges either signaled weak evidence or a desire for secrecy.
Its a mistake and its wrong to read into the decision that there was something wrong or that we learned something about the case that we didnt already know, Magats told the Tribune.
The baffling turnabout left Emanuel and police Superintendent Eddie Johnson fuming. Both were careful not to directly criticize the states attorneys office but instead focused their contempt on Smollett.
The mayor suggested that Smollett was given special treatment because of his celebrity and scoffed at the $10,000 Smolletts bond money given to the city as part of the deal, noting it wouldnt come close to the citys expenditures for investigating the alleged attack.
You cannot have, because of a persons position, one set of rules apply to them and another set of rules apply to everybody else, the mayor said.
Johnson stood by the work of detectives and said he believed the city was owed an apology.
Do I think justice was served? No, said Johnson, who memorably blasted Smollett at a news conference last month announcing the charges, saying at the time that the hoax dragged Chicagos reputation through the mud.
Ive heard that they wanted their day in court with TV cameras so America could know the truth, the superintendent said. And now they chose to hide behind secrecy and broker a deal to circumvent the judicial system.
Area Central Detective Cmdr. Edward Wodnicki, whose detectives led the investigation, said prosecutors gave no heads-up to police that the charges would be dropped. He also expressed concern that it left it looking as if police mishandled the investigation. Detectives uncovered overwhelming evidence against Smollett, he said.
Its absolutely a punch in the gut, Wodnicki told a Tribune reporter. We worked very, very closely throughout our three-week investigation to get to the point where we arrested the offender. So for the states attorneys office at this point to dismiss the charges without discussing this with us at all is just shocking.
Read Mayor Emanuel, Chicago top cops comments about Jussie Smollett charges being dropped
Smolletts lawyer, meanwhile, said she was not privy to the evidence that led prosecutors to bring charges, but she accused Johnson of trying the case in the press.
When asked if authorities should investigate who actually attacked Smollett, Holmes noted that the two brothers both of whom knew Smollett had already admitted their involvement in what they said was a staged attack.
The two men who attacked him have indicated that they attacked him, so we already know who attacked him, she said.
When asked whether she was calling for the brothers to be charged, Holmes said that is a decision for prosecutors to make.
We dont want to try them in the press any more than (Smollett) wanted to be tried in the press, she said.
Holmes, a Chicago attorney, was among a team of lawyers for Smollett, including high-profile entertainment attorney Mark Geragos from Los Angeles who did not attend Tuesdays hearing. On Monday, Geragos was identified by the Associated Press as an unindicted co-conspirator in a multimillion-dollar plot by attorney Michael Avenatti to extort Nike.
Reached by phone Tuesday, attorney Gloria Schmidt, who represents the brothers, declined to comment.
Foxx recused herself from the case last month after revealing she had contact with Smolletts representatives early on in the investigation. She declined to provide details at the time. Communications later released to the Tribune, however, showed Foxx had asked Superintendent Johnson to turn over the investigation to the FBI after she was approached by a politically connected lawyer about the case.
Foxx reached out to Johnson after Tina Tchen, former chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama, emailed Foxx saying the actors family had unspecified concerns about the investigation. Tchen, a close friend of Mayor Emanuels wife, said she was acting on behalf of the Empire actor and his family. A relative later exchanged texts with Foxx.
The exchanges began Feb. 1, three days after Smollett said the attack occurred. It would still be 2 weeks before he was charged with making the story up, but some media outlets were already starting to question the actors account, citing unnamed police sources.
Tina Tchen appears at a rally for Toni Preckwinkle at Northeastern Illinois University Feb. 23, 2019. Tchen, former chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama, emailed States Attorney Kim Foxx saying the Smolletts family had unspecified concerns about the investigation. (Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
Kiera Ellis, a spokeswoman for the states attorneys office, said at the time that Smolletts relative was specifically concerned about leaks to the media that purportedly came from the Police Department.
Magats said prosecutors informed Chicago police officials Tuesday morning of the decision to drop the charges against Smollett, but he noted that the office has been in contact with police from the beginning about potential options for resolving the case.
The investigation done by CPD and the detectives was outstanding, Magats said. The fact that the case is disposed of alternatively is not and should not be read as some type of statement that the case is flawed.
There had been no clue that prosecutors planned to drop the charges before the announcement in court. In fact, there likely would have been no reporters in the courtroom if it hadnt been for a publicist for Smolletts attorney alerting the news media Tuesday morning that Smollett was already in court for an unscheduled emergency hearing.
Moments after the judge allowed the dismissal, attorneys for Smollett issued a statement saying his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him.
Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th, the statement read. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgment.
The actor, who is African-American and openly gay, has said he was walking from a Subway sandwich shop to his apartment in the 300 block of East North Water Street about 2 a.m. Jan. 29 when two men walked up, yelled racial and homophobic slurs, hit him and wrapped a noose around his neck.
Smollett said they also yelled, This is MAGA country, in a reference to President Donald Trumps campaign slogan of Make America Great Again.
Police initially treated the incident as a hate crime, but their focus turned to Smollett after the two brothers who were alleged to have been his attackers told police that Smollett had paid them $3,500 to stage the attack, with a promise of an additional $500 later.
Police pieced together much of their evidence by reviewing footage from about 55 police and private surveillance cameras showing the brothers movements before and after the attack.
The shift in the investigation came amid intense news media coverage, and often bitter public debate and stinging skepticism on social media.
Smollett addressed those doubts in a national TV interview and in a strongly worded statement after the brothers were released from custody after questioning by police.
A week before the alleged attack, Smollett told police he received a threatening letter at work. Prosecutors said Smollett staged the attack because he was unhappy with the studios response to the threatening letter. Chicago police took it a step further, accusing Smollett of faking the letter as well.
Federal authorities are conducting a separate investigation into that letter.
Chicago Tribunes Jeremy Gorner contributed.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
mbuckley@chicagotribune.com
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
Qpex Biopharma, a local startup spun out of leftover antibiotics research at The Medicines Company, launched Monday with $33 million in new funding to tackle dangerous drug-resistant infections.
The financing round was led by Menlo Park venture capitalists New Enterprise Associates and comes on top of $32 million in government grants earned in 2016. The money is a testament to the growing need to fight infections brought on by superbugs now resistant to existing antibiotics a major focus of U.S. health officials in recent years.
Qpex has a new name and fresh funds, but San Diego has seen this team before. The company is chock full of researchers from Rempex, a local antibiotics maker acquired by The Medicines Company in 2013. At the time of the deal, Rempexs research was led by Michael Dudley, who eventually joined The Medicines Company as chief scientific officer. There, he oversaw the New Jersey companys infectious disease unit, which churned out three FDA-approved antibiotics in recent years.
But last November, The Medicines Company decided to withdraw from the antibiotics field, breaking off its infectious disease unit and selling it in parts. The three approved and market-ready drugs were sold to Melinta Pharmaceuticals in 2017 for $270 million. It turns out, however, there was still some early stage research left on the table at The Medicines Company. Its this early stage work not yet tested in humans that Qpex snatched up to form its antibiotics portfolio.
Advertisement
The tipping point with superbugs has been their ability to produce enzymes that can enable bacteria to degrade a class of compounds called beta lactamase, a useful group of compounds for treating infections, Dudley said. With bacteria being able to inactivate those compounds, it has put us in a world of hurt.
One approach is to develop a new class of antibiotics that the bugs dont recognize, but thats a difficult and lengthy process. A different approach is to develop drugs that inhibit those enzymes that break down beta lactamase. The drug can then be used in combination with existing antibiotics to boost their efficacy, Dudley said.
This is how The Medicines Company drug Vabomere works, Dudley said. That antibiotic was approved last year to treat urinary tract infections and Qpex hopes to build on that success. Qpexs pipeline of antibiotics are tweaked to work a little better against mutations, Dudley said, and might be able to be taken as a pill. Thats a big improvement from existing medications, which are given intravenously. But the science is still very early, and Qpex doesnt yet know if their drugs will work in humans.
Some of the Rempex team departed for Melinta, Dudley said, but 20 remaining employees have signed on board with Qpex to see where this research will take them.
In addition to New Enterprise Associates, the funding round was also supported by Adams Street Partners, LYZZ Capital, Hatteras Venture Partners and Stanford University Draper Fund.
Carol Gallagher, a partner at New Enterprise, said they see great potential in Qpex and looks forward to working with Dudley and his team as they progress their portfolio of drug candidates into the clinic.
Business
brittany.meiling@sduniontribune.com 619-293-1286 Twitter: @BrittanyMeiling
As the fast-moving Ebola virus sweeps through eastern Congo, scientists are braving into war zones hoping to test new medicines including one designed in San Diego in sick patients there.
Despite civil unrest in the region, Doctors Without Borders has set up testing sites in the cities of Butembo and Beni, the latest hotspots of the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But researchers have plans to chase the virus as it moves throughout the region, which it does at a rather rapid pace.
Here in San Diego, where scientists have long been studying the deadly virus, a biotech company is getting a rare shot at seeing how its drug compares to three other experimental treatments that are part of this trial, including ones made by biotech giants Regeneron and Gilead Sciences.
The local firm Mapp Biopharmaceutical leaped into national news in 2014, when its experimental medicine, ZMapp, was used during the West African Ebola epidemic. The drug is a mixture of three antibodies meant to knock down levels of the Ebola virus in the body, hopefully buying time for the patients immune system to rally and defeat the disease.
Advertisement
Anecdotal accounts indicated ZMapp might have helped save the lives of infected patients such as American missionaries Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol.
ZMapp spiked in demand during the 2014 outbreak, but the company wasnt set up to make its drug at mass scale back then. By early 2015, when a clinical trial was finally authorized to start treating patients with ZMapp, the epidemic was waning. The study moved forward anyway but had a hard time recruiting patients to test. In the end, the data showed some evidence ZMapp helped Ebola patients survive. But not enough patients were enrolled in the trial for the drug to prove statistical significance.
Of course, fewer grievously ill people is a good thing. But its hard to test whether a drug works when proper trials cant be conducted.
Its challenging to do clinical trials in a way that will satisfy (regulators) because we obviously would never intentionally infect people with Ebola, said Larry Zeitlin, founder and president of Mapp Biopharmaceutical.
And so data on ZMapp and other newer drugs designed to fight the virus are slim. And that means scientists must rely on animal trials to learn how Ebola reacts to drugs, which can be a hindrance to understanding the virus.
This is why researchers are rushing into regions of eastern Congo to set up new trial sites at area hospitals where outbreaks arise, despite the political unrest in the area. The National Institutes of Health is leading the trial, and its overseen by a World Health Organization steering committee, along with other national and international actors.
But its a difficult task. In December, an Ebola treatment center was stormed by rioters in Beni, who protested the postponement of an election by setting fire to the facility.
Virus researcher Erica Ollman Sapphire, who works at The Scripps Research Institute of La Jolla, helped Mapp determine the molecular structure of ZMapp and is familiar with the new trial sites in eastern Congo. She said the trial might be able to tell researchers which of these four anti-Ebola drugs work best, how well and at what stage of the virus progression.
But thats assuming best case scenario. Sapphire said shes worried the data might be noisy if the trial stumbles into difficult circumstances, like not having enough patients to sort into a truly randomized trial.
Can we be sure the people getting Therapy A is an identical population to the people getting Therapy B? Sapphire said. In a traditional randomized trial, more people would be involved.
Not to mention, she said, the instability in the region could shake up a clinical trials best efforts.
Theyre working under very difficult circumstances, Sapphire said. This is an Ebola outbreak in an unstable zone. Getting a trial done at all would be a good outcome.
The drugs being tested in the trial are Gileads Remdesivir, mAb114, Regenerons REGN-EB3 and ZMapp, which is the control arm.
Zeitlin said the trial would likely not play into ZMapps future regulatory approval in the U.S., however. The company is taking a different route through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration via the Animal Rule, which allows drugs like ZMapp to get approval by showing efficacy in animals only. If all goes well in ZMapps trials, the company will ask the FDA for approval around 2022, Zeitlin said.
Business
brittany.meiling@sduniontribune.com 619-293-1286 Twitter: @BrittanyMeiling
Challenging the popular but pricey EpiPen, San Diegos Adamis Pharmaceuticals is readying its own emergency allergy medication for sale.
Called Symjepi, the product is a pre-filled syringe of epinephrine, used to counteract life-threatening allergic reactions. Its meant as a lower-cost alternative to market leader EpiPen, which costs hundreds of dollars.
Just how much lower it will cost hasnt been announced, or when the products will reach the market. The launch is being handled by marketing partner Sandoz, a subsidiary of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis. The role of Adamis is to manufacture the product.
Adamis has received approval for two Symjepi formulations. A low-dose form, for patients who weigh 33 to 66 pounds, was approved in September. A higher dose for those over 66 pounds was approved earlier.
Advertisement
Adamis meanwhile is working on other products. Those in the late stages of development include formulations of naloxone, which reverses opioid overdose, and beclomethasone, for asthma.
Were transitioning from a development company to actually getting some revenue coming in real soon here, said Adamis spokesman Mark Flather.
Adamis plans to submit a marketing application for its naloxone product later this quarter, Flather said. It delivers the drug in its proprietary Symject syringe system, the same used for epinephrine.
Symject is intuitive and the FDA is already familiar with the injection system from its experience with Symjepi, Flather said.
The company is also developing other inhaled drugs, using a dry powder inhaler system it acquired from 3M Drug Delivery Systems.
Symjepi, which manually injects epinephrine, isnt directly comparable to the auto-injection EpiPen. But its smaller, Flather said, making it more convenient for patients to keep on their person, such as in a pocket or purse.
The syringe is super easy, Flather said. You take the product out of the case, pull off the cap that exposes the needle. You inject the needle into your outer thigh and you push down on the plunger rod to deliver the medicine. Thats it.
For those at risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, having epinephrine readily available can be life-saving. But EpiPens seller, Mylan, has been criticized for its prices which can exceed $600 for a two-pack. When Mylan acquired rights to EpiPen in 2007, it sold for just $57 per dose.
Mylan says its prices are reasonable, and offers discount programs for those who cant afford the full price.
While epinephrine itself is an inexpensive generic drug, Mylan has been able to charge a premium because of a lack of significant competition.
Those days are ending, and not just because of Adamis. In August, Israeli drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries was granted U.S. permission to sell generic EpiPen products.
Even Mylan recently began selling a generic version of EpiPen, which sells for about half the cost of the brand name version.
Shares of publicly traded Adamis traded at $2.62 each, down 16 cents at the close of trading Monday. On Jan. 2, the years first trading day, shares closed at $4.55.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
The Allen Institute has donated $125 million to a new division dedicated to understanding the human immune system. Partners include UC San Diego and four other academic centers, the institute said Wednesday.
Paul Allen, the late Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist, made the donation to create the Allen Institute for Immunology. Allen died in October of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The new division is housed at the Allen Institutes headquarters in Seattle.
Unlike many biomedical research projects aimed at specific diseases, this is a much more encompassing effort to devise models of how the immune system works in health and disease. It follows the ambitious pattern set by two other efforts, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and the Allen Institute for Cell Science,
At the Allen Institute, we pride ourselves on our large-scale industrial approach to science, said Allen Jones, its president and CEO, at a press conference announcing the immunology initiative.
Advertisement
Thomas Bumol, the former head of Eli Lillys Biotechnology Center in San Diego, has moved to Seattle to become executive director of the new institute. Bumol was Lillys senior vice president of biotechnology and immunology research.
Besides the University of California San Diego, the other four initiative members are: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle; Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, also in Seattle; University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; and University of Pennsylvania.
The new institutes main goal is to extend immunology from basic research to get clinical insights in actual people. All of the five member institutions have access to patients and patient tissue samples, in addition to performing their own immunological research.
The human immune system uses multiple interrelated networks of cells and chemicals to detect and repel infections. At the same time, it contains elaborate checks and balances to prevent these networks from attacking the body. Failures can make people vulnerable to infections or cancer, or cause autoimmune diseases.
The Allen Institute for Immunology aims to build a sort of immune system atlas, with detailed descriptions of the cell types and networks. It will study how these components change over a period of one to three years, in both healthy volunteers and patients with different immune diseases.
To put discoveries to use as rapidly as possible, the institute said its data and tools will be made publicly available online.
Get the balance right
Researchers have been studying the immune system for decades, but what we dont yet understand is its dynamic balance, Bumol said Wednesday at the press conference. What does a healthy immune system look like? How does it shift when our body encounters different environments? How does it change when we age and what goes wrong?
The institute will first study two cancers and three autoimmune diseases. They are multiple myeloma and melanoma; along with rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease.
Unlike cancer, when the immune system fails to destroy abnormal cells, autoimmune diseases are the result of a hyperactive or wrongly directed immune system, which attacks normal cells.
UCSD and the University of Colorado are taking on the rheumatoid arthritis program. Its headed by Dr. Gary Firestein, UCSD Healths associate vice chancellor for clinical and translational research. As a medical doctor, Firestein treats those with rheumatoid arthritis as well as conducting research.
The program will study healthy people at elevated risk for rheumatoid arthritis, and continue to follow them if they develop the disease, Firestein said. This feature of the program, focusing on the transition between health and illness, got Bumols support.
Those individuals who have a family history of rheumatoid arthritis, or who test positive for certain antibodies, are at greater risk for the disease, Firestein said.
About 1 percent of the general community will develop rheumatoid arthritis, but with our criteria, we can predict that about 40 to 50 percent of those individuals will ultimately develop the disease, he said.
From understanding to treatments
Ultimately we are hoping that if we understand that process, we could develop new therapies that would help prevent that transition, Firestein said. In other words, prevent people from getting rheumatoid arthritis, rather than waiting to get it and treat them with drugs for the rest of their lives.
One part of the monitoring involves examining peripheral blood cells, specifically their pattern of gene activation, he said.
We now have the technology to look at what genes are expressed cell by cell, as opposed to the old technology where youd have to look at billions of cells all at the same time, Firestein said.
Those who develop rheumatoid arthritis will also get synovial biopsies. A fine needle will be inserted into the inflamed joint, and part of the joint lining removed.
We will be able to compare what the immune system looks like in the joint where its actually causing the damage to whats going on in the blood, Firestein said. And that way were going to hopefully be able to discover how to use the peripheral blood as a window to whats going on.
The rheumatoid arthritis effort is still being organized. A web site with information will be established soon, Firestein said.
Such large-scale projects would not be possible without the donation and the Allen Institutes support, Firestein said.
It could not be done by writing NIH (National Institutes of Health) grants, it is far too ambitious for most other institutes or foundations, he said.
Patients and others looking for more information on the Allen Institute for Immunology can find it at j.mp/aimmunology.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Just one out of seven of seniors take part in assessments for cognitive problems, according to a new report from the Alzheimers Association. But much higher numbers get regular screenings for ailments like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
The disconnect means that millions of seniors with early cognitive problems arent getting medical attention early, when it can be most helpful, said the report, issued on Tuesday.
Problems with cognition can have many causes, said Katie Croskrey, executive director of the associations chapter for San Diego and Imperial counties. These include dehydration, stress, side effects of medication and poor blood circulation to the brain, Alzheimers, or a mixture of causes. These issues can be detected early on with a variety of cognitive tests.
One of the most popular cognitive screens is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Its usually given in person and takes about 15 minutes, said Ana Seda, the chapters director of programs. These include such tasks as drawing the hands of an analog clock, counting backward in a sequence, and repeating sentences exactly as given.
Advertisement
If the assessment reveals a possible problem, a doctor will first check for issues not related to dementia, Croskrey said. If those causes are ruled out, at that point the patient would be sent to a neurologist for more sophisticated tests, such as a CT scan.
While there are several causes of dementia, Alzheimers accounts for most cases. Both the number of Alzheimers patients and number of deaths from the disease are increasing.
In 2017, 16,238 Californians died of Alzheimers, a 268 percent increase over the number in 2000, the report stated. Nationwide, more than 5 million Americans now have Alzheimers, and by 2050 that number is projected to reach 14 million.
By contrast, deaths from heart disease and cancer from 2000 to 2017 have actually gone down, Croskrey said.
When it comes to physical maladies, 91 percent of seniors get their blood pressure measured; 66 get tested for diabetes; and 61 get cancer screenings. In addition, 83 percent get their cholesterol measured; 80 percent get vaccinations; and 73 percent get hearing or vision check
Just 16 percent of seniors get thinking and memory assessments, and even fewer get them regularly, according to the report.
Croskrey said one explanation is that people simply arent discussing their worries about thinking or memory loss with their physicians.
The doctor probably wont do a memory test unless you share some concerns about your memory, she said. That means people need to bring up the subject.
Its normal to become more forgetful with aging, Croskrey said. Simply misplacing keys or other objects isnt by itself a sign of dementia.
If you find your keys in the refrigerator or you find them in other odd places where you cannot retrace your steps, then thats something you want to raise with your doctor, Croskrey said.
Fear is a major reason people dont ask for cognitive screening, said Dr. Howard Feldman, director of the Alzheimers Disease Cooperative Study at UC San Diego.
It is really a dreaded event in a persons life, Feldman said. Physical ailments, bad as they are, leave you with mental intactness.
In the worst case, dementia will take away a persons functional autonomy, he said.
Overriding all is a stigma about having dementia.
Several factors make taking a cognitive test a wise idea for seniors, he said. One is that the patient may not have dementia at all, freeing that person from needless worry.
For those in the early stages of dementia, they have time to make important decisions, such as who will have power of attorney and look after their assets. Waiting puts people at risk of being defrauded.
Another is that certain health and lifestyle changes may reduce dementias toll, Feldman said. While the evidence for benefit isnt proven, at the very least these changes wont cause harm.
Early stage patients whose cognitive impairment is mild may also be good candidates for taking experimental drugs that just might slow or stop the course of the disease.
And in the later stages, voluntarily giving up autonomy, such as ceasing to drive, could save someone elses life, he said.
Those with questions about Alzheimers or other forms of cognitive impairment can get answers around the clock by calling the Alzheimers Association helpline at 1-800-272-3900. The association is online at www.alz.org.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Common childhood diseases as well as dangerous conditions can be diagnosed with an artificial intelligence system just about as accurately as an experienced pediatrician, scientists in San Diego and China report Monday.
The AI system processes large amounts of data from electronic health records, and also finds disease associations not previously identified, according to a study led by Kang Zhang, founding director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine.
The work shows an across-the-board usefulness. Previous medical AI efforts were often focused on one disease or related conditions. For example, a study published in February of last year, also led by Zhang, was designed to screen patients who may have potentially blinding retinal diseases.
The AI system interpreted data from more than 1.3 million pediatric visits to a health care referral center in Guangzhou, China. Results were compared to a doctors initial diagnosis. It not only performed well in diagnosing common ailments, but also dangerous conditions such as bacterial meningitis, the study said.
Advertisement
For example, it achieved 85 percent accuracy with gastrointestinal diseases and 93 percent for bacterial meningitis. This can be useful for identifying patients who urgently need treatment.
Although this impact may be most evident in areas where healthcare providers are in relative shortage, the benefits of such an AI system are likely to be universal, said the study, published in Nature Medicine. It can be found at https://j.mp/aichildmed.
The study demonstrates the growing usefulness of artificial intelligence in medicine, said Giorgio Quer, Director, Artificial Intelligence at Scripps Research Translational Institute.
While the system in this paper cant yet outperform an experienced physician, it could assist junior physicians, he said by email.
An interesting application of this system - that would require new data and that should be clinically validated - would be in the emergency department, Quer said. This system could potentially analyze vital signs, basic history and notes from a physical examination by a nurse to help in the prioritization of patients who should be seen first by a physician.
The AI system was trained on manually annotated information. Once trained, it was set loose on patient data in the electronic health records, including symptoms, physical exams and results of lab tests.
The system used natural language processing methods to extract pertinent data from doctors notes. It proceeded toward a diagnosis with a question-and-answer format just like doctors use.
Examples of questions are Is patient having a fever? and Is the patient coughing? the study said.
Aside from identifying patients who need immediate attention, the study said the AI system might even be able to pick out patients who dont need a doctors evaluation at that time. These patients can be referred to routine followup care at a later date.
This diagnostic prediction would help to ensure that physicians time is dedicated to the patients with the highest and/or most urgent needs, the study said.
The study also included researchers from VA Healthcare System in San Diego; Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Hangzhou YITU Healthcare Technology Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, China; Guangzhou Kangrui Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, China; and Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China.
Study funders included the National Key Research and Development Program of China; National Natural Science Foundation of China; Guangzhou Women and Childrens Medical Center, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory.
Related reading
Evaluation and accurate diagnoses of pediatric diseases using artificial intelligence
Serious eye diseases accurately diagnosed through artificial intelligence
S.D. researchers find better way to grow neural stem cells
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Blood is hard to beat for detecting disease. This liquid tissue circulates throughout the body, picking up chemicals, cell fragments and whole cells. But signs of disease may be exceedingly rare, and reliably picking them out has spawned an industry devoted to the task.
La Jollas BioFluidica says it has greatly improved upon existing technology with its own method to find circulating cancer cells. which it is testing in leukemia patients. The goal is to replace invasive and painful bone marrow biopsies for detecting when the cancer reoccurs.
BioFluidica is now moving toward commercialization of what could be an even bigger invention. The privately held company has embedded its technology into a small, clear plastic chip. This microfluidics chip is etched with microscopic channels through which blood samples flow.
Importantly, the chip can be cheaply mass-produced, allowing for more frequent testing at a lower cost, said CEO Rolf Muller. The chip could supersede existing systems that require trained, expensive staff to manually process samples.
Advertisement
A number of manufacturers said they couldnt make the chips to the exacting specifications required, Muller said. Finally, BioFluidica found a company in Austria that could do so.
We never could achieve high-throughput processing of the samples. It was always a very laborious and difficult process which took a long time, cant be scaled, Muller said. And now all of a sudden we can create these chips with injection molding. We can produce them like CDs.
BioFluidica is also working on other cancers, including lung, breast, prostate, ovarian and multiple myeloma. The technology is being developed for early detection as well as monitoring.
The savings to the health care system will be considerable, although exact numbers arent yet available, Muller said. As a very rough guide, a lung biopsy that costs $10,000 could be replaced with a BioFluidica test costing half that, he said.
Lung and bone marrow biopsies are the main targets right now because of the cost, he said. Patients may require hospitalization and anesthesia, along with an operating team. Replacing this with a simple blood draw promises great savings and reduced inconvenience to patients.
Were proposing to eliminate the most expensive procedures, Muller said.
The company is far from alone in the field of blood testing, especially the use of liquid biopsies to detect cancer. Local companies in the field include Carlsbads Genoptix and San Diegos Genalyte.
The entire blood testing industry has struggled to escape the pall cast by Theranos, a Silicon Valley company that falsely claimed it could reliably perform hundreds of tests on just a few drops of blood. So other companies have taken pains to show objective evidence their tests work.
Its a lot to take on for a company with just 20 employees, 12 in San Diego. The company operates screening centers in North Carolina and Kansas as well as in San Diego.
BioFluidica is testing its Liquid Scan technology with leukemia patients, funded by the National Cancer Institute. The results of bone marrow biopsies are compared with BioFluidicas blood test.
We have demonstrated in a small clinical trial with eight patients that we can find those recurrences earlier, Muller said. Now the company is expanding testing to 40 patients with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML.
Theres no room for error, Muller said, because a false negative can be catastrophic. AML flare-ups can take place suddenly, when a mutation occurs in a quiescent cell that turns it aggressive. This mutant cell quickly proliferates, so fast detection of the event is critical.
If you miss it, youre dead, Muller said.
The chip can capture as few as 10 cancer cells per 7 billion blood cells, in about 90 minutes, he said.
BioFluidica has also been awarded a contract from the National Cancer Institute to perform a 100-patient study in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL. Replacing painful bone marrow biopsies for this population is even more important than for adults, he said. Patients range in age from 18 years to infants.
In addition, BioFluidica performs lab work for other companies that are running their own clinical trials.
Work on the chip began several years ago, before Muller joined the company with Judy Muller-Cohn, chief operating officer and his wife. Muller succeeded founder Steven A. Soper, who is at Kansas University. Soper remains with the company as chief scientific officer.
Soper received $10 million from the National Institutes of Health to create a blood testing chip. A few years ago, Soper was introduced to Muller and Muller-Cohn, who were impressed by the chips ability to isolate circulating tumor cells.
The chip contains entrance and exit channels for the blood. In between are 150 microscopic channels, each one-quarter of the width of a human hair.
Blood is inserted through a machine BioFluidica customized for the purpose, supplying blood through the intake and taking it out the other end.
Normal blood cells pass through, leaving behind abnormal cells that are hooked by antibodies. These cells can then be examined microscopically for signs of cancer, and their DNA sequenced for malignant mutations.
And the chip can be programmed to look for other forms of cancer, or other diseases, by attaching the corresponding antibodies, Muller said. The company plans to extend testing to solid tumors.
Getting this technology onto a small plastic chip wasnt the hard part. The true challenge was mass-producing it inexpensively.
The tolerances are narrow, because irregularities could rupture tumor cells, which are often delicate. Capturing the intact cell allows for a much more comprehensive test than is possible by examining cell fragments, Muller said.
Clinical trial information is available by emailing BioFluidica at info@biofluidica.com.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
One had the technology. The other had the science. Both shared a mission.
Frank Bennett and Adrian Krainer worked since 2004 to find a treatment for an incurable genetic disease called spinal muscular atrophy. In its most severe form, SMA can kill before the age of 12 months, when the babies lose their ability to breathe.
The collaboration led by Bennett, of Ionis Pharmaceuticals in Carlsbad, and Krainer, of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, yielded Spinraza, the first drug ever proven effective against the disease.
Bennett and Krainer now share something else: A 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, announced Wednesday. Theyll equally split the $3 million that comes with it a prize roughly three times that of the Nobel Prize.
Advertisement
Four of these prizes were given for life sciences. Three other $3 million awards were given; two in fundamental physics and one in mathematics.
Bennett, vice president of research at Ionis, said he was shocked by the news. He had trouble believing it.
It took a while to process, said Bennett, 61.
Spinraza may be just the beginning of a wave of treatments for currently intractable neurological diseases, according to Wednesdays announcement.
The work has also paved the way for new therapies ... for Huntingtons, ALS, spinocerebellar ataxias, Parkinsons and Alzheimers all being developed by Ionis, the announcement stated.
Spinraza is sold by Ionis partner Biogen of Cambridge, Mass.
The Breakthrough Prize was founded in 2012 by a group of noted technology entrepreneurs. These include Mark Zuckerberg, a Facebook cofounder; Sergey Brin; a Google cofounder; Anne Wojcicki, cofounder of personal genomics company 23andMe, and tech investor Yuri Milner.
Prizes in each field are awarded by a board including some of the founders, assisted by a selection committee composed of previous winners in that field.
The joint award to Bennett and Krainer illustrates that good science alone isnt enough to yield a breakthrough drug like Spinraza.
Basic academic research must be paired with the expertise of a drug company. That company takes a potential drug through the long path of optimizing it for safety and efficacy, and confirming its safety and effectiveness in cell cultures, in animals and ultimately in people.
Bennett is a busy man: this is just one of his projects. His work includes two other drugs in clinical testing; for ALS, or Lou Gehrigs disease; and for Huntingtons disease. Both are incurable, neurological diseases that are virtually always fatal.
The Ionis drugs have shown early signs that theyre reaching their targets in ALS and Huntingtons. But its too early to tell if the drugs will join Spinraza as breakthrough drugs.
The odds are forbidding. According to a study this year from MIT, only 14 percent of drugs that enter the clinical trial process get approved. And many of these drugs compete with each other, such as the plethora of cholesterol-lowering medicines.
Spinraza isnt one of those me-too drugs. Its approval by the U.S. FDA in December 2016 forever changed the outlook for those born with spinal muscular atrophy, and their families.
Bennett recalls his excitement on hearing the first hints that Spinraza was working in infants with Type 1 spinal muscular atrophy, the severest form. He well knew the diseases grim natural history.
Once theyre diagnosed with the disease, they get worse, Bennett said. They lose muscle tone and eventually become paralyzed from the disease.
And we were getting these anecdotes that the drug was making the kids stronger. They were moving around and being able to reach for things, starting to sit, which is never heard of for Type 1 SMA patients.
Bennett tried to keep his hopes in check, because the first tests were open-label, without a placebo control. Later trials included a sham injection of the drug, which is given through a lumbar puncture.
As the trials progressed, unmistakable evidence came in: the infants were surviving significantly longer. The effect was so great that the trial was stopped ahead of schedule, and Ionis put all the infants on Spinraza.
The drugs for ALS and Huntingtons disease havent reached that point. So far, they have shown early signs that theyre affecting the disease process. But it remains to be seen if they will deliver benefits that merit approval.
Other San Diegans have won Breakthrough Prizes, either collecting the $3 million outright or sharing with a partner. They include:
-- Don Cleveland, a UC San Diego professor who collaborates with Bennett on the ALS drug. Cleveland won one of the five 2018 Breakthrough Prizes in Life Sciences for his work on that disease.
-- Joanne Chory of the Salk Institute won another of the 2018 prizes in Life Sciences for her work in plant science.
-- James McKernan of UCSD shared his award in mathematics equally with collaborator Christopher Hacon of the University of Utah.
-- UCSDs Napoleone Ferrara received one of the 2013 prizes in Life Sciences for his work at Genentech. This study of how new blood vessels form, or angiogenesis, led to drugs for cancer and eye diseases.
The partnerships begin
Bennett is one of the Ionis teams longest-serving members. He was personally recruited in the late 1980s by Stanley T. Crooke, Ionis chairman and CEO.
They had originally met at Baylor College of Medicine, where Bennett was a graduate student and Crooke an adjunct professor. Later, when Crooke took a research post at a drug company in Philadelphia, Bennett joined his lab. When Crooke was starting up Ionis, he invited Bennett to join him.
Ionis was then a tiny company, operating out of temporary lab space in Sorrento Valley. Bennett was interested in the potential of Ionis, then called Isis Pharmaceuticals, to invent a new class of drugs called antisense. These drugs alter how genes work by targeting RNA, the messenger molecules made from genes.
There was a more personal motivation: Bennetts wife, Paula, didnt like living in Philadelphia.
In San Diego, Bennett met Don Cleveland, who became his collaborator in exploring the potential of antisense therapy for ALS.
Then in 2003 Bennett read a scientific paper by Krainer that described how antisense could change the activity of a gene that codes for a protein that promotes survival of motor neurons. A deficiency in that protein progressively kills these neurons in SMA patients.
This gene became the genetic target for the drug called Spinraza. The concept was to use antisense to change how the gene works, increasing production of this protein.
I contacted Adrian to see if hed be interested in collaborating with us, Bennett said. Adrian, being an academic, didnt have an ability to see his ideas get translated to therapies He had the expertise in the basic science, and we had the expertise in translating that basic science into potential therapeutics.
Bennett and Krainer discussed a larger-scale partnership with antisense, but eventually decided to narrowly focus on SMA. This program had a clear genetic target and a clear mechanism to affect that target.
Some of the other projects that we had talked about werent quite as well-defined, Bennett said. So we felt it was important to establish what the technology could do for a disease.
Working with patients
As part of his job, Bennett meets with patients and patient groups. He says this helps him personally understand what patients are facing, which informs the goals of drug development.
That patient involvement led Bennett to the Vatican last year, for a historic meeting between Pope Francis with Huntingtons disease patients and advocates.
Its similar to SMA as a disease that really motivates you to do what you can for the patients, Bennett said. And thats why I still come to work everyday, is that theres still a need out there.
Huntingtons disease is caused by a mutated protein that is needed in the brain during development. This mutated protein becomes toxic, causing gradual and progressive neurodegeneration.
Patients gradually lose muscle control, develop psychiatric symptoms and eventually die. They tend to get the disease in middle age, but the age of onset depends on the severity of the mutation.
Bennett had been invited to the meeting by one of its organizers, Charles Sabine, a Huntingtons disease advocate and former NBC news journalist.
As it turned out, Bennett had a business meeting scheduled in Switzerland just after the event with drug giant Roche, the partner with Ionis in developing the Huntingtons disease drug. So he was able to connect the two trips. But he didnt travel alone.
I should highlight that my wife is Catholic, and so when I mentioned that I was going to see the pope, she was coming as well, Bennett said, laughing.
Pope Francis met with the patients and advocates in the televised event, saying they deserved love and support as a matter of Christian teaching.
Charles arranged for me to sit up in the VIP session section and I was able to meet the pope as part of that event, Bennett said.
It was a life-affirming event. Im not religious myself, but the pope is clearly somebody who cares about people, and it comes through very strongly. Ill remember it for the rest of my life.
One last thing, Bennett said: Patients who took the experimental drug, and their families, deserve the most honor.
They were very brave to try a very novel therapy for the first time, he said. And for the first few patients there was a lot of risk associated with it. We had done all the work that we could to show that it was safe, but you never know when youre testing a new medicine.
And so to me, the families that take care of these kids, and the kids themselves, are really the heroes in the story.
Related reading
From basic research to saving lives the Spinraza story
Ionis surges on Spinraza sales
Ionis reports continued success testing drug for fatal disease
FDA approves Ionis spinal muscular atrophy drug Spinraza
Designer DNA drugs approach a potential watershed moment
Ionis earns $40 million from spinal muscular atrophy drug Spinraza
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
Siren wailing, the bright red truck pulled into the back of San Diego Fire-Rescue Station 45 in Mission Valley. As more than 600 people watched, Santa Claus emerged, his red-and-white suit replicating the trucks color and lettering scheme.
Trusty elf by his side, Santa walked to his chair and began greeting the children who had lined up to see him.
It looked like a typical holiday party, but not to the 150 attending burn survivors, both children and adults, along with their families and volunteers.
The event is a longtime partnership between the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the Burn Institute, a nonprofit organization that helps burn survivors and their families move beyond the trauma.
Advertisement
One of the things that really benefits a burn survivor and the whole family is to know that theyre not alone, that they have other families that have been through a similar experience, and to pull them together, said Susan Day, the Institutes executive director. So when they come to an event like this, they know other people have been through a trauma similar to theirs.
For the first time, the holiday party was held at a fire station.
Burn survivors exchanged stories with each other, met firefighters, and the younger of them enjoyed the holiday excitement of meeting Santa.
A short distance away from Kris Kringle, a crew from San Miguel Fire Protection District tended a slightly smoky grill, serving up hamburgers and hot dogs.
Inside the cavernous station diners sat at benches draped with red and green. Wooden toys stacked on other tables awaited their new owners.
These events are also important to the fire department staffers, said Day.
Many times the fire personnel see a child or an adult on the worst day of their life, she said. And they always wonder, what happened to that child, what happened to that family? They can witness that families maybe not the exact families (they saw) do survive and they do thrive.
A few survivors bore visible scars on their faces. Most scars were hidden beneath their clothes. All had gone through the intense pain, fear, and loneliness of enduring burn trauma.
Malia Troesch, 9, bears scars on her back from extensive burns. Going to the Burn Institutes summer camp turned her depressed outlook around, said her mother, Jamia Troesch.
They taught her she is not her scars, her mother said.
We did arts and crafts, Malia said. We got to make our own beds by ourselves. We even had our own drawer so we could put our stuff there ...
And they also gave her an awesome blanket her first time there, her mother said. When she got home she looked so sad and Im like, Whats wrong? She was like, I miss my friends.
The experience gave Malia a career goal: She wants to go back to the camp as part of the staff.
Event volunteer Ann Malo works at UC San Diegos burn center. She said the camps give the children a renewed sense of belonging.
Ive been a camp counselor, and Ive seen them go from 5 years old to 18 years old, and theyll keep the same friends, Malo said.
Theyll ask how did you get burned? And one says I got burned by ramen and the other kid says I got burned from Cup-a-Soup, Malo said. And theyll show each other their scars.
Such injuries from preparing hot noodle dishes are distressingly common, Malo said, cautioning families to beware of them.
Theyre flimsy, flimsy containers, she said. The kids think they can make them themselves, and with the fat content they really burn very deeply, and theyre terrible burns.
Randy Sanders, an adult burn survivor, said he was introduced to the Burn Institute by a friend, and began going to the camps to help the children.
He also helped himself.
I found myself embedded into support groups and burn retreats, Sanders said. And it really helped build my self-esteem and my self-worth. It gave me a lot of confidence in myself because I was able to help other burn survivors.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Another Ayres award
Janelle Ayres, an infectious disease researcher at the Salk Institute, has been granted $3.5 million over five years from the National Institutes of Health in a coveted NIH Pioneer Award.
Its not just the money. Its the source. The National Institutes of Health is the largest single funder of biomedical research in the United States with $37 billion appropriated by Congress for the 2018 fiscal year. When the NIH funds scientists, it gets noticed.
In July, Ayres won $1 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation to fund her microbial research. And in June, Ayres was given the Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists. The award is given to scientists 42 and under by the Blavatnik Family Foundation. It included $250,000 to fund her research.
Advertisement
That research can loosely be described as make peace, not war.
Instead of the traditional eradication approach to deadly microbes, Ayres look for ways to tame pathogens so they dont make us sick. Its even in the interest of the microbes, as killing the host deprives parasites of a home.
This is nothing more than standard evolutionary theory, but applying this concept to human disease therapies is still a novelty. But the evidence is there to support it.
In January 2017, Ayres and colleague Sheila Rao led a study demonstrating that some Salmonella bacteria a common cause of food poisoning actually promote appetite in their hosts. People who feel sick tend to stay in one place and be isolated. Turns out thats not helpful for bacteria that depend on spreading to new hosts to propagate their kind.
Scripps Research adds to advisers
Scripps Research has added another layer to its ongoing transformation. The La Jolla biomedical nonprofit has added a Board of Overseers, expanding the institutes network of advisers. Its also another example of the ability of Scripps Research CEO Peter G. Schultz to persuade some most distinguished people to help the institute.
Local notables include Richard Heyman, a prolific biotech entrepreneur and vice chair of the Salk Institute.
Also:
-- Dr. Stanley Crooke, chairman and CEO of Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
-- Faheem Hasnain, chairman and CEO of Gossamer Bio.
-- Kevin Sayer, president and CEO of Dexcom.
Outside of San Diego, prominent members include:
-- David Gollaher, vice president of policy and public health for Gilead Sciences of Foster City.
-- Dr. John Reed, head of global research and development for Paris-based drugmaker Sanofi. Reed is known in San Diego as the former CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.
-- Dr. Mikael Dolsten, MD, president of worldwide research and development for pharma giant Pfizer.
These have all made formidable contributions to biomedicine. What will they do for Scripps Research?
Too many?
Could there actually be too many experimental trials of new cancer treatments?
Those affected by cancer may have trouble believing it, but thats exactly what an article in the industry publication Fierce Biotech said earlier this month.
A bottleneck of immunotherapy clinical trials has put the fields advancement somewhat on hiatus, the article states. The bottleneck is finding enough patients to fill the hundreds of clinical trials of cancer treatments, industry professionals said.
Tom Schuetz, CEO of Compass Therapeutics, told Fierce Biotech that hed rather see more extensive animal testing to select fewer but more rigorously screened therapies for human testing.
The New York Times made that same point in an article last year. Cancer immotherapys success against previously fatal cancers has led to many other products.
Many of these experimental candidates in trials are quite similar, the Times article stated. Yet each drug company wants to have its own proprietary version, seeing a potential windfall if it receives FDA approval.
On the other hand, these treatments are all quite new, so over time some versions may be better suited to some cancers, others to different cancers. But the avalanche of trials, for now at least, has outstripped the supply of patients.
More than 1,600 cancer immune therapies are now recruiting for clinical trials, according to a search on the official government registry at clinicaltrials.gov. That search excluded completed trials or those not recruiting, along with observational trials.
Theres another side to that story; Cancer patients eager to try experimental therapies, but who dont meet the eligibility criteria. The plight of one patient who eventually died was told last year in the Washington Post.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
San Diego cancer therapy developer VelosBio has received $58 million in venture capital funding, lead investor Arix Bioscience said Monday.
The money will be used to complete preclinical development and advance the companys programs into clinical trials.
Privately held VelosBio is developing drugs consisting of a targeting antibody linked to a drug. These antibody-drug conjugates have attracted a great deal of attention because of their potential to precisely kill cancer cells while leaving normal cells alone.
London, England-based Arix is investing $11 million, giving it an 11.2 percent stake in VelosBio.
Advertisement
The financing is co-led by new investors Arix and Sofinnova Ventures, along with Pappas Ventures and Chiesi Ventures, as well as existing investors Takeda Ventures, Inc and Decheng Capital.
Posthumous afterglow
A new study is out from a team including Roger Y. Tsien, the UC San Diego biochemist whose work with fluorescent protein imaging won him a Nobel Prize. The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, presents a refined method for identifying elusive yet important interactions among proteins. It can be found at https://bit.ly/rytsien.
Its a logical extension of Tsiens work, but seeing his name there was a bit unexpected, since Tsien died in August 2016.
A dedication from the other authors says Tsien inspired and co-supervised the study. This year is also the 10th anniversary of Tsiens Nobel in chemistry, which he shared with Osamu Shimomura and Martin Chalfie for their work with green fluorescent protein.
This molecule, and various differently colored variants, illuminate molecular interactions inside living cells in a way not previously feasible.
Insulin-secreting cell project gets $1.6 million
Salk Institute professor Ronald Evans has received a $1.6 million grant to develop a therapy for Type 1 diabetes, using insulin-secreting cells made from stem cells.
The grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine will fund work on what Evans calls human islet-like organoids, or HILOs. Its what the institute calls a translational grant, to get the process ready for testing in people.
These organoids, described in a 2016 paper in Cell Metabolism, function much like natural pancreatic islet cells. They secrete insulin in response to high blood sugar.
In addition, these organoids contains a variety of islet cells, not just those that make insulin. Its hoped that this structure will more closely replicate natural islet function than just supplying insulin-making cells alone.
In preclinical testing, our HILOs can immediately restore glucose homeostasis (balance) upon transplantation into (type 1 diabetes) T1D mice, Eiji Yoshihara, a leader of the HILO project team, said in a statement.
Even better, these organoids appear to be immune-tolerant, that is, they are not attacked by the hosts immune system.
Evans and colleagues performed their work on stem cells produced from normal adult cells such as skin. These induced pluripotent stem cells act almost exactly like embryonic stem cells, but dont come from human embyros.
These cells are coaxed into becoming islet cells. Originally, the process was incomplete. Evans found a chemical switch that prompts these cells to become fully efficient insulin-making cells.
Related reading
Seeing is understanding
UCSDS Roger Tsien shares Nobel Prize in chemistry
UCSD Nobel laureate Roger Tsien dies
$1.6 million CIRM grant supports potential diabetes treatment
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
In 2006, a few hundred mostly local researchers gathered in La Jolla to discuss the emerging but still science-fictiony field of stem cells.
Since then, stem cells, enhanced by gene therapy, have progressed to yield breakthrough treatments, most spectacularly in cancer. Likewise, the conference known as the Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa has mushroomed into an international event. (The mesa is Torrey Pines Mesa, the epicenter of San Diegos life science sector).
About 1,200 scientists and business executives are expected to attend the three-day conference, up from about 900 last year.
On Wednesday and Thursday, investors and potential partners are to hear from 69 listed companies. Theyre developing therapies for a gamut of diseases, from rare genetic conditions to big killers such as heart disease and cancer.
Advertisement
Thats nearly double the 35 presenting companies in 2012.
Theres a lot of companies now doing a lot of interesting work, and at later stages in the development process, than there have ever been before, said Janet Lambert, CEO of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. The Alliance holds the conference along with the Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center at UCSD Health.
On Friday, the scientists get their turn. Topics include genetic editing of human embryos; the use of mini-brains organoids to model human brain development and diseases; and rejuvenation of old muscles.
The conferences growth has diluted its early focus on San Diego. Of the 69 presenting companies, only two are from San Diego. They are ViaCyte, a diabetes treatment developer; and Organovo, a maker of bioprinted tissues. And 14 are from other countries, including Australia, Chile, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
There was pretty intense competition, Lambert said.
Theres not only competition to attend, but also for space, she said. The hosting hotel, the Estancia, has been popular for its intimate setting. But the conference has maxed out the Estancias capacity. The hotel can only house only about half of the guests.
So next year the business side of the event will move to the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, which the conference has fully booked.
That hotel will provide double the space for attendees, Lambert said, along with 78,000 square feet of meeting space, more than double that of the Estancia.
On the scientific side, researchers have grown more adept and comfortable working with cell therapies, said Alysson Muotri, chair of the conferences scientific symposium steering committee and co-director of UC San Diegos stem cell program.
Previously, there were concerns that if any rogue stem cells were transplanted into a patient, they could become cancerous, or that they would migrate away from where they were intended to go, he said.
Scientists now know much more about how to identify and grow stem cells, he said. Moreover, genome editing technologies such as CRISPR makes it easier to genetically alter cells with precision.
Now we can manipulate those cells the way we want, Muotri said.
Another advance is in the use of stem cells to develop disease models not otherwise feasible, such as by producing human brain cells with mutations linked to Alzheimers or other diseases.
And Muotris own lab studies the brains three-dimensional nature by growing brain organoids, small, rudimentary structures that model some of the brains circuitry.
Last month, Muotri and colleagues published a study about an improved method of making brain organoids directly from a persons cells, such as people with autism spectrum disorder.
The science event, hosted at the nearby Salk Institute, is also wrestling with growing pains, Muotri said. So it, too, may have to move.
We are debating that now, he said.
More information on the conference is available at www.meetingonthemesa.com.
Related reading
Building a Better Brain-in-a-Dish, Faster and Cheaper
Gene therapies save lives, but how to pay for them?
Japan seeks leadership role in stem cell medicine
Stem cell meeting focuses on business
Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa 2006
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Diabetes therapy developer ViaCyte has raised $80 million, its largest financing to date, the San Diego biomedical company said Wednesday.
ViaCyte will use the money to advance its stem cell-derived therapies, said Paul Laikind, president and CEO of the privately held company. ViaCyte is combining a variety of technologies for its quest, including stem cell biology, materials science, and ultimately, even genetic editing.
If successful, the therapies will supply insulin as needed from insulin-making beta cells, grown from the stem cells. This has the potential of providing a functional cure, the company says. Its intended for patients with type 1 diabetes, who lack beta cells, and for some insulin-requiring patients with type 2 diabetes,.
ViaCyte grows human embryonic stem cells into precursors of pancreatic islet cells. These cells are encapsulated in a thin implant, which is inserted under a patients skin. Once in place, the cells are expected to mature into functional beta cells, as well as other cells of the pancreatic islet.
Advertisement
The implant is being tested in two versions. Both use the same cells, but differ in the way the precursor cells are encapsulated. ViaCyte may get initial evidence on efficacy for one version by as early as the middle of next year, Laikind said.
ViaCyte said the financing will meet the companys needs for at least a couple of years as it develops these versions. By that time, more definitive evidence of efficacy should be available. At that point, Laikind said the company can consider its options, such as being acquired, doing a partnership with a larger company, or holding an initial public offering.
ViaCyte received the funding from venture capital firms led by Bain Capital Life Sciences, along with TPG and RA Capital Management, as well as existing investor, Sanderling Ventures, and several individuals.
The company has now secured financing commitments of more than $100 million in the second half of this year, Laikind said. This includes $15 million from a collaboration with CRISPR Therapeutics, to genetically edit cells so they dont cause an immune reaction when implanted into patients. This is a long-term project.
Another $10 million came from W.L. Gore & Associates, the maker of Gore-Tex. It is helping ViaCyte refine an implanted encapsulating device that holds the implanted cells.
In addition, over the last 10 years ViaCyte has been awarded about $72 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the states stem cell agency. It has also received about $14 million from JDRF, an advocacy group for those with type 1 diabetes.
ViaCyte originally began clinical testing with a product candidate called PEC-Encap, which protects the beta cells from direct contact with the patients cells. PEC-Encap requires blood vessels to form on the surface of the cell delivery device. It allows insulin and waste to filter out and nutrients to filter in, but avoids provoking the patients immune system.
The other product candidate, called PEC-Direct, allows direct contact between the cells and blood vessels. But this exposes the cells to the immune system, so patients must take immune-suppressing drugs to avoid rejection. PEC-Direct is intended for high-risk type 1 diabetes patients. For these, the risk from the drugs is less than that from poorly controlled blood sugar levels.
ViaCyte is now enrolling patients for a midstage study of PEC-Direct, which will examine safety and efficacy.
ViaCyte turned to PEC-Direct after encountering difficulties with PEC-Encap which first entered the clinic several years ago. The body treated that implant as a foreign object, essentially obstructing it with scar-like tissue that interfered with the ability of blood vessels to form on the surface of the cell delivery device. Without sufficient access to nutrients, the beta cells couldnt thrive.
Thanks to the collaboration with W.L. Gore, modifications of the encapsulating material appear to have conquered the obstruction problem, at least in a relevant animal model, Laikind said. Clinical testing with PEC-Encap is expected to resume next year, Laikind said.
The gene-editing work with CRISPR Therapeutics is a longer-term project, but could have wider implications, Laikind said.
Having an immune-evasive source of cells that you can then drive to become other types of cells for cell replacement therapy would open up many opportunities, Laikind said.
ViaCyte was founded over a decade ago, shortly after human embryonic stem cells were successfully cultured in the laboratory for the first time. For all of that time, the companys goal has been to restore natural control over blood sugar by replacing the beta cells.
The company employs 55 people, all in San Diego.
For information on all of ViaCytes clinical trials, go to www.clinicaltrials.gov and search for the companys name.
Related reading
ViaCyte tries again with potential diabetes cure
ViaCyte starts diabetes trial
Pancreatic grafts made immune-tolerant
Johnson & Johnson, ViaCyte testing possible diabetes cure
ViaCyte gets $20M for diabetes therapy trials
ViaCyte gets funding for potential diabetes cure
Novocell Renamed ViaCyte; Gets 3 Patents
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Vistas DJO Global has been sold for $3.15 billion in cash by investors led by the Blackstone Group to Colfax Corp, a diversified technology company in Maryland.
Sale of the orthopedic products company, announced Nov. 19, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.
DJO employs 5,000 people companywide, with about 500 in Vista. Revenue amounts to $1 billion annually. It will operate as a new segment within Colfax, led by Brady Shirley, DJOs president and CEO.
DJO has a long history in North County. It began in 1978 by selling neoprene sleeve supports for the knee, ankle and elbow, but really made its mark by selling rigid but light knee braces. It later branched into other areas of rehabilitation and injury prevention.
Advertisement
Colfax, which is new to the medical industry, indicated it plans to make more investment in the field.
Colfax said in a statement that as it expands in the medical field, it is considering getting out of its businesses in air and gas products.
We are committed to reducing leverage and restoring balance sheet flexibility near-term and will explore strategic options for our Air and Gas Handling business, said Matt Trerotola, Colfaxs CEO. Longer term, we see tremendous opportunities to build our new medical technology platform with additional investment.
Shirley said he was looking forward to that growth.
Colfax has the financial strength, experience, and proven business system to support our operational performance and growth, Shirley said.
Importantly, they are committed to our mission to get and keep people moving, and we are confident that the Colfax teams operating expertise across a broad array of businesses makes them the ideal partner to help us build on our momentum, drive new levels of innovation,and continue to deliver outstanding service to our customers.
Colfax shares closed at $24.61 on Monday, giving it a market value of about $2.9 billion. Its considered undervalued by Chicago-based research company Morningstar, which gives it a fair market value of $31.68 per share.
DJO was founded as DonJoy in 1978 in a Carlsbad garage by Mark Nordquist, the then-Philadelphia Eagles offensive line captain, and Ken Reed, a San Diego attorney. They named the company after their wives, Donna and Joy.
In 1998 the company moved to Vista, where it has remained ever since.
Along the way, DJO has had a number of owners, including British medical products company Smith & Nephew; independent life as a publicly traded company, and in 2007, the Blackstone Group.
Blackstone paid $1.6 billion for DJO, which was merged with another Blackstone company, ReAble Therapeutics. DJOs executives were put in charge of the combined company.
DJO also operates a production plant in Tijuana. That began in the early 2000s, as soaring costs pushed the company into the red.
Hundreds were laid off at DJO, then a publicly traded company. Those left mainly produced custom-fitted braces for rush orders.
The cost-cutting worked, and the company started making a profit again. It also began developing new products to fuel growth, such as devices to stimulate bone healing with electricity and magnetism.
Related reading
Brace maker DJO Global soars under radar
A bracing milestone for DJO
Vista medical equipment company agrees to buyout
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Jecure Therapeutics, a San Diego company targeting inflammatory liver diseases, said Tuesday it has agreed to be purchased by Genentech. The purchase price wasnt disclosed.
Privately held Jecure was founded in 2015 with financing from Versant Ventures. The company raised $20 million from Versant in 2017.
The purchase gives Genentech access to a group of potential drugs that inhibit a protein called NLRP3. The protein is involved in cellular inflammatory responses in diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, and liver fibrosis. These inhibitors may also treat gout, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular ailments.
None of these compounds has entered clinical trials; if and when will be Genentechs decision. The South San Francisco-based biotech is a member of the Roche group of companies.
Advertisement
Jecure employs 15 people in San Diego. Genentech spokesman Andrew Villani said the company couldnt at this time provide specifics about what will happen with Jecures employees.
Genentech and Jecure will be reviewing current operations, ongoing business and staffing in the coming weeks, Villani said by email. In the long-term, we do not plan to maintain Jecures site in San Diego.
Genentech employs more than 400 people in San Diego County, most at a drug manufacturing plant in Oceanside.
Dr. James Sabry, Roches global head of pharma partnering, said in a statement that Jecures focus fits into Genentechs approach to these diseases.
Weve had a long-standing interest in targeting inflammatory pathways that may play a role in a number of serious diseases, Sabry said. Were excited to combine Jecures portfolio with our discovery and development capabilities, as well as our expertise in NLRP3 biology, to potentially help people with inflammatory diseases.
NASH and related liver diseases have become an increasingly serious health problem. At worst, NASH can progress to cirrhosis and ultimately liver failure, requiring a liver transplant.
The disease process begins with accumulation of excess fat in the liver. This produces non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects about 80 million to 100 million Americans, and produces no symptoms. Inflammation in the fatty liver can then lead to NASH.
Other San Diego companies pursuing treatments for NASH and related diseases include Bird Rock Bio, Conatus, and Viking Therapeutics.
Related reading
Viking Therapeutics Announces VK2809 Phase 2 Study Results
Cirius Therapeutics reports positive midstage results for liver disease drug
Bird Rock Bio asks to start liver disease drug trial
Nonalcoholic liver diseases focus of new UCSD center
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
As a partial government shutdown drags on, biomedical researchers and companies are looking at 2019 with anxiety.
Researchers who plan to apply for grants from the National Institutes of Health and companies seeking product approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration worry that the shutdown will progressively hinder their work.
To date, the effect has been mild, and essential functions such as monitoring food and drug safety continue.
But that respite will be short-lived if the showdown continues between President Donald Trump and Congress over funding a wall at the Mexican border.
Advertisement
Celyad, based in Belgium, has more reason to worry than most biomedical companies. The cancer drug developer has multiple clinical trials under way in the United States.
There hasnt been any problem in the short time since the partial shutdown began, said Dr. Christian Homsy, Celyads CEO. But the longer it continues, the more likely it is that some complication will arise in the cancer studies that require consulting the FDA, he said.
Celyads products fight cancer with immune cells that target both blood cancers and solid tumors. Its U.S. studies include acute myeloid leukemia; multiple myeloma; and myelodysplastic syndrome.
Were quite concerned, Homsy said. The FDA has been tremendously helpful in the last couple of years in assessing our programs and giving feedback on a very timely basis. Now the trials are running, and you never know when when youre going to hit an issue where you need to talk with the FDA.
If a problem does occur and the FDA isnt able to give that advice, the agency might decide to halt the trial, Homsy said.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said Wednesday on Twitter that the agency would issue guidelines on activities that will continue during the shutdown because of critical public health need.
Likewise, UC San Diego researcher/oncologist Dr. Catriona Jamieson said that while work is currently moving ahead, a prolonged shutdown will increasingly interfere with research.
The National Institutes of Health is the single biggest funder of biomedical research in the United States, spending about $37 billion a year.
We can continue to operate with existing grants, but they wont disburse any new grants, said Jamieson, who not only researches cancer but sees patients.
The NIH not only funds researchers like Jamieson, but it also helps finance programs at UCSD Moores Cancer Center, where Jamieson practices. It also pays for training new cancer researchers.
The UCSD center has been designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. That means it provides the full spectrum of cancer support, from basic research to experimental clinical trials and approved medical care.
We just got a very good score on our cancer center core grant renewal and are anticipating a larger amount of funding as a result of that, Jamieson said.
That should come through in the next few months. But if theres a government shutdown, it would be difficult to get that money.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
As medical science proliferates with technologies, what is left for the doctor to do?
For medical humanist Dr. Abraham Verghese, the answer is simple: Spend more time getting to know your patients as people. Take the time to read a poem and other literature. Do your part to bridge the gap between the two cultures of science and the humanities.
Verghese delivered the closing speech at last weeks Future of Individualized Medicine conference in La Jolla. His talk was meant to put into perspective the meaning of the technologies that otherwise dominated the conference, like genomics, microbiomics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
It takes a doctor who is attuned to a patients life history to make the best use of these tools, Verghese said. And that means having insight into human character.
Advertisement
Verghese said machines have eclipsed human beings in their capacity to care for the patient, that is, in diagnosing illnesses and indicating the best available therapies.
But doctors can evoke the human spirit, the knowledge of human beings and their motivations, that can pull together a life picture of a patient and understand them as more than a collection of symptoms.
Case history: A 64-year-old man admitted to the hospital after repeated falls, pains, and the loss of two teeth that just fell out, with no apparent cause.
What was wrong? Was it his medications, which could have caused abnormally low blood pressure? Was it alcohol abuse? A nutritional deficiency?
The man rapidly improved after being hospitalized. It turned out he had bachelor scurvy, a nutritional deficiency known to occur in older men who live alone.
He was surviving on no fruits or veggies, just alcohol and processed meats, I would guess, Verghese said.
My point here is that this diagnosis, as clever as it was, also might have been made much, much earlier had we had a good relationship with this patient and had some sense of who that person was, as an individual.
What would it mean for that man to have lost his wife? How would that change his entire circumstance of living? These are the kinds of things that shouldnt be neglected in the pursuit of ever-greater technical efficiency, Verghese said.
I would actually say its a two-way street, he said. Those of you involved in making these machines and doing these wonderful things for us probably need to embrace the humanities in order to make the things you do meaningful for those of use who are using them.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Local drugmaker TP Therapeutics has brought in $80 million to push forward its research for a cancer therapy to treat tumors that are resistant to existing cancer drugs.
The company, which made the announcement Friday, plans to put the cash to work funding a mid-stage trial that tests its drug, Repotrectinib, in humans. The therapy is targeted to treat specific cancer mutations to the genes ALK, ROS1, and TRK, which are all tied to lung cancer and other solid tumors.
TP Therapeutics was founded in 2013 by well-known drug designer Jean Cui and her husband Y. Peter Li. Cui is best known as the lead inventor of top-selling Pfizer cancer drug, Xalkori an achievement that earned her prestige (along with many awards and honors) in the scientific community. Thats because Xalkori trounced chemotherapy in a 2014 lung cancer trial and is one of Pfizers top selling drugs, pulling in $600 million per year in annual sales in 2017.
When Xalkori reached the market in 2011, Cui wasnt satisfied with her contribution to patients.
Advertisement
I saw problems with Xalkori and other drugs available for this type of cancer, and I knew that someone needed to work on these problems so that we could provide better medicines for patients, Cui said in an interview with the San Diego Business Journal in 2016. Thats why I resigned from Big Pharma to start a company that could solve these problems.
The biotech has been hard at work ever since. But this new money came with a shakeup to the companys executive team. Athena Countouriotis is being promoted from chief medical officer to chief executive officer. Co-founder Li, who has been chairman and CEO since the company was founded, has moved into a new role as head of TP Therapeutics Asia. Cui, whos serving as president and chief scientific officer, has additionally assumed the role of chairman.
Located in the Torrey Pines area, TP Therapeutics was founded in October 2013. It now has 32 full-time employees, Countouriotis said. The company expects to have about 40 full-time employees by the end of this year,
Countouriotis, who joined the company in May of this year, has extensive experience in developing cancer drugs. This is the first time shes been a CEO.
I stepped out of oncology about a year ago, and then I was enticed back by our board of directors, Countouriotis said. I knew most of the people who were already part of this company.
Countouriotis said Cui played a particularly important role in convincing her to join.
Cui and Li made it clear to Countouriotis in March that the company was looking for a CEO with experience in both public and privately held companies, which Countouriotis has.
Most recently, Countouriotis had been senior vice president and chief medical officer at Adverum Biotechnologies in Menlo Park. Before that, she held the same role at Halozyme Therapeutics in San Diego.
Additionally, Countouriotis was chief medical officer at San Diegos Ambit Biosciences, where she led development of the acute myeloid leukemia drug quizartinib. Ambit went public shortly before it was purchased by Japanese drug company Daiichi Sankyo in 2014 for about $315 million.
Countouriotis also worked in clinical development at Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb for the cancer drugs Sutent, Mylotarg, Bosulif, and Sprycel.
TP Therapeutics may be gunning for an IPO in the near future. The company just raised a $45 million Series C financing round last May that included a number of crossover investors usually a sign that a biotech is considering going public soon. This recent $80 million equity financing was a mezzanine round.
Foresite Capital and venBio Partners led the round, with participation from new investors HBM Healthcare Investments and Nextech Invest, among others.
Cancer patients and others interested in clinical testing of repotrectinib can find more information at www.tptherapeutics.com/pipeline.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
San Diegos Molecular Assemblies, one of a number of companies looking to use DNA as the ultimate data storage system, says it has made a significant advance in making practical use of the famed double helix.
The privately held company says it has developed a faster and more accurate way of storing and retrieving information, the critical read/write process performed routinely by hard drives.
Such traditional storage methods are reaching their limits, as photos, videos, health and financial records and other information piles up. By 2025, research firm IDC estimates global annual data production of 163 zettabytes. One zettabyte can hold about 167 trillion high-definition movies averaging two hours each.
As a proof of concept, Molecular Assemblies converted text messages into the 0s and 1s of computer-speak, encoded that binary data into the four-letter DNA alphabet, then wrote the sequence into DNA. The process was then reversed to recover the text message, said Michael Kamdar, president and CEO of Molecular Assemblies.
Advertisement
Molecular Assemblys method writes longer stretches of DNA letters at a time than traditional chemical synthesis, Kamdar said. It also uses non-toxic materials and doesnt require processing. It is based on enzymes, proteins that catalyze chemical reactions without themselves being consumed in the process. The process is also far less energy-intensive than traditional storage.
Its really the first time in the industry that weve seen that data can be stored and retrieved using enzymatic DNA, Kamdar said.
In nature, DNA compacts a huge amount of information into a microscopic package. The human genome consists of a sequence of 3 billion DNA letters, tightly wrapped up in the cell nucleus. Elegant molecular mechanisms package the DNA so it can be stored and retrieved as needed.
Something like this storage and retrieval process will be needed to make the enzyme-based system feasible for large-scale use, a task Molecular Assemblies is working on.
The company was founded in 2013 by Bill Efcavitch and Curt Becker. They are veterans of Applied Biosystems, a DNA synthesis company that merged with Carlsbads Invitrogen in 2008 to found Life Technologies. Its now a unit of Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Competitors include Iridia, with offices in Carlsbad. Iridias chairman, Jay Flatley, was the longtime CEO of DNA sequencing giant Illumina, itself a major contributor to the data tsunami as human genome sequencing becomes routine.
Microsoft is also researching DNA storage. So is Boston-based Catalog, founded by scientists from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
For all these companies, stability of storage is critical. In the biological hubbub of a living being, DNA molecules are continually broken and repaired. Kamdar said that outside the body, DNA can be stored very stable manner.
Molecular Assemblies plans to raise money in the fall to advance its work, Kamdar said. In December 2016, the company said it had raised $2.3 million in seed funding.
Related reading
The next big thing in data storage is actually microscopic
Data Storage Solution May Be in the DNA
What Will We Do When The Worlds Data Hits 163 Zettabytes In 2025?
Video clip encoded in DNA of living bacteria and played back
Scientists work toward storing digital information in DNA
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
A cancer-fighting gene known as the guardian of the genome actually promotes certain tumors, according to a study by UC San Diego researchers. That means drugs that affect its activity may backfire in some cases, fueling the tumors growth.
Called p53, the gene makes a protein that causes abnormal cells to self-destruct before they turn malignant. Mutated forms of the gene dont perform this function as well.
About half of cancers have a mutated p53 gene, making it the most commonly mutated gene in malignancies. As such, it has been a major target of drug development to restore normal function. But in certain instances restoring normal function could actually help the tumor grow. So knowing what these drugs will do to a particular cancer is vital.
The study underscores a point oncologists have been making for decades: Cancer is not one disease. What we call cancer is actually hundreds of genetic diseases that share certain characteristics. And as knowledge grows about the differences between cancers, the desirability of personalized treatment becomes more evident.
Advertisement
Researchers led by Yang Xu based their results on studies of human patients, cell samples and mouse models of cancer. The study was published Thursday in the journal Cancer Cell. It can be found at j.mp/cancerp53.
Cancers often occur gradually, with a series of mutations that weaken genetic defenses against abnormal growth. Their degree of aggressiveness also varies. Some cancers are rapidly growing and require immediate treatment. Other cancers are slow-growing, and may not need immediate treatment.
Slow-growing cancers can cross a threshold and begin to spread rapidly. The activity of p53, or the lack of it, helps determine if and when that threshold is reached.
Ovarian cancer is one example in which the lack of normal p53 is implicated. In some aggressive ovarian cancers, the gene is mutated nearly all the time. But the gene is much less frequently mutated in hepatocellular or liver cancers.
Xu and colleagues found that restoring p53 function in mutated liver cancer cells improves their metabolism, by indirectly causing cells to switch to a process called glycolysis, which involves the heavy use of sugar as an energy source.
Normally, cells use a process which is more energy-efficient but is limited by the availability of oxygen. Called oxidative phosphorylation, it takes place in mitochondria, organelles inside cells that provide most of the bodys energy.
This metabolic change to glycolysis, called the Warburg effect, has been recognized for decades as a characteristic of cancer.
So in liver cancers, promoting p53 function will induce this metabolic shift, energizing the cancer.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine funded the research, along with Chinese sources including the Natural Science Foundation of China; the Leading Talents of Guangdong Province Program; and the National High-Tech R&D Program.
Related reading
How a gene that usually protects against cancer becomes the diseases aggressor
This protein is mutated in half of all cancers. New drugs aim to fix it before its too late
Targeting p53 for Novel Anticancer Therapy
.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
When her parents asked Amanda Walker if shed like try an experimental treatment for her rare bone disease, the girl was terrified.
As they had been counseled, Amandas parents, Alicia and Robert Walker, dropped the matter for the time being.
But a few days later, Amanda herself began asking about the clinical trial for her disease, called MHE. Appealing to Amandas interest in science and desire to help others, her parents got her permission.
So Amanda, who gave her age as 8 3/4, began taking what may be a drug to treat MHE, or a placebo.
Advertisement
The Walkers story underscores that medical research is more than science its about meeting human needs. That linkage of science to people was the theme of Thursdays Rare Disease Day symposium at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) in La Jolla.
Now in its 10th year, the symposium is one of the few events specifically intended to bring together everyone with an interest in rare diseases. The event featured mainly scientific and medical talks.
The Walker family traveled from their Culver City home for the symposium. Also present: SBPs Dr. Yu Yamaguchi and Dr. Maurizio Pacifici of Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, whose research led to development of the drug. The event was sponsored by a patient advocacy group, the MHE Research Foundation; and Clementia Pharmaceuticals.
Amanda is taking part in the drugs clinical trial at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. It is being tested by Montreal drugmaker Clementia Pharmaceuticals. (On Tuesday, drug company Ipsen said it would buy Clementia for $1.3 billion, largely for its rare disease drug portfolio.)
MHE, or Multiple Hereditary Exostoses, is a genetic disease that causes abnormal bone growths. These vary in severity from mild to crippling. Until the clinical trial started, the only treatments available were surgery and pain management.
Amandas condition is mild. She has an overgrowth on her right knee, but its painless and doesnt limit her movement. Her parents are more worried about the future: Some children get worse when they enter adolescence.
The Walkers said Amandas symptoms were subtle, such as movement that produced painless but abnormal clicks. Because there was no disability, Amandas diagnosing specialist said to ignore it.
He was very jovial and just said, if I were you, I would stay in denial and, just enjoy her childhood, Alicia Walker said.
That wasnt acceptable, so the Walkers, especially Robert, continued to look for information online. Through a patient support group, Robert eventually discovered the clinical trial, which provides treatment at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, where Amanda goes.
Because treatment means missing school days, Amandas parents began telling friends and relatives of her condition. Previously, only a few of the closest relatives had been told.
The drug, palovarotine, has shown indications of effectiveness in clinical testing against another bone disease, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive (FOP). After discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Clementia said last October that it plans to ask approval of the drug for FOP in the second half of 2019.
Getting Amanda to assent to the trial required some preparation. She had been reading the Little House on the Prairie books about American pioneers. Her mother discussed that approach with a counselor.
I said, what if we position it like that theres all sorts of different pioneers, and shes going to be a medical pioneer, Alicia Walker said.
And since Amanda is being raised as Jewish Alicia is Jewish, Robert is not they appealed to Amandas spiritual side.
Theres a word, mitzvah, doing good deeds, her mother said. And Amanda loves helping people.
Amanda understands that she may be be getting a placebo, and thats OK with her, her mother said.
I said to her, the placebo group is just as important as the group with the medicine because without the placebo group, you cant bring a drug to market.
Amanda said: The reason Im missing so many days of school is because Im helping other kids who have this weird disease.
For more information on palovarotene, go to j.mp/palovarotene.
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Coronary stents, those tiny mesh tubes that prop open blocked blood vessels, have helped millions of people avoid invasive and complicated bypass surgery.
But stents cease to be needed after the blood vessels have healed. And that poses a problem. Metal stents are impractical to remove, so they remain in the heart, possibly risking long-term complications. And temporary, resorbable stents have had a mixed record.
This year, Reva received positive data about the performance of its Fantom line of bioresorbable scaffolds, as it calls its stents. It continues to collect data, hoping to demonstrate Fantoms long-term superiority.
Made of a special polymer called Tyrocore, Fantom stents gradually dissolve in the body. Reva sells them in Europe. Eventually, it plans to enter the U.S. market. An estimated 1.8 million stents are implanted per year in the U.S., according to iData Research.
Advertisement
The actual number of patients with stents is smaller than the number implanted, because some receive multiple stents. The most stents implanted in any one person is 34, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Fantom stents have been shown to be as effective as metal stents in the short run, said Reggie Groves, Revas CEO. And long-term, the company is looking to provide evidence Fantom is superior to metal stents.
If you put permanent metal in, its a foreign body in a vessel thats trying to move, which it cant because you have metal caging it, she said.
The consequence is a risk of an adverse event, such as a heart attack. The stent also interferes with cardiac imaging, and is in the way if another procedure is needed.
While the risk is low, it can be totally avoided if the stent dissolves, Groves said.
With our material, Tyrocore, the first thing that happens is it loses molecular weight, Groves said. So in about a year the molecular weight is mostly gone, and you end up with whats like a powder, in the shape of a scaffold, but the strength is mostly gone. The vessel can expand and contract.
Eventually, all the material is dissolved and removed, leaving behind a healed artery.
While it exists, the Fantom is visible by X-ray, useful in confirming the stent was correctly placed.
Fantom, Revas first product, received European marketing approval early last year. In the second quarter ended June 30, Reva reported $91,000 in net revenue, compared to no revenue for the same quarter a year ago.
The company earned $1.9 million in the quarter, compared to a loss of $503,000 in the year-ago quarter. However, that technical profit includes an unusual and difficult to understand element - the mark to market value of Revas convertible debt, Groves said.
Shares of Reva trades on the stock exchange of Australia. The company would like to eventually trade in the U.S., Groves said.
Reggie Groves, CEO of Reva Medical, makers of bioresorbable cardiac stents. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune)
A study of 240 patients given the Fantom stent showed good results after two years, she said. The stent failed to work 4.6 percent of the time, technically called a target lesion failure. For competing resorbable stents, the failure rate ranged from 5.9 to 11 percent. The patients were treated in Europe, Australia and Brazil.
Competitors include Abbott Vascular. Abbott is researching new resorbable stents after discontinuing sales of one model last year, the Absorb. Abbott said sales were too low.
In early 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had warned that the Abbott Absorb stent had a higher rate of problems than Abbotts permanent Xience stent. However, some stents had been implanted in arteries too small for the device to work properly.
Revas temporary stents differ from others in part because of the polymer, licensed from Rutgers University, Groves said. In addition, theyve been carefully engineered to reduce thickness, and used in specific patient populations most likely to benefit.
The best candidates for Fantom stents tend to be younger, with at least more than five years life expectancy, Groves said, not specifying any precise cutoff age. Also, heavily calcified vessels are not suitable for the Fantom stents, nor are the smallest and largest vessels.
Blood flow to the smallest vessels are impeded by the thickness of the stent, and Fantom is not strong enough for now to treat the largest vessels. Reva continues to research ways to improve stent performance.
Fantom Encore, the latest in the Fantom line, received European approval this June. It has thinner struts. Reva plans to start selling Fantom Encore later this year.
Stent manufacturing takes place alongside research in Revas San Diego headquarters. Thats because tight integration of chemistry and manufacturing helps produce stents with the necessary specifications, she said.
The core backbone for us is our chemical expertise in making this polymer, and we have all the expertise right here, Groves said.
Stents became popular a few decades ago in conjunction with a procedure called balloon angioplasty, in which a small balloon is inserted into an artery in the groin or wrist, guided into the blocked artery, and expanded to open it.
After the blockage is cleared, the stent is placed to keep the vessel open while it heals. The procedure allows patients to leave the hospital sooner than the alternative of open heart surgery, and causes less discomfort.
But in some cases blood vessels eventually re-occlude. Called restenosis, this event requires further treatment. To stop this, metal stents are coated with a drug that inhibits restenosis. These drug-eluting stents have become the standard. Revas stents are also drug-eluting.
The company continues to monitor patients receiving its stents, hoping to provide more evidence of benefit over the long term.
Reva employs a total of 57 people, 50 in San Diego and seven in Europe. The company eventually intends to sell its stents in the U.S., Groves said, but it will take several years.
The trial that would get approval would likely take us about three years once we start, and we have not started, she said.
Meanwhile, Reva is selling and developing stents for other applications outside the heart. The company has European approval to sell a stent for use below the knee in peripheral artery disease.
And its working on a cancer treatment using its polymer for what are called embolic beads. These are placed inside blood vessels feeding the tumor to starve it of nutrients.
Related reading
The Incremental Risk of Coronary Stents on Postoperative Adverse Events: A Matched Cohort Study
Why the wrist is better than the groin when it comes to stenting
FDA approves potentially revolutionary heart stent
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
UC San Diego researchers say theyve discovered a major reason why skin ages, and how skin aging impairs resistance to infections. And theyve found a way to fix it, at least in mice.
In aging, skin cells called fibroblasts lose their ability to make fat cells that reside under the surface, said Dr. Richard Gallo, who led the study. These fat cells give the skin a smooth, youthful appearance, and also secrete an antibacterial substance.
The loss of this layer of fat makes the skin thinner, and contributes to wrinkles, Gallo said. Thats the reason behind injections of dermal fillers, he said. They restore the rounder contours of youthful skin.
UCSD researchers examined mice and human skin cells to understand the role of these dermal fat cells, and what inhibits their formation.
Advertisement
A paper on the study was published Wednesday in the journal Immunity. It can be found at j.mp/skinage1.
The fat cells make a substance called cathelicidin that kills the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. These fat cells are especially abundant in infant skin, Gallo said, helping them fight infections until their immune system matures.
Staph is commonly found on human skin, and usually is harmless. But it can become virulent, and an antibiotic-resistant form called MRSA is especially deadly. So these fat cells perform an important function in protecting the body, Gallo said.
It used to be thought that they just filled space, said Gallo, who studies the skins role in the immune response. The biological importance of these cells wasnt known until just a few years ago. Now we know theyre really key.
As aging occurs, a protein called transforming growth factor beta, or TGF beta, blocks fibroblasts from making the fat cells, Gallo said. This protein controls how cells differentiate, and has important functions, such as promoting scar tissue to quickly patch over wounds.
Researchers tested the concept in mice. They used both chemical and genetic means to inhibit TGF beta to see if the skin fat loss could be reversed. Not only did the fat cells increase in number, but the skin showed greater resistance to Staphylococcus infection.
No one had done that before, and it was quite amazing in mice how potently it reversed this effect of aging, he said.
Putting on weight doesnt restore the infection-fighting abilities.
Once a fat cell becomes fully engorged, it can no longer have this function either, so its a delicate balance, Gallo said. This effect of obesity is something Gallo and colleagues are now studying.
Gallo serves on the scientific advisory board and is a consultant for two local biomedical companies; Sente and MatriSys Bioscience. He has equity interest in the companies.
Study funders include National Institutes of Health; Pew Charitable Trusts; National Science Foundation; and Simons Foundation.
Related reading
Skin products firm Sente raises $5 million
Common human bacteria could protect against skin cancers, researchers say
Scripps Health allies with Encinitas skin care company
Cause of sunburns painful inflammation discovered by UCSD researchers
The hygiene hypothesis
Skin bacteria keep inflammation under control
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
The public thinks of stem cells as cures for diseases and injuries. But to scientists, they have become something even more fundamental: the ultimate toolkit for learning about life.
How do organs develop? What signals do cells respond to as they grow? And how do cells of different types arise and work together?
These are the kinds of age-old questions that stem cells are at last helping to solve, said San Diego stem cell researcher Evan Snyder of Sanford Burnham Medical Discovery Institute.
Stem cells are not just a vehicle for therapy, theyre a tool for understanding how the nervous systems put together, how it degenerates, or how it goes awry, Snyder said.
Advertisement
Its not just looking at the cell, its diving into the fundamental molecular mechanisms. And we have great tools that we didnt have 15 years ago.
Snyder chaired a data blitz Monday night during the Society for Neuroscience conference at the Convention Center downtown. Each scientist gave a 15-minute presentation -- 13 presentations in all -- on what theyve learned from stem cells in neuroscience.
This included talks on:
-- Production of rudimentary brain organoids from stem cells, a specialty of UC San Diegos Alysson Muotri, who spoke with Cleber Trujillo, a student in his lab. These rudimentary brains can be used for such purposes as modeling fetal brain damage from the Zika virus, and testing defenses.
-- The origins of astrocytes, cells that support and define the architecture of the brain, and how they work with neurons. Astrocytes were once considered relatively minor brain components, but in recent years their critical importance has become more appreciated.
--Directly converting toxic astrocytes into neurons, to repair brain damage in live mice. Astrocytes that would otherwise cause inflammation and scar tissue were converted into neurons, improving brain healing.
-- The characteristics of growth cones, projections from neurons that move like an amoeba. These approach other cells to form a synapse, which transmits signals. Synapses are involved in the formation of memory.
Alexander Laperle, a researcher at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, discusses the uses of stem cells in Parkinsons disease research. These cells are derived from Parkinsons patients and used as tools to understand the disease process,
Much of this research begins with patients. Thats the case of a study about the origins of early onset Parkinsons disease, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. These cases were sporadic, that is, they occurred in families without a history of the disease.
Scientists converted donated patient cells into stem cells, and then grew them into the kinds of neurons destroyed in Parkinsons, said Alexander Laperle, a researcher in the lab of Clive Svendsen, at the data blitz.
Cells from most of the patients were found to share three biomarkers, as well as signs of the disease, Laperle said. These became tools for screening potential drugs. Compounds that returned biomarker activity to normal can be examined further.
The data blitz was the 15th annual event held in honor of the late Christopher Reeve, the Superman actor who became a stem cell advocate after becoming paralyzed in an accident.
Reeve played a major role in encouraging passage of Proposition 71, the 2004 initiative that put $3 billion in Californias public money into a new institute. The measures mandate was to pursue stem cell-related treatments for diseases and injuries such as the spinal cord injury that left Reeve immobile from the neck down.
That wish has taken longer to realize than was first hoped for. Reeve never walked again. But scientists now appreciate that getting a better understanding of the mechanics of life advances that goal, Snyder said.
Sequencing the genomes of individual cells, and new tools to make sense of big amounts of data allow a far more detailed look at what the cells do and why they do it, than just by looking at surface markers, he said.
In particular, scientists are now learning the complex web of genetic connections that determine what cells do, and under what conditions.
So when people say, what progress has the stem cell field made, what theyre thinking about is what clinical trials are going on, Snyder said. This is an example that we now are understanding how the nervous systems put together, and stem cells have led to that.
The Society for Neuroscience convention ends on Wednesday.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Biotech companies in the scientific frontiers of stem cell and gene therapies are used to dealing with failures, loss of funding and other setbacks. Now theyre having to deal with new issues raised by success, according to experts speaking Monday in a panel at Biotech Showcase in San Francisco.
And on top of that, questions of payment are becoming more urgent, said Janet Lambert, CEO of Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, the panel sponsor. Biotech Showcase, along with the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, is attracting an estimated 15,000 life science professionals this week to discuss the state of the industry..
As more stem cell and gene therapy products reach patients, their makers are putting increasing attention on ensuring consistent quality. From raw supplies to finished treatments, manufacturing therapeutic cells is turning from a biotech niche to mass production on an industrial scale.
The importance of quality control was highlighted recently when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cracked down on unregulated stem cell companies offering treatment outside of FDA oversight.
Advertisement
These include San Diegos Genetech (no relation to South San Franciscos Genentech). Twelve patients reportedly contracted serious infections after being given products from the company supposedly containing stem cells. The products contained two kinds of fecal bacteria, according to cultures grown from unopened items.
In addition to sterility, the companies that do heed FDA regulations need to establish a consistent supply chain of supplies, develop methods to test for quality, and ensure products are kept under appropriate conditions until delivered to doctors or hospitals.
The panel discussion was far different from one several years ago, when it was uncertain whether these exotic therapies, such as genetically engineered immune cells, would be effective. Cells, being living things, have proven much harder to engineer to a uniform standard than the nonliving chemicals that have been medicines therapeutic arsenal. And big drug companies had long considered the field too immature for big investments.
But doubt is vanishing. The ground-breaking approval of immune cell therapies for blood cancers cancer such as Kymriah and Yescarta in 2017 gave a definitive yes to the question whether these were ready for patients. And while cancer treatments predominate, Luxturna, the first gene therapy for a form of blindness, was also approved that year.
On Monday, San Diegos Stemedica said it had achieved positive results in an early stage trial of its stem cell therapy for stroke. The trial showed safety and preliminary evidence of efficacy, the company said.
Were already having an impact with the products on the market, Lambert said. Moreover, the panelists said, that impact has been so sudden companies are still adjusting to the new reality.
In 2018, biotechs raised hundreds of millions to advance other cell therapies. This included $80 million for San Diegos ViaCyte, testing a stem cell-based diabetes treatment. And the year closed with a $604 million whopper of an initial public offering from Cambridge, Mass-based Moderna Therapeutics, developer of RNA-based drugs. It was the largest IPO in biotech history.
Ironically, the great success of these therapies has caused issues in commercializing them, said panelist Christopher Vann, CEO of Autolos Therapeutics. The London, UK company is testing cancer therapies with immune cells called T cells.
The urgent demand for these new therapies means that companies are rushing to get them to patients as fast as feasible, Vann said.
They went to market very quickly, based on academic manufacturing processes, Vann said. These processes werent equipped to scale up to commercial demand.
But that is now being fixed.
The realization today is that you need to fix your manufacturing process before you enter into registration (late-stage) studies, he said.
Maria Fardis, president and CEO of cancer immunotherapy company Iovance Biotherapeutics, agreed with Vann. Fardis company is treating solid tumors with immune cells called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.
Im a chemist by training and I was shocked when I started in the cell therapy field, and understanding there was no known supply chain for every item, Fardis said. You have to source it, get to know the provider, ensure that you have adequate supply agreements in place, and that theyre able to consistently provide you what you need.
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
San Diegos Triton Algae Innovations says the Food and Drug Administration has accepted its edible algae as safe to eat. The FDAs designation clears the way for the startup to sell its algae as a food ingredient.
The FDA says it has no questions that Tritons algae falls under Generally Recognized As Safe, or GRAS status, the company said last week.
Triton plans to introduce its algae into the consumer market this year through business partnerships, said Xun Wang, president and CEO.
Prominent San Diego chef Brian Malarkey, who has included Tritons algae in special meals, says diners love the taste.
Advertisement
Privately held Triton cultivates strains of the freshwater algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. One of the companys selling points is that the algae is high in protein and essential nutrients, compared to traditional sources such as soybeans.
C. reinhardtii is a workhorse algae in the biotechnology industry. Its been widely studied for a variety of purposes, such as making biofuels. Researchers such as Steve Mayfield of UC San Diego, Tritons founder and scientific adviser, have focused on increasing the algaes productivity.
Triton grows the algae in three colors, green, yellow and red, using a closed fermentation system. Both green and yellow are nutritionally similar. The yellow algae lacks chlorophyll. The color difference expands its potential uses. The algae are not genetically modified.
Nutrition aside, how does Tritons algae taste? Judging from the reactions of diners, great, said Malarkey. He presented an algae-based meal last May at Farmer & The Seahorse restaurant in La Jolla. He also served algae pasta at Herb and Wood in downtown San Diego.
The diners love it (algae pasta) because its got a bit of a funk, like anchovies, like a secret umami, and its brilliant in color, Malarkey said. When I make a pasta its just neon green and it tastes great. And everybodys like, if you didnt tell me that was algae, I wouldnt think that was algae.
Algae is also versatile, Malarkey said.
Algae-based menu at lunch hosted by San Diego chef Paul McCabe. (Triton Algae Innovations)
Weve made everything from algae pasta to algae bread, algae vinegarette, algae marinades and algae butter, he said. In addition, he praised algaes potential to reduce the environmental impact of food production.
Malarkey doesnt have a formal role in the company at present, said David Schroeder Tritons director of corporate & regulatory affairs.
Brian was an enthusiastic early adopter of our ingredient, in every sense of the word, and has been a staunch advocate or brand ambassador on our behalf. Schroeder said.
The process of growing the algae by fermentation causes less stress on the environment than traditional agriculture, Schroeder said.
Theres no crop protection chemicals or pesticides or anything like that, Schroeder said.
The red strain also makes heme, a substance that gives meat its taste. Heme is used by Impossible Burger to make its imitation meat taste like real meat.
Triton plans to offer its heme as an alternative to the heme used in Impossible Burger, said Xun Wang, president and CEO. That heme comes from genetically modified yeast, in contrast to Tritons non-GMO products, he said.
The FDA previously has given Impossible Burgers heme the same no questions safety clearance that Tritons algae has just received. However, some people avoid GMO-containing foods anyway.
Triton has developed its algae strains to make certain proteins that are especially high-value, Wang said. In addition to heme, Tritons algae also provides nutrients such as essential amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids that have been linked to heart health, vitamin A/beta-carotene, and iron.
In addition, Triton uses the algae to make proteins found in colostrum, a mothers first milk. Among other benefits, colostrum helps an infants immune system develop. These proteins can make infant formula more nutritious, the company says. These colostrum proteins will be on a separate regulatory path to market, Schroeder said.
The companys website is https://www.tritonai.com/.
Related reading
Triton ingredient gets FDA No Questions letter
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Genetically engineered algae safely grown outdoors
Algaes promise rebounds after setbacks
New center to focus on algae, biofuels
Energy from green goo
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Seeking to speed up development of new drugs, UC San Diego has partnered with a New York investment management firm that has committed $65 million to the project.
Called Poseidon Innovation, the joint venture of UCSD and Deerfield Management will fund early-stage drug development, and may also make additional investments in spin-off companies arising from the venture.
Announced Wednesday, the project is the latest UCSD initiative to use its research abilities to find promising new drugs and get them through the complicated cycle of discovery, refinement, human clinical testing and approval.
In 2015, the university said it would work to double the number of patients it enrolls in clinical trials. Also that year, it was awarded $52 million from the National Institutes of Health to accelerate drug development.
Advertisement
The next year, the university opened its $269 million Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, where researchers from different fields of expertise collaborate to advance clinical trials. UCSD has also directly teamed up with drug companies such as Pfizer and GSK.
For its part, Deerfield has entered into similar partnerships with Johns Hopkins University, Vanderbilt, Northwestern University and the Broad institute of Harvard and MIT. The UCSD partnership is Deerfields first on the West Coast and the first with a public university.
This is another alternative for the campus and faculty to really accelerate drug development, said Paul Roben, UCSD associate vice chancellor for the Office of Innovation & Commercialization. Roben is a member of Poseidons joint steering committee.
Projects that are accepted will be given funding from the $65 million, along with other resources needed to take them to the beginning of the clinical trial process.
As opposed to looking at a single individual lab, we will identify all the resources that are going to be needed, he said. Its going to be bringing a lot of different things together, both on campus and off campus, Roben said.
Deerfield will contribute its own drug development capabilities in addition to funding, said Deerfield partner Jonathan Leff. This comprehensive support will eliminate many of the inefficiencies that are caused by handling projects piecemeal.
These capabilities include everything from pharmacology toxicology to manufacturing to intellectual property, to biostatistics and regulatory, all of the different disciplines to make the best decisions about how to move these things forward as quickly and efficiently as we can, Leff said.
The money is specifically intended to bridge the funding gap from academic discovery to beginning clinical trials, which is usually handled by companies, he said.
That gap is whats commonly referred to as the Valley of Death, because so many programs die at that stage for lack of access to capital. Leff said. And so Poseidon is a collaboration thats designed to provide the capital to traverse that valley for these programs.
After drug programs qualify to start clinical testing, more money will be provided, Leff said. These would either be licensed into a new company funded by Deerfield and possibly others; or directly licensed to a drug or biotech company. This money is in addition to the $65 million used to take drugs to the threshold of clinical testing.
Related reading
UCSD gets $52 million to speed drug development
UCSD struggles to expand drug trials
GSK, UCSD team on blood cancers
Sanford-Burnham joins Pfizer-UCSD drug collaboration
Pfizer, UCSD collaborating on early drug discovery
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
Flyers have long assumed that flights sold by a major airline but operated by their regional partners would be less likely to show up on time.
Theyre right, according to new information from the U.S. Department of Transportation, though passengers odds of finding themselves on a canceled flight remain relatively low even on regional carriers.
Last year, the Transportation Department began tracking airlines performance across all domestic flights sold using their brand, whether operated by the main carrier or a regional partner. A report released earlier this month provides the first full-year look.
Most travelers tend to focus on fare and schedule when booking tickets, not whether that United Airlines flight will actual be operated by a regional partner like Air Wisconsin Airlines or Republic Airways. But there is a difference.
Advertisement
Nationwide, flights operated by Delta Air Lines regional partners were a little more than four times more likely to be canceled than flights operated by Delta, according to a Tribune analysis of monthly Transportation Department data. At American Airlines and United, the percentage of regional partner flights canceled was between two and three times greater than for those of the mainline carrier.
The odds of any particular flight being canceled are still quite low: a little less than 1 percent of domestic 2018 flights at Delta, about 1.75 percent at United and about 2.76 percent at American. Even on the regional carriers, only about 1.6 percent, 2.4 percent and 3.7 percent of flights operated by Delta, United and Americans partners were canceled in 2018, respectively.
So why is there a gap at all?
When something like a major storm or runway closures limit the number of flights airlines can operate at an airport, regional flights are more likely to end up on the chopping block.
1 / 4 American Airlines mainline vs. code-share: Percentage on time arrivals, 2018 2 / 4 Delta Air Lines mainline vs. code-share: Percentage on time arrivals, 2018 3 / 4 United Airlines mainline vs. code-share: Percentage on time arrivals, 2018 4 / 4 Delta Air Lines mainline vs. code-share: Percentage on time arrivals, 2018
Giving priority to flights connecting hubs or big cities, international flights and those using larger aircraft which tend to be run by the mainline airline helps minimize the impact problems at one airport have on flights throughout the country, said United spokesman Charles Hobart.
Regional partners also tend to use smaller aircraft, meaning a cancellation affects fewer passengers. Their routes tend to have relatively frequent flights, providing opportunities to rebook those customers on later flights, said American spokeswoman Leslie Scott.
The passengers on each flight can also be part of the calculus. Delta said it considers whether a flight has a lot of passengers who might find a cancellation particularly disruptive, like people connecting to another destination, unaccompanied minors or loyal frequent flyers.
When it comes to delays, domestic flights on regional carriers for United, Delta and American were between 1.8 and 5.7 percentage points more likely to arrive 15 minutes late than flights operated by the main carrier, according to the Transportation Departments report. Overall, about 83.2 percent of domestic mainline and regional Delta flights, 77.4 percent of American flights and 77.9 percent of United flights arrived on time last year.
At OHare, United and American were about as likely to arrive on time as they were at airports across the country, or slightly more punctual, according to the Tribunes analysis. Delta, which operates fewer flights through Chicago than those carriers, was less likely to arrive within 15 minutes of the scheduled time at OHare than its average nationwide last year.
But there was also a bigger gap in the odds that a Delta flight arriving at one of Chicagos airports would arrive on time, depending on whether it was operated by the carrier or one of its regional partners. In 2018, almost 80 percent of mainline domestic flights operated by Delta arrived on time at OHare, compared with just 67 percent for its regional partners. At Midway, about 88 percent and 79 percent of mainline and regional Delta flights arrived on time, respectively.
One factor could be that most of Deltas regional flights at Chicagos airports connect the city to airports in the northeastern U.S. that tend to struggle with delays, Delta said.
Shorter regional flights on small aircraft tend to have relatively quick turnarounds between trips, Scott said. A couple extra minutes on each leg can add up to a longer delay over the course of the day, which is why American is particularly focused on ensuring morning flights start the day on time, she said.
Regional flights also tend to have more passengers with connecting flights. American will wait a few minutes for passengers with tight connections as long as it doesnt risk making customers miss flights on the other end, which could contribute to the slightly higher odds of a delayed arrival, Scott said.
So should travelers trying to minimize the risk of a delay or cancellation avoid flights operated by regional partners?
Its one factor, but its not necessarily the most important one in any given situation, said Gary Leff, a travel expert who writes the View from the Wing blog.
Whether an itinerary allows enough time between connecting flights or stops in a city with a high risk of bad weather matters, he said. So does departure time, since flights leaving in the morning, before problems have a chance to stack up, tend to be more punctual.
For some travelers, avoiding regional flights has more to do with a reputation for being small and less comfortable than mainline flights. But the gap is narrowing, Leff said.
United recently announced plans to replace some 50-seat regional jets with a new version that has a first class cabin with more legroom and a self-serve beverage and snack bar.
Leff said hes not surprised by a convergence to the mean it has already been under way.
The tiny regional jets people hate were once an improvement over the prop planes they used to hate, he said.
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @laurenzumbach
American Airlines is extending cancellations of flights through April 24 due to the grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft, as federal regulators continue to investigate two deadly crashes involving the plane model. Southwest Airlines is also continuing to make cancellations.
American has 24 Boeing 737 Max aircraft in its fleet, and said Sunday that it will be canceling about 90 flights a day. Not every flight that was previously scheduled to be on a Max aircraft will be canceled, and some flights scheduled to fly on other aircraft types may ultimately be canceled. The airline said it will contact affected fliers directly.
Southwest, which has 34 Max aircraft, is making cancellations five days in advance, with an average of 130 daily cancellations. On Saturday, it also began to ferry all its Max aircraft to a facility in Victorville, Calif., without passengers, to free up space at the airports where they had been parked.
United Airlines, which has 14 Max aircraft, does not have any flights scheduled on the equipment through April 9. It doesnt expect any future cancellations as a result of the grounding of the planes, and it is using alternate aircraft to make up for their being grounded.
Advertisement
Aviation authorities around the world grounded Boeing 737 Max aircraft earlier this month following deadly crashes involving the plane model in Ethiopia and off the coast of Indonesia, which occurred within five months of each other.
Letter from Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg to Airlines, Passengers and the Aviation Community
We know lives depend on the work we do, and our teams embrace that responsibility with a deep sense of commitment every day. Our purpose at Boeing is to bring family, friends and loved ones together with our commercial airplanessafely. The tragic losses of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610 affect us all, uniting people and nations in shared grief for all those in mourning. Our hearts are heavy, and we continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board.
Safety is at the core of who we are at Boeing, and ensuring safe and reliable travel on our airplanes is an enduring value and our absolute commitment to everyone. This overarching focus on safety spans and binds together our entire global aerospace industry and communities. Were united with our airline customers, international regulators and government authorities in our efforts to support the most recent investigation, understand the facts of what happened and help prevent future tragedies. Based on facts from the Lion Air Flight 610 accident and emerging data as it becomes available from the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident, were taking actions to fully ensure the safety of the 737 MAX. We also understand and regret the challenges for our customers and the flying public caused by the fleets grounding.
Work is progressing thoroughly and rapidly to learn more about the Ethiopian Airlines accident and understand the information from the airplanes cockpit voice and flight data recorders. Our team is on-site with investigators to support the investigation and provide technical expertise. The Ethiopia Accident Investigation Bureau will determine when and how its appropriate to release additional details.
Advertisement
Boeing has been in the business of aviation safety for more than 100 years, and well continue providing the best products, training and support to our global airline customers and pilots. This is an ongoing and relentless commitment to make safe airplanes even safer. Soon well release a software update and related pilot training for the 737 MAX that will address concerns discovered in the aftermath of the Lion Air Flight 610 accident. Weve been working in full cooperation with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board on all issues relating to both the Lion Air and the Ethiopian Airlines accidents since the Lion Air accident occurred in October last year.
Our entire team is devoted to the quality and safety of the aircraft we design, produce and support. Ive dedicated my entire career to Boeing, working shoulder to shoulder with our amazing people and customers for more than three decades, and I personally share their deep sense of commitment. Recently, I spent time with our team members at our 737 production facility in Renton, Wash., and once again saw firsthand the pride our people feel in their work and the pain were all experiencing in light of these tragedies. The importance of our work demands the utmost integrity and excellencethats what I see in our team, and well never rest in pursuit of it.
Our mission is to connect people and nations, protect freedom, explore our world and the vastness of space, and inspire the next generation of aerospace dreamers and doersand well fulfill that mission only by upholding and living our values. Thats what safety means to us. Together, well keep working to earn and keep the trust people have placed in Boeing.
Dennis Muilenburg
Chairman, President and CEO
The Boeing Company
The black boxes of the Ethiopian Airlines jet that crashed with the loss of 157 lives last week have been read successfully, French accident investigators said Monday.
The recorders from the Boeing 737 Max 8, which crashed March 10 shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, have been sent back to Ethiopia, French air accident investigation body BEA told dpa.
The Paris-based body said in a statement that French, Ethiopian and U.S. officials had verified correct data extraction from the two boxes the flight data recorder, or FDR, and cockpit voice recorder.
The BEA Bureau dEnquete et dAnalyses (Bureau of Investigation and Analysis) also confirmed Sundays statement from Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges that the data showed similarities with the October crash of a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 plane off the coast of Indonesia that killed 198 people.
Advertisement
During the verification process of the FDR data, clear similarities were noted by the investigation team between Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610, which will be the subject of further study during the investigation, the BEA said.
Aviation authorities around the world grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9 planes after the Ethiopian crash. The models are the latest version of the U.S. manufacturers narrow-body workhorse.
Moges said Sunday that detailed information based on the black box data would be released within a month.
The developments come amid reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation has begun an inquiry into the certification process for the jets systems.
The Transportation Departments inspector general had begun looking into the planes design certification before the Ethiopian Airlines crash, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The inspector general wants to know whether the Federal Aviation Administration took appropriate steps in approving the 737 Maxs anti-stall system, the newspaper said.
The FAA declined to comment on the report, referring questions to Boeing. A spokesman for the company told dpa it does not comment on legal matters, litigation, or governmental inquiries, adding, we do not comment even as to whether such matters exist.
An earlier FAA statement said its aircraft certification processes are well established and have consistently produced safe aircraft designs.
The 737-Max certification program followed the FAAs standard certification process, the FAA said.
Questions have arisen over whether pilots worldwide were informed about the system and how to react when it was automatically activated. The aircraft system includes software designed to prevent the aircraft stalling on takeoff.
The Journal also reported Sunday that a grand jury in Washington issued a subpoena the day after the crash in Ethiopia to at least one engineer involved in the development process of the jets.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice declined dpas request for confirmation.
As a general matter, the department will neither confirm nor deny the existence of any ongoing investigation, a department spokesman said.
Boeing said Sunday in a statement it is in the process of finalizing the update. The statement also quoted Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg as saying the company continues to support the Ethiopian investigation.
As part of our standard practice following any accident, we examine our aircraft design and operation, and when appropriate, institute product updates to further improve safety, Muilenburg said.
2019 Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH (Hamburg, Germany)
Visit Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) at www.dpa.de/English.82.0.html
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A set of stairs may have never caused so much trouble in an aircraft.
First introduced in West Germany as a short-hop commuter jet in the early Cold War, the Boeing 737-100 had folding metal stairs attached to the fuselage that passengers climbed to board before airports had jetways. Ground crews hand-lifted heavy luggage into the cargo holds in those days, long before motorized belt loaders were widely available.
That low-to-the-ground design was a plus in 1968, but it has proved to be a constraint that engineers modernizing the 737 have had to work around ever since. The compromises required to push forward a more fuel-efficient version of the plane with larger engines and altered aerodynamics led to the complex flight control software system that is now under investigation in two fatal crashes over the last five months.
Boeings problems deepened Thursday, when the company announced it was stopping delivery of the aircraft after the Federal Aviation Administrations decision Wednesday to ground the aircraft.
Advertisement
We continue to build 737 Max airplanes, while assessing how the situation, including potential capacity constraints, will impact our production system, the Chicago company said in a statement.
The crisis comes after 50 years of remarkable success in making the 737 a profitable workhorse. Today, the aerospace giant has a massive backlog of more than 4,700 orders for the jetliner and its sales account for nearly a third of Boeings profit.
But the decision to continue modernizing the jet, rather than starting at some point with a clean design, resulted in engineering challenges that created unforeseen risks.
(Lorena Elebee / Los Angeles Times)
Boeing has to sit down and ask itself how long they can keep updating this airplane, said Douglas Moss, an instructor at USCs Viterbi Aviation Safety and Security Program, a former United Airlines captain, an attorney and a former Air Force test pilot. We are getting to the point where legacy features are such a drag on the airplane that we have to go to a clean-sheet airplane.
Few, if any, complex products designed in the 1960s are still manufactured today. The IBM 360 mainframe computer was put out to pasture decades ago. The Apollo spacecraft is revered history. The Buick Electra 225 is long gone. And Western Electric dial telephones are seen only in classic movies.
Todays 737 is a substantially different system from the original. Boeing strengthened its wings, developed new assembly technologies and put in modern cockpit electronics. The changes allowed the 737 to outlive both the Boeing 757 and 767, which were developed decades later and then retired.
Over the years, the FAA has implemented new and tougher design requirements, but a derivative gets many of the designs grandfathered in, Moss said.
It is cheaper and easier to do a derivative than a new aircraft, said Robert Ditchey, an engineer, aviation safety consultant and founder of America West Airlines, which purchased some of the early 737 models. It is easier to certificate it.
But some aspects of the legacy 737 design are vintage headaches, such as the ground clearance designed to allow a staircase thats now obsolete. They wanted it close to the ground for boarding, Ditchey said.
Andrew Skow, founder of Tiger Century Aircraft, which develops cockpit safety systems, and a former Northrop Grumman chief engineer, said Boeing has had a good record modernizing the 737. But he said, They may have pushed it too far.
To handle a longer fuselage and more passengers, Boeing added larger, more powerful engines, but that required it to reposition them to maintain ground clearance. As a result, the 737 can pitch up under certain circumstances. Software, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, was added to counteract that tendency.
It was that software that is believed to have been involved in a Lion Air crash in Indonesia in October.
The software erroneously thought the aircraft was at risk of losing lift and stalling because of a malfunctioning sensor and ordered the stabilizer at the rear to put it into a series of sharp dives that ultimately caused the plane to crash into the Java Sea.
What happened on the Ethiopian Airlines flight is less clear, but tracking data show that it also encountered sharp changes in its vertical velocity and at one point in its climb after takeoff lost 400 feet of altitude. The FAA grounded the jetliner Wednesday, saying that new satellite data showed the Ethiopian Airlines flight dynamics were very close to those of the Lion Air jet.
Ethiopia sent black box recording devices recovered from the crashed jet to France for analysis, after refusing to hand them over to U.S. authorities. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board still plans to send investigators to France to help its Bureau of Inquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety.
Forensics experts comb through the dirt for debris at the crash site of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft. (Tony Karumba / AFP / Getty Images)
Airline crashes seldom are caused by a single factor, and the two 737 accidents may yet involve poor maintenance, pilot errors and inadequate training. But it appears increasingly likely that Boeings software system and the companys lack of recommendations for pilot training on it may have played an important role in the crashes.
The entire need for the software system is fundamental to the jets history.
The bottom of the 737s engines are a minimum of 17 inches above the runway. By comparison, the Boeing 757 has a minimum clearance of 29 inches, according to Boeing specification books. The newer 787 Dreamliner has 28 inches or 29 inches, depending on the engine.
The 737 originally was equipped with the Pratt & Whitney JT-8 series jets, which had an inner fan diameter of 49.2 inches. They looked like cigars, long and skinny, Moss said.
By comparison, the LEAP-1b engines on the Max 8 have a diameter of 69 inches, nearly 20 inches more than the original. There wouldnt be enough clearance without some kind of modification.
In the 737-300, which came after the original planes sold in West Germany, Boeing came up with an unusual fix: It created a flat bottom on the nacelle (the shroud around the fan), creating what pilots came to call the hamster pouch.
They made it work, said Ditchey, whose America West was one of the original customers of the 737-300.
But the LEAP engines required an even bigger change. Boeing redesigned the pylons, the structure that holds the engine to the wing, extending them farther forward and higher up. It gave the needed 17 inches of clearance. The company also put in a higher nose landing gear.
The change, however, affected the planes aerodynamics. Boeing discovered the new position of the engines increased the lift of the aircraft, creating a tendency for the nose to pitch up.
The solution was MCAS, which ordered the stabilizer to push down the nose if the angle of attack or angle that air flows over the wings got too high. The MCAS depends on data from two sensors. But on the Lion Air flight, the MCAS relied on a sensor that was erroneously reporting a high angle of attack when the plane was nowhere near a stall.
The pilots tried to counteract the nose-down movements by pulling back on the yoke. But even pulling with all their might they could not counteract the forces, according to data in a preliminary accident investigation report.
Skow criticized Boeings MCAS system, saying it acted only on the basis of angle of attack. The Lion Air jet was traveling so fast that when MCAS ordered the stabilizer to pitch the nose down it was a violent reaction. The software should have factored in air speed, he said, which would have better calibrated the pilots reaction.
Skows firm has developed a cockpit display system, known as Q-Alfa, which he says would have identified the failure of the angle of attack sensor and allowed the crew to abort the takeoff. We believe we could have prevented the accident, he said.
If the results of the investigation do not undermine the fundamental design of the aircraft, then the 737 Maxs future may not be in peril, aviation experts said. It may turn out all thats needed is a software fix or additional pilot training.
The 737 has survived other crises. In a 1988 accident on a flight between Honolulu and Hilo, the entire top of the plane came off in an explosive decompression. A flight attendant was sucked out and 65 passengers and crew were injured. It was blamed on faulty lap joints in the aluminum skin of the fuselage, which Boeing reengineered.
The 737 is the most successful commercial jet ever produced, said John Cox, an air safety expert and veteran pilot, adding that commonality among its models helps airlines with pilot training. It is nearing the end of its production life. The technology will eventually drive Boeing to a replacement.
ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com
Twitter @rvartabedian
Dennis Muilenburg, Boeings chief executive officer, took home just over $30 million last year, a $6 million increase from the year before, according to a filing late Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the companys business soared after another banner year.
With revenues at a record high in 2018, breaking the $100 billion mark for the first time, Boeings heavily incentivized compensation model was a boon for the 55-year-old executive, whose base salary is $1.7 million. The company noted in the filing that Muilenburgs annual compensation of $23.4 million was 184 times higher than the median salary of companys employees. (His total compensation included stock options from prior years that were paid out.)
Now, after two harrowing crashes that killed a total of 246 people, Muilenburg faces one of the toughest tests of his 34-year career at the Chicago-based behemoth. Last week, Boeings stock dropped after one of its 737 Max 8 airplanes crashed in Ethiopia, the second time in five months one of the planes was involved in a deadly crash. In October, one of the planes went down in Indonesia, killing everyone on board.
Muilenburgs compensation was first reported by the Seattle Times.
Advertisement
Countries around the world have grounded the aircraft, a major source of revenue for the company, which has more than 150,000 employees. Boeing has said that it has stopped delivering the 737s while it works on updating its flight-control system. Jeffries analyst Shelia Kahyaoglu said in a note that a two-month halt in deliveries could cost the company $5.1 billion this year.
Meanwhile, Congress has vowed to investigate the cause of the crashes. And families of at least two dozen crash victims are suing the company.
Fighting to stem the fallout from the crashes, Muilenburg called President Donald Trump Tuesday, vowing that the planes were safe and that there was no reason to ground them. Eventually, the Federal Aviation decided to do so anyway. The safety of the American people, and all our people, is our paramount concern, Trump said in explaining his decision.
Still, analysts have said the crisis is unlikely to have a long-term effect on the companys finances. Despite the crash in October last year, the company finished 2018 with record revenue that beat its goal, profit of $10 billion and a healthy order book for future growth.
In 2017, Boeings stock climbed nearly 90 percent, and for the first two months this year, it was up nearly 35 percent.
In the SEC filing, Boeings compensation model for its executives is designed to drive near-term program execution, operational excellence and sustainable growth. By those measures, Boeings CEO had a banner year, the filing said.
Mr. Muilenburgs leadership in successfully executing Boeings business strategies in 2018, as evidenced by record operating cash flow, revenue, operating earnings and commercial airplane deliveries, it said.
The Washington Posts Thomas Heath contributed.
This story was first published by The Washington Post.
Follow @ChiTribBusiness on Facebook and @ChiTribBiz on Twitter.
The bad news for Boeing has dripped out in a constant stream, day by day.
There were revelations that it may not have done enough to train pilots about a new system in its 737 Max airplane line before the jets were involved in crashes last year in Indonesia, and then again this month in Ethiopia, killing everyone on board both flights, a total of 346 people.
Then NASAs administrator said the agency is considering sidelining the massive rocket Boeing is helping build because of how far behind schedule it is. And now, the agency is about to announce another major delay in a separate high-profile program the spacecraft Boeing is building to fly astronauts to the International Space Station.
The latest date for the first test of the Starliner capsule was to be in April, a flight which had already been pushed back repeatedly. Now that first flight a test mission without any astronauts on board is going to be delayed to at least August, according to two officials with knowledge of the situation.
Advertisement
That, in turn, would push the first flight with humans on board to no earlier than November, but some said the company may be forced to push the flight into 2020 if they discover more problems with the spacecraft. Reuters first reported Starliners new schedule.
The delays put pressure additional pressure on Boeing to deliver in part because its main competitor, SpaceX, which is also under contract to fly NASAs astronauts to the station, had its first test flight earlier this month. And it appeared to go flawlessly.
There is also pressure to get astronauts flying on the companies spacecraft because NASA has been forced to pay Russia for rides to the space station since NASAs Space Shuttle was retired in 2011. Both SpaceX and Boeing have had delays, forcing NASA to look at the possibility of buying more seats from Russia at a cost of more than $80 million each.
The version of the Starliner that flies without people will be as similar as possible as the spacecraft that eventually does have humans on board, officials said. So Boeing hopes there wont be a lot of work left in between the two flights, allowing it to fly its crewed mission this year. SpaceXs Dragon capsule has a number of issues to work through between flights, officials said, so the time in between flights could be greater, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has said.
I think theres going to be less time between the uncrewed vehicle for Boeing and crewed vehicle for Boeing and longer time between (flights for) SpaceX, he recently told CNBC. Which means whoever gets to fly that first crew we dont know right now. But I will tell you Im highly confident it will be before the end of 2019.
NASA is also expected to announce soon that when Boeing does finally fly a three-member crew to the station in its first test flight with humans on board, the astronauts will stay for up to almost seven months in what NASA is calling a long-duration mission. Previously, the astronauts on the crewed test flight were only supposed to stay on the station for about two weeks.
NASA awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion contract in 2014 to build Starliner. But it has run into numerous problems. Last year, during a test of its emergency abort system, officials discovered a propellant leak that has required it to redesign valves in the system.
The Government Accountability Office also found an issue with the abort system that could possibly cause it to tumble, which could pose a threat to the crews safety. Boeing has said it has identified the solutions with those problems and is well on its way to having them fixed.
Part of the reason the company is pushing the launch date back is because there is a sensitive national security launch, scheduled for June, that will occupy the launch pad and related facilities for weeks, officials said, forcing Boeing to push into August.
The news of the Starliner delay comes as Bridenstine said the agency was looking at sidelining the Space Launch System rocket that Boeing is helping build in an effort to speed up a mission to send a spacecraft in orbit around the moon.
SLS, as the rocket is known, has also faced repeated delays, and a government watchdog recently took aim at Boeing, the prime contractor on the project, saying it has already spent $5.3 billion and is expected to burning through the remaining funds by early this year, three years ahead of schedule and without delivering a single rocket stage.
This story was first published by The Washington Post.
Follow @ChiTribBusiness on Facebook and @ChiTribBiz on Twitter.
Fewer Illinois residents signed up for health insurance through the Obamacare exchange this year as questions continued to swirl about whether the law would continue to stand.
About 312,280 Illinois residents selected health plans through the exchange for this year, according to data released by the federal government Monday afternoon. Thats down from about 334,979 last year a decline of nearly 7 percent. Nationally, enrollment fell by about 3 percent, to 11.4 million.
Illinois residents signed up for coverage even as the Trump administration made a number of changes, and court challenges to the law persisted. The Trump administration, for example, now says it supports a Texas judges ruling that Obamacare is unconstitutional a significant hardening of the administrations position against the law. House Democrats, meanwhile, say they have a plan to improve and strengthen the health care law.
Heres what you need to know about sign-ups in Illinois and the status of Obamacare.
Advertisement
1. Why did fewer people in Illinois sign up?
The number of Illinois residents signing up for exchange plans has been dropping since 2017 the same year that President Donald Trump took office, pledging to undo the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Most people in Illinois get health insurance through their employers or government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, but others buy plans through the exchange at Healthcare.gov.
This years decline was likely because of lower demand for exchange plans, thanks to a strong economy in which more people have access to insurance through their employers, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in a news release.
Others, however, have said uncertainty surrounding the law in recent years has most likely deterred some consumers from purchasing exchange plans. They also say changes to the requirements surrounding the law may have contributed to the decline in enrollment.
Its possible the drop in enrollment is result of continued action by Trump administration to undermine the Affordable Care Act, said Kathy Waligora, interim executive director at EverThrive Illinois, referring to a number of changes the administration has made to requirements surrounding the law.
Still others blame high prices for driving Illinois residents away from the exchange.
2. Has the cost changed?
Prices remained relatively steady in Illinois this year for plans purchased through the exchange, according to federal data. In Illinois, average monthly premiums are about $646 this year, compared with $644 last year though most people get tax credits to offset those costs.
Nearly 84 percent of Illinois residents who have exchange plans this year also get the tax credits, bringing their average monthly premiums down to $140, compared with $135 last year.
Illinois largest health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, dropped its average rates for many plans slightly this year. The drops, however, followed years of double-digit increases, which may still be keeping some people from buying exchange plans, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
This small decline in premiums in 2019 moves in the right direction, but, for unsubsidized people, premiums remain considerably higher than before the (Affordable Care Acts) main requirements were implemented in 2014, the agency said in a news release.
3. What changes has the Trump administration made?
Since Trump took office, the administration has made a number of changes to requirements surrounding the law. The administration has said the changes are intended to give consumers more options, but proponents of Obamacare say they could lead to fewer people with health insurance. Trump made changes after Congress was unable to fully repeal the law.
For one, starting this year, individuals will no longer have to pay penalties for going without health insurance. They also have new options for buying coverage outside the exchange, such as short-term plans that can be used for longer periods of time than in the past. Short-term plans are generally cheaper than exchange plans but may not offer as much coverage.
Also, the federal government has dramatically cut funding meant to help enroll people in exchange plans. Illinois got 78 percent less federal money last year to hire workers to help enroll people in exchange plans.
4. Where does the law now stand?
Despite all the changes and uncertainty, Obamacare remains in place. Over the years, it has faced a number of court challenges, and the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld its provisions several times.
Its still being challenged in court, however. A federal judge in Texas ruled in December that the law should be invalidated. That case is now in appeals court, and on Monday the federal government filed a notice saying it now supports the original ruling to scrap the law entirely a significant change from last June when the administration said some parts of the law could still stand.
Illinois is one of a number of states defending the Affordable Care Act as part of the case.
5. What would happen if the law were struck down?
The appeals court must still make a ruling, and if that ruling were against the health care law, it would most likely be stayed until an appeal is concluded, said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown Universitys Center on Health Insurance Reforms. The ruling would most likely go to the U.S. Supreme Court, so a final decision may be some time away.
Its hard to imagine, certainly, anything happening this year, Corlette said, of the law being invalidated.
But if the law were eventually struck down in its entirety, it could affect millions of people in Illinois.
Also, the law doesnt just govern exchange plans and the 312,280 people in Illinois with them. States also expanded Medicaid a health insurance program for the poor to more people under the law. More than 590,000 additional adults in Illinois had Medicaid coverage as of October because of that expansion, according to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
The law also affects people with coverage through their employers. The law allows young adults to stay on their parents health insurance plans until the age of 26. It also bars insurers from imposing lifetime and annual coverage caps and from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
Proponents of erasing the law say doing so could lead to more options at better prices for consumers, while opponents worry that fewer people will be able to get comprehensive insurance and will suffer more financially if theyre sick.
lschencker@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @lschencker
The tables were set and the candles lit. Bouquets of babys breath were arranged on black tablecloths, and menus rested atop each plate.
Table for Twenty was hosting its first event of the year. Wearing cocktail party attire, diners who paid $115 for a ticket sipped drinks and enjoyed a five-course meal.
But this wasnt your typical private dinner club event. At every place setting, a joint was placed neatly next to the silverware and the food and drink was infused with cannabis.
Marijuana is coming out of the shadows, as more states look to legalize the drug for recreational use and the stigma eases. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in food, as weed matures from its college-dorm-pot-brownie reputation into a respected ingredient in fine dining. Exclusive, cannabis-infused supper clubs like Chicago-based Table for Twenty are popping up around the country.
Advertisement
In Illinois, recreational marijuana is illegal, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker supports legalizing weed, and lawmakers are drafting a bill that would do just that. The legalization of marijuana is expected to unleash massive growth in Illinois, generating sales of $224 million by 2022. Entrepreneurs are looking for ways to get into the burgeoning industry early, even if it means occasionally skirting the law until weed is legal.
For me, the thing is getting it together now so we can get our name out there first, said Anicia Peden, Table for Twentys chef, as she stood over the stove, frying plantains on one burner and heating up a pound of cannabis butter on another.
Owner Stacie Thompsons goals are to establish Table for Twenty as a luxury brand and, as a black woman, to bring some diversity to the industry.
I truly, truly believe black people deserve a seat at the cannabis table, she told attendees at the mid-February dinner. And I am ready to take my place.
Chef Anicia Peden drizzles cannabis oil over sweet potato chowder at a members-only dinner hosted by A Table For Twenty. (Kristan Lieb/for the Chicago Tribune)
Customers of Table for Twenty can choose to have their food infused only with CBD, a legal cannabis compound that relaxes users but does not get them high. But the food at this dinner was infused with THC, the marijuana compound that does get users stoned. The joint was an extra touch.
Back in the kitchen, a container of marijuana sat next to a roll of paper towels and brown sugar. Peden also works in catering, but for more than a year she has been laying the foundation for a career in the marijuana industry, teaching herself to infuse cannabis extracts into foods.
People want more than weed brownies, and theyre curious about what other foods can be infused with cannabis, Peden said. She sees a business opportunity in that curiosity.
Chef Anicia Peden prepares a dinner infused with cannabis for guests at a dinner hosted by A Table For Twenty. (Kristan Lieb/for the Chicago Tribune)
A cloud of smoke hung over the Logan Square room as guests talked and ate the dinner Peden prepared. Thompson used a microphone as each course was served to explain what the guests were eating and how it had been infused.
Ingesting marijuana is a different experience than smoking it. The plant must be heated to activate its chemical compounds, called cannabinoids, Peden said. Those compounds then must cling to a fat, such as butter, and the body processes it differently. Everyones tolerance is different, Peden said.
Peden went light on the infusions, adding a drizzle of cannabis butter here, a splash there. Thompson told diners Peden used Tangerine Kush, a strain of marijuana often used for relaxation.
The menu for the dinner was African-themed to honor Black History month. Guests ate Cajun sweet potato chowder, garnished with charred corn and drizzled with cannabis butter. To cleanse the palate between courses, servers brought mango drinks sweetened with marijuana-infused simple syrup.
The main course: blackened chicken, topped with microgreens, roasted root vegetables and cannabis butter.
A Table For Twenty co-founders Akeea Barker and Stacie Thompson talk between courses at a dinner party they hosted at a private home in Logan Square. (Kristan Lieb/for the Chicago Tribune)
As laws around the country become more marijuana-friendly, chefs will increasingly incorporate cannabis in their cooking, said Joline Rivera, founder of Chicago-based Kitchen Toke, a magazine and an app that teach readers how to cook with cannabis.
From a chefs perspective, they look at this like anything else. Its an ingredient, she said.
Another supper club, Herbal Notes, has been hosting dinners in Chicago with marijuana-infused dishes for more than a year, said chef and founder Manny Mendoza. The multicourse meals typically cost $125, and are open to anyone over the age of 21.
We understood what the (legal) risk was associated with that, but we took it anyway because we want to be pioneers, Mendoza said.
Its not like theres some kind of criminal enterprise going on here, he said. Its a dinner party.
The 26-year-old Pilsen native attended the Culinary Institute of America and launched Herbal Notes as a supper club in San Diego. He moved back to Chicago in 2017, a year after Illinois decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Herbal Notes has served more than 1,200 people in Chicago, he said. Eventually, he wants to partner with growers and other large cannabis companies.
Mendoza asks attendees to fill out a questionnaire before the dinners so he can make adjustments based on each individuals tolerance. Some courses come with marijuana-infused sauces, so diners can decide for themselves how strong to make their dishes.
Were encapsulating something a lot larger than just, Come get high at this dinner party, he said. Were trying to characterize this as something that is more inherently human than something thats more inherently criminal.
This story has been updated.
amarotti@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @AllyMarotti
The former head of a federal traffic safety agency on Thursday accused the auto industry of dragging out the implementation of a technology that could keep thousands of drunk drivers off the road.
Joan Claybrook, a former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, urged Congress to pass a law that would require automakers to include passive ignition-interlock systems in all new motor vehicles within as little as three years. She said the notion of using technology to effectively immobilize drunk drivers has been around at least since 2006 and has been in use for several years now. The systems should be incorporated into all new vehicles, along with seat belts, rearview cameras and other lifesaving devices, she said.
I dont know whats the matter with the industry on this issue, Claybrook said during testimony Thursday before the House consumer protection and commerce subcommittee.
Ignition interlocks are devices that use breathalyzerlike technology to prevent a vehicle from starting if a driver has been drinking a certain amount of alcohol. Thirty-two states now require that the devices be installed in a first-time offenders vehicle. Claybrook, who was testifying on behalf of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, said adding the ignition interlock devices to all new vehicles could save 7,000 lives a year by preventing drunk drivers from starting their vehicles.
Advertisement
The federal government has spent millions since 2008 on a public-private initiative with the automotive industry to develop such technology, known as Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, and its still not clear when it will appear in the marketplace.
Where is this system? Claybrook asked. It didnt take that long to produce air bags. Air bags are a lot more complicated than this ... and they cost a lot more.
But Robert Strassburger, who heads a coalition of automakers working with the federal government to develop such technology, said one form of the passive interlock technology could be available for use by large commercial fleets next year.
Claybrook was not the only safety advocate to express impatience with the progress on DADSS. The goal of the initiative a joint undertaking of NHTSA and 17 automakers in the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety is to create interlock devices that would use breath or a touch of the finger to determine whether a person has a blood alcohol level that would make it dangerous to drive.
Their testimony coincides with an overall rise in U.S. traffic deaths, particularly among pedestrians and other vulnerable users, and a stubborn lack of progress in further reducing deaths caused by drunken driving. Yet evidence shows that installing ignition interlock devices in the vehicles of people convicted of drunken driving has had a significant, beneficial impact on traffic safety.
West Virginia, for example, found that recidivism among drunk drivers fell by 77 percent after the state began requiring first-time offenders to put the devices in their vehicles. A study by University of Michigan researchers estimated that installing interlocks in every new vehicle sold in the United States could cut drunken-driving fatalities by 85 percent over 15 years. David Kelly, executive director of the Coalition of Ignition Interlock Manufacturers, told the panel that the devices have stopped more than 2.7 million attempts at driving by people who were impaired or intoxicated.
Helen Witty, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the federal government could move things along by requiring that the technology be installed in its fleet of vehicles. That happened with air bags, and it helped expedite their delivery to the market, she said.
Our goal is to get this technology into vehicles for consumers to purchase as soon as possible, she said.
Witty also urged lawmakers not to be distracted by the need to address drugged driving too. While thats a concern for MADD, particularly as more states legalize marijuana use, she said technology that might stop a marijuana user from driving is nowhere on the horizon because of difficulties determining levels of impairment. But its established science and law to bar people from driving if their blood alcohol levels are above 0.08 percent, and machines have been able to detect those readings for years.
Strassburger, who is president and chief executive of the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, said engineers are still working to ensure that the devices are accurate, quick and unobtrusive. He suggested that a safety system that hassled sober drivers who had not been drinking might trigger the sort of pushback that seat-belt buzzers created years ago and might make it harder for the technology to catch on.
This story was first published by The Washington Post.
Follow @ChiTribBusiness on Facebook and @ChiTribBiz on Twitter.
A Philadelphia-area restaurant chain claims that Grubhub, the online food delivery and takeout platform, has stolen millions of dollars from small businesses by charging them for sham telephone orders, according to a proposed class-action lawsuit.
The suit, filed in federal court by a pair of Tiffin Indian food restaurants, alleges that Chicago-based Grubhub has charged commissions for phone calls that did not generate food orders. The Tiffin chain, founded by Wharton MBA and ex-investment banker Munish Narula, argues that Grubhubs actions ate into their revenues for more than seven years.
Tiffin claims its bringing the case on behalf of the roughly 80,000 restaurants that Grubhub works with across the country. The case is seeking unspecified damages and restitution. The lawsuit also wants a judge to bar Grubhub from charging businesses for customer calls that dont result in food orders.
Grubhub, which declined comment on Monday, filed a motion last week to send the case to arbitration. In court filings, the Chicago-based company has said it did not act deceptively nor breach its contracts with the two Tiffin eateries named as plaintiffs. The two restaurants, located in Elkins Park and Mount Airy, Pa., are part of a chain of 10 Tiffin eateries in the region.
Advertisement
Tiffins lawyer, Catherine Pratsinakis, declined comment. Narula did not return a request for comment.
Founded in 2004, Grubhub allows customers to find local restaurants and place food orders through its online platform. Restaurants pay a commission, typically a percentage of the order (Tiffin pays 15 percent per order, court documents show). Grubhub, which recently expanded its Philadelphia presence with a Center City tech hub, competes with other food delivery services such as UberEats, and DoorDash.
Grubhub generated $1 billion in revenue in 2018, an increase of more than 46 percent from the $683.1 million collected in 2017. The company says it serves 17.7 million active diners.
According to the lawsuit, first reported by Philadelphia Magazine, Grubhub also charges businesses when customers place orders using unique phone numbers found on its online platform. Grubhub tracks the calls and bills the restaurants accordingly, imposing a fee based on a monthly average of previous commissions charged to the restaurant, according to the complaint filed in December in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
But Grubhub does not verify whether the calls actually result in food orders and relies solely on the length of the phone call to justify charging commissions, the suit says. Tiffin cited examples of customers calling to ask about ingredients, existing orders, and hours of operation calls that the eatery said resulted in charges from Grubhub.
In one case last year, a woman called a Tiffin restaurant through the phone number listed on Grubhubs platform, asking questions about the menu because she had food allergies, the complaint says. She proceeded to place an order through Grubhubs website, and Grubhub charged Tiffin twice for both the call and online order.
According to the complaint, a Grubhub worker told Narula, the Tiffin founder and president, that the platform charges commissions for calls that exceed 45 seconds, regardless of whether a customer places a food order.
In a 2013 post on Quora, Grubhub founder Mike Evans wrote that there are a few key indicators that show whether a call is an order.
Among them are time of call (during business hours), duration of call, exclusion of multiple call from same number, etc., Evans wrote at the time. It turns out to be possible to predict with a high degree of accuracy which calls are orders or not.
Making matters worse for small businesses, Tiffin argues, is that customers often place calls through Grubhub because an internet search for restaurants using Google could list Grubhubs ad before the restaurants website.
Tiffin said Grubhub orders make up nearly 15 percent of the Indian chains revenues.
Last week, Grubhubs lawyer asked a judge to send the case to arbitration, noting its contracts with the Tiffin eateries contain an arbitration clause with a class-action waiver. Tiffins lawyers have not yet responded to the motion.
2019 Philly.com
Visit Philly.com at www.philly.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Follow @ChiTribBusiness on Facebook and @ChiTribBiz on Twitter.
Gollum or Smeagol, who will have the upper hand in the upcoming stealth-action adventure? Coming to PC and consoles in 2022
Junior Mints may be chocolate, peppermint and delicious, but allegations their boxes are deceptively large do not constitute consumer fraud, a Chicago federal judge ruled this week.
A lawsuit brought by an Illinois woman last year against Tootsie Roll Industries, the Chicago-based makers of Junior Mints, was dismissed on the grounds that there were no actual damages in buying a box that was more air than candy so-called slack fill packaging.
That she expected to receive something more than what she got, in and of itself, does not constitute actual damages, U.S. District Judge John Lee said in the order, issued Tuesday.
Paige Stemm, of downstate Belleville, filed the lawsuit in March 2018 after buying a box of Junior Mints at a Walgreens for $1. The lawsuit sought class-action status for what it claimed was Tootsie Rolls misleading, deceptive and unlawful conduct in packaging its Junior Mints, which take up only slightly more than half of their familiar cardboard box.
Advertisement
While the Junior Mint box has the weight on the front, the ruling this week did not preclude that the size of the box may mislead a reasonable consumer. But Stemm did not allege she would have paid less if she knew the box contained so much air.
Stemm has 15 days to file an amended complaint or the case will be terminated.
Benjamin Haskin, a Chicago attorney representing Tootsie Roll, declined to comment on the lawsuit Thursday. An attorney representing Stemm did not respond to a request for comment.
The Junior Mints lawsuit is part of a growing trend of cases brought against food manufacturers for allegedly deceptive and unnecessary empty space in packaging. Governed by federal regulation, slack fill is the difference between the actual capacity of a container and the volume of product contained therein.
In August, a New York federal judge dismissed a similar slack fill lawsuit against Tootsie Roll and Junior Mints, ruling that a reasonable consumer would expect some empty space in the box.
Junior Mints have been a candy staple since they were launched in 1949. The brand was acquired by Tootsie Roll in 1993, the same year it was immortalized in the Seinfeld episode The Junior Mint, in which one of the candies inadvertently falls from a hospital observation gallery into the open abdomen of a patient on the operating table.
Whos going to turn down a Junior Mint? Kramer asks after the incident.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @RobertChannick
The maker of Dum-Dums lollipops won a round in its battle with the company that makes Charms Mini Pops after forcing Chicago-based Tootsie Roll Industries to abandon confusingly similar packaging for its rival lollipops.
Spangler Candy, a private, century-old Ohio confectioner that owns the Dum-Dums brand, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit last year against Tootsie Roll, alleging its redesigned 300-count Charms Mini Pops bags were meant to confuse lollipop customers.
On Wednesday, an Ohio federal judge issued a temporary injunction ordering Tootsie Roll to repackage its lollipops while the trademark lawsuit proceeds.
Dum-Dums v Charms is centered around red bags with the names emblazoned in cartoonish white letters across the top, a clear panel in the middle displaying the colorful lollipops inside and a yellow oval with the 300 product count in blue letters at the bottom.
Advertisement
Adding to the confusion, the lollipops are also displayed in similar yellow pallets at retailers such as Costco and Sams Club, according to Spanglers lawsuit.
Our claim against Tootsie followed the release of new Charms Mini Pops packaging that mirrored Dum-Dums packaging in nearly every way except the name of the product, Kirk Vashaw, Spanglers chairman and CEO, said in a news release.
Spangler developed its current Dum-Dums packaging in 2011, while Tootsie rolled out the new Charms bags in 2017. When Spangler learned of the similar packaging in March 2018, it immediately saw red, leading to the trademark lawsuit.
John Strand, a Boston-based attorney representing Tootsie Roll in the lawsuit, declined to comment Thursday. Efforts to reach Tootsie Roll CEO Ellen Gordon on Friday were unsuccessful.
While the lollipops and packaging are similar, the century-old candy companies are less so.
Tootsie Roll is a publicly traded candy company with a $2.3 billion market capitalization and annual sales of $515 million last year, according to financial filings. In addition to Charms Mini Pops and its namesake Tootsie Rolls, other products include Junior Mints, Razzles and Dots.
Founded in 1906, Spangler Candy is a family-owned company located in Bryan, Ohio, a small town in the northwest part of the state. It makes lollipops, candy canes and marshmallow Circus Peanuts, among other products.
Spangler acquired the Dum-Dums brand in 1953, and it remains a major part of its portfolio, making 12 million Dum-Dums each day.
In the lollipop market especially the mini-lollipops Dum-Dums is kind of the dominant player, David Wicklund, a Toledo-based attorney representing Spangler in the trademark infringement lawsuit, said Friday.
Tootsie Roll packaged Charms Mini Pops in yellow bags until 2017. In court filings, the company said it invested $1 million in the redesign. The company claimed it would not only have to invest more money in a redesign, but also damage its image as a whole by changing so soon after introducing the disputed packaging.
In granting the temporary injunction, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Helmick said any hardship experienced by Tootsie Roll was outweighed by potential damage to Spanglers Dum-Dums brand.
I conclude the circumstantial evidence suggests Tootsie emulated the Dum-Dums trade dress with the intent of diverting business from Dum-Dums through the similar design, Helmick wrote in his decision.
The ruling is expected to go into effect next week, after Spangler posts a bond to cover Tootsie Roll Industries costs in the event Tootsie Roll prevails. Some details of the temporary injunction such as whether the existing products will need to be pulled from store shelves still need to be worked out as well.
The trademark case is ongoing. In addition to getting Tootsie to change the packaging, Spangler will be seeking undisclosed damages, Wicklund said.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @RobertChannick
As Illinois lawmakers move toward legalizing marijuana for recreational use, state Treasurer Michael Frerichs is pushing legislation to make it easier for banks to work with weed companies.
Medical marijuana businesses around the country have long faced banking issues. The drug remains illegal at the federal level, and banks hesitate to establish accounts or offer loans to companies for fear that regulators could see that as drug money.
Twin bills introduced in the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives would protect state-chartered banks that do business with cannabis companies.
There are a lot of banks out there that want to be in this industry, they want to bank, but their board of directors have concerns, Frerichs said. Each little thing we can do, like passing state legislation, helps allay some of those concerns.
Advertisement
Still, Frerichs acknowledged that some banks wont be comfortable working with marijuana companies until theres a federal law protecting financial institutions that work with them.
The states medical cannabis program generated sales of $136.5 million last year. If the bill lawmakers are drafting to legalize recreational marijuana passes, the industry could generate sales of $224 million by 2022.
Without access to the banking system, marijuana companies might have to operate solely in cash, unable to write checks, make deposits and obtain loans.
Ascend Illinois, which operates dispensaries in Springfield and Collinsville and a cultivation facility in Barry, went six weeks without a bank last year.
During that time, the company was unable to pay vendors and in order to pay employees, the company spent two days driving cash and money orders around the state, said CEO Chris Stone. Ascend Illinois now works with a state-chartered bank, though Stone declined to name the financial institution.
If you add recreational onto the deal, youre talking about expanding this industry substantially, he said. Youre still going to be taking in cash, and if you dont have a bank to deal with that, oh boy, I just could see all the horrors and challenges.
Its unclear how much of a difference a state law would make.
The federal law would need to change before Catlin Bank in Catlin, Ill., considered working with marijuana companies, said President Jeff Fauver. Though the bank is state chartered, it still must answer to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, he said.
Its against federal law, and until state and federal law coincides, I think this debate will continue, he said.
Last year, President Donald Trumps administration reversed an Obama-era policy that discouraged federal prosecution of companies operating in states that had legalized medical marijuana. Bank of Springfield the main bank serving Illinois medical marijuana companies at the time pulled out of the industry.
The Democratic sponsors of the Illinois bill, state Sen. Toi Hutchinson of Olympia Fields and state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth of Peoria, said just as states have led the way in legalizing marijuana, states must take the lead to encourage banking in the industry, until federal laws change.
We need to make sure marijuana businesses have a way to make deposits so their money is safe, Gordon-Booth said.
The bill would prevent the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from going after banks for doing business with the marijuana industry. To date, the state has not taken such action but the law would assure that it would not do so even if there was a change in circumstances or a new administration, the sponsors said.
The sponsors were unaware of any robberies or thefts of marijuana businesses, but said companies are targets for crime because they handle so much cash. The cash business also provides opportunities for cheating on taxes that routine banking would address, Hutchinson said.
Separately, Frerichs also seeks to create a program to deposit state funds into banks that could be used for loans for marijuana businesses. It would be similar to a program that has provided more than $1 billion in reduced-interest loans to Illinois farmers since 1983.
This is not a question of if, but when, he said. We have medical cannabis in Illinois. I think that recreational is most likely coming.
amarotti@chicagotribune.com
rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @AllyMarotti
Twitter @RobertMcCoppin
MillerCoors sued Anheuser-Busch, maker of Bud Light, over the advertising campaign it launched during last months Super Bowl, taking the so-called Corn Syrup War to court.
The Chicago-based beer-maker alleges the commercials deceive consumers over MillerCoors use of corn syrup in the brewing process. While Miller Lite and Coors Light use corn syrup as a fermentation aid, the corn syrup is not present in the beer once brewing is finished, MillerCoors says.
The lawsuit further alleges that Anheuser-Busch knew consumers try not to ingest high-fructose corn syrup and would confuse the sweetener with corn syrup.
Bud Light fired the first salvo in the Corn Syrup War last month with an ad depicting a mythical king on a quest to return the corn syrup mistakenly delivered to his castle to Miller Lites and Coors Lights castles.
Advertisement
MillerCoors seeks to set the record straight with the lawsuit, according to the complaint, filed Thursday in Wisconsin federal court. The company uses corn syrup only to feed the yeast in the fermentation process for Coors Light and Miller Lite, and does not use high-fructose corn syrup at any point, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit accuses Anheuser-Busch of false advertising by suggesting otherwise, and of diluting the Coors Lite and Miller Lite trademarks.
Anheuser-Busch is fearmongering over a common beer ingredient it uses in many of its own beers, as a fermentation aid that is not even present in the final product, said Marty Maloney, manager of media relations at MillerCoors, in a statement. This deliberate deception is bad for the entire beer category. We are showing the world the truth.
Anheuser-Busch maintains that the Bud Light campaign is truthful. Gemma Hart, vice president of communications, said in a statement said that the ads are meant to point out a key difference from Miller Lite and Coors Light.
MillerCoors lawsuit is baseless and will not deter Bud Light from providing consumers with the transparency they demand, the statement said. We stand behind the Bud Light transparency campaign and have no plans to change the advertising.
This not the first time MillerCoors has demonstrated its distaste with the ads.
Weeks after Bud Light first aired its corn syrup ads, MillerCoors pulled out of a beer industry advertising collaboration with Anheuser-Busch. Additionally, MillerCoors is planning to strike back with two ads set to air during March Madness broadcasts. They will show a mock look at the costumed knights and crew behind the scenes of the Bud Light Super Bowl ads cracking open cans of Miller Lite.
amarotti@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @AllyMarotti
Chicago will have nonstop flights to Israel for the first time in two decades next year, city officials announced Tuesday.
El Al Israel Airlines will fly between Chicago and Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv three times per week starting in March 2020, with flights departing OHare International Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, city and airline officials said in a news release. El Al plans to use a 235-seat Boeing 787 for the flights.
The airline last flew to Chicago in 2007. But for several years, those flights had required a stop in another city en route to Israel, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
The City of Chicago is one of the most important academic, cultural, industrial and business centers in the United States and is an especially attractive destination for tourism and business, said Michael Strassburger, El Als vice president for commercial and industry affairs, in a statement.
Advertisement
In flying directly to Chicago, El Al will gain more direct access to a market with nearly 300,000 Jewish residents and 25 companies with operations in Israel, city officials said in a statement. The new route is expected to bring $70 million in annual economic impact to the Chicago area, the statement said.
The new flight is proof that our investments in OHare are paying off, as more people throughout the world want to travel to Chicago than ever before, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in the statement. From the Midwest to the Middle East, OHare is making whats already the best-connected city in the nation more accessible for travelers throughout the world.
American Airlines ended daily nonstop flights between Chicago and Shanghai and reduced the number of flights between Chicago and Tokyo each week late last year. But the city has also been picking up new destinations, including Athens, Barcelona and Lisbon.
The Tel Aviv route is the eighth new international destination for Chicago this year, according to the city.
El Al did not provide details on airfares but said tickets will go on sale Mar. 27.
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @laurenzumbach
Its one part of shopping that both retailers and their customers loathe: the checkout line.
Even customers who like to shop just want to get out the door. And its not lost on retailers that a good portion of their labor costs go to workers who perform mind-numbing, robotic tasks.
In response, a growing number of stores are trying to speed the checkout line along, or do away with it altogether. That doesnt mean shoppers are ready to step away from the 10 items or less checkout line just yet, though. Heres 10 things to know (not 11, mind you) about the technology.
1. Amazons on the leading edge. In the most extreme form, Amazon is rolling out a fleet of cashierless convenience stores across the country. No cash, no plastic credit card required. Just an app and an account.
Advertisement
And last week, Meijer joined chains like Sams Club and Macys that let shoppers ring up purchases on their smartphones.
To retailers, the cashierless future is not such a leap. No one thinks twice about using ATMs or pumping their own gas. Eventually, retail experts say, streamlined serve-yourself shopping could feel just as natural. But its going to be a bumpy road, said Robert Moraca, vice president for loss prevention at the National Retail Federation.
Still, he added, thats where were headed.
2. Were used to self-checkout. By now, self-checkout kiosks are a staple in grocery and drugstores. But its become a bigger focus for a wider range of retailers in the past couple years, said Read Hayes, director of the Loss Prevention Research Council at the University of Florida.
Customers are watching closely, too. When Chicagos first Amazon Go store opened last fall, customers eager to try what Amazon calls just walk out shopping stretched down the block.
Store director Minesh Patel demonstrates the use of a smartphone app to scan items at the Meijer store in Rolling Meadows, March 19, 2019. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune)
Customers scan an app on their smartphone when they arrive. Cameras and other sensors track when they grab items from shelves and the store automatically charges their account when they leave. Three more Chicago stores have since opened.
3. Retailers are experimenting. Amazon isnt the only company using technology to try to improve self-service shopping.
As of last week, customers at Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijers 23 stores in Chicago and Northwest Indiana can use a smartphone app to scan a bar code on items as they take them from the shelves and add them to a running tab. It still requires a stop at a self-checkout kiosk, but doesnt require pulling each item from the cart and makes it easier to search for coupons, said Thomas Dant, Meijers Chicago-area market director.
You go to the checkout lane, scan a code, and away you go, he said.
Sams Club and Macys have similar tools. Macys also requires customers who use the mobile scanning app stop at a designated checkout counter before leaving. Sams Club does not, though all customers must let an employee check their receipt before leaving regardless of how they pay.
4. Shoppers arent sold, yet. Meijer, which also has curbside pickup and home delivery options, began testing the app at stores in Michigan last year. About 80 percent of customers who tried it used it again, Dant said.
But it appeared to be off to a slow start at a store in Rolling Meadows, where self-checkout shoppers were still scanning at the kiosk the old-fashioned way one week after the tool became available in Chicago stores.
Store director Minesh Patel said that many shoppers werent aware that it was available and expects it will become more popular as more customers learn about it and start to use it.
The ones who have it love it, he said.
5. A little different isnt enough. Shoppers hearing about the Meijer app for the first time in Rolling Meadows werent immediately sold.
It doesnt sound that much different, said Lisa Crowne, 46, of Chicago. She said she prefers traditional registers because using them feels as if shes supporting jobs, but heads to self-checkout when its lines are shorter.
Even shoppers who said they prefer handling checkout themselves shrugged off the idea of ringing up items on a phone. Alan Holmes, 44, of Cary, said hed heard about similar technology at other retailers but never felt motivated to try it out.
I stick with what I know, he said. Im usually only getting a couple things. I dont know it would help that much.
6. Tech wont slip up on that banana. Meijers app found bar codes on most products easily, even when the camera wasnt well-aimed. Items without a bar code require some extra effort, though no more than with standard self-checkout. Top sellers like bananas are listed prominently on machines that weigh and print labels for produce sold by the pound, but items like tamarind (a misc. vegetable) require a couple of more clicks. Customers can also search using a four-digit item code.
Challenges around items that arent prepacked and need to be weighed were part of the reason Walmart Sams Clubs parent company tested the membership clubs smartphone-based checkout but chose not to roll it out. Walmart carries more of those items and the scanners added friction points that undermined the promised convenience, Sams Club said in an emailed statement.
At least temporarily, theres one more friction point for Meijer shoppers scanning purchases with their phones. An employee has to spot check their work, re-scanning some items before they can pay at the checkout kiosk.
Its a short-term measure while customers and employees get used to the new system, though Meijer said it will audit some purchases on an ongoing basis as a security measure.
Still, it highlights the challenge for retailers that want to give customers a seamless experience without making it too easy to walk away with items they havent paid for, whether intentionally or by mistake.
A customer checks out at the Meijer store in Rolling Meadows. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
7. Some folks will forget to scan. Stores with self-checkout tend to see higher losses than those that send all shoppers to cashiers, and letting customers use their own devices is generally seen as riskier than requiring they ring up their items at a kiosk because its harder to monitor, Hayes said.
Asked how effective Amazon Go has been at keeping customers from walking out with items they havent paid for, Amazon said its technology is highly accurate.
That doesnt mean it would work for other stores, said Brendan Miller, principal analyst at Forrester Research. Outfitting a chain of big box stores with a system of cameras and sensors like the one powering Amazon Go would cost too much, and bigger stores with multiple entrances and exits are harder to control, he said.
8. Its another app to deal with. Other retailers also dont want to limit their pool of customers to people who have accounts with the store, as Amazon does, said Michael Suswal, co-founder and chief operating officer of Standard Cognition.
The San Francisco-based company is among a handful of startups working on systems meant to let other retailers offer something more like Amazons cashierless stores than traditional self-checkout. Its runs a test store in San Francisco, and is operating behind the scenes at another retailer that wants to test its performance before using it on real transactions, he said.
Standard Cognition uses cameras to track the motion of every person that enters a store. According to Suswal, they can monitor the items shoppers pick up with fewer overhead cameras than Amazon Go and no shelf-based sensors, making it easier for a retailer to roll the system out to large numbers of stores.
9. Coping with cash could be key. Customers using Standard Cognitions app will be charged automatically. Those who dont want to use the app or want to pay with cash must use a kiosk, but wont have to scan their items, Suswal said.
Clumsy as kiosks are, the ability to accept cash could become more important if laws requiring stores accept cash, already on the books in New Jersey and Philadelphia, become more common, said Neil Stern, senior partner at Chicago-based consulting firm McMillanDoolittle.
10. Techs effect on employment still uncertain. While cashierless stores have obvious appeal for retailers facing tight labor markets and higher wages, that doesnt necessarily mean they would employ fewer people.
Amazon still employs people to stock shelves and help customers at Amazon Go stores, and Dant said Meijer hadnt used the scanning app to reduce the number of traditional, staffed checkout lanes.
Its just one more option, without taking away anything else, he said.
Retailers are more likely to shift the kind of work cashiers do, since a basic transaction at the cash register doesnt add much to most shoppers experience, Miller said.
If I can seamlessly (use self-checkout) and have a higher-value engagement with someone at the deli stand or bakery, my experience is going to be better, he said. Its more emotional.
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @laurenzumbach
United Airlines travelers now have choices other than male or female when they book a flight.
Customers can also identify themselves as undisclosed or unspecified.
Major airlines have been working on ways to accommodate passengers who dont identify as either male or female, but United says its the first U.S. airline to officially offer alternative gender options during booking.
Airlines ask passengers for their gender, name and date of birth to comply with Transportation Security Administration programs, and say the details should match the photo identification travelers present at the airport.
Advertisement
A handful of states are beginning to issue gender-neutral identification cards, including California and Oregon.
United is excited to share with our customers, whether they identify along the binary of male or female or not, that we are taking the steps to exhibit our care for them while also providing additional employee training to make us even more welcoming for all customers and employees, United Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist said in a statement Friday.
Illinois isnt among the states that offer identification cards with a nonbinary gender option. But efforts to add a third option are in the works, said Beth Kaufman, spokeswoman for the Illinois secretary of state.
The secretary of states office has been working with LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality Illinois, Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, and Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, on the issue.
Last month, Stava-Murray introduced a bill that would require the secretary of state to take steps ensuring that state forms and documents requiring a person to identify their gender include a non-binary option.
Its important that we recognize and respect people for who they are, Cassidy said. And its an issue of safety for folks whose identity doesnt match the way they present. For many nonbinary folks, whichever one they feel forced to choose raises questions.
But when it comes to drivers licenses and identification cards, adding a nonbinary gender option isnt as simple as adding a third box to tick, Cassidy said.
The secretary of states office uses software that encodes a persons gender in their drivers license number. It cant currently accommodate a third option, and if the state changes the way identification numbers are generated, it would also need to make sure those changes dont affect other agencies that use those records, she said.
There is a bit of a ripple effect, she said.
In the meantime, passengers who select one of the nonbinary gender options when booking a flight but dont have a matching identification card should be fine as long as the name on their boarding pass matches the ID they present at airport security, TSA spokeswoman Sari Koshetz said in an email.
United passengers can also choose the gender-neutral title Mx. when booking or setting up a frequent flyer account.
The airline also launched employee training initiatives focused on inclusivity, covering topics including preferred pronouns and LGBT competency in the workplace, United said in the statement.
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @laurenzumbach
European Union regulators have hit Google with a 1.49 billion euro $1.68 billion fine for abusing its dominant role in online advertising.
Its the third time the commission has slapped Google with an antitrust penalty, following multibillion-dollar fines resulting from separate probes into two other parts of the Silicon Valley giants business.
The EUs competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, announced the results of the long-running probe of Googles AdSense advertising business at a news conference in Brussels on Wednesday.
Todays decision is about how Google abused its dominance to stop websites using brokers other than the AdSense platform, Vestager said.
Advertisement
The commission found that Google and its parent company, Alphabet, breached EU antitrust rules by imposing restrictive clauses in contracts with websites that used AdSense, preventing Google rivals from placing their ads on these sites.
Google prevented its rivals from having a chance to innovate and to compete in the market on their merits, Vestager said. Advertisers and website owners, they had less choice and likely faced higher prices that would be passed on to consumers.
AdSense is an older Google product that lets web publishers such as bloggers place text ads on their websites, with the content of the ads based on results from search functions on their sites. Microsoft filed an EU antitrust complaint about the service in 2009 and the EU Commission formally launched its probe in 2016, although it said at the time that Google had already made some changes to allow affected customers more freedom to show competing ads.
Last year, Vestager hit the company with a record 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) fine following an investigation into its Android operating system. In 2017, she slapped Google with a 2.42 billion euro fine in a case involving its online shopping search results.
Facebooks top executive in charge of all products, Chris Cox, the longtime confidant of Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, is leaving the company, the highest-level departure at the social media giant and follows nearly two years of sustained crises.
Coxs unexpected departure, which he and Zuckerberg announced in separate Facebook posts Thursday, comes months after Cox was promoted in a major reorganization.
Last May, Cox was put in charge of Facebooks family of apps, including Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Facebook itself which together have over 2.7 billion users worldwide. These apps have been distinct until recently, when Zuckerberg announced plans to unify them under a banner of/with a new focus on privacy.
It is with great sadness I share with you that after thirteen years, Ive decided to leave the company, Cox wrote in his post. Since I was twenty-three, Ive poured myself into these walls. This place will forever be a part of me.
Advertisement
Cox, who grew up in Winnetka and graduated from New Trier in 2000, has been with Facebook since the companys early days. He joined the company in 2005, shortly after graduating from Stanford University, and rose to be one of Zuckerbergs top deputies. Cox didnt offer any explanation for his departure.
In his blog post, Zuckerberg said that Cox had told him that he planned to move on several years ago, but that Cox decided to hold off on leaving until the company made more progress combating misinformation and Russian meddling controversies that erupted in the wake of the 2016 election.
For a few years, Chris has been discussing with me his desire to do something else. He is one of the most talented people I know and he has the potential to do anything he wants. But after 2016, we both realized we had too much important work to do to improve our products for society, and he stayed to help us work through these issues and help us chart a course for our family of apps going forward, Zuckerberg wrote.
At this point, we have made real progress on many issues and we have a clear plan for our apps, centered around making private messaging, stories and groups the foundation of the experience, including enabling encryption and interoperability across our services, Zuckerberg continued. As we embark on this next major chapter, Chris has decided now is the time to step back from leading these teams.
Chris Daniels, who heads messaging app WhatsApp, is also departing. It isnt clear what future plans the executives have.
Founding executives of Facebook-owned Instagram and WhatsApp have also recently left the company.
Chicago Tribune staff and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Published by the Washington Post.
The German family whose holding company owns controlling stakes in companies such as Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Panera Bread, Pret a Manger and Einstein Bros. Bagels profited from the horrors of the Nazi regime, according to a report in a German newspaper.
The tabloid Bild, one of Germanys most popular papers, reported that Albert Reimann Sr. and Albert Reimann Jr., whose family backs JAB Holdings, had significant links to the Third Reich.
JAB Holdings is a privately-held conglomerate that has investments in a wide portfolio of global companies, among them Peets Coffee, Keurig Green Mountain and Dr Pepper-Snapple. It acquired Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, which owns three national bagel chains Einstein Bros., Noahs New York Bagels and Manhattan Bagel in 2014.
The report found that Russian civilians and French prisoners of war were used as forced laborers in the familys factories and private villas around World War II, when it was involved in chemicals-related manufacturing mostly for the food industry, according to Deutsche Welle.
Advertisement
It is all correct, family spokesman Peter Harf, who is one of two managing partners of JAB Holdings, told Bild. Reimann Senior and Reimann Junior were guilty. The two men have passed away, but they actually belonged in prison.
The two men died in 1954 and 1984, respectively.
Other disclosures in the report include revelations that the two men were anti-Semites and avowed supporters of Adolf Hitler, and Reimann Sr. donated to the paramilitary SS force as early as 1933, according to Deutsche Welle.
Reimann Jr. once complained to the mayor of Ludwigshafen, where the family had an industrial chemicals company, that the French prisoners of war werent working hard enough, Deutsche Welle reported.
The report was a reminder of the way that some private businesses that are willing to put moral and human rights concerns aside are able to profit from the repression of fascist regimes. Many German companies have reckoned with histories of collaboration with the Nazi regime, among them: Hugo Boss, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and others.
Harf told Bild that the company plans to give about $11 million to charity after learning of the familys history, the AFP reported. He said that the family had been looking into its past and in 2014 commissioned a historian, Paul Erker of Munich University, to study its ties to the Nazi regime, a work that has yet to be completed more than four years on. Harf said that the family plans to release more information about that study when it is done.
In an email, Erker confirmed that he was investigating the companys history during the Nazi era.
It is about an overall story also in the industry context, but in which the subject of forced labor plays a central role, Erker said. The mandate includes absolute scientific independence and unrestricted access to files, including the Benckiser Archive and family records. I ask for your understanding that I cannot provide any information on the details and results of the ongoing project.
JAB Holdings was founded in the 1820s by Johan A. Benckiser, according to CB insights, and now serves as the investment vehicle for the Reimann family.
It holds stakes in companies behind brands such as Mucinex, Woolite and Durex condoms, according to CB Insights, and is a majority shareholder of the beauty product company Coty. In recent years, its aggressive moves to expand beyond the world of household goods have drawn attention, particularly in the world of coffee and baked goods. It has reportedly spent more than $40 billion to acquire brands such as Peets Coffee, Caribou Coffee and Keurig Green Mountain, Stumptown Coffee Roasters and Intelligentsia.
The Reimann family, which has been described repeatedly in news reports as secretive, has an estimated wealth of some 33 billion euros, or about $37 billion, according to the AFP, and is believed to be the second-wealthiest in Germany. JAB Holdings did not respond to a request for comment.
Erker said he did not have an exact date yet when he expected to have his report ready.
According to the AFP, the company employed as many as 175 forced laborers, and produced items for the Nazi military and weapons industry. The company has not provided compensation to any of the forced laborers, but we have since talked about what we can do now, Harf said.
We want to do more and donate ten million euros to a suitable organization, he said.
Luisa Beck contributed to this report
First published by the Washington Post.
The Daisy Lane Parade started in 1953 when Gertrude Whittle worked with the Long Beach City Council and Council of Churches to help decorate the grass median on Daisy Avenue with a Christmas Village and nativity scene, according to the...
San Diegans may take pride in how their skyline has blossomed in recent decades, but the untold story is what made possible those pretty buildings.
Or as Roger Ball, president of Rick Engineering put it, Architects get all the glory and we make it work.
From the construction of Mission Bay in the 1950s to the pending redevelopment of SDCCU Stadium into SDSU West, Rick Engineering has been at the forefront of planning the countys roads and freeways, neighborhoods, parks, shopping centers, waterworks and landscapes.
The companys first few decades of work took place in the colored pencil and blueprint era. The earliest computers in the 1970s and 80s required piles of keypunch cards and 10 hours of mainframe computing time to spit out what today is a simple calculation that takes seconds to perform.
Advertisement
But technology without street smarts can turn the nerdiest engineer into a laughing stock.
Jayne Janda-Timba, who oversees the companys water resources division, recalls one newbie who insisted that a curb was 3 feet tall because thats what his computer screen showed. It was 3 inches and he was reading the scale wrong.
I just gave up (after 20 minutes) and walked away, she said.
Rick Engineering was founded in 1955 by Glenn Rick, who as San Diego citys first planning director in 1928 oversaw the implementation of the Massachusetts landscape architect John Nolens 1908 and 1926 master plans for San Diego. Nolen laid out the key thoroughfares that became freeways after World War II, San Diegos bayfront, the location of key parks and public buildings and a zoning code that separated housing from industry and commerce -- a concept now giving way to mixed-use development and transit-oriented development.
Several teams of young and old Rick engineers took a few hours recently to explain what they do and how their profession has morphed from manual labor to space-age tech.
Surveying
Engineers cant do a thing until they know where imaginary boundaries lie. Thats the job of surveyors. On Pat McMichaels side table is a mini-museum of relics from surveying in its precomputer days -- devices that George Washington might have recognized in his first career as a colonial surveyor.
McMichael, who oversees Ricks survey staff, has a length of metal tape measure marked in tenths of inches; a transit or small telescope to determine the angles of a slope; and a three-quarters-inch metal disk thats pounded into the sidewalk to mark a property line.
Decades ago, land surveyors used a cloth measuring tape for their surveys. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/ U-T)
But in San Diegos earliest days, boundaries were commonly described by natural landmarks like trees, creeks and boulders. When current landowners want to build a fence they might land in court because their neighbors dispute the location of the boundary line.
His colleague, Brian Laird, said todays surveyors tap into the global positioning system, or GPS, linked to satellites and employ lasers to measure distance.
One of the big differences and challenges, especially in California, in surveying physical features is California is moving, Laird said. It moves north and west a couple of centimeters a year.
And so surveyors have to reconcile the on-the-ground conditions with the GPS coordinates.
McMichaels crews are currently surveying a section of a site in Mission Bay where old buildings and structures are giving way to new development. Laser beams scan a space a million times a second to capture the exact distances.
An even more fantastic tool is LIDAR (light detection and ranging), a laser system that penetrates buildings, trees and other obstructions to produce a 3D image in minutes. Coming next is augmented reality that can simulate a place using high-tech goggles and a laptop. Then come robots that can do the work automatically.
But its still going to take a human to interpret that (survey), Laird said. The downside is were maybe a little farther away from the everyday work.
Water resources
Water resources manager Janda-Timba pulled out a 1990s set of blueprints of the Fashion Valley southside parking garage -- the one that floods when a heavy rainstorm swells the San Diego River at Camino de la Reina and Avenida del Rio.
The blueprints are filled with handwritten markings and notations to denote where and how high floodwaters flow through the narrow channel that cuts between the mall and the property of the Town & Country Hotel. The findings were used to design the garage so that the flood waters would be contained within the first level of the garage. That explains why the floor-to-ceiling height is so much greater than between the second and third level.
A land surveyors transit from the early 1900s. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/U-T)
Traditionally, engineers measured widths and depths in the field and worked out the calculations by hand. Then came hand calculators and mainframe computers that still took many hours to generate the necessary calculations. Now the results can be done instantly without ever setting foot in the field.
In the meantime, regulations have been tightened.
I dont know if we could do that today, she said since its no longer permitted to let waters flow through a garage and carry away oils and other pollutants out to sea.
The preferred method of handling floodwaters is to capture the overflow and its pollutants in retention basins, bioswales and other devices before entering the storm drains.
One of Janda-Timbas project managers, Andrew Thies, can fire up GIS mapping software from ESRI -- those are abbreviations for geographic information systems and the Environmental Systems Research Institute -- to work out the solution. And that comports with his personal priorities.
Its my passion -- I like going to the ocean and going surfing, he said.
Civil engineering
Rick President Ball joined seven-year-employee Salvador Galvan to compare past and present civil engineering techniques and challenges. One of the biggest changes from decades ago is what engineers are no longer allowed to do. They cant wipe out natural habitat to build an artificial harbor (as was done at Mission Bay). They cant bulldoze rare and endangered plants to make way for a roadway -- as would have been done for a future recreational vehicle park at the Chula Visa bayfront.
Bottomline: Civil engineers can build almost anything, given enough time and money, but the question these days is should they be allowed to do it.
Ball said the goals are laudable but mitigation can greatly increase costs on a property-by-property basis.
We are making such a minute, insignificant impact that until it is done across the entire spectrum, it means nothing, he said. The alternative is to approach such issues across a wider, multi-property-owner basis and charge a proportionate share of the total cost.
When it comes to a single large property such as SDCCU Stadium, Ricks client, San Diego States University, faces far more stringent requirements to redevelop the site than when the stadium was built in the 1960s.
Right off the bat, you have the San Diego River to deal with, Galvan said.
Flooding from the river and nearby creek needs to be managed to steer clear of the office buildings, apartments, hotels and new stadium planned for the 132-acre site. That will require raising the footprint of the new buildings above the floodplain by moving dirt from one part of the site to another.
Transportation to and from the site will have to reflect the daily comings and goings of SDSU students, just not the occasional crowds at sporting events. That means improving Friars Road and freeway ramps to accommodate more daily traffic patterns. Room also will need to made to accommodate the multi-billion-dollar San Diego Trolleys Purple Line as it stops at the stadium on the way north and south on Interstate 805.
Planning and landscape architecture
San Diego is a manmade paradise, thanks to the regions landscape architects who picked the plants, spotting the park sites, laid out scenic highways and beautified the bayfronts, riverbanks, creeks, canyons and lakesides.
In the early 20th century, planning and landscape architecture were one, says Patricia Traub, Ricks landscape architecture lead.
But terraforming the landscape to mimic lush conditions back East is no longer considered acceptable in arid places like San Diego.
We kind of ignored nature for a long time, Traub said. In the 30 years Ive been practicing, theres been a pretty dramatic change, and cultural change, for communities.
What was considered weeds are now native plants. Sand and soils had been analyzed to determine what could best grow in them. Drainage, water conservation, natural habitat and other details took center stage. An example can be seen outside Lindbergh Fields Terminal 2 parking garage, Ricks landscaping plan called for natives not bluegrass.
Along the coast, said fear of landslides along the cliff line prompts owners to build 50 to 100 feet back from the edge, said Brian Moore, the companys planning lead. They also know that overwatering can weaken the cliff face and hasten erosion.
A new threat is sea level rise, caused by a warming climate and melting glaciers and ice caps. Rick is taking that into account as it works on the Chula Vista bayfront redevelopment.
Were in uncharted territory how much to raise up a site, Traub said.
Mooney also noted that northern Baja California is growing rapidly, even as San Diego nears a zero-population-growth rate in coming decades.
The region has to include Tijuana, he said. Thats where were seeing growth happening, whether its from immigration from other parts of Mexico and Central America or from San Diegans choosing to live in a less expensive place.
Rick Engineering at a glance
Founded: 1955
Headquarters: Mission Valley
Rank: 1st in terms of licensed engineers on staff, according to the San Diego Business Journals annual report on engineering firms.
Workforce: 310 with half in San Diego County and the rest at nine other offices around the state and in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada; 65 percent are women and minority group members.
Key projects of the past: Mission Bay; numerous subdivisions and master-planned communities, such as La Costa, Lomas Santa Fe, Carmel Valley, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, Liberty Station, Chula Vista
Current projects: SDSU West, Civita, Chula Vista bayfront, water resources master planning
Business
Roger Showley is a San Diego freelance writer. He can be reached at (619) 787-5714; and rmshowley@yahoo.com; Twitter: @rogershowley
Following two deadly crashes, the U.S. joined the rest of the world in temporarily grounding the Boeing 737 Max, the newest version of one of the most popular planes in the world.
The causes of the crashes one in Indonesia and the latest in Ethiopia havent been determined, but plane manufacturer Boeing Co. agreed with the Federal Aviation Administrations decision to ground the planes out of an abundance of caution and to reassure the flying public of the aircrafts safety.
For the record: A previous version of this article said that Southwests grounded 737 Max 8 planes flew about 39 daily flights. The correct number is 150.
How have travelers been affected by the grounding?
The three U.S. carriers that fly 737 Max planes Southwest, American and United Airlines say the FAAs decision has had minimal impact on their operations and on their customers. All of the passengers who were scheduled to fly on 737 Max planes have been rebooked on other similar-sized or larger planes at no extra charge or refunded their money. In some cases, airlines said they upgraded passengers to more expensive fares that come with free meals.
Southwest Airlines officials acknowledge there have been some delays for fliers but say that bad weather across the country is contributing to the problems.
Advertisement
Several travelers who were scheduled to fly on 737 Max planes expressed frustration on social media about the delays and confusion.
Flying out of AUS at the end of spring break & SXSW & after the 737 Max got grounded. No flights to DFW. Theyre putting us in a bus. Yes, a bus.
Thanks to the @AmericanAir gate agent for her professionalism and humor. Jeff Jarvis (@DrJeffJarvis) March 14, 2019
@SouthwestAir #southwest please help me! I cant check in and I have no clue if my flight tomorrow is on the grounded 737 max 8 plane... the app and site both wont let me check in and 120 minute hold time.... Huddy Bield (@that1whiteman) March 14, 2019
Why hasnt the impact on fliers been more significant?
Although Boeing describes the plane as its best-selling model, based on about 5,000 orders, the manufacturer deliveries began fairly recently, in 2017, with 370 planes in commercial use so far.
Which airlines have been most affected by the worldwide grounding of the 737 Max?
Southwest Airlines is the U.S. carrier with the greatest number of 737 Max 8 planes 34. But that represents only about 4% of its fleet of more than 750 planes, almost all of which are older model 737s. The grounded planes flew about 150 daily flights out of more than 4,000 flights operated by the airline a day.
American Airlines, the worlds largest carrier with more than 960 planes in its fleet, has 24 of the 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which operate 85 flights a day. That is a fraction of the approximately 6,700 daily departures throughout the American Airlines system.
United Airlines has 14 of the 737 Max 9 plane out of more than 770 planes, representing 40 flights a day, out of about 4,800 departures a day.
What does this mean for the future of Boeing?
Industry experts and financial analysts have expressed faith in the stability of Boeing but note that the outlook for the manufacturer could change, depending on what investigators determine caused the two deadly crashes. S&P Global Ratings noted in a report Thursday that Boeing has a strong financial position and liquidity and that we currently do not see any effect on our rating of Boeing.
Boeing stock dropped sharply on Monday and Tuesday from its high of about $420 before the latest crash in Ethiopia. Shares closed Thursday at $373.30. After the market closed, Boeing said it was pausing delivery of the 737 Max.
S&P Global noted that it would be difficult for any airline to now abandon their orders of Boeings 737s and switch to a competing model, such as the Airbus SE A320neo, because it is more efficient to operate a fleet from a single manufacturer.
Has the 737 Max had safety problems in the past?
Following the fatal October crash of the Lion Air flight in Indonesia, Boeing issued a warning about potential issues with an automated anti-stalling system on the 737 Max plane that could push the nose down. Boeing was criticized by pilots and others who said this was not disclosed when the plane was unveiled. Boeing has since announced that it would take several steps to make the planes even safer, including updating the flight control software as well as pilot displays, operating manuals and crew training. The company said these changes would be implemented over the coming weeks.
The accidents in Indonesia and Ethiopia involved the 737 Max 8.
(Shaffer Grubb, Lorena Elebee / Los Angeles Times)
What made the 737 Max so popular among airlines?
Boeing marketed the 737 Max as being 14% more fuel efficient than the earlier 737 planes produced in the 1990s, such as the 737 Next Generation 600, 700, 800 and 900.
Boeing attributes the fuel efficiency to new engines built by CFM International, a joint venture between a division of General Electric and a division of Safran of France, and other aerodynamic features, including the winglets that look like shark fins but point up and down on the end of the wings.
As a result, the 737 Max 8 has a range of about 4,000 miles, compared to about 3,370 miles for the older 737 models.
In addition, Boeing said the 737 Max makes less noise on takeoff, compared to its older 737 planes, thanks to acoustic treatments in and around the engines.
How have the planes been used in the U.S.?
The 737 Max is a single-aisle plane that can seat between 172 and 230, depending on the version of the plane and the seat layout. The plane has been manufactured in four versions the 7,8,9 and 10 each with the same CFM engine and wingspan but different lengths.
The 737 Max 7 is the shortest, at 116 feet in length, and the 737 Max 10 is the longest at 143 feet long. Southwest and American have primarily used the plane for mid-range and long-haul flights, including transcontinental routes and flights to Mexico from Florida.
hugo.martin@latimes.com
To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.
The fatal crashes of two Boeing Co. 737 Max jets and the fleets worldwide grounding have triggered a complicated scramble regarding legal liability involving the manufacturer, airlines and the victims families.
Boeings risks might be rising after a report in the Seattle Times that the companys safety analysis for the airliners new flight control system had crucial flaws. Much of the legal liability depends on the findings of investigators, as well as the contracts Boeing has with airlines that purchased the planes.
But one thing so far appears clear: The families of passengers who perished in the crashes of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10 and Lion Air Flight 610 in October will have strong claims for damages. Questions remain, however, about whether some of those legal cases will be heard in the U.S. or abroad.
They are in a sense the innocent participants in the whole thing, and its really a function of when and how much the families receive in damages and not if, said Mark A. Dombroff, an attorney with law firm LeClairRyan in Alexandria, Va., who often represents airlines.
Advertisement
Robert L. Rabin, a Stanford law professor and expert on accident law, said there were a variety of types of legal claims possible against Boeing. They include product liability for defects in the airplane or its flight control system and negligence for not training pilots on the changes to the system and not taking steps to fix any problems after the first crash.
If U.S. law is applicable, he said, the case for liability, from what we know now, would be pretty strong.
Several lawsuits already have been filed against Boeing by families of victims of the Lion Air crash, which killed all 189 passengers and crew on board when it plunged into the Java Sea minutes after takeoff from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.
More lawsuits are expected after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which killed all 157 on board. Both flights involved Boeing 737 Max airliners. Regulators have grounded the jets because of similarities between the crashes, and Boeing is working on a fix to the flight-control software.
Families of victims of the second crash could have stronger legal claims because there was already the fatal October crash involving the 737 Max, Rabin said.
Boeing declined to comment Monday on its potential liability, with a spokesman saying the Chicago company does not respond to or comment on questions concerning legal matters, whether internal, litigation, or governmental inquiries.
Federal prosecutors and the Department of Transportations inspector general reportedly are investigating the design certification process for the 737 Max.
The chief executive of Norwegian Air said last week the European airline would send a bill to Boeing for the costs of the lost flights. Boeing 737 Max planes account for 18 of Norwegian Airs 160 aircraft.
But Boeing could avoid payments related to the grounding.
Aviation insurance covers such losses. Boeing and the airlines may have that coverage, Dombroff said.
There also are warranties and other provisions in contracts between Boeing and the airlines that govern claims. Boeing might only be required to fix the problems with the jets, and any other disputes could be required to go to private arbitration, Dombroff said.
The first thing everybody undoubtedly is looking at is the contracts, the warranties and limitations of liabilities, he said.
Airlines usually are hesitant to file lawsuits against manufacturers, particularly because Boeing is one of only two major jet makers in the world, along with Airbus, Dombroff said.
Does the airline want to get into a public dispute with the manufacturer whose airplanes theyre flying? he said. How does that impact the future relationship between the manufacturer and the airline?
Southwest Airlines has 34 737 Max jets, the most of any U.S. airline, and said it would not disclose the specifics of its Boeing contracts.
As you would expect, we are in constant contact with Boeing following the Ethiopian Air accident and subsequent 737 Max 8 grounding, said Chris Mainz, a Southwest spokesman.
We are Boeings largest customer of the 737, and we have a long history of working together with Boeing, and this is no different, he said. But we wont be reporting out on the details of those ongoing conversations.
Boeings bigger legal liability worries come from the fatal crashes.
Families of the crash victims can seek compensation from the airlines and the manufacturer of the jets. Complex international rules govern where lawsuits against airlines can be filed. Under an international treaty, damages from airlines for the families of victims of crashes of international flights are capped at about $170,000.
Airlines often resolve such lawsuits with passengers, then seek compensation from the manufacturer if the crash involves equipment failures and not pilot error, Dombroff said.
But there is no cap on damages in lawsuits from passengers against a jet maker. And theres an advantage for foreign passengers to file those lawsuits in the U.S., where courts are more likely to award significant damages, Dombroff said.
Lawsuits against Boeing by U.S. victims of the crashes would have to be tried here. But Boeing is likely to push to have lawsuits by victims from other countries adjudicated in the nation where the airline resides, Dombroff said.
Several lawsuits already have been filed in Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois by families or the estates of crash victims. Boeings corporate headquarters are there, and the court has a reputation for being friendly to plaintiffs, Dombroff said.
Boeings lawyers have used a legal right to move some of those cases to the federal U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago, court records show.
Companies involved in air crashes and other disasters usually are eager to settle wrongful-death lawsuits to get the incident and negative publicity behind them, Rabin said.
There would be strong incentives, I think, for Boeing to enter into settlements of the wrongful-death cases, he said.
Boeing executives sat down in November with pilots at the Allied Pilots Assn.s low-slung brick headquarters in Fort Worth.
Tensions were running high. One of Boeings new jets hailed by the company as an even more reliable version of Boeings stalwart 737 had crashed into the ocean off Indonesia shortly after takeoff the month before, killing all 189 people aboard the flight, operated by Lion Air.
After the crash, Boeing issued a bulletin disclosing that this line of planes, known as the 737 Max 8, was equipped with new software as part of the planes automated functions. Some pilots were furious that they were not told about the new software when the plane was unveiled.
Dennis Tajer, a 737 captain who attended the meeting with Boeing executives, recalled, They said, Look, we didnt include it because we have a lot of people flying on this and we didnt want to inundate you with information.
Advertisement
Im certain I did say, Well, thats not acceptable, said Tajer, a leader in the association representing American Airlines pilots.
A Boeing spokesman said the company disputes that any of its executives made that statement.
On Wednesday, federal regulators ordered the grounding of the 737 Max 8 and a similar plane, the 737 Max 9, after another crash involving the plane, on this occasion in Ethiopia on Sunday. Many other countries had already acted.
In statements throughout the week, Boeing has said that safety is its top priority. But it also announced that it would take several steps to make the planes even safer, including updating the flight control software as well as pilot displays, operating manuals and crew training. The company said these changes would be implemented over the coming weeks.
The announcement comes after years in which Boeing had trumpeted the new plane as offering a seamless transition from previous models, a changeover that would not require carriers to invest in extensive retraining.
And it highlights concerns from pilots and other groups about whether Boeing moved fast enough to address potential problems after the Lion Air crash.
Congress, regulators and the companys shareholders are now scrutinizing the decisions.
On Wednesday, Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he would hold hearings to study the Federal Aviation Administrations process for approving the planes.
DeFazio cited a concern that has particularly alarmed pilots: the software that was flagged in the bulletin sent after the Lion Air crash.
The software, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, can in some rare but dangerous situations override pilot control inputs unless it is switched off. This can interfere with pilots longtime training that pulling back on the control yoke raises a planes nose, putting the plane into a climb. That means that as a pilot tries to maneuver an airplane, the automated system may be counteracting that pilots inputs.
Im going to investigate how they came to the conclusion that retraining was not necessary, and then obviously were going to want to look at how foreign countries certify their pilots and retrain them, DeFazio said.
After the Ethiopian Airlines crash Sunday, Boeing said it would update flight control software, provide more training, introduce enhancements to external sensors that measure the direction of an aircraft and make changes to how MCAS is activated.
But two pilots who attended the meeting with Boeing in November after the Lion Air crash said pilots had suggested that the company take these actions at that time.
Whatever level of training they decided on [before the Lion Air crash], it resulted in an iPad course that I took for less than an hour, Tajer, the American Airlines pilot, said. A lot of pilots here at American did that course.
But he said the course did not cover the new MCAS. There was nothing on the MCAS because even American didnt know about that. It was just about the display scenes and how the engines are a little different, he said.
Boeing did not comment on the pilots concerns.
The same week Boeing executives met with pilots in Fort Worth, they also asked pilots at Southwest Airlines which also owns 737 Max planes to meet with them. They hurriedly arranged a conference room at the Reno airport the Sunday after Thanksgiving, said Jon Weaks, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Assn.
At that meeting, they told us that a software update would probably be forthcoming in the near future, Weaks said.
But no update came in the following two months.
Boeing did not comment on the meeting. In a statement earlier this week, Boeing said it had been working on the software enhancements for the 737 Max for the last several months in the aftermath of the crash of Lion Air Flight 610.
The company said it had been working closely with the FAA on the software update and had also been soliciting feedback from airlines that operate the plane.
The concerns in meetings with Boeing executives were not the only signs that pilots were worried about the airplane. A federal flight safety reporting system contains about a dozen reports by pilots expressing exasperation about systems that limited their control of the 737 Max.
Nearly two-thirds of the complaints were mainly flagging perceived faults with the aircraft or shortcomings and ambiguities in instruction, according to an analysis of the Aviation Safety Reporting System by the Washington Post. The Dallas Morning News first reported on the pilots complaints.
I think it is unconscionable that a manufacturer, the FAA, and the airlines would have pilots flying an airplane without adequately training, or even providing available resources and sufficient documentation to understand the highly complex systems that differentiate this aircraft from prior models, one pilot wrote in November. The fact that this airplane requires such jury rigging to fly is a red flag. Now we know the systems employed are error prone even if the pilots arent sure what those systems are, what redundancies are in place, and failure modes.
Pilots expressed confusion about various features of the airplane.
I reviewed in my mind our automation setup and flight profile but cant think of any reason the aircraft would pitch nose down so aggressively, one pilot wrote.
How can a captain not know what switch is meant during a preflight setup? asked another. Poor training and even poorer documentation; that is how.
The FAA pushed back against the idea that these pilot complaints could have assisted in identifying problems, saying they did not involve the MCAS that has been at the heart of pilots concerns.
Some of the reports reference possible issues with the autopilot/autothrottle, which is a separate system from MCAS, and/or acknowledge the problems could have been due to pilot error, it said in a statement.
Boeing declined to comment on the system. Southwest, which uses the 737 Max planes, said it had received no reports of issues with the MCAS. American Airlines said it reviewed data for more than 14,000 flights since the Lion Air crash in Indonesia and has not seen a single anomaly related to the MCAS.
In its order grounding the planes Wednesday, the FAA said it had received information from the Ethiopian Airlines wreckage concerning the aircrafts configuration just after takeoff that, taken together with newly refined data from satellite-based tracking of the aircrafts flight path, indicates some similarities between what happened with that flight and the Lion Air flight in Indonesia.
Boeing is scrambling to maintain its reputation for making safe and profitable airplanes. Chief Executive Dennis A. Muilenburg called President Trump on Tuesday, the White House said, to vouch for the safety of the planes.
On Wednesday, the company issued a statement saying that out of an abundance of caution and to reassure the flying public of the aircrafts safety, it agreed with the FAAs decision to ground the planes.
Boeing continues to have full confidence in the safety of the 737 MAX, the company said.
Boeing designed the 737 Max to fly up to 3,850 miles, and it became a key tool in the companys global ambitions.
The Max uses engines that are both bigger and more fuel-efficient, and the new engines have been moved slightly forward on the wings compared with previous models. To compensate for the repositioning, Boeing added MCAS to replicate the handling characteristics of earlier models.
In the Lion Air crash, according to a preliminary report, the 737 Max seemed to careen up and down repeatedly. Analysts said this suggested the MCAS was redirecting the plane whenever it went into a nose-up position by pointing the nose down.
In an appearance on CNBC in December, Muilenburg was asked whether the company was doing enough to ensure pilots were properly trained after the October crash.
Muilenburg said that the companys bulletin on the software helped in directing pilots and airlines to these existing procedures and that Boeing was taking a look at that to make sure all the appropriate training is in place and that the communications with our customers are there.
Its very, very important to us, but I will say bottom line here, very important, is that the Max 737 is safe, he said.
Muilenburgs comments came about a week after the meetings in Texas and Reno, when pilots said they heard similar promises.
Sitting around pullout tables in leather-backed chairs, Tajer said, some of the companys top engineers were apologetic.
We said, Shame on you. They said, I know.
Facebook Inc.s effort to establish a service that provides its users with local news and information is being hindered by a lack of outlets where the companys technicians can find original reporting.
The service, launched last year, is available in some 400 cities in the United States. But the social media giant said it has found that 40% of Americans live in places where there werent enough local news stories to support it.
Facebook announced Monday that it would share its research with academics at Duke, Harvard and the universities of Minnesota and North Carolina who are studying the extent of news deserts created by newspaper closures and staff downsizing.
Some 1,800 newspapers have closed in the United States over the last 15 years, according to the University of North Carolina. Newsroom employment has declined by 45% as the industry struggles with a broken business model partly caused by the success of companies on the internet, including Facebook.
Advertisement
The Facebook service, called Today In, collects news stories from various local outlets, along with government and community groups. The company deems a community unsuitable for Today In if it cannot find a single day in a month with at least five news items available to share.
Theres not a wide geographical disparity. For example, the percentage of news deserts is higher in the Northeast and Midwest, at 43%, Facebook said. In the South and West, the figure is 38%.
It affirms the fact that we have a real lack of original local reporting, said Penelope Muse Abernathy, a University of North Carolina professor who studies the topic. She said she hopes the data help pinpoint areas where the need is greatest, eventually leading to some ideas for solutions.
Facebook doesnt necessarily have the answers. Everyone can learn from working together, said Anne Kornblut, director of news initiatives at the company.
The company plans to award some 100 grants, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, to people with ideas for making more news available, said Josh Mabry, head of local news partnerships for Facebook.
That comes on top of $300 million in grants Facebook announced in January to help programs and partnerships designed to boost local news.
The company doesnt plan to launch newsgathering efforts of its own, Kornblut said.
Our history has been and we will probably stick to it to let journalists do what they do well and let us support them and let them do their work, she said.
When Jerry Schubel joined the Aquarium of the Pacific as president and chief executive in 2002, he knew it was time to expand not with bigger tanks or more creatures, but in scope. In May, the $53-million project spearheaded by Schubel will open with a focus on the one animal putting all others on the planet at risk: us. The new wing will be welcomed by 250 employees and more than 1,000 volunteers. It will be the Long Beach nonprofits first major expansion since it was founded in 1998 and one of the biggest endeavors of Schubels long career in academia, conservation and science.
Natural curiosity
Schubel, 83, says his interest in conservation can be traced to the concerns he developed observing the Great Lakes while growing up in a small Michigan town on Lake Huron. He saw firsthand how the freshwater lakes affected his community, including his familys clean drinking water supply. This curiosity paved Schubels way into academia with an interest in making scientific advances accessible to the public. He earned a masters degree in physics from Harvard and a doctorate in oceanography from Johns Hopkins University, where he worked with the Chesapeake Bay Institute.
Going West
He moved on to lead Stony Brook Universitys Marine Sciences Research Center in 1974. After 20 years, including three spent as the universitys provost, he was recruited to head the New England Aquarium in Boston. Long Beach called eight years later.
Advertisement
Ive always wanted to create an institution that focused on how humans are affecting the Earth and the world ocean. All the stars were aligned to do that in Long Beach, Schubel said.
Bold vision
In California, Schubel saw an opportunity to turn the energy, food and water issues facing the state into a sustainable model showing how people can live in harmony with the Earth and the ocean, and thrive. That model required deep collaboration, a commitment to educational resources for the public and an aquarium willing to take a risk.
I came knowing that I wanted this to be an aquarium that would be operated at the interface of science and society and that would combine art and science and telling stories, Schubel said. The most important things in nature and in society happen across interfaces.
New direction
In 2005, the aquarium weighed three options for an expansion: a traditional expansion with more exhibit space, one that would allow visitors to swim with marine life, and a Pacific Visions concept that would capture human impact on the planet and its oceans. After the board selected Pacific Visions, Schubel led efforts to translate the aquariums concept into programs, raised money for the project and worked with scientists from around the globe to identify the most pressing environmental issues that would be featured.
Theres no other aquarium, science center or museum anywhere in the world that attempts to tell this really big story of people and the ocean, Schubel said. So weve got our fingers crossed that people are going to like it.
Staying flexible
Schubel said the project has been one of the most challenging, but also most rewarding, of his career. Along the way, he embraced the unpredictability of the issues the aquarium has to tackle.
One of the most challenging things always is being flexible enough to come at achieving your vision in a variety of ways, Schubel said. You have to be adaptable and know where you want to end up, but realize sometimes you have to take a different route.
Leading the way
Schubel said that flexibility, an understanding of how to operate a growing nonprofit and a leadership background in education have been key elements in his career.
I was the director of an institute. I was the provost, I was a vice president for research and the dean of the graduate school for a while. So I had experience in managing routes, Schubel said. I think thats very important because leadership without management doesnt get you anywhere.
Empowering a team
In leading his team and working with the aquariums board of directors to create an expansion with enduring value, Schubel has found success in avoiding micromanagement.
I try to give [my team] as much freedom to pursue our vision in ways they think work best, Schubel said. Our board has also understood the difference between governance and management. So while they largely left us alone to run the aquarium, they have been generous in their financial support and theyve been willing to take risks.
More success stories from How I Made It
Lifelong learning
Schubel settles into his office before 6 a.m. when things are quiet. Before his staff gets to work and after they go home, thats when Schubel can think about implementing the aquariums vision and write.
Schubel and his wife, Margaret, have co-written more than a dozen short films that are screened at the aquarium to help the public understand Earth and its changing climate. As with their latest work, The Time Is Now, the Future Is Here, the couple are dedicated to making science and its findings accessible.
I think we underestimate the ability to learn in the very young and in the elderly, Schubel said.
Supporting education
Schubel, who has taught adult classes for more than 40 years, created the Aquatic Forum, which connects scientists, decision makers and citizens to discuss important environmental issues facing California. He also founded the Aquatic Academy, which hosts a series of courses about the ocean and the environment.
I find all the things I need in my work. I spend my free time reading, writing and thinking how we can make this aquarium better, Schubel said. And thats not a chore. Its something I really enjoy doing.
An engaged society
Through his work in the forums, the expansion and building a community Schubel hopes to support an informed society for a stronger democracy.
Right now, I think were so polarized that we dont have the kinds of thoughtful discussions that we need to have to surround these issues and look at them from all perspectives and make the right decisions, Schubel said. Most people arent environmentalists, but they care about the environment.
A fierce struggle over automation has erupted at the Port of Los Angeles, as local union officials representing some 12,000 dockworkers demand that one of the worlds largest shipping firms abandon a plan to introduce driverless electric cargo trucks.
Shouting, whistling and jeering, more than 1,200 union members, local business owners and community activists packed a four-hour hearing Thursday before the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners. The board voted to postpone a construction permit for the automated system after an offer by Mayor Eric Garcetti to mediate the dispute.
The decision before the board may have far-reaching impacts on the pace of automation at our port and could define how the port will compete and sustain jobs into the foreseeable future, Garcetti wrote in a letter unveiled at the hearing.
The mayor called for a 28-day delay in deciding on the permit, adding that negotiations should serve as the basis of a new task force to explore automation and its impacts on the future of the Port of Los Angeles and others across the state.
Advertisement
Port automation dates to the 1960s, when dockworker unions agreed to the introduction of containers, and consequent job losses, in exchange for higher pay and benefits. Today a typical full-time Southern California longshore worker earns more than $100,000 a year. But thousands of so-called casuals, who are not yet registered union members, earn far less, are eligible only for part-time hours, and do not yet get health or retirement benefits.
Dockworkers battle plan to bring driverless trucks to the port of Los Angeles.
A 2008 International Longshore and Warehouse Union contract, renewed in 2015, explicitly allowed West Coast ports to continue automating. Two large terminals one at the Port of Long Beach and one in Los Angeles have already introduced the driverless vehicles known as UTRs, or utility tractor rigs.
But automation at the 484-acre facility operated for Denmarks Moller-Maersk by APM Terminals is prompting an uproar from local union members who are having second thoughts about the current contract and believe the permit will lead to automation across all 12 of the port complexs terminals.
The struggle comes as Los Angeles and Long Beach, the busiest ports in the nation, are enjoying record cargo traffic, despite the threat of an escalating trade war with China. The twin ports handle a third of U.S. container traffic, but they have lost market share to facilities along the Gulf of Mexico and, since the widening of the Panama Canal, along the East Coast.
APM officials decline to say how many jobs will be eliminated if what they call self-guided container handling equipment is introduced. Union officials say hundreds are at stake. One in nine jobs in the five-county region is linked to commerce flowing through the port complex, according to port officials.
A driverless, electric-powered vehicle is seen at the Port of Long Beach. Maersk and APM Terminals say proposed battery-powered vehicles would replace diesel rigs as a response to the Port of L.A.s clean-air rules. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
APM characterizes its proposed automated, battery-powered vehicles, which would replace diesel-fueled rigs, as a response to the ports clean air rules. But union officials say APM could introduce manned electric vehicles instead.
This proposal is not about clean air and streamlining business practices, Mark Mendoza, president of ILWU Local 13 told the five-member commission. It is about Maersk maximizing their profits at all costs. It will ultimately ensure the economic demise of the Southern California region.
Port staff members have recommended approving APMs permit request to install infrastructure to support the automated vehicles, along with scaffolding for containers and an upgraded Wi-Fi system. Economic impact is not part of the permit process, which falls under the ports coastal land-use plan, port officials said.
The permit is in compliance with the ports master plan and the California Coastal Act, said Eugene Seroka, the ports executive director.
Maersk attorney Peter Jabbour said at the hearing that there is no legal basis for the unions opposition to granting the permit. The company proposes only minor infrastructure changes to the terminal, with no adverse environmental impacts. Objections to automation are not part of the coastal development process.
Hundreds of union members and community members from San Pedro and Wilmington show their opposition to automation during a Harbor Commission meeting. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
James McKenna, president and chief executive of the Pacific Maritime Assn., which represents 70 port companies, accused Local 13 of making an end run around the current Pacific Coast Longshore contract, the federally governed collective bargaining process that led to it, as well as the ILWUs democratic election that resulted in its ratification.
Nonetheless, political pressure is building to halt the automation expansion.
Robots do not pay taxes, Local 13 Vice President Gary Herrera told the hearing, as hundreds in the audience rose to their feet applauding and yelling approval. Robots do not shop in our communities. Robots do not vote!
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn urged the board to block the automation plan, saying, I support reduced pollution, but we do not need to automate to achieve it. She added that the ports are prime targets for terrorism. Our dockworkers are the first line of defense. Theres nothing like a pair of human eyes and ears.
City Councilman Joe Buscaino alluded pointedly to the fact that the City Council has the power to overturn any commission decision.
We should work together, so this doesnt have to come to the City Council, but I will exercise that option if needed, he said. We need a green and efficient port while preserving jobs.
Mark Mendoza, center, president of ILWU Local 13, spoke at a Harbor Commission hearing over whether to allow APM to use driverless electric cargo vehicles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Two congresswomen, and more than a dozen state senators and Assembly members, including Speaker Anthony Rendon, along with seven neighborhood councils in San Pedro and Wilmington, and the Los Angeles Democratic Party wrote letters expressing reservations or outright opposition to the automation plan, calling for the preservation of jobs.
The fact that the ILWU, which represents 30 ports along the U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts and in Panama, agreed to automation in past contracts is often contrasted with the stance of the International Longshoremens Assn., which represents East Coast dockworkers.
In October, under a six-year extension of their contract, East Coast terminals agreed not to automate.
In Southern California, dockworkers disrupted port traffic for months in 2014 and 2015, and officials have counted on the 2017 ratification of an extension of the ILWU contract through 2022 to guarantee labor stability.
Some 40 ports around the world have spent about $10 billion to install some form of automation. But overall, ports have been slower to automate than many industrial sectors such as mining, auto manufacturing and warehousing.
Speakers at the hearing noted that a 2018 McKinsey & Co. report, The Future of Automated Ports, raised questions as to whether the high upfront cost of automation is likely to be recouped by shipping firms. More automation is on the way, McKinsey reported, but executives interviewed for the report found that automated ports, especially fully automated ones, are generally less productive than their conventional counterparts.
margot.roosevelt@latimes.com
Twitter: @margotroosevelt
Lawmakers scolded Wells Fargo & Co. Chief Executive Tim Sloan for hours Tuesday, telling him the bank had not done enough to rehabilitate itself after years of scandals about its allegedly abusive practices toward customers. Some called for Sloan to be fired.
The next day, the banks board of directors gave Sloan a 5% raise, increasing his total compensation to $18.4 million. Of that, $2 million is an annual incentive award that is, a bonus.
Sloans pay is now 283 times the median pay of the banks more than 200,000 employees.
The bonus was based on Wells Fargos financial performance and Sloans continued leadership on the companys top priority of rebuilding trust, Wells Fargo said in its annual letter to shareholders. The companys stock price fell 27% last year in a tough market, but its yearly profit rose to $22.4 billion, up from $22.2 billion in 2017, and the companys board noted that Sloan had led a massive stock buyback program.
Advertisement
Would have loved to ask questions about this, Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) said on Twitter of Sloans pay raise. Porter had questioned the sincerity of Wells Fargos efforts to reform itself during Tuesdays hearing.
Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloans message of contrition and improvement draws bipartisan rebuke
Despite his raise, Sloan still earns less than many of his competitors. JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon earned $31 million last year after the bank reported record profits. Bank of America Corp.s Brian Moynihan received a 15% raise to $26.5 million. Michael Corbat of Citigroup Inc. earned $24 million last year.
The industry has been enjoying what Dimon has called a golden age. Regulators have begun loosening tough rules put in place after the global crisis, and the corporate tax cut has helped boost profits to record levels.
Wells Fargo has weathered sustained backlash from its admission two years ago that it had opened millions of accounts in customers names without those customers knowledge or consent, and from more recently saying it had mistakenly foreclosed on hundreds of customers and improperly repossessed thousands of cars.
Sloan, who has been at Wells Fargo for more than 30 years, has spent years apologizing for the banks bad behavior and attempting to rebuild its reputation with customers, regulators and lawmakers. But the company still faces a lot of skeptics.
The Federal Reserve has banned the bank, which has nearly $2 trillion in assets, from growing any bigger until it reforms itself. The Office of Comptroller of the Currency, another big regulator, has said it was disappointed by Wells Fargos rehabilitation efforts. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a presidential hopeful, has led an effort calling for Sloan to be fired.
Facebook Inc.s top executive in charge of all products, Chris Cox, the longtime confidant of Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, is leaving the company. Its the highest-level departure at the social media giant amid nearly two years of sustained crises.
Coxs unexpected departure, which he and Zuckerberg announced in separate Facebook posts Thursday, comes months after Cox was promoted in a major reorganization. Last May, Cox was put in charge of Facebooks family of apps, including Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Facebook itself which together have more than 2.7 billion users worldwide. These apps have been distinct until recently, when Zuckerberg announced plans to unify them under a banner of privacy.
Chris Daniels an executive who ran Internet.org, the companys philanthropic project to promote global internet access, and was recently promoted to lead WhatsApp is leaving as well, Zuckerberg said.
Facebook will not appoint a direct replacement for Cox; rather, the leaders of each app will report to Zuckerberg. Longtime Facebook executive Will Cathcart will head WhatsApp.
Advertisement
It is with great sadness I share with you that after thirteen years, Ive decided to leave the company, Cox wrote in his post. Since I was twenty-three, Ive poured myself into these walls. This place will forever be a part of me. Cox didnt offer any explanation for his departure.
In his blog post, Zuckerberg said that Cox had told him that he planned to move on several years ago, but that Cox decided to hold off on leaving until the company made more progress combating misinformation and Russian meddling controversies that erupted in the wake of the 2016 presidential election.
We have made real progress on many issues and we have a clear plan for our apps, Zuckerberg said in his post. As we embark on this next major chapter, Chris has decided now is the time to step back from leading these teams.
Cox, who dropped out of a Stanford University graduate program to work with Zuckerberg when the company had just 15 engineers, was widely seen as one of Facebooks most popular and capable executives and a potential replacement CEO, were Zuckerberg to leave. (Zuckerberg has said he has no plans to exit.)
Perhaps more than anyone else at Facebook, even more than Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Cox was a sounding board for Zuckerberg on product ideas. He launched Facebooks flagship scrolling news feed nearly a decade ago and ran human resources before he was promoted to run the Facebook app in 2014.
The announcements of Coxs and Daniels exits come during a bumpy week for Facebook.
On Wednesday morning a global outage hit its services. Facebook announced Wednesday night that Instagram was back in service, and Thursday morning about 24 hours after the problem began it said that the issue had been caused by a server configuration change and that its systems were recovering.
During the outage, Facebook product director Rob Leathern said on Twitter that people were also unable to access the social networks ad interfaces, which may exacerbate any lost revenue. The company also raised the possibility of issuing refunds to advertisers.
Compounding Facebooks woes was a report about a federal criminal investigation into the company. The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported late Wednesday that a grand jury had issued subpoenas as part of an investigation into Facebooks data-sharing deals.
In addition to facing multiple federal investigations over data privacy, Facebook is experiencing stagnating user growth in its most lucrative markets and a record-low reputation with the public.
Facebook stock fell 1.8% to close at $170.17 a share Thursday. After the executive departures were announced, the shares declined 1.7% in after-hours trading.
The Associated Press was used in compiling this report.
Facebook on Tuesday agreed to overhaul its lucrative targeted advertising system to settle accusations that landlords, lenders and employers use the platform to discriminate against African Americans, women, seniors, people with disabilities and others.
The far-reaching settlement compels Facebook to withhold a wide array of detailed demographic information including ZIP codes, gender and age from advertisers when they market housing, credit and job opportunities.
Although the settlement is unlikely to deal a major blow to Facebooks bottom line, the change represents a significant shift for a company that has built one of the most successful advertising platforms in history.
Facebook has long allowed advertisers to target potential customers and employees based on their demographics and interests, as gleaned from the vast trove of data the platform collects. Now, the social media giant is stepping away from that approach, amid mounting evidence that its microtargeting techniques were abused.
Advertisement
Civil rights advocates have warned for years that Facebooks ads violated anti-discrimination laws because advertisers were able to use that data to exclude specific groups of people. The Justice Department allowed a lawsuit to proceed last year over Facebooks objections, arguing that the company can be held liable for ad-targeting tools that deprive people of housing offers.
Until now, the company made only minimal tweaks to its systems and largely resisted calls for change, arguing that these ads were standard in online advertising.
Tuesdays announcement will require a major overhaul of Facebooks software, and could make the platform less valuable to certain advertisers. Many companies use Facebook to recruit workers.
Facebook said it will make the changes by the end of the year, creating a separate portal to limit how much advertisers for housing, employment and credit can micro-target their audience.
We are fully taking all the steps we can to protect people from discrimination on our platform, said Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer at Facebook, in an interview with the Washington Post. We believe this settlement goes not just to [the letter of] the law but beyond the law in taking very, very strong action to make sure any discrimination doesnt happen.
Sandberg declined to comment about whether Facebooks advertising practices were illegal.
The settlements resolve lawsuits and other legal challenges filed in recent years by the National Fair Housing Alliance, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Communications Workers of America and others.
It arrives at a moment when Facebook is facing growing scrutiny from regulators, lawmakers and the public. The company is being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and several state attorneys general over the Cambridge Analytica data privacy controversy.
This type of discrimination that we thought was stamped out in the 60s and 70s by our civil rights laws should not be given a new life in the digital era, said Galen Sherwin, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU. This settlement establishes that the web is not a civil-rights-free zone.
The company is paying out less than $5 million to the parties, including a $2.5-million settlement with the National Fair Housing Alliance to train advertisers on how to comply with housing and lending laws, and advertising credits to promote fair housing.
This is going to have a very broad reach, Lisa Rice, president and chief executive of the National Fair Housing Alliance said. Technology and how data is used is really the new civil rights frontier.
Federal housing law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability and family status. Facebook said the new platform will also prevent advertisers from discriminating based on sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, and other characteristics covered by state and local civil rights laws.
The National Fair Housing Alliance and other housing groups sued Facebook last March, alleging that the company created pre-populated menus for advertisers that made it easy to block people with disabilities or families with children from seeing rental or sales ads.
Facebook used terms such as English as a second language, disabled parking permit, or Telemundo which advocates argue are proxies for protected categories of people.
Fair housing groups say that online companies such as Facebook have superseded billboards, rent signs and newspaper classifieds to become the hubs where people look for homes and jobs. Facebook has abused its enormous power, the suit alleged.
The housing groups conducted their own investigations in Miami, New York, San Antonio and Washington, D.C., creating dozens of ads that excluded families with children, women, the disabled and African Americans, Latinos and people with certain national origins all without consumers ever knowing they had been excluded.
The ACLU and other groups filed a legal complaint last September with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accusing Facebook of enabling discriminatory job postings with its ad-targeting tools. Some firms, for example, were targeting ads only to people under age 45.
The legal efforts followed a ProPublica investigation beginning in 2016 that found that Facebook allowed advertisers to exclude African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans. While Facebook later said it would bar housing, employment and credit ads that discriminate based on ethnic affinity, it continued to allow other forms of discriminatory targeting, including gender and disability, civil rights groups alleged.
The company signed a legally binding pledge last July promising it would no longer allow advertisers to discriminate, as part of a settlement with the attorney general of Washington state. As part of the pledge, Facebook removed thousands of additional targeting categories.
Tuesdays announcement goes much further. The new advertising platform will introduce technological barriers to companies promoting housing, employment and credit ads from significantly restricting their intended audience.
No longer will they be able to target or exclude users based on religious and political views or ZIP code, which advocates argue serves as a proxy for race. Advertisers will still be able to target by location, with a minimum geographic radius of 15 miles. Companies could still potentially get around Facebooks new system if they advertise in other categories.
Previously, Facebook largely relied on advertisers to comply with its anti-discrimination policies, but did not actively block them from using the targeting categories.
Our policies already prohibit advertisers from using our tools to discriminate, Sandberg wrote in a blog post Tuesday. Weve removed thousands of categories from targeting related to protected classes such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. But we can do better.
Facebook said it also will try to detect advertisers attempts to create housing, employment and credit ads using prohibited terms. The company will then block those ads and reroute advertisers to the new limited portal.
Facebook also pledged to make its advertising more transparent by the end of the year. As part of the settlement, it plans to give users the ability to search all housing-related ads for rentals, sales, financing, appraisals and insurance that appear on the platform regardless of whether users have received the ads in their individual news feeds.
The company has a similar system for political ads, which are visible to any Facebook user, even if they are not in the friend network of the person who posted them. The system was created in response to findings that Russian operatives and others abused Facebook by creating hyper-targeted political ads.
Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said Tuesday that he hopes Facebooks first of its kind settlement will be a pace setter for other platforms going forward.
Facebook is still working to address a separate complaint from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which has also accused the company of enabling illegal housing discrimination by allowing advertisers to exclude people based on race, gender, ZIP code or religion.
Sandberg declined to say how much the advertising changes are projected to cost the company.
We care more about protecting people from discrimination than about lost revenue or the costs incurred, she said, adding that the company will use technology as well as humans to review ads placed on the new platform.
Like its peers in Silicon Valley, Facebook has struggled with racial diversity and discrimination issues on which federal lawmakers have shined a spotlight. White men make up much of Facebooks workforce. Black employees hold about 1% of the technical roles, while Latino employees hold 3%, according to company data.
Facebook has become more vulnerable to accusations of advertising discrimination because its microtargeting capabilities go beyond those of its rivals. It gathers consumer data using self-reported information by users as well as through tracking their online activity, building arguably the most complete consumer profile on earth.
In 2017, Facebook earned 98% of its $40.65 billion in revenue from advertisers.
Jan and Dwoskin write for the Washington Post.
The muddled response by U.S. regulators and the Trump administration to the safety risks of the Boeing 737 Max raised fresh doubt about the international airworthiness not only of a jetliner but also of American leadership.
Across the globe, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for decades represented the gold standard for air safety a regulator whose decisions, particularly on American-made aircraft, boosted the confidence of plane travelers in New York, Miami and Los Angeles as well as London, Rio de Janeiro and Beijing.
Yet since Sundays Ethiopian Airlines crash shortly after takeoff the second 737 Max to go down in less than five months foreign observers watched Washingtons handling of the crisis with mounting alarm. Critics at home and abroad blamed, at best, erratic decision-making and, at worst, domestic commercial interests, for what many of them decry as a flawed U.S. reaction.
Protection of passengers is what the FAA is there for. Beyond any consideration, its safety, safety, safety. And traditionally, the FAA has been the best in the world, said Elmar Giemulla, a professor of aviation law at the Berlin University of Technology in Germany. But now, this has been spoiled.
Advertisement
After the March 10 crash, the FAA defended the 737 Max until reversing course on Wednesday, two days after China led a host of nations in grounding the jetliners. President Trump, meanwhile, fired off rambling tweets about newfangled planes before preempting his own regulators and announcing the U.S. decision to finally ground the aircraft based on new evidence that showed similarities between Sundays crash in Africa and that of another 737 Max crash in Indonesia in October.
The outcome, critics say, has undermined American credibility as the pacesetter for global aircraft standards, while potentially ushering in a new era in which international regulators particularly those in China and Europe assert growing clout. The global response now stands in contrast to 2013, when foreign aviation authorities largely followed the U.S. lead in dealing with a rash of battery problems that led to the temporary grounding of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
This time, the FAA just looked idiotic, said Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general of the U.S. Transportation Department. Noting that Ethiopia has decided to send black boxes recovered from Sundays crash to France rather than the United States for analysis, she added, There is no way this doesnt erode confidence in American aviation regulation and American leadership.
Giemulla said the delays in Washington have reinforced fears that the Trump administration is compromising the work of government agencies and experts in deference to the wishes of big companies such as Boeing.
It fits the impression that the world outside the U.S. has of Donald Trump. And the suspicion, of course, is that he has ordered the FAA to deviate from its main task, he said.
For some, the events of this week harked back to the international distrust of American financial regulators that surfaced after a toxic meltdown on Wall Street sparked the global financial crisis a decade ago. Yet it also fueled further concern over what critics call the recklessness of a Trump era driven by edicts via Twitter, impromptu trade wars and the on-again, off-again detente with North Korea.
In the aftermath of the crash, global experts marveled at what they called a sudden rebellion in an area Washington once dominated: global aviation.
The Americans may feel, and not without justification, that they have the greatest insight into the Boeing aircraft, said Sandy Morris, an aerospace analyst at Jefferies International in London. But this is a case when others in the world decided that they wanted to bring the risk of another accident down to zero. What youve seen here is a rebellion.
Shanghai Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 planes in China. (Associated Press)
Perhaps nowhere was U.S. leadership on aviation safety being questioned more than in China, the first country to ground the 737 Max an unprecedented move for a government that long followed cues from American authorities.
A top Chinese regulator said his agency made its decision because the FAA and Boeing had not provided China with satisfactory answers about the airplanes software and safety issues after the first 737 Max crash of Lion Air Flight 610 in Indonesia that killed all 189 passengers and crew.
Li Jian, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, or CAAC, suggested that the FAA was reluctant to take strong measures against the 737 Max.
They have had difficulty making a decision, so we took the lead, Li told reporters.
Chinas move triggered a cascade of other countries, including Britain, Canada and members of the European Union, to follow suit within 48 hours, effectively isolating the FAA before Trump ordered the planes temporarily grounded as well.
Chinese officials probably welcomed the opportunity to establish their leadership credentials at an inflection point in the countrys aviation history, analysts said. Chinas civil aviation market is expected to eclipse that of the United States in three years, while its first homegrown passenger jet, the C919 narrow-body model that is designed to compete with the 737 Max, is also expected to take to the skies by the mid-2020s, at least in China.
As China grows, as its aviation grows both as a market and manufacturer, as its products and technology develop, its obviously the intention of the Chinese government to take on more and more global leadership, said Guo Yufeng, chief executive of the Q&A Consulting firm in Guangzhou.
In Europe, several aviation officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the process by which jets are grounded, said they traditionally looked to the FAA for guidance on U.S.-built planes.
And for days, they stuck to that, opting not to take action in the face of mounting pressure to do so. As recently as Tuesday morning, regulators in some nations in Europe issued statements standing by the U.S. decision to keep the 737 Max flying.
But within hours, European officials made a different determination, prompted in part by new satellite information suggesting similarities between the crash on Sunday and the Lion Air flight that went down October evidence the United States would not act on until later in the day on Wednesday.
China says no to Max, FAA says dont worry, EU closes airspace. So much for U.S. leadership. Stephen Saideman, Canadian scholar
Aviation safety is our number one priority & the EU is taking every step to ensure the safety of passengers, wrote the top European Union official in charge of transportation, Violeta Bulc, on Twitter.
The outcry of international criticism was not universal few, for example, in Japan and South Korea appeared to challenge U.S. management of the crisis. But from Canada to China to the Middle East, a social media storm erupted over the erosion of American credibility.
Smart friends of mine have pointed out the reactions to 737 Max might be inflection point for U.S. hegemony, tweeted Canadian scholar Stephen Saideman. China says no to Max, FAA says dont worry, EU closes airspace. So much for U.S. leadership.
In Brazil, the controversy surrounding the 737 Max even before Sundays crash was not so much a rejection of U.S. leadership as an attempt to function in its absence. When the Max models were first introduced, for instance, Brazil ignored an FAA report that did not require additional pilot training for the aircrafts software, instead determining that such training was in fact needed.
On March 11, Indias civil aviation regulator first announced that any pilot flying the 737 Max must have a minimum of 1,000 hours of experience and reserved the right to impose other restrictions based on information received from the FAA and Boeing.
But as other countries grounded the planes entirely, Indias aviation regulator which eventually grounded the aircraft Tuesday night faced a growing chorus of criticism for its own delayed reaction. Critics there said the fact that the FAA was even slower to react undermined its role as a decider in such crises.
We all live by their rules, said Neelam Mathews, a veteran aviation journalist based in New Delhi. Its very disappointing the way the FAA reacted.
By Wednesday, the last major holdout besides the United States was Canada.
As other countries grounded the planes, Ottawa stood with Washington. Canadian Transportation Minister Marc Garneau on Tuesday said the country would keep flying the 737 Max.
That changed Wednesday morning. With domestic pressure growing, Garneau and Canada switched course, just hours ahead of Trump, citing new evidence from satellites and other sources.
Canadian reporters pressed him on whether the U.S. had pressured Canada to keep the planes in the air. He said it had not.
Hours later, Trump announced the United States was also grounding the planes.
Were doing it almost as a simultaneous thing. Because we were coordinating with Canada. We were giving them information, they were giving us information, and we very much work in conjunction with Canada, he said.
Rep. Maxine Waters on Thursday called for the firing of Wells Fargo & Co. Chief Executive Tim Sloan after the bank reported his pay increased last year by nearly $1 million despite continued consumer scandals.
The 4.9% increase in total compensation in 2018, to $18.4 million, included a $2-million bonus, Wells Fargo said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday. Sloan earned $2.4-million base pay both years. He did not receive a bonus in 2017, but received more in stock, pension and other awards to bring his overall compensation to $17.6 million.
The filing came a day after Sloan faced bipartisan anger about what Waters (D-Los Angeles) called the banks ongoing lawlessness during a hearing by the House Financial Services Committee, which the Los Angeles Democrat chairs.
After the hearing, Waters suggested that regulators remove Sloan.
Advertisement
But Waters went a step further on Thursday. She called Sloans pay increase outrageous and wholly inappropriate, particularly because the bank was hit last year with an unprecedented regulatory cap on its growth because of its history of consumer abuses.
Mr. Sloan shouldnt be getting a bonus, he should be shown the door, Waters said in a written statement.
She joins Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in calling for Sloans removal. Warren, the Democratic presidential candidate, has pushed for his firing since 2017.
I could go on but I don't need to: its clear that Tim Sloan isn't the right person to try to clean up @WellsFargo. His hands are too dirty from overseeing years of scams and scandals.
Thats not just an informed opinion. Thats a fact. Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 28, 2019
Waters was not happy with Sloans performance during the four-hour hearing and concluded it by promising to reintroduce legislation that would direct regulators to downsize or even shut down banks with a pattern of violating consumer protection laws.
It was very clear from Mr. Sloans testimony that Wells Fargo has failed to clean up its act, Waters reiterated Thursday.
Maxine Waters wields gavel on powerful committee, but freshmen could make it challenging
She noted that after the hearing, one of the banks regulators, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, took the unusual step of publicly declaring disappointment with Wells Fargos performance under consent orders designed to improve its operations and the banks inability to execute effective corporate governance.
A Wells Fargo spokesman declined to comment.
The Los Angeles Times first reported Wells Fargos high-pressure sales practices in 2013. Three years later, the bank acknowledged that its employees had opened millions of checking, savings and credit card accounts that customers never authorized.
Sloan was promoted to chief executive shortly after the scandal exploded in 2016. He replaced John Stumpf, who retired in the wake of the controversy.
Wells Fargo has paid about $4 billion in settlements with regulators and plaintiffs who have brought private lawsuits over the unauthorized accounts and other problems.
Last year, Federal Reserve regulators ordered the bank to cap its growth until it could show it had improved its corporate governance. Sloan has said he expected the cap to remain in place through this year.
On Monday, a report from the Committee for Better Banks, an advocacy group that includes some current and former Wells Fargo employees, said the bank has not fixed its culture of fear and intimidation.
Wells Fargo announced in 2017 that it was overhauling the incentive compensation system that was at the root of the unauthorized-accounts scandal. But the report said new customer-unfriendly sales incentives have been put in place.
Democratic congresswoman Susan Davis addressed growing concerns over cyber threats to the U.S. including potential election hacks and cyber warfare from foreign nations in a public talk Saturday at San Diego City College.
The discussion, which included top-ranking cybersecurity experts, came just one day after the close of the long-anticipated Russian interference investigation conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller. His report, which has not been shared with the public, will reveal his conclusions on any interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by Russia, including foreign cyber attacks and other high-tech meddling.
We have seen state actors such as Russia utilize cyber to try and influence elections, or others to try and deny the capabilities of our military, Davis said. Its critically important that we invest in cyber technologies and do everything we can ensure we are at the cutting edge of research in this field.
The timely panel discussion, hosted by Davis as part of a series of educational talks on global policy, touched on the intensifying risk of cyber attacks on governments, corporations, and individuals all for which the U.S. is unprepared, panelists said.
Advertisement
The events speakers included Shirley Adams, executive director of CyberTech; Mark Heckman, a cybersecurity professor at the University of San Diego; Eric Basu, CEO of cyber company Sentek Global; and Brian Marsh, SPAWAR assistant chief engineer.
In the midst of a cyber Cold War
As panelist Heckman put it, the world is in the midst of a cyber Cold War, during which threats are veiled and indirect. Concerns about Russia, of course, have risen to the forefront. Even before Muellers report is released, the probe has already produced a number of cyber-related indictments. Eleven Russian intelligence officers are accused of computer crimes in their efforts to hack Democratic National Committee computers and steal emails. And two Russian officials are accused of conspiring to hack into voting booths.
Beyond Russia, Heckman said cyber adversaries to the U.S. include China, North Korea and Iran each of which has sophisticated and active cyber efforts underway.
There are lots of things that could be considered hostile going on right now, Heckman said, including espionage, cyber attacks on infrastructure, the weaponization of social media, and malicious Trojan horse hardware built into Chinese electronics.
Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, holds a cybersecurity panel discussion Saturday. (Brittany Meiling/U-T)
What can be done?
Several panelists said the U.S. needs to focus on building its cybersecurity workforce to stay competitive globally. Here in San Diego, thousands of unfilled cybersecurity jobs have prompted efforts by universities and corporations to train more workers.
Right now, China, Russia, and North Korea have an advantage over us, because they can take children at a very young age and put them into cybersecurity, Basu said. We dont have that.
Panelists encouraged individuals to do what they can to protect their own data by beefing up cybersecurity practices at home and work. As far as more serious threats to grid infrastructure, the economy, and outside meddling in elections, panelists urged attendees to push companies and lawmakers for better, updated policy regarding technology.
Its about the laws and the policy we have, which is still lagging from a technology perspective, Marsh said. Getting ahead of the technology is crucial. It gives us a level playing field to compete in.
Basu said he was wary of overregulation, but did note that companies like Facebook and Google need more restraint. The power balance, he said, had shifted in the tech giants favor.
Heckman added, Leveling out that balance is why we have congressmen.
Davis take
After the event, Davis told the Union-Tribune that the recent passage of anti-corruption bill H.R. 1 by House Democrats is a good step toward establishing updated policy around technology concerns. Among several provisions, the bill calls for more transparency from Facebook, Google and other digital companies to disclose campaign ad purchases and block certain purchases from foreign nationals.
The bill, Davis said, highlights multiple areas of U.S. vulnerability.
Wed certainly like to have our colleagues on the other side of the aisle join us on that, Davis said.
As for the Mueller report, Davis has joined her colleagues in the House in asking for the document to be made public.
It should all be out there, Davis said. We certainly dont want to compromise the national security of the United States, but Im afraid if so much is redacted then people wont believe it. The reality is that theres a lot of time and a lot of rigor in that report and I want to make sure people have a chance to know the results.
Congress could be briefed as early as Sunday. Davis said she is sticking to her schedule, though, with plans to return to Washington on Monday.
Business
brittany.meiling@sduniontribune.com 619-293-1286 Twitter: @BrittanyMeiling
Its the end of an era at the San Diego Zoo as the last two giant pandas will soon leave for China.
In an announcement Monday, zoo officials said the pandas, Bai Yun, 27 a fixture at the zoo for 23 years and her son, Xiao Liwu, 6, must leave San Diego because a multi-year agreement with the Chinese to keep them here has ended. Zoo officials say sending the pandas back was always planned for April and was not prompted by any sudden request from the Chinese government.
The iconic black and white bamboo eaters have had a consistent presence at the zoo since 1996. The last day pandas can be viewed by the public is expected to be April 27.
With their impending departure, it is unknown if or when new pandas might inhabit the zoo again. Zoo officials are unable to say whether the wait is a matter of months or years.
Advertisement
We have high hopes for pandas returning but I dont know that we have any set date when they might return, said Shawn Dixon, chief operating officer for the San Diego Zoo.
There are still pandas at Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington, D.C., Zoo Atlanta and the Memphis Zoo
In the two decades since the first pandas arrived, the captivating animals have become intertwined with the image of San Diego. Their images grace T-shirts and postcards promoting the region, and they even had a starring role in the 2004 Anchorman movie. In the film, San Diego news anchors had a daily feature the Panda Watch chronicling the impending birth of a panda.
While the prospect of no new pandas for the indefinite future might alarm panda fans, there is a promising sign: The zoo has no plans to take down the animals exhibit, in hopes they will get more pandas. Several zoo officials are planning to go to China in the coming months to have in-person negotiations with leaders of its panda program.
We know our community is going to be sad when they hear this, but its a time for celebration, Dixon said. They are going home to their home country. It truly is a celebration of all the work we have done.
While lines are often long to catch a glimpse of the pandas at their enclosure, officials say they do not anticipate a drop in attendance once the pandas leave because all of its other exhibits.
The San Diego panda program has been very successful by most measures, producing six cubs and developing techniques now used around the world to keep young pandas alive. When pandas first came to the zoo in 1996, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, had listed the species as endangered. Twenty years later, they were downgraded to vulnerable.
Two decades ago, the wild population of pandas was estimated to be less than 1,000. As of the latest count in 2014, there were 1,864 pandas living in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Another panda at the zoo, 28-year-old Gao Gao, returned to China in October. Gao Gao and Bai Yun produced five cubs together, including Xiao Liwu. All three will be back together at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan. Dont expect much of a reunion pandas are very solitary and arent expected to interact.
Pandas are only native to China, so all pandas in American zoos are on loan from the Chinese government. Even those born on American soil are considered property of China. Its unclear from zoo officials what their negotiating strategy will be with the Chinese, or if whatever program comes next would necessarily involve breeding.
The species is the rarest of all bears and lives among damp bamboo forests in southwestern China. Most of the decline in numbers has largely been attributed to human encroachment, but pandas are also notoriously difficult to breed. They only mate one to two days a year and successful pregnancies are rare.
Xiao Liwu in October 2018 (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)
It is unknown exactly when the pandas will leave. Bai Yun and her son Xiao Liwu will travel by plane and be attended to by numerous keepers and veterinarians. Bai Yun is expected to go into a retirement wing of the center, and Xiao Liwu will eventually be put in a breeding situation.
Zoo officials said it was bittersweet to say goodbye to the pandas but they were proud of everything they accomplished over 23 years.
The intent was to prevent the extinction of the species. This program can be looked at as one of a handful of programs that have actually prevented the extension of a key species, said Carmi Penny, director of husbandry sciences at the zoo.
While there might be tension with the Chinese government and the Trump administration over tariffs, zoo officials say that sort of issue doesnt filter down to those who are working with pandas in both nations.
A storied history
Pandas first took San Diego by storm in 1987 when two pandas Basi and Yuan Yuan stayed for 200 days. The pandas were a sensation, drawing more than 2 million visitors, the zoo said.
A 1987 article in the San Diego Evening Tribune described their arrival as a fanfare usually saved for humans as news reporters, TV cameramen and zoo employees fawned over the pair. The price of a one-day adult ticket at the time was $8.50 and $2.50 for children. Now it is $56 for an adult and $46 for a child (ages 3 to 11).
Pandas did not return again until 1996, when Bai Yun and another panda, Shi Shi, arrived at the zoo from the Wolong Panda Preserve in China. Both were supposed to stay 12 years, although Bai Yun remained 13 years longer. The pandas, in special traveling crates, were loaded onto a moving truck and escorted by the California Highway Patrol to the zoo.
Things were rocky at first with Shi Shi, who was not interested in mating with Bai Yun. Regardless, Bai Yun gave birth to her first panda, Hua Mei, in 1999 by artificial insemination. That panda became the first one born in the United States to survive and grow into adulthood.
In 2003, Gao Gao showed up and quickly began a successful pairing with Bai Yun. A son, Mei Sheng, was born in 2003. Four other cubs followed: Su Lin in 2005, Zhen Zhen in 2007, Yun Zi in 2009 and the last, Xiao Liwu, in 2012.
Under the agreement with the Chinese government, most young pandas born in other countries are supposed to go back to China when they are around three years old. Xiao Liwu, though, has now stayed longer than expected, as has Bai Yun, who was allowed to remain because of how much success she had in breeding.
Xiao Liwu, seven months old, in March 2013 with mother Bai Yun. (Peggy Peattie / Peggy Peattie)
Even if San Diego never gets another panda, the legacy of the zoos program will likely be viewed as a positive step in the rebuilding of the species.
Bob Weise, chief life sciences officer at the zoo, said several of the six cubs have gone on to have children of their own, building on a lineage originating in San Diego.
At the time that that pandas were brought to the United States in 1996, the survival rate for cubs was 10 percent to 20 percent, Weise said. Now, there is a 95 percent likelihood they will survive, he said, and part of that is because of work done at American zoos. One of those advances came from a San Diego Zoo nutritionist who developed a milk formula for cubs from Bai Yuns lactation that is now in widespread use.
The formula is especially useful if the mother panda is not giving her cub enough milk. The milk that panda newborns need to survive is much more nutrient-dense than that of many species and is crucial for survival, making any neglect from the mother potentially disastrous.
Congcong Zheng, a Chinese-born entrepreneurship professor at San Diego State University, noted that pandas have been used throughout history as a goodwill gesture by the Chinese.
Its something only the Chinese have, she said. It signifies something uniquely Chinese. At the same time, they are really cute and people around the world like them. It has been a way for the Chinese government to establish friendships.
As beloved as the pandas are in San Diego, its unlikely their absence at the zoo will dampen visitation or lower the institutions profile, said Joe Terzi, CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority.
It will continue to be a place that people all over the world come to see, with or without the pandas, he said. The zoo is bigger than just the panda exhibit.
A lazy day
More than 100 people waited in line Friday to see Xiao Liwu on a cool 64-degree day. The line slowly snaked through the exhibit until the end where adults and children crowded around the six-year-old panda.
Xiao Liwu climbed around the tree fort-style enclosure and plopped down in one of his favorite spots to sit. A ray of sunshine illuminated the top of his head as he leaned back with a bamboo stalk. He put the stalk in his mouth and peeled off outer layers to begin his meal.
Visitors were squishing against each other to see Xiao Liwu, although he didnt seem to notice. One gets the impression the panda was completely content and having a good day.
Hes right there, yelled Brooklyn Putich, 6, of Chino, as she finally got her first look at the panda and climbed on railings to get a better look.
Families of young children made up much of the crowd, leading to the occasional baby stroller traffic jam. Stephanie Toscano, of Tucson, Ariz., said she was in town for a wedding and decided to take her 4-year-old daughter Adynn to the zoo.
Shes waited all day for this. She wouldnt stop talking about it, Toscano said.
Zoo officials said none of the staff that worked with the pandas will be laid off, but will instead work with other animals. Still, it will be tough for employees that worked with the pandas each day to say goodbye, especially to Bai Yun, who has lived in San Diego for 23 years.
She was the perfect panda, said Carmi Penny, the husbandry director at the zoo. She was behaviorally stable, very intelligent, very inquisitive, not aggressive. Just a nice, good animal.
Bai Yun was not on display for much of Friday, but no one seemed to notice with Xiao Liwu content to put on a show. He got up from his sitting spot, climbed across logs in the enclosure, grabbed another bamboo stalk, leaned back and started to chew again. Each movement was captured by dozens of smartphones.
Staff writer Bradley J. Fikes contributed to this article
Business
phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1891 Twitter: @phillipmolnar
ALSO
Is San Diego County done building single-family homes?
San Diego County apartment rush continues. More than 4,500 planned for 19
New Tijuana condo towers will hit record heights
When Leslie Borns first child was born in September 2014, the medical team quickly realized something wasnt right. Her newborn son had low muscle tone, feeding challenges and developmental delays. But what was the cause?
This diagnostic mystery led to a month-long stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), several inconclusive genetic tests and numerous follow-up visits.
It took nearly a year before geneticists finally arrived at a diagnosis: a rare disorder called Schaaf-Yang Syndrome. At the time, her son was the 17th case diagnosed in the world, and the only one in San Diego.
I have yet to meet a doctor who has heard of my sons condition before Ive told them about it, Born said. You go to the doctor to seek answers. But a lot of the times were the ones with answers for the doctors.
Advertisement
While their sons syndrome is uncommon, the Born family of Poway is not alone. According to 2015 data from a U.S. Census Bureau survey, approximately 18,000 children in the county have a major disability.
The technologies have gotten so much better that children are actually are surviving and living longer than they ever have been before, said Dr. Bretten Pickering. He is the medical director for the Rady Childrens Hospital Special Needs Clinic and clinical professor of pediatrics at UCSD School of Medicine.
For the last 25 years, Pickerings medical practice has focused on children with the highest level of medical complexity. Many of his patients are dependent on wheelchairs, feeding tubes, breathing devices and round-the-clock nursing care.
The stress level for these families is very high, Pickering said. There is also significant medical and financial stress because of all of the needs that their children have which are not covered by insurance.
Carlos Flores is executive director of the San Diego Regional Center which serves nearly 30,000 adults and children with disabilities in the county.
He said in many families where both parents were working, one will decide to quit to care for their child with the developmental disability. Statistics show approximately 40 percent of primary parents will leave the workforce.
In some cases, it just changes the family dynamic, Flores said. There is a large amount of care.
Four-year-old Nathan Born (Julie Favis/PHOTOS)
Five months into her sons life, Born became a full-time caregiver. The number of therapies and appointments her infant son required were incompatible with her full-time work schedule.
Medically fragile children are also more likely to require unexpected hospitalizations which may pull their parents out of work.
While there is little statistical evidence that parents of children with special needs have overall higher divorce rates, both Pickering and Flores anecdotally state they can see the enormous pressures caregiving can place on the marriage.
We see a lot of families breaking up because of the stress, Flores said.
Deborah Setzer of Jamul has two grown children and an adolescent daughter on the autism spectrum.
When your whole life becomes consumed by a special needs child it becomes pretty much all you (and your spouse) have in common, Setzer said. Its hard to break away from that when you have a chance to be a couple.
Her special needs journey began when her youngest daughter was born deaf. She received a cochlear implant when she was 3 years old. Her autism diagnosis came at age 5. Now 17, her daughter has difficulties behaving socially, practicing hygiene, and communicating. Currently, she is at risk of engaging in self-injurious behavior, such as banging her head against hard surfaces.
Our daughter is going to need caregiving the rest of her life, Setzer said. She doesnt have a sense of danger. Its constant care. We dont even leave her in the house to go to the store which is 50 feet away.
Setzer and her husband are retired from careers in law enforcement. They have one paid caregiver that they can rely on occasionally to help but find it difficult to get a much-needed time away. Were tired, were exhausted, Setzer said.
A lack of qualified homecare nurses in the state can make it hard to get support, even when a family is eligible for respite care. In San Diego County, there is a lack of nurses, so there are inadequate nursing respite services, Flores said.
RegisteredNursing.org has predicted that this trend will continue and Californias nursing shortage will be the countrys highest by 2030.
In Pickerings practice, helping his patients thrive often requires looking at the family as a whole. You have to put down the keyboard and sit and talk and find out a little about the family. What is their day like?
For the Born household, which now includes two young children and a third on the way, every day is hectic. While 4-year-old Nathan is thriving, the time and skill required to care for him are significant. He is fed exclusively by a feeding tube and relies on a walker and a wheelchair to get around. Between special needs school, therapies, and medical appointments, his schedule is jam-packed.
There are a lot of unspoken responsibilities you dont realize that come with special-needs kids, Born said. You kind of get thrown into being a superhero.
Born also found much to love about being his mother. My son cant talk, he cant walk, and he cant feed himself. So we a have all of those struggles, she said. But he is the sweetest child. Hes just happy all of the time.
Despite the challenges of autism, Setzer has also found taking care of her youngest daughter tremendously rewarding. She remembered one incident was particularly meaningful. I tucked her in at night and, for the first time, she said I love you, momma. It makes it worth everything.
Her caregiving experience has made Setzer more appreciative of the sacrifices of others like her.
There are heroes walking around us every day, she said. Quiet heroes who are taking care of a special person. They never say anything. They give their life up to take care of them.
Amialya Durairaj is a health-writing consultant at Little Octopus and co-creator of Mindful Returns Balancing Career with a Special Needs Baby program. She lives in San Diego with her husband and twin daughters.
The All Tribes American Indian Charter School in Valley Center was recognized by the California Charter Schools Association for its work educating Native American students.
On March 12, the schools founders and administrators, Michelle Parada and Mary Ann Donohue, received the Hart Vision Award at the 26th Annual Charter Schools Conference in Sacramento.
The California Charter Schools Association bestows the annual award to recognize achievements of charter public schools, leaders, teachers and advocates in honor of Gary K. Hart, retired state senator, former California Secretary of Education and author of Californias charter public school legislation.
Native American students in California have long seen achievement gaps in public schools, and scored 36.8 points below grade level standards for English language arts, and 73 points below grade level standards for math in 2018, according to the California School Dashboard.
Advertisement
Parada and Donohue founded All Tribes American Indian Charter School in 2001 to address problems in the Native American community including low high suicide and dropout rates, along with low academic performance and low graduation rates.
Their drive and passion to provide a quality education to all students helped change how much the community valued a public education, the charter school association said in a statement about the award.
The K-12 school combines academic instruction in the context of Native American culture, according to its website. It aims to help students develop positive self images about their identity, to see their culture affirmed, and engage with people who care for them at school.
There are 96 students enrolled at the school, which serves students from San Diego area reservations, including the San Pasqual and Pala Bands of Mission Indians, and the Pauma, Rincon and La Jolla Bands of Luiseno Indians, as well as other students from the general area.
Besides founding the charter school, Parada and Donohue provide foster care, and offer housing, financial, and emotional support to the school community, to make sure that students have the help they need to succeed in school, according to the charter school association.
deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
A citizens group of growth-control advocates will not be permitted to intervene in two housing-related lawsuits against the city of Encinitas that were filed two years ago, a Superior Court judge has ruled.
Allowing the Preserve Proposition A group to have a voice in the court process now as an official intervener would unnecessarily delay litigation that finally is headed toward resolution, Judge Robert Dahlquist wrote Friday as he rejected the groups recent request to participate.
Group members and their attorney could have made their request back when the first lawsuit was filed, but they elected to sit on the sidelines and watch as the lawsuit has unfolded, he wrote.
Now, after the merits of the lawsuit have been fully adjudicated, (the group) wants to jump into the fray and re-litigate the case all over again. There is no good reason for the court to allow this to happen, and there are very compelling reasons not to allow it to happen.
Advertisement
One key compelling reason, the judge wrote, is that Encinitas has been out of compliance for years with state housing law and needs to resolve this situation immediately.
Encinitas is the only city in San Diego County that lacks a valid Housing Element, a state-mandated planning document that spells out how a city proposes to handle its future growth, particularly the housing needs of low-income people.
The city is currently being sued by the both the Building Industry Association of San Diego and San Diego Tenants United over its lack of compliance with state law.
In order to meet the state planning requirement, Encinitas must agree to designate a group of properties as spots for additional housing and increase those properties zoning so that denser projects, particularly lower-cost, multi-family apartment complexes can be built. Building higher-density housing in town has been very controversial and thats been a problem because the city has to obtain voter approval for the proposed zoning changes.
Because of the provisions of the Prop. A growth-control measure, Encinitas needs voter approval for any proposed increases in housing density or building height. Voters have turned down two of the citys proposed housing plans, including the Measure U plan which was rejected in November.
After that plan failed to win voter approval, the judge overseeing the two court cases ordered the city to submit a housing plan to the state within 120 days and said Encinitas would be allowed to temporarily exempt itself from the voter requirements of Prop. A to get its planning project done.
It was this court directive that led the Prop. A group to file its intervener request, Everett DeLano, the groups attorney, said Monday. Prior to that point, Prop. A supporters believed the city was following Prop. As voter approval requirements.
Up until that moment, they were doing their duty, he said, calling the new directive a sea change.
DeLano added that he found Dahlquists decision to reject Preserve Proposition As new intervener request interesting reading, saying the judge essentially told his group that it shouldnt intervene now, but could file its own lawsuit later if the citys housing plan isnt acceptable.
Essentially, the judge is saying you have your rights .... bring a case against the city, he said, adding that group members havent yet decided what steps theyll take next.
The latest housing plan proposal thats working its way through the review process is a modified version of the Measure U plan that voters rejected in November. The new plan contains slightly higher building height limits and some changes to the way building density is calculated. The City Council gave its initial stamp of approval to this plan earlier this month, and it is scheduled to be sent to the state for its review before an April 11, court-ordered deadline.
The legalization of recreational marijuana in California left American Indians out in the cold.
Proposition 64, approved by voters in 2016, lets local governments decide whether to allow cannabis dispensaries to operate within their jurisdictions. But it made no provisions for tribes.
As far as the state is concerned, tribes can do whatever they want with cannabis on their reservations, which are considered sovereign nations.
But they cannot operate in the licensed California market, said Alex Traverso, a spokesman for the California Bureau of Cannabis Control, which oversees licensing of dispensaries.
Advertisement
For the past couple years, a number of tribes have been trying to get that changed. But the state is insisting that its regulators must have control over any operations on reservation land, something tribal officials say is unacceptable. The ability to regulate themselves in all matters is a basic tenet of their sovereign status as independent nations, they say.
The result is Indian tribes have been shut out of the far more lucrative California cannabis market because they cant sell their product outside of tribal lands.
Recently, the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel in northeast San Diego County opened a dispensary inside what used to be a casino that went belly up in 2014. The Mountain Source Dispensary is the first on tribal land in the county, but most likely will not be the last.
Most of the former casino building for the past few years has hosted the Santa Ysabel Botanical Facility, where marijuana is grown and a sophisticated laboratory has been operating, run by private cannabis companies leasing the space from the tribe.
As of now, Santa Ysabel can only sell the pot grown on the reservation at its lone dispensary or to other tribal operations.
David Vialpando, the head of the Santa Ysabel Tribal Cannabis Regulatory Agency, said he expects other local tribes will open dispensaries.
We have other tribes that have expressed an interest with doing business with Santa Ysabels tenants, he said. As predicted, there will be additional dispensaries opening up on tribal lands throughout California.
He said discussions are being held with a couple local tribes. I dont think there are any plans in place, he said. Everybody moves cautiously in this space. But the expectation is that there will be other tribes in the area that will take advantage of the need that is out there.
For two years, 23 of the states 109 recognized American Indian nations have been working toward creating legislation in Sacramento that would allow tribes to enter the general cannabis California market. Theyve met with lawmakers, representatives of the governors office, and hired lobbyists, including former Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, to press their cause.
Vialpando, in addition to his position with Santa Ysabel, is also the executive director of C-NACA, the California Native American Cannabis Association, which includes five of the countys 18 federally recognized tribes as members: Sycuan, Campo, Manzanita, Los Coyotes and Santa Ysabel.
Of those tribes, only Santa Ysabel and a representative of Sycuan provided information.
Adam Day, chief administrative officer for the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, said the tribe is closely watching the market but would not say whether the successful East County gaming and resort tribe is seriously thinking about getting into marijuana.
Its certainly in Sycuans interest to insure that if there is an industry that others are allowed to participate in, we want to have that opportunity as well, Day said.
I can tell you we dont have a current business in that field. But we are actively looking at exploring the issue to insure that if we were ever to get into that field that we have the ability to do so.
Vialpando said after the passage of Prop. 64, C-NACA was formed and meetings were held with numerous people at the capitol.
We met with state officials and were basically told by folks from the governors office, look, you werent included in Prop. 64. There is no place for tribes in the California market. Do whatever you want on the reservation. We have no control over that. But there is no provision for the state to allow tribes to participate, or even non-tribal entities on tribal lands.
Vialpando said it was suggested that C-NACA work toward legislation and twice bills were proposed creating a pathway for tribes into the cannabis market. Each time those failed because there was a large constituency of stakeholders that were opposed, he said.
So the tribal cannabis organization hired Bustamante and many more meetings were held.
There was a lot of time and energy and money spent on this grassroots effort to create legislation that was fair to tribes and acceptable to the state, Vialpando said.
And we did it. We managed to turn all of those who were opposed into either supporters or (to agree) to taking no position. Even the California Cannabis Industry Association became supporters.We had a groundswell of support and thought we were good.
A bill sponsored by Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) was about to go to the Legislature.
I believe tribes absolutely deserve the right to participate in the same legal, regulated cannabis market as other stakeholders, Bonta said Friday in a statement.
Our past legislative efforts have proposed policies that were consistent with the principles of tribal sovereignty and self-governance and would have achieved this objective while protecting the public and the environment.
But shortly before the bill was to be heard, a final meeting at the governorss office killed everything.
We were told they didnt think legislation was needed at all, Vialpando said. They said just defer all regulatory authority to the state. They wanted the state to regulate all aspects of cannabis on tribal lands and to make sure revenues are shared with the state.
Basically, Vialpando said, the state was demanding that the tribes waive their sovereignty. They wanted us to waive our identity, he said That was a non-starter.
After that meeting, the proposed legislation fell apart and Santa Ysabel changed its own tribal statutes to allow for dispensaries on their reservations as a pathway for our non-tribal commercial businesses to actually continue operating without going into economic extinction.
The tribes are now hoping Gov. Gavin Newsom will be open to the idea of working with them to create a way to allow Indians to enter the lucrative California marketplace. Letters have been sent, but so far no indication has come from the governors office about a willingness to talk.
With little fanfare or advertising, the Santa Ysabel dispensary opened in early February. Since media reports about the operation were written, business has boomed, Vialpando said. They are now averaging about 60 customers a day despite the remote location off state Route 79. The majority of customers are older people with canes and walkers looking to purchase cannabis to manage various pains.
The old myth of marijuana dispensaries attracting all the tweakers in the area is just not our experience and we dont expect it to be the experience of other tribes who replicate our regulatory model, he said.
News of the Santa Ysabel dispensary upset San Diego County Board of Supervisor Chairwoman Dianne Jacob. The county took the position in 2017 not to allow dispensaries in the unincorporated parts of the county. All of the reservations in the county are located in unincorporated San Diego, albeit on their own independent reservations.
She then wrote to the Attorney Generals office looking for clarification of the law.
I am concerned that the cannabis dispensary on the Santa Ysabel reservation is operating in the dark with little to no oversight, Jacob wrote. This constitutes both a public safety and a public health hazard for those who visit the dispensary, and for the surrounding community due to impaired drivers navigating the rural areas challenging roads.
The Attorney General has not yet responded, Jacobs office said.
Reacting to the letter, Santa Ysabel sent Jacob a letter inviting her to the reservation to see for herself what is happening. It said cannabis regulations the tribe operates under are in many instances stricter than those enforced by the state anywhere else in California. They also point out that the operation employs about 100 people, making it one of the biggest employers in that part of the county.
We welcome the opportunity to address any concerns you may have, answer any questions, and engage in constructive dialogue designed to ensure the safety of customers and employees working at the Santa Ysabel Botanical Facility and maximize our effectiveness in ensuring the accountability of cannabis cultivated, processed, and distributed from the Nations lands, Santa Ysabel Tribal Chairman Virgil Perez wrote.
One of the reasons we would love to have the supervisor or members of her staff come up is to allay some of the fears and concerns, and to certainly seek her input on how we can do things better, Vialpando added.
A spokesman for Jacob said on Friday the supervisor intends to take the tribe up on its offer. A date has not yet been set.
jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
Although 100 years of life may have weakened his body and hearing, Pearl Harbor veteran Joe Walsh said his memory is still razor-sharp about the two hours of terror and pure adrenaline he experienced the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.
You dont forget something like that, Walsh said in an interview at his 100th birthday party on Sunday, the day before his actual centennial.
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Joe Walsh photographed in Guam in 1945, during World War II. On March 18, the Vista resident turned 100 years old. (Courtesy photo)
Walsh, then a Marine in the 3rd Defense Battalion, was at a color guard ceremony in the Navy Yard near the mouth of Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attack began. He and his fellow Marines manned three 50-inch anti-aircraft guns, trying to shoot down the invading planes before they could sink the American battleships near the harbors entrance.
Advertisement
I didnt have time to get scared, he recalled on Sunday. You dont think about it. You did what you were told to do. You manned your gun and tried to get anyone you could.
More than 2,400 Americans died in the unprovoked attack that ushered America into World War II. For decades, Walsh didnt talk much about his war experiences with his wife, Bea, or their six children.
But that changed in the mid-1980s, when he helped organize, and then served as the longtime president of, the North County chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
At its peak, Chapter 31 had 130 members, but Walsh is now the last surviving member, following the Feb. 15 death of Navy veteran John Quier of Fallbrook.
Walsh said Sunday that it was important to him to help start the chapter and to host its annual Dec. 7 commemoration ceremony at the small-craft fishing pier at Oceanside Harbor. Walsh and Quier also successfully campaigned in 2006 to have the city install a Pearl Harbor memorial monument by the pier.
The guys who were over there who didnt make it back deserved to be remembered, Walsh said. We didnt want to forget any of them.
Pearl Harbor veteran Joe Walsh, right, chats with a family member at his birthday party on Sunday. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune)
Sundays birthday celebration was held at Pacifica Senior Living, a retirement community in Vista where Walsh moved two years ago with his 95-year-old wife, LaVonne, who goes by the nickname Bea. She is also a Marine veteran, having served in the Aviation Womens Reserve Squadron 21 at Brown Field in Quantico, Va. She was one of just 23,000 women who enlisted during World War II.
Sitting in side-by-side wheelchairs, the Walshes were the guests of honor at a party that drew nearly 50 visitors, including five of their six children, cousins, nieces, nephews and former neighbors, as well as family members of Chapter 31 members who have died.
The Walshes enjoyed slices from a sheet cake decorated with the words A Prince of a Fellow, a childhood nickname that stuck with him because he was so well-regarded by others, said daughter Joanie Culver of Fallbrook.
A native of East Orange, N.J., Walsh joined the Marines in 1938 not for the adventure but for the steady income it would provide. It was the Great Depression and jobs were scarce, he said.
Culver said her dad earned $19 a week in the Marines and sent $10 from every paycheck home to his mom, who had raised him and his siblings alone after his father abandoned the family when Joe was 5.
U.S. Rep. Mike Levin holds the congressional record recognizing married Marine veterans LaVonne Bea Walsh, 95, and Joe Walsh, 100, at Pacifica Senior Living in Vista on Saturday. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Drake Nickels)
Walsh served in the Marines for nine years, retiring at the rank of gunnery sergeant. Later, he worked in the book publishing industry, according to local World War II historian Linda Dudik, who wrote the Walshes biography for her website The World War II Experience at wwiiexperience.com.
None of his sons followed Walsh into the military, and if they did I wouldve broken their legs, he joked on Sunday.
Although he was proud to have served his country, Walsh said his war experiences were challenging and often harsh, especially a period of severe deprivation stationed at Johnston Atoll, an air base in the Pacific.
It was pretty rough, he said. All I could think of was how to get the hell out.
On Saturday, the Walshes were recognized for their service by Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, who visited them at their retirement community and read them the congressional minutes from when he honored them for their patriotism.
On Sunday, partygoers took turns kneeling or sitting down next to Walsh to offer good wishes and share memories. Attired in a green blazer, tie and felt bowler hat in honor of St. Patricks Day, Walsh said he was delighted with all of the hoopla.
Im a man with a lot of riches, he said.
pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
Encinitas schools have won two of the top honors in the 2019 Civic Learning Awards, co-sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.
Thurmond recently announced 92 California schools that won awards in the program, now in its seventh year. The awards celebrate public schools efforts to engage students in civic learning through classes, clubs and programs that prepare them for participation in democracy. The awards also identify successful models that can be replicated in other schools.
Flora Vista Elementary School in the Encinitas Union School District is one of three winners of the 2019 Award of Excellence. The other two are Lexington Junior High School and Cypress High School, both in Orange County.
At Flora Vista, students developed budgets and proposals for the school board on how to conserve energy in the classroom, organized to decrease trash and debris on their campus, and helped find ways to assist children in Africa to get clean drinking water.
Advertisement
Cantil-Sakauye visits schools receiving Awards of Excellence, the highest level. I commend our schools and teachers for their creativity and commitment to civic education, she said in a statement. They are giving students the skills they will need as active participants and leaders in our democracy. She will visit Flora Vista on April 17 to present the award.
Encinitas district schools are no strangers to these awards: El Camino Creek Elementary won an Award of Excellence in 2018 and an Award of Distinction in 2017, and Flora Vista won Awards of Distinction in 2018 and 2017.
La Costa Heights Elementary School in Carlsbad, also in the Encinitas district, was one of the six schools receiving 2019 Awards of Distinction and the only one in San Diego County.
Eighty-three schools won Awards of Merit, two in North County: Rancho Buena Vista High School in the Vista Unified School District, and Del Lago Academy, Campus of Applied Sciences, in the Escondido Union High School District.
Three other San Diego County schools received Awards of Merit: Crawford High School, San Diego; De Portola Middle School, Tierrasanta; and Liberty Charter High School, Lemon Grove.
Having had the chance to teach a civics class, and from my time working with students in the Legislature, Im a huge supporter of engaging students in civics early, which helps to engage them for life, said Thurmond in a statement.
The awards have recognized more than 300 schools since they began in 2013. Find more at https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/civiclearningaward.asp.
laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
Info
At the Bio-Gastro-Messe, the city of Bonn was presented with the certificate of accession to the Network of Biocities. The goals of the network are:
To promote organic farming, the further processing and demand for organic food with short transport routes and regional value creation;
Priority for organic food at public institutions, events and markets;
To network the organic sector within the framework of economic development and to promote jobs in a forward-looking sector;
To ensure that state funding policy focuses considerably more on the organic sector and corresponding cooperation projects and that agricultural and economic policy measures are more closely interlinked with municipal activities.
North County Transit District has postponed the removal of about 90 bus stops, saying it needs more time to address concerns and to post notices at each of the locations to be eliminated.
We are unfortunately behind schedule in deployment of signage at stops slated for removal, said NCTD communications officer Kimy Wall.
Notices must be posted at each stop at least 30 days in advance, she said. As a result, the service that had been scheduled to end April 7 will now end April 21.
NCTD has 30 bus routes with 1,800 stops. Plans call for the elimination of 27 stops in Oceanside, 18 in Escondido, 13 in Encinitas, 11 in Carlsbad, 10 in Vista, seven in Solana Beach and three each in San Marcos and San Diego.
Advertisement
Each city is represented by one of its city council members on the transit districts board of directors.
Feedback from the city of Solana Beach resulted in the retention of four bus stops there that were previously proposed for elimination, Wall said.
Carlsbad and at least one individual also had questions about some of the stops, she said.
Jason Haber, assistant to the Carlsbad city manager, said there was some back and forth between Carlsbad and transit district officials, but the city did not plan to dispute any of the proposed removals.
Its just been requests for additional information, Haber said.
An Oceanside planning official last week did not object to the closures there and said speeding up service could be an incentive to get more people to ride buses.
Bus ridership has declined across the country for at least the past decade, as people turn to online ride-hailing services such as Uber and other transportation alternatives.
More than 6.4 million bus trips were taken on the districts Breeze buses in 2018, a drop of 26 percent from the 8.7 million trips taken in 2009.
NCTD sent letters in January to all the cities in its service area announcing the optimization program and the specific stops to be eliminated. The program was outlined to the NCTD board in February.
The truth of the matter is weve got to make transit a lot more competitive and a lot better, district Executive Director Matt Tucker told the board. To do that, this is the easy step.
He also suggested that more cuts could be coming.
If you squirm over this, you are really going to squirm later in the process, as we get down to the consolidation and the optimization so we can raise that quality, Tucker said.
No one from the public or on the board objected to any of the closures at the Feburary meeting.
Stops to be eliminated are under-used, have other stops nearby, and have limited or no facilities such as benches and shelters, district officials said. Most have five or fewer riders per day and dont comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Other factors considered included proximity to schools, medical services and disadvantaged communities.
The closures announced for April are the first phase of a program that could include additional eliminations in the second phase. In the third phase, the district plans to add amenities to the most heavily used remaining stops and making them ADA compliant.
The timeline and potential implementation of future phases will largely be addressed based on the results of comprehensive studies that will begin this year, Wall said.
A full list of the stops to be eliminated is posted on the districts website, www.goNCTD.com.
NCTD also has announced it plans to increase fares for the first time in 10 years.
The new fares would be coordinated with changes by the Metropolitan Transit System in San Diego as part of an effort to ease passenger transfers between the two systems.
NCTDs basic one-way bus fare of $1.75 is expected to increase to $2.50, but so far no date has been announced for the new ticket prices to take effect.
philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @phildiehl
The Super Bloom has been an economic boon for Borrego Springs.
A stunning array of colorful desert wildflowers throughout Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has brought thousands of visitors the past few weeks, leading to record-breaking economic activity in the small town located in the middle of the states largest park.
I feel that this year we are way more organized and people are having a really enjoyable time, park volunteer Christie Barber said during a respite from answering questions in front of the Anza-Borrego Foundations state park store.
This time around, unlike in 2017 when the first Super Bloom in a decade brought a crush of visitors and problems to the community, Borrego Springs was ready.
Advertisement
They made sure businesses were supplied properly and that dozens of portable toilets were spread out strategically near the most popular flower fields and in town. Dumpsters were rented by the dozens, and traffic control measures were put in place at the bottom of the Montezuma Road grade, where massive traffic jams had happened two years ago.
Absolutely, Borrego Springs is shining thanks to the preparation and the work put into it by Borregans in anticipation of this wonderful flower bloom, said Patrick Sampson, president of the local chamber of commerce.
1 / 25 Visitors to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park walk through a sea of flowers in Henderson Canyon. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 25 The butterflies were out in Henderson Canyon at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 25 Michelle Han, left, her husband, Thomas Han, center, and their daughter, Ashley Han, right, from 4S Ranch take a selfie photo of themselves while in a bed of wildflowers off DiGiorgio Road north of Borrego Springs. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 25 Visitors to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park stop to enjoy, and take photos as they make their way up the Cactus Loop Trail. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 25 Sam Lim from Garden Grove in Orange County takes photos of the desert dandelions in a field off Borrego Springs Road. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 25 Jon Derenburger of Normal Heights shoots video of a butterfly while visiting Henderson Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 25 Visitors walk and drive along Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 25 Selden McKee, center, a Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association volunteer gives Christy Lam, left, of Moorpark in Ventura County, and Karl and Rosie Galla of Redlands in San Bernardino County, advice on where to find the wildflowers in the area. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 25 Henderson Canyon is alive with color in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 25 A caterpillar makes its way along the side of Henderson Canyon Road in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 25 Carlees Food and Spirits was packed, just like most businesses in Borrego Springs, from visitors enjoying the wildflowers in the area. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 25 Visitors walk along Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 25 Poppies predominantly cover much of the south-facing hillsides and surrounding area above San Felipe Wash, just north of Highway 78 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 25 Michael Stewart, of Pacific Beach takes photos of Emily Vaccarezza, also of Pacific beach, while visiting Henderson Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 25 Theres plenty of colors along the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 25 Chuparosa can be seen from the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 25 Bigelows monkey flower can be seen from the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 25 Poppies are near the south-facing hillsides above San Felipe Wash, just north of Highway 78 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 19 / 25 Vehicles are parked along Yaqui Pass Road in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park near the Cactus Loop Trail. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 20 / 25 Poppies predominantly cover much of the south-facing hillsides above San Felipe Wash, just north of Highway 78 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 21 / 25 The Borrego Palm Canyon Trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is alive with color from the wildflowers. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 25 A sea of wildflowers off DiGiorgio Road north of Borrego Springs. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 23 / 25 A constant flow of visitors arrive in Borrego Springs along Palm Canyon Drive. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 24 / 25 Visitors in a field of mainly desert dandelions off of Borrego Springs Road. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 25 / 25 Visitors in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park walk among a sea of flowers in Henderson Canyon. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Experts say it appears the bloom will continue for some time, perhaps as long as Easter.
I think this is the best flower year weve ever had and Ive been here since the 2005 one, Barber said. The flowers are different and where theyre popping up is different and we still havent gotten to the canyon flowers. The cactus are just barely starting (to bloom), the smoke trees arent out or the ironwood.
Part of the preparation included a media campaign encouraging visitors to avoid weekends and come during the week instead. It seems to have worked.
All of the businesses are breaking records this year, said Betsy Knaak, president of the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association and one of the leaders of the preparation plans.
The weekdays are breaking records. From what Im hearing from the restaurants and other businesses, they all feel the same way. Its just been a real boom year. A super year. Its good for Borrego Springs.
Thomas Hildebrandt, the manager and head chef at Keslings Kitchen on Christmas Circle, said business has been up 30 percent the past few weeks compared to the Super Bloom of 2017, and that was a record-breaking time itself.
He said the weekdays have been almost as busy as the weekends. The clientele trends older during the weekdays, he said, and younger during the weekends when working families have time to flower gaze.
Hildebrandt came up with a plan to handle the crowds better. People arent seated until they have ordered. A sign in front of the entrance reads: Please Take Note! Expect periodic, unannounced and extensive halts in this ordering line. Thank you. He said if there are no more seats, orders have to be stopped.
Across the street at Carlees restaurant, owner and Borrego Springs Honorary Mayor Andy Macuga said waiting times of 45 minutes have often been the norm.
I think its a little busier than in 2017, he said. Overall, the town has a better handle on it. There are still some issues for instance I cant create a bigger kitchen and put more cooks in there but I think the plans we had for dealing with trash and the Porta Johns and the traffic flow with the state park at the bottom of the grade has made everything flow a lot smoother.
Macuga said he was asked recently what advice he might have for folks in Lake Elsinore, which has been overwhelmed the past month with flower-goers eager to see vast fields of orange poppies in Walker Canyon.
I told them there are really no pointers except that after going through it once, youre better prepared for it the next time, he said.
All of the hotels in Borrego Springs are going gangbusters, too.
Were sold out! said chamber president Sampson, who also is the general manager of La Casa del Zorro Resort and Spa. Theres no room at the inn. Same condition last 15 days and potentially the next 15 days. Food and beverage is booming. Reservations are a must but also were doing our share of feeding the visitors and offering them services under some duress given the sheer numbers.
Adding to the beauty of the flowers on Saturday where hundreds of cars were parked along various roads exploring flower sites were countless painted lady butterflies flying through the air and landing on blooms.
Along Henderson Canyon Road in northern Borrego Springs adjacent to the park, a vast acreage of yellow poppies, interspersed with white and lavender flowers, was attracting many visitors.
That was good news for nature lovers but not so good for countless white-lined sphinx moth caterpillars that have been getting squished by passing cars for weeks. The road was a sea of thousands and thousands of yellow-brown smudges where a caterpillar had been flattened.
Rob Anslow from Santa Ana was at Henderson Canyon in the late morning, having already climbed the Palm Canyon Trail. He said hed been coming to Borrego for 20 years during various Super Blooms.
Palm Canyon is just wonderful right now, he said. You can see almost every color of the rainbow. From the bottom of the canyon, all the way up to where the palm oasis is, is just stellar. Its just amazing. He said he even found two rare peach colored poppies near the trail.
Looking to the north at the field of poppies, Anslow said he comes to Henderson Canyon each visit. Every single time, the canyon has been a different color, he said. Ten years ago, this canyon was solid orange with California poppies. This year, its yellow.
He said the 2019 Super Bloom is amazing, but in his opinion not as good as two years ago.
2017 would look at this and say, Hold my beer, he said.
South of the town near the intersection of Yaqui Pass Road and state Route 78, two retired schoolteachers from El Centro were about to take a hike along Cactus Loop Trail across the road from the Tamarisk Grove campground.
Theyre gorgeous, said Ellie Kussman of the flowers that filled the south-facing side of mountains right before her. Spectacular, said her friend, Gretchen Benson.
Earlier in the day, they had been out near Shelter Valley to the south where they saw fields of purple flowers and many other blooms.
You can stand in one spot and see 15 different types of flowers, Kussman said.
In the afternoon, Knaak and Mike McElhatton, who is also with the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association, were out in the desert looking for blooming cactus to update the associations map of wildflower locations, which can be found at borregoblooms.org.CQ
McElhatton said one reason he thinks more people have visited this year than in 2017 is that visits to the website are averaging about 4,000 a day compared to 1,300 to 1,500 two years ago.
I think that indicates a very high level of interest, he said.
Back along Henderson Canyon Road, Allen and Janis Ryan of Solana Beach said they had spent the night in town.
This is one of the most spectacular things to see in Borrego and the county, Allen Ryan said. If you dont come out to see this, youre missing something thats a truly amazing display of nature and wildlife.
jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
San Ysidro voters may be asked next year to authorize the school district to borrow as much as $108 million in school bonds.
Discussions about a possible bond measure or measures came about in light of a presentation that laid out the districts options to spend authorized, but unused bond money.
The district in 1997 was given permission to borrow $250 million under Measure C, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters. The district has spent almost $142 million.
The bond measure was under scrutiny in 2016 when the district was faulted by a San Diego County grand jury, which found that former administrators misused Measure C bond money. In response, the district vowed to create a bond oversight committee but never accomplished the task. The district late last year revived the efforts, which are ongoing as the district reviews applications.
Advertisement
While the district is authorized to borrow another $108 million, the district is unable to issue more bonds under Measure C because its reached a limit on property tax rates and as a result would be unable to raise taxes to repay additional debt, said Dale Scott, a financial adviser.
Scott shared the information with the school board during a meeting on March 14.
Under Measure C, the tax rate is capped at $100 per $100,000 of a propertys assessed value.
With the rate already at the limit, the district is unable to borrow more unused funds until 2050 or so around the time it expects to pay off the bonds issued under Measure C.
A possible solution should the district want to spend more funds would be to go back to voters to request that they re-authorize the district to borrow some or all of the $108 million under new tax-rate limits.
Scott gave the district three options:
place on a ballot a $108 million bond measure for construction that would require a two-thirds vote and yield $60 per $100,000 of a propertys assessed value.
put forward a $54 million bond measure for construction, equipment or technology that would require approval by 55 percent of voters and set the tax rate at $30 per $100,000 of a propertys assessed value.
push for two $54 million bond measures for construction, equipment or technology that each would require 55 percent of the vote and set the tax rate at $30 per $100,000 of a propertys assessed value.
With 2020 in sight, the district could place a bond measure or two on a ballot next year, either in November during the presidential election or in March during the primary election.
The presidential election would likely yield a higher voter turnout than the primary election, but a measure approved on the March ballot would make bond money available sooner, Scott said.
Since 2012, he said, more than 20 school districts across the state have successfully gotten voters to re-approve borrowing under new terms, including six in San Diego County the Cajon Valley Union, Dehesa, Lakeside Union, Santee and South Bay Union school districts.
If voters were to allow the San Ysidro School District to borrow more funds under Measure C, the district would have the option to issue bonds to pay off outstanding bond debt, Scott said.
He said the district would be required under state law to outline projects on which it intends to spend bond money.
Board members and Superintendent Gina Potter generally showed interest in the options Scott put forward.
I think its something we do need to explore and really talk about in a community setting, board member Rosaleah Pallasigue said.
Potter and some trustees suggested that planned housing projects in the San Ysidro area could lead to a need for more schools in the future. Potter said the additional bond funds could provide modernized schools to our 21st century student learners.
Trustee Antonio Martinez said the district should eye the presidential election in November, saying he anticipates the voter turn out will be high, especially because it lines up with the San Diego mayoral election.
He said it would be crucial to put together a structured campaign if the district decides to put a bond measure on a ballot.
Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com
Phone: (619) 293-1876
Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
The Port of San Diego and the city of Chula Vista held a public design workshop March 20 for one of two signature parks connected to the citys billion-dollar Bayfront development project.
Almost 100 attendees had a chance to tell designers what features theyd like to see in Sweetwater Park, a 51-acre space east of E Street that connects the Living Coast Discovery Center to Bayside Park.
Unlike Harbor Park, which will be much larger and feature amenities designed to make it a destination where families can spend hours, Sweetwater Park will appeal to people who want to connect with nature and explore the natural resources.
Port Commissioner Ann Moore, who represents Chula Vista, said this environmental component makes Sweetwater Park special.
Advertisement
I know all the parks are special in their own way but Sweetwater Park is particularly special because it is adjacent to very sensitive habitat, Moore said.
Residents who didnt attend the meeting still have a chance to weigh in on the parks design elements online. The Port of San Diego will accept input until April 3.
I think its great that they are getting public input, said Chula Vista resident Michael Cronin.
Designers envision Sweetwater Park as a place where people can connect with the areas natural wetland habitat and San Diego Bay. The mock-ups showed walking and hiking trails and several outlook points featuring views of the bay, Coronado and downtown San Diego.
During Wednesdays workshop, designers presented the audience with two design options and asked them to choose elements from each one. The main point of the workshop was for designers to get a clear idea of which design features are most popular so they can begin prioritizing the final design.
We do not have the budget to do everything as shown, so you need to help us prioritize the elements we bring in, said designer Mike Singleton. So its very important for you not to say, love it on everything.
Both design concepts had a parking lot, public restrooms, trails and activity areas. One design featured more active elements, such as playgrounds and outdoor gyms, while the other design tried to highlight the areas natural elements with more lookout points and hiking trails.
Hope Dills, another Chula Vista resident, liked elements from each design but said she preferred the more natural version.
I love nature, she said.
The Port of San Diego plans to return to Chula Vista in June for a follow-up workshop during which designers will reveal updated versions of Sweetwater and Harbor parks. Residents will have another chance to provide feedback on those designs.
Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter
When Jose Tellez began his career with the National City Police Department in 1988, it was a different time.
The department had a reputation as an overly aggressive police force a judgment driven by a slew of complaints of police brutality at a time when its focus was to crack down on high crime rates.
Community-oriented policing was barely an incipient concept.
It wasnt ingrained in us, Tellez said.
Advertisement
Yet early on, as the culture gradually changed within the Police Department, Tellez made impactful connections with the community that shaped his career as he rose through the ranks.
Now Tellez, 55, has ascended yet another rank, stepping into the top position.
The former assistant chief, who last week was sworn in as the top cop, runs a department with a $21 million budget and 100-plus employees, including more than 80 sworn officers. Under a three-year contract, he will earn an annual base salary of $197,000.
Unequivocally, hes the one, said police Capt. David Espiritu, who completed the San Diego County Sheriffs Academy at Southwestern College alongside Tellez in 1988.
Tellez has taken over the police force at a time when violent crimes appear to be on the rise, in the midst of a new era of transparency in law enforcement and less than a year since the Police Department was embroiled in controversy as critics pushed the department to be transparent about the in-custody death of Earl McNeil.
McNeil stopped breathing and suffered a heart attack after he was arrested by police and taken to San Diego County jail on May 26. A combination of a struggle with officers, drugs in his system and being held in a restraint device with two spit socks over his head led to his death, authorities said.
District Attorney Summer Stephan determined that neither officers nor sheriffs deputies were criminally liable for his death.
With a new police chief in charge, residents said they want a Police Department that keeps its officers accountable.
The challenge that I have perceived is the complete lack of transparency and how they have no one holding them accountable, said one resident who did not want to be named.
While the Police Department has made great strides since the late 80s and early 90s, Tasha Williamson said she feels the department has a long way to go.
(Tellez) has a lot of culture change that he has to do in his Police Department, said Williamson, who was among a core group that protested against the department in response to McNeils death.
Williamson, a community activist, said she met Tellez last year when she and McNeils family sat down with the Police Departments top brass. She said she appreciated his calm demeanor.
Tellez said he understands the push in National City and statewide for less secrecy surrounding police officers conduct. He is receptive for the most part to new state laws intended to make public certain records and footage.
He vowed to be open to meaningful dialogue with residents.
I think its incumbent on me to keep those lines of communication open, he said.
Its a task Tellez, who in 2001 became the first official spokesman for the department, has not shied away from throughout his career.
As a rookie police officer, one conversation in particular left a profound impact on him. At a time when crime was rampant, a mother made him aware of a harsh reality: She told Tellez she dared not venture outside with her children past nightfall because she perceived the streets as dangerous.
It was then that Tellez witnessed first-hand the effects of crime on the larger community and registered the impacts officers can have on the day-to-day lives of residents.
Outside the patrol unit, Tellezs first assignment was on campuses as a school resource officer a role that led to relationships with children, parents, teachers and administrators.
Alma Sarmiento was a parent volunteer at Sweetwater High School when she met Tellez around that time.
What stood out about him in my mind was that he was very calm in his dealings with the teenagers, which helped him to earn their respect, said Sarmiento, now a National School District board member.
Ive seen (that) hes gained the respect of everyone that hes come to know, Sarmiento added.
Beyond earning respect, she said, Tellez showed dedication.
She was left flabbergasted when he showed up to work the morning his son had been born. She recalls that he showed her a small photo that had been taken at a hospital hours earlier.
She remembers Tellez admitted: Theres nothing for me to do there so I decided to come to work.
Tellez and his wife have two children, ages 24 and 26.
Another day, in 1991, a Sweetwater High School teacher, David Ybarra, asked Tellez to visit his government classes to talk about a controversial topic in the news: the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers. The discussion opened the door to hard-hitting questions from students, Tellez said.
He, in turn, for the most part listened to the students and assured them he understood the basis of the outrage.
For every incident that happens, Tellez said in a recent interview, theres an opportunity to connect with our community somehow.
As chief, Tellez hopes to build stronger bridges between the Police Department and the community to reduce crime and address public safety issues across National City, a working-class community of more than 60,000 predominately Latino residents where the violent crime rate has been on the rise despite an overall decline in crimes.
In mid-2018, the citys violent crime rate was the third-highest in San Diego County, trailing only Lemon Grove and Valley Center, according to a report by the San Diego Association of Governments, a regional planning agency.
Tellez said he plans to reshape the gang enforcement unit into a neighborhood policing team designed to tackle area-specific issues whether gang-related or not with a focus on long-term solutions.
Tellez also intends to create a homeless outreach team in response to a high volume of police calls related to homelessness, mental health and drug addiction.
Were dealing with those three aspects more and more, Tellez said.
He said patrol officers oftentimes are swamped with other calls and, regardless, arent exactly suited to address the underlying causes or provide long-term solutions.
While some consider him a natural successor to former police Chief Manuel Rodriguez, it wasnt long ago around early 2017 near the 30-year mark in his career that Tellez, a captain at the time, contemplated the idea of retirement.
Tellez said he felt it was the right time to cap his career and leave open his position to give interested lieutenants the opportunity to move up the chain of command. At the time, he shared his thoughts with City Manager Leslie Deese, who didnt want the Police Department to lose his wealth of knowledge and wisdom.
Hes so well-regarded inside and outside the department, Deese said. I thought, It would be a shame to lose his philosophy.
So Deese and Rodriguez devised a plan so that Tellez could mentor lower-ranking officers. The end result was a succession plan that gave lieutenants, sergeants and some corporals the chance to rise one rank in an acting capacity, allowing them to gain experience.
As a byproduct of the succession planning, Tellez stayed with the Police Department long enough not only to see Rodriguez announce his retirement but also to succeed him.
During an emotion-filled ceremony in which Tellez was sworn-in on March 19, the consensus among officers, city leaders and community members was a palpable sense of pride in Tellez, a product of the department hes taken over.
Deese, a champion of internal promotions, reminded Tellez of the words she shared with him when he was promoted in 2017 to assistant police chief.
Keep leading from the heart and you will go far, she reiterated.
In May 2012, then-National City police Lt. Jose Tellez briefed reporters outside an apartment on Norton Avenue where a man was found dead. Tellez, a former spokesman for the Police Department, is the citys new police chief. (John Gibbins)
Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com
Phone: (619) 293-1876
Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
A persons identity can be suppressed by a basic government document like a drivers license or birth certificate.
Before this year, if you were a transgender or nonbinary Californian, you were forced to choose between two options that did not describe you: male or female.
Since Jan. 1, state residents have had a third choice: X.
X also represents, in Roman numerals, the number of years that plucky chorus Sacra/Profana has produced nontraditional concerts: Season X.
Advertisement
A program called Gender: X seems like a good fit for Sacra/Profana, but the Friday evening concert at St. Davids Episcopal Church delivered what could be better described as Gender: Female. Featuring only one transgender composer, Mari Valverde, the X in the title apparently applied more to chromosomes.
The majority of composers performed were female, including Hildegard of Bingen, Libby Larsen and Caroline Shaw. Sacra/Profana premiered a new work by Sarah Rimkus, the winner of their call for scores.
With 14 compositions arranged into sections with headings such as The Sacred Feminine, Agency & Autonomy and Bodies Desired/Bodies Imprisoned, Sacra/Profana celebrated feminism.
The evening began, however, with an invocation to God the Lord. Swedish composer Karin Rehnqvists I Himmelen opened with piercing cries from soprano soloists stationed in the corners of the church. Rehnqvist is influenced by Swedish folk music, and I Himmelen incorporates very high, very loud notes sung by female herders to call livestock. From the altar, the rest of the chorus sang in a classical choral style, a striking contrast to the visceral, clarion calls of the soloists.
This vision of a holy patriarch was followed by Larsens Womanly Song of God, a rhythmically charged a cappella stunner rejoicing in a singing, dancing Goddess. Most of the works heard were in a contemporary tonal choral style (think of Eric Whitacre). Larsen used this idiom with the greatest success, piling up lush clusters to underscore divine ecstasy.
The chorus was principally conducted by guest conductor Emilie Amrein. Sacra/Profana has sounded tighter, but there was a lot unfamiliar music for the concert. Intonation was marvelous, though, and the singing uniformly high spirited. Juan Carlos Acosta, the groups artistic director and choral music instructor, at times stepped in to conduct, including the world premiere of The Devils Tower by Rimkus.
The Devils Tower was chosen out of 81 submissions to Sacra/Profanas competition, open to women of all ages. With a text by the composer, it relates the Kiowa origin story of Devils Tower in Wyoming, a remnant of seven sisters escaping from a bear (which was recently their brother). What distinguished this composition was the way it set texts as fragments appearing in different sections of the chorus. At first, we heard one phrase at a time, but as the action of the story increased, so did the density of the fragments. Multiple fragments overlapped, the same words heard earlier or to come, presented all at once. In its ending, the sisters transformed into stars, the text setting became straightforward again, with gentle pentatonic melodies and harmonies.
Ive been to a few concerts this year where an announcement is made that the event takes place on land stolen from Native Americans. Gender: X opened with such a verbal proclamation. Rimkus does not seem to be a descendant of Native Americans. Make of this what you will.
Hertzog is a freelance writer.
Divine intervention may not have been directly at play when rising young San Diego bassist Sean Hicke made his transition to jazz from the in-your-face rock of such bands as Rage Against the Machine and System of a Down.
Like many who ponder the past and plan for the future in the new year, San Diego Dance Theater artistic director Jean Isaacs follows suit with flair.
She takes her inspiration from the Roman god Janus, who is depicted in ancient times with two faces, one looking back and one looking forward.
In Janus III: Dancing the Future, staged this weekend at San Diego City College, dual themes dominate her modern choreography with works both historical and progressive.
Isaacs annual Janus program is also a part of the San Diego Symphonys Hearing the Future festival, a monthlong series of events by music, dance and visual arts organizations.
Advertisement
They invited us, said Isaacs, who has planned a stirring program and, because January is her birthday month, an after-party. Basically its a chance to affiliate with the symphony and align ideas that are compatible. For me, it helped to shape what I was going to do this year.
This year, Janus III: Dancing the Future includes a duet with a double bass player, a lynching scene, references to a celibate religious community, and the re-launch of a poignant work based on a radio play.
Theres the ominous Lynchtown for instance, created by Charles Weidman more than a half-century ago.
Weidman, a modern dance pioneer who died in 1975, witnessed a lynching as a youngster. In 1936, he created choreography that incorporates slow-motion marching, clenched hands and crouching bodies. Set to a pulsing percussive composition by Lehman Engel, the movement suggests a mob mentality and a response to violence.
George Willis, a founder of San Diego Dance Theater and a former member of the Charles Weidman Theatre Dance Company, has reset the work performed by six company members and four guest artists.
Its an iconic piece, Isaacs said. And Charles Weidman is the family tree of modern dance. Sometimes we judge and say, Oh, its dated. But you know what? It looks like Trump-era white nationalism.
Steve Baker will play Fur Alina, the melancholy, tentative piano composition by Arvo Part, to accompany a segment from The Atlantic Man, a work Isaacs first staged in 2003. The idea was inspired by a 1982 radio play by the late French playwright/author Marguerite Duras, and it suggests a bittersweet longing for a loved one.
The program also includes San Diego Dance Theater interpreting Shaker Loops, a minimalist piece of music by composer John Adams.
Adams grew up in New Hampshire near a now-defunct Shaker colony, where members of the pious and celibate Christian community would engage in frenetic dancing to achieve spiritual transcendence. His music and the dance mirror the complex emotional life of Shaker society, from shimmering violin tremolos to sounds of strain to poignant melodies. Isaacs invited creative writing professor and poet Meagan Marshall to add a spoken-word section to the piece, which helps to convey the connection between the music, the dance and the rituals of Shaker life.
A lighthearted duet titled Je Ne Sais Quois features University of Hartford (The Hartt School) dance professor Katie Stevinson-Nollet and bassist Robert Black, a Bang on a Can All-Stars member who dances with his instrument.
When Isaacs takes stock of nearly five decades as artistic director of San Diego Dance Theatre and then looks to the future, she considers expansion.
I want to do intergenerational work that reflects not just the skinny, young, hyper-mobile dancer, she said. Modern dance requires a more mature dancer. I have three or four in their 20s, but size-wise, age-wise and ethnicity-wise, the company is as diverse as the community. My resolution is to spread it out even more.
San Diego Dance Theaters Janus III: Dancing the Future
When: 2:30 p.m. Friday; 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Saville Theatre, San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego
Tickets: $15-$40
Phone: (619) 225-1803
Online: ticketleap.com/Janus-2019 or sandiegodancetheater.org
An after-party with the cast at 10 Barrel Brewing Co. follows Sundays performance. Tickets are an additional $25 and include bites and a beverage.
Manna is a freelance writer.
Kuumba Fest, San Diegos biggest celebration of African-American art and culture, returns to San Diego Rep this weekend, with theater, dance, film screenings, food competitions and more.
The fest launches Friday with a program titled Friday Night of Positive Images Honoring the Ancestors, and concludes Sunday evening with the Black 2 Excellence Dance/Movement Extravaganza.
Saturday takes in such family-minded events as a Kuumba Kidz performance and a screening of the movie Liyana.
All events are at the Reps Lyceum Theatre downtown.
Advertisement
And a note about the name: Kuumba means creativity in Swahili.
27th Annual Kuumba Fest
When: Friday through Sunday
Where: San Diego Reps Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown
Tickets: $5 and up (prices vary by event)
Phone: (619) 544-1000
Online: kuumbafest.com, lyceumevents.org
Felicia People at the 2017 Kuumba Fest. (Nancee E. Lewis)
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
If theres one thing more romantically potent than Love Potion Number 9, it must be Smokey Joes Cafe because theaters big and small seem besotted with the idea of reviving this musical revue.
And with a string of Leiber & Stoller tunes from Jailhouse Rock to Stand by Me to (yes) Potion, theres no denying the show is an audience-pleaser, too.
Tony Houck directs New Village Arts visit to the Cafe, a Broadway long-runner in the 90s.
His cast includes NVA returnees Natasha Baenisch, Melissa Fernandes, Jasmine January, Eboni Muse and Trevor Rex, plus first-timers Philip David Black, Kevin Blax Burroughs, Isaac Kalimo and Kyle Leatherbury.
Advertisement
And Houck will lead the onstage band of Benjamin Goniea on keyboards, Marc Akiyama on percussion and Kyle Bayquen on bass.
Smokey Joes Cafe
When: Previews begin Friday. Opens Feb. 2. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 10.
Where: New Village Arts Theatre, 2787 State St., Carlsbad.
Tickets: $25-$47 (discounts available)
Phone: (760) 433-3245
Online: newvillagearts.org
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
Accessibility in Bonn : Platform 3 at Mehlem station is a problem
Mehlem Deutsche Bahn plans to carry out work at Mehlem station over the next ten years. During a local inspection, the SPD and the Disabled Association Bonn looked at the shortcomings.
Teilen
Teilen Weiterleiten
Weiterleiten Tweeten
Tweeten Weiterleiten
Weiterleiten Drucken
For wheelchair users, those who have difficulty in walking or who are visually impaired, mothers with prams, senior citizens with walking frames or even travellers with heavy luggage, Mehlem railway station is hardly usable. If you are coming from Bonn heading south and get off at platform 3, you can only leave the platform feasibly via a staircase. That is, if you can get out at all, because the edge of the platform is too low and therefore, the distance to the entry steps of the trains is too wide. But that's not all: tactile features for the visually handicapped to distinguish the boundary between the platform and the track are completely missing on platforms 1 and 3.
The route to the platforms is also difficult, as Daniela Werdin from Selbst Aktiv, the working group for people with disabilities in the SPD, discovered. She was on crutches and could only move at a snail's pace, due to presence of uneven surfaces and larger potholes. "With wheelchairs or walking frames you constantly get stuck, criticised Werdin, who elicited nods of agreement.
Info FURTHER RAILWAY STATIONS UNDER CRITICISM During the inspection of Mehlem station, further stations were also criticised. The stops in Rolandseck and Oberwinter are also not accessible, Daniela Werdin enumerated. Remagen train station would serve as the next possible stop, but the elevator had recently broken down. Jutta Ueberberg of the Blind and Visually Impaired Association also noted problems in Bad Godesberg. There, the handrail ends six steps before the end of the stairs. "This is a problem for the blind and visually impaired, for whom end of railing means end of stairs", she said.
The financing of the construction work has been secured, says the railway
Together with other SPD politicians and the disabled community in Bonn, the members of the working group travelled around the station to draw attention to the shortcomings in accessibility. They more than found what they were looking for: numerous stairs, the absence of lifts, platform edges that were too low, a steep ramp that could only be used by electrically operated wheelchairs - the list was endless. The conclusion of the group was therefore not very positive: "Actually, everything is missing here", was the unanimous bottom line.
This is a situation that Deutsche Bahn (DB) would like to change - albeit in the long term rather than in the medium term. "Mehlem station will be upgraded to be accessible for the disabled", said a company spokesman in response to a GA request. The site will then be completely overhauled and the platforms will be raised, among other things. This was decided together with Nahverkehr Rheinland (NVR). Although the funding has already been secured, it is not yet possible to say when the work will commence, only that "it will be in the 2020s."
Disabled travellers can call the mobility service
But why so long? According to the DB spokesman, Mehlem station belongs to the third modernisation phase of the railway along with 33 other stations in the Rhineland. In the first and second phases, further stations have been and will continue to be renewed. The DB and NVR will jointly determine which have priority. One criterion, for example, is user numbers. "Accessibility is very important", emphasised the spokesman. Unfortunately, it is only possible to modernise one station at a time. In the course of the DB offensive so far, about 75 percent of the stations in the Rhineland have been refurbished.
But this is of little help to those who currently use Mehlem station and cannot ascend the stairs. They should contact the DB Mobility Service Centre before starting their journey, on 0180/651 2512, according to a tip from the spokesperson. "There, the staff will look for alternative travel options. However, if you end up spontaneously in Mehlem, you will end up with the short straw. If no help is in sight, you have no choice but to wait for the next train.
Original text: Ayla Jacob
If you thought last Januarys tour visit of the world-beating Broadway musical Hamilton was destined to steal the thunder of San Diegos theater year, our local stage scene stood ready and eager to prove you wrong.
Even for a town with one of the most vibrant theater communities in the country, 2018 was exceptional for the depth and diversity of stage productions here. (And I cant pretend to have made it to everything.)
Such riches almost defy ranking but still, a guys gotta try:
1. Vietgone
San Diego Repertory Theatre: Qui Nguyens wildly original, stereotype-smashing play based on the odyssey of his own parents as Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s burst from the Rep stage under Jesca Prudencios direction.
Advertisement
Pomme Koch, Jason Kapoor and composer and musician David Coulter (from left) in the Old Globes A Thousand Splendid Suns. (Kevin Berne)
2. A Thousand Splendid Suns
Old Globe Theatre: Ursula Rani Sarma adapted Khaled Hosseinis novel into a tremendously affecting stage piece about injustice, resilience, redemption and the unshakable friendship between two women in war-wracked Afghanistan; Carey Perloff directed a radiant production for the Globe.
Sofia Jean Gomez and Rene Thornton Jr. in San Diego Reps A Dolls House, Part 2. (Jim Carmody)
3. A Dolls House, Part 2
San Diego Rep: Sam Woodhouse, the Reps co-founder and artistic chief, directed Lucas Hnaths witty and ambitious play to perfection, and the local premiere of this sequel to an Ibsen masterwork showcased a stunning San Diego debut by star Sofia Jean Gomez.
Melissa Miller (left) and Rae Gray in La Jolla Playhouses Queens. (Jim Carmody)
4. Queens
La Jolla Playhouse: Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok revamped this tough-minded tale of immigrant women for its quietly gripping Playhouse production, a West Coast debut; and Carey Perloff again directed with a deeply human and masterful touch.
The cast of Lambs Players Theatres Once. (Ken Jacques)
5. Once
Lambs Players Theatre: The bittersweet, movie-based musical about longing and regret played straight to Lambs Players strengths, with rich ensemble work and beautifully performed songs under Kerry Meads capable direction.
6. Fun Home
San Diego Rep: The Rep scored again with the San Diego premiere of this Tony Award-winning show, adapted from Alison Bechdels illustrated memoir of coming out and coming of age; Woodhouses direction and an ace cast brought out all its humor and heart.
7. The Wanderers
Old Globe: Anna Zieglers inventively conceived, Globe-commissioned play paired the stories of two very different couples to probe ideas about faith, desire, ambition and unspoken cultural pressures; Globe artistic chief Barry Edelstein directed with a sure feel for the lyrical, multilayered material.
8. A Little Night Music
Cygnet Theatre: The Old Town company returned to the sumptuous, deeply romantic Stephen Sondheim musical it first staged 10 years ago, and artistic director Sean Murrays closely observed production boasted a memorable lead performance by Karole Foreman.
9. The Father
North Coast Repertory Theatre: With a committed lead performance from James Sutorius, Florian Zellers fascinating and heartbreaking play explored the unnerving experiences of an older man struggling to order his reality; NCRT artistic chief David Ellenstein directed the tricky piece with a deeply sympathetic feel.
10. Men on Boats
New Village Arts Theatre: Despite the title, there were no men in director Melissa Coleman-Reeds exhilarating production of the Jacklyn Backhaus play a daringly stylized (and deliberately gender-reversed) chronicle of a real-life 1869 Grand Canyon expedition.
11. Cardboard Piano
Diversionary Theatre: By turns graceful and devastating, director Jacole Kitchens hard-to-shake staging of the Hansol Jung play explored the limits of forgiveness, and showcased a particularly searing performance by Wrekless Watson.
12. The Year to Come
La Jolla Playhouse: Lindsey Ferrentinos world-premiere work proved to be an involving look at one extended Florida family as a microcosm of our country. Director Anne Kauffman handled the plays reverse chronology (and the complications of an actual onstage pool) with admirable agility.
Honorable mentions
Hamilton, the Broadway musical juggernaut whose touring visit showed it has earned every bit of its breathless praise.
The Heart of Rock & Roll, the much-buzzed Old Globe world premiere of the peppy and polished Huey Lewis musical.
Beachtown, a smartly unconventional, San Diego-centric world-premiere work at the Rep.
Uncle Vanya, the Globes meticulously observed reconsideration of the Chekhov masterwork, from a brand-new translation.
A Jewish Joke, with Roustabouts Theatre co-founder Phil Johnson in a terrific performance of the solo piece he wrote with Marni Freedman.
Chicago, whose summer revival was part of an exceptionally strong season at Moonlight Stage Productions.
The Loneliest Girl in the World, an impressive and inventive world-premiere musical at Diversionary.
Fade, Moxie Theatres well-acted, high-impact local debut of the Latinx-inflected Tanya Saracho play.
Red, Oceanside Theatres excellent and hard-hitting production of the play about painter Mark Rothko.
The Tempest, with Kate Burton as a commanding Prospera in the Globes Shakespeare Festival.
The Wind and the Breeze, Cygnet Theatres meditative, rap-laced world premiere from the gifted playwright Nathan Alan Davis.
Avenue Q, New Village Arts winning revival of the puppet-centric Broadway favorite.
Young Frankenstein, San Diego Musical Theatres snappy revisit to Mel Brooks movie-based musical.
Xanadu, revived in all its sublime 80s silliness at OnStage Playhouse.
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
The fading fictional stage actors George and Charlotte Hay may or may not be big in Buffalo, but the real-life playwright Ken Ludwig is pretty big all over the place these days particularly in San Diego, where three of his works have premiered at the Old Globe in recent years.
Now North Coast Rep returns to the comic aces 1995 backstage farce Moon Over Buffalo, a piece the Solana Beach theater last did back in 2000.
Like Ludwigs Lend Me a Tenor which earned the writer a Tony Award nomination in 1989 Buffalo revolves around grand show-biz types, mistaken identities and some breathless physical gags and pratfalls.
Matthew Weiner, who staged Tenor for NCRT in 2011, returns to direct this ode to the stage life and whether or not an actor actually flips into the orchestra pit, it should be clear these people are head over heels for theater.
Advertisement
Moon Over Buffalo
When: Previews begin Jan. 9. Opens Jan. 12. 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 10.
Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach
Tickets: $45-$56 (discounts available)
Phone: (858) 481-1055
Online: northcoastrep.org
Arthur Hanket and Katrina Ferguson (front) and Jacque Wilke and Josh Braaten (back) in Moon Over Buffalo. (Aaron Rumley)
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
Like the central character in her play The Hour of Great Mercy, Miranda Rose Hall knows what it is to make a consequential journey to Alaska.
Unlike the protagonist of that work, which is about to receive its world premiere at San Diegos Diversionary Theatre, Halls trip there eight years ago was the first time shed set foot in the 49th State. And the mere idea of doing so just about froze her with fear.
It was a terrifying prospect the idea of moving to Alaska scared me out of my mind, says Hall of relocating to Anchorage after college to perform service work with a Jesuit volunteer corps, providing a ministry of presence to people receiving long-term and end-of-life care.
After all, Hall grew up in downtown Baltimore and was afraid of grass as a child, she says with a gentle laugh, chatting by phone between rehearsals at Diversionary.
Advertisement
And yet it was also the kind of fear that was kind of intriguing, she acknowledges. From its inception, (moving there) felt like a pretty radical thing to do. And once I got there, it was very clearly an extreme and pretty radical place to be.
And it totally captivated me. It was unlike any place Id ever been before, and I just felt this very electric sense of connection to the community and the environment and the people I was serving.
All of it the isolation of the place, the bonds among people there, maybe a little of the fear, too eventually would be filtered through her writers eye and, some five years later, into The Hour of Great Mercy first as Halls thesis project at the Yale School of Drama and now as a piece about to receive its professional debut at the LGBTQ-centered theater.
The play centers on Ed, a gay Jesuit priest who returns to his family home in a remote Alaskan town called Bethlehem, in a last-ditch bid for reconciliation.
His visit takes place against the backdrop of past tragedy, the nature of which Hall is reluctant to talk about for fear of giving away too much.
The plays title refers to the hour on Good Friday, that, in Catholic traditions, Christ is said to have died on the cross: 3 p.m.
That also happens to be around the time the sun sets what sun there is, anyway in much of Alaska in the dead of winter.
Finding the poetry
Alaska, as it happens, wasnt the only thing that seemed unlikely to be part of Halls future once upon a time. So was playwriting.
Hall originally entered Georgetown University with the intent of becoming a poet and literature teacher. Soon, though, she found herself diving feet-first into the theater community there. Then she learned that playwrights existed and could be alive, rather than simply names on a page. That was news to me!
But Halls poetry background and the way it influences her writing turned out to be one of the big draws for Diversionary executive artistic director Matt M. Morrow when he decided to program the piece, which is being directed for the theater by the distinguished San Diego stage artist Rosina Reynolds.
I was immediately drawn to Mirandas voice as a writer, Morrow says. She is able to draw characters so specifically and intimately, just through the dialogue, without forcing exposition. Theres just an ease to her writing it just flows so naturally. So I really connected with her talent on that level.
But I was also really moved by the subject matter. Its a very gentle piece. The word I always use in describing this piece is compassion. It just makes room for people and their experience.
I just dont think you find that very often a gentle, sensitive and compassionate piece like this.
Our industry is rife with competition and people trying to stand out and distinguish themselves, Morrow adds. And Miranda doesnt seem interested in staking a claim or being BOLD. Shes bold, but in a very understated way. Theres a real maturity to her work that I was really impressed by.
Hour fits into a larger phenomenon that has developed at Diversionary since Morrow took over as leader just over four years ago: A determination to champion new work, often by promising young writers just starting to make waves.
The University Heights company has proved a crucial developmental ground for such recent world-premiere plays as Ballast and The Loneliest Girl in the World, as well as the musical The Boy Who Danced on Air, which went on to an off-Broadway run in 2017.
Morrow acknowledges that for a small nonprofit there are risks involved in stepping up to produce unproven new works.
But thats just what we do, he says. If I wanted to be safe, I would go into insurance.
And with Miranda specifically, I thought she has a unique voice that needs to be heard. (And) many times larger institutions wont take a chance on new writers like this.
Partners on the journey
As the production of Hour has ramped up at Diversionary, Hall has been in town for much of the process, working closely with Reynolds as well as the productions five actors: Dana Case (as Maggie), Patrick Mayuyu (Joseph), Andrew Oswald (Ed), Eileen Rivera (Irma) and Tom Stephenson (Roger).
Andrew Oswald (as Ed, left) and Tom Stephenson (as Roger) appear in Diversionary Theatres The Hour of Great Mercy. (Simpatika)
For Reynolds, who has directed numerous shows around San Diego, staging a world premiere is always an interesting journey, because your collaboration with the playwright is supreme.
Thats even more so when the playwright is there in person: Its not a matter of checking in with us all the time, but making sure the voice in her head is being realized, as Reynolds puts it. Its actually refreshing in many ways.
And Hall is extremely collaborative. Shes protective of the material, as she should be as the writer, but also open to exploring all aspects.
One of the most surprising aspects of Hour is how the piece began to take shape in earnest: As a gift play for Halls father.
That idea came from Halls playwriting mentor at Yale the much-produced Sarah Ruhl, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist whose In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) hit Broadway in 2009.
We had a lot of conversations about gift plays, and its an important part of her philosophy for a playwright the idea of writing a play for a person you love, Hall says of Ruhl.
Around the same time, she wrote a play for her mother, For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday. So this idea of writing gift plays for my parents (developed).
I had been writing a lot of crazy plays absurd comedies, letting some steam out plays. I said I wanted to write a play that my parents would think was beautiful.
She said, It sounds like you should write a gift play for your father.
So when Hall began work on the play, I wrote out a list of ingredients that I thought would need to be included in a gift play for my dad. And was I was writing it out, I started connecting some of those ingredients to Alaska. And Alaska, in my imagination, is kind of inseparable from Catholicism, and concerns and conversations about the end of life.
Hall actually is Presbyterian rather than Catholic. Her fathers side of the family was Italian Catholic, and her dad grew up very religious.
But in his youth, he got really upset that the church didnt take a strong stance against the Vietnam War. That kind of unraveled his relationship with the institution of the Catholic Church.
For her own part, says Hall, I think I wouldve converted to Catholicism if I hadnt been queer and hadnt grown accustomed to women in leadership positions in her own church.
But I feel I absorbed a lot of Catholicism, even though I was raised in the Presbyterian church, she adds. And because her dad is a choral conductor, he spent a lot of his career performing sacred music, so that has been a big part of my life.
Catholic sacraments and rituals are part of the fabric of Hour, as are questions about the nature of intimacy in a very isolated place, and questions about love and reconciliation.
One of the things this character (Ed) inhabits for me is somebody who really interrogates his space, and interrogates what his authentic relationship with God is like. And has a pretty queer spiritual theology, which is something that I also inhabit.
For Hall, that means certainly acceptance and tolerance and I think on a more primal level, an understanding of the divine as a pretty queer force. Understanding God outside of a gender hierarchy.
Theres a moment in the play where Ed says: Theres nothing on Earth more queer than God so fluid, so encompassing the spectrum, and so devoted to radical love.
And Ive met a lot of Catholics who have a very fluid understanding of the divine, in a way that maybe contradicts the kind of dogma of the overall Catholic church.
There is definitely an earthiness and a transformative quality to Catholic social teaching. And I really connect to that.
And by the way: Yes, Halls father got to see the play that was written for him.
My dad really loved it, she reports.
But just to be safe, she admits: I didnt tell him it was a gift play for him until he told me he liked it!
The Hour of Great Mercy
When: In preview. Opens Feb. 9. 7 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 3.
Where: Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights
Tickets: About $22.50-$50 (discounts available)
Phone: (619) 220-0097
Online: diversionary.org
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
San Diegos flagship theater nationally renowned for its devotion to the works of Shakespeare is rolling out a new professional training program aimed at keeping the Bards legacy thriving locally and beyond.
The Old Globe has just announced a Classical Directing Fellowship, led by Barry Edelstein, the Balboa Park institutions Erna Finci Viterbi artistic chief and a prominent Shakespeare director and scholar.
The Globe also has announced the programs first participants: Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, Daniel Jaquez, Sam White and LA Williams. Sonnenberg and Jaquez both live in San Diego, while White is from Detroit and Williams is New York-based.
The quartet will be in residence at the Globe Jan. 22-26.
Advertisement
The new program, says the Globe, will focus on Shakespeares text; Edelstein will teach master classes and train the directing fellows to take the techniques they learn and implement them in rehearsals with professional actors.
The work will culminate in a private presentation on the Saturday of the fellows tenure, plus subsequent, broader conversations about Shakespeare, his place in the culture and the directors role. The fellows also will meet with members of the Globes staff as well as representatives from the larger San Diego theater community.
Im very happy to launch this new program and help enrich American Shakespeare, Edelstein said in announcing the fellowship.
Artist training has been a huge part of my career, and Ive benefited from the mentorship and guidance of some wonderful Shakespeareans at many points in my artistic life. I care a great deal about the future of Shakespeare in America, and it seems only right that I do everything I can to provide opportunities to artists who treasure this work as I do.
Our first cohort of fellows Daniel, Delicia, Sam, and LA has demonstrated the kind of passion and seriousness that I think merit support and encouragement. Im beyond delighted to be part of their trajectory in this way, and I look forward to this fellowship growing in both excellence and impact in the years ahead.
A bit more info on the four inaugural fellows:
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg is a co-founder and former artistic chief of the women-centered Moxie Theatre, where she continues to direct and serve in an advisory role. She is also one of San Diegos most prominent directors, with credits at the Globe, San Diego Rep, La Jolla Playhouse and numerous other companies.
Daniel Jaquez is a freelance director, theater-maker and translator of plays; he also is a co-founder of TuYo Theatre, a new San Diego company aimed at producing and celebrating Latinx artists. He held numerous theater leadership roles in his former homes of New York and Seattle, and serves on the Latinx Theatre Commons Steering Committee.
Sam White is an artist, activist and founding artistic director of Shakespeare in Detroit. Her credits include the 2017 Paul Nicholson Arts Management Fellowship at Oregon Shakespeare Festival; she also recently served as assistant director for The Tempest at Canadas renowned Stratford Festival, and will direct Twelfth Night for Utah Shakespeare Festival later this year.
LA Williams is a New York director focused primarily on new work. He recently staged Rated Black: An American Requiem for Next Door at NYTW, and has developed and directed new work at the Public Theater, Clubbed Thumb, the Eugene ONeill Theater Center and others. He also was the founding artistic director of the Black Directors Studio.
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
Sometimes people leave you / Halfway through the wood.
No One is Alone, from Into the Woods
In the fall of 1986, the musical Into the Woods had its world premiere at San Diegos Old Globe Theatre. Halfway through the shows run, its composer and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, added a new song about finding comfort amid great loss: No One Is Alone, which would become a signature of the piece on Broadway and beyond.
Nearly 20 years later, when Into the Woods was staged for the first time at Canadas renowned Stratford Festival, Britta Johnson went to see the production.
Advertisement
Then the 13-year-old went again. And again. And again.
She was there, in a sense, because someone else wasnt: Her own father, a musician and composer who, along with Johnsons mom, had been a longtime regular in the Stratford orchestra pit.
That was the first show my dad didnt play, Johnson says now, her voice growing soft as she talks in a conference room at the Globe before a rehearsal of Life After, her own new musical. He had passed away.
And I went to see it, like, 16 times, because I didnt realize musicals could do that the simplicity of such complicated truths, about community and about loss, and connection.
I felt so seen in my grief in that show.
It would be easy to say, given the storyline of Life After, that its U.S. premiere here represents a kind of full-circle moment for Johnson: After all, her own musical centers on a teen-age girl who has just lost her father.
And the rising young composer-lyricist-writer, who grew up in Stratford, acknowledges shes so excited to be here because this is where Into the Woods started, at the Globe.
But the full story, like a whole lot of things in life and in theater, is a bit more complicated than that.
For one thing, Johnson is quick to add that Life After whose director is the Globes artistic chief, Barry Edelstein is not meant to be autobiographical by any measure.
Our familys story is very different from this one, says the writer, whose sister Anika is serving as a dramaturg on the Globe production (and played the central character, Alice, in a 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival version of the work).
It certainly is inspired by (our experiences). Similar to our lead character, a big part of my coming-of-age was grief, because that was the chapter of my life I was in when my father passed away.
The fact that is part of my story helped me find how the music sounds, how it feels, the sort of texture of it. But the literal story isnt mine.
There is another connection of sorts, though, between Life After and Into the Woods. Johnsons songwriting has more than once been compared to that of Sondheim particularly after Life After had its high-profile, warmly received world premiere in 2017 in Toronto.
Director and Old Globe artistic chief Barry Edelstein works with actors Sophie Hearn and Bradley Dean during rehearsals for Life After. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Director Edelstein likewise perceives at least an indirect link to Sondheim (as well as to such artists as the French composer Debussy) in the oceanic quality thats just deep and rich in Johnsons compositions.
There is a sound I will call it a kind of post-Sondheim sound that characterizes the contemporary musical theater, as Edelstein puts it. And there is a universe of colors around that, that all in some way feel attached to Sondheim as this, I dont know, originating force.
Brittas got her own voice theres nothing particularly Sondheim-like about this score. And yet, its in a continuum that starts there.
Theres just a sense of wit, think. Theres wit in the lyrics, and a sense of sophistication in the wordplay, that one associates with Sondheim, and that I really appreciate about Brittas work as well.
The observation leaves Johnson momentarily at a loss for words.
I mean, I love hearing that, she finally says with a laugh. I always just try to let the music tell the story that were telling. And this story is one in which I think grief is oceanic.
I did listen to a lot of Debussy when I was working on it the way it moves, the way it can change so quickly. And Sondheim, you know, changed my world.
I grew up watching so many musicals because it was just what my family did. But I never felt particularly connected to them until Woods came into her life.
Looking for answers
As the cast of Life After launches into a scene in rehearsal a bit later the same day, Sophie Hearn, who plays Alice, runs frantic circles through snow flurries or what will be snow flurries when the show hits the Globe stage.
The anguished girl is on quest to figure out what was going on with her dad before he died suddenly, leaving her to puzzle out one final, haunting voicemail.
The father (played by Bradley Dean) was a famous motivational speaker a choice that Johnson says had partly to do with presenting the character as someone who the world has access to, and who Alice in this moment especially after losing him cant find access to.
She explains that on some level this show is about the way people cope, and about this young person becoming acquainted with the many ways adults cope, which is different (from hers).
Johnson adds that the whole piece kind of exists in the mind of this young woman it exists in her imagination.
Cast members (from left) Mackenzie Warren, Ximone Rose, Emma Stratton, Bradley Dean (behind screen), Sophie Hearn (seated), Danyelle Williamson (behind screen), Mamie Parris and Charlotte Mary Wen rehearse a scene. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune)
That has remained true even as the piece has grown in scale to what now is by far its biggest production.
Its been slowly growing since its inception, Johnson says. I started working on it when I was 19. It was at a theater festival for young artists.
Then it was just on music stands (as a staged reading), and then we did it at the Toronto Fringe. Just bare-bones, with me on piano.
Even in its subsequent move to a 250-seat theater in Canada, it was a bare-bones production it was very much about the movement and music.
Now, at the Globe, doing it on this scale has really been exciting, Johnson says. And seeing that it perhaps can work for a stage this big is very empowering and exciting for me.
On top of that, Stratford reminds me very much of the Globe, Johnson says. Theres something that feels very much like home about this place the Shakespeare in the air, perhaps.
Edelstein cant help but marvel at the artists who have signed on to be part of this new piece by a still relatively little-known artist: Besides the Broadway-seasoned actors in the cast, the creative team includes such top talents as set designer Neil Patel, lighting designer Japhy Weideman and costumer Linda Cho.
You know, Id love the Globe to claim as much credit as possible, Edelstein says. But I dont think thats the full story.
The full story is the piece itself. It has a kind of power to it and a richness to it that, when you put it in front of an artist, they see something true in it, and want to be part of it.
I cant tell you how many actors who came in and auditioned, even people who didnt end up being cast, would say to us, This material is extraordinary. That just doesnt happen all the time: Wow, I heard something in here, and I wanted to be part of it.
And weve all had that experience everybody whos working on it.
For Johnson, having worked with so many amazing collaborators on (the show), the colors have gotten richer. The palette, the detail, is what has come into focus.
I feel as though I had the foundation of a house, and then a lot of people have come and helped me build the walls and choose the furniture.
And so much of it seems to go back to those days as a teen-ager with a hole in her heart, sitting in the dark and seeing some much-needed light in a musical about trying to move on from heartache.
I think that is a thing musicals can do, is to take a world of feeling, and within a song make it so clear and simple, Johnson says.
Like it has always existed.
Life After
When: Previews begin March 22. Opens March 29. 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. (Check with theater for exceptions.) Through April 28.
Where: Old Globe Theatres Shiley Stage, Balboa Park
Tickets: About $34-$106 (discounts available)
Phone: (619) 234-5623
Online: theoldglobe.org
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
The growing arts-engagement efforts at both the Old Globe Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse have earned big financial boosts once again from the James Irvine Foundation, which has awarded a $1.9 million grant to the Globe and $1.3 million to the Playhouse.
The recently announced grants represent the second three-year cycle of funding for the San Diego theaters from the foundations New California Arts Fund.
The grant to the Globe is $175,000 larger than that awarded in 2015, while the Playhouses is $250,000 smaller.
The money will go toward supporting a range of programs that endeavor to further connect the two institutions with the community.
Advertisement
At the Globe, those include the flagship Globe for All initiative, which takes Shakespeare plays to people who otherwise dont have ready access to the arts.
The New California Arts Fund backing has helped us to develop and adopt a new strategic plan focusing on theater as a public good, and on the creation of public value through our art form, said Barry Edelstein, the Balboa Park theaters Erna Finci Viterbi artistic director.
Weve forged deep, ongoing partnerships with 24 community-based not-for-profits and governmental agencies serving low-income and diverse individuals and families throughout the region. Last year alone, our free, participatory arts-engagement programs made theater matter to over 37,000 people. The Globe is a national leader in this work, and the Irvine Foundation is a fundamental reason why. We are deeply grateful.
Besides the Globe for All program which this year toured a production of A Midsummer Nights Dream to 17 locations the theaters arts-engagement efforts take in the Community Voices playwriting program; a technical-theater apprentice program for military veterans and family members; and Shakespeare-based writing and performing workshops for prison inmates, among other initiatives.
A scene from La Jolla Playhouses Without Walls production of What Happens Next. (Jim Carmody)
At the Playhouse, managing director Debby Buchholz said the New California Arts Fund grants have allowed the theater to significantly expand and sustain authentic, mutually beneficial community programming and engagement activities, such as South of the 8, during which we partnered with Ping Chong + Company to highlight the stories of young adults from Southeast San Diego and surrounding areas, and Naomi Iizukas What Happens Next, produced in partnership with Cornerstone Theater Company (another NCAF recipient), in which local veterans were featured performing alongside seasoned actors.
These vital funds have also helped the Playhouse grow its acclaimed Without Walls (WOW) series, mounting numerous productions and three WOW Festivals of immersive and site-based work in unique spaces around the city.
These programs, along with the success of such military outreach initiatives as the Veterans Playwriting Workshop, have helped us toward our goal of becoming a vital arts resource for the city, reaching San Diegans in the communities in which they live.
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
Theres something Casey Nicholaw would like to say about Aladdin, and it may come as no surprise: This musical is not A Long Days Journey Into Night.
Its just extravagant; its a good, big Broadway musical, says the San Diego-bred director about the Broadway show, which is making its first touring visit to town.
Theres so much to look at. And theres a lot of money spent on costumes, you know?, the ever-ebullient Nicholaw adds with a laugh. There are two numbers where the cast changes four times in each number. So thats a big deal.
Also a big deal: Nicholaw himself. The 1980 Clairemont High graduate and alumnus of San Diego Junior Theatre has become one of the most successful and celebrated directors on Broadway, with 10 Tony Award nominations for direction and choreography (and one win, for co-directing The Book of Mormon).
Advertisement
Right now and not even for the first time Nicholaw has four shows running on Broadway: Aladdin, Mormon, The Prom and Mean Girls. He also has major projects in the works, including a movie version of the musical Monty Pythons Spamalot, which he choreographed for Broadway in 2005; and a musical-theater adaptation of the classic movie Some Like It Hot, which was filmed partly at the Hotel del Coronado (the stage version will be officially set in San Diego, Nicholaw says).
Not bad a for a guy who spent years waiting tables in New York while trying to establish himself as an actor and, eventually, choreographer.
Aladdin, adapted from the 1992 animated Disney movie, was brought to Nicholaw amid his initial flurry of Broadway success nearly 10 years ago. Now, five years after its Broadway premiere, the show arrives in San Diego on tour for the first time.
Like the film, the musical tells the story of a poor young man in the long-ago Middle East whose life is turned upside-down by a wish-granting genie, a sympathetic princess and a whole lot of royal intrigue.
That saga unfolds to such favorite numbers as Friend Like Me and A Whole New World a Grammy winner as song of the year.
We talked with Nicholaw by phone about the show and his road to Broadway:
Q: I think the first time we spoke, back in 2008, Drowsy Chaperone was opening at the Civic Theatre here, and it was the first time a Broadway show of yours was touring to your hometown. There have been plenty more since then! Have you gotten used to that idea?
A: Its always cool. Im much more used to it now, but I still sometimes have one those pinch-me moments, you know what I mean? When Im in L.A., and I have a show at the Pantages I remember driving up there to see shows (as a kid).
And I remember ushering in high school for Grease and for Annie (at San Diegos Fox Theatre, now Copley Symphony Hall).
My parents had, like, no money, but they bought me subscription seats, because they knew I was interested in theater. That was at the Spreckels, but I remember ushering over at the Fox. You volunteered to usher, and then you got to watch the show.
I saw Timbuktu!, which I loved. And I saw Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing, and that made a huge impression on me.
Q: Fast-forward to 2010, when work began on the stage adaptation of Aladdin. Were you already a fan of the movie when you were approached with the idea was it an exciting prospect from the start?
A: Oh, it definitely was. When they brought it up, I was like: Absolutely, are you kidding me? I would love to do it!
We did it in Seattle right after Book of Mormon opened (on Broadway), just to see what we had. And we changed so much (after that). Two years later was when we did it in Toronto. And even in Toronto, we knew it wasnt right. Chad (Beguelin) rewrote a third of the book or something. It was a big shift between Toronto and New York. We all went into overdrive to try to get it right.
A scene from the national touring production of Aladdin. (Deen van Meer)
Q: How important was it to connect the shows vibe and visual style to what people remembered from the movie?
A: Its funny when we were first opened in New York, there really werent many kids in the audience at all. It was like a date-night show, because everyone who saw it as kids or when they were younger, came again. And youd see people wiping their eyes after A Whole New World.
There was a huge nostalgia part of the equation there. We were all a little surprised by that. And then whats funny is you have the parents going, Oh God, weve gotta bring our kids next time! (Laughs.)
Q: The show definitely seems to have that cross-generational appeal.
A: Yeah, it does. And we purposely aged up Jasmine and Aladdin, so that they didnt feel like they were just 16-year-old kids. We did it on purpose to make a little sexier, and for the romance to have a little more to it.
Q: What kinds of reactions do you hear from fans?
A: You hear a lot of stories from girls who say, I always looked up to Jasmine and thought, Thats me. And its a really diverse cast, and always has been, from the day we opened. It just feels like its this magical world that everyones a part of.
I loved working on it. And I just tried to keep it buoyant. I think thats the characteristic thing I can bring to shows to have a certain energy to them. But I think its its own thing. It has my energy to it, but its definitely its own thing.
Aladdin
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays (plus 1 p.m. Feb. 21); 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Through March 3.
Where: Broadway/San Diego at the San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown.
Tickets: About $33-$75
Phone: (619/858/760) 570-1100
Online: broadwaysd.com
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
Step into Jesse J. Perezs office at the University of San Diego and the first thing you spy might be the bobblehead dolls of Darth Vader and company lined up on a shelf.
Were crazy Star Wars fans, Perez the new leader of the Old Globe/USD Shiley Graduate Theatre Program says with a smile about the sci-fi fandom he shares with his longtime partner, the stage actor Sofia Jean Gomez.
Actually, those dolls might be about the only things you see: Perez just took over the reins of the renowned classical-acting program in January, and getting up to speed on running things as he bounces between the Globe and USD and all over the country has left precious little time to decorate.
Perez, a seasoned actor, director, choreographer and educator who played the lead role in last years La Jolla Playhouse world premiere of Seize the King, steps into a post held for 25 years by the now-retired Richard Seer, who brought the program to national prominence.
Advertisement
As Perez sits down to chat at USD during a brief spring-break respite, hes in the midst of consulting on final candidates for the next class in the two-year, Shakespeare-dominated program, which admits just seven students annually; the acceptance rate hovers around 2 percent.
We saw about 320 people, Perez says of recent auditions and interviews in New York, Chicago and San Francisco as well as San Diego.
I forgot about how much pressure it is, having done it so long ago. I was so young and brave, you know?
Perez was just a kid when he first felt the force of artistic inspiration, and it had nothing to do with Star Wars (sorry, Luke).
One of three sons of Mexican-immigrant parents in urban Los Angeles, Perez remembers growing up watching old Charlie Chaplin movies with his dad.
Later, when he was performing in a touring dance troupe as a teenager, Perez pulled the companys director aside one day and told him: I dont think this is what I want to be doing.
What he did want to do, he said, was be kind of like Charlie Chaplin. When the director responded, Well, thats dancing, Perez insisted: No, theres something else going on.
Perez eventually would develop into a multifaceted performer one conversant, as was Chaplin, with clown work as well as acting both for film and for live audiences.
His talent and drive got him into the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting Los Angeles although he ultimately would graduate from the L.A. County High School for the Performing Arts, where he transferred when his family no longer could afford the Adler school.
Perez then studied at New Yorks Juilliard School, one of the countrys pre-eminent training grounds for the performing arts.
And at Juilliard and in his subsequent career, he grew adept at making himself indispensable to directors whose work he admired.
Id be like, I just want them to think of me like an apprentice here, he says of forming bonds with such artists as Mary Zimmerman, Robert Woodruff, Christopher Bayes and Daniel Fish. I want them to use me however they want, because Im inspired and I feel like I want to be in their room. And I would basically work with them for years.
I call it being in directors pockets, Perez adds, smiling a little sheepishly at the term. All of a sudden, theyre like, Oh, my God, Ive gotta cast somebody! Oh theres Jesse Perez!
As he narrates that last part, Perez who has by this time sprung up from his chair performs a little Chaplin-esque gesture, reaching into his own pocket and pantomiming a welcome find there.
Putting in the work
That drive to prove himself came in part from his parents; Perezs dad initially supported the family by cleaning restrooms at a leather-manufacturing operation, eventually rising to become part-owner of the place.
My parents have always said, hey, you have to work twice as hard, and create it, so that people can come and be like, We want that thing over here, Perez says.
Part of the reason his parents pushed the necessity of working hard, Perez acknowledges, was because of the color of my skin, because of where I come from. (They knew) its not going to be easy.
And once I graduated from Juilliard, the business slapped me right in the face on how they stereotype you, on how they want you to have a thicker accent with that color of skin, on you being the bodega person, on you putting gas in someones car and mowing the lawn, on being the suspect.
Still, that had more to do with TV, Perez says, noting that theater has always embraced me.
And eventually, you start turning that (on its head), by how you start auditioning, and the people you start meeting in casting offices. And then theyre like, Oh yeah, why dont you come in as that tech, or as the forensic scientist? You dont need an accent lets put scientific jargon in your mouth. I told you he could do that!
Perez strikes a similar note in talking about interpreting and staging Shakespeare for a new, more diversity-minded age, when the Bard stands to become accessible and relevant to a much broader range of voices.
Jesse J. Perez in the 2018 La Jolla Playhouse world premiere of the Shakespeare-inspired Seize the King. (Jim Carmody)
All of a sudden those stories resonate everywhere, says Perez, whose own first Shakespeare role was as Sir Toby Belch in a high school production of Twelfth Night.
How does it sound in the mouth of a Filipino kid? How does it sound in the mouth of an Asian woman playing Mercutio (from Romeo and Juliet)? Im interested in this new idea of kind of twisting and rubbing up against what Shakespeare is usually seen as.
One of Perezs own key inspirations when it comes to the Bard is someone hell now be working closely with: Old Globe artistic chief Barry Edelstein, who was Perezs Shakespeare instructor at Juilliard, and who helped recruit him for the USD/Globe position.
Perez (who himself taught for 12 years at Juilliard) says Edelstein was really supportive as I became a Shakespearean actor.
Now, as he settles into a new life in San Diego with Gomez (who won a San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for her turn in San Diego Reps A Dolls House, Part 2 last year), Perez is beginning to map out whats next for the Shiley program.
I have ideas, but I feel as though this program is pretty successful already, he says of the 32-year-old MFA module, whose alumni include Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons as well as plenty of highly regarded stage actors around the country.
Its up in the ranks. I feel we can make it better and it can grow into the 21st century.
But I feel the foundation of this place is firm. And Im coming in and building on top of that. Im coming in here and kind of just trying to see what the classics mean today.
And in the classroom, I definitely believe in technique. Lets definitely see how we do it all in this scientific way; lets really slow things down.
But then theres this idea that once we start performing it, or living it in front of people, we have to let that go. And be human beings.
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
The world premiere of a La Jolla Playhouse-commissioned work plus a new musical directed by the lead producer of Hamilton are the final two shows to join the Playhouses 2019-20 season.
The just-announced productions are playwright Keith Bunins The Coast Starlight, a story of secrets and intrigue aboard a California passenger train; and Fly, a musical adapted by Rajiv Joseph (a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) from the Peter Pan saga, and directed by Broadway mega-producer Jeffrey Seller.
Those works join the previously announced productions of Put Your House in Order, The Luckiest, Kiss My Aztec! and Cambodian Rock Band on the Playhouse slate. The theater also has announced official run dates for all six shows.
Tickets for the 2019-20 productions are currently available via subscription purchase at (858) 550-1010 or lajollaplayhouse.org.
Advertisement
Heres a look at whats coming:
The Coast Starlight by Keith Bunin, Aug. 20 to Sept. 15, Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.
Bunin was last at the Playhouse in 2012 with Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir, one of the first shows in the theaters site-specific/immersive Without Walls series.
This new, Playhouse-commissioned piece, directed by Tyne Rafaeli of off-Broadways Usual Girls, was developed in last years DNA New Work Series.
I really just enjoy his voice, Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley says of Bunin, who has had numerous plays produced in New York and was a writer on HBOs Treatment.
The Coast Starlight, Ashley says, was partly inspired by Bunins own travels up and down Californias coast on the plays namesake train, as he shuttled among writing projects. Bunin became fascinated by the unspoken intimacy among passengers, and in the play theres an element of those passengers interior lives speaking to each other.
Theres also an element of suspense, as the young man at the storys center harbors a secret whose implications require that his fellow passengers help work through them.
Its funny, its compassionate, and its very much about the capacity for invention and reinvention when your life goes off the rails, Ashley says of the piece.
Fly by Rajiv Joseph, composed by Bill Sherman, lyrics by Kirsten Childs and Rajiv Joseph; based on J.M. Barries Peter Pan. Feb. 18 to March 29, 2020, Mandell Weiss Theatre.
This will actually be the second production of the musical riff on the Peter Pan saga; the first was back in 2013 at the Dallas Theater Center.
That production marked the directing debut of Jeffrey Seller, the producing whiz whose hit projects include not just Hamilton but Avenue Q and Rent.
Fly recasts the story of Peter Pan through the lens of Wendys experience, says Ashley, who notes that the show has a contemporary feel and a propulsive and percussive score.
The music is by Bill Sherman, who won a Tony Award in 2008 for orchestrating In the Heights, the first big hit by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Writer Joseph, best-known for Bengal Tiger, had his subsequent piece Guards at the Taj staged at the Playhouse in 2016. Kirsten Childs, his co-lyricist on Fly, won multiple awards for her 2000 off-Broadway musical The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, and also has performed in two Broadway shows.
Ashley says the Playhouse production will include extensive aerial effects in fact, probably the most flying seen at the Playhouse since his own staging of A Midsummer Nights Dream back in 2010.
Ashley is particularly pleased with the shows prospects for broad audience appeal.
I love seasons where we have something for a multigenerational audience, and Fly fits the bill, he says.
The full dates for the Playhouses four previously announced 2019-20 shows:
Put Your House in Order by Ike Holter, directed by Lili-Anne Brown; June 2-30, Mandell Weiss Forum.
The Luckiest by Melissa Ross, directed by Jaime Castaneda; June 30 July 28, Potiker Theatre.
The Berkeley Repertory Theatre Production of Kiss My Aztec!, book by John Leguizamo and Tony Taccone, music by Benjamin Velez, lyrics by David Kamp, Benjamin Velez and John Leguizamo, based on a screenplay by John Leguizamo and Stephen Chbosky; directed by Tony Taccone. Sept. 3 to Oct. 13, Mandell Weiss Theatre.
Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee, featuring songs by Dengue Fever; directed by Chay Yew. Nov. 12 to Dec. 15, Potiker Theatre.
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
In its 34 years of staging contest-winning student works, the San Diego-based Playwrights Project had never before put up a fully produced musical for its annual Plays by Young Writers Festival.
Then along came Trash!
The piece by Naomi Melville, a senior at Mt. Carmel High School, is one of five winning works from the yearly California Young Playwrights Contest that will be showcased in the fest starting this week, and its the first musical to receive that honor.
But its not the first to be in the running, says Cecelia Kouma, the festivals executive producer and the Projects longtime executive director.
Advertisement
Every two or three years we get a musical submission, Kouma says. Sometimes its by a group, and its like, Oh, that would be really impossible to work on, given the extensive workshopping each play receives.
But with this script, because it was absolutely hands-down delightful, every single person (who read it) gave it a Yes, lets see this onstage!
Melvilles Trash! The Musical a saga of tossed-away objects trying to find some new purpose in life is one of five plays by school-aged writers that will be showcased in the 2019 festival, which begins performances Thursday at the Old Globes Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park.
The works also include Sea of Fog by Jack Ventimilia, and A Mothers Mother by Emma Kuli, both of which will receive full productions; plus Just Let Me Help by Marco Herrera and Chris Johnson, and Have Hope by Shyla de Hoop, which will get staged readings.
Those plays were among 415 submitted by students statewide; the winners were chosen through an extensive vetting process conducted by area theater professionals, including Deborah Salzer, who founded Playwrights Project in 1985 and led it for more than two decades.
Kouma, contest coordinator Rachael VanWormer (herself a former winner of the contest) and festival artistic chief Ruff Yeager made the final choices based on judges feedback and interviews with finalists.
Melville was actually a finalist in the 2016 edition of the contest, and Trash! was just one of three plays she submitted this time around.
As it turns out, it wasnt even the one she thought had the best prospects of winning.
I was really surprised, she acknowledges. I thought the other two were so profound, and they chose this one. It made me realize that what you think is good isnt necessarily the best work.
In developing the piece for the fest, Melville worked with the New York-based composer Thomas Hodges yet another former Playwrights contest-winner to get her music from the piano onto the page, and with director Yeager to hone the storys whimsical characters.
While she doesnt know her college destination yet, Melville has dreams of studying in the theater program at the University of California San Diego and meeting Naomi Iizuka, head of playwriting there and a favorite of the young writer and her Mt. Carmel drama teacher.
Whatever happens, Melville sounds committed to her chosen artform.
Its really interesting to think about why we still have theater when we now have film and television and all that, she says. And I think its because of having that connection with someone whos really there in front of you and the ephemerality of it.
Theres a quote I saw once, and it was about carving something into the snow; how its only there for an instant, but its still beautiful.
And part of the beauty is that it is there for only an instant.
The lineup
Festival performances are divided into Program A (appropriate for ages 11 and up) and Program B (for ages 16-plus). Each program includes one staged reading and one or two full productions. Two separate acting ensembles will perform in the two programs; actors play multiple roles.
Heres a look at the full lineup (quoted plot descriptions are provided by Playwrights Project).
PROGRAM A for ages 11 and up (directed by Ruff Yeager)
Full production
Trash! The Musical, by Naomi Melville, Sabre Springs: Trash! The Musical features discarded items in a trash can banding together in search of purpose. Through song and witty dialogue, this unlikely group sorts through their past, present, and hopes for the future. The script was written by Naomi Melville, at age 17, while attending Mt. Carmel High School. Director Ruff Yeager will direct and dramaturg this imaginative musical.
Staged reading
Just Let Me Help, by Marco Herrera and Chris Johnson, Imperial Beach: In Just Let Me Help, a camping trip provides a father and son with a greater understanding of one another. Playwrights Marco Herrera and Chris Johnson, both age 14, composed their winning script while attending Bayfront Charter High School. Playwrights Project teaching artist and Plays by Young Writers Festival alumna Mabelle Reynoso will act as the dramaturg/writing mentor.
PROGRAM B for ages 16 and up (directed by George Ye)
Full productions
Sea of Fog, by Jack Ventimilia, Studio City: In Sea of Fog, two outsiders examine their differences and explore religions place in a modern world. Compelling characters ponder issues of authenticity and vulnerability in this philosophical glimpse into teen-agers lives. Playwright Jack Ventimilia, age 16, wrote this script while attending Bridges Academy in Studio City. Director George Ye will also serve as the dramaturg.
A Mothers Mother, by Emma Kuli, Villa Park: A Mothers Mother explores the relationship between a pregnant teen and her mother. This heartfelt look into their bond provides the audience with insights into the stigma of teen pregnancy and the responsibility of motherhood. Playwright Emma Kuli, who now attends Santa Clara University, wrote her play while attending the Orange County School of the Arts. A Mothers Mother will be dramaturged by Playwrights Project founder Deborah Salzer.
Staged reading
Have Hope, by Shyla de Hoop, Rolando: Have Hope depicts the journey of two young cats searching for their mother. Shyla wrote her winning script in a playwriting program taught by Playwrights Project teaching artist Aurrora Arnold in Mr. Halls humanities class at the Creative Performing Media Arts School in San Diego. Her writing mentor will be Playwright Project teaching artist Aleta Barthell, who also founded Kids Act.
Plays by Young Writers Festival
When: 10 a.m. Jan. 10 (Program A) and 11 (Program B); 10 a.m. Jan. 22-23 (Program A) and 24 (Program B); 7:30 p.m. Jan 12 (opening night three full productions, no staged readings); 10 a.m. (Program A) and 7:30 p.m. (Program B) Jan. 25; 2 p.m. (Program B) and 7:30 p.m. (Program A) Jan. 26.
Where: Old Globes Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Balboa Park.
Tickets: $25 (discounts available); $60 for opening night, including reception.
Phone: (858) 384-2970
Online: playwrightsproject.org
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
New plays by both national talents and enterprising local community members will all be part of the celebration when the sixth edition of the Old Globes Powers New Voices Festival gets under way next month.
The free fest, set for Jan. 18-20, will take in four new American plays by rising professional writers including Anna Ziegler, who has premiered two previous works at the Globe.
And it will kick off with Celebrating Community Voices, a showcase of work created by San Diego residents through the Globes arts-engagement programs Community Voices and coLAB.
Those readings directed by Karen Ann Daniels and Katherine Harroff will include The Last Signal Officer, by Max Daily; Not a Game (working title) by Eboni Harvey; Boundaries and Barriers by Johnny Lozano; The Best Insurance Company in the World by Renea Minyard; Whos Crazy by Richard Nichols; 3 Days by Maharani Peace; and The Ex Games by Miki Vale.
Advertisement
That program begins at 7:30 Jan. 18 in the Globes Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park. The readings by professional playwrights begin the following day. Here are details and schedule notes on those works:
Welcome to Matteson by Inda Craig-Galvan, 4 p.m. Jan. 19: Moxie Theatre co-founder and top San Diego director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg stages this piece by Craig-Galvan, a writer for the ABC series The Rookie who has had plays produced across the country, winning a string of awards.
The blurb on the new work: A suburban couple hosts a welcome-to-the-neighborhood dinner party for their new neighbors a couple forcibly relocated from Chicagos roughest housing project and its anything but welcoming. A dark comedy about reverse gentrification and how we deal with the other when the other looks just like us.
The Great Moment by Anna Ziegler, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19. The Globe has become a key artistic home for Ziegler, whose plays The Last Match and the Globe-commissioned The Wanderers premiered at the Balboa Park theater. San Diego Rep also staged the local premiere of her work Actually this year, and Zieglers Photograph 51 had a London run starring Nicole Kidman.
No director has been specified for The Great Moment. The story behind the play: As Sarahs grandfather is nearing the end of his life, her son Max is nearing the beginning of his. Globe favorite Anna Ziegler crafts a poetic meditation on beginnings and endings, birth and age, and the moments of transition that mark our journey from life to death.
Faceless by Selina Fillinger, 4 p.m. Jan. 20: Jennifer Chambers directs the work by Fillinger, a much-produced young writer whose other works include Faceless and The Armor Plays: Cinched/Strapped.
Susie Glenn, a white 18-year-old from the Chicago suburbs, was arrested at OHare International Airport for conspiring with ISIS. Recent Harvard Law grad and practicing Muslim Claire Fathi has been brought on to prosecute. Inspired by real court cases, Selina Fillingers crackling drama looks at two women fighting for justice in a world gripped by fear.
The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20. FastHorse, who identifies as Sicangu Lakota, is a playwright, director and choreographer who has been produced across the country.
No director has been named for her new work. The blurb: In this satirical comedy, four well-intentioned teachers and actors set out to create a politically correct school play that can somehow celebrate both Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Month. Can they navigate historical fact, cultural representation and school district regulations to create a play that makes everyone thankful? Either way, the pageant must go on!
A number of plays showcased in past editions of the Powers Festival named for major benefactors Paula and Brian Powers have gone on to further life on stages here and elsewhere. They include three plays receiving full productions in the Globes current season: JC Lees What You Are, Laurel Ollsteins They Promised Her the Moon and PigPen Theatre Co.s The Tale of Despereaux.
Tickets to all readings in the 2019 fest are free, but reservations are required. Theyll be available beginning at noon Dec. 19 for for donors and subscribers, and at noon Jan. 11 for the general public.
To reserve, call (619) 234-5623.
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
Three years ago, San Diego Theatre Week launched with an idea modeled after the popular Restaurant Week: Offer special deals to bring people through the doors and, with luck, turn them into repeat visitors.
Now, as it gets ready to launch its fourth edition this Thursday, Theatre Week a project of the nonprofit San Diego Performing Arts League has continued to refine and simplify its cultural tasting menu.
Where once the PAL left it up to participating arts groups to set their own discounts and inducements which led to a wide variation in the appeal of those deals now the organizations are asked to offer a standard 20 percent (or more) off, with tickets sold at three price levels: $15, $30 and $45.
And as PAL vice president and executive director Gary Kramer is quick to point out, it cant be for the worst seats in the house.
Advertisement
Kramer notes that the idea is to get people into your theater and show them the quality of the shows we do here, and have them have such a great time that they come back.
We want the experience to be good from start to finish, and we try to instill that with all the participating (organizations) in Theatre Week.
Wandachristine, Zakiya Young, Ramona Keller, Cherene Snow and Olivia Washington in the Old Globes Familiar. (J.T. MacMillan)
Theatre Weeks name is actually slightly misleading: The event runs a full 11 days (through Feb. 24), with tickets also available for a few events that begin beyond those dates.
And its not just theater, either: There are seats available for dance and comedy events as well. (One of the participants is National Comedy Theatre, where Kramer is founder and artistic director.)
About two dozen events are part of 2019s Theatre Week, somewhat fewer than last year. Kramer says some unavoidable scheduling factors are involved; for example, La Jolla Playhouse has been a key past participant but is about to open the hugely anticipated new musical Diana, for which tickets (discounted or otherwise) are likely to be scarce.
While thousands of tickets are sold for shows around the county during each Theatre Week, Kramer acknowledges that theres room to grow, and hes still hoping it catches fire a little bit.
San Diego Theatre Week
When: Feb. 14-24
Where: Performing-arts venues around San Diego County
Tickets: $15-$45
Phone: (858) 437-9850
Online: sandiegotheatreweek.com
Theatre Week Lineup
Here are the shows that have Theatre Week ticket discounts available, by price level. Check individual entries for details, and keep an eye out for possible additions.
$15
Aubergine, San Diego Rep
Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune, OnStage Playhouse
Guys and Dolls, Coronado Playhouse
Mainstage Show, National Comedy Theatre
Ritmos Latinos: Que Bonito Amor, San Diego Ballet at the Lyceum Theatre
A Permanent Image, Point Loma Playhouse
A Boy and a Girl / Quibbling Siblings, Patio Playhouse
Bojos Place, Community Actors Theatre
Fuddy Meers, Trinity Theatre
A scene from Smokey Joes Cafe at New Village Arts. (Daren Scott)
$30
A Jewel in the Crown City, Lambs Players Theatre
Smokey Joes Cafe, New Village Arts
The Hour of Great Mercy, Diversionary Theatre
Beyond Babel, Beyond Babel Theatre
Dancing Lessons, Scripps Ranch Theatre
Augustin Hadelich Returns, San Diego Symphony
Gabriel, North Coast Rep
Michael Feinstein Sings Sinatra, San Diego Symphony at Copley Symphony Hall
Nellie McKay performs The Big Molinsky: Considering Joan Rivers, Lawrence Family JCCs Garfield Theatre
$45
Beyond Babel, Beyond Babel Theatre
Marie & Rosetta, Cygnet Theatre
Familiar, Old Globe Theatre
Starting or continuing after Theatre Week
$15
Moana Jr., San Diego Junior Theatre
Madagascar Jr., J*Company Youth Theatre
$30
Dancing Lessons, Oceanside Theatre
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
Like the hero of the megahit musical Hamilton, Edred Utomi is young, scrappy and hungry and now he has performed his way to the pinnacle of one of the biggest shows on the planet.
Tonight in Pittsburgh, the University of San Diego grad and former local actor takes over the title role in the Angelica tour of Hamilton, one of two national tours of the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical.
Utomi had joined the touring company early last year just weeks after his last San Diego performance, in the ensemble of Dr. Seusss How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at the Old Globe.
In short order he became a standby for the role of Alexander Hamilton, the Revolutionary War hero, statesman and U.S. treasury secretary whose story is at the center of the show.
Advertisement
Utomi first went onstage as Hamilton last March, and had subbed into the role numerous times since, while also portraying such key characters as Aaron Burr (who killed Hamilton in an infamous real-life duel), George Washington, Thomas Jefferson/Marquis de Lafayette and others at various times.
But now, with the departure from the tour of longtime principal Austin Scott who played Hamilton when the show came through San Diego a year ago Utomi is the main man.
It is with great pride that I announce that starting tonight, I will be taking over the role of Alexander Hamilton on the Angelica Tour, Utomi posted Wednesday on Instagram from the shows current stop in Pittsburgh.
Actually, pride is not the word Im looking for. There is so much more inside me now, he added borrowing lyrics from the Hamilton song Dear Theodosia.
On Twitter, Scott said: My man @edredutomi will be taking over as Hamilton on the Angelica Tour and I couldnt be happier. Edred has been holding it down as the Ham alternate and principal standby all year and my mind is at ease knowing that this company will have such a strong and capable leader. Much love and best wishes to you brother!
A son of Nigerian immigrants, Utomi was mostly a journeyman actor around San Diego after graduating from USD, but his talent was obvious in such shows as San Diego Reps 2015 production of My Manana Comes.
The past four years have been incredible in San Diego, Utomi said when the U-T checked in with him in late 2017. The San Diego theater community is really something special. Every theater Ive worked at is committed to putting on good theater.
And its a family such a welcoming community, such a thriving community.
Now he leads a show that has received renewed exposure recently (not that publicity is ever an issue for Hamilton) as writer-composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda launches a new production of the musical in Puerto Rico, the place of his own familys heritage.
Miranda, who originated the title role on Broadway, will portray Hamilton again in that production, which opens Friday.
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
It can be hard now to separate memories of Princess Dianas life from the sad story of her passing, at age 36 in a 1997 Paris car accident.
Even the song most associated with the late Princess of Wales is one that was famously played at her funeral: Candle in the Wind, which Dianas friend Elton John originally wrote for Marilyn Monroe another cultural icon who died tragically and too young.
But this week, when La Jolla Playhouse unveils a whole new set of songs about Diana, it will be in service of a world-premiere musical that revisits her days as a dynamic and sometimes divisive figure on the world stage, rather than focusing on that final chapter.
At the center of the show, created by the same key artists who took the musical Memphis from the Playhouse to Broadway, is Dianas 1981 wedding to Prince Charles.
Advertisement
That globally televised event commenced what seemed a fairy-tale union. And yet the marriage eventually would devolve into the stuff of tabloid gossip, as the pair became estranged and Charles longtime relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles was exposed.
Those soap-opera aspects of the real-life story aside, director and Playhouse artistic chief Christopher Ashley says Diana ultimately stands as a tribute to the late princess.
Everyone involved in this show is interested in celebrating her, says Ashley, who teamed with writer-lyricist Joe DiPietro and composer David Bryan (the longtime keyboardist for the band Bon Jovi) to create the musical. And everybody working on this show has a real fascination with her.
Choreographer Kelly Devine (left) works with Diana star Jeanna de Waal and cast mate Tomas Matos at a La Jolla Playhouse rehearsal. (Jim Carmody)
So how do you step into Dianas shoes not to mention the splashy fashions that the princess became known for in those sartorially flamboyant days of the 1980s?
Thats what the Broadway-seasoned Jeanna de Waal has been working hard to figure out in the nearly two years since she was tapped to play the title role in Diana a show that seems an obvious candidate for Broadway, depending on how things go in La Jolla.
Although de Waal spent the first seven years of her life in Germany, her mom is British, and the family had moved to England not long before Dianas death an event that left a lasting impression.
I very vividly remember the day she died, because our mum got us out of bed, actually, to watch (the news), says de Waal, chatting at the Playhouse before a recent rehearsal.
I remember it being on the TV all day. And my mum and my grandma in particular being very upset. But it really wasnt until I started researching for this role that I deep-dived into the facts of Dianas story, and also the more subtle parts of her motivations.
What de Waal came away with was a conviction that Diana, who was barely 20 when she and Charles married, was a wonderfully sensitive young human being, and that the ways that pressure and isolation and loneliness can affect a person and then to see them overcome those challenges and do something extraordinary with their life is a brilliant and amazing story.
Its a pleasure to dive into and really explore those parts of your own emotions, and see how you can tap into those and connect.
For director Ashley, a big part of the motivation for creating Diana has been that I think she was an extraordinarily transformational, inspirational woman.
Through her work to raise awareness of such issues as the AIDS crisis and the perils of abandoned land mines, says Ashley, Diana really used the white-hot spotlight that was on her in such productive ways to call attention to charities that really needed help.
And its also a great time to tell a story of a woman who finds her voice and finds her power the way Diana did.
The many dimensions of Diana
On the face of it there seems a surprising contrast between that serious-minded Diana and the one whose favorite quote (according to her son, Harry) was: You can be as naughty as you want just dont get caught.
But to de Waal, those are really two sides of the same coin.
I think there are contrasts, but I think theyre also linked, says de Waal, whose Broadway credits include Kinky Boots and American Idiot.
When she was doing her work with (causes), it was all about connection. And playfulness IS connection, right? There is an element of fun or silliness to it.
And I think that even though she brought a great sense of gravitas to the work she did by shining a light on it, she wasnt lecturing people. She was making them laugh and making them smile. She discovered how to use her natural skill, that playfulness, for a greater cause.
De Waal adds that Diana was put into a circumstance where she had a clearly defined set of rules, and was very willing and enthusiastic to please the people around her. And she had to find that balance of serving her own voice rather than always serving the voices of others.
I think the positive of living like that is the empathy and the kindness and the love you can make people around you feel. And I think thats something in her personality Ive tried to emulate and take on, and really be aware of how much value there is in listening to the nuances and the subtleties of day-to-day interactions.
Jeanna de Waal with Judy Kaye, who plays Queen Elizabeth, at a Playhouse rehearsal. (Jim Carmody)
De Waal whose Diana cast mates include two-time Tony Award winner Judy Kaye as Queen Elizabeth, Roe Hartrampf as Charles and Erin Davie as Camilla says the team has been very clear that were not making a documentary. Were making a musical.
But, she adds, the one part that maybe comes closest to being a documentary are the costumes, designed by the Broadway veteran William Ivey Long.
His attention to detail is extraordinary, de Waal says. I mean, we analyzed closeups of pictures to see where the buttons lay.
Youll recognize every costume I wear, truly although there was the challenge of, she was much taller than I am. (So) you put 20 ruffles on her and she still looks good. You put four ruffles on me and I look like a Christmas tree!
Small sacrifice, in her eyes, for getting a chance to play such a celebrated and complex figure and to be part of a new creative work from the very start of its life.
This is my absolute favorite part of being an actor, says de Waal. Its all-consuming, and its stimulating every day. And really exciting. It feels lovely to be part of something as youre going up the roller coaster.
Diana
When: In previews. Opens March 3. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through April 7.
Where: La Jolla Playhouses Mandell Weiss Theatre, Playhouse/UC San Diego Theatre District, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla
Tickets: About $91-$136 (limited availability)
Phone: (858) 550-1010
Online: lajollaplayhouse.org
The music of Diana
With Memphis the musical about rocks early days that launched at La Jolla Playhouse in 2008 and went on to a Tony Award-winning Broadway run composer David Bryan and writer-lyricist Joe DiPietro drew on blues and R&B.
Now, the pair have taken musical cues from 80s pop for Diana, their latest world-premiere work with director and Playhouse artistic chief Christopher Ashley.
The show definitely has a pop-rock feel, says Jeanna de Waal, who plays Princess Diana in the production.
And Ashley says: Its very much inspired by the 80s. Diana was a huge fan of Duran Duran and Culture Club and also Bon Jovi, for which Bryan serves as longtime keyboardist. So her music (in the show) is very much inspired by 80s pop.
But the music of the royal family, of the Windsors, is much more derived from contemporary classical. So the score has kind of a collision between those two styles.
Diana star Jeanna de Waal is also the driving force behind Broadway Weekends. (Little Fang)
Diana star means business
While the title role in Diana is the biggest one shes ever taken on, Jeanna de Waal has been a rising star (on Broadway and beyond) for a while now; her credits include the world premiere of Waitress as well as such shows as Kinky Boots, Wicked and American Idiot not to mention The Rocky Horror Show at San Diegos Old Globe.
But in her other life, de Waal is the mastermind behind Broadway Weekends, a business venture that essentially offers musical-theater fantasy camp for grown-ups.
The sessions are taught and led by working Broadway artists, and give all participants (no matter their ability levels) the opportunity to perform.
The idea has proved popular enough since its launch in 2017 that Broadway Weekends now includes regional pop-up camps in other cities. In January, a pop-up took place in Los Angeles, led by cast members of the touring Come From Away the hit musical that premiered in La Jolla four years ago under the direction of Playhouse artistic chief and Diana director Christopher Ashley.
And when it was mentioned to de Waal in a recent Playhouse interview that it sounded as if she were getting the equivalent of an MBA by launching the project, she replied: Actually, I just found out this morning that I have an interview with Wharton for the MBA program referring to what might be the nations pre-eminent business school.
De Waal adds that she would have to defer attendance if she and Diana wound up transferring to Broadway, and Im not sure Id even do it in any case, given all shes already learning about the business world. But I have applied.
Theater royalty
Sara Jane Nash as Diana and Richard Rivera as Charles in the 2018 Coronado Playhouse production of King Charles III. (Ken Jacques)
Even if we set aside all of Shakespeares stories of kings and queens, there still have been a whole lot of plays about the British royal family. (And those dont include the 1928 Broadway play The Royal Family, which was actually a parody of the Barrymore acting dynasty.) Five recent examples:
The Audience, 2013: Peter Morgans 2013 play draws on the traditional weekly audiences (or meetings) Queen Elizabeth II has held over the decades with Britains prime ministers. Helen Mirren played the queen in both the London and Broadway productions.
King Charles III, 2014: The 2014 future history play by Mike Bartlett imagines a time a few years hence when Prince Charles ascends to the throne, but is beset by nasty politics and scandal; Princess Diana actually appears as a ghost in the piece. Coronado Playhouse staged the plays local premiere last year. (Read the review.)
The Madness of King George III, 1991: Alan Bennetts fact-based but deeply satirical work explores the odd story of the 18th-century British king who lost the American colonies and, for mysterious reasons, his mind. It was last produced here at the Old Globe in 2010. (Read the review.)
Handbagged, 2013: Moira Buffini, whose play Gabriel has its West Coast premiere at North Coast Rep this week, wrote this comic 2013 piece, which parallels The Audience a bit in its focus on the pas de deux between Elizabeth II and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Princess Diana, the Musical, 1998: And yes, there is at least one other Diana musical. This one, by Karen Sokolof Javitch and Elaine Jabenis, was staged in 2017 at Patio Playhouse in Escondido.
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
Whatever else it accomplishes, Julia Chos play Aubergine promises to give eggplant a good name. Or at least a better name than eggplant.
The more graceful term aubergine is the one that people in Great Britain, France and other countries use for those bulbous purple vegetables.
But while Aubergine is not about eggplants, exactly, it is in some ways about finding a common language emotionally, spiritually and otherwise through food.
The play, which is about to receive its local premiere at San Diego Rep, centers on a Korean-American chef named Ray, who is long disconnected from the country of his heritage and who specializes in French cuisine.
Advertisement
When Ray learns that his dad is dying, though, he feels obligated to put his life on hold and do his final duties as a good son.
Ive abandoned my career to come home and help him, explains Brian Kim, who plays Ray at the Rep, about his characters situation. And the irony is, he is a person who has never appreciated food, and has never supported my career. So it creates quite a difficult relationship.
With the help of an uncle from Korea, Ray strives to make a traditional soup that might help comfort his father (whos played by the veteran screen and stage actor Dana Lee).
Brian Kim (left) and Dana Lee rehearse a scene from Aubergine at San Diego Rep. (Peggy Ryan)
Thats just one way that food seems to become a proxy for emotion and memory in Aubergine. And whether youre a foodie or no, that kind of powerful sensory connection is probably a familiar feeling.
Throughout the play, youve got these memory monologues that highlight what food does, in those moments that are most important to us, says Kim. I think thats a lot of the beauty in this play. It can be extravagant and it can be simple, but (either way) its food that brought us together.
Breaking barriers
In the Rep production, directed by longtime associate artistic chief Todd Salovey, Audrey Park plays Cornelia, Rays estranged girlfriend. (The production also features Terrell Donnell Sledge, Yong Kim and Amanda Sitton.)
Cornelia is more conversant in the Korean language than Ray is, and she winds up reluctantly enlisted to help bridge the language gap with Rays uncle.
Park says the way cultures intertwine in Chos play is a key part of the story. She talks about how at the start of Rep rehearsals, we kept referring to Aubergine as The Food Play.
But Ive always kind of put quotations around that, she says. I think its important to be specific, that we are telling a Korean-American story. Its different than telling a Korean story, and its different than telling what we understand to be a typical white-American story.
A Korean-American story is very specific. And there is always some sort of either tension and or collaboration that happens within ourselves of reconciling that Korean-ness or reconciling that American-ness.
I think thats beautifully done in this play, and its beautifully done through Brians work that struggle of, is (Ray) really rebelling against his father, or is he rebelling against a specific cultural aspect of his father?
As it happens, Kim has at least some real-life perspective on his characters expertise and aspirations: One of his previous jobs was as the accounting head for a luxury restaurant group, where Kim worked with a really high-class executive chef.
I wrote to him recently to say, Thank you for putting so much real-life experience into this role! Kim reports. Im really happy that I got to have that experience, and to understand the importance of their craft.
From left: Yong Kim, Audrey Park, Brian Kim, Terrell Donnell Sledge and Dana Lee in Aubergine. (Peggy Ryan)
Aubergine had its beginnings some six years ago, when Cho the writer of such works as The Architecture of Loss and BFE was one of several writers asked by Berkeley Rep to contribute short plays about food.
Chos own father had died not long before, and the piece she came up with gradually expanded into the full-length play that premiered at Berkeley Rep in 2016.
Given the themes of loss and mortality that run through Aubergine, Park senses that people might look at the synopsis of the play and think it carries a lot of somberness. But I find that even in the language, there are a lot of moments of lightheartedness or joy. It actually contains all those emotions.
And the thing I find so beautiful about food in this play is that it highlights the fact that outside of language, there are different ways to communicate.
Park especially appreciates this idea that there is a language that is unspoken, that food allows us to speak. And thats through memories that food kind of brings to us all the sensations, the sounds and the tastes and the smells.
They communicate so much to us.
Aubergine
When: Previews begin Jan. 24. Opens Jan. 30. 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. (Some exceptions; check with theater.) Through Feb. 17.
Where: San Diego Reps Lyceum Space, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown
Tickets: $25-$69
Phone: (619) 544-1000
Online: sdrep.org
Play-ing with food
A look at some other food-minded plays that have hit local stages:
My Manana Comes: Elizabeth Irwins drama of class and competition in the culinary world is set in the kitchen of a high-end New York restaurant; the Rep staged it in 2015. One of that productions stars, Edred Utomi, is now playing the title role in the hit musical Hamilton on tour. (Read the review.)
tokyo fish story: The Old Globe showcased plenty of simulated food prep onstage in its 2016 production of Kimber Lees play, which unfolds in a sushi kitchen. (Read the review.)
Raymond Lee and Tina Chilip in the Old Globes 2016 production of tokyo fish story. (Jim Cox)
Waitress: Pie is life for this musicals main character, an unhappy diner server with dreams of baking glory; the Broadway productions touring version landed in San Diego late last year. (Read the review plus an interview with songwriter Sara Bareilles about the show.)
The Cake: Bekah Brunstetters witty and insightful play, inspired by the real-life legal case of a baker who refused a gay couples wedding order, had its area premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in 2018. (Read the review.)
Monty Pythons Spamalot: OK, so this slice of Monty Python musical-theater madness has about as much to do with the processed meat product in its title as Julius Caesar has to do with salad; it was still deliciously funny when Cygnet Theatre produced it last summer. (Read the review.)
JAMES HEBERT
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
Classic musicals used to revel in fantasy sequences known as dream ballets. Grace McLeods Herland might not be a musical, but it does have an answer to those old-school reveries: Think of it as dream karaoke.
The scene in the gifted young playwrights world-premiere work at Moxie Theatre is set to Bruce Springsteens Born to Run, and it captures a lot of what works about this smart and completely charming play: Its funny, unexpected and kind of lovably awkward and so what if (as the kids say) its a little bit extra?
Of course, maybe the kids dont say it quite that way (Im sure my own college-student daughter would be happy to set me straight on this). But thats part of the point of Herland, which explores how a freshly minted high-school grad named Natalie (Christine Cervas Nathanson) and her latest acquaintances who have a good five decades head start on her in life both navigate the gaps between their experiences and find surprising connections.
The premise is an inventive one: Jean (Rhona Gold), a divorcee of a certain age, has signed up Natalie as an intern to help with the logistics of setting up a self-styled retirement community in Jeans own garage.
Advertisement
Its a place where Jean used to be banned from even entering without permission: The garage (designed to cluttered perfection by Julie Lorenz) was the domain of her ex-husband and his Springsteen tribute act.
Joining this nascent community are Jeans longtime pals Louise (Jill Drexler) and Terry (Loie Gail), who likewise are trying to figure out the next stage in their lives.
Thats true for the college-bound Natalie, too: Shes not just looking ahead to what life will be like as an adult, but also is coming to terms with her identity as a lesbian.
Whats most remarkable about McLeods writing is how authentic and gratifyingly non-patronizing the dialogue feels between Natalie and her new friends. Its especially impressive given the playwright is just 23 the youngest ever to have received a rolling world premiere from the National New Play Network, which has arranged for Herland to be produced at two other theaters in quick succession after Moxie.
Theres a funny scene where Jean played by Gold with wonderful wit and openness, in a welcome return to Moxie reacts to Natalies shock over a past episode of sexual harassment that Jean silently endured by saying: Wait a minute am I being called out? This is fantastic! I read an article about this.
The humor, under the deft direction of Moxie executive artistic chief Jennifer Eve Thorn, manages to walk that fine line of acknowledging differences in knowledge and understanding without making cheap jokes.
A few scenes (including one staged in total darkness) go on longer than they need to, but what ultimately abides is a sense of real warmth and affection among these characters young and less so.
Jill Drexler, Loie Gail and Rhona Gold (from left) in Herland. (Daren Scott)
A major part of that is Nathansons tremendously appealing turn as Natalie one that can make you wonder why we havent seen this accomplished actor (and Moxie staff member) on local stages sooner. Shes all heart as this enterprising and studious young woman who name-checks the plays title inspiration Charlotte Perkins Gilmans 1915 utopian novel about a society populated solely by women but remains sympathetic to the real-life struggles of Jean and Co.
Drexler is likewise in top form here as the demanding, structure-loving Louise I love steps!, she says, when she encounters an online guide to being an independent woman and has a pretty epic spit-take to boot.
And Gail is a key presence as the quiet-but-wise Terry, whos going through her own reassertion of sexual identity.
Meg Stoll Tron also makes the most of her one funny, awkwardly endearing scene as Becca, Natalies would-be hookup their romance quashed by an untimely needle-drop of Springsteens Im On Fire.
Ashley Bietzs lighting design brings home a lovely and perfectly fitting final moment, and Anastasia Pautovas costumes and Lily Voons sound also work well.
Boss fans might not love this one, but Tron gets one of the plays most pointedly funny lines, as Becca muses on how people think that if America was a person it would be Bruce Springsteen.
An old white guy who doesnt know when to quit? Seems right to me.
Herland
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 17.
Where: Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Rolando District (near San Diego State University)
Tickets: $18-$44 (discounts available)
Phone: (858) 598-7620
Online: moxietheatre.com
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
As if the first year of college isnt anxiety-inducing enough for California teen Lexi, shes been sent off to the University of Connecticut by her mother with a cautionary urban legend planted in her head: Theres a serial killer with a hook for one hand who preys upon young women. Thanks, Mom.
Whether the murderous madman is real in University of California San Diego MFA grad Lauren Yees Hookman is purposely ambiguous. But theres no shortage of graphic evidence in the 2015 play that Yee has referred to as an existentialist slasher comedy that he exists, at the very least on the power of suggestion. Blood turns up everywhere on clothing, on knives, on Lexis own hands. The Hookman, meanwhile, is a masked figure naturally dressed in black. Or is he just in Lexis mind?
San Diego States School of Theatre, Television and Film is staging Hookman in association with Moxie Theatre under the direction of Moxies executive artistic director, Jennifer Eve Thorn. All the Hookman actors and crew members are SDSU undergrads or graduate students. Hookman was actually workshopped in 2012 at UCSDs Baldwin New Play Festival, the same year Moxie produced Yees A Man, His Wife, and His Hat (since retitled The Hatmakers Wife).
With all the stage blood and the one-act plays cutting takes on college life, Hookman is undoubtedly a treat for the students involved. Kennedy Garcia, playing the lead role of Lexi, admirably carries the show, which is presented in SDSUs rather awkward Experimental Theatre. Her fellow actors, for the most part, are mired in one-note type roles: the text-obsessed roommate, the self-involved blond girl, the slacker-sounding boyfriend.
Advertisement
The one supporting character who seems like a real person is Lexis best friend, Jess (Dominique Payne). A California flashback to a drive the two are taking from In-N-Out to the movies is Hookmans hook. Jess ends up dead, killed by: A drunk driver? A murderer? Lexis reckless driving? The scene plays out three times in the makeshift chassis of a car onstage.
This ambiguity, it turns out, is necessary for Lexis self-examination and confrontation with her fragile psyche. Everything that goes down in Hookman in between these fateful car scenes, from a grisly murder (the shows one true fright) to a quixotic encounter at a memorial for the dead Jess, is presented as enigmatic or surreal or both.
Further roiling the waters are Yees built-in musings on misplaced victimization, responsibility and culpability, and the complexities in general of trying to find ones place as a young woman in the micro-society of college, one that can be unjust, high-pressure and even predatory. (Lexi confides to Jess, in one driving flashback: I think I was raped.) For existential heft, Joan Didions The Year of Magical Thinking is repeatedly name-dropped, too.
The issues raised are crucial ones, but there are way too many for a 70-minute play in which the visual effects inevitably cause the thoughtful reflections to lag by comparison. Ultimately, the answer to who or what the Hookman is will depend on which aspect of the production resonates most.
Hookman
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Through March 24.
Where: Experimental Theatre, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, College Area
Tickets: $17-$20
Phone: (619) 594-6884
Online: ttf.sdsu.edu and moxietheatre.com
Coddon is a freelancer and a lecturer at San Diego State University.
If youre looking for Shakespeare in San Diego, head to the Old Globe. New plays? Check out La Jolla Playhouse. But if youre a fan of farce, theres no local theater better for the fast-paced comedies than North Coast Repertory Theatre.
Over the past 15 years, the Solana Beach theater has built a loyal following for these silly, door-slamming shows, like this months Moon Over Buffalo, which opened Saturday night.
The Ken Ludwig backstage comedy has all the elements necessary for a crowd-pleasing show a strong cast, a good door-lined set, well-paced direction and the effervescent atmosphere required to keep its lightweight script aloft.
Moon is the fourth farce Matthew Wiener has directed at North Coast, beginning with Ludwigs similar backstage comedy Lend Me a Tenor in 2011. Comparing the two, Wieners direction of Moon is much stronger, more uniform, naturalistic and less over the top.
Advertisement
Set in 1953, Moon is the story of a failing touring repertory company headed by married actors George and Charlotte Hay. At a theater in in Buffalo, N.Y., the tour collapses after the Hays daughter, Rosalind, leaves the company following a breakup with the tour manager, Paul; George impregnates the new ingenue, Eileen; and Charlotte decides to leaves George for their attorney, Richard.
Add to this a bottle of whiskey, an unexpected visit from film director Frank Capra and a case of mistaken identity and youve got enough high jinks for two hours of laughs.
North Coast Rep newcomers Arthur Hanket and Katrina Ferguson steal the show as the battling spouses George and Charlotte. Theyre both ebullient and expansive in their engaging show people performances and theyre naturals at the punchy, period-style dialogue. Hanket also pulls off believably an extended and difficult drunken scene.
Back for her fourth farce at North Coast is Jacque Wilke as the Hays headstrong and exasperated daughter Rosalind. Wilke co-starred in Wieners Lend Me a Tenor eight years ago, and in 2008 she made a memorable local breakthrough in the farce Dont Dress for Dinner, also at North Coast Rep.
Matthew Salazar-Thompson returns for his third farce at North Coast, starting with Ludwigs Leading Ladies in 2006. In Moon, he plays the Hays lovesick but amiable lawyer, Richard.
Completing the cast are Roxane Carrasco as Charlottes hard-of-hearing mother, Ethel, whos the tour costume manager. Josh Braaten plays tour manager Paul. Arusi Santi is Rosalinds tongue-tied new boyfriend, Howard; and Brittney Bertier is the unexpectedly pregnant actress Eileen.
As he has for all of North Coasts farces, resident scenic designer Marty Burnett created the show-within-a-show set: a tidy backstage area with a central turntable to show the action that occurs onstage at Buffalos Erlanger Theatre.
The only misstep in Wieners fleet-footed stage direction is repeatedly sending the actors through the wrong doors clearly labeled dressing rooms and stage right.
Matt Novotny designed lighting, Elisa Benzoni created costumes and Melanie Chen Cole designed sound.
Theres nothing surprising or groundbreaking in North Coasts tried-and-true formula with Moon, but its a solid entry in the companys long history of farce.
Moon Over Buffalo
When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 10.
Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach
Tickets: $45-$56 (discounts available)
Phone: (858) 481-1055
Online: northcoastrep.org
pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com. Twitter: @pamkragen
In the first moments of The Year to Come, a woman named Pam shambles onstage, oxygen tank in tow, to offer what seems some deeply considered advice: Only look ahead. And if you trust her judgment, you ought to walk out of the play right then.
But dont.
I say this not just because trusting the judgment of someone who fires up a cigarette while on oxygen and almost forgets to turn off the tank is a patently bad idea.
But also because, while staying means you will be doing everything but look ahead as The Year to Come ticks backward across an 18-year span of one familys lives the rewards of Lindsey Ferrentinos captivating new play should be the last thing youd want to pass up. (Besides maybe sharing a smoke with Pam.)
Advertisement
The world-premiere La Jolla Playhouse work proves a funny and probing exploration not just of one extended Florida familys journey, but of the course of our country over two eventful, sometimes traumatic decades.
That scale of domestic epic is lot to take on. Doing so in reverse brings the piece to a whole different level of storytelling technique almost like writing a theatrical palindrome.
But the sharp-witted and acutely observant Ferrentino pulls it off beautifully, with a big boost from eight strong actors plus the off-Broadway ace (and University of California San Diego grad) Anne Kauffmans fluid, syncopated direction.
What comes through most vividly is a sense that Ferrentino herself Florida-raised knows this family not only backward and forward but inside and out.
Theyre a sprawling, feuding, affectionate and often irascible bunch. As Pam says, A family is like a country, and if thats so, this familys anthem is a grand, brassy march that attenuates into some decidedly minor-chord duets in the shows more tense, moody second half.
But even before the first part of the 140-minute, one-intermission show is through, dad Frank (Jonathan Nichols) and son Jim (Adam Chanler-Berat) will get into a physical tussle that ends with both plunging into the pool.
Yes, pool. The Year to Come has an actual, fully functioning one 2,000 gallons of water sloshing above the orchestra pit, a real feat for scenic designer Christopher Acebo. (Shamu-style protective ponchos might be a sensible fashion choice for those in the front row.)
This is where the family gathers every New Years Eve, starting in 2018, when we see Jim lounging poolside with his husband, Sinan (Pomme Koch), and his parents Frank and Estelle (Jane Kaczmarek of Malcolm in the Middle TV renown).
Pam (Marcia DeBonis), Jims unfailingly outspoken aunt, is also on hand, with her husband Joe (Ray Anthony Thomas).
The diversity of this crew in political beliefs, religious backgrounds and more becomes a source of both gutting conflict and hard-won bonds, and its fascinating, as the play spools backward, to see what led to the sense of a tentative detente we see in the first scenes.
Jane Kaczmarek, Adam Chandler-Berat, Marcia DeBonis and Pomme Koch (from left) in La Jolla Playhouses The Year to Come. (Jim Carmody)
Nichols is a wonder of sheer, weirdly lovable buffoonery as Frank; but we also see the tremendous pain he and the family have borne, in a way hinted at (if not telegraphed) near the top of the show.
DeBonis gets great laughs as the tough, mouthy Pam; Kaczmarek lends warmth and self-deprecating wit as Estelle (theres a priceless scene where she mistakes a mug warmer for an Alexa device); and Thomas brings a boisterous spirit to the onetime comic Joe.
Theres also a winning dynamic between Chanler-Berats fiery, liberal torch-bearer Jim yes, Trump definitely does come up and Kochs eminently likable, peacemaking Sinan, whose Muslim faith gives pause to the Cuban-born Frank, a former New York City firefighter.
Two other characters materialize as the piece winds backward. Pop-Pop is the familys Jewish-immigrant patriarch, and the wonderful Peter Van Wagner gives him a bravura opening monolog and a killer little performance of Viva Las Vegas. (Brandon Wolcotts sound design and Lap Chi Chus lighting boost that and other scenes, as does Dede Ayites costuming swimsuits included.)
And Jenna Dioguardi plays a figure whom the familys history pivots around dramatically, though its best not to say more.
As with most new plays never mind those as ambitious as this one The Year to Come has some rough edges. A plot point involving vultures feels a little pushily metaphorical, and Pam invokes an overused trope about a frog in a pot of water at the top of the show.
But front to back or vice versa this play and this family feel deeply, messily alive.
The Year to Come
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 30.
Where: La Jolla Playhouses Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, Playhouse/UC San Diego Theatre District
Tickets: About $20-$86 (discounts available)
Phone: (858) 550-1010
Online: lajollaplayhouse.org
jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @jimhebert
With a flimsy storyline amounting to little more than an evocation of the old Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland Lets put on a show! films of the 30s wrapped around a love story, Crazy for You is best appreciated as an episodic stage musical, one in which the parts are definitely greater than the whole.
But the combination of some of Broadways most enduring songs (written by George and Ira Gershwin), dollops of slapstick (conceived by Ken Lend Me A Tenor Ludwig) and some hellacious tap dancing makes Crazy for You an audience-pleasing affair.
It certainly is at the Horton Grand Theatre downtown, where San Diego Musical Theatre is staging a rollicking production of Crazy for You, directed by Kirsten Chandler with inspired choreography by Jill Gorrie.
Crazy for You debuted on Broadway in 1992. Based on the 1930 musical Girl Crazy which introduced Ethel Merman to the stage it features tunes from that show, including I Got Rhythm, But Not For Me and Embraceable You, while incorporating songs from other musicals, among them Shall We Dance and A Damsel in Distress.
Advertisement
The sophistication of many of these numbers can feel at odds with Crazy for Yous cowpoke motif, but with its big-as-all-outdoors spirit, everything falls together: romance, showgirls, shootin (well, with blanks).
It all happens in lazy Deadrock, Nev. described by town hotelier Lank Hawkins as a town full of singing cadavers where big-city banker Bobby Child (Jeffrey Scott Parsons) is sent by his overbearing mother (Katie Gucik) to foreclose on the burgs dormant theater. Almost immediately the reluctant Bobby meets the only gal in town, pretty Polly Baker (Tayler Mettra). Can Bobby win Pollys heart and save Deadrocks old theater at the same time?
The musical journey to the wow finish is a Gershwins celebration, from the swooning (Embraceable You, Shall We Dance) to the rousing (Slap That Bass, the show-stopping I Got Rhythm). Superbly juggling singing, dancing and comedy in this show, Parsons croons They Cant Take That Away from Me with easy grace.
The sparkling Mettra solos with earnest sweetness on But Not For Me and Someone to Watch Over Me, one of the Gershwins most plaintive compositions. (Frank Sinatras understated rendition in the 1955 film Young at Heart will always be the definitive version.)
David McBean contributes a wacky turn as producer Bela Zangler (who Bobby impersonates and with whom he shares the shows funniest scene). There are also winning supporting performances from Edward Chamberlain (as Lank) and Kelly Derouin (as the fiancee Bobby forsakes).
But most of all, SDMTs Crazy for You under the musical direction of Don LeMaster, who oversees a 17-person orchestra is a two-plus-hour party of dancing both sumptuous and acrobatic. Everyone gets into the act, whether its the showgirls leg-kicking, the Deadrock locals swinging pickaxes in percussive rhythm, or Bobby and Polly moving as elegantly as if in a ballroom.
It might be crazy to suggest that a Gershwin song could ever be upstaged by choreography, but like Bobby and Polly, the two are made for each other in this wholly likable show.
Crazy for You
When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Through March 3.
Where: San Diego Musical Theatre at the Horton Grand Theatre, 444 Fourth Ave., downtown.
Tickets: $30-$70.
Phone: (858) 560-5740
Online: sdmt.org
Coddon is a freelance writer.
In the opening scene of Jake Heggies chamber opera Three Decembers, the seemingly pedestrian subject matter, lengthy plot exposition via long-distance phone call and unmelodic recitative make you wonder if this is going to be a tale epic enough for operatic treatment.
But 10 minutes in, the answer arrives with the wistful trio Once, Before You Were Born? Heggies innate gift for lush, sweeping songwriting transports Three Decembers to another level for a fascinating, fast-evolving and deeply moving family story about life, death and the destructive power of secrets.
Three Decembers is the latest in San Diego Operas popular Detour series of nontraditional operas in new venues. The production that opened Friday and closes Sunday is the companys first in the 3-year-old PHAME theater at Patrick Henry High School in Del Cerro.
The luxurious 500-seat theater is acoustically perfect for unamplified opera. Its also intimate, which makes it the perfect canvas for this 75-minute opera. The three-character Three Decembers is intimate, too, but it has a grand and ambitious score and and a story that unfolds across 20 years and encompasses the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 90s.
Advertisement
Three Decembers premiered in 2008 at Houston Grand Opera and two of its original stars, mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and soprano Kristin Clayton, reprise their roles in San Diego this weekend as battling mother and daughter Madeline and Beatrice Mitchell, respectively. Baritone Steven LaBrie makes a thrilling company debut as Madelines son, Charlie.
The libretto by Gene Scheer is based on a play by Terrence McNally about Madeline, an aging and self-absorbed Broadway stage actress, and her dysfunctional relationship with her adult children. Charlie in San Francisco, is losing his partner, Burt, to AIDS, and Beatrice is drinking away her sorrows over an unhappy marriage. Both idolize their perfect father, who died mysteriously when they were children, and they deeply resent their mother who always put her career ahead of their emotional needs.
Just as McNallys libretto for the Heggie opera Great Scott had insider jokes about the opera world, Three Decembers is a clever homage to Broadway. Heggies score has the grand but hummable melodies of musical theater, particularly the stunning LaBrie/Clayton duets Golden Gate Bridge and What Do You Remember About Dad? There are also some amusing jokes about the vanity of actors and a sly reference to Henrik Ibsens 1882 play Ghosts, about a widow whose secrets about her husband destroy her adult son.
Von Stade was in fine and firm voice Friday and played her character with humor, pathos and iron will, especially in the tender aria Moons Lullaby. Clayton was warm and accessible and her vocals solid, particularly in her upper register. And LaBrie was a knockout, especially in his opening aria about Burts diagnosis.
In his company debut, conductor Adam Turner flawlessly guided 11 San Diego Symphony players through Heggies often-challenging score. Also making her debut is stage director Karen Tiller, who brings a contemporary, relatable and surprisingly funny sensibility to the show.
Three Decembers is the third Heggie opera produced by San Diego Opera since 2012, following Moby-Dick and Great Scott. Its success in this smaller, ear-pleasing suburban venue the run is mostly sold out is a positive future indicator for San Diego Opera, which continues to reinvent itself into a smaller, nimbler, more accessible and modern company.
Three Decembers
When: 7 p.m. today ; 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: San Diego Opera at the PHAME Theatre, 6702 Wandermere Drive, San Diego
Tickets: $35 and up
Phone: (619) 533-7000
Online: sdopera.org
Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade plays Madeline Mitchell in San Diego Operas Three Decembers, playing through March 10 at the PHAME Theatre in San Diego. (Karli Cadel)
pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com. Twitter: @pamkragen
Part of the reason Sarina Krishnan started her nonprofit to help immigrant families is because of her own family. Her parents are both first-generation immigrants, and her father had to deal with racism and discrimination when he arrived here from India more than 30 years ago. Although he was able to find success in spite of those issues, Krishnan wants to help other recent immigrants hopefully avoid those kinds of obstacles.
Living in San Diego and seeing vivid pictures highlighting their struggles and suffering impacted me on a personal level, she says. This was the spark that ignited my passion to help this underserved community.
So, she started Pathways to Assimilation in early 2018 to provide programs and services for people whod recently immigrated to the United States, to help them adjust to their new communities. As founder and president, shes applying for grants and fundraising, building corporate partnerships for collaboration, and speaking at events to highlight issues that will help the community she works with.
Krishnan, 17, is a student at The Bishops School in La Jolla, and lives in Poway with her parents (and has an older sister in college). She took some time to talk about her organization, some of their new initiatives for this year, and her passion for helping others.
Advertisement
Q: Tell us about Pathways to Assimilation.
A: Through many interactions with migrant and refugee families, I saw several basic needs that were not being addressed. One key aspect of my nonprofit is providing new programs and initiatives that help newly arrived immigrants assimilate into their local community. I am currently helping them learn basic life skills and also working on funding programs that would lead to careers in the medical field or in the food and catering industry. I have also created natural and organic products like sunscreens and other creams that I plan to use for inspiring adults to get involved in do-it-yourself home projects, which could lead to living a healthier lifestyle.
Q: How and when did you begin working with refugees before founding Pathways to Assimilation?
A: In August 2017, I began working with refugee families in San Diego as part of a group of students, and each one of us worked with a different Syrian refugee family to help them with their written and verbal English skills. Our intent was to help them apply for drivers licenses, shop without needing translators at grocery and department stores, and independently perform everyday tasks. Soon, I became very close to the families and they began to confide in me about other issues they were facing, such as bullying or teasing at school because of their race or religion. Seeing the vast need for support in these underserved communities, I decided to start my own nonprofit organization to address the issues faced by these families.
Q: What were you hearing from the refugee families you were working with about what would be helpful to them and their transition to a new country?
A: There were many, but a few of the top concerns have been how to respond to teasing, bullying and mocking at school because of race or religion; the need for understanding environmental issues, especially how to dispose of toxic waste, electronics, medications, etc.; understanding the harmful effects of smoking, vaping and underage drinking; the unmet need for information on potential career paths for young people; and seeking resources in their native languages to help them start their own small businesses to become economically self-sufficient.
What I love about Poway ...
I love the close-knit community, as well as the peace and tranquility that comes from living in a suburban area. There are also many hiking trails to enjoy nature and see wild animals that provide a nice retreat from my hectic, fast-paced life.
Q: Whats your response to the idea that assimilation can often come across as asking people to replace their traditions and culture with another?
A: Undoubtedly, assimilation has been viewed both positively and negatively. Some individuals question the effect that the lack of assimilation has on national identity. Others worry that if new immigrants become a part of the melting pot or salad bowl, they will lose their unique identities. Personally, I dont characterize assimilation in a negative manner. In my opinion, assimilation is not about conforming to a group, or changing ones identity in order to better adhere to the norms of a particular society. Rather, I find that assimilation aids in creating a thriving, multicultural society because we can take aspects of every culture and celebrate them as one, cohesive whole. We should all promote diversity together and not risk creating parallel societies, which will only promote division, isolation and hatred.
Q: What is it that you find helpful about assimilation?
A: For me, assimilation is a process of give-and-take. You give when you share your popular traditions and culture with the local community and involve them in the process. You take when you begin to participate in all the popular activities of the adopted country, and do them as part of the local community. This paves the way for integration into the local communities, as well as enriches society as a whole.
Q: Your bio on your website says that you hope to help empower refugees to embrace and celebrate their culture and identities. What does empowerment mean to you?
A: With our youth groups, our empowerment efforts are focused on celebrating their unique identities and assuring them that they should be proud of their individuality, rather than be embarrassed or ashamed of it. We feel that this is a vital step in helping youth feel like they truly belong in America, and this reassurance at such a pivotal age will surely help them become more confident and secure adults later.
For adult refugees, we work on enabling them to take a more active role in the community, whether it is by networking with people in their neighborhoods or applying for skilled jobs in order to become economically self-sufficient.
Q: What can you tell us about some of your organizations new initiatives for this year?
A: A couple of initiatives we have planned include providing lessons and demonstrations on ethnic and local cooking to migrant and refugee women. Another initiative offers a training course for all members of the refugee families on the safe disposal of toxic waste, electronics, medications, paint, etc. Also, we are providing scholarships to students from low-income migrant and refugee families to attend a weekend medical academy on what it takes to become a nurse, which is offered by Rady Childrens Hospital. Lastly (and my favorite one), we are creating a new phone app for migrants and refugees. This free app would help them securely connect and communicate with each other to share their common concerns and solutions on various issues.
Q: What is the best advice youve ever received?
A: My mom has always told me that luck comes to those who work hard, and this lesson is very pertinent to my nonprofit. In the preliminary stages of creating Pathways to Assimilation, it was extremely difficult to get any response from local individuals and organizations, and there were many times when I just wanted to give up because it was the easier solution. But there was this persistent voice in the back of my head, reminding me of my moms advice. So, by working hard, and through persistence and perseverance, I was able to make my nonprofit a success.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: I recently won the Princeton Prize for Race Relations and am donating my award money to provide scholarships to migrant youth to attend Rady Childrens Hospital Medical Academy. (I have also started a GoFundMe campaign to help fund these scholarships.)
Q: Describe your ideal San Diego weekend.
A: My ideal San Diego weekend would be waking up at 9 a.m. to a sunny, cloudless sky, and meeting up with my friends for coffee at our favorite cafe, Better Buzz. After that, we would watch a movie at Fashion Valley, shop for a bit, and later, drive by the Windansea beach to watch the sunset.
Email: lisa.deaderick@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @lisadeaderick
Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder and chairman emeritus of Japans Kyocera Corp. a man whose noteworthy credits exceed the capacity of this humble column established the Kyoto Prize in 1984. His motivations were to serve the greater good of humankind and society, and redress the lack of formal recognition for dedicated but unsung researchers. The prestigious prize honors those who have made extraordinary contributions to science, civilization, and spirituality, motivating them and others like them to reach still greater heights.
Consisting of academic honors, a gold medal, and a cash gift of 100 million yen (about $900,000) per category, the Kyoto Prize is Japans highest private award for global achievement and is now recognized as one of the worlds most important international prizes. Presented each November in Japan, there have now been 109 recipients, including 48 Americans, 27 Europeans, 23 Japanese, and one group the Nobel Foundation. And each March (since 2002), with the collaboration of San Diegos top four universities (UCSD, SDSU, USD, and PLNU), the nonprofit Koyoto Prize Symposium Organization holds a three-day event showcasing the achievements of the newest laureates.
Masato Miyachi chaired the Symposium gala on Wednesday at the San Diego Intercontinental Hotel, and acted as emcee. Co-chairs were David Doyle, Peter Farrell, and Ray McKewon; Irwin Jacobs was honorary chair. More than 400 guests attended the formal-dress event. After a lavish reception with cocktails and hors doeuvres, dinner and the gala program took place in the ballroom. There, guests were welcomed, and Shinobu Inamori-Kanazawa was introduced and addressed the audience. Shes Dr. Inamoris daughter, and is now the Inamori Foundations executive vice president.
After an artfully-prepared three-course dinner featuring citrus herb-crusted salmon, the laureates Dr. Karl Deisseroth (Advanced Technology), Dr. Masaki Kashiwara (Basic Sciences), and Joan Jonas (Arts and Philosophy) were individually introduced and presented onstage. Their outstanding lifetime achievements and notable discoveries were briefly outlined and each spoke, expressing appreciation for the honors they received. Alternating with the laureates appearances on stage were musical performances by exceptionally talented young artists from both Tijuana and southern California.
Advertisement
Ronak Roy, Anna Anderson, Kate Leonard, Shruti Verma, Delia Aguilar, Victor Castillo (Vincent Andrunas / Photo)
Six promising high school seniors from the greater San Diego/Tijuana region received college scholarships for education in the three Kyoto Prize categories, raising the events scholarship funding for area students to more than $1 million.
The Inamori Foundation philosophy aims for a future with the proper balance between science, technology, and spiritual maturity, with a goal of contributing to the peace and prosperity of humanity. This is the core meaning of the Kyoto Prize.
Iranian authorities confirmed Wednesday that a U.S. Navy veteran has been detained in Iran, making him the latest foreigner with ties to America to be imprisoned.
Bahram Qasemi, a spokesman for Irans Foreign Ministry, told state news agency IRNA that Michael White, 46, has been imprisoned in the eastern city of Mashhad at the notorious Vakilabad Prison, which is known for its executions of drug traffickers, and that his case is still being reviewed.
The formal announcement comes weeks after an activist who was imprisoned alongside White took to social media to announce the veterans arrest.
Ivar Farhadi, a 30-year-old activist, said that White, who is from San Diego, has been imprisoned since last summer. Farhadi said he was outside playing volleyball during a break when he first met White in prison in October.
Advertisement
I was surprised to see an American in this prison, Farhadi said. He was kept in a cell with around 20 people.
From the archives: Ex-Reseda resident executed in Iran
While in prison, the Persian-speaking Farhadi said he was able to speak with White with the help of another prisoner who translated into English for him.
White told him that he had visited Iran three times to see his girlfriend. He also said that White told him he had been arrested at the international airport in Mashhad, on the day he was supposed to leave Iran to go to Turkey with his Iranian girlfriend.
Farhadi said White was concerned his family thought he was missing since he wasnt allowed to make a phone call. He also told Farhadi that he suffers from a tumor in his neck.
Farhadi last saw White before being released on bail in November. He decided to flee to Turkey after he was sentenced to six years for spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic.
In mid-December, after settling down in Turkey, Farhadi took to Twitter to get the message out about White.
An America citizen by the name of #MichaelWhite is prisoned in Vakilabad general jail #3, section 6/1, in Mashahd, Iran.
He is 45 from San Diego and an ex-American marine.
Hes been in prison since August 2018 in an anti-human condition and he has no access to phone and Ivar Farhadi (@FarhadiIvar) December 18, 2018
A few weeks later, Farhadi got in touch with a journalist who writes for IranWire, an online publication written by young Iranians both inside and outside of Iran.
IranWire reported earlier this week that White had been arrested.
Whites mother said that she only found out three weeks ago from State Department officials that her son was in prison in Iran, the New York Times reported. She did not respond to queries from the Los Angeles Times.
The State Department confirmed this week that it is aware of reports that a U.S. citizen is being held in Iran.
Qasemi, the spokesman for Irans Foreign Ministry, said Americans were notified about Whites arrest soon after it happened via the American mission inside the Swiss Embassy in Tehran. The United States broke off formal diplomatic relations with Iran during the Iran hostage crisis in 1980, and Switzerland has represented U.S. interests in Tehran.
According to a nonprofit website dedicated to helping veterans, White served 13 years in the U.S. Navy, working in aviation maintenance administration. After retiring, White attended San Diego State University, where he earned a bachelors degree in political science and hoped to go to law school in the future.
White is the eighth known foreigner with ties to the United States currently being held in Iran and the first to be taken during the Trump administration.
Hard-liners in Irans establishment typically hold prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips for future negotiations. Whites arrest is likely to escalate tensions between Iran and the United States, tensions that are already rocky following Trumps withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal that sought to curb Irans nuclear activities.
Whites background is the kind of person that Iranian intelligence would take hostage for future negotiations, said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the New York-based nonprofit Center for Human Rights in Iran. Weve seen it over and over again. They collect hostages with the hopes that theyll bring some future deals.
The last time Americans being held in Iran were freed was in January 2016. Three Americans, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, were freed in a prisoner exchange that came shortly after Tehran reached an agreement with world powers over its nuclear program in exchange for easing economic sanctions.
melissa.etehad@latimes.com
Twitter: @melissaetehad
President Trump made a surprise visit Wednesday to a U.S. air base in Iraq to meet with American troops and commanders, and to dispel growing complaints that he had never visited a war zone in his first two years in office.
Trump, accompanied by his wife, Melania, left a partially shuttered government in Washington just after midnight, flew all day and landed in the dark at the joint U.S.-Iraqi Asad Air Base west of Baghdad about 7 p.m. local time.
Asked why he came, Trump told reporters before a meeting with military leaders on base: Its a place I have been talking about for many years many, many years. I was talking about it as a civilian.
He spent about 3 hours at the heavily guarded base before getting back on Air Force One. He then stopped in Ramstein, Germany, to visit troops stationed there before heading back to Washington, where his national security policy appears to be in growing turmoil.
Advertisement
Last week, Trump blindsided allies and overrode his top Pentagon advisors and military commanders when he abruptly decided to order the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from neighboring Syria.
Defense Secretary James N. Mattis resigned in protest and issued a scathing letter that all but accused Trump of endangering U.S. security by undermining alliances and abandoning allies. In response, Trump fired Mattis rather than let him quit.
Trump defended his decision on Syria while in Iraq, and suggested he may order other withdrawals. Aides indicated last week that Trump was preparing to draw down half of the 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
In comments to about 100 troops, Trump made clear his dim view of Americas military commitments and alliances around the globe, emphasizing the America first policy he has espoused since the 2016 campaign.
The United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world, Trump said. Its not fair when the burden is all on us, the United States.
We are spread out all over the world, Trump added. We are in countries most people havent even heard about. Frankly, its ridiculous.
Trump also boasted to the troops that he had delivered them one of the biggest pay raises youve ever received stating, incorrectly, that he had authorized the first military pay increase in a decade.
You havent gotten one in more than 10 years, Trump said. More than 10 years. And we got you a big one. I got you a big one. I got you a big one.
Military pay, in fact, has risen every year for three decades. It was raised 2.4% in 2018 and will rise by another 2.6% in 2019, due to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Inside a khaki-colored tent, Trump, who was accompanied by his national security advisor, John Bolton, was briefed by U.S. military commanders. The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Douglas Silliman, also took part.
Trump then shook hands and posed for selfies with troops. The troops, clad in desert camouflage, applauded and cheered the president and his wife. A few held red Make America Great Again hats for him to autograph. At one point he signed an embroidered patch that read TRUMP 2020.
A scheduled meeting with Iraqs prime minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, was canceled. The White House did not give a reason.
Trump repeatedly mentioned the heavy security required to get him safely in and out of Iraq.
I had concerns about the institution of the presidency, he told reporters. Not for myself personally. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have seen what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all windows closed with no light anywhere. Pitch-black. Ive been on many airplanes. All types and shapes and sizes.
So did I have a concern? Yes, I had a concern, he said.
Trump indicated that he had lost patience with the Pentagon because senior officials there would not devise a plan to withdraw the 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria as he wanted.
Our presence in Syria was not open-ended and it was never intended to be permanent, he added.
He praised Saudi Arabia for pledging to help rebuild Syria as it enters what could be the final stages of a brutal civil war, and applauded Turkey, a NATO ally, for working with U.S. forces near its border with Syria.
Congress recently overwhelmingly passed a resolution to censure Saudi Arabia for its role in killing a Saudi journalist, and lawmakers have sought to constrain the Trump administration from providing further support to Riyadhs military campaign in Yemen.
U.S. relations with Turkey have been strained for years, and Mattis and other critics have warned that Ankara will use the U.S. withdrawal from Syria to target Syrian Kurds, who fought as a U.S. proxy force against Islamic State.
Trump had been criticized for failing to visit active-duty American troops in a combat zone, a gesture that presidents routinely perform around holidays.
The jibes mounted after the White House scrubbed a planned visit to a U.S. military cemetery in France because of rain and after he did not go to Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, as most presidents have done. He made a surprise visit to Arlington several weeks later.
In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in an effort to seize and destroy supposed weapons of mass destruction from Saddam Husseins regime. The intelligence was disastrously wrong, however, and no such weapons were found.
The U.S. occupation quickly went sour as a bitter sectarian civil war broke out. President Obama, who campaigned on a promise to end Americas endless wars, pulled most combat troops out in 2011 only to rush some back in 2014 to fight Islamic State. About 5,000 U.S. troops are still deployed in Iraq.
Trump said last week that Islamic State had been defeated, a boast that most counter-terrorism experts sharply disputed. The top U.S. diplomat in the battle, Brett McGurk, resigned in protest and warned that thousands of the militants remain and that the group could rebuild itself quickly.
Weve knocked them out. Weve knocked them silly, Trump said of Islamic State on Wednesday, repeating his claim at the air base in Iraq. He said other countries must pay more in the aftermath of the war.
The nations of the region must step up and take more responsibility for their future, Trump said.
And others will do it too. Because we are in their region. They should be sharing the burden of costs and theyre not.
For Trump, the visit to U.S. combat troops could help him regain some positive headlines after the political losses of the midterm election and weeks of turmoil, including the government shutdown and a roller coaster in the stock markets.
Trumps foreign policy remains muddled and sometimes contradictory, especially in the Middle East. Challenging Iran and supporting Israel are among his most consistent goals. Yet the Syria pull-out benefits Iran and potentially endangers Israel.
His withdrawal from Syria has further muddied prospects for peace in the region, including Iraq.
The Iraqi government now controls all the countrys cities, towns and villages after fighting its last urban battles against Islamic State militants in December 2017.
But Iraqs political, military and economic situation remains tenuous, and Baghdad and other cities still experience sporadic bombings, kidnappings and assassinations.
Mattis departure and the recent firing of White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly were deeply unsettling to national security officials who counted on the two retired Marine generals to help check an impulsive president.
Trump has seen his support from military veterans decline to 43%, according to a Military Times poll in October. The poll was taken when the president sent about 6,000 active-duty troops to the border with Mexico to help block what he called a looming invasion of Central American migrants.
eli.stokols@latimes.com
Twitter: @EliStokols
tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com
Twitter: @TracyKWilkinson
President Trump called Thursday for dramatically broadening U.S. defenses against missile attacks, outlining a costly and scientifically unproven plan for developing lasers and space sensors to defend all of U.S. territory from ballistic missile threats.
Our strategy is grounded in one overriding objective: to detect and destroy every type of missile attack against any American target, whether before or after launch, Trump said at the Pentagon as the administration released its long-awaited missile defense strategy.
Trumps expansive vision of an impenetrable U.S missile shield one first envisaged by President Reagan 35 years ago goes well beyond the Pentagons technical and scientific capacity, the reality that grounded most of Reagans Star Wars initiative.
The plan also does not reflect the Trump administrations near-term goals, which remain focused on developing the capability to knock out limited missile strikes by Iran or North Korea and, at least theoretically, new short- and medium-range weapons being developed by China and Russia that could threaten Europe and Asia.
Advertisement
But Trump used the speech to press his America First agenda, fitting his call for expanded missile defense in with familiar broadsides on Democrats in Congress for blocking his proposed border wall and on U.S. allies for failing to pay enough for their own defense.
When Trump attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) for opposing the border wall and said Democrats had been hijacked by the fringe and radical left, the audience of uniformed military officers and Defense Department officials sat silent.
Democrats in Congress, even some who have backed the development of the current limited U.S. missile defense system, questioned Trumps vision of a vast shield over the nation.
An effective missile defense system can serve as a deterrent to conflict, protect our forward-deployed forces and the homeland, and create an opening for diplomacy, said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), a member of the Armed Services Committee. But its not a magic bulletproof shield, and it comes with a considerable price tag.
Joseph Cirincione, a nuclear weapons expert at Ploughshares Fund, a Washington-based anti-nuclear-proliferation organization, called the Trump plan a grab bag of contractor proposals to build space weapons we dont need, dont work and cant afford.
The 81-page Missile Defense Review, released by the Pentagon as Trump began speaking, cites Russian and Chinese medium-range missiles as possible targets of anti-missile defenses.
Thats a departure from previous administrations, which insisted the U.S. system was aimed at so-called rogue states and at intercepting accidental launches but was too small to be of concern to major powers with intercontinental missiles and large nuclear arsenals.
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said the U.S. was considering measures for the first time to guard against Russian and Chinese medium-range missiles, including hypersonic weapons that travel far faster than sound and could threaten U.S. forces abroad and allies in Europe and Asia.
China and Russia are expanding their missile arsenals and [integrating] these more effectively into war planning, Shanahan said in remarks before Trump spoke, adding that Iran and North Koreas missiles remain a significant concern.
The Pentagon has built a growing capability to target medium-range weapons with advanced radars and interceptors from Aegis-class warships in the western Pacific and eastern Mediterranean. A U.S. medium-range interceptor site is also operational in Romania while another is under construction in Poland.
U.S. officials say those defenses are aimed at Iran and North Korea.
Russia has complained for years that the U.S. system could in theory target its missiles and have vowed to respond if the U.S. goes ahead with the two sites in Eastern Europe. That stance is likely to harden with the U.S. now explicitly vowing to develop a system capable of targeting Moscows missiles.
Shanahan acknowledged that the expanding U.S. defenses were a major factor driving Russia and China to build faster and more survivable missiles.
Russia, in particular, has developed a new SSC-8 ground-fired cruise missile that U.S. officials say violates the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and could give Moscow the ability to launch a nuclear strike in Europe with little or no notice. The Trump administration has threatened to pull out of the INF treaty as a result.
Frustrated by our mid-course defenses, they are aggressively pursuing new technologies to circumvent todays systems, Shanahan said.
For his part, Trump failed to mention Russia or North Korea. He has frequently praised Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office and is seeking a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
North Korea tested a suspected hydrogen bomb and a long-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States after Trump took office, but after meeting with Kim at a summit last June in Singapore, Trump declared that Pyongyang no longer represented a nuclear threat to America.
Experts say, however, theyve seen no sign that Kims regime has taken any steps to give up its nuclear weapons arsenal or production. Several North Korean officials were due in Washington on Friday to discuss a second summit and, apparently, to try to revive the stalled talks.
The missile defense review calls for researching the feasibility of developing and launching sensors in space that could detect missile launches around the globe. It also calls for further research into lasers and other so-called directed-energy weapons that could, in theory, knock out ballistic missiles early in flight.
The Pentagon is supposed to deliver a report within six months on placing non-nuclear missile defense interceptors on satellites.
The administration plans to add more interceptors to the existing missile defense sites at Ft. Greely in Alaska and at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc. The report calls for studying the option of adding a third interceptor site on the East Coast, an idea aimed at bolstering defenses against a possible limited missile attack from Iran.
Even an expanded missile shield would not be capable of stopping a major attack by Russia or China, U.S. officials said.
Both countries have large arsenals of intercontinental ballistic missiles topped with nuclear warheads that U.S. officials say could overwhelm an expanded U.S. system in a large-scale nuclear exchange.
U.S. strategy relies on deterrence and the threat that it would respond to any nuclear attack with a devastating nuclear counterattack. Expanding defenses could prompt Russia and China to invest in new weapons systems, spurring a new arms race, critics warned.
The new strategy is likely to exacerbate Russian and Chinese concerns about the threat to their strategic nuclear deterrents, undermine strategic stability, and further complicate the prospects for additional nuclear arms reductions, the Arms Control Assn., a nonpartisan Washington policy organization, said in a statement.
david.cloud@latimes.com
Twitter: @davidcloudLAT
A newly promoted Navy chief petty officer was found dead in her Florida home the same day she was slated to appear in court for a protective order she sought against a man she claimed pulled a gun on her and assaulted her.
Officers discovered the body of Andrea Washington around midnight on Monday after receiving a call about a possible medical emergency at a residence in Jacksonville, Action Jax News reported. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office however, suspects foul play and is investigating Washingtons death as a homicide.
The 37-year-old mother of three, a 19-year veteran of the Navy, just got pinned Friday as a chief petty officer.
Phantom McClendon, a friend and Navy colleague, said he still has the celebratory bottle of cognac he purchased for Washington.
Advertisement
Right when she got pinned, I told her congratulations and Im proud of you, he told WTLV. I knew she liked Hennessy, so I went and bought her the biggest and best bottle.
Authorities have not released much information in the case Washingtons cause of death remains unclear and no suspects or persons of interest have been revealed.
Earlier this month, Washington was granted a temporary order of protection against a man who she described as someone I was living with in a relationship, according to court documents obtained by ABC News. She claimed the man attacked her on Sept. 1 after she asked him to pay the bills.
He pushed me down to the floor, kicked me in my stomach, chased me to the bedroom and pulled a gun on me, she said, adding he also kicked holes in the bedroom and closet doors, took her vehicle and mailbox keys and destroyed her iPad.
Washington also noted that she went to the emergency room the next morning.
She was due in court hours after her body was discovered Monday, where Duval County Circuit Court Judge Hugh Carithers was slated to decide whether or not to extend her order of protection. But in a heavily redacted report released on Tuesday, sheriffs officials wrote the homicide is not related to domestic violence.
President Trump, who last week said he was too busy to visit Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, lashed out Sunday against Navy SEALs and the admiral who led them for taking too long to find Osama Bin Laden.
Frankly, wouldnt it have been nice if we got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner than that? Wouldnt it have been nice? You know, living think of this living in Pakistan, beautifully in Pakistan in what I guess they considered a nice mansion. I dont know, Ive seen nicer, Trump said in an interview on Fox News Sunday.
But living in Pakistan right next to the military academy, everybody in Pakistan knew he was there, and we give Pakistan $1.3 billion a year, and they dont tell him?
William McRaven, who led the team that killed bin Laden, previously said that President Trump was an embarrassment. (Charles Dharapak / AP)
Advertisement
The President was responding to retired admiral and Navy SEAL William McRaven, who said Trump has embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation and called his attacks on the media the greatest threat to democracy,
Trump slammed McRaven as a Hilary Clinton backer and an Obama backer.
I did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else, McRaven said in a statement to CNN.
I am a fan of President Obama and President George W. Bush, both of whom I worked for. I admire all Presidents, regardless of their political party, who uphold the dignity of the office and who use that office to bring the Nation together in challenging times. I stand by my comment that the Presidents attack on the media is the greatest threat to our democracy in my lifetime. When you undermine the peoples right to a free press and freedom of speech and expression, then you threaten the Constitution and all for which it stands.
McRaven oversaw the raid that killed bin Laden in May 2011, almost a decade after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The United States was newly at war in 1942 when the Marines moved into their new base on Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, a cattle ranch nestled between the Southern California cities of Oceanside and San Clemente.
The coastal location was ideal for a force in need of an amphibious training base. Scores of temporary military buildings were erected.
Today most of those buildings have either been replaced or remodeled.
One from that era remains relatively unchanged and some of its tenants hope remains that way long after theyre gone.
Advertisement
The building known colloquially as The White House has been the command post of the 1st Marine Division since 1946.
Built in 1943, it was constructed as a temporary structure, originally intended to stand for five years. Instead it has seen the division through almost every American military engagement since then.
Now the division has outgrown the facility, and a new modern headquarters is in the works. The future of this historic building is up in the air.
Kelli Brasket, Camp Pendletons cultural resources manager and archaeologist, said the base is nominating the building to be placed on the national register of historic places.
Its an early example of the Marine Corps growing presence on the west coast, she said. Its (also) associated with a master architect Myron Hunt.
Hunt, whose firm designed many of the bases early military buildings, is more well-known as the designer of the Rose Bowl.
The 1st-floor corridor of the 1st Marine Division headquarters is a character-defining feature of the historic building. (Andrew Dyer / Union-Tribune)
The two-story-tall White House features a wide, deep porch along its front, old wood floors creaking under modern carpeting inside, and long, narrow hallways on both levels. Brasket calls them character defining features.
Artifacts from each major engagement are displayed around the two main staircases, along with photos of every commander in the divisions 78-year history.
The 1st Marine Division is the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. It is the largest and most equipped command in the Marine Corps, according to its commanding general, Maj. Gen. Robert Castellvi.
When you think of the Marine Corps, Castellvi said, you think of the 1st Marine Division and where it all began, here at Camp Pendleton.
The 1st Marine Division was activated in 1941. It saw heavy fighting in the Pacific theater, notably the battles of Guadalcanal, Peleleu and Okinawa.
It deployed during the Korean War, Vietnam, both wars in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan. Some of the most notable names in Marine Corps history went through the division Alexander Vandegrift, Chesty Puller and John Basilone served during World War II and Former Defense Secretary James Mattis commanded the division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The top landing of one of the main stairwells at the headquarters of the 1st Marine Division on Camp Pendleton Marine Base, CA. Division artifacts from World War II and the Korean War are on display. (Andrew Dyer / Union-Tribune)
Throughout the decades, the division headquarters has remained the same. Thats becoming a problem, Castellvi said.
About 22,000 Marines fall under the command of the division. To manage them and their subordinate commands, Castellvis staff is spread out among six buildings on Camp Pendleton.
The White House, with all its charms, just wasnt built to for the demands of a modern military force, he said.
Weve made it work, he said, but we now need a better facility.
Plans for a new headquarters are in their early phases, said Marine Capt. Luke Weaver, a base spokesman. Base and division leaders are looking at a preliminary location in the Margarita area of the base, he said, adding that the 1st Marine Division could have a new command post as early as 2024.
As for the White House, people are in the early stages of discussing whether the building can become a command museum, Weaver said.
Castellvi said the building represented everything it meant to be a Marine; he hopes it will be preserved.
When you come to this headquarters it reminds you why you came into the Marine Corps to begin with to be part of something larger than yourself, he said. The history, the legacy, the traditions are embodied by what you see in this building. This place is special.
Behind the White House, in a nondescript bunker that dates back to Vietnam, sits the divisions bar, Matildas. Its where, since 2005, division staff have met every other Thursday afternoon.
Matildas is unlikely to make the trip to the new headquarters, said Castellvi.
Well find something suitable, he said. Or, well come back to this place. I hope that long after we build a new headquarters that every one of us can come back here and see it preserved in the same way it was.
The name tapes and rank insignia of prior and current division staff adorn the walls behind the bar at Matildas the division bar, located in a bunker behind headquarters. Prior commanding generals including former Defense Secretary James Mattis are at the top left. (Andrew Dyer / Union-Tribune)
Faye Jonason, the base history and museum director, hopes the Marines find a way to preserve the White House.
When it gets to be important for me is when I do oral histories with the veterans, or have them come and visit, said Jonason. Its an important building for them. Its for them, their families and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know this was important and what they did was important.
Right now, one hurdle to securing a command museum is financial.
Also, there is already a museum on the base, the Marine Corps Mechanized Museum, which features Marines ground vehicles since World War II.
Castellvi said the mechanized museum cam be a template for transitioning the White House into a museum.
The 1st Marine Division Association is very interested; theyre part of the solution, he said. Nobody wants to see ... what some will refer to as the White House go away.
The exterior of the 1st Marine Division headquarters. Build in 1943, it has been the home of the division since 1946. The division will be moving into a new building once construction is funded. (Andrew Dyer / Union-Tribune)
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The skies over Marine Corps Air Station Miramar cleared just in time Friday morning for the first day of performances at the three-day Miramar Air Show.
The annual show features Marine aircraft, civilian stunt-flyers and the Navys Blue Angels demonstration team.
New this year, and a rare spectacle for aviation enthusiasts, is a U.S. Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane. The U-2 is an iconic symbol of the Cold War one was involved in a well-known incident over the Soviet Union in 1960, when it was shot down.
Marine Capt. Matthew Gregory, the director of communication at MCAS Miramar, said he was particularly excited to see one.
Advertisement
For aviation aficionados, having that up in the air is extremely exciting and extremely different, he said. It might not do a lot of the crazy aerobatics you see the stunt planes doing, but to see a big plane get up and get in the air so gracefully is huge. Its really great to watch.
SAN DIEGO, CA.- SEPTEMBER 28, 2018, An unusual appearance by an US Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane was made on the first day of the three-day Miramar Air Show at Marine Corps air base Miramar. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune)
The performance of the U-2 was also remarkable due to the lack of other Air Force aircraft at the air show. A Marine spokesman said Thursday that the Air Force had canceled its static displays of an F-35A Lightning II, B-52 Stratofortress, C-5 Super Galaxy and the F-22 Raptor at the last minute.
The Air Force also canceled a scheduled appearance of its F-22 demonstration team.
A spokeswoman said that operational priorities had pulled refueling support.
Another type of aircraft performing at the air show the F-35B has not been seen much in San Diegos skies. That will change, as the base is constructing a new aircraft hangar and expects the first of the 5th generation fighters to arrive in 2020.
The F-35B Lightning II is the vertical-takeoff fighter that will begin replacing the aging AV-8B Harrier.
Nathaniel Keegan, a Marine captain and F-35B pilot, called the plane a blast to fly.
Its a really great aircraft, in terms of what we can do with it, what it brings to the table and flying it, he said. Its a great airplane to fly.
SAN DIEGO, CA.- SEPTEMBER 28, 2018, The Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, one of the showcase aircraft at the airshow, took to the air on the first day of the three-day Miramar Air Show at Marine Corps air base Miramar. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune)
The stars of the show, however, also fly some of the oldest operational models in the fleet.
We kind of pride ourselves on flying the oldest and the boldest, said Lt. Com. Tyler Davies, the lead soloist for the Blue Angles. Currently, the team flies single-seat F/A-18Cs and dual-seat F/A-18Ds, which are slightly modified for demonstration.
Eventually, we will go to Super Hornets, he said.
The transition to nine single-seat F/A-18Es and F/A-18Fs is still a couple years away, however.
The Blue Angels rotate pilots regularly, so the transition should be smooth, Davies said. A former Super Hornet pilot himself, Davies said future Blue Angels flyers would likely be familiar with the planes.
We want to showcase the current Navy, he said. We come from the fleet, we do our time on the team and we go back to the fleet.
The Blue Angels dont only take the best pilots in the fleet its maintainers are among the Navys top performers as well.
Petty Officer First Class Mallory Marishita, an aviation electricians mate, has been on the team for two years. She said before joining the team, she was stationed in Lemoore, California.
I had a coworker who was previously with the Blue Angels, she said. He encouraged me to go check them out.
She said the application and selection process was stringent.
Its an application and an interview process, she said. (You) have to apply to apply.
The Miramar Air Show runs daily through Sunday, with gates opening at 8 a.m. each day.
AE1 Mallory Morishita works on a Blue Angels F18 jet at the Miramar Air Show on September 27, 2018. The air show runs through Sunday. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The annual Miramar Air Show returns to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Friday with a bevy of military and civilian aircraft performances scheduled through Sunday. This years theme is 100 Years of Women in the Marine Corps.
Each day opens with civilian aerobatics team performances. Parachute teams, such as the Navy Leap Frogs and U.S. Army Golden Knights, will kick off the military demonstrations. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels the shows headliners are also the closing performers each day.
Other demonstrations include some of the Marines newest aircraft the V-22 Osprey and F-35B Lightning II and the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The MAGTF demonstration includes AV-8B Harriers, F/A-18 Hornets as well as armor, artillery and infantry assets.
US Marine F/A-18s practice for the Miramar Air Show on September 27, 2018. The air show runs through Sunday. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Advertisement
One notable absence and, according to the Marines, a last-minute cancelation is the U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptor demonstration team, which was scheduled to perform in conjunction with an Air Force heritage flight with WWII, Korea and Vietnam-era planes.
The F-22 demo team will not be able to participate in the Miramar Air Show because operational priorities have pulled refueling support, said Erica Vega, a spokeswoman for the Air Force Air Combat Command. Other Air Force assets, however, will be at the Miramar Air Show to showcase American airpower to the local community.
According to the Marines, last year more than half a million people attended the air show over its three days, with Saturday being the busiest and Friday the least.
Marine Colonel Charles Dockery, the commanding officer of MCAS Miramar, said the air show was a huge undertaking, and that as soon as this years was over, planning would begin for the next one.
Its a lot of work from a planning perspective, he said. We start flight operations again at noon on Monday, and we start prepping for next years air show. It is a continuous process.
Dockery also talked about safety and security, calling the event a team effort.
The FBI is here, (the) Department of Homeland Security is here, (San Diego County) Sheriffs, San Diego P.D... he said. We have a great partnership.
Part of the security includes a list of prohibited items, available on the shows website. Backpacks and purses are not allowed unless they are clear. A small clutch purse will be allowed for personal items, however.
Alcohol, coolers and ice chests are also not allowed.
On Thursday, the air station allowed local news media to watch the final practice sessions before the show. One team, Sean D. Tucker Aerobatics, brought Granite Hills High School junior Hannah Hollinger, 16, up in the air for some aerobatic maneuvers.
I got to do hammerheads, inversion and loops, she said. Ive never done acrobatic flight before.
Stunt pilot Sean Tucker talks with Hannah Hollinger, 16, of El Cajon after a flight in his stunt plane at the MCAS Miramar Air Show. The flight was part of the EAA Young Eagle flight program which introduces kids to flight. Tucker is the chairman of the EAA Young Eagles. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Hollinger described the sensation of flying upside-down as totally crazy.
When youre flying upside down, it just feels really weird and off. Its a totally different experience it was really cool.
Dockery said he was looking forward to seeing the Blue Angels most of all.
You just cant beat it, he said.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tyler Davies, the lead soloist and pilot of Blue Angels plane No. 5, said he was excited to fly this weekend.
Its amazing to be here, he said. We hope everybody comes out.
The MCAS Miramar Air Show runs Friday-Sunday. General admission is free while grandstand and box seats are available for purchase on the air shows website.
Gates open daily at 8:00 a.m.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
One of the greatest existential threats faced by the U.S. during the latter half of the 20th century was the possibility that a nuclear war would result in global annihilation.
When that did not happen, and the Soviet threat receded, so did popular opposition to nuclear weapons.
So says former Massachusetts Rep. John Tierney, who, after 18 years in the House, now leads an anti-nuclear proliferation non-profit, the Council for a Livable World.
Tierney was in San Diego this week in part to raise money for candidates endorsed by his organization, but also to raise awareness about the issue of nuclear weapons, which he says has fallen from the front pages in the decades since the end of the Cold War.
Advertisement
We think national security in this environment is an issue in every race, Tierney said. We need to expand. We need more people to work on this to get this thing national again.
Some of Tierneys concerns come from the words of President Donald Trump on Twitter.
In August 2017, Trump tweeted that North Korea would be met with fire and fury, in response to threats from Dictator Kim Jong Un.
A few months later, again on Twitter, Trump compared the size of the two countries nuclear buttons, saying his was much bigger and more powerful.
And in his new book, veteran reporter Bob Woodward reported that Trump drafted another tweet announcing the families of the 28,000 service members stationed in South Korea would be withdrawn a tweet that was never sent, as backchannel communications from North Korea said it would have been viewed as a signal an attack was imminent.
Tierney said the current administration had strayed from the nuclear posture of the past several presidents, necessitating more pressure from anti-nuclear weapon activists.
Every president, Democrat or Republican Since Reagan...understood this issue, he said. People (need) to realize whats happening in this White House.
Trump has called for new, so-called low-yield nuclear weapons.
How is it that every other Republican as well as every Democrat in the White House has understood that this issue needs to be addressed as an issue of disarmament, Tierney said, (and)not the other way around?
Locally, the council has endorsed Democrat Mike Levin for the 49th District seat, which long-time Republican Daryl Issa is leaving after 17 years.
James McKeon, the councils political director, said that despite its current crop of endorsements, which are exclusively Democrats, that the organization was not partisan.
We are a non-partisan organization, he said. We endorsed, in the past, Democrats and Republicans.
Tierney, a Democrat, agreed.
The last guy I worked with that was good on this issue was (former Indiana Sen.) Dick Luger, Tierney said. Theyve made this a partisan issue, its difficult to get people to listen.
He said that didnt mean there werent Republicans who agreed with him, however.
There are Republicans who work well with us, but dont want us to endorse them, he said. There are some incredibly thoughtful, sensible Republicans out there, but theyre in a difficult political situation. So we endorse mostly Democrats now.
At a San Diego fundraiser Tuesday night, Tierney and McKeon addressed a room of about 40 supporters about the need to make nuclear disarmament a national security priority.
Barry Ladendorf was one of those supporters.
He said he had not thought about nuclear non-proliferation in years.
I remember hearing about it long ago, he said. I think it was around the end of the Cold War.
The council was started in 1962 in reaction to the Cuban missile crisis. Its founder, Leo Szilard, was a nuclear physicist whose work contributed to the launching of the Manhattan Project which resulted in the first atomic bomb.
Were still the only ones out there leading in this area, Tierney said.
The organization lobbied for several arms-control agreements and was also supported the Iran nuclear deal under President Barack Obama.
Tierney said he understood why the weapons were built, but that the authority to use them needed to be revisited. He said the president should not have the authority to authorize a first-strike nuclear attack.
I dont think anybody disputes the fact that if somebody attacks us the executive has the authority to fight back, he said. (But) I dont want the president to have first-strike authority.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A new reporter took over the military beat this month. Hes fresh out of college, but hes got more life experience than most new graduates and importantly, that experience is in the military. Andrew Dyer answered a few questions about his life journey.
Q. Tell us about your time in the Navy.
I signed up for boot camp about two weeks after 9/11. By Christmas, I was in Great Lakes, Illinois. After nine months of school, I reported to the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) in Yokosuka, Japan. Three days after arriving we deployed to the Persian Gulf. We were part of the first wave of airstrikes against Iraq in 2003.
After four years on the Kitty Hawk, I went to Texas for a couple years for shore duty. While in Texas I became interested in craft beer, and in 2009, when I was up for orders, there was only one place I wanted to go San Diego.
Advertisement
I received orders to the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and spent two years on board, participating in RIMPAC in 2010 and Operation Tomadachi in 2011. We were off the coast of Japan about two days after the tsunami, and stayed there for more than a month supporting search and rescue and providing logistical support.
Of everything I did in the Navy, the humanitarian mission in Japan in response to the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown is the thing Im most proud of.
Q. What life skills did you learn when you served?
Theres a lot to learn in the military, but the thing I came away with is an appreciation for working with people from a huge cross-section of society. I worked with people not only from across the country, but from countries around the world. It gave me a different perspective not just on myself, but on my country.
Q. What brought an end to your service?
I was caught up in an administrative force-shaping event in 2011, the Enlisted Retention Board. The Navy was downsizing certain job specialties, including mine. I was honorably discharged in May, 2012.
Q. What did you learn from that experience?
I think it gave me a different perspective on both the Navy itself and what my time in meant. It made me appreciate all I was able to do and the opportunities I had that most people in their 20s did not.
Q. Why did you decide to get into journalism?
Once I was out of the Navy and working in the private sector, I did not get the same satisfaction out of my work. Repairing radios and radars wasnt what was great about the Navy, it was the people I worked with and the sense of service from doing that work. It took me a couple years, but when I left the private sector and went back to school, I finally found that sense of service again, at my first college newspaper, the Southwestern Sun. When I transferred to San Diego State in 2016, I took an editorial position at the paper there. In 2017, I became the editor-in-chief.
Q. What was the most controversial story you handled as editor of the Daily Aztec?
The Aztec mascot controversy, easily. We covered many issues that affect students debt, housing and food insecurity but nothing stirred the emotions of readers, especially alumni, like stories about the effort to retire the mascot.
Q. During school, you wrote a beer column for CityBeat. Do you have a favorite San Diego craft beer?
Right now Im really enjoying the New England-style IPAs from Modern Times.
Q. What approach or philisophy do you plan to follow in the military beat?
Well, theres a couple different responsibilities to it. One, I have an obligation to report the goings-on of the local military to the general public in San Diego. However, the military and military veterans are also a large part of this community, so I want to find stories that are relevant to them.
Q. You have a story in the Local section today about risk behaviors among service members, how did you find that study?
I am in quite a few veterans and military groups online, and stuff like this usually finds its way there.
Q. You have a beard, something that wasnt allowed in the military. How soon after leaving the service did you grow that?
I shaved every day for 10 years. The last time was the day I signed my DD-214.
Q. What do you think is the most serious issue facing military personnel today?
People in the military face the same difficulties as anyone, only dialed-up to 100. Housing costs, education and workplace harassment are all issues the military deals with, only they do it while maintaining a high level of operational readiness and deploying for months at a time.
Q. How can readers contact you with tips or ideas for military coverage?
My email is andrew.dyer@sduniontribune.com and I can be reached via telephone at 619-293-1371. Im also on Twitter @SDUTdyer.
Topics editor Ricky Young introduces our new miltiary reporter, Andrew Dyer.
Follow me at @RickyWhy
ricky.young@sduniontribune.com
Six military bases in San Diego County will be used as logistics hubs for supplies and troops to help with securing the Southwest border following President Trumps announcement Wednesday that he would deploy as many as 15,000 military personnel in response to caravans of Central American migrants making their way northward.
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Air Station North Island (Coronado), Naval Base San Diego and Naval Base Point Loma as well as Naval Air Station El Centro will participate in the deployment named Operation Faithful Patriot, officials said
They have been identified as base support installations staging areas for troops, for helicopters to land and supplies to be distributed, said Air Force Capt. Lauren Hill at Northern Command in Colorado.
Military troops will help with planning, engineering, transportation, logistics and medical support to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to the Northern Command statement.
Advertisement
Tasks will include erecting temporary vehicle barriers and fencing and installing light towers, barbed wire and concertina wire. Temporary housing and meals will be provided and medical personnel would be deployed as needed for patient care, the statement said.
The new 15,000-troop figure doubles the number Pentagon officials have announced would be operating along the entire border with Mexico.
Well go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Control, ICE and everybody else at the border, Trump said before departing Washington for a campaign rally in Florida. Nobodys coming in. Were not allowing people to come in.
Trumps comments came a day after the general in charge of the border deployment said 5,239 active-duty troops would be heading to the border with more potentially to follow, in addition to the 2,092 members of the National National Guard already there.
It wasnt clear whether Trumps 15,000 figure included the National Guard deployment.
If the deployment reaches 15,000 troops, it would be roughly equivalent to the size of the U.S. militarys presence in Afghanistan and three times the size of the presence in Iraq. Already, the deployment is believed to be the largest of its kind in more than a century.
The Washington Post contributed to this story.
Its not known if the active-duty troops will be deployed in the San Diego sector, in part because its not clear where the caravan will go or how many people will be in it by the time it crosses all the way through Mexico.
In the spring, an earlier caravan eventually brought about 200 people en masse to the San Ysidro port of entry to request asylum.
That caravan prompted the Trump administration to ask for National Guard help at the border. California Gov. Jerry Brown authorized up to 400 troops to work in support roles targeting transnational crime. Under the agreement, which runs through March, troops are stationed in San Diego, El Centro and Riverside.
Another 1,700 guard members are deployed in other states.
Advertisement
Under Browns authorization, the troops in California are not supposed to be used for immigration enforcement, but court documents in illegal-entry cases show that in some instances soldiers monitoring patrol cameras have helped with apprehensions.
Other presidents have also dispatched the National Guard to the border. Under President George W. Bush, guard members were stationed there for about two years beginning in 2006, and under President Barack Obama they assisted for about a year starting in 2010.
Those missions cost a total of about $1.3 billion, according to a federal report.
The use of active-duty troops along the border is controversial in part because of a fatal 1997 encounter between a Marine patrol from Camp Pendleton and an 18-year-old high school student in Texas.
Esequiel Hernandez Jr. was herding his familys goats along the Rio Grande near Redford, a town about 200 miles southeast of El Paso, when he crossed paths with four camouflage-clad Marines who were watching for drug smugglers.
Hernandez fired twice at the patrol with a .22-caliber rifle, and one of the Marines fatally shot him, according to investigators. A military report issued a year later concluded that the Marines had not been adequately trained for an armed operation among civilians.
The U.S. government paid the teens family $1.9 million.
According to published accounts, the troops being readied for the new deployment will be used in support roles so they wont violate the Posse Comitatus law, which dates from the late 1870s and prohibits the military from doing domestic police work.
But critics of the plan believe any use of the military sends the wrong message.
The southern border should be a place of encounter, opportunity and hope not a place of hate, exclusion and out-of-control militarization, said Vicki B. Gaubeca, director of the Southern Borders Communities Coalition. To turn these desperate parents, who are only trying to provide safety for their children, into political pawns is to betray our sacred promise to treat people humanely in their time of need regardless of where they come from.
Peter Nunez, a former U.S attorney in San Diego who supports stricter immigration enforcement at the border, said he thinks the military should play a role.
I have supported using the military on the border since the 1980s, to render whatever support is necessary to the Border Patrol, he said.
john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
Two investigations into the death of a civilian contractor on board a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier last September determined the mans death was not the result of a workplace mishap, despite the presence of electrical burns across the mans chest and on his arm.
Gerald Laner, an electrician, was working near an aircraft elevator aboard the Theodore Roosevelt at Naval Air Station North Island when he collapsed. Military personnel quickly responded and tried to revive him, but Laner died.
For the record: Correction: This story has been amended to reflect new information. An OSHA investigation into the death of a civilian Navy contractor on board the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt was closed on Feb. 13. It found no evidence the contractors death was work related.
He was 80 years old.
The Navys investigation and the medical examiners report raise questions about what caused his death, and his son is asking for an investigation.
Advertisement
The Navy says he suffered a heart attack. The San Diego County Medical Examiner was unable to determine a cause of death; an autopsy found Laner had heart disease but it also found electrical burns on his chest and his left arm.
Laners son, Jeff Williams, said he is convinced his father was injured on the job.
The man worked himself to death, Williams said, adding that his father had a 10-year Navy career, which included service in Vietnam, and 20 more in the Army Reserve before working for military contracts. Altogether, Williams said, Laner had 60 years experience as an electrician. (He) worked his whole career defending this country.
Williams lives in Martinez, California.
According to the Navys investigation, Laner began work on the Roosevelt in July. A master tradesman employed by Huntington Ingalls Industries for 11 years, Laner was working near a cable container, ripping out cable boxes. A few minutes later a coworker found him lying motionless.
He tried to awaken him. Three nearby sailors called for emergency medical treatment and began CPR.
Ships medical personnel soon arrived, followed by paramedics from the base fire department. Laner was transported to UCSD Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
According to the Navys investigation, the ships safety officer directed the leading chief petty officer of the electrical division to check all the electrical circuits in the vicinity..to ensure that (Laners) cardiac arrest was not caused by an electric shock.
The Navy says a communication circuit, power circuit, dead-end cables and temporary power outlets were all inspected and found de-energized. A petty officer from the engineering department found that all equipment Mr. Laner was scheduled to be working on had been properly tagged out, meaning they were turned off and the associated power switches were marked with tags, so no one would switch them on.
The ships doctor who led the medical team that day said in an after-action report that Laner showed no indications of external injuries and ... his death was caused by age and/or prior medical history.
The investigation concluded that because all the equipment was tagged out and de-energized, Mr. Laner suffered a heart attack that happened to occur at work, but which likely would have happened regardless of where he was that day.
The commanding officer of the Roosevelt, Capt. Carlos Sardiello, agreed with the findings of the investigation.
The County Medical Examiners Department was not so sure. An autopsy performed two days later said Laner was possibly electrocuted.
The deputy medical examiner conducting the procedure found multiple lesions consistent with with electrical burns on both sides of Laners chest, as well as on the inside of his left arm.
The report also noted evidence of the emergency medical treatment Laner received, including defibrillator treatments, but said they were not listed as the source of the electrical burns.
The medical examiner also found evidence of potentially lethal natural disease including severe narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart, as well as evidence of prior heart attacks and enlargement of the heart.
Laners cause of death is officially undetermined.
A spokeswoman for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Beci Brenton, confirmed Laner worked for the company for 11 years, but did not comment on the nature of his death.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this time of loss, she said.
Cmdr. Ronald Flanders, a spokesman for Naval Air Forces, said the Navys investigation was conclusive.
No factors related to the ship could have contributed to his passing, he said.
The sailors who responded to Laners collapse were recommended for Navy Achievement Medals.
Williams said he reported the discrepancies between the investigation and the autopsy to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. A spokesman for the Department of Labor said Friday its investigation was ongoing, however, on Monday, told the Union-Tribune it had been closed in February.
After reviewing the incident reports and related programs, OSHA investigators determined there was no evidence that supported a work-related fatality, said Leo Kay, a spokesman for the Labor Department. No further details on OSHAs investigation were available Monday.
The Union-Tribune has requested a copy of the agencys investigation under the Freedom of Information Act.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A soldier originally from National City died in Afghanistan in a non-combat related incident, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
Staff Sgt. Diobanjo Sanagustin, 32, was serving as a squad leader in Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment when he died Tuesday. He was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, near the city of Colorado Springs.
Sanagustin joined the Army in 2007 and deployed three times since once to Kosovo, once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, a news release from the base said.
Staff Sgt. Diobanjo made a lasting impact on the Manchu formation and we will forever cherish his memory, said Lt. Col. David Uthlaut, his commanding officer, in a news release. Our deepest condolences are with the Sanagustin family.
Advertisement
Sanagustins awards include two Army Commendations, seven Army Achievement Medals and four Good Conduct Medals.
The incident is under investigation, the Pentagon said.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Claude Alexander Rowe Jr. of Chula Vista, who served in the armed forces of two allied nations during World War II, was laid to rest Friday at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego with full military honors, including a gun salute and a missing man formation flyby of WWII-era fighters.
Rowe died on Sept. 20 at age 97. He was born in Detroit on July 7, 1921. He was a student at the Lawrence Institute of Technology during World War II and left college during his second year to serve his country as a pilot.
Because Rowe was black, he was not eligible to fly in the Army Air Corps. Instead, he went north, to the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he earned his wings in 1944.
In September 1945, Rowe came back to the U.S. and joined the Army, this time as part of the Tuskegee Airmen Experiment, a segregated unit. He earned his wings in June 1946 and flew bombers such as the WB-50 and B-29.
Advertisement
Rowe talked about his experience in the segregated military in a 2009 community essay in The San Diego Union-Tribune.
It was routine to be separated, and although the discrimination was uncomfortable, we were too determined to let that stop us, Rowe wrote. We were not just fighting for our country, we were fighting for our dreams, and we were willing to give our lives for it.
Rowe stayed on as the Air Corps transitioned into the Air Force, eventually becoming a weather officer. He retired in 1966 as a captain.
1 / 14 Members of the March Air Force Base Honor Guard hold an American flag over the coffin of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen during his funeral service at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 2 / 14 Retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 3 / 14 A member of the Patriot Guard Riders holds his hand on the coffin of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen during his funeral at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 4 / 14 Winifride Rowe, left, the wife of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe is comforted by their daughter, Dorothy Rowe as they say their final goodbye at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 5 / 14 Winifride Rowe, the wife of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., holds the American flag that draped his casket at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 6 / 14 Members of the March Air Force Base Honor Guard hold an American flag over the coffin of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen during his funeral service at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 7 / 14 The coffin of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen arrives at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 8 / 14 Dorothy Rowe, left, and her mother, Winifride Rowe, right, the daughter and wife of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., hold the American flag that draped Rowes coffin at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 9 / 14 Winifride Rowe, left, the wife of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., is presented the American flag that draped her husbands casket, by a member of the March Air Force Base Honor Guard, right, at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 10 / 14 The coffin of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen arrives at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 11 / 14 The horse drawn funeral carriage with the coffin of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen arrives at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 12 / 14 Bagpipes were played during the funeral at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen. Rowe died on September 20th, at 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 13 / 14 The coffin of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen is removed from the horse drawn funeral carriage at Fort Rosecrans NationalCemetery by members of the March Air Air Force Base Honor Guard. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 14 / 14 A missing man formation flies over the funeral of retired Air Force Captain Claude A. Rowe, Jr., a member of the famed World War II Tuskeege Airmen at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rowe, who died on September 20th, was 97-years-old and the only member of the group to have flown for both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune)
The Air Force gave Rowe the opportunity to travel extensively, serving in post-war Germany, Japan, Korea and England. In England, he met his wife of 67 years, the former Winifride Swinnerton. They went on to have eight children.
After retirement, Rowe went into banking, eventually becoming a bank manager and vice president in Michigan.
It was when one of his daughters, Dorothy, joined the Navy that the Rowes relocated to San Diego in 1975.
Rowe, who was retired at the time, visited to help Dorothy settle in.
We lived in Portage, Michigan, and when I graduated from high school I wanted to leave, Dorothy Rowe said. So I took off and joined the Navy. When he saw (San Diego), he said, Oh, I love this place. So he flew back home and told my mom to put the house up for sale. It was like the Beverly Hillbillies driving out to San Diego.
Marlene Marien, Rowes eldest daughter, said her dad was a fantastic cook.
One of my fondest memories from childhood, I always looked forward to Sunday dinners, because that was when my dad cooked, she said. To this day, his fried chicken was the only fried chicken I would eat.
Marien said she wanted people to know her father was a man of character.
No matter what negative treatment he received throughout his life as one of the first black pilots, he never held any malice in his heart, Marien said. He always held his head up high and he never let anyones opinion of him change his opinion of himself. He was a very, very honorable man.
Marien remembered one incident when her parents were driving cross-country.
They stopped to get gas, she said, and the lady gave him the wrong change. He realized it after hed driven about 50 miles, so he drove the 50 miles all the way back to return the change because he didnt want her to get in trouble.
Dorothy Rowe said her father left an impression on everyone he met.
(He was) just a wonderful person, anyone who came into his life felt blessed, she said. Everybody just adored him.
She said her father was an exceptional grandfather as well, and took on the tasks some of her siblings were wary of, such as teaching their kids to drive.
He took care of all his grandkids and taught them how to drive, she said. I was afraid, but my dad didnt mind taking them out.
Erica Kimble, Dorothy Rowes daughter, said her grandfather was more like a father to her.
He would watch us all the time after school, she said. When we were little, hed do our hair in the morning...since our dad wasnt around.
Not only did he raise all of his eight kids, he raised most of his 18 grandkids, Dorothy Rowe said.
Rowes burial service Friday included an escort and honors by the Patriot Guard and a horse-drawn carriage. Representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion also attended, as well as Nelson Robinson, who is also a Tuskegee Airmen veteran.
California State Sen. Joel Anderson was in attendance and spoke briefly about the historical significance of the men who joined the then-segregated U.S. military to serve during World War II.
The men who met the call to become Tuskegee Airmen were the best our nation had to offer, he said.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The U.S. Coast Guard announced late Friday it had found a short-term funding solution and would be paying its military workforce on Dec. 31 via its all-hands blog. Until the announcement, Coast Guard members had been notified to expect a delay in funding until a budget solution was found in Washington, D.C.
Most people serving on active duty in the military will not have their pay affected by the partial government shutdown, now entering its second week. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, each part of the Defense Department, are fully funded, and wont be affected once payday rolls around on Jan. 1.
However, paying the members of the militarys fifth branch the U.S. Coast Guard is a trickier proposition.
Thats because, unlike their brothers and sisters in arms, the Coast Guard is part of the Homeland Security Department. DHS, which also includes Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Border Patrol, is not funded.
Advertisement
The one-time action applies to active and reserve military members, the Coast Guard says. A spokesperson told the Union-Tribune that payroll for the next scheduled payday, Jan. 15, had not been funded.
This potential lapse in payroll doesnt mean the Coast Guard wont be working. Nationwide, 42,000 active-duty members and 1,300 civilian employees will continue to work without pay. About 7,400 civilian Coast Guard employees have been furloughed.
The U.S. government remained partially shut down Friday with a budget resolution up in the air as President Trump holds firm to his decision not to sign off on any budget that does not include billions in funding for a wall on the U.S. southern border.
Up to 700 San Diego-based Coast Guard personnel are affected.
Essential Coast Guard duties, such as maritime patrols, search-and-rescue and environmental response operations will continue as normal, according to Chief Warrant Officer Chad Saylor, a guard spokesman. The Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., will also remain open, as any delay in classes could have repercussions throughout the services officer corps.
Our motto is Semper Paratus, which is always ready, Saylor said. Were obligated by law to carry out our mission.
Saylor cited the professionalism and duty-first attitude of the people in the Coast Guard when discussing the uncertainty that came with the shutdown.
Were at the mercy of the system, he said. (The Coast Guard) will be showing up whether theyre paid or not.
A guide published on the Coast Guard website details who will work through the shutdown, and an FAQ guides service members on how to handle their financial obligations.
Saylor said the Coast Guard has programs in place to help its members who are financially affected by the shutdown.
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is something available all the time, he said. Typically, its a no-interest loan.
He said those loans were geared toward the most at-risk members of the Coast Guard those in the junior enlisted ranks.
Navy Federal Credit Union is also offering zero-interest loans both to members of the Coast Guard and any furloughed government employee who has enrolled in direct-deposit.
Saylor said the Coast Guard did not endorse any programs outside of its control, but encouraged those affected to contact their financial institutions.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
UPDATES:
5:05 p.m.: The Coast Guard announced late Friday that its military workforce would be paid on Dec. 31. This story has been updated to reflect the breakthrough.
Some 42,000 active-duty U.S. Coast Guard members including 700 in San Diego and 8,700 civilian employees may get some financial relief from the partial government shutdown after the Coast Guard, along with USAA, announced a $15 million donation to Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, a nonprofit that offers zero-interest loans to service members in need.
The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security, which remains unfunded during the shutdown, now in its fourth week. The rest of the military is under the Department of Defense, which remains funded.
Today you will not be receiving your regularly scheduled mid-month paycheck, Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant of the Coast Guard, wrote in a blog post Tuesday. To the best of my knowledge, this marks the first time in our nations history that service members in a U.S. armed force have not been paid during a lapse in government appropriations.
Thanks to a $15 million donation from insurance and banking behemoth USAA, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance will begin disbursing interest-free loans to active-duty and civilian workers of the Coast Guard, he said.
Advertisement
I recognize the anxiety and uncertainty this situation places on you and your family, and we are working closely with service organizations on your behalf, Schultz said.
USAA is a group of companies in San Antonio providing insurance, banking, retirement products and investment advice to about 13 million current and former members of the military.
The loans of up to $750 for single members and civilian workers and $1,000 for those with dependents are designed to cover two weeks of shortfalls, USAA said.
Retired Rear Adm. Cari Thomas, CEO of CGMA, said the organization had been prepared to take out a loan against its reserve funds when USAA stepped forward with an unsolicited donation.
We are very, very grateful, she said, adding that it will take a community effort to see Coast Guard members through the shutdown. Like any Coast Guard mission, it requires a team of people to get it done.
It marks the first missed paycheck for the Coast Guard since the government shutdown began Dec. 21. Homeland Security was able to find a one-time funding solution at the end of December to avoid a lapse in pay.
However, another payday is coming at the end of January which will affect not just current Coast Guard members and employees but also about 50,000 retirees, who also will miss a pension check.
Thomas said CGMA is working on a similar stop-gap solution but nothing is nailed down yet.
Theres currently no way to pay the retirees, Thomas said. (But) its too early to speculate.
There are a few ways people could help, she said.
People can go on our website, www.cgmahq.org, and do secure online donations, she said. Coast Guard members and employees also can apply for loans on the CGMA website.
Many financial institutions, such as Mission Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal and SDCCU are offering low or no-interest loans, as well as loan payment deferrals, for members affected by the shutdown.
Locally, Lincoln Military Housing, which offers market-rate rentals to service members, said it was suspending rent withdrawals from Coast Guard members.
On Wednesday, the San Diego Food Bank distributed more than 7 tons of food and 6,000 diapers to active-duty Coast Guard personnel at a site near National City.
The bank said it is offering assistance to all furloughed federal workers. Its website is sandiegofoodbank.org.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
For almost seven decades, sailors attached to Fleet Combat Camera Pacific at Naval Air Station North Island deployed with air, ground and sea combat units to document action in overseas hot-spots.
On Friday, a ceremonial bell tolled one last time for this historic Navy unit.
Fleet Combat Camera Pacific ComCam was known over the years by several names, but its mission never changed. According to a statement from the unit, it provided direct imagery capability to the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Military Departments, combatant commands and joint task forces during wartime operations, worldwide crisis, contingencies and joint exercises.
The total number of billets military jobs being eliminated are four officers, 50 enlisted personnel and 31 enlisted reserve components.
Advertisement
Sailors assigned to Combat Camera could expect to be trained for highly-specialized roles, such as Diver, Aircrew and Search and Seizure.
About 200 Combat Camera veterans, sailors and civilians gathered at the Island Club on NAS North Island in Coronado for an emotional, bittersweet ceremony.
The orders shuttering Combat Camera, read at the end of the ceremony, said the closure was part of a budget-saving initiative to eliminate billets that do not directly contribute to improving war-fighting capability.
Earlier Friday morning, the Atlantic Fleets Combat Camera element was also decommissioned in Norfolk, Virginia.
Combat Cameraman Yeoman 1st class Anthony Ardisone with some of the memorabilia he has collected related to Combat Camera uniforms and equipment representing roughly the years 1944 to 1991. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune)
The mood of the day was summed up in a speech by retired Lt. Cmdr. Rick Naystatt, who once served as Combat Cameras commanding officer.
Events like this are kind of like a funeral of sorts that brings together far-flung family one last time, he said. We all feel the loss, but were happy to see each other again.
One attendee, Mark Elder, served at Combat Camera during Vietnam. When he left active duty, he came back as a reservist.
He said Combat Camera gave him a pass to go anywhere.
They gave you an assignment, you got in a plane, you got to go, he said, describing his experience deploying with a squadron in Vietnam in 1970. They knew you were coming and they took care of you. You had a special card from (Combat Camera) that said you will render assistance to (us) in all things...It was kind of like a get out of jail card. I wish Id kept it.
Elder remembered one squadron VAL-4 and how the commanding officer took him under his wing.
The Black Ponies, Elder said, were a light attack squadron. They were the only (Navy) squadron that was fixed-wing in Vietnam.
He said he got to eat, sleep and fly with the officers in the squadron.
Elder was emotional about the Combat Cameras closure.
It hurts so bad, he said. I dont know.
Navy Cmdr. Doug Houser, the last commanding officer of Combat Camera, called the experience an honor, and told attendees to be proud of what they accomplished when they were there.
I cannot tell you how proud I am to be part of your team, he said. Take comfort in knowing you are part of something much bigger than yourselves.
Before the end of the ceremony, Houser had Combat Camera veterans stand and be acknowledged by the decade they served. Veterans from each decade since the 1940s stood.
Chief Petty Officer Jon Rasmussen was the last Officer of the Deck for Combat Camera, a watch from which he was relieved as the orders to close the command were read. He said the ceremony was emotional for him.
Ive grown as a sailor, photographer, and the things Ive experienced at this command have done a lot to make me who I am, he said.
Combat Cameraman Yeoman 1st class Anthony Ardisone, on the right, a reservist with the unit, and Dave Weideman, left, who served 15 years of his career in Combat Camera before retiring in 2004, looked at a vintage Speed Graphic camera. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Petty Officer Third Class Jason Isaacs was one of the last sailors to report to Combat Camera. He said he was intimidated reporting to the historic unit.
I felt really nervous at first when I first got here, when I looked at the history and saw the men and women who served before me, and the work that theyd done, he said. It looked like I had a lot to live up to.
Isaacs is staying in San Diego at a Navy public affairs unit.
Rear Adm. Robert Durand, the Navys vice chief of information, said to preserve Combat Cameras legacy, the Navy needed to add capacity to its communication units.
Where that capacitys going to reside will be in different places, he said. Some of it will be in our Navy pub affairs support element, some of that is going to be organic in the ships themselves.
Durand said sailors who had served at Combat Camera should be proud.
I think each sailor who served here will always feel that Combat Camera was part of what made them who they are he said. They look back at the past and they look to the future and they feel theyve been part of something really special.
Naystatt, reservedly defiant in his speech, said he didnt agree that Combat Camera had worn out its usefulness.
Ill be honest with you, I dont agree with it, he said, adding that change was always part of the mission. Situations change. Adaptations have to be made. Hell, every ship I was ever stationed on is decommissioned now.
At the end of his speech, Naystatt told sailors to save their command rocker-patches somewhere special so youll have them when Combat Camera is re-established, he said.
80 year old Kurt Kinnamon, left, who was with the Combat Camera Group for 57 years of the 67 years of its existence, shook hands with Commander Tom Cotton at the Disestablishing ceremony for the unit. Kinnamon served as both enlisted and as a civilian. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A Chinese destroyer made a series of aggressive maneuvers toward the San Diego-based guided-missile destroyer Decatur early Sunday in an incident the Navy called unsafe and unprofessional.
A statement from the U.S. Pacific Fleet said the incident, which occurred near the Gaven Reef in the South China Sea, involved a Chinese Luyang class destroyer. The Chinese vessel issued warnings to the American ship to leave the area before sailing within 45 yards of the Decaturs bow.
The (Chinese) destroyer conducted a series of increasingly aggressive maneuvers accompanied by warnings for Decatur to depart the area, said Navy Cmdr. Nate Christensen, a Pacific Fleet spokesman. The (Chinese) destroyer approached within 45 yards of Decaturs bow, after which Decatur maneuvered to prevent a collision.
Gaven Reef is close to the disputed Spratly Islands, where China has made several territorial claims not recognized by the U.S. and other nations in the region.
Advertisement
The U.S. Navy has made a point of sailing through the contested waters in defiance of Chinas claims. The Decatur was apparently involved in such freedom of navigation operations when Sundays incident occurred.
China has built airstrips and artificial islands in the South China Sea, actions condemned by Defense Secretary James Mattis in Singapore in June.
So make no mistake: America is in the Indo-Pacific to stay, Mattis said at the time. This is our priority theater. Our interests and the regions are inextricably intertwined.
Mattis characterized Chinas militarization in the South China Sea as being for intimidation and coercion.
China views American operations in the vicinity of its claimed territory as provocations. However, in 2016, an international tribunal ruled against Chinas territorial claims in the Spratly Islands a ruling the country rejected.
The islands are mostly uninhabited but are close to busy shipping lanes lanes which the U.S. has an interest in protecting.
U.S. Navy ships and aircraft operate throughout the Indo-Pacific routinely, including in the South China Sea, Christensen said. As we have for decades, our forces will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, announced Wednesday he had sent a letter asking President Donald Trump to intervene in the case of a San Diego-based Navy SEAL being held at the Navy Consolidated Brig on MCAS Miramar.
Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward R. Gallagher, 39, is charged with committing multiple war crimes while on deployment in Mosul, Iraq, in 2017. He is charged with premeditated murder, shooting civilians and with attempting to obstruct justice by intimidating witnesses.
He was arrested on Sept. 11 and has been confined to a military brig since. His trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 19.
On Monday, Hunter visited Gallagher in the brig for about 45 minutes to an hour, according to Hunter spokesman Michael Harrison.
Advertisement
In a letter to the president, dated Monday, Hunter who himself served as a Marine infantry officer in Iraq and Afghanistan says the conditions at the brig are no way to treat an American war hero.
Chief Gallagher has been forced into a general population which consists mostly of convicted sex offenders and pedophiles, Hunter says in the letter. Reportedly his children are required to wear hospital gowns while they visit, so that they may not bring unwanted attention from any of the other inmates.
Chief Special Warfar Operator Edward R. Gallagher. (Courtesy photo)
Hunter calls the policy irregularly harsh for someone that has not stood trial or even charged with any sexual misconduct charges.
A Navy SEAL with eight combat deployments and two Bronze Stars with Valor deserves better, Hunter says.
Among Gallaghers military decorations are two Bronze Star with combat V awards, signifying the SEAL had performed acts or services (while) exposed to personal hazard involving direct participation in combat operations, according to Navy regulations.
Hunter goes on to say that Gallaghers brig confinement has interfered with his right to a speedy trial.
In order for his current legal representation to meet with Chief Gallagher inside of the Brig, they first must obtain permission to enter the base and are forced to speak with their client in rooms that allegedly have cameras, guards and most likely microphones, Hunter says. These circumstances could directly interfere with his attorney-client privilege.
Although Hunter did not make specific requests of the president, in another statement Friday he described the Navy Judge Advocate Corps as over aggressive and the Navy justice system political. Hunter has made similar criticisms of the U.S Department of Justice for its prosecution of Hunter on campaign-finance charges and its investigation into the Trump campaigns dealings with Russia.
Due to verifiable political nature of the Navys justice system, I believe that Chief Gallaghers matter needs to be taken away from the Navy and President Trump himself needs to personally review and dismiss this case, taking an American hero out of a prison cell and back on the front lines where he belongs, Hunter said in the statement.
Harrison said on the phone Wednesday that the congressman would be watching developments in the case closely.
(Gallagher) has not been convicted of anything, Harrison said.
A spokeswoman for Navy Personnel Command, which oversees the brig, said she could not comment specifically on Hunters statement Wednesday, but provided the brigs dress code and visitation rules to the Union-Tribune.
It says excessively tight or revealing clothing, which includes shorts shorter than mid-thigh and shirts that dont cover the midriff, would be considered inappropriate for visitation.
Gallaghers court martial on war crimes charges began Friday. Military prosecutors say that during a 2017 deployment in Iraq, Gallagher, who is also a medic, stabbed a wounded ISIS combatant under his care, then posed for photos next to the body. He is also accused of holding his reenlistment ceremony next to the teenage fighters corpse.
Upon returning to San Diego and learning he was under investigation, prosecutors say Gallagher reached out to a network of former SEAL community members in an effort to leak the names of SEALs cooperating with investigators names he ascertained because their initials were printed on a search warrant authorities provided when they searched his home.
Attorneys for Gallagher told reporters after Fridays hearing that the SEALs actions that day in Iraq did not the cause the fighters death.
The question in what hes being charged with is, Did he murder anyone? said Colby Vokey, one of Gallaghers attorneys. No, he didnt murder anyone.
Neither Vokey nor Gallaghers other civilian attorney, Phillip Stackhouse, would comment on whether Gallagher stabbed the fighter in the neck, only saying he did not murder him.
Gallaghers attorneys filed a motion Friday asking the judge, Capt. Aaron Rugh, to release Gallagher from the brig while hes awaiting trial. A ruling is expected this week.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The crash of a Marine F-35B in South Carolina last week has some residents concerned about the jets impending arrival at Marine Corps Station Miramar in 2020.
The Marine F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter attached to an East Coast training squadron crashed on Sept. 28. The crashed jet belonged to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 based out of Beaufort, South Carolina. The pilot ejected safely while the jet crashed into an island about four miles northwest of the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
On that same day that, more than 2,100 miles away, spectators at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar attended the largest military air show in the nation one that included a performance by the F-35B. Miramar expects its first permanent F-35B squadron to arrive early in 2020.
Were hoping that this crash will bring up the need to reassure the community, said Barry Bernstien, president of the University City Community Association. It brings up questions about the safety of that particular aircraft.
Advertisement
That aircraft in either its A, B or C variants had not yet experienced a crash until Friday. It is still pretty new, however, and has experienced a number of mishaps on the ground, from landing gear-failure to engine fires. It has also been controversial, with cost overruns and years-long delays.
The first of two versions of the single-engine jet to arrive at Miramar the B variant is capable of vertical takeoff and landings. The C variant, which cannot takeoff and land vertically, will arrive later.
The safety of jets flying in and out of Miramar is a real concern to neighboring residents. The 10th anniversary is approaching for the Dec. 8, 2008, F/A-18C crash that destroyed three University City homes and killed three generations of one family. Retired Navy pilot Ron Belanger, who lives in the area, said its only a matter of time before another crash occurs.
We will have another accident, he said.
Belanger has lived in the neighborhood since 1982 four houses away from the 2008 crash site. He said he understands how important Miramars operations are, but that he doesnt want its aircraft flying over residences.
Weve seen more and more (aircraft), he said.
The wreckage of an F/A-18C jet headed to MCAS Miramar smolders after it crashed in the University City area of San Diego on Dec. 8, 2008. The crash killed four people in one of the homes. (K.C. Alfred / Union-Tribune)
There are two flight paths aircraft usually take when leaving Miramar that bypass homes. Aircraft will take off, make a right turn, and then follow one of two corridors either out to sea or towards the mountains.
Conditions in the air sometimes lead those craft to fly over the neighborhood. In January, the base reprimanded two pilots for failing to follow those paths during two flights in October 2017.
Marine Capt. Matthew Gregory, the director of communications at Miramar, said in an emailed statement that pilots are instructed to divert to avoid the neighborhood, but sometimes the FAA directs craft to fly over homes.
Aircraft fly through this busy airspace under the close direction of MCAS Miramar and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers, and in compliance with federal aviation regulations, Gregory said. Air operations that differ from the norm are, in the overwhelming majority of cases, authorized and safe.
The primary aircraft corridors leaving MCAS Miramars runway. (Miramar Marine Corps Air Station; Mapzen; OpenStreetMap)
Operations at Miramar are important for the Marines the base is in a key location close to training areas.
Marine Col. Charles Dockery, the commanding officer of the base, said in a statement more than 75,000 runway operations were conducted in the last year.
I am very proud of the professional performance of our aircrews over the past year, Dockery said. We will always strive to be better, but conducting over 75,000 runway operations in a 12-month span without a single flight violation sets a high standard.
The Marines have made efforts to be good neighbors.
Chris Nielson, the chair of the University City Planning Group, said a base delegate sits on the planning group.
The base also hosts community representatives every month for a community forum.
Diane Ahern, vice chair of the community association, said she often attends those monthly meetings but was concerned the Marines did not take community concerns seriously. Ahern, like some of her neighbors, is particularly concerned about the F-35.
Its a single-engine (plane), she said. If (it) goes out, it crashes.
The F/A-18C that crashed in 2008 had two engines both of which failed.
Marine F/A-18s practice for the Miramar Air Show on September 27, 2018. Some of Miramars F/A-18 squadrons will be converted to F-35s over the next several years. (K.C. Alfred / Union-Tribune)
Ahern also said she wanted pilots departing the base to avoid the neighborhood and questioned the skill level of those who make a lazy right turn.
It makes me doubt the discipline of our fighting force, she said.
Gregory said Miramars operations, including those that sometimes result in aircraft flying over homes, would continue in accordance with FAA regulations.
Aircrew based aboard MCAS Miramar will continue to operate safe aircraft in a professional manner in accordance with established procedures, he said. The F-35 will usher in an exciting age of military aviation and MCAS Miramar looks forward to its arrival and the positive national security and community impacts that it will bring.
Ahern said not all of her neighbors had a problem with flyovers and that she understood the base was there when she moved in.
Theres a lot of sound of freedom people, she said, referencing a popular saying about the loudness of military aircraft. Im a huge supporter of the military (my) concern is safety.
The F-35 in South Carolina crashed about four miles away from the runway at Beauford. Neigborhoods of University City, Bay Ho, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Tierrasanta, Mira Mesa and Sorrento Valley all lay within four miles of Miramars.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A retired two-star admiral and former Trump Administration nominee repeatedly solicited and accepted gifts from military contractor Leonard Glenn Fat Leonard Francis and used his position as the commodore of Destroyer Squadron 15 to benefit Francis company, according to a letter of censure released Friday.
The letter, signed by Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, details events from 2007 to 2009 when Rear Adm. Mark C. Montgomery accepted meals and hotel stays for himself and his family while providing Francis with information about ship movements and the names of other officers he could invite to his lavish dinners.
He also lied to Navy investigators in January when he submitted a written statement denying his involvement with Francis, the letter says.
In June, Montgomery was nominated by President Trump for an administrative position at the U.S. Agency for International Development. That nomination was withdrawn just before the Navy announced his censure.
Advertisement
Although announced in November, the details of Montgomerys graft were only made public on Friday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from The San Diego Union-Tribune and other media organizations.
According to Navy investigators cited in the letter, Montgomery accepted gifts of meals and hotel stays in excess of $6,000 and helped Francis plan a lavish $32,000 dinner at the Pierre II restaurant in Hong Kong. Montgomery even signed a menu commemorating the event, the Navy says.
During the summer of 2007, Montgomery intervened on behalf of Francis company and had two Navy vessels accept fuel from Francis company that they had originally declined.
Minutes after the company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, was notified of Montgomerys action, someone from the company, whose name was redacted from the letter perhaps Francis said of him in a comment Top shelf friendship!! Ha Ha!!
That October, Montgomery provided Francis with advance notice that a Navy ship would be visiting Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, a port Francis controlled. In exchange, he asked Francis to put his family up in a Hong Kong hotel the next month. Francis arranged for an upgraded room, for which GDMA paid $2,609.
In the spring of 2008, Francis and GDMA paid almost $2,000 for Montgomerys stay at the Hong Kong Grand Hyatt, the letter says. Just before his hotel stay, Montgomery gave Francis five-months notice of the Navys plans to visit Cambodia and Vietnam, the document states.
In December of 2008, Francis and GDMA again paid for a hotel upgrade for Montgomery and his family, this time in Singapore. When offered the $1,600 upgrade, Montgomery said he would be thrilled to take it, Spencers letter says.
Francis, also known as Fat Leonard because of his size, was a Malaysian defense contractor who provided husbanding services for Navy ships in the western Pacific for more than 20 years.
His criminal enterprise ensnared dozens of naval officers. As many as 200 were investigated by the Navy. Beginning with his arrest in a San Diego hotel room in 2013, the Justice Department began unraveling Francis web, one string at a time.
Among those in thrall to Francis was John Beliveau II, an Navy Criminal Investigative Service agent who served as the contractors mole, helping him keep one step ahead of authorities. In 2016, Beliveau was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Other officers, accused of less serious offenses, received significantly lighter sentences. Those whose actions did not rise to the level of federal prosecution were turned over to the Navy for potential prosecution under military law.
Montgomerys censure is unlikely to quell the critique that the Navy has gone easy on its own.
A Navy spokesman declined to comment on the Navys decision not to prosecute Montgomery under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
The Justice Department could not be reached for comment late Friday to discuss its decision not to pursue criminal charges against Montgomery.
Francis tactic was to cozy up to naval officers as a friend, find out their weaknesses and then exploit them. He plied officers with cash, fine dining, travel and high-dollar prostitutes across Asia.
In a deposition in a military courtroom this summer, Francis said the investment was worthwhile. Officers would provide him with information about ship movements and information about other officers he might be able to target for his conspiracy.
Others would provide proprietary information from his competitors in the region, allowing him to tailor his bids for lucrative husbanding contracts. He was also able to corrupt those in charge of approving those contracts.
Francis would then overcharge Navy ships for services in port by inflating the amount of sewage his company removed from ships, for instance, or having his employees produce fake invoices from non-existent sub-contractors all in an effort to squeeze the Navy for millions of dollars in overcharges.
Francis pleaded guilty in 2015 to bilking the Navy for $35 million. He is cooperating with prosecutors while he awaits sentencing. He is battling stage four cancer and living under house arrest somewhere in San Diego County.
Montgomery, who is retired, will not face any further consequences for his graft, save the stain on his record and the revocation of his end of tour award from his time as the commander of Destroyer Squadron 15.
A slew of officers from the Navys Seventh Fleet await trial in San Diego. In total, 33 people have been charged in the conspiracy, with 22 pleading guilty. Navy Captain Jeffrey Breslau, the former lead public affairs officer for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, was the latest. He pleaded guilty last month.
Montgomery was the sixth admiral to be censured by the Navy. Two others were charged with crimes. Rear Adm. Robert Gilbeau was sentenced in 2017 to 18 months in prison. He was released last month.
The other, Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless, is among the Seventh Fleet officers awaiting trial.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
When Capt. Alan Carltons B-24 bomber was shot down over Germany during World War II, he felt lucky.
Not that lucky wounded in the right foot, he left a bloody trail in the snow that made him easy to track. The American pilot was captured at gunpoint and spent more than a year in a POW camp.
But he was alive, which was more than could be said for three of his crewmen.
Now, 75 years later, Carlton has another reason to feel lucky about what happened that day. It came via FedEx a few days ago from Eisenach, a city in central Germany.
Advertisement
Eberhard Haelbig, a researcher there who is documenting aerial combat during the war, scours crash sites found near his home. Dozens of planes went down there. Scavenged over the years by humans, consumed by the elements, whats left is mostly pieces.
But even they tell a story.
One plane in particular, a B-24 that crashed in a forest, caught his attention not long ago. Using records in Germany and the U.S., he figured out which plane it was, and when it had gone down.
He learned the names of the 10 Americans who were on board, and found photographs taken shortly after it crashed. With the help of Google and a military friend in the states, he contacted the pilot, who lives in a senior community in Carmel Valley.
Which is how Carlton got two FedEx boxes with remnants of his B-24.
With this I would like to say, Thank you, Capt. Carlton, and thank you to the Greatest Generation for your fight against evil and for liberating my country from that, Haelbig said in an email interview with the Union-Tribune. Im a German by birth, but American by heart.
What he sent Carlton is a pile of junk to a laymans eye. But not to the former pilot.
This means a lot to me, Carlton said Thursday morning as he looked through the seven pieces of metal and glass. He held up a scrap he thinks was the part of a wing tip called an aileron. I never thought Id see any of my plane again. Im glad to have these.
Glad, too, because the package arrived in time for his 100th birthday, which was Sunday. What a nice, early present this is, he said.
His 14th mission
They called it Big Week.
As 1943 turned into 1944, Allied commanders hatched a plan for a round-the-clock aerial offensive against the Nazis, one of the largest bombing campaigns of the war.
American B-17s and B-24s stationed in England and Italy would attack airplane factories, munitions centers and other targets in Germany during the day. British planes would raid at night.
They hoped not only to strike at Germanys industrial heart, but draw its fighter jets into a war of attrition and clear the skies in advance of the pivotal D-Day land invasion at Normandy planned for later that year.
For six days starting on Feb. 20, 1944, hundreds of B-17s and B-24s flew missions into Germany, dropping nearly 10,000 tons of bombs.
They paid a hefty price, losing about 250 bombers and fighters. Some 2,500 crew members were killed, injured, lost or captured.
But Germany lost hundreds of planes and pilots, too, and with its factories and airfields damaged by the bombs, couldnt replace them quickly.
The Allieds had shifted air supremacy in their favor.
Pieces of Alan Carltons B-24 (Howard Lipin/Union-Tribune)
Carlton was shot down during Big Week, on Feb. 24, 1944. The Detroit native had enlisted two years earlier, dropping out of medical school at Indiana University to do my part in the war effort, he said. Everybody was joining.
Part of the 567th Bomb Squadron based in Hethel, England, Carlton was on his 14th mission when his B-24 D Liberator, built at Consolidated in San Diego, was hit by enemy fire, first over Holland, and then over central Germany.
Machine-gun bursts from Luftwaffe fighter planes killed his tail gunner and two waist gunners, and sent the B-24 rolling. Everybody else parachuted out the bomb bay doors, with Carlton exiting last.
His came down between two trees, suspended in the air. After cutting himself free, he hobbled away, but his right foot wounded by shrapnel when the plane got shot trailed blood in the snow. German civilians hunted him down about two hours later and held him at gunpoint until the military arrived.
From there he was interrogated briefly, then put on a train and sent to Stalag Luft I, a prison camp for Allied air crews located near Barth, Germany, on the Baltic Sea. Nearly 9,000 British and American aviators were captive there.
A journal Carlton kept during his imprisonment includes drawings he made of the camp, as well as a map of his ill-fated mission. It has lists of books he read and movies he saw, and recipes the prisoners used for meals made from care-package ingredients like Spam. And meals made from animals.
Whatever we could catch, we ate, Carlton said. When Russian forces liberated the camp in early May 1945, his weight had dropped to about 100 pounds.
B-17s and B-24s arrived to pick up the prisoners. On the way out, they flew their passengers over German cities so they could view the results of the bombings theyd participated in before getting shot down.
I was happy to see it, Carlton said.
An unusual ending
Haelbig, the German researcher, works for a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the story of one particular World War II aerial battle: The Kassel Mission.
On Sept. 27, 1944, B-24s from the 445th Bomb Group, stationed at Tibenham in England, were sent to hit factories in Kassel. A group of about 35 planes, through what the American Air Museum in Britain called a gross error in leadership and navigation, peeled off from the main group and their fighter escorts to attack a different town.
The bombers were overrun by about 150 German fighter planes, which in six minutes shot down 25 of the B-24s. Six others made emergency landings in Allied territory. Only four made it back to Tibenham.
It was, according to the Kassel Mission Historical Society, the greatest single-day loss to a group from one airfield in aviation warfare history. More than two-thirds of the crew members were killed or taken prisoner.
While his main focus is documenting the stories of the Kassel Mission, Haelbig is also interested in other aerial warfare in the region, including Big Week. He said almost 30 U.S. planes were shot down in just one day during that campaign near Eisenach, his hometown.
Hunters and rangers in the nearby forest sometimes come across the wreckage of planes, and when they do they tell Haelbig. He visits the sites and collects what he can, often putting the remnants in display cases in an aviation museum.
He identifies the planes and their crew members through detailed records, maps and photos kept in U.S. and German archives. Thats how he linked Carlton to that particular B-24.
The search usually ends there. Of the 16 million Americans who fought in World War II, fewer than 500,000 are alive, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
But when Haelbig Googled Carltons name recently, he found a 2016 newspaper story about the pilot that said he was living in San Diego. The researcher asked an American friend on the East Coast to find out if that was still true.
It was my greatest wish to send Capt. Carlton the pictures of his plane and some pieces, Haelbig said.
When the phone call came, Carlton and his daughter, Jan Foreman, didnt know what to make of it. Someone found the B-24? They want to send parts of the wreckage?
We thought it was probably a scam, Foreman said.
Reminders of what happened
Carltons memory about the war isnt what it used to be.
That was a long time ago, he said.
A framed collection of Alan Carltons war-time memorabilia. (Howard Lipin/Union-Tribune)
He came home from Germany and into the arms of his wife, Jeanne. They started a family, two daughters. They followed his parents from Chicago to Arizona and then to San Diego, where he sold real estate for many years in Rancho Bernardo. His grandsons are in the Grammy-winning Christian group Switchfoot.
He and Jeanne were married for almost 75 years until she died in 2016. His senior-living apartment is filled with photos of the couple, including a black-and-white one where hes in his military uniform, before he was shipped overseas.
To remind him of what happened during the war, he has scrapbooks and a shadow box decorated with medals a Purple Heart, two Air Medals, the French Legion of Honor. The pieces Haelbig just sent him from the downed B-24 may play a similar role.
And he has a poem he wrote while he was a POW that includes near the end this stanza, as true now as it was then:
Its a hell of a life and you feel the strain
But youd do the same thing all over again.
Still you pray for the day when therell be no more war
When youll see what it is youve been fighting for.
john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
A general court martial began Friday in a San Diego military courtroom where a U.S. Navy SEAL, accused of multiple war crimes, was formally arraigned on charges he killed a wounded Islamic State group combatant and shot civilians during a 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq.
The most serious charge against Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward R. Gallagher, 39, originally from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, is premeditated murder. Prosecutors say Gallagher killed a wounded teenage IS fighter by stabbing him in the neck with his knife. Gallagher, who is a medic, was treating the fighter at the time.
The charge carries a mandatory life sentence under the military justice system.
Gallagher was also charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, charges linked to the shooting of two civilians. The charge sheet produced by Navy prosecutors described the civilians as a male and a female, and attorneys have referred to the pair as an old man and a girl.
Advertisement
Other charges levied against the decorated Navy SEAL stem from allegations he shot at civilians on several occasions during the deployment and, once back in the United States, that he attempted to intimidate witnesses when he learned they were cooperating with Navy investigators in the case.
Attorneys for Gallagher told reporters after the hearing that the SEALs actions that day in Iraq did not the cause the fighters death.
The question in what hes being charged with is, Did he murder anyone? said Colby Vokey, one of Gallaghers attorneys. No, he didnt murder anyone.
Neither Vokey nor Gallaghers other civilian attorney, Phillip Stackhouse, would comment on whether Gallagher stabbed the fighter in the neck, only saying he did not murder him.
Attorneys filed a motion to release Gallagher from the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar, where he has been confined since his arrest Sept. 11, but a ruling is not expected until early next week.
The trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 19.
The defense called several witnesses Friday in an attempt to convince the judge, Navy Capt. Aaron Rugh, that Gallagher was not a flight risk, nor was he a threat to obstruct justice by attempting to intimidate witnesses.
Navy prosecutors submitted 1,700 pages of text messages and eyewitness statements, then declined to discuss evidence with reporters.
Gallaghers defense attorneys, who also declined to discuss certain aspects of the case, conceded that some of those text messages might appear to indicate that, during the summer of 2018, Gallagher attempted to enlist the help of friends in and around the SEAL community to publicize the names of the SEALs who were cooperating with Navy investigators.
They said Gallagher figured out who was cooperating because a search warrant, provided to Gallagher when his home at Lincoln Military Housing at Liberty Station was raided, included the initials of those witnesses.
There are text messages that we have been provided that indicate that Eddie might have sent some text messages out saying that these individuals who are making the allegations against him are lying...and people should know they are lying, Vokey said after the hearing.
Stackhouse said that these text messages were what lead authorities to keep Gallagher in the brig while awaiting trial.
Navy Cmdr. Paul Sargent, the site director for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury site at Navy Hospital Camp Pendleton, testified via telephone regarding treatment Gallagher was receiving for mild traumatic brain injury at the time of his arrest.
According to Sargent, Gallagher had sustained 18 concussions before and during his time in the Navy, and that this might affect his impulse control. He also said Gallagher would be welcomed back into the program were he to be released from the brig.
Colleagues of Gallagher from the San Diego SEAL community also testified on his behalf. Three SEALS two of them master chiefs, the other a senior chief and a senior chief ordnance disposal technician each told the judge Gallagher was of outstanding character and that he was not a flight risk.
His wife, Andrea Gallagher, also took the stand. She told the judge shed known Gallagher since she was 16 and he was 17, and that the couple reconnected years later, marrying in 2007.
Gallagher had about a dozen supporters in attendance.
Congressman Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, also expressed his support for Gallagher Friday.
During the hearing, the congressmen released a statement calling the Navys prosecution of Gallagher another example of the over-aggressiveness of the Navy JAG Corp (sic) showing its bias against our warfighters.
Hunter also called on President Trump to intervene.
Due to verifiable political nature of the Navys justice system, I believe that Chief Gallaghers matter needs to be taken away from the Navy, Hunters statement said, and President Trump himself needs to personally review and dismiss this case, taking an American hero out of a prison cell and back on the front lines where he belongs.
A Pentagon spokeswoman was not able to comment Friday on the authority of the president to take action in this or any case. Hunter has offered similar criticism of the civilian Department of Justice, which is prosecuting Hunter on charges of stealing $250,000 in campaign funds along with his wife and former campaign manager, Margaret. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The trial of a Navy SEAL charged with war crimes in Iraq, which was scheduled to begin next week, has been delayed until late spring, a Navy spokesman said Wednesday.
Edward R. Gallagher, 39, a chief special warfare operator, faces charges of premeditated murder, aggravated assault and shooting at civilians during an Iraq deployment in 2017.
His defense team Wednesday asked for a continuation until May 28, said Brian ORourke, a spokesman for Navy Region Southwest.
Gallagher was in court Tuesday for a motions hearing.
Advertisement
Some members of his platoon have told Navy investigators they saw the SEAL stab a wounded ISIS fighter in the neck while the fighter was receiving medical treatment. The fighter died and Gallagher is accused of posing for photos with the body and holding a reenlistment ceremony near the body.
Gallagher has denied the allegations.
Gallaghers commander, Lt. Jacob Portier, also faces charges related to the incident with the ISIS fighters body.
A hearing in his court martial, scheduled for Friday, also was delayed at the request of his defense team. A new date has not been scheduled, ORourke said.
Portier faces charges that he was made aware of complaints against Gallagher but did not report them. He also has been charged with conduct unbecoming an officer for allegedly conducting Gallaghers reenlistment ceremony near the Iraqi fighters body.
Portier has denied the allegations.
Gallaghers case has attracted national news coverage and the attention of conservative talk show hosts. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, asked President Donald Trump to remove the case from the Navy and dismiss the charges.
A judge has dropped two of the charges against a Navy SEAL who is facing a high-profile war crimes prosecution.
Navy Capt. Aaron Rugh, the judge in the court martial of Chief Petty Officer Edward R. Gallagher, 39, stripped away two of the charges against the SEAL one related to his reenlistment next to the body of a slain teenage ISIS fighter, and another related to him allegedly operating a drone over the corpse.
The other charges stand.
Gallagher is still charged with premeditated murder for allegedly stabbing to death a previously wounded teenage ISIS fighter and with aggravated assault for allegedly shooting at civilians during a 2017 deployment to Iraq.
Advertisement
The chief special warfare operator also still faces an allegation he posed for photos with the young fighters body, and charges he allegedly obstructed justice by attempting to discourage members of his platoon from reporting him and then allegedly retaliated against subordinates who did.
Colby Vokey, one of Gallaghers attorneys, said in an email Monday that the ruling dismissing two charges exposes weaknesses in the governments case.
We are grateful that these two character-smearing accusations wont be a part of the trial, he said. There has to be a limit on what kind of accusations can be brought against our warriors fighting ISIS in a combat zone.
Brian ORourke, a Navy spokesman, said the ruling does not affect the rest of the case against Gallagher. As of Monday, the text of the ruling had not been released.
The judges ruling could have ramifications outside of just Gallaghers case.
Gallaghers platoon commander, Lt. Jacob Portier, also faces court martial for charges that he was aware of complaints against Gallagher but did not report them. Portier also has been charged with conduct unbecoming an officer for conducting Gallaghers reenlistment ceremony.
Jeremiah Sullivan, Portiers attorney, said he is confident the judges ruling will help his clients case.
Ive been saying all along, its not a crime to conduct a reenlistment ceremony on the battlefield, Sullivan said.
Prosecutors charged Portier with making a false official statement, for telling his superiors that there was nothing criminal (about the reenlistment), it was just in poor taste.
Unlike Gallaghers case, which is barreling toward a trial date of Feb. 19, Portiers has been delayed while a judge considers whether a previous protective order prevented the defense from interviewing witnesses. Sullivan hopes to roll the case back to a hearing that would re-evaluate the charges against his client.
Navy Capt. Jonathan Stephens, the judge in Portiers court martial, will hear arguments on Sullivans motion Feb. 15.
Its going to be a very interesting day, Sullivan said.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai was in San Diego this week to announce a partnership with the USO that includes enhanced job search features on Google search and an IT training initiative for transitioning military members and active duty spouses.
Now, typing jobs for veterans in the Google search bar results in an additional search box for a military occupation code, which leads to local civilian job postings that match the skills and training of those military jobs.
Pichai, at a news conference Monday at the new USO headquarters in Liberty Station, said Google was in a unique position to offer transitioning veterans tools to ease a post-military job search, and that military skills were often lost in translation when transferring them to a civilian job.
This is an area where Googles ability to organize information can help, he said. There are 10,000 military job codes out there, yet we lack a way to help recruiters match a veterans experience with a civilian need for their skills.
Advertisement
Google is also making the new military job search function available to job boards, employers and staffing agencies, Pichai said.
Screenshot of Google search results for jobs for veterans. (Andrew Dyer / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Pichai also announced Google would add a badge on search results and on Google Maps to veteran-owned businesses.
Pichai also announced a new $2.5 million grant to the USO to train active duty members and their spouses for entry level IT jobs.
The Google IT Support Professional Certificate can be earned in about eight months, Pichai said, with about eight to 10 hours of work per week.
It equips you with the skills you need to start a career in IT support in about eight months no prior experience of college degree necessary, he said. We are making all these services available to the spouses of current service members, too. Spouses make it possible for members of the military to do their important work.
USO President Dr. J.D. Crouch II said the organizations mission was to keep service members connected when in uniform, but that it was also to help their transition.
Weve been around for 77 years, and weve been waiting for this partnership with Google, he said. This program will provide transitioning service members with in-demand technical skills and transferrable soft skills to kick-start their private sector careers and after their military service concludes.
Kylee Durant, the USOs senior director of program development, said Google approached the organization wanting to work with military families. She said she knew any initiative would need to include military spouses.
As a (military) spouse, I struggled continuing a career after moving three times in five years, she said at Mondays news conference. The IT industry offers so much job portability. The future of work is going to be more digital.
Kassandra Kristoff, who works in internal communications at Google, served six years in the Navy as a surface warfare officer. She said the she and her husband who was also in the military struggled during their transition our of the military in 2013.
This job search function I wish that was around when I was transitioning out, she said. This is game-changing for a lot of folks that are transitioning today.
Kristoff said working in tech was similar to the military in that the work environment was fast-paced and required people to think on their feet. She said there were opportunities for transitioning service members but also that transitioning could be difficult.
Its going to be a long, hard process, but continue to have that work ethic...because you never know where that could lead, she said. Just keep at it, and eventually youll land somewhere you really love.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Big boxes of beef jerky, granola bars, crackers, cookies, chocolate bars confronted some five dozen volunteers who converged on Saturday at San Diego International Airport. Their challenge: to fill 4,000 drawstring bags destined for members of the U.S. military who will be traveling during the Christmas season.
So for several hours, they formed an industrious line retirees, elementary school students, and everything in between who donated their time to the annual Waves of Appreciation event that thanks U.S. service men and women at a time many are flying home for the holidays.
The annual effort, now in its eighth year, is spearheaded by the San Diego alumni group from Malibu-based Pepperdine University. But it also depends on scores of volunteers from area church groups and service organizations, as well as donations from businesses that contribute the 17 snack items that make up the gift bags.
Saturdays supporters came from all over the county. Pediatrician Trish Ghosh, 49, came from Escondido with daughters Rebecca, 15, and Isabella, 10.
Advertisement
Its a beautiful day, its San Diego, it was close by and we could help out, she said.
Megan Carolin, a 31-year-old preschool teacher and 2009 Pepperdine graduate, drove in from San Carlos: San Diego is such a big military town, so its important to show we appreciate them in everything they do.
Members of the Santa Fe Christian Dance Troupe perform during the Waves of Appreciation event at the USO Neil Ash Airport Center in San Diego on Saturday. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)
The project is done in collaboration with the United Service Organizations, a nonprofit group chartered by Congress whose facilities worldwide serve as a home-away-from home for members of the U.S. military. The event was staged outside the USO San Diego Neil Ash Airport Center, which each year sees some 120,000 traveling members of the U.S. armed services.
The first Waves of Appreciation event took place in 2011 after Pepperdine parent Reed Reichert contacted USO staff as he searched for a project that could benefit the military.
Our message was one of respect and love for our military, and respect and love for the great things that the USO does, Reichert said.
The gift bags come in handy during the holiday season, said Sgt. Maj. Bobby Woods, director of the airport center, as purchasing food at the airport or during flights can be especially costly for young service members.
Inside the center, 18-year-old Jonathan Sandoval sat with his family after completing boot camp at Camp Pendleton. He was preparing for a few days back home outside Peoria, Ill., before returning for training in the Infantry Training Batallion. A gift bag, he said, would be in my mind, kind of like Christmas.
The bags will be distributed to traveling service members who pass through the San Diego International Airport between Friday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 22.
Volunteer Ken Stephens, who passed out bags last Christmas, said participating was a rewarding experience.
You think about the people that are sacrificing so much, said Stephens, 60, the father of a Pepperdine graduate. Its a wonderful opportunity to stop for a moment, celebrate the holidays, and say, Thank you for what you do.
To volunteer in passing out bags this December, go to the Waves of Appreciation website at www.wavesofappreciation.org.
sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com
@sandradibble
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, recently stepped up his advocacy for a Navy SEAL on trial for war crimes, including contacting military leaders with administrative and supervisory roles in the trial.
Wednesday Hunter also sent a letter to President Donald Trump, calling on him to remove from the Navys hands the case of Chief Petty Officer Edward R. Gallagher, who is accused of stabbing to death a teen-age Iraqi combatant. Co-signing the letter was Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, a Republican who represents the western panhandle region of that state.
The letter alleges political bias against Gallagher and repeats other claims about his confinement and access to attorneys, claims the Navy has disputed.
The White House has not commented on the request.
Advertisement
Gallagher, a chief special warfare operator based in San Diego, was charged with several war crimes from a 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq.
Navy investigators say Gallagher killed a wounded teenage ISIS fighter brought to him for medical treatment. He also faces aggravated assault charges for allegedly shooting an elderly man and a little girl, and charges related to allegedly shooting indiscriminately at civilians during deployment.
Gallagher has denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
Hunter recently leaned on Navy officials about the courthouse where Gallagher is being tried. Hunters office said calls were made to ensure that Gallaghers supporters could attend the Navy SEALs trial next month.
Gallaghers case has attracted a large number of supporters and more than 30 news media outlets, said Brian ORourke, a Navy spokesman.
The largest courtroom on Naval Base San Diego can accommodate only about 30 people. Once seating is reserved for Navy officials and those required by the prosecution and defense, there likely will not be enough seats for the public, he said.
They are planning to use a closed-circuit TV system for an audience in another courtroom, he said.
The issue came to a head at Gallaghers arraignment Jan. 4. Priority was given to 11 members of the news media, leaving only five seats available for the 35 or so Gallagher supporters, ORourke said.
Thats when someone called Hunter.
They were upset (the Navy) wasnt using the full capacity of the room, said Michael Harrison, a spokesman for Hunter. To their credit, they fixed it that day within 10 to 15 minutes.
Hunters office called Navy officials, some of whom have a direct supervisory role in the court martial.
Hunters staff called Capt. Meg Larrea, commanding officer of the regions legal service office, which is prosecuting Gallagher.
Another call went to Rear Adm. Yancy Lindsey, commander of Navy Region Southwest and the convening authority for Gallaghers court martial. The convening authority has the final say in going forward with prosecutions.
ORourke, who took that call, said he did not make the admiral available to the congressmans office.
The next business day after the arraignment hearing, Hunter visited Gallagher in the Miramar brig, where the SEAL has been held since Sept. 11. Hunter later sent a letter to Trump, asking for help getting Gallagher released, complaining about the brigs conditions.
A judge then ruled that Gallagher would remain behind bars throughout his trial.
That same day Hunter sent another letter, this time to Rear Adm. Collin Green, commander of Naval Special Warfare in Coronado, questioning why administration of the case was shifted from Naval Special Warfare to Navy Region Southwest.
Hunter, who faces his own felony charges for alleged campaign finance violations and wire fraud, is a Marine combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He has issued press releases and appeared on a right-wing cable news channel, One America News, to talk about Gallaghers case.
U.S. military lawyers have a culture that values collecting scalps from war-fighters, Hunter said on a Jan. 17 show.
Hunter complained that the Miramar brig is for sex offenders.
You shouldnt put anybody whos not a sex offender in with a bunch of really bad, disgusting people like that, Hunter said.
The Navy said brig conditions are within regulations and that its inmates are facing a variety of charges.
At least one expert in military trials said he is not surprised that Hunter is advocating for Gallagher. William Woodruff, a former Army JAG trial attorney and professor emeritus at the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, said Hunter is within his rights to work on behalf of constituents.
People can argue whether its appropriate or inappropriate, but I dont see a legal issue, Woodruff said. (Its) more political theater than anything else.
Gallagher, who previously lived in military housing in Point Loma, did not live in Hunters district.
It would be different, Woodruff said, if President Trump involves himself in the case. That would introduce issues of undue influence because, as Commander-in-Chief, Trump is at the top of the military chain of command.
When the president gets involved, you start running into the unlawful command influence, he said. No good would come of the president getting involved.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, continued to criticize the military prosecution of a Navy SEAL accused of war crimes this week, saying it should not matter if he allegedly stabbed an injured ISIS combatant to death while the teen was receiving medical care.
His comments are challenging some generally accepted standards of behavior for military service members during deployment, highlighting a disagreement about what are often called the rules of engagement.
Hunter, a Marine artillery officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a vocal advocate of Navy SEAL Edward R. Gallagher ever since Gallagher was arraigned in military court last month.
Gallagher is charged with premeditated murder after allegations surfaced that he killed that wounded ISIS fighter in Iraq in 2017. Members of Gallaghers platoon said the fighter was receiving medical treatment at the time, prosecutors said.
Advertisement
Gallagher, a sniper, also is accused of shooting at civilians, wounding two, trying to obstruct justice by intimidating witnesses, and posing with a corpse, holding a knife to its throat. Gallagher has denied the charges and is expected to be tried in May.
Hunter appeared alongside Gallaghers wife, Andrea Gallagher, on a San Diego morning show Tuesday. He said that even if Gallagher had done what Navy prosecutors allege, he should not be tried for war crimes.
So lets say that Chief Gallagher killed a verified, designated ISIS combatant. My answer is: So what? Hunter told KUSI anchor Carlos Amezcua. Thats his job.
The problem, he said, is that U.S. forces must follow certain rules of engagement on the battlefield. He described them as compassionate combat.
We would not have won World War I, we would not have won World War II, if we would have fought the way that we have to fight now, Hunter said. We know who the bad guys are. Were just not allowed to kill them the wrong way.
Generally American military personnel follow what are called the laws of armed conflict, which are a collection rules based on a series of international treaties designed to reduce suffering, loss and damage caused by war.
These rules govern who is considered a combatant and how prisoners of war are to be treated, experts have said.
Under the laws of armed conflict, a combatant cannot be attacked if they already are taken out of action, including combatants who were wounded, have surrendered or are captured, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which founded the Geneva Conventions.
In total 196 nations, including the United States, have ratified four Geneva Conventions of 1949. Of those, the first convention protects wounded combatants in the field and the third protects prisoners of war, the committee says.
Rules of engagement have been part of warfare for centuries. The rules of modern battlefield conduct are generally based on the 1907 Hague Convention, the 1949 Geneva Conventions and additional Geneva Protocols of 1977.
Every active duty U.S. service member is issued a Geneva Conventions Identification Card their military I.D.
The conventions also provide guidance on the most serious violations of the treaty. Killing prisoners of war, for instance, is called a grave breach.
A nation that has signed the treaty is obligated to prosecute any member of its armed forces who is accused of a grave breach of the conventions.
The fighter Gallagher is charged with killing had already been wounded in an air strike, according to the court record, and Iraqi special forces took him to the SEALs for medical treatment and possible interrogation, making the fighter a prisoner of war.
Hunter said these considerations, limiting who American forces can kill on a battlefield, are what has caused the war in Afghanistan to drag on for almost two decades.
It destroys the combat battlefield warrior mindset, he said. Were not fighting to win. Nowadays, were being taught Dont fight to win, or you may go to jail.
But other experts say if the United States does not prosecute its own war criminals, then other countries may be emboldened to do it themselves.
As we (found) ourselves in foreign wars, we needed to demonstrate the U.S. government took war crimes seriously, so some international tribunal doesnt come along and try them in international courts, said William Woodruff, a former Army JAG trial attorney and professor emeritus at the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University.
Hunters office did not respond this week to a request for further comment, but his spokesman, Michael Harrison, wrote in an email on Feb. 15 that several cases like Gallaghers are examples of overzealous military lawyers.
If our war fighters are being sent to war, why would they not be expected to wage total war? Harrison said. This has become a trend that needs to be addressed, and this effort should include seriously reviewing the rules of engagement as implemented under the past two administrations.
Andrea Gallagher, the accused SEALs wife, wants President Donald Trump to intervene in her husbands case and two others in military courts in recent years.
She mentioned the case of Army 1st Lt. Clint Lorance, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison in 2013 for ordering his men to shoot three unarmed men in Afghanistan, killing two of them. She also referred to Army Maj. Matthew Golsteyn, who is charged with murder for allegedly taking a suspected bomb maker off base in Afghanistan, shooting him and burning his body in 2010.
We are taking down the best of the best, she said. We feel utterly betrayed by the community we served. Until someone steps in and steps up, we believe this will continue to happen to war fighters.
In all three cases Gallaghers, Lorances and Goldsteyns Hunter has called on government officials to intervene. All three men also share the same defense attorney, San Diego-based Phillip Stackhouse.
Hunter said prosecutors in the military and civilian justice systems have too much power.
Hunte is facing his own criminal charges of campaign finance violations and wire and bank fraud. He has pleaded not guilty and is expected to be tried in September.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The San Diego Mayors Office is holding a backpack giveaway later this month to benefit military children and the event is in Imperial Beach.
Darnisha Hunter, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconers veterans and active duty liaison since 2014, happens to be running for City Council in Imperial Beach, but city officials said the event is a routine part of her job.
On July 25, Hunter promoted the Facebook page Military Youth School Bash and an event of the same name, on her personal Facebook account.
The bash is billed as a backpack giveaway for K-12 students. It advertises food, games and prizes and says veteran and active duty community services will be available.
Advertisement
A graphic advertising the event features the logos of corporate and community sponsors, such as the American Legion, Palm West Real Estate and Mental Health Systems.
Featured most prominently is the logo for the city of San Diego, and the line Sponsored by Darnisha Hunter, Active Duty & Veteran Liaison.
Hunter, a Republican like Faulconer, said she is doing her job for the city of San Diego. Other politicians in Imperial Beach said the timing of the event raised questions about whether the candidate was using her position with the city of San Diego to boost her profile in Imperial Beach.
Serge Dedina, the Democratic mayor of Imperial Beach, said he was surprised the city of San Diego would sponsor an event in another city, and only learned about it when The San Diego Union-Tribune reached him for comment.
Are we a line item on their budget? he said. I thought cities had boundaries.
Dedina said it was unprecedented for a city to sponsor events outside its own borders.
Normally, you organize events in your own city, he said. My residents dont want me organizing events in San Diego.
A statement from Faulconers office said the city supports a variety of programs and organizations each year and that some of them, such as those supporting the military and veterans, are regional.
The city, through the Mayors Veterans Advocate, regularly supports and participates in events at Camp Pendleton, in Oceanside, in Imperial Beach, MCRD, Miramar, North Island and aboard Navy vessels, said Francis Barraza, the mayors deputy chief of staff for community engagement.
Barraza cited specific events such as a Thanksgiving dinner give-away at Camp Pendleton, a ship commissioning on North Island and change of command ceremonies at facilities around the county.
However, according to Dedina, this is the first time the city of San Diego has organized anything like this in Imperial Beach.
I think its unusual that for the first time ever the city of San Diego is hosting an event in (another) city where the person organizing is running for City Council.
Stacy Fulhorst, executive director of the San Diego Ethics Commission, said the city-sponsored event did not violate city code.
There is nothing in the citys ethics ordinance that prohibits Ms. Hunter from properly performing her job as a city employee while also running for elective office, she said in an email. Because this is in fact a city-sponsored event, it is appropriate for her to promote (it) using her position and title.
Ed Spriggs, a Democrat, has been on the City Council in Imperial Beach since 2010 and is running for re-election this year. He said he had also never seen a San Diego-sponsored community event in Imperial Beach.
It may be good for our youth, but the timing is especially interesting so close to the election, he said in an email. I just hope this isnt diverting resources from the San Diego kids for whom Mayor Faulconers program was apparently intended.
Paloma Aguirre, another Democratic candidate for City Council in Imperial Beach, said the veteran and military events only started after Hunter decided to run for council.
She had (another) one in July, she said. Ive never seen that happen.
The July event, also on Hunters Facebook page, was a Veterans Affairs benefits presentation by the San Diego VA, held at the Fleet Reserve on the Silver Strand. Like the backpack giveaway, the city of San Diego logo featured prominently, as did Hunters title and position at the Mayors Office.
In an email, Hunter addressed questions about the event (describing it in the past tense, although it wont happen until Aug. 25).
I am proud of the work I do as a military and veterans advocate for Mayor Faulconer, she said. The backpack giveaway helped 300 plus children of military families get the supplies they need to be successful in school. I will continue to do my job and help as many people as I can throughout the region. My campaign is separate from that work and I have taken every precaution to adhere to all ethical obligations.
The event is at Veterans Park in Imperial Beach at 10 a.m. on Aug. 25.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The specter of a decades-long American presence in Afghanistan was raised Wednesday in San Diego by the nations top Marine, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller.
Neller invoked the long-term U.S. commitment in Germany and Japan after World War II to describe when Americans might expect U.S. military assets to leave Afghanistan the longest war in American history for good.
After a long war World War II were still in Japan and were still in Germany, he said. This (Afghanistan) has turned out different than we thought.
Nellers comments came after a speech at the monthly San Diego Military Advisory Council breakfast, which attracts military and defense industry leaders from across the region. Nellers speech focused on the current mission of the Marine Corps and the challenges it faces in the future.
Advertisement
He spoke specifically about Afghanistan afterwards, at a short impromptu news conference with local press.
The Afghan war, launched in the weeks following 9/11, is on the cusp of entering its 18th year. It is now possible for someone born after 9/11 to enlist in the military and serve in Afghanistan.
Despite a draw-down in the country in recent years, American service members remain in harms way in the country. On Sept. 3, Timothy Bolyard, an Army command Sgt. Maj., was killed in an apparent insider attack.
Bolyard was on his seventh combat deployment to the middle east and was the sixth U.S. combat fatality of 2018.
It would be easy to say we should just walk away, Neller said, but I think the consequences of that may be worse than whats going on now.
Neller pointed to upcoming elections and negotiations with the Taliban as signs of progress.
I think the Afghan people are tired of the war, he said, noting the country has been engaged in one conflict or another since the 1980s. Every war has to end...I think were at an opportunity point here, so lets ask for everybody to be a bit more patient and play this out and see what happens.
The San Diego area is home to about one in four of the total active duty Marine force, Neller said, citing the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton as the single largest contingent of Marines anywhere. IMEF includes the 3rd Marine Air Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Neller also discussed a wide range of challenges in the Marines, from the new F-35 Lightning fighter jets to dependent support on the home front.
The Marines variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35B, is currently on its first combat deployment on board the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship Essex. The jets, which can take off and land vertically, have replaced the older AV-8B Harrier.
INDIAN OCEAN (Aug. 30, 2018) An F-35B Lightning II, attached to the Avengers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, launches from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a deployment of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Navy)
Neller discussed the deployment and delays in the services procurement of the jets.
Nothing ever goes as fast as you want, he said.
He said logistically, operations were going well.
Their readiness is remarkably good so far, he said, pausing to knock on a table. That said, its an expensive airplane and so were reliant upon the funding to be able to buy these things at a more rapid rate.
When asked by the spouse of a Marine officer about how the Marines were working with families, Neller described hardship as part of this life.
(The) family readiness program is really about preparing families to be resilient and understand that there are certain obligations that theyre going to face while that Marine is gone, he said. I think the Marine Corps has made a concerted effort to improve the quality of life for families and keep them informed of whats going on, but I cant change the fact that your husband missed anniversaries, birthdays and school recitals Thats just part of it.
Neller is touring several Marine units across Southern California. He addressed Marines at Miramar Wednesday and will be making stops at Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms through Friday.
The Military Advisory Council is described on its website as a non-profit organization with a mission to support and promote the mutual business and other interests of the military, their quality of life and the defense community in the San Diego area. The San Diego Union-Tribune has been a member since 2007.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego created a viral sensation when, in May, it posted a photo of a new recruit with an unusual haircut and a sleeveless Budweiser T-shirt.
The image had more than 1,000 likes on the training commands Facebook page and spawned countless memes across social media, including a fan page with more than 2,000 followers.
That Marine, Pvt. Daniel Russell from New Mexico, graduated boot camp Friday, alongside 315 other Marines of Lima Company.
Pvt. Russell declined to be photographed or interviewed. However, military news site Task & Purpose posted photos, showing him with a traditional Marine high and tight.
Advertisement
Russells uncle, Michael Vorhees, himself a retired Marine, was at the graduation ceremony. He said all the attention had been a bit much.
Its hit or miss, he said. Some of the comments have been bad. Theres been unwanted attention towards him.
After initially sharing the mullet photo, the recruit depot declined to comment on the attention it generated, saying that the graduation was to celebrate all the new Marines.
Private Russell, who received significant social media attention after arriving at MCRD San Diego with a Mullet haircut 12 weeks ago, is scheduled to graduate along with 315 Marines, spokesman Steven Posy said in an email Wednesday. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate them all as they have successfully earned the title United States Marine.
Vorhees said his nephew will be reporting to Marine Combat Training next, then on to another school to learn to be a Motor Transport mechanic.
He said he wanted Russell to be known as a Marine, and not just for the mullet.
Im proud of what he did, Vorhees said. I just dont want it to take away from the fact that hes now a Marine.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Four Camp Pendleton Marines who were severely burned in an explosion last year when their military vehicle hit a natural gas line on the base filed a federal lawsuit this week against companies that provided the gas and the pipe.
The Marines are seeking unspecified damages against San Diego Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Gas Co. both subsidiaries of Sempra Energy and Texas-based Kinder Morgan, an energy pipeline operator.
Attorneys for Cpl. Anthony Romero and lance corporals Samuel Koontz, Nicholas Amrien and Tagen Schmidt filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in San Diego.
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants were negligent and are liable for their actions to install, mark and maintain the natural gas line that constituted an ultrahazardous and abnormally dangerous risk of harm to the public traveling adjacent to said pipeline.
Advertisement
Contacted for comment on the lawsuit Friday, a spokesman for San Diego Gas & Electric sent a statement saying: We are aware of a gas incident that occurred on Camp Pendleton in September 2017. We investigated and determined that an SDG&E gas line was not involved. With respect to the lawsuit, we do not comment on pending litigation.
Kinder Morgan declined commend on the suit. No statement was immediately released by Southern California Gas Co.
The four Marines who filed the lawsuit suffered first-, second- and third-degree burns when the amphibious assault vehicle they were riding in became engulfed in a ball of fire on Sept. 13, 2017.
Marines and Navy corpsmen were taking part in training in the San Mateo area of the base when their vehicle, nicknamed an amtrack, rolled partway into a ditch and severed a natural gas line.
Service members rocked the vehicle to get it out of the ditch and the engine was revved, their attorneys said in a statement. The vehicle backfired, triggering a natural gas explosion and 20-foot-high flames.
The gas-fueled fire burned for six hours and sent 13 troops to area hospitals with major burns and injuries.
A report filed later by military officials blamed the explosion on soil erosion along the roadway shoulder that exposed the pipe, which was painted gray and was hard to see in the dirt. Investigators also found that signs warning of the underground pipe were dilapidated and hidden amid overgrown brush.
According to the lawsuit, the companies failed to meet Camp Pendletons requirements that natural gas lines be buried at least 36 inches deep or as recommended by the manufacturer. Safety rules also call for burial of caution tape over the pipeline, along with above-ground signs and markers.
Had the markers been plainly visible, the lawsuit contends, the amtrack driver would have seen them and avoided the gas line.
Koontz, Robero, Schmidt and Amrien suffered permanent injuries and incurred significant medical expenses and lost wages as well as future earnings, their suit says.
Lead attorney Timothy Loranger said Friday that none of the four, ages 19 to 22, has returned to full duties and one faces additional surgeries on his wounds.
Months after the incident, Cpl. Carlos Tinoco, who suffered third-degree burns, filed a separate lawsuit against SDG&E. The company said then that the gas lines belong to the federal government.
Service members injured in the line of duty are barred from suing the federal government, but instead are to be compensated by military and Department of Veterans Affairs pension and health benefits.
pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @pdrepard
The Navy is commissioning a stealthy $4.6 billion destroyer Saturday at Naval Base North Island in Coronado.
Some 5,000 people are expected on the base to celebrate the future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001).
Thursday the Navy offered a sneak-peek of the vessel, one of three in its arsenal, and talked about its namesake, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor.
Monsoor, who was from Orange County, enlisted in the Navy in 2001 and attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) school in 2004.
Advertisement
He was assigned to SEAL Team 3, based out of Coronado, in 2005 and deployed to Iraq, where he was killed in 2006.
In his short time there, Monsoor distinguished himself among the SEALs, considered the most distinguished fighters in the Navy. In May 2006 he was awarded the Silver Star after he helped rescue an injured SEAL in a firefight.
A photo of Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor is on display in Hall of Heroes on the future USS Michael Monsoor. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Four months later, on Sept. 29, Monsoor was on a Ramadi rooftop with other SEALs and Iraqi soldiers when a grenade was tossed into their position, striking him in the chest and dropping to the ground in front of him. Monsoor yelled grenade and jumped onto it, absorbing the explosion and saving the lives of his comrades.
He died soon after and was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. In March 2008 he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
That October, the Navy announced its second Zumwalt-class destroyer would be named for Monsoor.
The SEALs fingerprints are all over the ship.
1 / 22 The future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action, is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island with the San Diego downtown skyline in the background, the ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 22 One of the photos of Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action is on display in the Hall of Heroes on the future USS Michael Monsoor, the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, named for Monsoor. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island, the ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 22 The cover Michael Monsoor wore when he was in BUD/S training to become a Navy SEAL, and wrote, You Never Quit inside the cover, and is now bairly visible, is on display in the quarterdeck of the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for him. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 22 The cover Michael Monsoor wore when he was in BUD/S training to become a Navy SEAL, and wrote, You Never Quit inside the cover, and is now bairly visible, is on display in the quarterdeck of the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for him. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 22 The cover Michael Monsoor wore when he was in BUD/S training to become a Navy SEAL, and wrote, You Never Quit inside the cover, and is now bairly visible, is on display in the quarterdeck of the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for him. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 22 Lucina Reed attaches red white and blue bunting on the rails of the deck on the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Monsoor, a Navy SEAL, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 22 A photo Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor is on display in Hall of Heroes on the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Monsoor who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 22 A photo Michael Monsoor, on the left, when he was in BUD/S training to become a Navy SEAL, hangs on the wall of the Hall of Heroes on the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for the SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 22 A photo Michael Monsoor, when he was in BUD/S training to become a Navy SEAL, hangs on the wall of the Hall of Heroes on the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for the SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 22 A crewmember boards the future USS Michael Monsoor, the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island, the ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 22 A crewmember leaves the future USS Michael Monsoor, the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island, the ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 22 A crewmember boards the future USS Michael Monsoor, the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island, The ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 22 Lucina Reed attaches red white and blue bunting on the rails of the deck on the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Monsoor, a Navy SEAL, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 22 Navy Capt. Scott Smith, commanding officer of the future USS Michael Monsoor, the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action, in the ships quarterdeck. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island, the ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 22 Navy Capt. Scott Smith, commanding officer of the future USS Michael Monsoor, the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action, in the ships quarterdeck. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island, the ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 22 Navy Capt. Scott Smith, commanding officer of the future USS Michael Monsoor, the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action, in the ships quarterdeck. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island, the ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 22 The future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action, is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island. The ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 22 Wallace St. John, and Lucina Reed attach red white and blue bunting on the rails of the deck on the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Monsoor, a Navy SEAL, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 19 / 22 Navy Petty officer 2nd Class Anthony Cociffi, left, and fellow Petty Officer 2nd Class Tarell Flowers, on the deck of the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Monsoor who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 20 / 22 The future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action, is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island. The ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 21 / 22 Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin OConnell passes behind a Navy SEAL flag hanging in the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Monsoor who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. The USS Monsoor is the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer and will be commissioned Saturday, January 26 at Naval Air Station North Island. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 22 Navy Capt. Scott Smith, commanding officer of the future USS Michael Monsoor, the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. 29, 2006, when he was killed in action. Docked at Naval Air Station North Island, the ship will be commissioned Saturday, January 26. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The 3rd class petty officer head cover that Monsoor wore at BUD/S is displayed on the ships quarterdeck in a glass case. Inside the hat, faded but still legible, are words Monsoor wrote to keep himself motivated: You never quit.
Those three words have become a rallying phrase, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Misty Rambo, the Monsoors public information officer.
Our official motto is I will defend, she said. But on our ship...we do not quit.
The cover Michael Monsoor wore when he was in BUD/S training to become a Navy SEAL, and wrote, You Never Quit inside, is on display on the quarterdeck of the future USS Michael Monsoor. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Photos of Monsoor, as well as other SEALs killed in action, line the ships Hall of Heroes corridor just forward of the hangar deck.
Chief Erik Prager, the Monsoors damage control assistant, said he has served on a number of ships before, but the Monsoor name is special.
(It) has an incredible impact on how we do our day-to-day business, knowing folks who have known Monsoor, Prager said. That colors the way we act as a crew and how proud we are to be plank-owners on board USS Michael Monsoor.
Plank-owners are the first crew of a new ship.
The Monsoor is the second of three Zumwalt-class destroyers joining the fleet. The Zumwalt program, originally slated for 32 vessels, went through several rounds of cuts as costs skyrocketed.
A 2008 shift in naval strategy re-focused the force on an earlier class of destroyers Arleigh Burke and Zumwalt orders dwindled from 32, to 24, then to seven and finally three. The next ship, the future Lyndon B. Johnson, will be the last; it is expected to be commissioned in 2022.
Zumwalt destroyers were designed to be stealthy low profile and with little to no antenna or radar arrays protruding from the superstructure and to attack targets on shore.
However, in 2017, after the cost of ammunition for the ships 155mm Advanced Gun System jumped to $800,000 per round, the Navy said it was reorienting the class as a surface-to-surface combatant, with more conventional guns and missiles.
Cost overruns werent the only things plaguing the experimental platform. The lead ship of the class, the Zumwalt, broke down near Panama in 2016 on its way to San Diego.
And last year the Navy had to replace one of the Monsoors $20 million engines after it was damaged during sea trials. The Navy accepted delivery of the ship despite its broken engine from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, to keep its San Diego delivery schedule.
The technology on the vessel is the future of the surface Navy, said Captain Scott Smith, the commanding officer of the Monsoor.
The ship looks like nothing else on the waterfront. Its tumblehome hull is designed to help the ship cut through waves, while its steep sloping sides mask the ships radar signature.
This is the leading edge, but it is only the edge, Smith said. Theres much more to follow.
Lucina Reed attaches red white and blue bunting on the rails of the deck on the future USS Michael Monsoor, in preparation for Saturdays commissioning. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The advancements are more than skin deep.
A consolidated ship mission center, the so-called nerve center of the ship, sits almost directly aft of the bridge and incorporates a combat information center as well as damage control central. On most other ships, damage control central is located far below decks in engineering.
Another difference between the Zumwalt class destroyers and the Arleigh Burkes is the way their missiles are arrayed. The older Arleigh Burkes launch missiles from centralized missile bays, while on the Monsoor, theyre launched along the edges of the forward and aft decks.
Its called Peripheral Vertical Launch System, Smith said. There are different advantages to that. One, it creates almost a double-hull armored on the outside and armored on the inside. These (missiles) are also larger than the ones on the Arleigh Burkes and on the cruisers.
Smith could not say when the new ship might deploy, saying the schedule isnt fixed. Its more than a year out, he said.
the Navy is going to continue to outfit us with new things, Smith said.
This ship will change the way we fight. Because its that leading edge, everything that follows will be impacted by what were doing.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The Pentagon announced late Monday that its mission at the southern border launched at the request of President Trump shortly before the 2018 midterms would continue through most of the year.
In a short statement, the Defense department said Pat Shanahan, the acting secretary of defense, had approved a request from Homeland Security for continued support at the border.
DOD is transitioning its support at the southwestern border from hardening ports of entry to mobile surveillance and detection, as well as concertina wire emplacement between ports of entry, the statement said.
Details as to what the militarys mission entails, beyond the stringing of concertina wire, remain vague.
Advertisement
For example, mobile surveillance and detection, as cited by the Pentagon, is military-speak for guards.
Its looking to be sentries, said Army Lt. Col. Jamie Davis, a spokesman for Shanahan, in an email. However, the composition and sourcing is being developed and when that is complete well have a better idea of what that will be.
Marine 1st. Lt. Fredrick Walker, a spokesman for the joint-force at the border in California, said the majority of the 1,100 service members currently serving at the border in California were assigned to Marine and Navy bases in San Diego County.
In addition to engineering support how the military describes the placement of concertina wire troops at the border are engaged in medical and air support of Customs and Border Protection agents and migrants.
DOD is continuing to provide aviation support to transport CBP personnel in and around CBP-designated locations in California, Walker said in an email. DOD is also maintaining the capability to provide emergency medical support to CBP personnel and migrants, as required.
Some units have returned to their bases, however.
Following the completion of some border hardening missions, DOD, in coordination with CBP, has returned certain engineering, logistics and headquarters elements to their home bases, Walker said.
The military mission at the border could change again in reaction to the ongoing government shutdown and the presidents efforts to construct a wall on the border. During a televised Oval Office speech on Jan. 8, Trump stopped short of declaring a national emergency at the border, an action that would unlock broad presidential powers to redirect military funding to the construction of a wall.
A potential declaration of a national emergency was on the table for most of last week. Then Trump backed off the idea Monday in comments to White House reporters.
Regardless of how the political fight over the wall plays out, the military wont be leaving the border any time soon.
DOD will continue to ensure we have the right force at the right time in the right location to meet CBP needs, Walker said.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Members of the U.S. armed forces might again find themselves at the center of a national political debate that strikes at the heart of their commander-in-chiefs signature campaign pledge and raises questions about his use of defense assets in pursuit of a barrier on the southern border.
On Friday, President Donald Trump suggested he could declare a national emergency in order to unlock money for a border wall money the newly-seated Democratic majority in Congress has refused to provide.
The fiscal dispute resulted in the ongoing partial government shutdown, which began Dec. 22, while Republicans still held majorities in both the House and Senate.
The president has broad powers to act in defense of the nation, but the fight over border wall funding will hinge on whether the situation at the border rises to the level of a national emergency.
Advertisement
Administration officials have been making the case that it does.
On Friday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said 4,000 people on terrorist watch lists were stopped at the southern border a claim NBC News reported was based on data from the Homeland Security department and was mainly comprised of people caught at airports.
The real number, according to Homeland Security data, was six.
In an address to the nation late Tuesday, Trump stopped short of declaring the situation at the southern border a national emergency and instead described it as a growing humanitarian and security crisis.
The president said it was Democrats who shut down the government and called on them to allocate $5.7 billion for the border wall, which he said now would be a steel barrier.
Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi of California and Chuck Schumer of New York, in their rebuttal, said the president was appealing to fear, not facts.
Trump did not declare a national emergency in his speech but he did not rule out such declaration, which might still be on the table if he is unable to compel Congress into funding the wall.
An emergency declaration would allow the Defense department to fund and construct the wall, but would also open the president up to further criticism that he is using the military for political not security purposes.
The president was criticized in the lead-up to the 2018 midterm election when he mobilized the military to string concertina wire and strengthen fencing along the border.
A visit to Baghdad on Dec. 26 also included a level of political rhetoric previous presidents have shied away from using when addressing active duty service members.
Were Trump to invoke his national security powers to fund the wall, hed likely face an immediate legal challenge, according to Robert Chesney, in a post on Lawfareblog.
Chesney, a law professor at the University of Texas, said any such challenge would hinge on whether the situation at the border rose to the level of national security, although courts often defer to administrations on issues of security.
The Pentagon did not respond to emails or phone calls for comment. A Marine Corps spokesman assigned to the border task force also did not return requests for comment.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan released a list of military construction projects Monday that could lose funding to help pay for a wall on the U.S. southern border.
The list of vulnerable projects includes a number of projects previously reported by the Union-Tribune, including proposed infrastructure for Osprey aircraft at Naval Air Station North Island, new landing pads for F-35B at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and a replacement pier at Naval Base San Diego.
President Donald Trump in In February declared a national emergency, after a month-long government shutdown that began when Congress refused to fund his proposed border wall. The emergency declaration authorizes him to divert funds from military construction to national security infrastructure, in this case at the border.
He has called for up to $3.6 billion to be diverted, but its still unclear exactly which projects will be slashed or delayed.
Advertisement
The Defense Department said in a statement that its list of possible projects to cut includes all military construction projects in which contracts had not yet been awarded as of Dec. 31, 2018.
That list emcompasses $12.9 billion in planned construction nationwide, including more than $1 billion in projects in California, including almost $600 million in the San Diego area.
Some projects up for possible diversion include a $47 million potable water project and a $15 million fire emergency response station, which are part of about $175 million in projects slated for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Also listed is almost $170 million in projects connected to the new Navy SEAL complex in Coronado.
Military housing and barracks projects would not be impacted, the department said.
The Pentagons list provides greater clarity than a similar list released last month by the House Armed Services Committee.
The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives and the Republican-controlled Senate had voted to block the emergency declaration, but Trump vetoed their resolution Friday.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, admonished the Trump administration in a statement Monday.
What President Trump is doing is a slap in the face to our military that makes our border and the country less secure, Reed said. He is planning to take funds from real, effective operational priorities and needed projects and divert them to his vanity wall.
In a statement Friday on his first presidential veto, Trump said the situation at the border has reached a breaking point and that it demanded immediate action.
The current situation at the southern border presents a border security and humanitarian crisis that threatens core national security interests and constitutes a national emergency, Trump said in a statement.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
More than 100 people gathered at Miramar National Cemetery on Sunday to honor the service of the nations veterans and mark the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I.
Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day in the U.S. until the 1950s and is still called that in Europe.
The featured speaker was Robert L. Cardenas, a retired Air Force brigadier general who flew bombers in World War II. The 98-year-old began his remarks by thanking those in attendance.
I have been to several veterans day (events) and have heard dozens of speeches, he said. I think today, I want to thank you. I want to thank the people of the United States for taking care of us veterans.
Advertisement
Cardenas, who was born in Mexico in 1920, moved to San Diego when he was 5 years old.
He recounted some of his experiences in World War II as a B-24 pilot in the Army Air Corps, including the time in 1944 when he was shot down over enemy territory. He barely escaped to neutral Switzerland and was held captive until a member of the French resistance smuggled him into France.
Cathy Fiorelli, the president and CEO of the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, talked about the first world war during her remarks, noting that two veterans Chief Petty Officers Clyde Flynn and Gasper Gaspellich were interred at Miramar.
Some 37 million people military and civilian were casualties of the fighting and devastation of The Great War, Fiorelli said. In April 1917, 4.4 million Americans were mobilized to serve in World War I. Of those, 116,000 were killed, and 204,000 were wounded. Today we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Dennis Schoville, an Army veteran who flew helicopters during Vietnam, serves at the chairman of the cemeterys support foundation. He told those attending the event that veterans are treated differently today than when he came home from Vietnam, a trend he noticed that began with the end of the first Gulf War in 1991.
From the standpoint of the veteran community, theres a tremendous sense of personal sacrifice and suffering that the public at times pays a little bit of attention to, although, thankfully on Veterans Day, we do see people reaching out and recognizing and thanking veterans for their sacrifice, he said.
For Schoville, Nov. 11 has another significance. Thats the date in 1969 that he was shot down and wounded in Vietnam. He was medically retired shortly thereafter.
This is my second run, he said. Its all gravy.
Dana Henning brought her two children and one of their friends to the ceremony because she said it was important they learn about veterans and honor her father.
This year, she and the kids -- Trevor Lemke, 13, Elie Lemke, 10, and Cassie Callen, 10 -- baked and decorated cookies in red, white and blue icing and sprinkles, which they handed out to people attending the ceremony.
It was a long night of baking, Henning said. I baked them and they decorated them.
She said she thought it was important for children to appreciate the sacrifices people in the military make.
The only military background they have is my dad, Henning said. I try to make them understand I want them to understand what military service really is, and so I make them come and do stuff like this. I just really want them to learn and appreciate, (to) get out of their comfort zone a little bit and do things for their community.
They stood at the back throughout the speeches. Trevor said it helped him appreciate veterans, but he was not comfortable in the cemetery.
I like it, I just think its a little depressing and sad, Trevor said. Theres so many people here thats deceased in the line of service.
Barbara Apodaca sat with her 3-year-old grandson Abraham Intharath. Apodaca said her brother, a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, was buried at Miramar.
We brought him (Abraham) as a baby, she said. I want him to realize what his uncle did.
Apodaca, who is originally from New Mexico, said she had a lot of family members who had fought for the United States. Her grandfather fought in World War I, and her father fought in World War II.
I think more people should be part of this, she said. I dont know if people realize what they (veterans) do what theyve done for us. I wish this event would be bigger.
Fiorelli closed the ceremony by asking those in attendance to take a few minutes to reflect upon the graves and monuments at the cemetery.
Let us honor our veterans, our active duty service members and their families by spending a few minutes in contemplation of the sacrifices they have made, and are still making, on behalf of all of us, she said.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The 3rd Marine Air Wing at Miramar is investigating a recent incident in which two Marines appeared to be in blackface, an act that has been condemned by the local NAACP and some congressional leaders.
The Marines assigned to the air wing recently were seen in a now-viral social media video wearing charcoal pore-cleansing masks while in uniform. One of them can be heard saying Hello, monkey, a racial slur.
One of the Marines in the video was identified as Zach Highfield via his Snapchat account. Highfield told KPBS in a phone interview that he didnt mean to post the images.
It was a bad mistake, he said. We had no intention to offend.
Advertisement
This is Zach Highfield, hes a Marine who is proudly displaying his bigotry by wearing blackface in his military gear. The man behind him who says hello monkey hasnt been identified yet. Care to comment on this racist behavior @USMC? pic.twitter.com/mKPLetFrYs Simar (@sahluwal) February 23, 2019
The Marines have not said if the second Marine, who used the slur, has been identified.
The blackface video is the latest in a string of high-profile incidents involving Marines and what appear to be extremist or racist activities.
On Wednesday, the San Diego NAACP issued a statement calling for the military to engage in better screening and training for military personnel.
Whether someone holds racist attitudes or not, blackface is hurtful and fuels racial division, said Clovis Honore, president of the organizations San Diego branch.
When you add in the explicit racial slurs, when you add in the fact that these are government employees, paid by our tax dollars, when you add in the fact that these men operate deadly weapons and are charged with protecting the very citizens they refer to as monkeys, this is intolerable, Honore said. We want meaningful training, meaningful action and meaningful change.
Blackface has its origins in the minstrel shows of the 19th century, but it maintains an often-hidden but still controversial presence in American culture.
There is no such thing as innocent blackface, Honore said. Whether or not someone consciously harbors racist attitudes, this is the tradition that is evoked when someone appears in blackface.
The 3rd Marine Air Wing is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar but also has personnel at Camp Pendleton and MCAS Yuma, Ariz. The Marine air wing said in a statement it was investigating the incident.
Membership in hate groups and posting racial or abusive content online are prohibited activities in the Marines. But commanders have broad powers when it comes to enforcement.
The Marines have not said what punishment if any either of the air wing Marines might face. Only actions that rise to the level of a court martial are typically disclosed to the public.
About the same time the blackface video was going viral, another social media stir was brewing involving posts on a Twitter account that allegedly belonged to a Marine assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Posts on the account @Jacobite_Edward, which Twitter users identified as being run by Lance Cpl. Mason Mead featured images of various Nazi leaders and quotes attributed to them. One image showed what appears to be a Marine arranging explosives into the shape of a swastika.
Both incidents occurred just days after the arrest of a Maryland Coast Guard lieutenant on a slew of weapons charges. Investigators say that officer, Lt. Christopher Paul Hasson, was stockpiling weapons and had a kill list of prominent Democrats and journalists. In federal court filings, the government also said Hasson is a white nationalist who intends to murder innocent civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country.
Last year, another Marine, Vasillios Pistolis, was court martialed and booted from the Corps after a report from ProPublica and Frontline identified him as a member of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division. Pistolis had also participated in the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va.
In February, a group of House Democrats sent a letter to the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security seeking information about how they screen recruits.
The group applauded the actions taken by federal agencies in the arrest Hasson, but cited that case and others in asking acting defense secretary Patrick Shanahan and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, whose agency oversees the Coast Guard, how Hasson and others who demonstrated extremist views were able to circumvent the militarys checks.
Local congressional delegates said theyre keeping an eye on the investigations of the recent cases.
This is totally unacceptable and offensive, said Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, who sits on the House Armed Services committee. Im pleased to see that the Marine Corps has opened an investigation.
Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, whose district includes the 3rd Marine Air Wing headquarters, said he was glad Marine leadership acted quickly to investigate.
This incident is awful and not at all representative of the high standards and code of honor to which our Marines commit, Peters said in a statement.
But these kinds of incidents have prompted greater scrutiny of the armed forces and racial or extremist activity.
Data about extremism in the military is lacking, said The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremism nationwide.
We do know that hate groups like to tell their members to join the military where they can be trained to kill, said Heidi Beirich, the director of SPLCs intelligence project. A lot of ex-military have been involved in domestic terrorist incidents.
Beirich said that known incidents of military members participating in extremist organizations have dropped in recent years, ever since the Defense Department expanded its anti-hate policies to include posts on social media.
I think the extremists caught on, she said. You dont see it as much anymore because you can work anonymously online, under pseudonyms.
The Marine in the Hawaii incident, was posting under a pseudonym, but Twitter users identified him by unit emblems and his uniform name tag, which were visible on some of his posts.
A recent Military Times poll found that 22 percent of its active-duty readers had seen white nationalism or racist ideology in the service. Among Military Times readers who identified as non-white, that number jumped to 50 percent.
Maj. Craig Thomas, a Marine spokesman, said that the Corps expects every member to treat fellow Marines with dignity and respect.
Those who cant value the contributions of others, regardless of background, are destructive to our culture, our war fighting ability and have no place in our ranks, he said in an email. Commanders must cultivate a climate and culture of dignity, respect and trust.
Honore said the NAACP was available to assist local organizations in educating their employees.
We stand ready to assist the Marine Corps, the Navy or any other government or civilian organization in educating their employees or members on issues of race, ethnicity and both implicit and explicit bias, he said.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
An all-hands effort is underway near the Philippines to find a U.S. Marine reported overboard Thursday morning from the amphibious assault ship Essex.
The unidentified Marine is deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit based out of Camp Pendleton.
The Essex left Naval Base San Diego with its complement of Marines on July 10.
The Navy, Marine Corps and Philippine ships and aircraft are searching the Sulu Sea, where the ship was conducting routine operations, the Marines said in a news release Friday.
Advertisement
It is an all-hands effort to find our missing Marine, said Navy Capt. Gerald Olin, the amphibious squadron commander leading the search and rescue operation, in a statement. All of our sailors, Marines and available assets aboard the USS Essex have been and will continue to be involved in this incredibly important search and rescue operation.
The Marines statement said multiple searches had been conducted inside the ship while round-the-clock searches from the air were underway. Additional Navy P-8 aircraft and Philippine Coast Guard vessels have expanded the search to about 3,000 square nautical miles.
The operation began as soon as the Marine was reported overboard at 9:40 a.m. local time Thursday 6:40 p.m. Wednesday in San Diego.
The Marines said the missing Marines family has been notified, but the name is being withheld while the search is ongoing.
Col. Chandler Nelms, the commanding officer of the unit, asked people to keep the Marine and the Marines family in their thoughts and prayers.
We remain committed to searching for and finding our Marine, he said.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
How do you raise the flag on the mast of a ship that has no mast?
It wasnt the biggest problem the Michael Monsoor had faced in years of planning, construction and setbacks. But the ultra-powerful destroyer required a flag-raising for its commissioning Saturday at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado.
So the Navy constructed a temporary mast atop the ship. Dignitaries spoke before an estimated 5,000 people, the American flag was raised, and its crew called on board.
And thats how the Monsoor (DDG 1001) officially entered service as the second of three high-tech and expensive Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers.
Advertisement
The Monsoors unconventional blocky, low-profile outline which made the mast improvisation necessary has inspired jokes comparing it to a Transformer.
Civil War buffs might notice that the Monsoors silhouette hugging the water strongly resembles that of the CSS Virginia, the terrifying Confederate ironclad that in 1862 opposed the Unions USS Monitor in the Battle of Hampton Roads.
Like the ironclads, the Monsoor represents a new kind of vessel, which has endured snafus common with development of new technology. The $4.6 billion ship has also endured delays, including the replacement of its engine.
But while the ironclads were slow, clumsy and barely seaworthy, the Zumwalt class destroyers are sleek, speedy and designed to hit targets many miles away.
The class is named after Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., chief of naval operations from 1970 to 1974. The first ship was named after Zumwalt himself. The third and last is named for President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Four-year-old Nicolas Gazza stands behind members of the Michael Monsoor crew during the commissioning ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island for the Navys newest Zumwalt-class destroyer. Nicolas mom, Rebecca Church, is a crew member on the ship. (Howard Lipin/U-T)
The naming of this particular ship for the late Navy SEAL Monsoor was apt, said speakers led by Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego. Zumwalt was utterly dedicated to the entire Navy, making a point of eradicating any racial or sectarian differences among sailors. Monsoor made the ultimate sacrifice to save his fellows in Seal Team 3.
When an enemy grenade was thrown into their position in the battle for Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, Monsoor leaped onto it, taking the blast to save the others.
In so doing, Monsoor lived his faith, Peters said. He was a devoted Catholic who attended Mass daily, even in the theater (of war).
Monsoor, Peters noted, was named after St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of warriors. That history is symbolized in the ships crest, which bears a winged arm wielding a sword.
And it was on the Feast Day of St. Michael, Sept. 29, when Mansoor threw himself on that grenade.
Monsoors mother, Sally Monsoor, is the ships sponsor. She christened it in 2016 in Bath, Maine, where it was built.
On Saturday, she gave the commissioning order, kept short for the audiences comfort, she said, because of the hot sun.
This is the fun part, she said. Officers and crew of the USS Michael Monsoor, man our ship and bring her to life.
The audience roared.
This article has been corrected to give the actual hull number of the Michael Monsoor.
Related reading
Stealthy $4.6 billion Navy destroyer set to make its San Diego debut
Navys new $4.6 billion destroyer was accepted despite need for new engine
Monsoor Avenue, Krulak Way at new vets cemetery
Navy SEAL made ultimate sacrifice in Iraq
Cost of Zumwalt destroyers continues to soar
SD debut of futuristic destroyer delayed
Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds
bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1020
With the start of the new year, the U.S. Navy will no longer authorize commanders to punish low-ranking sailors with punishments of bread and water, ending a tradition that hearkens back to the days of wooden sailing vessels, broadside cannons and flogging.
Ship captains have broad authority to dole out punishment at sea. They can place sailors on restriction, give them extra duty, lower their pay grade and take half their paychecks for up to two months.
Until the change, a ship captain also had the option to confine sailors at the rank of E-3 or below to the ships brig for up to three days and feed them only bread and water.
Tim Druck, who served as a nuclear machinist mate on board the carrier Enterprise in the 1990s, said he was given three days of bread and water in 1998.
Advertisement
While sailors have to be medically cleared before going on bread and water, Druck said there were other indignities that accompanied his sentence.
Going to the brig is a really demeaning experience, Druck said by telephone from his home in Louisville, Kentucky. The barber shaved my head. You have to be strip-searched.
Druck said he was given his sentence because he was already on restriction due to another non-judicial punishment when he fell asleep and missed muster, something that all-but guarantees harsher punishment for sailors.
At first, you might be hungry, so you order eight or 10 slices of bread, he said. By the end of the second day, youre just trying to make it through.
Druck described his strategy for getting by on bread and water in a post on the question and answer website Quora in 2016.
(Y)ou get creative you make bread sandwiches and bread tacos and bread rolls and everything you can think of to make it not bread, he said in the post.
Navy instructions described bread and water as being on par with solitary confinement, because the sailors would not be authorized to exercise or interact with anyone but their guards.
Druck said this was the worst part of his ordeal.
Its sensory deprivation its pretty bad, he said. I would consider that cruel and unusual.
Until the mid-19th century, flogging was the preferred form of discipline on a Navy ship at sea, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. Misbehaving sailors were whipped across their back with a multi-pronged whip called a cat o nine tails.
Congress put an end to that in 1862, which is when bread and water came into favor.
In 2015, a Pentagon review recommended Congress make several changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the laws that govern U.S. military personnel.
Among them was ending bread and water. Congress approved the changes, which went into effect Jan. 1.
Druck, who said he thought the punishment was archaic, said he thought one problem was with the authority granted to ship captains.
(Bread and waters) application is uneven, he said. Its too much power for captains to have. They dont have to explain their decisions.
A 2017 Navy Times report on how the over-use of the punishment by the captain of the guided-missile cruiser Shiloh poisoned morale on board. On the Shiloh, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, sailors were sent to the brig on bread and water for infractions such as underage drinking and missing curfew.
The Navy did not respond to emails and phone calls for comment on this story. A Pentagon spokeswoman also declined to comment.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Navy Personnel Command which oversees the Navy brigs where military prisoners are held has pushed back against a congressmans claims that a SEAL charged with multiple war crimes is being held in irregularly harsh conditions.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, sent a letter to President Donald Trump last week to draw attention to the plight of Edward R. Gallagher, a Navy SEAL being held in a Miramar brig on charges of premeditated murder and shooting civilians during a 2017 Iraq deployment.
Gallagher is undergoing a general court martial in San Diego. The trial phase is scheduled to begin Feb. 19.
Hunter, who had weighed in during Gallaghers arraignment the week prior, met with the SEAL on Jan. 7 for up to an hour.
Advertisement
In his letter to Trump, Hunter said that conditions in the brig were not appropriate for an American war hero with 19 years of service. Hunter said, for example, that Gallaghers children were forced to wear hospital gowns during brig visits so that they may not bring unwanted attention from any of the other inmates.
In a lengthy statement in response to questions from The San Diego Union-Tribune about the issues raised by Hunter, Cmdr. Karin Burzynski, a spokeswoman for Navy Personnel Command, said Navy Consolidated Brig Miramar was only following regulations.
For all of the claims (Hunter) raised, the brig is in compliance with all directives, regulations, policies and national standards, Burzynski said in an email.
Among those regulations, she said, was a visitor dress code.
All Naval Consolidated Brigs have visitation clothing requirements, which are derived from Navy uniform regulations and the host installation civilian clothes policy, she said.
Burzynski said hospital gown-like smocks are offered at the brig so that visitors can proceed with their scheduled visits while conforming to the civilian attire policy.
Records are not required or kept of visitors who arrive in inappropriate attire and are offered a smock, she said. However, it is believed that during one visit, SOC Gallaghers 9-year old son was asked to wear a smock over his tank-top, which he did without incident.
Reached by phone Monday, Gallaghers wife, Andrea Gallagher, declined to comment on the visit.
Another charge levied by Hunter was that the only rooms in which Gallagher could speak to his lawyers allegedly have cameras, guards and most likely microphones.
Burzynski denied this outright.
There are no cameras or listening devices in the attorney-client rooms, she said.
She did say, however, that visits might be observed by a correctional specialist outside the room through a glass view port in the door.
This provides a measure of safety for all individuals and ensures no passing of contraband or other illicit activity, Burzynski said. At no time during a legal or official visit will acoustical privacy be violated.
Gallaghers motion to be released from pretrial confinement was denied Thursday by Capt. Aaron Rugh, the Navy judge overseeing the court martial.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A San Diego-based Navy SEAL accused of committing war crimes during a 2017 deployment to Iraq is heading for court martial, the Navy said Wednesday.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward R. Gallagher is scheduled to be arraigned in a San Diego military courtroom Friday, said Brian Orourke, a spokesman for Navy Region Southwest, the court martials convening authority.
Gallagher, who is a medic, is accused of killing a wounded ISIS combatant under his care and then reenlisting while standing next to the mans corpse, a charge sheet provided to the Union-Tribune says. He is also charged with, on another occasion, shooting two civilians a man and a woman.
The Navy is also charging Gallagher with shooting at non-combatants civilians several times throughout the deployment to Mosul, Iraq, and with trying to obstruct the investigation after the unit returned to San Diego.
Advertisement
Charges that Gallagher used and possessed controlled substances were dropped.
Gallaghers platoon commander, Navy Lt. Jacob Xavier Portier, is also accused of having knowledge of Galleghers actions and failing to follow through with a timely investigation, but the Navy has not yet said whether he would face court martial.
Gallaghers San Diego-based attorney Phillip Stackhouse did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday morning.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The search for a missing San Diego-based U.S. Navy sailor was suspended late Wednesday, the 3rd Fleet said in a statement.
The sailor was reported overboard from the guided-missile cruiser Lake Erie early Sunday after failing to show up for work.
Seven ships, along with aircraft from the Navy, Coast Guard and Border Patrol searched more than 16,550 square miles, the Navy said. The Lake Erie was conducting routine operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The Navy did not identify the sailor, but in a video posted to Facebook Tuesday, Alicia McCalla identified him as her son, Lt. j.g. Asante McCalla.
Advertisement
The Navy said it was not releasing the name of the sailor at this time.
The McCallas are from Atlanta, Georgia, according to their Facebook accounts.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
For months, U.S. Navy veteran Michael R. Whites imprisonment in Iran has been shrouded in secrecy.
Now, one thing is near certain: he wont be coming home any time soon.
Last week, a court in Iran sentenced the Imperial Beach resident to 10 years in prison on charges of insulting the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and posting a personal photo online.
The day of reckoning came nearly eight months after White, 47, was arrested in the northern city of Mashhad, where hed been visiting his Iranian girlfriend, who hed met online.
Advertisement
He is the first American to be arrested in Iran under President Donald Trumps presidency. The sentencing comes after Trump reinstated economic sanctions against the regime last fall in an aggressive push to force the nation to abide by nuclear agreements.
Whites family, devastated at the prospect of a decade-long prison term, has turned their attention to hiring an Iranian lawyer for an appeal and raising money for prison basics he may need, such as extra food and medicine.
But they soon discovered just how far the sanctions against Iran reach.
A fundraising campaign through GoFundMe was suspended this month after only a few days by its payment processor WePay, citing use in a manner which is either prohibited by financial regulations or which has been deemed unduly high risk.
Jonathan Franks, a family spokesman, said to comply with the law, the funds would be transferred through a complicated chain of custody: to the State Department, then to the Swiss government which acts as an intermediary for U.S. interests in Iran on to the Swiss Consulate in Tehran. The Consulate would then disburse the aid to Whites defense attorney and deposit funds in his prison account.
GoFundMe did not respond to requests for comment on the situation Tuesday, but a general statement on its website says that in some rare cases, U.S. sanctions will prohibit us from supporting your campaign for specific countries.
Iran is included in that list. GoFundMe advises the account holder to apply for a license from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets, or OFAC, an arm of the Treasury Department, to get a legal exception from sanctions.
Erich Ferrari, a sanctions attorney in Washington, D.C., who is not affiliated with the case, said there is a clear exception allowing for the retention of legal services for U.S. citizens. But a strict reading of the law suggests GoFundMe probably needs a license to solicit donations for the export of services to Iran, he said.
Funds going to Whites prison commissary account could present another challenge, since an Iranian prison is a government entity, Ferrari said.
Efforts to resolve the legal roadblock, including getting guidance from OFAC, have been unsuccessful so far, said Mark Zaid, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney hired to help Whites mother navigate the intricacies of the case from the U.S.
Obtaining a license from OFAC typically takes nine months to a year, Ferrari said, although a situation such as this would likely be expedited.
There is some urgency.
An Iranian attorney is needed to file the appeal, which must happen 22 days from the time White is notified of his sentence.
The sanctions have added an ironic twist in an incredibly complex geopolitical situation.
This should be a no-brainer, said Zaid, an expert in national security law.
Whites family hopes to raise at least $30,000; $450 was raised before their efforts were suspended.
This isnt a family of means, Franks said.
Franks described the Whites as salt of the earth people, and White himself as your average Joe.
White spent 13 years in the Navy, serving in support roles such as a data entry clerk and a cook, before medically retiring about a decade ago.
He settled in Imperial Beach, his last job working as a commercial janitor.
So often Americans are accused of espionage-related crimes, Franks said. He is not a spy.
Little is known of his relationship with the woman in the holy city of Mashhad, Irans second-largest metropolis located in the north, near the border with Afghanistan.
Franks said they met online, although it is not clear on which website.
White traveled to Iran at least three times over the past five years, each time on legal visas, Franks said.
His last day in Iran was to be July 21 or 22; he was set to return to San Diego on July 27.
White took a cab to a tourist office to pay a fee, and at some point was pulled over by plainclothes police, arrested, beaten, interrogated about his military career and held for a few months at a detention center, according to the family spokesman.
He was later transferred to Vakilabad prison, where he remains.
He was taken to several court proceedings but no translator was provided, Franks said.
It was only in the last two hearings that the proceedings were translated into English, and he learned of the actual charges against him.
Authorities have not explained further the allegation that White insulted the Supreme Leader, Franks said.
The charge of the personal photo being posted online likely stems from a picture on Whites Instagram of him with a woman who appears to be his girlfriend, Franks said.
The photo is not risque and would be quite normal for a dating couple to post online, he said.
Whites Instagram account was taken offline, likely by or at the direction of the Iranian government, Franks surmises.
An Iranian prosecutor said the case stems from a complaint from a private individual, not the government, according to an Iranian news agency.
Information has been scarce coming from the regime, leaving his family mostly in the dark. White has not been allowed to communicate with his family, at the request of a prosecutor.
Now that he is sentenced, his family hopes a judge can lift those restrictions.
However, he has had two visits from the Swiss ambassador to Tehran.
We can assuredly say that Mr. White is being treated humanely and in the best possible conditions given the criminal complaint against him, Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for Irans United Nations Mission, wrote on Twitter on March 4, repeating a statement he gave to The New York Times.
He said the consulate access has been in spite of the 1,000 kilometer distance between Masshad and the capital. They have done their best to preserve his rights as a prisoner, and more importantly, as a human being, Miryousefi said.
White, who suffers from asthma, has also been provided unspecified medications, even though the prices have much increased due to the U.S. sanctions, he said.
Still, Whites mother, Joanne, who lives in Arizona, worries about his health, Franks said. White is a cancer survivor, and there has been at least one report from another inmate at the prison that a possible tumor has reappeared on Whites neck.
She is very, very clear that she doesnt think her son is going to make it long term in prison, Franks said.
kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @kristinadavis
A new squadron of MV-22B Ospreys has been activated at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, marking the end of a modernization transition for Marine aviation and the return of a historic unit to active flight status.
When the Marines deactivated Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 in 2012, it wasnt clear if or when the Ugly Angels would return.
Ive been extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to be the current last CO of the Ugly Angels, but my sincere hope is that Im not the last CO, said Lt. Col. Christopher Oliver, the Ugly Angels commanding officer at the squadrons deactivation in 2012.
The Ugly Angels have a long history. The helicopter squadron was commissioned in 1952 and was the first to deploy to Vietnam, where, beginning in 1962, it flew the workhorse UH-34 Huss, an aircraft remembered fondly by Vietnam-era Marines.
Advertisement
UH-34D helicopter, the type flown by the Ugly Angels in Vietnam, lands in Quantico, Virginia in 2013. It was donated to National Museum of the Marine Corps that year. (U.S. Marine Corps)
After returning stateside for a few years, the Ugly Angels flew the Huss continuously in Vietnam from September 1965 until August 1969.
Dick Moser flew with the Ugly Angels in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. He attended the reactivation ceremony at Miramar this month.
Its really moving, he said, remarking on seeing his old squadron fly again. The young men and women are really embracing our history. Were delighted to see them back.
In 1969, the squadron left Vietnam and was re-equipped with then-new CH-53 Sea Stallions, which it flew for the next 43 years.
An Ugly Angels CH-53D Sea Stallion operates in Afghanistan in 2011. (U.S. Marine Corps)
Decades later, the Ugly Angels became the last Marine squadron to fly the CH-53D Sea Stallion in combat, in Afghanistan in 2012. At the end of its life, Sea Stallions required about 20 hours of maintenance for every hour of flight. The Marines retired the Sea Stallion and the Ugly Angels were grounded.
In the Marines, the transition from older helicopter aircraft to the new tilt-rotor Ospreys began in 2005. With the reactivation of the Ugly Angels now designated a Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron the Marines 14-year transition is almost complete.
VMM 362 is the next-to-last Osprey squadron being activated by the Marines.
The Osprey requires pilots to be multi-skilled, according to 2nd Lt. Fredrick Walker, a spokesman for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
To fly the Osprey successfully, a pilot must think like and have the skill sets of both a fixed wing and rotary wing pilot, he said.
The Ospreys are not replacing heavy helicopters in the Marines completely. The CH-53E Super Stallion is still flown by several squadrons and the CH-53K King Stallion is under development.
Walker said the Ugly Angels would be fully outfitted with its compliment of Ospreys by 2020.
Former members of the Ugly Angels at the VMM 362 activation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Aug. 17. (U.S. Marine Corps)
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Don Griffin is in Hawaii today, in the place where his father died.
For 20 years now, Griffin has made the trip from San Diego for ceremonies marking the anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, surprise aerial attack by the Japanese that pushed the United States into World War II.
His father, a pilot at Kaneohe Bay, may have been the first U.S. service member killed that day, shot down by strafing Zeros as he tried to get his seaplane into the air.
I go back every year out of respect, his son said.
Advertisement
Pearl Harbor remains one of Americas turning points, a shocking military catastrophe that galvanized and united a fractious nation coming out of the Great Depression and transformed it through four years of war in Europe and the Pacific into a global superpower.
But the passage of time, 77 years now, has also weakened direct ties to the event, and that is altering how it is remembered, and whether it will be remembered at all. There were 50,000 service members on Oahu back then, and the number still alive dwindles by the hour, down to fewer than 2,000 by some estimates.
Increasingly, it falls to people like Griffin to keep the flame of history flickering.
With every year that goes by, fewer and fewer people know about Pearl Harbor and what it meant, he said. I think to a lot of people, Dec. 7 is just another shopping day.
Griffin was a 14-month-old toddler when the attack happened, living at the Kaneohe naval air station with his father, mother and 7-year-old sister. When the enemy planes arrived, his mother put him in a root cellar. A bomb exploded nearby, leaving him with a concussion and damage to one eye.
Because he was so young, he remembers none of that, but he grew up hearing stories about his father. When he turned 17, he joined the Navy, too, and spent 20 years in the service.
Now retired after another two decades of work with San Diego Gas & Electric, Griffin has made sure his family members wife Donelle, five children, 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild are well-versed in Pearl Harbor lore.
Seven years ago, at the 70th anniversary of the attack, 21 members of the family went to Kaneohe Bay. One of Griffins sons, Dave, gave a speech about his grandfather, the seaplane pilot killed in the early minutes of the Japanese assault.
The family had T-shirts made for the trip that had a picture of the fallen hero and these words: He gave his today, for our tomorrow.
Start the engines!
Daniel T. Griffin wasnt supposed to be on duty that day.
But a squadron mate whose turn it was came back to the barracks too drunk to stand watch on one of the PBY-5 ready planes moored in the bay, fueled-up and ready to go at a moments notice.
Griffin knew the other guy would get in trouble showing up for work intoxicated. So he took his place.
At age 30, with a wife and two kids, Griffin was looked up to as the elder statesman of the group. The Colorado Springs resident first enlisted in 1930, did his training in San Diego, and served aboard the battleships California and Tennessee before transferring to the Saratoga, a carrier, where he got bit by the aviation bug.
He went to flight school and became a pilot of PBYs, the seaplanes that were in many ways the eyes and ears of the Pacific Fleet, able to travel more than 2,000 miles on reconnaissance missions.
Their effectiveness made them important targets on Dec. 7, 1941. The Japanese didnt want their planes being followed back to the carriers that had launched them, so before they devastated Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor, they hit the nearby airfields, including Kaneohe Bay, where about three-dozen PBYs were stationed.
The Zeros arrived first, at about 7:50 a.m. Griffin was on the beach when he saw them, according to eyewitness accounts later relayed to the family. He called out to crew members, Start the engines! and then swam to his plane and climbed into the pilots seat.
He was just getting airborne when Japanese bullets hit the plane. It caught fire and crashed into the sea. Burned on his face and right hand, Griffin managed to get out of the PBY and was swimming toward land when another burst of machine gun fire killed him.
Five days later, his body washed up on shore. He was buried first in Hawaii, and then, in October 1947, back home at a cemetery in Colorado Springs, next to his mother.
His actions that day escaped public notice, but not for long. Adm. Chester Nimitz signed a citation in August 1942 lauding Griffin for prompt and efficient action and utter disregard of personal danger in trying to repel the Japanese attack.
Pearl Harbor Remembered
Around the same time, the Navy named a destroyer escort after him. His widow, Lucille, was there for the launch on Feb. 25, 1943 at the Bethehem shipyard in Massachusetts.
The 306-foot-long Daniel T. Griffin had a crew of about 180. It saw action at Okinawa and Saipan, survived several kamikaze attacks, and was preparing for a role in the invasion of Japan when the war ended in August of 1945. A year later, it was put on reserve status, and in 1966 it was decommissioned and transferred to the Chilean navy.
At the decommissioning ceremony, held in Great Lakes, Ill., Griffins survivors were the guests of honor. His son was there in his Navy uniform, a 26-year-old mechanic who sometimes flew as a back-seater in jet fighters.
Aviation, Don Griffin said, was in my blood.
A legacy preserved
Going back to Kaneohe Bay for the annual Pearl Harbor remembrances put Griffin in touch with retired sailors who had served with his father. They added depth to the silhouette of a man hed come to know mostly through that single act of combat bravery.
He learned, for example, that his parents used to have the younger service members over to their house on the base for dinner. One of them remembered bouncing him on a knee weeks before the Japanese attack.
He heard stories about how soft-spoken and thin his father was 15 pounds under the minimum weight during an annual physical in August of 1941. A month later, he had gained five pounds and was cleared for a promotion. He re-enlisted in October 1941.
The more Don Griffin learned, the more he wanted to preserve his fathers legacy.
He contacted the Chilean navy to find out if he could visit the ship that had carried his dads name. The answer was no it had been used for target practice in the mid-1990s and sunk at sea.
He paid $889 to replace the bronze memorial plaque on his fathers grave in Colorado Springs with an upright marble monument, similar to those used at national cemeteries.
And after marine archaeologists found coral-encrusted wreckage of a PBY about 30 feet down at the bottom of Kaneohe Bay, he got another idea.
He would take the bronze plaque that had been replaced at the cemetery in Colorado and have it cemented into a concrete monument. Then the monument would be placed on the sea floor next to the wreckage.
Although it hasnt been determined if the plane is the one his father tried to fly during the Japanese attack, various officials have helped Griffin pursue the idea. Weve been working on it for years, he said.
But the area is a national historic site with restrictions on what can be done there. Hes been told its unlikely to happen.
Ive thought about just sneaking in and his voice trailed off.
He was joking. Sort of.
My father, he said, has always been my hero.
john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
The remains of a sailor killed on board the battleship Oklahoma during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor have been identified, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.
Chief Pharmacists Mate James T. Cheshire of San Diego was killed Dec. 7, 1941. He was 40 years old.
The Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo strikes from Japanese aircraft as it sat moored on Battleship Row at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor that Sunday morning. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, the battleship was hit by eight torpedoes in the first 10 minutes of the attack. It capsized and sank soon after, killing 429 crewmen.
After exhaustive search it has been found impossible to locate your husband James Thomas Cheshire chief pharmacists mate US Navy and he has therefore been officially declared to have lost his life in the service of his country as of December Seventh Nineteen Forty One, read the telegram sent from Rear Adm. Randall Jacobs to Marion Cheshire on Jan. 30, 1942. The Department expresses to you its sincerest sympathy.
Advertisement
The telegram was included in a Dec. 7, 2001, story in The San Diego Union-Tribune.
All the family had was some medals and a monogrammed pen salvaged from the ship when it was righted a year later, the Union-Tribune reported.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agencys mission, according to its website, is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.
For Cheshire, that accounting would take 76 years.
According to the DPAA, all remains were recovered from the wreckage by 1944, but only 35 were identifiable at the time. In 1949 the military classified the rest as non-recoverable. The unidentified remains were buried in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
In April 2015, the unidentified remains of Oklahoma sailors were disinterred for DNA analysis.
The DPAA and Armed Forces Medical Examiner also examined anthropological and circumstantial evidence.
The Pentagon said it notified the family when it identified Cheshire on Sept. 10, 2018.
DPAA said in a statement that of the 72,751 unaccounted dead from World War II, about 26,000 are considered possibly recoverable.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
In the 1970s, the Ku Klux Klan was operating in the open on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Members of the white supremacist group active duty Marines wore KKK insignias on base, posted threatening flyers in common areas and carried large knives to intimidate black Marines.
After a series of altercations on and off base, a group of black Marines responded to a flyer advertising a meeting of the KKK on the base. On Nov. 13, 1976, they barged into the room in which they believed that meeting was taking place and attacked their fellow Marines inside, according to news reports at the time.
Only they had the wrong room. The KKK, sitting on a cache of weapons, was actually in the next room.
A new podcast, Free the Pendleton 14, by local reporter Steve Walsh, aims to tell the story of this group of black Marines and bring to light a chapter of local military history that he says has almost been forgotten.
Advertisement
This story was just going to fade into the past, he said. And as we know, just wishing stuff away does not solve the problem.
Reports from the time suggest that is just what the Marines attempted to do.
While 13 black Marines were jailed and charged with crimes, the members of the KKK were taken into protective custody and quietly shipped off to other bases.
The American Civil Liberties Union was involved and worked with both groups the accused black Marines as well as the white KKK members.
Membership in supremacist and extremist groups is now against Marine regulations, although in 1976, it was tolerated.
Walsh said he became interested in the story after first hearing about it early in 2017. After reporting by ProPublica and PBS Frontline identified a Marine who had participated in the white supremacist riot in Charlottesville, Virginia, the podcast took on a new urgency.
This was not a history piece were talking about, he said. This really is a continuation of something thats been happening for a very long time. Every element from the command to the media everybody involved in this case the community as a whole...just simply did not take this stuff very seriously. The only people who took this seriously were 14 African-American Marines.
The Marine that participated in the Charlottesville riot, Vasillios Pistolis, was booted from the Corps in July.
One of the challenges Walsh faced with this project was finding people to interview. The Marine commanders from the time have since died, and many of those involved have common names, which (with only scant military records to go on) make tracking them down exceedingly difficult.
He was also unable to locate any of the KKK members.
Walsh did interview one of the accused black Marines Ricky McGilvery, a Dallas-area preacher and some of the attorneys involved in the case.
Walsh said he did question whether he a white, middle-aged reporter from the Midwest was the right person to tell this largely an African-American story.
That always kind of concerned me somewhat, he said. Should I even be the person telling this story?
His concerns were assuaged, he said, when he realized that people needed to face the issue of institutional racism head-on.
Its whites, he said. Its us. We need to validate that this is real, this happened.
Walsh is a reporter at KPBS but his employer was not involved in the project. Four of the five planned episodes are now available on most podcast apps.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
More than 50,000 Marines based on the West Coast have a new boss.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman took command of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at a ceremony on Camp Pendleton Monday, relieving Lt. Gen. Lewis Craparotta of the position hes held for the last two years.
Craparotta will assume command of Marine Forces Pacific in Hawaii.
Ostermans 35-year career has been spent mostly in the infantry, although he served as the commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command from 2011-2012.
Advertisement
His combat commands include leading the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines in the early phases of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002.
He returned to Afghanistan in 2010 as the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division and again in 2012, where he served as deputy chief of staff of joint operations as part of the International Security Assistance Force.
Craparotta, in his farewell comments to the assembled Marines, Sailors and guests, talked about the scale and scope of the expeditionary force, calling it one of the most competent combat formations available in the U.S. military arsenal.
Osterman talked about the threats the force would be asked to deal with and his role as its new commander.
We need to do what it takes to defend our nation, he said. I view it as a privilege.
The force is comprised of the 1st Marine Division, the 3rd Marine Air Wing and the 1st Marine Logistics Group. It is the largest of the three Marine Air Ground Task Forces. Components operate out of Camp Pendleton, Miramar and Twentynine Palms.
Oceanside City Councilman Jack Feller attended the ceremony and said the Marines were ideal neighbors.
Its great to live next door to the greatest fighting machine, the greatest protection you can have, he said. I see them in our churches, I see them on our Little League fields, its just fantastic to be next door to the Marines.
Military prosecutors will begin court martial proceedings Tuesday against a Navy SEAL platoon commander they say was complicit in alleged war crimes committed by one of his troops in Iraq in 2017.
Lt. Jacob X. Portier will face charges of conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, willful dereliction of duty, failure to obey orders, obstruction of justice and making false official statements.
Those charges are connected to allegations that a member of his platoon, Navy SEAL Edward R. Gallagher, a chief special warfare operator, committed several war crimes in Mosul, Iraq. Gallagher has been charged with premeditated murder, shooting civilians and attempting to intimidate witnesses after he learned he was under investigation.
Gallaghers case has generated international headlines. He was arraigned in San Diego earlier this month and is scheduled for trial on Feb. 19.
Advertisement
Members of Gallaghers platoon reported that while they were in Mosul, a wounded teenage ISIS combatant was brought to Gallagher who is a medic and while he was providing medical care, the SEAL used his knife to stab the fighter in the neck, killing him.
Some time after this, Gallagher reenlisted in a ceremony held next to the fighters dead body.
Two of Portiers charges stem from that reenlistment.
Prosecutors say Portier not only conducted the ceremony, but he ordered members of the platoon to pose for photos with SOC Gallagher and the corpse of the combatant.
Navy prosecutors also said that throughout the deployment, other SEALs in the platoon came to their commander with reports about Gallaghers conduct in battle, including an incident in which Gallagher allegedly shot two civilians: an old man and a little girl.
This case is about a Navy lieutenant who didnt possess the moral courage to do the right thing, said Marine Capt. Conor McMahon, in closing comments during a November preliminary hearing.
Lt. Portier didnt take out a hunting knife and stab a prisoner in the neck. He didnt get behind a sniper rifle and shoot at a little girl trying to escape from ISIS and he didnt shoot an old man taking water jugs to the river. But he knew about it and he did nothing, McMahon said.
Portiers defense attorney, San Diego-based Jeremiah Sullivan, told the Union-Tribune in November that there are contradicting stories from members of Portiers platoon which will undermine the prosecutions case.
Its not going to go well for the government, he said.
Portier also is charged with obstruction of justice and two counts of making false official statements.
The obstruction charge stems from an allegation that the naval officer destroyed evidence. The false statements were allegedly made after the unit returned to San Diego.
Portiers charge sheet details one incident in which the SEAL, when asked if anything criminal happened in connection with Gallaghers reenlistment ceremony, allegedly responded, There was nothing criminal; it was just in poor taste.
He also is alleged to have made a deceptive statement to a higher-ranking officer when he denied being aware of any specific violations of the law of armed conflict during his platoons deployment.
One charge related to the allegations that Portier engaged in a cover-up was dropped.
Portiers court martial begins Tuesday with an arraignment on Naval Base San Diego, where charges will be read and a trial scheduled.
Navy officials would not say how much prison time Portier might face. He is not in custody.
Gallagher has been held in a Navy brig on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar since his arrest Sept. 11.
His case continues to generate widespread interest.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, who is facing trial in September for alleged campaign finance violations and wire fraud, recently visited Gallagher in the Navy brig.
Hunter has issued statements to the media and sent a letter to President Trump asking him to intervene on behalf of Gallagher. In the letter, Hunter alleged the Navy was treating Gallagher harshly and that privileged attorney-client conversations were under surveillance.
The Navy has denied those allegations.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A Navy SEAL confined to a military brig on multiple charges of committing war crimes while on deployment in Iraq will remain in custody, a military court in San Diego ruled Thursday.
Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward R. Gallagher, 39, was arrested Sept. 11 on charges he executed a teenage ISIS combatant under his care in Mosul, Iraq, in 2017.
Defense attorneys called several character witnesses including Andrea Gallagher, the SEALs wife Friday at a hearing where Gallagher was arraigned and Navy Judge Aaron Rugh heard arguments on a defense motion to release him from custody.
Phillip Stackhouse, one of Gallaghers attorneys, said in a statement Thursday that things in court were stacked against his client.
Advertisement
We are disappointed, but not surprised due to the low legal burden, by the Government refusing to put a witness on the stand, and the defense being denied the right to call any witnesses to the allegations, Stackhouse said in the statement. At trial, scheduled for February 19, 2019, Eddie will finally have the Constitutional right to confront his accusers and he eagerly awaits that opportunity.
Gallagher has deployed several times throughout his 19-year Navy career first as a Navy corpsman with 2nd Marine Division then, after transitioning to the SEALS in 2005, with west coast-based SEAL teams.
His wife testified Friday that Gallagher was planning on retiring this year.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, also went to bat for Gallagher, writing a letter to President Donald Trump decrying conditions for Gallagher in the brig.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A general court martial began with the arraignment of a Navy SEAL platoon commander Tuesday for allegedly failing to report war crimes that prosecutors say were committed by another SEAL under his command.
Lt. Jacob X. Portier was in a San Diego military courtroom where he was formally charged with multiple violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including destroying evidence, obstruction of justice, conduct unbecoming, willful dereliction of duty, failure to obey orders, and making false official statements.
Portier did not enter a plea, however. His attorney asked for an extension and a military judge set a hearing for next week.
Jeremiah Sullivan, Portiers San Diego-based civilian attorney, said after the hearing that his client is innocent and intends to plead not guilty.
Advertisement
I can be very clear on that, Sullivan said at an impromptu news conference outside the Naval Base San Diego courthouse. I think itll be clear from the evidence he is absolutely innocent.
Jeremiah Sullivan, who is representing Lt. Jacob Portier at his general court martial, talks to the press after an arraignment at Naval Base San Diego Tuesday, Jan. 22. (Andrew Dyer / Union-Tribune)
That evidence is the subject of a protective order in effect for both Portiers case and that of Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward R. Gallagher, the SEAL who, under Portiers supervision, is charged with multiple war crimes including premeditated murder and shooting civilians in Mosul, Iraq, in 2017.
Prosecutors said that some evidence, including video and photos taken of a dead teenage ISIS fighter, were being kept from the public in order to protect American service members currently deployed overseas.
The defense, however, said those protections were interfering with their ability to interview witnesses and review case material with them.
I cant even ask a witness who is in this photo? Who is in this video? Sullivan said. Were going to be litigating that next week.
Sullivan also called for a State Department review of the evidence in the case, and said its possible that parts of the trial might need to be conducted in secret, something he said would protect war fighters overseas.
We need to do everything to protect them, and I think the state department should intervene and ensure that our national security is preserved, he said. The court martial should be public, however Parts of the investigation should have a classification review. At times they could close the court for portions of testimony they could close it altogether.
The prosecution also said it was possible part of the trial could be conducted behind closed doors, but that it was not ideal.
The Navy has an interest in keeping the court martial public, said Brian ORourke, a spokesman for Navy Region Southwest.
Sullivan said that Portier would testify for the defense in Gallaghers trial as well, if asked.
If hes called hell testify truthfully, Sullivan said. No crimes were committed. He will happily take the stand and reply truthfully.
Portiers conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman charges stem from a reenlistment ceremony he conducted for Gallagher. Prosecutors say this was conducted next to the corpse of the dead fighter, and that Portier then ordered his men to pose in a photo with Gallagher and the corpse.
Sullivan said there was nothing dishonorable about it.
He never ordered anybody to appear in any photos with a dead ISIS fighter, Sullivan said. A reenlistment ceremony was done on the battlefield, and for a Navy SEAL nothing can be more proud and honorable than reenlisting to serve your country on the battlefield.
Sullivan also said Portier did not attempt to cover-up Gallaghers alleged crimes.
He went through the chain of command and made the appropriate report, Sullivan said. Whether war crimes actually occurred, thats a whole other issue that will be litigated in a court of law.
Portier is expected back in court Jan. 31, when Navy Judge Capt. Jonathan Stephens is expected to rule on the defense motion and set a date for trial.
Gallagher will be in court again Friday for a motion hearing. His trial is scheduled for Feb. 19.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
News that seven Navy SEALs have been granted immunity deals to serve as witnesses in a San Diego war crimes trial has rocked the defendants community of supporters and raised questions about what those deals could mean in the court-martial of Edward R. Gallagher next month.
Gallagher, a chief special warfare operator, is expected to go on trial Feb. 19 for war crimes allegedly committed during a 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq, including allegations he stabbed a teen-age to death Iraqi combatant and that he allegedly shot at civilians.
Gallagher has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Navy prosecutors told a judge last week that they have secured immunity for seven SEALs, members of Gallaghers platoon, to be witnesses at the court-martial.
Advertisement
While the immunity agreements were sought by Cmdr. Chris Czaplak, lead counsel for the government, they also cover what the witnesses say to the defense.
Phillip Stackhouse, one of Gallaghers six defense attorneys, said the seven immunity deals in this case dont mean that all seven SEALs will testify against his client. The immunity is not side-specific, he said.
The discussion in court was only about who had immunity and, at my request, the judge made the prosecution disclose on the record who had it, Stackhouse said in an email. This was so we could compel the government to make them available to us and to ensure the court informed everyone the immunity covered them for discussions with the defense as well.
Until the Jan. 25 motions hearing, the defense did not know who or how many witnesses had been granted immunity by Rear Adm. Yancy Lindsey, the court-martials convening authority and the commander of Navy Region Southwest. The convening authority decides whom to prosecute.
The judge, Capt. Aaron Rugh, has issued a protective order, which limits what prosecutors and defense attorneys can say about the case.
Gary Barthel, a military attorney who spent 20 years in the Marines 16 of those as a JAG lawyer said that military prosecutors often seek immunity for witnesses to get them to testify to bolster their case.
When youve got individuals whove witnessed an offense and didnt report it, they could be deemed co-conspirators, he said. Typically, you grant immunity to the lower-level players to go after the main suspect of the case.
Barthel, who is not connected to the Gallagher case and has no direct knowledge of the evidence, said it is likely that investigators identified a number of people who witnessed some part of the events the government has built its case around.
My guess would be, based on what Ive seen, there are a lot of people who know (Gallagher) who witnessed these events, he said. However, the defense may be correct that some of them might have some testimony that benefits their client.
Some of Gallaghers supporters have their own take on the immunity deals.
A statement posted by a Facebook page set up to support Gallagher said the immunity deals were the only way that witnesses would even talk to prosecutors. That statement was attributed to Gallaghers wife, Andrea Gallagher, and his brother, Sean Gallagher, along with another defense attorney, Colby Vokey.
They were granted immunity because they refused to even talk to the prosecutors without having immunity, the statement said.
The Navy declined to respond to that claim.
Were not going to try this case in the media, said Brian ORourke, a Navy spokesman.
Some conservative news media outlets have given Gallagher supportive coverage, including interviews with family members on Fox & Friends, Newsmax TV and No Interruption with Tomi Lahren, a show on Fox News new subscription-based streaming service, Fox Nation.
On a Jan. 4 episode of Fox & Friends, Sean Gallagher told host Steve Doocy that the entire prosecution is based on accounts of two disgruntled members of his brothers platoon. He repeated those claims during an appearance on One America News Jan. 17, and on Newsmax TV Jan. 23.
In an email Wednesday, Sean Gallagher said some of the witnesses will testify that his brother is not guilty.
I know for a fact that some of those given immunity will say Eddie is innocent, he said. I cant present you the evidence of how I know this to be true since we dont want the prosecution seeing it before trial, but it nevertheless is very different than the image of (seven) guys testifying against Eddie.
The Gallagher court case and the possibility that some Navy SEALs may break ranks and testify against a platoon member has reverberated throughout the special warfare community, said Ed Hiner, a retired SEAL lieutenant commander who was deployed nine times over his 20-year career and who maintains connections with the San Diego SEAL community.
Guys are nervous, he said. Most of them are in shock. You could dissect any shooting. The battlefields confusing. A lot of guys have done a lot of hard fighting down range.
The SEAL community is different than any other in the Navy. The highly trained elite force is small, consisting of about 2,500 sailors in total. SEAL teams are divided into eight platoons units of about 16 men who eat, sleep and fight together.
Gallagher was the chief of a platoon.
While war crimes prosecutions against SEALs are rare, Hiner said, when members of a platoon are pitted against each other, such as in the Gallagher case, it takes a toll on the SEAL community.
Its very rare that anyone inside of a team would make these allegations, he said. Its a very tight culture. This has rippled through the community. Its very detrimental to everyone.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Men between the ages of 18 and 25 must still register with Selective Service, even though a federal judge just ruled that the all-male draft system into the armed services is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller decided that because women are now eligible to serve in combat roles in the military, excluding them from registering for the draft is discriminatory. But because the judge did not issue an injunction, the ruling does not immediately impact existing law.
Miller said he ruled against granting an injunction because the plaintiffs had not filed a brief supporting the request.
A lawyer representing the plaintiffs a San Diego-based mens right group and two young men said he is considering filing another motion for an injunction, to try to force the federal governments hand.
Advertisement
The government needs to act fast, in my opinion, said Marc E. Angelucci, based in Los Angeles.
They cant just sit on it. When we require only men (to register) but not women thats sex discrimination.
The case is likely to have national ramifications. Experts say it could result in women registering with Selective Service, like men, or it could end the Selective Service System.
Angelucci said the judge is sending a message through his ruling: With equal rights, comes equal responsibility.
Angelucci is representing the plaintiffs, the National Coalition for Men, a mens rights organization in San Diego that brought suit in 2013 on behalf of Texas resident James Lesmeister. Lesmeister, who lives in Houston, had to register for Selective Service after he turned 18.
San Diego resident Anthony Davis, who also had to register, was added as a plaintiff later.
They argued in court that requiring men to register for the draft, but not women, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution, especially now that women are serving throughout the military.
Until 1973, the U.S. military had drafted only men in every major conflict, from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam. But after 1.8 million American men were drafted to fight in Vietnam, touching off years of national protests against the war, the draft was ended and the military moved to an all-volunteer force.
The requirement for young men age 18-25 to register with Selective Service did not change. Men who dont register become ineligible for government services, such as financial aid for college, and they risk up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The federal government argued in court that in 1981 the Supreme Court upheld the exclusion of women from Selective Service because, at the time, women were excluded from many military jobs, including those in direct combat, such as the infantry.
But Judge Miller recently said subsequent decisions changed that rationale. In 2013 the Defense Department lifted exclusions against women in combat, and in 2015 all military jobs were officially opened to women.
Now women make up about 16 percent of active duty and reserve military, according to a 2017 Defense Department report
Kate Germano, a retired Marine, told the New York Times Sunday that the judges ruling was a natural result of lifting the ban on women in combat.
It would be an advantage to the country, and also for men, who ... bore the preponderance of the burden since the draft was established, she said.
Government attorneys also had argued in court that any change to the Selective Service should come from Congress, noting that a commission is expected to deliver recommendations in 2020.
Congress created the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service in 2017 to make recommendations on how to inspire Americans to participate in public service, such as the military. In an interim report released in January, the commission said it is considering whether to recommend that the Selective Service be expanded to include women.
On the other hand, it also is considering recommending to abolish the Selective Service altogether.
Judge Miller said he does not think it appropriate to wait on the commission.
The Commission is under no obligation to recommend certain outcomes to Congress, he said in his ruling, and Congress is under no obligation to follow or act on those recommendations.
Commission Chairman Joe Heck said in a statement Monday that with Millers ruling, change is inevitable.
The Commission is studying a wide range of possible changes, including ... whether the nation even needs a registration system, Heck said. The district courts opinion means change is inevitable and the status quo is untenable.
The two people named as plaintiffs, James Lesmeister and Anthnoy Davis, did not comment on their lawsuit.
Davis, the San Diego plaintiff, could not be reached through his attorney.
James Lesmeister, a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Houston, did not want to comment, said his father, Mark Lesmeister, who also is a member of the mens group.
The elder Lesmeister said he hopes the government acts quickly on the ruling, but he did not say if he prefers that the draft be opened to women or done away with entirely.
Weve always said were not taking a position on doing away with registration, he said. We should defer to the Department of Defense for that.
The National Coalition for Men, a group better known for suing womens groups for excluding men from meetings and defending men accused of sexual assault in college, plans to continue fighting the all-male draft, Angelucci said.
We have to see whether Selective Service appeals, he said. If they do, we will fight it.
It is unclear if the federal government will appeal the judges ruling. The U.S. Justice Department, which is handling the legal case, declined to comment.
Jacob Daniels, the legislative liaison for the Selective Service System, said his agencys hands are tied for now.
As an executive agency, our job is to enforce the law, Daniels said. Were unable to make changes unilaterally. Until were given a direct order from a court or legislation from Congress, were in a position where we adhere to the law as its currently written.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
TORONTO, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INV Metals Inc. (INV Metals or the Company) (TSX:INV) provides an update on the 100% owned Loma Larga property, located in Ecuador.
The Company reports that it will relocate the proposed processing and tailings facilities outside of Giron canton. INV Metals will continue the engineering work required to locate the facilities in the same canton as our Mineral Resources and Reserves.
Ms. Candace MacGibbon, CEO, stated, Loma Larga will continue to advance towards development. We thank our employees for their hard work, as well as the Ministry of Energy and Nonrenewable Resources and our local communities for their previous and ongoing support.
The Company also reports that the result of the referendum held in Giron canton on March 24, 2019 was not in favour of mining activities in the canton. Giron canton is an adjacent jurisdiction which does not contain the Loma Larga Mineral Resources and Reserves. INV Metals will seek further legal clarification on the result and the potential implications.
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Bill Shaver, P. Eng, a mining engineer and the Companys COO and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.
About INVTM Metals Inc.
INVTM Metals is an international mineral resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and base metal projects in Ecuador. Currently, INVTM Metals primary assets are: (1) its 100% interest in the Loma Larga gold exploration and development property in Ecuador, and (2) its 100% interests in exploration concessions in Ecuador, including the Las Penas, Tierras Coloradas, La Rebuscada and Carolina exploration projects.
For more information please contact:
Candace MacGibbon
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (416) 703-8416
E-mail: cmacgibbon@invmetals.com
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information contained in this new release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the relocation of the facilities, development of Loma Larga, and result and potential implications of referendums. These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. In certain cases, forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as anticipates, believes, could, estimates, expects, may, shall, will, or would. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on certain factors and assumptions made by management and qualified persons in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management and the qualified persons believe are appropriate in the circumstances. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to grade or recovery rates, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory, capitalization and liquidity risks. Please refer to the Companys Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2018 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for other risks that could materially affect the Company. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Companys forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Companys forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson left Naval Air Station North Island Wednesday as part of a multi-ship permanent home port swap announced by the Navy in August.
Three other Navy warships, including the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, will be relocating to San Diego this year, Navy officials have said.
The carrier swaps announced last summer said San Diego-based aircraft carrier Carl Vinson would be relocating to Bremerton, Washington, for maintenance and the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, coming off a mid-life refueling and overhaul in Virginia, would be relocating to San Diego.
The Lincoln will arrive in San Diego this fall.
Advertisement
Two guided-missile destroyers, the USS Stethem and USS Shoup, will also be relocating to San Diego, with the Stethem coming from Yokosuka, Japan, and the Shoup from Everett, Washington.
The Stethem is due in San Diego before summer, and the Shoup at a date in the second quarter of the 2019 fiscal year that has yet to be determined.
Home port changes are fairly common for the Navys fleet of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, as the maintenance and refueling needs of these vessels can only be met at certain ports. When ships change home ports, most of their crews also relocate.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
While the presidents former attorney Michael Cohen made headlines testifying before Congress Wednesday, a few senior defense officials were grilled in the same building at another Congressional hearing on military issues that could affect San Diego County.
A House Appropriations subcommittee called a hearing on the impact that President Donald Trumps proposed border wall project may have on military readiness, now that he has declared a state of emergency. Trump has said he wants to divert up to $8.1 billion toward the border wall, including $3.6 billion of unobligated funds in the military construction budget.
Unobligated funds in this context is money that has been appropriated, or set aside, but that hasnt been spent because no contracts have been awarded.
Losing unobligated funds, even temporarily, could muddy the timeline for military projects around the globe, observers said.
Advertisement
It is a real threat, Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, said in an interview with the Union-Tribune. The notion that we would take money from those, in effect delaying them, doesnt make any sense.
Robert McMahon, assistant secretary of defense for sustainment, testified at the subcommittee hearing that the military projects likely to be deferred will impose no or a minimal impact on military readiness.
That wasnt enough for some Congress members, who said they want to know which military construction projects may be de-funded or delayed.
Its clear these projects are critical to our military readiness and military families, said Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, which is why I voted to block Trumps national emergency declaration. Delaying these projects means delaying our military readiness, and there is no guarantee that Trump wont raid these projects in the future.
Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee recently disseminated a list of hundreds of military construction projects which they say are vulnerable because of unobligated funding. That list includes 26 projects at bases in San Diego County, totaling more than $940 million.
The San Diego projects include some high-profile weapons systems and training facilities on Navy and Marine Corps installations.
For instance, there is almost $80 million set aside for airfield improvements on Naval Air Station North Island, needed to accommodate the Navys new CMV-22B Ospreys.
Marine Ospreys are a common sight around MCAS Miramar, but North Islands will be the Navys first.
Marine V-22 Ospreys perform at the 2018 Miramar Air Show. The Marines have been flying the aircraft for years now, however, the Navy has yet to receive them. Funds for new aircraft infrastructure at Naval Air Station North Island were approved by Congress but could be diverted. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)
A new Osprey squadron VRM-30 officially stood up on North Island in December but, as of now, it has no aircraft. Cmdr. Ronald Flanders, a spokesman for Naval Air Forces, said new facilities are needed before the aircraft are expected to arrive in 2020.
Flanders said he could not say if the timeframe for Osprey deployment would be affected by the emergency declaration.
Another new aircraft the Marines next generation F-35B vertical takeoff and landing fighter is due to arrive at MCAS Miramar early next year. Vertical landing pads and a taxiway for the base are among the projects that could be delayed or canceled, according to the list.
The F-35B Lightning II, Joint Strike Fighter demonstration at the MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Marine Capt. Matthew Gregory, a spokesman for the base, said he has not heard that project would be delayed, and he expects the fighters to arrive on time.
At this point, it hasnt been brought up, he said. Everything is on timeline.
Also on the list are more $600 million in projects for Navy Special Warfare on Coronado. Construction is underway on the new Navy SEAL Coastal Campus at the southern end of the Silver Strand and, since many contracts remain to be awarded, a lot of that money could be redirected, the list suggests.
Another Navy project on the list is a new $48 million pier for Naval Base San Diego.
Lee Saunders, a spokesman for Naval Facilities Engineering Command, declined to comment on which projects could be affected.
Thats pure speculation and an issue for Congress and the president to decide, he said.
Other projects possibly in the crosshairs include several at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, such as $47 million in potable water distribution improvements and almost $50 million for a maintenance and warehouse facility, the list shows.
Department of Defense Spokesman Christopher Sherwood said during an interview Wednesday that no decisions have been made regarding which projects to be cut.
Robert McMahon, assistant secretary of defense for sustainment, testified at the subcommittee hearing that Trump is legally authorized by the emergency declaration to take funds from any project on that list.
At this point in time every unobligated dollar within the department is in consideration, McMahon said.
But, it is unlikely that any project would be cancelled outright, he said. Instead, affected projects would be deferred to a later budget year, he said.
That means the defense department intends to ask Congress again to fund the projects.
Some Congress members said there is no guarantee that funding will be restored.
I would want to reappropriate money for these projects, Peters said, but the concern, of course, is weve done this work and won the battles for San Diego, but we dont know what the next budget would do.
Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, said at the hearing he supports President Trump, but he wants more information about how the Department of Defense would determine which projects to keep and which to delay.
We have to solve the crisis at the southern border, Carter said, but not at the expense of those whove bravely served.
Military readiness and border security are not mutually exclusive, said Michael Harrison, a spokesman for Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, in an email.
Harrison noted that the list of vulnerable projects came from the Democratic House members, who are against the Presidents emergency action. This does not mean, however, that the administration is actually reducing funding from these specific projects, he said.
Added Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, whose district includes Camp Pendleton: Im hopeful that members here will be able to explain the importance, and (Trump) and his staff will hear the disturbing facts, of where the funds will come from. If we want to keep the safety and security of the country in place, we have to have military that is trained effectively.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
The San Diego USO held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at the soft opening of its new Liberty Station headquarters, which the organization says will help it better serve the local active-duty military community.
The location, at 2790 Truxtun Road, augments the three existing USO centers downtown, San Diego International Airport and the Military Entrance Processing Station.
While the USO is well-known for hosting entertainers overseas for troops, it has moved recently to offer more services to help those transitioning out of the military.
Our brick and mortar locations have been very successful, said Lorin Stewart, CEO of USO San Diego. What we want to do is try to go outbound, get out of the brick and mortar and start producing programs out in the community we serve.
Advertisement
The new USO headquarters in Liberty Station, at 3,800 square feet, includes offices, conference space, a kitchen and a lounge area (pictured). (Andrew Dyer/ Union-Tribune)
The new space spans 3,800 square feet and includes offices, conference rooms, a kitchen and lounge area.
Ashley Camac, the director of operations and programs at USO San Diego, said the new headquarters would be a hub for local service members and their immediate families.
On Monday, the USO and Google announced a new program to train service members and their spouses. Camac said anyone interested could now come to the new headquarters for information.
The transition services are currently happening here, so if anybody walks in and they want to get connected to somebody who helps with resumes or can help in the job search we can do that, she said.
Retired Army Gen. George W. Casey, a former Army chief of staff and the chairman of the USO Board of Governors, said the organization is looking for new ways to serve the military.
This 77-year-old organization is not resting on its laurels, Casey said. Were continuing to do new things to support the men and women of the armed forces and their families.
Casey also talked about the scope of the military presence in San Diego.
More than 8 percent of the active duty military in the United States is here in San Diego, he said. By my calculations, since the USO was stood up, some 35 million men and women have served the United States of America in peace and war, and the USO has been there with them at home, in an airport and overseas.
Rep. Darrell Issa was on hand to receive an award from the USO for his service to the military while in Congress. He talked about what the USO meant to him while on active duty in the Army.
I knew they were there, they were always there, he said. The USO was there to get you home, keep track of you and to be there for you and your family.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A trio of executive orders signed by President Trump in May to take on what he considers a bloated and inefficient federal workforce are working as intended, administration officials say, although Department of Veteran Affairs workers and union members say the implementation is hurting workers and veterans.
The workers and union members say the orders, in combination with a new VA accountability law signed by Trump last year, are creating choas and hurting morale. A VA spokesman said the new rules are holding employees accountable for their performance or lack thereof.
The president touted the success in comments to the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in July, pointing to the number of fired employees as a benchmark for progress.
Weve gotten rid of a lot of people over the last year, he said. Only the bad ones. The good ones we cherish.
Advertisement
On July 20, the VA announced it had implemented one of the three orders orders Trump signed restricting union leaders from doing union business on official time, funded by taxpayers. The VA said the changes are freeing up employees to spend more serving for veterans rather than union bosses.
Union leaders say they are serving their members and the agency at large with the union work they do on official time by performing human resources-related functions such as contract disputes, leave requests and filing grievances.
A change in the law
In June 2017, Trump signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act into law, changing the process by which the VA reviews employee performance deficiencies as well as the time frames within which the agency must address them.
The department, which serves the nations roughly 20 million veterans, had been under pressure to shorten the wait times in claims processing and at its medical centers.
Although Trump promotes the firings made possible under the law, VA employees speaking in their capacity as union leaders said they have hurt morale throughout the agency.
Anthony Gallagher, the president of the San Diego chapter of the union, reviews disability claims at the Veterans Benefits Administration. He serves about 625 VA workers.
Gallagher described an agency at war with its own employees. He said that since the accountability law was passed, hes been in a constant battle to protect his members.
Theyre taking away our rights for due process that are in our (union) contract, he said. Basically, the (law) has turned us into at-will employees.
Another benefits rating specialist, Jim Rihel, serves as the AFGE president in Philadelphia. He said it is as though the VA is determined to fire as many employees as possible.
Were spending more time worrying about our jobs than doing them, he said.
Thousands fired
The VA employs more than 300,000 people. According to the latest numbers from the VA, as of the end of June, 2,743 employees have been fired since Trump took office.
David Cox Sr., the national president of the 700,000-member American Federation of Government Employees, said the firings are harming veterans and not improving the agency.
I dont know any business that has fired its way to success, he said.
Of the fired employees, 60 held supervisory job titles, including former department secretary David Shulkin, who was fired in March.
The agencys press secretary, Curt Cashour, said restructuring under the new law has resulted in improved performance in the benefit administration.
When it comes to compensation and pension rating claims, VA has reduced the average completion time from 113 days to 99 days, he said in an email.
Lee Blackmon, the federal director of the National Association of Government Employees another federal workers union said the firings were affecting morale and patient care.
Employees are under stress, tension increases (and) call-outs go up, she said. Its not a happy or good place to work right now. If you feel threatened, what kind of care can you give?
The new accountability law simplified the process for terminating VA employees and, according to Gallagher, the agency is not acting in good faith in its assessment of employee performance.
Gallagher said workers they represent had their job descriptions changed without being notified, then were written-up for not performing up to those new standards.
Theyll change the standard without telling you, without testing it, Gallagher said. If you change the (job) description, you change the requirement that you had...or they make it so high that you cant do it.
Cashour denied the agency changed workers job descriptions without notification.
Thats false, he said in an email.
An agency in chaos
The three executive orders Trump signed in May directed federal agencies to aggressively negotiate labor contracts, further streamlined the firing process and put strict limits on official time taxpayer funding of union work done at the agency, which was authorized in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.
More than a dozen unions have sued the Trump Administration, claiming the orders violate the 1978 law.
Arguments were heard in July, and a judge is expected to rule Aug. 24.
Previously, employees in leadership positions in the union might devote up to 100 percent of their workdays performing union-related work. Under the new rules, no more than 25 percent of official time may be used for union business.
In an email, Cashour said the Trump administration is protecting taxpayers and ensuring more paid VA time is spent serving veterans.
Prior to this executive order, VA employees spent more than a million hours a year doing taxpayer-funded work for union bosses instead of taking care of veterans, Cashour said. This policy will expand VAs ability to provide patient care by ensuring employees will be spending more of their time placing veterans not union bosses first in everything they do.
Gallagher, who until recently was one of those 100 percent official time employees, said his work conducting union business focused on serving VA employees, not union bosses.
A lot of work is in reporting deficiencies in health and morale, he said, adding that he used to help employees union and non-union file grievances, but that the new orders now forbid him from doing so.
Gallagher also said the VA had botched implementation of the order.
They have no plan, he said. Its causing chaos.
Cashour disagreed.
The implementation is going very well, he said, noting that guidance was sent to VA facilities as recently as July 17.
A red herring
A recent report by ProPublica detailed how three members of Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Florida were secretly shaping policy at VA by communicating with officials daily on policy and personnel decisions.
Democrats in Congress condemned the report, saying they would investigate private interference in the agency. The liberal veterans organization VoteVets on Thursday sued the Trump Administration, claiming that the Mar-a-Lago Council is violating federal laws that regulate the ability of private interests to shape federal policy.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a veteran advocacy nonprofit, supported last years accountability law and supports the firing of bad-performing employees, but a spokesman said the group has noticed the departments current chaotic conditions.
We see that, said Tom Porter, IAVAs legislative director. A lot of employees (are) leaving, the result of that hurts vets. We need stability at the VA to help vets, not meet a political agenda.
Porter said that agenda is privatization of the VA. Former Secretary Shulkin told NPR in March that there were political forces at work in the department, and that his firing was connected to his resistance to privatization.
The VA has posted a statement on its website saying there is no such push.
There is no effort underway to privatize VA, it says, and to suggest otherwise is completely false and a red herring designed to distract and avoid honest debate on the real issues surrounding Veterans health care.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A new report by the Veterans Affairs Inspector General found that almost half of the sexual assault post traumatic stress disorder claims denied during a four-month period in 2017 were incorrectly processed, potentially denying benefits to more than 1,000 veterans.
The report said in almost 30 percent of the cases, evidence was sufficient to request a follow-up medical exam, but none was requested.
Other cases were denied after staff failed to request private treatment records from veterans or did not make a required phone call. Ten percent of the denied claims were done so based on contradictory or insufficient medical opinions.
The Inspector General cited a lack of specialization in the Veterans Benefits Administration, who review claims, as well as the lack of additional reviews for complex cases and inadequate training.
Advertisement
In the report, the Inspector General cited 2013 data from the RAND corporation that found most sexual assault victims do not seek medical care immediately. This might affects a veterans military medical history, which the agency uses to award benefits.
To combat this, benefits staff is supposed to look for markers in the service record which might indicate a sexual assault, such as changes in performance, increased use of leave, or pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease tests around the time of the incident.
In the 2017 fiscal year, the VBA processed approximately 12,000 sexual trauma-related claims and denied 5,500. Investigators looked at a sample of 169 of them and found 82 were improperly denied. Extrapolated for the year, that figures out to almost 2,700 mishandled denials that year.
The Inspector General made six recommendations to the VA, including that the agency review all denied military sexual assault claims from October 2016 to September 2017. It also recommended a specialized group of processors be assigned sexual trauma cases.
In its response, the VA said it was developing a plan to review all denied sexual assault claims from October 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018, as well as claims denied so far in fiscal year 2019.
The Inspector Generals office said it would monitor and follow-up with the agency.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A Veterans Day ceremony at Mt. Soledad Monday afternoon marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I by recognizing a U.S. Marine whose bravery during that conflict would have earned him a Medal of Honor if he didnt already have two.
Sgt. Major Dan Daly, once described by his bosses as the outstanding Marine of all time, remains part of service lore, his exploits still taught during boot camp.
Legend has it that when things got especially tough during the war, amid the hand-to-hand savagery at Belleau Wood in northern France, Daly rallied those under his command by shouting, Come on, you sons of b------, do you want to live forever?
Col. Charles Dockery, commanding officer at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, outlined some of Dalys heroism in his keynote speech Monday to a crowd of about 300 people. But he said there was something else that distinguished Daly from millions of others who fought in the war.
Advertisement
He was one of the lucky ones, Dockery said, because he came home.
A plaque honoring Daly was unveiled during the ceremony. It will join about 5,000 others that line the walls of the memorial recognizing veterans from the Revolutionary War through the recent conflicts.
Born on Long Island, N.Y. in 1873, Daly enlisted in the Marines at age 25 in hopes of seeing action in the Spanish-American War. He was too late. By the time he finished boot camp, the war was over.
A year later, he was in Taku Bay, China, with a contingent of Marines during the Boxer Rebellion. When Chinese soldiers threatened to overrun an Allied position, Daly held them off single-handedly until reinforcements arrived. That brought him his first Medal of Honor.
In 1915, he earned his second in action in Haiti after his group of about 40 Marines company came under fire from 400 anti-government rebels during a six-day reconnaissance mission.
Daly served in World War I for about 18 months. In addition to his famous exhortations at Belleau Wood, he once captured an enemy machine-gun nest by himself, attacking it with grenades and a handgun. Later, during the same battle, he rushed out under heavy fire to retrieve wounded Marines.
Nominated for another Medal of Honor, Daly instead received the Distinguished Service Cross. Military administrators thought it would be unwise to give three to the same person. The award was later upgraded to a Navy Cross, the second-highest medal for combat valor.
Part of Dalys lore is that the snub didnt seem to bother him. Medals, he said, were a lot of foolishness.
He died in 1937, remembered by Maj. Gen. John Lejeune as the outstanding Marine of all time.
Mondays ceremony also included music from Marine Band San Diego, a four-plane flyover by the San Diego Performance Formation Team, and two veterans dressed in World War I doughboy uniforms who were in steady demand for photos.
One of the costumed vets, Paul Pintek, said he was honored to wear the uniform and give people a flavor of what it was like back then.
There arent any more World War I veterans who are alive, he said. Its important that we know their stories and pass them on to future generations.
john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
Evidence was presented in a San Diego military courtroom Tuesday to determine whether a Navy SEAL platoon commander will be tried on charges that he failed to act when made aware of atrocities allegedly committed by another SEAL during a 2017 deployment in Iraq.
Lt. Jacob Xavier Portier faces seven charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman and dereliction of duty.
Military prosecutors allege Portier knew about the actions of Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, who is accused of killing of a wounded teenage ISIS combatant in Mosul. In the hours after the killing, Portier conducted a reenlistment ceremony for Gallagher next to the teenagers corpse.
Portier then, according to the prosecution, ordered his platoon to take a group photo next to the dead prisoner.
Advertisement
Prosecutors said that although Portier was not present during the killing, he was made aware of it by other SEALs.
The defense argued that Portier reported Gallagher as soon as the lieutenant found out about the incidents.
Marine Capt. Conor McMahon argued the governments position in front of Navy Cmdr. Phil Hamon, who presided over the hearing at Naval Base San Diego.
This case is about a Navy lieutenant who didnt possess the moral courage to do the right thing, said McMahon, in his closing comments. Lt. Portier didnt take out a hunting knife and stab a prisoner in the neck. He didnt get behind a sniper rifle and shoot at a little girl trying to escape from ISIS and he didnt shoot an old man taking water jugs to the river. But he knew about it and he did nothing.
Tuesdays hearing called an Article 32 hearing was not a trial, but a preliminary hearing, similar to what would be held in front of a civilian grand jury. Hamon will make a report to military authorities, who will then determine whether Portier will stand trial.
Navy judge advocates said that decision was expected by early December.
Prosecutors allege that other, unnamed members of the platoon came to Portier throughout the deployment with concerns about Gallaghers conduct in the field, including shooting at least two non-combatant civilians.
After the platoon returned to San Diego, some of its members continued to lobby Portier to hold Gallagher accountable for his actions, prosecutors said.
It got so bad that by February or March 2018, (the two SEALs) were so frustrated that they went to Lt. Portier and told him if an investigation wasnt launched, they were going directly to NCIS, the Commodore or Fox News, McMahon said. This is not a case about any minor misconduct by the enlisted sailors in the platoon or any perceived guilt by association. This is about Chief Gallagher killing civilians indiscriminately and the chain of command that did nothing about it.
Prosecutors also allege Portier made false statements when questioned about Gallaghers actions by his commanders.
Attorney Jeremiah Sullivan, who represents Portier, said there are conflicting accounts from members of the platoon, and that instead of reporting the incidents to him, the SEALs actually kept information from Portier. Once he found out, he did report Gallagher to his chain of command. Sullivan is asking for a speedy trial for Portier, saying the prosecutions case was weak.
Its not going to go well for the government, he said in comments to the hearing officer.
After the hearing, Sullivan told the Union-Tribune that members of the platoon had had meetings in order to get their stories straight and that a war crime was never reported to (Portier).
Portier was an ROTC cadet at Ohio State University and reported to the Navys Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL school upon his graduation in March 2010. He has served with San Diego-based SEAL units since then. His awards include the Bronze Star with combat V device and the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A Del Mar company took down its website and Facebook page and had its Twitter account suspended last week after an Oklahoma veteran came forward and accused the company of failing to refund him more than $10,000 for almost two years.
Coty Melancon, a disabled Air Force veteran, purchased a $16,600 tank-like wheelchair from Del Mar-based Iron Horse Devices in December 2016. He did so with $12,000 from the Semper Fi Fund charity, plus $3,700 raised on GoFundMe.
Melancon received his chair on Dec. 23, 2016. He said the chair functioned as advertised at first, then broke down soon after it was delivered. Melancon said he faced months of delays and shifting explanations from the company, then reached out to his local television station in Oklahoma.
Advertisement
After a story aired on Sept. 17, the Del Mar company unpublished its social media accounts and website, according to Kathryn Evans, the companys co-founder.
I took down the Facebook account due to Mr. Melancons negative information about us, she said by email. It caused our FB page to blow up with negative comments asking why we were taking advantage of a disabled veteran.
Evans said she has been threatened on her personal accounts. She also said she has offered Melancon a full refund.
Melancon said his attorney is in negotiations with the company for a settlement, and expects it will wire him the money soon. He has shopped for a replacement off-road chair that costs about the same as the one from Iron Horse Devices, and he plans on buying it as soon as he gets his refund.
The problem with Melancons chair began almost as soon as it was delivered, he said.
After an initial drive the day he received it, Melancon stored the chair in his garage. On New Years Day, 2017, he took the chair hunting. It was the first and last time the machine functioned as intended, he said.
I took the chair to go hunting in Wellston, Oklahoma, Melancon said in an email. I returned home and parked (it) in my garage with no issues.
A week later, the next time he went to use his chair, he said the right track was not moving and he called Evans.
She informed me that I would need to send the chair back for them to diagnose, Melancon said.
So he did. Melancon said he kept a log of the dates and all the emails exchanged between him and the company. According to him, from Jan. 30, 2017, to Aug. 28, 2018, the company gave more than a dozen different explanations as to why it could not refund his money or sell his chair on consignment.
Melancon said at that time, the company told him the problem was a broken gear box and a burned motor.
Evans said in an email last week that the company could not determine why the chair stopped working.
We believe it was due to water damage to the electric motors which were washed at a car wash, she said, causing electrical damage not covered by the warranty.
Melancon said he hosed the chair off at his home.
According to him, the company told him it would be replacing all parts on the chair in mid-February 2017.
By March 15, the promised date of repair, the work had not been finished. At this point, he said he decided hed rather have a refund.
Instead of a refund, Melancon agreed to enter into a consignment agreement with Iron Horse Devices on March 23.
We have a signed consignment agreement with Mr. Melancon, said Evans in an email. The company would re-sell the chair for Melancon, and then give him the money.
Over the next 17 months, promised buyers would come and go, and Melancon would be assured his chair was sold or was in the process of being sold over and over again, he said.
In September 2017, he received partial payment from the company, he said, in the amount of $3,767.
The new year unfolded much like the previous, Melancon said, as he asked for updates only to be told the chair was being demonstrated, upgraded or in the process of being sold.
By May, Melancon said he asked for a direct refund. In a June email, Evans told him the company did not have the money to give him a refund.
By the end of August, Evans told Melancon there was a delay in the shop, and it would take at least five more weeks for a refund. Thats when Melancon went to his local news station.
Iron Horse Devices was incorporated in 2016 in Del Mar. Its listed business address 1155 Camino Del Mar is a UPS Store. Correspondence sent to Melancon lists a Rancho Penasquitos residence as the companys address.
We do not have an office, Evans said. The products are manufactured and then assembled at multiple contracted shops.
The company was built on the remnants of another tracked-chair company, Tankchair.
A 2015 story about Tankchair on ITV in the United Kingdom reported on similar issues with a customer trying to obtain a refund for the device.
We do not have any business affiliation or current relation to Tankchair, Evans said. Iron Horse purchased parts and inventory from Tankchair. We invested in engineering to correct the problems.
Evans and an investor, John Pabst a San Diego real estate agent separated their ties with Tankchair, Evans said.
Products are being sold as-is and are considered demo units, she said. This is on the invoice we provide to our customers. This project relies on the expertise of the engineers and technicians we contract. Yes, we have experienced prototyping hurdles, and we correct and move forward.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A recent leak of more than 200,000 online chat logs from a white supremacist group reveals how local members are targeting students on San Diego college campuses and trying to project a respectable image even as the groups members privately espoused Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and racist views.
The group, called Identity Evropa, is nationally known for helping organize the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a protestor was killed and dozens were injured over two days of clashes.
More recently, the group made news because online whistleblowers began identifying Identity Evropa members, publishing their online chat messages and linking them with social media posts. In the past week their efforts have led to official investigations of a Virginia school police officer and seven service members from various branches of the US military.
The logs were released by Unicorn Riot, a non-profit educational media collective. Unicorn Rito has previously released chats from other extremist organizations and hosts them online in a searchable database.
Advertisement
A Union-Tribune review of the chat logs reveals a local branch of Identity Evropa has visited local colleges at least a dozen times since Fall 2017, though flyers first appeared at San Diego State University the year before. The chat logs also refer to publicity and recruitment activities at Southern California colleges as recently as last month.
The Southern Poverty Law Center considers Identity Evropa a hate group, and the Anti-Defamation League categorizes it as a white supremacist organization.
Its leadership rejects these definitions.
Current CEO Patrick Casey, who graduated from San Diego State University in 2016, has tried to rein in his groups extremist expressions online, the chats show.
REMINDER, he wrote under his acknowledged pseudonym Reinhard Wolff. Do not post negative things about other races, do not advocate violence, do not use crude language. In short, do not say anything that, if leaked, would make us look bad.
The leaked chats show Caseys efforts to muffle hate speech were ineffective.
Identity Evropa members sometimes referred to Islam in the chats as a cancer and warned about Muslims immigrating to and holding public office in predominantly white countries.
Group members discussed the great replacement in more than 150 comments, referring to the idea of Europeans being replaced by people of color. A similar concept was part of the written message by the mass shooter who killed 50 people in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand last week.
Members also wrote more than 200 times about the Jewish Question, a conspiracy theory that posits that Jewish people yield wide-ranging societal and governmental control.
In a series of interview emails with the Union-Tribune last week, Casey said Identity Evropa was not a hate group.
We explicitly denounced racial hatred and extremism on many occasions, Casey said. When asked about the types of comments Identity Evropa members posted in the chats, Casey declined to answer, calling the question boring.
Even so, he said he has started a new group, the American Identity Movement, which also recently distributed flyers and stickers on the campuses of the University of California Berkeley and Sacramento State, according to its Twitter account.
The leaked chats from Identity Evropa show members targeting mainstream, conservative student organizations, such as the College Republicans and Turning Point USA.
One Identity Evropa member bragged online in February about manning a Turning Point USA table at a college while promoting his groups beliefs and getting Turning Point USA to pay for lunch.
My ultimate goal is subversion of my schools TPUSA chapter into a front for IE, he wrote, referring to Identity Evropa.
Turning Point USA did not respond to requests for comment.
Someone chatting under the name TMatthews in September said he is an officer of the College Republicans on his campus and believes many other Identity Evropa members also have joined.
Its easy to infiltrate low level GOP stuff if you just show up, he wrote.
Ben Rajadurai, deputy executive director of the College Republican National Committee, said these extremists are not welcome.
Racial divisiveness has no place on our college campuses, and students joining our organization are committed to treating people with respect and defending human rights for everyone, he said in an email.
Nationally, Identity Evropa was responsible for at least 191 of 319 reported incidents of white supremacist propaganda at colleges and universities in 2018, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Dr. Peter Simi, a Chapman University researcher specializing in extremist groups, said Identity Evropa is potentially more dangerous than traditional skinhead and neo-Nazi organizations because Identity Evropas strategy is to feign respectability while playing down violent or racist themes.
Its more dangerous because it potentially has broader appeal, Simi said. There are folks who wouldnt necessarily get involved with a group thats more extreme looking. You have to see it as part of a larger strategy to normalize their presence.
Even the name of the groups online chat channel Nice Respectable People Group reflects Identity Evropas desire for a sanitized public face. More than 800 individual accounts were registered to the groups server before that channel was shut down, according to the leaks.
In San Diego county, the leaks show Identity Evropa members engaged in at least a dozen instances of white supremacist propaganda postings and distribution on college campuses.
Members usually posted materials at night in common areas on campuses and on bulletin boards and light poles. They often returned the next day to take photos of their work, according to the chat entries.
Casey told the SDSU student newspaper, The Daily Aztec, last year that there were between 50 and 100 members of Identity Evropa attending the university. But leaked online chats show 13 individual accounts from the San Diego area and just a handful of people posting pictures of their activities between September 2017 to March 2019.
This small group, who posted under pseudonyms, were responsible for flyers at SDSU in September 2017 and February 2018, and banners at UCSD in October 2017 and flyers the next month, the chat logs show.
Last year, Identity Evropa posted materials at San Diego City, Palomar, Grossmont and Mira Costa colleges. A San Diego-Southern California cell also posted materials at CSU Fullerton and Mt. San Jacinto College and last month spread flyers around UC Irvine and Saddleback College campuses.
Some of the groups posters and flyers proclaimed Its okay to be white. Other flyers left off Identity Evropas logo and name while promoting a white supremacists book, using the phrase your professor is scared of this book.
Identity Evropa held a private speaking event in an SDSU lecture hall In November 2017. A photo from the groups closed Twitter account showed at least 30 attendees.
In January 2018, two people claiming to be part of Identity Evropa announced they were observing an ethnic studies class at UC San Diego. They texted on cell phones during class and, on the way out, one flashed an Identity Evropa badge, according to a UCSD Guardian story.
According to Identity Evropas chat logs, none of the groups members were UCSD students at the time.
In 2017, a group of Identity Evropa members hung two banners from the Price Center & Bookstore at UC San Diego.
A UCSD spokeswoman condemned the organization and its activities.
As hate groups continue to target colleges and universities throughout the country, taking advantage of policies that protect freedom of expression, UC San Diego will continue to unequivocally condemn all language and actions that espouse and support hate as well as any doctrines that elevate one group above another, said Christine Clark, a university spokeswoman.
The antidote to hate speech is more speech speaking out against intolerance and bigotry and one the university will continue advocating.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
An appeal in a lawsuit filed by the widows of two Navy pilots killed in a 2013 accident was dismissed by a three-judge panel last week, the latest blow in a three-year legal fight that began shortly after the Navy partially blamed bad judgment and flawed ship design.
The pilots, Lt. Cmdr. Landon L. Jones and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jonathan S. Gibson, were lost at sea after landing their MH-60 helicopter aboard the destroyer William P. Lawrence during operations in the Red Sea. They were attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 at Naval Air Station North Island.
The captain of the Lawrence, Cmdr. Jana Vavasseur, was found by a Navy investigation to have exercised poor judgment pushing the ship hard in rough seas, making it roll and causing a wave to wash over the flight deck.
The wave struck the helicopter while Jones and Gibson were still in it. The tail section came apart and the aircraft broke free of the chains that secured it to the deck. It then slid, out of control, across the deck and into the sea.
Advertisement
The Navy said there were known issues with the flight decks of Arleigh-Burke class destroyers in that their close proximity to the oceans surface increased the likelihood of water washing over them. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower courts decision to dismiss the case in a ruling filed Aug. 9.
The case hinged upon the Feres doctrine, a legal precedent that prevents military members and their families from holding the government liable for incidents that occur during military operations.
Brian Lawler, the San Diego-based attorney for the plaintiffs, Theresa Jones and Christina Gibson, said the 68-year-old Feres decision was anachronistic.
Its been too broadly interpreted, he said.
Lawler said the lawsuit was really about a defective product Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
The Arleigh Burke destroyer is unreasonably dangerous and the Navy has known this for 30 years, he said. If the Navy were Ford Motor Company and the destroyers were Pintos, theyd have to change them.
The Navy offered no comment on the case Wednesday. In a brief submitted to the appeals court, officials argued that Feres was correctly applied to the case.
The appeal involves the deaths of two Navy helicopter pilots...engaged in military operations in the Middle East, it said. As such, the district courts ruling applied well-settled law under the Feres doctrine.
The circuit panel agreed in its ruling, but expressed reservations about the liberal application of Feres. It would be, they said, up to Congress or the Supreme Court to change it, however.
Lawler said he planned on petitioning the 9th Circuit to re-hear the appeal, and, if unsuccessful, that hed petition the U.S. Supreme Court.
Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
TORONTO, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Clear Blue Technologies International Inc. (Clear Blue or the "Company") (TSXV:CBLU) announced that it has completed the final tranche of a non-brokered private placement of units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.25 per Unit, for gross proceeds of $1,661,875 (all amounts are in Canadian dollars).
With the addition of its initial tranche equity capital raise, announced on February 25, 2019, the total proceeds under the offering are $2,669,875 (the "Offering").
We are pleased to be oversubscribed for our equity capital raise, which supports Clear Blues ambitious expansion plans in 2019, says Miriam Tuerk, CEO and Co-Founder, Clear Blue. We are excited to be strengthening our sales across verticals and geographic areas, as well as partnering with innovative, leading companies, to meet our revenue goals for this year. We look forward to 2019 being a pivotal year for our growth as the adoption of wireless power increases globally.
Under the terms of the Offering, each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant of the Company. Each warrant will be exercisable at a price of $0.50 per share for a period of 36 months following the closing, and will be subject to accelerated expiration if the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the Companys common shares is, at any time, greater than $0.80 per share.
The Company has agreed to compensate finders who introduce purchasers in the Offering. In connection with the completion of the Offering, various finders received: (a) cash commission equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the sale of Units to subscribers introduced by the finder under the Offering; and (b) that number of compensation options equal to 7% of the number of Units sold to subscribers introduced by the finder under the Offering, with each compensation option being exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.50 per common share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance, subject to accelerated expiration if the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the Companys common shares is, at any time, greater than $0.80 per share.
The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Offering is subject to final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.
In accordance with a previously executed agreement with Hybrid Financial Ltd. (the Creditor), the Company reports that its board of directors has approved the settlement of up to $67,800 of debt through the issuance of common shares of the Company (the "Debt Settlement"). Pursuant to the Debt Settlement, the Company would issue up to 271,200 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.25 per share to the Creditor. The issuance of the common shares to the Creditor is subject to, and conditional on, the approval of the TSXV. The common shares will be subject to a four-month hold period, which will expire on the date that is four months and one day from the date of issue.
About Clear Blue Technologies International
Clear Blue Technologies International Inc., the Smart Off-Grid company, was founded on a vision of delivering clean, managed, wireless power to meet the global need for reliable, low-cost, solar and hybrid power for lighting, telecom, security, Internet of Things devices, and other mission-critical systems. Today, Clear Blue has thousands of systems under management across 35 countries, including the U.S. and Canada. Clear Blue is listed on the TSXV under the ticker symbol CBLU.
Legal Disclaimers
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Information and Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Clear Blue's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Clear Blue's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology 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 may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to, information concerning the Offering (including the completion of the Offering) and the use of the proceeds raised under the Offering.
By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Clear Blue is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Clear Blue to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements.
Media Contact:
Becky Nye
Senior Associate
Montieth & Company
12 E 49th St., New York, NY 10017
bnye@montiethco.com
+1 646.864.3517
Investor Relations:
Miriam Tuerk
Co-Founder and CEO
+1 (855) 733-0119 x200
investors@clearbluetechnologies.com
http://www.clearbluetechnologies.com/en/investors
Men flying fighter jets, spy planes and parachutes may have been the main draw for tens of thousands of people at the annual Miramar Air Show Saturday, but the show was also meant to highlight something else the accomplishments of women in the militarys most male-heavy branch.
The theme of this years Marine Corps Air Station Miramar air show is 100 Years of Women in the Marine Corps. On Saturday, in a hangar away from the crowds filling the air show performance area, was an exhibit highlighting firsts accomplished by women Marines. A few women Marines who claimed some of those firsts the first Marine pilot, the first Marine artillery officer were also there on Saturday as part of a meet-and-greet.
Out of all the military branches, the Marines have the fewest women. Just 8.5 percent of active-duty Marines are women, while 15.1 percent of the Army, 19.7 percent of the Navy and 20.3 percent of the Air Force are, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center.
Some women Marines at the air show speculated that the Marines have the least women partly because its the most demanding military branch, where everybody is trained as a rifleman first.
Advertisement
Were known to be the toughest branch, said staff Sgt. Shantel Limbo at Saturdays exhibit area. Were first to fight.
Those factors could make the Marines seem more intimidating to some women, some female Marines said.
1 / 18 100-years of women in the Marine Corps is the 2018 MCAS MIramar Air Show theme. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 2 / 18 The Navy Blue Angels perform on the second day of the 2018 Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 3 / 18 A photo of the first Marine Corps female pilot, Lt. Col. Sarah Deal Burrow, is part of the 100-year timeline of women in the Marine Corps, on display during the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 4 / 18 Two Navy SEALs, part of the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team prepare to land during the second day of the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 5 / 18 The Navy Blue Angels perform on the second day of the 2018 Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 6 / 18 Two F/A-18 Hornets swoop in at high speed to start the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration during the second day of the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 7 / 18 Mr. Andrews, a Marine Corps Veteran has his face painted in camouflage during the second day of the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 8 / 18 The Navy Blue Angels perform on the second day of the 2018 Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 9 / 18 Spectators grab shade under the wings a a Marine Corps KC-130J tanker from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 (VMGR-352) during the second day of the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 10 / 18 The Navy Blue Angels perform on the second day of the 2018 Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 11 / 18 The Navy Blue Angels perform on the second day of the 2018 Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 12 / 18 The Navy Blue Angels perform on the second day of the 2018 Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 13 / 18 An Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane performs during the second day of the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 14 / 18 The Navy Blue Angels perform on the second day of the 2018 Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 15 / 18 Spectators look skyward as the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team and the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team perform during the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 16 / 18 The Navy Blue Angels perform on the second day of the 2018 Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 17 / 18 Spectators grab shade under the wings a a Marine Corps KC-130J tanker from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 (VMGR-352) during the second day of the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 18 / 18 Eight-year-old Kiran Singh of Redondo Beach enjoys himself on the V5 Ultimate Bungee during the second day of the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune)
I think a lot of people dont think they can do it, said 1st Lt. Virginia Brodie, who became the Marine Corps first artillery officer in 2016. People dont realize that if they want to do it, they can.
The Marine Corps enlisted its first woman, Pvt. Opha May Johnson, in 1918. Over the next few decades, women had relatively limited roles as Marines. During World War II, for example, women enlisted in the Marines mostly to free a man to fight, taking up jobs that were largely clerical.
It wasnt until December 2015 that the U.S. secretary of defense ordered all military jobs to be opened to women. Up until then, about 10 percent of military positions had been closed to women, including infantry, reconnaissance and some special operations units, according to the Department of Defense.
That decision allowed Brodie to become one of the first two women to ever graduate from the Marine Corps artillery school in 2016.
It was challenging at first to prove myself, Brodie said. I take a lot of pride in being a female Marine, but at the end of the day, youre just a Marine, as well.
Women Marines described a dichotomy between expecting to be treated like any other Marine and facing gender biases held by some of their male colleagues and superiors. Limbo, who has been a Marine for 12 years, said a male Marine officer once refused to work with her because, he told her, she was a woman.
Theyre obligated to protect us and they see us as weaker. Its programmed in their brains. Its like, no, I can pick up my own box, Limbo said. Were still fighting that battle of equal opportunity. I dont think its ever going to be gone.
A 2014 study estimated that more than a quarter of active women military service members experienced gender discrimination or sexual harassment within one year. For women Marines, the study estimated it was 31.4 percent, compared to 15.7 percent for the Air Force, which was estimated to have the least gender discrimination. A separate 2016 survey found that 18.3 percent of women Marines reported experiencing gender discrimination, compared to 14.1 percent in the military overall.
For Lt. Col. Sarah Deal, who became the Marine Corps first woman pilot in 1995 and flew a CH-53E helicopter in Afghanistan, gender discrimination meant getting way more advice than she wanted. She said she was pulled aside by a male Marine who told her, We know youre here, and we dont care.
For Manuela Santos, who served as a Marine from 1978 to 1998 and is now secretary of San Diego Countys Women Marines Association chapter, gender discrimination meant being told to run and stand separately from her fellow male Marines. It meant having to speak up for herself when she discovered that male Marines were making decisions about her platoon while they were in mens changing facilities, which were off-limits to women.
Youve just got to be mentally tough and know your job. Youve got to be able to stand your ground. Thats how you win the men over, Santos said. As women, we know that were always trailblazing for the next generation.
Kristen Taketa
Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa
Edward Gallagher was something special, even by the punishing standards of the Navy SEALs. Both a lifesaving medic and a crack sniper, he was repeatedly decorated for valor and for coolheaded leadership during 19 years of combat deployments. After his latest tour, fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq, he was named the top platoon leader in SEAL Team 7 and nominated for the Silver Star, the militarys third-highest honor.
But now, less than a year later, Special Operations Chief Gallagher, 39, is locked in the brig, facing charges that during that same deployment his eighth he shot indiscriminately at civilians, killed a teenage Islamic State fighter with a handmade custom blade, and then performed his re-enlistment ceremony posing with the teenagers bloody corpse in front of a U.S. flag.
The Navy has charged Gallagher with premeditated murder, attempted murder and nearly a dozen other offenses, including obstruction of justice and bringing discredit upon the armed forces. If he is convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Gallagher denies all the charges.
Advertisement
The case has sent waves through the secretive world of the SEALs, who prefer to operate behind the headlines in an atmosphere of silent professionalism. And the case could widen as the investigation implicates other SEALs who did not report what they knew. A lieutenant has already been charged.
The chiefs arrest has also shaken his family, who cannot square the list of war crimes with the sailor they have long known.
This is not who Eddie is, said his wife, Andrea Gallagher. He is a lifesaver. He is that guy who runs into the burning building when other people are running out.
In a two-day preliminary hearing at Naval Base San Diego that concluded Thursday, prosecutors presented accounts from several other SEALs in Gallaghers platoon describing his behavior as reckless and bloodthirsty. They said he fired into civilian crowds, gunned down a girl walking along a riverbank and an old man carrying a water jug, and threatened to kill fellow SEALs if they reported his actions.
Some platoon members were so distraught by the chiefs actions, investigators said, that they tampered with his sniper rifle to make it less accurate, and fired warning shots to scare away civilians before the chief had a chance to shoot them.
They said they spent more time protecting civilians than they did fighting ISIS, Special Agent Joe Warpinski of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service told the military court.
Gallagher sat in the courtroom in dress uniform during the hearing, his face deeply creased and tanned from years of combat duty. He did not testify.
His lawyer, Phillip Stackhouse, said the charges were baseless. He said the only evidence that the chief had killed anyone came from accounts offered by a few SEALs who were disgruntled because they could not meet their leaders demanding standards.
I promise you, we will call many more SEALs who will say none of this ever happened, Stackhouse said.
The purpose of the hearing, known as an Article 32 hearing, was to determine whether the case should proceed to a trial. Both sides said they believe it will, probably in 2019.
The son of a West Point graduate and career Army officer, Gallagher enlisted in the Navy as a medic in 1999 and deployed to Iraq, attached to a Marine infantry unit. Then he decided to become a SEAL, and was one of the few Navy medics ever to complete the Marines demanding scout sniper school. He finished his SEAL training in 2004.
His combination of skills put him in high demand. He deployed frequently with different teams, steadily advanced in rank, and built a record studded with awards for exemplary conduct and valor, braving fire to kill enemies and save friends in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His eighth deployment, from February to September 2017, was to Mosul, Iraq. Some of the SEALs who served under him told investigators that at first they were excited to be led by someone with Gallaghers reputation, but they soon started to see him as unhinged. He fired his rifle about 10 times as often as other snipers, they said, even at times when there seemed to be no targets.
Every single sniper in the platoon said he was not a good sniper, Warpinski told the court.
The chief was hard on his platoon, investigators said, berating and punishing SEALs who he thought were not aggressive enough.
Gallaghers lawyers said that hard feelings in the platoon over his actions had led some SEALs to concoct stories in the hope of forcing him from command.
In May 2017, Iraqi forces captured an enemy fighter who had been wounded in an airstrike. Video images show the bleeding fighter, who was thought to be between 12 and 17, being brought to the SEAL platoon on the hood of a truck, and Gallagher and others cutting away his clothing to give medical aid.
Photos of the fighter appeared to show that medics had put tubes used to treat a collapsed lung in his side and cut an emergency airway in his throat.
Navy investigators said that one SEAL medic was kneeling over the fighters head, treating him, when Gallagher walked up and, without saying a word, took out a handmade knife and stabbed the teenager several times in the neck and side.
Investigators said two other SEALs gave similar accounts.
Members of the platoon then posed for photos with Gallagher as he held the teenagers head up by the hair with one hand, and held his knife in the other. Photos show Gallagher then raising his right hand to perform a re-enlistment ceremony over the body, while another SEAL member holds a U.S. flag.
Soon after the episode, investigators said, Gallagher texted a photo of the body to a fellow SEAL member with the message, I got him with my hunting knife.
Stackhouse, the defense lawyer, said the teenager had probably died of the serious injuries he suffered in the airstrike, and that no evidence had been offered showing any stab wounds. As for the photos taken afterward, posing with the body, Stackhouse said, these types of pictures are not unique; theyve been in every Iraq case Ive ever done.
Investigators say several SEALs in the platoon spoke to commanders about the episode, but that no action was taken. Some of them reported it to higher leadership in December 2017, and again in April, when a criminal investigation was opened.
In September, when the Navy became aware of what prosecutors said were efforts by the chief to intimidate witnesses, he was arrested and put in pretrial confinement.
At the hearing Thursday, Navy prosecutor Chris Czaplak said the chief had done damage beyond murder.
Does the public still believe we are the good guys, because Chief Gallagher decided to act like the monster the terrorists accuse us of being? he said. He handed ISIS propaganda manna from heaven. His actions are everything ISIS says we are.
Philipps writes for The New York Times.
For Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the California Air National Guard, the military was a family calling. She followed her older sister and brother-in-law into the guard, where she now holds an administrative position at the elite 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno.
On a March morning four years ago, Pineda was about to dress into a uniform she had stored overnight in a stall in the womens bathroom when she made a foul discovery.
Someone had urinated in her boots.
The incident left Pineda humiliated and frightened and would trigger a series of behind-the-scenes investigations whose scope has come to extend beyond what happened that day at the Fresno base.
Advertisement
The defiling of Pinedas boots has led to allegations that high-ranking officers tried to bury the incident, including by destroying evidence that could have potentially identified a suspect through DNA, and retaliated against a male pilot who supported her efforts to find the perpetrator, according to interviews and guard records obtained by The Times. Some in the wing have begun calling the ongoing saga Pissgate.
After The Times began asking questions about the Pineda episode, the California Military Department, which oversees the guard, asked the U.S. Air Force Inspector Generals Office to conduct an investigation.
In the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, guard leaders are concerned about the degrading nature of the act aimed at a woman, according to two sources close to the investigation, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to publicly speak about the matter. Only about 20% of the officers and enlisted members in the guard are women.
The inspector generals inquiry is the third investigation into the Pineda affair and part of a broader probe into whether whistle-blowers at the 144th wing suffered reprisals for questioning the actions or conduct of their superiors on a range of matters. At least five guard members from the 144th wing, including a pilot who was killed in October in a crash during a training mission in Ukraine, filed formal complaints. The guard recently suspended a 144th commander for reasons it said were unrelated to the Pineda incident.
This boils down to just unprofessional leadership and cronyism, said Maj. Dan Woodside, a retired 144th fighter pilot who is a witness in the inspector generals Pineda investigation and has complained about how she was treated. If anybody had urinated in their boots, they would have done everything they could to find the perpetrator, even if it involved calling the FBI.
Two of the guards top officers held key leadership positions at the 144th at the time of the Pineda incident: Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, who has since become head of the air guard, and Col. Sean Navin, now one of its five wing commanders. Neither responded to requests for interviews.
Maj. Gen. Clay L. Garrison was the head of the 144th Fighter Wing when Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pineda discovered someone had urinated in her boots. (Tech. Sgt. Charles Vaughn / U.S. Air National Guard)
Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, who heads the Military Department, declined through a guard spokesman to be interviewed. Baldwin said in a written statement to The Times that in order to protect the integrity of that ongoing investigation, we cannot disclose additional details.
The California air guard is the second largest, after New Yorks, in the Air National Guard, which is a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. Many of the pilots are part-time reservists, signing up after careers in the U.S. Air Force, and some fly in their civilian lives for commercial airlines.
The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to the governor. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks.
In California, the air guard helped fight recent wildfires, flying drones over the blazes to feed intelligence to fire crews on the ground. Its fighter pilots are regularly deployed to assist the Air Force in combat and other operations overseas.
The 144th is the biggest wing in the state. It is home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. For every officer in the wing, there are about nine enlistees in roles that are essential but carry much less clout.
Pineda, 34, is one of them.
After joining the guard in 2004, she spent several years in the wings command post as a dispatcher before moving to the operations group, according to interviews with guard colleagues. Pineda declined to comment for this story.
Soon after she reported that someone had urinated on her boots, members of the 144ths security forces, who police the base, arrived at the location, attempted to lift fingerprints and had photos taken of the scene, according to an internal investigative record obtained by The Times. The security airmen collected the urine from the floor and reviewed hours of security camera footage, the document states.
Investigative records describe the incident as vandalism. If committed by someone with a rank of second lieutenant or higher, legal experts said, the act could also be considered the more serious crime of conduct unbecoming an officer. The perpetrator, they said, could be prosecuted and jailed in a court martial, forced to retire in an administrative proceeding at a reduced rank and pension, or handed a lesser punishment such as a reprimand.
The investigators asked Pineda, then a single mother of two, who she thought could have had a motive to target her, according to the report. Pineda named two women who have had issues with her in the past, and her supervisor later suggested one more, the report says. It states that all three women were questioned.
The results of the investigation were inconclusive, the report says.
About two months after the investigation began, the commander of the fighter squadron at the time, Navin, called Pineda and her supervisor into his office to share the results, according to May 2015 memos that Pineda and the supervisor wrote to document the conversation.
Navin apologized that the investigation did not find the perpetrator, according to the memos. In Pinedas memo, she wrote that Navin said killings go unsolved every day and these things just happen.
I started to ask him how I was supposed to come to work and feel OK in a work environment where I have been violated like this, Pineda said in her memo.
Pineda said in the document that she had begun securing her uniform in a locker, parks where she can see her car from her work desk window and keeps the desk locked up each night.
Soon after the first investigation was shelved, a second was opened when new information revealed that pilots had been drinking in a nearby break room the evening before the discovery and may have information regarding the incident or may have possibly been involved in the incident, according to a guard report and interviews. Navin, the commander who had shared the results of the first investigation with Pineda, had been in the break room as well that evening, the report says.
Col. Sean Navin was the commander of the 194th fighter squadron at the 144th wing when Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pineda discovered someone had urinated in her boots. (Staff Sgt. Christian Jadot / U.S Air National Guard)
Investigators questioned 18 people, including Navin, Woodside and four other guard members who said they had been in the break room, called The Merge.
The two investigators told at least some of the pilots that they might be asked to undergo polygraph tests and that the urine collected from the scene would be tested for DNA, Woodside said. Some were also questioned about how much Navin had to drink, he added.
In a second interview with investigators, Pineda said a couple of pilots told her they suspected Navin of urinating on her boots, the report says. She said she felt that Navin doesnt trust her work abilities, according to the report.
Navin denied being involved, guard records show. He told investigators that he had no conflicts with Pineda and was never inside the womens bathroom where she left her boots and clothing.
The investigator who authored the report wrote that the interviews did not lead to any new conclusions or identify any suspects.
In August 2015, Pineda filed a whistle-blower complaint. She wrote that the main investigator told her that the evidence showed that a woman could not have urinated in the boots, but that she heard that officers speculated that she urinated in them for attention. In the complaint, Pineda said that makes me want this investigation to be complete and legit to prove that I did not do this to myself. She added that she feared she could be forced to leave the guard.
The guard declined to comment about the status of Pinedas complaint.
Last year, Lt. Col. Rob Swertfager, a 144th pilot, filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for going to bat for Pineda by telling a superior that the first investigation might have been mishandled. His complaint is part of the inspector generals investigation. He declined to comment for this story.
Woodside said the head of base security, then-Lt. Col. Dave Johnston, told him that 144th leadership ordered him to shut down the investigation and destroy all the evidence after investigators zeroed in on Navin. The evidence included Pinedas boots and a vile of urine that was never tested.
Woodside said he believes there was a cover-up.
Retired Maj. Dan Woodside said the head of base security told him that he was ordered by 144th leadership to shut down an investigation into who urinated in Jennifer Pinedas boots and destroy all the evidence. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Johnston, since promoted to colonel, did not say who gave him the order, Woodside said. He said Johnston informed him about the destruction of the evidence during a 32-minute telephone conversation on Dec. 7, 2017. He produced phone records that showed such a call to Johnstons number.
In interviews with The Times, four current and former guard members confirmed that Woodside told them about his phone conversation with Johnston shortly after it occurred.
Johnston declined to be interviewed. He said in two statements provided to The Times that no one ordered him to dispose of the evidence. Johnston said he had consulted with Garrison, who ran the base at the time of the incident, about destroying the evidence. Garrisons only guidance, Johnston wrote, was that he first confer with the 144ths judge advocate general at the time, who did not respond to interview requests.
Johnston said he authorized the destruction because the second investigation had been closed for several months and the evidence was no longer needed. He declined to discuss why a DNA test was never conducted.
The lead investigator, Daniel Mosqueda, offered no explanation for not testing the urine.
The way the investigation went, it didnt happen, he told The Times.
Woodside said he confronted Garrison about the investigation at a colonels retirement party in March 2017, after the evidence had been destroyed. He said Garrison told him that there was no actual crime here and that it would have been inappropriate to spend thousands of dollars on a urine test that wouldnt produce usable information.
Depending on the condition of the specimen, a DNA analysis of the urine could have determined the perpetrators sex and perhaps identified him or her definitively through a comparison test, forensic experts told The Times. Typically, it would cost about $1,000 to $1,300, they said.
Experts on military and criminal law questioned the decision to destroy evidence without conducting a DNA analysis. Southwestern Law School Professor Rachel E. VanLandingham, who served as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney during a U.S. Air Force career, said if evidence was destroyed to impede an investigation or protect someone, a case could be made for obstruction of justice.
That needs to be looked into, she said.
About a year after the incident, Navin was promoted to colonel and is now commander of the 163rd Attack Wing in Riverside County, overseeing more than 900 people and the deployment of the MQ-9A Reaper military drone.
A guard spokesman declined to say what prompted the recent suspension of the 144th commander, Col. Victor Sikora. Shortly after the suspension, Sikora called a meeting of pilots and support personnel at the Fresno base. He told the gathering that he had been informed he was suspended due to the amount of investigations the guard leadership was dealing with, according to a recording of the meeting The Times reviewed. He did not elaborate.
Sikora did not respond to requests for comment about the suspension.
Among the other complaints under investigation by the inspector general is one filed by Lt. Col. Seth Nehring shortly before he was killed in October in a crash during a training mission in Ukraine. No details of his complaint were available. The investigator leading the inspector generals probe, Lt. Col. Shawna Pavey, did not respond to interview requests.
Dave Bakos, a retired general who served in the guard for 32 years and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, said Garrison should have demanded a more thorough investigation from the start. Morale at the 144th has suffered, Bakos said.
There are a lot of people unhappy up there, he said. They need a change at the top.
Deep in the Otay Mountain Wilderness, there is no wall.
The only boundary between the U.S. and Mexico is a section of barbed wire fence in a pastoral valley. And miles and miles of treacherous terrain.
Its a territory criss-crossed with steep trails that disappear into tunnels of thick brush, a place looped by violently rutted roads that Border Patrol agents negotiate daily.
Land such as this is not a likely candidate for President Donald Trumps big, beautiful wall.
Advertisement
But it is fertile for an invisible kind of fence, one built of artificial intelligence, radar, drones, sensors, motion-activated cameras and even lidar, the same technology used in self-driving vehicles.
Virtual walls or smart walls along the southwest border are increasingly being billed as an alternative to the proposed concrete and steel barriers that have so sharply divided public opinion.
An electronic fence is not about preventing intrusion as much as it is about detecting intrusions and then intercepting them.
While even the strongest proponents for such a technological solution admit physical barriers are likely best in urban areas such as San Diego and El Paso, they see a virtual wall as a cheaper and more effective way to police much of the rest of the 2,000-mile southwest border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has asked for $223 million of its fiscal 2019 budget to focus on technology improvements, funding that could have bipartisan support.
But the increased focus on smart walls is deepening concern about a growing Big-Brother-is-watching network, and civil liberties organizations have asked lawmakers to proceed with caution.
Warrantless use of these technologies comes at an unacceptably high cost, Neema Singh Guliani and Michelle Fraling, officials with the American Civil Liberties Union, said last month. They allow the government to track, surveil, and monitor individuals indiscriminately and with precise detail. Individuals in the border zone should not be subject to near-constant surveillance that intrudes on the most intimate aspects of their lives.
Lessons learned
An electronic fence is not a new idea. It is one that the federal government has actually failed to implement widescale at least three times in the past few decades.
From 1997 to 2005, the government spent about $429 million on two border technology programs deemed unsuccessful, according to congressional reports.
The third, most recent iteration was known as SBInet, a massive project started in 2006. Boeing was contracted to build a network of surveillance towers and ground sensors that would detect intrusions and relay the information back to command posts where agents would decide how to react.
It was rolled out first along the Arizona border, but expansion was halted in 2010 due to serious concerns with its feasibility.
The Government Accountability Office faulted SBInet for being poorly managed, overrun with costs and missed deadlines. The technology was also troubled, pulled off the shelves rather than custom-designed for the border environment and job at hand.
The program was killed in 2011, at a price tag of more than $1 billion.
I terminated it when I was commissioner. It was a failure, Alan Bersin recalled in an interview last week with the Union-Tribune. Bersin, a former U.S. attorney in San Diego, served as a so-called border czar under two presidents and was appointed CBP commissioner from 2010 to 2011.
Part of the problem, Bersin said, was pursuing a one-size-fits-all approach to the border.
Instead of one technology system borderwide, we now follow a system customized to the particular conditions on the border, Bersin said. The setting up of an electronic fence in the Sonoran Arizona desert is far different than doing so around San Diegos urban area.
Aging technology
Even before SBInet was terminated, doubts about the program led authorities to redirect millions of dollars in funding to deploy other technology across the border. That included mobile and fixed surveillance towers, cameras, drones and thermal imaging devices.
Many of those systems are in use today, although they are aging both physically and in concept as technology leaps forward.
To cope, Border Patrol sectors have largely focused on incremental improvements in a peicemeal strategy.
Evidence of that effort can be seen in the Border Patrols Brown Field Station east of San Diego, a 568-square-mile region stretching from Otay Mountain to Tecate, with 11 miles of international border.
Agents there typically spend a large amount of their shifts investigating alerts from seismic sensors tripped by potential intruders. Problem is, the sensors are also tripped by rabbits, deer, the rain, other agents.
A sensor in a remote canyon could take a two-hour hike, only to discover fresh mountain lion tracks nearby.
The recent addition of several motion-activated Buckeye cameras has helped tremendously, agents said. The camera takes a grainy snapshot immediately after being triggered, sending the information back to the Tactical Operations Center at the station for quick analysis.
The command post, better known as TOC (pronounced talk), monitors other surveillance, too. Radar returns predict the presence of suspicious activity and send images that can distinguish vehicles and people. An agent sitting at the computer can then direct a field agent to intercept.
The TOC also takes a high-tech approach to one of the Border Patrols most low-tech tactics tracking sign.
Sign refers to the traces left behind by a person on the move, whether it be footprints, litter, broken branches or overturned rocks. Reading sign is how agents have done the job for decades, something unchanged by even the best technology, they say.
What the TOC has essentially done is crowdsource sign intelligence. For instance, an agent who discovers fresh footprints of a group of people headed up a specific trail will report it to the TOC. The spot will be marked with GPS coordinates and updated as more sign is discovered. The information can be passed onto the next shift for continued tracking.
The TOC can track sign for two, three days, said Border Patrol spokesman Fabian Carbajal, who has spent 13 years of his career patrolling Brown Field Station.
The future
The capabilities are a start, but innovators at many smaller firms have their sights on technology that seemed futuristic not too long ago.
Quanergy, a Silicon Valley company that developed lidar for driverless vehicles, has been testing the technology in the Texas border town of Del Rio with the cooperation of a local sheriff, The New York Times reported. The laser sensors give a 3D view of an area, building on the existing technology already being used.
Anduril Industries, based in Orange County, is working to apply the power of artificial intelligence to national security settings. Its founder is Palmer Luckey, the entrepreneur behind the virtual reality company Oculus.
One of the big advantages to the use of AI-enabled technology is that you can deploy it without having to increase manpower, said Matt Steckman, Andurils head of corporate and government affairs. You get computers to do a lot of the work and let the humans be the decision-makers.
Andurils system, called Lattice, uses hundreds or even thousands of sensors, then lets artificial intelligence scan the environment five times per second and interpret the results. Only meaningful results will be transmitted to an agent in the field, on a smartphone or tablet, in the form of a cropped image of the form. The agent can then decide how to respond.
The system takes out the middle man the agent who has to sit at a bank of computer monitors in a darkened room and interpret the sensor results in real time.
The network uses different types of sensors to create a more complete image of the environment, and each sensor is able to interpret its own data brand new technology known as edge computation that is still in its infancy.
The system completed a pilot phase last summer in part of Texas and became operational. It was also tested east of San Diego, leading to 10 interceptions during the first 12 days, Wired magazine reported last June.
Tech companies are also working to make devices more mobile, and therefore more nimble.
Benchmark outfits Border Patrol pickups with high-powered scopes that are easy to move from place to place. (Courtesy photo)
Benchmark, based in Tempe, Ariz., has built on the idea of surveillance towers and built it into Border Patrol pickup trucks. At the top of a 30-foot retractable mast are powerful day and night vision cameras and lasers, with a range of about six miles.
The first order of 14 brown-and-mustard colored Ford F-150s were deployed to Texas about a year ago, but five were shifted to the San Diego Sector as a major migrant caravan neared Tijuana late last year, said Jan Janick, Benchmarks chief technology officer.
The company is working on delivering another 15 trucks, each with $300,000 to $400,000 in technology on board.
Benchmark hopes to use the trucks as a launch pad for other capabilities, including giving agents the ability to have control on a tablet if they need to leave the truck.
Tying a drone into the system has also been suggested by Border Patrol.
Today I can identify an intruder at six miles, but I cant tell you if hes wearing a sidearm or if thats a lunch box, Janick said.
But what if an agent could push a button and the unmanned aerial vehicle could fly to the GPS coordinates, get a closer look, track the person and return to the truck?
You cant overload the agent with data or task them with things that keep them from their primary mission, Janick explained. You dont want to train every agent on a drone and have them focused on a joystick. You want technology to have that capability.
Former Acting CBP Commissioner David Aguilar said technology will unquestionably be a large part of securing the border used in combination with physical barriers where appropriate and manpower.
He gave the example of SAR radar, being looked at to constantly map and remap a portion of land in remote areas to detect terrain change, such as a new trail or road implicating fresh trafficking routes.
Thats good intelligence, Aguilar, who also served as Border Patrol chief, said in a recent interview. You can go in there, drop ground sensors in the area, fly a drone on a persistent basis or post tethered aerostats to watch that area.
But he warned against viewing any one solution, including technology, as a silver bullet.
There is no such thing. Youre never going to have a border that is going to be impenetrable. Thats just not going to happen. Does that mean we stop working toward it? No.
Keeping a virtual wall alive and running has its challenges.
Devices require power sources, which can be difficult in remote locations. They need robust communications infrastructure to transmit information. They have to stand up to the rigors of a rugged work environment. And they can be deemed worthless if destroyed or vandalized.
Agents who work the Otay Mountain Wilderness say the emerging technology helps. But nothing can replace boots on the ground.
All the technology is not going to do what we do, said veteran Agent Jose Damian. When a scope spots something, you still need agents to go retrieve it.
With all the tech talk, it can be jarring just how rudimentary some of Border Patrols tools are. On a recent Wednesday, Damian stood atop a crude helicopter landing pad deep in the mountains, with cheap, old binoculars to his eyes, scanning the valley below that separates the U.S. from Mexico.
Agents here dont have vehicle laptops. They communicate through radios, powered by batteries that have died at times when agents needed them most, and will likely die again.
Farther east, near the Tecate Port of Entry, mobile flood lights stand sentry along the old landing mat fence that separates dirt parking lots in the U.S. from colorful, dense housing a stones throw away in Mexico. The lights require an agent each shift to fill them up by hand with gas, to illuminate the night.
kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @kristinadavis
What exactly happened inside the apartment of Democratic donor and West Hollywood political activist Ed Buck?
That has been a burning question since January, when Timothy Dean was found dead inside Bucks home. Dean was the second African American man to die at Bucks residence. Both deaths prompted protests and Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department investigations.
Some activists have called on law enforcement officials to criminally charge Buck. But authorities said Monday that Dean died of an accidental drug overdose.
Buck has denied any wrongdoing in either case. Still, the deaths leave many questions unanswered, and detectives are still investigating.
Advertisement
Here is a rundown of what we know from the pages of The Times.
Who is Ed Buck?
Buck, 64, has long been a contentious figure in West Hollywood, where he was best known for his animal rights and LGBTQ activism and his donations to Democratic politicians and causes.
Buck became a nationally known figure in the late 1980s when he led the successful effort to impeach Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham. During the recall effort, it was made public that Buck was arrested in 1983 for public sexual indecency for grabbing the crotch of another man in a bookstore. Buck pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace and cracked to reporters: What they didnt say was that the man enjoyed it.
In 2007, Buck unsuccessfully ran for West Hollywood City Council as part of the Save West Hollywood campaign slate, a group of candidates who pledged to stop mega-development and take down the For Sale sign at City Hall.
Ed Buck, 64, has long been a contentious figure in West Hollywood. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
What happened at Bucks apartment?
In 2017, Gemmel Moore died of a methamphetamine overdose in Bucks home, where, according to a Los Angeles County coroners report, investigators found multiple sex toys, multiple syringes and clear plastic bags with suspected methamphetamine in a tool box roll-cabinet in the living room.
Moore had been homeless and had worked as an escort. The Times reviewed pages of a journal that authorities said was found among Moores possessions. In it, Moore purportedly wrote in 2016 about using crystal methamphetamine.
Ive become addicted to drugs and the worst one at that, the journal said. Ed Buck is the one to thank, he gave me my first injection of chrystal meth.
In 2017, The Times interviewed a young black man who asked that his name not be used because he worked as an escort. The man said he reported complaints about Buck, similar to those made in the journal, to the West Hollywood sheriffs station three weeks before Moore died.
The man showed The Times communications with Buck and photographs of him and Buck inside an apartment. Nana Gyamfi, an attorney representing the man, and a sheriffs detective confirmed the man provided the same information to investigators looking into Moores death.
The man said he went to Bucks apartment on July 3, 2017, and Buck took photos of him and then asked whether he wanted something to drink. Buck, he said, gave him a glass of water that made him feel a tingling sensation.
The next thing I know, Im waking up from taking a deep breath, the man said. My arms are immediately hurting, and Im tied down to the couch. Just my arm. My arm was hurting.
He said he went to the sheriffs station afterward but authorities thought he was high on drugs and told him to leave.
Bucks attorney, Seymour Amster, said he does not know whether Buck uses illicit drugs and said, What he does of a consensual nature, I really am not privy to or care about.
The Los Angeles County district attorneys office last summer declined to file charges in Moores death, citing insufficient admissible evidence. A charge evaluation sheet cited an inadmissible search and seizure but did not elaborate.
Buck was present at Moores death and that of Dean on Jan. 7, authorities said.
Amster had previously said that Dean died of an apparent overdose after ingesting a substance at a location other than Bucks home.
This week, sheriffs officials said Deans death was ruled as an accidental methamphetamine overdose.
Dean, a West Hollywood resident, worked as a fashion consultant at Saks Fifth Avenue, and previously at Bloomingdales in Century City. His friends previously told The Times that Dean didnt drink excessively and wasnt known to do drugs.
We stand by our position that unfortunately Mr. Dean ingested drugs at a location other than Mr. Bucks, and he came over intoxicated, and its a tragedy, Amster said Monday.
LaTisha Nixon, the mother of Gemmel Moore, wipes away tears during a press conference by members of Color of Change, an online racial justice organization, in January. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
What are authorities doing now?
Sheriffs department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said investigators will continue interviewing people who come forward with information.
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said in a statement released by her office earlier this month that she has asked the sheriffs department to continue to thoroughly investigate the deaths of Moore and Dean.
Lacey said some people have insinuated that a $100 donation she received from Buck during her 2012 election campaign, which she has since returned, has tainted her ability to be impartial in whether criminal charges are warranted against Buck.
Nothing could be further from the truth, Lacey said in the statement. Every life, regardless of a persons age, race, economic status and even whether they use illegal drugs, has value. If that life is lost because of the unlawful actions of another, rest assured that my office will do everything possible to bring the perpetrator to justice.
Three months into the Department of Homeland Securitys program that requires asylum-seeking migrants wait in Mexico until their U.S. immigration hearings, observers said Friday that the policy may actually be encouraging illegal border crossings.
This past week, migrants rushed the border at least four times at Playas de Tijuana, many of them saying they were motivated by not wanting to wait in Mexico.
A Customs and Border Protection official said migrants who cross the border illegally are not being returned to Mexico while they seek asylum. Instead, they are taken into custody, where they eventually get to wait in the United States, sometimes up to three or four years until their asylum hearings before an American immigration judge.
Why would I spend three years here in Tijuana when I could be in the United States? asked Jeydi Fuentes Lopez Montes, a 29-year-old mother from Honduras traveling with a 1-year-old child. I know there is work here in Tijuana, but isnt the work better over there?
Advertisement
Fuentes said she went to Tijuana planning to wait in line to ask for asylum, but she said that when she learned the list to get an initial appointment with U.S. officials could take several months, she decided to try to find another way into the U.S.
Legal experts say a judge is not allowed to deny a persons asylum request based solely on whether he or she entered the country legally or illegally.
Samuel Rodriguez Guzman, from El Salvador, arrived in Tijuana last week. He said he went to the beach Thursday after hearing about more people successfully entering the U.S. illegally, and seeing on the news people getting through the border infrastructure at Playas.
Im trying whatever way I can to immigrate to the United States, Rodriguez said. I had problems with the gangs in my country and my father did, too. They want to kill us. When we get there to the United States, they have to respect our human rights to ask for asylum, right?
Alan Bersin, the former commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said there is no coordinated system between the Mexican government and the U.S. to accept large numbers of migrants returned to Tijuana.
So far, fewer than 300 people have been returned to Mexico under the program.
Its an incompetent program, said Bersin, adding that people who cross illegally should be returned to Mexico in the same numbers as those who wait for months in line for their turn to cross legally.
This policy has a chance of succeeding as a deterrent, he said. But [Mexican President Andres Manuel] Lopez-Obrador is trying to avoid a fight with Trump so he says yes to everything but does nothing.
This week and last, migrants have been climbing through holes in border fencing at Playas or climbing over the 15-foot-high fence.
On March 13, some people slipped through a hole in the border fencing near the beach. One of the men, who was seen in a video running down the beach carrying a small child while a border agent chased him, provided updates via WhatsApp to several people in his group and some witnesses. He said he was not apprehended and made it to Los Angeles.
A group of about 60 people who crossed on March 14 included men, women and children, most of whom said they were from Honduras. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Ralph DeSio said 52 people from that group were arrested.
Border officials also arrested 23 people from Honduras and one from Guatemala on Tuesday after they scaled the fence near the beach.
Then Thursday, activity at the border intensified as border agents and migrants clashed.
Two migrants and several witnesses said agents shot pepper spray across the fence and into their eyes. During the incident, one man climbed the fence and dropped into the U.S. before he was detained by border agents.
DeSio said Customs and Border Protection is averaging 167 arrests a day in the San Diego County area of responsibility, which stretches east to past Jacumba.
Every arrest in San Diego Sector is investigated. Every breach in San Diego County is a concern whether its near Imperial Beach or in Jacumba, DeSio said in a written statement. Compromises in our fence are common due to our aging infrastructure. Efforts are made to repair breaches or compromises in a timely manner.
On Friday, another hole big enough for people to climb through was visible at the base of the border fence at Playas, and migrants said they planned to return Saturday to try to climb through again.
Really, were tired of fighting because we just want to cross and ask for asylum. Were not rude. We are allowed to come here and ask for asylum, said Jose Reinera, a Honduran migrant who climbed up on top of the fence at Las Playas on Thursday.
Reinera said he turned back and climbed back down on the Mexican side of the border when he realized his wife and children would not be able to make the climb.
Wendy Fry writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
A Sacramento man is behind bars this week after prosecutors say he sent dozens of letters some containing white powder threatening to kill police officers, government officials, members of the LGBTQ community and white people to try to incite a race war.
Darnell Ray Owens, 32, was arrested in Oklahoma on Friday, the same day officials filed a sealed complaint in federal court in Sacramento charging him with mailing threatening communications and conducting a hoax involving biological weapons. He has not yet entered a plea.
Federal investigators allege in the 36-page complaint, which was made public Monday, that Owens sent about 45 threatening letters between February and March to several locations in Sacramento County, including an LGBTQ center, the Sacramento and Elk Grove police departments, the district attorneys office and a television station.
You have failed this city and the people. So I am making a threat on your Life, I will assassinate you with a bullet to your head, you will not survive I will watch your body shake as the life in you leaves, Owens wrote to Sacramento County Dist. Atty. Anne Marie Schubert, according to the affidavit.
Advertisement
He also is accused of sending letters to the police department in San Antonio and a Baptist church in Dallas, in which he threatened to assassinate the pastor in the name of Allah and burn down Christian churches.
In a letter to the West Sacramento Police Department in March, Owens allegedly wrote that he wanted to kill a cop and drink his white blood, the affidavit states.
Investigators allege he also threatened to kill members of the LGBTQ community in Sacramento.
Federal officials said they compared DNA evidence from a birthday card Owens sent to an acquaintance to DNA on the mailed letters in an effort to link him to the threats. Federal investigators also noted in the court filing the letters show a distinct handwriting style and the diction and threats contained in them are consistent.
If convicted, Owens faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, according to the U.S. attorneys office in Sacramento.
hannah.fry@latimes.com
Twitter: @Hannahnfry
In the summer of 2010, a French street artist who uses the name Invader (because his pixel-style mosaic figures were inspired by the 1978 Space Invaders arcade game) installed artwork on the facades of some downtown San Diego buildings.
He was one of 10 urban artists, including the controversial Banksy, taking part in a massive indoor/outdoor Museum of Contemporary Art exhibition called Viva La Revolucion: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape. Much of the art was removed when the exhibit closed.
But nearly a decade later, a large piece by Invader still remains for now.
Called The Mothership, the boxy black-and-white spaceship, comprised of square ceramic tiles, is perched on the upper facade of what until recently was the San Diego Art Center at Park Boulevard and G Street.
Advertisement
The historic building was sold in 2017 to the Paragon Real Estate Fund. Last fall, it was renamed The Ratner building but still houses the NewSchoolof Architecture & Design and artist studios.
The problem is that the building is being remodeled and the mural must go. That is why, even though its still attached to the facade, its among artworks in an April 25 live auction by Juliens auction house in Los Angeles.
Joining The Mothership in the sale catalog are two of Banksys more important works. (You may recall a piece by Banksy that self-shredded on cue when auctioned for more than $1 million by Sothebys in London last Oct. 5). Other artists include Ron English, Shepard Fairey, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Mr. Brainwash and Pablo Picasso.
Ann Berchtold, Paragons marketing rep, explained that the artwork was created specifically for that site. While technically belonging to the artist, the exhibition agreement gave building owners permission to remove the pieces at the close of the show.
After contacting the Museum of Contemporary Art, Paragon reached out to the artists representatives and offered The Mothership back to Invader at his removal expense. They responded that Invader wasnt interested and they could keep it, Berchtold said. They were given permission to re-sell the art but warned that, once it was removed from the space for which it was designed, the artist could no longer authenticate it.
Nevertheless, the auction house placed an estimated value of $60,000 to $80,000 on the Invader piece not bad for street art. But theres a catch. The buyer must remove the artwork from the building within 90 days of the sale at his or her own expense.
A contractor has been consulted and provided an estimate of approximately $7,000, said Mozell Miley-Bailey of Juliens Auctions.
Actor Val Kilmer checks out the candy emporium, called the Sugar Factory, on the entry level of the Theatre Box at 701 Fifth Ave. in the Gaslamp Quarter. (Courtesy photo)
Hollywood South: Forget the poetic saying, ...never the twain shall meet. Some San Diegans met Mark Twain, in the persona of actor Val Kilmer, last week. He appeared at the Gaslamp Quarters Theatre Box for a screening of his play-turned-movie, Cinema Twain. Kilmer, who stars in the show, walked the red carpet and stuck around for a meet-and-greet in the Chocolate Lounge.
Also on hand: actor Jason Weaver,of Smart Guy sitcom fame, and professional surfer Damien Hobgood.
diane.bell@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1518
Twitter: @dianebellSD
Facebook: dianebell.news
When Christine Kehoe won her first election in 1993, she won more than a seat on the San Diego City Council. She earned herself a place in local history.
That was the year Kehoe became San Diegos first openly gay elected official. That victory also marked the moment when Kehoe knew her political career would be about something bigger than politics.
I felt that it had become a community campaign, Kehoe remembered of those early grassroots days of phone banks and precinct walking. People poured their hearts and souls into it. Some people wrote the first checks (to a candidate) that they had ever written in their lives because they wanted to see me run.
On election night, I remember thinking that no matter what happened, it would be a turning point. I said to my partner (Julie Warren), now my wife, that we would never go back. We were holding each other and saying, Here we go.
Advertisement
Once the groundbreaking started, it did not stop. And Kehoes journey as a high-profile member of San Diegos LGBTQ+ community quickly became more than a solo endeavor.
When Kehoe was elected to the state Assembly in 2000, her City Council seat went to her staff member Toni Atkins, who ran mostly because Kehoe insisted that she take the plunge.
Fourteen years later, Atkins became the first lesbian named speaker of the Assembly. Kehoe was elected to the California State Senate in 2004. Atkins was elected to the State Senate in 2016, and as Senate President pro Tempore, she became the first openly gay Senate leader in California history.
Now, Kehoe and Atkins have hit another milestone. And this time, they are doing it together.
On Saturday, the two pioneering politicians and longtime friends will be honored as the San Diego History Centers Makers of San Diego History for 2019. The award is given to the people, business and communities that have changed San Diego for the better, and nearly two decades after winning that City Council seat, Atkins is still shocked that she is one of those trailblazers.
I grew up thinking that government and mainstream society wasnt about me, that I didnt have a place there because I was working-poor, and LGBT and a woman, Atkins said. The fact that I have been able to do what Ive done is pretty incredible. I give a lot of the credit to Chris for giving me the opportunity.
When they accept their Makers honors, Kehoe and Atkins will be joining a lively and influential group that includes San Diegos Jewish community, Qualcomm, Price Club founder Sol Price, and our craft-brew industry. Like the movers and shakers before them, they are part of the rich fabric of San Diego life.
In many ways, San Diegans and people who call San Diego home are incredible innovators. And they do set the stage, said Bill Lawrence, president and CEO of the San Diego History Center. Toni and Christine really embody that San Diego spirit. I think the region is always looking to continually make itself better and to do big things.
As in previous years, the Makers awards are part of a bigger picture. The recognition of Atkins and Kehoe is part of the history centers larger tribute to San Diegos LGBTQ+ community and the part it has played in the San Diego story.
Last summer, the center in partnership with the Lambda Archives opened LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles and Triumphs, an exhibit devoted to the history of the local LGBT community. The exhibit, which runs through Jan. 20, looks at everything from the struggles for equal rights to LGBT trailblazers in the arts and the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis. Visitors can appreciate it both for what it says about about the LGBT community and what it says about all of San Diego.
This exhibit is a way of shining a light on not just the good history, but on the history that makes us a better community. The history that causes change that results in inclusion, Lawrence said.
When they accept their awards on Saturday, Christine Kehoe and Toni Atkins will be celebrating not just their boundary-busting political careers, but also the odds-defying relationships that blossomed there. There is the long friendship between two pioneers, and there is the shared love they have for the forward-thinking place that put them on the trail they continue to blaze today.
Im very proud to be thought of as a San Diego history maker, said Kehoe, who is now a member of the California Transportation Commission. I came here in 1978 from upstate New York, and from the moment I saw it, I loved it. My goal was always to make things better for the people of San Diego and the people of California. I wasnt successful every time, but Im proud of the work I did.
Twitter: @karla_peterson
karla.peterson@sduniontribune.com
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at Burnaby Building, 16 Burnaby street, Hamilton, HM11, Bermuda on 17 April 2019 at 13.00 Bermuda Time. Please find attached the complete notice and proxy form.
The 2018 Annual Report, including financial statements and auditor's report, will be distributed through the Hugin InPublic distribution system and made available on the Company's webpage www.romreal.com and on www.osloaxess.no by Wednesday 10 April 2018 16.00 CET at the latest.
For further information, please contact:
Harris Palaondas,
Investor Relations
Mob: +40731123037
E-mail: investors@romreal.com
There they go again.
San Diego officials, developers and property owners are continuing the citys history of closing small downtown hotels old establishments that often provide inexpensive, last-resort housing for people who otherwise might be out on the street.
Word about the coming demise of the Plaza Hotel created an odd juxtaposition that symbolically sums up the homelessness situation in San Diego. Just a month earlier, the mayors office announced plans to use the nearby Golden Hall convention and meeting space as a temporary homeless shelter. The San Diego City Council approved the plan Tuesday.
The century-old Plaza will make way for a more upscale hotel, which is expected to include some shared rooms aimed at young travelers.
Advertisement
In the macro scheme of things, it might not seem the loss of the Plazas 185 units will make the citys severe low-income housing shortage that much worse. But its hard to think in the abstract when reflecting on the heartbreaking dilemma facing individual Plaza residents, some of whom have lived there for more than two decades and arent sure where they will go.
Widespread redevelopment of similar single-room occupancy, or SRO, hotels like the Plaza over the years has exacerbated San Diegos homeless problem.
The city had lost 9,290 single-room occupancy hotel rooms since 2010, according to an analysis by The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2016. The study also showed that 1,500 low-income rental units had been converted to condominiums during that same period.
Last year, nearly 9,000 people were counted in the annual point in time homeless tally.
Do the math, attorney Cory Briggs often says, citing those statistics.
Briggs, who is running for San Diego mayor next year, has waged many legal and policy battles against City Hall for years. In the early 2000s, Briggs said he and others urged the city to put a moratorium on closing SROs and the conversion of apartments to condos, to no avail.
San Diego has created affordable housing over that period, but the supply has been outstripped by the need.
The Plaza, at 1037 Fourth Ave., is one of 75 hotels on the San Diego Housing Commissions list of single-room occupancy hotels in the city, according to the Union-Tribunes Gary Warth. They range in size from the 325-room Golden West Hotel, just a handful of blocks south on Fourth, to two small hotels that each have six units.
Together, the hotels have 5,068 rooms, Warth reported.
The most expensive room at the Plaza rents for $780 a month, plus $149 for an extra person; the least expensive is $635 for a room that has no individual toilet or shower.
Golden Hall, which is adjacent to City Hall, will house some 150 people families and single women who are going to be displaced in the short term when a temporary tent shelter at 14th and Commercial streets is moved to a vacant site at 1700 Imperial Ave. The move should take about three months.
Thats one of three large shelter tents in the city core that house about 700 people.
This homeless-shelter musical chairs, while burdensome, is actually occurring because of a long-term plan to provide more affordable housing. Father Joes Villages, which owns the 14th and Commercial site, plans to begin construction there of a 16-story, 407-unit project in a few months.
The council unanimously approved Golden Halls use as a shelter. But some members argued it should be turned into a permanent homeless shelter.
Briggs has proposed something more extensive. He wants to use much of the San Diego Concourse complex which includes City Hall, Golden Hall, Civic Theatre and the Civic Center Plaza building for permanent facilities to aid the homeless.
He called for relocating offices in the Civic Center Plaza building and converting it to SROs and permanent supportive housing to help people transition out of homelessness. He proposed the Civic Center parking structure be used, not for parked cars, but as a space where homeless people can store their property and pitch tents if theyre resistant to sleeping in shelters.
Golden Hall would house homeless-service providers, and the outdoor plaza could accommodate several portable shower facilities, according to Briggs.
The prospect of any of this happening is slim, to say the least. But Briggs said there would be additional value to putting this homeless complex at the seat of the municipal government.
The politicians and bureaucrats who need to get serious about making significant progress in reducing the number of persons living on the street instead of just talking about it would see the crisis up close and personal every day, Briggs wrote on Facebook, where he laid out his proposal.
Councilman Chris Ward made a similar point Tuesday in urging that Golden Hall be turned into a permanent shelter. This is literally in our back yard, he said.
At the Plaza Hotel, some residents will get relocation assistance. The San Diego Housing Commission approved $500,000 to help them with the transition; assessments of a residents needs will determine how the money is divvied up. Thats in addition to as much as $2,000-plus from the hotel owner for each person who has been there for more than 90 days, as required by a city ordinance.
Warren Graham, 63, has lived at the Plaza a bit longer than that. He moved in 25 years ago and works there as an elevator operator. He took up residence when Bill Clinton was president and the average price for a gallon of gas in Southern California was $1.21.
Im very concerned, Graham told the U-Ts Warth. Its been my home for so long. Itll be hard to find another place.
Anybody want to tell him what his temporary shelter options are nearby?
michael.smolens@sduniontribune.com
Twitter:@michaelsmolens
(619) 293-1256
The 2020 election was already shaping up as another rough one for San Diego County Republicans. That special counsel Robert Muellers investigation didnt find any collusion between President Donald Trump and the Russian government in the 2016 election doesnt change that.
At best, it may have kept a bad situation for the local GOP from getting worse.
President Donald Trump had outsized influence on San Diegos local campaigns last year, and not just in the 49th Congressional District, which had been a reliably GOP bastion in northern San Diego and southern Orange counties until Democrats flipped it with the election of Mike Levin.
Trump played an effective foil for Democrats in various county supervisor and city council races, to the detriment of Republicans. Never mind that those offices are officially non-partisan. A president having such an impact on local races like that is rare.
Advertisement
Certainly, Republican candidates will be relieved they wont have to talk about the president being in collusion with the Russians. But while the Mueller probe hovered over the 2018 campaign, San Diego Democratic voters were more fired up by Trumps policies on health care, immigration and taxes and their visceral dislike of the president.
But keep in mind that San Diego Countys political demographics for years have been trending Democratic (which includes Democratic-leaning independents). What happened last year was probably inevitable, eventually. The Trump effect basically just sped it up.
Those dynamics remain and may be even stronger in 2020. The demographic trend isnt going to reverse anytime soon and presidential elections tend to boost Democratic turnout. The full Mueller report may provided Democrats with more fodder, assuming it becomes public. Theres a lingering question about obstruction of justice. But even if it fades as an issue, as is likely, Trump again will loom large over next years elections at all levels and thats a problem for San Diego Republicans.
He was a big issue in a handful of local races last year and he wasnt even on the ballot, as he will be in 2020.
GOP candidates will still face the predicament of being pressed about whether they support Trumps policies. Aligning with the president will make it harder for them to attract moderate voters, whether Republicans, independents and even some Democrats. Not backing him could alienate the GOP base. In most San Diego swing-district elections, Republicans cant win by simply relying on the base.
Trump claimed the Mueller report vindicates him and, whether or not that ultimately turns out to be the case, it could fire up his base. Like the president, many of his core supporters believe he has been falsely persecuted by deep state bureaucrats and Democrats.
Further, with Trump up for re-election, Republicans could see a boost in turnout. The 2018 Democratic Blue Wave certainly surged thorough California, but depressed GOP turnout aided Democrats in some of the congressional districts they flipped.
The down side for Republicans is, with no real GOP presidential primary in California and a highly contested one on the Democratic side that sets up the potential for a lopsided turnout in March. That could be significant because under Californias primary system the top two vote-getters advance to November, regardless of party affiliation. Its rare, but that could allow two members of the same party to face off in the fall. Whether the turnout advantage is enough for Democrats to win both slots in some races is hardly certain.
While the dynamics favor Democrats regardless of the Mueller report, there are variables and unknowns that could cause them problems. The Democratic presidential nominee could turnout to be a weak candidate. The partys liberal-moderate split could distract them from focusing on Republicans, though past predictions that such infighting will doom a partys election prospects often have been overblown.
Also, a Democratic push to impeach Trump could be risky; so would a potential overreach by congressional investigations of Trump. That could allow Republican candidates to criticize Democrats for hurting the country, without having to issue a strong defense of Trump.
Lets not forget that Trump has done and said things that some experts had concluded would finally do him in politically, but they havent. He has show considerable resiliency, though his Teflon-like quality hasnt rubbed off on the Republican Party.
Republicans in California and San Diego are on the downswing, particularly after last years election blowout. Dont expect their candidates to be wearing Trumps Make America Great Again hats.
michael.smolens@sduniontribune.com
Twitter:@michaelsmolens
(619) 293-1256
Its a safe bet John McCain would probably enjoy this.
Seven months after his death, the Arizona senator and war hero hasnt lost his knack of getting the presidents goat like no earthly being can.
Donald Trumps inexplicable obsession with McCain, dead or alive, is nothing new. The two feuded for years. But even for a president known for erratic behavior, his latest days-long string of invective tweets and public comments about McCain both appalled and perplexed.
It was even too much for some of Trumps supporters, who while defending and lauding McCain had been reluctant to call out the president. GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump-critic-turned-ally, was one of those. He cautiously chided Trump on Wednesday.
Advertisement
I love John McCain, I traveled the world with him, I learned a lot from him, hes an American hero and nothing will ever diminish that, he told reporters. I think the presidents comments about Senator McCain hurt him more than they hurt the legacy of Senator McCain. Im going to try to continue to help the president.
Even before he succumbed to brain cancer in August, McCain had been lionized for his service to the country as a Navy pilot who was shot down over North Vietnam and imprisoned for five years and for his 31 years in the Senate.
He was forthright and brash. He gave and took political shots, and he regularly displayed his ability to sting Trump. On that score, Meghan McCain picked up a thing or two from the old man.
(Trump) spends his weekend obsessing over great men because he knows it, and I know it and all of you know it, he will never be a great man, McCains daughter said Monday on The View daytime television talk show, where she is one of the hosts.
My father was his kryptonite in life. Hes his kryptonite in death, she added.
As Trump continued to criticize his nemesis into the week, McCain said on Wednesday her father would think its hilarious that our president was so jealous of him that he was dominating the news cycle in death . . .
Trump initially seemed set off by reports that McCain gave the so-called Steele dossier about Russian influence in the presidents election to the FBI and the media. Subsequent reports said McCain received a copy and turned it over to the FBI but that there was no evidence he leaked it to the media. (It turned out that a former McCain aide testified to Congress that he the aide shared details of the document with the news media.)
Trump also vented his anger over the senators decision to vote against repealing Obamacare, his support for the war in Afghanistan and, perhaps most baffling, for not getting credit for allowing McCains funeral.
I endorsed him at his request, and I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted, which as president I had to approve, Trump said. I dont care about this. I didnt get a thank you. Thats OK. We sent him on the way. But I wasnt a fan of John McCain.
The feeling was mutual. McCain had made clear he didnt want Trump to attend his funeral. The reality is Trump had nothing to do with the funeral, other than allowing McCains body to be flown to Washington by military transport.
Trump made the funeral comments and others about McCain as he addressed employees at a tank plant in Ohio on Wednesday. Maggie Haberman of The New York Times noted on Twitter that Trump has usually gotten a positive reception at his rallies when he has gone after McCain. But today, at an army tank plant in Lima where POTUS said a third of the workforce is comprised of veterans, there was a very quiet response.
The president also criticized McCain to the news media during a White House meeting with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday.
Trumps attacks on McCain were widely condemned as unbecoming of the nations chief executive. But then Trump has little use for traditional decorum. His base revels in Trump taking on the establishment and sacred cows, and, lest we forget, McCain was not a favorite of the Republican Partys hard right.
While Trump backers, including some veterans, have said they dont like his comments about McCain, many of the presidents supporters have looked past his sometimes boorish behavior because they side with his politics.
McCain, who owned condominiums in Coronado and spent a lot of time in San Diego, has long been a target of Trump, who in turn became target of the senator. As far back as 1999, Trump questioned McCains status as a war hero, as he did in a 60 Minutes interview.
Early in the 2016 presidential race, Trump received a lot of attention by declaring, Hes no hero. . .I like people who werent captured.
Still, McCain supported the GOP nominee until the infamous Access Hollywood tape surfaced late in the campaign. McCain said he could no longer back Trump because of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults. . .
In 2017, McCain took a shot at Trump, who received military deferments in college and another one for medical reasons that eventually would be roundly questioned.
One aspect of the (Vietnam) conflict, by the way, that I will never, ever countenance is that we drafted the lowest income level of America and the highest income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur, McCain said on C-SPAN. That is wrong. That is wrong. If we are going to ask every American to serve, every American should serve.
McCain also was referring to Trump in a speech at the 2017 Liberty Medal Award ceremony, when the senator lashed out at half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems. . . He called this unpatriotic.
The senator clearly had better relations with the media than Trump does, and that may have worked to his advantage during this ongoing feud. Political reporters seemed captivated by his accessibility, maverick persona and wit as they rode McCains Straight Talk Express during his 2000 presidential bid. But some critics of the media contend McCain was not treated as fairly as Barack Obama when they ran for president in 2008.
Despite losing, McCain nevertheless further burnished his legacy with one of the most striking concession speeches in American politics, as he urged supporters to not let their disappointment keep them from truly grasping the historic moment they just witnessed: The United States had elected its first black president.
If Trump happens to lose next year, well see how he matches up.
Tweet of the Week
Goes to Erica Jong (@EricaJong), best-selling author.
I was never married to Kim Jong Un despite my daughters allegations
michael.smolens@sduniontribune.com
Twitter:@michaelsmolens
(619) 293-1256
Olive Peirce Middle School has many leadership groups that all play an important role at the school. One of them is OPT, a leadership group that hosts a daily broadcast called Olive Peirce Today.
The eighth-graders get to the studio early every morning in preparation for the broadcast. Each student has his or her individual task or assignment to fulfill every day.
The program offers the students a great opportunity to work in a genuine media production program.
OPT is used as an outlet to express the students creativity and its also a way to communicate current events or anything that the school wants to let the students know.
Advertisement
We take on a lot of responsibility said OPT member Kyra Huff. We never know if that day the audio isnt going to work or if the video wont play, so its always a hit or miss situation. Most of the times its a hit and if its a miss we can always laugh it off.
This program connects students to a more innovative way of communication.
Aalyah Cortes-Castro is an eighth-grader at Olive Peirce Middle School. Her Bullpup Recap columns are a way to connect the school and its students with the community.
Representatives of the Ramona Old West Festival, formerly Ramona Old West Days, attended a Ramona Unified School District Board meeting to share their plans for this years event.
Its the largest reenactment living history in the state of California, Chris Anderson, festival chair, told district trustees.
The reenactors will arrive and set up camp at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center on April 24; Ramona, Julian and Warner Springs students will tour the camps and talk with the reenactors on April 25 and 26; and the festival will be open to the public on April 27 and 28. Admission is free.
Mountain men, cowboys, pioneer families, Civil War soldiers and more will be set up so the elementary students can experience life as it was in the Old West.
Advertisement
The kids are mesmerized, said Martha Luce, in charge of marketing for the event. Can you imagine? Instead of reading in a book, theyre stepping into history. These people are living like they did in the 1800s in the mountains, in tents made the way they were then. The clothes, everything they use, everything they cook, the food, everything is the way it was then, and the kids are so mesmerized. It is just awesome.
The achievements of Dallas Meadows, a sixth-grade teacher at Barnett Elementary School, are recognized with a Teacher of the Year award from Ramona Unified School District.
RUSD staff including Superintendent Anne Staffieri, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Joel Garcia, Ed.D., and Barnett Principal Linda Marthis surprised Meadows with the announcement in her classroom March 11. Along with balloons, they brought an oversized check for $1,000 and took pictures of Meadows with her students.
Meadows balances academic strategies that include collaborative learning and small group instruction with a personal touch of building relationships with the students.
After graduating from Ramona High School in 2000, Meadows became immersed in activities that would prepare her for a teaching career. While attending college, she worked at a small day care, planning art projects and preschool literacy activities. Later she worked in an afterschool program where she managed more than 100 students. She also spent two summers teaching science camps with hands-on fun.
I learned a great deal from each of these opportunities and I feel they have only made me a more effective teacher, Meadows wrote in her professional biography.
She graduated with honors from Cal State University, San Marcos in 2006 and started student teaching at Ramona Elementary School the same school she attended while growing up in Ramona.
I was so ready to start teaching and I enjoyed learning from the experienced teachers around me, Meadows wrote. I was hired in 2007 and began the school year wide-eyed, eager and ready for anything. My first position was teaching third grade at Hanson Elementary. I was warmly welcomed and several teachers showered me with encouragement and support.
During the next few years Meadows learned to be flexible while moving through different schools, classrooms and grade levels. She arrived at Barnett Elementary in 2011, where she has been teaching sixth grade for the past seven of the eight years shes been working at the school. In addition to her teaching duties, she has led a group of teachers and staff while developing a Barnett Homework Policy and has joined a team of teachers in attending Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies training sessions. Together, the teachers draw on behavior strategies outlined in the book Teaching with Love and Logic.
The love and logic approach to behavior mirrors my own personal teaching philosophy, with a strong emphasis on relationships, empathy, clear expectations and consistency, Meadows said.
Dallas Meadows, second from right back row, celebrates being named Teacher of the Year in the Ramona Unified School District with her sixth-grade students. Julie Gallant
Meadows said she takes a personal approach to teaching. Building relationships is the most effective way to reach students, she said. She believes students are more willing to take risks and try a new strategy when they fell valued and cared about.
Language arts is often taught with mini lessons, small group instruction and independent activities, and math involves real-life problems with multiple steps and multiple strategies for solving problems. She said she observes and questions students as she circulates the classroom and uses math errors as teachable moments. She also has students analyze and reflect on their writing assignments. During independent work time, she likes to meet with students individually or in small groups to address specific learning issues.
Teaching offers a unique opportunity to influence kids in a profound way, Meadows said. Teaching is far more than lesson plans, tests and projects. It is an opportunity to connect with students and create an environment where they can take control of their own learning.
Barnett Elementary Principal Linda Marthis enthusiastically recommended Meadows for the Teacher of the Year award. In her letter to the Selection Committee, Marthis highlights Meadows ability to create an environment of high expectations that is also engaging and joyful.
Walk into her classroom and you will see students actively involved in productive independent as well as collaborative work, Marthis wrote. Her students frequently reflect on their achievements, measuring their work against the success criteria to determine their own next steps in learning. The work is relevant and challenging and the learning environment is safe to take risks and make mistakes.
Barnett Elementary School sixth-grade teacher Dallas Meadows, second from right, gets a surprise visit from Ramona Unified School District administrators who announce her award. Julie Gallant
A letter from one of Meadows peers, Barnett Specialized Academic Instructor Alexis Bowen, also gives a favorable review of Meadows capabilities.
Bowen said she has worked with Meadows for the past five years while Meadows served as one of the inclusion teachers for Bowens sixth-grade students.
Bowen said Meadows is extremely hard-working and consistently reaches each student by personally and individually tailoring rigorous curriculum for each ability level represented in her class.
San Diego Unified School Board Trustee Kevin Beiser said Tuesday there is no truth to the allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him.
Beiser issued the written statement after a lawsuit filed Monday accused him of rape and sexual harassment of a political consultant who used to work for him.
The statement followed a Voice of San Diego story that listed other allegations of sexual misconduct levied by three other men who were active in San Diego politics.
Meanwhile, some of San Diegos political leaders, including top Democrats, are calling for Beiser to resign.
Advertisement
The lawsuit claims Beiser sexually assaulted and harassed a former campaign consultant over a period of five years. The lawsuit was filed against Beiser and his domestic partner, Dan Mock.
Beiser said in a statement Tuesday evening: There is no truth to these allegations. We believe they are politically motivated and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves.
The lawsuit said Beiser allegedly used his political influence and status to coerce the consultant into sexually abusive situations.
The consultant is referred to in the lawsuit as John Doe. The Union-Tribune is not identifying him because he said he is a victim of sexual assault.
Mock is named as a defendant in the lawsuit because he shares the home with Beiser where the alleged abuse and harassment occurred, said Dan Gilleon, Does lawyer.
Mock did not respond to a request for comment.
Beiser said that he first learned about the allegations against him on Monday. However, Doe said in an interview that he told Beiser in January that he believed Beiser had assaulted him.
Beiser has been on the San Diego Unified School Board since 2010 and recently served as board president. He has indicated he might run for city council in 2020.
In addition to the allegations made by Does lawsuit, three other men spoke to the Voice about San Diego about what they said were troubling interactions with Beiser. One, Luke Pakter, also told the Union-Tribune about an incident he said happened in May 2017.
Pakter said he was 19, going to college and working for a political action committee he was starting with a friend, when he went to Beisers house to pick up a check Beiser had agreed to write to the PAC.
Pakter said Beiser was overly flirtatious during the meeting. When Pakter was about to leave, Pakter said Beiser hugged him and touched him inappropriately.
When he pulled away, Pakter said Beiser began massaging his shoulders and suggesting Pakter return some time. Pakter said Beiser suggested he could pay him $100 or $200 to give Beiser a massage.
Pakter said he felt he couldnt confront Beiser about the alleged inappropriate behavior.
I couldnt do it because I was in this situation of him giving me money that I needed, Pakter said.
The lawsuit alleges that Beiser first met Doe when Doe was a college student interested in pursuing a career in politics. It alleges that Beiser gave Doe jobs and helped him fundraise.
Does lawsuit said he believed the help and opportunities Beiser gave him were contingent on him submitting to Beisers sexual conduct. The lawsuit claims that Beiser assaulted Doe, made unwanted advances and fired Doe after an incident in which he rebuffed Beiser.
Beiser in his statement denied the allegations of misconduct.
Later Tuesday night, the San Diego County Democratic Partys central committee voted 58 to four to ask for Beisers resignation from the school board.
It sends a strong statement that the San Diego County Democratic Party does not tolerate this type of behavior, said President Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, whether its sexual harassment, assault or abuse. And we will take swift action against any public official who uses their position or their power to abuse other people.
Rodriguez-Kennedy noted that Beiser will have a chance to make his case in court.
We are not a judicial body; what we are is a political body, he said. This is a statement of our values. We believe that someone who is accused of this will not have the faith of the public to execute their duties and . therefore should step down and address this and have their day in court.
The chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County earlier in the day called for a full and immediate investigation of the allegations.
The sheer number of, and graphic details in, the accusations against Kevin Beiser are shocking, Chairman Tony Krvaric said in a statement.
If any of these allegations are remotely true, Kevin Beiser is not fit to serve as a San Diego Unified School Board Trustee and should resign immediately.
San Diego Democrats for Equality, which also is led by Rodriguez-Kennedy, said it plans to bring forth an emergency resolution calling for Beiser to step down. It is the largest membership-based Democratic club in the county and it advocates for LGBTQ issues.
The San Diego Unified School Board has not commented on the allegations. School Board President Sharon Whitehurst-Payne did not respond to phone messages and the board did not release a statement.
School Board Trustee John Lee Evans, who said he was speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the board, said he did not know if the allegations are true.
But if it ever turned out that any school board member engaged in such behavior, resignation would be the only appropriate response, he wrote in an email. We all need to be held to a high standard and must stand up against all forms of sexual abuse.
The San Diego Unified School District declined to comment on the lawsuit because it is pending litigation.
The Sweetwater Union High School District, where Beiser is a teacher at Castle Park Middle School, said it will defer to the legal process.
Our focus, first and foremost, is on the students at Castle Park Middle School and throughout the entire Sweetwater Union High School District, Sweetwater spokesman Manny Rubio said in an email. We respect the legal process and must allow it to move forward.
Kisha Borden, president of the San Diego Unified teachers union, which endorsed Beiser for school board, said she wants the board to investigate the very serious and troubling allegations.
We know that these claims have to be taken seriously and we know that it has to be investigated, she said.
UPDATES:
1:05 p.m.: This article was updated with reactions from school district officials.
2:00 p.m.: This article was updated with reactions from additional political organizations.
6:50 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Beiser.
This article was originally published at 10:40 a.m.
A political consultant who helped Kevin Beiser get elected to the San Diego Unified School Board filed suit against Beiser Monday, alleging sexual assault and sexual harassment.
The lawsuit claims Beiser, a middle school teacher who has served on the board of the states second-largest school district for more than eight years, exploited his political power and status to coerce the consultant into sexually abusive situations over the course of five years.
Beiser, 50, could not be reached Monday evening for comment. He did not respond to telephone messages, emails or a doorbell ring at his home.
The consultant is referred to as John Doe in the lawsuit. The San Diego Union-Tribune is not identifying Doe because he said he is a victim of sexual assault.
Advertisement
The lawsuit alleges that when he first met Beiser, Doe was a college student who wanted to get into politics.
He saw Beiser as someone with political clout who could help him build his career. Beiser gave him jobs and helped him fundraise, the lawsuit said.
Doe soon came to believe that was all contingent on him submitting to Beisers sexual conduct, the lawsuit said.
Beiser has served on the San Diego Unified School Board since 2010 and was re-elected for a third term in November. His current term will expire in 2022. Last year, he was the school board president.
According to his biography on the district website, Beiser had a career in management with a Fortune 500 company before becoming an educator. The site notes that he was named San Diego Math Teacher of the Year and received a Distinguished Service Award for work with the Gifted and Talented Education Program.
Beiser also intends to run for San Diego City Council next year, according to city records. He teaches at Castle Park Middle School in the Sweetwater Union High School District, according to the schools website.
Doe said he filed suit to prevent others from being abused.
I have nothing to gain from this, he said in an interview. So for me, I just want him I want it to stop.
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
The lawsuit alleges the abuse began after Doe met Beiser in 2013 in Washington, D.C. Doe was a San Diego State University student interning in the capital, according to the lawsuit.
Beiser offered Doe a job working on his school board campaign, then invited him to a bar in D.C., saying he would be there with some friends, the lawsuit claimed.
Doe went to the bar hoping to expand his political connections and clams he soon found himself alone with Beiser.
Beiser allegedly bought several alcoholic drinks for Doe, who became drunk, the lawsuit said. Then Beiser took Doe to a hotel and sexually assaulted him, the lawsuit said.
Afterward, Doe told Beiser he felt shame and regret about what happened, according to the lawsuit. Beiser allegedly responded with more sexual advances, the suit said.
Beiser eventually offered Doe a job working on his 2014 school board campaign. According to the lawsuit, Doe told Beiser he was not sexually interested in him, and Beiser said he would keep their relationship professional.
Over the course of several months while working on the campaign, Beiser created a sexually offensive and hostile work environment for Doe, the lawsuit claimed.
The lawsuit alleges that Beiser solicited sex from Doe and touched him inappropriately, among other claims.
According to the lawsuit, this occurred at Beisers home, which served as the campaigns headquarters.
After Beiser was re-elected to the school board in 2014, Doe avoided contact with him until 2016, when Doe sought Beisers fundraising help for his own bid for City Council.
The lawsuit alleges that Beiser continued to harass Doe and suggested that since he no longer worked for him, Doe was free to engage in sexual contact with him. Doe objected but Beiser allegedly continued the abuse, the lawsuit said.
In May 2016, according to the lawsuit, Doe and his girlfriend confronted Beiser and told him not to touch him sexually again.
Doe lost the City Council election.
In 2017, Doe asked for Beisers help to fundraise for a political action committee he had created, according to the lawsuit. Doe still believed Beiser was a rising star and a fundraising powerhouse on the political scene, according to the lawsuit, and he naively held hope for a business relationship with Beiser.
In January 2018, Beiser hired Doe as a consultant for his latest school board campaign.
According to the lawsuit, a month later, after Doe told Beiser that he was in a pretty weird headspace, Beiser allegedly offered the use of his hot tub and suggested that Doe get a massage. Doe said he responded, Dont come on to me.
Beiser fired Doe two months later, the lawsuit said. Doe said Beiser told him he didnt need his services anymore.
Doe said he believes he was fired because he rejected Beiser.
When Doe came to Beisers home to get his paycheck in April, Beiser assaulted him again, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit said he suffered lost income, medical and psychological expenses and emotional distress.
Kristen Taketa
Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa
Last weeks accusations of sexual assault and sexual harassment against San Diego Unified Trustee Kevin Beiser presented another #MeToo story, with allegations of a man wielding power and status to carry out abuse.
But experts say this case also has some less common aspects, in part because the alleged victims are men.
Men are less likely to be sexually assaulted or abused than women, experts said, but it happens more often than most people know. A study commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control found that nearly a quarter of all men experience unwanted sexual contact, coercion or rape in their lifetimes.
In this case, four San Diego men who were active in politics recently accused Beiser of sexual abuse and harassment, ranging from unwanted sexual touching to rape.
Advertisement
One of them filed a civil lawsuit against Beiser Monday, saying that Beiser raped, sexually abused and harassed him over the five years they worked together. That man is referred to as John Doe in court documents.
Beiser has denied the allegations, saying there is no truth to them and that they are politically motivated. Beiser did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Several leading Democrats and all of Beisers fellow school board members have called for his resignation, many saying the allegations are credible and Beiser is unfit to remain in office.
The allegations have yet to play out in court.
But some experts say they line up with some common patterns of cases of alleged sexual assault and harassment, particularly when offenders exploit their material or political clout to coerce silence and submission from victims.
All four men have said they were trying to build their political careers when they first met Beiser, who is well-connected in the San Diego County Democratic Party and has served on the school board of the states second-largest school district for more than eight years.
Experts, speaking in general, not necessarily about this case, say that elevated social status and political power are effective tools for carrying out sexual abuse and getting away with it.
Taking advantage of a power differential is one of the most common tactics that predatory people use, said Robert Eckstein, a senior lecturer with the Prevention Innovations Research Center at the University of New Hampshire.
People who offend in this manner are really sophisticated in picking out people who have less power than them and have less avenues to report it and to get the help that they need.
Eckstein added that if an offender is well-liked in a community, that can lead victims to doubt themselves or doubt that the person did something wrong to them.
Power is a very effective vehicle to abuse and being successful with it, because it insulates you in a lot of ways, said Veronique Valliere, a psychologist who has testified in court about victim behavior and consulted for the military and law enforcement. Plus, the victim is very well aware of your status and credibility in the community, and so challenging that is a huge barrier to overcome.
Several of the men accusing Beiser said they were aware of Beisers status in politics when they met him.
Doe saw Beiser as a rising star in the Democratic Party and a fund-raising powerhouse, according to his lawsuit.
Another political aspirant, Patrick Macfarland, said Beiser took him under his wing and introduced him to a lot of powerful Democrats at a political event in 2017. Later that night, Macfarland said, Beiser groped him and invited him to his hotel.
Macfarland said he didnt tell many people about the incident because of Beisers status.
I kept quiet for all this time because, you know, Kevin Beiser is a powerful person of the Democratic Party, Macfarland said. He has a lot of powerful friends and, me starting out my political career, I was scared that he could do something and then thats it, Im done.
Eva Posner, a political consultant who was working for Macfarland at the time, said Friday that Macfarland told her about the incident and showed her a text message from Beiser with his hotel information.
We had several conversations afterward about what to do and how to keep Patrick from ever being alone with Mr. Besier again, Posner said, adding that she knows all four men who accused Beiser. She said they all shared their story and she has provided support.
Dan Gilleon, Does lawyer, said politics is especially conducive to sexual abuse because its all about who you know.
Theres a risk that comes with saying anything damning about a well-regarded person in a community and that prevents many victims from speaking out, Gilleon said.
If he complains, theres no fresh start, Gilleon said of his client.
Fear, shame and guilt often lead victims back to their offenders despite the prior abuse, experts say.
Does lawsuit stated that in the years after Beiser allegedly raped Doe, Doe turned to Beiser multiple times for political work and help.
Doe agreed to be Beisers campaign manager in 2014. He asked Beiser in 2016 to help him fund-raise for his own city council bid and again in 2017 for a political action committee Doe formed.
In 2018, Doe agreed to be Beisers campaign consultant again. The lawsuit said that while Beiser and Doe worked on those projects, Beiser allegedly continued abusing Doe, even though Doe objected.
Valliere said that, in general, some sexual abuse victims return to or continue to make contact with an abuser because the abuser continues to have power or influence over their life or livelihood.
It seems so superficially easy to leave when it really isnt, Valliere said.
Victims of sexual harassment and assault can feel added shame if an abuser does them a favor, she said. After accepting the benefits an offender provides, a victim often feels more guilt, Valliere said.
Theyve basically co-opted the victim into cooperating with their own offense, she said, referring generally to an abuser, because the victim then feels completely culpable. [Victims] are rewarded not only for the abuse, but the silence.
While the allegations against Beiser involve common themes of power disparity, they differ from most #MeToo scenarios in that they involved only men.
All of these dynamics that were talking about can be especially powerful for male victims because its not considered the norm, Eckstein said.
Nearly a quarter of men in the United States experienced some form of contact sexual violence, such as unwanted sexual touching, rape or coercion, in their lifetimes. That compares to 44 percent of women, according to the CDCs National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. It is based on 2015 data.
Within those numbers, nearly 18 percent of all men reported unwanted sexual contact; 2.6 percent reported being raped.
Male victims often feel a distinct kind of shame from sexual assault or harassment because of cultural stereotypes about masculinity, such as the expectation that men would be able to fight off any offenders, said Elizabeth Jeglic, a psychology professor at John Jay College.
A lot of times, men arent taken seriously because they feel that men can fight back if theyre being abused, or they should speak up, Jeglic said. Its largely dismissed as a societal issue, even though we know its been going on for a long time.
Men also are often unfamiliar with experiences of vulnerability, such as sexual assault, and they may not know how to deal with them, Valliere said.
Sexual assault is especially traumatizing if a straight male victim was assaulted by a man, Valliere added, because it can lead the victim to question why he put up with the offenders actions.
Luke Pakter said this week that in May 2017, he had gone to Beisers home to pick up a political contribution check, which was going to pay Patkers salary. He said after the meeting, on his way out, Beiser touched him inappropriately in a lingering embrace and offered him money for a massage.
Pakter, who was 19 at the time, said he felt he couldnt confront Beiser about his behavior, so he tried to be polite and non-committal.
Later, he said, he felt emasculated by the experience. Pakter said he had a girlfriend at the time but didnt tell her about it.
It felt like this situation where I was not being able to fight back, he said.
Staff writer Morgan Cook contributed to this report.
Kristen Taketa
Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa
French English
Press contact:
Priyanka Roy
Tel.: +91 900 454 1119
Email: priyanka.a.roy@capgemini.com
Capgemini research shows modest AI implementation progress in the automotive sector
Uptake on large scale AI projects stalls, however research shows successful adoption can add millions to operating profit
Paris, March 26, 2019 A new study from the Capgemini Research Institute has found that just 10% of major automotive companies are implementing artificial intelligence1 (AI) projects at scale, with many falling short of an opportunity that could increase operating profit by up to 16%. The research also shows that fewer automotive companies are implementing AI than was the case in 2017, despite the cost, quality and productivity advantages, many report it delivering.
The Accelerating Automotives AI Transformation: How driving AI enterprise-wide can turbo-charge organizational value study surveyed 500 executives from large automotive companies in eight countries, building on a comparable study from 2017, to establish recent trends in AI investment and deployment. The research highlighted the following potential reasons for the modest progress in relation to AI implementation:
The roadblocks to technology transformation are still significant, such as legacy IT systems, accuracy and data concerns, and lack of skills.
The hype and high expectations that initially came with AI may have turned into a more measured and pragmatic view as companies are confronted with the reality of implementation.
Key findings include:
Scaling of AI has seen a slow growth: Since 2017, the number of automotive companies that have successfully scaled AI implementation has increased only marginally (from 7% to 10%). However, more significant was the increase in companies not using AI at all (from 26% to 39%). According to the report, just 26% of companies are now piloting AI projects (down from 41% in 2017). This is maybe due to companies finding it harder to realize a desired return on investment. The results also reveal a significant regional disparity, with 25% of US firms delivering AI at scale, compared to 9% in China (note, this is a significant increase from 5% to 9%), 8% in France, 5% in Italy and 2% in India.
Automotive organizations can drive significant reward from scaled AI: The modest progress in implementing AI projects at scale represents a major missed opportunity for the industry. Modelling in the report, based on one typical Top 50 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), estimates that delivering AI at scale could achieve increases in operating profit ranging from 5% (or $232m) based on conservative estimates, to 16% (or $764m) in an optimistic scenario.
With AI-empowered visual inspection we have sensibly reduced the ratio of false positives with respect to the previous systems, said Demetrio Aiello, head of the AI & Robotics Labs at Continental. I am very confident that if we can deploy AI to its fullest potential it would have an impact on performance equivalent to almost doubling our capacity today.
AI is seen more as a job-creator than a job-replacer: The report showed that the industry has become more positive about AIs job-creation potential - 100% of executives say that AI is creating new job roles, up from 84% in 2017.
Where AI is being deployed, it is achieving results: The survey found a consistent story of AI delivering benefits across every automotive business function. On average, it delivered a 16% increase in productivity across Research and Development (R&D), operational efficiency improvements of 15% in the supply chain and 16% in manufacturing/operations, reduced direct costs of 14% in customer experience and 17% in IT, and reduced time to market by 15% in R&D and 13% in marketing/sales.
Additionally, a number of successful AI projects are identified and detailed in the research report. One example is Continental generating 5,000 miles of vehicle test data an hour through an AI-powered simulation, compared to 6,500 miles a month it was getting through physical test driving.
Others include:
Volkswagen accurately modeling vehicle sales across 250 auto models in 120 countries using machine learning 2
Mercedes-Benz testing an AI-recognition system for parcel delivery that can reduce vehicle loading time by 15 percent3
Markus Winkler, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Automotive at Capgemini concludes, These findings show that the progress of AI in the automotive industry has hit a speedbump. Some companies are enjoying considerable success, but others have struggled to focus on the most effective use cases, vehicle manufacturers need to start seeing AI not as a standalone opportunity, but as a strategic capability required to shape the future which they must organize investment, talent and governance around.
He continues, As this research shows, AI can deliver a significant dividend for every automotive business, but only if it is implemented at scale. For AI to succeed, organizations will need to invest in the right skills, achieve the requisite quality of data, and have a management structure that provides both direction and executive support.
To deliver at scale, companies must invest, upskill and create infrastructure: The report also examined the behaviors of the companies in the survey who have had the most success implementing AI at scale (Scale Champions). It found they had typically,
invested much more in AI (more than $200m a year for 86% of Champions),
focused hiring and training efforts on AI skills (32% said hiring was relevant to their AI strategy, versus 14% of others; 25% said they proactively upskilled and re-skilled current employees, compared to 8% of others); and
created a clear governance structure to prioritize and promote AI, with measures including a central steering to govern AI investment, and a cross-functional team of tech, business and operations experts.
Research Methodology
The Capgemini Research Institute conducted a primary survey of 500 automotive executives from large automotive organizations in eight countries: China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. The research team then conducted in-depth interviews with a number of industry experts and entrepreneurs.
The report can be downloaded here .
About Capgemini
A global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation, Capgemini is at the forefront of innovation to address the entire breadth of clients opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and platforms. Building on its strong 50-year heritage and deep industry-specific expertise, Capgemini enables organizations to realize their business ambitions through an array of services from strategy to operations. Capgemini is driven by the conviction that the business value of technology comes from and through people. It is a multicultural company of over 200,000 team members in more than 40 countries. The Group reported 2018 global revenues of EUR 13.2 billion.
Visit us at www.capgemini.com . People matter, results count.
About the Capgemini Research Institute
The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgeminis in-house research center. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was recently ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts.
Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/
1 Artificial intelligence (AI) is a collective term for the capabilities shown by learning systems that are perceived by humans as representing intelligence. Today, typical AI capabilities include speech, image and video recognition, autonomous objects, natural language processing, conversational agents, prescriptive modeling, augmented creativity, smart automation, advanced simulation, as well as complex analytics and predictions.
2 Automotive World, VW says OK to AI, March 2018
3 Daimler website, Vans as motherships, September 2018
Attachment
The University of San Diego has raised its annual tuition above the $50,000 level for the first time, placing the campus among a relatively small number of private liberal arts schools nationwide who charge at least that much money.
USD will charge $50,450 in tuition and fees during the 2019-20 academic year, a $1,700 increase over the current year. If you add room, board and related expenses, a full year at USD will cost $67,211. Thats an increase of $2,282 over this year.
The price increase places USD among the roughly 100 private colleges and universities nationally that charge a minimum of $50,000 in tuition. The schools include such large research universities as the University of Southern California, and small campuses, including Pomona and Pitzer colleges.
USDs new $50,450 tuition figure represents the so-called sticker price. The actual cost, for most students, is significantly less after financial aid and scholarships are factored in.
Advertisement
Even so, USD has been concerned about tuition, which has recently risen about 3 percent at private schools. The university said last fall that it would attempt to reduce operating expenses by at least $15 million over the next five years so that it could avoid making big tuition hikes.
Tuition is only part of the story, said Lissette Martinez, a USD spokeswoman Due to strong growth in our endowment and judicious cost control measures, USD students graduate with less debt than the national average.
The total cost of attendance at USD for the most recent academic year is the lowest among our Catholic peer institutions. The average undergraduate student receives nearly $38,000 in financial assistance per year.
The $50,000 mark needs to be put into perspective, say analysts.
$50,000 is not a magic threshhold, especially since including the price of room, board, and other expenses, the cost had already been close to $65,000, said Lynn Reaser, an economist at Point Loma Nazarene University.
It is also comparable to the tuition charged by a number of other prominent private colleges and universities. Many lower-income students are able to access loans and grants, while demand from foreign students remains strong.
Reaser is on the faculty of Point Loma Nazarene University, a private school that currently charges $35,100 in tuition and fees. The school hasnt announced if an increase is imminent.
The University of California system announced last week that it will not raise tuition on California students this fall. However, the system has proposed raising non-resident tuition by $762, pushing it to $29,754.
The change would have a significant impact at UC San Diego, where about 23 percent of the enrollment is composed of foreign students. The campus has just under 8,800 international students, more than half whom as from China. They pay roughly twice what a California resident lays out for tuition and fees.
The California State University system which includes campuses in San Diego and San Marcos has said it does not plan to increase tuition this fall.
ICYMI
Soaring growth stirs pride, promise at Cal State San Marcos
Huge surge in foreign students helps UC San Diego diversify and pay the bills
Heavy recruiting failed to get UCSD on Forbes list of best schools for foreign students
Federal officials and local community partners will pour almost $70 million into programs to improve education and socio-economic outcomes for youth in Barrio Logan, Logan Heights and San Ysidro.
The programs will include education for new parents, home visits for newborns, tutoring, anti-bullying programs, attendance intervention specialists, after-school programs and college preparation, among others.
A five-year, $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education and $39 million in matching funds from local community partners will fund the new San Diego Promise Neighborhood that encompasses about 13,000 family households in those three areas.
The idea of the Promise Neighborhood, which was inspired by the Harlem Childrens Zone in New York, is to coordinate programs that support all aspects of a neighborhood, including education, health and jobs, and span all chapters of childrens lives, from birth to post-college graduation.
Advertisement
This grant allows a sustained community focus to support our children no matter what theyre experiencing, San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten said at a press conference Wednesday at Perkins K-8, which is one of five schools that will participate in the Promise programs. The other four are San Ysidro High School, San Ysidro Middle, Smythe Elementary and the Logan Memorial Educational Complex.
South Bay Community Services, which is spearheading the Promise Neighborhood, surveyed families in the three areas and found that 80 percent of those families did not have an adult who completed college.
Meanwhile, about half the areas children live in poverty and many are English language learners, according to the nonprofit. Almost three-quarters of area children under age 6 are not attending preschool or other early learning programs.
San Diego County is rare in that this is will be its second Promise Neighborhood, officials said. The other is the Chula Vista Promise Neighborhood in Castle Park, a neighborhood of about 6,700 people with high rates of unemployment and poverty.
The nonprofit has reported improved outcomes for children in Castle Park since the Promise Neighborhood was formed there.
Nearly all of preschool-age children who participated in the Promise Neighborhood programs were prepared for kindergarten last year, up from 77 percent in 2014, according to South Bay Community Services. More young children were also enrolled in early learning programs.
Elementary students test scores increased by an average of 4 percent in English and 9 percent in math over a three-year period, according to South Bay Community Services. Nearly all high school students enrolled in college.
The Chula Vista Promise Neighborhood began with about $60 million of grant money and matching funding.
Kristen Taketa
Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa
About a thousand students will likely be forced to find a new school this fall after the State Board of Education declined to renew the charters for the four Thrive charter schools.
The San Diego-based charter school network needed to get its charter renewed from the state to continue operating next school year, after the San Diego Unified School Board voted unanimously last year to deny Thrives renewal.
Charter schools are independently-run public schools, but their charters are licenses to operate which must be renewed every five years by the school district where theyre located. If not they can appeal to the State Board of Education.
The State Board voted 4-to-2 Thursday to deny Thrives renewal, largely because of Thrives low state test scores. Linda Darling-Hammond, the state board president, was the lone abstention.
Advertisement
The vote to non-renew technically did not carry because the state board needs six votes to pass any motion, according to state law. The State Board currently has three vacancies and one board member was not present for Thursdays votes.
Next, the State Board considered approving Thrives renewal under the conditions that Thrive limit its enrollment; receive an independent evaluation of its academics, staff and leadership, and develop an improvement plan.
But that motion only got a 2-to-4 vote, so it did not go through either.
Therefore, because the State Board failed to take any action Thursday, San Diego Unifieds decision stands, meaning Thrives charter will not be renewed and the school will likely close at the end of this school year.
Nicole Assisi, founder and CEO of Thrive, said in a statement that she is beyond disappointed that the State Board chose not to listen to the testimony of Thrives families, but she is considering options that would allow Thrive to continue educating its students. She would not yet elaborate on what those options are.
I am absolutely devastated by todays decision but am also more determined than ever to ensure that every one of our nearly 1,000 students continues on the positive trajectory they have started, Assisi said.
Thrive can choose to sue about the denial of its renewal, because the State Board did not take any action, according to a California Department of Education official.
Some state board members said they believe Thrive has been serving a need for many students, but the state law ties their hands.
Darling-Hammond, a nationally recognized expert in education equity, said the Thrive renewal process has revealed flaws in the way Californias law requires the State Board and school districts to evaluate charter schools.
We need to develop new law and process. We have a very narrow criterion, Darling-Hammond said.
I am coming away with all of those lessons and a heart full of concern, she said, before abstaining from the vote to deny Thrives renewal.
The state education department had advised the State Board to deny Thrives charter because Thrives state test scores have declined every year since it opened in 2014. Last year, only 31 percent of Thrive students who took state tests met or exceeded state standards in English, while 19 percent did so in math.
But Thrives supporters say its unfair to judge Thrive primarily on those scores, because the school network has added hundreds of new students each year, most of whom came to Thrive already years behind their peers in academics because they had been failed by other public schools.
Thrive supporters also say the state testing numbers represent the performance of only about 13 percent of Thrives students, since only students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 take state tests.
Thrive serves kindergarten through 11th grade in four campuses in San Diego.
Thrives internal student data, based on alternative standardized tests, show academic growth for all of its student groups, Assisi said.
Supporters argued that Thrive is effectively being punished for being a desirable alternative to other public schools, especially with students who have been disadvantaged by their old schools.
Dozens of parents, teachers and students spoke in support of Thrive. Many of the parents reported that their children were bullied or written off by teachers at other public schools before coming to Thrive, where they love school.
I wish that the Board of Education would realize that, when you have 1,000 people not choose their local public school, listen to the thousand people, Thrive parent Juan Pablo Pardo-Guerra said.
Its been absolutely disheartening. We feel powerless, because I think that the statistics arent probably the whole story.
Supporters also pointed out that 19 district and charter schools within San Diego Unifieds boundaries have been officially identified by the state as low-performing. Thrive is not one of them.
The State Board members said they were sympathetic to the parents and students who spoke of how much Thrive has helped them. But state law says charter schools must, above all, be evaluated based on how well they perform on state tests compared to similar public schools.
This is emotional. This is really hard. It sounds to me like Thrive is meeting the needs of kids that werent met in other places, State Board Member Ilene Straus said.
And yet, I am really concerned about what we are legally required to do under the current law with the multiple measures. I think were faced with a real dilemma with the guidelines that are currently before us.
Darling-Hammond said California needs to change its laws so that public schools are evaluated more holistically and based on factors other than just state test scores, such as students social-emotional health.
We need better ways to look at growth and gains, she said.
Since the fall, an Oakland-based group that has been critical of charter schools, In the Public Interest, and the San Diego Unified teachers union have led a push to close Thrive, where teachers are not unionized.
San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten traveled to Sacramento Thursday to speak against Thrives renewal.
Thrive has failed to support our most vulnerable students, Marten told the State Board. an Diego Unified has been commended for supporting Hispanic and African-American students
Marten said the district will take extraordinary steps to help Thrive parents enroll at a district school, including giving them priority placement in schools with open seats.
But several Thrive parents said they have vowed to avoid San Diego Unified district schools because of previous bad experiences there.
Pardo-Guerra said the charter schools he is interested in have long waiting lists and the high-performing, high-demand charter schools dont have as diverse a student body as Thrive.
Peri Lynn Turnbull, a Thrive parent and president of the Thrive Education Foundation, said she is not sure where she else besides Thrive she will enroll her son, Jacob, an eighth-grader who has autism.
When Jacob first started attending Thrive, he was three years behind his peers,Turnbull said. Turnbull said she feared he might never attend college or graduate high school, because he was struggling academically and socially.
Now, Jacob is testing on grade level, she said, which means his teachers helped him accomplish six years of learning in three years. He has been elected school president, Turnbull said, and is infinitely better at socializing with his peers, keeping relationships and handling his emotions.
Its saved Jacobs life. We really believe it. We dont think he wouldve made it if he went to another school, Turnbull said of Thrive.
What troubles Turnbull, she said, is the idea that her bringing Jacob who was initially a failing student to Thrive likely hurt the schools scores. If parents like her had brought their other high-performing children, it could have been a different story, Turnbull said.
Its his scores that are hurting the renewal process, which is mortifying because [Thrive] did everything we asked of them, Turnbull said. All the parents like me, we brought a child to the school who was struggling.
The State Board generally has followed the education departments recommendations and has mostly voted in charter schools favor. The board has approved the establishment or renewal of 15 charter school petitions since January 2018, according to state board meeting minutes. It has denied only five.
Kristen Taketa
Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa
UC San Diego Police are investigating three generalized threats of violence against the university that were written on restroom doors in Geisel Library, according to Jeff Gattas, chief of staff to Chancellor Pradeep Khosla.
The threats come during final exams for the winter quarter, one of the busiest periods of the year for the library.
Yesterday evening and this afternoon, UCSD Police were investigating threats written on the inside of three womens restroom doors, Gatass said. The University takes every threat extremely seriously and UCSD Police have responded and are investigating.
The postings are generalized and not specific. UCSD has interviewed potential witnesses and is reviewing video in an attempt to identify the person or persons responsible. Once found, the university will seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
Advertisement
People with information should contact UCSD Police at 858-534-4357 or e-mail detective@ucsd.edu.
On Wednesday, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher will ask his colleagues to kill current plans to build condominiums on an out-of-the-way piece of government property in Hillcrest and instead build a new structure that could house much-needed behavioral health services.
Located on Third Avenue on a spit of land that forms the jagged edge of the bluff that overlooks Mission Valley, the dilapidated property has been vacant for a decade but once housed abused and neglected children taken from their homes by the county.
The property is next door to a recently-rebuilt emergency services unit set up to screen youth coping with behavioral health problems and is one of several parcels along the narrow road that runs along a ridgeline that ends at the former property of San Diego Hospice.
To the east and west, canyons plunge to the floor of the valley, isolating the acreage from much of the surrounding neighborhood and providing views west across Mission Bay to the Pacific Ocean and east across Highway 163 to University Heights.
Advertisement
The view makes the countys current plan to lease the ground to a developer for a condo project seem like the most lucrative option. But Fletcher, whose district includes most of the City of San Diego, makes the case that housing is not the best use of land situated within walking distance of UC San Diego Medical Center and Scripps Mercy Hospital, facilities that struggle to keep up with patient demand for psychiatric services.
Fletcher noted that the redevelopment plan for the property currently does not call for affordable housing and argues that it should serve a public purpose.
Its a public asset, and I believe the biggest public policy challenge we face in San Diego is not a shortage of luxury condos; its a shortage of mental health treatment facilities, Fletcher said.
At Wednesdays regularly scheduled supervisors meeting, Fletcher will ask for a vote to discard the current request for private development proposals and instead direct staff to conduct a feasibility study that would examine the viability of various behavioral health uses including short-term crisis stabilization, inpatient treatment, rehabilitation and outpatient services.
Taking this step, he said, would show many that the county is doing more than paying lip service to the current need for more robust psychiatric services.
If we can re-purpose this land for this purpose it sends a message that were really serous about tackling this issue, Fletcher said.
The idea got immediate applause from a powerful neighbor. Patricia Maysent, chief executive officer of UC San Diego Health, said Friday that she supports the proposed change in direction.
I think the location is brilliant, Maysent said. If we could potentially put behavioral health services there, it would be fantastic because its contiguous to our campus in Hillcrest, and its close to Mercy. Because of the way that land is situated, its kind of its own little space.
In an email, board chair Dianne Jacob said the idea fits with the countys broader efforts to radically transform and strengthen the delivery of behavioral health services across the entire region.
I look forward to the feasibility study at this location. A hub would be an important step in making sure those with mental health challenges and related issues get the coordinated care they so badly need, Jacob said.
The county currently operates a behavioral health screening facility for children on an adjacent property. Its unclear whether the residents living in a large apartment complex to the west have any objections to Fletchers proposed switch to behavioral health. Likewise, redevelopment is also planned for the San Diego Hospice property closer to the edge of the bluff.
The hearing will take place during the supervisors meeting at 1600 Pacific Highway Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Health Playlist On Now Video: Why aren't Americans getting flu shots? 0:37 On Now Video: Leaders urge public to help extinguish hepatitis outbreak On Now San Diego starts cleansing sidewalks, streets to combat hepatitis A On Now Video: Scripps to shutter its hospice service On Now Video: Scripps La Jolla hospitals nab top local spot in annual hospital rankings On Now Video: Does a parent's Alzheimer's doom their children? On Now Video: Vaccine can prevent human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer 0:31 On Now 23 local doctors have already faced state discipline in 2017 0:48 On Now EpiPen recall expands On Now Kids can add years to your life
paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1850
Twitter: @paulsisson
In 1901 a cornerstone was laid for the citys first public library building at Eighth Avenue and E Street downtown. The $60,000 building made possible by a grant from industrialist Andrew Carnegie lasted 50 years before it was demolished in June 1952.
From The Evening Tribune,Tuesday, March 19, 1901:
THE CORNER STONE LAID
Impressive Exercises at Library Building
THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS
Grand Master J.A. Forshay Conducts the Ceremonies in Behalf of the Grand Lodge of Masons Philip Morse President of the Day Judge M.A. Luce Grand Orator Addresses by Mrs. Lydia M. Horton Music by Church Choir Andrew Carnegies Gift Extolled
Advertisement
Several thousand people gathered this morning at the northeast corner of Tenth and E streets to witness the impressive ceremonies attendant upon laying the corner stone of the Carnegie public library building under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Masons. The exercises began at ten oclock and a few minutes before that hour some two hundred members of the Grand Lodge and members of the local lodges marched to the library site from their Temple on H street. The procession was led by Grand Master J.A. Foshay of San Francisco, and Grand Standard Bearer E.J. Louis, the former having charge of the exercises in behalf of the Grand Lodge. The platform from where the exercises were conducted was close to the southwest corner of the building where the corner stone was put in position and close by on a raised platform was the choir under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. T.E. Rowan which rendered the following musical numbers as the exercises progressed. The Heavens Are Declaring; Hail,Masonry; Corn, Wine and Oil Weve Poured Upon Our Brethrens Hopethe Corner Stone; Place We Now the Corner Stone.
Philip Morse officiated as president of the day, and as an opening to the exercises read the following dispatch: Cordial congratulations to the City of San Diego. Signed Andrew Carnegie. On the invitation of President Morse, Mrs. Lydia M. Horton then delivered an address with is published in full later in this article.
MRS HORTONS ADDRESS
I am glad to have the opportunity to speak to you my friends and neighbors, with whom and for whom it has been my pleasure to work in forwarding this library movement, which has so far developed that we are ready today to lay the corner stone of our building, carrying out an old custom which is full of significance.
Let us hope that it will bind not only the walls of our building together, but unite us as a people in the unselfish desire for the common good and our realization of the common need. It is this desire, this realization, which prompts Mr. Carnegies splendid gifts to humanity, believing as he does, with Lowell, that the best part of a mans education is that which he gives himself. This is the opportunity our public libraries furnish, the means for self education, tracing for the footprints of the migratory races who swarmed over Europe and the last review of the civilization of the twentieth century; the earliest thought in the history of science, and the latest theories of Spencer, Marconi and Edison, the folk-songs of the beginnings of literature and the poems of Kipling.
The desire for education is constantly growing. This is the age of books. We are seeking the best methods of study; the most modern appliances, we want to have our libraries properly housed, for safety, convenient handling and quiet perusal...
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.
In March 1965 astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young flew orbited the earth three times in the first manned Gemini mission.
While in space, Grissom fired thruster rockets to test the crafts maneuverability. It was the first time a spacecraft had been piloted by its own crew.
From The San Diego Union, Wednesday, March 24, 1965:
Gemini Maneuvers Open New Era
Astronauts Safe On Carrier After 3-Orbit Success
By Robert Zimmerman, The San Diego Unions Military Writer
Advertisement
CAPE KENNEDY Astronauts Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom and John Young flew the worlds first maneuverable space craft on a successful three-orbit mission yesterday, but had to hitch a ride in a helicopter for the last few miles of the trip.
Grissom, as the command pilot, put the two-seat Gemini spacecraft through a series of flight maneuvers that brought in a new era in space flight.
The only flaw in an otherwise perfect flight came when the spacecraftnicknamed Molly Brown splashed down in the Atlantic ocean four hours and 54 minutes after a Titan 2 booster lifted it into orbit from Cape Kennedy.
The spacecraft came down nearly 50 miles from where it was supposed to.
Grissom and Young made a quick change in their plans, which called for them to stay inside their capsule until it was hoisted to the deck of the carrier Intrepid.
Rather than wait about two hours for the Intrepid to arrive, they got out of their space suits, opened the hatches of the capsule and caught a ride in a Navy helicopter.
IN UNDERWEAR
The astronauts who had just made history exited from the spacecraft in their long underwear. They were hoisted in a sling aboard an SH-3A Sea King helicopter and flown to the carrier.
The Intrepid carried out the final step of the Gemini mission, steaming toward the empty, but still floating spacecraft and retrieving it from the sea.
Doctors on board the aircraft carrier said both pilots appeared to be in excellent condition.
President Johnson immediately telephoned his congratulations, and Grissom told the President: It was a thrilling and wonderful flight.
OH BOY, YOUNG CRIES
Oh boy, Young said to the President by radiophone from the carrier. The only thing wrong with it was it didnt last long enough.
Well try to work that out in the days ahead, Mr. Johnson said.
Grissom, 39, and Young, 34, will remain on the Intrepid until tomorrow for medical examinations, debriefings on details of the flight and rest.
The astronauts are scheduled to be flown off the carrier tomorrow to return to the space center here, where they started their flight. They will appear at a press conference at Cocoa Beach, Fla., at 7 p.m. tomorrow and will go to Washington Friday for a ceremony at the White House.
Only twice during the tense hours a Cape Kennedy yesterday did doubts arise that something might be going wrong in the maiden flight of the Gemini spacecraft.
Fears of a possible postponement of the flight came when the pre-launching countdown was halted 35 minutes before the scheduled lift-off. Instruments in the launching control center showed that a leak had developed in a valve in the Titan booster. A member of the launching crew fixed the leak with one twist of a wrench, and the countdown resumed.
The other uncertain moments came when the Gemini spacecraft drifting down by parachute after re-entry from space hit the water out of sight of any ships and planes in the recovery area.
Voice communication was lost for a time between the spacecraft and the Intrepid. There was a long wait it seemed too long before word came to Cape Kennedy that the bell-shaped spacecraft had been sighted by a search plane and that Navy frogmen had placed a floating collar around it.
At a press briefing after completion of the mission, spokesmen for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration were obviously elated. They pronounced it a very clean flight and a job well done.
STUDIES NEEDED
Christopher Kraft Jr., director of the mission, said it would require some studies of recorded information and further reports from Grissom to determine exactly why the re-entry and landing maneuver brought the spacecraft down so far from its target area. He also said there was no immediate explanation for why the spacecrafts attitude tended to drift toward the left during the flight. He pointed out, however, that Grissom had no difficulty in keeping the drift corrected.
The powerful engines of the booster a modified Titan missile ignited at 9:24 a.m. (EST) and sent rolling puffs of reddish smoke out the exhaust vent of launch pad No. 19. Within seconds the engines roared into life with 430,000 pounds of thrust pounding behind.
INTO ORBIT
The Titan rose in what veteran rocket-watchers here described as a just beautiful launching. Roaring like a fast freight and spitting a rosy-tinged tongue of bright flame from its tail, it pushed into the blue sky.
Yeah man! Grissom was heard to say as the rocket accelerated.
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.
Three months into the Department of Homeland Securitys new program that requires asylum-seeking migrants wait in Mexico until their U.S. immigration hearings, experts said Friday the policy may be encouraging illegal border crossings.
This past week, migrants rushed the border at least four times at Playas de Tijuana, many of them claiming they were motivated by not wanting to wait in Mexico.
A CBP official said Friday migrants who cross the border illegally are not yet being returned to Mexico while they seek asylum.
Instead, they are being processed by CBP and then taken into custody, where they eventually get to wait in the United States, sometimes up to three or four years until their asylum hearings before an American immigration judge.
Advertisement
Why would I spend three years here in Tijuana when I could be in the United States? asked Jeydi Fuentes Lopez Montes, a 29-year-old mother from Honduras traveling with a 1-year-old baby. I know there is work here in Tijuana, but isnt the work better over there?
Fuentes said she came to Tijuana originally planning to wait in line to ask for asylum, but she said when she learned the list to get an initial appointment with U.S. officials could take several months, she decided to try to find another way into the country.
Legal experts also say a judge is not allowed to deny a persons asylum request based solely on whether they entered the country legally or illegally.
Samuel Rodriguez Guzman from El Salvador arrived in Tijuana last week. He said he came to the beach on Thursday after hearing about more people successfully entering the country illegally, and seeing people get through the border infrastructure at Playas on the news.
Im trying whatever way I can to immigrate to the United States, said Rodriguez. I had problems with the gangs in my country and my father did too. They want to kill us. When we get there to the United States, they have to respect our human rights to ask for asylum, right?
Alan Bersin, the former commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection said there is no coordinated system between the Mexican government and the U.S. to accept large numbers of migrants returned to Tijuana.
So far, fewer than 300 people have been returned to Mexico under the program, named the Migrant Protection Protocols.
Its an incompetent program currently, said Bersin, adding that people who cross illegally should be returned to Mexico in the same numbers as those who wait for months in line for their turn to cross legally.
This policy has a chance of succeeding as a deterrent, he said. But (Mexican President Andres Manuel) Lopez-Obrador is trying to avoid a fight with Trump so he says yes to everything but does nothing.
This week and last week migrants have been climbing through holes in border fencing at Playas or climbing over the 15-foot high fence.
Last Wednesday, on March 13, some people slipped through a hole in the border fencing near the beach.
One of the men, who was seen in a Union-Tribune video running down the beach carrying a small child while a border agent chased after him, provided updates via WhatsApp to several people in his group and some witnesses. He said he was not apprehended and made it to Los Angeles.
Last Thursday, a group of about 60 people who crossed included men, women and children who said they were mostly from Honduras. CBP spokesman Ralph DeSio said 52 people from that group were arrested.
Border officials also arrested 23 people from Honduras and one from Guatemala on Tuesday after they scaled the fence near the beach.
Then Thursday, activity at the border intensified as border agents and migrants clashed.
Two migrants and several witnesses said agents shot pepper spray across the fence and into their eyes. During the incident, one man climbed the fence and dropped into the U.S. before he was detained by border agents.
DeSio said CBP is currently averaging 167 arrests per day throughout the San Diego County area of responsibility, which stretches east to past Jacumba.
Every arrest in San Diego Sector is investigated. Every breach in San Diego County is a concern whether its near Imperial Beach or in Jacumba, DeSio said in a written statement. Compromises in our fence are common due to our aging infrastructure. Efforts are made to repair breaches or compromises in a timely manner.
On Friday, another hole big enough for people to climb through was visible at the base of the border fence at Playas, and migrants said they planned to return Saturday and try to climb through again.
Really, were tired of fighting because we just want to cross and ask for asylum inside (the United States.) Were not rude. We are allowed to come here and ask for asylum, said Jose Reinera, a Honduran migrant who climbed up on top of the fence at Las Playas on Thursday.
Reinera turned back and climbed back down on the Mexican side of the border when he realized his wife and kids would not be able to make the climb, he said.
Dutch English
Amsterdam/'s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, 26 March 2019
In the period from 19 March 2019 until 25 March 2019 Van Lanschot Kempen has repurchased 23,229 of its own shares (depositary receipts for Class A ordinary shares). The shares were repurchased at an average price of 21.14 per share for a total amount of 491,030.
These repurchases are part of the share buy-back programme for at most 370,000 of own shares, which was announced on 21 February 2019. The total number of shares repurchased to date is 84,138.
More information, including a detailed overview of the repurchase transactions under this programme, is available on www.vanlanschotkempen.com/sharebuyback.
Media Relations: +31 20 354 45 85; mediarelations@vanlanschotkempen.com
Investor Relations: +31 20 354 45 90; investorrelations@vanlanschotkempen.com
About Van Lanschot Kempen
Van Lanschot Kempen, a wealth manager operating under the Van Lanschot, Evi and Kempen brand names, is active in Private Banking, Asset Management and Merchant Banking, with the aim of preserving and creating wealth for its clients. Van Lanschot Kempen, listed at Euronext Amsterdam, is the Netherlands' oldest independent financial services company with a history dating back to 1737.
vanlanschotkempen.com
Disclaimer
This document does not constitute an offer or solicitation for the sale, purchase or acquisition in any other way of or subscription to any financial instrument and is not an opinion or a recommendation to perform or refrain from performing any action.
This document is a translation of the Dutch original and is provided as a courtesy only. In the event of any disparities, the Dutch version will prevail.
A Texas flight attendant who was enrolled in the governments program for Dreamers flew to Mexico for work and was stopped by immigration authorities who forced her to spend more than a month in detention, her attorney said.
Selene Saavedra Roman, 28, who immigrated illegally to the U.S. as a child, was released Friday from a detention center in Conroe, Texas, according to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Being released is an indescribable feeling, she said through a spokesman. I cried and hugged my husband and never wanted to let go. I am thankful and grateful for the amazing people that came to fight for me, and it fills my heart. Thank you to everyone that has supported. I am just so happy to have my freedom back.
Originally from Peru and married to an American citizen, she raised concerns with Mesa Airlines about her immigration status after being assigned to an international flight, attorney Belinda Arroyo said.
Advertisement
The airline assured her she would be fine, but she was stopped by U.S. authorities on Feb. 12, when she returned to Houston, and was sent to detention, where she remained for more than five weeks, Arroyo said.
Soon after her lawyer, her husband, the airline and a flight attendants group publicly demanded her release, Saavedra Roman called to tell her husband she was getting out.
She was crying and she said, Please come get me, her husband, David Watkins, told reporters.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency was looking into her status. Earlier, the agency said Saavedra Roman did not have a valid document to enter the country and was being detained while going through immigration court proceedings.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services the agency that oversees the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA declined to discuss the case. But the agency says on its website that participants who travel outside the country without a special document allowing them to do so are no longer covered by the program.
The agency no longer issues the document to the programs enrollees, according to the website.
People enrolled in the program are commonly referred to as Dreamers, based on never-passed proposals in Congress called the DREAM Act.
The Trump administration sought to end the Obama-era program but was blocked by litigation. New applications have been halted, but renewals continue for hundreds of thousands of immigrants already enrolled.
In a joint statement with the Association of Flight Attendants, Mesa Airlines chief executive Jonathan Ornstein apologized to Saavedra Roman and asked U.S. authorities to release her, arguing that it was unfair to continually detain someone over something that is nothing more than an administrative error and a misunderstanding.
She should have never been advised that she could travel, Arroyo said. It was a big mistake.
Saavedra Roman who is scheduled to appear before an immigration judge in April attended Texas A&M University, where she met her husband.
Watkins said he was not initially worried about her assignment because they already obtained approval from Citizenship and Immigration Services to apply for her green card as the wife of an American citizen. She has no criminal record and has long paid her taxes, he said, and she checked with her employer before the trip.
Then she was detained. He could visit her only once a week and could only see her through thick glass. She sounded hopeless, he said.
I told her, Even if you get deported to Peru, Ill just go with you, he said to reporters. Regardless of whatever happens in the future, I am not giving up. I am going to keep fighting.
In a statement, the union representing Saavedra Roman and her colleagues said the event highlights the urgency of commonsense immigration reform and resolution for Americas children who are part of DACA.
Terry Wallace contributed to this report
Viking Sky cruise ship passenger Rodney Horgen can pinpoint the moment when he thought he was facing the end: when a huge wave crashed through the ships glass doors and swept his wife 30 feet across the floor.
Horgen, 62, of Minnesota, was visiting Norway on a dream pilgrimage to his ancestral homeland when the luxury cruise trip quickly turned into a nightmare.
The Viking Sky was carrying 1,373 passengers and crew, going from Norways Arctic north to the southern city of Stavanger when it had engine trouble along Norways rough, frigid western coast. Struggling in heavy seas to avoid being dashed on the rocky coast, the ship issued mayday call Saturday afternoon.
Horgan said he knew something was badly amiss Saturday when the guests on the heaving ship were all summoned to the ships muster points.
Advertisement
When the windows and door flew open and the two meters (six feet) of water swept people and tables 20 to 30 feet, that was the breaker. I said to myself, This is it, Horgen told The Associated Press. I grabbed my wife but I couldnt hold on. And she was thrown across the room. And then she got thrown back again by the wave coming back.
Photos posted on social media showed the ship listing from side to side and furniture smashing violently into the ships walls. The hands and faces of fellow passengers were cut and bleeding from the shattered glass, he said.
An experienced fisherman, Horgen said he had never experienced such rough boating conditions.
I did not have a lot of hope. I knew how cold that water was and where we were and the waves and everything. You would not last very long, he said. That was very, very frightening.
And yet, the most frightening part of the trip was yet to come.
That would be when passengers like Horgen were winched off the heaving ship by helicopter, one-by-one as winds howled around them in the dark of night, by rescue workers trying to evacuate everyone on board.
Coast guard official Emil Heggelund estimated to the VG newspaper that the ship was only 328 feet from striking rocks under the water and 2,950 feet from shore when it stopped and anchored in Hustadvika Bay so passengers could be evacuated.
Yet waves up to 26 feet high were smacking into the ship, making it impossible to evacuate anyone by boat.
Norways Joint Rescue Coordination Center stepped up, sending five helicopters in. Passenger Alexus Sheppard told the AP that people with injuries or disabilities were winched off the cruise ship first.
It was frightening at first. And when the general alarm sounded it became VERY real, she wrote in a text.
Janet Jacob, among the first group of passengers evacuated to the nearby town of Molde, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that the winds felt like a tornado and prompted her to start praying for everyone on the ship.
I was afraid. Ive never experienced anything so scary, she said.
We saw two people taken off by stretcher, passenger Dereck Brown told Norwegian newspaper Romsdal Budstikke. People were alarmed. Many were frightened but they were calm.
Viking Ocean Cruises, the company that owns and operates the ship, said 20 people were injured as a result of this incident, and they are all receiving care at the relevant medical centers in Norway, with some already having been discharged.
The airlift evacuation went all through the night and into Sunday morning, slowing for a bit when two of the five rescue helicopters had to be diverted to save nine crewmembers from a nearby ailing cargo ship.
In all, 479 passengers were airlifted to land by helicopters, leaving 436 passengers and 458 crew members onboard, the company said, when the Viking Skys captain decided on a new plan, the company said.
Einar Knudsen from Norways Joint Rescue Coordination Center said the airlift was halted when the Viking Skys captain decided before noon Sunday to try to bring the cruise ship to the nearby port of Molde on its own engines.
The conditions were good enough for the captain to have no more evacuations, Knudsen told the AP.
Three of the ships four engines were working as of Sunday morning, the center said, so a tug boat and two other vessels assisted the Viking Sky as it slowly headed to Molde under its own power. It finally arrived at the port late Sunday afternoon and its remaining passengers and crew were taken off.
The Viking Sky was a relatively new ship, delivered in 2017 to operator Viking Ocean Cruises.
It had been visiting the Norwegian towns and cities of Narvik, Alta, Tromso, Bodo before its scheduled arrival Tuesday in the British port of Tilbury on the River Thames. The passengers mostly were an English-speaking mix of American, British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian citizens.
Viking Cruises chairman Torstein Hagen praised the rescue operation by Norwegian authorities and the actions of the vessels crew.
He told Norways VG newspaper that the events surrounding the Viking Sky were some of the worst I have been involved in, but now it looks like its going well in the end and that weve been lucky.
Shipping tycoon Hagen is one of Norways richest men and the founder of the Switzerland-based Viking Cruises, which that operates river and ocean cruises under two business units.
Im very proud of our crew, Hagen told VG.
When asked why the cruise ship ventured into an area known for its rough waters in the middle of a storm that had been forecast by meteorologists, Knudsen, from Norways rescue service, said it was the captains decision to proceed with the cruise.
A massive explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China with a long record of safety violations has killed at least 62 people and injured hundreds of others, 90 of them seriously.
The death toll appeared likely to rise still further, with another 28 people still listed as missing, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Saturday. Just 26 of those confirmed dead in Thursdays explosion have been identified, it said.
The blast in an industrial park in the city of Yancheng, north of Shanghai, was one of Chinas worst industrial accidents in recent years. State-run television showed crushed cars, blown-out windows and workers leaving the factory with bloodied heads.
Schools were closed and nearly 1,000 residents were moved to safety as a precaution against leaks and additional explosions, the city government said in a statement posted to its microblog.
Advertisement
The blast created a crater, and more than 900 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire that burned into the night. Windows in buildings as far as 6 kilometers (4 miles) away were blown out by the force of the blast, which caused a magnitude 2.2 seismic shock.
The cause of the blast was under investigation, and people responsible for operations at the plant have been placed under control, Xinhua said. It wasnt clear whether anyone had been formally arrested.
Drains and waterways running through and from the plant complex have been blocked to prevent toxic chemicals from running into the nearby Yellow Sea, under orders from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
The orders covered sewage and rainwater outlets while further assessments of air and water quality were ongoing, Xinhua reported.
A resident of the community of Chenjiagang, about 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) from the plant, said glass from windows smashed by the force of the blast injured neighbors.
At the time of the explosion, I was almost deafened and I was terribly frightened, said the woman, who gave only her surname, Zhi.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, on a state visit to Italy, demanded all-out efforts to find and rescue victims, Xinhua reported.
Relief work must be well done to maintain social stability. Meanwhile, environmental monitoring and early warning should be strengthened to prevent environmental pollution as well as secondary disasters, it quoted Xi as saying.
Xi said local officials need to learn the lessons of a recent series of industrial accidents to save lives and property, signaling a likely crackdown on safety violations at a time when many Chinese companies are being hit by a downturn in sales that is squeezing profit margins.
On Xis orders, State Councilor Wang Yong led officials from the State Council, Chinas Cabinet officials to the explosion site to guide the rescue and emergency response work and visit the injured people, Xinhua said. The State Council has been ordered to oversee the investigation into the cause of the explosion, an indication of the seriousness with which the government regards the incident.
The Yancheng city government statement said 3,500 medical workers at 16 hospitals were mobilized to treat the injured, dozens of whom remained in critical condition.
The U.N. said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply saddened at the loss of life and injuries and sent heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and to the people and government of China.
China experiences frequent industrial accidents despite orders from the central government to improve safety at factories, power plants and mines.
Among the worst accidents was a massive 2015 explosion at a chemical warehouse in the port city of Tianjin that killed 173 people, most of them firefighters and police officers. That blast was blamed on illegal construction and unsafe storage of volatile materials.
In November, at least 22 people were killed and scores of vehicles destroyed in an explosion outside a chemical plant in the northeastern city of Zhangjiakou, which will host competitions in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Thursdays disaster occurred at a factory run by the Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co. Located among a cluster of chemical factories in Yancheng, it has a dismal safety record: In February 2018, Chinas State Administration for Work Safety cited 13 types of safety hazards at the company, including mishandling of tanks of toxic benzene, believed to be the source of Thursdays explosion.
Other local media reports said chemical fertilizer may have also been involved in the explosion.
Those violations came despite the plant having racked up 1.79 million RMB ($267,000) in fines since 2016 for violations of environmental regulations, according to a judgments issued by local county and city environmental protection bureaus. Those included improperly dealing with hazardous waste and evading air pollution supervision.
A 2017 explosion that killed 10 at a nearby plant prompted the State Administration of Work Safety to dispatch inspectors. They discovered over 200 safety hazards at chemical factories in Yancheng and four nearby cities, including 13 at the Tianjiayi plant. Safety hazards cited included leaks and drips, employees who didnt understand safety procedures, and a lack of emergency shut-off valves on tanks carrying flammable chemicals.
In 2014, the companys chairman, Zhang Qinyue, and Wu Guozhong, its former supply chief, were arrested on suspicion of dumping and burying hazardous waste byproducts near a temple and a village landfill, according to a Jiangsu court criminal judgment. They were convicted in 2017 and the company was fined 1 million RMB ($149,000).
___
Associated Press writers Yanan Wang and Dake Kang contributed to this report.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
New Zealanders observed the Muslim call to prayer Friday in reflecting on the moment one week ago when 50 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques were slain an act that an imam told the crowd of thousands had left the country broken-hearted but not broken.
In a day without precedent, people across New Zealand listened to the call to prayer on live broadcasts while thousands, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, gathered in leafy Hagley Park opposite the Al Noor mosque, where 42 people died. New Zealand mourns with you. We are one, Ardern said.
The call to prayer was observed at 1:30 p.m. and followed by two minutes of silence. Hundreds of Muslim men at the park sat in socks or bare feet. One man in the front row was in a Christchurch Hospital wheelchair.
The Al Noor mosques imam, Gamal Fouda, thanked New Zealanders for their support.
Advertisement
This terrorist sought to tear our nation apart with an evil ideology. ... But, instead, we have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable, the imam said.
We are broken-hearted but we are not broken. We are alive. We are together. We are determined to not let anyone divide us, he added, as the crowd the city estimated at 20,000 people erupted with applause.
Later in the day, a mass funeral was held to bury 26 of the victims at a cemetery where more than a dozen already have been laid to rest.
Family members took turns passing around shovels and wheelbarrows to bury their loved ones. Fridays burials included the youngest victim, 3-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim.
Christchurch native Fahim Imam, 33, returned to the city for Fridays service. He moved away three years ago and now lives in Auckland, New Zealands largest city.
Its just amazing to see how the country and the community have come together blows my mind, actually, Imam said before the event.
When he got off the plane Friday morning, he saw someone holding a sign that said jenaza, denoting Muslim funeral prayer. He said others were offering free rides to and from the prayer service.
The moment I landed in Christchurch, I could feel the love here. Ive never felt more proud to be a Muslim, or a Kiwi for that matter. It makes me really happy to be able to say that Im a New Zealander, Imam said.
He called it surreal to see the mosque where he used to pray surrounded by flowers.
The observance comes the day after the government announced a ban on military-style semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines like the weapons that were used in last Fridays attacks at the Al Noor and nearby Linwood mosques.
An immediate sales ban went into effect Thursday to prevent stockpiling, and new laws would be rushed through Parliament that would impose a complete ban on the weapons, Ardern said.
Every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned, Ardern said.
The gun legislation is supported not only by Arderns liberal Labour Party but also the conservative opposition National Party, so its expected to pass into law. New Zealand does not have a constitutional right to bear arms.
Among those planning to attend Fridays observance was Samier Dandan, the president of the Lebanese Muslim Association in Sydney and part of a 15-strong delegation of Muslim leaders that had flown to Christchurch.
It was an ugly act of terrorism that occurred in a beautiful, peaceful city, Dandan said.
He said his pain couldnt compare with that of the families hed been visiting who had lost loves ones. He was inspired by their resilience, he said.
And Ive got to give all my respect to the New Zealand prime minister, with her position and her actions, and it speaks loud, he said.
Ismat Fatimah, 46, said it was sad to look at the Al Noor mosque, which was still surrounded by construction barricades, armed police officers and a huge mound of flowers and messages.
Were feeling stronger than before, and we are one, she said.
She said she prayed for the people who died.
Im just imagining what would be happening last Friday, she said. People were running around so scared and helpless. Its just not right.
Erum Hafeez, 18 said she felt comforted by the overwhelming response from New Zealanders: We are embraced by the community of New Zealand, we are not left behind and alone.
The Al Noor mosques imam said workers have been toiling feverishly to repair the destruction, some of whom offered their services for free. Fouda expects the mosque to reopen by next week.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thousands of Algerians are demonstrating in the major cities of the oil-rich North African country, demanding the resignation of ailing, 82-year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
The number of protesters was much smaller than predicted by organizers, however, as rain appeared to dampen attendance on the fifth straight Friday since nationwide anti-Bouteflika protests began on Feb. 22.
Families joined professionals and students in the central squares of Algiers, the capital, holding signs reading Get Out, Bouteflika and No Mandate Extension.
Bouteflika last week indefinitely postponed Aprils national election and overhauled the government. While he abandoned his bid for a fifth term in office, his simultaneous postponement of the election has critics worried that he intends to hold on to power indefinitely. He has been president since 1999.
Advertisement
Bouteflika, badly weakened by a 2013 stroke, has remained an enigma, with very few public appearances. The president returned earlier this month after two weeks in a Geneva hospital, but the exact state of his health is unclear.
Workers at Sonatrach, the national oil company whose executives are close to Bouteflika, held a symbolic sit-in Thursday in solidarity with the protests that span all sections of society.
New Prime Minister Nourredine Bedoui has promised to create a new cabinet within days to respond to the demands of Algerias demonstrators. Yet, Bedoui is still struggling to form a government, with many potential candidates seeking to keep their distance from the unpopular president.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
European Union leaders on Friday pushed back a decision on the blocs long-term efforts to fight climate change, with some countries opposing a pledge to end most emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.
Leaders meeting in Brussels agreed to discuss the issue again at their next gathering in June, ahead of a U.N. summit on climate change in the fall. The delay frustrated environmental campaigners, who argue that the EU should lead global efforts to meet the 2015 Paris accords most ambitious target of keeping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century.
European governments are kicking the can down the road on climate change, said Sebastian Mang, a policy adviser with Greenpeace.
Mang cited warnings from scientists that sharp cuts in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are needed in the coming decades to prevent potentially catastrophic levels of warming by the end of the century.
Advertisement
Young people get this, he said, referring to recent rallies in cities around the world that drew hundreds of thousands of students calling for leaders to tackle climate change.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who two years ago launched the One Planet Summit aimed at speeding up the implementation of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, said Friday that the blocs efforts at fighting climate change were eminently insufficient.
Today, we are not giving a clear answer to the commitments we made in Paris in 2015, to the scientific challenges pointed out by the best experts, and to the legitimate impatience that youngsters are expressing in demonstrations every week in our capitals, Macron said. We will need to wake up, but we have not really seen that yet.
Much of the two-day EU meeting in Brussels was taken up with haggling over the blocs future relationship with Britain. But on the second day, leaders were able to address a number of other issues, including the EUs ties with China, industrial policy and global warming.
Some countries, including France, Spain and the Netherlands, had proposed that leaders agree an ambitious long-term strategy by 2020 striving for climate neutrality by 2050" in line with the Paris accords climate warming goal. Climate neutrality would require countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to the level that can be absorbed again and is sometimes referred to as net zero.
Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic were among those EU nations reluctant to explicitly cite the year 2050 for curbing emissions, according to position papers obtained by The Associated Press.
Still, a lead author of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes recent report on limiting global warming to 1.5 C above pre-industrial times said that while the EU declaration was vague, it addressed important points.
They sharpened the commitment to 1.5 (Celsius), said Daniela Jacob, director of the Climate Services Center in Hamburg, Germany.
The European Parliament recently voted in favor of raising the targeted emissions cuts to 55 percent by 2030, but leaders of the blocs 28 members have so far refrained from following suit.
In Norway, which is not an EU member but cooperates closely with the bloc, local media said at least 36,000 people across the country took part in climate protests Friday. Oslo city council expressed its support for the approximately 10,000 young people who had gathered outside the Norwegian Parliament, Stortinget, as part of the global climate protests by students.
The school strikes for the climate are a clear signal from the younger generation that we have to act now, city council member Raymond Johansen said. We are the first generation that can see the climate changes with our eyes and are probably the last generation that has the possibility to do something about it.
___
Jordans reported from Berlin. Jan Olson in Copenhagen contributed.
___
Read more AP climate news here: https://www.apnews.com/Climate
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The top U.N. human rights body on Friday asked the U.N. human rights chief to strengthen her offices presence in Palestinian areas following an investigation that found Israeli soldiers may have committed war crimes in a deadly response to Gaza protests last year.
The Human Rights Council made the request to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in a resolution that passed 23-8 with 15 abstentions, a vote loaded with political implications that quickly drew accusations of bias from the Israeli government.
Five central and eastern European countries joined Australia, Fiji and Brazil in opposing the measure. Britain and many EU countries abstained. Several Gulf Arab countries, with which Israel has claimed warming ties, voted in favor.
The resolution was the strongest among five considered by the council focusing on Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory, the only country situation considered at every council meeting. The issue made up more than one-sixth of the 29 resolutions considered as the four-week session ended Friday.
Advertisement
The Trump administration last summer pulled out the United States, long one of Israels strongest backers at the 47-member Geneva body, from the council, in part alleging it has an anti-Israel bias.
The resolution comes after a three-person team of investigators commissioned by the council late last month issued an extensive report on violence during a string of Palestinian protests along Gazas border fence with Israel, which started nearly a year ago.
In it, the Independent Commission of Inquiry said Israeli soldiers intentionally fired on civilians and could have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. The crackdowns that left 189 people dead. The panel said over 6,000 people had been shot by military snipers using live ammunition to repel protesters.
The Human Rights Council repeated today its absurd and hypocritical ritual of creating a Commission of Inquiry singling out Israel, whose findings against Israel are predetermined, and then adopting them, all the while ignoring the reality on the ground, Israels Foreign Ministry said Friday.
Israel will continue to exercise its right of self-defense and will protect its citizens against terror and aggression, it said.
The Israeli government did not cooperate with the authors of the report.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday called on the Lebanese people to stand up to Hezbollahs criminality, terror and threats, and claimed U.S. sanctions on Iran and its Lebanese Shiite ally were working and that more pressure on them was forthcoming.
His comments in Beirut were in strong contrast to those of his host, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil who minutes earlier, while standing next to Pompeo, insisted that Hezbollah is a Lebanese group that is not a terrorist organization and was elected by the people.
Pompeo, however, warned that the Lebanese people face a choice: Bravely move forward or allow the dark ambitions of Iran and Hezbollah to dictate your future.
He added that the U.S. would continue using all peaceful means to curb Hezbollah and Irans influence.
Advertisement
Pompeo highlighted U.S. concerns about Hezbollahs destabilizing activities in Lebanon and the region in talks his with Lebanese leaders, amid strong regional condemnation of President Donald Trumps declaration that its time the U.S. recognized Israels sovereignty over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
The abrupt pronouncement on the Golan Heights clouded Pompeos visit during which he met with top officials, including some who are aligned with the Iran- and Syria-allied militant Hezbollah.
The visit is the last leg of a Mideast tour that took Pompeo to Kuwait and Israel, where he lauded warm ties with Israel, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on at least three separate occasions and promised to step up pressure on Iran.
From Israel, Pompeos plane travelled through Cypriot airspace, as Lebanon, which is technically in a state of war with Israel, bans direct flights from Israel.
Once on the ground, Pompeo was taken to the Interior Ministry for a brief meeting with Raya El-Hassan, who was named earlier this year as the Arab worlds first female minister in charge of security.
Pompeo also met with Lebanons powerful Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, before heading for a working lunch with Prime Minister Saad Hariri followed by a meeting with President Michel Aoun. The State Departments deputy spokesman, Robert Palladino, said Pompeo highlighted in the meetings U.S. concerns about Hezbollahs destabilizing activities in Lebanon and the region as well as the need to maintain calm along the border between Lebanon and Israel.
In his Lebanon visit, Pompeo had hoped to step up pressure on the Shiite Hezbollah group, but he faces resistance even from Americas local allies, who fear that pushing too hard could trigger a backlash and endanger the tiny countrys fragile peace. Hezbollah wields more power than ever in parliament and the government.
Aouns office said the president told Pompeo that the countrys priority is to preserve national unity and peace adding that Hezbollah is a Lebanese party that has a popular base representing one of the main (religious) sects in the country.
Pompeo later met with Bassil, the foreign minister. He, as well as Aoun and Berri, are close Hezbollah allies, while Hariri is a close Western ally who has been reluctant to confront Hezbollah.
How does stockpiling tens of thousands of missiles in Lebanon territory for use against Israel make this country stronger? asked Pompeo, referring to Hezbollahs arsenal that the group boasts can strike any part of Israel.
Hezbollah and its illegitimate militia put the entire country on the front lines of Irans misguided proxy campaign, Pompeo added.
He said that Washington would continue to use all peaceful means possible to pressure Hezbollah, an apparent reference to the sanctions that the U.S. has imposed over the years and are drying up the militant groups finances. Pompeo referred to comments made by Hezbollahs leader earlier this month in which he urged supporters to donate money to the group.
Hezbollahs Al-Manar TV aired the comments made by Bassil live, but cut back to normal programming once Pompeo began reading his statement.
President Aoun, speaking to Russian journalists ahead of a visit to Moscow later this month, said that the sanctions imposed on Hezbollah, Iran and Syria are negatively impacting the already fragile Lebanese economy.
The negative effect of the sanctions on Hezbollah is hitting all Lebanese people as well as Lebanese banks, he said in remarks released later on Friday.
Earlier this week, Pompeo had said well spend a lot of time talking with the Lebanese government about how we can help them disconnect from the threat that Iran and Hezbollah present.
Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. You ask how tough I am going to be? It is a terrorist organization. Period. Full stop, Pompeo said in Jerusalem on Thursday.
Pompeos visit to Lebanon came as the Trump administration hit Iran with new sanctions on Friday.
The Treasury Department said the sanctions target 31 Iranian scientists, technicians and companies affiliated with Irans Organization for Defense Innovation and Research, which had been at the forefront of the countrys former nuclear weapons program. Officials said those targeted continue to work in Irans defense sector and form a core of experts who could reconstitute that program. Fourteen people, including the head of the organization and 17 subsidiary operations are covered by the sanctions.
The sanctions freeze any assets that those targeted may have in U.S. jurisdictions and bar Americans from any transactions with them.
Trumps statement about the Golan Heights on Thursday is a major shift in American policy. For some time, the administration has been considering recognizing Israels sovereignty over the strategic highlands, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967. In a tweet that appeared to catch many by surprise, Trump said the time had come for the United States to take the step.
The U.S. will be the first country to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, which the rest of the international community regards as territory occupied by Israel whose status should be determined by negotiations between Israel and Syria.
Syria, Iran and Turkey on Friday strongly denounced Trumps statement.
___
Lee reported from Jerusalem.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Iditarod musher who was hours ahead in the Alaska wilderness race when his dogs refused to keep running dismissed critics who say he ran them too hard and chalked it up to a bad memory that spooked them.
The team stopped last week after Frenchman Nicolas Petit yelled at a dog that was bullying another, but they did not slow down like a tired team would, he said.
It came a year after they got lost in a blizzard near the same spot along the Bering Sea coast close to the finish line of the 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometer) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race that takes global competitors across mountain ranges and wind-swept ice.
I wouldnt say its a curse for me, I just had a bad time last year and lingering effects of the bad time this year, Petit said.
Advertisement
It was pure coincidence that it happened at the same point in the race, he said.
They remember that we didnt have a fun run, going through the snow the wrong way, Petit said Wednesday, sprawling out on a friends sofa in Anchorage.
Dogs from his team piled on top of him and licked his face. Also nosing their way in for attention were Joey, who was the bully on the trail, and Danny, the younger male dog who was bullied.
When Petit withdrew from the race this year, he said it was a head thing for the dogs.
Then the blowback began in press releases, on blogs and on social media. The most vocal critic of the race, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said it wasnt the dogs that needed their heads examined, it was anyone who supports the merciless race.
Others speculated that Petit overexerted the dogs, they were mistreated or were mentally unfit to run. Petit denies it all.
This isnt any type of a reason to get rid of what I consider my children the dogs I raised, Petit said. No, I wont get rid of them. They are the most important thing in my life.
He also said hes stopping plenty along the grueling route, preferring to rest outside checkpoints and along the trail when possible, where he says its quieter and the dogs get more sleep.
Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod in 1985, said the sport requires a fine balance between being competitive and keeping the dogs happy something she said Petit excels at.
People have this idea that you can force these dogs to the finish line, Riddles said last week. Its not like that at all.
In 2018, Petit rested his dogs at a cabin between checkpoints before the disastrous run in the blizzard. He planned to stay at the cabin again this year but leave it with a well-rested team.
Video shows an energetic and eager dog team entering and leaving the first checkpoint.
Within a mile of the cabin, the dog dustup happened. Joey, a 2-year-old and the only non-neutered male on the team, was behind Danny, a 16-month-old pup. Every time Danny slowed down, Joey would pick on him.
Finally, Petit yelled, Joey, thats enough!
I raise my voice a little bit and they are all like, Oh, boy, thats not normal, Petit said. I try to be as calming and collected with my dogs as possible all the time, so they heard an upset daddy.
The team refused to keep going. He tried walking ahead of them to see if they would follow and putting different dogs in the lead. Other mushers came by, but even that didnt rouse the dogs.
They finally got the mile to the cabin. Fourteen hours after the dogs stopped, they took off but didnt make it far. Petit took them back and pushed the panic button on his GPS unit, effectively withdrawing from the race.
A snowmobile brought food and then carted the dogs off the trail.
Petit still expects to compete in next years Iditarod. Hes said hes planning to take his dogs next week to the problem area the Bering Sea coast to show them the fun they can have on that stretch of the trail.
And that its not always blowing, and we dont always get lost, and it can be a very positive experience as opposed to the last two years, he said.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A Texas flight attendant who was enrolled in the governments program for Dreamers flew to Mexico for work and was stopped by immigration authorities who forced her to spend more than a month in detention, her attorney said.
Selene Saavedra Roman, 28, who immigrated illegally to the U.S. as a child, was released Friday from a detention center in Conroe, Texas, according to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Being released is an indescribable feeling, she said through a spokesman. I cried and hugged my husband and never wanted to let go. I am thankful and grateful for the amazing people that came to fight for me, and it fills my heart. Thank you to everyone that has supported. I am just so happy to have my freedom back.
Originally from Peru and married to an American citizen, she raised concerns with Mesa Airlines about her immigration status after being assigned to an international flight, attorney Belinda Arroyo said.
Advertisement
The airline assured her she would be fine, but she was stopped by U.S. authorities on Feb. 12, when she returned to Houston, and was sent to detention, where she remained for more than five weeks, Arroyo said.
Soon after her lawyer, her husband, the airline and a flight attendants group publicly demanded her release, Saavedra Roman called to tell her husband she was getting out.
She was crying and she said, Please come get me, her husband, David Watkins, told reporters.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency was looking into her status. Earlier, the agency said Saavedra Roman did not have a valid document to enter the country and was being detained while going through immigration court proceedings.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services the agency that oversees the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA declined to discuss the case. But the agency says on its website that participants who travel outside the country without a special document allowing them to do so are no longer covered by the program.
The agency no longer issues the document to the programs enrollees, according to the website.
People enrolled in the program are commonly referred to as Dreamers, based on never-passed proposals in Congress called the DREAM Act.
The Trump administration sought to end the Obama-era program but was blocked by litigation. New applications have been halted, but renewals continue for hundreds of thousands of immigrants already enrolled.
In a joint statement with the Association of Flight Attendants, Mesa Airlines chief executive Jonathan Ornstein apologized to Saavedra Roman and asked U.S. authorities to release her, arguing that it was unfair to continually detain someone over something that is nothing more than an administrative error and a misunderstanding.
She should have never been advised that she could travel, Arroyo said. It was a big mistake.
Saavedra Roman who is scheduled to appear before an immigration judge in April attended Texas A&M University, where she met her husband.
Watkins said he was not initially worried about her assignment because they already obtained approval from Citizenship and Immigration Services to apply for her green card as the wife of an American citizen. She has no criminal record and has long paid her taxes, he said, and she checked with her employer before the trip.
Then she was detained. He could visit her only once a week and could only see her through thick glass. She sounded hopeless, he said.
I told her, Even if you get deported to Peru, Ill just go with you, he said to reporters. Regardless of whatever happens in the future, I am not giving up. I am going to keep fighting.
In a statement, the union representing Saavedra Roman and her colleagues said the event highlights the urgency of commonsense immigration reform and resolution for Americas children who are part of DACA.
___
Associated Press Writer Terry Wallace contributed to this report.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Dublin, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global IoT in Construction Industry Forecast up to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The global IoT in construction industry will grow at a CAGR of 35.98% during the forecast period 2017-2024.
There are several industries where IoT can be of great influence and construction industry is one among them. Some of the major areas where IoT could be deployed in construction industry are remote support and operation, equipment servicing, fleet management, fuel savings, and for BIM (building information modeling). With the implementation of IoT systems, the construction companies can save time and cost.
Global IoT market in construction industry is categorized based on the presence of diversified small and large vendors. As large players such as Cisco and Caterpillar are increasing their footprint, small vendors are competing with them in the global market by maintaining competitive pricing and customized product offering. By entering into alliances and strategic partnerships with other players in the market, the global vendors are expected to grow further during the forecast period.
America is the largest contributor within the global IoT market in construction industry. The extent of adoption of IoT enabled devices is high in US and Canada. In America, the growth of IoT in construction sector is mainly attributed to the increasing use of IoT in modular construction and prefabricated building. Modular construction helps the construction companies to build smarter and greener buildings quickly. Companies can construct new buildings in half the time required as well as result in less wastage of resources compared to traditional methods.
Competitive Analysis and Key Vendors
Construction industry is one of the industries where IoT and digitalization are facing sluggish growth. However, features including data storage, remote access, and office-field data exchange are not new to the construction industry.
The industry is gaining attention among major IoT solution providers and is expected to witness increasing investments in IoT during the forecast period.
The report comprises of analysis of vendor profile, which includes financial status, business units, key business priorities, SWOT, business strategies, and views. The report covers the competitive landscape, which includes M&A, joint ventures & collaborations, and competitor comparison analysis.
In the vendor profile section, for companies that are privately held, the financial information and revenue of segments will be limited.
Key Topics Covered:
1 Executive Summary
2 Industry Outlook
2.1 Industry Snapshot
2.1.1 Industry Overview
2.1.2 Industry Trends
3 Market Snapshot
3.1 Total Addressable Market
3.2 Segment Addressable Market
3.2.1 PEST Analysis
3.2.2 Porter's Five Force Analysis
4 Market Characteristics
4.1 Market Evolution
4.2 Market Segmentation
4.3 Market Dynamics
4.3.1 Drivers
4.3.1.1 Cost reduction in construction industry
4.3.1.2 Growing need for data analytics in construction industry
4.3.2 Restraints
4.3.2.1 Increasing government regulations on IoT
4.3.2.2 Growing threat of cyber attacks
4.3.3 Opportunities
4.3.3.1 Growing government support for construction industry
4.3.4 DRO - Impact Analysis
5 IoT in construction industry, By product
5.1 Overview
5.2 Hardware
5.3 Software
5.4 Services
6 IoT in Construction Industry, By Application
6.1 Overview
6.2 Remote operations
6.3 Fleet management
6.4 Safety
6.5 MRO
7 IoT in Construction Industry, By Geography
7.1 Overview
7.2 Americas
7.3 EMEA
7.4 APAC
8 Competitive Landscape
8.1 Competitor Analysis
8.2 Product/Offerings Portfolio Analysis
8.3 Market Developments
8.3.1 Expansions
9 Vendor Profiles
9.1 Cisco
9.1.1 Overview
9.1.2 Product Profile
9.1.3 Business Units
9.1.4 Geographic Revenue
9.1.5 Recent Developments
9.1.6 Business Focus
9.1.7 SWOT Analysis
9.2 Caterpillar
9.3 Sigfox
9.4 Wipro
10 Companies to Watch for
10.1 DroneDeploy
10.1.1 Overview
10.1.2 Product Profile
10.1.3 Analyst Opinion
10.2 Construction Robotics
10.3 DAQRI
10.4 Atlas RFID Solutions
10.5 Pillar Technologies
10.6 Losant
10.7 Trimble Group
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9h6sq2/global_iot_in?w=12
Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Nearly four decades after voters unceremoniously rejected then-President Jimmy Carters bid for a second term, the 39th president has reached a milestone that electoral math cannot dispute: He is now the longest-living chief executive in American history.
Friday is the 172nd day beyond Carters 94th birthday, exceeding by one day the lifespan of former President George H.W. Bush, who died Nov. 30 at the age of 94 years, 171 days. Both men were born in 1924: Bush on June 12, Carter on Oct. 1.
Its yet another post-presidency distinction for Carter, whose legacy since leaving office has long overshadowed both his rocky White House tenure and the remarkable political rise that led him from his family peanut farm and a state Senate seat to the governors mansion and his unlikely presidential victory in 1976.
The achievement also defies medical odds, coming more than three years after Carter announced he had melanoma that had spread to his liver and brain. He underwent treatment and received a clean bill of health.
Advertisement
There are no special celebrations planned, said Deanna Congileo, spokeswoman for the former president and The Carter Center, which Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, now 91, founded in Atlanta in 1982 to focus on global human rights issues.
The centers decades of public health advocacy, election-monitoring and conflict resolution around the world have redefined the role of former presidents, who before Carter often retired to relative obscurity.
We at The Carter Center sure are rooting for him and grateful for his long life of service that has benefited millions of the worlds poorest people, Congileo said.
Seemingly downplaying his political career, Carter has for years characterized the centers work as his defining professional achievement though, of course, having been a U.S. president is what allowed him the stature to establish the center.
I spent four of my ninety years in the White House, and they were, of course, the pinnacle of my political life, Carter wrote in a memoir published on his 90th birthday. Those years, though, do not dominate my chain of memories, and there was never an orderly or planned path to get there during my early life.
Rather, he continued, Teaching, writing and helping The Carter Center evolve ... seem to constitute the high points in my life.
And the man who once held the U.S. nuclear codes, forged a historic Middle East peace deal at Camp David and tried to manage a hostage crisis that sealed his one-term fate has a simple answer whenever hes asked to recount the best or most significant decision hes ever made: Asking Rosalynn to marry me.
The former president and first lady still live in Plains, Georgia, a town of about 750 where they were born, raised and married 73 years ago, weeks after the future commander in chief graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy.
A devout Christian, Jimmy Carter regularly teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, drawing hundreds of visitors to Plains for each session. The Carters pose for pictures with each attendee.
Though he sometimes de-emphasizes his elected career, living so long after his presidency is allowing Carter a resurgence of sorts in Democratic politics.
Two current presidential candidates, Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, have ventured to Plains to meet with the Carters. The former president has hosted Bernie Sanders, a 2016 and 2020 presidential candidate, for a panel at The Carter Center and Carter told the audience that he voted for Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary. He hosted and endorsed Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams in her unsuccessful bid for Georgia governor last year.
Georgia Democrats say they expect more presidential candidates to make a Plains pilgrimage.
As for whats next, Carter has at least one more accomplishment on his mind, pointing often to The Carter Centers long-running effort to eliminate Guinea worm disease, a parasitic infection attributed to poor drinking water.
There were 3.5 million cases in 21 countries in 1986, when the Carter Center began its eradication program. In 2018, there were 28 cases worldwide.
Im hoping that I will live longer than the last Guinea worm, he said in a British television interview in 2016. Thats one of my goals in life, and I think I have a good chance to succeed.
___
Follow Barrow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BillBarrowAP
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Tragedies like the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High and Sandy Hook Elementary school massacres eventually fade from view, blunted by other mass shootings and the passage of time. But for the survivors, the pain can never end.
The father of a Sandy Hook victim killed himself Monday, just days after two Stoneman Douglas students also took their lives. The Florida deaths have officials in Parkland and nearby Coral Springs renewing their communities focus on the suicide prevention and mental health resources that remain available 13 months after a gunman killed 17 people at the high school.
In Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 first-graders died along with six staff members six years ago, the body of 49-year-old Jeremy Richman was found outside his office Monday morning.
Richmans daughter Avielle was fatally shot at Sandy Hook. He had visited Florida last week and met with the parents of Stoneman Douglas victims, said Lori Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter Alyssa died there.
Advertisement
Richman and his wife oversaw The Avielle Foundation, a group they started dedicated to preventing violence by better understanding brain health.
Our hearts are shattered, and our heads are struggling to comprehend, the foundation said in a statement. Tragically, his death speaks to how insidious and formidable a challenge brain health can be and how critical it is for all of us to seek help for ourselves, our loved ones and anyone who we suspect may be in need.
Multiple suicides among mass shooting survivors can be alarming, but mental health experts said the Florida deaths are not surprising. They come amid a rising nationwide trend: More than 47,000 U.S. suicides occurred in 2017, at the highest rate in at least half a century 14 per 100,000. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among U.S. teenagers.
One of the big risk factors for suicide is exposure to violence, said Dr. Louis Kraus, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Even if they werent hit by bullets or didnt see shots fired, anyone who was at that school is at risk, Kraus said, and should be screened.
The scars simply dont go away with a fresh coat of paint, he said.
Psychologist April Foreman, a board member at the American Association of Suicidology, said survivors are more prone to suicide and thus must be vigilant about mental health check-ups just as if they had a family history of breast cancer or heart disease.
With help, people can overcome their suicidal impulses, she said.
Its not a foregone conclusion that this will happen to everyone whos been exposed to this and the majority of people who are suicidal dont go on to die. They go on to recover and live, she said.
The first suicide took place March 16. Cara Aiello told WFOR-TV last week that her 18-year-old daughter Sydney had suffered from survivors guilt her friend, Meadow Pollack, died in the attack.
Sydney had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and struggled to attend college because she feared being in a classroom, but never asked for help, her mother said.
Coral Springs police officer Tyler Reik confirmed Monday that a Stoneman Douglas sophomore apparently killed himself Saturday, but said an official determination had not been made pending an autopsy. The boys name was not immediately released.
Community leaders, government officials, parents, police and others held an emergency meeting Sunday after the second student suicide, Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky said.
The biggest push will be to alert parents to talk to their children about whether they are having suicidal thoughts and outline the danger signs for them, such as personality changes or a preoccupation with death, she said.
The groups also want students to look out for each other, and noted that the community counseling and resource centers that opened after the attack still remain available.
The task has been made more difficult as Stoneman Douglas students are on spring break.
Hunschofsky said that while there is concern the two suicides could lead to more, it is more dangerous not to discuss what happened.
We cannot be afraid of talking the only way we are going to identify people who need help is to talk about it, she said.
A 16-year-old Stoneman Douglas sophomore who was in a classroom where three students died on Feb. 14, 2018, told The Associated Press on Monday that she tried to kill herself four times before she entered therapy.
At first, she was ashamed, she said, fearing that accepting counseling would mean she couldnt handle my problems and I was broken. But her attitude changed with the support of therapists, family and friends, said the girl, who the AP is not naming because of her age.
The girl said she fears not every Stoneman Douglas student who needs counseling is getting it and noted that some teachers seem uncomfortable talking about suicide and simply want to move on.
In Connecticut, Richman was among the Sandy Hook relatives suing Infowars host Alex Jones for contending the Newtown shooting never happened.
Neil Heslin, whose son, Jesse Lewis, was killed at Sandy Hook, said the families grief has been compounded by such conspiracy theories.
Every day you get up, you expect to get punched in the chin, Heslin said. I give Jeremy credit for what he accomplished with his work and his amazing strength that grew through the years.
Newtown Police Lt. Aaron Bahamonde said Richman left a suicide note, but did not disclose its contents.
On Monday, residents streamed into the Resiliency Center of Newtown, which was set up shortly after the shooting as a place for therapy and for people to gather to talk. Richman worked with the center in providing brain health first aid for children and others.
His friend, Stephanie Cinque, the centers executive director, said people are angry, sad and shocked by his death.
Theres mixed feelings throughout town, she said. Grief is complicated. Its very sad for the family, the children, the entire community. So today were letting people know its OK to have those feelings.
The emotional scars survivors feel last for decades.
Columbine High massacre survivor Heather Martin was not physically injured in the 1999 shooting that left 13 dead, but said she took years to emotionally overcome the attack. She helped form the Rebels Project, named after Columbines mascot, to assist mass trauma survivors.
Resilience is connecting with other people and gaining strength from other people, Martin said. You dont always have to be the strongest person.
___
Tanner reported from Chicago. Associated Press writers Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Dan Elliott in Denver; and Joshua Replogle in Parkland, Florida, contributed to this report.
__
Editors note: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-8255. The Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 crisis support by text. Text 741741 to be connected to a trained counselor. Students from Broward County schools can text FL to 741741.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Federal Aviation Administration plans to significantly revamp its oversight of airplane construction this summer after questions were raised about how it manages inspections done by the industry, according to testimony prepared for a Senate subcommittee hearing on Wednesday.
The testimony by Calvin Scovel III, the Transportation Departments inspector general who monitors the FAA and other agencies, said his office has found management weaknesses with a number of the FAAs oversight processes over the years.
The comments come as the agency is under increasing scrutiny for its flight approval of the Boeing 737 Max jet. Two of the jets have crashed in the past six months in Indonesia and Ethiopia with deadly consequences, and investigators are examining the role of flight-control software that Boeing designed to prevent aerodynamic stalls.
FAA oversight and its program to allow manufacturers and airlines to have their own employees do inspections will be examined at Wednesdays hearing by the Senate Commerce Committees aviation subcommittee.
Advertisement
While the agency has made improvements, it plans by July to develop new evaluation criteria for training and company self-audits, Scovel wrote in his prepared remarks obtained by The Associated Press.
While revamping FAAs oversight process will be an important step, continued management attention will be key to ensure the agency identifies and monitors the highest-risk areas of aircraft certification, Scovel wrote.
Also in prepared testimony, the acting FAA head defended his agencys certification of the 737 Max and its initial resistance to ground the planes until all other major aviation regulators around the world had done so.
Daniel Elwell, also will say Wednesday that Boeing submitted proposed changes in key flight-control software to its 737 Max jetliner in January. He says the FAA is still reviewing the aircraft manufacturers plans for the software update and more pilot training. He calls FAAs review an agency priority.
Elwells testimony, first reported by the Seattle Times, could renew questions over the FAAs response to safety concerns about the Max aircraft after the deadly Oct. 29 crash in Indonesia and another in Ethiopia on March 10, nearly seven weeks after Elwell says Boeing submitted its proposed changes.
FAA spokesman Gregory Martin said Tuesday that the Boeing submission in January was preliminary, not final. He said the FAA has not received Boeings completed software improvements.
Boeing is updating software designed to protect against aerodynamic stalls, in which planes can lose lift from the wings and fall from the sky if the nose points too high. A company official provided more details on work to update the flight-control software, which was not part of previous 737 models.
Software designers considered a broad range of pilot skills to ensure that normal airmanship skills are sufficient to control the airplane, said the official, who spoke anonymously because the changes have not been made public.
Investigators in Ethiopia expect to issue a preliminary report this week on a plane crash that killed 157 people. But a final determination of the cause of the accident may take months.
Boeing said the changes will include protection against faulty readings by sensors. Erroneous measurements are suspected of triggering flight problems on the Lion Air jet. Regulators say the Ethiopian Airlines Max jet followed a similar flight path, including erratic climbs and descents before crashing minutes after takeoff, and those similarities were an important part of their decision to ground the roughly 370 Max 8 planes around the world.
The New York Times reported Monday that pilots from five airlines tested current and updated software on a Boeing flight simulator. During a test that recreated conditions on the Lion Air flight, the pilots had less than 40 seconds to override the software before the plane uncontrollably plunged toward the ground, the newspaper said, citing two unidentified people involved in the testing.
Pilots can flip one switch to reverse a move by the software to point the nose down, and they can disable the software by flipping two switches at their knees.
Pilots involved in the simulator testing followed those steps and kept the plane under control using the current anti-stall software, the newspaper reported. The Lion Air pilots, on the other hand, had received little training on the system, and it was only after the plane crashed that Boeing first notified pilots of the systems existence.
Jason Goldberg, a pilot who has flown the Max 8 and is spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, the union representing American Airlines pilots, told the AP that the anti-stall system has significant control over the aircraft it can pitch the nose down very significantly.
Goldberg said it was inexcusable for Boeing to omit this information from the pilot manuals for training. Its a serious breach of trust.
A Southwest Airlines Max 8, one of 34 in the carriers fleet, had to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff Tuesday in Orlando, Florida, cutting short a flight to a short-term aircraft storage lot in California. The plane was not carrying passengers.
The airline and the FAA said the plane had a problem with one of its engines, not the flight-control software.
___
Koenig reported from Dallas and Krisher reported from Detroit. Elias Meseret contributed from Addis Ababa.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Delaware State Police have charged a man with driving under the influence of alcohol for the sixth time. Police said troopers arrested 63-year-old John Trala, of Lewes, Saturday night after responding to a car accident. Police said the troopers detected an odor of alcohol while speaking with Trala.
He was taken into custody without incident. Police said a computer check revealed that Trala had five previous DUI convictions.
In addition to the DUI charge, Trala was also charged with following a motor vehicle too closely.
Trala could not be reached for comment. He was being held at the Sussex Correctional Institution on $10,500 cash bond.
Advertisement
The driver of the other car was not injured.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in Cedar Rapids for an Indiana man accused of a homicide in central Iowas Fort Dodge.
Webster County District Court records say 26-year-old Phillip Williams, of Lafayette, Indiana, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder. Prosecutors say Williams and 27-year-old Mackenzie Knigge killed 26-year-old Jessica Gomez in August 2017. Knigges trial is scheduled to begin June 10.
His trial first was moved to Mason City because of pretrial publicity in Fort Dodge. Then it was moved to Cedar Rapids after Williams objected to the lack of black people in the Mason City jury pool, saying that just one person out of 130 potential jurors was self-identified as black. His attorney told the judge that Williams has a legitimate interest in the representation of African-Americans on the jury panel. He is African-American.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Iraqi residents of the northern city of Mosul, angry over the sinking of a ferry in the Tigris River that killed 95 people, blocked a road where Iraqs presidential convoy was passing on Friday, chanting no to corruption and pelting the provincial governors car with stones in protest.
The visit to Mosul by President Barham Saleh came as search teams were still trying to find more bodies after the ferry, overloaded with holidaymakers celebrating both Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and also Mothers Day, capsized on Thursday near the city with dozens on board, including families with children.
The death toll on Friday rose to 95, after another body was found.
The protesters did not harm Saleh but shortly afterward, pelted the SUV of the governor of Nineveh province, Nofal al-Akoub, with bottles and stones, demanding that he be sacked from the post.
Advertisement
A video soon emerged, showing the two incidents. In one, Saleh is seen speaking from his car window with the protesters, many of whom were young men. Saleh had rushed to Mosul where he held meetings with security officials over the sinking of the ferry.
The other video shows protesters pelting the governors SUV and breaking the windshield before the vehicle speeds away.
The spiritual leader of Iraqs Shia majority Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called for accountability for those responsible for the sinking and urged officials whose ministries were linked to the tragedy to resign. Al-Sistanis message was delivered by his representative Ahmed al-Safi in the Shia holy city of Karbala.
Earlier Friday, relatives of the victims went to the local hospitals to collect bodies of their loved ones ahead of funerals. Some people gathered outside the hospital chanted: No to corruption! and They are all thieves.
How can a ferry sail with no means of rescue available, asked Dalia Mahmoud, a woman who was standing outside the coroners office.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi ordered an investigation and also briefly visited Mosul, where he declared three days of national mourning.
Iraqi judicial authorities ordered the arrest of nine workers operating the ferry. The men were detained and an arrest warrant is out for the owner of the tourist island where it was headed.
Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolences to Iraqi authorities, expressing his prayerful solidarity with all those who lost loved ones. He wrote that he was praying for the whole Iraqi nation the divine blessings of healing, strength and consolation.
The sinking of the ferry was a tragic blow to Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city that is still struggling to overcome the devastation wreaked by the Islamic State group. IS had captured Mosul it in the summer of 2014, making the city its main stronghold in Iraq. After U.S.-backed Iraqi forces retook Mosul three years later, in July 2017, much of the city was left in ruins.
We lost a lot because of Daesh and we will not accept to lose more, said Mahmoud, using an Arabic name to refer to the Islamic State group.
___
Abdul-Zahra reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A Missouri man jailed in Texas is now charged with killing a woman at an Interstate 55 rest area in October.
The Sikeston Standard Democrat reports that 27-year-old Eliot Bonner of St. Charles was charged Friday with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm. He does not yet have a listed attorney.
The body of 50-year-old Monica Keenlance of Morton, Illinois, was found Oct. 31 at a rest area along I-55 near Marston, Missouri.
Advertisement
Police had little to go on other than a report that a red SUV was seen driving away, and a spent shell casing. Authorities have declined to say what led to charges against Bonner, who was arrested in November in Brady, Texas, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
___
Information from: Standard Democrat, https://www.standard-democrat.com
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Joe Biden says he has the most progressive record of any Democrat running, or mulling a run, in 2020. But many progressive activists disagree.
As the former vice president inches closer to a third White House run, several moments in his long career loom as immediate political liabilities. From his vote for the Iraq war to his key role in passing a bill that made it harder for debt-ridden Americans to declare bankruptcy, Biden would have to reconcile his past with a party thats moved to the left.
Biden leads many early polls, but his handling of those issues will determine whether that support fades in a primary fight. He is aware of his critics, using a speech last week before friendly Delaware Democrats to declare himself a progressive while also describing some of his detractors as the new left and defending his record. But several progressive activists are urging him to do more to address doubts about his progressive credentials by owning up to past missteps and developing a forward-looking agenda that recognizes the Democratic bases center of gravity has shifted.
For him to actually own the label of progressive, he needs to acknowledge and reconcile that prior harm not just in words, but by putting forth a policy agenda thats really rooted in challenging white supremacy and economic exploitation, said Jennifer Epps-Addison, co-executive director of the activist group Center for Popular Democracy Action.
Advertisement
As for Biden deeming his record progressive, she warned that simply labeling yourself something doesnt make it true.
Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the activist group Indivisible, described Bidens progressive self-definition as a confusing comment given the number of other prominent liberals in the Democratic primary.
Hes going to need to reconcile his record on policy with where he is now and what kind of policies hes proposing as a presidential contender, Greenberg said, adding that if hes trying to understand what animates the new left . Id recommend that he talk to grassroots leaders on the ground.
A Biden spokesman declined to comment.
The 76-year-old Democrat has expressed some regrets for past actions. He was contrite in January about supporting a 1994 crime bill whose stiffer sentences fell disproportionately on minority offenders, telling an audience that the bills harsher punishment was a big mistake that has trapped an entire generation. He has called his vote to support the Iraq War a mistake.
And Biden is known for pushing the rest of his party leftward on some key issues. He backed same-sex marriage in 2012 before Barack Obama did, effectively nudging the then-president into his corner on what was a politically volatile issue. He was also a lead architect of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 and later used his perch as Obamas vice president to advocate for sexual assault victims, particularly on college campuses.
Sen. Chris Coons, who holds the Delaware seat Biden occupied and is a close ally, said he read Bidens most progressive comment as a way of championing the Obama administrations accomplishments on health care, climate change and other fronts.
On the core issues progressives claim to care about most, Joe Biden actually has a record of leadership, Coons said in an interview. Anybody can give a great speech on a college campus, but actually getting things done . thats something worth talking about and running on.
But progressives say hell have more atoning to do, should he enter the 2020 race.
Karine Jean-Pierre, a senior adviser at MoveOn.org who worked with Biden during her time in Obamas administration, predicted there are things hes going to have to answer to.
Sometimes youre so popular, and then you jump into an election, and then you become less popular, she said. He could avoid that by just going head-on and dealing with it from the get-go.
Even as Biden leads most early polls of the sprawling Democratic field, those surveys cant gauge how much of his advantage stems from voters favorable views of his role as Obamas vice president and whether that wellspring of goodwill would fade if Biden enters the presidential race to criticism from liberals.
Activists looking to push the party toward a progressive agenda arent prepared to give Biden a pass based on Obama-era successes.
You can only go so long on the coattails of a former president, no matter how well-liked a former president is, said Charles Chamberlain, chair of the progressive group Democracy for America.
Bidens advisers have talked for weeks about the prospect of assuaging concerns regarding his age and ideology by tapping a younger running mate early in the primary, before the Democratic nomination is secured. Those discussions, which have not coalesced into any firm decision, at one point focused on former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke of Texas and have shifted to former Georgia gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams, who met with Biden in Washington last week.
Allying with Abrams could bear fruit in bolstering Bidens relationships with progressives, but shes also being heavily courted by Democratic elders to challenge Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia in 2020 and has yet to rule out a presidential bid herself.
There is an important dynamic to having your name considered as part of the national conversation because someone like me is not often on that list, Abrams, a 45-year-old African-American woman, said last week at a conference in Washington.
Even if Biden adds younger, more left-leaning energy to his prospective ticket, some activists wont be deterred from scrutinizing elements of his past. In addition to his votes on bankruptcy, the crime bill and the Iraq War, Biden is likely to face further questions about his treatment of Anita Hill during the 1991 confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his recently resurfaced 1970s remarks against the use of busing to diversify schools in his home state.
I dont think his choice of running mate will matter that much, said Justice Democrats communications director Waleed Shahid, whose group worked to elect Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and other rising young liberal candidates in 2018. Biden cant trick progressives who are at the center of energy in the Democratic Party right now into rebranding himself into someone hes not.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Beto ORourkes splashy campaign event in Pennsylvania last week appeared to herald the start of the states presidential primary season.
But if Pennsylvanias Democratic Party faithful are searching for a favorite from among the crowded 2020 primary field, it may be in vain. Early-voting states typically make that choice.
Pennsylvania historically gets the short end of the stick in presidential primaries, rarely voting in time to help decide a partys nominee, despite being one of the most sought-after general election prizes.
Yet, Democratic Party strategists and officials suggest that a crush of candidates could force a competitive race all the way until April 28, 2020, when Pennsylvania holds its primary election.
Advertisement
When you have a big field like this and its possible to win early-voting states with 10, 12 or 15 percent, it really is open to everybody, said Aren Platt, a Philadelphia-area Democratic campaign strategist.
Pennsylvania is the sixth-largest electoral prize for Democrats seeking the partys nomination and, next year, it will be the last of the delegate-rich states to vote, except perhaps New Jersey.
It also occupies an indelible place in the minds of Democrats. It flipped to Republican Donald Trump by less than 1 percentage point in the 2016 election after backing Democrats in six straight presidential elections.
To some Democrats, a candidate must show strength in a Pennsylvania primary, since the state is a must-win in 2020.
To me, you would have to, said U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans of Philadelphia. You dont have to be a rocket scientist to understand. Trump won Pennsylvania. Thats what put it in play.
In the past, Pennsylvanias primary election was largely academic. Usually, earlier-voting states winnow the field to one candidate who has a commanding lead by the time Pennsylvania votes.
Still, besides the big primary field, there are a couple other reasons that Pennsylvania could see a competitive Democratic primary.
There is the rise of small-dollar donations, which fueled Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 run against the eventual nominee, Hillary Clinton. Then there is the partys new rule for 2020, in which superdelegates party establishment insiders who are automatic delegates to the partys convention cannot vote on the first presidential ballot if the convention remains contested.
Many in 2016 declared their support for Clinton even before primary votes. Now, Pennsylvanias Democratic Party chairwoman, Nancy Mills, said she asked the states national party committee members to remain neutral until the convention.
That will make a difference and a more level playing field for all the candidates coming into Pennsylvania, Mills said.
Perhaps 1984 was the last, most impactful Democratic primary election in Pennsylvania, said Terry Madonna, a pollster and public affairs professor at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster. Thats when Walter Mondale, Gary Hart and Jesse Jackson came to Pennsylvania with the nomination still in doubt.
ORourkes Monday rally at Penn State wasnt the first presidential primary campaign activity in Pennsylvania in March.
South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg made book tour appearances in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard held a meet-and-greet at a Philadelphia brewery. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker held private fundraising events in Philadelphia.
But it was easily the highest-profile event, attracting hundreds on short notice, and party strategists and officials predict that more such activity is coming.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, if he runs, has a built-in advantage in Pennsylvania, many say. He is from neighboring Delaware, has close ties to longtime party officials and is a fixture on Pennsylvanias campaign trail, including stumping in November for Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.
In September, Biden marched in Pittsburghs Labor Day parade, drawing shouts of encouragement from building trades union members to run for president.
All the labor leaders took notice, said Mike Mikus, a campaign strategist who advises Pittsburgh-area labor unions.
Among the hundreds who came out to see ORourke at Penn State, some expect a competitive Pennsylvania primary and want to get to know the candidates better. Many liked ORourke, but not exclusively.
Right now, it is so early, I want to hear as much as I can about the candidates, said Joanna Suarez, a Penn State sophomore from Gettysburg. My mind is pretty open.
___
Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timelywriter .
___
This story has been corrected to show ORourkes rally was last week, not this week.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Compass Gold Corp. (TSX-V: CVB) (Compass or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the results of detailed ground geophysics performed on the Ouassada exploration permit on its Sikasso Property in Southern Mali.
Highlights
1,600 m long target structure has been identified by ground geophysics underlying three artisanal working areas at Farabakoura
Structure corresponds to gold mineralization identified in five bedrock drill holes
Additional structures also identified in Farabakoura area
Planning is underway for additional 1,000 m drill program around Farabakoura, and ground geophysical survey has started over coincident geophysical and geochemical targets on Ouassada and Faraba-Coura permits.
Compass CEO, Larry Phillips, said, Our recently completed ground geophysical surveys identified structures in the bedrock that correlated well with known zones of gold mineralization revealed from recent drilling, providing the latest support for our exploration efforts in this area. Next, we plan to initiate bedrock drilling as soon as possible to determine whether the structure is mineralized for the entire 1,600 m length that our ground geophysics has indicated the zone could extend.
Farabakoura Ground Geophysics
Based on the results of recent drilling centred on the main artisanal gold workings at Farabakoura (Compass news releases dated January 10, and March 5, 2019), it was decided that two detailed ground geophysical orientation surveys would be performed in the area (Figure 1). These were Pole-Dipole frequency domain Induced Polarization (IP) and ground magnetic surveys. Both ground geophysical surveys were conducted by field personnel from EurekaGeo, a mineral exploration consultancy based in Bamako, Mali, and helped identify bedrock structures that are associated with the gold mineralization present at Farabakoura. The ground magnetic survey covered the whole area of known gold workings at Farabakoura, covering 120 line-km on a north-south orientation with 25 m line spacing. The IP survey consisted of six northeast oriented lines that varied from 400 m to 1,000 m in length, used a dipole spacing of 50 m, and had a ground penetration of up to 150 m. The data from both surveys were processed and interpreted by Jeremy S. Brett, M.Sc., P.Geo. (MPH Consulting Limited, Toronto), in consultation with Company staff.
Figure 1 accompanying this announcement is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6cfd66f-bb5f-404d-abb1-7c10d9ccf0a6
The ground magnetic survey data identified four main NW-trending features and one east-west trending feature, the longest of which is 1,600 m (Figure 1). The longest structure has been drilled at two locations 380 m apart, where a NW-trending zone of mineralization up to 60 m wide (averaging 1.42 grams per ton gold (g/t Au)) was identified.
Interpretation of the six IP lines perpendicular to the NW-trending mineralized trend identified resistivity and chargeability features in the resulting IP sections that are in good agreement with the known geology from drilling and the detailed ground magnetic survey. Features on the IP sections were interpreted as igneous intrusions, faults and areas of potential mineralization.
Based on the detailed geophysics and coincident artisanal gold workings, 1,000 m of RC drilling is planned shortly over the Farabakoura area. Field teams will soon begin preparing the drilling pads, with drilling anticipated to begin in April. Meanwhile, the geophysical field teams have started the main IP survey over the remaining 14 targets on the Ouassada and Faraba-Coura targets.
Next Steps:
The Company is awaiting repeat assay result from the single diamond hole (see Compass news release dated February 14, 2019) at Farabakoura, which will be released as soon as they have been received. However, the preliminary assays and geological information from this hole were integrated with the RC drilling data and results from the detailed ground geophysical survey reported in this release. Based on this synthesis, Compass has identified several areas where addition infill drilling is planned to determine the extent of mineralization at Farabakoura.
Additional bedrock drilling will take place on the remaining targets on the Ouassada and Faraba-Coura permits once the permit wide IP survey is completed and interpreted.
Field teams are continuing to perform sampling at nine artisanal gold sites on the Yanfolila South block, and assay results will be released once this program is complete. It is anticipated that limited bedrock drilling can take place on some of these workings prior to the beginning of the rainy season in late June.
About Compass Gold Corp.
Compass, a public company having been incorporated into Ontario, is a Tier 2 issuer on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V). Through the 2017 acquisition of MGE and Malian subsidiaries, Compass holds gold exploration permits located in Mali that comprise the Sikasso Property. The exploration permits are located in three sites in southern Mali with a combined land holding of 854 km. The Sikasso Property is located in the same region as several multi-million ounce gold projects, including Morila, Syama, Kalana and Kodieran. The Companys Mali-based technical team, led in the field by Dr. Madani Diallo and under the supervision of Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, is initiating a new exploration program. They are examining the first of numerous anomalies noted for further investigation in Dr. Archibalds August 2017 *National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Sikasso Property, Southern Mali.
Qualified Person
This news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, Compasss Technical Director, who is the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under National Instrument 43-101 standards.
ForwardLooking Information
This news release contains "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the Companys planned exploration work and management appointments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by such information. The statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking information except as required by applicable law.
For further information please contact: Compass Gold Corporation Compass Gold Corporation Larry Phillips Pres. & CEO Greg Taylor Dir. Investor Relations & Corporate Communications lphillips@compassgoldcorp.com gtaylor@compassgoldcorp.com T: +1 416-596-0996 X 302 T: +1 416-596-0996 X 301 Website: www.compassgoldcorp.com
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Less than a week after a series of critical tweets from the president over an Ohio plant closure, General Motors is announcing plans to add 400 jobs and build a new electric vehicle at a factory north of Detroit.
The company says it will spend $300 million at its plant in Orion Township, Michigan, to manufacture a Chevrolet vehicle based on the battery-powered Bolt.
GM wouldnt say when the new workers will start or when the new vehicle will go on sale, nor would it say if the workers will be new hires or come from a pool of laid-off workers from the planned closings of four U.S. factories by January.
The company also announced plans Friday to spend about another $1.4 billion at U.S. factories with 300 more jobs but did not release a time frame or details.
Advertisement
The moves come after last weekends string of venomous tweets by President Donald Trump condemning GM for shutting its small-car factory in Lordstown, Ohio, east of Cleveland. During the weekend, Trump demanded that GM reopen the plant or sell it, criticized the local union leader and expressed frustration with CEO Mary Barra.
GM spokesman Dan Flores said the investment has been in the works for weeks. Indeed, GM has said it planned to build more vehicles off the underpinnings of the Bolt, which can go an estimated 238 miles on a single electric charge. The company has promised to introduce 20 new all-electric vehicles globally by 2023.
In November, GM announced plans to shut the four U.S. factories and one in Canada. About 3,300 workers in the U.S. would lose their jobs, as well as 2,600 in Canada. Another 8,000 white-collar workers were targeted for layoff. The company said the moves are necessary to stay financially healthy as GM faces large capital expenditures to shift to electric and autonomous vehicles.
Plants slated for closure include Lordstown; Detroit-Hamtramck, Michigan; Warren, Michigan; White Marsh, Maryland, near Baltimore and Oshawa, Ontario near Toronto. The factories largely make cars or components for them, and cars arent selling well these days with a dramatic consumer shift to trucks and SUVs. With the closures, GM is canceling multiple car models due to slumping sales, including the Chevrolet Volt plug-in gas-electric hybrid.
GM has said it can place about 2,700 of the laid-off U.S. workers at other factories, but its unclear how many will uproot and take those positions. More than 1,100 have already transferred, and others are retiring.
Right now, were focused on the people of Lordstown, making sure they have opportunities because we do have jobs, Barra told reporters following Fridays announcement. We want every single person in Lordstown to stay within the GM family, and thats what were working on.
The United Auto Workers has sued GM over the closings, which still must be negotiated with the union.
I will not spoil a great occasion here today. But there is hardship amongst four of our locations. And weve made it clear that we disagree with that, UAW Vice President Terry Dittes said.
Trumps latest GM tweet on Monday said GM should: Close a plant in China or Mexico, where you invested so heavily pre-Trump, and Bring jobs home!
I understand a lot of the angst that people are feeling, and I feel it, too, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday. And I want to make sure that GM knows that their investment here in Michigan is encouraged and welcomed and appreciated. And were going to keep doing that.
Ohio and the area around the Lordstown plant are important to Trumps 2020 re-election bid. The state helped push him to victory in 2016, and Trump has focused on Lordstown, seldom mentioning the other U.S. factories that GM is slated to close.
General Motors is committed to supporting U.S. manufacturing, including the great states of Ohio and Michigan, said Barra, who maintains that she sees no further layoffs or plant closures through the end of 2020.
___
Krisher reported from Detroit.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A jury acquitted a white former police officer Friday in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager as he was fleeing a high-stakes traffic stop outside Pittsburgh, a confrontation that was captured on video and led to weeks of unrest.
Former East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld was charged with homicide for killing Antwon Rose II last June. Rose was riding in an unlicensed taxi that had been involved in a drive-by shooting minutes earlier when Rosfeld pulled the car over and shot the 17-year-old in the back, arm and side of the face as he ran away.
The panel of seven men and five women including three black jurors saw video of the fatal confrontation, which showed Rose falling to the ground after being hit. The acquittal came after fewer than four hours of deliberations on the fourth day of the trial.
Roses family remained stoic as the verdict was read, with his mother telling his sister not to cry. Rosfelds wife began sobbing, and she and Rosfeld were hustled out of the courtroom by deputies.
Advertisement
There were tears and gasps in an overflow courtroom, and several people broke out in song: Antwon Rose was a freedom fighter, and he taught us how to fight.
Roses death spurred angry protests in the Pittsburgh area last year, including a late-night march that shut down a major highway.
But on Friday, the reaction was measured.
After the verdict, a group of about 100 protesters headed to the trendy East Liberty neighborhood, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the downtown Pittsburgh courthouse, and they blocked intersections and briefly entered two hotels, chanting 17" for Roses age and reading a poem written by Rose.
The familys attorney, S. Lee Merritt, had urged a murder conviction, saying before closing arguments that its pretty obvious Rose was not a threat to Rosfeld.
He said afterward that Roses mother, Michelle Kenney, was upset about the state of the law. But she didnt really expect a different verdict, given other high-profile cases in recent years in which police officers have either avoided charges or won acquittals in the shooting deaths of black men and teens.
She has joined a community of mothers who have lost children in really, really horrific ways, he said.
Defense lawyer Patrick Thomassey told reporters that Rosfeld is a good man. He said to me many times, Patrick, this has nothing to do with the kids color. I was doing what I was trained to do.
Thomassey said he hoped the city remained calm, and everybody takes a deep breath and gets on with their lives.
Stephen Zappala Jr., the district attorney in Pittsburgh, said he disagreed with the decision.
At trial, the prosecution and the defense sparred over whether Rosfeld whod worked for the East Pittsburgh Police Department for only a few weeks and was officially sworn in just hours before the fatal shooting was justified in using lethal force.
Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Fodi declared in his closing argument that Rosfeld had acted as judge, jury and executioner, and the video evidence showed there was no threat to the officer.
We dont shoot first and ask questions later, the prosecutor added.
But the former officer told the jury he thought Rose or another suspect had a gun pointed at him, insisting he fired his weapon to protect himself and the community. Neither teen was holding one when Rosfeld opened fire, though two guns were later found in the car.
It happened very quickly, Rosfeld said. My intent was to end the threat that was made against me.
A defense expert testified Rosfeld was within his rights to use deadly force to stop suspects he thought had been involved in a shooting.
Rose had been riding in the front seat of the cab when another occupant, Zaijuan Hester, in the back, rolled down a window and shot at two men on the street, hitting one in the abdomen. A few minutes later, Rosfeld spotted their car, which had its rear windshield shot out, and pulled it over. Rosfeld ordered the driver to the ground, but Rose and another passenger jumped out and began running away. Rosfeld fired three times in quick succession.
The defense said the shooting was justified because Rosfeld believed he was in danger and couldnt wait for other officers to get there.
Hes a sitting duck, Thomassey told jurors in his closing argument, asking them to consider the standard of what a reasonable police officer would do under the circumstances.
Prosecutors had charged Rosfeld with an open count of homicide, meaning the jury had the option of convicting him of murder or manslaughter. The prosecution said Rosfeld gave inconsistent statements about the shooting, including whether he thought Rose was armed.
Hester, 18, pleaded guilty last week to aggravated assault and firearms violations. Hester told a judge that he, not Rose, did the shooting.
___
This story has been corrected to show that Thomassey said Rosfeld referred to Roses color, not his race.
___
Associated Press writer Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this story.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
An attorney representing the suspect in last years Florida high school massacre and the judge overseeing the case got into a brief but heated argument Friday during an otherwise routine pretrial hearing over evidence.
Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill accused Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer of misrepresenting her arguments during a hearing over whether prosecutors are turning over in a full and timely manner evidence McNeill and Nikolas Cruzs other attorneys have requested. Scherer accused McNeill of being disrespectful.
The argument began as McNeill told the judge the Broward County State Attorneys Office is frequently slow in turning over officers reports and police body camera video taken in the immediate aftermath of the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting that left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Cruzs attorneys are entitled to that evidence so they can interview witnesses and prepare Cruzs defense before his trial, which is tentatively scheduled for early next year.
Assistant State Attorney Nicole Chiappone conceded there have been occasional delays caused by police and prosecution error, but said some of the defenses written evidence requests havent been clear. McNeill replied that if she needed to simplify her language so prosecutors could understand her, she would.
Advertisement
Scherer interjected, saying she didnt understand why McNeills team couldnt conduct interviews and if more evidence appeared for a particular witness, do a supplemental interview. Scherer gave an example of an officer whose body camera video wasnt available for his scheduled interview. She said McNeill had said that after the defense lawyers received the video, they decided they didnt need to again interview the officer. McNeill jumped in, saying thats not what she said.
Miss McNeill, let me talk, the judge said.
But youre misquoting me, judge, McNeill replied. There was a brief back and forth. No one yelled, but the tone grew sharper.
Scherer told McNeill, You need to take it down a notch.
Judge, you are putting words in my mouth, McNeill said.
You are being disrespectful, Scherer countered.
Judge, I have to repeat myself so you can understand what I am saying, McNeill said.
Scherer called a recess, telling McNeill you need to take a deep breath and sit down or whatever it is, but you are being disrespectful and I am not going to be talked to in this way.
Cruz, shackled and in a red jail jumpsuit, watched the argument intently from a seat at the defense table.
After the break, there were no further arguments and Scherer sided with McNeill, telling prosecutors to make sure the defense has all evidence it has requested. Chiappone said she believes the defense now has everything, but will make sure.
Cruz, a 20-year-old former Stoneman Douglas student, has pleaded not guilty but his attorneys have said he would plead guilty in return for a life sentence. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Trump administration stepped up sanctions on Venezuela Friday in response to the kidnapping of a top aide for an leader the U.S wants to see replace the embattled but not yet ousted President Nicolas Maduro.
The Treasury Department announcement came while the President Donald Trump met with leaders from five nations in the Caribbean that generally support the U.S. call for an end to Maduros rule. Trump hosted them at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and pledged U.S. investment in their countries.
The new sanctions, issued in response to the kidnapping, specifically target Venezuelas national development bank, BANDES, and four additional subsidiaries that BANDES owns or controls.
The regimes continued use of kidnapping, torture and murder of Venezuelan citizens will not be tolerated by the U.S. or the international coalition that is united behind Juan Guaido, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. He was referring to the opposition leader recognized by more than 50 countries as the legitimate interim leader following a flawed ballot that resulted in Maduros re-election.
Advertisement
Earlier this week, forces affiliated with the Maduro government broke into the homes of officials backing Guaido and threatened them with their lives. Guaidos chief of staff, Roberto Marrero, was kidnapped. In an op-ed published Friday in The Miami Herald, Vice President Mike Pence said the kidnapping was an egregious violation of the rule of law and was only the latest example of Maduros brutality and despotism.
Were not bluffing when we told Maduro not to do stuff like this (the kidnapping), John Bolton, Trumps national security adviser told Univision News in an interview aired Friday.
The U.S. has already sanctioned scores of top Venezuelan officials and has blocked U.S. banks from doing business with that country, imposing a financial strangle-hold on the cash-strapped nation. The sanctions announced Friday also came as members of Congress from both parties condemned Marreros arrest.
The international community is closely watching Maduros actions and will respond accordingly to any that threaten the safety of the opposition and Interim President Juan Guaido, said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.
Trump hosted the leaders of Jamaica, Bahamas, Haiti, Dominican Republic and St. Lucia to show his support for Caribbean countries that back democratic transition in Venezuela. The five have either denounced Maduro or joined more than 50 countries in recognizing Juan Guaido as the rightful interim leader of the nation.
Trump told the leaders as the meeting kicked off that he would be discussing ways that we can be beneficial to you and you can be beneficial to us.
Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that at their meeting with Trump he learned that a representative from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, a U.S. government agency that helps American businesses invest in emerging markets, would be visiting the region and the five countries.
The message from this meeting is that the United States wants to encourage and promote stronger relationship with the region, Holness said. Its absolutely important that its not just talk, that there will be real investments.
Were very happy with that message. We feel that that is a message that is long-in-coming, but were also satisfied that its not just a message. Were satisfied that there will be instrumental action.
The Trump administration considers Maduros government a dictatorship and says he was re-elected in an illegitimate election. The U.S. has sanctioned scores of top Venezuelan officials and has blocked U.S. banks from doing business with Venezuela, putting a financial stranglehold on the cash-strapped country. The country is in an economic meltdown and millions of Venezuelans have fled.
Nations in the Caribbean, however, have been split on whether to interfere in Venezuela.
For years, Venezuela has provided a reliable supply of oil to many Caribbean nations. They purchased the oil under the PetroCaribe arrangement, which gave them low-interest credit terms, but have left them indebted to Caracas.
St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen Michael Chastanet said its been since the Reagan administration that the U.S. has taken an interest in the Caribbean and acknowledged that Trumps invitation was likely due to their support of the U.S. stance against Venezuela at the Organization of American States.
He also acknowledged that not all countries in the region agree with the U.S. call for Maduros ouster.
I think we all recognize theres a problem in Venezuela. Most people recognize the need for new elections, Chastanet said, adding that any disagreement they have is in how that will play out. The world remains divided on that. I think there is a growing consensus that there needs to be fresh elections in Venezuela to resolve the humanitarian crisis.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Beto ORourke reported raising more than $6.1 million during the first 24 hours of his presidential campaign, a record-setting haul that narrowly tops the amount announced by Sen. Bernie Sanders and dwarfs everyone else in the 2020 field.
ORourke was a fundraising juggernaut during his U.S. Senate race in Texas last year, but there were significant questions about whether that would translate to a national campaign where he was running against fellow Democrats, not Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
The answer appears to be yes.
ORourkes campaign said he raised $6,136,763 from donations that came from all 50 states, D.C., and every U.S. territory.
Advertisement
In just 24 hours, Americans across this country came together to prove that it is possible to run a true grassroots campaign for president a campaign by all of us for all of us that answers not to the PACs, corporations, and special interests but to the people, ORourke said in a statement.
In his first day as a candidate, Sanders (I-Vt.) reported raising $5.925 million from 223,000 donors, which brought his average contribution to $27.
ORourkes campaign would not release the total number of donors or the amount raised any subsequent days.
Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) reported raising $1.5 million from 38,000 donors in the 24 hours after she announced her campaign. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) did not announce how much she raised, but on her first day, she pulled in at least $300,000 from 8,000 donors, according to fundraising figures reported by ActBlue, an online fundraising organization used by Warren and other Democrats.
Several Democratic campaigns those of Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Gov. Jay Inslee (Wash.) and former governor John Hickenlooper (Colo.) said they raised about $1 million over 48 hours.
There is no way to confirm the figures the campaigns are releasing until they file reports with the Federal Election Commission in several more weeks.
With at least 15 candidates in the race, fundraising is a crucial barometer for demonstrating who can attract broad enough support to sustain a campaign. It is also a metric used by the Democratic National Committee to qualify for the debates, which are scheduled to begin in June.
But the presence of so many candidates could complicate fundraising, because some of the candidates came into the race with overlapping lists of donors.
The figures so far establish ORourke and Sanders as the two most prodigious fundraisers out of the gate and could set up a clash between the two. Sanders is more liberal than ORourke and has staked his campaign on specific policy proposals that ORourke so far lacks.
Sanders supporters at times prodded ORourke during his Iowa trip last week, asking pointed questions about his positions on health care or his past alignment with more moderate stances.
ORourke eschewed the socialist label that Sanders embraces and said he considers himself a capitalist. When a CNN reporter asked Sanders about ORourkes entry into the race, the senator shrugged. Free country, anybody can run, he said.
During his senate campaign, ORourke raised more than $80 million, the most collected for a single such race, and built a national list of supporters that he has sought to tap since his presidential announcement Thursday morning.
In the hours after he announced, several emails and text messages were blasted out to his supporters, urging them to donate. At one point during a first day spent campaigning in Iowa, he stopped at a gas station, broadcasting on Facebook Live that it had cost $28.53 to fill up the Dodge Caravan he was driving and urging people to donate to help fuel his road trip.
Several of his rivals also made fundraising appeals tied to him entering the race.
Since Thursday, ORourke had declined to release his fundraising figures I choose not to, he said several times which triggered speculation that he wasnt faring as well as he and his campaign had hoped.
ORourke has pledged not to take donations from lobbyists or from corporate political action committees. He has not gone as far as Warren, who has said she will not hold any high-dollar fundraisers.
Im not planning to do large-dollar fundraisers, ORourke told reporters in Dubuque, Iowa, on Saturday night.
But he left open the possibility that he could hold such fundraisers in the future, answering no when asked if he was, like Warren, ruling them out completely.
Right now, were ruling out taking any PAC money or any lobbyist money ever, he said. I have no large-dollar fundraisers planned and I dont plan to do them.
ORourke has yet to announce his campaign staff, including who will serve as his campaign manager.
He said in Dubuque that he would support his campaign workers unionizing, as Sanders campaign has announced it would do.
If thats what the employees of this campaign want to do, Im very supportive of that, he said. I hope that we will be paying the most competitive wages, providing the most competitive health-care and child-care benefits to our employees who will comprise the heart of this campaign.
ORourke was scheduled to campaign in Michigan and Ohio on Monday.
This story was first published in The Washington Post.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday ratcheted up a remarkable public spat with the husband of one of his top advisers, attacking Kellyanne Conways husband as a total loser on Twitter in response to the lawyers persistent questions about his mental health and competency.
A total loser! Trump wrote in the tweet targeting Conways husband, a prominent conservative attorney. The presidents tweet also included a dubious assertion from Trumps 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, that the president doesnt even know his senior advisers husband.
But George Conway said in an interview Tuesday that he has had a number of notable interactions with Trump over the past decade, including legal representation and sensitive legal matters since Trump became president. He described the president as mendacious and incompetent and predicted he would not win reelection.
Conway also suggested his own tweets questioning the presidents mental health were aimed in part at avoiding conflicts with his wife.
Advertisement
Its so maddening to watch, said Conway, a longtime Washington attorney who is well-known in conservative circles. The mendacity, the incompetence, its just maddening to watch. The tweeting is just the way to get it out of the way, so I can get it off my chest and move on with my life that day. Thats basically it. Frankly, its so I dont end up screaming at her about it.
Conway has been a persistent critic of Trumps policies and actions, frequently going on Twitter to question whether the president is operating within the Constitution and other accepted boundaries. But the criticism recently has become more personal, and he has often attacked Trump just after his wife defends the president on television.
Conways tweets on Monday included images from the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, including pages with diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
Although Conway had previously posted similar concerns on Twitter, it stuck this time because of the utter bizarreness this weekend, his own conduct. It was so illustrative, he said, referring to a two-day span in which Trump sent out 52 tweets with a broad range of attacks.
Kellyanne Conway did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday, but she said on Monday that she did not share her husbands concerns about Trump. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump has wanted to attack George Conway on Twitter before but has been talked out of it by aides, who argued it would embolden Conway and cause unnecessary drama, according to several current and former White House aides.
The presidents change of approach was apparently prompted by a tweet sent Monday night by Parscale, who wrote about Conway: We all know that @realDonaldTrump turned down Mr. Kellyanne Conway for a job he desperately wanted. He barely worked @TheJusticeDept and was either fired/quit, didnt want the scrutiny? Now he hurts his wife because he is jealous of her success. POTUS doesnt even know him!
George Conway said that contrary to Parscales tweet, he opted against working at the Justice Department after Trump offered him a position heading the civil division because he watched Trump attack the departments leaders and then fire James Comey, the FBI director, in early 2017. Conway said he remembered riding down the West Side Highway in Manhattan and hearing on the radio that special counsel Robert Mueller had been appointed to lead an investigation of possible connections between Russian election interference and the Trump campaign.
Im thinking to myself, this guy is going to be at war with the Justice Department for the next two years, Conway said. Im not doing this, George Conway said.
In a conversation with Trump at the wedding of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in June 2017, Conway said Trump approached him and complimented him for not taking a job under then-attorney general Jeff Sessions.
He said to me, I remember it clearly, you were smart not to work for that guy, George Conway said. He is so weak.
Trump then ranted for several minutes that Sessions should have never recused himself from the Mueller investigation. I told him, Id heard the recusal issue was pretty clear, that Sessions had to recuse himself, Conway said. He took great affront at that.
A person close to Parscale said the campaign manager was told by Trump that he did not have any recollections of being in a room with George Conway and that the president only met Kellyanne Conway during the election.
George Conway outlined a number of interactions with Trump that date back more than a decade - and said his wife had known him for that long.
Shortly after they were married in 2001, Kellyanne and George Conway moved into an apartment in Manhattans Trump World Tower. A few years later, George Conway made an impression on the future president at a condominium board meeting where he argued against removing Trumps name from the building. The speech earned him an offer to join the condo board, which he declined but passed on to his wife, who accepted.
In a 2006 letter shared with The Washington Post, Trump praised Conway for helping him keep control of the building.
What I was most impressed with was how quickly you were able to comprehend a very bad situation, Trump wrote, praising Conway for ridding Trump World Tower of some very bad people. In a postscript, Trump said Conway had a truly great voice, certainly not a bad asset for a top trial lawyer!
Conway said Trump also called him to thank him, and he told the president he was glad his name stayed on the building.
The two later met at a fundraiser in Alpine, New Jersey, where the Conway family owns a home, he said. After Trump won the election 2016, Conway said that he flew with Trump to Washington for an inaugural dinner with his wife as they moved their belongings, which were on the plane.
During that flight, Trump repeatedly quizzed Conway if he should fire Preet Bharara, then the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Conway said. I said in general, its better to have your people in terms of important positions than others, Conway said. He said the president did not appear motivated by anything other than political machinations. Trump eventually fired Bharara in the spring of 2017.
During the transition, Conway said he also rode in a black SUV with Trump, his wife and Steve Bannon to a costume party at the home of GOP megadonor Rebekah Mercer. Trump had heard about the party and wanted to attend. During the car ride, Conway said the president was fixated on John Boltons prominent mustache - and that it was a reason not to pick him as secretary of state. Since then, Trump picked Bolton as his national security adviser.
He didnt like the mustache, Conway said. He just went on and on about the mustache.
Conway later said he was surprised to get a call from Trump around the time he took office, where the Trump was seeking legal advice about a lawsuit alleging that the president was benefiting financially from the presidency in violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution. The call, he said, was arranged by his wife. He wanted to know what I thought about the judge and what I thought about the case, Conway said.
In spring 2017, Conway said his wife arranged a call with Conway, the president, Vice President Pence and senior adviser Jared Kushner to evaluate lawyers for the Mueller investigation. A speakerphone was used, Conway said.
He wanted to know my opinions on a variety of lawyers who were being considered to be his outside counsel. He asked me for my opinions on each of them, Conway said, adding that there were all these people in the room making it a nonprivileged conversation.
Some in the White House say Conway is selfish for posting so many tweets, making it difficult for his wife to work there and attacking her boss. Now he hurts his wife because he is jealous of her success, campaign manager Brad Parscale posted on Twitter Monday night.
Kellyanne Conway went on a lengthy rant about her husband to several guests at a British Embassy party for members of Congress last month, including New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, NBC anchor Andrea Mitchell and former Washington Post journalist Sally Quinn, according to two attendees, who requested anonymity to describe a private conversation.
Conway told the group that she and the president think her husband is jealous of her, and that the president has kept her at a prominent place in the administration because he trusts her and wants to protect her, the attendees said.
Kellyanne Conway also said that George Conway preferred to spend his time in front of his computer, while she preferred to socialize, the attendees said. Kellyanne Conway also said it was the fault of the news media for giving her husband such a platform, and that some of George Conways close friends had asked him to stop.
She told the guests that they would not like it if their marriages or personal lives were in the spotlight, these people said.
Asked for comment, Quinn said Conway was upset about the media giving her husband so much attention.
She said women should be respectful of other women, and his comments had nothing to do with her job, Quinn said. I told her its a story, its a very good story.
George Conway declined to comment on the state of his marriage - answering only that he wished his wife did not work for the White House.
He said he remained proud of his wife and was not jealous.
No one was prouder than I was that she was able to elect this man president despite his obvious flaws, said Conway, who was spotted crying tears of joy on election night in 2016 at Trump Tower. She took a campaign that the candidate had run into the gutter.
He added, I made it possible for her to be where she is today. So theres that. Its not about jealousy. Its about reality. Who this man is, and whether hes fit for public office. Which, as Ive said, he isnt.
Many of Conways friends in the legal community say he should focus instead on the presidents success in appointing conservative judges and that he is too fixated on the presidents personal style.
But Conway said Trump was damaging conservatism for decades to come and that it was not worth the bargain for judges and conservative policies. He also shrugged off Trump calling him a total loser on Twitter.
The Democratic Socialists of America has endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in his second run for president.
The New York-based group says its National Political Committee voted Thursday to endorse Sanders and move forward with an independent campaign to elect him and advance a class-struggle agenda.
The 56,000-member organization calls Sanders the only democratic socialist running for president in 2020" and the only socialist in American history with a serious chance of winning the presidency.
Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist. He announced his Democratic presidential bid last month, saying his campaign is about creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice.
Advertisement
Sanders spoke to striking university workers in Los Angeles this week and complained about a war being waged against the working people.
Sen. Kamala Harris made the first major policy announcement of her campaign Saturday, promising to use federal dollars to boost teachers salaries as she spoke to a boisterous crowd at Texas Southern University.
Harris didnt reveal details of the plan, which her campaign says will come within days. But the crowd of 2,400 that gathered at the historically black school showed her ability to attract a diverse gathering, including older white voters from the Houston area, Latino students who drove from University of Texas at Austin and a large contingent of African-American voters.
In a bit of political theater, Harris, D-Calif., held the rally in the home state of former Rep. Beto ORourke, a little more than a week after ORourke launched his own presidential campaign, and in a county that bears her name. Texas is also the home state of former San Antonio mayor Julian Castro, another hopeful seeking the Democratic nomination.
The greatest measure of a society is how it treats its children, Harris said. So I came to Harris County today to unveil, and announce for the first time publicly, an initiative Im proposing that will be the largest federal investment in teacher salary in American history.
Advertisement
Harris didnt explain how her plan would work, how much it would cost, or how shed pay for it. Instead, she suggested the initiative should be viewed as an investment that would yield a valuable return for society.
In targeting teachers, Harris became the first candidate to reach out to the largely female group of politically active professionals with a policy proposal directly addressing their concerns.
ORourkes candidacy has dominated the campaign news cycle in recent weeks. Accounts of his remarks, often delivered informally from restaurant countertops, have mixed with reports on events by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., which have often been attended by the same loyal supporters that supported his run in 2016.
Meanwhile, Harris campaign has been chugging along and filling venues. As an Asian American and African American woman, Harris is building connections with a range of communities that have kept a greater distance from other candidates.
Harris raised money this week in Texas as well as California, two states that have primaries on Super Tuesday - March 3, 2020 - when several key states will hold elections.
She was to hold another rally Sunday at a historically black school, Morehouse College, in Atlanta. Harris, a graduate of Howard University in the District of Columbia, has made historically black colleges and universities a focus of her early schedule.
But she tends to draw diverse crowds at a variety of venues, including Friday at an Embassy Suites hotel attached to a Bass Pro Shops outlet in Grapevine, Texas.
Look at this beautiful rainbow in front of me, state Rep. Ramon Romero Jr. said as he warmed up that audience. Tarrant County, where Grapevine is located, is also home to Fort Worth, which has backed the Republican presidential nominee for years - but which President Donald Trump carried with a slim 52 percent of the vote in 2016 and ORourke carried in 2018.
I was a Beto supporter for Senate, not for president, said Jennifer Giles, 45, a small-business owner and Harris supporter from Flower Mound, Texas, who was at Sundays rally. Once we see the debates and see these candidates next to each other, I think the stellar candidates will be obvious, and I think experience and gravitas will show.
Harris is not alone among the Democratic hopefuls in venturing increasingly beyond the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. With a crowded Democratic field, currently at 15 and expected to grow, several candidates may survive well beyond the early primaries, prompting them to try to build up strength in other states.
Unlike many other candidates, Harris is also drawing GOP opposition. On Friday, she was greeted by members of Open Carry Texas, a gun-rights organization whose members carried weapons into the parking lot outside her event. She also drew conservative protests in South Carolina, though neither protest was disruptive.
On Saturday, her announcement drew praise from the American Federation of Teachers, a group that says it represents nearly 1.7 million teachers nationwide and has long been a political force.
Paying educators less than other similarly skilled college graduates has been a problem 4 a long time, tweeted AFT President Randi Weingarten.
Teachers have recently gone on strike in several major U.S. cities, including Harris hometown of Oakland, Calif., and Harris has expressed solidarity with those actions.
Saturdays pay announcement addressed a central demand of strikers by promising to close the wage gap between teachers and other professionals. Teachers in the United States make an average of $11,000 less annually than similar professionals with college degrees, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute. Teachers of color make even less.
Still, with no details available yet, it was impossible to tell how the initiative would work.
Harris has advocated several policies that would require significant federal spending. In the Senate, she has introduced a middle-class tax credit. To help fund those measures, Harris wants to raise taxes on the wealthy.
I know what people are going to say after today: How is she going to pay for it? Harris said. People in the private sector have understood that if you want to be smart in the way you run anything, you understand that you can invest. You understand that your analysis is not how much does it cost; the question is, what is the return on the investment?
This story was originally published in The Washington Post.
Special counsel Robert Mueller obtained court-approved warrants to search the emails of President Donald Trumps lawyer Michael Cohen in July 2017 as his office investigated whether Cohen had illegally worked for foreign entities, according to newly unsealed documents illustrating how the investigation moved quickly and quietly to scour the digital trails of the presidents associates.
The search warrants unsealed Tuesday in Cohens case offer new insight into how Mueller and his team handed off a key part of the Cohen investigation to federal prosecutors in New York in early 2018, and how much evidence prosecutors already had against Cohen even before they searched his office, home, and hotel room in April of that year. They also serve as a detailed reminder of the broad array of wrongdoing of which Cohen was accused and to which he eventually pleaded.
The first warrant obtained by the special counsels office was dated July 18, 2017. Investigators were especially interested in how Cohen had apparently lied to banks claiming he couldnt pay back loans as quickly as they would have liked while pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars from companies like AT&T, Novartis and even an investment-management firm linked to a Russian national. Prosecutors in New York have since alleged Cohen was charging enormous sums while performing minimal work.
The warrants describe Cohens false statements to financial institutions about the purpose of Essential Consultants Cohens firm that took payments from AT&T, Novartis and the Russian national as well as activities undertaken by Cohen on behalf of certain foreign persons or foreign entities without having registered as a foreign agent, one of the documents says. Another document says the payments, including from international clients, were for consulting on issues pending before the Trump administration.
Advertisement
The documents show that the special counsels office was investigating Cohen for allegedly making false statements to a financial institution, and suspected bank and wire fraud as well as possible money laundering and violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Cohen was not a registered lobbyist, nor had he registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, authorities alleged.
Among other things, the special counsel sought records of any funds of benefits received by or offered to Michael Dean Cohen by, or on behalf of, any foreign government. It also sought evidence that might reveal Cohens efforts to conduct activities on behalf of, for the benefit of, or at the direction of any foreign government.
In early 2018 the special counsels office referred a part of its Cohen investigation to federal prosecutors in New York. As part of that referral, on Feb. 8, 2018, the special counsels office turned over relevant emails from its warrants to the New York prosecutors, according to one of the newly unsealed affidavits.
Michael Cohens home, office, and hotel room were searched nearly a year ago as the FBI ratcheted up its investigation of the lawyers finances, and his work on behalf of Trump. That same day agents also executed a search warrant for a safe-deposit box used by Cohen.
The searches set off a protracted legal battle over how the files belonging to Cohen, an attorney, would be reviewed by agents and prosecutors. A federal judge appointed an outside lawyer to review the material before Cohens prosecutors to exclude any material that was covered by lawyer-client privilege or otherwise should not be shared with investigators.
The warrants show that federal agents sought information from Cohens Gmail account, as well as an account he set up for his legal and consulting work. An agent noted that Cohen also used a Trump Organization email account but indicated that as of the filing of the warrant request on April 8, 2018, the FBI had not been able to obtain the contents of that account. The agent did not indicate why the FBI did not have access to Cohens Trump Organization records.
The documents show that FBI agents gathered data about Cohens email and cellphones before the raid. For instance, one warrant sought historical location data for two AT&T cellphones that agents alleged were used in the course of a campaign-finance scheme. They sought permission to gather data for the period beginning Oct. 1, 2016, and ending Nov. 8, 2016 the day of the presidential election and then again for the period starting Jan. 1, 2018, and ending with the warrants issuance.
The documents are redacted in significant measure. For example, after the heading The Illegal Campaign Contribution Scheme a reference to Cohens arranging for hush-money payments to women who had alleged affairs with Trump 18 and 1/2 pages are covered in a gray box.
Lanny Davis, a lawyer for Cohen, said in a statement in advance of the documents release: Tomorrows Court-ordered release of the affidavits that led to the search warrants of Mr. Cohens home, office, hotel and safety deposit box, only furthers his interest in continuing to cooperate and providing information and the truth about Donald Trump and the Trump organization to law enforcement and Congress.
Months after the FBIs high-profile search of Cohens properties, Cohen pleaded guilty to tax violations, lying to a bank, and, during the 2016 campaign, arranging hush-money payments for women who claimed that they once had affairs with the future president.
Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress in statements that concealed the true time frame in which he had sought a real estate development deal for a Trump Tower in Moscow conversations that continued, contrary to initial claims, well into the Republican presidential primary campaign.
At Cohens December sentencing, U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III said Cohen should serve three years in prison for a veritable smorgasbord of criminal conduct.
Cohen cooperated partially with federal prosecutors in New York, as well as with Mueller, in hopes of reducing the amount of prison time he would have to serve.
Cohen has provided information to investigators about Trump and the Trump campaign, but prosecutors said he refused to tell them everything he knew.
Since pleading guilty, he has publicly blamed Trump for his downfall, calling his former boss a con man, a racist, and a cheat. Trump and his supporters have repeatedly attacked Cohen as a convicted liar trying to save himself by speaking against his former boss.
In dramatic public testimony to a congressional committee last month, Cohen declared, I am no longer your fixer, Mr. Trump.
Cohen is due to report to prison in May, and he is likely to serve his sentence at a federal lockup in Otisville, New York.
First published by the Washington Post.
He pulled back the curtain on a sophisticated Kremlin hacking operation identifying by name the 12 Russian military officers who he said sought to sway a U.S. election.
He exposed a Russian online influence campaign bringing criminal charges against the 13 members of a Russian troll farm now accused of trying to manipulate U.S. voters and sow division through fake social media personae.
And he revealed how those closest to President Donald Trump defrauded banks, cheated on their taxes and, time and time again, lied to deflect inquiries into their ties with Russia.
After 22 months of meticulous investigation, charges against 34 people including six former Trump aides or confidants and countless hours of all-consuming news coverage, special counsel Robert Mueller today submitted the long-anticipated report on his findings to Attorney General William Barr.
Advertisement
Barr said in a letter to lawmakers that he may be able to inform Congress of Muellers principal conclusions as early as this weekend.
Its not clear whether or when Muellers full report will become public or how his conclusions might impact Trumps presidency.
Barr said he plans to consult with Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to determine what other information from the report could be made public.
But through legal documents and court hearings, Mueller has already revealed rich details about the Russian attack on the U.S. democracy in 2016 and his investigation has triggered unpredictable ripple effects.
The special counsel indirectly helped expose hush money that Trumps lawyer paid an adult-film actress, shed new light on secret foreign-backed lobbying efforts and helped force a reckoning at major technology companies over how social media can be used to divide and inflame.
Muellers investigation also severed the bonds between Trump and some of his most loyal confidants, brought down a national security adviser and spawned spinoff criminal probes that appear likely to live on even after the special counsels office disbands.
Hes almost like a venture capital incubator who has spun out multiple lines of business, said David Kris, a former Justice Department national security division chief and founder of the consulting firm Culper Partners. Hes shown us an awful lot, and yet I think theres an awful lot more to come.
The special counsel team worked amid an unrelenting onslaught of insults and attacks from the president and his party - ensuring that its findings will probably be viewed through the lens of tribal partisan politics.
While polling has found that more Americans are likely to trust Mueller than Trump, those views break down sharply on partisan lines.
I think the question of whether you assess it as a success or a failure, Kris said, is probably really just holding up a mirror to your own expectations, hopes and dreams.
These arent bit players
From the start of his investigation, Mueller and his team followed a consistent pattern. They would toil in silence for months, saying nothing about what leads they were exploring. Then often on a Friday they would reveal indictments packed with more detail than needed to substantiate the charges, though perhaps less than an insatiable public might have preferred.
Mueller struck first at the heart of Trumps campaign charging its former chairman, Paul Manafort, and deputy campaign chairman, Rick Gates, with crimes related to their work for a pro-Russian candidate in Ukraine.
The infractions Mueller alleged were not related to possible coordination with Russia, a fact Trump and his allies were quick to seize on. But the October 2017 indictment sent a message: Mueller was alleging that the presidents campaign had been led by people who had engaged in serious criminal wrongdoing.
Mueller also revealed that another campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos, had secretly pleaded guilty earlier that month to lying to the FBI about his contacts with foreigners claiming to have high-level Russian connections.
He was one of at least 14 Trump associates who had contact with Russian nationals during the campaign and transition.
Papadopouloss plea agreement described his extensive efforts to try to arrange a meeting between Russians and the Trump campaign. And he said that in April 2016, a London-based professor claiming to have Russian connections confided that he had dirt on Hillary Clinton, including thousands of emails.
That same month, Mueller would later allege, Russian hackers had accessed the networks of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic National Committee.
The plea deal previewed what Mueller would show over and over: Those surrounding the president sought to hide or downplay their dealings with Russia.
One of the persistent mysteries has been why.
In December 2017, former national security adviser Michael Flynn admitted that he lied to the FBI about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn had claimed the two did not discuss Obama-era sanctions directed at the Kremlin, when in fact they had.
Nearly a year later, Trumps former personal lawyer Michael Cohen similarly pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about his efforts to pursue a possible Trump Tower project in Moscow. Cohen had told lawmakers that discussions about the project ended in January 2016, when in fact contrary to what Trump had said publicly they continued into the summer of that year, in the heart of Trumps presidential campaign.
When longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone was indicted in January, accused of making false statements and obstruction, he became the sixth Trump aide ensnared by Muellers investigation, a group that included some of the presidents closest confidants.
Earlier this month, Manafort was sentenced to a total of 7 1/2 years in prison for conspiracy and fraud. Cohen is set to start serving a three-year prison sentence in May.
When your campaign manager goes to jail, that makes presidential history, said Douglas Brinkley, a history professor at Rice University. And then to have your personal lawyer go to prison also. These arent bit players these are people who were part of the heart and soul of the Trump operation.
Granular details
One of Muellers core assignments from the start was to dissect exactly how Russia sought to influence the 2016 presidential campaign.
Four months before Mueller was appointed, the U.S. intelligence community laid out in a terse 14-page report how it said Russia on the order of President Vladimir Putin had waged an online campaign to help Trump win the election.
The special counsel added to that 66 richly detailed pages of his own, outlining in two indictments the granular specifics of the cyberoperations.
In the first, which accused 13 Russians of waging a social media influence effort that ran afoul of U.S. law, Mueller revealed he had access to the groups internal communications, including an email from September 2017 in which one of those charged wrote to a family member: The FBI busted our work (not a joke).
Mueller also described how the group worked offline, visiting states to gather intelligence on U.S. politics and enlisting unwitting Americans to hold rallies in support of Trump - providing the clearest window yet into Russias covert efforts.
In the second, which charged a group of Russian military officers with hacking Democrats emails and laundering them through fake online personae so they could be posted online, Mueller identified by name those he asserted were responsible for the attack. The indictment expanded considerably on the intelligence communitys assessment.
Former independent counsel Robert Ray, now in private practice at Thompson & Knight, said it was particularly remarkable how quickly Mueller was able to work, bringing his complicated investigation to a close inside of two years.
Thats a big accomplishment, and thats also recognition of where investigations steered off course in the past, Ray said.
Notably, the indictments did not accuse any Americans of conspiring with Russia one of the main questions the special counsel was asked to examine.
The most Muellers team has said publicly on that topic was in court papers related to Stone, which alleged that the longtime Trump adviser made efforts to get information about the release of the hacked emails in consultation with the campaign then lied to Congress about it.
Court filings also revealed that Manafort, as Trumps campaign chairman, provided 2016 polling data to a Russian associate who the FBI has assessed had ties to Russian intelligence although Manafort was not charged with conspiring with Russia.
Still, the revelations throughout the course of the investigation about the extent of Russias attempts to influence the 2016 campaign, Trumps interest in building a tower in Moscow, and repeated Russian outreach to Trump aides formed a compelling narrative, some analysts said one muted only by how it dribbed out over time.
Its so much, its so gradual, its so complicated, people dont have a chance to sort of pause, catch their breath and really sort of survey the whole story that [Mueller has] found, Kris said. I think if you took it all in in one day, it would kill you. Its simply too much.
Ray said Muellers careful handling of the investigation is likely to set a precedent for future special counsels.
The whole purpose of appointing a special counsel is either to find and prosecute what you were appointed to do, or to fully investigate something and render a judgment that it wasnt appropriate to bring charges within the core of that mandate, Ray said. My view is, either way, thats a success.
Spinoff investigations
Muellers impact has gone far beyond the work of his own prosecutors.
His revelations have fueled calls for greater government oversight of Silicon Valley, following years in which the tech industry grew into one of the nations wealthiest and most important economic sectors while facing little regulatory scrutiny.
Facebook, Twitter and Google were forced to contend with nationally televised questioning on Capitol Hill and internal upheaval in the wake of news that Russia used social media to promote Trump.
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, who at first downplayed the extent of the Russian influence operation on his platform, has since apologized in the face of mounting evidence and is leading a major overhaul of the company to address public demands for greater accountability and privacy.
Mueller has also referred additional investigations to at least three U.S. attorneys offices.
One of those cases, a handoff to prosecutors in Manhattan, led to a guilty plea from Cohen, Trumps longtime personal attorney, for tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations that he told a judge were directed by Trump.
That case ruptured a key personal relationship for the president, spilling into public view embarrassing details about Trumps efforts to pay off the adult-film actress known as Stormy Daniels and allowing prosecutors to pry into Trumps personal business.
The Cohen case appears to have been the spark for yet another investigation this one related to Trumps inaugural festivities. Prosecutors in Manhattan issued a wide-ranging subpoena in February to Trumps presidential inaugural committee seeking records related to its fundraising and spending.
Meanwhile, this summer in Virginia, prosecutors will try a former business partner of Flynn, the former national security adviser, on charges that he acted as an illegal agent of Turkey.
The case underscores how the Mueller probe shined new light on a lucrative and largely unseen American lobbying industry financed by foreign interests.
Flynn will probably be the star witness. As part of a plea deal with Mueller agreeing that he had lied about his contacts with a Russian ambassador, Flynn admitted that he, too, worked as an unregistered agent of Turkey even while advising Trumps campaign.
That revelation drew a sharp rebuke from the federal judge in Washington overseeing Flynns case: Arguably, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan told Flynn in December, you sold your country out.
Similarly, Manafort and Gates have admitted that they did not register for work they did for a Ukrainian political party. So has W. Samuel Patten, another political consultant, whose case in Washington began with another Mueller referral.
At Manaforts tax and bank fraud trial in Virginia in August, operatives from both parties took the stand to describe how American political consultants flock to foreign capitals to earn side money in years when there are not U.S. elections, a legal but previously less-well-understood practice.
In the wake of Muellers appointment, the attention on foreign influence led to a dramatic rise in the number of lobbyists who have filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a law from before World War II intended to bring transparency to the work for foreign entities that until recently had been only loosely enforced.
This month, the Justice Department revealed it is creating a new unit of prosecutors to more aggressively enforce the law. It will be led by Brandon Van Grack, a Justice Department prosecutor and veteran of Muellers team.
The Washington Posts Craig Timberg contributed to this report.
First published by The Washington Post
Local vendors from Nguna showing the number of locally woven baskets yet to be sold on Monday. Photo: File
Oxford Biomedica notes the Japanese approval of Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel), the first CAR-T cell therapy authorised in Asia
Oxford, UK 26 March 2019: Oxford Biomedica plc (LSE:OXB), a leading gene and cell therapy group, today notes an announcement by Novartis that Japans Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) for the treatment of two distinct indications CD19-positive relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and CD19-positive r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
The approval further expands the global reach of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy Kymriah, a ground-breaking treatment that is developed from a patient's own T cells to fight cancer. Kymriah is the first and so far only CAR-T therapy to receive regulatory approval in Asia for these two B-cell malignancies. The approval of Kymriah in Japan also follows the successful completion of the technical transfer at the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation (FBRI) at Kobe for the clinical manufacturing of Kymriah.
Kymriah is a living medicinal product, manufactured individually for each patient by reprogramming the patient's own immune system cells. The approval in Japan follows regulatory authorisations in the United States, Europe including Switzerland, Canada and Australia. The MHLW reviewed data from the global registration CAR-T clinical trials, JULIET and ELIANA, which included investigational sites in Japan. In these trials, Kymriah demonstrated strong and durable response rates and a consistent safety profile in two distinct difficult-to-treat patient populations1.
Oxford Biomedica is the sole manufacturer of the lentiviral vector used in Kymriah. The Group signed an agreement with Novartis in July 2017 for the commercial and clinical supply of lentiviral vectors used to generate Kymriah and other undisclosed CAR-T products with the potential to generate in excess of $100 million in income for OXB over the three years of the contract.
-Ends-
References
Japanese Soceity of Hematology: Guidelines for Clinical Practice of Hematopoietic Tumor. Available at:
http://www.jshem.or.jp/gui-hemali/table.html. Accessed March 2018 .
Enquiries:
Oxford Biomedica plc
John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer
Stuart Paynter, Chief Financial Officer
Catherine Isted, Head of Corporate Development & IR
Sarah MacLeod, Head of Communications
T: +44 (0)1865 783 000
T: +44 (0)1865 783 000
T: +44 (0)1865 954 161 / E: ir@oxb.com
T: +44 (0)7747 602 739 / E: media@oxb.com
Consilium Strategic Communications
Mary-Jane Elliott/Matthew Neal
T: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
About Oxford Biomedica
Special counsel Robert Muellers decision that he could not conclude whether President Donald Trumps attacks on the Russia investigation amounted to obstruction of justice illustrates the difficulty in proving such a charge and left Democrats with a narrow but fraught path to press a case against Trump.
In the end, Trumps mercurial behavior and relentless attacks on the FBI and special counsel probably extended the length of the probe but the fact that many of his eruptions were in public view also may have made it more difficult to show that he had ill intent, a key element in proving obstruction, legal experts said.
In his still-confidential report, Mueller stopped short of drawing a conclusion about whether the president obstructed justice, writing that while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him, according to a summary by Attorney General William Barr, released Sunday.
Barr went further, saying he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that the evidence gathered by the special counsel is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.
Advertisement
That has left the question of Trumps actions which included the firing of FBI Director James Comey, the public attacks on then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the regular cries of witch hunt and the taunting of witnesses as one that will now be wrestled with in the political arena.
The obstruction question, as a legal matter, came down to whether the special counsel had evidence that Trump acted with corrupt intent as he demeaned and demonized the investigation.
Proving intent is genuinely difficult, because it requires you to get inside someones mind and divining intent is art, not science, said Chuck Rosenberg, a former U.S. attorney in Virginia and former counsel to Mueller.
Rosenberg said he was not surprised by the special counsels difficulties in drawing a conclusion on obstruction, noting that it is a complicated calculus to prove someone intended to block investigators and hide a crime.
It was something we routinely debated, as prosecutors and agents, he said.
In his report, Mueller addressed obstruction in an unusual way: He laid out evidence on both sides of the question but left unresolved what the Special Counsel views as difficult issues of law and fact, Barr wrote in his summary. And Mueller pointedly did not clear the president.
One major factor in the Justice Departments analysis: Since Mueller concluded that the Trump campaign did not conspire with Russia as it interfered in the 2016 campaign, prosecutors could not argue that he acted corruptly to hide an underlying crime, legal experts said.
Prosecutors can seek a charge of obstruction when someone seeks to thwart a known criminal investigation, even if there wasnt an underlying crime, some legal experts said, but they said it can often be difficult to then prove that case to a jury.
Compounding the challenge for Mueller was Trumps refusal to sit for an interview in which prosecutors could have probed his motivations. Instead, his legal team only provided written answers from the president to Muellers questions about the campaign not Trumps activities in the White House.
And some of Trumps actions such as his firing of Comey represented the exercise of powers afforded to the president by the Constitution, as his lawyers often argued.
To find criminal obstruction, a prosecutor must have evidence that a persons actions would have the natural and probable effect of disrupting an investigation, said Mary McCord, former acting head of the Justice Departments National Security Division, who oversaw the early stages of the investigation.
Barr wrote in his Sunday memo to lawmakers that Trumps actions many undertaken not furtively, but in full public view didnt reach that standard.
David Kris, who ran the national security division of the Justice Department in the Obama administration, said it was notable that Barr and Rosenstein came to a conclusion about the presidents actions within 48 hours of receiving Muellers final report, which was submitted late Friday.
Attorney General Barr, in the space of a weekend, is able to make the judgment that Mueller precisely avoided making and described as being difficult, said Kris, who now runs the consulting firm Culper Partners.
On the merits, then, Barr and Rosenstein together have reached the question that Mueller specifically avoided reaching, and they reached it very rapidly, he said.
Always on offense
The attorney generals assessment came after months in which Trump repeatedly sought to discredit the Russia probe making public attacks that bewildered his staff.
Trump advisers often joked that the presidents actions made them think he was guilty, even as he said he was not. Why would you behave that way if youd done nothing wrong? said one former senior administration official,who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions.
But Trumps legal team long argued that Trump had no corrupt intent and that he was not intending to block the FBI inquiry into Russian activity, which began before he took office and was taken over by Mueller in May 2017.
Ty Cobb, a then-White House lawyer who advised Trump in the investigations first months, told others that the president was merely thin-skinned and that he lashed out because he could not stand the idea that he was under scrutiny, according to people familiar with his comments.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, said he warned the president repeatedly that his actions could only prolong the probe.
He is always on offense. He never ever stops. Sometimes it works to his benefit, sometimes it works to his detriment, Christie said Sunday. I never thought it had anything to do with the underlying substance. I thought it was just who he was on the personal level.
Trumps actions provided a rich area of inquiry for the special counsel and his team. Comey has said that Trump told him in an Oval Office meeting in February 2017 that he hoped Comey would let go of an investigation into whether Michael Flynn, who was then national security adviser, had lied about his contacts with the Russian ambassador. (Trump later denied that he made the request.)
When Trump fired Comey, he told a Russian diplomat in the Oval Office and then an NBC News reporter that he did so with the Russia investigation in mind.
He then spent months on Twitter badgering Mueller, potential witnesses and Sessions, the attorney general who had earned Trumps ire by recusing himself from the probe and who was eventually forced out in November. He told aides at one point that he wanted to fire Mueller.
But Trumps motives were difficult even for those closest to him to discern, because aides could not be certain whether the president was ordering action or merely venting, said two people who testified to Muellers team about the incidents.
He was always pushing back, pushing, pushing, said one former senior administration official.
Question before Congress
Muellers decision to not conclude whether Trump obstructed justice followed by Barrs quick assessment that he didnt now is likely to provide fodder for an already inflamed political debate about his actions as president.
People are going to want to know what the facts were that werent good enough to rise to the level of obstruction, said McCord, the former Justice Department official.
While in ordinary cases, the underlying evidence often should not be disclosed if it did not result in a charge, in the case of a high-level public official who is running for re-election next year, the public has a right to know the facts so they can make their own determinations about the officials fitness to serve, she said.
In Congress, Democrats promised they would pick up where Mueller left off, insisting that they must see the special counsels full report and not just the brief Barr summary of his findings to analyze the question.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., vowed to immediately haul Barr to Capitol Hill to testify in the near future to explain his decision not to prosecute Trump.
Nadler, whose committee has jurisdiction over any possible impeachment proceedings, highlighted Muellers specific language declining to exonerate the president.
Those words, he said, suggested that Justice Department officials are putting matters squarely in Congress court to continue to investigate.
Likewise, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a joint statement that Barr who wrote a memo before his appointment criticizing Muellers obstruction investigation was not a neutral observer and demanded that Muellers report, as well as underlying investigative material, be made public.
But for Democrats, there could be political risk in pressing the question, particularly given the clean bill of health Mueller offered Trump on the question of whether he or anyone in his campaign conspired with Russia.
The American people will long remember how wrong and irresponsible the Democrats have been, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming said in a statement Sunday. As we go forward, its time for Democrats to put aside their partisan agenda of attacking this President and instead focus on addressing the real issues facing the American people.
The Washington Posts Rachael Bade, Shane Harris, Carol D. Leonnig and Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.
Former House speaker Paul Ryan has landed his first post-Congress job as a board member for Fox, the new parent company of Fox News.
Fox spun off from the larger 21st Century Fox, which Rupert Murdoch sold to Walt Disney Co.
Ryan, R-Wis., who retired from Congress last year citing his desire to spend more time with his family, was named to the board Tuesday. A Fox news release credited him for leading efforts to revise the federal tax code, rebuild the national defense, expand domestic energy production, combat the opioid epidemic, and reform the criminal justice system.
The once rising star of the Republican Party has kept a relatively low profile since leaving Congress, his legacy forever intertwined with the rise of Donald Trump and Ryans reluctance to challenge Trump.
Advertisement
Last week, Ryan reportedly told a crowd during a lecture in Vero Beach, Florida, that the Democrat who defines the race as one about Trump and Trumps personality could beat him. But he quickly backtracked on Twitter to clarify that he believes Trump deserves to win.
To be clear, GOP wins elections when theyre about ideas not when theyre personality contests like Dems & media want. Were clearly better off because of @RealDonaldTrump, Ryan tweeted. His record of accomplishment is why hell win re-election especially when compared to Dems leftward lurch.
Ryan will serve on the board along with Murdoch, Foxs founder, and his son, Lachlan Murdoch, Foxs chairman and chief executive.
First published by the Washington Post.
While eating lunch at the Mineral City Mill and Grill in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Friday, Rep. Steve King - the Iowa Republican who has made a series of statements embracing white nationalism - got a face-full of water from another restaurant patron, authorities said.
Blake Gibbins, 26, of Lafayette, Colo., was in Fort Dodge visiting family, according to a news release from the local police. Gibbins approached the table where King and others were eating and asked the congressman if he was the Steve King.
When King said, Yes, Gibbins threw a glass of water on the representative, Fort Dodge police said.
The act was politically motivated, authorities said, but did not elaborate.
Advertisement
King and another man who was hit with the water, Burlyn Pecoy of Fort Dodge, were not injured.
Gibbins was arrested after the 12:30 p.m. incident and charged with two counts of simple assault and one count of disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors, police said.
Gibbins did not immediately return a request for comment. Neither did Kings office.
King was sharply criticized the day before the incident, after he compared Iowans response to historic flooding to that of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
We go to a place like New Orleans, and everybodys looking around saying, Whos going to help me? Whos going to help me? King said during a town hall Thursday in Iowa, observations he claimed workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency told him about relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina struck the city in 2005, resulting in at least 1,800 deaths.
But when Iowans were recently confronted with historic flooding, King said they did not rely on government handouts as Katrina victims did - a comment that some say played into racist tropes about black Americans.
We go to a place like Iowa, and we go see, knock on the door at, say, I make up a name, Johns place, and say, John, you got water in your basement, we can write you a check, we can help you, King said. And John will say, Well, wait a minute, let me get my boots. Its Joe that needs help. Lets go down to his place and help him.
King was one of 11 members of Congress to oppose a bill providing federal aid to Katrina victims in 2005.
In January, King was removed from his House committee assignments after he questioned in an interview with the New York Times why white supremacist terminology was offensive.
White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization - how did that language become offensive? King told the Times. Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?
King later released a statement calling himself a nationalist who supports western civilizations values but said he did not advocate for white nationalism and white supremacy. I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I reject those labels and the evil ideology they define, the statement said.
First published in The Washington Post
President Donald Trump on Wednesday escalated his feud with the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, calling him a stone cold LOSER & husband from hell!
Trumps broadside on Twitter came after George Conway, a conservative lawyer and frequent critic of the president, publicly questioned the presidents mental health in recent days.
George Conway, often referred to as Mr. Kellyanne Conway by those who know him, is VERY jealous of his wifes success & angry that I, with her help, didnt give him the job he so desperately wanted, Trump wrote. I barely know him but just take a look, a stone cold LOSER & husband from hell!
George Conway responded less than 20 minutes later.
Advertisement
You seem determined to prove my point. Good for you! he wrote on Twitter, adding: "#NarcissisticPersonalityDisorder.
In a subsequent tweet directed at Trump, he added: You. Are. Nuts.
George Conway has pushed back on several assertions in Trumps tweet, including the notion that Trump decided not to give him a job.
Conway said Tuesday that he opted against working in the Justice Department after Trump offered him a position heading the civil division because he watched Trump attack the departments leaders and then fire James Comey as FBI director in May 2017.
On Wednesday, Conway shared a letter he wrote to Trump, dated May 31, 2017, in which he thanked Trump for selecting him for the job but said he was backing out.
I have reluctantly concluded, however, that for me and my family, this is not the right time for me to leave the private sector and take on a new role in the federal government, Conway wrote. Kellyanne and I continue to support you and your Administration, and I look forward to doing so in whatever way I can from outside government.
It was unclear what Trump meant by his assertion in his tweet that Kellyanne Conway had a role in denying her husband a job.
Conway said Tuesdays interview that he has had a number of notable interactions with Trump over the past decade, often concerning legal representation and sensitive legal matters since Trump became president.
Wednesday was the second consecutive day that Trump has used Twitter to attack George Conway. In a much shorter tweet Tuesday, he called him a loser.
Kellyanne Conway did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday, but she said on Monday that she did not share her husbands concerns about Trumps mental health.
George Conway has been a persistent critic of Trumps policies and actions, frequently going on Twitter to question whether the president is operating within the Constitution and other accepted boundaries. But the criticism recently has become more personal, and he has often attacked Trump just after his wife has defended the president on television.
In tweets Monday, Conway included images from the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, including pages with diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
In Tuesdays interview, Conway said his tweets questioning the presidents mental health were aimed in part at avoiding conflicts with his wife.
Its so maddening to watch, Conway said. The mendacity, the incompetence, its just maddening to watch. The tweeting is just the way to get it out of the way, so I can get it off my chest and move on with my life that day. Thats basically it. Frankly, its so I dont end up screaming at her about it.
President Donald Trump is again training his fire on the late Sen. John McCain, nearly seven months after the Arizona Republicans death from brain cancer.
Trumps tweets over the weekend prompted a rebuke from the senators daughter Meghan McCain and from some lawmakers.
On Saturday, Trump quoted former independent counsel Ken Starr, who criticized McCain on a recent Fox News show. In the segment, Starr referred to reports that a McCain ally had shared with the media parts of a dossier that allegedly included information linking Trump to the Russian government.
Trump piled on in his Saturday night tweet, criticizing McCain - as he has repeatedly done on the campaign trail and in interviews - for his vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act in 2017.
Advertisement
Meghan McCain tweeted in response: No one will ever love you the way they loved my father ... I wish I had been given more Saturdays with him. Maybe spend yours with your family instead of on twitter obsessing over mine?
Sunday morning, Trump was at it again.
Returning to the subject of the Steele dossier, Trump incorrectly stated that John McCain, who the president claimed had been last in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy, had sent the Fake Dossier to the FBI and Media hoping to have it printed BEFORE the Election.
He & the Dems, working together, failed (as usual). Even the Fake News refused this garbage! Trump said in the tweet.
No one will ever love you the way they loved my father.... I wish I had been given more Saturdays with him. Maybe spend yours with your family instead of on twitter obsessing over mine? https://t.co/q7ezwmHiQ4 Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 16, 2019
Meghan McCain responded to Trump via Twitter.
My father lives rent free in your head, she said in a tweet that later appeared to have been deleted.
Trumps tweet contained three errors. McCain, a member of the Naval Academys class of 1958, graduated fifth from last in his class. The senator was not made aware of the Steele dossier until Nov. 18, 2016 - after Trump had won the election. And there is no evidence that McCain gave the dossier to the media.
Former McCain aide David Kramer, a Russia expert, testified in a deposition in the BuzzFeed libel case in Florida that he gave the dossier to the media in December 2016. McCain himself gave the dossier to the FBI, but there is no evidence that he gave it to the media.
The libel suit was filed by a Russian technology mogul, who argued that the news outlet defamed him when it published the dossier. BuzzFeed prevailed in the suit in December, when a judge found the organization had the right to publish the dossier. In response to a request from the New York Times, the judge last week unsealed documents related to the suit, including Kramers deposition, which is why the topic is again back in the news.
Some of McCains former Senate colleagues defended him in the wake of Trumps tweet.
On CNNs State of the Union, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a 2020 presidential contender, called Trumps attacks on McCain just another outrageous action by the president.
John McCain was a war hero, Klobuchar said. He served our country well. And he died. And the courage he showed in life was matched - when he was in that cell for five years in Vietnam, as a prisoner of war - was matched by the courage he showed us when he died.
Klobuchar also defended McCains handling of the dossier, arguing that turning it over to the FBI was the right thing to do.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who was one of McCains closest allies on Capitol Hill but who pivoted to fully embrace Trump after the senators death, praised McCain on Twitter but made no mention of the president or his remarks.
As to @SenJohnMcCain and his devotion to his country: He stepped forward to risk his life for his country, served honorably under difficult circumstances, and was one of the most consequential senators in the history of the body, Graham said. Nothing about his service will ever be changed or diminished.
The Washington Posts Rosalind S. Helderman and Colby Itkowitz contributed to this report.
First published by The Washington Post
President Donald Trump took a victory lap on Capitol Hill Tuesday, emboldened by the end of the special counsels Russia probe, even as Democrats demanded the release of Robert Muellers full report and intensified their focus on health care and other policy disputes.
A Justice Department official said it will take Attorney General William Barr weeks, not months to finish reviewing Muellers Trump-Russia investigation report and make a version available for the public. Its not clear how much of what is made public will be in Muellers own words and taken from his underlying report and how much might reflect Barrs summary or synthesis of the special counsels findings.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday to discuss the Justice Departments planning.
Radiating a sense of vindication, Trump strode into the Senate Republicans lunch flanked by party leaders. GOP senators applauded.
Advertisement
It could not have been better, Trump said of the summary of the Mueller report by Attorney General William Barr, which did not find the president colluded with Russia over the 2016 elections.
He told senators he was given a clean bill of health, according to those in the room.
But Trump cut short the celebration by quickly turning senators focus on the challenges ahead, claiming, The Republican Party will soon be known as the party of health care. You watch!
Inside the meeting, he urged Republicans to figure out a way to repeal President Barack Obamas signature health care law and replace it with a GOP version, a major Trump goal that has eluded the party during the first years of his presidency.
I was a little surprised he came out of the chute in health care, said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., after the meeting He wants us to try again.
Hes in a very good mood. Hes in a good form, said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. Hes always high energy. He had a little extra today.
Trumps trip to Capitol Hill came right after his administration said late Monday it would not defend the Affordable Care Act in a court challenge and as the House Democrats, led by Pelosi, were unveiling a sweeping measure to rescue the program, also known as Obamacare.
At her own closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday, Pelosi urged rank-and-file Democrats to be calm and focus on policy promises that helped propel them to the House majority last fall. That means advocating for a robust policy agenda to improve health care and pay while conducting the oversight of the Trump administration many voters want.
Lets just get the goods, Pelosi said, according to an aide in the room granted anonymity to discuss the private caucus meeting.
The advice was reinforced by Obama, who counseled freshman Democrats at a reception Monday night.
Obama advised the newly elected lawmakers to listen to constituents and also identify issues they feel so strongly about that theyd be willing to lose their House seats in fights over them, according to multiple people at the private party.
The former president recalled that as a state legislator he gave priority to his constituents, which helped keep his popularity high enough in Illinois that he could advocate for bold policy ideas.
The challenges for Democrats come as Trump has made clear hes fired up to go on offense against those who propelled the narrative that he colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.
Even before he arrived in the Senate, Trump tweeted his message about health care. When he walked into a cloistered parlor to lunch with Republicans, they applauded him.
Ahead of the Senate meeting, Trump was in a combative mood. He tweeted against the mainstream media as corrupt and FAKE for pushing the Russian Collusion Delusion, previewing attacks on other opponents to come.
He has promised to go after those who did evil things, perpetuating the collusion narrative.
Attorney General Barrs summary said the special counsels probe didnt find collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government to tilt the 2016 presidential election. Mueller did not determine whether Trump obstructed justice in the investigation, but Barr and his team said no prosecution was warranted.
Trump allies, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have encouraged him to use the political capital hes now gained to accomplish policy goals. Lets go on about governing the country, said Graham, who spent the weekend with the president in Florida.
The chairman of the intelligence committee, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., stood up at the closed-door meeting and told his colleagues the most important thing now is the work on the ACA, according to those in the room.
Other leaders backed up the focus on policy.
I believe that the Mueller report has been done. Thats a chapter thats closed, House Democratic Whip James Clyburn said on CNN. Health care, he said, is the number one thing on peoples minds.
On the Trump-Russia track, Democrats pressed the Justice Department to provide the full report from Mueller, saying Barrs four-page synopsis was insufficient.
I havent seen the Mueller report. Ive seen the Barr report. And Im not going to base anything on the Barr report, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.
The president is saying hes been completely and totally exonerated by the report. The one sentence weve seen from the report says this is not an exoneration of the president.
Many Democrats say Barr is conflicted because of his views expressed in a memo to the administration before becoming attorney general that the president cannot be charged with obstruction since he oversees the Justice Department.
You cant move forward on a four-page memo, said Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif. Its hard for me to accept that as an objective opinion.
Trump said the release of Muellers full report wouldnt bother me at all, and Democrats quickly put that statement to the test.
Six House Democratic committee chairmen wrote to Barr and asked to have Muellers full report by April 2. If not, they have suggested subpoenas could be issued.
Associated Press writers Catherine Lucey, Jill Colvin, Alan Fram, Mike Balsamo and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.
Two days after the New Zealand mosque massacre in which 50 people were slaughtered by a white nationalist targeting Muslims, President Trumps acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, said the president is not a white supremacist even as Trump took to Twitter on Sunday to praise a Fox News host whose commentary has been denounced by critics as Islamophobic.
In a manifesto distributed on social media, the Australian man arrested in Fridays attack at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealands third-most populous city, said he considered Trump a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose although he said he did not admire the presidents leadership style or policymaking.
On the campaign trail and as president, Trump has made derogatory references to Muslims. He told an interviewer in 2016 that he believed Islam hates us and, in one of his first official acts, announced a measure targeting immigrants from Muslim-majority nations that set off months of court battles.
In a now-familiar scenario, White House aides and allies found themselves in the position Sunday of attempting to distance the president from previous remarks criticized as racially insensitive or worse at the same time that Trump was again expressing similar sentiments.
Advertisement
Mulvaney, appearing on Fox News Sunday, expressed frustration when asked about the positive citation of Trump in the alleged shooters manifesto.
The president is not a white supremacist. Im not sure how many times we have to say that, he said. In a separate interview on CBS Face the Nation, Mulvaney, also discussing the New Zealand attack, said: I dont think anybody could say that the president is anti-Muslim.
In the Fox interview, he said it was wrong to link the accused attackers ideology to the prior comments of Trump or others.
This was a disturbed individual, an evil person, Mulvaney said of the shooter. And any attempt to try to tie him to an American politician of either party probably ignores some of the deeper difficulties that this sort of activity exposes.
Around the time that interview was being aired, the president was tweeting out a vociferous defense of Jeanine Pirro, a conservative Fox News host who was condemned by her own network after she questioned whether the first allegiance of Rep. Ilhan Omar a Minnesota Democrat who is one of three Muslim lawmakers in the House of Representatives was to Islamic law or the U.S. Constitution.
On Saturday night, Pirro did not appear in her usual weekend time slot on Fox.
On Sunday morning, Trump, during a barrage of tweets, urged viewers to rally around Pirro and another Fox host, Tucker Carlson, who has been under fire after old audio emerged of Carlson calling Iraqis primitive monkeys and also making lewd remarks about teen beauty contestants.
Keep fighting for Tucker, and fight hard for Pirro, the president exhorted his Twitter followers, adding: Your competitors are jealous.
Among nine tweets on a sunny St. Patricks Day morning, the president also took aim for a second day at the late Sen. John McCain, who died of brain cancer in August, and at NBCs Saturday Night Live, which aired a rerun lampooning Trump. The president suggested the show and others like it that mock him should be scrutinized by federal regulators.
The attack on McCain, long lauded as a U.S. war hero after being a prisoner of war and suffering torture at the hands of his captors during the Vietnam conflict, drew a sharp rebuke from Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, who said on ABCs This Week that Trump should apologize for detestable insults of McCain dating back to the presidents 2016 election campaign.
Coons is a Democrat, and his friendship with McCain was one of many that the Arizona Republican cultivated across the partisan divide.
Meanwhile, signs grew that the role of racial rhetoric in inspiring or discouraging attacks by extremists will be an issue in the 2020 campaign. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who declared her candidacy for the Democratic nomination last month, said on CNNs State of the Union that as president, Trump needed to speak out clearly and specifically against attacks on Muslims.
At the very least, he should be giving strong statements, public speeches defending Muslims in this world, Klobuchar said on State of the Union. I think its on all of us to condemn this hate.
After the Christchurch shootings, Trump who normally tweets out quick denunciations of terrorist attacks overseas carried out by Muslims, sometimes preempting the leaders of countries where they occur initially responded with a since-deleted link to the right-wing Breitbart News website, then expressed warmest sympathy and best wishes to the people of New Zealand.
Pressed later about the gunning down of scores of Muslim worshipers and the shooters apparent motivation, he called the attack a terrible thing.
In Christchurch on Sunday, mourners paid tribute to the dead at a makeshift memorial, while relatives continued to wait for authorities to release the victims bodies for burials.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said authorities hoped to release all the bodies by Wednesday. Islamic law calls for bodies to be cleansed and buried as soon as possible after death, usually within a day.
Javed Dadabhai, who flew from Auckland after learning about the death of his 35-year-old cousin, Junaid Mortara, said, The family understands that its a crime scene.
Its going to be a criminal charge against the guy whos done this, so they need to be pretty thorough.
Still, it was hard, he added, because the grieving process wouldnt really begin until he could bury his cousin.
On ABC, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said that in the wake of the New Zealand slayings, voters should insist that politicians, including those running for president, should adopt a more civil tone. He did not specifically mention the president.
Theres a role for our leaders to play in raising the level of civil dialogue in our country and lowering the levels of extremist speech, said Johnson, who served in the Obama administration. Americans do listen to their leaders.
Scott Brown, the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, was asked Sunday on State of the Union about the accused assailants praise for Trump in his manifesto.
I dont give any credibility whatsoever to the ramblings of somebody whos rotten to the core and clearly is an extremist of the worst kind who could walk into two mosques and, without any care whatsoever, kill people, said Brown.
The envoy also brushed aside a query by host Jake Tapper as to whether he would like to see Trump specifically say that hes standing with our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Theres been no time in my political or diplomatic life where I have ever questioned our government, whether its this government or any other prior governments commitment to end racism, stop bigotry, to really deal with Islamophobic attitudes, Brown said.
Hours after the shooting, Trump was asked by reporters whether white nationalism was a growing global menace, and responded that its a small group of people that have very, very serious problems.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat who appeared on State of the Union, suggested the president was playing down a serious domestic threat.
I think he needs to pick up the phone and call the Department of Justice, she said. He cannot just say its a small group of people. Theres too many deaths.
Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat who was Hillary Clintons vice presidential running mate in 2016, said Sunday that white nationalism wasnt Trumps fault, but that the presidents language emboldens racists.
When you see church shootings in Charleston, a synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, you see this hate-filled manifesto of the shooter in New Zealand who is murdering Muslims, we have to confront the fact that there is a rise in white supremacy, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim attitudes, Kaine said in an interview on Face the Nation.
The president uses language often thats very similar to the language used by these bigots and racists, and if hes not going to call it out, then other leaders have to do more to call it out, he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report from Christchurch, New Zealand.
In the chaos of the New Zealand mosque attacks, one heros action saved lives
laura.king@latimes.com
Twitter: @laurakingLAT
Tim Johnson hasnt stopped feeling the Bern.
A committed Bernie Sanders acolyte since 2016, Johnson was at a UCLA labor strike on Wednesday to watch the senator make his first California appearance as a 2020 presidential candidate. Hes taking part in Sanders rallies this weekend as well.
For the record: An earlier version of this story said that Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) was a high-profile Sanders backer in 2016. Lee did not endorse in the Democratic primary in 2016. Sanders campaigned for Lee in 2018.
Its like our wildest dream came true, Johnson said of Sanders second presidential bid. Its actually happening.
This time, however, both Johnsons favorite candidate and his home state enjoy new prominence. Sanders is a Democratic front-runner, not an improbable insurgent. And California will not be the place of a symbolic last stand, as it was for Sanders before, but key territory to mine delegates and build momentum.
Advertisement
Its radically different, said Ben Tulchin, Sanders San Francisco-based campaign pollster.
With its earlier primary on March 3 and mail ballots going out a month prior California is considered by the Sanders campaign to be among the crucial first five, lumping the Golden State in with traditional early nominating contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.
By holding successive rallies this weekend in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Sanders is signaling plans to mount an aggressive bid for California, capitalizing on his demonstrated fundraising prowess and cadre of devoted followers such as Johnson. A midday rally in downtown Los Angeles Grand Park had the feel of a laid-back family reunion, with attendees being greeted by a row of volunteers offering high-fives for Bernie.
How Californias early primary illustrates the states political inferiority complex
Sanders also has the advantage of being the only candidate in the burgeoning Democratic field to have run a presidential campaign in California before, though one of his opponents, Sen. Kamala Harris, does have the benefit of having won three statewide races.
There is no doubt he has a base here of some size that is highly committed to Bernie Sanders, said Garry South, a veteran Democratic strategist based in Los Angeles. But, he cautioned, I dont think he can count on getting every single vote he got in 2016. Hes going to have to keep a fair proportion of those voters in the fold while reaching out to new voters.
For many in the Sanders camp, the 2016 California primary outcome still stings. The democratic socialist and independent senator had engineered his long-shot bid into a protracted contest with Hillary Clinton and saw Californias June primary as an eleventh-hour attempt to claim momentum and persuade party insiders to side with him.
The delegate chase, which Sanders had trailed, came to an abrupt end the night before the vote, when the Associated Press said Clinton had won enough support to clinch the nomination.
The former secretary of State beat Sanders, 53% to 46%.
By the time we reached California, we had greatly diminished resources, said Jeff Weaver, Sanders 2016 campaign manager who is now a senior advisor to the senator. We did not have the intensive statewide field effort I think you will see us launching. Weaver predicted that this time tens and tens of millions will go toward television, radio and other paid media in the state.
Californians have been key to building up Sanders coffers; his campaign said nearly 110,000 donors from the state had given more than $2.6 million so far.
But the playing field is now substantially different. Sanders is up against a larger pool of candidates, many of whom have embraced the progressive themes of income inequality and economic injustice, as well as specific policies such as Medicare for all, that made Sanders a singular figure in 2016.
Bernie Sanders decries anti-Muslim violence in mosque visit and downtown L.A. rally
Another challenge may be Democratic voters desire to elevate a new generation of leaders, which could cut against the 77-year-old senator. Candidates run the risk of feeling stale, South said, recalling that in 2004, then-Sen. Joe Lieberman failed to win support for his presidential bid from people who had avidly backed the Connecticut Democrat in 2000 as Al Gores vice presidential pick.
Four years later, it was time for a new face, said South, who worked on the Lieberman campaign.
MJ Sandhe, an animator from Los Angeles, still sounds wistful in recalling his work as a super volunteer for Sanders first run.
We would wake up at 4 or 5 in the morning. I was getting the least amount of sleep ever, said Sandhe, 30. But it was so exciting.
Sandhe is not sure whether hell back Sanders again. Hes intrigued by Andrew Yang, a venture capitalist whose campaign is centered on a universal basic income of $1,000 a month for every American adult. Sandhe fears Sanders is missing the chance to tinker with his message and expand his appeal.
Im just worried were going to be repeating the stump speeches we had in 2016, Sandhe said.
MacKenzie Grow also voted for Sanders in 2016. The 24-year-old UCLA graduate student said she was waiting to hear more from the candidates about how they will confront racial inequality.
Im not blown away by anyone yet, Grow said.
Sensitive to the perception that he appeals primarily to white male Bernie Bros, Sanders has made an effort to talk more about his biography, including his work in the civil rights movement and his familys immigrant roots.
One of the reason hes telling his personal story about his family coming over from Poland after being persecuted is to apply more context and a different perspective, Tulchin said, noting that Latino and Asian American immigrants could relate.
Perhaps the stiffest competition to Sanders in the state so far is from Harris, who launched her campaign in Oakland and has rolled out a steady stream of endorsements from her fellow California politicians. Among the most notable is Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee, whom Sanders campaigned for in 2018, who signed on early as a co-chair of Harris California campaign.
But true believers like Johnson, a 33-year-old financial consultant from Santa Ana, are certain the Golden State will be a sure thing for Sanders.
I see all these other candidates splitting up their votes and Bernie being a landslide front-runner, Johnson said. I think the primary is going to be a walk in the park for him.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont called on Americans to stand up to hatred of all kinds on Saturday as he paid a visit to a Koreatown mosque to commemorate the victims of the mass shooting in New Zealand.
Your background is different than mine, the candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination told about 200 Muslims at the Islamic Center of Southern California. What a joy it is to share that.
The senator echoed that theme later in the day, telling an estimated 12,000 people at a downtown Los Angeles rally he was shocked and disgusted by the New Zealand shootings.
As president of the United States, I will not have kind words to say about authoritarian leaders around the world who espouse bigotry and hatred, Sanders told the crowd. Together we will make the United States the leader in the world in the fight for democracy and human rights.
Advertisement
Sanders morning stop at the mosque came as he traveled the state to build support for his campaign nearly a year in advance of Californias March 2020 primary.
It also coincided with his effort to diversify his team of top advisors following allegations that his 2016 campaign was dominated by white men and tolerated sexual harassment and discrimination.
Muslim community leaders in California invited Sanders to speak at the Islamic center to pay tribute to the 50 people killed March 15 at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, by a gunman identified as a white supremacist.
Sanders, 77, who acknowledges he does not like to talk about himself, shared memories of crying when he was a boy as he read about the Holocaust.
Once the site of Bernie Sanders last stand, California now is pivotal to his 2020 prospects
I never could understand why would people do such terrible and horrible things to people, he said at the mosque.
He mentioned the killing of Native Americans by European settlers in early America, the enslavement of African Americans, prejudice against Asians, Irish and Italians, and the genocides of the 20th century, saying there was reason to hope the world would now understand that we share a common humanity.
Who really stays up at night worrying that the color of your skin is darker than mine? he said. Who worries that your religion is different than mine?
Sanders bemoaned hate crimes, the rise of authoritarianism and demagogues picking on minorities.
Now is the time, as never before, for us to stand up to hatred of all kind, he said. He did not mention President Trump, whom he has described as racist.
The invited audience greeted Sanders with frequent applause.
I like that he unites people, said Erica Schley Ali, 34, of La Canada, a Sanders supporter who brought her three young children to hear him speak. Minorities especially. I think our country needs that.
High school teacher Karima Razi, 54, a Sanders backer from Laguna Niguel, said she appreciated that his message at the mosque went beyond his usual economic agenda.
It just shows that he has a vision that encompasses the best for everybody, she said.
Sanders followed the visit with a rally in Los Angeles, the second of three large events he planned in California this weekend. His final event will be a midday gathering in San Francisco on Sunday.
A Los Angeles Fire Department official estimated the downtown rally crowd Saturday at about 12,000.
Sanders drew on his biography to underscore his call for an economic revolution, noting that he grew up in a family that lived paycheck to paycheck.
I know where I come from, and that is something I will never forget, he said.
Sen. Bernie Sanders wades through a crowd during a presidential campaign stop at the Islamic Center of Southern California in Koreatown. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Supporters gathered in the grassy Grand Park outside of City Hall, watching opening acts of folk rock and hip-hop performers. Many said they were Sanders backers since 2016 or even earlier.
Jane Jefferies, 66, said shes been a fan since the 1970s, citing his civil rights work. The retiree from Lancaster said the rally on Saturday felt not as energetic, because fellow supporters were wary that the Democratic establishment was not supportive of Sanders.
It looks like now theyre focusing on the wrong people, like Beto, Jefferies said, referring to former Rep. Beto ORourke of Texas, who is also running. Hes always on the news why?
Others said they were intrigued by Sanders Democratic rivals, especially Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator who has been a stalwart antagonist of Wall Street.
Theyre almost all good, in my opinion, said David Siegel, a 60-year-old computer analyst from Beverly Hills. Sanders ranks No. 1, Siegel said, and Warren a close second. No matter what, he said, hed vote for the Democratic nominee.
Thats not even a question, he said.
Bernie Sanders kicked off the first of three rallies in California on Friday evening, promising to complete what he began three years ago with his improbable bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Drawing a crowd of thousands to downtowns Waterfront Park, many of whom supported his 2016 run, Sanders laid out a theme of justice that included economic equality, as well as racial, ethnic and religious unity.
Thank you for being part of a campaign which is not only going to carry California, which is going to win the Democratic nomination, which is not only going to defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in the modern history of our country but with your help we are going to transform this country, said Sanders, an independent, who jumped into the 2020 presidential race a month ago.
The Vermont senator, who is famously disciplined in staying on message, deviated from his stump speech to acknowledge the news that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III completed his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Advertisement
It is absolutely imperative that the Trump administration make that full report public as soon as possible, Sanders said to applause. Nobody, including the president of the United States, is above the law. The American people have a right to know.
Sanders then mourned the mass shooting of Islamic worshipers last week at two New Zealand mosques. He plans to visit with faith leaders at the Islamic Center of Southern California on Saturday morning.
Otherwise, Sanders hewed closely to the familiar themes of his 2016 campaign, calling for Medicare for All and a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage. The speech had a distinctly triumphant tone as Sanders recalled how his positions used to be seen as outside the political mainstream.
Those ideas that we talked about four years ago that seemed so very radical well today, virtually all of those ideas are supported by a majority of the American people, said Sanders, 77. He added that Democratic presidential candidates have hopped on board as well.
It turns out that justice is not such a radical idea! he said.
Sanders also relished lacing into the president, saying Trump embarrasses us every day and mocked him as an out-of-touch child of privilege.
The anti-Trump rhetoric won cheers from the crowd, but Sanders emphasized his campaign was not just about defeating Trump but taking on Wall Street, insurance companies and drug manufacturers that control the economic and political life of our nation.
The promise of political revolution, which many in the crowd said drew them to Sanders 2016 campaign, was a bigger draw than the focus on Trump for some attendees.
Id rather hear Bernie talk about how hes going to change the country, rather than waste any time on Trump, said Al Meier, a 76-year-old retired teacher from El Cajon.
The San Diego gathering marks the first large-scale rally in California for Sanders as a 2020 presidential candidate.
Earlier this week, Sanders spoke in support of striking research and technical workers at UCLA, offering an abbreviated riff on the issues that defined his political brand: aligning with organized labor, lambasting corporate employers and pledging sweeping social programs such as tuition-free college.
Sanders will host a rally at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon and another in San Francisco midday Sunday.
HOUSTON, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tokio Marine HCC today announced that Christopher Skarinka, Chief Operating Officer for its Professional Lines and Public Risk Groups, has been promoted to President of the Public Risk Group, effective April 1, 2019, succeeding Thomas Harmeyer who will continue to serve the division as Executive Chairman.
Prior to joining Tokio Marine HCC in 2018, Mr. Skarinka was a co-founder of Athenium Analytics, a risk analytics company, and served there as President and a member of the Board of Directors. In 2012, he co-founded Kanopy Insurance, an independent personal lines agency. From 2010 to 2013, Mr. Skarinka worked as an Associate for Great Hill Equity Partners, a private equity firm. He started his career as an Analyst at Deutsche Bank Securities in 2007, after graduating from Harvard University with an AB in Social Studies.
We are very excited for our municipal clients and our expansion plans in that market niche because Chris has demonstrated the entrepreneurial spirit that sets us apart from our competitors. His expertise in envisioning and designing technological solutions for the insurance industry will help us execute the growth plans for our leading Public Entity practice, said Mr. Harmeyer.
The opportunity to lead the Public Risk Group is exciting, particularly given the complex needs of our policyholders and the critical services they provide the American public. Thomas leadership over the past seven years has resulted in a market-leading business with a strong culture of underwriting and service to customers. These values provide the foundation to accelerate innovation, expand into new territories and invest further in growth, commented Mr. Skarinka.
Tokio Marine HCC is the marketing name used to describe the affiliated companies under the common ownership of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated insurance holding company. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Tokio Marine HCC is a leading specialty insurance group with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Tokio Marine HCCs major domestic insurance companies have financial strength ratings of AA- (Very Strong) from S&P Global Ratings, A++ (Superior) from A.M. Best, and AA- (Very Strong) from Fitch Ratings; its major international insurance companies have financial strength ratings of AA- (Very Strong) from S&P Global Ratings. Tokio Marine HCC is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, a premier global company founded in 1879 with a market capitalization of $34 billion as of December 31, 2018. For more information about Tokio Marine HCC, please visit www.tokiomarinehcc.com.
The Public Risk Group of Tokio Marine HCC offers a proven range of Risk Control Services to government agencies and organizations that help protect the public. Through its Public Entity program, the group offers one of the most cost effective and comprehensive municipal insurance programs available in the U.S. that is customized for the needs of each client. Its in-house Claims Service processes all claims for Tokio Marine HCC Public Risk. Staffed by a team of experienced claims attorneys and claims professionals, the group investigates, analyzes and resolves claims in a timely manner and utilizes a state-of-the-art processing system, document management system and automated accounting system to expedite the process.
Joe Biden is carrying a 20th century voting record into a 21st century political dogfight.
During more than 40 years in public life, Biden has taken an array of stances at odds with todays Democratic Party consensus. As he now prepares for his third presidential campaign, that record could hamper him in a big field of mostly younger, more liberal primary rivals.
A review of Bidens record which spans 36 years as a U.S. senator and eight as vice president is, in part, a reminder of how much the Democratic Party itself and the U.S. political system have changed over the last half a century.
Biden opposed school busing for desegregation in the 1970s. He voted for a measure aimed at outlawing gay marriage in the 1990s. He was an ally of the banking and credit card industries.
Advertisement
He chaired the 1991 Clarence Thomas hearings that gave short shrift to the sexual harassment allegations raised by Anita Hill. He backed crime legislation that many blamed for helping fuel an explosion in prison populations. He eulogized Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), who rose to prominence as a segregationist. He backed the Iraq war.
Many of Bidens positions were well within the mainstream of the Democratic Party at the time he took them.
But the party is now far more sensitive to discrimination against gays, sexual harassment and racial inequality than when Biden first came to Washington.
The capital has changed, too. The Senate Biden entered as a 30-year-old in 1973 was still a bastion of bipartisan backslapping, where compromise was not a dirty word. The Democratic Party was a coalition of Southern conservatives and Northern liberals. Liberal Republicans were still a thriving political faction.
Bidens record, even though he has reversed himself on some issues, provides ammunition to skeptics who see him as a politician of another era a beloved figure, but one whose time has come and gone.
I worry whether he is ready for the times, said Chris Schwartz, a Black Hawk County supervisor in Iowa who says Biden is not in his top five choices among the candidates but is prepared to support whoever is nominated. He has just gotten too many big issues wrong over the years.
But most Democratic voters put their top priority on beating President Trump, and Biden allies say he is the best equipped to win. Polls show Democrats are still fond of Biden and seem more willing to forgive him for his past than they ever were for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Democrats, facing a big candidate field, ask: Who can beat Trump?
Ive seen Biden change; all of us have seen our parents, our aunts and uncles change, said Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party who is neutral in the 2020 race but supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary.
I dont think it says who he is today, Kleeb said of some of the flashpoints in Bidens voting record.
If Biden, 76, formally enters the race he has strongly hinted he will do so in a matter of weeks the question will be which of those attitudes will prevail.
Speaking at a dinner of the Delaware Democratic Party in Dover on Saturday night, Biden responded to criticism of him from what he called the new left.
I have the most progressive record of anybody running, said Biden, who quickly revised his words when the audience reacted as if he were announcing his candidacy. Anybody who would run. I didnt mean it.
But his speech sounded like a campaign stump speech, and other Democrats treated his eventual entry into the race as a foregone conclusion.
If you ask me he doesnt just look like hes back, Delaware Gov. John Carney said of Biden. He looks like hes ready for a fight.
Biden would join a big field of Democratic candidates that spans four generations, from millennials including South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 37, to Silent Generation member Bernie Sanders, 77. The latest entrant to the field, former Rep. Beto ORourke, is a Gen Xer 30 years younger than Biden.
Whos running for president and whos not
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said he hoped that scrutiny of Bidens Senate record would not distract from Bidens core 2020 message.
I think that getting down in the weeds of things he might have said literally 40 years ago misses the point that Donald Trump literally yesterday said something about white nationalism that is gravely concerning, Coons said in an interview before the Dover dinner. I am happy to defend his record in detail, but as a candidate he should and will focus on how his experience combined with his heart and character make him the right person for leading us.
If rivals do criticize his past record, Biden allies say context will be important to understanding it. A majority of Democrats in the Senate voted for the anti-gay-marriage bill, the Iraq war and the 1994 crime bill. The banking and credit card industry is important to the economy of Bidens home state of Delaware.
Ed Rendell, a Biden supporter who is former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, says the former vice presidents campaign should address questions about his past positions in a simple stroke.
He should say, Look, those were the beliefs that were commonly held, even among progressive people, back 30 years ago, Rendell said. In retrospect they were clearly wrong. My views on those subjects have evolved. Period.
That is an easy argument to make on the matter of gay rights. In 1996, Biden was one of 32 Senate Democrats to vote for the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. In 2012, as vice president, he stepped out in favor of same-sex marriage even before President Obama did. He has taken other steps since then to advance gay and transgender rights that have made him something of a hero to the LGBTQ community.
Danny Barefoot, a Democratic political consultant who is not affiliated with any 2020 presidential candidate, recently conducted a focus group with black women in South Carolina and found that negative messaging about Bidens record did not ring true to these loyal Democrats, especially on questions related to his commitment to civil rights.
Presented with reports about his opposition to school busing in Delaware in the 1970s, one woman asked if were honestly asking her to believe he is a segregationist, Barefoot wrote.
But he found Biden might have more work to do putting to rest questions about his handling of Hills sexual harassment claims against Thomas.
The focus group unanimously said Biden needed to personally apologize to Hill. As chairman of the all-male Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991, he was criticized for not pursuing more aggressively the sexual harassment allegations Hill raised.
That is one of several areas where Biden has already taken some steps to make amends.
Anita Hill was vilified, when she came forward, by a lot of my colleagues, character assassination, Biden said on the Today show in September 2018, around the time the Senate was grappling with sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh.
I wish I could have done more to prevent those questions and the way they asked them.
But Hill, who declined a request for an interview, said in a December 2018 interview with Elle magazine that Biden had not apologized to her directly.
Its become sort of a running joke in the household when someone rings the doorbell, and were not expecting company, she told Elle. Oh, we say, is that Joe Biden coming to apologize?
Biden has also revised his thinking on some tough-on-crime and anti-drug measures of the 1980s and 1990s. At a Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast in January, he expressed particular regret for a bill that created different legal standards for powdered cocaine and street crack cocaine.
It was a big mistake that was made, Biden said of the disparity, which the Obama administration worked to reduce. We were told by the experts that crack, you never go back, that the two were somehow fundamentally different. Its not different. But its trapped an entire generation.
He makes no apologies for his good old-fashioned willingness to work with Republicans a trait that could endear him to many voters impatient with partisan stalemate in Washington.
When he was asked to deliver the eulogy for former Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond in 2003, Biden joked about their implausible relationship and called the late senators request for him to speak his last laugh.
I disagreed deeply with Strom on the issue of civil rights, and on many other issues, but I watched him change, he said in the eulogy.
More recently, he drew fire from the left for referring to Vice President Mike Pence as a decent guy. And during the 2018 midterm campaign, he publicly praised a House Republican, Fred Upton, for his work on a cancer research bill dear to Biden, whose son died in 2015 of brain cancer. The praise of Upton troubled some Democrats because they were trying to defeat him, and he cited Bidens words in debate with his Democratic opponent.
Biden bridles at criticism of his bipartisan gestures. We dont treat the opposition as the enemy, Biden said in the Dover speech. We might even say a nice word every once in a while about a Republican when they do something good.
But paeans to bipartisanship can be like fingernails on a blackboard to the combative Democratic left especially among voters too young to have known a less polarized political environment who are gravitating to the partys more liberal candidates.
Kristina Hughes, 30, an Omaha voter who is attracted to Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren said, Anybody who says Mike Pence is a decent guy doesnt get my vote in 2020.
The latest from Washington
On one recent Sunday Twitter tirade, President Trump scolded the autoworkers union, Hillary Clinton, Saturday Night Live, MS-13, three Fox News anchors, a lawyer working on special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs team and the late Sen. John McCain.
Surprisingly spared from the online wrath were the dozen Republican senators who just days earlier joined Democrats in voting to terminate Trumps border emergency declaration.
Also unscathed were seven Republican senators who supported a measure to end U.S. military involvement in Yemen. condemning Trumps refusal to acknowledge Saudi Arabias role in the killing of U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi.
For reasons that are not entirely clear, Trump appears to have ceased at least temporarily his public, intraparty Twitter warfare against GOP lawmakers who cross him.
Advertisement
Its a sharp reversal from the first two years of his administration, when the president would regularly and publicly mock any congressional Republican by name and Twitter handle who voted against his interests or criticized his behavior.
Just ask former Tennessee Sen. Liddle Bob Corker or former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake-y Flake, two of Trumps favorite Twitter targets last year. He said that Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska really let the Republicans, and our country, down and that Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was such a negative force, after they opposed his efforts to repeal the 2010 healthcare law known as Obamacare.
Last June, Trump took aim at then-South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford, calling him bad, trouble, and unhelpful. Sanford, who often criticized Trump, lost his 2018 GOP primary to Katie Arrington, who then lost what had been a reliably Republican House seat to a Democrat in November.
Trumps last such rant against his own colleagues came in a blistering news conference the day after the midterm election, when he called out by name several House Republicans who had lost.
The one glaring exception to Trumps newfound discretion appears to be McCain, who died of cancer last year. Trump reiterated Wednesday that he was never a fan of McCain, who also voted against Trumps plan to repeal Obamacare, and complained as part of a multiday rant that he didnt get a thank you for approving McCains state funeral.
But even when Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) on Wednesday called Trumps ongoing attacks against the late war hero deplorable the same term Hillary Clinton once used to describe some of Trumps supporters Trump did not fire back at Isakson.
Theories abound about why Trump has slowed the attacks, and whether it can last. Some believe that the president has better relations with his partys members of Congress, or that Trump has been convinced that he needs to allow GOP lawmakers in left-leaning districts to maintain some distance in order to win reelection in 2020.
I know the president would like 100% loyalty who wouldnt? But that said, I think the president has gained and is gaining an appreciation for just how independent each member is, particularly senators, said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who is close to the White House.
Since the beginning of the administration, GOP congressional leaders had been trying to persuade Trump to stop tweeting against other Republicans. Not only might he need those members votes, Trump was told, but a Twitter rebuke is costly at home for fellow Republicans and GOP allies who occasionally vote against him are better for Trumps agenda than Democrats who would never vote with him.
Those efforts are seemingly paying off, although in interviews with nearly a dozen Republican lawmakers and aides on Capitol Hill and in the administration, few were ready to declare a permanent change in Trumps behavior, given the presidents unpredictability.
My sense is the president is more comfortable in his role and is less worried about what theyre going to do, said a senior White House official who requested anonymity to avoid alienating Trump or congressional officials. Trump, who often takes political setbacks personally, now sees that senators are making their own individual political calculations and that their votes are not a slight on him.
The changing dynamic also reflects a shift in the presidents agenda. During 2017, he was trying to enact legislation largely with only Republican support. His biggest obstacles were moderate GOP lawmakers.
Now with a slim legislative agenda on Capitol Hill and increased attention on the Mueller investigation and the 2020 race, he is aiming his fire at Democrats.
He is also boosting Republicans in Congress, whom he will need to defend him on the Russia investigation.
It doesnt hurt that congressional Republicans seem to have figured out how to deal with the president, according to GOP officials.
For instance, many of the senators who voted against the White Houses position on the emergency declaration including Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) were able to tell the president in person during an unrelated trade meeting how they were going to vote, emphasizing that it wasnt a personal censure.
Trump speaks to lawmakers more often than he did in the early days of his administration, according to these Republicans, and is kept informed on their positions, preventing surprises that could prompt an online tirade.
Theyve gotten used to each other, said one Republican congressional aide.
While Trump did issue a few general threats that GOP senators voting against his emergency declaration would be seen as being soft on crime and border security, it was noteworthy that he didnt single out any lawmakers by name, as he had in the past.
It is unclear whether the lack of tweets against Republican senators facing competitive races is a blip or a long-term change in strategy that could help Republicans seeking reelection in 2020. But Trumps own reelection effort will rely in part on keeping Republicans united in some of the states in which GOP senators are on the ballot, such as North Carolina and Colorado.
Were all on the same team here politically. Maybe thats what is driving this latest decision, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican who is seeking reelection in West Virginia next year.
There are also signs the White House is working behind closed doors on some of the congressional lobbying that Trump once did publicly.
When Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced in an op-ed that he would vote to disapprove of the emergency declaration, Trump didnt send a tweet. Vice President Mike Pence and White House officials were dispatched to pressure Tillis, however, and he eventually fell in line behind Trump, arguing that he got an agreement from the White House to work on implementing broader limits to presidential emergency powers rules.
And instead of calling out the senators who opposed his administrations position on Yemen or the emergency declaration, Trumps tweets were more positive, emphasizing how many Republicans were with him.
He thanked the Great Republican Senators who bravely voted for Strong Border Security and the WALL, and predicted when you get back to your State, they will LOVE you more than ever before!
The latest from Washington
More stories from Jennifer Haberkorn
Beto ORourkes road trip had come and gone after three whirlwind days of events across New Hampshire. But the candidates who campaigned in his wake this past weekend also received enthusiastic welcomes, even without standing on countertops.
Despite their lower position in the early polls and sporadic national media coverage, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), former Gov. John Hickenlooper and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) each met standing-room-only crowds, ovations and long lines of selfie-seeking fans. So did Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who has maintained a position in the midst of the Democratic pack since entering the race in January.
Although the boom microphones and television cameras were missing, voters didnt mind.
In this state where vetting presidential wannabes has been a point of pride for decades, the early enthusiasm being generated by even lesser-known candidates with low standing in polls is a reminder of the excitement many Democrats feel about this deep field of candidates and the opportunity to defeat President Trump.
Advertisement
The fields really exciting because its so varied, said Kathy Canedy, 69, one of more than 300 people who attended a town hall meeting with Klobuchar on Saturday morning in Rye, in southeastern New Hampshire along the coast. Its been a while since weve been really excited, she said. And were going to take a look at everyone who comes through.
Whos running for president and whos not
Hickenlooper, a former governor of Colorado, arrived just days after a shaky performance in a nationally televised town hall. But like many things that generate chatter on television and Twitter, his awkward response to a question about putting a woman on the ticket didnt appear to register with voters.
Hickenloopers at the top of my list, said Frank Fahey, a retiree who has already seen four other Democratic presidential candidates this year, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and ORourke, who visited all 10 counties in New Hampshire during his three-day swing last week.
I know he seems like a long shot, but weve got 11 months to go, he said of Hickenlooper after an hourlong meet and greet in a strip mall in Lebanon, on the states western edge, where the crowd of 150 people spilled out onto the sidewalk.
The pundits dont pick the nominee we do.
Hickenlooper, who is working to focus voters on his experience while refining his stump speech, was surprised to find fans waiting for him in New Hampshire.
Bobbi Boudman showed up wearing a Hickenlooper 2020 shirt she bought online the day after the 2016 election.
I just figured then we were going to need a nice white male in 2020, and I liked what he seemed to be about, she said.
Another woman met him Sunday morning during a stop at a diner in Littleton, eager to show off her vanity license plate carrying his signature phrase: Giddy up.
The latest from Washington
The candidate appearances also, once again, provided evidence that voters at least those who show up at candidate events 10 months before the primary have issues on their minds that often differ from the days headlines.
Klobuchar, who drew 4% support in a February poll of likely New Hampshire primary voters, spent an hour answering questions in a creaky junior high school gymnasium. No one asked about the report that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III submitted the day before.
I think people in these early states have their own agendas, Hickenlooper said in an interview over a hurried lunch of tacos. And their own agendas are more about the cost of their healthcare and the impact failing schools are going to have on their kids, what kind of jobs their kids are going to have.
Winning is voters top priority, Klobuchar told reporters after spending 25 minutes shaking hands and posing for pictures. Why they are so open to different candidates is because they want to make sure they pick someone who can win.
Of course, voters ideas of electability vary widely; and not all of them subscribe to the idea that they need to choose between finding a winning candidate and one who agrees with them on policy issues.
Policy and beating Trump go together, said John Raby, one of more than 100 people who attended a town hall Friday afternoon in Henniker with Gabbard, a candidate who, like Hickenlooper, barely registers in the polls but is still drawing overflow crowds.
Tulsi is the first one I heard really talk about how military spending is a root cause of our deficit, said Raby, 74, who currently ranks Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland and ORourke as his top three contenders.
Its much more wide open I think than the initial polling Ive seen would indicate.
Margie Poznanski, who also attended Gabbards town hall, where organizers rushed to find more chairs after the 80 initially set up were quickly taken, also came away impressed.
She had very good answers on nuclear weapons, she said. Honestly, shes got a lot more than Beto has.
Several voters expressed skepticism about former Rep. ORourke of Texas.
I really havent heard much substance from him yet. He just seems like that bright shiny object right now, said Patricia Demarco, 64, who attended Klobuchars town hall and came away impressed.
I got quiet chills when she was speaking. She inspires trust and is very relatable its less of a sugar high with her.
Sunday morning inside a sugar shack nestled in the White Mountains, where the winter snow is just now beginning to melt, Warren met with 25 people and heard from the operator about how climate change is harming maple syrup production.
This is an existential threat. People in Washington may not want to admit that, she said. But people who live here see it every single day.
Down the road an hour later, she spoke to 200 people packed into a high school auditorium. A few of them found seats on the riser set up in the back of the room, where only two small cameras were positioned. There were no network correspondents ready to amplify her talking points.
The voters spending their weekends packing into small spaces and peppering candidates with questions are a long way from deciding how theyll cast their ballots next February. But theyre already spending a lot of time contemplating the choice.
Do I want bombast or Midwestern nice? Pragmatism or someone who really digs in? said Dan Heying, a bank manager from Concord who took part in a roundtable with Hickenlooper in Manchester on Friday afternoon. Im having this conversation with myself in my head, and I really dont know the answers yet.
Heying, 32, and several other voters expressed interest in seeing more of a candidate who wasnt in the state: Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., another supposed long shot whose virtuoso performances in a televised town hall and interviews are generating enthusiasm.
Hes done so well, people are growing less skeptical about the idea of him, Heying said. I could really see him being the nominee.
In todays world, nothing is far-fetched.
More stories from Eli Stokols
Democrats on Sunday immediately seized on special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs refusal to exonerate President Trump on the question of obstruction of justice, with the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee pledging to pick up where investigators left off and call Attorney General William Barr to testify.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, a Democrat whose panel has jurisdiction over impeachment, took to Twitter to highlight Muellers finding that while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.
Nadler said the statement suggests that Justice Department officials are putting matters squarely in Congress court to continue to investigate.
In light of the very concerning discrepancies and final decision making at the Justice Department following the Special Counsel report, where Mueller did not exonerate the President, we will be calling Attorney General Barr in to testify before @HouseJudiciary in the near future. (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) March 24, 2019
Advertisement
Mueller submitted a confidential report Friday to Barr, who reviewed the document and sent congressional leaders a four-page summary of Muellers principal conclusions late Sunday afternoon.
House Democrats, who have faced resistance from the White House to their repeated requests for documents, said Sunday that they will proceed with their investigations while insisting that they need to see Muellers full report and the underlying documents.
Americans deserve to know all the facts, which is why the report itself should be released to the fullest extent of the law in addition to the attorney generals summary, said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md).
Read the attorney generals summary
The special counsel did not exonerate the president, Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement. In fact, according to the attorney generals letter, he described a pattern of evidence suggesting the president engaged in obstruction of justice.
But Democrats will face intense pressure from jubilant Republicans, who welcomed Barrs summary, insisted it had cleared the president and maintained that it was time to end the investigations. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said the report vindicates Trump, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) declared Sunday that it is time we move on for the good of the nation.
After two years, two congressional investigations, and now the closure of a Special Counsel investigation, it is abundantly clear, without a shadow of a doubt, there was no collusion. This case is closed.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/XiPQZom3Fp Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) March 24, 2019
Sen. Christopher Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, predicted Sunday that we will have a hard fight ahead over release of the full report and materials but insisted that Democrats are justified in seeking a broad view of what materials led to [Muellers] conclusion.
In the House, Judiciary Committee member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) voiced a similar conviction, saying, Now more than ever, we need to see the Mueller report and all of the underlying evidence.
He added that Barrs analysis and rationale are fair game for congressional investigation too, pointing out that it was Barrs conclusion, not Muellers, that Trump had no ill intent behind the evidence that could be considered obstruction of justice.
Barr: Mueller finds no Trump-Russia conspiracy but doesnt exonerate president
As for the Mueller reports apparent confidence that Trump and his subordinates had not colluded with Russians to sway the 2016 election, even when presented with the opportunity, Raskin insisted that he had regarded the question of so-called collusion as an irrelevant distraction from the very beginning.
There is no crime known as collusion except in the field of antitrust law, he said.
But that doesnt mean Democrats are likely to drop the Russia-focused probe of their Trump investigations.
The job of the special counsel is very different than our job; theyre looking for specific statutory offenses and a quantum of evidence that surpasses beyond a reasonable doubt, Raskin said. Thats very different than what were looking for in terms of examining threats to the political sovereignty of the United States.
Some Democrats responded to Sundays news by immediately questioning Barrs motives, noting that he was appointed by Trump. Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted that maybe Barrs interpretation is right. Maybe its not. But why the heck would we be ok with an ally of President, appointed because of his hostility to the Mueller investigation, tell us what the report says?
Maybe Barrs interpretation is right. Maybe its not. But why the heck would we be ok with an ally of President, appointed because of his hostility to the Mueller investigation, tell us what the report says?
Give Congress the report. Give the public the report.
Now. Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 24, 2019
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also pressed for greater transparency, saying in a tweet that on the issue of obstruction of justice, Mueller tossed a jump ball, & the AG tipped it to President Trump, but shared none of the information supporting his conclusion.
Earlier Sunday, Democrats maintained that it was too early to raise the specter of impeaching Trump but suggested that they are keeping their options open, while Republicans fired back that Democrats would probably move to impeach the president no matter what.
On the morning news shows, Nadler said it is way too early to speculate about impeachment. He said he still believes Trump obstructed justice, although whether theyre criminal obstructions is another question.
What Congress has to do is look at a broader picture. We have the responsibility of protecting the rule of law ... so that our democratic institutions are not greatly damaged by this president, Nadler said on CNNs State of the Union.
The biggest indictments, guilty pleas and dramas in the Russia investigation
Democrats will try to negotiate, well try everything else first, but if they have to, they will issue subpoenas and are absolutely willing to go to the Supreme Court if necessary to get the Mueller report, Nadler said.
Asked how long they are willing to wait for the Justice Department to provide the full Mueller report, he replied, It wont be months.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) quickly seized on Nadlers comments, arguing on CNN that they show Democrats are immediately pivoting away from the report and plan to move ahead with plans to impeach Trump no matter what.
They fully intend to impeach the president, Cruz said. What theyre basically saying is theyre going to impeach the president for being Donald Trump.
In an interview this month, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said impeachment would be so divisive to the country that unless theres something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I dont think we should go down that path.
Hes just not worth it, she said of Trump.
In these early weeks of the presidential campaign, Democratic candidates have faced a battery of unusual questions, prompted partly by President Trumps dark warning in his State of the Union address against new calls to adopt socialism in our country.
The first question Democrats got after that was easy: Are you a socialist? Bernie Sanders said yes; everyone else said no.
The second was not so expected: Are you a capitalist?
Elizabeth Warren had the quickest answer. I am a capitalist to my bones, she said. I believe in markets. What I dont believe in is theft.
Advertisement
Others agreed, declaring themselves capitalists just discontented ones.
Im a capitalist, Beto ORourke declared. Having said that, it is clearly an imperfect, unfair, unjust and racist capitalist economy.
One maverick, John Hickenlooper, rebelled. I think its kind of a silly question, he said.
Whos running for president and whos not
But once the candidates started explaining what they think about the economy, it wasnt silly after all.
The future of capitalism whether its working for most Americans, why its benefits are so unequally shared, and how it can be fixed is one of the central political questions of our time.
For Warren, a fierce critic of the financial system, the main defect of capitalism is lax rules. In her telling, deregulation of banks and Wall Street led to the crash of 2008 and produces unfair outcomes today.
I love what markets can do, she told a TV interviewer. I love what functioning economies can do. They are what make us rich; they are what create opportunity. But only fair markets, markets with rules. Markets without rules is about the rich take it all, its about the powerful get all of it. And thats whats gone wrong in America.
Kamala Harris and others have sounded similar populist themes.
People who have worked hard and gained success. I applaud that, Harris said in New Hampshire last month. But we must all recognize that the rules arent applying equally to all people.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, whos expected to announce his candidacy next month, has offered a softer version, calling on capitalists to assume moral responsibility for a lack of fairness in the economy.
I dont begrudge anybody making a million or hundreds of millions of dollars, Biden told students at the University of Pennsylvania. But I do think theres some shared responsibility, and its not being shared fairly. What happened to a moral responsibility, to a moral capitalism?
Meanwhile, in the democratic socialist camp, Sanders argues that its time to elevate economic rights to the level of traditional constitutional rights.
We have political, freedom of religion, and all of that is enormously important. But you know what we dont have? We dont have guarantees regarding economic rights.
No other candidate uses that kind of language.
The candidates have issued a blizzard of proposals to illustrate what theyd do to make capitalism fairer.
Sanders has proposed a guaranteed employment program that would create an estimated 15 million federally funded jobs; a government-run single-payer health insurance system, Medicare for All; and a long list of tax increases to pay for it all.
Warren has called for changes in corporate governance, including an Accountable Capitalism Act that would require large firms to put employee representatives on their boards and consider the interests of workers and communities, not only shareholders, in their decisions.
Cory Booker has proposed baby bonds that would create a $1,000 government-funded savings account for every newborn child and add more every year for low-income children a way to reduce the wealth gap between rich and poor.
Harris main economic proposal would provide tax credits to low- and middle-income families up to $3,000 per person each year to as many as 80 million Americans in a direct redistribution of income.
Theres more, of course but these are merely proposals. Few are likely to become law in their current form, no matter whos elected president next year. Their main function is to give voters a sense of where each candidates heart is.
Whats most important is not the differences, but the common themes. They show almost every Democratic candidate focused on the same challenge: How to make capitalism deliver its benefits to more people, especially those left behind.
And theyre relatively ambitious proposals, with larger goals than the incremental policies of the Bill Clinton and Barack Obama presidencies.
There may be the rough outline of a new consensus here, Jared Bernstein, an economist at the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and former advisor to Biden, told me.
We have a strong economy, but it isnt working for everybody, Bernstein said. We can craft policies to reconnect economic growth to the fortunes of ordinary working people, and we can do that without dampening growth at all.
But with the exception of Sanders, these Democrats arent socialists, no matter what Trump says. Their avowed goal is to make capitalism work better just as Democrats have tried to do since Franklin D. Roosevelt.
A parody Twitter account purporting to be owned by an unhappy cow living on one of Rep. Devin Nunes Iowa farms attacked the California Republican as a treasonous cowpoke and udder-ly worthless during the 2018 campaign.
Now Nunes wants $250 million in damages from Twitter for failing to police the accounts of @DevinCow as well as another parody, @DevinNunesMom, and a political activist named Liz Mair.
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Virginia, Nunes complained that all three defamed him in hundreds of tweets over several months last year. It also seeks $350,000 in punitive damages, though legal experts say the suit has little chance of moving forward.
Nunes, a close ally of President Trump, says in his complaint that he endured what no human being should ever have to bear and suffer in their whole life. He said it caused him to win reelection last November by a narrower margin than in the past and distracted him from running the House investigation into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election.
Advertisement
Among other things, Nunes, from Tulare, cited a variety of tweets that used crude humor to accuse him of criminal behavior, including soliciting prostitutes.
Most politicians and celebrities today face similar parody accounts. Many just ignore them, though a few play along. A Twitter account called @Betosblog lampoons Democratic presidential candidate Beto ORouke. Parody accounts of President Trump have hundreds of thousands of followers.
The @DevinNunesMom account was suspended by Twitter after his actual mother, Toni Dian Nunes, complained.
But if Nunes hoped his lawsuit would intimidate his trollers into silence, the move may have backfired.
The @DevinCow account has jumped from just over 1,000 followers to more than 137,000 followers as of Tuesday afternoon, and still rising.
Mair said on Twitter she will not comment publicly on the complaint.
As part of the suit, Nunes wants Twitter to disclose the real names of the people who created the parody accounts. The suit also accuses Twitter of bias against conservatives.
Nunes has clashed with his media critics before. Last year, he sent out a glossy, 40-page mailer shortly before the 2018 election attacking the Fresno Bee after its editorial board criticized him repeatedly.
Twitter has indicated in the past that parody accounts do not violate its rules as long as the profile or user name states that the account does not belong to the person its satirizing. The company has denied a political bias but has not commented specifically on Nunes suit.
Nunes, who last year cosponsored legislation titled the Discouraging Frivolous Lawsuits Act, has a hard road ahead to winning the suit.
Courts have generally ruled that satirical works are opinion, not a representation of fact, and are therefore not subject to libel and defamation laws.
First Amendment experts say the Communications Decency Act protects large social media companies like Twitter from being held liable for what users publish on their platforms.
The courts have traditionally ruled that anonymous speech is protected under the 1st Amendment, and that social media sites are by their nature a place where people engage in outrageous opinion rather than fact, said Alex Abdo, litigation director for the Knight First Amendment Center at Columbia University.
And since Nunes is a public official, he faces a higher burden to prove libel or defamation.
The claim against Twitter is almost certain to get dismissed very quickly and my guess is the rest of it is likely to get dismissed very quickly, Abdo said.
The lawsuit was announced to conservative media outlets first, and Nunes told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night that Tuesdays suit is the first of many he plans to file.
We have to hold all of these people accountable, because if we dont, our 1st Amendment rights are at stake here, Nunes said. How is it possible that I can be attacked relentlessly, hundreds of times a day by fake accounts that [Twitter] claim in their terms of service should not be there?
The latest from Washington
More stories from Sarah D. Wire
The idea that Google is subtly pushing masses of voters to the left has the ring of conspiracy, and thus the work of Robert Epstein is warmly embraced by conservative lawmakers as well as a president convinced big tech is plotting against them.
Yet even some scholars who think the San Diego-based psychologist is wrong about the political impact of search engines he believes bias built into Googles processes could have cost Republicans three California congressional districts in the last election have started paying attention to his detailed work on how voters respond to tens of thousands of search results.
At a moment when misinformation about search engines and social media bias is rampant, with both the left and the right amplifying unsupported claims, Epstein is asking the right questions, they say, about the unseen power of algorithms and how little most Americans understand about the way they work.
Facebook, Twitter and Google have become political footballs for the left and right
Advertisement
The saga of the persistent San Diego psychologist versus the tech giant is a long-running one, full of twists. As Big Data shapes our opinions in ways scholars are only beginning to comprehend, his work has increasingly caught attention.
The larger issue he is looking at is extremely important, said Ramesh Srinivasan, a professor of information studies at UCLA who focuses on the relationships between technology and politics. Srinivasan is not convinced by the claims from conservatives that the GOP is being victimized, but he argues scholars need to look more deeply at how search engines can shape the views of those who use them.
We turn to these efficient technologies, he said, to do almost everything these days without knowing why we see what we see from them or what data is collected about us and how it is being used.
Epstein, a former Psychology Today editor in chief who runs a nonprofit institute in California, calls the phenomenon he has explored the Search Engine Manipulation Effect.
These are new forms of manipulation people cant see, he said. The technologies can have an enormous impact on voters who are undecided. People have no awareness the influence is being exerted.
Google dismisses his research as the work of a misguided amateur. Company Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said at a House Judiciary Committee hearing in December that Google had investigated Epsteins findings and found his methodology flawed.
MORE ON POLITICS: How Howard University shaped Kamala Harris identity
Company officials, while declining to comment about Epstein on the record, offered background material asserting that their algorithms are politically blind and respond to searches with news content based on its timeliness, relevance and authoritativeness.
In his latest study, which he and a co-author plan to present in April at the 99th annual meeting of the Western Psychological Assn., in Pasadena, Epstein tracked 47,300 searches by dozens of undecided voters in the districts of newly elected Democratic Reps. Katie Porter, Harley Rouda and Mike Levin.
Mainstream outlets, including the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, dominated the Google search results. By contrast, searches conducted on Yahoo and Bing more often showcased links from deeply conservative outfits such as Breitbart.
Using a model he has developed to gauge the subliminal effect of what he sees as tilted search results, Epstein projected 35,455 voters who were on the fence were persuaded to vote for a Democrat entirely because of the sources Google fed them.
Facts about fake news influence on U.S. elections and the fight against misinformation
That conclusion is subject to much dispute.
Srinivasan questions how many undecided voters use Google to help decide how to cast ballots.
Safiya Noble, a UCLA professor and author of Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism, is troubled by what she sees as an argument that search engines ought to counter-balance the content of large, well-resourced and highly trained newsrooms with disinformation sites and propaganda outlets.
Epstein says the large readership that sites such as Breitbart receive should earn them more prominent Google exposure. It is astonishing that Breitbart and some similar websites are not more present, given the enormous traffic some of these websites get, Breitbart especially, he said. What you are seeing here might be indicative of a kind of blacklisting.
Google, he says, is trying to make judgments based on some measures of what they consider to be quality. They have said this publicly. They are trying to judge what is good and bad.
Google executives, for their part, argue it would be corporate suicide to use their influence over voters to sway elections.
MORE ON POLITICS: The burden of a 40-year career -- some of Joe Bidens record doesnt age well
But many analysts say that is not the point. Even if Epstein is wrong about the effects of Googles searches, the real issue, they say, is how little people know about the ways that the companys algorithms manipulate what users see. Google engineers design their algorithms for a host of reasons mostly related to boosting profits and users just accept the top links as the most trustworthy and authoritative information on a topic.
We need to understand the potential political impact of these underneath-the-hood choices by tech companies, said Jacob Shapiro, a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton. The question we should be asking is, what do we need to do to nail down how consequential this is? And what systems do we need to create as a society to minimize the negatives?
Noble agrees with that broader point that Google should not be guiding crucial societal questions, such as how we vote.
We use these search engines as if they are arbiters of truth, and they are not, she said. They are global advertising platforms. They are not fact checkers or public interest technologies. The minute you start to engage these broader social issues on a search engine, you run up against its limits.
The latest look at the Trump administration and the rest of Washington
The fix, Noble says, involves giving people viable alternatives to Google that are not designed for profit but for the public interest.
Epstein calls for a worldwide passive network of monitoring systems to keep an eye on emerging technologies and what they are showing and telling people. Other scholars suggest equally bold government interventions, some of which align with Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warrens plan to break up big tech companies.
But Congress is right now focused on using the potential flaws in search engines as a springboard to air political grievances and launch partisan attacks.
The December hearing into Google was consumed by theatrics. Republicans, citing Epstein, presented themselves as victims of a cynical conspiracy, sometimes conflating his work with unrelated perceived biases. The committees top Democrat, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, declared political bias in search engines a fantasy dreamed up by some conservatives.
Robert Epstein and Hillary Clinton, whom he supported for president in 2016. (Courtesy Robert Epstein)
Epstein may be discouraged, but he isnt helping turn down the temperature. He supported Hillary Clinton, but hes become a frequent guest on right-wing media. Tucker Carlson sings his praises on Fox News. He gives talks at Tea Party meetings. He starred in a documentary called The Creepy Line that was produced by Peter Schweizer, author of Clinton Cash, who is among the journalists most reviled by Democrats.
I have become a darling of conservatives, which is driving me crazy, Epstein said. But they love me because I am saying things they want to hear. People I am closer to politically dont want to hear what I have to say.
More stories from Evan Halper
President Trumps declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border survived a crucial vote in the House on Tuesday, as Democrats failed to muster the necessary two-thirds majority to override his veto.
The vote was 248-181, well short of the 288 that would have been required. The vote effectively ends -- for now -- legislative attempts to strike down Trumps national emergency declaration. Now the fight over his attempt to circumvent Congress to get more money for his border wall will shift to the courts.
President Trump cant take taxpayer dollars to build his wall without Congress permission, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, a former congressman who has filed a lawsuit to block Trumps declaration, said following the vote. The 20 states standing with us in court are ready to fight long and hard to stop his fabricated emergency in its tracks.
Congress sent Trump a bipartisan disapproval resolution earlier this month that sought to nullify his national emergency declaration, but Trump used the first veto of his presidency to strike it down. Trump had announced the national emergency in February, following a record-long government shutdown and weeks of negotiations that resulted in a deal giving him billions less than he sought for barriers along the border.
Advertisement
Lawmakers of both parties said the emergency declaration -- which allows Trump to redirect money Congress appropriated for other purposes and use it for border construction instead -- represented a dramatic intrusion into Congress authority over government spending.
In floor debate ahead of the vote Tuesday, Democrats insisted Trump was violating the Constitutions separation of powers, while Republicans argued he was acting within his authority under the National Emergencies Act to address a genuine crisis at the southern border.
What we have here is an act of constitutional vandalism -- the executive trying to steal the power of the purse from Congress, said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas). He warned that if lawmakers allow it to happen, future presidents of both parties will have great power to ignore Congress.
Fourteen Republicans broke ranks to vote with Democrats in attempting to overturn Trumps veto, but they represented a small minority as most GOP lawmakers stood with the president, arguing he was addressing an emergency Democrats had ignored.
The radical left in this House would dissolve our borders entirely if given the chance, declared Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove). They care more about defending the Iraqi border than defending our own.
Border apprehensions have spiked and are on pace for the highest level since 2008, although they remain below peak rates in the 1990s and early 2000s. Lawmakers of both parties generally agree that there is an unfolding humanitarian crisis at the border, with many families from Central America attempting to enter the U.S., but Democrats argue that a wall wont help with that.
Republicans disagree, and Trump has continually argued that a wall -- the central issue he campaigned on -- is needed to stop illegal immigration and drugs. Trump long claimed Mexico would pay for the wall, but the national emergency declaration allows him to take $3.6 billion appropriated by Congress for military construction projects nationwide and use it to build barriers along the border instead.
The Pentagon still has not told lawmakers which military construction projects will be canceled or delayed in the process, frustrating lawmakers of both parties.
It is rare for Congress to successfully override a presidential veto, something that happened only once during the Obama administration, and Tuesdays outcome was expected. Because the veto override vote failed in the House, it will not go to the Senate -- sparing senators from having to take another vote on an issue that deeply divided Republicans in the chamber.
However, the National Emergencies Act does allow Democrats to bring up another disapproval resolution six months from now, something House Democrats are actively considering. Democrats are also considering trying to include language in upcoming spending bills to restrict the Trump administrations ability to redirect money toward border construction going forward.
At least seven lawsuits have been filed in federal courts challenging the legality of Trumps emergency declaration and his plans to spend funds on the wall that have not been appropriated by Congress for that purpose. The government has yet to reply to them and no hearings have been scheduled.
The plaintiffs in the suits, filed in U.S. district courts in California, Texas and the District of Columbia include California and 18 other states, the city of El Paso, landowners in the path of the proposed wall, conservation groups such as the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity and advocacy organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Erica Werner writes for the Washington Post. The Posts Fred Barbash and Maria Sacchetti contributed to this report.
Iowa, that land of corn and political dreams, is planning big changes to its caucus system, and right about now you may be asking: What is a caucus and why should I care?
The answer is simple. The sentiments expressed by roughly a quarter-million or so Iowa Democrats on the first Monday night in February 2020 could go a long way toward shaping the fight for the partys presidential nomination and, thus, who sits in the Oval Office come January 2021.
Other states, California being most notable, perennially complain about the inordinate influence Iowa enjoys as the state with the first say in the contest, attracting starry-eyed White House hopefuls the way Hollywood draws would-be movie stars.
But that political reality is not going to change anytime soon, even with California and other states moving their balloting up on the political calendar. So it cant hurt to learn about things like viability, realignment, state-level delegate equivalents and the caucus overhaul planned for next winter.
Advertisement
So what is a caucus?
Essentially its a precinct-level gathering of party faithful that serves as the first step in a long, attenuated process that eventually results in the awarding of Iowas presidential delegates.
The original purpose was identifying and organizing party supporters at the grass-roots level so they could be deployed in political campaigns. A tally of presidential preferences was added just for fun.
But as the first official gauge of voter sentiment after years of polling, speculation and incessant chatter the caucuses have gained enormous import, mainly by culling the field to just a few viable contenders.
Whos running for president and whos not
How do the caucuses work?
Up to now, the meetings were held at a set time. Participants were required to show up at one of 1,000-some locations, where supporters of each candidate broke into separate groups. If a candidate failed to meet a 15% viability threshold, his or her supporters had the choice of realigning that is, backing another candidate or calling it a night.
After the voting was completed, the party would report what were called state delegate equivalents, or the estimated number of delegates to the state party convention that a candidate would win based on their performance at the precinct level. The state convention is where Iowas national convention delegates are chosen.
My heads starting to hurt.
Dont worry. We track these things so you dont have to.
Its still all about beating expectations. Whats changed is the means to getting there. Dennis Goldford, Drake University political scientist and Iowa caucus expert
So whats changing?
Most significantly, Democrats wishing to participate will no longer be required to show up at a caucus.
For years, critics have said the requirement was unfair to those unable to attend for any number of reasons: ill health, job requirements, child-care concerns. Hillary Clinton was among those who complained the loudest, suggesting her 2008 loss to Barack Obama stemmed, in part, from the limited caucus window. There are a lot of people who work at night, she said, people who are on their feet, people who are taking care of patients in a hospital, or waiting on a table in a restaurant, or maybe in a patrol car keeping our streets safe.
Under the new rules, Democrats may be able to back a preferred candidate by participating in one of six virtual caucuses, submitting a list of as many as five candidates, ranked by preference.
Kind of like American Idol?
The details remain to be worked out, not least concerns about security and ensuring the integrity of the vote. But, yes, participants may be able to weigh in via their smart phones while sitting on the couch watching cheesy television.
Californias presidential primary: Heres what you need to know
What are the other changes?
The rules governing the realignment process will be altered, limiting the movement between supporters of different candidates, in an effort to speed the caucuses along. (Another complaint is they take too long, dampening turnout.)
More important, the party will release the raw vote total each candidate receives, in addition to state delegate equivalents, in an effort to make the caucuses more transparent.
In 2016, Clinton just squeaked past Bernie Sanders, 49.8% to 49.6%, in the official results, which outraged supporters of the Vermont senator, who claimed a number of irregularities skewed the outcome. Some claim to this day he actually won the raw vote, but the count remains a mystery.
Why the changes now?
The national Democratic Party insisted on finding ways to make the caucuses more inclusive and less prone to controversy.
Iowans, in turn, wanted to preserve what state party Chairman Troy Price called the spirit of the caucuses, which is to say the neighbor-gathering-with neighbor aspect. (The virtual caucuses will be used to award a fraction, perhaps 10% or 15%, of delegates, to encourage folks to continue showing up.)
All of the changes are subject to revision and require the approval of both the state party Central Committee and the national Democratic Party. The goal is to have the new rules in place by fall.
So which candidates benefit and who will suffer as a result of the changes?
Thats a big unknown.
Participation could increase, maybe even topping the record 240,000 Democrats who showed up for the Clinton-Obama caucus-palooza. But its unclear who would gain the most from a higher turnout.
A great deal will depend on how the results are reported. Will the media focus on the winner of the raw vote, or the candidate who receives the most state delegate equivalents?
Its still all about beating expectations, said Dennis Goldford, a Drake University political scientist and Iowa caucus expert. Whats changed is the means to getting there.
Huh?
Winning Iowa isnt necessarily about coming in first. Its about perceptions.
The best example may be 1984, when former Vice President Walter F. Mondale was preferred by nearly 50% of caucusgoers. The runner-up, Colorado Sen. Gary Hart, received just 16.5% support. But since that was better than expected, Hart was considered the winner and, literally overnight, became a serious contender for the Democratic nomination.
16.5% beats 48.9%? Thats nuts!
Thats Iowa.
Sen. Kamala Harris plans to call for a federal effort to boost teachers salaries Saturday, offering up the first new policy proposal of her 2020 presidential campaign on an issue that is roiling school districts across the country and is dear to a powerful Democratic constituency.
The plan, which Harris is slated to unveil while addressing a morning rally at Texas Southern University in Houston, would promise an unprecedented federal investment in teacher pay because of widespread concern that teaching, a female-dominated profession, is badly underpaid, according to a campaign aide who was not authorized to discuss the plan on the record.
A study by the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal think tank, found that public school teachers in 2017 made 11% less than similar professionals with college degrees, even after taking into account benefits, which are often higher for teachers than many private-sector workers.
Harris will commit to closing the teacher pay gap within her first term as president, the campaign aide said. Details of the initiative including the price tag and how the program would be structured will be released in the coming week, the aide said.
Advertisement
The idea stands to be a major policy departure because setting teacher pay has traditionally been the responsibility of state and local governments, which provide the lions share of money for education from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The federal government currently provides less than 10% of total spending for elementary and secondary schools, with most of the money channeled to states and school districts for specific national priorities such as helping cover the cost of educating disabled students.
Harris has proposed several policy initiatives, including a large-scale tax-cut plan that would provide up to $6,000 a year to working families. But until now, most of her policy ideas have been drawn from her legislative portfolio in the Senate.
By focusing her first new initiative of the campaign on teachers, she is tapping into a politically potent constituency a profession that is heavily unionized, Democratic leaning, and a part of nearly every voters life.
The call for greater federal spending on education could also prove popular a new poll released this week by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that 54% of American adults, and 66% of Democrats, said that increased spending on education should be a top priority for the U.S. government. The only policy area ranking higher among voters was expanding healthcare, Pew found.
The drive to raise teachers salaries has swept across the country in recent years, spotlighted by teacher strikes not just in big cities such as Los Angeles and Denver, but also in more conservative places such as Oklahoma and West Virginia.
In Los Angeles in January, a six-day strike ended in a contract that gave teachers a 6% raise 3% retroactive to the 2017-18 school year and another 3% retroactive to July 2018.
The issue is front and center in the early voting state of South Carolina, where the state Legislature is currently debating teacher pay.
The topic is frequently raised on the campaign trail. At a recent event in Ottumwa, Iowa, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey went into some detail about new investments he wanted to make in public schools and teachers. He called for helping teachers by retiring their college debt, boosting funding special education funding and overhauling the tax system so teachers pay less.
Harris campaign appearance in Texas on Friday and Saturday also sends a broader political message for the 2020 primary contest: She is not going to cede the delegate-rich state to its favorite son, Beto ORourke, the former Texas congressman who announced his presidential campaign earlier this month.
ORourke is not the only candidate who will face competition in his own backyard: While Harris travels Texas this weekend, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is campaigning in California.
The latest from Washington
Deerfield Beach, Florida, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Ice Cream Market report has Forecasted Compound Annual rate of growth (CAGR) differently price for the explicit amount, which will facilitate user to require decision supported futuristic chart. The report additionally includes key players in world Ice Cream market. The Ice Cream market size is estimated in terms of revenue (US$) and production volume during this report.
This report studies Ice Cream in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2017, and forecast to 2025.
Request for FREE Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-ice-cream-market-professional-survey-report-2017#RequestSample
The prime objective of this report is to help the user to understand Ice Cream market in terms of its definition, segmentation, market potential, influential trends and the challenges that the market is facing.
Primary research represents the bulk of our research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players product, annual reports, press releases and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding.
Secondary research includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, internet sources and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants insights and recognizing business opportunities.
The Shares and Demand for Ice Cream industry are unexpected to be high for the next six years. By Considering this growth, we provide Ice Cream Market Research Report. Ice Cream Market Research Report includes detailed profiles of key players with regional analysis and focuses on key rising opportunities and challenges faced by Ice Cream industry.
Inquiry For Buying Click on:- https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-ice-cream-market-professional-survey-report-2017#InquiryForBuying
The study world Segmented Ice Cream Industry Research Report 2018 may be a elaborate report scrutinising statistical knowledge concerning the worldwide market. moreover, the factors on that the companies contend within the market are evaluated within the report. The report offers an in depth outline of the key segments at intervals the market. Analysis additionally covers upstream raw materials, equipment, downstream client survey, selling channels, industry development trend and proposals.
This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, covering
- Unilever
- Nestle
- Lotte Confectionary
- Dean Foods
- General Mills
- Mars
- Yili Group
- Morinaga
- Meiji
- Mengniu
- Turkey Hill
- Blue Bell Creameries
- Amul
Access Full indexed Report:- https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-hair-tools-market-2018-industry-production-trends-333949
By types, the market can be split into
- Premium Ice Cream (11% & 15% Butterfat, 60~90% Overrun)
- Superpremium Ice Cream (>14% Butterfat,20~80% Overrun)
- Regular Ice Cream (10%~11% Butterfat, 90~100% Overrun)
- Economy Ice Cream (10% Butterfat, 95~100% Overrun)
- Light Ice Cream & Reduced Fat Ice Cream
By Application, the market can be split into
- C-Stores
- Supermarket
- Grocery
- Catering (Restaurant,Hotel,etc.)
- Ice Cream Frenzy
- Food Processing Industry
By Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you
want)
- North America
- China
- Europe
- Southeast Asia
- Japan
- India
Key Features of Ice Cream
This report provide detail analysis of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the global Ice Cream market and its commercial landscape.
Learn about the various market strategies that are being adopted by leading companies.
It provides a five-year forecast assessed based on how the Ice Cream market is predicted to grow.
It provides insightful analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors.
To understand the future scope and outlooks for the Ice Cream market
In the end, the report includes Segmented Ice Cream new project SWOT analysis, investment practicableness analysis, investment come analysis, and development trend analysis. The key rising opportunities of the fastest growing international Segmented Ice Cream market segments are coated throughout this report. This report additionally presents product specification, producing method, and products cost structure. Production is separated by regions, technology and applications.
Read Other Reports Related to this Report:-
Global Commercial Ice Cream Freezers Market- https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-commercial-ice-cream-freezers-market-2018-industry-287234
Global Household Ice Cream Maker Market- https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-household-ice-cream-maker-market-2017-industry-270019
Global Household Ice Cream Machines Market- https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-household-ice-cream-machines-market-2017-industry-270018
Global Home use Ice Cream Machines Market- https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-home-use-ice-cream-machines-market-2017-270017
Global Commercial Soft Ice Cream Machine Market- https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-commercial-soft-ice-cream-machine-market-research-222106
Global Ice Cream Makers Sales Market- https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-ice-cream-makers-sales-market-report-2017-114268
About Us:
Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.
Joel John
Suite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442
United States
Toll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)
Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Email: sales@marketresearchstore.com
The commandant of the Marines has warned the Pentagon that deployments to the southwest border and funding transfers under the presidents emergency declaration, among other unexpected demands, have posed unacceptable risk to Marine Corps combat readiness and solvency.
In two internal memos, Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller said the unplanned/unbudgeted deployment along the border that President Trump ordered last fall, and shifts of other funds to support border security, had forced him to cancel or reduce planned military training in at least five countries, and delay urgent repairs at bases.
The border deployment and funding transfers, as well as recovery costs from hurricanes Florence and Michael, new housing allowances and civilian pay raises, are taking a toll on combat readiness, Neller wrote to Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and Navy Secretary Richard Spencer.
The Times obtained copies of the memos, dated Feb. 19 and March 18.
Advertisement
Neller, a four-star general, said because of the problems, Marines will not participate in planned training exercises in Indonesia, Scotland and Mongolia, and will reduce their participation in joint exercises with Australia and South Korea.
Marines rely on the hard, realistic training of the training exercises to develop the individual and collective skills necessary to prepare for high-end combat, said Neller, who has been commandant since September 2015.
He complained about canceling or shrinking the Marines participation at a time where we are attempting to double down on strengthening alliances and attracting new partners.
Shanahan and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to testify Tuesday before the House Armed Services Committee. Members are likely to ask about Nellers concerns.
ALSO: This psychologist claims Google search results unfairly steer voters to the left. Conservatives love him
Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said Nellers memos showed the danger in diverting Pentagon funds to build Trumps border wall.
If the president wont listen to the American people or Congress, then listen to the commandant of the Marine Corps, Durbin said in a statement.
While the armed services chiefs often warn of budget shortfalls, independent experts who reviewed Nellers memos described the language as unusually strong, in particular because it cites the presidents highest-profile political priorities.
Its pretty unusual for the commandant to be raising concerns that... a top political priority for the president is undermining the ability of the Marine Corps to do the training they need, said Mandy Smithberger, a defense expert at the Project for Government Oversight, a nonpartisan independent watchdog group.
It looks like from Commandant Nellers perspective, he does think these policies are undermining readiness, she added.
This is a pretty strongly worded memo, said Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington.
Hurricane recovery efforts, increases in civilian pay and the military housing allowance are probably the biggest factors in the budget shortfall, he added.
The incremental cost of the border deployment is likely small compared to these other factors, he said. It sounds like there are some bureaucratic politics at work here.
The border deployment is adding to the strain after hurricanes severely damaged Marine Corps facilities and housing in North Carolina and Georgia, Neller wrote.
Citing limits on his ability to transfer money because of the planned reprogramming under the border emergency, Neller said the Marines already are short $1.3 billion for recovery operations this year with another hurricane season approaching.
The hurricane season is only three months away, Neller wrote, and we have Marines, Sailors, and civilians working in compromised structures.
Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2017. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)
The memos are likely to revive uneasiness on Capitol Hill about the border deployment, which reportedly chafed some military leaders, including James N. Mattis, then secretary of Defense, when Trump first ordered it shortly before the Nov. 6 midterm election.
While the White House insisted that active-duty troops were needed to stave off so-called caravans of migrants from Central America, critics accused him of using the military as props for his political agenda, not for security purposes.
On Oct. 29, Trump tweeted, This is an invasion of our country and our military is waiting for you!
He later expanded the deployment to roughly 6,000 troops, drawn from the Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy, and extended their stay through September 2019.
They have assisted the Border Patrol by erecting barricades, flying helicopter support and maintaining vehicles. They are not allowed to detain migrants, seize drugs or carry out law enforcement duties.
The White House and Defense Department have sought to reassure wary lawmakers that the deployment, and the presidents declaration of a national emergency on the border, have not hampered military readiness or effectiveness.
During a visit to a Border Patrol station Thursday in McAllen, Texas, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she talked to Shanahan on a regular basis.
We continue to work together to find ways to support the border mission, Nielsen said. Border security is national security. We shouldnt pretend that its something else, because its not its a national security issue.
She directed questions about Nellers concerns to the Defense Department. Spokesmen for the Pentagon and Shanahan did not respond to requests for comment.
In an email, a Marine Corps spokesman, Capt. Joseph Butterfield, said Nellers memos made clear that damage from hurricanes, and not the border deployments, caused by the far the most significant budgetary pressure.
Border operations cost about $230 million by the end of January, according to the Pentagon. The cost could grow to about $850 million this year, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington.
The White House has asked Congress to appropriate a record $718 billion for the Pentagon in 2020, including $9 billion for hurricane relief, border security and backfilling military construction projects whose funding could be raided under the national emergency Trump declared on Feb. 15.
Lawmakers have pressed to learn which military construction projects would be deferred or canceled to divert money that could be used to build Trumps long-promised border wall under the emergency.
On Monday, the Pentagon sent Congress a list of more than 400 military construction projects around the country and worldwide that could be affected.
The 21-page document cites more than $12.8 billion in projects that could be delayed or canceled under the emergency, including 31 projects totaling $1.1 billion in California.
Congressional approval of the administrations budget request and backfill is far from assured, given the recent border funding fight that led to a 35-day partial government shutdown, and bipartisan votes in both chambers to block Trumps use of executive action to get around the congressional appropriations process. Trump vetoed the resolution last week.
Times staff writer Molly Hennessy-Fiske in McAllen, Texas, contributed to this report.
molly.otoole@latimes.com
Twitter: @mollymotoole
After weeks of delay, the Pentagon on Monday provided Congress with a list of more than 400 military construction projects around the globe, including dozens in California, that it could raid to help pay for President Trumps long-promised wall at the southwest border.
The 21-page document includes more than $12.8 billion in projects that the Defense Department conceivably could tap under the emergency Trump has declared on the border.
They include military housing, school building repairs, hazardous material facilities, security measures, naval piers and airfields.
The list names 31 planned military construction projects, with congressional appropriations of more than $1.1 billion, in California alone.
Advertisement
Among them are fire emergency and electrical upgrades at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, airfield maintenance at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and a new pier at Naval Base San Diego.
The total funding on the list is nearly four times the $3.7 billion that Trump has said he needs from military construction projects to fulfill his campaign pledge to build a wall. Nearly 700 miles of border barriers were built under Presidents George W. Bush and Obama.
After shutting down parts of the government for 35 days in an impasse with Congress over wall funding, Trump declared a national security and humanitarian emergency on the southwest border in mid-February when Congress again rebuffed his demands for billions for the wall.
A bipartisan majority in Congress responded by passing a resolution to overturn the presidents emergency declaration. Trump then issued his first veto, clearing the way for the White House to take money from the Pentagon budget to build the border barriers.
The prospect that the White House could raid military projects caused widespread concern on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers are traditionally fiercely protective of military and other construction projects in their districts, which can take years of careful negotiation to get approved.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have complained to the White House for weeks that they have not received the list of projects potentially on the chopping block.
Congressional staffers said they were told that the Pentagon gave its list of approved construction projects to the White House last week.
The list released Monday still does not identify which or how many projects will be raided for the presidents wall, which could take years to build.
The appearance of any project within the pool does not mean that the project will, in fact, be used, the document states.
That led to confusion and complaints on Capitol Hill.
This list is wholly insufficient and just tells Congress what projects it already approved, said Evan Hollander, the Democratic spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee. This appears to be nothing more than another stall tactic designed to delay the political consequences of President Trumps emergency declaration.
It is important to be clear that this is not a list of projects that will definitively be impacted, said Leacy Burke, spokeswoman for Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
A spokesman for acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said senators had asked for a list of unawarded military construction projects and that was completed over the weekend.
Lt. Col. Joe Buccino said the Homeland Security Department still had not given the Pentagon a list of specific border barrier construction projects that the military would then use to determine which ones support use of the armed forces, as the law requires.
The Homeland Security Department did not respond to a request for comment.
The Pentagon has emphasized to lawmakers that it will not tap military construction projects already contracted or that will be contracted in fiscal 2019, which began in October.
Lawmakers also were assured that construction of military housing, barracks or dormitories would not be touched, but several housing projects were on the list.
It also includes projects in Arizona that Shanahan had said would not be touched.
The White House has said the military construction money will be used to pay for the wall only after other funding sources have been tapped.
The House Armed Services subcommittee on military readiness will hold a hearing on the project list in coming weeks, according to staff for the chairman, Rep. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove).
They will examine whether diverting funds for planned construction projects will affect what the Pentagon says is a $116-billion backlog in military facility maintenance needs.
Garamendi met with Shanahan seven times in the last week and a half, aides said.
In a letter to Shanahan, Garamendi and Rep Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), the committees ranking Republican, asked for the list of projects, details on how diverting the funds would affect their completion date, and justification for how doing so would help with national security, as required under the law that regulates national emergency declarations.
The House is scheduled to vote on the presidents veto on March 26, but neither chamber is likely to have the two-thirds votes necessary to override the veto and halt his emergency declaration.
Now that members of Congress can see the potential impact this proposal could have on projects in their home states, I hope they will take that into consideration before the vote to override the presidents veto, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.
The latest from Washington
More stories from Sarah D. Wire
Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III appears close to turning in his final report after a historic investigation that initially sought to determine if President Trump or his advisors had illegal dealings with Russia during the 2016 campaign, but ultimately expanded far beyond that.
Whether or not the report reveals new bombshells, the former FBI director already has produced an extraordinary public record of misdeeds, one that is sweeping in scope and momentous in its implications for American democracy.
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, but hundreds of pages of indictments, court filings and testimony have tarnished his administration and led to new investigations in Congress and in other jurisdictions that could lead to new charges.
UPDATE: Robert Mueller submits report into whether the 2016 Trump campaign had illegal dealings with Russia
Advertisement
Since starting their work in May 2017, Mueller and his team have obtained indictments or charges against 34 individuals, including 25 Russians. Thats the most people charged in any special counsel investigation since the Watergate scandal that forced President Nixon from office in 1974.
While no Americans have been charged with conspiring with the Russian effort to sway the 2016 election, several people in Trumps inner orbit have pleaded guilty to other crimes.
They include Michael Flynn, his former national security advisor; Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman; Richard Gates, his deputy campaign chairman; and Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer and a senior executive in the Trump Organization.
Muellers public record is very impressive, said Christopher Ott, a former federal prosecutor on national security matters. These indictments are also a way to authoritatively make statements to the public about what the facts actually are. It is clear his team was objective, thorough and tenacious.
Here are the findings so far:
Russias social media campaign
The special counsel traced the Russian operation to the start of the Internet Research Agency, a shadowy group bent on influencing American public opinion, in 2013.
Working from an office building in St. Petersburg, Russia, and other sites, scores of cybertrolls conducted information warfare against the United States, according to an indictment.
The Russian group spread distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general by discouraging African Americans from voting, by motivating conservatives wary of Trump, and other tactics.
The operation was controlled and largely funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian tycoon with close ties to Putin and Russian intelligence services, U.S. officials said.
In 2014, two high-ranking agency employees visited the United States to collect information that could be used to target specific groups of U.S. voters on social media. Two years later, Russian hackers were impersonating Americans to pump out divisive posts and misleading advertising on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
RELATED: Everything you need to know about whos been charged in the Russia case
By the time Trump accepted the Republican nomination in July 2016, more than 80 Russian bloggers were churning out daily social media posts that boosted Trump and denigrated his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Their posts contained hashtags familiar to many Americans: #Trump2016, #TrumpTrain and #MAGA.
At one point, supervisors criticized an employee for running a Facebook group called Secured Borders that had a low number of posts dedicated to criticizing Hillary Clinton and ordered him to intensify such critiques, the indictment alleged.
Russian operatives even staged political rallies while posing as Americans. For one, they paid a U.S. citizen to build a cage on a truck as a prop to whip up Clinton opponents who wanted to lock her up and for another to portray Clinton in a prison uniform.
To cover their tracks, the agency purchased space on U.S. computer servers, stole the identities of U.S. citizens and created hundreds of accounts under false identities that made the bloggers appear to be Americans.
Hacking
As the troll farm roiled the internet, Russian cyberspies took more extreme steps to help Trumps presidential campaign, according to Mueller.
In March 2016, Russian military intelligence officers penetrated computer networks used by the Democratic National Committee and Clintons top campaign staffers with devastating effect.
Hackers at the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff (known as the GRU) in Moscow targeted more than 300 Democratic Party officials and campaign aides and infected dozens of servers with computer code that let them steal opposition research, operational plans and other internal documents.
They also vacuumed up sensitive communications, including those of John Podesta, the Clinton campaign chairman. After Podesta fell for a ruse and inadvertently gave the hackers his Gmail password, they swiped 50,000 private emails from his account.
FULL COVERAGE: Robert Mueller finishes his investigation into President Trumps 2016 campaign
The GRU soon began posting the stolen data on a website it created, DCLeaks, and through a fake Romanian hacker known as Guccifer 2.0. That June, the WikiLeaks anti-secrecy group reached out to Guccifer 2.0.
Send any new material here for us to review and it will have a much higher impact than what you are doing, a WikiLeaks official wrote, asking for anything Hillary related.
By mid-July, the GRU had transferred thousands of stolen emails and records, and WikiLeaks began releasing sensitive DNC emails and internal documents, disrupting the Democrats nominating convention.
Another Trump advisor, Roger Stone,claimed to be in touch with WikiLeaks during that period, according to charges filed against the longtime political operative. He told one campaign official that the payload is still coming days before WikiLeaks posted a trove of stolen material.
On Oct. 7, after the Washington Post reported that Trump had boasted about groping women on an Access Hollywood tape, Wikileaks began pushing out Podestas emails, drawing attention away from Trump.
Stone was charged in January 2019 with several crimes including lying about his conversations involving WikiLeaks. He has pleaded not guilty.
Russian contacts
All that year, Trumps aides and associates met or communicated with Russian diplomats, officials and operatives, and expressed eagerness for their assistance.
George Papadopoulos, a volunteer foreign policy advisor on the campaign, was one of the first.
During a visit to Italy in March 2016, the low-level aide met Joseph Mifsud, a Maltese professor. They then met again in London with a Russian woman who claimed to be Putins niece, and discussed arranging a meeting between Trump and the Russian president during the campaign.
In April, Mifsud told Papadopoulos that the Russians had dirt on Clinton. They have thousands of emails, Mifsud told him, Mueller later disclosed in court papers.
That was before the Democratic National Committee and Podesta knew they had been hacked, and while GRU operatives were still ransacking Democratic Party servers.
Papadopoulos bragged about his encounter to an Australian diplomat over drinks in London, and the envoy reported his concerns to the FBI. The tip sparked the FBIs initial counterintelligence investigation into Russias meddling in the campaign.
Separately, Cohen, Trumps personal lawyer, reached out to one of Putins top aides in an effort to secure a hugely lucrative business deal, a Trump Tower in Moscow. The effort continued until June 2016, after Trump had effectively locked up the Republican nomination, court records show.
Trump repeatedly denied ever having any business dealings with Russia, asserting that July, I have nothing to do with Russia.
Cohen has been sentenced to three years in prison for making false statements to Congress about the negotiations for Trumps proposed Moscow project.
Other Trump associates were also dealing with Russians.
Manafort, Trumps campaign chairman, had long business ties with pro-Moscow politicians and Russian oligarchs.
In June 2016, Manafort joined Donald Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son, and Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, in a meeting on the 25th floor of Trump Tower in Manhattan with a woman identified to them as a Russian government attorney.
Before the meeting, when an intermediarys email said the lawyer would present dirt on Clinton as part of Russia and its governments support for Mr. Trump, Trump Jr. quickly replied, If its what you say it is, I love it. No evidence has emerged to suggest those present reported the Russian offer to the FBI.
Two months later, Manafort and Gates, the campaigns deputy campaign, met with Konstantin Kilimnik at a posh New York City cigar bar. Muellers prosecutors later disclosed in court papers that Kilimnik has ties to a Russian intelligence service and had such ties in 2016.
At some point, Manafort provided Kilimnik with polling data, though precisely what he handed over and why is not revealed in court records. Earlier this month, Manafort was sentenced to 7 years in prison for financial crimes, all connected to his work as a political consultant in Ukraine, prosecuted by Muellers team.
The contacts with Russians and the lies about them didnt end with Trumps election.
In December 2016, Flynn, the incoming national security advisor, spoke repeatedly with the Russian ambassador in Washington after President Obama had expelled suspected Russian spies and slapped sanctions on Moscow in response to its election meddling. Flynn wanted to stop Putins government from retaliating since Trump had campaigned on improving relations with the Kremlin.
Shortly after the inauguration, Flynn lied to the FBI, which had monitored the ambassadors calls, by denying that they discussed sanctions.
Sally Yates, then the acting U.S. attorney general, warned the White House that Flynn could be blackmailed by the Kremlin and he was forced out as national security advisor after less than a month in the job.
The retired Army three-star general later pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents. His sentencing was postponed in December after a federal judge told him arguably, you sold your country out and warned he could go to prison. Flynn is still cooperating with prosecutors in a related investigation.
Winning a Republican seat in Orange County is hard enough for a Democrat. Holding it is a whole different matter.
For the record: An earlier version of this article identified Rep. Gil Cisneros district as the 38th. He represents the 39th District.
And the four Democratic freshmen who won seats in the historically Republican county in 2018 are already staking out starkly different routes to hold onto their jobs after 2020.
Reps. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) and Mike Levin (D-
San Juan Capistrano) joined the Congressional Progressive Caucus, aligning themselves with an energized, vocal group of liberal newcomers clamoring to change Washington.
Advertisement
O.C.'s blue wave: A periodic look at the six Democrats in Congress now representing the former GOP stronghold.
Laguna Beach Rep. Harley Rouda, a former Republican, is taking the opposite approach, joining the centrist New Democrat Coalition and positioning himself as a moderate who wants to ensure liberal programs make economic sense.
Yorba Linda Rep. Gil Cisneros seems to be trying to cover all bases with a combination of both strategies, joining the Progressive Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition. They both reflect parts of who I am, Cisneros said.
There are risks and rewards for each approach. Can unabashed progressives like Porter and Levin survive in districts that remain heavily Republican? Will Roudas centrist platform anger the O.C. Democratic activists who propelled him into office? How long can Cisneros straddle the partys divide?
Across the country, dozens of Democrats who won Republican-leaning seats are making the same calculation: how to connect with voters back home who may not share their political ideals, while still making their mark in Washington.
The Orange County Democrats will be under particular scrutiny. The area was a Republican bastion for decades and the GOP wants it back.
Keeping Orange County blue is not impossible, according to Harvard University professor Theda Skocpol. For starters, Trump is very unpopular in the county and hell likely be on the 2020 ballot. The rest will depend largely on how the four define themselves to their constituents.
There are plenty of cases where someone considered to the left or right of their district continues to be reelected because there is a sense they are connected, she said.
Levin and Porter arent running away from their progressive positions.
I think youve got to be authentic, Levin said. Im going to do my very best to listen to constituents and to people in our district. But ultimately, I think that voters will reward someone who stands on their values, and so Im willing to let the chips fall.
Levin, a former environmental attorney, has made climate change his signature issue, a risky gambit in a district where Republicans still hold a 3.38-percentage-point registration advantage. He was one of just three freshman Democrats appointed to the new select panel to study climate change, and he was one of the first freshmen to endorse the Green New Deal.
Levin is chairman of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, an unusual opportunity for a freshman thanks largely to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who has ensured that each of the four new O.C. Democrats are getting a platform to prove themselves.
He has also made a nod to the activists who supported him by hiring local organizer Ellen Montanari to run his monthly town halls. Montanari led the Tuesday morning protests outside Rep. Darrell Issas office that contributed to the representative deciding not to run for reelection in the 49th District.
Porter is a protege of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and a consumer-protection law and banking expert. Her position on the House Financial Services Committee allows her to be a leading voice on Wall Street and the American banking system.
Porter has grown close to high-profile progressives, like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
Though she hasnt received the public attention they have, Porter had some standout moments in committee hearings, including asking Equifaxs chief executive to disclose his Social Security number, birth date and address in a public, televised hearing. He refused, prompting Porter to question why the companys lawyers argued in federal court in January that there was no injury caused by a 2017 data breach where hackers got the personal identifying information of 147 million people.
Some questioned during the campaign if Porter was too liberal for the 45th District, where Republicans hold a 5.28-point voter registration advantage. She said she wants to hear from a variety of constituents, but ultimately must vote her conscience.
You should always be questioning why you hold the positions that you have, but I dont think that you can adequately advocate for Orange County if youre not willing to ultimately take the votes that you think are going to be the best for Orange County families. And sometimes those votes will be hard, Porter said.
Because of their positions, Porter and Levin are likely the most vulnerable to GOP efforts to label O.C. Democrats as too far left.
Were going to hold these socialist Democrats accountable for everything they say, everything they do, and everything their socialist-leaning party does, said National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Torunn Sinclair, referring to all four new O.C. Democrats.
Rouda is taking a route of moderate pragmatism.
While Im a Democrat, and I support many of the progressive issues that were working on, they also have to be based on an economic foundation, said the real estate magnate.
Rouda is the Oversight and Government Reform Committees Environment Subcommittee chairman and also serves on the House Transportation Committee.
The 48th District is the most Republican-leaning in Orange County, and even though Rouda won with nearly 54% of the vote, the GOP still has an 8.11-point voter registration advantage there. Rouda, a Republican until registering as decline to state 20 years ago and then as a Democrat in 2017, said he represents how the partisan makeup of his district has changed.
I got elected because I was a mainstream candidate. I was a candidate that appealed to Democrats and Republicans and independents. Perhaps maybe not the extremists, but the vast majority of voters who tend to be between the 20-yard lines, he said.
Even so, local Democratic activists who played a major role in his defeat of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher say they will be watching Rouda closely.
Aaron McCall, head of the local chapter of Indivisible, said the activist group will issue report cards on how Rouda votes and interacts with the community. But McCall said he understands the balancing act Rouda must play.
If you are comparing him to Ocasio-Cortez, a lot of people would say hes not progressive, McCall said. Hes extremely progressive compared to Dana Rohrabacher.
Cisneros has taken a different route, keeping a lower profile, avoiding picking sides in the partys political divide and focusing largely on local issues.
There were opportunities where I could have been a subcommittee chair, or something like that. But to me its more important right now... to put my emphasis and my time and dedication really towards the district, Cisneros said.
In November, Cisneros joined a handful of rebel Democrats pledging in an open letter to oppose Pelosi for speaker. But he changed his mind after Pelosi agreed to limit how long she would serve.
The 39th District has been trending blue for some time Republicans just lost their voter registration advantage there to Democrats by nearly a percentage point which could be part of why its long-serving Republican Rep. Ed Royce decided not to run for reelection in 2018.
Cisneros, a former Republican who became a Democrat four years ago, serves on the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs committees, which feeds into his Navy background and his campaign promise to work on veterans issues.
He may also be more focused on the ethnic split in the district, which is a third Latino, a third white and a third Asian. Cisneros won with just 51.6% of the vote, beating former state Assemblywoman Young Kim.
Retired UC San Diego political scientist Gary Jacobson said hedging to the center is smart, but warned that politics have become so partisan that Cisneros might find it difficult to align with both progressives and moderates for long.
Party lines are firmer. There are no liberal Republicans. There are no conservative Democrats left, Jacobson said. Its much more difficult to present yourself as someone who resides outside those partisan boxes.
Rep. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), a second-term lawmaker who represents one of the other Orange County districts, said focusing on district priorities and constituents rather than the glamour of Washington is key for a first-term member seeking reelection.
My advice is go with your gut, Correa said. But hopefully your gut tells you youve got to be in your district.
The latest from Washington
More stories from Sarah D. Wire
The end of a sprawling investigation that has riveted the nation usually calls for a news conference from the person in charge, but Robert S. Mueller III chose a different approach Friday.
The special counsel sent a security officer to the Justice Department to deliver his long-awaited final report on the Russia case, then joined his wife and another couple for a quiet dinner in a favorite neighborhood restaurant.
With no photographers or TV cameras in sight, they sat in a secluded booth as cable news and social media exploded with speculation and accusations.
It was a fitting conclusion for the man whose tenure as the least talkative yet most talked-about public figure in Washington is drawing to a close.
Advertisement
Mueller, 74, is expected to step down as special counsel in the coming days, and only a skeleton crew is left in the office at this point. His report, which remains confidential for now, caps nearly two years of investigating Russian political interference, any potential conspiracy with Donald Trumps campaign and whether the president obstructed justice.
During that time, Mueller was practically a ghost. Sometimes a snapshot would emerge of him sitting down at an Apple store, or coincidentally waiting for a flight at the same airport gate as Donald Trump Jr.
Otherwise he was at most a blurry figure, captured behind his car window as he pulled up to the special counsels office in the early mornings. His name often appeared at the bottom of indictments and court filings all told, 34 people were charged but his subordinates did the talking during courtroom proceedings.
Muellers only public comment has been a single sentence, when he was appointed as special counsel nearly two years ago in May 2017, and the statement was as plain as the white shirts that hes made his official uniform.
I accept this responsibility and will discharge it to the best of my ability, Mueller said.
He issued no statement on Friday when he submitted his report.
Trump often raged at Muellers work, repeatedly calling the Russia investigation a witch hunt and describing him as a conflicted prosecutor gone rogue. But even the president, a former reality television star, would likely give his chief antagonist one of his favorite compliments that Mueller was from central casting.
Muellers history of public service, reticence and rectitude provided a sharp contrast to Trumps life of tabloid shenanigans, bombast and garish wealth.
A Princeton University graduate, Mueller volunteered for the Marines and served as an infantry officer in the Vietnam War, receiving a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart after being shot in the leg.
He became a federal prosecutor after the war and rose through the ranks at the Justice Department. Eventually he served for a dozen years as FBI director under presidents of both parties, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, after Obama and Congress agreed to a special law to extend Muellers term beyond the 10-year limit.
Mueller was working in private practice when Trump fired his successor as FBI director, James B. Comey, on May 9, 2017. In a move to preserve the independence of the Russia investigation, Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller to serve as special counsel.
President Trump speaks to the media as he leaves the White House bound for his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on March 22. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA/Shutterstock)
Since then, Muellers silence has been the counterweight to Trumps blizzard of Twitter screeds, and the special counsels office earned a reputation as the rare leak-proof operation in Washington.
Muellers reserve was also a marked shift from two of the highest profile special prosecutors of the past generation Lawrence E. Walsh, who spent seven years examining the Iran-Contra scandal of the Reagan administration, and Kenneth W. Starr, whose investigation of Bill Clinton and his White House lasted four years.
Starr talked publicly about his work, at one point holding a widely televised, impromptu news conference at the end of his suburban Washington driveway.
Clinton allies accused Starrs prosecutors, who included Brett M. Kavanaugh, now a Supreme Court justice, of routinely leaking secret grand jury testimony in an effort to force the president to resign. The investigation ultimately led the House to impeach Clinton, who was then acquitted by the Senate.
Starr consistently denied any improper actions. But in 1998, as the Clinton impeachment proceedings were taking place, U.S. District Judge Norma Holloway Johnson ruled that members of his staff had engaged in serious and repetitive violations of grand jury secrecy rules. Johnson threatened contempt proceedings against Starr staffers in one case, but an appeals court overturned that portion of her order, ruling that she had applied too strict a standard and that the way Starrs staff dealt with the press was troubling but not illegal.
A special master who investigated the leak allegations wrote a report of his findings that was never released and remains under seal.
In a recent CNN interview, Starr defended his public comments about the case and said he thought Muellers approach in declining to talk publicly was not wise.
I just have a different perspective, Starr said. I think its important to provide public information thats appropriate.
Kennetth Starr is swarmed by the media in 1998 while investigating President Bill Clinton, a scene that hasnt been repeated by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Ken Cedeno / Knight-Ridder Tribune)
Walsh investigated the Iran-Contra scandal, in which Reagan administration officials facilitated the sale of arms to Iran to fund the right-wing Nicaraguan rebel group known as Contras at a time when U.S support for the rebels was forbidden by law. Walsh ultimately indicted 14 people, winning 11 convictions.
Several of the convictions were overturned on appeal. And at the end of his presidency, George H.W. Bush, who was vice president at the time the scandal unfolded, pardoned the rest of those convicted, including the secretary of Defense at the time of the scandal, Caspar Weinberger.
Walsh, whose investigation was ongoing at that point, publicly criticized Bush for his action, holding a news conference in which he said that the Iran-Contra cover-up, which has continued for more than six years, has now been completed.
In his final news conference several months later, at which Walsh released a 566-page report and 785 pages of supporting documents, he said Bush and other Reagan administration officials had thwarted his investigation.
Reagan, in a statement at the time, said Walsh had become vindictive and had used his office to harass individuals and otherwise to damage the lives of the persons he was given license to investigate.
Both Walsh and Starr served under an independent counsel statute that expired in 1999. That statute gave them more freedom than Mueller, who is supervised by the Justice Department, headed by Trump appointees.
But Muellers tight-lipped approach still stands out in a city packed with people of supersized egos and camera-ready ambitions.
Its unclear whether Mueller will be able to maintain his silence in the coming weeks and months.
Atty. Gen. William Barr is expected to provide Congress with a summary of the special counsels conclusions as soon as this weekend, but thats unlikely to satisfy House Democrats who are eager for a more complete and public picture. Some have already talked about bringing Mueller to Capitol Hill to testify.
Muellers restraint undoubtedly helped inoculate him from some criticism from Trumps allies, who were quick to criticize any whiff of political bias from investigators. They mostly targeted secondary figures instead, perhaps a recognition that they were unlikely to tarnish the special counsel himself.
House Republicans focused their ire on Peter Strzok, a former FBI agent, and Lisa Page, a former FBI lawyer, who exchanged anti-Trump text messages while working at the agency during the 2016 campaign.
Mueller removed Strzok from the special counsels office when the messages came to light, but critics said Strzoks involvement tainted the probe.
Trumps lawyer, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, focused on Muellers prosecutors, particularly top deputy Andrew Weissmann. Giuliani described Weissmann as a complete scoundrel in a CNN interview last summer.
Mueller himself managed to win some unlikely praise from the presidents camp, including from Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and White House advisor.
During a recent panel discussion, Lowell said, I dont know of a special counsel whos done it better.
Staff writer Noah Bierman contributed to this report.
Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III turned in his long-anticipated report on the Russia investigation on Friday, but did not recommend any more indictments in the political and legal saga that has threatened President Trumps tenure in the White House and is likely to cloud his legacy.
Mueller delivered a confidential report to Atty. Gen. William Barr, the Justice Department announced. A Barr spokeswoman described it as comprehensive but provided no other details.
The special counsels decision to wrap up the investigation without further criminal charges probably brings a measure of relief to the president and his inner circle after nearly two years under scrutiny by the former FBI director.
Mueller has charged 34 people, the most of any special prosecutor since Watergate. They include more than two dozen Russians and several of Trumps top former aides, including his national security advisor and his campaign chairman.
Advertisement
No Americans were charged with conspiring with Moscow to influence the 2016 presidential campaign, the original focus of the criminal and counter-intelligence investigation.
However, Muellers work spawned a web of other inquiries, most notably from House Democrats and federal prosecutors in New York, that will continue to shadow Trump and may lead to additional charges.
In a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate judiciary committees, Barr wrote that Mueller has concluded his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and related matters.
Barr said he may be able to advise the committees of Muellers principal conclusions as soon as this weekend. He also wrote that other information may be made available to Congress, and he remains committed to as much transparency as possible.
There were no instances in which Justice Department leaders overruled a decision by the special counsel, Barr wrote.
Trump flew to his resort compound in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, before Barr received the report and had no immediate comment.
The White House spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said in a statement that the next steps are up to Barr and we look forward to the process taking its course. The White House has not received or been briefed on the special counsels report.
Although Muellers report ends his investigation, its filing marks the starting point for waves of legal battles, congressional wrangling and political recriminations in the months ahead and through the 2020 presidential campaign.
Democrats and some Republicans quickly demanded that the report be made public as soon as possible and that all of the material be sent to Congress without redactions. Many of the 2020 presidential contenders tweeted their demand for a full public review minutes after news broke of Barrs notification to Congress.
The White House must not be allowed to interfere in decisions about what parts of those findings or evidence are made public, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.
Democrats have expressed concern that the Justice Department would release only portions of the report that defend the president and his aides, or that the White House might try to bury damaging material.
Congress and the American people deserve to judge the facts for themselves, said Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Any attempt by the Trump administration to cover up the results of this investigation into Russias attack on our democracy would be unacceptable.
House Democrats have vowed to issue subpoenas, if necessary, to obtain the complete report as they launch multiple investigations aimed at Trumps businesses, private finances and presidency.
Republican leaders said they were eager to see the report as well.
The attorney general has said he intends to provide as much information as possible, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. I sincerely hope he will do so as soon as he can, and with as much openness and transparency as possible.
I expect [the Justice Department] to release the special counsels report to this committee & public w/o delay & to maximum extent permitted by law, Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, wrote on Twitter.
A security officer working for the special counsels office delivered Muellers report to the Justice Department early Friday afternoon.
Stephen Boyd, the assistant attorney general for legislative affairs, then went to Capitol Hill to deliver the letter notifying Congress that Muellers report had been received.
Barrs chief of staff, Brian Rabbitt, called Emmet Flood, a member of the White House counsels office, about 4:35 or 4:40 p.m. to alert him as well. Flood, who was hired to help the president handle the investigations, was traveling with Trump in Palm Beach, Fla.
Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who first appointed and supervised Mueller, telephoned him at 4:30 p.m. to thank him for his service and express his appreciation, according to a senior Justice Department official. Rosenstein has said he plans to leave the department shortly.
Mueller was later seen eating dinner at an American-style restaurant that he frequents in northwest Washington.
Many of Muellers prosecutors are returning to other positions at the Justice Department, while his top deputy is returning to academia. Mueller has not yet stepped down as special counsel. Hes expected to remain in place as the office wraps up its operations.
Even before he filed his report, the former FBI director had produced a vast public record of crimes, lies and misdeeds, one that is especially alarming because it involves a foreign adversary interfering in a U.S. election.
Mueller gave no interviews and issued no public statements apart from a one-sentence statement when he was appointed special counsel in May 2017. That added an unusual degree of mystery to his work and prompted endless speculation about the sprawling investigation.
The special counsels office investigated Moscows efforts to sway the 2016 presidential campaign, whether Trumps aides or allies conspired with the Kremlin-backed operation, and whether the president improperly interfered with the investigation.
Along the way, Muellers team uncovered and prosecuted numerous other crimes, including an epidemic of lying to lawmakers and federal agents, as well as financial crimes related to an illegal lobbying scheme on behalf of Ukraines pro-Russian government.
Other federal prosecutors already have used Muellers work to kick off their own investigations. The U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan has directly implicated Trump in an illegal hush-money scheme allegedly designed to silence his alleged mistresses in the final weeks of the 2016 campaign.
Depending on what the report says, Trump is expected to claim full vindication or continue his tirades against a witch hunt that he says was conducted for partisan purposes.
He submitted written answers to questions from Muellers team, but despite months of negotiations did not submit to a formal interview.
On Wednesday, the president appeared to agree with polls showing widespread public support for releasing the entire report.
Let it come out. Let people see it, he told reporters at the White House. Lets see whether or not its legit.
Its unclear whether Muellers report includes any major revelations beyond the extensive indictments and court filings hes assembled in the last two years.
The special counsels office detailed how Vladimir Putins Russia attempted to influence the last presidential election with a vast disinformation campaign on social media as well as illegal hacks and leaks of Democratic Party emails.
Court filings showed that Trumps top lieutenants met or communicated dozens of times with Russian diplomats, suspected intelligence agents or officials during the campaign and the transition that followed and then lied repeatedly about those contacts.
In addition, while Trump was running for president, his confidants secretly tried to assemble financial and political support in Moscow to build a luxury Trump Tower condominium and hotel complex potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars to his business.
Mueller and his team ultimately charged 34 individuals, including 25 Russians. Seven people pleaded guilty, including several in Trumps inner orbit.
They include Michael Flynn, his former national security advisor; Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman; Richard Gates, his deputy campaign chairman; and Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer and a senior executive in the Trump Organization.
No Americans were charged with conspiring with the Kremlin-backed operation, however, and Trump has consistently denied any collusion between his campaign and Moscow.
On Wednesday, Trump complained that Mueller, unlike him, had never won an election.
I got 63 million votes. And now somebody just writes a report? I think its ridiculous, the president said. The Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, won more than 65 million votes but lost the electoral college.
Mueller was appointed special counsel by Rosenstein after Trump fired James B. Comey as FBI director in May 2017.
Rosenstein was overseeing the Russia investigation because Jeff Sessions, then attorney general, had recused himself because of his role in the campaign. Sessions was forced out in November, and Barr was confirmed as his replacement in February.
Times staff writers Jennifer Haberkorn, Sarah D. Wire, Noah Bierman and David Willman contributed to this report.
Atty. Gen. William P. Barr told Congress on Sunday that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III did not find evidence that President Trump or his campaign conspired with Russians during the 2016 election, a significant victory for a president who has steadfastly denied any inappropriate ties to Moscow.
Mueller did not determine whether Trump obstructed justice, which was another focus of the investigation, yet he concluded that the evidence does not exonerate the president, Barr wrote in his letter to lawmakers.
The attorney general, however, decided the facts dont show Trump committed a crime by trying to interfere with the Russia probe, a judgment that Democrats will fiercely contest and that will fuel their efforts to see Muellers full report.
Barrs four-page letter was based on a final report from Mueller that remains confidential after being submitted to the Justice Department on Friday.
Advertisement
Read Atty. Gen. William P. Barrs summary of the Mueller investigation
It was a complete and total exoneration, Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One to fly back to Washington from Florida, where he spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. It was a shame that our country had to go through this.
He angrily described the investigation as an illegal takedown that failed.
Barrs letter does nothing to wipe away the numerous crimes to which Trumps associates have confessed during the nearly two-year investigation, nor does it deter other ongoing probes some of them referred to federal prosecutors by the Mueller team that threaten the president and his businesses.
But it does provide Trump with some inoculation against allegations from Democrats and other critics who have ascribed dark motivations to Trumps praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his dismissals of Moscows covert operation.
However, unlike the president, Barr accepted as fact the Mueller teams evidence that Russians interfered in the 2016 election and that there were multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign a conclusion that contradicted Trumps acceptance of Putins denial at their Helsinki summit last year.
Atty. Gen. William P. Barr leaves his house Sunday. He spent the weekend at Justice Department headquarters in Washington. (Alex Wong / Getty Images)
Muellers conclusions could blunt House Democrats own investigations of the president now getting underway, with some covering the same ground that the special counsel has scoured. The findings also do not provide a clear case to impeach the president that some party activists had hoped for, to overcome Democratic leaders opposition to such action.
Yet Democrats in Congress are likely to be energized in their efforts to force disclosure of Muellers entire report, especially given that Barr quoted only sparsely from it.
In particular, his letter is certain to spark a renewed debate over whether the president obstructed justice, especially given Barrs finding that Trump did not do so after Mueller declined to decide the question.
The attorney general wrote that Mueller simply outlined evidence for and against an obstruction case. Barr quoted from the special counsels submission: While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.
Barr reviewed Muellers findings over the weekend with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller and supervised the investigation. They determined, he said, that there is not sufficient evidence to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.
One factor that weighed heavily, Barr wrote, was that there was no proof the president was involved in an underlying crime involving the election and Russian interference. Such a circumstance, he said, would make it hard to win a conviction for obstruction, even setting aside Justice Department rules against indicting a sitting president.
In cataloguing the Presidents actions, many of which took place in public view, the report identifies no actions that, in our judgement, constitute obstructive conduct, Barr wrote.
Democrats are unlikely to accept that conclusion from Barr, a Trump appointee who criticized the investigation into obstruction of justice before his nomination as attorney general, and especially after Trump repeatedly expressed a desire to shut down what he described as a witch hunt.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he plans to call Barr to testify in the near future about the very concerning discrepancies between his letter and Muellers report.
The hearing would be another step in what could become a prolonged tug of war over fully disclosing the special counsels findings. House Democrats have talked about issuing subpoenas or bringing Mueller himself to Capitol Hill to answer questions.
Congress Democratic leaders, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York, said in a joint statement that Barrs letter raises as many questions as it answers. They said the attorney general is not a neutral observer and is not in a position to make objective determinations.
Their statement did not address the conclusion that there was no conspiracy with Russia, a finding that Trump and his allies described as a clear vindication of the president and his campaign.
This case is closed, said Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, the Republican minority leader in the House.
He added, Democrat leaders acted irresponsibly and threw caution to the wind to damage and distract from the work the Trump administration is doing on behalf of our fellow citizens.
Trump, like members of Congress, was unaware until Sunday afternoon of the contents of the report Mueller sent to the Justice Department on Friday. The attorney generals chief of staff called Trump lawyer Emmet Flood to provide him with a summary of Barrs letter at about 3 p.m., a senior Justice Department official said.
The letter provided new details on the breadth of the Russia investigation. Muellers office included 19 lawyers who were assisted by 40 FBI agents, analysts, forensic accountants and other specialists. The special counsel also issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants and interviewed roughly 500 witnesses.
One of those interviews, however, was not with the president. Trump only answered written questions from the special counsels office, and Mueller never issued a subpoena for an interview, thus avoiding a possible legal fight that could have gone to the Supreme Court.
Barr said more information from the investigation could be forthcoming, and he has promised to provide as much transparency as possible. He wrote that he plans to work with Mueller to determine what else can become public while withholding information from secret grand jury testimony or ongoing investigations.
Mueller is not seeking more indictments and is expected to step down as special counsel in the coming days, after nearly two years of assiduously behind-the-scenes investigating with his team. Rosenstein appointed Mueller, a former FBI director to two presidents, after Trump fired his successor at the FBI, James B. Comey, in May 2017 a firing that became part of the obstruction investigation.
Along the way, a total of 34 people were charged, including 25 Russians and several of the presidents close associates. Some of the Russians charged were accused of spreading disinformation on social media, while others were charged with hacking Democratic Party emails and releasing them through WikiLeaks at key moments to undermine Trumps 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton.
No Americans have been charged with working with Russians during the campaign. However, Mueller helped expose an eagerness by Trump and his associates to capitalize on Moscows assistance, then lie about it repeatedly.
Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer, admitted to seeking help from the Kremlin to build a luxury skyscraper in Moscow that would have earned Trump hundreds of millions of dollars. The negotiations were underway until after Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination, far longer than Cohen had originally testified to Congress. He is scheduled to start a three-year prison sentence May 6.
Michael Flynn, Trumps first national security advisor, pleaded guilty to lying about discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period.
Roger Stone, a longtime political advisor to Trump, was indicted in January in connection with lying about his pursuit of Democrats hacked emails from WikiLeaks. He has pleaded not guilty and he is scheduled to stand trial later this year.
In addition, Donald Trump Jr. accepted a meeting with a Russian lawyer during the campaign after being told she represented the Kremlins support for his father. I love it, Trump Jr. wrote to an intermediary, and he hosted the lawyer at Trump Tower along with Jared Kushner, his brother-in-law and a top campaign advisor, and Paul Manafort, the campaign chairman.
No charges have been filed in connection with the Trump Tower meeting in June 2016, and participants have said that no campaign assistance was provided during the encounter.
Manafort was convicted of financial crimes connected to his work as a political consultant to what was then the pro-Russia government in Ukraine, and he also pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges related to attempted witness tampering and an illegal lobbying scheme. He has been sentenced to 7 years in prison.
Muellers work has also spawned a series of other investigations, notably in New York, where Cohen admitted his role in a hush money scheme that silenced two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, which is handling the case, said Trump directed the scheme during the campaign, directly implicating the president in a felony.
There are also ongoing investigations into Trumps inaugural committee, his now-defunct charitable foundation and his businesses.
In a recent Fox News interview, the president said, I dont know about these things.
I said to my lawyers, Are we being looked at here, there? Trump said. They dont even know what people are talking about.
Times staff writer Laura King contributed to this report.
It might be hard to imagine, but despite dozens of criminal charges and wall-to-wall media coverage, the end of the Russia investigation has left a lot of unanswered questions.
Few of them were addressed in the bare-bones, four-page summary that Atty. Gen. William Barr sent to Congress on Sunday, and its unclear whether there are more details in the full, confidential report that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III submitted to Barr on Friday.
Heres what we still dont know.
The professor
The first person to plead guilty in the nearly two-year investigation was George Papadopoulos, a young foreign policy aide to President Trumps campaign. He admitted to lying about his conversations with Joseph Mifsud, a Maltese professor who allegedly told him that Russians were collecting dirt on Hillary Clinton and had thousands of emails. This conversation took place in April 2016, before Moscow started releasing hacked Democratic Party emails. Did Mifsud have inside information from the Kremlin? And did he share it as part of the Russian covert operation?
Advertisement
The Russian
Before Paul Manafort began leading Trumps campaign, he worked in Ukraine with Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian whom prosecutors have repeatedly described as connected to Moscows intelligence apparatus. However, they have not disclosed any evidence of these ties.
During the campaign, Manafort provided Kilimnik with polling data and later lied about it when asked by the special counsels office, another red flag. Yet no charges were filed in connection with the decision to share the data. What was Manaforts goal? And did Kilimnik provide the information to anyone else?
The dirty trickster
Roger Stone, a longtime political advisor to Trump, allegedly spent the campaign trying to learn more about WikiLeaks plans to release hacked Democratic Party emails. According to the indictment against him, Stone reached out to the organizations leader, Julian Assange, through intermediaries, but its unclear whether he ever made contact. (Stone has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and faces trial later this year.) The indictment also said a senior Trump campaign official was directed to contact Stone to talk about WikiLeaks after the first email release during the Democratic National Convention. Who besides Trump was in position to direct a senior official to do something like that?
The Trump Tower meeting
Donald Trump Jr. didnt hesitate when he received an email from a British music publicist offering to arrange a meeting with a Russian lawyer who was said to be part of the Kremlins effort to support his fathers candidacy. Promised incriminating information on Clinton, Trump Jr. responded, I love it. Also at the meeting, which took place in Trump Tower in June 2016, was Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and advisor, and Manafort, the campaign chairman.
However, no charges were filed in connection with the meeting, and participants have said no campaign assistance was provided. Did the Russian lawyer, Natalia V. Veselnitskaya, actually have a role in Moscows covert campaign? Mueller has never said.
The lies
More than anything, Mueller uncovered an epidemic of lying among Trumps associates. Michael Flynn, the presidents first national security advisor, lied about discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador during the transition period after the election. Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer, lied about Trump Organization plans to build a luxury skyscraper in Moscow. And, as noted, Papadopoulos lied about his conversations with Mifsud, and Manafort about his dealings with Kilimnik.
Mueller apparently did not find evidence of a conspiracy between Trumps campaign and Russia, yet why all the lying? Cohen testified that the president wanted him to mislead Congress about the Trump Tower Moscow proposal to avoid raising questions about Russian ties. Did others also lie to serve Trump?
The obstruction allegations
Since Trump took office, media reports have uncovered a series of his attempts, behind the scenes, to blunt or end the Russia investigation. James B. Comey testified to Congress that Trump asked him to go easy on Flynn when he was FBI director, in February 2017. The Washington Post reported that Trump asked intelligence officials to get Comey to back off the investigation in March 2017. Comey was then fired by Trump that May, leading to Muellers appointment as special counsel. The New York Times reported that Trump wanted to fire Mueller as well in June 2017, but backed down when Don McGahn, then the White House counsel, refused to carry out the order.
Did the special counsels office substantiate any of these reports, or even learn more? And what might that mean for House Democrats own investigations into whether the president abused his power?
Rep. Steve King has civil war on his mind.
The Iowa Republican broached the subject in a Saturday evening Facebook post a bizarre meme of two fighting figures, one red and one blue, each an amalgamation of states based on their political leanings.
Folks keep talking about another civil war, the meme read. One side has about 8 trillion bullets, while the other side doesnt know which bathroom to use.
King, whom Congress recently stripped of committee assignments over his comments about white supremacy, annotated the image with a winking emoji and mused, Wonder who would win....
Advertisement
King was openly pondering violent, armed conflict, apparently joking about Republican-leaning states fighting their Democratic-leaning neighbors in a second American civil war.
But King, an Iowa native, may have been confused about which side he was on. There, forming the blue warriors bicep, was his home state, delivering a cartographic uppercut to the jaw of its red opponent.
King deleted the post, which he shared on an official campaign page, Monday. His office did not respond to questions about the picture or his reasons for posting and removing it.
Observers pilloried him for the post, which many saw as further provocation in a divisive political climate that has already experienced civil war rhetoric. Many called for Kings expulsion from Congress, a punishment that would end his nine-term run in office.
This is treason, said Richard Painter, the Bush administration ethics chief, on Twitter. Steve King should be expelled from the House immediately.
Responding to Painter, Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe modified his criticism: King isnt actually COMMITTING treason, but he is fomenting and inciting it. Ample reason to expel him.
The Democratic Party in Clay County, Iowa, which is located in Kings district in the northwestern area of the state, told its representative, Iowa would be better off if you just resigned.
Some criticized Kings timing, as he posted the meme the day after a white supremacist killed 50 people in New Zealand mosques. Shannon Watts, founder of the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, tweeted that King had ignored the gun violence in America and across the world caused by division and fear of one another when he posted the image.
MORE: In the chaos of the New Zealand mosque attacks, one heros action saved lives
Others accused King of promoting transphobic language, and at least one scholar attempted a history lesson.
I grew up in SC where the #CivilWar began, a war that eventually freed 4 million slaves, a war that left 620,000 soldiers dead-including 40,000 Black soldiers, wrote Cornell Brooks, a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and former president of the NAACP. Dont use #transphobia to legitimate #WhiteSupremacy, or bathrooms to spit on graves.
Over his nearly two decades as a national political figure, King has furnished a long history of racist remarks and comments widely viewed as anti-Semitic, white nationalist, or insulting to immigrants and to women seeking abortions.
He has also made at least two other nods to civil war.
In 2018, King himself said the country was on the brink of civil war. In a tweet, he said, America is heading in the direction of another Harpers Ferry. After that comes Ft. Sumter.
Harpers Ferry was the site of abolitionist John Browns raid of a federal armory, an attempt to begin an anti-slavery rebellion, that helped spark the Civil War. The attack on Ft. Sumter was considered the start of the war.
King has even kept a reminder of the war placed prominently on his desk a small Confederate flag, peeking out from a display that also sported a Gadsden flag.
Iowa was part of the Union.
Reis Thebault writes for the Washington Post.
A divided Supreme Court on Tuesday bolstered the Trump administrations power to arrest and indefinitely jail legal immigrants who committed past crimes that could trigger deportation, including those who completed their sentences years ago or were convicted of minor drug offenses.
The courts five conservatives pointed to a mandatory detention rule in a 1996 immigration law that said federal agents shall take into custody immigrants who have been convicted of certain crimes that would lead to deportation.
Tuesdays high court decision is the third in the last two years that strengthens Trumps authority under the immigration laws. While the ruling interprets a 1996 law, it takes on added significance because the administration has been more aggressive in arresting and jailing immigrants.
The justices in the majority said Congress feared it would be too risky to let terrorists or dangerous criminals go free while deportation was pending. But their opinion conceded the law is so broad it also sweeps in nonviolent drug offenders and tax cheats.
Advertisement
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, acting on an American Civil Liberties Union class-action suit in California, ruled in 2016 that these immigrants were not subject to mandatory detention if they were not promptly taken into custody after their release from a local jail or state prison. This spared those who had lived and worked legally in California, some for over a decade.
But Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., speaking for the 5-4 majority, called this argument hard to swallow since local officials in so-called sanctuary cities do not alert federal agents when an immigrant is released.
In the case, Nielsen vs. Preap, he said the law calls for mandatory detention of the immigrants without exception and regardless of when they are taken into custody.
Last June, a 5-4 majority upheld the travel ban and said the president could deny entry to immigrants and visitors from several Muslim-majority nations. A few months earlier, the court ruled the government could hold immigrants for months or years without offering them a bail hearing. That decision, in Jennings vs. Rodriquez, was an offshoot of the case decided Tuesday.
Justice Stephen G. Breyer, speaking for the courts four liberals, read his dissent in the courtroom. The greater importance of the case lies in the power that the majoritys interpretation grants to the government. It is a power to detain persons who committed a minor crime many years before, he said. And it is a power to hold those persons, perhaps for many months, without any opportunity to obtain bail.
He said the Constitution gave all people the right to a hearing if they were held by the government. I would have thought that Congress intended to adhere to these values and did not intend to allow the government to apprehend persons years after their release from prison and hold them indefinitely without a bail hearing, Breyer said. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan agreed.
Joining Alito in the majority were Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh. In a separate opinion, Thomas and Gorsuch said they would have thrown out the suit on the grounds the courts have no authority to review class-action suits challenging immigration enforcement.
ACLU Deputy Legal Director Cecillia Wang, who argued the case, criticized the ruling. For two terms in a row now, the Supreme Court has endorsed the most extreme interpretation of immigration detention statutes, she said, allowing mass incarceration of people without any hearing, simply because they are defending themselves against a deportation charge. We will continue to fight the gross overuse of detention in the immigration system.
Eduardo Padilla, one of the named plaintiffs, came to the United States in 1966 as an infant and became a lawful permanent resident in the Sacramento area. He has five children and six grandchildren, all of whom are U.S. citizens. Padilla had two convictions for drug possession, in 1997 and 1999, and served 90 days in jail in 2002 for having an unloaded pistol in a shed.
In 2013, federal agents rearrested him over those crimes and held him for deportation. But he went free after the 9th Circuit ruled the mandatory detention provision did not apply to immigrants such as Padilla. He was released on a $1,500 bond because a judge decided he did not present a danger and was not likely to flee.
The lead plaintiff in the case, Mony Preap, came from Cambodia as a child and had been a lawful U.S. resident since 1981. He was taken into custody over two convictions for possessing marijuana in 2006, but an immigration judge later canceled his deportation and he was released.
The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in Sacramento welcomed the ruling. Kent Scheidegger, its legal director, said the 9th Circuits ruling had misinterpreted the law in order to allow alien criminals in sanctuary cities to avoid detention and deportation under federal law. Congress required mandatory detention for those convicted of aggravated felonies for good reason.
The high court heard arguments on the case in mid-October, the same week that Kavanaugh took his seat. He spoke up in defense of the Trump administrations view that the law was intended to authorize federal agents to arrest and hold immigrants with crimes on their records regardless of when they were released. He questioned whether we should be putting in a time limit on taking immigrants into custody.
In a short concurring opinion on Tuesday, Kavanaugh said the issue before the court was narrow. It did not involve who will be deported or how long they will be held. It would be odd, in my view, he added, to read the law as exempting certain noncitizens from mandatory detention simply because the government failed to immediately detain them upon their release.
The latest from Washington
More stories from David G. Savage
PITTSBURGH, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Box, an industry-leading provider of keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) connectivity and signal distribution systems, today announced it will showcase the new Emerald ZeroU DVI transmitter for the companys award-winning, high-performance Emerald Unified KVM platform at the upcoming NAB show. A little bigger than a smartphone, the compact ZeroU transmitter works with the Emerald SE receiver to give users a seamless desktop experience anywhere on a TCP/IP network with actual hardware housed securely in a corporate data center or in the cloud.
The Black Box team in Ireland engineered and manufactured the ZeroU transmitter to round out the Emerald platforms options for secure point-to-point transmission, said Josh Whitney, senior vice president of the Technology Product Solutions business at Black Box. Perfect for facilities with limited rack space, this convenient little transmitter fits in tight spaces to give users advanced KVM functionality just the way they need it.
With dimensions of 7(w) x 15.5(l) x 2.5(h) cm, the ZeroU device is ideal for applications in which space is limited or costly. Supporting visually lossless full HD DVI video up to 1920 x 1200 and requiring less than 40 Mbps bandwidth for 1080p video, the transmitter brings high-performance connectivity to broadcast and postproduction trucks, healthcare emergency rooms, air traffic control rooms, industrial and transportation control room, educational facilities, and more.
The ZeroU device can function as a basic point-to-point extender supporting simple, space-saving remote desktop connectivity. Alternatively, it can be used with other types of Emerald transmitters in a KVM matrix switching setup that addresses all the unique connectivity requirements of a particular facility or application. In conjunction with the Emerald SE receiver, the ZeroU enables seamless remote desktop connectivity to physical PCs, servers, and video sources, as well as virtual desktops hosted on servers or in the cloud. By supporting seamless integration of physical and virtual desktops, the new transmitter empowers users not only to optimize their deployments but also to make a smooth migration to cloud services.
Like all Emerald devices, the ZeroU transmitter can be managed by Boxilla, the award-winning KVM network management system from Black Box. With Boxilla, users can take advantage of valuable features and capabilities for managing connections, system security, performance, and access. Because design consultation services are included with every Black Box product, integrators and end users can work with the company to optimize deployment of the ZeroU transmitter and their complete Emerald system.
More information on Black Box and its products is available at www.blackbox.com.
About Black Box
Black Box delivers award-winning products and services that simplify signal management and distribution in IT and communication systems. We engineer and manufacture KVM and audio/video systems that connect users with PCs and servers, desktops and peripherals, ensuring smart, flexible access to critical IT assets, data and content. For government, education and commercial organizations of all sizes, we design and supply secure infrastructure solutions for control rooms, conference and collaboration facilities, and digital signage. With four decades of experience, as well as a global presence and an extensive team of technical experts, we provide the products, solutions, service and support that allow our clients to connect with their colleagues, their customers and the world.
To learn more, visit the Black Box website at https://www.blackbox.com/ and follow us on Twitter @blackbox_ns .
Black Box and the Double Diamond logo are registered trademarks of BB Technologies Inc.
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to resolve two long-standing disputes and decide whether the Constitution includes rights to the insanity defense and a unanimous jury verdict of guilt.
Most states, but not all, permit criminal defendants to plead insanity and escape the full punishment of the law on the grounds that they did not know right from wrong at the time of the crime.
Kansas, however, says defendants may cite a mental disease or defect as a partial defense, but they may be found guilty nonetheless if they intended to commit a violent crime.
Similarly, all but two states Louisiana and Oregon require unanimous jury verdicts in criminal cases.
Advertisement
The justices said Monday that they would hear appeals from convicted murderers in Kansas and Louisiana who contend their convictions were unconstitutional.
Voting to hear claims from convicted criminals may seem somewhat surprising for a more conservative high court. But it may be in keeping with another recent ruling that clarified that other constitutional rights should apply to all states.
Last month, the justices resolved a similar dispute by ruling the 8th Amendment protects Americans from excessive fines imposed by states and local governments, including the seizure of a $42,000 Land Rover for a $385 drug crime. In that case, Timbs vs. Indiana, the court prodded by new Justices Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh said the time had passed for states to argue that they did not have to abide by all parts of the Bill of Rights.
The 6th Amendment protects the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury. And for most of American history, this has been understood to require a jury verdict of guilt based on an unanimous vote.
In 1972, the Supreme Court took up the issue in an Oregon case, but issued a splintered 4-1-4 decision. The result was that juries in federal courts must be unanimous to impose guilt, but states such as Oregon and Louisiana were free to uphold jury verdicts that were less than unanimous.
In 2016, Evangelisto Ramos was convicted on 10-2 jury verdict of murdering a suspected prostitute in New Orleans. His appeal argued that Louisianas rule allowing non-unanimous jury verdicts was adopted in 1898 for racist reasons, and it should be overturned. The states attorneys urged the court to deny the appeal and noted that the states voters approved requiring unanimous verdicts beginning this year. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court said it would hear Ramos vs. Louisiana in the fall to decide whether unanimous jury verdicts will be a constitutional rule nationwide.
The court will also hear an appeal from James Kahler, who shot and killed two of his daughters, his ex-wife and her grandmother, and sought to plead insanity. He claimed that he had sunk into hopeless depression after his marriage collapsed. But a state expert testified that Kahler planned the murders. He was convicted and sentenced to death, despite his insanity plea.
His appeal in Kahler vs. Kansas argues that the insanity defense is a fundamental aspect of American justice and cannot be restricted or abolished by the states.
In Kansas, Kahlers attorney argued, it is not a defense to criminal liability that mental illness prevented the defendant from knowing his actions were wrong. So long as he knowingly killed a human being even if he did it because he believed the devil told him to, or because a delusion convinced him that his victim was trying to kill him, or because he lacked the ability to control his actions he is guilty.
His attorneys said Alaska, Montana, Idaho and Utah have also limited the use of insanity as a defense to a crime.
In a third criminal case, the justices will decide whether Lee Boyd Malvo will serve life in prison for his role in the 2002 sniper shootings in the Washington, D.C., area. John Allen Muhammad was convicted of the shootings and executed in Virginia. Malvo, who was then 17, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole.
The Supreme Court later put new limits on life prison terms for those who commit murders as a juvenile, and the court in Mathena vs. Malvo will decide whether those rulings apply retroactively to those already serving life terms. If Malvo prevails, he will get a new sentencing hearing.
The latest from Washington
More stories from David G. Savage
A federal appeals court seemed openly skeptical Tuesday that President Trump is illegally profiting from foreign and state government visitors at his luxury hotel in downtown Washington, and that his financial gain comes at the expense of local competitors.
The three-judge panel of the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals was reviewing a novel case brought by the attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia involving anti-corruption provisions of the Constitution in the emoluments clauses.
The once-obscure clauses were designed to prevent undue influence on government officials but have never before been applied in court to a sitting president.
One judge, Dennis Shedd, suggested that the president may actually be driving up business at other local hotels because of numerous people drawn to Washington to protest Trumps policies, who would not choose to stay at the presidents namesake hotel.
Advertisement
Another, Paul Niemeyer, noted the president had already stepped back from day-to-day management of the Trump International Hotel. Forcing the president to give up his financial interest would not remove the Trump name from the business, the judge said, and foreign dignitaries would still book rooms and events at the venue.
The judges repeatedly pressed the attorney representing D.C. Atty. Gen. Karl Racine and Maryland Atty. Gen. Brian Frosh, both Democrats, about the specific remedy the two jurisdictions are seeking and about their intentions.
What solves the concerns you have? Shedd said, asking if divestment of a hotel or putting it into a blind trust might be an answer.
You filed the lawsuit and you dont even know what real-world relief would satisfy, Niemeyer said, addressing Loren AliKhan, solicitor general for the District of Columbia. You seem to be ducking the question.
AliKhan said Trump, in his role as president, is violating the foreign and domestic emoluments clauses of the Constitution by choosing to maintain his business interests.
The official action is the accepting of emoluments, which is a violation of the Constitution, AliKhan told the court. Divestment, she said, might be an option.
The third judge on the panel, Marvin Quattlebaum, is a recent Trump nominee to the court. Quattlebaum appeared concerned about a broad definition of emoluments. Would it mean, he asked, that presidents would have to give up Treasury bills and federally insured bank accounts?
My view is it covers any profit, gain or advantage AliKhan said of an emolument, but stopped short of saying a Treasury bill or other passive investment would qualify.
The Trump administration attorney told the court that Maryland and D.C. have no authority to sue the president in his official capacity over payments the presidents business accepts from state and foreign governments.
The president is unique in our system of government, said Justice Department attorney Hashim Mooppan. Hes not just any old inferior officer. Thats why he gets absolute immunity.
The panel specifically is considering whether the District and Maryland have legal grounds or standing to sue the president in the first place. And the appeals court will consider the presidents request to dismiss the case outright or to take the unusual step of ordering the lower-court judge to permit a midstream appeal.
A federal judge in Maryland allowed the case over the Trump hotel to move forward and adopted a broad definition of the ban to include profit, gain, or advantage received directly or indirectly from foreign, federal or state governments.
Trump and his lawyers appealed, saying in court filings that the president should be shielded from such liability and legal distractions. They also are trying to stop an order from U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte authorizing dozens of subpoenas to federal government agencies and Trumps private business entities.
The subpoenas seek details on some of the most closely held secrets of Trumps business and finances: Which foreign governments have paid the Trump Organization money? How much? And for what?
All of the documents including marketing materials targeted to foreign embassies, credit card receipts and restaurant reservation logs relate to Trumps Washington hotel.
The complaint rests on a host of novel and fundamentally flawed constitutional premises, and litigating the claims would entail intrusive discovery into the presidents personal financial affairs and the official actions of his Administration, according to the Justice Departments filing.
Despite this remarkable complaint, the district court treated this case as a run-of-the-mill commercial dispute, the filing continues. Not only did it deny the presidents motion to dismiss, but it refused even to certify for immediate appeal.
The Richmond, Va.-based court, which takes appeals from Maryland, temporarily put the subpoenas on hold while the case is pending.
Unlike past presidents, Trump has retained ownership of his private businesses, including the hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, a few blocks from the White House, that has attracted government clients. The Kuwaiti Embassy has held its National Day celebration there three years in a row. Lobbyists representing the Saudi government reserved blocks of rooms in December 2016. The former governor of Maine stayed at the hotel and dined at its restaurant in 2017.
Mooppan said there was no evidence Maryland or the District had been harmed by the Maine governors trip, and that this case should be over.
Despite the case and a separate emoluments suit brought by 198 Democrats in Congress the Trump Organization did more business with foreign governments in 2018 than it did the year before. The company said it received $191,000 in profits from large events and hotel bookings paid for by foreign governments last year, money it donated to the U.S. Treasury. The previous year the company reported about $150,000.
In January, the inspector general for the General Services Administration said the agency had improperly ignored potential conflicts with the emoluments provision in leasing the Old Post Office building to the hotel. The watchdog agency did not recommend that the GSA modify the deal, but several House committees are now planning investigations into the project.
In his initial ruling in March 2018, Messitte found that Maryland and the District had sufficiently shown that Trumps hotel has had and almost certainly will continue to have an unlawful effect on competition. He specifically noted the local governments financial interests in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, which offer venues that may compete for some events.
The provisions being reviewed by the 4th Circuit have never before been tested at a federal appeals court. One bars federal officers from taking presents, or emoluments, from foreign governments. The other prohibits presidents from taking side payments from individual states.
The Justice Department had urged Messitte to dismiss the case, arguing that the clauses were meant to stop officials from taking bribes but not to prevent them from doing business.
The Office of Legal Counsel within the Justice Department has routinely addressed the meaning and implications of the provisions for presidents past. President Reagan requested guidance about whether he could accept the pension he earned as Californias governor. President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize only after the legal counsels office said he could do so without violating the emoluments clause.
Ann E. Marimow and Jonathan OConnell write for the Washington Post.
President Trump undermined his administrations sanctions aimed at forcing North Korea to end its nuclear program, surprising his staff and confusing the American public and the world with a tweet Friday afternoon seeming to lift some of them.
It was announced today by the U.S. Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions would be added to those already existing Sanctions on North Korea, Trump wrote soon after arriving for the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Fla. I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional Sanctions!
The president initially appeared to be referring to a pair of sanctions that his Treasury secretary announced Thursday against two Chinese shipping companies accused of helping North Korea evade sanctions. Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin issued a strong statement in Thursdays announcement, taking a hard line against North Korea that was greatly at odds with Trumps retreat and his spokeswomans subsequent attempt at an explanation.
The confusion was compounded later in the day as officials familiar with the issue said Trump was probably referring to sanctions that were planned but not yet announced.
Advertisement
Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement earlier in the day that did little to explain what was behind Trumps tweet. She reaffirmed Trumps personal relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, with whom he has had two summits that failed to yield a deal on nuclear disarmament.
President Trump likes Chairman Kim and he doesnt think these sanctions will be necessary, she said.
The presidents precipitous and puzzling action, however, could go beyond simply erasing the day-old sanctions to undercut long-standing ones that Trump has said would stay in place until North Korea gave up its nuclear program. China and Russia, the two powers most crucial to North Koreas economy, are unlikely to fear violating the U.S.-backed sanctions after Trump seemed to lift penalties after the Treasury Departments finding of wrongdoing.
Mnuchin, in his statement a day earlier, said, The United States and our like-minded partners remain committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea and believe that the full implementation of North Korea-related U.N. Security Council resolutions is crucial to a successful outcome.
Treasury will continue to enforce our sanctions, he added, and we are making it explicitly clear that shipping companies employing deceptive tactics to mask illicit trade with North Korea expose themselves to great risk.
National security advisor John Bolton had also tried to underscore the tough stance against North Korea signified by Thursdays sanctions move, tweeting after they were announced that they were important actions.
The maritime industry must do more to stop North Koreas illicit shipping practices, he wrote. Everyone should take notice and review their own activities to ensure they are not involved in North Koreas sanctions evasion.
Trump often surprises his staff with his tweets, but the stakes get much higher when his bursts involve the U.S. relationship with North Korea, an outlaw nuclear nation that has been among the United States foremost adversaries.
Trumps advisors could not immediately explain why he sent the tweet, which sanctions he was referring to or why he would allow sanctions to be announced if he planned on revoking them hours later.
It all made for a muddled message, not just to North Korea but also to allies, whose cooperation in upholding economic sanctions is critical, and the disarray once again suggested an administration at odds with its chief executive. Critics assumed Trump was speaking of sanctions just imposed, not prospective penalties.
Ive been working on sanctions policy for 15+ years. Dont recall ever seeing a president overrule a Treasury announcement AFTER it was announced, tweeted Mark Dubowitz, chief executive of the right-leaning Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) tweeted that Trump is being played by Kim Jong Un one of the worlds most vicious dictators.
Sidestepping his own Treasury Dept. and withdrawing sanctions against North Korea the same day they were announced defies logic, Van Hollen added. He urged Congress to act.
It was the second time in as many days that Trump unexpectedly made a foreign policy announcement on Twitter. On Thursday, he reversed half a century of American policy in the Middle East by tweeting that the United States would recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, territory seized from Syria in 1967.
Trump has been eager to strike a deal with Kim, lavishing him with praise and insisting on meeting in two summits despite calls from many foreign policy analysts to hold out until North Korea makes concessions.
Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington
When President Trump proposed opening nearly the entire U.S. coastline to more offshore oil and gas drilling, the backlash from states seeking exemptions was swift.
Governors, Republican and Democratic, and state legislatures up and down the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines protested so vigorously that the administration promised to consult with them before finalizing any plans.
Instead, Trump is quietly laying the groundwork to weaken a decades-old federal law that empowers California and other states to slow and even stop offshore development in federal waters.
Republicans are always supposed to be in favor of states rights, said Richard Charter, who has worked on oil issues for 40 years and is a senior fellow at the marine conservation nonprofit Ocean Foundation. But this is in fact an effort to take away states rights when it comes to offshore drilling.
Advertisement
In a notice published earlier this month, the Commerce Departments National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration asked the public to weigh in on ways to streamline a state review process granted under the Coastal Zone Management Act.
GRAPHIC: Here is where the Trump administration wants to expand offshore oil and gas drilling
The 1972 law is widely considered one of the most powerful tools states have to regulate activity off their coasts. It applies to all of the coastal and Great Lakes states, with the exception of Alaska.
The act gives states a voice when federal projects or industry development affect their coast, even activities that occur outside a states jurisdiction, which extends three miles from the coast.
The scientific agency cant change the law, but through regulation and implementation, it can have a major impact on how it is enforced.
Among other things, the administration appears to be considering limits to the scope of states review powers and a shorter period of time to process an appeal. The full extent of its plans is unclear.
The goal, officials wrote, is to provide greater efficiency and predictability for oil and gas projects language often used to justify deregulation.
The oil industry cheered the administrations move.
We appreciate and support efforts to modernize and improve the governance and efficiency of the permitting and approvals process so that unnecessary barriers to oil and natural gas development are minimized and eliminated, said Erik Milito, a vice president of the American Petroleum Institute.
Passed in the wake of the devastating 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, the act assures that drilling, shipping, commercial fishing, mineral extraction, wind power projects and other activities fit into states plans for protecting their coastal zones.
In practice, this means that activity in federal waters that would otherwise not be open to extensive public scrutiny can be subjected to hearings and local environmental impact assessments.
State leaders can insist on modifications. They can negotiate with industry representatives to reach a compromise. According to a 2016 NOAA report, states end up approving 93% to 95% of the federal projects they review. Supporters of this coordinated review process say it has resolved some of the nations most contentious cases without costly litigation that can drag on for years.
And though their word is not final, states have used the act as a weapon to defeat projects that threatened the environment and public health.
Citing the law in the early 2000s, California managed to halt 36 controversial oil leases between Monterey Bay and Channel Islands national marine sanctuaries.
In 2007, the state blocked a proposed liquefied natural gas port that would have floated 14 miles offshore from Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The project was ultimately abandoned after a state review found it posed significant risks to air quality and marine life.
These regulations provide an important public process, said Linda Krop, chief counsel at the Environmental Defense Center, a nonprofit environmental law firm based in Santa Barbara. Obtaining these rights has been a hard-fought battle by coastal states, with California leading the charge.
Its very meaningful, she said, and thats what the federal government is afraid of.
Mark Delaplaine, who manages the California Coastal Commissions Energy, Ocean Resources and Federal Consistency Division, said attempts to weaken the law were alarming.
It gets to the heart of arguably the most powerful tool, even with the checks and balances, that the state has. Period, Delaplaine said.
This is not the only states rights battle California is fighting with the Trump administration, which is also seeking to end Californias unique ability to set fuel-economy standards for cars higher than the federal level.
The Trump administrations draft offshore proposal would allow new oil and gas drilling in more than a billion acres off the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic coasts. It includes plans for 47 lease sales over a five-year period, more than half of which would take place in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska.
The plan would give the oil and gas industry the first new access to California waters in decades, with six proposed lease sales. Another lease sale would be held off Washington and Oregon. Governors of all three states have vowed to protect their coastlines from offshore drilling.
Some now fear the Interior Department is slow-walking the unpopular plan to avoid upsetting the nomination of David Bernhardt, the agencys acting chief, who faces a Senate confirmation hearing later this month. A revised draft of the offshore plan which was expected earlier this year has been delayed without explanation.
On Wednesday, 17 senators sent a letter to Bernhardt asking him to clarify how much of the countrys coast would be included in the plan. The American people deserve to know your plan for the Outer Continental Shelf before the Senate votes on your nomination, they wrote.
Florida politicians who secured the Interior Departments promise a year ago to exempt the state from new offshore drilling were scrambling to figure out whether the administration would honor it. Floridas entire congressional delegation signed a letter last month asking to be left out of Trumps offshore drilling plan.
New Jersey, Delaware, New Hampshire, California and other states passed laws prohibiting new oil and gas pipeline and other infrastructure from being built on state lands an attempt to make transporting oil prohibitively expensive.
MORE: First came the proclamations against Trumps offshore drilling plan. Now comes the legislation
Cindy Zipf, executive director of the New Jersey advocacy group Clean Ocean Action, said the states resistance likely prompted the administrations effort to reduce their power by revising the coastal law.
I do think this is blowback from President Trump in response to the states actions to block oil and gas drilling and infrastructure in state waters, Zipf wrote in an email.
Trump has also tried to weaken the law by gutting its funding.
In his recent budget proposal, the president sought to end the grants given to states to help implement their coastal management programs, which include reviewing federal offshore activities. The administration made a similar attempt last year, but Congress restored funding in the final budget.
Previous administrations have also tried to limit states role in overseeing what happens in federal waters part of a decades-long tug of war.
In the 1980s, California sued the Reagan administration to protect its right to review activities occurring off its coast. Under former President George W. Bush, key parts of the review process were expedited to address concerns raised by the energy industry, according to a NOAA report.
Delaplaine, of the California Coastal Commission, said that when he started in 1976, California lacked any review authority in federal waters.
When Exxon asked that year to build an offshore storage and treatment facility in state waters less than a mile from shore, the commission denied the project. So Exxon moved the project 3.1 miles offshore, into federal waters, and built the same storage and treatment facility. The state couldnt do anything about it.
The risk of oil spills was enormous, Delaplaine said. So this tool is infinitely powerful we dont have absolute authority ... but the state can be a lot more involved in the process to negotiate less environmentally damaging alternatives to a project.
The latest from Washington
More stories from Anna M. Phillips
Almost six months after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered, the man believed to have ordered the killing has cemented his position as President Trumps closest ally in the Arab world.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, has weathered the initial storm over the Oct. 2 killing in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Trump and his aides have made clear that they consider the prince an essential U.S. partner in the Middle East.
If they were thinking long-term about American interests, theyd see that hes also one of their biggest problems.
MBS, as hes widely known, is an autocrat, a hothead and a disruptor. Hes a younger, Saudi version of Trump only with fewer checks and balances.
Advertisement
The 33-year-old prince hasnt done much to stabilize the Middle East. Instead, hes made the area even less stable not only by ordering a savage crackdown against dissidents like Khashoggi, but also by bullying other princes, kidnapping Lebanons prime minister, imposing an economic blockade on one neighbor, Qatar, and launching a disastrous war against another, Yemen.
When Trump talks about Saudi Arabia under MBS, he extols the kingdom as a buyer of U.S.-manufactured weapons, pointing to deals he claims (with characteristic exaggeration) could reach $110 billion.
I dont want to lose an order like that, he said last year.
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo describes the Saudis in more strategic terms, as important allies in counterterrorism and the U.S.-led campaign to pressure Iran.
Its a mean, nasty world out there, the Middle East in particular, Pompeo said. There are important American interests. Saudi Arabia [is] an important partner.
Both make it sound as if the United States faces a single, all-or-nothing choice: stand by MBS, or walk away from the relationship entirely.
I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good, Trump said.
But theres a third alternative, of course one the United States has often used when leaders of client states acted against U.S. interests. Call it tough love.
You dont want to walk away from the relationship. What you want to do is improve their behavior, Robert W. Jordan, a U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia under President George W. Bush, told me last week. I dont see much of a strategy in place to do that.
Part of the problem, Jordan said, is that the Trump administration has ceded leverage to the Saudis. We treat them as if theyre our most valued customer in the world, and the customers always right, he said.
Instead, he said, the administration should make it clear that its not happy with some of MBS decisions and back up its words with action.
You have to make it clear that youre serious about it, he said. There are subtle ways we can make clear that they need us more than we need them. Take spare parts. Their F-15s would be grounded in weeks if we held up their spare parts.
In the months since Khashoggi was killed and his body dismembered, the Trump administration has done nothing like that.
Instead, Trump has questioned whether MBS should be held responsible for the crime, despite a CIA finding (with medium to high confidence) that he ordered it.
The administration has been similarly muted about the kingdoms imprisonment of dissidents, including womens rights activists who have been subjected to physical abuse and threats of rape.
Even in the case of Dr. Walid Fitaihi, a Saudi American dual citizen who has reportedly been tortured, the United States has said little.
And when it comes to the Saudi intervention in Yemens civil war, which MBS launched three years ago, the administration has backed the prince despite mounting reports of civilian casualties from Saudi airstrikes.
The way to alleviate the Yemeni peoples suffering is by giving the Saudi-led coalition the support needed to defeat Iranian-backed rebels, Pompeo said March 15.
If the administration wanted to send a tough-love message, one way would be to get an ambassador to Riyadh. Trump didnt nominate a candidate for the job for almost two years; the Republican-led Senate hasnt yet confirmed his choice, retired Gen. John P. Abizaid.
Abizaid has said hes willing to talk tough.
We should speak frankly to our partners when they do wrong, he said in his Senate confirmation hearing on March 6.
But once he gets to Riyadh, Abizaid will face a problem: MBS has gotten used to doing business directly with Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law.
They have to empower Abizaid; he has to be seen as the presidents man, said Barbara A. Leaf, a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. You cannot have MBS thinking that all he has to do is call Jared.
The U.S.-Saudi relationship needs to be reset, argues Aaron David Miller, a Middle East expert who worked in both Republican and Democratic administrations. We are tethering ourselves to a regime that is undermining American interests and American values.
He acknowledged that it wont be easy. How do you identify a policy between abandonment and embrace?
But it wont happen at all unless Trump and his aides resolve to try, and theres no sign that they have.
In this test of statecraft, theyre failing.
California lawmakers have unveiled a far-reaching package to stem the states housing affordability crisis, including new protections against surging rents and evictions as well as more apartments near public transit and in coastal communities.
The proposals could reshape the states housing landscape and they all come from Bay Area politicians.
The chairmen of the Legislatures two housing committees, Democrats Sen. Scott Wiener and Assemblyman David Chiu, are both from San Francisco. They have a powerful ally in Gov. Gavin Newsom, the former mayor of the city, who has made housing one of his top priorities. And a cadre of powerful Bay Area interest groups has united behind the legislation, providing a level of unity unmatched by any other part of the state.
It makes sense that the Bay Area would take the lead in crafting affordability solutions, since it is saddled with the nations highest housing costs. But the Bay Area has distinct characteristics, such as an extensive transit system, that could complicate any universal solution to housing problems. Elected leaders and activist groups from outside the Bay Area fear the regions lawmakers will push legislation that doesnt account for the challenges faced elsewhere.
Advertisement
Those fears stem from recent history.
At Gov. Newsoms urging, California will sue Huntington Beach over blocked homebuilding
Last year, many Los Angeles activists felt blindsided by legislation written by Wiener to increase housing construction near transit. They worried that it would have undermined recently enacted plans aimed at preventing gentrification and displacement in their communities, and their opposition helped sink the bill.
While lawmakers from outside the Bay Area have been part of the Legislatures housing debates, some acknowledge they must be more forceful in protecting their constituents interests.
There is a need for us in Southern California to be more aggressive about developing the housing that is absolutely needed and that reflects the needs of our constituencies, said Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, a Democrat who represents neighborhoods in downtown Los Angeles. We have got to push really hard on any dollars that are expended in the state of California to match the communities that we represent.
(Los Angeles Times)
By housing costs alone, the Bay Areas affordability problems stand apart from the rest of the state.
Median home values are the highest in the country with those in Silicon Valley topping $1.2 million and San Franciscos close behind, according to real estate website Zillow.
Monthly rental costs are also significantly higher than in Southern California, with Silicon Valley rents averaging $2,213 a month in 2017 compared to $1,476 in Los Angeles, per U.S. census data. And while theres been strong job growth across much of the state since the recession, the Bay Area has seen new employment surpass new homebuilding at a rate unmatched elsewhere, exacerbating a shortage of homes in the region.
Even as we in Southern California are experiencing strong gentrification and displacement pressures, theyre nothing compared to what has happened in Northern California, said Manuel Pastor, a sociology professor at USC. Large swaths of Northern California are out of reach to the average renter and home buyer.
Wiener and fellow Bay Area lawmakers are setting the states agenda on housing policy a push aided by interest groups from the region.
Over the last 18 months, officials from Bay Area cities, nonprofits, developers, labor groups and others wrote a plan to address the regions affordability crisis. The idea, called the CASA Compact, relies on numerous changes to state law. In response, Bay Area legislators have introduced bills including proposals that would provide tenants with legal counsel and prevent them from being evicted without cause, and allow homeowners to more easily build second housing units, or casitas, on their properties.
Nearly all the proposals would affect the entire state, which could require other perspectives to weigh in.
(Lorena Elebee / Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles and San Diego legislators still retain substantial sway over housing policy. The leaders of the Senate and Assembly are from Southern California, as are those in charge of key budget and fiscal committees. Lawmakers from Los Angeles have put forward legislation on rent control and to end restrictions on public housing, among other plans.
Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) worked in low-income housing consulting before joining the Legislature and has written major legislation to help fund new projects. At the end of 2018, she put her stamp of approval on Wieners aggressive approach to tackling housing problems by creating a new Senate housing committee and naming him the chairman.
While high housing costs are one reason its difficult to afford living in the state, low wages are another. The median household income in the Los Angeles region is below $70,000, which is lower than the state average and just 60% of Silicon Valleys.
In the Bay Area, the fundamental problem is different than in Southern California, said Richard Green, director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate. In Southern California, its as much of an income problem as it is a housing problem.
The socioeconomic divide between the areas was underscored last year when Wiener introduced the bill that would have made it easier to build apartments near transit stops.
Activists in Los Angeles had just finished a decade of work on a development blueprint for historically black and Latino South Los Angeles and a plan to boost density near transit lines. Concerned that Wieners bill would override their efforts and displace longtime residents, they opposed it, helping torpedo the bill in its first committee hearing.
Mariana Huerta Jones, campaign and communications manager for Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles, said Wiener took the groups criticisms to heart and incorporated many of its ideas including stricter prohibitions against demolishing rental housing into Senate Bill 50, a new version of the legislation hes introduced this year. The measure would allow for four- or five-story apartment complexes and condominiums near transit.
Her organization has yet to take a position on the bill but is speaking regularly with Wieners office about further changes, Huerta Jones said.
The senator really is genuine and wants to do something about the housing crisis, she said. We really appreciate that, and its exciting hes being bold. But being bold also means being humble and appreciating how what youre proposing could have impacts across the state all the way down to San Diego and into rural areas.
This years version of Wieners bill, as well as others in the suite of Bay Area housing legislation, could disrupt some policies that have strong backing outside the region.
In the 1970s, San Diego voters implemented a 30-foot height limit for construction along the citys coastline and required a public vote to build taller. Wiener intends for his bill to override that rule for housing near transit. Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) has introduced Senate Bill 330 to do away with many city and county restrictions on homebuilding for a decade a response, shes said, to the scope of the states housing challenges. San Diegos coastal height limit would be suspended for new homes should the bill pass, a spokesman for Skinner said.
While still early in the legislative process, Skinners bill also could affect how much the city of Los Angeles could charge developers through a fee passed in late 2017 that aims to raise millions to build low-income housing and is a key plank in Mayor Eric Garcettis housing agenda.
Wiener said it is vital for Bay Area lawmakers to understand other areas of California and pointed to his efforts to incorporate feedback from Los Angeles activists into SB 50. But he said many housing concerns are the same throughout the state, noting he often receives the same pushback to his ideas that propose changes to neighborhoods in San Francisco and Los Angeles alike.
Its not so different when it comes to education policy that affects the whole state, Wiener said.
Chiu, the housing committee chairman in the Assembly, said its possible Bay Area legislators could scale back their housing bills so that they only affect that region. But sometimes, he said, housing problems are best tackled by those on the outside.
Last year, Chiu wrote legislation to withhold state housing dollars from any community that allowed its City Council members to block homeless housing developments in their districts before a formal vote. Chiu introduced the bill to stop the practice in the city of Los Angeles, where council members had recently stymied projects in their districts by holding back support before a council hearing.
Chiu said activists in Los Angeles asked him to carry the bill because it was too politically fraught for a legislator from Southern California to do so. Both houses of the Legislature approved the measure unanimously, and then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed it into law.
There were many significant leaders in Los Angeles that were happy to see it pass, Chiu said.
liam.dillon@latimes.com
@dillonliam
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and mayors from 10 other large California cities lobbied Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, asking for hundreds of millions in additional funding to combat homelessness in their communities.
The request followed a successful effort last year from big-city mayors, including Garcetti, San Diegos Kevin Faulconer, San Joses Sam Liccardo and others, to push for $500 million in state grants for homelessness prevention efforts under then-Gov. Jerry Brown.
Garcetti said that major cities have already committed three-quarters of the money allocated to them and that the spending shows cities can help additional homeless residents with more resources.
The need is out there, Garcetti said. Its proof that we can put this to work right away.
Advertisement
Gov. Gavin Newsom threatens to cut state funding from cities that dont approve enough housing
The city of Los Angeles has set aside more than half of the $85 million it received for its proposal to build homeless shelters citywide, including one in each council district. So far the money has gone to 11 projects with a total of 849 beds once the projects are complete. The city has also put $20 million toward homelessness prevention efforts on skid row.
In his January budget announcement, Newsom set aside $500 million for regional and local homeless programs. Of that money, $200 million would go to cities and counties to use for any purpose, including those unrelated to housing, if they boost efforts to build new homeless housing projects and shelters.
There is no way to realize our state goals unless they are realized at the local level, Newsom said at a news conference after the 45-minute meeting with the mayors. That means our partners are the ones on the front lines that have to be supported.
The group of mayors praised Newsom for dedicating money for homelessness prevention in his initial budget; Brown, in contrast, did not agree to a full allocation of funds until he reached a final budget deal with the Legislature. But Garcetti and the other mayors hope Newsom will increase funding, with more of it going directly to cities rather than being routed through regional agencies.
Newsom seemed open to their request.
The budget just changed, he said. This was an important meeting. I did not just listen. I took notes and Im taking direction.
The governors office did not provide details on how Newsom planned to change his homeless housing plans.
Newsom will unveil a revised budget proposal in May and must reach an agreement with the Legislature on a new spending plan by mid-June.
The states nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office has estimated the state would need an additional tens of billions of dollars a year to provide new housing for the neediest Californians. Though Newsoms proposed spending to address homelessness doesnt come close to that amount, state homeless funding has increased in recent years, most notably when voters approved a $2-billion bond to build housing last fall.
Californias homeless population decreased slightly last year, to almost 130,000 residents, according to federal statistics.
liam.dillon@latimes.com
@dillonliam
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in California on Friday and waived environmental regulations to expedite nearly three dozen local forest management projects to protect communities from the deadly wildfires that have decimated regions up and down the state.
The governors action marks the latest effort by the state to offset the possibility of catastrophe after back-to-back years of savage wildfires that killed more than 100 people and burned nearly 2 million acres in total. The projects will cost a total of $35 million, which will be paid with forest management funds in the 2018-19 budget.
The increasing wildfire risks we face as a state means we simply cant wait until a fire starts in order to start deploying emergency resources, Newsom said before making his announcement at a news conference in Lake County on Friday morning. California needs sustained focus and immediate action in order to better protect our communities.
Critics voiced concern about the governors decision to suspend guidelines put in place to protect the environment and the precedent his executive order might set. Some argued that regulations do not pose a problem and the state should have prioritized the projects earlier.
Advertisement
This is like deferred maintenance on a building, said Char Miller, professor of environmental analysis at Pomona College. We just kept putting it off and putting it off and putting it off.
Californias forests have become a hot-button political topic, with President Trump fueling assertions that poor management practices and environmental laws have made wildfires worse.
Experts have refuted the notion that heavy timber fueled the states most destructive fires in urban areas and say much of the millions of dead and dying trees grow on lands controlled by the U.S. Forest Service. The Camp fire in Paradise, for example, burned through a region scorched and logged a decade earlier.
Ironically, Miller and others said, Newsoms decision to walk back regulations co-opts the presidents message.
Unfortunately, its a very Trumpian approach, said Douglas Bevington, forest director of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Its the false notion that more logging paired with rolling back environmental protections is going to protect communities.
At the news conference, Newsom acknowledged the criticism, and rebutted it.
Some people, you know, want to maintain our processes and they want to maintain our rules and protocols, the governor said. But Im going to push back on that. Some of these projects quite literally, not figuratively, could take two years to get done, or we could get them done in the next two months. Thats our choice.
Weve got to step up our game, dare I say, get our act together, Newsom added.
Thom Porter, director of Cal Fire, also disputed that the governors order was Trumpian.
This administration and Cal Fire has been committed to the protection of life, property and the environment well beyond President Trump even considering what that actually means, he said.
Porter said his crews on the ground will continue to work with state agencies and experts to ensure that resources are protected.
While were asking for an exemption from the paperwork process of doing the upfront deep analysis, we are not asking for an exemption from the need to protect the resources, Porter said.
Newsom signed an executive order in his first week in office that directed Cal Fire to develop recommendations to prevent wildfires.
The agency published a report in late February that said forest management efforts by the state, federal government and private landowners were inadequate to improve the health of millions of acres of forests and wildlands that require maintenance. The agency reported that up to 15 million acres of California forest need some form of restoration.
The report recommended that the state waive and streamline regulatory requirements and direct Cal Fire to immediately begin 35 fuel reduction projects, such as the removal of dead trees, brush clearing and prescribed burns to create fuel breaks, defensible space and safe travel corridors on 90,000 acres of land around cities and towns vulnerable to wildfires.
Newsoms new order does just that and waives laws that fall under the jurisdiction of the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Natural Resources Agency and would typically apply to the projects. The laws include the California Environmental Quality Act, which requires state and local agencies to identify and mitigate the environmental impacts of their work.
According to the emergency declaration, Cal Fire must seek a confirmation from the state agencies that its activities fall under the order and will take protection of the environment into account while ensuring timely implementation.
The governor is also allowing the Office of Emergency Services to use any state-owned properties that it determines suitable for temporary shelter for crews and troops completing the work.
Porter said the governors intervention will help expedite the plans, which are in various stages of approval. His agency has been struggling for the last 15 years to certify a sweeping statewide environmental impact report, which once completed later this year, will allow them to move forward with individual wildfire mitigation projects more quickly.
In lieu of having that document for environmental clearance purposes, this is the means to get these 35 emergency projects done to help protect these communities, Porter said.
Bevington of the DiCaprio Foundation criticized the Cal Fire report for relying on logging and fuel breaks to prevent fires over what he and others say are more effective mitigation methods focused on homes, such as replacing flammable materials on roofs and clearing vegetation directly around buildings.
Its damaging the ecosystem as well as not being an effective way of keeping communities safe, said Bevington, whose organization recently published a report that questioned the states direction.
Kathryn Phillips, executive director of the Sierra Club California, said fuel breaks have failed to stop the spread of wildfires against strong winds, including the Carr fire in Shasta County last year.
I think they have a new leader and they are under extraordinary pressure to do something, she said.
Porter said the state will continue to encourage home hardening, but his agency does not have jurisdiction over local governments to require work on existing homes. He agreed that fuel breaks wont have an impact on every fire, but said they have stopped the spread of blazes under certain wind conditions.
Most of the 35 projects are in Northern and Central California and would be completed over the course of the next year. Cal Fire worked with its local fire units to determine which projects to prioritize, assessing risk and socioeconomic factors, such as age of the nearby populations, poverty and access to vehicles.
The work includes prescribed burns and tree and brush removal over 26,500 acres of land in Ukiah. Other projects would establish fuel breaks, or areas of reduced vegetation to slow or stop wildfires, around Crest in San Diego County and 393 acres of treatment along roads in Fresno County, according to Cal Fire.
Some of the work would create safe ingress and egress corridors, or exit routes to escape blazes, after Paradise residents became trapped in bumper-to-bumper traffic when they tried to flee the flames on congested roads in November.
The only project in Los Angeles County calls for more than 400 acres of prescribed burns to clear brush and chaparral in the coastal region near Malibu, where hundreds of homes were destroyed in the Woolsey Fire that killed three people in November. But the burns, like many of the projects, would do nothing to prevent wildfires this year.
Susan Duenas, public safety manager for the city of Malibu, said the project will be presented to the city council in May and the prescribed burns are tentatively scheduled for late November or December, when conditions lessen the risk that a controlled fire may spread, she said.
Based on early feedback, she anticipates environmental and safety concerns from residents.
You have two camps of opinion here: Those who are afraid of it and dont want it, and those who think its what we need to be doing more of, Duenas said. There was a sensitivity to fires before but now even more so because of the trauma of the Woolsey fire.
In addition to streamlining the mitigation projects, Newsom is expected to announce a $50-million public awareness campaign to help communities inform residents about local emergency action plans and the need to make their homes more resilient to wildfires, according to the governors office.
The governor also launched a request for innovative ideas from the private sector to mitigate wildfires as part of a new technology procurement model announced earlier this year.
More stories from Taryn Luna
taryn.luna@latimes.com
Follow @tarynluna on Twitter.
River Gallo has prosthetic testes he says he never asked for and never wanted. Alice Alvarez says she should have been able to decide for herself before a doctor removed her testicles, which one did when she was an infant.
Both are part of a group supporting a bill in the California Legislature that would ban cosmetic surgeries on children born with atypical genitals until theyre old enough to consent. California would be the first state to enact such a ban.
The legislation has made public an emotional debate that has been simmering for decades in the intersex community. Advocacy groups for intersex people individuals with varying differences in their reproductive or sexual anatomy have been fighting to postpone medically unnecessary surgeries that they say do more harm than good.
Surgeries in extreme cases in which the gender of the child is unclear can result in female genitalia being constructed on someone who later identifies as male or vice versa. More common are procedures on deformities, such as an off-center urethra, or reducing an enlarged clitoris. Supporters of the bill say that because the surgeries carry risks, such as a loss of sexual sensation or function, they should be delayed until the patient can consent. The legislation, Senate Bill 201 by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), does not apply to genital surgeries that are medically necessary.
Advertisement
The hypothesis is that these surgeries enhance the psychological well-being of children by ensuring they have genitals that are normal, said Julie Greenberg, author of the book Intersexuality and the Law. But there is no study that says this does help their psychological well-being, and there are plenty of people who say it caused them harm.
Pediatric urologists who perform the surgeries called SB 201 extraordinary overreach that would strip parents of their ability to make medical decisions for their children. Patients who have the surgeries heal better if they are young, said Dr. Lane Palmer, president of the Societies for Pediatric Urology.
This bill covers a significant number of surgeries we perform regularly and successfully, Palmer said. If we are going abdicate a parents right to make these medical decisions, whats next?
Even within the intersex community, there is no consensus on how old a person should be to consent to surgery, with advocates saying there is a fine line between ensuring a minor is old enough to make the decision without pressure from their parents, doctors or peers and not forcing all kids to wait until after puberty.
The legislation would require doctors to wait until patients can give informed consent, meaning they are mature enough to understand the benefits and potential risks of surgery.
There are conversations on whether there should be a specific age in the bill, and we are open to that conversation, Wiener said. But its not you cant have a surgery until you turn 18.
Pediatric urologists said the exact determination of when a minor can consent relies heavily on a doctors interpretation, prompting concern that doctors would be subject to litigation if a minor later changed his or her mind.
In my opinion, the surgery should be delayed until they are an adult, said Alice Alvarez, a 29-year-old Fontana woman and intersex activist.
Alvarez said she was born with external female genitalia and undescended testicles. As an infant, doctors removed her testes, telling her parents that it would reduce her likelihood of testicular cancer. Alvarez said she did not know about the surgery until she was 12, when, during a physical, she learned she was born without ovaries or a uterus. She said her parents, who did not speak English when she was born, did not understand the specifics of her surgery at the time.
They sent my parents home and said just raise her as a girl and pretend this never happened, Alvarez said. A lot of doctors say they have the best interest of the child in mind, but they arent following the children into adulthood to see how they feel about these surgeries. So, how can they say what they are doing is right?
Alice Alvarez is a 29-year-old community college student and intersex activist. She is a woman who was born with testes that were surgically removed when she was an infant. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Steve Lerman, chief of the UCLA Division of Pediatric Urology, agrees that there is not enough known about the long-term outcomes of complex genital surgeries. Those surgeries were relatively new procedures in the 1970s and 80s, and now some of those patients have valid complaints about their results, Lerman said.
Lerman said doctors, including himself, need to step up and recognize that such surgeries have previously had questionable outcomes and should be further studied. But, he disagrees with lumping into the bill straightforward cases of hypospadias, a birth defect in which the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis. He said those more common cases have had good to outstanding results over the past 20 years.
We need to find a way to make things better and that isnt by mandating that we sweep a diagnosis under the rug for 15 to 18 years, he said. That would absolutely be a mistake.
The California Medical Assn., an influential lobbying arm of doctors in the state Capitol, opposes the bill, saying parents and physicians should determine what is in the best interest of a child. Delaying a procedure or treatment for disorders of sex development, or DSD, as the medical community refers to intersex traits, could do more harm physically and emotionally.
We acknowledge that past treatment may not have reflected medical guidelines and standards of care that are currently in place, said Brandon Marchy, a lobbyist for the California Medical Assn., in a letter opposing the bill.
But postponing surgery until the age of consent carries risk just as performing a procedure on an infant does, Marchy said. In the absence of clear data, Marchy said, the decision should fall to parents with the advice of their doctors.
The first hearing on the bill is expected early next month.
We arent guaranteed to pass this bill, but we have a shot, Wiener said.
As the bill moves through the Legislature, it is expected to bring large groups of intersex advocates with personal stories of surgeries they say were unwanted or unsuccessful as well as parent-rights groups that will argue the government should not interfere in the ability of parents to make medical decisions for their children.
This is not a decision made lightly, said Dina Matos, executive director of the CARES Foundation, a support group for families and patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a condition that can result in genital ambiguity and may be recommended for reconstructive surgery during infancy. This is fundamentally a decision that should be left up to the parents. These children have a right to grow up healthy physically and psychologically, and removing surgery as an option for care hurts the child.
Santa Rosa family physician Suegee Tamar-Mattis disagrees, saying that without clear medical data supporting surgery, doctors should wait. Three former U.S. surgeons general wrote a 2017 report saying genital surgeries for cosmetic purposes should be delayed until patients can give consent. A 2017 Human Rights Watch report said parents were largely driven by fear in opting to have the surgery done on their children.
This is the biggest ethical failure in our lifetime, said Tamar-Mattis, who is intersex. Doctors want to see people be normal, and they think normal is the only way to have a happy life. But, there is no real normal, and people can be happy and healthy in life in different bodies.
River Gallo, a 28-year-old filmmaker, said it wasnt until recently that he heard the word intersex after having kept his own medical history a secret for much of his life.
He was born without testicles. At 12, he was put on testosterone, and at 16 he had surgery to give him prosthetic testes.
Gallo said, even at 16, he didnt feel mature enough to consent to the surgery that his parents and doctor said was needed. He said his parents were told that he needed the surgery in order to be a whole man, which, as a nonbinary person who does not identify as strictly male or female, is not the choice he would have made for himself.
Some days it really angers me, said Gallo, who uses male pronouns. It is a reminder of a decision that wasnt mine.
melody.gutierrez@latimes.com
Follow @MelodyGutierrez on Twitter and sign up for our Essential Politics newsletter.
Dublin, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Automated Dispensing Machines Market (2014-2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
As per this research, the automated dispensing machines market will grow during the forecast period at a CAGR of 7.8%, ultimately generating $2.3 billion in revenue by 2024.
Technological advancements, government initiatives for the integration of automated dispensing machines in healthcare facilities, and growing geriatric population, incidents of medication errors, number of patent approvals for such machines and prevalence of chronic diseases are the key market growth drivers.
Decentralized and centralized are the two categories of products available in the automated dispensing machines market, of which the decentralized category is predicted to grow faster through the forecast period. Increasing hospitalization cases are raising the demand for hospitals, which is, in turn, leading to higher sales of decentralized dispensing machines.
The adoption of automated dispensing machines is increasing in retail drug stores, hospitals, and pharmacies. As an end user, hospitals are expected to hold an automated dispensing machines market share of more than 70% in 2018 and a forecast period CAGR of 7.8%. The demand for automated dispensing machines in hospitals is being fueled by the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising healthcare expenditure, and increasing number of patients.
In 2018, North America is dominating the sector by contributing 40.8% revenue. Its revenue contribution by 2024 is projected to be $919.5 million. Growing geriatric population, improving healthcare infrastructure, and existence of established players are the reasons behind this. During the forecast period, the growth of the automated dispensing machines market is slated to be the fastest in Asia-Pacific (APAC), where it will advance with CAGR of 9.3%. This will be because the market players will increasingly focus on this region and the healthcare infrastructure will also improve considerably here.
The demand for and sales of such machines have increased in APAC owing to government initiatives. For instance, the installation of automated dispensing machines in the rural areas of India is supported by Central Medical Services Society, so the masses can have access to free-of-cost general drugs. Further, developing countries are increasingly installing such machines at their healthcare facilities. The growth in the gross domestic product of countries, such as Malaysia, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka, will allow for the adoption of technologically advanced equipment, thereby, taking the automated dispensing machines market ahead.
Considering the opportune future environment, market players have started engaging in mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations to further their growth. For example, Omnicell Inc. and NYU Langone Health Hospital extended their partnership for installing the XT series systems, which consist of controlled substance manager, anesthesia workstation, and automated medication dispensing cabinets, in 2018.
Other major players in the automated dispensing machines market are Omnicell Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Pearson Medical Technologies LLC, ScriptPro LLC, Talyst LLC, Capsa Healthcare, Newlcon Oy, McKesson Corporation, ARxIUM, and TouchPoint Medical Inc.
Key Topics Covered:
Chapter 1. Research Background
1.1 Research Objectives
1.2 Market Definition
1.3 Research Scope
1.3.1 Market Segmentation by Type
1.3.2 Market Segmentation by Application
1.3.3 Market Segmentation by End User
1.3.4 Market Segmentation by Geography
1.3.5 Analysis Period
1.3.6 Market Data Reporting Unit
1.3.6.1 Value
1.4 Key Stakeholders
Chapter 2. Research Methodology
2.1 Secondary Research
2.2 Primary Research
2.2.1 Breakdown of Primary Research Respondents
2.2.1.1 By region
2.2.1.2 By industry participant
2.2.1.3 By company type
2.3 Market Size Estimation
2.4 Data Triangulation
2.5 Assumptions for the Study
Chapter 3. Executive Summary
3.1 Voice of Industry Experts/KOLs
Chapter 4. Introduction
4.1 Definition of Market Segments
4.1.1 By Type
4.1.1.1 Centralized
4.1.1.2 Decentralized
4.1.2 By Application
4.1.2.1 In-patient care
4.1.2.2 Out-patient care
4.1.3 By End User
4.1.3.1 Hospitals
4.1.3.2 Pharmacies
4.1.3.3 Retail drug stores
4.2 Market Dynamics
4.2.1 Trends
4.2.1.1 Increasing number of collaborations and acquisitions
4.2.2 Drivers
4.2.2.1 Rising incidence of medication errors
4.2.2.2 Technological innovations and advancements
4.2.2.3 Growing geriatric population
4.2.2.4 Rising prevalence of chronic diseases
4.2.2.5 Government initiatives to integrate automated dispensing machines in healthcare settings
4.2.2.6 Increasing number of patent approvals for automated dispensing machines
4.2.2.7 Impact analysis of drivers on market forecast
4.2.3 Restraints
4.2.3.1 Stringent regulatory norms
4.2.3.2 High costs of automated dispensing machines and prescriptions
4.2.3.3 Rising data theft and cybersecurity concerns
4.2.3.4 Impact analysis of restraints on market forecast
4.2.4 Opportunities
4.2.4.1 Untapped market in developing economies
4.3 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
Chapter 5. Global Market Size and Forecast
5.1 By Type
5.2 By Application
5.3 By End User
5.4 By Region
Chapter 6. North America Market Size and Forecast
Chapter 7. Europe Market Size and Forecast
Chapter 8. APAC Market Size and Forecast
Chapter 9. LATAM Market Size and Forecast
Chapter 10. MEA Market Size and Forecast
Chapter 11. Competitive Landscape
11.1 Company Benchmarking Based on Product Offerings
11.2 Global Strategic Developments of Key Players
11.2.1 Acquisitions
11.2.2 Product Launches
11.2.3 Collaborations and Partnerships
11.2.4 Other Developments
11.3 Automated Packaging and Dispensing System Brands
Chapter 12. Company Profiles
12.1 Becton, Dickinson and Company
12.1.1 Business Overview
12.1.2 Product and Service Offerings
12.1.3 Key Financial Summary
12.1.4 SWOT Analysis
12.2 Baxter International Inc.
12.3 Omnicell Inc.
12.4 ScriptPro LLC
12.5 NewIcon Oy
12.6 AlixaRx
12.7 Talyst LLC
12.8 TouchPoint Medical
12.9 ARxIUM
12.10 YUYAMA Co. Ltd.
12.11 TOSHO Inc.
12.12 Takazono Corporation
12.13 McKesson Corporation
12.14 Pearson Medical Technologies LLC
12.15 Accu-Chart Plus Healthcare Systems Inc.
12.16 Capsa Healthcare
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/v9d42j/global_automated?w=12
Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan released a list of military construction projects Monday that could lose funding to help pay for a wall on the U.S. southern border.
The list of vulnerable projects includes a number previously reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, including proposed infrastructure for Osprey aircraft at Naval Air Station North Island, new landing pads for F-35Bs at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and a replacement pier at Naval Base San Diego.
President Trump in February declared a national emergency after a monthlong government shutdown that began when Congress refused to fund his proposed border wall. The emergency declaration authorizes him to divert funds from military construction to national security infrastructure, in this case at the border.
He has called for up to $3.6 billion to be diverted, but its still unclear exactly which projects will be slashed or delayed.
Advertisement
The Defense Department said in a statement that its list of possible projects to cut includes all military construction projects in which contracts had not yet been awarded as of Dec. 31.
That list encompasses $12.9 billion in planned construction nationwide, including more than $1 billion in projects in California, with nearly $600 million in the San Diego area.
Some projects up for possible diversion include a $47-million potable water project and a $15-million fire emergency response station, which are part of about $175 million in projects slated for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Also listed is almost $170 million in projects connected to the new Navy SEAL complex in Coronado.
Military housing and barracks projects would not be affected, the Pentagon said.
The Pentagons list provides greater clarity than a similar list released last month by the House Armed Services Committee.
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and the Republican-controlled Senate both voted to block the emergency declaration, but Trump vetoed their resolution Friday.
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, admonished the Trump administration in a statement Monday.
What President Trump is doing is a slap in the face to our military that makes our border and the country less secure, Reed said. He is planning to take funds from real, effective operational priorities and needed projects and divert them to his vanity wall.
In a statement Friday on his first presidential veto, Trump said the situation at the border has reached a breaking point and that it demanded immediate action.
The current situation at the southern border presents a border security and humanitarian crisis that threatens core national security interests and constitutes a national emergency, Trump said in a statement.
Dyer writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
andrew.dyer@sduniontribune.com
If the state Capitol had a hall of fame for legislative influence, a no-brainer inductee for playing defense would be the California Chamber of Commerce a feared linebacker with a two-decade record of tackling and stopping new laws.
But last week, the powerful group lost an early round against the first two 2019 bills on its annual job killers list. And it highlighted one of the years most intriguing questions in Sacramento: Will the largest Democratic majority in the Legislatures modern era and one of the states most liberal chief executives, Gov. Gavin Newsom, be able to further push policies that expand government oversight in the business world?
The job killers list, compiled every year but one since 1997, draws attention to legislation the Chamber of Commerce insists will most threaten job creation and economic growth. The CalChamber policy staff is very judicious about the difference between legislation that merits opposition and a job killer, stated an overview document published earlier this year.
California lawmakers and lobbyists hustle to write hundreds of bills, many not fully cooked
Advertisement
Many of the bills on recent lists were efforts to raise business taxes and fees or impose new workplace rules and employer regulations. Not all of the legislation was fully cooked in other words, they were bills in which significant questions lingered throughout the legislative session and thus might have died on their own without a major lobbying effort.
Still, the Chambers record is impressive on average, 92% of the bills on each years list have failed to become law. The vast majority never even made it to the governors desk. And some of those that were enacted had been amended in ways that prompted the business group to remove its political scarlet letter.
That the state Chamber of Commerce maintained its powerful position during the last eight years is one of the more interesting side stories to the long legacy of former Gov. Jerry Brown. The group ran TV ads criticizing Brown during the 2010 campaign but later relied on him to veto bills or help squash them behind the scenes. Democratic legislators gave Brown tremendous deference, a key to the unusual relationship between the iconic governor and the business group.
Novembers election results, though, suggested a surge in the power of progressive politics. Newsoms agenda which includes universal healthcare and a major expansion of paid family leave may end up promoting some of the more muted ideas supported by Democrats. They hold three-quarters of the seats in the state Assembly and will likely surpass two-thirds of the Senate seats after an upcoming special election.
The business group lost some key allies last year. A review of CalChambers legislative scorecard finds eight seats, held by Republicans who voted with the group consistently in recent years, are now occupied by Democrats. And even a handful of lawmakers can keep bills from moving forward or result in compromises with opponents.
In that light, its easy to see why so many Capitol lobbyists and activists noticed when lawmakers renewed previous efforts that Brown and business-aligned forces had blocked, including efforts to expand the rights of those workers in the sharing economy and a proposal to allow only the sale of zero-emission vehicles by 2040. Tax proposals are also plentiful among the more than 2,500 bills introduced by last months deadline.
The first two bills on this years business hit list are also 2018 do-overs: a ban on mandatory arbitration and settlement agreements for workplace disputes and a bill that would allow speedy state implementation of federal environmental regulations abolished by President Trump. CalChamber helped stymie both efforts last year; this years bills will be an early indicator of whether a major political shift is underway.
john.myers@latimes.com
Follow @johnmyers on Twitter and sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter
California students could be restricted or banned from using smartphones at school under a bill by a state lawmaker who says the devices can interfere with classroom learning.
The measure by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) would require school boards to adopt policies that limit or prohibit the use of cellphones on school grounds, leaving it up to them what their rules would do.
To the extent that smartphones are becoming too much of a distraction in the classroom, I think every school community needs to have that conversation as to when is too much of a good thing getting in the way of educational and social development, Muratsuchi said Wednesday after introducing the bill.
Many school districts have already banned the use of cellphones, said Muratsuchi, a former Torrance school board member.
Advertisement
Last month, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School Board adopted a policy requiring children in grades K-5 to have cellphones turned off and stored out of sight during school hours, while older students face similar restrictions but can obtain teacher approval to use a smartphone for academic purposes.
At the crux of the new policy is the fact that we want to make sure students are learning in the classroom and not preoccupied with being on their cellphones, said Alexander Cherniss, superintendent of the district.
The school boards president, Linda Reid, said concern about cheating and cyberbullying has also come up, adding that parents begged us for a policy.
The Times reported last year that 73% of teens carried a smartphone in 2016.
The California School Board Assn. has not yet taken a position on the bill, a spokesman said Wednesday.
Last year, the French government banned cellphones nationwide at primary and middle schools in a move that President Emmanuel Macron said was aimed at improving student performance. The assemblyman also cited a 2015 study by the London School of Economics and Political Science that found test scores improved significantly at schools that banned mobile phone use, and that the most significant gains were made by the most disadvantaged pupils.
The study concluded that schools could significantly reduce the education achievement gap by prohibiting mobile phone use in schools.
Muratsuchi was also influenced by the work of San Diego State psychology professor Jean Twenge, author of iGen: Why Todays Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood.
Twenge found evidence that mobile device screen time and social media use may increase depression and suicide among American teenagers. Eighth-grade students who spend 10 or more hours per week on social media are 56% more likely to describe themselves as unhappy than those who devote less time to social media, Twenge said in her findings.
Electronic devices also affect classroom instruction, she said.
Its just too tempting for teens to look at their phones during class and when they do, they are not only distracting themselves, but distracting their classmates and their teacher, Twenge said Wednesday in an email to The Times.
Muratsuchi said the intent of his bill is to have school boards decide what policies fit for their schools.
There is growing national and international evidence of the social and emotional consequences of too much screen time, he said.
Sign up for our Essential Politics newsletter
patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com
Twitter: @mcgreevy99
The initial reaction of San Diego political leaders and observers to the summary of the Mueller Report is splitting along party lines.
Republicans say the investigation has proved President Trump did not collude with Russians or their government. Democrats are expressing doubts and insisting that the entire document needs to be released to the public.
The central issue was, Did President Trump collude or cooperate with the Russians, said Tony Krvaric, chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County.
The report says conclusively that he did not. (The allegation) was a complete fabrication that has consumed the country for two years. The average person wants to move on from this and have the two parties debate the issues.
Advertisement
Trump called the Mueller investigation an illegal takedown that failed.
Krvaric echoed that sentiment in calling for an investigation of the investigators.
We call for an investigation into how the DOJ and FBI under President Obama came to surveil the presidential campaign of an opposing party, he added in a statement. Will anyone be held accountable for the nearly two-year farce America just went through?
Democratic leaders say they want to see what is detailed in Muellers report.
Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, said, The American people deserve to see the Special Counsels full report and the underlying documentation. The summary from Attorney General William Barr who has shown a bias against the investigation is insufficient. He must release the full report immediately.
A similar remark was made by Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, who said, Considering the Attorney Generals bias toward the Special Counsels investigation, the American people deserve to see for themselves what is in the report.
Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Party, said he was not surprised by what was in the Barr summary, and there was an unrealistic expectation by some in the party about what the investigation would show.
These types of crimes are difficult to prove in the best of situations, much less when there is a powerful president protecting their flank, he said.
Rodriguez-Kennedy, citing Barrs summary, added that the report did not exonerate the president of committing a crime, as Trump falsely claimed Sunday afternoon.
In Barrs summary the Attorney General states that the Special Counsels Report says, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.
Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, also wants the full report to be released. But he cautioned Democrats to pay attention to the broad interests of the public.
Its a good reminder that most of these races were won by talking about healthcare, gun safety, access to education, not on the Trump Russia stuff, Peters said, adding that investigation is important, but can be at times distracting. The reason a lot of my freshman Democratic colleagues were hired was to deal with policy problems.
The initial reaction to the report summary may suggest a bit of stasis, said Peter Cowhey, dean of the School of Global Politics and Strategy at UC San Diego.
The public divide over Trumps conduct wont change dramatically, Cowhey said. Prior indictments and an ambivalent finding on obstruction give critics enough to sustain their opposition.
No finding of collusion boosts his supporters. However, the energy for the debate may slowly ebb a bit, especially if AG Barr releases the full report.
Stephen Goggin, a political science lecturer at San Diego State University, said, This just seems like the start of it all, not the end. I think many people were hoping this was going to bring it all to a close, but it opens up a lot more questions than it answers.
The summary raises sticky ethical and legal questions, said Steven Semeraro, law professor, Thomas Jefferson School of Law and a former federal prosecutor.
I remember back in 2000, when Al Gores campaign was contacted by a Russian-connected group and offered dirt on George W. Bush, said Semeraro.
Gore immediately contacted the FBI. Is it a crime not to do that? No. But is it OK? Whether a crime is committed is one question, and whether its OK for America, OK for our democracy, is another.
Chuck La Bella,former U.S. attorney in San Diego, added, There may be an unethical, improper or unseemly relationship, but thats irrelevant to criminal law. Criminal law is very precise. If you dont have proof beyond a reasonable doubt, you dont have a criminal case.
Kirsten Gillibrand is punching back Trump-style.
The New York senator and Democratic presidential candidate echoed Donald Trumps acid rhetoric during her first New York City rally on Sunday, blasting the President as a weak and self-obsessed coward.
Speaking in front of Trump International Hotel and Tower in Midtown, Gillibrand rolled out a 2020 platform that included passing a Green New Deal, implementing Medicare for all, universal pre-K and paid family leave and legalizing marijuana.
But it was Trumps name not policy proposals that loomed the largest throughout Gillibrands afternoon event.
Advertisement
Trump is tearing apart the moral fabric of this country, Gillibrand said to roars from an audience of roughly 1,000 supporters, according to her campaign.
He puts his name in bold on every building. He does this because he wants you to believe hes strong. He is not. Our President is a coward. That is not what we deserve.
Gillibrands harsh words were reminiscent of language Trump uses while deriding his political enemies.
The 52-year-old lawmaker also took aim at the building behind her.
Look up at that tower, she told the crowd, pointing at the Trump-branded skyscraper. A shrine to greed, division and vanity.
Gillibrand announced her 2020 campaign in January but billed Sundays event as the kickoff of her presidential bid.
Gillibrand is trying to make a splash in a crowded Democratic primary field already consisting of 14 candidates, with former Vice President Joe Biden expected to join the fray as well.
Early polling suggests Gillibrand is facing an uphill battle, with a CNN/SSRS survey from last week saying only 1% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents support her bid.
Several Democratic 2020 hopefuls have adopted a softer approach to Trump, spending less time attacking him and more time on discussing policy.
Gillibrand made clear Sunday thats not going to be her stance.
The Albany-born senator called for the full release of special counsel Robert Muellers long-awaited investigative report and even threw in a Richard Nixon reference to needle Trump.
The Mueller report must be made public all of it, she said. Nobody in this country, not even the President, is above the law or immune from accountability. It is not often that I agree with Richard Nixon, but he was right to say that the American people have a right to know whether their President is a crook.
Gillibrands supporters welcomed her aggressiveness.
I love that shes trolling Trump, Brooklyn resident Ellen Parkhurst, 32, told the Daily News after the rally. Who doesnt want to gather a bunch of people who hate Trump in front of one of his buildings and talk politics?
Last weekend, a caseworker visited Brittany Hyc to make sure her two small boys were doing all right in a home where there had been repeated allegations of abuse and neglect.
The worker, on contract with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, reported back that 2-year-old Jahir Gibbons and his 5-year-old brother were both safe, according to the agency.
Two days later, Jahir was brutally beaten to death. The following day, the worker filed another report saying only the older brother was at the Chicago home at the time of the visit and that the worker never saw the 2-year-old at all, the agency disclosed late Thursday.
Jahir Gibbons (Family photo)
Advertisement
The caseworker has been barred from having any contact with children or families the agency serves as the conflicting reports are investigated.
Falsifying records will not be tolerated, DCFS Interim Director Debra Dyer-Webster said in a statement. DCFS will pursue all available discipline, including termination, if records were falsified.
The incident raises more questions about how the agency dealt with allegations of abuse against the boys mother and her boyfriend and how it monitored the well-being of the children. Jahir was beaten so violently that his liver was lacerated, but he also showed signs of older injuries such as rib fractures. His older brother had bruises over his body, apparently from past beatings, according to police.
Its very disturbing, said Acting Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert, whose office represents abused and neglected children. By definition, there are allegations that children are abused in their home and that warrants the highest level of care.
He was particularly troubled by the apparent filing of conflicting reports. Its absolutely another huge red flag. This is beyond a red flag. ... I mean its about the quality of work that this agency is doing.
The mother and boyfriend are both facing felony charges. The boyfriend, Dejon Waters, 21, was charged with first-degree murder after he admitted getting angry at the boy and beating him with his hands and a rolled-up shirt until Jahir began foaming at the mouth, prosecutors said.
Hyc, 28, was charged with child endangerment because she left Jahir with Waters even though she had noticed bruises and burns on Jahir for a week or two because she had to go to work, prosecutors said.
There had been suspicions about the couples treatment of the children for more than a year, according to prosecutors.
A year ago, a neighbor saw Jahir limping after a loud fight in his home. Last August, a doctor reported a bite on his stomach and other bruising that the mother blamed on day care. In October a DCFS worker was assigned to the family after the agency got a hotline complaint about possible abuse in the home. Earlier this month, Jahirs grandparents visited the boys and noticed bruises on the boys face and arms, prosecutors said.
On Saturday the caseworker went to the familys home in the 6000 block of South Prairie Avenue. The next day, the worker submitted a report saying both children were at home and were doing fine. Following Jahirs death, a second report was submitted March 19 saying only the older child was home.
The agency did not say which report it believes to be true. But prosecutors made it clear that the abuse of Jahir had been going on for some time while DCFS was monitoring the family.
The medical examiner discovered fractures in various stages of healing to the ribs and a relatively new wrist fracture. There were numerous lacerations to the liver and a contusion to the lung. There were numerous bruises about the body in various stages of healing, prosecutors said in court. The ME noted that the injuries require significant blunt-force trauma.
When Hyc was arrested, police found an iPad showing recent searches for ways to hide bruises, authorities said.
Chanel Perkins said she sprang into action and performed chest compressions on a cold, pale boy after his frantic mom banged on doors seeking help. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
On Thursday, prosecutors laid out Jahirs last moments in heart-wrenching detail. After picking up her 5-year-old son from school, she came home Monday evening to find Jahir on the floor, Assistant States Attorney James Murphy said in court.
Hyc asked Waters what happened to the boy but could not get an explanation, Murphy said. At first she thought Jahir was taking a nap, but then she realized something was wrong and tried reviving the boy. Panicking, she started banging on doors up and down the hall outside her apartment.
Chanel Perkins was visiting her twin sister down the hall when she heard the urgent pounding and a woman screaming, Call the police, my baby isnt breathing!
The sisters opened the door and saw Hyc holding a seemingly lifeless boy in her arms. They followed her into Hycs apartment, where the mother laid Jahir on the floor and grabbed a blanket for a pillow. The boy was pale and cold to the touch, Perkins said. His eyes were rolled back into his head. There were bruises on his face, on his chest, on his stomach, on his arms, on his legs. There were two cuts on his face.
Perkins sister called 911 and the dispatcher asked if anyone could perform CPR until help came. At first I didnt want to do anything. ... There were so many bruises, said Perkins, a nursing assistant. But then 911 told me to do the chest compressions. I just wanted to help. I didnt want to see anybody lose a child. It was devastating.
Paramedics arrived and, picking up a pulse, took Jahir to Comer Childrens Hospital, where he was pronounced dead within the hour Monday evening.
DCFS said its contact with Hyc stretches back to 2010, when there were allegations of abuse and neglect involving her older children, a spokesman said. Last October, prosecutors said, a DCFS worker followed up at Hycs home and overheard what was believed to be Waters hitting Jahir.
Recent DCFS involvement included home visits and therapy for the mother, according to agency spokesman Jimmie Whitelow. Jahir also started participating in speech and developmental therapy, which he was continuing to receive, according to the agency.
Golbert, the public guardian, said the agency was providing intact family services and was supposed to keep a comprehensive set of eyes on the family. He said the agency should have brought the case to court to ensure that the children were protected.
He said the case illustrates the weakness of leadership in the department.
Theres been a string of 12 directors in 10 years, Golbert said. Thats on average a new director more often than every year. We really need to get a long-term leadership team with some vision and innovation.
Chicago Tribunes William Lee contributed.
rsobol@chicagotribune.com
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
On Sunday, a day we as a nation set aside to honor fathers and the bonds of family, I was among the millions of Americans who watched images of children who have been torn from their parents.
In the six weeks between April 19 and May 31, the Department of Homeland Security has sent nearly 2,000 children to mass detention centers or foster care. More than 100 of these children are younger than 4 years old. The reason for these separations is a zero-tolerance policy for their parents, who are accused of illegally crossing our borders.
I live in a border state. I appreciate the need to enforce and protect our international boundaries, but this zero-tolerance policy is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart.
Our government should not be in the business of warehousing children in converted box stores or making plans to place them in tent cities in the desert outside of El Paso. These images are eerily reminiscent of the Japanese-American internment camps of World War II, now considered to have been one of the most shameful episodes in U.S. history. We also know that this treatment inflicts trauma; interned Japanese have been two times as likely to suffer cardiovascular disease or die prematurely than those who were not interned.
Advertisement
Americans pride ourselves on being a moral nation, on being the nation that sends humanitarian relief to places devastated by natural disasters or famine or war. We pride ourselves on believing that people should be seen for the content of their character, not the color of their skin. We pride ourselves on acceptance. If we are truly that country, then it is our obligation to reunite these detained children with their parents and to stop separating parents and children in the first place.
People on all sides agree that our immigration system isnt working, but the injustice of zero tolerance is not the answer. I moved away from Washington, D.C., almost a decade ago, but I know there are good people at all levels of government who can do better to fix this.
Recently, Colleen Kraft, who heads the American Academy of Pediatrics, visited a shelter run by the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement. She reported that while there were beds, toys, crayons, a playground and diaper changes, the people working at the shelter had been instructed not to pick up or touch the children to comfort them. Imagine not being able to pick up a child who is not yet out of diapers.
Twenty-nine years ago, my mother-in-law, Barbara Bush, visited Grandmas House, a home for children with HIV/AIDS in Washington. Back then, at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, the disease was a death sentence, and most babies born with it were considered untouchables. During her visit, Barbara who was the first lady at the time picked up a fussy, dying baby named Donovan and snuggled him against her shoulder to soothe him. My mother-in-law never viewed her embrace of that fragile child as courageous. She simply saw it as the right thing to do in a world that can be arbitrary, unkind and even cruel. She, who after the death of her 3-year-old daughter knew what it was to lose a child, believed that every child is deserving of human kindness, compassion and love.
In 2018, can we not as a nation find a kinder, more compassionate and more moral answer to this current crisis? I, for one, believe we can.
The Washington Post
Laura Bush is a former first lady of the United States.
MORE COVERAGE
Inside the Border Patrol facility where hundreds of children wait in a series of cages
Fight intensifies over Trumps family separation policy after Democrats visit detention facilities
Democrats enraged after touring Texas immigration detention facility
Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
Submit a letter to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Most of us Africa-watchers have secretly hoped that President Donald Trump would leave Africa alone. We had good reason to worry. Nearly 580 days into his term, Trump tweeted the word Africa for the first time. It was a disaster.
For many years, the lie that South Africas white farmers have been facing a genocide at the hands of South Africas black government has been a rallying cry for the far-right, racists and white nationalists around the world, including David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan leader. White-nationalist groups are now celebrating the tweet. The South African government responded rather differently, saying it rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past.
South Africas Natives Land Act of 1913 forcibly stripped land from blacks, a policy then reinforced by apartheid. Under President Nelson Mandela, the post-apartheid South African government introduced land reform programs to attempt to peacefully restore land taken from black South Africans. But those efforts have actually benefited white South Africans more than blacks. In 2013, Bernadette Atuahene and Alfred L. Brophy wrote in The New York Times: Of the nearly 80,000 claims filed primarily by blacks, the post-apartheid state has settled about 70 percent by distributing a Standard Settlement Offer, which is a symbolic monetary compensation that is unrelated to the current or past market value of the property confiscated.
Current white owners received payments of several orders of magnitude higher than a typical settlement offer proposed to dispossessed blacks.
Advertisement
Indeed, white South Africans, who make up 9 percent of the population, still own 72 percent of the countrys private land. This year, South Africas parliament cleared the way for the government to expropriate land without compensation to speed up the process. (Contrary to Trumps tweet, the government of South Africa has yet to confiscate any land.)
As for the so-called large-scale killing of white farmers, according to South African police statistics from 2016 to 2017, 74 people were killed in just more than 630 attacks on farms or small plots of land, while the total number of killings in South Africa over the same period was about 19,000. During an interview with The Associated Press, Gareth Newham, the head of the crime and justice program for the Institute for security studies in Pretoria, said the number of murders is actually down from 2001-2002, when 140 farm killings were noted by police. The murders on farms are a reflection of the security situation in South Africa. There is absolutely no evidence that the violence is aimed at white farmers. Newham said.
Some say the presidents tweet was an attempt to distract from the real story: the white-collar criminal cases of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort, the presidents former campaign chairman. It is tempting to see white-collar crime and high-level corruption as separate from Trumps elevation of white nationalists.
But white supremacy and racism have always been a form of social and political corruption. Together they form an ideology that is dependent on segregation, rent discrimination, unequal land distribution and legally sanctioned theft - all in the name of benefiting white populations. White supremacy is a form of social corruption that costs lives, money and resources. If corruption is defined as the systematic abuse of state power to specifically benefit an individual or a group, then apartheid in South Africa, the Jim Crow era in the southern United States, as well as todays racial inequalities in housing, schooling and the justice system constitute corruption of the highest order. White supremacy is the original transnational white-collar crime.
After all, the social corruption of white supremacy is what has propelled a uniquely unqualified candidate to the White House - namely Trumps promises to curb nonwhite immigration, impose travel bans on Muslims and disparage people of color. There is something particularly perverse about the fact that Trumps first Africa policy pronouncement was aimed at protecting white people on the continent. Is it any surprise the head of an administration known for its conflicts of interest, who has scaled back civil rights efforts and fetishized the plight of white American farmers, finds common cause with apologists for South African apartheid, one of the most kleptocratic systems in history?
Donald Trump has never visited the African continent in his private life or as president of the United States, says Patrick Gaspard, the former U.S. ambassador to South Africa under President Barack Obama. Gaspard points out that the current administration hasnt named an ambassador to South Africa, an important regional partner. Trump needs to keep Africas name out of his mouth.
For those who believe Trump intended his tweet as distraction - it certainly hasnt worked very well, at least so far. Cable news channels have focused overwhelmingly on Manafort and Cohen, which is not surprising given the U.S. medias penchant for under-covering Africa. With more than half of black South Africans living below the poverty line (less than 1 percent of white South Africans do), the future of democratic South Africa largely hinges on economic opportunities for its black population, which in turn are bound closely with the distribution of land. Trumps appalling tweet should be treated as the major foreign-policy scandal that it is.
Karen Attiah is The Washington Posts Global Opinions editor. She writes on international affairs and social issues. Previously, she reported from Curacao, Ghana and Nigeria. This piece originally appeared in The Washington Post.
Two years ago, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board opposed a bill that would add a maximum 95-cents fee to the monthly bills of all but low-income water customers to help pay for water infrastructure improvements in some 300 communities with about 1 million residents. These residents, clustered in agricultural areas in the Central Valley, have to rely on unsafe water supplies.
This is a very worthy cause. But needed improvements can easily be paid for with the states multibillion-dollar budget surplus or with the billions in approved state water bonds. Imposing a first-ever tax on something as basic as water is a horrible idea.
Now the concept is back in an even less-defensible version. The Associated Press reported last week that Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched a push for a water tax that would exempt low-income users but would set a minimum not maximum monthly fee of 95 cents, ranging up to $10 a month. This feels more like a stealth bid to establish a broad new tax to pay for the coming huge growth in local and state pension bills than a principled proposal.
Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, has a better, simpler idea: creating a trust fund to upgrade water systems using money from the state surplus. This deserves quick action not Newsoms tax grab.
Advertisement
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
SinkabergHansen AS plans to build a new smolt facility at Svaberget in Nry, through the company Svaberget Smolt AS. Construction is estimated to start in September 2019. AKVA group Land Based Norway AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of AKVA group ASA have participated in the pre-engineering of the project and final stages of contract works is ongoing. Svaberget Smolt AS has confirmed, subject to final negotiations, AKVA group Land Based Norway AS will be awarded the contract for delivery of the processing equipment to the facility. The contract value is approximately 300 MNOK.
Dated: 26 March 2019
AKVA group ASA
Web: www.akvagroup.com
CONTACTS:
Hallvard Muri Chief Executive Officer Phone: +47 51 77 85 00 Mobile: +47 91 58 07 50 E-mail: hmuri@akvagroup.com
Simon Nyquist Martinsen Chief Financial Officer Phone: +47 51 77 85 00 Mobile: +47 91 63 00 42 E-mail: snmartinsen@akvagroup.com
***************************************************************
AKVA group is the leading provider of technology and services to the global fish farming industry and the only with global distribution. The products consist of software systems, operational equipment and sensor systems, feed systems, cage systems, net cleaning systems, light systems and recirculation aquaculture systems.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act
America asks a lot of its first couples. Fairly or not, they become national marital role models. We dont really care if they have separate bedrooms, but we do expect them to demonstrate a certain amount of mutual respect and fondness for each other.
We like it when they seem to be in love, like George and Laura Bush, or Barack and Michelle Obama. Even Bill and Hillary Clinton, for all their woes, seem to take pleasure in each others intellects and achievements. We also want them to be devoted parents.
We get no good vibes from the Trump marriage.
Trump, who demands adoration, would no doubt love for Melania to gaze upon him the way Nancy Reagan gazed upon her Ronnie. But Ronnie didnt cheat on Nancy with porn stars and Playmates.
Advertisement
Whats distressing to many Americans is that Melania seems like a prop in her husbands reality show. During his inauguration last year, when the new president turned around to say something to his wife, her face lit up for a second. As soon as he turned away, her happy mask fell away. Months later, she slapped away his hand as they walked on the tarmac in Israel.
These people are under constant scrutiny, said University of Washington sociologist Pepper Schwartz, a sex and relationships expert. Has anyone ever seen a loving gesture between them?
Our first lady does not seem to be having a good time. In the last month alone, amid the daily chaos that is the Trump White House, stories about the presidents womanizing, and his techniques for suppressing stories about his womanizing, have become fodder for the daily news report.
Porn star Stormy Daniels said she was paid to stay quiet about an affair she alleges she had with Trump shortly after Melania gave birth to their son, Barron. Michael Cohen, Trumps personal attorney and self-described fix-it guy for the president, announced he had paid the actress, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, $130,000, but has not said why.
Last week, the New Yorker reported that former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal kept a diary of the nine-month affair she began with Trump in 2006, around the same time he was seeing Clifford. McDougal has said that the National Enquirer, whose publisher is a friend and protector of Trump, paid her $150,000 for the exclusive rights to her story, then never ran it. (Trump has denied both affairs.)
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for a National African American History Month reception in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 13. (Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images )
Melania had already skipped the billionaire confab in Davos after the Stormy Daniels payment story broke. Then came Playmate McDougal , and more wifely passive-aggression followed: On Friday, Melanias office, citing a scheduling issue, announced she would drive alone to Andrews Air Force Base rather than helicopter there with her husband from the White House.
Maybe Melania passed on the copter ride because she is getting tired of walking across the White House lawn in her stilettos, but she was also a no-show at a Mar-a-Lago dinner her husband hosted with Geraldo Rivera and her stepsons, according to the Washington Post.
Melania seems to be punishing Donald, but for what?
I dont think she ever imagined that he was going to be faithful to her, Schwartz said. This is a man who has never stopped pushing himself on women. The preponderance of the evidence, as they say, is pretty convincing.
The punishment, in that case, must be for the relentless humiliation.
::
Surely, Melania Trump knew what she was getting into when she married the man who would become our 45th president.
Twenty-four years her senior, Donald Trump had already been divorced twice. He was a famous adulterer, womanizer and sexist, and a regular on shock jock Howard Sterns radio show, making proclamations about then-girlfriend Melanias breasts, the hotness of his own daughter, his belief that when a woman turns 35, its checkout time.
She rallied to his defense after the infamous Access Hollywood tape became public during the 2016 presidential campaign. Americas future first lady dismissed her husbands boast about being able to grab womens genitals as just boy talk, that her husband had been egged on by host Billy Bush.
And then, when more than a dozen women came forward to allege that Trump had sexually harassed or assaulted them over a period of four decades, the former model attacked the women. Their stories, she said, were lies.
This was all organized from the opposition, Melania Trump, 47, told CNN. Did they ever check the background of these women? They dont have any facts.
Well, you certainly cant blame a wife for supporting her husband.
Unless, of course, shes a Democrat, like Hillary Clinton. In which case the wife will be vilified for supporting her husband.
Melania Trump arrives before the State of the Union address on Jan. 30. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press )
::
In the past year, there has been a lot of speculation about the durability of the Trumps marriage, mostly focusing on Melanias tolerance levels. Tongue-in-cheek memes include #FreeMelania.
Thirteen months ago, at the first Womens March, there were numerous handmade posters, riffing on the first ladys generally stone-faced expression, with variations of Melania, blink twice if you need help! And that was long before new details about the porn star and the Playmate emerged .
A Marist Poll released on Valentines Day (!), found that 43% of Americans think the Trumps should stay together, 34% said Melania should leave and 23% were unsure. I cant imagine what it feels like to have your marriage put to a popular vote.
Over the course of the last year, Melanias approval rating has inched up. She is now far more popular than her husband. This is not much of a surprise; most first ladies are more popular than their mates. In Melanias case, the bar was pretty low given Trumps low ratings, but good for her.
Last fall, during a White House dinner, President Trump acknowledged his wifes popularity, calling her the star of the Trump family, according to news reports. They love her out there, Ill tell you. We walked all over Florida. We walked all over Texas, and theyre loving Melania.
Since he has a history of walking all over his marriage, its good to know that someone is loving Melania.
To read this article in Spanish, click here
robin.abcarian@latimes.com
Twitter: @AbcarianLAT
Thursdays announcement that Apple plans to add 1,000 workers in San Diego over the next three years is welcome news for the region. Combined with Google leasing a 60,000-square-foot office here in 2016 and Amazon launching a 107,000-square-foot campus in 2017, this amounts to further confirmation from the tech giants of the world that San Diego is deeply attractive to employers, thanks to its outstanding work force and great quality of life.
Analysts saw the move as part of Apples larger strategy of seeking to design more of the components used in its iPhones and other electronics. The company is sure to get plenty of resumes from the 1,500 local employees that Qualcomm has had to lay off this year, partly because Apple no longer buys cellular modems from the local tech giant. Heres hoping the two companies contentious relationship reflected in legal wars over patents and more doesnt divide the local tech community. For example, UC San Diegos Department of Computer Science and Engineering has a close relationship with Qualcomm. That shouldnt get in the way of the department also working closely with Apple.
While the moves that Apple announced included expansions much bigger than whats planned for San Diego, theres an interesting intrastate angle to the Cupertino-based companys maneuvering. Thats the chance that it may foreshadow a brain drain of talent from extremely expensive Silicon Valley to merely super expensive San Diego County.
In June, the Bay Area News Group reported on a stunning poll showing that 46 percent of the regions residents were likely to move from the region in coming years, primarily because of concerns that housing costs were hurting their quality of life. Thats up from 34 percent in 2016. The article featured Berkeley software engineer Travis Dobbs, who said he and his also well-paid wife had no hopes of being able to afford a home.
Advertisement
Hey, Dobbs family, come on down! Youll find that your familys income goes at lot further in Poway than Palo Alto. When more Silicon Valley tech workers figure this out, San Diegos work force could get stronger and its economic outlook even brighter.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
When Brian Kelly took over as CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority in January, the veteran government executive showed a level of candor about the authoritys bullet-train project that went far beyond anything ever heard from Gov. Jerry Brown or other train advocates. Kelly said the project needed to establish credibility after years of cost overruns and missed construction deadlines being explained away with happy talk.
So much for that. The beleaguered projects new business plan, a draft of which was released Friday, doesnt live up to the expectations Kelly created. The plan deserves credit for acknowledging that the previous $64 billion estimate for the statewide project was far too low. The new estimated cost is $77 billion, and the report notes it could climb to $98 billion. The plan also merits praise for saying 2029 is the soonest that train operations might begin. Thats five years later than the last estimate.
But in three crucial ways, the business plan is as unrealistic as the authoritys previous plans.
The first is that it continues to presume that a huge influx of federal funding could help address a project funding shortfall of more than $50 billion. The plan noted that Washington paid for 90 percent of the cost of the interstate highway system. But its been more than eight years since the Obama administration and Congress provided $3.3 billion in federal funding to buttress the $9.95 billion in bond seed money approved by California voters in 2008 with the passage of Proposition 1A. Since then, federal domestic discretionary spending has plunged to historic lows as a share of the budget under both the Obama and Trump administrations, reflecting anxiety over a national debt that now tops $20 trillion. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities expects this decline to continue until at least 2027.
Advertisement
The second is that the plan continues to assert that substantial private investment in the project is plausible. But as the Legislative Analysts Office pointed out way back in 2010 in critiquing the rail authoritys then-newest business plan, such investment can only be secured if the state government offers minimum revenue guarantees to investors. Such guarantees amount to a promise of operating subsidies, which are illegal under Proposition 1A. No wonder private investors have steered clear.
The third is that the plan breaks explicit promises made to voters in 2008 that construction would never begin on the projects initial segment unless enough funding was available to build a segment that would be economically viable in its own right meaning there was no chance the state would spend billions on a white elephant. Yet the present plan anticipates the first segment ending in a remote agricultural community in the Central Valley.
These flaws are huge, and if the rail authority wont address them, heres who should: the people running to succeed Brown as governor. If they cant offer a credible way to deliver this project, then continuing to spend billions on the bullet train is an exercise in futility, absurdity and malfeasance.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
The California Coast Act, adopted in 1976, had as a core principle the intent to maximize public access to and along the coast, based on the idea that beaches belong to all Californians. Ever since then, there have been legal fights over wealthy landowners preventing access to the beaches adjacent to their coastal properties. This week, thankfully, what may be the most high-profile of these cases was resolved in a way affirming the right of public access.
The fight began in 2008 when Silicon Valley billionaire Vinod Khosla bought 89 acres of coastal property in San Mateo County adjacent to Martins Beach. Khosla padlocked the gate leading to the beach without getting a required state permit, and he asserted that his constitutional property rights outweighed the states authority. Now this claim has been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, which on Monday refused to take up Khoslas appeal of lower-court rulings. Khosla has indicated new litigation is likely if the state denies him the permit, but his key legal argument has been repeatedly rejected.
Unfortunately, the Coastal Commission hasnt always defended beach access vigorously. In May, the commission allowed Hollister Ranch landowners to mostly block access to 8.5 miles of beach in Santa Barbara County. After facing sharp criticism, commissioners now regret the decision and are planning a new push to require access to the beach, which is near the Gaviota State Park beach, with the help of the State Lands Commission.
Its a welcome move. Beaches belong to Californians. Courts and commissions must enforce that.
Advertisement
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Its rare that a bill about the often-contentious issue of education unites factions so often at odds, but legislation Gov. Jerry Brown signed Friday that banned for-profit charter schools was just such a bill. Supporters included the California Federation of Teachers, the Association of California School Administrators, the California School Boards Association, and the California Charter Schools Association, which represents the schools with the vast majority of the states 630,000 charter students.
The groups had various motives for backing Assembly Bill 406. The charter association was tired of responding to myths that charter schools are all about making money when nearly all are nonprofits, and the other groups were worried about the relative few for-profit charters inadequate record on transparency and record-keeping. The biggest offender appears to be K12, a for-profit national charter school operator that has paid the state $10.5 million in fines and settlements since 2015 because of dubious financial practices, overpayment of supervisors and inflated claims of attendance, which led to higher payments from Californias treasury.
Brown vetoed a similar bill in 2015, partly because of concerns about ambiguous language that might create headaches for nonprofit charters that use for-profit vendors. His signature Friday was a sign this bill was better crafted. For-profit charters that cut corners and give the charter school movement a bad name were a real distraction. Good riddance.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Advertisement
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
UPDATES:
3:27 p.m.: This editorial was updated to reflect that Gov. Jerry Brown had just signed Assembly Bill 406.
Last October, after The New York Times and The New Yorker revealed the horrifying extent of Harvey Weinsteins serial sexual predation, more than 140 women who work in Sacramento signed a letter citing pervasive sexual harassment in the state Capitol. Since then, the fallout has been vast. Two Assembly members Raul Bocanegra, D-Pacoima, and Matt Dababneh, D-Woodland Hills have resigned after being accused by multiple women of unwanted sexual advances and misconduct. Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, has been suspended while an investigation proceeds into his alleged come-ons to three female staffers. And on the plus side, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, set up a joint committee to evaluate how the Legislature has dealt with sexual harassment allegations and to establish a uniform method for both chambers to deal with them.
On Monday, state lawmakers made their most dramatic move yet. Following a unanimous Senate vote last week, the Assembly voted 74-0 for Assembly Resolution 403, by Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, which guarantees job protections to legislative employees who report sexual harassment or other legal or ethical transgressions by fellow employees or lawmakers. The bill was passed on an urgency basis, meaning it takes effect as soon as it is signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
The unanimous votes illustrate the Legislature knows far it needs to go to repair its tarnished image a problem whose scope still remains unclear.
Fridays release of details of 18 cases of alleged sexual harassment by state lawmakers or senior staff members since 2006 was a big step in the wrong direction, raising new doubts about the Legislatures good faith on this issue. The documents showed that in some cases, alleged harassers got away with verbal warnings or otherwise faced little or no punishment. In at least two cases, alleged harassers got new jobs. The problem is that in many of the documents, so much is redacted that its difficult to have a firm sense of what happened. Thats why Adama Iwu of the We Said Enough movement told Capital Public Radio that the documents release falls dramatically short of a comprehensive or transparent release of information.
Advertisement
Rendon and de Leon deserve praise for at least beginning to honor their promises to be transparent with the public when it comes to sexual harassment allegations. But its worth noting that it remains the formal position of Assembly Chief Administrative Officer Debra Gravert and Secretary of the Senate Daniel Alvarez affirmed last week that the Legislative Open Records Act means they dont have to release personnel records if they dont want to. If members of the committee established by Rendon and de Leon want to improve how the Legislature deals with sexual harassment, they should recommend revisions to this law.
Guaranteeing accusers that their jobs will be protected is a huge and important step. But protecting harassers with an overly broad worker privacy law applying only to the Legislature isnt just a bad idea. It encourages sexual harassers and other rule-breakers by making them less worried about being held accountable. Its far past time that responsible lawmakers figured this out.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
In 2011, when the Obama administration announced changes in how it interpreted the federal law guiding how colleges respond to allegations of sexual misconduct, there was broad applause from many Americans. They had heard years of horror stories about administrators reacting to allegations of sexual violence with disinterest, disbelief and/or a desire to avoid negative publicity about their campuses. The Obama interpretation of Title IX the landmark 1972 federal law mandating equal treatment of the sexes by institutions receiving federal education funds pushed colleges to take allegations of such misconduct much more seriously and to document their investigations to prove their seriousness.
Seven years later, there is no question that colleges are far more sensitive and responsive on this issue. But after a series of successful lawsuits against colleges over Title IX prosecutions, a powerful argument can be made that good intentions made for flawed policy one that denied millions of college students the due process rights of other Americans. This view led Betsy Davos, President Donald Trumps choice for education secretary, to formally drop the 2011 interpretation of Title IX last September. Anticipating this move, the state Legislature passed a bill that would have written a version of the Obama rules into state law.
To the surprise of many, Gov. Jerry Brown declined to sign the bill, writing that thoughtful legal minds have increasingly questioned whether federal and state actions to prevent and redress sexual harassment and assault ... have also unintentionally resulted in some colleges failure to uphold due process for accused students.
Brown said he would convene a group of knowledgeable persons to help the state come up with its own policy. This week, his aide said a retired judge and two faculty members whose identities were not disclosed because of the sensitive nature of their task are expected to provide recommendations by Oct. 1.
Advertisement
Whatever policy is recommended, theres now a fresh reminder that the due process rights of the accused must not be abridged. On Aug. 8, a state appeals court in Los Angeles ruled on a 3-0 vote that a male Claremont McKenna College student punished for alleged wrongdoing had his rights violated by a college disciplinary process that limited his ability to defend himself against accusations. The verdict affirmed the view of Harvard law professor Nancy Gertner, who wrote in 2015 that policies adopted by colleges created the worst of both worlds for accused students a system in which they could be found guilty based on a preponderance of evidence, as with civil lawsuits, but without the protections available in civil lawsuits through the evidence discovery process.
The good news for the Golden State is that theres already an appreciation that due process matters at the University of California. UC President Janet Napolitano who raised sharp questions about the Obama rules in a 2014 essay for the Yale Law & Policy Review has ordered UC campuses to follow a transparent process that ensures the rights of the accused, according to new San Diego State University President Adela de la Torre, a former UC Davis vice chancellor.
This is as it should be. Creating a safe college environment where students feel they can report misconduct without repercussions is crucial. But this must not be done in a way that unfairly limits a students ability to respond to potentially life-wrecking allegations.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed a major change in the regulation of the states three huge investor-owned utilities. Brown says a utility should no longer be held liable for damages from wildfires linked to its equipment if it can be demonstrated the utility acted reasonably in maintaining the equipment. Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric all are pushing hard for such a revision of state law because of the growing risk of wildfires from the Wests hotter, drier climate. As illustrated by the fires raging around the state in recent days, their concerns are warranted.
Reaction to Browns plan has been mixed. Lawmakers who want to protect the utilities financial health so long as they meet safety standards offered support. PG&Es CEO said it makes some progress but is insufficient. Utility critics said the governors proposal was an unnecessary giveaway.
But The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board has another view: We believe that Brown should have nothing to do with this critically important policy debate. If ratepayers trust him to treat them fairly, they havent been paying attention.
The governor has appointed the entire board of the California Public Utilities Commission and has close relationships with both Michael Peevey and Michael Picker, the two men who have served as CPUC presidents in recent years. Brown has also fought efforts to make the CPUC more transparent and accountable. As such, he deserves direct blame for the regulatory bodys recent massive scandals.
Advertisement
The first involves the CPUCs 2014 decision to force ratepayers to pay 70 percent of the cost of the $4.7 billion tab for closing the San Onofre nuclear plant which is owned almost 80 percent by Edison and 20 percent by SDG&E even though the nuclear plants failings were due in large part to poor management. After it was revealed in 2015 that Peevey and an Edison executive improperly crafted the outline for the deal at a 2013 meeting in Poland a meeting that was never disclosed to the public the CPUC was eventually forced to reopen the settlement and accept terms that shifted $750 million of the cost from ratepayers to shareholders.
The second scandal involves PG&E and the criminal behavior it displayed before and after a 2010 natural-gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes. The utility was convicted in federal court of six felonies for the poor maintenance that caused the disaster and for its subsequent obstruction of a federal probe. But the CPUC was akin to an unindicted co-conspirator. Investigators said lax oversight by the state regulator led the way to the catastrophe.
The commission wasnt done coddling PG&E. Facing immense pressure from lawmakers, it purportedly fined PG&E $1.6 billion over San Bruno. Yet more than half the fine wasnt actually a fine. It was a mandate that PG&E spend $850 million to improve its natural gas transmission system an upgrade that was already seen as necessary.
Against this backdrop, neither Brown nor the CPUC deserve the benefit of the doubt. Lawmakers should hold off on regulatory changes until the next governor is elected in November. Then talks should begin on a policy that offers more fiscal protection for utilities. The policy must ultimately be crafted thoughtfully so it doesnt incentivize utilities to cut corners on public safety and reflects an awareness of the utilities recent history of bad behavior.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
State Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, seemed to hit his stride in recent months in his long-shot bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-San Francisco. He won the formal endorsement of the California Democratic Party, a sure sign of the former state Senate leaders appeal to the growing number of Democrats who have lost patience with the partys moderate voices. And in his second interview in recent months with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board, he came across as looser, more confident and even better-informed on a range of national issues than in his first. Perhaps this reflected the recent stunning primary defeats of respected Democratic House incumbents in New York and Boston by minority candidates with progressive agendas. De Leon said he had no problems with the defeated incumbents, but that their values like Feinsteins were not those of most Democrats in 2018. That may be true.
But isnt Feinstein more likely to be an effective lawmaker in Washington? Based on the events of recent weeks, her case for re-election has only grown stronger. The 85-year-old was already in the spotlight because of her role as ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is considering the Supreme Court nomination of federal appellate Judge Brett Kavanaugh. When the 25-year Senate veteran apologized to Kavanaugh after his initial testimony on Sept. 5 had been repeatedly interrupted by hecklers, de Leon expressed disbelief, writing to supporters, Are you kidding me? Then he expressed disappointment that no Senate Democrats had joined protesters in getting arrested. This is what deserves an Are you kidding me? reaction not Feinsteins defense of valuable, much-needed Senate traditions of civility.
Now de Leons sneering at Feinstein has gone from dubious to contemptible. Last weekend, it was revealed that in July, the senator had received a letter from Christine Blasey Ford, a Bay Area professor who alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh in the 1980s when they were both attending private high schools in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Feinstein kept quiet about the letter at Fords specific request. It was only when Ford gave her the go-ahead that the letters existence was publicly revealed.
Yet De Leons campaign issued a statement blasting Feinstein for waiting months to hand this disqualifying document over to the federal authorities. In other words, de Leon ripped Feinstein for refusing to betray a request for confidentiality from a woman reporting she was the target of an attempted rape. Thats appalling, especially given the culture of sexual harassment that some exploited in Sacramento when de Leon led the Senate.
Advertisement
Feinsteins strengths her smarts and gravitas, her strong relationships with senators from both parties, her deep knowledge of national security issues, her history of getting things done instead of grandstanding were on admirable display in her two recent interviews with the U-T Editorial Board. These strengths always were likely to secure her another term in the Senate. If voters prefer a male Democrat who would cruelly exploit a woman reporting a sexual assault for political purposes, then thats a step back for politics and the #MeToo movement. Vote Dianne Feinstein for U.S. Senate.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
The pronounced increase in local hate crimes from 2016 to 2017 up 15 percent in San Diego and 13 percent in San Diego County is a troubling development thats getting the response it deserves. At 6 p.m. Wednesday, the second Stop the Hate community forum, hosted by the San Diego Regional Hate Crimes Coalition, is being held at the Santa Fe Conference Room in Balboa Park. It will provide information about the nature of hate crimes and about how victims can get the help and the resources they need. The U.S. Attorneys Office, the county District Attorneys Office, the San Diego City Attorneys Office, the FBI, the Anti-Defamation League, Border Angels and the Islamic Center of San Diego are expected to send representatives. The first forum was held in El Cajon in July and more forums are planned in coming months.
There are no easy explanations about the motivation or manner of these hate crimes. But the broad, public response to them is welcome. A hate crime victimizes entire groups, not just individuals. Kudos to the Hate Crimes Coalition for its important work.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Pittsburgh, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cognition Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage neuroscience company focused on the protection and restoration of synaptic function in neurodegenerative diseases and disorders caused by membrane trafficking dysfunction, today announced the appointment of Lisa Ricciardi to its Board of Directors. Ms. Ricciardi is a life sciences executive with broad industry experience, having served at large pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, payors and venture-capital firms. She is currently CEO of Suono Bio, a life sciences company based on technology from MIT.
President and CEO Kenneth I. Moch, stated, Lisa is a highly respected and highly experienced life sciences executive with significant development and commercialization expertise. Her strategic approach to company operations and transactions will serve us well as we continue to evolve Cognition and advance Elayta through its Phase 2 program.
Lisas unique insights, gained during a career bridging finance and drug development, will be especially valuable as we move into more advanced stages of development and grow as a company, added Robert Gailus, chairman of Cognition Therapeutics Board of Directors.
Prior to joining Suono Bio, Ms. Ricciardi was SVP of global corporate and business development at Foundation Medicine, where she negotiated transactions with biopharma, research centers and health systems, including a $1.03 billion transformational agreement with Roche. As SVP of U.S. and international business development at Express Scripts, Ms. Ricciardi was involved in small to multi-billion-dollar deals with CROs, oncology services, onsite clinics and lab services. In 2012, she brokered the $29 billion acquisition of Medco by Express Scripts and led the organizations transition support team. At Pfizer, she oversaw the global licensing and development division, where she completed numerous global R&D and commercial collaborations for both late-stage and early-stage assets. At Essex Woodlands Health Ventures, Ms. Ricciardi provided marketing and commercialization expertise to portfolio companies, and identified and evaluated potential investments.
Ms. Ricciardi currently serves on the Board of Directors of United Drug Healthcare Group, a Dublin-based pharmaceutical outsourced supplier. Ms. Ricciardi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in English and religion from Wesleyan University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Management.
Ms. Ricciardi commented, I have been impressed by Cognitions focus, passion and innovative path to advance Elayta as a potential new medicine for Alzheimer's disease. I truly look forward to helping Cognition plan its course forward as it accelerates the development of Elayta.
About Cognition Therapeutics, Inc.
Cognition Therapeutics is a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary small-molecule therapeutics to treat neurodegenerative diseases caused by membrane trafficking dysfunction. Cognitions drug candidates may halt the progression of Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease and other disorders that occur when toxic oligomeric proteins interrupt critical cellular pathways in the brain.
Cognitions lead candidate, Elayta, is a novel first-in-class, orally available small molecule that in initial clinical studies has shown the potential to normalize protein trafficking and lipid metabolism pathways that are disrupted in Alzheimers disease and allow the protection and restoration of synapses. Elayta is currently being tested for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimers disease in three Phase 2 clinical studies: SPARC (Synaptic Protection for Alzheimers Restoration of Cognition), SNAP (AO Displacement from Synapses on Neurons in Alzheimers Patients) and SHINE (Synaptic Health and Improvement of Neurological Function with Elayta). These studies are supported by grants (award numbers RF1AG057780, RF1AG057553 and R01AG058660) from the National Institute on Aging of the NIH. Elayta has been granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. FDA.
Elayta and Cognitions other pipeline candidates were identified using the companys disease-relevant screening and novel chemistry platforms. Additional information about Cognition and its product candidates may be found online at http://www.cogrx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the development and commercialization of Cognitions products, the potential benefits and attributes of such products, and Cognitions expectations regarding its prospects. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are made as of the date of this press release. Actual results may vary. Cognition undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason.
For nearly 40 years, owners of homes at the private, gated Hollister Ranch subdivision northwest of Santa Barbara have bitterly opposed efforts to provide the public with access to the ranchs 8.5 miles of coastline. In late 2017, this obstinance paid off when coastal regulators agreed to a deal in which the public was granted access to a three-quarter-mile section of beach but only to those using a surfboard, paddleboard, kayak or soft-bottom boat. There would be no regular land access to the shoreline, which is near Gaviota State Park beach.
Unsurprisingly, this infuriated activists in the Gaviota Coastal Trail Alliance, who filed legal challenges to the decision on the grounds that it violated the clear intent of state laws guaranteeing public access to beach areas. And on Feb. 8, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Colleen Sterne agreed with them, saying that Hollister Ranch officials had failed to demonstrated the deal was fair and reasonable. While Sterne refused to ratify the decision, she didnt throw it out. Instead, she laid out the steps that critics could take to have it formally repudiated by the state, starting with a lawsuit targeting the secret process that coastal regulators used to craft the settlement.
Sternes decision should send a message to the Coastal Commission, the Coastal Conservancy and other state agencies dealing with beach access issues: Stand your ground no matter what against the rich landowners who seek to defy the plain intent of state laws and keep beaches to themselves.
The California coast belongs to everyone.
Advertisement
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
The State of the Union address by President Donald Trump is finally taking place on Tuesday after weeks of political feuding during which it was being as a bargaining chip and after a week delay.
Originally scheduled for Jan. 29, the constitutionally-mandated speech to Congress is a chance for the countrys chief executive to give his views on current affairs, lay out a vision for the nation and offer some thoughts and guidance to the legislative branch. Its also a chance to send a message to the American people.
Heres what you need to know.
When is the State of the Union Address?
The speech will take place Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
Advertisement
Where will the speech take place?
Trump will address members of Congress in the chamber of the House of Representatives at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
How did the speech finally get scheduled?
While the government was partially shut down for 35 days, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, sent a letter to Trump, a Republican, suggesting the speech be delayed until after the government re-opened, citing security concerns. When the president said hed rather continue with the address, Pelosi sent another letter saying the House of Representatives wouldnt authorize the address until the government re-opened.
Trump agreed, in a tweet, to postpone his address. Then the government re-opened on Jan. 28, the politicians worked out an agreement, and the State of the Union address was rescheduled to take place on Tuesday.
What will Trump say?
News reports ahead of Trumps appearance at the Capitol said the speech will focus on unity in the country and five main areas: immigration, employment and trade, infrastructure, health care and the military.
What else will happen?
After the State of the Union address, the minority party typically gives a response from one special lawmaker. This year, Stacey Abrams, who lost Georgias gubernatorial race in 2018, will give the Democratic response to Trump. The Democrats are also preparing a response in the Spanish language to be given by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
How can you watch?
The speech will be shown on C-SPAN on television, as well as on c-span.org and C-SPANs radio app. Heres the link for the live stream online.
Also on television, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS and and Telemundo are expected to carry the address. Online, you can also check out The White House youtube channel.
The Conversation podcast
The Conversation with Abby & Luis is a podcast that slows down the news cycle to make sense of issues and stories that matter to listeners in San Diego and beyond. We talk to news makers, experts and others to offer interesting, in-depth conversations that will keep you up to date and informed.
Check out some of our most recent episodes below.
Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @abbyhamblin
Chilling is an understatement. The U.S. government, in the name of border security and in tandem with the Mexican government, created and kept dossiers what NBC 7 in San Diego, which broke the story, called a secret database on a group of 59 journalists, advocates, activists and an attorney who met with members of a migrant caravan that came to Tijuana late last year. U.S. Customs and Border Protection singled out many in the group for lengthy extra questioning when trying to cross the border and denied at least two journalists entry.
What was the justification? The documents obtained by NBC 7 showed that the U.S.-Mexico International Liaison Unit considered those it gathered information on to be suspected organizers, coordinators, instigators and media. The Customs and Border Protection agency told NBC News that all 59 were present during a violent incident at the border in November and that journalists were tracked to learn more about what started the violence.
If there is no evidence these individuals instigated criminal activity, hassling them at the border, keeping them from entering Mexico and placing alerts on their passports is official harassment. The ACLU and a number of journalism advocacy organizations are right to be outraged. It is against federal law to abet those who try to enter the U.S. without authorization, but federal law protects journalists covering a news event from official impediment.
NBC 7s anonymous U.S. Homeland Security source acted as a whistle-blower, saying, Were not an intelligence agency. We cant create dossiers on people, and theyre creating dossiers. This is an abuse of the border search authority.
Advertisement
Agreed. U.S. officials must end and answer for this abuse of power, and Congress must investigate.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
There are two Democrats on the ballot in the race to succeed Gavin Newsom as lieutenant governor. The clear choice is the much less conventional one, Eleni Kounalakis, a former U.S. ambassador to Hungary with an extensive business background. Her opponent, state Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, has worked effectively to expand access to health care. But he is very much a member of the complacent, sluggish Capitol establishment.
Their differences are plain. For one example, Kounalakis is far more outspoken about using the lieutenant governors seat on the University of California Board of Regents to challenge UC leaders, from President Janet Napolitano down. For another, Kounalakis daughter of successful Sacramento developer Angelo Tsakopoulos also is far better about the urgent need to address the housing crisis with new construction. This led the Sacramento Bee to editorialize that if she is elected, the next governor should make her the states point person on housing and homelessness.
Thats probably not going to happen. Newsom, the heavy favorite to be elected governor, has his own detailed plans. But were confident that Kounalakis wont be invisible if elected, unlike many past lieutenant governors. She deserves your vote.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Advertisement
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
One of the pleasures and challenges of this job is you do a lot of traveling. Ive been in 23 states over the last three months. The general impression I get is that Im not covering a midterm election campaign. Im covering two separate electorates.
The biggest difference is atmospheric. In urban and suburban America, Donald Trumps outrage du jour is on everybodys lips: Did you see what he tweeted now? Did you see his racist ad? Where will the Mueller investigation go?
In rural America, by contrast, all that stuff is like a thunderstorm in Inner Mongolia. Its something happening very far away with no particular relevance here, and so no ones paying much attention.
In urban America people talk about Trump constantly. In rural America people generally avoid the subject. Even if 80 percent of the locals support Trump, you never know how somebody will react if you mention his name they might call you a racist so its not a safe topic of conversation.
Advertisement
The other big impression I get is that grand canyons now separate different sectors of American society and these canyons are harder and harder to cross.
On the one hand, as Amy Walter of Cook Political Report has pointed out, very little has changed over the past two years. In 2016, 54 percent of white voters supported Trump, and the exact same percentage of those voters support him today. In 2016, 38 percent of college-educated white voters supported Trump and 38 percent support him today.
A lot has been said, but few minds have been changed.
On the other hand, everybodys political positions are more dug in. College-educated suburban woman really dont like Republicans. White men without college degrees really dont like Democrats. Urban America is really blue. Rural America is really red. The race in 2016 entrenched those positions on the presidential level. The 2018 race entrenches them all the way down the ticket.
Im with Ron Brownstein of CNN and former Republican Rep. Tom Davis: This is not a wave election; its a realignment election. The results Tuesday will not be shaped by some crest of momentum behind the Democrats. They are going to be shaped by the fact that people are hardening into their categories, and those categories tend to produce a Democratic House and a Republican Senate.
The Republicans were saddled with an unpopular president, and the normal thing to do would have been to try to get House races to turn on local issues. But Trump makes everything about himself, and so has nationalized all the races.
Congressional elections are now mostly just mini-versions of presidential elections. The quality of any individual candidate matters a lot less, and theres much less variation in how different candidates are conducting their campaigns.
In Missouri, for example, the Republicans are running Josh Hawley for Senate. Hawley could have run an interesting campaign that would have crossed a lot of boundaries. He went to Stanford and Yale Law School. He wrote a fine book on Theodore Roosevelt, and several excellent essays for the journal National Affairs, including an erudite one on epicurean liberalism. But hes embraced Trump and run as a pretty standard Trumpkin Republican.
Nationalized politics forces local candidates to act mostly like Trump or Pelosi stand-ins and less like themselves.
The one word that the two electorates have in common is unraveling. Both groups have a sense that America is unraveling. If you ask them what issues matter most, theyll say health care or immigration.
But thats not the right question to ask, because it doesnt get at the sense of existential anger and angst that is really driving things.
Of course, the two electorates tell entirely different unraveling stories. In rural America, the sources of unraveling are the immigrants (symbolized by the caravan) and the radicalized mobs of educated elites (symbolized by the media). In rural America, basic values like hard work, clear gender roles and the social fabric are dissolving before peoples eyes.
Timothy Carney had a very fine piece in the Times on Thursday that captured the sense of social despair. I got a loaded .22 right by my door, one man in rural Pennsylvania told Carney, I dont trust nobody in my apartment complex.
Urban Americans see the unraveling coming from the rising tide of nativism, the way Trump eviscerates social norms, the underground army of alt-right extremists with guns. If anything, the blue sense of unraveling is more comprehensive.
Democratic ideology is increasingly dominated by the educated upper-middle class. As polls show, those Democrats are losing faith in capitalism itself, in the American dream itself. White liberals describe racism as a bigger problem precluding black advancement than do African-Americans.
As Emma Green noted in The Atlantic, for many, progressivism isnt just a set of political beliefs; its a set of liturgies, rituals and moral doctrines for the secular unchurched.
Politics is no longer mainly about disagreeing on issues. Its about being in entirely separate conversations.
The Venn diagram is dead. Theres no overlapping area.
The decision of Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Xavier Becerra and other state lawmakers to travel to Mexico City for Saturdays inauguration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as Mexicos president is a welcome recognition of the importance of Californias ties to its southern neighbor.
Mexico is the Golden States top export market, buying 15.5 percent of the states 2017 exports, or $26.7 billion, per the California Chamber of Commerce. Newsom must emphasize to Lopez Obrador that many of President Donald Trumps bombastic pronouncements about border policies are cringeworthy to Californian and U.S. politicians in general because most value a strong relationship with Mexico, especially between San Diego and Tijuana.
Its worth noting that Trump himself may not believe his anti-Mexico rhetoric, given that he signed a trade deal to take NAFTAs place Friday.
In the short term, Newsom should also discuss cooperating on the crisis created by the 6,000-plus Central Americans gathered in Tijuana to seek asylum in the U.S. Yes, the federal government is the key player on issues related to immigration, but theres no reason the state government cant help with humanitarian relief.
Advertisement
In the long term, its also crucial that California and both the Lopez Obrador and Trump administrations work together closely to address the awful cross-border pollution caused by broken wastewater infrastructure in Tijuana that routinely fouls South Bay beaches with sewage. Mexico should play a much more constructive role than it has so far but the same can be said for the White House.
The stakes are high. Californians should hope that Newsom, Becerra and the rest of the state delegation hit it off with Mexicos new president.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
With medical use of marijuana now legal in 33 states and recreational use legal for adults in 10 states, the normalization of cannabis is well under way especially with the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who saw the drug through a reefer madness prism and who often hinted at the crackdowns to come against states which allowed the use of a drug thats illegal under federal law.
Now its time for Congress to pass a law making it explicit that the marijuana industry has legal access to the U.S. banking system. While a new Treasury Department report shows more and more banks and credit unions are accepting marijuana business customers 486 as of Sept. 30 far more remain leery because of the potential for federal fines from government regulators with views like Sessions.
The industry needs help after a rough first year in California. Ending doubts about the legality of marijuana banking is crucial because the state is expected to generate much less tax revenue than the $630 million projected for fiscal 2018-2019. A more certain change, as the Southern California News Group reported last week, is that the state will crack down in 2019 on the illegal marijuana sellers that dont pay taxes just as it would with unauthorized sellers of tobacco or alcohol. Both steps are crucial.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Advertisement
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
The effusive praise that President George H.W. Bush and Arizona Sen. John McCain received this year after their deaths has been treated with suspicion in some corners of the right. Thats understandable given that many appreciations of the two war heroes felt more like seized opportunities to trash President Donald Trump and Republicans in general than genuine tributes. Chris Cillizzas Bush 41 piece on CNN.com was a prime example:
George H.W. Bush would never have been elected to anything in the modern Republican Party.
Its not because the former president, who died at age 94 on Friday, wasnt a real Republican. Bush believed in lower taxes, a smaller federal government and a robust military the general principles that, until the last few years, have defined modern conservatism.
Its because of Bushs approach to politics. He was not a fire-breather. His first instinct was not to vilify anyone who disagreed with him. He believed in the idea that good people can disagree. He saw compromise as a reasonable goal of government.
Advertisement
Writing for the American Thinker blog, conservative Jack Hellner scorned the praise going Bushs way:
The only kind of Republicans the media like [are] dead ones. ... The playbook is always the same. Democrats, including most of the media, pretend they love Republicans when they die after they trashed them when they ran and lived.
So is the post-death treatment of Bush 41 just a morbid version of what conservative author Tom Bethell long ado dubbed the strange new respect phenomenon in which conservatives who begin moving away from conservatism suddenly get much more favorable coverage?
Or is it another example of what The New York Times Frank Bruni this week called Americans increasing habit of viewing everything on all-or-nothing, allies-or-enemies, black-and-white terms, blind to shades of gray?
Its neither. Sorry, conservatives who hate the media, but the notion that Bush 41 used to be treated unfairly doesnt hold up.
Yes, the 1987 Newsweek cover story that depicted him as a wimp merely because he was polite and uncombative was so dubious that the magazines former editor now regrets it. And the front-page February 1992 story in The New York Times about the then-president appearing dumbfounded by the demonstration of a supermarket scanner at the National Grocers Association convention in Orlando was a pure hit piece that should hang over journalist Andrew Rosenthals reputation for all time. As a Snopes fact check later noted, Rosenthal ...
... hadnt even been present at the grocers convention. He based his article on a two-paragraph report filed by the lone pool newspaperman allowed to cover the event, Gregg McDonald of the Houston Chronicle, who merely wrote that Bush had a look of wonder on his face and didnt find the event significant enough to mention in his own story. Moreover, Bush had good reason to express wonder: He wasnt being shown then-standard scanner technology, but a new type of scanner that could weigh groceries and read mangled and torn bar codes.
But the Nexis news-retrieval service amply illustrates that Bush was given credit in real time for his accomplishments in overseeing the end of the Cold War and the brief war against Iraq and its dictator, Saddam Hussein. This analysis from The Boston Globe in March 1991 about Bushs shrewd stewardship in defense of his new world order was typical:
... the challenge posed by Saddam Hussein was the crucible in which the new world order received its first, defining test.
Desert Storm was what Winston Churchill had in mind when he talked of the proper application of overwhelming force. The war was meticulously planned and unhesitatingly executed by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, his coalition counterparts and half a million soldiers. It was won quickly and with an astoundingly low number of allied casualties.
If this was an illustration of what Bush meant by the new world order, it had certain clear elements. The United States was not going to slide into neo-isolationism, as some analysts had feared, and others had hoped. Instead, Washington would remain at the very center of international affairs. The United States and its president could not alone decide how the world would work, so alliances, coalitions and international institutions such as the United Nations would be an important adjunct of U.S. foreign policy.
And this appreciation of Bushs skills and competence was evident before he became president. In 1988, the liberal editorial board of the Washington Post astounded Democrats by refusing to endorse their presidential nominee, Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, over Bush. After knocking Dukakis for being both academic and unschooled on world affairs, the Post noted Bush had no such weaknesses:
... the vice president is much more conversant with both defense and foreign policy, and he speaks on both with more authority, understanding and sense than Gov. Dukakis does.
The Post didnt back Bush it made no endorsement. Still, its appreciation of him doesnt jibe with the grousing were hearing in 2018 about the medias GOP animus.
But with John McCain, conservative cynics have a case. For much of his career, the former Vietnam prisoner of war got the sort of laudatory coverage that few public figures have ever enjoyed. An October 1999 Slate article illustrated why McCain liked to joke that the media was his political base:
McCain isnt running in Iowa, and he may get clobbered in New Hampshire. But hes miles ahead in the very first contest of the 2000 [presidential] campaign: the press primary. Journalists go weak in the knees around the guy. ...
Why do the hacks love McCain? You could start with our admiration for a quality not many of us possess: physical courage. But I think the deeper admiration is for the guts McCain showed in his Vietnamese captivity and which hes shown consistently ever since. Everyone knows by now the story told in McCains book, how he voluntarily suffered five and a half years as a POW in Vietnam after refusing an early release. McCain wasnt just a war hero. He was a kind of spirit of resistance personified ... .
This reverence, however, largely disappeared in 2008, when McCain won the Republican presidential nomination. It wasnt just the right wingers at the Washington Times, National Review and the Weekly Standard who saw the media as Democratic candidate Barack Obamas not-so-secret weapon. Two weeks before the election, the respected Pew Research Centers Project for Excellence in Journalism documented how the media had turned on its former favorite:
[C]overage of McCain has been heavily unfavorable and has become more so over time. In the six weeks following the conventions through the final debate, unfavorable stories about McCain outweighed favorable ones by a factor of more than three to one the most unfavorable of all four [presidential and vice presidential] candidates ... .
For Obama during this period, just over a third of the stories were clearly positive in tone (36 percent), while a similar number (35 percent) were neutral or mixed. A smaller number (29 percent) were negative.
For McCain, by comparison, nearly six in ten of the stories studied were decidedly negative in nature (57 percent), while fewer than two in ten (14 percent) were positive.
So nine years after he was a media god, McCain got harsher coverage than his running mate, then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin who was widely considered the least qualified major-party nominee for national office in history! What had he done in the interim to turn him from good guy to bad guy?
Nothing. When it comes to conservatives claims of media bias, at least with McCain, they should feel free to grouse.
Reed, who is biased against Chipotle, is deputy editor of the editorial and opinion section. Email: chris.reed@sduniontribune.com. Twitter: @chrisreed99. Column archive: sdut.us/chrisreed.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board has supported criminal justice reform for years, arguing that mass incarceration policies unique to America are destructive, counterproductive and unnecessary for public safety. But efforts to address this issue in California have been plagued by a lack of vetting and thorough debate. This problem is now so acute that reformers risk triggering a backlash via a ballot initiative that could undo the good they have done as well as correct some terrible mistakes.
In 2014, voters approved Proposition 47, which reclassified several nonviolent felonies as misdemeanors in a ham-handed way that didnt make crucial distinctions. Few people, for instance, would think possession of date rape drugs should be seen as a minor offense, but that wasnt even the worst flaw. A Los Angeles Times analysis found that the law had emboldened repeat offenders, especially drug addicts who steal to pay for their habits. A recent Public Policy Institute of California study found little evidence that the measure had increased overall crime rates, but the measure desperately needed a mechanism to force chronic offenders into drug treatment. Incredibly, the California Police Chiefs Association says that participation in drug rehabilitation programs has decreased because of the law.
Yet Proposition 47s crafting was superior to what Californians witnessed in Proposition 57, which voters approved in 2016. This law made it easier for nonviolent felons to win parole. But again, its authors failed to sweat the details, using an existing, over-broad list of nonviolent crimes that included rape of an unconscious person and violent child abuse. The worst fears about Proposition 57 were confirmed in February, when a state judge ruled that the state could not retroactively rewrite the measure in a way that denied possible early release to thousands of violent sex offenders.
Now, in the worst example of rushed reform yet, Gov. Jerry Brown this week signed into law Assembly Bill 1810 a budget trailer bill with no credited author that takes effect immediately. It includes a provision that appears to allow defendants charged with any crime to get the charges put on hold and perhaps eventually dismissed if they can persuade a judge that the offense resulted from a mental disorder that a mental health expert says is treatable.
Advertisement
A case can be made that a defendants mental illness should be considered by prosecutors and judges its certainly relevant. Senate Bill 215, now before the Legislature, would have allowed this in defined, limited circumstances. But instead of vetoing AB 1810 and letting this debate proceed, Brown short-circuited it. He did so despite being warned by San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan that this is the most irresponsible legislation our state has ever seen and that it would wreak havoc in our criminal justice system.
The Los Angeles County Association of Deputy District Attorneys blasted the maneuvering that led to the new law as a scandalous abuse of the legislative process. But that doesnt go far enough. What Brown and state lawmakers have done is an outrageous simultaneous display of arrogance and incompetence one that seems certain to haunt the criminal justice reform movement. Get ready for a signature-gathering push that seeks to overturn AB 1810 and maybe Propositions 47 and 57 as well.
Even after decades of declining crime, tough-on-crime rhetoric often resonates with the public. But such rhetoric will be all the more potent to voters who know of the sheer recklessness that led to AB 1810s stealth adoption. If the governor and the Legislature dont promptly repeal the law, they will do grave harm to a cause they purport to support.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
While visiting San Ysidro and meeting with residents on Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom posted a video statement to Twitter to make a point that cant be emphasized enough. Despite claims the U.S.-Mexico border is a daily source of crime and tension, the economic vibrancy of the San Diego-Tijuana region is a huge success story, he said. The trade [goes] back and forth into Mexico every day, into the United States every day. ... Its a very different story than the one you hear out of Washington.
Thats exactly right. More than 70 million people cross the border back and forth each year, reflecting a binational regional economy with an integrated manufacturing supply chain worth $2.5 billion. This cross-border connectivity helps generate an annual gross regional product of $255 billion, according to the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Thats far greater than dozens of nations around the world with populations that are much larger than this border regions 6 million-plus residents.
With changing immigration patterns creating new needs and pressures, the immigration debate will outlast the current U.S. president. For now, before any experts thousands of miles away weigh in, they need to know the San Diego-Tijuana story. Here, the border isnt a threat. Its an opportunity.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Advertisement
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the US mobile industry rapidly preparing for the 5G revolution, discussion about how this next generation network technology fits into the wider commercialization of the communications ecosystem is reaching its peak.
5G progress in the US is being led by the wireless and telecommunications industries and government agencies. Verizon and AT&T have already launched their early 5G home and mobile hotspot services. Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) $2bn Connect America initiative to expand wireless broadband in rural communities and the 24 GHz auction to open up the wave spectrum for commercial use are also underway.
Jim Hyde, CEO of communications infrastructure provider ExteNet Systems, believes that the exponentially growing user-bandwidth demand and new spectrum availability will serve as the catalyst for 5G network densification as well as result in an increased adoption of the 5G enhanced mobile and fixed broadband use case.
Mobile network operators and other carriers are well-positioned to capitalize on 5G opportunities, shifting the focus to monetization strategies, said Hyde. With the MNOs and carriers owning both the spectrum and the customer relationship, their ability to monetize their investment effectively will be imperative as the stakes are high. We also expect private networks to become more prevalent over the near term.
ExteNet Systems has played an integral role in pioneering, designing and building the next generation of wireless networks. In a standard lifecycle, network maturity and new technology triggers incremental investment, and we believe 5G will be no different, added Hyde. Since 5G build is just commencing, capital expenditures will be higher than the recurring operating expenses in the near term; however, our customers demand technology and solutions that will drive total cost efficiencies over time.
Meanwhile, a leading US Mobile Director of one of the Big 4 mobile operators affirmed, For the US to be ahead of the world in 5G, we need to be able to densify the network. The cost is going to affect how quickly that can happen.
Consolidation is still driving the market
2018 was a record year for investment in communications with several of the largest merger valuations in history. However, M&A activity was driven by smaller companies with deals valued at less than $100m, demonstrating that consolidation is still driving the market.
Richard S. Lukaj, Senior Managing Director of the private investment banking firm, Bank Street, predicts that the next two years will see the telecoms and media industries increasingly converging, with the demand for data and a shortage of infrastructure assets increasing investment and driving consolidation.
Lukaj, stated, The blurring of telecommunications, media and technology industries will continue with businesses chasing M&A deals that enable them to adapt their businesses models to their changing ecosystem.
Such transactions will also enable companies to diversify their offerings and remain competitive against interlopers into their traditional sectors. As an example, we see attractive opportunities for companies with expertise in deploying wireless infrastructure and networks of small cells to connect with data center infrastructure and backbone fiber network providers. Thus, major mobile tower operators will continue to seek innovation and widen their M&A focus to companies that hold significant complementary communications assets, most notably REITable edge computing, data center interconnectivity, fiber optic and small cell technologies and these manoeuvres will become even more strategically more important with time.
Hyde and Lukaj are speakers at the upcoming TMT M&A Forum USA 2019 (April 11, New York). The event, sponsored by Santander, Tillman Infrastructure, Bank Street, WIS and MVP Capital offers more than 200 M&A professionals the opportunity to engage with leading figureheads and discuss edge computing and infrastructure, 5G investment, M&A strategy and changing trends within the telecommunications M&A landscape.
Innovation is driving M2M communication investment
Hyde believes that 5G will drive increased productivity and efficiencies, with economic prosperity being the larger goal.
Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, including IoT, is an area where increased investment and M&A activity will continue to occur, said Hyde. Innovation is driving M2M and the complexity of interconnecting devices in both micro and macro scenarios drives more cache and compute requirements at the network edge. As a result, vision clarity and well-designed network architecture will play a significant role in enabling a forward-looking network and device interconnectivity, and we expect notable new investments and M&A activity in network and device interconnectivity over the next few years.
The provision of enhanced broadband to the consumer market has been at the heart of early 5G deployments, with IoT and ultra-reliable, low-latency communications due to gain scale shortly. The digitisation of industries and businesses create a more favourable environment for exploring incremental revenue opportunities, particularly in the enterprise market.
Hyde added, 5G will be the connective tissue that enhances the use of next-gen technology including IoT, autonomous vehicles and mobile media, among others. As we design the network of the future with 5G, we cannot afford to adopt a band-aid approach and compromise quality. Ultimately, enterprises and consumers everywhere will be the true beneficiaries of 5G, as technology continues to enrich and improve the way in which we live our lives.
For more information about TMT M&A Forum USA 2019 including tickets, please visit tmtfinance.com/usa or contact enquiries@tmtfinance.com for speaker and sponsor opportunities.
About TMT Finance
TMT Finance was first launched in the UK in 2009 to connect and inform senior executives pursuing opportunities across M&A, investment, financing and advisory globally. Since then, TMT Finance has established 6 weekly news titles with a readership of 22,000, and 10 annual executive events gathering leaders in the US Europe, Asia and Africa.
Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are a bit alike, and that presents a danger to the global order.
The American and Chinese leaders are both impetuous, authoritarian and overconfident nationalists, and each appears to underestimate the other sides capacity to inflict pain. This dangerous symmetry leaves the two sides hurtling toward each other.
The 10 percent tariffs already imposed in the trade war are scheduled to rise to 25 percent in January, but theres also a broader confrontation emerging.
Trump and Xi may well be able to reach a cease-fire in their trade war when they meet for the Group of 20 in two weeks. Even if a deal is reached, though, it may be only a temporary respite that doesnt alter the dynamic of two great nations increasingly on a collision course.
Advertisement
Each side miscalculates by seeing the other as likely to give in. China perceives a wild man in the White House who talks big but who ultimately climbed down off his high horse on trade with Europe. Beijing doesnt seem to realize that Trumps challenge to China arises from core beliefs and reflects a broad disillusionment with China in the United States.
Im an example of that. I studied Chinese and lived for five years in China; my wife and I wrote a largely upbeat book about the countrys prospects called China Wakes. But Xi has damaged Chinas brand just as Trump has damaged Americas, and today its hard to find either Democrats or Republicans eager to speak up for China.
For its part, Washington misjudges as well. It sees Chinas economy as vulnerable and doesnt appreciate that China can wage a trade war with weapons other than tariffs. It can play a nationalism card so that it becomes unpatriotic for Chinese citizens to buy McDonalds burgers, drink Coke or wear Nike shoes. Safety inspections can close American hotels; tax investigations can tie American firms in knots; and customs delays can hold up parts and idle American-owned factories.
Chinese tourism to the U.S. can slow, students can be directed to Australian universities over American ones and rare earth minerals needed by American companies may develop shortages. China can further ease sanctions on North Korea, buy more oil from Iran or become more aggressive in the South China Sea. It can cancel Chinese trademarks owned by Ivanka Trump that might get the presidents attention and it can dump U.S. Treasury bonds.
Trump is right (I cant believe I just wrote those three words!) that China has not played fair. The best response would have been to work with allies to pressure China simultaneously from all sides; instead, Trump antagonized allies so that we are fighting this battle alone.
Why have I and so many others soured on China?
This is larger than Trump and Xi. Chinas admission to the World Trade Organization in 2001 was meant to integrate the country into the global trading system as an increasingly responsible world power. But after moving mostly in the right direction under Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, China stalled under Hu Jintao and has moved backward under Xi.
China has stolen technology and intellectual property even as it has become more aggressive militarily in the South China Sea and curbed freedom at home. Xi offends global values by detaining more than 1 million Muslims in the Xinjiang region, arresting lawyers and Christians, and steadily squeezing out space for free thought. I used to report from China each year but now find the limits on a journalist visa so onerous that its not worthwhile. And Im supposed to be the lao pengyou, or old friend, of China.
There are other grounds for American concern about Chinas irresponsibility that havent received much attention: I estimate that around 20,000 Americans die each year from overdoses of drugs originating from traffickers in China. In particular, two-thirds or more of Americas fentanyl, a synthetic opioid far more lethal than heroin, appears to come from China.
In fairness, China has made some efforts to crack down on the drug trade, but this hasnt been a priority so long as the traffickers mostly export their fentanyl rather than sell it at home. If the Chinese government pursued drug smugglers the way it crushes dissident Christians, labor activists, lawyers or feminists, those drug exports would end.
Americas business executives used to be strong supporters of a pro-China policy, but they, too, have cooled. Hank Paulson, the former Treasury secretary, has long been a vigorous advocate of close ties with China, so I was struck by a sober warning he gave to the Asia Society in New York the other day.
Economic tensions are reaching a breaking point, Paulson cautioned in his speech. He concluded, and I think hes right, that if the U.S. and China dont resolve their problems, the world will face a systemic risk of monumental proportions.
Kristof is on Twitter, @NickKristof.
As Thanksgiving approaches, what am I thankful for? The American judiciary. Judges do not get the credit they deserve as guardians of our democracy. Too often we whether liberals or conservatives are exercised over one decision or another that did not go the way we wanted. I plead guilty myself, having once, many years ago, written a facile book berating judges for various abuses.
There are certainly examples of judicial misconduct that cry out for censure, but on the whole our judiciary is among the most effective, honest and independent in the world. That is something we take for granted. We shouldnt. It is a near-miracle when seen from a historical perspective. How many countries are there in the world where a judge could rule against a president and have his ruling so widely respected that it does not even occur to anyone that the president could disobey it?
Those thoughts are prompted by Fridays ruling by federal district Judge Timothy J. Kelly in the case of CNN v. Trump. CNN (where, full disclosure, Im a global affairs analyst) had sued the president for revoking the hard pass granting access to the White House grounds to its correspondent Jim Acosta. Trump had gotten furious at Acosta for posing challenging questions in a White House press conference, and this was his punishment. The White House even released a doctored videotape to suggest that Acosta had assaulted an intern who had tried to take his microphone away.
Both actions punishing a reporter for asking tough questions and justifying that action with a lie are hallmarks of an authoritarian regime. Trump bears a close resemblance in personality to countless dictators throughout history, from Mussolini to Putin. Like them, he construes critical news coverage as treason by the enemy of the people. And if this were 1930s Italy or contemporary Russia, Acosta would not be on the job in the White House. He might not even be alive. But this is America, and we remain a nation of laws.
Advertisement
Thus Kelly issued a temporary restraining order forcing the White House to give Acosta back his hard pass. Kelly held that CNN stood a good chance of ultimately prevailing in its claim that the White House had violated Acostas due-process rights under the Fifth Amendment. The ruling was all the more impressive given that Kelly was appointed to the bench by Trump himself.
Kellys example of upholding the rule of law against the most lawless administration in our history has been widely emulated. Think of all the judges, Republican and Democratic appointees alike, who stopped the implementation of Trumps Muslim ban early in 2017. Yes, Trumps travel order was ultimately approved, 5 to 4, by a closely divided Supreme Court. The courts decision in Trump v. Hawaii was not its proudest hour, but at least the ban had been revised twice since its issuance to make its religious discrimination marginally less offensive. (North Korea and Venezuela had been added as window-dressing to the list of majority-Muslim nations targeted.)
The administration has lost many other cases that have never reached the high court. Lower-court judges, for example, have stopped Trumps attempts to end legal protections for dreamers who were brought to this country illegally when they were young. They have ended the administrations policy of family separation, forcing the release of children who had been detained apart from their families after entering the United States illegally. They have repeatedly supported special counsel Robert Muellers authority to pursue his probe of the president and his aides, most recently upholding his indictment of a Russian troll farm. They have ruled against the Justice Departments attempts to dismiss a case brought by Democrats charging Trump with violating the Constitutions emoluments clause by accepting payments from foreign governments that book his hotel rooms. And they have struck down the administrations attempts to change federal rules to make it easier to fire federal workers.
Of course, we are not in the clear yet. The most momentous cases of all could pit Mueller against Trump if the president challenges the special counsels actions or tries to shut down his investigation. There is certainly cause for concern that a politicized Supreme Court may again rule for the administration, as it did in the travel ban case. But on the whole, the judiciary has acquitted itself admirably. This is how the checks and balances of the Constitution are supposed to operate.
So, thank you, to the men and women in black, for protecting our republic. Help yourself to an extra slice of pie on Thursday, Your Honor. Youve earned it.
The people who didnt want television networks to cede a prime-time hour last night or, as it turned out, a prime-time 10 minutes to the president of the United States were implicitly giving Donald Trump a credit that he does not deserve. There is a kind of silver-tongued orator who can persuade in any situation, who like Caesars Mark Antony can find a crowd leaning one way and leave them stirred up for the opposite cause, who is legitimately dangerous when given a rostrum or a soapbox or a prime-time speech. But that is not our president: His rhetoric is a bludgeon, and what we saw last night was just an attempt to club his enemies and critics with the same arguments he has made a thousand times before.
In fairness to Trump, the immigration bludgeon was effective once for two reasons that played out in surprising ways across the 2016 campaign. First, Trump-the-candidates dire warnings about criminals and terrorists crossing the southern border dovetailed with two 2016-specific trends the spike in violent crime after decades of decline, and the rash of Islamic State-inspired attacks on both sides of the Atlantic.
Second, the extremity of his rhetoric persuaded skeptics of mass immigration, long burned by politicians of both parties, that Trump would not betray them. In a political landscape where every year seemed to bring a new bipartisan push for amnesties and immigration increases, his xenophobic style was an effective political marker for anyone with inchoate anxieties about immigration. You did not have to literally believe that he would build the wall and make Mexico pay for it to regard that wild promise as evidence that he would be more genuinely restrictionist and hawkish on the issue than politicians merely paying lip service to border security.
But the problem for Trump is that presidents have to deal with changing circumstances and cope with unexpected crises, not just fulminate in the same style regardless of the context. And the world of 2019 looks different than the world in which he campaigned.
Advertisement
The crime rate did not keep rising, the pace of terror attacks has not quickened, and fate has given him an immigration crisis that is substantially different than the crisis of murderers and terror plotters that he invoked in his campaign rhetoric a humanitarian crisis, a crisis of families and children, in which the problem is not the people that we cant catch crossing the borders but the people who surrender willingly, hoping to exploit our overstrained asylum system and disappear with their kids into the American interior.
A more supple strategist and orator than our president might have been able to adapt his tough-guy proposals to this complicated new reality, and in the process to exploit the Democrats core vulnerability their difficulty figuring out exactly what kind of deportation policies, if any, their base will allow them to support.
Such an adaptation would have involved making two arguments in parallel.
First, Trump could have argued that 15 years of increased spending on border security walls and fencing and other barriers very much included has played a big role in reducing the old kind of illegal immigration, in which single young men cross the border looking for work. My proposed wall, really an expansion of steel fencing, would build on this success, he could have said, and build on policies that Democrats once voted for, in order to make sure the old rates of illegal immigration dont come back.
Then, second, he could have explained the new challenge of family migration, admitted to mistakes (I know, imagine that) in the child separation policy of 2018, and emphasized that he is asking for more money and various legal and administrative changes to ensure that inhumane conditions can be improved, that families can be kept together, that the system can adjudicate, process and deport without last years performative cruelty. He could have even talked about the attempts at deal making with Mexico, the attempt at a bilateral arrangement that our southern neighbor would keep migrants on its territory while they applied for asylum on ours.
If you parsed Tuesday nights 10 minutes of presidential words carefully enough you could find fragments of these arguments but only fragments, shored around an argumentative edifice that was just the same old 2016-vintage Trumpian warnings about how (to quote Voxs Dara Lind) immigrants are coming across the border to kill you.
And this IACATBTKY argument just does not match up with the news that most Americans consume. There is no rising immigrant crime wave at the moment, no wave of terror attacks by border jumpers, the immigrant caravan did not end in bloodshed, and the dominant images from the current border crisis are pictures of exhausted parents and frightened, incomprehending kids.
So what we heard from the president was a play to people deep in the Trumpian bubble, a pledge to his electoral rump that he is still fighting the fights he promised two years ago even if the facts on the ground require a somewhat different strategy.
Where the rest of the country was concerned, including many voters a more effective president would be trying to win over or win back, it was almost certainly just a waste of breath.
Douthat is on Twitter, @DouthatNYT.
Brett Kavanaugh must have been smiling as the returns came in on Election Day, because it is now clear that the Democrats campaign to destroy him will go down as a massive blunder. It failed to keep Kavanaugh off the court. It cost Democrats their chance to regain control of the Senate. And it gave Republicans an expanded Senate majority that will allow them to confirm an even more conservative justice next time around.
Today, Kavanaugh sits on the Supreme Court hearing cases. Meanwhile, Democratic Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Donnelly of Indianapolis and Claire McCaskill of Missouri are packing up their Senate offices thrown out by voters furious over their partys brutal campaign of character assassination against Kavanaugh. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only Democrat who voted for Kavanaugh, and he survived but just barely. Two weeks before Election Day, Manchin was leading by double digits, but on Tuesday night he won by just over 3 points. Had he voted against Kavanaughs confirmation, he would likely have been toast as well.
The Democrats smear campaign also cost them the chance to pick up GOP seats. In Tennessee, Rep. Marsha Blackburn was trailing former Democratic governor Phil Bredesen by 5 points in a CNN poll before the Kavanaugh hearings. She ended up winning by just under 11 points, as the Democrats mistreatment of Kavanaugh united Tennessee Republicans behind her. The Kavanaugh smear no doubt also played a role in energizing GOP voters in Arizona, where Republican Rep. Martha McSally is in a tight race against Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, and in Texas, where Sen. Ted Cruz defeated Rep. Beto ORourke by just 2.6 points in one of the reddest states in the union.
None of that might have been possible had it not been for the Democrats horrific treatment of Kavanaugh. As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put it, the failed effort to stop Kavanaugh was like an adrenaline shot for the GOP base. Republican voters were outraged to see a good man accused, without a shred of corroboration, of sexually assaulting a teenage girl, exposing himself to a college classmate and participating in gang rapes in high school. They were disgusted by Senate Democrats insistence that the burden was on Kavanaugh to prove he didnt do it and by Democrats blatant disregard for the presumption of innocence. They were energized by Kavanaughs willingness to fight back and declare his treatment by Democrats a national disgrace. And they punished the perpetrators of that disgrace at the polls on Tuesday.
Advertisement
Now Republicans have not only an expanded Senate majority but also a pro-life majority. Reports indicated that Trump was close to nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a devout Catholic and mother of seven, to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. Barrett became a folk hero among religious conservatives after Californias Diane Feinstein, ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, grilled her over her Catholic faith during her confirmation hearings as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit last year. The dogma lives loudly within you, Feinstein told Barrett, suggesting that her faith disqualified her.
That outraged conservatives, who rightly castigated Feinstein for applying an unconstitutional religious test on Trumps nominee. As Harvard Law School professor Noah Feldman explained, Feinstein insinuated an anti-Catholic stereotype that goes back at least 150 years in the U.S. that Catholics are unable to separate church and state because they place their religious allegiances before their oath to the Constitution.
Barrett was confirmed for the Circuit Court. But when it came to the Supreme Court, Trump calculated that with a razor thin-GOP majority he needed what was supposed to be a safer pick and went with Kavanaugh instead. Now, with an expanded, pro-life Senate majority, Trump no longer has to worry about losing a few GOP votes next time around.
At every stage of recent Supreme Court fights, Democrats have miscalculated. Their mindless decision to filibuster Neil Gorsuch paved the way for Senate Republicans to get rid of the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees which made it possible to confirm Kavanaugh by simple majority. And if Barrett ever makes it onto the Supreme Court, Democrats can thank their horrific, defamatory treatment Kavanaugh.
The lesson for Democrats should be clear: Character assassination does not pay. Quite the opposite, it backfired big-time.
Thiessen is on Twitter, @marcthiessen.
Fifty years ago, the American media was so concentrated and had such credibility that a single respected journalists change of opinion about the wisdom of the U.S. war in Vietnam became a pivotal moment in our history. After years of being assured by the Johnson administration that the war was going well, CBS Evening News anchorman Walter Cronkite went to the front lines in February 1968 to see for himself.
When he came back, CBS News aired Cronkites report in prime time on Feb. 27, 1968. That night, Cronkite reviewed North Vietnams recently launched Tet Offensive, and then closed the program with a dramatic statement that stunned President Lyndon Johnson and millions of Americans.
[I]t seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate. ... [I]t is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could.
This is Walter Cronkite. Good night.
Advertisement
Fifty years later, no single journalist has remotely as much gravitas. Its not just that there are many media options and thus less likelihood that a single individual could have such clout. Theres also been a sharp increase in public skepticism about the media. A Monmouth College poll published in April found that 89 percent of Republicans believed President Donald Trumps claim that the media often spread fake news. The poll also found that 82 percent of independents, 61 percent of Democrats and 77 percent of Americans overall believed that the media knowingly spread misinformation.
This view seems extreme and exaggerated. But as a media junkie with dim views of both parties, I think this perception is more valid than it used to be. The conservative bias of many Fox News personalities and the entire Breitbart News operation is obvious. But as The New York Times first public editor wrote back in 2004, so is the Times liberal bias, at least on social and cultural issues.
As for CNN, the network that Ive watched every day for decades still seems fine when its weightiest hosts are on. But it makes me wince now more than ever. Last week, even as many huge and consequential stores were unfolding, CNN repeatedly played up a marginal story of no importance the inflammatory comments made online years ago by the right-wing wife of a newly appointed White House official. A basic question: Why?
At this point, I dont know how any of these news outlets can satisfy their critics. But I do think there is a niche waiting to be filled: America needs new media organizations with no baggage that are open about their general ideological orientation yet have no patience for the stupidity coming from those on their side.
On the left, we could see the 25 Network with the 25 standing for a percentile on an ideological scale in which 0 reflected deep liberalism and 100 deep conservatism. The 25 would be open about its belief in helping the poor with a social safety net and the need for government to address societal needs. Its doppelganger on the right would be the 75 Network, which would be open about its belief in free-market economics and its dim view of government efficiency.
Here are two examples of huge public issues where the value of having such networks speak truth to power would be plain.
The first is public education: For decades, teachers unions and their allies have helped thwart the education reform movement with wild claims that it is being motivated not by a desire to improve schools but by a desire to destroy public education. New York University professor Diane Ravitch, a high-profile education scholar, offered her version of this conspiracy theory in 2014 in the Huffington Post:
The so-called reformers have honed their PR message well. They couldnt very well go to the public and say with the help of some Wall Street billionaires and foundations run by billionaires, we have come to demolish your communitys schools and hand them over to corporations. That wouldnt play well. So they sold their goals as reform, even as they used the power of the federal government through No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top to close community public schools, to demean the teaching profession ... .
Yes, Ravitch says Barack Obama sponsor of Race to the Top is part of this conspiracy. The 25 Network would dispassionately annihilate this claptrap.
The second issue is taxes: Shibboleths about lower taxes leading to higher revenues are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to smokescreens from the right. The 75 Network wouldnt just point out there is much more evidence against the Laffer curve than there is for it. The 75 would note the unfairness and absurdity of having a tax code that is such a labyrinth that the amount of taxes that some individuals and companies pay is a function of the skill of their tax attorneys. Its principled for conservatives to believe in low tax rates. But its nihilism to believe that taxes are so evil that the wealthy shouldnt have to pay them.
Yet in the 18 years since Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers identified corporate tax evasion especially the use of bogus tax shelters as a huge problem, no Republicans have seemed to care. But the principled 75 Network would. While backing low tax rates, it would have no patience for tax scams.
The utility of having such partisan media self-policing is especially plain when it comes to confronting the stark hypocrisy both parties show on questions involving the legal system.
By demanding that there be weak to nonexistent protections for those accused of sexual misconduct on campus, the left shows it doesnt care about due process for college students. By calling for U.S. authorities to ignore clearly written federal laws including the Constitution when it comes to how asylum seekers are treated, the right shows it doesnt care about due process for foreigners who come to America. This cynicism needs to be confronted.
And having the 25 and 75 Networks would be invaluable when it comes to partisan claims about science. For years, Democrats have claimed to be the party of science because of Republican skepticism about the overwhelming evidence that the planet is warming because of increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. But many liberals are similarly anti-science when questioning the safety of genetically modified foods.
Such hypocritical inconsistency is corrosive, as Jonathan Bethune pointed out last year in an essay for The Federalist:
An ideologue is at least consistent in his belief in specific policies. A partisan openly supports his gang above all else. But a partisan ideologue is worse than both. He is a Machiavellian creature: a supporter of ends justify the means approaches to pushing an agenda. The gang must be defended that the agenda might be defended, even when the gang violates core tenets of the agenda. Partisan ideologues are dishonest by nature. Worse still, they often cannot even tell when they are being dishonest.
Calling out and marginalizing such partisan ideologues is one key to a healthy democracy and no one would be more credible at this job than openly partisan networks that demanded the truth from their own side.
The end effect might not be what one would expect. More than 40 percent of Americans are political independents. They just might be inclined to become Democrats or Republicans if they encountered more Democrats and Republicans who were brutally honest about their parties shortcomings.
Reed is deputy editor of the editorial and opinion section. Twitter: @chrisreed99. Email: chris.reed@sduniontribune.com. Column archive: sdut.us/chrisreed. Favorite conspiracy theory: sdut.us/nypdinsidertrading.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Then-Mayor Jerry Sanders really threw himself into the campaign for Proposition B in 2012, a citizens initiative that overhauled San Diegos public employee pension system by substituting 401(k)-style plans for defined benefit pensions. Now his campaigning has thrown San Diego into turmoil.
Mincing no words in a long-awaited ruling, the California Supreme Court said Thursday that Sanders violated a state law called the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act by not negotiating with city labor unions before he pursued pension reform as a matter of policy while acting as the citys chief executive officer. Sanders had argued he did so as a private citizen, but the court laid out a thorough case for why he actually did not. How utterly embarrassing.
Fortunately, the ruling didnt invalidate San Diegos crucial pension reforms, and clearly limited the impact Sanders violation could have on other initiatives in which elected officials are involved statewide. But the court sent the case back to an appellate court for judicial remedy, raising huge questions about whether the reforms approved by two out of three San Diego voters in 2012 and unique in the state would survive and how much $20 million? $100 million? the city might have to cough up to remedy the violation. No one knows.
Unfortunately, there has been no analysis of what it might cost if an estimated 4,000 city workers hired without pensions since July 2012 get retroactive pensions and potential interest and penalty payments, or of how the city might unwind even part of the new retirement plan. City officials need to order that fiscal study without delay to know their risks.
Advertisement
Current Mayor Kevin Faulconer has his work cut out for him. One likely scenario is that city officials and union leaders may have to negotiate pay and benefits anew in coming months, although the court will dictate any remedys timing. Faulconer and his staff need to undertake any negotiations honestly with unions but also fairly for taxpayers. Like cities across California, San Diego is staring at a pension tsunami that threatens to erode public services as benefits eat up more and more money.
The high courts ruling leaves not only great uncertainty but also great stains on the legacies of the public officials involved in San Diegos 2012 campaign, only starting with Sanders and then-City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, who advanced the legal strategy that negotiations werent necessary. Then-councilmen Faulconer and Carl DeMaio also deserve criticism for going along with this strategy. Any could have urged city leaders to hold the negotiations that unions repeatedly said were needed.
Youll hear the argument now that such negotiations would have taken too long and could have forced the city into a watered-down plan. Baloney. City politicians could have taken a page out of their own playbook when in 2006 they forged ahead with a managed competition ballot measure over union objections after negotiations that lasted only weeks.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board is as loud a voice for pension reform as there is in California. We have championed it for years, and articulated why its so essential: government at every level has overpromised the pension benefits it can reliably provide its unions without having to reduce services like parks, libraries and public safety. The pension tsunami is here already, with lavish defined benefits for retirees who are living longer and longer.
We wanted this ruling to go the citys way and had found hope in the argument pension reform proponents made that Sanders campaigned as a citizen, not as mayor. But now that the court has eviscerated that argument, its clear that it was destined for failure from the get-go. Sadly, thats the only thing thats clear about city worker pensions now.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Its a given that the health of Americas children should be promoted and protected by any reasonable means. No, this is not an editorial about guns and school safety, an issue that after Fridays deadly shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, is again roiling the nation and putting a spotlight on do-nothing politicians. This editorial is about school start times and officials who are actually doing something to help.
Its now been a quarter-century since research firmly established how early school start times are awful for adolescents and teens. A 2014 American Academy of Pediatrics study found that big majorities of middle and high school students didnt get the 8.5 to 9.5 hours recommended by health experts and were more likely as a result to be depressed, overweight and struggling in school, and to get into automobile accidents. This is why the worlds leading sleep expert, Stanfords William C. Dement, says many students are walking zombies trying to cope with the stresses of school, work and social activities that may literally be putting their lives in peril.
This backdrop is why the San Diego Unified School District deserves high praise for taking steps to have all its schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. by 2020, as reported by NBC 7 San Diego. This will be an imposition for some teachers and other district employees and for many parents. But if employers care about their community, they should show as much flexibility as they can in dealing with those who have to start work later as a result.
Before the Legislature rejected a bill last year requiring middle and high schools statewide to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m., one lawmaker mocked the bills one-size-fits-all approach as kind of ridiculous. To San Diego school administrators credit, each school will study when theyll start and howll theyll transition to the new start time over the next two years. If the state wont lead, let city schools.
Advertisement
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Congratulations to clever Steve Lake for winning the top spot! He will receive Steve Breens signed original in the mail. Thanks to all those who participated. Ho! Ho! Ho!
Next weeks cartoon is below. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. Good luck!
Winner
No, you cant invoke the Santa clause. Steve Lake, Carlsbad
Finalists
Dont get cute with me! Craig Claytor, Rancho Penasquitos
Advertisement
Enough of your small talk. William McClusky, Oceanside
You were misinformed ... there is no good cop, just a bad cop and another bad cop. Gene Basye, San Diego
One more time ... who do you work for? Gloriane Hartdegen, online submission
How much contact did you have with Russia while making the nesting dolls? Karen Farrington, Alpine
So you want us to believe it was elf defense? Ruben Escobosa, San Diego
Spill it. Wheres the Grinch? Al Tarkington, Del Mar
I demand to know the location of the Keebler place. Corey Donahue, Oceanside
Give us the naughty list or youll be making license plates instead of toys. Louis Lin, San Diego
We got you for petite larceny. David Narevsky, Poway
Well decide whos naughty or nice around here, OK? Rob Cohen, San Diego
We hear you were involved in a sleighing. Joseph Puzo, San Diego
So who was driving when grandma got run over? Andy Attwood, Kensington
K-12
Looks like were going to do this nice cop, naughty cop style. Adam Brown, eighth grade, Correia Middle School
Tell us the location of individual-1. Wyatt Evans, seventh grade, Correia Middle School
All right, spill the cookies. Emma Mefford, fourth grade, The Rock Academy
I dont care if your criminal past stems from a long history of low elf- esteem.Jacob Mationg, 11th grade, Olympian High School
Next weeks cartoon
(Steve Breen)
To enter, email entries to cartooncontest@sduniontribune.com by 10 a.m. Tuesday. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. View last weeks winners.
Launched by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in San Diego County in 1996, Stone Brewing is a giant in the world of craft beer, beloved for its IPA, Ruination and Arrogant Bastard, among other labels on a long list of acclaimed beers. No wonder BeerAdvocate, a popular website and magazine, has twice called Stone the all-time top brewery on planet Earth.
Launched in 1989 by Coors Brewing, Keystone Light is a bland version of Coors Light, which was already pretty bland. Now brewed by the MillerCoors corporate behemoth, it is beloved by people who want to spend as little as possible on their beer. On a scale of 1.0 to 5.0, more than 2,000 BeerAdvocate aficionados gave it an average score of 1.81, which the website classifies, simply, as awful. One of the kinder reviews calls it completely inoffensive.
Considering these facts, of course Stone Brewing is right to sue MillerCoors over its attempt to rebrand Keystone Light as STONE (really big letters) and LIGHT (much smaller letters). Given that Koch believes what he calls Big Beer is a force for evil that wants to homogenize and cheapen beer to maximize profits, standing up to MillerCoors is a bigger fight than just one to protect his company.
Cheers to Koch. If any San Diego craft-beer fans hold celebrations after MillerCoors loses, everyone should feel free to bring Keystone Light to these parties. There may be plants that need watering.
Advertisement
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Last week will go down as one of the most awful in recent American history because of the murders of 11 Jewish worshipers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh and of two African-American shoppers at a grocery store in Kentucky and the pipe bombs mailed to at least 14 prominent Democrats and national security figures perceived by the CNN sucks crowd to be constant critics of President Donald Trump. These heinous acts created a sense of a violent nation spinning out of control. With each crime, the suspects hate-filled views came into sharper, shocking focus.
Yes, as White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday, its wrong to hold the president responsible for the acts of deranged individuals. But it is not wrong to hold the nations leader responsible for setting a terrible example with his constant attempts to divide Americans. Instead of trying to act as a unifying force, he gleefully governs by ostracizing entire groups. Even after the unspeakable synagogue murders, Trumps disavowal was overshadowed by more vituperative rhetoric. His Monday tweets denouncing the media as the true enemy of the people were unfathomable given the hate crimes preceding them.
This is not an excuse for the displays of gross incivility on the left. Broad condemnations of the tens of millions of people who voted for Trump and harassment of conservatives based on binary political boundaries isnt close to killing, but its close-minded and intolerable, too. Still, the half-hearted way Trump condemns evil is uniquely corrosive. What he loves above all else is belittling his critics. That should be beneath the office of the presidency.
Unfortunately, there is fresh evidence that Trump is a symptom not the cause of powerful forces creating upheaval around the world. The global wave of populist nationalism that led to Trumps election in 2016 also led to Great Britains vote to leave the European Union and to the rise of authoritarian regimes in Turkey and Hungary. On Sunday, Brazil elected as its president Jair Bolsonaro. Labeled the Trump of the Tropics by the media, he openly espouses political violence to create a Christian nationalist state. If a minority is against it, then move! he said last year. Minorities must fit in or simply disappear! Disappear?
Advertisement
Then on Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel seen by many as the moral leader of what might be called the old world order announced she would not seek another term in office. This was widely seen as Merkels acknowledgment of her fading popularity and her struggles to run a coalition government amid a strong backlash to her welcoming hundreds of thousands of refugees.
Tribalism? Racism? A biologically hard-wired fear of the other? However labeled, it is increasingly clear that in many developed nations, there are many who prefer homogeneity to diversity who see new arrivals as subtracting from, not adding to, a nations social and economic capital and whose hostility is increasingly open.
Whats also clear is that a nation extolled as an example of a healthy democracy must regain its way. Heres an idea: Far from the fringes, there is still room for common understanding. This can start by talking to a neighbor or following someone on Twitter with whom you disagree. It can continue with avoiding inflammatory language when discussing issues of the day and with bipartisan support for the least toxic politicians like Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, and Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska.
Developing empathy for people with different views may be difficult in an era in which technology makes it easy to live in an echo chamber. But putting hatred and mutual loathing in their place is a start. A cancer is eating our country. Dont let it.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Washington, DC, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case seeks to overturn the federal ban on bump stocks and to halt its enforcement. NCLA contends that only Congress, not an administrative agency like the ATF, can write criminal laws such as the ban on
bump stocks.
NCLA represents Austin, Texas resident and gun enthusiast Michael Cargill. Mr. Cargill surrendered two bump stocks this afternoon at the Austin ATF Field Office in accordance with the ban. Whether bump stocks should be outlawed is a question that Congress must address. Only Congress and not an administrative agencyhas the power to ban these devices. NCLA believes the ATF did not act lawfully in issuing the ban.
On March 21, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit issued a temporary stay of the bump stock ban that applies to another NCLA client, W. Clark Aposhian, a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah, who has challenged the ban in federal court. The stay prevents the enforcement of the bump stock ban against Mr. Aposhian while the court consideres his Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction Pending Appeal.
Administrative agencies may not rewrite a law that Congress passed. Yet that is what the ATF and DOJ have done with the bump stock rule. The ban perverts the rule of law and upends our constitutional system.Steve Simpson, NCLA Senior Litigation Counsel
Two different federal Courts of Appeals have ordered the ATF to halt its bump stock rule against legal challengers. Today, rather than abide by an order the ATF had no right to issue, Mr. Cargill will be joining those efforts to resist this unlawful rule. Caleb Kruckenberg, NCLA Litigation Counsel
ABOUT NCLA
NCLA is a nonprofit civil rights organization founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the administrative state. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unchecked power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights. For more information visit us online: NCLAlegal.org.
Attachment
When it comes to the University of California, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board for years has groused about management problems, transparency, interference with a legislative audit, dubious admissions practices and more. But when UC President Janet Napolitano and campus leaders get something right, they deserve praise as well.
Thats certainly the case with the announcement Wednesday that UC branches had offered admission to a record number of transfer students this fall about 28,750 applicants. More than 85 percent of these accepted applicants are from California, with nearly all from community colleges, university officials said. The makeup of those offered transfer admission is deeply diverse, with 32 percent or nearly one in three being Latino. With new UC admission transfer pathways pending for new community college students in fall 2019, these numbers appear likely to keep improving.
This fits well with the vision for the California Community College (CCC) system that Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley outlined in a winter interview with the Union-Tribune Editorial Board. Oakley spoke of the importance of having UC, CCC and the California State University systems work together as seamlessly as possible to help students achieve their educational goals without unnecessary delays.
There is, of course, plenty of room for improvement. But whats happened in recent years suggests a level of shared goals and cooperation between the three huge college systems that bodes well for students and taxpayers alike.
Advertisement
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Law enforcement officers have inherently difficult jobs that can involve split-second, life-or-death decisions. When these decisions go badly or seem wrong in retrospect, police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, judges, politicians and the public are often inclined to give officers the benefit of the doubt. But officers should never be above the law, especially when suspects are roughed up without provocation.
Which brings us to sheriff Deputies Nicholas Morgan and Joshua Nahan. On May 7, they were caught on video making what appear to be unprovoked attacks on a man and his son in Vista. On Tuesday, to the surprise of police reform advocates, the county District Attorneys Office announced that Morgan would be charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault without lawful necessity by an officer and Nahan with one count of the same offense. The last time a peace officer in San Diego County was charged with mistreating a suspect or someone in custody was more than a decade ago.
Law enforcement officers hold a position of trust in our community and are required to abide by the rules in the exercise of their powers, District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement. The evidence on which the charges are based shows the force used by the two deputies exceeded the legal line, violating that public trust.
In an April interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board, Stephan vowed to always do the right thing, no matter what when asked about misconduct by law enforcement officers. In the Vista case, she upheld her campaign promise.
Advertisement
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
There are few beliefs more universally held in America than the view that voting is a noble, unselfish act that leads to a healthier democracy. University of Kentucky law professor Joshua A. Douglas spoke for millions in 2013 when he wrote that ...
Voting is the foundational concept for our entire democratic structure. ... When a group of citizens collectively elects its representatives, it affirms the notion that we govern ourselves by free choice. An individuals right to vote ties that person to our social order ... . Participation is more than just a value. It is a foundational virtue of our democracy.
More grating versions of this assertion are also common. In 2016, the editorial board of the St. Augustine Record, a Florida newspaper, blasted the 170,000 local residents who had registered for the state primary but then failed to vote, grousing that they were ...
... content to let the minority make the decisions that directly affect your livelihood, quality of life and the education of your children. But it does seem like we fought a war 240 years ago to end just that kind of tyranny. The really sad thing is, today our brand of voter tyranny is so utterly self-inflicted.
Advertisement
This sort of thinking is why politicians, celebrities, teachers and everyone else under the sun constantly exhort Americans to register and then to actually vote. The assumption is the higher the participation in voting, the better the quality of the results.
This view is a why a longtime staple of the nations opinion pages has been the essay calling for voting to be mandatory, as it is in 22 nations with a collective population of more than 700 million people. The argument goes that since mandatory voting requires all adults to be invested in a nations politics, the actual practice makes governments more likely to respond to the most broadly held concerns. This broadening of decision-making, according to the theory, makes it harder for those on the extremes to gain power.
In Tuesdays The San Diego Union-Tribune, a letter writer made this exact point:
If you dont want mass shootings and hate crimes to become even more frequent than they are now, you cant sit back and let a small fraction of eligible voters make the choices that impact all of us.
You need to vote. Our lives really do depend on it.
Now I absolutely get why many people think this way. In such a polarized era, those with even moderately partisan views really, really want their side in power and the other side routed. The general idea that more participation makes for better participation has some grounding in hard evidence. In his 2004 book The Wisdom of Crowds, renowned business journalist James Surowiecki offers example after example of his thesis that the many are smarter than the few while writing:
We think smart people are easy to recognize and identify. As a result, we assume that the key to solving problems or making good decisions is finding that one right person who will have the answer.
Success in business or in government, we imagine, is not a matter of building a collectively intelligent organization, but a matter of finding a few right people and stepping aside to let them make the tough decisions.
Yet all the evidence suggests that none of these assumptions is true. If you want the best answers possible, you shouldnt chase the expert. You should ask the crowd.
But any specific claim that the higher the percentage of voter turnout, the better the results are, has a problem: There is zero proof it is true. Many of the nations that require everyone to vote not only do not have good records of governance; sometimes their voters make terrible choices. The histories of Argentina and Brazil two nations which have long squandered their enormous natural resources bear this out. And there is little correlation between the quality of U.S. presidents and the percentage of voter turnout. In the last 50 years, the highest percentage turnout was in 1968, when Richard Nixon was elected. We all know how that turned out. The lowest percentage was in 1996, when Bill Clinton was re-elected. However you feel about Clinton now, the peace, prosperity and budget surpluses of his second term look great in retrospect.
So why doesnt Surowieckis theory about the wisdom of crowds apply to turnout? Because his examples often involve situations where large groups of people guess from a range of results how much does a cow weigh, where a missing submarine might be, etc. Voters have far fewer choices involving far more variables than a single number or geographic location. And social scientists have documented that the thought process by which most voters make their decisions is haphazard and chaotic.
In their 2016 book, Democracy for Realists, social scientists Christopher H. Achen and Larry M. Bartels assail the romantic myths surrounding voting. This is Voxs short version of their thesis:
Voters dont have anything like coherent preferences. Most people pay little attention to politics; when they vote, if they vote at all, they do so irrationally and for contradictory reasons.
The book lays waste to a reassuring theory about democracy that goes something like this: Ordinary citizens have preferences about what the government ought to do; they elect leaders who will carry out those preferences and vote against those who will not; in the end, were left with a government that more or less serves the majority.
Even voters who pay close attention to politics are prone in fact, more prone to biased or blinkered decision-making. The reason is simple: Most people make political decisions on the basis of social identities and partisan loyalties, not an honest examination of reality.
The Myth of the Rational Voter published in 2007 by iconoclastic George Mason University economics professor Bryan Caplan similarly cites reams of hard evidence to demolish the idea that voters are wise and well-informed. In it, Caplan takes dead aim at the Surowiecki claim that the ignorance of crowds balances out and doesnt take away from the wisdom of crowds at least when it comes to voting. In a summary of his book published in The Washington Post, Caplan wrote ...
Sure, the average voter knows little about politics, economics and policy. But for every voter who overestimates the benefits of tariffs, carbon taxes and the Iraq war, doesnt another make the opposite mistake?
Actually, no. Voters are frequently wrong in the same way. This is particularly clear in economics. If youve never studied economics, youre not equally likely to oversell or downplay the benefits of free trade. Instead, people who know nothing about economics are staunch protectionists, and people who know a lot of economics are avid free-traders.
The fact that voters errors fail to cancel out seems strange. Why would people have strong opinions about a subject theyve never studied? The simple answer is that a lot of voters are irrational, and it shows. In politics and economics, people believe what makes them feel good, even if the evidence is against them.
So is low voter turnout a form of tyranny, as the St. Augustine Record and lots of other folks believe? Or is it a nothing burger neither bad nor good? The propagandists who exalt voting will no doubt never stop insisting its the former. But the facts say the latter.
So vote Tuesday or dont. Its no big deal. Believe what makes you feel good.
Reed, who believes in the Chicago theory of voting early and often, is deputy editor of the editorial and opinion section. Twitter: @chrisreed99. Email: chris.reed@sduniontribune.com. Column archive: sdut.us/chrisreed.
Twitter: @sdutIdeas
Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Robert Mueller, the special counsel appointed to investigate Russias meddling in the 2016 U.S. political election and evaluate whether there was coordination with the Trump campaign, has been at the task for nearly two years.
He was appointed in May 2017 after President Donald Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey, which became part of the scope of Muellers investigation.
So who is Mueller and why was he appointed, anyway? If you havent been paying close attention all along, here are some basic things to know about Mueller and his investigation now that his report has been submitted.
Briefly, who is Mueller?
Robert Swan Mueller, III, was born in New York City and grew up outside Philadelphia, per his FBI biography. After graduating from Princeton University with a degree in politics in 1966 and earning a masters degree in international relations at New York University, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and briefly served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969.
After his military service, he earned his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School in 1973 and then worked as a litigator for the San Francisco-based law firm Pillsbury, Maidson and Sutro.
What makes him qualified for this job?
Mueller accomplished a lot before taking the lead of this high-stakes investigation.
On top of his education and military service, Mueller spent 12 years working in U.S. attorneys offices in San Francisco and in Boston, where he became an assistant U.S. attorney in 1982. There, he prosecuted cases involving financial fraud, terrorism, public corruption and international money laundering.
He worked in private practice on and off in the late 1980s and early 1990s before becoming U.S. attorney in San Francisco in 1998. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed him to be the FBI director.
After 10 years as director, President Barack Obama and Congress approved an extension to keep Mueller as director until 2013 when James Comey was selected as the next director.
What was the reaction when he was appointed in May 2017?
Muellers 2017 appointment to special counsel was welcomed by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Even former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Trump supporter, praised Muellers appointment, calling him a great selection with impeccable credentials who should be widely accepted.
After Comey was fired, lawmakers raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation and whether there had been any attempts to obstruct justice. Against that backdrop, Muellers appointment was seen as restoring some confidence to the investigation, in the words of Democrats like Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York.
Muellers political independence has been lauded publicly going back to when he was nominated as FBI Director in 2001. While Mueller is a registered Republican, people close to him have described him as apolitical. Mueller served as FBI director under a Republican president, Bush, and a Democratic one, Obama. He was confirmed unanimously by the Senate in 2001 and in 2013 when Obama extended his tenure.
Whats been the reaction to Mueller since?
There is no bigger critic of Muellers investigation than Trump. In a number of tweets, Trump has called Mueller a highly conflicted partisan, and he has called the Mueller probe a witch hunt.
While Trump and his supporters have vilified Mueller, other Americans have lauded Mueller.
Ty Cobb, formerly the White House counsel for Trump, called Mueller an American hero and said he disagrees with Trump that the investigation is a politically motivated hoax.
The debate over Mueller predated his report, and will no doubt will continue well past the release of it.
Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @RunGomez
Listen to The Conversation on Soundcloud or wherever you get your podcasts.
Matthew T. Hall is the editorial and opinion director at The San Diego Union-Tribune, where he has worked since 2001. He manages the Ideas and Opinion section, writing and editing editorials, and overseeing editorial cartoons, commentaries, letters to the editor, a daily podcast called San Diego News Fix and a weekly podcast called Name Drop San Diego. Previously, he managed the newsrooms social media, was a metro columnist and worked as a reporter covering San Diego politics and east and north San Diego County. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and past president of the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He is currently SPJs national president.
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.
English Finnish
Suomen Hoivatilat Plc
Stock exchange release, 26 March 2019 6:15 pm EET
Decisions of the Annual General Meeting and resolutions made by the constitutive meeting of Board of Directors of Suomen Hoivatilat Plc
The Annual General Meeting of Suomen Hoivatilat Plc ("Hoivatilat" or the "Company") was held today in Helsinki, Finland. The Annual General Meeting confirmed the financial statements for 2018, and discharged the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from liability for the financial year 2018.
Dividend payment
As proposed by the Board of Directors, the Annual General Meeting decided to pay a dividend of EUR 0,17 per share for the financial year that ended on 31 December 2019. The dividend will be paid to shareholders who are registered in the shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy on 28 March 2019, the date of record of the dividend payout. The dividend will be paid on 4 April 2019.
Composition of the Board of Directors
The Annual General Meeting approved a six-member Board of Directors for the coming financial year. The members of the new board are Satu Ahlman, Pertti Huuskonen, Kari Nenonen and Reijo Tauriainen, and Nathalie Clement and Paul Hartwall as new members. Pertti Huuskonen was elected chair of the Board of Directors. The term of office of the Board members lasts until the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting following their election.
Remuneration for the Board of Directors
The Annual General Meeting decided that a monthly fee of EUR 1,875 would be paid to each member of the Board of Directors, and that a monthly fee of EUR 4,167 would be paid to the chair of the Board. In addition, in compensation for each board meeting they attend, a fee of EUR 600 will be paid to each of the board members, and EUR 1,200 to the chair of the board. In compensation for each committee meeting they attend, a fee of EUR 400 will be paid to each of the board members, and EUR 600 to the chair of the board. An increase of 50% applies in all cases if the travel time of a board member or the chair for attending a meeting is over three hours. In addition, the members of the Board of Directors and of the committees are reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses against receipts in accordance with guidelines from the Finnish Tax Administration.
Appointing an auditor and deciding on remuneration
The auditor elected for a term ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting was the authorised public accounting firm KPMG Oy Ab, with Authorised Public Accountant Antti Kaariainen as the principal auditor. The auditor is paid a reasonable fee based on an invoice.
Amendment to the Articles of Association
As proposed by the Board of Directors, the Annual General Meeting to change the company name to Hoivatilat Plc.
Authorising the Board of Directors to decide on issuance of shares
The Annual General Meeting authorised the Board of Directors to make a decision on the issuance of up to 5,080,000 new shares or shares currently held by the company, in one or more paid share issues. These share issues may be either directed share issues, or share issues in accordance with the pre-emptive subscription rights of the shareholders. The authorisation can also be used for company incentive schemes. Based on the authorisation, up to 250,000 shares can be issued for incentive schemes.
The share issue authorisation of the Board of Directors is valid until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, or up until 30 June, 2020 at the latest. The proposed authorisation supersedes the previously granted share issue authorisations, but does not supersede any prior authorisations to grant special rights entitling to shares. The Board of Directors has been authorised to decide on all other terms and conditions of share issues.
Authorisation of the Board of Directors to decide on acquiring and/or pledging the company's own shares
The Annual General Meeting authorised the Board of Directors to decide on acquiring and/or pledging the company's own shares
The maximum total number of shares to be acquired and/or pledged is 500,000 shares, representing approximately 1.97 per cent of the total number of shares in the company. The authorisation allows for the company's own shares to be acquired with free equity only.
The authorisation of the Board of Directors is valid until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, or up until 30 June, 2020 at the latest.
Resolutions made by the constitutive meeting of Board of Directors
The meeting of the board of directors of the company held today after the annual general meeting of shareholders of the company, has resolved on the members of the audit committee and remuneration committee of the Board of Directors.
Reijo Tauriainen was elected as chairman of the audit committee and Kari Nenonen and Paul Hartwall as the ordinary members of the audit committee. Pertti Huuskonen was elected as the chairman of the remuneration committee and Satu Ahlman and Paul Hartwall as the ordinary members of the remuneration committee.
The board of directors of the company has evaluated the independency of the members of the board of directors of the company and noted that Nathalie Clement, Satu Ahlman, Reijo Tauriainen, Kari Nenonen and Pertti Huuskonen are independent from the company as well as the major shareholders of the company. Paul Hartwall is independent from the company, but in turn dependent on the major shareholder of the company. Therefore the independency requirements of the Finnish Corporate Governance Code 2015 are fulfilled.
Minutes of the General Meeting
The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be available on the Suomen Hoivatilat website and at the company's head office at Lentokatu 2, 90460 Oulunsalo, Finland, no later than two weeks after the meeting, i.e. by 9 April 2019.
Helsinki 26 March 2019
SUOMEN HOIVATILAT PLC
Board of Directors
Further information:
Jussi Karjula, CEO, tel. +358 40 773 4054
Suomen Hoivatilat in brief:
Suomen Hoivatilat specialises in producing, developing, owning and leasing out daycare centre and nursing home premises, service communities and schools. Hoivatilat was established in 2008 and cooperates with around 60 Finnish municipalities. It has started approximately 180 real estate projects throughout Finland.
South Africa: President sends condolences to Buthelezi
This story has been published on: 2019-03-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to Inkatha Freedom Party President, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, following the death of his wife. Following a long illness, Princess Irene Buthelezi passed away at KwaPhindangene, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday. She was 89 years of age. The two have been married for 67 years. On behalf ... See more
Videos
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
Orlando, Florida, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adacel announced today that the Austro Control GmbH has awarded a contract to Adacel to purchase a 270-degree tower simulator. The system purchase will add to and compliment Austro Controls existing Adacel tower and radar simulators.
Austro Control has also awarded Adacel a contract to provide several major upgrades to their existing simulators. This contract includes the installation and testing of Adacels latest feature enhanced MaxSim ATC tower simulation software. Adacel will also develop and install modifications to the Tower 3D environments and customized radar interfaces specific to Austro Controls training requirements.
Adacel and Austro Control have a long history of working together to improve simulator effectiveness. The Austro Control training center will further enhance their impressive training capability with this latest technology upgrade. Adacels ATC training products have proven to be very effective in developing higher proficiency and accelerating the learning process of controllers during their course of study and ongoing training. The Company is committed to designing advanced systems that provide ATC students with the realistic hands-on practice to reinforce learning the advanced skills required to be a competent controller. Adacel displayed its latest innovations in ATC training during World ATM 2019 at stand #598 from 12-14 March.
About Adacel
Adacel applies the knowledge of our customers and the expertise of our team with cutting-edge technologies to be the company of choice for advanced air traffic management systems, speech recognition applications and simulation and training solutions for air traffic control and other public safety domains. Adacel has pioneered the integration of speech recognition into simulation products and operational systems and holds a number of patents on applications to optimize speech processing. The company has built a strong international reputation for its products and services through commitment to technological leadership and customer support. We understand the importance of our products and the direct impact their use has on public safety. These responsibilities are reflected in the quality of everything we do. Adacel: Everyday Excellence. For more information please visit www.adacel.com.
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN: CVM) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty. To obtain additional information, go to:
http://zlkdocs.com/CVM-Info-Request-Form-7389
or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. There is no cost or obligation to you.
Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, Connecticut, California, and Washington D.C. The firms attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Toll Free: (877) 363-5972
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com
A new study shows that damage inflicted on trees in Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria was unprecedented in modern times, and suggests that more frequent big storms whipped up by a warming climate could permanently alter forests not only here, but across much of the Atlantic tropics. Biodiversity could suffer as result, and more carbon could be added to the atmosphere, say the authors. The study appears this week in the journal Nature Communications.
Hurricane Maria not only destroyed far more trees than any previously studied storm; big, old trees thought to be especially resistant to storms suffered the worst. Lead author Maria Uriarte, a faculty member of Columbia University's Earth Institute, said that because hurricanes are projected to intensify with warming climate, the damage probably presages more such events. "These hurricanes are going to kill more trees. They're going to break more trees. The factors that protected many trees in the past will no longer apply," she said. "Forests will become shorter and smaller, because they won't have time to regrow, and they will be less diverse."
When Maria hit Puerto Rico in October 2017, it came in as a Category 4, with winds up to 155 miles per hour and up to three feet of rain in places. Many trees were denuded of foliage, snapped in half or blown clear out of the ground. The strongest storm to hit the island since 1928, Maria killed or severely damaged an estimated 20 million to 40 million trees.
Uriarte, who has been monitoring tree growth and mortality across Puerto Rico for the past 15 years, returned soon after the hurricane and began documenting its effects. For the new study, she and two colleagues homed in on a 40-acre section of the El Yunque National Forest, near the capital of San Juan, that has been intensively monitored by multiple teams since 1990. This long-term monitoring allowed Uriarte and her colleagues to compare damage from Maria with that of past hurricanes, including 1989's Hurricane Hugo and 1998's Hurricane Georges -- Category 3 storms, but the only things even close to Maria in recent times.
They found that Maria killed twice as many trees outright as previous storms, and broke more than three times as many trunks. Some species suffered much worse, with breakage rates up to 12 times those of previous storms. Alarmingly, these tended to be the slowest-growing, most valuable hardwoods that in the past were the most resilient to big storms: towering mahogany-like tabonucos with great crowns, prized for furniture and boat-building, and thick ausubos, whose wood is so dense it does not float in water. These and other big trees provide habitat for many birds and other creatures that smaller trees do not. About half of the trees with broken trunks will die within two to three years, said Uriarte.
However, a few species did well in all the storms, and one stood out: the common sierra palm, whose slender, flexible trunk bends with wind and quickly resprouts, grass-like, from its top if it loses foliage. Uriarte believes that the palms and a few pioneer species that can take root quickly and grow following storms may be the future of forests across the Atlantic tropics and subtropics. "This will yield lower statured and less diverse forests dominated by a few resistant species," she said.
Tropical cyclones derive their energy from ocean heat. Atlantic temperatures are already ascending, and models predict that by 2100, maximum sustained hurricane winds could increase by as much as 15 percent. Warmer air also carries more moisture, so rainfall could increase by up to 20 percent near storm centers. Both factors destroy trees; extreme winds do it directly, while rain saturates and destabilizes soil, encouraging uprooting. "The expected changes in hurricane winds and rainfall may have profound consequences for the long-term resilience of tropical forests in the North Atlantic basin," says the study.
The potential loss of many tree species could have cascading effects on forest wildlife and plants, say the researchers. This also would probably alter forests' growth dynamics, such that instead of soaking in more atmospheric carbon than they give off -- which they currently do -- the equation would reverse, and forests would become net emitters. This would be because the decay of felled trees would outweigh carbon taken in by any replacements. Along with palms, one species that probably would take over would be the fast-growing yagrumo, which shoots up quickly in sunny clearings created by big storms. But the yagrumo also is often the first to fall in storms, and so would just add to the problem. Thus, forests would help feed the very warming that is destroying them. Separate estimates suggest that trees killed or damaged by Hurricane Maria alone will release about 5.75 million tons of carbon to the atmosphere, or about 2.5 percent of the carbon taken up annually by all forests in the United States.
Edmund Tanner, a senior lecturer emeritus at the University of Cambridge who studies tropical trees but was not involved in the new research, said the study is important, because "it reports different, rather than just intensified, effects of strong versus weaker hurricanes." Tanner said the effects are "probably representative of huge areas of tropical lowland forest near sea coasts, some of which are likely to experience similar or worse damage in a warming world." Maria "was a Category 4 hurricane," noted Tanner. "There is a Category 5."
The study was coauthored by two researchers who have long worked in the El Yunque forest: Jill Thompson, a plant ecologist at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in the United Kingdom; and Jess K. Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. The research was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
As ancient ocean floors plunge over 1,000 km into the Earth's deep interior, they cause hot rock in the lower mantle to flow much more dynamically than previously thought, finds a new UCL-led study.
The discovery answers long-standing questions on the nature and mechanisms of mantle flow in the inaccessible part of deep Earth. This is key to understanding how quickly Earth is cooling, and the dynamic evolution of our planet and others in the solar system.
"We often picture the Earth's mantle as a liquid that flows but it isn't -- it's a solid that moves very slowly over time. Traditionally, it's been thought that the flow of rock in Earth's lower mantle is sluggish until you hit the planet's core, with most dynamic action happening in the upper mantle which only goes to a depth of 660 km. We've shown this isn't the case after all in large regions deep beneath the South Pacific Rim and South America," explained lead author, Dr Ana Ferreira (UCL Earth Sciences and Universidade de Lisboa).
"Here, the same mechanism we see causing movement and deformation in the hot, pressurised rock in the upper mantle is also occurring in the lower mantle. If this increased activity is happening uniformly over the globe, Earth could be cooling more rapidly than we previously thought," added Dr Manuele Faccenda, Universita di Padova.
The study, published today in Nature Geoscience by researchers from UCL, Universidade de Lisboa, Universita di Padova, Kangwon National University and Tel Aviv University, provides evidence of dynamic movement in the Earth's lower mantle where ancient ocean floors are plunging towards the planet's core, crossing from the upper mantle (up to ~660 km below the crust) to the lower mantle (~660 -- 1,200 km deep).
The team found that the deformation and increased flow in the lower mantle is likely due to the movement of defects in the crystal lattice of rocks in the deep Earth, a deformation mechanism called "dislocation creep," whose presence in the deep mantle has been the subject of debate.
advertisement
The researchers used big data sets collected from seismic waves formed during earthquakes to probe what's happening deep in Earth's interior. The technique is well established and comparable to how radiation is used in CAT scans to see what's happening in the body.
"In a CAT scan, narrow beams of X-rays pass through the body to detectors opposite the source, building an image. Seismic waves pass through the Earth in much the same way and are detected by seismic stations on the opposite side of the planet to the earthquake epicentre, allowing us to build a picture of the structure of Earth's interior," explained Dr Sung-Joon Chang, Kangwon National University.
By combining 43 million seismic data measurements with dynamic computer simulations using the UK's supercomputing facilities HECToR, Archer and the Italian Galileo Computing Cluster, CINECA the researchers generated images to map how the Earth's mantle flows at depths of ~1,200 km beneath our feet.
They revealed increased mantle flow beneath the Western Pacific and South America where ancient ocean floors are plunging towards Earth's core over millions of years.
This approach of combining seismic data with geodynamic computer modelling can now be used to build detailed maps of how the whole mantle flows globally to see if dislocation creep is uniform at extreme depths.
The researchers also want to model how material moves up from the Earth's core to the surface, which together with this latest study, will help scientists better understand how our planet evolved into its present state.
"How mantle flows on Earth might control why there is life on our planet but not on other planets, such as Venus, which has a similar size and location in the solar system to Earth, but likely has a very different style of mantle flow. We can understand a lot about other planets from revealing the secrets of our own," concluded Dr Ferreira.
The study was funded by the Leverhulme Trust, NERC, the Korea Meteorlogical Administration Research and Development Program, the Progetto di Ateneo FACCPTRAT12 granted by the Universita di Padova and by the ERC StG #758199 NEWTON.
The shade of a single tree can provide welcome relief from the hot summer sun. But when that single tree is part of a small forest, it creates a profound cooling effect. According to a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, trees play a big role in keeping our towns and cities cool.
According to the study, the right amount of tree cover can lower summer daytime temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. And the effect is quite noticeable from neighborhood to neighborhood, even down to the scale of a single city block.
"We knew that cities are warmer than the surrounding countryside, but we found that temperatures vary just as much within cities. Keeping temperatures more comfortable on hot summer days can make a big difference for those of us who live and work there," says Monica Turner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor in the department of Integrative Biology and a co-author of the study.
With climate change making extreme heat events more common each summer, city planners are working on how to prepare. Heat waves drive up energy demands and costs and can have big human health impacts. One potentially powerful tool, the study's authors say, are organisms that have been around long before human civilizations could appreciate their leafy benefits. And those trees may be the secret to keeping the places we live livable.
Essentially, says Turner, impervious surfaces -- like roads, sidewalks and buildings -- absorb heat from the sun during the day and slowly release that heat at night. Trees, on the other hand, not only shade those surfaces from the sun's rays, they also transpire, or release water into the air through their leaves, a process that cools things down.
To get the maximum benefit of this cooling service, the study found that tree canopy cover must exceed 40 percent. In other words, an aerial picture of a single city block would need to be nearly half-way covered by a leafy green network of branches and leaves.
advertisement
Traditionally, says Carly Ziter, lead author of the paper, studies like these have tended to focus on what's known as the "urban heat island" effect. Those studies often use satellites to take ground surface temperature readings or measure air temperature within and outside the city. Studies have shown that developed, less vegetated cityscapes are much warmer than the rural lands around them. But this study, Ziter says, allowed researchers to look at temperatures on a much finer scale -- down to the spaces "where we live our daily lives within the city."
It turns out, she says, that the "heat island" effect is more like what some scientists have called a "heat archipelago" -- with smaller islands of heat in a city interspersed with cooler areas of shade.
To get data at that local scale, Ziter and her collaborators had to get creative with their sampling methods.
Satellite measurements of ground surface temperature don't really provide air temperature data, Ziter says, so they're "not getting you quite as close to what people are actually feeling."
But deploying enough air temperature sensors across town to get the fine-scale resolution they wanted was far too expensive. Research ongoing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison had temperature sensors strapped to 150 utility poles across the city and its surrounding countryside, but those sensors were often one mile or more apart -- much too far to provide real-time data on temperatures in backyards and individual boulevards.
advertisement
In the end, Ziter settled on a scaled down solution to her sampling problem. All she needed was one sensor and two wheels.
In the summer of 2016, it wasn't uncommon to see Ziter biking around the city of Madison with a small weather station strapped to the back of her bike. In all, she biked ten different transects of the city multiple times during different times of day. The sensor on her bike marked her location and took an air temperature reading every single second as she rode, resulting in real-time data every five meters.
All told, she estimates that she biked 400 to 500 miles and was "in very good shape" by the end of the study. She also racked up a massive amount of data that showed just how instrumental trees are in moderating heat in cities.
"Tree canopy cover can actually do more than offset the effects of impervious surfaces," Ziter says. During the day, "an equivalent amount of canopy cover can cool the air down more than pavement will warm it up."
The data show that forty percent canopy cover is the threshold required to trigger the large cooling effects that trees have to offer. The greatest amount of cooling happens once that threshold is crossed over the scale of a city block or larger.
"It's not really enough to just kind of go out and plant trees, we really need to think about how many we're planting and where we're planting them," she says. "We're not saying planting one tree does nothing, but you're going to have a bigger effect if you plant a tree and your neighbor plants a tree and their neighbor plants a tree."
To get the biggest "bang for their buck," Ziter says city planners should focus on bumping areas that are near the forty percent threshold over that mark by planting trees. But, she warns, it should be in places where people are active and live and not just in parks. Additionally, she says, "we don't want to abandon the lowest canopy areas of our city either," as those tend to be neighborhoods with lower income and marginalized communities. "We want to avoid advocating for policies that are simply 'rich get richer,'" she says.
Her results, Ziter says, point to the importance of urban landscaping and development in making neighborhoods more livable in the future. It is also a call for stakeholders to work together when it comes to their trees. It's not uncommon for "different people to be in charge of different spaces," she says. For example, the city may be in charge of planting trees along its streets, while the parks department oversees plantings in the parks and homeowners make decisions about their own private lots.
It's important that we start to get on the same page, Ziter says, because "the trees we plant now or the areas we pave now are going to be determining the temperatures of our cities in the next century."
From the town square to Times Square, if we want the places we live to be more comfortable and resilient in future climate scenarios, the Wisconsin researchers say, then someone is going to have to speak for the trees.
This study was supported by the National Science Foundation, Long-term ecological research (DEB-1440297); the National Science Foundation, Water sustainability and climate (DEB-1038759); University of Wisconsin-Madison Vilas Trust (for MGT); National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada doctoral fellowship (to CZ).
Carrion crows and hooded crows are almost indistinguishable genetically, and hybrid offspring are fertile. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich biologists now show that the two forms have remained distinct largely owing to the dominant role of plumage color in mate choice.
Crows have divided Europe between them. Western Europe is the realm of the soot-black carrion crow, while the eastern half of the continent is home to the hooded crow with its grayish black plumage. The boundary between the two populations -- or more precisely, the hybrid zone where the two meet -- is only 20-50 km wide, and in Germany it essentially follows the course of the River Elbe. This is the only stretch of territory in which both of these species are found and sucessfully mate with each other. The plumage of the fertile offspring of these pairings is intermediate in color between those of their parents. The sharp demarcation between the two populations, however, clearly indicates that gene flow across the hybrid zone is restricted, which implies that hybrids are at a selective disadvantage. "Defining speciation as the buildup of reproductive isolation, carrion crows and hooded crows are in the process of speciation," says LMU evolutionary biologist Jochen Wolf. He and his research team have now analyzed the genetic basis for the division of European crows into two populations. Indeed, the results of the study demonstrate that the old saying "birds of a feather flock together" really does apply in this instance: The only genes that differ significantly between the two variants are those involved in determining the color of the plumage. This suggests that each form preferentially mates with partners of the same color as themselves. The new findings appear in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.
Europe's crows once formed a single population. This is thought to have been broken up repeatedly during the last glacial maxima over the last tens to hundreds of thousand years ago, during which the crows retreated from Central Europe to milder refuges in Spain and the Balkans. At the end of the last Ice Age, they returned to their old haunts. But they had changed during the period of their isolation. "Most probably, a mutation had arisen in the easterly population, which endowed its carriers with a lighter colored, gray plumage," says Wolf. Then carrion and hooded crows came into contact once again and formed a narrow hybrid zone. However, the genetic mechanisms responsible for maintaining the distinction between the two populations have remained unclear.
In order to identify these mechanisms, Wolf and his colleagues first sequenced the genomes of both carrion crows and hooded crows. "We found that the genomes of both forms are almost identical, and that the few genetic loci that differentiate gray from black crows are likely to be involved in determining the color of their plumage," Wolf says. "We have now carried out a more detailed analysis and determined the degree of genetic mixing between the two populations. Using a technique known as admixture mapping we pinned down the genetic basis of their divergence." To do so, his team examined the variant loci in the genomes of more than 400 birds -- from within the hybrid zone and from the regions in which one or other of the two forms is endemic.
In this way, it was possible to identify the genes responsible for the difference in coloration between hooded and carrion crows. "The distinction can largely be explained by variation in just two genetic factors. In addition, we showed that these two loci interact with each other," Wolf explains. In other words, these two factors together determine the color of the plumage. Further analyses confirmed that the rest of the genome can be freely exchanged between the two populations -- and is common to carrion crows in Western Europe and the hooded crows in the eastern half of the continent. "Only two major effect genes which together encode the feather color differ sharply on either side of the hybrid zone -- the gray alleles are not found to the west of the zone and the black allele is absent in the eastern region," says Wolf. "That's a very strong indication that there is rigorous selection on the basis of color."
According to the authors of the study, these findings convincingly show that the hybrid zone along the Elbe represents an example of early-stage speciation followed upon secondary contact between the two emerging species. The classical biological definition of species -- which is based on the concept of reproductive isolation, i.e. on the premise that the hybrid offspring of crosses between 'true' species are sterile -- obviously does not apply in this case. Nevertheless, gene flow is locally restricted in the genome, because each form preferentially mates with individuals of the same color. This in turn means that hybrids with an intermediate color are less likely to reproduce. But the two populations are not yet fully isolated genetically from each other, since hybridization still occurs. "We are now using a mathematical model to work out the level of hybridization in the hybrid zone as it now stands," says Wolf. "The initial indications suggest that it is very low, on the order of a few percentage points."
It is known that gas giants around other stars are often located very near their sun. According to accepted theory, these gas planets were formed far away and subsequently migrated to an orbit closer to the star.
Now researchers from Lund University and other institutions have used advanced computer simulations to learn more about Jupiter's journey through our own solar system approximately 4.5 billion years ago. At that time, Jupiter was quite recently formed, as were the other planets in the solar system. The planets were gradually built up by cosmic dust, which circled around our young sun in a disk of gas and particles. Jupiter was no larger than our own planet.
The results show that Jupiter was formed four times further from the sun than its current position would indicate.
"This is the first time we have proof that Jupiter was formed a long way from the sun and then migrated to its current orbit. We found evidence of the migration in the Trojan asteroids orbiting close to Jupiter", explains Simona Pirani, doctoral student in astronomy at Lund University, and the lead author of the study.
These Trojan asteroids consist of two groups of thousands of asteroids that reside at the same distance from the Sun as Jupiter, but orbiting in front of and behind Jupiter, respectively. There are approximately 50 per cent more Trojans in front of Jupiter than behind it. It is this asymmetry that became the key to the researchers' understanding of Jupiter's migration.
"The asymmetry has always been a mystery in the solar system", says Anders Johansen, professor of astronomy at Lund University.
Indeed, the research community had previously been unable to explain why the two asteroid groups do not contain the same number of asteroids. However, Simona Pirani and Anders Johansen, together with other colleagues, have now identified the reason by recreating the course of events of Jupiter's formation and how the planet gradually drew in its Trojan asteroids.
Thanks to extensive computer simulations, the researchers have calculated that the current asymmetry could only have occurred if Jupiter was formed four times further out in the solar system and subsequently migrated to its current position. During its journey towards the sun, Jupiter's own gravity then drew in more Trojans in front of it than behind it.
According to the calculations, Jupiter's migration went on for around 700 000 years, in a period approximately 2-3 million years after the celestial body started its life as an ice asteroid far from the sun. The journey inwards in the solar system followed a spiralling course in which Jupiter continued to circle around the sun, albeit in an increasingly tight path. The reason behind the actual migration relates to gravitational forces from the surrounding gases in the solar system.
The simulations show that the Trojan asteroids were drawn in when Jupiter was a young planet with no gas atmosphere, which means that these asteroids most probably consist of building blocks similar to those that formed Jupiter's core. In 2021, NASA's space probe Lucy will be launched into orbit around six of Jupiter's Trojan asteroids to study them.
"We can learn a lot about Jupiter's core and formation from studying the Trojans", says Anders Johansen.
The authors of the study also suggest that the gas giant Saturn and the ice giants Uranus and Neptune could have migrated in a similar way.
Description
GIS - 26 March, 2019: A pamphlet entitled Know Your Rights aiming to sensitise migrant workers of their rights, was launched on 23 March 2019, at Princes Tuna in Riche Terre, by the Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Institutional Reforms, Mr Maneesh Gobin in presence of the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training, Mr Soodesh Callichurn, and other personalities. A pamphlet entitled Know Your Rights aiming to sensitise migrant workers of their rights, was launched on 23 March 2019, at Princes Tuna in Riche Terre, by theMinister of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training, Mr Soodesh Callichurn, and other personalities.
In his address, Minister Gobin recalled that he presented the project Know Your Rights pamphlet at the third Universal Periodic Review of Mauritius, in November 2018, at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, where he reaffirmed Governments commitment and continued support to the work of the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review mechanism.
Speaking about the pamphlet, he underlined that it aims to thoroughly inform migrant workers working in the secondary economic activities sector of their rights, the possible remedial actions to be taken in case of violations and also to sensitise them about the dangers of human trafficking. Some 40 000 pamphlets printed in different languages namely English, Bangla, Hindi, Mandarin, Tamil and French will be distributed to the economic industries employing migrant workers, he said.
For his part, Minister Callichurn acknowledged the importance of migration as a means of development both through remittances and skills acquisition abroad. Presently there are around 42 800 migrant workers, hailing from India, China, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Madagascar, who are mainly employed in the textile industry, the construction sector and in the services sector, he indicated.
Furthermore, he outlined some of the measures being implemented by his Ministry to develop a more efficient labour market management system which includes bilateral agreements and Memorandum of Understanding to improve the governance of labour migration with authorities of India, Nepal and Madagascar. He added that provisions are being made so that legislations are translated into the different languages used migrant workers, namely Bangladeshi, Mandarin and Malagasy so as to facilitate understanding of labour legislations.
As regards the pamphlet, Minister Callichurn highlighted that it includes guidelines to inform workers about their rights during the period before and after arriving in the country. It lists out their rights and obligations while on duty, gives specific instructions on how to approach labour disputes given that the Government of Mauritius stands fully committed to end forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking, he said.
The pamphlet has been prepared by the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Institutional Reforms in collaboration with various stakeholders and the financial assistance of the British High Commission.
Chai at the Chai Spot in Nolita. Photo: Melissa Hom
Even a city as cosmopolitan as New York can taint simple pleasures. For lovers of chai, that tainting starts with language: Chai tea translates into tea tea, and iced chai tea latte translates to nothing. There is also the chai itself, which is often loaded with sickly syrups that take the subtle perfume of real chai and turn it into something that tastes more like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
Thankfully, the Chai Spot, which opened a few months ago on a strip of Mott Street where Little Italy and Chinatown intersect, offers an exception. The tea dhabas play on classic masala chai offers cardamom with a warm, clean finish thats uplifted by citrus tones. Theres no butter in the butter chai, the pink-hued, gunpowder-based homage to Kashmiri chai, but the made-to-order option is nevertheless made lush with the addition of milkfat, finished with a touch of salt and a garnish of crushed almonds. The coconut-milk-based coconut rose tea is a smooth, lightly floral concoction for the dairy-averse. Other milk-free and vegan-milk-free options include sulaimani tea, which is sweet and heavily spiced with star anise. The iced orange-blossom tea, meanwhile, is delicate, honeyed, and palate-cleansing.
The Chai Spot is also an exception to the get-in-get-out mentality at most of the citys tea and coffee shops. To-go is not a thing at the Chai Spot. Instead, you approach the front counter, where steel vats of freshly brewed chai simmer behind a glass case of cake rusk, Parle-G biscuits, and bags of masala Lays. You order your chai, which is served in a glass jar encased within a sequined sleeve. Then, past a hallway of hand-embroidered kameezes and trinkets, you reach the back lounge: a rent-defying, mirrored hall of paisley prints, ottomans, and oriental rugs. You remove your shoes and enter, with the tacit understanding that youll be staying a while.
We give our guests a place to relax and make new friends, and see the world through chai-colored glasses, says Khalida Brohi. Everything is colorful, beautiful, and happy. Brohi is a Pakistani womens-rights advocate who co-founded the New York dhaba with her husband, David Barron, following the success of their first location, in Sedona, Arizona.
Since it opened in December, the new location has been embraced by New Yorks South Asian community, who finally have an enclave in the heart of Manhattan that doesnt treat chai as an afterthought. Now desis can say, I have a place to go in Nolita, says Barron, who credits chai as the ice-breaker between his Italian-American family and Brohis Pakistani relatives. I think thats contributed to our popularity, he says, because they feel underrepresented in these boutique-y places.
Photos tagged #thechaispot pop up on Instagram with the kind of hypercolorful visual appeal that looks custom-made for the social platform. But the decorations at this dhaba are more than eye candy, and, among the opulence, copies of Brohis 2018 memoir, I Should Have Honor, line bookshelves. The book itself is about the honor killing of a young female cousin in Brohis family, an act of violence that galvanized her career in gender justice. In addition to running the two Chai Spot locations, she is the head of the Sughar Foundation, a Pakistani nonprofit that supports women entrepreneurs and craftsmanship through micro-grants and training (the kameezes and trinkets out in front are all the handiwork of Sughar women). Brohi also founded the Khadija primary school, named in honor of her cousin, Khadija, and dedicated to co-education in an underserved Pakistani community. These are not initiatives that exist apart from the Chai Spot, either: half of the proceeds from the dhabas are dedicated to supporting these causes.
The best way to eradicate harmful customs is to promote good ones, Barron maintains. Theres no guarantee that customers who arrive looking for some tea and relaxation will pick up on the lounges gender-justice message, but the dual purposes have a way of mixing, anyway. On a recent afternoon, on a pair of ottomans in the back lounge, a mother and daughter dutifully snapped photos of their cardamom chais before meandering over to one of the bookshelves. The daughter picked up one of the many copies of Honor and took it back to her seat. She and her mother continued sipping their chais while leafing through the memoir with the casual ease of a light read.
The Chai Spots David Barron and Khalida Brohi. Photo: Melissa Hom
A couple months ago, I received an email from a chef named Cyrus Phan, who described himself as a recreational importer of specialty foods. He offered to send over a bag of dried peanut wormscalled sa sung in Vietnamesefor me to experiment with, and he noted the worms are something of a secret ingredient for pho broth. After I gave him our usual spiel about how we only accept samples with the understanding that we arent obliged to write about them in any way, I said, Sure! Send me dried worms!
" It wasnt that I was bad at making pho, I just needed some worms."
I had heard about them before; the first time I read about them was on Andrea Nguyens website, Viet World Kitchen, in a 2011 post titled Pho Secret Ingredients: Dried Earthworms (Sa Sung). At that point, I had been trying to recreate a specific bowl of pho I had grown up eating in Hong Kong, and reading about sa sung, an ingredient that was entirely unavailable in the United States, made me feel wonderful about my many, many failed attempts. It wasnt that I was bad at making pho, I just needed some worms.
Nguyen went on to write more about sa sung in her phenomenal book The Pho Cookbook: Easy to Adventurous Recipes for Vietnams Favorite Soup and Noodles, for which she won a James Beard Award in 2018, including not just how to prepare them but also how to find substitutes. I planned on following her advice when I got my hands on the product Phan had promised to send over.
What arrived in the mail was a bag of what looked like ribbed finger cotswhich is, of course, just another way of saying mini condomshad been left out in the rain for a couple days and then set in a dusty shed to dry. I opened the bag and took a sniff. The aroma was pretty similar to other dried sea products, leaning more toward the heady sweetness of dried squid and cuttlefish than the broadly oceanic smell of, say, dried shrimp or finfish.
I decided to make an initial foray into worm-flavored pho by including a handful of toasted sa sung in Kenjis pressure cooker chicken pho recipe. The resulting broth was extremely tasty, though the difference the sa sung made was hard to describe; the broth was at once a little sweeter and even more savory, maybe, but also something else that I couldn't put my finger on.
I decided to probe more deeply.
What Are Sa Sung?
Vicky Wasik
Nguyens site has a concise explanation of what the worms are, and it appears that a lot of other online sources plagiarize her copy, which we, of course, will not do here. I urge you to visit that page for her description (also, its an excellent web site!).
In brief, sa sung are known as Sipincula nudus or, more commonly in English, "peanut worms," due to the appearance of their ridged exteriors when the worm is not extended. They're marine worms that are eaten both fresh and dried, although it is only the dried form that is used to flavor broth in Vietnam. (They're also considered a delicacy in China, and, like other Chinese delicacies, are fodder for gawking expats to write about in their hometown paper.) The worms are harvested in tidal flats, often by women, according to this article in Tuoi Tre News, the largest daily newspaper in Vietnam, and a kilogram of worms can be sold for around $15 (that article has some lovely photos of the worms in their fresh form, although they may not be for the worm-averse).
I called up Nguyen, and she noted that while sa sung are considered an ingredient that is more commonly used in the northern part of the countrywhich is why it is usually associated with Hanoi-style pho, the more savory, stripped-down version of the noodle soup that is less common in the United Statesshe and her relatives have since noticed that it is increasingly available in the southern parts of Vietnam these days.
Since I wrote about [sa sung] in 2011, it appears they have become more widespread, Nguyen said. "Ive seen them sold in boxes, very nicely packaged, at Cho Lon, the Chinese wholesale market in Saigon, in the southern part of the country. Nguyen speculated that phos growing international cache, and a renewed interest in Vietnamese cuisine among successive generations of the Vietnamese diaspora, may be responsible for the fact that sa sung are more easily accessible.
But she also noted that sa sung are just one dried seafood product among many that are typically used in pho. It turns out people add all kinds of seafood to their noodle soups. Some people add dried shrimp or squid, Nguyen said. The worms are a great umami source, and theyre great for when people dont want to use MSG, but you can also use kombu. Youre just looking for glutamic acid, or glutamates.
I asked Dennis Ngo, the chef at Di an Di, a Vietnamese restaurant in Brooklyn, about sa sung, and he essentially said the same thing. "[Using sa sung] is definitely something we considered as we were thinking about ways we could improve our stocksany dried seafood component is helpful for adding umamibut we quickly realized it is extremely expensive and not realistic for a restaurants use, Ngo said. But he added, "People swear by it, though, and they say it adds umami without adding too much seafood flavor.
Taste-Testing Pho With and Without Sa Sung
Kenji's pressure-cooker chicken pho. J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
Using the information I gleaned about the worms from my conversations with both Ngo and Nguyen, I conducted a series of informal taste tests at the office, pitting a batch of Kenjis chicken pho broth against a batch of the same broth made with sa sung, and a third made with dried scallops, which Nguyen has suggested in the past offers a similar, if not identical, flavor profile to sa sung. All of them were seasoned with exactly the same amount of fish sauce, and I set them out for my colleagues to try. The results were mixed: Some preferred the broth with sa sung, others the plain broth; tasters liked the dried-scallop broth, but not as a pho broth, per se, which is also my heavily biased take on using dried scallopsI generally associate the taste of dried scallops in broth with wonton soup.
It was clear that the sa sung were adding a hint of sweetness and a broad savoriness to the soup, but it wasnt necessarily true that we thought the sa sung broth was far and away the winner (although one taster was very, very enamored with the sa sung broth).
To get a better idea of how sa sung and dried scallops affected the broth, and how those broths would stack up against a broth made with MSG, Ngo graciously agreed to host a tasting using Di an Dis house beef broth. Ngo had told me that their house broth is seasoned by a set, rather low ratio of MSG to broth. I asked that he prepare a house broth without MSG, one with MSG, and then a batch each of the no-MSG house broth simmered with dried scallops and sa sung.
This was not the most scientifically rigorous taste test; it was done just to get a sense of how these ingredients affected the broth, and I asked Ngo to use a rather large quantity of dried scallops and sa sung in order to get a clear idea of the resulting flavor profiles. Daniel joined me, as did Ngos business partner Kim Hoang, and we tasted each broth side by side, then tasted them all in a row, noting anything we found interesting about each one.
The main thing we all agreed on was Di an Dis house broth, seasoned with MSG, was the favorite. The broth without MSG was a clear second. The two dried seafood broths, because of the large amount of dried seafood I had instructed Ngo to use, both had a striking marine aroma and flavor, throwing the broth out of balance and largely covering up its beefy base. Each was clearly identifiable, with the dried scallopspiked broth having a fishy flavor and aroma, where the sa sung broth had a more unplaceable flavor that Daniel described as dried-fish with a very subtle aftertaste of bitterness. For my part, I found the sa sung broth to have a kind of muddy savoriness that I tasted in my nose, if that makes any sense. The scallop broth tasted to me like pho-ish wonton soup.
Is Sa Sung the Secret Ingredient for Great Pho?
Sa sung purchased from Sa Sung USA on the left; sa sung sent as free sample on the right. Vicky Wasik
The short answer is, No.
I think Nguyen has the best long answer, which is that sa sung has unique attributes, but understanding the role it plays in making pho broth is whats important. "I dont think [sa sung] are super pivotal. There are many other aspects of the broth that are pivotal, like good bones. [Sa sung] is an umami source. If you have a really good pho recipe, and you throw these worms in, then yeah, it will take it to the next level. But when I write recipes, I think about what happens when I dont have this ingredient, because Im trying to get Vietnamese food to be a part of peoples repertoire. I dont want to make it exotic; I dont want to make it fussy; I dont want to make it precious in the sense that you have to run around and get a bunch of ingredients from a bunch of different markets. That makes the food inaccessible. As far as what I do as a writer and a cooking teacher, I need to make my cuisine understandable and accessible without dumbing it down. Sa sung is not like a silver bullet; there are so many other things in pho that make it excellent."
I called Phan, who, in addition to owning Sa Sung USA, the company importing and selling the worms, is executive chef of Hirotako, a San Francisco-based catering company, and he essentially confirmed much of what Nguyen and Ngo had said: he started importing the worms because of growing interest among friends and family about sa sung; its essentially a source for glutamates but has its own unique flavor. When I asked about the price point ($24.99 for 30g, not including shipping), he noted that they are, in effect, an artisanal product: All of the worms are harvested in the wild by hand, and he employs people in Vietnam to purchase directly from the harvesters. They then clean each wormthe process he described involves inserting a stick into the worm and turning it inside out to clean out sandand air-dried on mesh screens, after which the dried product is shipped over en masse and packaged stateside.
Phan observed that some of the restaurants he supplies use sa sung as the main umami component, whereas others will use some sa sung and supplement their broth with a bit of MSG, which essentially confirms Ngo and Nguyens view on them: the worms are a pricey alternative to other umami sources.
For my part, since I eat a fair amount of pho at home, I find the worms to be incredibly appealing as an ingredient; the flavor that they impart is impossibly hard to describe, but its uniquely tasty, and one that I recognize (and, consequently, love) from that old bowl of pho I grew up eating. But if the price deters you, you can certainly look to other dried seafood products to use in your pho, or you can forego them altogether.
How to Use Sa Sung in Pho Broth
Phans Sa Sung USA website has a recipe for beef pho that calls for using 10 grams of sa sung for an eight-quart pot of soup; in her pho cookbook, Nguyen recommends using anywhere from 15-25 grams for a similar quantity of broth. In my experience, keeping in mind the quality and expense of the worms Sa Sung USA sells, Id be inclined more toward Phans recommendation, and since I used only about 5 grams in the first broth I made with the worms, I think that would also be sufficient to provide a nice umami roundness to the broth.
Nguyen notes in her book and online that sa sungs sweetness should also be taken into account, so if the pho recipe you use has added sweetness, either in the form of rock sugar or, as Nguyen suggests, Fuji apple, you will want to omit the sweet element if using sa sung.
To prepare the sa sung, start by toasting them in a dry pan until they puff up and take on color. This step makes it easier to clean the worms, if theyre particularly sandy. Once inflated, you can break them open and tap out any sand that might be inside; if they are particularly sandy, you should cut them into pieces with scissors and rinse them. My experience with Phans worms, both the ones he sent as a free sample and a pouch I had a colleague order to their home, is that they are relatively sand free, and did not need rinsing.
I asked Phan about the difference between the larger worms and the smaller, more wrinkled ones (pictured above), and he said the older, larger worms are typically purchased as gifts in Vietnam, whereas the younger, smaller ones are typically purchased for home use. Sa Sung USA does not differentiate between the two and sells both varieties at the same price. There shouldn't be any difference in the quality of the flavor, but because the smaller worms are more difficult to clean than the larger ones, which sometimes necessitates breaking the worms' bodies up.
Phan emphasized the importance of the toasting step for another reason: flavor. Much like dried squid, the sa sung take on a smoky quality when lightly toasted, but can impart bitterness to the broth if they are over-toasted or burned.
After toasting and cleaning, put the sa sung into the pho pot along with the dried spices. Strain them out at the end along with all the other stuff in the pot, and youll have a deeply savory worm-spiked broth.
U.S. Coast Guard crews were searching Tuesday for a man who went missing early in the morning in the waters off Pacifica, authorities said.
Around 4:30 a.m., the Pacifica Police Department contacted the Coast Guard to help with the search for 28-year-old Tyler Collins. Police said he and one friend had gone swimming at Rockaway Beach near the Lighthouse Hotel in Pacifica.
However, the Coast Guard reported that two people went into the water with Collins, said Jordan Akiyama, petty officer third class.
When the swimmers began to feel the undercurrents in the water, they tried to get to shore, according to the Coast Guard. Collins didnt make it out, Akiyama said.
Now Playing: Coast Guard searches for man swept away by ocean in Pacifica Video: Paul Chinn
Police reported that the swimmers were about 50 feet from shore when they realized Collins was nowhere to be found, leading to a search of the beach for about 45 minutes before notifying authorities, police said.
Akiyama said that police contacted the Coast Guard due to the heavy weather conditions and the swell.
Coast Guard crews were using a lifeboat and a helicopter to search for Collins, in addition to assistance from police and North County Fire Authority officials. Police said the missing man is from Merced County.
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.
Collins was described as 5-foot-7 and around 160 pounds. He has brown hair and was last seen wearing black boxer shorts.
We do ask that because of the unpredictable waters of San Francisco that people always mind their surroundings, because you never know when swells or currents can sneak up on you, Akiyama said.
Ashley McBride is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ashleynmcb
Sometime between 11 a.m. and noon Wednesday, the cell phones of 40,000 Oakland residents will buzz, ping, ding or squawk, marking the first residential deployment of Californias highly sophisticated earthquake warning system.
The urgent messages from what is known as the ShakeAlert system wont be followed by actual ground shaking, though. It will be only a test, but seismologists view the massive broadcast Wednesday as the most important trial run of Californias early-warning system in its brief history.
This is the first dedicated public shake alert test, so its a big milestone for us, said Robert-Michael de Groot, of the U.S. Geological Survey, which is working with the California Office of Emergency Services on the trial.
De Groot said the alerts are scheduled to go out at 11 a.m., but could happen any time until noon, over a 60-square-block area of downtown Oakland using a system attached to ShakeAlert known as Wireless Emergency Alert.
The alert system, to be one of the most sophisticated in the world when its completed, is designed so that millions of people in California, Oregon and Washington will be warned about pending earthquakes, giving them just enough time to avoid flying off roadways, protect themselves from falling bricks or rubble, and shut off pipelines before they crack.
What does the public need to know?
At 11 a.m. Wednesday, residents of downtown Oakland will receive messages on their cell phones over the Wireless Emergency Alert system, which is used to deliver messages like AMBER Alerts and notices of severe weather. Oakland residents have been getting advanced notification of the upcoming test through public service announcements on the radio, fliers distributed to businesses and social media messages.
What area will the alerts cover?
This test will go out over about a 60-square-block radius on the west side of Lake Merritt. Due to limitations in the technology, some people outside the target area may also receive the alert.
What is the purpose of the test?
Cal OES will use the alerts to evaluate the wireless systems ability to deliver early earthquake warning signals to citizens. It is important because the idea is to send earthquake alerts to every smartphone in the West Coast when the system is up and running.
How should Oakland residents prepare for Wednesdays test and what feedback does Cal OES and the Geological Society want after the test?
Before the test starts, residents should go to the official website, at www.time.is, and check to make sure the time on their phones corresponds with the time on the readout.
A few minutes before the alert, residents should keep a close watch on their cell phone and note the exact time, to the nearest second, the alert first came up on their phone.
The alert will be titled Emergency Alert, and will say: TEST of the CA Earthquake Warning System. No action required. THIS IS A TEST.
Take the following survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/weatestshakealert. For information about the test and survey, visit www.caloes.ca.gov/eew.
What is ShakeAlert?
ShakeAlert is an earthquake warning system that has been under development for seven years by the U.S. Geological Survey, UC Berkeley, the California Institute of Technology, and the universities of Washington and Oregon. The plan is to have alerts sent to every smartphone, business, public agency, utility and home in California, Oregon and Washington.
How does ShakeAlert work?
The system will include a network of 1,675 sensors in the three states to tap into seismic waves and pinpoint underground shaking before it reaches the surface. The technology will instantly create a computer map of the likely distribution of ground shaking, giving seismologists the information they need to alert regions where the most shaking is expected. The system has the ability to recognize large-magnitude earthquakes and map out the portion of the fault that is rupturing. It will then broadcast warnings anywhere from a few seconds to a minute in advance of an earthquake.
How will businesses and communities use ShakeAlert?
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 system is being set up so that it will automatically brake trains, cause firehouse doors to open, close valves in fuel pipelines, halt elevators at the nearest floor, stop amusement park rides and alert people in time for them to dive under a desk or find safe ground before the shaking begins.
Have there been other ShakeAlert tests?
There have been more than a dozen successful pilot projects in California, Oregon and Washington, including one on BART, which was among the first transit agencies to put in place the prototype. PG&E, Chevron, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and 10 water districts in the Pacific Northwest have been testing the system.
How much coverage is there now?
Only about half of the seismic stations needed to complete the system and provide adequate coverage are in place. There are, however, enough stations now to provide adequate coverage in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. The alerts will work outside of those urban areas, but the warnings outside of urban areas are currently too slow, de Groot said.
How long before the system is fully operational?
It will depend on how the testing goes and how much federal funding is provided for the program in the coming years. De Groot said the plan now is to have all 1,675 stations built by the early 2020s.
What other countries have earthquake warning systems?
Mexico built an early warning system in response to an earthquake that devastated the nations capital in 1985, killing an estimated 10,000 people. Japan built a similar system in response to the 1995 Kobe earthquake that killed 6,400 people. Taiwan built an alert warning system after the Chi Chi earthquake in 1999 killed 2,400, and China is building one as a response to the 2008 Wenchuan quake that killed 87,000. Both Japan and South Korea provide cell phone alerts to their citizens.
Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite
2 1 of 2 D. Ross Cameron / Associated Press 2018 Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Ethan Miller / Getty Images Show More Show Less
With little debate, the Oakland City Council has given final approval to renewing the Raiders lease for 2019 and, possibly, the 2020 season at the Coliseum.
The vote capped months of back-and-forth meetings and oral jabs between the Oakland Alameda Coliseum Authority and Raiders owner Mark Davis, who was upset that the city joined a lawsuit seeking damages for the teams upcoming move to Las Vegas.
Juha Springare, the officer in charge of the pre-trial investigation at the Eastern Uusimaa Police Department, on Monday said the investigators are presently not aware of any indicators that the act was premeditated or involved other people.
THE ATTEMPT TO ASSAULT Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini (BR) in Vantaa on Sunday was unlikely premeditated.
The incident took place during a campaign event of the Blue Reform in Korso, Vantaa. Soini, who was participating in the event to lend support to his party comrades, was approached by a middle-aged man behaving aggressively and threateningly. The police officers on site managed to prevent the attack and apprehend the suspect, a man born in 1967.
The man is tentatively suspected of attempted assault and violent resistance of a public official, according to Springare.
A number of party leaders expressed their dismay with the attack.
Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre) stated that all attacks against democracy and all forms of political violence must be condemned. Together we have to defend our valuable democracy, he underscored on Twitter.
Antti Rinne, the chairperson of the Social Democrats, urged his fellow party leaders to adopt a common position against political violence, reminding that violence should never be used to resolve political differences of opinion in a civilised democracy.
Democracy is so valuable that we have to put an immediate stop to those who despise it, he tweeted.
Jussi Halla-aho, the chairperson of the Finns Party, reminded that voting is the correct way to have an impact on the society.
Finland is an exceptional country in that politicians are able to along the streets and there is no barbed wire around the Parliament House. Lets keep Finland like that also in the future. You can have an impact by voting, not by picking up a fight, he said.
Aleksi Teivainen HT
Source: Uusi Suomi
The targets were government officials, a pastor, reporters and LGBQT activists located in places ranging from Sacramento to Dallas.
They were among the recipients of nearly 50 death threats and harassing letters some laced with white powder sent by one man who authorities said was trying to frame his father and fathers associates.
Sacramento resident Darnell Ray Owens was arrested in Tulsa on Friday after officials connected him to the threats through DNA evidence taken from letters sent through the U.S. mail, authorities said. Federal prosecutors in Sacramento charged Owens, 32, with interstate threats and a hoax involving biological weapons, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott said Monday.
If convicted, Owens could face up to five years in prison for each of the two charges.
Court documents released on Monday say the threats began in February 2018. They included the return addresses of several different people, in what FBI agent described as an elaborate scheme by Owens to frame others.
Some of the first letters were mailed to the LGBTQ Community Center in Sacramento, where the letters author used hate speech and threatened to murder every gay and transgender person in the city.
Another addressed to the Sacramento Police Department claimed that officers were trying to start a race war by killing people of color, and threatened to murder you pigs with my words and weapons.
In July, an employee of the First Baptist Church in Dallas opened a letter containing a white powder, vowing to assassinate your pastor in the name of Allah, and burn down Christian churches.
The Sacramento County Department of Revenue Recovery received another letter containing white powder in August, with the letters author threatening to burn down the building and kill a lot of people.
The woman who opened the letter told FBI agent Stacy Landrus that she spilled white powder on her hands and had never been so scared, according to court records.
More letters mailed through late 2018 threatened to kill specific television news reporters in Sacramento, the Elk Grove mayor and white people in general.
Most of the threats were sent via U.S. mail. Other threats were submitted via online complaint forms.
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 final letter listed in court documents arrived on about March 21, addressed to Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schuberts office. The letter stated that the prosecutor had failed this city and the people and detailed how the author would assassinate her.
Most of the letters were postmarked in Sacramento, and included the return address of Owens father or others associated with Owens father.
One of the people Owens allegedly targeted told investigators that Owens and his sister had been in an argument with their father about parties they had at the dads apartment. The father told the siblings they needed to move out, court documents state.
Officials said they connected DNA evidence from the letters to a birthday card Owens sent to a distant cousin.
The case is part of an ongoing investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Sacramento Police Department.
Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
Commercial Dungeness crab fishermen in California have agreed to stop fishing three months earlier than usual both this year and next year as the result of a legal settlement aimed at protecting whales and sea turtles from entanglement in their gear.
The local Dungeness season will come to a halt on April 15 this year, and in 2020 it will end on April 1 in the Monterey Bay and in the region surrounding the San Francisco Bay, from the Mendocino County line to Pigeon Point. The shortened seasons could result in multiple millions of dollars in losses to state fishermen, said Noah Oppenheim, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations.
The fleet is still recovering from even bigger losses during the domoic acid outbreak that delayed and restricted several Dungeness crab seasons starting in 2015. The outbreak was a result of the same warming ocean conditions that likely caused whales to venture closer to shore, and thus closer to fishing gear, than usual.
Fishermen have known for a very long time that climate change was going to impact their livelihood, Oppenheim said. Now were seeing it.
In 2017, Oaklands Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit that accused the California Department of Fish and Wildlife of not doing enough to protect endangered whales and sea turtles from entanglements in Dungeness crab fishing gear. The two sides, with the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations as intervenor defendant along with the state fishery agency, reached a settlement Tuesday.
The parties have also agreed to other long-term restrictions on the $68 million fishery. The state is in the process of developing a habitat conservation plan with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, aimed at protecting endangered species impacted by the fishery. Under the settlement, the state will be required to file whats called an incidental take permit related to that plan by next May. That permit process could take years to develop, said Kristen Monsell, attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, which is why short-term limits are in place for now.
We think its absolutely great news and a great victory for whales and sea turtles off Californias coast, Monsell said. I do think its a turning point that will get us to zero entanglement.
Paul Chinn/The Chronicle
Whale entanglements in fishing gear, particularly gear used by Dungeness crab fishermen, saw a sharp increase on the West Coast between 2014 and 2016, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The increase was most likely due to the El Nino weather pattern and a marine heat wave (sometimes known as the warm blob) that started in 2014, driving whales closer to shore. Compared with an annual average of 10 reported whale entanglements between 2000 to 2014, there were 30 in 2014, 62 in 2015 and 71 in 2016.
Such whale entanglements in U.S. fishing gear on the West Coast went down in 2017 to 31, but preliminary estimates for 2018 show entanglements are up to 36; five of those involved the California Dungeness crab fleet.
State fishermen have been participating in a Dungeness Crab Gear Working Group to come up with ways to reduce entanglements, such as by tightening the loose lines that whales and turtles can get tangled in, and developing so-called ropeless gear.
Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.
Whales become entrapped by lines most often during spring and in certain hot spots where feed resources are abundant, including Monterey Bay. Thats why the settlement, which is still pending court approval, calls for fishermen to stop crabbing in 2020 by April 1 in the region between the Mendocino County line to Pigeon Point (near Half Moon Bay), as well as from Monterey Bay south. The agreement also allows for other closures if there are confirmations that endangered species have been entangled.
Fishermen are going to be working around the clock to get their gear in and comply with this settlement, said Oppenheim. Its not a decision that commercial fishermen will be celebrating. But it will assure that they can operate and provide Californians with the crab resource that they love.
Chronicle staff writer Bob Egelko contributed to this report.
Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan
Family planning for women might one day be as simple as putting on an earring.
A report published recently in the Journal of Controlled Release describes a technique for administering contraceptive hormones through special backings on jewelry such as earrings, wristwatches, rings or necklaces. The contraceptive hormones are contained in patches applied to portions of the jewelry in contact with the skin, allowing the drugs to be absorbed into the body.
Initial testing suggests the contraceptive jewelry may deliver sufficient amounts of hormone to provide contraception, though no human testing has been done yet. A goal for the new technique is to improve user compliance with drug regimens that require regular dosages. Beyond contraceptives, the jewelry-based technique might also be used for delivering other drugs through the skin.
"The more contraceptive options that are available, the more likely it is that the needs of individual women can be met," said Mark Prausnitz, a Regents Professor and the J. Erskine Love Jr. chair in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. "Because putting on jewelry may already be part of a woman's daily routine, this technique may facilitate compliance with the drug regimen. This technique could more effectively empower some women to prevent unintended pregnancies."
This proof-of-concept research was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under a subcontract funded by FHI 360.
Contraceptive jewelry adapts transdermal patch technology that is already used to administer drugs that prevent motion sickness, support smoking cessation, and control the symptoms of menopause, but have never been incorporated into jewelry before. Contraceptive patches are also already available, but Prausnitz believes pairing them with jewelry may prove attractive to some women - and allow more discreet use of the drug delivery technology.
"There is a lot of experience with making and using conventional transdermal patches," he said. "We are taking this established technology, making the patch smaller and using jewelry to help apply it. We think that earring patches can expand the scope of transdermal patches to provide additional impact."
Postdoctoral Fellow Mohammad Mofidfar, Senior Research Scientist Laura O'Farrell and Prausnitz tested the concept on animal models, first on ears from pigs. Test patches mounted on earring backs and containing the hormone levonorgestrel were also applied to the skin of hairless rats. To simulate removal of the earrings during sleep, the researchers applied the patches for 16 hours, then removed them for eight hours. Testing suggested that even though levels dropped while the earrings were removed, the patch could produce necessary amounts of the hormone in the bloodstream.
The earring patch tested by the researchers consisted of three layers. One layer is impermeable and includes an adhesive to hold it onto an earring back, the underside of a wristwatch or the inside surface of a necklace or ring. A middle layer of the patch contains the contraceptive drug in solid form. The outer layer is a skin adhesive to help stick to skin so the hormone can be transferred. Once in the skin, the drug can move into the bloodstream and circulate through the body.
If the technique ultimately is used for contraception in humans, the earring back would need to be changed periodically, likely on a weekly basis.
The contraceptive jewelry was originally designed for use in developing countries where access to health care services may limit access to long-acting contraceptives such as injectables, implants and IUDs. However, Prausnitz says the technology may be attractive beyond that initial audience. "We think contraceptive jewelry could be appealing and helpful to women all around the world," said Prausnitz.
The researchers tested patches adhered to earring backs, about one square centimeter in area, and placed them tightly on the skin of the test animals. Earring backs and watches may be most useful for administering drugs because they remain in close contact with the skin to allow drug transfer. The dose delivered by a patch is generally proportional to the area of skin contact.
"The advantage of incorporating contraceptive hormone into a universal earring back is that it can be paired with many different earrings," Prausnitz noted. "A woman could acquire these drug-loaded earring backs and then use them with various earrings she might want to wear."
Though transdermal drug-delivery patches have been available since 1979, testing would be required to determine whether the earring patch is safe and effective. In addition, research would be required to determine whether the concept would be attractive to women in different cultures.
"We need to understand not only the effectiveness and economics of contraceptive jewelry but also the social and personal factors that come into play for women all around the world," Prausnitz said. "We would have to make sure that this contraceptive jewelry concept is something that women would actually want and use."
The technique could potentially be used to deliver other pharmaceuticals, though it would only be suitable for skin-permeable drugs that require administration of quantities small enough to fit into the patches.
"We think there are uses beyond contraceptive hormones, but there will always be a limitation that the drug has to be effective with a low enough dose to fit into the limited space in the patch," Prausnitz said. "It also should be a drug that would benefit from continuous delivery from a patch and that is administered to a patient population interested in using pharmaceutical jewelry."
The earring patch is designed to add another contraceptive option for women. "Pharmaceutical jewelry introduces a novel delivery method that may make taking contraceptives more appealing," he added. "Making it more appealing should make it easier to remember to use it."
@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Members of the Vanuatu Police Force mingled with members of the public at Seafront and Fatumaru Bay
President Trumps ceaseless attacks on the press make him an unlikely First Amendment crusader, but that didnt stop him from signing an executive order last week that vaguely and redundantly commands federal agencies to withhold funding from universities deemed hostile to free speech.
Trumps proximate cause celebre is one Hayden Williams, a conservative activist whose silly slogans so enraged a misguided passerby on UC Berkeleys Sproul Plaza that their encounter ended with a lavishly recorded and broadcast punch in the face. Williams black eye was cited as the latest evidence of liberal campuses violent suppression of conservative views.
The presidents ultimatum to Berkeley and other campuses, which he said threatens billions and billions in research grants, promotes the misunderstanding that the First Amendment protects expression from every imaginable interference or inconvenience. In fact, its government infringement of free speech that the founding document forbids.
It follows that a man who in his private capacity socks another man for his expressed opinions, while rightly subject to ostracism and arrest, does not normally raise constitutional questions. A president wielding federal power to punish or compel expression, however, is a more likely First Amendment offender.
College campuses have indeed seen a troubling increase in intolerance of certain views, and protests of conservative speakers at Berkeley and other universities have occasionally turned violent. This is an educational challenge and potentially an institutional one. In 2017, when Berkeley officials found themselves in the difficult position of mediating between deliberately inflammatory conservative speakers and dangerous demonstrators, they made the mistake of appearing insufficiently eager to facilitate free expression.
The university soon rectified those missteps, however, by developing a consistent policy and making extraordinary efforts to accommodate controversial speakers. It also came to an agreement with a conservative group that sued the school.
As a public university, Berkeley is obligated by the First Amendment and more to ensure free expression. But despite the evident desire of conservative activists and media to portray last months assault as a case of the university falling short of that obligation, it wasnt. Neither Williams nor his alleged assailant, Zachary Greenberg of Oakland, is a Berkeley student, and the university couldnt have foreseen the assault. Campus police sought the publics help identifying the suspect the next day, the administration rightly denounced the reprehensible incident the day after that, and Greenberg was arrested the following week.
This isnt a conspiracy to suppress political views; its a street crime that is being appropriately prosecuted. If anything here is a state-sponsored menace to free expression, its the presidents readiness to threaten higher education budgets on such a flimsy basis.
This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
That President Trump cannot be proved beyond a reasonable doubt to have criminally conspired with the Kremlins efforts to get him elected passes for good news for this president and this country. But Attorney General William Barrs suspect summary of Robert Muellers findings raises so many questions that it only amplifies the case for full disclosure of Muellers report.
The greatest doubts pertain to the other half of Muellers investigative charter: to determine whether the president criminally obstructed the investigation of his campaigns relationship with Russia. According to the attorney generals letter to lawmakers, Mueller neither concluded that Trump committed that crime nor precisely contrary to the presidents inevitable distortion exonerated him. Rather, he sets out evidence on both sides of the question, evidence the people and their representatives should be able to evaluate.
With two Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes killing 346 people in five months, many people are worried about flying. And revelations about what went wrong are only making the public more uneasy. In the wake of President Trumps nomination of a new Federal Aviation Administration chief, the agency needs to make some immediate course corrections to make public safety its No. 1 priority. The agency has tipped the scales too far in favor of the industry bottom line during the 737 Max program, with fatal and shameful results.
You the air passenger who wants assurance your aircraft is safe should demand them. Course corrections should include:
Fix the 737 Max fleet and get the airplanes flying safely again. The National Transportation Safety Board, Boeing and the FAA must thoroughly investigate what happened in these two crashes. Then Boeing, the FAA and the airlines must develop, mandate and implement the fixes that result from the investigations.
Identify what led to the crashes. Neither Boeing nor the FAA should repeat the design and certification process that permitted the Maxes to fly in the first place. Congress and the FAA should mandate the fixes that result from the investigations. Then, the FAA and airline industry should implement them.
Restore international confidence in the certification process. Regulators in Canada and the European Union have indicated they may conduct their own review of updates to the 737 Max, signaling distrust of the FAA. The 737 Max approval program clearly has been tilted in favor of profit, with clear violations of airliner safety principles. Boeing and the FAA must accept full responsibility for the crashes. The FAA, the regulator, needs to explain how it delegated too much of the certification work to the plane-maker and failed to identify and correct the design, certification and training errors that led to these crashes.
Impose severe penalties on anyone who makes faulty airworthiness findings. Accidental errors in such findings should result in serious financial and privilege penalties. Intentional efforts to circumvent the system safety design and airworthiness criteria for financial reasons should result in serious financial, privilege and criminal penalties. A criminal investigation sparked by the first Boeing 737 Max crash, Lion Air, is in progress to understand how the plane was certified and determine if any actions rise to a criminal level.
Require video recording systems with at least two hours of recording time on all planes with more than six passengers in order to gather information about the potential causes of aviation accidents. The FAA needs to work with Congress to establish strong privacy laws to protect video recordings to respond to pilots who are concerned about their privacy in the workplace.
Add technology, including deployable flight recorders, that investigators can find in days instead of months or years or not at all (as in the case of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared in 2014). There also should be runway alert systems that can prevent crashes at takeoff and landing, and low-airspeed alert systems to prevent one of the most common causes of crashes: pilot failure to maintain the high-enough airspeed to prevent loss of control.
Use your voice as an air traveler. Write your federal elected official (www.usa.gov/elected-officials) and demand that the FAA prioritize safety over money in its decisions. Make the same request of the FAA by writing the new administrator.
And if youre concerned about flying but must travel by air, Google accident rates by airline and then fly on the airplanes operated by the most experienced airlines with the longest safety records.
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices in Chicago, practices aviation law. His firm has litigated more cases against Boeing than any other plaintiffs attorney firm in the country.
WASHINGTON Lawmakers from the Bay Area and elsewhere in California hold a number of positions key to the investigation into Russian election interference and more broadly into President Trump.
So when the news came that Special Counsel Robert Mueller had concluded his investigation, those lawmakers were in the spotlight especially after Attorney General William Barr sent a letter to Congress saying there was no case to be made against the Trump campaign in connection with Russian interference, and not enough evidence to establish that Trump obstructed justice in Muellers probe. Republicans and the White House called the letter a vindication for Trump.
Mueller, however, wrote that the report did not exonerate Trump when it came to obstruction, according to the attorney general. So Barrs letter isnt good enough for many of those lawmakers. They are calling for the release of Muellers full report and underlying evidence, saying that without it, there can be no transparency.
Heres a roundup of key lawmakers reactions:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in a statement:
It is imperative for Mr. Barr to make the full report public and provide its underlying documentation and findings to Congress. Attorney General Barr must not give President Trump, his lawyers or his staff any sneak preview of Special Counsel Mueller's findings or evidence, and the White House must not be allowed to interfere in decisions about what parts of those findings or evidence are made public. ... The American people have a right to the truth. The watchword is transparency.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, in a statement:
Our country welcomes this long-overdue conclusion. ... This should be a lesson to my Democrat colleagues that chasing imagined scandals and following a partisan investigatory agenda will not result in any meaningful change for the country. In fact, it will do the opposite.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., ranking member of Senate Judiciary Committee and member of Senate Intelligence Committee, in a letter to Barr:
Congress must now determine the risks to national security, whether there was misconduct or abuse of power, whether existing laws are sufficient to deter and punish election interference, and what next steps are appropriate. A four-page summary of Special Counsel Muellers extensive investigation and report, with no underlying evidence or findings, is not adequate to accomplish our constitutional, legislative, and oversight responsibilities.
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., member of Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees, in a tweet:
The Mueller report needs to be made public, the underlying investigative materials should be handed over to Congress, and Barr must testify. That is what transparency looks like. A short letter from Trump's hand-picked Attorney General is not sufficient.
Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, ranking GOP member of the House Intelligence Committee, in a tweet:
The Russia investigation was based on false pretenses, false intel, and false media reports. House Intel found a yr ago there was no evidence of collusion, and Democrats who falsely claim to have such evidence have needlessly provoked a terrible, more than two-year-long crisis.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, member of House Intelligence and Judiciary committees, in a statement:
Congress and the American public must see every single word of Special Counsel Robert Muellers report. And we should see it at the same time as President Trump, a subject of the investigation, sees it. Nothing less than the rule of law in our country is on the line. Congress must also hear from Mueller himself to make sure that we have received the whole, unvarnished truth. No president is above the law.
Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, member of House Intelligence and Oversight Committees, in a tweet:
We don't know anything and we certainly can't reach any conclusions until they #ReleaseTheFullMuellerReport. That needs to be our top priority now.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, member of House Oversight Committee, in a tweet:
"There is no room here for selective editing or political favors the entire Mueller report must be made fully available to the American people. Thats transparency, thats oversight, and thats justice."
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, member of House Oversight Committee, in a statement:
The conclusion of the investigation is an important step, but there is still more left to come to light. The attorney general must send the full report and the underlying documents to Congress expeditiously and abide by congressional intent to make the reports findings public. The American people deserve transparency and accountability.
Six House committee chairs, including Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, and Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, in a letter to Barr:
Your four-page summary of the special counsels review is not sufficient for Congress, as a coequal branch of government, to perform this critical work. The release of the full report and the underlying evidence and documents is urgently needed by our committees to perform their duties under the Constitution.
Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
SACRAMENTO Are Californians ready to tax some of the states richest residents after death to close the wealth gap with the poor?
Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, is betting on a new state-level estate tax, modeled on the federal tax on property inheritance, to pay for programs that address Californias economic inequality.
Its a way of not having a permanent nobility in the U.S., Wiener said. We should help low-income, working families accumulate wealth so that they can send their kids to college, so that they can buy a home, so that they dont go bankrupt if they have an unexpected medical expense.
SB378, which Wiener plans to formally introduce Tuesday, would put an estate tax proposal on the November 2020 ballot.
If approved by voters, California would collect 40 percent of assets worth more than $3.5 million, or $7 million for married couples, after the owner dies the value at which the federal tax kicked in a decade ago.
The floor for federal estate taxes has risen steadily in the past 10 years, and doubled under the 2017 tax plan approved by Congress and signed by President Trump. It is now $11.4 million, or $22.8 million for married couples.
Its obscene how high this exemption has gone, Wiener said.
His proposed state tax would phase out at the current federal level. Like the federal tax, there would be exemptions for family farms and inheritance by a surviving spouse.
Wieners office estimates the tax would bring in an additional $500 million to $1 billion a year, which he wants to use on programs such as college savings accounts for low-income children.
Nearly 1 in 5 Californians lives in poverty, according to the latest estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, the highest rate of any state in the country.
California voters repealed a previous state inheritance tax and banned future ones in 1982, so Wieners plan must go to the ballot.
But getting it there will be a heavy lift, even though SB378 needs the approval of only a simple majority of lawmakers. Several major tax measures, which must pass with a two-thirds vote, are moving through the Legislature as California is experiencing a budget surplus of more than $20 billion.
Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
SACRAMENTO As a surging number of California parents forgo required vaccines for their children because of health concerns, the lawmaker behind the states mandatory vaccination law wants to remove the power to grant those exemptions from individual doctors.
State Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, announced legislation Tuesday that would require the state Department of Public Health to approve every request for a medical exemption to the childrens immunization schedule.
Its a follow-up to Pans 2015 bill that repealed a personal-belief exemption that parents could claim to keep their children from being vaccinated against diseases including measles, mumps, chickenpox, tetanus, whooping cough and rubella. The only children who can go without vaccines now are those with medical exemptions and those who are schooled at home.
Pans new bill, SB276, would direct the state health department to develop a standard exemption request form, using guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about what medical evidence indicates a vaccine that poses a risk to the child.
The bill would also mandate the creation of a statewide database of medical exemptions, including those that doctors have already approved. State and local public health officers would have access to the database and could revoke exemptions that do not meet the new guidelines.
Pan, a pediatrician, said the change is necessary to combat doctors who sell fraudulent medical exemptions to parents.
A study published in the journal Pediatrics last fall reported one case in which an unnamed physician issued medical exemptions after charging parents to watch a vaccine safety video, and another in which an unnamed specialist who did not practice family medicine was providing exemptions over the phone for $100.
We cannot allow a small number of unethical physicians to put our children back at risk, Pan said. Children and their families demand that we act to keep them safe.
Pan introduced his original legislation after a nationwide measles outbreak in late 2014 that was traced to a visitor to Disneyland who had not been vaccinated. When too many people do not get vaccinated, experts say, it undermines community immunity and allows for the spread of contagious diseases.
Despite staunch opposition from vaccine skeptics, the bill passed and inoculation rates rose to their highest level in 15 years. Pan survived an attempt to recall him.
Parents who dont want their children inoculated often cite fears that the vaccines are linked to autism. The concern originated with a 1998 study that was later discredited. The medical journal that published the studys findings withdrew the article 12 years later, and its lead author lost his medical license in his native Britain.
Rather than immunize their children, some parents seek exemptions from their doctors. The number of students entering kindergarten with a medical exemption has tripled since the personal exemption was repealed, to 0.7 percent during the 2017-18 school year.
The medical exemptions are particularly concentrated in white and wealthy communities. Last year, six of the 10 schools with the highest rate of kindergarten students exempted from their required vaccines were in the Bay Area. Two Sonoma County schools reported medical exemptions for more than half of kindergarten students.
A small measles outbreak in the Bay Area in 2018 was centered almost entirely among families that chose not to vaccinate their children, including two boys whose mother lied to public health investigators about their immunization status.
The California Medical Association and the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics are co-sponsors of SB276, citing a need to protect public health.
Im worried that if these bogus medical exemptions continue, were going to have another outbreak, said Eric Ball, an Orange County pediatrician who treated patients with measles after the Disneyland outbreak.
Pans announcement set off a furor among Californians for Vaccine Choice, a Facebook group created in 2015 to organize against the mandatory immunization law.
A post Tuesday warned that the CDC guidelines for medical exemptions were too narrow, potentially exposing children to severe allergic reactions to vaccines and eviscerating the critical doctor-patient relationship.
Under a photo of a gold star emblazoned with No On SB276, reminiscent of patches worn by Jews during the Holocaust, parents urged each other to call their representatives, while some compared Pan to Satan and Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter novels.
Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
WASHINGTON Sen. Kamala Harris outlined Tuesday how she would rapidly increase teachers pay as president, in her first major policy push as a 2020 candidate a move that taps into a surge of teacher activism across the country.
The California Democrat is proposing to use federal tax money to help close the teacher pay gap the amount by which teachers salaries trail those of similarly educated peers in other professions by the end of her first term, if elected. According to her campaign, the plan would boost the average teachers salary nationally by $13,500, the amount by which educators lag behind. The average California teacher would get a $10,300 pay bump.
Harris would also make helping low-income schools and teachers and students of color a top priority.
She estimates the cost at $315 billion over 10 years. Harris campaign said she would pay for it by strengthening the estate tax and cracking down on loopholes that let the very wealthiest, with estates worth multiple millions or billions of dollars, avoid paying their fair share.
The federal floor for inheritance taxes has risen steadily in recent years, and is now $11.4 million, or $22.8 million for married couples. Harris proposal did not go into specifics about whether those levels would change.
Harris rolled out her plan in the aftermath of several teachers strikes across the country, including in Oakland and Los Angeles. She is the first presidential candidate to put forward a plan that focuses on trying to recruit and retain teachers, and her proposed use of federal money would be a departure from paying educators exclusively with state and local funding sources.
When asked by The Chronicle why she chose to focus on teachers pay in her first big policy push, Harris noted that her first-grade teacher, Francis Wilson, attended her law school graduation.
It has really, for me, always been a priority to think about and support our teachers. Theyre the ones who educate our children, and the most direct path for any person to be able to achieve success is to have a meaningful education, Harris said. Theres two groups of people raising children parents and teachers and were not paying our teachers their value.
Harris would have the Department of Education work with states to set a minimum salary for teachers. The federal government would give each state the first 10 percent of necessary funding, then match $3 for every $1 states spend.
The federal money would be contingent on states maintaining their share of the funding.
Harris would offer additional support to the neediest schools, which disproportionately serve communities of color, her campaign said. The federal government would also help fund programs to recruit and retain teachers, giving preference to historically black colleges and universities and other institutions that serve racial minorities.
Other presidential candidates have put forward education proposals, most of them focusing on early childhood education, like Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren; or higher education costs, like Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders calls for free public college tuition for all. New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker has a teacher-focused proposal that would fund training and offer teachers loan forgiveness and tax credits.
Teachers who have staged walkouts recently in California, Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma and West Virginia have called for more pay and highlighted issues including overcrowded classrooms and lack of basic supplies.
Teachers salaries trail those of similarly educated peers. The gap was 23 percent in 2017, according to a paper by UC Berkeley economist Sylvia Allegretto and Economic Policy Institute fellow Lawrence Mishel. The international Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development put it at roughly 40 percent, the largest of all the countries it studies.
In an interview, Allegretto said a large investment in public education is necessary to counter years of tight budgets that intensified with the 2008 economic crash. She said she welcomes any proposal that would drive a national conversation about it.
There has been a lot that has happened in this last year, Allegretto said. It is clear that it is on the minds of many Americans throughout the entire country. We had massive amounts of support for all of the teachers strikes ... and although I think its been kind of off the table at the national level, I think a national conversation about this and what this might look like is very much needed.
The Harris campaign pointed to praise for her proposal by the nations biggest teachers unions, the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association. Unions have traditionally been a bastion of Democratic support, and Harris joined other candidates in supporting recent teachers strikes.
Education is among the top issues for Americans, according to Pew Research Center polling. Democrats put an especially high priority on it, with 76 percent saying it is important, trailing only health care costs.
Allegretto and other public education funding advocates argue that investing in teachers can have ripple effects in the economy.
In this country, money often equals prestige, and when we underpay our teachers we send a message ... that this is not a profession worthy of respect, said Catherine Brown of the left-leaning Center for American Progress. She consulted with Harris campaign on the proposal outside of her role with the think tank.
We need to fix that if were going to remain the economic leader and remain a healthy democracy, Brown said. So I do think it would be transformative.
Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
President Trump will be in California next week for a campaign fundraiser, buoyed by what he called his complete and total exoneration by Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Hes likely to find plenty of people who disagree with him as he ventures into California for only the third time in his presidency. California is a deep-blue state that overwhelmingly supported Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, and that opposition hasnt gone away. A January poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found that only 30 percent of the states adults approved of the job Trump was doing as president.
Trump will be in the Los Angeles area April 5 to raise money for his re-election campaign. Tickets are $15,000 for dinner, $50,000 for the opportunity to take a picture with Trump and $150,000 to participate in a roundtable discussion, according to an invitation obtained by City News Service in Los Angeles.
Details of the trip have not yet been released, which is typical for any presidential travel.
Theres no indication that Trump will be doing any California-related events during his visit. Typically, fundraising events are handled through the campaign and the Republican National Committee, with local GOP officials often getting little more than a heads-up notice of the presidents plans.
It took more than a year after Trumps January 2017 inauguration for him to venture to the nations largest state. He was in California for less than 24 hours last March, inspecting prototypes for his proposed border wall, speaking to an audience of Marines in San Diego and attending a Beverly Hills fundraiser for the Republican National Committee.
He returned to California in November, traveling to the fire-ravaged town of Paradise in Butte County with then-Gov. Jerry Brown and current Gov. Gavin Newsom before heading to Southern California to examine damage from the Woolsey Fire. He returned to Washington, D.C., the same day.
Trump has been critical of California and its Democratic leaders for their opposition to his plan for a border wall, support for sanctuary cities and strong environmental actions, which the president said helped fuel the fires that have roared through the state in recent years.
California residents returned the bad feelings. Protesters were out in force during Trumps visit to the border and Beverly Hills, and can be expected to show up again next week in Los Angeles.
Since Sundays release of a four-page summary of Muellers report by Attorney General William Barr, Trump has been in attack mode, saying in a tweet Tuesday that the media is truly the enemy of the people and in a White House news conference Monday that people have done treasonous things against our country, by supporting the investigation into the actions of Trump, his campaign and his supporters in connection with Russian election interference.
Barr wrote that the report did not find that the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia. He said Mueller did not come to a conclusion about whether Trump obstructed justice, but that Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein decided there was insufficient evidence to establish that the president had done so.
When it came to obstruction, Mueller wrote that while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him, according to the attorney general.
Add to that, Monday nights announcement that the Trump administration is backing a new effort to overturn former President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act, and the elements are there for a contentious visit to California.
John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
Midway through a weeknight tasting-menu dinner at the French Laundry, a server wheeled a slim side table up to mine and walked away, leaving me and my dining companion perplexed. Were they going to cut something up table side, like Peking duck? Would the sommelier come by to play three-card Monte with us? I thought I knew what to expect when I walked in: This moment of apprehension was almost refreshing. Fool that I was, even then I didnt think the kitchen could surprise me all that much.
Thats when they brought out a glass bong, a foot-long round-base number with rivulets along its tube and a sea of blue and green swirls at its base. The kind you use to smoke drugs. Plumes of white smoke poured out of it as it stood high, with the kind of boldness that Im terrible at faking when I walk into rooms like this one. That shouldnt be here, I thought, feeling the curious gazes of the fancy folk whod paid good money and donned blazers as per the dress code to earn their places in the dining room that night. They didnt get a bong.
When Pete Wells reviewed Per Se, he compared the mushroom bouillon to dirty bong water, the server said as he pulled the bowl and stem out of the instrument with the same flourish hed surely use to uncork a bottle of wine. So this is a play on that review.
He winked at us as he poured porcini mushroom broth indeed, the color of rancid bong water into my bowl. I marveled as it cascaded over the vegetarian pot-au-feu of carrots, oxheart cabbage and a layer of leeks wrapped around black winter truffle confit, made to look like a beef bone. It was a brilliantly executed in-joke.
After dinner, I emailed the French Laundrys public relations people about the bong. In an email, they responded that its something Thomas Keller pulls out for restaurant industry folks because he knows wed get a kick out of it. (This is true. And Keller knows me from a previous encounter during my past life as a New Orleanian line cook.)
It is clearly a tongue-in-cheek reference to past writing and is not on the menu, they wrote, but regularly prepared for guests as a fun item. When I pressed them on where the bong was actually from obviously not Riedel or Zalto all they would say was that it was hand blown by an artisan. (Im just going to stick with my fantasy image of Keller sending one of his externs to Napa Smoke N Vape with $50 in cash the day after Wells review dropped.)
In-jokes aside, theres an argument to be made that the bong fits in perfectly at the Laundry, a restaurant that played a key role in the American modernist food scene. Consider modern art where the surprising context of an object is the point. Think about Claes Oldenburg or Jeff Koons, who use objects with vernacular resonance like giant office supplies or a balloon dog crafted from polished steel to transplant awe into things we usually dont think twice about. By bringing banal objects into art spaces like the gallery or museum, the artists make these familiar things alien, and we viewers are prompted to step outside of ourselves and reconsider the shapes and colors that weve grown used to glazing over every day.
Soleil Ho / The Chronicle
The same happens when a colorful glass bong, one that could have been stolen from any college kids dorm room, is brought into the French Laundry. Like the little mermaid combing her hair with a fork in a ballroom, the bongs anarchic presence creates an art moment, a happening, in an otherwise staid dining room. Though the official stance is that its an in-joke, an expression of Oh, those wacky critics! to be shared among restaurant industry colleagues, I think its more than that.
Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.
Its fascinating to think about how Keller, a famously careful and perfectionist chef, that classic swan gliding effortlessly through the water while its feet churn underneath, metabolized the stress from Wells review of Kellers Per Se in Manhattan. It would be easier to just let go of the past: to put bad memories aside and assure yourself that history wont repeat itself.
But for him to parade those memories in front of people in front of a critic! is a much braver tack. It comes off as a subtle tugging at his collar: a moment of chaotic energy to show that hes learned from his mistakes.
As for what I thought about the rest of the meal? More on that later.
Soleil Ho is The San Francisco Chronicles restaurant critic. Email: soleil.ho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Hooleil
Though mystical minerals like blue lapis, amethyst, quartz and jade have purportedly been used for healing rites in ancient Egypt and China for thousands of years, science-minded Americans tend to dismiss crystals as bunkum. Tell that to your saleswoman at Sephora, who will probably sell you on a rose quartz energy comb or an amethyst body scrub, promising to exfoliate your skin as well as your bad juju.
Mainstream beauty brands like Herbivore and Dermadoctor have jumped headfirst into the crystal-infused skin care trend, touting benefits as varied as brightening and anti-inflammation. Face rollers and gua sha (facial scraping) tools made from jade, rose quartz and other crystals, said to de-puff eyes and boost circulation, have become the go-to gift with purchase for cool-girl skin care brands. Even drugstore mainstay Revlon launched a limited-edition Crystal Aura Collection earlier this month. The eight-piece assortment of iridescent makeup is inspired by the colors of auras and helps you channel your inner power, according to the brand.
While mass retailers churn out crystal-theme products, independent Northern California brands such as This Magic Life, Laurel Whole Plant Organics and Pink Light Botanicals ignore the rose quartz-colored hype and stay a more grounded (albeit enlightened) course.
Crystal-lifers like London Elise, owner of This Magic Life Day Spa in San Francisco, are indifferent to how crystals are trending; instead, they are integral to her practice. The aesthetician has been incorporating metaphysical modalities into her practices for more than 20 years. In her Mission District spa, water bottles can have amethysts suspended inside, while tarot card decks, crystals and flower essences commingle with clean skin care products.
Trained in massage therapy and astrology, Elise, who also owns Studio Soothe in Hayes Valley, incorporates crystals into her facials by placing them on the clients body during treatment.
It is an opportunity to introduce people to various modes of healing arts, she says. Someone may be used to getting facials but never had a crystal placed on their chest. That somatic experience may help them anchor their experience and connect to their body in a whole new and deeper way.
Pink Light Botanicals
Bay Area skin care brand founders Laurel Shaffer of Laurel Whole Plant Organics and Amber Woods of Pink Light formulate their skin and body care products with crystals for a similar reason: to help customers connect with their own bodies and sense of themselves.
Woods created Pink Light Botanicals in 2010. As an aesthetician and formulator, I wasnt seeing healing, self-love or self-care in the treatment rooms or in the products, she says. A trained herbalist and aesthetician, Woods also studied crystals and energy work before opening her skin studio in Oakland.
Crystal Resources This Magic Life: 299 Guerrero St, 415-801-5120, www.thismagiclife.com Laurel Whole Plant Organics: www.laurelskin.com Pink Light Botanicals: 4454-A Piedmont Ave., Oakland, 510-943-2395, https://pink-light.com See More Collapse
Woods makes her own flower and gem essences, then adds them to her formulas based on what she wants the user to experience.
When I formulate with flower and gem essences, I add whatever energetic properties I would like to infuse into the formula, Woods says. For example, I use an essence of rhodochrosite (a pink stone) in the Self Love Spray. Rhodochrosite is the ultimate stone of self-love and encourages a positive outlook. Thats a cornerstone to this formula and its effectiveness. This ingredient is nearly invisible, but you can tell theres a depth to this spray that surpasses a typical aromatherapy mist.
Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.
Laurel Whole Plant Organics Shaffer doesnt see her brand as metaphysical or crystal-focused. However, she has always incorporated crystal and gem essences because crystals are so prominent in her own life.
When I moved to California, I developed such a strong connection with crystals that I wanted to share it with others, Shaffer says. At the time, when I created California Body Oil, I was struggling with my own body acceptance. I wanted to learn to love my body just the way it was and I dont know of any woman who doesnt have that issue.
Shaffer formulated the oil so it would have an energetic impact on whomever opened the bottle. I wanted it to not only smell beautiful and feel beautiful but encourage you to love your own body, she says. Shaffer creates her oil-based gem and crystal essences by infusing jojoba oil with crystals and gems in the sun. Gems reflect like light energy, the light reflects back to us into the oil, and thats what I use.
Elise, Woods and Shaffer are all consistent in their reasons for using crystals not to chase the proverbial trend dragon but to share the healing energies they incorporate into their own lives.
As Woods says, I believe that an important part of skin care is to shift your mind-set and to love your skin to create a practice of viewing yourself with loving self-perception.
Janna Mandell is a beauty freelance writer in Marin County. Email: style@sfchronicle.com
Hardy Wallace is a winemaker. Hes used to being at the mercy of the elements. But what happened to Wallace in 2017 was more than any winemaker ever bargains for.
In the span of about a month, Wallace and his family experienced a calamitous combination of virus, blindness, death and fire. It looked as if all of Wallaces wine from the 2017 harvest and by extension his small business, Dirty & Rowdy Family Wines might be ruined. But thanks to technology, creative thinking and a reconsideration of his personal principles, Wallace was ultimately able to revive a lost vintage, an improbable creation that became a roaring success.
I honestly didnt think wed still be in business, he says.
The trouble began in late August 2017, near the start of harvest, when Wallace was checking in on the fast-ripening fruit at the Brousseau Vineyard in Monterey County. Suddenly his eye started to feel dry. He drove to the drugstore to buy eye drops, but the discomfort worsened.
By the time he had driven home to Napa, his eye was swollen shut and he could no longer see out of it. As soon as he walked in the door, his wife, Kate Graham, said: Youre going to urgent care.
Wallace learned that a shingles-like virus was attacking him. Because it was in his cornea, his doctor advised against an antiviral medication. Youre just gonna have to wait it out, Wallace recalls the doctor saying. It could be a month before his eye would feel back to normal.
He panicked. This was go time, harvest time, the one time in a year when a winemakers work really matters. Even worse, a heat spike was forecast for Labor Day weekend, which threatened to shrivel grapes into raisins before they had reached physiological ripeness. Winemakers would have a tough choice to make: let the grapes fry, or pick them underripe? Now, Wallace might not even be able to make that crucial decision. He makes only about 3,000 cases of wine a year, microscopic by wine industry standards. With two young children, he and Graham dont have a lot of wiggle room financially.
Then the virus jumped to Wallaces spinal cord, leaving him without sight. It felt like someone was turning a screwdriver in your eye, he says.
But help seemed to be on the way. Grahams brother Angus, in Oregon to watch the solar eclipse, offered to drive down to Napa to help with the Dirty & Rowdy harvest.
He never made it.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle
They would learn that Angus car had spun off an embankment in Glendale, Ore. It took a full day before someone found his car and notified law enforcement.
Sitting at a table in the Santa Rosa winery where he works, Wallace chokes up, dipping his head as he puts a fist to his mouth. It never gets easier to tell this story, he says.
Friends at other wineries offered to make the Dirty & Rowdy wines for them that season whatever they needed. Wallace had faith that his eyes would heal in time for him to save the vintage. I still didnt know what we were going to be up against, he says.
By early October, the virus had started to subside and Wallaces vision was slowly improving. But his woe was far from over. On the same day that Graham and their daughter, then 1 year old, returned from Angus memorial service on the East Coast, wildfire struck Wine Country.
The family was forced to leave their Napa home and stayed in a series of hotels for a week. Like many winemakers, Wallace couldnt access his winery during this critical time. The heat spike alone had compromised the wines; then they had been more or less neglected. The best-case scenario, he couldnt help but think, would be for all of his wine to burn. There was nothing worth saving, he says. (Neither his winery nor his home ended up being damaged in the fires.)
By the time he got back into the winery, his vision repaired at last, he was devastated to see what awaited. Every fermentation was sticking, Wallace says. Volatile acidity levels soared through the roof. Nothing was making sense.
He couldnt save Angus. But could he save the vintage and save his business?
Its worth saying a word about Wallaces winemaking. He is a non-interventionist. He ferments his wines only with indigenous yeast, does not filter or fine, does not make additions of acid or tannin or concentrate. He adds very little sulfur. Although he has mixed feelings about claiming natural wine as Dirty & Rowdys identity, he is making wines that qualify as natural by almost any standards. His wines are sold by distributors that specialize in natural wine, like Amy Atwood Selections and Jenny & Francois Selections.
The events of 2017 forced Wallace to throw all of those principles out the window. Making wine naturally is important to me, but its not who we are, he says. By the end of the harvest season, he had one priority: to make something thats drinkable.
So Wallace performed a series of treatments that any natural winemaker would consider an abomination. He used commercial yeast to re-start the fermentations. He employed reverse osmosis to remove the volatile acidity. He put the wine through a harsh cross-flow filter.
Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.
Thank God for technology, he says. It turned something that was not wine into wine.
Dirty & Rowdy always bottles a Mourvedre called Familiar, a blend of different vineyards from throughout California. In 2017, Wallace took this technologically engineered, very non-natural Mourvedre and called it what it was: Unfamiliar.
He told his distributors of natural wines that hed understand if they didnt want to sell a manipulated wine. To his surprise, they were unequivocally supportive. Wallace knew he couldnt charge much for the Unfamiliar Mourvedre in good conscience. He marked it at $23 retail, which represented a loss of about $20 a case for him. But he was just happy to recoup any of his costs.
Russell Yip / The Chronicle
The silver lining? That $23 price meant that hundreds of restaurants could serve a Dirty & Rowdy wine by the glass for the first time. (The 2018 Familiar, by contrast, is $33 a bottle, which is a little too expensive for a glass pour at most restaurants.) It helped us get our wine in front of so many more people, Wallace says. He finally sold out of the wine a couple of weeks ago, though many of the 2,300 cases are still at shops and restaurants.
The 2017 Unfamiliar Mourvedre is better than drinkable: Its a pretty wine, with herbal and floral tones and a hit of black tea on the finish. While it lacks the exuberance of some of Wallaces other wines, it still has character. At $23 a bottle, Id happily drink it. (Another 2017 Unfamiliar wine, a Petite Sirah, will be released in the fall.)
As painful as it is to remember the events of 2017, Wallace is making sense of it as only a winemaker can. Wine tells the story of a time and place, for better or worse. In its own way, the Unfamiliar represents the journey that he and his family endured in that year, from disaster-struck bewilderment to hardened acceptance.
Theres something of Angus in this wine, Wallace says.
Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob
The daughter of a Jane Doe is looking for answers after her mother was identified as the woman found dead at a Vacaville construction site 28 years ago.
"It was bittersweet when I found out she had passed," Caitlin Johnson said.
Johnson is the long-lost daughter of 38-year-old Cynthia Merkley, whose body was discovered in a Vacaville field in 1991. Merkley's identity was a mystery until just this month. Her cause of death is still unknown.
Just two weeks after Vacaville police cracked a cold case that had stymied them for years, Johnson is now seeking answers about how her mother died and why no one reported it for 28 years.
Who was Cynthia Merkley?
Johnson said her mother had a drug addiction and abandoned her and six other children. Johnson said she was Merkley's third child and that all seven kids were left behind by their mother, who was estranged from her family.
Johnson said she was put in foster care just two weeks before her first birthday, just after her mother was discovered in downtown Santa Rosa, behind the locked door of a restaurant. When she refused to come out, the manager called police.
"When they arrived, they were able to open the door and see she was currently under the influence and homeless," Johnson said from her home in Santa Rosa.
Johnson explained her mother was "bathing me in a sink. But, she also fit the description of someone who had stolen a knife that day."
Merkley was arrested that day in 1983 -- a key event that would later provide a critical clue in unraveling Jane Doe's identity.
How did investigators identify Vacaville's Jane Doe?
Merkley was arrested in Sonoma County for the knife theft in 1983 and booked into the Sonoma County jail, according to Vacaville police Det. Andrew Polik.
"Through the normal process, they took her fingerprints and photograph," Polik said.
Eight years later, Merkley's body was discovered in Vacaville. At first, there was no match to the fingerprints on record. Then this year, new technology enabled investigators to crack the case.
"A new process was developed since then, basically analyzing those digital images they have," Polik explained. "And, the (California Department of Justice) missing persons unit in Sacramento was able to make a match to her fingerprints."
Was Merkley headed somewhere at the time of her murder?
Merkley had been seen in Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz but, "she was on her way to Sacramento, which is where her family did live," Johnson said.
Merkley's mother and sister both lived in Fair Oaks, Johnson explained. The mother has since died and the sister moved to another state.
"I'd say the most difficult part was knowing she was missing for 27 and a half years and no one said anything," Johnson said.
"How does a body go missing that long?" she added.
Johnson believes her mother likely died from a drug overdose, but she'd like to know for sure.
"It was shocking because I always had this feeling she was out there somewhere," Johnson said. She always hoped, "that I could find her and let her know that I'm here for her -- and that I forgive her."
How can you help with the case?
Vacaville police believe that someone out there has information that can determine exactly how Merkley died.
"It's a big mystery," Polik said. "She was out there for two to three weeks perhaps. Nobody knows how she got there."
Police are asking for anyone with leads about this case to call Polik at 707-469-4814.
This story originally appeared on KCRA.
The people of the Bay Area have spoken on the case of Hillsborough v. The Flintstone House.
The lawn sculptures cascading down the backyard of the unique house are not "eye sores," as a recent complaint against the house stated, but joyous neighborhood attractions. At least, that's according to the 13,658 people who signed an online petition urging the city to "Leave the home owners alone!" as of Tuesday afternoon.
Helen Garcia, of San Jose, created the petition last week. It's directed at Governor Gavin Newsom and the Natural History Museum of London, which is seemingly related to the home solely on account of its large dinosaur fossil collection.
SEE ALSO: Peak inside the 'secret' crown jewel of the Transamerica Pyramid
The trouble for the Flintstone House started months ago.
Owner Florence Fang purchased the ostentatious orange-and-purple home, a longstanding visual quirk along a stretch of Interstate 280, in 2017 for $2.8 million. Fang is a former publisher of the San Francisco Examiner and now helms the San Mateo-based Florence Fang Family Foundation.
According to rubberneckers along I-280, the property gained some new residents shortly after its purchase a herd of dinosaur sculptures.
But that's not the only changes Fang made to the property, according to the complaint, filed this month in the Superior Court of California. Starting around 2017, Fang began installing "extensive improvements" in the yard, including the sculptures and a sign reading "Yabba Dabba Doo," the complaint says.
SEE ALSO: Colonial on famed trick-or-treating street in Berkeley for sale
She also reportedly built a retaining wall, steps, columns, gates, a parking strip and a deck to "accommodate her plan to use 45 Berryessa for parties and social gatherings." The town of Hillsborough claims some of these modifications created "life-safety hazards" that required immediate correction.
Fang allegedly instituted the improvements without proper planning approvals or building permits, with the exception of the wall installed at the front of the property. She could not be reached for comment.
You can read more about the ongoing case here.
It seems some Bay Area residents are disgruntled by the bureaucratic kerfuffle and the city's unfavorable aesthetic assessment of the property and its sculptures.
"Personally I would fight to keep these statues up and leave these owners alone," Garcia wrote in the petition. "As a child I would drive to San Francisco with my family to see my grandmother. I would wait patiently until I was able to catch a glimpse at the Flintstone House. At that time it was just orange and round and it intrigued me."
"Now when I drive my daughter up north, she waits to see the house and the steel statues that line the yard," Garcia continued. "She is a huge fan of the T-Rex. Removing the statues would devastate her and many of our childhood memories we have of this beautiful home."
More people have signed the petition than reside in the town of Hillsborough.
Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at michelle.robertson@sfgate.com.
Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.
A Northern California man was killed on his birthday after being swept off a rock by a "sneaker wave" on a beach near Trinidad. It was the first of two serious rogue wave incidents on the northern Pacific coast last weekend.
Andrew "Drew" Machi, 39, of Ione, Calif., was fishing off rocks north of Luffenholtz Beach on Friday when a large wave knocked him off his feet and into the water. According to the family's GoFundMe page, Machi's wife, Brandie, jumped into the surf and tried to rescue him, but strong waves kept "throwing her back into the rocks."
After being notified of the incident, the Coast Guard deployed a helicopter to the scene. Machi's body was located by a Coast Guard swimmer, hoisted into the helicopter and flown to Mad River Hospital.
"The coroner said he believes he hit his head on rocks and was knocked out," Brandie Machi's sister, Jamie Tracey, wrote on the fundraiser page.
Drew Machi reportedly worked for PG&E as a lineman. He and his family had been visiting the Humboldt County coast while on vacation.
A day after the tragic incident a woman relaxing on a beach in Manzanita, Ore., was seriously injured when a sneaker wave struck a log she was sitting on.
The surge of water lifted the log, initially estimated as weighing about 1,000 pounds, causing it roll over on top of her, Nehalem Bay Fire Chief Perry Sherbaugh told the Tillamook Headlight Herald. Fortunately, a rescue crew was able to move the log and free her.
KATU in Portland on Tuesday identified the woman as Heathyr Croasmun, 44. The station said she suffered 13 broken ribs and a fractured tailbone, and was in fair condition.
"It only takes a few inches of water to move those large logs and a one ton or two ton log is often non-survivable," Sherbaugh told the Headlight Herald. "Fortunately, she made it out, but it could have been a fatal situation."
While wave-related log injuries are not common, rangers and other authorities cautioned people to avoid large logs while exploring the shoreline.
Beach-goers, especially those with small children, should always keep their eyes peeled for strong rogue waves.
RELATED: Deadliest beach in California is in the Bay Area
"Never turn your back on the ocean" goes the saying, attributed to Hawaiian surfing pioneer Duke Kahanamoku.
---
Read Mike Moffitt's latest stories and send him news tips at moffitt@sfgate.com.
Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.
Six weeks after Russian River Brewing Company's fabled triple-IPA Pliny the Younger dried up on bar taps around the Bay Area, the brewery and Sonoma County announced the beer's economic impact on the North Bay: $4.16 million.
That number accounts for the cash "generated by visitors traveling from outside of Sonoma County specifically for the 2019 Younger release" to two of Russian River's locations, its Santa Rosa brewpub and the huge new Windsor brewhouse.
Altogether, that cash roughly $800k more than it generated last year came from locals and international visitors. Tourists came from 400 cities in 42 different American states, and from 14 countries as far off as Thailand, Malaysia and New Zealand. Around 73 percent of those who visited Russian River traveled to the area specifically for the Pliny release, and more than a third paid to stay in Sonoma County lodging.
RELATED: Blue cookie dough, Russian River beer and a huge videoboard: Here's what's new at Giants' ballpark
"We are very pleased with the results of the study and the positive impact our annual Pliny the Younger release has on Sonoma County year after year," co-founder and co-owner Natalie Cilurzo tells SFGATE, noting that many surrounding businesses benefited from the tourism influx. "The overall feedback from our customers and local business community was very positive."
This year marked the first time Russian River orchestrated a Pliny release from two bars; the new Windsor space, which Cilurzo calls their "wild card," opened last October, and wound up hosting more than half of those making a Pliny pilgrimage.
RELATED: Russian River Brewing opens new $50 million Windsor brewery to massive crowds
It was, fortunately, a crowd for which the brewery had prepared. In fact, Natalie and co-owner and brewer Vinnie Cilurzo had dreamt up the Windsor location in anticipation of Pliny.
"We designed the brewery with the Younger release in mind, including a restroom that is accessible from outside 24/7, the long walkway in front of the brewery for the line, and two acres of free parking," Natalie Cilurzo said. "We also bought about a dozen easy-ups to shelter our guests in case of rain, which it did pretty much every day during the release."
Despite the rain and the infamous line, it seems just about everyone considered the trek a positive experience Sonoma County reported that 96 percent of those who visited Russian River said they would attend again in the future.
Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.
Ride-hailing service Uber announced on Tuesday it has acquired Mideast competitor Careem for $3.1 billion, giving the San Francisco company the commanding edge in a region with a large, young, tech-savvy population.
It comes as Ubers losses grew last year ahead of plans for an initial public stock offering this spring.
Uber said the purchase consists of $1.7 billion in convertible notes and $1.4 billion in cash. It marks the largest technology transaction in the Middle East outside of Israel and propels the Dubai firm to top status among the regions budding tech startup scene.
Under the deal, Careem will keep its name and its app unchanged, at least for now, and will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Uber led by its own original founders.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the acquisition of Careem marks an important moment for Uber as we continue to expand the strength of our platform around the world.
In a memo to staff, Khosrowshahi said that keeping the Careem app intact allows Uber to try out new ideas across both companies. Over time, the firms will integrate part of their networks, he said.
The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020 and is subject to regulatory approval in several countries.
Egyptian regulators expressed concerns Tuesday that a merger would create to a monopoly in the market, which they cautioned could lead to price increases, degraded service quality and limited consumer choice. Egypts competition authority invited third parties to come forth with their concerns by the end of April as part of its investigation into the proposed deal.
Careem had been Ubers stiffest competitor in the Middle East. The service began in 2012 three years before Uber entered the market there.
Careem, founded by two former management consultants at McKinsey & Co., is popular in countries like Egypt and Pakistan because it allows customers to use cash, while Uber was initially a credit card-only system. Last year, Careem was said to be exploring a bus service for Egypts lower-income riders.
Despite Ubers introduction in the Middle East in 2015 and services like Uber Eats, which delivers food, Careem maintained the lead, operating in more than 100 cities across 15 countries. The company was valued at about $1 billion in a 2016 funding round and an estimated $2 billion last year.
Dubai now has three of the regions most high-profile startup success stories. In 2017, Amazon purchased Mideast online retailer Souq for reportedly close to $700 million. A decade ago, Yahoo acquired Dubais Arab-language internet site Maktoob.
Careem CEO Mudassir Sheikha described the acquisition as a milestone for the company and for budding entrepreneurs in the region. After the purchase, he will lead Careems business under Uber and report to a board comprising three Uber representatives and two from Careem.
This has put our region on the map, and has shown its a great place to build some of the best technology in the world, Sheikha said in a statement to Careem customers.
Saudi Technology Ventures, one of Careems investors, said the ride-hailing firm succeeded by using its deep local knowledge and expertise to cater to the needs of young people.
Other Careem investors include Kingdom Holding, chaired by Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, German car manufacturer Daimler, Japanese tech firm Rakuten and Mideast venture capital firm Wamda. Ubers investors include Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, which has a $3.5 billion stake in the ride-sharing company.
Aya Batrawy and Fay Abuelgasim are Associated Press writers.
The annual Goat Fest, a once-viral but always awesome celebration of goats, will return to San Francisco's Ferry Building this April for its 10th annual event.
The fest was formerly referred to by superfans as Goatchella, and is back on April 13 after taking a year off. The party is hosted by the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) and begins early at 8 a.m. with goat milk samples and themed arts and crafts, and wraps up when the farmers market concludes at 2 p.m.
It's been one year since the California Department of Fish and Wildlife launched a formal effort to eradicate nutria from the state's wetlands.
After not being seen in California since the 1970s, nutria, an invasive and destructive rodent, were rediscovered in the San Joaquin Valley in 2017. So far 410 nutria have been killed, but the Department of Fish and Wildlife warns that the war is far from over.
Nutria can grow to be as large as 20 pounds, and pose a "triple threat" to California. Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira said Nutria pose a threat "as a top-rated agricultural pest, a destroyer of critical wetlands needed by native wildlife, and a public safety risk as their destructive burrowing jeopardizes the state's water delivery and flood control infrastructure."
The vast majority of the eradicated nutria (330) came from Merced County. Sixty-five came from San Joaquin County, 12 from Stanislaus County, 2 from Mariposa County and 1 from Fresno County. There have also been confirmed nutria sightings in Tuolumne County.
Going forward, the Department of Fish and Wildlife is planning a number of new ways to hunt and exterminate the swamp rats, including enlisting the help of dogs and "Judas nutria."
"Detection dogs" would help the department locate nutria and confirm their absence from certain areas. The "Judas nutria" project would work to capture and sterilize nutria, instead of killing them. After the nutria are sterilized, they will be "outfitted with radio telemetry collars and released back into the environment to lead biologists to other nutria."
The nutria eradication force has prioritized a known population in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, since the region is critical for California's agricultural infrastructure.
"Our goal is to keep the nutria out of the delta as much as possible," Tira told SFGATE in August. "That's the epicenter of our water control and flood control in California."
Of the 65 nutria taken from San Joaquin County over the past year, 64 were captured near Manteca, which is where the known population is. Fortunately, survey crews have not detected nutria anywhere else in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Over the past year, the nutria eradication force has set up 487 camera stations, conducted more than 1,600 camera checks and deployed 995 trap sets. In addition, San Joaquin Valley farmers have donated five tons of sweet potatoes to be used as nutria bait.
"[The Department of Fish and Wildlife] has received widespread public support for its eradication efforts," Tira said.
According to Tira, Fish and Wildlife received 357 nutria reports from the public during the first year of the war.
"While most of these have turned out to be false reports either sightings of other wildlife mistaken for nutria or reports that lack enough information to confirm public reporting will continue to be important to determine the full extent of the infestation," he said.
Armed with $3 million in state and federal grants, $1.2 million from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, $600,000 over three years from the California's Wildlife Conservation Board and $1.25 million over three years from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's State Wildlife Grant Program, the nutria eradication force hopes to step up its efforts in 2019.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife believes that public education and outreach are key components of eradication efforts going forward, and have created a nutria identification pocket guide for the general public.
The guide can be viewed here. Nutria sightings can be reported to (866) 440-9530 or invasives@wildlife.ca.gov.
Eric Ting is an SFGATE staff writer. Email him at eting@sfchronicle.com and follow him on Twitter
Start receiving breaking news emails on floods, wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.
A 30-year-old Greenfield man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for repeatedly stabbing his girlfriend in 2017, the Monterey County District Attorney's Office reported Monday.
The stabbing happened in Greenfield on Jan. 20, 2017. Agustin Serrano and his girlfriend had been dating for about three months, and the woman had said she wanted to end the relationship because she was 23 years older than Serrano, prosecutors said.
The two had a conversation in the kitchen of a home where they rented rooms and the victim was headed back to her room when Serrano grabbed her by the neck from behind and violently stabbed her.
He cut her throat, stabbed her in the chest and right arm and leg, prosecutors said. He then immediately fled to Mexico.
A year later, Serrano was located in Yuba City. He was arrested for attempted murder and later admitted to stabbing the woman.
Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Santa Clara County will celebrate the 10th annual South Bay Trans Day of Visibility Tuesday with a proclamation and flag-raising ceremony.
The county is also highlighting successful efforts to broaden resources for trans individuals, including San Jose's new Gender Health Center specializing in transgender, non-binary and gender diverse care, and New Haven Inn, a LGBTQ-friendly temporary shelter.
"Trans people are our mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters, our neighbors and friends," Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg said in a news release. "The courage it takes to live their authentic lives openly should be celebrated today and every day."
Supervisors will additionally address the California Equal Restroom Access law, which mandates that any single-user facilities at businesses have a "gender neutral" sign, and share county resources to obtain signage.
"In a world where there is still widespread transphobia, violence and discrimination, it is important that we give visibility to a community that is vital to the fabric of our society," county LGBTQ Affairs Director Maribel Martinez said in a news release.
The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the James P. McEntee Plaza, 70 West Hedding St, San Jose.
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 federal jury in San Francisco began deliberating Tuesday on whether Monsanto Co. is liable for the cancer of a Sonoma County man who sprayed Monsanto's Roundup on poison oak and weeds on his property for 26 years.
The six-person civil jury has already determined that the Roundup herbicide was a substantial factor in the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of 70-year-old Edwin Hardeman.
The jurors must now decide whether Monsanto is legally liable and if so, how much financial compensation to award Hardeman. Hardeman's attorneys are also seeking a punitive damage award on grounds of the agrochemical company's alleged willful disregard of his safety.
Monsanto attorney Brian Stekloff contended during his closing argument Tuesday morning that the company is not liable because no regulatory agency or health organization concluded that Roundup was carcinogenic as of 2012, the year Hardeman stopped using the product.
"Monsanto, consistent with science, did act responsibly and should not be held liable," Stekloff told the jury in the court of U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria.
Hardeman's lawyers allege that Monsanto decision makers sought to manipulate scientific conclusions and public opinion and in some cases ghostwrote studies that said that a link to cancer was unlikely.
Attorney Jennifer Moore urged the jury, "Send that message to Monsanto loud and clear: 'No more. You have to be responsible.'"
Moore asked the jury to award $200,000 in economic damages and $1 million per year for pain and suffering for the four years since Hardeman's diagnosis in 2015 and the 14 years of his expected remaining life span. She asked for a punitive award for Monsanto's alleged recklessness but did not specify an amount.
Hardeman, who now lives in Santa Rosa, testified he used Roundup from 1986 to 1988 on a property in Gualala in Mendocino County and from 1988 to 2012 on a 56-acre property in Forestville in Sonoma County. His lymphoma is now in remission following chemotherapy and other treatment, but could make him vulnerable to future illness.
Monsanto was acquired by Bayer AG of Germany last year for $63 billion.
Hardeman's case is the first to go to trial among 760 federal court lawsuits pending against Monsanto. The lawsuits were filed in U.S. district courts around the nation and transferred to Chhabria's court for judicial efficiency. Other cases are pending in state courts.
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.
BERKELEY (BCN)
Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan injected herself into Berkeley politics on Tuesday by urging the Berkeley City Council not to give final approval to a plan to ban overnight RV parking.
The Berkeley City Council voted 6-3 on Feb. 28 to approve the ban and is scheduled to vote at its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday on whether to give final approval, in which case the ban would immediately go into effect.
The ban would prohibit RV parking on city streets between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., but the city also agreed to create a permitting system that would give two-week exemptions to some RVs.
Berkeley city staff members wrote in a report before the Feb. 28 hearing that the city "is experiencing an increasing number of RVs parking for long periods of time, impacting public safety, health and the parking needs for Berkeley residents and businesses."
Staff members said the city has received more than 1,500 complaints from businesses and residents about people who live in RVs, including the loss of parking and the illegal dumping of trash, debris and human waste onto city streets, sidewalks and waterways.
Kaplan said in a news release that she is calling on Berkeley "to refocus on identifying viable alternative sites for RVs, rather than immediately adopting a vote on a ban at today's council meeting."
Kaplan said she also is calling for increased regional collaboration on homeless solutions and is helping to seek applicants to operate allowable RV sites on public land in Oakland, with sanitation and service.
In a letter to Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin and the City Council, Kaplan wrote, "Citing RVs and making them move from location to location has not resulted in a decrease in the number of individuals who are homeless. In fact, it can exacerbate the situation by creating debt and instability for families and individuals who have already experienced displacement."
Kaplan said, "By designating allowed, managed locations we can have waste collection and prevent sewage from getting into the streets, and provide more humane solutions. I ask you to pause on this vote, and instead identify adequate alternative locations for RVs."
She said she has been encouraging the development of expanded housing options, including use of faith-based properties and providing sites for RVs, and those proposals were approved by the Oakland City Council last year.
The Berkeley City Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Berkeley Unified School District board room at 1231 Addison St.
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.
Authorities located a woman's body Monday morning on the beach at San Francisco's Fort Funston, according to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
The woman's body was found on the beach and about a quarter-mile south of Sloat Boulevard. Her identity and her cause of death have not been released, GGNRA officials said.
On Feb. 22, a landslide at Fort Funston claimed the life of a woman, but it was not immediately clear if the woman found Monday morning is the same person.
She has been tentatively identified by her friends and family as Kyra Sunshine Scarlet.
A federal appeals court today upheld the dismissal of a negligence claim against the city of San Francisco and former Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi by the parents of a woman killed by a bullet from a gun held by an undocumented immigrant.
A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Mirkarimi was acting within his discretion when he issued a 2015 memo limiting the amount of information jail staff could give federal authorities about the release of inmates who were undocumented immigrants.
The court said that while federal laws require sharing of some information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the laws "plainly and unambiguously" do not require notification of jail release dates.
Kate Steinle, 32, was killed while walking on Pier 14 in San Francisco on July 1, 2015, by a ricocheting bullet from a gun held by Jose Ines Garcia Zarate.
Officers have arrested two men in connection with a Saturday night shooting in San Francisco's Fillmore District that killed a 25-year-old man and injured five other people, police said Monday.
The shooting took place in the 1300 block of Fillmore Street, between Eddy and Ellis streets, around 8:30 p.m. Mister Dee Carnell Simmons III was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
Following an investigation, officers learned that Simmons was involved in the shooting along with a 25-year-old who arrived at the hospital later with injuries. He's been identified as Sean Harrison of Concord.
Officers have arrested Harrison, as well as 26-year-old San Francisco resident Jamare Coats, who allegedly drove Harrison to the hospital.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office identified Ariana Salazar, 33, of El Monte in Los Angeles County, as the driver killed Friday afternoon in a vehicle collision near Geyserville.
Salazar was driving a Nissan south on U.S. Highway 101 near Geyserville Avenue when she lost control of the vehicle, traveled across the center median and collided with a 2016 Honda Civic and a 2004 Toyota Tundra traveling north on the highway around 3 p.m., the California Highway Patrol said.
Two occupants of the Toyota suffered moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital, and the occupants of the Honda were not injured, according to the CHP.
Salazar died at the scene.
The Solano County coroner's office has identified two men who died in a recreational vehicle fire in Dixon last Tuesday as Timothy Holt, 50, of Suisun City, and Kyle Lovell, 24, of Sacramento.
Two other people who were found outside the recreational vehicle suffered second- and third-degree burns, according to the Dixon Fire Department.
The fire was reported around 4:25 a.m. Tuesday on the grounds of the Dixon May Fair at 655 S. First St., Dixon Fire Chief Greg Lewis said.
A man was found dead in a restroom at BART's MacArthur station early Monday morning, police said.
The man, whose name is not yet being released, was found unresponsive around 12:55 a.m. in the men's restroom at the station at 555 40th St.
Emergency responders attempted CPR and other life-saving efforts but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to BART police. The cause of death is under investigation.
Two guards at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin were taken to a hospital Sunday after possible exposure to fentanyl, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
Around 11:45 a.m. Sunday, staff in the jail's booking center searched a woman who'd been arrested in Oakland and a female deputy allegedly found a dark substance, rolled into a piece of tissue, that did not appear to be consistent with commonly seen narcotics.
That deputy contacted a sergeant, and both staff members examined the substance while wearing gloves and taking other precautions, according to the sheriff's office.
A little later, the sergeant got sick and became incoherent. The deputy also started to complain of similar symptoms, and jail staff determined that they were consistent with exposure to an opioid.
They administered a dose of Narcan, also known as naloxone, to both the sergeant and the deputy and transported them to a hospital. They have since been released.
A one-alarm fire was quickly extinguished by firefighters at the detached garage of a home in Redwood City early Monday morning, a battalion chief said.
The blaze was reported at 5:46 a.m. in the 1100 block of Cleveland Street near Roosevelt Avenue.
Crews extinguished the fire within a few minutes of arriving at the residence, Redwood City Fire Battalion Chief Dan Abrams said. No firefighters or residents were injured.
Investigators remained at the scene as of 8 a.m. Monday to look for the origin and possible cause of the fire, Abrams said.
Walnut Creek police are searching for two suspects after an armed robbery turned into a shooting Sunday night.
The victim was dropped off at a hospital with at least one gunshot wound just before 10 p.m.
He told police that he'd been approached by two men who tried to rob him at the corner of Locust Street and Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
The victim struggled and one of the suspects shot him. He's since been treated and released from the hospital.
Investigators say he provided limited information about the suspects, but police are looking for two men in their early 30s who are suspected of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.
A 26-year-old transient was arrested Saturday after he allegedly entered a stranger's house in Petaluma and was confronted by a resident there, police said.
Police said Evan David Thomas of Petaluma is believed to have entered a house in the 1700 block of Spyglass Road at about 7:15 p.m. Saturday through an open dining room window from which he removed the screen.
When inside, he encountered a resident who woke up from a nap to see Thomas standing in the living room. Thomas then ran out the front door toward a creek across the street, police said.
Officers searched the area for Thomas and found him on Sartori Drive, where it crosses the same creek, about two blocks from the victim's house, police said. Thomas was detained without incident.
The Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital in Walnut Creek is no longer accepting turkeys after the discovery in a neighboring county of a contagious respiratory infection that is nearly always fatal to birds.
Virulent Newcastle disease was confirmed in a backyard chicken that lived in Alameda County when the bird's owner brought it to a veterinary office in Redwood City, according to a statement issued by the state Department of Food and Agriculture March 15.
It's not yet clear whether vND will spread throughout Northern California, but Lindsay Wildlife officials said Monday they're no longer able to treat injured or baby wild turkeys, or most other non-native, domestic or exotic birds that are routinely brought into the hospital by mistake.
They're still treating injured and baby quail, but newly implemented safety procedures require that they be placed in quarantine and treated off-site. The hospital is also unable to accept donations of any products or materials associated with poultry, like egg cartons, because of the risk of contamination.
Two adults and five children were hospitalized after a car crash on U.S. Highway 101 in Soledad on Monday morning, according to Cal Fire.
The crash was reported at 10:32 a.m. in the area of Highway 101 just north of Camphora Gloria Road. About 11 firefighters from Soledad and Cal Fire responded to the scene after an SUV struck a center divider.
All seven patients were treated at the scene and ambulances and five helicopters transported victims to nearby hospitals. Both children were flown to the hospital and the victims suffered moderate to major injuries, according to Cal Fire Batallion Chief Mike Morlan.
The San Francisco Public Library will start a new chapter after Mayor London Breed announced on Monday she has appointed Michael Lambert as city librarian.
Lambert, the city's first Asian American to serve in the position, previously served as deputy city librarian, as well as acting librarian since the retirement of City Librarian Luis Herrera last year.
Lambert first began serving as the city's deputy librarian in 2014, overseeing library services throughout the city's several branches. Lambert has also championed several equitable initiatives such expanded hours and a fine-free system.
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.
RICHMOND (BCN)
Richmond Police Chief Allwyn Brown is slated to address the City Council Tuesday night to update them on his department's efforts to address criticism raised by consultants last year.
In 2018, Boston-based MBD Innovations conducted a review of the department's executive leadership and drafted a 15-page report for Richmond City Manager Carlos Martinez.
The document pointed out problems stemming from poor relationships between department management and the police officer's association, as well as the city manager and the police chief, low morale, lack of a compelling articulated vision, community engagement and poor handling of high-profile discipline cases.
Brown and other city officials, including Martinez, Finance Director Belinda Warner and Assistant Chief of Police Bisa French, met with the board of the Richmond Police Officer's Association last month to discuss some of the underlying conditions that gave rise to that criticism. Brown plans to update the city council on that discussion Tuesday night.
Going forward, Brown and the board plan on monthly meetings to address issues affecting the association's members.
The department is also working to retain a recruiting agency and make additional training available for leadership. In addition, department leaders will also develop strategies to address issues with community engagement, staffing and leadership succession, as well as employee wellness and development.
This week's Richmond City Council Meeting is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at 440 Civic Center Plaza.
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.
BERKELEY (BCN)
Berkeley police are asking for the public's help in identifying and locating a suspect in the sexual battery of a woman last month.
Police said the male suspect inappropriately touched the woman against her will while she was walking in the 1300 block of University Avenue shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 22.
Police said witnesses described the suspect as a man between 20 and 30 years old who is 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 8 inches tall with a medium build and light facial hair who was wearing a black hooded top at the time. Police didn't disclose the suspect's race.
Police also released surveillance video footage of the suspect.
Berkeley police said anyone who has information about the suspect or the case should call the department's sex crimes unit at (510) 981-5717.
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.
Police activity has prompted San Francisco Department of Emergency Management officials to ask residents to avoid an area of the city's Mission District.
The activity is occurring at South Van Ness Avenue and 13th Street, SFDEM officials said around 4:30 p.m.
Further information was not immediately available.
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.
As part of their commitment to improving access to justice, Alameda County Superior Court officials opened a new self-help center at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland on Monday.
The new branch joins the self-help center that's already in operation at the Hayward Hall of Justice and provides an important alternative for people who live in the northern part of the county.
The new branch, which was made possible by $19.1 million in new funding specifically directed toward trial court self-help needs included in the 2018-2019 California budget, is open for a walk-in clinic from 8:30 a.m. to noon Mondays through Thursdays and serve up to 45 customers each morning.
It also hosts by-appointment workshops in the afternoon. Staff at the North County branch in Oakland provide assistance with unlawful detainers, small claims matters, restraining orders, name and gender change petitions and guardianships.
Assistance for all family law-related matters, including child custody and dissolution of marriage, will continue to be provided only at the self-help center at the Hayward Hall of Justice.
In another change that took effect on Monday, all clerk's offices in every courthouse in Alameda County will remain open to serve the public for an additional 30 minutes per day, until 3 p.m. The offices previously closed to the public at 2:30 p.m.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to reestablish a self-help presence in North County and to provide longer office hours to all court users," Superior Court President Judge Wynne Carvill said in a statement.
Carvill said, "We look forward to being able to expand access to the Court even more in the future as the governor and the state Legislature continue to restore funding to our trial courts."
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.
Richmond Police Chief Allwyn Brown is slated to address the City Council Tuesday night to update them on his department's efforts to address criticism raised by consultants last year.
In 2018, Boston-based MBD Innovations conducted a review of the department's executive leadership and drafted a 15-page report for Richmond City Manager Carlos Martinez.
The document pointed out problems stemming from poor relationships between department management and the police officer's association, as well as the city manager and the police chief, low morale, lack of a compelling articulated vision, community engagement and poor handling of high-profile discipline cases.
This week's Richmond City Council Meeting is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at 440 Civic Center Plaza.
A federal appeals court on Monday upheld the dismissal of a negligence claim against the city of San Francisco and a former sheriff by the parents of a woman killed by a bullet from a gun held by an undocumented immigrant.
Kate Steinle, 32, was killed while walking on Pier 14 in San Francisco on July 1, 2015 by a ricocheting bullet from a gun held by Jose Ines Garcia Zarate.
Garcia Zarate, a Mexican citizen with a history of drug convictions and illegal reentries after deportation, was released from San Francisco county jail two and a half months earlier.
Steinle's parents claimed the city and former Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi were negligent in failing to honor a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement request for notification of the release.
But a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said that while federal laws require the sharing of some information with ICE, the laws "plainly and unambiguously" do not require notification of release dates.
The court said Mirkarimi was acting within his discretion when he issued a 2015 memo limiting the amount of information jail staff could give federal authorities about the release of undocumented immigrants.
The panel upheld a similar ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero in 2017 dismissing the claim against the city and the sheriff in the lawsuit filed by parents James Steinle and Elizabeth Sullivan.
But the lawsuit still retains a claim against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management that the parents can seek to take to trial.
A man was hospitalized Monday afternoon with life-threatening gunshot injuries after a shooting at the California Department of Corrections building in San Francisco's Mission district, police said.
Police were called at 3:52 p.m. Monday to the CDC building at 1727 Mission St., where they found the victim, said SFPD Sgt. Michael Andraychak. The man was then taken to a local hospital for treatment, he said.
Police said the victim was shot from behind in the head in what appears to have been an ambush.
No CDC personnel were involved in the shooting or any preceding dispute, Andraychak said.
In the shooting's immediate aftermath, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management officials had asked the public to avoid the surrounding neighborhood. And Monday night, police continue to investigate, Andraychak said.
The suspect was seen leaving the area in a white car, police said.
Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call the SFPD tip line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. Texters or caller may remain anonymous
As part of their commitment to improving access to justice, Alameda County Superior Court officials opened a new self-help center at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland on Monday.
The new branch joins the self-help center that's already in operation at the Hayward Hall of Justice and provides an important alternative for people who live in the northern part of the county.
The new branch, which was made possible by $19.1 million in new funding specifically directed toward trial court self-help needs included in the 2018-2019 California budget, is open for a walk-in clinic from 8:30 a.m. to noon Mondays through Thursdays and serve up to 45 customers each morning.
It also hosts by-appointment workshops in the afternoon. Staff at the North County branch in Oakland provide assistance with unlawful detainers, small claims matters, restraining orders, name and gender change petitions and guardianships.
Assistance for all family law-related matters, including child custody and dissolution of marriage, will continue to be provided only at the self-help center at the Hayward Hall of Justice.
In another change that took effect on Monday, all clerk's offices in every courthouse in Alameda County will remain open to serve the public for an additional 30 minutes per day, until 3 p.m. The offices previously closed to the public at 2:30 p.m.
A 4-year-old boy suffered serious injuries late Monday afternoon when he fell from a fourth-floor balcony at a Sunnyvale apartment complex, police said.
Police and paramedics were called at about 5 p.m. Monday to the Sunnyvale Fairway apartments in the 1200 block of Poplar Avenue, said Capt. Jim Choi of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. The boy was treated on scene and then taken to a nearby hospital; Choi didn't have a condition report on the boy, but said his injuries were serious.
Family members were home at the time of the accident, and foul play is not suspected, Choi said.
A 30-year-old Greenfield man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for repeatedly stabbing his girlfriend in 2017, the Monterey County District Attorney's Office reported Monday.
The stabbing happened in Greenfield on Jan. 20, 2017. Agustin Serrano and his girlfriend had been dating for about three months, and the woman had said she wanted to end the relationship because she was 23 years older than Serrano, prosecutors said.
The two had a conversation in the kitchen of a home where they rented rooms and the victim was headed back to her room when Serrano grabbed her by the neck from behind and violently stabbed her.
He cut her throat, stabbed her in the chest and right arm and leg, prosecutors said. He then immediately fled to Mexico.
A year later, Serrano was located in Yuba City. He was arrested for attempted murder and later admitted to stabbing the woman.
A 16-year-old San Francisco boy was arrested Monday morning and booked into Hillcrest Juvenile Hall on suspicion of threatening on social media to commit a school shooting, according to San Mateo police.
Officers received an anonymous tip just after 5:35 p.m. Friday and began working with Serra High School staff to determine the credibility and nature of the threat. They also increased patrols in the vicinity of the campus, listed at 451 West 20th Ave., with both uniformed and plain-clothes officers.
They've also conducted a "threat assessment" with the San Mateo County Board of Education Threat Assessment Team to determine the next appropriate steps.
Police are asking anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Sgt. Lee Violett at (650) 730-9748.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will discuss the pros and cons of voting at current traditional polling places or switching to regional voting centers for the 2020 elections.
The discussion stems from the Secretary of State's determination that current voting systems are at or near the end of their life expectancy, with voting system vendors no longer making replacement parts or providing tech support.
The state's 2018-2019 budget includes $134 million to upgrade or replace the aging voting systems. The Secretary of State informed county clerks and registrars of voters that it intends to withdraw certification and conditional approval of all the state's voting systems that have not been tested and certified to state standards effective Aug. 27, 2019.
The Solano County Registrar of Voters Office is recommending staying with the traditional polling place model as it has a reliable and proven methodology and would require limited retraining of election staff.
In their favor, regional voting centers would have fewer locations to administer and fewer provisional ballots. Regional voting centers also would increase voter flexibility on locations and dates, the Registrar of Voters Office said.
A man has been arrested following an attack on a BART train Monday night that left a woman hospitalized, a BART spokesman said.
The man and woman were on a southbound train between Daly City and Colma at about 9:35 p.m. Monday when they "had some sort of interaction," BART spokesman Jim Allison said, after which the man struck the woman in the head with an as-yet-undetermined object. Allison said the man then walked away to another part of the train.
BART police arrested the man after he got off the train at Colma, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
The woman, who was bleeding from the head, was taken off the train in Colma to a nearby hospital for treatment of what Allison described as non-life-threatening injuries.
No other information about the suspect or victim was available late Monday night.
Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers. Highs will be near 60. North winds will be 5 to 10 mph, before becoming southeast winds in the afternoon.
Tuesday night will see a chance of rain in the evening, then rain after midnight. Lows will be in the lower 50s. South winds will be 10 to 20 mph.
Wednesday will be breezy with showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs will be near 60. Southwest winds will be 20 to 30 mph.
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 man was hospitalized Monday afternoon with life-threatening gunshot injuries after a shooting at the California Department of Corrections building in San Francisco's Mission district, police said.
Police were called at 3:52 p.m. Monday to the CDC building at 1727 Mission St., where they found the victim, said SFPD Sgt. Michael Andraychak. The man was then taken to a local hospital for treatment, he said.
No CDC personnel were involved in the shooting or any preceding dispute, Andraychak said.
In the shooting's immediate aftermath, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management officials had asked the public to avoid then surrounding neighborhood. And Monday night, police continue to investigate, Andraychak said.
Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call the SFPD tip line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. Texters or caller may remain anonymous..
Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
DALY CITY (BCN)
A resident and two police officers went to the hospital with smoke inhalation injuries after a fire at a home in Daly City early Tuesday morning, according to the North County Fire Authority.
Firefighters first responded at 4:40 a.m. to the home at 208 Los Olivos Ave., just east of the Daly City BART station.
Heavy smoke was coming from the two-story home and firefighters were told that people were still inside the home. Firefighters rescued a resident and a dog, with the resident treated at the scene for smoke inhalation before being transported to a hospital, fire officials said.
Two police officers who had tried to rescue the resident also suffered minor smoke inhalation and were taken to the hospital. No firefighters were injured and crews remained at the scene for nearly two hours to make sure the fire didn't spark back up.
Two people were displaced by the fire and are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross, according to the fire authority, which serves Daly City, Brisbane and Pacifica.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
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.
The president of the United States said that a special investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller provided complete and total exoneration for him in terms of colluding with Russia with an eye toward influencing the election result.
At Palm Beach International Airport, Donaldo Trump spoke to reporters briefly but took no questions, saying that To be honest its a shame that your president has had to go through this, referring to the probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who provided his report to Attorney General William Barr last Friday and which Barr commented on Sunday afternoon in a four-page letter directed to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.
Trump said the Mueller probe was an illegal takedown that failed, adding that hopefully somebodys going to be looking at the other side, presumably the activities of the Democrats and/or 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton .
It was just announced there was no collusion with Russia, the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. There was no collusion with Russia. There was no obstruction, none whatsoever, Trump said, speaking on the airport tarmac before climbing the mobile stairway to board the presidential jet to return to Washington.
Its a shame that our country had to go through this. To be honest, its a shame your president had to go through since before I was even elected, he said, adding that now investigators should probe Democrats activities, although he did not say what he thought should be investigated.
It began illegally, and hopefully somebodys going to look at the other side, he said, perhaps intending to imply that the assembly of Muellers probe itself might now be scrutinized.
Although Trump claimed in his remarks, and in an earlier tweet, that he had been completely exonerated on the issue of obstruction of justice, Muellers report did not state that.
Barr wrote in his letter to Congress that Mueller did not have enough evidence to prosecute Trump on obstruction charges, but he noted that the report did not exonerate the president.
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, once Barrs letter had been made public, Trump had tweeted: No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!
The report Mueller and his team prepared over the past two years and provided to Barr on Friday concluded that nobody on Trumps 2016 campaign, including the then-candidate, colluded with Russian authorities as the latter worked to influence the election.
Barr wrote in his letter that The Special Counsels investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
As the report states, The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities, Barr continued, quoting directly from Muellers report.
Barr also wrote that The report does not recommend any further indictments, nor did the Special Counsel obtain any sealed indictments that have yet to be made public.
According to Barr, although Muellers report stated that the report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him, and the attorney general added that this decision by Mueller had placed the decision on whether Trump committed criminal obstruction of justice in his (Barrs) hands.
However, Barr said that he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that the evidence that Mueller gathered during his extensive investigation is not sufficient to establish whether the president committed obstruction of justice.
The publication of Muellers findings puts an end to days of speculation in the media and elsewhere after he turned over his report to the Justice Department last Friday.
Neither Trump nor anyone else in the White House received an advance look at the report and they were not informed of its contents prior to Barrs letter, according to presidential spokesman Hogan Gidley, who was with the president at Mar-a-Lago this weekend.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on Twitter on Sunday shortly after Barrs letter was made public that The Special Counsel did not find any collusion and did not find any obstruction. AG Barr and DAG Rosenstein further determined there was no obstruction. The findings of the Department of Justice are a total and complete exoneration of the President of the United States.
Since the announcement of the close of Muellers investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin on Friday, the president has remained silent, although he was huddling with his attorneys and advisers at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend before returning to Washington late Sunday afternoon.
Members of Congress, mainly Democrats but also a few Republicans, have called for the release of the full report, although it remains to be seen whether Barr - who has the authority to release or not to release the report, or portions of it - will do so.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said that his committee wants the full report to be made public - and will fight to ensure that happens - arguing against the potential assertion of executive privilege by Trump to block its release.
Its so crucial that the entire report and the evidence underlying it be released to the public, Nadler told CNN on Sunday. Transparency is key here.
The chairman said his committee would take the matter to the US Supreme Court, if necessary, to obtain the full report if Trump claims executive privilege to block it.
During the course of the investigation, 34 people were indicted, including six of Trumps close advisers - Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, George Papadopoulos, Michael Cohen, Michael Flynn and Roger Stone - and 26 Russians who probably will never be placed on trial because the US has no extradition treaty with Moscow.
Over the past two years, Trump has repeatedly called Muellers investigation a witchhunt mounted by the Democratic opposition and has consistently denied that his 2016 campaign was involved in any plot with Russia to harm the election chances of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , one of the aspirants for the Democratic presidential nomination for the 2020 elections, on Sunday here criticized President Donald Trump , calling him a coward and accusing him of stirring up hatred, division and fear.
Our president is a coward, said Gillibrand in a fiery speech officially kicking off her presidential campaign with the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Manhattan in the background.
President Trump is tearing apart the moral fabric of this country, she added.
The Democratic senator from New York, who last November won re-election to a second six-year term, presented her candidacy by delivering a message of courage in the face of the fear she said Trump is sowing, accusing him of hiding behind lies and walls and attacking the vulnerable.
He demonizes the vulnerable and he punches down. He does this because he wants you to believe hes strong. He is not, she added.
Im proud to have stood up to Donald Trump more than anyone else in the US Senate, she said, in discussing her congressional voting record.
Gillibrand appeared along with human rights and immigrants activists, LGBT activists, representatives of anti-gun groups and woman working against sexual harassment and abuse.
She said that Americans do not build walls that are the emblem of racism and fear, but rather they build bridges, communities and hope.
Among the promises she made, Gillibrand emphasized several priorities of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, including the need to get big money out of election campaign financing and fighting against institutional racism.
She also defended ideas like Medicare for all, the fight against climate change and the so-called Green New Deal, refinancing student debt, universal paid family leave and the legalization of marijuana, among others.
In foreign policy, Gillibrand insisted on the need to protect US borders and fight against terrorism, but she backed ending wars and came out against US military intervention without the support of Congress.
The 52-year-old junior senator from New York is one of a large group of candidates for the Democratic primaries that includes former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar, former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and former Congressman Beto ORourke.
Russian military personnel landed on Sunday in Venezuela, capturing the attention of the political scene in the Latin American nation on a day on which President Nicolas Maduro and his challenger and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido stayed silent and out of the public eye.
Opposition lawmaker Williams Davila told EFE that two Russian military aircraft with about 100 military personnel landed at Maiquetia airport, the countrys main air hub, which serves Caracas, in what he called a serious incident.
Its strange that a Russian missions coming here completely against the provisions established in the national Constitution. No (military) mission may arrive in Venezuela if it doesnt have the authority of the National Assembly, or Parliament, Davila said in a telephone conversation with EFE.
The Venezuelan Parliament is controlled by the opposition and Guaido is the head of that body.
Davila said he had no knowledge of what the Russians were doing in the country, but he insisted that their presence constitutes a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty.
And the Venezuelan military are keeping quiet, he added.
On Sunday morning, several local media outlets reported the presence of two Russian-flagged military aircraft at Maiquetia, but only one of them now remains at the terminal.
The Venezuelan lawmaker said that Parliament will take into account this penetration by foreign forces into Venezuela during its next session and that he had sent a message to the Chambers defense committee asking that an investigation be launched.
The Venezuelan Information Ministry did not respond immediately to a request by EFE to clarify the motives for the visit by the Russian military personnel.
The Maduro regime and Russia last December said that they would begin discussions on combined efforts to raise the defense capabilities of the South American country to repel possible attacks.
At that time, a squadron of Russian military planes, including two Tu-160 strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, participated in joint military exercises with Venezuelan forces.
Russia is one of Maduros biggest allies, backing him publicly against the challenge from Guaido, who on Jan. 23 proclaimed himself interim president and was shortly thereafter recognized by more than 50 nations, including the United States, as Venezuelas legitimate leader.
On Sunday, both Maduro and Guaido maintained their silence and stayed out of the public eye, although it was made known that the latter on Saturday had held a videoconference with leaders of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
In a statement released Sunday, the Caribbean bloc said that the meeting came after the decision by the organization to help facilitate a peaceful solution to Venezuelas ongoing political, economic and social crisis.
Some of those participating in the videoconference were Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, her Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Dennis Moses, Caricom General Secretary Irwin LaRocque and St. Kitts and Nevis Foreign Minister Mark Brantley.
In their statement, the participants called the videoconference with Guaido a significant first step and said that the meeting served to give them a better understanding of Guaidos point of view on how to move forward in the search for peaceful solutions.
They also said that similar meetings will be held in the near future.
The Venezuelan government, which has viewed Caricom as a friendly bloc, has not yet reacted to the news of the videoconference.
Maduro, meanwhile, has postponed designating the members of a new Cabinet. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez last week had said that Maduro had asked for resignation letters from all Cabinet members so that he could restructure the government.
Maduro was inaugurated in mid-January to a second six-year term after winning re-election last May in a vote that was viewed by the opposition and a large portion of the international community as illegitimate because, among other things, key opposition figures were barred from participating.
Despite not attending this year's American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference, California Sen. Kamala Harris met with California AIPAC leaders in her Senate office Monday, much to the dismay of critics of Israel, many of them progressives.
"Great to meet today in my office with California AIPAC leaders to discuss the need for a strong U.S.-Israel alliance, the right of Israel to defend itself, and my commitment to combat anti-Semitism in our country and around the world," the official Senate Twitter account for Harris wrote.
The tweet quickly garnered more replies than likes, an indicator of "controversial" content, with a ratio of 2,700 replies to 1,600 likes in the first three hours of posting.
"Far-right Israeli PM Netanyahu just formed an alliance with a literal fascist party, and is bombing people trapped in the Gaza concentration camp right now, but fake 'progressive' Kamala Harris is meeting with AIPAC and praising the apartheid regime," journalist Ben Norton tweeted.
"As @AIPAC literally piles on Ilhan Omar and tears her down, then starts blasting AOC and others, Kamala Harris doubles down her support of them. Disturbing," activist Shaun King tweeted.
RELATED: Angry students confront Chelsea Clinton, blame her 'rhetoric' for New Zealand attack
The controversy comes as President Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights, which the rest of the international community views as occupied territory a reversal of a half-century of U.S. policy in the Middle East.
American-Israeli relations and AIPAC have also faced increased scrutiny from the left after Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) criticized American politicians for supporting Israel with language that many deemed anti-Semitic.
Omar tweeted that politician support for Israel is "all about the Benjamins," and later accused AIPAC of trying to get lawmakers to pledge "allegiance to a foreign country." The freshman congresswoman stated that she meant to offense to Jews, and apologized for her "all about the Benjamins" tweet after a flurry of backlash.
Harris defended Omar after it was reported that the Minnesota Democrat received death threats.
"We all have a responsibility to speak out against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, racism, and all forms of hatred and bigotry, especially as we see a spike in hate crimes in America," Harris said in a statement. "But like some of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, I am concerned that the spotlight being put on Congresswoman Omar may put her at risk. We should be having a sound, respectful discussion about policy. You can both support Israel and be loyal to our country. I also believe there is a difference between criticism of policy or political leaders, and anti-Semitism."
ALSO: Women's March leader blasts 'white feminist' Nancy Pelosi for Ilhan Omar condemnation
Harris was one of many 2020 Democrats who skipped AIPAC's policy conference this year. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also did not attend.
During a Monday speech at the AIPAC policy conference, Vice President Mike Pence took aim at the 2020 Democrats who skipped the conference.
"Let me be clear on this point, anyone who aspires to the highest office in the land should not be afraid to stand with the strongest supporters of Israel in America," he said. "It is wrong to boycott Israel and it is wrong to boycott AIPAC."
MORE AIPAC: How AIPAC could lose its bipartisan status
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took a not-so-subtle shot at Ilhan Omar during his Monday evening speech.
"You can be a Jew and care about Israel and it does not make you any less American," he said. "You can be a Jew and lobby for Israel and it does not make you any less American."
Click through the slideshow above to see reactions to Kamala Harris meeting California AIPAC leaders.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
The Trump re-election campaign was on the offensive Monday morning, a day after Attorney General William Barr released a summary of special counsel Robert Mueller's findings on the possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign for presidency.
The campaign sent out a memo to a number of television news networks, warning them about the "credibility" of six of the president's more outspoken critics: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.); Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee; Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez; John Brennan, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency; Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the chair of the House Intelligence Committee; and Rep. Eric Swalwell, (D-Calif.), who represents most of Alameda County.
The government said over the weekend that it was reactivating the National Missing Persons Search System in an effort to learn the fate of the more than 40,000 people listed as missing in Mexico, identify the 26,000 unidentified bodies at morgues and clear the 1,300 clandestine graves across the country.
The Mexican state is going to dedicate itself to the search for the missing ... Its a priority, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said during a ceremony at the National Palace on Sunday that was attended by Cabinet officers and relatives of the missing.
The leader of the leftist National Regeneration Movement (Morena) said in his address that the issue of the missing was a painful one for the nation and one of the worst legacies of previous administrations.
We received an inheritance of corruption and impunity, but this is even more serious, more painful, the president, popularly known as AMLO, said.
Lopez Obrador discussed the National Guard, a new law enforcement agency created to deal with the wave of violence plaguing Mexico.
We have not managed a significant reduction in the crime rate, the president said.
Regarding the search for the missing, AMLO called for the creation of a forensic system to identify the 26,000 unidentified bodies at morgues.
The president said the budget needed to establish the new system had been authorized, an announcement that was met with applause by the crowd.
Lets never again go through years like these of suffering and pain. When the decision was made in an irresponsible manner to declare war on a problem that basically emerged due to lack of economic growth, AMLO said.
Government Secretary Olga Sanchez Cordero, for her part, described the disappearances as a daily violation of human rights in Mexico.
There are tens of thousands of people missing and its their own families that have been searching for years. The investigations proceed slowly, the sentences for disappearances are practically nonexistent and there is a forensic crisis, the former Supreme Court justice said.
Sanchez Cordero said that with the proper resources, the National Missing Persons Search System would serve as an instrument for truth and justice.
The government secretary called on Mexicos 32 states to create their own search committees before the end of 2019.
The challenge is monumental and we are taking it on with all the measures at the disposal of the state, Sanchez Cordero said.
Human Rights, Population and Migration Undersecretary Alejandro Encinas provided figures to illustrate the task ahead.
This administration inherited a historic debt of more than 40,000 people missing, 26,000 bodies, tens of thousands of remains that are unidentified and hundreds of clandestine graves, Encinas said.
The new system being implemented is a response to the demands made by the relatives of the missing, the federal official said.
The National Missing Persons Search System is being reinstalled, Encinas said, noting that it began operation last October during the final weeks of President Enrique Pena Nietos administration.
National Missing Persons Search Commission head Karla Quintana, for her part, said the situation in Mexico surpassed anything imaginable, noting that at least 1,300 clandestine graves had been identified in the country.
A persons disappearance puts an end to social and family harmony, Quintana said.
Some of those in the audience chanted the slogans used by protesters seeking a resolution of the Ayotzinapa case, one of the most notorious disappearances to occur in Mexico in recent years.
On Sept. 26, 2014, 43 Ayotzinapa Rural Normal School students disappeared in Iguala, a city in the southern state of Guerrero.
The education students, according to officials, were detained by police and then handed over to members of the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel.
The official version of events is that the Guerreros Unidos cartel murdered the students and cremated the remains at the dump in Cocula in an enormous fire that burned for hours.
Relatives of the missing students and human rights groups have questioned the official version.
In 2016, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts, who worked for months on the case, issued a report that criticized serious flaws in the official investigation.
A weak spring storm delivered showery weather to the Bay Area Monday and another round of rain is in the forecast late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Yesterday's system was focused on the North Bay with Santa Rosa measuring .78 inches of rain. San Francisco International Airport received .44, Oakland, .45, San Jose .31 and Monterey a mere .04.
Thai dancers performed a unique "boneless" dance to give praise to Buddha.
Spectators were amazed by the bizarre moves of the Manorah Thai dance at a Buddhist festival in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand on Sunday February 17.
The southern folk dance is performed in front of the stupa at Wat Phra Mahathat as an offering to the Buddha spirit on Makha Bucha Day, an important Buddhist holiday. The Monorah dance is well known for the exquisite postures including a bridge pose while holding banknotes in the mouth, a rolling choreography of the body around the ground and coiling on the tray.
Phannuruk Srisawang, the director of Srisawang Monorah group, said that the boneless dance movement was passed down from generations to generations and not many traditional dancers could perform it. He said: ''This is a rare performance that not many Thai people knew or had seen it as well. It was usually played in special Buddhist occasions in front of the Buddha statues.''
This is the miraculous moment two charred puppies were rescued from a burning field after locals set fire to dead trees in Thailand.
Firefighters were battling the flames when they noticed two little dogs were struggling to escape the inferno.
The men then jumped across the fence running into the burning woods before and carried the two-month-old pups out. They emerged coughing and spluttering with burned black fur.
Rescuers washed them and found the white puppy was in a healthy condition while the brown one was scalded and burned across more than 20 percent of his body.
Noppachai Klin-sungnoen, the chief of Nakhon Ratchasimas Forest Fire Control Division, said that the rescue team were delighted to find the pooches and save them in time.
He said: It was possible that these puppies had been living around the area before a fire. They might not have been able to run from the burning forest up to the road because it was too high for them.
I didnt know if there were more puppies in there. If there were more, then they might be already burned to death. But we were still glad to save these two.
Unfortunately, the mother was not seen in the area and is believed to have perished in the flames.
Officers provided basic first aid to the puppies before sending them both to vets.
The white puppy has been adopted while the injured one is still under the good care of the vet, waiting to fully recover.
An Israeli air strike hit the office of Islamist movement Hamas's leader Ismail Haniyeh in western Gaza on Monday (25 March), a few hours after a rocket from the Palestinian enclave hit a house near Tel Aviv and injured seven people, raising fears of a serious escalation.
The filmer was on the street when he saw warning missiles hitting the building. He started filming with his phone to get the main rocket on camera.
The building was likely to have been evacuated in advance.
Multiple rockets were then fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel.
Now, a ceasefire has reportedly been reached between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel after this serious escalation.
The Israeli strikes were begun around the same time as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump in Washington, with explosions rocking areas of the Gaza Strip and balls of fire rising into the sky.
There was no claim of responsibility for the early morning attack. The Israeli military said Hamas fired the rocket from about 120 km (75 miles) away, making it the longest-range attack from Gaza causing casualties since a 2014 war.
The flare-up comes at a highly sensitive time for Israel, which holds elections on April 9.
Israeli air strike hit buildings in western Gaza on Monday (25 March), hours after a rocket from the Palestinian enclave struck a house near Tel Aviv and injured seven people, raising fears of a serious escalation.
The retaliatory strikes were begun around the same time as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump in Washington, with explosions rocking areas of the Gaza Strip and balls of fire rising into the sky.
The filmer who was at work in a nearby building wrote: "We were standing at the window while it was happening. We knew they were about to hit because they did hit a couple warning missiles minutes ago."
There was no claim of responsibility for the early morning attack. The Israeli military said Hamas fired the rocket from about 120 km (75 miles) away, making it the longest-range attack from Gaza causing casualties since a 2014 war.
Netanyahu said he would return home after meeting Trump, cancelling an address to pro-Israel lobby AIPAC's annual conference on Tuesday.
The flare-up comes at a highly sensitive time for Israel, which holds elections on April 9.
So far there have been no reports of any casualties in Gaza.
Protesters demonstrating against a deal on Macedonia's name ratified in January clashed with police during Greece's Independence Day celebrations in Thessaloniki on Monday afternoon (March 25).
In the video, demonstrators can be seen trying to break through the police line to reach politicians during the Greek Independence Day parade.
According to the filmer, they shouted "traitors" and sang Greek national anthems as they confronted the police. A man pointing at politicians watching the parade is seen screaming: "They are not Greeks, realise it, they are Slavs".
After a decades-long dispute with its northern neighbour, the Greek Parliament narrowly passed a bill in January, approving Macedonia's name change from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia, to distinguish it from the Greek territory with the same name.
Page Content
Recent developments under the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) have made the Golden State even more golden for some employment attorneys while raising litigation challenges for employers.
In addition to bringing individual or class-action claims, aggrieved employees can sue under PAGA for alleged labor violations on behalf of themselves and other workers. PAGA was intended to deputize citizens as private attorneys general to enforce the labor code in light of the state government's limited resources.
So the law allows these employees to step into the shoes of state regulators to recover civil penalties and to receive part of the amount recovered as compensation. Seventy-five percent of the penalties recovered go to the state, and 25 percent go to employees.
Background
PAGA took effect in 2004, but litigation under the act picked up in 2009 when the California Supreme Court held that the stringent certification requirements for bringing a class action do not apply to PAGA actions. "After this decision, it became common to see PAGA claims tacked on to class-action claims," said Corey Cabral, an attorney with Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger in Sacramento. "Plaintiffs also began filing PAGA-only actions, without asserting any individual or class claims."
Litigation picked up more steam in 2014 when the state high court held that employees could not waive their right in an arbitration agreement to bring PAGA claims. The court explained that PAGA claims are for the public benefit and that it is contrary to public policy to enforce such waivers. As a result, the number of PAGA claims increased dramatically and PAGA-only actions became even more common.
Furthermore, the California Supreme Court in 2017 ruled that PAGA plaintiffs are generally entitled to request and receive a significant amount of information from the employer early in the litigation, which creates pressure for employers to settle early to avoid huge litigation costs.
The result has been an explosion of PAGA claims. Approximately 15 PAGA notice letters get submitted to the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency every day, according to Cabral.
Expanded Reach
The most consequential provision of PAGA is Section 2699(c), Cabral said, which broadly defines an "aggrieved employee" as any current or former employee "against whom one or more of the alleged violations was committed."
A California appellate court applied this definition in a 2018 opinion and held that a PAGA plaintiff who is affected by at least one labor code violation may pursue PAGA claims for other violations that did not affect that plaintiff directly.
When an employee brings a PAGA representative action, he or she does so "as the proxy or agent of the state's labor law enforcement agencies, not other employees," the court reasoned.
"Plaintiffs are now filing complaints alleging a wide variety of labor code violations under PAGA even if they have not or could not have personally suffered a violation of each provision," Cabral said. "In sum, there is nothing stopping one disgruntled employee from filing a PAGA action alleging any number of labor code violations."
Underlying claims that create exposure in PAGA actions include "the whole panoply of wage and hour violations," such as missed meal and rest breaks, failure to provide itemized wage statements, and failure to pay overtime, said Erica Rocush, an attorney with Lewis Brisbois in Los Angeles.
A frequent PAGA allegation with significant consequences for employers is that employees performed off-the-clock work during meal periods. This common allegation can create a chain of labor code violations: failure to provide a required meal period or pay employees the appropriate premium for working during a break; failure to pay minimum wages (and possibly overtime premiums) for the off-the-clock work; failure to timely pay all wages earned; failure to list all wages earned on pay statements; and failure to timely pay final wages.
Many PAGA plaintiffs assert that they can recover a civil penalty for each of these violations, per employee, per pay period, based on the one allegation that employees worked during required meal breaks, Cabral said. "As you can imagine, these penalties can add up to a significant amount very quickly."
An initial violation carries a $100 penalty per employee per pay period, and every subsequent violation carries a $200 penalty. Employees can also recover attorney fees.
[SHRM members-only toolkit: Complying with California Wage Payment and Hours of Work Laws]
Rocush and Cabral referenced employment practices that can expose businesses to significant risks in PAGA actions: rounding employee time entries; failing to pay employees the required penalty for missing a meal or rest period (one hour of pay for each workday a meal and/or rest period is noncompliant for up to two hours a day); failing to reimburse workers for reasonable business expenses (which are often related to personal cellphone and home Internet use); and not including bonuses and other compensation in the regular rate of pay to calculate overtime premiums.
Minimizing Risks
To minimize PAGA claim risk, Emily Camastra, an attorney with Swerdlow Florence Sanchez Swerdlow & Wimmer in Beverly Hills, recommended that employers review whether the company:
Classifies any workers as independent contractors.
Rounds employee time punches.
Has compliant meal- and rest-period policies.
Out-of-state businesses with employees in California should recognize that California has strict laws in these areas. "Make sure that your wage and hour policies and practices comply with California law," she said.
Cabral recommended that HR professionals conduct regular audits of wage and hour practices. "This may seem like a daunting task but begin by identifying the major sources of potential liability and work through the list, one-by-one." He noted that attorneys who specialize in representative wage and hour litigation can assist with or conduct the audit. "Often times, a review of a company's timekeeping records and corresponding payroll records will provide a wage and hour litigation attorney enough information to start the audit process and spot potential issues," he said.
Rocush said employers should have their attorneys review employee handbooks on an annual basis to ensure continued compliance. "We also suggest providing documented training to front-line managers who are responsible for ensuring compliance with meal and rest periods and overtime to show a real effort to make sure everyone is enforcing the laws," she said.
Page Content
Early in her career, Julie Blankenship, SHRM-SCP, worked with a line manager who bypassed HR to recruit and hire a skilled tradesperson. Along the way, the manager told the top candidate that the company's health insurance was comprehensive. However, Blankenship recalled, "he left out the fine print." The company's insurance didn't cover pre-existing conditions.
"I didn't know anything about this conversation until after I was on the receiving end of the [employee's] spouse's rage," said Blankenship, who's now HR director for Perio, the Dublin, Ohio-based, parent of Barbasol and PureSilk shaving products. The company's insurance program offered no wiggle room, so "there wasn't anything to be offered to recover from this miscommunication." Because the employee accepted the position largely for the health insurance, he quit soon afterwards.
Similar stories abound throughout the HR community. Especially in smaller organizations, where processes may be loose and HR is either overworked or not particularly popular, hiring managers take matters into their own hands when they have a role to fill.
They may do so for expediency's sake, or because the business is on a growth track that pressures them to favor speed over process. Perhaps the most common scenario occurs when managers don't see HR as a credible partner and only trust the department to handle the basic administrative tasks involved with hiring, said Tom Veitz, SHRM-SCP, vice president of human resources for 500-employee Nutrisystem in Fort Washington, Pa. Whatever the reason, "the outcome is rarely ideal," he said.
Sometimes hiring managers connect with someone they've previously worked with and decide it's a perfect match with an open job, Blankenship added. In her experience, "they were either so excited about the opportunity to work together that they simply forgot to include HR, or they intentionally bypassed me because they 'knew' I would be the stereotypical 'HR enforcer,' " she said.
Unfortunately, industry experts and practitioners say, a number of HR departments have less-than-stellar reputations within their own organizations. "If your department has become what we might call 'the Department of No,' then people won't want to go to you even for things that are relatively benign, like recruiting new people," said Adam Calli, principal consultant for Arc Human Capital in Northern Virginia. "If your department has this reputation, you've got to work to overcome it."
Building Relationships
Accomplishing that requires both developing trust and demonstrating how much effort and headache managers can avoid by working with HR. Managers juggle so many responsibilities, Blankenship observed, and vacancies increase their workload while multiplying the pressure they're undereven as they spend additional time filling the open position. HR can help lighten that burden by sourcing and pre-screening candidates so managers can focus on the applicants who are genuinely interested in the job and represent the best possible match.
Another way HR professionals can help is by outlining the role and key competencies needed for success, Veitz said. They also can save managers significant time by crafting and communicating a compelling recruiting brand and compensation and benefits package, applying market and employment trends to the search and, once a candidate is selected, organizing the offer and creating an onboarding plan.
Of course, all this can only happen when HR takes the time to develop solid working relationships with line managers. Practitioners can lay the groundwork for that kind of partnership by being proactive in their outreach.
To start, sit down with hiring managers before they begin a search, advised Yessica Cancel, SHRM-SCP, chief operating officer of Pace Center for Girls, a 500-employee nonprofit in Jacksonville, Fla. Ask how the manager wants to be involved and offer to take appropriate chores off their hands. That kind of approach, Cancel said, "helps to build that partnership."
Often, managers don't really know how they want the process to work. In those cases, simply talking through the steps can help them formulate their approach, Cancel said. For example, some might prefer to review all of the applicants, pick their top 10, then have HR conduct the phone screens and identify three finalists. In other cases, HR might review the initial set of resumes, present the manager with the 10 most promising prospects, then conduct phone screens for whatever finalists the manager selects.
Cancel believes it's important to keep the hiring process flexible. "It's almost like an a la carte menu that gives managers the ability to become engaged where they want to be engaged," she said. "But at the same time, they see where they can hand off tasks without backing away from the process."
Steering Clear of Risk
Another dynamic at play is risk. When HR's not involved, managers may unwittingly put both themselves and the company in legal peril.
"The manager may ask questions that get them in legal hot water or find themselves involved in compensation discussions with no facts as it relates to current market and internal equity," Veitz said. Also, as more employees work across functions, the consequences of hiring in a vacuum become greater. Without HR's guidance, managers may not see "how the role and talent fits into the bigger picture of the organization," he explained.
Working with HR also helps managers keep the hiring process focused on business needs and not emotions. "Taking the time to get a second opinion and/or compare their 'ideal match' to other candidates can help ensure an unbiased evaluation of the candidate," Blankenship said.
On top of that, HR's involvement should result in a fair and inclusive selection process. Without HR, "hiring could become limited to the manager's network, restricting their ability to view a wide array of diverse candidates that can add tremendous value to the organization," Veitz said.
"Managers get an applicant who looks really good on paper, so they go forward but don't check out anything," said Andrea Thomas, director of human resources at Casablanca Design Group, a restaurant design firm in Marietta, Ga., with 98 employees. "They don't find out enough to really know if they're the right employee. They only take the application at face value."
If HR sees itself being bypassed by managers, Blankenship suggested finding out why. "Make sure to get honest feedback and identify the true root cause of the problem, if there is one," she said. The reasons could range from managers not knowing they could or should work with HR to, in the worst case, intentionally excluding HR because it has lost their trust. "Once we know the reason, we can assess our options and collaborate with management to find ways for HR to add value, not bureaucracy, to the talent acquisition process," she said.
"Learn the business and the pain points of your hiring managers," Veitz added. That will help establish credibility and respect. "Hiring managers need to see that you're helping them solve a business problem versus simply completing a transaction. This fosters trust and often leads to managers actively seeking your advice." The key, he believes, is to demonstrate that HR practitioners are "in it with them and are committed to finding the best team member to drive their success, too."
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday in a telephone conversation warned his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, that Washington will not stand idly by while Moscow exacerbates tensions in Venezuela.
The secretary (Pompeo) told Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov that the United States and regional countries will not stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions in Venezuela, State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement.
During the call, Palladino said, the secretary of state told Lavrov that The continued insertion of Russian military personnel to support the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela risks prolonging the suffering of the Venezuelan people who overwhelmingly support interim President Juan Guaido.
According to the statement, the top US diplomat urged Russia to cease its unconstructive behavior and join other nations, including the overwhelming majority of nations in the Western Hemisphere, who - he said - are seeking a better future for the Venezuelan people.
On Sunday, two Russian military aircraft landed at Maiquetia International Airport, Venezuelas main air hub which also serves Caracas, according to reports by local media outlets and an opposition lawmaker.
According to the daily El Nacional, almost 100 Russian troops arrived in the South American country with 35 tons of unspecified equipment and other gear under the command of Maj. Gen. Vasily Tonkoshkurov.
The reason for the visit by Russian military personnel to Venezuela is not known, although Caracas and Moscow last December had said that they would begin discussions on combined efforts to raise the defense capabilities of the South American country to repel possible attacks.
At that time, a squadron of Russian military planes, including two Tu-160 strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, participated in joint military exercises with Venezuelan forces.
Russia is one of Maduros biggest allies, backing him publicly against the challenge from Guaido, the president of the opposition-controlled Parliament, who on Jan. 23 proclaimed himself interim president and was shortly thereafter recognized by more than 50 nations, including the United States, as Venezuelas legitimate leader.
Since then, Washington has taken assorted action to pressure Maduro to leave office, including revoking the visas of certain Venezuelan citizens and placing sanctions on Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the South American countrys state-run oil company and the main source of foreign currency earnings for Caracas.
Page Content
Like employers in many parts of the world, Canadian firms are finding it increasingly difficult to hire the talent they need. Talent mobility can help alleviate some of the talent crunch many employers face.
A 2017 survey of industry leaders by IBM found that "55 percent of Canadian industry executives surveyed cite finding appropriately skilled workers in local labor markets as a top skills-related challenge." In a report about Canadian talent shortages published by Manpower Canada in 2017, one in three (34 percent) employers are having difficulty filling vacancies. Predictions are that with a continued shift to a knowledge-based economy and an aging workforce that challenge is going to get even bigger.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has long advocated that more interprovincial labour mobility within Canada would help to address skills shortages. And, according to TD Economics, "interprovincial migration adds grease to an economy's wheels."
For these reasons, the Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC) has been tracking the willingness of Canadian workers to relocate for employment purposes.
Willingness to Relocate
In 2018, CERC released the results of its most recent interprovincial mobility study conducted by Ipsos. The study reveals that most working Canadians are willing to relocate to another province or city within their province with the right conditions and incentives. The overall appetite for relocation to another province or city within their current province has increased compared to the previous iteration of the interprovincial mobility survey in 2014.
Survey participants were asked if they would consider moving to a new employment opportunity far enough away that they would have to relocate for at least two years with a 10 percent raise in pay and all their moving expenses paid for by their employer.
The study found that one in five (22 percent) working Canadians would relocate, for a full-time job in another city in their province, an increase of 6 percent compared to 2014. When asked about moving outside of their home province, 18 percent of working Canadian residents would be willing to move.
Looking at demographic differences, 86 percent of Millennials would at least consider a relocation for a job in another city in their own province. This is 22 percent above workers aged 35 to 54 years old and is more than double those aged 55 and older.
When asked about moving to another province for work, Millennials (those under the age of 35) show the greatest willingness to relocate for work. Three in four (76 percent) Millennials would at least consider a relocation outside their home province. Workers aged 35 to 54 years old were less likely to consider a move at 55 percent, and just 36 percent of those aged 55 and older would consider such a move. Across all age groups, men with a university education were most willing to move.
The proportion of working Canadians that would relocate increases significantly if more incentives and the right conditions are offered.
Close to three in four working Canadians agree (strongly or somewhat) that they could be convinced to take an out-of-province assignment if the incentive package from their employer was right (72 percent).
Housing supports when relocating are deemed as the most important incentives among those willing to relocate: half (51 percent) of working Canadians say that it is important for an employer to provide a tax-free housing allowance for up to six months, while four in ten (39 percent) say it is important for an employer to provide a nontaxable interest free loan of up to $100,000 for the purchase of a new home in the new location.
For Millennials, in addition to these incentives, providing further tax credits relating to the costs of the move are also an important incentive. Millennials also place a greater value on the provision of tax credits for the full cost of child and elder care for up to one year from the date of the transfer to the new location, than any other demographic group.
The top three factors that Canadians are most likely to consider when thinking about relocating for full-time work include: a 20 percent increase in pay (45 percent in-province, 44 percent to another province), a guarantee of returning to their current role within two years (43 percent in-province, 38 percent to another province), and having their employer provide temporary housing until permanent housing is available (30 percent in-province, 25 percent to another province).
[SHRM members-only toolkit: Introduction to the Global Human Resources Discipline]
Preferred Provinces and Cities for Relocation
In terms of the preferred destinations for relocation within Canada, four in ten (38 percent) working Canadians rank British Columbia first, followed by Ontario (17 percent) and Alberta (16 percent). Similarly, the highest proportion of working Canadians (25 percent) rank Vancouver as their preferred city of relocation, followed by Toronto (10 percent), Ottawa (10 percent) and Calgary (10 percent).
Among Millennials, slightly fewer selected British Columbia as their first destination at 36 percent, second choice was Ontario at 21 percent and Alberta a distant third at 12 percent. Quebec was selected as the first destination by Millennials over all other demographic groups combined at 7 percent.
In ranking cities, Millennials' top picks were Vancouver at 21 percent, Toronto at 13 percent and Ottawa at 12 percent.
Stephen Cryne is the president and CEO of the Canadian Employee Relocation Council, based in Toronto. 2019, by the Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC). This article is reprinted from https://www.CERC.ca with permission from CERC. All rights reserved. This is an abbreviated article of a piece originally published in the Canadian HR Reporter in December 2018.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- More female students are taking and passing Advanced Placement (AP) computer science exams, according to the Department of Education (DOE).
The number of female students who took an AP computer science exam increased from 379 in 2016 to 2,155 in 2018, according to data provided by the DOE.
That means that 42 percent of all New York City students who take AP computer science classes are female, compared to 28 percent nationwide, the DOE said.
And more female students are passing AP computer science exams. DOE data shows that 177 female students passed the exam in 2016, compared to 1,266 female students in 2018.
When we give our students opportunities and set high expectations, they succeed, said city Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza. More young women in New York City are taking and excelling in AP Computer Science, shrinking the STEM gender gap and making us proud.
Three Staten Island high schools were also recently honored by the College Board for efforts in closing the gender gap and engaging more female students in computer science coursework.
Port Richmond High School, Curtis High School and Tottenville High School received an AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award.
Awards were given to schools who reached 50 percent or higher female representation in an AP computer science course in 2018, or whose percentage of female exam takers met or exceeded that of the schools female population in 2018.
The DOE attributes the increases to Computer Science for All -- a citywide initiative that aims to bring computer science to every elementary, middle and high school by 2025. It focuses on expanding access to underrepresented groups, such as girls and black and Latino students.
Key parts of the initiative include adding AP computer science classes in schools and teacher trainings across the city.
FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
CITY HALL -- Under fire to account for her $850 million mental health initiative, ThriveNYC, First Lady Chirlane McCray faced off with the City Council on Tuesday to explain where the funding for her program is going and how it is actually helping some of the citys most vulnerable people.
McCray and Susan Herman, senior advisor to the Mayor's Office of ThriveNYC, touted training thousands of mental health first aid training, responding to more calls on the suicide hotline and adding more clinicians in schools.
But they struggled to define how they help the seriously mentally ill and what the term meant to Thrive and how the initiative was actually benefiting the 15 city agencies that share responsibilities for Thrives programs.
Herman said the management of Thrives programs are run by city agencies, which technically own the programs.
We are overseeing them, making sure that they are doing what they said they were going to do, that theyre maximizing efficiency and we are working toward sustainability, Herman said.
But Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Queens) said that at a recent budget hearing at the Committee on Aging, a commissioner did not know what the infusion of $1.7 million into their agency from Thrive was going to be used for.
Herman admitted that Thrive lacked in branding itself, which sometimes made it confusing for agencies receiving its programs to know that programs or trainings they were receiving were actually coming from Thrive.
Im sure the corrections commissioner knows that her officers are [Crisis Intervention Team] trained, she may not necessarily associate it with Thrive, Herman said.
McCray also made it clear that although Thrive was her brainchild, Herman calls all the shots.
ThriveNYC was my idea, I was the founder, I provide strategic support, I hold meetings on behavioral health and I amplify messages to the public, McCray said. Susan Herman does the day-to-day management and makes the decisions.
ISLAND COUNCILMEN SLAM THRIVE; BORELLI CALLS FOR IT TO BE SCRAPPED
Island councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) and Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid Island) slammed the first ladys program, Borelli even calling for it to be scrapped altogether.
Thrive is not working and the metrics with which we use to determine its outcomes are fundamentally flawed, Borelli said. We would not judge the citys performance in a snowstorm by how many sanitation workers and plows were in use, but by how much snow is on the ground; yet that logic is how we are expected to understand Thrive. It is an extremely expensive initiative, but it cant seem to complete its core mission. The truth is, we have had school counselors and mental health programs in the past, and reorganizing them as a new money pit simply isnt working. It should be scrapped.
Matteo said Thrives presentation to the City Council failed to explain the effectiveness of the programs.
The administration came equipped with lots of graphs and charts and a fancy slideshow, but none of it really clarified exactly how effective these programs have been or whether this is the best way to spend $850 million in taxpayer money, Matteo said. The fact that ThriveNYCs programs are spread out over 15 agencies with no clear, central management makes it impossible to measure, and provides little accountability. We need more details not just on contacts people have made with these various programs, but the ultimate outcomes of these contacts. We also need to know how this program has better equipped our NYPD officers to deal with emotional disturbed people and how it is tackling serious mental illnesses that can have a real detrimental effect on the individuals suffering and the public.
Earlier this month, Comptroller Scott Stringer vowed to hold the first ladys mental health initiative accountable and investigate its finances.
In addition to understanding Thrives finances, Stringer also asked for any updates on the 54 health-related programs Thrive oversees and which city agencies oversee them, according to the New York Post
The comptroller also asked for a detailed reporting of the initiatives distribution of naloxone kits to local hospitals, the paper reported.
FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has found that there was no collusion between Donald Trumps presidential campaign and the Kremlin.
That should end the whole Trump-Russia meme, but we know better than that.
The Democrats will cling to murky Mueller language about obstruction of justice, even though nothing indictable was found on that count either. And if there was no collusion in the first place, why would there be a need to obstruct justice?
The facts remain as they were two years ago: The only people who colluded with the Russians were those, including from Hillary Clintons campaign, who paid for a bogus Russia dossier on Trump during the 2016 campaign.
That dossier, which everyone knew was dodgy, was used to get FISA warrants to spy on people in the Trump orbit. The U.S. national security apparatus was used to eavesdrop on American citizens for political purposes.
Hard to think of a more serious breach of the public trust. When are we going to get to the bottom of that one?
Instead of dreaming about impeachment, the Dems will now have to focus in earnest on beating Trump at the ballot box. Which is what they should have been concentrating on all this time, instead of working feverishly to undo the results of the 2016 election.
The partys initial take seems to be that a hard-left turn toward socialism, embodied by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, will return a Democrat to the White House. Even though socialism has never worked anywhere its been tried. Even though America has a long and deeply rooted tradition of capitalism and free enterprise.
Sure, free tuition and free health care sound great until people get the bill, and realize whos going to be responsible for paying it: The middle class.
Along with this leftward lurch has come a mortifying undercurrent of anti-Semitism. Democrats in the House couldnt even bring themselves to formally sanction Rep. Ilhan Omar for her despicable comments about Jews. Dems instead rushed to defend Omar, saying that she had every right to criticize Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Nobodys arguing. But thats not what Omar did. What she did was trot out tired, dangerous tropes about Jews and money, and about Jews and their loyalty to America.
Now whos bringing us back to 1930s-era Germany?
Its gotten to the point where top presidential candidates are boycotting the annual meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, afraid that theyll offend Omar and other anti-Israel types. All theyre doing is driving Jewish voters, long a core Democratic constituency, into the arms of Trump. A watered-down House resolution on hate only added insult to injury.
Dems have other tricks up their sleeve as well: Trying to abolish the Electoral College, which would give big, Dem-heavy states like California and New York enormous sway in deciding the presidency at the expense of smaller states. They want to give the right to vote to 16-year-olds and illegal immigrants, which Dems see as votes in their column. They want to add justices to the Supreme Court, where big-ticket electoral disputes end up.
Here's an idea: Get out into the country and see why people really voted for Trump. Then try to find a way to get them to vote against him next year.
Its that simple.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- The family of a missing New Jersey teenager hasnt seen or heard from her for the past four days and believes she ran off with someone after school Friday, according to a N.J.Com report.
Ashley Combs, a senior at Toms River High School North, hasnt shown up for school this week and didnt have a cell phone or any credit cards with her when she disappeared, according to the report.
In a Facebook post Tuesday pleading for the girls return, her legal guardian mentioned that she is not allowed to have a cell phone or make contact with her birth parents, adding, my family dynamic is absolutely none of anyones business.
The familys attorney issued an ultimatum after she went missing for whoever she presumably left with to return her to a police station by Tuesday morning.
The attorney issued another statement once the deadline passed that read in part: To those that think she just ran away, ask yourself this: What type of person would risk everything to help a child runaway knowing that everyone is looking for her? Do you think that this person is mentally sound? Do you honestly think she is not in danger?
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While a congestion pricing plan for New York City appears to be nearing approval in the state legislature, there are still many aspects of the plan to be determined before the April 1 state budget deadline.
State lawmakers have come to the consensus that the implementation of a congestion pricing plan is required in order to fund necessary repairs to the citys ailing subway system.
However, Carl E. Heastie, speaker of the state Assembly, said that the specifics of the plan, including pricing and possible exemptions, are still being considered, though legislators are confident they can reach an agreement by the April 1 deadline.
Congestion pricing refers to the use of electronic tolling to charge vehicles for entering certain areas during peak commuting hours.
This particular plan calls for electronic tolling devices to be installed around the perimeter of the Central Business District (CBD) at streets south of 61st Street in Manhattan, not including the FDR Drive.
But heres what we still dont know.
When it will be implemented
While the current plan calls for congestion pricing to take effect no later than December 2020, it does not provide a concrete start date.
How much it will cost
The congestion pricing program is expected to implement a variable fee, dependent on vehicle type and time of travel, though no set price has been given for the current plan.
In early 2018, Fix NYC, Cuomos transportation advisory panel, released its congestion pricing report, which outlined a proposed congestion pricing system for implementation in New York City.
According to recommendations from the Fix NYC report, cars that travel south of 60th Street in Manhattan would have been subject to a $11.52 charge, while trucks would pay $25.34.
Its unknown at this time whether a similar pricing structure will be announced.
Bridge and tunnel credits
At this point in time, it appears that motorists using the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge before accessing the CBD will not receive a commute credit under the current congestion pricing plan, though the issue is still up for negotiation.
According to the governors office, bridges and tunnels that feed directly into the CBD area are likely to receive a credit, however, crossings outside of that district, including the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, will likely not.
However, the governors office said the credits are still subject to negotiations prior to the state budget deadline of April 1. As a result, theres still a chance that Verrazzano travelers will be included the commute credit.
Possible exemptions
As negotiations continue, legislators are considering a number of possible exemptions to the congestion pricing plan as to not overburden some of the citys most vulnerable commuters.
Lawmakers are considering exemptions for drivers below the poverty line, drivers who are disabled, drivers attending medical appointments, and more, according to the New York Times.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York is on the verge of becoming the first U.S. city to introduce congestion pricing, according to a recent published report.
State lawmakers have reached a consensus that the plan is needed to help pay for repairs to the citys subway system, according to The New York Times.
Congestion pricing refers to the use of electronic tolling to charge vehicles for entering certain areas during peak commuting hours.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a plan last month to move forward with congestion pricing and fare increases in a bid to fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The plan, slated to take effect no later than December 2020, calls for electronic tolling devices to be installed around the perimeter of the Central Business District at streets south of 61st Street in Manhattan, not including the FDR Drive.
The Times reported that Carl E. Heastie, speaker of the state Assembly, and other legislative officials said that specifics about the plan are still being considered, but there is confidence that a deal could be reached before the April 1 state budget deadline.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The implementation of a two-way toll on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, coupled with additional federal infrastructure funding, could help put an end to Staten Islands commuting nightmare, according to Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn).
During a recent Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Rose highlighted the grueling commutes faced by Staten Island residents, while offering various suggestions to improve upon existing travel conditions.
Quite frankly, my district -- Staten Island and South Brooklyn -- is dealing with a commuting nightmare; its dealing with overall a transportation nightmare. We have some of the worst traffic in the country. Our commute averages 69 minutes per day. Sixty-nine minutes, can you honestly imagine that? asked Rose.
He went on to explain the boroughs dependency of cars, with 68 percent of Staten Island residents commuting by auto, compared to just 22 percent of Manhattanites.
My constituents would just love to have the opportunity to use public transportation, they just do not have it. Now, no one sent me here to complain, so were coming to you with some real options for things that we can do, said Rose.
His first proposal was to repeal the one-way toll on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the nations only bridge where tolling is controlled by federal mandate, a THUD Appropriations bill put in place 30 years ago.
Two-way tolling will generate millions of dollars in additional revenue for New York States MTA, which has a critical funding deficit. And this creates an opportunity for us to leverage two-way tolling into increased state and local investment, particularly in South Brooklyn and Staten Island -- both of which are in need of additional buses, Rose said.
The proposed split to a two-way toll would cut the toll in half, turning the current $17 one-way toll into an $8.50 toll in each direction.
The congressman went on to discuss the need for improvements to the boroughs major highways, the Staten Island Expressway and West Shore Expressway, through grants such as the Surface Transportation Block Grant.
Rose also called for additional ferry service provided via Capital Investment Grants.
Staten Island is an island, South Brooklyn right on the water as well. We are prime for so much ferry service to the rest of New York City, and even to New Jersey, said Rose.
The congressman also touched upon the North Shore Bus Rapid Transit and Staten Island Light Rail projects, requesting additional resources to complete the review processes.
Studies show that these projects can halve commuting time, and we need this Committees assistance finishing the studies for these plans, said Rose.
He concluded his testimony by calling for increased attention to be paid toward areas like Staten Island, which face some of the countrys longest commutes.
Therefore, I ask the Committee Members to include in their report language prioritizing projects in regions with long commute times. I think America as a whole is going through a rising commuting nightmare, as more and more jobs concentrate in urban, city cores, Rose said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An 18-year-old man is accused of assaulting a police officer and then jumping out the window of a moving patrol car after police responded to a domestic incident in New Springville.
Police were called early on Friday morning to a home in the vicinity of Lamped Loop and Richmond Hill Road.
Davion (Davon) Anderson, 18, of Lamped Loop, tried to resist being arrested by refusing to enter the patrol car, stiffening his body and dropping to the ground around 2:30 a.m., according to the criminal complaint.
He allegedly kicked the leg of a male police officer several times and tried to prevent another officer from placing him in the patrol car. The officer who was assaulted suffered bruising, swelling and substantial pain, according to the complaint.
The suspect, who stands 57 tall and weighs about 160 pounds, escaped from custody by jumping out of the window of a moving patrol car en route to the precinct, the complaint alleges.
A police spokesman was unable to provide any information about whether the officer or the suspect needed medical attention or details about the suspects leap from the patrol car.
Anderson is charged with assault, resisting arrest, escape and trespass, according to the criminal complaint.
He is being held at Rikers Island in lieu of $25,000 bail and is due back in Criminal Court on Wednesday, according to public records.
The suspects attorney could not be reached immediately for comment.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. There was no fear, only indomitable grit and determination in Irene McCarthys voice as the plucky octogenarian on Tuesday told the man who invaded her home last year she would not be intimidated.
Speaking at Kenneth Turkus sentencing, McCarthy, now 86, said she had taken to putting chairs against her front and patio doors at night after the harrowing May 7, 2018 incident in West Brighton and wouldnt go out for a time unless someone was with her.
But she realized she had become a prisoner in her own home.
One day I decided I did not want to live this way, McCarthy said during the proceeding in state Supreme Court, St. George. I took away the chairs and started going out again. I may be a senior citizen, but Im a strong woman from good Italian stock. I am more now careful, but I still go out.
I dont hate him, but Im not sorry youre going to prison, McCarthy, who was garbed in a green shirt, blue scarf and slacks, told the defendant. May God help you.
Moments later, Justice Mario F. Mattei sentenced Turkus as a second felony offender to nine-and-a-half years in prison and five years post-release supervision.
8 Repeat felon who assaulted an octogenarian woman during a violent home invasion is sentenced
In January, Turkus, 30, a West Brighton resident, pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, the top count against him, to resolve the case.
In sentencing the defendant, Mattei said he believed Turkus expression of remorse during a pre-sentencing interview with the city Probation Department was genuine.
But it can never excuse your abhorrent behavior, said the judge. Mr. Turkus, rather than treating our elders with respect, as many of us were taught, you chose to select and prey upon one of the most vulnerable members of our community. Mrs. McCarthy was unlawfully imprisoned in her own home. Your actions turned her house into a house of horrors.
Assistant District Attorney Arda Ozdinc, who prosecuted the case, called Turkus actions cruel and despicable and said they went against all forms of decency.
He said the agreed-upon sentence would send a clear (message) that this type of behavior is not OK and will not be tolerated in our society.
Turkus declined to make a statement before Mattei imposed sentence.
Defense lawyer Mark Geisser told the court that his client, who was being held on Rikers Island, hoped to have the sentencing adjourned another month to undergo surgery. He did not specify what for.
Mattei declined, saying he was certain the defendant could get the necessary medical treatment while in prison.
Authorities said Turkus, who was on parole, broke into the victims home while she was inside.
McCarthy told the Advance she was getting food for her cat when she turned around and saw the defendant standing there.
At first, I thought it was my nephew. But then, when I saw him, I asked, 'What are you doing in my house?'"
Turkus ran at her, she said.
"I started screaming and he knocked me down," the Advance quoted her as saying.
Turkus, who is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds, threatened the victim with "a metal object believed to be a knife," according to the criminal complaint and police.
"He picked me up, and I said, I don't have any money on me, it's upstairs," the victim told the Advance.
She said the defendant grabbed her by the arm and brought her upstairs to her bedroom.
The victim said she entered a closet where she keeps money in an envelope, and Turkus snatched it.
He then forced her into the closet and locked the door, said the victim.
Cops said Turkus made off with $300.
The defendant was arrested two days later on May 9 near the corner of North Burgher and Morrison avenues in West Brighton, the criminal complaint said.
Two needles and a bag with heroin residue were in his possession, said the complaint.
Turkus was indicted on charges including burglary, robbery, assault and unlawful imprisonment.
The defendant has served two prior prison sentences.
In 2006, he was sent upstate for two to six years for a burglary conviction, show online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Later, in 2015, he was sentenced to 18 months to three years behind bars for an attempted-burglary conviction.
Turkus was paroled in October 2017, about seven months before the home invasion.
The United States president signed a proclamation Monday officially recognizing Israels annexation of the Golan Heights, a part of Syria that has been under Israeli military occupation since the Six-Day War of 1967.
The White House released a statement Monday confirming the move that President Donald Trump had expressed a willingness to make a few days earlier, making the US the first country to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the disputed territory.
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 that, the United States recognizes that the Golan Heights are part of the State of Israel, the presidential proclamation said.
Syrias state-run SANA news agency quoted an anonymous source at the Foreign Ministry as saying that the US move was a flagrant aggression on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.
The White House said it was a necessary step for any possible future peace agreement in the region, which must account for Israels need to protect itself from Syria and other regional threats.
The note also said that aggressive acts by Iran and terrorist groups, including Hizballah, in southern Syria continue to make the Golan Heights a potential launching ground for attacks on Israel.
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel has never had a better friend than you, referring to Trump.
International media reports, meanwhile, quoted United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying that it is clear that the status of Golan has not changed.
The UNs policy on Golan is reflected in the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and that policy has not changed, Dujarric said.
On Dec. 17, 1981, the UN Security Council adopted, unanimously, Resolution No. 497, which rejected the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights and considered it as null and void and without international legal effect.
In its latest annual report on human rights around the world, the US State Department departed from its previous practice by referring to the Golan Heights as Israeli-controlled rather than Israeli-occupied.
Trumps talk of recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan is seen as a further signal of support for Netanyahu as the White House is putting the finishing touches on its Middle East peace plan.
Most of the 26,000 members of the Druze religious community in the Golan Heights have refused assimilation into the Israeli state and nearly all of them boycotted Israels first-ever attempt to hold municipal elections in the territory last October.
International media outlets reported that around 20,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the Golan Heights.
UN peacekeepers have been stationed in the Golan for decades.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A wild melee in Stapleton Friday night left three individuals with slash wounds and contusions after four suspects allegedly beat, sliced and battered the individuals on Wright Street.
The three victims, an 18-year-old male, a 20-year-old male and a 20-year-old female were attacked by more than four individuals at once at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Friday, according to police.
The victims were allegedly struck in the body multiple times with a shovel and slashed with kitchen knives, causing lacerations, bleeding and substantial pain to the head and body, according to a criminal complaint.
The two male victims sustained slashing and contusion wounds while the female victim suffered contusion wounds, police said.
On scene, police cordoned off a portion of Wright Street, near the corner of Van Duzer Street, as evidence was searched for and collected.
Police recovered a serrated kitchen knife, a cleaver, a pocket knife, two shovels and a pick axe from the scene, according to the criminal complaint.
The weapons are consistent with the injuries caused to the victims, the criminal complaints says.
On the corner of Wright Street and Van Duzer Street, a large butcher knife could be seen lying on the sidewalk. Police later collected the knife as evidence.
Of the four individuals charged following the incident, two are considered minors and will have their name withheld from publication. Both individuals are 17-year-old males who are charged with one count of second-degree assault, third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree harassment, according to the criminal complaint.
Keeana Cruz, 19, and Sharik Clark, 19, were both charged with one count of second-degree assault, third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree harassment, the criminal complaint says.
The lawyer listed as representing Cruz and Clark declined to comment on behalf of his clients because they will be assigned a new lawyer following arraignment, he said.
The recent Senate resolution blocking Trump from building a southern blockade proves that he has no friends in Washington - Democrat nor Republican.
The Democrats want future votes and the Republicans want to take out the labor side of the economic (equation) system for their elitist interests.
I cant believe how people dont see this!
The average American has to wake up and see these elitist politicians for what they are elitist vultures circling the U.S., ready to take out of the country whatever they can in any way they can.
They are not for tax interests of the U.S. Theyre out for their own selfish interests.
When the country goes bankrupt, these elitists will all leave the country high and dry and live all over the world in luxurious comfort.
Time will tell if Im right or wrong.
Go Trump! Go U.S.A.!
(Jay Nappi is a Port Richmond resident.)
If you want a mix of performance, low price, and great wet weather (rim) braking, that means youre in the market for a set of aluminum wheels. Last week, we took a 30,000 foot view of the relevance of aluminum wheels in 2019, and concluded that yes, theyre still a big player in the market. This expanded into a thread in our reader forum, where some of you chimed in with questions, comments, and your favorite products.
Not all forum members read the front page (and vice versa), so were going to put together a list of top aluminum wheels for 2019 and beyond. Note that we listed a basic set of basic criteria to look for when shopping for performance aluminum wheels so lets recap.
1. Internal rim width of 17 21mm. Outer rim width of 22 25mm.
2. Rim depth of 25 35mm. Deeper looks cooler and might gain an aero edge at the expense of weight.
3. Tubeless compatibility if thats your cup of tea.
4. Bladed steel spokes
5. *Beware of super lightweight hubs that contain tiny bearings that wont last.
Sadly, some of the top historic choices no longer exist the Zipp 101 and the American Classic 420, for example. Lets take a look at a few of your best options today in 2019. Note that were focusing on full alloy rims, not pricier carbon/alloy hybrids.
Boyd Altamont
Specs:
Internal Width: 20mm
Brake Track Width: 24mm
Depth: 30mm
Weight: 1,645g / pair
Tubeless-compatible?: Yes
MSRP: $650 / pair
Ive never ridden Boyd wheels, but their Altamont aluminum platform looks to be a winner. The standard version of the wheel is both deep and wide, with a very reasonable overall weight of 1,645 grams. Theyre tubeless-compatible, and even available in a high-tech ceramic-coated version for a $150 upcharge (for the full-stealth look). Note that the ceramic rims include Swiss Stop BXP brake pads, and are said to offer improved stopping in all conditions. Theres also a special Lite version of the Altamont with a 25mm-deep rim and 1,530g weight per pair. If it was my money, Id stick with the deeper standard Altamont for the improved aero performance (and appearance, in my opinion).
DT Swiss PR 1600 Spline 32
Specs:
Internal Width: 18mm
Brake Track Width: 21.5mm
Depth: 32mm
Weight: 1,723g / pair
Tubeless-compatible?: Yes
MSRP: $735 / pair
DT Swiss doesnt get enough credit in triathlon. If you ask me, its due in-part to their product names. Somewhat similar to Shimano, they often include a mix of letters and numbers that are hard to remember, which is unfortunate given the quality of the product.
DT has had several iterations of deep-ish alloy rims over the years, and the current PR 1600 Spline 32 is a hit. At 32mm deep and 21.5mm wide, its right on the border of what you want in terms of width. The weight is a little bit burly on-paper at 1,723 grams, but Ill talk you off the ledge with my real-world experience: DT makes wheels that last. Ive hand-built many wheels with DT rims and hubs over the years, and have had exactly zero problems. If you want something that looks good, hits the dimension requirements you want, and wont cause problems, DT should be at the top of your list.
Mavic Cosmic Elite
Specs:
Internal Width: 17mm
Brake Track Width: 23mm
Depth: 30mm
Weight: 1,770 grams
Tubeless-compatible?: Yes
MSRP: $549 / pair
Ive had a soft spot in my heart for Mavics Cosmic Elite since I first saw them 15+ years ago. With 30mm-deep rims and Mavics good reputation for build quality, I always wanted a pair. While they remained unchanged for many years, theyre now up-to-speed with 17mm internal width and even UST tubeless compatibility (a step beyond the often hit-and-miss tubeless fit with tubeless-ready rims). In addition, Mavic is known for outstanding machined braking surfaces, which stop reliably (even in wet/cold weather, when paired with Kool Stop pads).
At a price of $549, theyre utterly attainable and might be found as take-offs (on the used market) from a new bike thats been upgraded to carbon. The weight might not look great on paper, but similar to DT Swiss, you wont have any headaches to deal with.
Kinlin XR31T
Specs:
Internal Width: 19mm
Brake Track Width: 24mm
Depth: 31mm
Weight: 490g (rim)
Tubeless-compatible?: Yes
MSRP: Depends on build
Kinlin is a Taiwanese rim manufacturer that isnt very well known in the US. Typically available from custom wheel builders, their XR31T rim hits all of the important specs with its 31mm depth and 24mm outside width. The bonus is that the rear rim is available in an offset version, helping to even out spoke tension (a rarity in this field).
Aforce Al33
Specs:
Internal Width: 20mm
Brake Track Width: 24mm
Max Rim Width: 26mm
Depth: 32.5mm
Weight: 485g (rim)
Tubeless-compatible?: Yes
MSRP: Depends on build
The Aforce Al33 is similar to the Kinlin above in that its not as well-known in the US market, and is often sold by custom builders. To my knowledge, its the only toroidal aluminum rim thats available today meaning that it has a bulged shape with angled braking surfaces. Thats a title once held by the Zipp 101, so this rim is in good company. It also has a surprisingly light advertised weight of only 485 grams per rim thats super light for a rim this deep and wide.
You can also have the rim in two versions: standard braking surface or ceramic-coated. Is this the new performance standard for alloy and stealth aero? I think so.
Vision Trimax 35
Specs:
Internal Width: 17mm
Brake Track Width: 22mm
Depth: 35mm
Weight: 1,690g / pair
Tubeless-compatible?: No
MSRP: $728 / pair (KB Version)
Vision hits an interesting mix of options in their aluminum line, with 25mm, 30mm, and 35mm depths. Additionally, they have machined braking surfaces, or an all-black KB coated rim. Im testing the 35mm depth with standard aluminum surface, and measured it to be 22.5mm wide, 0.5mm wider than advertised. The depth is a little bit misleading, as the 35mm measurement only occurs right at the spoke holes, and is milled out in-between for weight savings (shaving a couple millimeters of depth).
My only wish is that Vision could combine the characteristics of the 30 and 35mm versions into one do-it-all beast. What do I mean? The 30mm version is wider at 24mm plus it adds tubeless compatibility. Those specs at a 35mm depth would compete well with the Aforce and Kinlin options above. As of now, the Trimax 35 stands as a solid everyday trainer that can double as a race wheel when combined with the right tube and tire choice.
--
If you have a different choice or favorite - let us know in the comments below, including why!
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!
Michelle Obama's memoir Becoming could become the biggest-selling autobiography ever, its German publisher said, expressing optimism that husband Barack's forthcoming account of his two terms as US president will also be a hit.
Michelle Obama was reportedly paid a $US60 million advance for the book. Credit:AP
The former first lady's recollections, for which she received a reported advance of more than $US60 million ($84 million) from Bertelsmann's Penguin Random House division, has sold 10 million copies since it came out in November.
"That makes it our most notable creative success of last year," Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe told a news conference, reporting a 2.8 per cent gain in annual revenue at the 183-year-old publisher.
"We believe this could become the most successful memoir ever."
A $1.5 billion bid for a rare earths producer facing an existential challenge is Rob Scotts unexpected initial target as Wesfarmers starts the process of deploying the massive financial capacity he created via last years balance sheet clear-out.
At face value, the bid for Lynas Corp is an unusual and risky choice for the retailer-dominated Wesfarmers.
Protestors at Lynas Corp's rare earths processing facility in Malaysia. Credit:Reuters
Lynas is a rare earths producer the only significant producer outside of China, which dominates the sector with a mining operation at Mt Weld in Western Australia and a processing facility at Kuantan in Malaysia.
The Malaysian plant, one of the largest and newest rare earth separation plants in the world, has been the source of continuing controversy and financial brinkmanship from the moment it was given the go-ahead in 2010.
Ben Purchase has been making furniture matched specifically to his customers' requirements for seven years, and over that time one of the biggest challenges has been getting some of them to pay for it.
"There should be more protections, because people can just turn around and say, 'I don't have the money', and get away with it," he says.
Ben Purchase is doing whatever he can to encourage customers to pay on time for his custom-made recycled timber furniture. Credit:Shannyn Higigns.
The founder of Melbourne's Ingrain Designs is fighting this by making it as simple as possible for clients to understand what they owe and then pay with one click.
The business has started using the invoice app from payments platform Square, which the multibillion-dollar company launched in Australia on Wednesday.
I stepped out of the office and hit the footpath, head low, eyes fixated on the ground, trying hard to be invisible. In a hijab, after a terror attack, thats impossible.
Dressed for respect: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Credit:The Press
I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders and its eyes firmly on me after the Christchurch shooting that day. I just wanted to get home, safely, and not worry about my conspicuous place in society.
Fifty people had just been killed in New Zealand, and selfishly I worried for my own safety.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has flown to China with former Liberal opposition leader Brendan Smyth, in a bid to woo a major Chinese airline to set up direct flights to Canberra.
Mr Barr and the controversially appointed Mr Smyth are travelling with a political staffer, two Canberra Airport staffers and a public servant from the ACT government's tourism bureau Visit Canberra on the trip, which will cost about $25,000.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr is seeking Chinese flights to Canberra. Credit:Elesa Kurtz
It comes in the wake of Singapore Airlines' decision to cancel direct flights between Canberra and New Zealand last year, despite maintaining Changi-Canberra flights, while Qatar Airways started flights last year between Doha and Canberra.
Opposition Leader Alistair Coe also recently went to China to meet with local government officials.
The ACT government has been ordered to cough up the pay records of United Firefighters Union members, as the union looks for evidence of what it believes to be underpayments to ACT firefighters totalling more than $1 million.
Justice Bernard Murphy made the order in the Federal Court of Australia on Tuesday afternoon.
ACT Fire and Rescue chief officer Mark Brown, who along with the ACT government has been ordered to hand over United Firefighters Union members' pay records to the union. Credit:Rohan Thomson
The order gives ACT Fire and Rescue chief officer Mark Brown and the territory government two days to hand over material including the platoon annual roster for the year ending March 8, and the ACT Fire and Rescue overtime roster from the start of 2017-18 to the present.
Within 14 days of Tuesday's order, they must also give the union copies of the pay records of its ACT members who worked overtime in the year ending March 8. The records must not be redacted.
Two Greek restaurants owned by the same family were set on fire on Tuesday night, leaving one gutted and the other significantly damaged.
The Olive restaurant at Hawker was damaged before a passer by helped to extinguish the fire, while the Olive restaurant at Mawson was destroyed in a blaze.
The Olive restaurant in Mawson, which was gutted by fire on Tuesday night. Credit:Karleen Minney
Owner Dimitri Yianoulakis said he and his family were devastated by the fires, which he found out about at 2am on Wednesday.
The fires were being treated as suspicious, ACT Fire and Rescue commander Sam Evans said.
Rangers have discovered a half-hectare site still recovering from the 2003 bushfire was destroyed by a four-wheel-drive over the weekend.
ACT Parks and Conservation's ranger-in-charge James Overall said rangers had found the site on Saturday morning in Pierces Creek Forest, just near the Lower Cotter Catchment.
ACT Parks and Conservation ranger-in-charge James Overall among the damage done to a hardwood corridor of native trees in the Pierces Creek Forest. Credit:Karleen Minney
"I've never seen anything like it," Mr Overall said.
Mr Overall suspected it was the work of a stolen car because of the damage it would have caused to the vehicle.
China has requested Vanuatu to support its nomination for the FAO DG post in this years election. The request was made by the Chinese Minister Han who is seen in photo receiving a gift from Vanuatus Minister of Agriculture Nevu
Spains King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia began their first state visit to Argentina this Monday with a floral offering at the Buenos Aires monument to Gen. Jose de San Martin, the national hero from Rio de la Plata considered father of his country and one of the leading liberators of the Americas.
The monarchs, who arrived Sunday night in the South American country where they will stay until Wednesday, began their official agenda with a ceremony at the foot of the monument to the hero of Argentine independence, as do all heads of state and government who visit the capital.
Felipe and Letizia, who traveled to Argentina with a delegation that also includes Foreign Affairs Minister Josep Borrell, were accompanied at the tribute by Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie and Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta.
Also taking part in the ceremony in honor of San Martin, whose revolutionary battles were decisive not only for Argentina but also for the independence of Chile and Peru, was the band of the Gen. San Martin Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers playing anthems of Spain and Argentina.
The monument was created in 1862 by French sculptor Louis Joseph Daumas and was Argentinas first equestrian statue.
Around 1910, German sculptor Gustav Eberlein designed the base of polished red granite upon which the statue of the general was mounted, as well as the four sculptural groups on the corners representing landmarks in the war of liberation from the Spanish throne.
After making the floral offering, the royals, escorted by a unit of the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers, were taken to the Casa Rosada, seat of the Argentine government in Buenos Aires, where they were received by President Mauricio Macri and his wife, Juliana Awada.
There, after a welcome with honors by a military guard and the Alto Peru Brass Band, and by an official salute in the White Chamber, the heads of state had a private meeting in the presidents office, followed by a larger meeting that included political delegations from both countries.
During his meeting with Macri, King Felipe said Spain was fully in favor of the reforms being implemented in Argentina.
The Spanish monarch expressed his support when he and the queen were received at the Casa Rosada for their first meeting with the Argentine president and his wife during their state visit.
King Felipe said that Spain is very much aware of the economic situation Argentina has gone through and supports the reform programs that have been launched, while Macri, who was the first to speak, thanked the king and queen for their visit, which he interpreted as a sign of affection, and at the same time, of support for the moment of change in his country.
Macri said this moment of change meant deep transformations that are very demanding and require great effort, and recalled those imposed by Spain when necessary and whose positive results prove they were truly needed to achieve a better quality of life.
The king said that Spain has always supported Argentina when times were difficult.
Were very much aware of the economic situation Argentina has gone through and we support all the reform programs currently in effect, the Spanish monarch said.
At the same time, Queen Letizia and Awada were to converse in the House of Government about the first stage of infancy and rare diseases.
Later, after the two couples had lunch at the presidential residence in the town of Olivos, north of the capital, the monarchs were scheduled to continue with their official activities - visits to the Argentine Congress and the Supreme Court of Justice - where they were to meet with the top authorities.
The first day will wrap up with a gala dinner offered by the Macris in honor of the royal couple at the Kirchner Cultural Center (CCK), where the king and queen will greet the individual guests, before Macri and Felipe VI say a few words during the toast.
On Tuesday the king will have a working breakfast with Argentine and Spanish business owners and executives and will give a speech at an event organized by the Cotec Foundation, dedicated to promoting innovation as an engine of economic and social development.
A conference with the Spanish community in Argentina, as well as a meeting of the queen with the Ibero-American Rare Diseases Alliance, will lead to the final activity of the state visit, a reception offered by the monarchs in honor of Macri and his wife at a downtown Buenos Aires hotel.
On Wednesday the royals will attend the inauguration of the 8th International Congress on the Spanish Language, to be held in the Argentine city of Cordoba until March 30.
The state visit is the first by a Spanish head of state to Argentina for almost 16 years, the last being that of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia in November 2003.
It was the Argentine president himself who invited the royals to make the trip to Buenos Aires when he was on a visit to Spain in February 2017.
The last time Felipe was in Argentina was as prince of Asturias in September 2013, when he headed a delegation to the International Olympic Committee (I0C) meeting in Buenos Aires that tried to rescue Madrids rejected candidacy as the site of the 2020 Olympic Games.
Dope-smoking Canberrans should be able to join clubs where gardeners can cultivate their cannabis crops for them, a Legislative Assembly inquiry has been told.
Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson's private member's bill would legalise cannabis possession under 50 grams and allow users to grow up to four plants.
A drug researcher has suggested the cannabis bill be amended to allow social growing clubs to be set up. Credit:Rohan Thomson
The government has foreshadowed amendments to the legislation that would allow only two plants to be grown up to a household limit of four plants, and introduce wet and dry limits for the drug.
Mr Pettersson told an Assembly inquiry into his bill on Tuesday allowing people to grow their own supply would stop them coming into contact with drug dealers who "have a commercial imperative to push harder and more addictive substances on their clients".
"Surely the US has the most towns with the weirdest names (C8)," says Peter Miniutti of Ashbury. "Besides Toad Suck they have Idiotville, Ding Dong, Booger Hole, Horseheads and Jot Em Down. Only in America."
While Granny has always had a soft spot for Experiment, Georgia, we really need to head north judging by the offering of Ian Sanderson of Lane Cove West, which alludes to the existence of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, in Alberta, Canada.
Still on place names, Richard Murnane of Hornsby is "surprised that no C8-ers have mentioned that the The-Place-That-Must-Not-Be-Named in Austria (C8) produces a pilsner named 'Hell'."
"Sorry Bill Wilkinson," writes Kevin Harris of Beecroft. "But there are a lot of 1966 coins (C8) still in circulation. But take a close look at your 20 coin. If the 2 has a wavy base rather than a straight base then it's worth a great deal more than 20 on the coin market. Good luck."
While the imminent demise of Lawsons Records (C8) is regrettable news for Con Vaitsas and others, Janice Creenaune of Austinmer reckons its time for a sea change: Con may enjoy a seaside train ride to our nearby village of Thirroul, where we boast a number of vinyl record shops. One is equipped with a retro-type bar with vinyl playing, black and white TV shows on loop and some (rather uncomfortable it must be said) retro wooden school chairs. Best on a Friday night.
Perched on the edge of the harbour, North Sydney Olympic Pool is famous for its setting.
But the local council says the swimming spot is in a precarious position of a different kind - the ageing pool needs extensive upgrades yet the council is millions of dollars short to fund them.
The redeveloped North Sydney Olympic Pool will keep heritage elements but include a new grandstand.
Councillors on the North Sydney Council voted to submit a development application for a $57.9 million overhaul at a meeting on Monday night.
The concept designs for the revamp included an upgraded 50-metre pool, an additional "family leisure" pool and a new grandstand. The existing grandstand had "reached the end of its useful life", a council report found.
Brisbane City Council's LNP councillors have called on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to "intervene" and give approval to early Brisbane Metro work, accusing Transport Minister Mark Bailey of deliberately "playing politics" to favour a Labor candidate for council.
Mr Bailey described the claim as "ridiculous" and Labor councillors decried the accusations of "playing politics" as an "appalling" attack on a state employee.
Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk has taken aim at his state counterparts. Credit:Chris Hyde
Cr Quirk said council had attended more than 200 meetings with state government officials while developing the $900 million Brisbane Metro plan a proposed high-frequency bus rapid transit system and had been told the officials had "everything they need" to begin approvals.
Cr Quirk said the Transport Minister was "not able to deliver the timetable that is needed for this project" and urged the Premier to intervene.
Having already brought much-needed rain to drought-affected areas, ex-Tropical Cyclone Trevor is set to bring a two-day reprieve to the south-east as it sweeps across large parts of the state.
Brisbane can expect maximum temperatures to go below 30 degrees on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, before climbing above the 30-degree threshold at the weekend and into early next week.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Trevor stretches across Queensland and is expected to bring much-needed rain and heat reprieve. Credit:Weatherzone
In terms of rainfall, the River City was expecting about 20-25 millimetres daily on Wednesday and Thursday, while Friday and Saturday were predicted to bring 10-20 millimetres per day.
Weatherzone meteorologist Kim Westcott said the ensuing weather pattern looked like "a bit of a wide blob", but was expected to bring bucketing rain over wide areas of Queensland.
A man bitten on the hip and buttocks by a shark in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef was preparing to lead a snorkelling tour when he felt the "initial bump and bite".
Ryan Bowring, 25, remained in a stable condition in Mackay Base Hospital on Tuesday after falling victim to the fourth shark attack in north Queensland waters in a little more than six months.
Ryan Bowring, 25, was bitten near Hardy Reef off Queensland's Whitsundays on Monday. Credit:Facebook
The former Tasmanian resident, who is working as the first mate aboard the DeLisle III, issued a statement through Tourism Whitsundays late Tuesday.
"Thank you to everyone who has asked after me following the shark incident at Block Reef yesterday. I am doing ok and really want to take the opportunity to thank my crewmates, the RACQ CQ helicopter staff and members of the emergency services for their help,'' he wrote.
A motorcyclist has been rushed to hospital after being run over and dragged several metres by a truck in South Brisbane on Wednesday morning.
A bang followed by the rider's screams were heard by people in a nearby office building just before 8.30am, at the intersection of Merivale and Peel streets. Witnesses said they saw the man caught under the truck and his face covered with blood.
A motorcyclist is in a critical condition after a collision with a truck in South Bank on Wednesday morning. Credit:Joey Cooney/Brisbane Times
Paramedics treated the man, aged in his 30s, for multiple injuries including to his abdomen and pelvis.
One witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the flat-bed truck carrying construction equipment was turning left from Peel Street onto Merivale Street when the collision happened.
The question here is not so much whether we favour or dislike the project. Indeed, the government recently won an election with this proposal on its agenda and therefore any fresh debate over its virtues is, to a degree, academic given its plainly proceeding. Ive always doubted whether the project will deliver superior benefits to a connection between CityLink and the Western Ring Road that the East-West Link stage 2 would have offered. Im clearly not alone in having misgivings. For a range of reasons, the City of Melbourne, local resident groups and communities across eastern Melbourne, who will pay higher CityLink tolls for longer despite many not using the road, have expressed strong opposition. Loading So the issue becomes what can we learn from a process that led to a $7 billion infrastructure project to address an obvious need that had been well-known and fiercely debated for years, and that never went out to tender? It actually began its life as the Western Distributor, a $500 million election commitment by the then Andrews opposition in 2014.
On March 12, 2015, shortly after the 2014 state election, Transurban submitted a Western Distributor proposal in which it pitched a vastly expanded version, it seems, over and above the governments earlier election commitment. Transurbans proposal was reported to come with a cost of around $5.5 billion. The proposal was submitted under a new "Market-led Proposals Interim Guideline" that the government had issued only weeks earlier in February 2015, and which replaced the "Unsolicited Proposal Guideline" that had applied to these types of proposals. We all know that in the time since, the projects design and costings have changed appreciably. This includes a design update published in September 2015 and various later material changes. And the cost? It has grown from $500 million to $5.5 billion to a reported amount of $6.7 billion. With unresolved industrial disputes and possible further changes, who knows where the final costings will land. Loading
The government might reasonably assert, so what? Its delivering a new major road that people will use and that everyone had a chance to reflect on at last years election. Fair enough. But heres what that contention misses. First, the idea of a market-led proposal regime is to tap into the best and brightest minds across industry by encouraging them to offer up innovative and unique solutions to intractable problems for the publics benefit. The exclusivity that comes with that opportunity is not unlimited and is circumscribed when the problems we are talking about solving are well-known and long debated. I seriously wonder whether the West Gate Tunnel project, and its earlier incarnations, should ever have been allowed to proceed as a market-led proposal. In any case, the sheer magnitude of the project alone dictated that the full force of the market ought to have been unleashed to drive the most optimal outcome for the community and taxpayers.
Second, while I of course ardently support the principle of recognising and rewarding initiative and innovation, that imperative should always be subordinate to the public interest. No one coming to government with a great idea that they want the public to underwrite can fairly expect to be able to name their price or avoid competition when legitimate contestability would deliver superior public benefits or greater value for taxpayers. Third, in the case of the West Gate Tunnel project, even if we accept that the project was properly submitted under the market-led proposal guidelines to start with, why wasnt the process opened up to competitive influences following the major changes in design? Wasnt it in the public interest to exert such pressure, for example by allowing other consortia to contest the bid on design, cost and timing, if not at the beginning, then after major design changes? Without having an effective comparator at every stage of a project of such massive scale, how do we know that we are not paying through the nose? The very best value for taxpayers is precisely what the guidelines for privately initiated proposals are intended to secure. Hopefully the VAGO report will shed all necessary light on this. In the end, we all want the infrastructure our growing community needs, but we deserve it at the right price and in full service of the public interest.
An independent Melbourne online clothes store has stopped selling T-shirts with an "original design" depicting footy star Tayla Harris after the AFL claimed the artwork breached copyright.
On Wednesday last week, the owner of League Tees online store Anthony Costa released a T-shirt and badge with a design inspired by a photo of Carlton AFLW forward Harris.
League Tees T-shirt and badge design, inspired by a photo of Carlton AFLW forward Tayla Harris.
The photo, taken by AFL Media chief photographer Michael Willson, went viral after Ms Harris took a stand against online trolls who had written graphic comments on the picture.
The AFL's general manager of inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch said Harris was already planning to use the image to raise money for charity.
A new power blackout hit a large part of Venezuela on Monday just three weeks after an outage left almost the entire country without electricity, but no official announcement has yet been made regarding the area affected.
EFE verified that several parts of the capital were without power and Caracas Metro service has been interrupted.
Opposition lawmaker Carlos Valero said on his Twitter account that besides Caracas, the blackout is affecting the states of Aragua, Delta Amacuro, Lara, Zulia, Monagas, Bolivar, Portuguesa, Yaracuy, Anzoategui, Merida, Tachira, Nueva Esparta, Carabobo and Miranda, but he offered no further details.
The state-run National Electric Corporation (Corpoelec) still has not made any public statement about the new blackout, but state VTV television said that the Caracas Metro had implemented its contingency plan for such situations.
Electric Energy Minister Luis Motta Dominguez has not issued any statement on the extent of the situation either.
This new power outage comes after the massive blackout the country suffered on March 7, which kept virtually the whole country in the dark for five days until the Nicolas Maduro government managed to get control of the situation and restore electric service.
The government said at the time that sabotage at the Guri hydroelectric center - the countrys largest power plant, supplying about 70 percent of the national territory - was to blame for the blackout.
Maduro directly blamed the United States and the Venezuelan opposition for the so-called sabotage, claiming that electromagnetic attacks had been staged on the electric grid.
The opposition, however, blamed the Maduro regime for failures in the system, saying that the governments poor management of the electric grid was the real cause of the outage.
The earlier blackout resulted in about 15 deaths due to the lack of electricity to power lifesaving equipment at Venezuelan hospitals, the opposition claims, although authorities say that just two people died.
Meanwhile, on Monday United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Maduro government that repressing the opposition would be a mistake and could wind up having dramatic consequences for the country.
For the secretary-general, any repression against the Venezuelan opposition would not only be a mistake, but could also lead to a escalation of dramatic consequences for the Venezuelans, said Guterres spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at his daily press conference.
Dujarric was responding to a reporters question about the Maduros regimes arrest on charges of terrorism of Roberto Marrero, the chief of staff for the head of the opposition-controlled Parliament and self-proclaimed interim president, Juan Guaido.
Marrero was arrested last Thursday morning during a raid on his home where, the government claimed, law enforcement officials found two rifles, a grenade and a large amount of cash.
At the time, the UN expressed its concern over Marreros arrest and asked all parties to take immediate measures to reduce tensions.
On the weekend, the Maduro government said that Guaidos party, Voluntad Popular, was planning to assassinate several Chavista leaders using Central American paramilitaries.
As proof, the government presented alleged conversations in a messaging group supposedly between VP leaders, which the Venezuelan justice system gained access to via Marreros mobile phone.
Tensions in Venezuela increased dramatically after Maduro was inaugurated in mid-January to a second six-year term, whereupon Guaido proclaimed himself interim president and received the recognition of more than 50 countries as the countrys legitimate leader.
Dujarric reiterated on Monday that the UN supports the initiatives currently under way to try and reach a solution to the crisis through dialogue, despite the fact that Guterres has preferred not to participate actively in those discussions so as to preserve his neutrality.
The Portuguese diplomat has repeatedly offered to serve as a mediator if the Maduro government and the opposition request it.
Country Victorians are being hit with bills of up to $230 for emergency care which is free for city dwellers. Credit:Gabriele Charotte
Country Victorians are being hit with bills of more than $230 for emergency hospital treatment which their city counterparts can receive for free.
Patients seeking treatment at the states network of 50 rural "Urgent Care Centres", which are staffed by nurses, are being charged co-payments for local GPs who are called in to deal with more serious or complex cases.
The fees can reach hundreds of dollars in some cases, with only a fraction refunded through Medicare.
One Victorian rural centre is charging what health advocates call a flag-fall fee of $30 for anybody who shows up needing treatment, with more money to be handed over if a doctor needs to be called.
Convincing students to catch the train to Melbourne was the first challenge Maria Oddo had to overcome.
When she started working at Sunbury Downs Secondary College in 2012, many students were scared to leave the Sunbury bubble.
I decided that distance wasnt going to be an excuse anymore, the principal said.
Ms Oddo wanted students to venture beyond the outer northern suburb so that they could be exposed to some of the countrys top universities.
Visitor spending in Western Australia rose by $101 million in the first year of Qantas offering non-stop flights between London and Perth.
The 787 Dreamliner service is the only direct connection between Australia and Europe, travelling about 14,000 kilometres each flight.
The 787 Dreamliner service is the only direct connection between Australia and Europe.
Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said about 60 per cent of passengers came from Australia, while UK residents made up most overseas passengers at 31 per cent.
There had also been a 30 per cent increase in passengers travelling between Australia and London via Perth, including a seven per cent increase in visitors from the UK coming to WA.
Police are calling for calm after reports several Perth night club patrons had been stabbed with syringes that left them incapacitated.
The comment comes after a teenager claimed she was attacked at Universal Bar in Northbridge on Friday night while she was on the dance floor.
The young woman said she was attacked with a syringe at a night out in Northbridge. Credit:9 News Perth
The 18-year-old told media a man grabbed her, pulled her back, and stabbed her in the arm with a syringe.
CCTV footage, reviewed by police, did not capture the alleged attack on the young woman, but does show her holding her arm as she walks to enter the women's toilets.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has received assurances from three independent MPs of confidence and supply ahead of a week of shaking up and injecting fresh blood into her cabinet.
On Tuesday morning, Ms Berejiklian visited Governor David Hurley at Government House to advise him that she has secured 47 seats and will be forming a majority government.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian arrives at Government House in Sydney. Credit:AAP
The Coalition is hoping to secure one more - the metropolitan seat of East Hills which is too close to call - and hold 48 of the 93 seats in the lower house in its third-straight term in power.
"This is a proud moment for my government to be able to make this confirmation," she said on the lawns of Government House in Sydney.
Shooters MPs-elect Helen Dalton and Roy Butler campaigned heavily in their electorates of Murray and Barwon respectively on the need to reassess the Murray-Darling Basin water plan. Helen Dalton, the new member for Murray. Credit:Jacinta Dickins Ms Dalton, a former National Party supporter, is a farmer and former teacher from Griffith. Mr Butler, is a cattle farmer whose property in Mendooran is on Stage 6 water restrictions. Orange MP Philip Donato, who became the party's first lower house MP in 2016, is a former police prosecutor. While the party's platform has broadened, there's no doubt firearms still feature prominently in its culture. Mark Banasiak, a teacher who was elected to the Legislative Council on Saturday, is also the chairman of the Federation of Hunting Clubs. Mr Banasiak will join Shooters MLC Robert Borsak in the upper house. Mr Borsak is arguably best known for shooting and eating an elephant while game hunting in Africa, as well as for comments he made in 2013 urging Americans to resist adopting Australias stupid gun control laws following the Sandy Hook massacre.
Broadcaster John Tingle in 1989. Credit: Mr Despotoski was still a year away from being born when broadcaster John Tingle founded the Shooters Party in 1992, with a single-issue focus on gun laws. Tingle, the father of political journalist Laura Tingle, was elected to NSW upper house in 1995 and for 11 years served as the partys lone parliamentary representative. At the 2007 election, the party secured a second upper house spot, and it has held onto two seats ever since. But it was on Mr Despotoskis watch that the Shooters launched - and then fine-tuned - their assault on the Nationals in the bush. By 2016, the party was making a concerted effort to broaden its appeal to country voters and added Farmers to its name.
Then, former premier Mike Baird made two serious misfires that left many voters in the regions seething. With the Nationals in lock-step, the Baird government banned greyhound racing and forced through an unpopular policy of merging regional councils. He soon reversed the greyhound ban, but the damage was done. The Shooters tapped into the outrage. First they came for Orange, and won, ousting the National Party from a seat they'd held without question for 70 years in a 2016 byelection. A year later, at a byelection in October 2017, the Shooters almost captured Murray in the state's far south-western corner, whittling the Nationals' 22 per cent margin down to 3 per cent. At the Cootamundra byelection, held on the same day, the Shooters candidate won almost a quarter of the primary vote. But as the new year opened in 2019, the Nationals were grappling with another problem: Water.
Loading Thousands of bloated dead fish, some of them more than a century-old, surfaced in the Darling River at Menindee - a small town in the vast, far western NSW electorate of Barwon. It put a national spotlight on an unfolding water crisis across regional NSW, and raised questions about the governments management of the river system. Other towns - such as Walgett, on the junction of the Barwon and Namoi rivers - were surviving on bore water due to dry river beds. On the ground, the Shooters capitalised on a visceral disdain for the National Party.
Irrigator Chris Brooks, whose canola crops on the banks Murray River had failed due to lack of water, epitomised a prevailing sentiment among farmers. "You need water to stay rusted on, Mr Brooks told the ABC this month, and said he planned to vote for Ms Dalton at a state level and an independent federally. New Barwon MP Roy Butler. Across the states vast western flank - from Bourke to Wentworth, and across to Griffith and Leeton - Mr Butler and Ms Dalton spruiked the partys alternative 10-point strategy for Murray Darling Basin water management. Mr Butler took leave from his job and, for five months, traversed the Germany-sized electorate of Barwon in a caravan.
In both seats, rusted-on National voters abandoned the party in droves. Ms Dalton, who won Murray off the back of a 27 per cent swing, said water security was the key issue. We always knew there were a lot of things were wrong and unworkable with the basin plan and it would be tested when there was decent drought, Ms Dalton said. Its been managed from Sydney and Canberra and they have no idea. Were living their poor decisions. The water issue had been potent two years earlier when Ms Dalton unsuccessfully contested the Murray byelection, but since then the disenchantment with the National Party had intensified.
Loading Last time people were angry, but not angry enough. This time there was a drought and they were livid, she said. If they can cast their vote for me - for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers - they will do it at a federal level as well. Mr Butler ended the Nationals 70-year reign in Barwon, with swings of 20 per cent. And in Orange, Philip Donato consolidated his 2016 by-election victory, which had turned on fewer than 100 votes. He captured 50 per cent of the primary vote, and won almost every booth.
For the Nationals, the election was bruising - but it could have been worse. The party clung onto the seats of Upper Hunter and Tweed by both fingernails against Labor challengers. It also narrowly avoided a humiliating defeat to independent Mathew Dickerson in Dubbo, who came within a breath of demolishing the party's 20 per cent margin. Nonetheless, the loss of two seats to the Shooters has already triggered soul searching in the Coalition and rattled the federal Nationals who will face voters in less than two months. As she celebrated her government's return on Sunday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian acknowledged the message from western NSW was a "cry for help". Former federal Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce said the Shooters strong showing showed the party needed to shift to the right to head off future challenges from the minor party.
"Theyre a party and theyre to the right of us," Mr Joyce said. "If people are trying to muse that theyre somehow a tempered National Party, thats ridiculous." The Shooters have confirmed they will contest the federal election, and will likely target the National-held seats of Calare, Riverina, and Parkes. "If we can find a great candidate well go after Barnaby Joyce [in Tamworth] as well," Mr Despotoski said. With their resources depleted, the Shooters will face a gargantuan task trying to replicate their state success at a national level. They are yet to vet potential candidates, or appoint a campaign director to manage a federal tilt, and have limited financial resources to campaign across the vast electorates.
In a further blow to their campaign, Mr Despotoski is about to go on leave for a month. He concedes the narrow window before the federal election may hamper the partys prospects. You need a lot of time in the field, Mr Despotoski said. "We worked on the state campaign for two years." In the short space of time weve got before the federal election, well give it a red hot crack but who knows what will happen. The biggest challenge, he says, will be finding quality candidates.
Australia's electronic intelligence agency has mounted secretive cyber operations against Islamic State, attacking the terrorist group's propaganda machine and working with military forces to shut down enemy communications during a battle in the Middle East.
The director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate, Mike Burgess, has revealed details of the offensive cyber operations for the first time, declassifying an unprecedented volume of information in a bid to recruit new personnel for the expanding agency.
Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate. Credit: Ben Rushton
In a speech to the Lowy Institute on Wednesday, Mr Burgess is expected to canvass the ways ASD attacks enemy targets a role that was only confirmed publicly in 2016. He will say this work has been critical to Australia's efforts against Islamic State, which no longer controls any territory in its "caliphate" across Iraq and Syria.
In one battle, ASD personnel in Australia assisted the anti-IS coalition by "firing highly targeted bits and bytes into cyberspace", the first time offensive cyber operations had been conducted "so closely synchronised" with military personnel in the battlefield.
Bangkok: For many Australians, when they think of Thailand, the first thing that comes to mind is long, sun-lit beaches, delicious food and welcoming locals.
About 800,000 Aussies make the trek to visit our northern neighbour each year, making it our fourth most popular destination after New Zealand, Indonesia, and the UK.
Defence and police co-operation on issues such as counter-terrorism and human trafficking is strong, and the Thai-Australian free trade deal signed in 2005 gave a significant boost to economic relations between the two countries.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, promoting Thai Heritage Conservation Day on Tuesday, looks the likely victor in the elections. Credit:AP
The ins and outs of Thailand's political system are probably not high on Australians' "need to know" list when they set out for a week's holiday at a resort in Phuket, or to explore the back streets of Bangkok in the quest for the perfect som tam.
"They've done so many evil things," the President said, without specifying whom he believed should be investigated. "It was a false narrative, it was a terrible thing. We can never let this happen to another president again. I can tell you that. I say it very strongly. Very few people I know could have handled it. We can never ever let this happen to another president again." No collusion, but mixed sentiment on obstruction It was not immediately clear when Barr might be able to turn over the report or some portions of it to legislators and the public. After the Justice Department closed its investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state, it took about two months for substantive documents from that case to be released. But legislators began discussing plans on Monday to have Barr testify on Capitol Hill. The House Appropriations Committee has tentatively set a hearing for April 9 on the Justice Department budget, though other committees may seek to request his appearance before then. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who spoke to Barr on Monday, said the Attorney-General told him he would be "glad" to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss the special counsel's findings, but not before he could determine what should be redacted from the report. Graham, who leads the committee, said he urged Barr to release as much of the report as he can, "sooner rather than later."
Barr, Graham said, indicated that he would have to speak with Mueller first "because Mueller is the guy that does the grand jury stuff, because they're the ones that did the grand jury investigation." "I hope it'd be much before months, and not longer than a few weeks," Graham said. The best window into Mueller's probe that legislators and the public have so far is the four-page letter Barr released on Sunday; it summarised the confidential report concluding Mueller's nearly two-year investigation. On coordination, Barr indicated that Mueller wrote in his report, "The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities." But on obstruction, Barr offered mixed sentiments. He wrote that Mueller "did not draw a conclusion one way or the other as to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction." Mueller's report itself said pointedly, "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him," according to Barr's account.
The Attorney-General, though, went further, writing that he and Rosenstein "concluded that the evidence developed during the Special Counsel's investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense." "Our determination was made without regard to, and is not based on, the constitutional considerations that surround the indictment and criminal prosecution of a sitting president," Barr wrote. In an interview with Fox News Radio, Trump's former personal lawyer John Dowd said it was "unprofessional" for Mueller not to have made a clear determination that Trump should not be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. "Your job is to decide," he said, adding: "There was no evidence of obstruction here." Democrats took a different tack. Before he became Attorney-General, Barr submitted to the Justice Department an 18-page memo highly critical of what he surmised was Mueller's theory for how the President obstructed justice. Barr has noted that he did so without inside knowledge of the probe, and he has asserted that the document was "narrow in scope."
But his critics have suggested his dim view of that aspect of Mueller's work might have helped land him the job as Attorney-General. Democratic Representative David Cicilline said Monday that he thought it was "completely inappropriate" for Barr to have concluded that Trump did not obstruct justice, and that the Attorney-General was trying to "shape the narrative" unfairly. "He doesn't make a conclusion, but he goes out of his way to say the President is not exonerated in this regard, and Mr Barr in 48 hours turns that around and say, 'Oh no, I've looked at it. He's exonerated. He hasn't committed that offense,'" Cicilline said on CNN. 'The most difficult element' for Mueller's team Since his appointment in May 2017 as special counsel, Mueller has wrestled with the question of whether Trump attempted to obstruct justice once the FBI began investigating those close to him. Current and former White House officials who were questioned by Mueller's investigators were repeatedly asked about how the President spoke about the inquiry behind closed doors, and whether he sought to replace senior Justice Department officials to stymie the investigation, according to people familiar with the interviews.
A person familiar with the matter said the obstruction case was always "the most difficult element" for Mueller's team because demonstrating a person's intent is one of the toughest assignments for federal prosecutors, and the person under scrutiny was the President of the United States. His actions, the person said, have far different legal meaning and repercussions because of his office and the constitutional protections and powers that come with it. Loading Barr wrote that Mueller "ultimately determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment" on the question of obstruction, and that his report "identifies no actions that, in our judgment, constitute obstructive conduct, had a nexus to a pending or contemplated proceeding, and were done with corrupt intent, each of which, under the Department's principles of federal prosecution guiding charging decisions, would need to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to establish an obstruction of justice offense." Barr noted that many of the President's actions "took place in public view," and he wrote that the special counsel "recognised that 'the evidence does not establish that the President was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference.'" That factor, Barr wrote, "bears upon the President's intent with respect to obstruction." The letter does not make clear whether Mueller asked Barr and Rosenstein to make a final determination on the question of obstruction, or whether he intended to leave that to another body, such as Congress.
Mueller concluded his work without interviewing Trump who answered written questioning - or issuing a subpoena to compel his testimony. A person familiar with the matter said the special counsel's team discussed the subject extensively, with the office's top lawyers, including Michael Dreeben, James Quarles, Aaron Zebley and Mueller most engaged in the discussions. Those talks focused on whether it was legally feasible, and what the potential costs of a subpoena might be to the overall investigation, the person said. The special counsel team went back and forth with Trump's representatives, through multiple iterations of the President's legal team. They were hopeful, the person said, that Trump would meet voluntarily, but they were mindful that they could not explicitly threaten a subpoena unless they were prepared to issue one. Over the course of his investigation, Mueller charged 34 people, including several Trump associates, and the vestiges of his work live on. Prosecutors in the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia took over some ongoing cases, including the matter of a mystery foreign company which resisted a subpoena from Mueller's office and took its battle all the way to the Supreme Court. Notably, the court said on Monday it would not review a lower-court order requiring that corporation to comply with Mueller subpoena.
Community Forums Set for North Adams Police Chief Candidates
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. A search committee process has recommended three finalists, including the city's current top officer, to become the police chief for the city of North Adams.
Lt. Jason Wood, recently promoted as a permanent lieutenant, Wayland Det. Sgt. Jamie D. Berger and Ridgefield, Conn., Capt. Bryan N. Terzian will each have a chance to meet with community members next week.
The public meetings will be part of a series of interviews and meetings with each finalist. The meetings are intended as an opportunity for residents to hear from the candidates as well as to ask questions and share concerns about the city's public safety.
All three community forums will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 on the following dates:
Tuesday, March 26, The Green, 85 Main St.: Det. Sgt. Jamie D. Berger.
Wednesday, March 27, UNO Community Center: Lt. Jason R. Wood
Thursday, March 28, UNO Community Center: Capt. Bryan N. Terzian
Mayor Thomas Bernard said recently that the city had received about 40 applications for the position, which was advertised nationally. After a preliminary screening, he extended invitations to the three candidates to interview.
The selected candidate will be the city's first permanent police chief in nearly 40 years excepting the few months that Michael Cozzaglio, who has continued in an interim capacity, finally had the title.
Cozzaglio retired in February after more than 32 years with the Police Department and the last 15 as police director, the position created under the city's former Public Safety structure. One of the last acts of the City Council in 2018 was to restore the titles of police and fire chief; it is currently reviewing updates to the public safety ordinances to reflect those changes.
"The police chief is one of the most visible leaders in the community, and it's important that members of our community have the opportunity to meet and hear from the individuals being considered for this important leadership position," Bernard said in a statement. "I look forward to introducing our finalists to the residents of North Adams as the members of the search committee and I continue to get to know them.
"I'm also incredibly grateful to the members of the search committee who volunteered their time to review applications and interview candidates. Their dedication and insight has been incredibly helpful in ensuring we have a strong group of candidates to consider."
Mexico City: Mexico's president has asked Spain and the Vatican to apologise for the conquest of the Americas.
Mexico's President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Credit:AP
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says he sent a letter to King Felipe VI of Spain and Pope Francis over what he called an "invasion" and the "many misdeeds that were committed."
Lopez Obrador says there were "killings, impositions," and "the so-called conquest was carried out with the sword and the cross." He asks for an apology to "the original peoples for the violations of what are now known to be human rights."
The Spanish government issued a statement later Monday regretting that the March 1 letter had been made public and rejecting its content "with all firmness."
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Saint Martin / Sint Maarten Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART) 2019 is to provide 15 different speakers, workshops and masterclasses, as to assist the Northeastern Caribbean tourism sector with an overview of the latest developments in tourism. Innovations from both sides of the island, the Caribbean, the United States, and Europe will be highlighted in a parallel track to the many business meetings going on during SMART.
It was decided in 2018 by the four SMART partners LAssociation des Hoteliers de Saint Martin, Saint Martin Tourism Office, in conjunction with the Sint Maarten Tourist Bureau and St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association, that innovation should be a key theme to facilitate the best possible comeback of the destination.
Within the workshop settings, managers and entrepreneurs are offered expert workshops on how to further improve their operations. Topics will be amongst others on social media strategy, deployment of technology, revenue management, the importance of customer reviews, occupancy strategies and customer engagement, increasing customer satisfaction, digital marketing trends, and economic & environmental practices (the value of being a Green business in the Caribbean.
Workshops from abroad will be provided by amongst others NorthAmerican companies like Avvio, Flip.to, STR, TravelClick, and TripAdvisor. Caribbean innovations will come amongst others from BookSXM, Caribious, InspireFocus and ShowMeCaribbean. Experts like EPIC and hospitality institutions will provide insights on how to make operations more sustainable. Each workshop will take place twice a day, giving delegates more chances and space in their SMART-agenda to attend the workshops of their interest.
The tradeshow will be held on the 21st to 23rd of May 2019 at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort Casino and Spa. We are expecting numerous Tour Operators, Travel Agents, Travel Writers and Event Planners from the US, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to attend this important event. In previous years, SMART featured suppliers from Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barthelemy, St. Kitts & Nevis and St. Maarten-St. Martin.
Interested companies can take up contact with the SMART project office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call +1 721-542-0108. More information can be found at shta.com/SMART or visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/smartsintmaarten.
Delrey Commences Airborne Magnetic Geophysical Surveys on its BC Vanadium Projects
Posted by Publisher Internet
DELREY METALS CORP. (CSE:DLRY, FSE:1OZ, US:DLRYF) (?Delrey? or the ?Company? https://www.commodity-tv.net/c/search_adv/?v=298860) is pleased to announce that is has commenced a phase I work program consisting of four airborne magnetic geophysical surveys to be flown over the coming weeks on its 100% wholly-owned Blackie, Porcher, Star and Peneece projects located near Prince Rupert, and Port Hardy British Columbia.?
The Company will oversee the completion of four individual surveys covering a combined 9482.56-hectares. The survey blocks will be flown in a systematic low-level grid pattern at 150-meter line spacing. The properties are all prospective for vanadium-bearing massive titaniferous magnetite and the surveys will focus on known mineralized exposures mapped by previous operators with coincident magnetic anomalies identified in the Canada 200m Residual Total Magnetic Field dataset.1
The results from all of these surveys will be used in helping Delrey?s technical team plan a phase II work program which will include prospecting and rock sampling over the identified magnetic highs.
?The team is excited to have initiated geophysical surveys on its 100% wholly-owned BC vanadium projects. Delrey expects to receive the survey results within the coming weeks allowing the Company to revert back for its phase II work program which will be conducted in mid- to late-spring. The phase III? work program on the properties will ideally take place during the summer months which will include diamond drilling over the highest priority targets?, commented Morgan Good, Delrey?s President and Chief Executive Officer.
About Blackie
Blackie is a 1213.2-hectare property 100% owned by Delrey located 96km south-southwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia along tide-water. The property is centered on a large gabbroic body with estimated dimensions of 1.2km x 0.4km x 0.5km hosting iron-titanium-vanadium mineralization within massive titaniferous magnetite with historic bedrock samples assaying as high as 2.14% V205.1
About Porcher
Porcher is a 3122.16-hectare property 100% owned by Delrey located 38km south-southwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia along tide-water. The property is centered on two north-south trending gabbroic dykes (5.2km x 1km and 4km x 0.6km) hosting iron-titanium-vanadium mineralization within massive titaniferous magnetite with historic concentrate grades assaying as high as 0.84% V205.1
About Star
Star is a 3646.8-hectare property 100% owned by Delrey located 27km south-southwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia along tide-water. The Property is centered on a 5km x 7km magnetic high (Canada 200m Residual Total Magnetic Field) and is drained by up to 158ppm vanadium-in-silt (99th percentile), as identified in the British Columbia Geological Survey Regional Geochemical Survey (RGS) completed in 2000.1
About Peneece
Peneece is a 1500.4-hectare property 100% owned by Delrey located 68km east of Port Hardy, British Columbia along tide-water. The property is centered on a northwest-southeast trending 4.8km x 0.8km pyritic gabbroic complex hosting iron-titanium-vanadium mineralization within massive titaniferous magnetite with historic concentrate grades ranging from 0.29% to 0.59% V205 and up to 6.5g/t Ag, a precious metal not often found in appreciable quantities in these systems.1
Option Grant
The Company also pleased to announce that it has granted stock options (the ?Options?) to certain consultants for the purchase of up to 100,000 Shares pursuant to the Company?s Stock Option Plan. The Options are exercisable for a period of five (5) years at an exercise price of $0.25 per Share and vest immediately.
About Delrey
Delrey is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral resource properties, specifically in the strategic energy metals space. The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the highly prospective Sunset property located in the Vancouver Mining Division near Pemberton, British Columbia. The Company has also recently purchased the Star, Porcher, Peneece and Blackie Fe-Ti-V properties located along tide-water in western British Columbia. Delrey will continue to review and acquire projects showing potential for materials used in the energy storage and electric vehicle markets. The Company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is listed on the CSE under the symbol ?DLRY?.
Qualified person
Scott Dorion, P.Geo., is the designated Qualified Person of the Company as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
DELREY METALS CORP.
?Morgan Good?
Morgan Good
President and Chief Executive Officer
For more information regarding this news release, please contact:
Morgan Good, CEO and Director
T: 604-620-8904
E: info@delreymetals.com
W: www.delreymetals.com
In Europe:
Swiss Resource Capital AG
Jochen Staiger
info@resource-capital.ch
www.resource-capital.ch
www.resource-capital.ch
1Historical information contained in this presentation cannot be relied upon as the Company?s QP, as defined under NI 43-101 has not prepared nor verified the historical information.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release, constitute ?forward-looking information? as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, but are not limited to, general business and economic uncertainties. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company?s financial condition and development plans change, delays in regulatory approval, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company?s expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company?s Management?s Discussion and Analysis reports filed under the Company?s profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.
1Historical information contained in this news release cannot be relied upon as the Company?s Qualified Person, as defined under NI 43-101 has not prepared nor verified the historical information.
Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
EnWave Signs Purchase Agreement with The Green Organic Dutchman for Three 120 kW REV? Machines with to Dry Cannabis in Canada
Posted by Publisher Internet
EnWave Corporation (TSX-V:ENW | FSE:E4U) (?EnWave?, or the \Company\ http://www.commodity-tv.net/c/mid,1323,Interviews/?v=298830 ) reported today that it has signed an equipment purchase agreement with The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (?TGOD?) to provide TGOD with three additional large-scale 120 kW Radiant Energy Vacuum (\REV?\) machines equipped with Optional Support Equipment and Robotic Arms (the \Agreement\) . TGOD has purchased the additional three REV processing lines to expand its drying capacity of premium, certified organic cannabis in Canada.? The addition of three 120kW REV machines will increase its total royalty-bearing cannabis processing capacity to a combined total of 420kW of REV machinery. The Company previously announced on January 3, 2019 that EnWave, TGOD and Tilray, Inc. had entered into a sublicense agreement in Canada granting TGOD non-exclusive rights to use EnWave?s technology for processing cannabis.
The Agreement further validates the benefits of REV? technology as a turnkey solution for rapidly drying cannabis and hemp at low-temperatures to provide a high-quality cannabis product. The Agreement also further expands the use of EnWave?s REV? technology within the rapidly growing global medicinal and recreational cannabis market. EnWave?s strategy is to commercialize its proprietary REVTM technology throughout the global cannabis sector under its licensing and royalty business model.
About The Green Organic Dutchman
The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX:TGOD) is a publicly traded, premium global organic cannabis company, with operations focused on medical cannabis markets in Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as the Canadian adult-use market. The Company grows high quality, organic cannabis with sustainable, all-natural principles. TGOD\-\-s products are laboratory tested to ensure patients have access to a standardized, safe and consistent product. TGOD has a planned capacity of 219,000 kgs and is building 1,643,600 sq. ft. of cultivation and processing facilities across Ontario, Quebec, Jamaica and Denmark. For more information on The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., please visit www.tgod.ca.
About EnWave
EnWave Corporation, a Vancouver-based advanced technology company, has developed Radiant Energy Vacuum (?REV??) ? an innovative, proprietary method for the precise dehydration of organic materials. EnWave has further developed patent-pending methods for uniformly drying and decontaminating cannabis through the use of REV? technology, shortening the time from harvest to marketable cannabis products.?
REV? technology?s commercial viability has been demonstrated and is growing rapidly across several market verticals in the food, and pharmaceutical sectors including legal cannabis. EnWave?s strategy is to sign royalty-bearing commercial licenses with industry leaders in multiple verticals for the use of REV? technology. The company has signed over twenty royalty-bearing licenses to date, opening up nine distinct market sectors for commercialization of new and innovative products. In addition to these licenses, EnWave has formed a Limited Liability Corporation, NutraDried Food Company, LLC, to develop, manufacture, market and sell all-natural cheese snack products in the United States under the Moon Cheese? brand.?
EnWave has introduced REV? as the new dehydration standard in the food and biological material sectors: faster and cheaper than freeze drying, with better end product quality than air drying or spray drying. EnWave currently has three commercial REV? platforms:
nutraREV? which is used in the food industry to dry food products quickly and at low-cost, while maintaining high levels of nutrition, taste, texture and colour;
powderREV? which is used for the bulk dehydration of food cultures, probiotics and fine biochemicals such as enzymes below the freezing point, and
quantaREV? which is used for continuous, high-volume low-temperature drying.
An additional platform, freezeREV?, is being developed as a new method to stabilize and dehydrate biopharmaceuticals such as vaccines and antibodies. More information about EnWave is available at www.enwave.net.
EnWave Corporation
Mr. Brent Charleton, CFA
President and CEO
For further information:
Brent Charleton, CFA , President and CEO at +1 (778) 378-9616
E-mail: bcharleton@enwave.net ?????
John P.A. Budreski, Executive Chairman at +1 (416) 930-0914
E-mail: jbudreski@enwave.net ?
Deborah Honig, Corporate Development at + 1 (647) 203-8793
E-mail: dhonig@enwave.net
Swiss Resource Capital AG
Jochen Staiger: info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch?
Safe Harbour for Forward-Looking Information Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking information based on management\-\-s expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company\-\-s strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures, and the expected synergies following the closing are forward-looking statements. All third party claims referred to in this release are not guaranteed to be accurate. All third party references to market information in this release are not guaranteed to be accurate as the Company did not conduct the original primary research. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Fox News Publishes an Op-Ed Article from Uranium Energy Corp Chairman Spencer Abraham
Posted by Publisher Internet
Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC, the ?Company? or ?UEC? http://www.commodity-tv.net/c/mid,39172,VRIC_2019/?v=298819) is pleased to announce that Fox News published an Op-Ed on March 24th by UEC Chairman, Spencer Abraham, titled ?Russian control of U.S. uranium supply is a huge national security problem.?? Mr. Abraham is a former U.S. Secretary of Energy and U.S. Senator.
Amir Adnani, CEO and President stated, ?As a licensed U.S. uranium producer, UEC is ready to address this urgent challenge with fully-permitted, low-cost, In-Situ-Recovery (?ISR?) uranium projects in Texas and Wyoming.? UEC?s strategy of accumulating quality assets in the downturn and advancing their production-readiness has positioned the company to be part of an overall solution reducing U.S. over-dependence on foreign uranium.?
The following is provided with the permission of Fox News.
Fox News
Russian Control of U.S. Uranium Supply is a Huge National Security Problem
Spencer Abraham | Opinion
Published: March 24, 2019
The Trump administration is to be commended for its ?energy dominance? policy with respect to oil and natural gas production, but on domestic uranium mining, used for nuclear power generation and national defense purposes, it is the United States that is being dominated.? Fortunately, the administration is considering new corrective measures to address this vulnerability to ensure America?s energy and national security.
The U.S. has become overdependent on foreign uranium. Today, we have the world?s largest commercial nuclear reactor fleet, but our domestic mining industry supplies less than 2 percent of its uranium needs. Instead, foreign uranium accounts for the vast majority of our uranium supply with imports from Russia and countries of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) amounting to over 40 percent of the uranium loaded into U.S. nuclear power reactors.
In 2019, the U.S. uranium mining industry forecasts production here at home will be less than is required for even one of the nation?s 98 operating reactors, and they will not be supplying any uranium for defense purposes.
The U.S. nuclear fuel cycle industry has been subjected to years of excessive imports and other price insensitive supply sources that are not part of a normal free market system.? The result is near domination of the market from regions with elevated geopolitical risks, often with agendas contrary to U.S. interests.
Please click here: https://fxn.ws/2CDcHLh for the full article.
About Uranium Energy Corp
Uranium Energy Corp is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company.? In South Texas, the Company?s hub-and-spoke operations are anchored by the fully-licensed Hobson Processing Facility which is central to the Palangana, Burke Hollow and Goliad ISR projects.? In Wyoming, UEC controls the Reno Creek project which is the largest permitted, pre-construction ISR uranium project in the U.S.? Additionally, the Company controls a pipeline of uranium projects in Arizona, New Mexico and Paraguay, a uranium/vanadium project in Colorado and one of the highest-grade and largest undeveloped Ferro-Titanium deposits in the world, located in Paraguay.? The Company?s operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining.
Contact Uranium Energy Corp Investor Relations at:
Toll Free: (866) 748-1030
Fax: (361) 888-5041
E-mail: info@uraniumenergy.com
Twitter: @UraniumEnergy
Stock Exchange Information:
NYSE American: UEC
+Frankfurt Stock Exchange Symbol: U6Z
WKN: A?JDRR
ISN: US916896103
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes ?forward-looking statements? as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as ?expects? or ?does not expect?, ?is expected?, ?anticipates? or ?does not anticipate?, ?plans, ?estimates? or ?intends?, or stating that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?might? or ?will? be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as ?forward-looking statements?. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.
North Adams Housing Authority Receives CHAP
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The Housing Authority has been given the OK to begin a Rental Assistance Demonstration conversion.
Housing Authority Executive Director Jennifer Hohn released a letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development received last week notifying the authority.
"North Adams Housing Authority is excited to receive our award letter from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for a 'Commitment to Enter into Housing Assistance Payments,' " Hohn said.
Rental Assistance Demonstration, or RAD, allows HUD housing authorities to move their units to the Section 8 platform and to leverage debt and equity for re-investment without affecting tenant rights and rents, or housing authority control.
"The Rental Assistance Demonstration will enable NAHA to preserve its public housing stock utilizing a more sustainable future funding source," Hohn said. "Additionally, it will allow access to other financial resources in order to make necessary improvements to properties and also perform upgrades which will enhance residents' quality of life and increase the overall attractiveness of NAHA's developments."
The 304 units within Greylock Valley in the West End, Riverview on Lincoln Street, and Ashland Street Apartments will be moved to the project-based voucher assistance platform.
The North Adams Housing Authority has been on a waiting list for some time now. This was extended because of the government shutdown earlier this year.
The Housing Authority Commission did take some action toward the program in February and voted to hire Dominion, a company specializing in housing and health care facilities, to conduct a physical needs assessment, which is a requirement of RAD.
The letter stated that the Housing Authority must now meet CHAP Milestones and deadlines.
Hohn said she anticipates the conversion will be complete by next year.
"NAHA will continue to maintain an open dialogue with the residents during this process," she said. "We are hopeful that the conversion will be completed by summer 2020."
4 smart ways to use security to power the business of the future
In the new era of work, our relationship with the workplace is defined by flexibility and mobility. Employees are working across the home, office, and blended spaces more than ever before, as well as working varied hours to suit the modern work schedule. This new hybrid workforce model holds the potential for more diverse talent and better productivity, but it also comes with its challenges one being how to ensure security, health, and safety in the workplace. Strong and smart security ecosystem While nearly one-third of companies report that theyve implemented a hybrid model, according to a recent survey by STANLEY Security, many still have much to do to prepare their office for the future. Building a strong and smart security ecosystem is crucial in preparing for the future. As such, businesses should consider technologies that help protect their people, as well as safeguard their assets, optimise their operations, and secure their network. 1)Protect your people Implementation of a security ecosystem combines health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly Nearly 60% of mid-market and enterprise businesses across the UK and US report that the health and safety of their employees and customers are a primary concern when implementing modern and hybrid working models. This begs the question: How can businesses create a safe and healthy work environment when 59% are planning to bring employees back on-site in some capacity within the next 18 months? The answer lies, in part, in the implementation of a security ecosystem that combines various health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly. Integrating platform Nearly half (46%) of business decision-makers say they are interested in adopting an integrated platform such as this. This means integrating traditional and digital security solutions, then leveraging the data and insights they produce to further enhance the workplace experience. Take this example: With employees and visitors moving in and out of the office at different times, a business may lack oversight of occupancy or density levels, people flow, workspace scheduling, visitor check-in processes, and more. However, with visitor management, access control, and other building/business systems integrated, employees can reserve a workspace for a specific date and time and be granted access to the building. Leveraging AI and machine learning Visitors can pre-register, answer a health screening questionnaire, and receive a mobile credential before arriving. Once the visitor arrives on-site, the system can alert the respective department all without the close contact typically required for traditional visitor check-in processes. When layering artificial intelligence and machine learning on top of the data, a business may identify trends in people flow and opportunities to optimise congested areas. They may also see that certain rooms within the building get more use than others and leverage these insights to manage their space more effectively. All of this is powered by a security ecosystem that can help a business better protect its people while realising other benefits in the process. 2) Safeguard your assets Businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model Even more, businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model. About 72% of leaders say this is, in fact, their primary concern with the hybrid approach. This figure isnt surprising when you consider the impact of the pandemic, which left many businesses closed either temporarily or permanently, with few people allowed on-site to manage facility operations. As a result of the pandemic, we saw tech adoption accelerate at an astonishing rate simply because businesses had to implement cloud and remote technologies to survive during a time when buildings were closed indefinitely. Remote management and visibility This was particularly true for security solutions, such as cloud video surveillance and cloud access control solutions like wireless IoT-connected locks. Nine out of 10 businesses (91%) report that they have already implemented cloud security technology; of those, nearly half (48%) stated that this was due to the pandemic. These technologies allow for remote management and provide visibility into business operations at the same time. In a retail setting, for example, cloud video surveillance allows businesses to identify and track not only criminal activity, but also foot traffic patterns, peak operating hours, staff shortages, and more. Loss prevention strategy When integrated with the retailers point-of-sale (POS) system, businesses can gain greater insights into their traffic counts, end cap effectiveness, loyalty card activity, and a variety of POS exceptions, such as high-dollar transactions, repeated transactions, excessive returns, employee discounts, and more. For retailers especially, a security ecosystem means a more efficient loss prevention strategy that helps safeguard assets and profits. 3) Optimise your operations The future of work is still very much a work in progress, but one thing is clear: Businesses are looking for ways to increase efficiencies, drive cost savings, and, ultimately, optimise their operations especially now with the challenges posed by price inflation. A relatively untapped opportunity for businesses to achieve these goals lies within their security infrastructure. Security technology and solutions gather incredibly rich data which, when unlocked, can help businesses understand how their buildings are being used, when the busiest times are, where there are highly trafficked areas, and more. Leveraging cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs Cloud video surveillance systems For example, by leveraging the insights produced by cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs, which could ultimately result in improved employee satisfaction and reduced attrition. However, much of this data sits untouched within the infrastructure, leaving businesses unaware of the opportunities in front of them. 44% of businesses that currently use a cloud security system for its primary use say they want to know how else this technology can be utilised, and an additional 20% arent even aware that it could be used in other ways. AI and analytics The interest in adoption is promising for the office of the future, especially when we see that the majority of businesses (78%) would consider using AI and analytics technologies to optimise their operations, helping their business to operate more effectively and efficiently. The increase in adoption of cloud technology paired with the rise in interest in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics could make it possible for businesses to uncover invaluable insights from their security infrastructure and leverage them to adapt and build business resilience. 4) Secure your network Advanced technology help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry With cyber threats becoming more prevalent, businesses are increasingly looking to secure their networks and protect their data. More than half (54%) of those surveyed expressed interest in using AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics to secure their network by identifying and eliminating cybersecurity threats. Advanced and automated technology can help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry to the larger corporate network. Modern cybersecurity tools that use AI and machine learning can detect anomalies in network traffic or alert and act on suspicious behaviour. Cybersecurity software For example, if an IoT device suddenly begins broadcasting and establishing connections with multiple devices, cybersecurity software could detect this abnormal behaviour, send an alert, and suspend traffic or quarantine an endpoint immediately saving precious time during a potential breach. A single data breach could result in widespread distrust from workers and customers, potentially leading to decreased business as well as litigation issues. As such, businesses need to take action to update and strengthen their defences so that they can avoid downtime and continue to operate with peace of mind. Prepare your business for the future Businesses will continue to look for more ways to extract value out of their existing infrastructure, including their security technology. For many, the tools to do so are already in place, its just a matter of unlocking the insights with a security ecosystem. With such an ecosystem one that helps protect a business people, assets, and network, while optimising operations companies can better safeguard the future of their workspaces and usher in the new era of work with confidence.
Organizers of an annual conference that brings together people who believe that the Earth is flat are planning a cruise to the purported edge of the planet. They're looking for the ice wall that holds back the oceans.
The journey will take place in 2020, the Flat Earth International Conference (FEIC) recently announced on its website. The goal? To test so-called flat-Earthers' assertion that Earth is a flattened disk surrounded at its edge by a towering wall of ice.
Details about the event, including the dates, are forthcoming, according to the FEIC, which calls the cruise "the biggest, boldest adventure yet." However, it's worth noting that nautical maps and navigation technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS) work as they do because the Earth is a globe. [7 Ways to Prove the Earth Is Round]
Believers in a flat Earth argue that images showing a curved horizon are fake and that photos of a round Earth from space are part of a vast conspiracy perpetrated by NASA and other space agencies to hide Earth's flatness. These and other flat-Earth assertions appear on the website of the Flat Earth Society (FES), allegedly the world's oldest official flat Earth organization, dating to the early 1800s.
However, the ancient Greeks demonstrated that Earth was a sphere more than 2,000 years ago, and the gravity that keeps everything on the planet from flying off into space could exist only on a spherical world.
But in diagrams shared on the FES website, the planet appears as a pancake-like disk with the North Pole smack in the center and an edge "surrounded on all sides by an ice wall that holds the oceans back." This ice wall thought by some flat-Earthers to be Antarctica is the destination of the promised FEIC cruise.
There's just one catch: Navigational charts and systems that guide cruise ships and other vessels around Earth's oceans are all based on the principle of a round Earth, Henk Keijer, a former cruise ship captain with 23 years of experience, told The Guardian.
GPS relies on a network of dozens of satellites orbiting thousands of miles above Earth; signals from the satellites beam down to the receiver inside of a GPS device, and at least three satellites are required to pinpoint a precise position because of Earth's curvature, Keijer explained.
"Had the Earth been flat, a total of three satellites would have been enough to provide this information to everyone on Earth," Keijer said. "But it is not enough, because the Earth is round."
Whether or not the FEIC cruise will rely on GPS or deploy an entirely new flat-Earth-based navigation system for finding the end of the world, remains to be seen.
Originally published on Live Science.
Astronaut Kathy Sullivan poses for a picture with her space suit during a 1995 shuttle mission. Sullivan was the first American woman to go on a spacewalk.
NASA's plans for the first all-female spacewalk by space station astronauts this week had all the makings of a historic moment.
But that moment, which by coincidence would have occured during Women's History Month, evaporated Monday (March 25) when NASA announced that the lack of enough properly sized spacesuits would prevent astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch from venturing outside together. The disappointing news came after weeks of anticipation for the spaceflight milestone that could have been.
After conducting her first spacewalk last week in a large-size spacesuit, McClain realized that the suit didn't allow her to maneuver comfortably or effectively. During the spacewalk, she found that she would need a medium-size upper torso for future work outside the International Space Station. While there are two medium-size suits aboard the space station, only one has been prepped for a spacewalk, and it would take extensive crew time to prep the other suit. So, instead of assigning those extra hours, Nick Hague will go in McClain's place with Koch for the spacewalk. And, while the comfort and safety of the astronauts remains the most important aspect of any space mission, this last-minute reassignment seems to highlight the reality that many women will have to overcome additional career roadblocks working in a world designed to accommodate men.
NASA astronaut Anne McClain waves while performing a spacewalk on March 22, 2019. Because of a lack of properly fitting and prepared spacesuits, McClain will not participate in the next spacewalk this upcoming Friday (March 29). (Image credit: NASA)
Before NASA's announcement, we spoke with former NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan, the first American woman to go on a spacewalk, about the potential of that historic moment.
Related: Record-Breaking Women in Spaceflight History
Almost 35 years ago, in On Oct. 11, 1984, Sullivan took her first steps in space . The history in these steps was far from her mind as she focused on her mission in which she operated a system that showed that a satellite could be refueled while in orbit. Her spacewalk came just months after cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya became the world's first female spacewalker on July 25 of the same year.
"Gee, if you ever hoped to do another spacewalk, it would pay to do the first one really well," Sullivan said about her focus on the mission.
While the world focused on the historical significance of her work, Sullivan was just there to do her job and do it well. But women at NASA, like women working in most professions, typically encounter more obstacles than their male counterparts. Thankfully, Sullivan told Space.com, she'd only had one or two rude comments about her gender during her time as an astronaut, perhaps because "walking into NASA with the title astronaut would be a little like walking into the Navy with the title admiral instead of cadet." In other words, once you earn the title of astronaut, people are less likely to give you a hard time.
But, while Sullivan reported little to no harassment, the women she knew working to become flight controllers, flight directors and astronauts "had to do a whole lot more and deliver a whole lot more a whole lot better before they would get the advancement or promotion that lots of times, a man would have gotten on the first good thing." Sullivan added that she would see women, for example, working on a program with someone as a deputy, turn the program around, solve a budget problem, and get the program back on track.
"A young guy who did that would probably get catapulted into project manager the very next go," Sullivan said. "As the woman did that as a deputy, she was lateralled into being somebody else's deputy she didn't get the reward as the added stature and advancement, she got another opportunity to clean up."
Kathy Sullivan and Dave Leestma work on the orbital refueling experiment during a spacewalk. (Image credit: NASA)
But, as McCain and Koch's position shows, even once a woman has climbed that ladder and proven herself beyond a shadow of a doubt, there are still hurdles.
As Sullivan told it, this was not the first time that an all-female crew for a spacewalk has been discussed. Years ago, she said, NASA considered arranging an all-female spacewalk on purpose. But the women in the astronaut corps themselves were opposed to the idea, because it would have been orchestrated as a "stunt," that would serve only to further tokenize them in the industry. "We're not here as tokens and toys to play around and make games of," Sullivan said.
But, "what really gives me the greatest satisfaction," Sullivan said, about the now-canceled spacewalk, is that "it isn't a stunt, [it's a] consequence of there being enough women now in the astronaut ranks, now in the flight ranks, now serving as flight directors. That, in the normal course of assignment rotations, you can end up with more than one woman involved in some high-stakes event."
"There will be multiple women in multiple key roles I would argue there always have been, but they have now made their way to the front line. To the front console, to the EVA [spacewalk], to the flight director's chair," Sullivan added.
pic.twitter.com/2fDXJX94waMarch 25, 2019 See more
The spacewalk scheduled for this Friday would have been a triumph. It was not a scheduled stunt. It was, as Sullivan described, the natural consequence of more women rising up the ranks and being recognized for their work.
The next chance at this setup may not happen anytime soon; only 13 of the 223 astronauts who have walked in space have been women. Still, the likelihood of an all-female spacewalk will continue to increase as more and more women become astronauts and participate in spacewalks.
Perhaps this missed milestone will be a lesson for NASA to have the proper equipment prepared for crews of all shapes and sizes something that is already important as human proportions often change as the spine lengthens slightly in microgravity.
But if and when the scheduling rotation again allows for an all-female crew to conduct a spacewalk, Sullivan did share a piece of advice for the crew inspired by her experiences in space.
"Be sure you give yourself those couple of moments outside to really absorb where you are grab those moments and write them vividly into your brain because they're the moments you'll treasure from the spacewalk long afterward," she said to the crew.
Why hasn't Earth received any messages from extraterrestrials yet? Perhaps because we're already unwitting inhabitants in a so-called galactic zoo.
This was one of the scenarios a group of international researchers explored on March 18 at a meeting organized by the nonprofit organization Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI). The gathering, which took place at the City of Science and Industry museum in Paris (Cite), brought together about 60 scientists who research the possibility of communication with hypothetical intelligent extraterrestrials.
There, they debated "The Great Silence" why aliens haven't contacted us exploring one possibility known as the "zoo hypothesis." First proposed in the 1970s, it describes Earth as a planet that is already under observation by "galactic zookeepers" who are deliberately concealing themselves from human detection, Forbes reported. [9 Strange, Scientific Excuses for Why Humans Haven't Found Aliens Yet]
"When we try to better understand the universe, the question of whether we are alone is unavoidable," meeting attendee Florence Raulin-Cerceau, an associate professor at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, told Paris-Match.
That Earth would be the lone planet to evolve and host intelligent life among potentially billions of planets in our galaxy alone seems very unlikely. But if there are intelligent extraterrestrials out there, where are they, and why haven't we found them yet? This conundrum, posed in 1950 by Italian physicist Enrico Fermi, is known as Fermi's Paradox, and it still stymies experts today.
Fermi didn't live to see evidence of the first exoplanets, which were discovered decades after his death. Since 2014, NASA's Kepler space telescope has confirmed the existence of hundreds of distant worlds, and its findings have hinted at potentially 2,300 more. And yet, despite these exciting exoplanet discoveries, contact with extraterrestrials seems no closer now than it did in Fermi's day.
Under alien observation?
One explanation that scientists explored at the METI meeting, is that aliens are aware of Earth and are observing us as we would observe animals kept in a zoo, METI President Douglas Vakoch said in a workshop. If this is the case, humans should increase their efforts to create messages capable of reaching our "keepers," to demonstrate our intelligence, Vakoch explained.
For example, if a captive zebra were to suddenly tap out a pattern of prime numbers, humans would be required to re-evaluate their understanding of zebra cognition, "and we would be compelled to respond," according to EarthSky.
But what if we're not part of a vast alien zoo what if, instead, humanity has been evaluated by alien civilizations, and subsequently "quarantined" from our galactic neighbors?
It's possible that extraterrestrials are actively isolating us from contact for our own good, because interacting with aliens would be "culturally disruptive" for Earth, meeting co-chair Jean-Pierre Rospars, honorary research director at the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), said in a workshop.
Of course, it's also likely that we haven't heard from aliens because they're locked under a layer of ice in subsurface oceans; trapped on massive "super-Earth" worlds by gravity's intense pull; or dead because their advanced civilizations have already destroyed themselves as humanity might through runaway consumption of their planet's natural resources.
Though, maybe if we want to hear from aliens we just need to relax and be patient. After all, Earth has been around for 4.6 billion years, while extraterrestrial research is less than 100 years old, Paris-Match reported.
Originally published on Live Science.
Chinas Change 4 rover, called Yutu 2, moved between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28, 2019. The upper left panel shows the landing site before Change 4s Jan. 2 touchdown; the upper right panel is the best-resolution photo of the lander and rover taken so far. The lower left image was taken six hours later. The most recent view, in the lower right, shows that Yutu 2 traversed 150 feet (46 meters) to the west during the month of February.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) continues to monitor the whereabouts and wanderings of China's Yutu 2 rover on the moon's far side.
Over the next few months, the sun will rise higher and higher over Yutu 2's landing site when LRO is overhead, providing the opportunity to obtain images with no shadows, according to Mark Robinson, principal investigator of LRO's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), a three-camera system that captures high-resolution photos of the lunar surface.
Related: China's Chang'e 4 Farside Moon Landing in Pictures
(Image credit: CNAS/CLEP)
Blast zone
Those upcoming images will be particularly useful for mapping differences in brightness (albedo), Robinson noted. Researchers should therefore soon get their first good looks at the "blast zone" the region that was brightened around Yutu 2's companion lander as rocket exhaust interacted with the regolith, as seen around all other landing sites.
The tracks of the rover should also be visible in the coming months, allowing researchers to follow Yutu 2's exact path along the floor of Von Karman Crater, Robinson explained.
Yutu 2 and the lander make up China's Chang'e 4 mission, which touched down inside the 115-mile-wide (186 kilometers) Von Karman Crater on the night of Jan. 2, 2019 . No craft, robotic or crewed, had ever pulled off a soft landing on the moon's far side before.
(Image credit: CNSA)
Westward progress
LRO passes over any given place on the moon at least once every month (in the daylight), allowing the westward progress of the Yutu 2 rover to be seen.
Robinson explained that, at the end of February, Yutu 2 was 226 feet (69 meters) from its home base, the Chang'e 4 lander. LROC images show Yutu 2 made 150 feet (46 m) of westward progress during the month of February.
Each month when LRO images the landing site, now called Statio Tianhe, the lighting changes, providing a different view of the surface.
Around dawn and dusk, long shadows enhance topography, Robinson said; closer to noon, differences in surface brightness are more apparent. In the latest LROC image, from Feb. 28, the sun is near the horizon, and the lander and rover both cast long shadows.
Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the National Space Council, will convene and preside over the fifth meeting of the organization on March 26, 2019.
The National Space Council (NSC) will convene today (March 26) for the fifth time, and you can watch it live.
The NSC meeting will focus on the United States' efforts to get humans back to the moon and then send people on to Mars and other distant destinations, NASA officials said. The meeting kicks off at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT); watch it live here at Space.com , courtesy of NASA, or directly via NASA TV .
"Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the council, will convene and preside over the meeting, which will include a report out from NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine," NASA officials wrote in a media advisory .
"The meeting also will include reports from various other council members, two expert panels on human space exploration, and council discussion, from which Vice President Pence will provide policy recommendations for the president," they added.
The first panel, called "Ready to Fly," will feature Les Lyles, a retired U.S. Air Force general and former Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Eileen Collins, a retired U.S. Air Force officer and former NASA astronaut; and former NASA astronaut Sandy Magnus.
The speakers on the second panel, "Ready to Explore," are Dan Dumbacher, executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Jack Burns, a professor of astrophysical and planetary sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder; and independent consultant Wanda Sigur.
President Donald Trump's Space Policy Directive 1, which was signed in December 2017, instructs NASA to get astronauts to the moon, and to use Earth's nearest neighbor as a stepping-stone to Mars. NASA's current moon plans include the construction of a small, moon-orbiting space station called the Gateway , which will serve as a jumping-off point to the lunar surface.
Assembly of the Gateway is scheduled to begin in 2022. NASA aims to put boots on the moon's gray dirt before the end of the 2020s.
The National Space Council helps steer America's space policy. President Trump reinstated the council in 2017 ; it had last been active in the early 1990s, during the presidency of George H.W. Bush.
Optimization
Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should?
Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools.
All of the Chicago shows are back from their hiatus this week, and I'm so glad. It feels like it's been forever since I've seen these shows, but it's only been a few weeks. This week's episode of Chicago P.D. is called "Pain Killer", and it's pretty emotional.
The official press release from NBC already revealed that "a mayoral candidate is shot by an unidentified sniper." I'm sure that most of you could guess that it was Price that was shot. He is giving a speech at a rally for his bid for mayor when shots are fired. Right after the shooting, Antonio and Burgess think they have the shooter, but it's a false alarm.After some investigation, the team is able to locate the real shooter fairly quickly. But there's a pretty big twist that I don't feel comfortable revealing. I will say this twist changes everything about the suspect and the case.I can reveal that this episode is intense. I thought Jason Beghe gave a powerful performance as Voight. I know that Voight is often viewed as the enemy, but in this episode we see that he does have a good side. We also learn that sometimes cases aren't always black and white and the "bad guys" aren't always all bad.We also get to see more of Burgess' new relationship which personally I'm not a huge fan of. I have a bad feeling about it, but I can't figure out why. I think it could get her into trouble, but I also think it's really unnecessary.
Mar 26th, 2019
For the fourth year in a row, the no carbs company NOCCO has launched a special, summer edition flavor of its flagship beverage. The brands first summer release was Tropical, then in 2017 we got Caribbean, last year was Carnival, and now fans have been introduced to Miami.
NOCCOs latest limited edition drink is a strawberry themed recipe featuring a bright and colorful, Miami Vice style can design. The new product comes with the brands usual energy infused amino formula packing 3g of BCAAs, zero sugar, 180mg of caffeine, and a handful of vitamins.
The summer edition Miami NOCCO drink is due to be available in stores as early as this week in the brands local market of Sweden. NOCCO has also confirmed the product will be releasing in 15 other countries including Norway, Estonia, Denmark, Iceland, and the Netherlands.
STAMFORD Richard Freedman had an unusual invitation for school officials scheduled to present the superintendents 2019-20 budget proposal to the Board of Finance Monday night.
Freedman, who chairs the board that controls the citys purse strings, asked whether Board of Education members wanted to explain their Feb. 14 votes on the school budget.
Freedman did that because the nine-member school board passed the $286 million budget a sizable 5 percent increase over this year with only four votes, not even a majority.
That happened after one member, Antoine Savage, was absent the night of the school boards vote, and three Betsy Allyn, Jackie Pioli and Jennienne Burke abstained. Member Frank Cerasoli voted no. The four yes votes were President Andy George and members Jackie Heftman, Mike Altamura and Nicola Tarzia.
But only three school board members took Freedman up on his invitation Monday.
George explained that some members abstained because they looked for certain information and felt they hadnt gotten it. Heftman said she voted for the budget because it allows us to do what we need to do to keep successful programs going.
Cerasoli said he voted no because the increase was excessive. Freedman asked whether he would recommend any cuts. I have some ideas, Cerasoli replied, but I dont want to elaborate at this time.
So the Board of Finance, as it has done for weeks, peppered Superintendent Earl Kim and his staff with questions about school spending.
When Clarence Zachery, chief fiscal and operations officer for the district, showed the finance board a chart indicating that the school boards operating budget has been increasing slower than the citys, Freedman objected.
This board has been cutting your budget fairly regularly, Freedman said. Its a combined effort of your board, this board and the Board of Representatives. We forced it to happen. Its not because you planned it that way.
Late into the meeting, Freedman asked the districts chief financial officer, Hugh Murphy, for updated pension, retiree health benefits, and workers compensation costs, which change as the year progresses.
Murphy said the cost was expected to drop by a large amount, $561,000.
When were you going to tell us that? Freedman asked.
When I had a chance, Murphy replied.
Were two hours into this meeting, and youre only telling us because I asked, Freedman said.
The exchange is indicative of others in recent weeks. Finance board members this month told school officials to come back with more information in response to a request for $702,600 to clean up moldy classrooms. School officials returned with a revised request of $667,400, but finance board members approved only $600,000.
When school officials then asked the finance board to release $202,000 from the districts Energy Reserve Fund to help pay an unexpected electric bill, they were told to return with a better analysis.
Kim and his staff told finance board members Monday that the biggest reason for the increase in the 2019-20 school budget is salaries, followed by employee benefits. Together they comprise 78 percent of the budget.
That is driven by the increase in health care costs, Zachery said. The average cost of benefits per employee now is $17,000, he said.
Zachery presented slides showing that enrollment, at 16,300 students, will be at an all-time high if the 2019-20 projection is accurate.
The fastest-growing segment of the population is special education, expected to number 2,400 students in the coming year, an increase of 5.6 percent since 2010. The population of general education students, by contrast, is projected at 13,900 an almost 1 percent decrease.
It is significant because per-pupil spending for special education this year is $34,248, nearly twice the average. Data from the school district shows that students with emotional disturbance comprise the fast-growing need, followed by those with developmental delay, then autism, then learning disabilities. The number of children with attention deficit disorder has increased 7 percent in the last five years, the data shows.
It is expected that special education students will comprise nearly 15 percent of the population in the coming year, and Kim said his staff is working to contain costs.
We are adding staff in district to prevent out-of-district placements that are often more costly, he said.
He expects 9.7 percent of special-education students to be sent out of district for instruction in 2019-20, down from 11.4 percent six years ago, Kim said.
Another fast-growing cost is transportation, he said. The price of the districts contract with First Student, which supplies about 150 school buses, is escalating, expected to cost nearly $21 million in the coming year almost 11 percent of the budget.
The district is taking other steps to limit spending, Kim said. In the last 10 years, student enrollment increased 7 percent but Central Office staffing decreased from 91 employees to 77, a 15 percent drop, he said.
During the meeting, finance board members asked school officials to provide more information about contracted services that came in just under the amount that would have required the job to go out to bid; whether grants include the cost of Social Security for employees hired to implement the programs they fund; and to spell out which vendors were hired to provide what pupil services and for how much.
Finance board member Dudley Williams went back to special education costs.
Will you give us a list of in-district programs and the number of students enrolled in each? Williams asked. We have encouraged you to bring programs in-house and I would like to see that.
The school boards data shows that Stamford is on the high end of average per-pupil spending in the area. In 2017-18, the latest data, Stamford spent $18,873 per pupil, which is less than the $21,000-plus spent in Greenwich and Westport, but more than what is spent in comparable cities: $17,589 in Norwalk, $13,689 in Bridgeport, and $12,899 in Danbury.
The school boards capital budget is complicated by a mold infestation last summer that spurred countless roof, foundation, window and other repairs district wide. The city formed a Mold Task Force to handle the work, and the finance board will consider that budget April 9.
acarella@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2296.
A Hawaii judge suggested a man not drink his favorite soda during four years of probation on a car theft conviction.
The Maui News reported that Judge Rhonda Loo suggested in a Maui court that 21-year-old Christopher Montilliano Jr. refrain from drinking Pepsi while on probation because he lied to police during his arrest.
An Illinois prosecutor was shot and killed over the weekend in Wisconsin in what authorities allege was a case of domestic violence.
Police say 30-year-old Stacia Hollinshead, of Sycamore, Illinois, was killed at a home in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, on Saturday night.
Beaver Dam police Chief John Kreuziger told ABC News that Hollinshead's 5-year-old daughter was at the scene of the crime and has been placed in the care of family members.
Ulisses W. Medina Espinosa, Hollinshead's ex-husband, was arrested and is expected to be charged.
Hollinshead was an assistant states attorney in DeKalb County, west of Chicago. County States Attorney Rick Amato issued a statement expressing condolences to Hollinsheads family.
"Although Stacia had been with our office only a few months, we quickly came to know her as a dedicated mother and prosecutor with a bright future in the practice of law," the message read, in part.
Amato said everyone at the DeKalb County States Attorneys Office had been "stunned" and "deeply saddened" and left wondering how they could have helped.
"We who work in public safety talk frequently about the risks associated with domestic violence. As prosecutors, we intervene in domestic violence cases in court to prevent the nightmare outcome that were all now living through," the post continued. "Domestic violence is about power and control, it is learned behavior, it is present in all communities, it crosses all social and economic barriers, and it is preventable. No faction of society is immune from it, not even those who work in the public safety arena, fiercely dedicated to stopping it. Stacias death is the worst possible outcome of domestic violence, and it will strengthen us as we continue to work to stop abusers who terrorize their partners and rip apart their families."
Hollinshead was a U.S. Army intelligence analyst for 11 years. She graduated from the Northern Illinois University law school in May 2018 and began working for DeKalb County last November.
STAMFORD A felony conviction of a New York man led Stamford police to arrest him because his recently drawn DNA matched that of a suspect in a 5-year-old residential burglary.
Wilfredo Perez, 58, of Brooklyn was arraigned Tuesday on charges of third-degree burglary and fourth-degree larceny and was ordered by Judge Bruce Hudock to be held in lieu of a $100,000 court-appearance bond.
Property Crimes Sgt. Sean Scanlan said police were called to Treat Avenue in February 2014 on a report of a residential burglary that had just taken place. Police discovered a burglar had removed a portable air conditioning unit from a rear window of the house and made their way inside.
The residents told police a laptop computer had been taken along with some miscellaneous jewelery worth about $5,000, Scanlan said.
At first, police were stymied.
We really did not have a lot to go on. No fingerprints, no surveillance cameras and it was in the middle of the day, Scanlan said. But when processing the home, Crime Scene Investigator Cory Caserta took DNA swabs from some likely places the burglar would have touched to get into the home.
Unfortunately, when Stamford police entered the DNA into the Combined DNA Index System, which enables state, federal and local forensic labs to exchange and compare DNA profiles, the sample came back unknown.
But Scanlan said that a match recently came up for the DNA profile that Caserta found.
So this guy gets arrested in Brooklyn and gets found guilty there, so his DNA gets taken as part of the booking process recently and put into the (Combined DNA Index) system and we got a notification of the match, Scanlan said.
A warrant was prepared for Perez and he was picked up in Brooklyn on Monday.
No plea was made during his arraignment.
jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
H ousebuilder Crest Nicholson ousted its boss after just a year in charge on Tuesday as it poached the head of rival Galliford Try in a bid to revive its fortunes.
Crests Patrick Bergin took over as chief executive at last years annual meeting, but leaves today after 13 years with the business following a string of profit warnings.
He is likely to depart with nine months of his basic salary of 470,000 according to terms announced on his appointment.
His successor Peter Truscott, who joins in September, will start on a bigger salary of 650,000 with a potential 800,000-plus bonus and share options on top. Crest said its remuneration committee is satisfied that it is paying no more than necessary to attract a candidate of Peters calibre.
The Galliford man is a far more experienced housebuilder than Bergin, having spent nearly 20 years at Taylor Wimpey as its Southern chief and at its predecessor George Wimpey. Before that he was at Cala Homes.
Shares in Crest, down around 20% in the past year, rose 6% or 20.6p to 373.6p. Peel Hunts Gavin Jago said: Given Crests target to increase activity in this area and its Southern geographic bias, he looks a good fit for Crest and its strategy.
Crest has been forced to turn to a more experienced boss because the firm has been caught in the eye of the storm due to Brexit uncertainty. The housebuilder is pulling out of a struggling central London property market, where sales rates have broadly halved.
Crest is also exposed to sales of more aspirational homes in the Home Counties worth 800,000 or more, which are ineligible for the Governments Help to Buy Scheme. That prompted three profit warnings in six months last year and a 15% fall in profits. The firm shifted strategy to concentrate on cashflow and dividends in January, as well as moving towards cheaper homes through partnerships.
Crest has secured 50% of its sales for the year but sales remain under pressure.
T he boss of Fever-Tree on Tuesday suggested the tonic makers remarkable growth in Britain may have peaked.
Tim Warrillow cheered a 53% UK sales jump in 2018, but said supplier contracts to supermarkets have little room to grow.
He said: We are so well stocked by UK retailers [already] and the clear market leader, so it is natural that we will see a moderation in growth rates this year.
Numis analyst Damian McNeela said: Its recent strong success in the UK necessitates that growth in this market moderates, but the considerable opportunities afforded by both the US and Europe should drive substantial growth over the medium term.
The AIM-listed firm saw group revenue rise 40% last year to 237.4 million. Pre-tax profits increased to 75.6 million from 56.4 million.
Shares in Chelsea-based Fever-Tree rose 21p to 2563p. It floated at 134p a share in November 2014, and has since benefited from a surge in customers seeking more premium mixers for gins and whiskies.
O cado is on a roll like few other firms. In the past year or so, it has morphed from being the Betamax of food retailers with great technology but not enough customers to beat off its rivals to the sectors only winner.
First, overseas supermarkets began licensing its robot technology to handle their online delivery arms. Then, it struck what looks like the deal of the decade to form a joint venture with Marks & Spencer. That deal sees it sell half its less profitable retail division for 750 million cash.
M&S chairman Archie Norman clearly loves the deal because today his other supermarket group, Coles, signed up Ocado for a major partnership to provide its software and robots to dispatch food to customers across Australia.
Last month, there was a major fire at one of Ocados food warehouses in Hampshire that would have knocked lesser companies off track. Ocado, now diversified from direct retailing, flies ahead, barely winded. A fine antidote to British businesss Brexit-induced gloom.
Crest Nicholson
Theres something fishy about Patrick Bergins sudden departure from the top of Crest Nicholson.
Just a year after getting the top job, today he was ousted, with the more experienced boss of Galliford Try being drafted in to replace him.
Bergin may have overseen a bunch of profit warnings, but he was running a business in the wrong place, with the wrong products, at the wrong time. Namely, expensive homes in the Brexit-sluggish South-East not eligible for Help to Buy.
S o who is more powerful Sir Oliver Letwin or Theresa May?
One commands a majority in the House of Commons, has a clear Brexit plan and is in daily informal dialogue with the Cabinet. The other is the Prime Minister. Or, to put in more accurately, PMINO Prime Minister In Name Only.
She has no parliamentary majority, no Brexit plan and doesnt speak to the Cabinet except in formal meetings.
Tomorrow, as Sir Oliver has meticulously planned with a cross-party group, a series of votes will be held to find out which, if any, of the possible ways forward on Brexit commands the most support.
In short, Parliament is now formulating the fundamental economic and security policy of the country, while the Government looks on from the sidelines powerless.
It is remarkable, unprecedented and it was entirely avoidable for months now senior ministers and aides have told Mrs May to embrace the reality that her deal would not pass, and lead the search for an alternative.
She did not listen to them, and now they dont listen to her.
The first battle fought out in Cabinet today is whether ministers will get a free vote on Wednesday evening. If they dont, expect more to follow the principled lead of Messrs Burt, Harrington and Brine yesterday and resign.
Mrs May must be approaching the record for the most resignations from any administration in history.
The second battle will be over the results. They are unpredictable but it seems likely that Labour and moderate Conservative MPs will coalesce around an option known as Common Market 2.0 or Norway Plus.
Whether a majority do so at the first attempt is less certain. Former ministers George Eustice and Robert Halfon, from the Leave and Remain side, spell out in the joint article for the Evening Standard today what that entails.
It is that combination of customs union and single market membership that this newspaper recommended two years ago. It keeps Britain in the economic arrangements of the EU, which the likes of Margaret Thatcher built, but involves leaving the political councils of Brussels. It is not nearly as good for Britain as staying in the EU but not nearly as bad as Mrs Mays deal or the dangerous fantasy of no-deal.
It is a fair attempt at a compromise in a country that split 52/48 over its relationship with the EU.
Will the Government seek to negotiate a political agreement with Europe around the plan if a majority of MPs endorse it? Probably not.
It is anathema to the self-styled self-ridiculing grand wizards of the hard Brexiteers; it is also impossible to swallow for the many in the Cabinet who either voted for Brexit, or who court the leadership support of those who did.
Thats why Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and Commons leader Andrea Leadsom have already warned this week that the Government will not be obliged to follow the Commons lead.
Which way will the PM turn? If she commits to follow the MPs then she will lose more than half her party and fall. If she follows the bulk of her party then she will never get the backing from half the Parliament that she needs to govern.
Thats why, for all the brilliance of Sir Olivers plan, tomorrows votes are no way out of the Brexit impasse.
Hence a general election, and possible referendum, loom for if the Prime Minister cant find a way out, and nor can Parliament, only the people can decide.
Van Gogh in London
The Tates exhibition, Van Gogh and Britain, could really be called Van Gogh in London, for it was here that he spent the best part of three years from the age of 20. As it makes clear, the city left its mark on him.
London had then excellent illustrated papers, notably the Graphic, which depicted social conditions as they were it made a profound impression on him, as we can see from his moving drawings of working people.
As for the influence of Dickens, it lasted all his life. If London influenced Van Gogh, he certainly influenced London: we gained a great deal by a Dutchman coming here to live and work.
W hile the Prince of Wales has been on tour in the Caribbean, and Havana in Cuba where he is now Brexit has understandably dominated the headlines back home.
But for Charles, who made history by becoming the first British royal to visit the Communist island state, action speaks louder than words.
This charm offensive, inspired by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, comes at a time of transition for Britain and Cuba, where dictator Fidel Castro ruled with an iron fist from 1959 to 2008.
Everything has gone like clockwork, with Charless PR machine, led by his respected communications secretary Julian Payne, working closely with UK government officials.
Even the arrival on the Royal Air Force Voyager plane our version of the US presidential plane Air Force One gave the impression that Britain means business amid Brexit uncertainty.
As for Cuba, its ballet star Carlos Acosta, whom the prince and the Duchess of Cornwall met, said publicly that now is the time for his country to reach out to the world. The dancer, who spent 17 years as the Royal Ballets principal guest artist and was awarded a CBE, said after meeting Charles and Camilla that he was full of hope for the future.
From the Cuban perspective it is a time for building bridges, to reach out to the world, and I think also for the UK, they are doing the same with this inevitable Brexit going forward, so I think its just the perfect fit, he said.
Amid all the political drama back home, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday tellingly tweeted: The royal visit to Cuba is a great example of bold and pragmatic UK diplomacy. I spoke to foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez today to help move forward the UK/Cuban relationship but also deliver robust messages where we disagree.
Robust or not, the Cubans have pulled out all the stops.
And with the popular younger royals playing such a prominent role on the world stage, there is no doubt they give Britain an edge, too.
Clearly Meghan Markle has bolstered the brands image. And Charles has been a rock to his son Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex. He is understood to have told them to soldier on in the face of some unwarranted negative headlines, and has assisted them in setting up their own household financially.
There has also been an overhaul of royal communications following the departure of director Sally Osman and the sideways move of communications secretary Jason Knauf, who is now a special adviser to the Cambridges.
Sara Latham will take charge of the Sussexes media operations, while the Cambridges new communications secretary Christian Jones, a former government speechwriter, is regarded as smart and professional.
L ast night the House of Commons voted to set aside a whole day tomorrow so that MPs can debate a range of possible options to try to solve the current political crisis that our country faces. Options are likely to range from those who believe we should have a second referendum or revoke Article 50 altogether, to those who think we should leave the EU without a deal.
With hindsight, such an open exercise should have taken place earlier. In politics, numbers matter. Ultimately, no government can get anything done without the consent, or at least the acquiescence, of Parliament.
There were several points during the past two years when it might have made sense for the Prime Minister to pause and take stock of the approach she was taking. Firstly, after the 2017 election when she lost her majority and we had a hung Parliament, there was a case for trying to identify what approach might command a cross-party consensus to deliver the referendum result. The Government could also have taken stock a year ago after its defeat by the EU over the terms of the so-called implementation period, or again after David Davis and Boris Johnson resigned in the summer.
The Brexit argument has been raging relentlessly for more than three years now. Its exhausting for everyone. Our politics cannot take another two years of this. What is needed now, more than anything else, is a speedy and decisive way to secure closure and a settlement to this debate.
We were on opposite sides in the 2016 referendum campaign but are now in broad agreement about what a settlement should look like. The referendum result was a clear decision to leave but at 52-48 it was also close. It represented a cautious and apprehensive decision to step away from EU membership. People wanted us to make more of our own laws again; they were weary of politicians promising things they no longer had the power to deliver and they doubted that the EU was a model that was right for our future.
George Eustice is the Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament
However, they didnt want to throw the baby out with the bath water; they wanted to remain friends with our European neighbours and also to co-operate and retain close economic ties.
We believe the settlement that most closely reflects that collective national mood would be for the UK to leave the EU, repeal the 1972 European Communities Act but remain a member of the looser European Economic Area and rejoin the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). This alternative is sometimes referred to as the Norway option but the thinking behind it has a very British pedigree.
Robert Halfon is the Conservative MP for Harlow (Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament ) / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament
In 1959, there was a cross-party consensus that membership of the then EEC carried too many political costs, and would undermine our democracy and limit our trade policy. It was therefore the UK, first under Harold Macmillan, and then Harold Wilson, that developed and promoted the idea of an alternative model in the form of EFTA. A lack of national self-confidence in the late Sixties meant we abandoned what we had started but Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein persevered without us.
The advantage of a return to EFTA is that it offers the prospect of a quick resolution to this political crisis. We are already members of the EEA and never gave notice to leave as required by that agreement. A year ago this week, our ambassador in Oslo was on standby to deliver a letter giving such notice but she was stood down. The letter was never delivered, so our rights and obligations remain in place.
"Wed have a ready-made free trade agreement so theres no need to get worn down by even more negotiation"
The process of rejoining the so-called EFTA pillar can be concluded within three to six months. There would be no need for a long implementation period. We would have an independent trade policy but would agree some regulatory alignment to reduce border friction. There are multiple procedures through which regulations are influenced and some of them are unique to the non-EU members of the EEA.
We would have a ready-made free trade agreement so theres no need to get worn down by two more years of negotiation with the EU about a future economic partnership. We would have control of our own fisheries and agriculture policies and would end the supremacy of EU law. There would be a presumption of free movement of people for work but the EFTA articles also allow control on freedom of movement for important societal or economic reasons. Liechtenstein already has a derogation from the free movement provisions. If we joined EFTA, the UK would become part of an alliance of prosperous European democracies, none of whom are members of the EU.
Within Parliament there are differing shades of opinion about how to arrive at the final destination.
Some argue that we would still need the current withdrawal agreement, while others argue that this represents a different sort of agreement and we should rely on our existing rights. Some believe we would also need some form of customs arrangement to resolve problems on the Irish border, while others believe these matters can be resolved through a Northern Ireland border protocol.
Some believe the so-called backstop would still be required, while others believe we should rely on our existing right to leave the EEA with 12 months notice if we wanted to. These different approaches can be debated and tested in debate on a series of motions tomorrow. While differences remain over the approach and some specific details, there is a growing consensus about the final destination to settle this crisis.
All roads lead to Norway.
A s a veteran of the Lloyds market I find some of the recent reports alleging a current culture of harassment and abuse [Laddish Lloyds must ensure it isnt sunk by sexism, March 22] as absolutely not the market I know. Standards of behaviour are and have to be higher than they once were.
Everyone is acutely aware of not only their personal fiduciary responsibilities but also of the necessity of adherence to compliance and regulatory oversight. Anyone acting outside of these professional norms will stand out and should be subject to disciplinary action, including dismissal or criminal proceedings if that is required.
There can be no question that during the Eighties and Nineties there was an ugly drinking and macho lads culture but I would suggest that is long since gone.
At most, for a few, very few brokers, the odd egotistically inflated idiot will exist, but thankfully there arent many.
David Doe
EDITOR'S REPLY
Dear David
Youre right that tarring every man who works in the Lloyds market with the same brush is both absurd and unfair.
But the recent claims of harassment at Lloyds do need careful scrutiny in a City culture which isnt exactly a standard bearer for the #MeToo era. We cant just dismiss the complaints of almost 20 women whove put up with unacceptable behaviour for the sake of their careers, and even now are only willing to speak under the cloak of anonymity for the same reason.
Lloyds focused on diversity under previous chief executive Inga Beale but sadly its the boozy brokers who work there even if they are a minority who risk undoing her work.
If anything, we should hold Lloyds to higher standards because it has more ground to make up; it didnt even allow women into its underwriting room until 1973, more than 50 years after they got the vote. Thats why Beales replacement John Neal needs to get some women on his nominations and governance boards as a matter of urgency. The tone needs to be set from the top.
Russell Lynch, Deputy City Editor
Selling land wont solve NHS crisis
I DISAGREE with your health editor Ross Lydalls suggestion that the answer to the growing pressure on hospitals such as Whipps Cross is for NHS trusts to sell their land as a freehold [ Whipps Cross Hospital plan not fit for purpose, March 22].
Population growth in east London is forecast to expand hugely: Tower Hamlets, for example, has the fastest- growing population in the UK, and bed occupancy at NHS trusts such as Barts Health is often running at around 100 per cent capacity.
The recent Long Term Plan for the NHS recognises that it cant be assumed that alternatives to hospital care, such as increased community and primary care services, will reduce the need for hospital beds. Currently, these services are too understaffed and poorly resourced.
Other alternatives havent been given sufficient consideration: some of the pressure on acute beds could be relieved by more step-down care (cost-effective convalescent care provided close to acute services).
Jan Savage
Blair points way to Brexit solution
Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll probably be aware that Game of Thrones ended this year.
Following the show's tremendous success, it's no secret that the cast of the hit fantasy HBO epi-drama were paid pretty damn well.
Pre season 8, the core cast members, including Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington, were all apparently making a rather decent $500,000 (370,000) per episode, but reports have suggested top cast members bagged a rather handsome pay rise: an extra $200,000 (151,000) per episode.
Getty Images
For the final series, the show's main actors appeared to have pushed it even further with a select number making as much as $1.2 million an episode according to The Hollywood Reporter. Taking a leaf out of the Friends cast's playbook, they reportedly renegotiated their deals together to ask for higher salaries halfway through series seven.
If true, then they would be the highest paid actors per episode on television today - especially as the previous record holders Big Bang Theory took a pay cut to help boost their co-stars' fees: taking the likes of Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco down from reported $1 million to $900,000.
Stars Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner, who are believed to be paid slightly less than stars including Harington and Clarke, actually netted themselves a strong position as some of the wealthiest British celebrities under 30 in Heat's annual rich list. Turner placed in 17th place with an estimated fortune of 8.5 million thanks to her Thrones salary plus fashion campaigns, while Williams came in fifth with a reported net worth of 4.5 million.
HBO/Helen Sloan
In fact, recent reports have revealed that Cersei actress Lena Headey may have netted as much as $144,000 per minute this season (112,550). As one of the lucky few to make a reported $1.2 million per episode, she was in just three episodes this series - bagging her a total pay day of $3.6 million and News.com.au calculated she was only in series eight for a total of 25 minutes. It sounds like it was an amazing gig, especially given that her character spent much of series eight staring out of a window in King's Landing.
Here's how much each key character reportedly was paid, with added net worth (just for fun).
Emilia Clarke's salary
HBO / Home Box Office
At present, Emilia Clarke, AKA Daenerys of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Lady Regent of the Seven Kingdoms, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons, apparently cashes in a rather handsome $1.2 million per episode (938,200) and that doesn't include merch and all those DVD and Blu Ray sales either.
In her Vanity Fair cover story, she said: "I get f*cking paid the same as my guy friends. We made sure of that." Aside from her dragon moolah, Clarke has made further millions from numerous movies and ad campaigns.
Emilia Clarke net worth (rumoured): $13 million (9 million)
Kit Harington's salary
HBO
Khalessi's on screen lover (finally!) also apparently manages to add $1.2 million (938,200) to the Bank of Westeros each week. That's a combined $2.4 million (1.875 million) between them. Ker-ching.
Kit Harington's net worth (rumoured): $12 million (9 million)
Lena Headey's salary
(Helen Sloan/HBO) / HBO
The most hated monarch, bar The Mad King, apparently bags an impressive $1.2 million per episode (938,200). Previously, the star reportedly earned $300,000 (220,000) per episode, however she later was able to negotiate it up to $500k (378,000) so it would be equal to her male counterparts. Let's face it, after destroying the High Sparrow, the woman deserves it (and a Golden Globe, too).
Lena Headey's net worth (rumoured): $9 million (6 million)
Maisie Williams' salary
Helen Sloan/HBO
Yes it's so unfair, but Arya does not make as much as the adults - let's not forget, she was just thirteen years old when she joined the show. In previous seasons the loveable British actress reportedly made $150k per episode. Now, she's reportedly on a rather decent wage of $210k (158,000) an appearance. The definitive reason as to why she is not paid as much is because she is categorised as "Tier B" cast, who make less than the core cast members.
Maisie Williams' net worth (rumoured): $5.79 million (4.5 million)
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's salary
(Helen Sloan/HBO) / HBO
Cersei's brother and lover (and possible baby daddy for the fourth time) apparently adds $1.2 million (938,200) to the bank with every episode. As the Danish actor told Marie Claire, when reports of his salary came out his neighbour in Denmark popped over to suggest he pay for their new fence. "I said, 'Dont believe everything you read, you idiot'" he said. Whatever the number, as a Lannister we're sure he always pays his debts.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's net worth (rumoured): $16 million (12 million)
Peter Dinklage's salary
(Helen Sloan/HBO) / HBO
Everyone's favourite Lannister reportedly gets a Top Tier $1.2 million (938,200) an episode. Hopefully Dinklage doesn't blow it all on wine like his character.
Peter Dinklage's net worth (rumoured): $15 million (11 million)
Sophie Turner's salary
HBO / HBO
Like her on-screen sister, Sophie Turner also reportedly sees $210k (158,000) added to her bank balance each week.
Although she may not be earning as much as her onscreen half-brother Kit Harington, she isn't bitter about it. She explained to Harper's Bazaar, "Kit got more money than me, but he had a bigger story line. And for the last series, he had something crazy like 70 night shoots, and I didnt have that many. I was like, You know what...you keep that money.
Turner has kept busy since Thrones ended however, starring as super anti-hero Jean Grey in X-Men: Dark Phoenix and as a brand ambassador for luxury brand Louis Vuitton. She's also splashed the cash quite a bit this year, as she recently married Jonas Brothers member Joe Jonas in a glamorous French wedding before heading off on a Maldives honeymoon estimated to cost 8k a night according to Heat. She placed 17th on Heat's richest British celebrities under 30 list.
Sophie Turner's net worth (rumoured): $10.9 million (8.5 million)
Game of Thrones premieres on Showcase, Sky Atlantic and NOW TV on April 14 (15 in UK). Watch the full season 8 trailer below.
Game of Thrones Season 8, season finale trailer
Professional Still Life Category
The civil war between Nigeria and Biafra was paid for with our blood, our future, and our imagination. More than 2 million souls died in vain. It was the most expensive war in the history of mankind. 51 years have passed and we are still trying to pay off our debts. Photography came and gave me back my imagination and liberation. When the light became my mentor, I changed perspective and I wish for the shutter speed to slow down and let more light into my country and my dreams.
Cletus Nelson Nwadike
R esidents in the London borough where teenager Jodie Chesney was stabbed to death have begun their own anti-knife crime patrols after losing faith in the justice system, the areas MPs have told Parliament.
Under the Take a Knife, Save a Life campaign, people in Havering are walking local streets and parks, talking to youngsters, and asking them to surrender any knives.
MPs said locals had lost confidence in the way that knife offenders are dealt with by the courts and that there were not enough police on the streets. They said the answer should be tougher sentences with Jodies MP, Julia Lopez, saying they should be implemented to honour the memory of the teenager.
The call, during a debate in Westminster Hall, was prompted by a petition signed by more than 100,000 people that asks for anyone found with a knife to receive 10 years in jail with 25-year sentences for anyone who uses a blade.
Ms Lopez, the Conservative MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, said her constituents had provided more signatures in support of the reform than any other in the country. She said residents had given a profound response to the killing with marches and memorials, purple ribbons tied to trees, railings and lampposts ... and a community vigil.
Mourners at a vigil for Jodie in Romford town centre / PA
She said: Many of my constituents want a far tougher regime, because they have lost confidence in the deterrent effect of the existing sentences.
It comes as Steve Rodhouse, the director of operations at the National Crime Agency, warned MPs that the role of the county lines drug trade in causing violence can be exaggerated. He said that only 13 per cent of county lines networks were linked to violence and when conflicts do happen, it is when organised crime groups supplying drugs come into contact with street gangs.
He said this meant that it would be wrong to overstate the role of drugs in triggering the recent wave of stabbings.
A schoolboy stabbed in a suspected targeted attack pulled the blade from his own chest before collapsing in a busy street, witnesses said today.
The 15-year-old was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after being knifed by two male suspects who pulled up in a car and plunged a knife into his chest before driving away.
The boy, wearing his school uniform, removed the knife from his chest and collapsed on the ground as horrified onlookers near Forest Hill station rushed to help shortly after 4pm yesterday.
His has since improved and his condition is now not thought to be life threatening, police said. A 15-year-old boy was today being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder.
Forensic investigators in Forest Hill on Monday afternoon following a fatal stabbing / NIGEL HOWARD
A witness told the Standard: There were a group of school kids, boys and girls, sitting on a brick wall outside the job centre.
Two much older men stabbed the kid in his side. They left the knife in him and ran down the high street towards Forest Hill station.
The boy pulled the knife out of his side and threw it across the street.
Another witness said: I saw the man with a silver knife about 12 inches long, then he stabbed him in the chest.
A police cordon in place as forensic workers investigate the scene of a fatal stabbing / NIGEL HOWARD
He said the victim stumbled back, adding: The boy pulled the knife out himself, I think he was in shock. He didnt look in good shape. There was a lot of blood, his white school shirt was completely covered.
Another witness, Pauline Wright, said the boy was surrounded by hysterical friends.
Schoolgirls were hysterical, screaming out his name, she said. It is so scary being right on our doorstep.
The boy is said to be a Year 11 pupil at Forest Hill School.
Mike Sullivan, headteacher, said: Forest Hill School community is shocked and appalled by the stabbing of one of our Year 11 students yesterday after school. We have come together as a community to support each other through what is an incredibly distressing period.
We are in close contact with the boys family, and have offered every support we can to help them through this traumatic time. Our hope is that he will make a strong recovery.
We are also providing support for our students who have been affected by this incident.
The latest attack came days after 17-year-old Abdirashid Mohamoud was chased from a park and stabbed to death in Isleworth, west London, on Friday night.
The aspiring engineer was the seventh teenager to be stabbed to death in London so far this year.
Neighbour Ali Omar said: He was a lovely boy never any trouble around here. He always said hello and was respectful. Boys will be boys but around here no one has a bad word to say about him.
The family have been supporting each other at their Brentford home.
One of the victims sisters said: We are too upset too speak at the moment.
A former Big Brother contestant was attacked by a friend at a beer festival, a court heard.
Darnell Swallow, 37, who appeared on the 2008 series, was punched on the back of the head and doused with beer by 35-year-old Luke Gillman during the Great British Beer Festival at the Olympia exhibition centre on August 11 last year.
Mr Swallow was on the receiving end of a flurry of blows, prosecutor Charles Shelton told City of London magistrates court.
Mr Shelton told magistrates Gillman was the father of a two-month-old son at the time and was offended that Mr Swallow had not been around to see his newborn baby.
Gillman admitted being blind drunk, but claimed Mr Swallow had been aggressive towards him.
T housands of pounds have been raised for the family of a newsagent who was stabbed to death as he opened his shop.
Father-of-two Ravi Katharkamar, 54, died after being attacked during a robbery in Marsh Food And Wine shop in Pinner, north-west London, at 6am on Sunday.
Police said he was stabbed in the chest by a killer who escaped with the till containing a few pounds worth of coins.
A fundraising page set up to help cover the costs of Mr Katharkamars funeral raised more than 9,000 in just a few hours yesterday. This morning the total had reached 11,440. Caron Kemp, a resident who launched the page, said the Sri Lankan shopkeepers killing had shocked the community.
Victim: Ravi Katharkamar
She told the Evening Standard: There was a communal sense of what can we do? Everyone said he was such a friendly, warm and generous guy and they would go in and speak to him.
Im pleased that the community has raised such a significant amount and so quickly, though Im not surprised.
Detectives and forensics workers at the scene of a fatal stabbing in Pinner / NIGEL HOWARD
A passerby found Mr Katharkamar, who has two sons, collapsed inside the shop and rang police. Medics fought to save him by he was pronounced dead 45 minutes later.
Detectives are searching for a black Vauxhall Astra seen being driven away at speed down Cecil Park immediately afterwards, as well as the shop till.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Stancombe described the attack as vicious and unwarranted as he appealed for witnesses.
He added: Ravis attacker got away with a few pounds worth of coins, but he leaves behind a family utterly devastated and a close-knit community asking who could do such a thing. No arrests have been made.
Mr Katharkamars death marked the 29th killing in London this year.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting CAD1653/24Mar.
T he extraordinary role of police dogs and their handlers in dealing with two terror attacks on London in 2017 was revealed for the first time today.
Dogs from the Met and British Transport Police were involved in checking the fake suicide vests of the three London Bridge attackers after they were shot dead by police, as well as searching dozens of buildings for explosives.
Other dog teams searched the area for what police thought could be a suspect on the loose, while another checked a car for an explosive device.
Some of the dogs and their handlers were being honoured today with animal charity PDSAs Order of Merit, the equivalent of the OBE.
The three London Bridge attackers Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba killed eight people on June 3 2017 and wore fake explosive belts made of water bottles wrapped in silver tape to instil terror.
Police dog Bruno / Twitter
In the Westminster Bridge attack, in which five people were killed on March 22 2017, a police dog team was sent in to check terrorist Khalid Masoods car for a bomb after it crashed into the railings outside Parliament.
Four dogs were also used to search for potential devices among the chaos on the bridge.
In total, 19 dogs were used in the aftermath of the two terror attacks and seven dogs were chosen by ballot to receive the PDSA awards.
Police dog Jax / Twitter
The charity said the dog teams worked in the knowledge that they could have encountered real bombs and explosive belts.
The dogs teams honoured today include Kai, an explosive detection dog and handler Pc Jean Pearce; Delta, a firearms support dog and handler Pc Mark Snoxhall; and Dave, an explosive detection dog and handler Pc Andy Salter, all from the Met. Kai, a spaniel, was deployed in both attacks.
The British Transport Police dogs include Bruno, an explosive search dog and handler Pc Rob Smith; Marci, a general purpose dog and handler Pc Neil Billany; and Jax, a general purpose dog and handler Pc Craig Howarth.
Chief Inspector Graham Horwood, of the Mets Taskforce, said: In 2017 we were sadly met with some unimaginable events. Our police dogs and their handlers were required to work in the most challenging environments and we are delighted to hear that their extraordinary work has been recognised.
British Transport Police Inspector Paul Miles said: I am immensely proud of our dogs and their handlers. They worked through physically and emotionally challenging conditions without second thought, courageously walking into danger and putting the publics safety before their own.
A property heiress told today how she was left screaming for mercy when she was brutally assaulted by her ex-boyfriend in a horrendous attack at her west London home.
Chloe Pidgley, 26, was punched and kicked repeatedly in the face by Antonio Henry in her own bedroom, when he refused to accept that their relationship was over.
He hurled a chair and an oil radiator at a terrified Ms Pidgley, and trapped her fingers in a door when she tried to escape, Isleworth crown court heard.
Henry yesterday admitted assault and criminal damage on the first day of his trial, and was branded a coward as he was jailed for 21 months.
Chloe was punched and kicked repeatedly in the face by her ex-boyfriend Antonio Henry
Ms Pidgley, the granddaughter of Berkeley Homes founder Tony Pidgley and an heiress to the 310 million family fortune, said the attack came after she broke off a four-month relationship with Henry and he just wouldnt leave me alone.
Five days before the assault she confronted Henry about messages he had been sending to her, her sister and mother, but he followed her and smashed up my house. she told the Standard.
Describing the attack at her home in Earls Court, Ms Pidgley said she heard a smash and found Henry standing in her bedroom when she went to investigate.
Ms Pidgley said she was over the moon that her ex is now behind bars
I was screaming and tried to get out of the room and that is when he slammed my fingers in the door, she said.
The attack was horrendous. I was screaming and crying and he was punching and kicking me, hitting my head.
I couldnt move or breath. Even with blood everywhere he still wouldnt stop.
At one point I stopped screaming and tried to plead with him.
Ms Pidgley added: I couldnt even fight back because it seemed there was no point, so I stayed lying in the foetal position.
She was in court to see him jailed yesterday, and said she was over the moon that her ex-boyfriend is now behind bars.
I feel so much safer now, she said. Im so happy. I just feel like its a fresh start.
I dont think I realised how much it affected me.
She added: It is not fair anyone has had to go through this situation. At one point I cared about this person.
It has really opened my eyes to how many women go through this and have abuse in their lives.
Ms Pidgley said she has been unable to return to her job as a receptionist off the Kings Road since the attack on June 18 last year, and has since taken part in marches to raise awareness of violence against women.
I could have been killed. Women are dying every day in abusive relationships, she said.
It wasnt about the sentence. It was about teaching him a lesson and showing other men that it will not be tolerated. That behaviour will be punished.
Her sister, model Chantelle Pidgley, 27, said: Chloe has been really stressed but she has come out of it feeling there are people on her side.
The court heard Henry, from Ealing, has convictions dating back to 2003 including for assault, battery, harassment, making threats and dealing class A drugs.
A teenage boy is in a critical condition after a violent attack at a west London station.
Police have launched a manhunt for a suspect after the 17-year-old victim was knocked to the ground before suffering a number of blows and kicks to the head.
It happened after an altercation at Richmond station at about 5.45pm on Sunday.
The suspect left the station with a woman, while the victim was hospitalised with serious injuries.
British Transport Police is appealing for information on this suspect / British Transport Police
As British Transport Police (BTP) released CCTV images of the suspect, Det Sgt Emma Boulton said: This was a particularly violent assault and Id like to ask the man in these pictures to come forward.
Likewise, Id also like to hear from anyone who recognises this man, or who was in the station at the time.
If you have information which may help us investigate, then please do get in touch with us as soon as possible.
T he father of a woman who died on a speedboat crash on the Thames has said he believes justice is edging closer after a judge in Georgia ruled her fugitive killer must be extradited to the UK.
A court in Tbilisi approved Britain's extradition request on Tuesday after Shepherd said he wishes to take part in an appeal against his conviction over the death of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown.
His defence lawyer Tariel Kakabadze said that although they do not agree with the case made by the prosecutor, his client consented to extradition.
Shepherd, 31, was found guilty of the manslaughter by gross negligence of Ms Brown who was killed after he took her on a date on his speedboat.
He disappeared before his trial started in July last year and was sentenced to six years in jail in his absence at the Old Bailey having skipped bail and fled the UK to Georgia.
Shepherd was sentenced to six years in jail but remained at liberty.
Jack Shepherd was found guilty in his absence of manslaughter by gross negligence of Charlotte Brown, 24, and was sentenced to six years in prison in Britain. / EPA
He handed himself into Georgian police in January and has been in jail there ahead of his extradition hearing.
He told the Tbilisi court that he made the "difficult decision" to not contest extradition "because I wish to participate in the appeal process, to fight for my freedom and to be reunited with those I love, my family, my son".
However, Graham Brown said the reality was Shepherd had a weak case and "no choice" but to return, as the father celebrated the extradition ruling.
Tragic death: Charlotte Brown was killed in the crash / PA
"It brings it a bit closer that we are going to get justice for Charlotte. We are pleased it appears to be coming to an end," Mr Brown told ITV News.
"We're hoping that he won't follow through with his appeal, which causes the family more anguish, but I guess that could be a forlorn hope."
Ms Kakabadze estimated Shepherd could return to the UK within two weeks.
Shepherd, originally from Exeter, is also wanted in the UK over an assault that took place in a bar.
Jack Shepherd attends a court hearing in Tbilisi. / EPA
The incident is alleged to have occurred shortly before Shepherd fled to Tbilisi in Moretonhampstead, Devon, on March 16 last year.
He is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The family of Ms Brown, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, have fought a battle for justice following her death in December 2015.
E aster Sunday is now so close we can almost taste the mountains of chocolate eggs we're going to indulge in.
And not only do we have a long, four-day Easter weekend to look forward to but the weather is set to be scorching too.
Students across the UK will have already settled into their two week break off school, while many workers will be counting down the hours until the start of the long weekend.
So to help you plan for the end of the Easter holiday, heres everything you need to know about this years term and Easter dates:
When is Easter 2019?
Spring has sprung: This year, Easter weekend runs through 21-24 April. / Couleur/Pixabay
This year, Easter Sunday falls on 21 April.
That means we celebrate Good Friday on 19 April and bag ourselves a day off on Easter Monday, which falls on 22 April.
Is there post over the Easter weekend?
The Royal Mail doesn't usually deliver or collect on Bank Holidays which means there will be no post, either collections or deliveries, on Good Friday or Easter Monday.
Most post offices will be open on Easter Saturday, however. Be prepared for your post to take a little longer than usual to send or receive over the bank holiday weekend.
What are Easter Sunday opening hours for shops?
Most of the major supermarkets will be closed on Easter Sunday.
Some Tesco and Marks & Spencer stores will be open on reduced hours.
Make sure you check all the shops opening times with our handy guide.
What are the school term dates for this year?
Term dates will differ depending on the council, but all schools will generally follow similar term patterns.
For most London boroughs, the term dates for 2019 are:
Spring term:
Monday 7 January - Friday 15 February
Half term: Monday 18 February - Friday 22 February
Monday 25 February - Friday 5 April
Easter holidays:
Monday 8 April - Monday 22 April
Summer term:
Tuesday 23 April - Friday 24 May
Half term: Monday 27 May to Friday 31 May
Monday 3 June to Tuesday 23 July
Things to do in London this Easter 1 /14 Things to do in London this Easter Take a ride in Wonka's world The View of Pure Imagination, London Eye, SE1, March 25 April 9, londoneye.com
The London Eye is having a scrumdiddlyumptious makeover, as its pods are transformed into an immersive family experience based on the West End telling of Roald Dahls beloved Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Take a ride with Willy Wonkas assistant, Professor Pop, as the popular show is hoisted 135m into the air, complete with storytellers, actors and workshops.
(Golden) Tickets 29.65 for adults, 26.05 for children A search in the skies Wheres Wally at the Shard, SE1, March 19 April 10, the-shard.com
Traveller extraordinaire Wally has returned to London once again and is hiding among the capitals most iconic buildings. In fact, the stripy fellow and his pals Wenda, Woof, Wizard Whitebeard and Odlaw are so well concealed, would-be detectives will have to go as high as they can to find them. Head to the floor 72 of the Shard, via its space-age lifts, to scan the skyline for them.
A Family ticket is 74.95 Beautiful ballet My First Ballet, Sleeping Beauty, Peacock Theatre, WC2, peacocktheatre.com
Ballet is a beautiful thing, not always high-tech but thoroughly highly skilled, and all the more absorbing for it. This retelling of a familiar tale has been shortened for young audiences, and theres a narrator on hand to ensure nobody gets lost. It may be for young ones, but Tchaikovsky's score is captivating no matter your age.
Tickets from 10 Savour a childrens classic Railway Children, Across London, March 28, railwaychildrenfilm.com
For one day only, the spectacular Olivier award-winning theatre production of E. Nesbits iconic childrens story The Railway Children will be screened in all major cinemas nationwide. The show even has its own lifesize locomotive puffing onto the stage. Steaming marvellous.
Ticket prices vary Dance the weekend away Sadlers Wells Family Dance Weekend, EC1R, March 25 26, sadlerswells.com
Sadlers Wells annual two-day festival of family-friendly happenings returns with acclaimed contemporary dance company Ballet-Lorent performing Snow White, a production theyve put together with poet laureate Dame Carol Ann Duffy, and featuring Olivier-award winning actress Lindsay Duncan as the narrator. Alternatively, MOKO Dance are hosting dance workshop Digitopia for 5 8 year olds (and their grown-ups), which is all bright colours and fun.
Tickets 18 Shakespeare on the roof Shakespeare Up at The O2, SE10, March 26, theo2.co.uk
Celebrate 400 years of the Bard and have an adventure doing it: climb the roof of the O2 arena you can see for around 15 miles where theatre group Grassroots Shakespeare will be performing snippets from Shakespeares most famous works, including Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet. Culture never had a view so good.
Tickets from 35 RD Photography Dahls darkest creations return The Witches, Rose King Theatre, KT1, Mar 29 - Sun Apr 10, rosetheatrekingston.org
The darkest of Dahls imagination crawled onto the page when he wrote The Witches, and this stage adaption promises the same deliciously grizzly experience. It stays faithful to the story of how one boy and his grandmother work together to destroy children-hating Witches. It is frightening, heartwarming, joyous, playful and has a wonderful score which twists the tension up and up and up. No risk of anyone being bored.
Tickets from 8 Cats at the circus Zippos Circus 2016, Blackheath, SE3, March 25 April 5, zippos.co.uk
Zippos are celebrating 30 years on the road with all the usual high-flying antics and an array of cats. Not just any cats, either: these are talented, agile moggies acrocats, as it were. Zippos offer old-fashioned fun, but it remains as impressive as ever, and the Wheel of Death has rarely been more terrifying. Just dont let anyone try the knife-throwing routine at home.
Tickets 9 for adults, 7.50 for children Feast with friends, take the family Hawker House, SE16, every Fri/Sat from 5pm, streetfeastlondon.com
Hawker House has long been an evening favourite for Londons foodies, but this year is proving more welcoming for families than ever. Its not that theyve changed the formula its still a haven of top street food but hungry grown-ups are bringing the family and everyones happy. Such variety of food means even the fussiest of eaters will find something to demolish, but really, its a perfect excuse for adults to finally have that long overdue catch-up with friends and take the little ones.
Prices vary Youve goat to see this The Oxford and Cambridge Goat Race, Spitalfields City Farm, E1, March 27, ticketsource.co.uk
If you find the boat race a little too straight-faced, head to this alternative, which sees two goats purporting to represent the famous universities trot it out across Spitalfields farm. It is, from start to finish, a laugh, for both spectators and organisers. Well, whatever floats your goat
Tickets 13 Go hunting Across London, standard.co.uk
It's a little known fact, but Easter doesn't actually celebrate the invention of chocolate eggs. Still, due to large-scale public ignorance, Easter egg hunts remain as popular as ever. Thank goodness: food tastes all the better if you've had to crawl about for it. For little ones and big kids alike, there's some serious detecting to be done across the capital read our guide for more.
Prices vary
Autumn term:
Monday 2 September - Friday 18 October
Half term: Monday 21 October - Friday 25 October
Monday 28 October - Thursday 19 December
Christmas break: Friday 20 December 2019 - Friday 3 January 2020
You can find out more about your school's term dates here.
Why is Easter so late this year?
Instead of being marked on a specific date each year, Easter is celebrated on the Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or the day after the spring equinox.
This year, the spring equinox falls on Weds 20 March, so Easter is on Sunday 21 April.
A secret tunnel more than 70ft below the streets of London will provide high-security power to the American Embassy.
When complete this summer, cables threaded through the 42 million project will also electrify Battersea Power Station and tens of thousands of homes in the 560-acre Nine Elms development.
Extra supply is needed as Londons future power needs rocket with the advent of electric cars, said UK Power Networks, the infrastructure giant behind the works.
The exact location of the 8.5km (5.3-mile) tunnel near the river must remain under wraps for security reasons. Its depth ranges from 72ft (22m) to 98ft (30m) depending on the location of old gas pipes, rail tracks and sewers criss-crossing around it.
The two-year project included digging a 108ft (330m) spur, known as the Battersea Cable Tunnel, that breaks into the existing main bore. The spur was drilled out using a tunnel-boring machine, which heaved concrete reinforcement panels into the clay as it went.
A junction chamber linking the spur to the main tunnel was dug by hand using techniques from the time of Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, but with modern pneumatic shovels.
Much of the digging was done while 132,000-volt cables were live in the existing main tunnel, which are about 500 times more dangerous than a domestic plug.
Rosie Bridger, project manager for UK Power Networks, said: As London grows, demand continues to increase, and working in central London space is tight.
T heresa May's Brexit plan has been thrown into disarray after MPs dramatically voted to wrest control of the process from the hands of ministers.
Three pro-EU ministers also announced they were quitting the Government over Monday nights vote. They joined a 30-strong Tory rebellion who supported the amendment.
The Commons amendment, which was passed by 329 to 302 a majority of 27 enables MPs to take control of Commons business to stage a series of "indicative votes" on alternatives to the Prime Minister's deal.
Business minister Richard Harrington, who resigned along with Middle East minister Alistair Burt and health minister Steve Brine, said the Government was "playing roulette" with peoples' lives and livelihoods in its handling of Brexit.
Under pressure: Theresa May leaves the Commons on Monday night / EPA
The result means MPs can potentially dictate business of the Commons - normally controlled by the Government - for days to come, potentially paving the way for a "softer" deal that keeps Britain closer to the EU.
Ministers will consider their response at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street on Tuesday.
The Government warned the vote had set a "dangerous, unpredictable precedent" and said it was essential that any options put forward by MPs were actually "deliverable".
"This amendment instead upends the balance between our democratic institutions and sets a dangerous, unpredictable precedent for the future, a spokesman for the Department for Exiting the EU said.
MPs take control of Brexit: A breakdown of the vote
"While it is now up to Parliament to set out next steps in respect of this amendment, the Government will continue to call for realism - any options considered must be deliverable in negotiations with the EU."
Earlier in a statement to MPs, the Prime Minister warned she would not feel bound by the results of any indicative votes - which could include a softer, Norway-style deal, a second referendum or revoking the Article 50 withdrawal process altogether.
"No Government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is," she said.
"So I cannot commit the Government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this House. But I do commit to engaging constructively with this process."
MPs clearing the floor to vote on the Letwin amendment on Monday / EPA
However one of the leading Tory rebels, former minister Nick Boles, warned that MPs could take pass legislation forcing the Government to act if she tired to ignore their wishes.
"We will be relying on the Government to reflect Parliament's wishes," he told the BBC.
"If, ultimately, the Government refuses to listen to what Parliament has voted for then we will look to bring forward a Bill, pass an Act of Parliament that will require the Government to reflect Parliament's wishes in its new negotiating mandate."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also warned the Government must "take this process seriously".
"The Government's approach has been an abject failure and this House must now find a solution," he said.
Mrs May delivers a statement in Parliament on Monday / REUTERS
"I know there are many members of this House who have been working for alternative solutions, and we must debate those to find a consensus."
The successful amendment was tabled by Tory former minister Sir Oliver Letwin with cross-party backing, including from ex-attorney general Dominic Grieve and Labour's Hilary Benn.
It means MPs will take control of the Commons order paper from 2pm on Wednesday, with Sir Oliver suggesting voting could carry on over several days to establish if there was a proposal the House could coalesce around.
He said the amendment provided for the Commons "to begin the process of working its way towards identifying a a way forward that can command a majority in this House".
Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the Commons / EPA
He said he believed the first vote should enable MPs to disclose "where the votes lie" on a "plain vanilla basis" - with all votes cast on a paper slip at the end of the debate.
The House, he said, should then seek to establish a method of voting that would enable it to "zero in" on compromise which could command a majority over the course of the coming days.
The vote came after the Prime Minister acknowledged that she still did not have sufficient support to bring back her deal to the Commons for a third "meaningful vote"
She said she would continue her efforts to build support for the deal - defeated by 230 votes in January and 149 votes in March - and stage a vote before the end of the week.
The European Council last week set a deadline of Friday for her to secure parliamentary approval for her Withdrawal Agreement if the UK is to leave the EU with a deal on May 22.
If she cannot get it through the Commons, then the UK has until April 12 to propose a different approach or crash out of the EU without a deal.
T heresa May was hurtling towards a clash with Parliament today as ministers said she could simply ignore the landmark Commons votes on a new Brexit plan.
Hours after the Prime Minister was humiliated when MPs voted to seize control of Brexit last night, senior Cabinet ministers said the Government would not commit to honouring the outcome.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom, a leading Brexiteer, declared that the Government would not adopt a plan it deemed undeliverable. But Mrs Mays stance met a chorus of opposition.
Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine said she was playing with fire, while a former clerk to the Commons, Lord Lisvane, said she would be seen as somewhat subversive if she ignored the Commons.
The Prime Minister faced a row with her Cabinet today as ministers demanded the right to free votes in historic indicative votes in the Commons, starting tomorrow night.
Under pressure on Brexit: Theresa May / AFP/Getty Images
Downing Street was unable to say this morning whether or not Mrs May would try to impose a whip on Government members.
The battlelines were being drawn up today for when backbench MPs will take control of the Commons timetable from 2pm tomorrow to debate different options for ending the Brexit impasse. Sir Oliver Letwin, the architect of the takeover, told the Evening Standard that politicians owe it to the country to work together.
The really hard bit comes next, he said. Theres little chance that the House of Commons will produce a majority for an alternative way forward in just one vote.
But we have to use this process tomorrow and on Monday to try to work towards a consensus that can carry a majority. That wont be an easy task. But we owe if to the country to try. MPs voted by 329 to 302 late last night to swing the plan into action, allowing proper debates on alternatives such as revoking Article 50 and a Norway-style arrangement to trade freely with the EU as a non-member.
London People's Vote march: In Pictures 1 /50 London People's Vote march: In Pictures EPA An EU supporter with her face painted REUTERS PA AFP/Getty Images REUTERS EPA A demonstrator carries a dog on his shoulders AP An EU supporter carries a child on his shoulders, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal REUTERS PA REUTERS EU supporters dressed in costumes REUTERS EPA Sir Vince Cable in attendance PA A demonstrator holds a holds a poster AP EPA An EU supporter with the EU flag painted on her face, REUTERS Getty Images A demonstrator leads a dog wearing a suit in the EU colors during a Peoples Vote AP An EU supporter takes a selfie with a sticker on his nose REUTERS Demonstrators pull a cart with a doll AP Katie Walton Placards stand against a wall Getty Images Anti-Brexit campaigners before they take part in the People's Vote March PA Katie Walton Getty Images Getty Images A demonstrator and her dog wait for the start of a Peoples Vote anti-Brexit march in London AP REUTERS Demonstrators on their way from London Victoria Jacob Jarvis Independent Group MPs Chuka Umunna and Anna Soubry have a selfie taken with Tracey Ullman PA REUTERS The march took place in central London REUTERS An anti-Brexit banner is unfurled from Westminster PA A demonstrator holds a dog on a leash as people start gathering for a Peoples Vote anti-Brexit march in London AP Anti-Brexit campaigners in Park Lane PA Demonstrators carry posters during a Peoples Vote AP nti-Brexit badges are seen Getty Images Getty Images
Former Tory minister Nick Boles was ecstatic: I woke up today happier than I have done for months but with a churning stomach as I contemplated the mountain that we have to climb together, he said.
Three respected ministers resigned last night so they could vote for the cross-party initiative against Mrs Mays wishes. Each MP today urged her to work with Parliament.
Alistair Burt, who quit as a Foreign Office minister, said the Government should not try to whip the votes.
Parliament should seek urgently to resolve the situation by considering alternatives freely, without the instruction of party whips, and Government should adopt any feasible outcome as its own in order to progress matters, he said.
Lord Heseltine told the BBC Mrs May might not survive a clash with Parliament. She is playing with fire when she says that she is not going to take any notice of what the House of Commons says, he claimed.
He added: Her premiership has been hanging by the flimsiest thread now for some weeks.
Lord Lisvane, a crossbencher and expert on the constitution, told Today: I found that very surprising that the Prime Minister says that she is not prepared to do what the House of Commons asks her to do and I think that is somewhat subversive of the relationship between the executive and Parliament.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said ministers had to hold back agreement in case MPs opted for a plan that was impossible to deliver.
Clearly, its incumbent on the Government to listen to what the Commons says, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. But we cant pre-commit to following whatever they vote for, because they might vote for something that is completely impractical.
The storm overshadowed one piece of good news for Mrs May the strongest hint yet from leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg that he may swing behind her twice-rejected deal now that no-deal has been ruled out by MPs.
He told the Conservative Home website: Whether we are there yet is another matter, but I have always thought that no deal is better than Mrs Mays deal, but Mrs Mays deal is better than not leaving at all.
Other Brexiteers refused to budge. Sir Bill Cash hit out at the Letwin plan as a constitutional revolution ... that the House will come to regret.
Steve Brine, who resigned as health minister last night, said the Government had never reached across the aisle enough to make a cross-party deal. Many around the Cabinet table will argue for a free vote so Parliament can truly show what it would support, a Cabinet source said.
Richard Harrington, who resigned as a business minister, said he quit because the Government was playing roulette with peoples lives.
Labour MP Hilary Benn, chairman of the Brexit Select Committee, told Today: If the Government isnt going to do its job then Parliament is going to have to take responsibility. The Government claimed the move had set a dangerous, unpredictable precedent for the constitution.
Before the vote, the Prime Minister said she refused to feel bound to accept the results. No Government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is, she said. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Government must take this process seriously.
Senior MEP Guy Verhofstadt welcomed the plan. Parliament takes control, he tweeted. An opportunity to build a cross-party co-operation leading to an enhanced political declaration & a closer future relationship!
T heresa May today came under pressure from the shop stewards of Tory backbenchers to set a date for her departure.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, was seen entering 10 Downing Street early this afternoon amid rumours the Prime Minister will announce tomorrow when she plans to step down.
MPs were expecting Sir Graham, who represents backbench Conservatives, to tell Mrs May that such a message would be welcomed by colleagues. It emerged earlier that Mrs May will make a speech tomorrow at the 1922 Committee. Many MPs believe she will make a final plea for her twice-rejected withdrawal deal and that she intends to gamble everything on a third meaningful vote on Thursday.
Announcing her departure date is being demanded by some MPs as their price for backing her, on the grounds they could choose a new leader to run the next phase of negotiations with the European Union.
MPs are expecting Sir Graham Brady to tell Mrs May that a message indicidating the timetable for her departure would be welcomed by colleagues / PA
Former minister Tim Loughton told BBC2s Politics Live: Its become inevitable. For somebody who has got a huge sense of public service its a great tragedy that it will end, I fear, in the way its going to end.
He added: Im afraid ... that her position has become untenable. The leadership is not there.
A Cabinet source told the Evening Standard that Tory whips were getting ready for a possible confidence vote in the Government if the third vote was badly defeated.
Mrs Mays chief of staff Gavin Barwell is said to have told a Whitehall meeting recently that she wants to stay for another six months before handing over the reins. That would lead to a long Tory leadership battle, giving more chance to dark horses to come from the back of the field.
Earlier Mrs May was hurtling towards a clash with Parliament as ministers said she could simply ignore the landmark Commons votes on a new Brexit plan.
MPs voted by 329 to 302 late last night to swing the plan into action, allowing proper debates on alternatives such as revoking Article 50 and a Norway-style arrangement to trade freely with the EU as a non-member.
There are rumours the Prime Minister will announce tomorrow when she plans to step down / AUK Parliament
Senior Cabinet ministers said the Government would not commit to honouring the outcome.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom, a leading Brexiteer, declared that the Government would not adopt a plan it deemed undeliverable.
Mrs Mays stance met a chorus of opposition. Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine said she was playing with fire, while a former clerk to the Commons Lord Lisvane said she would be seen as somewhat subversive if she ignored the Commons.
The Cabinet this morning postponed a decision on how to whip tomorrows indicative votes on Brexit Plan Bs until it sees the list of the options that will be put to the vote.
Sir Oliver Letwin said politicians owe it to the country to work together / EPA
The decision suggests that ministers have won a battle to secure the right, in principle, to vote with their consciences in some cases.
Sir Oliver Letwin, the architect of the takeover, told the Standard that politicians owe it to the country to work together.
The really hard bit comes next, he said. Theres little chance that the House of Commons will produce a majority for an alternative way forward in just one vote.
But we have to use this process tomorrow and on Monday to try to work towards a consensus that can carry a majority. That wont be an easy task. But we owe if to the country to try.
Former Tory minister Nick Boles, who was also behind the amendment, was ecstatic. I woke up today happier than I have done for months but with a churning stomach as I contemplated the mountain that we have to climb together, he said.
Three respected ministers resigned last night so they could vote for the cross-party initiative against Mrs Mays wishes. Each MP today urged her to work with Parliament.
Alistair Burt, who quit as a Foreign Office minister, said the Government should not try to whip the votes.
Parliament should seek urgently to resolve the situation by considering alternatives freely, without the instruction of party whips, and government should adopt any feasible outcome as its own in order to progress matters, he said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said ministers had to hold back agreement in case MPs opted for a plan that was impossible to deliver.
Clearly, its incumbent on the Government to listen to what the Commons says, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. But we cant pre-commit to following whatever they vote for, because they might vote for something that is completely impractical.
Steve Brine, who resigned as health minister last night, said the Government had never reached across the aisle enough to make a cross-party deal. Many around the Cabinet table will argue for a free vote so Parliament can truly show what it would support, a Cabinet source said.
Richard Harrington, who resigned as a business minister, said he quit because the Government was playing roulette with peoples lives.
Labour MP Hilary Benn, chairman of the Brexit Select Committee, told Today: If the Government isnt going to do its job then Parliament is going to have to take responsibility. The Government claimed the move had set a dangerous, unpredictable precedent for the constitution.
Before last nights vote, the Prime Minister said she refused to feel bound to accept the results. No government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is, she said. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Government must take this process seriously.
Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner has warned that Labour could have difficulty supporting a plan for a confirmatory referendum on any Brexit deal.
"It would be saying we could accept what we have always said is a very bad deal. Therefore it looks as if the attempt to have a public vote on it is simply a way of trying to remain because nobody likes this deal," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
"To put that up as the only alternative in a public vote and say we will let it go through looks as though you believe that at the end of it Remain would be the result.
"It is not where our policy has been. Our policy is clearly that we would support a public vote to stop no-deal or to stop a bad deal, but not that we would allow a bad deal as long as the public had the opportunity to reject Brexit altogether.
M Ps will tonight be asked to consider a range of eight alternative Brexit options after Parliament seized control of the Commons agenda to force a series of "indicative votes".
Voting will take place in the Commons from 7pm on a series of options to see if anything commands a majority in Parliament.
On Monday evening, MPs backed an amendment for the votes put forward by Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin and a cross-party group to try to find a way through the Brexit impasse after Theresa May's deal failed to secure a majority in the Commons twice.
Speaker John Bercow has now selected eight of the 16 proposals put forward, which are currently being debated in the Commons.
Speaker John Bercow selected eight options for the 'indicative votes' / EPA
The House will be suspended for voting to take place from 7pm to 7.30pm and MPs will be able to vote for and against as many options as they like. However, Mr Bercow said MPs cannot vote aye and no to the same motion.
The results of the votes are expected shortly after 9pm and will be available on the House of Commons app.
A second round of voting could take place next Monday to find a single preference once the options are narrowed down.
Here are the different options that MPs will vote on today:
Common Market 2.0
Tabled by Conservatives Nick Boles, Robert Halfon and Andrew Percy and Labour's Stephen Kinnock, Lucy Powell and Diana Johnson, the motion proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area.
It allows continued participation in the single market and a "comprehensive customs arrangement" with the EU after Brexit, which would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland.
No deal
Backed by Conservative MPs John Baron, David Amess, Martin Vickers and Stephen Metcalfe, the motion proposes leaving the European Union without a deal on April 12.
EEA/EFTA without customs union
A motion tabled by Conservative MP George Eustice - who quit as agriculture minister this month to fight for Brexit - proposes remaining within the EEA and rejoining EFTA, but remaining outside a customs union with the EU.
The motion was also signed by Conservative MPs including former minister Nicky Morgan and head of the Brexit Delivery Group Simon Hart.
Customs union
The motion requires a commitment to negotiate a "permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU" in any Brexit deal.
It was tabled by veteran Conservative Europhile Ken Clarke, backed by Labour's Yvette Cooper, Helen Goodman and chair of the Commons Exiting the EU Committee Hilary Benn and Tory former ministers Sir Oliver Letwin and Sarah Newton.
Labour's plan
Labour has tabled a motion again proposing its plan for a close economic relationship with the EU.
The plan includes a comprehensive customs union with a UK say on future trade deals; close alignment with the single market; matching new EU rights and protections; participation in EU agencies and funding programmes; and agreement on future security arrangements, including access to the European Arrest Warrant.
Revoke Article 50
Under this plan, if the Government has not passed its Withdrawal Agreement, it would have to stage a vote on a no-deal Brexit two sitting days before the scheduled date of departure.
If MPs refuse to authorise no-deal, the Prime Minister would be required to halt Brexit by revoking Article 50.
The motion, tabled by the SNP's Joanna Cherry, has been signed by 38 MPs including Conservative former attorney general Dominic Grieve, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, Labour's Ben Bradshaw and all 11 members of The Independent Group.
Confirmatory public vote
This motion would require a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by Parliament before its ratification.
It was drawn up by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson and tabled by former foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett with the backing of scores of MPs across the House.
Contingent preferential arrangements
A group of Conservative MPs, including Marcus Fysh, Steve Baker and Priti Patel, have signed this motion.
P rotecting the United Kingdom is the big issue for the Democratic Unionist Party rather than backing a toxic deal to get Brexit over the line, senior MPs said today.
They warned that they would not agree to Theresa Mays Brexit plans unless the threat from the Northern Ireland border backstop to the UKs integrity was neutered.
Jim Shannon, DUP MP for Strangford, accused the Prime Minister of having failed to deliver on his partys red line for changes to the backstop to ensure Northern Ireland would not be splintered off from the rest of the UK.
Some members of the Tory hardline Eurosceptic European Research Group, including its chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg, are now signalling that they may back Mrs Mays divorce deal from the EU in a third vote rather than risk a long delay to Britain leaving, or possibly no Brexit. Mr Shannon told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: They have not all changed their opinion but they maybe see Brexit as the greater issue rather than the union. We see the union as the big issue, as a priority.
While the DUP has been seeking to reach an agreement with the Government so that it could support the Withdrawal Agreement, relations have grown more tense in recent days.
We had only one red line and that one red line was clear, the backstop, and that has not changed, added Mr Shannon, stressing the need for legally-binding changes such as a time limit. The issue for us was always very simple, the union is the most important thing for us. DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson was more blunt, telling Sky News All Out Politics: Why would we vote for something which we believe is so toxic? Why would we vote for an agreement which cuts Northern Ireland off from the rest of the United Kingdom?
Mrs May spoke to DUP leader Arlene Foster yesterday but failed to break the deadlock. The DUP now expects the Government to rumble on with the Withdrawal Agreement towards April 12, the day which the UK would now quit the EU if there is no deal agreed or longer extension, in the hope that more MPs can be pressurised into supporting it.
A fresh call was made today to legalise cannabis sales in the UK to try to disrupt criminal gangs.
Crispin Blunt, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform, is urging the Government to control sales as he claims that 50 years of prohibition has failed lamentably.
The Tory MPs warning comes as NHS figures show a significant rise in under-19s admitted to hospital because of severe disorders caused by the drug.
The data published yesterday revealed that more than 3,400 under-19s were admitted to hospital last year for mental and behavioural illnesses sparked by cannabis. This is an increase of 38 per cent since 2013-2014.
Mr Blunt said: Only through licensing and regulating can we ensure controls are in place on the potency of cannabis products sold and age checks on purchasers Half a century of just say no prohibition has failed lamentably.
T he Government has rejected a petition calling for Brexit to be stopped, which has gathered more than 5.75 million signatures.
The petition is due to be debated by MPs on April 1, after smashing the 100,000 threshold for consideration and becoming the best-supported proposal in the history of the House of Commons and Government's e-petitions website.
Rejecting the oft-repeated claim that EU withdrawal is the "will of the people", it calls for the revocation of the Article 50 letter informing the European Council of the UK's intention to leave.
But in its official response to the petition, the Department for Exiting the EU said: "It remains the Government's firm policy not to revoke Article 50. We will honour the outcome of the 2016 referendum and work to deliver an exit which benefits everyone, whether they voted to Leave or to Remain."
People attend the 'Put it to the People' march in London / EPA
Their statement said: "Revoking Article 50, and thereby remaining in the European Union, would undermine both our democracy and the trust that millions of voters have placed in Government.
"The Government acknowledges the considerable number of people who have signed this petition. However, close to three-quarters of the electorate took part in the 2016 referendum, trusting that the result would be respected.
"Revoking Article 50 would break the promises made by Government to the British people, disrespect the clear instruction from a democratic vote, and in turn, reduce confidence in our democracy."
Protesters take part in the Put it to the People March on Saturday afternoon / Getty Images
The Commons Petitions Committee earlier announced that the petition - which passed 5.8 million signatures on Tuesday evening - would be debated in Westminster Hall on April 1.
Backed by dozens of high profile celebrities, the petition gained support in the wake of Theresa May's speech on Wednesday night, even crashing the Parliament website several times.
On Monday, MPs will also debate petitions calling for a second EU referendum, which has received more than 120,000 signatures, and another - signed by more than 140,000 - demanding that the UK leave with or without a deal on March 29.
The news comes after an estimated one million people took to the streets of London for the Put it to the People march on Saturday, calling for a peoples vote on Brexit.
London People's Vote march: In Pictures 1 /50 London People's Vote march: In Pictures EPA An EU supporter with her face painted REUTERS PA AFP/Getty Images REUTERS EPA A demonstrator carries a dog on his shoulders AP An EU supporter carries a child on his shoulders, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal REUTERS PA REUTERS EU supporters dressed in costumes REUTERS EPA Sir Vince Cable in attendance PA A demonstrator holds a holds a poster AP EPA An EU supporter with the EU flag painted on her face, REUTERS Getty Images A demonstrator leads a dog wearing a suit in the EU colors during a Peoples Vote AP An EU supporter takes a selfie with a sticker on his nose REUTERS Demonstrators pull a cart with a doll AP Katie Walton Placards stand against a wall Getty Images Anti-Brexit campaigners before they take part in the People's Vote March PA Katie Walton Getty Images Getty Images A demonstrator and her dog wait for the start of a Peoples Vote anti-Brexit march in London AP REUTERS Demonstrators on their way from London Victoria Jacob Jarvis Independent Group MPs Chuka Umunna and Anna Soubry have a selfie taken with Tracey Ullman PA REUTERS The march took place in central London REUTERS An anti-Brexit banner is unfurled from Westminster PA A demonstrator holds a dog on a leash as people start gathering for a Peoples Vote anti-Brexit march in London AP Anti-Brexit campaigners in Park Lane PA Demonstrators carry posters during a Peoples Vote AP nti-Brexit badges are seen Getty Images Getty Images
The woman who started the petition also revealed over the weekend that she has received three death threats over the phone and torrents of abuse on social media.
Margaret Georgiadou, 77, started the anti-Brexit petition in February, but has now been left scared after being threatened.
The retired lecturer said: In the past 10 hours have had three death threats over the phone, my FB account has been hacked and had a torrent of abuse on Facebook. Am closing my FB account.
Who wants Brexit so much that they are prepared to kill for it?
Since the petition was launched, celebrities and MPs have tweeted their support for Parliament to revoke the Treaty of Lisbon clause that deals with leaving the EU.
Famous figures including actors Hugh Grant and Jennifer Saunders, TV presenter and author Caitlin Moran, physicist Brian Cox and former Labour press chief Alastair Campbell all urged their followers on social media to sign the petition.
Alongside the link, Grant wrote: "I've signed. And it looks like every sane person in the country is signing too. National emergency."
However, Mrs May last week ruled out halting the Brexit process, saying: I do not believe that we should be revoking Article 50.
Theresa May in the Commons (AFP) / AFP PHOTO /JESSICA TAYLOR / UK Parliament
She told reporters in Brussels on Thursday: If you look back to what happened in the referendum, we saw the biggest democratic exercise in our history.
And there was a clear result that we should leave the European Union. We said heres the vote, what is your decision, and we will deliver on it. And I believe its our duty as a Government and as a Parliament to deliver on that vote.
When asked for Mrs May's view on the petition, a No 10 spokeswoman said the Prime Minister worried failing to deliver Brexit would cause "potentially irreparable damage to public trust".
She said: "The Prime Minister has long been clear that failing to deliver on the referendum result would be a failure of our democracy and something she couldn't countenance.
C ontroversial Speaker John Bercow caused uproar in the House of Commons when he clashed with a former Tory whip on another night of Brexit drama.
Mr Bercow was met with loud jeers when he responded to a heckle from Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands by saying he wasnt a very good whip amid high tensions in Parliament.
MPs demanded an apology from Mr Bercow over the insult as he was accused of showing a lack of respect.
Mr Bercow had told Mr Hands: I dont require any help from the right honourable gentleman, the member for Chelsea and Fulham, who wouldnt have the foggiest idea where to start.
John Bercow caused uproar in the House of Commons with his comment about Tory MP Greg Hands / EPA
He was once a whip, he wasnt a very good whip, it would be better if he kept quiet.
Mr Hands was deputy chief whip under David Cameron between 2013 and 2015.
As the Speaker was met with a loud clamour, he defended his comments, saying they were "were not outrageous at all" and adding "members could shout as much as they like" but it "wouldn't make any difference.
Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea and Fulham / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament
However former Tory chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin made a point of order accusing him of a lack of respect.
Mr Bercow responded: 'What I would say is if I have caused offence I will very happily apologise.'
It came after Theresa May's Brexit strategy was left in tatters after MPs dramatically voted to take control of the process from the hands of ministers.
Three pro-EU ministers quit the Government to back a Commons amendment enabling MPs to take control of Commons business by staging a series of "indicative votes" on alternatives to the Prime Minister's deal.
A man with Downs syndrome died after going without food for 10 days while he was being treated in hospital following a fall, an inquest has heard.
The family of Giuseppe Ulleri raised concerns about the supposed lack of nutrition he was given at Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he died of pneumonia after struggling to ingest food through a tube, jurors heard.
His family believe that he went 10 days without being fed during his stay at the hospital.
Outlining the events leading up to the death, coroner Angharad Davies explained how the 61-year-old's condition meant that he had difficulty communicating and was not able to take care of himself, meaning he was the subject of a deprivation of liberty safeguarding order.
Giuseppe Ulleri (seated), 61, with his brother Giovanni Ulleri. / PA
Jurors heard how, on the morning of February 26, 2016, he was found lying on the floor of his bedroom in Withington, Manchester, by staff working for L'Arche, a company who looked after Mr Ulleri and supplied his living accommodation.
Although initial scans taken at Manchester Royal Infirmary that day did not show any significant injuries, he was readmitted the next day after volunteers at L'Arche grew concerned about difficulties he appeared to have in walking and swallowing.
The inquest at Manchester Coroner's Court heard how an X-ray and CT scan revealed fractures to the vertebrae in his neck, right hip and right wrist.
The coroner explained that he then had a nasogastric tube, a plastic tube running through the nose and into the stomach, inserted on March 9 2016.
Giuseppe Ulleri was being treated in hospital following a severe fall. / PA
But the coroner explained how the tube only stayed in place for a day, as the patient struggled to use it and felt uncomfortable with it in place.
Ms Davies explained: "Joe had long periods of time when he had no nutritional support when he stayed in hospital, and for a long period the only nutrition he had was that 24 hours when the tube was in place."
Giving evidence, Mr Ulleri's brother Peter said he had phoned into a best interests meeting at the hospital on March 16 2016, where it was agreed Mr Ulleri would have a tube is inserted into his stomach through the abdominal wall on March 18.
The witness said he believed his brother's condition was deteriorating due to lack of sufficient nutrition, and said he told staff: "Why the delay? He could die from this."
Giuseppe Ulleri with his father Pietro Ulleri. / PA
He explained how the delay in giving Mr Ulleri nutrition meant he was too weak to recover from the procedure, and he died on March 20 having suffered from aspiration pneumonia, which occurs when food, stomach acid or saliva is inhaled into the lungs.
Another witness, Sister Christine O'Grady, worked for L'Arche at the time and said she had "grave concern" regarding the perceived lack of pain relief or nutrition Mr Ulleri was given in hospital.
She said that before he had the nagrostic tube inserted on March 4 he had started coughing when staff at the Manchester Royal Infirmary attempted to feed him, meaning he had not been properly fed for a considerable amount of time.
Sister O'Grady said to jurors she told a member of staff at the hospital: "If you don't do anything about it, then I will be seeing you in court."
Naomi Tomlinson, who was also working for L'Arche at the time of Mr Ulleri's death, said there seemed to be a lack of "joined-up thinking" at the hospital.
Discussing the communication she had with staff the day before his death, she said: "Within 24 hours, there was a very quick escalation from 'Joe is not going to die' to 'Joe is dying'."
Giving evidence on Monday, another of Mr Ulleri's brothers, Giovanni, explained how he had been "an integral part of the family".
Telling jurors how his brother had been born in Bolton but lived in the south of Manchester for much of his life, he said: "Rather than hide Joe away, mum and dad took him everywhere and were so very proud of him.
"When people stared at him, Joe would throw them one of his smiles and you could not help but smile back at him.
"We're all deeply in shock that we will never again see his cheeky innocent smile, or feel the tender embrace from one of his hugs."
A British snowboarder has died after crashing into a tree at a ski resort in Andorra.
The 59-year-old man suffered a cardiac arrest in the smash, according to a statement from the Grandvalira ski resort.
He was said to have been alone at the time of the incident on Monday.
The resort said emergency rescue teams rushed to help him.
"They transferred him to the bottom of the slope," the resort's statement said.
"Despite all efforts to revive him, he died minutes later."
The incident happened on the Avet slope, a black run recommended for experienced skiers.
D onald Trump has hinted at payback for his evil political enemies after he was absolved of colluding with Russia.
The US leader was cleared by Special Council Robert Mueller of conspiring with Moscow in the 2016 presidential election.
Mr Trump has since hit out saying no other president should be investigated over a false narrative.
Speaking at the Oval Office on Monday, he launched an attack on unnamed political enemies.
"There are a lot of people out there that have done some very, very evil things, very bad things, I would say treasonous things against our country," Mr Trump said.
The Republican president and his allies in Congress went on the offensive a day after the release of a summary of Mr Mueller's report.
The findings gave Mr Trump a political victory ahead of his 2020 re-election bid. No allegations of criminal wrongdoing brought against him at the end of a nearly two-year-long inquiry.
Donald Trump: 'It was a complete and total exoneration'
Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican Senate Judiciary Committee chairman and an ally of Mr Trump, said he would ask US Attorney General William Barr to appoint a special counsel to investigate the origins of the Russia probe, which was first handled by the FBI and then by Mr Mueller after the president fired the agency's director, James Comey, in May 2017.
Mr Trump pledged that new investigations would be launched but did not specify who would conduct them or who should be targeted. He has in the past has called for investigations of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate he defeated in 2016.
"Those people will certainly be looked at. I've been looking at them for a long time," Mr Trump said in the Oval Office sitting alongside visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "And I'm saying: why haven't they been looked at? They lied to Congress. Many of them. You know who they are."
Mr Trump speaking to reporters on Friday morning / AP
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders called for congressional hearings to investigate prominent critics of Mr Trump, including former US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, Comey and other FBI figures.
The end of the Mueller inquiry did not spell the end of the investigative pressure on Mr Trump. Democrats gave no indication of easing up on their multiple congressional investigations into his business and personal dealings.
"I love this country as much I can love anything: my family, my country, my God," Mr Trump said. "But what they did. It was a false narrative. It was terrible thing. We can never let this happen to another president again."
Mr Trump had repeatedly accused Mr Mueller, a former FBI director, of running a "witch hunt" with a team of "thugs" and having conflicts of interest. But when asked on Monday if Mr Mueller had acted honourably, Mr Trump said: "Yes."
Trump also said he had not thought about pardoning anyone convicted or who pleaded guilty in the Mueller probe.
T he owners of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts have admitted to a family history of Nazis ties.
The Reimann family, one of Germanys richest families, acknowledged that their ancestors used slave labour during World War Two.
In a four-page report, the Bild newspaper reported that Albert Reimann Sr and Albert Reimann Jr used Russian civilians and French POWs as forced laborers.
Thats according to documents uncovered in Germany, France and the US.
Family spokesman Peter Harf, who is one of two managing partners of the Reimann's JAB Holding Company, said recent internal research confirmed Bild's findings.
"It is all correct," he told the newspaper. "Reimann senior and Reimann junior were guilty ... they belonged in jail."
The father and son, who died in 1954 and 1984, did not talk about the Nazi era and the family had thought that all of the company's connection to the Nazis had been revealed in a 1978 report, Mr Harf said.
But after reading documents kept by the family, the younger generation began to ask questions and commissioned a University of Munich historian in 2014 to examine the Reimann history more thoroughly, Harf said.
The expert presented his preliminary findings to the Reimann children and grandchildren, as well as Mr Hanf, several weeks ago, he said.
"We were all ashamed and turned as white as the wall," he said. "There is nothing to gloss over. These crimes are disgusting."
In addition to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, the Luxembourg-based JAB Holding Co has controlling stakes in Pret a Manger, Keurig Green Mountain, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Caribou Coffee Co, Panera Bread and other companies.
Many German companies have acknowledged using slave labourers during the Nazi era and have conducted their own independent investigations.
T he father of one of the children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting has died of an apparent suicide, police say.
Jeremy Richman, 49, was the father of Avielle Richman, one of 20 children killed by a gunman at the school in Newton, Connecticut in 2012.
Mr Richmans body was found shortly after 7am on Monday morning at his office, police said.
"The death appears to be a suicide, but police will not disclose the method or any other details of the death, only to state the death does not appear to be suspicious," the Newtown Police Department said in a statement.
Police also found a note left by Mr Richman but did not disclose what it said.
Jeremy Richman was found dead early Monday in Newton. / AP
After his daughter's murder, Mr Richman and his wife, Jennifer Hensel, created a foundation in her name to prevent violence by funding research into mental health and increasing access to treatment.
In a mission statement published on the Avielle Foundation website, Mr Richman, a neuropharmacologist, wrote that his daughters death had left him infinitely heart broken.
Mr Richmans death came more than six years after 20 six and seven year old children were killed along with six adult staff members. It stands as one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history.
Police said that some of the officers who reported to Mr Richmans office on Monday had responded to the school shooting.
In a statement, the foundation said that while its staff and directors were "crushed to pieces" at Mr Richman's death, it would continue its work of supporting research into brain abnormalities and promoting brain health.
A sign hangs on a fence one at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland after a mass shooting in which 17 people died. / AFP/Getty Images
"Tragically, his death speaks to how insidious and formidable a challenge brain health can be and how critical it is for all of us to seek help for ourselves, our loved ones and anyone who we suspect may be in need," the foundation said.
Jahana Hayes, who represents a congressional district that includes Newtown, said in a statement she was struck by how "optimistic" Richman had seemed about his foundation's work at a recent meeting.
"These tragedies show that the trauma of gun violence extends far beyond the initial tragedy," her statement said.
US Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called Richman a "good friend, a dedicated father, an esteemed researcher."
F ears are growing for a British doctor who went missing on Friday after going for a hike in the French Alps.
Robert Bailey failed to return from a climb while on holiday near Chamonix
The 63-year-old was last seen leaving for a walk in Les Houches, near Chamonix, four days ago.
A missing person appeal has been released by the mountain rescue Gendarmerie at the ski resort, which has since been shared by the British embassy.
Dr Bailey is a GP and senior partner at Minster Medical Practice in Peterborough.
A recorded message tells callers to the practice: "We are extremely saddened to advise that last Thursday Dr Bailey, who was on holiday in Chamonix, was involved in an accident.
"At present we have no further information."
It goes on to tell patients that the practice "will be offering emergency appointments only" for the rest of the week.
N ASA will pay a crew of volunteers 14,177 each to spend 60 days in bed for the benefit of science.
The twenty four selected participants will travel to the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in September, where they will be bed bound for two months to test the potential benefits of artificial gravity.
They will be split into two groups and housed in a single room. During the 60 days of bed rest, they will be required to do everything lying down, from eating to going to the toilet.
The volunteers will be provided with a television, reading material, and other leisure activities, but the studys organisers recommend using the time to take online courses or learn new skills.
Nasa astronaut Anne McClain working on the International Space Station last week / AFP/Getty Images
The research will last a total of 89 days. Before their time in bed, participants will be given five days of familiarisation, and upon completion of the 60 days will undergo 14 days of rest and astronaut rehabilitation.
During their rest, participants will sit at a slight incline, placing their legs slightly higher than their heads to reduce blood flow to the extremities. This will lead to muscle deterioration similar to that experienced by astronauts who spend a long time in space.
Russian-US crew arrive at International Space Station
Scientists flying to the International Space Station, must exercise regularly with resistance machines, to protect their muscles and general physical health.
NASA and DLR aim to use their Artificial Gravity Bed Rest Study to test whether the occasional application of artificial gravity might offer additional benefits.
During their 60 days of rest, the 24 volunteers will make intermittent trips to a centrifuge in a laboratory. The spinning arm of the centrifuge will push blood back towards the participants feet, simulating the effects of gravity.
The scientists hope this system will reveal benefits that can be applied to astronauts engaged in long-term space travel.
SpaceX crew capsule test flight - in pictures 1 /18 SpaceX crew capsule test flight - in pictures A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a demo Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off on Saturday, March 2 AP The rocket lifts off REUTERS The SpaceX team watches as the SpaceX Crew Dragon docks with the International Space Station AP SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk (L), with NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Doug Hurley, Bob Behnken, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, and NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins during a tour before the launch AFP/Getty Images A dummy (L) named Ripley onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard AFP/Getty Images CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques taking a look inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule EPA The Dragon as it approaches the International Space Station EPA The uncrewed SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, the first Commercial Crew vehicle to visit the International Space Station (ISS), pictured with its nose cone open revealing its docking mechanism while approaching the station's Harmony module EPA The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule approaches the International Space Station REUTERS The Dragon hatch closed after docking autonomously to the orbiting laboratory EPA The capsule undocks from the Space Station on Friday AP SpaceX's new crew capsule undocks from the International Space Station AP The space capsule takes off after undocking from the ISS AP The capsule undocked and was headed toward an old-fashioned splashdown AP
A team of medical, psychotherapeutic and scientific professionals will be on-hand to support the participants, along with a nutritionist who will plan their meals.
C elebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti has said he is confident he will be fully exonerated of accusations of attempting to extort millions of dollars from Nike.
Mr Avenatti, who represented porn star Stormy Daniels in her legal battles against Donald Trump, spoke to reporters after appearing in a federal court in New York.
He was arrested after allegedly threatening to hold a news conference and release damaging allegations against the company if Nike did not pay him up to $25 million. The 48-year-old did not enter a plea and was released on $300,000 bail on condition he surrender his US and Italian passports.
He could face spending the rest of his life behind bars if convicted of the charges.
As all of you know for the entirety of my career I have fought against the powerful. Powerful people and powerful corporations. I will never stop fighting that good fight, Mr Avenatti said.
Defiant: Attorney Michael Avenatti speaks to the media outside federal court in New York / EPA
T ech companies including Google and Wikipedia have lashed out after sweeping changes to Europes copyright laws were passed in a landmark ruling.
The controversial Copyright Directive will force such companies to pay media outlets and artists for using their content in Europe. It is not clear what the change will mean for the UK in the face of Brexit uncertainty.
The legislation has been hotly debated for years, with the EU seeking to re-write its two decade-old copyright laws.
It is part of a bid to protect Europe's cultural heritage by ensuring publishers, broadcasters and artists receive fair compensation from big online companies.
But parts of the bill, in particular its Article 13 provision, have proved hugely contentious.
People take part in a demonstration in favour of the new copyright directive at the European Parliament in Strasbourg / AFP/Getty Images
Article 13 will force tight restrictions on how content is uploaded to the internet - even impacting how memes and GIFs are shared.
Google immediately hit out at the ruling on Tuesday, after it was passed by MEPs by a margin of 348 votes to 274.
It said that while the laws had improved, they will still lead to legal uncertainty and harm Europes creative and digital economies.
Meanwhile, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales wrote online: "You, the internet user, have lost a huge battle today.
"The free and open internet is being quickly handed over to corporate giants at the expense of ordinary people.
"This is not about helping artists, it is about empowering monopolistic practices."
But it was welcomed by music bodies such as the Institute For Contemporary Music Performance, whose director general John Phelan said: "Four years of titanic tussling later, our work to solve the 'value gap' now begins a new stage after this vote to ensure that those who make the music make a fair return."
UK Music tweeted: "A huge thank you to all the MEPs who supported the Copyright Directive today and the fantastic work of all those who have campaigned so hard on this.
Sir Paul McCartney and Debbie Harry had been among the most vocal supporters of the changes.
G eri Horner joked she would s*** bandmate Melanie Brown in a resurfaced Spice Girls interview.
In the aftermath of the shock revelation, old interviews from the Spice Girls have resurfaced including an old MTV tape from 1997, during which Horner picks Brown to s***.
I probably want to marry Emma and s*** Mel B. She's the top, Horner said in response to a fan asking who her favourite member is.
Spice Girls: The band were being interviewed by MTV in 1997 when Horner made the jokes / Getty Images
Different bits [of different people] would be my favourites. I would like Victorias legs, Mel C [Chisholm]s physicality.
On Monday, Good Morning Britain aired a clip of Browns forthcoming interview with Morgan as she let slip details of an alleged intimate romp with Horner.
Mel B revealed she slept with bandmate Geri Horner
Morgan asked: You were coming here to be brutally honest - did or didn't you sleep with Geri Halliwell? Did you sleep with her?
Brown said that they had all slept in a bed together but said that is was not like that. She then smiled and nodded when Morgan asked if Horner was like that.
Spice Girls - In pictures 1 /64 Spice Girls - In pictures Spice Girls at Wembley in 2019 Andrew Timms Best looks Sporty, Baby, Scary, Ginger and Posh sing as The Spice Girls PA The Spice Girls reunite for tour rehearsals Spice Girls Instagram Spice Up Your Life The Spice Girls officially launch Channel Five at Marble Arch in 1997 Rex Viva Forever The Spice Girls - Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham AT 'Viva Forever!' Spice Girls musical launch in 2012 The Spice Girls reunite for the first time since 2012 Victoria Beckham/Instagram Prince Harry meets The Spice Girls PA Reuniting Victoria Beckham, Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown pose for a photocall at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich ahead of their news conference on June 28, 2007 in London Getty Images Doppelgangers The Spice Girls with their wax doubles at The Rock Circus In The West End, London in 1999 Jeremy Selwyn Book launch The Spice Girls launch their book 'Forever Spice' PA Summer ball The Spice Girls at Capital Radio Summer Jam, Clapham Common in 1996 Rex Patriotic Geri Halliwell at The Brit Awards in 1997 wearing her famous Union Jack dress Rex Features Movie stars Spice Girls 'Spice World' Los Angeles Premiere in 1998 Rex Going for gold The Spice Girls performing at The 2012 London Olympic Games, Closing Ceremony Rex Charitable Spice Girls pose for Comic Relief Red Nose Day Launch in 1997 Alex Lentati Iconic Auction of outfits owned by Geri Halliwell. Her Spice Girls memorabilia auctioned at Sotheby's. All proceed's for The Sargent Cancer Care For Children in 1998 David Crump/Daily Mail Onset The girls filming Spice Girls: Spice World Spice Productions Undercover Ginger and Baby Spice star in Spice Girls: Spice World Spice Productions On tour British pop band, The Spice Girls, perform the first concert of the UK leg of their world tour at the O2 Arena, 15 December 2007 Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images Flying high The Spice Girls pose after naming a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 plane "Spice One" in their honor at Los Angeles International Airport, 12 December 2007 AFP/Getty Images Jet setters The Spice Girls unveiling the new name, Spice One, of a Virgin Atlantic Jet at the Flight Path Museum at Los Angeles Airport PA Model looks The Spice Girls, Emma Burton, Melanie Chisholm, Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham (L to R) perform during the Victoria's Secret fashion show at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, 15 November 2007 AFP/Getty Images West End debut Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell and Melanie Brown attend the press night of 'Viva Forever', a musical based on the music of The Spice Girls at Piccadilly Theatre on December 11, 2012 in London Stuart Wilson/Getty Images Selfie stick The Spice Girls: Victoria Bekcham, Melanie Chisholm, Emman Bunton, Melanie Brown and Geri Halliwell Stage stars Spice Girls - Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham during 'Viva Forever!' musical press night at The Piccadilly Theatre, London, Britain MTV Europe Music Awards Spice Girls at the Globe Arena in Stockholm. PA Throwback The Spice Girls: Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) Victoria Adams (Posh Spice) Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) and Melanie Brown (Scary Spice) Girl power The Spice Girls in Spice World (1997) London calling Geri Halliwell of the Spice Girls performs during the first date of their 17-date residency, part of their reunion world tour Getty Images Raising money The Spice Girls raise money for Children in Need First reunion The Spice Girls reunited in 2007 Jeremy Selwyn Fashionable flare The Spice Girls at 12th Annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles in 2007 Spice and Vinegar Gary Lineker with the Spice Girls promote Walkers Crisps with limited edition Spice Girls range Mini me's The Spice Girls Dolls hit the market in 1997 Rex Risque Victoria Beckham (Adams) and Geri Halliwell perform with The Spice Girls in Dublin in 1999 Rex One down British pop band The Spice Girls. Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham), Sporty Spice (Melanie Chisholm), Baby Spice (Emma Bunton) and Scary Spice (Melanie Brown) Virgin Records BRIT Awards The Spice Girls perform at The Brit Awards in 2000 and win an award for thier outstanding contribution to British music Back stage snaps The Spice Girls take a twitter snap at Olympic Games London 2012 Closing Ceremony. Charming the royals Geri Halliwell of the Spice Girls greets Prince Charles at the Prince's Trust Charity Concert Gala at the Manchester Opera House Rex The Spice Girls meet Prince Charles Prince of Wales with the Spice Girls at the Royal Gala celebrating the Princes Trust 21st Anniversary PA The Spice Girls World Tour Melanie Chisholm, Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown perform The Spice Girls World Tour in 2008 Rex The Spice Girls at The MTV Europe Awards The Spice Girls at The MTV Europe Awards in Sweden IN 2000 Rex Award winners The Spice Girls at The Brit Awards in 1998 Rex Collecting gongs The Spice Girls at The Brit Awards in 1997 Rex With her majesty Queen Elizabeth II meeting Emma Bunton, Victoria Adams, Mel C, Geri Halliwell, Mel B of The Spice Girls at The Royal Variety Performance in 1997 Rex Film debut The Spice Girls take center stage in their feature film debut, the Columbia Pictures Presentation of 'Spice World' in 1997 Getty Images Meeting Mandela Spice Girls Mel B and Geri Halliwell meet Nelson Mandela in 1997 as part of the British Royal tour in 1997 Rex Pepsi promotions The Spice Girls promote Pepsi in 1997 Rex
As Brown was talking, Chisholm looked on in disbelief, and according to Morgan was running around wondering what Brown had done after the show wrapped.
Horner previously admitted she once had lesbian sex during an interview with Howard Stern.
I dont mind boobs but the other bit is not my cup of tea. I didnt like the lesbian thing, Horner said. It is part of experimenting. I was drunk at the time.
L ittle Mix took some time out from their busy schedules to grant wishes for 12 seriously ill children at an exclusive London event.
Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall headed to a private bash hosted by Rays of Sunshine Childrens Charity to meet some of their biggest fans who are living with a range of illnesses inlcuding brain injuries, kidney failure and heart disease.
The four piece answered questions about their music and who they would like to collaborate with before posing for photos with the foursome.
Little Mix shared a series of images from the event on social media, alongside a sweet message.
We LOVED meeting these brave and inspiring children at our @raysofsunshinecc wish day! they wrote. Were honoured to be ambassadors for this amazing charity, thanks for having us.
Among the children at the event were 13 year olds Kelsea and Nieve, who live with brain injuries, Demi-Louise, 13, who has heart disease, seven-year-old Lillie who lives with Cerebral Palsy and five-year-old Maisie, who lives with kidney failure.
Ambassadors: Little Mix work with Rays of Sunshine charity to grant wishes / Getty Images
They were also joined by 16-year-old Millie, who survived the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 but sustained injuries to her legs, arms and ears.
Little Mix became ambassadors for the charity, which serves to brighten the lives of seriously ill young people and their families across the UK by granting wishes, in 2017.
Speaking at the time, they said: Rays of Sunshine is a brilliant charity that we have always been proud to support. Were absolutely honoured to become ambassadors and help them continue to put smiles on the faces of seriously ill and very deserving children across the UK.
Its always the highlight of our day to meet so many brave and inspiring families and were so excited to continue working with the charity.
M egan Barton Hanson has clapped back at critics who slammed her disgusting remark about Wes Nelson.
Fans accused her of embarrassing Nelson while others branded her comment awful and disgusting.
Hitting back she wrote: Just clocked the headlines if you dont like my crude sense of humour I suggest you unfollow asap.
Fighting talk: Megan Barton Hanson on Instagram (Instagram/ Megan Barton Hanson ) / Instagram/ Megan Barton Hanson
She finished the Instagram post with two crying with laughter emojis.
Nelson appeared to hint that the pair have a tumultuous relationship following their split, which they announced in January on Instagram with a statement mocking Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martins famous consciously uncoupling break-up post.
Speaking on Loose Women he said: We havent spoken in a good amount of time. Sometimes its civil, sometimes its not. Im happy to be civil. Im not malicious or bitter. Whatever happens, happens.
Asked if he would consider getting back together with Barton Hanson he replied: I dont think so, no. Its sad but sadly I dont think so.
Wes Nelson dismisses Vanessa Bauer rumours
Barton Hanson accused Nelson of not fighting to save their seven month romance and also accused Dancing on Ice bosses of sabotaging their relationship by partnering Nelson with Vanessa Bauer, who Barton Hanson described as the hottest dancer.
Nelson, who shut down all talk of a romance between himself and Bauer, has reportedly been dating Instagram model Lissy Roddy. The pair met at a fashion party in Dublin thrown by online clothing brand Nasty Gal, according to The Sun.
A source told the publication: Hes been seeing Lissy for a few weeks now. Although it's early days, theyve been inseparable and theyre having a great time together.
L ove Island contestant Montana Brown has apologised for making her life look perfect on Instagram, as she opened up about coming to terms with the death of her friend and former co-star Mike Thalassitis.
In an emotional post, the 23-year-old revealed that Thalassitis passing had forced her to have a long hard think about life / whats important to [her,] and said that from the outside, the reality star had appeared to have it all.
From the outside & from my viewpoint Mike had it all, she wrote, adding: Literally everyone female and male recognised what a catch he was.
She went on to suggest that positive posts on Instagram can warp social media users perception of what is going on in someones life, writing: The reason that everybody thinks he has it all [is] because thats the part of his life that he chooses to share & really he is so much more.
He is such an amazing human and Im going to miss him a lot.
I wanted to say, Instagram is a place where we all like to show off, what luxury hotels we stay at, our glowing Dom Perignon bottles, our designer shoes & clothes.
Brown then revealed that looking at everyone elses posts while she was cooped up, eating cakes made her feel much worse about herself.
Mike Thalassitis - In pictures 1 /13 Mike Thalassitis - In pictures Mike Thalassitis and Megan McKenna attend Kisstory On The Common 2018 at Streatham Commo Getty Images Mike Thalassitis on Love Island in 2017 Rex Features Mike on Love Island in 2017 next to contestant Georgia Harrison Rex Features Mike Thalassitis from 'Celebs Go Dating' Getty Images Mike Thalassitis and Danielle Sellers attending the ITV Gala at the London Palladium in November 2017 PA Former Love Island contestant Mike Thalassitis who has died aged 26 PA Mike Thalassitis and Montana Brown leave Sexy Fish restaurant in Mayfair SplashNews.com Mike Thalassitis on Love Island in 2017 ITV Mike Thalassitis and Megan McKenna attend Kisstory On The Common 2018 at Streatham Common, London, in July last year Getty Images Mike Thalassitis on Love Island in 2017 ITV
I felt all I was looking at is peoples perfect lives & thats the point, life is not as peachy as everyone makes out, she said.
People have depression, people have anxiety & people are hurting and I want people to feel like they can talk about it openly to parents, siblings or friends. But the point is, nobody is perfect & life is definitely not perfect so I apologise to you if I make out like my life is perfect because its not.
Montana Brown speaks about the moment she found out Mike Thalassitis had died
She went on to implore followers to be nice to your loved ones, build them up, ask them if theyre ok and be sure to tell them their best qualities and what you love about them.
Thalassitis, who found fame on Love Island in 2017 alongside Brown, was found dead in a park in Edmonton, north London earlier this month at the age of 26. Police said they were not treating the death as suspicious.
His death prompted many former contestants to speak out about the need for better aftercare, and ITV has since confirmed that future participants will receive therapy, social media training and financial advice.
The key focus will be for us to no longer be reliant on the islanders asking us for support but for us to proactively check in with them on a regular basis, a statement from the show said.
H uawei has just launched its new P30 smartphone range and it took aim at the new Samsung Galaxy S10 range, comparing the camera prowess of the new devices.
Huawei and Samsung are neck and neck now, with Huawei overtaking Apple to move into second place in global smartphone sales last year.
But out of the new 2019 phone launches, which one is the best?
Here are the new flagships, compared.
Huawei P30 vs Samsung Galaxy S10: Design
Starting with design, Huawei has decided to keep the notch, going for a teardrop design on the P30 range. The P30 Pro has a 6.47-inch OLED full HD display, with 19 5:9 aspect ratio, whilst the P30 has a slightly smaller screen at 6.1-inches.
In comparison, Samsung, which was never into the notch in the first place, has gone for the pinhole design, with a tiny amount of space taken up on the right side of the screen for the front-facing camera.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has a discreet pinhole design for the front facing camera / Samsung
Samsungs S10 is the same size of the P30, with a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen, whilst the S10+ has a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen.
Both device ranges feature glass backs, perfect for that reverse wireless charging. The P30 Pro and both Samsung phones feature a delicately curved screen, though the P30 devices feel significantly chunkier than the S10+.
Samsung wins the design round. AMOLED screens have better quality and are more flexible than OLED screens, and the pinhole is a better screen design than the teardrop notch. As well, the S10 feels sleeker compared to the P30 range.
The P30 range opted for the teardrop notch / Huawei
Both devices come in dynamic colour ranges, but when it comes to screen then Samsung steals it this time.
Huawei P30 vs Samsung Galaxy S10: Camera
Huaweis new phone range is a powerhouse when it comes to the camera. The P30 Pro has a Leica quad camera set up made up of a 40-megapixel lens with a new super spectrum sensor, a 20-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom, and a new time of flight lens to improve portrait photography.
It has a front-facing 32-megapixel camera for selfies.
The Huawei P30 Pro has four cameras on the back of the device / Huawei
On the P30, there is a Leica triple lens setup made up of the same 40-megapixel lens as the Pro, a 16-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens and a 3x optical zoom lens.
Alternatively, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ and S10 have the same camera set-up on the back, featuring three lenses. A 12-megapixel telephoto lens, a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens.
On the front, the S10+ has dual selfie cameras, made up of 10-megapixels and 8-megapixels, whilst the S10 has one selfie lens of 10-megapixels.
Given all that camera power, Huawei scoops it, particularly with the P30 Pro.
Huawei P30 vs Samsung Galaxy S10: Specs
What about the power? Inside, the Samsung devices are fitted with its Exynos 8nm processor, whilst Huawei comes with its Kirin 980 processor.
According to Android Authority, Samsung cinches the power round when it comes to its processors in its benchmarking tests.
From L-R: Samsung Galaxy S10+ and Samsung Galaxy S10 / JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images
However, the Huawei P30 Pro has a bigger battery, 4,200 mAH, compared to the S10+s 4,100 mAH. The P30 has a 3,650 mAH battery compared to the S10s 3,400 mAH, so if its battery power that concerns you, go for Huawei.
The Galaxy S10+ and S10 have more potential when it comes to memory. Both devices have 8GB, compared to the P30s 6GB, and have up to 512GB of storage which can be increased to 1TB with a memory card, something that isnt possible in either Huaweis phones.
Software-wise, Samsung has overhauled its OneUI OS to something which is much more user-friendly than anything weve used by Samsung before. Huawei says its improved its EMUI software, but weve yet to try it out to see how it compares.
Both ranges of phones come with in-screen fingerprint scanners, reverse wireless charging, and facial recognition.
This round is a tricky one, but Samsung just about steals it in terms of processing power, memory and software improvements.
Huawei P30 vs Samsung Galaxy S10: Price
The Huawei P30 is the cheapest of the four devices, starting at 699, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S10 starts at 799.
The P30 Pro and S10+ are both priced at 899.
Huawei P30 vs Samsung Galaxy S10: Verdict
L-R: Huawei P30 and Samsung Galaxy S10
If youre looking for design, power and storage, its probably better to go for Samsung in this instance, however if its camera and battery youre looking at then Huawei is probably the one.
Countries & Areas
Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe
Founder of the Initiative Romania organisation Elena Ghioc announced on Tuesday that President Klaus Iohannis conveyed, within the meeting with representatives of the civil society, that the referendum on Justice will be organised on 26 May, at the same time with the elections to the European Parliament.
"There is a conclusion and that is the organisation of a referendum on Justice, President Klaus Iohannis just announced us at today's meeting with representatives of the civil society. (...) We went there to request the starting of this demarche, we received this good news that it will happen (...) on the day of the elections to the European Parliament, on 26 May 2019," Ghioc stated.
New Delhi, Mar 26 (IBNS): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday exerted more pressure on Pakistan to ensure the release of two Hindu minor girls who have been allegedly kidnapped and forcefully converted to Islam recently.
Sushma tweeted: " Forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan : The age of the girls is not disputed. Raveena is only 13 and Reena is 15 years old."
Forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan : The age of the girls is not disputed. Raveena is only 13 and Reena is 15 years old. /1 Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 26, 2019
"Even the Prime Minister on Naya Pakistan will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage," she said.
Even the Prime Minister on Naya Pakistan will not believe that girls of this tender age can voluntarily decide about their conversion to another religion and marriage. /2 Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 26, 2019
Swaraj said both the girls should be released and returned to their family.
"Justice demands that both these girls should be restored to their family immediately," Swaraj tweeted.
Justice demands that both these girls should be restored to their family immediately. /3 Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 26, 2019
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard a petition filed by two Ghotki sisters and ordered the state to take over custody of the girls and ensure their safety till their case is decided.
According to reports, the girls, their alleged spouses, representatives of the federal government, Islamabad administration, and Sindh police, and the director general Human Rights were present at the court during hearing.
"The IHC chief justice ordered that an SP-rank police officer who is female should appointed on duty with the sisters to ensure their safety. Both girls were transported to a shelter home from the IHC as the hearing wrapped up," reported Dawn News.
As per Dawn News report, the alleged spouses, Barkat and Shafqat, were granted protective bail until April 9.
The case has been adjourned till Apr 2.
"Meanwhile, Shaman Das, the girls' brother, approached the LHC's Bahawalpur bench against the regional police officer Bahawalpur, the district police officer Rahim Yar Khan, and the station house officer Khanpur, seeking the immediate recovery of his sisters," Dawn News reported.
It will be heard on Wednesday.
The two minors, who are sisters, were allegedly kidnapped from Sindh.
They were identified as Raveena and Reena.
As per Samaa report, their family, which belongs to Ghoktis Dharki, had registered an FIR over their kidnapping and forced marriage. The FIR identified the two girls to be 14 and 16 years.
No child in Pakistan can be married under the age of 18 under the Sindh Child Marriages Act, local media reports said.
Meanwhile, a video has surfaced online where the father of the two girls could be seen protesting and refusing to move from the place unless the police help him find his daughters.
Romania's Interior Minister Carmen Dan on Tuesday had a bilateral meeting with North Macedonia's Minister of Internal Affairs Oliver Spasovski to discuss police co-operation as well as emergency co-operation.
"Discussions focused on issues such as police co-operation at regional level, mainly under the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC), to combat organised crime and migrant trafficking; emergency co-operation including under NATO mechanisms; the opportunity to participate in exchanges of experience at border police schools and the partner country's Euro-Atlantic path," reads a press statement released by the Interior Ministry.
The Romanian side expressed readiness to provide expertise for the implementation of institutional and legislative reforms at the level of the Macedonian authorities for alignment to EU standards. The Romanian official expressed support for the advancement of North Macedonia's European journey under the Romanian presidency of the EU Council.
The Romanian presidency of the Council of the European Union has concluded a political agreement with the European Parliament on 9 files in the Capital Markets Union field, according to a press release posted on the Website of the presidency of the Council of EU.
Thus, the secretary of state with the Ministry of Public Finance, Mihai-Eleodor Mandres, on Tuesday presented at the meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee of the European Union (EFC), the main topics to be debated at the informal meeting of the Council of the EU for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN), to take place in Bucharest, April 5-6 this year.
The informal reunion agenda includes topics related to the future Multiannual Financial Framework of the EU, priorities in the finance field, for the next institutional cycle, the path to be followed in achieving the Capital Markets Union, taxation in the labour field, the role of taxation in ensuring economic growth, the preparation of the IMF and G20 meetings in Washington on April 11-14, 2019.
Other topics included on the EFC agenda are the results of the most recent meeting of the Committee for Financial Services, the report of the president of the Committee for Economic Policies (EPC) regarding the output-gap related country specifications, the preparation of the annual EBRD meeting, in May 2019, in Sarajevo.
Secretary of state Mihai-Eleodor Mandres underscored the substantial progresses made by the Romanian presidency of the Council of EU in what concerns the Capital Markets Union.
"We succeeded in almost 3 months of mandate to conclude a political agreement with the European Parliament in 9 files in the Capital Markets Union field, with negotiations continuing in another 4 files. I want to thank all parties involved for how fast they've worked, with this constructive approach bringing tangible results," stated Mihai-Eleodor Mandres.
The discussions at the EFC were based on the European Commission's Communication of March 15, 2019, entitled "Capital Markets Union: progresses in the creation of the union of capital markets for a stronger Economic and Monetary Union."
According to the same source, the Economic and Financial Committee has the role to promote the coordination of the necessary policies of member states for the functioning of the internal market, contributing thus to the preparation of the works of the Council of EU or periodically presenting reports to the Council of EU and European Commission in respect to the economic and financial status of member states. EFC is made of high officials of the finance ministries or central national banks, as well as f the Central European Bank and the European Commission.
Consultations between President Klaus Iohannis and civil society leaders on a referendum on justice legislation concluded at Cotroceni Palace on Tuesday afternoon.
Attending the consultations were leaders of the Funky Citizens, Expert Forum, Legal Resources Centre, Romania Initiative, December 89 Association, FreedomHouse Romania, Romanian Centre for European Policies, Pro-Democracy Association, Public Innovation Centre, Geeks for Democracy, # Rezistenta, We Can See You from Sibiu, Courage forward, Cluj-Napoca Anti-Corruption Umbrella, VeDem Just, Active Watch, Romanian Youth Council, Social Dialogue Group, Corruption Kills, as well as journalists Emilia Sercan and Madalina Rosca.
The president said last Tuesday that he was "almost determined" to call a national referendum on May 26, at the same time with the elections to the European Parliament.
On Wednesday, Iohannis is scheduled to meet representatives of the judiciary and magistrates' professional associations to discuss the state of play in Romania's judiciary.
The discussions on improving the Constitution should start, but not this year in which European and presidential elections are held, and probably a referendum, President Klaus Iohannis told a debate organized on Monday by the Association of Romanian Cities.
Read also: Simona Halep wins Heart Award at Fed Cup
"The president is elected by the people, the rest are elected by communities or constituencies. I believe that there are two keys to solving the problem: one is the key of good faith and the independence of the person in charge of the position of the Ombudsman and here we still have to some digging to do, and the second is our Constitution, and we must certainly go through it once again and see what has not worked and where we can intervene," Iohannis told the debate "The future of Romanian cities in the European context of local development concept".
The president gave the example of emergency ordinances, in which case he argued that besides the Ombudsman, there should be "someone" asking for a constitutionality check.
In other news, the president said that for the parliamentary elections, at this stage, election on party lists would be appropriate, while for the mayors, elections should be held in two rounds. Regarding the election of county council presidents, he added that it is not wrong to do this at the level of the county councils, not through the direct vote of the population.
Iohannis also argued that the mayor should be a dignitary and not a civil servant.
AGERPRES .
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) on Tuesday filed with the Central Election Bureau (BEC) lists of signatures collected in support of its candidates in the elections to the European Parliament this May.
Read also: PSD's Dragnea: 'Relationship with US pretty good, economic benefits for Romania not very high'
"We filed 1,330,995 signatures that we collected in just one week (...) Had we continued for another week, we would have exceeded two million signatures. As many as 2,850 signatures were invalidated on some technical grounds; we understand that the same has happened to every other party as well (...) The list was accepted, we got a registration number, and starting today we are off campaigning. We are now leaving for the party offices, where [national leader] Liviu Dragnea is waiting for us who just concluded an important meeting scheduled one week ago. Our first meeting is in the afternoon with the unions that are with the Social Democrat Party; there will be local meetings and election rallies all over the country (...) We will be among people 24/7 from now on until the day of the elections," PSD Secretary General Codrin Stefanescu said while leaving BEC.
The top candidates on the PSD list promised to "fight for the good of the Romanians" and, especially, to speak well about Romania.
"I am asking the Romanians not to send to the European Parliament people who vote against their own country, and to send instead a team of patriots like us, because we believe that Romania has equal rights in the EU (...) Romania deserves more and the Romanians deserve more. God help us!," said Rovana Plumb, who tops the list of PSD MEP candidates.
Journalist Carmen Avram said that it is "a very big and very important day to her."
"After 27 years of journalism, I can guarantee that this is the best team to bring Romania back where it belongs, because Romania deserves more than it has today," said Avram.
Cristian Terhes said the 4th place on the list of PSD candidates is a special opportunity for him, and also for the Romanians.
Current PSD MEP Dan Nica, fifth on the PSD list, pointed out that his team must support the well-being of all Romanians from Brussels.
AGERPRES .
Social Democratic leader Liviu Dragnea said Monday evening that Romania's relationship with the United States is "very good" from Romania's perspective, but just "pretty good" from the US point of view, while "the concrete economic and strategic benefits for Romania are not very high."
Read also: Klaus Iohannis: 'PSD rule has failed regarding prevention, ignores real heathcare issues'
Asked during a show aired by Antena 3 broadcaster about the planned move of Romania's embassy to Jerusalem, Dragnea said that "this is a huge subject, a high-level foreign policy subject."
Dragnea said that the talk is about two powerful states, Israel and the US, "about our right to decide where to place our embassy in a state", also pointing out President Iohannis's on the fence attitude, as he doesn't clearly express disagreement and his implicit support for the US and Israel's stance, but neither voices agreement and siding with the EU. "The EU has not adopted a commonly accepted position. (...) At this time Israel is in acute need for friends, true friends. True friends are those who come to one's aid in important moments. Our relationship with Israel is very good, but the potential is huge, and the potential benefits for Romania are tremendous," said the PSD leader.
In this context, Dragnea termed Romania's relationship with the US as "pretty good, not good".
"Our relationship with the United States is pretty good, not good. From our point of view, it's very good, from their standpoint, it's pretty good. This means that the US embassy in Romania has a certain message, a certain rhetoric and approach, but the administration in [Washington] has seemingly a different approach. But when we draw the line, the concrete economic and strategic benefits for Romania are not very high. On the other hand, to Romania the US represents a huge security guarantee we are not allowed to play with," Dragnea said.
AGERPRES .
By RT March 25, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Googles biased search algorithm actually flipped seats in the 2018 US midterm elections, according to a researcher who found the search engines dramatically biased results could have shifted over 78 million votes to Democrats. Upwards of 25 percent of the national elections in the world are being decided without peoples knowledge by Googles search algorithm, senior research psychologist Dr. Robert Epstein of the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology told RT, calling the search engine the deciding factor in close races. Google flipped seats, shifted millions of votes to Dems in 2018 midterms
Epstein, who received his PhD in psychology from Harvard University and is the former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today, said that his methodology was thorough and meticulous.
We did this very, very carefully. We had field agents focusing on three congressional races in California which were very hotly contested races in Republican districts, Epstein told RT.
And we gave to these field agents about 500 election-related search terms. Each one had different search terms for different districts, where there are different issues, of course.
And the point is, we simply looked at what kind of search results they received when they were conducting election-related searches.
Epsteins study of three 2018 California House races found Google played the deciding role in flipping those Republican-held seats to the Democrats, influencing millions of undecided voters by controlling what they saw when they searched 500 election-related terms. Googles results showed a significant liberal bias, unlike Bings or Yahoos and with 90 percent of the search engines market share in the US, that bias is enormously influential.
Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter
Search results favoring one side of an issue can influence anywhere from 20 to 80 percent of undecided voters, depending on the issue and demographic group, Epstein said. He has spent six years investigating the role of what he calls the Search Engine Manipulation Effect (SEME) in swaying public opinion, more recently focusing on the political ramifications by looking at various countries elections.
People trust algorithmic output. They trust Google. They think because its generated by a computer, they dont see the human hand - they think its impartial and objective and, because of that, their opinions change, Epstein said.
While Google denies it manipulates search rankings to manipulate political sentiment or makes election-specific tweaks, Epstein says their response is disingenuous he never claimed they re-ranked results, merely that the results they displayed were biased.
We found very consistently that on Google they ended up with search results favoring liberals and favoring liberal news sources, and it was quite a dramatic effect.
Despite denials, Google has already faced hefty government fines for manipulating search results. In 2017, the European Union imposed a 2.4 billion ($2.7 billion) fine on the tech giant for purportedly tailoring search results to favor its own comparison shopping service.
Google was hit with a $21.1 million fine a year later this time in India, where the company was accused of directing web users who were searching for flights to its own flight search page depriving other businesses of gaining a foothold in the market.
This article was originally published by " RT " -
Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here
==See Also==
Note To ICH Community
We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites.
Thank you for your support.
Peace and joy
A generation of posturing, ridiculous metrosexual boy toys who would faint at the sight of a drop of their own blood has arisen across the Western World uttering ludicrous empty threats at Russia and trying to set off wars everywhere.
Where do all these ludicrous little armchair heroes come from? Are they all Marco Rubios clones? Does the CIA clone them at Langley?
In Paris, pretentious President Emmanuel Macron splashes out millions of euros to surround himself with a splendor more worthy of Louis XIV than a democratically elected 21st century leader. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands continue to rock the nation in Yellow Vest protests at the harsh austerity regulations he continues to impose on the French people.
In London, Secretary of Defense Gavin Williamson insults leading figures from France and Germany to Russia and China while the United Kingdom disintegrates around him.
Juan Guiado continues to farcically claim he is President of Venezuela despite the political groups he claims to represent receiving only one fifth of votes in the most recent elections.
In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has had to take a break from lecturing the rest of the world on the supposedly democratic values they should follow because of an embarrassing and sordid political influence scandal that has led to two angry resignations from his Cabinet.
And in the United States, Senator Rubio, poster child of the Boy Toys exposed his true colors with an ugly, even obscene threat to legitimately-elected Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro threatening him with murder by the anal insertion of a broken bottle if he did not step down and make way for Guiado.
There is an astonishing element of similarity to all these figures. They are all in their forties, except for Guiado the true child among them at only 35. They could all pass as teenagers. They all project an attempted air of wholesomeness and earnest idealism which their records reveal as utterly fraudulent.
None of the Boy Toys has any record of distinction in international affairs or in promoting constructive progress in their own nations. Yet every one of them is eager to foster civil strife around the world, or to impose policies that would tear their own countries apart (Macron, Williamson and Guiado).
Every one of them seeks to present an unconvincing image of firm, dynamic and courageous leadership yet all of them pathetically rely on the armed forces of the United States or the willingness of the US government to intervene shamelessly in their own domestic affairs to uphold their positions and policies.
It is sometimes difficult to forget that Rubio is only two years out of his freshman term in the US Senate. He already seems to have been with us forever.
Williamson in the UK, Macron in France and now Guiado outside Venezuela were all plucked from nowhere, all on the basis of nothing more profound than their willingness to swallow the same internationalist, liberal, free trade party line they were all required to.
All the Boy Toys most resemble, in the wonderful words Alice Roosevelt Longworth used to dismiss 1948 US presidential candidate Tom Dewey, the little toy man on top of a giant wedding cake.
It is this image even more than the earnest, fake sincerity all of them seek to project like the most unscrupulous second-hand auto salesman that reveals the inner emptiness of all these ludicrous-named leaders.
They represent the last days of the liberal consensus of the West three quarters of a century after its great moment of triumph in 1945: A victory that in reality was won through the lives, blood and sacrifice of millions of Soviet soldiers.
Is there any significance to the rapid simultaneous rise to eminence and fame of the Boy Toys across the Western world? I believe there is.
A quarter of a millennium ago, Edward Gibbon, the great historian of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, noted that when ruling establishments had lost every remaining vestige of decency and confidence in public scrutiny, they turned to appointing nonentities as public figureheads, as the only figures weak enough not to threaten them with any hint of independence.
Rubio and his legion of not-quite-convincing Boy Toy contemporaries fit this requirement perfectly. They are the natural successors to Romulus Augustulanus, the ludicrous last legal emperor of Rome (for less than a year) in 475-6 AD. As Gibbon said, Suspicious princes often promote the last of mankind.
Photo: Flickr
Trumps Foreign Policy: Do Whatever Netanyahu & Prince Salman Want
Now that Donald Trump, like Barack Obama before him, has failed to remove Syrias Bashar al-Assad by means of American training of, and supply of weapons to, rebels (almost all of whom were actually jihadists) in Syria, Trump, on March 21st, has set into motion a process that is designed to provide a justification for an all-out US military invasion of Syria, as a means to defend Israel.
This strategy pertains to Syrias Golan Heights region, which is occupied by Israelis. That area of tension would be the trigger-point for the next shot in the anti-Syrian war, which would be the final shot, if it becomes fired. But perhaps Trump thinks that the threat alone will be enough to get Syrias Government to capitulate. Anyway, the threat was issued by Trump on March 21st. So, here is the history, and documentation (via links), behind this sequence of events the history that makes sense of Trumps new American strategy, to conquer Syria (replacing the use of such proxy-forces as were previously used):
On 5-10 June 1967, Israel invaded Syria and Egypt and grabbed from Syria the 690-square-mile Golan Heights area of Syria. Israel has occupied it ever since. The Golan Heights is internationally recognized as being Syrian territory. But Trump now wants to change that and make it Israels, just as he had earlier helped Israel to change its capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump is the first head-of-state (other than Israels) to assert publicly that the Golan Heights is part of Israel, not part of Syria. Trump represents (takes his orders from) Israels invasion-craving fundamentalist-Jewish Benjamin Netanyahu, who wants to make official, finally, the ownership, by Israel, of Syrias Golan Heights. Netanyahu had been expecting Americas war by use of proxies against Syrias Government to succeed, but it has instead failed, and so an outright American invasion of Syria, by US troops and missiles and bombs, will be needed, like was done to Iraq in 2003, and to Libya in 2011.
Trump also represents Israels ally, the equally invasion-craving and equally anti-Syrian, fundamentalist-Sunni Saudi King Salman al-Saud, and his son and heir Crown Prince Salman al-Saud. Both Netanyahu and King Salman want the fundamentalist-Sunni Saud family to control Syria. (Both Netanyahu and Salman want Syrias land, not necessarily the people who live on it, millions of whom have fled the war in Syria, which pits Syria against the US-allied invading and occupying fundamentalist-Sunni forces, which have been brought in from all over the world.) Apparently, Trumps instructions from both Netanyahu and Salman are that this part of Syria the Golan Heights is to go immediately to Israel, while a means continues to be sought for the rest of Syria to become ruled ultimately by a satrap selected by the Saud family. Trumps predecessor, Obama, had done everything he could to place Salman in control of Syria this way (by means of proxy-fighters), but failed. Trump is extremely competitive. Hes determined to out-do Obama, in service to Americas masters, whom the US has long been serving: Israel and Saudi Arabia and, of course (above all), Americas own billionaires, who likewise are united in alliance with both of those two countries respective aristocracies, against Syria, and against any other nation thats (like Syria is) allied with Russia (or even friendly toward Russia, such as Ukraine was, which was successfully flipped to the US in 2014, by a US coup that destroyed Ukraine). The chief US aim, ever since 24 February 1990, has been for Russia ultimately to be conquered and absorbed into The West brought into Americas empire. Both the Sauds and the regime in Israel are supportive of that US goal, but not primarily focused on it, like Americas billionaires are (they are obsessive against Russia). Israel and the Sauds have their own reasons to want Syria; but, as regards the US regime, Syrias alliance with Russia is the main reason that Syria must be conquered. Thats the geostrategic reason: isolating Russia, in preparation for ultimately conquering Russia.
And, so, Trump has decided to be not only the first American President but the first international head-of-state outside Israel who has publicly committed the United States to formally recognize the Golan Heights that land which was stolen from Syria as being legally Israeli land. Its to be done right now, regardless of when (or whether) the US ever succeeds in ousting Syrias existing non-sectarian Government. In fact, it will provide the US a pretext to invade Syria directly (by a US invasion), instead of (as until now) via mere proxy-forces such as Al Qaeda-led boots on the ground fighting to overthrow Syrias Government. (In 2013, the BBCs Guide to the Syrian rebels said There are believed to be as many as 1,000 armed opposition groups in Syria, commanding an estimated 100,000 fighters. In 2015, The Soufan Group has calculated that between 27,000 and 31,000 people have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State and other violent extremist groups from at least 86 countries. These are large proxy-forces. In Syria, they were led by the US-backed Syrian branch of Al Qaeda. The US under Obama insisted that Russia not bomb Syrias Al Qaeda, and this demand scuttled the cease-fire negotiations. Obamas protection of Al Qaeda in Syria continued under Trump.)
This US-backed Israeli theft of the Golan Heights will enable America to invade Syria directly and heavily, when and if Syria reacts militarily against Israels seizure of its land. Trump appears now to want to do this, and maybe is even hoping for Syria to respond militarily, so as to provide an excuse (based on Americas alliance with Israel) for an all-out US invasion against Syria: defense of an ally. America has failed to conquer Syria with mere proxy forces (such as Al Qaeda); this would be the next step US troops, bombers, and missiles, en-masse. The presumption is that Russia would not defend Syria. Thats a very risky assumption, but Trump is a very bold man.
Trump announced, on March 21st, that After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israels Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability. He thereby made clear that America is a slave to the racist-apartheid Israeli regime and will violate the intentions of all the rest of the worlds leaders except Israels, in demanding international recognition of this land as being a part of Israel.
This threat against Syria was not made just casually.
On March 13th, Politico headlined New Trump administration report softens language on Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and Nahal Toosi reported:
The State Departments newest Human Rights Report describes the Golan Heights as Israeli-controlled instead of Israeli-occupied, a linguistic change sure to fuel criticism that the Trump administration is bucking global consensus on Israels reach. The change comes as conservative US lawmakers are pushing to have the Golan Heights recognized as part of Israel. If President Donald Trump goes along with that, it would be the latest of several pro-Israel moves on his part, including moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) recently said he would push Congress to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. To give this up would be a strategic nightmare for the State of Israel. And who would you give it to? Graham said. The shifts in the US approach to the region, which activists say has largely been to the detriment of Palestinians, come as the Trump administration prepares to release its proposal to resolve the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The proposal, spearheaded by Trump son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, is expected to be unveiled after Israels elections in April, though no firm date has been set.
Finian Cunningham has brought public attention to a self-interested reason why Trump might be determined to assist Netanyahu to make Golan Heights legally israeli territory. Headlining at Strategic Culture, on March 19th US Duplicity over Golan Demolishes Posturing on Crimea, he wrote:
There has been previous speculation that Trump is doing the bidding for a US-based oil company, Genie Oil, which is linked to his administration through his son-in-law Jared Kushners family investments. The New Jersey company has a subsidiary in Israel, is tied to the Netanyahu government, and has long been aiming to drill the Golan for its abundant oil resources.
However, there also is another possible reason, and Cunningham touched upon it, too: an intention for Trump to offer to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin a trade-off offer, that in return for Putins rejecting the repeatedly-shown-by-polling strong desire of the residents of Crimea for Crimea to be part of Russia instead of part of Ukraine, and for Putin to force Crimeans to become again ruled by Ukraine (as they had been between 1954 and 2014), the US will now stop demanding that the residents of Golan Heights be part of and legally ruled by Israel, instead of for them to be ruled again by Syria as they always were.
But what is clear is that Trump definitely does now intend to legalize Israels control over Golan Heights, and that this has been a hope of every Israeli Administration since 1967.
Earlier, Trump had made clear that he wouldnt do anything about Saudi Crown Prince Salman al-Sauds barbaric torture-murder (and lies about that revenge-murder) of a Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump also makes clear that the US will do nothing against the Salmans effort to starve to death the Shiite Houthis in Yemen by bombing their food-supply lines. All of that is fine with Donald Trump. This is how competitive he is. He is all-out competitive, and especially wants to out-do Obama on what he can, and to un-do Obama on what he can (such as he does by trying to destroy Obamas gift to drug companies, Obamacare).
America supplies the training and weapons for both the Saudi and Israeli militaries. Trumps secret National Security Policy (as introduced to the press on 19 January 2018) said that, Though we will continue to prosecute the campaign against terrorists that we are engaged in today, Great Power competition, not terrorism, is now the primary focus of US national security. By Great Power competition, it refers to, as being the chief enemies, revisionist powers as different as China and Russia are from each other, nations that do seek to create a world consistent with their authoritarian models, pursuing veto authority over other nations economic, diplomatic and security decisions. Isnt that an excellent description of the US Government, regardless of whether its also accurately describing either Russia, China, or any other? It certainly sounds like Big Brothers propaganda in todays world. But does America really need more wars? Should Americas Government really be policeman of the entire world? Indeed: of any part of the world except itself? The lying Trump had won his office by promising never to advocate any such policeman of the world role; but here hes doing exactly that for the clear benefit of Americas masters: Netanyahu and Salman and Americas oil and gas companies and all other US billionaires. He represents them not the people who had voted for him. (And, certainly, also, not the people who had voted against him. The US electorate certainly are not represented by Americas Government. Thats just an established and confirmed fact.)
If the reason why Trump is now backing Israels aim to legalize its seizure of Golan Heights is to serve Israels desire for more territory, and to serve the desire of both Netanyahu and Salman for the Sauds to take ultimate control over Syria, then that would be a geostrategic aim, instead of an aim to enrich Trumps daughter and her husband Jared Kushner by oil-wealth from Golan Heights. This geostrategic aim would be that there will be a trade-off of Golan Heights for Crimea: Israel will win legal control over Golan Heights, and Ukraine will win legal control over Crimea. However, what if Putin says no to that? There could then be an invasion by Syria against the Israelis who are occupying Golan Heights, followed by an invasion of Syria by both Israel and the United States, and a responding invasion by Russia against both Israel and the United States, ending perhaps in World War III, an annihilating global nuclear war. What would therefore be likelier would be that when Putin says no, Trump will propose and Putin will accept that the UN will oversee free and fair and UN-supervised elections, both in Golan Heights and in Crimea, and that the will of the majority of the residents in each of these two areas will determine what country they are part of. That would avoid WW III, and it also would be face-saving for the leaderships both in US and in Russia. Of course, if the personal enrichment of Trumps family is instead the motive, then the US Congress will be far less supportive of Israels side in this matter than they have been up till now.
Democrats in Congress, and professional neoconservatives generally, not only are blindly suportive of Israels Government, but they allege that Putin made Trump President. They do this despite the fact that the Republican Trump Administration wants to escalate its Democratic Party predecessor Obamas war (which started in 2012) against Russia; so, this accusation against Trump doesnt really make much sense. Like the neoconservative advisor to international corporations Ian Bremmer said on 22 March 2018, in the neoconservative TIME magazine, Putin Won. But Russia Is Losing. Thats how Bremmers international clients want to view things as if Russia, not the US, is the perpetrator of invasions and coups constantly, perpetual war for perpetual peace that it comes from Russia, instead of from America. But its obviously a lie.
On 23 February 2018, James George Jatras, at Strategic Culture, bannered What Would an America First! Security Policy Look Like? and he provided his answer: it would look very different from Trumps actual foreign policies. But I would put it another way: it would look like a country that isnt trying to take over the world, and like a country that would eliminate most if not all of its hundreds of foreign military bases. US President Eisenhower warned, near his last day in office, against growth in the military-industrial complex, but subsequently it has swallowed this country whole. Most Americans love that: the military is, by far, the highest-respected of all institutions in America. Is this the new Sparta? Maybe the new Rome? Or even the new Nazi Germany. With nuclear weapons. And both Republicans and Democrats support it, as if to do otherwise is unpatriotic.
NOTE: Israel is actually an enemy of America:
On 8 June 1967, Israel intentionally attacked and sank the USS Liberty, slaughtering 34 of our sailors, and injuring another 172. The official US government inquiry by an independent study Commission headed by Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, found that, after eight hours of aerial surveillance, Israel launched a two-hour air and naval attack against the USS Liberty, the worlds most sophisticated intelligence ship. Unmarked Israeli aircraft dropped napalm canisters on the Libertys bridge, and fired 30mm cannons and rockets into our ship. Israeli torpedo boats later returned to machine-gun at close range three of the Libertys life rafts that had been lowered into the water by survivors to rescue the most seriously wounded. There is compelling evidence that Israels attack was a deliberate attempt to destroy an American ship and kill her entire crew. Israel committed acts of murder against American servicemen and an act of war against the United States. The White House deliberately prevented the US Navy from coming to the defense of the Liberty. Surviving crewmembers were later threatened with court-martial, imprisonment or worse if they exposed the truth; and were abandoned by their own government. The White House deliberately covered up the facts of this attack from the American people.
So is Saudi Arabia.
But those (plus Americas own billionaires) are the two countries that Americas President actually represents (in addition to Americas own billionaires, who are more concerned to conquer Russia and to control China).
Americas alliances reflect the interests of Americas billionaires, and thats all. Americas military represents them, and thats all. Todays America is fundamentally different from FDRs America. It is no democracy.
By Paul Craig Roberts
March 25, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - As I said, Trump is Americas first Zionist president. But apparently Trump does not understand that a declaration he signs giving Golan Heights to Israel has no authority under international law. I doubt many others will prostitute themselves in this way, so all Trump has achieved is to line up the United States with Israels illegal absorption of occupied territory. https://www.rt.com/news/454711-trump-signs-golan-heights/
Of course, in America stupidity can be found wherever one looks. Listening to the presstitutes today, especially the imbeciles at NPR, the American media is so completely stupid that the morons are unable to comprehend that there cannot be obsruction of justice if there is no crime. Mueller says there is no crime, so how could Trump obstruct justice in the absence of a crime? What justice was obstructed?
Dont expect the idiot presstitutes to explain. Or Donna Brazile. Or the imbeciles Nadler and Schiff and the rest of the junk politicians who pollute American political life beyond the point of total ruin.
Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order .
Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter
==See Also==
Taiwan has approved production of Hsiung Feng 2B anti-ship missiles. Only 36 of this new version are being produced and that will take until 2023. Hsiung Feng 2B has greater range (250 kilometers compared to 160 in earlier versions) and is better able to resist jamming and other countermeasures. The 685 kg (1,507 pound) Hsiung Feng 2 surface to surface version is stored in a firing container. The missile is 4.8 meters (14.9 feet) long and 400mm in diameter and has a 180 kg (400 pound) warhead. The Hsiung Feng 2 first appeared in the 1990s and has undergone several upgrades since then. These improvements concentrate on extending the range and improving the guidance system. Current versions of Hsiung Feng 2 use GPS/INS to reach the general vicinity of the target then employ pattern recognition (via an onboard electronic database) to select a specific (or one of several worth hitting) target and go after that ship. For its final approach, Hsiung Feng 2 speeds up to near supersonic (250 meters a second) speed.
Chinas rapidly growing fleet has many newer ships with defensive weapons designed to deal with sub-sonic anti-ship missiles like Hsiung Feng 2 but even with that chance is still a factor, especially if the Chinese ship can be attacked when it does not expect it. That is not the most likely use of Hsiung Feng 2 as these are built to defend the 180 kilometers wide Taiwan Straits that separate China and island nation of Taiwan. There is a belief that American support will be sufficient to deter or defeat a Chinese attack. Everyone expects any such war to be short. Thus less than a thousand (possibly only a few hundred) Hsiung Feng 2s have been produced. Taiwan releases few details of upgrades or production and usually only does so when such information has become difficult to hide. Details of upgrading older missiles are easier to conceal while that is less expensive than building new ones and easier to get past the usually parsimonious parliament. The extreme secrecy forces China to spend more time, effort and money on espionage efforts in Taiwan. Since Taiwan develops its own electronics and has plenty of qualified people to do it China has to be wary of some new development they dont know about and wont discover until it starts sinking their ships.
With that in mind, Hsiung Feng 2 appears to have been built in larger (than a few hundred) numbers and upgraded regularly. Hsiung Feng 2 is mainly used as a surface-to-surface weapon from both ships and land-based launchers. Some, the exact number is not public, Hsiung Feng 2 launchers are hidden around the island, disguised as other structures on hillsides overlooking coastal waters. There is also an air-launched version.
Since 2000 Taiwan has been attempting to upgrade its military with new weapons and better training to deal with the rapidly growing quality of Chinese weapons and training standards for military personnel (especially pilots and sailors). Yet Taiwan has made little progress in either area. Purchase of new weapons is often quietly delayed and training reforms put off.
While making the military stronger is popular with Taiwanese in general, for a long time government officials seemed more concerned with not upsetting China. Despite that China has vigorously opposed any efforts to help build a stronger Taiwanese military. This growing military weakness versus China has become more of an issue in Taiwan and there was growing pressure to improve training and reduce corruption within the military before it was too late. Yet many Taiwanese prefer to believe that the United States will protect Taiwan from Chinese aggression. That is no longer a sure thing either and since 2010 Taiwan has become more serious about preparing for the worse.
In response, the Taiwanese Navy has been building more heavily armed (with Hsiung Feng 2) Tuo Chiang class missile corvettes. For example, in late 2014, four years after issuing the contract (to design and build the first of twelve 600 ton stealthy twin-hulled missile boats) Taiwan commissioned (put into service) the first of them. Construction took about two years and the first ship cost $72 million. These are actually large missile boats designated as corvettes. Each carries 16 anti-ship missiles (eight Hsiung Feng 2 and eight Hsiung Feng 3 supersonic/range 130 kilometers), a 76mm gun, a 20mm Phalanx autocannon (for missile defense), two 12.7mm machine-gun and six torpedo tubes plus a large array of electronics, including electronic countermeasures. The stealth and defensive electronics are meant to keep these ships afloat long enough to use most of their missiles against their more numerous Chinese counterparts. This includes the new Chinese aircraft carriers. These corvettes have a crew of 41, a top speed of 71 kilometers an hour and a helicopter pad. Tuo Chiang class ships carry sufficient fuel, water and food to stay at sea up to a week at a time. They are basically coastal defense ships. These new corvettes are the continuation of a trend in the Taiwanese Navy, which sees small ships carrying lots of anti-ship missiles as the key to success against the Chinese navy. But in typical fashion orders for more Tuo Chiang class ships were slow in coming and only recently did construction begin on more of them.
In 2010 the first of 31 smaller Kuang Hua (KH-6) class guided missile patrol boats entered service. These 34.2 meter (106 foot) long, seven meter (22 foot) wide, 170 ton ships have a crew of 19. They were armed with four Hsiung Feng-2 anti-ship missiles, a 20mm autocannon, two 7.62mm machine-guns, and two decoy (for incoming missiles) launchers. Top speed is 55 kilometers an hour. At cruising speed of 22 kilometers an hour, the ships can stay at sea for about two days at a time. All 31 KH-6s are now in service. The KH-6s replace thirty older and smaller (57 ton) Hai Ou class boats. These patrol boats guard the coast, and especially the Taiwan Straits that separate China and Taiwan. Construction on these boats proceeded according to schedule.
The one major weakness of these Kuang Hua missile boats is that they have no real air defenses and depend on the Taiwanese maintaining air superiority whenever and wherever these small craft are operating. Without that air cover, these small ships would be target practice for Chinese warplanes. That appears to be one reason for the new program to build locally what could not be obtained overseas (because of Chinese diplomacy and threats).
Theres nothing unusual about tiny Taiwan developing and building world-class weapons. Israel, Norway and Sweden all do that and have the large export sales to show for it. Taiwan is blocked from most export opportunities by the relentless pressure from China to block such independent activity but that does not prevent Taiwanese firms from doing a good job.
While Boko Haram appears to be undergoing a revival in the north, many Boko Haram leaders are unhappy over the cost and what it means for the future. Boko Haram has been inflicting a lot of casualties on the security forces and civilians (especially Christians) in the last year, but the Islamic terror group has itself suffered heavy losses; not just members killed in combat but the many lost through disease and desertion. Recruiting new members has been difficult and Boko Haram has resorted to kidnapping boys (young teenagers) and coercing them (often successfully) to join. A growing number of Boko Haram commanders were demanding some fundamental changes before Boko Haram fell apart and faded away. This apparently led to a change of leadership in the ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) branch of Boko Haram, with leader Khalid al Barnawi suddenly no longer in charge and his whereabouts or fate uncertain. He apparently abdicated in late February or early March. The new leadership is apparently demanding even more violence and a go for broke approach to deciding the fate of the larger Boko Haram faction. Barnawi was thought to be too timid and that was believed responsible for heavy losses suffered recently. The smaller faction, about half the size of the ISIL one, is accused of gradually turning into bandits with religious pretensions. That is a common fate for many militant organizations.
While Barnawi lost his current job, to the west (Zamfara State) one of his earlier ideas (Ansaru) has apparently reappeared. Fighting between Fulani herders and local farmers in Zamfara has been going on for years and there were nearly 200 dead this month and even more people kidnapped. The kidnapping was a favorite tactic of Ansaru. Earlier in the year, the Zamfara death toll was less but growing since late 2018. The other thing that was growing was the incidence of kidnapping.
There are indications that the increasing violence in Zamfara is the result of Nigerian Ansaru Islamic terrorists returning from years of exile in Libya. Islamic terrorists in Libya have suffered an unbroken series of defeats since 2016 and recently the LNA (Libyan National Army), the strongest military force in Libya, has destroyed or chased away most of the Islamic terror groups still operating in southern Libya. The LNA and several local militias had earlier driven the Islamic terrorists away from the coast where most of the population lives. The coastal region is not desert and there is sufficient water for forests and some farming. At the same time one of the founders of Ansaru, Barnawi, has apparently been forced out of his Boko Haram. There is nothing, yet, to connect the reappearance of Ansaru with the coup against Barnawi. But both developments indicate hard times for Islamic terrorists in Africa.
Barnawi has been a prominent factor in the rise and fall of these African Islamic terrorist groups. By mid-2014 the U.S. announced a $5 million reward for the capture of Barnawi, at the time a former Boko Haram leader who broke away in 2012 to found the even more radical (and openly allied with al Quaeda) Ansaru. The feud between Boko Haram and Ansaru became more public in 2013 when criticisms of Boko Haram appeared on pro-terrorism websites. Ansaru (for Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, or "Vanguards for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa") is a Boko Haram splinter group that became more active after it declared its existence in 2012. Ansaru and Barnawi objected to the Boko Haram tactics of killing lots of Moslems and wanted to concentrate on just killing foreigners or non-Moslem Nigerians. It is unclear how large Ansaru was back then and how much violence within Boko Haram, if any, resulted from the split. Ansaru appears to have always been very small, perhaps only a few hundred members, and more interested (than Boko Haram) in working closely with Islamic terror groups operating elsewhere in Africa. It was this interest in attacking or kidnapping foreigners (especially Americans) that got the Ansaru leader on the U.S. most wanted terrorists list. Shortly after the Americans put the price on his head, Barnawi rejoined Boko Haram as chief spokesman while what was left of Ansaru headed north to Libya. By mid-2016 Barnawi was declared head of Boko Haram by ISIL leadership. That caused a split in Boko Haram as the fellow he replaced, Abubakar Shekau, took his loyalists (nearly half of Boko Haram) and continued to lead it.
Meanwhile, in Zamfara State the root cause of the violence is not religion but herders and farmers fighting over land (for grazing or crops) and water (for cattle or crops). Both herders and farmers carry out revenge attacks but the Fulani are generally the aggressors. Zamfara state is experiencing the same sort of tribal violence as central Nigeria except in Zamfara nearly everyone involved is Moslem. This generally involves fighting between Fulani herders and Hausa farmers. To make matters worse the area is notorious for groups of bandits that steal cattle as well as raid farming villages just for the money. The bandits are mainly Fulani but a growing number of Hausa are joining in.
The security forces are supposed to seize illegal arms, especially the cheap AK-47s that became common back in the 1990s. The reality is that only the farmers are hurt by this because local defense militias must either bribe local police to keep their AK-47s or be at constant risk of having them seized. Herders are more mobile and better at hiding their weapons. Villagers are demanding that the government allow defense groups to have firearms. Even without that, the Fulani violence has caused nearly 4,000 deaths in the last three years. Most of the attacks are raids for the purpose of looting and leaving the area. The Fulani raiders often run into Hausa self-defense militias and the resulting battles leave many on both sides dead or wounded. The Fulani raids are usually after cattle and other loot. Moslem leaders want attention paid to the growing tribal feuds between Moslem tribes, especially like the battles between Fulani and Hausa in Zamfara. In response, the federal government has ordered the national police to send in additional paramilitary personnel to deal (or try to deal) with that situation. The police have not had much impact and usually, leave after conducting some operations that are avoided by the local bandits. Soldiers are now being sent in as well but the violence continues to spread.
Christian Patience
The great fear of many Nigerians is that the continued Islamic terrorist attacks on Christians in the north will lead to a civil war. About half the Nigerian population is Christian and most of them are in the south, where they are the majority. The south is where the oil is. The Christians are better educated, but no less corrupt, than their Moslem neighbors. Nigeria was founded and survives because of an understanding that Christians and Moslems would get along. Leaders of both communities have largely striven to make that work. But Islamic radicalism is one aspect of Islam that is difficult to control and now that militantly anti-Christian (and anyone not the right kind of Moslem) disease has infested parts of the Moslem north. Most Nigerians want the original compromise to survive but the radical Islamic terrorist minority are unconcerned with such un-Islamic compromises and are willing to burn the entire nation down to prove their point. This will not end well for the Islamic terrorists but it is uncertain how badly it will end for Nigeria as a whole. More Christians are questioning the policy of patience and forbearance while so many Christians continue to die for being Christians. Nigerian Christians are also dismayed by the widespread apathy among Western Christians to the plight of Christians being sought out and murdered by radical Moslems. Nigerians dont need foreign help to organize and carry out a crusade to protect themselves. This puts more pressure on Nigerian politicians to stop posturing and get serious about ending the sectarian murders in the north.
Political Solutions
President Buhari won reelection in February in what was largely considered a free and fair vote. The same cannot be said for the state elections (to select governors) which continue and often end up in court. The state-level elections have always been the most corrupt, with rival candidates deploying bribes as well as gangs of hired thugs to persuade people to vote for them and not for an honest government. Buhari and his APC party have tried to get more honest (or at least less corrupt) governors elected but that is very difficult because the corruption is most entrenched at the state level.
March 25, 2019: In the northeast (Adamawa State), Boko Haram attacked Kopa, a town on the border with Borno state, and were repulsed by nearby soldiers.
March 22, 2019: In the northeast (across the border from Borno state in southern Chad), Boko Haram gunmen killed 23 Chad soldiers. The next day the head of the army and his two key subordinates were replaced. Chad is not accustomed to seeing its armed forces his this hard by Islamic terrorists. Chad is also suffering problems with former rebels returning (being chased out of) Libya because they have nowhere else to go and nothing to lose.
March 21, 2019: In the northeast (across the border from Borno state in southeast Niger), Boko Haram gunmen killed eight people when they attacked near the border town of Diffa, which has been the scene of clashes between the Niger troops and Boko Haram forces for years.
March 19, 2019: In central Nigeria (Benue State), Fulani raiders killed at least ten farmers.
March 18, 2019: In the northeast (Adamawa State), a Boko Haram attack on a Christian village was repulsed with at least twenty of the Islamic terrorists killed. The army lost five dead.
In central Nigeria (Benue State), more violence between Fulani herders and Christian villagers left at least two dozen dead.
March 17, 2019: In the south (Cross River state), violence between Moslems and Christians left four dead.
March 16, 2019: In the northeast (Kaduna State), Fulani raiders clashed with villagers leaving ten dead.
March 12, 2019: In the northeast (Borno State), troops of the MNJTF (Multi-National Joint Task Force) killed 39 Boko Haram gunmen. The 8,700 man MNJTF is still actively attempting to eliminate any Boko Haram presence in the region. Of all the threats they face what scares the Boko Haram most is the MNJTF. Formed in early 2015 the MNJTF consists of troops from Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Nigeria. At first, the MNJTF was used mainly inside Nigeria but by early 2017 MNJTF was spending most of its time clearing Boko Haram out of border areas. Each member country assigns some of their best troops to the MNJTF and the Boko Haram have suffered heavy losses trying to fight MNJTF forces.
March 11, 2019: In the northeast (Borno State), at least five Boko Haram men died during a clash with soldiers.
March 10, 2019: In the northeast (Adamawa State), two Boko Haram suicide bombers died during a failed attack (no one else died).
March 9, 2019: In the northeast (Borno State), soldiers clashed with a large group of Boko Haram and killed 23 of the Islamic terrorists.
In the south (Bayelsa state), pirates attacked a ship offshore, looted the vessel and kidnapped five of the crew.
March 8, 2019: In the northeast (Borno State), soldiers attacked a large group of Boko Haram gunmen, killing over twenty of them as the Islamic terrorists fled.
In the northeast (across the border from Borno state in southeast Niger), Boko Haram gunmen fought with Niger troops near the border town of Diffa, leaving 38 of the Islamic terrorists dead along with seven soldiers.
March 6, 2019: In the northeast (Borno State), a Boko Haram landmine killed five people outside Maiduguri (the state capital).
March 5, 2019: In the northwest (Zamfara State), tribal violence left about a hundred dead in the last three days.
March 4, 2019: During February Islamic terrorist violence left led to 60 attacks and over 200 deaths nationwide. Worldwide Nigeria is still considered one of the top three nations when it comes to the amount of Islamic terrorists violence it suffers. Nigeria has held that ranking since 2014 and while Boko Haram violence has diminished it has largely been replaced by Fulani Moslems attacking and killing Christian and Moslem farmers who will not surrender land and water to the Fulani herders. From all this sectarian violence comes a growing number of small groups that are just bandits but pretend to be doing it for religious reasons.
TICKERS: FNV
Source: Streetwise Reports (3/26/19)
An iA Securities report reviews the actual numbers from 2018 and the projected figures for the next five years.
In a March 20 research note, iA Securities analyst George Topping reported that Franco-Nevada Corp.'s (FNV:TSX; FNV:NYSE) Q4/18 was generally in line with expectations and its future outlook positive.
Topping presented the key points regarding Franco-Nevada's Q4/18. Production of gold equivalent ounces was 105,000 ounces (105 Koz), "marginally less" than forecasted. EBITDA and cash flow per share were as expected, at $119 million and $109 million, respectively. Q4/18 revenue was $148 million, 88% of which came from metals and 12% from energy. "A larger-than-expected writedown was most likely due to prudence," he noted.
The analyst provided the highlights from the company's full-year 2018. The total gold equivalent (Au eq) produced was 448 Koz, down 14% from that in 2018, primarily due to operations at two mines. Production at Lundin's Candelaria decreased 33% year over year (YOY), to 56 Koz Au eq due to mine remediation. Output at Coeur Mining's Palmarejo was also lower, at 36 Koz Au eq. This 31% YOY drop is attributed to mining having occurred in areas outside of those covered in Franco's 50% gold stream.
A bright spot was revenue from Franco's oil and gas division, which increased 85% in 2018 over 2017. This in part was due to additional growth from its Permian Basin and SCOOP and STACK assets.
Topping cited upcoming operational changes that should positively impact Franco's bottom line. The start-up of First Quantum's Cobre Panama should translate into 20 Koz of Au eq 2019 for Franco. Candelaria should rebound to normal operations this year, which means the return of roughly 20 Koz Au eq. Those two mines alone should generate at least a 10% increase in Au eq ounces in 2019. "A rebound at Candelaria [and] Cobre Panama coming online, combined with funds flow from a gold price rally, will all provide catalysts for Franco in 2019," commented Topping.
KGHM intends to put the Levack Morrison mine on care and maintenance at the end of Q1/19 and restart its McCreedy mine. The latter should replace Levack's 50% precious metals stream ounces.
Finally, Topping reviewed Franco's 2019 guidance and compared it to iASecurities' projections. The company guided to 465500 Koz of Au eq produced from its metals royalty and stream assets in 2019. IA Securities forecasts the number to be at the higher end of the range.
Over the next five years, Franco projects production of 570610 Koz Au eq, which compares to iA Securities' estimate of 636 Koz. "We estimate the Au eq ounces portfolio will grow by an average of 67% per year" through 2024, Topping wrote.
Regarding oil and gas, Franco guides to 2019 revenue from those assets of $7085 million, assuming a $55 per barrel oil price; iA forecasts $90 million. In five years, Franco expects that amount to increase to $140160 million, also assuming $55 per barrel, due to increased production from the Continental acquisition.
IA Securities has a Buy rating and a CA$115 per share target price on Franco-Nevada, whose stock is currently trading at around CA$102.70 per share.
[NLINSERT]
Disclosure:
1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in this article are sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.
3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own shares of Franco-Nevada, a company mentioned in this article.
Disclosures from iA Securities, Franco-Nevada Corp., Research Update, March 20, 2019
Conflicts of Interest: The research analyst and or associates who prepared this report are compensated based upon (among other factors) the overall profitability of iA Securities, which may include the profitability of investment banking and related services. In the normal course of its business, iA Securities may provide financial advisory services for the issuers mentioned in this report. iA Securities may buy from or sell to customers the securities of issuers mentioned in this report on a principal basis.
Analyst's Certification: Each iA Securities research analyst whose name appears on the front page of this research report hereby certifies that (i) the recommendations and opinions expressed in the research report accurately reflect the research analyst's personal views about the issuer and securities that are the subject of this report and all other companies and securities mentioned in this report that are covered by such research analyst and (ii) no part of the research analyst's compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by such research analyst in this report.
Analyst Trading: iA Securities permits analysts to own and trade in the securities and or the derivatives of the issuer under their research coverage, subject to the following restrictions. No trades can be executed in anticipation of coverage for a period of 30 days prior to the issuance of the report and 5 days after the dissemination of the report to our clients. For a change in recommendation, no trading is allowed for a period of 24 hours after the dissemination of such information to our clients. A transaction against an analyst's recommendation can only be executed for a reason unrelated to the outlook of the stock for the issuer and with the prior approval of the Director of Research and the Chief Compliance Officer.
Company Related Disclosures:
Franco-Nevada Corp.: The analyst has visited the issuer's operations. No payment or reimbursement was received from the issuer for the associated travel costs.
Lundin Mining Corp.: The analyst has visited the issuer's operations. No payment or reimbursement was received from the issuer for the associated travel costs.
March 25, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - The Trump Administration has delivered yet another concession to Israels embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the eve of parliamentary elections: the Israeli military occupation of much of the Palestinian West Bank and of the Golan Heights will no longer be referred to in official U.S. government documents as an occupation. Americas so-called Ambassador to Israel is a former Trump lawyer named David Friedman who is more involved in serving Israel than the United States. He personally supports the view that the illegal Jewish settlements are legitimately part of Israel, choosing to ignore their growth even though it has long been U.S. policy to oppose them. He has also long sought to change the State Departments language on the Israeli control of the West Bank and Golan Heights, being particularly concerned about the expression occupied, which has legal implications. Now he appears to have won that fight, to the delight of the Netanyahu government.
And the expunging of occupied might be only the first of many gifts intended to bolster Netanyahus chances. Senator Lindsey Graham, who also boasts of his close ties to the Israeli Prime Minister, intends to initiate legislative action to go one step further and compel the United States to actually recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the Syrian territory that was annexed after fighting in 1967, but which has not been recognized as part of Israel by any other country or international body. If a vote on the bill is pushed forward and goes as expected virtually unanimously as the subject before congress is Israel, it would hugely benefit Bibi. Some sources are also predicting that recognition of the Golan Heights could easily lead to U.S. government recognition of Israels sovereignty over much of the West Bank.
Israels election is scheduled for April 9th, so there is still plenty of time for additional mischief. There have even been suggestions in the Israeli media that Netanyahu just might escalate fighting with any one or more of a number of its neighbors to enhance his wartime leader credentials. That Gaza will be pummeled is a certainty and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria is probably also in the gun-sights. An uncorroborated report last week out of Israel claimed that Hezbollah is operating a terror cell in Syria close to the border with Israel. It would serve as a pretext for a bit of military action and Americas own congress-critters would immediately be jumping up and down expressing their support for Israels right to defend itself. The big prize for Netanyahu would, of course, be success at getting the United States to attack Iran and one can bet that Mossad is cranking up false flag plans to bring about such an eventuality while also making it look like the Mullahs were at fault.
Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter
Netanyahu, bedeviled by corruption charges against him, is otherwise sinking into his usual pre-election mode, which is to outflank nearly everyone on the intransigent right of Israeli politics. He has entered into a coalition with the openly racist Kahanist party Otzma Yehudit, which most Israelis consider to be close to a Jewish version of fascism as it advocates, among other policies, the forceful expulsion of all Arabs.
Benjamin Netanyahu is also looking for a boost through his attendance at the annual American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC) summit, which is being held in Washington from March 24-26. The theme of the conference is, unfortunately, Connected for Good, which is clearly a boast by AIPAC rather than an admission of the shameful reality that has been delivered to the American people by a groveling and subservient congress and White House. Co-opting the United States is what it is all about, with the promotional material promising an UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE : The AIPAC Policy Conference is the largest gathering of Americas pro-Israel community. The conference is a celebration of the U.S.-Israel partnership and the premier opportunity for every attendee to lobby their Congressional office to advance the U.S.-Israel relationship. The Policy Conference is also a rich educational experience and inspirational booster shot. Attendees will hear keynote speeches by American and Israeli leaders, attend intimate educational sessions, and be wowed by moving stories of U.S.-Israel partnerships, Israeli heroism, and groundbreaking Israeli innovations that are changing our world.
AIPAC is a seriously threatening organization with income of more than $100 million per annum, nearly 400 employees, 100,000 members, seventeen regional offices, and a vast pool of donors. It clearly includes a lot of smart and savvy folks who know a lot about what is going on in the Middle East, but its panels will not include a single word about shooting unarmed protesters, declaring Israel to be a nation state for Jews alone, its own acceptance of laws attacking freedom of speech, or its use of Jewish donated money to corrupt the American political system encouraging allegiance to a foreign country on the part of U.S. citizens. Bibi will undoubtedly pick up on AIPACs cozy theme of inclusiveness by taking the opportunity to burnish his credentials as the leader who can continue to deliver on unlimited and uncritical support from the United States. He will almost certainly meet with President Donald Trump and the two will undoubtedly mention the terrible wave of anti-Semitism that is sweeping the globe, justifying still more ethnic cleansing of the diminishing number of Arabs living in Greater Israel and the bombing of Iran.
Other leading American politicians who will be at AIPAC in supporting rolls include the slimy Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and the despicable former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. It will also include numerous other congressmen, administration officials and the usual scumbags who gravitate to these events, including pardoned criminal Elliott Abrams and unindicted felon Senator Robert Menendez. Abrams, who believes that Jews and gentiles should not intermarry, is currently engaged in destroying Venezuela and just might be otherwise occupied.
A number of the American government attendees at the event are actually Israeli citizens. Sigal Mandelker, a committed Zionist who holds the perpetually Jewish position of Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence in the United States Department of Treasury, is an Israeli by birth and it is widely believed that a number of Jewish congressmen and government officials who will be attending the AIPAC conference have dual citizenship. On the conference websites roster of attendees, it is amusing to see the official photos in which the U.S. legislators and officials are standing in front of the American flag, seemingly disinterested in the irony that what AIPAC is doing is destructive of democracy in America and a sell-out to Israeli interests, undermining those of the United States.
Netanyahus most serious opposition in the election appears to be a centrist coalition headed by former Israeli Defense Force chief General Benny Gantz, who has spoken of his pride in killing 1,364 terrorists in Gaza, and former Finance Minister Yair Lapid. It is the principal challenge to incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus re-election hopes. Israeli courts have also meanwhile banned several Arab parties while allowing extreme right-wing Jewish parties to appear on the ballot.
Whatever the outcome, the United States will be on the receiving end of what Israel decides to do post-election as Trump and company as well as the Democrats in opposition also have an election coming up next year and will want to receive the Israeli seal of approval. And AIPAC will be right there to make sure that Israel in return gets everything that it so richly deserves. Goodnight America.
www.councilforthenationalinterest.org, address is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is inform@cnionline.org. Philip M. Giraldi, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, a 501(c)3 tax deductible educational foundation that seeks a more interests-based U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Website isaddress is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is
This article was originally published by " Council for the National Interest " -
Venezuelan authorities claim to have uncovered the plot from a conversation between Guaido and Russian pranksters impersonating the president of Switzerland.
By Ricardo Vaz
March 25, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Venezuelan authorities have alleged that self-proclaimed Interim President Juan Guaido and other opposition leaders were involved in a plot to carry out acts of terrorism employing foreign paramilitaries trained in Colombia.
Venezuelan Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez presented what he claimed to be evidence of ultra-right plans to promote regime change. According to Rodriguez, Venezuelan intelligence services uncovered plans to contract mercenaries from Colombia and Central America and bring them into Venezuela to execute targeted killings and acts of sabotage, adding that at least half of the armed groups managed to make their way into Venezuelan territory and are currently being sought.
We have identified some paramilitaries that have entered Venezuela, and we will search for them by land, sea and air, Rodriguez told press.
Juan Guaidos chief of staff, Roberto Marrero, was arrested on Thursday, accused of leading a terrorist cell. Rodriguez claimed that Marrero was the link to to the hiring of Central American mercenaries.
Rodriguez went on to reveal screen captures of Marreros phone purportedly showing Whatsapp group conversations featuring Marrero, Guaido, Leopoldo Lopez, currently under house arrest after being convicted for inciting violence in the 2014 street protests, among other opposition figures. Rodriguez pledged that more evidence will be divulged in the coming days.
Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter
The screen captures also revealed details of alleged bank accounts through which payments to the paramilitary groups were supposed to be made. One of them was in Banescos Panama branch. Banesco is Venezuelas largest private bank, and Rodriguez called on Banesco owner Ricardo Escotet to inform security services whether this account exists and what movements have been made.
Rodriguez indicated that Venezuelan authorities had learned of the existence of the bank accounts after notorious Russian pranksters Vladimir Vovan Kuznetsov and Alexei Lexus Stolyarov called Guaido impersonating the president of Switzerland. The pranksters said they had identified funds belonging to President Nicolas Maduro they wished to transfer to Guaido, who readily provided the president with account information.
Lawyer Juan Planchart was also reportedly detained on Sunday by Venezuelas SEBIN intelligence services, and is reportedly being held at SEBINs facilities in Caracas Plaza Venezuela. Planchart was presented in the supposed Whatsapp conversations revealed by Rodriguez as a financial intermediary. At the time of writing there has been no official confirmation of Plancharts arrest.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro likewise divulged that a Colombian paramilitary leader, Wilfrido Torres Gomez, alias Neco, was captured in Carabobo State on Saturday. Jorge Rodriguez later claimed on Twitter that Torres was involved in the alleged opposition plans.
US authorities reacted to Marreros arrest by imposing sanctions against three major Venezuelan public banks on Friday. The move followed sanctions against Venezuelas mining sector and an oil embargo imposed in late January. There has been no reaction to the latest arrests from US officials or from Guaido and the Venezuelan opposition.
Rodriguezs revelations came as two Russian air force planes touched down at Venezuelas Maiquetia airport on Sunday. According to reports, the planes carried equipment and around 100 servicemen, including General Vasily Tonkoshkurov, chief of staff of Russian ground forces.
According to a source quoted by Sputnik, the deployment represents a fulfilment of technical and military cooperation agreements. The Venezuelan government has yet to issue a public statement. Russia had previously sent military aircraft to Venezuela in December as part of bilateral defense accords.
US officials reacted to the latest development, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling on Russia to cease its unconstructive behavior regarding Venezuela. Florida Senator Marco Rubio called the presence of Russian troops on Venezuelan soil a direct threat to US national security.
Last week, US and Russian authorities held ad hoc talks on Venezuela in Rome, but no concrete agreement was reached.
Edited and with additional reporting by Lucas Koerner from Caracas.
This article was originally published by " Venezuelanalysis " -
Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here
==See Also==
Arrogance born to stupidity: Pompeo warns Russia 'to cease its unconstructive behavior' in Venezuela
Venezuela suffers 'attack' as another crippling blackout hits: We have suffered a new attack on our national electricity system Rodriguez said, adding that the event had similar characteristics to the March 7 attack.
Venezuela arrests Colombian fugitive said linked to terror plot
Venezuela opposition fears crackdown after Maduro threatens arrests : Maduro hinted that Guaido and other key opposition figures were also in his sights.
The Russians are coming (and they're bringing oil) : The loss of Venezuela as a major U.S. oil supplier has opened up room for other exporters, most notably Russia.
Trumps Sanctions Kill Venezuelan People. Why Cant UN Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet Fully Acknowledge That?
Stop the evil empire: Roger Waters says the coup in Venezuela has failed (VIDEO)
Note To ICH Community
We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites.
Thank you for your support.
Peace and joy
Bay of Plenty
If you love working out doors and in a small team then we have the role for you. We are needing someone who has either maintenance...
View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz
The new entrance to Bayfair Shopping Centre off State Highway 2, Maunganui Road will be closed from tomorrow for four months.
The entrance is set to close at 1pm on Wednesday March 27, and will be closed for at least four months as part of the Bay Link project.
The NZTA say access will still be available through the original entrance off Maunganui Road.
We thank you for your patience during this time while we widen the road for what will become the new approach to the Bayfair roundabout.
For more information about the project, visit www.nzta.govt.nz/baylink
The Corrections Department aims to begin paying back staff for any shortfalls due to complications with the Holidays Act later this year.
It expects a $16 million contingency it got in last year's Budget should cover its liabilities to more than 9000 staff underpaid due to leave and shiftwork miscalculations.
"We are determined to get this right for our staff and aim to begin paying any shortfalls in late 2019," says, deputy chief executive corporate services, Richard Waggott in a statement.
The prisons operator is just one of many government agencies and private businesses. Corrections finished fixing its payroll system last November.
RNZ has asked the department what this cost: MBIE's bill for fixing its payroll ran to more than $20m, with reimbursements to staff on top of that.
It was now undertaking the "hugely complex" task of recalculating payments, Richard says.
There are two options for this work - recalculation or estimation. The Labour Inspectorate earlier told RNZ it was advising that estimation could lead to a quicker payout.
But Richard says "calculation of arrears ensures that we are using our taxpayer-funded resources responsibly, as estimation increases the risk of inaccuracies. We want to complete the exercise once only, and as accurately as possible".
It was working closely with unions on this, he says.
Hemp products have become increasingly popular over the years and now Bay of Plenty residents have access to the superfood as its harvested in their own backyard.
New Zealand company HempFarm have based their new food processing facility in Tauriko.
HempFarm director Anne Jordan says the company moved to their new Tauranga based facility on January 7, and they couldnt be happier with the business progress.
Before we were here we ran the business from our house in Hamilton, doing it from the garage up until midnight, packing all of the parcels, on the phone all day, ringing stores, talking about hemp. It drove our family completely crazy.
HempFarm office manager Jess Jordan says the sales of hemp have increased due to peoples awareness of the plant.
Last year our sales went up around 400 per cent within a year, we have 460 stockists now and we have around 6000 retail customers.
Everyones now more educated about their health and wellbeing. I found when I did an expo last year people dont want to know anything, they just want to buy it. Its now an everyday product.
Anne says a big factor in her and her husbands decision to get into the hemp industry is due to the environmental benefit.
My husband first wanted to grow hemp to clean up the environment, because of the condition of the waterways, the pollution in the waterways, the run offs on farms and all of that.
It cleans up the soils and takes the carbon out of the atmosphere, its a superfood.
Anne says hemp is a whole food and it has great nutritional benefits.
Hemp products contain all of the essential acids, and an optimal balance of omega fatty acids.
Its the worlds most nutrient dense seed.
Hemp products help reduce arthritis pain, improve eczema, psoriasis, people have had blood pressure goes down, it balances hormones, good for your metabolism, boosts your immune system, the list goes on.
While the HempFarm factory is being finished, Anne says they have been importing hemp products from Canada.
There was no processing plant here, so we had to. Weve been bringing in certified organic products to enable us to build an industry here and raise awareness.
We always talk about our Canadian products with pride as they are organic, they are big mentors to us.
Now that HempFarm have their own facility, they are entering the harvesting stage where they will begin producing their own products.
We expect to have 400 tonne of seed coming off the crops, and 300 tonne will go to food processing. The rest will be used for resewing, says Anne.
The Tauriko facility produces many different products, ranging from foods, to skincare and to cloths.
You start with the de-shelled seed, which we will be making here with a de-huller, and the seeds are a whole food. They are really delicious, I put them on my porridge and muesli, and it goes nicely with fish and in a pesto. It has a pine nut taste to it.
We have hemp oil, which is cold pressed from the seed. We also have hemp oil capsules, lots of people feel taking a tablet is the way to go for them, just like people take fish oils, but environmentally its a lot better for you then taking fish.
The capsules contain omega three, six and nine fatty acids from a plant without any sprays, growing organically.
Another product Anne says is beneficial is the protein powder, which contains 50 per cent protein per serving, allowing muscles to recover after exercise with the magnesium in the product.
HempFarm have created a skincare range, including a healing balm which is known as an ambulance in a jar, as well as a face serum and cleaner.
Hemp cloths and reusable bags have also been produced, ensuring none of the product goes to waste.
Anne says the facility should be up and running in under six months time, where they will be de-hulling seeds, pressing seeds into oil and distributing their products from the Tauriko facility.
HempFarm are hosting an event in Tauriko to celebrate opening of the facility.
It will be nice for people to know in the Bay of Plenty to know that we are here and what we are up to, because it is a big deal, says Jess.
The HempFarm opening event is in late April. If members of the public wish to attend, contact Jess at jessica@hempfarm.co.nz
As we continue to hear updates on the devastation caused by the flooding across the state, Black Hills Energy would like to join the many other Nebraskans who are making helping others a priority. One way the company is giving a hand up is by collecting donations across the state and delivering them to the eastern part of the state on April 3.
Donations will be collected at Black Hills Energys Sidney office, located at 925 Greenwood Rd., from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday until April 2.
Donations that are being requested include water, paper towels, toilet paper, diapers,...
"Keep Life Simple" is the theme of the annual Women in Agriculture Conference, which will feature information and advice about simplicity and excellence, making meals with a multi-cooker, forage production, youth loans, farming with disabilities, and more.
This year's conference is scheduled for Friday, April 12, at Sidney. It will run from 8:15 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. at Buffalo Point Restaurant, 638 Cabela Drive.
The 2018 conference was canceled due to weather, but is being brought back in 2019.
The conference is intended to help women who are involved in agriculture improve their decision-m...
Nebraska Department of Labor Rapid Response Coordinator Maria Rowan explains some of the information presented at a meeting held for workers at the Cabela's Distribution Center who are expecting to be laid-off with the Center closing.
When Bass Pro/Cabela's announced the Distribution Centers in Sidney, more than 100 workers were given the dilemma of "what next?"
A series of meeting were held at Western Nebraska Community College to help workers facing layoff find their way to their next opportunity.
The Nebraska Department of Labor Rapid Response meetings were held to help recently laid off or expected to soon be laid off as a result of closing the Distribution Center. Friday's afternoon meeting was opened by Paula Abbott, WNCC Sidney Campus director. Abbott encouraged those in attendance to take note of the assets avail...
The South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD) Board of Directors (Board) held its monthly meeting March 12 at the South Platte NRD Conference Room in Sidney.
Ritch Nelson, State Forester with Nebraska NRCS and State Wildlife Biologist, gave a presentation to the Board on current events with the Eastern Redcedar tree in Nebraska. Currently, there are concerns in different parts of the state where the Eastern Redcedar has started to become problematic. Nelson highlighted tree facts, benefits of the Eastern Redcedar and some of the less desirable issues they can cause. The Eastern Red...
Cheyenne Countys recent heavy wet snow has all but dissolved the drought concerns in Nebraskas Panhandle.
The March 21 drought monitor shows two counties defined as abnormally dry from the Wyoming border to Iowa. The map also shows no drought concerns from North Dakota to the Oklahoma-Kansas state line.
The definition might seem obvious with the eastern half of the state trying to manage flood conditions. However, prior to the recent storm, the account was much different. The drought monitor shows that in late 2018 and into 2019, as much as 90 percent of Nebraska was defined a...
SCOTTSBLUFF -- Theres nothing wrong with getting your hands a little dirty.
Western Nebraska Community College invites you to do just that at the Applied Technical Trades Open House on Wednesday, April 10 from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Applied Technologies Center on the Scottsbluff Campus. The free event is open to all prospective students and their families.
The Applied Technical Trades Open House will feature a number of hands-on activities to give those attending a greater understanding of the inner workings of WNCCs applied technology programs.
Attendees are encouraged to c...
W. Dean Christensen, age 86 of Lodgepole, NE passed away at his home Saturday, March 23, 2019.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 30th in the Lodgepole United Methodist Church with Rev. David Abbott and Larry Christensen officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery north of Lodgepole with Military Honors. Memorial contributions may be made in Deans name to the Lodgepole Museum or the Lodgepole United Methodist Church. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Friday to sign Deans register book and drop off condolences for the fami...
The move comes as Bugatti ends a successful 15-year collaboration with Swiss watch brand Parmigiani Fleurier in pursuit of new ventures.
With the stated aim of pushing the limits of what seems mechanically possible, the partnership was announced just before the start of BaselWorld 2019, currently taking place in Switzerland, and has commenced with two new watches showcased at the prestigious event.
For this project we found the right partner in Jacob & Co., because we are both absolutely dedicated to innovation with superb technology, absolute beauty, craftsmanship and the highest quality of the materials, said Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti.
The partnership has commenced with the launch of two new Bugatti-themed timepieces on display in Switzerland. The first is the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti Edition, which comes finished turquoise around the dial to compliment Bugattis 110-year anniversary Chiron.
Only 39 of the timepieces will be made, with 18 in carbon fibre, 18 in rose gold and 3 in diamonds.
The second watch is the Bugatti Chrono Edition Limitee 100 Ans, which pays tribute to the founding of the car brand by Ettore Bugatti 100 years ago in 1909. Based on the sporty Epic X Chronograph, 110 examples of the watch will be made to mark each year since Bugatti was created.
This watch also features a forged carbon case along with the colours of the French flag, along with a special rubber strap inspired by the distinctive rear sections of Bugatti supercars.
The watches will be on display at BaselWorld 2019 until 26 March.
Day Four: Positano
Positano is a picture-perfect village of vibrant cubiform buildings clinging to the cliff face. A day here should be spent perusing the artisan boutiques and buying a pair of hand-woven sandals, before heading to Il San Pietro as the blue sky gives way to dusky orange. This restaurant has one of the most beautiful terraces in the country and serves fish so fresh you can taste the sea salt.
Day Five: Cetara
This idyllic coastal village has a niche speciality: anchovies. Cetara leads the region in the deliciously salty delicacy. Almost all the restaurants here offer anchovies in various manifestations, but the best places to sample are Refettorio in Conca Dei Marini, an eatery located in a renovated monastery, and Rossellinis in Ravello, which is tucked in the rock face overlooking Amalfi.
Day Six: Capri
A day spent in Capri should entail swimming beneath the Faraglioni and soaking up the rays on a rugged beach at La Fontelina, with a pitcher of vino con le percoche (white wine and local peaches) close at hand. For dinner, head to the town of Anacapri, which resides just on the other side of the Capri Mountain. Here, two-Michelin-starred restaurant LOlivo takes the regions gastronomic staples and reimagines them into exquisite works of art.
Day Seven: Ischia
Ischia is a volcanic island off the coast of Naples, whose sunbaked terrain makes for a large number of vineyards. The most famous regional wine is Biancolella - enjoy hearty amounts of this fruity, almond-tinged white at a tasting in a local cellar, before dining in the enchanted garden of two Michelin-starred restaurant Dani Maison.
By Megan Crepeau and Madeline Buckley Chicago Tribune (TNS)
CHICAGO In a stunning reversal, Cook County prosecutors on Tuesday dropped all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly staging a phony attack and claiming he was the victim of a hate crime.
Calling it a whitewash of justice, Mayor Rahm Emanuel blasted the decision, emphasizing repeatedly that a grand jury had chosen to bring 16 counts of disorderly conduct against Smollett.
From top to bottom, this is not on the level, Emanuel told reporters at an afternoon news conference.
Why the states attorneys office made the sudden about-face wasnt immediately clear. The office issued only a one-sentence statement.
After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smolletts volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case, the statement said.
Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson stood by the work of detectives.
MORE: "I stand behind the detectives' investigation," Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson says after charges were dropped against Jussie Smollett. https://t.co/B2ahaJSxt3 pic.twitter.com/bur7wAH3xd ABC News (@ABC) March 26, 2019
Area Central Detective Cmdr. Edward Wodnicki, whose detectives led the investigation into Smollett, said prosecutors gave him no heads up to police that the charges would be dropped. He also expressed concern that it left it looking as if police mishandled the investigation. He said detectives uncovered overwhelming evidence against Smollett.
Its absolutely a punch in the gut, Wodnicki told a Tribune reporter. We worked very, very closely throughout our three-week investigation to get to the point where we arrested the offender. So for the states attorneys office at this point to dismiss the charges without discussing this with us at all is just shocking.
Before departing the courthouse Tuesday, Smollett thanked his attorneys, family, friends and Chicago for supporting him through what he called an incredibly difficult time for me. He also thanked the state of Illinois for attempting to do whats right.
I have been truthful and consistent from day one, Smollett, his hands shaking as he read from notes, told reporters in the lobby of the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
Smolletts attorney, Patricia Brown Holmes, said the defense reached no deal with prosecutors. Smollett agreed to forfeit his $100,000 bond so he could go on with his life and get this over with, she said.
Smollett had to post 10 percent of that or $10,000. Ordinarily, that money would be returned to him or his attorneys.
The stunning decision to drop the 16 counts of disorderly conduct was presumably made without the input of States Attorney Kim Foxx, who recused herself from the case last month after revealing shed had contact with Smolletts representatives early on in the investigation.
Foxx declined to provide details at the time. Communications later released to the Tribune, however, showed Foxx had asked Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to turn over the investigation to the FBI after she was approached by a politically connected lawyer about the case.
Holmes said she was not privy to the evidence that led prosecutors to bring charges, but she accused police Superintendent Johnson of trying the case in the press.
When asked if authorities should investigate who actually attacked Smollett, Holmes noted that two brothers both of whom knew Smollett had already admitted their involvement. They alleged that Smollett paid them to stage the attack.
The two men who attacked him have indicated that they attacked him, so we already know who attacked him, those brothers, she said.
When asked whether she was calling for the brothers to be charged, Holmes said that is a decision for prosecutors to make.
We dont want to try them in the press any more than (Smollett) wanted to be tried in the press, she said.
For unclear reasons, Judge Steven Watkins ordered the public court file sealed.
There had been no clue that prosecutors planned the about-face before the announcement. In fact, there likely would have been no reporters in the courtroom if it hadnt been for a publicist for Smolletts attorney alerting the news media Tuesday morning that Smollett was already in court for an unscheduled emergency hearing.
Moments after the judge allowed the dismissal, attorneys for Smollett issued a statement.
Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him, the statement said. Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.
Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions, the statement continued. This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.
Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career.
Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi declined immediate comment, saying he expected both Superintendent Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel would address the issue later in the day.
Everyone knows how the department feels, Guglielmi told a Tribune reporter. The superintendent and mayor will (speak) on the city and departments behalf.
A CPD source said Eddie Johnson was furious and maintained the evidence against Smollett was rock solid. https://t.co/X6ORN9SLzu Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) March 26, 2019
At a news conference last month announcing the charges against the celebrity, Johnson spoke out in anger about Smollett, saying his hoax dragged Chicagos reputation through the mud.
The 36-year-old actor, who is African-American and openly gay, has said he was walking from a Subway sandwich shop to his apartment in the 300 block of East North Water Street about 2 a.m. Jan. 29 when two men walked up, yelled racial and homophobic slurs, hit him and wrapped a noose around his neck.
Smollett said they also yelled, This is MAGA country, in a reference to President Donald Trumps campaign slogan of Make America Great Again.
Police initially treated the incident as a hate crime, but their focus turned to Smollett after two brothers who were alleged to have been his attackers told police that Smollett had paid them $3,500 to stage the attack, with a promise of an additional $500 later.
Police pieced together much of their evidence by reviewing footage from about 55 police and private surveillance cameras showing the brothers movements before and after the attack.
The shift in the investigation came amid intense press coverage and often bitter public debate and stinging skepticism on social media.
Smollett addressed those doubts in a national TV interview and in a strongly worded statement after the brothers were released from custody after questioning by police.
A week before the alleged attack, Smollett told police he received a threatening letter at work. Prosecutors said Smollett staged the attack because he was unhappy with the studios response to the threatening letter. Chicago police took it a step further, accusing Smollett of faking the letter as well.
Federal authorities are conducting a separate investigation into that letter.
CANTON, N.Y. -- An Upstate New York jail employee has been convicted of two felonies for engaging in sexual misconduct with three inmates over the course of several years, according to the New York Attorney Generals Office.
Jennifer Parker, a former kitchen supervisor at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility in Canton, was convicted of two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a class E felony, and one count of Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor.
Parker was found guilty of engaging in various sexual acts with three inmates who worked for her in the kitchen and who, by state law, are incapable of consent because they are incarcerated. The conviction was announced Tuesday by New York Attorney General Letitia James office.
Parker was the head cook at the correctional facility in Canton from August 2010 until she resigned from her position in June 2018. Her responsibilities included managing and supervising both civilian employees and inmates who worked in the kitchen.
Parker admitted in court that she engaged in oral sexual conduct with two inmates under her supervision and control, one between June 2011 and July 2011 and another in May 2012. She also admitted that she forcibly touched a third inmate between February and March 2014.
Parker is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2019. She will also be required to register as a sex offender.
HANNIBAL, N.Y. -- A former Hannibal town official sent a 16-year-old boy images of naked women, state police said.
George H. Ritchie, 61, of 353 Blythe Road in Hannibal, is accused of sending pornographic images to the teen via Facebook Messenger, state police spokesman Trooper Jack Keller said.
The teen looked at the images on his cell phone in school on Thursday and was sent to the principals office, Keller said. After he was sent to the principals office for violating a policy prohibiting students from using cell phone in school, the teen told school officials about the photos of the naked women that he had received, the trooper said.
A school resource officer contacted state police, which led to Ritchies arrest on Friday.
Troopers charged Ritchie with first-degree disseminating indecent material to a minor, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. He was arraigned in Hannibal Town Court and released on his own recognizance.
Ritchie previously was elected to fill two separate town board vacancies on the Hannibal Town Council and also previously served as the Hannibal town highway superintendent.
He is not currently an elected town official, Hannibal Town Supervisor Virginia Wilbur said Monday.
However, Oswego County Conservative Chairman Ronald Greenleafe said Ritchie had told him he was planning to run for county legislator this year. Petitions cannot be turned in until April 1, but if Ritchie does continue with his plans, Greenleafe said Ritchie would force a primary against longtime county Legislator and Majority Leader Terry Wilbur, the son of Hannibals current town supervisor.
Ritchie -- a former member of the town of Hannibals planning board, zoning board of appeals and board of assessment review -- most recently ran for election in November. But his bid to win a seat on the Hannibal Town Council was unsuccessful, as he lost to Republican Brenda Travis Wilson.
Greenleafe, the countys Conservative Party chairman who previously served 14 years as the Hannibal town supervisor and is now the village of Hannibal mayor, said he was shocked to learn of Ritchies arrest.
Unbelievable, Greenleafe said. Hes done some strange things in the past, but nothing like that... He never even indicated anything like that.
Ritchie could not be reached for comment Monday. He is scheduled to answer the charges at 6 p.m. April 30 in Hannibal Town Court.
Girls in the front row of David Archuletas concert at The Haunt in Ithaca on March 25 were literally crying and fanning themselves. One in the overwhelmingly female crowd pulled a tissue out of her back pocket and SnapChatted mascara running down her face. They screamed when he started playing his biggest hits and when he hit a high note. They stuck their hands out for high fives as he gave out as many as he could.
It was a pop music cliche, but it was still fun.
Its probably ironic to even say this, but besides all the examples listed above, pop music has become known for making broad and sweeping statements about positive life experiences. Pop cliches arent a new thing either. Theyve been around since The Beatles became more popular than Jesus by writing countless songs about loving some random girl. Beatlemaniacs practically invented the screaming-girl-at-a-concert trope. So its not really Archuletas fault that his show was a bit stale at parts.
Archuleta took several breaks between songs to trace his career arc after competing on the 2008 season of American Idol, when he finished second place as a 17-year-old. He has since described his experience as damaging to his mental health and to his family. and while he doesn't have quite as high of celebrity as former Idol contestants Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks and Scotty McCreery, pretty much anyone who was listening to pop music in 2008 knows his debut hit single, Crush.
He described how he felt suffocated by the music industry. He constantly heard people telling him that the path to happiness was fame and popularity, but once he was rubbing elbows with Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, he felt empty.
Theres more to life than being well-known and liked, he said.
So he quit music for two years and went on a Mormon mission trip to Chile. For him, it was a journey of serving others, trusting the man upstairs and gaining a new perspective on life. He genuinely seemed touched and changed by his trip, but hearing him mention it every three songs made it feel tired and more like a PR statement than a heartfelt declaration. Everyone cheered him on anyway.
Some of the things he said felt like they could have been written across motivational posters, like Life is like a symphony and if you keep on listening youll find the part that you play, and Sometimes we need to step away and have some time to ourselves to see what really matters. But it was cute, the crowd ate it up, and I couldnt help but grin myself, even if I was rolling my eyes as I did it. Call me a grouchy critic.
There were some genuinely awesome moments, though. He did an acoustic cover of the Pokemon theme song and played a soon-to-be-released track which, based on the chorus, is probably called Paralyzed that could easily find itself on a workout playlist also populated by Imagine Dragons and A Head Full of Dreams-era Coldplay.
A five-year-old named Angelina stood front and center. Archuleta knelt down to say hello, and then asked the crowd to keep an eye on her.
We dont want her to get smooshed into the stage, he said.
He invited the crowd to sing the chorus on his cover of Shallow from A Star Is Born, and when they unexpectedly harmonized with him, his face lit up. He sang one song in Spanish and did Latin dance steps, paying homage to his Hispanic heritage and his South American mission trip.
He left the stage without playing his biggest song, but came back out less than a minute after leaving when the crowd chanted Crush, Crush, Crush. The entire concert ended by 8:45, great for the college students and kids in the crowd out on a school night.
After all the screaming girls left, feeling uplifted and powerful by Archuletas journey-slash-pep talk, several hung back and sat on the stage. They talked to his backing band coincidentally, two of the three of them also have the first name David. They gave out hugs and autographs while packing up their instruments.
SOUTH GLENS FALLS, NY --Within hours of a devastating fire that heavily damaged a Glens Falls-area craft brewery, fellow brewers from across Upstate New York rallied to offer help, support and assistance.
The late Monday fire gutted a large portion of the brewhouse at Common Roots Brewing, a 5-year-old brewery and tap room in South Glens Falls. The fire appears to have be accidental, but remains under investigation, according to a report in the Glens Falls Post-Star. Customers were in the tap room at the time, but no one was hurt, the Post-Star reported.
The brewery, owned by the father-son team of Bert and Christian Weber, posted this note on Facebook Monday night:
Earlier this evening, a fire broke out at our brewery and taproom in South Glens Falls. While this is a very difficult time, we are grateful everyone got out safely. We appreciate the efforts of our local first responders and thank each of you for your thoughts and support. An additional update will be provided at the appropriate time.
That was almost immediately followed by offers of help from the tight-knit Upstate New York craft brewing community.
Thoughts are with you. Gonna pull the brew community together and lend a hand to you guys," wrote Kurt Borchardt, co-owner of Artisanal Brew Works in Saratoga Springs.
Binghamton Brewing Co. is here to support in any way we can. We are so sorry for your loss and grateful everyone is ok, wrote the Binghamton brewerys co-owner, Kristen Lyons.
While its too early to tell exactly what help Common Roots might need, the breweries are ready, said Paul Leone, director of the New York State Brewers Association.
This just happened last night, and my inbox is already full with messages of What can we do? 'What do they need? Leone said. We didnt have to rally the brewers -- they were rallied already.
Help could come in the form of equipment, brewing space or even having fellow brewers make some Common Roots styles to keep them in circulation while the Webers rebuild. Brewers could also offer proceeds from the sale of beers to benefit Common Roots.
There is precedent for that: When Superstorm Sandy battered the Barrier Brewing Co. on Long Island in 2012, Brewery Ommegang near Cooperstown made a beer called Barrier Relief as a fundraiser for the rebuilding effort.
More recently, brewers across the country, including a dozen or so in Upstate New York, joined with Sierra Nevada Brewing of Chico, Calif. to make version of a beer called Resilience. Proceeds from the sale of those beers aided victims of last years northern California forest fires, one of which threatened the Sierra Nevada brewery.
Theres been talk of a Resilience-type effort, but we have nothing solid yet, Leone said.
In its five years, Common Roots has made a name for itself with a range of beers, from pale ales, IPAs, and double IPAs to coffee stouts, sours and barrel-aged brews.
The fire broke out not long after Christian Weber had started a new batch, the Post-Star reported. The brewery is insured, the report said.
The brewery had also just launched an expansion project, hoping to add more taproom and retail space, a private bar, an outdoor deck, and a kitchen, according to a recent Common Roots Facebook post. Construction was supposed to begin this summer.
The brewery is in South Glens Falls, a Saratoga County community adjacent to the city of Glens Falls, which is in Warren County.
Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. An out-of-town doctor has tentatively agreed to become Onondaga Countys next chief medical examiner.
Ann Rooney, the countys deputy county executive, said today the county hopes to finalize a deal with the doctor within the next two weeks.
Rooney refused to identify the doctor or provide any other details other than to say shes from out of town.
The county abruptly fired Dr. Robert Stoppacher, its former medical examiner, early this year without explanation. Medical examiners are doctors trained in forensic pathology who perform autopsies to determine the manner and cause of death. They also testify in court.
Stoppachers departure left the office with only one forensic pathologist on staff who recently left. Since 2014 the office had been staffed by the chief medical examiner and anywhere from one to three other pathologists.
The county is currently contracting with New York City pathologists to perform autopsies here. The county is spending about $111,000 a month on contract pathologists and is on track to spend nearly $1.4 million this year if it does not fill the vacancies.
Because there is a national shortage of board-certified forensic pathologists nationwide, the county wants to increase the pay for forensic pathologists so it can fill the vacancies. The county executives office wants to increase the annual pay for the chief ME from $190,000 to $250,000, a 30 percent increase. It also would increase the pay for other vacant pathologist positions reporting to the chief ME by at least 20 percent. In addition to the chief ME, the county wants to hire three other pathologists to staff the MEs office.
The 30 percent increase would also apply to county Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta, who oversees the MEs office. She and the ME are paid the same amount. The increase would make Gupta and the new ME Onondaga Countys highest paid employees.
The county Legislature is expected to vote on the proposal April 2.
When asked if the candidate for the MEs job has tentatively accepted the position based on the current salary or the proposed higher salary, Rooney said, I dont think she has clarified that at this point.
The county says the higher salary and fringe benefit costs for the MEs office staff would be less than what the county is spending on contract pathologists.
The county wants to restaff the MEs office as soon as possible because it has contacts to perform autopsies for Madison, Jefferson, Oneida, Oswego and Cayuga counties. The office performed 876 autopsies last year.
County officials say the MEs office could lose some contracts with surrounding counties and its national accreditation if the staffing problem is not addressed.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Below are links to each section of the December 2016 draft environmental impact statement for the Interstate 81 project in Syracuse that were recently made public.
The document, released late last week by a group opposed to the community grid" option, contains more than 11,000 pages outlining the potential impacts of replacing Interstate 81 in Syracuse.
It is not the final version of the highly anticipated DEIS to be released soon by the state transportation department.
The so-called preliminary draft statement was created by the New York State Department of Transportation and sent to other state agencies in December 2016, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Thats where the group Save81 got it, and it released the document on Thursday to the public after years of using it to lobby against the grid.
The documents below carry a major caveat: The state has said the conclusions Save81 has drawn are incorrect and are based on preliminary and outdated information.
The state will (hopefully) soon release an updated and perfected version of this document, which will also evaluate whether a tunnel would be a good idea for Interstate 81. The documents below look only at rebuilding the viaduct and the grid option, which entails tearing the viaduct down here and re-designating I-481 as I-81.
Below is the December 2016 preliminary DEIS:
Cover Title and Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Project Setting
Alternatives
Construction Means and Methods
Transportation and Engineering Considerations
Introduction to Economic and Social Considerations
Social Considerations
Economic Considerations
Historic and Cultural Resources
Parks and Recreational Resources
Visual Resources
Air Quality
Climate Change
Noise
Water Resources
General Ecology
Asbestos
Contaminated Materials
Scenic Byways
Farmlands
Short Term Uses of the Environment Versus Long-Term Productivity
Irreversible And Irretrievable Commitment of Resources
Unavoidable Impacts
Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation
Summary of Alternatives
Agency and Public Involvement
Financing and Implementation
Plans and Sections
In-Depth Bridge Inspection and Evaluation
Nonstandard Features Justification Forms
Pavement Evaluation and Selection Report
Alternatives Development and Evaluation
Alternatives Evaluation Matrices
Tunnel Feasibility Study
Transportation
Existing Traffic Control Devices
VISSIM Development and Calibration Report
Traffic Volumes and Levels of Service
Accident Study
Parking Study
Conceptual Stage Relocation Plan
Historic and Cultural Resources
Architectural Resources Survey
Phase 1A Archaeological Sensitivity Study
Draft Findings Documentation (Not completed)
Draft Section 106 MOA (Not completed)
Correspondence
Visual Impact Assessment
Air Quality
Noise
Natural Resources
Water Resources Regulatory Framework
Nationwide Permits in NYS
Results of FHWA Pollutant Loading and Toler Analysis
Natural Resources
Supplemental Methodology and Regulatory Framework
Wetland and Surface Water Assessment Report
Ecological Communities and Vegetation
Wildlife Resources
Threatened, Endangered and Special Concern Species
References
Asbestos Assessment Report
Hazardous Materials
Agency and Public Involvement
If any of the links dont work or you come across something interesting, email reporter Patrick Lohmann at PLohmann@Syracuse.com.
W. Samuel Easterling a Montague-Betts Professor of Structural Steel Design and Department Head is one of many looking for the spot as the next dean of the College of Engineering. Easterling said people are very important, not only students but faculty as well. People are the core, they are our most valuable asset and key to success, Easterling said. Easterling spoke in the Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium at 2 p.m. Monday March 25.
WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. John Katko on Monday said Americans deserve full disclosure of special counsel Robert Muellers report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election so that theres no lingering doubt about its conclusions.
They should disclose as much of the Mueller report as they are legally able to do and do it as soon as possible, Katko, R-Camillus, said of the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr.
Ive done a lot of major investigations, said Katko, a former Justice Department organized crime prosecutor, and never have I seen the amount of effort put into an investigation as this one.
Barr sent a letter to Congress and a four-page summary on Sunday, noting that President Donald Trump and his campaign had been cleared of coordinating with Russia during the election.
Barrs summary said the investigation had reached no definitive conclusion on whether Trump had tried to obstruct justice.
Katko said he was impressed by the breadth of the nearly two-year investigation. Barrs summary noted that a team of 19 prosecutors and about 40 FBI agents worked on the case.
Muellers team disclosed that it issued 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, obtained nearly 230 orders for communications records, and interviewed about 500 witnesses.
Based on his experience as a federal prosecutor, Katko said, a lot of the information could be disclosed including summaries of grand jury testimony, interviews by agents and summaries of surveillance.
Even without such detailed information, Katko said, its clear that Trump and his campaign did not collude with the Russian government to try to influence the outcome of the election.
Based on what has been conducted in this investigation and how much effort has gone into itthat should be telling in and of itself, Katko told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.
After all of this, its time for us to move on, he said. Unfortunately, I dont think Democrats are going to do that.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he will ask Mueller to testify before the committee. Nadler was critical of Barr on Sunday for deciding in less than 48 hours that there was insufficient evidence to prove Trump obstructed justice during the investigation.
Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
WASHINGTON Syracuse University on Monday night awarded a prize for national political reporting to a journalist who examined how the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee helped defend President Donald Trump from his enemies.
Jason Zengerle, who writes for The New York Times Magazine and GQ, won the 2019 Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting, a prestigious award sponsored by SUs Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Zengerles work was chosen for the honor from more than 100 entries for the annual prize.
In a story published last year in The New York Times Magazine, Zengerle detailed how Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., used his chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee to help gather support for Trump against his enemies.
Zengerle was also honored at the annual Toner Prize dinner in Washington, D.C., for his stories on the political shift in federal courts.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan gave the keynote speech in front of more than 200 people at the event. Hogan is considering whether to challenge Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2020. He said Trumps rhetoric regarding the news media is dangerous.
You are not fake news, Hogan told a crowd filled with journalists. "You are not the enemy of the people.
The $5,000 Toner Prize honors the life and work of Robin Toner, a 1976 SU graduate who became the first woman to serve as national political correspondent for The New York Times.
Toner died of cancer in 2008. Her friends and classmates from SU established the Robin Toner Program in Political Reporting at the Newhouse School and the annual journalism prize competition.
Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
WASHINGTON Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins and his squad had just finished working through the night when the call came across the radio: A group of four young men had been spotted walking along a dirt road in Abu Samak, Iraq, where insurgents routinely planted bombs targeting American soldiers.
Atkins, 31, an experienced squad leader on his second tour of duty in Iraq, found two of the men when he left his patrols Humvee to investigate. Within seconds, things went tragically wrong. A hand-to-hand battle followed as Atkins realized one man had a suicide vest under his clothes. But it was too late.
Atkins wrapped himself around the bomber as he detonated the vest, saving the lives of three members of his squad from Fort Drums 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
Col. John Valledor, the battalion commander, said it was clear to him what happened that Friday morning, June 1, 2007, when he recovered Atkins body from a blast crater about an hour after the battle.
In a matter of seconds this turned into a fist fight, the fist fight turned into a bear hug and the bear hug turned into a body slam, Valledor told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.
Atkins was a very fit sergeant, Valledor said. He was physically strong and was able to lift this suicide bomber off the ground and move him away from the vehicle.
Valledor collected evidence at the scene, took statements from the surviving soldiers, and put together a detailed case to recommend Atkins for the Medal of Honor, the militarys highest award for valor.
The military brass wasnt convinced. Was there enough evidence to prove Atkins intentionally sacrificed himself to save lives? He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor for recognition of valor in battle.
Now almost 12 years later, a Pentagon review has determined that Atkins deserved the Medal of Honor after all.
His son, 22-year-old Trevor Oliver, will accept the posthumous Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump at a ceremony Wednesday at the White House.
Valledor will be at the White House too, sitting near Atkins parents, Jack and Elaine Atkins, of Bozeman, Mont.
That award is not given out lightly, Valledor said. It goes to a very few. To me, it symbolizes what the word hero means. And Sgt. Atkins was our hero.
Atkins will be only the fourth soldier from Fort Drums 10th Mountain Division to receive the Medal of Honor. The medal is reserved for the bravest of the brave, military officials say, and it is awarded only when acts of courage can be well documented.
All told, 3,505 members of the Armed Forces have received the Medal of Honor since it was authorized in 1861.
In the case of Atkins, he is the second Army soldier to receive an upgrade to the Medal of Honor since Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered a review in 2014 of more than 1,100 commendations for heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Trevor Oliver, who was 11 when his father was killed, said he hadnt heard about a review of the case since he visited Fort Drum in 2008 with his grandparents for the awarding of the Distinguished Service Cross.
In August 2018, Pentagon officials contacted him at his home in Coon Rapids, Minn., where he works at Target, to let him know they had decided to upgrade his fathers honor.
Oliver said he hadnt pushed for the review, but hes pleased the rest of the nation will finally know about the hero he honors every day by wearing his dog tags.
Its never easy being part of this kind of family, Oliver said. But its something to be proud of. He was an amazing father. The same values he had as a father he carried as a soldier.
Atkins was in the Army, either deployed overseas or at posts far from home, for almost five years by the time Trevor turned 11. That meant missing birthdays and other special occasions. Trevor told the Army News Service his father had called from Iraq, five days before he was killed, to wish him a happy birthday.
Trevor said he learned to savor their time together during breaks each winter and summer, often camping in Montana on fishing trips.
He credits the example of strength and resilience set by his father for helping him through the difficult years after his death. President Trump told Trevor he had good genes from a tough warrior when he called recently to tell him about the medal.
I had a lot of positive reinforcement as a child that you dont wake up sad if you wake up alive, Trevor said. Ive always had a strong, positive outlook on life and I dont let anything negative get a hold on me.
Valledor, who served as Atkins battalion commander in Iraq, said he saw those qualities in Trevor as a child when he visited Fort Drum near Watertown in November 2007. Trevor helped unveil a memorial to the battalions 10 soldiers killed in Iraq.
Members of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry had contributed their own money to update the memorial after a 15-month tour in Iraq. The soldiers watched, tears streaming down their faces, as Oliver traced his fingers across his fathers nameplate on the monument.
It was one of those bitter cold days, Valledor said, but I will tell you the most memorable event of the day was when Trevor traced the monument. There wasnt a dry eye in the formation. He was 11 years old. You could hear a pin drop. He walked over to the monument unveiled it and traced the names.
Trevor Oliver, 11, son of Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins, and Atkins' father, John, unveil an updated monument in November 2007 honoring soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment who died in Iraq.Army Spec. Jennie Burrett | Fort Drum
Atkins displayed leadership qualities and a background that stood out from the moment he arrived at Fort Drum to join the 10th Mountain Division in December 2005, Valledor said.
Atkins had re-enlisted in the Army after serving in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., from November 2000 to December 2003.
After his first enlistment, he returned home to enroll in the University of Montana in Missoula and work as a painting and concrete contractor. But his parents said he longed to return to the military.
I think he was bored with civilian life and how undisciplined civilian life can be, said Jack Atkins, a Vietnam veteran. He really liked the Army and wanted to go back.
Jack Atkins said he advised his son that he should update a form with his military specialty so that he wouldnt end up in the infantry back in Iraq. But he wouldnt hear of it, Jack said.
Travis arrived at New Yorks Fort Drum in December 2005 and deployed with his battalion to Iraq in August 2006.
Jack and Elaine Atkins said it appeared Travis was preparing for a career in the Army when they visited their son at Fort Drum in the summer of 2006. Travis had enrolled in leadership training and marksmanship programs.
Elaine Atkins said it was clear that her son found his calling in the Army. When he returned home from basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia in 2000, he told her it was more fun than anything he had ever done.
He was patriotic, he served his country, and he did the best he could, she said.
On Wednesday, a grateful nation will acknowledge that fact. Among those at the White House for the Medal of Honor ceremony will be Sand Aijo, one of the three soldiers who owes his life to Atkins.
I think about that day all the time, Aijo told the Army News Service. I think its always important to remember that sacrifice. And, I always try to make sure I live my life to the fullest and do the best I can to make sure that sacrifice wasnt for nothing.
Atkins will become the fifth military service member and third Army soldier to posthumously receive the Medal of Honor for actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The posthumous Medal of Honor will top a list of more than a dozen medals and honors that Atkins received during his military career, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Army Achievement Medal.
He survived four blasts from improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, while in Iraq, before the suicide bomb that claimed his life.
Jack and Elaine Atkins said theyre proud of their sons achievements. But when asked what it means to know the Medal of Honor will now be among them, Elaine put it succinctly.
Once somebody has passed, it doesnt matter what medal they receive, she said. Theyre still gone. The fact that there are people who believe Travis deserved the medal, thats comforting.
Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Onondaga, N.Y. Seven years ago, 13,018 students showed up for the fall semester at Onondaga Community College.
It was OCCs highest enrollment in the schools 57 years.
Last fall, enrollment dropped to 9,834, a 23 percent decrease from that historic high.
Enrollment at community colleges regularly ebbs and flows with the economy. But this decline at schools like OCC is different, community college administrators from across Upstate New York say.
Today, the actual number of students in the pipeline the kids now in elementary, middle and high schools is shrinking in many parts of the country, including the North East.
Across Upstate New York, the number of high school graduates is projected to drop 11 percent during the next decade.
We knew it was coming, to a degree, said Michael OConnor, the current English Department chair whos been at OCC for a decade. Anyone looking at the number of kids going into kindergarten saw this coming.
Those changing demographics are now hitting community colleges like OCC. A review of state and community college data by syracuse.com | The Post-Standard shows that enrollment has fallen at 29 of the states 30 community colleges during the past nine years.
The enrollment challenge isnt unique to New York or to two-year schools. Enrollment dipped 6 percent from 2010 to 2016 at four-year schools nationwide, according to the federal government.
But community colleges are in an especially tight spot. The decreasing high school pipeline is coming as the unemployment rate is low -- a time when fewer people go back to school. Its coming as competition for students at four-year schools and through online classes is on the rise, administrators say.
As the overall numbers shrink, community colleges must get more creative in order to thrive. In addition to attracting and keeping recent high school grads, these schools must do a better job serving older students, says Randall J. Randy VanWagoner, the president of Mohawk Valley Community College.
We need to adjust, said VanWagoner, who also is president of the New York Community College Association of Presidents. Many systems are set up for recent high school grads. The colleges that are managing the enrollment decline better are figuring out how to manage the returning adults.
The Gordon Student Center at Onondaga Community College. Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.comTeri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com
Its why OCC started Weekend College last fall.
The classes are on Friday nights and Saturdays in four programs: criminal justice, business, alcohol and substance abuse counseling and early childhood education. Students can earn an associates degree in 14 to 16 months. Fifty-four students are enrolled, with another 65 already signed up for next fall, according to OCC.
Its the most significant new program at OCC targeted to older students, according to the college, and administrators expect it to grow.
Mohawk Valley started a similar night program two years ago and recently awarded about two dozen associates degrees in business, VanWagoner said.
Those are small numbers at OCC and Mohawk Valley. But just a few years ago, the market for similar programs wasnt there. Then, night and weekend programs were offered and no one enrolled, VanWagoner said. The students are coming now, he said.
So far, OCC has adjusted to the smaller enrollment numbers without cutting any degree programs and without any layoffs, said Amy Kremenek, OCCs vice president of enrollment development and communications. The college has cut adjunct instructor hours and is offering fewer sections of some core classes.
This years enrollment is still larger than it was in 2006, the year OCC opened its dorms. Today, the residence halls are about 90 percent full, Kremenek said. Thats more than enough rent money to pay off the existing building loans, she said.
At the same time, the school has raised tuition. Full-time tuition increased this year to $4,900. Thats up $600 for a full-time, fall-and-spring student, compared with five years ago.
OCC is faring better than some other Upstate campuses when it comes to enrollment trends.
In the past nine years, enrollment at Erie Community College has dropped by about 5,000 students, or 30 percent. During the same time, Monroe Community College has shrunk by 6,700 students a 35 percent decrease. OCCs enrollment, meanwhile, has dropped 16 percent.
Only Broome Community College saw an overall increase since 2010, and a slight one at that -- just 3 percent.
This is probably the new normal, said Christine Casalinuovo-Adams, the associate vice president for enrollment management at MCC.
One of MCCs tactics involves helping students manage their finances. The school will freeze debt payments for students so long as they keep taking classes. The idea isnt to build up a bigger bill, Casalinuovo-Adams said. Instead, its to keep interest from growing and bill collectors from circling.
Plus, students who keep working toward their degree have a better chance of earning a higher income in the long run, she said.
One of the unknowns for community colleges is the states new program offering free college tuition. The Excelsior Scholarship Program allows qualifying students a free education at four-year SUNY and CUNY schools. Its an opportunity that allows some students to leap from high school over a community college and directly into a university.
While thats good news for the students, it may also mean some community colleges may see fewer students enroll directly from their local high schools.
Despite the shrinking pipeline, recent high school graduates remain a core constituency at community colleges.
In the past three years, at least 1 in 5 recent high school graduates in Onondaga County took classes at OCC. Kremenek says she expects that high school ratio to stay steady, even as the overall number shrinks.
Deb Schneider, a certified executive pastry chef (far right), tastes souffles prepared by Onondaga Community College students during class. Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.comTeri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com
To that end, OCC has started a new scholarship program, paid for by its non-profit foundation. The school is working with five area school districts to identify ninth-graders who show potential for college but need a push. If the students meet certain goals throughout their high school years, theyll get a scholarship from the OCC Foundation. So far, 300 students are in the program.
Kremenek and others say the situation is not a crisis. But it is a time for expanding ideas over class sizes.
We cant cut our way out of this, Kremenek said. What were looking to do is to develop new ways, new programs to better serve students, to better serve the community so that we can continue to, at least, sustain.
NEW YORK Todd Howe says hes a changed man now that he has swapped what his lawyers refer to as the snaking vines of the lobbying network for the salt-of-the earth goodness of Idaho.
And as the Rensselaer County-bred consultant-turned-bagman faces sentencing for his various crimes on April 5, federal prosecutors described in detail the extent of Howe's cooperation with their investigations into two pay-to-play schemes that resulted in the convictions of a Joseph Percoco, the former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Alain Kaloyeros, the founder of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, among others.
"I am writing as a profoundly changed person," Howe wrote in a letter to U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni filed late last week. "I am humbled and humiliated by the egregious actions I committed, but I know that to make amends for the past I have to continue moving forward to create a new, positive and productive future."
Howe added, "if you are to give me another chance, I will never go down this road again."
Howe's family members, friends and former co-workers including former Lt. Gov. Stanley Lundine wrote letters on his behalf to the judge attesting to his good character. Howe's oldest daughter, Hannah, revealed that her father was attacked by other inmates at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in lower Manhattan.
Howe "cracked his head when he was pushed down the stairs by an inmate and he was injured again by another inmate who kicked him so hard while taking a shower that his Achilles ruptured," his daughter told the judge.
"My dad still walks with a limp, but is getting physical therapy to help," she wrote.
In September 2016, Howe admitted to eight felonies, including wire and tax fraud, extortion and bribery. His guilty plea includes his role in Percoco's acceptance of more than $300,000 in bribes and the rigging of $855 million in bids for projects in the governor's "Buffalo Billion" initiative.
Howe also admitted he ripped off his former employer, the powerful Albany law firm Whiteman Osterman & Hanna of more than $1.7 million. He didn't pay taxes on the money he stole from 2010 to 2015, leading to a tax liability of more than $714,000.
Howe operated out of Washington, D.C., running a subsidiary called WOH Government Solutions that shut down amid the federal investigation.
The onetime aide to the late Gov. Mario Cuomo and later his son, when the current governor served as federal housing secretary under President Bill Clinton made it clear he feels at peace in his new home in Ketchum, Idaho, where he is working as facilities manager at a winter-summer resort. There, Howe drives a Snowcat, a tractor-like vehicle used to groom ski slopes.
The judge allowed Howe, 58, to go free on bail in August.
"My life in Idaho is much simpler and more modest than it was while we were living in Washington, D.C. I'm more at peace with this new lifestyle and I am in a much better place, both mentally and physically," Howe said in his letter. "We enjoy simpler pleasures now like biking, hiking the mountains, taking long walks with our dog, reading, exploring this new state and enjoying the friendly and welcoming community.
"I have found it therapeutic living this less complicated life in an environment where salt-of-the earth goodness is what is valued, rather than the pressures and competitiveness of Washington and New York. Being outdoors every day in the Idaho mountains and working hard physically has itself been extremely helpful to me."
Sarah Howe, the defendant's wife of 35 years, told the judge her husband no longer watches cable television. Instead he has a library subscription. Instead of fancy bike classes, she said, Howe rides his bike a few miles to work. He reads the news online instead of receiving newspaper subscriptions.
Sarah Howe, who met her husband when they attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, noted that she spent most of her career at non-profit organizations, most recently for nine years at a group that "works to shine a positive light on the good work of public servants."
She said her husband, who "had a reputation as someone who could get anything done," was under pressure at work to deliver.
"He handled the pressure better than anyone I have ever met and even seemed to thrive in that intense atmosphere," she wrote. "But it is clear to me now that Todd seemed to handle the pressure, at least on the surface, for the benefit of our family.
"In reality, he was like a duck who swims smoothly along the water but is kicking for its life underneath the surface. In this way, Todd was able to go down this dark road of over-spending and then committing crimes to make up for it, all while making it seem like everything was fine to us ... But I have to accept that he did these things and I know that together we can make sure he stays on the right path."
In a separate filing, federal prosecutors in Manhattan asked the judge to show leniency to Howe, citing his "significant and useful" cooperation that led to seven convictions at the political corruption trials of Percoco, Cuomo's former executive deputy secretary, and Kaloyeros. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman's office did not make a specific recommendation of jail time for Howe.
Prosecutors noted Howe's embarrassing arrest in the middle of the trial after he admitted under cross-examination to trying to get his credit card company to refund the cost of night's stay at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan. Still, they said he was deserving of the degree of leniency typically afforded to witnesses who cooperate with the federal government.
Howe was "a productive and helpful cooperating witness in an important public corruption case that sent a powerful deterrent message," stated Assistant U.S. Attorney Janis Echenberg, joined by fellow prosecutors Robert Boone, David Zhou and Matthew Podolsky, in her sentencing recommendation.
Howe's lawyers, Savannah Stevenson and Richard Morvillo, are asking Caproni to sentence him to time served which in this case means the seven months he spent in Manhattan Correctional Center after his mid-trial admission about his Waldorf stay.
"Todd has begun a new life far removed from the politics and pressures of Washington, DC, New York, and the snaking vines of the lobbying network," they stated.
The lawyers submitted some 20 letters to the court from the family, friends and ex-coworkers. Alex Bliss, his current employer at the Idaho resort, told Caproni: "I appreciate you taking the time to review this letter and would ask that you consider leniency in your sentencing so that Todd can continue to work here at the resort."
Lundine, who served alongside Mario Cuomo from 1987 to 1994, wrote: "When I knew him, Todd was an honorable, public-spirited young man. He exhibited integrity and high character. It seems improbable to me that Todd has fundamentally changed in the years since I knew him as a dedicated, hardworking public servant. Obviously, I have no direct knowledge of the crimes for which he was convicted. However, based on what I know about him, he is a good family man with deep respect for his community and his country."
Another letter of support was submitted by Susan D. Berlin, a Washington-based psychotherapist who said Howe began meeting with her in August 2016 and that he has been sincere in his efforts to "live a better life and to be there for his family."
Howe's cooperation led to the March trial convictions of Percoco as well as Steven Aiello, the president of COR Development in Syracuse, and the subsequent guilty plea of Peter Galbraith Kelly, a vice president of Competitive Power Ventures. In July, another jury convicted Kaloyeros, Aiello, COR Development general counsel Joseph Gerardi who was acquitted at the first trial) and Louis Ciminelli, the owner of LPCiminelli in Buffalo on bid-rigging charges.
Echenberg noted in her recommendation letter that Howe met with the government more than 30 times.
Percoco reported to federal prison earlier this month.
-- By Robert Gavin, Times Union, Albany
Rockland County plans to declare a state of emergency over its ongoing measles outbreak and ban unvaccinated minors from public places.
The county, located outside New York City, is battling the states worst measles outbreak in decades, according to The New York Times. The state of emergency takes effect at midnight and expires in 30 days.
The outbreak began last year. So far, it includes 153 confirmed cases, according to the county. Since the start of 2019, 48 new cases have been confirmed.
Over 45 percent of those infected are between 4 and 18 years old and another 23.8 percent are 1 to 3 years old.
Over 82 percent of those infected have not received any measles vaccinations, the county said.
The outbreak has mostly affected ultra-Orthodox communities, according to the Times. Anti-vaccine literature has been spreading among those groups and their vaccination rates tend to be lower.
Under the emergency declaration, no one under 18 years old will be allowed in public places until the declaration expires or they receive the measles vaccination, according to WABC in New York.
It's not clear how the rule will be enforced.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day will discuss details of the emergency at a press conference this afternoon, according to the Journal News in White Plains.
Several parts of the country have been hit with measles outbreaks in recent months. The illnesses have drawn attention to vaccine exemptions.
A recent poll from Siena College found nearly 80 percent of New Yorkers said vaccinations should be required for kids before they can go to school, regardless of family religious beliefs.
A new bill in the New York Legislature would allow minors to get vaccinated even if their parents object. Other officials in states including Texas have been looking to make vaccine exemptions easier to obtain.
Measles was largely eliminated in the United States after the vaccine was introduced in the 1960s. Some health officials are worried about a renewed threat in the face of growing opposition to vaccines among some.
Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Denver More people have been ending up in the emergency room with cannabis-related problems since recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado, according to a new study.
The study analyzed thousands of emergency room visits in the Denver area. It was published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Marijuana emergency room cases in the study increased threefold since 2014, when recreational pot became legal in Colorado, the study found, according to The Associated Press.
Edibles like pot brownies and gummy bears were behind a disproportionate number of marijuana-related medical crises in the study, according to The New York Times. They were also more likely to cause severe intoxication, acute psychiatric problems and cardiovascular issues.
Marijuana smokers were more likely to have gastrointestinal complaints. It's possible edibles could be more potent and dangerous than marijuana that is smoked or vaped, according to the Times.
Although far more marijuana was sold in smoked form, edibles accounted for about 10 percent of the cannabis-related emergency room visits in the study, the Times said. The patients involved also seemed to be sicker.
Dr. Andrew Monte of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, lead author of the study, noted that the only deaths in Colorado definitively attributed to cannabis involved edibles. In all three incidents, including a murder and a suicide in 2014 and another suicide in 2015, the marijuana users exhibited erratic behavior after consuming edibles, the Times said.
Some of the issues with edibles could result from the fact that the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis is absorbed more slowly when eaten. The edibles can become more dangerous if people use too much because they dont immediately feel the effects, according to CNN.
The body also takes longer to clear the chemical in edible form, CNN said.
Monte said that most people use marijuana safely, but increased availability and higher concentrations could lead to more bad reactions, according to AP. He also said edibles are too dangerous to be part of the recreational marketplace.
Theyre probably a better fit for medical use, he said.
Over 30 states now allow marijuana use in some form. Lawmakers in New York have been debating legalization of recreational pot since Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for the move last year.
Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Syracuse, N.Y. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said today hes hopeful Attorney General William Barr will release the results of a special counsels investigation into whether the president conspired or coordinated with Russia during the 2016 campaign.
The president today said it should be made public, Schumer said. A number of Republican senators said it should be made public. So Im hopeful it will be. I hope Barr doesnt hold it back.
.@SenSchumer said he was hopeful AG Barr would release Muellers findings. pic.twitter.com/TrYnUFS9tF Teri Weaver (@TeriKWeaver) March 25, 2019
Schumer said Barrs four-page memo -- which was released Sunday and is meant to summarize Special Counsel Robert Muellers nearly two-year investigation -- doesnt do enough.
Barrs memo says Mueller did not find that Trump conspired with Russians during the last presidential campaign. On obstruction, Barr said, Muellers work did not find Trump committed a crime nor did it exonerate the president.
Attorney General Barrs letter raises as many questions as it answers, Schumer said. And so we need the full Mueller report, and the underlying documentation, to be made public.
At the same time, Schumer, the Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate, also questioned whether Barr was a down-the-middle arbiter when it comes to interpreting the part the investigation that deals with obstruction of justice.
.@SenSchumer in Syracuse on whether AG Barr is a down-the-middle arbiter when it comes to issue of president and obstruction of justice pic.twitter.com/WcqGCTMcz1 Teri Weaver (@TeriKWeaver) March 25, 2019
The criticism refers to comments Barr made last summer, before he was attorney general. Then, he said he thought the obstruction case against Trump was misconceived.
Schumer made his comments at Helio Health, a center that treats people with mental health and substance use problems. The center is one in New York that receives $30 million in federal money. The funding helps patients by shortening waiting lists, increases services and even allowing for walk-in services. That money was cut from Trumps proposed budget, Schumer said.
The senator said its too soon to stop pushing for answers when it comes to the Mueller investigation.
In response to a question about investigation fatigue, Schumer said: If theres something really wrong, we should look into it. It should be looked into, thats what the American people want. Not for its own sake, but if theres something wrong. The only way youll know that is if you see the full report. Thats why it should be made public.
ECJ Rules In French Social Security Tax Dispute
by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels
26 March 2019
The European Court of Justice has ruled that welfare contributions aimed at funding social security benefits in France cannot be charged on income from the assets of French residents insured under the Swiss social security scheme.
The case concerned two married French resident taxpayers who are insured under the Swiss social security scheme, due to one of them undertaking their career in Switzerland.
In 2016, the French tax authorities declared that they should be subject, in respect of income from assets received in France in 2015, to contributions and levies apportioned, in particular, to the National Solidarity Fund for Independent Living (CNA).
On the basis that the benefits funded by the contributions and levies at issue administered by that body are social security contributions, the taxpayers disputed their liability to those contributions and levies before the French courts on the ground that they are already insured under the Swiss social security scheme and cannot be required to contribute to the funding of the French social security scheme.
The ECJ pointed out that the EU regulation on the coordination of social security systems provides that persons to whom that regulation applies are to be subject to the legislation of a single member state only and, for those purposes, Switzerland is regarded as a member state.
In the action brought by the taxpayers against the French tax authorities, the Administrative Court of Appeal, Nancy, France, expressed doubts as to the nature of the benefits funded by the contributions and levies apportioned to the CNA.
That court therefore asked the Court of Justice whether those benefits, namely the allocation personnalisee d'autonomie (personal independence allowance (APA), in English) and the prestation compensatoire du handicap (disability compensation allowance (PCH)), may be regarded as social security benefits.
The ECJ concluded that the APA and the PCH are "social security contributions," and there is no need to ascertain whether either of the benefits are "special non-contributory cash benefits" within the meaning of that regulation, since the Court has previously held that both concepts are mutually exclusive.
Switzerland Consults On Linking With EU Emissions System
by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels
26 March 2019
The Swiss Federal Council is consulting on proposed changes to the CO2 Ordinance, which would link the Swiss and EU emissions trading systems.
The Federal Council said that linking the two schemes will enable companies in the Swiss ETS to trade in the larger and more liquid EU emissions market and to benefit from the same competition conditions as EU companies.
An agreement to link the systems was signed in November 2017. The Swiss Parliament approved the agreement on March 22, 2019. For the changes to be implemented, Switzerland's CO2 Ordinance must be amended.
The linking agreement is scheduled to enter into force on January 1, 2020. Emissions from civil aviation and fossil power plants will be included in the Swiss ETS, as is already the case in the EU. The scheme will cover domestic flights and flights from Switzerland to other countries in the European Economic Area.
The EU's ETS operates in 31 countries the EU's member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. A single, EU-wide cap applies, and auctioning is the default method for allocating allowances. The Swiss ETS is also based on the cap-and-trade principle.
The consultation will close on July 2, 2019.
What just happened? Samsung has taken the unprecedented step of issuing a warning before publishing its first-quarter earnings guidance.
The tech giant said it expects Q1 2019 profits to miss expectations due to the falling price and demand of its chips. The company expects the scope of price declines in main memory chip products to be larger than expected, Samsung said in a regulatory filing, which was posted a week ahead of its earnings guidance.
Chip prices have been falling for a long time now, leading to both Micron and Samsung reducing NAND and DRAM production due to low demand and oversupply. DRAMeXchange writes that DRAM chip prices were down over 20 percent on average during the first quarter.
Its not just its chip business that is dragging down profits. The stagnant smartphone market has seen declining demand for Samsungs display panelsweaker than expected iPhone sales, for which Samsung provides the OLEDs, have affected the Korean firms bottom line.
According to financial analyst firm Refinitiv SmartEstimate (via Reuters), Samsung will post an operating profit of 7.2 trillion won ($6.4 billion) for the January to March period. Thats over 50 percent lower than the 15.6 trillion won it recorded during the same period one year ago. Sales are expected to fall to 53.7 trillion won from 60.6 trillion.
Its not all bad news. Samsung last week told shareholders that sales of memory products would likely see a revival in the second half of the year following a disappointing first half. It also expects an increase in demand for OLED panels in the last two quarters of 2019.
Through the looking glass: Branching out into related industries can help build long term success, but managing a more diverse enterprise has its downsides as well. Nvidia is no longer looking to buy up any more businesses for the time being according to CEO Jensen Huang.
After acquiring Mellanox Technologies earlier this month, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is now ready to put all focus on current projects. In an interview at the Calcalist business conference in Tel Aviv, he went on record to say, "This is a great acquisition. I am not looking for another."
When Mr. Huang was asked if he thought Nvidia overpaid for Mellanox, the response was "beyond imagination." Despite the fact that $6.9 billion was shelled out, Huang followed up by saying that Mellanox "has created amazing technology and has a great future." At the time of purchase, analysts gave Mellanox a value of $5.9 billion, while Intel bid $6 billion as its last known offer for the company.
Nvidia raked in more than $2.9 billion in 2018 from data centers, accounting for over a quarter of total revenue. Gamers might wish to believe that Nvidia's main focus is on high end gaming cards, but the biggest opportunities for new growth going forward come from data centers, cloud computing contracts, and supercomputing needs.
According to Huang, Mellanox will not be cutting any staff or removing any product lines. Mainly, because Nvidia and Mellanox do not have direct overlap of what they produce. Mellanox's InfiniBand and Ethernet-based products will be greatly beneficial to Nvidia's data center focus.
Now that a few weeks have passed since Nvidia's original acquisition announcement, investors seem to believe that Huang is onto something good even though he admits to feeling like he overpaid. Nvidia shares have risen by 15 percent since the deal was made public.
The big picture: Neptune is the eighth and farthest known planet in our solar system (sorry, Pluto). It's the fourth largest planet by diameter and the third largest in terms of mass but its distance from Earth makes it somewhat difficult to study. As such, it doesn't get as much attention as some of the other planets but is compelling nevertheless.
NASAs Voyager 2 spacecraft was the first to visit Neptune. As the craft zipped past the icy giant in 1989, it snapped photos of two large storms in the southern hemisphere which scientists called The Great Dark Spot and Dark Spot 2.
In 1994 when NASA aimed its Hubble Space Telescope at Neptune for another look, the two storms where gone. That was a surprise considering scientists had been used to looking at Jupiters Great Red Spot which has possibly been raging on for more than 100 years.
Amy Simon, a planetary scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, has been studying Neptune over the past several years to get a better grasp on how storms form on the icy planet. Since 2015, the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) project has analyzed images of Neptune, tacking the formation, path and dissipation of its various storm systems.
Imagery from 2015 to 2017 showed what scientists were no doubt hoping to witness the birth of one such storm. It started when several small, high-altitude clouds made of methane ice crystals came together. A large, dark spot later appeared in the same region, suggesting that dark spots may originate much deeper in the atmosphere than scientists originally thought.
Every time we get new images from Hubble, something is different than what we expected, Simon said.
The teams latest evidence suggests that new storms crop up on Neptune every four to six years with each lasting as many as six years. Two-year life spans seem more common, however, the group said in a paper published March 25 in the Astronomical Journal.
Lead image courtesy NASA images via Shutterstock
Apple yesterday released iOS 12.2 to the public with an updated Apple News app with Apple News+ subscription support. Now, a number of iPhone and iPad owners are complaining that the Apple News app keeps crashing for them post the iOS 12.2 update.
Reports are filled on Twitter and Reddit with iPhone users complaining about the Apple News app crashing as soon as they try to start scrolling. The app seemed to have worked fine after iOS 12.2 was initially rolled out. It is possible that the crash has started as the load on Apple News servers increased or due to a server-side change from Apple.
@AppleNews uh oh. The app keeps crashing as soon as I open it. Thats not good. Ross (@RomeoKilo125) March 26, 2019
@AppleSupport Apple News on iOS 12.2 is repeatedly crashing this morning on launch on both my iPhone and iPad. It was working fine on my iPhone yesterday. I just updated the iPad to iOS 12.2 this morning. Ben Collins (@shaolin108) March 26, 2019
Now that the bug is being picked up by media outlets, it is possible that we will see Apple take swift action and fix it. Since this is possibly a server-side bug, it is unlikely that we will see Apple release a minor iOS 12 update to fix it. The issue also seems to be present in the News app that is a part of the macOS 10.14.4 update released by Apple yesterday.
Such a rocky start to Apple News+ is definitely not a good thing, though Apple is possibly going to fix it within a few hours from now.
Apple News is available to iOS and Mac users in the United States and Canada. For Apple News+, Apple is charging customers $9.99/month and giving them access to over 300 magazines and numerous digital subscriptions. Apple News+ will also be making its way to Australia and the United Kingdom later this year.
Is the Apple News app crashing on your iPhone or Mac as well? Drop a comment and let us know.
Update: Apple has fixed the Apple News crashing issue via a server-side fix.
A hot potato: The European Union has finally passed its Copyright Directive by a narrow margin on Tuesday. The law has sparked heated debated for nearly three years. Wording of the regulations have been reworked countless times and have finally hit a note that swung the parliament's vote in favor.
After kicking it around the European Parliament for three years, the EU has finally passed its Copyright Directive. The contentious law was first proposed in 2016 and has been voted down as overbearing numerous times. The last time was back in January of this year.
The main complaints against the directive, which was nicknamed the Link Tax by opponents, involved two articles within the legislation Article 11 and Article 13 (now named Article 17).
Article 11 requires news aggregators to pay for quoted material that goes beyond individual words or very short extracts. The problem is that the terms and definitions used in the language of the law are very vague.
Article 17 makes platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Google responsible for content uploaded by users. In other words, if someone uploads copyrighted material, it is no longer the user who is held responsible, it is the platform that is at fault.
Opponents say these two portions of the law will overly restrict how information is shared online. YouTube content creators and Google have been vocally against the measure.
Google complains, "[The directive will] lead to legal uncertainty and will hurt Europes creative and digital economies."
Even the EU parliament itself has been divided on the rules over the years. Tuesdays vote illustrated that fact as the law narrowly passed by less than 75 votes, 348-274.
The details matter, and we look forward to working with policy makers, publishers, creators and rights holders as EU member states move to implement these new rules. #Article11 #Article13 (2/2) Google Europe (@googleeurope) March 26, 2019
Since its rejection in January lawmakers have revised the rules to include some protections to freedom of expression. Memes and GIFs, for example, are now excluded from falling under the restrictions. Startup platforms are also being allowed some leeway, which would seem to indicate that the law was primarily targeted toward big firms like Google, Facebook, and others.
Now that parliament has passed the regulations it is up to member states to accept them. They will then have two years to put measures in place to implement the law.
The details matter, and we look forward to working with policy makers, publishers, creators and rights holders as EU member states move to implement these new rules, Google Europe tweeted.
There is still bound to be an intense debate on the issue over the next couple of years as nations work to implement and enforce the law.
Just weeks after open-sourcing the Windows 10 Calculator on Github, Microsoft will take yet another step of expanding its calculator app.
Dave Grochocki, a senior program manager at Microsoft, said that Microsoft is looking forward to including a graphing mode to its calculator application in the hopes of helping students in algebra. The graphing mode will allow users to enter multiple equations in the calculator and have them schemed as a graph, which is relatively similar to Matlab's Plotting Mode.
"High school algebra is the gateway to mathematics and all other disciplines of STEM. However, algebra is the single most failed course in high school, as well as the most failed course in community college," Grochocki said (via The Washington Post).
According to Grochocki, physical graphing calculators are costly, while software solutions, on the other hand, typically require licenses and configurations from school IT departments, which are not always an option for most students. He also mentioned that the idea of adding a graphing mode stemmed from the requests of open-source contributors on Github.
Grochocki argued in his proposal that graphing mode will not only help students learn linear algebra easier but will also assist them in more advanced mathematics and other science courses. Multiple research studies have shown that graphing calculators promote conceptual understanding of developmental math students.
Other than suggestions from Github users, Microsoft also took into account the user requests that were received via its Feedback Hub app. Interestingly enough, a graphing calculator was also one of the most requested features by Feedback Hub app users.
Graphing Mode To Bring A Multitude Of Benefits
Other than the said upsides, the graphing mode is also expected to support the common core math curriculum of the United States. Among those include the ability to create and interpret functions as well as comprehend quadratic, linear, and exponential models.
Howard Wolosky, a senior software design engineer of Microsoft, stated that the company plans to utilize a third-party graphing engine to help users in rendering their graphs. Wolosky added that the primary focus of the development efforts will be centered on boosting the user's experience rather than the development of the program itself.
He also mentioned that Microsoft will be releasing more information included in the documentation of the program once the feature branch is built. In addition, users can likewise choose to export graphs to make it easier for them to share it with their team members.
By the same token, the graphing mode is also capable of easily tracing plots to allow users to completely understand the relationship between variables in the equation on the graph. On top of that, the Windows graphing mode also gives the means for users to change the graph viewing window and alter the line visual options to effectively characterize multiple plots.
Graphing Mode Release Still Unknown
As of this writing, Microsoft has yet to release a timetable about the shipping of the Windows Calculator graphing mode feature. At present, the Github issue is currently marked as pre-production.
2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
For years, scientists have been targeting a special compound in the brain which they believe is the key to curing Alzheimer's disease.
So far, clinical trials have yielded promising results. However, none of them has successfully rid the brain of the debilitating condition.
In a new study sponsored by companies Biogen Inc. and Eisai Co., another drug has failed to reduce the presence of beta amyloid in the brain. Beta amyloid is a protein that collects and turns into plaques that allegedly cause Alzheimer's disease.
Both Biogen Inc. and Eisai Co. have halted two late-stage clinical trials that were designed to evaluate the efficacy of the drug called aducanumab. This heartbreaking decision has left scientists looking for an alternative route to Alzheimer's disease treatment.
Murali Doraiswamy, an expert from Duke University, said beta amyloid plaques were never established as the causal in the first place. He said given the latest information, all ongoing trials must be re-evaluated.
Heartbreaking News To Aducanumab Patients
One of the patients who received the aducanumab treatment was 54-year-old Jeff Borghoff from Forked River, New Jersey.
For nearly three years, Borghoff would go to the Advanced Memory Research Institute for the aducanumab treatment. He would be hooked intravenously to the drug for 40 minutes to an hour.
The first 18 months of the clinical trial was a double-blind placebo study, which meant Jeff didn't know if he was receiving the treatment or the placebo. Jeff and his wife Kim felt that the clinical trial slowed down the progression of the disease.
On March 21st, Jeff's friend who was also enrolled in the clinical trial informed him of the bad news.
"I just knew right away," said Borghoff. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at 51.
Another Direction In Alzheimer's Disease Treatment
Although the aducanumab treatment was halted, it has still helped researchers learn more about Alzheimer's disease, said Salim Syed, a biotech analyst at Mizuho Securities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Richard Mohs, former head of the Neuroscience Clinical program at Eli Lilly, said what the field needs to do now is to move on and look at other scientifically plausible ways to treat the disease.
"It's been difficult," said Mohs. He has been working on a different clinical trial that focused on tau, which is a protein that is believed to be linked to the disease.
Heather Snyder, senior director of medical operations at Alzheimer's Association, supported what Syed said about the clinical trials.
In fact, scientists have begun to understand that the brain starts to change about a decade or so before they're diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, said Snyder.
"We are absolutely committed to making sure no stone is left unturned and that all avenues are pursued," she said.
Snyder added that they are still optimistic that scientists' understanding of the disease continues to grow and develop.
Lary Walker, a neuropathologist from Emory University, said the drugs have failed so far because researchers are hitting the wrong form of compound. He said the recent data has shown that the toxic, smaller form of amyloid should be targeted instead.
George Perry, a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio who has been a critic of the beta amyloid theory, said experiments that target this compound has turned into a "religion."
Despite this, however, Perry is optimistic about future clinical trials, which may or may not involve targeting beta amyloid plaques.
"There will be more. It is not the end," said Perry.
Photo: Julien Belli | Flickr
2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Medical device company Medtronic admits that many of its implanted cardiac defibrillators have flaws that are vulnerable to cyber attacks.
External security researchers from KU Leuven, University of Birmingham disclosed the potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities in some Medtronic products.
Vulnerable To Hackers
Medtronic's affected products are not using formal authentication or authorization protections. This means that an unauthorized individual can access and potentially change the settings of an implantable device, home monitor, or clinic programmer.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also issued a warning that the vulnerabilities in several Medtronic devices may allow an attacker with adjacent short-range access to one of the affected products to interfere with, generate, modify, or intercept the radio frequency communication.
Medtronic got a flaw vulnerability high score of 9.3 on a 10-point scale.
Products and versions of Medtronic devices using the wireless Conexus telemetry protocol are affected including implantable defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators, and bedside monitors.
Conexus links the defibrillators to home monitors and with doctors and device programmers in remote locations. As many as 750,000 Medtronic heart devices are covered by the security flaw.
This is not the first time that Medtronic faced security issues with its devices. In October 2018, the company has disabled internet updates for almost 34,000 CareLink programming devices that are used to access implanted pacemakers due to vulnerabilities to cyber attacks.
What Are Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators?
The implantable cardiac defibrillator or ICD is a battery-run device implanted under a person's chest to keep track of the heart rate. Thin wires connect the ICD to the heart. If an abnormal heart rhythm is detected, the device will deliver electric pulses or high-voltage shocks to restore a normal heartbeat if the heart is beating too fast.
ICDs are also useful in preventing sudden death in patients with ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. This device may have a role in preventing cardiac arrest in high-risk patients who are at risk for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias
The company said it is conducting security checks to look for unauthorized or unusual activity that could be related to the vulnerabilities.
Advised Precautions
Medtronic recommends that patients use only the remote monitor obtained directly from a health care provider. Patients must also maintain good physical control over the remote monitor and report any concerning behavior regarding these products to Medtronic.
Patients must also keep the monitor powered on to receive transmissions programmed by the physician.
The Food and Drugs Administration recommends that health care providers continue using the CareLink programmers for programming, testing, and evaluation of ICD and CRT-D patients.
"The benefits of remote wireless monitoring of an implantable device outweigh the practical risk of an unauthorized user exploiting of these devices' vulnerabilities," the FDA advisory stated.
2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Since Colorado legalized marijuana in 2012, the number the ER visits linked to cannabis use has increased in one of the state's largest hospitals. Many of these patients exhibit a condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
Colorado Sees Spike In Marijuana-Related ER Visits
Andrew Monte, of the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine, and colleagues analyzed nearly 10,000 emergency room visits at the University of Colorado Health's Anschutz campus from 2012 to 2016.
They found that 2,567 of these visits were related to marijuana and 238 were related to edible marijuana.
The researchers found that 31 percent of these cannabis-related ER visits were stomach related, making stomach issues the top cause of all ER visits for marijuana.
Monte and colleagues also found that the single most common adverse event and primary driver of hospital admissions is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).
"Visits attributable to inhaled cannabis were more likely to be for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (18.0% vs. 8.4%)," the researchers wrote in their study, which was published in Annals of Internal Medicine on March 26.
What Is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?
CHS is a poorly understood condition and is even thought to be rare, but researchers say it may not be as uncommon as previously thought. Monte said that they see the condition every week in the ER.
"To see that this was a leading reason for people coming to the ER, that was pretty striking," Monte said of their findings. "We have to do a better job of educating users on the fact that this phenomenon exists," he added.
CHS is believed to be caused by chronic cannabis use. It was first reported in medical literature in 2004. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. More than 90 percent of marijuana users who experience the symptoms also have the compulsion to bathe in hot water.
CHS occurs episodically or cyclically. This means that the symptoms occur, then resolve and then come back again. Experts recommend sufferers to stop using marijuana to prevent the symptoms from coming back.
Admitting to the healthcare provider about marijuana use may also help speed up diagnosis because the symptoms may be mistaken for other conditions.
2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A diverse group came together Sunday afternoon in downtown Lafayette for a family dinner quite unlike any other.
Over red beans and rice and sweet potato biscuits, about 300 people sat down at "The Longest Table" to talk openly about a topic that can be uncomfortable: race relations in Acadiana.
"It was uncomfortable for some people, having these conversations about race," said attendee Frances Handy. "But it was so good, and people were very much wanting and willing to talk."
Handy, who is white, attended the dinner with her African-American husband, Major Handy. The couple said they regularly discuss race relations at home, but it can be tough to get the conversation started in the larger community.
"A city is like a family," Frances Handy said. "It is as sick as its secrets, but the truth can set you free. Change starts with groups like this. Learning the truth about our history and who we are and what we've been through will do so much to change our family here in Lafayette and set it free."
The Longest Table event was facilitated by Conversation Starters, a local organization focused on facilitating cross-racial dialogue.
It was made possible during last year's 24-Hour Citizen Project, which connects community-focused ideas with financial backers who can make them happen. The $3,100 awarded to Conversation Starters went toward cost of food for Sunday's event and catalyst dinners leading up to the community dinner.
"It's using the familial bond of food to figure out our shared experiences as a community," said Skyra Rideaux, a co-founder of Conversation Starters. "It's about figuring out together because it's our community where we go from here. Is this the Lafayette we want our children to inherit? And if it's not, what do we do to change it?"
Rideaux, who is African-American, was inspired to create an outlet for cross-racial dialogue in the community during Leadership Lafayette. While learning about local history during the leadership program, she noticed a missing piece her own race and how it fit into Acadiana's narrative.
"I'm from Lafayette, and I didn't learn my true history until I was 31 years old," Rideaux said. "And then I had to ask someone who's white to tell it to me. I can't explain what that's like."
Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up
More than 30 catalyst dinners were held in the weeks leading up to Sunday's longest table event to inspire meaningful conversation across races and life experiences. Each of the dinner hosts agreed to attend a two-hour training to learn how to host difficult conversations with racially diverse dinner guests.
Jim and Lise Anne Slatten hosted a catalyst dinner ahead of Sunday's dinner. The married couple, who are white, gathered with students and faculty they regularly work with at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
"Personally, it's raised my awareness about issues I didn't even realize existed," Lise Anne Slatten said. "You can't do anything to facilitate change if you aren't aware of the problems that exist."
One such problem, she said, is the fleur de lis symbol, which is used by the university and other Acadiana institutions. She discovered it was once used to brand slaves.
"Another thing we heard," Jim Slatten said, "is that African-Americans and gay people often feel they're invited to things to be the 'token gay' or 'token black person' at the table. The tribes aren't coming together enough. They still often feel like they're invited to represent a group instead of being invited as a person."
Consuela Gaines attended a different catalyst dinner ahead of Sunday's event. Gaines, who is African-American, said although minorities at her dinner spoke openly about race relations, it was "like pulling teeth" to get white dinner guests to speak about their experiences.
"I just want to know how Caucasian-Americans feel about African-Americans here locally where I live, where I work, where I play," Gaines said. "I'm hoping more people will commit to doing this, having these conversations about race, so it's not just something that ends here but carries on in the community for a long time to come."
Some dinners were intense and lasted for more than four hours. Others were shorter and less serious. Several of the groups plan to come together regularly to further develop relationships formed during the catalyst dinners.
Each person who participated in a catalyst dinner took a survey about race relations perceptions in Lafayette before and after the dinner. The results of the surveys will be released in May, along with ideas for how the community can continue the conversation about race relations.
"There are a lot of things we don't know," Rideaux said. "When you start to build relationships with people and listen and empathize, it creates a sense of unity you never experienced before. You're informed. Once we reach a place where we have more relationships like this, we'll be able to reach a place where we can talk about how we want to change as a community."
Apple and Qualcomm are currently tied up in court as Qualcomm tries to nail down patent infringements made by Apple.
Update: Apple did not run afoul of the same judge in the second ruling handed down today. The same judge ruled that Apple did not infringe upon a Qualcomm patent related to power management. This is the second of three patents being seen in this case. Unfortunately for Apple, this second ruling does not impact the first at all.
The original article continues below.
Of course, the proceedings have not necessarily been civil, as the two companies go back-and-forth trying to win the day. And while Apple has seen some movement in its direction in the past, the latest ruling from a trade judge in the United States is decidedly in Qualcomms favor. As was first reported on Tuesday by Bloomberg, International Trade Commission Judge MaryJoan McNamara has ruled against Apple, saying that the company has indeed infringed upon a patent held by Qualcomm.
The judge ruled in favor of Qualcomm as it relates to just one of the three patents that are put against the ITC court. At the time of publication, Apple has yet to comment on the ruling, but its likely the company will soon enough. Whats more, while Judge MaryJoan McNamara has recommended a sales ban on certain iPhone models in the United States, it is likely that the decision will have to be reviewed before any ban is actually set against Apple.
It is also likely that the decision will only impact older iPhone models, and wont have any connection to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, or the iPhone XR.
This is not the first time that this particular court battle has resulted in this outcome. In China, Apple was hit with a sales ban. However, that particular patent infringement case dealt with software and not hardware. As a result, Apple updated iOS to address the issue and circumvent any sales ban in that region.
Meanwhile, in Germany, Apple was hit with a sales ban that definitely went into effect. However, Apple is going to sell iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models with a Qualcomm chip inside to bypass that sales ban in that country.
Whether or not this sales ban in the U.S. actually sticks, or if Apple makes changes to address it ahead of time, remains to be seen.
Our Take
This is a fight that is not going to end anytime soon, even if both companies would probably like it to. Still, it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the future, and what that means for the relationship between Apple and Qualcomm when the dust settles.
We Want To Hear From You
Do you think Apple and Qualcomm will come to amicable terms when this all ends? Or will the two no longer be working together in the future?
[via Bloomberg
LIVINGSTON A key Livingston Parish School Board committee on Thursday recommended an additional $750 paycheck for school system employees.
I wish it could be a lot more, but I recognize the fact we still need to be fiscally responsible as a school district," Schools Superintendent Rick Wentzel said the the Budget and Goals Committee meeting.
The school system had a tradition of giving employees a "13th check" each year from 1997 through 2008, Wentzel said. But when the the Legislature stopped giving annual increases in state funding for parish schools, it became harder for Livingston to afford the annual payouts.
"We stopped getting that 2.75 percent increase, and as a result that 13th check stopped as well," Wentzel said.
The additional paycheck would come in addition to any pay raise that comes next year from the Louisiana Legislature, which is gearing up to consider a proposal from Gov. John Bel Edwards to give raises of $1,000 for teachers and $500 for support staff.
Board President Buddy Mincey Jr. said school leaders have spoken with the Livingston Parish delegation in favor of the statewide pay raise, and the board will consider a resolution next month to support it, too.
"I feel like were doing everything we can, Mincey said.
Livingston school superintendent to propose 13th check worth $750 for employees, board member says LIVINGSTON The parish schools superintendent is expected to introduce a proposal next week to give all school employees a 13th check worth $
Wentzel said the 13th check one of his final major initiatives before retiring in June would cost the school system $3.2 million.
It would be funded primarily by $3 million in restricted reserves from a parish-wide one-cent sales tax that is devoted to salaries and benefits. The rest will come from the school system's unrestricted reserves.
Full-time employees would get the full $750 check, with taxes and retirement withheld. Part-time employees will get a percentage of the full amount based on the hours they work.
Employees must have worked at least 50 percent of the school year to be eligible.
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
The school system employs about 3,475 people. The checks would be distributed by mid-May.
Livingston school employees got one 13th check since 2008: in 2014 with special state funds that accompanied the last across-the-board pay raise.
School Board member Jan Benton recalled the extra checks meant a lot to school employees when she was a school principal.
"The teachers so much appreciate it," she said. "We need some happy teachers, so we can show our appreciation."
Livingston School Board requests audit to look at cost-savings to fund staff raises LIVINGSTON With an eye toward offering staff raises, the Livingston Parish School Board voted Thursday night to hire an independent auditor
Wentzel said he believed in giving an across-the-board payout, as opposed to a percentage of salary, because it would be most equitable and help to show appreciation to the lower-paid employees.
"I felt like it was important we recognize them just like we recognize every employee in this system. Hopefully we can continue to maintain employment numbers in our system," he said.
The issue of giving teachers a bump arose last year amid pressure from employees, especially bus drivers, an area where the school system has recently struggled with turnover.
School Board member Kellee Hennessy Dickerson requested the school board conduct an audit geared towards identifying cost-saving measures that could make room for a raise or a 13th check.
At the time, other School Board members questioned whether the school system could afford it. The audit was cancelled after the auditor raised concerns about its scope.
The full School Board is expected to take up the 13th check proposal at its April 4 meeting.
Senator Elizabeth Warren talks about families living on minimum wage, at Dillard University's Georges Auditorium in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. Representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district Congressman Cedric Richmond moderated a discussion with Senator Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, as part of the Netroots festival.
Students could get another three days off next year if the Lafayette Parish School Board approves revisions to the 2019-2020 school calendar.
AP Photo by J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE -- U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., joined by, from left, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., Bonnie Lautenberg, widow of the late New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., talks May 19 about bipartisan legislation to improve the federal regulation of chemicals and toxic substances during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Every now and then, Louisianas political journalists are called on to write about a public figures problem gambling. The topic tends to come up when the person in question commits some sort of clear harm in order to feed his or her destructive habit.
Onetime New Orleans City Councilman Oliver Thomas has acknowledged that his gambling losses figured into his decision to accept a career-ending bribe. The late St. Bernard Parish President David Peralta was accused by an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury of dipping into his campaign account to gamble; the charges were dropped, but Peralta paid a fine to the state Board of Ethics. Then theres former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, a half-term state lawmaker and perennial candidate for other offices, who pleaded guilty to using money he solicited from supporters to fuel his gambling habit. There are others who belong on this list, whove let their compulsion lead them to clear wrongdoing.
State Sen. Karen Carter Peterson does not.
Peterson, the longtime New Orleans legislator who also chairs the Louisiana Democratic Party, went public last week with her struggles with gambling addiction, on the same day that WWL-TV reported that she had received a criminal summons for visiting LAuberge Baton Rouge casino.
Louisiana Sen. Karen Carter Peterson unlikely to face prosecution for casino misdemeanor offense State Sen. Karen Carter Peterson of New Orleans almost certainly wont face prosecution for having illegally entered LAuberge Baton Rouge cas
Thats not because Peterson did something wrong, at least not when it comes to any behavior that could hurt others. Its really because she did something right.
Two years ago, Peterson voluntarily signed up for the states self-exclusion list, which calls for police to bar her from gambling at Louisiana Gaming Control Board-regulated establishments and allows for them to issue a summons if she doesnt comply. For reasons that dont make a whole lot of sense, theres a potential criminal penalty of a $500 fine and up to six months in prison attached to violating the voluntary ban, although its unclear whether its ever imposed.
The program, designed to give people with gambling addictions a way to help themselves, is described as confidential on the state police website, which would give Peterson and anyone else a reasonable expectation of privacy.
The information contained in the Request Form and the self-exclusion list maintained by the Board is not open to public inspection and every effort will be made to maintain its confidentiality, it explains.
Criminal summonses are public records, though, as WWL reporters have pointed out on Twitter. But if its fair game to report their existence, its also important to put them in the proper context.
Level-headed East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III appears to be doing just that. After catching this hot potato of a case, he said Peterson has admitted to her addiction to him and advised him on the steps shes taking to address it, including counseling.
We try not to prosecute cases where people make mistakes and take the appropriate steps to address their action, as opposed to people who dont or who commit violent acts. This case doesnt affect public safety. The action by the person is sufficient to deal with the issue, he said. That should be the standard for addressing these matters, unless lawmakers decide to go further and remove criminal sanctions, which they really should.
Karen Carter Peterson, Louisiana Democratic leader, admits to gambling problem: 'It is a disease' Karen Carter Peterson, who is both a state senator from New Orleans and chair of the state Democratic Party, disclosed in an email Friday nigh
Another question thats arisen is whether Peterson or someone in her shoes should be heavily involved in legislation that affects gambling establishments. Just last year, she was a point person in Harrahs failed bid to extend its exclusive agreement to run the states only land-based casino in New Orleans. The casino is located in Petersons Senate district.
An abundance of caution may suggest she should steer clear of these matters. On the other hand, this is the sort of thing that lawmakers take up all the time. Barring her from involvement would be the equivalent of preventing people battling alcoholism from legislating drunk-driving penalties, or preventing smokers (and reformed smokers) from considering cigarette tax proposals. As conflicts of interest go, state law allows for much worse.
Back when they invited gambling into the state, Louisiana officials acknowledged that addiction is real.
The voluntary exclusion program offers help. People who seek that help whether or not theyre public figures, and whether or not they lapse dont deserve condemnation. And they certainly dont deserve criminal charges.
It was the most profound comment of the day, if not the year.
Garry Weaven, the man who played a significant role in the formation of the $1.8 trillion super fund sector, told The Australian Financial Review banking and wealth summit that the No.1 challenge for global democracies was to shift politics towards agreed longer-term public outcomes and away from the short-term personal ambitions of politicians.
Gary Weaven says the biggest challenge for global democracies is to shift politics towards agreed longer-term public outcomes. Credit:AFR
"This is a task that requires a concerted effort across capital markets, business, the media and political leaders themselves," he said.
He is right. But our political and financial systems have become so addicted to short-termism that switching to a different gear seems virtually impossible.
Melbourne A strata office in the QT Building on the corner of Flinders and Queen streets has sold for $587,000, equal to a solid $9791 per sq m. Gray Johnsons Brett Simpson said the 60 sq m at Suite 308 at 2 Queen Street was leased to a digital business until June 2020. The current annual rental is $26,400 plus outgoings and GST, so it sold on an indicative yield of 4.4 per cent, he said. Mount Waverley An owner-occupier has purchased a 163 sq m office suite at 1 Ricketts Road for $812,000. The price equates to a rate above $4980 per sq m. The off-market sale was transacted by Knight Franks Nick Bisset and Nick Sharkey. Surrey Hills
Tom Maule and David Minton from Gorman Commercial sold 611 Canterbury Road for $2 million. The price reflected a land rate of $4300 per sq m for the Commercial 2 zoned land. The sale again demonstrates strength in the market for inner-eastern investment assets, Mr Maule said. LEASES Dandenong South Retailer 4WD Supacentre has leased a 10,196 sq m distribution facility at 244-264 Greens Road. Formerly occupied by farm machinery manufacturer Silvan, the property came with a quality fit-out, including a 1074 sq m two-storey office, an east facing loading area with canopy, two loading docks, five on-grade roller doors and 92 on-site car parks. CBREs Stephen Adgemis and David Aiello negotiated the lease on a three-year contract, starting at $95 per sq m (net). Dandenong South
Freight business NDST Pty Ltd has taken a sublease over 6/205 Abbotts Road from Bunzl Australia Pty Ltd. The two-year deal was negotiated at face rent of $82 per sq m by Cushman & Wakefields Jordie Cassidy and Andrew OConnell. NDST required more space after growing out of their new facility in Brindley Way after only three years. Camberwell An education group has leased 982-984 Toorak Road, taking a five-year lease at $65,000 per annum net, according to Prowse Burns Commercials Philip Prowse. Mr Prowse also leased 833a Burke Road on a 5+5 year lease to Sushi Sushi at $65,000 per annum net. Richmond Two different private businesses, a steel trader and pet care firm, have taken leases of neighbouring industrial sites at 39 and 41 Blazey Street. Brokered by Teska Carsons Jack Kelliher, rent for both single level brick warehouses (totalling 681 sq m) were leased for a combined annual rental of $125,000 net plus GST.
The refurbished space at Level 1, 1062 High Street in Armadale was leased in a three-year deal. Armadale High demand for retail space in the tightly-held High Street has seen designer Bernadette Pimenta Couture commit to a refurbished office space to be used as a showroom for her bridalwear selection. Fitzroys James Spencer leased the refurbished 187 sq m space at Level 1, 1062 High Street on a three-year deal with a three-year option at $50,000 per annum net. Pimenta has been a fashion industry fixture for more than 27 years. According to Fitzroys Walk the Strip report, Armadale retail vacancies fell to 4.1 per cent during 2018. Maribyrnong Australian mattress and bedding manufacturer ZZZ Atelier has expanded into a new warehouse location at 4 Caulson Close. CBREs Ben Quennell, Jake George and Guy Naselli negotiated the three-year lease with a two-year option over the 800 sq m of warehouse and 60 sq m office. Rent was speculated to be around $87-$97 per sq m.
Cremorne Property developers Future Estate will move into 92 Stephenson Street after taking a lease in a deal brokered by Teska Carsons Jack Kelliher and Luke Bisset. The modern, self-contained, light filled 310 sq m office is within walking distance of Richmond and East Richmond train stations. Mr Kelliher said the tenant took a five-year lease at $516 a sq m net plus GST with minimal incentive. Knoxfield A 773 sq m showroom/warehouse at 111 Lewis Road has been leased by specialist coating company Crest Cormix for $80,000 per annum net. Rodney King from Crabtrees Real Estate negotiated the 5 x 5-year lease with 3 per cent annual increases. Doreen
The couple said they had lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on homes that they and their relatives bought from a property-management company that was one of their business partners in Indianapolis. The company, Oceanpointe Investments, was the seller of the homes the Morrises' clients bought and, according to the couple, it was supposed to do the renovations and manage the properties. The Morrises said that Oceanpointe, which many Morris Invest clients said they had never heard of until after buying the homes, is the real villain and liable for any damages. Few, if any, problems have arisen in other cities, they said. Oceanpointe blames the Morrises, saying they are responsible for the promises made to investors. Also caught in the middle are the renters who lived in some of the homes. They say that poor upkeep resulted in collapsing ceilings and frequent plumbing problems. Furnaces often did not work properly, leaving homes freezing cold in winter. One renter in a pending landlord-tenant case blamed poor living conditions for the premature birth of girl who died an hour after delivery. The Morrises said they were not aware of the extent of the problems. "We didn't know any were living in abject conditions," Natali Morris, 40, said.
'Incestuous Networks' The unfolding affair demonstrates the allure that real estate speculation still holds for individual investors roughly a decade after one of the worst housing crises in US history. A home that is among the properties covered by a federal lawsuit against Clayton Morris. Credit:Maddie McGarvey/The New York Times It can be problematic when such investors look to charismatic personalities for investing tips. Many of the financial gurus pushing investors into real estate play off fears of economic insecurity, according to Philip Garboden, a professor of affordable housing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In a research working paper financed partly by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, Garboden wrote that amateur investors were vulnerable to exploitation by those who "evangelise" the process and tend to play down the risks of investing in "low-end" urban real estate.
"These are very incestuous networks," Garboden said. "They know the contractors. The property manager. The whole system thrives on keeping every dollar invested in that network." Investment gurus, he said, tend to have a common message: Investing in real estate can help guide the average investor to financial independence. Making the pitch Clayton Morris' sales pitch did not lean heavily on his career in broadcast journalism. But he did not keep it a secret, either. He alluded to his new career in a lighthearted seven-minute video send-off that Fox News put together that showed Morris competing in an obstacle course competition and grilling burgers outside the Manhattan studio. Real estate investing, he said in marketing materials, had given him the financial security to quit his 9-to-5 broadcast job. "I'm a big fan of this radical idea that everyone should be able to achieve total financial freedom," the biography on one of his websites says.
With his wife a former anchor for CBS Interactive he wrote a book, How to Pay Off Your Mortgage in 5 Years. But the couple's new venture did more than offer advice: It was a one-stop shopping experience for investors who wanted to buy rental homes by dipping into their retirement savings, if necessary. An email sent to one client who signed up last year summed up the pitch: "Are you working LONG hours but never quite able to get ahead? Are you worried about making COSTLY mistakes with a vacant rental property? Are you intimidated by the thought of DOING IT ALL yourself? Stop worrying, and let us take care it!" The Morrises pulled in hundreds of customers from across the United States and as far away as Israel and South Korea. They helped sell nearly 700 homes in Indianapolis alone. "It was his name and his promise," said Larry McLeskey, one of nearly two dozen individual investors suing Clayton Morris in the federal lawsuit. McLeskey, who lives in Michigan, said that he and his wife, Kay, lost $US40,000 after selling a home in Indianapolis. "No one was taking care of the home."
Danny Gomes, a real estate agent from Redding, California, sued Morris Invest separately after, he said, he lost $US52,000 on an Indianapolis home he bought last year, just days after it was largely destroyed in a fire. The house is now boarded up, its back half all but gone. Danny Gomes paid upfront for renovations to a property he bought in Indianapolis, but the work was never completed. Credit:Alexandra Hootnick/The New York Times Gomes said he learned about the fire only several months later, when the city sent him a notice warning that the property was unsafe and needed to be boarded up. Until then, he believed the house was being rehabilitated, work he paid for when he bought it. One of Clayton Morris' employees, who is also Natali Morris' sister, told Gomes she would be his "point of contact for the rehab process," according to an email provided to the New York Times. Gomes said it was only after he learned about the fire that he discovered Morris Invest was simply getting a referral fee for sending customers to Oceanpointe.
"When it hit the fan," Gomes said, "they said they were just the middleman." 'Happy as a clam' As the Morrises tell it, they were blindsided just like everyone else. The couple, who have three young children, said they were frustrated with all the anger directed at them. They have put their own home up for sale, in part out of concern for their safety. They place the blame squarely on Oceanpointe and its founder, Bert Whalen. The Morrises said they met Whalen in 2014, when they bought a few homes in Indianapolis and used Oceanpointe to fix up and manage them. By 2016, Clayton Morris was referring one or two investors a week to Whalen's firm. The Morrises said they eventually formalized the relationship, sending buyers to Oceanpointe and earning a fee on each sale.
Clayton Morris said it was not until spring 2018 that he became fully aware of the problems his customers were having with Oceanpointe. The relationship formally ended in May. The Morrises said they would not have gotten involved with Whalen had they known that Indiana regulators moved to deny a renewal of his real estate licence in December 2015. A state regulator determined that he had failed to disclose convictions for operating a car and motorboat while intoxicated and, on at least one occasion, had not turned over rent money he had collected for a property owner. His real estate licence was permanently revoked in January 2018. Despite the break with Oceanpointe, the Morrises said they had many satisfied customers. Renovation work was done on 60 per cent of the 700 homes sold in Indianapolis, Clayton Morris estimated. "There are hundreds of people who are as happy as a clam," he said. There are many, however, who are not.
For clients dissatisfied with the work on their properties, Clayton Morris said Oceanpointe had agreed to indemnify Morris Invest against all lawsuits and investor claims. The Morrises' lawyer sent a letter to Whalen in October, seeking to enforce the indemnification agreement. The couple declined to provide a copy of the agreement. An empty lot in Indianapolis that was sold to an investor. A home was supposed to be built there, but never was. Credit:Maddie McGarvey/The New York Times John Tompkins, a lawyer for Whalen, blamed Morris Invest, which he said collected a $US6500 referral fee on every property. Whalen's businesses "have done everything required by their investment agreements and contracts," Tompkins said. He disputed the suggestion that the indemnification agreement held Oceanpointe solely responsible for problems with the selling of the homes.
"The problems that have come up relate to Morris exclusively," Tompkins said. "The misunderstandings of those buyers related to misstatements by Morris and his sales personnel." A new venture The Morrises have largely gotten out of the real estate business in Indianapolis. They are focused mainly on Detroit, where they have sold more than 200 homes, largely without the kind of complaints they face in Indianapolis. Morris Invest, though, is no longer their top priority. The Morrises are now selling an online financial advice and planning program: Financial Freedom Academy. The program offers a "proven system for building wealth, guaranteed," according to its website.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Ever since Malcolm Turnbull's Ideas Boom flopped with voters in key marginal seats at the 2016 election, there's been a sense that innovation policy has fallen off the radar in Canberra. Many in the tech community would argue that it's actually even worse than that, with the government actively taking steps that undermine the sector's progress. For example, encryption legislation passed in the federal Parliament on the final sitting day of 2018 has been widely condemned by the industry, while a clampdown on research and development tax credits has also upset start-ups. Are we creating the workforce we need for the future? If you accept the premise that more jobs will come from the science, technology and engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields in the future, then Australia has a problem. The proportion of Australians with post high-school qualifications in STEM fields actually fell over the past decade, a study released by Deloitte Access Economics found last year. Meanwhile, at secondary school level, Australia's rankings in STEM subjects has been sliding, according to various measures.
Advertisement
And a recent survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that 75 per cent of Australias chief executives are concerned about the availability of key skills. At the same time, the government has made it harder for companies to import talent with qualifications in these areas. The 457 visa scheme for temporary skills shortages was abolished last year, with the highly skilled migrant intake falling from 130,000 to 70,000 a year. However, the government did create a new open-ended scheme allowing tech companies generating more than $4 million in revenue to hire senior offshore talent on salaries above $180,000. An Australian warehouse that will include state-of-the-art automation technology. What about the robots? Whichever way you look at it, humans are going to have to get used to working alongside "smart" machines as spectacular breakthroughs in artificial intelligence push the boundaries of what is possible.
Advertisement
A recent study by McKinsey & Co found that about 15 per cent of the global workforce, or about 400 million workers, could be displaced by automation in the period 20162030. About half of all activities (not jobs) carried out by workers could technically be automated away by new technologies. The upshot, according to McKinsey, is that around 3 per cent of the global workforce will need to change occupational categories by 2030. Jobs made up of physical activities in highly structured environments, such as manual labour and factory work and jobs in data processing are most at risk. But it will be much more difficult for jobs in management, and in unpredictable physical environments such as plumbing, to be automated away. Teachers and nurses should also experience increased demand. How can we know what skills we'll need? Learning to code might seem like a sensible idea now but advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing may also render some lower-level programming skills redundant.
Advertisement
With the average age in Australia and globally expected to shift significantly upwards in coming decades, jobs in areas such as human interaction and the "caring economy" may prove to be as important (and lucrative) as those in the innovation economy. Israeli philosopher Yuval Noah Harari argues humans in the future will need skills in "mental flexibility" and "emotional balance" to flourish in such a rapidly changing environment. Silverton Wind Farm Project is being built in north-western NSW. Is business filling the innovation void? Despite Canberra's apparent indifference to innovation there are still plenty of positive signs for the Australian tech sector and they are largely coming from private businesses. Investment by venture capital funds into high-growth tech start-ups in Australia hit a record $1.25 billion last year. Major superannuation funds such as HOSTPLUS and the Future Fund are increasingly willing to allocate small parts of their gigantic war chests to tech and innovation.
Advertisement
Bathed in light, participants wore 'elemental colours' for Equinox. Credit:Carl Dziunka
Victorias pre-eminent regional arts festival, the Castlemaine State Festival, has been running since 1974. It predates the Melbourne Festival by more than a decade and the connection to the arts in this picturesque town runs deep: youd be hard pressed to walk a block without running into a poet or visual artist, a musician or theatre-maker of some kind.
Loading
Over the opening weekend of this year's biennial festival, switched-on programming from new artistic director Glyn Roberts immersed residents and visitors alike in an impressive program of local and international artists. You could catch Circas Peepshow featuring jaw-dropping acrobatics in an erotic carnival of circus before Sydney and Melbourne got to see it.
The town's historic Theatre Royal was built at the height of Victorias gold rush in the 1850s, when it played host to actress, Spanish dancer and free-thinker Lola Montez. That leant an extra frisson of feminism to seeing Not Your Sheila there an excellent program of curated shorts from talented women filmmakers.
In 2001, Australias crude new marriage rate was 5.3 per 1000 people. A decade later in 2011, this number was 5.4 per 1000 people. And in 2017, the rate was 4.6 per 1000 people, however the Australian Bureau of Statistics states amendments to the Marriage Act in 2017 to legalise same-sex marriage may have impacted the registration system, resulting in this figure being understated. University of Melbourne sociologist Professor Belinda Hewitt finds the country's steady marriage rate interesting because, realistically, the difference between de facto and married couples today is zilch aside from the rings on their fingers. So, logically and financially, it makes little sense. Theres almost no legal reason to get married any more, Professor Hewitt said. Laws around property distribution and custodial arrangements with children are essentially the same for cohabiters. Marriage is no longer an economic necessity, and is free from religious and patriarchal pressure.
Loading Marriage isnt being thrust on couples just because theyre having kids, or because theyve been together for two years and "its time". Today, more than 80 per cent of couples are already sharing a home before they marry. Professor Hewitt says the motivations for marriage have changed drastically, and she believes its now primarily about what it symbolises for couples. Its a choice. Its a higher level of commitment. Its a statement you want to make with your partner, she says.
People are together for longer before marriage and really thinking about it. Aleisha McCormack hosts the popular Bridechilla podcast, attracting 60,000 listeners a month, most of whom are brides. There is a general feeling that marriage is important because people see it as a sign of commitment coming together as a union Its not connected to religion or feeling they need to consummate this or for any reason other than saying this is who I want to be with, Ms McCormack says. Theyre not doing this out of obligation, most couples are already living together and sharing their lives. With almost four-fifths of weddings now overseen by a civil celebrant, Ms McCormack says a drawcard for couples is the freedom to personalise a ceremony, write their own vows, and ditch traditions they may find meaningless or sexist.
Loading Then theres the allure of the party - the reception. The significance of throwing a big bash to celebrate your love with all your favourite people shouldnt be scoffed at. My husband and I, when we think about our wedding, we think how amazing it was to bring all these people together in our lives Its a rare and wonderful thing, Ms McCormack says. And being in the digital age, Ms McCormack says Instagram also has a part to play in the appeal of weddings. The influence of gorgeous imagery and the look of low-key but very styled events is appealing for people.
But theres a limit to its influence, she says. Millennials get a lot of shit, but I truly believe that people are focused on the relationship over the aesthetics of a wedding. Women who have been married in the last few years echo the sentiments of MsCormack. Kate* got married in November after 10 years with her partner. Deciding we wanted to share the rest of our lives together, I wanted to celebrate that and have people celebrate it with us.
For Lily*, it was seeing a relative lose his wife that convinced her and her partner to get married. Loading Seeing the joy in his eyes speaking about their marriage in the toughest weeks of his life made us realise that celebrating our relationship was something worth doing and a way of celebrating the bringing of our families together, she says. We were both very conscious of the patriarchal origins of marriage and wanted to ensure we removed ourselves from that We didnt do things just because it is tradition. Marie*, who got married two years ago, believes even if its not expected, marriage is still a powerful cultural force that people attach a lot of meaning to.
Theres just something really special and lovely about making that commitment to one another in front of your family and friends, she says. Life is short and we should celebrate love and relationships when we can. So if my teenage self asked me why the heck Im getting married and thumping my bank account in the process I would tell her the decision to do so is a truly beautiful thing. In 2019, a wedding is not just the next step. It comes after a lot of discussion and communication and soul-searching as a couple. It is a leap of faith, an act of vulnerability, a vote for love, a hope for forever. Yes, marriage may not be expected nor needed, it may even defy logic, but perhaps that makes it even more precious. In a world that is rapidly changing and filled with gloom, I cant think of many things more special than taking a day to celebrate love, to profess you want to spend the rest of your life with another person. And its a choice Im so glad Ive made.
When Emilie Revest completed her first cat-sitting gigs last year, she handed over her bank account details in an invoice for $600.
Being Friday afternoon, she was told the money should hit her account by Tuesday.
If fat fingers have sent your dollars winging off into cyberspace in the wrong direction, here's what can you do. Credit:AFR
In the throes of looking for a new rental property, she hopefully checked her account on Saturday.
The money would have been a nice addition to the bank statement I had to send in with rental applications, she says.
An traveller infected with measles transitioned through Canberra Airport last week, prompting calls for Canberrans to be on the lookout for symptoms.
Acting chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said the person travelled into and out of Canberra on Thursday.
The infected person arrived from Brisbane on flight QF1543 from Brisbane at 8am and left on flight QF809 to Melbourne 8.49am.
Anyone who was on the identified flights in and out of Canberra or in the Canberra Airport departure terminal between 8-10am on that day, should be aware for signs and symptoms of measles between now and Tuesday, April 9, Dr Coleman said.
Symptoms of measles may include fever, tiredness, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, followed by a rash which appears 2-7 days later."
Good Food Month is wrapping up but there are still a few things you can catch.
Babyface x Pilot
Pilot head chef Malcolm Hanslow opens his kitchen. Credit:Karleen Minney
Chef Andy Burns of Wollongongs Babyface is coming to Canberra for one dinner and one lunch to collaborate with Pilots chef Malcolm Hanslow. Babyface epitomises what is happening in the modern Australian kitchen, with sustainably sourced aquaculture and the highest quality cuts of meat prepared in their legendary onsite smokehouse. Chef Hanslow, who was shortlisted as one of the Josephine Pignolet Young Chefs of the Year, brings his skills from working at hatted restaurants such as Oscillate Wildly, Ester and Automata to this slick venue. March 30 and 31. $100pp.
Canberra Wine Week
Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris has admitted planning rules for Northbourne Avenue and the Federal Highway should have been finalised before the light rail was built, as she forecast a different approach for the network's second stage to Woden.
Ms Fitzharris addressed the issue on Tuesday after the ACT's peak business, property, planning and architecture groups this week went public with concerns about revised plans to reshape the corridor with 37,000 dwellings in the coming years.
Northbourne Avenue is set to be transformed in the coming years on the back of the light rail project. Credit:Jamila Toderas
The groups support the intent of the City and Gateway strategy, but say changes made to the draft plan, including scaling back proposed building height increases in Downer, have jeopardised some planned projects and created uncertainty for landowners.
Downer residents are pushing back against the industry groups' call, saying the primary entry point to the national deserved "something better than a corridor of high-density apartments".
Police arrest an anti apartheid demonstrator at Coogee beach on 27 March 1971. Credit:Staff photographer
First published in the Sydney Morning Herald on March 28, 1971
Four screaming women demonstrators raced down Coogee Beach past police cordons and threw themselves at the visiting South African surf team at Coogee yesterday.
The women, in their early 20s, disrupted the march past - the highlight of the Third Test between Australia and South Africa.
Police raced to arrest the girls after two had been trampled by the marching team.
Labor's Michael Daley, who led the party to Saturdays disastrous election loss, has pulled out of the NSW Labor leadership race altogether, saying he does not want to be a "distraction" during the federal election campaign.
Mr Daley had already stepped aside as Labor leader on Monday, but announced his intention of re-nominating for the leadership ballot after the federal election, which will take place in May.
Standing aside: NSW Labor Opposition Leader Michael Daley. Credit:James Alcock
But on Tuesday he said he would pull out altogether, saying he did not want to be a "distraction" and that after the state election loss he wanted the party to be able to clear the air. He said he had made the decision after consulting colleagues and family.
Mr Daleys announcement marks the second resignation of a state Labor leader in dramatic circumstances in just four months, and caps a traumatic few days for the party after Saturdays dire result.
One Nation MP Mark Latham has deleted controversial tweets at the centre of a defamation case brought against him by a student cleared of terrorism charges, as the Federal Court gave the former federal Labor leader further time to find a lawyer to act for him in the case.
University of NSW PhD student Mohamed Nizamdeen, 26, is suing Mr Latham in the Federal Court over a tweet accusing Mr Nizamdeen of "plotting to kill senior Federal MPs and blow up Sydney Opera House and police/train stations".
Police withdrew a terror charge against UNSW PhD student Mohamed Nizamdeen.
In a separate tweet, the former federal Labor leader urged people to "try avoiding" the student "and his mates".
Mr Nizamdeen was charged with a terrorism-related offence in August last year but police dropped the charges in October after it emerged he was not responsible for a notebook containing details of the alleged plots.
Sydney identity Tom Domican's claim he "had a little chat" with witnesses in criminal proceedings later dropped against him will help prove he was a "violent criminal" in a lawsuit over former Kings Cross nightclub boss John Ibrahim's best-selling memoir, a court has heard.
Barrister Dauid Sibtain, acting for Mr Ibrahim and his publisher Pan Macmillan Australia, told an interlocutory hearing Mr Domican's answers to questions about ALP branch stacking in a 1984 BBC interview supported the inferences of criminality in his client's book, Last King of the Cross, now the subject of defamation proceedings.
Former Labor Party figure Tom Domican is suing Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim over his best-selling memoir. Credit:AAP
In the interview, aired on the British network's Panorama programme and played in the Federal Court before Justice Michael Wigney on Tuesday, a younger Mr Domican admitted to visiting Crown witnesses at their homes after being charged in relation to alleged vote rigging.
Mr Domican said the "witnesses had a lapse in memory" after he "had a little chat" and a cup of tea with them.
The number of TAFE students in Queensland has slumped by 79,000 since 2011 and by more than 45,000 since 2013, according to figures released on Monday.
Although some of the slide in enrolments is linked to the push towards university education, both major Queensland parties are worried.
Queensland TAFE enrolments and apprentice numbers are slumping in Queensland.
Youth unemployment is a key problem in Queensland, which has Australias highest unemployment rate, reaching 6.3 per cent for the October 2018 quarter.
The Queensland government puts the blame on the previous LNP governments decision to close 13 TAFE campuses and merge another 12 campuses as part of a review of the education sector which then included 80 TAFE campuses.
An Egyptian-Australian detained for more than a year in Cairo must face yet another legal hurdle before authorities will let him return to his Brisbane family.
Hazem Hamouda arrived at Cairo airport in January last year for a family holiday but was detained over allegations he was linked to the banned Muslim Brotherhood and spreading falsities online.
Hazem Hamouda with his daughter, Lamisse.
But he has never been charged and his family deny the accusations.
Mr Hamouda will front the military court for an exemption certificate from conscription on Saturday, and if the hearing goes well he could be home as early as next week.
The state government will take back control of Queensland's two privately operated prisons in an attempt to curb staff assaults.
The cost of the move is estimated to be $111 million over four years and comes off the back of the Crime and Corruption Commission's Taskforce Flaxton report in December.
The state government said bringing the private prisons under the public system and the cost is "in the public interest".
Among the findings, the CCC said, was evidence prisoners were not treated humanely, owing to overcrowding, which was related to a rise in assaults between prisoners and against staff.
Between 2013 and 2018, prisoner numbers increased by 43 per cent and figures showed Queensland jails were at 125 per cent capacity.
A Royal Commission into Australias family law system will be the central issue for child protection advocate Hetty Johnston, whos announced shell try to gain a Queensland senate spot in the upcoming federal election
The founder of child advocacy group Bravehearts and former Queensland Australian of the Year said she will be contesting as an independent, and believes voters already know what she stands for.
Im going to the people of Queensland with my job application, and saying to them please employ me, and let me show you what can happen when someone in that house is there for you, she said.
Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston is throwing her hat in the ring as an independent for a Queensland senate spot at the upcoming federal election. Credit:Fairfax Media
All I can do as an individual is to put my name up. Ive got a reputation to stand on, Ive got a platform, people know who I am.
Metro South Hospital and Health Service did not give any more details about the infectious person, except to say they were a traveller and not a Brisbane resident.
South-east Queenslanders are being warned to look out for symptoms of measles. Credit:Shutterstock
The person visited the following locations at these dates and times:
Brisbane health authorities have issued a second measles alert in as many days, with an infectious person visiting a number of locations in the inner city over the past fortnight.
Metro South Health Public Health Physician Dr Bhakti Vasant said in a statement anyone who was at the highlighted locations at those times and was worried about potential infection should call their GP for advice.
Measles is a serious viral infection that causes fever, cough, runny nose, then a red spotty rash and sore eyes a few days later, Dr Vasant said.
Anyone who develops measles-like symptoms within the next fortnight should contact their GP for advice. But, please call medical practice first to say you could have measles so that staff can take necessary precautions.
The case comes just a day after Metro North Hospital and Health Service issued an alert for an infectious person who visited a number of spots around inner Brisbane and Fortitude Valley.
In that case, the man is understood to be a Brisbane resident who did not recently travel to a country where measles is endemic.
Backpackers who stayed at a Melbourne hostel last week might have been directly exposed to measles from another guest.
Victorian health authorities have issued an alert for the highly contagious disease after a teenager was diagnosed with measles. It raised concerns that other backpackers who stayed at the Nomads All Nations Hostel in Spencer Street might be infected and spreading the disease.
The man spent four days at the hostel from March 21 to March 24 and remains in isolation while being treated in hospital.
He boarded flights QF1542 from Brisbane to Canberra at 5am and then QF809 Canberra to Melbourne at 8am on March 21 and spent time at popular Melbourne locations.
This new outbreak follows a previous case involving a woman who visited the Melbourne Grand Prix on March 16 and 17, and a string of other infections across Melbourne and Sydney in the last year.
Services providing support to homeless people in Perth have banded together to sound the alarm, warning the sector is at breaking point because funding levels have stagnated for years.
WA Council Of Social Services chief executive Louise Giolitto said the most vulnerable people in the community would pay the price for state governments failing to fund the sector to keep up with demand and the cost of running services.
She said there had been an alarming increase in the number of people sleeping rough in the city, who urgently needed help to access their basic needs.
Services warned of significant cuts in homelessness services unless funding increased to match rising costs. Credit:Andrew Quilty
Anyone who goes into the city early in the morning will see people sleeping in doorways, she said.
A couple who were married at the weekend were among around a dozen newlyweds who attended the court hearing in an effort to find out if they could recover their money and wedding footage. The devastated bride, who did not want to be named said, "It's just the memories we want back, we don't care about the money". Another newlywed woman, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said she used Launch Films Production four weeks ago for her wedding photos and video, paying $5395 for the package deal. "Our wedding was four weeks ago and we haven't received our photos or video footage," she said. "Luckily we got in touch with one of the photographers from the day individually, and he still has some photos on his camera which he is giving us.
"All I want is my raw footage. I'm happy to take it to someone else to be edited. They also have a personal hard drive from us with all my photos from the last ten years on it." PricewaterhouseCoopers-appointed liquidator, Melissa Humann, said the firm would begin to investigate Launch Film Productions immediately and attend its premises, as early as Tuesday if possible. "We will now take steps to attempt to contact the director to attend the office and see what is there," she said. "We have started to receive phone calls by parties impacted by this liquidation and we understand what people's concerns are." Ms Humann said creditors would be given an update on what assets, including computer-based, assets had been discovered, within 10 days.
An employee at Launch Film Productions, who wished to remain anonymous, said he believed hundreds of couples could be impacted by the closure. "Anyone who had their wedding shot from the middle of January up until now may never see their footage," he said. "I'm lucky enough to still have the footage from a wedding I shot on the weekend, but I don't know what to do with it, I don't know if I can contact the couple directly, or whether the company owns it." The employee said photographers would only have the last wedding they shot on their cameras, with footage usually uploaded to an office hard drive the following week, and deleted from the camera. He said he believed the business was heavily booked to the end of 2020, and a lot of couples would have paid in full, rather than a deposit, as a discount was often offered for up-front payment.
He said staff found out on Monday they no longer had jobs, with the office closed, website shutdown and phone lines disconnected. Mr Hillyard asked affected customers to get in touch. "It is always difficult for consumers when a business closes down as their orders and bookings are put into doubt and, in this case, there are fears that the photos and videos that cant be recreated may not be supplied," he said. "There are also concerns for those with future bookings about getting an alternative photographer at short notice. Consumers who are awaiting products from Launch Films or have future bookings should contact Consumer Protection by email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or call 1300 30 40 54.
A senior ACT barrister has blasted territory government claims its plans to increase the secrecy surrounding around the territory's child protection system are about protecting children, labelling it a 'Trojan horse' argument.
ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay has introduced a bill to reduce transparency around child protection issues. Credit:Karleen Minney
The barrister, Philip Walker SC, also urged the ACT Legislative Assembly to immediately hold an inquiry into the government bill to make changes to exempt all child protection reports from the Freedom of Information Act.
Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay last week introduced the proposal as part of an omnibus bill to make a raft of separate changes to justice-related legislation.
Senior family law barrister James Haddock also said while he could not say the change was definitely motivated be a desire to hide systemic problems in the child protection system.
Labor has devised a plan to offer financial incentives to energy companies that slash their greenhouse gas pollution, sources say, as industry makes a last-ditch plea for political bipartisanship on Australias climate change policy ahead of the federal election.
The Morrison government has been agitating for Labor to reveal how it will meet its pledge to cut national emissions by 45 per cent and warns the goal will lead to higher power prices a claim Labor strongly disputes.
Sources say Labor is considering financial incentives to encourage the energy sector to slash emissions. Credit:Paul Jones
Climate action advocates have criticised Labors decision to apply the 45 per cent target to the electricity sector, arguing the availability of renewable energy technology means more ambitious cuts could easily be made.
Labor has long been expected to tighten the "safeguards mechanism", which sets emissions limits for heavy polluters.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has put employers on notice, pledging there will be no further delays in increasing compulsory superannuation payments to 12 per cent despite fears the hike will hit workers coping with sluggish wage growth.
Mr Bowen said Coalition delays to implementing the legislated increase from 9.5 to 12 per cent meant people retiring today have nearly $100,000 less in super than if the original 1993 timetable had been implemented.
The Morrison government and the Australian Chamber of Commerce have argued any increase above 9.5 per cent would make wage rises less likely or force employers to dip into their own profits - challenging those in struggling sectors such as retail.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen. Credit:James Alcock
Wages have been growing at just above the rising cost of a consumer basket of goods at 2.3 per cent, but workers in some sectors have experienced pay cuts in real terms.
Victoria's pokies-owning pubs poured their biggest ever political donation into the Daniel Andrews-led ALP as part of a $1 million campaign to deny the Greens the balance of power at the state election last November.
The Australian Hotels Association imposed a special one-off levy on pub poker machines to help bankroll donations of at least $500,000 to Labor and about $300,000 to the Coalition parties. It also funded independents who preferenced the major parties.
The state's pubs lobby gave its largest-ever donations to the Labor Party ahead of the last election. Credit:Josh Robenstone
The gaming industry feared the Greens winning the balance of power in Victoria because of the party's strong anti-pokies policies, including the phasing out of poker machines from pubs and clubs and introducing $1 maximum bets.
The community clubs sector (such as football clubs) also contributed to Labor's thumping victory and the routing of the Greens with its first ever state election campaign aimed at "mobilising" the 600,000 members of its gaming clubs and encouraging them to vote for the major parties.
The consequences can be devastating. Each year there are about 20,000 suicide attempts and in 2016, for example, 624 deaths by suicide. Thats more than twice the road toll. A ward at Kew Cottages, 1973. Credit:The Age Archives How did we get here? Victoria began closing its psychiatric institutions often referred to as asylums in the '90s as part of a global trend towards humane, community-based treatment of people with serious mental illness. This long-overdue reform was correct in principle but poorly handled, with resources squandered and not enough investment in the community mental health sector, says former Australian of the year and youth mental health advocate Professor Patrick McGorry.
Victoria had the highest per-capita mental health funding in the country two decades ago, and decent mental health care. This included home treatment teams (also known as crisis assessment and treatment or CAT), early intervention services and intensive case management. Community mental health has been completely overwhelmed so there is virtually nothing between GP and emergency. Patrick McGorry But this system has been steadily eroded, with resources diverted to strained emergency departments. In the past decade, community mental health has been completely overwhelmed so there is virtually nothing between GP and emergency, says McGorry. Last years state budget committed a much-needed $705 million to mental health but most of this will be directed to acute services, the so-called pointy end of care where chaotic emergency departments and psychiatric wards try to cope with the growing demand. Acute bed numbers have fallen 9 per cent in the past decade.
Daniel Andrews announces Penny Armytage, left, as chair of the Royal Commission into Mental Health. Credit:Darrian Traynor What happens if you are unwell but not in severe crisis? Often, not much. If you need more mental health care than your doctor can provide but arent sick enough to go to hospital, services can be surprisingly limited. Its this gap between the GP clinic and the emergency department that represents one of the greatest challenges to Victorias mental health system, says Angus Clelland, the head of Mental Health Victoria. For those who can afford to pay, or have private health coverage, private psychiatrists and private mental health hospitals are one possibility.
But for public patients, the only option is community-based mental health services. If someone has a breast lump they are fast-tracked into more specialist proactive care. In mental health, you have to prove you are in a life-threatening condition. Patrick McGorry Ideally, these provide mental health treatment in combination with other services, such as support for finding housing and employment, keeping relationships intact or alcohol and drug abuse. When they work well, they can prevent mental health illness from spiralling into crisis. But community mental health services are under intense pressure. Typically, getting an appointment can take weeks, sometimes months. Community mental health is very much geared to individuals who have a serious and complex need, Mr McClelland says.
Figures show 3 per cent of adults experience severe mental illness each year but only about 1 per cent of Victorians are receiving clinical mental health care. This means people have to become really sick to get treated in the public sector, says McGorry. If someone has a breast lump or a similar early warning sign, for example, they are fast-tracked into more specialist proactive care. But in mental health you have to prove you are in a life-threatening condition. Professor Patrick McGorry. Credit:Alex Murray So what happens when it is an emergency? Again, options are limited. In the public system, a mental health crisis usually means one of two things: a visit from a CAT (crisis assessment and treatment) team or a trip to hospital.
Increasingly, CAT teams are swamped by demand. Some doctors have even dubbed them call again tomorrow or cant attend today, after being told no-one was available to respond to suicidal or psychotic patients. The quickest way to fix this is not to build more beds, but to better resource the community health model. Patrick McGorry This is the result of a failure to fund a proper community-based system, says McGorry. If you had CAT teams that were well resourced, you wouldnt need the hospital beds. The quickest way to fix this is not to build more beds, but to better resource the community health model. There is a mental health admission to an emergency department in Victoria every 10 minutes. And there was a 20 per cent increase in the number of emergency department admissions in the four years to 2016-17. Credit:Thinkstock
What's the problem with hospital emergency departments? There have been increasing numbers of Victorian patients left waiting for 24 hours in emergency departments for mental health care, says Simon Judkins, the president of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Spending a day in emergency is not a therapeutic environment. Simon Judkins Its the worst place for a mental health patient, who may be stressed, anxious or suicidal, he says. Spending a day in emergency is not a therapeutic environment. Patients grow agitated and scared, and can sometimes be aggressive or violent. About $100 million of the $700 million announced in last years budget for mental health will be spent on six mental health hubs. This will include separate 24-hour short-stay units in emergency departments to treat people in crisis.
These are extremely welcome, emergency clinicians say. But there still arent enough beds in longer-stay wards for everyone who needs them. What else can hospitals offer? Most major metropolitan hospitals have acute psychiatric units of about 30 beds. Some also have short-stay units, where patients can stay for up to three days when in crisis. And there are options for secure care and residential care in a community setting. This sounds sufficient until you look at unmet need, says Professor Richard Newton, the Victorian chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Inpatient wards have an average stay of about 10 days, which is a very short length of time when you consider that medications for depression or psychotic illness, for example, take between two and four weeks to work effectively.
The length of stay in inpatient units reflects extraordinary demand, Professor Newton says. So many people need to come into those units that other people are discharged too soon. What's next? The four newly announced commissioners, including principle commissioner and former Department of Justice secretary Penny Armytage, have a monumental task on their hands. (Professor Allan Fels, the former head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, is also a commissioner.) They have been asked to establish how to most effectively prevent mental health and suicide, and support people to recover from mental illness early in life, early in illness and early in episode. They have also been directed to establish how people can better access and navigate the mental health system. An expert advisory panel, to be chaired by Professor McGorry, will include people with a personal experience of mental illness.
The return of Thailand's people to the ballot box after nearly five years of military rule has confounded predictions by apparently rewarding general-turned-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha with sufficient democratic support to form a government.
Prayut Chan-o-cha casting his vote on Sunday. Credit:Amilia Rosa
Turnout at the polls was strong, unlike last year's sham election in Egypt, which was also preceded by the overthrow of an elected government; the outlawing of opposition parties and disqualification of rival candidates; the suppression of dissenting media; and a dictator changing out of his uniform and into a suit. Mr Prayut has had five years to use these and other means to jury-rig the electoral system in his favour, in much the same way that the Myanmar regime has insulated itself from the popular vote by having more than 100 military-appointed MPs in uniform in its lower house.
The bully-pulpit politics of Hun Sen in Cambodia and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines add to an overall picture of free societies on the back foot in south-east Asia.
Australia's response to this changing landscape needs to be proactive and principled. As Anwar Ibrahim pointed out after last year's stunning election upset in Malaysia, which finally defeated the Najib government's extensive gerrymandering, champions of democracy in our region need Canberra to engage with their nations beyond the level of leadership or risk being seen as complicit in that leadership's abuses. That means public exchanges with opposition parties and solidarity with non-government organisations.
London: The UK parliament has seized control of Brexit from the May government and will hold an extraordinary session on Wednesday to choose between possible outcomes such as another referendum, a no-deal Brexit or even cancelling Brexit altogether.
The government fiercely opposed the House of Commons vote on Monday night to take control, warning it would set a dangerous constitutional precedent. The government traditionally runs business in the House of Commons, deciding when and what debates and votes occur.
[It] would overturn the balance of our democratic institutions, Prime Minister Theresa May said.
Another Conservative called it a constitutional revolution that the House of Commons will come to regret.
Shortly after 8pm on May 11, 1960, a slight man stepped off a bus in suburban Buenos Aires. He seemed weary, ready to be home, and looked bewildered when a car pulled up alongside him.
The man was Adolf Eichmann, chief architect of Hitler's Final Solution, and one of the most-wanted Nazis in the world. Inside the car were agents of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. Their commander was Rafi Eitan, who became known as one of his country's greatest, if most controversial, spies, and who died at the weekend aged 92.
"I grabbed him by the neck with such force I could see his eyes bulge," Eitan recalled years later of his encounter with Eichmann, in an account published in Gordon Thomas' book Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad. "A little tighter and I would have choked him to death."
Israeli Rafi Eitan pictured in 2011. Credit:AP
The Mossad team moved Eichmann to a safe house where they held him for days without speaking. "Keeping silent was more than an operational necessity," Eitan said. "We did not want to show Eichmann how nervous we all were. That would have given him hope. And hope makes a desperate person dangerous. I needed him to be as helpless as my own people were when he had sent them in train loads to the death camps."
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday recognized Israel's 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights in an election boost for visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, prompting a sharp response from Syria, which once held the strategic land.
US President Donald Trump, left, and Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's PM hold up a signed proclamation after a meeting at the White House in Washington, DC. Credit:Bloomberg
With Netanyahu looking over his shoulder at the White House, Trump signed a proclamation officially granting US recognition of the Golan as Israeli territory - a dramatic shift from decades of US policy.
The move, which Trump announced in a tweet last Thursday, appeared to be the most overt gesture by the Republican president to help Netanyahu, who had been pressing Trump for the move since February 2017.
Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981 in a move not recognised internationally.
Washington: US Attorney-General William Barr plans to issue in a matter of weeks a public version of the special counsel's report that found President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign team did not conspire with Russia.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence that Donald Trump or his campaign conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Credit:AP
Democrats attempted to change the subject to healthcare after the report from Robert Mueller appeared to shatter their case that Trump was an illegitimately- elected president.
Barr released his own summary of the report's central findings on Sunday but said he needed more time to review the report to determine how much of it could be made public.
A Justice Department official said on Tuesday that Barr's plan was to release a public version in "weeks, not months." Congressional Democrats have demanded Barr turn over the report to them by April 2, which would only leave a week for the Justice Department to complete its review.
Even if they weren't hit by bullets or didn't see shots fired, "anyone who was at that school is at risk," Kraus said, and should be screened. "The scars simply don't go away with a fresh coat of paint," he said. Psychologist April Foreman, a board member at the American Association of Suicidology, said survivors are more prone to suicide and thus must be vigilant about mental health check-ups just as if they had a family history of breast cancer or heart disease. With help, people can overcome their suicidal impulses, she said. "It's not a foregone conclusion that this will happen to everyone who's been exposed to this and the majority of people who are suicidal don't go on to die. They go on to recover and live," she said.
The first suicide took place on March 16, with Cara Aiello telling WFOR-TV last week that her 18-year-old daughter Sydney had suffered from survivor's guilt her friend, Meadow Pollack, died in the attack. Loading Sydney had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and struggled to attend college because she feared being in a classroom, but never asked for help, her mother said. Coral Springs police officer Tyler Reik confirmed Monday that a Stoneman Douglas sophomore apparently killed himself Saturday, but said an official determination had not been made pending an autopsy. The boy's name was not immediately released.
Community leaders, government officials, parents, police and others held an emergency meeting Sunday after the second student suicide, Parkland mayor Christine Hunschofsky said. The biggest push will be to alert parents to talk to their children about whether they are having suicidal thoughts and outline the danger signs for them, such as personality changes or a preoccupation with death, she said. The groups also want students to look out for each other, and noted that the community counselling and resource centres that opened after the attack still remain available. The task has been made more difficult because Stoneman Douglas students are on their spring break. Hunschofsky said that while there is concern the two suicides could lead to more, it is more dangerous not to discuss what happened.
"We cannot be afraid of talking the only way we are going to identify people who need help is to talk about it," she said. We cannot be afraid of talking - the only way we are going to identify people who need help is to talk about it. Parkland mayor Christine Hunschofsky A 16-year-old Stoneman Douglas sophomore who was in a classroom where three students died on February 14, 2018, told The Associated Press on Monday that she tried to kill herself four times before she entered therapy. At first, she was ashamed, she said, fearing that accepting counselling would mean she "couldn't' handle my problems" and "I was broken." But her attitude changed with the support of therapists, family and friends, said the girl, who the AP is not naming because of her age. The girl said she fears not every Stoneman Douglas student who needs counselling is getting it and noted that some teachers seem uncomfortable talking about suicide and simply want to move on.
In Connecticut, Richman was among the Sandy Hook relatives suing Infowars host Alex Jones for contending the Newtown shooting never happened. Neil Heslin, whose son, Jesse Lewis, was killed at Sandy Hook, said the families' grief has been compounded by such conspiracy theories. Loading "Every day you get up, you expect to get punched in the chin," Heslin said. "I give Jeremy credit for what he accomplished with his work and his amazing strength that grew through the years." Newtown Police lieutenant Aaron Bahamonde said Richman left a suicide note, but did not disclose its contents.
On Monday, residents streamed into the Resiliency Centre of Newtown, which was set up shortly after the shooting as a place for therapy and for people to gather to talk. Richman worked with the centre in providing "brain health" first aid for children and others. His friend, Stephanie Cinque, the centre's executive director, said people are angry, sad and shocked by his death. "There's mixed feelings throughout town," she said. "Grief is complicated. It's very sad for the family, the children, the entire community. So today we're letting people know it's OK to have those feelings." The emotional scars survivors feel last for decades. Columbine High massacre survivor Heather Martin was not physically injured in the 1999 shooting that left 13 dead, but said she took years to emotionally overcome the attack. She helped form the Rebels Project, named after Columbine's mascot, to assist mass trauma survivors.
Be Cool, Be Classic - How Indias Love Affair with the Automobile is Reaching Younger Generations
BANGALORE, INDIA - March 26, 2019: We can learn a great deal from whats happening in India right now, when it comes to attracting young people into the historic vehicle movement, says FIVA President Patrick Rollet.
In March, FIVA (the Federation Internationale des Vehicules Anciens or international federation of historic vehicles) held its General Council meeting in Bangalore, Indias fast growing tech city. Explaining why Bangalore was the perfect venue, Rollet comments, India is a country where the love affair with the automobile is a more recent phenomenon than in the West, and its truly heartening to see the groundswell of enthusiasm for historic vehicles among younger Indians at a time when European enthusiasts are worried that classics will increasingly be seen as something for the older generation.
Our meeting was held in Bangalore alongside a symposium organised by the Delhi-based Osianama Learning Experience and the Federation of Historic Vehicles of India (FHVI) the first of its kind in Asia aimed at encouraging even more young people and women to get involved in the historic vehicle movement. The energy and enthusiasm of the participants, in a country thats at an exciting point in the development of its historic vehicle community, is a joy to see.
So what is the Indian historic vehicle community doing to encourage this groundswell of interest among the young? A key factor is the growing number of informal groups on social media, who meet at the weekend for casual drives in various cities. A prime example is Classic Drivers of Calcutta (CDC), as young entrepreneur and enthusiast Souvik Ghose Chaudhuri describes:
CDC was founded in 2017 with only three members but we now have 98 owners in the group, with 15% being first-timers and almost half under the age of 35. But importantly, we also have 500-plus members on Facebook and Instagram who may or may not currently own a historic vehicle.
To catch them young, its important to create communities around historic vehicles non-competitive, fun social events to attract newcomers, such as movie screenings and garage days, plus extensive use of social media and workshops. Its working. Were seeing younger people, most of them first-timers, acquiring classics, while our members seem to be overcoming the absence of a DIY culture and have taken to working on their vehicles themselves! The future is bright.
Interestingly, focusing on women has proved another key factor, as female race and rally driver Farah Vakil, explains:
Women are starting to take the lead in demystifying the classic automobile, seen by many as an untouchable realm of the wealthy and privileged man. Up till now, Indian womens role in historic vehicle circles has been as the wives and daughters of collectors but thats changing. Women in India today are financially and socially empowered, and we dont need to have classics passed onto us as family heirlooms, as we can acquire them independently sourcing them abroad, if necessary, and importing them. We are becoming instrumental in widening the appreciation of these cars, keeping it informal and unstructured an outing in our cars, a picnic perhaps without the heavy organisation and expense of a formal event.
Another presenter at the Bangalore symposium was businesswoman and blogger Shana Parmeshwar, who races a Porsche GT3 in the UK and India but also owns an Austin Seven and a 65 Chevrolet Impala estate. She uses the tag line Be Cool, Be Classic to describe the surge of historic vehicle interest among the younger generation in India, and is full of ideas for the future such as Classic & Charity, to organise classic runs to orphanages, where the children have fun taking passenger rides.
India has a rich automotive heritage, concludes Gautam Sen, FIVAs Vice President, Communications. In the early 20th Century, carmakers thronged to India but it wasnt until after independence that India really developed its own manufacturing industry. If America could have its Big Three, India had its Little Three Hindustan Motors, Premier Automobiles and Standard Motors, the latter narrowed down to making the Standard Herald.
It was also in the 1960s that the collecting bug started, although it was generally limited to a small number of enthusiasts acquiring extraordinary cars discarded by the erstwhile rajas and maharajas of India. Today, however, much as in Europe, the majority of enthusiasts are keen to collect more attainable vehicles of the sort that were used everyday, and hence reflect the wider culture of the country.
Clearly the Indian historic vehicle movement is enjoying great success at involving younger people, and FIVA members across the world might find their stories helpful when it comes to ensuring that our shared passion for classics lives on in future generations.
Auto News Headlines Final Edition March 26, 2019 - New Car Prices Rise Sales Fall - Duh!; Tariffs; smart Brand To Be Chinese Owned; Marchionne World Car Person Of The Year
End-of-Day Auto News Recap
U.S. auto sales are falling as vehicle prices climb, indicating that buyers at the lower end are getting squeezed out of the new car market, according to a new industry forecast. First-quarter auto sales are expected to drop by nearly 2.5 percent from a year earlier, to 4 million units, according to J.D. Power and LMC Automotive.
Source: CNBC
Tom Doll, Subaru of America Inc. president and chief executive officer, discusses the impact of the Trump administration's tariffs on the auto industry with Bloomberg's Kevin Cirilli on "Bloomberg Markets."
Source: Bloomberg
Daimler AG is nearing the sale of a 50 percent stake in its small-car brand Smart to Chinas Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd, the Financial Times said on Tuesday, citing three people familiar with the matter. The sale of the stake in its Smart division will be confirmed before the Shanghai Auto Show in April, FT said.
Source: Reuters
In a private ceremony at the Geneva Motor Show this month, Sergio Marchionne, the former FCA CEO was honored with the World Car Person of the Year award, a trophy accepted by new CEO Michael Manley, former head of Fiat Chryslers North American operations.
Source: Forbes.com
International Islamic University IIUI Research Associate Job
Latest International Islamic University Islamabad IIUI Research Posts Islamabad 2021 International Islamic University Islamabad IIUI, Government of Pakistan are requires applications from well educated and energetic candidates for the posts of Research Associate.
Skills Required Research
How to Apply on International Islamic University Islamabad IIUI 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.
Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label.
International Islamic University Islamabad IIUI Job 2019
Latest International Islamic University Islamabad IIUI Education Posts Islamabad 2021 Qualified, experienced and well educated candidate for the position of Assistant Professor required for International Islamic University in Islamabad Pakistan 2019.
How to Apply on International Islamic University Islamabad IIUI 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.
Just in time for Easter, Krispy Kreme has turned our favourite holiday treat, hot cross buns, into a delicous doughnut.
Posting on Facebook, Krispy Kreme said "Get ready to hop into a tasty Easter!"
13-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Kills Mother Over Argument
A 13-year-old Chinese boy allegedly killed his mother during an argument on March 16, according to local police. The incident was discovered two days later on March 18.
The incident took place in eastern Chinas Jiangsu Province. The mother, whose surname is Yang, was allegedly killed by her son, whose surname is Shao.
Shao was found a day later siting in a 24-hour restaurant. He was detained by the Jianhu police department and is under investigation.
According to Chinese criminal law, Shao is still considered a minor because he is not yet 14at most he may be sent to a detention camp during the week, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Varying reports and interviews give different accounts of what had happened between the mother and son during their argument. Initial reports from neighbors and people at the scene contrast with a later account from Shaos godfather, Duan.
The Argument
According to the Chengdu Economic Daily, a neighbor at the scene said that Shao is an average middle school student.
Theyre not a very well off family, and the boy often had arguments with his mom about money, the neighbor told the Chengdu Economic Daily on March 18.
Yang rented a shop and sold clothing for a living, and her husband is a migrant worker who often did contract jobs in other cities, the report said.
The neighbor said that Yang and Shao got into a fight once more, and thats when Shao killed his mother.
After two days, someone discovered that there was blood at the doorstep and reported it to the police, the neighbor said. His mom was really small, maybe 90 to 100 pounds.
A shop owner in the area told the Chengdu Economic Daily that Yangs parenting style may have been somewhat intense, possibly leading to disciplinary issues.
The boy liked pets, to the point of wasting time with them, the shop owner told the news outlet. His mother felt that he was spending his entire day playing with [the dog], so in a fit of anger she slammed the dog on the ground killing it.
Shao was later found in a 24-hour restaurant, and had reportedly sat there for about 40 hours before being found.
According to the Chengdu Economic Daily, Shao only ordered a cup of hot water, which he had with some biscuits that he brought.
One of the employees told the news outlet that at about 11 a.m., an officer came in asking about Shao. The kid didnt say anything and was just taken away, the employee said.
The employee added that Shao sat at a table that had nothing on it. He only had his backpack with him.
The police did not comment further on the situation, the report said.
Alleged Killing
Shaos godfather, Duan, said that when he was at the local police department, he read a different story from the police notes.
Duan told Beijing News in a March 21 report that after Yang came home from work, she saw Shao playing video games on his smart phone. Yang attempted to grab the phone away from her son, but Shao threw the phone on the floor.
Duan said, according to the notes, when Yang went to pick up the phone, Shao went to the kitchen and got a cleaver. The notes went on to say that as she was standing up, her son hacked the back of her head with the blade. Since the family dog was barking all the while, the notes said that Shao killed the dog as well.
According to Beijing News, neighbors said on March 18 that Shaos teacher attempted to contact the family because he did not show up in school.
They went on to say that Shao went to a restaurant and sat in a corner. When the police arrived, the boy put his hands over his head, and told them where he was.
However, the restaurant workers said that Shao was hiding in the restroom when the police arrived. Several of the police were not in uniform.
According to Duan, when Shaos father came back home on the afternoon of March 18, the first thing he said was: My wife is gone, why would I ever want my son? Beijing News reported.
On March 19, Duan and Shaos father picked up the boy from the police station. The first thing Shao said to his father when he came out was Dad, Ive done wrong, according to Beijing News.
A Punished Son
In December 2018, a 12-year-old boy, named Wu, stabbed his mother to death in Hunan Province, China, according to South China Morning Post (SCMP). The boy was not charged for the crime.
In an interview with SCMP, a juvenile delinquency expert at China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing said that youth crime is a very grey area in China.
Professor Pi Yijun said that children convicted of serious crimes, and are between the ages of 14 and 16, may be sent to juvenile delinquent prisons. Children convicted of minor crimes between the ages of 13 and 17 may be sent to juvenile delinquent schools, which send them home on the weekends.
In my opinion, in this case, the other parents have good reason to be afraid, Pi said. Its unsuitable to send someone as dangerous as he [Wu] is to school We cant erase such an intentional wrongdoing for the sake of protecting a childs rights.
Because of Shaos age, he may be released in a similar fashion.
Six MS-13 gang members were indicted over February and March for allegedly conspiring to carry out murders, authorities said. (Suffolk County District Attorney's Office)
6 MS-13 Gang Members Indicted for Allegedly Conspiring to Commit Murder
Six MS-13 gang members who are accused of conspiring to commit two separate murders in Suffolk County, New York, have been indicted, according to an announcement by the district attorney office on March 25.
Officials say the investigation began in the summer of 2018. In the first case, 20-year-old Kevin Zuniga, 28-year-old Jose J. Portillo, and 31-year-old Kevin Mejia Sandoval allegedly conspired to murder a fellow MS-13 gang member who they believed was cooperating with law enforcement.
This goes to show how ruthless this gang is and is part of their [modus operandi]: They conspire to kill rival gang members but they also conspire to kill their own when they allegedly violate the rules of the gang, District Attorney Timothy Sini said in a press release.
Portillo, Zuniga, and Mejia Sandoval are accused of being homeboys in the Leeward clique of the MS-13 gang, who act as leaders in the United States. Authorities say these members receive orders from gang leaders in El Salvador and then direct local members to carry out the gangs missions.
The gang, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, was initially formed by Salvadoran immigrants that fled to Los Angeles during the civil war in their home country. Their motto is kill, rape, control. Many MS-13 gang members in the United States are illegal immigrants.
It's three words The Epoch Times 20171129
In the second case, authorities alleged Zuniga, Portillo, and Mejia Sandoval, along with fellow gang members 22-year-old Gerver A. Chinchilla Perez, 17-year-old Emerson Hernandez Escobar, and 17-year-old Rafael Hernandez Elias conspired to kill a rival gang member from the 18th street gang.
Our intelligence shows that their plan was to kill him by shooting him with a firearm they planned on purchasing, butchering him with a machete, or by burning him to death, Sini said.
Authorities say Mejia Sandoval had received permission from higher-ups in El Salvador to carry out both murders.
These were not empty threats; weve seen MS-13 gang members commit murders before of rival gang members and of their own associates who are accused of cooperating with law enforcement, the district attorney said. Which is why we do not, and cannot, take the threat of MS-13 lightly.
Portillo, Zuniga, and Mejia Sandoval were each charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the second degree and conspiracy in the fourth degree. Meanwhile, Chinchilla Perez, Hernandez Escobar, and Hernandez Elias were each charged with conspiracy in the second degree and conspiracy in the fourth degree.
Zuniga and Chinchilla Perez were arraigned on the indictment on Feb. 1, while Hernandez Escobar and Hernandez Elias were arraigned on Feb. 4. The other members Portillo and Mejia Sandoval, who are from Maryland, were first extradited and subsequently arraigned on Feb. 15 and March 22 respectively.
The six defendants face a maximum sentence of eight and one-third years to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.
The six defendants alleged crimes demonstrate the underbelly of the MS-13 gangs operations by using violence, retaliation, and threats, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of DEAs New York Division, said, according to the press release.
Special Agent in Charge of HSI New York, Angel M. Melendez, shared a similar view to Donovon. There is no line that MS-13 will not cross, evidenced by their alleged conspiracy to kill even one of their own gang members, Melendez said.
Authorities also said Zuniga and Hernandez Escobar were arrested as part of Homeland Security Investigations Operation Matador on May 30, 2017, and were released on bond on Aug. 1, 2017, and May 4, 2018, respectively.
Mejia Sandoval was also previously deported twice, the press release said.
Barbaric Reputation
Dr. Robert J. Bunker, an adjunct research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College, previously told The Epoch Times that MS-13 has created a brand, similar to Los Zetas in Mexico, based on its reputation for engaging in unspeakable acts of brutality using machete and knife attacks against those that cross it.
This barbaric reputation greatly aids the gang in its collection of street taxes from local merchants and helps it to protect its turf and drug trade against opposing gangs who are afraid to face the street terrorism it can wage against them, Bunker said.
The Justice Department previously estimated around 40,000 members live in Central America and about 10,000 live in the United States.
The Epoch Times reporter Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.
Everyone eligible should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel or employment.
Vaccination should be voluntary but those who don't get vaccinated should be frequently tested for COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel and employment.
Both vaccination and testing should be voluntary and not required as a condition of long-distance travel or employment.
I defer to the judgment of lawmakers as long as they base their decisions on a consensus of medical professionals.
Vote
View Results
A court in France has ordered the demolition of a chateau on the French Riveria (Google Maps )
$64 Million French Chateau Faces Court-Ordered Demolition: Reports
A $64 million palace on the French Riviera has to be demolished because it was illegally constructed, according to an appeals court.
The Renaissance-style Chateau Diter in the town of Grasse has to be torn down because it was built in a protected wooded area, the Aix-en-Provence court of appeal ruled on March 25, reported The Guardian.
The owner has 18 months to demolish the property, and property developer Patrick Diter faces a fine of $507,000, which will be increased by $563 for every day he doesnt comply after the deadline, the court ruled.
Pierre-Jean Gaury, the assistant public prosecutor, said the transformation of the property was a pharaonic project, delusional, totally illegal and built in an illegal manner.
The Guardian reported that the Diter property was an abandoned country house with snake-infested grounds before the palatial structure was constructed.
Gaury claimed the construction of the chateau was in violation of urban planning regulations and environmental rules by an owner whose only concern is money.
Diter, who lives in the chateau with his wife, told Paris Match that he acquired the property 19 years ago. The Match described him as a simple man who does not wear a tuxedo or smoke cigars, according to a translation.
His property has a heliport, about 6,500 square feet worth of road, and a swimming pool, reported The Local, which added that it was illegally built in a protected wooded area.
According to the report, Diter said he is ready to demolish buildings that were constructed without a permit, admitting he made some mistakes.
A neighbor first filed a complaint after Chateau Diter was rented out for film products and weddings. He charged about $56,000 for an evening.
Those neighbors were awarded about $50,000 in damages, according to The Local.
Woman Sued Over Flintstones Mansion
The owner of a Flintstones housea home that was designed to look like the famed cartoonwas sued by the city of Hillsborough, California.
The house is owned by Florence Fang, a media mogul who founded the San Francisco Examiner and who is in her 80s, and she bought the home in 2017 for $2.8 million, reported the San Francisco Chronicle.
The home features dinosaurs, Flintstones characters, and a sign with the words, Yabba Dabba Doo. Its located in an affluent part of San Mateo County in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The city is suing her over gaudy outdoor decorations and other work, including a herd of large dinosaur sculptures and the sign, the Chronicle reported.
Recognizable for its bright hues and bulbous shape, views of the Flintstone House from Interstate 280 have captured the imaginations of many who have passed by the Hillsborough home for years. San Mateo Daily Journal 2019315
In a statement to USA Today, Fangs grandson, Sean, said the family will fight to save the home. I think the dinosaurs are beautiful. They make everyone smile and should stay, Sean Fang said.
7-Month-Old Boy Kidnapped, Held for Ransom, Then Murdered
A 7-month-old boy was kidnapped and murdered, according to a police announcement on March 13 from a local security bureau in Yunnan Province, China.
Two suspects in connection to the case have been arrested. The announcement said that an individual, whose surname is Tai, reported to the police that the boy had been abducted on March 11. No further details were given about the informant.
The police had found the body of the infant, and said an investigation is on-going. Lawyers hired by the parents of the boy said that he was strangled to death. No further information has been provided.
Many netizens have speculated that there were unpaid debts involved between the abductors and the parents of the child, or that there had been personal grudges. These claims were later denied.
The abduction was carried out for financial reasons, as the abductor had referred the father to a famous ransom case, according to the official provincial website Yunnan.cn.
The names of the infant and his parents were not given in the report.
The Kidnapped Boy
One of the suspects involved in the kidnapping of the boy is named Duan, a 50-year-old woman from the capitol of Yunnan Province, Kunming city. The other suspect is a 42-year-old man named Zhao, a resident of Dali city.
On March 17, the parents of the boy enlisted the services of two lawyers to help with the case. On March 22, one of the lawyers, Yu Huaixing, confirmed with reporters that the case was a kidnapping. He also confirmed that the boy was strangled to death.
Yu said that the husband and wife took vacations in Dali two times between 2017 and 2018. After their son was born, they took another trip in 2019. During each trip, they stayed at Duans house, who offered homestays as a way to make money.
In 2018, Duan was said to have sold what she claims was a meteorite to the mother and father. The final price was $12,000. Other than the fees for staying at Duans house and the price paid for the rock, there were no financial transactions between the two parties, nor any debts.
Further, Yu reported that there were no grudges held between both parties.
Yu said that Duan and Zhao sent a message to the boys father over WeChat, the most popular messaging app in China. They told him to take a close look at a renowned kidnapping case which involved the family of Hong Kong business magnate Li Ka-shing.
Duan and her accomplice [Zhao], after kidnapping the 7-month-old boy, sent a WeChat message to the boys father, telling him to read over the kidnapping case of Li Ka-shings son 10 times, Yu told reporters, according to Yunnan.cn.
The kidnapper of Li Ka-shings son reportedly netted $100 million in ransom. Duan and Zhao may have been hoping to get ransom money from their victims parents.
Yu also said a background check on Duan revealed that she had not fulfilled five previous court sentences. She was put on a list of individuals who were unable to repay financial penalties for two local courts.
Duan was said to owe the courts $900,000 from the five previous cases.
Kidnapping Study
Duan allegedly told the boys father that he should study very carefully the ransom case involving the abduction of Li Ka-shings son. As of March, Li is estimated to be the 28th richest person in the world, with an estimated wealth of over $30 billion.
On May 23, 1996, Lis son was kidnapped and held for ransom. His son, Victor Li Tzai-kuoi, was captured by a gang boss nicknamed Big Spender. Big Spender, whose actual name was Cheung Tze-keung, reportedly received about $175 million from the ransom that Li paid to him.
A police report was never filed with Hong Kong authorities, but only with the Chinese police. This eventually led to the execution of Cheung in mainland China.
Charles Shi attending the 2011 Conference of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) in Shanghai, as both the East Asian Supply Chain Manager and C919 Program Manager for Moog. (Courtesy Charles Shi)
Some Boeing Jets Have Substandard Parts, Whistleblower Claims
As investigations of the crashes of two Boeing 737 MAX jetliners continue, a former supply chain manager of the contractor for Boeings flight control systems says that substandard parts made in China with non-aerospace material have been installed in 777 and 737 planes that are still in service.
Now, the whistleblower, Charles (Chaosheng) Shi, is intensifying his efforts to bring light to the issue, which has been troubling him for three years.
Shi worked for Moog Aircraft for 10 years, from 2006 to 2016. In 2006, he set up the Moog supply chain in China and almost all suppliers were audited and approved by him, except for the one hes now accusing of providing substandard parts.
He has tried to bring his concerns about the faulty parts to the attention of Moog, Boeing, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Congress, and President Donald Trump. The FAA found that two of Shis concerns were substantiated, while others were not.
He also reported the issue to Chinese authorities, including Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and even the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.
In an interview with NBC in February 2018, Shi expressed concern that Boeing parts supplied by Moog were outsourced to a third-party Chinese supplier that used cut-rate manufacturing processes.
Shi said, You need to bake the parts to get the hydrogen out of the parts, so the parts can still be solid with integrity. Otherwise, the hydrogen goes into the parts. That can make the parts brittle, so the parts can fail.
He also related to NBC an additional violation that was substantiated by the FAA, concerning unbaked parts in Boeing 777 spoilers: a hydrogen embrittlement hazard that might cause the parts and system to fail during flight.
Shi told The Epoch Times that the parts in question are mainly components in the Boeing 777 and 737 spoiler systems, which are deployed during takeoff, early flight, and landing.
Alarming Findings
Shi said he became aware in 2015 that Suzhou New Hongji Precision Parts Co. (NHJ) in Jiangsu Province, China, one of Moogs suppliers, was reportedly using cheap and substandard materials. He confirmed that with another aviation manufacturer, B/E Aerospace, the sole source for lavatories on Boeing 737 aircraft built since 2012, and the only other aerospace customer of NHJ.
B/E Aerospace stopped buying from NHJ in 2013, after it was found that NHJ faked raw material certificates and used substitute materials, resulting in B/E product failures, Shi said.
As the manager for Moog Aircraft, Shi said he was responsible for the quality of the parts and materials that were purchased from all suppliers, and had the right to audit those suppliers.
Shi later told the FAA that he believed, based on his investigation, that NHJ had faked the raw material purchase record, and outsourced parts for Moog to an unknown supplier.
NHJ was outsourcing Moog/Boeing business to other unknown and unapproved sub-contractors. One-third of Moogs business, which was Boeing plane parts, was outsourced to illicit sub-contractors during 2015-2017. And I am willing to testify to this under oath, Shi told The Epoch Times.
FAA Investigation
Shis discovery of the outsourcing was confirmed by an FAA investigation conducted in September 2016. According to an FAA memorandum, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, two allegations made by Shi were found substantiated:
Moogs supplier NHJ outsourced Moog machined parts to an unknown supplier. Shenhai, a NHJ subcontractor, did not properly bake parts both before and after the cadmium plating process, and forged the production process card. The improperly baked parts consisted of four different part numbers.
However, Shis seven other allegations were found not substantiated by the same investigation.
According to the FAA memorandum, Moog auditors identified the following nonconformance issues:
(a) Required stress relief (baking) was not performed prior to cadmium plating;
(b) Hydrogen embrittlement relief treatment (baking) after cadmium plating was performed for only 4 hours on all parts, not 8 hours as required per AMS-QQ-P-416C specification;
(c) Baking procedure controls were not per AMS2750 specification; and
(d) No records of furnace traces [times] were being maintained for more than one week.
The FAA investigation also confirmed that 273 discrepant parts delivered to Boeing were installed into spoilers on the Boeing 777 aircraft.
Safety Critical
Of greatest concern to Shi is that many NHJ parts are safety sensitive, and one is safety critical.
One part (Part number: P665A003902) is the blocking or mounting lug of the Boeing 737s spoiler. This is a Single Point Of Failure (SPOF) part; if this part fails, the entire system will fail, which may cause a fatal accident.
According to a purchase list provided by Shi, Moog has bought 6986 SPOF parts from NHJ during 2015-2017. Shi said these parts can be used to equip more than 600 aircraft, as each 737 uses 10 pieces.
Shi said Moog is the exclusive supplier for all models of the Boeing 737, including the Max planes, and NHJ is the only supplier for this SPOF part for the 737 spoiler. His conservative estimate is that 500 Boeing planes may have been compromised, and are still in service.
When contacted by the Epoch Times, Moog denied Shis allegations with this one-sentence statement: In response to your request, please note that the Moog parts Mr. Shi references are not on the 737 MAX.
The Epoch Times submitted a follow-up inquiry to Moog, with a list of 58 different NHJ parts purchased by Moog, and asked Moog to clarify and verify on which planes these parts are used.
Moog hasnt responded to the request.
Shi said, The motive of NHJs using substitute material was that the substitute material was one-third or even one-half cheaper.
NHJ couldnt be reached for comment.
Serious Safety Threat
Shi said he first became concerned about the parts in May 2015, when two of his supplier development engineers told him that NHJ had a bad history and B/E Aerospace stopped using the company. He became worried and reported that to his direct supervisor. But his supervisor, who had brought in NHJ as a supplier for Moog, brushed it off.
Shi also conducted some auditing and investigative work, finding that NHJ was using an illicit material booking MID system (Material Identification), which violated aerospace industry standards. NHJ MID numbers had no traceability to raw material sourced from approved raw material vendors.
This violation is totally not acceptable, Shi said.
Shi also traveled to NHJ a few times after the discovery of the faulty recordkeeping, and found that NHJ stocked raw material for Moog in an open area. That material was mixed with other supplies and was improperly labeled, he said. Some material was labeled; some was not.
Shi also found that some work in process paperwork didnt have MID traceability, which means that NHJ had no traceability in its manufacturing process.
On Aug. 7, 2015, Shi became a whistleblower within his company, by bringing the issue to global supply chain management of Moog Aircraft.
Shi said he later found that NHJ used faked certificates to fabricate quantities of products they purchased from an approved vendor. He said he was able to determine that from a document he obtained from the approved vendor, showing the quantity of how many units it sold to NHJ, which was only one-third of what NHJ claimed that they had bought.
On Jan. 12, 2016, Shi alerted the president of Moog Aircraft and the CEO of Moog Inc., the parent of Moog Aircraft, about the alarming safety threat. The next day, Shi took the matter to the U.S. FAA. That was also the day he was fired.
According to Reuters, Moog said Shis employment was ended as part of a previously communicated global reorganization, and wasnt related to him raising issues about the suppliers quality.
According to the FAA memorandum, after receiving Shis report, the FAA investigator visited the Moog plant in East Aurora, New York, on March 29, 2016, and interviewed Moog employees who were most familiar with the process. After reviewing materials provided by Moog, and witnessing retesting of the materials properties of parts, the FAA concluded that Shis allegation was not substantiated.
In August 2016, Shi provided what he describes as additional compelling evidence to the FAA. He told the agency about NHJ faking documents about SPOF parts, which were used in the Boeing 737 spoiler, and requested that the FAA reopen the case.
The FAA did another round of investigation and found two items out of Shis nine allegations were substantiated.
According to the FAA, in response to the substantiated allegation that NHJ had provided improperly manufactured parts, Moogs product engineering team chose six parts from the suspect lots and subjected them to high sustained stress load testing. There were no noted failures. Moog recommended use as is for the parts that had already been installed on Boeing planes, which Boeing accepted.
Regarding Shis claim that NHJ had faked its record of purchases of raw materials, the FAA reports that Moog discovered an accounting error that resulted in the discrepancy, which resulted in the agency determining this allegation wasnt substantiated.
Shi says hes not satisfied with FAAs handling of the matter, especially the substantiated allegations. He found himself to be in disbelief that the FAA decided to let these admittedly unauthorized and literally unbaked parts to remain in service, sparing Moog and/or Boeing millions of dollars for removal and retrofitting.
In response to the Epoch Times request for information and comment regarding Shis allegations, the FAA emailed the following statement:
The FAA closed its Moog investigation regarding Mr. Shis allegations. The agency determined the corrective action defined by Moog and Boeing associated with the open substantiated allegation was appropriate to address the related issues identified in the investigation. The FAA investigation determined unsafe conditions did not exist.
Boeing hasnt responded to requests for comment.
A Late-Night Intrusion
Shi says his allegations that NHJ faked documents and used inferior materials should be referred to criminal investigators, which he said he has repeatedly asked the FAA to do.
After the recent Boeing 737 Max crashes, he has stepped up his efforts by writing to U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), as well as President Trump. He said hes willing to travel to the United States at his own cost to testify to Congress, should Congress decide to hold a hearing on this.
Shi has also taken to social media and Change.org to expose the issues and to draw public attention. He hopes more mainstream media can take up his story.
Shi said his home in Shanghai was entered in a disturbing manner on March 13.
It was the security guard who told me my doors were open. I went down to check two doors, one was the courtyard entrance door in the north, one was the door to my townhouse in the south. Both were wide open. I called police and the fact was recorded by policemen who rushed to my home. The doors were intact but wide open. Nothing got lost. All things were in a tidy state.
Shi believes that incident was a warning, with the intruders demonstrating how easily they could reach him. They want him, he said, to stop his efforts to expose the problems with NHJs parts.
Arbys Manager Shoots, Kills Man Who Spat on Her: Police
Police say an Oklahoma Arbys manager was arrested after killing a customer who apparently spat on her during an argument.
Deionna Young, 25, is facing first-degree murder charges over the alleged incident that took place on March 24 in Tulsa, reported the Tulsa World on Tuesday.
The man, 25-year-old Desean Tallent, threatened her and spit on her, said police.
Young followed the man and fired a shot into his vehicle, killing him, according to officials. She was arrested two days later.
After a fast food restaurant manager had an altercation with a man who threatened her and spit on her, police say she followed him and fired a shot into his vehicle. Tulsa World 2019326
In the incident, police said she followed Tallent in her car before opening fire.
She used a .45-caliber handgun, for which she didnt have a license, said police.
Police said she then went back to work.
Tallent, having been shot in the torso, drove his SUV north to Walmart and crashed into an entrance. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Young is being held without bond.
We are currently conducting a comprehensive internal investigation into this incident. Additionally, we are fully cooperating with local authorities and will continue to offer support however we can. As this is an ongoing investigation, we ask that all further media inquiries are directed to the Tulsa Police Department, said Arbys in a statement to Fox23.
Police said the altercation took place at the Arbys at 41st Street and Garnett Road in eastern Tulsa.
Detectives said they examined video footage, the assault report, and a Crime Stoppers tip leading up to Youngs arrest, Fox23 reported.
Oklahomas Newson6 reported that Tallents death was the 13th homicide in Tulsa so far this year.
A woman in the Newson6 website comments section claimed that Young threatened to shoot her and another person.
The woman claimed, She need (sic) to be locked up. I tried to get a restraining order against her for threatening to shoot me and another person. But because I could not retain video footage from Murphys gas station right there on 31st. My request was denied. Now someone has lost their life and its a shame that this has to happen for the courts to take threats more serious (sic).
Tulsa police have arrested Deionna Young for murdering Desean Tallent. Police said Tallent spat on Young during an argument at an Arby's before shooting occurred. KJRH 2019326
Violent Crime Declined in 2017
In September 2018, the FBI said Americans committed fewer violent and property crimes across the United States in 2017, according to statistics. The violent crime rateincluding offenses such as murder, robbery, and aggravated assaultdropped by almost 1 percent althought it is still about 4 percent above the 2014 rate. The murder rate dropped by 0.7 percent.
There were more than 1.2 million violent crimes reported to [the FBI] nationwide in 2017. There was a 0.7 percent decrease in murders and a 4 percent decrease in robberies from 2016 to 2017. Aggravated assaults increased 1 percent in 2017. The FBI began collecting data solely on an updated rape definition last year, and 135,755 rapes were reported to law enforcement in 2017, the agency said.
Of the estimated 17,284 murders in 2017, more than half occurred in larger citieswith populations of more than 100,000.
There are fewer than 300 such cities in the United States, and while they account for less than 30 percent of the countrys population, many of them contribute far beyond their share to national crime rates and have done so for years, even decades.
While the national murder rate inched down to 5.3 per 100,000 residents, it spiked by 15 percent in Philadelphia, to a rate of more than 20 per 100,000 residents. Columbus, Ohio, saw a massive 54 percent murder rate increase, reaching nearly 16.3 per 100,000 residents.
Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika gestures while talking with Army Chief of Staff General Ahmed Gaed Salah during a graduation ceremony of the 40th class of the trainee army officers at a Military Academy in Cherchell 90 km west of Algiers, Algeria, on June 27, 2012. (Ramzi Boudina/Reuters)
Army Chief Asks for Algerias Bouteflika to Be Declared Unfit for Office
ALGIERSAfter weeks of mass protests, Algerias powerful army chief of staff called on March 26 for a constitutional move that would see President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika declared unfit for office, signaling an end to his 20-year rule.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah, addressing army officers in a speech broadcast on state TV, called for a unified stand to defuse tensions in the sprawling North African state, a major oil, and gas exporter.
It is rare for the army to directly intervene during crises in Algeria but the hundreds of thousands of people who have been pushing the ailing Bouteflika to step down, as important allies deserted him, prompted the military to try and restore order.
Salah said the solution would be based on Article 102 of the constitution and achieve a consensus of all visions and parties. That article applies under certain conditions, such as deteriorating health. Bouteflika, 82, has rarely surfaced in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.
The next formal step is for the constitutional council to formally to declare Bouteflika unfit for office, a decision that members of parliaments lower and upper house need to ratify by a two-thirds majority.
Based on Article 102, the chairman of parliaments upper house, Abdelkader Bensalah, would serve as caretaker president for at least 45 days in the nation of more than 40 million people.
El Bilad television said the constitutional council had convened in a special session after Salahs intervention. State TV opened with Salahs announcement but there was no word on a constitutional council meeting.
On March 26, the Huffpost Maghreb said a protest leader had rejected the armys attempt to have Bouteflika declared unfit, saying the people instead wanted a national government of consensusrather than any continuation of the secretive elite entrenched in power since independence from France in 1962.
The Algerian people dont accept that the government, or a symbol of power of this system, manages the transition period, lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi said, according to the online outlet.
Algerias military has traditionally manipulated politics from behind the scenes. The last time it stepped in during a crisis was in 1992, when the generals canceled an election that Islamists were poised to win.
That move triggered a civil war that killed an estimated 200,000 people. Algerians have dark memories of that conflict and the military is highly sensitive to any instability.
The stakes are high, for Algeria is a leading member of OPEC and a top gas supplier to Europe, though so far oil and gas output appears unaffected by the unrest, an International Energy Agency (IEA) official said on March 26.
Algeria is also regarded by Western states as a partner in counter-terrorism, a significant military force in North Africa and the Sahel, and a key diplomatic player in efforts to resolve crises in neighboring Mali and Libya.
Canny Operator Runs Out of Road
Bouteflika, among the veterans of the 1954-62 war of independence against France who dominate Algeria, consolidated his power by outfoxing would-be rivals in the military and security services and containing grassroots discontent.
When the Arab Spring protests toppled Arab leaders across the region eight years ago, oil revenues enabled him to boost state spending and buy peace in the streets.
But Algerians have since lost patience with unsuccessful efforts to reduce unemployment, ease daily hardships and tackle high-level unaccountability, corruption, and nepotism.
In the latest unrest, one ally after another abandoned Bouteflika, emboldening protesters.
Bouteflika ran out of options as he became increasingly isolated and failed to buy time. He bowed to protesters by reversing a decision to seek another term and putting off elections that had been set for April.
But he stopped short of quitting as head of state and said he would stay on until a new constitution is adopted, effectively extending his current term.
In this context it became necessary, even imperative, to find a solution to end the crisis that responds to the legitimate demands of the Algerian people and which quarantines the rules of the constitution, Salah was quoted by the state news agency APS as saying.
Thousands of people had returned to the streets of the capital Algiers earlier on March 26 calling on Bouteflika to resign, keeping up popular pressure.
The system must go. There is no point for it in resisting, said Belkacem Abidi, 25, one of about 6,000 protesters, mostly students, who gathered in downtown Algiers on March 26.
Algerians will face uncertainty for some time before a new president emerges. One of the most important factors will be the position of the military, which is likely to act as kingmaker, as it has done in past decades.
By Lamine Chikhi & Hamid Ould Ahmed
Baker Testimony Reveals Concerns About FBI Probe, Pre-Election Contacts With Mother Jones Reporter
James Baker, the former general counsel at the FBI, provided a stunning testimony to congressional investigators in October last year.
The career lawyer, who left the FBI in May 2018, played a significant role in the investigation of then-candidate Donald Trump. Transcripts of Bakers two testimonies before Congress were reviewed by The Epoch Times for this article.
Former FBI General Counsel James Baker.
Perhaps the most telling statement in Bakers testimony, was his admission of how unusual the FBIs actions were.
During testimony, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), who along with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) had been questioning Baker, paused to outline his concerns, telling Baker, everything about this investigation seems to have been done in an abnormal way, the way that you have gotten the information, the way that Peter Strzok got information, the way that Bruce Ohr was used, the way that Perkins Coie actually came in and gave you information.
Meadows noted that, with all this stuff that we are talking aboutyou ought to look at this with a jaundiced eye, would you agree?
Baker responded: I had a jaundiced eye about everything, yes. I had skepticism about all this stuff. I was concerned about all of this. This whole situation was horrible, and it was novel and we were trying to figure out what to do, and it was highly unusual.
Baker closed his statement by noting, I am not good enough to sort out the political implications of a lot of things.
But for a man who claimed to not be in tune with political considerations, Baker had significant involvement in the FBIs investigation of President Trump. Baker repeatedly met with Michael Sussmann, a partner at Perkins Coie, who shared with him information that detailed alleged communications between servers in Trump Tower and servers located in Russia at Alfa Bankan allegation that eventually was debunked. Baker also acknowledged that he had a personal relationship with Sussmann, as they had previously both worked in the criminal division together at the Department of Justice.
Baker was also involved in the Carter Page FISA application process and read part of the initial application. And, as general counsel, Baker advised senior FBI leaders on the legal aspects of key investigations and served as the liaison with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Baker is the subject of a criminal leak investigation being conducted by the DOJ. According to Bakers testimony, the leak investigation remained active as of October 2018 and a Jan. 15 letter sent by Reps. Jordan and Meadows to U.S. Attorney John Durham, requesting a briefing, strongly suggests the DOJ investigation into Baker remains active.
Bakers Relationship With David Corn
Early in Bakers testimony, he was asked about his relationship with Mother Jones reporter David Corn. Baker said that Corn was a longtime friend, noting that they met Years and years and years ago Our kids carpooled together. We carpooled with them when our kids were little. According to Baker, he and Corn would speak every few months or soincluding during the months preceding the 2016 election.
Rep. Jordan: [How] many times did you talk with David Corn in the weeks and months prior to election day?
Mr. Baker: I dont remember.
Rep. Jordan: Is it fair to say you did?
Mr. Baker: Yes, I did, but I just dont remember how many.
But as Bakers testimony progressed, it quickly became apparent the two were engaged in more than just conversations about their children.
Baker and Corn had multiple conversations regarding FBI matterswhich Baker would later clarify to mean the Steele dossierprior to the 2016 presidential election:
Rep. Jordan: Did you talk to Mr. Corn prior to the election about anything, anything related to FBI matters? Not so were not going to ask about the Steele dossier. Anything about FBI business, FBI matters?
Mr. Baker: Yes.
Rep. Jordan: Yes. And do you know can you give me some dates or the number of times that you talked to Mr. Corn about FBI matters leading up to the 2016 Presidential election?
Baker answered Jordan by saying, I dont remember, congressman. He then asked to consult with his counsel. When Baker resumed his testimony, he told lawmakers that Corn approached him, wanting to provide him with parts of Steeles dossier:
Mr. Baker: If I could just focus. So what I remember most clearly is that at some point in time David had part of what is now referred to as the Steele dossier and he talked to me about that and wanted to provide that to the FBI.
And so, even though he was my friend, I was also an FBI official. He knew that. And so he wanted to somehow get that into the hands of the FBI because
Rep. Jordan: David Corn wanted to give the FBI parts of the dossier?
Mr. Baker: Thats correct. Thats what he told me.
The parts comment makes more sense when you realize the Steele dossier is really a collection of individual memos written by former MI6 agent Christopher Steele from June 20, 2016, to Dec. 13, 2016.
There are 17 known memos in the Steele dossier. Three of these memos were written in September and four were written in October. One memo is undated and a final memo was created on Dec. 13. One memo is also datedperhaps erroneously, perhaps notas July 26, 2015.
In September 2016, the FBI had suddenly reached out to Steele, asking him for all the information in his possession. The team working on the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into the Trump campaign received documents and a briefing from Steele in mid-September, reportedly in Rome, where his FBI handler, agent Michael Gaeta, was also present.
During the testimony of former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, who at the time of the investigation was a special counsel to Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, she appeared to corroborate this account, noting that the team received the reports that are known as the dossier from an FBI agent who is Christopher Steeles handler in September of 2016.
She would later clarify the timing, noting we received the reporting from Steele in mid-September. A text sent to her by FBI agent Peter Strzok on Oct. 12, 2016, may provide the actual date: [We] got the reporting on Sept 19. Looks like [redacted] got it early August.
Steeles dossier was continuously evolving and growing in the latter portion of 2016 as new memos were written. And, as noted, four additional memos were written by Steele in October, following the FBIs meeting with him in September. Corn may have been provided with those newer Steele memos that Baker and the FBI didnt yet possess.
Notably, Corn had talked to Steele in late October 2016, resulting in his Oct. 31, 2016, article, A Veteran Spy Has Given the FBI Information Alleging a Russian Operation to Cultivate Donald Trump. In that article, Corn noted that in recent months, Steele had provided the bureau with memos based on his recent interactions with Russian sources.
A bit later in his article, Corn stated that he had reviewed that report and other memos this former spy wrote.
Corn has publicly acknowledged that he sent Baker a copy of the memos a week after he published his October 2016 article. Corn later characterized his involvement with Baker as limited to standard reporting activities in a Jan. 17 article he penned in response to the Jan. 15 letter sent by Reps. Meadows and Jordan:
I did send a copy of the Steele memos to Baker a week after I had posted the article on them. (My story had reported that Steele, whom I had not identified by name, had already provided copies to the bureau.) I asked if anyone in the bureau could talk to me about the documents. Thats what reporters do. No one at the FBI would. End of story.
Corn also stated his belief that he wasnt part of the Baker leak investigation and noted, I have not been contacted by Durham or anyone working on his probe.
Baker, in his testimony, suggests that the FBI matters he and Corn had conversations about prior to the Nov. 8, 2016, elections were regarding the dossier.
Rep. Jordan: [So] you definitely had conversations with David Corn prior to the elections about the dossier?
Mr. Baker: I believe thats correct. I dont remember specifically the date of these conversations, but I know that David was anxious to get this into the hands of FBI. And being the person at the FBI that he knew the best, he wanted to give it to me.
Additional Parts of Steele Dossier
It appears that what Corn was providing to Baker included memos from Steele that werent in the FBIs possession:
Rep. Jordan: So you knew about the dossier prior to the election and you had reviewed it prior to the election. And also prior to the election Mr. Corn had a copy of the dossier and was talking to you about giving that to you so the FBI would have it. Is that all right? I mean all accurate.
Mr. Baker: My recollection is that he had part of the dossier, that we had other parts already, and that we got still other parts from other people, and that and nevertheless some of the parts that David Corn gave us were parts that we did not have from another source.
Baker testified that after Corn provided his memos from the Steele dossier to him, those new memos were then provided to the FBIs Counterintelligence Division.
He gave it to me, and then I immediately gave it to I think it was Bill Priestap, who was the head of our Counterintelligence Division, Baker said. Priestap was officially in charge of the counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign.
Baker testified that he never read Corns documents himself.
Corn, however, has said that the reason his documents differed was because they did not contain later memos already in the FBIs possession:
Another dumb distraction from the Trump cult. I gave a copy of the memos to the FBI AFTER the election & AFTER Steele gave them to the FBI to see if the FBI would authenticate them & confirm its contacts w/ Steele. And my set was different only bc it didnt include later memos. Corn wrote on Twitter on July 11, 2018.
Corns tweet was responding to questions regarding an email sent by FBI Agent Strzok to FBI executives following the dossiers publication by BuzzFeed in January 2017. Strzoks email was highlighting discrepancies in the FBIs various versions of the dossierincluding the one provided by Corn:
Our internal system is blocking the site, Strzok wrote of the document posted on BuzzFeed. I have the PDF via iPhone but its 25.6MB. Comparing now. The set is only identical to what McCain had. (it has differences from what was given to us by Corn and Simpson.)
The FBI had met with Steele on Sept. 19, 2016, and were provided with all his memos to date. Following that meeting, Steele wrote four additional memos in October. Steele then met with Corn in late October, culminating in Corns Oct. 31 articleand the subsequent transfer of additional memos to Baker and the FBI in early November.
Given the timing, it seems more likely that the memos that Corn provided to the FBI were those that Steele wrote in October and werent yet in the FBIs possession.
There is only one additional memo written by Steele since October, which was on Dec. 13, 2016. Its possible this final memo accounts for the differences noted by Strzok, but the words it has differences from what was given to us seem to imply more significant differences than the inclusion of the final memo.
Another item of note is that Corn specified in his July tweet that he gave his copy of the memos to the FBI after the election. But in his later article from January of this year, Corn altered his description of timing ever so slightly:
I did send a copy of the Steele memos to Baker a week after I had posted the article on them.
Corns article was published on Oct. 31, 2016. A week after publication would indicate that Corn provided his copy of the dossier to Baker on Nov. 7one day before the election.
Source of Corns Documents?
Baker said in his testimony he believed that Corn had received his copies of the Steele memos from Glenn Simpson, the head of Fusion GPS:
Mr. Baker: [I] think I assumed at the time or knew, he may have told me, that he got it from Simpson or somebody acting on Simpsons behalf.
In his Jan. 17 article, Corn attacked Meadows and Jordan for engaging in an unfounded crusade against Baker:
Jordan, Meadows, York, and the inhabitants of Planet Fox refuse to recognize that the scandal at hand is about Trump and Russia. Instead, they conjure up alternative realities, desperately prop up competing controversies, and cavalierly toss about false claims to protect Trump and his crew and to prevent a full accounting of an unprecedented attack on American democracy. In this episode, Baker has been a victim of their fact-free hit-and-run skullduggery. But more important, the American public is also a victim, as this crowd casts about conspiratorial diversions to hide the truth that theyand Trumpcannot handle.
Special counsel Robert Mueller, however, has now concluded his investigation and determined there is no evidence of such collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Meanwhile, many questions remain as to the origins of the FBIs investigation, as well as the way the Steele dossier was spread to the FBI through different channels.
David Corn, along with Michael Isikoff, is the author of the book, Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putins War on America and the Election of Donald Trump. The two men, who had both promoted allegations that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia, were interviewed on MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes on March 25, after Mueller had officially determined there was no collusion.
In the interview, Corn continued to push allegations against Trump, noting that, there were certainly acts of betrayal, I think, on the part of the Trump campaign but those might not have been criminal.
Corn referenced several events, including the Trump Tower meeting, Paul Manaforts meeting with his employee Konstantin Kilimnik, and the Trump Tower project in Moscow, telling Hayes, all those things add up to, I think, the biggest scandal in American political history without there having to be any direct coordination.
Isikoff remained more measured in his responses and countered Corn, by noting, I agree with everything David said, except that the dossier did set expectations and it did shape what people were looking for, what they thought might have happened. It was endorsed multiple times on this networkpeople saying its more and more proving to be true. And it wasnt.
Isikoff concluded by saying, one of the reasons people were so surprised by the Mueller finding is that it undercuts almost everything that was in the dossier, which postulated a well-developed conspiracy between the Russians and the Trump campaign.
Border Patrol agents overlook the Rio Grande towards Mexico on the Roma Bluffs near Rio Grande City, Texas, on March 22, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
Border Patrol: 25,000 Illegal Aliens Evaded Capture in Southeast Texas
ROMA, TexasThe Rio Grande Valley in southeast Texas has led the nation in illegal border crossings since 2013, and that shows no sign of abating. So far this fiscal year, Border Patrol has apprehended more than 120,000 illegal border-crossers in the sector.
But its the ones they dont catch that no one is talking about, said Raul Ortiz, deputy chief Border Patrol agent for the Rio Grande Valley sector.
Ortiz said at least 25,000 illegal aliens have evaded Border Patrol so far this fiscal year in the sector, which shares 320 miles of the 2,000-mile international border with Mexico.
Those are folks that we know made it past the infrastructure, the agents, the technology that we do have in placebecause our resources are stretched so thin, Ortiz told The Epoch Times on March 22.
We actually dont know who they are. So far, here in south Texas, weve apprehended folks from 44 different countries. These are from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, you name it.
Although most illegal aliens hail from the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, Ortiz estimates that by the end of the year, Border Patrol will have apprehended people from 60 different countries.
Those are the folks that are trying to get away from our officers each and every day, he said.
Most of the people from Central America cross illegally, then hand themselves over to Border Patrol and claim asylum. The vast majority are family units, consisting of a parent and a child under 18, or unaccompanied minorswhich means they cant be detained long and will be released into the interior, with an immigration court date often years away.
New Challenges
Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said that although Border Patrol apprehended more than 1 million people in the early- to mid-2000s, it was often the same people, from Mexico, and it was easy to return them.
We would arrest them, send them back across the border, and then they would just come back. I mean, I arrested the same group three times in one shift, he said.
But now, thats not what were dealing with. Were on pace to have about 900,000 arrests, but thats 900,000 people that were dealing with. Whereas back in the early-2000s, we were dealing with somewhere around 500,000, 600,000 people. We were just arresting the same person over and over and over again. So were dealing with something thats just never been dealt with before. And if we dont get the support from Congress, were going to fail. Period.
Judd said Congress needs to close the legal loopholes that are allowing for thousands of people to be released into the country with meritless asylum claims.
People are just going to continue to come, break our laws, knowing that theres not going to be a consequence to violating those laws, which is then just going to invite more and more and more people to come, Judd said.
Ive been in the Border Patrol for 21 years. This debate has raged all 21 years. We thought that it was going to end in 2016, and for a time, it did. I mean, we dropped to record lows in illegal immigration, but that was on the promise that people were going to be held in custody, pending their deportation proceedings or their asylum proceedings, which is the legal way to do it.
Its a Policy Crisis
Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost said the outdated laws that need updating are the Flores Settlement Agreement and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).
The fact that we cannot detain is creating a pull factor, Provost said on March 20. She said the large numbers of family units crossing illegally are driving the humanitarian crisis.
Its a humanitarian crisis and then, therefore, that humanitarian crisis is impacting border security, too. So its creating a border security crisis because all my men and women are spending their time caring for the individuals that are in our custody, she said. It pulls them away from the border security mission. We dont have enough resources to deal with both.
Ortiz said about 30 percent of the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol agents time is spent on the humanitarian issue.
What we would like to get back to is our border security mission set. Weve certainly got to close the policy gaps that exist, so we can focus on the narcotics and the alien smuggling that is actually happening here on the border, Ortiz said.
He said the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol has already intercepted 73,000 pounds of drugs between ports of entry so far this fiscal year.
When you look at our corridor from Del Rio all the way to Rio Grande Valley, we account for about 53 percent of all the narcotics that are seized, Ortiz said.
Judd said Americas opioid crisis has been fueled by the border crisis, with the majority of drugs coming in through the southwest border.
Were dealing with a humanitarian crisis, make no mistake. But, were also dealing with a drug crisis that weve never dealt with before. We have more deaths in the United States now from illicit, illegal drugs, and those drugs are coming across the border, Judd said.
And if we dont put our heads around the whole thing, were going to be in trouble.
Ortiz said he has been on the Texas border for almost six years and the current crisis is real.
In 2014, when we had the unaccompanied children, people called it a humanitarian crisis. We are going to either reach or exceed the numbers that we experienced in 2014. And the only difference is that a father, or perhaps a made-up father, bringing a child across that border, he said. It is certainly a humanitarian crisis, its a border security crisis, but more importantly, its a policy crisis that needs to be addressed at the highest levels.
Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who has been detained by China, in a file photo during an interview in Hong Kong on March 28, 2018. (AP Photo)
Canadian Man Charged With Spying in China Gets Visit by Consular Officials
OTTAWAGlobal Affairs Canada says consular officials in China visited detained former diplomat Michael Kovrig on March 25.
It is the fifth time that Kovrig has received a consular visit since he was detained by Chinese authorities in early December, but the first since he and fellow detainee Michael Spavor were charged with stealing state secrets two weeks ago.
Spavor has received four consular visits thus far.
The two have not had access to lawyers and receive one visit from Canadian officials a month.
The Canadian government says their detentions are arbitrary and warns Canadians travelling to China to do so with a high degree of caution because of the arbitrary application of local laws.
Canada is calling for the immediate release of both men.
Canadian officials have complained the two men are being held in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou under an extradition request from the United States.
Global Affairs notes the number of countries who back Canadas position on the matter, including the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Spain, and Denmark as well as NATO and the European Union.
Consular visits typically include assessing the well-being of the men, trying to get them medical attention if needed and helping them communicate with loved ones.
Because of privacy laws, no specifics about the visit can be made public.
Marijuana and cannabis-infused products are displayed for sale at Medicine Man marijuana dispensary, which is to open as a recreational retail outlet in Denver, Colorado, in 2014. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)
Cannabis-Related ER Visits Tripled in Colorado After Legalization, Study Says
Emergency-room visits related to cannabis use in Coloradothe first U.S. state to completely legalize its usehave tripled at one of the states largest hospitals over the past few years, according to a study published on March 25.
The study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine examined 9,973 emergency department visits attributed to both inhaled and edible cannabis between 2012 and 2016 at the University of Colorado hospital in Aurora.
NEW: After legalization, Colorado hospital saw a 3-fold increase in #cannabis-related ER visits. Read more in the latest issue of Annals https://t.co/5Oi5Q1fpYn. #marijuana #healthrisks pic.twitter.com/vIreWLSuen Annals of Int Med (@AnnalsofIM) March 25, 2019
It found cannabis-related emergency visits jumped yearly, from under 250 in 2012, to over 750 in 2016.
Colorado in 2014 became the first state to legalize recreational cannabis. Since then, nine other states, including California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Michigan, have followed suit.
Whenever theres a new drug in a community, that means there will be more emergency department visits associated with it, lead researcher Dr. Andrew Monte told AFP.
Researchers found that while just 0.32 percent of cannabis sales stemmed from edible cannabis products, such as candy or cookies containing THC, ingesting cannabis made up 10.7 percent of emergency room visits.
Dr. Andrew A. Monte, MD, PhD and his team found that though just 0.3 percent of total cannabis sales in Colorado in terms of weight were edibles, edible-related emergency visits accounted for 10.7 percent of total visits at UCHealth. https://t.co/peF6o4P5S2 Blair Miller (@blairmiller) March 25, 2019
Monte, a medical toxicologist and emergency medicine physician at the Colorado hospital, warned against the risks of edible cannabis for recreational use as cannabis laws continue to change.
States moving to liberalize cannabis policy should consider keeping edibles out of the recreational marketplace, he told CNN.
There have been several high-profile deaths due to cannabis edibles but no documented death attributable to inhaled cannabis.
Take a ride on the 420 Tours bus through Denvers cannabis scene Recreational marijuana has been legal in Colorado for years. What can Illinois learn before its residents start firing up? https://t.co/yO8alNlr9M pic.twitter.com/tS3iCPBm2c Brian Cassella (@briancassella) March 21, 2019
In 2015, a man in Colorado died by suicide after ingesting a product containing cannabis, according to the study.
Monte added that said it takes far longer to feel the effects from edibles compared to inhaling cannabis, and their adverse effects can be far more intense, the Guardian reported.
It was a striking thing. It wasnt like these people were taking 100mg or 500mg of cannabis edibles. These were relatively lower doses, he told the Guardian.
As more states consider legalizing recreational marijuana, many users are consuming edibles instead of smoking the leaf. But the research on the effects of edibles is scarce.@ljgliha of @rmpbs reports. pic.twitter.com/pRUUgHAXOX PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) January 21, 2019
If you smoke and you have a brief amount of hallucination, but then it goes away pretty quickly, you may not come to the emergency department.
But if you develop psychosis and its lasting for hours, you might come to the emergency department, Monte said.
THC, also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive compound responsible for many of the psychological effects of marijuana.
In an editorial published alongside the research, Drs. Nora D. Volkow and Ruben Baler of the National Institute on Drug Abuse said edibles can be far more harmful than inhaling cannabis if people ingest too much after not feeling the effects instantly.
Five years after Colorado first legalized #marijuana, a new study shows pots bad effects in particular from #edibles are sending more people to the ER https://t.co/NmNI7hTFFq #cannabis Avis Favaro (@CTV_AvisFavaro) March 25, 2019
Reports of vomiting episodes caused by so-called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome have been on the rise since the states of Colorado and California relaxed their marijuana laws, according to emergency physicians.
Speaking with NPR, doctors in the states said that those who smoke cannabis several times a day tend to be more at risk.
Five years ago, this wasnt something that [doctors] had on their radar, Dr. Kennon Heard of the University of Colorado in Aurora told NPR.
The prevalence of cyclic vomiting presentations nearly doubled after the liberalization of medical marijuana, a 2015 study co-authored by Heard found.
In December 2018, Trump moved to legalize industrial hemp production and marketing as long as the cannabis plant contains less than 0.3 percent THC.
Compared to marijuana, also a type of cannabis plant, Hemp contains less THC as well as more Cannabidiolthe compound in cannabis that provides medical benefits.
A2: Though medical marijuana has gained lots of acceptance recently, the FDA has not approved the marijuana plant as a medicine. So far, scientific studies of cannabinoids, the chemicals in marijuana, have led to two FDA-approved medicines. #NDAFW https://t.co/5XJ3DS9sDr https://t.co/e06FSVv5nE NIH (@NIH) January 8, 2018
Actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on 26, 2019, after prosecutors dropped all charges against him. (Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
Chicago Police, Mayor Say Charges Against Jussie Smollett Shouldnt Have Been Dropped
The head of the Chicago Police Department and the mayor of the city said that the 16 felony counts against Empire actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly filing a false police report in a hate crime hoax should not have been dropped, calling into question an agreement reached between a States Attorneys office and the actors legal team.
This is without a doubt a whitewash of justice, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said at a news conference on the afternoon of March 26, reported ABC. There is no accountability. It is wrong, full stop.
Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson, visibly furious, said that prosecutors made a deal with the actors team in secret.
At the end of the day, its Mr. Smollett who committed this hoax, period, Johnson said.
JUST IN: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel: Mr. Smollett is still saying that he is innocent, still running down the Chicago Police Department. How dare him? Is there no decency in this man? https://t.co/llZlJ934Wn pic.twitter.com/lWgNMUsyZW Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) March 26, 2019
Alluding to an earlier claim by Smolletts team that the actor would be vindicated if the case went to trial, he added: I heard that they wanted their day in court so America could know the truth, and they chose to hide behind a secrecy of a brokered deal to circumvent the judicial system.
Emanuel further stated that only a sliver of the evidence gathered in the weekslong investigation was presented to the grand jury that indicted Smollett, indicating the evidence that authorities obtained in the probe was voluminous.
Smollett, Emanuel said, used his race and privilege to get off scot-free, noting that the actor did not admit any wrongdoing. The mayor wondered: Is there no decency in this man?
Questions about the deal swirled as doubters pointed to Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxxs recusal from the case after she was contacted by a former aide to ex-first lady Michelle Obama who set up contact with a Smollett relative.
Tina Tchen, the former aide, texted Foxx shortly after Smollett claimed he was attacked on Jan. 29 by two supporters of President Donald Trump, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
I wanted to give you a call on behalf of Jussie Smollett and family who I know. They have concerns about the investigation, Tchen wrote in a text. A few hours later, Foxx got a text from a relative of Smollett, who got the number from Tchen.
Foxxs office requested a judge drop the charges and the judge agreed, in addition to sealing the court records.
In a short statement after the hearing, Foxxs office said: After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smolletts volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his [$10,000] bond to the city of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.
According to Fox, the community service prosecutors were referencing was done prior to and not related to the case.
The Chicago Police Department said the outcome was not appropriate.
Detectives did an excellent investigation and their work was reaffirmed by an independent grand jury who brought 16 criminal counts, said spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. In our experience, innocent individuals dont forget bond and perform community service in exchange for dropped charges.
Sources told local outlets that Foxxs office hadnt alerted the police that prosecutors would seek the dismissal of the charges, infuriating Johnson, who in mid-February announced that detectives discovered Smollett paid two black brothers to pose as Trump supporters and pretend to attack the actor in attempts to fuel a narrative of homophobia and racism.
Neither Smollett nor his team addressed the discrepancies between his original account and the developments.
Both of the brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, knew Smollett and appeared on Empire as extras; one, Smollett said at one point, was helping him train for a music video.
The brothers hadnt reacted to the shocking twist as of early Tuesday but said in a statement mid-February: We are not racist. We are not homophobic and we are not anti-Trump. We were born and raised in Chicago and are American citizens.
From NTD News
Eddie Johnson, left, speaks after being sworn in as the new Chicago police superintendent in Chicago, on April 13, 2016. (M. Spencer Green, AP Photo/File)
Chicago Police Superintendent Furious About Jussie Smollett Charges Being Dropped: Reports
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is reportedly upset that the 16 felony counts against actor Jussie Smollett, who investigators said faked a hate crime against himself, were dropped on March 26.
Sources told CBS Chicago reporter Charlie De Mar that Johnson is furious.
He had no heads up this was going to happen, De Mar said, conveying information from the unnamed sources.
I can tell you that Chicago Police are furious over State Attorney Kim Foxxs decision to drop all charges against Jussie Smollett, added Rafer Weigel of Fox Chicago. Officers told Rob Elgas of ABC Chicago that Johnson wasnt told about the charges being dropped and learned about it while at a scheduled police graduation at Navy Pier.
The Chicago Police Department has not commented publicly on the charges being dropped. Johnson said during a press conference on Feb. 21 that investigators concluded Smollett had orchestrated a hate crime hoax, paying $3,500 to two Nigerian-American brothers to pose as supporters of President Donald Trump.
Sources tell CBS2 Chicago Police Supt. Johnson is furious. He had no heads up this was going to happen.@cbschicago Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) March 26, 2019
I can tell you that @Chicago_Police are furious over SA Kim Foxxs decision to drop all charges against #JussieSmollett Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) March 26, 2019
This stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary, he told reporters. Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career. Im left hanging my head and asking why.
The Cook County State Attorneys Office said in a statement after the charges were dropped: After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollets volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution.
Smollett posted a $10,000 bond.
In a statement responding to the decision to drop the charges, the Smollett family said: Our son and brother is an innocent man whose name and character has been unjustly smeared.
Jussie Smolletts record will be fully expunged. Spokeswoman for Smollett says. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/ID9vRNR1vF Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) March 26, 2019
MORE: A spokesperson for the Cook County States Attorney Office says there was no plea deal, but rather an agreement, and that no community service will be required of Smollett. https://t.co/B2ahaJSxt3 ABC News (@ABC) March 26, 2019
Jussie is a son, a brother, a partner, a champion for human rights, and a genuine soul who would never be capable of what he was falsely accused of. He was the victim of an assault and then falsely blamed for his own attack. This morning truth has prevailed and he has been vindicated. All charges have been dismissed and his record expunged (cleared), the family added.
Smolletts attorneys also issued a statement.
Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him, they said.
Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.
They added that Smollett is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends, and career.
From NTD News
Menelik Jackson (L) and Jovan Battle were charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of off-duty Chicago Police Officer John P. Riveras death. (Chicago Police Department)
Chicago Policeman Shot Dead by Man Wanting to Kill First Hispanic Person He Saw
The gunman who allegedly murdered an off-duty Chicago police officer over the weekend apparently targeted the first Hispanic person he saw following an unrelated dispute, according to reports.
Officer John Rivera was shot and killed when Menelik Jackson, 24, and Jovan Battle, 32, fired into a car on March 23 after Jackson and another friend had a fight with a group of men outside a McDonalds restaurant in Chicagos River North area, according to The Associated Press.
Besides killing the off-duty police officer, the suspects critically injured a 23-year-old man not identified in the report, according to CNN.
A third suspect remains at large.
Funeral services will be held Friday for Chicago police Officer John Rivera, who was fatally shot in the River North neighborhood. https://t.co/luFChNWfex pic.twitter.com/xRHo6AghFQ ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) March 25, 2019
Rivera had been a Chicago officer for nearly two years.
Johns a sweetheart. Hes an angel, said friend Jennifer Navarro, 23. Why would someone just want to take his life away like that? He had a whole life ahead of him.
John Rivera was known as John Petty to his friends who shared these pics of #ChicagoPolice officer with @cbschicago. John was off-duty when he was tragically shot & killed after a night out in #RiverNorth. #CPD says it could be case of mistaken identity. #RIP @Chicago_Police pic.twitter.com/XQJeR4zRyO LAUREN VICTORY (@LaurenVictory) March 23, 2019
Commander William Bradley of the Chicago Police Department was cited by WLS as saying that Rivera was committed to public service.
My third shift watch is really struggling because he was such a good person. Not only a good police officer but a good person, Bradley said.
Act of Cowardice
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was cited by CNN as saying at a news conference Monday that after getting involved in a fight with a group of Hispanic men, in an act of cowardice, Mr. Jackson went to get a gun to settle this petty dispute, which resulted in him murdering the first Hispanic man that he came in contact with.
Jackson allegedly planned to shoot a member of the grouprevelers on a party busbut they had already left the area.
About an hour after the altercation, the suspect targeted a vehicle where officer Rivera was sitting with three friends after visiting a pizza bar in the neighborhood.
I guess he settled for the first Hispanic he saw, Johnson said, according to The Associated Press.
Rivera was shot in the chest, arm, and mouth.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The wounded friend was taken to the hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive.
Real and Present Danger
Officials announced Monday that the alleged gunman, Jackson, was being charged with murder and attempted murder, along with Battle.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke ordered the two men held without bond.
Both gentlemen pose a real and present threat to the victims, the live victims, in this case, this community, and every other human being on the planet that they come into contact with, the judge said.
When arresting the shooter Jackson, Detectives used Ofc. Rivera's handcuffs to place him into custody. Also, we learned from those in the car that when shots were fired, Rivera leaned over and shielded his girlfriend with his body from the gunfire. pic.twitter.com/DB1AvxbFhk Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) March 25, 2019
On the night of the shooting, Battle met up with Jackson and a third individual not identified in the report with the aim of finding the group from the party bus fight, according to Assistant States Attorney James Murphy, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Murphy said surveillance camera footage showed Jackson pulling out a handgun and aiming it directly at the drivers window of the car Rivera was sitting in.
Before approaching the vehicle, the prosecutor said Jackson pointed at the car Rivera was in several times before approaching,
Jackson is clearly seen on video pulling out a handgun and pointing [at] the drivers window from a few feet away, Murphy told the court. Surviving victims [heard] from outside the car, Lets blow this [expletive] up.
Assistant Public Defender Christopher Anderson, who is representing Battle, said his client is unemployed and suffers from bipolar disorder and depression. Jackson works at an auto parts shop, according to Anderson.
Chicago Police Chief Communications Officer Anthony Guglielmi was cited by WLS as saying that Jackson had at one point applied to be a police officer with the Chicago Police Department.
A polygraph test taken during his evaluation resulted in Jackson being arrested for an armed home invasion.
Jackson pleaded guilty and got probation, according to WLS.
He was not admitted to the force.
The most egregious part about him is that he actually once thought he had what it took to wear a Chicago police star, Johnson said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Children as Young as 9 Are Being Admitted to Hospital With Cannabis-Caused Disorders
The content is not available due to expiration.
A canola crop in full bloom near Fort Macleod, Alberta, in a file photo. On March 26, Viterra Inc. became the second Canadian canola exporter to have its trade registration cancelled by China. (Reuters/Todd Korol)
China Expands Canadian Canola Ban as Tensions Escalate
TORONTOThe Chinese regime has expanded its restrictions on Canadian canola seed imports to include a second Canadian canola company amid a growing trade and diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
Viterra Inc. had its registration canceled on March 26, less than a month after Beijing revoked the sales permit of another major Canadian canola supplier, Richardson International. In both cases, the regime justified the move by saying they had found harmful organisms in the crops.
The ban, effective immediately, was announced on the regimes General Administration of Customs website. The notice also said Canadian canola products would continue to face increasing scrutiny by the administration through laboratory testing and other methods.
Both Richardson and Viterra have said they regularly test their products to ensure that they meet industry standards.
We take quality concerns seriously and support a sound, science-based approach in the testing of our exports. Market access issues such as this one hurt our industry and Canadian farmers, a Viterra spokesperson said.
We are working closely with the federal government and the Canola Council of Canada to gather more information on the situation.
On March 21, an industry group said Chinese importers are unwilling to buy any Canadian canola seed. While there was some initial optimism earlier in March that Chinese concerns with the canola trade could be resolved quickly, a solution has not been forthcoming.
Were disappointed that differing viewpoints cannot be resolved quickly, Canola Council of Canada (CCC) president Jim Everson said in a statement. Under the circumstances, Canadian canola seed exporters who normally ship to China have no alternative but to supply customers in other countries who value high quality Canadian canola.
The dispute over canola is putting pressure on already tense diplomatic relations between Ottawa and Beijing.
Canada and China have been locked in a political dispute since Canadian authorities arrested telecom giant Huaweis chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou at the request of U.S. authorities in December 2018. Meng, who is currently out on bail in Vancouver, faces extradition proceedings in Canada.
The United States is looking to extradite the Huawei executive over allegations of fraud. U.S. prosecutors have accuses Meng of playing a direct role in misleading U.S. banks into clearing certain transactions related to alleged Huawei business with Iran, potentially violating sanctions. Meng has been charged with bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. She denies the allegations.
Two Canadian citizens in China, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, were detained by the regime shortly after Mengs arrest, a move widely seen as an attempt by the regime to put pressure on Ottawa for Mengs release. On March 4, the day after Canada said it would proceed with extradition proceedings against Meng, the regime accused the two men of working together to steal state secrets. As of March 26, Kovrig and Spavor have each had five visits from Canadian consular officials but reportedly have not had access to lawyers.
Ottawa maintains the detentions are arbitrary and has formally demanded that China release the two Canadians.
Beijings restrictions against Canadian canola imports are also seen as an attempt to further pressure Canada. China is the worlds largest canola importer and, according to the CCC, approximately 40 percent of canola and canola product exports from Canada go to Chinaa market that was worth CA$2.7 billion ($2.02 billion) in 2018. When Richardson had its license revoked, the CCC said at the time that it would negatively impact the industry.
Until the recent trade disruptions, Chinese demand for canola was very strong, the CCC said. Although the industry group had hoped to resolve concerns about Canadian canola, it said current discussions indicate that an immediate resolution is unlikely.
Canadian ministers and government officials have responded quickly to Chinese concerns. However, technical discussions are unlikely to lead to an immediate resolution, said Everson. We urge the Government of Canada to continue to intensify efforts to resolve the situation.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on March 26 that his government is trying to resolve the issue and considering sending a high-level delegation to China to address any safety concerns.
With files from Reuters.
A journalist uses his mobile phone to broadcast live footage as a giant video screen (background) shows Chinese leader Xi Jinping speaking during Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Qingdao, China's Shandong Province on June 10, 2018. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)
China Pushing New World Media Order to Suppress Dissent, Report Says
TAIPEI, TaiwanThe Chinese regime is pushing its own model of media control and propaganda around the world, with a particular focus on influencing U.S. political and business elite, according to a new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The report (pdf), released on March 25 and titled Chinas Pursuit of A New World Media Order, details the communist regimes different tactics to export the Chinese media model, a system in which journalists are nothing more than state propaganda auxiliaries.
These tactics include expanding the presence of Chinas state-run media globally, hosting training sessions in China for foreign journalists, harassing and intimidating overseas journalists and academics, and employing a trojan horse policy by having foreign media carry its propaganda through advertorials and targeted advertisements.
Global Reach
The regime is now pouring as much as 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) a year into disseminating its views globally, the report says. As a result of this investment, which began during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Chinese state-run media has significantly ramped up its presence worldwide.
According to the report, the international arm of Chinas state-owned broadcaster, China Global Television Network, now broadcasts in at least 140 countries with 70 bureaus, while state-owned China Radio International broadcasts in 65 languages from more than 70 stations worldwide.
Meanwhile, in the United States and elsewhere, the regime has paid prestigious media outlets to carry propaganda supplements, made to look like news, in an effort to sway public and elite opinion, says the report.
China Watch, an English-language propaganda supplement edited by Chinas state-run mouthpiece China Daily, is currently inserted into about 30 daily newspapers around the world, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Daily Telegraph, the report says, citing a 2018 article by The Guardian.
The ultimate purpose for Beijing is, of course, to influence U.S. policymakers, Cedric Alviani, East Asia Bureau Director of RSF and report author, told The Epoch Times.
Alviani explained that these prestigious newspapers were deliberately chosen by the regime because their readers include societys influencers.
China is talking to the leaders, talking or trying to influence the leaders opinions, he said.
The report, citing unnamed U.S. media professionals, estimated that a leading outlet could receive around $250,000 by agreeing to have China Watch inserted in its newspapers. This agreement then exposes these media outlets to the possibility of being pressured by Beijing.
The problem is that, sooner or later, when [these media] publish content that the Chinese authorities do not like, the [Chinese] ambassadors will come to see them, and tell them, do you want to keep the China Watch supplement or not, Alviani said.
When you really put that in your budget it is very hard to say no.
At the same time, readers of the newspapers may also be tricked into believing these supplements are written or endorsed by these leading outlets, the report author said.
It is a big threat to the independence of the media, he said.
Overseas Chinese-Language Media
The report also draws attention to the overseas Chinese-language media landscape, which it says has mostly been co-opted by the Chinese regime.
In the U.S. nowadays, there are very few Chinese-language titles that are not being controlled by the Chinese authorities, Alviani said.
The report described The Epoch Times, as well as its sister outlet NTD, and U.S.-based news site China Digital Times, as the few truly independent diaspora media.
The Epoch Times, founded in 2000 as a Chinese-language outlet, is headquartered in New York, and now publishes in more than 23 languages, and distributed or sold in more than 35 countries.
[The] Epoch Times is a reliable resource, which we use a lot at RSF, whenever it is related to prisoners in China, or to violations of human rights, and especially the press freedom in China, Alviani said.
Such overseas media and journalists, the report says, who refuse to toe the regimes editorial line have been subject to intimidation, harassment, or have had advertisers unexpectedly pull out of their publications.
The report cites two incidents of harassment or pressure targeting The Epoch Timesone involving a staff member, and another its Australian branch office.
In 2006, Li Yuan, the outlets chief technical officer, was beaten, tied up, blindfolded with duct tape, and robbed of two laptop computers by suspected Chinese agents at his suburban Atlanta home.
Later in 2017, Apple stopped advertising in the Australian edition of The Epoch Times and another independent Chinese-language publication Vision China Times because of Beijings political pressure, the report says, citing an article by The Australian.
Other Overseas Media
Beijing has been buying up shares of media outlets around the world, the report says, with one recent example being the purchase of Mexican Spanish-language radio station XEWW 690 by H&H Group, an investment firm with ties to Beijing-controlled Phoenix Television, in July 2018.
Winston Xia, president of California-based Chinese-language radio station Sound of Oriental and West Heritage, warned at the time that Beijing would be able to encroach on freedom of speech on U.S. airwaves through XEWW, given that XEWW broadcasts into much of southern California.
Beijing also has been rolling out the red carpet to foreign journalists to secure favorable press coverage of China, in the form of lavish, all-expense-paid trips to attend seminars in China, according to the report.
Journalists from countries such as Zambia, Grenada, Kenya, Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan, have all attended these Chinese seminars, the report says, with some foreign journalists even receiving a monthly stipend of up to 5,000 yuan ($744).
There are, however, unspoken strings attached to these press trips.
The conditions are clear: [the journalists] must promise to tell the China story well and even portray its authoritarian regime as a democracy and international peacemaker, it says.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly directed leaders in the regimes propaganda apparatus to tell Chinas story well, and properly disseminate Chinas voice.
Indian news site The Print reported in November 2018 that China has been offering a 10-month fellowship program since 2016 to train foreign journalists from Southeast Asia and Africatwo areas key to Chinas One Belt, One Road infrastructure initiativeso that they would report positively on projects under the police.
More Action Needed
Alviani said governments and journalists need to increase their scrutiny of the Chinese regimes interference in foreign free press, and do more investigations into this area.
The most important [thing] is that democracies realize the danger, and realize the extent of the Chinese penetration in their media, he said.
So far, most democracies have been somehow naive and not paying enough attention.
Failure to do so could lead to dire results, Alviani warned.
The danger is much wider than Chinese propaganda. It is a new world media order a model that could become the dominant model in 20 or 30 years, and that would make journalism as we know it something of the past.
A canola crop used for making cooking oil sits in full bloom on the Canadian prairies near Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada on July 11, 2011. (Todd Korol/Reuters)
China Widens Ban on Canadian Canola Imports to Second Firm, Viterra
BEIJING/OTTAWAChina expanded its ban on Canadian canola seed imports on March 26 to include shipments from Viterra Inc, the latest development in a wider trade dispute between the two countries.
Viterra is the second canola exporter to have its registration canceled, after Beijing halted shipments from top exporter Richardson International earlier this month.
An industry group said last week that Chinese importers have stopped buying any oilseed from Canada, though Chinese imports of Canadian canola oil and meal have not been impacted.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Tuesday that his government was trying to resolve the issue and considering sending a high-level delegation to China to address the countrys safety concerns.
We are taking this very seriously, he said in Winnipeg, Manitoba, noting that Canadas relationship with China has been fraught in recent months.
We have seen a certain amount of challenges in our relationship with China over diplomatic issues, he said.
Canada and China have been locked in a trade and political dispute since Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies Ltd, was arrested in Vancouver late last year on a U.S. extradition request.
The ban on Viterra and its related companies was announced by Chinas General Administration of Customs on its website and was effective immediately. Viterra is owned by Glencore Plcs agricultural arm.
Viterra did not immediately comment on the ban, while a spokeswoman for Glencore declined to comment.
In its statement on Tuesday, Chinese customs said the ports of Dalian and Nanning had once again detected several pests in samples taken from cargos shipped by Viterra.
In order to prevent the introduction of harmful organisms, it canceled the firms export registration, it said, adding that it will continue to strengthen inspections on all canola imports.
A spokesman for the Canola Council of Canada said the industry group is confident in the quality of Canadian canola seed exports, noting no other global customers have expressed concerns.
Today (the Chinese) are alleging another new pest of concern. We are quite perplexed. How can the quality of our canola suddenly change? said Brian Innes, VP public affairs with the Canola Council.
Chinas customs authority said earlier this month it had found hazardous pests in canola imports from Canada and revoked the export registration of Richardson International.
Richardson has said its canola meets regulatory requirements.
China accounts for about 40 percent of Canadas canola seed, oil and meal exports, according to the Canola Council, with seed exports to China worth some C$2.7 billion ($2 billion) a year.
By Dominique Patton & Julie Gordon
An aerial view shows damaged buildings after an explosion at a chemical plant in Yancheng in China's eastern Jiangsu province early on March 23, 2019. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Chinese Netizens Search for Answers After Deadly Chemical Plant Blast
Chinese netizens are searching for answers as the Chinese regime tightens control of news flowing from last weeks deadly chemical plant blast in Chinas Jiangsu province.
The latest official death toll sits at 78 people, with 28 missing and more than 600 injured by the blast on March 21 at a pesticide factory in Chenjiagang Industrial Park in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, on Chinas east coast.
The explosion, which caused a 2.2 magnitude earthquake, severely damaged more than a dozen neighboring buildings, and released contaminants into the air and water, sparking safety concerns in the area.
Meanwhile, the regime has reportedly cleared journalists from the disaster site and forced media to only re-publish official statements concerning the incident.
Netizens Investigate
Many Chinese online expressed skepticism at the official death toll figure, saying the communist regime typically understates the amount to downplay the gravity of the disaster.
Shanghai business owner Hu Renli told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that he has been to the industrial park twice before and thinks the death toll should be much higher than the official number.
Based on the blast impact area, I think the death toll should be around 500. I truly believe that lots of injured people will become disabled, in particular, many of them will become deaf, Hu said.
Meanwhile, many netizens have taken it upon themselves to analyze the blast, drawing on publicly available information.
For instance, overseas-based Chinese Li Fang posted a picture of the disaster site on Twitter on March 22, adding: From aerial photos of the site, at least 23 buildings were destroyed. [There are] about 80 buildings in Chenjiagang Industrial Park. All of the ones that were not destroyed are badly damaged.
Jiangsus fire chief, in a March 24 interview with Chinese state-run The Global Times, suggested that workers at the center of the blast may have been vaporized by the explosion.
However, a Chinese physicist specializing in nuclear explosions told The Epoch Times on March 25 that this was unlikely to be the case.
I dont think it could vaporize people, but the high pressure created by a chemical blast could smash a body, so the rescuers may not be able to find the remains.
Contamination Concerns
The blast, which caused a spike in air and water pollution levels, has also triggered health concerns in the area.
The state-run news outlet Caixin reported March 22 that toluene, xylene, styrene, chlorobenzene, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides were present in the air after the blast. The concentration of nitrogen oxides was, at one point, 348 times above normal standards.
Local officials also found contamination in local water samples. According to official data from the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, water from all the three local riversthe Xinmin river, Xinfeng river, and Xinnong riverall tested positive for chloroform, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, and toluene.
Some volatile organic chemical measurements far exceeded surface water standardsby 15 times in one case.
According to local media, this is not the first time the area has been hit by explosions or chemical leaks.
In 2011, state-run media China Youth Daily reported that a villager, Liu Hongchang, at Chenjiagang detected a stench believed to be chlorine gas, and fled the town with his family.
The news spread across the area by word of mouth, prompting a mass exodus as thousands of people flocked in frenzy to nearby Xiangshui county.
While there was ultimately no gas explosion, dozens of people died in car accidents during the exodus. Liu was later jailed for spreading rumors, and all reports and posts relating to this event were scrubbed online. Netizens, however, saved copies of these posts on overseas websites.
The 2011 China Youth Daily article added that blasts were a frequent occurrence in the area, and many locals had been killed or injured by such incidents.
State-run Beijing News, citing official data, reported that 620 chemical production accidents occurred in China from 2016 to 2018, killing 728 people.
Chinese Nurse Who Doesnt Speak English Writes a Funny Cryptic Note for Foreign Student
The content is not available due to expiration.
Kevin Campbell (L), who was charged over an attempted armed robbery that was thwarted when four cousins wrestled the gun off the robber (R), a different man, on March 24, in Florida. (Broward County Sheriff)
Cousins on Spring Break Turn Tables on Armed Robber at Florida Gas Station
Four cousins fought off an armed robber and his accomplice in a Florida gas station in the early hours of the morning, tackling him to the ground before wrestling away his gun.
The moment was captured on video by CCTV cameras in the gas station in Broward County at 3:45 am on March 24.
The man who pulled the gun is still at large, but his alleged accomplice has been arrested and charged.
The cousins had traveled from Indiana to Florida for spring break to celebrate a birthday and were on their way back to where they were staying for the night.
I tried to find a gas station that was closest because we were running low on gas, Alex Wisbey, who was the designated driver that night, told Local 10 News.
Video footage shows them outside the car chatting as they fill up with gas, when a black Hyundai pulls up at another pump and a masked man gets out and runs over to them, brandishing a gun.
As he points the gun at the four, he says, Give me everything you got, a police spokesperson told the Sun Sentinal.
But when he gets close, they suddenly spring into action, grabbing him and tackling him to the ground.
Then my cousin, Jacob, gets on top of him and Im in there, trying to wrestle around for the gun, Aric Wisbey, a student at Ivy Tech, said.
A shirtless man, later identified as Kevin Campbell, then gets out of the Hyundai, runs over and tries to push the men off the armed attacker.
As the wrestling bodies separate, the shirtless man moves aggressively towards one of them, but when he spots Aric Wisbey holding the gun, he retreats back to the car.
At one point, the masked attacker appears to threaten the cousins again, but then backs off, gets in the car and drives off after Wisbey aims the gun straight at him.
Alex and Aric said they both have concealed weapon permits and experience handling firearms.
The cousins cautioned Local10 that people should follow their gut if it says to comply with a criminals demands.
But if there is a situation and a moment where you can wrestle the gun away or protect yourself, or your family or friends, absolutely do that, Alex Wisbey told Local 10 News. Do not second-guess yourself.
The gunman is described as about 6 feet tall, stocky, weighing an estimated 210 pounds, with dark dreadlocks.
The gun, a silver 9mm Taurus, was found to have been stolen during a 2017 vehicle burglary.
An hour after the attempted robbery, the deputies went to the registered address of the black Hyundai, where they found Campbell leaning against the car.
When law enforcement approached, Campbell ran, said Gina Carter, a spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriffs Office. Fort Lauderdale polices K9 found Campbell hiding in some bushes, she said.
He was arrested and, according to county records, charged with robbery with a firearm.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting in Sochi, Russia on May 3, 2017. Both could be the losing parties in the new energy world order.(REUTERS/Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool)
Dramatic Shift in Energy Production Upsets Current World Order
The worlds energy supply matrix is changing
The old energy order is changing rapidly, and with it, new challenges are emerging. Improved extraction technologies and new oil field discoveries continue to expand crude oil and natural gas production possibilities around the world.
This fundamental supply shift in the worlds most critical resource represents enormous opportunities for some nations, while posing threats to others.
A Westward Shift
The changes in the global energy sector are interesting for everyone, whether they bear good news or bad. After many decades of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) controlling the worlds energy prices and suppliesspecifically crude oil and natural gasnew and plentiful sources have been found and are being developed in the West.
There will be big advantages for some, and serious economic and even geopolitical consequences for others.
The two biggest positive changes in energy suppliers involve the United States and Israel. In America, enhanced fracking technology has opened up vast new supplies of oil and natural gas. As a result, the United States is today the worlds biggest producer of oil, surpassing both Saudi Arabia and Russia in crude oil production. It is also highly competitive in the production and export of natural gas. That, in itself, is a supply shock to the energy markets.
Likewise, Israel is strategizing how to leverage its recent discovery of vast oil and natural gas beneath the eastern Mediterranean. Both of these supply shocks will affect oil production and price, but in particular, they could have the most negative impacts on Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran. Even Venezuelas production fall and Irans limited exports arent enough to keep prices high.
Moving Pieces
Its not front-page news, but trade is the lifeblood of nations. Saudi Arabia and Russia are the first- and second-largest oil exporters in the worldboth are heavily dependent upon energy exports to keep their economies afloat.
This is where things get complicated for our allies and adversaries alike. Oil and gas exports comprise 50 percent of the Saudi Arabian GDP and about 70 percent of export earnings, while they make up about 60 percent of Russias economy. The new reality of high American output lowers U.S. demand for Saudi crude oil imports, and potentially that of other nations as well.
Saudi Arabia is already feeling the pressure of resistance within its repressive Islamic dictatorship and the pressure of international condemnation for the murder of a journalist critical of the Saudi regime. Its also under pressure from within to modernize its society and diversify its economy. The last thing that Saudi Arabia needs is economic duress due to loss of market share. Tough reforms are always better implemented during good times, although that rarely happens.
As the leader of OPEC and the Arab nations, as well as an American ally, Saudi Arabia faces deep conflicting interests challenging its leadershipand its relationship with the United Statesas never before. And Irans drive for nuclear weapons and expanding its version of radical Islam at the expense of Saudi Arabia is a paramount concern and explains why the Saudis seek nuclear technology for energy and potentially for weaponry.
Israels Newfound Reserves
Similarly, Israels newfound oil and natural gas reserves will offer Europe an alternative to relying on Russian natural gas and oil. This is good for Europe because, for years, it has been vulnerable to Russian goodwill for much-needed natural gas, 40 percent of which is supplied by Russias state-owned oil company, Gazprom. As Europe has experienced in the past, Russian goodwill hasnt always been forthcoming.
But the Israel energy situation also puts Russia, which is basically a nuclear-armed gas station, in a very precarious position. Barring oil, natural gas, arms, and vodka, Russia doesnt produce anything that the world wants to buy. With a potential rival supplying natural gas to Europe and potentially Asia, its very possible that Israels gain will be largely at Russias expense. That will put Russia in a serious bind, although the development of critical infrastructure is still years off, especially because of Turkish opposition.
As the Russian economy faces further economic slowdown at home, it becomes more difficult for Russian President Vladimir Putin to finance his plans for further expansion. Those plans include establishing a permanent presence in Syria and other parts of the Middle East, potentially annexing more or all of Ukraine, and perhaps even further westward to the Baltics. All these big projects take rubles, but paradoxically, the lack thereof may also precipitate these events. In either case, Israel represents a strategic threat to Russian interests.
Irans oil-dependent economy is also threatened by the expansion of oil and natural gas supplies in the West. As the worlds fifth-largest oil producer and an avowed enemy of Israel and the United States, Iran is doubly sensitive to market loss because of the resumption of U.S. trade sanctions by the Trump administration against it.
Still, Iran continues to wage a proxy war against Israel, even with domestic resistance against Islamic theocratic rule on the rise. The specter of cheaper, more abundant oil on the world market supplied by its enemies makes Irans already poor future economic prospects even less promising. With oil prices remaining low and Israel threatening to block illegal Iranian oil shipments, the Iranian regimes growing alliance with Russia increasingly appears as two drowning men looking to the other for assistance.
Thus, Russian and Iranian challenges in the face of Israeli oil and gas exportations are rather apparent. But Turkey is also a key player in the unfolding Israeli energy play. In broad strokes, Turkey is challenging Israels claims to the oil. The fields extend from the shores of Israel to at least the island of Cyprus, which Turkey has claimed, amid conflicting international opinion, since the 1970s. Turkey is also challenging the plans for pipeline routes to Europe.
The kicker is that Turkey, a former ally of Israel, has turned toward Islamic expansion during the past decade. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dreams of re-establishing the Ottoman Turk caliphate that ruled much of Asia and the Middle East for centuries. The oil in the Mediterranean would certainly help fund that cause, or at least give a much-needed boost to Turkeys failing economy.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, Russia, Iran, and Turkey are coordinating their efforts to manage the Syrian crisis, which puts all three of their military forces very close to Israels northern border. The positioning couldnt be clearer. It certainly makes Israels entry into the energy markets more than a little problematic.
James Gorrie is a writer based in Texas. He is the author of The China Crisis.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A journalist takes pictures of a projection screen prior to the start of Germany's auction for the construction of an ultra-fast 5G mobile network on March 19, 2019 at the German Federal Network Agency in Mainz, western Germany. (Arne Dedert/AFP/Getty Images)
EUs New 5G Security Plan Doesnt Ban Huawei Despite US Concerns
BRUSSELSEurope has ignored U.S. calls to ban Chinese technology giant Huawei from running 5G networks, with officials instead announcing a continent-wide security review of emerging cyber threats.
The European Commission asked all member states to conduct investigations to identify vulnerabilities linked to next-generation mobile internet, amid growing anxiety over the role of the state-owned operator.
However, the move fell significantly short of an outright ban on the Beijing-backed companys involvement in the emerging 5G networks, which Washington had been lobbying Brussels and national capitals hard to adopt.
The United States and some European countries have raised fears that equipment provided by Huawei to run 5G internet networks in the West could be used by the Chinese communist regime to carry out mass cyber espionage.
Europe has become split over the issue, with some countries urging a cautious and suspicious stance toward China, while others are welcoming the massive inflow of investment it can provide.
Malta has signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei to use the island as a testing ground for its 5G networks, while Hungary has sealed a contract with the company to improve broadband in that country.
US Concerns
Brussels has been keen to avoid specifically naming Huawei as the source of security concerns, over fears it will be seen as targeting just one company.
In a recommendation to national capitals released on March 26, the EU Commission didnt mention the Chinese company by name, instead saying member states should conduct a security study of all possible suppliers.
What were talking about is critical European digital infrastructure. National decisions taken by one member state or another have European-wide implications. Thats why were proposing a common approach, Security Commissioner Julian King said.
Its urgent that we get on with this because decisions are being taken now and over the next year or so, both on letting 5G spectrum and on procuring 5G networks.
The commission told member states to complete their internal security reviews by June, so that they can then be collated at a European level in October, with a view to agreeing on a new toolbox of protective measures by the end of the year.
New measures, to be decided on by October next year, could include making companies get European accreditation to run 5G networks or subjecting their products to tests if they are regarded as a security risk.
The move by the commission follows similar measures announced by Germany earlier in March, when it decided not to ban Huawei in a move that enraged U.S. officials, who threatened to stop some intelligence-sharing in response.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the presence of Huawei or other Chinese vendors in a countrys network could mean that the Chinese regime could have access to sensitive data that would be detrimental to the United States and its allies.
When you talk about this happening in countries like Poland or Germany or the U.K., were very concerned about that, not only for American security because we have information stored, too, but for the security of their own people, Pompeo told Fox News Radio.
The United States, Australia, and New Zealand are among the countries that have banned Huawei from their 5G networks.
Model Rebecca Leigh practices yoga at her home in Gambrills, Md., on Nov. 24, 2018. (Courtesy of Rebecca Leigh/Instagram)
Extreme Yoga Pose Sent Woman to Hospital With a Stroke
A Maryland woman had a stroke from performing a physically demanding yoga movement back in late 2017 and she is still recovering from chronic pain nearly 18 months on.
Rebecca Leigh, 40, still suffers from severe memory loss, headaches, and pain in her neck and face since she tried to perform a hollowback handstand at her Gambrills home, 23 miles northeast of Washington, on Oct. 8, 2017.
The headstand requires extending her neck, dropping her hips back and arching her lower spine. After finishing the movement, Leigh felt very pleased with herself but quickly noticed her vision was blurry and her left arm would uncontrollably flop around when she tried to put her hair into a ponytail.
She initially dismissed the loss of vision and control in her left arm as a slipped disc in the neck, which was diagnosed back when Leigh was in her early 20s.
It was only two days later when she noticed her pupils were different sizes that she realized there could be something very, very wrong.
She and her husband Kevin, 45, immediately presented to the nearby hospital emergency room where the woman had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan that found she had actually suffered a stroke.
Doctors in the neurological intensive care unit spent five days trying to determine how Leigh could have had a stroke even though she exercised, ate healthy, and did not smoke.
After all the blood work, ultrasounds, MRIs, and CT scans, it was finally a CTA scan that explained it, she told the Daily Mirror.
Doctors informed Leigh her right carotid artery, one of four responsible for delivering essential blood to the brain, had torn while doing handstands.
The tear had sent a blood clot to her brain, caused a stroke, and also caused a small bulging aneurysm to develop. For six weeks after she suffered from constant headaches, difficulty in getting out of bed, and pain in her eyes when she was in a bright environment. She also lost 20 pounds.
The pain it caused my eyes was excruciating. My usually bright, sunlight-filled house was kept completely dark for the first few months, said Leigh who ran a mobile sunless tanning company. The stroke caused massive head pain, unlike any headache I had ever experienced before the nerve damage made any sort of light unbearable.
She also constantly heard a whooshing sound in her right ear for three months.
That was the sound of the blood trying to get through my artery up into my brain, Leigh said.
Just a month after having the stroke, she jumped back onto her yoga mat and decided it was time to practice less physically demanding moves.
I simply sat on my mat in lotus pose and listened to my breath. I slowly led back up to simple stretches and the poses that felt most safe to me, she said. I knew that if I didnt get back to my practice relatively soon after my stroke, I never would.
After six months, Leighs doctor confirmed her carotid artery was completely healed.
Although she happily practices sun salutations more than a year after the stroke, she doubts she will ever completely recover to her former health condition.
I know I will never be where I was before 100 percent, Leigh said. I was about 75 percent back to where I was before my stroke the fact that I can touch my toes is enough to make me smile.
She cannot speak for more than a few minutes and feels a constant tingly sensation between her elbow and hand that is almost like a wave of electricity zapping back and forth.
Its very hard to recover from something so scary that came out of nowhere, she said. You think youre doing everything right and then when something like this happens, its hard not to think that it can happen again.
Leigh is devoting part of her time to encouraging other hardcore yoga fans through her 26,000 followers on social media to seek a primary health care professional immediately, if they feel unwell.
I wanted to share my story so that something like this doesnt happen to any other yogis. I had never heard of it happening before it had happened to me, she said. If I had read of just one incidence of something similar, I would have known that a stroke was a very real possibility when I was experiencing my symptoms that it wasnt my neck, my herniated discs, or my nerves. It was my brain gasping for its life.
An aerial photo shows Boeing 737 MAX airplanes parked at the Boeing Factory in Renton, Washington on March 21, 2019. (Lindsey Wasson/Reuters)
FAA Will Overhaul Air Safety Oversight in Wake of Boeing Jet Crashes
In the wake of two fatal Boeing jet crashes that sparked worldwide grounding of the airlines flagship aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to implement major changes to its oversight approach to air safety, according to written testimony from Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel that was reviewed by Reuters.
The FAAs acting administrator, Dan Elwell, meanwhile, will make the case that the agencys approach must evolve, after the accidents involving Boeing Co 737 MAX passenger jets killed nearly 350 people since October. Both Scovel and Elwell will testify at a Senate Commerce Committee panel hearing on March 27.
In Scovels planned remarks he said that by July this year the FAA plans to introduce a new process that represents a significant change in its oversight approach.
While revamping FAAs oversight process will be an important step, continued management attention will be key to ensure the agency identifies and monitors the highest-risk areas of aircraft certification, Scovel wrote, adding that some issues including how pilots get training to respond when automated flight systems require the FAAs urgent attention.
In Elwells prepared testimony, he wrote that the 737 MAX will return to service only when the FAAs analysis of the facts and technical data indicate that it is appropriate.
Elwells testimony discloses that Boeing first submitted its proposed anti-stall software upgrade to the FAA for certification on Jan. 21 of this year and that the FAA has tested this enhancement to the 737 MAX flight control system in both the simulator and the aircraft.
President Donald Trump grounded all Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9 aircraft in the United States effective immediately, on March 13. He said the safety of the American people is of paramount concern, and said the decision to ground the aircraft didnt have to be made, but we thought it was the right decision.
The president said the announcement was coordinated with aviation officials in Canada, U.S. carriers, and aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
Boeing is an incredible company, Trump said. They are working very, very hard right now and hopefully theyll quickly come up with an answer.
American Airlines, the largest U.S. carrier, said last week it will extend flight cancellation through April 24 because of the grounding of the Boeing jets. They also said they would be canceling about 90 flights a day.
In a statement at the time, Boeing said it continues to have full confidence in the safety of the 737 MAX. The company added that it had decided out of an abundance of caution and in order to reassure the flying public of the aircrafts safetyto recommend to the FAA the temporary suspension of operations of the entire global fleet of 371 737 MAX aircraft.
Separately, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt will tell the panel in written testimony that the board is examining the U.S. design certification process to ensure any deficiencies are captured and addressed, potentially up to and including NTSB safety recommendations.
The 737 MAX is Boeings best-selling plane, with orders worth more than $500 billion at list prices.
The software fix will prevent repeated operation of the anti-stall system and will deactivate it if it receives widely conflicting sensor information. Boeing will also make standard a previously optional warning light.
The testing, which was conducted by FAA flight test engineers and flight test pilots, included aerodynamic stall situations and recovery procedures, Elwells testimony says.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Damaged vehicles are seen after a flash flooding In Shiraz, Iran, March 25, 2019. Tasnim News Agency/Handout via REUTERS
Floods Kill at Least 18 in Southern Iran, Provinces on Alert
DUBAIAt least 18 people were killed and around 100 others were injured in flash floods in Irans southern Fars province, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on March 25, with more rain forecast following days of devastating floods in the north.
Some 26 provinces out of 31 now have flood warnings due to torrential rain in a country more accustomed to drought. State TV said villages near rivers and dams in several provinces had been evacuated for fear of the rising water.
Authorities have warned about the possibility of floods in the capital Tehran as well as in the oil-rich southern province of Khuzestan in the next 48 hours.
Pragmatist President Hassan Rouhanis hardline rivals have criticized his government for doing too little, too late to help.
The hardline judiciary said on March 24 the governments handling of the disaster was being investigated, the judiciarys Mizan news agency reported.
Any shortcomings regarding the handling of the floods, failure to provide relief and aid to the survivors will be investigated, it quoted judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi as saying. Hardline cleric Raisi lost the 2017 presidential election when Rouhani was re-elected.
The semi-official Fars news agency reported on March 24 that Rouhani has returned to Tehran from Irans Qeshm Island in the Gulf, where he had been spending the Iranian new year holiday.
He had been criticized by Iranians on social media for being in the south when flooding was hitting the north of the country.
In a rare move, Irans top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on the armed forces to help the flood-hit northern provinces, where Irans English-language Press TV said five people had been killed.
Reflecting a long-running struggle between the president and his rivals, Irans hardline media have accused the government of reacting too slowly to the floods while highlighting aid work by the Revolutionary Guardsa rival power center in Irans faction-ridden political establishment.
The spread of flooding to the south follows days of floods since March 19 that affected more than 56,000 people living in 270 villages and small towns in the northern provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran, on the Caspian Sea, TV reported.
In Shiraz, in the south, Tasnim quoted the head of Irans emergency medical services, Pirhossein Kolivand, as saying 18 people had been killing, including four children. Some 94 were injured in the city in Fars province.
Iranian media showed pictures and footage of crumpled cars piled up deep in mud and water after floods swept through Shiraz. Irans Students News Agency ISNA said high water had damaged thousands of houses in Shiraz and other towns.
Fars Governor Enayatollah Rahimi told state TV the flooding was under control and rescue and aid workers had been dispatched to the flood-hit areas.
Kolivand later said one other person was also killed in Sarpol-e Zahab in the western province of Kermanshah and one other person in the western province of Lorestan was killed.
By Parisa Hafezi
FILE PHOTO: The logo of U.S. conglomerate General Electric is pictured at the company's site of its energy branch in Belfort, France, February 5, 2019. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler/File Photo
General Electric in $49 Million Settlement Over Petters Fraud
General Electric Co. has reached a $49 million settlement to end a long-running lawsuit over its relationship with Thomas Petters, the Minnesota businessman serving a 50-year prison term for running a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme.
The settlement between GE and a trustee for two bankrupt Florida investment funds known as Palm Beach Finance, which had been seeking $651 million, was disclosed in a March 26 filing with the federal bankruptcy court in West Palm Beach, Florida.
GE denied liability in agreeing to settle claims related to its General Electric Capital unit, one of Petters lenders. It did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The accord removes a financial overhang for Boston-based GE, which is trying to cut costs while projecting lower 2019 cash flow and profitability from its core industrial operations.
Petters, 61, was convicted in December 2009 on 20 counts including fraud and money laundering, over what prosecutors called a $3.65 billion fraud.
Prosecutors said Petters bilked investors who thought he was using their money to buy consumer electronics from wholesalers and resell them to big-box retailers such as Costco Wholesale Corp. and Walmart Inc.s Sams Club.
Federal authorities raided Petters offices in September 2008 and criminally charged him that December, the same month Bernard Madoff was charged with running his own Ponzi scheme.
Barry Mukamal, the trustee for the Palm Beach Finance funds, said GE Capital knew as early as 2000 about Petters fraud, but kept quiet to ensure Petters would keep paying its fees.
The settlement came after U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paul Hyman in June 2017 refused to dismiss the lawsuit, which accused GE Capital of conspiring to commit fraud. Hyman had previously dismissed eight other claims.
GE had said that Mukamal lacked authority to sue, and only the trustee overseeing Petters bankrupt companies could bring the conspiracy claim. The lawsuit was filed in September 2012.
In the March 26 filing, Mukamal identified potential risks in going to trial. These included the death of a key witness, and that three of Petters other lenders which had copycat claims against GE had recovered nothing.
Mukamal in 2015 reached a separate $16 million settlement with Bank of Montreal, whose Milwaukee-based unit Marshall & Ilsley had also worked with Petters.
The Palm Beach Finance funds filed for bankruptcy in November 2009.
By Jonathan Stempel
Georgia Father Confronts School Officials After Daughter Gets Left Behind by Bus
A Georgia father slammed school officials after he and his wife got a phone call about their 5-year-old child being left at school for a third time during this school year.
Tristan King confronted school staff at Norton Elementary School for not keeping track of his daughter, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
He said Kings older son called him because his daughter didnt get on the school bus that day.
On Feb. 28. 2019~After them losing our daughter for the third time this year. What you dont see is I was told by Gwinnett County Police and the Schools (SRO) That I can not come back on school grounds ever again on my own. If i need to come for any reason I must call the school so they can call the Police to be there while im there. If i came on my own i will be arrested for Criminal Trespassing. How is a concerned parent a Criminal now? Yet yall can lose my 5yr old daughter 3x's and thats ok. This happened in our suburbial neighborhood of Snellville, GA @ R.L. NORTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Tristan De'Geon 201932
He called us screaming that his sister wasnt on the bus and they wouldnt wait for her or let him off to find her, King told the news outlet.
In a viral video, he told school officials: If you have adults all through the hallway, how did it happen for the third time?
The first time I was calm, I was understanding the second time, I was mad but I let it go. The third time, my son called me crying from the bus, screaming that he doesnt know where his sister is, he added, People magazine reported.
"He called us screaming that his sister wasnt on the bus and they wouldnt wait for her or let him off to find her," Tristan said of his fourth-grade son. People 2019313
His wife chimed in, saying that their son told the school bus driver to stop.
He said, dont pull off. I cannot leave without my sister. And they told them to leave anyway. My son was on the bus screaming and crying and yall still told the bus to pull off, she told the officials in the Facebook video, which has been viewed 2.4 million times over the past several weeks.
School officials have since apologized over the mishap.
Youre responsible I release my child to get on your bus to come to your school. Until my child makes it home, youre responsible for my child. Dearly 2019313
King also wrote on Facebook, What you dont see is I was told by Gwinnett County Police and the Schools (SRO) That I can not come back on school grounds ever again on my own. If i need to come for any reason I must call the school so they can call the Police to be there while im there. If i came on my own i will be arrested for Criminal Trespassing. How is a concerned parent a Criminal now? Yet yall can lose my 5yr old daughter 3xs and thats ok.
Sloan Roach, a spokeswoman for Gwinnett County Public Schools, told People magazine: Mr. King had every right to be upset and the whole thing wasnt handled well. School officials have reviewed things on their end and some new policies and procedures have been put in place.
Meanwhile, Principal Melanie Lee stated that his daughter simply missed the bus and wasnt lost.
It is reasonable for a parent or sibling who does not know where the child is to be worried and upset, Lee wrote in early March, People reported. There is no question that ensuring that students get to and from school safely is the school and school systems responsibility.
According to Lees letter, At no time was this parent issued a criminal trespass warning, he is free to come and go to the school like any other parent. That said, it is never appropriate for a parent or adult to use foul language around students or toward school staff, Yahoo News reported.
The video has since been viewed 1.8 million times. Yahoo Lifestyle 2019313
Roach told People that Kings son and daughter have been escorted to the bus every day and was working well.
But King said that the issue hasnt been resolved.
I havent spoken to anyone, he was quoted by People as saying. Im worried that this is an epidemic that has been swept under the rug.
School board member Everton Blair thanked him for his input, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
I appreciate you coming and sharing your story, I hope you get the answers that you want. And also hope that we can continue to put things in place that for parents feeling comfortable knowing that who we put our trust in are keeping our students safe, Blair said.
Huawei rotating Chairman Ken Hu addresses a speech during the opening ceremnony of Huawei's European Cyber Security Transparency Centre in Brussels on March 5, 2019. (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)
German Reporters Visit Huaweis Demonstration Lab in Brussels
The world's biggest telecoms manufacturer is anxious to prove its cybersecurity credentials
Huawei, a Chinese state-linked company and the worlds largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, recently opened its European Cyber Security Transparency Centre in Brussels, Belgium. The Centre is intended as a demonstration lab to show that Huawei systems are free of electronic back doors that make them vulnerable to hacking.
However, a visit by Germanys Deutsche Welle revealed a different picture about Huaweis attempt at transparency.
In recent years, Huawei has become notorious for its relationship with the Chinese regime, as well as widespread allegations that its equipment can be used for espionage.
The African Union, a major customer of Huawei, was found to have its facilities compromised by Chinese hackers, and equipment bought by the Japanese government was found to contain additional components of unknown function.
Since Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada last December, the security of Huaweis products and systems has attracted attention. European bureaucrats and politicians have been in heated discussion over whether to follow their allies U.S. and Australia and bar Huawei from the construction of their upcoming 5G networks.
Germany is a key market for Huawei. Deutsche Telekom, the countrys biggest telecommunication service supplier, had teamed up with Huawei via its subsidiary T-Mobile in building one of Huaweis largest 5G trial systems in Poland.
In past months, the German government and telecommunication businesses have held several conferences to discuss a possible ban of Huawei involvement in the construction of the local 5G network.
Deutsche Welle is based in the former West Germany capital of Bonn, where Deutsche Telekom, as well as the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) are headquartered. The BSI is an upper-level federal agency in charge of managing cyber and communication security.
Last November, Huawei opened its Bonn Security Innovation Lab. Via this lab, Huawei can work closely with BSI, Deutsche Telekom, and other players in the business to expand its market share in 5G.
Over the course of several months, Deutsche Welle made multiple attempts to contact Huawei to schedule a visit its Bonn lab, but didnt receive a direct response until recently. On March 23, the Chinese-language edition of Deutsche Welle reported that it had gotten permission for a visit, but not to the Bonn facility.
Public Relations Offensive
Huaweis European Cyber Security Transparency Centre was opened in Brussels on March 5, and the building is located just hundreds of yards away from the European Commission building and multiple foreign embassies, including the U.S. Embassy.
Huawei said that the Centre is open to EU policymakers and business customers, so that they can have trust in the company and its security standards.
In recent months, due to negative international coverage that increased following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei has been active in public relations efforts. Since January, Huawei founder, CEO, and Mengs father Ren Zhengfei spoke with multiple media organizations and gave speeches. This contrasts with the past three decades, during which Ren had opted to stay out of the public spotlight.
Meanwhile, Huawei invited foreign leaders and reporters to visit its headquarters in Shenzhen, southern China, where they might be persuaded as to the advantages of partnering with Huawei.
Nothing to Hide
According to the Deutsche Welle journalists, the Huawei lab was in a nondescript building, without any company logo externally visible except on a small screen in the intercom system. Inside the lab, Chinese engineers and Western speakers spoke at length to their guests about cybersecurity being a part of Huaweis DNA, and that the company was doing all it could to ensure transparency.
Behind the demonstration room, the center featured two testing areas, for black and white box ytesting
Black box testing is a software testing method in which the internal structure, design, and workings of the item being tested are unknown to the tester, while in white box testing, all these details are known. Using 10 computers in the white box Testing room, testers could connect to Huaweis systems in several Huawei research and development centers and read encrypted sourcing codes.
At the time of the visit, nobody was working at the lab. According to Huawei, this was because the center had been opened only recently.
After quickly presented the testing rooms to the reporters, Huawei engineers brought the reporters back to demonstration room, where a group of Huawei employees just arrived and chatted with each other.
A Huawei director at the lab told the reporters, the purpose of this lab here in Brussels is to tell the world that our Huawei has nothing to hide, that we are transparent.
Setbacks in Europe
In general, Huawei has been facing great pressure from the U.S. government and other countries of Five Eyes, an Anglophone intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
In Europe, Huawei has met with challenges from an increasing number of countries. In January, Poland arrested Huawei executive Wang Weijing. Although Huawei fired Wang quickly and Warsaw said the arrest wasnt related to Huawei, the scandal impacted Huaweis image.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Italy on March 21, and on March 21 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for projects of the Belt and Road Initiative, which was expected to allow Huawei into the Italian 5G infrastructure market.
But the deal that Rome and Beijing ultimately inked contained 29 items, not one of them containing telecommunication and tech-related deals.
Huawei failed in Italy, and may face an increasingly hostile environment in future, because the EU has considered adopting a more defensive strategy toward China, having branded the worlds second-largest economic power a systemic rival on March 12.
Ericsson, Nokia, and other suppliers operate in Europe, and are Huaweis main competitors in the global 5G market.
Chi Ping Patrick Ho sentenced in a bribery trial by District Judge Loretta Preska in New York, on March 25, 2019. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg)
Head of Chinese Energy NGO Sentenced to 3 Years in US Prison
The former head of an international non-governmental organization that was backed by a Chinese energy conglomerate, was sentenced to three years in prison on March 25 for bribery and money laundering.
Patrick Ho was the secretary-general of the China Energy Fund Committee, an NGO based in both Hong Kong and Arlington, Virginia. Ho was also a top lieutenant of Ye Jianming, a Chinese oil tycoon whose company, CEFC China Energy Company Limited, (CEFC China), made billions of dollars in Russia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Africa.
The company also sought business in South Sudan and Iraq, among other distressed places, courted North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, and attempted to maneuver into a middleman position with Iran to avoid oil sanctions.
CEFC China backed Hos registered charitable organization, which even held a special consultative status with the United Nations. But Hos activities often focused on advancing the interests of Yes energy giant, which included seeking favor in Washington.
Hos first phone call after his November 2017 arrest for allegedly bribing top officials in Chad and Uganda was to James Biden, the brother of former Vice President Joe Biden, The New York Times reported in December 2018. Ye himself had met privately with Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, in Miami in May 2017.
Ho was convicted of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act regarding Chad and Uganda in December 2018, while Ye has not been charged with any wrongdoing in the United States.
Patrick Ho schemed to bribe the leaders of Chad and Uganda in order to secure unfair business advantages for the Chinese energy company he served, said Geoffrey S. Berman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, on March 25.
Foreign corruption undermines the fairness of international markets, erodes the publics faith in its leaders, and is deeply unfair to the people and businesses that play by the rules, Berman added.
According to prosecutors, Ho orchestrated the two bribery schemes on behalf of CEFC China, which is based in Shanghai and operates internationally across multiple industries, including oil, gas, and banking. During Hos trial, prosecutors outlined other areas of business, including an attempt to deal arms in conflict zones.
In September 2014, Ho attended a U.N. General Assembly in New York City while CEFC China was attempting to expand its business operations into the African country of Chad. Ho, in his role as the chief officer of a charitable NGO, secured a meeting with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Senegal, who had a personal relationship with Chad President Idriss Deby.
Weeks later, Ho and CEFC China executives met with Deby in Chad to discuss access to lucrative oil rights in the impoverished country. A second meeting took place in Chad in December 2014 and ended with Ho presenting Deby with $2 million in cash concealed in several gift boxes, prosecutors said.
Deby rejected the offer but later accepted it as a donation to the people of Chad. Ho would later argue that the payment was indeed a donation from his charitable NGO, but a federal court jury in Manhattan found the payment constituted a bribe.
Upon his conviction, Ho told Hong Kong reporters in Cantonese, Expected. Its like that, according to the South China Morning Post.
Incidentally, CEFC China never obtained the oil rights it paid for, prosecutors determined.
While attending the same U.N. General Assembly in 2014, Ho met with General Assembly President Sam Kutesa. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, the two men developed a professional relationship over the course of Kutesas one-year tenure at the U.N. that included plans for a strategic partnership between CEFC China and Uganda when Kutesa returned to his native country.
In February 2016, Kutesa went back to Uganda and assumed the role of Foreign Minister. In the interim, his relative, Yoweri Museveni, had been re-elected president of Uganda.
Kutesa then solicited a payment from Ho that was meant to appear as a charitable contribution. Ho agreed, and requested an invitation to Musevenis inauguration, private meetings with Museveni and other high-ranking Ugandan officials, and a list of future business projects for CEFC China.
Three months later, Ho and CEFC China executives traveled to Uganda for a meeting, but not before wiring $500,000 to Kutesas suspicious charitable foundation. The money was wired through Manhattan, giving the Southern District of New York jurisdiction.
Ye, who was chairman of CEFC China, provided another $500,000 in cash for Musevenis reelection campaign, though he had already won the election.
Ho intended these payments to influence Kutesa and Museveni to use their official power to steer business advantages to CEFC China, prosecutors said.
Kutesa and Museveni followed through on Hos requests, and further helped CEFC China acquire a Ugandan bank so they could partner in the companys future profits while operating in the central African country.
Patrick Ho bribed officials at the highest levels of government in Chad and Uganda in pursuit of lucrative oil deals and other business opportunities, all while using a U.S.-based NGO to conceal his criminal scheme, said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski.
While Ho was the focus of the two African bribery schemes, both were influence-peddling operations in service to his boss, Ye Jianming. And Ye was involved in his own coordinated attempts to influence foreign governments, including U.S. officials and institutions.
According to the New York Times, Ye met with former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan in 2015, and donated nearly $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation and another $500,000 to Columbia University through a separate CEFC China-backed charitable group.
Ye had also proposed a partnership to Hunter Biden after two meetings in 2017 to invest in American infrastructure and energy. Although its unclear if Biden partnered with Ye or CEFC China in any business dealings, Biden managed an investment firm at the time called Rosemont Seneca Partners, which was co-founded by Chris Heinz, the stepson of former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
In imposing the 3-year prison sentence on Monday, U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska quoted the U.N. Convention Against Corruption, stating, Corruption is an insidious plague that is found in all countriesbig and small, rich and poorbut it is in the developing world that its effects are most destructive.
Pentagon officials announced the success of a historic salvo test of the missile defense system designed to take out incoming Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, on March 25, 2019. (Missile Defense Agency)
Homeland Defense System Knocks Out Ballistic Missile in Historic Salvo Test
Pentagon officials said the U.S. military has successfully tested a defense system capable of knocking down intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said in a March 25 statement that a system meant to protect the United States against attacks successfully intercepted a mock missile.
The GBI-Lead destroyed the re-entry vehicle, as it was designed to do, the MDA stated, referring to the role played by the ground-based interceptors that are one component of the complex network of tools designed to thwart missile attacks by enemy countries.
Officials said the other system looked at the resulting debris and remaining objects, and, not finding any other re-entry vehicles, selected the next most lethal object it could identify, and struck that.
The interceptors were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The target missile was launched from the Reagan Test Site in the Marshall Islands, located over 4,000 miles away from the California base.
MDA Director Lieutenant General Sam Greaves called the test a critical milestone.
The Ground-based Midcourse Defense system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we have a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat, Greaves said.
Bolsters Our Deterrent Posture
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) hailed the test, calling it a credible deterrent.
This test gives our enemies pause, making them doubt the effectiveness of their offensive capabilities, Sullivan said in a statement on Monday. This doubt, coupled with the threat of a military response from the U.S., bolsters our deterrence posture, including against threats from rogue nations.
This testin which two different objects were interceptedvalidates the effectiveness of our homeland missile defense system and gives policymakers and warfighters increased confidence in a critical system, which safeguards the entire country, Sullivan added.
First-of-its-Kind Test
The last time the Pentagon tested a ground-based defense system against an intercontinental ballistic missile target was in May 2017. Only one interceptor was fired in that trial, which cost nearly $250 million, according to The Hill.
That test was intended to prime U.S. defense systems to deal with the growing threat from North Korea.
The communist regime in 2017 test-fired missiles designed to reach the U.S. mainland.
In January 2019, President Donald Trump unveiled a revamped U.S. missile defense strategy that called North Korea an ongoing and extraordinary threat.
While North Korea hasnt conducted a test since late 2017, U.S. officials have expressed doubt about whether the secretive regime would be willing to give up its nuclear weapon and missile programs.
In January, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told the Senate, We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD [weapons of mass destruction] capabilities and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capability, because its leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival.
Mondays test was the first time the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system attempted a salvo intercept, where more than one projectile was fired to intercept an incoming missile.
The salvo concept is meant to improve the chances of hitting an incoming missile, which in actual combat could contain decoys and other measures designed to make it difficult for an interceptor to find and hit the target.
The Ground-based Midcourse Defense system has been officially operational since 2004.
According to Defense News, the MDA is requesting $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2020 to expand the GMD system.
Reuters contributed to this report.
House Fails to Overrule Trumps Veto, Border Emergency Continues
The House of Representatives failed on March 26 to override President Donald Trumps first veto, leaving in place the national emergency he declared last month to redirect funding toward a U.S.-Mexico border wall construction beyond what Congress approved for the purpose.
Democrats control the House, but only 14 Republicans joined them for a total of 248 votes, a far cry from the two-thirds majority of 290 votes needed to beat a veto. One Democrat, Jackie Speier of California, didnt vote. Her office didnt respond to a request for comment.
Democrats were expected to fight the emergency declaration in courts. A coalition of 16 states sued in February to block Trumps move.
Wall Fight
Trump declared the national emergency on Feb. 15, after Democrats in Congress blocked his request for $5.7 billion for wall construction. The wall funding dispute led to a shutdown of about a quarter of the federal government starting on Dec. 21.
In a January televised address, Trump laid down a proposal for a border security compromise that would provide temporary protection from deportation to some 700,000 illegal immigrants in exchange for border wall funding.
The proposal also included a list of measures generally supported by both parties, including humanitarian funding, drug detection technology, and extending protections for people who have fled wars and disasters.
He called the border situation a crisis, pointing to drug and human trafficking, criminals sneaking in, and the economic impact of illegal immigrants. Illegal border crossings have indeed soared in recent months. Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly double the illegal border crossers in the first five months of fiscal 2019 than in the same period the prior year.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) rejected Trumps offer before he started his speech.
The Democrats finally relented in late January and agreed to negotiate on the wall funding in exchange for ending the shutdown. The negotiations produced less than $1.4 billion for new border fencing in the 2019 budget.
Emergency Powers
Trumps declaration had enabled the transfer of $3.6 billion from the military construction budget toward wall construction. The president also ordered the shifting of an additional $3.1 billion, which did not require emergency powers.
Together with the 2019 budget allocation, Trump should have enough to build about 324 miles of new fencing.
The Defense Department has identified $12.8 billion in funds from projects that can be reallocated to the construction of the border barrier. The department notified Congress on March 25 that it has authorized the transfer of $1 billion toward wall construction. Senate Democrats immediately protested the transfer.
Congress Dispute
The House Democrats argued the Republican president had overstepped his authority by going around Congresss refusal to fund a border wall, because the legislature has the power to control spending under the Constitution.
The founders (of the United States) did not want a monarchy; thats what they rejected. What they wanted was a democracy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on the House floor.
We take an oath to the Constitution, not to the president of the United States, she said.
But Republicans said Trump had acted legally under a 1976 law known as the National Emergencies Act, under which previous presidents had declared dozens of emergencies.
The president has the authority to act. The president is using the authority Congress has given him, said Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.).
Mueller Boost
Trumps position on March 26 was strengthened by Special Counsel Robert Muellers conclusion, after a 22-month investigation, that the Republican presidents campaign team did not collude with Russian interference in the 2016 election. Moscow has denied meddling.
That political victory for Trump may make it easier for Republicans to back the president on a range of issues, including his border emergency.
Even though the two issues clearly arent related, it increases the presidents strength and popularity and puts him in a stronger position, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said before the vote.
Reuters contributed to this report.
A new body of research suggests that infections in childhood, along with antibiotic use, could impact the bacteria in our intestines and raise risks of mental health challenges in later life. ( Anatomy Insider/Shutterstock)
Infections During Childhood Increase the Risk of Mental Disorders
Link between gut bacteria and mental health gets powerful boost from Danish registry
Hospitalization for infection might leave you at greater risk for mental illness, according to a recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry, which draws on data from youth in Denmark up to age 17.
The authors also found that antibiotic use was associated with even higher risk for mental illness. This connection is thought to be, in part, because antibiotics affect bacteria in the intestinal microbiome.
The studywhich supports emerging theories about the functional interaction between infection, the gut microbiome, and mental illnessis one of close to 50 papers published using data from the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register since the latter half of 2018.
This registry tracks the clinical data of more than one million peoplein this case, data from 1995 onward on Danes who were treated for mental illness over their first 17 years of life, either in a hospital or as outpatients. Every measure of general and mental health status, including prescriptions and family histories, were documented for each individual as they aged.
The sheer size of this registry is providing international researchers with unprecedented opportunities to answer targeted questions about the links between life history and mental health status.
Antibiotics, Autism, and Depression
It has been suggested that the gut microbiome, the hugely diverse bacterial community that we host in our intestines, sends out signals to the brain, modulating our moods and, possibly, our susceptibility to mental illness.
(Shutterstock)
Studies in animal models already have documented the association between bacteria and depression. One research group showed that mice treated with antibiotics showed alterations in the diversity of the gut microbiome and performed worse on memory tests.
Animals depleted of gut bacteria using broad-spectrum antibiotics exhibited changes in various disorders including autism spectrum, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimers disease, and depression.
In another remarkable study, fecal samples from human patients suffering from depression and transplanted into rats conferred depression-like symptoms. In one study, transplants from patients with anxiety created anxious mice.
While these studies point to the link between the microbiome and mental health status, the nature, or molecular basis of this link remain unknown.
Bacteria as a Treatment for Depression?
A promising area of research that aims to define the links between the microbiome and the human brain, focuses on identifying neuroactive compounds produced or consumed by bacteria in the gut.
In work published in Nature Microbiology in December 2018, Philip Strandwitz and his colleagues at Northeastern University in Boston, studied a rare type of gut bacteria given the name KLE1738. These rare bacteria eat gamma-aminobutyric acid, also known as GABA. A different type of bacteria, Bacteroides, produces GABA, keeping the KLE1738 bacteria alive by feeding them.
These findings underscore how different types of bacteria work together in the gut. This matters to us because GABA is a neuroactive compound required for normal function of our central nervous system. Major depressive disorders are associated with reduced GABA levels.
Strandwitz hypothesized that microbiomes containing more of the GABA-producing bacteria would be associated with a happier human host. In a small pilot study of 23 patients, those with higher levels of fecal Bacteroides, the GABA-producing bacteria, also had relatively mild depression.
Though the results were not conclusive, the trend supports a possible role for the bacteria in modifying the severity of depression.
The Link Between Gut and Mental Health
The results from this small pilot study were ambiguous because the number of patients was small and the study was not controlled for medications taken by the subjects. A significant number of these patients were on antidepressants of varying kindsall of which would be expected to have an effect.
On top of medication use, other characteristics of each patient, like age, gender, and genetic background would be expected to influence the dialogue occurring between the gut and the brain.
With its massive scale, the Danish psychiatry registry promises to change all this. By documenting every clinical aspect in the young lives of more than a million people visiting the hospital for mental illness, the registry provides the opportunity to isolate and study each clinical variable. Even after being classified on the basis of age, gender, type of mental illness, medication history or certain genetic variants, there will still be sufficient numbers of patients to permit meaningful comparisons.
Because of its size, the Danish registry could do more to clarify the link between the gut and mental health than anything before.
(Shutterstock)
Linking With Other Large-Scale Databases
The immense value of the registry may be truly revealed when linked with other large-scale efforts, such as those that study bacterial interactions in the gut or genetic variants in patients with mental illness. For example, the pilot study of the gut microbiome in 23 patients described previously could be revisited using a much larger and better defined patient cohort, to generate convincing results that could eventually be translated to improvements in patient care.
The potential of the Danish psychiatry registry to improve the treatment of mental illness has inspired other countries to do the same. In November 2016, for example, the American Psychiatric Association announced the launch of a national mental health registry called PsychPRO.
Like the Danes, American psychiatrists anticipate that a national registry will help propel future research efforts and also stimulate the development of new and better ways to treat and prevent psychiatric illnesses.
Christine Bear is a professor at the faculty of medicine and fellow of the Munk School of global journalism at the University of Toronto in Canada. This article was first published on The Conversation.
Israel's Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu waves to supporters after his speech during the launch of the Likud party election campaign in Ramat Gan, Israel, on March 4, 2019. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
Israel PM Netanyahu Responds to Rep. Ilhan Omar: Its Not About the Benjamins!
The prime minister of Israel responded to anti-semitic tropes from Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who drew backlash for suggesting political support for the Middle Eastern country was all about the Benjamins.
Speaking from Israel via satellite, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, From this Benjamin, its not about the Benjamins! His remarks were made during the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington on March 26.
He added that the reason why Americans love Israel is not that they want our money but because that they share our values.
Its because America and Israel share a love of freedom and democracy, Netanyahu explained. Its because we cherish individual rights and the rule of law.
We dont judge people by the color of their skin, their religion, or their sexual orientation, he added.
Omar was quick to respond to the Israeli prime minister, saying: This from a man facing indictments for bribery and other crimes in three separate public corruption affairs.
This from a man facing indictments for bribery and other crimes in three separate public corruption affairs. Next! https://t.co/BX6qLpISKx Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 26, 2019
The Democratic congresswoman was referring to allegations that surfaced last year, which accused the prime minister with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, claims Netanyahu described as baseless.
Omars anti-semitic comments in February received bipartisan condemnation and the congresswoman subsequently apologized for her comments. Earlier this month, the House passed a watered-down resolution that was meant to censure Omars comments. The resolution (pdf), approved by a vote of 40723, was expanded to include other forms of bias but does not include Omars name.
Moreover, she also received criticism for a 2012 post where she wrote: Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.
Omar sparked a fresh uproar in late February when she accused some politicians in Washington who supported Israel as having dual loyalty. These comments even earned praise from former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
Dr Duke & Eric Striker: By Defiance to Z.O.G. Ilhan Omar is NOW the most important Member of the US Congress! https://t.co/R4d4X81xdv pic.twitter.com/C083V57VQp David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) March 7, 2019
I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country, Omar said. I want to ask why is it OK for me to talk about the influence of the NRA, of fossil fuel industries, or big pharma, and not talk about a powerful lobby that is influencing policy.
Along with Netanyahu, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also made remarks on Omars comments. He said, for many years, such slurs and tropes were limited to the fringes, reported NBC News.
Israeli PM Netanyahu to US Rep. Omar: "From this Benjamin, it's not about the Benjamins!" NBC News 2019326
Sadly, theyve recently received new prominence, having been repeated and retweeted by a sitting member of Congress, he said without directly identifying the congresswoman.
He also criticized several Democratic presidential candidates who did not attend the conference after a liberal group MoveOn.org called on the candidates to boycott the event.
Im troubled that many of the declared Democratic presidential candidates seem to be avoiding this very gathering, McConnell said, reported the news station.
Apparently, because political partisans who have leveled scurrilous charges against this organization have warned they will be keeping watch, and they will be taking names, he added.
According to the Associated Press, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke of Texas, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y) and other did not attend the conference.
Reaching out to all of the major Dem presidential primary candidates to find out if theyll be at AIPAC this uear Shira Hanau (@shirahanau) March 14, 2019
President Donald Trump has spoken out against Omar and the Democratic party on numerous occasions. He told reporters in February that her comments were terrible and that he didnt think her apology was adequate. He added that she should be ashamed of herself, reported The Hill.
On March 8, a day after the House resolution was passed without Omars name, the president criticized the Democrats calling them an anti-Israel party.
He said, I thought yesterdays vote by the House was disgraceful because its becomethe Democrats have become an anti-Israel party. Theyve become an anti-Jewish party. And I thought that vote was a disgrace and so does everybody else if you get an honest answer.
Italian communist militant Cesare Battisti steps off a plane coming from Bolivia in Rome on Jan. 14, 2019. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
Italian Communist Militant Battisti Confesses to Four 1970s Murders
An Italian communist terrorist has admitted to murdering four people in the late 1970s, according to local media reports.
Cesare Battisti, 64, was convicted in absentia of murdering a policeman and a prison guard, and participating in the killings of a butcher and a jeweler who had defended themselves against left-wing militants.
He had been on the run since escaping from prison in Italy in 1981 but until his capture in January, he was protected by the French and Brazilian governments.
He confessed in jail over the weekend of March 23, magistrate Alberto Nobili said, according to local media. Battisti has previously denied any involvement in the slayings.
When I killed, I believed it was a just war, Battisti reportedly told Nobili.
He also confessed to assaulting three people and participating in robberies to finance the extreme left terrorist group Armed Proletarians for Communism.
I realize the harm I have done and I apologize to the families [of the victims], Battisti said in his confession.
Nobili said Battisti was questioned for nine hours at a high-security prison in Sardinia. He said it felt like I was watching the liberation of someone who was initially embarrassed, troubled, according to The Local Italy.
Years of Lead
Battistis killings occurred during Italys so-called Years of Lead, when leftist and fascist groups committed acts of violence against each other, mostly between 1970 and 1985.
After being convicted in 1979 for being part of a Marxist group, Battisti escaped from prison in Italy and fled the country.
He was protected in France by socialist President Francois Mitterand, where Battisti wrote a series of novels based on his life, claiming that he had been framed by Italy. Under the so-called Mitterrand doctrine, far-left terrorists who fled to France would not be extradited to Italy, amid distrust of the Italian courts.
The policy was repealed in 2002, following which French officials authorized the extradition of Battisti. However, he had already fled to Brazil, where he was given political asylum by socialist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The asylum ended in December 2018, with Battisti heading to Bolivia, where he was arrested in January.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said those who protected Battisti should now also apologize.
Cesare Battisti has apologized, a few decades after the fact, Salvini said, according to Ansa.
Now I expect those left-wing pseudo-intellectuals who covered for and defended this squalid character to apologize too. Its better to say sorry late than never, Salvini said.
However, the relatives of some of Battistis victims were not so welcoming of his apologies.
I think his lawyer is advising him so he can have his sentence reduced, Maurizio Campagna, the brother of the policeman killed by Battisti, told Italian-language TV Sky TG24. The murders were pure cowardice, not even terrorism. They were just murders made by serial killers like Battisti and his gang.
Adriano Sabbadin, son of the murdered butcher Lino Sabbadin, told Il Dubbio he hoped Battisti would now reflect on the evil he has done.
Italy is also attempting to extradite 14 terrorists still believed to be in France, including Narciso Manenti, a leftist terrorist who killed a policeman in front of his teenage son in 1979. He is now reportedly an electrician in the French town of Chalette-sur-Loing, about 70 miles south of Paris.
President of Judicial Watch Tom Fitton speaks at the High School Leadership Summit, a Turning Point USA event, at George Washington University in Washington on July 26, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
Judicial Watchs Fitton Blasts DOJ for Protecting Obama and Clinton in Email Case
WASHINGTONAttorney General William Barr did the right thing on the Mueller report, but hes got to look at how [the Department of Justice] is handling these transparency issues and why they are protecting Obama and Clinton, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton told The Epoch Times on March 26.
Thats whats happening here, said a clearly frustrated Fitton, concerning a March 11 motion by Justice Department (DOJ) lawyers representing the Department of State in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The government asked the court for a protective order sealing any audio-visual recordings of plaintiffs forthcoming depositions of current and former career officials at the State Department.
The resting state of the Deep State is secrecy, Fitton told The Epoch Times. This is just typical of what we are dealing with from DOJ and State on these issues.
The government has resisted disclosure at every turn in the case since its filing, he said.
Everything is a fight, Fitton said. We even have to sue to get the time of day. Its unbelievable.
Earlier this year, Judge Royce Lamberth ordered 10 current and former State Department employees with knowledge of former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons email system to be deposed under oath by the nonprofits attorneys.
Unedited versions of the videos of the depositions would be posted on Judicial Watchs web site.
In its motion, DOJ lawyers representing the State Department claimed all career government employees have a legitimate privacy interest in limiting permanent and public dissemination of video recordings of them being deposed about the alleged misconduct of others.
They also claimed that no legitimate public interest is served by making deposition videos public, since the government doesnt object to written transcripts being released.
They also argued that given the notoriety surrounding issues relating to former Secretary Clintons use of a private email server, these individuals are at significant risk of being subjected to unwarranted attention and embarrassment.
In addition, the DOJ lawyers said making the deposition videos public would harm the State Departments ability to recruit, hire, and retain talented individuals to work among its career ranks.
Among those to be deposed are: Susan Rice, former national security adviser to President Barack Obama; former senior Obama White House aide Ben Rhodes; FBI counterintelligence division Assistant Director E.W. Priestap; Monica Hanley, former personal aide to Clinton; former Clinton deputy chief of staff Jacob Sullivan; and former Clinton senior adviser Heather Samuelson. Depositions of Rice, Rhodes, Priestap and Hanley were to be done via them responding to written questions from Judicial Watch.
The March 11 motion would apply most immediately to scheduled depositions of Justin Cooper, described by Judicial Watch as a former aide to [former President] Bill Clinton who reportedly had no security clearance and is believed to have played a key role in setting up Hillary Clintons non-government email system, and Clarence Finney, described as deputy director of the Executive Secretariat staff who was the principal advisor and records management expert in the Office of the Secretary responsible for control of all correspondence and records for Hillary Clinton and other State Department officials.
The motion is the latest move by federal officials in response to Judicial Watchs long-running Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) suit, which seeks documents linked to Secretary of State Clintons use of a private email server for official business from 2009 to 2013 and to her actions regarding the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
Rhodes has refused to comply with the courts deposition order.
Cooper, who was represented by private counsel, separately filed a motion that video of his deposition not be made public, citing arguments like those made by DOJ.
Judicial Watch originally filed the suit in July 2014 after the State Department failed to respond by the legal deadline to the nonprofits document request in the case. This case led to public disclosure of Clintons private email system in 2015.
In a response filed March 25, Judicial Watch argued that the DOJs concerns are nothing more than sheer speculation and noted that Cooper, a longtime close aide to President Clinton, hypothesizes that release of his deposition video would result in unwarranted harassment or embarrassment.
While failing to offer any specific reason for this concern, Mr. Cooper also does not mention that he previously testified before Congress on this specific matter and that a video recording of his testimony is widely available on the Internet and has been for some years.
Despite video of Coopers testimony being on the internet, he didnt cite any examples of harassment that resulted.
Judicial Watch also noted that Finney, like Cooper, has testified at length before Congress and that video of his testimony has been available on the internet for years, without harming his privacy interest.
A DOJ spokesman declined The Epoch Times request for a response to the Fitton statement.
Contact Mark Tapscott at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
A sign on an insurance store advertises Obamacare in San Ysidro, San Diego, California, U.S., Oct. 26, 2017. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
Justice Department Determines Obamacare Is Unconstitutional
The Department of Justice has determined that Obamacare is unconstitutional, according to a federal court filing submitted by Assistant Attorney General Joseph Hunt on March 25.
In the brief letter (pdf), Hunt states that the Justice Department now fully concurs with a Texas judges ruling last year that found the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.
Judge Reed OConnor from Fort Worth, Texas, ruled on Dec. 14 that the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has become unconstitutional after Congress repealed the individual mandate as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
At the time, the Justice Department only partially concurred with OConnors ruling. The March 25 letter changes the governments position to full support of the judges ruling.
The Department of Justice has determined that the district courts judgment should be affirmed, Hunt wrote.
The lawsuit is currently before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative circuit courts in the nation. From there, it would head to the Supreme Court.
President Donald Trump promised to repeal Obamacare on the campaign trail. He praised OConnor decision in December.
Wow, but not surprisingly, ObamaCare was just ruled unconstitutional by a highly respected judge in Texas. Great news for America! Trump wrote on Twitter.
Republicans in Congress attempted to repeal Obamacare in 2017 but were thwarted by the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who voted against the repeal despite having made a campaign promise to get rid of Obamacare.
Trump has fumed over McCains move in recent weeks. The White House 2020 budget says that Obamacare should be replaced with fixed grants that would allow states to determine their own health care spending, according to The Washington Times.
After falling short of a full repeal, Republicans slashed the individual mandate from Obamacare, which required taxpayers who do not have insurance to pay a fine. Chief Justice John Roberts ruled in 2012 that the mandate is a tax, making the ACA constitutional.
Republican state attorneys general saw the mandates repeal as an Achilles heel of the entire ACA because the Supreme Courts decision upholding the ACA hinged entirely on the individual mandate.
The debate of the lawsuit continues to be a simmering political issue. Democrats argue that Republicans dont have a plan in the event the lawsuit succeeds. Republicans have long lambasted Obamacare as a bloated government failure.
The debate was pivotal during the 2018 midterms, with most Democrats running on a platform of defending Obamacare.
While Democrats retook the House of Representatives, Republicans expanded their majority in the Senate. Josh Hawley, one of the attorneys general in the lawsuit against Obamacare, defeated then Sen. Claire McCaskill and is now a senator representing Missouri.
Most of the Democrats running for president in 2020 are embracing Medicare for All, a socialist policy with Marxist roots, which goes beyond Obamacare by eliminating all private health insurance and handing the government near-total control of the health care industry.
One estimate pegs the 10-year cost of Medicare for All at $32 trillion, roughly half the size of the entire projected United States budget for the next 10 years.
Liberals Deny Second Committee Request to Investigate Political Interference
OTTAWAThe Liberal majority on the House of Commons ethics committee have voted down a motion backed by Conservatives and New Democrats that would have seen former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould and former Treasury Board president Jane Philpott testify about SNC-Lavalin controversy.
The coverup continues, Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said after the meeting ended.
Wilson-Raybould told the justice House of Commons justice committee last month that she was pressured by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his senior advisers and senior advisors to the finance minister, to overrule the decision by the director of public prosecutions not to negotiate a remediation agreement with SNC-Lavalin rather than proceed to a criminal trial on fraud charges.
She believes she was shuffled out of justice in January because she wouldnt change her mind.
Trudeau has denied anything improper occurred but has been unable to change the channel from the saga that has badly hurt his public image. He said the whole thing boils down to a breakdown in trust between him, his aides, and Wilson-Raybould.
During the almost two-hour-long meeting Tuesday, Conservatives and New Democrats urged their Liberal colleagues to put partisan issues aside and agree to have the ethics committee take on the probe after the Liberals ended the justice committees investigation last week.
Liberal MP Nathaniel Ermine-Smith, who voted in favour of an NDP motion in February to hold a public inquiry on the matter, said at the ethics committee Tuesday a new probe may only result in relitigating what has already been said at the unless the two former cabinet ministers were granted wider waivers to testify on the issue.
Trudeau has not indicated any willingness to do that saying the waivers were already unprecedented and allowed for the facts relevant to the matter at hand to be made public.
The justice committee heard from 10 witnesses over five meetings but opposition parties say Wilson-Raybould named 11 people who she felt crossed the line and all of them should be asked to testify. Only two of those people were among the witnesses the justice committee did hear from.
The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
A Miami University student was hit 15 times on the buttocks, which caused cuts and bruises in a hazing incident that happened on March 16. (Animone123/Pixabay)
Miami University Student Hazed, Hit by Paddle With Spikes
A Miami University student was hit with a paddle with spikes and grooves, forced to drink large amounts of alcohol and smoke marijuana in a hazing incident involving a now-suspended fraternity, according to a report released on March 25.
The report details a hazing incident that occurred on March 16 at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house, the report said.
The student who filed the report said he and other pledges were told they could not leave a mandatory meeting in the fraternity house, even when they requested to leave. The report said the student was hit 15 times on the buttocks, which caused cuts and bruises. People also spit in his face and kicked him, according to the report.
Report: Miami student hazed, hit by paddle with spikes https://t.co/1eZMS8PfGj Emily Maxwell (@EmilyWCPO) March 25, 2019
Mental abuse is also noted in the report. The student said he and the other pledges were blindfolded and put in a room for about an hour-and-a-half and forced to listen to scary music. Exposure to loud music for an extended period of time has been characterized by the United Nations as torture.
The student was eventually taken to a hospital by an ambulance with a .231 blood alcohol level and released the following morning, according to the report.
Hazing has no place within Delta Tau Delta, fraternity CEO Jack Kreman said in a previous news release. Despite intentional effort to educate members through national resources and local volunteer guidance, chapter members chose to treat new members inappropriately. The fraternity has no tolerance for such behavior and those involved will be held accountable.
Miami University suspends fraternity after brutal and deplorable hazing complaint https://t.co/VRfMrNZhde HazingPrevention.Org (@PreventHazing) March 24, 2019
Since being suspended, sophomores living in the Delta Tau Delta house have been relocated to residence halls as the university finalizes its investigation, Miami President Gregory Crawford wrote in the letter announcing the fraternitys suspension.
Crawford has asked university leaders to review the allegations in the context of the larger Greek community and to make recommendations that can be implemented across all fraternities and sororities.
Nothing is off limits in this evaluation, he wrote.
WCPO has reached out to the university and the Delta Tau Delta home office for further comment.
An investigation has been launch by TCD after reporters from one of the universitys student newspapers planted a recording device outside a students on-campus apartment where an alleged society hazing event was taking place. https://t.co/O7ux0EA4mp TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) March 20, 2019
No-Hazing Policy
A national study conducted by the National Collaborative on Hazing Research and Prevention said more than half of the college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experience hazing. About 47 percent have experienced hazing before joining college.
Alcohol consumption, humiliation, isolation, sleep- deprivation, and sex acts are hazing practices common across student groups, it said.
In a note on campus safety and security, Miami University defines its No-Hazing Policy on its website. It says hazing violates the Code of Student Conduct, Ohio state law, and the policies of every fraternity and sorority recognized by Miami University.
Micah serves as the Editor of Fraternal Law, monitors the National Anti-Hazing Hotline, and organizes, hosts and presents at the annual National Fraternal Law Conference. Get to know more about Micah on our new website! https://t.co/zapxHExXLC Fraternal Law (@FraternalLaw) March 20, 2019
Coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into, or as a condition of participation in, a student organization, fraternity or sorority, or activity that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing physical or mental harm to any person is prohibited, Universitys website said.
Anyone experiencing hazing can call on the anti-hazing hotline. It is a 24 hours anonymous telephone line for anyone to report a suspected or recent hazing incident to 1-888-668-4293.
Epoch Times reporter Venus Upadhayaya contributed to this report.
Missing 15-Year-Old California Girl Found Dead, Homicide Officials Investigating
After missing California teen Samantha Bustos was found dead in Los Angeles County, sheriffs officials have launched a homicide investigation.
Sheriffs officials said she was found dead on March 25 near Dominguez Hills industrial park in Compton, California, about three days after she was last seen, reported KTLA.
The station, citing investigators, reported that the 15-year-old girl was found face down and hidden in the bushes.
BREAKING NEWS: A body found in an industrial area of Compton has been identified as a 15-year-old girl, investigators said. ABC7 2019325
Bustos also suffered a traumatic injury to her upper body before her death, said officials, without elaborating on the injury. Her cause of death also wasnt released, pending an ongoing investigation.
Sheriffs department officials are now trying to obtain surveillance video footage from a business near where her body was discovered.
Susan Lainez, her cousin, said she was with friends on the afternoon of March 22 in Compton, but she never made it back home.
Just In: A 15-year-old girl who had been missing since Friday has been found dead in Compton. NBC LA 2019325
They believe it happened sometime Saturday evening, said Andy Miller, executive vice president at the National Retail System, a business located near where she was found, according to KTLA.
I got a call early this morning that they had found a body on the perimeter of the property, Miller also said. Were cooperating with the police in every way possible. They asked for [security] camera footage over a period of time.
By midnight on March 23, her cellphone was shut off after repeated calls were not answered. She was officially reported missing by her family on March 24, officials said.
Day and night, we drove around everywhere looking for her and nothing, said Bustos uncle, Junior De Jesus, in the KTLA report.
Its very devastating to be dealing with this, De Jesus added to ABC7. My heart breaks right now. Its heartbreaking. Its bad.
Homicide Investigation Continues After Discovery of 15-Year-Olds Body in Compton https://t.co/AofmBL1Suw pic.twitter.com/HUQAVqXYbY KTLA 5 Morning News (@KTLAMorningNews) March 26, 2019
They found her and I dont know what to say. I dont have words, Blanca Bautista, the girls mother, told NBC Los Angeles.
Her mother said she was last seen in a white Jeep with two young men.
They just hurt her, thats what he said. They hurt her bad, Bautista said, without elaborating.
I had contact with her best friend, she was asking me if she came home, Victor Lopez, Bustos cousin, elaborated to ABC7. We couldnt find her and we started looking for her Saturday morning.
She was only 15!
A vigil for Samantha Bustos, she went out on Friday, her body was found with traumatic injuries face down by some bushes of an industrial complex in Compton. know something? Please say something @Univision34LA @LASDJUANITA @LASDHQ #SoloALasOnce pic.twitter.com/PVVa4eB4vi Oswaldo Borraez (@oborraez) March 26, 2019
Bustos grandmother said she was a good student and had a lot of friends while warning other young people to be careful, according to the ABC affiliate.
No suspects have been identified in the case.
Anyone with information about her case can call the sheriffs department at (323) 890-5500.
Her family set up a GoFundMe page to pay for funeral expenses, saying, We ask for your support to raise funds for her funeral expenses. We appreciate any donation. No donation is too small. Thank you.
Friends & family of Samantha Bustos are holding a vigil in #Compton where her body was found early this AM. The 15-year-old went missing Friday afternoon. Investigators have not released a cause of death but say Samantha suffered a traumatic injury to her upper torso. @KTLA #RIP pic.twitter.com/kLxvIIkHMY Carlos Saucedo (@Carlos_Saucedo) March 26, 2019
Violent Crime Declined in 2017
In September 2018, the FBI said Americans committed fewer violent and property crimes across the United States in 2017, according to statistics. The violent crime rateincluding offenses such as murder, robbery, and aggravated assaultdropped by almost 1 percent althought it is still about 4 percent above the 2014 rate. The murder rate dropped by 0.7 percent.
There were more than 1.2 million violent crimes reported to [the FBI] nationwide in 2017. There was a 0.7 percent decrease in murders and a 4 percent decrease in robberies from 2016 to 2017. Aggravated assaults increased 1 percent in 2017. The FBI began collecting data solely on an updated rape definition last year, and 135,755 rapes were reported to law enforcement in 2017, the agency said.
RIP
Samantha Bustos Vital https://t.co/vvfYvsV6zp haute (@HauteModeB) March 25, 2019
Of the estimated 17,284 murders in 2017, more than half occurred in larger citieswith populations of more than 100,000.
There are fewer than 300 such cities in the United States, and while they account for less than 30 percent of the countrys population, many of them contribute far beyond their share to national crime rates and have done so for years, even decades.
While the national murder rate inched down to 5.3 per 100,000 residents, it spiked by 15 percent in Philadelphia, to a rate of more than 20 per 100,000 residents. Columbus, Ohio, saw a massive 54 percent murder rate increase, reaching nearly 16.3 per 100,000 residents.
File photo of two turkeys. A hunter harvested an "exceptionally rare" white turkey in Kiln, Miss., on March 16, 2019. (Pixabay)
Mississippi Hunter Harvests Exceptionally Rare White Turkey
A hunter in Mississippi has taken down what may be one of the most exceptional white turkeys ever harvested, according to USA Today.
Hunter Waltman, of Kiln, bagged the rare bird on March 16, one day after the opening of turkey season.
Waltman told the Clarion Ledger he had watched the extraordinary specimen since last October.
Ive been having him on camera all year since back in October, said Waltman, according to the report. My neighbor told me about him.
Color variations certainly exist among wild turkeys, but what this hunter harvested may be among the most unusual ever taken in Mississippi.
https://t.co/HPTJ92uLk2 USA TODAY (@USATODAY) March 25, 2019
The Mississippi hunter told the publication his neighbor said the white turkey had been hanging around for three years.
The anomalous bird had feathers that were solid white, but a beard that was black. The turkeys spurs and nails were white.
The Wait
Waltman said he and a fellow hunter Toby Cagle tracked the turkey to where he was roosting and stuff.
The two laid in wait until the bird was finished.
We watched him run around with the hens for about two hours and he finally bred them, Waltman said. When he got through with the hens he made a B-line straight to us.
The Kill
The hunter recounted being nervous using a friends gun he was not familiar with.
It was at about 60 yards, Waltman said. I was second-guessing myself. I was using my buddys gun and he said it was good at 50 to 60 yards, so I went ahead and shot.
The turkey was hit and fell to the ground.
Man, it was awesome, Waltman said. I was shaking I was so nervous. It was one of the hardest turkeys Ive ever killed.
Waltman estimates the gobbler weighed between 17 and 18 pounds.
The Reactions
When the story of Waltmans kill was posted on social media, it met with a mix of reactions.
Whaaat? This hunter in Mississippi bagged a very rare white wild turkey! wrote WILQ-FM in a Facebook post on the subject, asking With Spring Gobbler season just around the corner, would you shoot it if you saw this while hunting?
Whaaat? This hunter in Mississippi bagged a very rare white wild turkey! The turkey plumage was solid white and its WILQ-FM 2019326
I wouldnt shoot it, commented Mel Mingle II. The only shooting i would do is pictures of the turkey.
Thats like shooting an albino deer, Rose Andrews contended, adding its rare.
Some commenters suggested the bird may have been an escaped domestic turkey.
Yes we use to have white turkeys and white peacocks, commented Joyce Stallings. He probably killed someones domestic turkey.
All our turkeys were white, but they looked different than wild birds. They all were very heavy and had health issue beyond the first 6 months. They were interesting birds to keep, wrote Eva TC Kovacs.
Almost All domestic turkeys are white, wrote Kellie Folks. They are however, very rare in the wild.
According to local authorities a white turkey occurs once in several hundred thousand. Oh look! Theres a white turkey! Lets kill him! (There is no justification for such slaughter. None.). Joe McKeever 2019324
This guy likely put in countless hours hunting this bird, wrote Trey McDaniel. He will eat it and have the mount on his wall for his entire life. Most folks buy their meat at the store where its already killed and packaged for them and they never have to look that animal in the eyes. Hunting makes you appreciate your food. Nice kill sir!
I shot a turkey yesterday, wrote John Alumbaugh, adding jokingly, You should have seen all the folks on the frozen food aisle run!
Evacuees from Buzi vilage carry their belongings as they arrive at a displacement center near the aiport, after Cyclone Idai, in Beira, Mozambique, March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Mozambique Prepares for Cholera After Cyclone Wreaks Havoc
BEIRA, MozambiqueRescue teams in Mozambique moved hundreds of people displaced by Cyclone Idais massive and deadly flooding to safer shelters on March 25, while the government made preparations for a cholera outbreak that it says is inevitable amid the devastation.
In areas west of the port city of Beira, hundreds of people were trapped for more than a week after Idai hit, surviving in vast tracts of submerged land with no access to clean water and shrinking food supplies.
Water has been slowly receding and there was no rain in Beira on March 25, meaning some roads have become passable. But the size of the disaster zone means getting aid to the most needy is still difficult.
We are more organized now, after the chaos that weve had, so were delivering food and shelter to more people today, Land and Environment Minister Celso Correia told reporters.
The number of people in makeshift camps had risen by 18,000 to 128,000 since March 24, he said, adding that the government would install a prevention and treatment center for cholera in areas affected by the cyclone.
We have a lot of diarrhea, but teams are working on the ground to say whether it is really cholera or not. But as I said there will be cholera, Correia said.
In Buzi village, southwest of Beira, Reuters reporters saw hundreds of cyclone victims carrying their few possessions on their heads as they were moved to a displacement center near the airport, where aid agencies have set up tents with access to drinking water.
Idai lashed Beira with winds of up to 170 kph (105 mph) on March 14, then tore inland through Zimbabwe and Malawi, flattening buildings and killing at least 686 people across the three countries.
United Nations aid chief Mark Lowcock said on March 25 that the world body was appealing for $282 million to fund a response to the disaster in Mozambique for the next three months. This would cover relief including health, water, and sanitation, he told reporters.
Mozambique is, we think, the worst hit, but there are very real needs in the other countries as well, said Lowcock, adding that appeals for Zimbabwe and Malawi would be launched in the coming days.
Losing Everything
The scale of the disaster has meant aid has been slow to arrive. Communities near Nhamatanda, around 100 km northwest of Beira, were due to receive assistance on March 25. On March 24 inhabitants of poor farming communities in that area told Reuters their food had run out and rescuers were yet to reach them.
Aid workers distributed maize meal in the Chipinge district of eastern Zimbabwe, where there was no power or piped water.
We lost all our perishables after Cyclone Idai, Chipinge resident Kudakwashe Mapungwana said. Since then we have no electricity at all and women are busy buying charcoal which is very expensive.
Correia said the death toll in Mozambique remained roughly unchanged at 447 on March 25. Zimbabwes Local Government Minister July Moyo told state radio that the storm had killed 179 people in Zimbabwe, up from a previous government estimate of 154, but that 329 people were still unaccounted for.
In Malawi, the death toll from torrential rains and flooding, some of which occurred before the cyclone hit, had risen to 60 from 56, a spokesman at the Ministry of Homeland Security said. The government was sending relief items by train and truck, he said.
The death toll in Mozambique could rise steeply as receding floodwaters allow rescuers to access remote areas or if waterborne diseases like cholera gain a foothold.
Cholera is spread by feces in sewage-contaminated water or food, and outbreaks can develop quickly in a humanitarian crisis where sanitation systems are disrupted. It can kill within hours if left untreated.
The secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said after a visit to Mozambique that the situation there was a ticking bomb as regards waterborne diseases.
Elhadj As Sy said: Im raising that alarm because so many of these waterborne diseases are a great risk but they are preventable.
By Emma Rumney
Migrants from Central America and Cuba walk on a highway during their journey towards the United States, in Tuzantan, Chiapas state, Mexico, on March 25, 2019. (Jose Torres/Reuters)
New Migrant Caravan Forms With 700 Cubans, Heads Towards U.S.
A new migrant caravan of about 1,500 people has crossed from Guatemala into Mexico on foot and is heading towards the United States, according to reports.
The caravan includes a large number of Cuban nationals, which is unusual for such migration initiatives, El Universal reported on Monday, March 25. Recent migrant caravans have primarily consisted of people fleeing Latin American countries, not the Caribbean.
Estimates say the caravan could reach the U.S.-Mexico border within several weeks.
The 700 Cuban nationals joined the main body of migrants in southern Mexico over the weekend, a Cuban news outlet reported.
The remaining caravan members are individuals fleeing El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Mexican Immigration Agency Shutters Doors
Mexicos National Migration Institute told Reuters the migrants were already inside Mexico when they formed a caravan in the southern city of Tapachula on the border with Guatemala.
The Daily Wire reported that the strategy of entering Mexico as individuals first before later forming a larger group is a way to thwart efforts by the Mexican government to crack down on migrant caravans trying to penetrate the countrys borders.
Early on Saturday, the caravan set off towards the town of Huixtla in the southern state of Chiapas, a route followed by previous groups heading north, the institute said.
Caravana de cubanos y centroamericanos descansan en Huehuetan https://t.co/QymDP2sbst pic.twitter.com/UFmb7ntzPd Quadratin Chiapas (@quadratin_chis) March 24, 2019
The Washington Examiner reported that the National Institute of Migration shuttered its office in Chiapas earlier this month, effectively cutting off access to refugee claims for about 2,000 migrants.
Rather than remain in Mexico illegally, many of the migrants instead opted to join the caravan and travel to the U.S. to claim asylum.
Surge in Illegal Crossings
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security reported a surge in the number of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to an Axios report.
So far in March, officials have reported over 20,000 illegal alien apprehensions.
Officials told Axios the uptick is driven by an influx of migrant families and unaccompanied children, mostly from Central America.
Lean Fresco, an immigration attorney and member of a Homeland Security advisory committee, told the news outlet that much of the border has been effectively rendered useless.
At the moment, we have the closest thing to an open border that weve had, said Fresco, adding, unless Congress does something, we are where we are on this. There are no levers left to pull.
Border Wall
President Donald Trump signed a national emergency declaration on Feb. 15, saying the southern border is in crisis.
If youre going to have drugs pouring across the border, if youre going to have human traffickers pouring across the border in areas where we have no protection, in areas where we dont have a barrier, then its very hard to make America great again, Trump said on Feb. 15.
Trump declared the emergency after Democrats in Congress blocked efforts to approve the $5.7 billion for a border wall requested by the Department of Homeland Security. Congress appropriated $1.4 billion for border wall construction, far short of Trumps request.
The Department of Defense has now shifted $1 billion to plan and build a 57-mile section of pedestrian fencing, roads and lighting along the border between the U.S. and Mexico, the Pentagon chief said on Monday.
Last week, the Pentagon gave Congress a list that included $12.8 billion of construction projects for which it said funds could be redirected for construction along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Id like to thank all of the Great Republican Senators who bravely voted for Strong Border Security and the WALL, Trump wrote on Twitter on March 15. This will help stop Crime, Human Trafficking, and Drugs entering our Country. Watch, when you get back to your State, they will LOVE you more than ever before!
In addition to shifting $3.6 billion by using the emergency declaration, Trump ordered the reallocation of an additional $3.1 billion from the Treasury and Defense departments, which did not require an emergency declaration.
Administration Efforts
The Trump administration has tried several methods to stem the flow of illegal immigration, saying that while most asylum claims are bogus, the system is being used as an effective way to gain access to the United States and disappear once inside the country.
Trump tried to prevent asylum-seekers from the caravan of late 2018 from entering the United States illegally by issuing a Nov. 9 proclamation that illegal border-crossers would be ineligible for asylum.
U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar blocked Trumps proclamation on Nov. 20, and on Dec. 19, the Supreme Court declined to intervene until the case completes its journey through the lower courts.
In May, the administration reintroduced the Bush-era, zero-tolerance policy that meant all adult illegal border crossers were to be prosecuted. The policy caused an uproar when some children were temporarily removed from their parents or adults accompanying them, and Trump walked back the decision.
Trump also urged Congress to close loopholes in the asylum system that allow for thousands of meritless claims to swamp the system.
In June, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions re-tightened the criteria for asylum to what it was pre-Obama, but U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan blocked that ruling on Dec. 19.
Reuters, and Epoch Times staff writers Ivan Pentchoukov and Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.
New Yorks Rockland County Declares State of Emergency Over Measles
A county in New York state declared a state of emergency after more than 100 people were diagnosed with measles.
Starting at 12 a.m. on March 27, anyone under the age of 18 who hasnt been vaccinated will be barred from public places in Rockland County until getting the MMR vaccineor until the state of emergency expires within 30 days, according to WABC.
Its not clear how Rockland County officials will enforce the measure.
It comes after 151 cases of measles have been confirmed in Rockland County, which is located in New York Citys metropolitan area.
BREAKING: Rockland County is declaring of state of emergency Tuesday over the ongoing measles outbreak and barring unvaccinated minors from public places. ABC7NY 2019326
Officials said that high-risk groups include children under the age of 6 months, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, people who havent been vaccinated against measles, and people born before 1957 and have compromised immune systems.
We continue to encourage everyone to be up-to-date with the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine to help protect them in case of any future exposure to measles in Rockland, Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert said, WABC reported.
Measles is highly contagious, so anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting the disease, and they may spread measles to people who cannot get vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health conditions.
Many of the measles cases in New York state have been concentrated among children of Orthodox Jewish families, ABC News reported.
Many of the children attend religious schools, and the vaccination rates are below 95 percent, according to ABC.
How Many Cases in 2019?
So far, in 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 314 individual cases of measles across the United States as of March. The worst year since 2010 was 2014 when 667 cases were reported.
The states that have reported cases to CDC are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, the agency said.
According to the CDC, an outbreak is defined as three or more cases in jurisdictions.
These outbreaks are linked to travelers who brought measles back from other countries such as Israel and Ukraine, where large measles outbreaks are occurring. Make sure you are vaccinated against measles before traveling internationally, it said.
Measles is still common in countries all over the world, including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, the CDC said.
The last major outbreak in the U.S. was in 2017 when 75 cases were reported in Minnesota in a Somali-American community with poor vaccination coverage, the agency stated.
Mandatory?
Every state, Washington, and Puerto Rico have their own vaccine requirements to attend public school.
As of July 18, 2018, all 50 states and DC require vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; polio; measles and rubella (49 states and DC also require mumps vaccination); and the varicella (chickenpox) vaccination, according to ProCon.org.
Another 43 states and DC require hepatitis B vaccination (Alabama, Illinois, Maine, Montana, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Texas do not) to enter kindergarten. Some states require Hib, PCV, flu, and Hep A vaccines to enter kindergarten. Connecticut is the only state to require nine vaccinations. Many states require more vaccines as the children age, for example West Virginia requires the meningitis vaccine at the CDC-recommended age (11-12 years old), according to the outlet.
An ISIS terrorist flag, foreground lies in a tent encampment after U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters took control of Baghouz, Syria, on March 23, 2019. (Maya Alleruzzo/Photo via AP)
Northern Syria Administration Calls for Tribunal for ISIS Detainees
BEIRUTThe Kurdish-led administration that runs much of northern Syria called on March 25 for an international tribunal to be set up in their region to try the thousands of suspected ISIS terrorist group members they are detaining.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces on March 23 proclaimed the capture of ISISs last territory in Syria, but no clear international policy has emerged yet about how to deal with the militants it captured there and at other strongholds of the group.
We call upon the international community to establish a special international tribunal to prosecute Islamic State terrorists in northern and eastern Syria, the statement said.
Thousands of suspected ISIS members and fighters from Syria, Iraq and other countries are now in the of custody by the U.S.-backed group.
Its statement argued that the jurisdiction of the courts should be where the criminal act happened and where the offenders were captured in order for there to be a fair trial in line with international law and human rights conventions.
The Kurdish-led administration said it had appealed to the international community to take responsibility for the detainees, especially for nations to take back their own citizens.
Unfortunately, there was no response or initiatives in this respect, the statement said.
The people who left the final enclave at Baghouz, near the Iraq border, have been sent to camps in northeast Syria. One of those, al-Hol, was already overcrowded with uprooted Syrians and Iraqis and camp officials have said they do not have enough tents, food, or medicine. Aid workers warn of spreading disease, and dozens of children have died on the way there.
Many foreign governments see the detained suspected militants as a security threat and have been loath to accede to SDF entreaties to repatriate them.
By Lisa Barrington
NY Gov. Cuomo Rebukes Democrats for Being Too Focused on Attacking Trump
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a recent interview that fellow Democrats are too focused on attacking President Donald Trump and not spending enough time explaining the partys policies.
Speaking with WAMC public radio on March 25, Cuomo said, The Democrats have been too focused on Were going to win by just being anti-Trump.
He continued, You dont win a game, you dont win an election just on playing on one side of the court. You have to play offensive defense, we win when we offer the alternative vision and thats what the Democrats have to be focusing on and not this Twitter-deep policy and analysis.
Gov. Cuomo On WAMCs Roundtable today: https://t.co/1jqKtR0rJu WAMC News (@WAMCNews) March 25, 2019
However, when the radio host Alan Chartock asked Cuomo whether Sen. Kirsten Gillibrands (D-N.Y.) anti-Trump comments at her rally on March 24 was a good move, Cuomo defended Gillibrand. During the event, the senator called Trump a coward, in front of a crowd at Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York City, reported the New York Post.
In response to Chartocks question, Cuomo said, Its what were talking about. You need media coverage. You need to come up with something that excites social media. So thats what its become.
Chartock then asks, So well take that as a criticism, right?
Cuomo quickly denied it, defending Gillibrand by saying, No. look, I believe parts of there you can say that the president has been cowardly on many things.
Also during the interview, Cuomo appeared to criticize Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) for frequently attacking Trump on her Twitter. The congresswoman regularly shares anti-Trump comments to her 3.6 million followers on the platform.
Where did it happen that we shifted from a really basically substantive conversation to this celebrity, media, social media, Twitter dialogue that is a mile wide and half an inch deep? Cuomo said.
Where celebrity and the number of Twitter followers determines whether you were suited for elected office. And if you have more Twitter followers, then youre a more viable candidate. Experience doesnt matter, accomplishments dont matter. Its a degradation of the system. Its a degradation of government.
In response, Ocasio-Cortezs spokesman Corbin Trent told the Post that they do not believe Cuomo was referring to the congresswoman.
He must be talking about somebody else. Shes not a mile wide and an inch deep shes very in-depth when it comes to policy. I couldnt imagine hed be talking about her, Trent said.
https://t.co/i2ABaTmNk3 Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo is a Guest on The Roundtable with Alan Chartock PressReleasePoint (@prpnews) January 29, 2019
Special Counsel Report
Cuomo also made comments about special counsel Robert Muellers report, saying, Its a moment where the Democrats have to focus.
Well, they didnt say no obstruction, yeah, but theyre not charging him with anything. And that is going to have a certain resonance, Cuomo said. And thats why just being anti-Trump is not going to be enough to win the election and I hope the Democrats get that. And not coming up with anti-Trump slogans or anti-Trump policies.
The governor called for the report to be released as much as possible, saying I think its in everyones best interest, frankly.
The four-page summary (pdf) of special counsel Robert Muellers report was sent to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate judiciary committees. In the letter, Attorney General William Barr said Muellers investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
It also concluded that the special counsel didnt provide enough evidence to substantiate that the president obstructed justice.
Ohio Defunds Planned Parenthood
The Ohio Department of Health is terminating grants and contracts that send money to Planned Parenthood after a federal appeals court upheld a state law that blocks public money from the organization since it provides elective abortions.
The department notified recipients and contractors on March 21 that it will cut funding within a month to comply with the law unless the court delays the effect of its ruling as Planned Parenthood requested.
The department said the law requires it to ensure state and certain federal funds arent used to perform or promote nontherapeutic abortions.
The law targeted funding that Planned Parenthood receives through the Ohio Department of Health. That money is mostly from the federal government.
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on March 12 that the Ohio law barring Planned Parenthood from receiving public funds is constitutional. The majority of the judges sided with the state (pdf), concluding that the two Planned Parenthood affiliates that challenged the state law do not have a due process right to perform abortions under the constitution.
Taxpayers are overwhelmingly opposed to their money being used to perform abortions. Three in four American adults surveyed by Marist Poll in January said theyre against funding abortions with tax dollars. The same poll found that 84 percent of Americans support restrictions on abortion.
President Donald Trump signed a bill into law in 2017 which prohibits Planned Parenthood and other entities that commit abortion from receiving federal Title X funds.
The bill was drafted to reverse President Barack Obamas executive order that granted the funds to the abortion industry. Obama had previously vetoed a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood contributed to Obamas campaign.
The Trump administration also approved a Title X rule change in February that could cut Planned Parenthood funding by up to $60 million. The rule required health care providers to be physically separated from abortion providers in order to be eligible for federal funds.
Fifteen states had defunded Planned Parenthood by the end of 2016, according to data reviewed by The Daily Signal, a media arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Planned Parenthood performs more than one-third of all abortions in the United States, at a rate of more than 900 abortions per day, according to its annual report.
In late 2017, the Department of Justice asked for documents related to a Senate committees report on the transfer of fetal tissue by abortion provider Planned Parenthood.
The Department of Justices investigation will likely revive the controversy over fetal tissue transfers, which was sparked by videos released by the Center for Medical Progress in 2015.
The videos showed Planned Parenthood officials negotiating prices for fetal tissues collected from abortions. Planned Parenthood argued that the videos were deceptively edited, but the 5th Circuit Court rejected the abortion corporations talking point in January, ruling that the videos were authentic and not deceptively edited.
The federal circuit court noted that Planned Parenthood executives have admitted to illegally altering abortion procedures and circumventing the partial-birth abortion ban in order to procure intact aborted baby bodies for greater profit. In one example, Planned Parenthood abortionists would sign a form stating that they did not intend to retrieve an intact fetus, purportedly to circumvent federal statutes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Thomas Goodman, 45, was sentenced to 260 years behind bars during a hearing at a court in Rhode Island, on March 22, 2019. (Rhode Island State Police)
Pedophile Collapses in Court as Judge Announces 260 Years for Horrific Child Abuse
A pedophile convicted of heinous crimes including the production of child pornography fainted in a Rhode Island courtroom as he was jailed for 260 years.
Thomas Goodman, 45, collapsed onto a table inside the Providence courtroom on March 22 as a judge announced a sentence 160 years longer than prosecutors had called for, according to the Providence Journal.
U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell handed down the sentence, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Rhode Island.
Prosecutors said Goodman had admitted to producing child pornography involving prepubescent children on multiple occasions over a period of more than ten years.
Goodman also admitted to having had sexual contact with at least three prepubescent females, according to the statement.
In the course of the investigation, detectives found that at least 62 of the videos and 135 of the images of child pornography Goodman produced involved young children. Investigators determined Goodman created the pornographic material between September 2007 and February 2018, according to the attorneys office.
Judge McConnell ruled Goodman must serve out the 260-year sentence in a federal prison.
This article was updated on March 29, 2019.
Salvadoran illegal aliens wait for a transport to arrive after turning themselves into U.S. Border Patrol by border fence under construction in El Paso, Texas, on March 19, 2019. (Paul Retje/AFP/Getty Images)
Pentagon Authorizes $1 Billion for Border Wall Construction
The Department of Defense notified Congress on March 25 that it has authorized the transfer of $1 billion toward the construction of a wall on the U.S.Mexico border.
The Pentagon sent a budget reprogramming notice to Congress detailing the reallocation of $1 billion toward the construction of 57 miles of the border, road improvements, and other measures.
The Pentagon authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction March 25. According to the press release, the corps will build 18-foot high fencing in the Yuma and El Paso sections of the border.
El Paso has seen a 500 percent surge in illegal alien apprehensions this fiscal year. Underscoring the scale of the surge, border patrol agents in El Paso caught more than 400 illegal aliens in the span of five minutes on March 19.
Last month, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on the southwest border, which enabled him to redirect Department of Defense funds toward border wall construction. In addition to the emergency funds, Trump ordered the transfer of funds from the Treasury Departments forfeiture fund and the Pentagons counterdrug activity purse.
The $1 billion authorized on March 25 is coming from the counterdrug activity pot, which Trump ordered to be augmented to a total of $2.5 billion. The funds will ultimately flow from the Department of Homeland Security to the Army Corps of Engineers.
Senate Democrats immediately moved to protest the transfer. The Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committees subcommittees on Defense and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies sent a letter to Shanahan objecting to the transfer. The Democrats argue that Shanahan directed the transfer without permission from Congress.
We strongly object to both the substance of the funding transfer, and to the Department implementing the transfer without seeking the approval of the congressional defense committees and in violation of provisions in the defense appropriation itself, the letter states. As a result, we have serious concerns that the Department has allowed political interference and pet projects to come ahead of many near-term, critical readiness issues facing our military.
The letter was signed by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).
The White House so far has secured $8.1 billion toward border wall construction. Of the total, $1.4 billion was approved by Congress, $3.1 billion was reallocated from other departments, and $3.6 billion was made available under the emergency declaration.
In March, the number of illegal aliens apprehended and turned away at the southwest border continued to climb to levels unseen for years. From December 30, 2018, to March 17, more than 23,000 illegal aliens were arrested or turned away at the border, more than double the total turned away or arrested during each of the previous four years, according to DHS data obtained by Axios.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has released more than 100,000 illegal alien family members so far this year. Many are arriving in large groups at the border, a new trend. The number of illegal aliens could reach 1 million this year.
Petr Svab contributed to this report.
People walk past a sign board of Huawei at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) Asia 2016 in Shanghai, China on May 12, 2016. (Aly Song/Reuters)
Pentagon Eyeing 5G Solutions With Huawei Rivals Ericsson and Nokia
WASHINGTONAs the United States further pushes to separate itself from Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies, the Pentagon is laying the groundwork to use technology from rivals Nokia and Ericsson in its 5G development plans, a Pentagon official said on March 25.
I am not sure we are going to have a total U.S. solution, Ellen Lord, the Department of Defenses under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said. We are talking to Ericsson, we are talking to Nokia quite a bit.
Simultaneously, the United States is laying the groundwork to develop its own technology to support 5G enabled communications, said Lord, who is the Pentagons chief weapons buyer.
The United States has lobbied Europe to shut out Huawei, saying its equipment could be used by the Chinese regime for espionage.
Huawei has strongly rejected the allegations and earlier this month sued the U.S. government over the issue.
Huawei says it has filed a complaint in a federal court in Texas challenging the constitutionality of Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a section signed into law in August that bans federal agencies and their contractors from procuring Huawei and ZTE equipment.
According to the complaint, Huawei views Section 889 as a roadblock to it gaining more market share in the U.S. telecoms market.
Lord said that military-to-military discussions about future 5G networks were going well for the United States. On the military side, there is actually a huge dialog going on about what is the path forward, Lord said. We have frankly seen a lot of our European allies leaning forward to work with us on that.
Denmarks biggest telecommunication provider TDC Group announced on March 18 that it has chosen Ericsson over Huawei for the construction of its 5G infrastructure. The partnership with Ericsson will begin April 1 and will run until the end of 2024.
According to Danish Broadcasting Corporation, Danish Defense Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen previously voiced security concerns about Huaweis equipment because of the Chinese tech giants close ties with Beijing.
In response to TDCs decision, Lisbeth Bech Poulsen, a member of the Danish Parliament, stated that she was pleased with the decision, as safety is the most important thing, according to another DR article. She added that Huawei, as a Chinese company, is committed by [Chinese] law to cooperate with intelligence agencies in China.
Beijing has a number of regulations in place, as well as broad powers, to demand that Chinese companies hand over customer data.
For example, the National Security Law passed in June 2017 requests that any organization and citizen should support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence work, and keep secret any such work known to them.
By Mike Stone. Epoch Times reporter Frank Fang contributed to this report.
US Cracks Down on Backdoor Funding Schemes for Abortions Abroad
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the Trump administration will expand on existing anti-abortion policies with the addition of a new rule that prohibits U.S.-funded organizations from aiding foreign groups that support abortion.
Speaking to reporters on March 26, Pompeo said the United States will crack down on these non-governmental organizations. At the same time, he said they are fully enforcing federal law to prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to lobby for or against abortion.
As a result of my decision today, we are also making clear, we will refuse to provide assistance to foreign NGOs that give financial support to other foreign groups in the global abortion industry, Pompeo said. We will enforce a strict prohibition on backdoor funding schemes American taxpayer dollars will not be used to underwrite abortions.
Today, @SecPompeo made two announcements to the press about the State Departments ongoing efforts to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to subsidize or promote abortions. pic.twitter.com/DKMjSixZnN Department of State (@StateDept) March 26, 2019
President Donald Trump expanded the so-called Mexico City policy in 2017 that ensured taxpayer dollars are not used to support foreign NGOs that perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning. The new rule expands on this further.
Pompeo said Trumps work on the anti-abortion policy two years ago now protects every human life impacted by the nearly $9 billion of foreign aid we spend on global health programs each year. He noted that the vast majority of partners have complied with the 2017 policy and continue to work with the administration.
He said the Trump administration protects more unborn babies around the world than ever before.
This is decent. This is right, Pompeo added.
In his briefing, Pompeo also noted that the United States will cut funding to the Organization of American States (OAS) as part of the expanded rule, over reports that the organization helped support a pro-choice group.
The OAS brings together all 35 independent states of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the hemisphere, according to their website.
In light of recent evidence of abortion-related advocacy by an organ of the Organization of American States, I directed my team to include a provision in foreign assistance agreements with the OAS that explicitly prohibits the use of funds to lobby for or against abortion, he told reporters.
The institutions of the OAS should be focused on addressing crises in Cuba, Nicaragua, and in Venezuela, not advancing the pro-abortion cause. And to ensure that our message is heard loud and clear, we will reduce our contributions to the OAS.
Pompeo echoed the remarks Trump made last month at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, with the secretary pledging that the administration will do everything they can to protect and respect the sanctity of life for people all around the globe.
The expansion comes as a number of states are considering increasing restrictions on abortion.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican, signed a bill on March 21 that bans abortions in the state after a fetal heartbeat is detected. That typically takes place around six weeks after conception.
The Mississippi law is one of the strictest in the nation, and lawmakers in Georgia, South Carolina, and Ohio are among the states also mulling the passage of heartbeat bills. Any physician that violates the new law faces license revocation or disciplinary action.
Pro-life advocates were quick to praise Pompeos policy expansion. Alison H. Centofante, the director of External Affairs at Live Action, a national pro- life and human rights organizations in America, said it was a win for Americans.
Thank you SecPompeo for your leadership in ensuring no taxpayer dollars are funding abortion! she wrote in part on Twitter.
The President of March For Life, a peaceful annual rally advocating against abortion had similar reactions to the expansion.
March for Life is grateful to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his announcement today that the Department will more fully implement the Protecting Life in Global Health Policy, Jeanne Mancini said in a statement.
She continued Taxpayer dollars should not fund abortion here or abroad, and respecting the inherent dignity of the unborn person goes hand in glove with our countrys foreign assistance and humanitarian work.
Speaking to religious leaders at the 67th annual National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 7, Trump told the audience that he will safeguard faith-based adoption centers and reiterated his pro-life stance.
As part of our commitment to building a just and loving society, we must build a culture that cherishes the dignity and sanctity of innocent human life, Trump said.
All children, born and unborn, are made in the holy image of God. Every life is sacred, and every soul is a precious gift from Heaven, he said.
"Empire" actor Jussie Smollett (C), arrives at Leighton Criminal Court Building for a hearing to discuss whether cameras will be allowed in the courtroom during his disorderly conduct case, Chicago on March 12, 2019. (Matt Marton/AP Photo)
Prosecutor: Charges Against Empire Actor Jussie Smollett Dropped
Jussie Smollett, the Empire actor who allegedly faked a hate crime against himself and blamed it on supporters of President Donald Trump, saw all the charges against him dropped on March 26.
Smollett claimed that he was attacked by two white men on Jan. 29 in downtown Chicago but police later arrested two black Nigerian-Americans for attacking the actor.
Those men told officers that Smollett paid them to pull off a hate crime hoax. The actor was indicted on 16 felony counts.
But prosecutors asked a judge to drop the charges against the actor on Tuesday before the judge granted both the request and a motion to seal the case, reported Charlie De Mar of CBS Chicago and Madeline Buckley of the Chicago Tribune.
Breaking: Charges dropped in case against Jussie Smollett. @cbschicago Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) March 26, 2019
Judge granted a motion to seal the case. @cbschicago Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) March 26, 2019
A spokeswoman for Smollett added that his record will be fully expunged.
A source with the Chicago Police Department told Rafer Weigel of Fox 32 that State Attorney Kim Foxxs office was dropping the charges because Smollett already did community service.
It wasnt clear when he did the community service.
My #CPD tip says SA Kim Foxxs office is dropping the charges against #JussieSmollett because he already did community service. Its unclear when he actually did that community service. Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) March 26, 2019
Smollett outside of court after judge granted states motion to drop charges pic.twitter.com/vhADCYNOHl Madeline Buckley (@Mabuckley88) March 26, 2019
An attorney for the actor said in a statement: Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified & made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false & inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgment.
Police officials said in February that a weekslong investigation led to Abel and Ola Osundairo, who after being arrested told detectives that Smollett instructed them to buy some items and even rehearsed the alleged attack before the trio carried it out on Jan. 29.
And prosecutors with the Cook County State Attorneys Office said soon after that Smollett gave the brothers specific instructions, including telling one that he should yell, this is MAGA country, implicating supporters of President Trump, while telling the other that he should attack him, but not hurt him too badly.
They punched him a little but as far as we can tell, the scratches and bruises on his face were likely self-inflicted, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at a press briefing on Feb. 21.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Cook County office said: After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollets volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition & appropriate resolution.
From NTD News
Romania, Honduras Recognize Jerusalem as Israels Capital
The content is not available due to expiration.
This file image shows trains at an unnamed location in Russia. (Pixabay)
Russian Teenager Killed by Freight Train as She Took Selfie on Tracks
A Russian schoolgirl was killed when a freight train ran over her as she tried to take selfies on the train tracks near her home.
The girl is reported to be 15 or 16, according to the local transportation authorities, which said she was born in the year 2003.
British tabloids citing EastWest news agency have named her as 15-year-old Karina Baymukhambetova.
She was hit by a freight train in the town of Orsk on the evening of March 24, according to authorities.
She was accompanied by an unnamed young male relative, who is reported to have been hit by the train but bounced off, unharmed.
The quest for extreme selfies and videos to quench the thirst for likes on social media has become a growing problem in Russia in recent years, with dozens of deaths, and a growing trend for videos and images on top of trains.
Orsk lies in the more densely populated eastern portion of Russia, just above the border with Kazakstan.
Local authorities are investigating the case to see if any criminal proceedings should be brought.
According to local media reports, the driver saw the boy and girl walking on the tracks, where they were trying to get the perfect selfie shot.
The driver, seeing two teenagers on the tracks, gave a warning whistle and applied emergency braking, reported Orsk.ru
The boy was able to get out of the way in time, bouncing off the side of the train, but the girl was dragged under the wheels.
The Daily Mail and the Metro reported that she was cut to pieces.
So awful her last words were 'be afraid of nothing in life' to a friend Daily Mail 2019326
Her death prompted an outpouring on local social media, according to Russian media.
According to the Daily Mail, Family friend Lena Dzyuba wrote, Such grief. How her mother cried, my heart almost broke into pieces, so awful.
Anna Kalamaeva, another family friend told the dead girls 39-year-old mother: Eternal memory to your little angel.
Russian authorities were prompted to remind parents again of the dangers of allowing children onto railway tracks in pursuit of selfies.
In 2015, Russian authorities issued official warnings as a trend for daredevil selfies and videos took hold, saying a cool selfie could cost you your life. Over 100 people had been injured and 10 killed in death-defying stunts gone wrong, including a woman wounded by a gunshot and two men who killed themselves blowing up grenades.
In October, researchers found that since 2011, there had been 259 documented deaths worldwide from taking selfies. The research, however, was limited. They believe that the 259 recorded cases to be just the tip of the iceberg, as people brush with death to get the perfect image, falling off boats and over waterfalls.
In nearby Ukraine last year a teenager died after his parachute failed to open when he jumped off a 14-story building, according to local reports.
The 15-year-old boys mother was watching, together with dozens of onlookers as he threw himself off the building, trusting his life to what some reports describe as a homemade parachute, a crash helmet, and padding on the ground below.
The extreme social media stunt was filmed on Dec. 15, 2018, by the onlookers who appeared to have encouraged him.
Video footage shows a figure waving his arms atop a building under construction in the eastern city of Makiivka, before launching off the edge with a shout.
A parachute can be seen trailing unopened behind him as he accelerates out of sight behind another building, just above the ground.
Bus driver Clarissa Neal on Aug. 6, 2018, opened her heart and wallet to encourage students who work hard in class at Northwood High School in Pittsboro, N.C. (Courtesy of Clarissa Neal-Facebook)
Straight-A Students Win Big Cash Bonus for Hard Work
Ace high school students have taken home a big cash bonus for their diligence and hard work in class.
Freshmen Marshall Lennard, Parker Stone, and two other students were pleasantly surprised when they caught the 198 bus, just recently, to Northwood High School in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
Bus driver Clarissa Neal had learned the students scored straight-As on their report card and said she would reward them. The next day each student received $100 in cash.
Neal dismissed speculation that she may be wealthy and explained her grand gesture was meant to encourage the students to work hard in class.
One of the students on the bus said Are you rich? I said No I am not' Neal told WRAL. I did just take the money that I make, and I said I needed to give it to these students because they did so well thats more than money to me, seeing that somebody gets the knowledge that they need to continue and be successful.
She has only driven the bus since January and works a second job doing administrative work at a child care center. She said she is not worried about paying her bills because she believes the heavens are taking care of her.
I may not have money. I have my health, I have my strength so the Lord it maketh rich, Neal said. I dont have to worry about my bills being paid. They will be paid, I know that because his words say that and I believe that.
WOW! Chatham County bus driver gives $100 to students with straight As (fr WRAL) https://t.co/k1m1PTvzjw Chatham Magazine (@chathammagazine) March 25, 2019
Lennard could not believe his eyes when Neal gave him the $100 and greatly appreciated her kindhearted gesture.
I thought she was joking at first but when I showed up on Monday it was pretty interesting, he said. I was very grateful and I wasnt really sure if she wanted to give it to me at first but I was very grateful for that offer.
Stone was expecting to receive much less than the $100 and will always remember Neal for her generosity.
I thought it was going to be like $5, maybe $10 if I was lucky but a very nice lady who likes to reward those who gets good grades, he said. I am not going to forget that.
Chatham County bus driver gives $100 to students with straight As :: https://t.co/VJOEtjmA3d https://t.co/qYcpuAa6TI TY OI (@JMCounselor) March 25, 2019
On social media, many people commended Neal for her charitable nature, including her former high school classmate.
She is one special lady, Frances Wilson said. The bus driver, Clarissa Neal, and I graduated from high school together.
Others were inspired by Neals actions to consider what they could do to help encourage students.
If a bus driver can make a sacrifice (because, no they dont make a lot) to provide an incentive for these students, what can others do also? Tara McNeil Smith said.
Kim Harrison echoed this view.
She cared enough to make the sacrifice, she said. With all that is going on in the news and the world today, can we stop trying to figure out how much they pay drivers in Chatham County and celebrate this member of the village who went the extra mile to encourage our youth to do and be better?
Chatham County bus driver gives $100 to students with straight As https://t.co/89tNMVRLiW Beth Morton (@JustBethBSM) March 25, 2019
Supreme Court Considers Deference to FCC
WASHINGTONSupreme Court justices questioned the wisdom of allowing regulators to ban faxed solicitations that seek to give away a product for free during oral arguments on March 25, in a case that could have broader implications for telemarketers and political campaigners.
A ruling for the sender of the unwanted fax could weaken the administrative state by taking power away from unelected bureaucrats who write and enforce rules interpreting laws approved by lawmakers elected by the American people.
Justices Stephen Breyer, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh expressed concern that compelling a lower court to bow to a statutory interpretation the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fashioned regarding the federal robocall law may jeopardize due process rights by denying petitioners the opportunity to contest the agencys ruling. The court is considering if courts must accept the FCCs interpretation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
In the case, PDR Network LLC of Whippany, New Jersey, sent a single, one-page fax in 2013 to Carlton & Harris Chiropractic Inc. of Huntington, West Virginia, offering a digital eBook copy of the Physicians Desk Reference, free of charge. PDR makes its money from drug companies that pay a fee to have prescription drugs listed in the manual.
In 2014, the chiropractors initiated a class-action lawsuit against PDR deeming the fax an unsolicited advertisement contrary to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The TCPA forbids the use of any telephone facsimile machine to send an unsolicited advertisement to another telephone facsimile machine, and creates a private right of action for infringement of the statute or regulations issued under it. PDR argued the fax could not be an unsolicited advertisement because the company was not offering a product for sale.
But a 2006 FCC interpretational ruling that PDR deems a bureaucratic overreach held unsolicited facsimile messages that promote goods or services at no cost, such as free magazine subscriptions, catalogs, or free consultations or seminars, are unsolicited advertisements under the TCPAs definition.
The trial court applied the first step of so-called Chevron deference analysis in accordance with the principles laid down in the Supreme Courts landmark administrative ruling in Chevron v. NRDC (1984). The high court held in Chevron that while courts must give effect to the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress, where courts find Congress has not directly addressed the precise question at issue and the statute is silent or ambiguous with respect to the specific issue, the question for the court is whether the agencys answer is based on a permissible construction of the statute.
On PDRs motion, the trial court dismissed the lawsuit, finding the TCPAs definition of unsolicited advertisement was unambiguous, and therefore it was not required to defer to the FCCs interpretation. In other words, that court found the fax at issue wasnt an unsolicited advertisement under the TCPA.
But the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals overruled, determining that according to the Administrative Orders Review Act (commonly called the Hobbs Act) the lower court should have treated the FCC ruling, as opposed to the wording of the TCPA, as authoritative. The Hobbs Act should have prevented the trial court from even reaching the step-one question of Chevron analysis, the circuit court ruled.
In its original petition to the Supreme Court, PDR argued [t]his case presents a challenge to the jurisdiction of every court in the nation to interpret and apply the law. The courts review was needed to clarify the jurisdiction of all courts to decide the proper level of deference afforded to interpretive agency guidance.
If allowed to stand, the Fourth Circuits jurisdiction-stripping ruling would elevate those agencies identified in the Hobbs Act above even the judiciary; empowering agency orders to trump the courts fundamental province and duty to interpret the law.
Although the Trump administration has been pushing regulatory reform and a move away from a powerful administrative state, in this case, it sided with the FCC mandarins.
Rachel Kovner, assistant to the solicitor general, told Kavanaugh the Hobbs Act is far preferable because the United States gets to be a party.
If its from a rule-making, youre going to have the opportunity for other affected parties to participate to explain why they think the rule should or shouldnt be changed.
But such a process may be unfair because someone acting based on the plain wording of the statute could later be tripped up when regulators apply a new meaning to the same language, Kavanaugh implied.
In that case, you could be subject to millions in liability without ever having an opportunity to say that the rule is illegal, the courts newest justice said.
The Curtain Has Been Pulled BackRevealing the True Collusion
Commentary
The entire country was trapped in a nightmare for the past two years as it was tirelessly and relentlessly repeated that President Donald Trump was a traitor who was working on behalf of the Russians.
This theme was hammered home endlessly by most of the broadcast news networks and in the print media.
Ever since Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election to Trump, Democrats in Congress, the media, and several Spygate plotters hired to be political commentators colluded to sell to the American public one of the biggest hoaxes in world history: that Trump only won the election due to cheating with the help of a foreign power.
And now, its over.
The end of the Mueller special counsel investigation has pulled back the curtain and exposed the awful truth. Behind the curtain, at long last, there was nothing. As in the classic film The Wizard of Oz, despite all the fearful appearances and doom-crying promises, in the end, Robert Mueller came out and the Great And Powerful Prosecutor himself admitted there was no evidence of collusion.
All these people were either lying or were being misled, and the consequences of all this are staggering. How could so many people get so much so disastrously wrong for so long?
This wasnt some brief here-today-gone-tomorrow news story the reporters just happened to get wrong. This was the major news topic that transfixed the entire nation for more than 24 months. News organizations won awardsincluding Pulitzer Prizesfor their coverage of what now has turned out to be a chimeric mirage.
The mainstream media got so much wrong on the Spygate scandal during the past two years that its hard to figure out where to begin this reckoning. But Ill take a shot at it.
Steele Dossier
The Steele dossier was always a massive fraud. Anyone who read it in a discerning fashionrather than just dumbly swallowing what it claimedcould easily see that. Yet, despite the manifest absurdities in the dossier, for more than two years, news media organizations frantically and breathlessly published one Fake News story after another based on it.
Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page was alleged to have been a key Russian agent in a massive plot to subvert the 2016 election, with crucial help from people such as then-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen.
Media outlets hawked absurd stories about Manafort sneaking into one of the most secure buildings in the world to supposedly meet with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and about Cohen being in Prague to pay off the hackers of Democratic National Committee emails.
Despite plenty of evidence out there showing that these claims were bogus, media outlets pressed on with them. McClatchy, BuzzFeed News, and several other media outlets made increasingly desperate attempts to rehabilitate the Steele dossier, trashing their own credibility in the process.
The crack team of highly motivated Democratic partisans who comprised the Mueller special counsel office, who had been given a super-wide scope within which to search, couldnt indict a single person on any of the allegations found in the Steele dossier.
Even Page, the person the FBI swore before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) was at the very center of all this TrumpRussian collusion, came away with no criminal charges whatsoever. Thats exactly as I predicted months ago, in a column here at The Epoch Times entitled They Dont Have Anything on Carter Page, And They Never Did.
Hopefully, the final release of Muellers report will at last lay to rest all of this media serial fabulism based on a fake dossier that came straight from the Clinton campaign.
Trump Tower Meeting
These same Fake News outlets spent more than a year and a half confidently pontificating that the June 9, 2016, Trump Tower meeting between Trump campaign members and two Russian lobbyists was a clear-cut, open-and-shut case of collusion. It was asserted confidently by numerous media journalists and pundits that just on the basis of this meeting alone, Mueller would easily be able to send Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and Manafort to prison.
This was despite the fact that the two Russians at that meeting were both connected to Fusion GPSthe company hired by the Clinton campaign and the DNC to produce the Steele dossier. Natalia Veselnitskaya and Rinat Akhmetshin were both known associates of Fusion GPS and its co-founder, Glenn Simpson. In fact, Veselnitskaya met with Simpson shortly before and immediately after the Trump Tower meeting. Fusion GPS had been hired on behalf of Russians to lobby against the Magnitsky Act.
After having set up the Trump Tower meeting, based on the false pretense of having damaging information on Clinton that she didnt actually possess, Veselnitskaya quickly turned the purpose of the Trump Tower meeting tosurprise!lobbying the Trump campaign team members against the Magnitsky Act. Not surprisingly, when he realized the true purpose of the meeting, Donald Trump Jr. quickly ended it and left. The only information that changed hands was the same anti-Magnitsky Act flyer that Veselnitskaya and Akhmetshin had been passing around the Washington area for some time.
The mainstream media simply glossed over these pertinent facts and went on prattling at length about the manifest Russian collusion this meeting represented. They were just so darn sure that Mueller was going to make multiple indictments from this meeting alone.
And yet again, just as with the Steele dossier, the number of indictments Mueller made, based on this over-hyped Trump Tower meeting, is: zero.
Flipped Trump Associates
Major media outlets spent months publishing news reports, based on sources that were supposedly inside or super-close to the Mueller special counsel office, that claimed former Trump associates Michael Flynn, Cohen, and Manafort had flipped and were all singing like canaries about all the supposed Russian collusion theyd been a part of.
Rest assured, we were all repeatedly informed by serious journalists in both television and print media that Mueller was meticulously compiling mountains of evidence of collusion that would soon come crashing down on the Trump presidency.
And now here we are. Every single story alleging that these special counsel targets had flipped and were informing against Trump was absolutely false.
Where Are The Retractions?
Thus far, I havent seen any retractions whatsoever of all the Fake News many of these media outlets inundated their audiences with in a never-ending flood. A professional media company would correct the record. So where are the corrections so far?
After having gotten this story so completely and totally wrong, will any of these news outlets now publicly retract the many articles and editorials and think pieces they published that pushed all these false collusion claims? Is there any ethics at all or accountability left in the mainstream news industry?
A very curious American public watches and waits.
Brian Cates is a writer based in South Texas and author of Nobody Asked For My Opinion But Here It Is Anyway! He can be reached on Twitter @drawandstrike.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto (L), President Donald Trump (C), and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sign the USMCA agreement in Buenos Aires on Nov. 30, 2018. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
Tough Road Ahead Likely for Passage of USMCA
WASHINGTONWhile Democrats are skeptical about the new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, President Donald Trump is confident that the U.S. lawmakers will vote for it soon.
Otherwise, there would be no free trade deal, he warned.
Thats going very well, Trump said, referring to the U.S.MexicoCanada trade agreement (USMCA) that replaces the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
I think that it should get approved pretty quickly by Congress because it is a great deal, Trump told Fox Businesss Maria Bartiromo in an interview on March 22.
If the Democrats dont vote for it, he said, maybe you go pre-NAFTA. NAFTA was one of the worst trade deals ever made.
After signing the trade deal on Nov. 30 last year, Trump said he would give formal notice to the U.S. Congress to terminate NAFTA. He also gave U.S. lawmakers six months to approve the USMCA. Lawmakers could choose between approving the new deal and returning back to pre-NAFTA trade rules, he said.
Democrats, who now control the House, already have indicated they wont vote for the agreement. They have called for stronger enforcement provisions for labor and environmental standards. Some also hesitate to hand Trump a political victory by approving the deal.
It looks like its going to be very difficult to get the votes in the House to approve, Stephen Moore, a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former economic adviser to Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. We may not even get Nancy Pelosi to bring it up for a vote. So Im really concerned about that.
He suggested that Trump should go back to NAFTA until the USMCA gets approved. Going back to pre-NAFTA, he warned, would be a very bad idea, as it would hurt the economies of all three countries.
We need the trade routes open and free between Canada, the United States, and Mexico, he said.
And if Congress fails to approve it, Trump could use that as a weapon in the elections and tell American people that Democrats blocked a good deal, he said.
The USMCA, signed by the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, must be approved by the congresses of each country to take effect.
The USMCA maintains tariff-free access to Mexico for American exporters. And for Canada, it provides tariff-free access for 99 percent of U.S. goods and lifts some barriers facing U.S. dairy and poultry exports.
The congressional work on the deal will start next month with a study by the U.S. International Trade Commission to analyze the economic effects of the deal. The Mexican government has agreed to amend its labor law to comply with the agreement, which is expected to happen in April as well. Mexicos ambassador to the United States, Martha Barcena, reaffirmed this commitment in a speech in February.
Unions Oppose the Deal
The AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. federation of labor unions, echoes complaints from Democratic lawmakers. The labor federation argues that the new NAFTA has some modest improvements but it requires strong labor rules and enforcement mechanisms.
The AFL-CIO said in a statement on March 14 that it wouldnt back the congressional passage of USMCA unless Mexico fully reforms its labor laws to conform to the deal.
The new NAFTA does little to stop the continued outsourcing of U.S. jobs to Mexico across all sectors, the AFL-CIO said, adding that the companies would continue to close plants and hurt workers.
The USMCA contains new rules of origin on cars, which incentivize the use of high-wage labor in auto manufacturing. The treaty requires a significant portion of the content of autos to be made by workers earning $16 an hour. This provision aims to boost production in the United States and Canada, since the average manufacturing wage in Mexico is significantly lower than $16.
The agreement also requires all trading partners to comply with International Labor Organization labor-rights standards. For example, the agreement requires Mexico to make it easier for workers to have unions and collective bargaining rights. It also states that each country should provide acceptable conditions of work, with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and the health and safety of workers.
These labor provisions mainly target Mexico and will make U.S. and Canadian workers more competitive vis-a-vis Mexican workers.
Businesses, Farmers Push Congress
More than 200 companies and associations representing businesses, manufacturers, and farmers across the country started the USMCA Coalition to help ensure passage of the new trade agreement.
The Pass USMCA Coalition, another business advocacy group, recently launched a television and digital advertising campaign highlighting the benefits of the agreement and encouraging voters to urge their congressional representatives to approve the deal.
According to a survey conducted by Morning Consult, 51 percent of respondents want Congress to pass USMCA, compared to only 14 percent who oppose approval of the deal.
Supporters hope that lawmakers will approve USMCA this summer or at least before the August recess.
Some trade experts believe that the USMCA has strong labor rules, which makes the deal an important milestone for international trade.
The new deal is a significant accomplishment for Trump, according to Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. In an article originally published in Politico Magazine in October, Alden argued that Trump succeeded in altering the agreement in ways that Democrats and unions for years had longed for.
The unions have opposed every major trade deal for the last 40 years, he wrote. But with the new NAFTA [USMCA], President Trump has done more to address their concerns than any Democratic president ever achieved.
According to Alden, another win for labor unions is that the deal limits the so-called investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions of NAFTA. ISDS allowed multinationals to sue states that issue new regulations that affect their operations. According to critics, ISDS has been used to challenge workplace protections. Conservatives have also criticized it for challenging U.S. sovereignty.
Correction: A previous version of this article published on March 27, incorrectly stated who launched a television and digital advertising campaign. This was done by the Pass USMCA Coalition. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Flame and smoke are seen during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City March 25, 2019. (Mohammed Ajour/Reuters)
Truce Reached After Israel, Hamas Gaza Clash
GAZA/JERUSALEMIsrael launched air strikes on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza and deployed extra troops to the border on March 25 in response to the longest-range Hamas rocket attack to cause casualties in years.
After a day of intense cross-border fighting, Palestinian officials said Egypt had mediated a ceasefire, though the frontier did not remain calm for long.
Rocket sirens sounded in southern Israel after the late-night truce was supposed to take effect, sending residents running for shelter. In Gaza, Palestinians reported Israeli planes attacked at least two targets.
Hamas, the Islamist terrorist group that rules Gaza, and other smaller Palestinian factions put out a statement that Egypt had mediated a ceasefire even as the rockets were fired. Israeli officials did not comment on whether a truce had been reached.
Mondays violence began when seven Israelis were wounded near Tel Aviv by a morning rocket attack. The Gaza health ministry said five Palestinians were later wounded by a wave of retaliatory strikes.
Dozens of explosions rocked the coastal enclave and ambulance sirens echoed in the mostly empty streets. In one Gaza neighborhood, people rushed to buy bread in anticipation of a long escalation. The office of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was one of the initial targets hit, although he was likely to have been evacuated in advance.
Flame and smoke are seen during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City March 25, 2019. (Mohammed Ajour/Reuters)
Gaza extremists fired barrages of rockets into Israel late into the night. Some were shot down by Israeli defenses and others landed in empty areas.
The escalation came just two weeks before an election in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting for his political life after a decade in power, campaigning on a tough line against extremist groups.
Beset by corruption scandals, he faces a strong challenge from a centrist coalition led by a top general.
Netanyahu cut short a visit to the United States, saying he would fly home right after meeting President Donald Trump.
Israel will not tolerate this. I will not tolerate this, Netanyahu said. And as we speak Israel is responding forcefully to this wanton aggression.
Trump told reporters with Netanyahu at his side that Israel has the absolute right to defend itself.
In the last Gaza war in 2014, more than 2,100 in the Strip were killed in seven weeks of fighting. Sixty-six Israeli soldiers and seven civilians in Israel were killed.
Hamas Attack
Flame and smoke are seen during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City March 25, 2019. (Mohammed Ajour/Reuters)
The Israeli military said Hamas launched the rocket that destroyed a house in Mishmeret, a village north of Tel Aviv. There was no claim of responsibility for the early morning attack.
The military said Hamas fired the rocket from about 75 miles away, making it the longest-range attack from Gaza causing casualties since the last war in Gaza in 2014.
Israel and Hamas have waged three wars since the terrorist group took control of the territory in 2007. Israeli air strikes in retaliation for rockets from Gaza are a frequent occurrence.
The two sides have managed to avert all-out war for five years, most recently with the help of Egyptian mediation after a major escalation in November last year.
Some of the other initial targets struck in Gaza, likely to have been evacuated, where the internal security office of Hamas, a naval base, a training camp and an insurance office in Gaza city, Palestinian security officials said.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged restraint from both sides and said that, together with Egypt, the United Nations was trying to help defuse the situation.
Wide Range of Scenarios
An Israeli Apache helicopter releases flares as it flies over the Gaza Strip March 25, 2019. (Mohammed Ajour/Reuters)
Israels Magen David Adom ambulance service said it treated seven people after the morning missile strike, including an infant, a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old girl and a 60-year-old woman suffering from blast injuries, burns and shrapnel wounds.
The Israeli military said it was assigning two brigades to the Gaza area and some reservists were being called up. Reuters journalists saw troops moving toward the border, where the military also closed several roads to civilian traffic.
We are prepared for a wide range of scenarios, chief spokesman Ronen Manelis said.
Israeli towns near Gaza and Tel Aviv, Israels commercial capital, opened bomb shelters in anticipation of rocket strikes.
The rocket attack coincided with tension ahead of the March 30 anniversary of the start of weekly Gaza protests at the frontier in which some 200 Gazans have been killed and thousands wounded by Israeli fire. One Israeli soldier has been killed.
Israel says it has no choice but to use deadly force at the protests to prevent extremists from breaching the border fence.
Israeli soldiers lean against a concrete barrier block near the border with Gaza, in southern Israel March 25, 2019. (Amir Cohen/Reuters)
Gaza is home to 2 million Palestinians, most of them descendants of people who fled or were driven from homes in Israel when it was founded in 1948. The protesters demand the right to return to land from which their ancestors fled.
Israel seized Gaza in a 1967 and pulled out its troops in 2005. Since Hamas took over two years later, Israel has maintained a security blockade, along with Egypt, that has reduced Gazas economy to what the World Bank calls a collapse.
Netanyahus visit to Washington, after Trump said it was time to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war, was seen at home as a bid to boost the right-wing Likud leaders chances of a fifth term.
Related Coverage Trump Officially Recognizes Golan Heights as Part of Israel
At their White House meeting, Trump signed a declaration codifying U.S. recognition of Israels hold on the strategic plateau, a dramatic shift from decades of U.S. policy. Syrias socialist regime called the move a blatant attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Netanyahus election prospects have been clouded by graft allegations against him. He has denied any wrongdoing.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Jeffrey Heller
British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves Number 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament in London, England,on February 13, 2019 . (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
UK Lawmakers Vote to Seize Control of Brexit for a Day
British lawmakers wrested control of the parliamentary agenda from the government for a day in a highly unusual bid to find a way through the Brexit impasse after Prime Minister Theresa Mays EU divorce deal was rejected again.
Lawmakers will now vote on a range of Brexit options on March 27, giving parliament a chance to indicate whether it can agree on a deal with closer ties to Brusselsand then try to push the government in that direction.
Nearly three years after the 2016 EU membership referendum, and four days before Britain was supposed to leave the bloc, it remains still unclear how, when or even if Brexit will take place, with parliament and the nation still bitterly divided.
The vote underlined the extent to which May has lost authority over her own lawmakers and ministers, though she said the government would not be bound by the results of the so-called indicative votes.
The government will continue to call for realismany options considered must be deliverable in negotiations with the EU, said a spokesman for the Department for Exiting the European Union.
Brexit minister Stephen Barclay had said on Sunday that if parliament took control of the Brexit process, a snap electionwhich the main opposition Labour party would be likely to backcould be the consequence.
May too has made clear that she would not implement a proposal that ran counter to her election manifesto, which promised a clean break with the EU.
Third Vote on Mays Deal?
But while lawmakers may struggle to turn Wednesdays indicative votes into law, if they do reach some kind of a consensus, it would pile pressure on a prime minister who has accused parliament of having no more viable solution than her deal.
Mondays vote was put forward by Oliver Letwin, a lawmaker in Mays Conservative Party. The prime minister had earlier admitted that the deal she had agreed with the EU after two years of talks still did not have enough support to pass.
May has not ruled out bringing back her deal for a third time this week. Thursday would be the most likely day.
The Sun newspaper reported that she had suggested on Sunday that she could resign if that persuaded enough doubters in her party to back her deal.
Some of her lawmakers have already publicly urged her to go.
Parliament backed Letwins proposal more clearly than had been expected, by 329 votes to 302, helped by three junior ministers who resigned in order to defy the government line.
The amendment upends the balance between our democratic institutions and sets a dangerous, unpredictable precedent for the future, the Brexit department spokesman said.
Sterling rose slightly after the votes but the gains were muted with traders little wiser about when, how, and even if Britain will exit the European Union.
No government could give a blank check to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is, May said before the vote. So I cannot commit the government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this house.
Snap Election?
Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn raised the prospect of putting any proposal supported by lawmakers back to the people.
This House must also consider whether any deal should be put to the people for a confirmatory vote, he told parliament after the votes.
Last week, the EU agreed to delay Britains original March 29 departure date because of the deadlock. Now, it will leave the EU on May 22 if Mays deal is approved this week. If not, it will have until April 12 to outline its plans.
European Council President Donald Tusk said last week that all Brexit options were still open for Britain until April 12, including a deal, a departure with no deal, a long extension or even revoking Article 50 and remaining in the EU.
Mays deal was defeated in parliament by 149 votes on March 12 and by 230 votes on Jan. 15.
To get her deal passed, May must win over at least 75 MPs who voted against her on March 12 dozens of rebels in her Conservative Party, some opposition Labour Party MPs and the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up her minority government but has rejected her deal so far.
Earlier, Mays divided cabinet of senior ministers had met to discuss a way forward. Some reports said ministers had war-gamed a national election.
I think were going to end up with a general election before the end of this year, probably in the summer, Conservative lawmaker Andrew Bridgen, who supports Brexit, told Sky News.
Tourists view the Morning Glory hot spring in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, on May 14, 2016. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
USGS Update: Yellowstone Volcano Not Overdue for an Eruption
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) issued an update about the Yellowstone volcano, addressing alarmist news reports about it being overdue for an eruption.
The huge supervolcano under Yellowstone National Park hasnt erupted in more than 600,000 years, and in recent years this has prompted speculation that it would explode at any moment, causing worldwide devastation.
In a word, no. In two words, no way. In three words, not even close. Yellowstone doesnt work that way, wrote Michael Poland, Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, on March 25.
Pollard went on to address recent tabloid headlines about an overdue eruption. One U.K. news outlet in particular regularly posts stories about the Yellowstone caldera.
In terms of large explosions, Yellowstone has experienced three at 2.08, 1.3, and 0.631 million years ago. This comes out to an average of about 725,000 years between eruptions. That being the case, we still have about 100,000 years to go, but this number is based on very little data and so is basically meaningless (would you base any conclusion on the average of just two numbers?), he wrote.
In the blog post, Pollard said that volcanoes dont erupt on a schedule.
The idea of it being overdue for an eruption may come from how people think about earthquakes, which are caused by pressure that persistently builds on a fault before the quake happens.
With rare exceptions, volcanoes do not accumulate magma at a constant rate (in the few cases where that does happen, eruptions can be somewhat regular). Instead, volcanoes erupt when there is a sufficient supply of liquid magma in the subsurface and sufficient pressure to cause that magma to ascend to the surface. This does not generally happen on a schedule, he continued.
Regarding reports saying the volcanic eruption is overdue, Pollard stressed that claim is just not accurate.
No matter how you slice it, Yellowstone is not overdue. No. No way. Not even close. But we cant say the same about the oil change for your car, so you might want to check on that, he concluded.
Less Warning Than Previously Thought?
However, in 2017, a widely publicized study found that prior to an eruption, we may only have a few decades of warning.
Researchers at Arizona State University analyzed fossilized ash and found minerals inside. From that, they believe the supervolcano woke up just two minutes after fresh magma flowed into the reservoir beneath the Yellowstone caldera, according to National Geographic.
Those minerals revealed that the temperature and composition, which led up to the eruption, built up over a few decades. In the past, geologists believed that it would take hundreds or thousands of years for the Yellowstone volcano to make such a transition.
Its shocking how little time is required to take a volcanic system from being quiet and sitting there to the edge of an eruption, Hannah Shamloo, an Arizona State University graduate student involved in the study, told The New York Times.
We expected that there might be processes happening over thousands of years preceding the eruption, noted Christy Till, a geologist at Arizona State.
Recent Activity
There has been a significant amount of activity at Yellowstone in the past year or so, including more Steamboat Geyser eruptions. Its considered the tallest geyser in the world.
The Ear Spring also erupted 80 years worth of garbage last September. The last significant one was in 1957, according to Yellowstone officials.
After Ear Spring erupted on September 15, employees found a strange assortment of items strewn across the landscape Yellowstone National Park 2018924
Foreign objects can damage hot springs and geysers. The next time Ear Spring erupts we hope its nothing but natural rocks and water, park officials wrote on Facebook. You can help by never throwing anything into Yellowstones thermal features!
Said a supervisory park ranger to FourStatesHomePage.com: You might think that if you toss something in a hot spring or in a geyser that it disappears, but it doesnt disappear. It stays in that and what normally happens is you can actually plug up a feature and kill the feature. And thats happened in many places in the park.
Woman, 85, Sues Walmart After Another Customer Hits Her With Motorized Shopping Cart
An 85-year-old woman sued Walmart after another customer hit her with a motorized cart, forcing her to seek hospital treatment.
Versella Grasz, of South Dakota, was hit by another person driving a scooter around a Sioux Falls store in 2017, reported The Argus Leader.
The elderly woman then filed a lawsuit, saying the incident caused her serious injury and extreme pain.
A Sioux Falls woman says Walmart was negligent in its operating instructions on its scooters. Argus911 2019325
Meanwhile, the other customer clearly did not know how to stop the motorized shopping cart, claiming that Walmart was negligent in its instructions on how to drive the carts, according to her suit.
Grasz said she incurred about $30,000 in medical bills after going to the emergency room in 2017, the Argus Leader reported.
The driver of the scooter hit her right side, and Grasz was brought to her knees in pain, according to the lawsuit.
Now, her lawsuit is asking for a reasonable amount in damages from the retailer, but the figure wasnt disclosed.
Walmart knew or should have known that allowing unskilled shoppers to drive scooters around other shoppers would cause a foreseeable dangerous condition, her lawsuit stated.
A Walmart spokesperson issued a comment to Yahoo News, saying the driver of the scooter was responsiblenot Walmart.
We want all of our customers to have a pleasant shopping experience in our stores, Walmart spokesperson Randy Hargrove told the website. We regret that Ms. Grasz was injured.
However, we do not feel that we did anything wrong. We believe the actions of the customer who was operating the motorized cart and hit Ms. Grasz were the sole cause of her injuries. We intend to defend the company against this litigation, she said.
Woman Gets $1.3 Million in Ohio
A woman in Cleveland was awarded $1.3 million by a jury in October 2016 after she was injured by someone driving a motorized shopping cart, Cleveland.com reported.
Barbara Rieger was struck in 2012 by Ruth Kurka at a Giant Eagle store, according to the 2014 lawsuit. The impact threw Rieger, 71, about four feet, and she hit her head against a shelf, causing head and neck injuries.
Her attorneys argued that Giant Eagle didnt provide customers with the appropriate amount of instructions to operate the scooters.
Giant Eagle knew, either through actual knowledge or through knowledge implied from known facts and circumstances, that by permitting and/or entrusting the operation of a motorized grocery cart to an inexperienced or incompetent operator, such as Kurka, that injury to innocent third parties would be foreseeable result of such negligent entrustment, her attorneys wrote in a complaint.
Giant Eagle denied the allegations.
Disabled Greeters Canned?
After more than a week of backlash, Walmart stated that its pledging to make every effort to find other roles for disabled workers whod accused the retailer of targeting them as it prepares to eliminate the people greeter job at 1,000 stores.
Greg Foran, president and CEO of Walmarts U.S. stores, said in a memo to store managers that we are taking some specific steps to support greeters with disabilities. Walmart released the memo publicly.
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 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 to register their displeasure.
Acknowledging the change had created some conversation, Foran wrote: 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.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
STAMFORD OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and its owners have reached a $270 million settlement with the state of Oklahoma, the first major payout to resolve one of the hundreds of pending cases against a firm widely accused of fueling the opioid crisis with deceptive marketing of its pain drugs.
The agreement calls for about $200 million to fund the establishment of the National Center for Addiction Studies and Treatment at Oklahoma State Universitys medical campus in Tulsa. Local governments would receive $12.5 million for opioid initiatives. In addition, Purdue would allot up to $60 million to cover litigation-related costs and fees.
For us to reach this settlement with Purdue, we had to take into account the fact that they were modeling (potential) bankruptcy , Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said in a press conference Tuesday at the Tulsa campus. This is a national settlement. It is something that cannot only assist Oklahoma in dealing with this epidemic, it can assist the whole country. This level of funding was something that was fought for.
Purdue officials did not speak at the press conference. Craig Landau, the companys CEO and president, said in a statement that we see this agreement with Oklahoma as an extension of our commitment to help drive solutions to the opioid-addiction crisis, and we pledge Purdues ongoing support to the National Center and the life-saving work it will do for generations to come.
Among other terms, the new settlement stipulates that Purdue no longer promote analgesic opioids such as OxyContin in Oklahoma. Last year, Stamford-based Purdue stopped marketing its pain drugs to medical prescribers and disbanded its sales force.
The Sackler family, who owns Purdue, is contributing $75 million of the total allocated in the settlement for the new center. Sackler members were not named as defendants in Oklahomas case, although eight of them have been sued by Connecticut and Massachusetts attorneys general.
We have profound compassion for those who are affected by addiction, a spokesperson for the family branches of the late Raymond Sackler and late Mortimer Sackler, the brothers who bought Purdues predecessor company in 1952, said in a statement. The National Center will provide immediate assistance to Oklahomans and individuals nationwide who desperately need these services, and our support is in keeping with our familys continuing commitment to making meaningful contributions to solutions that save lives.
The pact marks Purdues largest legal settlement of the past 10 years. In 2015, it settled the state of Kentuckys lawsuit for approximately $24 million. In its largest-ever payout, it accepted in 2007 some $600 million in criminal and civil penalties tied to a guilty plea in federal court to misbranding OxyContin to mislead and defraud physicians and patients.
Ongoing litigation
The lawsuit that had included Purdue was filed in 2017.
Oklahomas case against the other defendants, including Johnson & Johnson and Teva, is still scheduled to go to trial on May 28. A state Supreme Court judge denied Monday the defendants request to delay the proceedings by 100 days.
Since 2004, more than 10,000 Oklahomans have died from a drug overdose, according to state data. In 2018, nearly 50 percent of fatal overdoses were attributed to pharmaceutical drugs, Oklahomas attorney general said. In the past year, prescription opioids were involved in about 80 percent of hospital admittances for non-fatal overdoses.
Todays agreement is only the first step in our ultimate goal of ending this nightmarish epidemic, Hunter said. In the coming weeks, this team and I will continue preparing for trial, where we intend to hold the other defendants in this case accountable for their role in creating the worst public health crisis our state and nation has ever seen.
Meanwhile, Purdue still faces more than 1,000 other, similar lawsuits , including more than 30 from state attorneys general. The company has denied the accusations and earlier this month filed a motion to dismiss Massachusetts complaint.
Recently released details in the Massachusetts case have sparked growing outrage against the Sacklers. In the past week, three major art institutions, including New Yorks Guggenheim museum, have cut ties with the Sacklers, one of the countrys most-prominent philanthropic families.
Separate from the Connecticut and Massachusetts cases, Cleveland-based federal Judge Dan Polster is overseeing complaints filed against Purdue and other pharmaceutical companies by about 1,600 municipal and county governments in a process known as Multidistrict Litigation.
The first MDL trial is scheduled to start in October.
Paul Hanly, co-lead counsel for the MDL plaintiffs, said in a statement that the Oklahoma settlement was another reflection of the extraordinary importance and strength of the claims against Purdue Pharma.
At the same time, Connecticut and Massachusetts are members of a joint investigation, by more than 40 states, that focuses on Purdue and six other opioid makers. Like the litigation, the multistate inquiry could end with a settlement.
This article contains reporting from the Associated Press.
pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236;
twitter: @paulschott
Norwalk Police Dept.
NORWALK Police confiscated more than four ounces of marijuana after a suspected pot dealer was caught rolling through a stop sign Monday night.
Officers of Norwalks Strategic Narcotics Enforcement Team were patrolling the area of Elizabeth Street around 6:40 p.m. when they saw a car fail to brake for a stop sign at the intersection of Day Street and pulled it over.
NORWALK The citys Health Department is preparing new initiatives to help prevent opioid abuse here.
The department received a $10,000 grant from the state for prevention efforts, Health Director Deanna DAmore said Tuesday.
Theres more work to be done with that too in terms of monitoring (opioid addiction) and including some of that information in our next community health assessment, she said.
The grant money will be broken down into multiple initiatives to help address addiction. While DAmore, said the specifics are still being worked out, the department plans to host a few informational forums to educate the public on the dangers of becoming addicted and what effect it can have on a person.
It will also allow them to enhance their partnerships with different city departments and organizations, such as the Police Departments drug take back events and partnering with the Norwalk Community Prevention Task Force to address the health aspects of misusing opioids.
The Community Prevention Task Force, theyre focused on substance use prevention and mental health, wellness, as well, weve been attending their meetings and were trying to figure out ways to improve that partnership, she said.
A portion of the funding will go towards public information campaigns on preventing opioid overdoses. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1,072 Connecticut residents died in 2017 of a drug overdose.
We worked with one of our community partners to do a Narcan training, so were thinking about doing something like that again, DAmore said. Were just excited to get the funding.
At the American Israel Public Affairs Committee annual gathering, members of both parties attend to show their support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. If you sit through 2 days of speeches, there is a sameness to the remarks. It's difficult to stand out, especially toward the middle or end of the program.
Occasionally, as Vice President Mike Pence did on Monday, a politician is tempted to air partisan grievances - much to the dismay of AIPAC organizers. Pence called out a "Democratic congresswoman," quoting Rep. Ilhan Omar's, D-Minn., statements, while also urging that she be removed from the Foreign Affairs Committee and falsely accusing Democratic presidential candidates of "boycotting" the gathering. Since a large number of AIPAC's members are Democrats, many attendees were still grumbling about and lamenting the vice president's remarks into late in the afternoon. His flat-out lie about a Democratic boycott was especially grating and revealed to be preposterous when, for example, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who had not been invited, proudly touted her support for Israel and a photo of her meeting with AIPAC members who visited her office.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is a regular at these gatherings and has always been warmly received. This year, however, he delivered his best and most rousing AIPAC speech (perhaps the best of his career), setting off a torrent of emotion that we hadn't seen this year. It was as though the audience finally got to channel its righteous anger.
He talked about his Jewish family, the importance of educating youth about the threats Israel faces and then he got to the heart of the speech. "My friends, to do all of this we must keep the U.S.-Israel relationship bipartisan. Yes, bipartisan. Both parties, side by side," he said. "We can only hope to defend Israel from these threats so long as we maintain a united front, Democrats and Republicans together. This has been a mission for me. I'm proud that the overwhelming majority of Democrats are pro-Israel - and always have been." He continued, "Not only is it demonstrably false to say Democrats are anti-Israel; it also hurts the U.S.-Israel relationship. Plain and simple, the Democratic Party supports Israel and we will continue to do so. And we will maintain that bipartisan relationship through thick and thin. Israel depends on it."
Schumer added:
"Those who seek to use Israel as a means of scoring political points do a disservice to both Israel and the United States. Our politics may be more polarized than ever, but it is incumbent upon all of us who care about the U.S-Israel relationship to keep it bipartisan we must pledge to one another that we will keep the polarization from Washington away from poisoning the bipartisan support that Israel has always enjoyed."
This was a rebuttal to President Donald Trump's outlandish comments that the Democratic Party is anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, a perfect example of using Israel to try to burnish his credentials with his evangelical base at the expense of the essential bipartisan relationship with Israel. ("Those who seek to use Israel as a means of scoring political points do a disservice to both Israel and the United States. Our politics may be more polarized than ever, but it is incumbent upon all of us who care about the U.S-Israel relationship to keep it bipartisan, to keep our polarization from poisoning the bipartisan support that Israel has always enjoyed.")
Schumer decried the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, reminding the audience that the Arab boycott predates the Six-Day War and that its founders are unwilling to accept any sort of Jewish state. When he got to the rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic violence in the United States, he declared:
"When we see or hear anti-Semitism, we have a solemn obligation not to hold our tongues or parse our language, but to call it out with courage, with clarity.
"When someone names only prominent Jews as trying to "buy" or "steal" our elections, we must call it out;
"When someone says that being Jewish and supporting Israel means you are not loyal to America, we must call it out;
"When someone looks at a neo-Nazi rally and sees "some very fine people" among its company, we must call it out;
"When someone suggests that money drives support for Israel, we must call it out.
"We are here because we support the only Jewish state in the world - and because it is in America's interest to support Israel.
"Any suggestion to the contrary - whether made out of malice or ignorance - is hurtful, it is wrong. And we cannot be afraid to say that it is hurtful and wrong.
"But even more than that, these age-old anti-Semitic tropes are false and we must renounce them.
"You can be a Jew and care about Israel and it does not make you any less of an American!
"You can be a Jew and lobby for Israel and it doesn't make us any less of an American, it makes you a better American!
"You can be, all at once my friends, completely Jewish, completely pro-Israel, and completely American! And we are!"
- - -
It was a powerful and emotion-filled moment, all the more so because Schumer was condemning remarks that politicians in both parties have made. In case anyone missed the point, he reiterated, "So we must call out anti-Semitism whenever we hear it, from wherever it arises. It has become too prevalent in our politics to identify anti-Semitism only when it comes from political opponents." He added, "It will always be wrong to use anti-Semitism as a political weapon. Always. And let me tell you: if you only care about anti-Semitism coming from your political opponents, then you are not fully committed to fighting anti-Semitism!"
Unfortunately, support for Israel has not escaped the tribal wars. Trump and his supporters see Israel as only one more way to bond with their evangelical base and to divide the country. The far left seeks to make opposition to Israel into its own purity test. The far right feels emboldened by the president's rhetoric to show its ugly face and - for some unstable, warped individuals - to justify violence.
The relationship between American Jews and Israel has been further frayed by the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in aligning with the racist right (a move AIPAC publicly condemned) and in suggesting Israel is "only for the Jewish people" (a remark for which he later apologized). The diaspora feels the religious right in Israel aims to write off non-Orthodox Jews and to create new points of contention including segregation of women praying at the Western Wall. A younger generation of Jews feels less connected to Israel. In other words, there is plenty to fight about.
So where does all of this acrimony leave us? On one level, why should we expect support for Israel to evade the toxic partisanship that afflicts every other issue? And yet it is imperative that pro-Israel Democrats and pro-Israel Republicans, alongside Jews and non-Jews who profess love of Israel, as well as politically progressive and politically conservative Jews, figure out a way to make common cause. Support for Israel cannot be dictated by which party holds the White House, or by the identity of the Israeli prime minister. It has and must continue to rest on shared interests and shared values.
Israel needs all the friends it can get these days and cannot afford to write off any party, ideological movement or generation. There's a lot of bridge-building to be done, and there is a lot of self-restraint needed. Neither is in large supply these days.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 13:02 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83cac98 1 Editorial #Editorial,natural-resources,oil-and-gas,Indonesia,energy-and-mineral-resources-ministry,government-regulation Free
It is encouraging to learn that the House of Representatives will start deliberating the long-awaited oil and natural gas bill after the April presidential and legislative elections. Hopefully this is not another false signal in the political process to amend the 2001 Oil and Gas Law, which became imperative after the dissolution of upstream oil and gas regulator BP Migas by the Constitutional Court in November 2012.
The bill has now become House-initiated draft legislation and we only await the green light of the government [President] to start its deliberation after the elections, asserted Tjatur Sapto Edy, a member of House Commission VII overseeing energy, mineral resources, the environment and research last week.
Deliberating a bill on natural resources after the election will protect the debate from excessive nationalist sentiment, which usually raises its ugly head during an election campaign.
The House initiative to speed up the political process of drafting the legislation also shows the political awareness about the urgent need to enact a new oil and gas law because many things in the fuel industry are now ruled and administered under government regulations since the termination of BP Migas. SKK Migas under the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, which took over the authority of BP Migas in 2012 is an ad hoc regulatory body that can be disbanded at any time.
Investment in such natural-resource development as hydrocarbons requires strong legal certainty for at least 20 years because of the long-term nature of its operations. An oil contractor may need at least 25 to 30 years to recoup its investment because an oil field may need at least five to seven years, starting with seismic surveys and exploration before production begins. The existing standard production-sharing contract (PSC), which is valid for 30 years with an option for a 10-year extension, has long been considered adequate.
But government regulations provide much weaker legal certainty than that based on laws because the former are vulnerable to changes along with the five-year political cycle of the government. This, we think, is one of the barriers to the promotion of the gross-split scheme to replace the standard PSC, which has often become embroiled in disputes over the controversial cost-recovery mechanism.
As a country that depends on imports for almost 60 percent of its daily oil need of 1.6 million barrels, Indonesia badly needs to attract more investment in highly risky oil exploration. Providing certainty, stability and a favorable regulatory environment will encourage future oil exploration and development investment.
The bill stipulates several schemes for private participation in oil and gas prospecting, including production-sharing, gross split and other partnerships and puts the upstream oil and gas regulatory body under the Oil and Natural Gas Directorate General. Other important features include a mandatory 10 percent participating interest for regional administrations in oil concessions and the establishment of a petroleum fund for improving the geological data on oil blocks and a state company to represent the government in oil contracts.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Hipolitus Yolisandry Ringgi Wangge (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019
The conflict in Nduga, Papua, between the military and independence fighters, led by Egianus Kogoya, a young man from Nduga regency, has been unfolding for over three months with few signs of ending. The armed conflict was triggered by the killing of 31 construction workers of PT Istaka Karya in Yigi district, Nduga regency in Papuas highland. Isolated operation zones in 16 out of 32 districts of the regency have led to evacuation of people from the neighboring Nduga including Jayawijaya, Lanny Jaya, Yahukimo, Asmat and Mimika.
The logic of the conflict has been highly contested between the security apparatus, mainly the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the pro-independence fighters of the Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM). The former emphasizes the security threat posed by the guerillas, blamed for disrupting the government-initiated road projects in the area. The guerillas, meanwhile, cite self-determination, rejecting all central government developmental projects across Papua. These contesting views have found no common ground to resolve the long-running conflict.
Nduga along with Lanny Jaya, Puncak, Puncak Jaya, Yahukimo and Mimika areas are locally deemed as the red zones, given the historical record of prolonged conflicts and bases for pro-independence guerillas. Since the early 1960s, Nduga was marked as a military operation zone.
to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content
e-Post daily digital newspaper
No advertisements, no interruptions
Privileged access to our events and programs
Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Kadir Ruslan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 16:04 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83dce0e 3 Opinion commodity,Indonesia,agriculture,imports Free
In the second presidential debate covered topics on energy, food, infrastructure, natural resources and the environment on Feb. 17, president Joko Jokowi Widodo made a mistake in quoting data of maize importation.
The president said the import quantity of this commodity had dropped substantially from 3.5 million tons in 2014 to merely 180,000 tons in last year. In contrast, the official data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) pointed out a more towering figure. During 2018, the quantity reached at 730,918 tons instead.
This minor mistake suddenly became a headline in newspapers. However, it seems that the public did not realize (or maybe did not know) that the real problem was not the import data quoted by the president, but the production data used as a based for the government to justify triumphant in boosting the country maize production, especially over the last four years.
When it comes to the accuracy of production data, maize has the same issue as rice, i.e., an overestimation. It could be explained since the production figure of two commodities has been collected through the same method since 1973. The calculation relies on a framework that combines two different data collection systems, i.e., the administrative report for collecting the harvested area information and a statistical method (survey sampling) to estimate productivity (yield per hectare). The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) is responsible for the administrative report collected monthly at sub-district level by regional officers called "mantri tani or KCD" while the BPS is in charge of the estimation of productivity.
Technically, production data is just a multiplication of the harvested area and productivity. Collected by subjective measurements, mainly "eye-estimate", the former variable has been suspected of suffering from overestimation. Whereas, the reliability of the data of the last variable is better as collected through an objective measurement so-called "Survei Ubinan" or Crop-Cutting Survey. However, the issue of overestimation for rice was resolved last year by the implementation of a new method so-called Area Sampling Frame (ASF). So, what is going on with maize production data?
Taking into consideration the issue of overestimation on the harvested area measurement, the BPS has put off the dissemination of the production data of paddy and secondary food crops including maize since 2016. However, during the suspension period, the harvested area of maize, as well as the production figures, were still calculated using the old framework. The reason is that the MoA still needs the information for policy purposes, mainly for planning and evaluation of all programs designated to achieve self-sufficiency.
Somehow, the data was also circulated publicly, and all of us could see that the maize production data has experienced an unprecedented upward trend since 2015. Based on data published by the MoA as quoted by kumparan.com (16/02) for instance, the increase in maize production reached more than 10.5 million tons (53 per cent) just in three years, from 19.6 million tons in 2015 to 30.05 million tons in last year. It means that, on average, there was more than 3 million tons increase per year. The main contributor of this upswing, of course, a surge in the harvested area from around 3.8 million hectares in 2015 to about 5.6 million hectares in 2018.
Although at the same time, the quantity of imported maize has plunged from 3.35 million tons in 2015 to only 730,918 tons in 2018 as the impact of production increase, there is a strong indication of overestimation in the production data due to the weaknesses in the harvested area measurements.
The MoA stated that the total of maize consumption in last year reached 15.5 million tons. To be consistent with the production figure of 30.05 million tons, it means that there was a substantial amount of production surplus, which was about 14.6 million tons, last year. If it was true, the country should be a net exporter of maize instead of importing 730,918 tons from overseas.
A symptom of overestimation was also well captured by the results of the Inter-Census Agricultural Survey (SUTAS) conducted by the BPS last year. Even though the SUTAS used a recalling method that possibly suffers from underestimation to collect the information about the harvested area and production of maize from the farmers, the survey pointed out that 30.05 million tons of maize production is too high and does not make any sense.
So, how to fix the problem? It is clear that the chronic problem in the harvested area measurement must be cured. Therefore, objective measurement has to be developed to replace the old existing method. However, it is easy to say but difficult to implement. The primary challenge is the characteristics of maize cultivation itself. Most of the maize cultivations in Indonesia are conducted in small pieces of land scattering all across the country. The crop is also planted seasonally depending on the farmer's preference, which is determined by many factors. As a consequence, the availability of reliable information regarding the area of lands that are specifically dedicated to maize cultivation permanently becomes a big issue.
At the time being, the BPS in collaboration with the Agency for the Assesment and Implementation of Technology (BPPT) are developing ASF for maize. Nevertheless, it is not an easy task due to some issues around the maize cultivation, mainly land information as mentioned above. Therefore, other options that also make use of remote sensing technology such as radar technology should be considered. On top of that, there are some other critical issues other than the harvested area data that should be mindful of, such as a reliable maize consumption data and some conversion rates applied to obtain production figure, which needs to be updated.
Post-harvest technology must also be improved. It is critical for not only reducing the losses during post-harvest activities but also advancing the quality of corn of the farmers to meet the market standard. Most of the corn consumption comes from the industry sector, mainly the animal feed industry that has a specific qualification regarding the quality of the product such as aflatoxin and moisture contents. Sometimes, the farmers are not able to fulfil those standards leading to importation although the commodity is available domestically.
***
The writer is a data analyst at Statistics Indonesia and completed his Masters Degree in applied econometrics at Monash University, Australia. The views are his own.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 09:21 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83bbb05 1 Editorial #Editorial,Thailand,politics,election,vote,voters Free
After a lengthy delay, voters in Thailand went to the polls on Sunday. Political watchers waited with bated breath as the Thai people delivered their verdict on the military junta. Judging on the provisional results from Sundays ballot, a substantial number of voters prefer stability over improvement in the countrys economy.
Although the prodemocracy Pheu Thai won an estimated 138 of 350 constituency seats as of Monday afternoon, it will have to work hard to build a coalition to govern the country given the requirement that to form a government parties or a coalition of political parties need to gather 250 seats in parliament. It is widely expected that Pheu Thai will form a coalition with the new party Future Forward, led by young tycoon Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. The result for Pheu Thai, a party founded by former prime minister Thaksin Sinawatra, was all the more disappointing for the prodemocracy movement, given that the party was expected to have an easy win.
The result for the junta-backed party, Phalang Pracharat, was far better than expected. The party, which nominated junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha, may only win 96 seats in parliament, but it racked up more than 7.6 million votes with more than 90 percent of ballots tallied, a vote haul that could give the government it tries to form a claim to legitimacy. Coupled with a provision in the Thai constitution, which gives the military junta the right to appoint all 250 senators in the upper house, who then get to vote on the prime minister, it looks certain that Prayut will continue to lead Thailand and the junta would therefore maintain control over the country.
Having said that, the election has apparently brought little change and now with a greater popular mandate, it is likely that the future administration led by Prayut will focus on bringing stability by doing more to curb protests and dissent. The market appears to be happy with the election result. The baht, Asias best performing currency this year, strengthened 0.4 percent to 38.57 against the US dollar on Monday while the Thailands SET Index lost 1.3 percent less than declines in the broader Asian benchmark amid a global sell-off.
It appears that after five years of uncertainty, Thailand can now hope for stability. Its neighbors will also look to Thailand, the current chair of ASEAN, to lead efforts in progressing ASEAN integration and upholding the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin David Alire Garcia (Reuters) Mexico City, Mexico Tue, March 26, 2019 13:03 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83cb579 2 Art & Culture Aztec,Mexico,Mexico-City,archeology,tomb Free
A trove of Aztec sacrifices including a richly adorned jaguar dressed as a warrior and recently discovered in downtown Mexico City could lead archaeologists to the most tantalizing find yet: an Aztec emperor's tomb.
Discovered off the steps of the Aztec's holiest temple during the reign of the empire's most powerful ruler, the sacrificial offerings also include a young boy, dressed to resemble the Aztec war god and solar deity, and a set of flint knives elaborately decorated with mother of pearl and precious stones.
The offerings were deposited by Aztec priests over five centuries ago in a circular, ritual platform once located in front of the temple where the earliest historical accounts describe the final resting place of Aztec kings.
None of these details have been reported before and such a discovery would mark a first since no Aztec royal burial has yet been found despite decades of digging.
"We have enormous expectations right now," lead archeologist Leonardo Lopez Lujan told Reuters. "As we go deeper we think we'll continue finding very rich objects."
The jaguar offering, found in a large rectangular stone box in what would have been the center of the circular platform, has stirred particular excitement.
Only about one-tenth of the box's contents has been excavated, but already a wide array of artifacts has been found near the top, including a spear thrower and a carved wooden disk placed on the feline's back that was the emblem of the Aztec patron deity Huitzilopochtli, the war and sun god.
A layer of aquatic offerings placed on top of the west-facing jaguar have also been identified, including a large amount of shells, bright red starfish and coral that likely represented the watery underworld the Aztecs believed the sun traveled through at night before emerging in the east to begin a new day.
A roseate spoonbill, a pink bird from the flamingo family, has also been found in the offering. It was associated with warriors and rulers, and thought to represent their spirits in their descent into the underworld.
"There's an enormous amount of coral that's blocking what we can see below," said archeologist Miguel Baez, part of the team excavating the offerings at the base of the temple, known today as the Templo Mayor, located just off Mexico City's bustling Zocalo plaza.
The Templo Mayor would have been as high as a 15-story pyramid before it was razed along with the rest of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan after the 1521 Spanish conquest of Mexico.
Expanded by each Aztec king, the shrine was believed to be at the center of the universe and was crowned with two smaller temples, one on the north side dedicated to the rain god Tlaloc and one on the south to Huitzilopochtil.
The latest offerings all align with the southern temple.
Read also: Ancient Aztec temple, ball court found in Mexico City
Warrior society
Several decades after the conquest, chroniclers detailed the burial rites of three Aztec kings, all brothers who ruled from 1469 to 1502.
According to these accounts, the rulers' cremated remains were deposited with luxurious offerings and the hearts of sacrificed slaves in or near the circular platform.
In 2006, a massive monolith of the Aztec earth goddess was discovered nearby with an inscription corresponding to the year 1502, which is when the empire's greatest ruler and the last of the brothers, Ahuitzotl, died.
Elizabeth Boone, an ancient Mexico specialist at Tulane University, notes that Ahuitzotl's death would have been marked with lavish memorizing and that the jaguar may represent the king as a fearless warrior.
"You could have Ahuitzotl in that box," she said.
A smaller stone box next to the jaguar offering containing a top layer of copal bars, used by Aztec priests for incense, has also been identified, though it too has only been partially excavated as both were only opened earlier this year.
Next to it another stone box has been found containing 21 flint knives decorated to resemble warriors, including the same war god disk but made of mother of pearl, as well as a miniature wooden spear thrower and shield.
Finally, an adjacent circular offering holds an approximately 9-year-old sacrificed boy found with a wooden war god disk, a jade bead necklace and wings made from hawk bones and attached to his shoulders.
Like the jaguar, the boy likely had his heart torn out as part of a ritual sacrifice, though further tests will need to be conducted to confirm the theory.
The offerings also speak to the geographic reach of the Aztecs, a warrior society like ancient Sparta that conquered neighboring kingdoms to acquire tribute.
The starfish came from the Pacific Ocean, for example, while the jade was brought from Central America near present-day Honduras.
"The offerings provide a window not only into the (Aztecs) sacred world, but also their economic lives," said Frances Berdan, an Aztec scholar at California State University, San Bernardino.
Meticulous sifting through the latest offerings is expected to continue for at least several more months, though practical hardships weigh on the archaeologists.
Mexico's new government has cut the project's budget by 20 percent this year, according to several archeologists who work on the excavation, and nearly all members of the 25-person team have not been paid since December.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 16:21 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83deaab 1 Entertainment Backstreet-Boys,concert,jakarta,music Free
United States pop group Backstreet Boys is scheduled to perform in Jakarta On Oct. 26.
As part of the DNA World Tour 2019, the band will visit Asian cities including Tokyo, Taipei, Bangkok and Singapore in October. The tour is in support of its newest album, DNA, and will kick off in Las Vegas, US, in April.
Backstreet Boys has released nine studio albums since 1996 and has remained one of the most popular groups in the world. Its members are Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. In 2006, Richardson left the group and rejoined permanently six years later.
Read also: Backstreet Boys, Jimmy Fallon cluck their way to sing Everybody
Concert details apart from the tour dates have yet to be announced.
Backstreet Boys' first concert in Indonesia was in 2008 and it performed with the New Kids on the Block in 2012. (wng)
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin (Reuters) Rome, Italy Tue, March 26, 2019 19:01 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83e2ef8 2 Lifestyle Roberto-Cavalli,Paul-Surridge,fashion,Italy Free
Paul Surridge said on Monday he would resign from his position as creative director of Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, confirming press rumors about his imminent exit.
The designer, who joined the Florentine label in 2017, said in an Instagram post he wished to "focus on other projects that I put aside in order to achieve our common goals with Roberto Cavalli Group".
The company, founded by Roberto Cavalli in the early 1970s and famous for its animal prints, was taken over by Italian private equity firm Clessidra in 2015 in a bid to turn it around.
Clessidra in October hired Rothschild to find a minority partner for the fashion group, sources have said.
Read also: Shoes and stripes: Brits present Ferragamo, Cavalli shows
Since then the private equity group, which owns 90 percent of Cavalli, has also decided to consider offers for a majority stake in the fashion label, other sources have said, as the sale process has proven more difficult than previously envisaged.
Under new Chief Executive Gian Giacomo Ferraris, hired in 2016 to help boost the label, the company has been working to expand into lifestyle categories to find new sources of revenue.
Ferraris said in October Cavalli was on track to return to a net profit in 2019.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Vimmy Sinha (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 15:02 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83d899d 1 Art & Culture #culture,#Indonesia,#India,#Javanese,#mythology,#philosophy,#Prambanan,#BorobudurTemple,#wayang,#Ramayana,#Mahabrata,#book Free
Nishkam Agarwals forthcoming book on the philosophical correlation between India and Indonesia has generated a great deal of interest in the scholarly world.
The upcoming book by the Washington DC-based philosopher, historian and author, who is also an economist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is tentatively entitled Exploring Indian Influences in Javanese Architecture and Art.
Research for the book has been ongoing since 2012. Agarwal and his team has visited more than 100 sites, including temples, all over Java.
In terms of size and number, the sites in Central Java at Dieng have been most fascinating, the author said.
Agarwals romance with Indonesia began 10 years ago when his sister moved to Jakarta. This allowed him to make multiple trips to Jakarta and Bali.
I began to see Bali as just the tip of an iceberg whose deep metaphorical roots interconnected the two civilizations from several thousand years ago. As I dug deeper into these links, I discovered a world which to my scholarly eyes had only been partially explored.
While most of the research and study over the last 250 years has focused on the historical and mythological linkages between Java and India, not much work has been undertaken to explore the philosophical nexus between the two regions, said Agarwal.
Nishkam Agarwal (Courtesy of Nishkam Agarwal/-)
The author recently gave a talk on The Magical Weave of Indian Philosophy and Javanese Mysticism in Jakarta, organized by the Indonesian Heritage Society.
He said that his book is exploring two main questions: First, in the context of Vedanta if a story can be told about the meaning and purpose of life using the existing symbols from Javanese architecture and art?
Second, what are the roots of kebatinan (inner-directed, mystical spirituality) and, by extension, kejawen (outer-directed, esoteric practices) or Javanism, which forms an intricate and inextricable part of contemporary Javanese, if not Indonesian society today?
The impact of Indian philosophy in contemporary Indonesia can best be seen in the practice of kebatinan, or science of the inner man, in Java and beyond, Agarwal added.
Both the practice and conceptualization of kebatinan in Java have had a marked similarity with the precepts of meaning and purpose of life in the Indian philosophical tradition of Vedanta, although the primary influences over the last three millennia have been through Shaivite and Buddhist traditions.
Two specific examples where kebatinan and Vedanta coincide are those relating to ego-control and to lokasamgraha (social welfare).
The historical and mythological links evident in the so-called Indianized kingdoms ultimately led to philosophically tinged iconography in Javanese monumental architecture in the latter part of the first millennium CE and eventually key elements of Indian philosophy were embedded in tutur or tattva literature from about 950 CE, the author said.
The Bhuwanakosha is an early example of this linkage, while the Nagarakertagama of Empu Prapanca from about 1350 CE is a later example of philosophically tinged Javanese belles lettres, also incorporating philosophical undertones.
The cultural practices in contemporary Java and elsewhere in Indonesia persist to this day in spite of whatever non-cultural or so-called orthogonal value incursions, which have permeated in Indonesian society over the last 500 years, he said.
Both the practices of kejawen and kebatinan as noted by Peter Levenda, author of Tantric Temples: Eros and Magic on Java, are a testament to the living, vibrant culture of contemporary Java with deep historical influences from South Asia no doubt fused with indigenous ideas to evolve into a uniquely Javanese cultural tradition. (ste)
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Vimmy Sinha (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019
Author J.K. Rowling recently tweeted about the character of Nagini in the film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald by writing, The Naga are snake-like mythical creatures of Indonesian mythology, hence the name Nagini. They are sometimes depicted as winged, sometimes as half-human, half-snake[...].
Rowlings comment linking Nagini to Indonesian mythology drew a reaction about the true origin of the word Nagin or Nagini.
Indian author Amish Tripathi, who wrote The Secret of the Nagas, the second novel of the Shiva Trilogy, tweeted in response to Rowlings comment, saying: Actually the Naga mythology emerged from India. It traveled to Indonesia with the Indic/Hindu empires that emerged there in the early Common Era [...] Nagin is a Sanskrit language word.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru Tue, March 26, 2019
The Riau Police have named 12 people suspects in land and forest fire cases in Riau province, where wildfires have destroyed 2,719 hectares of land in the past three months.
The police arrested six people in Rokan Hilir, Bengkalis, Meranti Islands, Pekanbaru and Dumai from January to February, according to Riau Police chief Insp. Gen. Widodo Eko Prihastopo.
Six others were caught red-handed burning land to clear land [in March], Widodo said on Monday.
to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content
e-Post daily digital newspaper
No advertisements, no interruptions
Privileged access to our events and programs
Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Benjamin Katz, Gregory Viscusi and Helene Fouquet (Bloomberg) Paris, France Tue, March 26, 2019 14:35 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83d22ed 2 Business Airbus,Boeing,France,Emmanuel-Macron,Xi-Jinping,China,orders Free
Airbus secured a $35 billion jet deal from China during a state visit by President Xi Jinping to the French capital, dealing a fresh blow to Boeing as it grapples with the grounding of its best-selling jet.
The mammoth order consists of 290 A320-series narrow-body planes and 10 A350 wide-bodies, Toulouse-based Airbus said after the transaction was announced in Paris on Monday. The deals value is almost double that touted by French President Emmanuel Macron in January 2018 during a trip to Beijing.
The Airbus coup comes while Boeings own 737 Max narrow-body -- the chief global rival to the A320 -- has been idled following two fatal crashes in five months. The US planemaker is also struggling with the fallout from a China-US trade war thats seen sales to the Asian nation dry up, just as Airbus bolsters its position with an offer to expand production facilities in Tianjin.
China has become the worlds most important aviation market as its fast-growing middle class spurs demand for travel. The country has traditionally sought to keep a balance between the two western planemakers as it seeks to jumpstart manufacturing on its own soil, but Chicago-based Boeings order prospects have been complicated by the trade clash.
I would see this as part of broader trade discussions, said Rob Stallard at Vertical Research Partners. For the Chinese to put tariffs on Boeing aircraft would be nuclear, but you can send messages in other ways. This tells the Americans that you have got to play nice if you want us to reciprocate.
Macron originally put the value of a likely order at $18 billion. A firm order failed to materialize last year despite a second French state visit in June and a delegation of top Airbus executives in September.
The deal announced in Paris will include both Neo -- for new engine option -- and so-called classic or CEO versions of the A319, A320 and A321, though the majority will be A320neos and A321neos, according to officials. China typically orders planes in large batches and allocates them to airlines later.
The latest A320neo model has a list price of $110.6 million and the A350-900 sells for $317.4 million before discounts.
Airbuss incoming chief executive officer, Guillaume Faury, said at the press conference that construction of the A320s will take place both in Tianjin and Europe, adding that the deal is a sign of the confidence from China. Macron called the transaction an excellent signal.
China will need 7,400 new passenger and freighter aircraft in the next two decades, representing almost 20 percent of total global demand, according to Airbus estimates.
The purchase provides a boost for Faury who takes over from Tom Enders in April. Airbus sales have had one of the slowest starts in the past decade, with the planemaker registering 103 cancellations and just four new orders in the first two months.
Separately, China is looking at excluding Boeings troubled 737 Max jet from a list of American exports it would buy as part of a trade deal with the US, people familiar with the matter have said.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar Tue, March 26, 2019 10:34 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83c28ff 1 National theft,Kuta,bali,Gucci,bag Free
The Denpasar District Court has sentenced an Australian national to four months in prison for stealing a Gucci bag in the tourism hub of Kuta, Bali.
The panel of judges found Bilal Kalache, 43, guilty of stealing the bag from a showcase at the Duty Free shop in the Bali Galeria mall.
"During the trial session, the judges did not find anything to relieve him from the charges," said presiding judge Kony Hartanto.
He said the defendant had violated Article 362 of the Criminal Code on theft.
The sentence was lighter than five months of imprisonment demanded by prosecutors.
The judges said the defendant's act had caused restlessness.
However, they also considered some mitigating factors, such as the defendants honesty in admitting to his crime and his expression of remorse. They also noted that "the defendant also has no criminal record".
Kalache was arrested at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Jan. 10, several hours after stealing the bag. He was arrested while taking his son to the airport for a Sydney-bound flight.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 15:01 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83d7bae 4 Business businesspeople,income-tax,corporation,cuts Free
Representatives of two business associations have called on the government to lower the rate of corporate income tax so they can manufacture products that can compete in the global market.
They claim that the 25 percent tax rate means Indonesian products cannot compete in the global market because neighboring countries have lowered the income tax rate.
Chairman of the Association of Young Indonesian Businessmen's (Hipmi) tax center Ajib Hamdani said Malaysia, for example, had lowered the income tax from 28 percent in 2006 to 27 percent in 2007, 26 percent in 2008, 25 percent in 2009 and 24 percent since 2015.
The government needs to lower the tax rate because it will have a positive impact [on businesses], Ajib said in Jakarta on Monday as reported by kontan.co.id.
He added the income tax cut would also help improve Indonesian competitiveness in attracting investment.
It would help businesses grow faster as they could book more profits because of increased sales, he added.
The Indonesian Employers Association's (Apindo) Hariyadi Sukamdani echoed Ajibs comment, saying the government did not need to worry about the impact of such a policy on tax revenue.
He said in the medium and long term, such a policy would help increase tax revenue because it would help companies develop faster. It will also improve taxpayer compliance, he said.
Both Apindo and Hipmi called on the government to lower the income tax in stages to 17 percent, like in Singapore.
In response to the proposal, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government had long planned to lower the income tax rate, but the process needed time because such a policy could be implemented after the revision of Law No. 7/1983 on income tax to Law No. 36/2008.
The income tax law revision had been included into the 2019 national legislation program, but both the government and House of Representatives would first revise the law on general provision and procedures of taxation, she said, adding that the revision of the income tax law would be the next priority.
However, Sri Mulyani added, the Finance Ministry had to reveal the revision at a Cabinet meeting to assess the new income tax rate and its impact on tax revenue. (bbn).
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie and Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Banyuwangi/Jakarta Tue, March 26 2019
With voting day for the 2019 general elections only three weeks away, the presidential candidates have started to ramp up their campaign efforts, targeting young voters who they hope will show up to the polling stations on April 17.
Making up nearly half of the electorate, millennial voters have been prioritized by the Joko Jokowi Widodo-Maruf Amin and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno campaign teams since the early campaign days.
to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content
e-Post daily digital newspaper
No advertisements, no interruptions
Privileged access to our events and programs
Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Depok Tue, March 26, 2019 13:05 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83cba44 1 City Barbie,assault-case,assault,Facebook,Scam,extortion,violent-attacks Free
A 21-year-old man identified as Yogi fell victim to an attack and assault reportedly committed by six individuals in Situ Cilangkap, Cimanggis, Depok, West Java, on Sunday.
One of the alleged perpetrators was the husband of Barbie Arlifsyani Botan, 21, whom Yogi had met on Facebook. Barbie reportedly told Yogi that she was a widow, and they developed a relationship until they agreed to meet at Barbies house, where the alleged crime took place.
Yogi went to the house with a friend identified as 23-year-old Zakharia. When Yogi arrived at the house, he was immediately interrogated by Hartono, Barbies husband, according to Depok Police crime unit head Comr. Deddy Kurniawan.
As soon as the victim had got off his motorbike, he was pulled out and forced to enter the house by Barbies husband, Deddy said, as quoted by kompas.com.
Deddy said Yogi was scolded and accused of having an affair with Hartonos wife.
Two of Yogis friends, identified as Riki and Aris, went to the scene to help Yogi, but Hartono had also called four of his friends.
They were beaten, Deddy said, adding that their mobile phones were had been taken from them and would be returned only in exchange for Rp 1.5 million (US$105.83).
Yogis phone and motorcycle were also taken, and the perpetrators demanded for Rp 2.5 million for those, Deddy said.
After being held at the house for hours, Yogi was released to get the money. Yogi then decided to report the case to the police, who arrested the alleged perpetrators and charged them under Article 365 of the Criminal Code on violent robbery, Article 368 on extortion and Article 170 on assault. (fac)
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Vatican City, Holy See Tue, March 26, 2019 19:07 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83e3bf0 2 World #Vatican,#women,female,reporters,quit,Vatican,calls,obedience Free
The all-female editorial team behind the Vatican's women's magazine have resigned over what they describe as attempts to stifle their reporting and bring in more "obedient" journalists, its founder said Tuesday.
"We are throwing in the towel because we feel surrounded by a climate of distrust and progressive de-legitimisation," Woman Church World founder Lucetta Scaraffia wrote in an editorial published by Italian religious news blog Il Sismografo.
The magazine -- which has not shied away from tackling hard-hitting issues such as the sexual abuse of nuns by priests -- began life seven years ago as an insert and is published along with the Vatican's L'Osservatore Romano newspaper.
Scaraffia said the new editor of L'Osservatore, Andrea Monda, was attempting to "weaken" the monthly by bringing in external collaborators in a bid to control the editorial line.
"They are returning to the practice of selecting women who ensure obedience... (and) giving up that 'parresia' (freedom to speak freely) that Pope Francis so often seeks," she said.
Monda released a statement denying that he had selected any collaborators, female or male, based on their obedience, and saying Woman Church World would continue.
In an open letter to the pope, Scaraffia defended the monthly, saying stories that may have raised hackles in the Vatican had only been covered after the story had already broken and the facts were in the public domain.
"Now it seems a vital initiative has been reduced to silence, and we return to the antiquated and barren custom of selecting, under direct male control, those women considered trustworthy," she added.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin (Reuters) Paris Tue, March 26, 2019 12:25 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83c7453 2 World New-Zealand,Muslims,Facebook,YouTube,Christchurch,massacre,religion,mosque-attack Free
One of the main groups representing Muslims in France said on Monday it was suing Facebook and YouTube, accusing them of inciting violence by allowing the streaming of footage of the Christchurch massacre on their platforms.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) said the companies had disseminated material that encouraged terrorism and harmed the dignity of human beings. There was no immediate comment from either company.
The shooting at two mosques in New Zealand on March 15, which killed 50 people, was livestreamed on Facebook for 17 minutes and then copied and shared on social media sites across the internet.
Facebook said it raced to remove hundreds of thousands of copies.
However, footage could still be found on Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet Inc's YouTube a few hours after the attack, as well as Facebook-owned Instagram and Whatsapp.
Abdallah Zekri, president of the CFCM's Islamophobia monitoring unit, said the organization had launched a formal legal complaint against Facebook and YouTube in France.
Both companies have faced widespread criticism over the footage.
The chair of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security wrote a letter to top executives of four major technology companies last week urging them to do a better job of removing violent political content.
A spokesman for the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) welcomed the French group's action. He said his organisation had been planning to contact Facebook to register their complaint but had been busy dealing with the aftermath of the attacks.
"They have failed big time, this was a person who was looking for an audience and ... you were the platform he chose to advertise himself and his heinous crime," said FIANZ spokesman Anwar Ghani, referring to Facebook.
"We haven't been in touch with the (French) group ... but certainly something which can deter the social media space in terms of these types of crimes, we would be supportive of that," he said.
A man has been charged with one count of murder over the Christchurch shootings and will next appear in court on April 5.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Sydney, Australia Tue, March 26, 2019 13:43 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83cdc44 2 World Australia,gun-control,Racism,Al-Jazeera,investigation Free
Australia's hard-right One Nation party has been accused of seeking donations from US gun lobby group the National Rifle Association ahead of the upcoming general election, according to an Al Jazeera investigation.
Secret recordings aired by the Qatar-based broadcaster showed members of Pauline Hanson's party seeking $10-20 million in donations from the NRA apparently in return for trying to loosen Australia's tight gun laws.
An Al Jazeera investigator posed as a gun lobbyist to facilitate the meeting between Hanson's chief of staff, James Ashby, the party leader in Queensland and the NRA in Washington -- meetings which were video-taped.
Al Jazeera Exclusive: I went undercover to expose the US, Australia gun lobby https://t.co/3LD1xhOyNC pic.twitter.com/zpEItmy3CV Al Jazeera News (@AJENews) March 25, 2019
In the footage, Ashby was shown saying that he wanted political support, powerful NRA software -- to aid voter targeting -- and help with donations.
"If the NRA want to rally their supporters within Australia, that's one start," Ashby said in one meeting ahead of the sit-down with the NRA.
"Two, I'd love to get my hands on their software. And three, if they can help us with donations, super."
Ashby is heard saying that a $10 million donation would allow One Nation to win eight seats in the Senate, parliament's upper house, giving the party sufficient power to influence legislation.
However, following the Christchurch massacre any move to roll back Australia's strict gun control legislation would likely encounter widespread opposition.
One Nation has two seats in the outgoing Senate, one of them held by party founder Hanson.
NRA official Lars Dalseide later offered the group advice on how to respond to mass shootings in a way that would avoid tighter gun restrictions.
The Al Jazeera report prompted calls for a probe into whether One Nation officials had violated rules against foreign interference in Australian elections.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted Tuesday that the report about senior One Nation officials courting "foreign political donations from the US gun lobby to influence our elections & undermine our gun laws that keep us safe are deeply concerning".
However, he refused to tell his supporters not to back the party in Australia's ranked voting system.
Morrison's Liberal party are struggling in the polls and are keen not to alienate One Nation voters or their own supporters on the right. The Liberals may yet need to rely on second-preference votes to win marginal seats.
"There are many reasons not to vote for One Nation. It's a long list. We've seen some of those on display in recent times. Today we saw further evidence of that," he said.
But the prime minister added: "There are plenty of extreme views out there," singling out the country's Green party.
Another video purported to show the Australians meeting with representatives of Koch Industries, a company run by conservative powerbroker and activist mega-donor Charles Koch.
In that meeting, Queensland party leader Steve Dickson offers to change Australia's "voting system" in return for cash.
In a statement to Australian media, Ashby attacked Al Jazeera, accusing it of being a propaganda arm of the Qatari government.
He indicated the party had reported Al Jazeera to the police to investigate whether the media group was working as an unregistered foreign agent.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 15:22 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83da9fa 1 World #GolanHeights,Golan,Indonesia,#Indonesia,Foreign-Ministry,#ForeignMinistry,Israel,#Israel,trump,#trump,united-states Free
Indonesia has strongly rejected the United States recent recognition of the disputed Golan Heights as Israeli territory, saying such a decision was "not conducive" to create peace and stability in the Middle East.
Indonesia strongly rejects the recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Indonesia recognizes it as Syrian territory, which is currently occupied by Israel.
Indonesia, the ministry said, had based its position on the United Nations Charter principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as previous UN resolutions, including the 1981 resolution that rendered Israels annexation of the Golan Heights null and void and without international legal effect.
"Indonesia is urging the international community to continue respecting international law and the UN Charter in accordance with related [UN] resolutions in promoting the peace process in the Middle East," the ministry added.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed a Golan proclamation at the White House and in front of visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring that the Golan Heights belonged to Israel, AFP reported. (agn/ipa)
The Lecture Translator is a fully automatic software system for simultaneous translation based on artificial intelligence. (Photo: Interactive Systems Lab, KIT)
A software that overcomes language barriers with artificial intelligence, sensors that identify odors, and a power-to-gas process with an efficiency of more than 75%: These are only some of the topics presented by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) at Hannover Messe 2019 Integrated Industry Industrial Intelligence. From April 1 to 5, 2019, KIT will present its innovations at two trade shows: Research & Technology (Hall 2, stand B16) and Integrated Energy (Hall 27, stand L51).
Innovations for the transformation of our energy system or smart technologies for digital and networked production in globalized economy: At Hanover, we will present sustainable solutions to master the challenges of our time. The far-reaching change of our work environment results in opportunities to shape the future, says the President of KIT, Professor Holger Hanselka. We want to contribute to this change for the benefit of our society and industry. At two stands in the research and energy halls, we will present showcases full of technologies and smart processes that provide a view into the future.
Information on the stands and exhibits of KIT at Hannover Messe 2019 can also be found in our digital press kit: http://www.sek.kit.edu/english/4330.php
KIT in Hall 2, B16 Research and Technology
Artificial Intelligence: Breaking the Language Barrier
International exchange in business or politics requires human interpreters. But requirements and fees are high. Interpreters cannot be hired for all purposes. Researchers of the Interactive Systems Lab of KIT will present a self-learning system for automatic simultaneous translation. It combines automatic speech recognition with machine translation and other auxiliary functions. The result is made available on a website that allows for later search via text queries. The speech recognition part can also be used to provide real-time transcripts of speeches. The concept was proved by a test at the European Parliament. Software-based efficient and transparent communication also has major advantages in many business sectors. The system is in a mature stage. In 2012, the automatic lecture translator was installed in lecture halls of KIT and since then, has helped international students follow lectures given in the German language.
Sensor Technology: The eNose Digitally Analyzes Odors
The odor analysis market has offered isolated and very expensive solutions for specialized applications so far. The focus is on precise chemical analysis of gas components rather than on easy use. This situation will now be changed: Together with the industry partner smelldect, KIT develops an electronic nose, the eNose that is able to rapidly and easily acquire important olfactory information. It can determine whether an odor corresponds to a previously learned reference odor and, hence, has to be classified hazardous or harmless. The artificial nose has a size of a few centimeters only and consists of a chip with nanowires made of tin dioxide. After a certain odor pattern has been taught to the chip, the odor sensor can identify it within seconds. The eNose is to be inexpensive, capable of learning, and, hence, universally usable. Potential applications range from smart fire detectors to room air monitoring or food control. At Hannover Messe, KIT and smelldect will present a ready-for-use eNose demonstrator. In future, the sensor is planned to be miniaturized for integration into smartphones.
The smelldect demonstrator rapidly and easily acquires olfactory information. (Photo: Martin
Sommer, KIT)
Smart Materials: Bionic Ship Coating Reduces Friction Losses
Thanks to the salvinia effect, certain plants, such as water ferns (salvinia), can breathe under water. They retain a thin air layer on the
surfaces of their leaves that are covered with hair-like structures and are highly water-repellent. This strategy of nature is the model of a ship coating developed within the EU-funded AIRCOAT project that started in 2018. Ten research institutions are involved in the project that is coordinated by KIT. At Hannover Messe, scientists of AIRCOAT will present the demonstrator of an adhesive foil that is applied onto the ships hull. The foil produces a thin air layer that significantly reduces drag and acts as a physical barrier between the hulls surface and water. As a result, fuel consumption and exhaust emission of the ship can be reduced considerably. The air layer also reduces the emission of noise. Moreover, it prevents marine organisms from settling on the hull, so-called fouling, and the release of biocidal substances from the coatings below into water.
Artificially produced polymer sample with a structured surface that retains air under water. Reflection of light by the air layer makes the black polymer surface appear silvery under water. (Photo: Group of Professor Schimmel, KIT)
Industry 4.0: One Click to Produce a Digital Twin
Digitization is associated with a number of possibilities for companies to optimize existing processes or enter completely new paths. Production of a digital twin, a 3D copy of reality, enables innovative solutions along the lifecycle of buildings, manufacturing processes, and products. Today, digital twins no longer are of interest to large companies only. Also medium-sized enterprises can save costs and time, while flexibility is enhanced. KIT will present a system developed by the Industry 4.0 Collaboration Lab. This system uses a central service to supply all 3D inventory data needed for a digital twin independently of the hardware and software. Automatic generation of 3D models from point clouds using the Click & Build technology is of crucial importance. New algorithms enable users to transfer the data measured by a drone, for instance, to virtual 3D objects by just one click.
3D model of a production hall. By means of the Click & Buildtechnology, such 3D objects can be produced easily. (Figure: Industry 4.0 Collaboration Lab, KIT)
Preservation of Infrastructure: KIT Innovation HUB Improves Prevention in Construction
Preserving roads and bridges or ensuring stable water and energy supply is an expensive and complex task. To preserve infrastructure facilities, however, also new challenges, such as global warming or scarcity of natural resources, have to be mastered. More and more frequently, infrastructure facilities fail far before the expiry of their planned service life. With a unique approach the KIT Innovation HUB develops preventive measures in the form of innovative products, technologies, and services. All stakeholders in the construction value change are integrated, from the raw materials manufacturers to the builder. Using the nano-to-macro approach, detailed knowledge on the behavior of construction chemicals on the molecular level is obtained. In the next step, marketable products, technologies, and services are designed in cooperation with partners from industry and science. This strategy has already been implemented successfully on the aviation areas of Leipzig airport and the Laufenmuhle viaduct near Welzheim.
From a mobile platform underneath the Laufenmuhle viaduct near Welzheim, radar and ultrasonic measurements were made. (Photo: KIT Innovation HUB)
Technology Market
RESEARCH TO BUSINESS, KITs technology market, will present 90 further technology offers at the stand of KIT. These are innovations of KIT, which might be turned into marketable products and processes.
KIT in Hall 27, Stand L51 Integrated Energy
Energy Storage Systems: Integrated Solution for a Flexible Power Grid
Due to the increasing proportion of renewable energies in the power grid, energy storage systems are gaining importance to ensure stable power supply. Todays use of battery storage systems is associated with high costs. Apart from investment costs, operation costs also play an important role. At the Energy Lab 2.0, a large-scale energy research facility at KIT, a close-to-production prototype of a large lithium-ion storage system with very low operation and maintenance costs is now being implemented. The efficient control system required for this purpose was developed by KITs Battery Technical Center. In addition, cooling of the prototype was optimized. Besides cooling water from geothermal probes, a concrete shell is used for passive cooling. Proper cooling increases the service life of batteries and, hence, economic efficiency. The new storage system supplies 1.5 MWh of usable energy and can reach an electric power of up to 800 kW. Optimal operation is ensured by two independent battery and inverter systems. They enable continuous operation of the storage system even if one of the components fails. As part of the building is located underground, the space needed for the battery storage system is reduced. An attractive design enhances acceptance by local population when used within urban spaces.
Prototype of a large lithium-ion storage system of the Energy Lab 2.0. (Photo: Battery Technical Center, KIT)
Power Transport: Energy-efficient Superconducting Cable for Future Technologies
For connection of wind parks, DC power supply on ships, or high-current cables in future electric airplanes, scientists of KIT will present a multi-purpose superconducting cable for loss-free power transport, which can be manufactured easily, the HTS cross conductor (HTS CroCo for short). It is based on REBCO material (rare-earth barium copper oxide), a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) discovered in 1987. While superconductors usually work at temperatures near
-269C only, the REBCO material can be applied at a temperature of -196C already. Yet, long lengths are available in the form of thin tapes only. Physicists of KIT have now developed a method to produce high-current cables from these HTS REBCO tapes. The HTS CroCo consists of REBCO tapes of two different widths, which are arranged with a cross-shaped cross section. HTS CroCos can transport very high direct currents and compared to conventional copper or aluminum cables, they need less space and have a lower weight. If liquid hydrogen is used for cooling, it is even possible to transport chemical energy and electrical energy together. The biggest advantage, however, consists in loss-free energy transport by the superconductor and the associated environmentally compatible and energy-efficient solutions.
Video: Energy-efficient superconductors for future technologies (in German)
Production Technology: Reducing Costs of Battery Cell Production
Electrode foils play a decisive role in the production of batteries and accumulators for electric cars, smartphones, and laptops. The electrode material is applied as a thin paste to a copper or aluminum foil, with the electrode patterns being separated by small strips of uncoated foil serving as electrode conductors. To produce these uncoated areas, the coating process has to be stopped and restarted again. This takes a lot of time and increases production costs. Researchers at KIT are now able to significantly increase production speed with a new intermittent, i.e. interrupting, process. They use a patented nozzle equipped with a special membrane which is able to interrupt the coating process abruptly and to restart it again. As no other moving parts are required, production speed can be increased. Instead of the 25 to 35 meters previously common in the industrial sector, more than 100 meters per minute of coated film for battery electrodes can now be produced.
A novel intermittent coating process considerably increases battery production speed. (Photo: Thin Film Technology Laboratory Institute of Thermal Process Engineering, KIT)
Power-to-Gas: Production with High Efficiency
Solutions for the storage of regenerative energies are of decisive imp ortance in implementing the energy transition. Generation of synthetic natural gas (SNG) from renewable energies enables power storage in the existing natural gas grid and use of SNG without fossil CO2 emissions. Usually, hydrogen is produced by low-temperature electrolysis. This hydrogen is then converted into SNG in a methanation plant. The EU-funded project HELMETH (Integrated High-Temperature ELectrolysis and METHanation for Effective Power to Gas Conversion) coordinated by KIT has now shown that efficiency in the production of SNG from electric power can be increased by combining both processes. Consistent use of synergies from high-temperature electrolysis and methanation in the HELMETH prototype resulted in efficiencies of power-to-SNG conversion of 76%. This is much higher than the usual 54% of existing power-to-SNG facilities. Larger industrial plants might even reach efficiencies over 80% in case of further optimization. On April 01, 2019, Dr. Stefan Harth will speak about the highly efficient power-to-gas process at the Integrated Energy Forum from 16.30 to 17.00 hrs (Hall 27, stand L55).
With a highly efficient power-to-gas process, the HELMETH prototype reaches efficiencies of 76%.
(Photo: Sunfire GmbH)
Technology Market
RESEARCH TO BUSINESS, KITs technology market, will present 30 further technology offers at KITs Energy stand. These are innovations of KIT, which might be turned into marketable products and processes.
The Kopernikus Projects at Hannover Messe
The Kopernikus projects ENSURE, SynErgie, P2X, and ENavi will be presented at the stand of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Hall 2, stand B22). Visitors may have a look at the future energy landscape. In addition, a series of lectures will be given at the Integrated Energy Forum on Monday, April 01, 2019 from 15.30 to 16.30 hrs (Hall 27). They will focus, among others, on digital power supply grids, a topic covered by the KIT-coordinated Kopernikus project ENSURE.
KIT and Its Partners at Other Thematic Stands and in the Conference Program
KIT in Hall 7, IBM Stand C16: The Karlsruhe Service Research Institute (KSRI) Presents AI Solutions
Due to big data volumes and the availability of novel analysis processes, enterprises increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI). But not every AI solution automatically means an added value for clients. Together with IBM Global Services, KITs KSRI presents creative solutions for user-oriented design of new services.
BIOKON Joint Stand A01 in Hall 2: The Body Language of Components
At the BIOKON joint stand, KIT, based on exhibits and the books by Professor Claus Mattheck, will present innovative lightweight construction and component optimization methods derived from natural structures.
Network Park in Hall 13, Stand E21: Spinoff and Startup Teams of KIT Present Themselves
Experience innovation: At the Young Tech Enterprises Network Park, KIT will introduce its startups and spinoffs heat_it, HQS Quantum Simulations, thingsTHINKING, axxelera, Selfbits, promonode, and SIMUTENCE. Please refer to http://www.kit-gruendernews.de/hmi-2019/ (in German) for more information and for the detailed plan of exhibitors.
FZI Stand C47 in Hall 2: Applied Artificial Intelligence and IT Solutions
The FZI Research Center for Information Technology, an innovation partner of KIT, presents innovations of IT-related applied research, diverse applications of applied artificial intelligence (AI), an internet-of-things solution for logistics, and much more. The highlight is the LAURON walking robot that uses AI to detect and assess risks and to autonomously derive actions.
More information at url.fzi.de/hmi (in German)
Forum Integrated Energy, Hall 27, Stand L55: Visions of Future Mobility
On April 03, 2019 from 12.45 to 13.15 hrs, Professor Albert Albers, Head of KITs Institute of Product Engineering, IPEK, will speak about Seamless Mobility as a system of systems. Based on this new approach, he will present methods and ideas for the systematic integrated development and assessment of reasonable and viable mobility solutions.
Forum Integrated Energy, Hall 27, Stand L55: Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems of the Future
On April 03, 2019 from 17.00 to 17.30 hrs, Professor Maximilian Fichtner, Spokesperson of CELEST, will present the activities of this new Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage Ulm & Karlsruhe (CELEST), one of the biggest and most ambitious research and development platforms in this area worldwide.
Forum Integrated Energy Hall 27, Stand L55: Power-to-SNG with High Efficiencies
On April 01, 2019, from 16.30 to 17.00 hrs, Dr. Stefan Harth will present the highly efficient power-to-gas process developed within the EU-funded and KIT-coordinated project HELMETH (Integrated High-Temperature ELectrolysis and METHanation for Effective Power to Gas Conversion).
Integrated Lightweight Plaza & Speakers Corner, Hall 5, Stand B18: Process Modeling of Filament Winding as a Joining Process
On April 01, 2019, Marius Dackweiler will present a novel joining process for fiber composites from 14.30 to 15.00 hrs. By means of a C-shaped rotor-stator construction and an articulated robot, filament nodes are generated.
Artificial Intelligence and Energy Topics of the lookKIT Research Magazine
It is a ubiquitous term, it will change our lives and daily routines, our work, and our society: Artificial intelligence (AI). But how can AI be used in future for helping people and generating added value for science and industry? Researchers of KIT analyze this question from various perspectives. Their activities as well as opportunities and risks of AI are covered by the latest lookKIT magazine. In an interview, the President of KIT, Professor Holger Hanselka, reports his work in the Steering Committee of the Learning Systems Platform of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Other issues covered are robotics, autonomous driving, and successful AI-related startups of KIT: https://www.sek.kit.edu/english/3216_4301.php.
Fundamental transformation of Germanys energy supply system is a project that will take generations. KIT supports this transformation process. The KIT Energy Center, with its 1,500 scientists and technical staff members, is one of the biggest energy research centers in Europe. Clear priorities lie in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energies, energy storage systems and grids, electric mobility: http://www.sek.kit.edu/english/3216_4402.php
Information on the stands and exhibits of KIT at Hannover Messe 2019 can also be found in our digital press kit: http://www.sek.kit.edu/english/4330.php
Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 17:34 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83e0ea9 4 Business All-New-Honda-Brio,exports,the-philippines,Vietnam Free
Honda sole agent in Indonesia PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM) kicked off Tuesday the production of the export-oriented All New Honda Brio cars at its factory in Karawang, West Java.
Speaking at the event, Trade Minister Airlangga Hartarto praised HPMs effort to increase the exports of its products, including the All New Brio cars.
The maiden export of the All New Brio in 2019 is planned to the Philippines and Vietnam with a total export value of Rp 1 trillion (US$70.54 million), said Airlangga as quoted by Antara, adding that the local content of the All New Bio was 89 percent.
Airlangga said HPM had exported 11 models of completely knocked-down (CKD) car since 2013 to 12 countries in Asia and America. Total exports up to 2018 were recorded at Rp 12 trillion and targeted to reach Rp 25.5 trillion in 2021. HPM had so far produced some 1.3 million vehicles.
Currently, the company has two manufacturing factories that can produce 200,000 cars annually and employ about 6,900 people. This year, the company plans to invest about Rp 4.2 trillion.
HPM had also reportedly exported the completely built-up (CBU) Honda Freed, which was also produced at the Karawang factory between 2011 to 2014, to Thailand and Malaysia.
Airlangga said the Trade Ministry supported HPMs ambition to export 1.5 million cars by 2020.
Honda Motors chief operating officer for Asia and Oceania Masayuki Igarashi said Indonesia was an important market for Honda Motor.
He said the company had a strong commitment to improving facilities to support the development of various models to fulfill the market demand in the country. (bbn)
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 16:06 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83ddd84 4 City drugs,narcotics,disability,disabled-people,disabled,trial Free
Wendra Purnamas lips trembled when he answered questions posed to him by a panel of judges during his drug trial at the Tangerang District Court on Monday.
Wendra is intellectual impaired and struggles to talk.
Only one or two words come out of his mouth. Me [...] Ica [...]?" the 22-year-old told the court.
Wendras lawyer, Antonius Badar Karwayu from the Jakarta-based rights group Community Legal Aid Institute (LBH Masyarakat), immediately clarified Wendras words.
"Maybe he wanted to ask about Ica, one of his friends who was using sabu-sabu (crystal methamphetamine), before the police arrested him. Why was Ica not present, Antonious told the judges as quoted by tempo.co.
Police investigators Eko Cahyono and Mustaqil Choiri, who testified at the trial, answered Wendras question, saying they did not arrest Ica as he was not with Wendra when he was arrested.
"We are focusing more on the sabu-sabu smugglers and those who ordered it, Eko told the court.
Wendra looked baffled as he heard the answer. He tried to speak but he only managed to mumble nervously.
Wendra was arrested on the Cengkareng Outer Ring Road in West Jakarta on Nov. 25 last year, along with his friend, Hau Hau Wijaya, for alleged drug dealing. The police allegedly found 0.23 grams of sabu-sabu on Hau.
Wendra has appeared in court five times already for allegedly violating the 2009 law on narcotics.
Antonius asked the court to acquit his client because Wendra was intellectually impaired and had difficulty communicating, adding that the Banten office of the Indonesian Psychology Association also agreed with this assessment after it examined him.
Antonius said he planned to give the test results to the panel of judges at the next hearing on Monday.
"Wendra's psychological test results show that he has a problem with thinking. He also lacks adaptive functions because his intelligence level was below average, his IQ is only 55," he added on Monday.
"He has difficulty distinguishing between good and bad, right and wrong as well as his rights and obligations," Antonius said.
A paralegal at the Banten Drugs Policy Reform group, Immanudin, said Wendras case was legally flawed considering his condition.
This is nonsense because how can a person with mental disabilities understand the cross-examination process, especially when the police question him, he said.
Imanuddin added that as a person who was intellectual impaired, Wendra was not fit to stand trial. He suspected that he was the victim of a narcotics network.
He was trapped to save the big dealer, he added.
Wendras mother, Ahua, said her son had been intellectually impaired since birth.
He has trouble speaking and communicating, the 50-year-old said, adding that she was shocked and confused about the case against his son.
"How come? As far as I know, my son doesn't get along with people [] Who wants to be friends with a boy who cant speak clearly like that? Ahua said. (ggq)
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 19:36 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83e45d2 1 National KPK,Krakatau-Steel,graft,search Free
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has searched the offices of top officials at state-owned company PT Krakatau Steel as part of its investigation into bribery allegedly involving one of the companys directors.
KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said investigators raided six Krakatau Steel offices from 3 p.m. on Monday until 3 a.m. on Tuesday
KPK investigators confiscated several documents related to Krakatau Steel's ongoing projects and future projects, Febri said.
We will examine the evidence as part of the investigation, he said.
The antigraft body detained on Friday three graft suspects, namely Wisnu Kuncoro, the companys production and technology director; Alexander Muskitta, a businessman; and Kenneth Sutardja, the president director of engineering and manufacturing company Grand Kartech.
Another suspect, Kurniawan Eddy Tjokro, who had been on the run for two days, handed himself him to the KPK along with his lawyer.
The KPK named Kurniawan a suspect for allegedly handing a check amounting to Rp 50 million (US$3,528) to Alexander who is suspected to have acted under Wisnus instructions as kickbacks for the procurement on Wednesday last week.
Febri said the KPK was currently interrogating Kurniawan. (das)
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Badung, Bali Tue, March 26, 2019 11:50 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83c323c 1 National #Indonesia,#Crime,Mexican,arrested,carrier,bullets,Bali-Airport Free
A Mexican man has been arrested at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Badung, Bali, on Monday for carrying bullets in his luggage.
"Yes, it is confirmed that the airport's aviation security personnel have arrested a passenger of an international flight who was carrying 10 bullets in his luggage," said the general manager of PT Angkasa Pura I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Haruman Sulaksono.
Haruman explained that the man, Jose Fabian Ibarra Valdes, 32, was a passenger of JetStar Asia flight 3K-244 to Singapore. Aviation security found the bullets when his luggage passed through scanner in the international departure area.
As the aviation security personnel found suspicious things in his luggage, a manual search was conducted and they found 10 bullets inside a plastic bag in his luggage.
"He said it was his father's suitcase and he didn't know that there were bullets inside," Haruman said.
Valdes could not show any documents or permit for carrying the bullets. Haruman explained that bullets are categorized as dangerous goods that need special permits to be carried on aircraft. It is regulated in Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 8/2017 on national aviation security.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Shaun Tandon (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Tue, March 26, 2019 07:37 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83b7845 2 World #USA,#Israel,BenjaminNetanyahu,DonaldTrump,signs,Golan Free
With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side, US President Donald Trump declared Monday that the Golan Heights belongs to Israel -- handing another major diplomatic victory to the premier ahead of tight elections.
Netanyahu spared no praise as he watched Trump sign the Golan proclamation at the White House, likening him to President Harry S Truman, who recognized Israel, and even to Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who freed the Jews of Babylon.
"Your decision to recognize Israel's sovereignty on the Golan Heights is so historic," Netanyahu told Trump. The Jewish state captured the territory from Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967.
"Your recognition is a twofold act of historic justice. Israel won the Golan Heights in a just war of self-defense, and the Jewish people's roots in the Golan go back thousands of years," he said.
Trump -- who in 2017 took the even more momentous step of recognizing disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital -- called the Golan declaration "a long time in the making."
"It should have taken place many decades ago," said Trump, who had revealed his intentions on the Golan on Thursday in a Twitter message.
Netanyahu, a wily right-winger who this year would become the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history, is facing an unexpectedly stiff challenge in April 9 elections from centrist Benny Gantz, who also came to Washington for AIPAC.
Netanyahu was visiting Washington for the conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the pro-Israel US lobby, but cut his visit short after a rocket fired Monday from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip hit a house north of Tel Aviv, wounding seven Israelis in an unusually long-range attack.
Just as Netanyahu entered the White House, Israeli warplanes struck targets in Gaza linked to Hamas -- which denied carrying out the attack -- with the prime minister vowing to respond "forcefully to this wanton aggression."
International opposition
Trump was isolated in the move, with the United Nations and US allies France and Britain all saying that they still considered the Golan Heights "Israeli-occupied" in line with UN resolutions.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Trump's declaration "ignores all international procedures" and "could drive a new wave of tensions" in the Middle East.
Syria denounced the "blatant attack" on its sovereignty, while Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticized Trump for giving "virtually an election gift" to Netanyahu.
Israel annexed the Golan in 1981 but had won no international support. The territory had long been seen as a comparatively easy problem to resolve, as both Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Golan's 20,000 settlers are largely secular in a region dominated by religious feuds.
But changing the strategic dynamics, Syria has been embroiled for years in a devastating civil war in which Iran has made inroads -- to the staunch opposition of Israel, which has vowed to eradicate the clerical regime's presence.
Shortly before the Golan proclamation, Vice President Mike Pence brought the AIPAC audience to its feet as he hailed Trump as "the greatest friend of the Jewish people and the state of Israel ever to sit in the Oval Office."
Amid Trump and Netanyahu's mutual affection and the Israeli leader's rightward turn, top Democrats seeking the White House have steered clear of AIPAC -- an absence that Pence eagerly highlighted.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a liberal Democrat whose city is home to 1.2 million Jews, nonetheless spoke at AIPAC, where he acknowledged differences with Netanyahu but won a standing ovation for opposing the movement to boycott Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians.
Gantz touts 'strength'
Challenger Gantz showed virtually no daylight with Netanyahu on security issues in his AIPAC address.
Citing his mother's experience as a Holocaust survivor and his son's service in the military, the former military chief said that "strength and moral power come together."
"That is why I say from this stage to the Iranian regime -- never again. We will not allow you to establish yourself in Syria, we will not allow you to develop nuclear weapons," he said.
"On my watch, you will not become a regional power and I will not hesitate to use force if and when needed," he said.
Gantz said that Jerusalem would always be Israel's "united and eternal capital" and added, without ruling out a Palestinian state in the West Bank, that the Jordan Valley would "always" be Israel's eastern security border.
But he won loud cheers from the American Jewish audience when he turned to domestic issues, promising more inclusiveness at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where women are separated from men, and chiding Netanyahu for allying with a party widely condemned as racist.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 12:16 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83c68b8 4 Business app-based-transportation,BPJS-Kesehatan,BPJS-Ketenagakerjaan,drivers Free
The government has pledged to include motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers working for ride-hailing apps in the insurance schemes of both the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) and the Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan).
Transportation Ministry Roads Director General Budi Setiyadi said this was stipulated in Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 12/2019 on the protection of motorcycle users for public transportation, issued earlier this month.
The participation of the drivers in both the BPJS Kesehatana and BPJS ketenagakerjaan is an important [element in the regulation], he said, as quoted by komaps.com after announcing the new fares for app-based ojek in Jakarta on Monday.
He said the inclusion of the drivers in those insurance programs was important because of their high-risk occupation.
With their inclusion, should they be involved in any traffic accidents, the cost of their treatment would be covered by the BPJS and other insurances, Budi said.
In Jakarta alone, the number of app-based ojek drivers is estimated at more than 1 million. (bbn)
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 26, 2019 14:00 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83ce8ee 4 Business co-working-space,startup,prospect,growth Free
The proliferation of startups and other small, digital-based entities has helped boost the growth of coworking space businesses in major cities like Jakarta and Surabaya.
A number of property developers have also started to pay attention to the high demand for coworking spaces.
PT Intiland Development corporate secretary Theresia Rustandi, whose company is involved in coworking spaces, said the trend to rent small rooms as offices was very high as many types of business entities did not need large rooms for their operations.
Nearly all rooms are occupied, said Theresia on Monday as quoted by kontan.co.id, adding that the coworking spaces were needed by small businesses.
Since PT Intiland started the coworking space business called SUB-Co in 2015, it has opened three locations in Surabaya, two of which were located at Whiz Residence Darmo Harapan and at Spazio in West Surabaya.
She said the company eyed startups as its main clients because they needed private rooms for their operations, while for shared spaces the company targeted freelancers.
For shared spaces, we start prices from Rp 50,000 (US$3.52) per hour, while for private rooms, the rental fees start from Rp 7.5 million per month, she said.
Theresia said the company had to invest Rp 1 billion to renovate the interior of coworking spaces, which could contribute Rp 200 million per month in revenue.
Theresia said Intiland Development planned to open coworking space businesses in Jakarta, but she could not comment on the details, saying that the company was studying several places for the business.
A similar move was made by property developer PT Ciputra Development. The company is now constructing its third office tower in West Jakarta. We are constructing the Propan Tower because 60 percent of the building will be bought by the Propan Group, said Ciputra Development director Artadinata Djangkar.
Ciputra also has two buildings in West Jakarta Tokopedia Tower and Tokopedia Care, as well as the DBS Tower in the Central Business District in South Jakarta, Artadinata added.
Property analyst Jehansyah Siregar said the coworking space business still had good prospects. By renting coworking spaces, people can start work with just a laptop, Jehansyah said.
According to a report of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), the coworking space business grew 60 percent in 2018 while the number of operators grew 8 percent. (bbn)
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Damascus, Syria Tue, March 26, 2019 22:10 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83e728d 2 World #Syria,#GolanHeights,syrian,demonstration,condemnation,US,Golan,move Free
Demonstrations spread across Syria on Tuesday denouncing Washington's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, in a show of unity in the war-torn country, state media said.
US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognising Israeli sovereignty over the strategic border area, seized from Syria in 1967 and then annexed in 1981 in a move not recognised by the international community.
Trump's move immediately drew criticism from the Syrian government, which described it as a "blatant attack" on the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On Tuesday, demonstrators took to the streets across the war-torn country to protest Washington's decision.
They staged rallies in Damascus, the government strongholds of Latakia and Tartous, the northern city of Aleppo, the central city of Homs, Deir Ezzor in the east and the southern cities of Daraa and Quneitra, state news agency SANA said.
Syrians also protested in the Kurdish-majority northeastern cities of Qamishli and Hassakeh, it said.
Demonstrators carried portraits of President Bashar al-Assad and raised the Syrian and Palestinian flags, in photos carried by SANA.
"The blatant US bias toward Israel will not change the Syrian identity of the Golan," Information Minister Imad Sara told state television during a rally in Damascus.
"There needs to be a strong response", not just condemnations, he said. "We want action on the ground."
In Aleppo, hundreds gathered in the central Saadallah al-Jabiri square.
"We are here to condemn Trump's Golan decision," said Mohammad Shaaban, a protester.
"The Golan is Arab and Syrian whether they like it or not," he said.
In Damascus, the lawyers' syndicate gathered at the justice palace to decry the move, pro-regime television showed.
"America is now the primary enemy of the Arabs," a syndicate representative read from a statement.
The lawyers' syndicate in Hama paused court sessions for one hour in protest over the US decision, SANA said.
Trump's Golan decision spurred condemnation from several regional states, including Turkey, Iran, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
It also drew criticism from the Syrian regime's ally Russia, which warned of a "new wave" of tensions in the Middle East.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to discuss the Golan on Wednesday during a meeting on renewing the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force deployed between Israel and Syria in the Golan, known as UNDOF.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Hipolitus Yolisandry Ringgi Wangge (The Jakarta Post) Wamena Tue, March 26 2019
The conflict in Nduga, Papua, between the military and independence fighters, led by Egianus Kogoya, a young man from Nduga regency, has been unfolding for over three months with few signs of ending. The armed conflict was triggered by the killing of 31 construction workers of PT Istaka Karya in Yigi district, Nduga regency in Papuas highland. Isolated operation zones in 16 out of 32 districts of the regency have led to evacuation of people from the neighboring Nduga including Jayawijaya, Lanny Jaya, Yahukimo, Asmat and Mimika.
The logic of the conflict has been highly contested between the security apparatus, mainly the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the pro-independence fighters of the Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM). The former emphasizes the security threat posed by the guerillas, blamed for disrupting the government-initiated road projects in the area. The guerillas, meanwhile, cite self-determination, rejecting all central government developmental projects across Papua. These contesting views have found no common ground to resolve the long-running conflict.
Nduga along with Lanny Jaya, Puncak, Puncak Jaya, Yahukimo and Mimika areas are locally deemed as the red zones, given the historical record of prolonged conflicts and bases for pro-independence guerillas. Since the early 1960s, Nduga was marked as a military operation zone.
to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content
e-Post daily digital newspaper
No advertisements, no interruptions
Privileged access to our events and programs
Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin (Reuters) Cairo Tue, March 26, 2019 12:01 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83c4028 2 World Saudi-Arabia,Golan,Israel,dispute-settlement,recognition,Middle-East Free
Saudi Arabia denounced US President Donald Trump's recognition of Israel's 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights, a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency said early on Tuesday.
"Attempts to impose fait accompli do not change the facts," the statement said. It said the Golan Heights was an "occupied Syrian Arab land in accordance with the relevant international resolutions".
"It will have significant negative effects on the peace process in the Middle East and the security and stability of the region," it said.
Trump, with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looking over his shoulder during a visit to Washington, signed a proclamation on Monday officially granting U.S. recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.
Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East War and annexed it in 1981 in a move not recognised internationally.
The Saudi Press Agency report described Monday's declaration as a clear violation of the United Nations Charter and of international law.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, March 27 2019
Tap here: A ticketing official is seen at the entry gate of the MRTs Bundaran HI Station in Jakarta on Tuesday.(JP/Iqbal Yuwansyah)
Citizens who want to take the countrys first subway are no longer to be forced to wander in the dark about the MRT fares, as the Jakarta administration and the City Council reached an agreement about them on Tuesday.
Alhamdulillah [thank God] we have talked together in the council speakers office. Together [we] signed [for MRT fares] as agreed, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told reporters after a meeting with council speaker Prasetio Edi Marsud on Tuesday.
to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content
e-Post daily digital newspaper
No advertisements, no interruptions
Privileged access to our events and programs
Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Tangerang Wed, March 27 2019
Wendra Purnamas lips trembled when he answered questions posed to him by a panel of judges during his drug trial at the Tangerang District Court on Monday.
Wendra is intellectually impaired and struggles to talk.
Only one or two words come out of his mouth. Me [...] Ica [...]? the 22-year-old told the court.
to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content
e-Post daily digital newspaper
No advertisements, no interruptions
Privileged access to our events and programs
Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, March 27 2019
The pen is mightier: United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pose with a presidential proclamation recognizing Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights after they met at the White House in Washington on Monday.(Reuters/Leah Millis)
Indonesia has strongly rejected the United States recent recognition of the disputed Golan Heights as Israeli territory, saying such a decision was not conducive to creating peace and stability in the Middle East.
Indonesia strongly rejects the recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Indonesia recognizes it as Syrian territory, which is currently occupied by Israel.
to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content
e-Post daily digital newspaper
No advertisements, no interruptions
Privileged access to our events and programs
Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin (Kyodo News) Phitsanulok, Thailand Tue, March 26, 2019 07:08 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83b5e40 2 Destinations Thailand,travel,destination,tourism,Tourist,national-park,Phu-Hin-Rong-Kla-National-Park Free
Thailand is among the many countries that faced Communist insurgency in the post-World War II era. The outlawed Communist Party of Thailand, which launched an insurgent campaign in 1965, based its headquarters in the mountains of northern Thailand.
Today, the area is a historical tourist attraction within the Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park and one of the most concrete pieces of evidence showing the existence of Communist insurgency in the country.
The headquarters, in the mountain range in Phitsanulok Province, served as a school for party cadres on military training, politics and medicine until 1982.
Little by little, national park authorities are renovating 31 square cabins at what is now called Political and Military School, while bigger sleeping quarters all fell into ruin as time passed.
Each with the capacity to hold four to five people, the buildings housed the party's committees, quartermasters, infirmary and military.
A dilapidated bulldozer sits in the middle of the compound. Students stole it from the foothill where it had been used to build a highway, said Manus See-suea, 61, a national park officer and former member of the Thai military.
A number of university students had fled Bangkok and other cities to seek refuge at the party headquarters in the forest after violent government crackdowns on student protesters in the 1970s.
"The Communists did not want any development or comfort around the area, not even a road. They were afraid that the government would reach and defeat them easier if there were an accessible route," Manus said.
Some parts were removed from the tractor to be used for a waterwheel opposite the school. The waterwheel, said to be installed by engineering students from Chulalongkorn University, was used to pound steamed rice.
It was going to be attached to a motor to generate electricity, but the students left the ground before it was done, Manus said.
Many pieces of equipment and educational tools from the era are displayed at the park's tourist information center. They include medical equipment and a surgical technique manual written in Chinese, suggesting the party' strong connection with Communist-run China to the north.
The historical site attracts tourists from both home and abroad, especially during the beginning of the year, when leaves turn red.
"Coming to this place is like going on a time machine. I'm struck by what happened before and sad about it at the same time," said Kanitta Janarsa, 49, a government worker in Phitsanulok, on a recent visit with her colleagues.
When the camp was set up, party members were mostly ethnic Hmong. They were sent to China and North Vietnam with Mao Zedong's sponsorship, to be educated on politics, military and medicine, according to Manus. They returned to spread their knowledge and urge others to join their activities.
Read also: Ten reasons to visit Komodo National Park in 2019
Many medical appliances from various fields such as traditional Chinese acupuncture, modern medicine and textbooks were brought to the base. Moreover, insurgents smuggled many weapons from China and Laos to fight against Thai troops.
The stronghold's population grew after a student uprising in October 1973, and grew even more after a student massacre in October 1976 -- in which at least 46 people were killed as government troops attacked student protestors in Bangkok -- prompted students to flee to the forest to join the Communists.
The influx of new party members resulted in the establishment of the Political and Military School. However, the Communist insurgency ended in 1982 after Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda promised amnesty to the Communists and former student protesters if they defected.
"While I was clearing off the area, I admit that I was extremely scared (for) my life, my friends' lives and those of the enemies whom we might have to shoot," Manus said, recalling his involvement in the military's counterinsurgency operation four decades ago.
Besides the insurgents, many children had been living there as well. Their shoes and belongings were abandoned in the cabins as they left. Some were carrying pigs and walking their ponies down the mountain, he recalled.
"Little kids walking away from the forest reminded me of my siblings," the park officer said, adding that others around him were in tears as they thought of their own children.
He said Phitsanulok's former Communist stronghold is a reminder that neither the Thai soldiers nor the Communists they fought really emerged "victorious" after the decades-long clashes between them.
Share this article Whatsapp
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin (Reuters) London, United Kingdom Tue, March 26, 2019 12:08 992 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee83c5018 2 News British-Airways,London,Britain,travel,Scotland,Germany Free
British Airways has been forced to apologize after a flight from London to Dusseldorf landed more than 965 km away in Edinburgh by mistake.
The detour happened after a sub-contracted crew used an incorrect flight plan and set off from London City airport for the Scottish capital instead of setting course for the Rhine.
British Airways said the aircraft - a 96-seat BAe-146 regional jet - was operated by German charter firm WDL Aviation on behalf of BA CityFlyer. The crew and aircraft were sub-contracted from WDL under an arrangement known as a "wet lease".
"We are working with WDL Aviation, who operated this flight on behalf of British Airways, to establish why the incorrect flight plan was filed," BA said in a statement.
Read also: New British Airways business class seat features door and lie-flat beds
"We have apologized to customers for this interruption to their journey and will be contacting them all individually."
WDL Aviation said it had flown the passengers on to Dusseldorf after their unscheduled Scottish stopover.
"We are working closely with the authorities to investigate how the obviously unfortunate mix-up of flight schedules could occur," it said in a statement.
WDL is owned by Berlin-based logistics firm Zeitfracht Group.
Renaults Master load-hauler range in Australia is now capable of transporting a different type of cargo with the local launch of the Master Bus.
Based on the Master L3H2 long-wheelbase van, the Bus can carry up to 12 passengers including the driver, rated to 3.9 tonnes GVM with a payload of 1252kg.
The 12-passenger limit allows the Bus to be driven with a car licence in Australian states and territories.
If the passengers have packed for all seasons, the Master Bus can also tow up to 2.5 tonnes and the roof is rated to carry 200kg (including the roof racks).
Phuket Governor urges action to save water in case of drought
PHUKET: The Governor of Phuket has urged relevant agencies to find raw water reserves to supplement public water supply and to conduct public-awareness campaigns for conserving water use in order to reduce the volume of water residents are using in case of a drought.
weather
By The Phuket News
Tuesday 26 March 2019, 12:47PM
Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana speaking at yesterdays meeting, calling on officials to take steps in case of a drought. Photo: PR Dept
Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana has also asked farmers on the island to reduce the volume of water being used to irrigate their crops. He even suggested that they delay planting new crops until the dry season has passed.
The request was handed down at a meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday (Mar 25), also attended by Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai, Phuket Provincial Irrigation Office Director Somsawat Chaisinsod, and Prapan Kanprasang, chief of the Phuket Provincial office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket).
Governor Phakaphong urged government agencies and local administrative organizations to establish measures in preparation for drought prevention and remedies across the island, such as monitoring the water situation throughout the province and improving the provincial drought response plan to be in line with the current situation.
The DDPM-Phuket office was tasked with ensuring that all government offices were informed of the guidelines to follow under the provincial drought response plan, though the Governor did not actually state that the island was currently experiencing drought conditions.
Government officers were asked to use their experience and training to attend to the current situation, by making sure the appropriate equipment was available in order to provide immediate assistance to people, preparing water-distribution plans in each village, and checking farms in drought risk areas.
Governor Phakaphong gave an update on the current status of the islands three main public water reservoirs: Bang Wad in Kathu, Bang Neow Dum in Srisoonthorn and Khlong Krata in Chalong.
Bang Neow Dum currently contains 3.25 million cubic meters, or 45% of its capacity, he said, noting that about 3.14mn m3 of that reserve was usable.
Bang Wad currently contains 7.05mn m3 of water, or about 69% of its capacity, the Governor added, of which he said that about 6.78mn m3 was usable.
Klong Kratha reservoir in Chalong currently contains about 1.77mn m3, or some 40% of its capacity, he added, pointing out that 1.68mn m3 of that water was usable.
The three reservoirs gave the island in total some 11.6mn m3 of water to use as water supply, Governor Phakaphong said.
However, he added that that there was 27.84mn m3 of water available from other water sources.
Altogether, the province has 39.44mn m3 of fresh water supply available, he said.
Governor Phakaphong did not elaborate on whether these water sources were privately owned or government owned, or whether any of those water sources were already dedicated to serving local areas.
Regardless, Governor Phakaphong urged officials to make arrangements to be able to use water from these sources in order to prevent water supply shortages across the island.
The Governor also gave particular attention to the volume of water used by farmers on the island.
Officials must be ready and prepared for provincial drought crisis prevention and solutions to reduce impact of a drought, he said.
Go out to survey the effects on farmers, especially farmers facing drought conditions in order to provide assistance if there is a water shortage situation. They will not have enough water for their crops, he said.
And every official concerned with this issue must find private water sources to supply the people, he added.
In his message to farmers, Governor Phakaphong said, Please save water to get through the drought together. Please use less water for plants or dont plant new crops at this time.
The Governors call for action yesterday comes follows Patong Municipality already deploying free emergency water for residents (see story here) and the Phuket Waterworks Authority deploying their own water trucks to provide free emergency water supply last Friday (see story here.)
The move by the PWA to roll out free emergency water came just days after the national Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) Governor quietly visited Phuket in person and urged the local PWA office to solve the islands drought problems and to come up with a plan of how to continue supplying water needed by April 1. (See story here.)
By that time, however, resorts had already start rolling in own water tankers as the Phuket dry spell continued (see story here), while Cherng Talay Municipality started relying on privately owned third-party water sources to provide water to their residents (see story here.)
Koh Kaew Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor), however, did not wait. The local administration began setting up its own emergency relief water supply stations earlier this month and issued its own water shortage warning despite assurances from water officials that no water-saving measures had been introduced. (See story here.)
Likewise, Cherng Talay OrBorTor, responsible for the Cherng Talay beachfront areas including Bang Tao and Surin, started the ball rolling with their own water-saving restrictions on realising the situation as early as January. (See story here.)
The flurry of action by a many of the key local government authorities on the island not the provincial authorities to help stave off a water shortage crisis follows Governor Phakaphong on Feb 8 calling on people to not panic about water shortages and assuring the public that the island had absolutely enough water to last the dry season. (See story here.)
Phuket police seize 13kg of parcel delivery marijuana
PHUKET: A series of tip-offs have seen police in Phuket seize 13 kilogrammes of marijuana packed in parcels for delivery, with 12 one-kilo bars in parcels seized at Rawai Post Office yesterday (Mar 25).
drugscrimepolice
By Eakkapop Thongtub
Tuesday 26 March 2019, 07:36PM
Kamol Thirakramoonchai, 46, was arrested in Wichit after he received one kilo of marijuana delivered by Kerry Express. Photo: Phuket Police
The 12 kilos of marijuana was found packed in two parcels waiting to be delivered by Rawai Post Office. Photo: Phuket Police
The 12 kilos of marijuana was found packed in two parcels waiting to be delivered by Rawai Post Office. Photo: Phuket Police
The 12 kilos of marijuana was found packed in two parcels waiting to be delivered by Rawai Post Office. Photo: Phuket Police
Provincial Police explained that that an informant had given them a lead that parcels would be delivered to Phuket by post to be distributed to local dealers on the island.
The officers went to Rawai Post Office, where they found two boxes together containing 12 one-kilo packs of marijuana.
Police did not disclose the names and contact details of the intended recipients or the sender, saying that the details could not be revealed at this stage as the case was still under investigation, that they were now tracking down the people the packages were addressed to, and the people recorded as sending the packages.
The marijuana was seized and taken to Chalong Police Station.
Meanwhile, police in Wichit acting on a tip-off arrested a man yesterday after he received a kilo of marijuana delivered by parcel delivery service Kerry Express.
Acting on the information given, police placed the given location, a house in Moo 1 Wichit, under surveillance and waited for the parcel to arrive.
And so it did, signed and received by Kamol Thirakramoonchai, 46.
On seeing the delivery made, officers moved in and arrested Kamol.
Officers opened the box and found one kilo of packed marijuana inside.
Kamol was charged with possession of a Category 5 drug, police confirmed.
SPECIAL REPORT: Phuket election results to stand, vote count confirmed manually
PHUKET: Technical difficulties with the report-sharing app were to blame for the late vote count in the nation election on Sunday night (Mar 24), forcing local officials to count the votes manually, the Director of the Phuket office of the Election Commission (PEC) explained to The Phuket News today (Mar 26)
politicsmilitary
By Tanyaluk Sakoot
Tuesday 26 March 2019, 09:56PM
Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung oversees the closing of a key polling station in Phuket Town on Sunday (Mar 24). Photo: PR Dept
PEC Director Nutthawat Wongitsaraphap confirmed the vote count as accurate, with the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party candidates winning both seats for Phuket.
The victory was a heady blow to the Democrat Party, for which Phuket has been a stronghold for decades.
Although the vote count remains unofficial until reconfirmed by other election officials later, Mr Nutthawat said he expects the results will stand.
The candidates seem to have accepted them also, he added.
So far I have not received any formal complaints about the vote counting in Phuket, he told The Phuket News.
THE COUNT
Mr Nutthawat also late yesterday released the final confirmed vote count for Phuket.
Of the 294,232 total eligible voters on the island, 210,966 turned out to cast their votes a turnout of 71.7%%.
There were 196,679 valid votes (93.23%), 8,231 spoiled ballots (3.9%) and 6,056 ballots were submitted blank (2.87%).
Of of the 144,721 eligible voters in Phuket Constituency 1, which comprises Muang District, including Rassada, but excluding Koh Kaew, Rawai and Karon, 102,466 presented themselves to cast their votes a turnout of 70.8%.
There were 96,186 valid votes (93.87%), 3,348 spoiled ballots (3.26%) and 2,942 baollots submitted blank (2.86%).
Of the 149,511 eligible voters in Phuket Constituency 2, which comprises the remaining areas of Thalang and Kathu Districts, but also includes and Koh Kaew, Rawai and Karon (see ECT map here), 108,500 turned out to vote (72.57%).
There were 100,493 valid votes(92.62%), 4,883 spoiled ballots (4.5%) and 3,124 ballots submitted blank (2.88%).
WINNERS AND LOSERS
Sutha Pratheep Na Thalang of the Palang Pracharath Party won the seat for Phuket Constituency 1 with 32,338 votes, besting long-term Phuket candidate Raywat Areerob of the Democrat Party, who placed second with 25,194 votes.
Wisit Anansiriphan of the Future Forward Party placed third for the Phuket Constituency 1 seat with 22,599 votes.
The Palang Pracharath Party also won the seat for Phuket Constituency 2, with Nattee Tinsakhu securing 27,267 votes, ahead of Democrat candidate Chaiyot Panyawai, who amassed 23,958 votes.
Supanat Leungluea of the Future Forward Party placed third for the seat with 19,963 votes.
GOING MANUAL
Mr Nutthawat explained that issues with election staff using the rapid report app to submit their findings complicated the vote count on Sunday with officials being forced manually check every vote, from every polling station, to confirm the count.
Some PEC staffers were new to the app and inaccurately entered vote counts, but this has not affected the final results presented, Mr Nutthawat assured.
Some numbers were wrong so I could not trust this system 100%, so we waited until we could check every vote manually and read each vote for ourselves from the ballot papers, he said.
His team had to wait until each polling station had conducted their own counts, Mr Nutthawat explained.
That took until about 8pm for all the polling stations to complete their own counts, he said.
Then we checked every ballot from every station from both voting districts. This took until after midnight because we checked the votes one by one from every polling station, he added.
The check on the vote count for Phuket Constituency 1 took until about 1am, Mr Nutthawat said.
The check on the vote count for Phuket Constituency 2 took until after about 2am, he added.
Mr Nutthawat is glad he made the effort.
I have not received any complaints about the vote count at all, he said.
DOUBTS AND FEARS
Mr Nutthawat said that he was aware of the public opinion ricocheting across social media, casting doubt on the election results nationwide, and for the count in Phuket.
I understand how people are feeling about the poll results. They have doubt about this election, but I can confirm that there has been no vote cheating in Phuket province, he said.
Mr Nutthawaut even called on people to disregard the results posted on the official Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) website set up to show live unofficial results.
Much concern was expressed across Phuket after the website showed and still shows plainly inaccurate information.
One key criticism is how Mr Sutha of the Palang Pracharath Party was shown to have first place for the Phuket Constituency 1 seat with 30,791 votes - with 92,256 votes reported as counted at the time, 8pm.
Half an hour later, his rival, Democrat candidate Raywat Areerob, was reported as having secured only 6,951 votes but with only 12,643 votes counted at that time.
The number of votes counted actually went down as the night progressed, according to the official website. (See website here.)
Worse, ECT Secretary-General Ittiporn Boonprakong revealed to the press yesterday that people had tried to hack the vote counting IT system.
I admit that a hacker had attacked the ECT system before election day. The hacker had managed to lock some people out of the system, Mr Nutthawat explained.
Regardless, the tech problems will not affect the election results in Phuket, Mr Nutthawat assured.
Thats why we went back to the manual system of using pen and paper. The application is only a tool to support our work, he said.
Mr Nutthawat also said that he did not expect the problems reporting results online to force a re-vote.
I dont think the problem with the application or the numbers presented on the website will lead to a re-vote. That wont happen unless I receive a formal complaint and the ECT makes the decision for us to conduct fresh polls, he said.
Specifically regarding the huge discrepancy in the number of votes counted and the votes presented for Mr Sutha and Mr Raywat, Mr Nutthawat said, I dont think that we should care about this much. I stand by the count done by pen and paper.
Remember, that the application is just a tool to show the unofficial count. It isnt official, he said.
According to the World Health Organization, patients should have the knowledge and skills to understand options being provided to them by their healthcare providers. This is whats called patient empowerment, or patient-centered care, a move by healthcare policy makers around the world to allow greater control by patients over their own healthcare.
To that end, patients and healthcare providers have converged in Canada to create the award-winning CHOICE-D guide for patients suffering from depression. The CANMAT Health Options for Integrated Care and Empowerment in Depression Patient and Family Guide to Depression Treatment was created in partnership with individuals who have personal experience with depression, for people living with depression.
The goal is to support and empower individuals and caregivers to understand evidence-based treatments for managing depression, Andrew Kcomt told us. Kcomt is the Knowledge Translation and Research Manager with the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario (MDAO), one of the organizations that prepared the guide. The guide includes information about medications, psychological treatments, brain stimulation, and complementary and alternative treatments."
According to Statistics Canada, nearly one in eight adults will suffer from a mood disorder during their lifetime such as depression (11.3 per cent) and women are more likely to suffer from depression than men. Symptoms can include a depressed mood, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, sleep disturbances, a change in weight or appetite, loss of interest in activities that were normally enjoyed, fatigue, thoughts of death, and poor concentration.
Depression affects people from all walks of life, no matter what their background, ethnicity; rich and poor. All are susceptible, Kcomt told us. Given the ongoing stigma that surrounds mental health issues, this guide is for everyone.
The idea for the booklet originated from an Ontario Brain Institute knowledge translation grant proposal led by Dr. Sagar Parikh. The project involved a collaboration of three organizations: 1) MDAO, a leader in peer support for individuals living with mood disorders and their families to recover and heal; 2) CAN-BIND, a major national research network to improve the treatment of depression; and 3) CANMAT, a network of leading clinicians and scientists in mood and anxiety disorders, which publishes mood disorder treatment guidelines. MDAO recruited a group of patients and family members to develop the guide to depression treatment, supported by content experts in knowledge translation, patient advocacy, patient-oriented research, and psychiatry.
The goal of the CHOICE-D guide is to create an accessible document for patients and loved ones that simplifies evidence-based information on managing depression, Kcomt told us. "Multiple stakeholders helped to create this guide including the public, patients, treatment providers, researchers, and government officials.
Kcomt says the primary objectives of the guide are to educate patients to gain a better understanding of their symptoms through the provision of evidence-based treatment options and to provide tools to facilitate active discussions with their healthcare teams. The guide will also serve to empower patients and their families in their recovery through engagement, collaborative decision-making, and increased satisfaction with their care.
Feedback from the public has been highly positive and the online version has been downloaded close to 5000 times in North America, the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, India and Australia, Kcomt told us. We are actively looking for feedback from the public and our community stakeholders through the evaluation of increased patient knowledge about treatment options, self-competence, communication skills, and the ability to actively engage in discussion with their healthcare teams.
CHOICE-D is available on the MDAO website free of charge and is being actively disseminated, along with evaluation of its impact. A translated French and simplified Chinese version of the guide will be made available later this year. A number of end-users such as peer support facilitators, caregivers and health care providers, will be trained on how to use the guide and its tools.
Having lived experience partners in research is critical to prioritizing research according to whats important for those living with these challenges, Kcomt told us. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, please remember that there is always support and hope out there.
VICTORIA - British Columbia is changing the provinces tax structure for liquefied natural gas projects with Finance Minister Carole James saying the government is aiming to encourage more development through a natural gas tax credit.
James introduced legislation Monday that she said meets the objectives set out a year ago by Premier John Horgan in a policy framework.
British Columbians are counting on us to attract LNG investment that meets strict conditions: delivering jobs and financial benefits to B.C., creating economic partnerships with Indigenous peoples, and protecting our clean air, land and water, she said in a statement. This legislation completes the process of creating a fiscal framework that invites investment while supporting those conditions.
Under the changes, the government would amend the Income Tax Act to implement the tax credit for LNG development. It would also repeal the Liquefied Natural Gas Income Tax Act, which it says created barriers for investment and left the province open to footing the bill for special industry tax and regulatory protections.
However, the Green party said the governments actions are hypocritical because they stray from its CleanBC plan to reduce carbon pollution.
In October, LNG Canada announced plans for a $40-billion project in Kitimat.
The government said the tax changes it is making will provide the fiscal framework needed for the project, which is expected to create 10,000 construction jobs and up to 950 permanent jobs in the processing terminal.
The new tax credit would go in effect on Jan. 1, 2020, to companies that qualify for it. It would be calculated at three per cent of the cost of natural gas and could be used to reduce B.C.s corporate income tax rate from 12 to nine per cent.
The Finance Ministry said the previous LNG income tax was removed because it created uncertainty and risk to investors but the natural gas tax credit has been retained to encourage companies to pay provincial corporate income taxes. It said qualifying corporations would be those with a principal business involving oil and gas exploration, development, refining marketing or liquefaction of natural gas.
Green party Leader Andrew Weaver said in a statement the governments actions are pulling the province in two different directions.
Continuing to push for LNG development is short sighted and works directly against CleanBC objectives, he said.
After years of criticizing the B.C. Liberals for their generous giveaway of our natural gas resources, the B.C. NDP have taken the giveaway to a whole new level. The legislation brought forward by this province is a generational sellout.
Weaver, who is the lead author of four United Nations intergovernmental climate change reports, said investments in renewable energy infrastructure would invite innovative industries to the province.
Peter McCartney of the Wilderness Committee also criticized the legislation for not aligning with the CleanBC plan.
Premier Horgan is talking out of both sides of his mouth on climate change, McCartney said.
British Columbians are all doing their part to cut carbon pollution while at the same time hes giving $6 billion in tax breaks and subsidies to construct the most polluting project in the province.
The Business Council of British Columbia, meanwhile, backed the governments approach, saying the changes will allow the province to compete in LNG markets around the world.
If we as a province are purposeful and apply this same competitive lens to all our natural resource, technology and energy export sectors we can become the low carbon supplier of choice globally, Greg DAvignon, the councils president and CEO, said in a news release.
The resulting economic growth will create higher wage jobs, stronger communities and more government revenues to support the quality of life and services British Columbians expect.
HALIFAXThe Nova Scotia government plans to increase spending on health care in response to long-standing, widespread and growing concerns about services across the province, but revealed few plans that have not already been announced.
As promised, Finance Minister Karen Caseys delivered the McNeil governments fourth consecutive balanced budget, with $11.01-billion in revenue, $10.98-billion in expenses and a projected surplus of $33.6 million for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
A lot of the things you see in this budget are continuations, Casey told reporters.
Spending is projected to tick up by 4.2 per cent from last years budget. As in previous provincial government budgets, health and wellness takes up the largest slice with 41.6 per cent of all departmental spending.
Health care is a no. 1 priority for Nova Scotians as it is for our government, Casey said.
The $4.64-billion in health-spending estimate is up by $271-million, or 6.2 per cent from last years budget.
Read more:
Approval for Canadian premiers is on the rise except in Nova Scotia and Ontario
HaliFIX wants to create Atlantic Canadas first overdose prevention site
Dumpster full of disappointment: Advocates, Opposition say provincial budget doesnt address Nova Scotias health-care crisis
Many of the health-care expenses detailed in the budget were previously announced, including $156.9-million for the redevelopment projects at Halifaxs QEII hospital and the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
The Nova Scotia Health Authority will see an additional $57.2-million over last years budget allocation for operations across the province.
Opposition parties and health-care advocates have been looking for more money dedicated for mental health, long-term care and emergency services.
In response to increased call volumes for ground ambulances, there is an additional $4.6-million for Emergency Medical Care Inc., which operates ambulances across the province. Thats an increase of 3 per cent.
$2.8 million is allocated for the continuing implementation of the Long-Term Care Expert Panel recommendations, which were announced earlier this year and included increased access to nurse practitioners and systems changes to address the risk of bed sores.
The federal government contributed an additional $15-million for community care and mental health and addictions services, making for a total of $28.5 million for that program.
As previously announced, the province is opening 15 new specialty residency spaces for doctors in training at Dalhousie University. The 2019-20 budget provides $2.9-million for those spots.
Opposition leaders were largely disappointed with the contents of the budget. Tory leader Tim Houston called it a budget of denial.
Im pleased with additional spending in health care around mental health and some of those things are good initiatives, but overall access to health care in this province is getting worse and worse, and I just dont see anything in this budget that will change that, Houston said.
The government can spend more money but the delivery of health care is not improving.
NDP leader Gary Burrill felt the government was prioritizing a balanced budget to the detriment of three pressing concerns.
Were in the middle of a crisis situation in health care, and a crisis situation on the climate, and a crisis situation on the level of incomes. And all the budget is providing is a bucket of Band-Aids on all three things.
Burrill welcomed the increased investment in mental health supports, but was disappointed that there was no comprehensive plan for new long-term care facilities, and only tiny, puny incremental changes to social assistance programs.
Community services is slated for about a 3 per cent increase in its budget, which includes a $14.2-million increase to support programs for people with disabilities, $5 million to continue a poverty reduction program, and more than $10 million to improve public housing units and create new rent supplements.
The budget allocates $1.43 billion to education and early childhood development, about $31.6-million more than last year, or an increase of 2.3 per cent.
An additional $10.2 million will support the continued rollout of pre-primary programs across the province. An additional $15 million is earmarked for addressing recommendations from the Commission on Inclusive Education.
Last year, $15 million was also allocated to inclusive education and went toward the hiring of about 190 classroom support workers, including speech language pathologists, autism support specialists and child psychologists. The detailed plan for the second instalment of inclusive-education spending was not released with the new budget.
The budget allocates a one per cent increase in operating grants to universities, which Aidan McNally of the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students said is simply not enough.
We know that that does not keep pace with how much costs go to universities and students, and their families are going to bear the brunt of that in the form of tuition fees, she told reporters.
McNally was hoping to see a bigger increase in spending on university operating grants, money to reduce tuition costs and a greater investment in support programs for sexual assault survivors. There was less than $500,000 earmarked for the continuation of a sexual violence prevention committee that works with universities and colleges.
Personal and corporate taxes remain the largest revenue stream for the province, making up 31 per cent of the total $11.01 billion in estimated revenue.
The budget projects $7.81 million in recreational cannabis tax, notably lower than the projected revenue from the same stream last year.
The 2018-19 budget included a $10.4 million estimated revenue from cannabis tax, but sales were much lower than expected because of the delay in the legalization date, nationwide supply shortages and dim online sales. The actual revenue for 2018-19 is expected to be closer to $3.37 million.
Cannabis edibles were not factored into the budget because, despite pending legalization later this year, Health Canada has yet to set regulations for edibles sales.
A new, corporate innovation equity tax credit in this budget is designed to encourage direct investment in small- and medium-sized local businesses. A new venture capital tax credit was also created for both individuals and corporations to encourage investment in Nova Scotia businesses through venture capital funding.
Read more about:
A group of investors in TransAlta Corp. plans to nominate directors to the board of the Canadian power producer because they think it may be able to find better deals than an investment from Brookfield Asset Management Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.
The group, comprised of Mangrove Partners and an entity controlled by C. John Wilders Bluescape Energy Partners, will put forward five people for TransAltas board, according to a statement late Monday from the Calgary-based company.
TransAlta will review Mangroves notice, consider the suitability of its nominees and communicate fully with its shareholders in due course, the company said in a statement.
Representatives for the activist group and TransAlta declined to comment Tuesday.
The investors, who collectively hold more than 10 per cent of TransAlta, have yet to fully evaluate the investment by Brookfield, but believe there might be better offers in the market, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. The group hasnt decided whether to launch a proxy fight, the people said.
Brookfields agreement will see it invest in TransAlta and nominate two directors to the board. Brookfield may also increase its stake in the company to 9 per cent under certain circumstances. The deal allows Brookfield to convert its investment into an equity interest in TransAltas Alberta water power assets at a later date and the proceeds will be used to accelerate TransAltas transition to clean energy and to buy back shares.
The investment is being made through Brookfields publicly traded renewable-energy arm, Brookfield Renewable Partners.
Under the terms of the investment, if more than two directors are elected outside of the companys slate, TransAlta has the right to reject the financing arrangement with Brookfield. The activists believe that electing their directors will preserve their right to pursue a superior transaction.
For U.S. President Donald Trumps new North American trade accord to become law, hell need the help of a political rival with a track record of blocking such deals.
In 2008, Nancy Pelosi was House Speaker when Democratic lawmakers denied President George W. Bushs request for a vote within 90 days on a trade pact with Colombia. The rejection delayed approval of deals the Bush administration negotiated with South Korea and Panama, though all three were later ratified.
Once again Speaker, Pelosi will play a pivotal role for Trumps renegotiated accord with Mexico and Canada, renamed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which isnt one of her legislative priorities. Its a change of pace from the frenetic year of negotiations that led to the deal being signed by leaders from all three countries in November.
If the House doesnt want to move on this, it doesnt have to move. So its really up to her, said Edward Alden, a trade expert at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Left-tilting tent
Pelosi is expected to only move the deal through the House if she can find a critical mass of her caucus supporting it and if she extracts concessions unrelated to trade from the White House in return, senior congressional aides say.
Asked to comment, Pelosis office referred to remarks she made this month in which the speaker said she and other Democrats are still weighing USMCAs provisions on the environment, labour, pharmaceuticals and enforcement before deciding whether to support it.
Read more:
New trade deal getting a boost from Trump, business groups
Canadians dont want NAFTA deal ratified until tariffs lifted, Freeland says
Freeland says tariffs raise serious questions about NAFTA after meetings in DC
With 60 new Democratic members who still have to familiarize themselves with their districts priorities and the content of the trade deal, the biggest challenge is educating lawmakers, the aides said. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is expected to meet with freshman members in the coming weeks to make his case.
Lighthizer has been wooing Democrats to support the updated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Sympathetic groups could include the New Democrat Coalition, which includes 100 lawmakers who back pro-growth policies.
He may face a tougher challenge on the partys left flank. Outspoken rookie lawmakers such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who identifies as a democratic socialist and backs a sweeping spending plan to reduce carbon emissions called the Green New Deal, have driven the Democratic agenda since the November election.
Thats the most amorphous piece of this: When is the caucus happy enough that she feels confident moving this? Hard to say, said the National Foreign Trade Councils Vanessa Sciarra, referring to Pelosi.
Kevin Brady, the top Republican on House Ways and Means Committee, said on Tuesday there may be a House vote on the pact this summer once Democrats concerns are addressed.
Labour, drugs
Some Democrats are calling for changes to sections of USMCA dealing with labour standards and drug patents.
The pact commits Mexico to reform its labour laws to allow workers to engage in collective bargaining. But senior Democrats have said the commitments are lacking teeth without adequate enforcement provisions.
Americas biggest federation of labour unions, the AFL-CIO, has said it wont support USMCA in its current form, and would oppose it if the business community forced a premature vote. What we hear on the Hill is the same thing were saying: Its not ready to be voted on, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said on Bloomberg TV Friday.
Democrats also arent enthusiastic about a drug patent provision that would force Mexico and Canada to extend protection for biologic drugs, warning it could raise prices for consumers.
Steel, aluminum
Mexico and Canada have warned they may not ratify USMCA unless the U.S. lifts tariffs on steel and aluminum. The duties are also unpopular with lawmakers from Trumps own Republican Party.
Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the agreement wouldnt be considered as long as the duties remain in place.
The administration is considering replacing the tariffs with quotas, which are equally, if not more, unpopular with many lawmakers as well as Mexico and Canada.
The Trump administration can make tweaks to the agreement to mollify concerns. But major revisions would require reopening talks with Mexico and Canada, a scenario Lighthizer has ruled out.
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland met with Lighthizer and Democratic lawmakers Monday in Washington, where she discussed USMCA and urged for the removal of metals tariffs.
Time may also not be on Trumps side. A report on the pacts economic impact is expected in mid-April. In the weeks that follow, the administration has to submit legislation to implement the agreement. But if the deal isnt passed by Congresss August recess, it may be doomed to languish until after the presidential election in November 2020.
Heavy lift
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said Republicans tried to press the administration to ratify the deal when his party controlled the House because passage would become more difficult once Democrats took over at the start of this year. Its going to be a heavy lift, I fear, Johnson told Fox News.
The president has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the existing Nafta to pressure lawmakers to approve his new deal, a plan that Pelosi made clear is not a good idea. On Friday, Trump said if congressional Democrats dont ratify USMCA, his alternative would be to maybe go pre-NAFTA with trade practices in North America.
But with a strong economy expected to be one of Trumps campaign talking points, he may be more hesitant now to pull the plug.
Its pretty clear that hes not willing to take that gamble, given the effect that would have on markets ahead of the 2020 election, said Alden, of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Like most kids growing up in a Mennonite farming family, Vera M. Goods future could have been restricted to physical work and a grade school education. But Veras family was different, straddling the world between old tradition and new thought. Her parents had moved to a more progressive Mennonite church and they allowed son, Milton Good, and daughter, Viola Good, to attend high school.
It was Viola who convinced her parents that Vera needed to be given the same opportunity, that she had a brilliant mind and big ambitions. They agreed. Though it took a few years, Vera earned a PhD and worked in education, and eventually was hired as executive producer of childrens programming at TVOntario where she stayed for 15 years.
In 2010, Vera was awarded an honorary doctorate from Wilfrid Laurier University. She was the subject of a biography The Exceptional Vera Good: A Life Beyond the Polka Dot Door by New Hamburg author Nancy Silcox.
Proceeds from the sale of the book are donated to the charity Strong Start.
Before pursuing her career as a leading educator in Ontario, Vera had to follow the path of many Mennonite farm girls.
Born one of eight children on Nov. 13, 1915 in Hawkesville, Ont., Vera completed Grade 8, then took a job at Kaufmann Rubber. Her parents allowed her to complete grades 9 to 12 in private studies while working. She completed Grade 13 at Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and was awarded a scholarship.
At 28 years old, she graduated at the top of her class, said Silcox, who spent two years in intensive interviews to get Veras full story.
The $100 scholarship was enough to pay tuition for the one-year program at the Stratford teachers college. After completing the program, she taught in a one-room school in Breslau.
She was custodian, principal, teacher, everything, said Silcox.
Vera loved teaching but after a couple of years she grew restless.
I remember her saying Ive never been anywhere, Ive never been outside of Waterloo County, Silcox said. So she signed up with the MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) and they sent her to India.
Friend Elaine Yoder was a recent graduate of Grand River Hospitals nursing program and like Vera she was looking for adventure. The women and several others from the region signed up to travel to India, but as Yoder pointed out, MCC volunteers had to travel on an extremely low budget. It was so low that the weeklong voyage was made on a Second World War Italian troop transport ship.
It was the worst, Yoder said in a phone interview from her home in Ohio. We were all in one room, women and children, sleeping in bunks attached to pipes.
The passengers were dropped off in Cairo with promises another ship would take them to India. Three weeks later, the ship had not arrived so they were sent on a two-day journey by airplane to Calcutta, the end of a great adventure.
In India, Yoder worked in the Mennonite hospital while Vera was a secretary at MCCs Indian headquarters.
She was very smart, said Yoder. She was a very good secretary.
Veras timing could not have been better in terms of witnessing history.
Mahatma Gandhi, leader of Indias independence movement from British colonial rule, was giving a talk at a rally in New Delhi and Vera was there. She later told Silcox she was so close, she could see the lines in Gandhis face.
The next day, Jan. 30, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated. Vera recounted to Silcox the feeling in the city following his death, the quiet that was unsettling as citizens seemed to hold their breath waiting for an eruption of violence.
After serving the required three-year term in India, Yoder was sent to Sumatra and Vera returned home, but not before completing one more adventure: touring Europe with friends.
Vera next pursued an undergraduate degree in social work from Goshen College in Indiana, where her sister Viola, who also achieved advanced degrees, served as womens dean. She next achieved a masters degree in education for gifted children from Northwestern University in Illinois followed by a PhD in education from Columbia University.
Returning to Canada, Vera started teaching in Etobicoke where she became the regions first female principal. Vera was so capable that she was repeatedly promoted, often against her will, said Silcox. Vera told her these advances were frustrating because she would just get settled into a new job and have to leave. One of her last jobs before joining TVO was working as an inspector for the Ontario Ministry of Education.
In 2010, when Vera was presented with her honorary doctorate, she spoke to the graduating students about the importance of being sensitive to the needs of children who might need a bit more help.
At the time, she was legally blind and insisted on memorizing her full speech even though a nephew offered to read it for her.
Vera said: To rescue even one child with learning problems or special needs from humiliation in the classroom and at home and from lifelong feelings of low self-esteem, is exhilarating. Equally satisfying is seeing any grade level, the unmotivated, under achieving, bright child who responds eagerly to challenging program adjustments. She spoke of how easily such children can be left behind at great cost to themselves and loss to society.
In the 1970s, Vera was asked to design a preschool series for the newly launched TVO. One of her most successful programs was Polka Dot Door with its beloved character Polkaroo. She was the shows original producer.
Silcox said teachers at the time were worried educational television could somehow replace them so Vera faced a lot of resistance. Vera created teams who would travel the province with televisions they would take into schools and show teachers, proving they had nothing to fear. Vera was one of those team members.
With such a busy career, Vera must have thought romance eluded her but then she met Antoni Nowakowski, a former prisoner of war who had been part of the Polish underground during the Second World War.
They met at a party, said Silcox, adding that Vera shocked her family by getting married. She was well into her 50s and the couple lived together happily until her husband died of cancer five years after they married.
Following the loss of her husband and after 15 years at TVO, Vera decided to retire and move back to Waterloo Region. She later moved to Simcoe to be closer to family. She died there on March 20 at age 103, surrounded by loved ones.
Hers is such an amazing story, said Silcox. I am so fortunate, we spent a wonderful couple of years (in interviews).
She had a sense of humour, she wasnt stodgy at all. She was funny but she kept her emotions under control.
Longtime friends Katherine and Don Snyder said Vera was a delightful lady.
She was always inspiring in conversation, said Katherine. She loved to discuss politics and religion, two subjects she also noted were not usually discussed at Veras long-term care facility in Simcoe.
Hers was a life well-lived, with many accomplishments, said Don. She focused more on other people, not herself.
HALIFAXNova Scotia nurses are cracking under pressure, saying that higher-than-normal overcrowding in hospital emergency departments is taking a toll on patients and the staff who treat them.
At a Nova Scotia Nurses Union press conference on Monday, Jen Thiele said nurses are on the front lines of a daily battle.
We are just overwhelmed, said Thiele, a member of the unions board of directors and a registered nurse at the Dartmouth General Hospital.
Were not getting breaks, the volume of patients coming in is astronomical, we dont have a whole lot of spaces to place these patients to have them seen and treated, and the patients were seeing are incredibly sick.
A recent survey of 259 NSNU members showed more than three quarters of emergency nurses were not optimistic about the state of emergency departments in Nova Scotia. Ninety-two per cent feel overwhelmed by their workloads, and 93 per cent said they could deliver better care if they had more time.
Nurses in some hospitals are being denied vacations and breaks, in addition to handling patient frustrations and experiencing compassion fatigue, where you almost feel down on yourself for not being able to provide the care that you know people deserve.
Read more:
Nova Scotia Liberals to table balanced budget, but questions remain on healthcare funding
Paramedics will leave if Nova Scotia doesnt fix emergency room backlog, union says
Twice as many calls, lines down the hall: Halifax paramedic says current emergency department situation has surpassed a crisis
As nurses, we work very hard in every department. When we are packed in our department and someone comes in and needs a bed, we move people around and we make it happen, said Thiele.
We are doing stuff on a daily basis just to keep the department flowing and try to keep it running, but at this point, were running out of steam as well. Were getting burnt out. We need help.
She noted that many of the people visiting emergency rooms are non-emergency cases, people who could be seen at a family doctor or a walk-in clinic, but they dont have access to that.
NSNU president Janet Hazelton said the issues surrounding overcrowding and a lack of beds in emergency departments are complex, and there is no single, clear-cut remedy.
She said while there isnt a shortage of nurses across the province, there are gaps, especially in rural areas and in emergency rooms.
These problems create a ripple effect that impact other areas of health care.
We really do wish there was one solution that would fix what seems to be a problem in our health care system, but there isnt, said Hazelton.
A lot of the issueswhich include a lack of beds, struggles with the flow of patients, and staffing shortagesboil down to inadequate primary health care, a lack of nurses, and not properly utilizing the nurses we have.
She said the union has been conducting research among more than 200 nurses, members of the public and other health care stakeholders to learn how to improve care in the province.
Hazelton said the results of that research, along with several recommendations, will be released in May.
One of the solutions we really truly believe and itll be part of our recommendations is we need to better utilize nurse practitioners in our emergency departments, she said.
We heard about patients being sent home just this morning in the news. Some of those patients could have been seen, treated and released by a nurse practitioner. Lots of the patients that are in our emergency departments can be seen, treated, and released by nurse practitioners.
Hazelton also called for nurse practitioners, who can diagnose patients, order and interpret tests and prescribe medication, to work in long-term care facilities, a move promised by the province that has yet to be implemented.
If we had nurse practitioners working in long-term care, they would be there to see those residents and hopefully prevent them from going to our emergency departments, she said.
Hazelton said there is also a need for more long-term care beds to free up acute care beds.
The nurses join a chorus of other workers protesting the state of health care in Nova Scotia.
On Monday, the union representing Nova Scotias paramedics launched a social media campaign to highlight a lack of ambulances. Theyre encouraging people to change their profile pictures by adding a filter showing a Nova Scotia flag flying upside down the international symbol for distress.
This is really about showing this government that we arent happy, Nova Scotians arent happy, and we wont stop until we see real changes happening, Michael Nickerson, president of the International Union of Operating Engineers, said in a statement.
Nova Scotias paramedics are tired, theyre worn out, theyre hungry and enough is enough. They deserve better, we all do.
And on April 3, the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union and the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour are hosting a rally to protest what they call a crisis in the provinces health care system.
In an interview on Monday, Health Minister Randy Delorey avoided using the word crisis, but acknowledged there are challenges the government is trying to address.
Certainly, there have been conversations and concerns have been raised If were going to do this, we have to do it right, and we have to do it looking towards the future, he said.
Earlier in the day, Delorey announced a request for proposals for the design of the expansion the Cape Breton Regional Hospital will be issued this week. The work would see the construction of a new emergency department, critical care department, and cancer centre.
The government has already approved $8.1-million for the redevelopment project, which will go toward completing the early design phase. However, part of the redevelopment plan would mean closing the Northside General Hospital in North Sydney, N.S., and the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital.
The governments move has been met with criticism in Cape Breton, and politicians were booed at the news conference announcing the changes last June.
In terms of nurses, Delorey said last year the province announced $1.4-million for its Nurse Practitioner Education Incentive, which covers the salaries of up to 10 registered nurses while they attend Dalhousie Universitys two-year Master of Nursing nurse practitioner program.
In return, the recipients must agree to work in one of several designated communities for five years.
The province will also spend $1.6-million over four years to fund an additional 25 seats in Dalhousies nurse practitioner program.
Delorey said the government is recognizing and listening to the issues highlighted by the NSNU.
We recognize and value the role that nurses play, not just in emergency departments, but throughout our health care system.
With files from The Canadian Press.
Read more about:
HALIFAXTheres a lift to his voice when Matthew Bonn shares that on March 16, he celebrated one-year substance free.
Bonns experience with IV drug use led to his involvement with HaliFIX, an initiative pushing for Halifax to become home to Atlantic Canadas first overdose prevention site.
Im a former IV substance user and I like to say Im a survivor of the opioid epidemic because my substance of choice was fentanyl, Bonn said in a phone interview from Cape Breton where he was on a work-related trip.
Bonn, now 28, started using pharmaceutical-grade fentanyl about eight years ago before eventually turning to illicit fentanyl and other substances.
I overdosed multiple times on fentanyl. Ive had a lot of friends overdose and die. Ive brought people back with Naloxone, Ive been Naloxoned, he said.
About six months ago Bonn became involved with the Halifax Area Network for Drug Using People. It ignited his commitment to help others and led to his involvement with HaliFIX.
Read more:
Nova Scotia delivers fourth consecutive balanced budget with a 6.2 per cent increase in health care spending
Approval for Canadian premiers is on the rise except in Nova Scotia and Ontario
Dumpster full of disappointment: Advocates, Opposition say provincial budget doesnt address Nova Scotias health-care crisis
I always wondered what I was going to do in life, because I used for so long and I realized that being on the other side, being a part of the solution rather than being a part of the problem, has really become my passion, he said.
I turned my mess into my message.
Now an outreach worker, Bonn said the recently launched HaliFIX social media campaign is backed by advocates, physicians, researchers, medical students and community-based organizations.
I always say this could save your childs life, your brothers life, a family members life, Bonn said. You never know who may be using this service and if someone is coming to an overdose prevention site every day, its connecting them to services that they would not have otherwise.
Dr. Tommy Brothers is one of those spearheading the HaliFIX initiative. The Dalhousie University internal medicine resident and researcher has been recognized for his work with marginalized communities. His medical training focused on HIV-positive populations and in-patient care of people who use IV drugs in Vancouver. He has also worked in addiction medicine in both Halifax and Toronto.
Details about a proposed overdose prevention site were shared at a community meeting in Halifax last September, but while that led to many useful conversations, Brothers said theres been little to no movement since.
Theres still not a commitment from the provincial government to establish one as a health service, he said in an interview.
Share your thoughts
The awareness campaign is calling on people to contact their MLAs, the health minister and the province to support the initiative.
It seems like people are becoming more and more familiar with these health services and their benefits, he said. We thought if we could start a public conversation on it, it would help the government see that it is needed and it is acceptable and its time to get one going.
Brothers said overdose prevention sites are provided in provinces across Canada, including B.C., Ontario, Alberta and Quebec.
Theres a lot of misconceptions, and some of the common ones you hear is people are worried that somehow a site like this will increase public drug use, will increase discarded needles on the street, Brothers said.
Theres now decades of researchthat these sites reduce transmission of blood-borne infections, reduce the rate of overdose deaths, increase access to services, reduce the rate of publicly discarded needles, reduce the rate of public drug use.
The opioid crisis has claimed many fatalities in Nova Scotia, with 50 confirmed and 10 probable opioid toxicity deaths in 2018. There have been four probable opioid toxicity deaths in the province as of Feb. 28 of 2019.
This is a community thats really vulnerable, that has been really devastated by frequent overdose deaths and now has an epidemic of HIV among the community of people who inject drugs in Halifax (and) an ongoing epidemic of Hepatitis C, Brothers said.
Although public engagement on social media is the first step, Brothers said HaliFIXs vision is to have provincial support and funding to allow for ancillary services such as treatment for addiction, HIV and Hepatitis C as well as testing.
If that doesnt happen, Brothers said the next step will be to fundraise and move toward a basic model that would include booths where people could use substances under supervision, access sterile equipment and have overdoses reversed with Naloxone.
Treating people as human beings and providing them a way to access health care services and providing them a way to access a place where they wont die is kind of a basic human decency thing, as well as a smart health care service to offer, Brothers said.
Bonn said things would have been much different for him if thered been a safe injection site in Halifax when he first began using eight years ago.
I dont think I would have contracted Hepatitis C. I remember right around when I did contract it, and I was using in condemned buildings, alleyways, outside a lot, Bonn recalled.
I also wouldnt have lost a lot of friends due to overdose death. We need this.
While hed like to see a federally sanctioned safe-injection site established in the city, hes hoping the province will come on board with funding to help them open the regions first overdose prevention site.
Theres a lot of support for HaliFIX right now and we want to do it the proper way, we want to do it with the province, he said.
When asked for comment, a spokesperson for the provincial Department of Health and Wellness sent an emailed statement.
The department is reviewing options for an overdose prevention model and how it could fit into the provinces overall harm reduction approach, said Tracy Barron. Once this work is complete, recommendations will be provided to government to consider.
Yvette dEntremont is a Halifax-based reporter focusing on health. Follow her on Twitter: @ydentremont
Read more about:
VANCOUVERIt was a quick weekend conference trip to North Carolina with a late stopover in Toronto back to Vancouver where I needed to work in the morning, as editor of the Stars B.C. newsroom. The plane wasnt full, and I was pleased to snag a whole row to myself to catch some shut-eye. I was ready with my memory foam pillow, eye mask and noise-cancelling headphones (I take sleep very seriously).
But before the plane even took off, the middle-aged Vancouverite in the row behind me was making his move on the teenager in the window seat beside him. She looked very young and was speaking in the future tense about university so it was clear she was likely still in secondary school. He appeared to be in at least his late-thirties or early forties.
At first, I was paying attention because of how blatantly sexist he was sounding, laughing when she said she hoped to become CEO someday and asking whether her career plans would work if she wanted a family. It soon became more disturbing when he sounded obviously delighted that she was so young, frequently saying her name over and over again and telling her she was so smart for her age.
I was listening carefully because this has happened to me, too. As my tweets about the incident went viral, I learned that many people have their own stories about airplane harassment.
The first time I travelled without my parents at age 16, the man next to me spoke with me most of the flight, which made me feel important, but then he started saying confusing things like I must be flirting because I was touching the zipper on my sweater. To his credit, he stopped and later looked ashamed.
The second time I travelled alone to Montreal, an older man struck up a conversation while we waited to board and I thought it was strange he wanted to know so many details about my trip. Then he kissed me without my consent. I was too shocked to say anything.
Read more:
Why 95 per cent of women do not report sexual assaults in their own words: new report
Opinion | #MeToo, WestJet and lessons from the unfriendly skies
She was grabbed, endured sexual taunts and followed into the washroom. The WSIB says this wasnt workplace harassment
I wasnt the only vigilant adult paying attention on our flight last night. A woman, seated behind the man and the teenager, was following what was happening closely, too. As soon as I heard the man ask the teenager for a dirty photo, I stood up, tapped him on the shoulder and rage-whispered to him that I couldnt help noticing that he was acting like a pervert. He pretended he didnt hear me and went to the back to use the washroom.
This was when the other woman reached out to the teenager to ask if she was OK and let her know that she has the right to move to get away from the situation, while I went up and let the flight attendant know what was going on.
The flight crew acted swiftly to collect witness reports, offer support to the teenager (who welcomed the assistance) and ask the man to move. He refused to leave at first and demanded that the head flight attendant fetch her boss to handle the situation. She calmly said, Im the boss. This is serious, and we could land the plane. Then he directed his anger at me and, while trying to control my fury, I reminded him that I heard him asking for the dirty photos.
When we landed in Vancouver, a security officer was waiting for him. The man looked like he was sweating bullets.
I had doubts about whether to share the story and decided to share tweets about what happened without mentioning any potentially identifying details. Airplane harassment was something that I hadnt heard of much before, and I thought readers may want to learn of a case where bystanders intervention seemed to work to stop an uncomfortable situation from escalating.
My tweets went viral and each time I go back on Twitter to check, there are hundreds more notifications and comments.
Many women on Twitter said that this has happened to them when they were young. It was heartbreaking to read that in one case, a woman tried to ask the man seated next to her to help and he made eye contact with her and then just put his headphones in. In another example posted to Twitter, bystanders not only didnt do anything to help they even goaded the older man to get the young womans phone number.
Hundreds of men have also shared the Twitter thread and many said that they werent aware that airplane harassment was so common, and they promised to be vigilant, too. The comments were really interesting because people were very honest about how in some cases, they feel awkward and unsure if their perception of a situation is correct. Women may tend to have more lived experiences about what being subtly harassed feels like more than men would. A Twitter user named Marc Aspinall concluded that it was better to embarrass himself from time to time than to do nothing at all.
The point of all this isnt to cast shame on genuine flirtation between an older person and a younger person who is an adult. There are different things bystanders can do to try to figure out what is happening in a situation that they are witnessing in a public space. People of all genders and walks of life need to be part of this important conversation.
What do you think?
Angela Marie Macdougall, executive director of the Vancouver-based non-profit Battered Womens Support Services (BWSS), told me on the phone that there are many things bystanders can do if they witness harassment on transportation.
BWSS has published an online resource, where suggestions for bystanders include: Ask the woman, Are they bothering you?, loudly saying ugh, that is so gross, making eye contact with some other bystanders and ask, What should we do to help?
Often people dont know what to do. People might think Its not my problem, its not a big deal. It comes from the fact that a lot of this behaviour is so normalized and weve only just started to address this publicly on social media, Macdougall said.
Many people genuinely dont know what to do, but they should know they can take action and they should take action. It matters a lot. Every time we hear about this, we see how endemic this actually is how much sexual harassment happens routinely, she added.
The New York Times has written about how bystander intervention training can be more effective than traditional harassment workshops, and the non-profit Stop Street Harassment (SSH) has published a guide with examples of things that bystanders can do. Some peoples instinct might be to get aggressive, but there are many other options.
Many of the suggestions that do not directly challenge a harasser, such as asking the woman if she wants help or asking the harasser what time it is, are excellent to use when one is not sure if it is harassment that is occurring, if they do not want to dis-empower the woman, or if they fear becoming the target of the harassers inappropriate behaviour themselves, according to the guide.
I applaud the professional and firm conduct of all the staff on board the flight. Perhaps in another flight in a different place with a different crew, things could have worked out much differently. I am curious about whether airlines in North America have clear policies on how to handle these situations onboard. My newsroom will be doing more research into harassment policies on flights to help inform the public of their rights.
Canadians are known for being polite and courteous, but when speaking up is important, I am proud that in this case passengers and crew stood up to directly confront a harasser.
Read more about:
BANFF, ALTA.The bears are out and about in Banff National Park.
Officials with Parks Canada say they had their first grizzly bear sighting on a remote camera on March 19.
The bears are out, said Bill Hunt, manager of resource conservation with Banff National Park. Its a high probability that its bear No. 122.
No. 122 is a large, male grizzly also known as The Boss.
Parks Canada has been worried that spilled grain from a derailed train in the park on Feb. 28 would attract hungry grizzly bears emerging from hibernation to the tracks.
The Transportation Safety Board said 20 railcars from a Canadian Pacific Railway freight train went off the tracks west of the town of Banff.
Read more:
Edmonton bear biologist finds Twitter boosts academic research
After 15 months of rehab, Banffs bathroom bear cubs return home
Why an Alberta wildlife rescue group is going to build an enclosure for orphaned grizzly cubs despite provincewide ban
No one was hurt and there were no dangerous goods. Ten of the derailed cars contained grain, including canola that spilled.
Hunt said they have dumped two roadkill carcasses in an area west of the spill site to keep the bears away from the grain.
The spill site has also been surrounded by electric fencing to keep wildlife away.
Theyve got most of the bulk grain removed so now crews are vacuuming frantically trying to clean the forest floor, said Hunt. Theyve got these debris piles ... that are mostly ballast and mud and snow with some grain mixed in.
So far we havent had any bears near the site, fortunately, but with bears active on the landscape, were trying to get that last bit cleaned up as soon as possible.
Hunt said other bears will soon be out.
We have very few black bears collared, but two of four black bears that we have collared have been showing activity in the last few days. One of those is near the town of Banff, he said.
Its indicative that everyones waking up right now.
Officials are reminding visitors to be aware of their surroundings, make noise, carry bear spray and keep dogs on leashes.
Read more about:
OTTAWACanadian peacekeepers were called upon to evacuate several wounded French soldiers in Mali earlier this month after their patrol was ambushed while hunting for militants along the border with Niger.
The previously unreported incident marks the first time the Canadians have been asked to help non-United Nations forces in Mali, where the French have been conducting counter-insurgency operations since 2014.
Canada has eight helicopters and 250 military personnel in Mali, where they have been providing emergency medical evacuations and transporting troops and equipment across a large swath of the remote African country.
The Canadians have conducted seven other medical evacuations since August, all of which involved injured UN troops and workers.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, the commander of Canadas task force in Mali said the UN and France have agreed to help each other in extreme circumstances and that his peacekeepers did their jobs by helping save lives.
I wouldnt want people to presume or assume that were supporting counter-terrorism efforts, said Col. Travis Morehen. But its really at this point about saving allied lives.
Read more:
UN formally asks Canada to extend Mali mission to prevent medevac gap
Death toll from central Mali massacre up to 134, says UN
Canadians pressed into service after deadly attack on UN base in Mali
News of the French evacuation comes as the federal government is contemplating a formal UN request to extend its peacekeeping mission in Mali, which is currently set to end at the end of July.
France has about 3,000 heavily armed soldiers in Mali and the surrounding region hunting militants linked to al-Qaida, the Islamic State and other extremist groups through what is known as Operation Barkhane.
While Operation Barkhane has been credited with keeping the numerous Islamic extremist groups in Mali off balance, it has also been accused in some corners of contributing to instability in the region.
According to media reports, a French patrol was operating near Malis border with Niger on March 10 when they were ambushed by a vehicle packed with explosives and a group of militants on motorcycles.
Fifteen French soldiers were reportedly injured, two seriously, before the militants fled.
The Canadians first learned about the attack when a French officer at the Operation Barkhane camp in Gao called while it was still happening and indicated an emergency medical evacuation might be required, said Morehen.
The French counter-terror mission operates largely independently from the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, but Morehen says there is a good working relationship between the two.
That includes the French providing air-traffic control services to the UN around Gao, the northern Malian city that is home to several military bases, including one belonging to Barkhane and another where the Canadians are located.
The French also boast a more capable hospital than the UN, Morehen said, which is why the Canadians often end up bringing any wounded peacekeepers that they pick up in the field to the Barkhane camp.
So our pilots go over there and make sure that we have our flying procedures correct and we have a technical arrangement with them as well for medical support, Morehen said.
Theres lots of sharing between us, which is all blessed by our governments.
Three Canadian helicopters were quickly deployed with approval from the UN mission commander in Bamako, Morehen said, and arrived at the scene about two hours later, at which point the fighting was over.
Because of the distance, the two smaller Griffon escorts were redirected to a nearby town to refuel while the larger Chinook, which is configured like a flying hospital, continued back to Gao alone with the injured French soldiers.
It does increase the risk, he said, but we balanced it against the need to get those wounded back to medical facilities as soon as possible.
While he agreed that it was the right thing to do, Walter Dorn, an expert on peacekeeping at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, said the evacuation nonetheless risked linking the UN and French missions in some minds.
The risk is that we are associated with Barkhane and we then become subject to more attacks and the line between peacekeepers and counter-insurgency fighters is blurred, Dorn said.
Morehen pushed back against such suggestions, insisting the evacuation was an extremely rare circumstance and that anyone who wants to target the UN which has suffered dozens of casualties in Mali will do so no matter what.
The people that want to do people harm here, theyve already got it formulated in their mind, he said. I dont see how fathomable it is that we would be targeted because we gave a medevac to French forces.
Read more about:
HALIFAXNova Scotias premier has reached a new low in approval ratings to sit in last place amongst provincial leaders across Canada, according to new numbers.
Public opinion data released Tuesday by the Angus Reid Institute through a quarterly survey on premiers performances, finds a slight warming towards many leaders besides Premier Stephen McNeil of Nova Scotia and Ontarios Doug Ford.
McNeil, currently also Canadas longest-serving premier, has the lowest approval of any premier at 24 per cent.
Thats a drop of six points from last quarter, when he sat at 30 per cent.
The Liberal leader has faced criticism in Nova Scotia in past years in the governments treatment of teachers, the film industry, and more recently their handling of what nurses, paramedics, health-care unions and more have called a crisis in hospitals across the province.
Last week, the Liberals were also under fire for spending an estimated $8.5 million to renovate a ferry terminal in Maine, to help prop up a service running between the state and Yarmouth, N.S.
Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines has said the ferry is a vital part of the provinces transportation system and is important to the tourism industry.
The only other premier to lose approval points in the new data, Ontarios Doug Ford, dropped four points this quarter to 38 per cent.
According to the Angus Reid release, Ford has faced criticism for his governments decision to increase class sizes under the provinces new education plan. Ford was, however, cleared of personal wrongdoing in an ethics investigation looking into the appointment of his long-time friend Ron Taverner as Ontario Provincial Police commissioner.
While Ford was found to have remained at arms-length during the process, the integrity commissioner did express serious doubts about the fairness of the process.
As NDP Premier Rachel Notley fights for re-election in Alberta, voters appear to approve of her more today than they have at any time in the last three years, the release said.
Although Notley faces long odds ahead of the April 16 election, according to polls which point to a lead for the opposition United Conservative Party, Notleys personal approval continues to rise.
For the fifth consecutive wave of this quarterly survey, Notleys approval has increased and is now at 40 per cent compared to 36 per cent last quarter.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault topped the list as the countrys most popular premier (60 per cent), followed by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe (59 per cent), and British Columbia Premier John Horgan in third with 52 per cent.
Horgan, the NDP leader, saw a jump of 9 percentage points since December, when 43 per cent approved of his performance.
The release said Horgans current number ties with his highest mark as premier, which was set in March 2018.
Horgans resurgent popularity comes as opposition leader Andrew Wilkinson has struggled to connect with British Columbians, the release said. Wilkinson been accused of being out of touch over among other things comments he made about renting, a touchy subject in and around Metro Vancouver because of ongoing affordability issues.
The rest of the provinces are rounded out with Blaine Higgs of New Brunswick sitting at 49 per cent, Manitobas Brian Pallister rising to 44 per cent, and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball at second-last with 35 per cent.
The Angus Reid Institute analyzed the results of an online survey between March 11 24, 2019 for this poll, among a representative randomized sample of 5,807 adult Canadian residents who are members of the Angus Reid Forum.
Probability samples of this size would carry varying margins of error based on each province: for N.S. that is plus or minus 6 per cent, Alberta is 3.4, Ontario is 3.1, and B.C. is 3.5.
Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
Read more about:
A Toronto jury has retired to decide whether Harris Nnane is guilty of a 2016 brazen double murder outside an east-end LCBO without being told that his companion that evening is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for first-degree murder.
Alexander Fountain, who can be seen with Nnane in LCBO surveillance footage minutes before the murders of Joseph Anzolona and Cynthia Mullapudi, is a suspect in the April 15, 2017, fatal shooting of Samatar Farah, 24, an innocent man with no criminal record.
Toronto Police say Farah was not targeted for who he was, but for where he lived.
His senseless slaying was linked to a feud between residents of the Chester Le neighbourhood near Finch Ave. E. and Victoria Park Ave. and a housing complex on Parma Court, south of Eglinton Ave. E. Three arrests have been made in the case.
Fountain and the other accused all have associations to the Parma Court neighbourhood.
Fountain, 27, is also wanted for three counts of attempt murder for a shooting two days before Farah was killed, also in Chester Le.
Read more:
Accused in double murder trial had no reason to kill anyone, defence lawyer says
Nnanes jury was only told police have never been able to locate Fountain.
The seven-week trial at the downtown Superior Court was marked by a possible attempt to intimidate a key witness who testified for the prosecution.
Anzolona was ambushed as he returned to a parked car outside the LCBO. Mullapudi, a Markham student who was also struck and killed in the gunfire, had just met Anzolona and was waiting for him with his friend, Chad Pillay.
On the day Pillay took the stand last month, several uniformed Toronto police officers could be seen at the back of the court near a group of young men, some of whom could be seen offering gestures of support to Nnane, 28.
Pillay testified Anzolona called him from inside the LCBO, moments before he was killed.
During his closing address Monday, Crown attorney Rob Fried reiterated to jurors the Crowns theory that Anzolona was warning Pillay of imminent danger after seeing Nnane and Fountain inside the liquor outlet at Victoria Park Ave., and Ellesmere Rd.
Fried stopped short of saying Pillay had been intimidated, but raised the spectre that there was a plausible explanation for his inconsistencies from previous statements and for his obvious discomfort on the stand.
For instance, Pillay earlier told police Anzolona spoke to him in a low voice. Last month, he testified his friend spoke to him in a medium voice.
Now, I suggest for some reason Chad wanted to downplay what occurred during that phone call, Fried said to the jury.
He appeared, you may find, afraid to testify, and reticent to answer my questions about the night of the shooting, the prosecutor continued. You may have noticed him literally hiding behind the monitor on the witness stand, he added.
Nnane has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.
Long-term care workers face constant violence on the job, with 80 per cent reporting first-hand experience with physical assault in the workplace, according to a new poll.
The survey of more than 1,000 long-term care workers in Ontario found almost half of respondents experienced physical violence such as pushing or hitting on a daily or weekly basis. Some 63 per cent said they had faced sexual harassment at least once on the job and 43 per cent said theyd experienced sexual assault.
Its hard to imagine another environment in which this kind of level of violence would be tolerated, said Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions.
When you look carefully at the numbers, its clear that there are verbal and sexual and racialized assaults going on constantly in these workplaces.
The survey was conducted by Toronto-based firm Public Polling for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 25,000 long-term care workers across the province. Those polled included 1,294 personal support workers and registered practical nurses in Ontario long-term care homes represented by 26 different CUPE locals. The survey had a 95 per cent confidence level.
Sue Moore, who has worked in the long-term care sector for 15 years as a registered practical nurse and is also president of CUPE 3014, said workers often receive little preparation for the violence they encounter on the job.
Theres no time spent in school telling you that these are things that can occur while working in health care, she said. Its more or less you get out on the floor, and thats when you start experiencing it.
Despite the high levels of workplace violence reported by those surveyed, the poll found that 53 per cent of respondents had never filed a formal report with their employer.
Moore believes that is because workplace violence is often treated like part of the job rather than a risk.
Theres no support to say, hey, you should report that. Not many people know of their responsibilities, she said.
The Star obtained one letter sent by a long-term care employer to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board contesting a mental stress claim filed by a worker who was assaulted on the job. In the letter, the employer said they did not dispute the assault, but argued the claim should be denied because aggression was regularly encountered in the workplace.
Hurley said that attitude is systemic in the long-term care sector.
Thats why people dont report. They dont get any support, he said. In what universe is that OK?
The workers claim was ultimately approved by the board.
Occupational health experts Jim Brophy and Margaret Keith, who are both affiliated with the University of Windsor and University of Stirling, published a qualitative report Tuesday alongside the poll based on 10 in-depth focus groups with CUPE long-term care employees.
Brophy said he was horrified by the pervasiveness and the normalization of violence that we heard in focus group after focus group.
One of the factors that we really noticed and disturbed us a great deal was the unaddressed emotional trauma that so many of the front-line caregivers had, he said.
The blaming of the victims, the normalizing of it, the fear of speaking out, is so characteristic of violence against women, he added. Some 85 per cent of those polled identified as female.
Brophy and Keiths report identified a range of risk factors for violence in long-term care including understaffing, lack of security measures and a task-oriented organization of work that provides too little time not only for basic care but for resident-centred relational care.
You had a staff that is really on the verge of a breaking point. They described work as if it was an assembly line, Brophy said, adding that 60 per cent of long-term care facilities are now privately operated.
The public doesnt see that whats happening to these women is reflective of whats going on in their health-care system and it will impact all of us.
Of those surveyed in Tuesdays poll, 65 per cent said they had considered quitting their job because of the stress caused by workplace violence.
The Ontario government recently unveiled health-care reform plans that included adding 15,000 new long-term care beds over five years and 30,000 beds over 10 years. Hurley said while the demand for long-term care is intensifying as Ontarios population ages, staffing levels have not kept up.
This is a recipe that creates this potent stew where residents are to some extent neglected and their family members are upset. They express it directly and unfairly to workers, Hurley said.
I think youll see this actually worsen, not get better.
Almost 60 per cent of respondents to the survey said at least half or more of all incidents of violence they had experienced occurred when their unit was understaffed, and 92 per cent said additional staffing would help prevent violence. A further 75 per cent said they did not believe residents were receiving adequate care because of existing workload and staffing levels.
When you are working in conditions where youre consistently short staffed, it makes it very difficult for people to do their jobs in a manner that doesnt put everybody at risk, Moore said.
These acts of violence, these acts of harassment, they take away from the care were providing.
In addition to more front-line staff, Hurley wants to see stronger anti-reprisal protections for health-care workers who speak up about workplace violence and stronger criminal sentences for those who assault health-care workers.
Its not about looking at my employer and saying, youre not doing a good enough job. Because I think everything is an ongoing conversation. But we cant keep burying our heads in the sand on this, Moore said.
I can only be my best if I am safe in the workplace.
A newly arrived refugee who helped shelter whistleblower Edward Snowden in Hong Kong pleaded with Canadian officials on Tuesday to grant asylum to others who assisted the American fugitive years ago.
Vanessa Rodel said her excitement at now being in Canada with her seven-year-old daughter Keana was tempered by the knowledge that people with whom she still feels a strong bond have not been so lucky.
At a news conference in Toronto, held hours before she was to travel to Montreal and move into her new home, Rodel said her fellow members of the group that came to be known as Snowdens Guardian Angels should be allowed to join her.
I dont want them left behind, she said of the group of five, who include Keanas father and two half-siblings. I dont want to feel that I forget about them because Im here now in Canada. Theyre still hoping they can come in Canada to feel safe and free.
Rodel and Keana arrived in Toronto on Monday afternoon, two months after the federal government formally granted them refugee status.
Their arrival brought an end to what her lawyer Robert Tibbo described as a saga dating back to 2013.
Read more:
Refugee who sheltered Edward Snowden in Hong Kong arrives in Canada
At that time, when Snowden fled to Hong Kong after divulging classified documents from the U.S. National Security Agency, Tibbo said Rodel and a handful of others banded together to help in the whistle blowers early days as a fugitive.
The information Snowden leaked exposed the scope of massive government surveillance operations. He currently lives in Moscow and is wanted in the United States on charges related to the leaks.
Five other people in the Angels group represented by Tibbo three adults and two children remain in Hong Kong. They had fled Sri Lanka years ago, and their applications for asylum in Hong Kong have been rejected.
Rodel, who went to Hong Kong after fleeing gender-based violence and human trafficking in the Philippines, said the group members all developed an unusually close bond.
When we are ... facing lots of problems, we always stick together, she said. We feel like we are family.
The group gained notoriety in 2016 when their existence was revealed in Oliver Stones film Snowden, and Tibbo said they have since faced political persecution in Hong Kong.
The so-called Angels have been identified as a couple from Sri Lanka named Supun Kellapatha and Nadeeka Paththini, and their two young children. The fifth is Ajit Kumara, a Sri Lankan soldier who deserted the military. Rodel said Kellapatha is Keanas father.
Tibbo and three Montreal-based lawyers set up a group to raise money for his clients. They filed asylum applications on their behalf, and collected about $350,000 for their expenses in Hong Kong and in Canada, should they all arrive as privately sponsored refugees.
Tibbo called on Ottawa to extend the same welcome Rodel and Keana received to the rest of the group.
Canada needs to step forward, he said. The government of Canada has done the right thing for Vanessa and her daughter, but really what should have been done is all the families should have been brought into Canada at one time.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has said the government cannot weigh in on private refugee cases or comment on individual situations.
But Ethan Cox, spokesman for advocacy group For the Refugees, questioned that claim.
The government has the ability to intervene and expedite the processing of the private-sponsored refugee claims of the remaining five Snowden refugees, Cox said. That is what we are asking today is for the government of Justin Trudeau to finish the job.
Read more about:
Should Canada open its doors to refugees who have money and dont need financial help from sponsors?
According to a recent Federal Court decision, theres nothing to stop refugees with financial means from being sponsored to come to Canada, even if theyve put up the cash that usually comes from community sponsorship groups.
All that the governments sponsorship guidelines say, according to the court, is refugee sponsors cannot accept the payment of funds from the refugees for the submission of a sponsorship application before or after their arrival in Canada.
In my respectful view, wrote Justice Henry Brown, they prohibit payment of funds for the submission of a sponsorship, not payment for settlement assistance itself.
Brown was presiding over a court challenge launched by Sam Ibid, also known as Osama Ebid, who is the owner of Fast to Canada, and 22 Syrian families his Mississauga-based immigration consulting company was attempting to sponsor. Their applications were refused in January 2018.
In rejecting the applicants, an unnamed immigration officer cited a CBC story in 2016 that alleged Ibids company was making money from Syrian refugees and demanding they pay their own settlement funds up front, according to the court decision.
Read more:
Canada is a dreamland: Syrian refugee thrilled to start job at Kitchener high-tech firm
Court calls Canadas treatment of safe country refugees unconstitutional
Cost of refugee board chairs car and chauffeur brings criticism
(Fast to Canada) failed to provide evidence of where the funds that they provided (and held in trust) come from. In their response they provided affidavits that the funds are coming from relatives. With open source information suggesting that refugees are being required to pay for their own settlement, I find the affidavits insufficient, wrote the officer, in rejecting their sponsorships in 2018. I am therefore not satisfied that Fast to Canada has the financial resources to provide financial support to all the refugees they are sponsoring.
Last week, Brown sided with the immigration consultant and the families he was trying to sponsor by ordering the immigration department to reopen their files for a new assessment.
I will try my best to help them, Ibid told the Star in an email. All of them are skilled and in need to resettle in Canada but the age and language do not allow them to get in other programs while they are only applicable to be refugees.
According to the court, most of the refugees involved in the case are university-educated professionals with money, living in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Kuwait and Qatar. Like all other Syrian refugees, they were also exempted from acquiring the United Nations Refugee Agencys refugee certificate a criteria Ottawa suspended amid the Syrian resettlement project from 2015 to 2017.
Since 2015, Canada has brought in more than 60,000 Syrian refugees, most of whom had fled to Lebanon, Jordan and Syria after war broke out in their homeland. Half of them were sponsored by the federal government and half by community groups, which are financially responsible for all their expenses for the first year in the country.
In their submissions to support the refugee sponsorship applications in 2016, both Fast to Canada and Syrian Active Volunteers, a non-government organization supporting Syrian refugees, were listed as co-sponsors responsible for helping the families with housing, language training, finding jobs, enrolling the children in schools, registering with a family doctor and providing any in-kind donations.
They argued the immigration officer should not have relied on the CBC story because it related to a different situation where a fee-based for-profit retainer was undertaken in 2016 and Fast to Canada was acting as paid counsel for a refugee sponsored by a different group, according to Browns decision.
They maintained no fees were charged and the settlement funds for 21 of the 22 families came from their relatives and friends.
The court said the immigration department did raise concerns over the source of the families settlement funds in its decision, but it failed to mention the possibility of exploitation of vulnerable people as the reason.
While it is apparent the officer had unalleviated concerns (raised by the CBC) story, what is missing is an intelligent and transparent route to that decision, wrote Brown. Therefore, this aspect of the (officers) decision is not reasonable.
The court ruling was met with skepticism by refugee advocates, who are leery of seeing refugees paying for their own resettlement in Canada, even though there is a rarely-used self-supporting refugee class that allows them to do so under Canadas refugee resettlement program.
Refugee resettlement is a charitable act. Thats why its a humanitarian program, said Brian Dyck, national migration and resettlement program co-ordinator of Mennonite Central Committee Canada, a major refugee sponsorship group.
The most vulnerable refugees are often the ones who have no resources and options. You dont want to get into a position where resettlement is for sale. It shouldnt be about who can afford to resettle but who needs the protection most.
Toronto police recently acquired controversial surveillance technology that sweeps up data on bystanders cellphones as well as that of criminal targets, but wont say how many devices the service owns, when they were purchased, or how much they cost.
A Toronto Police Service spokesperson says a nondisclosure agreement with the provider of the technology, known as IMSI catchers or Stingrays, prevents the force from releasing those details. Toronto police also did not provide answers to the Stars questions on how the force will collect, store, access, or retain third-party data the hundreds or thousands of citizens unique cellphone data that is swept up in addition to that of a criminal target saying only that policies are still being developed, and will be in place before the device is used.
The RCMP has operated IMSI catchers on behalf of municipal or regional forces, including Torontos. In 2018, three years after denying it had ever used IMSI catchers, Toronto police admitted to deploying the technology in five separate investigations, which ranged from a missing person case to a major drugs and guns bust. In the three cases for which details are known, Mounties operated the device.
Now Toronto joins a short list of Canadian cities whose police own the surveillance technology outright, including Winnipeg and Calgary a proliferation that worries privacy experts.
The more common these devices become, the more potential there is for something to go awry, says Tamir Israel, staff lawyer at the University of Ottawas Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic.
The technology works by mimicking a cell tower, forcing all mobile devices within range to connect to it and capturing identifying data on each, including an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, or IMSI. Toronto polices IMSI catcher does not capture private communications like phone calls, text messages, or emails, according to spokesperson Meaghan Gray. Officers would obtain a warrant to connect an IMSI number to subscriber information, Gray says.
Read more:
Thousands of bystanders caught in Toronto police sweep of cellphone data
Toronto police secretly recorded these condo hallways without a warrant. Was that legal, or a serious privacy breach?
How the Star finally learned Toronto police used cellphone data-catching devices
Police use the tool to identify suspects cellphones, especially in cases where targets frequently switch phones. By following a suspect to multiple locations and deploying an IMSI catcher at each site, officers can pick out which cellphone their target is carrying through a process of elimination. The devices often have a second tracking function, which targets a single known number.
The technology is controversial because police have been so secretive about it, and because it indiscriminately affects hundreds or thousands of unsuspecting citizens as well as criminal targets. On Sunday, the Star reported that over a two-month period in a 2014 gang drug-trafficking investigation, Toronto police swept up collateral data on more than 20,000 bystanders in the course of targeting 11 suspects. Police deployed the device at busy neighbourhoods like Yorkville, downtown malls and public parks, and even a Toys R Us. In addition to gathering identifying data, the device also temporarily disrupts phone connectivity, and can hamper the ability to call 911.
Toronto police say IMSI numbers, without further investigation and judicial application, amount to nothing more than random identification numbers that are not, by themselves, traceable to any individual. Police stress evidence of criminal activity is necessary to get a warrant to use a device, and to connect an IMSI number to a persons name.
Experts, however, caution that this type of data can still be incredibly revealing.
On its own, yes its a random number, just like your social insurance number, says Chris Parsons, research associate at the University of Torontos Citizen Lab. But because we carry our phones everywhere with us that number is still very useful, very identifying, and can be used to derive insights about you and your social network.
Without proper safeguards and with the increasing proliferation of devices like IMSI catchers, Parsons and other privacy experts worry the accumulation of massive amounts of data may lead to even greater potential invasions.
Especially if you use the devices over time more and more and more, even if youre not able to take the additional step of getting the service provider to give you the name associated with the IMSI number, you over time get a catalogue of these IMSI numbers showing up in different places. You can figure out yourself whos who, or whos in the same location as who, or whos often in a particular bar the more of these datasets you get, the more youre able to pull out these types of inferences, with greater and greater levels of sensitivity.
Canadas privacy commissioner has written at length about the sensitivity of such metadata.
Government institutions that collect or are considering collecting such information should not underestimate what metadata can reveal about an individual. The same goes for private-sector organizations that are requested to disclose such data to government institutions, including law enforcement agencies, a 2014 report states.
After years of pressure from media organizations, civil liberties groups, and the privacy commissioners office, the RCMP revealed in 2017 that it owned 10 IMSI catchers. The RCMP also released interim guidelines that address third-party data, including that any information collected from non-target cellphones would be firewalled from investigators and destroyed after any court proceedings and appeals periods have concluded.
I would hope that Toronto Police Service has a very public consulting process for the policies it is developing, says Parsons.
For Parsons and his colleagues, It isnt that we are opposed to these devices per se, its that we want them to be used in a maximally responsible and accountable way.
Private detectives working for the children of billionaire murder victims Barry and Honey Sherman are passing tips to police weekly but are frustrated the relationship is not a two-way street, says the Sherman family lawyer.
Five months ago, lawyer Brian Greenspan announced a $10 million reward from the Sherman family for information leading to the apprehension and prosecution of the murderer or murderers of the Apotex founder and his wife.
We decided to just pass everything on to police, Greenspan told the Star, referring to all telephone calls and emails received. We have made it all available electronically.
Toronto police spokesperson Meaghan Gray said the police review all information they receive to determine the relevancy to the case. But she said unless they are required by law, we are under no obligation to share our investigative tactics, processes, leads, evidence, etc. with anyone outside of the service.
Gray said to do so could compromise the integrity of the investigation and jeopardize our goal of reaching a successful conclusion.
But what Greenspan was hoping for was feedback from the Toronto homicide squad of a certain kind. He and his team wanted to know if their ongoing private inquiries would impact what police were doing in their official investigation.
Read more:
29 minutes inside Barry and Honey Shermans home: Who was the visitor?
Sherman family gets OK to demolish North York home of murdered billionaire couple
How the investigation into the deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman turned from murder-suicide to double homicide
What if we wanted to interview certain people? Will the interview interfere with what (police) are doing? Greenspan said, speaking for his team of retired homicide detectives. We were concerned we would step on toes, that all of a sudden we would come in and screw it up.
All calls generated by the reward offer were directed to Greenspans private team, with an expert panel set up to assess their importance. Five months ago, when the award was announced, Greenspan said he invited Chief Mark Saunders to provide an officer to join that review panel. Plans changed, and the panel has never met. The committee will only meet, Greenspan said, if a decision has to be made on a reward payout.
Further, Greenspan said he wanted to know if what we are doing is redundant or inconsistent with what police have been or are doing.
Police the investigation is run by Det. Sgt. Brandon Price have not complied with Greenspans request and sources have told the Star the relationship between private and official detectives is frosty, to say the least. Chief Mark Saunders was immediately cool following the reward press conference to Greenspans idea of a public-private partnership on the investigation. Saunders later blasted the private team for some of its remarks about the crime scene, saying he knew for a fact that the suspect or suspects are watching media coverage of the case and everyone had to be careful not to provide information that would help the killers.
To devise a protocol for the private team to pass on tips or evidence, Toronto police hired a lawyer, Scott Hutchison. Thats how the infamous vacuum cleaner bag Greenspans team said they vacuumed the crime scene because police did not was turned over to police last year.
Greenspan, a veteran criminal lawyer who has dealt with police his entire career, said simply in a recent interview, asked about the level of co-operation, Its not a two-way street.
Barry and Honey Sherman were last seen alive early in the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. Their bodies were discovered two days later, on Friday morning. They were found by one of the familys real estate agents in the basement of their home on Old Colony Rd., which was for sale. Both were in a seated position, backs to the indoor swimming pool, each held in that position by a mans leather belt looped around the neck and tied to a metre-high railing. Both Shermans died of ligature strangulation. Initially police pursued a theory of murder suicide.
Greenspan was retained on the Saturday morning to provide advice to the four Sherman children, Jonathon, Lauren, Alexandra and Kaelen who said in a statement later that Saturday they had been shocked at the rumours circulating about their parents who, they said, shared an enthusiasm for life.
First step for Greenspan was to hire a forensic pathologist to do a second set of autopsies, a move that led to the police eventually ruling it a targeted, double homicide. Next was to have his team begin interviews. Often his team and the police interviewed many of the same people, including the Sherman children, aunts and uncles, lawyers, financial advisers, cousins and also business associates of Barrys. Greenspan noted that in a homicide investigation, it is natural to start at the centre and move outward, eliminating suspects as you proceed.
Now he is at the point where there are some people he would like to reinterview and he was hoping the police would tell him whether that would cause them any concern. There has been no response. The one successful bit of communication between police and the Shermans came last summer, when Toronto homicide detectives sat down on a semi-frequent basis with two of the Sherman children and provided briefings of the progress of the investigation. That has not happened for some time.
The difference between the two private and public investigative bodies is that the police have search warrant powers through the courts, and the Star learned last week from Homicide Insp. Hank Idsinga that more search warrants have recently been obtained in the case. Idsinga has also said that his officers are now reviewing CCTV footage and DNA evidence to determine if there is relevance to the investigation. More than that, Idsinga would not say.
But what became of the tip line and the familys $10 million reward, a staggering amount of money, millions of dollars more than has ever been offered in a Canadian murder case.
Greenspan said the reward generated a flurry of tips, including some that went directly to him. He would not describe the specific nature of the tips, but conceded that some came from psychics and some from people with no knowledge of the case, but who were trying to be helpful. One woman emails me 100 times a week, he said. A lot of the stuff we got is useless.
But Greenspan said one never knows where a grain of important information will be discovered. For that reason, he has instructed one of the private detectives on his team to deliver the tip information directly to police, on a weekly basis.
We have been generous in providing the Toronto Police Service with information derived from telephone calls and emails to the tip line, and information from many people who contacted me directly.
Read more about:
SILVER SPRING, MARYLANDDawn Criss took a deep breath and stepped to the microphone positioned before dozens of international medical professionals at the headquarters of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Please take textured breast implants off the market, the rural Alberta woman said in a firm voice during a Monday hearing on breast implant safety.
Cancer is a hard reality for many of us to deal with. It affects not only our bodies, but our minds, relationships, our working ability and our own sense of security. It takes away hope.
Criss, who acquired a rare form of cancer associated with her implants, was one of four Canadian women along with a Canadian researcher who appeared before the FDA panel urging a ban on textured breast implants they say are sickening women.
The health impacts range from autoimmune-like symptoms including cognitive issues, fatigue and muscle pain to a rare form of lymphoma called breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
There are an estimated 700 cases of BIA-ALCL reported internationally, overwhelmingly tied to textured implants devices coated with a sandpaper-like surface as opposed to smooth.
The implants have been taken off the market in Europe and Brazil.
Health Canada has documented 28 confirmed and another 28 suspected cases of BIA-ALCL in Canada, Amanda Jones, a senior scientific evaluator for Health Canada, told the FDA committee.
Of the total 56 cases, 45 have been attributed to textured implants, Jones said. The remaining cases were designated as not specified. None of the 56 cases are tied to smooth implants.
One brand of textured implants called Biocell, manufactured by industry giant Allergan, have 7.1 to 8.3 times greater risk of BIA-ALCL than other brands, Dr. Mark Clemens, a Houston plastic surgeon and leading researcher on breast implant issues, testified before the panel.
It is not just texturing vs. non-texturing. It does seem to be manufacturer specific.
A Toronto Star investigation in November uncovered the issues associated with Biocell implants and the growing number of Canadian plastic surgeons quietly abandoning them after noting the health impacts in their patients.
The implants remain on the market in Canada and the U.S. and inside millions of women.
Read More from the Implant Files Investigation:
My entire body was shutting down. Breast implant recipients say doctors gloss over risks
Breast-implant-related complications, including cancer, kept secret thanks to broken reporting system
Biocell breast implants at centre of biggest controversy in plastic surgery
Stephanie Manson Brown, vice-president of clinical development for breast manufacturer Allergan, acknowledged the risks of BIA-ALCL, saying, We empathize with these women and can only imagine how distressing it is for them. But she also told the panel that incidents of the disease are low and when identified early and treated appropriately prognosis is excellent.
Breast implants are supported by significant long-term clinical experience and comprehensive post-market monitoring, said Brown, adding that, evidence supports the benefits of breast implants outweigh their risks.
Those benefits, she said, include quality of life and sexual well-being, and restoration of physical form.
Terri McGregor, a North Bay woman who has become a leading advocate for women suffering breast implant illness, said through tears that her joy for life had been cut short by a profit-driven, man-made cancer, when she was diagnosed four years ago with Stage Four BIA-ALCL after receiving Biocell implants.
The isolation, betrayal, and loneliness of cancer is compounded by the dismissive public relations campaign by industryThe industry stayed silent. When our existence could no longer be denied, we were portrayed as an anomaly.
McGregor has since been diagnosed with a separate form of cancer.
In my deepest and most private thoughts, I ask myself if I can endure a repeat of cancer and its dreadful treatmentPlease evoke your full authority to withdraw textured implantsfrom the market and end the suffering of tomorrows families.
Monday was the 14-month anniversary of Montrealer Julie Elliotts breast implant removal.
After they were out, she had them tested.
One of my implants had a small rupture that had leaked silicone oil into my body for years, she said. My hair was falling out and I was always thirsty. I was also diagnosed with asthma. I then developed food intolerances and allergies. My throat was closing up after each bite and my gastro intestinal issues became so severe that I had to stop working.
After her implants were removed several of her long-term symptoms immediately disappeared, she said.
Im healthier than Ive been in years.
Nicole Daruda, a B.C. breast implant advocate, told the panel I along with multitudes of other women feel duped into believing breast implants are safe.
Her online forum HealingBreastImplantIllness.com has 70,000 members sharing information about breast implant illness and disease.
Stop the manufacturers from hiding the truth that should be available to anyone considering breast implants, Daruda told the panel. Please do the right thing in enforcing proper informed consent.
Dr. Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert, director of the rheumatology at the University of Albertas medical school, called for the panel to recommend texturred implants be banned. His remarks were met with applause and cheers from the crowd of more than 300 people.
How many patients do we have to prove that there is migration of silicone into the body before we can say that we need more studies to prove safety of these breast implants?
The sudden focus on breast implant safety in Canada and the U.S. including regulatory reviews, public warnings and meetings with patients follows a global investigation into medical devices published in November by media organizations around the world including the Toronto Star led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
Until a few months ago, most international health regulators, including Health Canada, were dismissing the need for further investigation into serious health concerns related to breast implants, telling journalists that textured implants are safe and effective. Following publication, Health Canada and the FDA launched scientific reviews as countries in Europe were pulling the devices off the market.
On Friday, Health Canada officials met with several Canadian women featured in the Star series for more than two hours.
They took notes, they were attentive, they were engaged, shaking their heads as we were speaking says Criss, who was one of six women invited to the meeting. They were passing the Kleenex box down the table.
Jones confirmed Monday that Health Canada is conducting a safety review of scientific data and incidents of systemic symptoms from breast implants and informing general practitioners, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and other specialists about diagnosing and tracking BIA-ALCL cases.
Last week, the Star reported similar efforts by provinces across the country to warn physicians and patients about the risks. Cancer Care Ontario issued a warning to physicians about the links between implants and BIA-ALCL earlier this month. In Quebec and Nova Scotia, provincial governments say they are reaching out directly to patients with information of the risks.
Last Tuesday, the FDA issued warning letters to two global breast implant manufacturers Mentor and Sientra (which does not sell implants in Canada) for failures to conduct long-term studies to assess the safety and risks of their silicone gel-filled breast implants, an agency statement reads.
Raina Dauria, vice-president of regulatory affairs at Johnson & Johnson, which owns Mentor, told the panel that while BIA-ALCL is a serious condition, the company is partnering with surgeons, patients and regulators in open and transparent dialogue.
The Pentagon said that a test Monday of a new tactic for intercepting missiles aimed at U.S. cities was a success, in an exercise that appeared intended to simulate how the United States would defend against an adversary like North Korea.
The test, the first in nearly two years, was conducted over the Pacific Ocean. It fired two interceptors from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California against a mock warhead launched from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
The system worked exactly as it was designed to do, Air Force Lt. Gen. Samuel A. Greaves, director of the Pentagons Missile Defense Agency, said in a statement. This test demonstrates that we have a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat.
Evaluating the success of missile interceptions is difficult. In the past, the Missile Defense Agency has been accused of exaggerating its kills in order to quiet critics who say a 50 per cent successful interception rate is far from satisfactory.
The new system was intended to boost the success rate by launching multiple interceptors one to hit the target or knock it off its trajectory, and the next as a backup at a single warhead. In Mondays test, the Pentagon said the incoming warhead was destroyed by the first interceptor, and that the second went after the largest remnant.
The number of interceptors that can be fired at a single warhead is classified, but officials have been quoted as saying that they ultimately hope to direct three or four at each incoming warhead.
The long-running effort to shield the nation from missile strikes started in 1983 with President Ronald Reagans Star Wars program. Over the decades, the United States has spent more than $300 billion (U.S.) on the anti-missile goal, according to a tally conducted by Stephen I. Schwartz, an independent consultant who studies the cost of military projects.
The program is expensive because the problem is so difficult. Warheads fired by intercontinental missiles travel faster than 6 kilometres a second.
Overall, the rate of success for attempted interceptions has been so unimpressive that President Barack Obama stepped up a program called left of launch, designed to sabotage missiles before they are launched. The secret program was used against North Korea in Obamas second term.
The more public program is based on ground-based interceptors. They race skyward and release speeding projectiles meant to destroy incoming warheads by force of impact what experts call hitting a bullet with a bullet.
After exiting a treaty with Russia that banned anti-missile systems, the administration of President George W. Bush began deploying a bullet-on-bullet system in Alaska and California, largely to defend against North Korean warheads.
Since then, the system has undergone 10 costly flight tests against mock warheads. Five of the tests failed. The most recent test, in May 2017, successfully smashed the mock target, and was declared a success.
The Monday statement said the lead interceptor destroyed the re-entry vehicle, as it was designed to do. The trailing interceptor, it added, then looked at the debris and remaining objects. Not finding any other mock warheads, it selected the next most lethal object in the debris it could identify, the statement said, and struck that.
The test was not announced beforehand and the statement on the outcome was released late in the day, which seemed to suggest that the test had encountered problems. The statement also introduced a note of hesitancy.
Initial indications show the test met requirements, it said. Program officials will continue to evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test.
The mock target at Kwajalein, not far from where the United States once conduced nuclear tests, was launched more than 6,000 kilometres from the California coasts. The interceptors were on the same base where the United States keeps a part of its anti-ballistic missile fleet.
Read more about:
Shortly after 8 p.m. on May 11, 1960, a slight man stepped off a bus in suburban Buenos Aires. He seemed weary, ready to be home, and looked bewildered when a car pulled up alongside him.
The man was Adolf Eichmann, chief architect of Hitlers Final Solution, and one of the most-wanted Nazis in the world. Inside the car were agents of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. Their commander was Rafi Eitan, who became known as one of his countrys greatest if most controversial spies, and who died March 23 at 92.
I grabbed him by the neck with such force I could see his eyes bulge, Eitan recalled years later of his encounter with Eichmann, in an account published in Gordon Thomas book Gideons Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad. A little tighter and I would have choked him to death.
The Mossad team moved Eichmann to a safe house where they held him for days without speaking. Keeping silent was more than an operational necessity, Eitan said. We did not want to show Eichmann how nervous we all were. That would have given him hope. And hope makes a desperate person dangerous. I needed him to be as helpless as my own people were when he had sent them in train loads to the death camps.
To spirit Eichmann to Israel, the team gave him a bottle of whiskey, disguised him as a drunken El Al flight attendant and shepherded him onto a plane. He stood trial in Jerusalem, was convicted of his role in the murder of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust and in 1962 was executed by hanging.
The trial, chronicled in political theorist Hannah Arendts classic book Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil, brought international attention to Nazi atrocities. Argentina protested that Eichmanns capture was a violation of the countrys sovereignty, but in Israel and elsewhere the operation was greeted as a masterwork of espionage whose end abundantly justified its means.
The capture of Eichmann was likely Eitans most celebrated undertaking and also, he said, one of his easiest. His most contentious action came two decades later, when he became the handler of Jonathan Pollard, a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy who pleaded guilty in 1986 to selling classified intelligence to Israel. Pollard was sentenced to life in prison and was freed on parole in 2015.
The case which represented the only instance of an American given a life sentence for spying for an ally was the subject of intense controversy on both sides of the international partnership.
In the United States, some observers feared that the actions of Pollard, who was Jewish, would fuel questions often raised with anti-Semitic innuendo about the national allegiance of American Jews. In Israel, critics denounced Eitan for jeopardizing one of Israels key alliances.
The Israeli government announced that Eitan was removed from his intelligence post after the affair. He said that it had been a mistake to co-operate with Pollard but insisted that he had acted with permission and authority.
All intelligence work is a partnership with crime, he told an Israeli television interviewer years later. Morals are put aside.
Rafael Hantman was born Nov. 23, 1926, on the Ein Harod kibbutz in what was then the British mandate of Palestine, where his parents had emigrated from Russia several years earlier. He later adopted the more Hebrew surname Eitan.
Eitans father was a farmer and a poet, according to the Jerusalem Post, and his mother was a social activist. She took her young son to see a movie about a female spy in World War I, prompting the boy to announce: I want to be a spy like Mata Hari.
He was 12 when he joined the Haganah, the paramilitary force that grew into the Israel Defense Forces after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. As a member of the elite Palmach unit, he helped shepherd Jewish refugees into Palestine. In one operation he swam through sewers to blow up a British radar station, earning the nickname Rafi the Stinker.
Eitan, who studied at the London School of Economics, entered intelligence in part because of wounds and hearing loss that he sustained in the Israeli war for independence. He rose through the ranks of Shin Bet, the Israeli equivalent of the FBI, before joining the Mossad, where he became chief of operations.
According to news accounts, his other operations included intercepting Soviet spies in the 1950s, disrupting the sale of German armaments to Egypt and planning the 1981 Israeli attack on Iraqs Osirak nuclear reactor.
Eitan served as a terrorism adviser to Prime Ministers Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir. After the Pollard case, he was made chairman of the state-owned company Israel Chemicals. In the mid-2000s, he entered politics as head of the Pensioners Party, known as Gil, and served briefly as pensioners affairs minister.
His death was reported by the Associated Press and by Israeli outlets including the Times of Israel, which said that he died at a hospital in Tel Aviv. Survivors reportedly included his wife and three children.
In a dramatic coda to the most dramatic moment of Eitans work, he was present in the execution chamber when Eichmann was put to death.
Your time will come to follow me, Jew, he recalled the Nazi saying.
Not today, Adolf, not today, Mr. Eitan replied.
Next moment the trap opened, Eitan recounted in Gideons Spies. Eichmann gave a little choking sound. There was the smell of his bowel moving, then just the sound of the stretched rope. A very satisfying sound.
Read more about:
HAVANA - Prince Charles and his wife Camilla began their first full day in Cuba Monday with a visit to Old Havana, touring churches, shops and cafes in the narrow cobblestoned streets of the historic centre before other events around the capital city.
The heir to the British throne arrived in Cuba Sunday with an agenda including visits to historic sites, a solar park, organic farm, bio-medical research centre, a meeting with entrepreneurs, a cultural gala and a dinner with President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
The agenda does not include visits with political dissidents or other critics of Cubas single-party system, a decision prompting criticism from Cuban exiles.
The Trump Administration has found European and Latin American support for its Venezuela policy but less backing on Cuba, whose government has already withstood a 60-year U.S. embargo without showing any signs of losing its grip on power.
The United Kingdom backs Trump in Venezuela but is eager to expand relations with the island nation, and arranged for Prince Charles to extend his Caribbean tour to Cuba to shore up relations between the two nations.
The royals stopped in at Bohemia, a cafe facing the historic centres iconic Plaza Vieja.
Its the first time in real life that we receive a real prince at the Cafe Bohemia, although at the Cafe Bohemia all customers are princes, manager Annalisa Gallina said. It has been a very big emotion, with several days of preparations, from learning how to greet him to learning what he wants to drink or what tea he prefers.
Charles and his Camila also visited the studio of famed former Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta, 45, whom Charles recently awarded the Order of Commander of the Arts of the British Empire.
After greeting the dancers, the royal couple watched a performance blending classical, modern and traditional Cuban dance.
The Cuban choreographer spent most of his career in the United Kingdom. Acosta, who retired from the Royal Ballet in 2015, has been appointed to head the Royal Ballet of Birmingham, a position he will assume in 2020.
I am very excited by this visit, Acosta said. The fact that he wanted to come here to see us, that for me is very special.
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday accused a dismissed police colonel, who had publicly criticized him and his deadly anti-drug campaign, of criminal involvement and said he wanted to know why the former officer is still alive.
In a late-night televised speech, Duterte condemned dismissed Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto, who told reporters over the weekend that the president had been repeatedly photographed with two Chinese men involved in drug trafficking.
Duterte defended one of the two Chinese men, saying he had accompanied Chinas premier on a visit to the Philippines and was a businessman who travelled to the country in 1999 to sell Chinese-made cellphones.
Acierto, a veteran anti-narcotics officer before his dismissal by an anti-graft agency last year, said he submitted a report to top police officials and Dutertes office about the two Chinese to warn the president of their background. But he said he was never informed if the two were ever investigated.
In my investigation, I discovered that our president ... is often accompanied by two people deeply involved in illegal drugs, Acierto told a news conference late Sunday in Manila, adding that he was later accused by authorities in a criminal complaint of involvement in drug smuggling instead of the Chinese men.
Duterte said Acierto was the only police official who has made the allegations against the two men. He said Acierto was an idiot allegedly involved in corruption, drug smuggling, kidnappings of Chinese nationals and the killing of a South Korean man.
Dont ever believe specially this Acierto, Duterte said in a speech in southern Koronadal city. What if I ask the military and the police, Why is this son of a bitch still alive?
Acierto denied any wrongdoing.
The president mentioned Acierto while talking about his efforts to combat corruption, including corrupt policemen. He also criticized and ridiculed opposition senatorial candidates running in mid-term elections in May.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino told The Associated Press on Monday that he received Aciertos report and sent it to Dutertes office, adding that both his office and that of the president took steps to validate the allegations against the two Chinese. He said the two were not on any list of drug suspects.
Aquino played down the photographs showing Duterte with the two Chinese men, saying officials often get approached by all sorts of people for group photographs without being able to rapidly check their background. He questioned the credibility of Acierto, who he accused of being linked to drug smuggling.
Profiles of the two Chinese provided by Acierto to reporters said they were involved in the manufacturing, financing, the importation, transhipment and local distribution of meth or shabu, referring to the local name for methamphetamine, a stimulant.
Acierto said he initially welcomed Dutertes passion to combat illegal drugs. But he said he later realized that the presidents deadly crackdown took a wrong approach by targeting mostly poor drug suspects instead of going after powerful drug lords and traffickers.
More than 5,000 drug suspects have been killed in what police say were gunbattles that ensued during drug raids under Dutertes crackdown, alarming Western governments and human rights groups.
CANBERRA, Australia - Australias prime minister on Tuesday accused an influential minor political party of trying to sell Australias gun laws to the highest bidders by asking the U.S. gun lobby for donations.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was responding to an Al Jazeera documentary that reported One Nation party officials Steve Dickson and James Ashby flew to the United States for meetings with pro-gun interests including the National Rifle Association and political donors Koch Industries in September last year seeking money to undermine Australian gun laws.
Dickson and Ashby later told reporters that they had not secured any U.S. money. They also said they had been quoted by Al Jazeera out of context and often after drinking.
The trip took place weeks before the Australian Parliament banned foreign political donations with laws that took effect Jan. 1.
Morrison said the revelations were reasons why Australians should not vote for One Nation at general elections due in May.
We have reports that One Nation officials basically sought to sell Australias gun laws to the highest bidders to a foreign buyer and I find that abhorrent, Morrison said.
Morrison said his government had made laws to criminalize taking foreign political donations so foreign lobbyists cannot seek to influence our politics.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten, whom opinion polls suggest will be prime minister after the election, accused One Nation of a betrayal of the Australian political system.
The idea of One National political party operatives going to the United States, seeking millions of dollars, promising to water-down gun law protection in Australia that was absolutely horrifying, Shorten said.
The Al Jazeera documentary used secret recordings made by a journalist posing as gun lobbyist Rodger Muller with a hidden camera.
One Nation, an anti-Muslim party that had four senators after 2016 election but has been left with two after defections, said in a statement that all party members have always complied with the law.
One Nation also suggested the Qatar-owned Al Jazeera had breached new laws that prohibit covert foreign interference in Australian politics. The party said it had had complained to Australias main domestic security agency and police due to concerns of foreign interference into Australian politics in the lead up to the imminent federal election.
Al Jazeera are a state owned propaganda arm of the Qatari government that supports Islamic extremist groups and are not a legitimate media organization, the statement said.
One Nation was invited by Rodger Muller, who has now been outed as a foreign agent working for Al Jazeera to meet with the NRA, American business leaders and attend the Congressional Sportsmens Dinner in Washington, the statement said.
The NRA in a statement late Tuesday said Al Jazeera representatives, disguised as members of a group called Gun Rights Australia, had set up meetings with NRA employees and brought Australian political party members to those meetings. At no time did the NRA contribute funding to any Australian political party or Gun Rights Australia, NRA spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said in the statement.
Ashby, who is party leader Pauline Hansons chief of staff, is recorded saying that the party would own both the Australian Senate and House of Representatives with a $20 million donation from the U.S. gun lobby. This means the party would hold the balance of power in both chambers and influence a governments legislative agenda.
Ashby also warned that if such a donation became public, it would rock the boat.
He told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. trip had been a fact-finding mission to learn campaign tactics.
These conversations with the NRA were to look at nothing more than their techniques. This was not about sourcing money from the NRA. This was about sourcing technology, sourcing an understanding of how they operate, but never was it about seeking $20 million dollars from the NRA, Ashby told reporters.
The news followed the mosque attacks in New Zealand on March 15 for which an Australian white supremacist has been charged with murder. New Zealand has responded by banning a range of semi-automatic weapons and foreshadowing a government-funded buyback of newly outlawed guns. The countrys response is similar to how Australia strengthened its gun laws following the murders of 35 people by a lone gunman in 1996 in Tasmania.
One Nation state president Steve Dickson, who is a Senate candidate at the next election, travelled with Ashby and Muller to the United States to ask for political donations, Al Jazeera reported.
Dickon told NRA officials that the Australian gun control model will poison us all, unless we stop it, Al Jazeera reported.
Dickson told reporters on Tuesday he supported Australias gun laws. He said had not solicited donations in the United States, but conceded his party was not wealthy.
I will tell you the absolute, humble truth. When I was asked: Do we need money to run election campaigns? I said: Yes, Dickson told reporters.
A former One Nation senator who is now an independent lawmaker, Fraser Anning, has been widely criticized for blaming Muslim immigration for the New Zealand massacre.
Hanson, One Nations leader who was criticized for wearing a burqa in the Senate, voted for the ban on foreign donations in November.
Overseas money should not have an influence in our political scene .... so I believe foreign donations should be stopped, Hanson told the Senate.
Ashby and Dickson said Hanson did not speak to the media on Tuesday because she was unwell.
BELGRADE, Serbia - A Serbian appeals court has overturned a one-year prison sentence for the widow of former strongman Slobodan Milosevic and ordered a retrial.
Mirjana Markovic is believed to be living freely in Moscow since 2003 despite the legal proceedings against her in Serbia.
A Belgrade court last year convicted Markovic of abusing her position in 2000 when she helped allocate a state-owned apartment to her grandsons nanny.
But the Appeals Court said on Tuesday that the verdict was flawed and that a new trial must be held.
Markovic had also been sought for questioning over the killing of Milosevics political opponents during his autocratic rule in the 1990s.
Milosevic was ousted from power in 2000. He died in 2006 while on a genocide trial at a U.N. tribunal in The Netherlands.
PARIS - The Latest on the meeting between European leaders and Chinas president (all times local):
12:10 p.m.
The leaders of China and France are trying to ramp up efforts against climate change and are calling for a global rethink of investments to make them more planet-friendly.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a statement that contrasted with the position of U.S. President Donald Trump, who took his country out of the Paris climate accord partly because of concerns over how it threatened American business.
Xi and Macron stressed the importance of reorienting public and private investment toward fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity, notably in developing countries where China is a major investor.
They vowed support for the 2015 Paris agreement to reduce the emissions that cause global warming, including in the energy and refrigeration sectors.
Xi is paying a visit to Europe aimed at boosting co-operation, amid tensions with the U.S.
___
9:50 a.m.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is meeting with the leaders of France, Germany and the European Commission, as European countries seek to boost relations with China while also putting pressure over its trade practices.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker came to Paris to join Xi and French President Emmanuel Macron for Tuesdays meeting. The leaders are notably preparing for a crucial EU-China summit.
Tuesdays meeting is a key moment in Xis European tour, which has involved huge business contracts, including one of the biggest deals ever for European plane maker Airbus.
Xi also received the full honours of a formal reception in the French presidential palace Monday night.
The EU is Chinas biggest trade partner and wants to solidify that relationship.
GENEVA - The United States on Tuesday blocked a meeting of the World Trade Organizations dispute body, gumming up its operations over the Trump administration refusal to recognize the government of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.
The U.S. delegation refused to approve the agenda of the Dispute Settlement Body, which was to take up several issues, including a Venezuelan effort to lift U.S. sanctions and measures against Maduros government and entourage.
Approval of the DSB agenda requires consensus, and is usually a formality. Such a postponement is rare, and the move amounts to a new U.S. tactic to ratchet up pressure against Maduros government.
The United States and dozens of other countries, mostly in Latin America and Europe, have recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelas acting president.
Because the Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela, Maduros representatives are not the legitimate representatives of a WTO Member, said a statement emailed from the United States mission in Geneva. Therefore, neither the agenda item nor the panel request would legitimately be before the DSB.
The steps by the United States meant a delay in consideration of other trade disputes on the agenda, such as cases involving anti-dumping measures on imports of steel from Russia and duties on air conditioners from Thailand.
The United States has already used the Geneva-based trade bodys requirement for consensus to press its interests: Washington under both Trump and his predecessor, Barack Obama has impeded appointments to fill vacancies at the WTOs Appellate Body, a sort of appeals court that follows up on cases initially heard by the DSB.
A Geneva trade official said the last time he could recall such a postponement over an agenda dispute dated back to 1999.
JERUSALEM - The Latest on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (all times local):
11:10 p.m.
Palestinian witnesses say Israeli aircraft are striking Hamas militant targets in the southern Gaza Strip.
The late-night strikes on Tuesday follow a rocket launched from Gaza that set off air-raid sirens in southern Israel and sent residents rushing to bomb shelters before the rocket fell in open ground.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
Tuesday evenings rocket strike and airstrikes ended a brief lull that had prevailed for most of the day after an overnight exchange of heavy fire.
The cross-border fighting was triggered by a rocket fired early Monday from Gaza that slammed into a house in central Israel and wounded seven people.
___
9:15 p.m.
Israels U.N. ambassador is warning Gazas Hamas rulers that if attacks against Israel continue Hamas leaders will face the might of the Israeli military and be buried in the tunnels of Gaza.
Danny Danon told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that Hamas had committed a heinous crime against Israel, a deliberate and direct act of terror against our people when it fired a rocket Monday that hit a home in central Israel, wounding seven people.
Israel responded with retaliatory airstrikes across Gaza and Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets before an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire appeared to take hold early Tuesday.
Danon said the Security Council must condemn Hamas and its terrorism against Israel unequivocally and designate Hamas a terrorist organization.
To those calling for restraint and talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Danon said, once rockets are flying into our cities, we will defend our people ... and then we will talk.
___
8:35 p.m.
The Palestinian ambassador to the U.N. says the situation in Gaza is part of the long-running campaign of violence and terror being waged against our people by Israel.
Riyad Mansour warned the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that today, again, we find ourselves at the edge of the precipice, fearing for the lives of our people as Israeli officials ratchet up their threats of war against the besieged Gaza Strip.
Israel traded fire with Hamas militants after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in central Israel early Monday, wounding seven people. A tense truce appeared to take hold early Tuesday.
Mansour, who represents the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, stressed that history does not start from firing rockets or doing something that is wrong, stressing that the Palestinian leadership has repeatedly and unequivocally condemned acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror.
He urged the Security Council to make its voice heard and act to deter further violence and escalation of this serious situation.
___
8:30 p.m.
Air raid sirens have sounded in southern Israel, breaking a fragile calm that followed an overnight exchange of fire with Hamas militants.
The Israeli army said late Tuesday that it identified one rocket launched from Gaza toward its territory. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The cross-border violence erupted Monday when a rocket launched from Gaza struck a house in central Israel, wounding seven people. Israel responded with airstrikes and Gaza militants fired a barrage of rockets before a cease-fire appeared to take hold early Tuesday.
Israel has bolstered its troops on the southern frontier in preparation for further escalation.
___
8 p.m.
The Israeli army says it is ordering additional troops to the southern frontier with Gaza, even as a tense calm prevailed after an overnight exchange of fire with Hamas militants.
The military said that after consulting with security officials Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to send an additional infantry brigade and artillery battalion to bolster forces around the Palestinian enclave, and to call up more reserve soldiers.
The heavy cross-border fighting erupted after a rocket launched from Gaza struck a house in central Israel, wounding seven people. Hamas said Egyptian mediation succeeded in brokering a cease-fire as violence tapered off early Tuesday, but Israel has not confirmed the deal.
___
6:15 p.m.
A senior Hamas official says the militant group has accepted a cease-fire plan with Israel.
Ismail Radwan told reporters Tuesday that there are Egyptian and international efforts to stop the aggression, and that we are committed to it as long as Israel respects the deal.
There was no immediate comment from Israel.
A tense quiet prevailed Tuesday after a night of heavy cross-border fighting ignited by a rocket attack on Israel that wounded seven people. Upon returning home from Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with senior military officials to decide on next steps.
___
5:45 p.m.
The U.N. secretary-general is urging Gazas Hamas rulers and Israel to show restraint following a Hamas rocket attack and Israeli retaliatory strikes.
Speaking to reporters at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Antonio Guterres reiterated that the United Nations condemned the Hamas rocket attack that hit a house in central Israel early Monday, wounding seven people.
But he said it is absolutely necessary to avoid any scaling up and to have restraint. He called for restraint in the present moment, for the people not to suffer even more, both in Israel and in Gaza and in Palestine in general.
___
4:30 p.m.
The U.N. Mideast envoy is urging the Security Council to condemn the indiscriminate firing of rockets by Gazas Hamas rulers toward Israel, saying this dramatically increases the risk of escalation and a new conflict.
Nikolay Mladenov told the council Tuesday that since 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) on Tuesday, a fragile calm seems to have taken hold. He urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint as the situation remains very tense.
In the past 10 days, Mladenov said, there have been two rocket attacks from Gaza targeting the Tel Aviv area, which represents a very serious escalation.
A rocket launched Monday from Gaza hit a house in central Israel, wounding seven people and sparking the latest escalation.
Over the following 24 hours, Mladenov said, at least 103 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza toward Israel, one damaging a house in Sderot. He said Israel conducted 42 airstrikes on various locations in Gaza and fired 16 shells toward Gaza, wounding seven Palestinians, according to local sources, and destroying several buildings including Hamas offices and security buildings.
___
3:30 p.m.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has pounded militant sites in Gaza on a scale not seen since the 2014 war and is prepared to do a lot more.
Netanyahu spoke via satellite Tuesday to the AIPAC conference in Washington after abruptly returning home to deal with the escalation of violence with Gazas Hamas rulers after a long-range rocket struck a home in central Israel.
The Israeli air force hit dozens of sites of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group. The targets included a multistory building in Gaza City that Israel said had served as a Hamas military intelligence headquarters and the office of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Netanyahu says Israel will do what is necessary to defend our people and to defend our state.
___
2 p.m.
Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has returned home from Washington, heading straight into military consultations after a night of heavy fire as Israeli aircraft bombed Gaza targets and the strips militants fired rockets into Israel.
Schools in southern Israel were cancelled following the violence that erupted just two weeks ahead of Israeli elections. The region is quiet but tense on Tuesday, a day after a surprise rocket fired from Gaza slammed into a house in central Israel, wounding seven.
Netanyahu faces the difficult task of delivering a tough blow to Hamas while avoiding protracted fighting that could work against him on election day.
___
11:30 a.m.
Officials at a Palestinian university in the West Bank say undercover Israeli forces have raided the campus and arrested three students.
Lubna Abdelhadi, a spokeswoman for the Bir Zeit University, says the armed commandos, disguised as locals, entered the campus early on Tuesday and grabbed the students, believed to be Hamas activists, while they were sleeping.
The students were apparently hiding on campus to try and avoid arrest. The raid happened as Israel and Gazas Hamas militants traded fire overnight after a rocket attack from Gaza struck a home in central Israel early on Monday.
Israeli forces had previously raided the university in 2017 and ransacked the student council, confiscating materials used by political groups.
The Israeli military said it arrested nine Palestinian suspects in routine overnight West Bank raids, but would not specify further.
___
9 a.m.
A tense quiet has taken hold after a night of heavy fire as Israeli aircraft bombed targets across the Gaza Strip and Gaza militants fired rockets into Israel.
School in southern Israel was cancelled on Tuesday following the violence that erupted just two weeks ahead of Israeli elections.
The cross-border fighting was triggered by a surprise rocket fired early Monday from Gaza that slammed into a house in central Israel and wounded seven people. Gazas Hamas rulers announced later in the day that Egyptian mediators had brokered a cease-fire but the firing continued.
The attack prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short a visit to Washington and return home. He promised a tough response, setting the stage for perhaps the most serious conflict since a 50-day war in 2014.
NEW YORK - A Soviet-born convicted felon who worked on real estate deals with President Donald Trump was accused in a lawsuit Monday of plotting to use Trump-branded skyscrapers to launder money allegedly stolen from a Kazakhstan bank.
BTA Bank and the City of Almaty, Kazakhstan, allege Felix Sater conspired with the son of the citys former mayor to use some of the $440 million to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow.
Sater, who was due to testify before Congress this week about his work with Trump, started pushing the Moscow project in 2005 and tried to kickstart it during Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, but it was never built.
The bank also alleges Sater helped the mayors son, Ilyas Khrapunov, mask $3 million as down payments on three condominiums in Trump SoHo, a New York City hotel that Sater helped develop as an executive at Bayrock Group LLC.
Sater arranged for Trump and Khrapunov to meet and discuss potential investments, the lawsuit said, but it makes clear: there is no suggestion Trump engaged in impropriety or that he was aware Sater and Khrapunov allegedly stole money.
Messages were left with Sater and representatives for Trump and his company, the Trump Organization. Khrapunov is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan. His lawyer noted that all claims against him regarding alleged money laundering have been dismissed by federal Courts in New York and California.
Saters work on the Trump Tower Moscow project has made him a key figure in the House Democrats investigations into Trumps ties to Russia. The Congressional probes are moving forward after Attorney General William Barr on Sunday said that Special Counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence that Trump colluded with Russia to influence the election.
Saters public testimony, however, will wait.
The House Intelligence Committee postponed Saters appearance, scheduled for Wednesday. It wasnt immediately clear if he would still meet with the House Judiciary Committee in a closed-door session Thursday.
Khrapunovs father-in-law, former BTA Bank chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov, is accused of embezzling billions of dollars from the bank and funneling the money into offshore entities. The lawsuit said that, once caught, he turned to Khrapunov to monetize and launder remaining assets.
Khrapunov knew Sater through his family and asked him to join the scheme in 2011, the lawsuit said. Sater had been involved in coal extraction and oil drilling ventures with Khrapunovs family and attended Khrapunovs 2007 wedding to Ablyazovs daughter, the lawsuit said.
Sater and two other people are named as defendants, along with five companies, including Bayrock. In addition to the money laundering allegations, Sater is accused in the lawsuit of stealing $40 million for himself and an associate.
Sater, 53, is among the more colorful characters in Trumps orbit. He served 15 months in jail in the early 1990s and permanently lost his stockbrokers license for stabbing a man in the face with the stem of a broken margarita glass at a Manhattan bar.
A few years later, he got caught in a $40 million pump-and-dump stock fraud, turned states evidence against two New York crime families and then continued providing the government with information related to national security and other matters.
In another Trump connection, BTA Bank hired his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen in 2017 to help with litigation over Ablyazovs alleged embezzlement but dumped him within two months because it says he did absolutely nothing of value. Sater and Cohen worked together on the Moscow project in 2016.
__
Follow Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak
NEW ORLEANS - A Georgia man accused of shooting a man in New Orleans 18 times told police hed been involved in violent crimes in his hometown and in Alabama before the shooting, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Kwane Brown, 25, told New Orleans police that when a driver behind him flashed his lights around 6:30 a.m. Sunday, he thought the driver was after him so he exited his car and started firing, news outlets reported.
The man survived the shooting in New Orleans French Quarter. Police arrested Brown and charged him with attempted murder.
Brown told police he shot some people Friday night in Columbus, Georgia, and then drove to Mobile, Alabama, and robbed a gas station at gunpoint.
He remained in jail Monday with bail set at $200,000 by an Orleans Parish Magistrate Court judge. It wasnt clear if he had an attorney who could comment for him.
Court documents said the wounded man suffered three gunshots to his head, and was able to drive himself to a hotel. He was listed in stable condition at a hospital on Sunday.
Brown waived his right to remain silent when a detective met with him, police said. Officers found a pistol and ammunition in his vehicle.
Brown told police the shooting in Columbus was over a drug-related disagreement. He said drove to Mobile to try to visit his child, but after he could not locate the child, he then robbed the gas station.
Its unclear if authorities in Alabama or Georgia will seek to have Brown transferred to their jurisdictions.
Columbus is roughly 250 miles (402 kilometres) east of Mobile, which is about 145 miles (234 kilometres) east of New Orleans.
JUNEAU, Alaska - The Latest on a dispute over judicial nominees (all times local):
4:50 p.m.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he looks forward to scheduling a meeting with the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court to discuss a dispute over judicial nominees.
Thats according to Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow.
Shuckerow says he does not have any detail on the potential timing of such a meeting.
Dunleavy filled one vacancy on the Palmer Superior Court last week but refused to fill another after raising questions about the Alaska Judicial Councils process for nominating candidates.
Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Joel Bolger, in response to Dunleavy, said founders of the states constitution intended for a governor to appoint for judgeships candidates nominated by the council.
Bolger also defended and explained the councils process for vetting and nominating candidates.
Bolger serves on the council.
___
10:10 a.m.
The Alaska Supreme Courts chief justice says founders of the states constitution intended for a governor to appoint for judgeships candidates nominated by the Alaska Judicial Council.
Chief Justice Joel Bolger, in recent remarks, defended the councils process for vetting and nominating candidates after Gov. Mike Dunleavy filled one vacancy on the Palmer Superior Court but refused to fill another.
One of the seats is vacant and the second is soon to be.
Dunleavy said he wouldnt select a second candidate from the list of three the council sent him, saying there were qualified applicants inexplicably not nominated.
Bolger said the council aims to nominate the most qualified. State law calls for superior court vacancies to be filled within 45 days of the governor receiving nominations. That period has passed.
NEW YORK - Judges on a federal appeals court in New York seemed skeptical Tuesday as they heard a lawyer argue that President Donald Trump can legally ban critics from his Twitter account.
The three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not immediately rule on whether to uphold a lower-court judges conclusion that Trump is violating the First Amendment when he blocks critics.
District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwalds decision last year came after the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University sued on behalf of seven individuals blocked by Trump after they criticized his policies.
Attorney Jennifer Utrecht, arguing for the president, noted that @realDonaldTrump, with nearly 60 million followers, was created long before Trump was president. She said Trump sometimes tweets official announcements but acts in a private capacity when he blocks individuals.
Circuit Judge Peter W. Hall cited the presidents repeated use of the social media platform to make official announcements.
Hall noted that Trump in recent days had tweeted that he was revoking sanctions against North Korea, signing a proclamation pertaining to Israel, announcing a Federal Reserve Board appointment and sharing his White House celebration with hockeys Stanley Cup winners.
Those arent official actions? Hall asked.
Utrecht conceded official statements are regularly made, but argued that does not change the private nature of Trumps decision to block certain individuals from his account.
Are you seriously urging us to believe that the president is not acting in his official capacity when he is tweeting? asked Circuit Judge Barrington D. Parker.
Parker said Trumps tweets occur amid a worldwide dialogue on matters of transcendent public importance.
And what the blocking does ... is subtract from that discussion points of view that the president doesnt like. Why isnt that just a quintessential First Amendment violation? the judge asked.
Utrecht responded that Trumps critics can still engage in Twitter debates with others about subjects the president tweets about.
The fact that someone can go down the street and express a point of view is not a defence to government suppressing a particular point of view in a forum, Parker said.
Hall agreed with Parker.
If its more burdensome at all, if you have to move down the street, it violates the First Amendment, Hall said.
Circuit Judge Christopher F. Droney noted that it might be possible to conclude Trumps Twitter account is a public forum by the fact the U.S. Justice Department represents him.
Your very presence here represents the fact that this is a public forum, he told Utrecht.
Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institutes executive director, faced some tough questions from the judges as well, though not to the same degree.
At one point, Parker asked if the president could block racist or anti-Semitic material that others might send him.
Jaffer said he probably could.
A Boeing 737 Max aircraft made an emergency landing in Orlando, Florida.
The incident is said to have happened around 2:30 p.m. at Orlando International Airport and involved a Southwest plane, according to early dispatches. There were reportedly no passengers on board the aircraft when it made its emergency landing because of an unspecified malfunction.
Orlando TV station WFTV said that the troubled 737 had safely returned to the airport and was docked at Gate 122.
The plane is part of the Boeing fleet that saw the airlines Max 8 and Max 9 planes grounded throughout most of the world following two disasters in five months, including the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines flight that killed 157 people en route to Kenya. On March 29, a Lion Air 737 plunged into the Java Sea, taking with it 189 passengers lives.
A statement from the FAA addressed the issue: The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 8701, a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, declared an emergency after the aircraft experienced a reported engine problem while departing from Orlando international Airport in Florida about 2:50 p.m. today. The aircraft returned and landed safely in Orlando. No passengers were aboard the aircraft, which was being ferried to Victorville, Calif. for storage. The FAA is investigating.
Read more:
Ethiopian official says plane crash report due this week
Boeing tells airlines to get ready for free 737 Max software fix
At the 737 Max factory, pilots simulate new Boeing software
Read more about:
OXFORD, Ohio - A report says a student at a now-suspended fraternity at Miami University in Ohio told university officials he was hazed by members who beat him with a spiked paddle, kicked him and forced him to drink large amounts of alcohol.
The Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News reported the specific allegations Monday, citing a university incident report. Miami earlier announced Delta Tau Delta fraternity was suspended pending investigation of what school President Gregory Crawford called allegations of brutal and deplorable hazing.
The report says the student complained of being blindfolded and abused during a March 16 hazing ritual. He says he was taken to a hospital after saying he felt like he was going to die.
The newspaper reports the head of the national Delta Tau Delta Fraternity has said the organization suspended the chapter following hazing reports.
___
Information from: MIDDLETOWN: Hamilton-Middletown Journal News , http://www.journal-news.com
NEW YORK - Superstar UFC fighter Conor McGregor has announced on social media that he is retiring from mixed martial arts.
McGregors verified Twitter account had a post early Tuesday that said the former featherweight and lightweight UFC champion was making a quick announcement.
The tweet says: Ive decided to retire from the sport formally known as Mixed Martial Art today. The note wishes his colleagues well going forward and said that he would join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!
The 30-year-old McGregor also announced retirement on Twitter in April 2016, saying he decided to retire young, though he quickly reversed that amid a dispute with his promoters about how much he should be obligated to tout a fight scheduled with Nate Diaz that was postponed.
Earlier this month, McGregor was arrested in South Florida for stealing the cellphone of someone who was trying to take his photo, authorities said. McGregor was charged with robbery and criminal mischief. His attorney described the altercation as minor.
McGregor, whos from Ireland, returned to UFC last fall after a hiatus during which he made his boxing debut, a loss to Floyd Mayweather. He was suspended from UFC for six months and fined $50,000 for a brawl after his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
CHICAGOIn a stunning reversal, Cook County prosecutors dropped all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett on Tuesday for allegedly staging a phoney attack and claiming he was the victim of a hate crime.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the citys police chief angrily criticized the decision.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, a visibly angry Emanuel called the decision a whitewash of justice and asked, Where is the accountability in the system?
Emanuel criticized Smollett for not taking any responsibility despite what he described as overwhelming evidence. He also says Smollett continues to drag Chicagos reputation through the mud.
Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson said Smollett still owes the city an apology.
Smollett has not backtracked from his original story that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack, insisting hed been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one.
His family said in a statement Tuesday that Smolletts character was unjustly smeared and the truth prevailed.
They called Smollett the victim and said they hope the real perpetrators are brought to justice.
However, prosecutors said the decision to drop charges doesnt mean they no longer believe he staged the attack in January.
First Assistant States Attorney Joseph Magats told reporters Tuesday that he still believes Smollett filed a false police report and that prosecutors stand behind the investigation and the facts. He added that this was not an exoneration.
Why the states attorneys office made the sudden about-face wasnt immediately clear. The office issued only a one-sentence statement.
After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smolletts volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case, the statement said.
Johnson stood by the work of detectives.
Area Central Detective Cmdr. Edward Wodnicki, whose detectives led the investigation into Smollett, said prosecutors gave him no heads up that the charges would be dropped. He also expressed concern that it left it looking as if police mishandled the investigation. He said detectives uncovered overwhelming evidence against Smollett.
Its absolutely a punch in the gut, Wodnicki told a Tribune reporter. We worked very, very closely throughout our three-week investigation to get to the point where we arrested the offender. So for the states attorneys office at this point to dismiss the charges without discussing this with us at all is just shocking.
Before departing the courthouse Tuesday, Smollett thanked his lawyers, family, friends and Chicago for supporting him through what he called an incredibly difficult time for me. He also thanked the state of Illinois for attempting to do whats right.
I have been truthful and consistent from day one, Smollett, his hands shaking as he read from notes, told reporters in the lobby of the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
I would not be my mothers son if I was capable of one drop of what I was being accused of, he said.
Smolletts lawyer, Patricia Brown Holmes, said the defence reached no deal with prosecutors. Smollett agreed to forfeit his $100,000 (U.S.) bond so he could go on with his life and get this over with, she said.
Smollett had to post 10 per cent of that, or $10,000. Ordinarily, that money would be returned to him or his lawyers.
The stunning decision to drop the 16 counts of disorderly conduct was presumably made without the input of States Attorney Kim Foxx, who recused herself from the case last month after revealing shed had contact with Smolletts representatives early on in the investigation.
Foxx declined to provide details at the time. Communications later released to the Tribune, however, showed Foxx had asked Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to turn over the investigation to the FBI after she was approached by a politically connected lawyer about the case.
Holmes said she was not privy to the evidence that led prosecutors to bring charges, but she accused Johnson of trying the case in the press.
When asked if authorities should investigate who actually attacked Smollett, Holmes noted that two brothers both of whom knew Smollett had already admitted their involvement. They alleged that Smollett paid them to stage the attack.
The two men who attacked him have indicated that they attacked him, so we already know who attacked him, those brothers, she said.
When asked whether she was calling for the brothers to be charged, Holmes said that is a decision for prosecutors to make.
For unclear reasons, Judge Steven Watkins ordered the public court file sealed.
There had been no clue that prosecutors planned the about-face before the announcement. In fact, there likely would have been no reporters in the courtroom if it hadnt been for a publicist for Smolletts lawyer alerting the news media Tuesday morning that Smollett was already in court for an unscheduled emergency hearing.
The Fox network, which produces and airs the Chicago-filmed TV show, has not announced if it will be renewed for a sixth season. A Fox spokesman declined to comment Tuesday on whats next for the musical drama or Smolletts character, but issued this statement: Jussie Smollett has always maintained his innocence and we are gratified that all charges against him have been dismissed.
The Fox spokesman previously indicated that an announcement on the future of the show could come in May as networks present their fall schedules to advertisers.
The show recently finished shooting its fifth season in Chicago. New episodes of Season 5 have been airing on Wednesday nights.
Much of Season 5 had already been filmed before Smollett reported being attacked at about 2 a.m. Jan. 29 as he walked to his Streeterville apartment from a Subway sandwich shop.
Fox and Empire representatives initially stood by Smollett, but then announced last month that his character, musician Jamal Lyon, would not appear in the final two episodes of Season 5 to avoid further disruption on set.
HARRISBURG, Pa. - The first female Muslim member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives said Tuesday she was offended by a colleagues decision to open a voting session with a prayer a day earlier that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow.
Democratic Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell of Philadelphia said she felt the remarks by Rep. Stephanie Borowicz shortly before Johnson-Harrell took the oath of office on Monday used her religion against her.
I thought that for the most part, the entire invocation was offensive, Johnson-Harrell told reporters, noting that her own religion respects Jesus. But to use Jesus as a weapon is not OK.
Borowicz, a Republican and associate pastors wife who was elected to represent a rural central Pennsylvania district in November, also thanked President Donald Trump during the Monday invocation for standing behind Israel.
Johnson-Harrell said she respects everyones right to praise the president, but we cannot weaponize whats going on with Israel and Palestine.
Prayer should not be among the things that Republicans and Democrats fight about, she said.
It was directly a political statement, and I think we need to be very, very clear that everybody in this House matters, whether theyre Christian, Muslim or Jew, and that we cannot use these issues to tear each other down, Johnson-Harrell said. And not only that, it was made during my swearing in.
Johnson-Harrell won a special election earlier this month to fill a seat vacated by the resignation of Democratic Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, who had been re-elected in November after being convicted of bribery.
Her swearing-in drew 55 guests, a majority of them Muslim. A Muslim prayer was said from the House dais during the ceremony.
Borowicz defended her remarks Monday, saying, I pray every day. I prayed. She did not immediately return a message seeking a response to Johnson-Harrells comments Tuesday.
At the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, Jesus, that you are Lord, Borowicz said on Monday.
Her floor remarks drew a rebuke from Democratic Leader Frank Dermody of Allegheny County, who called Borowiczs invocation beneath the dignity of this House and asked that a group be set up to review the procedure.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday he was horrified by Borowiczs invocation and apologized to Johnson-Harrell on behalf of all Pennsylvanians.
I was horrified. I grew up in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn on the basis of freedom of conscience. I have a strong spiritual sense. This is not a reflection of the religion I grew up in, said Wolf, a Methodist.
Another Muslim lawmaker, Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Philadelphia, opened the session on Tuesday by reading from the Quran. His invocation was followed by applause.
House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, who controls the daily invocation process, lost a federal court decision last summer that halted his policy of preventing nonbelievers from making the invocations. Turzai is appealing that ruling , and currently has the invocations performed by state representatives themselves.
After Borowiczs comments on Monday, Turzai read for House members the guidance that has previously been provided to religious professionals about keeping remarks respectful of all religious beliefs and refraining from commenting on extraneous matters.
___
Associated Press writer Marc Levy contributed.
WASHINGTON - In a March 26 story about former Trump campaign aide George Papadopouloss appearance before Congress, The Associated Press reported erroneously that he pleaded guilty last year to lying to the FBI. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in 2017.
A corrected version of the story is below:
Ex-Trump campaign aide says FBI wanted him to wear a wire
A former Trump campaign aide at the centre of the early days of the FBIs Russia investigation says the FBI wanted him to wear a wire
By ERIC TUCKER
Associated Press
A former Trump campaign aide central to the early days of the FBIs Russia investigation said the FBI wanted him to wear a wire to record conversations with a professor who had told him the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton.
George Papadopoulos, the first of five Trump aides to plead guilty and agree to co-operate in special counsel Robert Muellers recently-concluded investigation, told House lawmakers and staff in a closed-door interview last October that he rejected the FBI request.
A transcript of that interview was released Tuesday by the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee as part of an ongoing effort to sow doubt about the origins of the FBIs investigation into possible co-ordination between Russia and President Donald Trumps campaign. Mueller ended his investigation last week without finding a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign to affect the 2016 presidential election, according to a Justice Department summary of his findings released Sunday.
Papadopoulos was a vital figure in the early days of the FBIs investigation. The revelation that Papadopoulos had learned in an April 2016 meeting in London that Russia had dirt on Democrat Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of stolen emails helped kick start the FBI probe months later.
In his interview with lawmakers, Papadopoulos says an FBI agent asked him during a 2017 encounter to wear a wire to a record future conversations with the Maltese professor, Joseph Mifsud, who he has said told him about the dirt.
And he basically told me that Washington wants answers and youre at the centre of this, something like that to make it seem like I was in some deep trouble if I wasnt going to wear a wire against this person, Papadopoulos said, describing his conversation with the agent. I rejected it.
The FBI declined to comment Tuesday.
Papadopoulos said he wasnt sure what to make of Mifsuds claim about Russia having dirt on Clinton since, at the time, people were openly speculating about that.
So yeah, it was an interesting piece of information, but you know, by that point you have to understand, he had failed to introduce me to anyone of substance in the Russian Government, Papadopoulos said. So he failed to do that, but now all of a sudden he has the keys to the kingdom about a massive potential conspiracy that Russia is involved in.
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Mifsud and was sentenced to 14 days in prison. Papadopoulos has been promoting a new book called Deep State Target: How I Got Caught in the Crosshairs of the Plot to Bring Down President Trump.
The Papadopoulos transcript is the latest release over the last month from Rep. Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. Other transcripts recently made public include those of Justice Department lawyer Bruce Ohr and ex-FBI employees Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, all steady targets of Trumps outrage.
___
Read the transcript: http://apne.ws/Bk8yMYk
ATLANTA - Every weekday at a middle school near Atlanta, a half-dozen or so students visit the school nurse to get sanitary pads.
Their reasons vary: Their mothers dont provide them; they dont have the money; they forgot to bring them; their friends need them.
Its every issue that can be named, said Linda Espinosa, a nurse at Freedom Middle School in Dekalb County, a school where all students receive free or subsidized meals.
The issue of affordable access to menstrual products is not limited to Georgia. In other states and countries around the world, advocates are working to ensure that girls and women are getting affordable access to feminine hygiene products in public schools and other institutions, such as homeless shelters and prisons.
In the U.S., the Federal Bureau of Prisons issued a memo in 2017 mandating that feminine hygiene products be available to all female inmates in federal institutions at no cost.
In New York City, the government provides free menstrual products in public schools, jails and homeless shelters. And in some states, either the legislature has mandated free menstrual products for prison inmates or the corrections departments have offered to do so on their own.
Ten U.S. states have eliminated the sales tax on menstrual products, while India and Canada have eliminated the tax nationwide. Georgias corrections department provides unlimited menstrual products to inmates but the state still charges a sales tax on these items.
There is definitely a need for more funding for menstrual products in the states public schools, said Garry McGiboney, deputy superintendent for external affairs at Georgias Department of Education.
State Democratic Rep. Debbie Buckner of Junction City proposed a bill this year to eliminate Georgias state tax on menstrual products. Buckner noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines menstrual products as medical devices, others of which diabetic test strips and insulin devices, for example receive tax exemptions under Georgia law.
The estimated $9 million in lost tax revenue from Buckners bill would have had little effect on the budget. The measure failed to make it out of committee by a critical legislative deadline, however, and shows little promise of passing this year. A similar proposal failed last session.
House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, second in command in the Georgia House and one of the highest-ranking elected Republican women in the state, has argued that eliminating the tax for all consumers of menstrual products wouldnt make a meaningful difference for those who cant afford the products to begin with. But she thanked advocates of the bill for bringing the issue of affordability to her attention.
Jones has proposed a targeted grant program that would allot $1 million to the states Department of Education and at least another $500,000 to county health departments to supply menstrual products, with the amount being adjusted in the future if necessary. The House has already approved a budget allocating $500,000 each for these programs. The Senate has not yet matched that amount, but Jones remains hopeful the final budget will set aside $1 million for schools.
Claire Cox and Adele Stewart, co-founders of Georgia STOMP, the main womens group behind the proposal to eliminate the state sales tax on menstrual products, were disappointed Buckners bill didnt pass. But they said theyre grateful for money going toward schools in need.
Until some action takes effect, the task of providing menstrual products in Georgia public schools where low-income students may not be able to afford them falls to private donors, civic groups and school employees such as Espinosa. She gets help from a Procter & Gamble program that donates menstrual products to schools. But she noted about half of those supplies are tampons, which she said most middle-school girls cant use.
Espinosa said she ends up paying about $20 out of her own pocket monthly because theres no budget for sanitary pads or other supplies for her small clinic. She said some of the students come in every day.
Freedom Middle School counsellor Tijuana Williams said she has a hunch the girls arent just supplying themselves but also trying to help somebody else at home.
Periods can often lead to shame and distraction for young students, said Marni Sommer, a Columbia professor who has researched the issue internationally and is exploring how low-income girls in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York experience their periods.
Sommer said access to sanitary products is only one of the challenges they face; they also deal with the embarrassment of having to ask for them and leaving class to do so.
At Stewart Middle School, in Douglas County, Georgia, staff buy and keep menstrual products in the front office, said principal Donita Cullen. A civic engagement group also has supplied bags with three pads and panty liners that are placed in classrooms as a more discreet way to provide products.
Sometimes it can be embarrassing to come to the front office multiple times a day, Cullen said.
As the adults in the building, sometimes we forget what its like to be an 11- or 12-year-old.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentuckys largest school district has turned over a preliminary list of teachers who used sick days to protest at the state capitol.
The names were requested by Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis after Jefferson County Public Schools cancelled classes multiple times in recent weeks due to teacher absences.
Lewis has said it isnt his intent to discipline teachers who used sick days to close multiple school districts so they could protest, but wouldnt rule it out.
Jefferson County school district spokeswoman Renee Murphy told news outlets the list was sent Monday, but declined to say how many names were on it.
Teachers protested at the Capitol as lawmakers considered proposals that would change who manages the teachers pension fund and indirectly support private schools with tax credits. The final day of the 2019 legislative session is Thursday.
CHICAGO - Empire actor and R&B singer Jussie Smollett told Chicago police in January that two men physically attacked him and yelled racial and homophobic slurs. Some key moments in the story:
Jan. 22
Smollett receives a racist and homophobic threatening letter at the studio in Chicago where Empire is filmed. Police later say that they believe Smollett sent the letter himself.
Jan. 29
Jussie Smollett tells police he was physically attacked by two men in downtown Chicago while out getting food from a Subway restaurant at 2 a.m. The actor says the men used racial and homophobic slurs, wrapped a rope around his neck and poured an unknown substance on him. Police say Smollett, who is black and gay, told detectives the attackers also yelled he was in MAGA country, an apparent reference to President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again campaign slogan that some Trump critics have decried as racist and discriminatory.
Jan. 30
Chicago police say theyve reviewed hundreds of hours of surveillance camera footage, including of Smollett walking downtown, but none shows the attack. Police obtain and release images of two people they would like to question, calling them persons of interest.
Reports of an assault on Smollett draw outrage and support for him on social media from some politicians and celebrities.
Jan. 31
Trump tells reporters at the White House that he saw a story the night before about Smollett, saying, It doesnt get worse, as far as Im concerned.
Smolletts family issues a statement calling the attack a racial and homophobic hate crime. Smolletts family says he has told the police everything and his story has never changed, disputing assertions levelled on social media that he had been less than co-operative and changed his story.
Feb. 1
Smollett issues a statement telling people hes OK and thanking them for their support. He says hes working with authorities and has been 100 per cent factual and consistent on every level.
Feb. 2
Smollett gives a concert in West Hollywood, California, opening with an emotional speech, saying he had to play the show because he couldnt let his attackers win.
Feb. 12
Chicago police say Smollett turned over some, but not all, of the phone records detectives requested as part of their investigation. Police say the heavily redacted files arent sufficient. Smollett says he redacted information to protect the privacy of contacts and people not relevant to the attack.
Feb. 13
Chicago police pick up two men they identify as Nigerian brothers at Chicagos OHare International Airport on their return from Nigeria after police learn at least one worked on Empire. Police question the brothers and search the apartment where the men live.
Feb. 14
Chicago police say local media reports that the attack against Smollett was a hoax are unconfirmed.
Producers of Empire dispute media reports that Smolletts character, Jamal Lyon, was being written off the show.
Feb. 15
Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielimi says the two persons of interest are now considered suspects. He says the men identified previously by police as two brothers from Nigeria are in custody but have not been charged with a crime.
Chicago police release the two men without charges after arresting them on suspicion of assaulting Smollett and holding them for nearly 48 hours. A police spokesman says the two are no longer considered suspects and that investigators have new evidence to consider as a result of questioning them.
Feb. 16
Police say the investigation has shifted after detectives question the two brothers about the attack and release them without charges. Police say theyve requested a follow-up interview with Smollett. Smolletts lawyers say the actor feels victimized by reports that he played a role in the assault.
Smolletts account of what happened is met with some skepticism on social media in the wake of the new developments.
Feb. 17
Chicago police say theyre still seeking a follow-up interview with Smollett after receiving new information that shifted their investigation of a reported attack on the Empire actor. Guglielimi says police reached out to Smolletts attorney, but says an interview has not been conducted.
Guglielimi declines to address reports that a grand jury may hear evidence in the case, saying: Were not confirming, denying or commenting on anything until we can talk to him and we can corroborate some information that weve gotten.
Feb. 19
Chicago police investigate tip that on the night Smollett reported being attacked, he was in an elevator of his apartment building with the two Nigerian brothers. Police later dismiss the tip, saying its not credible based on video evidence.
Chicagos top prosecutor, Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx, recuses herself from the investigation. Her office says the decision was made out of an abundance of caution ... to address potential questions of impartiality based upon familiarity with potential witnesses in the case. No details were provided. Foxx later says the reason for the recusal is that she had conversations with a Smollett family member after the incident was reported in late January.
Feb. 20
Chicago police say Smollett is officially suspected of filing a false police report when he said he was a victim of a racist, homophobic attack in downtown Chicago in January. Police also say that two brothers who were questioned about the attack were testifying before a grand jury and detectives were presenting evidence to the grand jury.
Chicago police say the Cook County States Attorney has charged Smollett with disorderly conduct for filing a false police report that he was attacked by two masked men. Police detectives were contacting Smolletts attorneys to arrange his surrender for arrest.
Feb. 21
Chicago police say Smollett turned himself in to face a felony charge of disorderly conduct, which could bring up to three years in prison.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson says Smollett staged a racist and homophobic attack because he was unhappy with his salary and wanted publicity. Investigators say they have a $3,500 check that Smollett used to pay the two brothers to help him.
Feb. 22
Producers of Empire say Jussie Smolletts character will be removed from the final two episodes of this season.
March 7
A Cook County grand jury returns a 16-count indictment charging Smollett with falsely reporting an offence.
March 26
Attorneys for Empire actor Jussie Smollett say charges alleging he lied to police about attack have been dropped.
___
Check out the APscomplete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.
___
This story has been corrected to reflect that the 16-count indictment was returned on March 7 instead of March 8.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California sold $600 million in bonds Tuesday to help pay for its high-speed rail project even as lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom acknowledge challenges to completing the line between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The bond money is a key source of funding for the troubled project, which has been beset by cost overruns and delays. Voters approved $10 billion in bonds in 2008 and the state routinely sells them. The entire project is estimated to cost $77 billion.
Todays funding announcement is a continued sign of progress to keep our transformative high-speed rail initiative moving forward in California, Democratic Sen. Jim Beall of San Jose said in a statement.
Wells Fargo and Jefferies, LLC, purchased the bonds, state Treasurer Fiona Ma said.
The bond sale came ahead of a Senate hearing about how the state should move forward. It was the first public hearing since Newsom signalled changes to the project. But his administration provided few new details, saying those would come in an update to the Legislature on May 1.
Let there be no doubt, (Newsom) supports high-speed rail in California, said Lenny Mendonca, the governors appointee to lead the board overseeing the project.
Newsom in his state of state speech said there wasnt a path for the project as planned and said he will instead focus immediately on completing and expanding a line through the Central Valley, adding about 50 miles (80 kilometres) of track to a line already under construction rather than going west toward the San Francisco Bay Area.
But he also said hed continue environmental work on the full line and seek private money to eventually build the full train. Lawmakers said theyre still seeking clarity on Newsoms vision for the project.
The projects funding challenges were at the centre of Tuesdays hearing.
Beyond bonds, the project gets money from the federal government and the states cap and trade program, which raises money through credits to emit carbon. The Trump administration recently threatened to withhold or rescind roughly $3.5 billion in federal money, a move that would put the project further in jeopardy.
The state would need at least $50 billion more to meet the funding plan.
The inspiring vision of high-speed rail, replete with dramatic pictures of speeding gold and blue trains but presented in advance of a credible financing plan is now meeting reality, said Lou Thompson, head of a peer review group. Action by the Legislature is badly needed.
Thompson and Helen Kerstein of the Legislative Analysts Office said lawmakers need to decide if theyll provide more money or change the project, potentially by finishing the high-speed line in the Central Valley and connecting it to Los Angeles and San Francisco using existing train and commuter services.
Senators also said the high-speed rail authority hasnt been spending money or building as fast as it needs to ahead of 2022 deadlines.
Construction slowed down through the winter months amid rain but an uptick is expected soon, said Joe Hedges, the chief operating officer of the project.
Hedges and other rail officials said the federal government has also slowed down progress because it has not completed required environmental reviews.
TAMPA, Fla. - A 20-year-old ex-Neo-Nazi accused in the 2017 fatal shootings of his roommates has returned to jail after a stint at a Florida mental hospital.
The Tampa Bay Times reports Devon Arthurs was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on Monday night after undergoing treatment to make him competent to stand trial. Hes facing two counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping charges for holding people at gunpoint in a nearby smoke shop after the killings.
Authorities say Arthurs rambled about Islam before Tampa police persuaded him to surrender. Arthurs then told police they would find his roommates dead in their townhouse.
A fourth roommate, Brandon Russell, who was the leader of a Neo-Nazi group, had nothing to do with the killings but was later sentenced to federal prison on bomb-making charges.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and House Republicans moved to build congressional support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade accord on Tuesday with lawmakers selling the plan as offering big benefits for American workers. But prospects remain uncertain as Democrats are in no hurry to secure a political victory for the president.
GOP lawmakers emerged from a White House meeting knowing they likely have a narrow window to push it through both chambers of Congress, given that lawmakers tend to avoid tough trade votes during election season.
There are a lot of big wins for American workers in this agreement, said House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La. Wed like to see it move through Congress as fast as possible and create even more jobs with this growing economy.
The White House described the meeting as the first in a series that Trump will have with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to build broad support for the pact.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., the chairman of the House subcommittee that has jurisdiction over trade, said the pact needs adjustments to be worthy of support.
Some Republican lawmakers also have concerns. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, maintains that the president should lift steel and aluminum tariffs on products brought in from Canada and Mexico as a first step to getting the trade agreement through Congress.
Trumps top trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, told lawmakers during a recent congressional hearing that if they dont pass the trade agreement, the United States will have no credibility at all with future trading partners, including China.
There is no trade program in the United States if we dont pass USMCA. There just isnt one, Lighthizer said.
The White Houses legislative affairs team has talked to more than 290 members of Congress and staff over the past two months to push the deal. But the administration knows that making changes in the agreement to win over lawmakers could jeopardize support for the pact from Canada and Mexico.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told reporters recently that many in her states agricultural community are still with the president, but if we dont get the trade deals done, they could turn quickly.
She said, We need to start wrapping this baby up.
The trade deal is designed to supplant the North American Free Trade Agreement , which took effect in 1994 and gradually eliminated tariffs on goods produced and traded within North America.
U.S. trade with its NAFTA partners has more than tripled since the agreement took effect, and more rapidly than trade with the rest of the world.
But Trump has called NAFTA a disaster for the United States. The new pact his administration negotiated is meant to increase manufacturing in the United States. Trump is warning that if lawmakers dont approve the pact, the U.S. may revert to what he has described as pre-NAFTA.
Blumenauer is looking to make changes to the agreement in four areas: enhancing environmental and labour protections, ensuring enforcement of the agreement, and taking on protections for pharmaceutical companies that he believes drive up drug costs for consumers.
I dont think anyone wants to blow it up, but there is interest in strengthening it, Blumenauer said.
Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida, the ranking Republican on the trade subcommittee, said he believes the vast majority of Republicans will end up voting for the agreement. Hes tried to assure Democratic colleagues that Republicans were open-minded to try and get some things done to address their concerns.
Still, Republicans conceded that Democrats are in charge of the calendar.
Ambassador Lighthizer has said legislation will be sent to the Hill when Speaker Pelosi gives the green light, said Rep. Kevin Brady, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Brady said Republicans would work with Democrats to address any fine-turning theyd like to see, adding we think its crucial ... that we come together and pass this new agreement and get it to the presidents desk this summer.
Canadian officials have been lobbying the U.S. to end Trumps steel and aluminum tariffs and have suggested that approval by Canadas Parliament could be conditioned upon them being lifted. David MacNaughton, Ottawas ambassador to Washington, has said it will be a tough sell to pass if the tariffs are still in place.
Dan Ujczo, a trade lawyer and Canada-U.S. specialist in Columbus, Ohio, said the trade deal could pass relatively quickly once the tariffs are removed.
But Scalise described the tariffs as helping to create more leverage to get a deal done.
In Mexico, the administration of then-President Enrique Pena Nieto spearheaded Mexicos negotiations, but representatives of current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador were deeply involved in the talks to ensure an agreement that both the outgoing and incoming administrations could live with.
Allies of Lopez Obrador, who took office Dec. 1, enjoy a large majority in the Mexican Senate, so passage of the agreement would seemingly go smoothly.
Kenneth Smith Ramos, who was chief negotiator for Pena Nietos government and now works as an international trade consultant at Mexico City-based AGON, said Mexican enthusiasm for the deal could dim though if there are significant new demands on labour, pharmaceuticals, the environment or other issues.
We made some important concessions, he said, adding that if the U.S. still wants more, then that starts to unbalance the agreement and there may be a growing opposition in Mexico.
___
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Rob Gillies in Toronto and Peter Orsi in Mexico City contributed to this report.
RALEIGH, N.C. - A federal judge has declared unconstitutional a North Carolina law banning women from having abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy except in an urgent medical emergency.
The decision Monday by U.S. District Judge William Osteen in Greensboro gave state legislators 60 days before his ruling takes effect to allow them to amend abortion restrictions or appeal his ruling to a higher court.
The U.S. Supreme Court has protected abortion as a constitutional right until a fetus has developed enough to live outside the mothers womb. The judge noted that North Carolinas own medical expert conceded thats almost never possible until the 22nd week of gestation.
The law was challenged in 2016 shortly after lawmakers narrowed abortions after the 20th week of gestation so that they were only allowable if the mother faces a risk of death or serious and irreversible harm from some urgent medical emergency.
The 2016 changes also imposed substantial reporting obligations on abortion providers for any abortion performed after sixteen weeks, expanded the universe of medical facilities from which information is collected, restricted the type of doctor who may perform an abortion in the state, and lengthened the informed consent waiting period from 24 to 72 hours, Osteen wrote in his ruling.
The revised law also meant that abortions were no longer allowed for medical conditions that cause gradual health damage but never reached a specific point to make them immediately necessary, Osteen said.
While North Carolina has not prosecuted anyone for an illegal abortion for more than 40 years, that could change in the future, Osteen said. He wrote that the states strident defence of the lawsuit as well as a wave of similarly worded laws in Wisconsin, Iowa, Arkansas and other states suggests officials havent disavowed future prosecutions under the 20-week ban.
Some states have gone further this month. Mississippi and Kentucky outlawed most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy. A similar bill passed the Georgia Senate last week and now goes back to the House to approve changes. It is backed by Georgias Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
The North Carolina lawsuit was one of three filed weeks after President Donald Trumps election challenging laws abortion-supporters viewed as unconstitutional restrictions. Laws in Missouri and Alaska were also challenged at the same time by the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
The Alaska lawsuit was dropped after the state medical board adopted new regulations for abortions after the first trimester. In Missouri, one of the states two abortion clinics closed in October after federal appeals court judges ruled that the state could enforce a requirement that doctors must have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals before they can perform abortions.
North Carolinas top Republican legislative leaders had no immediate reaction to the decision. Spokesmen for Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore said they needed more time to review the ruling.
An attorney for the ACLUs North Carolina chapter said Osteens decision affirmed that people have a constitutional right to make their own decisions about their pregnancy.
North Carolinas ban was written by politicians to intimidate doctors and interfere in a womans personal medical decisions. attorney Irena Como said. Important medical decisions throughout different points of a womans pregnancy, including whether to have an abortion, must be left to the woman and her doctor - not politicians.
____
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 Gary D. Robertson contributed to this report.
NEW YORK - Apple trotted out few details on its long-awaiting streaming service on Monday, but it didnt skimp on high-wattage celebrity.
Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Jennifer Aniston were part of a parade of A-listers who took the stage at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California, where the main attractions are usually the companys latest high-tech gadgets.
This time, though, it was the likes of Big Bird and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa, who took the spotlight at Apples latest live-streamed product launch.
Im joining forces with Apple, declared Winfrey. Theyre in a billion pockets, yall.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook gave what he called a sneak peek of the tech giants plans to transform television viewing and jump some analysts say belatedly into the streaming business Netflix has pioneered.
The service, dubbed Apple TV Plus, will debut in the fall in more than 100 countries and feature ad-free original series and films. Cook and Apple declined to say how much the nascent streaming service will cost. It was unveiled as an extension of Apples redesigned TV app, which will bundle third-party services like HBO, CBS and Showtime, along with a users cable subscription and some streaming services like Hulu. Netflix has said it wont partake.
Much of both Hollywood and Silicon Valley had eagerly awaited details on Apples much-ballyhooed foray into original programming, something the company had been quietly prepping for the last few years and laying aside at least $1 billion to do so. But its not the only company readying a rival to Netflix, which spent $12 billion on content last year. The Walt Disney Co. and AT&Ts WarnerMedia are both set to unveil their own platforms later this year.
Standing out from the pack will be a challenge for each. Disneys streaming service, named Disney-Plus, even bears a plus-symbol just like Apples service.
Its not just another streaming service, said Zack Van Amburg, who along with Jamie Erlicht was hired away from Sony TV to head Apples video programming.
Cook didnt map out how extensive Apples streaming library will be; it has about two dozen series and a handful of movies in the pipeline. But he promised big ambitions. We partnered with the most thoughtful, accomplished and award-winning group of creative visionaries who have ever come together in one place, to create a new service unlike anything thats been done before, he said.
But what the presentation lacked in particulars it sought to make up for with star power and sizzle-reel teases of its upcoming slate. Some of the highlights:
Oprah: Winfrey said she has two documentaries in the works for Apple TV Plus (one on mental health, one on the toll of sexual harassment in the workplace) and is planning the most stimulating book club on the planet. The TV personality, whose book club choices have made dozens of works into instant bestsellers, said the Apple broadcast will include streamed conversations with authors. Winfrey already has her OWN network and O magazine where she still makes book picks, most recently Michelle Obamas Becoming. I am proud to be a part of this platform where I can connect with people around the world to create positive change, said Winfrey.
Amazing Stories: Executive produced by Steve Spielberg, Amazing Stories is a science-fiction anthology series the filmmaker is reviving. It first ran for two seasons from 1985-1987 on NBC. We want to transport the audience with every single episode, said Spielberg.
The Morning Show: Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell star in this series about the behind-the-scenes drama at a TV morning show. Witherspoon said it will pull back the curtain on men and women in the high-stakes battle of morning television. It is, notably, Anistons first time back in television since Friends. And Im really excited about it, she said.
Little America: Kumail Nanjiani unveiled this anthology series based on true-life tales of immigrants or children of immigrants from across the country. This is no such thing as the other, said the comedian-actor-writer. There is only us.
See: This post-apocalyptic series stars Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard takes places centuries after a cataclysmic event where all of humanity has lost its sight.
Other shows in development include the thriller Defending Jacob, in which Chris Evans plays a father whose 14-year-old son is accused of murder; an untitled drama from M. Night Shyamalan; a series from La La Land director Damien Chazelle; a show about computer coding for preschoolers called Helpsters, with Big Bird; a drama series about youth basketball produced by Kevin Durant; Dickinson, starring Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson; and Little Voice, a show about a young musician produced by J. J. Abrams and Sara Bareilles, who performed the theme song Monday.
Apples nascent movie aims were harder to discern Monday. It previously entered into a partnership with A24, the indie label behind films like Moonlight and Lady Bird. Their first film together is to be On the Rocks, Sofia Coppolas reunion with Lost in Translation star Bill Murray. He plays a larger-than-life father reconnecting with his daughter, played by Rashida Jones.
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is creating a task force to investigate how an Indian Health Service doctor was able to sexually assault children in his care.
The White House announced Tuesday that the Presidential Task Force on Protecting Native American Children in the Indian Health Service System will be co-chaired by President Donald Trumps domestic policy adviser and the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
The doctor, Stanley Patrick Weber, was sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison following his conviction last fall on charges of sexually abusing boys in his care on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwest Montana in the 1990s.
The panel will examine institutional and systemic breakdowns in the Indian Health Service that allowed Weber to target children, and forward recommendations to Trump.
RALEIGH, N.C. - A pioneering use of drones to fly blood samples across a North Carolina hospital campus launched Tuesday in the latest move to expand their roles in business and health care.
The short trips between WakeMed buildings in Raleigh mark the first time the Federal Aviation Administration has allowed regular commercial flights of drones carrying products, according to UPS and drone company Matternet, which partnered with the hospital on the program.
This is a turning point, and its an historic moment because this is the first FAA-sanctioned use of a (drone) for routine revenue-generating flights, Bala Ganesh, vice-president of UPS advanced technology group, said in an interview before the announcement.
The FAA confirmed in a statement Monday that it hadnt previously allowed drones to make routine commercial package deliveries, known as revenue flights. Others have flown drone deliveries as part of smaller-scale tests or demonstrations.
The WakeMed program will start by flying patients medical samples one-third of a mile (.5 kilometre) from a medical park to the main hospital building for lab testing at least six times a day five days a week, Matternet CEO Andreas Raptopoulos said in an interview. Vials of blood or other specimens will be loaded into a secure box and carried to a drone launching pad, where they will be fastened to the aircraft and flown to another building. He said the flights will technically be within sight of operators on either end of the route, and they are authorized to fly above people.
The aim is to cut down on the time it takes to transport the time-sensitive samples typically driven on the ground.
This is going to bring tremendous benefit to health care, he said in an interview. Health care is one of these domains of commercial activity where being fast really matters.
The announcement doesnt mean routine physical checkups this year or next will feature unmanned aircraft whizzing into your internists office to speed along your cholesterol results, experts say.
But the North Carolina program could expand to flying miles-long routes between Raleigh-area WakeMed buildings in the coming months, Raptopoulos said. He also said medical specimen flights could start at one or two more hospitals in other cities later in 2019.
North Carolina is one of nine sites participating in the FAAs pilot program to accelerate integrating drones for new uses ranging from utility inspections to insurance claims. The test sites get leeway trying new innovations while working closely with the federal officials in charge of regulating the drones.
At other program test sites, drone operators recently delivered ice pops to doorsteps in a Virginia neighbourhood, and officials in Reno, Nevada, are in early testing of a program to deliver defibrillators to people having health emergencies.
The Nevada defibrillator project has so far been testing at a rural site and hasnt begun home deliveries, said Rebecca Venis, the citys communications director. The approval process for drone flights of medical devices or supplies is complex because they may contain hazardous materials.
Its different than dropping a package, she said.
Mark Blanks, the director of the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, also said the approval to fly commercial drones can be a significant achievement.
Its not a safety piece; its an economic licensing portion, he said.
Colin Snow of the drone research firm Skylogic said it remains to be seen how cost-effective medical drone deliveries will be. He said regulatory hurdles and the significant costs of establishing the programs could hinder their wide rollout across the country.
It just goes down to the old adage: Just because you can, doesnt mean you should, he said. Theyre cool, headline-making tests. But when you get down to ... the economics of logistics, thats a different matter.
___
Follow Jonathan Drew at www.twitter.com/JonathanLDrew
SAN FRANCISCO - The Latest on the U.S. International Trade Commissions findings in cases alleging Apples iPhones infringed on technology owned by Qualcomm (all times local):
3 p.m.
The U.S. International Trade Commission is reversing an administrative law judges findings that Apples iPhones infringed on technology owned by Qualcomm.
The decision invalidating Qualcomms patent claim handed Apple a victory late Tuesday in Washington. It came a few hours after Apple suffered a setback in another ITC case brought by Qualcomm that could still result in a U.S. import ban on some iPhones.
Its all part of a messy battle between Apple and Qualcomm over which company owns the rights to some of the technology underlying key features in the iPhone.
In the latest development, the trade commission tossed aside a decision reached last September on one of Qualcomms patent claims.
The commission must still review Tuesdays earlier decision, which found that an iPhone feature violated a different Qualcomm patent.
___
1:15 p.m.
A trade court judge will recommend banning some iPhones from being imported into the U.S. after concluding Apples bestselling device infringed on technology owned by mobile chip maker Qualcomm.
The U.S. International Trade Commission decision is the latest twist in a bitter legal dispute between Qualcomm and Apple over the rights to some of the technology that connects iPhones to the internet.
Its unclear if the recommended ban will be imposed or even which iPhone models would be affected. McNamaras recommendation still must be weighed by the full trade commission.
Qualcomm applauded McNamaras findings. Apple didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.
A similar decision was reached by a trade commission judge last September in another patent infringement case that Qualcomm filed against Apple. The full commission is expected issue its ruling on that judges initial findings later Tuesday.
The legal battle between Qualcomm and Apple broke out more than two years ago after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued Qualcomm for allegedly using its portfolio of mobile technology patents to gouge smartphone makers and stifle competition in the chip market. A federal court judge in San Jose, California, is still mulling a decision in that case, two months after presiding over a trial.
Shortly after the FTC filed its case in 2017, Apple pounced with its own lawsuit accusing Qualcomm of trying to wring licensing fees for technology that it didnt really invent.
Apple subsequently stopped paying royalties to Qualcomm, further poisoning the two companies relationship.
Qualcomm prevailed in another round of skirmishing when a federal court jury in San Diego decided Apple should pay $31 million in damages for making several different types of iPhones that violated Qualcomm patents. The bout is scheduled to resume April 15 at yet another federal court trial in San Diego.
WASHINGTON - The Latest on the special counsels Russia report (all times local):
4:05 p.m.
A Justice Department official says it will take Attorney General William Barr weeks, not months, to finish reviewing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation report and make a version available for the public.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday to discuss the Justice Departments plans.
The official also said there were no plans for the department to give the report to the White House.
Six House Democratic committee chairmen on Monday asked Barr to turn over the report by April 2, though its unclear if the Justice Department will make that deadline.
Barr has said previously that he wants to make as much public as he can under the law, though grand jury material is not expected to be released.
By Eric Tucker
___
2:50 p.m.
President Donald Trump says Robert Muellers investigation gave him a clean bill of health and he hopes the conclusion of the probe means a new beginning.
Thats according to senators who dined with Trump Tuesday at the Republicans weekly policy meeting. Several said Trump talked about trade, China and health care policy in the closed lunch.
Trump took the victory lap on Capitol Hill after Mueller reported finding no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russian government in the 2016 election. But Mueller declined to make a conclusion on whether Trump obstructed justice, saying there was evidence on both sides of the question.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the president is in a very good mood for all the obvious reasons.
___
1:35 p.m.
President Donald Trump says the outcome of special counsel Robert Muellers report on Russian election interference could not have been better.
Arriving at the Senate to meet with Republicans, Trump falsely claimed Muellers report found no obstruction, no collusion.
Mueller did not find a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, but he did not make a conclusion about whether Trump obstructed justice. Thats according to a summary of Muellers report from Attorney General William Barr.
Republican leaders showed support for the president. Trump was flanked during his remarks by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Roy Blunt, chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. When Trump entered the private weekly lunch, Republicans could be heard applauding.
Mueller concluded his two-year investigation last week.
___
12:30 p.m.
The House Judiciary Committee has approved a Republican request to demand documents from the Justice Department about former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabes claim Justice Department officials discussed using the Constitutions 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office.
McCabe has said the discussions happened after former FBI Director James Comey (KOH-mee) was fired in May 2017. The Justice Department has responded that department leaders believed there was no basis for invoking the amendment, which enables Cabinet members to oust a president.
McCabe has said he worried investigations into Trumps Russian ties and possible obstruction of justice would be shut down.
Democrats supported the resolution Tuesday. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said he supported the Republican effort because he wants to know what prompted such alarm among officials.
Trump has suggested key officials involved in the Russia probe engaged in treasonous behaviour.
___
12:15 a.m.
President Donald Trump says he welcomes the special counsels report but complains that he has been abused by a long, unnecessary investigation.
Trump also told reporters Monday that he believes some people have done what he called treasonous things and will be looked at.
An outline of the special counsels report found no Trump campaign collusion with the Russian government but left to Attorney General William Barr the question of obstruction of justice.
Congressional Democrats say that Barrs decision that there isnt sufficient evidence to establish obstruction by Trump isnt the last word and are pushing for the release of the full report. They also are vowing to continue their multiple investigations into the president.
Six House Democratic committee chairmen are asking for the full report by April 2.
WASHINGTON - The Latest on Congress and President Donald Trumps border wall (all times local):
6:05 p.m.
The Democratic-led House has failed to override President Donald Trumps first veto, salvaging his effort to steer billions of extra dollars to erecting barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Lawmakers voted 248-181 to overturn Trumps veto, but that fell 38 votes shy of the required two-thirds margin
Tuesdays vote bolsters Trumps drive to build a wall along the boundary with Mexico, a hallmark of his 2016 presidential campaign and a priority of his presidency.
Just 14 Republicans joined all voting Democrats in Tuesdays futile effort to void Trumps declaration of a national emergency at the Southwest border.
__
2 p.m.
An effort by House Democrats to override President Donald Trumps first veto has failed. That hands him a victory because his declaration of a national emergency at the Southwest border will remain in effect.
The Democratic-controlled chamber has voted 248-181 in favour of overriding Trumps veto. That fell 38 votes short of the 286 needed for Democrats and their handful of Republican allies to prevail, because a two-thirds majority was needed.
The emergency declaration would let Trump shift an additional $3.6 billion from military construction projects to erecting barriers along the border with Mexico. Building the wall was one of Trumps most repeated campaign pledges, though he said it would be paid for by Mexico, not taxpayers.
Congress voted to provide less than $1.4 billion for barrier construction. Court challenges may eventually block the extra money Trump wants
__
1:05 p.m.
House Democrats trying to override President Donald Trumps first veto say his plan to shift billions of extra dollars into building border barriers is a waste of money and an abuse of his powers.
But their veto override attempt seems certain to fall short of the two-thirds majority they will need to succeed later Tuesday.
Congress sent him legislation blocking his declaration of a national emergency at the border. Hes using it to shift $3.6 billion from military construction projects to building barriers.
Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon says money shouldnt be spent on Trumps stupid, static wall. Texas Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro says Trump is guilty of constitutional vandalism.
Republican Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri says there is a border crisis and says Trump acted well within his legal authority.
__
12:17 a.m.
President Donald Trump is nearing a victory over Democrats as the House tries overriding his first veto. Tuesdays vote seems certain to fail, which means his declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border would stand.
Trumps emergency would let him shift an additional $3.6 billion from military construction projects to work on a barrier along the southwest boundary.
Congress has approved less than $1.4 billion. Building the wall was one of his most oft-repeated campaign promises, though he claimed the money would come from Mexico.
Trumps emergency declaration drew unanimous opposition from congressional Democrats and opposition from some Republicans. Lawmakers objected that he was abusing presidential powers.
The House seems sure to fall short of the two-thirds margin needed to override vetoes.
SALISBURY, Md. - The owner of a Maryland farm is going to trial after dozens of horses were found dead and decaying as more than 100 others were neglected and starving on her property.
The Daily Times of Salisbury reports 75-year-old Barbara Pilchard is set to appear in court Tuesday morning on charges of animal cruelty, neglect and abuse.
Pilchard was indicted last summer after authorities responding to a report of decaying horse corpses at the 2-acre farm on the states Eastern Shore saw the severity of the situation.
Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis said previous allegations of horse neglect against Pilchard werent sufficiently supported by evidence.
He says the living horses were starving and had broken into the home in an attempt to find food. They were placed with rescue groups.
___
Information from: The Daily Times of Salisbury, Md., http://www.delmarvanow.com/
U.S. President Donald Trump complained in a private lunch Tuesday with Senate Republicans about the amount of disaster aid designated for Puerto Rico, as lawmakers prepare for a standoff over funds for the island still struggling to recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, according to multiple officials familiar with the meeting.
Aid for Puerto Rico has long been a fixation for Trump, who has asked advisers how to reduce money for the island and signalled that he wont support any more aid beyond food stamp funds.
Inside the lunch on Tuesday, Trump began rattling off the amount of aid that had been designated for other disaster-hit states and compared it with the amount allocated for Puerto Rico following the 2017 hurricane, which he felt was too high, according to the officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private event.
Trump noted to GOP senators that Texas also battered by a spate of hurricanes was awarded $29 billion (U.S.) in aid while South Carolina got $1.5 billion to recover from their own storms. Trump then questioned why Puerto Rico was getting $91 billion in aid, according to two people familiar with his comments, indicating that this was too much compared to states on the mainland.
Its unclear where Trump got the figure for Puerto Rico aid. One congressional official said it is difficult to quantify exactly how much aid the island has received to recover from Maria because of the way the money is disbursed.
The inspector general of the Department of Housing and Urban Development will review whether the White House has interfered with hurricane relief funding approved for Puerto Rico as part of a broader examination of the agencys administration of disaster grants, a HUD inspector general attorney told a congressional committee Tuesday.
Congress has appropriated nearly $20 billion in HUD disaster relief funds for Puerto Rico, only $1.5 billion of which has been approved for spending.
The Senate is set to take up disaster-aid legislation drafted by Republicans later Tuesday. It allocates about $13.4 billion for states that have faced recent natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. It also has $600 million in food stamps for Puerto Rico.
But Democratic leaders have already panned the GOP bill as insufficient. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., and her Senate counterpart, Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said the legislation does not adequately address the needs of the American citizens of Puerto Rico and other territories.
The presidents Puerto Rico remarks were just one bit of an hour-long, freewheeling soliloquy at the Capitol with dozens of Senate Republicans, several who described Trump as being in a particularly good mood following the end of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation.
During the lunch, Trump boasted to senators that Muellers report which according to Attorney General William Barr did not establish there was a criminal conspiracy between his campaign and Moscow gave him a clean bill of health, according to attendees. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., described Trump as talking as if he had a new lease on life following the end of the special counsels probe, with the president discussing how difficult the process had been on his family and close friends.
Trump also discussed the potential trade deal with China and encouraged new efforts to write health-care legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act, senators said. Trump also mocked the Green New Deal and told senators dont kill it yet because he said he wanted to run against it next year.
The president talks until he is through talking, Sen. John Neely Kennedy, R-La., said, describing the lunch.
Read more about:
WASHINGTON - An exuberant President Donald Trump took a victory lap on Capitol Hill Tuesday, emboldened by the end of the special counsels Russia probe, even as Democrats pressed insistently for Robert Muellers full report and Justice Department officials said more information could be released in weeks, not months.
Trump strode into a high-spirited gathering of Senate Republicans, flanked by party leaders, saying the attorney generals weekend summary of Muellers report could not have been better. GOP senators applauded his arrival, and he celebrated what he called his clean bill of health.
But challenges are ahead for both the Republicans and the Democrats who hope to deny Trump re-election next year. Both parties are readjusting their aims and strategies in the post-probe landscape, pivoting to health care and other issues that are more important for many voters, even with Muellers full findings still unknown.
At House Speaker Nancy Pelosis own closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday, she urged rank-and-file Democrats to be calm and focus on the policy promises of health care, jobs and oversight of the administration that helped propel them to the House majority last fall.
Lets just get the goods, Pelosi said.
Not that the Democrats are forgetting Russia and the 2016 presidential election. Many Democrats dismiss the four-page summary released by Attorney General William Barr as inadequate.
I havent seen the Mueller report. Ive seen the Barr report. And Im not going to base anything on the Barr report, said Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland.
The president is saying hes been completely and totally exonerated by the report, Raskin said. The one sentence weve seen from the report says this is not an exoneration of the president.
Meanwhile, a Justice Department official said it will take Barr weeks, not months to finish reviewing Muellers longer, still-confidential report and make a version available for the public. Its not clear whether that will be Muellers own words or another synopsis.
Trump has said he wouldnt mind if the full report were released. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said hes hesitant to agree to releasing information from Mueller that would throw innocent people whove not been charged under the bus. He is blocking legislation approved unanimously by the House calling for the reports release.
In the GOP luncheon, Trump was in a lively mood, senators said. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said the president is always high energy. He had a little extra today.
Russia report aside, the president showed an eagerness to move on. He told GOP senators that health care should be their focus heading into the 2020 election.
He said he wants them to abandon efforts to simply repeal Obamacare and instead focus on a replacement for President Barack Obamas signature law.
I was a little surprised he came out of the chute in health care, said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., after the meeting. He wants us to try again.
Even so, the White House was making a new effort to get rid of the Affordable Care Act entirely. In a legal filing late Monday, the administration said it would not defend the act against a court challenge essentially encouraging the laws demise.
Meanwhile, House Democrats, led by Pelosi, unveiled their own sweeping measure to rescue the program on Tuesday.
Trumps hour-long talk to Senate Republicans touched on trade, foreign policy and a vote later in the day on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs Green New Deal, which the Senate declined to take up. Trump said the climate-change proposal would be a good campaign issue to fight over with Democrats.
Almost no mention was made of the presidents national emergency declaration to expand the border wall with Mexico, even though the House was voting on an effort to block it as the senators lunched. Congress had voted to block Trump, and he had vetoed that action. House members voted 248-181 to override Trumps veto, but that was well short of the needed two-thirds majority. Fourteen Republicans joined Democrats in trying to block the president from taking military funds to build his long-promised wall.
The president seemed to have heeded advice from allies, including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who encouraged him to use the political capital hes now gained to accomplish policy goals.
Pelosis advice to Democrats to stick with the strategy that won them control of the House in 2018 was reinforced by Obama himself, who counselled freshman Democrats at a reception Monday night.
Obama advised the newly elected lawmakers to focus on constituents hopes and concerns, while also identifying issues they feel so strongly about that theyd be willing to lose their House seats in fights over them, according to people at the private party.
The focus must go beyond Russia and collusion, Democratic leaders said.
House Democrats did not win the election on collusion; we didnt win the election on impeachment; we didnt win the election on obstruction of justice, said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic Caucus chairman. Our candidates didnt even talk about those issues. What we all collectively talked about was making life better for everyday Americans ... and thats what were going to continue to do.
At the same time, Democrats will continue their investigations of the Trump-Russia connection, and other aspects of the presidents finances and business practices, including his tax returns.
You cant move forward on a four-page memo, said Rep. Karen Bass of California. Its hard for me to accept that as an objective opinion.
Six House Democratic committee chairmen have written to Barr asking to have Muellers full report by April 2. If not, they have suggested subpoenas could be issued.
___
Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Andrew Taylor, Catherine Lucey, Jill Colvin, Alan Fram, Mike Balsamo and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.
___
Follow all of APs Trump Investigations coverage at https://apnews.com/TrumpInvestigations .
MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin officials are waiting for a pair of courts to decide whether laws that Republicans passed last year limiting the powers of the new Democratic governor and attorney general can stand.
Lawmakers passed the measures in a lame-duck session in December, before Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul took office.
A Dane County judge blocked the laws Thursday, ruling that lawmakers convened illegally when they passed them. Attorneys for Republicans are asking the 3rd District Court of Appeals to put that ruling on hold pending appeal. That decision could come any moment.
Another Dane County judge is expected to decide Tuesday whether to block the laws in response to union arguments that they violate the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.
LOS ANGELES - Winston Duke went from relative obscurity to being a household name with his first film and he wasnt even the lead, or second or third performer listed for that matter. That the first film in question was Black Panther didnt hurt, but that Duke still managed to stand out as rival Wakandan leader MBaku amid such star power and spectacle is all the more impressive.
But how do you follow that kind of breakout? For Duke, it meant looking for something completely different. The Tobago-born, U.S.-raised Yale master of fine arts grad had been toiling in television for years to get this sort of chance, and he was not going to allow anyone to pigeonhole him.
It was absolutely nothing but potential at that point, Duke, 32, said of his raised profile following Black Panther. I was really itching for another job. I wanted something that would test me but not be the same as how I was represented in Black Panther. ...I know the propensity for saying, Oh hes this kind of action guy. Hes this one thing.
Thats when he read the script for Us, Jordan Peeles follow-up to Get Out, about a family who encounters murderous doppelgangers, and he knew it was the perfect fit.
I said, Oh my goodness, this is everything, Duke said.
It wasnt just that hed be getting to show a different side of himself as an actor. Hed actually be playing two roles, the all-American every-dad Gabe Wilson and his doppelganger Abraham. Plus, hed be getting to work with Peele, who was hot off of Get Out.
Winston was on this perfect level, Peele said. He was by no means an unknown actor, but the range that he has was untapped, at least in how we knew him. That presented this opportunity to continue to break his talent on the world in a perfect way.
The challenge of playing two roles got Dukes mind spinning about big themes of privilege, duality, the patriarchy and America.
Gabe is the perfect product of the American dream. He probably believes that if you work hard enough you can get anything. You can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and work hard. Hes that guy, Duke said. Abraham is the American nightmare.
Duke is a formidable presence on screen and off, clocking in at around 65. That physicality helped inform both the brute intimidation of playing someone like Abraham and the comedic side of Gabe, although Peele said sometimes that came unintentionally.
There are some laughs where hes being himself and I dont think he realized how funny it was, Peele said. Best example is when he gets into this little bed in one scene and it lasts about 30 seconds of him just getting ready, he thinks hes going to get some. And the first time he did it I was just cracking up. The bed was creaking and hes way too big for it. I dont think he was trying to be funny, but Im like, Dude, this is the best, do it even longer. Do it more.
Gabe Wilson has a certain sitcom dad energy to him that Duke said was inspired by characters like Carl Winslow of Family Matters and Homer Simpson. He also suspects Peele wrote a bit of himself into the character. But the director and his star have differing opinions on that.
He claims that a lot was based on me, Peele said. But I can tell you a lot of it is based on him.
The ride has been overwhelming for Duke at times. In April, hell reprise his Black Panther role in Avengers: Endgame, and hes also wrapped the Peter Berg film Wonderland in which he stars opposite Mark Wahlberg.
Its been a lot, a lot of things changing. Almost every interaction is changing and its happening so fast, Duke said. I kind of just saw Black Panther, in my opinion, for the first time three weeks ago as a fan. I watched it on a plane, on someone elses screen in front of me on mute, and I of course knew all the lines. And watching it on mute, mouthing all the lines, I thought, This is a really good movie. I finally got to watch it again the way I would as just any other non-participant and it was great. I dont get to consume the movies Im in in the same way.
Its been really a joy, he added. Its been taxing at times but its good to remain grounded and remember why youre doing it.
___
Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr
Earlier this month, from a flag-draped dais in Kitchener, Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer looked on earnestly as an audience member asked him whether Justin Trudeau should be in jail for, among other things, supporting ritual child abuse.
Trudeau gave $600 million to the Clinton Foundation, the man said by way of prelude at a town-hall meeting organized by the Conservative Party of Canada. The Clinton Foundation is part of child trafficking and child sacrifice, if you study it. Its in the pizzagate.
Scheer gamely answered the question as though he hadnt just been asked about one of the most notorious (and widely debunked) conspiracies in modern political history. He later claimed to have not heard the question. To be fair to him, the audience began clapping loudly at the mans suggestion that one of the biggest charities in America was secretly trafficking and sacrificing children.
In any event, the question was indicative of the conundrum Scheer now faces, as he attempts to harness the raucous strain of anti-Trudeau animus sweeping across the country: embrace the motivated populist anger of these crowds, along with the unhinged bits seemingly inherent in them, or cede this support to his rightward rival, Maxime Bernier and the Peoples Party of Canada.
Scheer has chosen a third option, which is to welcome the crowds while denying the ugly bits even exist even as they pop up in front of Scheers very eyes. Consider his February appearance at a rally organized by United We Roll, which has a well-established connection to the countrys yellow vest movement, the proudly anti-immigrant group that sprung up in the wake of a similar movement in France.
Scheers speech, which focused on Trudeaus alleged hatred of the oil and gas industry, was a play for truckers and their supporters, United We Rolls ostensible supporters. Yet an apparent conspiracy-obsessed heckler peppered his three-minute spiel with familiar Hes attacking your children rhetoric, while another wondered out loud, in both official languages, what Scheer was going to do about the United Nations. A sign outside Ottawas West Block also critiqued the U.N. and said Trudeau should be charged with treason.
The relationship between Scheer and these populist crowds is mutually beneficial. He gets a friendly audience, while this audience has the implied stamp of approval from the man who may well be the next prime minister. The conspiratorial types who keep showing are just an unfortunate by-product, it seems. When I asked a Conservative adviser about them, he shrugged his shoulders. We cant control who shows up to these events, he told me, seemingly by rote.
Yet it is difficult to understate the danger of Scheers gambit. By appearing at events like United We Roll, Scheer gives legitimacy to voices that would otherwise (and deservedly) exist only on the fringes of Canadas political discourse and which have become notably loud and brazen over the last several years.
It used to be that Trudeaus critics pilloried the prime minister for his conspicuous liberalism. Now some are calling for his head. You are working for your globalist partners. I wonder how much they are paying you to betray Canada, a woman said to Trudeau during Regina town hall last January. What do we do with traitors in Canada, Mr. Trudeau? We used to hang them, hang them for treason.
Scheer is in a difficult spot. Populist fury against the current government is widespread and politically active. Yet emboldened in part by the example of scorched-earth nationalism espoused by the current American president, it has also become decidedly more visceral and conspiracy-oriented as we march closer to the October election.
By all means, Scheer should criticize Trudeau for being an out-of-touch, tax-and-spend elite. But he should just as conspicuously call out those would-be supporters who believe the 23rd prime minister is but a product of their conspiracy-addled nightmares.
Martin Patriquin is a Montreal writer, who has contributed to The Guardian, The Walrus and The New York Times.
Read more about:
Celina Caesar-Chavannes proved her ethical muster when she quit the Liberal caucus last week. The rookie member of parliament said she did not want to cause any more grief to constituents, especially strong Liberal supporters.
The rift with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was obvious. The rift with caucus less so. But Caesar-Chavannes heard her constituents, because an attack on the leader is an attack on the team.
If Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpotts motives were pure, they would be following her lead.
It makes no sense to claim non-confidence in the government and stay in caucus. Caucus is the legislative branch of government, empowered to act on cabinets executive direction.
Cabinet and caucus go hand in hand. You cant have one without the other.
A caucus is a place where members speak freely without fear of public broadcast or leaks. Trust is an important part of building political confidence.
Opposing view: Should dissident Liberals stay in caucus? Yes
Neither former minister trusts Trudeau, and the feeling is mutual. I have received dozens of communications from Liberal caucus members who do not feel comfortable speaking freely in the presence of two members engaged in derailing their leader.
In every profession, people work with colleagues whom they may not like. Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and his finance minister, Paul Martin, were not exactly bosom buddies. But together they produced results.
But not being friends, and working actively to dislodge your leader, are two different things.
The Big Debate
Philpott claims there is more to come. Their ongoing whisper campaign is strengthened by their presence inside the Liberal tent. Once departed, the bleeding would be cauterized very quickly.
Canadian Liberal parliamentarians could learn from long-serving American politician Mo Udall. The self-described one-eyed Mormon Democrat from Conservative Iowa once said, When the Democratic Party forms a firing squad, we form a circle.
The firing squad facing Justin Trudeau is just such a circle. The leaks did not come from the opposition.
Nor did they stop with an unprecedented invitation to speak to cabinet and more than four hours of justice committee testimony. When is enough, enough?
Both women want this issue in the headlines, but refuse to avail themselves of their right to speak in Parliament, protected by privilege.
If they stayed, it wouldnt be the first time enemies worked together. But participating in caucus involves speaking and listening, something that Wilson-Raybould does not appear to embrace.
THE BIG DEBATE: For more opposing view columns from Toronto Star contributors, click here.
A former Vancouver riding president said they parted company because of her unbridled resistance to listen to anyone. During her parliamentary committee testimony, Wilson-Raybould produced copious notes from assistants. But she could not name a single colleague with whom she had consulted on the deferred prosecution agreement question.
The self-described truth teller did not tell the whole truth about her cabinet move to veterans affairs. The prime minister asked her to lead the dissolution of the Indian Act as minister of Indigenous services, an offer she conveniently omitted from her lengthy testimony.
The offer was subsequently compared to having Nelson Mandela administer apartheid. She is no Nelson Mandela. He embraced the challenge to dismantle apartheid. She spurned it.
Philpotts explosive Macleans interview also confirmed that Wilson-Raybould did not complain to the prime minister about undue pressure.
So what is the end game?
Just last week, Wilson-Raybould penned a 684-word letter to constituents. She confirmed that she currently plans to run for the Liberals in the next election. This bizarre descriptor was the only Liberal mention made, even though the letter was supposed to explain her decision to stay.
Wilson-Raybould went to great lengths to explain how she was so different from other self-serving politicians who came before her, writing I found myself in a situation I never expected to be in. I was just doing my job, and I did not expect it to become a national focus.
That statement is a blatant lie as personal details leaked to the Globe and Mail could only have come, directly or indirectly, from her.
Philpott and Wilson-Raybould refuse to leave the caucus. Instead, from the inside, they co-ordinate a full court assault on the leader.
Another Udall aphorism outlines the difference between a cactus and a caucus. On a cactus, the pricks are on the outside.
This caucus must be pruned.
Sheila Copps is the former Liberal heritage minister, environment minister and deputy prime minister of Canada.
Read more about:
Larger high school classes build teen resiliency, education minister says, March 20
Last week, the Ontario government announced a dramatic change in high school class sizes. The change would result in boards having to bring up the average of class sizes from 22 to 28 at the secondary level.
The current collective agreements allow for up to 30 students in academic classes in grades 10 to 12, and 29 students in Grade 9 some classes can even see up to 33 students per class. In college level courses, the cap is 26 and in locally developed classes its 17.
Locally developed classes are for students who are struggling academically and would benefit from additional attention from the teacher. Many of these students join the trades after graduation. In all boards in Ontario, there are programs specifically designed for students looking to get into the trades. Some of those programs are dual credit programs that offer direct entry into an apprenticeship. With an increase in class sizes, the ability of boards to effectively deliver such programs is at stake where added attention from the teacher is beneficial and access to machinery and equipment is crucial.
The graduation rate in Ontario has grown from 68 per cent in 2004 to 86 per cent with the decrease of class sizes in the past few years. Its true, there are some students who can and will excel wherever they are; however, many students need additional attention and statistics have shown that they benefit greatly from that. With the increase in class sizes, a great concern would be the reversal of such successes and a potential drop in graduation rates across Ontario.
We have spent a significant amount of resources trying to encourage students from all streams to go into the trades, which offer good-paying jobs that are in high demand. If the government refuses to invest in students so that they are able to attain the required secondary school diploma, they may miss out on great opportunities that can help them build a bright future.
The Liberals offer a case study in how not to handle a crisis, editorial, March 16
I read with interest your editorial and your discussion about political parties and leaders who are called to account by their own party.
I noted (but really was not surprised) that you referenced Mel Swart, a former NDP MPP who had called on Bob Rae to resign when he, as premier, did not adhere to some of the policies of the NDP that had been democratically voted upon by the party.
Swart was my father and he was principled beyond belief. You couldnt find a stronger proponent of democracy. He gave nearly 40 years of public service to Canadians as an elected official at various levels of government. I very much remember the time when he called for Raes resignation as leader. Swart was one of the people who persuaded Rae to leave federal politics and run for the leader of the provincial NDP. My father and I had discussed what he should do when he felt Rae was abandoning NDP policy. Tears were shed by both of us, and he agonized for days. It was not an easy decision as Swart considered Rae a friend as well as a colleague. Swart subsequently called a press conference and publicly asked Rae to resign.
For you see, nothing was more important to Swart than his values and beliefs and his lifelong work to make ours a better, fairer and more just society. Swart was recognized and admired, I believe, by members of all parties.
I am writing this letter not to praise Swart, but to explain why he did what he did when asking Rae to resign: holding politicians to account, even if it was his own party. In a democracy, we all have a responsibility to make it work. We must all support our democracy as we can, and yes, hold our politicians to account. Our future and our childrens future depend on it.
Melva Snowling, St. Catharines, Ont.
Read more about:
OTTAWAThe Liberals have again blocked an investigation into the SNC-Lavalin controversy, raising opposition concerns that parliamentary inquiries to probe allegations of judicial interference are at a dead end.
Liberal MPs on the House of Commons ethics committee opposed a move by the Conservatives and New Democrats on Tuesday afternoon to hold a second set of hearings into allegations that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and senior officials put inappropriate pressure on Jody Wilson-Raybould, the former justice minister, to intervene in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.
This is a cavalcade of contradictions and coverup. The prime minister clearly has something to hide, Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said after the meeting.
Theyve shut every opportunity down that the opposition has brought before them to bring this to Parliament in a way that we think would get to the truth, New Democrat MP Tracey Ramsey said.
The story could still create headlines and headaches for the Liberal government in the days ahead. On Tuesday, Wilson-Raybould told the Star she intended to submit her written brief to the justice committee with the promised emails and texts by the end of the day. It will then need to be translated before the package is distributed to committee members.
Justice committee chair Anthony Housefather said in an email that once the documents are distributed to MPs, the committees legislative counsel will suggest any redactions required under the Privacy Act, and that once the committee agrees, they will be posted on the website.
The committee had not received the documents as of early evening, making it unlikely that they would be publicly available before Wednesday.
The Conservatives and New Democrats had been hoping to sway Liberals on the ethics committee to support the inquiry, given recent calls by some in the government caucus that the two former ministers should speak out about what they know.
Conservative MP Peter Kent had wanted the committee to approve a new study into the controversy, and for the committee chair to ask the prime minister to remove all constraints on witnesses.
I think that Canadians deserve to hear the full truth, Kent said, adding it was entirely proper and entirely appropriate for the ethics committee to initiate its own hearings.
But in the end, the Liberals refused.
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, a vice-chair of the committee, acknowledged he had voted in the Commons in favour of a more public-facing inquiry to get at the truth, a goal he claimed was shared by his fellow Liberal MPs. Its just a question of how best we can do that.
But he said it would be premature for the ethics committee to launch its own proceedings given that Wilson-Raybould intends to file a written submission including copies of emails and texts to the justice committee, and that committee could still act on the information she provides.
This is appropriately before justice and we ought to see what justice does in the wake of information that is provided, said Erskine-Smith, who was the only Liberal to speak at the meeting.
Pointing to its earlier investigation of the Cambridge Analytica affair, he said committees are not best placed to do investigations.
We ran into roadblocks and were unable to proceed based on our inability to compel document production in the same way, revisit previous testimony in the same way, he said. Frankly, the tools we have at our disposal are more cumbersome.
Still, Erskine-Smith broke with many of his Liberal colleagues by saying that if Wilson-Raybould and Philpott feel they cannot speak fully on the issue, the prime minister should act to ensure they can.
He also agreed with the Conservatives and denounced what seemed to be a deliberate leak to CTV and The Canadian Press aimed at showing relations between the prime minister and Wilson-Raybould had soured as early as 2017, when they disagreed about whether a conservative Manitoba judge should be named to a western vacancy on the Supreme Court. The reports named the judge, Glenn Joyal, who responded to the reports by saying he withdrew his name from consideration because his wife had cancer.
It is outrageous that theres a leak with respect to the Supreme Court judicial appointment process and without question that kind of leak undermines the confidence in the judicial selection process and appointment process, Erskine-Smith said. I think people from all parties ought to condemn that kind of thing.
Wilson-Raybould told the justice committee last month that she faced inappropriate and sustained political pressure from Trudeau and senior officials last fall to mediate criminal charges against the Quebec construction and engineering company.
Trudeau and his team deny they pressured her, and said they only urged her to consider a second outside legal opinion. A mediated agreement would allow the company to avoid a criminal prosecution and with it, a 10-year ban on federal contracts, which had sparked fears within government of job losses.
Ramsey, who is a vice-chair of the justice committee, said there is little hope that it will resume its hearings into the affair.
And she said Housefather has publicly declared theres nothing more to be studied.
In an opinion piece in the National Post last week, Housefather wrote that in his view it is the duty of an attorney general to consider new facts relative to a possible remediation agreement seriously and on an ongoing basis.
Read more:
SNC-Lavalin affair: We answer your most pressing questions
Opinion | Jennifer Wells: Heres a simple solution to prevent another SNC-Lavalin from happening
Opinion | Heather Mallick: Why does Jane Philpott keep knifing her fellow Liberals?
David Moscrop, a political scientist with the department of communication at the University of Ottawa, said the days proceedings left him frustrated. He said he doesnt believe the office of the federal ethics commissioner is well suited for this sort of inquiry. And he said the shutdown of the justice committee and now the refusal of the ethics committee to launch an inquiry means a public inquiry is the only forum to get at the facts.
This is the sort of information that Canadians would like to have ideally before the election, so it was frustrating to watch, Moscrop said an interview.
It raises the broader question: can the House and its committees effectively hold the government to account in the current system? I think the answer is not really, he said.
The only thing thats going to ultimately, I think, result in fundamental changes is if voters decide theyre not going to have any of it.
Correction: This article has been updated from a previous version in which the surname of New Democrat MP Tracey Ramsey was misspelled.
Read more about:
Beer but by no means buck-a-beer is coming soon to a corner store near you.
Thanks to Premier Doug Ford, big changes are in store for Ontarios small neighbourhood grocers. After clamouring for years to get a piece of the pie, they are about to get their cut.
Ford has just appointed a longtime Alberta politician to brainstorm how to blow up our beer and wine distribution system: Ken Hughes, a one-time minister in Albertas Progressive Conservative government, will bring that provinces perspective to Ontario.
Who knew that Ontarios First Government for the People would be guided by Albertas playbook? Ford long ago aligned himself with Albertas right-wing premier-in-waiting, Jason Kenney, on carbon pricing, but are Ontarians ready to import Albertas approach to alcohol pricing next?
Alberta has led the way in taking the government entirely out of alcohol retailing. Other provinces rely on a mix of private and public distribution to serve customers, while maximizing revenues for government the better to bankroll other government services, notably health care and education.
Ontario has its own peculiar history of public-private alcohol distribution, but the bottom line is that the LCBO delivers a $2 billion dividend annually to its shareholder the government (for the people). Past columns have documented the Beer Stores bizarre duopoly with the LCBO that dominated retailing, despite promises from both Liberals (1985) and Tories (1995) to let corner stores in on the action.
Read more:
Wynne was mocked for saying selling beer in corner stores is reckless. Experts agree with her
PCs pushing ahead with alcohol review to sell beer in corner stores
Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: Ontarios buck-a-beer playbook is coming to a campus near you with tuition discounts too good to be true
It fell to Kathleen Wynnes Liberals to finally break the stranglehold of the foreign-owned Beer Store in 2015, inviting up to 450 of the provinces more enterprising supermarkets to compete on both scale and service. Corner stores, left out of the mix because of their smaller shelf space and higher cost structure, cried foul.
Now, Ford is lending them an ear. And beer is coming to any and every small grocer that wants in.
But heres the inconvenient truth about convenience stores: They arent what they used to be.
Back in the 1980s, corner stores were a bigger player in retailing. Today, they have been largely overtaken by big box stores and ubiquitous supermarkets that deliver big economies of scale with razor-thin margins.
Corner stores are languishing, more reliant than ever on lottery sales to make up for declining tobacco revenues. Beer is their last big play, but will it really help the provinces fortunes?
Before Ford turned to an Albertan and fellow PC to redraw this provinces retail map, the previous Liberal government hired a non-partisan retail expert to reinvent the booze business in Ontario: Former TD Bank CEO Ed Clark served as the governments dollar-a-year man, negotiating in 2015 with the Beer Store and wineries to loosen their grip while enriching the provincial treasury.
He forced supermarkets to bid for licenses to sell beer, with the profits going to the province. If the big chains sell more than anticipated, they must pay more, leaving more for us. Put another way, our dollar-a-year-man squeezed every last dollar out of the supermarket sector, instead of giving away market share, while keeping average prices among the lowest in Canada.
How would small corner stores, already crowded with condiments and staples, find the shelf space to display Ontarios prestigious craft beer selections? Supermarkets are surely better placed to cope with that juggling act, while giving the Beer Store a run for its money.
In Alberta, by contrast, sales are slumping. Statistics Canada revealed last year that while wine and beer sales increased by 2.3 per cent across the country, they dropped by 3.4 per cent in Alberta thanks to a 6 per cent plunge in beer purchases (in the fiscal year ending March 2017). Albertas happy hour turned into a year-long slump.
But it gets worse. What Ford wont tell you is that blowing up the Master Framework Agreement for beer, painstakingly negotiated by Clark with the big brewers four years ago, would expose the province to hundreds of millions of dollars in legal claims. The 10-year beer deal, which started Ontario along the road to a phased transition from an outdated duopoly to cutting-edge competition with supermarkets, leaves the government on the hook for compensation no matter how much Fords Tories pretend the crown can tear up signed contracts with impunity.
Remember Fords buck-a-beer promise, which fizzled faster than a political bumper sticker fades in the desert sun? Turns out no brewer can sustain beer production at that price point, because buck-a-beer is a relic from a decade ago with little relevance today.
Similarly, the old corner store campaign pledges first made in the 1980s and 1990s are outdated today. Our teetotalling premier likes to get punch drunk on power, but not even Ford can rewrite the laws of the land, or the laws of economics.
Remember the premiers promise to fire the Six Million Dollar Man, without paying a penny more? Never mind the $130 million in penalties facing Hydro One ever since he blew it up.
For all of Fords folly, he has done one thing right. The government has authorized the Beer Store, LCBO, and supermarkets to extend their opening hours up until 11 p.m. daily probably the most cost-effective way to truly increase convenience without paying a price for future litigation.
Far better for Ford to declare victory with his sensible tweak to opening hours, while shutting shut down his ill-conceived convenience stores gambit. And go back to boasting about the buck-a-beer bumper sticker that never was and never will be.
Correction March 26, 2019: A reader survey that was inserted into this column stated incorrectly that beer is sold in corner stores in Alberta. The survey has been removed.
Read more about:
Ontarios plan for e-learning gives teens a chance to put their best foot forward, Education Minister Lisa Thompson said in response to opposition accusations the Ford government is moving classes online to cut the number of teachers in the province.
Asked Monday in the legislature about the move to four mandatory credits in high school before teens can graduate which will be implemented starting in 2020 Thompson said the reality of today is we need to be embracing technology for good.
And, she added, when it comes to online opportunities for our students, I think we should all agree ... we want to make sure that they have every opportunity to put their best foot forward.
The government has yet to work out details about the mandatory e-learning it announced during the March Break, other than it will expect teens to earn one such credit a year, with an average class size of 35.
Requiring four online courses for graduation would be a first in North America a handful of American states require just one and is consulting on the coming change and how to best implement it.
NDP Education Critic Marit Stiles said the governments plan is to shuffle teachers out of classrooms and replace them with online classes, adding students will bear the brunt of this governments education cuts, yet their voices continue to be ignored.
Read more:
Mandatory online courses in Ontario high schools raise concerns for educators
Ford warns teachers unions not to dare protest class-size increases
High school teachers union warns of labour disruption in fall over class-size changes
Stiles also said this is not about 21st century learning, this is not about technology; this is about making students take courses online that are now mandatory. This is about removing 10,000 teachers from our classrooms.
Thompson, however, said Ontario is already leading the way ... online courses are already happening. Again, what is wrong with making sure that our students, at minimum, once a year, embrace technology for good? Having so many opportunities that the internet provides, we are going to continue to push the bar.
However, student leaders have already asked the province to back off on making such credits necessary for graduation.
Although e-learning classes provide a modernized learning experience for students, these courses are not a good fit for everyone, Amal Qayum, president of the Ontario Student Trustees Association, has said.
The association, in a 2017 survey, found that three-quarters of teens felt online learning was lacking compared to in-person classes.
Critics have questioned the rapid push to e-learning, especially at a time when the government is boosting average class sizes with an estimated loss of 10,000 teaching positions over the next four years.
Experts say online learning is a good idea if done well, but also questioned making them mandatory.
Students with special needs can be exempt.
Meanwhile, the Peel District School Board is now estimating it will lose about 500 high school teaching positions in total over four years as the government boosts the average secondary class from 22 to 28 students.
Because those are averages, class sizes can grow larger well into the 30s to offset smaller, specialized classes.
The province has said it will provide transitional funding so that no teachers are laid off, and that the cuts are achieved through attrition.
The Toronto District School Board, the largest in the province, has estimated it will lose 800 teaching positions in total.
Ontario is launching $16.4 million worth of new efforts to combat the scourge of guns and gangs over the next two years with eight measures that will be expanded if they prove effective, Attorney General Caroline Mulroney says.
Piggybacking on $11 million in federal funding, the province is creating a guns and gangs enforcement unit to help local police and prosecutors, Mulroney told a news conference Tuesday with Community Safety and Corrections Minister Sylvia Jones.
Other elements of the program include improved training for corrections officers to secure better intelligence on gangs operating in jails and crack down on contraband smuggling, justice centres in three cities to focus on prevention of gang activity, examining discipline in 10 school boards and efforts aimed at keeping Indigenous youth out of gangs.
Well be monitoring them and well be able to scale them up over time if we find theyre having real results on the ground in communities across the province, Mulroney said.
The benchmark for further action will be feedback from corrections officers, police and community organizations, Jones added.
The programs build on $25 million announced by the province last August.
Jones said this latest effort involves her ministry, Mulroneys, education and children and youth services in a multi-pronged approach.
Its pretty clear as you start to drill down on this issue that we need to deal with the young people who are being recruited and dragged in, she said.
The justice centres will be in northwest and northeast Toronto, London and Kenora, with the goal of co-ordinating police and the judicial system with health and social service agencies.
These centres will integrate justice facilities with prevention and intervention supports to hold individuals accountable while connecting them with services that prevent crime and break the cycle of offending, the Progressive Conservative government said in a statement.
The enforcement unit of police and prosecutors will be available to help police forces across the province, said Jones, noting criminals dont respect municipal boundaries.
Government officials refused to say how much of the $16.4 million is earmarked for each of the eight initiatives in the program.
Mulroney said the government will develop an investigations fund to support major operations by multiple police services and begin a pilot program in 14 classrooms in 10 school boards to monitor data on suspensions and explusions to make sure they are not disproportionately impacting particular groups of students, such as those who are Indigenous, Black, belong to other ethno-racial groups or have disabilities.
There will also be a youth violence prevention and resilience program supporting high risk teens and young adults up to age 29 with social services.
A similar program will be aimed at Indigenous youth in partnership with various First Nations police forces.
As well, the government is establishing an intervention and exit program for Indigenous women aimed at keeping them out of gangs or helping them leave gangs.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the Ford government is playing shell games with money.
If they were so concerned about young people, then they wouldnt have cut some of the school programs such as the focus on youth program that provides year-round jobs in needy neighbourhoods, Horwath said.
In Toronto, city council is still struggling to address the root causes of gun violence. Last July, the city announced an anti-gun violence plan that relied on the provincial and federal governments for funding.
Although the city and Toronto Police applied for a combined $55.3 million, that plan remains largely unfunded and only $6.5 million was received from the federal government for community supports. Another $2.5 million was approved by council to help youth.
Its unclear how or if the new funding announced Tuesday aligns with the city's anti-violence plan.
Alvin Curling, a former provincial cabinet minister who co-authored a report on the roots of youth violence, said there is still not adequate funding to address what was recommended to the province more than a decade ago.
There are some governments who like the enforcement part ... emphasized more, Curling said. Noting its not clear yet how the government plans to allocate the funds, he said focusing efforts on sending more young people to prison only compounds the problem when they are released and need support to not fall back into the criminal cycle.
If you stop putting them there you wouldnt have this imbalance, he said. Trying to arrest people or jail people out of this situation ... were increasing youth social costs on the other end.
Tuesdays announcement is not Toronto-centric and will not affect the complement of prosecutors assigned to the provincial guns and gangs initiative, said an insider working in that unit who was not authorized to speak on behalf of the government.
That unit was initiated as a pilot project by then-attorney general Michael Bryant in the wake of the Jane Creba murder on Yonge St. in 2005. Working out of a covert location, the Crown attorneys are involved in the investigation and prosecution of major criminal organization projects targeting street gangs.
With files from Jennifer Pagliaro and Betsy Powell
Read more about:
Whether you have eclectic tastes or are in search of something specific - a mystery, a juicy novel, a big fat tome - next month's must-read list has something for you. Everyone wins in April. No fooling.
---
"Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, (BEGIN ITAL)Her(END ITAL) Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed," by Lori Gottlieb (April 2)
No wonder Gottlieb is already adapting this book for television with Eva Longoria and ABC. Who could resist watching a therapist grapple with the same questions her patients have been asking her for years? Gottlieb, who writes the Atlantic's "Dear Therapist" column, brings searing honesty to her search for answers.
---
"Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen," by Mary Norris (April 2)
If you haven't read "Between You & Me," Norris' ode to good grammar, buy it together with her new book, and you'll have at least two days of delightful reading. A New Yorker copy editor, Norris this time delivers an appreciation of Greece, plus a look at how that country's language influenced ours.
---
"The Affairs of the Falcons," by Melissa Rivero (April 2)
Some novels about immigrants and immigration focus on the "Wow! America!" factor. However, debut novelist Rivero goes deeper, showing the price her main characters, Ana and Lucho, have paid in leaving Peru to make a new life. It's a beautiful, serious and life-affirming book.
---
"Naamah," by Sarah Blake (April 9)
Imagine you're married to Noah, and God tells him to build an ark to survive a coming flood. What the whaa? Naamah doesn't share her husband's faith, but she does have fierce, deep love for their children and wants them to survive. The book is a testament to the idea that more than one sex, more than one idea and more than one individual makes the world in all its glory and tragedy.
---
"Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?" by Bill McKibben (April 16)
McKibben wrote "The End of Nature" 30 years ago, an early warning about climate change, and his new book is another, sobering call to arms. McKibben, whose 350.org aims to demonstrate what people around the world can do to protect Earth, reminds us that as we drain critical resources, we're also moving toward draining our own ties to the planet and to each other. Is there hope? Yes. Well, maybe. If we pay attention.
---
"Normal People," by Sally Rooney (April 16)
The Irish writer's 2017 "Conversations With Friends" won over American readers with its deadpan wit, following a young woman's attempt to create an artistic life. "Normal People" is another familiar plot - two young lovers meet in high school, diverge at university, meet again as young adults - but Connell and Marianne are fresh, their entanglement so achingly tender that you'll read till the last drop of tea is poured.
---
"The Department of Sensitive Crimes: A Detective Varg Novel," by Alexander McCall Smith (April 16)
The celebrated Scottish storyteller has turned his pen to Scandi-crime, setting his latest series with Detective Ulf "The Wolf" Varg heading up a department of singular characters in the Swedish city of Malmo. It's as if Fox Mulder, Lisbeth Salander's maiden aunt and Kurt Wallander collaborated on a new unit, and it's great fun.
---
"Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste," by Nolan Gasser (April 30)
Gasser is chief architect of Pandora Radio's Music Genome Project, so he deeply understands why you like what you like. And he's written one of those rare books that both geeks and casual listeners can enjoy, combining science, art and sheer enthusiasm to explain why you might love bluegrass while your significant other prefers the blues.
---
"The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters," by Balli Kaur Jaswal (April 30)
For what it's worth, Jaswal's last book, "Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows," was chosen for Reese Witherspoon's book club. This new novel is a female take on the Indian travel narrative that involves three sisters of Indian descent who were born and raised in England, so they're on unfamiliar ground even as they "fit right in."
---
"African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan," by Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard (April 30)
In the late 1500s, an African man arrived in Kyoto. Lord Nobunaga, head of Japan's most powerful clan, appointed him a samurai, naming him Yasuke. The authors, an academic (Lockley) and a novelist (Girard), don't have a lot of source material, but they've written a readable, compassionate account of an extraordinary life.
---
Patrick is the editor, most recently, of "The Books That Changed My Life: Reflections by 100 Authors, Actors, Musicians and Other Remarkable People."
The Old Drift
By Namwali Serpell
Hogarth. 566 pp. $28
---
Novels about the fate of nations tend to be complex affairs, as if the most appropriate literary response to generations of colonialism, violence and bad politics is Henry James' proverbial "loose baggy monster." But what interesting monsters they tend to be: From Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" to Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "Half of a Yellow Sun," novelists have developed a particular knack for bringing a freewheeling spirit to a messy, multivalent country.
Namwali Serpell's vibrant, intellectually rich debut novel, "The Old Drift," is in keeping in that tradition, and like any good nation-hoovering novel, it too refuses to conform to expectations. It is a novel about colonialism in Serpell's native country of Zambia, but addresses themes of oppression and victimization from a slant angle. It is a multigenerational saga, stretching from the late 19th century to the near future, but the family tree gets so knotted that it complicates matters of legacy and inheritance. It is a story particular to Zambia, but also fiercely concerned with how all our lives will be remade by technology, which Serpell suggests is just old colonialist wine in new bottles.
"The Old Drift" of the title refers to the name the region was given by British colonists in the 1800s, starting with the infamous explorer David Livingstone. "Oh, father muzungu!" intones an impish chorus as the story begins. "The word means white man, but it describes not a skin colour but a tendency." The novel repels easy summary, but figure it is about that tendency - the urge to exploit in the name of "Civilization."
The story opens in the colony, where the British uneasily intersect with natives, and the natives with an Italian family running a hotel there. Those three groups provide the novel with three families followed across three generations, a trio of threads that dangle and eventually braid. The most peculiar among a host of peculiar characters is Sibilla, a daughter of an Italian hotelier born coated in hair, Cousin Itt-like - "if you suspended it from her body, it would form a sphere." That mane will become an important plot point. But more immediately, by marrying a civil engineer, Sibilla will bear witness to a massive dam construction project in the 1950s that kills local workers and floods a town. She becomes alert to how the West "had brought its worst tendencies with it: bureaucracy, venality, banality."
Alongside Sibilla, Serpell introduces Agnes, a blind young Englishwoman who falls for a young Zambian history scholar and is promptly banished by her racist parents; she will become increasingly engaged in the country's politics after it gains its independence in 1964. And alongside her, a young revolutionary named Matha will become enmeshed in Zambia's nascent and absurd 1960s space program. The effort was much mocked by Western outsiders - reporters snickered at its jury-rigged rockets, made of copper and launched by catapult to an altitude of six feet - but it also played a meaningful role in its political resistance.
On one level, this oddball cast of characters simply represents the joys of the picaresque novel, in which the author's set design is intentionally surreal and ironic. Zambians, as Serpell writes, "were so used to foreigners being strange, they had no expectations or judgments about the nature of that strangeness." Serpell is a natural social novelist, capable of conjuring a Dickensian range of characters with a painterly eye for detail. But her three root characters are also, pointedly, women who are to some degree marginalized by the muzungu society they were raised in or forced to confront, and the generations that follow them suffer its consequences; their children will enter prostitution, suffer from AIDS and grow eager to escape. "Every family is a war but some are more civil than others," as Serpell writes.
Zambia's history as colony and independent state is critical to the narrative. But Serpell feels no particular loyalty to the demands of the historical novel, and as the story moves toward the present day and then beyond it, she is on her own turf, imagining a vaccine for AIDS and the unforeseen consequences that it, too, might present. Two half brothers, one researching the cure while the other works on micro drone technology, have an idea about how the country might mobilize to resist further exploitation. But the exploitative technology is advancing too, most visibly in the form of the "Bead" - effectively a smartphone installed into your hand. Where some see progress in the device, Naila, a spitfire revolutionary in the closing chapters, sees only the African continent once again leveraged for somebody else's profit. "Black people have always made great guinea pigs," she says.
Here too, Serpell gets to have it both ways. She delivers a satisfying, dramatic climax that represents the comeuppance of 19th century colonialism, as Naila and the half brothers monkey-wrench the tools of the oppressor. And yet Serpell is too much the realist - the skeptical social novelist - to believe the fate of a nation can be resolved so tidily. After more than 550 pages, the novel is breathtaking, yet it feels like only one chapter in an ongoing story about people who see profit in Africa and who get sacrificed for profit's sake.
"What ruined this country was efficiency - the British worship of efficiency," Naila says. "The first settlers weren't smart or royal. They were not kings. The empire was a frikkin sham. They were colonists, and for that you only need brute force - nothing to boast of when you have it." Serpell resists the simple efficiency she critiques, and her clear-eyed, energetic and richly entertaining novel is all the better for it.
---
Athitakis is a reviewer based in Phoenix.
Facing rejection from three major art museums, the philanthropic trust of the Sackler family, which built its wealth from the sale of opioids, has announced that it would stop making donations.
"I remain fully committed to all the causes the Sackler Trust supports, but at this moment it is the better course for the trust to halt all new giving until we can be confident that it will not be a distraction for institutions that are applying for grants," Theresa Sackler, chairwoman of the trust, said in a statement on its website.
Last week, the Guggenheim Museum in New York became the third cultural institution - and the first in the United States - to announce that it would not accept money from the Sacklers. London's National Portrait Gallery and Tate galleries made similar decisions earlier in the week. A smaller institution, the South London Gallery, returned a Sackler gift in 2018.
The development came on the heels of a new federal lawsuit filed by 600 cities, counties and Native American tribes alleging that eight Sackler family members were involved in deceptive marketing practices of the family-owned pharmaceutical company, Purdue Pharma, and its blockbuster painkiller drug, OxyContin.
The Sackler name has graced the walls of blue-chip cultural and educational institutions around the world, including the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and several museums in London. But the Sackler legacy is now at risk, as a result of lawsuits naming the family members behind Purdue Pharma and artist-led protests linking the philanthropic name to the opioid crisis. Photographer Nan Goldin has organized protests at the Guggenheim, the Met and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington to pressure the institutions to sever ties with the donors.
The Smithsonian, which opened the Sackler Gallery in 1987, said that it is contractually bound to keep the family name on the Asian art museum and that it has no plans to return the original donation. Arthur Sackler donated 1,000 works and $4 million to the Smithsonian years before OxyContin was launched.
The Smithsonian has received about $7.5 million from various Sackler family members since the museum opened.
"At this time, we have no plans to approach any member of the Sackler family for a donation," a Smithsonian spokeswoman said Monday.
Arthur Sackler's widow, Jillian Sackler, said last month that it was "a gross injustice" to blame her late husband for the opioid crisis. "Arthur was never involved in Purdue Pharma, a company owned by his brothers Mortimer and Raymond and their families; he had nothing to do with OxyContin," she said.
Purdue Pharma has repeatedly said that it is being unfairly targeted and that it supports initiatives in law enforcement, education and health care aimed at addressing the opioid crisis.
The Met said it was continuing to review its donation policies. Daniel Weiss, the museum's president and chief executive, noted that nonprofit institutions rely on private donors to achieve their missions.
"Communities large and small have received immeasurable benefits from this generosity - as one cannot walk into a museum, library, hospital, or university without being reminded that the buildings and the programs they house would fail to exist without philanthropy," Weiss said in a statement. "With the benefit that comes from accepting these gifts, comes the obligation for institutions to devise thoughtful gift acceptance policies that ensure that they can realize their respective missions and values. At The Met, we fully acknowledge that our institution has an obligation to be accountable for its decisions."
The Met's approach is a good model, said Sally Yerkovich, author of "A Practical Guide to Museum Ethics." She said the issue is bigger than one donor.
"It will be interesting to see if this has fallout for other donors, or if this is a separate, singular thing," she said.
The negative attention generated by the protests and lawsuits should give museum officials pause, Yerkovich added.
"This is causing museums to really think about where their values are and how those values are expressed," she said. "Are the kinds of money they accept an expression of their values? The safest way for museums to approach this is to think about those issues in the abstract. It is really hard when you're under fire to think objectively about this."
ATLANTA - The first time Calinda Lee saw the "Battle of Atlanta" Cyclorama, she rolled her eyes in disbelief. The colossal 133-year-old panoramic painting of the Civil War battle featured thousands of human figures - soldiers of the North and South fighting, falling, fleeing, along with sundry attendants of the battlefield: stretcher-bearers, cooks, orderlies and more. Yet in the throng of faces surrounding her, there was only one that looked like hers. Only one was African-American.
Lee, a 47-year-old historian and descendant of slaves, has long known that blacks played a far more extensive role in the decisive 1864 Union victory. So when her employer, the Atlanta History Center, announced five years ago that it would become the latest steward of the Cyclorama, she was ambivalent. She wondered why a museum intent on reaching more-diverse audiences would raise $35 million to preserve a painting created by and for white people.
"I felt a lot of resources were being devoted to the process of Civil War navel-gazing when there were other questions Atlanta needed space to explore," says Lee, the center's vice president of historical interpretation and community partnerships.
But her friend Leslie Harris, then a history professor at Emory University, suggested that the artwork offered a rare opportunity. The South was just entering the early days of a revived debate over whether to reframe or remove vestiges of the Confederacy. Lee realized that it was possible to change the perception of a relic that thousands of schoolchildren visit annually.
"I wanted to get it right," Lee said, "not just with the painting, but the surrounding experience that would help people understand the process of historical mythmaking."
Lee thus joined a small, subversive chapter of black Atlanta leaders who for decades had sought to tell a fuller Cyclorama story.
The painting, created in 1886 and originally intended for white Northern audiences, helped lionize the Union's role in ending slavery. But the fad for cycloramas soon faded, and in 1890, Georgia promoter Paul Atkinson, the brother of Confederate soldiers, bought the painting for $2,500. When he reopened the exhibit in Atlanta, he had retouched key details - Confederate captives had become Union - and falsely rebranded the experience "the only Confederate victory ever painted."
A generation removed from the battlefield, white Southerners bought into a marketing ploy that pushed the Lost Cause narrative. (Atkinson's revisions were corrected in the 1930s.)
By 1974, Atlanta was a majority-black city, and taxpayers had soured on sinking public money into the anachronistic artifact. But Maynard Jackson, the city's first black mayor, recognized the Battle of Atlanta's role in liberating his ancestors. Facing backlash from constituents, he orchestrated an $11 million effort to restore the painting and the city-owned museum that housed it.
"Maynard recognized the Cyclorama not for what it was at the time, but for what it could be," says his widow, Valerie Jackson. "He recognized it could be an educational piece using art, history and imagination - as well as facts - to re-create a significant turning point of Atlanta and of the nation."
The Cyclorama museum slowly began to tell a new story of old Atlanta. African-American tour guides noted historical inaccuracies about black people on the battlefield. Camille Russell Love, an arts official who oversaw the Cyclorama, diversified the museum's programming to center it more on the 19th-century black experience, and to tie that experience to Atlanta's civil rights legacy.
But the painting deteriorated again, and in the wake of the Great Recession, the city couldn't fund another restoration. That's when the Atlanta History Center stepped in with an offer to house the artwork.
Relocating the 5-ton painting, the size of nearly 27 billboards, was no small feat. But for Lee, a greater challenge lay ahead. She thought that beyond an exhibit of images and artifacts, the AHC should incorporate overlooked voices deconstructing the myths baked into the Cyclorama.
She contacted experts like Harris and Frank Smith, a Georgia native who oversees Washington, D.C.'s African American Civil War Museum. Both recommended that the AHC emphasize the roles black people played in securing their liberation.
Over the past year, as preservationists restored the work, Lee helped craft the fuller story of the way painters, promoters and politicians had continually reshaped history on the canvas. In the exhibit "Cyclorama: The Big Picture," visitors now learn how African-Americans were erased from the story of the battle, with an interactive guide noting plainly that hundreds of black stretcher-bearers on the battlefield in July 1864 are missing from the panorama. After climbing up to a viewing platform, they see a 12-minute film projected on the Cyclorama, featuring the multivoiced narrative - from the German artists who painted it, to Atkinson and his revisions, to Jackson himself - that Lee envisioned.
"It's not going to work for you if you treat this as a 'choose your own adventure' to reaffirm your perceptions," Lee said. "It's going to take work to examine if the Lost Cause mythology is part of your miseducation. It's going to take work to be confronted with difficult, hurtful images of the African-American past. I hope people will do the work, to not just stand in front of the painting and obsess about one soldier or find their ancestors."
AHC officials believe that the more complicated Cyclorama story will draw a wider range of visitors to a museum that, tucked in the heart of the affluent Buckhead neighborhood, long catered to white audiences. Lee hopes that her sons, ages 7 and 12, will learn a more-honest truth when their time comes to see one of Atlanta's oldest artifacts.
"I want them to find narratives that help them understand how they are a part of this history, and to help understand the perspectives of other people," she says. "I want them to hear that with respect and empathy - and for them, as young African-American people, to expect the same."
On a frigid January morning in 1977, Grady Stevens lifted his helicopter into the Tennessee sky and pointed it toward the unknown. Stevens was a decorated Army pilot - he'd earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing a patrol pinned down by the enemy in Vietnam - but this mission promised to be unlike any he'd ever flown.
It was, he later told a reporter, "an unsettling experience."
Like every pilot, Stevens had been trained in flight school to avoid birds. Sucked into engines, colliding with propellers, bouncing off canopies - birds are dangerous to aircraft and the people who fly them.
But that morning's mission was to fly toward birds, not away from them. Stevens' job was to spray chemicals on a 20-acre starling roost near an Army ammunition depot at Milan, Tennessee.
"His low flight at 25 mph over the roost as he sprayed caused disturbed birds to fly up into the darkness," a reporter at the Leaf-Chronicle of Clarksville, Tennessee, later wrote. "An undetermined number hit his craft, many being chopped by the propeller blades."
Stevens lived to fly again. Hundreds of thousands of birds did not.
Thad Moyseowicz of Alexandria, Virginia, told me of the Great Starling Cull after reading an item I wrote last week about starlings that have taken up residence in my neighborhood. The invasive birds hog our feeders.
Of course, I would never employ extreme countermeasures to combat the starlings. But that's exactly what happened in the 1970s in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Farmers had been complaining for years about the massive flocks of starlings, grackles and blackbirds. There were an estimated 8 million near Milan and 11 million in a pine grove near Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
The birds ate crops and livestock feed. In 1974, Kentucky Gov. Wendell Ford (D) declared a state of emergency in Christian County, where starlings had caused crop and livestock losses of $2.6 million. Health officials had detected a rise in histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease caused by spores in bird droppings.
Fort Campbell, on the Kentucky/Tennessee border, is the home of the 101st Airborne Division, a.k.a. the "Screaming Eagles." But the starlings meant less screaming. When the skies were black with birds, airplanes and helicopters that would have lifted off full of paratroopers had to curtail their flights.
George L. Atkins Jr., the mayor of Hopkinsville, Kentucky - soon to acquire the nickname "Bird Man" - pleaded for help. A chemical called Tergitol might be the solution.
Tergitol kills starlings in a roundabout way. It strips the birds of an oily secretion that coats their feathers and keeps them warm. If the birds get wet after an application - from rain or from water sprayed on them - they freeze to death.
Some in the community were unconvinced, worrying about the effects of a chemical on the environment. Scientists pointed out that nature is complex. The birds probably helped reduce the destructive insect population.
As plans to spray moved forward, two New York-based environmental groups - the Society for Animal Rights and Citizens for Animals - were granted an injunction blocking the spraying. The indiscriminate killing of birds, they argued, was cruel.
Mayor Atkins was incensed. "If we could ship 14 million starlings to the Pentagon, or Central Park, we'd get results," he said before boarding a plane to Washington to request that the injunction be lifted.
Atkins also asked city attorneys to draft their own injunction request: Against New York City to keep it from killing its rats.
"That's about as inhumane," he said. "The absurdity of it!"
The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, which refused to block the spraying. The Army launched its helicopters.
The flocks were sprayed for several winters in a row. None of the flocks were eliminated entirely, but the numbers were reduced. Starlings stopped showing up in headlines.
I called Carter Hendricks, the current mayor of Hopkinsville, and asked how things stood today, 45 years later.
"Nothing like that, thankfully," he said. "We don't really have those types of issues."
Where does that leave me? A reader named Patti suggested I switch from sunflower seeds to safflower seeds. "No starlings. No other nasty birds," she promised.
During my research, I came across something written in 1973 by Joe D. Allen, nature columnist for the Leaf-Chronicle. He shared a hint for bird lovers weary of starlings: "Put out feed about dawn and again about an hour before dark. At those times, the starlings are coming or going from their communal roost several miles away, feeding as they go to some extent. Songbirds, roosting nearby in trees, shrubs and thickets, often arrive at feeders by the time you can see them at dawn."
I'll give it a try.
The Viking Sky's mayday call came midmorning Saturday just offshore Norway. It followed an engine failure that left the ship stranded in the harsh conditions. Waves topping 60 feet and winds exceeding hurricane strength buffeted the crippled vessel. The storm had the air pressure of a Category 3 hurricane.
The storm system that would eventually terrify cruisegoers aboard the Viking Sky didn't come without warning. It didn't materialize out of nowhere.
And it didn't develop on a whim. Instead, the sprawling low was hinted at by weather models up to a week in advance.
Simulations as early as March 16 indicated a wave of low pressure would rapidly intensify sometime around the weekend of the 23rd and 24th between Iceland and Norway. But it wasn't clear at the time exactly where.
It's not unusual to have intense cyclones develop in this part of the world in March. The equinoctial seasons are known for their vicious transitions, oftentimes manifest by violent open-ocean storms. The northeast Atlantic is a notoriously rough patch of maritime real estate in the late winter and early spring, often spinning up gales that can threaten even the most experienced captains.
The forecast became much clearer last Wednesday into Thursday, when it appeared obvious that the central coast of Norway would be hard-hit.
The Viking Sky departed Bergen, Norway, on March 14, bound for a port-hopping excursion northward up the coast. It would then turn around and hit several cities on its way south, eventually steaming to Tilbury, England, where it was slated to arrive Monday.
But Saturday's system was on a crash-course with the Viking Sky's desired path. The ship could have remained docked on Bod to ride out the storm. Instead, it continued south, becoming stranded and prompting an airlift evacuation. The Viking Sky arrived safely into the port of Molde on Sunday.
A significant wave height of 43.6 feet was reported at 4 p.m. local time Saturday at the Heidrun buoy by weather.us. This reflects just an average of the biggest waves and several may have been taller, even topping 60 feet.
Waves are a byproduct of wind, and they take time to build to such impressive heights. Thirty-foot waves occurred for an astonishing 17 consecutive hours at the same station.
The winds were extreme, measuring 87 mph over the open ocean and clocking in closer to 70 mph nearest to shore. At Sviny fyr - 60 miles southwest of where Viking Star is currently docked - winds hit 69 mph.
In ordinary circumstances, the Viking Sky can cruise at 20 knots, or 23 mph. That would have been enough time for it to make it back to shore within a half-hour or so, since most of its journey was spent in sight of land. The issue in this case was the engine failure, which could not have been planned for. So while the ship did continue to operate in treacherous weather, it likely was not a conscious decision - unlike Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas' infamous 2018 encounter with a "bomb cyclone."
The lack of ability to navigate or turn the ship also left the Viking Sky susceptible to being broadsided by waves. Several large breakers plowed into the ship, smashing windows and shattering glass. Video shows the ship listing to and fro at nearly 20 degrees to the horizontal. That's because the ship's 95-foot width tucked it in between wave crests, exposing the vessel to maximum sideways rocking motion when a wave passed through.
The storm system has since dissipated, weakening over the Norwegian and Barents Seas.
The incident is set to be probed by the Norwegian Accident Investigations Board.
WOOD RIVER Jeanette L. Rodriguez, 46, of the first block of Red Fir, Wood River, was charged Friday with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and retail theft.
She allegedly drove away from a police officer at more than 21 mph after allegedly stealing hair straightener, a wheel chair and purses from the Wood River Walmart, 610 Wesley Drive. Bail was set at $50,000.
With a new fiscal budget set to be in place in a little more than three months, the long-running debate at the Statehouse continues: Does Illinois have a spending problem or a revenue problem?
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said theres been a hollowing out of state government, talking about the historic budget impasse from 2015 to 2017. His proposed budget for the coming year doesnt cut anything. Instead it relies on more than $1 billion in increased revenue and more spending.
State Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, said the state needs more money.
Human services funding has gone sharply down, higher education is deeply underfunded, and all this does is shift the burdens around to who can least afford them, Guzzardi said.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendozas office on Monday launched its Public Accountability Report, which houses 15 years worth of spending data on various categories and state agencies.
For the category human services, the state spent $21 billion in fiscal year 2007. For all spending, including federal dollars, the state spent $52.4 billion in 2007. In fiscal year 2017, the state spent $26 billion in human services. For all spending, including federal funds, the state spent $73.9 billion.
For the category higher education, the state spent $2.4 billion in 2007. It spent about $100 million less 10 years later, or a total of $2.3 billion.
State Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, said the states financial woes, which includes having among the worst credit ratings, are because Illinoiss previous years of mismanaging tax dollars are catching up.
When you look at what we pay in pensions compared to other states, were not even close to being in the realm of sustainability and were an outlier on the high side of what we spend in pension systems, Wehrli said.
Nearly $1 in every $4 the state brings in goes to pay for public sector pensions.
Data through the comptrollers Public Accountability Report shows in fiscal 2007, the state contributed $1.2 billion to six pension systems, the five state systems and the Chicago Teachers Pension and Retirement System. In fiscal 2017, the state spent $7.2 billion on those same funds. The largest increase was the Teachers Retirement System, to which in fiscal 2007 the state contributed $813.5 million. In fiscal 2017, the state contributed $4 billion.
Despite that increased spending, Illinois unfunded pension liability in 2007 was estimated at $45.8 billion. That has increased to $134 billion in the most recent report from the Illinois auditor general.
Taxpayer and manufacturer Don Welge of Gilster-Mary Lee said that with Illinois large debts, hes looking at investing in operations he has in other states so he as a taxpayer is less on the hook in the future for the states poor financial decisions. He said the state should apply simple business practices to managing money.
[The state] has a spending problem and much more than its revenue problem, Welge said. No matter what youre making, if you constantly spend more than you make youre going to go broke and Illinois is a giant example of that. The city of Detroit went bankrupt as a result of those kinds of policies and Illinois is going faster into debt than any other state.
A Pritzker budget official defended the proposed no-cuts budget as a maintenance budget last week to a group in Springfield. The only reductions in spending proposed is how much the state will give to pensions as the administration looks to extend the years for the pension payment ramp to get to a certain level of funding.
ALTON On Saturday, Madison County Catholic Charities is holding its 19th Annual Help on the Move Fundraiser at Bluff City Grill in Alton.
With help from community based food donations from generous supporters such as Schnucks, Target, Sav-A-Lot, Panera Bread, Operation Food Search and the St. Louis Food Bank, Catholic Charities takes their Mobile Food Pantry truck to small towns monthly to serve rural families who are barely getting by when it comes to putting food on their tables. The program serves communities in Madison, Jersey, Calhoun and Bond counties.
We work together with local churches or service organizations in these small towns to gather volunteers to help us register and distribute food boxes to approximately 30-40 families each month who struggle with food insecurity, Denise Brown, Area Director of Madison County Catholic Charities, said in a press release.
Madison County Catholic Charities started their Mobile Food Pantry program in 2013 after securing a grant from Catholic Charities USA to purchase a refrigerated truck.
When Board member, Tim Palermo stepped up to volunteer as a driver for the operation, the program was off and running and hasnt slowed down since.
Since the programs inception, Palermo tragically passed away from cancer, however his memory lives on. Shortly thereafter the Mobile Food Pantry truck was emblazoned with the name The Big Palermo on its side as a tribute to Palermo in recognition of his years of service to Catholic Charities and his undying generous spirit.
Since this program started it has served thousands of people who have struggled to put food on their families tables, Steven Roach, Executive Director of Catholic Charities said. Rural hunger is most often unreported yet we find that many people living in small communities all around us are suffering in silence. Many have fallen on hard times due to unemployment, disabilities or no access to transportation or food resources. These families are served with dignity and respect regardless of their circumstances. We try to bring hope to these families in a non-judgmental way. Catholic Charities serves people regardless of their religious denomination. There is a need to provide relief in rural communities far greater than most people realize and we are determined to seek these families out.
The Alton office of Catholic Charities also houses the Guardian Angel Food Pantry which is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. each week that serves the surrounding communities with food staples for each family that comes in on a monthly basis. Other programs and services offered by Madison County Catholic Charities in its Alton and Granite City offices include: individual and family counseling, rent and utility assistance, pro bono legal services, MedAssist and Faith in Action. Catholic Charities has been providing services in Madison County since 1941 and recently relocated its Granite City office to the former United Way building located at 1821 Edison Ave.
During the fundraiser, two honorees will be recognized for their outstanding community service in Madison County. Jan Manns, the long-time Community Services Supervisor for Catholic Charities will be honored with the Father Jack Quilligan Award for her dedicated and selfless contributions over her 25-year tenure with the agency. Her commitment to Catholic Charities continues even after her retirement in July, 2018. Manns enthusiasm to raise awareness for all of the services and programs offered to the less fortunate by Catholic Charities is unwavering and she embodies the mission of Catholic Charities to bring the love and mercy of Jesus to those who are suffering.
This years recipient of the Mary Alyce Beardslee Award is Judy Whitaker, the longtime City Clerk for Granite City. Whitaker has dedicated her life to serving her community in a variety of capacities. She has improved the quality of life for citizens through her work at City Hall over the last 25 years including re-establishing the Neighborhood Watch Program over the entire city. Whitaker has also served on the Madison County Humane Society, the Madison County Police Association and as the Chairman of the annual Santas Holiday Avenue Parade since 1996.
The benefit will be held from 6-11 p.m. Saturday, March 30, upstairs at the Bluff City Grill at 424 E. Broadway, Alton. Dinner tickets are available for $40 per person and includes dinner, beer, wine, soda and dancing. Music will be provided by a local favorite, The Owlz Band. As usual, raffle tickets can also be purchased for $25 each or three for $50 for a chance to win $10,000, or one of two large flat screen televisions being offered.
For more information, call 462-0634 and ask for Jackie Tucker or visit cc.dio.org and click on Help On The Move.
MARSTON, Mo. A Missouri man jailed in Texas now is charged with killing an Illinois woman at an Interstate 55 rest area in October.
Eliot Bonner, 27, of St. Charles was charged Friday with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm. He does not yet have a listed attorney.
EL PASO, Texas - Gay and transgender people held at a large Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in New Mexico have faced physical and verbal abuse and were placed in solitary confinement after complaining about it, according to a complaint civil rights groups sent to the U.S. agency Monday.
The letter from lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and the Santa Fe Dreamers Project alleges that 12 gay and transgender detainees at the Otero County Processing Center, a 1,000-bed facility about 30 miles north of this border city, routinely suffered sexual harassment and abuse from other detainees, that guards verbally assaulted them and that ICE officials violated their own regulations in denying hormone therapy to transgender detainees. They also allege that they were placed in solitary confinement after complaining about their treatment.
"ICE's practices at Otero have created an unsafe environment for transgender women and gay men who are detained there," the letter said.
ICE officials declined to comment on the specific allegations in the letter, but spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa said the agency follows national standards for medical care and has specific policies for caring for transgender detainees in its custody.
"ICE is committed to ensuring that those in our custody reside in safe, secure and human environments and under appropriate conditions of confinement," Zamarripa said.
A 21-year-old Honduran man who identifies as gay said in an interview that he was continually sexually harassed and fondled by other detainees after arriving at the Otero facility in December. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because his family in the United States doesn't know that he is gay.
The man said he didn't file a complaint with officials because he feared retaliation. When a friend filed a complaint alleging that he was being sexually harassed and abused by fellow detainees, he and his friend were both placed in solitary confinement, he said. He said that after four days in solitary, officials told him that he could be released into the general population but that if he complained again, he would be put back into solitary. He was then placed in an area where detainees routinely harassed him.
"I asked for a change of barracks, but I was afraid to write specifically what was happening to me because I had already been warned that if I made another complaint, I'd be sent to solitary," said the detainee, who was released on bond last week after he endured three months of abuse
In 2018, 37 Democratic members of Congress wrote a letter to ICE with similar allegations of mistreatment of detained gay and transgender people. That letter said 13 percent of the 300 transgender people detained by ICE in fiscal year 2017 were placed in solitary confinement.
ICE guidelines allow for use of solitary confinement for people vulnerable to sexual abuse or assault "when no other viable housing options exist, as a last resort." The 2018 congressional letter raised concerns about the length of time that LGBT migrants were kept in solitary confinement.
"This is not a new problem. Sadly, from our conversations with the detainees in Otero, we've learned that this level of unlawful abuse, mistreatment and harassment is more widespread and common than we had imagined," said Nicolas Palazzo, an attorney for Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso.
The attorneys representing gay and transgender detainees at the New Mexico facility are asking for a Department of Homeland Security inspector general investigation. A 2017 report by the inspector general found "potential misuse" of solitary confinement for gay and transgender detainees at Otero and other facilities.
The attorneys also asked for a meeting with ICE officials to discuss proposed reforms at the Otero facility, which is operated for ICE by Management and Training Corporation, one of the nation's largest private-prison companies.
- - -
Moore is a freelance journalist based in El Paso.
Unable to achieve major federal gun legislation in the wake of the nation's notorious mass shootings, U.S. gun-control groups are shifting their focus to state laws that keep guns out of the hands of those at risk of being violent or suicidal.
The approach comes as groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety acknowledge that a powerful gun lobby and entrenched American views about gun rights have made it nearly impossible to effect change in Washington. Instead, they see stronger opportunities to intervene in the shootings that account for most of the gun-related deaths in the United States. Everytown last week began a campaign to educate people about red flag laws, mechanisms in numerous states that can remove guns from people who pose a danger to others or themselves.
"If you truly want to continue to reduce gun deaths in this country, you have to talk about gun suicide and the tools for preventing gun suicide," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown. "It's fair to say that it's sort of 2.0 for us. This is just a new chapter."
Nearly half of the nation's 47,000 suicides in 2017 involved a firearm, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Nearly two-thirds of gun deaths in 2017 were suicides, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The focus on suicide is a tragically salient concern: In the past week, two communities that have struggled with mass shootings also have experienced suicides of those who faced the earlier trauma. On Monday, the father of a girl who was killed in the December 2012 massacre at a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school was found dead of an apparent suicide; and two teenagers who attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, took their own lives within the past week, a little more than a year after a gunman entered the school with an assault-style rifle and killed 17 people. Authorities have said one of the Parkland students used a gun in her suicide; the other two suicides are under investigation.
"Once again, the Parkland and Newtown communities are mourning after tragedy. I'm heartbroken for these families and these re-traumatized communities," said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, which is part of Everytown and was founded in the wake of the Newtown attack. "While details are still unfolding, we know that access to a gun in a moment of crisis can be the difference between life and death. When a loved one is struggling, we must do everything we can to get them the help they need to survive."
Red flag laws allow family members or police to petition judges to remove guns from a person who is believed to be dangerous for a variety of reasons. The "One Thing You Can Do" campaign aims to educate people who live in states with red flag laws about how they can be applied.
Thirteen states and the District have enacted such laws, many of them coming after the Parkland shooting in February 2018. New Jersey and New York have passed, but not enacted, similar laws.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to have a rare hearing on gun control Tuesday to examine red flag laws. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who introduced a bipartisan federal red flag bill last year that did not pass, said the goal is to exaime how the laws work in states that have enacted them.
The National Rifle Association said it supports the concept of legislation that would prevent dangerously mentally ill people from possessing firearms. But it has not backed any of the red flag laws that have passed in recent months because of concerns they violate gun owners' due process. The NRA supports a federal red flag bill sponsored by Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., and generally believes there should be criminal penalties for those who bring false charges and that individuals should be able to challenge such orders. The group also has supported suicide prevention efforts.
Everytown plans to train volunteers to talk about red flag laws with members of their communities, as the laws are only effective if people know about them and how to alert authorities. Everytown also has purchased ads in four cities or regions where red flag laws exist: Bend, Oregon; Indianapolis, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; and Western Massachusetts.
The retool comes after gun-control groups in the United States have been unable to make the sweeping federal change that was once thought attainable since a bill to enhance background checks failed in the Senate months after 20 children and six adults were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Watts wondered in the wake of the defeat: "Is this even possible in the United States?"
Congress has passed one piece of bipartisan gun legislation since, a measure to improve information for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System that was signed into law as part of a government spending measure in March 2018.
Gun control is considered the third rail of American politics, intractable and heavily influenced by the gun lobby amid deeply entrenched cultural views about the right to bear arms. The NRA believes Congress has been unwilling to restrict gun ownership because Americans don't want such laws.
"The NRA's strength has always been our grass roots organization," said Jennifer Baker, a NRA spokeswoman. "Second Amendment voters communicate with elected officials, and in turn members of Congress continue to vote in support of our constitutional right to self-defense."
Everytown and other gun-control groups have focused on state-level bills that make it more difficult for those convicted of domestic violence to get a gun, that allow for guns to be lawfully taken away from those who pose a danger to themselves or others, and that strengthen background checks.
Watts sees the shift to the states as necessary because Congress has been unwilling to act on most gun legislation, in large part because the National Rifle Association is such a powerful and deep-pocketed force. The Trump administration enacted a ban on bump stocks last year in response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people, but the devices are relatively obscure weapon add-ons, making it easy for both sides to agree on restrictions without affecting gun ownership rights. The bump-stock ban is set to officially begin Tuesday.
The state-level shift is also practical. Many of the groups have eschewed the phrase "gun control" for "gun safety" to appeal to a broader swath of the electorate. They hope that advocating for background checks and safe storage of existing firearms attach them to policies that will garner them support with gun owners.
Watts says she was amazed when the New Zealand government banned military-style firearms just six days after a gunman killed 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch this month.
"In America, a powerful gun lobby has persuaded some lawmakers to stand in the way of laws proven by research to protect people from gun violence," Watts said. "When people see that New Zealand acted so swiftly and that in America Congress has sort of sat on its hands, they feel hopeless or helpless, and they shouldn't."
Everytown and other groups still believe this year could be the turning point toward movement at the federal level. Everytown's political action fund spent $30 million, mainly in support of suburban congressional Democrats who campaigned, and won, on platforms that included gun control. Other gun-control groups also poured millions of dollars into similar efforts. And though it faces dim prospects of passing the Republican-controlled Senate, the House passed a bill requiring background checks for all gun purchases and most gun transfers last month. The House also passed a bill to close a loophole in the current background check law that allows a gun purchase if a check is not completed in three days; that bill also is unlikely to pass the Senate.
The gun-control groups also believe the NRA's influence is starting to wane, evidenced in part by the sharp decline in the gun rights organization's spending on midterm elections, plummeting 68 percent in 2018 compared with the 2014 midterms.
Referring to Everytown, which has received major funding from Michael Bloomberg, the NRA said it believes this is a "false narrative" pushed by politics and points to NRA-backed laws that allow for concealed carry without a permit that were passed this year in Kentucky, Oklahoma and South Dakota. The NRA also notes that 26 pro-gun laws passed in statehouses last year.
"The majority of Americans support the Second Amendment and the NRA continues to pass pro-Second Amendment legislation in legislatures across the country," Baker said.
Everytown and other gun-control groups also are planning to heavily invest in the 2020 presidential campaign. Peter Ambler, executive director and co-founder of Giffords, said he hopes attention to gun tragedies will spur voters to act: "Every day that goes by where Trump and [Mitch] McConnell and Republicans in the Senate take no action, 100 more people die."
The organizations are hoping a focus on suicide can help save lives immediately. Dorothy Paugh's father died by suicide with a gun when she was 9. Her 25-year-old son, Peter, an environmental engineer who worked testing groundwater, killed himself with a handgun in 2012.
Paugh, of Bowie, Maryland, believes that a red flag law might have helped her father, who asked for help from friends and a family priest in the days before his death. She wants to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and make people aware that it can happen within any family.
"What a mass shooting does is it shows people that yes, it could happen to someone you care about. When it's a suicide and sometimes a homicide, you think, 'Well, that's not going to happen,' " she said. "But the majority of gun deaths are suicides. These red flag laws really do promise to help a lot of people save a lot of lives."
WASHINGTON - Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who is weighing a primary challenge to President Donald Trump, drew a sharp contrast with the president's anti-media rhetoric Monday, telling a crowd of hundreds at a journalism awards banquet that he respects reporters and their "noble profession."
"You may not always get it right, but you are not fake news," Hogan, a Republican, said to applause at the banquet for the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting.
Referencing another of Trump's favorite attacks against the media, Hogan told the gathering of political reporters that "you are not the enemy of the people. And it is that kind of dangerous rhetoric that threatens to undermine and erode the trust between the people and the very institutions that are the cornerstone of our democracy."
Hogan, a moderate who was re-elected to a second term by a wide margin of victory last year, called for civility, emphasizing many of the same themes that helped make him a popular figure in a state dominated by Democrats.
"Those of us blessed by your trust should give you a government that appreciates that no one of us has all the answers or all the power," he said. "A government that tolerates contrary views among a diverse citizenry without making them into enemies or doubting their patriotism."
Since his inauguration in January, Hogan has warmly received the courtship of some GOP leaders seeking an alternative to Trump.
The governor has acknowledged that a primary challenge right now appears politically impossible, given Trump's overwhelming support within his party. But he says he would consider jumping into the race if the president's base weakens. And he has increasingly ventured onto the national political stage this year after spending the past four years mostly avoiding it.
In his speech Monday, Hogan praised reporters and said they "represented one of America's most important and all too often underappreciated professions."
He described rushing to the scene of the June 28 shooting rampage at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, where five employees were killed. The suspect had a long-standing grudge against the newspaper.
Hogan praised the newspaper's surviving reporters for continuing to work outside the crime scene tape and covering the massacre of their colleagues.
The Toner awards honor the late New York Times writer Robin Toner, the first woman to be a national political correspondent for the newspaper. She died of cancer, a disease that Hogan also has battled, in 2008.
This year's political-reporting prize went to Jason Zengerle for his writing in the New York Times and GQ magazines. Fact-checkers Glenn Kessler, Salvador Rizzo and Meg Kelly of The Washington Post and Isaac Arnsdorf of ProPublica were given honorable mentions.
Past keynote speakers at the awards ceremony include President Barack Obama in 2016 and Hillary Clinton. Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a moderate Republican, also has been a speaker. Hogan was invited to ensure that the awards ceremony highlighted speakers from both sides of the aisle, said Peter Gosselin, Toner's husband and a journalist at ProPublica.
On Monday, Hogan repeatedly alluded to Trump without mentioning the president.
"The biggest crisis facing our nation isn't a wall between Mexico and the United States," he said, but a wall that divides discourse in America.
Hogan also said Americans are weary of a government in which "insults substitute for debate, recriminations for negotiation, and gridlock for compromise."
"I believe that you should be able to have confidence in the character and civility of the people you elect to office, regardless of their party affiliation," he said.
The governor's speech noted that his father's place in history was documented by the Washington political press corps during the Watergate scandal. Lawrence Hogan Sr., then a representative from Maryland, was the first GOP congressman to vote to impeach President Richard Nixon.
Hogan characterized his relationship with the Maryland press corps as sometimes spirited but said he "always had the greatest respect for the journalists."
"I know that this is a difficult and challenging time for your profession," Hogan said. "Faith and confidence in the media is nearly as low as it is for elected officials. Welcome to the club."
For the Intelligencer
GODFREY Professionals from the Madison County Sheriffs Office, Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) addressed those interested in a career in criminal justice during an open house and panel discussion March 20 at Lewis and Clark Community College.
Attendees received information on L&Cs Criminal Justice program, and about the field what jobs are available and what they entail, as well as what education and training is required to qualify. Representatives with L&C Enrollment and Financial Aid were also involved.
EDWARDSVILLE Another legal bill for the Madison County Veterans Assistance Commission was approved for payment by the Madison County Board after lengthy discussion in two separate meetings.
The $58,870.46 bill covers part of the VACs legal expenses during the 2016 budget year. The County Board approved a similar bill last month after a ruling by the Illinois Fifth District Appellate Court.
Questions raised included whether the county was obligated to pay this bill, referred to as Warrant 16-5, whether part of the bill covered personal legal expenses, and potential additional litigation over the ongoing legal battles.
If we dont appropriate the funds, were going to have to go to court again, Board Member Mick Madison, R-Bethalto, said during an Executive Committee meeting prior to the full County Board meeting.
The case would have been over if we had paid the bills, he added. We spent a lot of good money after bad to not pay the bills.
The bills stem from legal fees from legal actions relating to the previous administrations barring of Chairman Brad Lavite from the Administration Building because of a post-traumatic stress breakdown.
Two issues still awaiting resolution are the federal civil rights lawsuit stemming from the countys actions, and a county lawsuit relating to what Lavite said was a long-term improper reduction in the VACs tax levy over the past decade.
The question of legal fees for 2017 and 2018, and any additional bills for this year, were not part of the discussion.
Auditor Rick Faccin said that Warrant 16-5 was not paid because it was not itemized and there were not sufficient funds at the time.
One of the issues is that lawyers for the VAC have argued that itemization would reveal information under attorney-client privilege. There is also a question of exactly how much control the county has over VAC funds. The VAC has its own board and tax levy and the county is primarily to serve as a pass-through agency to distribute those funds.
Part of the debate centered on the fact that the Appellate Court ruling left paying 16-5 to the County Boards discretion.
Treasurer Chris Slusser, who has been working with Faccin and Lavite on the issue, said even though the county has not been ordered to pay, if it does not it will end up back in court.
However, Assistant States Attorney John Gilbert and Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons said it probably wouldnt.
Gilbert also noted that if the county paid the bill, and subsequent bills, it should probably get something in return, citing the other ongoing litigation.
The resolution was eventually approved by the Executive Committee, with Don Moore, R-Troy; Michael Doc Holiday, D-Alton; and Gussie Glasper, D-Madison, voting no.
At the County Board meeting, debate opened with Mike Parkinson, D-Granite City, noting again that payment was at the discretion of the board. He also noted that a 2016 email from the VACs attorney detailed that at least approximately $6,000 of the bill was for what was at the time personal legal services.
Gibbons said his position was that using county funds to pay for the personal services was illegal, and without detailed itemization the exact figure couldnt be determined.
The board eventually voted 18-7 in favor of paying the bill.
Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.
A New York county has banned unvaccinated children from all public spaces as the state battles its largest measles outbreak in decades.
Officials in Rockland County declared a countywide state of emergency Tuesday, announcing that the ban will begin at midnight and remain in place for 30 days or until unvaccinated minors receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Officials said minors who are unvaccinated will not be permitted in public places, such as churches, schools and shopping centers, though outdoors spaces such as playgrounds are not included in the ban.
"We must not allow this outbreak to continue," County Executive Ed Day said during a news conference. "We will not sit idly by while children in our community are at risk."
The announcement comes as measles outbreaks have hit areas in California, Illinois, Texas and Washington, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In New York City, more than 180 cases have been confirmed.
In Rockland County, about 40 miles from Manhattan, there have been more than 150 confirmed cases, according to county health officials.
More than 82 percent of the measles patients had not received a single dose of the MMR vaccine, health officials said. The data shows that the largest number of cases - 46 percent - were seen in children ages 4 to 18, and 39 percent of them were in children younger than 3.
More for you Childhood vaccine exemptions in California would need state OK under new bill
Day, with Rockland County, said authorities will not be searching for children who are not vaccinated but are expecting parents and legal guardians to step up and get children vaccinated. However, he said, parents and guardians who are found to be in violation will be held accountable and their cases will be referred to the district attorney's office. Such a violation will be considered a misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine or up to six months in jail.
Day said children unable to be vaccinated for documented medical reasons are exempt.
"Rockland will lead the way in service and safety to the people here," he told reporters.
Amid concerns about the growing measles outbreak, Rockland County tried something similar last year. As The Washington Post's Reis Thebault reported, public health officials there barred unvaccinated children from attending schools with vaccination rates lower than 95 percent.
He added:
Months later, the parents of more than 40 banned children at Green Meadow Waldorf School sued the Rockland County health department, asking a federal judge to allow the students to return to class. This week, U.S. District Court Judge Vincent Briccetti denied their request, ruling it wasn't in "public interest" to allow the children to go back to school.
"While no one enjoys the fact that these kids are out of school, these orders have worked," said the county's attorney, Thomas Humbach, in a statement to the local Journal News. "They have helped prevent the measles outbreak from spreading to this school population."
Measles is highly contagious virus and can have some serious consequences - pneumonia, brain damage, hearing loss and even death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, most children contracted the illness - an estimated 3 million to 4 million patients each year in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of those, 48,000 were hospitalized, 400 to 500 died and 1,000 others suffered a severe complication known as encephalitis, a condition in which the brain swells because of an infection.
In 2000 - almost four decades after parents began vaccinating their children - measles was declared eliminated in the United States.
CDC data shows that from 2000 to 2018, there were an average of 140 measles cases per year in the United States. And there were three reported fatalities during that time - one in 2002, one in 2003 and one in 2015.
SILVER SPRING, Md. - Women who say they were harmed by breast implants demanded that the Food and Drug Administration take new steps to protect consumers, including providing more information about potential risks and banning devices linked to the most serious complications.
Telling searing stories about harmed health, disrupted families and lost careers, the women pressed an FDA advisory panel to recommend more long-term research, bans or restrictions on certain products and an improved informed-consent process so women have a clear understanding of the risks and benefits of the devices before they opt for surgery.
"I was not warned" about the risks of implants, Jamee Cook, an advocate and former ER paramedic told the FDA's expert committee. Cook, who lives near Dallas, said that after getting implants in 1998, she suffered for years from swollen lymph nodes, chronic fatigue, migraines and a low-grade fever. She said she eventually had the devices removed, after which many, but not all, of her symptoms eased.
The FDA said recently that it is taking a closer look at implants, which have sparked anger and contention for decades. The agency asked its General and Plastic Surgery Devices Advisory Committee for recommendations on a raft of issues, and Cook's testimony was part of a two-day hearing, which continues Tuesday, on the key issues.
Several plastic surgeons pleaded with the panel to proceed carefully, saying implants generally are safe and an important option for women who want breast augmentation or reconstruction after breast cancer surgery. They said women's choices should not be curtailed. About 400,000 women a year get implants, 75 percent for cosmetic reasons and the rest for reconstruction after other surgery.
Many of the dozens of patients who attended the meeting at FDA's headquarters in Silver Spring wore ribbons to graphically state their concern about two types of illnesses they say are linked to implants. Black and white ribbons symbolized what's now called "breast implant illness," a constellation of autoimmune problems that includes joint and muscle pain and allergies and fatigue. Pink and green ribbons signified an uncommon lymphoma that health authorities around the world, including the FDA, link to some implants.
Anastasia Allmendinger, a 53-year-old resident of Newport News, Virginia, said she got implants in 2010 and years later was diagnosed with the cancer, called anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or ALCL. She underwent surgery to remove the implants, chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant, and is now doing well, but she said that manufacturers should be held accountable for the illnesses and that women should be better informed. Experts say many patients can be successfully treated only with surgery.
More for you California sues over Trumps abortion-funding restrictions
Many of the advocates who spoke Monday called for a ban on textured implants - the kind most strongly linked to the cancer. There is some evidence that the problem could be caused by bacterial infections involving the implants, researchers said.
The FDA has identified 457 cases of the lymphoma and nine deaths in the United States. Six hundred cases and 17 deaths have been reported worldwide.
On the other main illness of concern - the one linked to autoimmune and connective-tissue disease - the FDA and the patient community have long been at odds.
Thousands of women have complained about autoimmune and connective tissue problems on social media, but the FDA has repeatedly said the "weight of evidence" does not show that implants cause "systemic" illness.
That opinion was challenged last September, when researchers found that silicone implants were linked to higher rates of autoimmune disorders such as scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis than were found in the general population. A leading author, Mark Clemens, said the study didn't prove cause and effect but signaled a reason for concern.
The FDA immediately expressed skepticism, saying the study was flawed. But Binita Ashar, the agency's director of surgical devices at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, also said the agency is stepping up its long-term surveillance of implants and using patient registries to track complications from the devices.
That view was repeated in the agency's announcement about the meeting that began Monday. The FDA said "there is not sufficient evidence to show an association between breast implants and rheumatologic or connective tissue disease diagnoses." But it added, "there are numerous breast implant patients convening on social media to discuss a wide variety of symptoms that they are experiencing - symptoms which may or may not meet the diagnostic criteria to be categorized as a disease."
Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Center for Health Research, said in an interview that she doesn't understand "why the FDA seems so close-minded" about the scientific evidence that at least some women have developed autoimmune diseases as a result of their breast implants. "We have always said we don't know what the percentage is - just that for women who are sick, getting them out makes them better," she said.
Zuckerman presented data on Monday from a study that her group conducted involving more than 400 women who had their implants removed because they were having health problems. In the vast majority of cases, she said, the women's health improved. The study has not been published yet.
The FDA banned most implants in 1992 but lifted that ban in 2005. The agency approved implants made by Allergan and Mentor in 2006, requiring the companies to conduct long-term studies on the impact on women's health.
Recently, the FDA has stepped up its scrutiny of the devices. Last week, it sent warning letters to two major implant manufacturers, saying they hadn't conducted required long-term safety studies of the devices and warning them the devices could be ordered off the market if the studies aren't completed. The agency also said recently it would take a closer look at how materials used in a range of surgical implants - including those used in hip and knee replacements - could potentially affect health.
As construction of NASA's heavy-lift rocket continues to face delays, Administrator Jim Bridenstine said Wednesday the agency might launch the Orion spacecraft around the moon on the back of a commercial vehicle.
The first launch of Orion the spacecraft being built to take humans back to the moon for the first time since 1972 on the Space Launch System rocket was scheduled to happen by June 2020. But the agency this month acknowledged that timing is no longer feasible, signaling yet another delay for the problematic rocket.
"I think we, as an agency, need to stick to our commitments," Bridenstine testified at a Wednesday hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. "If we tell you and others that we're going to launch in June 2020 around the moon, I think we should, and I think we can get it done."
MISSION MOON: Learn how 50 years of space exploration defined Houston on HoustonChronicle.com
Despite its numerous problems, NASA for years has defended the Space Launch System rocket, saying it was a necessary backbone of their human exploration portfolio. The rocket was a brainchild of President Barack Obama's administration and initially was supposed to launch in 2017.
So, the kind of paradigm shift Bridenstine suggested Wednesday is a good sign, said Keith Cowing, editor of NASA Watch, a website devoted to space news.
"I think this is recognition that in order to achieve the goals the White House has set for NASA, some creative thinking is required," Cowing said.
President Donald Trump's administration wants to send U.S. astronauts back to the moon as a stepping stone for a mission to Mars with the help of international and commercial partners. The goal is to put humans on the lunar surface again by 2028.
Calling on commercial companies
Wednesday marked the first time the idea of launching Orion on anything other than SLS has been publicly floated.
Bridenstine admitted he is unsure what commercial rockets would be used for this endeavor or how much it would cost. He told committee members he would have a better idea in a few weeks.
"I tasked the agency with figuring out how to make that an objective," he said. Cost "is another discussion, but we might need to request help from the Congress."
If NASA flies the first Orion mission aboard a commercial rocket, Bridenstine said, two rockets would actually be used.
One would launch the Orion capsule into low Earth orbit, he said, while another would launch a fully-fueled upper stage which provides the propulsion needed to throw Orion around the moon. Then, the two would dock and continue on the mission around the moon, he added.
The Orion capsule does not have hardware for docking, he said, so that would need to be added.
"Here's the glory of the United States of America," Bridenstine said. "We have amazing capability that exists right now that we can use off the shelf in order to accomplish this objective."
EARLIER COVERAGE: Government shutdown causes two month delay for test of Orion's emergency system
NASA has two missions scheduled for the Orion-SLS team. The first Orion spacecraft mission, Exploration Mission-1, is meant to go up without a crew. The second, Exploration Mission-2, will launch humans around the moon and is supposed to fly no later than 2023.
Bridenstine's comments raise the question: If the agency sends the first mission up successfully on commercial rockets, will the second mission pivot to do the same?
A new mission for SLS?
Cowing is confident the SLS rocket will never take humans into space. Instead, he thinks it will be used for cargo missions or, perhaps, unmanned missions to other planets.
"I'm sure the rocket will work, it's just taking forever to build," Cowing said. "This could open up missions to the outer planets."
But the White House signaled Monday that isn't the plan at least not for now.
In the budget proposal for fiscal year 2020 released Monday by the White House, President Donald Trump suggested postponing an upgrade to increase the rocket's performance. Under the Trump proposal, NASA would continue with the initial version instead, while the agency would remove from the rocket's manifest a mission to study Jupiter's moon, Europa.
That mission, called Europa Clipper, would instead launch on a commercial rocket. Budget documents state that this will save the U.S. $700 million.
The upgrade to the rocket's performance also was important to launch the different elements of the mini-space station NASA wants to build orbiting the moon, called the Lunar Orbital-Platform Gateway. With this delay, those elements will instead be sent into space on "competitively procured, vehicles, complementing crew transport flights on the SLS and Orion," budget documents state
Boeing was awarded a contract in 2012 to build two Space Launch System cores for NASA, one for the first, uncrewed Orion flight and one for the flight that would carry Americans around the moon.
At that time, the uncrewed flight was expected to launch in 2017. But that timeline didn't work out as the project has been plagued with construction delays and cost increases. Boeing declined to comment.
So far, the rocket has cost NASA about $12 billion.
Still, Bridenstine vehemently defended the rocket, both on Monday and Wednesday.
"I want to start with a point of emphasis: SLS is the largest rocket ever built in American history and it's a critical piece of what needs to be built," Bridenstine said. "But SLS is struggling to meet schedule ... and now we are understanding better how difficult the project is and that it's going to take additional time."
Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
Canada on Thursday became the first country to partner with NASA on its planned moon space station -- the foundation of NASAs objective for a sustainable return to the moon as a stepping stone for a mission to Mars.
The space station, called the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, would allow astronauts to live and work while orbiting the moon.
Canada is going to the moon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a Thursday news conference at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters near Montreal. Were stepping up.
Canada, already a partner with NASA on the International Space Station, will build a robotic arm for the gateway. Called Canadarm3, it will be the successor to the one now in use on the space station.
Canadarm was essential to the Space Shuttle, Canadarm2 built the International Space Station, so its only fitting and right that the arm that will repair and maintain the lunar gateway will yet again be made in Canada by Canadians, Trudeau said.
He pledged to invest $2 billion Canadian dollars (about $1.5 billion in the U.S.) over 24 years to grow Canadas space program.
NASA officials hope to have the gateway ready for human habitation by 2023 and Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he is thrilled that Canada agreed to be a partner on the project.
Our new collaboration on the gateway will enable our broader international partnership to get to the moon and eventually to Mars, Bridenstine said in a statement.
NASAs reliance on international partnerships has now expanded to include more than 700 agreements with more than 120 nations.
Returning to the moon with help
President Donald Trumps fiscal year 2019 budget for NASA, signed in February, sets into motion several initiatives to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972 including funds to develop the foundation for the gateway.
When completed, the gateway will allow crews to live and work in the moons orbit for 30 to 60 days at a time, as well as act as a stop-over for astronauts eventually traveling to Mars.
NASA officials have said that international and commercial partnerships are crucial to the gateways success.
Additionally, the agency announced just last week the first round of 12 experiments that will head to the moon on lunar landers built by commercial companies, including Houston-based Intuitive Machines. Agency officials say they hope to begin launching the landers as early as this year but no later than Dec. 31, 2021.
Officials also hope to begin testing landers that would carry humans to the moon beginning in 2024, in the hopes that a crew could be sent to the lunar surface by 2028.
We want to go fast. Its important we get back to the moon as fast as possible, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said during a Valentines Day media roundtable in Washington, D.C.
An announcement from the Trump administration this week may complicate that plan, however.
Russ Vought, acting head of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote an article Monday stating that Trump intended to propose a 5 percent cut to all non-defense discretionary spending in next year's budget. That, of course, would include NASA.
Canadas space presence
Canada has been active in space exploration since the early 1960s, as the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union raged.
In 1962, it became the third country to launch a satellite, Alouette 1, into Earths orbit, which it did with the help of the U.S.
The robotic arm, Canadarm, which was attached to the Space Shuttles, flew for the first time in November 1981 and operated for 30 years. Canadians then built Canadarm2, attached to the Space Station, which performs maintenance, moves supplies and equipment and attaches visiting vehicles to the station.
Canadarm2 conducted critical repairs on Hubble Space Telescope, credited with altering humankind's understanding of the solar system during its almost three decades orbiting Earth. And the country also is working on the James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble's successor.
But the nations human spaceflight program has been less robust. The first Canadian to fly in space, Marc Garneau, went up on the October 1984 Space Shuttle Challenger. He is one of only 14 astronauts the country has had since 1983, according to the Canadian Space Agency.
Canadas David Saint-Jacques currently is living on the International Space Station. He is the seventh Canadian astronaut to live on the space station, according to the countrys agency.
But the countrys involvement in the gateway is hugely important for its space program.
Our participation in the lunar gateway ushers in a new era of Canadian excellence in space and it is the cornerstone of the next phase of Canadas space program, Trudeau said Thursday.
Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
Israel's first moon-bound probe is headed to the lunar surface after a successful launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday night -- putting the tiny nation one step closer to becoming the fourth country to land on the moon.
The probe -- called "Beresheet" or "in the beginning" in Hebrew -- launched at 7:45 p.m. on the back of a SpaceX rocket. It is expected to reach the moon by April 11 and, if successful, will be the first commercial lander to reach the moon.
Israeli nonprofit SpaceIL -- the only Israeli contestant competing in the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition that ended last year with no winner -- built the lander for just $100 million. It is not carrying humans to the surface
"We punch far above our weight," said Sylvan Adams, a SpaceIL donor and Canadian-Israeli businessman and philanthropist, during a Wednesday night news conference in Florida. "With Israeli innovation, with Israeli can-do, we've managed to do this on a shoe-string budget and it's something we're very proud of."
The United States remains the only country to leave human footprints on the moon. The other two countries that have sent probes to the surface are the Soviet Union in September 1959 and China in December 2013 and January 2019.
NASA has signed an agreement to "cooperatively utilize" Israel's probe, which will conduct experiments to measure the moon's magnetic field. The agreement essentially means both countries will benefit from this mission.
"We can get all kinds of data and information and good science that NASA needs but we can do it for a fraction of the cost," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told Fox News on Thursday.
For example, NASA officials said in October that Israel will share data about the magnetic field of the landing site with the U.S., which will be available publicly via NASA's Planetary Data System. Additionally, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter a probe launched in 2009 that is mapping the moon's surface will try to take measures of the probe as it lands.
Also Thursday, a Japanese probe briefly touched down on an asteroid 200 miles away from Earth, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced, grabbing a sample of dust in the process. Japan launched the probe in 2014 and sample will return to Earth late next year.
Israel's historic launch comes as NASA shifts its focus to returning to the moon as a stepping stone for a mission to Mars.
President Donald Trump's $19.9 billion NASA budget for the current fiscal year tasks the agency with launching the first flight without a crew for Orion -- the spacecraft meant to take humans to the moon -- by 2022, followed by a launch of Americans around the moon in 2023.
Additionally, it allows the agency to begin working on the foundation for a mini space station orbiting the moon, known as the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, which will involve cooperation with commercial companies and other nations.
"We are building a coalition of nations to return to the moon sustainable and I think Israel can be a big piece of that sustainable return to the moon," Bridenstine told Fox News.
NASA also is relying on commercial companies to build its lunar landers, which they hope will launch as early as this year but no later than Dec. 31, 2021. The space agency in November tapped nine companies, including Houston-based Intuitive Machines, to build the moon probes.
On Thursday, the American space agency announced the first round of 12 experiments that will head to the moon on these landers. They include instruments to measure the radiation environment on the surface, the hydrogen abundance and the magnetic field.
NASA officials said they will work with U.S. companies on reusable system to take astronauts to the surface of the moon. Human-class landers will be tested on the moon beginning 2024, in the hopes that a crew could be sent to the surface by 2028.
Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
NASA would face a $500 million cut in the coming budget year under a spending plan released Monday by President Donald Trump's administration, but space agency officials say the budget remains focused on human exploration, specifically to the moon.
"This is a really good budget for NASA," Mark Geyer, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, said Monday. "We're blessed with this budget."
Just last month, Trump signed the budget for the current year, allocating $21.5 billion to the history-making space agency. The proposal released Monday for fiscal year 2020, which starts Oct. 1, would only provide $21 billion. The cut comes as Trump has touted the ambitious goal of returning humans to the moon for the first time since 1972
MISSION MOON at HoustonChronicle.com: How 50 years of space exploration defined Houston
Budget cuts would come to projects such as the Space Launch System rocket, which will carry the Orion spacecraft to the moon, the education office and a new telescope, the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST).
But during a livestreamed speech from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Administrator Jim Bridenstine avoided discussing the programs that would be cut. Instead, he talked about returning sustainably to the moon, as a stepping stone for a mission to Mars.
The Lunar Orbital-Platform Gateway, a mini-space station orbiting the moon that NASA wants to build, is a huge part of this plan. The budget fully funds it.
"Gateway is about sustainability ... it's going to enable a sustainable, human presence on the moon," Bridenstine said. "We won't be flying there and back, but we'll be exploring and learning about the moon."
Congress still must approve the budget proposal, which some Democratic lawmakers have called dead on arrival.
Half-a-billion-dollar cut
Just a few weeks ago, federal budget officials announced that non-defense, discretionary spending would face a 5 percent cut in the 2020 budget year. That, of course, would include NASA. The cut ultimately recommended is less deep.
"Recognizing the importance of controlling excessive spending, President Trump directed federal agencies to identify how they can cut a nickel out of every dollar they spend," Russ Vought, acting head of the Office of Management and Budget. wrote in an op-ed last month. "Hard-working American families make these sorts of tough decisions every day. The president believes Washington should be no different."
The cuts came down Monday. And for the space agency, the most notable came to the SLS rocket, which will carry Orion -- the spacecraft being built to carry humans back to the moon.
Trump's budget request postpones funding for upgrades to the rocket that would increase its performance, instead focusing on completing the initial version.
SLS has faced major cost and scheduling setbacks and NASA now plans on launching it with Exploration Mission-1, the uncrewed flight of Orion, by 2020. The crewed Orion flight, Exploration Mission-2, is set to fly in 2022.
Bridenstine on Monday addressed the criticism of SLS, saying that it is vital to the country's plans to return to the moon.
"On this point I want to be crystal clear: SLS is not reusable but it is a critical piece of the architecture that enables us to deliver re-usability to the moon," Bridenstine said.
The proposal also removes a payload from SLS's planned manifest. A mission that will study Jupiter's moon, Europa -- called the Europa Clipper mission -- would be removed from SLS, and instead launched in 2023 on the back of a commercial launch vehicle.
Budget documents state that this will save NASA $700 million.
LISTEN: The latest from the Cigarettes & Rocket Fuel podcast
The James Webb Space Telescope -- the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope that has orbited the Earth for 28 years -- would be fully funded with $352.6 million under the proposal. Initially expected to launch in 2007, Webb has since been delayed until March 2021 after it breached the $8 billion spending cap set by Congress in 2011. Scientists say they now need $9 billion to finish the telescope.
Bridenstine, however, defended the mission.
"This administration is committed to the James Webb telescope and our number one agenda is mission success," Bridenstine said. "This mission is so important to the United States of America and here's why: it will establish us as the leader in physics for the next 30 years."
While Trump's budget calls for fully funding the Webb telescope, it's successor, the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), wouldn't receive any money. The budget propsoal also eliminates funding for the Office of Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics Engagement -- previously known as the Office of Education -- and two Earth science missions.
The Trump administration tried to cut the Office of Education in fiscal years 2018 and 2019, but Congress nixed that idea.
Returning to the moon
Despite these proposed cuts, many NASA personnel said the budget supported the agency's goals.
"Everybody loves to have a destination and the gateway provides that," Flight Director Jeff Radigan said Monday at the Johnson Space Center in Houston after Bridenstine's speech.
The budget proposal fully funds the gateway, for example, and provides $363 million to support commercial development of a moon lander that will take cargo -- and later humans -- to the surface.
Additionally, it funds a human return to the moon in 2028.
"For the first time in over 10 years, we have money in this budget for a return to the moon with humans," Bridenstine said. "Human-rated landers, compatible with the gateway, can go back and forth to the moon. And we're funding them to go to the moon."
The proposal also includes $1.5 billion for the International Space Station, while also funding new commercial capabilities to facilitate a transition to commercial activities in low Earth orbit, where the space station flies.
Last year, Trump proposed ending federal funding for the space station at the end of 2024, allowing commercial companies to take over operations in 2025.
This proposal was met with resistance from Congress, with many questioning whether commercial companies could step up to fill the government's funding role. In fiscal year 2017, NASA spent $1.45 billion on the space station, and that doesn't count costs to transport astronauts and supplies there.
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, another Texas Republicanbut it failed to make it to the president's desk.
Even Bridenstine has said that kind of timeline likely isn't feasible.
The budget documents released Monday, however, appear to make no reference to ending federal funding for ISS.
SPACE JUNK: Sign up for Mission Moon updates and out-of-this-world space news.
"By 2025, the Budget envisions commercial capabilities on the International Space Station as well as new commercial facilities and platforms to continue the American presence in Earth orbit," budget documents state.
Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuceky@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
When someone told me that there was currently a heart tour in the United States, I thought he was referring to Heart, the legendary rock band headed by sisters Nancy Wilson and Ann Wilson. I was astonished when I learned just how wrong I was.
The disembodied heart of a man who died in 1859 is quite literally touring the United States. The heart belonged to one Jean Vianney, a Frenchman born in 1786 and ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church in 1815. Appointed to serve a parish at Ars, France, Vianney discovered to his dismay that many of the faithful were either ignorant or indifferent to religion as a result of the French Revolution, according to Catholic Online. Many danced and drank on Sundays or worked in their fields. Vianney delivered homilies against blasphemy and dancing. If his congregants did not give up dancing, he refused them absolution. Pope Pius XI canonized Vianney in 1925.
Jean Vianneys body can be viewed in its glass reliquary located inside the Basilica of Ars. The Catholic Church states that his corpse is incorrupt, which means it hasnt decayed. His heart, which was removed at some point following his death, is displayed in a small but ornate glass reliquary in the nearby Shrine of the Cures Heart.
The web site of St, Michaels World Apostolate states that In Europe, it is a common practice to remove parts of the body for relics once someone has been declared a saint. It then somewhat defensively notes, St. John Vianneys heart is not preserved in formaldehyde or in any kind of gel. It is miraculously incorrupt.
The Catholic Church has three categories for relics. Vianneys heart is a first-class relic, which is a part of a saints body. An object used by a saint, such as clothing, is a second-class relic. A third-class relic is simply an object that has been touched by a first-class relic.
Officially designated as the St. Jean Vianney Relic Pilgrimage and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, this heart began touring the United States in November of last year. Most of the display sites are Catholic churches. The tour will conclude in June. Over 1,000 lined up to see the heart on March 15, when it was displayed at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis.
Why this tour? Jean Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests. Peter Sonski, director of education and outreach at the Knights of Columbus Museum and a tour custodian of the heart, was quoted in The Leaven as saying, The church in the United States is wounded now, and we are praying for our priests and looking to a saint who was a model of virtue and dedication to his ministry to help us through this period of injury and to renewal.
Less than a week after the hearts display at the Cathedral Basilica, however, Pope Francis declined to accept the resignation of French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, following his conviction for failing to report a priest who was a known predator to the police. Instead, Francis asked Barbarin to do what he thinks is best for the diocese. Barbarin announced that hell take a leave of absence while his deputy assumes the responsibilities of archbishop.
Rev. Bernard Preynat, who confessed to abusing Boy Scouts in the 1970s and 1980s, is scheduled to be tried on sexual violence charges. His victims accuse Barbarin of covering up for him for years.
Sonski got it wrong. Yes, the church in the United States is indeed wounded but its also wounded in France and numerous other nations. Many Catholics, including Catholic children, were betrayed and victimized by priests they trusted. Accepting Barbarins resignation would have facilitated more healing than any number of public displays of a disembodied heart.
John J. Dunphys latest book, Unsung Heroes of the Dachau Trials, includes interviews with veterans of the U.S. Army 7708 War Crimes Group, who apprehended and prosecuted Nazi war criminals after World War II.
The 2019 Economic Report of the President is out, and everyone is having fun with the bit at the end that acknowledges the help of student interns a list that includes Peter Parker, Aunt May, Bruce Wayne, and Jabba the Hutt.
The White House is passing this off as a deliberate joke. More likely, someone slipped superheroes in to see whether anyone in charge was actually paying attention, and proved that they werent.
But the bigger news from the report involves the supposed economic payoffs from the Trump tax cut. Even the White House now acknowledges that the tax cut wont do all they said it would their wildly optimistic economic projections depend on the claimed payoff to other economic policies that they themselves havent specified. So tax cuts will do wonders for growth, as long as you do a bunch of other stuff, details to come later.
This puts me in mind of what Voltaire said about witchcraft: It is unquestionable that certain words and ceremonies will effectually destroy a flock of sheep, if administered with a sufficient portion of arsenic.
But beyond that, even the claimed positive effects of the tax cut itself are things we can already see arent happening.
So this report is double voodoo, or voodoo squared: it relies on voodoo economics to make big claims for tax cuts, then adds a whole additional layer of magic to get the growth projections the administration wants to hear.
A chart everyone is talking about shows a baseline representing what growth would supposedly be under pre-Trump policies, then a higher line showing the claimed effect of the tax cut, then still higher lines representing the effects of things like the Trump infrastructure plan.
The first thing to say, then, is that there is no Trump infrastructure plan. Hes well past the midpoint of his term, and there has been not a hint of an actual proposal. In fact, his latest budget significantly cuts infrastructure spending. So his economists are claiming credit for something he hasnt enacted, hasnt proposed, and for that matter hasnt made the slightest gesture toward making happen.
Actually, my Voltaire quote is unfair. Trump wants to pretend that he can kill sheep with magic while actually using arsenic, but without actually administering any arsenic, or even asking where he might get some.
But wait, theres more. A red line supposedly representing the effects of the TCJA shows substantially elevated growth for the next few years, even without the arsenic. But thats not what independent economists are seeing. For example, the New York Feds nowcast early estimates based on partial data shows only 1.5 percent growth for the first half of this year. And the NY Fed is relatively optimistic; other nowcasters like the Atlanta Fed and Goldman Sachs are showing much lower growth in the first quarter, less than half a percent.
The White House explains why its predicting such big growth: the TCJA will cause a surge in business investment by substantially raising the target capital stock and attracting increased net capital inflows. And this rise in the capital stock will cause a surge in productivity. Except that theres no sign of a surge in business investment: the report cherry-picks a few numbers, but overall orders for capital goods, probably the best real-time indicator, are showing nothing much (that 2015-16 slump, by the way, was about fracking, which fell off for a while when world oil prices plunged).
Nor has there been a huge increase in capital inflows if there had been, we would, as a matter of sheer accounting, be seeing a huge rise in the trade deficit, not the modest increase weve actually witnessed.
In other words, the tax cut is a big fizzle and even the White House is half-admitting as much.
Which then raises the question, why do people on the right keep insisting that cutting taxes on rich people and corporations will have magical positive effects on the economy? There have been no, repeat no, clear success stories for this doctrine no, not even Reagan, who benefited from a severe Fed-generated recession early on his watch, followed by a Fed-generated recovery.
Yet the tax-cut zombie shambles on. Somehow, despite decades of practical failure, theres a phalanx of billionaire-funded think tanks promoting trickle-down economics, and a loyal army of right-wing politicians supported by wealthy donors who keep insisting that they have faith that the next tax cut will do everything it promises. Really.
Why is that? Somehow, I suspect we know the answer.
Paul Krugman is a columnist for The New York Times.
"Spider (Black Si_VESSEL)" by Kohei Nawa / Courtesy of the artist and Arario Gallery
By Kwon Mee-yoo
The gallery space is pitch-black upon entering.
As eyes adjust, glittering human shapes in bizarre poses emerge from the darkness. Through these figures, frozen in a split second of choreography, Japanese artist Kohei Nawa questions the future of humankind.
Best known for his "PixCell" series, in which he covers taxidermied animals with glass beads, Nawa introduces a new series of works inspired by body movements, this time at Arario Gallery Ryse Hotel.
The headless black sculptures are in the "Vessel" series, a joint project of Nawa and choreographer Damien Jalet.
"About four years ago, Jalet proposed a contemporary dance piece and I jumped into stage design for the first time. The theatrical experience provided a stimulus to my sculptural works, expanding to a new world," Nawa said during a press preview of the exhibit last week.
It premiered as a dance performance and Nawa transformed the moments of dance into sculptures. The sculptures are themed on the afterlife and portray how humans seek and get a new life in the underworld.
"The dancers hide their heads to express the soulless body. They constantly transform to look like an animal, a plant or an insect. The nonhuman forms writhe in search of a soul," Nawa explained. "The headless posture represents a defiant attitude in the world where it is difficult to define what is right and wrong."
The sparkling surface comes from silicon carbide, chosen by Nawa to bring the dynamicity of dance performance to stationary sculptures. "I also think it is a ghostlike material, fitting for our theme."
Accompanying music is composed by Japanese sound artist Marihiko Hara and Nawa asked to keep the gallery dark and quiet to bring focus on the music.
Nawa is still working with Jalet and new collaborative dance pieces are in the works, slated for premiere next year.
"We recently rehearsed the new dance in my Kyoto studio. In the new piece, we are experimenting with merging the worlds of body and material."
"Throne (g_p_pyramid)" by Kohei Nawa / Courtesy of the artist and Arario Gallery
Three different variations of "Throne" are also on view at the Seoul exhibition. The gold "Throne" is a downsized version of the original installed at the Louvre in Paris under the iconic glass pyramid in 2018.
"The original 'Throne' is about 12 meters tall, but the actual seat is about the size of a child seat, because I think current AI is about three or four years old as of now," Nawa said. "The Louvre stores heritages left by all kinds of civilizations around the world, including those created for the king. Even if we do not have a visible king anymore, the king's authority still exists and is likely to continue to exist in the future. Human beings are like that."
Unlike the Louvre version with an empty throne, the other two tThrones are occupied by a fragile young boy.
"These were created after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 2011 and inspired by Katsuhiro Otomo's comic book 'Akira.' The paradox of a child sitting on a throne under the ruins of a tsunami is juxtaposed with the post-apocalyptic background of 'Akira,'" the artist said.
Japanese artist Kohei Nawa / Courtesy of Arario Gallery
The Hotel Security Manager directs securitypersonnel to deliver a safe Guest and Member experience while coordinating withgovernment and law enforcement, and ensuring compliance with local safetylegislation and emergency procedures. As a Security Manager, you areresponsible for directing and coordinating the activities of securitypersonnel, coordinating with government and law enforcement agencies, andorganizing patrolling of the property to deliver a safe Guest experience. ASecurity Manager will also be required to liaise with the General Manager onimportant matters and ensure that the hotel is in compliance with all localsafety regulations and emergency procedures.
In 1996, ActionAfrica Help International (AAIN) became Aktion Africa Hilfe e. V (AAH) and wasregistered in Munich, Germany from where our founders in 2003 moved theorganisations headquarters to Kenya. AAH-I now works with refugees, hostcommunities and other marginalized and vulnerable groups in Kenya, Uganda,Somalia and South Sudan, where it operates across a range of sectors that seekto bridge relief to development.
Living WaterInternational (LWI) is a global Non-Governmental organization that exists todemonstrate the love of God by helping communities acquire desperately neededclean water, and to experience living water- the gospel of JesusChrist which alone satisfies the deepest thirst. Living Water InternationalUganda (LWIU) was formed in 2009. LWIU is an affiliate of Living WaterInternational based in Houston, Texas, USA that was founded in 1990 andcurrently works in over 20+ countries across Latin America, the Caribbean,Sub-Saharan Africa, and India. LWI Uganda runs an integrated Water SanitationHygiene (WASH) program in South Western Uganda & we partner with otherlike-minded organsations to provide safe drinking water, Community Mobilisation& Gospel Proclamation, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion to communitiesacross Uganda.
CHARIHO: Charihos girls and boys soccer teams both won Division II titles in dramatic fashion. The girls won in penalty kicks and the boys in the final two minutes of double overtime. The football team reached the D-III title game, as did the field hockey team. The girls volleyball team played in the D-II semifinals. Erin vonHousen was All-State in girls cross country.
STONINGTON: Stoningtons boys soccer team earned its second straight Class M state title, closing the season with 21 straight victories. The field hockey team lost in the Class S title game.
WESTERLY: Westerlys girls volleyball team reached the Division III semifinals, losing to eventual champion Scituate. The football team played in the D-II semifinals. The girls soccer team reached the D-III semifinals. Jake Serra and Kaya West were All-State in cross country.
WHEELER: Wheeler boys and girls soccer teams qualified for the Class S state tournament.
Vote
View Results
Ex-customers of Extra Energy, which ceased trading last November, have been left enraged after receiving letters falsely claiming they owe the former supplier money, This is Money can reveal.
Many have taken to social media to voice their frustration at the correspondence, claiming they have no debts outstanding and have a final letter to prove it - and add it is difficult to contact the firm to set the record straight.
Although there is money outstanding from some customers, the administrators - PricewaterhouseCoopers - of whom the debt is with, have admitted that a number have been mistakenly contacted.
A number of Extra Energy customers has wrongly received letters from debt collectors
One This is Money reader even claimed he received a demand letter from Extra Energy themselves, not the administrators, which raised alarm bells seeing as it no longer exists.
After the small supplier went bust late last year, its 108,000 domestic and 21,000 business customers were moved to Scottish Power, one of the Big Six providers.
Scottish Power have agreed to honour any credit Extra Energy customers had on their accounts against future energy bills.
However, the administrators for the former supplier are now responsible for chasing outstanding balances not paid - and they can use debt collection firms to do so.
Ofgem confirmed that Extra Energy's administrators have retained a number of Extra Energy employees to assist with the collection of outstanding debts.
A spokesperson PwC said: 'We are committed to working with customers to respond to and resolve any queries as quickly as possible.
'As administrators of Extra Energy we have a duty to recover debts owed to the company.
'We are in the process of contacting customers where the company's records show there is an outstanding debt.
'We have been made aware of a limited number of instances where people have already paid or dispute the outstanding amount.
'We are urgently investigating and resolving these cases, and apologise to those customers for any confusion or concern that may have been caused.
'Where customers dispute the debt or would like to discuss their accounts, we would encourage them to contact our customer service team on the numbers provided on the letters.
'We have put people in place to deal with such enquiries as promptly as possible.'
A number of people have taken to social media to voice frustrations about receiving the letters with many claiming they cannot get through to their phone number provided.
An Extra Energy customer said she received a 'threatening' letter although she has a final bill
This user said she had never even used Extra Energy & the phone number provided didn't work
This customer voiced his frustration online after not being able to get through to the number
On website, Who Called Me, which allows users to write comments about phone numbers to tell others if they are potential spam and scam calls, people have complained about the number they were told to call in the letters sent.
The number has been given an average rate of 'dangerous' with many people commenting that they have been left on hold for a long time or have been cut off when calling the number provided in the letters.
A spokesperson for Ofgem said: 'In the case where an administrator of a failed supplier engages a debt collection agency to pursue debts we recognise that in these circumstances there is a limited role for Ofgem as this is outside the scope of our regulatory remit.
'However, if consumers consider they are being treated unfairly by a debt collection agency, they can complain to professional bodies or trade association (if the debt collection agency is a member).
'Alternatively consumers can raise any complaint about harassment with Citizen's Advice and then to Trading Standards.'
The Citizen's Advice has provided information about what to do should you find yourself being harassed for a debt you have already paid.
It said: 'If you've paid the debt the best thing you can do is call the creditor. It's also worth contacting your bank - to check the payment to your creditor was made.'
In the situation where the creditor doesn't agree that you have paid your bills, the charity advised: 'You should collect as much evidence as you can to show you've paid the debt if the creditor doesn't agree.
'Send a letter to the creditor saying you've paid and include your evidence. Ask them to put your case on hold while you're sending in your evidence and they look into your case - they must do this if you ask.'
Extra Energy is just one of the small suppliers that have gone bust in recent times including Brilliant Energy, Spark Energy, Future Energy, National Gas and Power, Iresa Energy, Gen4U, Usio Energy, One Select, Our Power and Economy Energy.
The Financial Services Commission head office in Seoul / Yonhap
By Jhoo Dong-chan
The race for a new internet-only bank has begun in earnest as the financial authorities will accept preliminary applications March 26 and today.
Two consortia led respectively by Kiwoom Securities and Toss, a mobile money transfer app owned by Viva Republica, have publicly announced their bids for a banking license.
The Financial Services Commission (FSC) said the result of the applications will be announced in May.
The regulator added it could approve the establishment of up to two internet-only banks this time if they are both qualified, but the hurdle seems a bit too high for the Toss consortium.
Unlike the Kiwoom consortium, which managed to form a powerful alliance with big-name partners such as Hana Financial Group, mobile carrier SK Telecom and online shopping mall 11st, Toss has lost strong allies.
The Toss-led consortium was expected to easily outrun Kiwoom in its race for the license thanks to strong partners such as Shinhan Financial Group and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, but the situation has since reversed as Shinhan announced its exit from the consortium last week.
Shortly after Shinhan's announcement, Hyundai Marine & Fire also announced its decision to end its partnership in Viva's envisioned Toss Bank following a disagreement over its business model.
"I believe the financial burden was the major reason behind Shinhan and Hyundai Marine's exit," said a bank industry source.
Viva Republica founder Lee Seung-gun
Landlords who let their properties to social tenants should be given incentives to stay in the market, Brexit-supporting MP Iain Duncan Smith has argued.
Speaking at the National Landlord Investor Show in London, the Conservative MP said private landlords who rent to tenants receiving local housing allowance or housing benefit provide a 'vital' service and must be encouraged to stay in the market.
This could be achieved by reversing controversial changes to the tax treatment of private landlords introduced in 2015 under George Osborne, which have bitten into landlords' profits and prompted thousands to abandon buy-to-let altogether.
Former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, campaigned for Brexit
Duncan Smith said: 'This goes back to 2015 when I think the previous Chancellor [George Osborne] became fixated on the idea that, particularly in central London, too much property was being bought up by people who had no intention of occupying it.'
The policy that resulted was a three per cent surcharge applied to the stamp duty payable on any additional properties that weren't a main home.
All buy-to-let purchases were therefore caught by the new rules.
The following year, Osborne rolled out the tapered removal of tax relief on buy-to-let mortgage interest, hitting landlords' profits even harder.
'I personally think there have been some mistakes made,' Duncan Smith told landlords last week.
'I really do think that we need to ensure we do keep the social rented sector running and with reasonable margins so that [landlords] stay in it, otherwise we are going to be pushed to find rental properties for people, and some of that pressure is already existing.'
A survey of almost 3,000 private landlords carried out in 2017 by the Residential Landlords Association revealed that the social housing sector is dependent on private landlords, with over a fifth of the poorest ten per cent of households now renting privately.
The number of tenants receiving local housing allowance and renting privately has risen to 1.4million from just under one million in 2008.
George Osborne: The former Chancellor scrapped tax relief for landlords
However, Osborne's changes to tax relief and stamp duty have made it much harder to remain profitable.
This is exacerbated for landlords letting to social tenants, where rents tend to be lower than average.
Meanwhile, the Department of Work and Pensions has been rolling out universal credit.
This is a single benefit that replaces six older benefits, including housing benefit, and was a policy first introduced under Duncan Smith during his tenure as work and pensions secretary.
The scheme means claimants are paid monthly rather than fortnightly or weekly, and there have been numerous reports of delays of six weeks or more before the first payment is received.
As a result, swathes of social tenants have fallen severely behind on their rent and, with profits already under pressure for private landlords as a result of lower tax relief, have become increasingly reluctant to let to social tenants on benefits.
Asked whether landlords in this position should be allowed to retain beneficial tax relief on their buy-to-let mortgage interest, Duncan Smith said: 'I do think that's the area we need to look at.
'What's changed over the past 15 to 20 years has been the balance between wholly owned social housing and privately rented social housing. We have come to rely more and more on the private sector to provide that housing.
'Even if we build more social housing, it's still not going to get rid of the need for this affordable rented sector, which is vital, particularly in London.'
RLA research from 2017 showed that a staggering 38 per cent of private landlords letting to tenants on universal credit had tenants behind on their rent, with the average amount outstanding 1,150.
The deteriorating profitability for landlords in this situation has spooked mortgage lenders.
According to the RLA's most recent figures in 2019, two thirds of the largest buy-to-let mortgage lenders don't allow landlords to rent property to tenants receiving housing benefit.
Duncan Smith said Government should now revisit whether to reverse the changes to tax relief for private landlords renting to social tenants.
He said: 'This is one of the areas I have said we should come back to. Should we separate out, not completely, but just look at this area as a social need?
'And therefore it needs to be treated in that way? The returns on it are not great so you need to look, therefore, at what keeps people in the market.'
The recently launched AVI Japan Opportunity Trust is something of a rarity in that it's one of only a handful of funds investing in the land of the rising sun's budding businesses.
And it's strategy is rare still, as it wants to get stuck in with Japan's cash-rich smaller companies, encouraging them to boost their performance and reward shareholders.
Smaller company investing in Japan is not something that UK investors get a great deal off offers to do.
There are only four investment trusts in the Association of Investment Companies's Japanese Smaller Companies sector, while the Investment Association's equivalent sector consists of only two funds that's available to the average investor.
AVI Japan Opportunity Trust target companies up to about 500 million in size that hold large cash balances and no debt
Japan itself has been branded an unloved investment opportunity for some time, despite the return of decent growth in recent times, albeit the Topix stock market is down almost 17 per cent on its early 2018 highs.
That rise in the stock market engineered by the policies of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came after a long time spent in the doldrums after Japan's spectacular 1980s boom was followed by a famous bust in the early 1990s.
The period that followed was dubbed Japan's lost decade and shaking off the pessimism surrounding it has proved tough.
In the past, many Japanese firms developed a reputation for being insular and slow to embrace change. They scared off foreign investors by hoarding cash and producing low returns on equity.
But there's a sentiment that the tide is turning six years on from the introduction of Abenomics - Abe's suite of corporate reforms which put pressure on business bosses to unlock their dormant cash and gave investors greater power to speak out against deficiencies in shareholder policies.
These reforms included requiring the appointment of outsiders to corporate boards, increased investment in research and development, encouraging dividend payments and raising ROE.
The new corporate environment in Japan has seen an uptick in activist shareholders from foreign countries - including Joe Bauernfreund, who heads up the 82million AVI Japan Opportunity Trust.
Bauernfreund hopes to extract value from Japanese small businesses by lobbying management to implement incentives such as share buybacks and issuing special dividends to improve their ROEs.
Whether this strategy will work is yet to be proven, as the trust only launched at the end of October last year. However, the trust's management team think they're onto a winner, and have put their money where their mouth is by investing more than 1million of their own cash into the portfolio.
The general rule of thumb when it comes to new funds is to wait until they build up an ample track record before considering investment, but can an unusual opportunity such as the AVI Japan Opportunity Trust be an exception to the rule?
How AVI Japan Opportunity trust invests
Top five holdings Nakano Refrigerators Fujitec Fukuda Denshi Sekisui Jushi Teikoku Sen
The trust looks for undervalued cash-rich small-cap Japanese stocks to deliver capital growth that trumps the MSCI Japan Small Cap benchmark index.
It will target companies up to about 500 million in size that hold large cash balances and no debt.
Mr Bauernfreund estimates there are about 400-500 companies with a minimum of 30 per cent cash to market cap ratio - a by-product of decades of deflation where cash was worth more a year later.
As an activist shareholder, Bauernfreund aims to unlock value from his positions by engaging with management to promote shareholder friendly initiatives.
Under new rules introduced via Abenomics, the trust's management team has the right to submit proposals once it has held a stake in a company for over six months and owns either 1 per cent or 300 voting shares.
Adrian Lowcock, head of personal investing at investment platform Willis Owen, says: 'Activist shareholders always sound very positive but you have to look at their motives and see if they are aligned with your own personal objectives as an investor.
'If you are buying into a fund manager who is an activist that is one thing as they are working on your behalf to improve returns.
'However not all activists are equal as some might have short term profit goals which are not aligned with other investors in the business e.g. they want to break up a business to sell all the parts off at a higher price which means they have no interest in the long term potential of a company.'
According to the trust's latest prospectus, representatives of its management team participated in 47 board meetings/calls and sent 14 letters to new different companies.
This has resulted pro-shareholder outcomes including six instances of share buyback and two 'large' dividend hikes, according to the document.
What about the trust performance? The trust launched five months ago and therefore hasn't built up sufficient track record to do any meaningful performance analysis. But for those who are interested, the trust has lost just over 3 per cent since inception to 11 March.
The trust's investment philosophy translates to a portfolio with the greatest weighting in the industrial sector (36 per cent) ahead of automotive and basic minerals (15 per cent respectively).
The trust's management fee is 1 per cent but its full ongoing charges, which is published annually by an investment company, has not yet been disclosed because the trust has only been in operation for five months.
To put this into perspective, the three other investment trusts in the AIC's Japanese Small Companies sector: the Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon, JP Morgan Japan Smaller Companies Trust, Atlantis Japan Growth levy 1.08 per cent, 1.09 per cent and 1.57 per cent.
A tight policy on falling to a discount
It's not uncommon for investment trust shares prices to trade a discount to the net asset value of its investment, but sometimes, these discounts fall below what the management considers fair value.
Joe Bauernfreund also manages the 965million British Empire Trust
To this end, AVI adopts a share buyback scheme to boost its shares by reducing the number issued. The management team has scope to buy back up to 15 per cent of shares annually, which can be renewed multiple times within each year if necessary.
Share buyback is automatically activated if discount exceeds 5 per cent. Buybacks at less than a 5 per cent discount is at the manager's discretion.
Who is the AVI Japan Opportunity manager?
Bauernfreund is the chief executive officer and chief investment officer at AVI, launched in 1985 to manage the 965million pound British Empire Trust (BET) which predominately invests in companies whose share prices stand at a discount to estimated underlying net asset value.
The trust returned 59 per cent over the past five years to 11 March, outstripping the 41 per cent generated by its benchmark MSCI ACWI ex US index, but lags behind its peer group average of 90 per cent.
Should you invest?
Japan is a notably different market and economy to others in Asia, and Japanese equities are therefore typically invested in separately.
Investment trusts and funds that predominately invest in the nation's smaller businesses may offer strong growth but often with more risk than their larger counterparts.
The Japanese stockmarket represents 7.6 per cent of the global market in the MSCI World Index, so allocating more than this from your portfolio to the country means you will be making an active decision to back it over others.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's three-pronged approach to corporate reform to lift almost two decades of demoralizing economic stagnation has paid dividends for shareholders, with the MSCI Japan Small Cap index returning 84 per cent over in the past five years.
However, reversing decades of entrenched conservative behaviour when it come to money management among Japanese corporations will not happen overnight and some might try their best to resist change.
Ben Yearsley of Shore Financial Planning, says 'Im a fan of investing in Japan, and Japanese smaller companies. Japan is still one of the cheapest markets and the opportunity to buy undervalued companies is excellent.
'Its not just value, there is also some exciting high growth opportunities. The high growth element does come with higher volatility though.
'You probably wouldnt own AVI as the only Japanese fund in your portfolio as the return profile will be sporadic and is very specific. Youd probably pair with something like Baillie Gifford Japanese Smaller Companies or the sister trust Shin Nippon.'
Adrian Lowcock adds: 'With Japan having been unloved for decades smaller companies often bore the brunt of that and were considered uninvestible by foreign investors.
'As such they have been fairly cheap and indeed Japan remains very attractively priced today as investors avoided the region thanks to global growth fears, a China slow down and the US-Chinese trade war.
'For most investors Japanese smaller companies is unlikely to reach a significant proportion of their portfolio as the region itself should represent around 10 per cent.
'Smaller companies in Japan have historically been a bit of an either/or investment either they do brilliantly or they fall significantly.
'Although this is changing they are still risky investments. Investors should be aware of the risks and only consider a small exposure to the asset class.'
Mike Lynch was accused of artificially inflating sales figures at Autonomy to make it appear more valuable than it really was
An entrepreneur dubbed 'Britain's Bill Gates' cooked the books at his software company before it was sold to US buyers for 8.5billion, a court heard yesterday.
At the start of the UK's biggest ever fraud trial, Mike Lynch was accused of inflating sales figures at Autonomy to make it appear more valuable than it really was before being sold to HP.
Lynch, who denies the claims, faces a 3.8billion damages claim from HP that could see him lose his 470million fortune.
The 53-year-old's lawyers will argue that 'irregularities' in Autonomy's books highlighted by HP are down to differences in how the firms applied accounting rules.
HP bought Autonomy in 2011, but a year later it wrote off most of the company's value and accused Lynch and other executives of presiding over a fraud.
In opening arguments for HP at the High Court yesterday, Laurence Rabinowitz QC said: 'Contrary to what has been said by Dr Lynch, this is not a dispute about accounting standards. It is, pure and simple, a fraud.'
Rabinowitz said that in the years leading up to the deal, Autonomy's executives were under pressure to continue increasing the company's sales to make it appear successful.
It was claimed Lynch was a 'controlling' boss who must have known fraud was being carried out. In one email Lynch sent to senior colleagues, about a deal that was in danger, he ordered them to 'own this' with 'no F-ing abdications of responsibility'.
He added: 'If there is a problem I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT IN A F***ING MILLISECOND.'
The lawyer also accused Lynch of 'lies' and 'deceit' over R&D costs attributed to a piece of software they claimed was a major breakthrough.
However Lynch's lawyers claim that accountants at Deloitte never raised any issues with Autonomy's accounts before the deal was completed. And they said claims about the software costs being fabricated were 'extreme and unrealistic'.
In their opening submission, they added: 'HP's case that there was at some level some underlying misconduct is contrived and exaggerated.'
Proceedings are expected to last nine months because of the complex evidence involved.
It has been a tough six months for backers of The Restaurant Group in the run-up to and following its 550million acquisition of Wagamama.
Worries over the strain the deal may have placed on the balance sheet have driven the share price down 100p, or 46 per cent.
But as Mark Irvine-Fortescue at City broker Stifel pointed out, transformational bolt-ons such as Wagamama rarely come along at the perfect time, or, indeed, at the ideal price.
He reckons the shares will recover, but this relies on a hiccup-free welding together of the popular noodle chain to TRG's existing Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito operation, as well as realising the planned synergies from the merger.
The Restaurant Group paid 550m for noodle chain Wagamama driving the share price down 100p, or 46 per cent
Irvine-Fortescue is a fan of the 'oversold' stock, which he reckons is worth 170p. Yesterday it was off another 2.1 per cent, or 2.5p, at 115.4p.
The Stifel abacus rattler, newly installed at the broker, took a closer look at TRG as part of a deep dive into the hospitality sector.
He also likes pub groups Fuller, Smith & Turner (off 0.9 per cent, or 10p, at 1135p) and Young & Co (down 2 per cent, or 32.5p, at 1610p), believing them to be more than 'sleepy family businesses'.
'With market caps similar to Marston's, and a supportive industry backdrop, we believe they should be on more investors' radar,' the analyst said.
Stock Watch - iEnergizer Shares in outsourcing specialist iEnergizer soared 22.5 per cent, or 27.5p, to 150p after it said it expected operating profits to be significantly ahead of market expectations. It performed strongly in the second half of its year as it focused on higher-margin work from both existing and new clients. The firm specialises in building contact centres and administration hubs in the healthcare, gaming and publishing industries, and manages a 12,000-strong team.
Wetherspoon, down 2 per cent, or 27p, at 1293p, is rated a 'sell' by Irvine-Fortescue, as it is 'now trading at its peak valuation'.
Turning to the wider market, it was a fairly dour day as the FTSE 100 succumbed to the same jitters that haunted Asia's main markets earlier on namely, fears over global growth with a soupcon of the Brexit collywobbles for good measure. The index of blue-chip shares ended the session 30.01 points lower at 7177.58.
Goldman Sachs yesterday issued its update on its equity strategy. In this dense 16-pager, it pointed out that in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, returns had been 'flat and skinny'.
Its strategy team reckons the best shares to buy are those in businesses generating boat-loads of cash that are therefore able to make bumper dividend payments.
A quick scan reveals publisher Pearson (off 2.8 per cent, or 23.4p, at 825.8p) is top of the dividend charts along with Russia-focused Evraz (up 0.1 per cent, or 0.4p, at 594.8p).
Possibly offering a more sustainable income stream are the likes of Vodafone (down 1.8 per cent, or 2.58p, at 141.68p), BHP (up 1 per cent, or 12.4p, at 1772.6p), Aviva (up 0.2 per cent, or 0.9p, at 409p), HSBC (up 0.2 per cent, or 1.2p, at 614.2p) and British American Tobacco (off 0.4 per cent, or 13p, at 3073.5p).
Elsewhere, shares in Wood Group tumbled 7.6 per cent, or 41.6p, to 504p after the London arm of the American investment bank Jefferies downgraded stock in the oilfield services specialist to 'underperform', describing last week's prelims as below par and 'messy'.
There wasn't too much cheer among the tiddlers, as kiosk and display group Space And People tumbled 17.2 per cent, or 2.5p, to 12p after it reduced its full-year dividend for 2018 by two-thirds on the back of disappointing results.
Among the risers, Pantheon Resources was a big climber after a test at its Alkaid well in Alaska recorded results ahead of expectations, sending shares gushing up 34.6 per cent, or 5.96p, to 23.2p.
There was also good news as Ovoca Bio confirmed its BP-101 treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women had met its primary and secondary endpoints in a phase 3 clinical trial, with shares jumping 3.7 per cent, or 0.25p, to 7p in response.
Bosses at British satellite firm Inmarsat have backed a 2.6billion takeover that will see it fall into foreign hands.
Inmarsats board said the deal with the Triton consortium would give it more certainty as it pumps investment into the fastest-growing parts of its business.
The consortium has promised to keep the company based in the UK and to maintain spending on research and development.
Approval: Inmarsat's board said the deal with the Triton consortium would give it more certainty as it pumps investment into the fastest-growing parts of its business
But the deal is expected to face scrutiny from the Government, with critics warning it puts yet another British tech pioneer into foreign hands.
It also marks a U-turn by Inmarsats board, after chief executive Rupert Pearce previously insisted the company was better off on its own.
However, in an announcement yesterday, Inmarsats board urged shareholders to back the deal. It added: Implementation of the existing strategy would continue to generate significant value for shareholders as an independent company.
However, there are risks involved in what is a long-term, capital-intensive strategy. The offer from the consortium would allow Inmarsat shareholders the opportunity to realise the value of their holdings at a material premium.
The announcement sent shares in Inmarsat surging 9.6 per cent, or 48.8p, to 555p higher than the Triton offer of 546p per share.
The Triton consortium includes UK group Apax, US-based Warburg Pincus, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board.
It said it was partly attracted to Inmarsat because of its burgeoning aviation business, which provides in-flight broadband on planes.
The consortium said: Triton believes the satellite sector is attractive, with unique characteristics. It is well positioned for growth.
Triton also sees considerable potential for Inmarsats in-flight connectivity business in commercial aviation.
The companies would aim to put the Inmarsat takeover to a shareholder vote by May 31.
So far, only top shareholder Lansdowne Partners, which owns 11pc, has declared in favour of the deal.
Inmarsat operates 13 satellites and half its business comes from the maritime sector, where it provides tracking and communication services to ships and planes. However its shares have been laid low by growing competition.
Two of Britains biggest firms have resisted pressure to cut their bosses lucrative pension schemes.
John Fallon of publisher Pearson was handed 206,000 in retirement payments last year, equal to 26 per cent of his 795,000 base salary.
And Warren East of engine maker Rolls-Royce was given 236,000 towards his pension, or 25 per cent of his 944,000 salary.
Warren East of engine maker Rolls-Royce was given 236,000 towards his pension while John Fallon of publisher Pearson was handed 206,000 in retirement payments last year
Both firms fall foul of Investment Association guidelines which state bosses should not get payments of more than 24 per cent.
Fallon is also a member of Pearsons final salary scheme, meaning he is already entitled to a separate guaranteed income of 105,884 a year for life when he retires.
In total the 56-year-old was paid 3.1million last year, up from 1.8million a year earlier.
Pearson said there would be no change to Fallons pension arrangement this year, although it will monitor the situation.
East, 57, was handed total pay of 3.9million last year at Rolls up from 2.3million a year earlier.
The firm said it will not change its pension policy this year but added that it is considering the implications of the IA guidelines, leaving the door open to future changes.
Chief executive pension pay is under the spotlight at present because bosses are often in special schemes not open to ordinary workers.
At Rolls, the youngest workers get company contributions equal to 6 per cent of their salary although the firm is going to significantly increase this in 2021.
At Pearson, contributions start at 5 per cent.
Meanwhile, Centrica and British Land are both cutting pension contributions for their bosses to meet the new IA recommendations.
Other firms reviewing their lucrative payouts include energy network National Grid, plumbing business Ferguson and equipment rental group Ashtead.
Ocado shares hit a record high as it struck another foreign deal this time with an Australian supermarket giant.
The British company will provide the technology behind its pioneering delivery network to Coles, which is one of Australia's largest supermarkets with 818 stores.
The 81million deal was just the latest between Ocado and a firm led by retail veteran Archie Norman, who is former deputy chairman of Coles.
The 81million deal was just the latest between Ocado and a firm led by retail veteran Archie Norman, who is former deputy chairman of Coles
Norman is also chairman of Marks & Spencer, which last month landed a 1.5billion tie-up with Ocado, allowing it to launch an online grocery delivery service for the first time.
And it is the fifth major overseas deal in less than 18 months for the firm's boss Tim Steiner and chairman Stuart Rose, who is a former M&S chairman and chief executive.
Analysts said the deal with Coles appeared to be another win for Norman. Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'One of the things that you want from your board members is cross-fertilisation of ideas from other businesses they are part of or have been part of in the past.
'That's part of what they bring to the role and obviously it's great news for Ocado, again.'
Ocado will build two robot-powered warehouses for Coles within four years, in Sydney and Melbourne.
Coles raked in sales of 22billion last year, making it one of Ocado's biggest deals to date.
It is a big boost following a major setback last month when a fire destroyed its warehouse in Andover in Hampshire.
That meant it took a 4.8million sales hit at the start of the year, but Duncan Tatton-Brown, chief financial officer, said: 'It's not unhelpful to announce a deal after that fire because it gives you evidence of what we always knew that there were no consequences of the fire.'
Shares have more than trebled since its first international contract in November 2017 with French supermarket Groupe Casino. Since then, it has struck agreements with supermarkets in Sweden, Canada and the US.
Last night experts hailed Ocado. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'Ocado is looking appetising right now.'
Chris Ford, a fund manager at Smith & Williamson, added: 'It is in position to become the go-to turnkey provider to enable supermarkets to carry out online deliveries. We think the opportunity in Ocado is underestimated materially.'
Its shares rose 4.1 per cent, or 51.5p, to 1307p last night.
You wonder whether Karim Bitar is having second thoughts about agreeing to take the helm at Convatec, the medical technology group that makes colostomy bags.
Just a day after being unveiled as the boss, takeover rumours have surfaced that Swedish private equity group EQT may be mulling a bid.
The shares jumped 5.9 per cent, or 7.85p, to 141.75p, valuing Convatec at around 3billion.
Bid buzz: Takeover rumours have surfaced that Swedish private equity group EQT may be mulling a bid for Convatec sending shares up 5.9 per cent, valuing the firm at around 3bn
That's some way shy of the float price two-and-a-half years ago of 225p, which gave the company a market capitalisation of 4.4billion.
February's profit warning, which knocked shares to an all-time low of 118.5p, was the latest in a series of mis-steps.
Convatec remained tight-lipped about the prospects for its business and those of chief executive-in-waiting Bitar, who is due to join in September.
Elsewhere, the builders provided the market's other source of excitement with a triple dose of good news lifting the sector.
If demand for new homes is sentiment-driven, then the mood recently has been dominated by Brexit.
So, the UK stepping away from a No-Deal departure from the EU gave some support for groups such as Barratt, up 0.8 per cent, or 4.6p, to 594.6p, and Taylor Wimpey, up 0.2 per cent, or 0.35p, at 175.1p.
A note from HSBC took a good look at the sector.
Stock Watch - Michelmersh Investors who got into Michelmersh Brick at the start of this year are sitting pretty with shares advancing by more than a fifth in the last three months. Final results revealed the company to be in rude health with revenues ahead 22 per cent at 46.3million, giving underlying operating profits of 8million, up 45 per cent. There was a big bump for shareholders with the total dividend increasing by almost a half to 3.2p. The shares closed 2.8 per cent, or 2.5p, up at 90.5p.
There was a raft of price target upgrades, while Persimmon (up 0.2 per cent, or 5p, at 2160p) and Bovis (up 1.7 per cent, or 18.5p, at 1105.5p) were singled out for special treatment as they were moved to a 'buy' recommendation from 'hold' by the bank.
Crest Nicholson provided real-world support for HSBC's positive stance as it said it had already secured 50 per cent of its sales for the year.
The stock advanced 5 per cent, or 17.8p, to 370.8p with the City also cheered by the news it had poached new boss Peter Truscott from rival Galliford Try, down 2.4 per cent, or 16.5p, to 669.5p.
The FTSE 100 ended the session 18.71 points higher at 7196.29 with investors trying to get to grips with the implications of Parliament's power grab.
Shares in Carnival hit the rocks after the Anglo-American cruise operator cut its annual profit forecast, blaming higher fuel costs and the strong dollar. The shares shed 8.5 per cent, or 351p, to drift friendless at 3800p.
Colombia-focused oiler Amerisur Resources fell 16.4 per cent, or 2.76p, to 14.1p after it said its partners had struck out with its latest well after drilling more than two miles into the earth's crust.
Online retailer Mysale fell 26 per cent, or 4.58p, to 13p after a second profit warning in three months on the back of a 'disappointing' first-half performance.
Plastics maker Coral Products saw its price crushed after a profit warning. Stock plunged 46.9 per cent, or 5.75p, to 6.5p after a downturn in business from the automotive industry and significant delivery delays.
Analytics group Big Sofa Technologies, dipped 4.1 per cent, or 0.17 per cent, to 4.08p despite a number of renewals for its visual insight system, a video-based knowledge sharing product.
Among the risers, mobile phone network billing firm Boku got a good reception after its pre-tax loss for the year narrowed massively to $3million (2.3million) from $28.5million (21.6million) in 2017. Shares climbed 13.4per cent, or 11p, to 93p.
A trading update trumpeting a 'very encouraging' start to 2019 lifted vehicle tracking systems firm Quartix, 18.2 per cent, or 20p, to 265p.
Elsewhere, superyacht painter GYG shares rose 4.6 per cent, or 2.5p, to 56.5p on the back of contracts to help build three yachts.
Pay row: Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio with wife Ana
Lloyds bosses will be hauled to Parliament to explain to MPs why they gave chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio a pay rise which more than made up for a cut to his pension.
With investors demanding a crackdown on lavish retirement schemes, the High Street bank slashed pension payments to Horta-Osorio from 46 per cent of his salary to 33 per cent, reducing the perk by 154,000 a year, while increasing his salary and benefits by 175,000.
Critics have branded the move a stealth pay rise which goes against the spirit of a crackdown on lucrative executive pensions.
The work and pensions committee plans to investigate the huge payments to FTSE 100 bosses, and will ask Lloyds to explain its actions.
Committee chairman Frank Field, an independent MP, said: 'We will be asking companies to account for themselves when they submit evidence to our review.'
Horta-Osorio's pension falls foul of Investment Association guidelines which say a chief executive should get payments towards their retirement equal to no more than 24 per cent of their base salary.
In 2018 the banker's pension package was among the Footsie's most lucrative, at 46 per cent of his 1.2million base salary, or 573,000 in total.
He has now agreed to slash this to 33 per cent or 419,000 in a bid to placate critics 154,000 less.
But at the same time, the 55-year-old is getting a 25,000 annual rise in his base salary, while the amount he gets in fixed share payments each year is being boosted by 150,000 to 1.1million.
Lloyds claims the fixed share increase is because regulation known as ring-fencing means he is now looking after a more complicated organisation.
But all the large lenders have been through ring-fencing and Lloyds is the only one to have given its boss a pay rise as a result.
Lloyds made a profit of 6billion last year, up 13 per cent on 2017.
Horta-Osorio who oversaw the bank's return to private sector ownership following its bailout by taxpayers during the financial crisis was paid 6.3million in total, more than any other bank boss in the Footsie.
Labour MP John Mann, a member of the Treasury select committee, said: 'This pay increase is completely inappropriate and should be abandoned.
'It looks like Lloyds is simply shifting the numbers around so it can carry on paying its boss a disproportionate sum.
'Not only is this against the spirit of efforts to reduce pension payments, it also takes Lloyds' investors, staff and customers for fools.'
The IA pension guidelines are meant to bring chief executives' retirement payments in line with the rest of their staff. At Lloyds, most workers get a maximum of 13pc of their salary towards their pensions.
The bank is one of as many as 54 Footsie firms which pay pension contributions to their bosses of 25 per cent or more.
While he would not comment on the specifics at Lloyds, the IA's stewardship director Andrew Ninian said: 'The guidance has been clear we don't expect compensation to be paid. We will look at individual cases on a case by case basis.'
Money deposited into collapsed investment firm London Capital & Finance ended up in the hands of a small group of people connected to the business, including its chief executive, according to its administrators.
Smith & Williamson LLP, appointed to carry out the corporate post-mortem, today called on them to return the cash so it could pay back those left out of pocket by the firm's collapse.
LCF went bust in January taking 236million with it, mostly from elderly or casual investors who were attracted by returns of more than eight per cent, which it claimed were tax-free Isas.
Thousands of investors lost savings when investment firm London Capital & Finance went bust in January - the administrators had previously suggested investors might get back just 20%
In fact, the firm was selling unregulated mini-bonds. HMRC is investigating whether these investments even qualified for tax-free Isa status, while questions are being asked as to why the Financial Conduct Authority didn't act sooner.
The administrators said: 'There are a number of highly suspicious transactions involving a small group of connected people which have led to large sums of the bondholders' money ending up in their personal possession or control.
'We are pressing these people to return those funds to us for the benefit of the bondholders and, failing this, we will pursue those individuals, as appropriate, for recovery of those sums.'
The people named in the administrator's report include LCF chief executive Andy Thomson, as well as Simon Hume-Kendall, the chair of London Oil & Gas, Elten Barker and trusts relating to Spencer Golding.
The administrators have approached all four, asking them to pay what they received into escrow, to be distributed to LCF bondholders.
The four could see their money returned in the event that bondholders receive full repayment from the assets of LCF.
Smith & Williamson previously said investors faced the prospect of getting back as little as 20p for every 1 invested, as the bonds were not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Hume-Kendall and Thomson have agreed to this, but Smith & Williamson is still waiting to hear from the other two.
Both were previously arrested this month by the Serious Fraud Office, along with two other men. All were released 'pending further investigation', according to the Financial Times.
The SFO announced last week it had launched a joint investigation into LCF with the FCA, which authorised the firm but not the mini-bonds it was selling.
The FCA is also considering launching an investigation into regulatory failures over the collapse.
In a letter to the Treasury Select Committee, its chairman Charles Randell admitted that there are 'significant questions' about the adequacy of regulation relating to the sale and marketing of retail mini-bonds.
He wrote: 'It is important that we address any inadequacies in the existing regulatory system without delay.
'As a result, we will need to carefully consider the scope and phasing of any investigation we may undertake very carefully.'
LCF went into administration after having its accounts frozen by the FCA last December, which had previously told the firm 'the way in which it was marketing it bonds was misleading, not fair and unclear.'
Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, Nicky Morgan wrote to both the Treasury and the FCA demanding the regulator look at conducting a probe.
She said the FCA needs also to look at whether it acted fast enough against LCF and whether other firms may also be using similar tactics that might be misleading to consumers.
The watchdog will convene this week to decide on whether to investigate.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, fourth from left, presides over a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Park Hyong-ki
The government's budget for 2020 is expected to exceed 500 trillion won ($442 billion) as it seeks to revive the economy by focusing on revitalizing small- and medium-sized enterprises, startups and low-income households.
This would be the first time for the annual budget to surpass the 500 trillion won level.
In a meeting in Seoul presided over by Economy and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, Tuesday, the Cabinet passed the 2020 budget plan with a focus on job creation through innovation and structural reforms especially in services.
"It is imperative to push forward the passage of relevant laws that can help boost innovation, startups and corporate investment," Hong said at the meeting.
He urged other ministers to draw up "reasonable and efficient" spending plans that will help improve the people's livelihoods.
Hong added that the four key words for 2020 will be "society, innovation, future and safety."
The budget should reflect the urgency to reduce inequality in society, spur the development of new industries through startups, prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and improve social safety and protection systems, according to the finance ministry.
To this end, the government will take the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) suggestion and carry out an expansionary fiscal policy.
This could mean a further increase in spending next year up to 7 percent from this year's 470 trillion won budget according to the ministry's 2017-2021 fiscal plan.
The government has budgeted 469.6 trillion won for 2019, up from 428.8 trillion won in 2018.
However, the ministry said the total could change, depending on tax revenue and the economic situation.
"The amount has not yet been set. We still need to analyze expected tax revenue and each ministry's budgetary needs," An Il-whan, head of the ministry's budget management department, told reporters ahead of the Cabinet meeting.
"We will take the IMF's advice and be active in carrying out an expansionary fiscal policy."
The IMF recently warned the country was facing "headwinds with risks tilted toward the downside" as its potential growth was falling due to an aging demographic and declining productivity.
The country has a problem with rising income disparity and a productivity gap between manufacturing and services, as well as between large and small companies.
Therefore, the government should allocate around 5 percent of gross domestic product for extra spending, with an accommodative monetary policy to support growth.
"There are dark clouds now, and some of those are coming from outside as exports are slowing. We have been hearing negative news for quite a while. We encourage the government to have a large supplementary budget issued as early as possible to support growth," the IMF said March 12.
Besides reducing inequality and poverty, Hong said his ministry is considering drawing up extra spending to tackle fine dust.
Homeowners can often see the charges they pay to live in leasehold properties surge in the years after snapping up their home, as they are at the mercy of the owner of the land.
MailOnline Property regularly receives complaints about spiralling charges on leasehold properties.
Now, one owner has revealed the service charges and ground rents at her flat in Berkshire have increased from 1,330 when she bought the flat three years ago to 3,059 today.
It is the latest evidence of the eye-watering increases that leaseholders are being forced to pay - and is a stark warning to potential buyers who walk into it without fully knowing the ongoing costs, and future rises.
The HomeOwners Allowance report identified the most common problems leaseholders face
It comes amid a survey from the HomeOwners Allowance that found 60 per cent of adults say the leasehold system is a serious problem.
And it follows a government report published last week that called for the entire leasehold system to be overhauled, covering both flats and houses that fall into the category.
This is because a leaseholder only buys the right to live at a flat and does not own the ground that it sits on, which is owned by the freeholder.
These freeholders have already been heavily criticised for imposing crippling ground rents that can double in as little as a decade.
It prompted an investigation into toxic leasehold deals by MPs, which identified an estimated 100,000 victims.
Government figures suggest there are 4.2million leasehold properties in England alone.
Last week's report found that some homeowners are finding it impossible to sell their properties due to these unattractive high charges.
But ground rents are not the only issue for leaseholders. Service management charges that cover the maintenance of communal areas are now also under the spotlight.
One resident exclusively revealed to MailOnline Property that the service charges and ground rents at her flat in Berkshire have tripled in three years.
The increase followed a change in the managing company at the property. The homeowner did not want to be named for fear that the new company SDL Group would punish her with further increases.
She said: 'It has almost tripled in three years. We created a residents group back at the start of 2017 because of the incompetence and lack of response to any questioning around the increase in charges.
'As a residents group we are pulling our hair out as we are being charged money for nothing.
'This has to be addressed across the country as I know SDL cannot be the only management company operating like this.'
She said a full set of accounts have not been provided despite the residents' requests.
A spokesman for SDL insisted that the December 2017 year-end accounts had been issued to residents 'via first- class post' and that the rise in charges was mainly related to lift maintenance.
The House of Commons housing committee has published a report calling for the overhaul of the leasehold system
Last week the House of Commons housing committee published a report claiming it is 'legally possible' for the Government to intervene and help victims of the leasehold scandal.
It called for a complete overhaul of the leasehold system and says ground rents on all properties, including flats, should only be 'peppercorn' amounts in future. And it backed calls for the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the sale of leasehold homes.
It also said developers should be banned from offering buyers deals to use their recommended solicitors.
Separately, the Homeowners Alliance survey of 2,000 homeowners found that leasehold has been the fastest growing housing issue of the past few years.
The 60 per cent of Britons who consider the leasehold system to be a serious issue today is up from 42 per cent in 2015.
More than a quarter - at 26 per cent - of leaseholders complained about the high cost of works and management fees while 22 per cent objected to unfair service charges and 23 per cent reported they had a lack of control over which major works are done.
Paula Higgins, chief executive of the HomeOwners Alliance, said: 'We urge the Government to take action now to abolish the leasehold system.
'Only last week MPs highlighted the fact that developers, freeholders and managing agents treat homeowners as a source of steady profit.
'As a membership organisation representing homeowners we want to see a better deal.
'If the Government was really serious about this then they should commit themselves to widespread reform instead of the piecemeal approach they have adopted - making well intentioned announcements with no timetable for action.
'They can't hide behind Brexit while homeowners continue being mis-sold leasehold, left trapped in their own homes with rising ground rents and unable to buy the freehold.'
The following companies are subsidiares of AON: 6824625 Canada Ltd., 7193599 Canada Inc., A.B. Insurances Limited, ADIS A/S, AIB Services Limited, AIS Affinity Insurance Agency Inc., AIS Insurance Agency Inc., AMXH LLC, ARM International Corp., ARM International Insurance Agency Corp., ARMRISK CORP., AS Holdings Inc., ASPN Insurance Agency LLC, Access Plans USA Inc., Acumen Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Adm Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Administradora Aon C.A., Admiseg SA, Admix, Admix - Administracao Consultoria Participacoes e Corretora de Seguros de Vida Ltda., Aeropeople Limited, Affinity Group Insurance Services Limited, Affinity Insurance Services Inc., Affinity Risk Partners (Brokers) Pty Ltd, Agenion N.V./SA, Agility Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Alexander & Alexander Holding B.V., Alexander Clay, Alexander Insurance Managers (Netherlands Antilles) N.V., Alexander Reinsurance Intermediaries Inc., Allen Insurance Associates Inc., Alliance HealthCard Inc., Alliance HealthCard of Florida Inc., American Insurance Services Corp., American Special Risk Insurance Company, Aon (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon (CR) Insurance Agencies Company Limited, Aon (DIFC) Gulf Limited, Aon (Fiji) Ltd., Aon (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon (Thailand) Limited, Aon 180412 Limited (in liquidation), Aon ANZ Holdings Limited, Aon APAC Holdings B.V., Aon Acore Sarl, Aon Adjudication Services Limited, Aon Affinity Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Aon Affinity Argentina S.A., Aon Affinity Chile Ltda., Aon Affinity Colombia Ltda. Agencia de Seguros, Aon Affinity Mexico Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Servicos e Participacoes Ltda., Aon Affinity do Brasil Servicos e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Aon Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Americas Holdings BV, Aon Angola Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Antillen N.V., Aon Aruba N.V., Aon Assurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Australia Group Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 1 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 2 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 3 Pty Ltd, Aon Austria GmbH, Aon Bahrain W.L.L., Aon Belgium B.V.B.A., Aon Benefit Solutions Inc., Aon Benfield (Chile) Corredores de Reaseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Argentina S.A., Aon Benfield Australia Limited, Aon Benfield Brasil Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Canada ULC, Aon Benfield China Limited, Aon Benfield Colombia Limitada Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Benfield Fac Inc., Aon Benfield Global Inc., Aon Benfield Group Limited, Aon Benfield Inc., Aon Benfield Israel Limited, Aon Benfield Italia S.p.A., Aon Benfield Japan Ltd, Aon Benfield Latin America SA, Aon Benfield Limited, Aon Benfield Malaysia Limited, Aon Benfield Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro SA de CV, Aon Benfield Middle East Limited, Aon Benfield New Zealand Limited, Aon Benfield Panama S.A., Aon Benfield Peru Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Aon Benfield Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Bermuda Holding Company Limited, Aon Bermuda QI Holdings Ltd., Aon Beteiligungsmanagement Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Aon Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Seguros, Aon Botswana (Pty) Ltd., Aon Brazil Holdings LLC, Aon Broking Services SA, Aon Broking Technology Limited, Aon CANZ Holdings B.V., Aon CANZ Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Inc., Aon Canada Intermediaries GP, Aon Captive Services Antilles N.V., Aon Captive Services Aruba N.V., Aon Cash Management B.V., Aon Central and Eastern Europe a.s., Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics Ltd, Aon Charitable Foundation Pty Ltd, Aon Chile Holdings LLC, Aon Commercial Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Commercial Services Ireland Limited, Aon Commercial Services and Operations Ireland Limited, Aon Consolidation Group Pty Ltd, Aon Consulting & Insurance Services, Aon Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Aon Consulting (Thailand) Limited, Aon Consulting Bolivia S.R.L., Aon Consulting Ecuador S.A., Aon Consulting Financial Services Limited, Aon Consulting Inc., Aon Consulting Kazakhstan LLP, Aon Consulting Limited, Aon Consulting Private Limited, Aon Consulting Romania SRL, Aon Corporate Services (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Corporate Services Limited, Aon Corporation, Aon Corporation Australia Limited, Aon Corporation EMEA B.V., Aon Credit International Insurance Broker GmbH, Aon Cyprus Insurance Broker Company Limited, Aon DC Trustee Limited, Aon Danismanlik Hizmetleri AS, Aon Delta Bermuda Ltd., Aon Delta UK Limited, Aon Denmark A/S, Aon Deutschland Beteiligungs GmbH, Aon Direct Group Inc., Aon Edge Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Energy Caribbean Limited, Aon Enterprise Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Finance Bermuda 1 Ltd., Aon Finance Bermuda 2 Ltd., Aon Finance Canada 1 Corp., Aon Finance Canada 2 Corp., Aon Finance International N.S. ULC, Aon Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Finance N.S. 1 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 5 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 8 ULC, Aon Finance US 1 LLC, Aon Finance US 2 LLC, Aon Financial & Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Finland Oy, Aon France, Aon Global Holdings 1 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 2 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 3 Limited [In strike-off], Aon Global Holdings Limited, Aon Global Operations plc, Aon Global Risk Consulting B.V., Aon Global Risk Consulting Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Global Risk Research Limited, Aon Grana Peru Corredores de Seguros SA, Aon Greece S.A., Aon Groep Nederland B.V., Aon Group (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Group (Thailand) Limited, Aon Group Holdings International 1 B.V., Aon Group Holdings International 2 B.V., Aon Group Inc., Aon Group International N.V., Aon Group Pty Ltd, Aon Group Venezuela Corretaje de Reaseguros C.A., Aon Hewitt (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Ireland) Limited, Aon Hewitt (PNG) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Thailand) Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting Korea Inc., Aon Hewitt Financial Advice Limited, Aon Hewitt GmbH, Aon Hewitt Health Market Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Hewitt Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hewitt Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Management Inc., Aon Hewitt Japan Ltd., Aon Hewitt Limited, Aon Hewitt Ltd., Aon Hewitt Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Aon Hewitt Management Company Limited, Aon Hewitt Middle East Limited, Aon Hewitt Risk & Consulting S.r.l., Aon Hewitt Risk & Financial Management B.V., Aon Hewitt Trust Solutions GmbH, Aon Hewitt US Holdings Limited, Aon Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aon Holdings (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Holdings Antillen N.V., Aon Holdings Australia Pty Limited, Aon Holdings Austria GmbH, Aon Holdings B.V., Aon Holdings Botswana (Pty) Ltd, Aon Holdings Corretores de Seguros Ltda., Aon Holdings France SNC, Aon Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Aon Holdings International B.V., Aon Holdings Israel Ltd., Aon Holdings Japan Ltd, Aon Holdings Limited, Aon Holdings Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Holdings Mid Europe B.V., Aon Holdings New Zealand, Aon Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hungary Insurance Brokers Risk and Human Consulting LLC, Aon Insurance Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Agencies (Macau) Limited, Aon Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Aon Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Ltd., Aon Insurance Management Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Antilles) N.V., Aon Insurance Managers (Barbados) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd, Aon Insurance Managers (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Dublin) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Guernsey) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Holdings) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Isle of Man) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Liechtenstein) AG, Aon Insurance Managers (Luxembourg) S.A., Aon Insurance Managers (Malta) PCC Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (Shannon) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (USA) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (USVI) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers Gibraltar Ltd., Aon Insurance Micronesia (Guam) Inc, Aon Insurance Underwriting Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Philippines Inc., Aon International Cooperatief U.A., Aon International Energy Inc., Aon International Holdings Inc., Aon Investment Holdings Ireland Limited, Aon Israel Insurance Brokerage Ltd., Aon Italia S.r.l., Aon Japan Ltd, Aon Jauch & Hubener Gesellschaft m.b.H., Aon Korea Inc., Aon Latam Holdings N.V., Aon Lead QI B.V., Aon Life Agency of Texas Inc., Aon Life Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Aon Life Insurance Company, Aon MacDonagh Boland Group Ltd, Aon Majan LLC, Aon Management Consulting Taiwan Ltd., Aon Mauritius Holdings, Aon Meeus Assurantien B.V., Aon Mexico Business Support SA de CV, Aon Mexico Holdings LLC, Aon Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Aon Middle East Co LLC, Aon Nederland C.V., Aon Netherlands Operations B.V., Aon Neudorf Finance S.a.r.l., Aon New Zealand, Aon New Zealand Group ULC, Aon Norway AS, Aon Overseas Holdings Limited, Aon PHI Acquisition Corporation of California, Aon PMI International Limited, Aon Parizeau Inc., Aon Pension Trustees Limited, Aon Pensions Insurance Brokers GmbH, Aon Polska Services Sp. z o.o., Aon Polska Sp. z o.o., Aon Portugal - Consultores Unipessoal Lda., Aon Portugal - Corretores de Seguros S.A., Aon Premium Finance LLC, Aon Private Risk Management Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Private Risk Management of California Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Product Design & Development Australia Pty Limited, Aon Product Design and Development New Zealand Limited, Aon Product Risk Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Property Risk Consulting Inc., Aon Qatar LLC, Aon Re (Thailand) Limited, Aon Re Bertoldi - Corretagem de Resseguros S.A., Aon Re Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Re Canada Holdings SARL, Aon Real Estate B.V., Aon Realty Services Inc., Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc., Aon Retirement Plan Advisors LLC, Aon Retirement Solutions Limited, Aon Risiko & Unternehmensberatungs GmbH, Aon Risk & Asset Management Pty Ltd, Aon Risk Consultants Inc., Aon Risk Insurance Services West Inc., Aon Risk Management (Pty) Ltd, Aon Risk Services (Chile) Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of Latin America Inc., Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of the Americas Inc., Aon Risk Services (NI) Limited, Aon Risk Services (PNG) Ltd., Aon Risk Services (Thailand) Limited, Aon Risk Services Argentina S.A., Aon Risk Services Australia Limited, Aon Risk Services Canada Inc., Aon Risk Services Central Inc., Aon Risk Services Colombia SA Corredores de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Companies Inc., Aon Risk Services EMEA B.V., Aon Risk Services Ecuador S.A. Agencia Asesora Productora de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Holdings (Chile ) Ltda., Aon Risk Services Inc. of Florida, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Hawaii, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Maryland, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Washington D.C., Aon Risk Services Northeast Inc., Aon Risk Services South Inc., Aon Risk Services Southwest Inc., Aon Risk Services Venezuela Corretaje de Seguros C.A., Aon Risk Solutions (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Risk Solutions Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas SA de CV, Aon Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Riskminder A/S, Aon Romania Broker de Asigurare - Reasigurare SRL, Aon Rus Insurance Brokers LLC, Aon Rus LLC, Aon S.p.A. Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Aon Saver Limited, Aon Securities (Hong Kong) Limited, Aon Securities Investment Management Inc., Aon Securities LLC, Aon Securities Limited, Aon Service Corporation, Aon Services (Guernsey) Ltd, Aon Services (Malta) Ltd, Aon Services Group Inc., Aon Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Services Pty Ltd., Aon Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi ve A.S., Aon Soluciones S.A., Aon Soluciones S.A.C., Aon Southern Europe UK Limited, Aon Sp. z o.o., Aon Special Risk Resources Inc., Aon Superannuation (PNG) Limited, Aon Superannuation Pty Limited, Aon TC Holdings Inc., Aon Taiwan Ltd., Aon Treasury Ireland Limited, Aon Trust Company LLC, Aon Trust Corporation Limited, Aon Trust Services B.V., Aon UK Group Limited, Aon UK Holdings Intermediaries Limited, Aon UK Limited, Aon UK Trustees Limited, Aon US & International Holdings Limited, Aon US Holdings 2 Inc., Aon US Holdings Inc., Aon Ukraine LLC, Aon Underwriting Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Underwriting Managers (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Underwriting Managers Inc., Aon Versicherungsberatungs GmbH, Aon Versicherungsmakler Deutschland GmbH, Aon Vietnam Limited, Aon Ward Financial Corporation, Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services Inc., Asevasa Argentina S.A., Asevasa Caricam S.A., Asevasa Chile Peritaciones e Ingenieria de Riesgos S.A., Asevasa Mexico S.A. de C.V., Asevasa Panama S.A., Asian Reinsurance Underwriters Limited, Asscom Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Association of Rural and Small Town Americans, Associacao Instituto Aon, Assurance Licensing Services Inc., B E P International Corp., B.V. Assurantiekantoor Langeveldt-Schroder, BMS Insurance Agency L.L.C., Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships (Ireland) Limited, Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships Limited, Bain Hogg Group Limited (in liquidation), Baltolink UADBB, Bankassure Insurance Services Limited, Bayfair Insurance Centre Limited, Beaubien Finance Ireland Limited, Beaubien Finance Limited, Beaubien UK Finance Limited, Becketts (Trustees) Limited, Becketts Limited, Beech Hill Pension Trustees Ltd, Bekouw Mendes C.V., Benefit Marketing Solutions L.L.C., Benfield Advisory Inc., Benfield Corredores de Reaseguro Ltda., Benfield Finance (London) LLC, Benfield Group, Benfield Investment Holdings Limited, Benfield Juniperus Holdings Limited, Benfield do Brasil Participacoes Ltda. (dormant), Benton Finance Ireland Limited, Benton Finance Limited, Blanch Americas Inc., Bowes & Company Inc. of New York, CEREP III Secondary Manager LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners I LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners II LLC, CIF-H GP LLC, Cammack Health LLC, Cananwill Corporation, Cananwill Inc., Cardea Health Solutions Limited, Casablanca Intermediation Company Sarl, Celinvest Amsterdam B.V., Chapka Assurances SAS, Citadel Insurance Managers Inc., CoCubes, CoSec 2000 Limited, Coalition for Benefits Equality and Choice, Cocubes Technologies Private Limited, Coles Hewitt Partnership, Contingency Insurance Brokers Limited, Contractsure Limited, CoverWallet, Coverall S.r.l. Insurance and Reinsurance Underwriting Agency, Credit Insurance Brokers (Reynolds) Limited, Crion N.V., Custom Benefit Programs Inc., Cut-e, Cut-e (UK) Limited, Cut-e Assessment (Hong Kong) Limited, Cut-e Assessment Solutions Europe Limited, Cut-e Australia Pty Limited, Cut-e Consult DMCC, Cut-e Danmark A/S, Cut-e Finland Oy, Cut-e GmbH, Cut-e Ireland Limited, Cut-e Nordic AS, Cut-e Norge AS, Cytelligence, Delany Bacon & Woodrow Partnership, Dempsey Partners, Denney O'Hara (Life & Pensions) Limited, Doveland Services Limited, E. W. Blanch Holdings Limited, E. W. Blanch Investments Limited, E.W. Blanch Capital Risk Solutions Inc., E.W. Blanch International Inc., EW Blanch Limited, Elysium Digital IP Products LLC, Elysium Digital L.L.C., Ennis Knupp Secondary Market Services LLC, Essar Insurance Services Limited, Exploitatiemaatschappij Beukenlaan 68-72 B.V., Farmaseg - Solucoes Assistencia e Servicos Empresariais Ltda., Farmsure Limited [In strike-off], Finaccord Limited, Financial & Professional Risk Solutions Inc., Futurity Group Inc., GTCR/AAM Blocker Corp., Ge.f.it. S.r.l., Gefass S.r.l., Glenrand M I B (Mocambique) Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Global Safe Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Globe Events Management, Gotham Digital Science LLC, Gotham Digital Science Ltd., Grant Liddell Financial Advisor Services Pty Ltd, Grant Park Capital LLC, Groupe-Conseil Aon Inc., Grupo Innovac Sociedad de Correduria de Seguros SA, HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd., Hall Rhodes Holdings Limited, Hall Rhodes Limited, Hamburger Gesellschaft zur Forderung des Versicherungswesens mbH, Harbourview West Lake Co-Invest (GP) LP, Health Index Advisors LLC, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, Henderson Corporate Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Partnership Limited [In strike-off], Henderson Risk Management Limited, Hewitt Amalco 3 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 4 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 5 ULC, Hewitt Associates (a partnership), Hewitt Associates Administradora e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Hewitt Associates Corp., Hewitt Associates Outsourcing Limited, Hewitt Associates Pty Ltd, Hewitt Associates S.C., Hewitt Associates SAS, Hewitt Associates Servicos de Recursos Humanos Ltda., Hewitt Beneficios Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Hewitt Holdings Canada Company, Hewitt Insurance Brokerage LLC, Hewitt Insurance Inc., Hewitt International Holdings LLC, Hewitt Management Ltd., Hewitt Risk Management Services Limited, Hewitt Western Management Amalco Inc., Hogg Group Limited, Hogg Robinson North America Inc., Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency Inc., I. Beck Insurance Agency (1994) Ltd., IAO Actuarial Consulting Services Canada Inc., INPOINT INC., IRM/GRC Holding Inc., Impact Forecasting L.L.C., Inspiring Benefits, Inspiring Benefits Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Insuractive Limited [In strike-off], Insurance Broker Aon Kazakhstan LLP, International Risk Management (Americas) Inc., International Risk Management Group Ltd, International Space Brokers Europe Limited, International Space Brokers France, International Space Brokers Inc., International Space Brokers Limited, Inversiones Benfield Chile Ltda., J H Minet Puerto Rico Inc., J. Allan Brown Consultants Inc., JDPT Manager LLC, Jenner Fenton Slade Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Credit Insurance) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Insurances) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Life & Pensions) Limited, Johnson Rooney Welch Inc., K & K Insurance Brokers Inc. Canada, K & K Insurance Group Inc., K & K Insurance Group of Florida Inc., K2 Technologies Inc., KVT GP LLC, Kloud S.a.r.l., Krumlin Hall Limited, Lake Erie Real Estate General Partner Limited, Lake Tahoe GP LLC, Lake Tahoe II GP LLC, Lake Tahoe III GP LLC, Lake Tahoe IV GP LLC, Lenzi Paolo Broker di Assicurazioni S.r.l., Lincolnshire Insurance Company PCC Limited, Linx Underwriting Solutions Inc., Lombard Trustee Company Limited, M.A. Shakeel Management Ltd. Amalco, MacDonagh Boland Crotty MacRedmond Ltd, Marinaro Dundas S.A., Marinaro Dundas SA, Mark Kelly Insurance and Financial Services PTY LTD, McLagan (Aon) Limited, McLagan Partners Asia Inc., McLagan Partners Inc., Membership Leasing Trust, Minet Consultancy Services Ltd, Minet Group, Minet Holdings Inc., Minet Inc., Minet Re North America Inc., Modern Survey Inc., Muirfield Underwriters Ltd., NBS Nominees Limited, National Insurance Office Ltd., Nauman Insurance Brokers Limited, Nexus Insurance Brokers Limited, One Underwriting Agency GmbH, One Underwriting B.V., One Underwriting Health B.V., One Underwriting Pty Ltd, Optica Agency A/S, Optimum Risk Solutions Limited, Ovatio Courtage SAS, P.G. Bradley & Co Limited, PGOF Manager 1 LLC, PRORUCK Ruckversicherungs Aktiengesellschaft, PT Aon Benfield Indonesia, PT Aon Hewitt Indonesia, PT Aon Indonesia, PWZ AG, Paragon Strategic Solutions Inc., PathWise Solutions LLC, Penn Square Manager 1 LLC, Penn Square Manager II LLC, Portus Consulting, Portus Consulting (Leamington) Limited, Portus Consulting Limited, Portus Online LLP, Praesidium S.p.A. - Soluzioni Assicurative per il Management, Premier Auto Finance Inc., Private Client Trustees Ltd., Private Equity Partnership Structures I LLC, Probabilitas N.V./SA, Protective Marketing Enterprises Inc., Randolph Finance Unlimited Company, Rasini Vigano Limited, Redwoods Dental Underwriters Inc., Richard Kiddle (Insurance Brokers) Limited, Risk Laboratories LLC, Riskikonsultatsioonide OU, Ronnie Elementary Insurance Agency Ltd, SA Special Situations General Partner LLC, SG IFFOXX Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, SLE Worldwide Limited, SN Re S.A., Salud Riesgos y Recursos Humanos Consultores Ltda. (former Aon Corporte Advisors Ltda.), SchneiderGolling IFFOXX Assekuranzmakler AG, SchneiderGolling Industrie Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, Scritch Inc., Shanghai Kayi Information Technology Co. Ltd, Sheppard Netherlands B.V., Specialty Benefits Inc., Sports Insure Limited [In strike-off], Strategic Manager-III LLC, Stroz Friedberg (Asia) Limited, Stroz Friedberg Inc., Stroz Friedberg LLC, Stroz Friedberg Limited, Stroz Friedberg Risk Management Limited, Superannuation Management Nominees Limited, Suresport Limited [In strike-off], Swire Blanch MSTC II SA, Swire Blanch MSTC SA, TTG BRPTP GP LLC, TTG Cayuga Bavaria Intermediate 2 S.a.r.l, TTG Core Plus Investments LLC, TTG German Investments I LLC, TTG Investments II LLC, TTG Irish Investments I LLC, TTG Manager LLC, Tecsefin S.A. en liquidacion, The Aon Ireland Mastertrustee Limited, The Aon MasterTrustee Limited, The John Reynolds Company Limited, The Key West Saxon Group LLC, The Townsend Group Inc, The Townsend Group LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager I LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager II LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager III LLC, Townsend Group Asia Limited, Townsend Group Europe Ltd., Townsend HWL GP Ltd., Townsend Holdings LLC, Townsend Lake Constance GP Limited, Townsend REF GP LLC, Townsend Re Global GP Limited, Townsend SO Manager I LLC, UAB One Underwriting, UADBB Aon Baltic, UK Credit Insurance Specialists Limited, UNIT Versicherungsmakler GmbH, US Underwriting Solutions S.r.l., USLP Underwriting Solutions LP, Underwriters Marine Services Inc., Unidelta AG, Unirobe Meeus Groep, UnitedPensions Deutschland AG, Univers Workplace Solutions, VERO Management AG, Ventiv Technology, WT Government Services LLC, WT Technologies LLC, Wannet Speciale Verzekeringen B.V., Wannet Sports Insurance GmbH, Ward Financial Group Inc., West Lake General Partner LLC, West Lake II GP LLC, Wexford Underwriting Managers Inc., White Rock Insurance (Americas) Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Europe) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Gibraltar) PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Guernsey) ICC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Netherlands) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd., White Rock Insurance Company PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance PCC (Isle of Man) Limited, White Rock Services (Bermuda) Ltd., White Rock USA Ltd., Willis Towers Watson, Worldwide Integrated Services Company, Wrapid Specialty Inc., Zalba-Caldu Correduria de Seguros SA, and cut-e USA Inc..
Power Financial Corporation provides financial services in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia. It offers life, disability, critical illness, and health insurance products, as well as wealth savings and income products, and specialty products. The company also provides financial products, including employer-sponsored defined contribution plans, individual retirement accounts, enrollment services, communication materials, investment options and education services, fund management services, and investment and advisory services. In addition, it offers protection and wealth management products, such as payout annuity products; reinsurance products; and sub-advisory services. Further, the company provides mutual funds, pooled funds, segregated funds, separate accounts, and other investment vehicles; securities, mortgages, and other financial services; and investment management services. It offers its products primarily through distribution network of third-party financial advisors, consultants, and independent financial advisors. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Montreal, Canada. Power Financial Corporation is a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada.
Read More
Zurich Insurance Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of insurance products and related services. It operates through the following segments: Property and Casualty Regions, Life Regions, Farmers, Group Functions and Operations, and Non-Core Businesses. The Property and Casualty Regions segment provides motor, home and commercial products and services for individuals, as well as small and large businesses on both a local and global basis. The Life Regions segment refers to the comprehensive range of life and health insurance products on both an individual and a group basis, including annuities, endowment and term insurance, unit-linked and investment-oriented products, as well as full private health, supplemental health and long-term care insurance. The Farmers segment includes non-claims administrative and management services to the Farmers Exchanges, which are owned by policyholders. The Group Functions and Operations segment comprises the Group s Holding and Financing and Headquarters activities. The Non-Core Businesses segment includes insurance and reinsurance businesses that the Group does not consider core to its operations and that are therefore mos
Read More
By Lee Kyung-min
Kakao Bank has launched a service to help its customers open a securities service account, the firm said Tuesday.
The new service will be offered in cooperation with Korea Investment and Securities, a subsidiary of Korea Investment Holdings.
Under the collaboration, a Kakao Bank customer will be allowed to open an account with Korea Investment and Securities with a simple click of a button.
The simplified procedure will provide a more user-friendly service, as similar procedures offered by other brokerages included submission of statements specifying personal information including name, home addresses and phone numbers.
Various promotional events are taking place including offering an immediate balance of 20,000 won ($17).
Half will be wired to the bank account and the other half to the securities account.
Those who trade Korean stocks after opening a brokerage account through Kakao Bank will be given an additional 5,000 won per month for up to one year.
The amount will be given regardless of the minimum transaction requirements.
Brokerage commission fees will be exempted for an unlimited period of time for customers who use the home trading system or mobile trading system.
"This is a meaningful cooperation. This is our first joint project whereby consumer experience will be significantly improved as our tailored service will maximize their satisfaction," a Kakao Bank official said.
Kakao Bank plans to expand the service to make it available to more brokerages in the coming months.
The bank plans to expand the service to strengthen mobile and online platforms.
"Possible services to be pursued include selling funds, or insurance products in the form of bancassurance. We are open to all options to broaden our business perspective," he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump listens in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, March 25. AP
U.S. President Donald Trump was open to easing sanctions on North Korea at last month's summit with Kim Jong-un, but was thwarted by his top aides, according to a senior Pyongyang official.
Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui made the remarks at a press conference in the North Korean capital on March 15, which was widely reported on for her threat to abandon denuclearization negotiations with the U.S.
Yonhap News Agency obtained a copy of her opening remarks.
According to the text, Choe said Trump was "flexible" about reaching a deal at the Feb. 27-28 summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, which ultimately collapsed without any accord.
"When we tabled a realistic proposal, President Trump was of the flexible position that a deal could be possible if it contained a reference to the fact that sanctions removal would be reversible in the event that North Korea resumed nuclear activities," she said.
The vice foreign minister continued that a "meaningful outcome" was not reached because U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton "created an obstacle in the constructive negotiation efforts of the two leaders with extant hostility and mistrust."
Choe's accusations against Pompeo and Bolton were previously reported and subsequently denied by both men.
If Trump's alleged openness to a "snapback" clause is true, it could explain his decision last week to hold back on additional sanctions on North Korea.
That announcement came after the U.S. Treasury Department did impose sanctions on two Chinese shipping companies accused of helping the North evade sanctions.
Choe also claimed that Kim has tried to negotiate with the U.S. despite "much opposition and challenge" within his own country.
"Our people, and especially our military and munitions industry, are writing thousands of petition letters to our State Affairs Commission Chairman Comrade to urge against giving up our nuclear (program) at any cost," she said. (Yonhap)
ALBANY State Sen. Neil Breslin is pushing legislation that would significantly raise the minimum insurance requirements that upstate limousine companies carry on their vehicles.
The bill comes in the wake of the tragic limousine crash in Schoharie last October in which 20 people were killed.
The limousine, operating illegally, was carrying 17 passengers from Amsterdam to Cooperstown on a birthday celebration when it careened through a stop sign at the bottom of a steep hill at the intersection of Routes 30 and 30A, crashing head on into a shallow ravine adjacent to the Apple Barrel Country Store and Cafe.
The driver, 17 passengers and two bystanders died from traumatic blunt-force injuries suffered during the crash.
It remains unclear what level of insurance coverage the limousine's owner, Prestige Limousine of Wilton, had at the time of the crash. The company also had not sought the proper authorization from the state Department of Motor Vehicles to operate the vehicle for hire.
The company's insurance coverage on the vehicle had been repeatedly canceled in the months leading up to the crash, during a time when the stretch 2001 Ford Excursion had failed three roadside state inspections.
The insurance cancellations also led the state DMV to repeatedly revoke the limo's registration.
The limo's insurance policy, purchased through Global Liberty Insurance of New York, was reinstated just a day before the crash, according to state DMV records obtained by the Times Union.
New York doesn't differentiate between cars and limos when it comes to insurance minimums to cover injuries or death in a crash, with coverage of rates as low as $100,000 for the death of one or more people.
Breslin's bill would set the minimum payout at $1.5 million for injuries or death to one or more people in a limousine, which would be defined as a livery vehicle with 8 or more passengers. The measure would also require that limo owners hand in their plates when coverage lapses.
Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.
In New York City, limos that can carry between 9 and 15 passengers require the same amount of insurance coverage, while super-stretch limos like the one involved in the Schoharie crash are required to have $5 million in coverage.
Federal law requires much higher minimums for limos engaged in interstate travel, with $1.5 million required for vehicles that carry up to 14 passengers and $5 million for limos that carry 15 or more passengers.
"There is no reason those outside New York City traveling in a limousine should be less protected than someone in New York City, or someone traveling across state lines," states a memo that Breslin attached to the Senate bill.
The first civil lawsuit filed against Prestige Limousine was filed in state Supreme Court in Albany on behalf of the parents of Amanda Rivenburg, who was one of the passengers aboard the stretch Excursion owned by Prestige. The 29-year-old had graduated from Colonie Central High School, attended SUNY Plattsburgh and worked for Living Resources, an Albany-based organization that serves people with disabilities. Rivenburg's family is represented by Albany attorney Sal Ferlazzo.
The law suit also names Prestige Limousine owner Shahed Hussain and his son, Nauman Hussain, as defendants. Nauman Hussain, who operated Prestige Limousine while his father was living in Pakistan, has been charged with one count of criminally negligent homicide in connection with the crash. He has pleaded not guilty and his attorney, Lee Kindlon of Albany, says his client did nothing criminal.
SCHENECTADY Gary McCarthy has eight years in as mayor and wants four more years at the helm.
On Monday, the Democrat, who already has his party's endorsement, confirmed to the Times Union what close friends and power brokers in the party told the paper in May: he's seeking a third term as mayor.
The formal announcement is expected the morning of April 9 at City Hall.
The last two times he has run McCarthy has knocked off former Union President and Alliance Party founder Roger Hull. He's not getting into the race.
This time, McCarthy may have to fend off a primary challenge Thearse McCalmon, a political newcomer. McCarthy's had three decades as an investigator in the district attorney's office.
Asked about her campaign Monday, McCarthy said he "looks forward to a spirited campaign" and making his case to constituents.
"We look forward to getting out there and taking the message to the people and running on a record that I am proud of," he said.
McCalmon, a community activist, adult educator and married mother of four, has previously accused McCarthy of pandering to the rich, a claim he denied. She also pledged to spread the wealth more equitably and make Schenectady more inclusive for all people.
To force a primary, McCalmon would need 5 percent of the number of enrolled Democrats in Schenectady, which is between 750 to 800 signatures, on her petition. Petitioning started Feb. 26 and lasts until the first week of April.
Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.
Besides McCarthy, Schenectady Democrats have already endorsed incumbents City Council members John Polimeni, Ed Kosiur and Leesa Perazzo as well as newcomer Carmel Patrick.
Incumbent Vince Riggi, an independent, whose name was mentioned as possible mayoral candidate, is also running again to hold onto his City Council seat.
Schenectady Democratic Chairman Richard Naylor has credited McCarthy with revitalizing the city, lowering property taxes and spearheading economic development projects.
All are expected to be key issues in the campaign.
Prof. Hwang speaks about China's growing role. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Hwang Jae-ho
Although the summit did not produce any results, it is not over yet. It is the usual drama on the Korean Peninsula. It is due to the distrust between the two countries that the summit ended without an agreement. Kim Jung-un does not buy Trump's designation of him as "best friend". Therefore, Kim will not simply hand over to the U.S. what it wants until he sees complete results. And the U.S. sought to drive a hard bargain this time, having in mind North Korea's track record of breaches. However, there is too much investment to quit now.
The most disappointed side after the summit must be South Korea. Had the Hanoi summit achieved success, it would have directly led to Kim's South Korea visit. It certainly is a blow to Moon's peace timetable. However, there is little reason for concern President Moon is just two years into his presidency, with three to go.
The Hanoi summit left some things to be desired, but we can still learn a few lessons. The first lesson we learned from the Hanoi Summit is the establishment of negotiation. There must be several challenges coming, but one thing to be clear is that negotiation must sustainably be there without suspension. Because it is not a crisis, it does not need to be managed. Instead, more attention is needed on prevention.
Furthermore, an exit strategy should be sought. Institutionalized dialogues and well-organized negotiations are also necessary. Here, South Korea's role as a third-party mediator could be useful. We need to find the Korean way of calculation that can find the interface when both the U.S. and DPRK stand with a different way of calculation.
How we practically use China is terribly critical for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. China's influence on the Korean Peninsula is definite. After China's National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference end, Kim will decide whether he himself heads to China or sends a delegation for a message.
They are already in a relationship where both can share strategic communication frequently. In this context, China can somehow influence North Korea not to make a rash decision after the shock from Hanoi.
On the other hand, China considers that South Korea is making its best effort to improve the situation for the Korean Peninsula. It even seems to understand that China's effect on Korea's diplomacy was not very high till last year.
Albany County Sheriff
COLONIE A 19-year-veteran officer at the Albany County jail was arrested Tuesday after a female inmate said he sexually assaulted her, Sheriff Craig Apple said.
Michael Snyder Sr., 59 of Rensselaerville, was charged with three counts of rape, three counts of criminal sex act, three counts of officials misconduct and sexual abuse as well, the sheriff said.
ALBANY Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and state Attorney General Letitia "Tish" James had both indicated last year that they would support an expansion of her office's jurisdiction to investigate public corruption.
It's an authority that prior attorneys general have requested dating back years.
James, who took office in January, told the Times Union editorial board last August during her inaugural campaign that she would join her predecessors in seeking a standing referral from the governor to investigate corruption, as well as a more permanent legislative solution.
Cuomo signaled his support for the measure in a candidate questionnaire last year as he sought an endorsement from the good government group Citizens Union, saying he would back an expansion of the attorney general's authority "to investigate public corruption and electoral malfeasance."
When asked about the survey response last November, Cuomo's office said: "The framework for legally expanding the scope of the attorney general's power as well as other pieces of potential ethics legislation will be outlined next year when the new Legislature takes office."
Three months into one of the busiest legislative sessions in recent years, there have been no new developments; a proposal to expand the attorney general's power was not included in the governor's ethics agenda for 2019, although both offices claim the measure is under discussion.
"We are continuing to engage in discussions on this issue, along with several other proposed ethics reforms," Cuomo spokesman Jason Conwall said.
James in August said she had reminded Cuomo, who aggressively sought the same authority during his single term as attorney general, of his past position.
"He said, 'We'll continue to have those discussions,'" James said. "And so, we're going to continue to have those discussions. I'm going to continue to push. I'm not going to give up."
Still, James, who has conducted few press conferences in her first term, has not publicly pressed the issue.
Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.
Citizens Union endorsed the governor last year over his politically inexperienced Democratic primary challenger, in spite of the group's longtime criticisms of the governor's opaque budget process and his failure to enact meaningful ethics reform.
"This issue has been, and remains, a priority for Citizens Union," the group's executive director, Betsy Gotbaum, said in a statement. "Since January, the Legislature and governor have passed a number of meaningful reforms to strengthen democracy in New York state. We urge Gov. Cuomo to keep his word."
As attorney general, Cuomo had sought a legislative fix to broaden his office's jurisdiction to pursue public corruption cases, rather than a standing referral, and his office has since argued that that type of blanket authority may be illegal.
SOUTH GLENS FALLS Multiple fire departments were called to a structure fire at a Common Roots Brewing Company Monday night.
People shared photos and videos of the fire on social media, which showed flames shooting out of the roof of the 58 Saratoga Ave. building.
Fire departments from Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties responded to the scene around 7 p.m. As of 9:30 p.m. firefighters were still at the scene.
According to the brewing company's website they were open Monday. Their normal Monday hours are 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.
The company posted a statement on social media following the fire saying that everyone was able to get out safely.
"We appreciate the efforts of our local first responders and thank each of you for your thoughts and support," the statement said. "An additional update will be provided at the appropriate time."
The former Troy Orphan Asylum, now known as Vanderheyden, has been celebrating its 185th anniversary for the past year. But nobody knows its history better than 95-year-old Marion Manchester.
In an earlier era, it was known ominously as "the house on the hill," an imposing brownstone Gothic mansion on Spring Avenue a destination that became an oblique threat made by exasperated parents to misbehaving kids.
Children did not end up there by choice, though, or due to unruly behavior. Death, disease, industrial accidents, an unfit parent or grinding poverty were typical factors. The social safety net in the early decades of the 20th Century, before President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, was thin and frayed. Many fell through.
The Troy Orphan Asylum was a place of last resort after a family became overwhelmed, financially or emotionally unable to provide for one or more children.
Being dropped off there left a social stigma, a shameful secret rarely discussed or buried for generations. Public events and celebrations to mark the 185th anniversary including publication of a forthcoming book by historian Don Rittner has helped erase lingering taboos.
Residents from long ago are beginning to open up.
Marion Manchester's niece didn't make the connection for most of the nearly four decades she worked at Vanderheyden. "It wasn't talked about in our family," said Beth Manchester. "I had no idea of my aunt's story until recently."
In 1928, Henry Trinemeyer dropped off his 5-year-old daughter Marion, her brother Bill and sisters Annie and Pauline the youngest an infant at the Troy Orphan Asylum. A German immigrant who had few friends around Troy, Trinemeyer drifted south and eventually settled in Florida, where he worked as a janitor. He lived in the basement of the building he cleaned. He had no contact with his children for many decades and only returned in the final months of a terminal illness.
"He wasn't much of a father," Manchester said.
Her mother, Catherine, who had suffered multiple miscarriages, died shortly after her youngest child, Pauline, was born. Her story was not uncommon in that era.
"It was the Depression my aunts could not afford to take us in and my father could not care for us," Manchester recalled.
Regimentation became a way of life where 100 children, from infants to teenagers, were raised by stern matrons in a sprawling facility that included a school and chapel.
"I was the smallest one and we lined up by size, so I was always at the front of the line," she said.
The boys were housed dormitory-style on one side of the building, the girls on the other. Babies and toddlers were kept in a separate area in the middle.
A bell would ring to signal the start of a meal. The children filed in and went to their assigned seats at long wooden tables. Grace was intoned in unison Manchester can still recite the short blessing before they sat down on cue and ate in silence, family-style, from large serving bowls passed around. If you were caught speaking to someone at your table, you lost your dessert.
"The food was OK. Nothing special," Manchester said.
She slept on a narrow cot with a straight chair next to it the only furnishings. The children had a bath every Friday night, when they were given a fresh change of clothes. Girls wore homemade gingham jumpers sewn by matrons, and had one fancy dress to wear to chapel for Sunday service.
Girls were given indoor chores, such as setting the tables and cleaning. Manchester's job was mopping the playroom and polishing the stairway banister and scrollwork.
"We had an old matron who was very mean," Manchester said. "We were happy when we got a young matron. She hugged us and kissed us good night for the first time."
Children were allowed to have family members visit once a month. "I never had a visitor," Manchester said.
She was never seriously mistreated and did not feel sad or depressed about her life at the orphanage.
"That was my normal. I knew nothing else," she said.
They attended classes downstairs in the building and went on simple outings, such as weekend trips to nearby Frear Park. She enjoyed playing jacks and roller skating on the pavement around the building.
Video from the New York State Archives shows an outing from the 1930s in which State Police troopers served ice cream to children from the orphanage:
"I made some friends, but we eventually all got split up," she said. Manchester and her siblings did not feel like a family unit, since they were in different age groups at the facility.
Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.
"I did not see my brother Bill much at all," she said. "He was with the older boys."
She recalled some of the older boys were "troublemakers" who climbed out of their second-story dormitory and went skylarking around the city in the wee hours. If they were caught, they were severely punished or expelled.
At 15, Manchester was adopted by a foster couple. Months later, all four siblings ended up with the same family. "We called her mother and she loved us," said Manchester, thrilled to have a room of her own and her first piece of furniture, a dresser that she later gave to her daughter.
Manchester graduated from Berlin High School in 1941 and got married. Her husband, Hugh, was a World War II veteran. They bought farmland in Petersburgh, where they raised dairy cows and she baked bread and doughnuts, which she sold alongside Route 22. She grew vegetables and in the fall canned 100 quarts of tomatoes and the dandelion greens her husband loved.
"I love the country, and all the open space," Manchester said. She still lives on the farm, in good health and independent in her mid-90s. Her husband died in 1997. She raised five children and has seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
"She was a wonderful mother who put her family first," said daughter Karen DeCarlo. "She let us splash in mud puddles barefoot. She raised us to be strong women and hard workers like her."
"She never talked about growing up in the orphanage," said daughter Kay Mishkin. "I am so grateful somewhere along the way she learned how to be a great mother."
"Thank God Vanderheyden was there for her and so many other children. We like to say we change lives to save lives," said Karen Carpenter Palumbo, president and CEO of Vanderheyden Inc. It changed its name from Troy Orphan Asylum to Vanderheyden Hall for most of its history but dropped the "Hall" recently.
Today, Vanderheyden serves more than 500 individuals and families in 50 locations throughout the Capital Region, with a residential campus in Wynantskill.
After a long career in state service, Carpenter Palumbo took over a financially troubled organization that nearly shut down. She is leading a $1.85 million capital campaign focused on the anniversary with a goal of building a new career center and young adult assisted-living apartments. "We are celebrating the past and imagining a bright future," she said.
Manchester, who spoke about her experiences at the orphanage as part of its anniversary observation, gets a ride three days a week to the senior service center in Grafton. She loves the yoga class. She made friends with a woman at the senior center, and they talked for weeks before they discovered a shared secret: Both lived at the Troy Orphan Asylum in the '30s.
"It's nice to talk about it now," said Manchester, who filled 10 pages of handwritten notes with memories.
I remarked on her lovely penmanship.
"The matrons taught us a lot of good skills," she said.
Paul Grondahl is director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com
A County Tipperary man who made the decision to quit his top job and travel the world while having a few pints says the experience has been life-changing.
Clonmels Brian Stafford went to CBS High School in Clonmel before studying Production Engineering at Waterford Institute of Technology.
After getting caught up in the rat race for eight years after college, Brian opted to leave his job with a leading engineering firm in Dublin to travel the globe.
Speaking to Tipperary Live from a sunny Melbourne, Australia, the now 34-year-old doesnt have a care in the world.
Recalling the invigorating decision to move abroad, he says: I found myself sitting in a pub down in Cobh after a visit to Spike Island in the relentless rain and bitter cold. I spotted a map of the world on the wall and after a few pints I made the decision.
Brian crossed the pond to Wales before boarding trains all the way to Moscow over a two-week period, visiting nine countries along the way. After a couple of days touring Moscow at minus 26 degrees Celsius, I got on the Trans-Siberian Express along with some other backpackers. The journey took three weeks with stops in Siberia and Mongolia before arriving in Beijing. It was great to finally stand on some solid ground, especially after a rough border crossing into China. In Asia, it was more of the same - cars, ferries and trains - visiting a further 10 countries en route to prearranged voluntary work as an English teacher in the small Thai village of Khlong Hat, close to the Cambodian border.
He fell in love with Thailands culture, heritage and people. I tried my best to give some Thai children with very little or no English a Tipperary accent of their own, he laughs.
Living in a small village and having no Thai when I arrived was an interesting situation. Luckily Thailand has thousands of 7-Eleven stores and thankfully there was one here for a safe bet if you wanted something small to eat. But you do need a decent meal for dinner and for this you need to attempt buying food in the local market. I guess when you're thrown in at the deep end you're more inclined to learn a language - either that or just keep eating toasted sandwiches.
Brian teaching local Thai kids the Tipperary lingo
After an amazing time in remote Thailand, Brian opted for the bright lights of Bangkok. He says the capital was like arriving on a new planet, continuing: Having been to some of the worlds largest cities like Shanghai and Tokyo still didnt prepare me for what was to come. It truly is the city that never sleeps.
Top Gear challenge from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Brian joined Thailand GAA, relishing the incredible experience of togging out with both Irish expats and players from more than 20 different nationalities. Ive never met a friendlier and more welcoming group of people to this day, he smiles.
Bangkok and Thailand will always have a special place in my heart. The friends I made were the salt of the earth, the country and culture were amazing, and the food was out of this world, especially the street food.
'Playing with Thailand GAA was incredible'
After three-and-a-half years in Thailand, Brian boarded a plane for New Zealand. He travelled from Auckland to Wellington, before returning to his trade and securing a job as an electrical drafter. New Zealand is a beautiful country with some stunning scenery and really nice people. A lot of people you meet are Irish descendants who love to talk to you. I drove the length and breadth of the country twice over in my 15 months there and enjoyed it.
But I cant say that I completely enjoyed living there and I wouldnt have lasted the duration of my first visa only for the friends I made. I felt New Zealand was way behind the times. The towns and villages you pass through are like something out of old country and western films. It certainly wasnt what I was expecting, but its a great place for adrenaline junkies and those who love the great outdoors. Ireland beats it hands down - all were missing is the bungee jumps and a couple of glaciers.
Brian moved to Sydney last Christmas before embarking on a trip to Melbourne, where he is currently job hunting and planning to join a local GAA club. He says living on different continents has broadened his mind and made him more cultured. My only regret is not having moved abroad sooner. I went back to Clonmel for my dads 60th birthday recently and it reminded me that life at home is the same. Im still enjoying visiting new countries and experiencing new cultures. I will move back to Ireland one day but I dont know when. Home is where the heart is.
Brian mixing with the locals Down Under
Brian had a career, a car, a house and two loans before he left Ireland. I didn't have to do it because of the economic downturn or because I fell out of love with Ireland - I just wanted to travel. When the time rolled around to say goodbye to friends and especially my family, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do.
Everything I own now I put in my bags and simply move on to the next destination or do whatever I want. Im not as materialistic as I once was and life is too short to just flitter it away. I would encourage everyone back home to go and see the world. It really is a big, amazing place outside of Clonmel, Tipperary and Ireland, he adds.
Brian sightseeing with his partner Kim
[March 26, 2019] $25,000 Award for Professors Who Inspired Former Students to Make a Difference in Their Communities
Since 2010, the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Trust has awarded $2.3 million to 94 professors from throughout the United States; each nominated by former student. The Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Trust Award honors current or former academic faculty who, as teachers, have inspired a student to establish an organization which has demonstrated a benefit on the community at large or who inspired a student to establish a concept, procedure, or movement of comparable benefit to the community at large. Beckman Award winners receive a one-time cash award of $25,000 and recognition during a Fall 2019 ceremony in Atlanta. Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award nominations are made by the former student as a means to honor the academic faculty member who inspired that student's work. The nomination deadline for 2019 is April 30. Preference is given to educators who teach or who taught in the fields of psychology, medicine, or law. To submit a 2019 Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award nomination or for more information: www.wellsfargo.com/privatefoundationgrants/beckman.
In 2018, seven professors received the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award and recognition: David L. Blustein, Ph.D., Boston College; Dr. Ross E. Cheit, Brown University; Elyn R. Saks, University of Southern California, University California San Diego; Patricia Perez, Ph.D., Chicago School of Professional Psychology; Charles H. Zeanah, Jr., M.S., Tulane University; Anna Mae Diehl, M.D., Duke University; and James Allan Gash, J.D., Pepperdine School of Law. The Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Trust was established in 2008 under the Will of Gail McKnight Beckman. Beckman created the award in memory of her mother, Dr. Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman, an educator, a renowned author, and a pioneer in the field of Psychology. Dr. Beckman was one of the first female Psychology professors at Columbia University and she taught at the University of Pennsylvania. She authored nine books and textbooks about child and adolescent Psychology and was a champion of gender equality and advocate for the advancement of women in academia.
The Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Trust is administered by the Philanthropic Services group at Wells Fargo (News - Alert) Private Bank. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005938/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Asia's Enterprises Realise The Power Of Oracle Autonomous Database
Top brands choose Oracle Autonomous Database to secure data and accelerate innovation SINGAPORE, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle OpenWorld Singapore - An increasing number of businesses in Asia are turning to Oracle Autonomous Database - the industry's first self-driving, self-securing, self-repairing database to gain deeper and more meaningful data insight, faster than ever before. Eleven such organisations will showcase the value being gained during Oracle OpenWorld Singapore this week, including the likes of China Eastern, Fadada, Bitmain and Kingold from China, Vodafone Fiji, Hong Kong Maxim's Group, National Pharmacies and Applied Precision Medicine from Australia, Forth Smart and Rangsit University from Thailand and others. Oracle Autonomous Database uses ground-breaking machine learning and automation to deploy, optimize, patch and secure itself with no human intervention, bringing new levels of performance, security, and efficiency. As a result users have proven that they are able to significantly improve and fast-track business decisions, improve their customer experience, introduce new products/services to market quicker and create a smarter workforce. Steve Daheb, Senior Vice President, Oracle Cloud, said: "Oracle Autonomous Database is one of the most successful new product introductions in Oracle's 40-year history. Today we are seeing users across the globe realising the benefit of autonomous. Already, we have nearly 1,000 paying Autonomous Database customers and around 4,000 new Autonomous Database trials were added in the last quarter alone. This momentum confirms that the Autonomous Database has arrived at a perfect time for our customers, when data is growing at an almost immeasurable rate and we need a new way of managing, securing and getting value from data. There are some great examples of companies using it here in Asia to reduce costs and risk, automate core tasks so they can focus on innovation, and to empower all areas of the business from finance, to Marketing and HR to get maximum value and insight from their data." Sharing their stories at Oracle OpenWorld Singapore are: Pawarit Ruengsuksilp, Business Development Analyst, Forth Smart, said, "Using Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse has been a complete game-changer for us. Operating over 120,000 vending machines nationwide to give our customers the ability to do things like top-up their mobile phones and e-wallets and transfer money to friends and family, our usiness generates a lot of transactional data - around 2 million transactions per day. Now, with Autonomous Database, we are able to generate real-time insight into our network of vending machines, whereas previously this would have taken us 2-3 days. This has had a significant impact across our financial reporting, ability to undertake complex segmentation and predictive analytics, allowing us to focus more of our efforts on innovation."
Louis Mah, Director, Information Technology, Hong Kong Maxim's Group, said: "Operating over 70 brands in Hong Kong and Macau regions, Mainland China and South East Asia across more than 1,300 outlets in an industry as fast-paced as the food industry, we need to stay on-top of our game. Data is key to helping us do this, but with more than 600,000 transactions records per day in Hong Kong alone it is hard for us. Using a mix of Autonomous Data Warehouse and Oracle Analytics Cloud, mixed with detail from our ERP systems, we can now get extremely timely and valuable information regarding consumer habits and behaviour, and rapidly adapt to changes in how our different restaurants are performing. This is essential, especially as we look to expand into Mainland China and further into South East Asia." Ryan Klose, Executive General Manager Corporate, National Pharmacies, said, "Today delighting customers and delivering a personalised experience is everything. So we want the holy grail of getting data centralised around the patient. This will help ensure we have the right products on shelves and that when health practitioners talk to patients they have the latest and complete information, can join the dots and make informed decisions. But that's hard. Traditionally, backend systems across the heathcare industry are legacy and have limited data sharing, often designed purely to transact the event at that time. Additionally, we are talking significant data volumes we fulfill four million medical prescriptions alone each year, and that's without other information regarding products, or even external factors such as weather. What having access to the power of autonomous database means is that we can give us real time insight, securely and at speed, and that's transformative."
Steve Chang, CIO, Kingold, said, "Through the use of Autonomous Data Warehouse and Oracle Analytics Cloud we have been able to completely transform the way we operate. We have been able to completely streamline how we collect information. Previously for deep market insight we would have been heavily reliant on buying in expensive reports from third parties. Now, we are able to do most of the research and analysis ourselves. The output is also really helping our sales teams become data driven and identify which properties to target the right customers, rather than using their instinct to make decisions." Hwee-Xian Tan, Senior Analyst, SoHo and SME Research, "We continue to see Asia-Pacific enterprises opening up to and having a sharper appetite for database-as-a-service (DBaaS) propositions with AI and ML features being particularly strong drivers for enterprise migration to cloud-based database environments. This is due to the cost reductions they deliver, and their ability to derive new business insights at speed. This has the potential to shift the global cloud arms race amongst hyperscale cloud players towards those that have a strong play in controlling enterprise databases most of which still reside in a legacy clientserver infrastructure." Additional Resources Learn more about Oracle Autonomous Database
Attend key Oracle OpenWorld Singapore customers sessions About Oracle The Oracle Cloud offers a complete suite of integrated applications for Sales, Service, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Supply Chain and Manufacturing, plus Highly-Automated and Secure Generation 2 Infrastructure featuring the Oracle Autonomous Database. For more information about Oracle, please visit us at oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467598/Oracle_Logo.jpg
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Bardy Diagnostics Selected as Winner of The Impact Pediatric Health Competition At SXSW 2019
SEATTLE, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Bardy Diagnostics, Inc., ("BardyDx"), a leading provider of ambulatory cardiac monitoring technologies and custom data solutions, including the Carnation Ambulatory Monitor ("CAM"), the industry's first P-wave centric ambulatory cardiac patch monitor and arrhythmia detection device, announced it has been selected as one of four winners of the Impact Pediatric Health Competition held at SXSW 2019 hosted by the nation's leading pediatric healthcare institutions across the US, including Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Boston Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Seattle Children's Hospital, Stanford Children's Health, and Texas Children's Hospital. "It was an exciting opportunity to take part in the Impact Pediatric Health competition and present alongside an inspiring group of industry-disrupting innovators," said Ken Nelson, BardyDx Chief Commercial Officer. "Being chosen amongst our peers to receive this award is an extraordinary honor and further fuels our corporate commitment to make a meaningful impact in pediatric care." The competition invites early stage companies representing the best in pediatric healthcare innovation to present how their products address the unique challenges of this younger patient population. From a pool of 50 applicants, BardyDx earned one of the twelve finalist spots to pitch to a distinguished judging panel of venture capitalists, industry leaders, and leading pediatric hospital representatives. BardyDx was ultimately chosen to receive a $25,000 prize provided by the Southwest National Pediatric Device Consortium (SWPDC) based on the CAM patch's pediatric-friendly design and potential to improve the safety and delivery of pediatric care through its innovative P-wave centric technology. "We were blown away by the level of talent and incredible innovation showcased at this year's Impact Pediatric Health pitch competition," said Chester Koh, MD, Executive Director of SWPDC. "At Impact Pediatric Health and SWPDC, we are always looking for the next cutting-edge breakthrough in the world of medical devices, and we are excited to stand beside these four companies and help accelerate the next generation of medical device companies impacting our youngest of patients." This award builds upon the growing market recognition of the innovative P-wave centric CAM patch for the pediatric patient population. Recently, BardyDx was also named winner of the Children's National Health System Pediatric Medical Device Innovation Competition for the CAM's unique pediatric-friendly design and potential to address significant unmet needs in pediatric healthcare. In addition, BardyDx was selected as the winner of the 2018 Fierce Innovation Life Sciences Award for Medical Device Innovation from the leading industry publisher of FierceBiotech & FiercePharma.
BardyDx and the list of Impact Pediatric Health winners can be found in the official announcement. About Impact Pediatric Health:
Now in its fifth year, Impact Pediatric Health hosts an annual competition held at SXSW dedicated to showcasing and supporting innovative next generation pediatric healthcare companies focused on digital health and medical devices. Impact Pediatric Health was formed as a collaboration between seven of the largest and top-ranked (according to US News & World Report) children's hospitals in the US. Additional information can be found at https://impactpediatric.health/. About SXSW: The South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference & Festivals celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW has become the premier destination for discovery and events featuring sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. The Health Track at SXSW focuses on innovations that build and support the ecosystem of patients, providers, payers, policy makers, designers, entrepreneurs, and investors to improve outcomes in health and healthcare. Additional information can be found at www.sxsw.com. About Bardy Diagnostics: Bardy Diagnostics, Inc. is an innovator in digital health and remote patient monitoring, with a focus on providing diagnostically-accurate and patient-friendly cardiac patch and other monitors to the industry. The company's CAM patch is a non-invasive, P-wave centric ambulatory cardiac monitor and arrhythmia detection device that is designed to improve patient compliance for adults and children through its lifestyle-enabling design. Designed to be worn comfortably and discreetly, the female-friendly, hourglass-shaped CAM patch is placed on the center of the chest, directly over the heart for optimum ECG signal collection. The proprietary technology of the CAM patch provides optimal detection and clear recording of the often difficult-to-detect P-wave, the signal of the ECG waveform that is essential for accurate arrhythmia diagnosis. Additional information can be found at the recently launched redesign of the BardyDx corporate website at www.bardydx.com. MEDIA CONTACT:
Jonathan Wu
Director, Marketing
Bardy Diagnostics, Inc.
1-844-422-7393
[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bardy-diagnostics-selected-as-winner-of-the-impact-pediatric-health-competition-at-sxsw-2019-300818266.html SOURCE Bardy Diagnostics, Inc.
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Chamberlain University Names Dr. Simendea Clark President of Chicago Campus
Chamberlain University announced today that Dr. Simendea Clark, DNP, RN has been appointed president of its Chicago campus, one of three Chicagoland campuses. Dr. Clark is responsible for the Chicago campus nursing program and operations, including overall academic excellence, student services, support and success. Since joining Chamberlain in 2013, Dr. Clark has served in a variety of roles. She began her career as a nurse educator in the Center for Academic Success before moving to assistant dean of academic success. She continued as associate dean of academic operations, then served as dean of academic affairs. Her most recent role with Chamberlain was interim campus president. "Our diverse students and faculty will continue to benefit from Dr. Clark's expertise and extensive knowledge of the industry," said Dr. Karen Cox (News - Alert), Ph.D., RN, FACHE, FAAN, president of Chamberlain. "She is instrumental in helping to shape the next generation of nurses and to our work in alleviating the nursing shortage in the region and nationally." Prior to Chamberlain, Dr. Clark served as an adjunct instructor for several organizations, including positions as a licensed practical nurse/certified nursing assistant instructor at Thornton Fractional High School District 215 and a fundamentals course instructor at the CAAN Academy of Nursing. She began her career as a staff nurse at Rush Oak Park Hospital. Dr. Clark has earned multiple honors and awards, including the 2017 Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader Award, DAISY Faculty Award, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholarship, and the Charles Drew Research Laboratory Scholars Award. She is a member of the Illinois South Suburban Natonal Black Nurses Association, National Tutoring Association, and Chicago Urban League.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Health Studies from Michigan State University, a Master of Science in Nursing from Rush University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Chamberlain University. She also holds a National Tutoring Association Certification. About Chamberlain University
Chamberlain University is a member of Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE), a global education provider headquartered in the United States. The organization's purpose is to empower students to achieve their goals, find success and make inspiring contributions to our global community. Chamberlain University's mission is to educate, empower and embolden diverse healthcare professionals who advance the health of people, families, communities and nations. Chamberlain University is comprised of the College of Nursing, which offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program and flexible post-licensure programs such as the RN to BSN option, Master of Science in Nursing degree program, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program and graduate certificates, and the College of Health Professions, which offers a Master of Public Health degree program. Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation. To learn more, visit chamberlain.edu. About Adtalem Global Education The purpose of Adtalem Global Education is to empower students to achieve their goals, find success, and make inspiring contributions to our global community. Adtalem Global Education Inc. (NYSE: ATGE; member S&P MidCap 400 Index) is a leading global education provider and the parent organization of Adtalem Educacional do Brasil, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, Becker Professional Education, Chamberlain University, EduPristine, Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. For more information, please visit adtalem.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005112/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Computational Pathology Pioneer Ibex Raises $11M
TEL AVIV, Israel, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ibex Medical Analytics, (http://www.ibex-ai.com/) a pioneering developer of AI-driven computational pathology cancer diagnosis system, completed an $11 million Series A funding round led by aMoon Fund (www.amoon.fund). Ibex's initial product is the Second Read system for prostate core needle biopsies diagnosis, which has been clinically deployed at Maccabi Healthcare Services and will soon be commercially deployed also internationally in pathology labs, establishing Ibex as a first-mover in the emerging computational pathology space. "Many cancer cases are diagnosed too late or are missed due to human error. We have already witnessed the life-saving impact that our platform has delivered to Maccabi patients," said Joseph Mossel, Ibex's co-founder and CEO. "With this new funding, we plan to expand our engineering team in order to extend our product offering to additional types of cancer. This will empowe pathology institutes to significantly improve their efficiency and accuracy, thereby saving the lives of more patients."
Through its strategic collaboration with Maccabi Healthcare Services, Ibex has access to a unique dataset with millions of pathology slides and electronic medical records of 2.5 million patients, enabling it to develop breakthrough algorithms at unprecedented accuracy levels. This is in addition to collaborations with leading institutes and international hospitals, including Pittsburgh-based UPMC, a world-renowned health care provider, and MediPath, the largest private pathology lab in France. "Digital and Computational Pathology are set to grow at an exponential pace and transform the world of pathology," said Roy Wiesner, Managing Director at aMoon. "Together with our fellow investors, we believe the exceptional team, validated technology, unique access to large datasets and the strong international collaborations the company has built, position IBEX as an early leader in the field."
Additional investors in the round include Kamet Ventures, an investment arm of AXA Insurance, one of the largest global health insurance providers, 83North, a global venture capital fund and Dell Technologies Capital. Funds will be used to broaden the company's solutions and global presence, including expansion of the type of tissues and applications supported. About Ibex Medical Analytics:
Ibex Medical Analytics has developed an AI-driven diagnostic system which delivers efficient, metric-driven, and accurate cancer diagnoses for tissue biopsies. It combines AI, data science, image analysis and Deep Learning technologies and applies them to cancer diagnostics in digital pathology, impacting pathology labs efficiency, patient outcomes and quality of life. www.ibex-ai.com
Ibex Medical Analytics media contact:
Tsipi Joseph
G2M TEAM
[email protected]
+972-52-8113423 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/computational-pathology-pioneer-ibex-raises-11m-300818506.html SOURCE Ibex Medical Analytics
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Cuentas Subsidiary SDI Next is Now Selling Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox Live and Nexon Karma Digital Content at Over 31,600 Locations
MIAMI, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cuentas, Inc. (CUENTAS) (OTCQB: CUEN), a Financial Technology (FinTech) service provider delivering mobile banking, online banking, prepaid debit and digital content services to unbanked, underbanked and underserved communities, announced today that it is now selling Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox Live and Nexon Karma digital content at its 31,600+ locations in the USA.
Cuentas has now integrated its digital content system with the www.black011.com portal to sell prepaid digital products including, but not limited to Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox and Nexon Karma prepaid gaming products through the SDI Next distribution network of over 31,600 bodega retailers. Bodegas are typically single owner markets, gas stations and local stores that serve many immigrant and urban neighborhoods.These services and products are available through the www.black011.com intranet portal that is available in these Bodegas. Cuentas is preparing to launch 15 additional major prepaid digital content brands in the near future as well as the Cuentas Mobile App and Mobile Wallet during 2019. Microsoft Xbox Live and PlayStation online services have been available for many years and Nexon Karma Koin has enabled online gaming for years. The website www.statista.com , known as The Statistics Portal reports that worldwide revenue in the Online Games segment is expected to reach US$12.7 Billion in 2019.Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2019-2023) of 2.5%, resulting in a market volume of US$14 Billion by 2023.User penetration is 9.5% in 2019 and is expcted to hit 10.8% by 2023.The average revenue per user (ARPU) currently amounts to US$18.16.In global comparison, most revenue is generated in the United States (US$3.54 Billion in 2019).
This milestone of providing Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, and Nexon Karma digital content through retailers that previously had limited or no access to this type of product and the Cuentas Mobile App is so very important to Cuentas, stated Arik Maimon, Founder and CEO of Cuentas, Inc. We are enthusiastic about working to sell these products at our more than 31,600 locations and through the Cuentas App. These products should provide extra revenue for the retailers and should increase visits to these Bodegas. Providing top level prepaid products such as Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, and Nexon Karma is key to our growth plan, said Michael De Prado, Founder, President & COO of Cuentas. This is an exciting time in the development of Cuentas as years of hard work are coming to fruition.
About Cuentas, Inc.
CUENTAS, Inc. (OTCQB: CUEN) is a FinTech (Financial Technology) company utilizing technical innovation together with existing and emerging technologies to deliver accessible, efficient & reliable mobile, new-era and traditional financial services to consumers. CUEN is proactively applying technology and compliance requirements to improve the availability, delivery, reliability and utilization of financial services especially to the unbanked, underbanked and underserved segments of today's society. CUENTAS is disrupting the Financial and Telecommunications worlds with a US and Global product called CUENTAS (www.cuentas.com), and with its core methods, procedures, contracts and Intellectual Property to achieve this unique disruption as a Fin Tech company. CUENTAS, Inc. as described above, has extensive experience in the communications field together with important acquisitions, agreements and alliances will provide consumers with an end-to-end array of financial and lifestyle applications, processes, products and solutions that have previously been impossible to deliver. CUEN's strategic integrated solutions platform will reshape and improve the financial services industry for mobility and remittance, digital contents for emerging markets. Learn more at www.cuentas.com THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS", AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 27A OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 21E OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED. STATEMENTS IN THIS NEWS RELEASE, WHICH ARE NOT PURELY HISTORICAL, ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INCLUDE ANY STATEMENTS REGARDING BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS OR INTENTIONS REGARDING THE FUTURE. EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN, MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH STATEMENTS. STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS, INCLUDING STATEMENTS THAT ARE PRECEDED BY, FOLLOWED BY, OR THAT INCLUDE SUCH WORDS AS"ESTIMATE", "ANTICIPATE", "BELIEVE", "PLAN" OR "EXPECT" OR SIMILAR STATEMENTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE INCLUDE STATEMENTS RELATING TO OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY. For inquiries:
Dave Gentry
RedChip Companies Inc.
[email protected]
+1-407-491-4498 Cuentas, Inc.
[email protected]com
+1-800-611-3622
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Massachusetts' Leading Robotics Companies
BOSTON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Robotics Week April 6-14, 2019, MassRobotics is hosting a series of statewide open houses at innovative robotics organizations shaping the new Massachusetts technology landscape and the state's ever-growing robotics cluster. "Massachusetts is a global hub of robot technology development and innovation," said Tom Ryden, executive director, MassRobotics. "As part of RoboWeek, we hope to increase the public awareness of the importance of the robotics industry in Massachusetts and its tremendous impact on the future by providing an inside look into some of the area's robotics companies. These events are ideal for investors, those looking to advance their careers in robotics, government officials invested in the Commonwealth's technology and innovation industry, and businesses interested in collaborating with these smart companies." From Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12, robot enthusiasts can get behind-the-scenes tours at Massachusetts' best-known robotics companies, including: iRobot Tour the Cool Stuff Museum and Family Innovation Lab, learn about the company and see a demo of a robot in action. Bedford, MA.
Tour the Cool Stuff Museum and Family Innovation Lab, learn about the company and see a demo of a robot in action. 6 River Systems Learn about Chuck, a collaborative mobile robot, and how the company is building fulfillment solutions for the warehouses of tomorrow. Waltham, MA.
Learn about Chuck, a collaborative mobile robot, and how the company is building fulfillment solutions for the warehouses of tomorrow. DunkWorks Part of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Center for Marine Robotics, see how DunkWorks isaccelerating the path of technology to the ocean. Woods Hole, MA.
Part of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Center for Marine Robotics, see how DunkWorks isaccelerating the path of technology to the ocean. Piaggio Fast Forward Meet gita, the sustainable, mobile-carrier that follows people on the go while transporting up to 45 pounds and learn about the company's vision of a sustainable mobility ecology with healthy lifestyles and social connectivity available to all. Boston, MA.
Meet gita, the sustainable, mobile-carrier that follows people on the go while transporting up to 45 pounds and learn about the company's vision of a sustainable mobility ecology with healthy lifestyles and social connectivity available to all. Symbotic Learn how to simplify material handling from manufacturer to store shelf with the combination of proprietary software and mathematics. Wilmington, MA.
Learn how to simplify material handling from manufacturer to store shelf with the combination of proprietary software and mathematics. Artaic Discover how Artaic is using robotic technology to customize, design and fabricate award-winning mosaics for projects of any size. Boston, MA.
Discover how Artaic is using robotic technology to customize, design and fabricate award-winning mosaics for projects of any size. FLIR Unmanned Ground Systems As the world's leading provider of battle-tested Unmanned Ground Vehicles, get an inside look at how these robots help keep troops, first responders and the public safe. Chelmsford, MA.
As the world's leading provider of battle-tested Unmanned Ground Vehicles, get an inside look at how these robots help keep troops, first responders and the public safe. UMass Lowell NERVE and iHub As part of the monthly Mass Innovation Nights event series, network with members of the local innovation community and view presentations by local startups and entrepreneurs. To register, visit https://mass.innovationnights.com/events/mass-innovation-nights-121. Lowell, MA.
As part of the monthly Mass Innovation Nights event series, network with members of the local innovation community and view presentations by local startups and entrepreneurs. To register, visit https://mass.innovationnights.com/events/mass-innovation-nights-121. MassRobotics Meet the masterminds behind the innovation hub for robotics and connected devices. Get a deep dive in how our programming is nurturing the next generation of talent and promoting economic growth. Boston, MA.
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/massrobotics-15198733574. About MassRobotics
MassRobotics is the result of the collective work of a group of engineers, rocket scientists and entrepreneurs with a shared vision to create a strong, vibrant robotics and IoT ecosystem in Massachusetts. MassRobotics' mission is to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics and connected devices companies by providing entrepreneurs and innovative robotics/automation startups with the workspace and resources they need to develop, prototype, test and commercialize their products and solutions. See www.massrobotics.org for details.
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/get-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-massachusetts-leading-robotics-companies-300818383.html SOURCE MassRobotics
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Global Smart Mirror Market Size, Trends, Research, Share, Opportunity & Forecast 2019-2024
According to a comprehensive study by KD Market Insights analyzes A recent report by KD market insights titled as "Smart Mirror Market - By End-User (Automotive, Healthcare, Residential, Others), By Component (Hardware, Software Application, Services), By Applications (Advertising, Hidden Camera Recording, Home Monitoring & Security, Weather Condition, Others) & Global Region Market Size, Trends, Share & Forecast 2019-2024" provides the key trends, opportunities and challenges market will face in the forecasted period of 6 years i.e. 2019-2024. The study also provides the Smart Mirror Market competitors share and region wise analysis around the globe.
The Smart Mirror Market is forecasted to thrive at XX% CAGR to reach notable market value by the end of 2024. The smart mirror is an electronic device mirror and known as a magic mirror with several benefits. It covers a wide range of technologies including wireless sensor systems, AI (Artificial Intelligence), displays, touch capability, Wi-Fi connectivity, and GPS (Global Positioning System), mobile data acquisition, AR (augmented reality) and others technology. Smart mirror updates the information related to the weather report, calendar events, news, and social media notifications and others.
Request for Sample @ https://www.kdmarketinsights.com/sample/3374 Growth Drivers & Restrain A smart mirror is one of the very latest technologies for home automation and other areas such as hospitals, automotive, and others. The smart mirror is being used for security purposes, fast updating information related to navigation, calendar, weather report, stock reports, quotes, and others. These wide range of applications of smart mirrors are fueling the growth of the smart mirror market. Technology has become an everyday part of our lives as the growing adoption of smartphones with high speed of internet technologies such as 4G and LTE (long term evolution) and using home automation apps through voice recognition is boosting the market growth of smart mirror. Moreover, the acrylic smart mirror is made of very transparent glass, as acrylic glass provides a crystal-clear view of the text and graphics compared to a standard glass two-way mirror.
Additionally, the smart mirror has a number of applications such as in elevators, airports, hotels, office lobbies, public restrooms, and others. For instance, in January 2011, Clear Channel Airports (CCA) and Mirrus Corporation collaborated on a pilot program of deploying 150 smart mirrors with advertising displays in all restrooms at the Chicago O'Hare airport. Besides this, growing investment in R&D activities on smart mirrors and new technology innovation are the major factors driving the smart mirror market globally. Additionally, the smart mirror market is segmented based on application into automotive, hospitality, smart homes, and others. Among them, healthcare and automotive applications dominate the global smart mirror market. As in hospitals, the smart mirrors used for patient-specific information such as real-time human body statistics (heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure) and prescription reminders is anticipated to drive the demand for the smart mirror market in near future. Besides this, these smart mirrors are also used in automotive with functionalities such as temperature display, navigation, turn signals, and others is one of the key elements which are propelling the growth of smart mirror market. In terms of region, the Europe region led the smart mirror market in terms of revenue. The presence of major automobile manufacturers such as Volkswagen, BMW, and Daimler are creating demand for smart mirrors in Europe.
Further, the availability of better technology infrastructure in Europe is also encouraging the demand for smart mirrors in European countries. However, the high initial cost of manufacturing and implementation of smart mirror devices are restraining revenue growth of the smart mirror market.
Segmentation The research offers a comprehensive analysis of smart mirror market with respect to following sub-markets: By End-User - Automotive - Healthcare - Residential - Others By Component - Hardware - Sensors - Cameras - Audio Systems - Connectivity - Extension Cord - Others - Software Application - Services By Applications - Advertising - Hidden Camera Recording - Home Monitoring & Security - Weather Condition - Others By Geography North America (U.S. & Canada) Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe) Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and Rest of Asia Pacific) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Rest of Latin America) Middle East & Africa (GCC, North Africa, South Africa and Rest of Middle East & Africa) Competitive landscape The report profiles various major market players such as, - Gentex Corporation - Magna International Inc - Panasonic Corporation - Seura Solutions - Samsung Electronics - Keonn Technologies - Mirrus Corporation - Toshiba - Evervue - Pro Display - Other Major & Niche Players Browse Full Report With [email protected] https://www.kdmarketinsights.com/product/smart-mirror-market Table of [email protected] Research Methodology Market Definition and List of Abbreviations 1. Executive Summary 2. Growth Products & Issues in Global Smart Mirror Market 3. Global Smart Mirror Market Trends 4. Opportunities in Global Smart Mirror Market 5. Recent Industry Activities, 2018 6. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 7. Market Value Chain and Supply Chain Analysis 8. Products Average Price Analysis, By Country 9. Global Smart Mirror Market Value (USD Million), 2018-2024 10. Global Smart Mirror Market Segmentation Analysis, By End-User 10.1. Introduction 10.2. Market Attractiveness, By End-User 10.3. BPS Analysis, By End-User 10.4. Automotive Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 10.5. Healthcare Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 10.6. Residential Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 10.7. Others Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 11. Global Smart Mirror Market Segmentation Analysis, By Component 11.1. Introduction 11.2. Market Attractiveness, By Component 11.3. BPS Analysis, By Component 11.4. Hardware Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 11.4.1. Sensors Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 11.4.2. Cameras Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 11.4.3. Audio Systems Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 11.4.4. Extension cord Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 11.4.5. Connectivity Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 11.4.6. Others Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 11.5. Software Application Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 11.6. Services Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 12. Global Smart Mirror Market Segmentation Analysis, By Applications 12.1. Introduction 12.2. Market Attractiveness, By Applications 12.3. BPS Analysis, By Applications 12.4. Advertising Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 12.5. Hidden Camera Recording Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 12.6. Home Monitoring & Security Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 12.7. Weather Condition Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 12.8. Others Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13. Geographical Analysis 13.1. Introduction 13.2. North America Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.1. By End-User 13.2.1.1. Introduction 13.2.1.2. Market Attractiveness, By End-User 13.2.1.3. BPS Analysis, By End-User 13.2.1.4. Automotive Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.1.5. Healthcare Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.1.6. Residential Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.1.7. Others Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.2. By Component 13.2.2.1. Introduction 13.2.2.2. Market Attractiveness, By Component 13.2.2.3. BPS Analysis, By Component 13.2.2.4. Hardware Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.2.4.1. Sensors Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.2.4.2. Cameras Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.2.4.3. Audio Systems Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.2.4.4. Extension cord Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.2.4.5. Connectivity Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.2.4.6. Others Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.2.5. Software Application Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.2.6. Services Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.3. By Applications 13.2.3.1. Introduction 13.2.3.2. Market Attractiveness, By Applications 13.2.3.3. BPS Analysis, By Applications 13.2.3.4. Advertising Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.3.5. Hidden Camera Recording Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.3.6. Home Monitoring & Security Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.3.7. Weather Condition Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.3.8. Others Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.4. By Country 13.2.4.1. Market Attractiveness, By Country 13.2.4.2. BPS Analysis, By Country 13.2.4.3. U.S. Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 13.2.4.4. Canada Market Value (USD Million) Forecast & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2018-2024 Continue Check for [email protected] https://www.kdmarketinsights.com/discount/3374 About KD Market Insights KD Market Insights has come with the idea of helping business by intelligent decision making and thorough understanding of the industry. We offer a comprehensive database of syndicated research, customized reports as well as consulting services to help a business grow in their respective domain. At KD Market Insights, we offer our client a deep Market research reports accompanied by business consulting services that can help them to reach on top of the corporate world. Our customized reports are built by keeping all factors of the industry in mind.
Contact Us 150 State street, 3rd Floor, Albany, New York United states (12207) Telephone: +1-518-300-1215 Email: - [email protected] Website: - www.kdmarketinsights.com As a community-building service, TMCnet allows user submitted content which is not always proofed by TMCnet editors. If you feel this entry is of inferior quality or wish to report it for some reason, please forward the URL to "webedit [AT] tmcnet [DOT] com" with your comments.
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] History meets the future: Italy joins the Belt and Road Initiative
BEIJING, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by China.org.cn on Xi Jinping's visit to Italy: The Venetian businessman Marco Polo never could have imagined that his journey to China by camel and on foot would still be prompting his country's economic growth and improving people's lives, even after more than 700 years. Italy has signed of a memorandum of understanding to become part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI - one of the top highlights of cooperation during President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Italy. This wasn't an "unexpected incident." Participation in the BRI is important, not only to Italy's own development, but also for China-Italy and China-EU relations to keep pace with the times. Still impacted by the aftermath of the debt crisis, Italy needs more external cooperation to achieve its primary objective of stimulating economic growth and giving people a stronger sense of fulfillment. Participation in the BRI - pursuing open, inclusive and shared development - has certainly become Italy's best choice. The Italian government has showed its enthusiasm for participating in the BRI cooperation for a long time. Previously, 13 other EU countries reached consensus on cooperation with China, and working together under the framework of the BRI has become a trend of the times in Europe. Instead of falling behind, Italy hopes to forge ahead in this process. As an Italian government official said, this time Italy has finally taken the lead in European countries' cooperation with China. Some media were concerned about two poins: that Italy would yield to pressure from outside countries, and that the agreement signed between China and Italy would be a "shrinking" one. Whatever their motives, these concerns have only prompted people to learn about the true meaning behind the BRI. As a new formula offered to the world, the BRI and its development may shoulder heavy responsibility in the years to come. In being open and inclusive, China has offered to the world a new model for cooperation guided by the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. It is only natural that all cooperative partners should be sincere and pragmatic, and act according to circumstances.
The upgrading of port construction along the coast of the Adriatic Sea will provide a huge capacity for Sino-Italian trade cooperation, and China's vast market will provide additional fair opportunities for Italian enterprises at the same time. The two countries are ready to embark upon their new journey of BRI cooperation. This is where the history and the future meet, and where prosperity and peace advance side by side. Both Europe and the entire world should cheer for it. China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm History meets the future: Italy joins the Belt and Road Initiative http://www.china.org.cn/video/2019-03/26/content_74613252.htm About China.org.cn Founded in 2000, China Internet Information Center (China.org.cn/China.com.cn) is a key state news website under the auspices of the State Council Information Office, and is managed by China International Publishing Group. We provide round-the-clock news service in ten languages. With users from more than 200 countries and regions, we have become China's leading multi-lingual news outlet introducing the country to the outside world.
We are one of the country's authoritative outlets for government press releases and are authorized to cover various major events. "Live Webcast" is our online webcasting service to present State Council Information Office press conferences in both Chinese and English languages. We are reputed for timely and accurate delivery of news and information, and wide interactions with audiences. In addition, we are authorized to publish and live broadcast major events and press conferences of ministries, local government agencies and institutions as well as enterprises.
In the era of mobile internet, we endeavor to create an array of products for mobile devices headed by the multilingual WAP platform and the mobile APP. We also use Chinese and international social media to publish information for different user groups.
In the future, CIIC will continue to offer authoritative information about China, tell China's stories, voice China's opinions, and introduce a vivid, panoramic and multicultural China to the world through multi-language, multi-media and multi-platforms. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/history-meets-the-future-italy-joins-the-belt-and-road-initiative-300818387.html SOURCE China.org.cn
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Kohl's Donates $5 Million to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin to Enhance Mental Health Services
In support of the company's broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR (News - Alert)) platform focused on family health and wellness, Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) today announced it will donate $5 million, over four years, to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin to help launch a multi-year mental health strategy to improve mental health services for Wisconsin kids and their families. The grant will directly address the state's need for greater access to mental health services for children and generate awareness about the impact a child's mental health has on his or her holistic well-being. "Kohl's shares Children's Hospital of Wisconsin's commitment to children's health and wellness, and we're proud to elevate our nearly 20-year partnership with this amazing institution," said Michelle Gass, Kohl's chief executive officer. "We applaud the efforts Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is making to break down barriers and increase access to services and resources that support mental wellness by addressing stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, and other issues that so many kids across the country face today." Children's Hospital of Wisconsin will devote Kohl's funding to mental health access, early detection, prevention, education, and awareness through the expansion of school-based mental and behavioral health services, introduction of new and refined system-wide screening tools, mental health programming research, and an awareness campaign. "This incredibly generous gift will jumpstart numerous initiatives and expand programs that strengthen our mental health strategy," said Peggy Troy, president and CEO of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. "We are so thankful that Kohl's believes in our vision that Wisconsin kids will be the healthiest in the nation - physically, mentally, and socially. Sadly, Wisconsin ranks extremely low in meeting the mental health needs of our kids." Since 2000, Kohl's and Kohl's Cares have donated more than $15 million to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. The long-standing partnership between Kohl's and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is rooted in creating new and exciting programs focused on kids' health and education. Most recently, Kohl's and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin launched Mission: Healthy Kids, a program that helps Wisconsin kids and families learn how to eat right, stay fit, and feel good about their bodies.
Kohl's has a deep commitment to improving the health and wellness of families in its hometown. For more than 30 years, the company has given nearly $115 million to local nonprofit organizations to address critical community needs through its best-in-class volunteer program, grants to 15 hometown partners and six affiliate partners, Kohl's Hometown Giving Program, and Kohl's Field Trip Grant Program. Kohl's donations are made possible through Kohl's philanthropic program, Kohl's Cares, which sells children's books and toys and donates 100 percent of the net profit to support happier and healthier communities nationwide. For more information on Kohl's commitment to family health and wellness and the company's CSR efforts, visit Corporate.Kohls.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including 2019 earnings guidance. Kohl's intends forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," "plans," or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause Kohl's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A in Kohl's Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described in Kohl's filings with the SEC (News - Alert). Forward-looking statements relate to the date initially made, and Kohl's undertakes no obligation to update them. About Kohl's Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) is a leading omnichannel retailer with more than 1,100 stores in 49 states. With a commitment to inspiring and empowering families to lead fulfilled lives, Kohl's offers amazing national and exclusive brands, incredible savings and an easy shopping experience in our stores, online at Kohls.com and on Kohl's mobile app. Since its founding, Kohl's has given more than $700 million to support communities nationwide, with a focus on family health and wellness. For a list of store locations or to shop online, visit Kohls.com. For more information about Kohl's impact in the community or how to join our winning team, visit Corporate.Kohls.com or follow @KohlsNews on Twitter (News - Alert). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005125/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] MARS Company Named One of the 2018 "Top 25 Utilities Tech Solutions Providers"
OCALA, Fla., March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- MARS Company, global leader in water meter testing and technology solutions, announced today that it was recently recognized as one of the top 25 Utilities Tech Solutions Providers for 2018. This is a CIO Applications magazine annual listing of companies providing Utilities technology solutions helping clients build a competitive advantage and transform their businesses. MARS Company is the industry leader focused on providing water meter test bench systems, M3 Enterprise Software solutions, MARS Calibration Certification (MCC) and on-site training programs. These innovative solutions are used to build a stronger network within the waterworks industry while boosting digital applications as the norm for municipalities and utility companies. With patented, award-winning, state-of-the-art technologies, the goal of the company is to lead utility management companies in recovering revenue lost due to reporting inaccuracies, real and estimated water losses via sustainable and environmentally sounds avenues. MARS Company CEO, Dave Corey, says, "Inaccuracy in the measurement of water delivery leads to significant loss of revenue for our clients. To mitigate that, we focus heavily on meter testing and joining hands with meter manufacturers and vendors to obtain fact-based data to identify the revenue leakage and contain it." Further, "MARS continues to drive industry leadership and innovation and we are proud to be recognized as the only test bench provider that is compliant with the New C 717-18 ISO/AWWA standard," said Corey The utility industry has traditionally been behind in evolving with the digital world. However, with advances such as big data analytics, Smart Cities and the Internet of Things; MARS Company is shifting the waterworks industry towards a digital path for ciies and municipalities to adopt novel reporting applications enhancing accuracy, customer service and operations.
CIO Applications magazine provides global coverage in promoting cutting-edge technology experts, such as MARS Company, and highlighting a genre of businesses who are offering best-in-class solutions and services. Florida-based MARS Company exemplifies the evolution of an American waterworks organization originating from a grassroots manufacturing-engineering concept and evolving to a sophisticated digital Industrial Technology Manufacturing business compliant with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards.
MARS Company will be a featured presenter and exhibitor (booth #135) at the California Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association (CA-NV AWWA) 2019 Operator Symposium Conference held on March 25-27, 2019. For more information about MARS Company and its M3 Enterprise Software, please visit www.MARSwater.com. About MARS Company
MARS Company is a global leader in water meter testing and technology solutions. With more than 30 years of experience assisting municipal and private utilities throughout the world, MARS has a long track record of success. MARS core business and expertise include: Patented Water Meter Testing Systems & Software Technology, Software Solutions and Water System Specialty Products. Innovative thinking allows MARS to leverage its unique, proprietary technology, patent positioning, manufacturing infrastructure and world-class management strength, to further position itself as the leader in the water industry. CONTACT: Mike Mastic, Director of Test Bench and Software Systems; Tel: (352) 414-7690; [email protected] This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words "planned," "expects," "believes," "strategy," "opportunity," "anticipates" and similar words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause MARS Company's actual results to be materially different from historical results or any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. MARS Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof. The potential risks and uncertainties which could cause actual growth and results to differ materially include but are not limited to, customer acceptance of the company's services, products and fee structures, the success of the company's brand development efforts, the volatile and competitive nature of the water industry, and changes in domestic and international market conditions, and foreign exchange rates. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mars-company-named-one-of-the-2018-top-25-utilities-tech-solutions-providers-300818179.html SOURCE MARS Company
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Nordicity Study Highlights Increasing Importance of Canadian Wireless Sector to the Canadian Economy
GDP Contribution of $27.5 billion for 2017 is an increase of more than 9% from 2016 OTTAWA, March 26, 2019 /CNW/ - Canada's wireless telecommunications sector continues to generate significant and increasing economic benefits to the Canadian economy in terms of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and employment according to a new report by Nordicity. Commissioned by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), the report shows the significant positive economic impact the industry makes when it comes to GDP, jobs and capital investment. The report also shows this impact has grown significantly on a year-over-year basis. Key Findings: In 2017, Canada's wireless industry contributed $27.5 billion to the Canadian GDP, an increase of 9.1% from $25.21 billion 2016.
wireless industry contributed to the Canadian GDP, an increase of 9.1% from 2016. The major contributor to this overall GDP increase was the $1.22 billion increase in the contribution of wireless network operators to the GDP.
increase in the contribution of wireless network operators to the GDP. The wireless sector generated 155,550 full-time equivalents (FTE) jobs in 2017, including direct, indirect and induced effects an increase of 13,500 FTEs or 9.8% from 2016.
Canadian facilities-based network operators made capital investments in Canada's wireless infrastructure totaling $2.92 billion in 2017 an increase of $0.34 billion or 13.2% from 2016. "A country's overall competitiveness is increasingly being determined by its competiveness in the ICT (Information and Communiction Technologies) sector, of which the wireless sector is a key component," said Nordicity Partner Stuart Jack. "Our report shows that Canada's wireless sector contribution to the Canadian GDP continues to increase and is a key growth enabler of the overall Canadian ICT sector."
"The Nordicity report highlights the critical contribution our industry makes to the Canadian economy," said Robert Ghiz, President & CEO of CWTA. "The billions of dollars of investments in infrastructure and innovation made each year by Canada's facilities-based wireless operators help drive the Canadian economy, create thousands of well-paying jobs and play a critical role in enabling key industry sectors to shift to the new digital and data-driven economy. As we seek to expand the reach of our wireless networks and introduce 5G wireless to Canada, the need for continued private sector investment will only increase as will the need for maintaining a public policy environment that encourages such investment. The growth of Canada's economy depends on it." Additional Key Facts about Canada's Wireless Industry (supplemental to the Report):
Canada's facilities-based wireless carriers have invested approximately $48 billion in wireless infrastructure between the years of 1987 and 2017. (Historical data from Nordicity, CRTC, CWTA and Bank of America Merrill Lynch).
facilities-based wireless carriers have invested approximately in wireless infrastructure between the years of 1987 and 2017. (Historical data from Nordicity, CRTC, CWTA and Bank of America Merrill Lynch). Facilities-based wireless carriers in Canada generate the most capital expenditure per subscriber among the G7 and Australia . (Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Global Wireless Matrix, December 2018 ).
generate the most capital expenditure per subscriber among the G7 and . (Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Global Wireless Matrix, ). Facilities-based wireless service providers have paid to the Canadian government over $14.1 billion in spectrum auction revenues between the years 1987-2016. (Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), Government of Canada )
in spectrum auction revenues between the years 1987-2016. (Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), Government of ) It is estimated that, between 2020 and 2026, $26 billion in capital investment will be required for the initial roll-out of 5G infrastructure in Canada , with most of such investment being made by Canada's facilities-based wireless operators. (Accenture, Fuel for Innovation, 2018).
in capital investment will be required for the initial roll-out of 5G infrastructure in , with most of such investment being made by facilities-based wireless operators. (Accenture, Fuel for Innovation, 2018). Canada's wireless networks are #2 in the world in terms of download speeds; 158% faster than the global average and 95% faster than the U.S.. (Ookla, Speedtest Global Index, February 2019 ).
wireless networks are #2 in the world in terms of download speeds; 158% faster than the global average and 95% faster than the U.S.. (Ookla, Speedtest Global Index, ). Long term evolution (LTE) networks, which deliver higher speeds than previous generation networks, are available to 99% of Canadians. LTE-advanced (LTE-A) networks, offering even higher speeds than LTE, are now available to 92% of Canadians, a 9% increase over the previous year. (CRTC, Communications Monitoring Report, 2018) For a copy of the report, or more information, please see www.cwta.ca. About CWTA
CWTA is the authority on wireless issues, developments and trends in Canada. It represents companies that provide services and products across the wireless sector. Representing the industry before all levels of government and various regulatory agencies, CWTA actively promotes the industry with the goal of ensuring continued growth of the wireless sector in Canada. CWTA administers a number of initiatives on behalf of its members, including corporate social responsibility programs and the national common short codes program. SOURCE Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] OncoLens Raises Seed Funding of $1.35 Million Led by BIP Capital and Atlanta Technology Angels
OncoLens, a technology company serving cancer care programs has successfully closed a $1.35 million seed round. BIP Capital and Atlanta Technology Angels (ATA) led the round. The company will deploy the capital toward its strategic growth plans. OncoLens' platform enables a diverse and multispecialty cancer care team to seamlessly collaborate on treatment plans for individual patients. With the explosion of diagnostic tests and treatment options, OncoLens ensures that every complex cancer patient benefits from a discussion by a diverse group of specialists. The company also provides cancer-specific decision support and assists cancer programs to track, discuss and implement nationally approved quality metrics. As part of this funding round, OncoLens announced Sarath Degala, vice president at BIP Capital, and ATA board member Bill Midgette have joined its board of directors. "I am very excited to have Bill and Sarath on our board," said Anju Mathew, OncoLens' CEO and co-founder. "Their immense experience and knowledge of the healthcare industry will help us serve our customers better as well as expand our product portfolio." Degala brings direct operational experience at large health systems where he held multiple C-level positions. "BIP Capital is excited to support OncoLens with this investment, adding another exciting company to our portfolio that improves patients' lives and increases the efficiency of healthcare," Degala said. Midgette, who now leads Fairburn Equity partners, was formerly CEO of Porex Corp. and president of C.R. Bard Medical. "The Atlanta Technology Angels supports early-stage companies that have groundbreaking technologies," Midgette said. "We are excited by the possibilities of the OncoLens software platform. Their solution allows academic and community based physicians to seamlessly integrate the volume of cancer data available today and the new therapies and diagnostics of tomorrow, thus optimizing the care path for their patients." Current cancer treatment planning methods are comprised of archaic manual processes, taking an estimated 10 hours to aggregate data from disparate sources to plan cancer treatment options for the discussion of approximately 5 cases. he discussions are not standardized and what is discussed is usually what is top of mind, rather than the most relevant clinical trials or treatment options. OncoLens decreases a cancer center's workload and saves resources by streamlining the data aggregation process, enabling decision support, and incorporating multiple workflows into one solution.
The company is part of Georgia Tech's Advanced Technology Development Center's ATDC Accelerate portfolio and in 2018, OncoLens was named a Showcase Company at Venture Atlanta. In addition, OncoLens has received the "Exceptional Research Award" from the Academy of Oncology Nurse Navigators in 2017 and Pharmatech Outlook named the company a "Top 10 E-clinical Trial Management Solution" in 2018. About OncoLens
OncoLens is a Software-as-a-Service solution that streamlines the care treatment planning process for cancer programs. The platform brings efficiency to the tumor board management, survivorship care planning and related accreditation and quality improvement initiatives. The platform merges case specific clinical decision support criteria, including applicable clinical trials, to support the multi-disciplinary approach to care treatment. To learn more, please visit oncolens.com. About BIP Capital BIP Capital is recognized as one of the most active and successful venture investors in the Southeast, serving entrepreneurs, investors and operators to grow the emerging company ecosystem. It applies experience and process to make investment decisions and operational recommendations, allowing its portfolio companies to achieve and stay on a glide path of growth. Areas of focus include Enterprise SaaS (News - Alert), Healthcare IT, Digital Media, Dev Tools and MarTech. For more information, visit bip-capital.com or follow BIP Capital on LinkedIn or Twitter (News - Alert) @BIPCapital. About Atlanta Technology Angels We are one of the nation's top angel investing networks. Our mission is to provide opportunities for members to invest in top-tier, early-stage companies in the Southeast. ATA members provide seed and early-stage capital to entrepreneurs seeking between $200K-$3M (News - Alert). This is an investment range not generally served by venture capital funds and serves as a catalyst that helps to build Georgia's economy into a thriving center of technology and entrepreneurship. To learn more, visit angelatlanta.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005177/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
It may look like reporter Andy Salmon and author Michael Breen squaring off with each other, drawing looks of concern from the other participants. True, we parted our ways without lunch as in the Hanoi summit, the subject of the Times' roundtable, but the conversation was conducted in quite a civilized manner with no punches thrown at but pulled from each other. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Andrew Salmon
There had been widespread expectations and high hopes, but in the event, the highly anticipated" and "historic" second summit, held in Hanoi between North Korean and the United States, crashed and burned.
For most of us in Hanoi sipping the excellent Vietnamese coffee and enjoying the ease of covering a summit in which there were only two players, and no delegations to chase around town to try to doorstop it was a shock outcome.
Things had looked so good. There had been grins and mutual back pats between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump. The chemistry between the delegations looked excellent. Kim had even made a minor bit of history by answering a question from a reporter.
Then, as we all know, the U.S. delegation "walked."
The blame game looks likely to continue for months if not years.
Had Kim been overconfident that the Americans would be prepared to accept the dismantlement of his central nuclear complex at Yongbyon in the expectation that he could retain his secretive highly enriched uranium program?
Had National Security Adviser John Bolton, the last Washington Neo-con, torpedoed the summit by demanding a massive deal that had not been on the table in preliminary talks, and that he knew the North Koreans could not accept?
Did Trump, the self-described great negotiator, want to show how tough he was to supporters back home or had he finally bought into the pessimism of some in Washington, becoming convinced that Kim is not, in fact, prepared to offer up his "treasured sword?"
At this point, all is not clear. Is there any upside? Perhaps.
[March 26, 2019] Onlia Joins with Carrot Rewards to Help Make Canada a Safer Place
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 /CNW/ - Onlia Holding Inc., a new company offering innovative digital auto insurance and mobile app, today announced it is working with Carrot Rewards, Canada's most popular wellness app and AI-driven engagement platform, to help launch its entrance into the Canadian marketplace. Toronto-based Onlia is disrupting the insurance industry by taking a non-conventional approach to making Canada's roads safer. Onlia is using nudge theory and behavioural economics to help educate and inform Canadians about how they think about safety, by motivating and rewarding safe drivers via the Onlia Sense app. At Onlia, safety comes first and insurance is a close second. As Onlia is focused on creating safe behaviour changes, there is no better alignment to help promote this vision than Carrot. "We're creating a community to make Canada a safer place, testing safety concepts with brand actions, and providing the tools and motivation to facilitate safer behaviours," said Bonny van Rest, Onlia's Chief Marketing Officer. "We're excited to leverage the Carrot platform to inform and engage Canadians by nudging and rewarding them for making better, safer driving choices." Carrot is uniquely qualified to work with Onlia as it has over 1 million registered users that are interested in making better lifestyle choices for themselves and their families. Carrot has worked with partners in the public and private sectors to educate and motivate its users with engaging content that drives change. The initial program launches on the Carrot app today with one of three educational quizzes that will educate user about driving and community safety, as well as safety tips to help drive lasting behavior change.
"Onlia is rethinking the way Canadians approach safety and insurance, and we're thrilled that they chose Carrot as a way to raise awareness," said Lorne Solway, chief marketing and strategy officer, Carrot Rewards. "Carrot is known for driving positive, sustainable behaviour change, and we're happy to play a role in making the roads a safer place for Canadians to travel on." About Onlia
Onlia Holding Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Onlia Agency Inc. & Onlia Services Inc., offers innovative digital insurance and mobile technology products to the Canadian market. Onlia's mission is to create a community around making Canada a safer place, and to provide tools and motivation to facilitate safer behaviours. Launched in 2018, Onlia is a joint venture between Achmea Canada Holding Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Achmea B.V. the largest insurance group of the Netherlands, and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, a Canadian holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management. Using proprietary and award-winning technology, Onlia is rethinking the way Canadians approach safety and insurance. Join the community at Onlia.ca and on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . 2018 Onlia Holding Inc. ONLIA, ONLIA SENSE and the Conversational Cloud Logo are trademarks of Onlia Holding Inc., used under license. Available for Interviews: Pieter Louter, CEO, Onlia
Bonny van Rest, Chief Marketing Officer, Onlia For further information: DDBPR
John Bowes | 416-972-5891
E: [email protected] About Carrot Rewards
Carrot Rewards is an AI-driven wellness app and brand engagement platform that leverages behavioural economics and nudge theory to motivate and reward users for making better lifestyle choices. Carrot maximizes appeal and engagement by offering users a choice of rewards from the most popular consumer loyalty programs in Canada, users can earn Aeroplan Miles, SCENE points, Petro-Points, More Rewards points, Drop points or RBC Rewards each time they interact with the app. Over one million users strong, Carrot has been recognized as Canadian App of the Year by MobileSyrup, ranked by Bond Brand Loyalty as a Top 10 Canadian Loyalty Program in The Loyalty Report 2018, named one of the Top Fastest Growing Companies by Canadian Business and Maclean's Magazine and is the 2019 winner of the World Government Summit's Edge of Government Global Innovation Award. The Carrot Rewards platform was created in collaboration with Canadian government agencies, health NGOs and the private sector. A similar rollout of the Carrot Rewards app is currently underway in the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit: www.carrotapp.com
Twitter & Instagram: @carrot_rewards
Facebook: /carrotrewards Available for Interviews:
Andreas Souvaliotis, Founder and CEO, Carrot Rewards
Lorne Solway, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Carrot Rewards For further information: Duet Public Relations
Jennifer Love | 416-271-5477
E: [email protected] SOURCE Onlia
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Royal Canadian Navy to use Kognitiv Spark's Augmented Reality software to improve vessel repairs and maintenance
Kognitiv Spark will be providing the Royal Canadian Navy with the opportunity to test drive a Mixed Reality Remote Assistant Support (MIRRAS) system, as part of a project that aims to improve maintenance and repairs aboard active naval vessels. The project aims to validate technology adopted from Kognitiv Spark, whose software is designed for use with the Microsoft (News - Alert) HoloLens. The software leverages Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence to improve efficiencies with ship operations including repairs, maintenance and knowledge transfer. This system can be used by RCN (News - Alert) Marine Technicians and Weapons Engineering Technicians, to ensure that RCN ships remain at a high-level of readiness for routine training and operational deployments. "Innovation and technological advancement are critical to the future of the Royal Canadian Navy. We are continually seeking new ways to leverage emerging technologies in order to enhance our performance alongside and at sea," said RAdm Casper Donovan, Director General Future Ship Capability, Royal Canadian Navy. "The Mixed Reality Remote Assistant Support system is an exciting tool, because it may provide our sailors with the opportunity to explore a new, and potentially much more efficient way of conducting onboard maintenance." For remote maintenance, a ubject-matter expert using this system can see what the HoloLens wearer sees from anywhere in the world. The expert can provide guidance using real-time voice and video, interactive 3D holograms and content, and live IoT data. Alternatively, the technician can use locally stored data to assist with routine tasks when a remote expert is not available. The holographic support is designed to improve decision making by facilitating decisive action and reducing errors by providing clarity and certainty of comprehension.
"Our solution delivers a toolset that can take advantage of the most powerful visual processing system on the planet, the human brain," said Duncan McSporran, a former military officer and the Co-Founder and COO at Kognitiv Spark. "3D interactive content is more easily interpreted than paper manuals, and therefore reduces any mental fatigue the soldiers, sailors or air force personnel might be facing under harsh and stressful conditions. Our software allows them to make better-informed decisions more rapidly, with all the information and resources possible in a secure system. We are delighted to deploy our Canadian solution, in support of the vision of the Royal Canadian Navy to introduce cutting edge technology." Kognitiv Spark was awarded this contract due in part to their industrial-leading security features and reputation from ongoing work with the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Kognitiv Spark recently won a Microsoft IMPACT award for Innovation with Hardware, a NATO Defence Innovation Challenge award for Mobile Apps for Defence Users and the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association Industry Excellence Award. About Kognitiv Spark: Kognitiv Spark is a global leader for industrial task support software. Partnered with leading hardware providers, they use augmented and mixed reality to deliver holographic worker support with interactive 3D content, artificial intelligence, and live IoT data. Kognitiv Spark's mission is to empower workers to achieve more with operational productivity, primarily in industrial manufacturing, aerospace and defence, and the oil and gas sectors. They believe in human potential - and that with the power of technology, everyday people can achieve extraordinary things. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005121/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Schneider Electric accelerates the transition to low carbon economy at the One Planet Summit 2019
Schneider Electric executives collaborate with other sustainability leaders on how to deliver tangible actions on the most pressing global sustainability challenges
Company can demonstrate how low carbon economy can be a reality now including business and the most vulnerable population alike MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 26, 2019 /CNW/ - Almost 4 years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, President of France Emmanuel Macron is organizing on March 14th in Nairobi (Kenya) the first regional edition of the One Planet Summit, co-chaired with Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the President of the Republic of Kenya. This High-Level session will gather Heads of State and Ministers heading national delegation to UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) as well as representatives of the finance and the business sectors, local governments, civil society, and youth. The session will tackle two main issues: promoting renewable energy and fostering resilience, adaptation and biodiversity. Schneider Electric executives will be part of the summit and participate in many side events happening around it. At this occasion the Group is accelerating its ambition and commitments for climate notably by helping its customer to save 100 M tons of CO2 emissions thanks to cleantech solutions. According to a recent study led by Schneider Electric in partnership with GreenBiz media, companies with public energy and/or sustainability goals see advantages. According to it, more than 50% of companies that have set public goals are more likely to adopt innovative solutions, are more successful in securing project funds, and are more likely to have greater results. Gilles Vermot Desroches, Sustainability Senior VP at Schneider Electric said: "The creation of economic opportunities, jobs and innovation are central to the concerns of the One Planet coalition. To bring about this paradigm shift, we can re- affirm our responsibility in the face of climate change and taking measures to account for climate, social and environmental risks in their business including the most vulnerable population". Democratizing technology to unleash the potential of job creation Providing electricity using renewables to provide electricity to the 1 billion people worldwide without energy access has the potential to create millions of good jobs, however despite increasing demand, a shortage of the skilled workforce needed to deliver electricity access is large and growing. In fact, it is projected that by 2030 there will still be 674 million people without access to energy. It is for this reason that the United Nations have established Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) as a key initiative for ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. Schneider Electric advocates that the goal can be attained if the right combination of technologies, modernized regulatory and financial business models, and local training is implemented. Schneider Electric has committed to train 1 million solar technicians by the year 2025 and is also supporting ground-breaking research on the job creation potential from energy access through the Powering Jobs initiative. At the occasion of the One Planet Summit, the company is presenting a document about How New Regulatory, Financial and Technology Bold Ideas Can Grow Microgrid-driven Access to Energy. According to the findings of this document, Energy is a basis of economic development and opens new doors that facilitate access to healthcare, agriculture and better overall living conditions. From a business perspective, increased standards of living are economic drivers that facilitate the conversion of economically disadvantaged populations into large pools of new customers and consumers. Read more: https://www.schneider-electric.com/en/about-us/sustainability/access-to-energy/ Schneider Electric' evolution since the last One Planet Summit in Paris on the 10 commitments took at the occasion of COP21
2015 2030 commitments Completion 20152017 (expected projection) 1 Quantify the carbon impact of 100% of its major customer projects (20152017) 100% + new ambition to save 100MTCO2 on our customer's end thanks to our offers by 2020 2 Design 100% of new products and services in line with Schneider Electric ecoDesign Way and generate 75% of product revenue with Green Premium (20152017) ecoDesign Way: 100%
Green Premium: 80.1% end 2017, + new Green Premium offer in 2018 covering 45.7% of product sales (target 2020 = 75%) 3 Avoid 120,000 tonnes of CO 2 emissions by implementing "end-of-life" product services in compliance with the principles of the circular economy (20152017) + 160,000t of CO 2, new ambition 2020 to avoid 100 KT of primary resources consumption 4 Facilitate access to lighting and communications for 50 million people at the bottom of the pyramid within 10 years through low-carbon solutions (20152025) 23 million people 5 Build micro-grids to improve flexible usage and reduce impacts In progress 6 Offer SF6 gas alternatives within 5 years (20152020) and no longer use SF6 gas in Schneider Electric products within 10 years (20152025) In progress and ahead of schedule
Reduction of SF6 leaks from 1.76% in 2010 to 0.38% in 2015 and 0.26% in 2018 7 Reduce Schneider Electric's energy intensity by 3.5% annually (2015 and beyond) 10% 2015-2017, renewed target 2018-2020 8 Cut CO 2 emissions from transportation by 3.5% annually (2015 and beyond) 10.3% 2015-2017, renewed ambition 2018-2020 9 Invest 10 billion in innovation and R&D for sustainable development over the next 10 years (20152025) + 3.5 billion 10 Issue a "climate" bond to finance low-carbon R&D Issued in October 2015
About Schneider Electric Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment. www.schneider-electric.com Hashtags: #Sustainability #LifeIsOn #OnePlanetSummit #MakeOurPlanetGreatAgain SOURCE Schneider Electric Canada Inc.
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] State Auto Insurance Chooses Cape Analytics to Deliver AI-Based, Aerial Property Intelligence
Today, Cape Analytics is announcing State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (State Auto), a leading digital provider of property and casualty insurance, is now a fully-deployed Cape Analytics customer. State Auto is using the Cape Analytics product as a property intelligence solution for its homeowner insurance offering, in order to make better risk decisions, improve customer experience, and streamline underwriting. Cape Analytics is providing State Auto with the most comprehensive, timely, and accurate property information available, by leveraging aerial imagery and breakthrough artificial intelligence. The integration of Cape Analytics into State Auto's insurance workflow is one part of State Auto's mission to provide the best possible digital experience to its agents and customers. With Cape's addition to the State Auto technology platform, State Auto customers can continue to expect competitive and accurate policy pricing, while allowing agents to ask homeowners fewer time-consuming questions when providing a quote. "Our partnership with Cape Analytics has helped us gain confidence in our fully automated underwriting process, by providing us new insights into the homes we're insuring," said State Auto President and CEO Mike LaRocco. "As a result, independent agents are able to spend more time offering the advice and counsel that makes them so valuable." "After working together very closely, we are thrilled that State Auto is a fully deployed customer and has found value in Cape Analytics' property intelligence solution," said Ryan Kottenstette, CEO at Cape Analytics. "Our risk-relevant information can empower insurers to reimagine how they run their business, improve customer experience, and even help tem enact innovative practices like automated underwriting or pre-underwriting regions for proactive risk selection."
Cape Analytics is the only solution available that offers comprehensive and accurate intelligence at time of quote, with the speed and breadth necessary to fundamentally improve underwriting processes. With Cape, State Auto can now instantly access contextualized intelligence related to their portfolio as well as comparative property data at the local and national level. Cape Analytics' property intelligence is derived by applying cutting-edge computer vision and deep learning algorithms to geospatial imagery and includes a targeted selection of rigorously-developed property attributes and loss-predictive signals such as Roof Condition Rating. This innovative offering is possible due to Cape Analytics' global team of computer vision and data science PhDs, paired with leading industry expertise related to property risk.
About Cape Analytics Cape Analytics was established in 2014 to revolutionize the way property information is created and used. The company leverages geospatial imagery, computer vision, and machine learning to instantly and automatically extract proprietary property data for insurance carriers and other property stakeholders. Cape Analytics establishes a new category of property data, offering immediacy and coverage comparable to pre-filled data, but with accuracy and detail that previously required time-consuming in-person inspection reports. Cape Analytics seamlessly integrates into carrier quote engines via API. About State Auto State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is a super regional property and casualty insurance holding company. The company is primarily engaged in writing personal and business insurance products exclusively through independent insurance agencies in 33 states and is proud to be a Trusted Choice company partner. State Automobile Mutual is part of the State Auto Group, which is rated A- (Excellent) by the A.M. Best Company and includes State Automobile Mutual, State Auto Financial Corporation, State Auto Property & Casualty, State Auto Ohio, State Auto Wisconsin, Milbank, Meridian Security, Patrons Mutual, Rockhill Insurance, Plaza Insurance, American Compensation and Bloomington Compensation. Additional information can be found online at www.StateAuto.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005149/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] United States Food and Drug Administration is Reviewing Nuvo Group LTD's Remote Monitoring Platform
Platform designed to enable remote monitoring would offer mothers and clinicians a monitoring tool that non-invasively gathers helpful data and insights PRINCETON, New Jersey and TEL AVIV, Israel, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuvo Group today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received the PregSense remote monitoring application for the company's first De Novo classification. If granted clearance, the remote platform would be marketed under the name Invu by Nuvo. Invu is an investigational device under FDA review designed for remote pregnancy monitoring. The patented technology is designed to non-invasively measure and display fetal heart rate (FHR) and maternal heart rate (MHR), creating a digital dashboard. It is indicated for women who are in their 32nd week of gestation (or later), with a singleton pregnancy for both in-clinic and at home use. The submission is based on clinical and cientific validation stemming from pivotal and usability trials. A pivotal study compared the investigational platform to cardiotocographs (CTG) the most widely-used fetal monitoring system. Results from the multi-center study of 149 women showed that Nuvo's platform was able to accurately extract both fetal and maternal heart rates consistent with CTG, while offering the real-time convenience of a remote monitoring solution.
As Nuvo's first De Novo submission, this regulatory milestone paves the way for the company's vision of advancing maternal-fetal connected health by creating a connected pregnancy. "We are pleased to have submitted our De Novo application for FDA review and look forward to working with the FDA to complete the review process," said Oren Oz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nuvo Group. "Our goal is to enable a connected pregnancy, where mothers' visits are seamlessly connected across the home, workplace, doctor's office and hospitals."
About Nuvo Group
Nuvo Group is committed to transforming pregnancy care for a new generation. Proprietary software solutions combined with innovative product design utilize big data analytics to optimize pregnancy healthcare on a global scale. Nuvo Group leadership is comprised of dedicated data engineers, medical professionals, software designers, and proud parents who share a collective vision to create new solutions for both patients and doctors, creating an immediate impact on maternal care worldwide. Nuvo's initial product offering for healthcare providers has completed clinical investigation to support FDA De Novo clearance but is not yet available for sale in the United States. For more information, visit: www.nuvocares.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/841023/Nuvo_Logo.jpg
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] Craig Smith Named CIO of PPM America, Inc.
PPM (News - Alert) America, Inc. (PPM) today announced that Craig Smith, executive vice president and Chief Investment Officer, Jackson General Account has been appointed sole Chief Investment Officer for the firm effective March 21, 2019. He will be responsible for overseeing the fixed income, public equity, and commercial real estate teams. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190325005812/en/ Craig Smith, Chief Investment Officer, PPM America, Inc. (Photo: Business Wire) Craig joined PPM in 2006 and has 24 years of investment experience. He has been serving in a co-CIO capacity at PPM since October 2015, in addition to co-managing the firm's research and trading functions. Prior to joining PPM, Craig was a vice president and senior portfolio manager at Loomis Sayles & Co. where he managed core and core plus bond portfolios for institutional clients. Craig earned an MBA and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University. Additionally, he is a CFA charterholder. "We re excited to have someone of Craig's caliber in the seat and are confident in his expertise and ability to succeed in his newly expanded role. Having worked for PPM for 13 years, Craig understands the fabric of our culture and our collaborative, team-based values," said Mark Mandich, Chief Executive Officer.
As part of this change, Tony Balestrieri, Chief Investment Officer, Total Return and Nelson Zamora, Chief Risk Officer are no longer with the firm. The eight-person risk management and quantitative research team will report to Mark Mandich. PPM is grateful for the contributions Tony and Nelson have made to the firm over their tenure and wishes them well in their future endeavors. About PPM America
Founded in 1990, PPM America (PPM) is a client-focused investment manager with more than $119.27 billion in assets as of February 28, 2019, including $9.29 billion managed by PPM Finance Inc., an affiliate that manages commercial mortgage loans and certain real estate investments. As part of one of the world's leading financial organizations, PPM has the expertise, global reach and substantial resources to provide our clients with investment solutions across markets, including public fixed income, public equity, private equity, and private debt. However, like a smaller shop, PPM remains nimble, investment-led and responsive to the opportunities that teams discover together. PPM's mission is to deliver specific client solutions and service to investors around the world with the goal of meeting investors' unique investment objectives. In addition, PPM employees are committed to building their community and supporting local nonprofits that strengthen families and increase economic opportunities. For more information about PPM, please visit PPM America's website at: www.ppmamerica.com. PPM is an indirect subsidiary of Prudential plc ("UK Parent"), a company incorporated in England and Wales. The UK Parent and its affiliated companies constitute one of the world's leading financial services groups providing insurance and financial services through its subsidiaries and affiliates throughout the world. It has been in existence for more than 170 years and has $837.1 billion in assets under management (as of December 31, 2018). The UK Parent is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190325005812/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] ION announces new multi-client program offshore Central America
HOUSTON, March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE: IO) today announced a new 2D multi-client reimaging program off the Pacific coast of Central America. The Maya Reprocessing program covers unexplored open acreage that has not had E&P activity in 40 years. Previous exploration wells along the margin suggest the presence of an active petroleum system in the Pacific forearc basins. E&P companies can use these data to evaluate the prospective areas identified from the reimaged data. The program covers ~9,000 km of data that extend from the Tehuantepec Basin of Southern Mexico to the Sandino Basin of Western Nicaragua and creates a calibrated data set. The program is expected to be completed before the end of the year. "We have repeatedly proven the value we can deliver by seamlessly integrating and reimaging existing data sets," said Joe Gagliardi, Senior Vice President of ION's E&P Business Development. "This approach provides a cost-effective way for our clients to evaluate prospectivity of new areas. A broad range of E&P companies are looking to add new low cost reserves to their portfolios and are interested in exploring some new frontiers." To learn more, visit iongeo.com/Maya. About ION ION devlops and leverages innovative technologies, creating value through data capture, analysis and optimization to enhance critical decision-making, enabling superior returns. For more information, visit iongeo.com.
Contacts ION (Investor relations)
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Steve Bate, +1 281.552.3011
[email protected] ION (Media relations) Vice President, Communications
Rachel White, +1 281.781.1168
[email protected] The information herein contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include information and other statements that are not of historical fact. Actual results may vary materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the risks associated with the timing and development of ION Geophysical Corporation's products and services; pricing pressure; decreased demand; changes in oil prices; and political, execution, regulatory, and currency risks. These risks and uncertainties also include risks associated with the WesternGeco litigation and other related proceedings. We cannot predict the outcome of this litigation or the related proceedings. For additional information regarding these various risks and uncertainties, including the WesternGeco litigation, see our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed on February 8, 2019. Additional risk factors, which could affect actual results, are disclosed by the Company in its fillings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks filed during the year. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ion-announces-new-multi-client-program-offshore-central-america-300818097.html SOURCE ION Geophysical Corporation
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] The global Semiconductor IP market is expected to grow to US$ 8,265.6 million by 2025 from US$ 3,346.1 million in 2017
LONDON, March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Semiconductor IP market is expected to grow to US$ 8,265.6 million by 2025 from US$ 3,346.1 million in 2017, growing at a CAGR of 11.9%. the semiconductor IP market is going through tremendous instability thereby plunging the CAPEX spending, due to persistent inventory adjustments in the Chinese smartphone industry. However, a remarkable growth has been witnessed in the automotive industry's semiconductor demand amid the progression of advances in automotive electronics. Furthermore, dynamic rise for demand for semiconductor in IT & Telecomm industry continued, especially for processor IP, triggering memory semiconductor IP manufacturers to actively invest in expanding production capacity.
Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5626755/?utm_source=PRN
Based upon the regional diversification, North America is the major contributor to the market followed by APAC and Europe.Also, in coming years the Asia Pacific is expected to gain dominance with positive growth opportunities owing to the shift of electronics and automotive production in this region.
The rapidly increasing consumer electronics and wireless communication market in developing nations offer a worthy growth opportunity to the semiconductor IP market during the forecast period.
The semiconductor IP market has been segmented on the basis of type, source and industry vertical.There are numerous pre-existing blocks available in the market as semiconductor IPs.
Logic gates, memories, register files, datapaths, CPUs, Digital Signal Processors, and single-purpose cores are some of the examples of different IPs available in the market.These several IP blocks are broadly categorized into the following categories and have been included in our study for the semiconductor IP market.
Processor SIP, Interface SIP, Physical SIP, Analog SIP, and Others are the broad category segmentation based on types in the semiconductor IP market.The businesses in the semiconductor IP market have evolved to become one-stop solution providers that offer a wide rang of IP cores and platforms that include graphics, video, cloud software, connectivity, and others.
Therefore, customers who deal with multiple sources for SIP-based products face challenges for the variety of business models and the different fees involved in those models. The sources of revenue generation in the semiconductor IP market are through licensing and royalty. In our study based on semiconductor IP market, the segment based on source has been bifurcated into licensing and royalty. Lastly, the semiconductor IP market has also been segmented on the basis of industry verticals where these solutions find applications. Telecom, automotive, industrial, electronics, medical and others are the segmentation for the semiconductor IP market based on industry vertical.
The overall semiconductor IP market size has been derived using both primary and secondary source.The research process begins with an exhaustive secondary research using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the Semiconductor IP market.
It also provides the overview and forecast for the global semiconductor IP market based on all the segmentation provided with respect to five major reasons such as North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , the Middle East and Africa , and South America.Also, the primary interviews were conducted with industry participants and commentators in order to validate data and analysis.
The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry expert such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, and external consultant such as valuation experts, research analysts and key opinion leaders specializing in the Semiconductor IP market.
Reasons to Buy
Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global semiconductor IP market
- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies
- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the semiconductor IP market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long term strategies
- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets
- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it
- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution
- Examine the political, economic, social and technology impact of the five regions namely: North America , Europe , Asia Pacific , Middle East & Africa and South America .
Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5626755/?utm_source=PRN
About Reportbuyer
Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers
For more information:
Sarah Smith
Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904
Website: www.reportbuyer.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-global-semiconductor-ip-market-is-expected-to-grow-to-us-8-265-6-million-by-2025-from-us-3-346-1-million-in-2017--300817950.html SOURCE ReportBuyer
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] McDonald's to Acquire Dynamic Yield, Will Use Decision Technology to Increase Personalization and Improve Customer Experience
Acquisition fast-tracks McDonald's digital transformation CHICAGO and NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, March 25, 2019 /CNW/ -- McDonald's Corporation (MCD) and Dynamic Yield Ltd. today announced an agreement by which McDonald's will acquire Dynamic Yield, a leader in personalization and decision logic technology. With this acquisition of Dynamic Yield, based in New York and Tel Aviv, McDonald's builds on its significant technology investments for growth. McDonald's will utilize this decision technology to provide an even more personalized customer experience by varying outdoor digital Drive Thru menu displays to show food based on time of day, weather, current restaurant traffic and trending menu items. The decision technology can also instantly suggest and display additional items to a customer's order based on their current selections. This will enable McDonald's to be one of the first companies to integrate decision technology into the customer point of sale at a brick and mortar location. McDonald's tested this technology in several U.S. restaurants in 2018. Upon closing of the acquisition, McDonald's will begin to roll this technology out in the Drive Thru at restaurants in the United States in 2019 and then expand the use to other top international markets. McDonald's will also begin work to integrate the technology into all of its digital customer experience touchpoints, such as self-order kiosks and McDonald's Global Mobile App. Dynamic Yield's ability to meet McDonald's customer needs, coupled with their commitment to grow capabilities around ever-changing consumer trends and evolving marketing technologies, allows for the continued avancement and elevation of the McDonald's customer experience with technology and innovation.
"Technology is a critical element of our Velocity Growth Plan, enhancing the experience for our customers by providing greater convenience on their terms," said Steve Easterbrook, President and Chief Executive Officer, McDonald's Corporation. "With this acquisition, we're expanding both our ability to increase the role technology and data will play in our future and the speed with which we'll be able to implement our vision of creating more personalised experiences for our customers." Liad Agmon, co-founder and CEO of Dynamic Yield, added: "We started Dynamic Yield seven years ago with the premise that customer-centric brands must make personalization a core activity. ?We're thrilled to be joining an iconic global brand such as McDonald's and are excited to innovate in ways that have a real impact on people's daily lives."
McDonald's recent advancements in the tech space including the development of McDonald's Global Mobile App, Mobile Order and Pay, indoor and outdoor digital menu boards and self-order kiosks have transformed customer experiences in and around its restaurants, by giving customers more ways to pay and personalize their orders to meet their needs. Upon closing, McDonald's will become sole owner and will continue to invest in Dynamic Yield's core personalization product and world-class teams. Dynamic Yield will remain a stand-alone company and employees will continue to operate out of offices around the world. Dynamic Yield will also continue to serve their current, and attract future, clients. About McDonald's
McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with nearly 38,000 locations in over 100 countries around the world. Over 92 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business men and women. About Dynamic Yield
Dynamic Yield is an AI-powered Personalization Anywhere platform that delivers individualized experiences at every customer touchpoint: web, apps, email, kiosks, IoT, and call centers. The platform's data management capabilities provide for a unified view of the customer, allowing the rapid and scalable creation of highly targeted digital interactions. Marketers, product managers, and engineers use Dynamic Yield daily for launching new personalization campaigns, running server-side and client-side A/B tests, leveraging machine-learning for product and content recommendations, and employing algorithms for smartly triggered email and push notifications. Headquartered in New York, the company serves more than 300 brands across the world. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-to-acquire-dynamic-yield-will-use-decision-technology-to-increase-personalization-and-improve-customer-experience-300818098.html SOURCE McDonald's Corporation
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] Novel compound for treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) demonstrates positive results in a preclinical study
Strongest announced preclinical results of any drug candidate currently in development for TBI Significant results in neurobehavior as measured by actigraphy. GRAFTON, Mass., March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ischemix, Inc. today announced significant results from a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled preclinical study of its drug, CMX-2043, for the treatment of TBI. The company plans to conduct selected additional preclinical studies that will enable filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and commencement of a Phase 1 trial of the candidate. CMX-2043, a multi-modal cytoprotective compound based on a naturally-occurring molecule present in the human body, was successfully tested in a randomized, placebo-controlled pre-clinical TBI treatment study conducted at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The positive results complement the favorable data generated in a prior preclinical study. The study showed a significant reduction in the volume of brain lesions in the population treated with CMX-2043 for five days post-injury versus the placebo control group. The study also showed that the significant increase in night-time hyperactivity in the placebo arm versus baseline was not seen in the arms that received the drug. Increased night-time hyperactivity is a well-recognized symptom of brain injury. Additionally, there was a significant improvement in certain biochemical markers of TBI in subjects treated with CMX-2043 versus placebo. No safety issues were observed in the study. In the rior preclinical study, CMX-2043 demonstrated a significant increase in mitochondrial bioenergetics, decreased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and oxidative injury in the treated group versus placebo.
We are particularly excited to note that the combined results of these two preclinical studies of CMX-2043 are the strongest of any announced preclinical results of a drug candidate currently in development for TBI, said Reinier Beeuwkes, Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Ischemix, Inc. The objective for developing this compound is to reduce the disabilities associated with TBI and increase the ability of TBI survivors to return to work and complete other activities of daily living, thus reducing economic and social costs to society. The receipt of these data position Ischemix to move aggressively into further development of CMX-2043 as a treatment for TBI, said David DeWahl, President and CEO of the Company. We continue to develop relationships with pharmaceutical companies, not-for-profit entities and US government agencies with the objective of exploring potential collaborations to support further studies of CMX-2043.
About the preclinical studies at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) As part of a sponsored research agreement with CHOP, Ischemix has evaluated the effects of CMX-2043 in two preclinical studies of the drug candidate in TBI. Positive results from these first two studies established the ability of CMX-2043 to significantly reduce the size of the brain lesions in the five-day treatment group relative to placebo and to significantly improve mitochondrial energetics, reduce reactive oxygen species generation and reduce oxidative injury. About TBI TBI is a condition for which there are currently no approved pharmaceutical therapies available. The Center for Disease Control reports that in the US in 2013, there were about 2.5 million TBI-related emergency department visits. It is estimated that each year TBI is responsible for 50,000 deaths and causes 80,000 individuals to have permanent disabilities. It is estimated that the annual direct and indirect cost of TBI in the US approaches $77 billion. About CMX-2043 CMX-2043 is a multi-modal cytoprotective compound based on a naturally-occurring molecule present in the human body. CMX-2043 exhibits several mechanistic properties that may act in concert to attenuate the biochemical and cellular perturbations associated with injury in TBI. The drug has compiled a record of safety with no reported serious adverse drug-related events in its use in over 400 patients enrolled in clinical trials. CMX-2043 is the subject of multiple issued composition of matter and use patents around the world. About Ischemix, Inc. Ischemix is a privately-held drug development company based in Grafton, MA. The Company focuses on developing its family of cytoprotective compounds for serious diseases and conditions. The primary focus of the Company is the development of its lead compound, CMX-2043, for treatment of TBI. For media questions, please contact: David A. DeWahl, Jr. President Phone 508 839 2999 or use Contact Form at www.ischemix.com
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Protesters wearing masks of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stand during a rally demanding the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and peace treaty near the U.S. embassy in Seoul, March 21. AP
By Oh Young-jin
Again, it is hard to predict the future of the Korean Peninsula after the no-deal summit in Hanoi between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un late last month. So far, the two adversaries have tried to exercise restraint, being careful not to provoke each other, in an attempt not to lose their dialogue momentum.
But the Hanoi summit shows, if anything, the fundamental differences in their stances on how to get the North's denuclearization and the U.S.'s compensation going. The U.S. wants a "big deal" for the North to be completely disarmed at once, while the North wants the U.S. to ease sanctions in return for partial action.
One fear is a return to the tension before the PyeongChang Olympics in February 2018, when evidence showed the U.S. was seriously contemplating a preemptive strike for a potential first nuclear exchange on the peninsula.
If that is fortunately avoided, it can't be ruled out that Trump will adopt the non-policy of strategic patience of his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama and leave the Korean problem festering.
For Koreans, it would be horrible living like in the movie "Groundhog Day," stuck in more or less a repetition of the past seven decades since the 1950-1953 Korean War.
[March 25, 2019] The global telecom tower market accounted for US$ 40.04 Bn in 2017 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.0% during the forecast period 2018 - 2025, to account to US$ 146.53 Bn by 2025
NEW YORK, March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The global telecom tower market accounted for US$ 40.04 Bn in 2017 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.0% during the forecast period 2018 - 2025, to account to US$ 146.53 Bn by 2025. Growth in the recent five years is primarily driven by a significant rise in subscriber base on the cellular network, creating a substantial demand for improved and optimized network infrastructures through tower deployment.
Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05626758/?utm_source=PRN
This research study provides insights into the global telecom towers market.Majority of the telecom tower installations have belonged to the lattice tower category or the monopole tower category.
These type of towers provide maximum coverage for the operators and therefore serve a wider mass.Also, in the initial years, Greenfield towers were mostly observed in the tower installations, however, with space constraints and rising land costs, rooftop towers have found higher attractiveness amongst the telecom tower players as well as the mobile network operators.
The initial implementation of telecom towers that are backbone components that enable rolling out of these technologies incurs high costs, therefore the market players are adopting different strategies for cost-effective deployments of telecom towers.The global market for telecom tower market is anticipated to exhibit high growth in the near future.
Increasing number of mobile subscribers coupled with increasing initiatives taken by the Government in the developing countries of the world to connect the rural areas over the telecom network is one of the major encouraging factors for the telecom tower market deployments.
The estimates from GSMA state that the total number of unique mobile subscribers across the globe would be close to 5 Bn subscribers by the end of 2017 and would further increase up to 5.7 Bn by the end of 2020. By this estimate, close to 75% of the world's population would be subscribed to a mobile service. The tremendous growth in the nmber of mobile subscribers during this period is majorly attributed to the developing economies of Asia Pacific where a large percentage of the world population is concentrated. Further, the ubiquity of smartphones as well as high-speed connectivity has been a key driving factor for innovations in artificial intelligence and also leading to digital transformation. The mobile operators have invested close to US$ 700 Bn in the last decade for the development of the telecommunication network infrastructure. Also, the estimates state that by the end of 2016, there were 4.8 Bn GSM subscribers and 7.9 Bn SIM connections worldwide.
The telecom tower market has been segmented on the basis of type into the following segments including lattice towers, guyed towers, monopole towers, camouflage towers, and mobile cell towers.The telecom tower market has been further bifurcated on the basis of tower placement into Greenfield tower, and rooftop tower.
Also, the telecom tower market has been segmented based on the deployment type into shared infrastructure deployment and owned deployment.Geographically the telecom tower market is presently dominated by developed regions including, Asia Pacific .
However, the market is expected to be in favor of the Middle East and Africa , and North America . The rising penetration of smartphones in the developing economies of Africa and Asia coupled with the rapidly developing internet infrastructures in these regions are proving to be the major drivers for the growth in the adoption of telecom tower installations.
The leading industry players operating in telecom tower market globally American Tower Company, Cellnex Telecom, China Tower Co. Ltd., Crown Castle International Corp., Indus Tower Ltd., IHS Holdings Ltd., SBA Communication Corporation, Telesites S.A.B. DE C.V, Telxius (Telefonica SA), and PT Tower Bersama Infrastructure TBK. among others. Several other participants are also operational in telecom tower market that offers its customers with enhanced technologies, thereby catalyzing the telecom tower market.
Reasons to Buy
Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.
- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the telecom tower market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.
- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering in developed and emerging markets.
- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.
- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to segmentations like design type, tower placement, and deployment type.
Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05626758/?utm_source=PRN
About Reportlinker
ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.
__________________________
Contact Clare: [email protected]
US: (339)-368-6001
Intl: +1 339-368-6001 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-global-telecom-tower-market-accounted-for-us-40-04-bn-in-2017-and-is-expected-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-18-0-during-the-forecast-period-2018---2025--to-account-to-us-146-53-bn-by-2025--300817863.html SOURCE Reportlinker
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Announces Investor Securities Fraud Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against CenturyLink, Inc.
The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP reminds that an investor securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against CenturyLink (News - Alert), Inc. (NYSE: CTL) ("CenturyLink") on behalf of purchasers of CenturyLink publicly traded securities between May 10, 2018 and March 4, 2019, inclusive (the "Class Period"). CenturyLink investors who purchased securities during the Class Period may, no later than May 6, 2019, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. Investors who wish to discuss this securities fraud class action lawsuit or request additional information about this litigation are encouraged to contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check attorneys James Maro, Jr. or Adrienne Bell at (888) 299-7706 (toll free) or online at: www.ktmc.com/centurylink-2019-securities-class-action. According to the complaint, CenturyLink provides various communications services to residential, business, wholesale, and governmental customers primarily in the United States. On November 1, 2017, CenturyLink acquired Level 3 Communications (News - Alert), Inc., a telecommunications and internet service provider. The Class Period commences on May 10, 2018, when CenturyLink filed its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 with the SEC (News - Alert), which provided its first quarter financial results and position. On February 13, 2019, CenturyLink ssued a press release reporting its fourth quarter and full year 2018 results.
The complaint alleges that, on March 4, 2019, CenturyLink announced it would not be able to timely file its annual report for the period ended December 31, 2018 because it had "identified material weaknesses in internal controls over [its] revenue recording processes and the procedures for measuring fair value of assets and liabilities assumed in connection with the Level 3 Communications, Inc. acquisition." Following this news, shares of CenturyLink fell $0.82 per share, or over 6%, to close at $12.15 per share on March 4, 2019.
The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) CenturyLink had undisclosed material weaknesses in its internal controls over revenue recording processes and the procedures for measuring fair value of assets and liabilities assumed in connection with its Level 3 Communications, Inc. acquisition; (2) consequently, CenturyLink would delay the filing of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 despite initially reporting those financial results in a press release dated February 13, 2019; and (3) as a result, CenturyLink's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. CenturyLink investors may, no later than May 6, 2019, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, please visit www.ktmc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190325005746/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] Brookstone Partners Prepares Recapitalization Strategy to Rescue Platinum Power's Projects
Brookstone Partners, Platinum Power's reference shareholder, learned through the press that during Platinum Power's Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") on February 5, 2019, decisions other than those on the agenda were taken. These decisions would concern the appointment of new directors of the company and the retention of Omar Belmamoun as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Brookstone Partners contends that, "if such information is correct, this decision would be contrary to the company's legal and statutory provisions. As a reminder, the EGM does not and cannot be competent to appoint the Company's Board of Directors. Any change to the agenda of the meeting must be done by unanimity." In light of these factors, Brookstone Partners will seek the annulment of all decisions of this EGM other than those related to the continued operation of Platinum Power, which Brookstone Partners approves. Brookstone Partners believes that the announcement does not reflect Platinum Power's current situation, and the new Board of Directors thus constituted would be invalid. Brookstone claims that "reappointing Mr. Belmamoun as CEO is a wrong-headed decision, which we oppose as a matter of principle." Although surrounded by a dedicated and very high-quality team, there is mounting evidence that he has committed too many egregious management errors, which have led the company to the current situation. Brookstone Partners also disapproves that this EGM did not address recapitalization solutions.
As a majority investor, Brookstone Partners hopes to work with all shareholders, including minority shareholders, who have always demonstrated a strong willingness and determination to address the difficult situations that Platinum Power has faced to date, in order to find a viable, serious, and credible solution to move forward. This intention to work for the development of Platinum Power and its projects is not new to Brookstone Partners. As the largest investor in terms of equity with 43.67% of Platinum Power and in terms of shareholder current accounts with nearly 80% of shareholder debt, Brookstone Partners has consistently supported Platinum Power since the company's inception, and more specifically from August 2016 to May 2018, by helping to finance all the company's expenses over this period. This support only ceased when Mr. Belmamoun decided to refuse the recapitalization plan. Brookstone Partners reaffirms its willingness to implement a recapitalization plan, conditional on the removal of Mr. Omar Belmamoun from the company's management.
Brookstone Partners believes his obstinacy to remain CEO, while refusing the recapitalization plan, creates a prejudicial situation for the company, solely for the purpose of serving Mr. Belmamoun's personal interests. It is Brookstone Partners' opinion that "today, Mr. Omar Belmamoun is taking the company, employees, other shareholders and projects hostage at the expense of the company's survival. However, the current urgency is to improve the company's financial situation, to finance salaries that are four months overdue, and to enable the company to honour its commitments, including those relating to agreements signed with African governments." As a reminder, Platinum Power has solemnly signed agreements concerning the development of large-scale projects in Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire. In this perspective, Brookstone Partners' intentions remain unchanged, namely Platinum Power's success in Morocco and Africa, for which Brookstone Partners has already invested $15 million in Platinum Power (in capital and current account). Mr. Michael Toporek thus reiterates, on this occasion, his willingness to rescue Platinum Power, its projects, and to honour the company's commitments to its employees. Mr. Toporek is now focusing on preparing for the hearing on February 19, 2019 before the Commercial Court of Casablanca in charge of monitoring the company's financial situation, during which he will present his vision and recapitalization strategy in order to save Platinum Power's projects and investment. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190325005832/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] Quality management according to ISO 9001 and the advantages for small and medium-sized companies
COLOGNE, Germany, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether they are medium-sized or small companies, they all benefit from aligning themselves with ISO 9001 quality management. With respect to today's cut-throat competition, quality is an important feature that enables companies to differentiate themselves from their competitors. A company that has a quality management system according to ISO 9001 also signals to partners and customers that the quality aspect plays an important role in its business processes. This creates trust and helps companies to achieve an advantage in invitations to tender and in planned cooperations - especially when they have an ISO 9001 certificate. Quality management accompanies corporate strategy However, the implementation and certification of a quality management system according to ISO 9001 not only have positive effects on the company's external image, but they also have an impact on the company itself. The management system supports the company's strategic orintation and the achievement of corporate goals. "ISO 9001:2015 requires more clearly than previous versions that the goals associated with quality management and the defined quality policy are in line with the strategic orientation of a company," explains Nikola Lerch, product manager for ISO 9001 at TUV Rheinland. Therefore, the quality management system should not be understood as a separate system, but as a tool that helps companies to adhere to their strategic focus and achieve the desired results.
Structured knowledge building and advanced adaptability Many medium-sized companies have special know-how and are even market leaders in product manufacturing or in service delivery. The provision and safeguarding of knowledge and its development plays an important role here. ISO 9001 requires a quality management system that structures this know-how and makes it available to employees. "In companies knowledge is often based on experience and learning from mistakes or it is part of employees' expert knowledge. A company that carries out some form of knowledge management secures this know-how for itself. Thus making the company more flexible to changes," explains Nikola Lerch.
If important employees and know-how carriers leave the company it will not affect the company that much if knowledge is identified, structured and documented. A company can also react more quickly to future developments and market changes. It has a better overview and knows where knowledge is missing and can systematically close the gap with the help of internal or external sources. "I recommend companies to deal with the requirements of ISO 9001. Processes can be controlled more efficiently and goals can be achieved more easily. The company is also better equipped for future challenges," explains Nikola Lerch. SOURCE TUV Rheinland
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] VALE 72 HOUR DEADLINE ALERT: Approximately 72 Hours Remain; Former Louisiana Attorney General and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Remind Investors with Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits against Vale S.A. - VALE
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with large financial interests that they have only until March 29, 2019 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE). Investor losses must relate to purchases of the Company's securities between April 11, 2017, and January 28, 2019. These actions are pending in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Vale and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-vale/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by March 29, 2019.
About the Lawsuit On November 5, 2015, Brazilian authorities reported that a mine co-owned by Vale had burst, killing dozens of people and devastating the local community. Then, on January 28, 2019, news sources reported that Brazilian authorities were pursuing criminal prosecutions and that "Brazilian securities industry regulator CVM has opened a probe into miner Vale SA's filings," both relating to the disaster.
On this news, the price of Vale's shares plummeted. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include the former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190325005848/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] Bedsonline strengthens leadership in Asia and confirms sales team in Indonesia and Singapore
Tomeu Gili recruited as Bedsonline's Regional Sales Director for Asia and the Middle East & Africa .
recruited as Bedsonline's Regional Sales Director for and the & . Elif Esen to be the Bedsonline Regional Sales Manager for Indonesia and Singapore .
to be the Bedsonline Regional Sales Manager for and . News follows recent announcement of Bedsonline consolidation, with GTA retail customers migrating onto Bedsonline's class-leading booking platform used exclusively by travel agents.
Inclusion of GTA's retail product portfolio significantly enlarges range of exclusively contracted content available to travel agents only increasing hotels from 55,000 to 180,000. JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Bedsonline, the leading global provider of accommodation and complementary travel products exclusively for travel agents, has today announced the strengthening of its senior leadership team and the structure for Indonesia and Singapore. Tomeu Gili has been recruited as the Director of Sales for Bedsonline's Asian, Middle Eastern and African source markets, a new position created combining both regions under one leader. In this role Tomeu will be based in Dubai and will lead a team of seventy sales people. Tomeu brings with him over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, most recently in leadership positions for companies such as Destinations of the World, RTS and Gowaii Corp. Previous to this Tomeu worked for Bedsonline in senior leadership roles for 12 years, since the brand's launch in 2003. During this time, he held a range of positions including Head of Sales for Middle East and Asia Pacific and Head of Sales for South Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and Africa. In addition, Elif Esen has been appointed as the Bedsonline Regiona Sales Manager for the Indonesia and Singapore markets. Elif will be responsible for providing Bedsonline's clients made up solely of travel agents in the Indonesian and Singaporean markets with the highest standards of customer service, along with further expanding and diversifying the number of travel agent subscribers.
Previously Elif had been with Hotelbeds for over 22 years and was most recently the Bedsonline Asia Head of Sales, having joined the Hotelbeds destination offices in Turkey in 1997.
In this role Elif will be based in Singapore and will lead a team of 8 people. Additionally, the roles reporting to Elif have been confirmed, with Agnes Febiyanti Paat, Muhamad Boy Valentino, Yusnita Ramdah, Lilies Wirjohadikusumo, Tracy Adikarta and Gilang Kurniawan, taking the roles of Key Account Managers in Indonesia; Yance Irawan has been appointed as Sales Executive for Indonesia; Desmond Wong will cover Singapore. Tomeu Gili, Retail Travel Agents Director for Asia, The Middle East and Africa, comments: "It's an honor to be coming back to Bedsonline. I was privileged to be part of the team that launched the brand over 15 years ago in Spain and witness its rapid expansion at that time. Now, with a portfolio of over 50,000 travel agency customers worldwide backed by a class leading booking platform that has gone from strength to strength, this is an exciting time indeed to be returning to the business. "As part of the recent rebranding and launch of our new value proposition, we're dedicated to continually improving the customer experience, beyond simply our highly sophisticated booking platform with its advanced functionalities. Essential to this is having in place strong teams with unbeatable local knowledge and commitment to the best service possible for our purely travel agent only customer base. Im certain that in Elif and her team we have the best line-up available in the market." Elif Esen, Regional Sales Manager, Indonesia and Singapore at Bedsonline, comments: "I am very pleased to be taking on this role and having such a strong team in place during this decisive stage in the development of the Bedsonline brand. Throughout the Indonesia and Singapore markets, already we started reaching out to our travel partners who are made up solely of travel agents to explain how they will benefit from the new and enhanced Bedsonline offering. This includes enhancements we have made by meticulously selecting the best-of-class functionalities from the GTA platform, as well as the growth of our product portfolio to reach over 180,000 hotels and the strengthened position to negotiate the best deals for our travel partners." Recently it was announced that the parent company of both GTA and Bedsonline, Hotelbeds, will consolidate its retail product portfolio and offerings globally under the newly refreshed Bedsonline brand and platform. Today's news follows a recent series of sales meetings, presentations, and customer events held in Indonesia and Singapore to celebrate the launch of a new brand identity and website, whilst educating travel agent customers both existing Bedsonline customers and those moving over from GTA on the benefits of moving onto the new enhanced Bedsonline platform. Travel agent clients in Indonesia and Singapore have completed transition smoothly. Both workshops and technical support are on hand to support a seamless migration. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190325/2407281-1-b
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190319/2407281-1-a SOURCE Bedsonline
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 25, 2019] ScanTrust Launches Secure Packaging and Authentication Solutions for HP Indigo Digital Presses
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ScanTrust, a smart packaging solutions company, today announced a new authentication solution utilizing its secure QR codes digitally-printed on HP Indigo to help brands and industrial companies track and trace goods to combat counterfeiting, and enable supply chain traceability. The secure digitalization solution offers customers the ability to print static or serialized secure QR codes on labels or packaging, and then authenticate without requiring a special optical reader, through scanning the codes with a mobile app. The patented secure graphic within the variable QR codes is seamlessly integrated into the workflow of HP Indigo digital presses, enabling easy integration of serialized secure QR codes onto labels or packaging, and providing stakeholders throughout the supply chain (from inspectors to consumers) the ability to authenticate goods on-the-go. The solution was demonstrated last month by ScanTrust, an HP Indigo Brand Protection and Solution partner, at the HP Indigo Global Customer Event in Israel. The event brought together more than 600 professionals across the printing, labels and packaging industry to witness the latest innovations from HP Indigo and solution partners. "Smart packaing solutions are being driven by the rising threat of product counterfeiting and the need for greater transparency across the supply chain," said Nathan Anderson, CEO of ScanTrust. "This new capability together with HP Indigo allows brands and industrial goods companies to leverage the full benefits of variable data printing for connected, customized and traceable products that encourage two-way communication with end-consumers based on trust, and ultimately leading to increased brand loyalty and growth."
ScanTrust and HP Indigo first collaborated to deploy a seed product authentication and traceability solution for Syngenta , a Swiss-based global agrochemical company, for seeds in China. Following the successful deployment of the ScanTrust technology for Syngenta seeds in China, the Syngenta Middle Eastern team proposed to use the same technology to combat their counterfeit seeds in the local market. Reynders, a Belgian HP print service provider, printed ScanTrust's unique, secure QR codes for integration onto individual seed packages. In addition the Middle Eastern team learned that beyond product authentication, ScanTrust also offers highly flexible and custom-tailored consumer engagement services. Other brands that ScanTrust and HP Indigo have collaborated with to implement smart packaging solutions include ethical coffee trader, Cambio Coffee, luxury car parts company, Vorsteiner , cable and optical fiber manufacturer, Nexans , and more.
About ScanTrust: Founded in 2014, ScanTrust is a smart packaging company that provides solutions for product authentication, supply chain traceability and consumer engagement. With patented, secure QR codes, a cloud-based platform and blockchain technology, ScanTrust digitalizes physical products to enable traceability of products, business intelligence and two-way communication between brands and consumers. ScanTrust operates with global clients and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland with offices in Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok, Kiev, and Amsterdam. SOURCE ScanTrust
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Brookstone Partners Continues to Reject Claims Made by Omar Belmamoun It Deems to Be False
Brookstone Partners, the majority shareholder of Platinum Power, rejects the accuracy of Mr. Omar Belmamoun's statements in a press release issued on March 21, 2019. According to Brookstone Partners, "the Court procedure to which Mr. Belmamoun refers to is an alert procedure introduced by Platinum Power's Statutory Auditor due to the company's serious financial difficulties which were the direct consequence of Mr. Belmamoun's disastrous management.' Brookstone Partners has not initiated any 'judicial restructuring' and therefore, dismissal from any such action is irrelevant." As a majority investor, Brookstone Partners welcomes the court's decision regarding the continuation of Platinum Power's business and reiterates its willingness to work with all shareholders, including minority shareholders, who have consistently demonstrated a strong determination to addres the difficult situations that Platinum Power has faced to date, in order to find a viable, serious and credible solution to move forward.
This intention to work for the development of Platinum Power and its projects is not new to Brookstone Partners. Indeed, as the largest investor in terms of equity with 43.67% of Platinum Power and in terms of shareholder current accounts and nearly 80% of shareholder debt, Brookstone Partners has consistently supported Platinum Power since the company's creation, and more specifically from August 2016 to May 2018, by helping to finance all of the company's expenses over this period. This support only ceased when Mr. Belmamoun decided to refuse the recapitalization plan presented by Mr. Michael Toporek. From this perspective, Brookstone Partners' intentions remain unchanged, namely Platinum Power's success in Morocco and Africa, for which Brookstone Partners has already invested $15 million. "I would like to reiterate, on this occasion, my willingness to salvage Platinum Power, its projects, and to honor the company's commitments to its employees," said Michael Toporek, Founder and Managing General Partner of Brookstone Partners.
Brookstone Partners has instituted criminal proceedings against Mr. Omar Belmamoun and we look forward to quick resolution of this matter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190325005840/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Abingworth Appoints Bali Muralidhar as Partner
LONDON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Abingworth, the international investment group dedicated to life sciences, today announced the appointment of Bali Muralidhar as a Partner based in the London office. Bali has 15 years professional experience in healthcare across a range of functions including venture investing, R&D, clinical practice and teaching. He will work with the team in the London, Boston and Menlo Park offices to source and evaluate new investment opportunities and support existing venture investments through to exit. Prior to joining Abingworth, Bali was a senior partner at MVM Partners LLP in London where he completed investments in and served on the boards of several companies, both public and private. Two of these were Wilson Therapeutics and Valneva, both also Abingworth portfolio companies. In 2018, Bali was named among Financial News' Rising Stars in Private Equity, which celebrated 25 men and women under the age of 40 standing out in the European private equity industry. Before MVM, Bali was a member of Bain Capital's healthcare deal team. Bali obtained a degree in cinical medicine from the University of Oxford and practiced general surgery at the John Radcliffe and Addenbrooke's Hospitals in Oxford and Cambridge, respectively. He has a PhD in translational cancer research from the MRC Cancer Cell Unit, University of Cambridge, and has published over a dozen peer reviewed papers. He was also a Bye-Fellow in Medical Sciences at Downing College, Cambridge where he taught pathology, surgery and medicine.
Tim Haines, Managing Partner, said: "I am delighted to welcome Bali to the Abingworth team. He is an astute and talented investor, with whom we have worked very successfully on a number of co-investments. He will make an immediate impact and continue the significant momentum in identifying exciting new investment opportunities and generating returns across our European and US markets." "Abingworth has an outstanding track record as a life science investor and in building companies based on cutting-edge science. I am very much looking forward to bringing my experience to the team," added Bali Muralidhar.
About Abingworth Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated to collaborating with life sciences entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into products that have a dramatic impact on health. With over $1.1 billion under management, Abingworth invests at all stages of development, from start-ups to publicly traded companies, and across all life science sectors. Supporting its portfolio companies with a team of 27 at offices in London, Menlo Park (California) and Boston, Abingworth has invested in 152 life science companies, leading to 65 IPOs and 47 mergers and acquisitions. Contacts Tim Haines
Managing Partner
Tel: +44-(0)-20-7534-1500 www.abingworth.com For media enquiries:
Mark Swallow or David Dible, Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Tel: +44-(0)-20-7638-9571
Email: [email protected]
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Dasra Philanthropy Week Focuses on Embracing the Field Approach to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030
MUMBAI, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- 9th edition of the India Philanthropy Report 2019 with key elements to implement field approach launched Dasra, a strategic philanthropy foundation emphasized on the adoption of a 'Field Approach' to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for India at Dasra Philanthropy Week 2019, among India's leading philanthropy convenings, which was held in Mumbai and Delhi during March 6-9, 2019. Dasra Philanthropy Week 2019 brought together around 400 Philanthropists, NGO leaders, representatives of Foundations, Corporates, and development sector experts in Mumbai to discuss the biggest developmental challenges faced by India. Key thought leaders and sector experts such as Rohini Nilekani (Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies), Francine Pickup (UNDP),Rukmini Banerji (Pratham) and Sherrie Rollins Westin (Sesame Workshop) put forward their thoughts on multiple aspects of achieving SDGs for India through panel discussions, data sharing and knowledge sharing sessions. Field Approach to address India's development challenges Through the field approach, Dasra aims to multiply the impact of every rupee invested for India's development needs which are aligned with SDGs, a set of 17 fields across 163 interconnected indicators adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Francine Pickup, Resident Representative, UNDP India, said, "Sustainable Development Goals are all about collaboration. We have to adopt a platform approach towards achieving SDGs which will bring different partners and stakeholders together." The field approach considers all the stakeholders, identifies multiple areas of action, and coordinates them towards a specific goal. The aim is to generate significant momentum around a particular developmental challenge and create lasting change by leveraging collaborative action by philanthropists, NGOs, government, field experts, community leaders and media. Bold and Collaborative Philanthropy to achieve SDGs for All While emphasizing on the crucial role of SDG 16, a goal which aims to provide access to justice for all, Rohini Nilekani said, "Philanthropists in India should move forward from service delivery related projects. Let's pledge to improve access to justice for all, which will uphod our constitutional values and public institutions. This will empower the markets and society as a whole to align with other SDGs."
In a discussion about Collaborative Philanthropy, Aleem Jivraj (Nomura) pushed for more collective efforts by philanthropists. "Collaborative philanthropy allows you to take risks and achieve scale at the same time," he added. Creation of large scale social change through Collaborative Action
Over the course of two days, prominent leaders from India's development sector also delved into the complexities, scale and interconnectedness of the country's development challenges which require outcome-oriented collaborative efforts to create social change at scale. Neera Nundy,Co-Founder of Dasra emphasized on the need for scale and collaboration in India and said, "It's only bold Philanthropy if it is achieving the outcomes at scale and impacting the whole ecosystem. We have to reach communities on aggregate level and elevate the entire field through collaborative action." In order to provide knowledge, data and insights into different domains of India's development sector, two knowledge products were launched during Dasra Philanthropy Week 2019 in Mumbai. India Philanthropy Report 2019 In 'India Philanthropy Report 2019' which is a result of a collaboration between Bain & Company and Dasra, four case studies highlight the 'Field Approach' through which multiple corporates, government and philanthropists have successfully improved outcomes relating to social causes like urban sanitation and adolescent health, well-being and education, eradicating malaria and controlling tobacco consumption. The analysis of four case studies points out some critical elements of this approach: Field outco mes : A shared vision and a robust outcome-led model
: A shared vision and a robust outcome-led model Data-driven policy advocacy: Data-backed models to demonstrate effectiveness of the interventions
Data-backed models to demonstrate effectiveness of the interventions Collaborative action: Coordinated effort by the government, implementing partners, intermediaries, funders and technical experts
Coordinated effort by the government, implementing partners, intermediaries, funders and technical experts Government allies: Engaging with the government for creating replicable change
Engaging with the government for creating replicable change Design for scale: Designing programs and models which are easily scalable across geographies Read the report here: India Philanthropy Report 2019 Count Me In: Building an inclusive ecosystem for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities The report 'Count Me In: Building an inclusive ecosystem for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities' which Dasra released in collaboration with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, aims to change the way India perceives intellectual and developmental disabilities altogether. The report approaches this issue using the social model of disability. The report places persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PwIDDs) at the center of its approach to understand the challenges they face across various life stages. It identifies key gaps in services and highlights key interventions to enable effective inclusion of PwIDDs. The report also profiles ten outstanding non-profit organizations that are working in this space. Read the report here: Count Me In: Building an inclusive ecosystem for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities For any further queries, please write to [email protected]. About Dasra Dasra, meaning 'enlightened giving' in Sanskrit, is a pioneering strategic philanthropy organization that aims to transform India where a billion thrive with dignity and equity. Since its inception in 1999, Dasra has accelerated social change by driving collaborative action through powerful partnerships among a trust-based network of stakeholders (corporates, foundations, families, non-profits, social businesses, government and media). Over the years, Dasra has deepened social impact in focused fields that include Adolescents, Urban Sanitation and Democracy and Governance, and has built social capital by leading a strategic philanthropy movement in the country. For more information, visit http://www.dasra.org Media Contact:
Akshay Tarfe
[email protected]
+91-8767980522
Analyst, Dasra
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
By Jung Da-min
Germany's federal lawmakers are visiting North Korea to spur exchanges between the North and the international community.
A delegation of members of Germany's Social-Democratic Party, led by
, former chairman of the party and the country's former minister for foreign affairs, arrived in Pyongyang, Monday, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The German politicians were greeted by Ri Su-yong, chairman of North Korea's Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.
During their meeting, the former leader of Germany's Social-Democratic Party presented a gift for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the KCNA said, without giving further details on the meeting or the gift.
In addition, eight members of the German-Korean Parliamentary Friendship Group, including
, a member of the ruling Christian Democratic Union, are also planning to visit North Korea in late May, according to the Korean service of Radio Free Asia, a U.S. funded broadcaster.
The group is planning to discuss a wide range of topics with their North Korean counterparts, including politics, culture and human rights and also visit various facilities, according to the report.
In July 2017, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South Korean President Moon Jae-in pledged to cooperate in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, saying bringing North Korea back to negotiations was important.
[March 26, 2019] The Apache Software Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Community-led Development "The Apache Way"
Wakefield, MA, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Apache Software Foundation (ASF), the all-volunteer developers, stewards, and incubators of more than 350 Open Source projects and initiatives, announced today its 20th Anniversary, celebrating "The Apache Way" of community-driven development as the key to its success.
Official 20th Anniversary of The Apache Software Foundation
The world's largest Open Source foundation is home to dozens of freely-available (no cost), enterprise-grade Apache projects that serve as the backbone for some of the most visible and widely used applications. The ubiquity of Apache software is undeniable, with Apache projects managing exabytes of data, executing teraflops of operations, and storing billions of objects in virtually every industry. Apache software is an integral part of nearly every end user computing device, from laptops to tablets to phones. "What started before the term 'Open Source' was coined has now grown to support hundreds of projects, thousands of contributors and millions of users," said Phil Steitz, Chairman of The Apache Software Foundation. "The Apache Way has shown itself to be incredibly resilient in the wake of the many changes in software and technology over the last twenty years. As the business and technology ecosystems around our projects have grown, our community-based open development model has evolved but remained true to the core principles established in the early days of the Foundation. We remain committed to the simple idea that open, community-led development produces great software and when you make that software freely available with no restrictions on how it can be used or integrated, the communities that develop it get stronger. The resulting virtuous cycle has been profoundly impactful on the software industry as a whole and on those of us who have had the good fortune of volunteering here. When we celebrate fifty years, I am sure that we will say the same thing." ["ASF at 20" promo https://s.apache.org/ASF20 ]?
Software for the Public Good
In 1999, 21 founders, including original members of the Apache Group (creators of the Apache HTTP Server; the World's most popular Web server since 1996) formed The Apache Software Foundation to provide software for the public good. The ASF's flagship project, the Apache HTTP Server, continues development under the auspices of the ASF, and has grown to serve more than 80 million Websites worldwide. "The most successful revolutions are those birthed by Passion and Necessity. What keeps them going are Communities," said ASF co-founder Jim Jagielski. "Congratulations to the ASF and to everyone who has had a hand, large and small, in making it into who and what we are today."
The Apache Way
The open, community-driven process behind the development of the Apache HTTP Server formed the model adopted by future Apache projects as well as emulated by other Open Source foundations. Dubbed "The Apache Way", the principles underlying the ASF embrace: Earned Authority : all individuals are given the opportunity to participate, and their influence is based on pu ASF20th Anniversary-PrimaryLogoblicly-earned merit what they contribute to the community. Merit lies with the individual, does not expire, is not influenced by employment status or employer, and is non-transferable.
: all individuals are given the opportunity to participate, and their influence is based on pu ASF20th Anniversary-PrimaryLogoblicly-earned merit what they contribute to the community. Merit lies with the individual, does not expire, is not influenced by employment status or employer, and is non-transferable. Community of Peers : participation at the ASF is done through individuals, not organizations. Its flat structure dictates that the Apache community is respectful of each other, roles are equal, votes hold equal weight, and contributors are doing so on a volunteer basis (even if paid to work on Apache code).
: participation at the ASF is done through individuals, not organizations. Its flat structure dictates that the Apache community is respectful of each other, roles are equal, votes hold equal weight, and contributors are doing so on a volunteer basis (even if paid to work on Apache code). Open Communications : as a virtual organization, the ASF requires all communications be made online, via email. Most Apache lists are archived and publicly accessible to ensure asynchronous collaboration, as required by a globally-distributed community
: as a virtual organization, the ASF requires all communications be made online, via email. Most Apache lists are archived and publicly accessible to ensure asynchronous collaboration, as required by a globally-distributed community Consensus Decision Making : Apache Projects are auto-governing with a heavy slant towards driving consensus to maintain momentum and productivity. Whilst total consensus is not possible to establish at all times, holding a vote or other coordination may be required to help remove any blocks with binding decisions.
: Apache Projects are auto-governing with a heavy slant towards driving consensus to maintain momentum and productivity. Whilst total consensus is not possible to establish at all times, holding a vote or other coordination may be required to help remove any blocks with binding decisions. Responsible Oversight: the ASF governance model is based on trust and delegated oversight, with self-governing projects providing reports directly to the Board. Apache Committers help each other by making peer-reviewed commits, employing mandatory security measures, ensuring license compliance, and protecting the Apache brand and community at-large from abuse. The ASF is strictly vendor neutral. No organization is able to gain special privileges or control a project's direction, irrespective of employing staff to work on Apache projects or sponsorship status.
The ASF Today
Behind the ASF is an all-volunteer community comprising 730 individual Members and 7,000 Committers stewarding 200M+ lines of code that benefit billions of users worldwide. Lauded as one of the industry's most influential communities, the ASF develops and incubates 350+ Open Source projects and initiatives that are made available to the public-at-large at 100% no cost. The ASF has become an invaluable resource for users and developers alike, drawing 35M page views per week across http://apache.org/ ; 9M+ source code downloads from Apache mirrors (excluding convenience binaries), and Web requests received from every Internet-connected country on the planet. "Over the past two decades, few institutions have been as important for the advancement and growth of Open Source as The Apache Software Foundation," said Stephen O'Grady, Principal Analyst with RedMonk. "By providing a neutral environment for developers from diverse backgrounds to work together, the ASF has played a pivotal role in the history of Open Source, and appears poised to continue in this role for the next decade."
All-Volunteer Community
The membership-based, not-for-profit charitable organization ensures that Apache projects continue to exist beyond the participation of individual volunteers by building diverse communities that develop and support software. At the ASF, all software development and project leadership is executed entirely by volunteers. The ASF Board and officers are all volunteers. The ASF does not pay for development: thousands of committed individuals help make a difference to the lives of billions of people by ensuring that Apache software remains accessible to all. The Apache maxim "Community Over Code" underscores that a healthy community is far more important than good code. In the event that the code would dematerialize, a strong community could rewrite it; however, if a community is unhealthy, the code will eventually fail as well. The merit-driven "Contributor-Committer-Member" approach is the central governing process across the Apache ecosystem. The core Apache Group of 21 individuals grew with developers who contributed code, patches, or documentation. Some of these contributors were subsequently granted "Committer" status by the Membership, and provided access to: 1) commit (write) directly to the code repository, 2) vote on community-related decisions, and 3) propose an active user for Committership. Those Committers who demonstrate merit in the Foundation's growth, evolution, and progress are nominated for ASF Membership by existing members. [please see charts at https://s.apache.org/ASF20thAnniversary ]
Powered by Apache "The most popular Open Source software is Apache..."
DZone "What Open Source Software Do You Use?" Apache software is used in every Internet-connected country on the planet. Apache projects serve as the backbone for some of the worlds most visible and widely used applications in Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning, Big Data, build management, Cloud Computing, content management, DevOps, IoT and Edge computing, mobile, servers, and Web frameworks, among many other categories. Examples of the breadth of applications that are "Powered by Apache" include: Panama Papers : library, search, and document management tools used in the 2.6TB Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation;
: library, search, and document management tools used in the 2.6TB Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation; US Federal Aviation Administration : system-wide information management to enable every airplane take off and land in US airspace;
: system-wide information management to enable every airplane take off and land in US airspace; Netflix : data inestion pipeline and stream processing 3 trillion events each day;
: data inestion pipeline and stream processing 3 trillion events each day; Uber : handling 1M writes per second for 99.99% availability to users and drivers;
: handling 1M writes per second for 99.99% availability to users and drivers; Mobile app developers : unifying mobile application development across Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, and iOS operating systems;
: unifying mobile application development across Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, and iOS operating systems; Facebook : processing requests at 300-petabyte data warehouse, connecting 2B+ active users;
: processing requests at 300-petabyte data warehouse, connecting 2B+ active users; NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory : accessing content across multi-mission, multi-instrument science data systems;
: accessing content across multi-mission, multi-instrument science data systems; Global Biodiversity Information Facility : managing 1B+ occurrence records for open access to data about all types of life on Earth;
: managing 1B+ occurrence records for open access to data about all types of life on Earth; European Space Agency : powering new mission control system and next-generation simulators infrastructure;
: powering new mission control system and next-generation simulators infrastructure; Adobe : powering I/O Runtime and the core of Experience Manager;
: powering I/O Runtime and the core of Experience Manager; IBM Watson : advancing data intelligence and semantics capabilities to win first-ever "Man vs. Machine" competition on Jeopardy!
: advancing data intelligence and semantics capabilities to win first-ever "Man vs. Machine" competition on Jeopardy! Boston Children's Hospital : linking phenotypic and genomic data for the Precision Link Biobank
: linking phenotypic and genomic data for the Precision Link Biobank Target.com : driving $1B+ in revenue through Big Data optimization;
: driving $1B+ in revenue through Big Data optimization; AOL : ingesting 20TB+ of data per day;
: ingesting 20TB+ of data per day; Minecraft : bundling libraries to modify the second most popular video game of all time;
: bundling libraries to modify the second most popular video game of all time; Novopay : serving as a transactional backbone to processes $80M+ each month;
: serving as a transactional backbone to processes $80M+ each month; Formula 1, Audi, and Daimler : streaming data in vehicles in real time;
: streaming data in vehicles in real time; Twitter : processing and analyzing more than a Zettabyte of raw data through 200B+ tweets annually;
: processing and analyzing more than a Zettabyte of raw data through 200B+ tweets annually; Pinterest : processing 800B+ daily events;
: processing 800B+ daily events; Amazon Music : tuning recommendations for 16M+ subscribers;
: tuning recommendations for 16M+ subscribers; NASA: powering Big Earth and Ocean Science data analytics; And, from Accumulo to Zipkin (incubating), more than six dozen Apache projects form the foundation of the $166B Big Data ecosystem. Apache software is overseen by a self-selected team of active contributors to the project. A Project Management Committee (PMC) guides the Project's day-to-day operations, including community development and product releases.
The Code
Over the past two decades, 1,058,321,099 lines of Apache code were committed over 3,022,836 commits. The ASF codebase is conservatively valued at least $20B, using the COCOMO 2 model. All Apache software is released under the Apache License v2.0. [please see chart at https://s.apache.org/ASF20thAnniversary ]
"If It Didn't Happen On-list...It Didn't Happen"
Since the ASF's founding, 351,067 authors sent 19,587,835 emails on 8,529,590 topics across 1,131 mailing lists. [please see chart at https://s.apache.org/ASF20thAnniversary ]
Apache Incubator
The Apache Incubator is the entry path for projects and codebases wishing to become part of the efforts at The Apache Software Foundation. All code donations from external organizations and existing external projects enter through the Incubator to: 1) ensure all donations are in accordance with the ASF legal standards; and 2) develop new communities that adhere to our guiding principles. Incubation is required of all newly accepted projects until a further review indicates that the infrastructure, communications, and decision making process have stabilized in a manner consistent with other successful ASF projects. Since the ASF's founding, 199 projects have successfully graduated from the Apache Incubator. Today, 52 projects are in development, applying The Apache Way to innovations in annotation, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, cryptography, data science, development environments, Edge and IoT, email; JavaEE, libraries, Machine Learning, serverless computing, and many more categories. "Wow, is it 20 years already? Congratulations to the ASF! I've always been a big believer and advocate of Open Source, but when we founded the ASF 20 years ago I certainly didn't expect *this* level of growth and success," said ASF co-founder Lars Eilebrecht. "I'm very proud that the ASF - despite many challenges - has remained true to its core values and the Apache Way of Open Source development. The ASF has had a very big and positive impact on the overall IT industry, and I'm certain that the industry and the Internet would look very different today without the ASF's involvement in the rise of Open Source!"
Apache License v2.0 "Apache-style licensing may yield more adoption and money."
Matt Asay, c|net The commercially-friendly and permissive Apache License v2.0 has become an Open Source industry standard. Its popularity has led to the rise in corporate contribution in Open Source, and is behind the launch of dozens of billion dollar companies, and is facilitating the adoption of some of the world's fastest-growing Open Source projects. "I'd like to congratulate the Apache Software Foundation for growing and demonstrating a working model for open source development that has stood the test of time," said ASF co-founder Randy Terbush. "I am forever grateful for the opportunities that my participation in the ASF gave me and I am very proud of what the group has become."
ApacheCon
Pre-dating the ASF, ApacheCon is the official global conference series of The Apache Software Foundation. Heralding "Tomorrow's Technology Today" since 1998, participants learn about Open Source development "The Apache Way", independent of business interests, corporate biases, or sales pitches. ApacheCon presents dynamic, community-driven content and innovation insight through hands-on sessions, keynotes, real-world case studies, trainings, hackathons, BarCamps, and more. The ASF is holding four events in 2019: Apache Roadshow/Washington DC 25, March 2019
Apache Roadshow/Chicago, 13-14 May 2019
ApacheCon North America/Las Vegas, 9-12 September 2019
ApacheCon Europe/Berlin, 22-24 October 2019 For more information and to register, visit http://apachecon.com/ and ApacheCon video http://s.apache.org/ApacheCon . "My Apache journey started in the Apache HTTP core development team in 1995, fixing security issues and continues today as VP of Security," said ASF co-founder Mark Cox. "In the years between, Apache has inextricably intertwined my professional career and my personal life. I'm proud to be part of the ASF as we move past 20 years and look forward to a celebration (hopefully with cake) at ApacheCon in September." "Happy Birthday, Apache Group!" echoed ASF co-founder Bill Stoddard.
Support Apache
As a United States private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization, the ASF relies on charitable donations to advance the future of open development. The ASF is sustained by through tax-deductible contributions from generous corporations, foundations, and individuals, whose contributions help offset day-to-day operating expenses that include bandwidth, connectivity, servers, hardware, legal counsel, accounting services, trademark protection, public relations, marketing, and related support staff. Less than 10% is spent on overhead. The Apache Software Foundation plans to continue to innovate "The Apache Way" with new Open Source projects and communities for years to come. Donations to the ASF help keep Apache software available to everyone. - "From our first contributions to The Apache Software Foundation in 2006 until today, the ASF has been teaching us and everyone how to do community driven Open Source. We thank the ASF, their communities and all who have been involved! Congratulations on 20 years of volunteer-led service, and the many accomplishments with code and community. We look forward to collaborating on the next 20." Adrian Cockcroft, VP Cloud Strategy at AWS - "The Apache Software Foundation and OSI both turned 20 recently. As two of the founding organizations of the Open Source community, they are fundamental to its growth and success. The Apache Way ensures all participants have equal representation and footing, and developers are valued based on their contributions' merits. Bloomberg developers first got involved as Open Source community collaborators and contributors seven years ago, and we've been involved with and a sponsor of the ASF almost this entire time, as its the home of dozens of projects that are incredibly important to us." Kevin Fleming, Head of Open Source Community Engagement and Member of the CTO Office at Bloomberg - "Congratulations to The Apache Software Foundation on 20 years of ground-breaking software development and Open Source community leadership. The ASF has provided value to Cerner for more than 15 years through innovative projects and rich communities. We can count on the ASF to be the source of high-quality, foundational software and to provide a collaborative community that makes it easy for our engineers to grow." Nathan Beyer, VP & Chief Engineer at Cerner, and ASF Member - "The Apache Software Foundation provides a fertile home for software communities. The Foundations unique approach has created many industry standards and will likely continue to do so for many more years. Apache projects are famous not just for great technology, but for their longevity and vendor-independence. Cloudera looks forward to continuing to collaborate with others at Apache for decades to come." Doug Cutting, Chief Architect at Cloudera - "Datadog is a proud sponsor of The Apache Software Foundation. What an amazing journey it's been, from a small group of developers working on httpd to a foundation that stewards some truly amazing Open Source projects. As a consumer and contributor to many of those projects, it's difficult to understate the impact they've had; not only on us but on the software industry as a whole. Congratulations on 20 years!" Jeremy Garcia, Director of Technical Community and Open Source at Datadog - "After twenty years of practicing Open Source law, I appreciate how critical The Apache Software Foundation has been to the success of the OSS ecosystem. I am honored to work with the Foundation and its members." Mark Radcliffe, Partner at DLA Piper - "We look forward to another 20 years of Open Source software with The Apache Software Foundation! We were excited to be one of the first corporate members in 2005, and even more excited to select the Apache license for Android in 2008. There's very few organizations that have shown the persistent dedication to Open Source the way that the ASF has and we're proud to be a part of it as a sponsor and to have so many of our engineers contributing to Apache projects." Chris DiBona, Director of Open Source at Google - "From an auspicious launch with the Apache HTTP Server to over 350 projects today, Apache continues to drive innovation in the industry and IBM is proud to have supported its founding. With dozens new projects coming to the ASF each year, from Artificial Intelligence to Deep Learning, Big Data, Cloud Computing, DevOps, IoT and Edge Computing, Mobile, Servers, and Web Frameworks, The Apache Software Foundation is an anchor for world-changing Open Source projects. We look forward to continued contributions and collaboration for many years to come." Todd Moore, Vice President of Open Technology and Developer Advocacy at IBM - "It's an honor and a privilege to help Apache, an organization so deeply ingrained in the history and growth of the Internet, fundraise online. Congratulations on 20 years, and cheers to the next 20!" Alex Morse, CEO at Hopsie - "Leaseweb has been using Apache/ASF projects for a multitude of products and services over the last 20 years. The ASF is responsible for a mindboggling amount of Open Source projects that truly make up the fabric of the Internet. For Leaseweb, the ASF is in the core of many of our Cloud and Hosting platforms. Apart from helping out with our Platinum Sponsorship, Leaseweb would like to thank all developers and other volunteers in ASF and ASF projects for continuing to build software that makes the Internet what it is today. Were looking forward to another 20 years of innovation, code, and community and proud to be a small part of that." Robert van der Meulen, Global Product Strategy Lead at Leaseweb - "Twenty years ago the ASF's vendor neutral model of Open Source software development was central to the commercialization of the World Wide Web and has continued to accelerate innovation across the IT industry since then. At Microsoft we are committed to ensuring that Azure is the best cloud platform for our partners and customers. A key aspect of delivering on this goal is to contribute to the success of Open Source projects. The ASF's emphasis on vendor neutrality, is key to the success of many Open Source components used by both Microsoft and our partners. Happy Birthday to The Apache Software Foundation." John Gossman, Lead Architect of Microsoft Azure - "The Apache Software Foundation has provided stewardship for much of the modern Internet, from the Apache Web Server itself to cutting edge infrastructure and data science technologies such as Kafka and Hadoop. No-IP is built on Open Source software. It is important for us to support Open Source projects and the Apache Foundation has made it easy to give back. We look forward to the Foundation's future work and wise guidance and we are proud to be associated with it." Dan Durrer, CEO and Owner of No-IP - "PCCC.com joins the world in celebrating 20 years of Open Source Software from The Apache Software Foundation. Happy Birthday!" Kevin A. McGrail, CEO Emeritus of Peregrine Computer Consultants Corporation - "More than being Open Source, Apache values transparency and openness with their users, something PureVPN staunchly believes in, advocates, and follows. Supporting Apache gives us the opportunity to align ourselves with an amazing team of people that makes a difference in the lives of individuals on a daily basis." Uzair Gadit, CEO at PureVPN - "The Apache Software Foundation has been a great help in pushing the Open Source agenda to a wide range of individuals, communities, and vendors over the years. Their approach to meritocracy and community-driven development has helped to shape some world class Open Source projects which have gone on to help drive some world-class products and businesses. Keep it up and here's to the next 20 years!" Mark Little, VP Engineering and CTO JBoss Middleware at Red Hat - "Tencent Cloud is proud to be the first platinum sponsor of The Apache Software Foundation from China. In years of supporting with Open Source communities, we found Apache is one of the best places to drive great innovations for industry of AI, Big Data, Cloud Computing, DevOps, Edge Computing, IoT, etc. We would like to thank ASF for its outstanding contributions to Open Source world, and celebrate its 20th Anniversary of Open Source collaboration. Tencent Cloud will stand together with ASF and looks forward to long term contributions and collaborations." Huixing Wang, Vice President of Tencent Cloud - "The Apache Software Foundation is among the brightest beacons in the global Open Source movement. HotWax is proud to recognize the ASF for harnessing transparency and meritocracy to generate some of the highest quality and most widely used code in the world, for decades now! Happy 20th -- we are honored to be a part of the community." Mike Bates, CEO, HotWax Systems - "Contributing to The Apache Software Foundation projects continues to be part of our engineering strategy." Gil Yehuda, Senior Director of Open Source at Verizon Media == RESOURCES FOR EDITORS == The Apache Way to Sustainable Open Source Success https://s.apache.org/GhnI
Briefing: The Apache Way https://s.apache.org/TheApacheWay
Our Founders look back on 20 Years of the ASF! https://s.apache.org/ASF20th-Founders
20 Years of Open Source Innovation, The Apache Way https://s.apache.org/CmA3
Foundation Reports and Statements http://www.apache.org/foundation/reports.html
Video Promo: The ASF at 20 https://s.apache.org/ASF20
Video Promo: ApacheCon http://s.apache.org/ApacheCon
Foundation Highlights 1999-2019 http://www.apache.org/press/highlights.html
ASF Press Kit (logos, creative assets) https://apache.org/foundation/press/kit/
Social Media Hashtags: #Apache #ASF20 #TheApacheWay
Twitter handle @TheASF
About The Apache Software Foundation (ASF)
Established in 1999, the all-volunteer Foundation oversees more than 350 leading Open Source projects, including Apache HTTP Server the world's most popular Web server software. Through the ASF's merit-based process known as "The Apache Way," more than 730 individual Members and 7,000 Committers across six continents successfully collaborate to develop freely available enterprise-grade software, benefiting billions of users worldwide: thousands of software solutions are distributed under the Apache License; and the community actively participates in ASF mailing lists, mentoring initiatives, and ApacheCon, the Foundation's official user conference, trainings, and expo. The ASF is a US 501(c)(3) charitable organization, funded by individual donations and corporate sponsors including Aetna, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Anonymous, ARM, Baidu, Bloomberg, Budget Direct, Capital One, Cerner, Cloudera, Comcast, Facebook, Google, Handshake, Hortonworks, Huawei, IBM, Indeed, Inspur, Leaseweb, Microsoft, ODPi, Pineapple Fund, Pivotal, Private Internet Access, Red Hat, Target, Tencent, Union Investment, Workday, and Verizon Media. For more information, visit http://apache.org/ and https://twitter.com/TheASF # # # Sally Khudairi Vice President The Apache Software Foundation +1 617 921 8656 press(at)apache(dot)org
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Voip-Pal.com Reports Decision in the Alice 101 Motion
BELLEVUE, Wash., March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Voip-Pal.com Inc. (Voip-Pal, Company) (OTCQB: VPLM) announced on March 25, 2019, the Court granted the Defendants Alice 101 motion to dismiss in Case Nos. 18-CV-06177-LHK, 18-cv-06217-LHK, C, 18-cv-04523-LHK, 18-cv-06054-LHK. The Company will be filing an appeal and is very confident this decision will be overturned.
Emil Malak, CEO of Voip-Pal, stated, We are surprised by this decision since the patent was granted based on the decision of the patent examiner and its validity was upheld in an Inter Partes Review by three administrative patent judges. We felt we had submitted a very strong rebuttal to this motion, unfortunately Judge Koh did not find in our favor. We recognize that our patents are unique and complex. While we respect the judges decision we are already at work preparing our appeal and we remain confident our patents will prevail. Generally, the process in deciding what is abstract i these rulings is itself abstract. In the past, judges have been split and often contradictory in their rulings on these motions. There are no set guidelines or criteria to make that determination. Alice 101 motions are very subjective in nature. We are determined to vigorously defend our patents.
In the meantime we are continuing our focus to monetize our patents in Europe where the patent system is much more fair to inventors. The potential users of our technology far outnumber users in the United States. We are determined now more than ever to continue the fight for our intellectual property rights and we are confident we will prevail. Patience is a virtue. About Voip-Pal.com Inc.
Voip-Pal.Com, Inc. (Voip-Pal) is a publicly traded corporation (OTCQB: VPLM ) headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. The Company owns a portfolio of patents relating to Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology that it is currently looking to monetize.
Any forecast of future financial performance is a "forward looking statement" under securities laws. Such statements are included to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand managements beliefs and opinions with respect to the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor among many in evaluating an investment. Corporate Website: www.voip-pal.com IR inquiries: [email protected]
IR Contact: Rich Inza (954) 495-4600
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] dynaCERT Initiates Carbon Credit Applications for its HydraGEN Technology
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- dynaCERT Inc. (TSX VENTURE: DYA) (OTCQB: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has initiated the world-wide process of Carbon Credit applications for its HydraGEN Technology and engaged International Environmental Partners Limited of the UK to assist the Company in this regard.
By reducing fuel consumption in diesel engines while at the same time reducing carbon emissions and other pollutants, the HydraGEN Technology can become very lucrative with the global market acceptance of carbon credits. For example, it is estimated that a Class 8 Truck travelling long haul routes can generate up to $1500 per year (Cdn $2278/year) in carbon credits based on the current market price of 15/tonne of CO2. dynaCERTs goal is to create a world-wide programme to enable any earned carbon credits to be shared with end-users of its HydraGEN Technology under a contractual subscription programme. To our knowledge, the only existing methodology today to measure and track carbon credits from diesel engines is dynaCERTs HydraGEN Technology and our SMART ECU2 electronics and algorithms. The first three steps of dynaCERTs ground-breaking and innovative carbon credit monetizing programme have already been initiated and are as follows: 1- dynaCERT has created innovative proprietary software algorithms in its patent pending SMART ECU2 to track the creation of carbon credits, such as its Systems and Methods for Tracking Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with an Entity patent pending (see Press Release dated October 5, 2017). An International Patent application has also been filed. Mr. David Bridge leads the charge at dynaCERT in these accomplishments and continues to develop new electronic advancements related to our HydraGEN Technology. 2- dynaCERT has nominated to its advisory board successful FinTech entrepreneur Brian Semkiw, P. Eng. and has more recently engaged his organization to further develop software that will enable the tracking of carbon credits generated by dynaCERTs HydraGEN Technology. In addition, Mr. Semkiw will oversee that such carbon credits be validated, audited and digitally accepted in international markets. (see Press Release dated March 1, 2018). Mr. Semkiws company, 3rdGP, is the worlds first third generation processing payments company with emphasis on Blockchain and IOT payments processing solutions. 3- dynaCERT today has entered into a contractual agreement with International Environmental Partners Inc. of the UK and its President, Ms. Monika Wojcik, to manage two key dynaCERT applications in the certification of the carbon reductions generated by its HydraGEN Technology: (a) VERRA a highly recognized international certification organization based in Washington, DC for trading in the European marketplace where the trading of carbon credits is very active and which was been established as a major initiative of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997; and, (b) the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) for developing countries which has been administered globally since April 6, 2007 by the United Nations offices in Bonn, Germany, and which bases its criteria as a result of an EU Directive 92/57/EEC (OJ L245, 26.8.92) in the Kyoto Protocol (see Press Release dated June 7, 2018). Ms. Monika Wojcik is a financial and environmental markets trader, sustainability advisor and passionate advocate for countering climate change and global warming. She advises global corporate clients and governments on carbon emission offsets, sustainability, and clean technology improvements and implementations. Before founding International Environmental Partners she has worked as a broker and trader for CF Partners and FXCM. International Environmental Partners is a carbon credit advisory and trading house with global outreach. Ms Wojcik stated, I am delighted to be able to help dynaCERT add the environmental product offerings to its HydraGEN Technology. The attractiveness of carbon products and sustainability benefits will be effective to drive decarbonization in the regions and sectors that are underrepresented and of an urgent need to improve air pollution. Mr. Brian Semkiw added, We are pleased to be working with International Environmental Partners as we apply their deep knowledge of carbon credit certification to the digital process of tokenization leading to monetization of the carbon credits resulting from dynaCERTs HydraGEN Technology. Jim Payne, President & CEO of dynaCERT commented, Our success in gathering this combination of world experts is a major milestone achievement and aligns with our Companys long term goal of becoming the global leader of monitoring and monetizing of diesel engine carbon credits. This goal was initiated with the development and filing of our global patent applicatins for our SMART ECU2 with its advanced tracking and verification capabilities and is now progressing swiftly to a genuine forthcoming accomplishment.
About CDM The clean development mechanism (CDM) allows emission-reduction (or emission removal) projects in developing countries to earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2. These CERs can be traded and sold, and used by industrialized countries to meet a part of their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The mechanism stimulates sustainable development and emission reductions, while giving industrialized countries some flexibility in how they meet their emission reduction targets. The projects must qualify through a rigorous and public registration and issuance process designed to ensure real, measurable and verifiable emission reductions that are additional to what would have occurred without the project. The mechanism is overseen by the CDM Executive Board (EB), answerable ultimately to the countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
In order to be considered for registration, a project must first be approved by the Designated National Authorities (DNA). The mechanism, in development for the dynaCERT HydraGEN technology, is seen by many as a trailblazer. It is the first global, environmental investment and credit scheme of its kind, providing a standardized emissions offset instrument, CERs, for mobile devices such as trucks, farm equipment, construction equipment and also for stationary power systems all of which are powered by diesel engines. A programme of activities (PoA) under the CDM is the coordinated implementation of a policy, measure or goal that reduces emissions. Under a PoA, emission reductions achieved by many individual activities (known as component project activities or CPAs) can be considered in aggregate, without requiring each CPA to undergo individualized registration and issuance processes. This reduces transaction costs and makes the CDM more attractive and accessible, particularly to least developed countries that have not historically benefited from the CDM. About VERRA VERRA is committed to helping reduce emissions, improve livelihoods and protect natural resources across the private and public sectors. VERRA supports climate action and sustainable development with standards, tools and programs that credibly, transparently and robustly assess environmental and social impacts and enable funding for sustaining and scaling up these benefits. VERRA works in any arena where we see a need for clear standards, a role for market-based mechanisms and an opportunity to achieve environmental and social good. VERRA was founded in 2005 by environmental and business leaders who saw the need for greater quality assurance in voluntary carbon markets. It now serves as a secretariat for the various standards that they develop and the programs that they manage, as well as an incubator of new ideas that can generate meaningful environmental and social value at scale. The strategic direction of VERRA is set by both staff and the VERRA Board of Directors. VERRA develops and manages standards and frameworks to vet environmental and sustainable development efforts, build their capacity and connect them to funding. By ensuring that their standards are robust, practical and transparent, VERRA can accurately quantify benefits and drive investment in responsible, high-performing projects and programs. We work closely with civil society, governments and the private sector to develop novel frameworks and enable results on the ground. VERRA continues to bring expertise in standard development and program management from their flagship voluntary carbon market program into new fields, to increase the scope and scale of our impact. All of VERRA programs undergo extensive stakeholder consultation and expert review, and draw from four key components: standard, independent assessment, accounting methodologies, and registry. About International Environmental Partners International Environmental Partners are a multilingual team of advisors, traders, marketers, journalist and PR/CSR experts. The company provides access to global environmental markets and products. International Environmental Partners mission is to provide a tailored solution to organizations taking a proactive approach to fight climate change. International Environmental Partners aim to work with NGOs, climate fight initiatives and organizations within sustainability sector to bring awareness and ways of reducing emission and improving lives in communities affected by global warming. About dynaCERT Inc.
dynaCERT Inc. manufactures, distributes, and installs Carbon Emission Reduction Technology for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patent-pending technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through electrolysis and supplies these through the air intake to enhance combustion, resulting in lower carbon emissions and greater fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with all types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment, marine vessels and railroad locomotives. Website: www. dynaCERT .com READER ADVISORY Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to the potential expansion into new markets, industries and segments, such as diesel- powered use of any the dynaCERT products and sales. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward- looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. On Behalf of the Board
Murray James Payne, CEO For more information, please contact: Jim Payne, CEO & President
dynaCERT Inc.
#101 501 Alliance Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1
(416) 766-9691 x 2
[email protected]dynaCERT.com Investor Relations
dynaCERT Inc.
Nancy Massicotte
(416) 766-9691 x 1
[email protected] dynaCERT .com
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Panorays Debuts Unique "Human Element" Assessment
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Panorays , a rapidly growing provider of automated third-party security management , today announced a unique tool that assesses the human impact on an organizations security in a non-invasive manner and incorporates it into the cyber posture rating. This human element evaluation is one of several new features designed to enhance Panorays award-winning third-party security management solution.
The human element evaluation considers factors such as likelihood of employees to be targeted for cyberattacks, presence of company accounts in breach dumps, presence of a dedicated security team, irregular public footprints of company employees and presence of official profiles on social media. Panorays has published its research behind this approach to the human element in Employee Attack Likelihood: The Hidden Indicator Nobody Talks About.
As a start-up we are always seeking innovative ways to improve and automate this increasingly important area of cybersecurity third-party management. Our platform is steadily rising against established players in this area, as we continue our mission to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers. With Panorays, companies can shorten their third-party security evaluation process by as much as 93 percent, while gaining continuous visibility of both network and human factors and ensuring compliance to regulations such as GDPR and NYDFS, said Matan Or-El, CEO, Panorays. New Panorays features also include multiple language support, single-click supplier approval and customized relationship levels.
Streamlining the assessment process and accounting for the global nature of business, Panorays customers across the globe now have the option to send security inquires in multiple languages, allowing suppliers to complete their security assessments in their native languages. Evaluators will be able to review the questions and answers in English. Panorays is continuing to make the management of, and engagement with, third parties easier by supporting effective business workflow through enabling evaluators to approve suppliers with just a click. Evaluators can also now specify a customized relationship level for specific types of suppliers, providing evaluators with visibility of their varied cyber exposure. About Panorays
Panorays automates third-party security management. The platform enables companies to easily view, manage and engage on the security posture of their third parties, vendors, suppliers and business partners. With the Panorays platform, companies dramatically shorten their third-party security evaluation process and gain continuous visibility while ensuring compliance to regulations such as GDPR and NY DFS. Panorays is a SaaS-based platform, with no installation needed. Panorays is currently being successfully implemented by client organizations in financial services, healthcare, automotive, technology, and retail. For more information, visit www.panorays.com. Panorays Media Contact: Paula Brici Eskenzi PR [email protected] +1 949 677 6527
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] SymphonyRM Opens Pittsburgh Health AI Center of Excellence to Accelerate Data Science Efforts Around Next Best Actions
PALO ALTO, Calif. & PITTSBURGH, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SymphonyRM, Healthcare's Next Best Action Company, today announced the opening of its Health AI Center of Excellence in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The expansion highlights the company's continued growth and investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the way healthcare organizations engage consumers. "The industry is rapidly embracing AI to improve the patient experience and SymphonyRM is leading the transformation with our AI-driven Next Best Actions," said Mike Linnert, CEO and founder, SymphonyRM. "With our Health AI Center of Excellence, we are boosting our investment in AI to build on our substantial data science capabilities and pioneer new innovations to help the healthcare industry anticipate consumer needs and use proactive outreach to build more meaningful relationships with health system consumers and providers." SymphonyRM's Pittsburgh office will work across the company's data team to find new ways to harness data science to improve the way healthcare companies interact with patients, providers and insurers and create a seamless, personalized experience based on individual next best actions. "To remain competitive, healthcare companies are striving for customer-centricity," said Rob Birgfeld, AVP, chief digital marketing officer at Inova Health System. "What gives healthcare marketers the ability to actually deliver on the promise of meeting consumer and patient expectations are the means to understand them. Artificial intelligence provides organizations with unparalleled opportunities to gather deeper insights and, in turn, deliver proactive, personalized and more meaningful experiences." In 2018, Pittsburgh was named one of the four tech hubs to watch in the U.S., according to VentureBeat, and Carnegie Mellon's artificial intelligence graduate program was ranked No. 1 by U.S News & World Report. The Pittsburgh office and Health AI Center of Excellence will be led by Joe Schmid, chief technology officer, SymphonyRM.
"Pittsburgh's vibrant community will provide the perfect environment for our company to flourish," said Joe Schmid, chief technology officer, SymphonyRM. "We look forward to engaging with the community's world-class data science talent and its healthcare ecosystem to transform the health and wellness journey for consumers nationwide." SymphonyRM's HealthOS platform blends customer relationship management (CRM), data science and workforce orchestration to generate personalized and prioritized Next Best Actions (NBAs) for every consumer, patient and provider in a health system to drive growth, loyalty and healthcare quality.
"We are proud to welcome SymphonyRM, a leading healthcare technology company, to the city of Pittsburgh and look forward to the company's continued success in the region," said William Peduto, mayor, City of Pittsburgh. Additional Information For more on SymphonyRM, visit: symphonyrm.com
Connect with SymphonyRM on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/symphonyrm
Follow @SymphonyRM on Twitter: twitter.com/symphonyrm
Like SymphonyRM on Facebook: facebook.com/symphonyrm About SymphonyRM SymphonyRM is helping health systems transform how they acquire, engage and retain patients by creating a membership model rivaling the capabilities of world-class consumer organizations. By generating data-driven, prioritized next best actions for every consumer, prospect and provider in any health system, SymphonyRM is helping organizations anticipate member needs and use proactive outreach to build deeper customer relationships and drive better outcomes while increasing revenue. Media Contact:
Kenneth Garcia
SymphonyRM
(310) 740-1679
[email protected] Related Links website View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/symphonyrm-opens-pittsburgh-health-ai-center-of-excellence-to-accelerate-data-science-efforts-around-next-best-actions-300818312.html SOURCE SymphonyRM
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Steady Joins World Economic Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
ATLANTA, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Steady , the groundbreaking platform that connects workers to the rapidly expanding gig economy and is building a better future for Americas workforce, announced today it has joined World Economic Forums (WEF) Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), a select group of global companies committed to improving the state of the world.
As an independent international organization recognized for bringing together leaders and policymakers in business, politics and academia to discuss immediate economic challenges, WEF strives to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance. WEFs C4IR is dedicated to driving positive change through the benefits of science and technology, and has selected nine core technologies it believes will pave the way for the next industrial revolution. One of C4IRs core technologies pertains to autonomous and urban mobility, addressing the needs of global urbanization while minimizing complex social, economic and environmental challenges, said Steady CEO Adam Roseman. The way people work is changing. At Steady, were operating at the intersection of income and finance, assisting future workers in creating a stable monthly income and a more solid financial future for themselves. Any industrial revolution brings a wave of change that people need to be prepared for, said Zvika Krieger, Head of Technology Policy, World Economic Forum. Mre than 40 percent of Americans have more than one source of income. This is not unique to the US. As more of the global workforce embraces the gig economy, people need to be better prepared to set and meet financial goals. We are excited to welcome Steady as a member of the Centre to help everyone maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of emerging technology for society.
Steady recommends personalized income opportunities for users and helps them track their income. In finding financial gaps, Steady assists in connecting workers to employers who can provide them with an increase in monthly income through part-time, one-time and temporary work. Recently, Steady expanded its opportunities to include traditional part-time brick and mortar jobs, as well as user benefits, discounts and an improved income tracking feature that helps mitigate the credit challenges of non-single income, full-time W2 workers. About Steady
Founded in 2017 by Adam Roseman, Eric Aroetsy and Michael Loeb, Steady is a new platform for workers looking to supplement their income by taking part-time, one-time and temporary jobs. With $9 million in Series A funding, Steady makes it easier than ever for workers to find the best work opportunities available to help build their careers and manage and better understand their income. In September 2017, Steady was chosen as one of 10 startups to participate in Fintech71s exclusive 10-week accelerator program. One month later it won the Startup Pitch competition at Money 20/20, the worlds largest financial services innovation event. As of October 2018, the Steady app has been downloaded more than 200,000 times.
To join the 600,000-strong Steady community, users can maximize their income by downloading the free app from the App Store and Google Play . Employers interested in partnering with Steady can contact Steady at [email protected] . About World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network brings together Governments, leading companies, civil society and experts from around the world to co-design and pilot innovative approaches to the policy and governance of technology. Its vision is to shape the development and use of technology in ways that maximize the benefits and minimize the risks. The network develops, implements and scales up agile and human-centred pilot projects that can be adopted by policy-makers, legislators and regulators worldwide. Media Contact
Paul Wilke
[email protected]
+1-415-881-7995 Amanda Russo, Public Engagement Lead
[email protected]
+1-415-734-0589
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Acqueon and Selligent Partner to Integrate Customer and Marketing Data to Engage and Maximize Every Consumer Interaction
DALLAS and SAN JOSE, Calif., March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acqueon Technologies Inc ., a leader in proactive customer engagement management, and global B2C marketing automation company, Selligent Marketing Cloud (Selligent) , today announced a formal partnership to arm enterprises with the ability to leverage customer journey analytics and preferences, spanning both customer support and digital marketing, to determine the next best actions for customer engagement. The goal is to empower sales and service agents with the real-time, contextual intelligence necessary to maximize the potential of every customer interaction.
In businesses today, digital marketing and contact center teams operate in isolation, yet they both interact with customers and prospects every day in different ways, said Ashish Koul, CEO of Acqueon. Through our partnership with Selligent, we are bridging this divide and enabling organizations to uncover intelligence and take action based on the context of an individuals combined interactions with their business. This AI-driven customer engagement data leads to more engaging and profitable sales conversion and service satisfaction. The integrated solution combines data science, machine learning, AI, customer journey visualization and predictive analytics to enable organizations to reach the right person, with the right information, via the right channel, at the right time. The result is an optimized customer interaction, which results in better brand loyalty, increased revenues, and decreased costs for the enterprise. The functional silos that exist within organizations today limit customer experience to a series of very disjointed conversations across a consumers lifecycle, said John Hernandez, CEO of Selligent. Manually piecing together data across multiple sources from marketing to sales to service to get a full view of the customer relationship does not provide brands the informed yet real-time rsponse rate that consumers today demand. The Acqueon-Selligent offering bridges this divide to drive elevated customer experiences for consumers and strategic business growth for our clients.
This combined Acqueon-Selligent solution is comprised of Selligent Marketing Cloud , the ultimate experience platform that connects and provides visibility into inbound and outbound interactions across the entire customer journey, and Acqueons Customer Engagement Platform , which arms enterprises with omni-channel customer and operational analytics to determine next best action with customers, prospects and payers. Benefits of the Joint Solution:
Deliver personalized messages at every stage of the customer lifecycle, turning interactions into meaningful conversations
Manage individual customer relationships at scale across all channels (email, mobile, web, social)
Engage in meaningful dialogue with customers through journey visualization and analytics
Drive context across all interactions with a brand with a 360-degree view of the customer for contact center agents, supervisors and marketers Through this partnership, Selligent and Acqueon deliver a differentiated solution that will foster emotional connections between consumers and enterprises. About Acqueon
Acqueon, a conversational AI company, delivers one of the most comprehensive customer experience product suite that supports more than 5 billion interactions annually worldwide. With their proprietary conversational AI technology, they can seamlessly orchestrate, multi-channel conversational interactions throughout the customers journey delivering predictable results both on-premise or in the Cloud. Acqueon leverages predictive technology to personalize conversational engagement based on machine learning from interaction data and business goals, and determines the right person, the optimal time, and the right communications channel for meaningful customer experience. For more information, please visit us at http://www.acqueon.com?. About Selligent Marketing Cloud
Selligent Marketing Cloud is a sophisticated B2C marketing platform that empowers ambitious relationship marketers to maximize every moment they engage with consumers. With native AI capabilities, a robust data layer, and a powerful omnichannel execution engine, Selligent Marketing Cloud enables marketers to easily target, trigger, and deliver highly personalized messaging across all critical channels. More than 700 global brands in retail, travel, automotive, publishing, and financial services trust Selligent Marketing Cloud to help deliver their marketing programs. With 10 offices across the United States and Europe and more than 50 partners, Selligent serves over 30 countries with local, personalized service. Learn more at www.selligent.com and connect with the team at Twitter , LinkedIn , and our blog . Media Contact: Sylvie Tongco, Director of Corporate Communications [email protected] Vimal Abraham, VP and Head of Marketing [email protected]
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] ReviveMed Receives Frost & Sullivan AI-Driven Next-Generation Metabolomics Technology Innovation Award
ReviveMed is proud to announce that they are the recipient of the North American AI-Driven Next-Generation Metabolomics Technology Innovation Award from Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) as part of that company's 2018 Best Practices Awards. Frost & Sullivan, which has been providing a wide range of business consulting and market research analysis for over 50 years, expects that AI will redefine the entire drug discovery and development process. Frost & Sullivan realizes that expanding, accelerating, and strengthening the access to metabolomics data is crucial to success in the competitive and resource-constrained drug discovery environment. "Experimental characterizations of the human metabolome require decades of research and billions of dollars; that's why we developed an artificial intelligence or AI platform to overcome these difficulties," said Dr. Leila Pirhaji, ReviveMed's Founder and CEO. "AI can significantly advance our ability to characterize a large set of metabolites for each patient, which has not been possible before and will lead us to understand novel disease mechanisms for drug discovery." Metabolomics, or the study of metabolites, traditionally has been used to identify biomarkers of diseases. Now, there is growing evidence of metabolites' role as regulators of biological activities and modifiers of other omics, including genomics. However, the difficulties of characterizing a large number of metabolites for each patient have limited the applications of metabolomics in precision medicine and drug discovery. The combination of ReviveMed's proprietary database and their AI algorithm offers an opportunity to conduct fewer experiments to identify metabolites more efficiently. Once the identity of the metabolite is predicted, the data is integrated into other large-scale molecular datasets and translated into novel therapeutic insights for drug discovery purposes. "ReviveMed has created a paradigm shift in the drug discovery process by developing and exploiting one of the most comprehensive, accessible and affordable troves of metabolomics data," said Cecilia Van Cauwenberghe, Senior Industry Analyst and Associate Fellow at Frost & Sullivan. "ReviveMed's MetEngine platform consistently integrates untargeted metabolomics data with genomics and proteomics data. The artificial intelligence-driven approach infers disease-associated metabolites and proteins that are impossible to obtain through individual analysis."
ReviveMed envisions the use of automated tools to help therapeutics developers introduce real, data-driven evidence into the process of drug discovery and development. ReviveMed's technology reveals the crucial relationship between the activity of genes and proteins and the phenotypic behavior in both healthy and diseased states. ReviveMed exploits the best features of AI and omics science, creating what Frost & Sullivan believes is a strong competitive advantage. The details of Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Award can be downloaded here. About ReviveMed
ReviveMed is an AI-driven drug discovery platform focused on discovering therapeutics for metabolic diseases including fatty liver diseases. ReviveMed is a pioneer in the intersection of AI and metabolomics, located in the heart of biotech innovation in Cambridge, MA. ReviveMed uniquely overcomes the difficulties of identifying a large set of metabolites for each patient, based on the technology that ReviveMed's founders developed at MIT (News - Alert) and published in Nature Methods. It further translates metabolomic data to generate novel therapeutic insights for drug and drug response biomarker discovery. Currently, ReviveMed is collaborating with tier-one pharmaceutical companies and pursuing internal drug discovery programs. Learn more at www.revivemed.io, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, they have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005366/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Renesas Electronics to Release RZ/G Linux Platform Solution Supporting IEC 62443 International Standard for Protection of Industrial Control Systems Against Cyberattacks by EO2019
Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced plans to release a security solution based on the Renesas RZ/G Linux Platform that will reduce the amount of time required for users to obtain certification under IEC 62443-4-2, a new international standard for security technologies used to protect industrial control systems from cyberattacks. In today's connected world, robust security measures are essential. Cyberattacks on industrial control systems for infrastructure facilities such as manufacturing plants and power stations pose the risk of serious disruption to people's lives and to the economy. For this reason, the IEC (News - Alert) established the IEC 62443 international security standard covering all layers (operators, system integrators, and equipment suppliers) engaged in the manufacturing of industrial control systems and all players (enterprises and organizations involved in industry and public infrastructure). Within this standard, endpoint devices such as sensors and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) must be certified under IEC 62443-4. The certification process imposes a significant burden on developers. It requires them to interpret the difficult standard, to prepare the software and documentation required for certification, and to execute a procedure that requires specialized expertise. To help developers overcome these certification challenges, Renesas is developing an industrial security solution that supports IEC 62443-4. Together with deliverables through the activities in Civil Infrastructure Platform (CIPTM) Project, the Renesas RZ/G Linux Platform security solution will enable users to reduce the time required for obtaining IEC 62443-4-2 certification by as much as six months. "At the end of February 2019, the international standard version of IEC62443-4-2 was officially released," said Shigeki Kato, Vice President of Renesas' Enterprise Infrastructure Business Division, Industrial Solution Business Unit. "Renesas supports the adoption of IEC 62443 across the entire industry and is working to roll out this solution as soon as possible as part of an all-out effort to support our customers' efforts to acquire certification." Within the IEC 62443-4 standard, IEC 62443-4-1 deals with development process compliance and IEC 62443-4-2 deals with the technical compliance of the devices themselves. Renesas is working through the newly established CIP Security Working Group to develop secure open source software (OSS) that complies with IEC 62443-4-2, to establish guidelines for implementing security functions and applications using OS, and to help create the testing procedures and testing environments necessary for obtaining IEC 62443-4-2 certification.
"By promoting the widespread adoption of OSS, CIP aims to make secure civil infrastructure systems a reality. IEC 62443-4 is a key role in this as industry priority, which is why CIP is aligned with supporting and promoting it," said Urs Gleim, CIP Governing Board Chairman and Head of Smart Embedded Systems for Siemens AG (News - Alert). "I am confident that the new Security Working Group led by Renesas will advance the adoption of OSS in industrial machinery and contribute to the realization of secure smart factories and infrastructure." Renesas supports embedded Linux devices in the industrial field with the RZ/G Linux Platform, a one-stop solution combining a high-performance RZ/G microprocessor (MPU) and a fully-verified Linux package with a guaranteed, ultra-long-term support. The new security solution will include all the software and documentation necessary for obtaining IEC 62443-4-2 certification, providing an optimal development environment for products employing the RZ/G Linux Platform. The new security solution was developed combining Renesas' efforts made through the CIP Security Working Group and the RZ/G Linux Platform, and will enable users to reduce their IEC 62443-4-2 certification time by up to six months. Moving forward, Renesas will continue to provide solutions with IEC 62443-4 support while working to advance enhanced endpoint intelligence in the OT field to develop shared technologies such as security technology and functional safety technology.
Availability The new IEC 62443-4-2-compliant security solution is scheduled to be available by the end of 2019, starting with the RZ/G2M MPU. The solutions for other RZ/G2 (News - Alert) MPUs will be available over time. (Availability subject to change) More Information To learn more about the solution, visit https://www.renesas.com/solutions/key-technology/iot-security/infrastructure/iec-62443.html. To learn more about the RZ/G Linux Platform, visit https://www.renesas.com/products/rzg-linux-platform.html. To learn more about Renesas' security solutions for industrial machinery, visit https://www.renesas.com/solutions/industrial-automation/security.html. About Renesas Electronics Corporation Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) delivers trusted embedded design innovation with complete semiconductor solutions that enable billions of connected, intelligent devices to enhance the way people work and live. A global leader in microcontrollers, analog, power, and SoC products, Renesas provides comprehensive solutions for a broad range of automotive, industrial, home electronics, office automation, and information communication technology applications that help shape a limitless future. Learn more at renesas.com. (Remarks) Linux Foundation (News - Alert), CIP and Civil Infrastructure Platform are trademarks or registered trademarks in the United States and/or other countries. All names of products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005313/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Fifth Annual Fortune 500 Employment Brand Report Published by WilsonHCG
WilsonHCG, a multi-award-winning global talent solutions provider, released its fifth annual Fortune 500 Employment Brand Report. The report analyzes and ranks the employment brand of each of the Fortune 500 companies based on more than 17,000 data points around six key employment branding and promotion categories. It also identifies trends and changes to employee attraction and engagement throughout the hiring process. "Globally, this is the most competitive hiring environment in history," said John Wilson, CEO of WilsonHCG. "One key finding from the report, many of the high ranked companies are providing candidates with a hyper-personalized experience. A positive and personalized candidate experience is more important than ever before." Each company within the Fortune 500 was evaluated on the scope of six key employment brand categories grouped into four areas of the hiring process: Awareness & Attraction, Recruitment, Candidate Experience, and Employee Experience. "Executive leaders regularly ask me what they should be doing to find and hire the best people," said Kim Pope, Executive Vice President of Global Client Solutions at WilsonHCG. "This report shows how some of the largest companies in the world position their employment brand and serves as a great guide for organizations that want to strengthen their own branding."
Key findings: Recruitment marketing most overlooked element of employment brand
Data proves recruitment marketing is the most overlooked element of an employment brand. Some 73 percent of the Fortune 500 companies analyzed scored less than 50 percent of possible points, while 25 organizations failed to score any points at all in this category. The value of showcasing CSR (News - Alert) is still not fully understood Only six percent of the Fortune 500 got full marks in this category, and 80 percent received only one-third of all possible points. CSR is critical to employees and was cited as an "important issue" by 77 percent of respondents in the 2018 Deloitte (News - Alert) Global Human Capital Trends report. A notable increase in employment brand efforts by organizations whose corporate brands have faced scrutiny General Electric, Wells Fargo (News - Alert), and Facebook all ranked in the top 20 even though each company faced corporate brand challenges over the past 12 months. The improved rankings for these three organizations came from an increase in the amount of modern and personalized employment brand efforts made in the same time period. To access a copy of the 2019 Fortune 500 Top 100 Employment Brands report, please visit our website. About WilsonHCG A multi-award-winning global talent solutions provider, WilsonHCG helps companies to build modern workforce programs. The organization, which has a global presence spanning six continents and 40 countries, offers a wide range of innovative talent acquisition and talent management solutions with additional services including executive search, tech, and employment brand consulting. www.wilsonhcg.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005518/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital said Tuesday that it will open next month, marking the first general hospital in Seoul's northwestern region.
The 300-bed hospital, under the Catholic University of Korea, will officially open Monday with 39 medical departments under its arm, ranging from cardiology to neurology.
When it is fully open, the hospital will significantly bump up the total number of beds to over 800.
"Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital is the first general hospital in this part of the capital city," professor Kwon Soon-yong told reporters, adding that the people in the region will be able to receive high quality professional medical care.
The hospital is within walking distance of major residential areas in the Eunpyeong and Seodaemun wards, and only 37 kilometers away from North Korea's industrial city of Kaesong.
The hospital said it aims to serve a role in inter-Korean relations as the two Koreas move to expand cooperation in the health and medical sectors.
"Our hospital is a cutting-edge general hospital that also happens to be closest to Kaesong," Kwon said, adding the doctors will explore ways to support orphans and pregnant women in North Korea. (Yonhap)
[March 26, 2019] New Study Unveils Nation's Distracted Driving Behaviors; Atlanta Drivers are Most Distracted, San Diego Least
Life360, the leading location sharing app that protects and connects families, today released its annual comprehensive U.S. distracted driving study in time for national Distracted Driving Awareness month, highlighting the driving behaviors of the nation's distracted drivers. Leveraging more than 84 billion miles of driving data in a national sample of Life360 users across the country, the analysis revealed that distracted driving is more prevalent in the East - with Atlanta topping the list. The study also found rush hour driving is more distracting than morning commutes. And for the second year in a row, there's very little gap between teen and adult distracted drivers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005371/en/ New Study Unveils Nation's Distracted Driving Behaviors (Graphic: Business Wire) Overall, the West Coast had the least distracted driving. At the state level the report found New Jersey and Florida drivers are the most distracted and Wyoming and New Mexico drivers the least. The Top 5 cities with the most/least distracted driving: Most Distracted: Atlanta, GA
Washington, DC
Baltimore, MD
Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Houston, TX Least Distracted: San Diego, CA (News - Alert)
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Los Angeles, CA
Phoenix, AZ Life360's 2019 Distracted Driving Report is the largest stud on distracted driving to date. More than 27 billion distracted drives were analyzed (based on significant interactions with a phone's screen while driving a vehicle), pooled from a national sample of 844,000 Life360 users over the 2018 calendar year.
Interestingly, the study found that Los Angeles and San Francisco residents exercise considerable caution when driving in the rain. Los Angeles drivers slow down 6 times more in heavy rain compared to drivers from Seattle, who are both accustomed to rain and unfazed by it. In San Francisco, drivers slow down 4 times more in heavy rain compared to those in Seattle. The report found that distracted drivers are 21 times more likely to speed, 12 times more likely to rapidly accelerate and seven times more likely to hard brake. In other revealing trends:
Drivers on their morning commute (6am - 8am) are less prone to distracted driving than they are during the afternoon, when they are twice as likely to use their phones.
Most speeding occurs Sunday afternoons (3pm - 6pm).
The worst time for bad driving behaviors, including hard braking and rapid acceleration, occurs in the middle of the night (between 3am - 4am) on Saturdays and Sundays.
Teens and parents are almost equal when it comes to distracted driving phone use. Distracted teen drivers interact with their smartphones 9 times in 100 miles. For adults, it's 8 times in 100 miles. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that at least 3,166 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2017, including texting and driving. Considering virtually all teens (95 percent according to PEW Research Center) have a smartphone, distracted driving is a very serious risk. Life360 offers a Driver Protect plan that provides weekly distracted driving reports to empower families with information to become safer drivers. The weekly reports highlight various driving habits including speed, texting and driving, hard braking and rapid acceleration. Even as awareness rises about hazardous distracted driving habits, accidents still happen. Life360's Driver Protect plan also provides car crash detection and emergency response dispatch, in addition to notifying family contacts in real-time. For instance, Life360 user Karena was driving to lunch with her son, when they were rear-ended by a driver who was texting and driving -- pushing her car into a curb, and forcing a rollover and slide. With the two trapped inside and Karena unable to reach her phone - Life360 immediately sensed the crash, called 911 and alerted her husband with directions to their exact location. Now a year later, Karena's whole family uses Life360 daily to stay safe and connected. For full details on crash detection, visit the Life360 FAQs: www.life360.com/support. To learn more or sign up for Driver Protect in the U.S. ($7.99 a month), simply open the Premium menu in the Life360 App (available on iTunes or Google (News - Alert) Play). About Life360 Life360 is the world's leading location and driving safety service for families available for Android and iPhone (News - Alert) in a convenient and secure mobile app. A leader in family tech, Life360 gives families peace of mind when they are not together. As the largest source of family driving data in the world, Life360 provides safety insights around driving behavior to better protect family members on the go via location sharing, day-to-day communications, driver updates, emergency response features, and more. Founded in 2008, Life360 has raised over $100M in venture capital and is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.life360.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005371/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Venafi Study: Nearly Two-Thirds of Organizations Experienced Certificate-Related Outages Last Year
Venafi, the leading provider of machine identity protection, today announced the results of a study of the scale and frequency of certificate-related outages on critical business infrastructure. Over 550 chief information officers (CIOs) from the U.S., U.K., France, Germany and Australia participated in the study. Certificate-related outages harm the reliability and availability of vital network systems and services while also being extremely difficult to diagnose and remediate. Unfortunately, the vast majority of businesses routinely suffer from these events. In fact, according to the study, almost two-thirds of organizations (60 percent) experienced certificate-related outages that impacted critical business applications or services within the last year. In addition, 74 percent faced similar events within the last 24 months. Certificate-related outages are likely to become more complicated, common and costly in the future. The study also found that: Eighty-five percent believe the increasing complexity and interdependence of IT systems will make outages even more painful in the future.
Nearly 80 percent estimate certificate use in their organizations will grow by 25 percent or more in the next five years, with over half anticipating minimum growth rates of more than 50 percent.
While 50 percent of CIOs are concerned that certificate outages will have an impact on customer experience, 45 percent are more concerned about the time and resources they consume. "Recently, a machine identity-related outage impacted 32 million cellular customers in the U.K., and estimates suggest this could have cost the company over $100 million," said Kevin Bocek, vice president, security strategy and threat intelligence at Venafi. "Ultimately, companies must get control of all of their certificates; otherwise, it's simply a matter of time until one expires and causes a debilitating outage. CIOs need greater visibility, intelligence and automation of the entire life cycle of all certificates to do this."
While humans rely on usernames and passwords to identify themselves and gain authorized access to applications and services, machines use digital certificates to serve as machine identities in order to communicate securely with other machines and gain authorized access to applications and services. This year, organizations will spend over $10 billion to protect and manage passwords, but they will spend almost nothing to protect and manage machine identities. Most organizations do not have a clear understanding of how many machine identities are in use, which devices are using them, and when they will expire. This lack of comprehensive visibility and intelligence leads to outages. Bocek added: "Since certificates control authentication and communication between machines, it is important not to let them expire unexpectedly. And because the symptoms of a machine identity-related outage mimic many other hardware and software failures, diagnosing them is notoriously time-consuming and difficult."
Resources White Paper: CIO Study: Certificate-Related Outages Continue to Plague Organizations Blog: Majority of Businesses Still Experience Outages: Are You Protecting Your Certificates? About Venafi Venafi is the cybersecurity market leader in machine identity protection, securing machine-to-machine connections and communications. Venafi protects machine identity types by orchestrating cryptographic keys and digital certificates for SSL/TLS, IoT, mobile and SSH. Venafi provides global visibility of machine identities and the risks associated with them for the extended enterprise - on premises, mobile, virtual, cloud and IoT - at machine speed and scale. Venafi puts this intelligence into action with automated remediation that reduces the security and availability risks connected with weak or compromised machine identities while safeguarding the flow of information to trusted machines and preventing communication with machines that are not trusted. With over 30 patents, Venafi delivers innovative solutions for the world's most demanding, security-conscious Global 5000 organizations and government agencies, including the top five U.S. health insurers; the top five U.S. airlines; the top four credit card issuers; three out of the top four accounting and consulting firms; four of the top five U.S., U.K., Australian and South African banks; and four of the top five U.S. retailers. Venafi is backed by top-tier investors, including TCV, Foundation Capital, Intel Capital, QuestMark Partners, Mercato Partners (News - Alert) and NextEquity. For more information, visit: www.venafi.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005242/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Arkose Labs Named 2019 MRC Technology Award Winner
Arkose Labs, a provider of online fraud prevention technology combining user risk assessment and sophisticated enforcement challenges, today announced it has been named winner of the 2019 MRC Technology Awards in the Start-Up category by the Merchant Risk Council. The MRC Technology Awards recognize superior solution providers making substantial contributions in the fraud, payments and risk industries. Arkose Labs helps solve some of the world's most targeted businesses' online fraud problems - which cost millions each year in financial losses - with its innovative global telemetry, user behavioral risk assessment and proprietary enforcement challenges. As companies across the information security industry experience more fraudulent user activity, a new solution to eliminate the problem at the source is necessary. Arkose Labs' technology exclusively stops abuse before it occurs without impacting user experience or conversation rates, and Arkose Labs is the only solution provider to offer an Attack Remediation service-level agreement. With the prevalence of more sophisticated automated attacks, adoption of Arkose Labs' technology is accelerating across sectors including online marketplaces, travel, banking, social media and online gaming. "The ability to stop abusive attacks at the point of entry, without disrupting the user experience, is now a must-have for companies," said Kevin Gosschalk, CEO of Arkose Labs. "We focus on breaking the econmics of fraudsters. If you can make it cost more to gain entry than they can extract, they move on. Our technology is rooted in prevention, which allows us to combat the automation feeding the scale of online fraud impacting companies today. We're proud to be recognized by the MRC as a company leading the way in helping digital businesses protect their ecosystem from automated fraud."
The announcement was made at MRC Vegas 2019 in Las Vegas on March 20, 2019, and follows the 2018 win by industry heavyweight ThreatMetrix, a LexisNexis (News - Alert) Risk Solutions Company. During MRC Vegas, Gosschalk presented the session, Printing Money: Virtual Marketplaces as Real-World ATMs, which explored practical scenarios where virtual marketplaces can be exploited like cash by attackers, as well as the pathways toward preventing automated gift card abuse. "The MRC Technology Awards recognize the most esteemed achievements in eCommerce, honoring organizations surpassing industry standards and providing a benchmark for excellence," said Markus Bergthaler, MRC Director of Programs and Marketing. "Arkose Labs is deserving of this award as they offer an innovative solution using global telemetry paired with enforcement challenges to validate suspicious traffic while ensuring legitimate users are not challenged. The independent panel of merchant judges who evaluated Arkose Labs' technology noted its versatility in helping companies prevent account takeovers, card testing, fake user accounts, inventory denials, spam, auction abuse, ticket scalping and fake ratings."
To learn more about Arkose Labs and its online fraud prevention platform, visit www.arkoselabs.com. About Arkose Labs Arkose Labs is solving multimillion-dollar online fraud problems for major global businesses in sectors including online marketplaces, travel, banking, social media, ticketing and online gaming. Our bilateral approach combines global telemetry with proprietary enforcement challenges that stop fraud while minimizing false positives and without impacting user experience. Arkose Labs is based in San Francisco, Calif., with offices in Brisbane, Australia. For more information, visit www.arkoselabs.com or on Twitter (News - Alert) @ArkoseLabs. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005283/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Security Analytics and Machine Learning Fuel Next-Generation Cyber Defenses, Finds '2019 Cyberthreat Defense Report'
CyberEdge Group, the leading research and marketing firm serving the security industry's top vendors, today announced the availability of its sixth annual Cyberthreat Defense Report (CDR). New this year, the report found that IT security's greatest inhibitor to success is contending with too much security data. To address this challenge, 47 percent of respondents acknowledged their organization's intent to acquire advanced security analytics solutions that incorporate machine learning (ML) technology within the next 12 months. Such investments help to mitigate the risks of advanced cyberthreats missed by traditional security defenses, aiding enterprise cyberthreat hunting endeavors. With 1,200 IT security decision makers and practitioners participating from 17 countries, six continents, and 19 industries, CyberEdge's CDR is the most comprehensive study of security professionals' perceptions in the industry. This study provides a 360-degree view of cyberthreats, current defenses, and planned security investments by organizations of all sizes and across all industries. Key Findings The 2019 CDR yielded dozens of insights into the challenges IT security professionals faced in 2018 and the challenges they'll likely continue to face for the rest of this year. Key findings include: Hottest security technology for 2019. Advanced security analytics tops 2019's most wanted list not only for the security management and operations category, but also for all technologies in this year's report.
Advanced security analytics tops 2019's most wanted list not only for the security management and operations category, but also for all technologies in this year's report. Machine learning garners confidence. More than 90 percent of IT security organizations have invested in ML and/or artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to combat advanced threats. More than 80 percent are already seeing a difference.
More than 90 percent of IT security organizations have invested in ML and/or artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to combat advanced threats. More than 80 percent are already seeing a difference. Attack success redux. The percentage of organizations affected by a successful cyberattack ticked up this year, from 77 percent to 78 percent, despite last year's first-ever decline.
The percentage of organizations affected by a successful cyberattack ticked up this year, from 77 percent to 78 percent, despite last year's first-ever decline. Caving in to ransomware. Organizations affected by successful ransomware attacks increased slightly from 55 percent to 56 percent. More concerning, the percentage of organizations that elected to pay ransoms rose considerably, from 39 percent to 45 percent, potentially fueling even more ransomware attacks in 2019.
Organizations affected by successful ransomware attacks increased slightly from 55 percent to 56 percent. More concerning, the percentage of organizations that elected to pay ransoms rose considerably, from 39 percent to 45 percent, potentially fueling even more ransomware attacks in 2019. Container security woes. For the second year, application containers edge mobile devices as IT security's weakest link.
For the second year, application containers edge mobile devices as IT security's weakest link. Web application firewalls rule the roost. For the second year, the web application firewall (WAF) claims the top spot as the most widely deployed app/dat security technology.
For the second year, the web application firewall (WAF) claims the top spot as the most widely deployed app/dat security technology. Worsening skills shortage. IT security skills shortages continued to rise, with 84 percent of organizations experiencing this problem compared to 81 percent a year ago.
IT security skills shortages continued to rise, with 84 percent of organizations experiencing this problem compared to 81 percent a year ago. Security's slice of the IT budget pie. On average, IT security consumes 13 percent of the overall IT budget. The average security budget is going up by 5 percent in 2019.
"A decade after the transformative Aurora attack, you have to start wondering how long organizations can sustain such elevated investments in cybersecurity. Beanstalks don't grow to the sky, right?" said Mike Rothman, president of Securosis. "Yet, the data tells another story. According to this year's CDR report, the average security budget consumes 13 percent of the overall IT budget, up from 5 percent just two decades ago. And it continues to grow, with an average of 5 percent planned growth moving forward. Exacerbated by the critical shortage of qualified IT security personnel, there will be a continued focus on smart investment in technologies that make security more effective and efficient."
About the Cyberthreat Defense Report In November 2018, 1,200 IT security decision makers and practitioners completed a 27-question online survey. Each participant was employed by a commercial or government entity with a minimum of 500 employees. Participants stemmed from six geographic regions, as follows: North America: United States and Canada
Europe: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy
Asia Pacific: Australia, China, Singapore, and Japan
Middle East: Saudi Arabia and Turkey
Latin America: Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico
Africa: South Africa The Cyberthreat Defense Report is designed to complement Verizon's (News - Alert) annual Data Breach Investigations Report, which evaluates the cyberthreat landscape and describes how threats are used to penetrate computer networks. This report assesses organizations' security posture, gauges perceptions about cyberthreats, and ascertains future plans for improving security and reducing risk. It provides deep insights into how IT security professionals perceive cyberthreats and what they're doing to defend against them. The 2019 CDR is sponsored by several leading information security vendors, including: Platinum sponsors: Code42, DXC Technology, Gigamon (News - Alert), and Imperva
Gold sponsors: Aqua Security, LookingGlass, Recorded Future, and StackRox
Silver sponsors: Arctic Wolf, Bandura, CTERA, DisruptOps, Edgeworx Solutions, and Illusive Networks Report Available Now The 2019 Cyberthreat Defense Report is available now through each of the above sponsors and by connecting to the CyberEdge Group website at http://www.cyber-edge.com/cdr. About CyberEdge Group CyberEdge Group is an award-winning research and marketing consulting firm serving the diverse needs of information security vendors and service providers. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with three-dozen consultants based across North America, CyberEdge boasts more than 125 of the security industry's top vendors as clients. The company's annual Cyberthreat Defense Report provides information security decision makers and practitioners with practical, unbiased insight into how enterprises and government agencies defend their networks against today's complex cyberthreat landscape. For more information, visit www.cyber-edge.com. The CyberEdge Group name and logo are trademarks of CyberEdge Group, LLC in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005580/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Andrea Prochniak Joins Perella Weinberg Partners as Managing Director and Global Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs
Perella Weinberg Partners ("PWP") today announced that Andrea Prochniak has been appointed a Managing Director and Global Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Affairs for the firm. Ms. Prochniak joined PWP in March 2019 and is based in New York, where she is tasked with leading an integrated global strategic communications effort comprising global investor relations, media relations and internal communications. "Andrea's addition will further enhance the understanding and appreciation of PWP's differentiated advisory business among all our important constituencies," said Peter Weinberg, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PWP. "I have no doubt she will lend her extensive experience to effectively sharing our growth story with a broad and expanding audience." "PWP is truly unique in its client-centric partnership approach, deep knowledge and expertise in the most promising sectors and markets and ability to provide independent advice in solving clients' most complex issues," said Ms. Prochniak. "I'velong been an admirer of this firm and am thrilled to be working with my new colleagues to amplify its mission in the marketplace."
Ms. Prochniak brings more than 20 years of experience building and leading integrated communications functions, most recently as Senior Vice President, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications for AllianceBernstein ("AB"). Prior to AB, she was Vice President of Financial Communications at CBS Corporation, and before that spent nine years at Morgan Stanley, ultimately serving as Executive Director of Investor Relations. Earlier in her career, Ms. Prochniak wrote for Fortune magazine in New York and held research and writing positions at Accenture (News - Alert) and Morningstar, Inc. in Chicago. About Perella Weinberg Partners
Perella Weinberg Partners is a leading global independent advisory firm, providing strategic and financial advice to a broad client base, including corporations, institutions and governments. The firm advises clients across a range of the most active industry sectors and international markets. With more than 500 employees, Perella Weinberg Partners maintains offices in New York, Houston, London, Calgary, Chicago, Denver, Dubai, Los Angeles, Paris, and San Francisco. For more information on Perella Weinberg Partners, please visit: http://www.pwpartners.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005634/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] The Proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine Board of Trustees Holds Inaugural Meeting
The Board of Trustees for the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine met for the first time Monday and instated Trustee members and approved bylaws and policies. Francis Gibson, MSW, MBA, Utah House Representative and House Majority Leader, and CEO of Orem Community Hospital was appointed Chair. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine and will oversee management responsibility for the construction, completion, and eventual operation of the proposed college as well as the management of the accreditation process. The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine will be established in Provo and has received broad support financially and throughout Utah County. The makeup of the Trustee members demonstrates this support. In addition to the instatement of the new Board of Trustees, the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine received letters of endorsement from Provo City, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, the Utah Hospital Association, the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, Utah County Commissioners, Provo School District, hospital systems and elected officials. See the inaugural proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine Board of Trustee members here. Board Officers approved and instated include: Francis Gibson , MSW, MBA, Board hair
, MSW, MBA, Board hair Morris D. Linton , Board Vice-chair
, Board Vice-chair Sean R. Curzon , Board Secretary
, Board Secretary Trevor Smith, Board Treasurer
Richard P. Nielsen , PT, DHSc, ECS, Founding President and Chief Executive Officer
, PT, DHSc, ECS, Founding President and Chief Executive Officer John Dougherty , Founding Dean
, Founding Dean Jennifer Brown , CNT, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
, CNT, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Michael Rhodes , MD, Associate Dean for Medical Affairs
, MD, Associate Dean for Medical Affairs Jeff Bate, MBA, Chief Financial Office Speaking to the Board, Gibson said, "The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine will be vital for the community, the state, and the world. I'm looking forward to working with each of you on the Board who will sacrifice and donate your time to make this medical school a great school."
One of the key goals of the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine is to help increase the supply of doctors in the region. According to studies by the Association of American Medical Colleges, Utah is ranked 49th in the nation for active patient care, primary care physicians per 100,000 population and 44th in the nation for active physicians per 100,000. Utah is ranked 44th among all states in the number of MD and DO student enrollments with most Utah resident medical students leaving the state to pursue their medical degrees. "As a state we are growing at a very fast pace," said Gibson. "We already know students will stay and work where they are educated. This school will give Utah students an opportunity to receive a medical education they can use to provide healthcare to people throughout the state." The appointed executive staff and Board will now focus on the accreditation process as construction begins on the proposed medical school campus. The architect for the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine is MHTN Architects based in Salt Lake City. The construction project is managed by Westland Construction based in Orem, Utah. About the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine would be an independent and freestanding institution overseen by a governing Board of Trustees located in Provo, Utah. Founded and located in Provo, Utah in June 1998, Wasatch Educational will manage the development of the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. www.wasatcheducational.com. Wasatch Educational is the holding company of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. The mission of Wasatch Educational is to promote and develop healthcare education institutions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005760/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Peeks Social Receives iOS approval and Relisting to App Store
TORONTO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peeks Social Ltd. (TSXV:PEEK) (OTCQB:PKSLF) (Peeks Social or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Peeks App has been approved by Apple and is once again available for download in the Apple Store. In addition to returning to the Apple Store, the Company is also pleased to announce that it has successfully negotiated with Apple the use of 3rd party payment processing services for purchases on the Peeks Platform. Previously Peeks was obligated to use Apple's in-app purchases at a cost of 30% per transaction and funds settlement period of 45 days. The high cost of in-app payments and the long settlement periods had resulted in a poor quality of service to users and a significant number of user complaints. Similarly, the Company has also migrated approximately 80% of its Android traffic from Google in-app payments to 3rd party payment processing services. Google's fees and settlement periods for in-app payments are similar to Apple; a such the benefits to the Company by virtue of moving to 3rd party payment processing services will be comparable.
The new payment processing services cost the Company 2.8% to 10% as opposed to 30%. Settlement periods are typically 2 business days or less. This provides the Company the ability to pay broadcasters more quickly and to provide users discounts on the purchase of content. Long payout cycles have been the main cause of broadcaster complaints and the main hindrance to rapid growth of the business. The faster settlement periods are allowing the Company to get caught up on backlogged broadcaster payouts and facilitating faster payouts to broadcasters.
It is managements expectation that the user adoption curve as a result of migrating to 3rd party payment processing services, will result in a temporary decline in transaction volume on the Peeks Platform, followed by a subsequent increase in transaction volume. It is also managements expectation that faster payouts to broadcasters and lower fees to viewers will result in significantly greater broadcaster retention, and subsequently; to a significant increase in overall spending on the Peeks Platform. The Companys operating margin will also significantly increase as a result of lower payment processing fees. Annual General and Special Meeting The Company will be holding its Annual General and Special Meeting on May 31, 2019. Details of location and time will be released once the company finalizes arrangements. David Vinokurov
Director Investor Relations
[email protected]
416-716-9281
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Delaware Innovation Space Receives $3+ Million Investment to Support Its Mission of Advancing Science-Based Start-Ups
Delaware Innovation Space announced today that it has received $3 million in funding from National Development Council (NDC), through a start-up innovation loan program established with Discover Bank, along with an additional $225,000 operating grant from Discover Bank, to help fulfill its mission of transforming science-driven start-ups into industry-leading companies focused on creating products and technologies that will enhance and expand everyday living. Founded in 2017, Delaware Innovation Space was created to accelerate the formation and growth of new science-based start-up companies. Today, the Innovation Space is working with more than 20 different early stage companies in areas such as developing life saving therapeutics, enabling the next generation of alternative energy, and creating new materials for industrial applications and consumer electronics. "Our partnership with NDC and Discover Bank is a shining example of how working together can help accelerate the development of critical innovation capabilities and entrepreneurial infrastructure," said Delaware Innovation Space President and CEO William D. Provine. "The work of Delaware Innovation Space will enable more science-driven start-ups to flourish and ultimately expand the economic base in Delaware." The funding will enable Delaware Innovation Space to better serve start-ups by supporting infrastructure improvements, equipment investments and enhance operational performance.Collectively, these actions will stimulate and grow the overall operations of Delaware Innovation Space in support of job creation in the fields of industrial biotechnology, advanced materials, renewable energy, chemical ingredients, nutrition and healthcare.
"Delaware is a great place to start a business and Discover Bank is proud to help Delaware Innovation Space create opportunities for young businesses to incubate and thrive," said Discover Bank President James J. Roszkowski. "This investment is one of the ways in which we help to develop our community and we look forward to the impact it will have on the State's economy." "When our long-time financial partner, Discover Bank, asked us to join them in supporting the Delaware Innovation Space, we jumped at the chance to support this great opportunity," said National Development Council President and CEO Daniel Marsh. "With funding obtained through Discover Bank to support Delaware based businesses and non-profits focused on assisting entrepreneurs, we were able to provide a long-term loan on very favorable and patient terms to allow the Delaware Innovation Space to attract and nurture science-based start-ups and create the future that includes even more good-paying jobs."
Delaware Innovation Space is a non-profit corporation, incubator, and accelerator for scientific entrepreneurship, based in Wilmington, Del. and located on the campus of the Experimental Station. Formed from a partnership between the State of Delaware, DuPont and the University of Delaware, it is a catalyst for the growth of science-based businesses, providing entrepreneurs with state-of-the-art research space, business training and tools as they progress their ideas from concepts to commercial realities. The National Development Council's work focuses on HOMES, JOBS and COMMUNITY. Founded as a national nonprofit in 1969, NDC proudly fulfills its mission to increase the flow of capital for investment in low-income communities. NDC directs capital to support the development and preservation of affordable housing, the creation of jobs through training and small business lending and the advancement of livable communities through investment in social infrastructure. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005792/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Tackling Homelessness Through Digital Transformation: Palm Beach County Partners with Dharma Platform to More Effectively Aid the Most Vulnerable
WASHINGTON, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- This past January, Palm Beach County, Florida's annual survey of homeless persons went digital for the first timea move that saved the county tens of thousands of hours in data collection and improved their outreach to vulnerable members of the community. Using a mobile application built on Dharma Platform, Palm Beach County officials were able to more rapidly measure and gain insights into the homeless population in their county. Every year, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development requires all counties to conduct a Point-in-Time survey of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons. These collected data are used to inform local resource planning and state and federal funding. But this year, instead of conducting these surveys using paper, spreadsheets, and manual data entry as usual, local volunteers and officials used Dharma Platform to create their own custom app that could function on any mobile device, offline or online, and would stream real-time data into a secure, privacy compliant cloud database. This digital transformation shortened their data collection time dramatically: from 2 weeks to a single day. And with these records digitally collected, officials could then analyze the data much more efficiently: their data management process shrank from more than 3 months to just 14 days. Officials also found the switch to new technology surprisingly easy. According to Keianna Pierre Louis "Local governments typically struggle with transitioning to new digital systems, but the partnership with Dharma Platform made it extremely easy to configure our own app, train our volunteers, and get data immediately into the hands of our team." But DharmaPlatform not only saved Palm Beach County officials' time, but it also allowed them to more quickly respond to the needs of homeless persons in their country. Louis reports, "Having results in days rather than months gave us tremendous insights into how we need to reallocate our resources to better serve our homeless population." This year's survey showed, for instance, that youth homelessness in the county increased for the third year in a row. While local officials were disappointed by this spike, they were grateful to more quickly learn about it. As Louis concluded, "[We] now can provide additional resources 3 months faster than last year. That means something."
Dharma Platform was founded on the belief that good data can not only transform the work of impact-first organizations, it can save lives. Backed by TPG's Rise Fund, Dharma Platform allows non-technical users to rapidly design and deploy scalable web and mobile applications to collect and analyze dataanywhere, anytimeand quickly make informed decisions based on real-time ground truth; even with no connectivity. "Dharma Platform transforms 'small' data into impactful big data, allowing for quick action, especially for vulnerable populations like the Homeless," said Brian Dunlap of TPG. "Delivering measurable impact to address these types of societal challenges via leading technology is at the heart of the RISE fund."
From active conflict zones to humanitarian crises and natural disasters, Dharma Platform is being used around-the-world in the most demanding environments for technology. The life-changing work of Dharma Platform's users has been featured in Nature, National Geographic, TechCrunch, and Scientific American. Media Contact:
[email protected] Photo(s):
https://www.prlog.org/12761373 Press release distributed by PRLog View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tackling-homelessness-through-digital-transformation-palm-beach-county-partners-with-dharma-platform-to-more-effectively-aid-the-most-vulnerable-300818763.html SOURCE Dharma Platform
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Government of Canada preparing young Canadians for tomorrow's jobs
A million more young Canadians will have the opportunity to learn digital skills MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 26, 2019 /CNW/ - Digital skills like coding and the ability to work with new technologies will be fundamental for most workers in tomorrow's job market, whether they are farmers, computer programmers or floor workers. To prepare the next generation of Canadian workers to succeed in the increasingly global and digital economy, the Government of Canada is providing support to millions of young Canadians looking to improve their digital skills.
Today, in Mississauga, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced that the Government of Canada will help another one million young Canadians learn new digital skills by investing $60 million in CanCode, as first outlined in Budget 2019. CanCode gives students from kindergarten to grade 12 the opportunity to learn digital skills, like coding, data analytics and digital content development. CanCode also provides Canadian teachers with the know-how to incorporate new digital skills and technologies into their classrooms, and it encourages more young women, Indigenous Canadians and other under-represented groups to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. To date, over 1.3 million students and 61,000 teachers have participated in anCode activities. With this new funding, CanCode aims to provide an additional one million Canadian students and teachers with training by March 2021. Budget 2019's funding is in addition to the $50 million from Budget 2017, for a total investment of $110 million.
CanCode is one of many Budget 2019 investments that aim to prepare young Canadians for their future, helping them succeed for years to come. Quotes
"Young Canadians will drive our economic success for years to come. We must give them the tools to succeed in their careers and to participate in their communities. Our investments to teach them digital skills and make higher education more affordable will help them transition successfully from classrooms to research labs, shop floors or boardrooms."
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Quick facts The program will be accepting applications from not-for-profit organizations incorporated in Canada . They must have a minimum of three years of experience delivering digital skills programs to young Canadians and/or teachers.
. They must have a minimum of three years of experience delivering digital skills programs to young Canadians and/or teachers. The deadline for applications for project funding is April 30, 2019 . Associated links Budget 2019 Investing in Young Canadians
CanCode Stay connected Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED. Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.
Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: CanadianInnovation, Instagram: @CDNinnovation and LinkedIn SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
President Moon Jae-in held a summit with King Philippe of Belgium on Tuesday to discuss ways to bolster bilateral cooperation in a mutually beneficial and future-oriented manner.
During their meeting in Seoul, they assessed increased cooperation in such areas as chemistry, pharmaceuticals and logistics, and agreed to expand the level of cooperation into new sectors, including bio, smart city and startup, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.
King Philippe arrived Monday on a four-day state visit, becoming the first Belgian king to visit South Korea in 27 years.
He previously visited Seoul four times as the crown prince of Belgium.
The president also appealed for Belgium's continued support for his peace initiative with North Korea, noting Brussels currently serves as a rotating nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
Moon expressed gratitude to Belgium's support for its efforts to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula, and in return, King Philippe pledged efforts to continue his country's cooperation in the process for peace, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
Since the two nations established their diplomatic ties in 1901, they have maintained a friendly relationship. The two leaders also positively assessed an increase in bilateral trade and investment.
Two-way trade between South Korea and Belgium came to US$4.7 billion in 2018, up more than 14 percent from $4.1 billion a year earlier.
King Philippe plans to meet National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang and attend a business forum involving Korean and Belgian businesspeople.
Moon will host a state dinner for King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at the presidential office. (Yonhap)
[March 26, 2019] Booz Allen Announces New Jobs in Ohio
Booz Allen Hamilton (News - Alert) (NYSE: BAH) announced it expects to bring 60 new jobs to Ohio by 2021 and build a new digital hub in the state to house its growing technical workforce. The digital hub will include secure facilities and be part of Booz Allen's Digital Solutions Network, which is comprised of digital strategists and technologists across the firm that research, design and collaborate to help solve complex challenges for business, government and military clients. Booz Allen will add a variety of high-skilled jobs in the Dayton region including software developers, data scientists, cybersecurity engineers, scrum masters, analysts, and systems administrators. Salaries for the new employees will vary by position and experience. Booz Allen provides a variety of high-demand digital solutions, engineering, cybersecurity, analytics, and consulting services and has work sites throughout Ohio and globally. The addition of these new software, cyber and engineering jobs will enable the company to continue tackling the complex challenges of today and the future, leveraging innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT) and modern techniques including user-centered design, Agile (News - Alert) and DevSecOps to create more efficient and effective solutions for clients. "New trends in technology, culture, partnership and innovation are shaping an advanced era of digital transformation for our clients, and the possibilities are endless," said Julie McPherson, senior vice president and head of digital solutions at Booz Allen. "With this addition of high-tech talent and a new digital hub in Beavercreek, we have even more capacity to help innovate, collaborate and support our clients' demand for transformative technology"
"Booz Allen has a strong presence in Ohio and the Dayton area provides a diverse talent pool that brings tremendous value to our clients," said Rick Holley, senior vice president at Booz Allen. "We're proud of the workforce we've built in the Dayton area and we look forward to further drawing on the region's highly skilled residents, vibrant business community, and close proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which make it an essential hub for supporting mission-critical work." The company's expansion will open new opportunities for veterans who are transitioning from the military and seeking high-impact, mission-focused careers, as well as military spouses with diverse skillsets. Booz Allen has been recognized as a "Best Employer for Veterans" by Forbes Magazine, "Best of the Best" Veteran-Friendly Company by U.S. Veterans Magazine and "Top Military-Friendly Employer" by GI Jobs Magazine. It has also been named a "Best for Vets" Employer by Military Times for four consecutive years and one of Working Mother's "100 Best Companies" for 20 consecutive years.
"Booz Allen Hamilton has a record of success in Ohio, and we are thrilled it chose to expand its cyber and digital operations in our region," said Ted Griffith, JobsOhio managing director for information technology. "We look forward to Booz Allen Hamilton adding new software development jobs to its Ohio workforce, where its talented associates will continue to support software, cybersecurity and engineering solutions for its customers." "Booz Allen Hamilton plays a critical role in our country's national defense, partnering with the U.S. Air Force and others to provide essential support to our nation's war fighters through their work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and beyond," said Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition. "We're grateful for their proposed investment in the Dayton region and look forward to continuing to support their growth in our community." To learn more about open positions at Booz Allen, visit careers.boozallen.com. About Booz Allen For more than 100 years, business, government, and military leaders have turned to Booz Allen Hamilton to solve their most complex problems. They trust us to bring together the right minds: those who devote themselves to the challenge at hand, who speak with relentless candor, and who act with courage and character. They expect original solutions where there are no roadmaps. They rely on us because they know that-together-we will find the answers and change the world. We solve the most difficult management and technology problems through a combination of consulting, analytics, digital solutions, engineering, and cyber expertise. With global headquarters in McLean, Virginia, our firm employs approximately 24,600 people globally, and had revenue of $6.17 billion for the 12 months ended March 31, 2018. To learn more, visit www.boozallen.com. (NYSE: BAH) BAHPR-GI View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005852/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Wells Fargo Donates $325,000 to Midwest Flood Relief Efforts
Recent flooding in the Midwest has had a devastating effect on local communities. Reflecting its commitment to local communities and residents, Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced a donation of $325,000 to aid in the flood relief efforts. The Wells Fargo Foundation will donate $250,000 to the American Red Cross* for immediate needs and an additional $75,000 will be distributed to local nonprofits to aid with the recovery in affected communities. "Our thoughts are with all of our neighbors in the Midwest who are grappling with the aftermath of recent floods," said Jon Campbell, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation. "The effect to homeowners, businesses and farmers is distressing, and Wells Fargo is committed to supporting relief efforts in the days and weeks to come." Customers who are experiencing hardship due to the flooding can contact Wells Fargo Customer Support at the number on their credit cards, debit cards or statements to discuss their options. Affected customers can also contact their banker by visiting their nearest Wells Fargo branch. Wells Fargo customers who wish to support the American Red Cross relief efforts for Midwest tornadoes and floods may donate through Wells Fargo ATMs located in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin through April 3. Customers can also redeem any amount of available Go Far Rewards fr donation through April 4.
There is no fee for ATM donations, and 100 percent of contributions will be sent to the American Red Cross. Go Far Rewards customers can access their rewards account at GoFarRewards.wf.com or by calling the service center, 877-517-1358. About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,800 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 37 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 259,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune's 2018 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. * The American Red Cross name, emblem and copyrighted materials are being used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position. The American Red Cross logo is a registered trademark owned by The American National Red Cross. For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit redcross.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005856/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Global Smart Metering-as-a-Service Markets to 2027: Major Cloud Providers Such as Microsoft and Amazon to Play a Key Role
DUBLIN, March 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Managed Services: Smart Metering-as-a-Service (2018 - 2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The outsourcing of physical and operational aspects of a smart metering system to third parties, a model known as managed services, has been growing in popularity over the past decade. At the most basic level, managed services can be Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), in which software applications that support advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) are cloud -hosted by the vendor and used on a subscription-basis. In more comprehensive service agreements, operational responsibility for the AMI system is also entrusted to a vendor in what is called Smart Metering -as-a-Service (SMaaS). At the end of the spectrum, full managed services-often called Infrastructure as-a-Service (IaaS)-is the complete delivery of AMI as a service, including the leasing of physical infrastructure which remains owned by the vendor. Service-based solutions confront many of the challenges that are encountered in smart meter deployments. Entrusting data to a highly competent third-party vendor usually provides more security than can be accomplished by the utility alone. Deployment time can be cut in half when IT infrastructure is hosted in the cloud, while in house staff does not need to be trained to operate the complex new systems. Perhaps most importantly, managed services can help mitigate the significant upfront costs of smart metering systems. Service-based offerings convert costs from an upfront capital investment to a recurring operational expense. This opens the door for utilities that cannot make such a large initial investment. These utilities, usually smaller in size, do not have the be nefit of economies of scale. In essence, they are borrowing economies of scale from vendors. One key barrier to the spread of managed services is the current regulatory framework in many markets. Many utilities-particularly in the US re still regulated under the traditional cost-of-service model in which SaaS and other service-based investments are treated as O&M and not capital investments.
There is a disincentive against those service-based solutions that can replace inefficient, outdated capital equipment. Regulatory revision is needed for managed services solutions to be considered solely on their merits rather than their accounting classification. Regulators in California, New York, and Illinois are exploring new mechanisms to accelerate the acceptance of services in the utility industry, but it will likely be a gradual process. Managed services give a glimpse into where the industry is headed, how those utilities that have yet to deploy smart meters can do so, and how those that have completed deployments can extract greater value from their investments. It will also be beneficial for vendors as the service model provides longer-term relationships and recurring revenue.
Several major metering vendors are pivoting to a services-oriented business model in which smart meters are one feature of a larger, services -based package. Managed services have opened the door to new potential customers and new possibilities for existing customers. Only a small share of smart meters are currently operated under these service contracts, but that figure is expected to increase over the next decade. Thanks to these innovative business models, the full value of smart metering-made possible by decades of technological advances-can soon be achieved on a wider scale. A wide array of vendors from different segments of the market have developed service solutions for utilities. Nearly all have cloud software solutions while the fully managed AMI solutions are offered by larger metering vendors and system integrators. Major cloud providers such as Microsoft and Amazon also play a key role in IT hosting. The next ten years should determine how strong a pivot metering vendors will make to a service-oriented business strategy, a process that for many vendors has already begun. Key questions answered in this study: How large will the global managed services market for smart metering (electricity, water and gas) be over the next decade?
What constitutes managed services and what forms does the model take?
Which utilities are best suited to managed services offerings?
What is the vendor landscape, who are the leading vendors and what service-based solutions are currently on the market? Key Topics Covered:
Executive summary
1. Managed services overview
1.1 What are managed services?
1.2 Benefits of managed services
1.3 Regulatory status
1.4 Drivers
1.5 Barriers
2. Managed services activity to date
3. Market forecast
3.1 EMEA
3.2 Americas
3.3 Asia-Pacific
4. Vendor landscape
5. Appendix
Companies Mentioned
Amazon
Microsoft For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/njnzk9/global_smart?w=5
Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact:
Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
[email protected]
For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470
For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-smart-metering-as-a-service-markets-to-2027-major-cloud-providers-such-as-microsoft-and-amazon-to-play-a-key-role-300817643.html SOURCE Research and Markets
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] SERVPRO, Leading Franchisor of Residential and Commercial Property Damage Restoration Services, Announces Recapitalization and Long-Term Partnership with Blackstone
SERVPRO and Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announced today that private equity funds managed by Blackstone ("Blackstone") have recapitalized SERVPRO, a leading franchisor of residential and commercial property damage restoration services. Blackstone is acquiring a majority stake in SERVPRO as part of Blackstone's Core Private Equity strategy, which is designed to hold investments for longer periods of time than traditional private equity. The Isaacson family will be re-investing alongside Blackstone and will continue to be significant shareholders in the business going forward. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1967 by the Isaacson family, SERVPRO is a leading national franchisor, providing services in both residential and commercial property mitigation, restoration and reconstruction following damage related to water, fire, mold or storm activity. Since its founding, SERVPRO has now grown to over 1,700 franchisees in the United States and Canada. Rick Isaacson, SERVPRO CEO, said, "We are thrilled about this long-term investment from Blackstone and the strategic benefits its global platform can provide the company, our franchisees, and our customers. SERVPRO was founded over 50 years ago with the vision of becoming the premier cleaning and restoration company, and we believe this partnership with Blackstone is a vital next step towards this goal." Peter Wallace, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, said, "We are excited to make this investment and join together with the Isaacsons and te SERVPRO team as long-term growth partners. We believe the additional capital and extensive network of relationships that Blackstone can bring to bear will benefit not only SERVPRO, but its more than 1,700 franchisees and its customers."
David Kestnbaum, Managing Director at Blackstone, said, "SERVPRO is a high-quality company with a strong management team and great long-term prospects. We look forward to working with SERVPRO and its franchisees to help fuel the business' next phase of growth. As one of the largest owners of residential, office, retail, hotel, and industrial real estate in the world, Blackstone has unique expertise and insights into a broad array of properties that are relevant to SERVPRO." Harris Williams is acting as financial advisor to SERVPRO with respect to the transaction and Bass, Berry & Sims PLC is acting as SERVPRO's legal counsel. Jefferies, Credit Suisse, and Deutsche Bank Securities provided debt financing for the transaction and served as financial advisors to Blackstone. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is acting as Blackstone's legal counsel.
About SERVPRO Founded in 1967, the SERVPRO Franchise System is a leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services, and mold mitigation and remediation. SERVPRO's professional services network of more than 1,700 individually owned and operated Franchises responds to property damage emergencies ranging from small individual disasters to multi-million dollar large-loss events. Providing coverage in the United States and Canada, the SERVPRO System has established relationships with major insurance companies and commercial clients, as well as individual homeowners. About Blackstone Blackstone is one of the world's leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our asset management businesses, with $472 billion in assets under management, include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter (News - Alert) @Blackstone. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005924/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] AXA Equitable Holdings Announces Board of Director Appointments
AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. ("AXA Equitable Holdings") (NYSE: EQH), a leading financial services company comprised of two principal franchises -- AXA Equitable Life and AllianceBernstein -- today announced new appointments to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. These actions follow the successful close of AXA S.A.'s ("AXA") third offering of shares of AXA Equitable Holdings common stock on March 25, 2019 which moved AXA to a minority shareholding position. AXA Equitable Holdings named Ramon de Oliveira as the independent Chairman of the AXA Equitable Holdings and AllianceBernstein Boards of Directors. Mr. de Oliveira has held a variety of board positions with subsidiaries of the company since 2011, and currently serves on the AXA Equitable Holdings and AllianceBernstein boards. He is a founder of the consulting firm Investment Audit Practice. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. de Oliveira held senior positions at J.P. Morgan & Co. He founded and led J.P. Morgan Global Equities and served as Chairman and CEO of J.P. Morgan Investment Management and Private Bank. "Today's announcement reflects a thoughtful and deliberate process to establish independent governance and best position AXA Equitable Holdings to continue to achieve our strategic objectives and deliver value for our shareholders," said Mark Pearson, AXA Equitable Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer. "I look forward to partnering with Ramon and the talented individuals across our boards who are leaders in their respective fields and provide us with in-depth and diverse expertise across a broad range of disciplines." The company announced subsidiary board members Kristi Matus and Bertram Scott will join the AXA Equitable Holdings Board of Directors. With these appointments, the AXA Equitable Holdings Board is now comprised of a majority of independent directors. Ms. Matus currently is an Executive Advisor at Thomas H. Lee Partners. She previously served as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at athenahealth, Inc. Ms. Matus' deep industry experience includes leadership positions at Aetn, having served as the Executive Vice President of Government Services, and as Chief Financial Officer for USAA and President of USAA's Life Insurance and Investment Services businesses.
Mr. Scott is Senior Vice President of population health management at Novant Health, Inc. He brings broad industry experience to this appointment with previous roles as President and CEO of Affinity Health Plan and President of the U.S. Commercial business at CIGNA. In addition, Mr. Scott held senior management positions at leading organizations including TIAA-CREF, Horizon Mercy Health Plan and Prudential Insurance Company. Consistent with the shareholder agreement between AXA Equitable Holdings and AXA, the company announced Karima Silvent, AXA Global Head of Human Resources, and Bertrand Poupart-Lafarge, AXA France Chief Financial Officer, will depart from the AXA Equitable Holdings Board of Directors.
In addition to the appointments to the AXA Equitable Holdings Board, the company announced Charles Stonehill, Jeffrey Hurd and Nick Lane will join the AllianceBernstein Board of Directors. All changes to the AllianceBernstein Board of Directors will take effect April 1, 2019. Mr. Stonehill currently serves on the AXA Equitable Holdings and AXA Equitable Life Boards of Directors. He brings more than 40 years of experience in investment banking and capital markets having held senior leadership positions such as Global Head of Lazard Capital Markets, Head of Investment Banking for the Americas of Credit Suisse First Boston and as Head of European Equities and Equity Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley. Mr. Stonehill is the founding partner of Green & Blue Advisors. Mr. Hurd is the Chief Operating Officer at AXA Equitable Holdings and a member of its Management Committee. He amassed deep industry experience during his nearly 20-year tenure at AIG having served as the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and Head of Asset Management Restructuring. In addition, he was the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for AIG Investments and the interim CEO of AIG Global Real Estate. Mr. Hurd has held a variety of board positions including United Guaranty Corporation, a leading mortgage insurer, and the post-IPO board of AIA Group, a top insurance company in Southeast Asia. Mr. Lane is President of AXA Equitable Life with responsibility for the company's commercial business lines and a member of the AXA Equitable Holdings' Management Committee. He has held a variety of leadership roles since joining the company in 2005 including overseeing global strategy for AXA Group, running its asset management business and, most recently, serving as the CEO of AXA Japan. Mr. Lane has previously served on the boards of AllianceBernstein, AXA Investment Managers, AXA Private Equity and AXA Real Estate Management. AXA Equitable Holdings Chief Financial Officer Anders Malmstrom will depart the AllianceBernstein Board after two years of service to focus on the strategic finance initiatives commensurate with AXA Equitable Holdings' newly independent profile. Denis Duverne, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AXA, and Robert Zoellick, the Non-Executive Chairman of the AllianceBernstein Board, will also depart from the AllianceBernstein Board of Directors. Seth Bernstein, President and Chief Executive Officer of AllianceBernstein, together with Mark Pearson said, "On behalf of the AllianceBernstein Board, we would like to thank Denis and Bob for their significant contributions to the company. Denis has served with distinction for 23 years and we are grateful for his leadership. And we extend our sincere appreciation to Bob who brought us a valuable global perspective and has been instrumental in guiding AllianceBernstein through a time of significant change." About AXA Equitable Holdings AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH) is one of the leading financial services companies in the U.S. and is comprised of two complementary and well-established principal franchises, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company and AllianceBernstein. We have been helping clients prepare for their financial future since 1859 and have a combined total of more than 12,500 employees and financial professionals, 5.3 million customer relationships and $619 billion of assets under management (as of 12/31/2018). About AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company ("AXA Equitable Life") AXA Equitable Life is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH). Founded in 1859, the company is one of America's leading financial services providers with 2.8 million customers and more than $196 billion of assets under management (as of 12/31/2018). AXA Equitable Life's mission is to help people retire with dignity, protect their families and prepare for their financial futures with confidence. About AllianceBernstein AllianceBernstein includes both AllianceBernstein L.P. ("ABLP") and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. AllianceBernstein is a leading global investment management firm that offers high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals and private wealth clients in major world markets. As of December 31, 2018, including both the general partnership and limited partnership interests in ABLP, AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. owned approximately 35.6% of ABLP and AXA Equitable Holdings, directly and through various subsidiaries, owned an approximate 65.2% economic interest in ABLP. Additional information about AllianceBernstein may be found on its website, www.alliancebernstein.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005996/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] TPT Global Tech Secures $1.7M Debt Financing First Quarter 2019
SAN DIEGO, March 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TPT Global Tech (OTCQB:TPTW) is pleased to announce that TPT Global Tech, Inc. (the Company) consummated a Securities Purchase Agreement dated March 18, 2019 with Auctus Fund, LLC. (Auctus) for the purchase of a $600,000 Convertible Promissory Note (Convertible Promissory Note). The Convertible Promissory Note is due December 18, 2019, pays interest at the rate of 12% per annum and gives the holder the right from time to time, and at any time during the period beginning 180 days from the origination date or at the effective date of the registration of the underlying shares of common stock, which the holder has registration rights for, to convert all of the outstanding balance into common stock of the Company limited to 4.99% of the outstanding common stock of the Company. The conversion price is 50% multiplied by the average of the two lowest trading prices for the common stock during the previous 25 trading days prior to the applicable conversion date. The Convertible Promissory Note may be prepaid in full at 135% to 150% up to 180 days from origination.
As part of the transaction, Auctus was issued 2,000,000 warrants to purchase 2,000,000 common shares of the Company at 70% of the current market price. Current market price means the average of the three lowest trading prices for our common stock during the ten-trading day period ending on the latest complete trading day prior to the date of the respective exercis notice. However, if the registration statement described above is declared effective on or before June 11, 2019, then, while such Registration Statement is effective, the current market price shall mean the lowest volume weighted average price for our common stock during the ten-trading day period ending on the last complete trading day prior to the conversion date.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company has entered into agreements for approximately $1.7 million in debt funding of which $822,000 has been funded. $68,000 of this was recently funded in a convertible promissory note transaction with Geneva Roth Remark Holdings, Inc. for which the Company issued a Form 8-K dated March 19, 2019. Remaining unfunded amounts can only be funded at the approval of the third party debt holders.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of various provisions of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, commonly identified by such terms as "believes," "looking ahead," "anticipates," "estimates" and other terms with similar meaning. Specifically, any statements about the Company's plans for accelerated growth, improved profitability, future business partners, M&A activity, new service offerings and pursuit of new markets are "forward looking statements." Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements should not be construed as fact. The information contained in such statements is beyond the ability of the Company to control, and in many cases the Company cannot predict what factors would cause results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. All forward-looking statements in the press release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions.
About TPT Global Tech TPT Global Tech Inc. (OTC:TPTW) based in San Diego, California, is a Technology/Telecommunications Media Content Hub for Domestic and International syndication and also provides Technology solutions to businesses domestically and worldwide. TPT Global offers Software as a Service (SaaS), Technology Platform as a Service (PaaS), Cloud-based Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) and carrier-grade performance and support for businesses over its private IP MPLS fiber and wireless network in the United States. TPT's cloud-based UCaaS services allow businesses of any size to enjoy all the latest voice, data, media and collaboration features in today's global technology markets. TPT's also operates as a Master Distributor for Nationwide Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) and Independent Sales Organization (ISO) as a Master Distributor for Pre-Paid Cellphone services, Mobile phones Cellphone Accessories and Global Roaming Cellphones. Richard Eberhardt
702-556-7096
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] UnitedHealthcare Awards San Diego Food Bank $375,000 Grant to Address Food Insecurity
UnitedHealthcare awarded the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank a $375,000 grant to help address food insecurity, modernize the food bank's database systems and connect San Diegans countywide to vital community services, including housing and employment services. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326006009/en/ Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, Mayor of National City, joins Kevin Kandalaft, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California, and James Floros, CEO of the San Diego Food Bank, to announce UnitedHealthcare's $375,000 grant to the San Diego Food Bank to address food insecurity in San Diego County (Photo courtesy of UnitedHealthcare). "One in seven San Diegans struggles with food insecurity, meaning almost half a million people, from children to seniors, might not know where their next meal is coming from," said James Floros, CEO, San Diego Food Bank. "This grant will increase the availability of nutritious food options and enhance Food Bank client dignity with improved database systems that reduce wait times and registration redundancies." The grant will help the San Diego Food Bank expand its Feeding Everyone with Equity & Dignity (FEED) database pilot program - currently used at 82 Food Bank sites - to an additional 50 sites this year. Through the expansion, the food bank will support the delivery of more than 10 million pounds of food. Since its implementation, FEED has reduced the food bank's wait times from a few hours to 20 minutes or less and has streamlined the registration process for Food Bank clients. "We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with San Diego Food Bank to address hunger-related issues and other social determinants of health in the county," said Kevin Kandalaft, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Comunity Plan of California. "This grant supports the food bank's capacity to provide nutritious food and direct resources to vulnerable San Diegans to help them live healthier lives."
San Diego Food Bank clients visiting select sites will be issued a personalized food ID card, similar to a library card, to eliminate repeat registration requirements across multiple sites. For example, once issued an ID card, clients can access food at other Food Bank sites using the database without having to provide basic household information or complete duplicate paperwork. The grant will also help the San Diego Food Bank enhance its 2-1-1 Community Information Exchange (CIE), which connects people to vital community services. More than 114,000 additional clients will be empowered with greater access to tools from CIE partners for needs including housing, legal help and employment services.
The announcement was made by Kevin Kandalaft and James Floros during a press conference at Friendships for Hope, a food distribution site in National City. San Diego Food Bank teams demonstrated the use of the new ID card, and employee volunteers from UnitedHealthcare helped hundreds of community members in the food distribution line as they registered for their new ID cards. UnitedHealthcare has launched community initiatives and participated in numerous public-private partnerships nationwide to address various social determinants of health including food insecurity, access to transportation, and safe and affordable housing. About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.2 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,500 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com/ or follow @UHC on Twitter (News - Alert). About the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank
Established in 1977, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is a critical component to the welfare of San Diego County, providing food to people in need, advocating for the hungry and educating the public about hunger-related issues. Through a combination of programs and partnerships with more than 500 San Diego County nonprofit charities, the Food Bank acts as a central repository and distribution point for donated food. The Food Bank distributed 28 million pounds of food in the Financial Year 2017-2018 to individuals, families and a network of nonprofit organizations that work to alleviate hunger throughout the county. Visit the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank at: www.sandiegofoodbank.org. Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326006009/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[March 26, 2019] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of Avon Products, Inc. Investors
Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a national investors rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors that acquired Avon Products, Inc. ("Avon" or the "Company") (NYSE: AVP) securities between August 2, 2016 and August 2, 2017, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Avon investors have until April 15, 2019 to file a lead plaintiff motion. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, Esquire, at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com.
On August 3, 2017, Avon issued a press release announcing its second quarter 2017 financial results and held a conference call to discuss the results. The Company reported a net loss of $0.12 per share and a 3% decline in active representatives. Avon also reported that Brazil revenue was "down 2% in constant dollars, primarily driven by a decrease in Active Representatives." On the call, Avon's Chief Financial Officer acknowledged that, despite Avon's earlier representations, the remedial actions in Brazil (i.e., stricter credit terms applied to recruiting new representatives) were negatively impacting active representatives and revenue in Brazil. On this news, shares of Avon fell $0.36, or 10.71%, to close at $3.00 per share on August 3, 2017, thereby injuring investors. The Complaint filed in this class action alleges that Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Avon was engaged in an undisclosed scheme whereby it significantly loosened its credit terms in order to recruit new representatives in Brazil, its largest market; (2) its specific credit terms in Brazil; (3) Avon failed to increase its allowance for doubtful accounts to account for the changes to its credit terms in Brazil; and (4) as a result of these concealments, Avon stock was trading at artificially inflated prices throughout the class period.
Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert): twitter.com/GPM_LLP. If you purchased shares of Avon during the Class Period you may move the Court no later than April 15, 2019 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff. To be a member of the Class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the Class. If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326006020/en/
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]